7 organizations supporting Birmingham’s LGBTQ+ community & how to help

Pride Month looks a little different in Birmingham this year. Most of the usual colorful events, celebrations and activities have been postponed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still participate. Here are 7 organizations supporting Birmingham’s LGBTQ+ community, plus how to help.

1. Birmingham AIDS Outreach

• Mission: Birmingham AIDS Outreach, Alabama’s first AIDS Service Organization, was “founded as a grass-roots response to the devastating and fatal impact HIV/AIDS was having on the Birmingham community.” Since 1985, BAO’s mission has been “to enhance the quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS, at-risk, affected individuals, and the LGBTQ community through outreach, age-appropriate prevention education, and supportive services.” Read more about their story here.
• How to Help: Donate and volunteer (they aren’t taking volunteers currently, but reach out to be updated on when that changes.)
• Contact: 205.322.4197 | Website | Facebook

2.  Magic City Acceptance Center

• Mission: A project of Birmingham AIDS Outreach, The Magic City Acceptance Center (MCAC) provides “a safe, supportive and affirming space for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer or Questioning (LGBTQ) individuals in Birmingham and surrounding areas.” Read more about their youth + adult programs here.
• How to Help: Donate or contact them here to find more ways to help.
• Contact: 205.774.1173 | Website | Facebook
• BONUS: BAGSLY—an area advocacy group for LGBTQ and Allied youth, ages 13-24 in Birmingham—is a program of the Magic City Acceptance Center and could use your support. BAGSLY stands for “Birmingham Area Gender and Sexuality League of Youth” and you contact them via email or Facebook.

3. Magic City Wellness Center

• Mission: Another BAO program, the Magic City Wellness Center is the first LGBTQ comprehensive healthcare facility in Alabama and “provides wellness and medical care for the LGBTQ community in a safe, welcoming and affirming environment.” Read more about their story here.
• How to Help: Donate here, and help them continue doing amazing work in our community.
• Contact: 205.877.8677 | Website | Facebook 

4. TAKE Bham

• Mission: TAKE Birmingham’s goal is to “work together as a community to empower trans women of color by meeting needs and increasing accessibility.” TAKE stands for “Transgender, Advocates, Knowledge, Empowering.” Read more about their programs here.
• How to Help: Donate here, or contact them on their site or via Facebook to get involved.
• Contact: 205.848.5849 | Website | Facebook 

5. AIDS Alabama

• Mission: For over 30 years, AIDS Alabama has been committed to helping people living with HIV/AIDS in Alabama. They focus on “housing, policy and advocacy, supportive services, HIV prevention and education, as well as free and confidential HIV testing.” Find out more about their work, including their LGBTQ Youth Housing initiative.
• How to Help: Donate, apply to volunteer or intern, and keep up with their community events.
• Contact: 205.324.9822 | Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

6. Birmingham Black Pride

• Mission: Birmingham Black Pride’s mission is “to bring together LGBTQ communities of color to share, celebrate, and recognize the importance of our combined heritage, history, and culture.” They are working to mobilize, organize, empower and educate LGBTQ communities of color in Birmingham.
• How to Help: Give them a call or shoot them an email for ways to donate and get involved.
• Contact: 205.918.8204 | Website | Facebook | Instagram

7. Central Alabama Pride

• Mission: Central Alabama Pride, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, hosts LGBT Pride events each year to spread the message of equality and to bring together all Alabama citizens. They support other local organizations including Birmingham AIDS Outreach, AIDS Alabama, the Magic City Wellness Center and the Magic City Acceptance Center.
• How to Help: Their annual PrideFest and Pride parade have both been postponed until 2021, and right now, they are refraining from hosting any events or live streams in solidarity with communities of color and the Black Lives Matter movement. For updates on future events, follow them on Facebook.
• Contact: Website | Facebook | Instagram

Check out these stories for more great organizations to support in Birmingham:

• 18 organizations that help build bridges between young people in Birmingham
• 7 ways to support social justice in Birmingham right now

Know of other non-profits and organizations doing important work for Birmingham’s LGBTQ+ community? Share them with us on social @bhamnow on Instagram and Facebook, and @now_bham on Twitter.

Are you a local non-profit or group invested in Birmingham’s LGBTQ+ community? Make sure to add your info to our non-profit directory here. We will use it to pull information for future guides just like this one.