About Victoria Martin

Victoria Martin is a senior Public Health major at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. She is originally from Shippensburg, PA in Cumberland County. Victoria aspires to work in LGBT health upon graduation. She can be reached at vmartin@pennsec.org.

Youth Honored at Rainbow Awards Gala

The Northeastern Pennsylvania Rainbow Alliance held their third annual Rainbow Awards Gala on April 21 at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Wilkes-Barre. The event was attended by local students and youth leaders, as well as members of the LGBTQ community in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Liz Randol, a leading candidate for Mayor of Scranton, was in attendance.  Honorees included the True Colors Alliance, and three students involved with the Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition, including University of Scranton student, Carolyn Pandolfo, the President of Scranton Local #1, and Wilkes-Barre Local #4 leaders, Anthony Melf and Daniel Simpson of Kings College.

True Colors Alliance received the Outstanding Program Award. True Colors Alliance is a youth organization through United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania which provides a safe space for LGBTQ youth. The students in True Colors Alliance work to end bullying in their community and create safe spaces within their schools. They have created three anti-bullying PSA videos, including an “It Gets Better” video.

Carolyn Pandolfo

Carolyn Pandolfo
President – Scranton Local #1

 

Carolyn Pandolfo, whom the Keystone Student Voice highlighted as one of 13 Women for 2013, received the Outstanding Student Leader award. Carolyn is a student member of the NEPA Rainbow Alliance’s board. Anthony Melf and Daniel Simpson of Kings College, who also received Outstanding Student Leader awards, were recognized for their leadership in the LGBTQ student group at Kings College, Student Allies for Equality. Anthony and Daniel have served as the organization’s first Presidents, and have helped grow the organization from a support group to an active campus service organization which hosts events and advocates in the community.

The NEPA Rainbow Alliance is an advocacy organization which runs and supports programs for LGBTQ people within Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Photo: ShadowCatcher, Ltd. Photography

Dickinson College to Offer Gender-Neutral Housing

Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, recently announced that they will be offering gender neutral housing in the 2013-2014 school year. While Dickinson has offered co-ed housing in the past, the 2013 Spring housing policies note the difference between co-ed and gender neutral housing arrangements.

The terms co-ed /mixed-gender operate on the assumption that there are two genders: male and female. It leaves no room for those who do not identify as their biological sex or those who are transgender or gender non-conforming. This idea is based on the notion that there are more than two genders, in fact an infinite amount. Allowing for gender-neutral housing, as opposed to co-ed /mixed gender, shows more inclusiveness and room for diverse identities.

Ariana Auerbach, a member of Dickinson’s LGBTQ group, Spectrum, said, “While it was possible to have mixed-gender housing before, it was a very complicated process and it was not specifically noted as gender-neutral. Since there are students here who are not comfortable with the same-sex housing whether it be because they identify as trans or if they simply do not fit the typical gender “norms” the LGBTQ community here has been expressing a lot of interest in gender-neutral housing.”

Dickinson is the newest school to join other Pennsylvania colleges, including Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pennsylvania, Bucknell University, and Gettysburg College, in offering gender-neutral housing options for students.

Trans Inclusive Bill Passes Through Philadelphia Council Committee

A sweeping trans inclusive LGBTQ reform bill passed through a Philadelphia City Council committee this afternoon.  The Labor and Civil Services Committee unanimously approved the landmark legislation which provides new transgender inclusive policies, such as the construction of gender neutral bathrooms within new and renovated bathroom facilities in city owned buildings, prohibiting businesses from not allowing patrons to use the bathroom facilities which are consistent with their gender identity, removing gendered terms from city forms, and forbidding employers from not allowing their employees to dress in a way consistent with their gender identity.

This new legislation will amend Philadelphia’s Fair Practice Ordinance, which prohibits, among other things, discrimination based upon sexual orientation or gender identity in housing, employment, and public accommodations. Philadelphia City Council added sexual orientation as a protected class in 1982, and gender identity in 2002. This bill was reintroduced in March by City Council members Jim Kenney and Wilson Goode.

At the legislation hearing, experts on LGBTQ and trans issues spoke about the effect the new legislation will have on both the local economy and the wellbeing of trans citizens. The community leaders who delivered testimony included Nurit Shein (Executive Director, Mazzoni Center), Harvey Hurdle (CEO, Sellers Dorsey), Rue Landau (Executive Director, Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations), Joe Grace (Director of Public Policy, Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce), and Kathy Padilla (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program, Philadelphia International Airport).  In his testimony, the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition, Jason Landau Goodman, said, “Mandated sex segregation only serves to reinforce a binary that strips away the self-determination of people to identify their own gender. If a trans youth in Philadelphia can spend less time enduring the psychological and physical harm of not being able to easily access a restroom – they can be more attentive on schoolwork and becoming a healthy and contributing member of society. The time is now to head toward full inclusion.”

On behalf of the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, Joe Grace concluded his remarks stating the need for us to interpret the United States Constitution as “gender-blind.”

There was only one testifier critical of the bill. A woman, whose name was not available at the time this post is going live, expressed anger to the Committee that while she understood the plight of trans inclusive health care insurance asserted that there are plenty of other health care and discrimination issues that also deserve City Council’s attention. She explicitly stated her opinion in feeling the only reason this bill was going through committee was because of political pandering to the LGBT community and white privilege. She was specifically critical of white advocates who were able to influence City Council’s agenda due to their privilege; but as a black woman, she was unable to access the political capital necessary to have other issues addressed.

Additionally, the legislation creates two new tax credits for employers. The Life Partner Health Benefits Tax, which provides a tax credit to businesses that offer health insurance to domestic partners’ and children of same sex couples.

The bill will also create the Trans-Care Health Benefits Tax Credit, which benefits businesses which offer health insurance that covers trans-related medical needs, including, “medically necessary treatment for gender dysphoria and gender-identity disorder, including office visits, laboratory tests, prescription drugs, hormone treatments, counseling and transitional surgeries necessary for the treatment of either,” as reported in the Philadelphia Gay News.

Having been passed through committee, the legislation will go on to be voted upon by City Council. If passed, it will be one of the most trans friendly city laws in the nation. Legislative Aide to Councilman Kenney, Chris Goy, said to the Philadelphia Gay News, “No other city has gone as far as we have in a state that is as unfriendly to LGBTs as ours,” Goy said. “We talked to LGBT legal experts at the local, state and federal levels and basically asked how far we can push our LGBT rights as a city without violating state law or state Supreme Court rulings and that’s what we’ve done with this bill, and we’re really proud of that. Are we going to be the most LGBT-friendly city in America? No, we can’t be until Pennsylvania and Washington allow us to be. But with so little help from Harrisburg and from the federal government, this is a really big step.”

Swarthmore College Votes to Make Greek Life Gender Inclusive

Swarthmore College has voted to make Greek Life organizations gender-inclusive in a campus referendum. The referendum was one of six questions voted upon by the Swarthmore student body regarding Sororities and Fraternities at the college. The six questions were,

  1. Do you support ceasing Delta Upsilon’s and Kappa Alpha Theta’s affiliations to their national chapters?

  2. Do you support admitting students of all genders to sororities and fraternities?

  3. Do you support making fraternity houses into substance-free spaces?

  4. Do you support merging all sororities and fraternities into one campus building?

  5. Do you support having no campus buildings expressly for the purpose of housing Greek organizations?

  6. Do you support the abolition of sororities and fraternities at Swarthmore College?

The campus organization Swat Vote Yes campaigned for the abolition of Greek Life entirely, however, only the referendum pertaining to gender inclusivity passed.

The passage of a referendum does not guarantee that this action will be taken by the Colleges Board of Managers. “What a referendum would be is a thermometer of feeling of the student body … a referendum is not a guarantee of action.” It would, however, be taken more seriously than an opinion poll…” said student body co-president, Victor Brady, to Swarthmore College’s campus newspaper, Daily Gazette.

Swarthmore College does not have a large Greek life, with two fraternities: Phi Psi and Delta Upsilon, and one sorority: Kappa Alpha Theta. Sororities were banned at Swarthmore from 1933 to 2012 after an incident in the 1930’s, when a Jewish student was not permitted to join a sorority. Kappa Alpha Theta began accepting bids for membership in the beginning of the 2013 Spring Semester.

University Political Groups Unite For Marriage Equality

The University of Pennsylvania’s College Republicans and Democrats recently launched an effort to unite their counterpart chapters across the nation in support of marriage equality. Following a landmark event the Penn organizations co-hosted in February, they are now joined with fifty political groups from universities across the country in affirming their support of marriage equality.

Over a period of two months, the Penn Dems and Penn Republicans targeted outreach to the political groups of fellow Ivy League schools, and the top fifty ranked colleges by U.S. News and World Report. The statement reads, “We, the Presidents of College Democrats and College Republicans chapters from across America, stand united to affirm the right of all Americans to marry the person they love, regardless of gender. We challenge our nation’s leaders to join us in defense of marriage equality for LGBTQ couples.”

The statement has been signed by about ten college Republican groups. College Republicans president and College junior Arielle Klepach said to The Daily Pennsylvanian, “While I understand why people would be hesitant, I obviously wish there would have been more widespread responses.” Of the fifty top ranked colleges Penn students reached out to, only two groups opposed the statement, though not every group chose to sign the statement.

College Democrats President and College sophomore Matthew Kalmans said, “My hope is that seeing a young Republican and growing Democrat population both in support of marriage equality will continue to give some senators the comfort they need to announce their support, to not feel that they’re in some sort of electoral danger.”

The College Republicans and Democrats of University of Pennsylvania have set up a Facebook page entitled Students United for Marriage Equality,” and are posting tweets with the hashtag #unitedforlove.

Pennsylvania Teen Dies After Fall

Eighteen year old Makayla Mellert, a student at Palisades High School from Tinicum, Pennsylvania, took her own life at 9 am on Thursday, April 4. Mellert went to school Thursday morning, but left early in the morning and drove to Ralph Stover Park, where she jumped off a cliff in the High Rocks area of the park. Before her death, Mellert texted a friend to say goodbye and share her intentions. The friend called 911, which led police to High Rocks, where they located Mellert’s vehicle, backpack, and body.

Suicide is the third leading cause of death in youth ages 15 to 24. A recent CDC study found that one in six teens has seriously considered committing suicide, and one in twelve have made an attempt. The same study found that twenty percent of high school students have been bullied, and sixteen percent have been the targets of cyberbullying. Bullying plays a role in at least half of teen suicides.

Further information on Makayla’s death has not been released. The Keystone Student Voice expresses our deepest sympathy for her family and friends.

 

Statewide Nondiscrimination Advocacy Group Launched

The Suburban and Rural Alliance of Pennsylvania was launched today, April 2, as a statewide network for the purpose of advocating for nondiscrimination ordinances in communities across the state. Currently, Pennsylvania has no statewide nondiscrimination law which protects on the basis of sexuality or gender identity. This makes it perfectly legal to deny someone housing, employment, or services because of their sexuality or gender identity. Thirty townships and cities within Pennsylvania have their own inclusive nondiscrimination ordinances, but only one-third of the state’s population is covered by these ordinances. Pennsylvania is the only Northeastern state where it is still legal to deny basic services to someone based upon sexuality or gender identity. There are more townships and communities with individual nondiscrimination ordinances in Pennsylvania than any other state in the nation.

The Suburban and Rural Alliance of Pennsylvania, or SARA PA, has been formed in order to connect local advocates for nondiscrimination policies from across the state to develop strategies for bringing nondiscrimination ordinances to their communities. SARA PA has launched a website with information on the passage of the thirty nondiscrimination ordinances currently in place, and information on advocating for a nondiscrimination ordinance in Pennsylvania communities without one at present.

Montgomery County is currently in the process of writing a nondiscrimination ordinance. There are nine townships within Montgomery County which have nondiscrimination ordinances in place now, protecting 30% of Montgomery County’s residents. With the implementation of the new nondiscrimination ordinance, an additional 563,245 Pennsylvanians will be protected against unemployment, lack of housing, and denial of services because of their sexuality or gender identity.

 

Inclusive Nondiscrimination Ordinances in Pennsylvania in Order of Adoption (From SARA PA)

  • 1982: Philadelphia (1982/2002)
  • 1983: Harrisburg
  • 1990: Pittsburgh (1990/1997)
  • 1998: York
  • 2001: Lancaster
  • 2002: Erie County, Allentown, New Hope Borough
  • 2003: Scranton
  • 2006: Lansdowne Borough, Swarthmore Borough, Easton, West Chester Borough
  • 2007: State College Borough
  • 2009: Allegheny County, Reading
  • 2010: Doylestown Borough, Lower Merion Township
  • 2011: Haverford Township, Conshohocken Borough, Bethlehem, Springfield Township, Newtown Borough, Whitemarsh Township, Jenkintown Borough, Susquehanna Township
  • 2012: Cheltenham Township, Abington Township, East Norriton Township, Upper Merion Township

 

Pennsylvania Young Women Leaders: 13 for 2013 —— (Part Three)

For Women’s History Month 2013, we are celebrating young women leadership in the Pennsylvania LGBTQ community. The KSV editorial staff have selected 13 young women who have become trailblazers for LGBTQ youth in our state for this three-part series. The youth selected provide deeply valued strength, resilience, and courage across our Pennsylvania community – who will surely continue to make headlines in the advocacy they lead. Last year, for the first time, we selected 12 women in 2012 who shine on as our key adult women LGBTQ community leaders. Thank you to all of the courageous young women leaders throughout the Keystone State who help lead our communities to be better places for all people. Click here to visit Part 1 of this series. Click here to visit Part 2 of this series.

 

 

 


Paige Riddle (Mount Wolf, PA)
Lebanon Valley College ’16, (Freedom Rings)

Paige Riddle is an active member of the LGBTQ community at Lebanon Valley College. Paige is originally from Mount Wolf, PA where she was the President of the Northeastern High School GSA in York County. She helps to connect Lebanon Valley College’s LGBTQ group, Freedom Rings, with the Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition. She was a lead speaker in the Lebanon Valley Freedom March against hate in the Fall semester of 2012. She has been a guest speaker in classes on LGBTQ issues, and works with Social Justice efforts on campus.

Paige hopes to continue to be heavily involved with her campus community in her following years at Lebanon Valley College.

 

 


Shayne Kitty Foster (Pittsburgh, PA)
Art Institute of Pittsburgh ’15, Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Pittsburgh

Originally from Erie, PA, Shayne Kitty Foster is a student at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, and a regular volunteer at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center in Pittsburgh. She recommends that other young women who want to become involved in their community start by volunteering. “It’s something that doesn’t take up too much time if you’re busy, and usually places need a lot of help,” says Shayne. She became involved at the GLCC after attending youth night at the center, and started volunteering soon after. She now helps run the reception desk.

 

 

 

 


Megan Kuntz (DuBois, PA)
Penn State Behrend (Erie) ’13, President of Trigon

Megan Kuntz is the President of Penn State Erie’s LGBTQ organization, Trigon. She is originally from DuBois in Northern Pennsylvania. Trigon runs many events over the course of the year at Penn State Erie, including bringing LGBTQ and Feminist speakers to campus, facilitating cultural and performing arts events on campus, and showing LGBTQ focused films. Megan recently helped bring award-winning slam poet and LGBTQ activist, Andrea Gibson, to Penn State Erie.

 

 

 

 

 

 


Rhiannon Millard (Bangor, PA)
East Stroudsburg University ’14, President of PRIDE

Rhiannon Millard is the President of East Stroudsburg University’s LGBTQ organization, People Respecting Individuality and Diversity in Education, or PRIDE. Rhiannon is originally from Bangor, Pennsylvania. During her time as President, PRIDE hosted the band Fun at a campus concert in November, during the band’s Reverb Campus Consciousness Tour. She is the first female president of the organization in at least four years.

 

GSA Approved at Chambersburg Area Senior High School

Chambersburg Area Senior High School has been granted permission to form a Gay Straight Alliance, a month after the school board’s initial refusal. The formation of a Gay Straight Alliance was first voted upon on February 27, and denied with a 5-4 vote against the club. After the school was threatened with legal action from the Pennsylvania ACLU, the school board revisited the topic at a March 27 meeting, where another vote was taken. One board member changed their vote, bringing the school board to approve the club with a 5-4 vote in favor of forming a Gay Straight Alliance. Prior to official approval, the club was temporarily authorized to meet after the threat of a lawsuit.

Amber Fogelsonger, club president said of the decision,“To finally have us approved is like a weight lifted off our shoulders, so I think we’re all very happy that we got approved.”

Having a Gay Straight Alliance in place is essential to providing a safe environment for LGBTQ students. The Keystone Student Voice applauds the efforts of Chambersburg students and alumni who have worked to bring a Gay Straight Alliance to the school for years, as well as the Pennsylvania ACLU for working protecting the rights of students.

Chambersburg High School Granted Temporary GSA

Chambersburg Area Senior High School has been given temporary permission for a Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) club to meet, after the school was threatened with legal action from the Pennsylvania ACLU due to their decision to block efforts to create the group. On February 27, the Chambersburg school board voted 5-4 against the official formation of  the GSA. The decision was immediately met with fierce criticism from the Central PA community – as well as attracted national headlines. An editorial in The Public Opinion, asked of the school board, “This is how a modern school district operates? With callous disregard for oppressed and isolated young people and willful negligence when it comes to tax dollars? ” A Change.org petition in favor of reversing the decision was created by a Chambersburg graduate, Thomas McCalmont, which has over 6,000 signatures.

Shippensburg Area Senior High School, a neighboring high school, has had a GSA in place for eight years. Waynesboro High School, also in Franklin County, has had a GSA since 2009. LGBTQ and ally students at Chambersburg Area High School have been meeting unofficially as a GSA for two years.

Legally, if Chambersburg High School bans the formation of a GSA, they will also have to end all other extra-curricular clubs, including student government. The Pennsylvania ACLU has given Chambersburg a deadline of Wednesday, March 28, to make a final decision, before the organization takes action. The school board plans on meeting tonight, April 27, to discuss the future of a GSA at Chambersburg High School.