In January of 2022, Chambersburg Borough Council made history by making the County seat the first town in PA to revoke a LGBTQ+ inclusive nondiscrimination ordinance forever putting a black eye on the community. Supporters must continue to show up and show out. Pride month is a good opportunity to demonstrate solidarity and commitment for continued progress.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month is currently celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. Celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia and concerts, and LGBTQ Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world. Memorials are held during this month for those members of the community who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally.
Nearly eight in ten Americans (79%) favor laws that would protect LGBTQ people against discrimination in jobs, public accommodations, and housing, including 41% who strongly support them. Most Democrats (89%), independents (82%), and almost two-thirds of Republicans (65%) favor nondiscrimination provisions for LGBTQ people. Source: Public Religion Research Institute
Local residents, businesses, and allies can celebrate the LGBTQ+ community during Pride month in a variety of ways. Here are just a few:
Coordinate Pride Month office activities to help teams reflect on sexual orientation inequities. Pride Month office activities will also help your workforce make meaningful actions in eliminating workplace discrimination. From Pride month trivia, diversity trainings and office celebrations to volunteering, organizing a book club or movie screenings, here are 24 fun office ideas to celebrate Pride month.
Join or sponsor the Race Against Poverty - Pride Franklin County team. Funds raised support South Central Pennsylvania Community Action Programs anti-poverty programs.
Small businesses can be a catalyst for inclusion – at work, at home, and in communities. Learn how small businesses can create LGBTQ inclusive work places with the U.S. Chamber Foundation's LGBT Small Business Inclusion HUB resources.
Patronize the 115+ businesses and support organizations who pledged to be inclusive to all. The Franklin County Welcoming Project was launched in June 2021 as an initiative to encourage businesses, health care/service providers, organizations, and congregations to display welcoming signs for the purpose of making LGBTQ+ individuals and allies feel welcomed as patrons. By signing a pledge, a participating business or organization receives a free decal for their entrances. The decal demonstrates the establishment as a diverse, inclusive, accepting, welcoming and safe space for all.
Wear Pride gear at community events and services projects during the month of June. you can buy Pride Franklin County merchandise here.
Support Pride Franklin County as a sponsor, vendor, or volunteer.
Study up on how and why equal protections were eliminated in Chambersburg by the current Borough Council and express your support for nondiscrimination laws.
Visit fccforprogress.org and pridefranklincounty.org to learn about grass roots to advance social justice and equality to all residents in Franklin County.