LGBTQ Resources in SE Wisconsin

Resources provided by the LGBT Center of SE Wisconsin:

  • Advocacy: We are here to help and assist you with support, referrals, and finding legal services.
  • Support Groups: Our virtual support groups have guests from Racine and Kenosha as far as Madison and Green Bay, so don’t let distance stop you from joining our community.
  • Safe Zone Training: We offer Safe Zone training in-person and virtually, statewide and regionally.

Asset Map of important resources, organizations, businesses, and community leaders in the city of Racine, WI.

Safe Zone Training at our LGBT Center, available for your business or organization

Support Groups at our LGBT Center for adults, youth, families, and allies

Racine County Network of Care website to find services and resources near you

Gender Spectrum – Education about gender identity 

PFLAG (Milwaukee, WI) – For Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbian and Gays

GLSEN – Supporting k-12 schools with LGBTQIA+ resources 

GLAAD’s LGBTQ Resource List – a comprehensive resources page

Human Rights Campaign – Research, resources, and campaigns for equality

Trans Legislation Tracker – Tracking the rise of anti-trans bills in the U.S.

Aging & Disability Resource Center (Kenosha, WI) Phone: 262-605-6646 – No-cost, “one-stop shop” for older people, people with disabilities, their families, guardians, and caregivers.

Aging & Disability Resource Center (Racine, WI) Phone: 262-833-8777 – Free, accurate, unbiased information on all aspects of life related to aging or living with a disability.

Youth Shelters

Safe Haven (Racine, WI) – Group home for youth through age 17 in need of emergency shelter

Adult Shelters

HALO (Racine, WI) – Emergency shelter, food, mental health services, and self-sufficiency planning

Hopes Center (Racine, WI) – Rapid rehousing and rental assistance along with mental health support

Shalom Center (Kenosha, WI) – Shelter, food, and career assistance

Terms & Definitions

AFAB

AFAB: an acronym meaning “assigned female at birth” (also designated female at birth or female assigned at birth). No one, whether cis or trans, gets to choose what sex they’re assigned at birth. This term is preferred to “biological female”, “female bodied”, “natal female”, and “born female”, which are defamatory and inaccurate.

Agender

Agender: an encompassing term describing many different genders of people who commonly do not have a gender and/or have a gender that they describe as neutral. Many agender people are trans. As a new and quickly-evolving term, it is best you ask how someone defines agender for themselves.

Ally

Ally: Someone who advocates and supports a community other than their own. Allies are not part of the communities they help. A person should not self-identify as an ally but show that they are one through action.

AMAB

AMAB: an acronym meaning “assigned male at birth” (also designated male at birth or male assigned at birth). No one, whether cis or trans, gets to choose what sex they’re assigned at birth. This term is preferred to “biological male/female”, “male bodied”, “natal male”, and “born male”, which are defamatory and inaccurate.

Aromantic

Aromantic: The lack of romantic attraction, and one identifying with this orientation. This may be used as an umbrella term for other emotional attractions such as demiromantic. People may refer themselves as “A-spec” to indicate they are within the asexual/aromantic spectrum.

Asexual

Asexual: The lack of a sexual attraction, and one identifying with this orientation. This may be used as an umbrella term for other sexual attractions such as demisexual. People may refer themselves as “A-spec” to indicate they are within the asexual/aromantic spectrum.

Bigender

Bigender: Refers to those who identify as two genders. Can also identify as multigender (identifying as two or more genders). Do not confuse this term with Two-Spirit, which is specifically associated with Native American and First Nations cultures.

Binary

Binary: Used as an adjective to describe the genders female/male or woman/man. Since the binary genders are the only ones recognized by general society as being legitimate, they enjoy an (unfairly) privileged status.

Bisexuality

Bisexuality: An umbrella term for people who experience sexual and/or emotional attraction to more than one gender (pansexual, fluid, omnisexual, queer, etc).

Boi

Boi: A term used within the queer communities of color to refer to sexual orientation, gender, and/or aesthetic among people assigned female at birth. Boi often designates queer women who present with masculinity (although, this depends on location and usage). This term originated in women of color communities.

Bottom surgery

Bottom surgery: Genital surgeries such as vaginoplasty, phalloplasty, or metoidioplasty.

Butch

Butch: An identity or presentation that leans towards masculinity. Butch can be an adjective (she’s a butch woman), a verb (he went home to “butch up”), or a noun (they identify as a butch). Although commonly associated with masculine queer/lesbian women, it’s used by many to describe a distinct gender identity and/or expression, and does not necessarily imply that one also identifies as a woman or not.

Cisgender (Cis)

Cisgender/Cis: Adjective that means “identifies as their sex assigned at birth” derived from the Latin word meaning “on the same side.” A cisgender/cis person is not transgender. “Cisgender” does not indicate biology, gender expression, or sexuality/sexual orientation. In discussions regarding trans issues, one would differentiate between women who are trans and women who aren’t by saying trans women and cis women. Cis is not a “fake” word and is not a slur. Note that cisgender does not have an “ed” at the end.

Cissexism

Cissexism: Systemic prejudice in the favor of cisgender people.

Cross-dressing

Cross-dressing (crossdressing): The act of dressing and presenting as a different gender. One who considers this an integral part of their identity may identify as a cross-dresser. “Transvestite” is often considered a pejorative term with the same meaning. Drag performers are cross-dressing performers who take on stylized, exaggerated gender presentations (although not all drag performers identify as cross-dressers). Cross-dressing and drag are forms of gender expression and are not necessarily tied to erotic activity, nor are they indicative of one’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Do NOT use these terms to describe someone who has transitioned or intends to do so in the future.

Drag

Drag: Exaggerated, theatrical, and/or performative gender presentation. Although most commonly used to refer to cross-dressing performers (drag queens and drag kings), anyone of any gender can do any form of drag. Doing drag does not necessarily have anything to do with one’s sex assigned at birth, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

Dyadic

Dyadic: Not Intersex.

Equality

Equality: A state in which everyone is equal. This ignores difference in identity/community and history. Read why we changed our name from “equality” to “educational.”

Equity, Liberation, Justice

Equity/Liberation/Justice: A state in which all marginalized communities are free. This differs greatly from equality. Read TSER director’s Eli Erlick’s article on why equality hurts the transgender movement

Femme

Femme: An identity or presentation that leans towards femininity. Femme can be an adjective (he’s a femme boy), a verb (she feels better when she “femmes up”), or a noun (they’re a femme). Although commonly associated with feminine lesbian/queer women, it’s used by many to describe a distinct gender identity and/or expression, and does not necessarily imply that one also identifies as a woman or not.

Gender

Gender: A set of cultural constructs describing characteristics that may historically be related to femininity, masculinity, women, men, nonbinary people, or social norms. The term was coined in 1955 by sexologist John Money after noting the difference between gender and sex.

Gender Affirming Surgery

Gender Affirming Surgery; Genital Reassignment/Reconstruction Surgery; Vaginoplasty; Phalloplasty; Metoidioplasty: Refers to surgical alteration, and is only one part of some trans people’s transition (see “Transition” above). Only the minority of transgender people choose to and can afford to have genital surgery. The following terms are inaccurate, offensive, or outdated: sex change operation, gender reassignment/realignment surgery (gender is not changed due to surgery), gender confirmation/confirming surgery (genitalia do not confirm gender), and sex reassignment/realignment surgery (as it insinuates a single surgery is required to transition along with sex being an ambiguous term).

Gender Binary

The Gender Binary: A system of viewing gender as consisting solely of two, opposite categories, termed “male and female”, in which no other possibilities for gender or anatomy are believed to exist. This system is oppressive to anyone who defies their sex assigned at birth, but particularly those who are gender-variant or do not fit neatly into one of the two standard categories.

Gender Dysphoria

Gender Dysphoria: Anxiety and/or discomfort regarding one’s sex assigned at birth.

Gender Expression

Gender Expression: The physical manifestation of one’s gender identity through clothing, hairstyle, voice, body shape, etc. (typically referred to as masculine or feminine). Many transgender people seek to make their gender expression (how they look) match their gender identity (who they are), rather than their sex assigned at birth. Someone with a gender nonconforming gender expression may or may not be transgender.

Gender Fluid

Gender Fluid: A changing or “fluid” gender identity.

Gender Identity

Gender Identity: One’s internal sense of being male, female, neither of these, both, or other gender(s). Everyone has a gender identity, including you. For transgender people, their sex assigned at birth and their gender identity are not necessarily the same.

Gender Identity Disorder (GID)

Gender Identity Disorder / GID: A controversial DSM-III and DSM-IV diagnosis given to transgender and other gender-nonconforming people. Because it labels people as “disordered,” Gender Identity Disorder is often considered offensive. The diagnosis is frequently given to children who don’t conform to expected gender norms in terms of dress, play or behavior. Such children are often subjected to intense psychotherapy, behavior modification and/or institutionalization. This term was replaced by the term “gender dysphoria” in the DSM-5.

Gender Presentation

Gender Presentation: A synonym of Gender Expression.

Genderqueer

Genderqueer: An identity commonly used by people who do not identify or express their gender within the gender binary. Those who identify as genderqueer may identify as neither male nor female, may see themselves as outside of or in between the binary gender boxes, or may simply feel restricted by gender labels. Many genderqueer people are cisgender and identify with it as an aesthetic. Not everyone who identifies as genderqueer identifies as trans or nonbinary.

Heteronormative / Heteronormativity

Heteronormative / Heteronormativity: These terms refer to the assumption that heterosexuality is the norm, which plays out in interpersonal interactions and society and furthers the marginalization of queer people.

Intersex

Intersex: Describing a person with a less common combination of hormones, chromosomes, and anatomy that are used to assign sex at birth. There are many examples such as Klinefelter Syndrome, Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome, and Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia. Parents and medical professionals usually coercively assign intersex infants a sex and have, in the past, been medically permitted to perform surgical operations to conform the infant’s genitalia to that assignment. This practice has become increasingly controversial as intersex adults speak out against the practice. The term intersex is not interchangeable with or a synonym for transgender (although some intersex people do identify as transgender).

LGBT

LGBT: A shorthand way to describe the entire queer community, which stands for “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender.”

LGBTQ+

LGBTQ+: A common way to describe the queer community, which adds a “Q” for Queer and a plus sign to represent the many varieties of sexual orientation and gender identity not reflected by this acronym.

LGBTQIA+

LGBTQIA+: This longer version also adds an “I” for Intersex, and “A” for Asexual, two important groups in the queer community who are often overlooked. Our Safe Zone Training uses this version of the acronym to explain the many pieces of the queer community.

Monosexual / Multisexual / Non-monosexual

Monosexual / Multisexual / Non-monosexual: Umbrella terms for orientations directed towards one gender (monosexual) or multiple genders (multisexual/non-monosexual).

Neopronouns

Neopronouns: This translates to “new pronouns,” and it describes pronouns used that don’t adhere to past social use, thus making them “new.” Some people use “it/its” pronouns rather than “they/them,” sometimes as an act of reclaiming a slur (trans people are often called “it” as an act of hatred, so using that exact word makes some feel empowered). Another neopronoun is “ze/hir,” which sounds intentionally reminiscent of the words “he” and “her” so that they’re easy to learn, while also applying no clear gender to their meaning.

Nonbinary / Non-Binary

Nonbinary / Non-Binary: Preferred umbrella term for all genders other than female/male or woman/man, used as an adjective (e.g. Jesse is a nonbinary person). Not all nonbinary people identify as trans and not all trans people identify as nonbinary. Sometimes (and increasingly), nonbinary can be used to describe the aesthetic/presentation/expression of a cisgender or transgender person.

Packing

Packing: Wearing a penile prosthesis.

Pansexual

Pansexual: Capable of being attracted to many/any gender(s). Sometimes the term omnisexual is used in the same manner. “Pansexual” is being used more and more frequently as more people acknowledge that gender is not binary. Sometimes, the identity fails to recognize that one cannot know individuals with every existing gender identity.

Passing / Blending / Assimilating

Passing / Blending / Assimilating: Being perceived by others as a particular identity/gender or cisgender regardless how the individual in question identifies, e.g. passing as straight, passing as a cis woman, passing as a youth. This term has become controversial as “passing” can imply that one is not genuinely what they are passing as.

Polysexual

Polysexual: Capable of being attracted to multiple gender(s).

Pronouns

Pronouns: The words we use to refer to someone when not using their name, often “she/her,” “he/him,” or “they/them” (see neopronouns for more). The pronouns we use reflect what gender we see someone to be, so using the wrong ones can be hurtful for anyone, whether they’re cisgender or transgender. If you identify as a woman but people only refer to you as “him,” it feels like they aren’t respecting or believing you. So when interacting with anyone, and transgender or nonbinary people especially, it’s important to understand what pronouns they use for themselves so that you can refer to them with dignity and respect.

Queer

Queer: General term for gender and sexual minorities who are not cisgender and/or heterosexual. There is a lot of overlap between queer and trans identities, but not all queer people are trans and not all trans people are queer. The word queer is still sometimes used as a hateful slur, so although it has mostly been reclaimed, be careful with its use.

Sex

Sex: A set of characteristics associated with reproduction and biology that generally assign individuals into categories of “male” and “female.” Also see: sex assigned at birth.

Sex Assigned at Birth

Sex Assigned At Birth: The assignment and classification of people as male, female, intersex, or another sex assigned at birth often based on physical anatomy at birth and/or karyotyping.

Sexual Orientation

Sexual Orientation: A person’s physical, romantic, emotional, aesthetic, and/or other form of attraction to others. In Western cultures, gender identity and sexual orientation are not the same. Trans people can be straight, bisexual, lesbian, gay, asexual, pansexual, queer, etc. just like anyone else. For example, a trans woman who is exclusively attracted to other women would often identify as lesbian.

Stealth

Stealth: To not be openly transgender in all or almost all social situations.

T

T: Short for testosterone.

They/Them

They/Them: Many nonbinary people use the gender-neutral pronouns “they” and “them” rather than gendered pronouns like “he” or “she.” While they/them pronouns are often used in the plural to refer to a group of people, it’s important to note that we instinctively use they/them in the singular when we don’t know someone’s gender. If you find a wallet at a coffee shop, you might tell the manager: “Someone left their wallet here.” You’re referring to only one person, but you don’t know what their gender is, so you used the gender-neutral “they.”

Top Surgery

Top Surgery: Chest surgery such as double mastectomy, breast augmentation, or periareolar (keyhole) surgeries.

Trans / Transgender

Trans / Transgender: An umbrella term for people whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. The term transgender is not indicative of gender expression, sexual orientation, hormonal makeup, physical anatomy, or how one is perceived in daily life. Usage note: “transgender” does not have an “ed” at the end. Also see: The Gender Unicorn.

Trans Woman / Trans Man

Trans Woman / Trans Man: Trans woman generally describes someone assigned male at birth who identifies as a woman. This individual may or may not actively identify as trans. Many trans individuals prefer a space between trans and woman/man. Other do not. Often it is good just to use woman or man. Sometimes trans women identify as male-to-female (also MTF, M2F, or trans feminine) and sometimes trans men identify as female-to-male (also FTM, F2M, or trans masculine). Please ask before identifying someone. Use the term and pronouns preferred by the individual.

Transmisogyny

Transmisogyny: Originally coined by the author Julia Serano, this term designates the intersections of transphobia and misogyny and how they are often experienced as a form of oppression by trans women.

Transphobia

Transphobia: Systemic violence against trans people, associated with attitudes such as fear, discomfort, distrust, or disdain. This word is used similarly to homophobia, xenophobia, misogyny, etc.

Transition

Transition: A person’s process of developing and assuming a gender expression to match their gender identity. Transition can include: coming out to one’s family, friends, and/or co-workers; changing one’s name and/or sex on legal documents; hormone therapy; and possibly (though not always) some form of surgery. It’s best not to assume how one transitions as it is different for everyone.

Transsexual

Transsexual: A deprecated term that is often considered pejorative similar to transgender in that it indicates a difference between one’s gender identity and sex assigned at birth. Transsexual often – though not always – implicates hormonal/surgical transition from one binary gender (male or female) to the other. Unlike transgender/trans, transsexual is not an umbrella term, as many transgender people do not identify as transsexual. When speaking/writing about trans people, please avoid the word transsexual unless asked to use it by a transsexual person.

Two Spirit

Two Spirit: An umbrella term indexing various indigenous gender identities in North America.

Queer

Queer: a term for people of marginalized gender identities and sexual orientations who are not cisgender and/or heterosexual. This term has a complicated history as a reclaimed slur. 

Legal Action of Wisconsin (Racine, WI) – LGBTQIA+ friendly services for discrimination in housing and employment, driver’s license recovery, consumer law, family law, elder rights, government/public benefits and health law, sexual assault and victims rights law, student legal aid and veterans

LGBT Bar Association (Wisconsin) – List of statewide lawyers and legal activists on LGBT issues

Know a local primary care doctor or clinic to recommend? Please contact us.

Milwaukee

Inclusion Health Clinic, Froedtert Hospital (Milwaukee, WI) – Primary care, OB/GYN, HIV, transgender care including gender-affirming hormone therapy, psychiatric care

Gender Health Clinic, Children’s Wisconsin (Milwaukee, WI) – Education, counseling, endocrinologists, puberty suppressing hormone therapy, and gender-affirming hormone therapy for youth

Madison

Path Clinic for Pediatric Gender Identity, UW School of Medicine and Public Health (Madison, WI) – Education, counseling, endocrinologists, puberty suppression, and gender-affirming hormone therapy

Chicago

Howard Brown Health (Chicago, IL) – Primary care, OB/GYN, HIV, transgender care including gender-affirming hormone therapy, behavioral health, artificial insemination, pediatric services, and aging services

Other Resources

The Gender Affirming Letter Access Project (GALAP) – Online directory of mental health providers who see the highly unethical exploitation of trans people through the requirement of mental health “assessments” and letters. This is an online directory to find professionals who can write letters for medical care.

Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin – Planned Parenthood’s mission is to ensure all people have access to the care and resources they need to make informed decisions about their bodies. Planned Parenthood delivers vital sexual and reproductive health care, sex education, and information. Use the linked directory to find the closest PP location near you in Wisconsin.

Crisis Services/Warmlines

What is a Warmline? Warmlines are operated by peers, people with personal lived experience that provide support to others and demonstrate that recovery is possible. They listen without judgment and use their training and own experiences to help prevent a mental health crisis. All warmlines are non-emergency sources of support.

*988 is the new Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Available through phone (multiple languages), text, or chat (English only).

The Trevor Project provides free crisis counseling services for LGBT youth and young adults. They are available by phone, text, or chat.
Trans Lifeline is a crisis service for trans people by trans people.

The PRISM Program (Peer Recovery in Supportive Mutuality) is a team of queer and/or trans Certified Peer Specialists providing peer support 7 days a week.

SAGE LGBTQ+ Elder Hotline is for older LGBT people who want to talk to someone. Available 24/7.

LGBTQIA+ Affirming Therapists

Compassionate Clinical Services (Milwaukee, WI) – Ryan Larkey, LCSW, SAC

Pathways Counseling Center (West Allis, WI) – David Bedrin, MSW, LCSW

Lakes Counseling Center (Lake Geneva, WI) – Kelly Hoaglund-Zumstein, MFT-IT

Water Tiger Psychotherapy, LLC (Wisconsin, Kentucky, Oregon) – Sara Todd, LCSW

Know a local therapist who specializes in LGBTQIA+ clients? Please contact us.

Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Services

BeLEAF Survivors (Racine, WI) – Free therapy, support groups, and advocacy for sexual assault survivors, along with a 24-hour crisis line

Women and Children’s Horizons (Kenosha, WI) – Support, shelter, education, training and healing services to victims of sexual and domestic abuse, their families and the community

Diverse and Resilient (Milwaukee, WI) – Services for LGBTQ survivors of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, hate crimes, bullying, as well as religious, police, and state-sanctioned violence

Transgender American Veterans Association – Aside from advocating for trans-inclusive policies, this organization has an extensive resource database for LGBTQIA+ veterans

American Veterans for Equal Rights (Chicago, IL) – Online meetups for LGBTQIA+ veterans in the greater Chicago area

If you need in-person services or want a community closer to you:

Milwaukee LGBT Center

LGBTQ+ Center Lake County

Find local and remote trans-friendly healthcare and service providers by clicking here.
To view Racine's LGBTQ+ Community Asset Map, click here.

We offer youth support groups, youth events, and youth advocacy

Please contact us with any questions.

LGBT Center of SE Wisconsin