LGBT Community Conversation Builds Connections and Collaboration

By Bobbie Fenno

The LGBT Fund's third Community Conversation, held October 5, 2026, brought together representatives of LGBTQ+ organizations and community members. Presented by Shari Gross of the LGBT Fund and hosted by Bright and Korlyn from Temple Anshe Hesed, the gathering allowed various groups to share resources, discuss challenges, and discover new opportunities to work together.

One memorable example of that collaboration came from Pete Genco of Aging With Pride, who shared that he had been searching for a rare book he wanted to read. Tyler, a younger LGBTQ+ community member, surprised Pete with a copy of The Man Made Doll by Patricia Morgan, a transgender woman who underwent one of the earliest gender reassignment surgeries. The thoughtful gift connected two generations and showed how relationships formed through community gatherings can lead to meaningful personal connections.

The conversation highlighted numerous upcoming opportunities for involvement. Compton's Table announced its October 24 Gayla featuring RuPaul's Drag Race star Latrice Royale and Pennsylvania State Representative Malcolm Kenyatta, along with an October 25 Name Change Clinic. The organization is also beginning to plan its 2027 Queer Prom and welcomes potential sponsors and chaperones.

Erie Gay News invited LGBTQ+ groups to participate in Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20, Transgiving on November 28, the Meadville Halloween Parade on October 31, and a Radiant Faith gathering on December 15, which EGN will sponsor. Transgender Day of Remembrance and Transgiving are both organized by TransFamily of NW PA. EGN also shared preliminary dates for future community service projects, including a boots and coat drive on January 30, 2027, and a food drive in May 2027. EGN also hopes to publish a special color issue in summer 2027 and will be seeking sponsors.

Aging With Pride shared its ongoing legacy project, which will preserve LGBTQ+ history in a Penn State archive. Community members of all ages are encouraged to participate in interviews by contacting Pat at agencywithpridelegacyproject@gmail.com.

Other updates included the Northwest Pennsylvania Pride Alliance seeking new board members and Radiant Faith celebrating its one-year anniversary. Jessica from Radiant Faith is thankful to have found sponsors through connections made at these conversations.

Attendees also identified shared needs, including legal assistance, volunteers, rural outreach, technology support, and access to spaces, equipment, and other non-conventional resources. Through continued collaboration and the connections made during these Community Conversations, participants hope to develop creative solutions and work together to address these needs.

Kevin Bennett of the LGBT Fund encouraged attendees to stay in touch with the people they meet at these gatherings. That ongoing communication is essential to turning introductions into partnerships and ideas into action.

By bringing organizations together, the LGBT Fund is helping build a network where resources can be shared, challenges can be addressed collectively, and opportunities can reach more people. Each connection creates the possibility of something that no single organization could accomplish alone.

If you are interested in participating in the next LGBT Fund Community Conversation, go to eriecommunityfoundation.org or follow The LGBT Fund of The Erie Community Foundation on Facebook.

About the Author

Bobbie Fenno Bobbie Fenno (She/Her) joined as a contributing editor in 2025, but has been involved with Erie Gay News as a folding volunteer previously. She graduated from the University of Phoenix with a Bachelor's degree in Business, a certificate in Project Management, and an Associate's in Information Technology. Bobbie is also an active member of the LBT Women of Erie group and was also a board member for the NWPA Pride Alliance for four years (2021-2024).

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