LGBTQIA+ Resources for This Moment
For information about updating legal documents or finding supportive resources, please reference the sites below.
Recent Webinars
National Resources
* Lambda Legal – Post-Election Questions About Protecting Family Relationships
* National Center for Lesbian Rights Help and Hotlines
* National LGBTQ+ Bar Lawyer Referral Service
* Transgender Law Center – Legal Information Helpdesk
* Advocates for Trans Equality and A4TE Legal Survival Guide
* National Immigrant Justice Center LGBTQ Programs
* National Immigration Project (https://nipnlg.org)
* GLAD Law FAQ: Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage (VAP)
* SAGE’s LGBTQ+ Advance Care Planning Toolkit —healthcare proxy, living will, estate planning, and much more
* Trans Relocation Guide: Finding Trans Asylum and Safe Havens (TransLash Media)
Changing Federal Documents
Massachussetts Resources
Resources
* GLAD Law: GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders Quick Answers and Contact Page
* MTPC Identity Document Assistance Network
* Alliance for Trans Equality: Identity Documents in Massachusetts
* Gender Affirming Identification Project (GAIP)
* Identity Affirmation Project
* Greater Boston Legal Services
* Immigration Legal Support (including free immigration legal clinics)
* PAIR Project (Political Asylum Immigration Representation)
* Gender Identity Validation Services, Inc. (GIVS) (Western Massachusetts)
* Identity Affirmation Project, New England School of Law Boston
Documents & Processes
* MTPC Quick Reference Guide to Legal Name and Gender Marker Changes for Adults in Massachusetts
* MTPC Quick Reference Guide to Legal Name and Gender Marker Changes for Minors in Massachusetts
* Commonwealth of Massachusetts Legal Name Change Page
* Commonwealth of Massachusetts Change of Name Court Order Form
* Probate and Family Court Petition to Change Name of Adult (CJP 27)
* Probate and Family Court Motion (CJD 400) to waive the requirement of publication of name change (such as in a local newspaper)
* Commonwealth of Massachusetts RMV Driver’s License, Learner’s Permit or ID Card Application (which includes change of gender)
* Commonwealth of Massachusetts Amend Birth Certificate Page
* Commonwealth of Massachusetts Application
* Physician’s Statement in Support of Amendment of a Birth Certificate
Travel Resources
Supportive Resources
Are you feeling overwhelmed or need support? Please reach out to the supportive resources below.
National Hotlines
* Trevor Project
* Trans Lifeline
* LGBT National Help Center
* National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
BU LGBTQIA+ Centers
* LGBTQIA+ Center for Faculty & Staff
* LGBTQIA+ Student Resource Center
On-Campus Support
These are several, of the many, excellent supportive resources at BU:
For BU Faculty, Staff, and Students:
* Office of the Ombuds (confidential resource)
For Students:
* Behavioral Medicine
* Support Groups (including TRANscendence and LGBTQ+Support Group)
* SARP
For Employees:
* Faculty and Staff Assistance Office (FSAO)
Other State & Territory Resources
Below is a list of resources by state and territory if you’re looking to update your documents and documentation.
For those from outside of MA, it is relatively easy to change your name, gender marker, and acquire a MA driver’s license/state ID than in many other states. For changing birth certificates and other documents, please check out the state-by-state resources below. The MA resources are listed above.
If we are missing excellent local resources, please email us and let us know.
Alabama
Alaska
American Samoa
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
* One Iowa Name and Gender Marker Changes Guide
* Alliance for Trans Equality: Identity Documents in Iowa (