{{more citations needed|date=January 2019}} {{Infobox organization | name = Gay City: Seattle's LGBTQ Center | image = Gay City Exterior2.jpg | image_alt= Exterior of Gay City headquarters | caption = Headquarters in Seattle, Washington | map = | abbreviation = | formation = 1995 | type = LGBTQ community and health organization in Seattle | status = | purpose = Health services, Library, Arts, Performing Arts, Resources, ORCA LIFT | headquarters = 400 E. Pine St, Seattle, WA 98122 | region_served = Seattle, Washington | membership = | language = English | leader_title = Executive Director | leader_name = Nakita Venus | main_organ = | parent_organization = | affiliations = | budget = | website = {{URL|gaycity.org}} | remarks = }}
'''Seattle's LGBTQ+ Center''', formerly known as '''Gay City: Seattle's LGBTQ Center''' (until 2022)<ref name=SeaGayScene>{{cite web |url=https://seattlegayscene.com/2022/04/gay-city-unpacks-and-announce-new-name-seattles-lgbtq-center/ |title=Gay City Unpacks…And, Announce New Name: “Seattle’s LGBTQ+ Center” |last=Strangeways |first=Michael |date=2022-04-22 |website=Seattle Gay Scene |access-date=2025-05-09}}</ref> and '''Gay City Health Project''', is a 501(c)(3) multicultural LGBTQ nonprofit organization based in Seattle, Washington.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discoverburien.org/members-g/gaycity|title=Gay City|last=|first=|date=May 20, 2019|website=Discover Burien|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219052331/https://www.discoverburien.org/members-g/gaycity|archive-date=December 19, 2019|access-date=|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== History == Gay City formed in 1995 during the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
In the mid-2000s, Gay City introduced a Wellness Center that provided HIV testing and STI screening (syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and hepatitis C).<ref name=NPIN>{{Cite web |title=Gay City Health Project {{!}} National Prevention Information Network {{!}} Connecting public health professionals with trusted information and each other |url=https://npin.cdc.gov/organization/gay-city-health-project |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=npin.cdc.gov}}</ref> The health services expanded in 2019 to five locations. According to their website, Gay City is the leading HIV/STI tester in King County.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us - Gay City: Seattle's LGBTQ Center - Mission/Values |url=https://www.gaycity.org/about-gay-city/ |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=Gay City: Seattle's LGBTQ Center |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2007, Gay City served as a research partner for the Seattle branch of the HIV Vaccine Trials Network.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fhcrc.org/about/ne/news/2007/05/09/HIV_awareness_day.html|title=HIV Vaccine Awareness Day is May 18; Seattle research unit to mark day with remembrance and new community partners|last=Forbes|first=Dean|date=9 May 2007|work=fhcrc.org|accessdate=13 September 2011}}</ref>
The Seattle LGBTQ+ Center houses the '''Michael C. Weidemann LGBTQ+ Library''', a library focusing on LGBTQ topics with over 8,000 books.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2022-06-24 |title=For Pride 2022, visit Gay City in its new Capitol Hill home |url=https://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2022/06/for-pride-2022-visit-gay-city-in-its-new-capitol-hill-home/ |access-date=2023-10-08 |website=Capitol Hill Seattle Blog}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldstein-Street |first=Jake |date=2018-12-13 |title=Gay City has expanded E Pike library and resource center — and Three Dollar Bill Cinema as a new roommate |url=https://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2018/12/gay-citys-has-expanded-e-pike-library-and-resource-center-and-three-dollar-bill-cinema-as-a-new-roommate/ |access-date=2023-10-08 |website=Capitol Hill Seattle Blog}}</ref> The library was formerly named the '''LGBT Lending Library''' and held by the Seattle LGBT Community Center, until it closed in 2009. The library was inherited by Seattle LGBTQ+ Center that same year and renamed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seattlefoundation.org/npos/Pages/GayCityHealthProject.aspx|title=Gay City Health Project|publisher=Seattle Foundation|accessdate=13 September 2011|archive-date=3 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203133149/http://www.seattlefoundation.org/npos/Pages/GayCityHealthProject.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Locations== In April 2022, Gay City moved into a new headquarters building at 400 E. Pine Street in the Capitol Hill neighborhood.<ref name=":0" /> Previously, Gay City was located at 517 E. Pike (two blocks south and one block east of the current location).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-07 |title=Gay City finds new home on Capitol Hill |url=https://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2021/10/gay-city-finds-new-home-on-capitol-hill/ |access-date=2023-10-08 |website=Capitol Hill Seattle Blog}}</ref>
==Previous and Current Aliases== Seattle's LGBTQ Center has operated under various names in the past. The organization was founded as '''Gay Men’s Health Project''' in 1995.<ref name=SeaGayScene /> "As treatments for HIV/AIDS improved" the organization broadened its scope, eventually changing names to '''Gay City''' at some point before 2006.<ref name=SeaGayScene /> In 2006, the Seattle Commission for Sexual Minorities submitted a report<ref name=SCfSM2006report>{{cite report |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=February 2006 |title=Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) Youth in Seattle |url=https://www.seattle.gov/documents/departments/seattlelgbtcommission/documents/lgbtqyouthpolicypa_2d76a.pdf |location=Seattle, Washington, USA |publisher=City of Seattle |access-date=2025-05-09}}</ref> to the mayor's office which contained an appendix that mentioned Gay City by name, stating its formal name to be '''Gay City Health Project'''.<ref name=SCfSM2006appendix>{{cite report |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=February 2006 |title=Appendix A: LGBTQ Youth Resources |url=https://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/SeattleLGBTCommission/documents/LGBTQYouthResourceList.pdf |location=Seattle, Washington, USA |publisher=City of Seattle |access-date=2025-05-09}}</ref> In 2022, the organization shortened their name from '''Gay City: Seattle’s LGBTQ Center'''{{citation needed |date=May 2025|reason=When did the organization change names from Gay City Health Project to Gay City: Seattle's LGBTQ Center?}} to '''Seattle's LGBTQ+ Center''', in conjunction with their relocation.<ref name=SeaGayScene />
By 2025, the US National Prevention Information Network listed the organization as "Seattles LGBTQ Wellness Center".<ref name=NPIN />
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{official website|http://www.gaycity.org}}
{{LGBT in Washington State}}
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Category:1995 establishments in Washington (state) Category:Non-profit organizations based in Seattle Category:LGBTQ health organizations in the United States Category:LGBTQ in Washington (state) Category:Men's health organizations Category:American organizations established in 1995 Category:Medical and health organizations based in Washington (state) Category:LGBTQ culture in Seattle