The Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada

Now more than ever, I appreciate this center for all that it provides to the LGBTQA+ community. For the past few years, it’s been sort of my health clinic – they provide free HIV and syphilis testing, and vaccines Monday-​Friday, and every first Saturday of each month. The workers I’ve encountered are always friendly, informative, and caring.
Additionally, they have the Bronze Café (great food), host events, provide computers to use, a library, and gender neutral bathrooms. I owe this great place a debt of endless gratitude. Happy Pride Month!

The Center is a non-​profit organization that has supported and provided services to the LGBTQ community in Las Vegas since 1992. My student organization had the pleasure of volunteering with The Center for UNLV’s Rebel Service Day. Over 30 students arrived to assemble safe-​sex kits for distribution into the community. Each kit contains two condoms, two packets of lube, and a card with information on free testing services.
Aside from providing safe sex kits, The Center has free STD testing services, a free clothing program to reflect an individual’s gender identity, and free vaccinations. The Center is equipped with a gender-​neutral bathroom (apparently Las Vegas’s first!), free wi-​fi, a library, computers, the highly rated Bronze Café, and a basketball court. The building is extremely well kept and parking is a breeze.
The Center is an invaluable resource to Vegas and the LGBTQ community. Big thanks to the staff for hosting UNLV students every year on Rebel Service Day!
Unilocal 100 CHALLENGE 2016: #14

Great, peaceful environment. The Bronze Café serves incredible food for a good price. The people are very friendly and the clinic for free HIV testing is right around the corner. Great place to visit for anyone.

If you have not tried the bronze café you should. The ingredients are fresh and the menu is as diverse as the patronage. The café is quite literally just a café and the tables are a little awkward because the seating is more for the little library that is available than for the café itself. But you cannot get much better food than this when you are downtown. Definitely worth the trip.

I had no idea this place existed! It’s quite nice with a small café at its entrance. It’s like a community center.
I was invited by a friend to come to a Hawaiian luau after their church service on Sunday, August 23^rd. The church service had small inklings of the Catholic mass, I noticed. The scriptures were read and the priest gave out the Eucharist, but in a different way than in the Catholic church.
The All-​Gender restrooms took me aback for a few seconds, with me wondering what I should do. But I had to use the bathroom so I went in. The stalls are very private with doors that close completely. At the time I went in, no one was there. The second time I visited the restroom, a guy just came out of one of the stalls and began to wash his hands, which is where I was at that moment. I chatted with him for a while and we had a good laugh about the all-​gender experience. It was all cool — literally and figuratively! Their A/​C was so cold that I had to go outside to thaw out, as my fingers were numb and I could not feel them.

I adore this place. I have been here several times for different speaking events. All staff nice and friendly. I love the Bronzed Café, with the vegan menu. No matter your orientation this place rocks.

Came here for the NoH8 photo shoot. The building is beautiful!!! Comfortable setting inside! The parking seems limited but we found a spot without a problem. The staff was friendly and helpful. The event was nicely organized. I was impressed by the All Gender Bathrooms. The café seemed like it would serve great food, plenty of people were eating there. I would love to go back, just wish it wasn’t so out of the way for me.

I originally started attending the Center in summer of 2013. What really interested me was the Youth programs and more specifically the HIV Prevention group. I enjoyed it at first, but then I began to see how cliquey the place is. The staff clearly have their favorites among the youth and young adults which is a bit questionable. The events are entertaining but at times the people who attend them or facilitate them can be very rude and or intimidating. It was rather alarming when I attended an event and was witness to a conversation where a group of attendees were sitting at a table openly discussing another attendee’s HIV status. Overall this place needs a complete overhaul of there staff and programming. Very tragic that a center that was created to be a haven for our community is so toxic and dangerous.

Every major city needs a community center like this for the LGBQT population: whether or not you utilize the services or are part of the community it’s intended to help, it’s an asset to the area. And not just for the free condoms.
Exterior décor is modern and interior is welcoming and comfortable, like a bookstore or library– the main lobby area actually IS part library, complete with a bank of computers for internet access and personal use, and the Bronze Café.
Front desk is staffed by friendly peeps who don’t mind pointing out the different services offered here and the information pamphlets available. What’s especially valuable is the television-​screen daily information page showing all of the events and services taking place at the center that day, on a loop with ads and info for local support groups and relevant community statistics.
Bonus points: look over the TV screen at the main desk at all of the local businesses and major companies that contributed to and supported the founding of this center and continue to support it’s ongoing role in the community.

I came to the Center last night for a program, The Legacy of Matthew Shepard with Judy Shepard, a program co-​sponsored by the Center and the Anti-​Defamation League. My review is as much for the program as it is for the Center.
I have been here once before. Our Unilocal book club met here one month. The Center has good parking in the front and on the east side. When you enter, you come into the great hall and the first thing to catch your eye is the Bronze Café, a sandwich and drink café.
The program last night was held in a large meeting room to the right past the information desk. The setup was perfect for the large number of people who were there. The video and sound setup worked just the way it should and Mrs. Shepard spoke eloquently about her son’s death and how things are changing in the US.
I have to give a shout out to the designer for coming up with the idea of a gender neutral bathroom area. It’s very creative. It had me wondering when I saw the sign «The Johns.»
This was a great place to attend a program. Thanks to the Center and the ADL for bringing Mrs. Shepard to Las Vegas.

This place is fabulous. Located in Downtown Las Vegas conveniently on Maryland Parkway and Clark. (Right near LVA too! Loved my high school but where was this when I was a student?!) Huge sign that says «The Center» on it. Can’t miss it. Ample parking lot.
My friend and I came here for awesome Bronze Café located inside. Still a relatively new transplant to the area. Perfect location for downtown. The Center’s lobby has a large, open college quad-​like feel to it with modern minimalist couches and a few tables to sit at for the café. They have a row of computers for anyone to use (Max: 2 hours and possibly less if there’s a line). Never super crowded for when I go.
We had no idea the Center offered so many great services. Check out their hundred flyers for all these events in the lobby. There’s 12-​step programs and support groups for sexually-​active addicts. The Center also hosts narcotics anonymous, alcoholics anonymous, and other substance support groups. I’ve heard that they have an amazing support group for gay, transgender, and bi people where they have weekly events and movie nights. They also offer yoga classes, health awareness festivals for the public, and free open discussion meetings.
TESTING: Best part about the Center? FREE STD testing to the public conducted by Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD). Located to the right side of the building past the small basketball court. You will need to provide your ID. Minimal paperwork involved about your health history and personal details. Zero wait time when I went on a Friday.
Waiting room is clean, small, and has a bunch of pamphlets on various STDs. There aren’t creepy water stains anywhere. The bathroom and the doctor’s office was super clean and not some gross, scary facility you’d imagine free clinics to be.
There’s also free condoms and lube on the tables.
PROCEDURE: The nurse asked me a few necessary personal questions without making me feel judged. He answered all of my questions patiently. Only takes a simple blood and urine test. They offer water too if you didn’t come prepared. I’m seriously scared of needles so the blood test made me feel a little more than anxious. Know what a shot feels like? Yeah? I didn’t feel a thing. Boom. Beat that. I was in and out in fifteen minutes.
It takes two weeks for your results to come in and you call in to find out over the phone. They do the rapid HIV testing on Tuesdays and Thursdays where you find out in 20 minutes. For the other STDs you still have to wait 2 weeks regardless. Be safe and get tested!
It may seem intimidating, but it really wasn’t. My nerves were on fire at first!
NOTE: if you do end up being positive on your tests, they offer the FREE treatment here at the clinic. How awesome is that?
Pretty awesome services for FREE at this wonderful community center. It’s not just strictly LGBTQ-​centric. Feels like a judge-​free zone. Vegas needs more places like this!

Attended a meeting here that took place in one of The Center’s conference rooms. VERY impressed with the set up, the assistance that the staff provided, and not to mention the delicious food The Bronze Café provided. This place never ceases to amaze me.

This center is new and JUST starting out. The location is what it is… Stop saying its in the wrong neighborhood. WHAT IS THE RIGHT NEIGHBORHOOD. They are great ! I have eaten there at least twice a month. The salads are SUPER. I get the Executive, kale with quinoa, beets and lentils.Yummmm. then a cucumber whip. Remember, cucumber juice is excellent for your kidneys. It’s quiet and nobody bothers you. great for me. Why it’s being judged as Gay doesn’t make any sense. Good for everyone there, I love it and you are doing great.

This place is great. I love everything about it. Everyone is so friendly.
I really like the design of the bathrooms. Unisex with individual rooms for each.
There’s a lot of space for what looks like a small place, pretty good sized parking lot.
I’ve heard the café is a little pricey but really good. Can’t wait to check it out.

I love The Center! I’ve been coming here lately to read and write in piece and this place is perfect. Other than school libraries and such, there aren’t too many places in town where you can go to read in silence.
There is another place Downtown that bills itself as a place to work, but I find it too noisy and distracting. On all of my visits to The Center it’s been pretty quiet. Not dead, mind you, there were some families and groups hanging out. It’s just more laid back.
As an added bonus, they let you use their computers for free, they have a ton of books to check out and they have the Bronze Café that is fantastic.

I love this Community Center.
It’s such a cool relaxing atmosphere!
I know it’s like new but I can’t get over the décor. I love all the green chairs and comfy places to sit while hanging out.
I must confess that I only go here when getting Bronze Café food but I love to kick back and relax for a little bit before and after :)
I was donating items to Bronze Café to help the people fighting the Carpenter Fire and I must say that the gentleman who was at the front welcome desk was a true sweetheart.
He helped me carry some cases of water to Bronze and even continued to help when the Bronze chefs came out to help.
What a sweetheart and I hope to see him there again!
If I did not live in the SW and I lived closer I would be there all the time :)

The Center recently moved from a tiny, sort of run-​down location to a brand-​new, absolutely beautiful building. With the move, The Center is still providing their appreciated services to the community, and can now expand to offer even more.
At The Center, anyone can get STD testing for free, no matter your sexuality. The process is fast with short wait times, and everyone is incredibly professional and nice. They can even draw blood without hurting you or making you cry, as I’m afraid of needles — mega perk. It’s hard to beat staying safe for zero cost out of pocket.
On the other side of things, The Center offers free computer use and internet access, and now has a growing library that people can use for free. They offer support meetings, throw fun fundraising events, and specifically make sure kids and teens have a private, «just them» space to call their own. I also hear they have a bomb café for lunch.
The Center is doing great work for the Vegas community. Get tested!

This is the best, best, best LGBTQ center ever! Come here and meet the wonderful folks and tour the beautiful facilities.
Even if you do not identify as LGBTQ, you can get STD tested for free here. Do it!

The new Community Center is inspiring. Every detail has been thought of and executed beautifully. You arrive to a vast, convenient parking lot, and enter through an outdoor «park» area with picnic tables and basketball courts if you are visiting the main area. There is a separate, more private entrance for the community clinic where they provide free testing for STDs.
Through the main entrance, you enter into a spacious lobby featuring a public space where everyone is welcome to take advantage of plenty of comfy seating, free WiFi, a bank of public computers, library and a delicious café that actually specializes in vegan options and offers a wide array of coffee beverages. It is the Bronze Café, and it is worth a trip to grab a salad, sandwich or vegan strawberry cheesecake from here!
Down the hallway there is the city’s first gender neutral bathroom, and a youth center that has a pool table, foosball and more techno-​gadgets. It is a huge, beautiful space as well. There is also a meeting space/​banquet hall with collapsible walls for special events.
As a Community Center, it is a welcoming and comfortable spot. I would definitely go back to grab a bite to eat. With such an amazing new building, I am sure their programming and offerings will continue to grow!

What can I say about this place without sounding too catty?
Well, it’s in a horrible neighborhood, in a sort of run down building. The staff are really nice, and the services it provides for the gay and lesbian community are pretty good. I’m pretty sure this place is non-​profit, or they’d likely be in the better location, rather than in a neighborhood where you’re quite likely to be shot.
They have a lot of support group facilities and such as well, and do a lot of stuff to help the community. Occasionally they do and say some things that I don’t agree with publicly, like moving the Prop 8 protests to their building rather than having it be a unified thing at City Halls across America like it was supposed to be, but overall the good outweighs the bad.

I came here when I was 16 looking for information to figure out this whole… gay… thing… with the different groups that they have and activities that they run… they do great things for the community.
Wow, I think that I am on my gayest run of Unilocal reviews… ever…