Community Resources for LGBTQ+ people.
ShrevePride isn’t alone in wanting to make our city an inclusive and welcoming place. Here are other great LGBT-owned, organized, or allied organizations, companies, and events that can be found in Shreveport.Advocacy
P.A.C.E. - People Acting for Change and Equality
P.A.C.E. is a nonpartisan organization that works to advance equality in Northwest Louisiana so that the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community can lead open, honest, responsible, and safe lives at home and in the workplace.
P.A.C.E.Y.
PACEY is P.A.C.E.'s social support group for LGBTQA high school to college age individuals. The mission of the social support group is to provide a safe and affirming environment for peer-to-peer social interaction and support.
Arts
QUEERPORT
QUEERPORT was designed to give queer creators a platform to write, blog, upload video content and document our history. Their goal is to bring together queer creatives in the south, specifically in northwest Louisiana, to share stories and create commentary on issues that matter to the queer community. They aspire to empower queer youth and give them alternative resources and programming, offering events and workshops throughout the year.
minicine?
minicine? is a volunteer-run venue for experimental and independent arts located in Shreveport, Louisiana. minicine? strives to create an artist/audience interactive environment and welcomes filmmakers and multimedia visual artists to present new works.
Healthcare and Affirmation
The Philadelphia Center
The Philadelphia Center was developed in the spring of 1990 as concerned citizens were responding to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Shreveport/Bossier area. Over the past 30 years, The Philadelphia Center has become the HIV/AIDS resource center for Region 7 which serves the parishes of Caddo, Bossier, Webster, Claiborne, Bienville, Red River, DeSoto, Sabine, and Natchitoches.
Mesloh Counseling Center
Mesloh Counseling Center is a safe, inclusive environment for everyone. They celebrate diversity and everyone being their authentic selves through LGBTQIA+ centric counseling options.
Roan Counseling
Operated by Roan Flenniken, a Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Yoga Instructor. Roan offers a safe, comfortable, and supportive environment to find perspective and solve problems. LGBTQA+ friendly — anyone is safe here. Offers private insurance and private pay services.
Brighter Future Counseling Services
Mental Health Rehab that offers home based, in office, and telehealth treatment options for all age groups. LGBTQ+ friendly staff and gender affirming care with a licensed professional counselor that specializes in LGBTQ+ counseling. Accepts Medicaid insurances.
Project Celebration
Project Celebration, Inc. (PCI) is a nonprofit organization located in Northwest Louisiana. The agency provides direct services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and children experiencing violence. They currently provide services in Bossier, Caddo, DeSoto, Natchitoches, Red River, Sabine and Webster Parishes.
Out of the Closet NWLA
Out of the Closet exists to clothe members of the LGBTQIA+ community and other marginalized individuals in need with outfits and wardrobes that reflect their truest self.
Free Mom Hugs advocates for the equality of the LGBTQ+ community by providing resources, education, and support.
The Recovery Village: Chapel Hill
Substance use disorders and mental health conditions can cause a vicious cycle that makes the symptoms of both worse. Learn how dual diagnosis treatment can help.
LGBTQ+ Drug and Alcohol Treatment Resources
Faith Spaces
All Souls Unitarian Church
All Souls is a Welcoming Congregation and has completed a special program of study and reflection so we can strive to be more welcoming to bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender persons.
B’nai Zion Congregation
B'nai Zion is a Reform Jewish Congregation in Shreveport, Louisiana since 1861. B’nai Zion is proud to be a "house of prayer for all people." They are a warm and welcoming congregation where hearts and souls are nourished, friendships are grown, minds are expanded and Jewish life is celebrated! The congregation also holds Pride Shabbat during Pride Month to celebrate the many identities of the congregation, including their LGBTQ members.
Church of the Holy Cross
Holy Cross is an Episcopal Church in Shreveport, Louisiana providing daily services. They are an inclusive Christian community that nurtures faith, encourages service, and embodies social and environmental justice. They value the sacramental inclusion of all people, especially LGBTQ+ siblings, the homeless, the stranger, and anyone else in need.
Grace Community Church
Grace is a United Methodist church which has made the Reconciling Ministries commitment to intersectional LGBTQ justice. They welcome and affirm people of every gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation, who are also of every age, race, ethnicity, physical and mental ability, level of education, and family structure, and of every economic, immigration, marital, and social status, and so much more.
Night Life
The Korner Lounge
The Korner Lounge — or as locals call it, “Korner” — opened in the late 1930s and is one of the oldest continuously operating gay bars in the USA. Korner is host to drag shows, drag bingo and parties.
Central Station
Central is Shreveport's Largest LGBTQ+ Multi-Venue Bar/Night Club! Offering a country bar, dance club, video lounge, and show bar with regular drag shows, karaoke, and more.
Bear’s
Bear’s is a bar and gastropub that hosts semi-regular LGBTQ+ events and is a safe space for all. Complete with weekly karaoke, live music, billiards, and a patio!
Your Rights in Shreveport
Same-Sex Marriages and Domestic Partnerships
The State of Louisiana recognizes same-sex marriages as a result of the Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges.
As of this writing, the state does not yet recognize domestic partnerships.
Anti-Discrimination
In Shreveport, legislation was passed in 2014 which prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations “against any person, either directly or indirectly, by refusing, withholding or denying to such person any of the services, accommodations, advantages, facilities or privileges offered by a public facility or place of public accommodation, by setting different rates, charges, identification procedures or requirements therefore, or by placing or attempting to place any person in a separate section or area of the premises or facilities of a public accommodation, resort or amusement on the basis of race, color, sex, disability, age, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or political or religious affiliations, provided that nothing contained in this section shall prohibit the provision of separate bathroom, restroom, shower or similar facilities for males and females.” However, there are some limitations on who this regulation applies to.
Hate Crime Protections
Louisiana is one of the few southern states which has a hate crime statute that provides penalty enhancements for crimes motivated by the victim's sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation. Passed in 1997, after a lobbying effort of five years, its passage made Louisiana the first state in the Deep South to have such a law. The law does not specifically enumerate gender identity, but hate crimes committed on the basis of the victim's gender identity can be prosecuted through federal courts under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
Adoption
The State of Louisiana permits single LGBT individuals and same-sex couples to jointly petition to adopt, including adoption of a partner’s child.
Surrogacy
Surrogacy in Louisiana is a highly regulated and restricted process. Per state laws, surrogacy in Louisiana is only available to married heterosexual intended parents who complete an altruistic surrogacy with a local surrogate in Louisiana.
Gender-Affirming Care for Minors
For now, gender-affirming care for minors is legal. Unfortunately, the Louisiana legislature used a supermajority to institute a ban on gender-affirming care for most minors, overriding its Democratic governor who had vetoed the bill. The law will take effect January 1, 2024.