City Hall \u2013 Speaker Christine C. Quinn was in Staten Island today to celebrate the opening the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Center of Staten Island. She was joined by Council Member Michael McMahon, State Senator Diane Savino, Assembly Member Janelle Hyer-Spencer and Assembly Member Matthew Titone.<\/p>\n
Since 1983, the Center, as the organization has become known, has provided a home for the LGBT community in New York City, providing valuable advocacy, counseling, cultural programming and recreational activities. The Center\u2019s expansion into Staten Island represents an important step, both for the LGBT community and for Staten Island, as the kinds of groundbreaking offerings that have made the Center such a success in Manhattan will now be available to the vibrant and growing LGBT community in Staten Island.<\/p>\n
The LGBT Center of Staten Island grew from services already provided by Community Health Action of Staten Island (CHA). With the opening of the Center, which is situated in a central location in proximity to the Staten Island Ferry, many of these services will be available under a single roof and in a setting conducive to community building. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m thrilled to be here today to celebrate the opening of the LGBT Center of Staten Island, which will provide the members of Staten Island\u2019s LGBT community a place to call their own,\u201d said Speaker Christine C. Quinn. \u201cThough the programs and services this Center will offer are certainly important, just as important is the way it will bring the Staten Island LGBT community together, allowing its members to speak boldly and openly with one voice calling for respect, tolerance, unity and equality.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe opening of this center represents a great achievement on the part of Community Health Action and the members of this community,\u201d said Council Member Michael McMahon. \u201cI know this center will serve the LGBT members of the Staten Island well, and am excited to be a part of such a great event.”<\/p>\n
\u201cThis center represents so much, not only for the LGBT community on Staten Island, but to all New Yorkers who celebrate diversity,\u201d said Assembly Member Matthew Titone. \u201cThis center is truly the threshold of hope for true equality and a better life for Gay families on Staten Island.\u201d<\/p>\n
###<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
City Hall \u2013 Speaker Christine C. Quinn was in Staten Island today to celebrate the opening the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Center of Staten Island. She was joined by Council Member Michael McMahon, State Senator Diane Savino, Assembly Member Janelle Hyer-Spencer and Assembly Member Matthew Titone.<\/p>\n
Since 1983, the Center, as the organization has become known, has provided a home for the LGBT community in New York City, providing valuable advocacy, counseling, cultural programming and recreational activities.<\/p>\n
…<\/p>\n