The Opal Center was established in April 2017 in hopes of filling an identified need in the Texoma area. Local therapist Ashley McErlean became frustrated hearing client after client share their struggles with accessing services and support, finding LGBTQ-affirmative health care, and feeling supported and accepted in the community. Ashley recruited a group of like-minded individuals, several of them members of the LGBTQ community themselves, and together they envisioned a resource that would fill these needs and guide the Texoma area toward greater inclusivity. In April 2018, The Opal Center was approved as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, and is now working to expand its reach and services through public education and fundraising.