The Village has a long and storied history with LGBTQ+ rights. It’s bohemian openness to different lifestyles made it a hub for the LGBTQ+ community beginning in the early 20th century and the Stone Wall Inn riots in the 60s made the area a focal point in the fight for civil rights. The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, otherwise known as “The Center” was founded in 1984 and purchased this former school built in 1869.

The Center served as an important home for multiple LGBTQ+ organizations and offered community outreach including health services, a school for LGBTQ+ Teens and political activism. The Center played a large role in protesting the terrible conditions and lack of funding for Aids patients in the 80s and 90s. A large memorial to the victims of the Aids epidemic can be found a block south in St. Vincent’s Triangle. In more recent history, the Center played host to over 300 weddings on the day that Gay Marriage was legalized in New York State. It is located at 13th and 7th Avenue and was meticulously restored in 2001. It was landmarked on June 18th, 2019 in recognition of the large role it has played in the LGBTQ+ community.