On February 3, we attended the Official Ribbon Cutting & Relaunch Celebration of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center. Lots of speakers; lots of elected officials, such as New York State Assemblymember Deborah Glick, Manhattan Borough President Gail Brewer, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer, New York State Senator Brad Hoylman, and City Councilmembers Rosie Perez and Corey Johnson; and lots of people you don't normally see until spring hits. Great art, beautiful architecture-flashbacks to when we had a bodybuilding event fundraiser for the Gay Games upstairs on the 3rd floor and it was a dump but totally fun. The Keith Haring bathroom, with his 1989 mural "Once Upon a Time," is BACK--in all of its phallicness! There are also a bookstore, souvenir shops, a fancy cafe in honor of the late Thea Spyer, and her widow, the iconic Edie Windsor was there to speak about her history with the Center and to cut the ribbon!

Photos by Lee Sharmat & Clara Bogetti

Center Relaunch - pictured in center- Orie Urami, Director of Meeting & Conference Services, and Rob Wheeler, Chief Operating Officer (insets clockwise from top RIGHT - Edie Windsor, Deborah Glick, Timothy Y. Chow- President of the Center Board, Glennda Testone & Carrie Davis, Cafe in honor of Thea Spyer, Sirens, the Keith Haring bathroom, Gail Brewer, Scott Stringer, Rosie Mendez)

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