San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center

Description

Today the Center has active partnerships with over 70 community organizations. We host 75 programs weekly and serve to over 9,000 individuals monthly. We provide leadership that brings the community together to work on issues of civil rights, public policy and community activism, tackling problems of discrimination, homophobia and disenfranchisement. Whether the occasion is a community celebration or mourning, such as passage of marriage equality or the murder of 15-year-old Larry King, the Center is the one place that the entire community gathers for support.

Direct programming is designed to serve those community members most in need, including youth, job seekers, children and families, city newcomers, women and the transgender community. We have successfully piloted ground-breaking programs in economic development, health and wellness, and youth services. These services help ensure the survival of many members of the LGBT community, including those least able to find acceptance in mainstream culture. Programs areas include:

• Economic Development
  We pioneered programs to support sustainable employment and business practices for LGBT individuals and small businesses
  
• Health and Wellness
  In addition to HIV/AIDS prevention and city newcomer programs, we provide over 7,500 information referrals each year, connecting individuals to over 500 regional LGBT services
  
• Children, Youth and Family
  We provide childcare services to LGBT families six days a week. Over 300 youth annually receive leadership development, job training, queer youth prom, and for marginally housed youth, free meals
  
• Community and Policy Initiatives
  We support several community-led initiatives, such as Center Women Present. We facilitate and lead local organizing around civic issues, such as marriage equality and employment protection
  
• Arts and Culture
  8 annual visual and performing arts showcases, as well as collaborations designed to increase the visibility of LGBT artists and public access cultural activities
  
• Building Facilities
  Open six days a week, events range from 12-step meetings to town halls to readings and lectures. The Cyber Center provides free access to computer programs and the Internet. We are home to 13 LGBT nonprofits. Rental spaces serve groups ranging from 10 to 400 in size
  

The Center plays an important role as physical and spiritual home for LGBT culture and is vital to the ultimate survival of our identity as a community.

• "The Center inspires me. It's the place I belong, you belong, we all belong. How could I not be part of that?"
• "I became a member of the Center because it is important for me to be a part of the community. What better way than to volunteer? We now have a place to meet, use as a source of entertainment and culture, just call our own."
• "The Center has given me a different perspective on being gay in San Francisco. I was disappointed with most of what I had experienced as community in San Francisco until I started volunteering at The Center."