LONG ISLAND’S LGBT NETWORK RESPONDS TO HISTORIC APPOINTMENT OF HOMETOWN HERO KARINE JEAN-PIERRE AS WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY, THE FIRST OUT LGBTQ PERSON TO SERVE IN THE ROLE

STATEMENT FROM LGBT NETWORK PRESIDENT – DR. DAVID KILMNICK

LONG ISLAND, NY (May 6, 2022) – The LGBT Network, the largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) advocacy and human service organization in Long Island and Queens, is responding to the announcement that Karine Jean-Pierre will become White House Press Secretary, the first out LGBTQ person and the first Black woman to serve in the role. Jean-Pierre previously served as Deputy Press Secretary for the Biden White House.

“We are beyond excited that Karine Jean-Pierre has been named White House press secretary,” says Dr. David Kilmnick, founder and president of LGBT Network. “She’s the first openly LGBTQ press secretary, the first African-American woman press secretary and she’s from our hometown of Long Island, all reasons to celebrate and beam with great pride.”

“The historic nature of her being appointed to one of the most visible roles in the White House cannot be denied,” Kilmnick says of Jean-Pierre, whose resume includes roles as Chief Public Affairs Officer for MoveOn.org and as an NBC and MSNBC Political Analyst. “Karine’s visibility and role will have a profound impact on our LGBTQ younger generation, showing that they can be out and be themselves and accomplish anything they want in life. This LGBTQ Long Islander has made it all the way to the White House, and it sends a powerful message to all LGBTQ youth to dream and believe and that anything can be achieved while being your authentic true self”.

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CONFERENCE EMPOWERS LGBTQ+ YOUTH
TO CHANGE THE WORLD

The LGBT Network’s 26th Annual Youth Conference, at Citi Field – home to the NY Mets, brought together over 650 LGBT & Allied youth from New York City and Long Island to educate and empower participants to advocate for LGBT people and ignite their activism. 

Watch Media Coverage
Hear From the Kids!
See Event Photos
WATCH ABC 7: Hundreds of students at the LGBT Network’s LGBT Youth Conference hold ‘We Say Gay‘ rally in NYC to denounce Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill

Over 650 LGBTQ and allied students from across New York City and Long Island held the largest rally in the country to denounce Florida’s hateful “Don’t Say Gay Bill” at the LGBT Network’s 26th Annual LGBT Youth Conference at Citi Field on March 16th. LGBTQ students, their allies, and local leaders showed support and solidarity, by proudly proclaiming and chanting “WE SAY GAY” so loud that it could be heard all the way down South.

ADDITIONAL MUST SEE MEDIA COVERAGE:

Hear from LGBTQ Youth why the LGBT Network’s LGBT Youth Conference is important to them

Watch this video of LGBT Youth sharing “The Youth Conference is important to me because...”

“I decided to come to a safe place were I can be myself and celebrate with others that also get to be themselves.”

 "I wanted to see what it like being with other people in the same community as me”

“I am part of the community and I wanted the whole community that attend to be loved.”

“I wanted to help expose my schools GSA to LGBTQIA+ events”

“I wanted to find my voice and my confidence, and I seeked a place where I felt validated and safe and secure”

“I wanted to get to know more about my community and learn new information in different aspects like sex education and healthy relationships.”

2022 Youth Conference Photos:

2022 LGBT Youth Conference
See Complete Album Here

Statement: Transparency, Integrity, & Our Work

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Dear Community Member,You may have read about the LGBT Network’s relationship with the New York State Department of Health (DOH). Please be assured that we will continue providing the full array of critical services that you have come to expect, despite DOH’s grossly distorted and unfair portrayal of the organization. 

We were responsive to DOH’s many requests over the last three years, during which they did not reimburse us for the services we provided to the LGBTQ community. Despite these challenges, the organization is in a solid financial position, and our programs and services for the LGBTQ community shall continue without interruption. 

The LGBT Network has nearly three decades of experience, and a documented history of superior service to the community.  We operate with transparency and integrity to support our life-saving work for LGBT people.  

TRANSPARENCY

We take seriously the need for transparency as a non-profit organization.  We meet all compliance requirements as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, including filing our annual 990 as well as Audited Financial Statements for organizations of the LGBT Network.  These 990s are publicly available on websites like Guidestar.com.  Moreover, in recent years, we have selected a new auditor as a best practice in the sector.

INTEGRITY 

We ensure that we operate with the highest degree of integrity when it comes to managing the funds we receive.  In 2021, we expanded our infrastructure by hiring an internal Chief Financial Officer.  Our Board of Directors provides oversight to our President/CEO and financial management to ensure that every dollar we receive, both publicly and privately, is used in its intended manner – to support programs and services for the LGBTQ community.  “The Board of Directors believes in and backs the leadership of our President/CEO David Kilmnick.  The Board has been involved with this process and continues its role providing oversight,” states Board Chair, Floyd T. Feather.

OUR WORK

We believe our work speaks for itself.  

  • In the last 2 years alone, we have delivered 1,526 group and education programs for the LGBTQ community, both in-person and virtually for 13,642 people.
  • Since 2010 when LGBT Network’s HIV program began, we have helped more than 2,000 people to know their status and access prevention services, including 338 HIV tests from 2019 through 2021.
  • In the last 10 years, we conducted 3,500+ education programs in schools, organizations, and workplaces reaching more than 100,000 people. 

Just this past weekend, we held our LGBT Families Expo & Fair welcoming more than 150 people to build a community of LGBT-headed families.  And next week on March 16th at Citi Field, we will welcome more than 500 youth from across Long Island and Queens for our LGBT Youth Conference, that we have held for more than 25 years.

We stand by our work, and we ask that you continue to stand with us as we continue to help LGBT people to be themselves, to stay healthy, and to change the world.

Don’t take it from us: See and watch for yourself about how LGBT Network serves the LGBT community, and the impact of our work.

Video Testimonials and Interviews:

Photo Galleries:

COMMUNICATING WITH YOU

If you would like to speak with us further and learn more, please feel free to contact us at info@lgbtnetwork.org.  We would welcome the chance to connect.Thank you.

Long Island Pride to Be Held Sunday June 12th in Farmingdale

The 32nd Annual Event Comes Back Fully In-Person

For Immediate Release
Contact: Kerri Ann Souto
Mobile: 631-236-7390
Email: ksouto@lgbtnetwork.org

HAUPPAUGE, NY, March 1, 2022 – The LGBT Network’s annual Long Island Pride parade, concert, and festival will take place on Sunday, June 12 th for the first time ever in the Village of Farmingdale. The 32-year flagship event for the LGBT Network will come back in full swing and 100% in-person. The Long Island Pride Parade, the first since the start of the pandemic, will bring thousands together for a celebration and display of community that hasn’t been seen in over two years. The 2022 Long Island Pride celebration will feature a parade, concert, and festival with thousands in attendance celebrating, dancing, and being more out and louder and prouder than ever before.

David Kilmnick, President/CEO of the LGBT Network said “We are thrilled and excited to announce that Long Island Pride is fully back in person and in an amazing new location. Thanks to our partnership with Farmingdale Mayor Ralph Ekstrand and the Village Trustees, we have come together to celebrate Pride and it will be showcased in one of Long Island’s great downtowns. On the heels of the pandemic and with anti-LGBT legislation being passed in many states, Pride is more important than ever before to come out, be visible and show unity and strength; especially for those who may not be ready to do so now. It’s time for us to celebrate like we never have before and march out and proud together”.

Long Island Pride’s new location is a new initiative to showcase one of Long Island’s most walkable transitoriented downtowns every June. This year’s spectacular parade, concert and festival will take place along the entire Main Street in the Village of Farmingdale. “The Village of Farmingdale is honored to have been selected as the site for the LGBT Network’s Long Island Pride Parade & Festival on June 12th. We truly hope everyone enjoys our wonderful downtown. Farmingdale is ‘Home of the Culinary Quarter Mile’ and tons more! We are here to help in any way, thrilled to welcome the LGBT Network and we know it will be a complete success,” said Village of Farmingdale Mayor Ralph Ekstrand.

In 2021 Long Island Pride was the first large scale in-person concert and festival on Long Island and set the tone for the community’s return to normalcy. The sold-out event hosted over 3,000 attendees at Eisenhower Park and was livestreamed to tens of thousands more.

Parade registration and sponsorship opportunities are available now at https://lipride.org/

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The LGBT Network is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is a home and voice for LGBT people, their families, and support systems of Long Island and Queens. The LGBT Network’s community centers help LGBT people to be themselves, stay healthy, and change the world. Since 1993, the New York LGBT Network has been pioneering advocacy and social change to promote safe spaces where LGBT people live, learn, work, play, and pray.