Category Archives: Breaking News

Major Investment to be Made in the Pennsylvania LGBTQ Youth Movement

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The Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition is pleased to announce that it has been selected as a recipient of the 2014 Queer Youth Fund, a $100,000 grant from the Liberty Hill Foundation which supports youth-led LGBTQ development and empowerment.

PSEC is the first organization in Pennsylvania to receive this honor in the grant’s 12-year history. The Queer Youth Fund will dramatically increase PSEC’s capacity as youth activists throughout the commonwealth. PSEC will use the support of the Queer Youth Fund to further its mission of securing safer schools and communities for all youth in Pennsylvania, and to promote youth-led advocacy efforts.

Over 50 organizations throughout the nation applied for the final year of the Queer Youth Fund. PSEC submitted a letter of intent in October 2013 and was selected as a semi-finalist in February 2014. The coalition was notified it was a finalist in May, and following, the Queer Youth Fund sent representatives meet PSEC state leaders for a site visit in Pittsburgh this past June. The full Queer Youth Fund committee made their final decision in Los Angeles at the end of July and informed PSEC of their decision on August 20th. Previous grantees include the Boston Area Gay and Lesbian Youth (BAGLY) and the New York City-based FIERCE.

PSEC will stagger the grant equally over four years to ensure the basic funding for essential outreach and advocacy. The Queer Youth Fund will fund three critical parts of PSEC:

    1. General operations for the Bayard Rustin House.
      The future headquarters for PSEC will be located in Harrisburg directly across the street from the State Capitol. The Queer Youth Fund will support the utilities for the building and primary operation costs.
    2. Increase access to statewide LGBTQ youth leadership opportunities.
      PSEC has long recognized that the ability to afford the time and financial costs of attending regional + state meetings is an insurmountable barrier for some youth. These leadership opportunities are critical to the development of strong advocates. The coalition will now be able to provide stipends for leaders that will allow all young leaders to participate and be fully activated in the statewide LGBTQ youth movement.
    3. Develop the long-term financial sustainability of PSEC.
      The Queer Youth Fund will power PSEC’s leadership through crafting a strong long-term fundraising plan. This work will allow PSEC’s operations to be sustained and grow.

Since forming in April 2011, PSEC has operated on conservative budgets which have been almost entirely secured through private donations. The Queer Youth Fund will be a ‘gateway grant’ for the coalition which will help open new doors for future significant investments that will fully power the Pennsylvania LGBTQ youth movement in the future.

Bucks County Transgender High School Student Ends His Life

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On Tuesday afternoon, 17-year old high school student Riley Moscatel ended his life in Bucks County. The rising senior at Bucks County Technical High School placed himself in front of an Amtrak train heading for New York City at approximately 1:30pm this afternoon.

Riley’s mother, Kristine Moscatel, said in the Bucks County Courier Times that “things were just building up and building up and she just couldn’t take it anymore. She hid behind her mask. She had a mask for me, my husband, my son, my parents…everyone she had a different face for, but they were all happy (faces).” Riley was referred to as a “rising star” in the commercial and advertising arts program at Bucks County Technical High School by school officials in the article.

Both the LevittownNow and Bucks County Courier Times misgendered Riley in their reports. LevittownNow updated their online post to reflect his correct pronouns. The current headline by the Bucks County Courier Times and the Intelligencer is “Mom ‘heartbroken’ over daughter’s suicide by train.“

No one is alone in experiencing depression, anxiety, or distress. If you or any LGBT youth you know ever need someone to talk with, we encourage you to call the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386.

TrevorProject

Riley2

(Contributed by Kristine Moscatel/Bucks County Courier Times)

In Pennsylvania, there are no school district or state policies which specifically affirm transgender students. PSEC is currently working to advance local and state policies to provide comprehensive support for transgender students in public schools.

Riley’s friends and family will release balloons at the Croydon Train Station in his memory this coming Sunday afternoon.

Bloomsburg Town Council to Consider Non-Discrimination Ordinance

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On Monday evening, the Bloomsburg Town Council addressed the local movement urging them to adopt a non-discrimination ordinance to protect LGBT people from discrimination in public accommodations, housing, and employment. Last week, national outrage was sparked when WW Bridal denied service to an engaged lesbian couple in the town.

The Town Council chamber was packed to capacity this evening, with nearly 30 additional people forced to crowd in the doorways and into the hallways because of fire code regulations. We could not tell if the crowd was mostly against, for, or split on supporting non-discrimination. In total, over 70 residents were in attendance for the meeting, most of whom came specifically for the discussion on non-discrimination.

Dwayne Heisler, a resident of the town, was the only registered speaker during the citizen’s comment period to address this issue. Mayor Sandy Davis and Councilmembers Diane Levan and Eric Bower spoke strongly in support of such a local law. All three members of Town Council are Democrats won their elections running as both Republicans and Democrats.

BloomsburgMayor Davis concluded her brief and prepared remarks by stating that,

“We live in a world, and in a country, where we try to treat everyone equally and fairly. This is a discussion we need to have. There is a process. We will pass this on to the Community and Economic Development Committee in order to explore our various options to make sure all sides of this issue are equally and fairly recognized.”

Councilmember Bower followed by sharing, “I think it’s important we band together against discrimination of any kind, whether it is based on sexual orientation, or race, or any other protected class.“

They did not provide a full timetable other than Councilmember Levan agreeing to place a draft ordinance on the agenda for the next meeting of the Community and Economic Development Committee. The ordinance could come before the Town Council for a first reading as soon as late September.

The GSA of Bloomsburg University’s PSEC Delegate, Kyle Boyes, was in attendance tonight with PSEC Executive Director Jason Landau Goodman. Kyle was unable to speak during the open comment period because of a stringent rule which requires citizens to register the week before the meeting – which was as the situation was unfolding. Kyle shared with the Keystone Student Voice that, “I have high hopes that the ordinance will be passed. We plan to work with the Town government on this issue and make sure that they see support on this from the student and youth communities in Bloomsburg.”

Packed RoomEarlier on Monday, the Bloomsburg University GSA and PSEC sent a joint letter to all the Town Council members to ask for their serious consideration of adopting an LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination ordinance. The organizations offered any resources and support they may need through the process of banning anti-LGBT discrimination in Town policy. Several PSEC leaders have been helping lead local non-discrimination ordinance work in their home communities since 2009, before the coalition formed.

When Bloomsburg University resumes for the fall semester, it will be in time for the next meeting when the ordinance will be brought up. GSA leaders will certainly be in attendance to directly voice their support as young members of the Bloomsburg community.

Bloomsburg is the only Town in Pennsylvania, and operates similar to a borough government. In total, there are 2,562 municipalities in Pennsylvania which are either cities, boroughs, or townships, or a town. 33 municipalities in the state have adopted a local non-discrimination ordinance inclusive of gender identity and sexual orientation. The Keystone State has the most number of individually adopted LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination ordinances without a statewide law banning LGBT discrimination.

Pittsburgh City Council to Update Transgender Inclusion in Non-Discrimination Policy

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Pittsburgh City Council President Bruce Kraus introduced an ordinance this morning to include ‘gender identity or expression’ as an outright protected class in the city’s non-discrimination policy. Ordinance 2014-0644 will amend the current city law to place gender identity protection among the other protected classes rather than keep it buried within the existing definition of sex. In recognizing that gender identity is a distinct protected class, transgender and gender non-conforming Pittsburghers will finally be fully included in non-discrimination protections.

Of the 33 municipalities across Pennsylvania which have adopted an LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination ordinance, 28 explicitly state gender identity as a protected class. All 28 ordinances passed after Erie County’s law in early 2002 specifically have ‘gender identity’ listed amongst the other protected classes – including Allegheny County’s policy in 2009. Pittsburgh first passed a non-discrimination policy inclusive of sexual orientation in 1990, and later amended it to include transgender individuals in 1997 by sneaking in a broader definition of gender under the definition of “sex.”

Five of the six ordinances passed before Allentown’s in 2002 buried gender identity protections in either the definition of ‘Sex’ or ‘Sexual Orientation’ [Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, York, Lancaster, Erie County]. Many of these definitions are problematic and archaic. Philadelphia, which was the first in the state to adopt a non-discrimination law inclusive of sexual orientation in 1982, only provided gender identity protections starting in May 2002.

It is critical for gender identity be outright recognized as the protected class it is in these municipalities in order to rightly inform workers, businesses, and residents.

Not many people may intimately read the Pittsburgh City Code to understand that transgender people are shielded from discrimination. However, those who work and live in the city are regularly exposed to Pittsburgh’s equal opportunity statement on official documents and job postings. Today, the City’s operating policy on Equal Employment Opportunity does not even mention gender identity.

In advancing this ordinance, City Council will affirm that there is absolutely nothing to be shameful about in being transgender or gender non-conforming in Pittsburgh. It’s a minor clerical change, but inspires a new chapter of visibility for transgender Pittsburghers in policy.

The Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition joins with the larger Pittsburgh LGBT community in calling for this important update. PSEC applauds the Pittsburgh City Council for being the first of the five municipalities with the omission in policy to address this issue.

PSEC leaders had a very productive meeting with Council President Kraus last week about this concern, among others. He is the first openly gay member of Pittsburgh City Council – and was elected the council president for the first time in January 2014.

Youth Leaders Move into Site of Future Bayard Rustin House

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This afternoon, Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition staff signed a lease to move into the first floor of the property that will eventually become the Bayard Rustin House: Pennsylvania’s Youth Action Center. The house is located on Walnut Street directly across the street from the State Capitol.

PSEC launched the Time to Rise Campaign on May 29th with an initial goal to raise $30,000 by June 30th. During the month of June, youth leaders reached out to family and friends for financial support. Staff also scheduled an information session for the Pennsylvania LGBT Equality Caucus and the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus for June 26th to brief legislators on the groundbreaking project. Unfortunately, the session was postponed due to last minute scheduling of caucus meetings during the hectic budget season.

PSEC Executive Director Jason Landau Goodman commented on the continuing fundraising efforts, “we are fully optimistic that our relationships with community stakeholders will allow us to secure the goal to open the center.”

This headquarters for the Pennsylvania LGBTQ advocacy community will provide a centralized home for young activists to design and advance policies that promote a more affirming commonwealth. Specifically, The Bayard Rustin House will increase our capacity to win on issues regarding non-discrimination, hate crimes, transgender rights, homeless youth, and foster care by allowing young advocates direct access to lawmakers and community stakeholders.

The date of the official opening for the Bayard Rustin House has yet to be determined, however, PSEC Coordinating Committee Convener, Turner Stulting, speculates that there will be a formal launching event to coincide with the new legislative session in January 2015.

In the mean time, the house will be used as a central location for Time to Rise fundraising campaign work and internal leadership planning. Fundraising is projected to extend the length of the 2014 year as leaders work to secure enough funds to buy the three-story property.

From the Time to Rise campaign website: The Bayard Rustin House will be specifically used as the central location to plan regional and state campaigns, hold statewide leadership meetings, facilitate advanced advocacy trainings, host community programs, and be the overall bustling headquarters of the Pennsylvania LGBTQ youth justice movement.

South Williamsport Cancels ‘Spamalot’; No Homosexuality in Small Town Pennsylvania

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South Williamsport Cancels 2015 Production of Spamalot;
Principal Claims Homosexuality Does Not Exist in Their Town*

^^^^^

*UPDATE – July 3, 2014

WNEP has redacted part of their story in which Principal Smith cited “homosexuality” as the main reason for his decision, and that he referenced that no LGBTQ people exist in South Williamsport. These were apparently NOT part of the email. The district administration has remained silent as of now in speaking out in support of LGBTQ students going forward, or apologizing for the miscommunication.

^^^^^

South Williamsport Junior/Senior High School in central Lycoming County announced on Tuesday that they would cancel an upcoming production of Spamalot, a popular musical comedy which continues its run on Broadway and recently finished a two year revival at London’s West End. While the Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition understands that this show contains many adult themes which may be too lewd for a high school audience, the coalition is outraged by the process by which the show was cancelled.

The South Williamsport Area High School principal, Jesse Smith, wrote in an email that they cancelled the show explicitly due to the “homosexual themes.” According to Dawn Burch, the Director of the School’s Drama Department, the email from Principal Smith explained that homosexuality isn’t something that happens in conservative South Williamsport.

The drama department was planning on editing the musical’s adult content to be appropriate for a wider age range. Burch is now being forced to select another show for their spring 2015 performance. The Superintendent claimed the decision was made to avoid controversy.

While canceling the musical due to the sexual content may be an appropriate decision, stating that there is not an LGBT presence in the community is unacceptable and simply not true. The Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition’s Assistant Convener, Dan Warner, is a 2011 graduate of South Williamsport Area High School. “As a South Williamsport alumnus who is gay, I am sincerely disappointed by the administration’s recent decision. South Williamsport High School was an important place for me to develop academically and personally. During my time with the theater department, I came to accept I was gay. All students should be provided with a safe and inclusive environment to be themselves. I fear this decision will greatly harm such spaces.”

Dan Warner has sent a letter to the South Williamsport Area School District Board of Directors and their superintendent asking them to censure the principal for his remarks and make a pledge to support LGBT students in the district.

Announcing the Time to Rise Campaign

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Announcing the Time to Rise Campaign
Establishing the Center for LGBTQ Pennsylvania

Click Here for Campaign Website

Friends,

Our recent win of marriage equality in Pennsylvania is wonderful, but does not in the least mean our work is done. LGBTQ people across the commonwealth continue to experience desperate circumstances of discrimination, poverty, and violence, especially queer and trans youth.

And that is why three years ago young LGBTQ advocates banded together to form the Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition. PSEC has become a fierce advocate by and for LGBTQ youth in our state – uniting thousands of young activists for social justice. Specifically we have championed the Pennsylvania Safe Schools Act which has become the most co-sponsored safe schools bill in state history with over 100 legislators in support. The LGBTQ youth movement in Pennsylvania has never been stronger.

However, the LGBTQ equality movement in PA is stalled for future success without a formal headquarters in Harrisburg to provide critically needed working space. As students we are losing precious time and resources with repeated treks to Harrisburg from our homes on campuses across the state. Our key advocates need to have a base of operations. The Bayard Rustin House: Pennsylvania’s Youth Action Center will provide a centralized home for effective young activists to design and advance policies that will promote a more affirming commonwealth.

Legacy

The time is now for us to make a serious investment in the LGBTQ movement of Pennsylvania. A headquarters will allow us to increase our capacity and win on issues such as non-discrimination, hate crimes, transgender rights, homeless youth, and foster care.

The Pennsylvania Youth Action Center will allow advocates direct access to lawmakers and community stakeholders. Other movements with influence in our state government have a substantial headquarters next to the Capitol. Every meaningful movement has a home.

This is why we are asking our closest allies, you, our friends and family, to ensure the Bayard Rustin House becomes a reality.
With your support, tangible change for young LGBTQ Pennsylvanians will be realized.

We need to raise an initial $30,000 for the center’s down payment. Every contribution is critically important to opening our doors. This will not happen without your help.

You can help ensure LGBTQ youth are authentically represented in Harrisburg. We know firsthand the hardships facing young Pennsylvanians. PSEC has already made sure LGBTQ youth are no longer invisible in state policy work. Investing in the Bayard Rustin House now will allow us to further develop innovative solutions to our most pressing challenges.

At the heart of every successful social justice movement is a thriving core of young activists dedicated to change. We have the activists. Help us make that change.

Sincerely,
The Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition

The Bayard Rustin House will be used for the following purposes:

[checklist]

  • Campaign planning amongst regional and state young LGBTQ advocates
  • Private strategic planning meetings for executive youth leaders
  • Space to facilitate trainings for rising leaders, professional development for current advocates
  • Meeting space with key state stakeholders
  • Accommodations for PSEC advocates to stay overnight while coming to Harrisburg for meetings with legislators and government officials.
  • Space for meetings with legislators and community
  • Office space for headquartering the organization and movement
  • Open space for established LGBTQ community organizations to have key meetings for free, as community support continues
  • Space for the physical archives of the statewide LGBTQ movement – basement. Log it before it before history before important details are forgotten
  • Space for PSEC events and programs in Harrisburg – for fundraising, education, and community engagement[/checklist]

The Future Bayard Rustin House

The 2014 ‘Trans 100’ Celebrates Pennsylvania Leaders

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On Sunday, March 30th, the 2014 Trans 100 was reveled at a celebration event in Chicago. The Trans 100 is a list to honor living transgender community leaders. For the second year, Pennsylvania leaders were featured among the cohort.

Before the first honorees were named, Jen Richards, a Co-Director of the Trans 100, said to the audience:

“I want to remind everyone that this is not a ‘top 100,’ this is not a ‘best of.’

100 is meant to be a sampling of what our community has to offer. It’s just a glimpse.

We choose 100, because if we get up to 100, that is just a way of saying we have countless people in this community doing incredible work. It is specifically curated so that we have everyone represented, so that no trans person who thinks they are alone, who thinks that they are not trans, or that they are not trans enough, or that they are doing the wrong thing, can look at this list and see something of themselves in it and feel that they are a part of this community.”

The 2014 Trans 100 includes the following Pennsylvanians.

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Photo: PSEC

Charlene Arcila (Philadelphia) Co-Founder of the Philadelphia Trans Health Conference, longtime trans rights advocate [2014 Pennsylvania Youth Action Conference Plenary Speaker]

Stallworth_Dionne_bySuziNas

Photo: Philadelphia Gay News

A. Dionne Stallworth (Philadelphia) Founding member of Gender PAC, longtime advocate on housing and mental health issues

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Photo: Garden of Peace Project

Michael David Battle (Pittsburgh) Founder and Director of the Garden of Peace Project

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Photo: Studio34Yoga

Shay(den) Gonzalez (Philadelphia) Director of Program Development at the Safe Spaces Project, former Youth of Color Coordinator at the National Youth Advocacy Coalition

Also among this year’s honorees are Alison Gill, the current Government Affairs Director of the Trevor Project, who was a featured speaker at the 2011 Pennsylvania Youth Action Conference; and Sarah McBride, Special Assistant on LGBT Issues at the Center for American Progress, who was a plenary speaker last month at the 2014 Pennsylvania Youth Action Conference.

The 2013 Trans 100 featured the following Pennsylvanians.

Allyson Robinson (Jermyn)   Former Executive Director of OutServe-SLDN
[2014 Pennsylvania Youth Action Conference Keynote Speaker]
Che Gossett (Philadelphia)  Author and AIDS activist, Program Assistant at the Leeway Foundation
Jenny Boylan (Valley Forge)   GLAAD Board Member, New York Times bestselling author
Mara Keisling (Harrisburg)
 Founding Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality
[2011 Pennsylvania Youth Action Conference Keynote Speaker]
Van Nguyen (Philadelphia) Steering Committee member of hotpot!
[2014 Pennsylvania Youth Action Conference Plenary Speaker]

The keynote speakers for this year’s event were Laverne Cox and Kye Allums. Laverne spoke last Tuesday at the University of Pennsylvania, while Kye traveled directly from Bethlehem, PA, to Chicago after speaking at this year’s Lehigh Valley LGBTQIA Intercollegiate Conference. Kye will speak twice this week at the West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

The 2014 Trans 100 event can be viewed online here.

The featured image in this article is a collage from the Trans 100 of 2013. At time of this posting, the Trans 100 has not released official media for this year’s list, but is expected to do so shortly. The image will be then updated for 2014.

Whitpain Township Passes Resolution in Support of LGBTQ Equality

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Whitpain Township officials passed a resolution confirming their support of LGBTQ equality measures in the Pennsylvania Legislature on March 18, stating that they are in favor of any action or legislation “to ensure that all persons, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, enjoy the full benefits of citizenship and are afforded equal opportunities for employment, housing, public and private contracts and the use of public accommodations.”

The resolution was first discussed at a February 18th meeting, when Supervisor Ken Wollman proposed that the township pass an LGBTQ inclusive non-discrimination ordinance. The Times Herald reported that fellow board members were supportive of LGBTQ equality measures, but felt that the issue was best left up to the state government. The board’s operations committee then began drafting the resolution to urge the state government to take action.

Whitpain is located within Montgomery County, in close proximity to Norristown. Montgomery County officials announced in March of 2013 that they are currently exploring the possibility of passing a county-wide LGBTQ inclusive non-discrimination ordinance.

Had Whitpain passed an LGBTQ inclusive non-discrimination ordinance, it would have been the 34th municipality in the state to do so. A non-discrimination ordinance was passed in Downingtown on Wednesday, March 19, making it the 33rd municipality in the state to protect LGBTQ citizens in employment, housing, and public accommodations.

PA House Adopts Anti-Bullying License Plate Bill; Fails to Consider Actual Policy

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The Pennsylvania House of Representatives unanimously voted to create an anti-bullying themed license plate on Tuesday, March 18th. Meanwhile, the most supported anti-bullying bill in state history, the Pennsylvania Safe Schools (PASS) Act, remains stalled in the House Education Committee.

The anti-bullying license plate, HB 845, was introduced by Rep. Karen Boback (R-117) on March 11th and passed by the chamber one week later. The PASS Act, HB 156, was first introduced in September 2012, and re-introduced in January 2013. Despite gaining a record-breaking 102 co-sponsors, backed by 50 Republican and 52 Democratic representatives, the PASS Act has yet to go to the House floor for a vote. Rep. Boback is a co-sponsor of the PASS Act.

Pennsylvania’s anti-bullying law is among the weakest in the nation, according to the US Department of Education. The PASS Act will update the current law to establish a clear and accessible reporting mechanism for incidents of bullying, provide tools for faculty and staff to address incidents of school violence, and train educators to promote safer schools. The PASS Act is supported by a large grassroots coalition of students, educators, clergy, educational organizations, and mayors within Pennsylvania.

If enacted into law, the anti-bullying license plate will be available upon vehicle registration for an additional $35 fee. Fifteen dollars from the sale of each plate will be allocated to a Bullying Awareness and Prevention Fund, which will be controlled by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. A design for the license plate has yet to be announced.

The PASS Partnership, the coalition of organizations backing the bill, supports efforts to raise awareness and funds for anti-bullying efforts. However, it is wild to know that the Pennsylvania House was able to pass an anti-bullying license plate measure in just one week, with unanimous support, but cannot push through a desperately needed update to the Pennsylvania School Code regarding the issue itself.

Funding more anti-bullying programs will be helpful, but it does not guarantee lasting or institutional change. Without effective policies to shape and support anti-bullying efforts, Pennsylvania schools do not have the necessary tools to reduce incidents of school harassment and violence.

Pennsylvanians may contact their legislators to urge their support for the PASS Act at pasafeschoolsact.com.