Looking back at the past year, LGBTQ+ communities have made many gains, but the forces opposed to dignity and safety for queer communities are also gaining ground. With state legislatures across the country increasingly targeting trans youth, protests against Drag Story Hour, and the ongoing threat of discrimination, we have to be louder and stronger in our efforts to create inclusive and supportive communities.

Right here in New York City, students at Yeshiva University were barred from forming an LGBTQ+ student club on their campus. I believe that all youth should have the freedom to express themselves without pressure or opposition from any educational institution. Which is why, as Comptroller of this great city, I wrote a letter of support for Yeshiva University’s LGBTQ+ students and staff calling on the President of the institution to allow this club to exist on campus without any barriers.

My office also supported calls for LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Staten Island Saint Patrick’s Parade because we refuse to accept discrimination of all forms. Our office will always work to uplift all New Yorkers and against using City resources for programs that discriminate.

We, as a nation and city, still have much to do to advance health and safety for LGBTQ+ communities. The city must continue its fight to lower HIV infection rates and provide access to mental health for all New Yorkers. According to a 2023 survey by The Trevor Project, about 81% of LGBTQ youth wanted access to mental health services, but of those, only 44% received services.

We will also advocate to ensure that pharmacies and community health centers have access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post-Prophylaxis (PeP) throughout New York City. Numerous organizations within this guide provide exactly this sort of information, but it’s only as good as the access that is provided at health-affiliated sites.

While we still have a lot of work to do to create a world that centers joy and invests in the dignity of all New Yorkers, the strength and breadth of the city’s LGBTQ+ civic and cultural infrastructure gives me hope that we will one day realize that vision.

I hope you find this edition of the LGBTQ + guide to be a useful resource and that you share it with colleagues, friends, and neighbors who may be interested.

If you have any questions about the 2023 edition or would like to request a print copy, please send an email to [email protected].