The recent special election turnout has filled our community with hope. It is the hope that when we come together, we can still make history; that in a time when LGBTQ+ rights across the country are being targeted, our community will continue to rise, vote, and fight for one another.

At The Center, we witnessed that hope firsthand. As the only LGBTQ-affirming Vote Center in San Diego County, we became not only a welcoming place to proudly cast your vote but also a symbol of our collective power. During the 2024 General Election, more than 5,000 people voted at The Center or dropped off their ballots here, and this year, the line to vote in the November 4 special election stretched down the block. LGBTQ+ community members and allies, determined to make their voices heard, turned out in numbers and made The Center one of the busiest vote centers in the county. It was a moment of unity and purpose, and a reminder that when we are faced with adversity, our community shows up.

It’s also part of a much larger story for The Center and for our LGBTQ+ community. For decades, The Center has been at the heart of San Diego’s LGBTQ+ movement, fighting to protect and uplift every LGBTQ+ generation. From our elders, who organized for the rights we now defend, to our youth, who are navigating anti-trans rhetoric and harmful policies, every LGBTQ+ generation is feeling the impact of today’s hostile political climate.

At The Center, we believe that every LGBTQ+ generation deserves a better future.

That’s why The Center remains fiercely committed to our mission. Through our Hillcrest Youth Center and South Bay Youth Center, we are ensuring that LGBTQ+ youth have safe, affirming spaces to be their authentic selves. Through our 50+ and Better Together Senior Services, we are supporting our Stonewall generation with food, housing, health care, and community. And through our advocacy, we are defending the hard-won gains of the past while fighting for a more just and equitable future.

But none of this happens without our Center supporters who power this movement. Your generosity keeps our doors open, our programs running, and our community safe. The future we are fighting for, where every LGBTQ+ person can live with dignity, joy, and possibility, depends on all of us.

Today, I’m asking you to join us in the fight to protect our rights, to carry the hope of this election forward, and to invest in a future for every LGBTQ+ generation. By supporting our programs, you will also support our Get Out the Vote campaign in the 2026 election to protect LGBTQ+ rights.

Whether it’s $5, $50, or $500 or more, your contribution will make a difference in the lives of LGBTQ+ people in San Diego.