OLGBTQA initiatives

The More Than Just Project

Developed by filmmaker and advocate Lianna Vibes, the More Than Just Project (MTJP) is about visibility, integrity, and truth about between Transgender, Gender Expansive, and Intersex (TGI) people and their benefit to the workplace. During a time where anti-trans rhetoric is at its strongest, MTJP highlights the power of the TGI individuals, that they are more than just their gender identity or gender expression. Click the link above to find out more.

Learn about More Than Just Project

TGI Empowerment Pilot

The Office of LGBTQ Affairs recognizes the historical lack of safe and equitable access to education and employment experienced by transgender and gender-expansive communities. To combat the ongoing effects of this injustice, we are currently working towards developing programming focused on Transgender Economic Empowerment. Check back soon for updates.

TGI Workplace Inclusion Initiative

The County’s TGI Workplace Inclusion initiative seeks to increase outreach to and employment opportunities for TGI applicants, employees, and vendors. It also strives to strengthen TGNB retention rates at the County of Santa Clara by creating an affirming workplace environment for TGNB people to thrive. Updates to this initiative are reported semi-annually to the County’s Children, Seniors, and Families Committee. Read the legislative file to learn more.

Gender Health Center

The Gender Health Center (GHC), part of Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, is the first and only clinic in the South Bay specializing in care for transgender, non-binary and gender-diverse individuals of all ages. The Office of LGBTQ Affairs was one of the stakeholders who helped launch GHC in 2019 and continues to support its work and connect community members to its services.

Learn about the Gender Health Center

New Haven Inn

New Haven Inn is an inclusive shelter in San Jose with focused support for individuals who identify as LGBTQ. Their staff are LGBTQ-sensitive and knowledgeable, providing clients with immediate and longer-term services. The Office of LGBTQ Affairs helped inform the development of New Haven Inn and continues to support its work and connect community to its services. New Haven Inn is by referral only. You can learn more by visiting their website.

Learn about New Haven Inn

Getting to Zero

Getting to Zero HIV (GTZ) Santa Clara County-Silicon Valley is a multi-year initiative that strives for Zero New HIV Infections, Zero Deaths related to HIV/AIDS, and Zero HIV/AIDS Stigma and Discrimination. GTZ is a collaborative between The Health Trust, Santa Clara County Public Health Department, and other multi sector partners, including the Office of LGBTQ Affairs.

Learn about the Getting to Zero Program

LGBTQ+ Health and Wellness Initiative

The County’s LGBTQ+ Health and Wellness Initiative is a cross-collaborative effort between the Office of LGBTQ Affairs and Behavioral Health Services Department’s The Q Corner, which seeks to increase the level of LGBTQ+ competency in the delivery of health and wellness services, increase the accessibility of services that are responsive to priority needs for LGBTQ+ persons, and improve health and wellness among LGBTQ+ populations compared against data collected in 2013 and current research efforts. Updates to this initiative are reported semi-annually to the County’s Health and Hospital Committee. You can learn more about the initiative by reading the legislative file here. Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media (@LGBTQSCCgov) to receive updates.

LGBTQ+ Summit

The LGBTQ Summit is a free convening that shares promising practices presented by local and national leaders, provides information about County services and initiatives, and supports community building and collaboration. The Office of LGBTQ Affairs collaborates with a Steering Committee of County departments and community organizations to design and present the LGBTQ Summit each year in June. Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media (@LGBTQSCCgov) to receive updates.

Step in, speak up!

Building a more inclusive workplace: LGBTQ

This 30-minute online training and conversation simulation provides both didactic instruction on LGBTQ terminology as well as conversation simulations that help build a participant’s capacity to create a more inclusive work environment where LGBTQ staff and clients feel valued and respected. The simulation allows participants to explore a wide range of ways in which they can address true-to-life situations and learn the most respectful, inclusive, and supportive ways of working with LGBTQ people and promoting a bias- and harassment-free workplace.

All-gender restroom signs

California law mandates that any single-stall restroom must be designated “All-Gender” by signage. The Office of LGBTQ Affairs currently has a limited supply of All-Gender Restroom Signs (the blue circle with white triangle and the blue rectangle with white text and braille). We are able to provide up to two of each sign to any small business within Santa Clara County free of charge and can have them mailed to the business. Click here to learn more, and to request a free sign.

Silicon Valley Pride / County of Santa Clara

The Office of LGBTQ Affairs coordinates the presence of County government departments to display and outreach at the Silicon Valley Pride Festival and/or to participate in the Silicon Valley Pride Parade, which occurs annually at the end of August at Plaza de César Chávez Park in San Jose. While our office helps to support County participation, please note that the Parade and Festival are produced by the separate organization Silicon Valley Pride. If you are a County department interested in learning more, please contact us at [email protected].

Learn about SV Pride

LGBTQ+ Juvenile Justice Program

Recently-released data revealed high numbers of LGBTQ youth within the juvenile justice system. These numbers are even higher for youth in girls’ detention centers and programs (approximately 40% identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual, and about 10% are gender nonconforming). The LGBTQ+ Juvenile Justice Program aims to provide intentional, coordinated, focused, and pro-social interventions for justice-involved LGBTQ+ youth at risk of (re)entering girls’ detention facilities. Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media (@LGBTQSCCgov) to receive updates.

SupportOUT—LGBTQ+ Youth Well-Being Initiative

SupportOUT is a cross-collaborative effort between the Office of LGBTQ Affairs, the County's Probation Department, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Rhodes Perry Consulting, and Ceres Policy Research which seeks to create a safety net of affirming, accessible, and community-based services to promote the well-being of LGBTQ+ youth of color in their homes, schools, and communities. SupportOUT seeks to preserve families instead of separating them, heal harms instead of inflicting punishment, and prevent systems involvement instead of facilitating it. Read this article about SupportOUT published on the Columbia University website to learn more.

LGBTQ+ Older Adult Initiative

Under the County’s LGBTQ+ Health and Wellness Initiative, the LGBTQ+ Older Adult Initiative aims to expand culturally relevant training programs to provide culturally inclusive care, reduce discrimination, and increase access to existing resources, recommend sustainable programs to provide tailored social activities, services, and programs and promote health and well-being, encourage partnership with other community organizations, and expand access to existing resources and programs, and involve community members to inform on LGBTQ+ older adult focused affordable housing. Read the legislative file here to find out more.