'The Center' has been the nexus of LGBTIQ+ culture in the village since 1983. That’s because it provides a surrogate home for queer folks who may not feel so comfortable in their actual one. It’s host to endless groups who meet here, and you can relax with a coffee and a pastry at the community-oriented cafe run by Coffee Project NYC.
It also provides a ton of regional publications about gay events and nightlife, and hosts frequent special events – dance parties, art exhibits, Broadway-caliber performances, readings and political panels. Plus it’s home to an accessible library of LGBTIQ+ literature; the National History Archive (which can be used by researchers by appointment); the small Campbell-Soady Gallery (which holds frequent exhibitions); and a cyber center. Works by iconic artists such as Keith Haring and David LaChapelle can be found in halls and stairways.
