The LGBTQ Center of Long Beach

Specialties

The Center provides services to support, inform and connect the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities through programs of information and education, health and well-​being, housing, cultural and social activities, and social justice. We advocate for the inclusion of all individuals into a free and just community, without judgment or restriction due to sexual orientation or gender identity.

The Center has a number of programs and services including

1. Free Rapid HIV Testing

2. Sliding-​Scale Mental Health Counseling

3.Youth Programs

4. Free Drug & Alcohol Counseling

5. Free Cyber Center

6. Free Legal Clinic

7. Resources and Referrals

8. LGBTQ Lending Library

9. Numerous Social & Support Groups

10. Seminars & Workshops

11. Annual QFilm Festival

12. QSpeak Speaker Series

13. Long Beach AIDS Ride

14. Volunteer Opportunities

History

Established in 1977.

The Center began in 1977. The Center was officially incorporated in 1980 as One in Long Beach, Inc. and has been providing service programs to the Long Beach community for over 3 decades. As a result of the AIDS epidemic, in 1984, The Center established Project Ahead, the first case management service in Southern Los Angeles County exclusively for gay men with HIV and AIDS.

In 1985 The Center was able to purchase a building located near 4^th and Cherry. The building opened in 1986 as a new home of the agency. In 1987, the agency held AIDS Walk Long Beach which continues today as a separate foundation. In 1997, One in Long Beach became the Gay and Lesbian Center of Greater Long Beach.

Today, we serve over 21,000 people a year and provide many services including support and social groups, youth services, legal assistance, rental and roommate referrals, a hate crimes hotline, mental health services, cultural activities, and HIV prevention and testing programs.