LGBT Center Orange County

The Center OC serves as a safety net for health and social services for the LGBTQ community, as there is no other organization focused solely on the needs of our community in Orange County. The Center OC provides HIV/AIDS prevention, health, and social services specifically designed to meet the needs of the local LGBTQ community, including HIV prevention, testing and counseling; LGBTQ cultural competency training to medical and social service providers; mental health counseling; social and support groups; and programming for youth, Latinos, and adults over the age of 55. The majority of our services are offered in both English and Spanish, including HIV counseling, HIV prevention groups and mental health counseling.

In June 2009, after 38 years of renting, The Center OC purchased and, with the help of contractors who donated their time, renovated our own building. This building features a dedicated Youth Center and a private HIV Testing Clinic, both of which are now being utilized six days a week. Since our move three years ago, The Center OC has experienced steady growth and the demand for our services continues to increase. 

Here a few stories from those who we have helped:

Not knowing where to turn for support with discrimination issues after his partner moved into a senior care residence; not knowing who to call and concerned about things getting worse, Lu contacted The Center’s Director of Senior Services, Katie Barraza.  Among many incidents, Lu was told if he held his partner’s hands or showed affection he would not be allowed to visit.  Lu’s status as a registered domestic partner was ignored.  Katie immediately phoned an Ombudsman and contacted Lambda Legal. After reaching out to Lambda Legal, the group sent a letter on Lu’s behalf demanding the discrimination end. Further, Katie went with Lu and met with the Director of the senior assisted living community and is working to resolve the inequality and unfair treatment Lu and his partner of 30 years were receiving. The Center will give a voice to our LGBT seniors and hold people accountable those who attempt to discriminate against them. This discrimination against  LGBT seniors is widespread.  Those who fought for our civil rights are going back into the closet because of the discrimination they face.  Through our senior program, we will support and fight for our seniors’ civil rights.

 

Another member of our senior program, Kaz, experienced the death of his partner of 30 years. Because the couple couldn’t marry, Kaz was not eligible for his partner’s pension.  The loss of the pension means Kaz has been robbed of the financial security he and his partner worked for. If marriage were legal, he would be receiving the pension. He and his partner spent their lives together, and Kaz deserves not only the money but the respect for maintaining a committed relationship with the man he loved.

Our Senior Program is new and we are already advocating for elders in our community.  The program can only continue with your support. Please consider making a gift to the Center so Lu and Kaz and others like them have an ally in the Center.