About
The LGBT Community Center — known simply as The Center — is New York City's hub for LGBTQ+ community, health, and advocacy, located at 208 West 13th Street in Manhattan. Established in 1983 at the height of the AIDS crisis, The Center empowers LGBTQ+ people to lead healthy, successful lives through comprehensive direct services, cultural programming, and community organizing space. Its legal name is Lesbian and Gay Community Services Center Inc, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit recognized by the IRS since April 1985.
Mission
The Center empowers LGBTQ+ people to lead healthy, successful lives through comprehensive services spanning health, youth and family support, culture, and advocacy.
What they do
- Health: support for people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS, substance use treatment and recovery support, and mental health counseling.
- Youth: spaces where LGBTQ+ youth connect, plus substance recovery programming for young people.
- Support services: LGBTQ+-affirming support for survivors of domestic and interpersonal violence, along with case management and advocacy assistance.
- Culture and community: arts and cultural programming celebrating LGBTQ+ plurality, social support groups, programming for transgender and gender nonconforming people, and family activities.
- Advocacy: community organizing and action initiatives, help accessing LGBTQ+ services across New York State, and a fellowship program for emerging BIPOC activists.
History
The Center was established in 1983 at the height of the AIDS crisis and has served as a gathering place, service provider, and organizing space for New York City's LGBTQ+ communities from its home on West 13th Street ever since.
Scale and impact
In 2025, The Center reports serving nearly 2,300 clients with direct services and welcoming an additional 7,300 community event participants. Among clients served, 32 percent were youth under 23 years old, 42 percent were transgender and gender nonconforming, 68 percent were people of color, and 26 percent were women.
Financials
According to IRS Form 990 data on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer for the fiscal year ending June 2025, the organization reported total revenue of $19,729,697, total expenses of $18,210,301, and net assets of $27,804,445.
Governance
The Center is governed by a board and led by a professional leadership team. It operates as Lesbian and Gay Community Services Center Inc, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization headquartered in New York, NY.
