Candidates for Erie County Executive, Erie County Council, Erie City Mayor, and Erie City Council were asked about their positions on LGBTQIA+ issues. Their responses appear below.  A reminder that the last day to register to vote in this year's primary election is May 5. The last day to apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot is May 13, and PA's primary election will be on Tuesday, May 20.

On Saturday, May 10, from 11 AM to 1 PM, the Erie Queer Community will come together once again to support local families through their Second Harvest Food Drive. Hosted at Central Outreach Wellness Center, located at 3104 State St, Erie, PA, this meaningful event invites all members of the community to donate non-perishable food items. All donations will remain local and be distributed by the Second Harvest Food Bank of NW Pennsylvania, ensuring that the support stays within our region.

On Monday, March 31, TransFamily of NW PA invited community members to a gathering in Erie's Perry Square to commemorate International Transgender Day of Visibility. This year's celebration included local speakers and a walk around Perry Square, followed by a social time with light refreshments. If you would like support or receive more information about resources in the area, reach out to them at their website, transfamilynwpa.org.

The Erie County HIV Task Force invites everyone to participate in the 8th Annual HIV / AIDS Awareness Walk on Monday, May 19th. We will meet behind the stage in East Perry Square, 575 State Street, Erie, PA, at 5 PM. We will walk around North and South Park Row, circling Perry Square, and everyone is encouraged to wear red to help raise HIV awareness. PA Thrive Partnership is providing on-site HIV testing. All ages are welcome, and the event is child and pet-friendly. (Please be prepared to clean up after your own pets.) People participating as organizations are welcome to represent their group/organization. If you don't wish to walk the entire route, you are welcome to join us at any point along the sidewalk around Perry Square.

Rainbow Fest was more than just an event - it became a vibrant celebration of love, equality, and individuality. Held on April 5, 2025 in the heart of downtown Erie at Basement Transmissions, this year's OddCity Entertainment Pride festival brought people together for a day filled with connection, creativity, and unforgettable moments. Attendees came to embrace the spirit of the LGBTQ+ community, support local artists and performers, and enjoy the lively atmosphere that Rainbow Fest had to offer.

National Honor Our LGBTQ+ Elders Day is Friday, May 16, 2025.   Established in 2015 by Baltimore's Chase Brexton Health Services, National Honor Our LGBTQ+ Elders Day gained national recognition through social media and the numerous contributions made by LGBTQ+ seniors. There are approximately 2.7 million LGBTQ+ adults aged 50 and older in the United States.

On the first and third Sunday of the month, you can find a group of fun, active, senior members of the LGBTQ+ community gathering as Aging With Pride plannnig social activities, outings and events, savoring delicious refreshments, and laughing and enjoying each other's company. Aging With Pride is an organization that was first formed in 2017 but had its rebirth after COVID in 2022. The group was founded by Dale Allgeier after he had become aware of the need for older LGBTQ+ community members to have a forum to connect, and plan and host social, recreational and educational activities and events.

Erie PA [March 20, 2025] Journey: Healing Together is excited to announce Cupcake Wars!, a deliciously fun fundraiser happening this May in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month. This friendly cupcake competition will bring together local bakers, businesses, and community members to raise awareness and funds for mental health initiatives. Cupcake Wars will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2025 from 12:30 to 3 PM at 201 West 11th St, Erie PA, 16501. About 100 attendees are expected. Voting entry fee is a $5 donation, and baker entry is a $25 deposit.

Michael Weiss is directing The Boys in the Band at PACA, Mart Crowley's 1968 play that premiered just a year before the Stonewall Riots. According to a 26-year-old review by Caleb Mazzocco, "You are invited to a party where you don't get to try the cracked crab or eat lasagna, you can't drink or dance or converse with the guests, nor can you have a piece of birthday cake. What you can do is sit quietly in the dark and watch the rest of the guests portray a nearly 60-year-old piece of gay history that's an alternately funny and emotional play about 9 men and the birthday party from hell."

The Pennsylvania Equality Project will be holding FreeShop Fall Edition at the Meadville Public Library on Friday, May 9 and Saturday, May 10 from 10 AM 4 PM. We are seeking donations of gently used clothing, blankets, non-perishable food items, kitchen items, books, toys, games, etc. which may be dropped off both days of the event. Anyone who needs the donated items can take what they like for free during both days of the event. There is no cost for admission to this event. FreeShop 2025, Spring Edition is being held at the Meadville Public Library in the Community Room on the Upper floor, 848 North Main Street, Meadville, PA 16335. For more information, go to our website, https://paequality.com or call (814) 350-6635.

On April 2, the Pennsylvania Equality Project is launching round 3 of our survey about Housing Affordability and Sustainability for the LGBTQ+ community. The housing survey will focus on issues related to costs, discrimination, and affordability for households, and how sustainable residences are in Pennsylvania. All survey responses will remain confidential. The survey is open to all Pennsylvanians in the LGBTQ+ community and our allies. College students who attend classes at a Pennsylvania post-secondary school and reside in the Commonwealth during the academic sessions may also participate. The Housing Survey will run through May 31, 2025. To take the survey, go to paequality.com and click on the Survey link at the top of the page, beginning April 2. For more information, send an email to info@paequality.com.

Allentown, PA Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center is proud to announce that Admiral (ret) Rachel Levine, MD and Adrian Shanker will be joining us as featured speakers at our 2025 PA LGBTQIA+ Health Summit on June 3rd at the Mack Experience Center.

Erie, PA - April 14, 2025 - The City of Erie is holding its annual tire and electronics recycling event Saturday, May 3, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the City of Erie Municipal Garage Complex, 1926 Holland St. The event is free to City of Erie residents.

Since I took office in 2018, my team and I have been on a Mission to Build Opportunity, Restore Hope, and Transform Erie. We have also been working hard to achieve our Vision. One element of that Vision is that we celebrate our rich cultural diversity. An important piece of that is ensuring that everyone feels welcomed and valued. Imagine what an incredible community we would have if everyone felt celebrated for the unique skills, talents, and perspectives that each one of us possesses regardless of who we love or how we identify or express ourselves.