Center Blog

Update, April 5th

Today, April 5th, The Census Bureau had its first-ever official unveiling of PSAs for the LGBT Community at our Center. If you missed the unveiling, you can watch this video below.

You may have noticed 2010 Census promotion material everywhere around New York City; on phone booths, buses, public spaces, in newspapers and on television. It is important to our city that everyone fills out the Census so that New York City gets its fair share of funding from the federal government to improve schools, healthcare, fight crime, repair roads, and support other critical city services for all New Yorkers. The 2010 Census matters to everyone, but particularly the LGBT community. Dr. Gary Gates of the Williams explains that “Americans have many misconceptions about the LGBT community that Census data have allowed us to correct. For example, among those in same-sex couples: one in six lives in a rural area, one in four is a person of color, one in five is raising children (two in five among people of color).”

At the Center, 300,000 people visit us a year. The Center uses government funding to provide life-saving services to the LGBT population in New York. Through government funding from federal, state and city sources we are able to provide substance abuse treatment to LGBT New Yorker’s, a safe space for LGBT youth in need as well as a host of other programming.

Currently the census has set up a booth at the Center to assist our community fill out the forms. We applaud that effort to make sure our community is included. However, the census doesn’t track LGBT identity as part of what they collect, and we feel it is incredibly important that they start. We invite you to view this great video from New York City’s TV25 for information about why it is important and specifically why it important to the Center.

Glennda Testone

When you walk through the doors OF THE LGBT CENTER as a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning person, you will find a safe space, acceptance and support Every week in fact, 6,000 people come through those doors, THAT’S 300,000 VISITS PER YEAR. PEOPLE come looking for information, resources and community. For some, walking through our doors is the first time they feel safe and supported. Our goal is to make sure it’s not the last. To make sure that wherever they are in New York City, that they have rights and protections that are equal to their straight counterparts. That’s why I am so excited to host this stakeholder meeting with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to discuss the First-Ever Study of Housing Discrimination Again LGBT Members in Rental and Sale of Housing.

We see the Center as a beacon of inclusion and acceptance for a broader society, but we can’t do it alone, and so we are so thrilled to be partnering with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Senators Charles Shumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, Congressman Jerold Nadler, and Council Members Rosie Mendez, Danny Dromm, Jimmy Van Bramer and Erik Martin Dilan to bring you this forum. I wish I could say that they was no problem, that LGBT people had as much access to housing as everyone else in this city, but I sit on the Mayor’s commission for LGBT Homeless and Runaway Youth, and I have heard the struggles of our young people AS THEY make their way in this city and TRY TO get their basic needs met. I have a dear friend, who is a butch lesbian who just last week told me about the second apartment she and her flamboyantly, fabulously gay friend lost because the landlord “did not want to rent to gay people,” so said the broker. It made me really sad to know that even in New York City, our community faces these challenges, and it made me really proud to work at the LGBT Center where at least for a little while everyday, we can provide a home for our community.

Glennda Testone

The Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) has been passed by the Assembly, and now only needs the State Senate to vote to end prejudice towards New York’s transgender community.

GENDA would ban discrimination in housing, employment, credit and public accommodations while also expanding the state’s hate crimes law to include crimes against transgender people.

Today is the Statewide Call-In-Day and we ask you to call your Senator and the lead Senate sponsor Tom Duane at their Albany offices to tell them that you want GENDA to make it and pass the Senate floor.
It is crucial that they hear from you today!

Here’s how to make your calls:

1. Find your State Senator’s Albany phone number here and you can reach Senator Tom Duane at (518) 455-2451.

2. Tell your Senator the number of the GENDA bill (S.2406) and ask them to support GENDA by bringing it to the floor for a vote.

Through the power of our community we CAN effect change.

“Repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ NOW”. Today, hundreds of volunteers are meeting members of Congress in Washington, DC to repeal the antiquated “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy! Imagine LGBT military service members no longer having to keep their orientation secret or lie while defending our country.

Today is a virtual lobby day and we need your support the ensure the repeal. Take Action!

HERE’S HOW:

1. E-mail your elected officials

2. Follow-up with a phone call. Call 202-224-3121. Connect to your lawmakers and urge Congress to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” this year.

3. Spread the word. Share this blogpost on Facebook, Twitter and other social media below.

Through the power of our community we CAN effect change.