Explore LGBTQ businesses and organizations in Washington serving your community. Find law firms, medical practices, restaurants, retail stores, nonprofits, cultural organizations, and community services owned by or dedicated to serving the LGBTQ community. Connect with establishments that understand your cultural values and provide services in your language.
Founded in 2005 by legal pioneers Michael Heath and Beth Barrett Bloom, QLaw Association has grown into Washington's leading organization for LGBTQ+ legal professionals and their allies. Based in Seattle, QLaw was established to fill a critical gap in professional community and support for GLBT attorneys and legal professionals throughout the state. The organization operates on five core principles: fostering supportive professional connections among LGBTQ+ legal professionals, advancing the careers of LGBTQ+ attorneys and law students, educating the public and courts about LGBTQ+ legal issues, expanding access to justice for the LGBTQ+ community, and promoting the advancement of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender attorneys within the legal profession. Beyond its membership services, QLaw operates the QLaw Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs the At-Risk Youth Committee and the Summer Public Interest Grant Program, which provides law students with valuable experience working on LGBTQ+ rights issues with Washington legal organizations. Since its inception nearly two decades ago, QLaw has built a vibrant community where members connect with peers, develop professionally, and contribute to meaningful change in the legal system. The organization's commitment to diversity, equality, and community empowerment makes it an essential resource for anyone seeking connection and support within the LGBTQ+ legal community in Seattle and across Washington State.
Young Women Empowered was born from the enthusiasm and determination of the young women it serves. In 2010, a seven-month pilot leadership program in Seattle, WA resonated so deeply with participants, mentors, and teachers that they banded together to establish a permanent organization offering year-round programs for girls and women. What began as a grassroots initiative has evolved into a thriving nonprofit that has operated as an independent 501(c)(3) organization since 2015, after receiving generous fiscal sponsorship from Partners for Youth Empowerment.
Today, Y-WE cultivates the power of diverse young women to be creative leaders and courageous changemakers within a collaborative community of belonging. The organization's intergenerational and intercultural approach creates spaces where young women—particularly those from marginalized communities—can find their voices, gain essential skills, develop self-confidence, and forge strong bonds with peers and mentors who understand their experiences. With 70% of current youth being first or second-generation immigrants and 85% identifying as people of color, Y-WE serves as a vital support system for Seattle's most underrepresented young women.
What sets Y-WE apart is its commitment to being a majority women-of-color-led organization that creates the community and programming its founders wished they had as teenagers. Participants consistently describe Y-WE as a place where they can bring their fullest, most authentic selves and be met with love, warmth, and acceptance. By centering the lived experiences of BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and gender expansive youth, Y-WE provides the mentorship, wellness resources, and leadership development that help young women thrive and become agents of positive change in the greater Seattle area.
Since 1995, Powerful Voices has been creating intentional spaces in Seattle, WA where young girls and gender expansive youth of color feel safe, supported, and empowered to share their truths with their communities and the world. The organization is rooted in the belief that building a new world requires trusting the expertise and brilliance of young people, particularly those whose voices are most often marginalized. Powered by a fully femme, womxn, non-binary staff of color, Powerful Voices centers the lived experiences and leadership of the youth they serve. Their mission extends beyond individual programs to fundamentally reshape how communities understand and support young people. They recognize that BIPOC girls and gender expansive youth face unique mental health crises and systemic barriers, which is why they've developed specialized healing justice initiatives alongside their social justice programming. Powerful Voices believes that communities don't need a single leader to be strong—they thrive when diverse voices collaborate toward shared liberation. The organization actively partners with individuals, organizations, and businesses who share their commitment to centering young people in decision-making and resource allocation. Their work spans from youth-led conferences like Girlvolution to community arts experiences and volunteer opportunities that invite allies to practice care and community. Serving the Seattle community for nearly three decades, Powerful Voices remains dedicated to building a world where young girls and gender expansive youth of color can access the platforms, knowledge, and solidarity they need to become powerful activists for justice.
Entre Hermanos emerged from Seattle, WA in the spring of 1991 when a visionary group of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Latinos recognized a critical gap in social, educational, and health support services for their community. What began as a grassroots initiative has evolved into a respected nonprofit organization that has served the Latino LGBTQ community for over three decades. The organization's journey reflects resilience and growth—from organizing fundraising activities in cooperation with the Washington Latino AIDS Coalition to achieving independent nonprofit status in 2001. Entre Hermanos has become a cultural touchstone, hosting landmark community events like the first Latina Queen contest in 1993 and participating in Seattle's LGBT Pride Parade since the summer of that year. The organization's mission centers on creating a culturally appropriate environment where Latino LGBTQ individuals can access health promotion, disease prevention education, meaningful support services, and community advocacy. Today, Entre Hermanos operates from locations in both Seattle and Yakima, extending its impact across Washington State. The organization's strength lies in its deep roots within the community it serves, built on authentic relationships and shared cultural understanding. Guided by the principle that health and well-being flourish when services are delivered with cultural competency and community voice, Entre Hermanos continues advancing toward its future, always progressing and expanding services for Latinos throughout the state.
Equal Rights Washington serves the Seattle, WA community and beyond as Washington's dedicated statewide organization advancing dignity, safety, and equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Washingtonians. Founded in 2004 with a specific mission to secure anti-discrimination protections that had been blocked for nearly three decades, ERW has grown into a multi-faceted organization deeply rooted in the values of persistence, coalition-building, and community empowerment. The organization's history reflects a commitment to transformative change: from securing the Anderson-Murray Anti-Discrimination law in 2006 to building the Washington United for Marriage coalition that successfully mobilized over 400 political and religious organizations to win marriage equality at the ballot box. ERW's unique strength lies in its ability to bring diverse communities together around shared values of equality and justice. With independent boards of directors leading each of its three organizational components, ERW maintains accountability to the communities it serves while operating with strategic flexibility across advocacy, education, and political engagement. The organization continues to be deeply embedded in Washington's LGBTQ community, understanding that lasting social change requires sustained effort, authentic relationships, and unwavering dedication to the principle that all people deserve full equality and respect regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
For more than two decades, Rainbow Center has been a vital sanctuary and advocacy organization for the LGBTQ2SA community in South Puget Sound, including Tacoma, Washington. Founded on principles of education, advocacy, and celebration, the organization creates safe spaces where LGBTQ2S individuals and their allies can access resources, build community, and find support. Located in Tacoma, Rainbow Center maintains a welcoming physical space with consistent daily operating hours, making it accessible to those seeking connection and assistance. The center serves as a gathering place where community members can access lending library materials, utilize computer and Wi-Fi resources, receive advocacy services, and obtain educational materials tailored to their needs. What distinguishes Rainbow Center is its holistic approach to community support—recognizing that LGBTQ2S individuals need not just services but celebration and visibility. The organization demonstrates deep commitment to intersectional justice, particularly in its solidarity with Black Lives and communities of color, understanding that LGBTQ2S people encompass every demographic and face compounded systemic challenges. By annually serving around 1,000 individuals directly and welcoming thousands more through events and partnerships, Rainbow Center has become an integral part of the Tacoma and Pierce County social fabric. The organization's hosting of major celebrations like Tacoma Pride and the Black & White Gayla reflects its belief that joy, visibility, and community celebration are essential components of liberation and healing for LGBTQ2S populations.
Founded in 1985 by concerned community members seeking to support LGBTQ youth facing discrimination, Oasis Youth Center has grown into Pierce County's cornerstone organization for queer youth empowerment, serving the Tacoma, WA community and surrounding areas for nearly four decades. The organization's mission centers on transforming young lives by creating safe spaces where queer youth ages 11-24 can learn, connect, and thrive while developing into strong, creative community leaders. Oasis operates on core values of youth empowerment, healthy community building, essential resource provision, cultural diversity promotion, and civil rights advocacy. The youth-adult partnership model distinguishes Oasis, bringing together young people and adults for collaborative learning and meaningful action. More than 10,000 youth, staff, and volunteers have participated in Oasis programs since its inception, reflecting deep community roots and sustained impact. The organization celebrates its rich history through an ongoing Oasis History Project documenting decades of achievements and community milestones. Today, Oasis stands as the only organization in Pierce County exclusively responding to the distinctive needs of queer youth, offering a welcoming community where young people can be authentically proud of who they are. Supported by dedicated staff and volunteers, Oasis provides the encouragement, resources, and connection necessary for LGBTQ youth in Tacoma to become healthy, productive, and fully engaged members of their communities.
Founded in 1981 as the Association of Gay and Lesbian Youth Advocates (AGLYA), Lambert House holds the distinction of being the world's oldest independent social service non-profit dedicated exclusively to LGBTQ youth. Established by Dr. Bob Deisher, a pediatrician who recognized the disproportionate health and mental health challenges facing LGBTQ youth, Lambert House grew from a simple but powerful vision: that young people struggling with isolation could transform their lives by connecting with others who shared similar experiences. Based in Seattle, WA, Lambert House has evolved into a nationally and internationally recognized organization that serves as a beacon of hope and community for questioning and LGBTQ youth in the Pacific Northwest. The organization's name honors Gray Lambert, a dedicated board president whose leadership and advocacy during the organization's formative years left a lasting impact on the community. In 2016, Lambert House achieved a significant milestone by purchasing its long-time Capitol Hill facility, becoming only the fifth standalone LGBTQ youth organization in the country to own its own building. Today, Lambert House continues its transformative mission by providing daily community space, mentorship from caring adults, and comprehensive programming that helps young people develop confidence, build meaningful friendships, and envision hopeful futures. For LGBTQ youth in Seattle seeking belonging and support, Lambert House remains a sanctuary where life genuinely gets better.
Since its founding in 1995 by community activists with a vision of building a community stronger than HIV, Seattle's LGBTQ+ Center has evolved into the definitive hub for LGBTQ individuals seeking affirming resources and genuine community connection in Seattle, Washington. Over more than 25 years, the organization has cultivated deep relationships with the people it serves, grounded in core values of advocacy, accessibility, intersectionality, and transparency.
The Center recognizes that LGBTQ community members hold multifaceted, overlapping identities shaped by intersecting forms of structural oppression. This understanding informs every program and service, ensuring that support addresses the whole person and honors their lived experiences. From its inception, the organization has remained committed to sex and body positivity, deferring judgment while investing in people's self-determination and liberation.
Based on Capitol Hill in Seattle, WA, the Center serves as both a physical and emotional sanctuary where all LGBTQ people can be themselves. The organization actively engages queer youth, provides LGBTQ-centered trainings that address the needs of the most marginalized community members, and hosts annual events like the Stronger Together World AIDS Day gathering that celebrate resilience and collective memory. By prioritizing stewardship and genuine accessibility, Seattle's LGBTQ+ Center continues building community for today and generations to come, ensuring that self-determination, liberation, and joy remain at the heart of its work.
Pizza Klatch emerged from tragedy and community determination in Olympia, WA. In 2007, following a series of suicides among LGBTQ+ youth in Thurston County, concerned therapists, community leaders, and mental health professionals partnered with the North Thurston School District to create a lifeline for struggling teens. What began as an after-school support group quickly evolved into the lunchtime Pizza Klatch in February 2008—a program that has since transformed the lives of hundreds of young people seeking acceptance, support, and community.
The organization's mission centers on fostering resilience in LGBTQ+ youth and creating safe, positive school experiences through support, education, and empowerment. Pizza Klatch groups are uniquely responsive to participant needs, allowing each gathering to develop organically based on what youth bring to the table. Participants describe these spaces as consistent sources of positive connection and understanding—places where they can be heard, celebrated, and accepted without judgment or fear of violence or discrimination.
Built on genuine community organizing principles, Pizza Klatch has grown through the dedication of volunteers, staff, board members, and community partners including PFLAG, Stonewall Youth, and local therapists. Today, serving the Olympia and Thurston County area, the organization operates 28 groups weekly across schools, reaching nearly 440 students who find in Pizza Klatch a refuge where friendships form, identities develop safely, and youth discover they are not alone. The program stands as a testament to what happens when communities come together to protect their most vulnerable members.