Center Blog

From http://www.gaycenter.org/out/ It’s hard to believe that 25 years ago The Saint, Paradise Garage, and Studio 54 were in existence when the Center Dance (aka Dance: 208) was started up. Many parties in the gay community have come and gone, but the Center Dance, now reborn Dance: 208 has survived and thrived! This video excerpt is from Out at the Center, a TV show and video podcast of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of New York City. The show is made possible thanks to members of the Center and viewers like you. To find out more, join or donate go to: http://www.gaycenter.org/support

From http://gaycenter.org/out The Center is a place where people with all kinds of interests meet and gather. Earlier this year, for the first time ever, there was a social mixer for people and their pets. This video excerpt is from Out at the Center, a TV show and video podcast of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of New York City. The show is made possible thanks to members of the Center and viewers like you. To find out more, join or donate go to: http://www.gaycenter.org/support

My colleague at UN Dispatch, Mark Leon Goldberg, recently wrote about the Obama Administration’s sign-on to a UN General Assembly document that calls on all member states to decriminalize homosexuality. This is a huge victory, and is also a total shift from the Bush Administration’s refusal to sign onto this document. Here is Mark’s full post:

We have been on this story for a while. And now, I am happy to report that the Obama administration reversed the previous administration’s position and signed a General Assembly document that calls on all UN member states to decriminalize homosexuality.

“The United States supports the U.N.’s statement on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity and is pleased to join the other 66 U.N. member states who have declared their support of the statement,” said State Department spokesman Robert Wood.

“The United States is an outspoken defender of human rights and critic of human rights abuses around the world,” Wood told reporters. “As such, we join with other supporters of this statement, and we will continue to remind countries of the importance of respecting the human rights of all people in all appropriate international fora.”

The Associated Press reported on Tuesday that the administration would endorse the declaration.

As I’ve written before, this is only a symbolic gesture, but one certainly that gets us closer to a world in which states do not discriminate against their citizens based on sexual orientation.

From www.gaycenter.org/advocacy/marriage:

> Message from Bruce Anderson, Interim Executive Director
> Press about Mayor Bloomberg’s Announcement
> More about Center Dinner
> Share this: Email • Facebook • del.icio.us • Digg • Google • Yahoo! • Furl

Message from Bruce Anderson, Interim Executive Director

March 26, 2009

Last night at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center’s third annual Center Dinner, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg publicly announced his support for a marriage equality bill. Having Mayor Bloomberg as an ally in this fight for recognition of same-sex marriage is a tremendous triumph, as well a strong indicator of even more inspiring change to come.

“I think you see that the tide is turning, that support is mounting,” Bloomberg said to more than 350 guests. “It’s still not going to be easy. There are people who don’t agree, but it’s incumbent on all of us to explain to people that this really is a basic right that people should have, and I think that it’s time for Albany to set politics aside and do the right thing, and pass the gay marriage bill.”

The Center applauds Mayor Bloomberg for standing up for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality. With Senator Schumer’s recent call for the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, our community continues to gain significant support for civil rights.

It is extremely meaningful that Mayor Bloomberg chose the Center to make this announcement as the Center has been New York City’s home for our community for over twenty-five years. Thanks to every person who is connected to the Center, we remain a strong advocate for LGBT issues. With continued support from our community, we will be able to reinforce and act upon the need for change that Mayor Bloomberg has boldly set in motion.

Thank you,

Bruce Anderson

Interim Executive Director and Board President

Center Board Member Rachel Lavine, Speaker Christine Quinn, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Center Interim Executive Director Bruce Anderson at Center Dinner 2009. Photo ©2009 CLINT SPAULDING/PatrickMcMullan.com

Press about Mayor Bloomberg’s Announcement at the Center Dinner

Video: Bloomberg Vows To Pressure Albany On Gay Marriage, NY1, March 26, 2009

Bloomberg Urges New York to Pass Gay Marriage Bill, Advocate.com, March 26, 2009

Mayor Michael Bloomberg Stands Up for Gay Marriage, Gay Wired, March 26, 2009

Bloomberg Says Time “Right” to Move Marriage Bill, Gay City News, March 26, 2009

NYC’s Bloomberg endorses gay marriage, again, WCAX, March 26, 2009

Mayor Bloomberg shows support for gay marriage in New York, PinkNews.co.uk, March 26, 2009

Mayor Bloomberg urges New York State to pass bill to allow gay marriage, NY Daily News, March 26, 2009

AP: In New York, support from Bloomberg and Schumer, The Union Leader, March 26, 2009

Bloomberg Calls For Gay Marriage Bill, Joe.My.God, March 26, 2009

Bloomberg endorses gay marriage, again, Crain’s New York, March 26, 2009

Bloomberg: Ready To Testify For Same-Sex Marriage In New York, Towleroad, March 26, 2009

Mayor Bloomberg Supports Gay Marriage Too, You Know, Gothamist, March 26, 2009

Bloomberg Ready to Back Gay Marriage in NY, GayAgenda.com, March 26, 2009

Bloomberg Now Supports Same-Sex Marriage, New York Blade

Bloomberg Reiterates his Support of Gay Marriage, here! News Blog, March 26, 2009

Find the most up-to-date information and press at www.gaycenter.org/advocacy/marriage

Schumer becomes highest-ranking U.S. Senator to support marriage equality for same-sex couples

March 23, 2009—Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) today announced his support for marriage equality for same sex couples and for the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The announcement followed a meeting on Sunday evening in Manhattan, initiated by Senator Schumer, with a group of New York LGBT elected officials and leaders of the city’s largest LGBT organizations, including Empire State Pride Agenda Executive Director Alan Van Capelle.

“I want to thank Sen. Schumer for his support of marriage equality and the repeal of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act,” said Van Capelle. “Like a majority of New Yorkers, Sen. Schumer recognizes that only marriage equality provides same sex couples the status, protections and rights afforded to all other Americans. We look forward to working with him to win marriage equality in New York State and around the country.”

Van Capelle said that during the meeting, Schumer pledged his support to repeal DOMA and, in the interim, to work to provide federal recognition and portability of benefits to legally married same-sex couples.

Sen. Schumer is Vice Chair of the U.S. Senate’s Democratic Conference and the highest ranking member of the Senate to endorse marriage equality.

Among other topics discussed at the meeting were continued HIV and Ryan White Care Act funding, appointment of openly LGBT people to the federal bench, special issues facing LGBT youth and seniors, the U.S. Census, and passage of a trans-inclusive Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA) and hate crimes legislation.

Please see updated post: http://www.gaycenter.org/centerblog/2009-03-27-mayor-bloomberg-announces-support-of-marriage-equality-bill-at-center-event/

From http://www.gaycenter.org/out Sarah Rice is a housemate on MTV’s Real World Brooklyn edition. She interned at the Center where she created and ran a free weekly art class called “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall…Self-Image Awareness through Art.” The class was dedicated to the creativity of the human spirit and the process of healing by exploring the experiences and expectations of self-image in today’s culture. After the class there was a reception where the students exhibited their work to friends, family and housemates. This video excerpt is from Out at the Center, a TV show and video podcast of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of New York City. The show is made possible thanks to members of the Center and viewers like you. To find out more, join or donate go to: http://www.gaycenter.org/support

From http://gaycenter.org/out At the time of her mid-career survey at the Guggenheim last year, American photographer Catherine Opie visited the Center to talk about her work. She told us it was her first time doing a presentation in an LGBT space. It was a fascinating evening in which she explained the background motivating much of her work. You should be aware that some of the images are explicit. This video excerpt is from Out at the Center, a TV show and video podcast of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of New York City. The show is made possible thanks to members of the Center and viewers like you. To find out more, join or donate go to: http://www.gaycenter.org/support

See photos from the March 20 “Real World” Cocktail Reception at the Center on  Flickr
or Facebook.

Photography by Tom Sengel & Center Staff

Getting Real at the Center
See photos, video, and more at www.gaycenter.org/realworld

From http://www.gaycenter.org/out The fifth annual C-Word of the Center’s Lesbian Cancer Initiative was a time for cancer survivors to come together for mutual support and celebration. A writer, a filmmaker and a cancer specialist offered their insights on confronting this disease. To learn more about the Lesbian Cancer Initiative go to:http://www.gaycenter.org/health/lci  This video excerpt is from Out at the Center, a TV show of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of New York City. The show is made possible thanks to members of the Center and viewers like you. To find out more, join or donate go to: http://www.gaycenter.org/support