Center on Halsted — Free LGBTQ+ Support Groups in Chicago & Online
Center on Halsted is the Midwest’s largest LGBTQ+ community center, located in Chicago and serving the broader region with free support groups, mental health and wellness programming, youth and senior services, social events, and cultural enrichment since 1973. The Center’s behavioral health program runs more than a dozen free peer support and process groups every week — in person in Chicago and virtually for participants across the region — covering a wide range of LGBTQ+ experiences.
What to Expect
Center on Halsted’s free support groups span the LGBTQ+ community broadly: trans and gender-expansive groups, women’s groups, men’s groups, bisexual/pansexual community groups, asexual and aromantic spaces, LGBTQ+ people of color groups, LGBTQ+ seniors, LGBTQ+ youth, parents of LGBTQ+ youth, LGBTQ+ folks in recovery, LGBTQ+ survivors of trauma and violence, polyamorous community, and many more. Most groups are weekly or biweekly, peer-driven with trained facilitators, and free to attend. The Center also runs social events, a senior program, youth program, anti-violence project, and cultural programming.
Who This Group Is For
Center on Halsted welcomes LGBTQ+ community members of all ages — youth, adults, seniors — and all identities, plus the parents and family members supporting LGBTQ+ loved ones. In-person programming is concentrated in Chicago’s Boystown/Northalsted neighborhood; many groups are also offered virtually, making them accessible to participants across the Midwest and beyond. Specific groups are tailored to identity (BIPOC, trans, bi+, etc.) and life experience (recovery, survivors, parents, seniors) so members can find the space that fits.
Why Peer Support Works
The Center’s longstanding role as the Midwest’s anchor LGBTQ+ community center means it has built deep peer communities that have continued for decades — long enough that members move through multiple groups across the course of their lives, from youth programming to senior services. The combination of breadth (dozens of identity- and experience-specific groups) and continuity (same Center, same building, same staff over time) creates a uniquely sustained peer support ecosystem.
How to Join
Center on Halsted support groups are free. Visit centeronhalsted.org to browse the current schedule of support groups, register for groups, and learn about other Center programs. New members can drop in to most open groups or sign up for groups that require pre-registration. The Center is located at 3656 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60613.