Resources

This page is a growing directory of resources for LGBTQ+ people living in West Virginia. We’ve gathered a mix of statewide organizations, local groups, and trusted national services that can help you find support and take the next step, wherever you are in your journey.

We do our best to keep this information accurate and up to date, but resources can change. If you see something that needs to be updated, or if you’re not sure where to start, choose the section that best matches what you need right now. Many of these organizations can also help connect you to additional local support.

If you want to add your resources to our listing, please contact jack@fairnesswv.org

Crisis & Immediate Help

The Trevor Project

The Trevor Project Crisis Line provides free, confidential, 24/7 crisis support for LGBTQ+ young people under 25 who are feeling overwhelmed, unsafe, or in need of someone to talk to. Trained counselors offer support via phone, text, and online chat, no matter where someone is in their journey or what they’re facing.

How to connect:

Trans Lifeline

Trans Lifeline is a peer-support hotline staffed by and for transgender and nonbinary people, offering a compassionate, identity-affirming space to talk about distress, crisis, questions about gender, or just needing someone who understands. It provides confidential support and can help callers feel heard and connected to community resources.

How to connect:

National Sexual Assault Hotline

Operated by the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), the National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support for survivors of sexual violence, as well as for friends and family seeking guidance. Trained advocates provide crisis support, help survivors understand their options, and can connect callers to local resources, including rape crisis centers in West Virginia.

How to connect:

  • 📞 Call 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)

Rape Crisis Center Network in West Virginia

The West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services (WVFRIS) maintains a comprehensive statewide directory of rape crisis centers that provide confidential support and services to survivors of sexual assault, including advocacy, counseling, medical accompaniment, and links to local resources. This list helps people find nearby crisis centers throughout West Virginia so survivors can access timely, affirming care.

How to connect:

Housing, Food & Economic Support

Project Rainbow

Project Rainbow is a nonprofit in Morgantown dedicated to addressing LGBTQ+ homelessness and housing instability by providing low-barrier, affirming support and shelter for unhoused LGBTQ+ individuals. In 2023, the organization opened The Rainbow House, West Virginia’s first emergency shelter specifically designed to be a safe, welcoming space where queer and trans people can find temporary housing, supportive services, and connections to long-term housing resources, mental health care, employment help, and other wrap-around support.

How to connect:

211 West Virginia

211 West Virginia is a free, confidential information and referral service that helps people connect with local supports for housing assistance, food resources, utility help, transportation, financial aid, healthcare, and more. Available statewide, 211 WV staff can quickly link callers to services in their community, including emergency shelters, food pantries, rent/mortgage support programs, and social service agencies, without having to search multiple agencies on their own.

How to connect:

  • 📞 Dial 211 from any phone (free and available 24/7)

  • 🌐 Visit https://www.211wv.org/ to search services online or find additional contact options.

West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness

The West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness works to prevent and end homelessness across the state by connecting people in crisis with housing resources, coordinating statewide efforts, and supporting local service providers. Through its Coordinated Entry system, the Coalition helps individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness or at risk find emergency shelter, housing assistance referrals, and long-term stability supports. It also brings together service providers, government agencies, and community partners to advocate for lasting solutions to housing insecurity in West Virginia. 

How to connect:

Youth, Students & Families

Farness WV’s Safe & Healthy Schools Initiative

FWV’s Safe & Healthy Schools Initiative works to ensure that LGBTQ+ students in West Virginia can learn in safe, supportive, and affirming school environments. The initiative provides training, resources, and support for educators, students, and families; partners with GSAs and school communities; and advocates for policies and practices that reduce bullying and discrimination while promoting student well-being and belonging.

Learn more and access all of our resources for youth, families, and educators here.

Appalachian Queer Youth Summit

The Appalachian Queer Youth Summit is an annual, youth-centered gathering for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults in the Appalachian region. Participants can expect a supportive, affirming experience that includes workshops, leadership development, community-building activities, and opportunities to connect with peers and mentors from across Appalachia. The Summit centers queer and trans voices while celebrating identity, resilience, and collective power.

AQYS is open to LGBTQ+ youth and young adults (typically middle school through early adulthood, depending on the year). Participation usually requires an application, with options for scholarships or free attendance. Application details, eligibility, and deadlines are announced each year through the Summit’s website and social media channels.

How to connect:

Community & Connection

West Virginia Transgender Coalition (WV Trans Coalition)

The WV Trans Coalition is a grassroots organization dedicated to supporting, empowering, and advocating for transgender and gender-diverse people across West Virginia. They build community and advance trans rights through education, outreach, peer support, and policy advocacy. The Coalition hosts monthly meetings over Zoom and operates an active Discord server where members can connect, share resources, and support one another in a welcoming, affirming space.

How to connect:

Pride Network

West Virginia is home to a wide network of local Pride groups that host community-centered events throughout the year, including Pride festivals, social gatherings, educational programs, and family-friendly activities. These organizations create opportunities for LGBTQ+ people and allies to connect, celebrate, and build community in towns and regions across the state.

Rainbow Pride of WV, based in Charleston
Website: https://www.rainbowpridewv.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RainbowPrideWV

Huntington Pride
Website: https://www.huntingtonpride.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HuntingtonWVPride

Morgantown Pride
Website: https://morgantownwvpride.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorgantownWVPride

The Friendlier City Project, based in Wheeling
Website: https://friendliercityproject.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefriendliercityproject/

Parkersburg Pride
Website: https://www.parkersburgpride.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PKBPride

Fairmont Pride
Website: https://fairmontpride.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fairmontpride

Legal Help & Know-Your-Rights

Name & Gender Change Guide

Fairness West Virginia has created the Name & Gender Change Guide, a step-by-step resource designed to help West Virginians navigate the process of updating their legal name and gender markers on identification documents like driver’s licenses, birth certificates, and other crucial IDs. It explains recent changes to the process and outlines what paperwork and steps are involved so that people — including transgender and nonbinary individuals and survivors seeking a fresh start — can obtain IDs that accurately reflect who they are.

Access the guide:

Legal Aid of West Virginia

Legal Aid of West Virginia is a statewide nonprofit civil legal services organization that provides free legal help and advocacy to eligible West Virginians who might otherwise lack access to justice. They serve low-income individuals and families, victims of domestic violence, seniors, people with disabilities, and others with limited resources. Their attorneys and advocates assist with a wide range of civil (non-criminal) legal issues, including housing problems, domestic violence and protective orders, access to government benefits, divorce and custody where safety is involved, unemployment issues, bankruptcy and credit problems, and more.

Legal Aid helps clients by providing legal information, advice, referrals, and, when appropriate, representation in court — all at no cost (though there may be filing fees for court documents). Legal Aid has multiple regional offices throughout West Virginia, and you can call the helpline or apply online to start the intake process.

How to contact Legal Aid:

ACLU of West Virginia

The ACLU of West Virginia is the state affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, working to defend and expand civil liberties and constitutional rights for all West Virginians, including LGBTQ+ individuals. They focus on issues such as free speech, equal protection, privacy, due process, discrimination, and government overreach, using impact litigation, policy advocacy, public education, and community engagement to protect rights statewide. Some cases may involve legal support for systemic civil rights violations, though the ACLU-WV evaluates potential cases carefully based on broader impact.

Note: The ACLU-WV generally does not provide legal advice over the phone, so reviewing intake procedures on their site before contacting is recommended.

How to contact or request help:

West Virginia Human Rights Commission (WVHRC)

The West Virginia Human Rights Commission is the state agency responsible for enforcing West Virginia’s Human Rights Act and investigating complaints of discrimination in areas such as employment, housing, and public accommodations. Some LGBTQ+ people have found success pursuing complaints through the Commission, particularly in cases involving sex-based discrimination. However, West Virginia law does not explicitly include sexual orientation or gender identity as protected classes, which can limit how cases are interpreted and the outcomes available. Individuals considering filing a complaint may benefit from seeking legal guidance to understand their options.

How to connect:

Lambda Legal Help Desk

Lambda Legal is a national civil rights organization for LGBTQ+ people. Lambda Legal’s Help Desk provides free, confidential legal information and support for LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV who are experiencing discrimination or have questions about their rights. The Help Desk can offer guidance, self-advocacy resources, and referrals related to issues like employment, housing, healthcare, family law, education, and identity documents.

How to connect:

National Center for LGBTQ Rights – “Get Help” Resources

The National Center for LGBTQ Rights (formerly the National Center for Lesbian Rights) offers a legal help and information portal designed to assist LGBTQ+ people across the United States with a range of legal concerns. Through the “Get Help” page, individuals can use issue-specific online forms (such as for custody disputes, separation or divorce, immigration/asylum, or other legal issues) to provide information about their situation and request support. They also operate a Legal Helpline staffed by legal professionals who can offer information, guidance, and referrals that help people understand their legal options and connect with affirming attorneys. nclrights.org

How to connect:


Transgender Law Center — Legal Information Helpdesk

The Transgender Law Center (TLC) is the largest national trans-led civil rights organization working to advance safety, autonomy, and justice for transgender and gender-nonconforming people across the United States. Their Legal Information Helpdesk provides basic information about laws and policies that affect transgender people — including topics like employment, housing, healthcare, civil rights, immigration, prisoners’ rights, and identity document changes — and offers guidance and referrals to other resources when needed. While the Helpdesk does not provide individualized legal representation, it helps people understand their legal options and connects them with affirming support.

How to connect:


Immigration Equality

Immigration Equality is a national nonprofit that provides legal support and advocacy for LGBTQ+ and HIV-positive immigrants, including help with asylum, visas, family-based immigration, and more. They offer guidance, referrals, and direct legal services to help navigate the U.S. immigration system with dignity and expertise.

How to connect: