L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center Facts
The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center has been a leader in battling AIDS and caring for those who are HIV-infected since the earliest days of the pandemic. In fact, the Center launched the first national AIDS awareness campaign and founded the Southern California AIDS Hotline, which would later become AIDS Project Los Angeles. By 1986, the Center's Ed D. Edelman Health Clinic was the largest HIV clinic in the nation.
Medical Care
Today the Center's Jeffrey Goodman Special Care Clinic offers people living with HIV/AIDS comprehensive free or low-cost primary and specialty medical care. The clinic's staff of HIV/AIDS specialists, including board-certified physicians, social services case managers, adherence counselors, and a nutritionist, care for more than 1,800 people each year, most of whom have no other access to medical care.
Mental Health Services
In addition to the Goodman Clinic's medical services, the Center's staff of mental health professionals offer one-on-one and group therapy to help people struggling with HIV overcome substance abuse addiction, adhere to difficult drug regimens, improve self-esteem, survive the trauma of a new HIV diagnosis and manage any other issue they may be facing. The program serves more than 1,400 people each year.
Pharmacy
The Center's onsite pharmacy serves those most in need, providing specialized drug therapy management, and distributing more than $13 million worth of AIDS medications each year through the federally funded AIDS Drug Assistance Program.
HIV Testing
The Center tests 700-1,000 people for HIV each month and was one of the first in the nation to adopt rapid HIV testing. A mobile unit — POW! (Prevention on Wheels) — takes HIV-prevention and safer sex information, as well as testing and counseling services, directly to those who are at-risk and hard to reach, primarily gay, bisexual and transgender youth-of-color. Those who test positive can be referred immediately to the Goodman Clinic or other Center programs for treatment or counseling.
HIV Prevention
The Center works to reduce the spread of HIV through a myriad of education, prevention, and advocacy services, including: Man2Man, a collaborative program that runs safer-sex workshops and events; WeHo LIFE, a program that runs a variety of social marketing campaigns to reduce the risk of infection for those who live or work in West Hollywood; and Positive Images, a program to promote safer sex among those who are HIV-positive.
The Center's California AIDS Clearinghouse helps reduce the spread of HIV throughout the state by developing and providing culturally appropriate HIV educational materials and training to community-based organizations, AIDS service organizations and healthcare providers throughout California.