Erie Sisters and Brothers ( Articles with 105,096 total views)

Erie Sisters and Brothers (40 Articles with 105,096 total views)

News from Erie Sisters and Brothers, our local cross-dresser, transvestite, transgender support and social group.

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February, 2024

Erie Sisters and Brothers 2024 Events

The Erie Sisters and Brothers of Erie, PA, an LGBTQIA+ friendly group mainly consisting of Transgender and CrossDressers, are looking forward to another very exciting year ahead.

It was another very successful year for the 92 Transgender/Cross-Dressing Ladies, their spouses, significant others, speakers, and vendors attending the 24th Annual Lake Erie Gala hosted by the Erie Sisters and Brothers at the Sheraton Erie Bayfront Property last November.

October, 2023

Lake Erie Gala Nov 15-19

The annual Lake Erie Gala will be held November 15th - 19th, 2023 at the Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel in beautiful Erie, Pennsylvania. The gala is organized by Erie Sisters and Brothers.

June, 2023

Come Join Erie Sisters and Brothers for our annual Victorian Princess Dinner

The Erie Sisters and Brothers annual Victorian Princess Dinner cruise coincides with Erie Pride held in Downtown Erie PA. The LGBTQIA+ parade kicks off at 1pm with festivities to follow in the downtown square. Then join us and take in the beautiful scenery of Presque Isle Bay as you enjoy the delicious dinner buffet on the three tier Victorian Princess paddle boat.

May, 2023

Erie Sisters and Brothers Annual Cabin Fever Weekend

Erie Sisters and Brothers hosted the annual Cabin Fever on February 24-26, 2023, at the Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel and the host hotel's Bayfront Grille in Erie, PA. Another excellent turnout made this event very successful. Unlike the Lake Erie Gala, which is held annually in November, this event is just a time for members of the LGBTQ+ community to gather and socialize. A few took this opportunity to explore the local Erie area.

February, 2023

Annual February Cabin Fever Weekend 2023

Erie Sisters and Brothers will hold their Annual February Cabin Fever Weekend at the Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel on Friday, February 24th through Sunday, February 26th, 2023

January, 2023

2022 Annual Lake Erie Gala hosted by the Erie Sisters and Brothers of Erie Pennsylvania

Despite Mother Nature throwing a temper tantrum, it didn't detour 101 Transgender/Cross Dressing Ladies, their spouses, significant others, speakers, and vendors from attending the 23rd Annual Lake Erie Gala hosted by the Erie Sisters and Brothers at the Sheraton Erie Bayfront Property last November.

September, 2022

Lake Erie GALA celebrates 23rd year

Lake Erie GALA will be held November 16-20 at the Sheraton in Erie. Now in its 23rd year, the Lake Erie Gala attracts crossdressers, transgender persons and their loved ones from across North America.

February, 2022

Erie Sisters and Brothers Transgender Support Group Cabin Fever Weekend Feb 25-27

Join Erie Sisters & Brothers for Cabin Fever Weekend Friday, February 25, 2022, through February 27, 2022! Cabin Fever Weekend will take place at the Hampton Inn & Suites on the Erie Bayfront. The address is 130 E Front St, Erie, PA 16507, located right across the parking lot from where the Lake Erie Gala 2021 was held! This event will have an informal-nonformatted setting that will include lots of laughter, food, and cocktails. (Disclaimer: Participation will solely be at the participant’s expense.) $129 per night and offers a complimentary hot breakfast and parking each day. Rooms also include a refrigerator and microwave. Please use this booking link here. The cutoff date for the group date is February 4, 2022. Reservations taken after the cutoff date will be honored depending on hotel availability

Lake Erie Gala 2021

The Erie Sisters Transgender Support Group hosted their Annual Lake Erie Gala from November 17-21, 2021, at the Courtyard by Marriott - Erie Bayfront and the adjoining Sheraton - Erie Bayfront Hotels. Now in its 22nd year, the Lake Erie Gala attracted crossdressers, transgender persons, and their loved ones from across North America and beyond our borders. Returning to the gala traditions, guests had their choices of informational workshops that included but were not limited to fashion/wardrobe/wigs, professional make-overs, manicures, image consultation, and professional photoshoots for gender identity affirmation. They also featured financial and transitional seminars. This year’s theme was "Always a Bridesmaid, Never a Bride" and featured a Thursday night Murder Mystery Dinner followed by Karaoke with DJ Beth. On Friday night, the formal "Glitter Ball" encouraged guests to live their fantasy in their preferred bridesmaid attire, followed by a talent show and dancing the night away. Saturday’s main event was entertainment at Kellar’s Magic and Comedy Club. Each day was full of wonderful social events and outings, including a Welcome to the Gala meet and greet by the pool-side with a pizza party, fine dining events, a spouse/significant other tea time, a tour of local wineries, and shopping excursions. Finally, our Big Sister/Little Sister program supported first-timers as they stepped out of their comfort zone and into their femme self.

October, 2021

Lake Erie Gala Attendee Registration begins September 15, 2021!

Attendee registration opens this Wednesday, September 15, 2021 for Erie Sisters annual event, Lake Erie Gala! Mark your calendars and revisit the updated website (http://www.lakeeriegala.com) to register and see what's new in the line up. Early Bird Pricing will end September 30! So don't delay...

September, 2021

Thirteen Weeks Until Lake Erie Gala!

From Erie Sisters Transgender Support Group: Time is flying by and we are only 13 weeks away from seeing each other again at the Lake Erie Gala to be held at the Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel from November 17-21.

April, 2021

In search of photographer for Lake Erie Gala 2021

Do you have any experience in taking professional or semi-professional photos? Erie Sisters is in search of a photographer for this year's Lake Erie Gala to be held November 17 through the 21st. If this is something you would be interested in please email a short resume and a selection of photos done by you to info@LakeErieGala.com. A member of the Gala Board will contact you back.

February, 2021

Erie Sisters update

Erie Sisters Transgender Support Group is proceeding with its Lake Erie Gala event scheduled for November 17 thru the 21st. Also, check out monthly Zoom parties!

September, 2020

Lake Erie Gala Postponed to 2021

The planning committee for Erie Sisters and Brothers Support Group's annual Lake Erie Gala, had a big discussion about the event. After much deliberation, it is with a heavy heart that they have decided the Lake Erie Gala 2020 has been cancelled. We are now going to focus all our efforts to one hell of a Gala 2021! We have decided to do a second Cabin Fever type event in its place. It will be this November, the same Friday-Sunday of the original Gala on November 20-22. Anyone who wants to come, can make the trip and just have fun and no structure or schedule. We will be having our official Cabin Fever this February 19th-21st

April, 2020

Erie Sisters and Brothers Meetings and Socials Cancelled Until Further Notice

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, all Erie Sisters and Brothers Transgender Support Group monthly meetings and socials are cancelled until further notice. You will be updated with the next event date and time as soon as restrictions are lifted. Please stay safe! If anyone needs to talk, don’t hesitate to reach out to Kara at lakeeriegala@gmail.com or their web site at http://eriesisters.ning.com.. Please note that there are chat rooms at the web site.

February, 2020

Erie Sisters and Brothers Cabin Fever Weekend Feb 21-23

The Erie Sisters and Brothers will host their annual Cabin Fever February 21st-23rd. This is a very laid back event with nothing specific on the itinerary. Most of the girls who attend stay at the Bel-Aire on W. 8th St. Our bi-annual voting of officers will take place over the weekend. Only paid members of the Erie Sisters and Brothers may run and/or vote for officers. If you want to become a paid member, please check out the Membership table of eriesisters.ning.com. The first planning meeting for the Lake Erie Gala 2020 will be held during the event. We are always looking for people to be on the planning committee. If you're interested in being on the planning committee or have any other questions, please reach out to VP Kara Ritchie at lakeeriegala@gmail.com

October, 2019

Lake Erie Gala November 20th-24th

Erie Sisters & Brothers Transgender Support Group will host their Annual Lake Erie Gala Nov. 20th-24th at Bel-Aire Hotel and Conference Center, 2800 W 8th St, Erie, PA. This is a four day event that begins Wednesday with dinner and bowling, bus tours of attractions in the area, dinner, dancing, Open Mic Talent and Karaoke Night, vendors on Saturday (open to public), and a farewell breakfast on Sunday morning. There will be photo thumb drives for sale at the breakfast. This is a social affair, so there is a lot of chatting with other transgender people. A chance to relax, meet new friends and do a little dancing. Info: lakeeriegala@gmail.com and eriesisters.ning.com

January, 2019

Lake Erie Gala Held By Erie Sisters and Brothers

The Lake Erie Gala 2018 by the Erie Sisters and Brothers is in the books as a success There was fun by all The event was held November 14-18 at the Bel Aire Clarion, 2800 W 8th St, Erie PA.

October, 2018

Lake Erie Gala Nov 14-18

Erie Sisters & Brothers Transgender Support Group will host their Annual Lake Erie Gala Nov. 14-18 at Bel-Aire Hotel and Conference Center, 2800 W 8th St, Erie, PA. This is a four day transgender event starts Wednesday with dinner, bus tours of attractions in the area, dinner, dancing, entertainment and farewell breakfast on Sunday morning. This is a social affair so there is a lot of chatting with other transgender people, a chance to relax, meet new friends and do a little dancing.

January, 2018

2017 Lake Erie Gala Recap

The 2017 Lake Erie Gala was held at the Clarion Hotel, 2800 W 8th St, Erie PA. The annual event, sponsored by the Lake Erie Group and Erie Sisters and Brothers (ES&B), began Wed. November 15th with the opening of registration, a pool and pizza party at the hotel, and optional bowling at Eastway Lane

February, 2017

Erie Sisters and Brothers Transgender Support Group Cabin Fever Weekend Feb 24-26

Erie Sisters & Brothers Transgender Support Group’s Cabin Fever Weekend will be held February 24th through the 26th at the Bel-Aire Clarion Hotel, 2800 W 8th Street in Erie. The event coincides with the annual Bar Stool Open in Erie. For more info or to register a team to participate in the Bar Stool Open, visit www.mecaerie.org. For reservations at the Clarion, call (814) 833-1116.

January, 2017

17th Annual Lake Erie Gala a Success!

The Erie Sisters and Brothers Transgender Support Group held their 17th Annual Lake Erie Gala on Wednesday, November 16 through Sunday, November 20 at the Bel Aire/Clarion Hotel and Conference Center, 2800 W 8th St, Erie PA. About 70 people attended the event.

March, 2016

Erie Sisters & Brothers Cabin Fever Weekend

Erie Sisters & Brothers is having Cabin Fever Weekend this month! Time: February 26-28, 2016. February 25, 2016 is an optional evening for those who want to get there early!

December, 2015

Another Great Gala 

The annual Lake Erie Gala, moved up this year from its traditional date, was held at the Avalon Hotel Wednesday Oct. 28 through Sunday Nov. 1 with 78 attendees. Events began Wednesday evening with dinner at Molly Brannigan's, followed by a night of bowling at Green Garden Lanes. Tours began Thursday morning. First stop on the tour was Fuhrman's Cider Mill. After leaving Fuhrman's, the tour proceeded to The Brewerie, where we had lunch and a guided tour of the spooky catacombs beneath Union Station. We were the very first group several years back on a Gala tour to be able to see what was under Union Station, and it's every bit as spooky now as it was then. Among other things, still in storage there from the Cold War era were canisters of crackers from when the building was designated as a fallout shelter. Paranormal investigators have frequented the site over the years, and it doesn't disappoint. We then continued the tours with stops at Arundel Cellars & Brewing, and Arrowhead Winery before returning to the Avalon. Thursday Evening saw our only scheduled entertainer at the Avalon, Cliff Hopkins, who amazed the audience with his talents.

October, 2015

Lake Erie Gala Oct 28-Nov 1 

The 2015 Lake Erie Gala, sponsored by the Erie Sisters and Brothers, will be held at the Avalon Hotel Oct. 28-Nov. 1 The event is moved up from our traditional week before Thanksgiving this year, to lessen the possibility of the kind of severe weather we had last year that blocked members from Buffalo and Canada. This year, being centered around the week of Halloween, the Gala will naturally be Halloween themed. Registration will open Wednesday morning, and our first event will be cocktail hour and dinner at Molly Branigan's, followed by bowling. Tours kick off Thursday morning, and will include a tour of the catacombs below Union Station, aka BrewErie. Our group had the first tour of the underbelly of the terminal years ago as part of a Gala tour after several years of begging to see it. If you've never seen it, it could fit right into one of those "paranormal experience" shows. Other legs of the Thursday tour include Fuhrman's Cider Mill, Arundel Cellars, and Penn Shore Winery. Thursday evening will welcome back illusionist Cliff Hopkins, who performed for us in 2011 and gave a terrific show.

August, 2015

New name: Erie Sisters is now Erie Sisters and Brothers

The Erie Sisters Transgender Support Group, established in 1991, has undergone a formal change of name. Recognizing the need to welcome and serve the entire transgender community, the name has been changed to the Erie Sisters and Brothers.

January, 2015

2014 Gala glitters

The 2014 Gala took place Nov 19-23 at the Avalon Hotel in Erie. The event is sponsored by Erie Sisters.

Founding of the Erie Sisters in September of 1991

Editor's note: This was originally posted to the Erie Sisters web site. We are including it here as part of our efforts to preserve and inform about local LGBT history. Erie is a small city in northwest Pennsylvania located halfway between Buffalo and Cleveland on the south shore of Lake Erie. With a population of 250,000 [including suburbs], Erie had, in 1990, most of the social amenities one would expect of a city that size, except one: a crossdressers' club. Vivian Allen, the editor-in-chief of Tapestry, asked me to write a few words about the formation of the Erie Sisters to be included with articles by other Erie Sisters members concerning personal impressions of our club and its activities. The idea for founding a CD club began with my first issue of Tapestry, which I read several times from cover to cover in absolute awe to find that there were several thousands of people just like me. I also found, in the organization listings, there was a crossdressing club in Cleveland, about 100 miles west of Erie.

November, 2014

Lake Erie Gala Nov 19-23

The annual Lake Erie Gala will be held Nov 19- Nov 23 at the Avalon Hotel in Erie.

September, 2014

Erie Transgender Community Included in Trans Across America Documentary

Erie Sisters President, Melanie Shubitowski, and Erie Sisters member, Chelsea Jones, were recently honored to be selected for an upcoming documentary entitled "Trans Across America". Trans Family of Erie founder, Caitlyn Strohmeyer, and Melanie's fiancé, Julie Flagella, were also appearing in this segment of the upcoming film which was filmed at Melanie's home in Conneaut, Ohio. The documentary is headed by Chloe Prince, founder of the PinkEssence Transgender network, and her friend, April Wilks, and is to include multiple stops across America showing selected transgenders throughout the country. The film is being produced by Hollywood producer, T. Smith III, and should be out for viewing in film festivals around the country in late Summer or early Fall. At each filming location along the journey, Chloe and April are doing a bigger, better trade up with participants, where the participants are trading an item acquired for something bigger, better and of more value. At the end of the tour, Chloe and April will donate the final item collected to charity. Look for "Trans Across America" later this year in your area.

January, 2014

14th Annual Lake Erie Gala

The 14th annual Lake Erie Gala, sponsored by the Erie Sisters Transgender Support Group, was held from November 20-24 at the Avalon Hotel in downtown Erie.

Erie's First Transgender Day of Remembrance Candlelight Vigil

On Sunday, November 24, Erie Sisters, TransFamily of Erie Support Group and Persad Center held Erie's first official Transgender Day of Remembrance candle light vigil at the gazebo in Perry Square in Erie PA. Special thanks to Ted Hoover at Persad Center for getting the ball rolling! We had 11 people brave the cold and snow to commemorate the 238+ transgender people who lost thier lives over the past year in brutal attacks the world over. This year, we are also saddened that for the first time, an alarming number of deaths occurred in those 20 years and younger. In the first 10 months of the year, there were 22 kids ranging in age from 13 to 20 who were viciously murdered for being who they are. And there are only the ones that were reported. Please pray that these numbers are much smaller next year. Photos are by Deb Spilko, layout editor for Erie Gay News.

September, 2013

Erie Sisters Car Wash Aug 23

The Erie Sisters Transgender Support group will be holding a car wash to benefit the Erie Humane Society, 2407 Zimmerly Rd. on Friday Aug. 23 from 1 to 4 pm. The benefit is also an opportunity for the Erie Sisters to raise awareness about the transgender community. For more information, browse to http:// eriesisters.ning.com or contact Erie Sisters president, Melanie Shubitowski at 440-265-8191.

January, 2013

Lake Erie Gala

The 2012 Lake Erie Gala was held at the Avalon Hotel November 14th through November 18th. The Gala kicked off Wednesday with the opening of registration, dinner at the BrewErie and a private shopping experience at the Sassy Peacock. The annual event this year included tours of the Dunkirk lighthouse and the Erie Brewing Company with lunch at the Kelley Hotel on Thursday. The lighthouse and Kelley Hotel are both reported to be haunted, and the hotel has been a frequent stop for ghost hunters, as well as a paranormal studies class from the University of Buffalo. Friday's tours included the Tom Ridge Environmental Center, Arrowhead Winery and lunch at the Colony Pub and Grill. Themed dinners were also held with prizes for best themed dress. The event is organized by the Erie Sisters Transgender Support Group.

January, 2012

12th Annual Lake Erie Gala

The 12th annual Lake Erie Gala, sponsored by the Erie Sisters Transgender Support Group, was held Nov.16-20 at the Avalon Hotel in Erie. Registration opened Wednesday, and the attendees present then had dinner together at the Plymouth on State Street.

January, 2011

Lake Erie Gala

The 2010 Lake Erie Gala was held the week of November 14 at the Avalon Hotel. The event is organized by the Erie Sisters. Events began Wednesday the 17th with registration opening and dinner and game night at Calimari's. Tours began the following day, featuring excursions to Arrowhead winery, Peak n Peek resort for lunch, a tour of the Environmental center and a winery in Findlay Lake New York. A first time out to an such an event can be an ordeal for girls not having ventured out before, so first timer's to the Lake Erie Gala were welcomed each day with a meeting to help answer their questions and ensure their comfort. Thursday night saw a Moroccan themed dinner at the Avalon to coincide with Belly Dancing and instructions from the Fleming School of Dance.

January, 2009

10th Annual Lake Erie Gala

On the weekend of November 22, 2008, the Erie Sisters, a CD/TV support group in Erie held their 10th Annual Lake Erie Gala at the Avalon Hotel. For more information about the Erie Sisters, check eriesisters.ning.com. Photos by James von Loewe, Bethany and others.