As queer and trans folks, we know that our survival is dependent on one another. QCRU’s volunteer network is made up for TLGBQIA+ Baltimore City residents, who believe that deepening our relationships and committing to caring for one another is a necessary investment in our collective liberation. By turning to our neighbors when we need help, we’re building the future we dream of, one relationship at a time. QCRU envisions a Baltimore where all TLGBQIA+ people are safely and securely housed and robustly connected to communities of care.

For many survivors, including those of us who’ve been subjected to involuntary treatment, being able to make decisions about how we do and do not want to be cared for is an important step in healing and reclaiming our autonomy. To avoid replicating the violence of the criminal legal system and medical industrial complex, we strive to support individuals who’ve experienced harm or who are in crisis towards meeting their identified needs and goals, seeking informed consent before offering or providing care whenever possible. We don’t participate in involuntary processes, like emergency petitions.

We know that interactions with law enforcement, the legal system, and medical industrial complex are often harmful for queer and trans folks, especially TGNC BIPOC with disabilities. When providing in-person support, we work directly with the person in crisis to identify their needs, explain options, including the potential risks & benefits of accessing those resources, and offer help navigating potentially harmful systems. At a community level, by building robust, resourced and trustworthy community-based crisis response systems, we’re collectively reducing the potential for known harms to occur to our neighbors and loved ones.