Over 125 PA LGBTQ Leaders Issue Bold Unity Statement

HARRISBURG, Pa. The Pennsylvania Coalition of LGBTQ+ Organizations, a statewide network of over 50 LGBTQ organizations faciliated by the Pennsylvania Youth Congress, has coordinated the following statement penned to LGBTQ Pennsylvanians, which has been signed by 125+ key community leaders:

Dear LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians,

These are not going to be easy times. The challenges we face are profound, and the pain and losses we experience are real. Yet, we have been here before. Many of us have personally experienced the cruelty of violence and discrimination. Through the darkest moments of our history, we have found fortitude in one another, fought for our communities, and shown that we are never alone.

We have endured through difficult battles. We persisted during the AIDS crisis, grieved through devastating hate crimes, and persevered against institutional failures. We organized when no one else did. We built our own spaces, mobilized marches, and forced legislative victories. We know what it takes to rise against hate, and we will do it again in love, joy, and strength.

Our unity is the most essential tool for saving and protecting lives. We are powerful from within our smallest rural towns to our largest cities. We are now intensifying and expanding our work unlike ever before. We call on our communities to remain unwavering in our solidarity. We must center those who are most marginalized and under attack. Visibility alone is not enough action is mandatory. We urge our elected officials, community leaders, and institutions not to issue empty statements, but to act decisively. When our communities are under attack, there is no room for those who seek to exploit us for money or power. Instead, we must be guided by the leadership of those on the ground and work together to safeguard the vulnerable among us.

Pennsylvania is strongest when our state and national partners collaborate meaningfully, authentically, and with a commitment to results. We are not alone. Across our commonwealth, there are over 1 million LGBTQ+ individuals living, working, and thriving in every neighborhood. Each of us belongs here. Every one of us is seen, valued, and loved. Even if we haven't met you yet, you are forever part of our community.

We celebrate the victories that remind us of our progress from the passage of each nondiscrimination ordinance that collectively cover millions of Pennsylvanians to every name change that affirms an individual's identity and dignity. These wins, both large and small, show that we are indeed moving mountains forward from where we once were.

Let us not be disheartened by setbacks or the scale of the work ahead. Nothing can dissuade us from pushing forward our nation's stated commitment to equal protection for all. We are part of this commonwealth and this country, and have every right to continue shaping the world we want to live in. We will keep having conversations, sharing our stories, and building bridges. We are proud to be Pennsylvanians who hold close the promise that we can continue to make our world a better place.

While we are outraged by the current attacks on LGBTQ+ Americans by our federal government, we remain relentless in our resolve for liberty and justice for all.

To our LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians: You are not alone. Reach out. Not one of us will be left behind. Together, we will support one another, advocate for truth, and move Pennsylvania forward.

With gratitude, hope, and solidarity,

*Signatories are signing as individuals and not on behalf of any affiliated organizations. Affiliated organizations are shared for information only. This letter has been coordinated by the Pennsylvania Coalition of LGBTQ Organizations, a network of the Pennsylvania Youth Congress.

The Pennsylvania Youth Congress advances freedom and justice for young LGBTQ Pennsylvanians by advocating for responsible public policy. Established in 2011, PYC represents citizens working toward safer schools and thriving communities across the commonwealth. PYC is PA's only Pennsylvania-based statewide LGBTQ advocacy organization headquartered in Harrisburg.

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Pennsylvania Coalition of LGBTQ Organizations

Pennsylvania Youth Congress

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Founded in April 2011 by Pennsylvania students, the Pennsylvania Youth Congress is Pennsylvania’s first and only statewide LGBTQ youth advocacy organization. As young Pennsylvania leaders, we work to empower ourselves through meaningful community engagement and effective advocacy. The Pennsylvania Youth Congress was initially established as The Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition. Our name was changed in May 2015 to better reflect our work on state-level public policy. Our framework and values come directly from the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), the leading youth arm of the civil rights movement of the 1960s. PYC explicitly works to support an inclusive and affirming youth community for all young leaders to efficiently communicate and collaborate.
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