SAN ANTONIO – The Pride Center San Antonio is undergoing a significant transition as it relocates for the first time in nearly a decade. After eight years at the Metropolitan Professional Building, the center is moving to a new site in Government Hill, located on the inner East Side of San Antonio.
Cristian Sanchez, the chair of the Pride Center, emphasized that the primary focus during this transition is to ensure that the free services provided to the LGBTQ+ community continue without interruption. The center has been a vital resource, offering essential services that many individuals rely on.
The necessity for the move stems from the redevelopment plans for the Metropolitan building, where the center has operated for years. Sanchez praised the support from Methodist Health Systems, which provided the space and helped the center grow from a small operation to a full clinical program that serves numerous individuals.
“We’ve been in the Metropolitan Professional Building for about eight years, provided by Methodist Health Systems, and they’ve been an excellent partner,” Sanchez stated. “Because of them, we were able to go from no staff to a full clinical program serving many people.”
As the center prepares to transition to its new Government Hill location, it anticipates that this temporary space will provide continued access to free LGBTQ+ resources. Despite the impending move, the demand for services remains high, a reflection of the community’s ongoing needs.
This year alone, the Pride Center has provided over 1,500 hours of free mental health counseling and served more than 200 individuals in just the first five months of 2026. These services include not only counseling but also case management, grief support groups, and youth programs aimed at fostering a supportive environment for the LGBTQ+ community.
The center plays a crucial role in training future social workers, providing a unique opportunity for graduate students to gain experience working with the LGBTQ+ community, which is often underrepresented in traditional training programs.
During this transition, the San Antonio AIDS Foundation has stepped in to provide temporary space for the Pride Center, ensuring that essential services remain available to those in need. Sanchez expressed gratitude for their support, but also highlighted the pressing need for a permanent location.
“What we won’t be able to do is some of our community programming, which is like our drop-in center, some of our groups, group therapy,” Sanchez explained. “So we really need support to find a permanent home and to be able to continue that programming.”
To help cover operational costs and maintain stability during this transition, the Pride Center has launched the “San Antonio Deserves a Pride Center” emergency fundraiser campaign, aiming to raise $100,000. Sanchez believes this funding will help sustain their vital programming during this period of change.
The Pride Center anticipates completing its move to the new temporary location by late June, as it must vacate the Metropolitan Professional Building by the end of that month. Once settled, they will share the new Government Hill address through their social media channels.
Sanchez remains hopeful that the San Antonio community will rally to support the Pride Center in finding and funding a permanent home, ensuring that essential services for the LGBTQ+ community continue to thrive in the area.
