What does OLAS mean?

OLAS means “waves” and is a Spanish-language acronym for LGBTQ+ Organization for Support and Solidarity: Organización LGTBQ+ de Apoyo y Solidaridad.

OLAS exists for those who have been forced to migrate from their countries of origin due to homophobia and transphobia, and who want to connect with a safe community of similar people and participate in personally enriching group activities.

Values

OLAS believes that all people who seek refuge in the U.S. due to homophobia and transphobia deserve access to affordable and effective resources for both community support and personal healing.

Violence on the basis of sexual orientation and gender leaves long-lasting, traumatic effects on the individuals who experience it. People who have access to supportive community resources tend to have much better outcomes than those who don’t. We believe that gender and sexual orientation, or country of origin, should not be an impediment to being happy, healthy, and thriving members of our community.

We care about…

Everyone feeling safe, cared for, and supported.
Feeling seen and heard.
Experiencing joy, laughter, and play in shared moments.

We focus on…

Providing a warm environment where our participants can feel that they are undeniably welcomed, seen, and valued and can experience a sense of belonging.

We believe…

A community of like-minded people is the basis for healing.

“As the Director of EBSC I have worked with hundreds of LGBTQ+ clients who fled terrible persecution in their home countries due to their sexual orientation, and I have long advocated for some kind of continuing therapy for these profoundly traumatized individuals. OLAS is precisely the kind of project needed.”

– Michael Smith, EBSC Immigration Legal Services Advisor