OUR ORGANIZATIONS
Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth works to build community, provide a home and safe space for all, end anti-LGBT bullying, and prevent suicide. LIGALY does this through providing education, advocacy, empowerment, and social support services to LGBT youth, young adults, and their families for whom sexuality, sexual orientation, gender identity, and HIV/AIDS are an issue.
The mission of The Center is to celebrate and take pride in LGBT identities, care for individuals and groups in need, educate the public about those individuals and groups, address health disparities, build community, and empower all Long Islanders. The Center particularly works to help those most underserved through addressing heterosexism and cissexism.
Long Island SAGE is committed to providing high-quality, life-enriching programs and events that value participants’ age, gender, racial, ethnic, religious, and economic backgrounds. LI-SAGE aims to foster a greater understanding of the rights and needs of LGBT older adults.
The mission of Q Center is to celebrate and take pride in LGBT identities, care for individuals and groups in need, educate the public about those individuals and groups, address health disparities, build community, and empower all. Q Center particularly works to help those most underserved through addressing heterosexism, homophobia, and transphobia.
Evolution of the LGBT Network Model of Service Delivery
The original organization of the LGBT Network is Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth, Inc. (LIGALY), which was established in 1993. LIGALY is nationally known for its work with LGBT youth in the areas of education, advocacy, youth leadership and development and support. In 2005, LIGALY identified the need for services for LGBT people beyond the age of 21. At that time, additional organizations were formed to meet a range of health and human service needs of the LGBT community throughout the lifespan. Today, all of the organizations operate under the umbrella of the LGBT Network, which serves to unite the programs and services and to create a new and cost-efficient model of service delivery.
With shared administrative staff between all organizations, this structure eliminates duplication of administrative and executive staff thereby allowing each organization of The Network to share resources. This unique model reduces overhead costs and expenses and as a result nearly 80 cents of every dollar raised are channeled directly into critical programs and services for the LGBT community. As a result, more funds have been secured to expand and enhance programs so that more LGBT people in more places can be served with more programs and services.
HISTORICAL TIMELINE:
1993: Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth, Inc. (LIGALY) is established.
1995: LIGALY opens the doors to its first home on Main Street in Bay Shore.
1997: LIGALY hosts its first conference to address the needs of LGBT youth.
2001: LIGALY grabs international headlines by holding America’s first full-fledged prom for LGBT youth in the suburbs.
2002: LIGALY purchases and opens the doors to a new 4,300 sq.-ft. community center on Park Ave. in Bay Shore.
2005: LGBT Network, Long Island LGBT Center, and SAGE-LI established as organizations, ushering forward a new model of service delivery to expand services for the LGBT community throughout the lifespan.
2007: LIGALY’s new organizational structure launched and announced; services for LGBT older adults and LGBT-headed families begin.
2011: LGBT Network opens its first center in Nassau County – The Center at Garden City.
2012: LGBT Network merges with the Long Island Pride Parade, and begins producing the annual celebration.
2013: LGBT Network celebrates 20 years of service! LGBT Network establishes the Hamptons Center at Old Whaler’s Church in Sag Harbor to increase access to services on the East End, particularly for LGBT youth.
2014: LGBT Network announces senior housing complex in Bay Shore – the first of its kind in the NY Metro area; LGBT Network transitions its HQ from Garden City to Woodbury.
2015: LGBT Network commences expansion of programs and services into Queens.
2016: LGBT Network launches historic partnership with the NY Mets, holding the first LGBT Pride Night of any NY professional sports team.
2018: LGBT Network celebrates 25 years of service! LGBT Network opens its first community center in Queens in Long Island City and New York Islanders become first professional sports franchise to participate in LGBT Network’s National Coming Out Day Campaign.
2019: LGBT Network opens the doors of the Hauppauge Center, a 15,000 sq.-ft. flagship “Next Generation” LGBT center. It is the nation’s largest suburban LGBT center.
2020: LGBT Network takes its programs and services virtual during the COVID-19 pandemic, delivering 20+ programs each week.
2021: LGBT Network opens Bay Shore Center and Senior Housing Complex.
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VOLUNTEER!
The LGBT Network relies on the support of their many volunteers to serve Long Island and Queens LGBT communities. As a volunteer, you will join the ranks of other kind, compassionate, generous, hardworking individuals who have affected tremendous and far-reaching change for our community.