A Safe Place to Talk, Online and On the Phone

You can receive help, information, referrals, and support for a range of issues without being judged or rushed into any decision you are not prepared to make. Across the country, Fenway’s help lines are a source of support. Talk to our trained volunteers about safer sex, coming out, where to find gay-friendly establishments, HIV and AIDS, depression, suicide, and anti-gay/lesbian harassment and violence. No matter what is on your mind, we are here to encourage and ensure you that you are not alone.

Our help lines are anonymous and confidential phone lines that offer lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning adults and young people a “safe place” to call for information, referrals, and support. Our trained volunteers can help you with coming out as well as locating LGBT groups and services in your local area. Our volunteers can also offer support and guidance around common issues including safer sex and relationships and HIV/AIDS.

Volunteering Opportunities:

It takes over 40 trained volunteers to run the LGBT Helpline and Peer Listening Line! Fenway Health is always looking for people interested in lending a hand who can commit to:

• a 2 ½ hour shift,
• every other week,
• for at least 6 months.

Both lines are staffed by individuals who self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, genderqueer, or somewhere along that spectrum. LGBT Helpline volunteers can be of any age, but Peer Listening Line volunteers are all 16-25 years-old.

Before answering calls on your own, all new volunteers must attend an intensive, 15-hour training that covers topics such as coming out, active listening, suicide, self-care, safer sex, harm reduction, and transgender and bisexual issues.

To learn more about volunteering for the Helplines or to request a volunteer application, please email Jo Wisch, Program Coordinator, at jwisch@fenwayhealth.org.

Free Posters:

We provide helpful, informational posters to teachers, program managers, clinicians and direct service professionals. To receive a free Helpline poster to promote this service to your students or clients, please email Jo Wisch, Program Coordinator, at jwisch@fenwayhealth.org.