In December 1983, the New York City Board of Estimates approved the sale of the former Food and Maritime Trades High School, located at 208 West 13th Street, to the Lesbian & Gay Community Services Center, Inc. for $1.5 million.

Some of the pieces in the exhibit included: Adam and Eve by George Martin, Boy on a Wall by Stephen Lack, and Once Upon a Time by Keith Haring.

[9] The Library is named in honor of Pat Parker and Vito Russo, individuals who championed LGBT+ causes in their professional and personal lives.

The center's Mental Health and Social Services division also sponsors support groups focused on coming out, transgender rights, bereavement, and other topics of concern to the LGBT community.

[11] The center provides a range of events and services for individuals ages 13–21 such as dances, movie screenings, open mic night, summer camp and discussion groups.

[citation needed] In February 2011, the center became embroiled in a controversy over a pro-Palestinian group that was to have a party in the building on March 5 during "Israeli Apartheid Week".

The group, Siegebusters, planned to train activists and raise funds for another vessel to break the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza.

[12][13][14] Advocate columnist and porn producer Michael Lucas threatened a boycott, claiming that Israel is the only gay-friendly country in the Middle East, that the group was antisemitic, and that LGBT people in the Palestinian territories are tortured and killed.

[16] The Center defended the move, stating that it "provides space for a variety of LGBT voices in our community to engage in conversations on a range of topics.