About The Pennsylvania Youth Congress

The Pennsylvania Youth Congress advances freedom and justice for young LGBTQ Pennsylvanians through advocating for responsible public policy. As a youth-led organization, PYC represents citizens working toward safer schools and thriving communities across the commonwealth.

State Representatives Condemn “Parent” Designations on Birth Certificates

 

On Thursday, Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-12) along with 26 other State Representatives sent a letter to Governor Wolf urging him to rescind the policy update that provides for Pennsylvania birth certificates to include gender neutral language for noted parents.

In 2017, the Pennsylvania Department of Health updated the birth certificate forms to include spaces for one or two “Parents”, rather than the gendered language of “Mother” and “Father”.

This change is gender inclusive as it makes these forms accessible to couples of the same gender and those parents who do not identify along a gender binary. In the past, for example, a lesbian couple would have to put (as able) one parent name in the “Father” designation.

The letter is here below. News outlets have begun reporting on the letter, such as here by Fox 43.

Governor Wolf and Acting Secretary of Health + Physician General Dr. Rachel Levine are openly supportive of LGBTQ inclusion. We will continue to monitor this development and work to provide education to legislators on the importance of government forms being inclusive and accessible to all.

 

Four Pennsylvanians Named in the Out 100 for 2017

Out Magazine has released the ‘Out 100’ since 1994, featuring individuals who the publication considers having made compelling contributions to society as out LGBTQ people. 

Every year, we highlight the Pennsylvanians who were selected.

For 2017, four Pennsylvanians — though all who were born and raised in the commonwealth but now live in New York City — have been named to the Out 100 list for 2017:

Kyle Abraham, Dancer and Choreographer (From Pittsburgh)
Jonathan Groff, Entertainer of the Year (From Lancaster)
Chris McCarthy, President of MTV (From Levittown)
Benj Pasek, Songwriter (From Lower Merion)

Kyle Abraham returns home to Pittsburgh THIS Friday and Saturday, November 10-11, for a special performance. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has published this feature on Abraham and the show here. Tickets are online here through Trust Arts.

Songwriter Max Vernon and actor Nathan Lee Graham are honored in this year’s Out 100, who both performed last year at our 2016 PYC event in New York City.

Additionally, two honorees this year attended schools in Pennsylvania. Playwright Paula Vogel attended Bryn Mawr College and actor Samira Wiley attended Temple University.

Past honorees from Pennsylvania in recent years include Alison Bechdel, Lee Daniels, Edie Windsor, and Evan Wolfson.

[Pictured: Benj Pasek // Out Magazine]

Pennsylvanians Remember and Celebrate Trans Lives


The International Transgender Day of Remembrance
(TDOR) is held in local communities and campuses across the nation to memorialize those who have been killed due to anti-transgender bigotry. Many victims of anti-transgender violence have been invisible in their communities and attackers not often brought to justice.
The 19th Annual TDOR brings together communities to mourn and honor victims of anti-transgender hate crimes and as a call to action towards the respect of all people regardless of gender identity or expression.

There have been at least 25 murders of trans people in the United States this year. On Tuesday, October 31st, Candace Towns was killed in Macon, GA. She was 30 years-old. 

In Pennsylvania, we mourn and remember Maya Young, 25. She was recently stabbed to death in Philadelphia on February 20, 2016. In 2015, Pennsylvania mourned London Chanel, 21, and Kiesha Jenkins, 22, both black trans women who were killed in Philadelphia. In July 2013, another young trans woman, Diamond Williams, was brutally murdered in Philadelphia. The court case is ongoing in her murder. There have been countless known slayings of transgender people because of their identity around the world since last year. The TDOR website memorializes the murders of over 75 transgender individuals we are aware of in this past year.

Over 25 organized vigils have been held in communities throughout the commonwealth for TDOR in recent years. This was a large increase from just a few events held in Pittsburgh and Southeastern Pennsylvania before 2013.

November is also Transgender Awareness Month. Many communities are not just mourning those lost to violence, but celebrating and lifting up the lives of transgender people. There are wonderful educational and community events set to take place throughout Pennsylvania. Several student organizations are holding Transgender Awareness Weeks. Trans Day of Visibility is annually on March 31st.


Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigils in Pennsylvania

November 20th, 2017

 

Allentown
Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center (522 West Maple Street), November 20th, 7:00pm – 8:30pm

Host: Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center
More Information

Annville
Lebanon Valley College (Miller Chapel Lobby), November 20th, 7:00pm – 8:00pm

Host: LVC Freedom Rings
More Information

Bethlehem
Lehigh University (Williams Global Commons), November 20th, 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Host: Spectrum at Lehigh University
More Information

Bethlehem
Metropolitan Community Church of the Lehigh Valley (1401 Greenview Drive), November 21st, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Hosts: Metropolitan Community Church of the Lehigh Valley, Lehigh Valley Renaissance
More Information

Bloomsburg
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania (KUB Fireside Lounge), November 15th, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Host: Bloomsburg University of PA LGBTQA Resource Center

Bradford
University of Pittsburgh at Bradford (Wick Chapel), November 14th, 12:00pm – 1:00pm

Host: Pitt-Bradford Pride Alliance
More Information

Carlisle
Dickinson College (Social Hall West), November 20th, 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Host: Dickinson College LGBTQ Services
More Information

Collegeville
Thomas Paine Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (3424 Ridge Pike), November 20th, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Host: Thomas Paine Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
More Information

Erie
Erie County Courthouse (140 West 6th Street), November 19th, 1:00pm – 2:00pm

Host: TransFamily of NWPA
More Information

Glen Mills
The Green Church (1501 Middletown Road), November 20th, 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Host: PRYSM Youth Center of Delaware County, Imago Dei, The Green Church

Greensburg
University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg (Campana Chapel), November 15th, 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Host: Pitt Greensburg GSA
More Information

Harrisburg
Pennsylvania State Capitol – Main Steps (3rd and State Streets), November 20th, 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Host: TransCentral PA
More Information

Johnstown
Penn Highlands Community College (101 Community College Way), November 20th, 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Host: Penn Highlands Community College GSA
More Information

Lancaster
Franklin & Marshall College (College Center – Atrium), November 20th, 4:30pm – 5:30pm
Host: SAGA and the ADWC

Lancaster
Grace Unitarian Universalist Church (1947 New Holland Pike), November 20th, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Host: Grace Unitarian Universalist Church

More Information

Lewisburg
Bucknell University (Science Quad), November 14th, 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Host: Bucknell GSA

More Information

Meadville
Diamond Park, November 20th, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Host: Pennsylvania Equality Project

More Information

Milford
TriVersity Center (201 West Harford Street), November 20th, 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Host: TriVersity

More Information

Philadelphia
Penn LGBT Center (3907 Spruce Street), November 15th, 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Host: Penn LGBT Center, Penn CAPS

More Information

Philadelphia
Not One More: Rally and Silent March: Starts at Philadelphia City Hall (3 South Penn Square) and ends at the William Way Community Center, November 20th, 4:30pm – 6:00pm
Host: The Trans Equity Project – a program of GALAEI
More Information

TDoR Vigil: William Way Community Center (1315 Spruce Street), November 20th, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Host: William Way Community Center
More Information

Pittsburgh
Persad Center (5301 Butler Street), November 20th, 5:30pm – 7:00pm

Hosts: TransPride Pittsburgh, Judah Fellowship, Persad Center, Trans YOUniting, and SisTers PGH
More Information

Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh (William Pitt Union Patio + Lawn), November 16th, 9:00pm
Host: Pitt Rainbow Alliance

State College
Penn State University (Old Main Lawn), November 16th, 7:30pm – 8:30pm
Host: Commission on LGBTQ Equity

More Information

State College
Allen Street Gates (Allen Street and College Street), November 19th, 1:00pm – 2:00pm

Host: Centre LGBTQA Support Network

Washington
First Presbyterian Church (100 East Wheeling Street), November 20th, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Host: Washington County GSA, Inc.
More Information

Williamsport
Lycoming College (The Quad), November 20th, 9:15pm – 10:15pm
Host: Lycoming College GSA
More Information

West Chester
Unitarian Congregation of West Chester (501 South High Street), November 20th, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Host: Unitarian Congregation of West Chester
More Information

York
Union Lutheran Church of York (501 South High Street), November 20th, 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Host: Union Lutheran Church of York
More Information

 

 


November 2017 Transgender Awareness Events

 

Lewisburg: Lexi Adsit
Bucknell Unviersity (Commons), November 16th, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Host: Bucknell GSA, LACOS, and Unite & Inspire

More Information

Philadelphia: GenderTalk
Claudia Cohen Hall (249 South 36th Street), November 15th, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Host: Penn Non-Cis

More Information

Pittsburgh: The “THIC Event” (Trans History in Color)
Sanctuary Pittsburgh (5015 Penn Avenue), November 20th, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Host: Garden of Peace Project

More Information

Titusville: Tyler Titus
University of Pittsburgh at Titusville (McKinney Commons), November 20th, 12:00pm – 1:00pm
More Information

State College: Penn State Trans Visibility Month
Wednesday, November 1st — Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, reception at 4:30 p.m., keynote speech at 5 p.m., 233B HUB-Robeson Center

Monday, November 13th — Transgender Information Exchange/HUB Takeover, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Ground Floor Stage, HUB-Robeson Center
Tuesday, November 14th — Pennsylvania Youth Congress (PYC) Panel Discussion, 7 p.m., 104 Rackley Building. PYC is an advocacy organization dedicated to eliminating discrimination against LGBTQ youth through public policy initiatives.
Tuesday, November 14th — Third Way Collective Transgender Clothing Exchange, 1-4 p.m., location TBA
Wednesday, November 15th — “Discovering Crystal,” movie and panel discussion, 6 p.m., 102 Paterno Library (Foster Auditorium). The film chronicles the beginning of one teen’s transition process. A discussion with the director and Crystal’s family will follow the viewing.
Thursday, November 16th — “How to Support Your Transgender Employees — an Update from Intel Corporation,” 8-9:30 p.m. Join us online at https://meeting.psu.edu/ler_webinars/.
Sunday, November 19th — Community Transgender Day of Remembrance, 1 p.m. at the Allen Street gates
More Information

If you would like to add your event to this page, please email us at info@payouthcongress.org.

 

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Open Letter of Support to Central PA Muslim Community from Pennsylvania LGBTQ Youth

patty-kim

Photo: Representative Patty Kim


In response to a hateful note sent to the
 Islamic Society of Greater Harrisburg this week, PYC is sharing an open letter to stand with the Muslim community of Central PA, and across the county. Nearly a dozen copies of this letter were sent to mosques across the United States.

On Thursday, State Rep. Patty Kim organized a press conference to press back against this hateful incident at the Islamic Society of Greater Harrisburg’s mosque in Steelton. Speakers included incoming Islamic Society of Greater Harrisburg President Asgar Rizwan, Muslim community leader Samia Malik, Steelton Mayor Doug Brown, and Rep. Patty Kim.

 


Dear Muslim Members of our Pennsylvania Family,

We are outraged and appalled by all acts of Islamophobia, and continue to be with you in love and solidarity.

The letter recently received by the Islamic Society of Greater Harrisburg is incensing to people of conscience. From our LGBTQ youth community, we are here for you in whatever you may need.

We write to you as young LGBTQ Pennsylvanians to share that:

We celebrate you. We value you. We support and love you. We are proud to work together with you in building a beloved community.

From our intersection with LGBTQ Muslims, through our connection as communities often targeted for harm, we stand together in our commitment to ensuring human decency and respect for all.

We cannot and will not stand idly by while any of us is targeted for intimidation, hatred, or violence. We hold ourselves accountable to standing with you against any injustice you may experience, and toward embracing each other in love and respect.

We are proud to be with you in our shared commonwealth, communities, and nation.

Yours in Solidarity,
The Pennsylvania Youth Congress Family

 

Pennsylvania Muslim and LGBTQ community leaders following a vigil for the Orlando Massacre in the State Capitol (June 2016)

Trans Lives Remembered and Celebrated Across PA


The International Transgender Day of Remembrance
(TDOR) is held in local communities and campuses across the nation to memorialize those who have been killed due to anti-transgender bigotry. Many victims of anti-transgender violence have been invisible in their communities and attackers not often brought to justice.
The 18th Annual TDOR brings together communities to mourn and honor victims of anti-transgender hate crimes and as a call to action towards the respect of all people regardless of gender identity or expression.

This year in Pennsylvania, we mourn and remember Maya Young, 25. She was stabbed to death in Philadelphia on February 20, 2016. Last year, in 2015, Pennsylvania mourned London Chanel, 21, and Kiesha Jenkins, 22, both black trans women who were killed in Philadelphia. In July 2013, another young trans woman, Diamond Williams, was brutally murdered in Philadelphia. The court case is ongoing in her murder. There have been countless known slayings of transgender people because of their identity around the world since last year. The TDOR website memorializes the murders of over 75 transgender individuals we are aware of in this past year.

Over 25 organized vigils were held in communities throughout the commonwealth for TDOR each year in 2014 and 2015. This was a large increase from just a few events held in Pittsburgh and Southeastern Pennsylvania before in 2013.

November is also Transgender Awareness Month. Many communities are not just mourning those lost to violence, but celebrating and lifting up the lives of transgender people. There are wonderful educational and community events set to take place throughout Pennsylvania. Several student organizations are holding Transgender Awareness Weeks.


Transgender Day of Remembrance in Pennsylvania

November 20th, 2016

 

Annville
Lebanon Valley College (Miller Chapel), November 15th, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Host: LVC Freedom Rings

Allentown
Muhlenberg College (Egner Chapel), November 21st, 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Host: Muhlenberg College Trans Advocacy Coalition
More Information

Athens
Unitarian Universalist Church of Athens (112 North Street), November 20th, 11:30am – 12:30pm
Host: Unitarian Universalist Church of Athens

Bloomsburg
Bloomsburg University (Multicultural Center), November 18th, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Host: Bloomsburg LGBTQA Resource Center
More Information

Bradford
University of Pittsburgh at Bradford (Wick Chapel), November 18th, 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Host: University of Pittsburgh at Bradford LGBTS Alliance
More Information

Carlisle
Dickinson College (28 North College Avenue), November 20th, 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Host: Dickinson College LGBTQ Services

Collegeville
Thomas Paine Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Collegeville (3424 Ridge Pike), November 20th, 7:00pm – 7:45pm
Host: Thomas Paine Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Collegeville
More Information

Erie
Bel-Aire Clarion (2800 West 8th Street), November 20th, 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Host: TransFamily of NWPA

More Information

Glen Mills
Imago Dei MCC (1223 Middletown Road), November 17th, 6:30pm – 7:30pm
Host: PRYSM Youth Center

More Information

Harrisburg
The Pennsylvania State Capitol Steps (3rd and State Streets), November 20th, 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Host: TransCentral PA

Indiana
Indiana University of Pennsylvania, November 17th, 7:00pm – 8:00pm

Host: IUP Pride Alliance

Kutztown
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania – Old Main Concourse, November 17th, 11:00am – 3:00pm
Host: GLBTQ Resource Center, Lambda Delta Xi, and Allies

More Information

Lancaster
Unitarian Universalist Church of Lancaster (538 West Chestnut Street), November 20th, 10:00am – 11:15am
Host: Unitarian Universalist Church of Lancaster

More Information

Lewisburg
Bucknell University (Olin Science Quad), November 17th, 6:30pm – 7:30pm
Host: BSU, GSA, and the Bucknell Office of LGBTQ+ Services

Philadelphia
Penn LGBT Center (3907 Spruce Street), November 16th, 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Host: Penn LGBT Center

More Information

Philadelphia
Drexel University (Peck Lawn – 32nd and Market Streets), November 18th, 9:00am – 10:00am
Host: Drexel University Office of Inclusion

More Information

Philadelphia
William Way Community Center (1315 Spruce Street), November 20th, 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Host: William Way Community Center

More Information

Pittsburgh
Carnegie Mellon University – The Cut (5000 Forbes Avenue), November 17th, 11:30am – 3:00pm
Host: CMU Allies

More Information

Pittsburgh
PERSAD (5301 Butler Street), November 20th, 7:00pm – 10:00pm
Host: TransPride Pittsburgh

More Information

Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh – William Pitt Union Lawn (3959 Fifth Avenue), November 17th, 9:00pm – 10:00pm
Host: Pitt Rainbow Alliance

Selinsgrove
Susquehanna University, November 20th, 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Host: Susquehanna University GSA

More Information

State College
Penn State University Park – Old Main Steps, November 17th, 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Host: CLGBTQE, LGBTQA Student Resource Center, University Libraries Diversity Committee, and the LGBTA Student Roundtable

More Information

Reading
Calvary United Church of Christ (640 Centre Avenue), November 19th, 7:00pm – 10:00pm
Host: Reading Pride Celebration

More Information

Washington
First Presbyterian Church (100 East Wheeling Street), November 20th, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Host: Washington County GSA, Inc.

More Information

West Chester
West Chester University (Sykes Union), November 18th, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Host: Sexuality and Gender Alliance (SAGA)

More Information

West Chester
Unitarian Church of West Chester (501 South High Street), November 20th, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Host: LGBT Equality Alliance

More Information

 


November 2016 Transgender Awareness Events

 

Philadelphia: GenderTalk
Penn LGBT Center (3907 Spruce Street), November 17th, 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Host: Penn Non-Cis

More Information

Lewisburg: Lourdes Hunter
Bucknell University (Rooke Chemistry Buliding), November 15th, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Host: GSA, ATHENA, BSU, and BIPP

More Information

Pittsburgh: Trans Voices
BOOM Concepts (5139 Penn Avenue), November 20th, 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Host: Garden of Peace Project

More Information

If you would like to add your event to this page, please email us at info@payouthcongress.org.

 

transgender-day-of-remembrance-tdor

Governor’s LGBT Workgroup Formed

The Governor’s LGBT Workgroup has been formed to bring together senior staff in the Gov. Wolf’s administration to work on important policy issues for LGBTQ Pennsylvanians. The group is chaired by Physician General Dr. Rachel Levine, and includes senior staff from nearly a dozen state agencies. Also at the table are three statewide LGBTQ organizations, including representatives from the Pennsylvania Youth Congress. This group will meet monthly.

Pennsylvania Remembers and Celebrates Trans Lives


The International Transgender Day of Remembrance
(TDoR) is held in local communities and campuses across the nation to memorialize those who have been killed due to anti-transgender bigotry. Many victims of anti-transgender violence have been invisible in their communities and attackers not often brought to justice.
The 17th Annual TDoR brings together communities to mourn and honor victims of anti-transgender hate crimes and as a call to action towards the respect of all people regardless of gender identity or expression.

In 2015, Pennsylvania mourns London Chanel, 21, and Kiesha Jenkins, 22, both black trans women who were mercilessly killed in Philadelphia. In July 2013, another young trans woman, Diamond Williams, was brutally murdered in Philadelphia. The court case is ongoing in her murder. There have been countless known slayings of transgender people because of their identity around the world since last year. The TDoR website memorializes the murders of over 75 transgender individuals we are aware of.

At the start of  November 2015, there are at least 11 TDoR events scheduled in Pennsylvania. Over 25 organized vigils were held in communities throughout the commonwealth for TDoR in 2014. This was a large increase from just a few events held in Pittsburgh and Southeastern Pennsylvania before in 2013.

November is also Transgender Awareness Month. Many communities are not just mourning those lost to violence, but celebrating and lifting up the lives of transgender people. There are wonderful educational and community events set to take place throughout Pennsylvania. Several student organizations are holding Transgender Awareness Weeks.


Transgender Day of Remembrance in Pennsylvania

November 20th, 2015

Bethlehem
The Ice House Gazebo (57 River Street), November 15th, 2:00pm – 3:00pm

Bloomsburg
Kehr Union (400 East 2nd Street), November 19th, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Host: Bloomsburg University LGBTA Commission

Bradford
University of Pittsburgh – Bradford, Wick Hall (300 Campus Drive), November 20th, 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Host: LGBTS Alliance
More Information

Carlisle
Dickinson College (Britton Plaza), November 20th, 5:30pm – 6:30pm
More Information

Clarion
Clarion University (Outside the Gemmell Student Complex), November 19th, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Host: Clarion University Allies

Collegeville
Thomas Paine Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Collegeville (3424 Ridge Pike), November 20th, 7:00pm – 7:45pm
Host: Thomas Paine Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Collegeville
More Information

Danville
Memorial Park (500 Bloom Street), November 20th, 6:00pm – 7:00pm

Host: Shiloh United Church of Christ

Edinboro
Edinboro University Pouge Student Union (219 Meadville Street), November 20th, 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Host: Edinboro University Identity

More Information

Erie
The Avalon Hotel – Courtyard (16 West 12th Street), November 20th, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Host: TransFamily of Erie

More Information

Glenside
Arcadia University (450 South Easton Road), November 20th, 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Host: Pride

More Information

Harrisburg
The Steps of the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building (3rd and State Streets), November 20th, 5:30pm – 6:00pm
Host: TransCentral PA

More Information

Haverford
Haverford College (Founders Steps), November 20th, 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Host: TransCentral PA

More Information

Lancaster
Binns Park (120 North Queen Street), November 20th, 6:30pm – 7:30pm
More Information

Lock Haven
Lock Haven University – Rogers Gymnasium (401 North Main Street), November 20th, 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Host: Lock Haven GSA

Lewisburg
Bucknell University – Olin Science Quad (701 Moore Avenue), November 17th, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Host: Bucknell University GSA
More Information

Philadelphia
The Penn LGBT Center (3907 Spruce Street), November 16th, 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Host: The Penn LGBT Center

Philadelphia
The William Way Community Center (1315 Spruce Street), November 20th, 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Host: The William Way Community Center
More Information

Philadelphia
Drexel University – Dragon Statue (33rd and Market Streets), November 20th, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Host: Drexel FUSE
More Information

Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh Law School, November 19th, 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Host: OUTLaw and the Black Law Students Association (BLSA)

Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh (William Pitt Union Patio), November 19th, 9:00pm – 10:00pm
Host: Rainbow Alliance

Pittsburgh
Carnegie Mellon University (The Cut), November 20th, 11:00am – 3:00pm
Host: CMU Allies
More Information

Pittsburgh
Schenley Plaza (4100 Forbes Avenue), November 20th, 5:30pm – 7:00pm
Host: Garden of Peace Project
This is a Trans March of Resilience Event, incorporating a remembrance and celebration program
More Information

Radnor
Cabrini College (610 King of Prussia Road), November 19th, 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Host: Office of Student Diversity

More Information

Reading
Calvary Reformed United Church of Christ (640 Centre Avenue), November 20th, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Host: Reading Pride

Scranton
Courthouse Square, November 20th, 6:00pm – 7:15pm

State College
Penn State University Park (Old Main), November 20th, 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Host: Penn State LGBTA Student Resource Center
More Information

Stroudsburg
Zion United Church of Christ (14 North 8th Street), November 18th, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Host: Pocono Interfaith LGBT Alliance
More Information

Washington
First Presbyterian Church (100 East Wheeling Street), November 20th, 6:00pm – 7:00pm
More Information

West Chester
West Chester University of Pennsylvania – Sykes Union 115 (700 South High Street), November 20th, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Host: LGBTQA Services
More Information


November 2015 Transgender Awareness Events

November 12th
Bucknell University: Trans* Awareness Speaker – Vanessa Gonzalez
Rooke Chemistry Building, 7:00pm – 8:00pm

November 20th
University of Pennsylvania: Gender Talk
Penn LGBT Center, 7:00pm – 9:00pm

If you would like to add your event to this page, please email us at info@payouthcongress.org.

 

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PYC and GLSEN: Criminalization of Cyberbullying is the Wrong Move for PA

Statement from the Pennsylvania Youth Congress on the General Assembly Passage of HB 229
Criminalization of Cyberbullying Expected to Harm Minority Youth Most

HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Youth Congress expresses its concern with the unanimous passage on Monday of HB 229 from the State Senate. The legislation, championed by Rep. Ron Marsico (R-105), was approved by the State House of Representatives in a 193-5 vote in February 2015, and now awaits approval from Governor Wolf. The cyber-harassment bill provides for the specific criminalization of sexual-based cyberbullying – by both adults toward minors, and minors toward other minors.

The Pennsylvania Youth Congress recognizes the importance of diverse legal methods in addressing bullying and harassment. However, criminalization laws directed toward young people often are disproportionately and misapplied to youth of color, LGBT youth, and youth with disabilities. Further, the Pennsylvania Youth Congress calls for increased efforts toward bullying prevention and positive behavior support, to curb this type of behavior from occurring in the first place.

The Pennsylvania Youth Congress lauds the intentions and hard work of Rep. Marsico and others supporting this legislation. While HB 229 includes a provision for youth to be directed to a “diversionary program” before being placed into the juvenile justice system, school safety data does not provide evidence that it will be evenly applied to minority youth.

In the rush to criminalize this behavior, we tend to pull ourselves away from meaningful violence prevention,” said Jason Landau Goodman, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Youth Congress. “We are failing as a state when we prioritize reactive crime bills over proactive legislation to help secure positive futures for young Pennsylvanians. We need to send students engaging with this destructive behavior to school support staff – not funnel more into prison.

“Bullying and harassment in schools should be addressed through proactive approaches to improving school climate,” said Nathan Smith, GLSEN’s Director of Public Policy. “We are disappointed that the Pennsylvania legislature has chosen to address these serious issues through the criminal justice system.

“GLSEN does not support policies that criminalize youth, particularly when those policies disproportionately affect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth, who are three times as likely to have been involved with the criminal or juvenile justice system as a result of school-related infractions.

The United States Department of Education – Office of Civil Rights found that there exists a significant racial discrepancy between students being referred to law enforcement (Civil Rights Data Collection 2014). Additionally, their report identified Pennsylvania was among 11 states in the country which have a rate higher than the national average of suspending more black students than white students. While non-white students comprised less than 30% of the Pennsylvania public school enrollment in 2011-2012 school year, the Office of Civil Rights identified that 93% of out-of-school suspensions were issued to them. Both black and hispanic Pennsylvania students were more than twice as likely to face suspension as were their white peers.

The Pennsylvania Youth Congress joins with the Pennsylvania Safe Schools Partnership, in a renewed call for the General Assembly to vote on the Pennsylvania Safe Schools (PASS) Act, HB 156. The PASS Act is the most supported safe school bill in state history, which garnered 106 co-sponsors last session in the House. HB 156 awaits action in the House Education Committee.

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The Pennsylvania Youth Congress Calls for Accountability in Pittsburgh Pride

STATEMENT FROM THE PENNSYLVANIA YOUTH CONGRESS ON PITTSBURGH PRIDE
First Statewide Organization to Call for Accountability with Pittsburgh Pride

PITTSBURGH, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Youth Congress affirms our solidarity with Roots Pride Pittsburgh, and the many local organizations and civic leaders, in denouncing the decision of the Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh to present Iggy Azalea as the headline performer for Pittsburgh Pride 2015. As a social justice organization representing thousands of young LGBTQ Pennsylvanians, including many from Pittsburgh, we work tirelessly to ensure LGBTQ people of all identities have power within their organized community. We find that this year’s selected headline performer demonstrates a significant lack of respect for the LGBTQ people and people of color who have been harmed by Iggy Azalea’s actions.

For the Pennsylvania Youth Congress, prides are not only celebrations, but are annual reminders of the political tools we have to build a beloved community. In this statement, we insist that any pride which is built on the oppression of marginalized LGBTQ people is no pride at all.

A successful pride should be a family reunion that is planned and executed by the self-determination of the community. While there may be disagreements from time to time, there must be an underlying trust between local leaders. That trust has been stripped away over the years in Pittsburgh, leaving a raw desperation where people of color, transgender people, and youth leaders feel voiceless in their own city. Decisions have been made that have emaciated parts of the Pittsburgh LGBTQ community with a lack of resources, overshadowed and drowned out by the behemoth of one organization.

The Pennsylvania Youth Congress applauds the leadership of Roots Pride Pittsburgh for their work to identify strategies to raise-up LGBTQ people from marginalized backgrounds. We commend the broader Pittsburgh LGBTQ community in standing up for their own dignity.

We know it is rare for this thread of social justice to be spun so precisely as to cause numerous groups to withdraw. We commend the courage of many organizations and individuals, including Garden of Peace Project, GLSEN Pittsburgh, and Pittsburgh City Council President Bruce Kraus, who have spoken up in in the spirit of building a better Pittsburgh.

The significance of Roots Pride Pittsburgh is tremendous, because it has already sent a clear message across the nation that the grassroots LGBTQ community, when organized, is able to unite and be heard.

We are distraught over the distressing position we are put in for Pittsburgh Pride 2015. The Pennsylvania Youth Congress believes we will be best able to share our vision for inspiring actualized social justice in the region through providing our resources at PrideFest. Further, we are met with the financial reality of our organization. As by far the most expensive pride in Pennsylvania for vendors, we have already invested hundreds of dollars in the fees that the Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh requires. It took us four years to afford our own table at Pittsburgh Pride. At a $450 regular registration rate for non-profit organizations, Pittsburgh Pride is more expensive to participate in than all of the other nine prides in Pennsylvania combined. We believe it is outrageous that emerging community organizations have only one option if they wish to partake in their own community’s pride – to pay top dollar.

The Pennsylvania Youth Congress is accountable to our funders to engage with youth at every pride in Pennsylvania. There will be young people in Pittsburgh on June 14th, some of whom may not know about how the platform of Pittsburgh Pride 2015 was built, but they will be there. The PrideFest event still will be a significant opportunity to connect with students in order for us to support them throughout the year. We will use our presence at pride to express our displeasure with the decisions made by the Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh.

We will not plan to participate in future Pittsburgh Prides unless conditions dramatically improve with accountability and transparency within the Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh, or whichever organization hosts a large-scale pride festival in the city.

The organized LGBTQ community should not resemble the oppressive structures which divide our society. We must build arenas to come together in authentically affirming ourselves in pride, and we commend Roots Pride Pittsburgh for doing just that. We are proud of the leaders who will not stop here in taking actions for justice throughout Pennsylvania, and in our world.

This statement has been approved by the Pennsylvania Youth Congress Board of Directors.

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The Pennsylvania Youth Congress advances freedom and justice for young LGBTQ Pennsylvanians through advocating for responsible public policy. As a youth-led organization, PYC represents citizens working toward safer schools and thriving communities across the commonwealth.
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