Ted Sahl Digital Collection

All photos on the Billy DeFrank LGBTQ Community Center website that are attributed to the Ted Sahl Digital Collection appear courtesy of San Jose State University, Special Collections & Archives. Please contact the Director SJSU Special Collections & Archives for Permission to Publish or to request high resolution copies: 408 808-2061 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

http://sjlibrary.org/research/special/special_coll/index.htm
http://digitalcollections.sjlibrary.org
http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt1000257m/

PG&E

"PG&E" refers to Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation. © 2016 Pacific Gas and Electric Company. All rights reserved.

The Billy DeFrank Center is following the San Jose City Community Center protocols and has done a soft opening along with them. Because the Center is a City-owned building the City only allows up to 50 people inside the building at any given time. Everyone has to show proof of vaccination and wear a mask.

Center Hours

• Mondays: 4-9PM (HIV testing 4-8PM), Games in the Library 6PM - 9PM, and discussion groups.
• Wednesdays: 7PM, doors open 6:15PM,  Rainbow Bingo, $15 for a 10-pack, snacks and cherry bells for sale
• Sundays: 11am - 1pm, Center for Creative Living, non-denominational spiritual gathering (open to everyone)
• Special events and groups: contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Holidays: 11am - 2pm, open for Thanksgiving Day and Xmas Day, and 6pm - 9pm New York, New Year's Eve.  To help with these events email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Community Center is located along the historic Alameda, ~1/2 mile from the SAP Center and the San Jose Diridon Caltrain station.

938 The Alameda
San Jose, CA 95126
(408) 293-3040

View Map

Getting here by public transportation

Buses to Diridon Station: 22,64,65,68,180,305,522
Buses to the Alameda: 63,22
Or Take Ace, Amtrak, Caltrain or Lightrail to the Diridon station

General Inquiries for the Board of Directors: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

We are currently looking for additional board members who can take an active role in the Center and have a passion for a particular function such as marketing, PR, fundraising, or events planning. We seek a diverse board that is representative of our Membership and encourage all interested parties to apply regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or identification.

Board meetings are on the third Tuesdays of each month at 6PM.

If you would like to be considered, or have questions about being on the Board, please identify yourself to a current board member or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Billy DeFrank Center is following the San Jose City Community Center protocols and has done a soft opening along with them. Because the Center is a City-owned building the City only allows up to 50 people inside the building at any given time. Everyone has to show proof of vaccination and wear a mask.

General Inquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: (408) 293-3040

Center Hours

• Mondays: 4-9PM (HIV testing 4-8PM), Games in the Library 6PM - 9PM, and discussion groups.
• Wednesdays: 7PM, doors open 6:15PM,  Rainbow Bingo, $15 for a 10-pack, snacks and cherry bells for sale
• Thursdays: 6-9PM
• Sundays: 11am - 1pm, Center for Creative Living, non-denominational spiritual gathering (open to everyone)
• Special events and groups: contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
• Holidays (to help with these events email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
  • Thanksgiving Day (11/23/23) Noon - 3PM
  • Xmas Eve Day (12/24/23) Noon - 3PM
  • New Year's Eve Day Party (12/31/23) Noon - 3PM Pot Luck

Library and CyberCenter (Open computers for Internet use in the Library)

Open on Mondays 6pm - 9pm

HIV Testing: Mondays, 4-8PM

HIV Testing is available Mondays, 4PM-8PM (last check-in at 7:45PM)
We operate on a walk-in, first come – first served basis only. No appointments are available.

The AACI HOPE Program, through the Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Community Center, is now offering the 4^th Generation Alere Determine HIV test. This test uses a sample of blood collected through a finger stick (like a blood sugar test for diabetes). Alere Determine is able to detect HIV much earlier than the OraQuick Advance 2^nd Generation HIV test being offered here previously.  Unfortunately, we are no longer able to collect oral samples. Results are still available approximately 20-30 minutes after the sample has been collected. You can choose between Anonymous (no ID required, results delivered verbally) and Confidential (valid state or government ID required, written results provided).

Please bring photo identification if you want confidential testing (written results provided). Upon entering the building, inform our front desk volunteer that you are interested in receiving an HIV test and you will be directed to our testing room. Though the test itself takes just a few minutes, each test session lasts approximately 30-40 minutes (some clients have more questions than others). There is no counseling time limit per client.

For more info, please call 408-923-3040 or send email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

Location

The Billy DeFrank LGBT Center is located along the historic Alameda, just a couple of blocks from the SAP Center.

938 The Alameda
San Jose, Ca 95126
(408) 293-3040

View Map

The Billy DeFrank Center is still asking for proof of vaccination for all in person events at the Center. Masks are optional.

Center Hours

• Mondays: 4-9PM (HIV testing 4-8PM), Gaymes in the Queer Library 6PM - 9PM, and check the calendar for extra activities from time to time
• Tuesdays: check the calendar
• Wednesdays: 7PM, doors open 6:15PM,  Rainbow Bingo, $15 for a 10-pack, snacks and cherry bells for sale
• Thursdays: 6-9PM - check calendar
• Fridays: check calendar
• The weekend: check calendar
• For Special events and groups: contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Holidays (to help with these events email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
  • Thanksgiving Day (11/28/24) Noon - 3PM Potluck
  • Xmas Day (Wednesday, 12/25/24) Noon - 3PM Potluck
  • Xmas Day, Wednesday, Rainbow Bingo 7pm, gates open at 6:15pm, leftover Xmas food
  • New Year's Day Rainbow Bingo (Wednesday, 1/1/25) 7pm, gates open at 6:15pm, free pizza and salad

Mission Statement
The Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Center is building community by hosting discussion and leadership groups, and diverse educational and social activities and events

Vision
The Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Center promotes LGBTQ+’s to be their full identities to create a more diverse world.

Location
The Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Community Center is located along the historic Alameda, ~1/2 mile from the SAP Center and the San Jose Diridon Caltrain station:

938 The Alameda
San Jose, Ca 95126
(408) 293-3040
View map

History

The Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Community Center opened its doors on March 1, 1981 in a two-room storefront on Keyes St. in south downtown San Jose. A year earlier, the DeFrank Center's founders had watched with concern as Santa Clara County residents voted to repeal ordinances extending housing and employment protections to lesbians and gay men.

The new DeFrank Center emerged from a desire to respond to this setback. As its first visitors entered they crossed the threshold to a new era of possibility for the LGBTQ+ community of the South Bay, and they celebrated an important victory. Since then, the Billy DeFrank Center has continued to inspire purposeful action and ensure a safe place to gather for all in our community.

More than four decades have passed since those modest beginnings on Keyes St. Today the Billy DeFrank Center serves a large and diverse community. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender and nonbinary people of all ages and backgrounds find the resources they need by connecting with the Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Community Center.

Each week over a thousand people visit us at our current quarters on The Alameda, and many more call our Billy DeFrank Resources telephone number. From as far north as Foster City and as far south as Gilroy, people visit and call seeking information about what is happening at the Billy DeFrank Center, and what LGBTQ+ affirming services are available in the community.

While the DeFrank Center's history is 12 years shorter than the Stonewall events of 1969, our movement is fueled by the events of that time. William Price (a.k.a. Billy DeFrank) was part of the LGBTQ+ activism in the 1970's. He was a popular African American activist who loved everyone. He financially supported many LGBTQ+ organizations and causes via his drag performances as Billy DeFrank. Although he died of a heart attack in 1980, the Billy DeFrank Center embraces his Spirit of Inclusion, Love and Generosity. The DeFrank Center is “a place to call home" as a building with his heart.

The Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Community Center is a 501(c)(3) organization.