Affirming Hearts Academy: LGBTQ+ Love and Relationship
Affirming Hearts Academy (AHA) is a free, eight-week program for LGBTQ+ adults (18+) to cultivate affirming relationships of all kinds.
AHA creates a safe space where participants can reimagine healthy connections grounded in respect, collaboration, and consent.
Participants receive journals and art supplies to process each week’s concepts and are provided with SEPTA passes and snacks for the duration of the program.
The next group starts on September 22, 2026. Fill out the form below to get more information.
About Affirming Hearts Academy
Affirming Hearts Academy is a free weekly group for LGBTQ+ adults 18+ who want to explore what it means to have healthy, joyful LGBTQ+ affirming relationships of all kinds. Participants will discover ways to engage in LGBTQ+ affirming romantic relationships, friendships, familial bonds, professional connections, and more.
This group provides a unique opportunity for queer and trans adults to re-envision what healthy relationships might look like in a queer and trans affirming framework. We are excited to discuss how relationships can be affirming, collaborative, consensual, and joyful while celebrating our LGBTQ+ identities throughout our sessions. LGBTQ+ folks deserve to be in partnerships and relationships where their pronouns are respected, their sexual orientation and gender identities are understood, and they can be their full selves. This group will help participants envision what those kinds of relationships would look like for them.
Affirming Hearts Academy sessions achieve this goal through topics including Characteristics of Healthy LGBTQ+ Relationships, Consent and Communicating Needs, Boundaries, Identity and Experience, and more. This group combines education, discussion, and creative art practices to reach as many learners as possible. Community building and collaboration are essential parts of this group.
This project was supported by 15JOVW-22-GG-00404-UNDE awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.
