The mission of the Cambridge LGBTQ+ Commission is to advocate for a culture of respect and to monitor progress toward equality of all persons with regard to sexual orientation and gender identity.
We are committed to promoting and monitoring policies and practices that have a positive effect on the health, welfare, and safety of all persons who live, visit, or work in the City of Cambridge with regard to sexual orientation and gender identity.
In February 2004, a citywide GLBT Town Hall meeting was held in the Senior Center at which a number of issues affecting GLBT people were raised. Subsequently the Cambridge City Council adopted the order below on February 23, 2004 for the formation of a Commission. A second GLBT Town Hall meeting was held in October 2008. See above for information on this meeting.
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to appoint a Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) Commission to take up the recommendations that came out of the GLBT meeting of February 4, 2004.
Members of the GLBT Commission were appointed by the City Manager in the fall of 2004 and the inaugural meeting was held in May 2005. The Commission devoted its initial meetings to reviewing reports from the town meeting and a GLBT Health Forum also held in 2004, creating its mission statement, establishing its internal organization and operating rules, and setting priorities.
On Feb. 13, 2017, an Amendment to Cambridge Municipal Code Chapter 2.125, Section 2.125.010 was passed to change the name of the Cambridge Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) Commission to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Plus Commission and shall also be known as the “LGBTQ+” Commission.”
As of October 14,2020, the members of the City of Cambridge LGBTQ+ Commission are:
- John W. Gintell ... Co-Chair,
John@gintell.org
- Aren Stone ......... Co-Chair, ArenStone@comcast.net
- Nefyn Meissner, Vice Chair
- Bill Barnert
- Susan Bernstein
- Jessica Daniels
- Maya Escobar
- Catherine Grams
- Linda Huhmann
- Noelani Kamelamela
- Steven Lee
- Greg MacDonough
- Rachel Oppenheimer
- Lesley Phillips
Local LGBTQ+ Resources for Youth
BAGLY (Boston Alliance of Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Youth)
www.bagly.org
PO Box 814
Boston, MA 02103
(617) 227-4313
Youth group meets weekly and sponsors events. Gay group which is especially welcoming to transgender kids.
Boston GLASS (Gay and Lesbian Adolescent Social Services)
www.jri.org/services/health-and-housing/health/boston-glass
93 Mass. Ave., Floor 3
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 266-3349
Drop-in center for LGBTQ+ youth (ages 13-25) offering support and culturally sensitive resources.
Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN)
www.glsen.org
132 Boylston Street, 4th Floor
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 451-1119
National organization making schools safer for ALL students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.
Mystic LGBTQ+ Youth Support Network
www.queermystic.org
Mystic LGBTQ+ Youth Support Network works to ensure a safe and supportive environment for LGBTQ+ youth by providing programming, coordinating with community agencies and advocating in schools.
Youth on Fire (YOF), a program of AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, is a drop-in center for homeless and street-involved youth, ages 14-24, located in Harvard Square, Cambridge.
1 Church Street (Middle Entrance)
Cambridge, Ma 02138
(617) 661-2508
Y2Y Harvard Square
www.y2yharvardsquare.org
1 Church Street (Middle Entrance)
Cambridge, Ma 02138
(617) 864-0795
A student-run overnight shelter, which employs a youth-to-youth model to provide a safe and affirming environment for young adults experiencing homelessness. Y2Y guests have opportunities to collaborate with service providers, other youth experiencing homelessness, and student volunteers to create sustainable pathways out of homelessness and develop skills for long-term success.
Local LGBTQ+ Resources for All Ages
Bisexual Resource Center
www.biresource.org
PO Box 400639
Cambridge, MA 02140
(617) 424-9595
Resource center for bisexuals, including youth and adults. Also sponsors events and discussion groups.
Cambridge LGBTQ+ Commission
www.CambridgeMA.gov/LGBTQPlus
The LGBTQ+ Commission meets on the fourth Thursday of every month (except August and December), from 6:00 - 7:30PM at Windsor Street Community Health Center, 2nd Floor Conference Room, 119 Windsor St., Cambridge. Meetings are open to the public.
Fenway Community Health Center
www.fenwayhealth.org
1340 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02215
(617) 457-8140
Comprehensive health care in a welcoming environment. The mission of Fenway Health is to enhance the well-being of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and all people in our neighborhoods and beyond through access to the highest quality health care, education, research and advocacy.
Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD)
www.glad.org
294 Washington Street; Suite 740
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 426-1350
New England legal rights organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, HIV status, and gender identity and expression.
Greater Boston PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)
www.gbpflag.org
P.O. Box 541619
Waltham, MA 02454
Waltham Office: (781) 891-5966
Provides training, resources and opportunities for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.
Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC)
www.masstpc.org
PO Box 960784
Boston, MA 02196
(617) 778-0519
Dedicated to ending discrimination on the basis of gender identity and gender expression.
Local LGBTQ+ Resources for Older Adults
Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services
61 Medford Street
Somerville, MA 02143
(617) 628-2601
http://eldercare.org/find-what-you-need/advice-info/lgbt_resources
Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services is committed to meeting the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) older adults.
Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services Resource Guide
https://eldercare.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/LGBT-Resources-Guide.pdf
A comprehensive list of LGBT resources and meal programs and other for older adults in the Somerville/Cambridge/Greater Boston area. Please click the hyperlink to see a full list of LGBT older adult resources.