Mayor's LGBTQ+ Advisory Council formed

From City of Erie Mayor Joe Schember

I was honored to celebrate Pridefest with the largest crowd ever in attendance!

My team and I created the following Vision for Erie's future:

Erie is a Community of Choice. We celebrate our:

• Diverse cultures
• Welcoming, vibrant neighborhoods
• World-class downtown and bayfront
• Schools of excellence and
• Abundance of family-sustaining jobs.

This Vision includes every one of YOU. Each and every one of you are valued, and we are very PROUD that you call Erie your home!

I want to live in an Erie where Diversity is valued. Where the color of your skin, your religion, your ethnic background, your sexual orientation or identity, and even which side of State Street you live on doesn't matter. What matters is your unique talents, skills, and ideas. Diversity makes us stronger as a city, as a region, as a nation. Every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.

For Pride, we showcased some symbols of our support, and we hope they served as a beacon of hope and acceptance for the entire community.

• The Pride Flag was flying high at City Hall
• The Rainbow Crosswalk - Thanks to Sam Catania Painting and Sherwin Williams in Harborcreek for donating it
• Our Rainbow City Seal
• Our Rainbow Fountain in Perry Square

In addition, the first-ever, Mayor's LGBTQ+ Advisory Council started meeting in City Hall on July 17. This Council will help us raise Erie's score on the Municipal Equality Index, but more importantly, it helps us foster a welcoming, accepting culture in an Erie that values diversity. Thank you to all the members of the Council for stepping up and serving our community. They are:

Pam Anthony
Marshall Blount
Tania Bogatova
Natalie Braddock
Kim Conti
Season Crannell
Emily Crofoot
Kathy Czarnecki-Smith
Michael Grasso
Marcy Hall
Caitlin Handerhan
Kyle Hannon
Melina Harden
Tammie Johnson
Paul Lukach
Michael Mahler
Leah Manino
Reverend Richard McCarty
Leroy Oglesby
Lucy Reyes
Alison Scarpitti
Kevin Seeker
Gary Snyder
Alex Sphon
Caitlyn Strohmeyer
Rose Marie Surma
Jackson Surma
Linda Thomas
Jewels Frantz
Tyler Titus
Erin Wincek

Photos

Also view photos here.