March, 2026 News (36 Articles with 36,065 total views)
On the cover of the print edition for March, 2026 Volunteers sorting donations at the Warm Coats & Boots Drive on January 31 at Journey to a Trauma Informed Life. Photo by Michael Mahler.
This began publication in December 2002 after a hiatus
Category for this issueCalendar & Upcoming Events
Calendar of Local GLBT Events |
|
 |
|
Local and Regional News
Aging With Pride Dinner #30 at Royal Chopstix Asian Cuisine
On Thursday, February 19, Aging With Pride had their 30th monthly dinner outing at Royal Chopstix Asian Cuisine, 3444 West Lake Road, Erie, PA. Aging With Pride dinners are usually the last week of the month. The next dinner will be at McGarrey's Oakwood Cafe, 1624 W 38th St, Erie, PA. Aging With Pride meets twice a month for planning and discussion, as well as a book club on the third Saturday of the month and a game night on the second Thursday of the month. They also recently added a coffee hour at Werner Books & Coffee, 3608 Liberty. The first coffee hour will be Tuesday, February 24 at 1 PM, and the next will be Thursday, March 19 at 1 PM.
Pride Prom: An Over the Rainbow Celebration
PFLAG Chautauqua and Jamestown Pride are excited to announce Pride Prom: Over the Rainbow, a celebration for LGBTQ+ and allied people to experience a night of camaraderie, dancing, food, and fashion. Hosted as a private event at Wicked Warren's in Jamestown on March 28th from 6-10 p.m., this first area Pride Prom will be a safe, inclusive environment for people to dress in what makes them feel fabulous to dance and celebrate the evening in style.
The LGBT Fund Scholarships Open to Support Erie's LGBTQ+ Students
Education opens doors - not only for individual success, but for a stronger, more inclusive community. That's why the LGBT Fund of The Erie Community Foundation is committed to supporting LGBTQ+ students and allies as they pursue higher education and careers that will shape our region for the better.
March 31st is Trans Day of Visibility
Each year on March 31, the world observes Transgender Day of Visibility to raise awareness about transgender people. Created in 2010 by trans advocate Rachel Crandall of Transgender Michigan to celebrate the lives of transgender people, while also acknowledging that due to discrimination, not every trans person can or wants to be visible. TransFamily of Northwest Pennsylvania invites the Erie community to Perry Square at 6 PM for an event featuring speakers, followed by a walk around the square celebrating the lives of transgender people.
Find Your People: Monthly Queer Happy Hours in Erie and Meadville
Pride is not just a once-a-year party. It is about building community every day. That is why the NWPA Pride Alliance hosts monthly happy hours to keep us connected year-round. Whether you live in Erie or Crawford County, we have a spot for you to relax, unwind, and meet new friends.
You Make Pride Possible
The NWPA Pride Alliance is already working hard on the 2026 season, and we are planning to make it our best one yet. From the Erie Pride Parade in downtown Erie to the massive celebration at Liberty Park for Pride on the Bay, we are bringing the community together all summer long. We are also heading back to Meadville for Pride on the Diamond and wrapping it all up with our annual picnic at Presque Isle. These events are about visibility, joy, and creating a space where everyone can just be themselves.
Free Mom Hugs Erie Winter Meetup
Erie's Free Mom Hugs volunteers gathered on February 15th at Werner Books for a cozy Winter Meet Up filled with warmth, laughter, and renewed purpose. After a long stretch of winter weather in Erie, volunteers were excited to reconnect, catch up on life, and talk through plans for the busy year ahead.
Celebrate Aging With Pride Award for Dale Allgeier
Aging With Pride (AWP) likes to acknowledge individuals and/or businesses that demonstrate their commitment to the senior members of the LBTGQ+ Community. On 2/15/26, the Recognition Award was presented to Dale Allgeier, owner of Lake Erie Counseling, which caters to the diverse needs of our community. Dale is a licensed Clinical Social Worker and Therapist. He also started Aging with Pride - Erie (agingwithprideerie.org). Over the past few years, AWP has grown into a very active and viable group in Erie, sponsoring monthly activities and educational programs focused mostly on the "seasoned" members of our community.
Erie Gay News is Updating its Resource Directory
Erie Gay News is much more than the printed publication you hold in your hand. It is an NWPA-based non-profit, LGBTQIA resource and information organization that operates the online EGN website, which includes a resource directory at https://www.eriegaynews.com/news/resources.php.
Bears Do Dinner #136 at Wooden Ladle Ramen & Rice Bowl
Bears Do Dinner held its 136th meet-up for dinner on Tuesday, February 11th at Wooden Ladle Ramen & Rice Bowl, 4753 West Lake Rd, Erie, PA. The next Bears Do Dinner will be on Monday, March 9th at McGarrey's Oakwood Cafe, 1624 W 38th St, Erie, PA .
Volunteer Lunch at Calamari's after Warm Coats & Boots Drive
On Saturday, January 31, volunteers from several organizations for the 2026 Warm Coats & Boots Drive went out for lunch together at Calamari's Squid Row, 1317 State Street, Erie, PA. The lunch was an excellent way for community members to connect and network, while enjoying a delicious meal communally. Organizers intend that future drives and other collaborations will include a post-event meal out together, to brainstorm new projects and make new friends!
All-Ages Chat n' Chill at Compton's
On Saturday, February 7, Compton's Table, 3104 State St, Erie, PA, hosted an All-Ages Chat n' Chill in partnership with the Free Mom Hugs Erie Chapter, creating a warm, affirming space for people of all ages to gather in community. The event focused on connection, conversation, and simply being together in a safe, low-pressure environment.
Queer Community Helps Bring Winter Relief with Coat & Boot Drive
Erie's queer community came together in a powerful show of compassion and collaboration on January 31, 2026, as this winter's Warm Coat and Boot Drive achieved its most successful turnout to date. With Erie experiencing a consistently cold and challenging winter, the outpouring of generosity felt especially meaningful.
The deadline for the March 2026 print edition (issue #364) of Erie Gay News is Sunday, February 15, and it will be available on Tuesday, February 24!
For the next Erie Gay News (issue # 364, cover-dated for March 2026), please send in-person and online events, news items, and other info for late February 2026 and beyond by Sunday, February 15. We expect the next edition to come out on Tuesday, February 24.
Announcing 2026 Pittsburgh Pride
(Pittsburgh) The Pittsburgh Pride Group is thrilled to invite you to Pride 2026! Our "Existence is Resistance," so now is the time for all of us to come out for our city's 53rd Annual Pride celebration. We are not afraid to fill the city streets once again from June 5th to June 7th, as Pride '26 promises to be a moment filled with joy, community, and lively performances from national headlining acts and hundreds of local dancers, drag artists, musicians, and much more from our amazing community of creatives.
Aging With Pride Brunch at Give-a-Crepe
On Saturday, Jan 24th, Aging With Pride held its monthly meal outing at Give-a-Crepe, 1909 Chestnut St in Erie. We were honored to have a special guest, Dr. Tyler Titus, President of the Erie City Council. We were able to open a discussion on the possibility of developing multigenerational cooperation with the various LGBTQ+ organizations in the community. Please contact Pete Genco at (814) 384-9785 for more info and to learn about our monthly events. Please visit our website at agingwithprideerie.org
Entertainment and Travel
Pride Journey: Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center
As I stepped into the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center, the first thing that greeted me was my reflection framed by the words "See History Be History." It felt like both a welcome and an invitation. As part of the Wall of Solidarity-a lively exhibit celebrating love, community, and queer joy-the frame establishes the mood for what comes next. It's not just a space to learn about history, but a place where you feel yourself become part of it.
Your DC Weekend: New Exhibits, Great Bar Scene in This Walkable City
There is always something new to discover in Washington D.C. This trip I found the Eastern Market neighborhood in Southeast DC (8th Avenue SE) filled with local independent shops and restaurants including the fabulous Come as You Are gay bar and restaurant which features a tuna melt sandwich better than the one in Heated Rivalry. I also enjoyed the new Grandma Moses exhibit and Presidential portraits in the Portrait Gallery Art Museum. And I had a delicious southern meal at Yardbirds.
Political, Activism and Legal
Transgender Kansans Challenge State Law Invalidating Their Driver's Licenses and Allowing Them to Be Sued for Using Public Restrooms
Topeka, KS - February 27, 2026 - Two transgender residents of Kansas have filed a lawsuit in state court challenging a new state law that immediately invalidated their driver's licenses, and which authorizes anyone to sue anybody they suspect of being transgender for using the "wrong" restroom in government buildings.
MAP Report Highlights the Impact of Rapid Federal SOGI Data Elimination
In just the first year of the second Trump administration, the federal government has taken action to pull back or erase key sources of data about LGBTQ people. These data losses are occurring as the administration aggressively advances an anti-LGBTQ-and particularly anti-transgender-policy agenda.
Lambda Legal Applauds Kansas Gov. Kelly's Veto of Draconian anti-Trans Law
(Topeka, KS - February 14, 2026) Lambda Legal today applauded Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly's veto of Senate Bill 244 and urged Kansas legislators to uphold the governor's veto and not allow the draconian anti-trans bill that imposes a facilities ban and restricts access to accurate IDs to take effect. The bill is promoted by the state's notoriously anti-LGBTQ+ attorney general, Kris Kobach.
Forecasting Equality: Expected Changes to LGBTQ Policies in 2026
Since 2020, political attacks on LGBTQ people, and especially transgender people, have escalated - but LGBTQ people and allies have also fought back and won important victories. This forecast takes stock of recent years in LGBTQ legislation at the state level and suggests what may lie ahead in 2026.
Lambda Legal Statement in Support of LGBTQ+ and Immigrant Communities in Minnesota
(New York, January 27, 2026) - Lambda Legal CEO Kevin Jennings issued the following statement in support of LGBTQ+ and Immigrant communities in Minnesota: "Today, we stand in firm alliance with our LGBTQ+ allies and indeed all in Minnesota as they confront the violence of federal agents targeting immigrant communities in that state. We share in the grief and anger at the killing of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, and our hearts go out to Renee's wife and children, and to the family of Alex Pretti.
Health
Two Erie blood drives honor sickle cell warriors
[ERIE, FEB. 23, 2026] - On Monday, March 9, 2026, the American Red Cross will host two blood drives in Erie to help ensure patients have the blood products they need. The Red Cross urges people to take action now to help offset the severe impact of recent winter storms on efforts to rebuild the blood supply during an ongoing blood shortage. Donors of all blood types are asked to make a blood or platelet donation appointment as soon as possible. Without immediate action, patients who rely on transfusions - including trauma victims, mothers in childbirth, and people with sickle cell disease or cancer - face serious risk.
Monogamy or Open Relationship?
I don't know about other psychotherapists, but here's a question I hear a lot from my clients: "Whether we get married or not, do we want to be monogamous?" "After all," they ask me, "is it possible to be happy with only one person?"
Save HIV Funding Campaign Denounces Cancellation of Vital HIV and STI Funding, Urges the Administration to Immediately Restore Grants
This week, the Save HIV Funding campaign denounced a move by the Trump administration to cancel hundreds of millions of dollars in critical public health funding to four states, including dozens of grants supporting HIV and STI prevention. The decision threatens to increase new HIV cases and further strain state budgets at a time when the federal government has already cut access to Medicaid and the insurance marketplace, resulting in increased insurance prices. Contracting resources have pressured some states to reduce support for lifesaving HIV medications. Advocates remain especially concerned about ongoing efforts in Florida to remove more than 12,000 individuals from the state's AIDS Drug Assistance Program.
PrEP4All Backs PrEP Assistance Program Act as Transformational Shift in HIV Prevention
Washington, D.C, - Friday, February 6th, 2026 - Today, PrEP4All, the national nonprofit dedicated to ending the HIV epidemic by ensuring universal, equitable access to HIV prevention (PrEP) and treatment, welcomed the introduction of the PrEP Assistance Program Act, a landmark piece of legislation introduced by Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) that offers a visionary new approach to PrEP access for uninsured populations and has the power to end HIV as an epidemic. Introduced to coincide with National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) on February 7, the legislation demonstrates the Congresswoman's powerful and consistent dedication to equitable health outcomes.
Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center Announces the Launch of the 2026 Pennsylvania LGBTQIA+ Health Survey
Allentown, PA - Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center is excited to announce the launch of the 2026 Pennsylvania LGBTQIA+ Health Survey. Starting February 4th, the Bradbury-Sullivan Center is leading a coalition of LGBTQIA+ organizations across the state collecting data for the 2026 Pennsylvania LGBTQIA+ Health Survey. This will be the 5th statewide biennial survey to be administered by the Center in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Was "Prince Charming" invented by a Gay Man?
from Michael Dale Kimmel of Life Beyond Therapy: Did you know that the stereotype known as "Prince Charming" was invented by a gay man? From my research, I discovered that "Le Roi Charmant" was his original name in French: "the charming king." In 1890, gay icon Oscar Wilde coined the term "Prince Charming" in his novel, "The Picture of Dorian Gray" and he's been with us ever since. Disney liked the concept and made him the perfect hetero hero in movies like "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (1937)
Letters, Columnists and Opinion
Devilish Valentine
Prior to moving out West to Arizona, there I was. In the meeting of the common council of the City of Hobart, Indiana. I took my seat as the duly elected 1st District Councilman in this suburban Chicago municipality. This was not any ordinary meeting. Love was in the air Stephen Sondheim. The date was Valentine's Day.
Contests
Enter to win That's What Friends Are For!
Enter to win That's What Friends Are For! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Friday, March 13, and Friday, April 3. Entrants are limited to US residents only and must be at least 18 years old.
Enter to win A Lady For All Seasons!
Enter to win A Lady For All Seasons! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Tuesday, March 10, and Tuesday, March 31.
Enter to win The Witch Without Memory!
Enter to win The Witch Without Memory! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Friday, March 6, and Friday, March 27.
Enter to win a digital download of Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild!
Enter to win a digital download of Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild!. To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Tuesday, March 3, and Tuesday, March 24. Entrants are limited to US residents only and must be at least 18 years old.
Enter to win Anderson in Bloom!
Enter to win Anderson in Bloom! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Tuesday, March 3, and Tuesday, March 24.
Enter to win Worth Burning!
Enter to win Worth Burning! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Tuesday, February 24, and Tuesday, March 17. Entrants are limited to US residents only and must be at least 18 years old.
Videos
Photo Galleries
Advertisers
Volunteers
Connect With Us
