LGBT Community Center Picks Gary Costa for Director Post

Has served interim position since November 2012

Site Staff LGBTQ+

Gary Costa, who served as interim executive director of the LGBT Community Center of the Desert in Palm Springs since November 2012, has been named executive director following a nationwide search.

"Gary has worked at the Center as an executive assistant and has done an outstanding job on the operations of the organization,” said Randy Lowe, The Center’s Board chair. “Gary fully understands our long term vision at The Center and is totally dedicated to the organization's success."

Costa brings a wealth of experience working with not-for-profit and LGBT organizations, including program director at The Center Orange County and as executive director of Being Alive in Los Angeles. Prior to coming to The LGBT Community Center of the Desert, Costa was the resource coordinator for the Coachella Valley Autism Society.

Additional credits include a 10-year stint as associate director at Dartmouth College, where he worked on their $1.5 billion capital campaign and coordinated major gifts and pledges for the entire Western Region. Over the years, Costa has served on over a dozen non-profit boards, county and state commissions.

“I envision a stronger vibrant community center that will continue to be welcoming to the Senior population while offering additional programs and events on our path to be more inclusive of women, transgendered individuals, youth and gay men of all ages,” Costa said. “We have an incredible cadre of volunteers, a talented staff and an active, growing membership base. I anticipate that my transition into this new role will be seamless.”

The LGBT Community Center of the Desert serves the LGBT community in the Coachella Valley through health, wellness, and social and educational programming. The Center advances its mission through a clinical counseling and internship program, a weekly NestEggg Food Bank, senior programming, youth anti-bullying and suicide prevention/support programs, social and recreational offerings, computer training in the David Bohnett Cyber Center, a volunteer program and signature special events.