History behind Imperial Valley’s LGBT resource center

Imperial Valley LGBT Resource Center has been serving the community since October 2015

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - This pride month, we bring you the history of how the LGBT resource center started in El Centro.

Founder and CEO Rosa Diaz who was born in Sonora, Mexico and raised in Brawley, California came out as a lesbian to her church and the world at the age of 50.

Diaz said she found herself alone without resources and support.

It's what sparked her desire to help the LGBT community.

In 2014, she found the Abide LGBT Life Group but those attending the group would often say there was a lack of resources.

In 2015, Rosa Diaz along with community members opened the LGBT Resource Center.

"It didn’t dawn on me that I never asked what do you have for the LGBT population? And so because we did not have much going here, I would refer them to San Diego, Los Angeles but you know a lot of people can’t afford to drive that far for a support group, for doctors appointment. So we decided we were going to bring that here," said Rosa Diaz, Founder and CEO of the resource center.

The center has served over 10,000 people since opening.

To find out what kind of resources are available, you can visit HERE.