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208 W 13 St
New York, NY 10011

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Mon-Sat
9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sun
9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

LGBTQ ADVOCACY

Every day, The Center works towards a vision of justice and equity for all LGBTQ New Yorkers that recognizes, responds to and celebrates the many intersections of our identities. We are a hub for LGBTQ community organizing and innovation, a catalyst for progressive social change and a provider of critical services for the LGBTQ community.

OUR VISION FOR LGBTQ EQUALITY

FIGHTING FOR LGBTQ RIGHTS

GET INVOLVED

RISEOUT BOOTCAMP

The Center is a proud member of Equality Federation, a social justice, advocacy and capacity building organization serving and supporting state-based LGBTQ advocacy organizations.


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RiseOut: Our Vision for LGBTQ Equality

There has been no major legislation advancing LGBTQ equality in New York State since 2011. Our community, more than 1 million of us in New York State, mostly plays defense. A coordinated agenda for the advancement of LGBTQ-affirming policies and protections is absent, and existing protections are inadequately enforced and inaccessible to many.

But just imagine the impact we would make if New York’s LGBTQ community came together, as diverse individuals, organizations and allies, to coordinate our efforts, amplify our voices and articulate our vision of a world defined by equity and justice. The Center is working to make that dream a reality through RiseOut, its statewide advocacy initiative.

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Fighting for LGBTQ Rights

The RiseOut People’s Platform represents a shared vision of justice and equity for the future of the LGBTQ community in New York State. Community leaders from every region in New York worked in collaboration to develop this inclusive, people-centered plan to advance LGBTQ-affirming legislation and policies in New York. It is an agenda that reflects our values as a diverse, intersectional community and our goal to create lasting change by fighting to:

  • Advance Equity & Inclusion for Transgender & Gender Nonconforming People
  • Increase Access to Affirming Mental Health Services
  • Promote Restorative Justice Principles
  • Ensure LGBTQ Visibility & Affirmation
  • Demand Economic Justice

Learn more about what we're fighting for

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Get Involved

To create lasting change, we must first create new opportunities for LGBTQ community members to exercise power through greater civic engagement. RiseOut works to mobilize individuals across New York State to work as change agents, ensuring that the diverse concerns of LGBTQ community members are heard. We are committed to providing meaningful resources so the next generation of leaders can incubate and refine innovative strategies designed to significantly shift political and cultural structures.

In addition to Center-led activities, we collaborate with colleague organizations to add our voices to conversations about legislation and current issues that our community members care about deeply. Find out below how you can support our partners and participate in RiseOut, so that we are all equipped to be strong advocates for LGBTQ New Yorkers.

For more information on The Center’s advocacy work, please email advocacy@gaycenter.org.

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TAKE ACTION

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RiseOut Bootcamp

RiseOut Bootcamp is an advocacy curriculum designed to grow and refine your skills as an activist. Whether you want to organize voters in your local community, host a town hall meeting to speak up on the issues you care about or learn about different ways to share your own story, RiseOut Bootcamp is your guide for how to take action and make a difference for LGBTQ rights in New York. Are you a beginner, an expert or somewhere in between? With RiseOut Bootcamp, you can choose your own experience level with the 101, 201 or 301 curriculum before you get started!

Sign up to receive our RiseOut Bootcamp curriculum and to hear more about how you can help in the fight for LGBTQ rights.

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