The Billy DeFrank Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Silicon Valley Center (also known as the Billy DeFrank Gay and Lesbian Community Center) opened its doors on March 1, 1981 in downtown San Jose, California. The center was posthumously named after Billy DeFrank, the stage name of William Price (1936-1980). From San José, William Price was a well known African-American drag entertainer as well as a prominent gay rights activist who dedicated his talents to the development of gay communities throughout California. He was considered one of the "best-loved goodwill ambassadors" for the LGBT community. The grassroots efforts to establish this LGBT center were driven by forces from within the Lambda Association Board of Directors of San Jose, San Jose State University's Women's Center, and other local activists. The center became the fulcrum whereby the large and diverse community of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered in the South Bay could find refuge. The inception of the center's success was marked by an increase in activist support from local political figures such as Mayor Janet Gray Hayes in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The center continues to offer a safe haven for a large and diverse community.
From the description of Billy DeFrank LGBT Silicon Valley Community Center records, 1970-1999. (San Jose Public Library). WorldCat record id: 756785858
