Vote Yes to Equality!

Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition

June 21, 2021

Protect the LGBTQ+ Community from discrimination

Happy Pride! We’re celebrating by staying focused on passing federal nondiscrimination protections like the ones outlined in the Equality Act. Because what better way to commemorate Pride than by fully protecting all Americans from discrimination?

Pride month is our biggest opportunity yet to engage the LGBTQ community and allies in helping to get this critical legislation passed, which is why we’re asking you to contact your Senators and tell them to VOTE YES TO EQUALITY! 

The urgency here is real. Discrimination is still commonplace for LGBTQ Americans, and in 29 states, LGBTQ people are at risk of being refused housing or denied services simply because of who they are. Full federal nondiscrimination protections like the ones outlined in the Equality Act would ensure that all Americans can live, work, and access public spaces free from discrimination, no matter what state they call home.

Take action today by contacting your Senators by email or phone.  It’s so easy – just a few clicks will get it done.  You can even record a 30-second video!  Simply follow the prompts.

Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition Hosting Local Vaccination Clinics

Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition

June 10, 2021

SHOTS Event Graphic

June 12, 8AM – 5PM SHOTS: Vogue, Vaccines, & Visibility
Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition, in partnership with Patients R Waiting and Union Community Care’s Health Equity NOW initiative, is hosting a Moderna vaccine clinic at Union Community Care on June 12th from 8AM to 5PM. The event, titled SHOTS: Vogue, Vaccines, & Visibility, will include LGBTQ+ affirming vendors and pride swag! DJ Salinger will be performing from 2-5PM, and from 3-5PM ballroom legend Niambi Prodigy will make an unprecedented comeback after having previously leaving the ballroom scene.

Niambi E Stanley AKA Niambi Prodigy (she/her) is a ballroom icon and historian, entrepreneur, trans activist, and mental wellness advocate. A prominent member of the Lancaster’s drag community with humble beginnings in the underground Philadelphia ballroom scene, Niambi has competed as a ballroom voguer for over 25 years. In that time, she has won numerous trophies, accolades, and awards for her dedication, excellence, and contributions to the art of vogue.

June 12, 5PM Double Vaccination Party
After the SHOTS event wraps up at 5PM, The Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition will host a double vaccination party from 5PM to midnight at Spring House Brewing Company, at 209 Hazel St. in downtown Lancaster.

June 12, 2PM – 7PM High Fever Party 
High Fever will host a pride-themed party at Marion Court, at 7 E. Marion St. in downtown Lancaster. The party will go from 2 to 7 p.m. and will have a DJ, a drag show, drinks and food. Admission is $10.

June 27, 8AM – 5PM Salsa & MerenGay Vaccination Clinic
In partnership with Patients R Waiting and Union Community Care’s Health Equity NOW initiative, Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition is hosting a vaccine clinic at McCaskey High School. Stick around for an LGBTQ+ inclusive salsa lesson at 2PM! DJ Ecliptic will also be performing from 2-5PM.

Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition Unveils Queer Health Advocacy Alliance

Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition

June 8, 2021

Queer Health Advocacy Alliance Logo

In cooperation with Patients R Waiting and Dr. Sharee Livingston, OBGYN, Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition’s Queer Health Advocacy Alliance unites healthcare providers across disciplines who advocate for and are knowledgeable about the health and wellness needs of the LGBTQ+ community. With a founding membership consisting of Dr. Sharee Livingston and Karen Foley, MA, LPC, our goal is to create an intricate network of advanced providers for comprehensive coordination of care for the LGBTQ+ community.

Seeking healthcare as a Queer individual is often a daunting task, particularly in Central Pennsylvania. Finding affirming practitioners who are knowledgable about the intricacies of Queer healthcare can feel impossible, especially if one doesn’t know where to start, and LGBTQ+ communities have historically not been counted in large data systems.

According to data we collected in the PA 2020 LGBTQ+ Health Needs Assessment, more than 1 in 3 respondents do not believe their healthcare providers have the medical expertise related to their health needs as a Queer individual, and 4 in 10 experience at least one barrier to healthcare. This limits the access to health and wellness resources of a population which already experiences increased rates of health challenges as a result of social, environmental, cultural, and institutional factors.

The Queer Health Advocacy Alliance will join forces to remove barriers, activate research, and ensure fully culturally humble healthcare for all intersections by:

  • Identifying, connecting, and training a network of providers that are proficient in all intersections of the LGBTQ+ community of Central Pennsylvania
  • Breaking down barriers to access for patients and communication between hospitals and providers
  • Providing scholarships to interns seeking to specialize in LGBTQ+ Healthcare (with a focus on funding multilingual and BIPOC interns)
  • Identifying and conducting necessary research for LGBTQ+ health needs

Community Spotlight: Niambi Stanley

Ellie Cochran

May 30, 2021

A photograph of Vogue icon Niambi Stanley

Niambi E Stanley AKA Niambi Prodigy (she/her) is a ballroom icon and historian, entrepreneur, trans activist, and mental wellness advocate. A prominent member of the Lancaster’s drag community, Niambi will be organizing and performing in the Coalition’s SHOTS Pride Month vaccination drive with DJ VJPumpDaBeat!

With humble beginnings in the underground Philadelphia ballroom scene, Niambi E Stanley AKA Niambi Ebony Prodigy (she/her) has competed as a ballroom voguer for over 25 years—since 14 years old. In that time, she has won numerous trophies, accolades, and awards for her dedication, excellence, and contributions to the art of vogue.

In 2017, Niambi began a plethora of small businesses ranging from graphic design to apparel to television programming—but she didn’t stop there. Niambi realized her true purpose was to be of service to her community through activism and advocacy for the most marginalized and discriminated against; her own community of Black Trans Women.

In recent years Black Trans Women have been increasingly denied human rights, and are regularly victims of hate crimes, violence, and murders across the country. Niambi has made it her mission to provide the most marginalized communities proper resources and skills necessary to survive and defend against violence by hosting a weekly live Facebook show titled TransTalkTuesday. TransTalkTuesday provides education, insight, awareness, news, and resources impacting the Trans community and beyond.

Niambi will be performing at the Coalition’s upcoming vaccination event, SHOTS: Vogue, Vaccines, and Visibility, on June 12 at Union Community Care. See you there!

To learn more about Niambi, her work, or to purchase her products or services, visit iammissniambi.com.

Summer 2021 Volunteer Opportunities

Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition

May 28, 2021

We’re looking for volunteers to help staff our Pride month events, deliver items to people in need, provide affirming transportation to vulnerable community members, or help to lead our groups!

Interested in getting more involved in the local Queer community? Fill out our availability and interest form!

Pride Month 2021 Events

Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition

May 28, 2021

Pride Month 2021

Pride Month is here, and after being in lockdown for a year the Coalition has plenty of events lined up to celebrate!   

June 5 The Pride Kick Off Comedy Show, hosted by Audrie Marsh, will be held at Zoetropolis at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15.

June 7-30 The Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is hosting a CORE Gallery called “What Does PRIDE Mean To You?” which will feature several works of art from LGBT artists attending the college. The gallery will be fully virtual and run from June 7 to 30.

June 8 Zoetropolis Cinema Stillhouse is showing a surprise LGBTQ+ movie every Tuesday at 6 p.m. for pride month. Films will be followed up with a group discussion. The film showings are free, but the theater requests a suggested donation of $10.

June 12, 8AM – 5PM SHOTS: Vogue, Vaccines, & Visibility
The Coalition, in partnership with Patients R Waiting and Union Community Care’s Health Equity NOW initiative, is hosting a Moderna vaccine clinic at Union Community Care with LGBTQ+ affirming vendors and pride swag! DJ Salinger will be performing from 2-5PM, and ballroom legend Niambi Prodigy will make an unprecedented comeback after leaving the ballroom scene from 3-5PM.

June 15 Zoetropolis Cinema Stillhouse is showing a surprise LGBTQ+ movie every Tuesday at 6 p.m. for pride month. Films will be followed up with a group discussion. The film showings are free, but the theater requests a suggested donation of $10.

June 20 Lancaster Pride Drag Pageant Brunch
Lancaster Pride is hosting a drag pageant brunch to celebrate drag artists in the area and raise money for Lancaster’s upcoming fall pride celebration. The brunch will feature the reigning drag queen and king of Lancaster, Nevaeha Le’Vixenn and Bryce Culver, who will crown 2021’s new drag king and queen. Tellus360 is hosting the brunch, which costs $58 a person, and will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event is only available for people 21 years and older.

June 22 Zoetropolis Cinema Stillhouse is showing a surprise LGBTQ+ movie every Tuesday at 6 p.m. for pride month. Films will be followed up with a group discussion. The film showings are free, but the theater requests a suggested donation of $10.

June 26, 12PM – 7PM Cure Dispensary Pride Day!
The Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition partnered with Cure Pennsylvania, a medical marijuana dispensary at 1866 Fruitville Pike in Manheim Township, for an event from noon to 7 p.m. featuring a live DJ, discounts and pride swag. Those who bring in a sanitation product will get a $5 discount on their order. All customers must have a medical marijuana card to enter the dispensary.

June 27, 8AM – 5PM Salsa y MerenGay Vaccination Clinic
In partnership with Patients R Waiting and Union Community Care’s Health Equity NOW initiative, join us at McCaskey High School for an LGBTQ+ inclusive salsa lesson at 2PM! DJ Ecliptic will also be performing from 2-5PM.

Double Vaccination Party
The Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition will host a double vaccination party from 5 p.m. to midnight at Spring House Brewing Company, at 209 Hazel St. in downtown Lancaster.

High Fever Party
High Fever will host a pride-themed party at Marion Court, at 7 E. Marion St. in downtown Lancaster. The party will go from 2 to 7 p.m. and will have a DJ, a drag show, drinks and food. Admission is $10.

June 29 Zoetropolis Cinema Stillhouse is showing a surprise LGBTQ+ movie every Tuesday at 6 p.m. for pride month. Films will be followed up with a group discussion. The film showings are free, but the theater requests a suggested donation of $10.

The Month of June Rainbow Gayke Jars!
Goody Jars and The Fitness Alchemist are selling Rainbow “Gayke” jars! For every jar sold during Pride Month, a percentage will go the the Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition. $6 for an 8oz jar. Get in touch via email or Facebook.

Be sure to check back on this page for updates and links!

“Can’t Cancel Pride” Virtual Event June 4th

Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition

May 28, 2021

CenterLink, a national coalition of LGBTQ+ centers, is hosting a virtual event to celebrate Pride Month!

P&G and iHeartMedia are sponsoring the return of “Can’t Cancel Pride,” a virtual relief benefit for the LGBTQ+ communities featuring performances from Demi Lovato, P!NK, Lil Nas X, Bebe Rexha, Brothers Osborne, Busy Phillips, Gus Kenworthy, Hayley Kiyoko, Jennifer Hudson, JoJo Siwa, Marshmello, MJ Rodriguez, Nina West, Ricky Martin, Regard, Troye Sivan, Tate McRae, and more. 

The second annual event will celebrate Pride Month and will focus on intersectionality, or the overlap of identities, social positions, and social policies, along with the issues that continue to impact the LGBTQ+ community in 2021, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“Can’t Cancel Pride” will be held Friday, June 4 at 9 pm EST, with the concert available on-demand through June 30. Full details and the performance line-up will be available in the coming days. 

To learn more, visit cantcancelpride.lgbtcenters.org.

A Place to Call Home

Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition

May 17, 2021

There is a housing crisis in Lancaster County and extremely limited LGBTQ+ affirming housing. Over 70% of our Pandemic Relief Emergency Fund recipients reported housing and rental assistance as their primary need. Currently there are no fully affirming shelters in Lancaster County and bed availability is scarce.

On February 1, 2021, the HEART Program opened its 6-month pilot low-cost housing location, offering individuals sheltering in unaffirming environments a chance to live in a supportive home. The Coalition helps subsidize rent according to each person’s individual needs and works with community partners to offer enrichment training, such as budgeting, health resources, and other life skills.

HEART also offers a warm-handoff service to housing and medical services to provide emotional support for program participants. To further ensure resource providers are capable of providing culturally competent services, we provide cultural competency training to community stakeholders and potential partners around serving the LGBTQ+ population.

Once we have hired a Director of Programming to manage the program and volunteers, HEART will expand to work with persons experiencing homelessness on the streets to help them access safe and inclusive housing, and mitigate their vulnerability to COVID-19 by providing PPE, hand sanitizer and resources.

At this time, we are unable to offer emergency crisis shelter. Applicants must have some form of income and have the ability to manage their general needs and safety. If you are in need of immediate shelter call crisis intervention at (717) 394-2631 or 211.

Apply for housing » a case manager will contact you for an intake within 48 hours.
List of our donation needs »
Sponsor the HEART Program »