January, 2022 News (37 Articles with 41,710 total views)
On the cover of the print edition for January, 2022 On December 9, WQLN partnered with area LGBTQ group for a screening of the documentary Pier Kids at The Zone Dance Club. Photo by Raven Cammarata.
This began publication in December 2002 after a hiatus
Category for this issueCalendar & Upcoming Events
Calendar of Local GLBT Events |
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Local and Regional News
United Way of Erie County Seeking a Marketing & Communications Coordinator
The United Way of Erie is currently accepting applications for a Marketing & Communications Coordinator, an enthusiastic team member of the Marketing & Communications department reporting to the Director. They provide brand management support and assist with the implementation of marketing, public relations, advertising and promotional strategy for the organization. A cover letter and resume sent to jobs@unitedwayerie.org by January 19, 2022 is required for consideration. View the complete job description
A Look Back at 2021 for Erie's LGBT Community
Erie Gay News looks back at 2021 for our region's happenings and news for the year. Although the COVID-19 pandemic held some events back, Erie saw a return to in-person events in the latter half of the year, nearby communities in Ashtabula OH, Jamestown NY and Warren PA held in-person Pride festivals. 2021 had some wonderful happenings, collaborations, and progress! We also will have an updated LGBT history page for our region, which covers events from the 1960's up to the end of 2020.
2021 in videos
Check out our video gallery for 2021! Although some events were modified or canceled because of COVID-19, videos for the year include greetings from Dr. Fauci, Gov. Thomas Wolf, and County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper for World AIDS Day at Blasco Public Library, Virtual Pride held in NW PA Pride Alliance in June, and more!
2021 - A look back in photos
Check out our photo gallery for 2021! 2021 was still a challenging year, but things started to come back. Ashtabula, Jamestown, Meadville, and Warren held in-person Pride festivals, and Erie saw the return of Drive Your Pride, as well as a return to an in-person Pride Picnic. There were several HIV testing events, several LGBTQ community gives back events. Erie Gay News is proud to have photo galleries for not only 2021 but years dating back to 1995!
Pride Nightclub at Voodoo on December 17
On December 17, 2021, Allegheny College's Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion held a Pride Nightclub at Voodoo Brewery, 215 Arch St, Meadville, PA. The event's theme was 80's, 90's, and early 2000's. LGBTQ+ and allies were welcome, and the DJ kept the dance floor busy!
LGBTQ+ and Allies Happy Hour at Julian's Bar and Grill on December 15
Friends old and new gathered for the LGBTQ+ and Allies Happy Hour on December 15, 2021, at Julian’s Bar & Grill, 299 Chestnut St, Meadville PA. Organizers Brett and Travis began the monthly event in June 2021. The group usually meets on the 4th Wednesday of the month at Julian’s but moved earlier for December because of the holidays.
Greater Erie Alliance for Equality Year-End Celebration on Dec 8
The Greater Erie Alliance for Equality hosted their annual Year End Celebration on December 8, 2021. The event took place at Room 33 Speakeasy, located at 1033 State Street, in downtown Erie. Guests enjoyed hors d'oeuvres, specialty drinks and entertainment from solo musician Jesse James Weston.
Erie's Original Drag Queen Bingo on January 22
Join The Erie Drag Queens Saturday, January 22, 2022, at the Zem Zem Shrine Center for an evening of glitz, glamour, and good times! With over $2000 in cash money given away, this event has always been sold out.
Pier Kids Screening and Panel Discussion on December 9
A very moving and powerful discussion left a group of local people with an enhanced appreciation for themselves and their life journeys. The POV Season 34 feature film Pier Kids was shown at The Zone Dance Club on December 9, 2021, exploring the lives of homeless queer and trans youth of color on Christopher Street Pier in New York City. Director Elegance Bratton and Producer Chester Algernal Gordon use the film as a vehicle to transport viewers to an historic area where an underground community of homeless Black youth navigate the streets to find safety and stability.
Designer Purse Bingo on January 22
Erie Drag Queen Bingo presents ALL NEW Designer Purse Bingo on Saturday, January 22, 2022, at Zem Zem Shrine Club, 2525 W 38th St, Erie PA! There is a choice of cash or Designer Purse for each game. Tickets for the Designer Purse Bingo are on sale now and are $30 each. Each ticket admits one person to the event. Doors open at 12:00 pm, and the first game starts at 1:15 pm. One ticket gets you entry into the event, ten games of bingo, and entry into door prizes.
2022 Erie Otters Pride Night on January 28
NWPA Pride is happy to partner with the Erie Otters to present our second annual Pride Night at the Erie Otters on Friday, January 28th. Doors open at 6 PM, and puck drop is at 7 PM. Tickets are only $25.00, including a ticket to the game plus an exclusive Otters Pride T-shirt.
NWPA Pride Alliance welcomes new Board Members
Erie, PA, December 9, 2021--- NWPA Pride Alliance is happy to announce the addition of four new members to its Board of Directors, Patrick Hiller, Leroy Oglesby, Shay Crosby, and Brett Staskiewicz. Also happy to welcome to the Advisory board, Eli Coppock, Nahtana Klingensmith, and Raven Cammarata.
Winter Coat and Boot Drive 2022
The Erie LGBTQIA+ community will team together for the second annual Winter Coat and Winter Boot Drive on 1/19/22 from 6-8 PM at Community United Church at 1011 W 38th St in Erie PA. New and gently used coats and boots will be donated to Community Shelter Services. There is an urgent need for boots in men’s sizes 10-13 and women’s sizes 7-10. This event is organized by NWPA Pride Alliance, Greater Erie Alliance for Equality, Erie Gay News, TransFamily of NWPA, Community United Church, Central Outreach Wellness Center - Erie, and The Zone Dance Club.
Deadline for January 2022 print edition (issue #314) of Erie Gay News is Monday, December 13, comes out Tuesday, December 21
For the next Erie Gay News (issue # 314, cover-dated for January 2022), please send in online events, news items, and other info for late December 2021 and beyond by Monday, December 13. We expect that the next edition will come out on Tuesday, December 21. This is our 29th-anniversary issue!
Become a 2022 NW PA Pride Donor
NWPA Pride Alliance is grateful to all our 2021 donors who supported us during another challenging year. For the second year in a row, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we joined forces with the Erie Playhouse and other local partners in Erie County to host a Virtual Pride celebration. We sincerely hope to change that in 2022. All of us cannot wait to be back in Perry Square, and our goal is to do just that in the upcoming year, providing it is safe to do so according to local and federal guidance. While we cannot wait to have a huge celebration of Pride again, we will continue to monitor all our options for an in-person event. Mark your calendars now: we will be hosting Pride on Saturday, June 25th, 2022, followed by the Drive Your Pride parade on Saturday, June 26, 2022.
Entertainment and Travel
Pride Journey: Charleston, South Carolina
I am a huge lover of history and usually jump at the chance to visit any historic sites when I travel. What I didn't realize about Charleston, South Carolina is that I would be walking into a history book. To be perfectly honest, I didn't do much research before traveling to Charleston. Sometimes I like to visit a destination without any expectations.
Political, Activism and Legal
Campus Pride Announces Awarding of Second Round of Social Justice Mini-Grants
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - December 28, 2021 -- Campus Pride, the preeminent resource for LGBTQ leadership development, diversity inclusion, and advocacy within higher education, today announced the awarding of ten new Social Justice Mini-Grants for Activism. Campus Pride launched its social justice mini-grant program in June 2021 as part of the organization's 20th-anniversary celebrations with an inaugural ten awards. Each grant is worth up to $600.
Creating Change Conference Pivots to Virtual Event
December 22, 2021 - Washington, DC - The National LGBTQ Task Force today announced that the 34th annual Creating Change conference, slated for January 12-16 at the Hilton Riverside in New Orleans, will now be held virtually. The dates for the virtual conference will be announced shortly.
ACLU of South Dakota Opposes Gov. Noem's Discriminatory Anti-Trans Legislation Proposal
A solution in search of a problem - that's what Gov. Kristi Noem's proposed legislation banning transgender women and girls from competing on the sports teams that match their gender identity and forbids their participation in both high school and collegiate athletic activities amounts to.
Creating Change Announces Additions: Amy Walter of Cook Report, Emcee Sandra Valls, Alok and Beverly Little Thunder
Tuesday December 14, 2021, Washington, D.C. - After almost two years of grappling with a global pandemic, hundreds of LGBTQ+ activists will be coming together in-person with a shared focus for safety and action. The National LGBTQ Task Force will host the 34th Creating Change Conference in New Orleans, LA, from January 12-16, and we remain committed to creating a safe conference through a wide range of COVID policies while providing the always unique and powerful experience of being in community to network, learn and plan for the coming year.
National LGBTQ Task Force Reacts to SCOTUS Decision on Texas Abortion Ban
December 9, 2021 - The following can be attributed to Kierra Johnson, Executive Director, National LGBTQ Task Force: Today, the Supreme Court upheld the restrictive and discriminatory abortion ban in Texas to continue, which will harm women and pregnant people, especially in communities of color. People in Texas and states considering similar bans across the country will continue living in fear and a state of on-going legal battles to access constitutionally protected medical care. The high court's allowing abortion providers to file federal lawsuits against laws like Texas' may seem like a step forward, but we know the truth: it can take years for cases to make their way through the courts. This decision creates a long road of more litigation, challenges and worst of all, obstacles for individuals seeing access to abortion and related reproductive healthcare.
New National Survey Reveals LGBTQ People Continue to Be Disproportionately Impacted by the COVID Delta Variant and Ongoing Pandemic
December 9, 2021-LGBTQ people were more likely to have serious financial problems, income loss, and challenges accessing healthcare as the Delta variant progressed, according to a report released today by the Movement Advancement Project.
We Are Here: LGBTQ+ Adult Population in United States Reaches At Least 20 Million, According to Human Rights Campaign Foundation Report
WASHINGTON - December 9, 2021 -- Today, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC) released "We Are Here: Understanding the Size of the LGBTQ+ Community," a report analyzing recent results from the U.S. Census Bureau's Household Pulse Survey. Based on data from respondents in the Household Pulse Survey, a national household probability survey of adults in the United States, at least 20 million adults in the United States could be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender - nearly 8% of the total adult population, almost double prior estimates for the LGBTQ+ community's size. It also suggests that more than 1% of people in the United States identify as transgender, higher than any prior estimates. Additionally, it confirms prior research showing that bisexual people represent the largest single contingent of LGBTQ+ people, at about 4% of respondents.
December 2021 Updates to Equality Maps
MAP's interactive LGBTQ Equality Maps provide a comprehensive look at the current state of laws and policies impacting LGBTQ people across the United States. The Equality Maps offer a state-by-state comparison of the policy landscape and gaps in protections for LGBTQ people across the country.
Human Rights Campaign Foundation and SAGE Launch Guide to Help LGBTQ+ Elders Find Affirming Long-Term Care Communities
WASHINGTON - December 8, 2021 - Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, and SAGE, the world's largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of older LGBTQ+ people, unveiled a first-of-its-kind consumer guide for LGBTQ+ elders to find safe, affirming long-term care communities. This guide, an extension of the Long-Term Care Equality Index (LEI), aims to inform aging members of the LGBTQ+ community and their loved ones what questions they should ask and what they should look for when they begin the process of selecting a long-term care community that is right for them or a loved one.
Health
7 Steps for More Happiness and Less Conflict in Your Life
From Michael Dale Kimmel of Life Beyond Therapy: Wouldn't you like to get the gift of happiness this Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza? Wouldn't that be better than something you can buy in a store?
American Red Cross Greater Pennsylvania Region Volunteers Providing Help and Hope to Tornado Impacted Communities
Pennsylvania, December 15, 2021 - Eleven volunteers from across the 61-county footprint of the American Red Cross Greater Pennsylvania Region have deployed to support Red Cross relief efforts following the devastating tornadoes and severe storms that have impacted Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee, and Kentucky.
Analysis Reveals How Diverse Family Caregivers of Older Adults in the United States were Impacted During the Pandemic
Washington, D.C.-December 8, 2021- Family Caregiving in Diverse Communities: Addressing the Needs of Diverse Family Caregivers for Older Adults focuses on understanding the lived experiences of family caregivers who support older adults from the DEC's constituent communities, including racially and ethnically diverse people; American Indians and Alaska Natives; and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) people.
New National SOGIE Center Promotes the Wellbeing of LGBTQ+ Youth & Their Families
Baltimore, MD. -- Recent studies have found an overrepresentation of youth with diverse sexual orientation and gender identity and expression (SOGIE) in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, yet programs and services designed to serve the needs of this population are challenging to locate. There have been significant advancements to address the needs of youth involved in public systems - child welfare, juvenile justice, mental health, substance use, Medicaid, housing and homelessness - and this new center provides a much-needed clearinghouse for these efforts. Led by The Institute for Innovation and Implementation at the University of Maryland's School of Social Work (The Institute), the National SOGIE Center consolidates the latest evidence-based tools, trainings, and other resources, as well as consultation, for those working in public youth-serving systems.
40 Years of HIV Progress Recognized on World AIDS Day
On Wednesday, December 1, the Erie County HIV Task Force presented the 2021 World AIDS Day Memorial observance program at the H.O. Hirt Auditorium in the Blasco Public Library at 160 E Front St, Erie PA. The program included pre-recorded video segments by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper, and others. In-person remarks were provided by Erie City Mayor Joe Schember, Director of Erie County Department of Health Melissa Lyon, Community Health Net Ryan White Nurse Care Manager Kelly Kruize, and Adagio Health Nurse Practitioner Andromeda Fair. Two blocks of panels from the AIDS Memorial Quilt were on display at the library, one inside the main entrance and one on stage during the program. The blocks were maintained and made possible by the staff and support of the Northwest Alliance of Clarion University.
Letters, Columnists and Opinion
Sports bringing LGBT visibility to Arabia
From Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News: Some very exciting news is happening in the sports world that is changing the worldview on LGBT rights equality and changing culture. Specifically, it's happening on the racing track.
Contests
Enter to win Floridian Nights by Lance Ringel!
Enter to win Floridian Nights by Lance Ringel! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Tuesday, January 18, and Tuesday, February 8.
Enter to win The Book Of Casey Adair by Ken Harvey!
Enter to win The Book Of Casey Adair by Ken Harvey! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Tuesday, January 11, and Tuesday, February 1.
Enter to win I Am Syd Stone DVD from Dark Star Pictures!
Enter to win I Am Syd Stone DVD from Dark Star Pictures. To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Tuesday, January 4, and Tuesday, January 25.
Enter to win Beyto DVD from Dark Star Pictures!
Enter to win Beyto DVD from Dark Star Pictures. To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Tuesday, December 28, and Tuesday, January 18.
Enter to win Saint-Narcisse DVD from Film Movement!
Enter to win Saint-Narcisse DVD from Film Movement. To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Tuesday, December 21, and Tuesday, January 11.
Miscellaneous
2022 LEAGUE Foundation Application Period Is Now Open!
The LEAGUE Foundation provides financial resources for America's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender or Queer high school seniors entering their first year of institutions of higher learning. The scholarship application opens annually in January and closes in April with awards distributed in the summer of each year.
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