PA LGBTQIA Health Conference Honors Janelle Crossley, 2020 Keira DeSantis Award Winner

PA LGBTQIA Health Conference committee honored 2020 Honoree of the Keira Kristine DeSantis Award, Janelle Kayla Crossley, at a presentation on Wednesday, September 8 at the Erie County Department of Health, 606 W 2nd St, Erie, PA. Speaking at the event was Erie City Mayor Joe Schember.

About the PA LGBTQIA Health Conference:

Healthcare workers across Pennsylvania are committed to offering the best of healthcare including respect and dignity of our LGBTQIA population. The LGBTQIA Health Conference Committee continues its efforts to improve the treatment of the LGBTQIA community and their families. This year's event will be held virtually October 12-14. Register at www.lgbtqiahealth.org.

About the Keira Kristine DeSantis Award:

In early 2020, the LGBTQIA Health Conference Committee announced their call for nominations for the conference's inaugural Keira Kristine DeSantis Award. Keira announced herself to the world as a transgender woman in Spring of 2017 after years of internal struggle and quickly found her voice as an advocate for the transgender community in her hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania. Keira was employed as a Customer Service Representative and Transgender Liaison at UPMC Health Plan and served on the UPMC Transgender Task Force.

She helped many people in the community through their gender journey. In the Spring of 2019, during recovery from gender affirmation surgery, Keira suffered unexpected complications and passed away. Her sudden passing was greatly felt by her family, friends, and a global community she developed.

In honor of the tireless efforts of Keira to illustrate the societal barrier experienced by trans communities and advocate for advancements in the social and human rights of the trans community, the KEIRA KRISTINE DESANTIS AWARD was created. This award is meant to recognize others like Keira who do whatever it takes, without question, to make the path easier for those who follow a similar journey.

About the Honoree, Janelle Kayla Crossley

At age 52, Janelle Kayla Crossley decided it was time to act on her life-long gender identification. In doing so, she made a commitment to herself to work tirelessly as an advocate for the transgender community. Janelle is the inaugural honoree for the Keira Kristine DeSantis Award, who made her transition in 2012. She is a Pennsylvania native, resident of Newville, and has spent her entire career working in the Commonwealth.

Janelle is a Court Appointed Special Advocate and provides support as a liaison for cases with gender identification issues. She also assists and supports on matters with the LGBT+ community on behalf of Cumberland County Children and Youth Services and the Cumberland County Prison.

Janelle consistently and lovingly advocates for people in need and is an active community volunteer serving Community Cares, Big Brothers and Big Sisters; she also serves on the Citizens Committee for Safe Harbour and countless other meaningful nonprofits.

The LGBTQIA Health Conference is made up of partners from across Pennsylvania: