Center Women's Event 17 Honors Activist Gloria Steinem

In a celebration of activism and advocacy, The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center (The Center) will honor iconic advocate and activist Gloria Steinem and New York State Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick at its 17th Annual Women's Event on Saturday, November 15.

The Center will welcome hundreds of guests to the brand-new Cipriani in the historic Cunard Building to celebrate Ms. Steinem and Assemblymember Glick, and will also honor long-standing supporter Prudential for its steadfast efforts to advance LGBT equality in the workplace.

"It is such a pleasure to have the opportunity to thank Gloria and Assemblymember Glick for their staggering contributions to the lives of women everywhere," said Glennda Testone, Executive Director at The Center. "It is through the work of these women, combined with the efforts of leading companies like Prudential, that we will truly create change and make the world a better place."

The Center will present Steinem with its Community Ally Award for her years of dedication to women's rights. A writer, editor, lecturer and feminist activist, Steinem helped found the Women's Action Alliance and the National Women's Political Caucus. She was president and co-founder of Voters for Choice for 25 years, then with the Planned Parenthood Action Fund when it merged with VFC for the 2004 elections.

"It's a special honor to receive an Ally Award from The LGBT Community Center because it stands for the right of each of us to be welcome in the world as our unique selves, and also for our mutual support in seeking that right," said Steinem. "Too often, social justice movements have been reported as separate, when in fact, we are and must be intertwined. I'm grateful to The Center for the vision that has brought us this far, and for leading toward a future in which we are linked, not ranked."

Assemblymember Glick will receive The Center's Impact Award in recognition of her groundbreaking role as the first openly lesbian or gay member of the New York State legislature. Her leadership has been crucial to many of the LGBT community's most inspiring legislative advances.

"I'm honored and touched to receive The Center's Impact Award in recognition of my work to champion equality for the LGBT community in the New York State legislature," said Glick. "There are so few opportunities to celebrate LBT women and our contributions, and it's a privilege to be with The Center on this special night to applaud my fellow community members and women who stand up every day for who they are and what they believe in."??

The Center will present its Corporate Ally Award to Prudential, which has received a 100 percent score on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index for 12 consecutive years. Prudential also long promoted the recruitment, retention and promotion of women among its employees. Michele C. Green, the company's Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, will be accepting The Center's honor.

"We are pleased to be leading the charge among our industry peers in shining a light on the financial experiences of the LGBT community," said Green. "Prudential's Ally Program allows us to invite more people to the table for the important discussion about the unique concerns and family dynamics that impact the financial considerations for the LGBT community. We are honored to be a part of this event."

Women's Event raises significant funds for The Center's innovative programming. Over the next year, The Center will launch LGBT-SAINT, a substance abuse treatment intervention specifically designed for LGBTQ youth ages 13 to 27. The Center will also introduce T:FIRE, a new program of support and empowerment that tackles poverty in the transgender community. In addition to these new initiatives, The Center is currently developing programming specifically for women to tackle economic attainment, a substantive issue that particularly impacts LBT women.

Established in 1983, The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center is at the heart of the LGBT community in New York City, providing quality health and wellness programs in a welcoming space that fosters connections and celebrates our cultural contributions. They strive to serve the LGBT community with a full-service, multi-faceted approach to programming, from hosting arts and entertainment events, advocacy groups and family gatherings to offering youth, recovery and overall wellness programs.

Each year, The Center welcomes more than 300,000 visits to their building in the West Village neighborhood of Manhattan from people who engage in our life-changing and life-saving activities. They are proud to be your community Center.

Tickets start at $325 and are available at gaycenter.org/womensevent