Resources

BUSINESS RESOURCE PARTNERS

National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) is the business voice of the LGBTQ+ community, the largest advocacy organization dedicated to expanding economic opportunities and advancements for LGBTQ+ people, and the exclusive certifying body for LGBTQ+ owned businesses.

Patsy T. Mink Center For Business & Leadership(MCBL) helps equip all people to become successful entrepreneurs and leaders by providing one-on-one business counseling, innovative workshops and unique, specialized programs in a nurturing environment.

MCBL Toastmasters  The Mink Center for Business Leadership Toastmasters group.

MCBL Business Counseling  Free to low cost individual business counseling  — this is by appointment.

MCBL Legal Counseling  Free business legal counseling 30 minute sessions.

Hawaii Small Business Development Center  (SBDC)  Overview video here  Free, Professional Business Advisors Offering individual assistance, workshops and seminars, help with business planning, financial management, access to loans and capital, business and government contracting advice, research and analysis, strategic planning, cashflow, online business resources and other entrepreneurial resources offered statewide.

Small Business Administration Hawaii District (SBA)  SBA has many no-cost services which assist entrepreneurs with planning, launching, managing and growing your business. This includes workshops, seminars, research services, help with business plans, access to loans, help with selecting business legal structure, licenses, insurance, human resources, marketing and sales, government contracting assistance, grants, and many more resources.

RESEARCH + REPORTS

Community Marketing & Insights has provided lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBTQ+) research, market insights, strategies and training to corporate leaders, non-profits, universities and government institutions around the world since 1992.

GENERAL HAWAIʻI COMMUNITY GROUPS & RESOURCES

Hawaiʻi LGBT Legacy Foundation  The mission of the Hawai`i LGBT Legacy Foundation is to support, empower, educate, unify, and facilitate LGBT organizations and individuals in Hawaii.

North Shore Diversity Collective The North Shore Ko‘olau Diversity Collective is a grassroots effort working to ensure that our rural O‘ahu communities are welcoming, inclusive, and supportive of māhū, aikāne, and LGBTQ+ individuals, and proactive in challenging bigotry, disrespect, and invisibility.

Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival The Honolulu Gay & Lesbian Cultural Foundation was founded in 1997 as a non-profit 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to educate and raise awareness of the community-at-large about gay & lesbian culture, arts, and lifestyle. HGLCF presents the Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival annually in honor of Hawaii LGBTQ+ pioneer Adam Baran.

​University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa LGBTQ+ CenterThe LGBTQ+ Center strives to maintain a safe and inclusive campus environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. Our purpose is to empower students to create healthy living-learning communities, enhance interpersonal growth, and celebrate academic achievement.

Hawaii Health & Harm Reduction Center​ The HHHRC serves Hawai’i communities by reducing the harm and fighting the stigma of HIV, hepatitis, homelessness, substance use, mental illness, and poverty in our community. We focus our efforts on those disproportionately affected by social determinants of health, including but not limited to: people living with and/or affected by HIV, hepatitis, substance use, and the transgender, LGBT+ and the Native Hawaiian communities. We foster health, wellness, and systemic change in Hawai’i and the Pacific through care services, advocacy, training, prevention, education, and capacity building.

Lima Kokua We have lent our helping hands in support of a wide variety of non-political causes for more than 50 years, without consideration to gender, race, ancestry, national origin, religion, disability, age, marital status, or sexual orientation.

The Lavender Clinic We are an inclusive medical practice for ALL communities, ALL genders, and LGBTQIA+  friendly and supportive.

Domestic Violence Action Center (DVAC) for LGBTQ+ people Our goals at DVAC are to spread awareness about intimate partner violence (IPV), provide educational outreach, and share with the population of Oahu about DVAC’s advocacy and legal services and programs. DVAC focuses on helping victims of IPV, supports LGBTQ+ survivors of IPV to understand abuse better, provide a safe space and achieve safety, and help access relevant community resources. DVAC’s texting and website chat are 24/7. Call 808-534-0400 and ask for Khristine or connect via the www.stoptheviolence.com website or www.facebook.com/domesticviolenceactioncenter

ADVOCACY GROUPS

Human Rights Campaign (HRC) By inspiring and engaging individuals and communities, the Human Rights Campaign strives to end discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and realize a world that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all. HRC envisions a world where lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people plus community members who use different language to describe identity are ensured equality and embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) Every day GLSEN works to ensure that LGBTQ students are able to learn and grow in a school environment free from bullying and harassment. Together, we can transform our nation’s K-12 schools into the safe and affirming environment all youth deserve.

National Center for Transgender Equality 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.

National LGBTQ Task Force The National LGBTQ Task Force advances full freedom, justice and equality for LGBTQ people. We are building a future where everyone can be free to be their entire selves in every aspect of their lives. Today, despite all the progress we’ve made to end discrimination, millions of LGBTQ people face barriers in every aspect of their lives: in housing, employment, healthcare, retirement, and basic human rights. These barriers must go. That’s why the Task Force is training and mobilizing millions of activists across our nation to deliver a world where you can be you. Join us!

Out Leadership Out Leadership has been instrumental in making LGBTQ+ equality a priority in global C-Suites. We’ve done this through a singular focus on a demonstrable premise: Empowering LGBT+ people to lead is good for business.

The Trevor Project The Trevor Project provides crisis and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ+ young people under 25. They offer telephone and text and other immediate support.

LEGAL RESOURCES

Hawaii Civil Rights Commission. HCRC enforces state laws prohibiting discrimination in employment, public accommodations, and access to state and state-funded services. The HCRC receives, investigates, conciliates, and adjudicates complaints of discrimination.

American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii. ACLU of Hawai‘i works to ensure that the government does not violate fundamental constitutional rights of everyone — regardless of race, socioeconomic status, gender expression, sexual orientation, or anything else. We fight for smart justice reforms, abortion access, gender equity, the right to privacy. 

National Center for Lesbian Rights 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.

WORKPLACE UNION RESOURCES

Pride at Work Hawaii Pride At Work represents LGBTQ+ union members and their allies. We organize mutual support between the organized Labor Movement and the LGBTQ+ Community to further social and economic justice.

Unite Here! Local 5 Hawaiʻi (Sleep with the Right People) From the earliest days of Hawaii’s tourist industry, our union has led Hawaii hotel workers to fight for good, secure jobs with a future, in an industry where most workers around the world work below the poverty line.