The Center was founded in 1969, by Don Kilhefner and Morris Kight and other lesbian and gay activists, some of whom were also part of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF). Originally called the Gay Community Services Center, the original center opened in October of 1971 in an old Victorian house on Wilshire Boulevard and was the first non-profit in America to have the word "gay" in its name. Services were provided free of charge, with the exception of housing for which a nominal per diem fee was charged. In accordance with the founders' concept of "community," the Center was staffed entirely by gays and lesbians, most of whom were volunteers.

Since 1969 the Los Angeles LGBT Center has cared for, championed, and celebrated LGBT individuals and families in Los Angeles and beyond.

In 2014, the Center changed its name from the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center to the Los Angeles LGBT Center.

In the 21st century, the Center employs more than 800 people and offers programs, services, and global advocacy that span four broad categories:

Health: including primary care, HIV/AIDS research and care, counseling, and addiction recovery.

Social services and housing: including homeless youth support; emergency shelter and transitional housing; support services for seniors, hate crime survivors, and domestic violence survivors; and family and youth services.

Culture and education: including performances and exhibitions on the Center's stages and galleries; the LGBT charter high school; GED and continuing education programs; and community meeting and event spaces.

Leadership and advocacy: including political and civil rights advocacy; suicide prevention programs; technical support and assistance to sister organizations; LGBT cultural competency trainings; and mentoring and training programs.