Fighting injustice, poverty, and inequity for low-income LGBTQ+ individuals and their families in rural California requires a highly intersectional approach. CRLA’s holistic approach to community advocacy is designed to address the unique challenges that LGBTQ+ people face in rural California, from higher poverty rates and employment discrimination to unwelcoming education and health care systems, and threats of violence or deportation.

When LGBTQ+ people are less likely to access legal services due to stigma or fear of harassment, referrals to legal service providers like CRLA who have established connections and trust with local LGBTQ+ communities result in a significantly increased likelihood that a legal intervention will successfully address the person’s legal need.