Aging With Pride group praises Erie's new sanctuary city designation, urges state reforms

Members of Aging with Pride, Erie
·1 min read
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The recently approved resolution designating Erie as a sanctuary city is an important milestone. This statement makes it clear that Erie is a welcoming and caring city for members of the LGBTQIA+ community. For LGBTQIA+ individuals in need of care, Erie stands as a beacon in our commonwealth. Erie is the first city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to adopt this status; we should all be particularly proud of it.

More: Erie City Council OKs LGBTQ+ sanctuary city designation

However, this resolution is also crucial to a part of the current LGBTQIA+ community — its elders. Older members of the LGBTQIA+ community experience greater levels of isolation, poor health care, housing insecurity and poor nutrition.

People ride the Erie Insurance antique fire engine during the Erie Pride Parade in Erie on June 24, 2023. Thousands turned out for the parade and subsequent Pridefest events as State Street was closed from 12th Street to North Park Row.
People ride the Erie Insurance antique fire engine during the Erie Pride Parade in Erie on June 24, 2023. Thousands turned out for the parade and subsequent Pridefest events as State Street was closed from 12th Street to North Park Row.

Additionally, older individuals in this community often feel invisible to their own peers and younger people. In terms of intersectionality, we are both gay and old. To know that the city of Erie has taken a public position on providing support and care to LGBTQIA+ individuals is very reassuring to many of our older, gay residents. While we may feel invisible, disadvantaged, or undervalued, we can take comfort that our city has declared that LGBTQIA+ individuals are essential not only to us here but to others who may need to come to Erie to claim their dignity and health and social services.

Pennsylvania still lacks anti-discrimination protection at the state level based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. Legislation that would fix this has recently passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. We call on state senators — including our own Sen. Dan Laughlin, of Millcreek, R-49th Dist. — to pass this in their chamber so that Gov. Josh Shapiro can finally sign it into law.

Respectfully submitted by the Members of Aging with Pride, Erie, Pa. Aging with Pride is an organization of senior LGBT+ members and allies, develops and sponsors social/recreational and educational events to promote healthy leisure activities, community, and an active, enjoyable lifestyle. 

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: LGBTQ group urges Pa. Senate to pass Fairness Act