The Golden Rainbow Center enriches the lives of the LGBT community in the Coachella Valley. Youth are a vital part of the fabric of the LGBT community and the Center is developing resources to support the younger generation in the challenges they face. 

While people of all ages are welcome in almost every program operated here, there are two new youth initiatives rolling out.

  • As a result of its recent expansion, the Counseling Department is launching a facilitated group for youth in need of support.  This group is confidential and interested parties can find out more, by request, by contacting Dr. Jill Gover (760-416-7790 or drgover@thecenterps.org)
 
  • In a world troubled by unemployment, drugs, cyber-bullying and violence in schools, LGBT youth need support.  The Center is partnering with the Trevor Project to train educators and youth service providers tactics to prevent suicide and learn skills for intervention.  The Center is available beginning in November 2011 to provide structured, age-appropriate trainings with credentialed facilitators to address topics including sexual orientation and gender identity, the impacts of language and behavior on LGBTQ youth and suicide prevention skills in schools.  To learn more or to book a training, contact Dr. Jill Gover (760-416-7790 or drgover@thecenterps.org).

Check out our friends in the region also concerned with supporting LGBT youth:

Somebody Cares

GSA Network
Gay-Straight Alliance Network is a youth leadership organization that connects school-based Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) to each other and community resources through peer support, leadership development, and training.

 

Bienestar

The Sabores Youth Program is one of Bienestar’s HIV prevention programs geared to educate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) youth ages of 14 to 24. Sabores is offered in Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties. Sabores focuses on fostering the health and well-being of LGBT youth. The program offers individual counseling, weekly support groups and social events that are held in a substance-free, safe-space and confidential environment.

Safe Schools Palm Springs/Desert Communities (SSPSDC) seeks to reduce the discrimination that gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth experience while attending public schools. SSPSDC is a newly formed organization after 12 month as a chapter of the Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). This burgeoning group intends to bring trainings, resources and face-to-face support to the schools in the Coachella Valley in relation to name-calling and bullying. The SSPSDC also wishes to establish “safe spaces” on campuses for threatened youth, conduct staff trainings on working with LGBT students, and assist in establishing and supporting Gay-Straight Alliances at all the public high schools in the desert communities. 

Contact: rsmedstad@gmail.com


Safe House of the Desert – Regardless of a youth’s situation - family troubles, addiction, despair, depression, bullying – they open their doors to you. It's a cool place from the heat, and from the "heat of life," where you'll find other teens just like yourself...trying to get hooked on a positive way of being in the world.  (760) 343-3211

http://operationsafehouse.org/desert-safehouse

Somebody Cares Coachella Valley is now officially OUT THERE TOGETHER!  They plan to develop a safe, smart, intentional organization for youth and their allies to learn and share and grow and survive. The wonderful folks involved with this project are teachers and professors, retired counselors, entertainers, business folks, and LGBT and ally adults who care deeply about our youth. We are already or will soon partner with local organizations such as the Desert AIDS Project, PFLAG, the Tolerance Center, GSA Network, the Golden Rainbow Center, other LGBT and non-LGBT youth services organizations, Riverside County, and even the library system so that young folks may find reflections of themselves on the shelves of the local libraries. And we will help LGBT youth obtain scholarships for college through Friends of Project 10, the Point Foundation, and other similar organizations. 

Contact: ronnisanlo@gmail.com
© The LGBT Community Center of the Desert - 611 S. Palm Canyon Dr, Ste 201 Palm Springs, CA 92264 - www.thecenterps.org - 760-416-7790