In December 1983, the New York City Board of Estimates approved the sale of the former Food and Maritime Trades High School, located at 208 West 13th Street, to the Lesbian & Gay Community Services Center, Inc., for $1.5 million. In its first year, 60 groups met regularly at the Center. Today more than 300 groups call the Center home. From the beginning, the Center has served to fortify and enrich the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

The Center itself produces many health-related, civic, and cultural programs. In the next several pages you will read in detail about these programs; each was conceived to meet a need that was not already being met elsewhere. Each Center program, in some way, seeks to allow us to become more fully aware of ourselves.

Programs produced by the Center include Youth Enrichment Services (YES), an activities-based program for LGBT youth; Center Orientation, produced in-house and in all the boroughs of New York City; Center Kids, the Center’s family project; the Pat Parker/Vito Russo Center Library, New York City’s largest LGBT lending library; the National Museum and the National Archive of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender History; and Promote the Vote, one of the largest LGBT voter registration and mobilization projects in the United States, created in 1992.

“The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center provides a home for the birth, nurture and celebration of our organizations, institutions and culture; cares for our individuals and groups in need; educates the public and our community; and empowers our individuals and groups to achieve their fullest potential.”


There is always lots going on at The Center! Next week,  on April 1st, 6PM Times Talks: With Harvey  & Family ! Join four-time Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein and some of his own theatrical family as they celebrate his career and the 25th anniversary of Manhattan’s LGBT Community Center. With performances from “Torch Song Trilogy,” “Safe Sex,” “La Cage aux Folles” and “A Catered Affair,” featuring Faith Prince and composer/lyricist John Bucchino. Moderated by Jesse Green, New York Times contributing writer.
BUY TICKETS ONLINE. Only $27!

THE CENTER   (212) 620-7310

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