Pittsburgh, PA (April 29, 2024) - Join Adagio Health Erie for the organization's first Spring Health Fair on Thursday, May 9. Located at 3530 Peach Street, visitors can expect to learn more about their health and Adagio Health programs while connecting with the community. The health fair will be from noon to 6PM.

The Erie County HIV Task Force invites everyone to participate in the 7th Annual HIV / AIDS Awareness Walk on Saturday, May 18th. We will meet at the stage in East Perry Square, 575 State Street, Erie, PA, at 11 AM. Step off is at 11:30 AM. 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.

Pride will kick off Saturday, June 1, at 10 am with a flag-raising in Downtown Jamestown. The event will include coffee and doughnuts, speakers, and voter registration as part of the "Vote with PRIDE campaign." You can get your Jamestown PRIDE tee shirt or decal at the flag-raising to be ready for pride month.

Greater Erie Alliance for Equality (GEAE)'s Afternoon for Equality is a significant source of funding that helps empower GEAE to support the region's LGBTQ+ community and its allies through educational programs, social events, and service opportunities. These programs and events strengthen our voice, improve the quality of life in northwestern Pennsylvania, and propel us toward our mission to create a safe and welcoming community for all regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. This year's Afternoon for Equality is Sunday, June 2 from 5-9 PM at the Hagen History Center, 356 W 6th St. The event features an open bar, heavy hors d'oeuvres, and music by the Stephen Trohoske Trio.

NW PA Pride Alliance is looking for extra hands to help with Pride on the Bay this year at Liberty Park on Saturday, June 29.

TransFamily of NW PA celebrated Trans Day of Visibility on Saturday, April 6, in Perry Square. The event included speakers and a walk around Perry Square. Trans Day of Visibility has been on March 31 since 2009. The local observance was postponed from March 31 due to Easter being the same day this year. Photos are by Kim and Andrea.

Looking for a special night out with someone special, or maybe for you and a group of your friends? NW PA Pride Alliance is hosting the annual Adult Pride Prom on Saturday, May 25, at the Ambassador Banquet & Conference Center Garden Atrium and Terrace.

On Thursday, March 28, 2024, Aging With Pride held its annual monthly dinner at Habibi Mediterranean Cuisine, 127 W 14th St, Erie, PA. Aging With Pride dinners are on the last Thursday of each month at 6 PM at area restaurants. Additionally, Aging With Pride hosts a book club the third Saturday of the month at Werner Books, planning meetings twice a month, and other social and educational events.

ASCEND Erie has started a Queer Scouts climbing club at the gym, located at 426 State Street, Erie, PA. The club meets every second and fourth Tuesday from 6-8 p.m.

On March 27, NW PA Pride Alliance held its monthly Meadville Happy Hour at Julian's Bar & Grill, 299 Chestnut St, Meadville, PA. Meadville Happy Hours are the fourth Wednesday of each month. The April 24 Meadville Happy Hour will be at Julian's Bar & Grill, due to Cussewago Creek Distillery being unavailable that night.

The Meadville meetings for TransFamily of NW PA will now be the second Tuesday of the month from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at Empowerment With Grace, 296 Chestnut Street, Meadville, PA. Please use the side entrance. The Erie meetings will continue on the fourth Saturday of the month from 2 to 5 PM at Compton's Table in Central Outreach, 3104 State St, Erie, PA.

The 4th Annual Ashtabula Pride 2024 is happening June 15 from 11 am - 9 pm at Walnut Beach in Ashtabula, Ohio. LOTZ Productions will provide entertainment, local bands, and singers. Food, artisans, family fun events, vendors, and more will be there. Ashtabula Pride changed the location due to the repavement of Bridge Street this summer.

Compton's Table is looking to update our well-used resource, the Safe Space list. We are sending out an anonymous survey where community members can detail workplaces, social spaces, and housing spaces where they have had positive or negative experiences. Several people in the community come to Compton's seeking resources, and we want to have the most up to date information for them. The list of safe spaces will be posted on the Compton's Table website and updated regularly. Find the list and check out all Compton's Table offers at www.comptonstable.org. Take the survey at https://www.qrfy.com/kJbYiOvgYP

The Pennsylvania Equality Project is conducting year 2 of a five-year study on housing affordability and sustainability. The survey runs from April 1 until May 31. It is open to all LGBTQ+ people who reside year-round in Pennsylvania or are students attending a post-secondary school in PA and reside either on or off campus. All personal identifying information shared on the survey will remain confidential. Results from the survey will be available in mid-July and shared through our website at https://paequality.com/survey/. The housing survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete.

In the summer of 2022, men who have sex with men in Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States saw an outbreak of a communicable disease that beforehand was seen mostly due to travel from Central or West Africa. Mpox, previously known as Monkeypox, is part of a family of viruses that cause disease in both humans and many types of animals. Smallpox is an example of a pox virus that no longer exists in nature. Mpox, on the other hand, surged in 2022. The ongoing outbreak worldwide has the US leading with the most cases at 34% and the highest death count at 33% globally. As of early April 2024, the US has seen approximately 700 confirmed cases compared to 315 cases at the same time one year prior. These cases and deaths are specific to the type of Mpox that spread in 2022.

On April 13, Compton's Table hosted the first ever "Hello My Name Is" Name Change Clinic. There were over 30 people in attendance to receive information regarding how to legally change their name in Erie County. Attorney Seth Trott of Quinn Law Firm gave a presentation detailing the entire process, and he volunteered his time to represent 10 participants in obtaining their legal name change. At the name change clinic, Compton's board members aided in completing all the necessary paperwork for 10 participants to get started on their name change. Compton's Table eagerly looks forward to planning another event like this in the future, as this one was a major success and had a lot of community interest.

RainbowFest 2024, held on April 13 at Basement Transmissions, 145 W 11th St, Erie, PA, by OddCity Entertainment, was a heartwarming day of unity, talent, and pure love, bringing together our local queer community in a celebration of our vibrant diversity. Our theme, centered around spotlighting the incredible talent within our area, was beautifully echoed in the inspiring speeches by our guest speakers: Susannah Faulkner, David Moore, Gabe Genua, and Rianna Czech. Their words set the stage for an unforgettable lineup of 15 bands and solo musicians, each pouring their souls into the music they shared. The festival came alive with the fierce energy of six captivating drag performance artists, each a beacon of creativity and self-expression. And then there was the live art by Gavin Doss, the son of one of our organizers, Athena Rose-his creations added a personal touch that filled the air with creativity and warmth. Beyond the music and performances, our community rallied together to make a difference, raising an incredible $1,000 for Comptons Table and four large bags of gender affirming clothing and accessories! As we said our farewells, our hearts were full. Each attendee left feeling not just accepted but truly seen and embraced. RainbowFest 2024 wasn't just an event-it was a celebration of who we are, a testament to our strength, creativity, and the power of love that binds us all together.

Vendors, organizations, and food trucks can now register at nwpride.org for all of the NWPW Pride events happening this summer. Be part of Erie's Pride on the Bay, Meadville Pride and Street Fair, or the annual Pride Picnic on Presque Isle. Spots will go fast, so it is best not to delay.

The Ambassador Banquet and Conference Center Garden Atrium and Terrace will host NWPA Pride's Annual Queer Adult Prom on Saturday, May 25. The Prom will begin at 7 PM and conclude at 11 PM. Appetizers and a cash bar (21+ only) will be available. DJ Dave Rapp will provide music. Tickets are now available at nwpapride.org

Erie, PA - April 29, 2024- Anticipation and excitement are building as Waldameer & Water World prepares to welcome guests for another memorable season of fun and entertainment. Waldameer is thrilled to announce the start of its 2024 season, with Opening Day scheduled for May 4.

Harrisburg, PA - April 11, 2024 - The State Boards of Psychology and Osteopathic Medicine voted this week to adopt new Statement of Policies (SOP) that oppose the use of conversion therapy on minors in Pennsylvania. The new policies notify licensees that the Board considers the use of conversion therapy to be unprofessional, harmful conduct that may subject any licensee engaging in it to administrative discipline.