A lively Women’s Event at New York’s LGBT Community Center brought leadership, community support and a new programme into focus. LezLinq will create events for queer women, including lesbians of colour, women over 50 and TGNC lesbians. The announcement gives the evening’s celebration a practical next step: more opportunities to meet, connect and feel at home.

Essential Takeaways

  • New programme: LezLinq will bring queer women together through a series of events and activities.
  • Wider welcome: Plans include gatherings for lesbians of colour, lesbians over 50 and TGNC lesbians.
  • Community fundraising: The Women’s Event raised more than $150,000 for the Center.
  • Workplace support: Theory was recognised for partnering with the Center on career mentoring and wardrobe workshops.
  • Visibility in leadership: Wilson Sonsini CEO Megan Baier received the Visibility Award.

LezLinq puts queer women’s programming in the spotlight

The clearest announcement of the evening came from the Center’s chief executive, Dr Carla Smith: queer women’s programming would no longer sit quietly at the edges. LezLinq, a new series of events and programmes, is intended to bring queer women together around shared interests and experiences.

That range matters. The planned gatherings will include lesbians of colour, lesbians over 50 and TGNC lesbians, alongside other social events. Rather than treating queer women as one audience, the initiative signals an effort to make space for communities with distinct needs and ways of connecting.

A celebration with a practical purpose

The 29th annual Women’s Event honoured people and organisations making a difference in public life and the workplace. Fashion and lifestyle brand Theory received the Corporate Impact Award, with the company’s partnership with the Center including career mentoring and wardrobe workshops.

Wilson Sonsini CEO Megan Baier was presented with the Visibility Award by Sue Bird, the WNBA champion and Olympic gold medallist. The recognition reflected Baier’s LGBTQ+ advocacy in corporate and legal settings, where visible queer women leaders remain important role models.

Why community spaces still matter

Smith said the Center has been adapting its programmes to respond to changing community needs, including increased demand for survivor support. She noted that women, lesbian women and trans people can be among those seeking help, while their needs may not always receive priority.

That context makes LezLinq more than a social calendar. A welcoming event can offer a first point of connection, while sustained programming can help people find support and build relationships over time. It’s a simple idea, but feeling recognised in a room can make a real difference.

From career mentoring to community connection

The evening’s honourees offered different examples of how institutions can support LGBTQ+ people. Theory’s work with the Center focuses on practical career development, while Baier’s recognition highlights representation and advocacy within major professional organisations.

The Center’s programme takes a more direct, community-based approach. Together, the stories point to a broader picture of inclusion: it can mean opening doors at work, making leadership more visible and creating places where people can meet without having to explain why they belong.

A strong evening, with more to come

The event raised more than $150,000, with some donors becoming LezLinq founding members. The fundraising gives the new initiative a boost, while the announcement itself offers a reason for queer women to look out for future gatherings at the Center.

A previous Women’s Event featured Laverne Cox as keynote speaker, showing the series’ continuing focus on LGBTQ+ women and leadership. Now, LezLinq gives that focus a new home in a programme designed to keep the connections going beyond one evening.

Explore LezLinq as its events take shape and find a gathering that feels like yours.

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