Muslim Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity (MASGD) Resource Guide

MASGD has compiled a basic resource guide for LGBTQ+ Muslims. Each category provides a link to the organization’s website, a description of what services they provide, and includes annotations that specify if they are geared towards Muslim people of specific descent/identities (e.g. Black, South Asian, South West Asian, or North African) or if they have resources to accommodate our diverse and complex identities and experiences. 
**All included providers/services/resources have been minimally vetted in terms of quality of experience for LGBTQ Muslim people. Please note this list is not comprehensive and MASGD as an organization does not expressly endorse any of the following providers/services. This guide does not replace counseling or other forms of therapy and is simply offered as a community resource that we hope to build upon in the future. If there is a resource you are aware of that you don't see listed here, please contact us at hey@themasgd.org. 
The National Center for Transgender Equality advocates to change policies and society to increase understanding and acceptance of transgender people. In the nation’s capital and throughout the country, NCTE works to replace disrespect, discrimination, and violence with empathy, opportunity, and justice.

Location

National, United States

Contact

Address: National Center for Transgender Equality, 1133 19th St NW, Suite 302, Washington D.C. 20036 
Phone: 202-642-4542
Email: ncte@transequality.org 
NCTE Contact Form

What can they help me with?

  • LEGAL: NCTE created the Trans Legal Services Network to ensure that every transgender person has access to assistance navigating the complicated name and gender change process and any other legal issues they may face. 
  • Issues: From schools and healthcare to immigration and identification, policies affecting trans people are advancing every day. Find the latest information about existing laws and policies, and how you can improve the laws and policies in your area.
    • Health & HIV: Laws that affect transgender people including those living with HIV & AIDS.
    • Housing & Homelessness: Info on accessing housing, including best practices for homeless shelters and others.
    • Immigration: immigration reform from a transgender perspective, and laws and policies concerning detention, deportation and asylum.
  • Health Coverage Self-Help Guides: Use this guide to help you navigate the process of getting your transition-related health care covered.
Oasis Legal Services proudly provides quality legal immigration services to under-represented low-income groups with a focus on LGBTQIA+ communities. By acknowledging, respecting, and honoring their struggles, they empower immigrants so that dignity grows and integrity blooms.

Location

National, United States

Contact

Address: 1900 Addison St., Suite 100, Berkeley, CA 94704
Phone: (510) 666-6687
Email: info@oasislegalservices.org 
Speaking Engagement Requests: legal@oasislegalservices.org 

What can they help me with?

  • LEGAL: are a nonprofit 501(c)(3)organization providing comprehensive legal services to assist LGBTQIA+ immigrants. Their services include: Screening for immigration relief, Affirmative asylum, Residency, Citizenship, Family petitions.
  • IMMIGRATION: They provide a safe haven for the LGBTQIA+ immigrant community fleeing persecution. They have over 35 years of combined professional experience in immigration legal services for the LGBTQIA+ community, and they’ve helped over 700 LGBTQIA+ immigrants obtain asylum in the United States with a 99% success rate.
Transgender Law Center (TLC) is the largest national trans-led organization advocating for a world in which all people are free to define themselves and their futures. Grounded in legal expertise and committed to racial justice, TLC employs a variety of community-driven strategies to keep transgender and gender nonconforming people alive, thriving, and fighting for liberation.

Location

National, United States

Contact

Address: Transgender Law Center, PO Box 70976, Oakland, CA 94612-0976
Phone: 510-587-9696 
Collect Line for People in Prison & Detention: 510-380-8229

What can they help me with?

  • LEGAL: By maintaining a robust collection of resources and publications, TLC does their best to guide you through some of the more common legal challenges and questions transgender people encounter. If you can’t find an answer in their publications, their Legal Help Desk is here to respond to your questions and refer you to other resources and members of our pro bono network for support.
    • The Legal Information Helpline provides basic information about laws and policies that affect transgender people across many areas, including employment, health care, housing, civil rights, immigration, prisoners’ rights, and identity document changes. Submit requests here. 
  • IMMIGRATION: TLC has resources for people personally navigating the immigration system, trans people preparing communities for ICE raids, and advocates working to educate asylum judges and policymakers on the unique conditions trans migrants face.
  • HOUSING: TLC provides information about relevant housing laws and fights for protections.
  • Black LGBTQIA+ Migrant Project (BLMP)
Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund is committed to ending discrimination based upon gender identity and expression and to achieving equality for transgender people through public education, test-case litigation, direct legal services, and public policy efforts.

Location

National, United States

Contact

Address: Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund, Inc., 520 8th Avenue, Suite 2204, New York, New York 10018
Phone: 646.862.9396
Email: info@transgenderlegal.org 
Social Media  

What can they help me with?

  • LEGAL: Founded in 2003, Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to end discrimination and achieve equality for transgender people, particularly those in our most vulnerable communities.
    • TLDEF's Name Change Project connects low-income trans and non-binary people with pro bono attorneys to assist with legal name changes.
    • The Trans Health Project takes a comprehensive, systematic approach to expanding access to transgender-related health care by educating affected individuals about their legal rights; cultivating a robust movement to achieve health care equity; expanding enforcement of existing legal protections; and driving clinical policy changes among insurance carriers.
Their firm has a long history of promoting and educating the public on issues of social justice and public safety. 

Location

National, United States
Specifically: Florida, Minnesota, Texas, and Colorado 

Contact

Address: Multiple Locations 
Phone: 866-935-9120 
Online:  https://florinroebig.com/contact/ 

What can they help me with?

  • LEGAL: The guide linked below offers an important overview of the types of discrimination LGBTQ individuals face in the United States and their legal protections.
  • If you’ve experienced discrimination, Florin|Roebig has a team of attorneys that have the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to help you navigate your state’s LGBTQ nondiscrimination laws and begin the process of filing a discrimination lawsuit.
Immigration Equality is America’s leading LGBTQ and HIV-positive immigrant rights organization.

Location

National, United States

Contact

Phone: (212) 714-2904

What can they help me with?

Immigrant Legal Resource Center

The increasingly complex legal and social challenges faced by immigrants in the 1970s created a growing need for expert assistance and training in immigration law and policy. Bill Ong Hing, a well-known immigrant rights attorney, recognized this need and founded the Golden Gate Immigration Clinic in 1979, which later became the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC). The ILRC seeks to improve immigration law and policy, expand the capacity of legal service providers, and advance immigrant rights. 

Location

National, United States

Contact

Main Office: 1458 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone: (415) 255-9499
ILRC Contact Form   

What can they help me with?

Website

Lambda Legal, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.

Location

National, United States

Contact

National Address: 120 Wall Street, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10005-3919
Other Offices: https://www.lambdalegal.org/about-us/contact-us  
Phone: 212-809-8585

What can they help me with?

NCLR is a national legal organization committed to advancing the civil and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families through litigation, legislation, policy, and public education. 

Location

National, United States

Contact

Address: 870 Market Street Suite 370, San Francisco CA 94102
Legal Helpline: 415.392.6257 or 1.800.528.6257
Email: Info@NCLRights.org  

What can they help me with?

  • LEGAL: They  are a non-profit, public interest law firm that litigates precedent-setting cases at the trial and appellate court levels; advocates for equitable public policies affecting the LGBTQ community; provides free legal assistance to LGBTQ people and their legal advocates; and conducts community education on LGBTQ issues.
    • IMMIGRATION: NCLR was the first national LGBTQ organization to have an Immigration Project, which started in 1994, the same year the U.S. recognized that immigrants facing persecution on the basis of their sexual orientation could seek protection as refugees and asylees. Since then, NCLR’s Immigration Project has advanced immigration law and assisted thousands of LGBTQ immigrants in obtaining legal status in the U.S.
    • HOUSING: NCLR fights for the right of LGBTQ people to obtain housing and buy goods and services from businesses that are open to the public without fear of discrimination or harassment.
  • Youth: Through public education, training, policy advocacy and litigation, NCLR works to ensure that all LGBTQ youth are safe and able to live openly with the support they need to thrive and reach their full potential. (includes programming for Trangender Youth and Foster Care). 
  • Resources & Publications. 
The Creating Law Enforcement Accountability & Responsibility (CLEAR) project’s mandate is to support Muslim, Arab, South Asian, and all other communities in the New York City area and beyond that are targeted by local, state, or federal government agencies under the guise of national security and counterterrorism.

Location

New York City, New York

Contact

Address: CLEAR Project, Main Street Legal Services, Inc., CUNY School of Law, 2 Court Square, Long Island City, NY 11101
Email: cunyclear@law.cuny.edu
Phone: (718) 340-4558
Online: https://www.cunyclear.org/contact 

What can they help me with?

  • LEGAL: CLEAR provides free legal representation and a broad range of other services in support of partner communities and movements. 
  • CLEAR provides three primary services free of charge: legal representation and consultation; know-your-rights workshops; and support for community organizing.
  • Know Your Rights information
Through strategic litigation, public policy advocacy, and education, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders works in New England and nationally to create a just society free of discrimination based on gender identity and expression, HIV status, and sexual orientation.

Location

New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont), United States

Contact

Address: GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, 18 Tremont, Suite 950, Boston, MA 02108
Phone: 617-426-1350
Email: gladlaw@glad.org

What can they help me with?

  • LEGAL: Since 1978, GLAD’s bold litigation has achieved scores of precedent-setting victories on behalf of LGBTQ people and those living with HIV.
    • Lawyer Referrals: GLAD can help you find an attorney in New England through their Lawyer Referral Service (LRS).
    • Transgender ID Project: Transgender people living in New England seeking to update their legal name and gender on federal and state documents can receive free legal representation through this rapid-response program.
  • Know your rights: Search their online resources for information about LGBTQ and HIV rights across New England and beyond. Also includes information on issues such as Employment, Immigration, Healthcare, and more. Can also filter by state.
The Sylvia Rivera Law Project (SRLP) works to guarantee that all people are free to self-determine their gender identity and expression, regardless of income or race, and without facing harassment, discrimination, or violence.  

Location

New York City, New York

Contact

Address: 147 W 24th St, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10011, Between 7th Avenue and 6th Avenue
Phone: 212-337-8550
Email: info@srlp.org 
Online: https://srlp.org/about/contact/

What can they help me with?

WEST COAST

BALIF

Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom (BALIF) is the nation's oldest and largest association of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQI) persons in the field of law. Founded in 1980, BALIF represents its members’ interests in the wider San Francisco Bay Area. BALIF members and supporters include San Francisco Bay Area judges, lawyers, law students and legal workers.

Location

San Francisco, California

Contact

Address: P.O. Box 193383, San Francisco, CA 94119
Phone: 415.874.3045
Email: balif@balif.org  

What can they help me with?

  • The BALIF Foundation was founded to complement the great work BALIF has achieved over 35 years.  BALIF was originally founded to increase the number of LGBTQI judges on the bench. Today, BALIF offers a wide range of programming to support its LGBTQI member judges, public servants, private attorneys, and law students.  The Foundation was created to serve as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization for BALIF and is dedicated to increasing the number of LGBTQI judges on the bench through educational programming, supporting LGBTQI community organizations, and providing scholarships, summer stipends, and fellowships for LGBTQI law students and young attorneys seeking to help the LGBTQI community through legal work. 
BayLegal is committed to providing meaningful access to the civil justice system through quality legal assistance regardless of a client’s location, language or disability.
Bay Area Legal Aid serves clients through regional offices in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties. 

Location

Bay Area, California

Contact

Address: 1735 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: 510-663-4755
Legal Advice Line: 800-551-5554 
Additional Hotlines & Offices: https://baylegal.org/get-help/  
 

What can they help me with?

  • LEGAL: For thousands of low income Bay Area residents, justice is not an abstract ideal. It is food, shelter and protection. It is the difference between staying in poverty and getting out; between dependence and self-reliance. But without help, justice is often denied. Bay Area Legal Aid provides wraparound legal services to help our clients protect their families, their health, and their livelihoods.
    • HEALTH: Their Health Consumer Center provides legal advice, advocacy, and counsel to help people enroll or obtain services from public and private health insurance programs
    • HOUSING: BayLegal serves as the Bay Area’s leading provider of legal aid to individuals facing discrimination in housing. BayLegal represents people discriminated against in housing on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, disability, sexual orientation, family status or other protected classes.
    • IMMIGRATION: They provide comprehensive legal services to immigrant survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in collaboration with community partners to ensure the safety and wellbeing for our clients and their children.
  • Safety: They provide legal help to ensure Bay Area residents live in safe homes, free from violence
Founded in 1969, Centro Legal de la Raza is a legal services agency protecting and advancing the rights of low-income, immigrant, Black, and Latinx communities through bilingual legal representation, education, and advocacy. By combining quality legal services with know-your-rights education and youth development, Centro Legal de la Raza ensures access to justice for thousands of individuals throughout Northern and Central California.

Location

Northern & Central California

Contact

Address: 3022 International Blvd., 4th Floor, Oakland, CA 94601
Phone: 510-437-1554
Email: info@centrolegal.org 

What can they help me with?

  • IMMIGRATION: Centro Legal Operates Multiple Immigration Clinics. No appointment necessary. 
    • If you see Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) in action, suspect ICE activity in progress, or if you are detained or someone you know is detained by ICE, call ACILEP for rapid response and immigration legal services. 
  • LEGAL: Their removal defense practice specializes in cases that are urgent and often involve novel legal issues. Centro Legal’s immigration team has expertise in complex detained cases, including individuals deemed mentally incompetent by the court and appointed counsel.
    • HOUSING: The Tenants’ Rights Practice strives to stop displacement and stabilize our communities through eviction defense, drop-in legal clinics, affirmative litigation, policy advocacy and administrative hearings before rent boards.
    • The Workers’ Rights Program provides legal services to all low-wage workers, regardless of immigration status. By sharing their legal expertise with the broader community, we aim to give workers and other advocates the tools to address workplace violations.
    • Centro Legal de la Raza’s Litigation team works with all their legal programs to represent low-income and immigrant workers, tenants, and other clients and communities in affirmative and impact lawsuits to protect their rights and improve conditions more broadly. 
  • Drop In Clinics information.