Author: Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition

At The Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition, we are committed to building a supportive and enriching community abundant in opportunities for LGBTQQIA+ individuals and those with a stake in creating a more inclusive Lancaster County.

Make Zines With the Coalition & PCA&D CCE on June 21st!

Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition

June 1, 2023

Join Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition and Pennsylvania College of Art & Design’s Center for Creative Exploration for a hands-on workshop on zine creation on Wednesday, June 21st at the Loop!

A “zine” (pronounced “ZEEN,” often short for “fanzine”) is a small, pamphlet-like, independently produced and published printed work. A zine can include text, images, artwork, found objects, or any creative material that helps to express the author’s message. Anyone can be a zinester (aka someone who creates a zine), and generally zinesters create zines for the love of the work rather than for seeking a profit.

Swing by The Loop anytime between 5:30-8:30 June 21st for instruction, inspiration, and invigorating conversation! Learn how to design, create, print, and distribute your own zines! Gain a familiarity with the role of the zine in Queer history!

Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition’s Executive Director Has Been Recognized in the PA Pride Power 100!

Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition

June 1, 2023

We’re so thankful to City and State PA for naming our Executive Director K Foley as number 69 in this year’s Pride Power 100! This is K’s second year in the listing and we couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity to represent Lancaster and our LGBTQ+ community.

K is our co-founder and executive director, and has overseen the launch of the Homelessness Emergency Assistance and Response Team (HEART) program in February 2021 and the Loop community hub in June 2022. Our latest initiatives include an emergency overnight clinic and a behavioral health and wellness program with pop-up clinics in partnership with Planned Parenthood and Alder Health.

City & State’s Pride Power 100 – compiled by freelance writer Jeremy Rodriguez – recognizes the people in the state who are making strides to create safe spaces and remove the limits for current and future generations. 

Swing by Decades for a Pride Daiquiri Cocktail Pouch and Support Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition!

Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition

May 31, 2023

Happy Pride Month! To celebrate Queer history and help support our community, Decades will be donating $1 to Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition for every purchase of their Pride Daiquiri Cocktail Pouch!

Swing by anytime this month for a fun night of dinner, games, and bowling, and remember to sip a Pride Daiquiri to support the local Queer community while you’re at it! Decades is located at 438 N Queen St., and their hours can be found on their website.

Clothing Swap at the Loop on June 22!

Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition

May 31, 2023

We’re so excited to announce that we’re holding a clothing swap at The Loop at 117 E Chestnut Street at 6 PM on June 22! Bring your gently used clothing and accessories to swap with other attendees.

We’ll have a few tables set up for you to display your items. We also have multiple gender-neutral bathrooms on-site for you to try on your new finds.

Any leftover items can be taken back home with you or donated to our Queer Closet! If you’re interseted in helping us maintain the Queer Closet, please get in touch with us at volunteer@lgbtlancaster.org

Join us June 18th for our Gender Identity-Aware LGBTQ+ Birthing Class!

Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition

May 31, 2023

Join us from 3-4 PM on June 18th at The Loop at 117 E Chestnut Street for our free LGBTQ+-community focused birthing class and an opportunity to connect for peer-to-peer support!

We’re working with local doula Rae Johnson-Bundy to develop gender identity-aware educational workshops for birthing parents, and we’re excited for the opportunity to offer this generative pilot workshop to our community.

This workshop is free and open to the public, and we welcome your questions and feedback as we develop this program.

We’re looking forward to expanding on this workshop and offering similar workshops again in the future with our community partners, so stay tuned for more information if you can’t make it this time!

Youth Action Board Members Needed June 14th! Compensation Available

Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition

May 31, 2023

A Youth Action Board (YAB) is made up of youth and young adults who have experienced or are experiencing homelessness. These groups provide leadership and guidance in partnership with adults and directors who lead services in the community to end youth and young adult homelessness in Lancaster County.

Are you between 18-24, and have experience with housing insecurity? Want to advocate in Lancaster and make some coin? Join the Youth Action Board!

Register now to join the YAB at The Candy Factory at 342 N. Queen Street on Wednesday, June 14th from 3-6 PM! Food and compensation will be provided: $25/hr for your time.

Local Organizations Celebrating Pride are Invited to Apply Today for a PA Pride Community Grant!

Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition

May 26, 2023

We’re excited to once again share the opportunity for local organizations to apply for a PA Pride Community Grant!

These grants, provided by the PA Tourism Office and administered in partnership with Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition, are to provide funding to uplift LGBTQ+ Pride festivals and events across the Commonwealth.

Any organization presenting an event from May 1 to September 10, 2023 are eligible. Applications must be returned by June 10, so apply today!

Many thanks to the PA Tourism Office for their partnership with the Coalition! The Office is beautifully aligned with the Coalition’s mission and we’re thrilled to be a partner in this initiative.

Meet Our Galactic MC, Chi Chi Mizrahi!

Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition

May 10, 2023

Chi Chi Mizrahi

Francisco Gonzalez Jr., better known as “Mother Chi Chi Unbothered West” is a stakeholder and community advocate for the House and Ballroom community. He has been an active member of the Kiki scene and Ballroom scene for over 15 years. Entering the HIV Prevention Field at the age of 19, his work advocating for youth affected by HIV has provided him with many opportunities such as appearing in an Adidas campaign, Paper Magazine’s “Night Life” issue, the AMFAR Gala opening act, and as a principal dancer in Icona Pops’ “All Night” music video. He travels around the world introducing the House and Ballroom culture to the LGBTQ community.

After getting his professional start as a community health specialist at FACES NY Inc, he is currently a Director OF LGBTQ Service for SCAN-Harbor located in Harlem, NY. Chi Chi’s work for the House and Ballroom community, the Kiki Scene and his dedication to youth hasn’t gone unnoticed. He is the Founding Mother and creator of the House of Unbothered-Cartier and Legendary Overseer of the Captivating House of WEST.

He is looked at as a mentor to many in the Ballroom Community. Chi Chi’s ballroom category is Vogue Fem and his Kiki scene category is Runway. He has dominated the Voguing category from state to state, as one of the most popular voguers. His playful personality, endless love, and nurturing ways are a representation of how he keeps the youth of his community safe. His personal motto: “Live In Your Truth”.

Get tickets now for STARDUST RHAPSODY to see Chi Chi MC a night to remember!

Awardee Spotlight: Ismail Smith Wade-El

Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition

May 10, 2023

Ismail “Izzy” Smith-Wade-El was born and raised in Lancaster, PA. After graduating from Carnegie Mellon University, Izzy returned to his hometown and began working in Lancaster’s nonprofit sector to deliver relief to vulnerable people, first in behavioral health and drug and alcohol rehabilitation, then as a grant writer and researcher.

Prior to his election to the PA Legislature, Izzy was the President of Lancaster City Council on which he had served since 2017. During his four years on Council, Izzy helped secure the largest investments in affordable housing and lead removal for the City of Lancaster in its history.

Get tickets now for STARDUST RHAPSODY to see Izzy presented with our Starfield award; awarded to a local advocate committed to improving the lives of the Lancaster LGBTQIA+ community!

Awardee Spotlight: Evita Colon & Solise White, A Concrete Rose Bookbar

Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition

May 10, 2023

Evita Colon & Solise White

A Concrete Rose merges a bookstore, micro-winery and live entertainment venue under one
roof; a book bar but so much more! The bookstore will feature books and art created by authors
and artists of the African diaspora providing the community with the opportunity to learn about
different cultures through the immersion of literature and art.

Evita and Solise aim to provide the community with a place to freely express themselves and showcase their work on a regular basis. The inclusion of wine intersects a sophisticated experience with a casual experience giving our space an unpretentious vibe for all to enjoy.

Get tickets now for STARDUST RHAPSODY to see Evita & Solise presented with our Aurora award; awarded to artists or storytellers who illuminate the experiences of our LGBTQIA+ community!