100 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • DECEMBER 2018
PRESS NETWORK
BUZZ
LGBT 25 YEARS OF PRIDE
By EDEN LAIKIN
Twenty-five years ago, David Kilmnick
was a student at Stony Brook
University writing his master’s thesis
on teaching educators how to provide
workshops to create safe spaces for
gay or lesbian students.
There was no such term as “LGBTQ.”
The legality of gay marriage wasn’t
even fathomed. The “Don’t ask, don’t
tell” policy for the military went into
effect that year. Nobody was talking
about inclusion in schools and tens of
thousands lived in secret — afraid to
be themselves — for fear of judgment
and ridicule, often even violence.
Today, Long Island is home to the
nation’s first and only chartered Gay
Parent Teacher Student Association.
Dozens of those local schools have
Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) student
clubs. LGBT is a household phrase.
Gay marriage is legal in every state.
“In 1993, people said you can’t have
an LGBT youth organization on Long
Island,” says Kilmnick, who founded
the nonprofit Long Island LGBT
Network. “Today, we’re one of the
biggest in the country.”
Kilmnick’s organization now
operates five community centers for
the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
community in Woodbury,
Patchogue, Bay Shore, the Hamptons,
and Long Island City, Queens.
Groundbreaking has started on
Long Island's first-ever affordable
housing development for LGBT
seniors in Bay Shore.
Over the last 25 years, the nonprofit
LGBT Network has made
strides in marriage equality and
helped with initiatives that have
slowed the spread of HIV, worked
to combat bullying, develop job
and volunteer opportunities, and
create safer communities for everyone.
It’s helped bring awareness,
change, and acceptance in schools
and communities not only here, but
around the globe, opening doors for
thousands of people.
The LGBT Network’s mission
statement is that it be a “home and
voice for LGBT people, their families,
and support systems of Long
Island and Queens” and to “help
LGBT people to be themselves, stay
healthy, and change the world.”
At its annual gala on October 23,
the Network awarded 17 grants to
local GSA clubs to support youth-led
anti-bullying efforts in schools.
With its advocacy arm, Long
Island Gay and Lesbian Youth (LIGALY),
LGBT Network “changed the
face of Long Island so that LGBT individuals
can call Long Island a home
no matter where they live, learn,
work, play, or pray,” Kilmnick says.
“We’re out there speaking to
people all the time,” Kilmnick adds.
“We’re opening minds and planting
seeds, not just speaking to people
who agree.”
In October, the LGBT Network
joined with the New York Islanders
and the National Hockey League
to announce a 2019 Pride Night, as
part of the National Coming Out Day
Campaign (NCOD). Proceeds from
Pride Night ticket sales will support
the expansion of the LGBT network’s
anti-bullying programs in more
than 200 Long Island and New York
City schools.
“We have much more work to
do,” Kilmnick says. “Many people
thought that when marriage
equality passed, our work was
done. But bias, violence, and safety
remain pressing issues for the LGBT
community.
“Eighty five percent of LGBT
students report daily verbal harassment
in schools with one-in-three
LGBT students skipping school out
of fear of bullying,” he continues.
“In the workplace, up to 43 percent
of LGBT workers have experienced
being discriminated against, denied
promotions, or harassed simply for
being themselves. Behind each of
these statistics is a real person who
is someone’s daughter, son, sister,
brother, mother, father, family
member, friend or coworker.”
LGBT NETWORK
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2010: HIV, STI, Pregnancy Prevention
initiatives launched
2011: Rallied for Marriage Equality Act
2012: First Long Island Gay Parent-
Teacher-Student Association was formed
2012: Launched Living Out, a publication
covering LI Life and LGBT culture
2015: First NY MLB Pride Night with the
Mets
2017: First LI Pride boat parade
2018: First Queens LGBT youth summit
LGBT Network CEO David Kilmnick led the group's 25th anniversary
gala.
From left to right: Kilmnick, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran,
honoree and Nassau University Medical Center Board Chairman
George Tsunis, and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone.