Lancaster County Chooses Love

Love is love is love, and now, more than ever, communities across the country need to unite intheir calls for love. Were hoping to do that here in Lititz. Ourmovement began nearly three years ago when a Lititz resident reported that her Pride flag hadbeen vandalized, for a second time. In response, we made a call for Lititz to choose love, and do it publicly.That call became our first ever Pride event. With only three weeks to plan, advertise, andexecute the event, we created so much more than a one-day display of love; we created amovement.

We called that movement Lititz Chooses Love because we wanted our name to loudly andproudly state our values. Today, were a trans-led registered 501(c)3 whose impact has grown beyond our small town of Lititz as we are reaching folks throughout Lancaster and Lebanon Counties.

Our hallmark program is our resource center. The resource center is a low-barrier food pantry, gender affirming closet, and a library (with books focused on LGBTQ+ social justice issues). These resources are open to anyone in the community who is in need but is specifically geared towards LGBTQ+ individuals. In 2022, partnered with the Central PA food bank to expand our food pantry and provide even more nutritious, quality food to our clients. Our other programming is described below:

• On the first Friday of each month, we host a Family Karaoke night at St. Paul Penryn. This event is a fun, safe space for LGBTQ+ folks and allies to connect. We focus on hiring LGBTQ+ DJs for the event, and we buy food for the event from local businesses.We throw events like Pride and Coming Out Festival. These events have been growing!
• We participate in advocacy. We especially are focused on going to local school board meetings when any anti-LGBTQ+ policies are on the agenda. We also work with the PA Trans-equity project, and we go to events at the capitol, talk to politicians, etc. to try to advance legislation that supports the LGBTQ+ community.
• Our President and Executive Director participates in community education events, conversations, etc. to help bring awareness to challenges the LGBTQ+ community is facing.
• We provide mutual aid to LGBTQ+ folks, and especially to trans individuals.

And, we do just about anything else that we can to help! Whether that's going to an event hosted by another org, helping connect folks with resources from other nonprofits, or even help a parent re-paint the room of their transgender son.