NYC’s LGBT Center celebrates 40 years of empowerment
New York’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Center, commonly known as The Center, celebrated 40 years of service in 2023. This organization was founded in the wake of the 1969 Stonewall riots to provide social, cultural, wellness, and health-based programming to support the vibrancy of the LGBTQ community in NYC. The Center welcomes more than 300,000 visitors every year, and the annual Center Dinner is a significant fundraising event that raises money to support the organization’s programs and services, which benefit New York’s LGBTQ communities.
The Center has a rich history of supporting LGBTQ communities, and its annual Center Dinner is a celebration of the strides the community has made in the past four decades. In 2023, the dinner raised more than $1.7 million in support of The Center’s programs and services. The night honored Alok Vaid-Menon with the Visionary Award, and Ted Snowdon received the Vanguard Award.
Reflecting on the organization’s 40th anniversary, Glennda Testone, The Center’s executive director, emphasized that the community still has a long way to go to achieve full equality. Testone said that The Center is “doubling down” on three areas of focus: launching a mental health clinic, continuing to do bigger and better community events at The Center, and continuing to deliver life-saving services to LGBT youth and families with LGBT children.
The annual Center Dinner was a joyous event that highlighted NYC’s LGBTQ community with a variety of awards, speeches, and food provided by Cipriani Wall Street. Since opening its doors in 1983, The Center has provided an ever-growing list of life-affirming and life-saving services to LGBTQ people in New York City and beyond. These services include support groups, recovery programs, advocacy, community organizing, and arts events.
The Center’s staff and notable figures spoke at the event, highlighting the resilience of the LGBTQ community in the face of continued adversity. The event honored several individuals and organizations that have contributed to the LGBTQ community, including Ted Snowdon, who was presented with the Vanguard Award for his philanthropic causes to LGBTQ causes and the arts, and the Keith Haring Foundation, which received the Community Impact Award for its ongoing preservation of the late artist’s legacy.
Places like The Center play a vital role in the LGBTQ community. Physical spaces provide a place for people to convene, process, share, and heal alongside others who have similar experiences. While digital resources are necessary, it’s essential to preserve in-person physical spaces where LGBTQ people can come together to support each other. The Center has been doing this work for 40 years and is committed to continuing to support and celebrate the LGBTQ community for many years to come.
Sources
- Paper
- Yahoo! News
- Feature image is taken from The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center Facebook Page