New York City’s LGBT Community Center held its annual catered holiday celebration, for its membership, in the festively-decorated third floor auditorium on December 14.

Executive Director Glennda Testone welcomed us, saying, “At these events, I feel like my chosen family is here,” and spoke of the many people who warmly consider the Center their “home.” The reason for the party, she continued, was “To say thank you. We couldn’t do it without you.” She added, in the wake of recent LGBT identity-related suicides, “The money you’ve contributed this year has really saved lives,” and gave the example of a young person who had confessed, “I thought about taking my own life, but I knew that the staff of the Center would miss me.” Mike Nuno, who had taken RSVPs for the party, spoke as well.

As attendees enjoyed complimentary cocktails and cold hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, Broadway’s Christy Faber (“Les Misérables” revival, “I Love You. You’re Perfect. Now change”), assisted by pianist Adam Wachter, took the stage, which was decorated with poinsettias, to belt out a vibrant “Life of the Party,” Kate’s song from the start of Act Two of Andrew Lippa’s “The Wild Party,” and “Give Me a Chance to Sing Melody,” the comically rueful plea of a soprano, perpetually sentenced to harmonize as an alto, in which she got mid-song applause for her ringing high C.