Oakland LGBTQ Center — Free LGBTQ+ Peer Support & Recovery — Oakland, CA
The Oakland LGBTQ Community Center is a nonprofit serving LGBTQ+ community members across the East Bay since 2017. Located in the Lake Merritt district, the Center offers free peer support groups, Rainbow Recovery Services for substance use, a weekly LGBTQ Narcotics Anonymous 12-step group, social and cultural programming, and a welcoming space for LGBTQ+ folks of all ages and backgrounds.
What to Expect
The Center hosts weekly peer support groups including a Rainbow Recovery group for LGBTQ+ folks navigating substance use, an LGBTQ Narcotics Anonymous meeting every Tuesday, peer support for LGBTQ+ elders, BIPOC LGBTQ+ community gatherings, and youth/young adult programming. The Center also offers social events, cultural celebrations, holiday programming for community members who may not have family acceptance, and ongoing community-building gatherings. All peer programs are free; some workshops and classes have suggested donations.
Who This Group Is For
The Center welcomes LGBTQ+ community members of all ages and identities across Oakland and the East Bay — lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and other identities. Specific groups serve elders, BIPOC LGBTQ+ folks, people in recovery, youth, and other community subgroups. The Center is intentional about being a place where LGBTQ+ folks across race, class, age, and immigration status can find community.
Why Peer Support Works
Oakland’s LGBTQ+ community has rich history and ongoing community spaces, and the LGBTQ Community Center anchors much of that with consistent peer programming. Members consistently describe the value of a local LGBTQ+-led space where the focus is community wellbeing rather than crisis response — a place to celebrate, mourn, recover, and build community alongside others who share the experience.
How to Join
Programs at the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center are free. Visit oaklandlgbtqcenter.org for the current calendar of peer groups, social events, and community programming. The Center is located at 3207 Lakeshore Avenue, Oakland, CA, and welcomes drop-ins to most open community programs.