The Pennsylvania Youth Congress ADVANCING FREEDOM AND JUSTICE FOR YOUNG LGBTQ+ PENNSYLVANIANS YOUTH VOICES Speaking Our Truth to Power CREATING A Vibrant Community of Young Leaders STEP INTO The Future of LGBTQ+ Activism

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 House Passes Bill Excluding Transgender Girls From School Sports Programs

PA House Passes Bill Excluding Transgender Girls From School Sports Programs
April 12, 2022

Advocates, Families, and Communities will Continue Pushing for Positive Change   HARRISBURG, Pa. — This afternoon the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed HB 972, a bill that would ban transgender girls and women from participating in girls’ and women’s school sports. After nearly two hours of debate the roll call […]

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Chambersburg Leaders and Allies Hold Press Conference Supporting Local Nondiscrimination Protections

Chambersburg Leaders and Allies Hold Press Conference Supporting Local Nondiscrimination Protections
January 20, 2022

CHAMBERSBURG LEADERS RALLY FOR PRESERVING LGBTQ NONDISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS   CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. — This afternoon Chambersburg community leaders and allies will come together for a press conference hosted by the Pennsylvania Youth Congress to express support for keeping Chambersburg’s LGBTQ-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinance. Chambersburg Town Council’s decision to approve the ordinance in […]

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PYC Statement on Former LGBTQ Nonprofit Leader John Dawe’s Sentencing for Sexual Abuse

PYC Statement on Former LGBTQ Nonprofit Leader John Dawe’s Sentencing for Sexual Abuse
January 11, 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | January 11, 2022 Contact: Preston Heldibridle pheldibridle@payouthcongress.org Phone: 717-743-1035 There is no room for sexual assault in LGBTQ communities.   On January 6, 2022, John Dawe, former leader of LGBTQ organizations including the NEPA Rainbow Alliance and Equality Pennsylvania, was sentenced following guilty pleas for child pornography, criminal solicitation […]

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