History of The Center

The Founders incorporate Lesbian and Gay Community Services Center Inc. on July 6, 1983.

In December of 1983, the City approves the sale of the former Food and Maritime Trades High School at 208 West 13th Street to The Center. On December 20, 1983, The New York Times runs an article by David Dunlap with the headline “Sale of Site to Homosexuals Planned.”

The city and The Center close the deal in 1984. The cost: $1,500,000.

Speakers include Audre Lorde, Fran Lebowitz and Quentin Crisp among others.

In 1985 The Center takes in the Harvey Milk High School of the Institute for the Protection of Lesbian and Gay Youth (now known as the Hetrick-Martin Institute) when it is evicted from its original location. The school remains at The Center until June 1986.

Activist, author and playwright Larry Kramer appears at Second Tuesdays at The Center on March 10, 1987. He rages at the government’s unresponsiveness to the AIDS crisis and motivates the crowd to create ACT UP, the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power.

In 1988 volunteers, including Harvey Fierstein (center), create the Quilt Workshop at the Center as part of the national effort to create panels for the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt. Panels are displayed on the Great Lawn in Central Park in June and later on the National Mall in Washington, DC.

In 1989 The Center launches programming for LGBT youth in a positive, healthy, alcohol- and drug-free community environment.

In 1989 The Center presents Imagining Stonewall, an exhibition in honor of the 20th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, and The Center Show, a collection of site-specific installations by 50 internationally known and emerging painters, photographers, videographers and sculptors curated by Rick Barnett and Barbara Sahlman.

The Center receives its first New York State social services grant in 1988 and launches Project Connect to provide alcohol and substance abuse prevention services.

The Pat Parker/Vito Russo Center Library opens at the Center in 1991. The library starts out with 500 volumes on racks that are rolled into the first floor assembly hall for library hours.

In 1992 The Center receives several awards for its façade restoration, including the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission Certificate of Merit, The New York Landmarks Conservancy Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award, and The Metropolitan Chapter of the Victorian Society in America’s Certificate of Merit.

The Center and other organizations charter buses to the National March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay, and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation on April 25. A million people attend the March.

In 1996 The Center begins Promote the Vote, America’s largest nonpartisan lesbian and gay voter registration and mobilization program at the time.

July of 2001 The Center moves back to 208 West 13th Street as the $14 million renovation is completed. The building is dedicated as The Diamond/Kaplan building in honor of the million dollar lead gift from Shelley Kaplan.

The Center’s separate mental health and social services programs merge to form a comprehensive health and wellness program, better serving the LGBT Community.

Executive Director Richard Burns celebrates 20 years at the helm of The Center in 2006. In 1987, shortly after Burns joined the Center, it was facing foreclosure on its mortgage. In Burns’ 20th year, The Center employs a staff of 80 and has an annual budget of $8 million.

In November of 2007, The Center's recovery program becomes the first LGBT treatment program licensed to accept insurance and Medicaid in New York State. In the first six months, 243 people benefit from the program.

The Center celebrates its 25th anniversary by serving as Grand Marshal for the NYC Pride March, and producing programming throughout the year featuring notable names such as Elaine Stritch, Harvey Fierstein, Kate Clinton and Edward Albee.

Richard Burns completes his 22-year tenure as executive director in February of 2009. Following a national search, Glennda Testone begins her services as executive director in November of the same year.

The Center unveils the newly restored Keith Haring mural, “Once Upon a Time,” at a special reception in March of 2012. In honor of Haring's life and work, The Center dedicates the month to programming designed to celebrate the mural and Haring’s legacy.

On June 26, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its ruling in United States v. Windsor, declaring Section 3 of the Defense Of Marriage Act (DOMA) to be unconstitutional. Edie’s press conference in response to the announcement was held at The Center.

In 2012 The Center breaks ground on a $9.1 million capital renovation. Pictured is the lobby in 2012, before the renovation.

The Center celebrates the completion of renovations on February 3, 2015. The celebrations include a ribbon cutting ceremony and art exhibition, "Once Upon a Time and Now," honoring the 1989 Center Show.