The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

“A man can fall in love with a man; a woman can fall in love with a woman. There’s nothing anybody can do about it. It’s not in the province of the law. It has nothing to do with the church. And if you lie about that, you lie about everything. And no one has a right to try to tell another human being whom he or she can or should love.”—James Baldwin, 1987 Happy birthday, James Baldwin! James Baldwin's influence on politics, culture, and art is still felt today. As we celebrate his birthday, we're reminded of his revolutionary contributions, especially to the LGBTQ+ community. In these challenging times, we continue to be inspired by his boldness and his commitment to equality. #JamesBaldwin #History #Culture

“Transgender and nonbinary youth deserve the freedom to access the health care they need without fear, shame, or government interference,” said Dr. Carla Smith, Ed.D., CEO of The NYC LGBT Community Center. “The Trump administration’s actions endanger the lives of young people who already face disproportionate rates of depression and suicide. We applaud Attorney General James and this coalition of attorneys general for standing up to these attacks and defending the right to gender-affirming care that is clearly recognized, supported, and protected by law. We also call on healthcare providers to demonstrate courage and integrity, and to follow our state’s laws.” New York Attorney General Letitia James is leading a coalition of 15 other states and the District of Columbia in suing the Trump administration for attacking access to gender-affirming health care for transgender and nonbinary youth. Read the full press release: https://lnkd.in/edrgVsxd #TGNC #NYC #LGBTQ

Congratulations to our Chief Operating Officer, Jeffrey K., for serving on a panel at the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association's Lav Law conference! The panel was called Accessing LGBTQ+ Justice and Joy In Dark Times which explored the urgent need to protect and expand access to justice for LGBTQ+ communities amid an increasingly hostile legal and political climate.

"Cycle for the Cause isn’t a race, it’s a ride. But for Team ANIMAL, it’s also a rolling celebration of resilience. Expect themed rest stops staffed by glittering volunteers, cheers from the Sirens (a legendary lesbian motorcycle club), and maybe even a cyclist lip-syncing in full glam under a bike helmet." Cycle for the Cause is around the corner and Team ANIMAL are supporting community in style! To learn more about Cycle for the Cause, visit https://lnkd.in/edaHMTHt Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/e6s6uumE

Lambda Legal recently won a critical preliminary injunction in SFAF v. Trump, our case fighting the Trump administration’s executive orders that threaten to defund vital health and support services for LGBTQ+ people. The win ensured our nine plaintiff organizations could continue operating, advocating, and serving LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV without threats to their funding. Today, we confirmed that more than $6.2 million in grant funding to these organizations has been restored! 💪 The legal win and funding restoration protect our plaintiffs from having to shutter programs or silence their advocacy for fear of losing critical federal support while the case proceeds. “When we fight, we win. We know the battle is far from over and there will be setbacks along the way, but the cause is too important, and the need too great, for us to lose heart.” – Jose Abrigo, Lambda Legal Senior Attorney and HIV Project Director Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e7qAJKxb ⬅️ San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Los Angeles LGBT Center, GLBT Historical Society, San Francisco Community Health Center, Prisma Community Care, The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center

Happy International Nonbinary People's Day! 💛 🤍 💜 🖤 We're celebrating nonbinary people and their identities while also recognizing the challenges the community continues to face. Nonbinary is a term for people whose genders fall outside of of the gender binary. Nonbinary have existed throughout history and will continue to exist in spite of efforts to erase them. We will continue to support the nonbinary and gender-nonconforming members of our community as we continue to fight for all LGBTQ+ New Yorkers! #NonbinaryPeoplesDay #Nonbinary #Enby #InternationalNonbinaryPeoplesDay

We are thrilled to celebrate the election of our new Board Vice President, Pauline Sobelman, MPH (she/her/hers). Alongside the rest of our board members, their expertise, passion and generosity will be instrumental in guiding The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center's future, and ensuring our ongoing success and financial stability. Pauline is a strategic leader with over 25 years of experience driving innovation at the intersection of health, equity, and organizational leadership. As a senior executive in the employee benefits and risk industries, she is known for delivering solutions that advance health equity, mental health access, and inclusive workplaces. A passionate advocate for diversity and systemic change, Pauline combines technical expertise with a deep commitment to social impact. She currently serves as Senior Vice President and Senior Strategic Advisor at a global consulting firm and holds an Executive MPH in Health Policy and Management from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. Check out our website to learn more about our Board of Directors:  gaycenter.org/about/staff/

Sponsorships are now available for The Center's 28th Annual Women's Event on Friday, November 7 at the Ziegfeld Ballroom! The program will honor Shamina Singh, Founder & President, Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and Executive Vice President, Sustainability at Mastercard, as well as the multi-talented Kim Stolz, Managing Director at Bank of America Private Bank, former MTV News Anchor, and Fashion Model. Additional honorees, host, and performer will be announced in early Fall. Please contact Leah Munnelly, Managing Director of Philanthropy, at lmunnelly@gaycenter.org for more information, or visit gaycenter.org/womensevent #WomensEvent #NYCLGBTCenter #WE2025

This Saturday, July 12, from 1–3 p.m. at 245 Bay Walk, stop by and meet Dr. Carla Smith, Ed.D., CEO of The Center, to learn more about how we're showing up for the LGBTQ+ community 🏳️🌈 🏳️⚧️ Hosted by Chris Turk, Rick Weber, and Peter Schwartz. If you have any questions, contact Brian Doyle via bdoyle@gaycenter.org.

We appreciate the New York Health Foundation for sponsoring our newly-opened Mental Health Clinic which provides services to LGBTQ+ New Yorkers ages 13 and up! Thank you to our Senior Director of Behavioral Health, Mickey Correa, LCSW, M.Div., for explaining the importance of our Mental Health Clinic and this partnership.