Senator Avella Grant for LGBT Community Center Already Making a Difference

Queens, NY – During this year’s New York State budget process, State Senator Tony Avella fought to get $100,000 in funding for The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center. By the end of the year, the funding has already had an impact far greater than the Queens Senator could have imagined.

Senator Avella’s funding has allowed “The Center” to hold over 75 career coaching sessions, 3 cycles of the immigration leadership and empowerment group – reaching over 325 LGBT immigrants, and 4 legal immigration workshops that reached 40 community members.

 "Senator Avella has been an unwavering advocate of The LGBT Community Center and the community at large. His work securing $100,000 in funding to support our career development and community support work has been instrumental in allowing us to expand these much needed services," said Glennda Testone, Executive Director of The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center.

"With these funds, we have expanded our LGBTQ immigrant support services to help some of our most vulnerable community members. The expansion includes adding more career coaching sessions, cultural and social programming, and enhancing our Immigration Leadership and Empowerment group, which provides an affirming space for community members to network, share resources and find support," Testone added.

“I was extremely happy to be able to allocate this funding for the LGBT Community Center during the budget process but when they told me recently how this funding was able to transform their programming I was astonished. The work that the staff at The Center does for our state’s most vulnerable is unparalleled and I am honored to have helped them in any way. I look forward to working with The Center in the future and cannot wait to see the way their work impacts our city, state, and nation,” said Senator Avella.

More information about The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center can be found at gaycenter.org

“Since 1983 The Center has been supporting, fostering and celebrating the LGBT community of New York City. The Center fosters a welcoming environment where everyone is celebrated for who they are. We offer the LGBT communities of NYC health and wellness programs; arts, entertainment and cultural events; recovery, wellness, parenthood and family support services.”