Imperial Valley LGBT Resource Center

The Imperial Valley LGBT Resource Center is a non-profit organization established to provide basic health and social services to the LGBT population located in the Imperial Valley.

Based in El Centro California, the IV LGBT Resource Center is located in a very socially conservative region of California. After the State of California refused to take on the case in favor of Proposition 8; the law which stripped gays and lesbians of the right to Marry in California, Imperial County took up the fight to defend the proposition in the California Supreme Court.

In the end the legal ground for Imperial County to defend Proposition 8 was not regonized by the California Supreme Court, however Imperial Valley residence continue to hold strong anti-LGBT views which create an often hostil environment for LGBT people.

This is why members of our community from multiple backgrounds came together to create the Imperial Valley LGBT Resource Center in El Centro, CA. With a Mission to create a safe place and empower the LGBT community by connecting them to essential resources and a Vision that One day equality in the Imperial Valley will be embraced.

You can learn more about the IV LGBT Resource Center by visiting our website. Also you can learn more about the Resource Center in our San Diego Pride video and the outreach letter to the community below. It is our hope that with your support our Mission and Vision will be realised.



Letter To the Community
Dear Friend,

     Over the past few years it has become increasingly apparent that the LGBT population in the Imperial Valley needs a location, a safe location that is, to meet, share ideas, form friendships, promote education, and develop peer-oriented support amongst each other. Members of the LGBT community, as well as their straight allies, discussed this particular need in their homes, religious gatherings, and at LGBT-oriented conferences. 

     Because of the conservative nature of the Imperial Valley, those of us in the LGBT community have experienced discrimination, religious persecution, political and social ridicule, and outright animosity. Most of these actions stem from the obvious indifference of the needs and desires of the LGBT population in the Imperial Valley; that we simply desire the recognition to live our lives as equal members of society in the place that we call home. Likewise, finding places to gather for social activities has been an uphill struggle. The few businesses that have attempted to provide such outlets, unfortunately, were not able to sustain their efforts financially in the long term.

    There were previous parallel discussions and efforts in bringing an LGBT resource center into existence here in the Imperial Valley. A group of Imperial Valley College students began to discuss the need and idea in 2013 after attending a conference for LGBT students at San Diego State University. These students later became overwhelmed with the legal and financial requirements that were needed to see this vision to fruition. The students who were dedicated to the idea later transferred to schools outside of the Imperial Valley.

On December 9, 2014, Rosa Diaz, founder of Abide LGBT Life Group, organized the first LGBT network event in which nine local Imperial Valley agencies participated voluntarily. On January 29, 2015 Ms. Diaz sent out another invitation to members of the LGBT community to discuss the need for an LGBT resource center in the Imperial Valley. During this meeting approximately 20 people attended and as a result a board was immediately formed. Since this meeting, board members of the newly named Imperial Valley LGBT Resource Center have been meeting on a biweekly basis; board members along with members of the community have been meeting on a monthly basis. As a collective we have been diligent at working towards advancing the LGBT center by filing necessary paperwork in becoming a recognized non-profit organization. As of the writing of this letter, we are Incorporated within the State of California, recognized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization by the State and Federal governemnt, and have opened a brick and motor office in El Centro, CA.

     The purpose of the Imperial Valley LGBT Resource Center is stated in our Articles of Incorporation, to “Provide charitable, literary and educational programs for the health and well-being of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT), family, friends, allies, and the community by connecting them to essential resources and support services.” This would be accomplished by, but not limited to, the recruitment of volunteers for counseling, advocacy, outreach to religious institutions, as well as to the Imperial Valley community. The Imperial Valley LGBT Resource Center will engage in activities that are necessary, suitable, and convenient for the accomplishment of the previous stated purpose.

    We understand that the goals we have set out for the Imperial Valley LGBT Resource Center are ambitious. We are aware that as a center we have a great deal of work ahead of us – work that requires diligence, attention to detail, and financial resources. Producing those financial resources will take time. However, your contribution through our GoFundMe Charitable Campaign will help us pay for:

- Rent of the space we have secured
- Insurance costs
- Telephone and Internet service
- Electricity, Air Conditioning and Heating Costs
- Basic office supplies
- Printing expenses
- Governmental filing fees
- Outreach Letters
- World AIDS Day Event
- Sex Education and Health Services

Having the assistance with these expenses would permit us “breathing room” to work on building a list of individuals and business donors, as well as collect demographic data that would be necessary for filing grant applications. Once we have established a secure group of donors and grant funds from governmental and nongovernmental entities, we will be better suited to meet and achieve the purpose of the Imperial Valley LGBT Resource Center. Furthermore, we also would be better suited to maintain a prudent budget that would guarantee the sustainability of the center and its mission.

     The Imperial Valley LGBT Resource Center’s vision is to create a safe and inclusive space for LGBT people, family, and friends to freely express themselves by accepting the LGBT community’s presence, equality, and diversity within the Imperial Valley. This will include the fostering of dialogue, education, and understanding with the larger Imperial Valley population.

We hope that you will join us in making the Imperial Valley LGBT Resource Center possible.

Sincerely,

Rosa Diaz
Executive Director / CEO

Steven Andrew Mireles
Chairman

Camden Aguilera
Secretary

Adriana Tanory
Treasurer

Mario Rojo
Executive Assistant

Lalita Hermosillo
Board Member

Megan Moreno
Board Member

Brenda Lopez
Board Member