The Tel Aviv Municipal LGBT Center (

Hebrew Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...

: המרכז העירוני לקהילה הגאה, ''HaMerkaz HaIroni LaKehila HaGe'a'') is a municipal establishment, housing various social and cultural community services provided by the City of

Tel Aviv Tel Aviv-Yafo ( he, תֵּל־אָבִיב-יָפוֹ, translit=Tēl-ʾĀvīv-Yāfō ; ar, تَلّ أَبِيب – يَافَا, translit=Tall ʾAbīb-Yāfā, links=no), often referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the ...

to the local lesbian, gay, bi and trans community. The center is located in a restored ''

Bauhaus The Staatliches Bauhaus (), commonly known as the Bauhaus (), was a German art school operational from 1919 to 1933 that combined crafts and the fine arts.Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 4th edn., 20 ...

'' building in Meir Park at the city center.

Building

The building currently housing the LGBT Center is at the southern end of Meir Park at the city center, off King George Street. Built in 1920, it was used first as a school and later as a HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed branch. With no surrounding wall or fence, the building opens directly onto the park. The ground floor and terrace include a popular cafe, as well as an auditorium, reception desk and unisex bathrooms. The three upper floors include a meeting room and several rooms used for community activities, including an indoor playground for toddlers, rehearsal room for theater groups, the offices of several LGBT organizations and a health care clinic of the Clalit HMO, focusing on LGBT needs but open to the general public. The garden surrounding the building includes a memorial to the victims of the 2009 Tel Aviv gay centre shooting, and a memorial to LGBT victims of Nazi persecution.

Activities

The center is a municipal agency, funded by the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality, which spent NIS 4 million on the building's refurbishment and conversion. It opened its doors in 2008, following a 2004 survey mapping the needs of the LGBT community. Activities fall under six main categories: *Cultural programs including theatre, dance, concerts, etc. *Social events *Community organizations for LGBT youth, parents of LGBT persons, religious groups, transsexuals, seniors, people with HIV, etc. *Support services: legal, medical, psychological aid, hotline, childcare, etc. *Learning: lectures and workshops *Leisure: enrichment activities. The cafe serves as a safe meeting place

External links

Official website

IGY: The Israel Gay Youth Organization
{{coord, 32.0730, N, 34.7725, E, source:wikidata, display=title LGBT culture in Tel Aviv Buildings and structures in Tel Aviv LGBT organizations in Israel LGBT community centres