Queer Cafe

Magic City Acceptance Academy (MCAA)
Out and Equal Workplace Advocates

Magic City Acceptance

Birmingham, Alabama

Karen Musgrove - Chief Executive Officer of Birmingham AIDS Outreach
Christa Mayfield - Director of Magic City Wellness Center
Amanda Keller - Director of Magic City Acceptance Center
Lauren Jacobs - Assistant Director of Magic City Acceptance Center

Charity Jackson - Chief Academic Officer for Magic City Acceptance Academy
Michael Wilson - Founding Principal for Magic City Acceptance Academy

MCAC | Magic City Acceptance Center

MCWC | Magic City Wellness Center

MCAA | Magic City Acceptance Academy

BAO | Birmingham AIDS Outreach

Meet the Professional Team

Magic City Acceptance Center (MCAC) was established in the Spring of 2014 as a program of Birmingham AIDS Outreach. Our initial programs served as a direct response to HIV and STI rates impacting youth across the state. Nearly 10 years later, we've expanded to provide programs in 52 counties for LGBTQ individuals of all ages! Our vision is to create a radically inclusive brave space for the LGBTQ community in Alabama through outreach, training, consultation, and direct-services.

Magic City Wellness Center (MCWC) is the first LGBTQ comprehensive healthcare facility in Alabama. The MCWC provides a safe, open and affirming space for LGBTQ individuals to have an open dialogue with a healthcare provider without fear of rejection, embarrassment or discrimination. Services include general healthcare, mental wellness and more. The MCWC addresses specific needs for each individual through culturally competent care. MCWC assists in reducing barriers to care while eradicating health disparities in the LGBTQ community, leading to longer, healthier, and more productive lives. The benefits of reducing health disparities through an LGBTQ center include: lower HIV/STD transmission rates and progression, reduced health care costs, and increased physical and mental well-being. Health disparities include: LGBTQ youth are 2-3 times more likely to commit suicide; lesbians and bisexual women are less likely to receive screening and preventative services for cancer and more likely to be overweight; transgender individuals have a higher prevalence of HIV/STDs, victimization, mental health issues, and suicide,; aging LGBTQ individuals are less likely to receive culturally competent care and face additional barriers social services; and LGBTQ populations have the highest rates of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use. The Mission of The Magic City Wellness Center is to provide wellness and medical care for the LGBTQ community and their allies in a safe, welcoming and affirming environment.

Magic City Acceptance Academy (MCAA) facilitates a community school in which all learners are empowered to embrace education, achieve individual success, and take ownership of their future in a brave, LGBTQ-affirming learning environment. MCAA will motivate and prepare students in grades six through twelve by providing an exceptional, innovative, and quality-driven education. MCAA’s purpose is to engage students who have dropped out, are not thriving in traditional schools, or are enrolled in home-school programs. Mentors and teachers will be incorporated throughout the diverse MCAA curriculum to empower students in directing their own education. MCAA will provide a brave learning environment and LGBTQ affirming culture for all.

Birmingham AIDS Outreach (BAO) - The mission of BAO is 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.

Magic City Research Institute (MCRI) - The mission of MCRI is to improve the physical and emotional health of and service delivery to people with HIV, the LGBTQ community, and other underserved populations through collaboration, research, and evaluation.

Magic City Legal Center (MCLC) - MCLC provides affirmation through legal advocacy for LGBTQ communities and community members impacted by HIV.

Organizations Working to Improve the Lives of LGBTQ Americans
Grassroots Groups That Affirm and Support Transgender People

Magic City Acceptance Center (MCAC)

Movement Advancement Project (MAP)

Info: LGBTQ Support Organizations

Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere (COLAGE)

Invisible Histories Project (IHP)

Birmingham AIDS Outreach (BAO)

LGBTQ Victory Fund

Washington DC

Annise Parker - President & CEO

Sean Meloy - Vice President of Political programs

Marty Rouse - Vice President of Outreach & Engagement

Seth Schermer - Chief Operating Officer/Chief Development Officer

LGBTQ Victory Fund
Candidates Endorsed by LGBTQ Victory Fund
History of LGBTQ Victory Fund

The LGBTQ Victory Fund was formally created in 1991 as a non-partisan political action committee. LGBTQ Victory Fund works to achieve and sustain equality by increasing the number of out LGBTQ elected officials at all levels of government while ensuring they reflect the diversity of those they serve.

Among the many candidates they have endorsed, many won their campaigns and went on to serve. You may recognize some of the Victory Fund candidates: Tammy Baldwin (US Senator, WI), Sarah McBride (US House of Rep, DE), Angie Craig (US House of Rep, MN), Sharice Davids (US House of Rep, KS), Evan Low (US House of Reps, CA), Jamie McLeod-Skinner (US House of Reps, OR), Eddy Morales (US House of Reps, OR), Chris Pappas (US House of Reps, NH), Emily Randall (US House of Reps, WA), Will Rollins (US House of Reps, CA), Eric Sorensen (US House of Reps, IL), Ritchie Torres (US House of Reps, NY), Joseph Vogel (US House of Reps, MD).

In addition to candidates for the US Senate and House of representatives, the Victory Fund endorses many candidates for state senators and representatives, mayors, city councils, and school boards, and police chiefs. Noteworthy among state candidates are: Danica Roem (State Senator, VA), Jane Castor (Mayor, Tampa FL), Steve Hansen (Mayor, Sacramento CA), Satya Rhodes-Conway (Mayor of Madison).

Family Equality Council
LGBTQ Victory Fund
National Center for Transgender Equality

Magic City Acceptance Academy (MCAA)
Out and Equal Workplace Advocates

Invisible Histories Project

Alabama | Mississippi | Georgia

Joshua Burford - Co-Founder & Director of Outreach & Lead Archivist
Maigen Sullivan - Co-Founder & Director of Research & Development

IHP | Invisible Histories Project

IHP on Facebook
IHP on Instagram

The Invisible Histories Project locates, preserves, researches, and creates for local communities an accessible collection of the rich and diverse history of LGBTQ life in the US South. Currently, IHP collects in Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia. IHP acts as an intermediary between the Queer community and various institutions like universities, museums, archives, and libraries in order to preserve Southern LGBTQ histories.

The Invisible Histories Project is 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Co-founders, Joshua Burford (Director of Outreach & Lead Archivist) and Maigen Sullivan (Director of Research & Development), began working on the concept in late 2015. 501(c)3 status was obtained in October 2016 and the project officially launched and began collecting in February 2018. Both Burford and Sullivan were working on the project full time by September 2018.

In the first year of operations, IHP located 18 new LGBTQ collections in Alabama; identified 3 repository archive partners; helped develop 3 undergraduate courses at 2 state universities; organized and held the inaugural Queer History South Conference of 115 archivists, historians, students, faculty and staff; mentored 4 undergraduate and graduate interns/scholars; and received an Andrew W. Mellon Foundation grant to expand their work into Mississippi and Georgia.

In addition to preserving the rich history of LGBTQ Southerners, the project’s goals are to:

--Create opportunities for intergenerational connection with queer and trans people in the South
--Create research opportunities for students, faculty, and community members in archives, research and preservation
--Provide a network for LGBTQ historians and archivists through the South through the Queer History South network and conference
--Work with universities, libraries, museums, and archives to create collection and preservation partnerships throughout the South
--Establish a community based, centrally located space to display these histories and act as a space for community dialogue around Queer history.

IHP focuses on four key elements related to advancing LGBTQ Southern History:

--Community Engagement
--Archiving, Preservation, Research, Scholarship
--Education
--Professional Development, Best Practices

IHP acts as an intermediary between institutions, organizations, and everyday folks. We strive to break barriers between organizations and their local communities to ensure that preservation and research exist in a co-productive and relationship centered way. In addition to direct collection and preservation, IHP is invested in providing scholars with direct access to materials as well as creating a network of people conducting LGBTQ Southern archiving, preservation, education and research to make scholarship more accessible. We focus on providing education around the Queer South to those within and outside the region through speaking, exhibiting, online materials, and publications. Finally, IHP seeks to help develop a new generation of scholars working in the Queer South as well as work alongside other professionals in the field to develop best practices for this work.

Family Equality Council
LGBTQ Victory Fund
National Center for Transgender Equality

Magic City Acceptance Academy (MCAA)
Out and Equal Workplace Advocates

Ali Forney Center

New York City

The Ali Forney Center was founded in 2002 in memory of Ali Forney, a homeless gender-nonconforming youth who was forced to live on the streets, where they were tragically murdered. Committed to saving the lives of LGBTQ young people, our mission is to protect them from the harms of homelessness and empower them with the tools needed to live independently.

A 24-hour program, located in Midtown Manhattan, The Ali Forney Center never closes its doors. We provide more than just a bed and food for those in need — from initial intake at our drop-in center to transitional housing and job readiness training, we provide homeless LGBTQ youth a safe, warm, supportive environment to escape the streets.

Website: Ali Forney Center for Homeless LGBTQ Youth

YouTube: Ali Forney Center

E-Mail: Ali Forney Center

We provide youth with quality services in an LGBTQ affirming environment. Given the discrimination and harassment that so many of these young adults face, they need comprehensive support to develop pride and security in their LGBTQ+ identities. At AFC, we approach each young person with respect and sensitivity— to develop trust first so we can help get their life back on track.

--Drop-In Center
--Housing
--Job Readiness and Education
--Health Services
--Programs for Trans Clients
--Legal Services
--Technical Assistance Program Resources

Shawnell, Intake Coordinator

Victoriah, Program Assistant

(212) 206-0574 Ext 100
307 West 38th Street, 3rd Floor New York, NY 10018

Family Equality Council
LGBTQ Victory Fund
National Center for Transgender Equality

Magic City Acceptance Academy (MCAA)
Out and Equal Workplace Advocates

Movement Advancement Project

Boulder, Colorado

Chris Maggiano - Board Chair
Michael Fleming - Vice Chair
Debbie Felix - Communications Strategist

Naomi Goldberg - Deputy Director, LGBTQ Program Director

MAP | Movement Advancement Project
MAP on Facebook
MAP on Instagram

Movement Advancement Project (MAP) is an independent, nonprofit think tank. We work to create a thriving, inclusive, and equitable America where all people have a fair chance to pursue health and happiness, earn a living, take care of the ones they love, be safe in their communities, and participate in civic life.

Founded in 2006, the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) is an independent, nonprofit think tank that provides rigorous research, insight, and communications that help speed equality and opportunity for all.

MAP believes that to transform America, we need to change hearts and minds. This means people need to better understand the critical issues our country faces—and also better understand each other. We also believe we are stronger when we work together. MAP’s extraordinary impact comes from the way we fuse communications, policy and collaboration to advance equality and opportunity for all.

We advance the conversation. So often in America, we’re not actually having a conversation, rather it’s two sides talking past each other. We believe that to effectively reach and persuade people, we first have to understand them. How do they think? What are their hopes and fears? What inspires them? MAP conducts groundbreaking research to deeply understand our audiences and then develops transformative messages and communications based on that understanding. Our public education campaigns, multimedia content, ads, graphics and media outreach are designed to shift people’s thinking and drive action. From innovative videos to messaging guidance and training, MAP works to advance the conversation.

We advance policy change. It’s easy to publish reports and graphics. It’s hard to publish reports and graphics that people read—and that actually shift hearts and minds. We infuse our deep understanding of our audience throughout our policy work. We don’t write long, academic reports. We create graphics and narratives that are easy-to-understand. We design our narratives and carefully tailor our language to more effectively change hearts and minds. On issues from nondiscrimination to criminal justice to voting to health care, MAP frames problems and policy solutions for maximum impact.

We advance collaboration. MAP believes we’re stronger when we work together. So we approach our work very collaboratively, engaging hundreds of organizations (and hundreds of thousands of businesses) to work together for change. MAP is a leader in building coalitions and partnerships within the LGBTQ and democracy movements and across movements, such as the 200+ nonprofits and 500,000 businesses that make up the Open to All coalition. MAP’s resources are persuasive, easy to understand and actionable. From infographics to in-depth analyses, our policy and communications expertise empowers our partner organizations and advocates with the tools they need so we can work together for change.

Organizations Working to Improve the Lives of LGBTQ Americans

Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN)

Trevor Project

Parents & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG)
Grassroots Groups That Affirm and Support Transgender People

Movement Advancement Project (MAP)

Campus Pride

Gay Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
National LGBTQ Task Force

Ali Forney Center for Homeless LGBTQ Youth

Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere (COLAGE)
Family Equality Council

Human Rights Campaign (HRC)

Freedom to Marry