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 State Senate Passes THREE Anti-LGBTQ Youth Bills in One Day

PA State Senate Passes THREE Anti-LGBTQ Youth Bills in One Day
June 29, 2022

State LGBTQ Youth Organization Expresses Outrage and Disappointment HARRISBURG, Pa. — On Wednesday afternoon, the Pennsylvania State Senate voted to adopt HB 972, SB 1277 and SB 1278 on final passage — all of which are guaranteed Governor vetoes. These grave attacks against LGBTQ Pennsylvanians have been justified by a majority of state […]

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Two Expansive Anti-LGBT Bills Pass PA Senate Education Committee

Two Expansive Anti-LGBT Bills Pass PA Senate Education Committee
June 21, 2022

“Don’t Say Gay” Legislation Worse than Florida Advances in PA HARRISBURG, Pa. — This afternoon, the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee moved SB 1277 and SB 1278 which are grave attacks against LGBT Pennsylvanians that are destined for Governor vetoes. The first bill sponsored by Senator Ryan Aument (R-Lancaster) is essentially a book and education […]

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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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