Local Organizations and Resources

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
ACLU's Monterey County Chapter is working to protect and advance civil liberties and civil rights in Monterey County. They meet monthly here in Monterey. Visit their webpage or call their affiliate at (415) 621-2493.

The Access Support Network (ASN)
Monterey County Address:
340 Church St.
Salinas, CA 93601
(831) 975-5016

Otter Cross Cultural Center
The Otter Cross Cultural Center (OC3) cultivates a collection vision towards critical consciousness by offering educational programs, holistic leadership development, academic resources, and experiential learning opportunities to bridge passion into practice so that students, staff, and faculty grow into leaders of change to eliminate social inequalities. By fostering meaningful dialogue and activism while also promoting empathy and social justice, the OC3 takes proactive approaches that respects people's evolving sense of self, perspectives, identities, and voices.

CSUMB Student Center
oc3@csumb.edu
(831) 582-4685

LGBTQIA+ Resource Guide

Local Pride Organizations

  • Monterey Peninsula Pride
  • Pride of Monterey County 
  • Santa Cruz Pride
  • Watsonville Pride
  • Salinas Valley Pride
  • Pajaro Valley Pride
  • Silicon Valley Pride
  • San Francisco Pride

    • Community Resources: https://www.montereypeninsulapride.org/

     Local Support Groups

    • Community Human Services (They also have a Facebook page) Community Human Services is now offering a free counseling and support group for LGBTQ adults, led by master’s level mental health clinician, Edgar Rondon. Sessions will be held alternating Saturdays from 1:30-3:00 p.m. at Family Services Center, 1178 Broadway Avenue in Seaside. This group will provide a safe space for LGBTQ individuals and their families to share their experiences in an anonymous, supportive and encouraging environment. 
    • Triangle Speakers Website (They also have a Facebook page)
    • Yahoo Group: "Gay/Lesbian Email Network for the Monterey Area" (You must join the group in order to see any information)
    • The Epicenter : Seeks to empower at risk and system involved youth ages 16-24 to flourish by connecting them to community resources that provide opportunities for equity and hope in order to improve youth outcomes in Monterey County. 
    • Rainbow Speakers and Friends : Rainbow Speakers and Friends is a volunteer group that presents representative panels of the LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Queer, Intersex) community.
    • UCSC Cantu Queer Center

    Santa Cruz Area LGBTQ Resource Directory
    The Diversity Center is dedicated to building a diverse community, promoting health and well being, and advancing social justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and questioning individuals and their allies in Santa Cruz County.
    Visit their website for more info or call at 831-425-5422

    HIV/AIDS Resources
    This local organization provides HIV testing and a variety of services for people living with HIV/AIDS. Additional information found here.

    Suicide Prevention Hotline
    831-649-8008 ,Toll Free 1-877-663-5433  or visit their website.

    Crisis lines to call for more immediate help: 

    The Trevor Lifeline: 1-800-565-8860 *for Spanish
    Trans Lifeline: 1-888-843-4564
    BIPOC Blackline: 1-800-604-5841 call or text
    LGBT National Hotline: 1-888-843-4564

    Centers in Northern CA

    The Santa Cruz Diversity Center
    1117 Soquel Avenue
    Santa Cruz, CA 95061
    831-425-5422
    www.diversitycenter.org
    Email: info@diversitycenter.org

    Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center
    938 The Alameda
    San Jose, CA 95126
    408-293-3040
    www.defrankcenter.org

    San Francisco LGBT Community Center
    1800 Market Street
    San Francisco, CA 94102
    415-865-5555
    www.sfcenter.org
    Email: info@sfcenter.org

    Pacific Center for Human Growth
    2712 Telegraph Ave.
    Berkeley, CA 94705
    510-548-8283
    www.pacificcenter.org
    Email: info@pacificcenter.org