Persad Center

Persad Center, located at 5301 Butler Street, Suite 100 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is one of the nation’s longest-standing counseling centers dedicated to the LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS communities. Founded in 1972, Persad has been a pioneer in providing culturally affirming, stigma-free mental health services at a time when such care was scarce. The center’s mission is to improve the well-being of these communities through comprehensive outreach, prevention, counseling, advocacy, and training programs designed to address both immediate and long-term needs. With offices in Pittsburgh and Washington, Pennsylvania, Persad serves individuals of all ages—offering services from early life through senior years.

Their extensive range of services includes individual, family, and couples counseling, psychiatric evaluation and medication management, specialized substance abuse treatment, and dual-diagnosis programs that address both mental health and addiction. In addition, Persad provides vital social services such as senior support programs, transgender services, battering intervention, and high-risk population outreach. All care is delivered by professionals trained to understand and respect the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals and those living with HIV/AIDS, ensuring an atmosphere of acceptance and competence. By combining clinical expertise with a deep commitment to social justice, Persad Center continues to create safer, healthier, and more inclusive communities across western Pennsylvania.