Safe Space Saves Lives Campaign
"Safe Space Saves Lives" Campaign Pier 45 (aka the Christopher Street Pier)
History
When the Hudson River Park Trust (the private-public partnership that governs the piers on the west-side from Battery Park to 59th Street) fenced off and redeveloped the Christopher Street Pier in 2001, LGBTQ youth who have historically built a safe space on the pier and in the West Village, weren't invited to be part of the neegotiating process or to have a say into how the piers would change.
In 2003, we saw the direct impact of our abscence in this process. The newly redeveloped piers close at 1am, which limit the safe spaces LGBTQ youth have especially when their homes and schools may be unsafe environments. That was just the beginning, the Hudson River Park Trust also charged medical service vans (like Health Outreach to Teens at Callen Lorde) a $25,000 permit fee to park on the pier where the majority of LGBTQ youth are. In addition, the bathrooms close early and the porta poties on the pier are often unsafe and unsanitary.
In 2005, FIERCE launched our Safe Space Saves Lives Campaign to ensure the needs of LGBT youth of color were not forgotten in the wake of the development of the Christopher Street Pier. Our overall demands to Community Board 2, the Hudson River Park Trust, and residents were simple: acknowledge that LGBTQ youth of color are an important part of the West Village community and allow our voices to be heard in the pier development process.
Accomplishments
FIERCE members have worked hard over the past two years to gain a seat at the negotiating table over the future of the pier. FIERCE was once seen as a group of unwelcomed outsiders. Through consistent attendance at Community Board 2 meetings and building relationships with LGBTQ organizations and West Village residents, FIERCE members have transformed that image into one of shared commitment; we are seen as strategic young people who have a real voice and stake in shaping public policy. With this hard work has come concrete victories.
FIERCE has successfully:
- Eliminated the $25,000 fee charged to mobile service vans doing outreach on the pier and our campaign platform has been endorsed by 21 LGBTQ organizations across New York City.
- Stopped the proposal to shut down the pier at 10pm.
- Prevented the barricading of LGBT Youth from Christopher Street at 1am.
- Secured free LGBTQ programming on the pier, with a screening of Paris Is Burning and the first ever mini-ball on Pier 46: The Global Warming Mini-Ball, featuring performances by Vogue Evolution. Over 600 LGBTQ youth attended the Ball, which will now be an annual event. Be sure to check out our photo gallery and video highlights from the event.
Current Work
We are still organizing the fight to ensure that the piers are a safe space for LGBTQ youth. We are still working to win:
- Affordable food vendors and bathrooms available until closing time.
- A reduction in the police presence on Christopher Street.
- A 24 hour LGBTQ Youth Center near the Christopher Street Pier. Read HERE for more information about how we plan to make this happen.