Legal and Financial Resources

We know that many LGBTQ+ people may need legal and/or financial support. See the resources below for organizations that may be able to help!

Legal Resources

  • Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.®  (LawNY®) provides free legal aid to people with civil legal problems. If you are having a legal problem with a person or agency, and it is not a criminal matter, LawNY® may be able to give you help or advice.

    Law NY also offers Name & Gender Marker Change Clinics to assist LGBTQA+ individuals in obtaining a pro se Name and/or Gender Marker Change.

    https://www.lawny.org/

  • The Volunteer Lawyers Project of CNY, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit legal aid organization that provides free legal information, assistance, and representation in civil legal matters to low-income people in Central New York. Our services are provided by staff and volunteer attorneys with the help of paralegals and law students.

    VLPCNY's LGBT* Rights Program serves the LGBT* community throughout Upstate New York who cannot obtain other legal help.

    Program provides free name and gender marker changes for trans* individuals and legal resources to assist members of the LGBTQIA community experiencing discrimination and/or harassment with regard to:

    • Employment Discrimination

    • Public accommodations Discrimination including school, business and hotels

    • Health Insurance, including trans* health denials

    • Healthcare

    • Housing Discrimination

    • Birth Certificate Amendments

    • CPS Investigations

    • Police Oversight Agency Hearings

    All services are currently being provided remotely.

    Email lgbt@vlpcny.org or call (315) 849-9234 to make an appointment.

  • Empire Justice is a Rochester-based non-profit law firm dedicated to changing the law for all New Yorkers, especially those who need its protection most.

    Through a 360-degree approach that includes litigation, education, and policy advocacy, they use the law to make access to justice more equitable.

    The LGBTQ Rights Project provides free legal services to low-income lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex clients throughout New York State outside of NYC, with a focus on anti-discrimination in employment, education, housing, credit, and public accommodations. We also assist transgender, nonbinary, and gender expansive New Yorkers with name and gender marker changes.

Financial Resources

  • Alternatives Credit Union FCU specializes in providing affordable financial products and services for people and businesses in low-to-moderate income and marginalized communities.

    In collaboration with Planned Parenthood of Greater New York, Alternatives proudly offers the TransAction Financial Empowerment Program, a pioneering initiative in the U.S. designed specifically to support and empower transgender and non-binary individuals. The program provides affordable financial solutions to support gender-affirming processes such as hormone therapy, vocal coaching, wardrobe updates, legal documentation changes, and surgical procedures.