The Center Orlando

The Center Orlando has served Central Florida's LGBT+ community since November 1978, when Gay Community Services formed to give people a place to meet safely. The Gay Men's Hotline followed that same year, staffed by volunteers who offered referrals, counseling and information. Women joined in 1980, the organization's focus turned to health and HIV/AIDS care in the years that followed, and in 1999 the organization bought the buildings on Mills Avenue that remain its home. Today it operates as LGBT+ Center Orlando, Inc., with a mission to promote and empower the LGBT community and its allies through advocacy, education, information and support.

Health services are at the heart of the Mills Avenue building. The testing center offers free, walk-in HIV and Hepatitis C testing for anyone 13 or older, with no appointment and no parent or guardian required, plus free condoms and free Narcan. STI testing for syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea is available on site through NPS Healthcare. A mobile unit brings free testing to community events, and HIV advocates are available to speak with organizations about sexual health.

After the Pulse tragedy in 2016, The Center became a central place for community healing, and in 2021 it took on the Orlando United Assistance Center, now Orlando United Resiliency Services (OURS). OURS is The Center's signature case management program, open to anyone affected by Pulse and to anyone who has experienced crime, trauma, harassment or hardship. Case managers help with mental and physical health, family relationships, finances, job searches, housing, transportation and immigration or legal issues. The Center also offers up to 12 sessions with an LGBTQ+ proficient mental health counselor, booked through a short pre-intake questionnaire.

Groups fill the calendar at the Hillcrest Street location and on Mills Avenue. The Central Florida Transgender Peer Network meets weekly in person and online, the Child Gender Identity & Caregiver Support Group meets monthly, and the Affirmation Station and Transgender Advocacy Funds help with identity documents and gender-affirming care. The Older Wiser Learners (OWLs) bring adults 55 and older together for game days, socials and Lunch & Learns. Other groups include HI-fiVe for people living with or affected by HIV, the Out Women's Network, the CFL Ace Aro Peer Network, grief, trauma and recovery groups, and Orlando Youth Alliance's weekly youth meeting.

Practical help rounds out the work. The Pride Pantry, started during the COVID-19 pandemic, now serves hundreds of families and individuals each month. The Cyber Center offers computer access with a valid ID, the Virtual Immigration Clinic offers free 30-minute consultations with attorneys, notary services are available on request, and The Center Scholarship supports LGBT+ students and allies in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties.

Anyone can walk in during testing hours or reach The Center by phone or email. Volunteers 17 and older start at the front desk, receive crisis de-escalation training and can move on to outreach events and HIV testing. Gifts of money, planned gifts and donations of food, hygiene items and pet food all sustain the work.