Places and people: where to go and whom to meet
Where to sit somewhere warm, get online and meet people: LGBTQ+ centers in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx, groups and free classes.
Start here
- The LGBTQ+ Center in the West Village is open every day, with free Wi-Fi, a computer, printing, a garden and a free lending library.
- The Brooklyn Community Pride Center in Crown Heights publishes a calendar of meetups, support groups and sports. Destination Tomorrow in the Bronx takes walk-ins.
- At free We Speak NYC conversation classes you can practice English and meet people.
1LGBTQ+ centers
Places to sit down, get online and meet people.
The LGBTQ+ Center
Free
The center in the West Village: sit in the garden, free Wi-Fi up to 8 hours a day, a computer in the David Bohnett CyberCenter up to 2 hours a day, printing up to 10 pages a day, phone charging.
Pat Parker/Vito Russo LGBTQ+ Library
Free
The only free circulating LGBTQ+ library in New York: hundreds of books and videos to use on site or borrow. It is inside The LGBTQ+ Center. Book donations are not accepted at the moment.
Brooklyn Community Pride Center
Free
The LGBTQ+ center in Crown Heights. Its online calendar lists meetups, support groups and sports, such as basketball open gym. Some events need advance registration.
Destination Tomorrow
Free
The Bronx's LGBTQ+ center. Walk in without an appointment: staff help directly or connect you with housing, health, work and education services. There is a separate Youth Services program.
2Groups and conversation classes
Social groups at The LGBTQ+ Center
Free
Peer-led groups for LGBTQ+ adults 18 and up, built around shared interests and experiences, in English and Spanish. One is LGBTQ+ Immigrants United, a group for immigrants; days and times are on the Center's calendar. Groups meet in fall and spring cycles; register briefly on the website first. They are not clinical or therapy services.
We Speak NYC conversation classes
Free
Free weekly classes where you speak English and meet people, online and in person, many at libraries. A program of the City's Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA). Classes Near You lists them by borough.
Free Urban Park Rangers events
Free
NYC Parks rangers lead free group events outdoors. Schedule: “Parks, beaches, pools and free sports”.
Glossary: definitions of special terms and abbreviations
- LGBTQ+
- Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people; the "+" includes everyone else.
- Drop-in
- Come without an appointment.
- We Speak NYC
- Free English conversation classes from the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs.
This is general information, not legal advice: QARAVAN has no lawyers. QARAVAN does not help anyone enter the US and cannot arrange visas, invitations, sponsorship or evacuation. For your own case, talk to a licensed immigration attorney or a representative accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice.