A rebranding decision by the Imperial Valley LGBTQ Resource Center in El Centro, California, now known as the Donnelly Community Services Center, has sparked significant backlash from LGBTQ+ organisations and advocates. Prominent groups, including San Diego Pride, TransFamily Support Services, and the San Diego LGBT Community Center, have condemned the move, labelling it “harmful, divisive, and rooted in rhetoric that echoes anti-trans narratives.”
The controversy underscores a deepening divide within the LGBTQ+ community, with critics accusing the centre’s leadership of sidelining transgender individuals.
In a joint statement, advocacy groups expressed concern that the rebranding undermines the centre’s original mission of providing a safe space and essential resources for the LGBTQ+ community. They highlighted the broader implications of this shift at a time when transgender and nonbinary individuals face mounting threats nationwide.
“This decision reflects harmful rhetoric used to delegitimise transgender rights and fractures the unity of the LGBTQ+ movement,” the statement read, emphasising the life-threatening challenges faced by trans youth.
The backlash intensified following comments by Rosa Diaz, the centre’s founder and CEO, during an interview with the Desert Review. Diaz expressed concerns about policies, such as California Assembly Bill 1955, which prevent school staff from disclosing a student’s gender identity to parents without the student’s consent. She criticised what she described as a shift in policy prioritising children’s autonomy over parental involvement, framing it as a potential overreach.
Diaz also suggested that some youths are encouraged to adopt transgender identities without adequate exploration or guidance. “We need to be very careful when teaching children they can be another gender,” she said, raising concerns about quick affirmations over deeper discussions.
These remarks were met with sharp criticism from advocates who argue such views could discourage young people from openly expressing their identities. Critics contend that Diaz’s stance risks reinforcing stigma and erasure of transgender voices, especially in rural areas like Imperial Valley, where resources are scarce.
Local and national leaders have joined the condemnation. Raul Ureña, a former Calexico mayor and the first transgender Latina mayor on the U.S.-Mexico border, criticised the centre’s shift. “This rebranding prioritises political standing over the mission to empower LGBTQ individuals,” Ureña said, warning that it puts vulnerable youth at greater risk of homelessness and harm.
Fernando Zweifach López Jr., a queer, nonbinary advocate and senior strategist at the National LGBTQ Task Force, called the rebranding a “dangerous betrayal” of the community. López highlighted research from The Trevor Project showing that affirming care significantly reduces suicide risks among transgender youth, urging the centre to reconsider its approach.
Advocates worry the rebranding sets a dangerous precedent for other LGBTQ+ organisations in rural areas, potentially emboldening anti-trans movements. “Separating the ‘LGB’ from the ‘T’ weakens the entire community and plays into the hands of those seeking to dismantle it,” the joint statement warned.
While Diaz did not respond to requests for comment, critics argue the centre’s actions threaten to undermine decades of progress and solidarity within the LGBTQ+ movement. Advocates have urged the Donnelly Community Services Center to restore its commitment to inclusivity, especially for the trans and nonbinary individuals who often face the greatest challenges.
The controversy reflects a broader national trend of rising anti-trans sentiment, making unity within LGBTQ+ communities more critical than ever. As tensions rise, the rebranding decision has become a flashpoint in the ongoing struggle for equality and acceptance, particularly in underserved regions like Imperial Valley.
