Knowing Your Rights + Finding Support & Community

LGBTQ+ Community

Trans Support Groups in St. Louis (MTUG also has a community center open Tuesdays & Thursdays 12 - 6 pm): https://www.stlmetrotrans.org/support-groups

Updated Trans and Queer News/Legislation: https://www.erininthemorning.com/

Black Pride STL (community organization, events, educational programs, and advocacy): https://www.blackpridestl.org/ and their Facebook group with events https://www.facebook.com/Blackpridestl2

Washington University Transgender Center: https://endocrinology.wustl.edu/patient-care/transgender-center/

LGBTQ Book Clubs (community building, Left Bank Books has 3 book clubs specifically for queer folks) in St. Louis: https://www.left-bank.com/book-clubs

If you (or someone you know) need(s) immediate support, please use the lines below:

The Trevor Project Helpline

Text: 678-678

Call: 1-866-488-7386

The Trans Lifeline

Call: US (877) 565-8860 | Spanish: 877-565-8860 oprime 2

SQSH (Local) Peer Support Line

Local: 314-380-7774 | Friday through Monday, 1:00-7:00 PM CT

Latino & Immigrant Community

STL Juntos Facebook Page (community events, resources, information about rights): https://www.facebook.com/STLJuntos

Monarch Immigrant Services in St. Louis (legal services, mental health services, social services, naturalization/immigration services): https://monarchstl.org/

Mica Project in St. Louis (community outreach and legal services): https://www.mica-project.org/

If you (or someone you know) need(s) immediate support:

NAMI Helpline (National Alliance on Mental Health)

Text 442-AYUDAME in WhatsApp or AYUDA to 741741

Mental Health Crisis Helpline (available 24/7)

English: 1-800-273-8255 | Spanish: 1-888-628-9454

Raid & Detention Hotline Information:

National Immigration Detention Hotline

1-209-757-3733 (open Monday through Friday 12pm to 8pm PST)

For more information on the hotline you can also go to: https://www.freedomforimmigrants.org/hotline

Immigrant Service Providers Network STL

Rapid Response Line: Report ICE Activity

(314) 370-7080

-Call if you see ICE agents in our community.

-If ICE is nearby, support will be available during certain hours to remind you of your rights.

-If you or a family member is arrested, ISPN can guide you through the next steps. They also have immigration attorneys available during certain hours.

Therapeutic Books I Like...

Body Neutral by Jessi Kneeland (Book for understanding what your body image issues are trying to communicate; unique approach to navigating body image issues; gives actionable steps)

The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris (Book for people who are struggling with trying to control their emotions or those who feel their pursuit of “feeling happy” has led to feeling sad, anxious, or stuck)

Come as You Are by Emily Nagoski (Empowering read about why and how women’s* sexuality works, *inclusive for anyone with a vulva!)

Lighter by yung pueblo (An exploration of how we can move forward in our healing, from learning self-compassion to letting go to becoming emotionally curious)

Pleasure Activism by adrienne maree brown (Think social justice through the lens of pleasure)

Monkey is the Messenger by Ralph De La Rosa (Book all about meditation, very accessible for people wanting to learn about meditation, its benefits, and tools for practice)

The Body Is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor (A book that invites readers to challenge generations of body shame, get curious about the systems that have upheld this messaging, and instead, lean into self-love)

I Wasn't Ready to Say Goodbye: Surviving, Coping and Healing After the Sudden Death of a Loved One by Brook Noel and Pamela D Blair (Book about grief and loss; particularly a good read for anyone coping with sudden loss; my recommendation for those who've just lost someone important in their life)

It's OK That You're Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn't Understand by Megan Devine (An unapologetic, raw, and honest book about grief and loss; spends time analyzing the culture we have around grief in the United States and normalizing and validating those struggling with grief/loss)

What Happened to You? by Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Bruce Perry (Book that explores trauma, particularly childhood trauma, and its neurobiological impacts-shifts the questions of "what's wrong with you? why do you act like that?" to "what happened to you?")

Hold Me Tight by Dr. Sue Johnson (Book for those looking to improve their romantic relationship; it gives advice and practical exercises, to learn how to nurture, protect, and grow your relationship)

Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab (Book to understand boundaries and learn ways to set your own; informative and gives practical skills)

Drama Free: A Guide to Managing Unhealthy Family Relationships by Nedra Glover Tawwab (Book for anyone who has unhealthy family relationships and is looking to improve what they can control within their family dynamics; informative and gives practical skills)

Mental Health Apps I Like...

Insight Timer (Meditation app, great if you want thousands of meditations and to be able to get specific types of meditations/times of meditations, free)

Breathe and One Deep Breath (Literally an app that guides you through brief breathing techniques, free)

Shine ("Inclusive self-care toolkit" app, mental health app created by two women of color for BIPOC, free)

Daylio (Great therapy companion, Self-care bullet journal with goals and mood tracker, free but paid version has most features)

Calm (Meditation, relaxation, and sleep app, good beginner app for meditations, free but paid version has most features)

eMoods (Mood and symptom tracking app that is great for folks with Bipolar I and II disorders, Depression, PTSD, and Anxiety Disorders, free)

Dream Catcher (Dream journaling app, free)

Forest (Focus and productivity app, plant trees for every minute you focus on a task, free)

Sleep Cycle (Helps you calculate when you should go to bed/wake up taking into consideration where in your sleep cycle you'll be, good for getting restful sleep, helpful for folks with insomnia, free)