Category Archives: Pennsylvania

WHAT PRIDE MEANS TO ME: Feeling the love on and off the dancefloor

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The Keystone Student Voice celebrates June 2012 as LGBTQ Pride Month by hosting a compilation of personal essays written by students/youth across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on what “pride” means to them.

Philly Pride came and left without me giving much thought to it. As a recent graduate of college, I was broke and had a family to spend time with and dinner to prepare. But, while cooking with my girlfriend and listening to Ingrid Michaelson on Pandora, I remembered what my pride was: my healthy, beautiful family; my education; having a roof over my head in a great area of the city; coming home to someone who loves me and challenges me intellectually; my identity.

My sexuality is fully woven into every thread of the fabric of my life. Do I need to pay 10 dollars to be with large crowds of sweaty people still navigating their fabrics, or fully content in their identities, surrounded by the sounds of Beyonce and Brittney? Although I do enjoy a Thursday night on Sisters’ dance floor, this year Philly Pride just wasn’t where my heart was. A year ago, I was waving a flag or wearing a rainbow belt to every kind of gay shindig I could get to. I have matured and evolved in the past year and have begun to simply live my life. I am obviously active in the LGBTQ communities because of my work and my studies and passion for equity and justice. But now my pride is usually subconscious. My every day is powered by pride, passion, and love. When obstacles arise, I take them on. Can it be scary? Absolutely, but that’s life. It’s a roller-coaster of challenges — especially for a queer woman.

I have had the privilege of a supportive community of family, friends and mentors and hope to never have to walk the paths of individuals I’ve read about. I’m currently nose-deep in Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg and Jess’ story of love, loss, and the world of butches; and the pain these people suffered is insurmountable to that which we rarely endure here in the City of Brotherly Love, Sisterly Affection, and Genderless Independence.

I like to think of Outfests and Pride celebrations as moments to celebrate together as communities but also as a time of remembrance of the lives lost and silenced because of their pride. I am proud of my community of queer, straight, trans, fluidly ambiguous friends and family. I will never let a festival overshadow that. I am me. You are you. I live my life proudly everyday.

This post was written by Natasha Wirth, PSEC’s director of development and student at Arcadia University in Philadelphia.

University of Pittsburgh denies claims of discrimination

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The University of Pittsburgh last week filed a motion defending itself against a complaint in April by the Rainbow Alliance claiming that officials had discriminated against transgender students by enacting a new restroom policy.

The complaint made by the Rainbow Alliance to the Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations alleges that the university had unfairly decided on new guidelines for its dormitories, locker rooms and, in particular, its bathrooms, which would require transgender students to provide a birth certificate to determine their appropriate facilities.

University spokesmen maintain there has not been any discrimination reported against one particular individual, making the complaint a moot point. Other officials refused to comment due to ensuing litigation.

The Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition responded with this statement in April:

“The university is ignoring their equal access statement by actively discriminating against and creating a hostile environment for transgender students. We call on the University to redact this medieval policy – to force transgender students to provide a birth certificate to use the bathroom. We must work on improving the campus for transgender students by adding trans-inclusive policies and providing gender-neutral bathrooms and housing.”

Rainbow Alliance has expressed an intention to dispute the defense, and will follow suit with litigation as necessary.

This post was written by Brandon Baker, director of communications for the Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition and student at Temple University. Brandon can be contacted at bbaker@pennsec.org.

 

 

Miss Pennsylvania transphobic?

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If every supermodel pageant contestant shouts for “world peace,” that sure isn’t evident based on the example set by the reigning Miss Pennsylvania.

Sheena Monnin, the 27-year-old representative of Pennsylvania in the Miss USA Pageant, has publicly attacked the Miss Universe Organization following her recent resignation as Miss Pennsylvania. Monnin called the pageant and its organizers “fraudulent” and criticized the organization’s morality for supporting transgender contestants.

Reads an email sent by Monnin to the organization Monday morning:

“Randy, I am officially and irrevocably resigning the title of Miss Pennsylvania USA 2012. I refuse to be part of a pageant system that has so far and so completely removed itself from its foundational principles as to allow and support natural born males to compete in it… This goes against every moral fiber of my being.”

Monnin has since changed her original claims cited in the email of the organization being immoral by instead zooming-in on new allegations that the pageant was rigged and had already chosen five finalists before the competition had even begun.

While we don’t doubt there are some sketchy behind-the-scenes practices in pageants, it seems fair to say the contest’s organizers were probably better judges of character than Ms. Monnin, considering their list so wisely laid absent of the Pennsylvania sore loser beauty queen.

More on the story.

This post was written by Brandon Baker, PSEC director of communications and student at Temple University. Brandon can be reached at bbaker@pennsec.org.

WHAT PRIDE MEANS TO ME: Look How Far We’ve Come

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The Keystone Student Voice celebrates June 2012 as LGBTQ Pride Month by hosting a compilation of personal essays written by students/youth across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on what “pride” means to them.

 

Stepping off of my train into the city, lugging my bags down the street and clumsily dropping one on my toe as I stumbled over myself, I stopped in my tracks for a brief moment to catch my breath before finally looking upward to see something pleasantly unexpected. Towering above my head was a scrolling text advertisement displayed from a skyscraper that advertised June as “Philadelphia LGBT Pride Month” – with the lettering decked-out in all things rainbow, of course. On a personal level, the in-your-face neon colors seemed a bit much for my taste, but beyond that existed a heartwarming realization that progress has in fact been made.

Having just come from a visit to my hometown, a loud and proud member of the “conservative T,” I was instantly reminded of the stark contrasts to be made in a state that is as diverse as it is culturally schizophrenic. To the far east and far west, we have bustling urban centers that – for the most part – are welcoming to LGBTQ life and frown upon acts of discrimination and intolerance. Philadelphia boasts anti-discrimination laws that are few and far in between in the commonwealth, and Pittsburgh touts its own set of municipal laws that come to the aid of LGBTQ individuals, albeit like a knight in dull, somewhat rustic armor bought for a bargain at a thrift store. Not perfect protection, but there nonetheless, and leading the pack as inspiring examples for the less progressive areas to be encountered in the rest of the state.

But more to the point, I found that, standing on the street in the gayest clothes to be found at H&M and sporting a fabulous new haircut, I actually was proud. Proud to feel at home in a city that is placed like an aimless dart in the surroundings of a largely homophobic region when viewed from the grander northeastern perspective, and proud to see that – Philadelphia, at least – does not treat its Pride event as something “hush, hush” or unwelcome in the community. This, for me, was an overwhelming new feeling.

Pride events have come quite a long way in the last few decades – what I remember as a child being broadcast by the nightly news as “protests” or “marches,” now thrive as meetings of great minds and bodies in the LGBTQ community, serving as a means of celebration rather than a shake of the fist to “the man.” But perhaps that is the biggest difference between what Pride means to someone like me, and what it may mean to a less embracing individual watching from a distance and baselessly analyzing the LGBTQ community like a group of ants clustered under a microscope on a hot, sunny day.

Contemporarily, we view our Pride events as a way of rejoicing and enjoying our progress, expressing our own culture in a very public way and living our lives as entirely free and uninhibited individuals for a single day, with the hope of using this same attitude as a foundation for our lives in the future. We drink, we don our drag get-ups, and dance until our legs go numb and we collapse. Essentially, it’s St. Patrick’s Day for gay people.

Yet our skeptics insist that we protest, disrupt and obnoxiously flaunt our “alternative lifestyles.”

It seems, however, that this is quite the opposite. Pride events no longer are organized as advertisements for equal rights, or at least not directly so. We celebrate with the intention of others taking notice and joining in on the festivities, but we do not aim to convert, brainwash children, nor push forward a far-left agenda that right-wingers continue to suggest we stand for. We merely celebrate as a reminder to the world that we are in fact perfectly equal human beings with nothing to be ashamed of.

We commemorate our Pride events this year with the same passion we draw from as LGBTQ individuals during the other 364 days of the year, channeling all of the feelings of positive energy from these days, injecting them with steroids and unleashing them for a day of extravagant festivities and pure joy. I will undoubtedly see a slew of “haters” and no-fun killjoys holding signs with derogatory labels and senseless words of judgment when Philadelphia’s June 10 Pride Day rolls around, but I will simultaneously remember that for every bigot with a yard sign in the world, there are hundreds, thousands – millions, perhaps, more people with loving hearts that stand up for LGBTQ pride and the wholesome values it really represents.

This reflection was written by Brandon Baker, director of communications for PSEC and student at Temple University. Brandon can be reached at bbaker@pennsec.org.

FROM THE FIELD: A breakdown of a new Gettysburg College survey

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Students know that it is difficult to gain support for and awareness of their LGBTQIA students on campus – especially in Central Pennsylvania – but it proves even more of a challenge to bring out the “T.”

When students at Gettysburg College conducted a survey regarding sexuality awareness, they were expecting transgendered awareness to be at a low. The survey itself was administered by four freshmen enrolled in an introductory Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies course taught by Professor Nathalie Lebon to 129 random Gettysburg College students from over 15 clubs, organizations and sports teams. When they found that 86% of participants identified as heterosexual, that a majority was unaware of the differences between transgendered, transsexual and transvestite, and that 57% of participants clearly defined penetration as being definitive of sexual intercourse, they felt that their expectations for low trans awareness had become a real possibility.

Yet they were soon proven to be happily incorrect.

A majority of participants from the survey agreed there is a difference between sex and gender, that if they see a person “cross dressing” it does not mean that they are gay and that they are probably interacting with LBGTQ individuals on a daily basis.

Most importantly, 66.3% of survey participants were aware of the debate that had been taking place on the campus regarding acceptance of ROTC credits.

As has occurred on many campuses throughout the country, the acceptance of ROTC credits was again scrutinized after the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” The question was: Since gays and lesbians are now allowed to serve openly in the military, should we accept credits we refused to accept prior, or continue a ban because of the remaining discrimination of transgendered individuals. Gettysburg College finally voted to allow ROTC credits to be accepted so long as students enrolled in ROTC show active participation in the school’s GSA, Allies, become Safe-Zone Trained, and continue learning about transgendered issues.

There still is a long way to go to fully represent trans inclusion; however, things are changing slowly but surely for the community, and we all have to remember going forward that the “LGB” must never exclude the “T.”

This post was written by Danielle Hernandez, treasurer of the Gettysburg Allies Club.

Hanover student challenges school board over alleged bullying from teacher

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A student from Hanover, Jared Swank, is standing up to the administration of the Hanover Area School District after a teacher allegedly displayed a video to her students of Swank dancing with his date – a transgendered student – at their prom last Friday.

“Since I’ve come out in eighth grade, I’ve been made fun of by teachers – it’s an on-going thing, and students shouldn’t have to go through this,” Swank said.

Swank insists that his teacher inappropriately filmed him dancing with his date, then proceeding to show the footage to his class in a manner that could be considered bullying.

Swank and his mother, Dawn Mendygral, attended a regularly scheduled school board meeting last night to further address the issue. The board responded to their pleas by agreeing to internally investigate the matter and act accordingly.

Mendygral expressed in a statement on Thursday that she would like to see the teacher fired. The administration, however, does not appear to be making any hasty decisions.

“Once we understand what has occurred, we will do interviews and we will also interview [Mendygral] and [Swank] to understand their position and their statement and obviously the faculty involved and the students in the area,” said John Pericci, board president.

As of this afternoon, Swank still had not spoken to administrators about the incident.

Swank says he went to a guidance counselor a month ago with the goal of bringing to the school a gay advocate to speak and spread awareness of the profound effects of bullying in schools, but has not witnessed follow-up action since the meeting.

PSEC will continue to monitor the situation as events unfold.

 

Day of Silence

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GLSEN’s National Day of Silence will take place tomorrow, April 20, 2012. Since 1996, GLSEN has sponsored this daylong, in-school action to promote support and compassion for all those silenced intheir schools due to bullying and anti-LGBTQ bias. The Day of Silence will be observed by thousands of students across the nation including at hundreds of schools across Pennsylvania.

The 2nd Annual “Pennsylvania: Breaking the Silence – Night of Noise” will take place in the afternoon with over 20 schools across the state. For this event, the schools observing the Day of Silence will break the silence together by releasing special-made balloons at the end of the day.

We join PSEC and PA students in encouraging everyone to change their Facebook (and other social media) profile pictures to one of the logos on here online for the day: http://pennsec.org/campus-and-local-resources/day-of-silence/.  You can email info@pennsec.org ifyou would like one made for your town.

Each registered school for the “PA: Breaking the Silence – Night of Noise” was sent printed balloons. As students gather at a central landmark at their school toward the end of the day, we asked that everyone write words or messages about how it feels to be silent with permanent marker on the balloon. After everyone in the group has had a chance to contribute, there will be final community remarks, followed by the balloons being released signifying the departure of silence from oppression.

Immediately following, organizations are planning avariety of events of noise, “Night of Noise”, including concerts and community forums to continue the dialogue. We will assemble pictures from all the different events in a collage and post it back here. What are you doing for the Day of Silence – Night of Noise?

Nichole Mahoney is the Pittsburgh Regional Coordinator for the Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition and an undergraduate student at the University of Pittsburgh. Nichole is from Bethel Park in Allegheny County.

Pennsylvania Women: 12 for 2012 – Part Two

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As we wrap up Women’s History Month 2012, we are reminded to celebrate women in the LGBTQ community today and all throughout the year. PSEC youth have selected 12 women in Pennsylvania who are making it better for LGBTQ youth in our state for this two-part series. Thank you to all of the courageous women below to have made our communities better places for all people! Check out Part One here.

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Olivia Benson (Pittsburgh)
Director of Youth Policy for the City of Pittsburgh

As the Director of Youth Policy for the City of Pittsburgh, Olivia is a rock star ally to LGBTQ young people. A young person herself, Olivia is a recent graduate of Carnegie Mellon University and a Western PA native. She has made a mission of her office to develop meaningful support from the City Government and the Pittsburgh Mayor’s office for LGBTQ youth. By facilitating working groups and city commissions, she has helped critically elevate the discourse around LGBTQ issues and concerns regarding all youth in the city. Pittsburgh youth are truly lucky to have her!

 

 

 

Sue Rankin (State College)
Professor at Penn State University – University Park

Dr. Sue Rankin is regarded as one of the preeminent scholars in the nation on school climate for LGBTQ students. As a professor at Penn State University – University Park, her groundbreaking research has been published in numerous academic journals. She published the 2010 State of Higher Education for LGBT Students which was the first national study to investigate campus climate for LGBTQ students. She is also a co-author of a groundbreaking book: “The Lives of Transgender People.” She was a founding member of the Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals and the Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition. In addition to being a researcher and scholar, she is a mentor and a friend to the many students she works with at Penn State.

 

 

Susan Haugh (Pittsburgh)
Founder and Artistic Director of Dreams of Hope

Susan has been a pillar in the Pittsburgh LGBTQ community for nearly two decades. She is the founder and director of Dreams of Hope (DOH), a Pittsburgh-based LGBTQ and allied youth performance arts ensemble. In addition to DOH, Susan served as the first chair of Pittsburgh Mayor Ravenstahl’s LGBT Advisory Council. Susan taught music in the Pittsburgh Public Schools for six years and, in 1995, she helped establish Pittsburgh’s Renaissance City Women’s Choir. In 2005, she conducted a special chorus at Equality Forum in Philadelphia. Dreams of Hope regularly performs across the region, and most recently with the Washington DC Gay Men’s Chorus. DOH is regarded as one of the most professional LGBTQ youth performing arts organizations in the country. We appreciate all of Susan’s work with DOH – which has directly supported and inspired so many young people to be truly proud of their identities.
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Mara Keisling (Harrisburg)
Founding Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality

Mara is known as one of the most influential and effective leaders in the national LGBTQ equality movement. As the founding Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality she has been one of the key leaders in the United States to advance transgender equality. Mara has made it a clear part of NCTE’s agenda to improve conditions for transgender young people through outreach, collaboration, and education. Born in Scranton and raised in Harrisburg, she boldly identifies as Pennsylvanian. She has held pivotal roles in LGBTQ advocacy organizations in Pennsylvania, including being a co-chair of the PA Gender Rights Coalition, a board member of the Central PA LGBT Community Center Coalition, and on the steering committee of the Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition. She was the Keystone Speaker for PSEC’s first Youth Action Conference at the University of Pennsylvania in October 2011. Mara routinely returns to Pennsylvania to motivate young leaders and for this we love her dearly!
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Ebony Davis (Erie)
Member of the Erie County Human Relations Commission

Ebony is a newly appointed member of the Erie County Human Relations Commission. While a student at Mercyhurst College and raising her children in Erie, she serves on the board of this governmental agency which is responsible for adjudicating cases which include discrimination complaints on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Erie County is the third most populous county in the state. She is involved with numerous LGBTQ community groups including LBT Women of Erie and Erie Pride. We are thankful for Ebony’s leadership in Erie!
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Susan Smith (Wilkes-Barre)
Former President of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Rainbow Alliance

As President of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Rainbow Alliance Board from 2006-2011, Susan helped oversee major transformations for the regional LGBTQ community. With her leadership, staff and board members helped the NEPA Rainbow Alliance to be a dynamic community institution. The organization continues to grow to the current needs of the NEPA LGBTQ community. Last summer, the NEPA Rainbow Alliance Safe Zone Project was formed which will launch the first LGBTQ youth support group in the region. She is a warm and compassionate leader who we are continually excited to work with!

Pennsylvania Women: 12 for 2012 – Part One

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As we wrap up Women’s History Month 2012, we are reminded to celebrate women in the LGBTQ community today and all throughout the year. PSEC youth have selected 12 women in Pennsylvania who are making it better for LGBTQ youth in our state for this two-part series. Thank you to all of the courageous women below to have made our communities better places for all people!
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Lyndsey Sickler (Pittsburgh)
President of the Pittsburgh Gay and Lesbian Community Center
Director of Youth Services at the PERSAD Center

Lyndsey is the current Board President of the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Pittsburgh. A native of Western Pennsylvania, Lyndsey has become a central heart of the Pittsburgh LGBTQ community. At the GLCC, she oversees all programming, education and advocacy components to the center. In this volunteer position she advocates every day to strengthen LGBTQA Pittsburgh. Lyndsey is also the Director of Youth Services for the PERSAD Center, the region’s first and largest provider of LGBTQ health services. She works with youth daily to improve the welfare of LGBTQ young people.

 

 

Debra McClain (Harrisburg)
President of the Central Pennsylvania Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce

Deb McClain is in the business of getting business done. A veteran business executive, Deb is the new leader of Central PA’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce. In this position she has become a meaningful role model for women business leaders in Central PA. She has helped lead incredible developments with the Chamber in community outreach with LGBTQA-owned businesses, as well as helping have grown the Chamber to even have a member as far as Erie, Pennsylvania. We look forward to the work ahead for Deb in the Chamber. Deb has a positive light which draws those she works with together. We are very thankful for her leadership and support in Central PA!

 

 

Roxanne Hitchcock (Oil City)
Main subject in Out in the Silence
Proprietor of the Latonia Ballroom and Event Center

Taking her journey into the public sphere, Roxanne is one of the central characters in the groundbreaking 2009 documentary “Out in the Silence.” The film captures her life being an out lesbian and has been shared with thousands of people on PBS and film screenings across the nation and around the world. She continues to be the main proprietor of the Latonia Ballroom and Event Center. Her dedication to supporting the rural NWPA LGBTQ community shows through her leadership of LBT Women of Erie and various programming in the region, including events through the Latonia. She is a community force for good and supports youth in her work.

 

 

Carrie Jacobs (Philadelphia)
Founding Executive Director of the Attic Youth Center

Carrie is the founding Executive Director of the Attic Youth Center, Philadelphia’s LGBTQ youth community center. Carrie has been instrumental in improving the lives of thousands of LGBTQ youth throughout the city. She helped create a safe space for queer youth in an ‘attic’ nearly 20 years ago and has since led the Attic Youth Center to become one of the most comprehensive LGBTQ youth centers in the nation. For those of us who have met Carrie, we know she is incredibly modest about her work. We must commend her for helping so many of us youth through her groundbreaking support with the Attic. While the journey to make it better for LGBTQ youth continues, we are ever thankful and proud that Carrie is at the helm at the Attic.

 

 

Jeanine Rusham and Kristy Snow (Central PA)
President and Vice-President of TransCentral PA

Jeanine and Kristy are the President and Vice-President of TransCentral PA. The regional organization is a nexus of support and community for transgender people in Central PA and their allies. Through their many programs, meetings and outreach efforts, TransCentral PA has become a national model of regional support for transgender and gender-variant people. TransCentral PA annually hosts an International Transgender Day of Remember event on the steps of the Pennsylvania capitol and the Keystone Conference in Harrisburg, which has become the third largest transgender focused conference in the nation. The Keystone Conference is currently underway in Harrisburg! They have a strong commitment to supporting transgender youth including outreach for the Keystone Conference and their events throughout the year.

 

Gloria Casarez (Philadelphia)
Director of LGBT Affairs for the City of Philadelphia

Gloria Casarez is the first Director of LGBT Affairs for the City of Philadelphia. A highly effective community leader – she represents LGBTQA Philadelphians in the Mayor’s office with outreach and policy. Before her appointment to the Mayor’s administration, Gloria was the Executive Director of the Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative (GALAEI), a founding organizer of the Philadelphia Dyke March, a former Co-Chair of the Board of Directors of Prevention Point Philadelphia, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Bread and Roses Community Fund. She regularly speaks to young people across the city about the importance of advocacy, community, and empowerment through multiple identities. Gloria is a person who we believe represents the best of Philadelphia in our government and is a true inspiration to so many of us youth. We are proud of Gloria for her leadership in City Hall!

HB 1434: Marriage *Protection Amendment

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Tomorrow, March 13, 2012, the Pennsylvania House State Government Committee will vote on HB 1434. This bill would make a constituional ban on marriage equality. The committee has 25 members, with the head of the Republican State Government Committee, Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler), being the lead sponsor of the bill. If this bill passes the committee tomorrow, it will head to the full Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

There are 15 Republicans and 10 Democrats on this committee.

There are 9 Representatives on the committee who are co-sponsors of HB 1434: Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler), Rep. Jim Cox (R-Berks), Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield, Elk), Rep. Rob W. Kauffman (R-Cumberland, Franklin), Rep. Jerry Knowles (R-Berks, Schuylkill), Rep. Timothy Krieger (R-Westmoreland), Rep. Mark Mustio (R-Allegheny), Rep. Brad Roae (R-Crawford), Rep. Jerry Stern (R-Blair).

There are 6 key swing votes who could defeat the bill in committee: Rep. Seth Grove (R-York), Rep. Lynda Culver (R-Northumberland, Synder), Rep. George Dunbar (R-Westmoreland), Rep. Eli Evankovich (R-Armstrong, Westmoreland), Rep. Glen R. Grell (R-Cumberland), Rep. Marcia M. Hahn (R-Northampton).

The letter below was delivered today on behalf of PSEC to all the Representatives on the State Government Committee.

From Pennsylvania Youth
TO: House State Government Committee Members
FROM: Jason Landau Goodman, Executive Director – The Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition
DATE: March 12, 2012
RE: State Government Committee Voting Meeting

Dear Representatives,

Tomorrow you will be voting on HB 1434 which would implement a constitutional ban on marriage equality in our commonwealth. As a coalition representing thousands of young Pennsylvanians across our state from over 30 student organizations, I am writing to you on behalf of the Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition (PSEC) to urge you not to support this bill. We believe amending our state’s most sacred document with discrimination does not represent the best interests of Pennsylvanians.

When our legislators introduce bills with the specific purpose of denying certain people equal rights it sends a message to us youth that some lives are worth less than others. If we are to consider that we are all created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-28), then respectfully we must ask: what would be the message the Pennsylvania legislature wants to send its citizens following tomorrow’s vote?

We ask you as our legislators to focus on substantive issues we are facing every day in Pennsylvania including job creation and public safety. Legislating negative social policy has the potential to only hurt hard working Pennsylvanians. We believe this is especially true given that same-sex marriage is already not legal in Pennsylvania and there has been an overwhelming statewide decrease in support for this legislation since 2006.

We work with many of you already regarding safe schools issues. PSEC was founded last April to unite youth throughout the state to work on supporting anti-bullying efforts. Concerns about marriage equality are not part of our platform. However, legislative discussions regarding equal access to government toward any population by our elected officials directly impact the self-worth of Pennsylvania youth.

Tomorrow, you will be in effect discussing the human value of your neighbors, colleagues, friends, and family who may identify as gay or lesbian. Eventually, any negative statements that may be given tomorrow will be heard by a lonely middle school student contemplating hurting herself, or a teenager in rural Pennsylvania considering taking his own life. Your discussions tomorrow will influence our school-yard bullies and those who would incite violence against a person because of who they love.

I hope tomorrow you will not vote in favor of HB 1434 to show that love and respect can triumph over hatred, that the light can always overcome the darkness.

Sincerely,

Jason Landau Goodman
Executive Director, The Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition