See upcoming events at Center Calendar

In the latest edition of Front and Center you'll hear about our Summer Camp and how it changes young LGBTQ lives for the better. We'll also tell you how much money we raised for the Center's HIV/AIDS Services through Braking the Cycle, our Boston to New York City bike ride. Plus you'll learn about a free legal clinic we hosted to help LGBT couples protect themselves and their families. Please enjoy reading these stories and more, share them, and thank you for your continued support.

Center Summer Camp Helps Create Strong Future Leaders

This summer marked the 13th consecutive Youth Enrichment Services (YES) Summer Community Camp for LGBTQ and allied youth ages 13 to 22. Once again an amazing group of young people joined a team of YES staff at Fairview Lake YMCA Camp in Stillwater, New Jersey for this powerful week-long gathering. 70 young campers spent the week learning about themselves, LGBTQ history, ways to keep themselves safe in the face of HIV, and other issues impacting our communities. The Center's youth summer camp continues to develop young LGBTQ people into confident, empowered leaders. This three-month long intervention starts with an intensive weekend retreat in June where 12 group leaders begin their training in conflict resolution, group facilitation, safer sex education, and other health issues in preparation for becoming this year’s peer camp counselors. Then in July campers begin meeting weekly to build community in preparation for the residential week in August. And what a week it is! For many of our young campers, YES Summer Community Camp is not only their first time outside of New York City, but also the beginning of happier and healthier lives. The skills, memories and friendships they gain carry them through the year and support them in taking on greater challenges and building support in their homes, schools, communities, and lives. A camper named Sarah reflected on her experience: "Camp completely changed my life. I always heard the stories but never really believed it until I went. I’ve never had an experience that helped me to understand myself as well as camp did. I learned who my true friends are and I also learned what my biggest fears are and how I can start to change that. I cannot wait for next summer." 

Thanks to Nicole Avallone, LMSW, Director of Youth Services and all the YES staff, YMCA staff, volunteers, and young people who made this year at camp another incredible success!



Braking the Cycle Raises Over $400,000 To Help End HIV/AIDS

On Friday, September 16, 133 riders began Braking the Cycle, a three-day cycling journey from Boston to New York City. With the support of 50 volunteer crew members, they rode 285 miles to the steps of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, demonstrating their dedication to stopping HIV/AIDS. This year had the largest number of riders in Braking the Cycle's nine-year history and raised a record $401,164, the highest net amount ever. The money raised funds the HIV/AIDS services of the Center, which assist thousands of people living with HIV who have limited or no financial resources to cope with this disease. Money raised by the event also supports key youth and adult HIV prevention programs at the Center. The Closing Ceremony was held on September 18, and hosted by out lesbian country singer Chely Wright. Hundreds of loved ones, family and supporters gathered outside the Center on West 13th Street to welcome back the riders and crew members. Since it began in 2003, Braking the Cycle has raised nearly $3 million for the Center’s vital HIV/AIDS services. To learn more about the HIV/AIDS services of the Center, visit us online.

See Pictures from the Ride



Center Hosts Legal Forum to Help LGBT Couples Protect Themselves

The Center recently hosted an important legal clinic for our community with invaluable free legal advice that would cost thousands of dollars at the standard market rate. Participants heard from several staff attorneys representing Lambda Legal, LeGaL and Metro Legal Services of New York City and learned more about strengthening their legal LGBT partnerships or marriages. Panelists spoke about everything from maintaining an updated health care proxy, to why pre-nuptial or post-nuptial agreements can protect both you and a spouse. Audience members also found out how to maneuver the most current state law as well as how to interpret federal law, which does not yet recognize marriage for same-sex couples. The Center is committed to continuing these types of legal forums to ensure that our constituents have the most up to date information to make informed decisions about how to take care of themselves and their loved ones.

Thanks to Adrian Ogle, Cultural Programs Coordinator



Center Provides Platform for New Gay Latino Fiction

More than a hundred people joined us on a September evening at the Center to hear spectacular readings from Macho to Mariposa: The New Gay Latino Fiction. Eight authors read selections from their stories to a mesmerized audience. Listening to these poignant writings come to life elicited a range of emotions from our community and helped build common ground among queer Latinos today.

Thanks to Yojani Hernandez, Cultural Programs Officer



Center Archive Educates College Students about LGBT History

In early September a group of a dozen New York University students visited the Center Archive, as part of mini tour of LGBT things to see in New York City. Archivist Rich Wandel told stories about New York gay liberation and showed photographs and other items from the archive. The new LGBT freshmen were particularly interested in the stories of the Gay Liberation Front sit-in at an NYU dorm in 1970 and demonstrations at the Loeb Student Center the following year. They also enjoyed prison love letters from John Basso, the Dog Day Afternoon bank robber to Liz Eden his transgender love interest, along with a wedding photo of the couple (see photo, above left), and photographs of the early post-Stonewall demonstrations. The Center Archive continues to be an important resource for our community to learn about our rich and vibrant history.

Thanks to Richard Wandel, Center Archivist, Associate Archivist, New York Philharmonic Archives