The LGBT Community Center of the Desert (aka “The Center”)

The mission of The Center is to enrich the lives of the LGBT community.  A thriving, community-based organization, the Center provides a safe and supportive environment for members to enjoy health, wellness, educational and social programs, where people of all ages and backgrounds are welcome.  The Center advances our mission through senior programming, a clinical counseling and internship program, a weekly food bank, extensive social and recreational offerings, a free community cyber center, a growing volunteer program and periodic special events in the community.

We are a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.  The Center is located in downtown Palm Springs and it is the only LGBT non-profit community center in Eastern Riverside County. The Center receives support from local municipalities, foundation grants, individual, couple and business memberships, special events, and gifts from our friends. Today, The Center has approximately 1,000 members and logs over 25,000 annual client visits.

 

History
The Prime Timers Foundation was created in 2001 with the purpose of serving the needs of gay seniors, who are often isolated and living at or below the poverty level.  Many in this generation lived through rejection, outright discrimination and fear for their safety for just being who they are.  They were the trail blazers who in spite of being ostracized by society, stood up for our rights and created the environment today where we can live openly as LGBT people. 

Many of the learned fears still exist in this generation and as they age they become isolated and self-protective.  Recognizing this, in 2005 the Foundation created the Golden Rainbow Senior Center, a one-room center that offered a few programs for seniors and a friendly and accepting place to gather.  In October, 2011, the board expanded the scope of The Center’s operation and changed its name to reflect that expanded mission.  We proudly move forward as a place for our entire the community as The Center.

 

Vision
We honor our past.  We salute our present accomplishments.  And as we look to the future, we envision a safe space where community is strengthened, where essential health and wellness programming is provided, and where all people are embraced with a greater level of understanding.  Imagine a place of unity where transgender people, women and people of color are more effectively welcomed in.  Imagine a place where we all come together not because of a crisis but because we are a strong community where nobody gets left behind.  This is our community.

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