Conference Looks To Aid LGBT Community

A conference Tuesday on serving the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people attracted dozens of human service providers at Whites of Westport.

The conference was titled "Open Minds, Open Doors," and was sponsored by The Women's Center in New Bedford.

Executive Director Pamela MacLeod-Lima says New Bedford has a wonderful group of agencies serving people on the Southcoast. But she tells WBSM News, having the LGBT community access those services can be an issue.

"For individuals in the LGBT community," said Lima, "we need to be culturally confident enough to offer those services in a way that they feel they have access to them, that they're open for them and that they're there."

The conference included a conversation among service providers to identify and correct gaps in services to create a more welcoming environment for LGBT individuals seeking help.