Bergen County LGBTQ+ Alliance
Defend Love. Empower Minds. Save Lives.
BCLA's mission is to advocate for equality and resources for the LGBTQ+ community in Bergen County, NJ,
to celebrate our diversity, and to provide safe spaces to allow us to be our true selves.
Est. June 7, 2021
Please ask us a question or leave a comment - We welcome you to Contact Us!
Check out our list of Pride Events all over Bergen County for dates and locations
Go straight to our list of Upcoming Events! Find out more about What We Do
News and Information
BCLA $500 Scholarships for High School Seniors
BCLA is offering two $500 scholarships for graduating High School Seniors who actively support the LGBTQ+ community. Applications are due by June 1st for consideration.
See our Youth Services page for details or download the Application Packet which contains the application form, requirements, and instructions for all parts of the application.
STI and HIV testing and access to PrEP
BCLA is excited to be partnering with HUG (Healthcare Unity Group) - a nonprofit service providing free or low-cost testing for STIs and HIV, as well as access to PrEP. HUG is an online service that operates through a fully secure and confidential / HIPAA compliant arrangement. BCLA is providing walk-in and phone-based access to scheduling and receiving HUG services, which are provided online or with at-home kits. Walk-in scheduling is available Mondays from 10am to 2pm at our BCLA office at Central Unitarian Church, 156 Forest Avenue, Paramus NJ. Or use our office phone line at 201-375-3549.
The Bergen County Ride Connect service is for Bergen County resident seniors aged 60 and over who are in need of transportation from one location to another within Bergen County, such as senior centers, medical services, shopping, and more. This is a free service available Mon-Fri, 9am-2pm. Call 201-368-5955 to request service.
CLICK HERE for Bergen County Vaccination Scheduling at New Bridge Medical Center
If you live in neighboring counties, like Hudson or Passaic, check out the New Jersey Department of Health website for more vaccine locations
Click above or on the image to get third-party information about Monkeypox that can help you make informed decisions and stay safe, including availability of vaccines in Bergen County.
Watch highlights from this Barney Frank video Don't Live in Fear
Barney Frank was the first openly gay congressperson in United States history and a long-time political advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. This video has excerpts from a talk that addresses the need to take on challenges of stigma and representation in the LGBTQ+ community.
BCLA is grateful and happy to be one of the organizations chosen to receive funding for a LGBTQ+ Youth Summer Enrichment Program with a grant from Together Outdoors, a coalition dedicated to making the outdoors a more inclusive space and more accessible to under-represented individuals.
Ongoing Groups & Services
This group is open to all queer-identifying womyn and meets monthly in a casual, private setting where we can share with and support the womyn of Bergen County. For questions or more information, email: womynsgroup@bergencountylgbtq.org
A monthly in-person social gathering with dancing and food, for trans and non-binary individuals and LGBTQ+ allies too.
A Monthly Queer Seniors event offering both In-Person and Zoom Options.
A monthly in-person social gathering with dancing and food, for trans and non-binary individuals and LGBTQ+ allies too.
HiTOPS groups create a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth to meet, socialize, offer and provide support, and participate in educational activities regarding healthy relationships, gender and sexuality, and more!
In collaboration with NJ Buddies and Bridges4Life we have established a closet for our queer and transgender community