Pennsylvania rally will demand protections for transgender health care, same-sex marriage

A group of advocates are planning a Harrisburg rally in late October to pressure elected officials to protect rights for LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians.

Organizers say they’re holding the Oct. 26 event to demand equal rights and access to gender-affirming health care and to shield same-sex marriage. These steps, they say, are all the more important in a time when protections are being rolled back.

“The basic rights of LGBTQ+ people are under vicious attack every day across our state and nation,” Jason Landau Goodman, board chair of the Pennsylvania Youth Congress, said in a statement. “That is why we are coming together to demand action from our government officials.”

What are the event details?

The event planners say it will begin with a march around the capitol at 1 p.m. Oct. 26. After that, attendees will rally, with speakers to be announced.

Organizers say they are coordinating buses and carpool transportation so as many people can participate as possible. They’ve released a sign-up form so people can opt into updates.

What do organizers hope to accomplish?

The groups involved say they’re demanding action to make sure LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians have equal access to housing, jobs, health care and public spaces.

They’re also condemning health networks, including UPMC and Penn State Health, for no longer providing gender-affirming care to minors in response to pressure from the Trump administration.

Finally, they want commonwealth lawmakers to pass bills that would safeguard gay marriage, ban therapies that attempt to change a child’s sexual orientation and protect LGBTQ+ people under the state’s hate crime laws.