Pacific Center — Free LGBTQ+ Peer Groups — Berkeley & Oakland, CA
The Pacific Center for Human Growth is the East Bay’s longest-running LGBTQ+ community center, founded in 1973 and serving Berkeley, Oakland, and the broader East Bay with free peer-facilitated drop-in support groups, mental health services on a sliding scale, and ongoing community programming. The Pacific Center’s peer groups are drop-in and free — covering a wide range of LGBTQ+ identities, life experiences, and intersections.
What to Expect
Pacific Center hosts ongoing free peer-facilitated drop-in groups including groups for lesbians, gay men, bisexual+ folks, transgender community members, nonbinary and genderqueer folks, LGBTQ+ elders, LGBTQ+ youth, queer Asian community, queer people of color, polyamorous community, asexual and aromantic community, and many more. The groups are led by trained Pacific Center peer facilitators and meet weekly or biweekly. Most groups are in person at the Berkeley center with some virtual options; many serve Oakland residents who commute easily across the East Bay. The Pacific Center also offers low-cost individual therapy on a sliding-scale fee structure.
Who This Group Is For
Pacific Center’s peer groups serve LGBTQ+ community members across the East Bay — including Berkeley, Oakland, Emeryville, Albany, Richmond, and surrounding cities. Members include LGBTQ+ folks of all ages, identities, and stages of their journeys. The breadth of group types means most LGBTQ+ folks can find a peer space that closely matches their identity and life situation.
Why Peer Support Works
Pacific Center has held LGBTQ+ peer space in the East Bay for more than 50 years — through decades of cultural shifts in LGBTQ+ community life. That longevity means the peer infrastructure is deep, the facilitator training is robust, and members often participate across multiple life stages. For Oakland LGBTQ+ folks, the Pacific Center’s offerings complement the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center’s programming and together provide East Bay LGBTQ+ community members with substantial peer support options.
How to Join
Pacific Center peer groups are free. Visit pacificcenter.org/current-peer-groups for the current group schedule. Drop-ins are welcome at most groups; some specialty groups may have brief intake processes. The Pacific Center is located at 2712 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley, CA, and serves the East Bay including Oakland.