Tag: Info

Last Weekend of Pride Month Events

Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition

June 23, 2021

Saturday, June 26: Cure Dispensary Pride Day

Access to affirming healthcare is a vital aspect of Queer life. As with many marginalized groups, the demand for healthcare exists but Queer individuals struggle to navigate medical institutions which don’t understand or cater to our unique experience.

That’s why we’re excited to be working with Cure Dispensary for their Pride Day celebrations! From noon to 7 PM, swing by for music, free home STI test kits, discounts, and pride swag! Bring a sanitation product for a $5 discount on your order! All customers must have a medical marijuana card to enter the dispensary.

Accepted sanitation items are:

  • Deodorant
  • Tampons
  • Pads
  • Toothpaste
  • Toothbrushes
  • Toilet Paper
  • Baby Diapers (sizes 4-6)
  • Laundry Detergent
  • Shampoo/Conditioner
  • Body Wash
  • Paper Towels
  • Baby Wipes
  • Cleaning Supplies

Sunday, June 27: Salsa & MerenGay

Join us on Sunday between 8AM and 5PM at McCaskey High School for Salsa & MerenGay: an LGBTQ+ inclusive salsa lesson in partnership with Patients R Waiting and Union Community Care’s Health Equity NOW initiative! DJ Ecliptic will be performing from 2-5PM, and we’ll be handing out free home STI test kits for National HIV Testing Day.

Afterward, swing by High Fever’s pride-themed party at Marion Court from 2-7PM to catch a drag show, food and drinks, and a free home STI test kit. Admission is $10.

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 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

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!