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 […]
Two Expansive Anti-LGBT Bills Pass PA Senate Education Committee
“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 […]
PA House Passes Bill Excluding Transgender Girls From School Sports Programs
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 […]
Chambersburg Leaders and Allies Hold Press Conference Supporting Local Nondiscrimination Protections
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 […]
PYC Statement on Former LGBTQ Nonprofit Leader John Dawe’s Sentencing for Sexual Abuse
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 […]
PYC Releases Rankings of Top Pro-LGBTQ Companies and Corporate Shame List for Pride Month
Hershey, PPG, additional leaders back LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections, while Wawa, other companies claim to support LGBTQ inclusion but refuse to back nondiscrimination legislation HARRISBURG, Pa. — This Pride Month the Pennsylvania Youth Congress is sharing heartfelt appreciation to the major Pennsylvania businesses that fully endorse LGBTQ inclusion, as well as […]
PYC Responds to Supreme Court Decision in Fulton v. Philadelphia
US Supreme Court Rules 9-0 in Favor of Catholic Social Services, Maintains Non-discrimination Policies Must be Neutrally Applied HARRISBURG, Pa. — Today, the US Supreme Court held in a unanimous decision in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia that non-discrimination policies must have neutral application and enforcement. Philadelphia’s standard foster care […]
A Pride Month Welcome from Preston
Dear PYC Friends, Happy Pride Month! Pride season is personal to each of us; it recognizes the urgency of our activism today while celebrating the beauty, strength, and love within ourselves and our journeys. I grew up in Lancaster County, in green hills and small towns steeped in the sweet […]
Preston Heldibridle Named Next Executive Director of PYC!
Dear Friends, I am thrilled to share that Preston Heldibridle will be the next Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Youth Congress. It has been the honor of my life to support our strong community advocacy work throughout the commonwealth these past ten years. We’ve helped empower hundreds of effective young […]