Ali Forney Center

OASIS 2024 was a record-breaking blast!! Thank you to our host, , RPDR Season 15 finalist, , and DJ , for keeping the vibes strong all evening! Together, we raised over $375k (‼️) for our services and programs dedicated to supporting unhoused LGBTQ+ youth.

A very special shout-out goes to our esteemed honoree, . We are so grateful for the long-term support of and in helping our youth and our community.

Additional thanks to all who attended and who helped who helped make the fourteenth OASIS a smashing success!! Here’s to next year! 🌴🦩

🚨DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT🚨

For the final five days of Pride, an anonymous donor has generously offered to match, dollar for dollar, all donations up to $45,000 🧡

Make the most of your donation and support the Ali Forney Center as we provide live-saving resources to homeless LGBTQ+ youth in need.

Join us in the fight for their futures. Link in bio to donate.

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Introducing our OASIS 2024 Honoree: Nasty Pig!

We are thrilled to announce the OASIS 2024 honoree, Nasty Pig! Co-Founders, Frederick Kearney and David Lauterstein established Nasty Pig, the pioneering  gay culture brand, 30 years ago. Their creation was inspired by a profound love for the community, a passion for fashion, and a commitment to celebrating our authentic selves. 

David and Frederick have been steadfast supporters of our mission for many years, contributing through fundraisers, sponsorships, clothing donations and by raising awareness of our work. Please join us as we come together to celebrate Nasty Pig and their contributions to our community. 

Event Details:
Date: Wednesday, July 24th, 2024
Time: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Location: Tribeca Rooftop - 10 Desbrosses Street, NY NY 10013

The evening will feature drinks and entertainment on a stunning rooftop, providing an opportunity to connect with fellow supporters and our honorees. We look forward to sharing this wonderful night with you and express our gratitude for your ongoing support from our amazing community. 

Link in bio to purchase tickets and sponsorships.

Yesterday, the Ali Forney Center held a rally calling upon the New York State Office of Child and Family Services (NYS OCFS) and the New York City Administration for Child Services (NYS ACS) to adequately address the homophobia and transphobia present within their systems. We demand that the LGBTQ+ youth in the foster care system be treated with respect and be guaranteed safe, affirming environments.

To show your support, sign the petition linked in our bio.

Thank you to the following elected officials and organizations who came out to support our cause:

Senator Jabari Brisport:
Senator Brad Hoylman-Siegel:
Council Member Althea Stevens:
Free to Be Youth Project:
Legal Aid Society: LGBTQ Project:
Youth Represent:
Safe Horizon:
Vibrant Emotional Health:

“AFC became my parents during a time where I had to learn I couldn’t count on my own family. I was taken care of, despite having parents who didn’t want me as a human because of what I represent to them” - Sam

Met Sam.

Sam (he/him) was kicked out of his home in his late teens and found himself in NYC without support or a community. Sam arrived at AFC at 19, and discovered a foundation to get back on his feet to go back out into the world with a stronger sense of opportunity.

At AFC, Sam found guidance on his young adult journey of learning about the importance of having a roof over one’s head, how to pay bills, establish career goals, and how to take care of his physical and mental health. For Sam, AFC made this an easy process.

After finding his footing at AFC, Sam set off with a goal to make his name in the world. Today, Sam is an internationally recognized director, writer, costume designer and artist showcasing his artistic visions and stunts at major profile events such as The Met Gala, The Grammy‘s, The Academy Awards, The Tony Awards, The Golden Globes, NYC World Pride and countless others. His works have been shown at the Victoria & Albert Museum, ACMI - The Australian Centre for the Moving Image and he is a curator at the Museum of Broadway in Times Square and most recently a guest curator at Kensington Palace for the institution’s largest exhibition in the history of the palace, which opened to critical acclaim entitled, ‘Crown to Couture’. Sam and his work have been covered in outlets such as The New York Times, Forbes, Vogue, The Hollywood Reporter, Vanity Fair, GQ, Time and many others.

When LGBTQ+ youth have a place to go, when their identities do not inhibit their futures, magnificent things occur. This Pride, we call on you to help us continue fighting for the futures of youth like Sam. Today, we can secure the future of Pride.

Link in bio to donate today.

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This photo series would not be possible without this incredible team:

Visionary/Photographer - Mike Ruiz
Wardrobe - Alison Hernon
Make-up - Frankie Byrd
Hair Stylist - Corey Tuttle

Meet Maddox. 

Maddox (he/him/they/them) arrived at the Ali Forney Center’s doors at the age of 20. After leaving home and school to couchsurf with friends in the hopes of building an authentic life, Maddox heard about AFC during an internship at MoMA. 

Upon arriving at AFC Maddox had a clear goal – employment. In addition to gaining housing and respite, Maddox knew that to have a chance at a stable future, he needed money to stand on his own and a job that would fulfill him. Having previously faced discrimination in the job market for being trans, Maddox was comforted by the nurturing and supportive environment at the Ali Forney Center that would enable them to kickstart their career in advocacy.

Today, Maddox is a self-proclaimed Social Impact Visionary. He has spent his years after graduating AFC working alongside the organization, joining the advocacy department. He brought forth an idea for a direct-cash transfer program that is now being piloted throughout the country. As a part of AFC’s Technical Assistance team, Maddox advises and mentors similar national and international organizations on the successful model of the Ali Forney Center’s Programs. 

Maddox’s was also a part of creating the Hidden Healer’s Campaign/Fund -- a million dollar fund sponsored by Pinterest and MTV to support culturally rooted mental health practices.

With the support system they found at AFC, Maddox was able to pursue his passions of giving back to those around them. They live their life using the philosophy of Protopia, a belief that we as people have the power to work towards the world we want to see. 

Investing in youth like Maddox is important because investing in LGBTQ+ futures means investing in the creation of a brighter tomorrow. To support the work of the Ali Forney Center, donate today.

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Special thank you to team who made this photo shoot come alive beautifully.

Visionary/Photographer- Mike Ruiz .one
Wardrobe Stylist- Alison Hernon
Make-up artist Frankie Byrd
Hair Stylist - Corey Tuttle

2.5MM Raised!? 🤯

We’re still processing last Thursday’s fabulous, record-breaking A Place at the Table Gala, where over 1,100 people came together to celebrate, uplift, and support homeless LGBTQ+ youth. 

We’d like to shout out all of the evening’s honorees including: Marshall Sprung, Global Head of Compliance at Blackstone, with the Community Partner Award; Carl Siciliano, Founder of The Ali Forney Center with the Luminary Award; and Lucina Rodriguez, a former AFC client, with the Ali Forney Award. 

We’d also like to recognize Matthew DeGagne, Peter Koffler, Parker McVey, Jay Nam, Faiz Osman, and Althea Stevens as Seat of Honor recipients for their incredible support of the LGBTQ+ community. 

Thank you to Julio Torres for taking the role of our hilariously fabulous host, and to T. Oliver Reid, Youth Pride Chorus, and Madison Rose for spectacular performances throughout the night. 

We are so grateful to our community of supporters who helps us create a safer, more affirming world for our LGBTQ+ youth. 

Here’s to shattering this record next year!

Exciting APAT announcements! 📣

Taking place on Thursday, May 9th at Cipriani Wall Street, our annual Spring gala is upon us! 🌸 We are delighted to announce that the hilariously talented Julio Torres, best known for Problemista & Los Espookys, will be our esteemed host for the evening.

Performances by Broadway sensation T. Oliver Reid, Co-Founder of BLACK THEATRE COALITION, and Billboard-charting, independent vocalist, Madison Rose, will add an extra layer of magic to the evening.

Our 2024 Ali Forney Award recipient is Lucina Rodriguez, a proud graduate of The Ali Forney Center and our culinary internship. We look forward to honoring her and all supporters and friends of the agency next week.

Join and in signing on to our campaign to end homophobia and transphobia in the child welfare system. Full petition and link to sign in bio.

Shortened Text:

As we mark Ali Forney’s birthday this month, we stand together to end the pervasive homophobia and transphobia within the New York State Office of Child and Family Services (NYSOCFS) and New York City Administration for Child Services (NYCACS).

The time for change is now.

We call upon NYCACS and NYSOCFS to implement the following changes to keep LGBTQ+ children in safe, affirming, and accepting home environments:

Immediate Policy Reform - NYSOCFS and NYCACS must implement a robust system of support that intervenes effectively when LGBTQ+ youth are in crisis.

Tailored Mental Health Services - Mental health services tailored to LGBTQ+ youths provide both a safe space to talk, and a critical validation of identity and experience that significantly reduces the risk of self-harm and su***de.

Affirming Family Therapy - If a child reports homophobia or transphobia and physical and sexual abuse is not present, providing affirming family therapy can lead to acceptance in the home.

Educational Programs - NYCACS and NYSOCFS must train staff to identify abuse and take appropriate action when homophobia and transphobia occurs in the home. We propose training programs that include: LGBTQ+ history, the importance of accurate pronoun use, empathic consciousness raising, and the impacts of discrimination.

Together, we can transform our child welfare system into a safe haven for LGBTQ+ youth. Sign, share, and demand action today.

Happy Le***an Visibility Week! Any love that exists outside of heteronormative standards requires courage, resilience, and unwavering authenticity, and we are proud to call ourselves Home for so many brave young le****ns 🧡🤍🩷

To all the le****ns: we see you, we love you, and we'll continue to fight for you

On April 22nd, the Supreme Court is hearing arguments about . This case raises the constitutionality of the criminalization of homelessness through local ordinances that penalize unhoused individuals for sleeping outside at any time with basic necessities, such as a blanket, or other coverings to protect from the elements.

We are proud to sign on to the amicus brief by urging to affirm the Ninth Circuit decision and highlighting the impact of these ordinances on the millions of youth who are forced out of housing each year, including those who are disproportionately impacted by homelessness, such as LGBTQIA+ youth, youth with foster care experience, youth of color, and youth who have been incarcerated.

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Happy Trans Day of Visibility! Trans youth are in a particularly vulnerable place in our community and the Ali Forney Center is committed to being a safe space for trans youth to explore, understand, and be celebrated in their identities 🩵🩷🤍🩷🩵

We see you. We love you. We support you 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️

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Together, we make powerful change. It's never too late to be part of the AFC 360 community! Click the link in our bio to sign up 🧡

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New installations alert! 🚨

Last week, AFC unveiled new installations at Ali's Place, made in collaboration with our friends at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Additions included a custom mural, beauty room, and a low sensory room.

Creating affirming spaces is a huge part of maintaining LGBTQ+ mental health and well-being. We are so proud to have two brand new spaces where our youth can use tools to present as they wish and unwind from the demands of their day.

Huge shoutout to our friends for helping make these dreams a reality 🧡

It's never too late to join the community and be a part of something bigger than yourself. There's strength in numbers and together we can make a better world for LGBTQ+ youth in need 🧡

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We are pleased to announce Marshall Sprung, Global Head of Compliance at Blackstone, with the Community Partner Award this year. Marshall’s leadership has generously supported the Ali Forney Center and greatly impacted our youth through volunteer engagements and programatic support. Please join us in celebrating Marshall and his dedication to the LGBTQ+ community. Tickets and sponsorship at link in bio.
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Happy International Women's Day! ☀️

Today, we're celebrating the fearless women who have paved the way for progress and equality. From trailblazers of the past, to change makers of today, we extend our gratitude to the incredible women who inspire us every day. We want to give a special shout-out to these remarkable LGBTQ+ women who have made history and continue to shape the world ✨


Let's continue to uplift, support, empower, and celebrate all the wonderful women in our lives 🧡

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Happy International Women's Day! ☀️

Today, we're celebrating the fearless women who have paved the way for progress and equality. From trailblazers of the past, to change makers of today, we extend our gratitude to the incredible women who inspire us every day. We want to give a special shout-out to these remarkable LGBTQ+ women who have made history and continue to shape the world ✨🪩


Let's continue to uplift, support, empower, and celebrate all the wonderful women in our lives 🧡

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We are thrilled to announce Ali Forney Center founder, Carl Siciliano, as the distinguished recipient of this year’s Luminary Award at A Place At The Table. Since launching AFC in 1997, Carl has served as the driving force behind our mission, dedicating 18 remarkable years as Executive Director. His commitment to safeguarding homeless LGBTQ+ youth from the perils of homelessness and empowering them with the necessary tools for independent living has left an incredible mark on countless lives.

Join us in honoring Carl for his profound impact on the homeless LGBTQ+ community and his inspirational leadership throughout the years.

Click the 🔗 in our bio for tickets and sponsorship.

🧡 Happy Valentine's Day! At the Ali Forney Center, we believe that everyone deserves the chance to freely express their love, today and everyday 🧡

❤️ We hope you take a chance to hold your loved onces close, tell them what they mean to you, and celebrate the role that love plays our lives and communities ❤️

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We are thrilled to share the news that AFC founder, Carl Siciliano's, book, Making Room, is coming out in May 2024 ✨

Making Room is Siciliano’s story of mending hearts broken by displacement and rejection, including his own. Siciliano shares what he learned from Ali Forney and thousands of other q***r teens—wounded, brave, vibrant people who lived true to their inner experiences and created family under desperate circumstances—while he helped lead a movement that compelled New York City to invest millions of dollars in kids who’d been ignored for decades.

Making room is available for preorder today at the link in bio.

This month, and always, we remember Ali Forney and all the Black heroes who have sacrificed for our struggle, and we honor their legacy by continuing the fight for a world where all are welcome, celebrated, and loved.

Join a community. Make a difference. Be part of the change 🧡

Link in bio

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We are delighted to invite you to The Ali Forney Center’s premier annual gala, A Place At The Table, taking place on Thursday, May 9, 2024 at Cipriani Wall Street.

We hope that you can join us for this special evening, where we cast a spotlight on the remarkable young individuals at the core of our work and the heart of our mission.

Ensure your seat at the table by clicking the link in our bio.

Stay tuned for honorees and special guests!

Tune in to our instagram story TOMORROW for a picture tour of Ali's Place, and to learn how being an AFC 360 member impacts the work being done here! 🧡🤍🧡🤍

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On this day in 1997, our namesake, Ali “Luscious” Forney, was found tragically murdered on the streets of Harlem. Forney was a homeless gender-non conforming youth who dedicated their life to serving and advocating for LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness and is a shining example of our mission.

Today and every day we honor Ali Forney as we strive to build a safer world for youth like Ali. Committed to saving the lives of young people like Ali Forney, our mission is protect them from the harms of homelessness and empower them with the tools needed to live independently.

🪩 This line-up is serving. Period.
This Sunday Nov 12th join & as they host an EPIC & iconic line-up for our dance party through the decades that has raised over 500k already to feed our LGBTQ+ youth.
⭐️ Link in bio to join the party
💥 Sunday November 12th

2-8 pm Doors open at 1pm!

💫 Line-up

🪩 Countdown to Serve.
One week away. Sign up to join the party Sunday November 12 or donate to help feed our LGBTQ+ youth. 💫 Link in bio.

International Pronouns Day seeks to make respecting, sharing, and educating about personal pronouns commonplace. Referring to people by the pronouns they determine for themselves is basic to human dignity.

Let’s practice! Share your pronouns with us today 🧡

✨ Tuesday Hot Ticket! Come SERVE with us at HK. Grab some friends, and join icon to learn how you can be a part of the movement that’s dancing its way to a million dollars to help feed over 500k meals to our LGBTQ+ youth. Link in bio to sign up to fundraise and SERVE with us.