LGBTQ+ Resources: Region 8 – Costa Del Sur

Counseling Services
For local physical and mental health providers with experience in treating and supporting LGBTQ+ students.

KERN

Bakersfield City School District (PDF)
The Bakersfield City School District is committed to gender equity and equal opportunity for all students and staff.

Alliance Against Family Violence
The mission of the Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault is to stop domestic violence and sexual assault in Kern County and assist survivors in reclaiming their lives. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer (LGBTQ) (24 Hour Hotline Number 661-327-1091); other LGBTQ questions 661-332-1506.

Bakersfield LGBTQ
They strive to serve the community with educational, advocacy and social opportunities and have held over 400 successful events of all kinds. Bakersfield Pride Festival is organized by Bakersfield LGBTQ and held in mid-October.

California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc.
Provides free or low-cost legal assistance for LGBTQ families including assistance for gender and name changes.

The Center for Sexuality & Gender Diversity
The Center for Sexuality & Gender Diversity (The Center), formerly known as The Gay & Lesbian Center of Bakersfield, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving the LGBTQ community in Kern County. The Center is an easy access hub providing safe, supportive spaces and services to the LGBTQ community, and serving as a bridge to the greater community in Kern County.

PFLAG
PFLAG has over 400 chapters across the country and California. Provides support services and education especially for parents and families of LGBTQ+ youth. Find a chapter near you.

Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood delivers vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of women, men, and young people worldwide. See the local office in your county.

Save a Life Today (SALT)
SALT is a local nonprofit aimed at suicide prevention and to assist those bereaved by suicide.

Youth Empowerment Pride Project
Youth Empowerment Pride Project is dedicated to LGBTQ Youth Empowerment; to ensure safe spaces in the community, to gather and thrive as healthy individuals, while advocating for equality and celebrating diversity.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

Coast Unified School District
Vision and Mission statement is inclusive of LGBTQ+ students.

Bully Prevention and Education Resources
The Pleasant Valley Joint Union Elementary School District recognizes that bullying in schools is a serious matter that impacts student health and safety. Given this, the following resources and information are available to school and community members to assist in addressing bullying behavior and building safer learning environments.

Central Coast Coalition for Inclusive Schools
The Central Coast Coalition for Inclusive Schools actively supports the development of safe and affirming school communities.

San Luis Obispo Community Counseling Center
Their volunteer counselors see children, adolescents, and adults of all ages with a variety of problems including: anxiety, depression, eating disorders, marital and family issues, parenting, gay/lesbian issues, anger, grief, phobias, stress, and transitional issues that can be helped by short-term counseling.

Gala Pride Center
The Gala Pride and Diversity Center supports and empowers people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions to strengthen and unite our central coast community.

PFLAG
PFLAG has over 400 chapters across the country and California. Provides support services and education especially for parents and families of LGBTQ+ youth. Find a chapter near you.

Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood delivers vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of women, men, and young people worldwide. See the local office in your county.

Respect. Inspire. Support. Empower. (R.I.S.E.)
RISE is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that provides crisis intervention and treatment services to survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence and their loved ones. All services are provided confidentially, at low or no cost, to anyone regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability or citizenship status. All crisis services are available in Spanish and English.

Stand Strong
To support survivors and end domestic violence in San Luis Obispo County. Different forms of oppression are also connected. The sexism, homophobia and transphobia that fuel gender-based violence are interwoven with racism, xenophobia, and other types of oppression that devalue the lives of entire groups of people.

Tranz Central Coast
Tranz Central Coast (TCC) uses outreach and advocacy to help transgender and other gender-diverse people live authentic, productive and happy lives in a safe and affirming community.

SANTA BARBARA

Lompoc Unified School District
Bullying Module: Chapter 8: Bullying and LGBTQ Youth. LGBTQ and those youth perceived as LGBTQ are disproportionately harassed and bullied and continue to experience an increased risk of being bullied and cyberbullied.

Lompoc Pride Alliance
The Lompoc Pride Alliance, made up of LGBTQ+ individuals and allies, was formed with a stated goal of working together to help make Lompoc a safer and more welcoming city for the LGBTQ+ community through outreach, resources, support and advocacy.

Pacific Pride Foundation
Pacific Pride Foundation’s advocacy and education efforts meet the ongoing and emerging needs of a diverse population in order to create a thriving and visible LGBTQ+ community and to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS.

PFLAG
PFLAG has over 400 chapters across the country and California. Provides support services and education especially for parents and families of LGBTQ+ youth. Find a chapter near you.

Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood delivers vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of women, men, and young people worldwide. See the local office in your county.

Santa Barbara Transgender Advocacy Network
The Santa Barbara Transgender Advocacy Network educates individuals and organizations on best practices for transgender and gender expansive clients, patients, students, congregants and families; creates and develops spaces, actions, and policies that advance the welfare of transgender and diverse gender non-conforming individuals, their families, and allies in California's Central Coast communities.

VENTURA

Ventura County Office of Education Resources:

• The Comprehensive Health and Prevention Program (CHPP) provides resources and support for LGBTQ+ students.
• The Mental Health Program under the CHPP also offers trainings around mental health, which include suicide alertness, honoring LGBTQ+ identities, counselor’s collaboratives, and brief interventions.
• CHPP also houses the Bullying Prevention and Safe Schools program which provides resources for LGBTQ+ youth.
• And the Curriculum and Instruction, History/Social Science has resources for teaching the Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and Respectful (FAIR Act) Education Act.

Ojai Unified School District (PDF)
Ojai Unified School District maintains a LGBTQ+ resource list for students and their families in English and Spanish for Ventura County.

Oxnard Union High School District
Oxnard High School ASB Award Program has developed a mission to empower their students to be agents of change, and to partner with administration to build a culture of care. They’ve recognized their campus’ diversity with a Cultural Week and are excited to launch their next PRIDE Day in June. Last year, they were the first in the district to hold a day celebrating their LGBTQ+ community.

Simi Valley Unified School District
Simi Valley Unified School District maintains a LGBTQ+ resources page under Mental Health and Student Wellness.

Coalition for Family Harmony
The Coalition now offers free specialized counseling services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and general counseling to individuals who identify as LGBTQ in Ventura County.

Diversity Collective
A community-based 501(c)3 nonprofit governed by a volunteer board of directors and volunteer advisory board with a mission to promote advocacy, education, mental and physical health for the LGBTQ community and those affected by HIV and AIDS in Ventura County via our community resource center, programs, and community-building events.

Family & Friends Living United In Diversity
Dedicated to offering “streams'' of unconditional love, heartfelt support and quality resources to members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual and/or allies (LGBTQQIA+) community, their families and friends.

PFLAG
PFLAG has over 400 chapters across the country and California. Provides support services and education especially for parents and families of LGBTQ+ youth. Find a chapter near you.

Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood delivers vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of women, men, and young people worldwide. See the local office in your county.

The Pride Prom
Pride Prom of Ventura is an LGBTIQQA+ oriented prom that aims to promote individuality and acceptance among all orientations and gender identities while celebrating diversity and the strive for equality.

The Rainbow Umbrella Program
The Diversity Collective Youth Services Rainbow Umbrella Program, in conjunction with the Ventura County Behavioral Health, provides peer-based support for youth LGBTQ+ and allies aged thirteen though twenty-three.

Social Justice Fund for Ventura County
Social Justice Fund for Ventura County invests in community organizing—the process of bringing people together and helping them develop their voices, realize their power and collectively act to create real change in their lives and communities.

Unity Conejo
An all-volunteer group of parents, students, and community members committed to advocating for and informing the public of the needs of LGBTQ+ youth in our local schools.