We are LGBTQ+ community leaders unified across Pennsylvania in condemning hate speech by elected officials. Trusted public officials should never use their platform to make disparaging comments about LGBTQ+ people.Statements made by elected officials carry weight. When those in positions of public trust attack LGBTQ+ people for existing, those words send deeply harmful messages that hostility, discrimination, and violence against our communities is tolerated. It is not. In these moments, it is vital that people of good conscience speak out.The responsibility to confront hate does not fall on the perpetrator alone. Whether it is an LGBTQ+ young person being bullied at school or a public official using their platform to demean our communities, the silence of bystanders and colleagues allows harmful rhetoric to take root and spread. We are grateful to the Pennsylvanians who have the courage to speak up, intervene, and call for dignity, respect, and accountability.Anti-LGBTQ+ hate speech does not always come in explicit terms. Too often, discriminatory ideas are advanced through coded language or insinuation that seeks to justify denying LGBTQ+ people equal dignity and protection under the law. Whether direct or indirect, hateful speech that targets LGBTQ+ people can contribute to an environment in which dehumanization becomes normalized.We believe Pennsylvania’s future must be different. Our commonwealth is at its best when every person is regarded as equal and free — and when our leaders use their platforms to bring people together rather than target our neighbors. Our Pennsylvania values demand nothing less.In Solidarity,100 LGBTQ+ Communty Leaders Across PennsylvaniaLori Schreiber — Montgomery County Clerk of Courts | Abington, PA
Morgan Selkirk — Montgomery County Commission for LGBTQIA+ Affairs, Chair | Abington, PA
Corinne Goodwin — Eastern PA Trans Equity Project, Executive Director | Allentown, PA
Krista Brown-Ly — Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center | Allentown, PA
Liz Bradbury — Keystone Equality | Allentown, PA
Missy Peters — Blair County Inclusion Alliance | Altoona, PA
Brittany Kohler — Montgomery County LGBT Business Council | Ambler, PA
Sarah Shaffer — FC Pride in the Park, Chair | Aspinwall, PA
Corrine Albright — Association for Inclusion Respect and Equity | Berwick, PA
Kristina Birdsall Culver — PFLAG Danville/Central Susquehanna Valley, Co-President | Berwick, PA
James Galik — Westmoreland LGBTQ Interfaith Network, President | Blairsville, PA
Matthew Yarnell — SEIU Healthcare PA, President | Centre County, PA
Chadwick Hare — Pride Franklin County + Chambersburg Borough Councilmember | Chambersburg, PA
Sara Culver — Warren County Pride | Corry, PA
Keisha L. McToy | Delmont, PA
Erica Deuso — Mayor of Downingtown | Downingtown, PA
Kris Boger — Doylestown Pride Festival | Doylestown, PA
Marlene Pray — Planned Parenthood Keystone | Doylestown, PA
Mary Benton — LGBT Equality Alliance of Chester County | Elverson, PA
Michael Mahler — Erie Gay News | Erie, PA
Savannah Jakubowski | Erie, PA
Dr. Tyler Titus — Erie City Council President | Erie, PA
Ash Franzetti — Queer Westmoreland, Founder | Greensburg, PA
Jean Slusser — PFLAG Greensburg, President | Greensburg, PA
Barry Loveland — LGBT Center of Central PA History Project, Chair | Harrisburg, PA
Carmen McKinney — Alder Health Services | Harrisburg, PA
Michael Tschop — LGBT Center of Central PA, Interim Executive Director | Harrisburg, PA
Preston Heldibridle — Pennsylvania Youth Congress, Executive Director | Harrisburg, PA
TL Waid — GLO Harrisburg, Director of Operations | Harrisburg, PA
Josh Blakesley — The Welcome Project PA, Executive Director | Hatboro, PA
Bailey Nace — The Rep Room, Team Member and Founder | Indiana, PA
Blue Kurtz — PFLAG Indiana | Indiana, PA
Dana Newman — Resilience Resource Center, Executive Director | Jenkintown, PA
Jennifer Ray | Johnstown, PA
John DeBartola — Keystone Alliance/Gaylife Newsletter | Johnstown PA
Olivia Butkiewicz — Queer NEPA | Kingston, PA
Jessica Purdy — Lancaster County Chooses Love | Lancaster, PA
Joanne Maureen Carroll — Trans Advocacy Pennsylvania | Lancaster, PA
Laura Sabatini — Lancaster County Chooses Love | Lancaster, PA
Justin Correll — NEPA Pride Project | Laurel Run, PA
Martha Zabriski — NEPA Pride Project | Laurel Run, PA
Matt Henry — PFLAG Danville/Central Susquehanna Valley, Co-President | Lewisburg, PA
Bre Brannan — Clinton County Pride Alliance | Lock Haven, PA
Tami Brannan — Lock Haven City Councilmember | Lock Haven, PA
Cathleen Pagano — Lower Gwynedd Township, Auditor | Lower Gwynedd, PA
Jason Landau Goodman — Pennsylvania Youth Congress, Board Chair | Lower Merion, PA
Susannah Morgan — LGBT Equality Alliance of Chester County | Malvern, PA
David Moore — Pennsylvania Equality Project & PEP Radio | Meadville, PA
Randy Tanner — Rainbow FaithNet | Mifflinburg, PA
Sean Strub — POZ Magazine, Founder | Milford, PA
Rev. Mindy Bartholomew | Milton, PA
Michele Kessler | Mountain Top, PA
Steve Catanese — SEIU 668, President | New Cumberland, PA
C.C. Tellez — Lez Run Running Club | Philadelphia, PA
Céshia Powell — Philadelphia Black Pride, Board Member | Philadelphia, PA
Chris Bartlett | Philadelphia, PA
Darius McLean — William Way LGBT Community Center, Executive Director | Philadelphia, PA
David Acosta — Casa de Duende | Philadelphia, PA
Deja Alvarez — TPAC, Deputy Director | Philadelphia, PA
Elijah Sumners — Philadelphia Black Pride, Secretary | Philadelphia, PA
Eric Cole — Philadelphia Black Pride, Board Member | Philadelphia, PA
Geoffrey Bruen — Mazzoni Center | Philadelphia, PA
Hazel Edwards — GALAEI, Executive Director | Philadelphia, PA
Jacen Bowman — Philadelphia Black Pride, President | Philadelphia, PA
Jasper Liem — Attic Youth Center | Philadelphia, PA
Jess Burgan — SEIU PA State Council, Executive Director | Philadelphia, PA
Le Thomas — Philadelphia Black Pride, Treasurer | Philadelphia, PA
Mark Segal — Philadelphia Gay News | Philadelphia, PA
Nafisah Houston — Bebashi-Transition to Hope | Philadelphia, PA
R. Perry Monastero — RPM Consulting Group, LLC | Philadelphia, PA
Robert King Graves — Philadelphia Black Pride, Board Member | Philadelphia, PA
Ronda B. Goldfein — AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA
Rosko Scott — Philadelphia Black Pride | Philadelphia, PA
Rue Landau — Philadelphia City Councilmember | Philadelphia, PA
Tom Wilson Weinberg | Philadelphia, PA
Tyrell Brown — Philly Pride 365, Founder and Executive Director | Philadelphia, PA
Zach Wilcha — Independence Business Alliance, Executive Director | Philadelphia, PA
Coley Alston | Pittsburgh, PA
David McDougal — Western PA LGBTQ+ Older Adult Advocacy Team, Co-Chairperson | Pittsburgh, PA
Deb Scotto — Proud Haven, Inc. | Pittsburgh, PA
Dena Stanley — TransYOUniting | Pittsburgh, PA
Jeff Freedman — QBurgh.com | Pittsburgh, PA
Jeffrey A. Miller — Western PA LGBTQ+ Older Adult Advocacy Team, Co-Chairperson | Pittsburgh, PA
Jordan Botta — Three Rivers Business Alliance, Executive Director + Allegheny County Councilmember | Pittsburgh, PA
Lyndsey Sickler — Proud Haven, Inc. | Pittsburgh, PA
Sarah Rosso — Hugh Lane Foundation | Pittsburgh, PA
Sean Meloy | Pittsburgh, PA
Sue Kerr — Pittsburgh LGBTQ Charities, Board Chair | Pittsburgh, PA
TJ Murphy — Reel Q, Executive Director | Pittsburgh, PA
Julie Clentimack — LGBT Center of Greater Reading, Center Coordinator | Reading, PA
Rev. Dr. Dietmar Plajer — St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Pastor | Selinsgrove, PA
Jaden Goldsmith — True Colors Collective, Board Treasurer | Souderton, PA
T.J. DeLuca — U.D.T.J., Board Member | Springfield, PA
Cat Cook — Centre LGBT+, Executive Director | State College, PA
Charlie Miller | State College, PA
The Very Reverend Dan Storrs — Endless Mountains Pride, President | Towanda, PA
Kerri Kroh — SARCC | Tremont, PA
Kyle McIntyre — U.D.T.J. | Upper Darby, PA
Shea Hughes — Rainbow Alliance, Executive Director | Wilkes-Barre, PA
Kirsten Burkhart — AR Health | Williamsport, PA
Christina Wingert — Rainbow Rose Center, Executive Director | York, PA*Signatories are signing as individuals and not on behalf of any affiliated organizations. Affiliated organizations are shared for information only.
