Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs, Harrisburg, PA (2021)

08/31/2021

Photos from Pennsylvania Commission for Women's post

08/06/2021

On this day in 2018 I established the Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs — the first commission of its kind in the nation.

The commission has helped state government better connect, protect, and serve our LGBTQIA+ communities.

08/02/2021

Together with the bipartisan Vaccine Task Force, I sent this letter to members of the Pennsylvania legislature.

We’re at a pivotal moment in this pandemic. I’m calling on every elected official to support vaccination efforts and encourage their constituents to get vaccinated.

Part of serving the public is ensuring that our constituents have accurate and timely information.

Vaccines work. And they’re the best protection we have against COVID-19, including the Delta variant.

See the full text of the letter here: on.pa.gov/2WMvkcK.

07/21/2021

PrEP, the HIV prevention pill, must now be totally free under almost all insurance plans

The federal government announced that almost all health insurers must cover PrEP with no cost sharing — for the drug itself and for clinic visits and lab tests.

07/19/2021

Other Voices: The time for LGBTQ equality is now

I don’t always agree with Sen. Pat Toomey, but as a Pennsylvania faith leader I am hoping we can find common ground on ensuring fairness and equality...

07/08/2021

All Pennsylvanians should have equal protection under the law.

I've expanded protections for LGBTQIA+ state employees twice.

Still waiting for Republican leadership to pass the Fairness Act — bipartisan legislation to provide similar protections for all Pennsylvanians.

06/30/2021

Happy Pride! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈
Meet Commissioner Freddy Purnell
any pronouns – Philadelphia County
Freddy is a class of 2020 graduate of Penn State. While attending he served as the President of the Student Pride Roundtable for Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity, Vice President of Q***r and Trans People of Color, and the student representative on the borough council for LGBTQ affairs, focusing on improving the campus experience for q***r students. He is passionate about using his voice to advocate for marginalized communities and desires to amplify the voices of q***r youth.

06/30/2021

Happy Pride! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈
Meet Commissioner Heshie Zinman
he/him/his – Philadelphia County
Heshie has a long history of innovative activism on both the local and national level addressing emerging needs in diverse communities. He has broad experience creating impactful nonprofits, growing boards, and fundraising. His passionate commitment to the health and well-being of LGBT and HIV communities led him from being a dedicated early responder to a respected multi-issue community leader for inclusive LGBT policy development among social service providers and government agencies. He joined the Commission to continue his advocacy efforts for older LGBT adults statewide.

Our Commission is composed of appointed commissioners from across the Commonwealth, each acting as a representative and advocate for LGBTQ communities. Read more here:
https://www.governor.pa.gov/about/pennsylvania-commission-lgbtq-affairs/

06/30/2021

Happy Pride! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈
Meet Commissioner Matthew W Yarnell
he/him/his – Centre County
Matthew is President of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, the largest union of caregivers in the state, representing 45,000 health care workers across the Commonwealth working in hospitals, nursing homes, state facilities, and caring for seniors and people with disabilities in their home.

Matt lives in Centre County with his husband Scott and their two sons.

Our Commission is composed of appointed commissioners from across the Commonwealth, each acting as a representative and advocate for LGBTQ communities. Read more here: https://www.governor.pa.gov/about/pennsylvania-commission-lgbtq-affairs/

06/30/2021

Happy Pride! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈
Meet Commissioner Roberto “Tito” Valdes
he/him/his – Philadelphia County
Tito Valdes, Esq. serves as legal counsel to the Philadelphia Department of Human Services, which is responsible for investigating reports of child abuse and neglect. Tito is a graduate of Lebanon Valley College, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in political science, and the Penn State University - Dickinson School of Law. He serves on the law department’s diversity committee where he works with others to enhance the department’s cultural competency. In addition, he serves on the board of the William Way LGBT Community Center, where he co-chairs the Resource Development Committee and serves on the Strategic Planning Committee. Tito is passionate about intersectional social justice and believes in the fundamentals of fairness and justice for all.

06/30/2021

Happy Pride! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈
Meet Commissioner Sean Strub
he/him/his – Pike County
Sean Strub is the mayor of Milford, Pennsylvania. He is a longtime LGBTQ and HIV activist who founded POZ Magazine. He was the first openly HIV+ person to run for the U.S. Congress and is executive director of the The SERO Project a US-based network of people living with HIV fighting for freedom from stigma, discrimination and criminalization. He looks forward to working with the PA Commission on LGBTQ Affairs to advancing human rights for every Pennsylvanian.

Our Commission is composed of appointed commissioners from across the Commonwealth, each acting as a representative and advocate for LGBTQ communities. Read more here: https://www.governor.pa.gov/about/pennsylvania-commission-lgbtq-affairs/

06/30/2021

Happy Pride! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈
Meet Commissioner Henry Sias
he/him/his – Philadelphia County
Henry is a criminal defense and civil rights lawyer in Philadelphia. He co-founded a nonprofit that has provided thousands of free expungements for low-income Philadelphians. Henry represents victims of discrimination in employment, housing, and similar matters, with a focus on appellate work and the intersection of immigration and criminal law. He has been involved with Philadelphia’s indigent defense program for over ten years, he and has contributed to efforts to reform that program. He has also represented several transgender individuals as part of his pro bono work, in name changes and in cases involving medical care and coverage. He received his law degree from Yale Law School.

06/30/2021

Happy Pride! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈
Meet Commissioner Adrian Shanker
he/him/his – Lehigh County
Adrian is executive director of Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center in Allentown, PA and is also a Commissioner on the PHRC Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. He is an award-winning activist and organizer whose career has centered on advancing process from the LGBT community. An accomplished organizer, Adrian has led numerous successful campaigns to advance LGBT progress through municipal non-discrimination and relationship recognition laws and laws to protect LGBT youth from conversion therapy. He earned a Graduate Certificate in LGBT Health Policy & Practice from The George Washington University and a B.A., cm laude, in Political Science and Religion Studies from Muhlenberg College.

Our Commission is composed of appointed commissioners from across the Commonwealth, each acting as a representative and advocate for LGBTQ communities. Read more here: https://www.governor.pa.gov/about/pennsylvania-commission-lgbtq-affairs/

06/30/2021

Happy Pride! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈
Meet Commissioner Naiymah Sanchez
she/her/hers – Philadelphia County
Naiymah Sanchez is an out and proud Trans Afro-Latina from Philadelphia. She has been active in community advocacy for more than ten years. Sanchez found her voice when she had enough with experiencing discrimination and injustices.

Our Commission is composed of appointed commissioners from across the Commonwealth, each acting as a representative and advocate for LGBTQ communities. Read more here: https://www.governor.pa.gov/about/pennsylvania-commission-lgbtq-affairs/

06/30/2021

Happy Pride! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈
Meet Commissioner Brian Patchcoski
he/him/his/they/them/theirs – Centre County
Brian J. Patchcoski is Director of the Le***an, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Q***r and Ally (LGBTQA) Resource Center at Penn State providing a comprehensive range of education, information, and advocacy to students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members.

Our Commission is composed of appointed commissioners from across the Commonwealth, each acting as a representative and advocate for LGBTQ communities. Read more here: https://www.governor.pa.gov/about/pennsylvania-commission-lgbtq-affairs/

06/29/2021

Happy Pride! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈
Meet Commissioner Harry Young
he/him/his - Dauphin County
Harry serves as Executive Director for Keystone Business Alliance - Central PA's LGBT Chamber of Commerce. In his role, Harry advocates for LGBTQ+ businesses and communities, working to foster a more inclusive economy and business climate. In this role, he partners with stakeholders across south central PA as well as state- and nationwide through KBA's affiliation with NGLCC - The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce. Harry resides in Harrisburg and is passionate about working collaboratively to move our Commonwealth forward.

Our Commission is composed of appointed commissioners from across the Commonwealth, each acting as a representative and advocate for LGBTQ communities. Read more here: https://www.governor.pa.gov/about/pennsylvania-commission-lgbtq-affairs/