12/04/06

New York's primary lesbian and gay institution and gathering place.

by Contributor

Overview
The Center functions as a meeting place and a clearinghouse for community information and a provider of medical and social services. The Youth Enrichment Services (aka the Y.E.S. Program) offers free, confidential support to teens; Senior Action in a Gay Environment (aka SAGE) has weekly activities for their elderly counterparts. There's something for everyone in between, too.

Features
The Center also hosts cultural events and houses the Pat Parker/Vito Russo Library which has over 12,000 circulating titles of fiction and non-fiction. Hundreds of events take place each month in this distinguished building. If you're a boy, be sure to use the restroom on the second floor to see the exuberantly licentious mural by the late Keith Haring.

05/09/02

Here and Queer

by DrewPisarra_Citysearch

The first time I went to the Center it was at a temporary space on little West 12th Street. What drew me there was the bi-weekly bingo hosted by one quick-witted, buff older drag queen named Sybil Bruncheon. Since the Center has returned to its permanent home on West 13th--just a few blocks away, I've been back many times for functions other than that. Yet Center Bingo will always be dear to my heart. I won $400 that first night. From then on, I was hooked. Nowadays, I'd recommend one of the various language clubs or the comprehensive library, too. When I peruse the monthly calendar, I'm astounded at the variety of organizations that call the Center home. For anyone who's gay, lesbian, bi, trans or something along those lines, the Center definitely has fun activities in store.

• Pros: Size, Diversity, Pride
• Cons: None