About the Second Tuesday Lecture Series

The Second Tuesday Lecture Series is a is the oldest and longest running cultural event of The LGBT Community Center (GayCenter.org) in New York City.

Since 1985, the series has presented over 140 noted speakers in the arts, academia, and politics in lectures, discussions, and readings. Speakers representing every major cultural award in America, including the Pulitzer Prize, the Grammy Award (Grammys), the Academy Award (The Oscars), Broadway's Tony Awards, the Lambda Literary Award, the National Book Award, and the British Man Booker award, have made presentations.

It was through this program that Larry Kramer (a last minute replacement speaker) in March 1987 spoke about the devastating plight of the AIDS Crisis. Critical of the organized community's response to the disease, what began as a speech led to an intense discussion and the decision to meet again the following week to see what could be done. This was the beginning of ACT-UP (The AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power), which became one of the largest direct action AIDS organizations in the world.

Unless noted otherwise, Second Tuesday programs start at 7:00pm, often with a reception before the presentation. The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Center recommends a donation of $10, although all donations are voluntary and all proceeds go to The Center.

Upcoming Speakers

 March 9: Reception at 6:00pm – Presentation at 6:30pm

Warmth and Fire: The Comfort of Men
A panel discussion on the paintings
of Branden Charles Wallace, featuring the artist

What happens when a gay man paints intimate portraits of other gay men and couples? 

A panel discussion of the painter Branden Charles Wallace, whose show "The Comfort of Men" is now at The Center, will explore the issue.

Wallace's work revolves around "the male gaze" as one gay man carefully examines and paints other gay men, some dressed and some naked, some single men and a number of couples, to intimately create images of both openness and intimacy.

The panel will consist of the following:

• Perry Brass (panel leader, author, most recently of "The Manly Art of Seduction," and commentator)

• Branden Charles Wallace (the painter whose work is being discussed)

• Bruce Donelley (filmmaker and creator of an upcoming documentary on masculinity)

• Peter Drake (artist and Dean of Students of the New York Academy of Arts)

• Jerry Kajpust (MA, from the Leslie-Lohman Gay Art Foundation)

• Philip F. Clark (critic who recently profiled Branden's paintings at The Art Point Blog - TheArtPoint.Blogspot.com.)

The Center suggests a $10 admission, which includes wine reception. There will be time for questions and answers at the end of the presentation.

 April 13: Reception at 6:00pm. Presentation at 6:30pm

Selections from "Short Plays to Long Remember" Anthology

This anthology of plays is edited by Francine Trevens. Among the plays in the collection are the following plays with gay content. Details will be announced.

ACT I -- Short Plays
"And He Made a Her" by Doric Wilson
"Bar None" by Perry Brass
"Four for the Gospel Makers" by David Brendan Hopes
"This'll Kill Ya" by Francine L. Trevens
"Quintessential Image" by Jane Chambers

ACT II -- Shorter Plays
"Saturday With Martin" by David Johnston
"Piss" by David Brendan Hopes
"Mine!" by Jane Chambers

ACT III -- Scene 1 Shortest Plays
"Statues" by Sidney Morris
"Sitting Shiva" by Sidney Morris
" One Great Big Light" by David J. Mauriello

 September 14

Glenn Plaskin, author of "Katie: Up and Down the Hall"

The true story of how one dog turned four neighbors into a family. Watch for details.

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