The Queerist

Description: Chicago has long been the center of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in the greater Midwest, and in 2001 a dedicated group of community leaders came together and shared a vision to create a united front and a focal point for this burgeoning community.

Through their vision and dedication, Center on Halsted became a reality in 2007, bringing a wide array of LGBT organizations and resources in the city together to collaborate, share resources and extend their reach. As the most comprehensive LGBT community center in the Midwest, our mission is simple: In a safe and nurturing environment, the Center on Halsted serves as a catalyst for the LGBT community that links and provides community resources and enriches life experiences.

Center on Halsted has become an exciting and highly visible symbol for the LGBT community of Chicago, serving diverse social, recreational, cultural, and social service needs of youth and adults in a safe, inviting and nurturing environment. It has office and meeting space for community organizations, drop-in space for youth and for older adults, gallery space, cultural programming and recreational space including basketball and volleyball courts along with parking, ground level retail and a rooftop memorial garden.

The Center offers support networks and programming to meet the cultural, emotional, social, educational and recreational needs of the LGBT community and friends. Current services include support groups for youth and seniors, mental health services, an info line for LGBT individuals and a hotline for HIV and STD concerns, prevention, treatment, and advocacy related to domestic violence, community technology center providing internet access and technology training and a range of life-enrichment programs.

The Center on Halsted also houses a number of organizations serving Chicago's LGBT community. Currently, numerous cultural, recreational and advocacy organizations that serve the LGBT community are Resident Community Partners at the Center, which acts as an incubator providing operational support and room for collaboration to the diverse community of nonprofit organizations that may otherwise find it difficult to interact.

The Center’s vision is to reflect “An LGBT journey…celebrating, affirming and discovering possibilities.” Join us on this journey.