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Happy New Year and welcome to the first 2012 edition of Front and Center. This week we highlight our recent holiday celebrations for youth and families and explain how those events support those in need and enrich hundreds of lives. Plus, you'll hear about our advocacy for equal treatment of LGBT people in New York City Hospitals. We'll also tell you about our Youth Enrichment Services (YES) graduation event, commemorating young LGBT leaders who have completed several years in our youth program. Please enjoy reading these stories, and thank you for your support.

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Center’s Youth Holiday Party/Free Market Gives to Young People in Need

Nearly one hundred young people gathered at the Center in late December for a holiday party filled with snacks, games, arts crafts, a movie, and a free market. The free market gave youth a chance to “purchase” gently used clothing donated by staff and Bloomingdale’s department store, with tickets provide by the Center. The clothing included winter necessities, such as coats, hats, scarves, shoes, bags and other accessories. The youth also received gift bags generously assembled earlier in the month by M•A•C AIDS Fund volunteers; the bags contained make-up, hats and scarves donated by M•A•C AIDS Fund, Contesta Rock Hair and MTV Networks. This was the second free market held by the Center and the best attended holiday party on record. Natasha Jones, the Center’s Youth Enrichment Services Education & Training Coordinator said it’s a very important gathering for young people in need:

"Holidays are a rough time for many, especially young people who may be isolated from their families. A lot of young people don’t have anywhere to go for a little holiday cheer. This gives them an opportunity to feel part of our family. It’s also great to have young people come in and be able to “go shopping” for items that they may not be able to afford. Many youth arrived without proper winter attire and they left with shopping bags full of clothing that not will not only keep them warm during the winter, but keep them happy because they had the freedom to find clothes that fit with their gender identities."



Center Staff Advocate for Fair Treatment of LGBT People in NYC Hospitals

LGBT people often avoid medical treatment because they have been treated poorly by health practitioners in the past or because they fear stigma and marginalization because of who they are. Many studies confirm the harsh treatment LGBT people experience in health care settings. At a recent joint City Council hearing held by the Committee on Civil Rights and the Committee on Health, two Center staff members and an intern testified in favor of strong LGBT cultural competency training in New York City’s public hospitals. Gender Identity Project Community Prevention Coordinator Cristina Herrera, Lesbian Cancer Initiative (LCI) Coordinator Cristina Moldow, and LCI Intern Kaz Mitchell all urged the City Council to support and bolster efforts by New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) to require trainings that ensure all LGBT people are treated with the utmost respect in city hospitals, and develop robust standards to evaluate the progress of such endeavors. As Herrera, Moldow and Mitchell all noted: "LGBT people underutilize care largely due to fear and past experiences of discrimination and mistreatment. A long-standing community history of violence and abuse has left many community members mistrusting, especially where physical contact is concerned. It is often difficult for people to find medical providers who have experience and a comfort level working with LGBT patients." Center advocates stressed the vital need for respectful, patient-centered and culturally competent healthcare services for the thousands of LGBT patients served by public hospitals and community health centers every year; they also offered the Center’s continued expertise and resources to help make this a reality. The Center is pleased to help the city in its efforts to make New York City public hospitals safe, welcoming settings for all LGBT people.



Center Families Holiday Celebration Provides Welcome Space for LGBT Families

Smiles and laugher filled the room at the Center Families holiday celebration in December. Dozens of LGBT families gathered for fun games, holiday treats and a visit by Ms. Claus and her loyal elf Tee, who listened to holiday gift requests from all of the children who attended the festive gathering. The event gave LGBT families the opportunity to experience the joys of holiday time inside the warm, welcoming walls of the Center; parents socialized with each other, kids played for hours and all enjoyed quality time together to soak in the spirit of the season. Center Families is committed to bringing these kinds of holiday experiences to our community throughout the year.



Center’s Youth Graduation Event Spotlights Importance of YES Program

More than 50 youth gathered in late December for the Center’s Youth Enrichment Services (YES) graduation. Three young adults graduated from YES after spending several years in our program, which provides a space throughout the year for young LGBTQ people to celebrate who they are in a safe, drug-free, and welcoming environment. Girardo Iglesisias, Shareese Gibons and Kierney Smith were surrounded by supportive staff and fellow YES members who sang their praises and reflected on their accomplishments. The Center holds two graduation ceremonies per year, one in spring, and the other in winter. The purpose of commencement is to give closure to our young LGBTQ participants who are “aging out” of our program at 23 years old. Nicole Avallone, the Center’s Director of Youth Services said graduation is a significant ritual: "It's important to provide a ceremony to signify an ending to their time here, however long it might have been. Some have been here a year or two. Some have been here since age 13. That’s a long time. It’s a big deal. We’re ushering them gently into the real world and our ceremony signifies a new chapter in their lives. Many YES graduates have not only participated in our programs, but taken the lead in facilitating groups here. Our goal at YES is to instill leadership and ready these young people for adulthood."