Lest weekend, the Pennsylvania Coalition for Trans Youth organized a rally to celebrate trans visibility and to call for the reinstatement of Chambersburg's nondiscrimination ordinance.
Gabriela Martinez / WITF
Activists and LGBTQ residents call for Chambersburg’s nondiscrimination ordinance to be reinstated
“This is just the beginning,” said Janelle Crossley, founder of the PA Coalition for Trans Youth.
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Gabriela Martínez/WITF
Gabriela Martinez / WITF
Lest weekend, the Pennsylvania Coalition for Trans Youth organized a rally to celebrate trans visibility and to call for the reinstatement of Chambersburg's nondiscrimination ordinance.
(Chambersburg)- In January, Chambersburg became the first borough in the state to repeal a local nondiscrimination ordinance. Two months later, LGBTQ advocacy groups continue to raise awareness about why, they say, LGBTQ-specific protections are needed to protect youth.
More than 70 people gathered Saturday in downtown Chambersburg to observe Trans Day of Visibility — usually celebrated on March 31 — and to call for the reinstatement of the nondiscrimination ordinance. The event, organized by the Pennsylvania Coalition for Trans Youth and other LGBTQ organizations, included remarks from trans community leaders, pastors and a Chambersburg Borough Council member.
“This is just the beginning,” said Janelle Crossley, founder of the PA Coalition for Trans Youth.
She said advocacy groups “are going to fight this and we will get it reinstated in the year of 2022.”
The law passed in September. A new council repealed it in January. Those who voted for the repeal said the ordinance would be redundant because the Pennsylvania Human Relations already handles discrimination claims. Republican council members also say the ordinance has no teeth because it does not include penalties.
Republican council members could not be reached for a response to Saturday’s event and the effort to reinstate the law.
People at the event spoke about how the repeal of LGBTQ-specific protections, and a proposed bill that would prevent trans women from competing in girls’ and women’s sports, can contribute to an unsafe environment for LGBTQ youth.
“My biggest thing is that we need to get behind these kids,” said AJ Scruggs, a representative from a trans advocacy group called TAKE. “This protection that’s being repealed is not just protecting trans adults like myself, but it’s protecting these trans babies. We need to be the ones to stand up for our children because they cannot act for themselves.”
Gabriela Martinez / WITF
Milo Stopyra and Madison Ellis attended a rally to call for the reinstatement of Chambersburg’s NDO.
Milo Stopyra, a 20-year old from Chambersburg who identifies as gender queer, shared painful experiences of being bullied as a high school student. They said a teacher outed them “in front of an entire class, which made my life a living hell.”
Eventually, Stopyra left Chambersburg.
“I ended up actually homeless because of my family life,” Stopyra said.
Because of the unavailability of safe LGBTQ shelters in Chambersburg, Stopyra, who uses the pronoun they, said they ended up in Columbia, where they were able to get help at Rivertown Pride Center, an LGBTQ advocacy group that serves as a welcoming space for youth and adults from Lancaster and York. It is led by Pastor Mark Harris.
Harris, who also spoke at Saturday’s event, said that his center has been helping other people from Chambersburg, like Stopyra, who are fleeing unsupportive environments at home.
“The ordinance is needed. Reinstate the NDO,” Harris said. “Even if all it does is say to the people in this community, who would be protected by it, that we have the intention of protecting you, isn’t that enough? If we have refugees going counties away in order to get away from the oppression here. Isn’t that an indication?”
Chambersburg Councilmember Alice Elia, one of the speakers, said she does not know of any formal efforts to reinstate the nondiscrimination ordinance, but encourages Chambersburg residents to meet with council members and continue to advocate for it.
“I hope that some of the newer council members are having the opportunity to talk to people in the community who feel very strongly about this issue, and who can maybe help them understand why this is important,” Elia said.
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