BP MARKOWITZ ANNOUNCES MAJOR PARTNERSHIP WITH BROOKLYN COMMUNITY PRIDE CENTER TO ADDRESS NEEDS OF BOROUGH'S LGBT COMMUNITY
Vital Community Programming and Support Services for LGBT Brooklynites Underway
On Thursday, October 8, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz joined members of the LGBT community at Brooklyn Borough Hall to announce a major partnership with the nonprofit Brooklyn Community Pride Center (BCPC) that will provide critical community programming and support services for LGBT Brooklynites as progress continues on establishing the borough's first LGBT center. The announcement coincides with National LGBT Month, and comes three days before Brooklynites head to Washington for this weekend's historic National Equality March.
In order to ensure that the needs of Brooklyn's growing and diverse LGBT population are being met while fundraising and location searches for the Center continue, volunteers with BCPC will work alongside the Borough President's Office to provide outreach and programs and services to LGBT residents. Last month, a gathering at Borough Hall addressed the issues of the transgendered community and the law, and next month a session will be held to assist LGBT youth. Future topics include health disparities in the LGBT community and LGBT youth in the criminal justice system.
The Brooklyn Community Pride Center nonprofit was founded in September 2008, with the mission of providing a safe, common space offering physical and mental health services, social support, recreational and cultural programming, and serving as a hub of information for the LGBT community in Brooklyn. Programs will include a series of monthly Community Education Panels, hosted in partnership with the Kings County District Attorney's Office, support groups and services for LGBT youth and elders. In addition to $1 million in capital support from Borough President Markowitz, the City Council has allocated more than a million dollars to the Center.
"Brooklyn has one of the biggest and most diverse lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities in the United States, including New York City's largest lesbian population, and it's only fitting that we have our own Center that addresses the needs of our growing LGBT population and builds on the great work already being done by our Brooklyn LGBT service organizations," said BP Markowitz. "I am a proud--emphasis on proud--supporter of the Brooklyn Community Pride Center, which will not only provide vital outreach and community services for our LGBT community, but will go a long way in ensuring that Brooklyn truly is proud home to everyone from everywhere."
"It's unimaginable that Brooklyn, the most populous borough of New York City, is the last to have its own LGBT community center," said Thomas Smith, president of the BCPC's Board of Directors. "From the beginning, Borough President Markowitz has made establishing one a priority by reaching out to diverse LGBT groups from throughout the borough and providing critical funding and partnerships to support our collective vision. This important community resource will provide support groups, information, and other much-needed services for LGBT Brooklynites--everyone from the 11-year-old gay son living in public housing and being teased at school in Central Brooklyn to the Park Slope retiree who just lost her partner of 35 years and has nowhere to turn."
"An LGBT Pride Center is a long time coming for the people of Brooklyn and the time to make this happen is now," said New York City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn. "The LGBT community in Brooklyn is one of the largest and most active in the country, and they deserve a home of their own. The Council has long supported this Center and we look forward to the day when it becomes a reality for LGBT Brooklynites."
In addition to supporting the Brooklyn Community Pride Center, Borough President Markowitz has advocated for marriage equality, hosts an annual LGBT celebration at Borough Hall and participates each year in the borough's popular Pride Parade in Park Slope. Borough Hall was also the first public government building in New York City to fly the LGBT rainbow flag.
For more information on Brooklyn Community Pride Center, visit www.lgbtbrooklyn.org .
Photo by Kathryn Kirk
