Hi y’all, Dallasites101 here! We strive to be outspoken in our support of the LGBTQIA community alongside Smart City, and hope you all have had an exciting and colorful Pride month! If you’re still looking for ways to show your support for the community, there are tons of ways to do so including getting involved with a non-profit organization, pledging to advocate for equality, and/or dining at an LGBTQ-owned restaurant. Read on for 5 ways to support the LGBTQIA community in the last days of Pride Month!
RESOURCE CENTER
A nationally recognized leader for the LGBTQ and HIV community, the Resource Center on Cedar Springs in Oak Lawn is one of the largest LGBTQ organizations in the country, serving more than 62,000 North Texans. In addition to advocating for equality through the #hereandqueer campaign, The Resource Center offers counseling, sexual health guidance, and free medical services for those living with HIV/AIDS to empower the LGBTQ community. They also offer a LGBTQ youth program to provide resources for those working to live a more confident, healthy life.
The Resource Center hosts various events and fundraisers year-round which benefit the local LGBTQ community. Visit the “Give” tab on their website for more than 10 fundraisers and programs to support, or you can also donate and volunteer!
LAMBDA LEGAL x EQUALITY VODKA
Lambda Legal is one of the largest and oldest national organizations advocating for civil rights for LBGTQ people, in addition to those living with HIV. You can show monetary support by purchasing vodka or candles from the local vodka company, Equality Vodka, where 20% of vodka and candle sales are donated to Lambda Legal to help fight for equality rights.
DALLAS HOPE CHARITIES
Dallas Hope Charities is a non-profit organization benefiting the homeless by providing shelter, meals, stability, medical services, and life skills. They focus on serving the LGBTQ community, specifically the youth, through various programs. Dallas Hope Center, operated by Dallas Hope Charities, is Dallas’ only transitional living center that provides shelter for homeless LGBTQ youth. In addition, they also started Collective Hope Coalition, an initiative to help eliminate suicide among the LGBTQ community.
You can support the organization through monetary donations, amazon wishlists, volunteering to distribute meals, or putting together survival kits for those seeking shelter at Dallas Hope Center.
BLACK TIE DINNER
One of the biggest fundraisers for the LGBTQ community is the annual Black Tie Dinner hosted by the non-profit, Black Tie Dinner. The event, held this year at the Sheraton on November 13, 2021, includes dinner for mingling and both silent and live auctions for entertainment and fundraising. Black Tie Dinner chooses 20 local LGBTQ-supportive beneficiaries including Dallas Hope Charities, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Aids Service of Dallas to receive the fundraiser donations. You can choose to support by donating an item, attending the event, or providing a monetary donation.
EQUALITY TEXAS
Equality Texas is an overall organization for the state of Texas to support, raise awareness, and provide resources for the LGBTQ community across the state. It is free to pledge to be an Equality Texan and advocate for their rights not only culturally and socially, but also politically. Through different programs, you can help fight for equality with your pledge to vote for LGBTQ-supportive officials, attend state-wide events and discussions, volunteer, or donate.
SUPPORT A LOCAL LGBTQ-OWNED BUSINESS
Aside from supporting a non-profit organization, you can show support more indirectly by dining, shopping, or visiting an LGBTQ-owned business! From restaurants, bars, retail, fitness studios, and services, we’ve done the research for you highlighting more than 40 local LGBTQ-owned businesses to support during pride month! Head here to see all 40!
Written by Abby Schikevitz of Dallasites101
Dallasites101 is a hyperlocal media company in Dallas, about Dallas. They are your 101 to Dallas, encouraging new and native residents to continuously discover and engage in the city, through content and experiences. They want Dallasites to call the city home, to find and build their sense of place here by trying “the new.” And that doesn’t just mean what’s new to Dallas, but also what’s new to them!
Featured Image by Stavrialena Gontzou, sourced from Unsplash
