January, 2026 News (32 Articles with 42,871 total views)
On the cover of the print edition for January, 2026 Compton's Table raises over 78K for their capital campaign. Compton's Table board members with Adrian Shanker.
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
2025 - A look back in photos
Check out our photo gallery for 2025! Regional groups held Pride celebrations, fundraisers, and social events to bring the community together! Erie Gay News is proud to have photo galleries for not only 2025 but also years dating back to 1995!
Come Out and Support the Annual Warm Coat & Boots Drive
As the winter chill settles in, it is time to come together to support our community once again. The annual Warm Coat and Boots Drive will take place on Saturday, January 31, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Journey to a Trauma-Informed Life.
Continuing the Conversation: You're Invited
January 13, 2026 - 5:30 p.m., The Erie Community Foundation Over the past few months, the LGBT Fund of The Erie Community Foundation has been on a listening tour with leaders of local organizations, allied businesses, religious congregations, and others who serve and support the Erie region's LGBTQ+ community.
Compton's Table Brings Chat & Chill to Ascend Rock Climbing
On December 20, Compton's Table took its popular Chat & Chill program on the road, partnering with ASCEND Rock Climbing to create a welcoming and affirming third space for queer and trans community members in Erie.
Bears Do Dinner #134 at Oasis Pub & Tiki Bar
Bears Do Dinner held its 134th meet-up for dinner on Tuesday, December 9 at Oasis Pub & Tiki Bar, 3122 West Lake Rd, Erie, PA. The next Bears Do Dinner will be on Wednesday, January 7 at Golden Wok, 3202 Pittsburgh Ave, Erie, PA.
Spreading the Tea: Erie Gay News Catalogued in International and Domestic Queer Archives
Recently, editor Michael Mahler mailed out packages containing copies of all twelve 2025 monthly editions of Erie Gay News bound for their new international homes. The packages are part of the continued record of queer life in this region at IHLIA LGBTI Heritage in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and also The Arquives in Toronto, Canada. For more than 30 years Northwestern PA, Western NY and Northeastern OH's queer residences have been able to rely on Erie Gay News as a source of news, events, information, support and affirmation. Each month, roughly 1,300 copies of the newsletter are printed, folded and then distributed to 120 distribution sites. If you, your company, or your organization would like to let the wider queer community know about an event you have had or will be having, send the newsletter your articles or information.
Compton’s Table Surpasses Capital Campaign Goal
Compton’s Table has successfully concluded their Capital Campaign, surpassing its original goal and marking a significant moment for the organization. What began as an ambitious effort to raise $50,000 in six weeks ultimately brought in more than $78,000, demonstrating overwhelming community support for the organization’s mission.
Celebrate Aging with Pride Award to Erin Phillips of Erie Reader
Aging with Pride (AWP) acknowledges individuals and/or businesses who demonstrate their commitment to assisting the "seasoned" members of the LGBTQ+ Community. On November 30, 2025, AWP presented a Recognition Award to Erin Phillips, Managing Editor of Erie Reader. She wrote an article in the June 2025 issue titled "Aging With Pride: Erie's Queer Senior Social Club". She interviewed several members of AWP and provided a well-received informational article about the group and the social needs of the elders in our community.
EGN to Highlight Volunteers Beginning in 2026
Starting in 2026, Erie Gay News will begin offering volunteers the option to have their name and photo featured on our website. This will be a new way to recognize the people who help keep our publication and community events running strong. Whether you help fold each issue of EGN or lend a hand at one of our many community events throughout the year, we want you to feel seen as part of what makes this publication possible. Our volunteers aren't just helpers, they're our chosen family, and they're the heart of the work we do together.
3rd Annual Aging With Pride Holiday Dinner
On December 18, members of Aging With Pride and friends gathered at the home of Blane and Randy for a delightful and friendly holiday dinner. This was the third year in a row for the holiday dinner. The catered meal was delicious, and the company was terrific. Everyone had a great time!
Community Spotlight: New Castle Prism Initiative
Part of our broader regional community, just a bit farther south, a newer organization is stepping up in powerful ways for queer residents. In a county where access to affirming resources can be limited, the New Castle Prism Initiative is working to ensure LGBTQIA+ people and other marginalized community members are seen, supported, and celebrated.
November Meadville Happy Hour
NW PA Pride Alliance held its Meadville Happy Hour on November 26, 2025, at Julian's Bar & Grill, 299 Chestnut Street. Meadville Happy Hours will continue to be held on the 4th Wednesday of each month at Julian's. However, because the fourth Wednesday in December is Christmas Eve, we will skip December's Meadville Happy Hour. We look forward to seeing you on January 28! Erie Queer Happy Hour rotates through four different establishments. The next Erie Queer Happy Hour will be on Tuesday, January 6, from 6 to 8 PM at Lavery Brewing Co, 128 W 12th St, Erie, PA, 16501.
Aging With Pride Members Speak at PA Statewide Webinar
Aging With Pride members Dale Allgeier and Kemlyn Brazda spoke at the PA Link to Aging and Disability Resources Monthly Webinar for December 2025. Their presentation covered unique and not-so-unique aspects of aging as experienced by members of the LGBTQ+ community. They discussed what groups like Aging With Pride are doing to improve aging within the community, as well as remaining challenges.
Journey: Healing Together - Winter Solstice Celebration
Erie, PA - Journey: Healing Together invites the community to our annual Winter Solstice Celebration on Saturday, December 20, 2025, from 5:30 to 7:00 PM at 201 W 11th St, Erie, PA. This free event offers a warm, reflective evening of luminary art, intention-setting, and a shared fire ritual honoring the ways healing begins in the dark and grows toward the light.
Governor's Commission on LGBTQ Affairs Virtual Town Halls for LGBTQ Youth
The Governor's Advisory Commission on LGBTQ Affairs* will hold two virtual town halls in January to hear specifically from LGBTQ Youth (In middle and high school only) . You may attend either the session on Wednesday, January 14 at 4:00 PM or the session on Tuesday, January 20 at 4 PM. Both sessions are expected to last 90 minutes. Your contact information is secure and will not be shared with anyone outside of this meeting. This event is held on Microsoft Teams and will not be livestreamed or recorded.
The deadline for the January 2026 print edition (issue #362) of Erie Gay News is Monday, December 15, and it will be available on Tuesday, December 23!
For the next Erie Gay News (issue # 362, cover-dated for January 2026), please send in-person and online events, news items, and other info for late December 2025 and beyond by Monday, December 15. We expect the next edition to come out on Tuesday, December 23.
Entertainment and Travel
Out Magazine's 31st Annual Award-Winning Out100 Special Premieres on Hulu and Across the ABC Owned Televisions Stations Beginning Dec. 29
LOS ANGELES (Dec. 17, 2025) - Out, the leading fashion and lifestyle brand for the LGBTQ+ community, will premiere its 31st annual Out100 TV special spotlighting top LGBTQ+ figures in entertainment, politics, activism and sports. Hosted by Peabody and multiple Emmy® Award winner Sam Champion ("ABC7 New York" weather anchor and "Good Morning America" contributing weather correspondent) and Emmy-winning anchor Sonia Baghdady (host of The Advocates), the special premieres Monday, Dec. 29, on Hulu and across the ABC Owned Television Stations' linear, digital and streaming platforms. Check your local listing for air times at out.com/out100special.
Windy City Winter Break: Art Institute, Great Architecture, Fun Neighborhoods, and Great Food
Chicago is worth a visit in the winter. The museums are great. The hotel prices are more reasonable. And there is so much to do.
Your Madison Weekend: Foodie's Heaven on an Isthmus Between 2 Lakes
Put Madison, Wisconsin on your radar for a fun winter weekend getaway. Situated between two lakes, it is the one of only two cities on an isthmus. And it has become a foodie's heaven with lots of new restaurants around the Capitol Square downtown.
RuPaul's Drag Race Ruveals the New Queens of Season 18, premiering Friday, January 2 at 8:00 PM ET/PT on MTV
(New York, NY - December 2, 2025) - MTV today ruvealed the cast for Season 18 of the Emmy® Award-winning global phenomenon, RuPaul's Drag Race, which returns Friday, January 2nd at 8:00 PM ET/PT with 90-minute episodes. This season, 14 sickening new queens enter the Werk Room to compete for the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar," an official makeup collaboration with Anastasia Beverly Hills Cosmetics and a cash prize of $200,000 courtesy of the popular video game RuPaul's Drag Race Match Queen.
Local Faces and Photos
December G2H2 at Room 33
G2H2 held its monthly get-together on Friday, December 5, at Room 33 Speakeasy & Cafe, 1033 State Street, Erie, PA The group usually gathers on the first Friday of each month. The next G2H2 will be on January 2 at Lavery brewing Company, 128 W 12th St, Erie, PA.
Political, Activism and Legal
NWPA Zoom Gathering
The Pennsylvania Equality Project will be holding a Zoom meeting on January 6 from 7 until 8:30 PM for LGBTQ+ folks who live in northwest Pennsylvania. The goal of the meeting is to gather feedback about issues that are happening locally and legislative action happening in Harrisburg that impacts LGBTQ+ lives. This will be an informal meeting to provide a forum for people to share their stories and develop advocacy strategies for addressing topics such as affordable and sustainable housing, discrimination, youth-related issues, healthcare, and more. For additional information, check out our Facebook page @paequalitypro.
National Women's Law Center (NWLC) Blasts Trump Administration's Escalation of Attacks on Trans Community
Washington, DC - December 18, 2025 - In a major escalation of its attacks on the transgender community, the Trump administration released a slate of proposed rules today that undermine care for transgender youth and protections for transgender people of all ages.
Legal Advocates Urge Court to Reaffirm Protections for Transgender Adults' Healthcare
(Richmond, VA - December 9, 2025) Today, attorneys from Lambda Legal appeared before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit to argue Anderson v. Crouch, our case challenging West Virginia's discriminatory exclusion of gender-affirming medical care for transgender adults under the state's Medicaid program.
Health
Parenting Yourself
by Michael Dale Kimmel of Life Beyond Therapy: Almost everyone I know complains about their parents - clients, friends and relatives alike. Our parents never got it right, do they? They always screwed up in tons of creative, hurtful ways. But what can we do about it? We can learn to parent ourselves.
Save HIV Funding Responds to Reports That HIV Rates in New York City Have Risen, Amid Proposed Federal Cuts to Essential and Life-Saving HIV Programs
New York, NY - Wednesday, December 10, 2025 - In response to news that HIV rates have risen in New York City, the Save HIV Funding Campaign today released a statement calling on New Yorkers to contact their federal representatives and let them know that cutting vital federal investment in HIV infrastructure would be devastating to their communities. According to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's HIV Surveillance Annual Report, 2024, New York City saw a 5.4% increase in 2024 (or 1,791 new HIV diagnoses). As reported in The Gothamist, this follows a 6.9% increase from 2022 to 2023. While these increases happened before recent disruptions to domestic HIV funding, current threats to funding and infrastructure will only further increase HIV rates, as well as racial and gender disparities.
Your Voice is a Powerful Tool - Out: The Community Survey Launches!
Erie Gay News is proud to join more than seventy local and national community-based organizations to launch Out: The Community Survey. This is a totally volunteer collaboration between researchers and LGBTQIA+ community organizations to make sure the historic events of 2025 get documented for our communities. The U.S. federal government has terminated all LGBTQIA+ research - so it's time to go back to our roots and do it ourselves! How can you help? Take 30 minutes to make sure you participate in the survey today and share it with your friends and family too.
Smiling on the outside; crying on the inside
Do you ever feel like you're faking happiness? Is your optimism sometimes shaky? When someone tells you, "It's all good", do you want to smack 'em?
Letters, Columnists and Opinion
Holiday Pizza Order
I walked into the Domino's store to pick up one large pizza. I gave the counter employee the name on the order. He checked if it was ready. It was not. Needing six more minutes to bake. So, I waited there in the lobby. Reflecting on something I wrote on my order. There was a significance to the name I used. It wasn't mine.
Contests
Enter to win A Black Queer History of the United States!
Enter to win A Black Queer History of the United States! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Friday, January 16, and Friday, February 6.
Enter to win Into the Midnight Wood!
Enter to win Into the Midnight Wood! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Tuesday, January 13, and Tuesday, February 3.
History
A Look Back at 2025 for Erie's LGBTQIA+ Community
Erie Gay News looks back at 2025 for our region's happenings and news for the year. There were Pride events throughout the region! There was the 30th anniversary Erie Family Photo on the steps of the Erie County Courthouse, connections with other regions' Queer communities, awards and honors given to supporters, and also people who passed on. We also have an updated LGBT history page for our region, which covers events from the 1960's up to the end of 2025.
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