Pride in Action: Erie Organizations Building Community Year-Round

By Bobbie Fenno

As Pride Month shines a spotlight on the LGBTQ+ community in June, it also serves as a reminder that the work of building connection, support, and belonging happens year-round in Erie and throughout Northwest Pennsylvania. Over the past several years, Erie Gay News has highlighted a growing number of organizations, volunteer groups, and grassroots efforts through its "Community Spotlight" series, showcasing the many people working to strengthen and uplift the local LGBTQ+ community.

While every group has its own mission and focus, together they help create a stronger, more welcoming, and more connected LGBTQ+ community through advocacy, support services, social events, education, mental health resources, mutual aid, entertainment, and safe spaces for people to simply be themselves. Together, they demonstrate that Pride is more than a celebration. It is ongoing care, visibility, and collaboration.

Community Spotlight Featured Organizations:

• ABCs of Building Better Lives
• Aging With Pride
• ASCEND Erie
• Ashtabula Pride, Inc.
• Bears Do Dinner
• Compton's Table
• Crime Victim Center of Erie County
• Erie County HIV Task Force
• Erie Trans Picnics
• Free Mom Hugs
• Greater Erie Alliance for Equality (GEAE)
• Identity/Edinboro
• LBT Women of Erie
• LGBT Funds of the Erie Community Foundation
• NAMI of Erie County PA
• New Castle Prism Initiative
• NW PA Pride Alliance
• OddCity Entertainment
• Penn State Behrend GASE (Gender and Sexuality Equality Club)
• Pennsylvania Equality Project
• Temple Anshe Hesed
• TransFamily of NW PA
• VisitErie

Together, these organizations help remind people that we are not alone. They create spaces where friendships are formed, support systems grow, and people can feel seen and accepted for who they are. Many of these groups also work together behind the scenes, partnering on food drives, outreach projects, educational programs, Pride events, and mutual aid efforts that strengthen the community as a whole.

As Erie's Q+ community continues to grow and evolve, so does the importance of collaboration and visibility. Whether someone attends an event, volunteers their time, donates resources, supports local businesses and organizations, or simply shows kindness and acceptance to others, everyone has a role to play in helping build a stronger and more inclusive community.

Pride Month may last through June, but the work these organizations do continues year-round. Let's keep creating connections, offering support, and helping make Erie and Northwest Pennsylvania a place where more people can feel welcomed, respected, and at home. Support these Q+ and ally organizations to help ensure they can continue providing resources, advocacy, safe spaces, events, and support for the local Q+ community year-round.

If your organization is interested in being featured in our Community Spotlight, contact bfenno@eriegaynews.com.

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).