New York’s Hell’s Kitchen proves heavenly
for LGBT alumni

It's a Pride banner. It's a tablecloth. Emory GALA (Gay and Lesbian Alumni) got its start in Atlanta, but has now expanded to New York. LGBT alumni in other cities are coming together and forming GALA chapters as well.

Photo by Tom Brodnax 65Ox 68C

New York City enjoys one of the largest populations of Emory Alumni—nearly 3,000 strong in the five boroughs. Many of these alumni identify themselves as part of the LGBT community, making GALA NY an important part of Emory’s alumni community in New York.

Last spring Gay and Lesbian Alumni (GALA) NY was formed and the group, led by several highly engaged alumni, is working hard to not only bring together Emory’s LGBT community in New York but also make it an integral part of the Greater New York Chapter.

Emory GALA is an Emory Alumni Association (EAA)-sponsored organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and supportive alumni and friends of the University. Its first and largest chapter is in Atlanta; GALA NY was the first chapter to be formed outside Emory’s hometown, and recently it has been joined by a chapter in Washington, DC. Efforts to create GALA chapters in other cities across the country are ongoing.

Recently, GALA NY hosted a happy-hour for members of Emory’s LGBT community in New York. Organized by a group of New York City Emory grads including Benson Cohen 00C 00G, Isai Peimer 97Ox 98C, and Hooper Stevens 97Ox 00C, the event was attended by alumni seeking to strengthen their Emory ties amidst the skyscrapers of midtown Manhattan.

Therapy, a friendly gay bar in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, was chosen as the venue. Under the familiar blue Emory banner displayed for the gathering, LGBT alumni mingled while enjoying a variety of appetizers and Emory drink specials.

One of the most positive aspects of the Emory family is its diversity, and the happy-hour crowd was no exception. It was a motley crew differing in sex, age, race and profession typical of New York City, with bankers, actors, clergy, students, writers, doctors, editors, and lawyers (to name a few) reminiscing with and reconnecting to other alumni. It was the first significant gathering for what is planned to be an active and visible subset of the NYC chapter of Emory Alumni.

One of GALA NY’s most important responsibilities is to provide Emory’s LGBT alumni a safe, friendly and familiar environment to mingle and network. However, having a large number of alumni—as there is in New York—doesn’t necessarily translate into having an active alumni group.

Historically, New York’s Emory LGBT group has been (at best) loosely organized and thus with a paucity of planned activities. Previous planned events, such as a private tour of the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), had to be cancelled because of lack of enrollment (only eight out of the prerequisite 10 alumni signed up for the MOMA event).

At the recent happy hour, some alumni said they weren’t aware of the ill-fated MOMA tour, and would have gladly signed up had they known about it. That’s where GALA NY comes in. GALA NY’s leadership is striving to find ways to better inform and connect their group in hopes of promoting the success of future events.

GALA NY is currently seeking other New York alumni who are interested in becoming involved in planning future gatherings. Areas of need include event co-chairs and a communications co-chair. Further information on GALA NY and upcoming events in Greater New York can be found on the EAA’s website.—Jason Baker 98C 02M