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Who We Are

PYC unites young LGBTQ leaders from across the commonwealth within their schools and communities in order to create a responsive and organized statewide movement. Through connecting and empowering strong advocates, PYC helps ensure that the issues facing young LGBTQ Pennsylvanians are addressed in local and state government.
Young LGBTQ Pennsylvanians have varied urgent needs. Many LGBTQ youth experience violence and discrimination in their schools and communities. Through PYC, young leaders are able to advocate for effective policy solutions at the local and state levels. From city councils to school boards to the General Assembly, PYC champions issues in government.
PYC was founded in 2011 as a coalition of high school and college LGBTQ student organizations. Over 50 LGBTQ student groups have become members of PYC. These student organizations have direct access to leadership development, networking, and important advocacy opportunities. To find out more about becoming a member organization of PYC, <a href="https://payouthcongress.org/get-involved/member-organizations/">please click here</a>!
As an intersectional movement of young Pennsylvanians, PYC advocates for communities where all can thrive. PYC was created to ensure all marginalized LGBTQ youth have power in their communities. To that end we aim to center those most impacted by the harm being addressed and that they are directing the work. Together, PYC leaders envision a commonwealth that has no room for prejudice or discrimination - where all people can thrive regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or other identities.
Since 2011, PYC has organized dozens of statewide forums for young LGBTQ leaders, including the Pennsylvania Youth Action Conference (YAC), which has become the largest annual gathering of young LGBTQ advocates in the state. From retreats in the northern tier to regional convenings, PYC believes in the critical importance of organizing in-person gatherings.
PYC firmly believes that young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow, but that they are also the leaders of today. By empowering and training each other with the skills necessary to successfully take on local and statewide community work, PYC is continually investing in generations of strong civic leaders. PYC alums have been hired for important staff positions at LGBTQ organizations and have even made history by being elected to local government.

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Pennsylvania News

PA LGBTQ Advocates Release Landmark Statewide Legislative Agenda

PA LGBTQ Advocates Release Landmark Statewide Legislative Agenda
December 11, 2024

HARRISBURG, Pa. — PA’s only Pennsylvania-based statewide LGBTQ advocacy organization in Harrisburg released its second comprehensive LGBTQ legislative agenda. The LGBTQ Legislative Agenda from the Pennsylvania Youth Congress (PYC) provides a robust narrative on 21 specific priority areas for the General Assembly to advance LGBTQ equality, equity, and inclusion across […]

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PA General Assembly 2023-2024 Session — LGBTQ Legislation Recap

PA General Assembly 2023-2024 Session — LGBTQ Legislation Recap
November 30, 2024

Thousands of bills are introduced into the Pennsylvania General Assembly each legislative session. Each session is two years for both the House and Senate. For over a decade, PYC has actively monitored the introduction of both negative and positive substantive legislation explicitly impacting LGBTQ Pennsylvanians. In past sessions, we only […]

Full Statement
Pennsylvania: Trans Day of Remembrance/Resilience 2024

Pennsylvania: Trans Day of Remembrance/Resilience 2024
November 12, 2024

The International Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is held in local communities and schools 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 26th Annual TDOR […]

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