The Los Angeles LGBT Center has confirmed plans to close its Center WeHo clinic, a long-standing health facility in the heart of West Hollywood. After nearly a decade at its current location at 8745 Santa Monica Blvd, the clinic is expected to shut its doors in June, according to a source with direct knowledge of the decision.
While the official closure date has not yet been publicly announced, the Center informed employees of the upcoming changes in an internal announcement made last week.
The decision to close the Center WeHo clinic stems from a range of operational and logistical issues, including escalating costs and ongoing infrastructure limitations. Among the contributing factors cited are building management challenges, lease issues, safety and security concerns, parking constraints for both patients and staff, and visibility difficulties at the location that reportedly limit the clinic’s accessibility to new patients.
“The reality is that the West Hollywood area is already well-served by other health organizations offering similar services, including sexual health testing and PrEP access,” one employee shared, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “That made it harder to justify the ongoing expense of maintaining this particular facility, especially with all the additional burdens we’ve been navigating.”
The clinic, which is located above Schmitty’s Bar, opened in October 2015 with the mission of delivering inclusive, stigma-free sexual health care and HIV prevention resources to the LGBTQ community. Over the years, Center WeHo has become a trusted provider of no-cost HIV and STI testing, treatment, and prevention services such as PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis). Additional services include vaccinations for hepatitis A and B, HPV, condom distribution, and partner notification assistance. The clinic also helps uninsured patients access financial aid and coverage options for their health needs.
Yet despite its longstanding role in the community, the Center faced mounting financial and political headwinds. In addition to structural and logistical issues, a broader shift in the funding landscape has posed new challenges. Sources close to the organization say that a freeze on federal funding under the Trump-era executive order affecting government contracts has had a lingering impact on community health providers, including the Los Angeles LGBT Center.
“Cost of care delivery is going up, while support from public institutions is going down,” the employee said. “It’s not sustainable unless there’s a serious reinvestment in LGBTQ health infrastructure.”
The closure reflects a larger recalibration of services across the Center’s expansive network. With nearly 800 employees, the Los Angeles LGBT Center operates one of the most robust portfolios of LGBTQ-specific services anywhere in the world. The organization remains committed to preserving jobs during the transition and is currently working to relocate impacted Center WeHo employees to other facilities, primarily the flagship campus in Hollywood.
Union representatives are reportedly involved in ongoing conversations with the Center’s leadership to ensure workers are supported during the move.
Despite the closure of this satellite location, the Center emphasized that its broader mission and commitment to the LGBTQ community remains unchanged. Since its founding in 1969, the Los Angeles LGBT Center has grown into a global leader in queer and trans advocacy, offering programs and services across four pillars: Health; Social Services and Housing; Culture and Education; and Leadership and Advocacy.
From health care access and housing for LGBTQ youth, to arts education and policy reform, the Center serves more LGBTQ people than any other organization in the world. Its continued work spans across Los Angeles County and extends to global partnerships focused on human rights, equity, and community-building.
The closure of the Center WeHo facility may mark the end of a chapter, but Center officials insist that their fight for equality, safety, and well-being for LGBTQ individuals is far from over.
“This is not a retreat from the community,” the source emphasized. “It’s a strategic shift to ensure that we can keep delivering quality care and expanding where it’s most needed. That’s how we continue to lead, even in difficult times.”
West Hollywood, a historic hub of LGBTQ activism and community life, will still have access to a range of health and wellness services through other nonprofit and public health providers. However, the absence of Center WeHo is expected to be felt by long-time patients and supporters who have relied on its free and confidential services.
The Los Angeles LGBT Center has not yet issued a formal public statement about the clinic’s closure, but updates are expected in the coming weeks as transition planning continues.
In the meantime, patients currently receiving care at Center WeHo are encouraged to reach out to the Center’s Hollywood campus or visit the organization’s website for guidance on how to maintain continuity of care during and after the transition.
As June approaches, the community will bid farewell to a facility that has played a vital role in West Hollywood’s LGBTQ health landscape. Still, the Center’s leadership remains focused on the future—one where every person, regardless of gender or sexuality, can access care with dignity and pride.
