The Behavioral Health Services RVTIP program received credentialing, and became one of the first same-sex domestic violence programs in the nation

The Hillcrest Youth Center opened its doors and became a critical resource for LGBTQ youth in San Diego

The Lesbian and Gay Men’s Center was renamed The San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center

AIDS Walk & Run San Diego returned to The Center as a Center program

The Community Leadership Council was established, bringing together more than 40 LGBTQ and allied community organizations each month to address the needs of the community

Latin@ Services was established, providing a culturally-affirming drop-in space, support groups, and social programs for LGBTQ Latin@s and their families

The Center Advocacy Project was established, a nonpartisan 501(c)4, whose mission is to secure equal civil and human rights for the LGBTQ and allied communities through public education and issue advocacy

The Equality Voters program was established to encourage community-wide voter registration and full, non-partisan, participation in elections

Engage San Diego was established, forming a nonprofit network of local civil rights, social justice, health and environmental organizations focused on nonpartisan civic engagement

Senior Housing Needs Assessment completed

The Young Professionals Council was established in 2009 to develop and empower young LGBTQ professionals and their allies. As part of that effort, in 2012 the YPC Academy was established to help prepare young leaders to further equality through board service for a variety of agencies, not-for-profit organizations and government commissions

Project TRANS was established to provide services designed specifically for San Diego’s transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming community

The #BeTheGeneration TRANS campaign launched

The Center’s Youth Services opened the South Bay Clubhouse, a weekly drop-in space for LGBTQ youth in Chula Vista

Dr. Delores Jacobs announces retirement from The Center. Through more than 200 interviews and focus groups, feedback was solicited regarding characteristics sought in the new Center chief executive, led by Board Co-Chair Joyce Rowland

The Center reaches $2 million goal with unprecedented community support, matching donors Ron Bowman, with his husband Stan Zukowfsky announce a second gift of $1.65 million to pay off mortgage for the Centre Street building in spring of 2018

The Center Board announces selection of Caroline (Cara) Dessert, Esq. as the next Center Chief Executive Officer effective July 1, 2018

The Center embarks on a Strategic Planning process, engaging a wide variety of community stakeholders to strive to serve our growing and diverse community and ensure that we maximize our organization’s resources to best continue to fulfill our mission in the years ahead

In an effort to better serve the Black LGBTQ community, The Center hosted a Black Town Hall. This event led to many initiatives including the formation of the Black LGBTQ Community Advisory Committee. This committee, in partnership with The Gender Phluid Collective, the San Diego Black LGBTQ Coalition, and the Unity Fellowship Church, created and are hosting Brave Space, a peer-led discussion group for LGBTQ folx of the Black and African diaspora community. The Center is helping the San Diego Black LGBTQ Coalition to obtain its own 501(c)(3) status, serving as the fiscal agent for the Coalition, free of charge, in the interim period, with the goal of this organization obtaining its 501(c)(3) status in 2021. In partnership with the Black LGBTQ Community Advisory Committee, The Center provided several educational opportunities for Center staff and volunteers on anti-Black racism and on how to be better allies to the Black LGBTQ community.

The Board of Directors voted unanimously that The Center will no longer allow armed uniformed law enforcement officers at Center facilities or at Center events, unless as a last resort or in response to a true emergency. The Center works with the Coalition for Police Accountability and Transparency (CPAT) in calling for local governments to pass the Police Accountability Now policy reforms.

The Center’s Youth Services staff created and launched The Youth Queer Leadership Council, a three-year leadership development program for youth comprised of three youth cohorts based on age: 12-13, 14-18, and 19-24. The program centers youth of color.

Black Services at The Center is established to provide dynamic programming and direct services for San Diego’s Black LGBTQ community.

During The Center’s closure due to the pandemic, the main facility at 3909 Centre Street received upgrades including new floors, new lighting, a new welcome desk and lobby area, renovated restrooms, a new Sexual Health & Wellness Lounge, new community meeting rooms, and improvements to the sound system in the historic auditorium, as well as a new HVAC system to provide the cleanest air possible to our community.

The Center hosts an Open House in May to welcome the community back to The Center once COVID vaccines and boosters are available to the public. The Open House brings over 400 community members to learn about The Center’s programs and services.

In response to the MPOX outbreak in San Diego, The Center co-hosted a community forum and held vaccination clinics in our parking lot. The Center also launched a successful MPOX campaign to prevent the spread of the virus.

The Center brought back the Red Hot Dance, an event that celebrates the diversity of queer women with music, dancing, drinks, food, and community.

The Center expanded LGBTQ Safe STAY from four beds to up to 21 beds for transitional age youth ages 18-24, The new LGBTQ Safe STAY Wellness Center is a space designed by and for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC youth.

The Center launches its new housing program, Adult Housing Services, focusing on adults 18 years and over, including seniors, transgender and nonbinary clients, and our BIPOC community.