Hetrick-Martin Institute believes all young people, regardless of sexual orientation or identity, deserve a safe and supportive environment in which to achieve their full potential.
Hetrick-Martin Institute (HMI) creates this environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) youth between the ages of 13 and 24 and their families.
Through a comprehensive package of direct services and referrals, HMI seeks to foster healthy youth development. HMI’s staff promotes excellence in the delivery of youth services and uses its expertise to create innovative programs that other organizations may use as models.
We Take Pride in Our History
We’re proud to be the nation’s oldest organization helping queer and trans youth reach their full potential.
In 1979, life partners and educators on gay and lesbian issues, Dr. Emery Hetrick, a psychiatrist, and Dr. Damien Martin, a professor at New York University, heard the heartbreaking story of a homeless 15-year-old boy who had been beaten and thrown out of his emergency shelter because he was gay.
They were so moved that they gathered a group of concerned adults and created what was then called the Institute for the Protection of Lesbian and Gay Youth (IPLGY) to assist this group of young people who desperately needed support. In 1988, the organization was renamed Hetrick-Martin Institute in honor of its founders and their lifelong commitment to service.
Drs. Hetrick and Martin, partners, educators, and founders of the nation’s first LGBTQIA+ youth services agency.
We Are Proud of Our Progress
Created in 2013, HMI’s Center for LGBTQIA+ Youth Advocacy and Capacity Building, advocates on behalf of queer and trans youth by influencing policy on local, national and international levels, while helping to build the capacity of decision-makers, individuals and institutions that serve this marginalized population. Learn more
HMI is the host agency for the groundbreaking Harvey Milk High School, devoted to serving at-risk youth and founded in 1985 in collaboration with the New York City Department of Education, which administers the school and is responsible for admissions. Learn more
We Believe in Our Youth
Mental Health
HMI advocates for youth service providers to integrate trauma-informed care, emotional wellness, and positive youth development into their practices. Systems, policies, and organizations must be designed to ensure LGBTQIA+ youth feel safe and included, while affirming emotional wellness services remain accessible to these communities. HMI also firmly opposes reparative therapy, recognizing its harm, and supports laws that protect minors from its damaging effects.
Education
HMI believes LGBTQIA+ youth deserve access to quality education in inclusive and affirming environments. Schools should implement anti-discrimination policies that protect LGBTQIA+ students from bullying, harassment, and violence, empowering them to celebrate their most authentic selves. Additionally, all school personnel should be encouraged and equipped to practice cultural fluency, fostering spaces that affirm and support LGBTQIA+ youth. The sexual harassment law must also be upheld, ensuring no one tolerates harassment of any kind, regardless of gender.
Healthcare
HMI believes LGBTQIA+ youth should have access to comprehensive healthcare, including inclusive sexual health education as a vital part of healthy adolescent development. Our organization supports policies and practices that increase and guarantee equitable access to healthcare for LGBTQIA+ youth. We believe that with proper education, young people can better understand their bodies, set boundaries, and safely explore their identities.
Homelessness
HMI believes homelessness among youth stems from systemic discrimination, rejection, and isolation. Every young person deserves access to safer spaces to sleep, and homeless shelters must be equipped with cultural fluency to effectively serve LGBTQIA+ youth. Additionally, HMI supports initiatives that help families create affirming environments to encourage youth to remain at home whenever it is safe to do so.
Economic Empowerment
HMI believes all youth deserve equitable access to opportunities for academic achievement and career success. Our organization advocates for policies and laws that safeguard and promote LGBTQIA+ youth employment and affirms the need for comprehensive federal protections for LGBTQIA+ individuals of all ages.
Transgender and Gender-liberated Youth
HMI believes that emotional and physical safety is essential for the growth and well-being of young people. Our organization supports the development of policies, practices, and programs that expand economic and educational opportunities for Trans and gender-liberated youth. We also believe all young people should be empowered to live as their true, authentic selves, free from stigma, bias, and fear.