The LGBTQ+ Community gets organized

by Dale Allgeier

Until the mid-1970's the LGBTQ+ community was mostly centered around the stolen hours at a gay bar or the cruising area around Griswold Park. A need was seen by several members of the community to organize in numbers to create change, offer support, affiliation, education and advice as well as additional social opportunities.

It is believed the first attempt at any formal organization was the formation of the Homophile League of Edinboro State University in 1974. The organization received its charter in 1975 and art professor Joe Hamlin was the faculty advisor. A student at the time, Harry Miller, talked with a psychology professor about starting the organization and he was directed to the campus minister and his wife to assist. The Homophile League of Edinboro had support and assistance from both deans and assistant deans. The organization was in existence for about 4 years.

In 1981 a group of LGBTQ+ individuals gathered to organize the Erie Gay Task Force. The group saw its statement of purpose as "recognizing the need for conscience raising and a show of solidarity, and plans to provide services such as conseling (sic), support in legal discrimination cases, education and a social alternative for gays in the Erie area." The group was around for a little over a year and then disbanded. The original copy of the organization's Article of Agreement is included in the A Look Back: A History of the LGBTQ+ Community in Erie exhibit..

Several members from the Cathedral of St. Paul Episcopal Church began hosting a gathering for LGBTQ+ individuals for support and discussion in about 1982. This group developed into the organization P.A.L.S. (Personal and Alternative Life Styles). The group grew rapidly and it was not unusual for attendance at the weekly meetings to exceed 30 members for support, discussion and social opportunities. This group also printed a newsletter with local and regional LGBTQ+ resources.

In 1985 a local chapter of Parents and Friends of Gays, PFOG was started. This was an early predecessor of the PFLAG national organization. The group was in existence in the Erie area until the early part of this decade.

Over the years many organizations, groups and clubs have been organized in the LGBTQ+ community. Some lasted only a short period but others lasted for several years. Some of these groups and the approximate year they were started are below:

Integrity (1985)
Gay and Lesbian Alcoholics Anonymous ((1986)
Woman's Group (1987)
League of Gay and Lesbian Voters (1992 to the 1996)
House of Compassion (early 1990's) home for men dying with AIDS
Bridges (1993)
EGO - Edinboro student organization
GALA-Mercyhurst student organization
Erie Sisters (early 1990's)
Life Blood (1993) LGBTQ+ AA group
Trigon (early 1990's) Behrend student group
Womyn's Space (1990)
Lesbian Mom's Support Group (1992)
Girth & Mirth (1993) a group for large men and their admirers
Men's Coffee House (1992)
Out and Proud (1993) group to address media
Dignity (early 1990's)
Friends from the heart (AIDS care)
Rainbow Connection (1995)
North Coast Rainbow Families (1996)
Closet Culture - social support group for those 22 years of age or younger
Men's Greet and Chat (2003)
Lake Erie Alliance for Democracy (2005)
G2H2 - gay guy/girl happy hour (2008)
LGBT Parent Group (2008)
LBT Woman of Erie

Current organizations and groups include:

Northwest PA Pride Alliance

NWPA Pride Alliance was incorporated in 2012 to "improve visibility of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, intersexed (LGBTQIA) community." "We also facilitate communication and collaboration between groups and individuals within the LGBTQIA community and the greater region's community."

Greater Erie Alliance for Equality

Began in 2006, The Greater Erie Alliance for Equality "is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the region's LGBT community and it's straight allies through educational programs, social events and opportunities for service, which are designed to strengthen our voice and improve the quality of life in northwestern Pennsylvania."

TransFamily of NWPA

Since 2012, TransFamily of NWPA has been "a support group that services the transgender community and their loved ones. They support the community through advocacy efforts and education to the transgender community and attend to changes of discrimination experienced by transgender people in Erie County."

Erie Sisters and Brothers

The Erie Sisters and Brothers is a support group dedicated to helping transgender individuals and their friends and families come to terms with themselves. They exist to promote acceptance through education, enlightenment and social integration.

Other social groups include: