Where to meet people who build things, and who will hold the door.
Updated October 2026
A good professional network is partly a source of leads and partly a place where you do not have to explain yourself. New York has several for LGBTQ+ people, from a bar association with roots in the 1970s to a global tech community. For more on queer life across the city, see our guide to queer community in NYC.
Below: organizations worth knowing, what each is for, and a few career-coaching options. Most run their own event calendars, so check each one for what is on now.
For the social side of a career, 10th Muses, a community for queer and lesbian women, trans and nonbinary folks, 30+, has member WhatsApp groups by field, including Work, Networking & Cross-Industry Connecting; Technology, AI & Innovation; Finance, Investing & Global Markets; Law, Policy & Public Affairs; and Medicine, Healthcare & Science. The group guide lists them all, and membership is free.
The LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York, known as LeGaL, traces its roots to 1978, when ten people formed the New York Law Group, and incorporated in 1984. Its programs include continuing legal education, networking and career development, and it runs a free legal clinic at the LGBT Community Center.
Lesbians Who Tech + Allies is a global community of LGBTQ+ women, nonbinary and trans people in technology and their allies, founded by Leanne Pittsford.
nglccNY is the New York network of the National LGBTQ+ & Allied Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC). It offers member networking and education, and NGLCC runs LGBT Business Enterprise (LGBTBE) certification for LGBTQ+ owned businesses, which is useful if you run your own company.
Out Leadership is a global LGBTQ+ business advisory founded by Todd Sears. It works with large companies and senior leaders on LGBTQ+ inclusion, so check its programs to see whether they fit where you are in your career.
Wanderlust Careers is a New York career coaching firm that describes itself as woman- and LGBTQ-owned and works with people changing careers or unsure what comes next. Embrace Change, founded by Cynthia Pong, is a coaching and training firm focused on women of color in the workplace.
The LGBT Community Center in the West Village lists economic advancement among its programs and has hosted an LGBTQ+ career fair, Queer in Every Career, with resume feedback from community partners. Check its current calendar for what is running now.
Pick one group and go three times before you judge it; the second and third visits are when you recognize people. Offer something small, such as an introduction or a resume read, before you ask for anything. And mix rooms: a professional group for contacts, plus a social one for friends who will cheer when the job comes through.
At 10th Muses, the member directory and the current events calendar are places to look for that social room, where lesbian, sapphic and nonbinary professionals meet as people first.
Each card links to the listing in our community directory. Check each organization for current programs and eligibility.
Yes. The LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York (LeGaL) serves the legal community, nglccNY connects LGBTQ+ business owners and allies, Out Leadership works with companies and senior leaders on LGBTQ+ inclusion, and Lesbians Who Tech + Allies is a global tech community.
NGLCC's LGBTBE certification is for businesses that are at least 51% owned and operated by LGBTQ+ people. It is meant to raise a business's visibility with corporate and government partners looking for suppliers. It does not guarantee contracts or a company's financial health.
Wanderlust Careers describes itself as woman- and LGBTQ-owned, and the LGBT Community Center has hosted an LGBTQ+ career fair with resume feedback. Ask any coach about their experience with LGBTQ+ clients before you book.
Match the group to your goal: LeGaL for legal careers, nglccNY for business owners, Lesbians Who Tech + Allies for tech. Try a few events before you commit, and check each group's current calendar.
Queer Community in NYC · All 10th Muses guides · Join 10th Muses
10th Muses — Social Club for Queer Women and Nonbinary Folks in NYC. Founded in September 2025 by Andrea Himmel.