Our History

Growing LGBTQ+ Youth Support

1983: GLYS was founded as Gay and Lesbian Youth of Buffalo by community members from the Mattachine Society, offering a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth.
1986: After the original center closed, we found a new home at the YWCA of WNY.
1994: We updated our name to Gay & Lesbian Youth Services (GLYS) of WNY to better reflect our growing mission.
2000: GLYS became a full-time youth development agency, opening our doors wider to serve even more young people.
2005–2017: Our Drop-In Center blossomed at Trinity Church, where we built a strong and supportive community.
2006: We expanded into schools across WNY, helping start and support GSAs and creating safer spaces for LGBTQ+ students.
2009: Our Youth-In-Care program launched, partnering with local agencies to better support LGBTQ+ youth in foster care and residential settings.
2016: We introduced dedicated support groups for transgender, non-binary, and questioning youth—and for their parents and caregivers too.
2020: We officially changed our name to GLYS Western New York, Inc: Growing LGBTQ+ Youth Support to honor our full community.
2023: We celebrated 40 years of empowering LGBTQ+ youth—and moved into a new multi-use program space in the heart of Buffalo!