Mon, February 28 2011
Media Contact
Cindi Creager, Director of Communications & Marketing
ccreager@gaycenter.org
212-620-7310
Some members of our community have asked questions about our request that the Siege Busters Working Group move a meeting they had scheduled at the Center. Upon receiving feedback from a number of Center members and constituents with a variety of opinions on this event, the Center had to consider how renting space to this particular group was interfering with our primary focus of service to the LGBT community. The group is not LGBT-focused, nor was the event focused on LGBT people or issues. As a non-LGBT issue began to distract from our core mission, we asked the group to move the event. As for the status of the group going forward, we have decided not to rent space to the group for the same reasons.
The Center has a rich history of welcoming the exchange of ideas and divergent points of view on LGBT issues. We provide meeting space to a wide array of groups. The Center neither endorses nor sponsors any group or activity renting our space. Should any one group or event divert us from our primary focus of service to the LGBT community, we must always prioritize the many needs of our community and act accordingly. We don't make decisions of this nature lightly. We acknowledge and respect the range of viewpoints on all sides of this debate. We hope those who care passionately about this issue will understand our desire to focus on our mission and the needs and issues of the LGBT community.
Every group that rents space from the Center registers with our Meeting and Conference Services Department. Decisions about renting space to individual groups are made on a case by case basis. We initially rented space to this group and space for their upcoming event as we do for many non-LGBT focused groups. The difference here was, this group’s presence suddenly put the Center in the middle of a firestorm that was not LGBT focused and drew focus away from our core mission which is serving the needs of the LGBT Community through our LGBT focused social services for youth, families and adults and cultural programs.
Our decision was made with input from key internal and external constituents representing broad points of view and after careful consideration by Center leadership and the executive committee of our Board of Directors.
While we heard from donors and other constituents on both sides of this issue, the decision was based on our effort to ensure we are not diverted from our mission and the critical work it represents. The decision was not made in response to any one individual. We had to take a step back and focus our energies on our primary concern, the LGBT community
There are some people who agree with our decision and some who disagree with it. A critical next step for us is to engage a broader set of our stakeholders around the standards and the process we should use moving forward. We are in the process of planning a meeting open to the LGBT community to review our space-use policy governing our Center, with the benefit of community input.
LGBT Center to Host Community Forum
A Chance to Talk, Listen and be Heard.
On Sunday, March 13, 2011 we invited members of the LGBT community to join us for an open forum to share their perspectives and provide us with feedback. You may submit additional comments through our online suggestion box.
About the Center
A beacon of hope for 29 years, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center builds and supports our community through arts and culture, wellness and recovery, family services and life-saving youth programs designed to foster healthy development in a safe, affirming environment. The Center envisions a world where LGBT people will no longer face discrimination or isolation because of who we are or who we love. We offer a welcoming home to 300,000 visitors each year and we are committed to serving all LGBT people through a variety of programs, services and activities that are designed to meet existing and emerging needs.The Center is many things to many people. We invite you to experience our home at 208 West 13th Street in person and online at gaycenter.org
