​The Center headquarters opened with a single office and began operation, in July of 2017, in the "Co-Munity" co-working office space, located at 3207 Lakeshore Ave., in Oakland's beautiful Lake Merritt-Grand Lake district. The Center's first board of directors was organized in August of 2017. Over one hundred community members were recruited to help conduct a community needs assessment that included 22 focus groups, representative of Oakland's rich ethnic, cultural, gender, age and socio-economically diverse community. The grand opening for the new Center was held on September 7, 2017. The Center's newly formed board of directors was presented with an opportunity to take over the entire "Co-Munity" offices, after the co-working operator went out of business in December of 2017.

A New Chapter Begins: The Center's board of directors embraced a bold vision for growth and community impact by accepting the challenge of establishing a permanent home. After careful planning and strategic negotiations, the board successfully secured its first official lease agreement for 3207 Lakeshore, effective January 1, 2018. This milestone marked a significant step forward in providing a dedicated space for programs, events, and services designed to support and uplift the LGBTQ+ community, laying the foundation for The Center’s continued expansion and influence in the region.

the Center expanded by leasing the entire upper level at 3207 & 3209 Lakeshore Ave, to open Oakland's only LGBTQ centered sexual health clinic. The creation of the Center in Oakland marks the first time in our city's history, that a non-profit organization has opened an all-inclusive, intergenerational, multi-service, LGBTQ community center.
The Oakland LGBTQ Community Center is also one of few, all-inclusive LGBTQ community centers in the nation, led and founded by African Americans, and the first in the state of California.

​The Center celebrated a major advancement in its mission by opening its first dedicated clinic, proudly named after Glenn Burke, the legendary gay baseball player and trailblazer for LGBTQ+ visibility in sports. This clinic represented more than just a physical space—it embodied The Center’s commitment to providing accessible, compassionate, and culturally competent healthcare to the LGBTQ+ community. The launch of the Glenn Burke Clinic marked a significant milestone in expanding vital health services, strengthening community trust, and honoring a pioneering figure whose courage and visibility continue to inspire generations.

The Center secured funding to lease space at Oakstop, a co-working space in downtown Oakland, to house our youth services programming. Unfortunately, the space didn’t work out due to the lack of cultural competency of the shared environment, prompting the Center’s leadership to move our youth programs back to the Center’s main campus. The program staff and leadership team decided that a stand-alone queer and trans youth space would be best to serve LGBTQ youth and immediately began searching for an affordable site.

After months of careful research and site visits, the team identified a location that perfectly balanced affordability with accessibility just a short walk from the main campus, ensuring continuity and convenience for the community it serves. Following extensive planning, design, and community engagement, The Center proudly celebrated a major milestone in June 2023 with the ribbon-cutting grand opening of Oakland’s only stand-alone queer and trans youth club. This new space was designed as a safe, affirming, and vibrant hub where LGBTQ+ youth could connect, express themselves, access resources, and build lasting friendships. 

​Through the collaborative efforts of members of The Center’s leadership, the Lakeshore LGBTQ Cultural District Committee, and the Oakland City Council, the East Bay’s first-ever LGBTQ Cultural District was officially established. This historic achievement symbolized Oakland’s deep and enduring commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion, visibility, and cultural preservation. Encompassing the Lakeshore Business Improvement District (LABID) and the historic Grand Lake neighborhood, the district was created to honor the area’s rich LGBTQ+ history while fostering economic vitality, community pride, and long-term sustainability. The designation marked a powerful step in recognizing LGBTQ+ contributions to Oakland’s cultural landscape and ensuring their stories, businesses, and spaces are celebrated and protected for generations to come.

​The Center’s long-standing vision to expand equitable access to LGBTQ+ services for residents of East Oakland was fully realized in June 2025 with the opening of the Trans Wellness Center (TWC) alongside a second healthcare facility, Glenn Burke Clinic East. This landmark expansion represented a critical step in addressing long-standing gaps in culturally competent care and support for transgender, gender-diverse, and broader LGBTQ+ communities in East Oakland. Designed to be welcoming, affirming, and community-centered, the new facilities provide essential health, wellness, and support services closer to where people live, reducing barriers to care while strengthening trust and engagement. The launch of TWC and Glenn Burke Clinic East underscored The Center’s commitment to health equity, dignity, and the continued growth of inclusive, life-affirming services across Oakland.

The Center will fill the void of alcohol-free spaces with the opening of a new intergenerational “third place” for Oakland’s LGBTQ Community in the Lakeshore LGBTQ Cultural District.

This space will be serve as a social space for LGBTQ elders Monday through Thursday, from 9am-5pm, and will open to all evenings and weekends. The date for the opening of this space has not yet been determined.