The Dallas-based Resource Center was founded in June 1983 by the Dallas Gay Alliance (now the Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance) to focus on voting and election-related political issues. The Resource Center was founded by William “Bill” H. Nelson Jr., his partner Terry Tebedo, and their friends, William Waybourn and Craig Spaulding, and it grew from a simple food pantry operating out of Crossroads Market, which sold magazines, books, antiques, and jewelry. By accepting canned goods donations for AIDS patients, they unwittingly started a vital community service. Years later, their location became the original AIDS Resource Center, or, as it is known today, the Resource Center. The Nelson-Tebedo clinic on Cedar Springs is proudly named in their honor. Today, the Resource Center offers one of the most comprehensive sources of information and support for those in need.[1]

      The Resource Center’s mission and role in supporting the community in Dallas is to pursue societal equity by proudly offering LGBTQIA+ affirming resources designed to improve health and wellness, strengthen families and communities, and provide transformative education and advocacy. The Resource Center values being:

• Culturally humble
• Equitable in our approach
• Nimble in the face of change
• Transformative in our advocacy
• Enthusiastic about our impact
• Relentless in pursuit of our vision
• Evolving with our community
• Deliberate in all that we do[2]

      The Resource Center provides varied services. The Resource Center offers a complete range of healthcare services for the LGBTQIA+ community and people living with HIV/AIDS. The Community Wellness Program is the Resource Center’s integrated model of community engagement, designed to support the whole person — emotionally, mentally, socially, and physically. Rooted in LGBTQIA+ affirming care, the program provides support groups, wellness workshops, prevention services, community events, life-skills education, and opportunities for social connection for youth, adults, families, and older adults across North Texas. The most up-to-date information on services provided by the Resource Center is available at the center’s website: myresourcecenter.org .

      When asked about the most pressing challenges facing LGBTQIA+  individuals in Dallas right now, Cece Cox, CEO, and Rafael McDonnell, Director of Advocacy, Policy & Communications, advised that the segments of the community that are most under attack are transgender and gender-nonconforming people, as well as LGBTQIA+ youth. Actions by both the federal and state government, from refusing to amend birth certificates and identity documents to restrictions on gender-affirming care, are creating challenges to those segments of the community not seen in years.[3]

      Dallas, as a Human Rights-designated city, can help make a difference in supporting the LGBTQIA+ community. The Resource Center team has encountered situations where people have rightfully questioned whether Texas is hospitable to LGBTQIA+ people. This designation could help ease some people’s minds by showing that at least Dallas is a welcoming and supportive city to marginalized groups. Given the current political climate, especially in Texas, more than ever, The Resource Center needs the Dallas community’s support to help LGBTQIA+ individuals. This is especially true for Dallas's transgender and gender-nonconforming people. The center asks for allies to provide tangible, visible support for the LGBTQIA+ community.[4]

ENDNOTES

[1] Resource Center, “About,” https://myresourcecenter.org/about-us/#history

[2] Resource Center, “About,” https://myresourcecenter.org/about-us/#history

[3] Cece Cox and Rafael McDonnell, written responses to questions from Ralph Nitsch, “Overview and Responses,” April 14, 2026.

[4] Cece Cox and Rafael McDonnell, written responses to questions from Ralph Nitsch, “Overview and Responses,” April 14, 2026.