Whittier celebrated the grand opening of its LGBTQ+ Community Resource Center Saturday , Sept. 21, bringing together residents and city representatives, who said the long-awaited site’s services will provide much needed impacts in the region. The LGBTQ+ center is the first of its kind in southeastern Los Angeles County, aimed at filling a critical gap in care for the LGBTQ+ community for residents living in the area, leaders said.
Previously, those in the Greater Whittier area who used LGBTQ+ centers traveled to Long Beach and to Downtown Los Angeles to access resources and support. “There are people who will never step foot in that building, who will benefit from its very existence,” said John Pérez, former speaker of the state Assembly – the first openly gay speaker. “This building is the first in a community that so desperately needs it, and gives us the sense of what is possible beyond.
” Resources provided at the center include support groups, substance use disorder treatment, mental health treatment, legal assistance, age-appropriate youth programs, educational workshops, information and referral services, operated by the Los Angeles Centers for Alcohol and Drug Abuse (L.A. CADA).
It will also provide cultural programs, social events, community outreach and volunteer opportunities. Those who use the facility can access showers, washer and dryer, and a closet full of donated clothes and shoes. But proponents of the center also said part of the importance of .