The following are LGBTQ+ oriented resources in Bradenton/Manatee County and the surrounding Tampa Bay and Sarasota County areas. Advocacy organizations include national and statewide advocacy organizations.
Do you have or know of an organization or resource that’s not listed below and want it to be considered for inclusion? Please contact us with a link to its website or Facebook page.
Advocacy – LGBTQ+ Rights & LGBT Professional Organizations
- ACLU of Florida
- The Association of LGBTQ Journalists
- CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers
- Equality Florida
- Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus
- GLAAD (formerly, Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
- GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality
- GLSEN (formerly, Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education Network)
- Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
- Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund
- The LGBT Bar
- Modern Military Association of America (MMAA)
- NALGAP (National Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Addiction Professionals)
- National LGBT Chamber of Commerce
- National LGBTQ Task Force
- National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals, Inc. (NOGLSTP)
- Out and Equal Workplace Advocates
- Out4Immigration
- PFLAG (formerly, Parents, Family & Friends of Lesbians and Gays)
- Pride at Work
Business – LGBTQ+ oriented businesses and directories
- Randell’s Travel of Sarasota
- Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber of Commerce
- Watermark – A major Florida LGBT newspaper, serving Orlando, Tampa Bay, and Sarasota
Community – LGBTQ+ Organizations & Activities
Bradenton/Manatee County:
- Manatee LGBTA Democratic Caucus
- Manatee Unitarian Universalist Fellowship – LGBTQ+ inclusive church in downtown Bradenton, Prism meets here
- Prism Youth Initiative – an LGBTQ+ youth services organization
- Suncoast AIDS Theatre Project
Sarasota City/County:
- ALSO Youth – Empowering LGBTQ+ youth and their allies and creating inclusive communities
- Church of the Trinity Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) – LGBTQ+ outreach and resources, HIV/AIDS resources, POZ M4M and Prime Timers meet here
- Diversity: The Voices of Sarasota – an LGBT chorus, formed from the merger of the former Gulf Coast (Gay) Men’s Chorus and Harmony: the Women’s Voices of Sarasota
- Fabulous Independent Film Festival
- Sarasota’s LGBT Bowling League
- Harvey Milk Festival – an annual music, film, and art festival held each June in commemoration of the LGBT Civil Rights leaders
- Our Sarasota Fund Giving Circle – a fund and budding social circle to help grow Sarasota and Manatee LGBTQ+ service organizations
- Out @The Asolo – wonderful LGBTQ+ theatre nights at the Asolo Repertory Theatre
- Prime Timers of Sarasota
- Southwest Florida Community AIDS Quilt
- Sarasota Kickball – LGBTQ+ League
- Stonewall Democratic Caucus of Sarasota County
St. Petersburg/Pinellas County:
- Metro Inclusive Health Community Programming – LGBT Youth, Young Adults, SAGE, Trans Community
- Stonewall Democrats of Pinellas County
Florida:
Health & Help – LGBT-oriented service organizations
Bradenton/Manatee County:
- Family Resources – Operates the Manatee SafePlace2B family and youth emergency shelters in Manatee (Bradenton) and Pinellas (Clearwater, St. Petersburg) Counties
- Florida Department of Health in Manatee County: General health, women’s health, sexual health, HIV/STD testing
- Florida Department of Health in Manatee County: Mobile Van schedule (free HIV/STD testing)
- Centerstone – crisis care, mental health, addictions
- M.A.S.S. (Minority AIDS/HIV Social Services) – HIV testing, referrals, food bank
- Planned Parenthood – Manatee Health Center – HIV testing, STD testing and treatment, women’s health services
Sarasota City/County:
- CARES Outreach Services – testing/screening and referrals for HIV, STD’s, diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, hepatitis; resources and referrals
- CAN Community Health – HIV healthcare, HIV testing, Mental Health, Dental care, wraparound services
- Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County – HIV testing, STD testing and treatment, general healthcare services
- Genesis Health Services – free HIV testing, affordable healthcare services
- Hedges Health Mart Compounding Pharmacy – hormone replacement, hormone therapy, medications, medication compounding, online refills, medication home delivery
- Planned Parenthood – Sarasota Health Center – HIV testing, STD testing and treatment, women’s health services
- SPARCC – Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center – Emergency shelter, 24-hour hotline, crisis counseling, safety planning, children’s services, hospital advocacy, case/service management, referrals and information
St. Petersburg/Pinellas County:
- Empath Health
- Family Resources – Operates the SafePlace2B family and youth emergency shelters in Pinellas (Clearwater, St. Petersburg) and Manatee (Bradenton) Counties
- Metro Wellness and Community Centers (HIV care, HIV testing, Trans Health, Mental Health, Substance Abuse, Support Classes)
Nightlife – LGBT-oriented local nightlife
- Oasis Restaurant & Bar – a downtown Sarasota neighborhood gay restaurant & bar
- G2H2 Sarasota – Gay Group Happy Hour, Sarasota location varies monthly
- Purple Rhino Lodge – a Sarasota non-profit private gay dining and social club and bar, at Beneva and Webber Streets
Pride – LGBT Pride Events & Organizations
- Manatee Pride (Annually in March)
- Pride Cape Coral (Annually in March)
- Charlotte County Pride (Annually in May)
- Sarasota Pride (Annually in January)
- St. Pete Pride (Annually in June)
- Tampa Pride (Annually in March)
- InterPride – InterPride is the international organization that ties Pride together globally
