From seniors to youth, our LGBTQ+ community faces persistent challenges. For example, LGBTQ+ older adults are less likely than heterosexual elders to have children to look after them as they age – and they’re more likely to live alone. And according to our TRENDS Report, LGBTQ+ high schoolers report higher rates of dating violence, including sexual assault, than their straight peers. Additionally, LGBTQ+ youth are bullied to a much greater degree than heterosexual teens, and are significantly more likely to contemplate and attempt suicide.

 

In response, the Open Door Fund, a permanent endowment of your Community Foundation, aims to support the strengths and needs of the LGBTQ+ population throughout the county in three ways: by building community, by facilitating collaboration and dialogue between our LGBTQ+ community and the county, and through fundraising and grantmaking.

 

Since 1996 the fund has raised over $2M from thousands of donors and distributed nearly $1M to provide for the continuing needs of this community.