An LGBTQ pride flag flies at the Pennsylvania Capitol in June 2020.
Creating Safe Spaces: Advocates Say LGBTQ+ Youth in Central PA Need More Than Tolerance—They Need Active Support
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Asia Tabb
Gov. Tom Wolf / Creative Commons via Flickr
An LGBTQ pride flag flies at the Pennsylvania Capitol in June 2020.
Aired; June 12th, 2025.
Listen to the podcast to hear the full conversation.
In Central Pennsylvania, LGBTQ+ youth are navigating increasingly complex and often dangerous environments at home, in school, and in their communities. Advocates Amber Roadcap, Executive Director of the LGBT Center of Central PA, and Hope Dehnert, a local LGBTQ+ youth advocate and researcher, joined The Spark to speak candidly about the challenges these young people face—and what all of us can do to support them.
According to Roadcap, two of the region’s largest healthcare providers have recently pulled back their youth gender-affirming care for individuals under 19 years old. “So I now have LGBTQ youth looking for providers,” Roadcap said. “Where are they supposed to find them? The closest hospitals are Nemours, CHOP… But these barriers to healthcare are a huge stressor for LGBTQ youth. We know that gender-affirming care saves lives.”
Schools are also rolling back inclusive policies, she explained, including bans on gender-affirming bathrooms and reduced support from teachers and staff. “We’re seeing a huge deficit,” said Roadcap. “Our youth are now having increased anxiety, depression, due to the stigma that they’re facing.”
Hope Dehnert, who’s currently pursuing a Master of Science at Harvard Medical School, has conducted extensive research on the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ youth. While the data is powerful, she says it’s the personal stories from Central PA that strike the deepest chord. “Many shared stories that were extremely raw and emotional—and in some cases, life-altering,” Dehnert said. “I’ve heard about fear and isolation, but I’ve also heard about hope.”
That hope, she says, often begins with just one accepting adult. “One visible supporter can reduce suicide risk for LGBTQ youth by up to 40%,” Dehnert said. “Because unfortunately, these kids don’t always feel safe in classrooms, locker rooms—even at their own dinner tables.”
Both advocates emphasized that support isn’t just about bold gestures—it’s also about consistent, visible affirmation. One striking example came from Dehnert’s interviews with Middletown Area High School students, where “Safe Space” stickers were once proudly displayed on teachers’ doors. That changed suddenly. “After 10 years, the school district directed all teachers to remove those stickers,” Dehnert explained. “Students described it as traumatic. One day they knew where they were safe. The next day, that safety vanished.”
Roadcap added that Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) groups are also being restricted or dismantled by certain school districts. “Some schools pulled students from attending our GSA Summit—after originally agreeing to send them,” she said. “If school was your safe space because home wasn’t… now where do you go?”
According to 2024 data from The Trevor Project, 90% of LGBTQ young people said their well-being has been negatively impacted by the current political climate.
Both Amber and Hope highlighted The Trevor Project as a “gold standard” resource for LGBTQ youth, families, and allies. The organization offers a crisis hotline, research reports, and discreet online help—including a quick-exit feature for youth in unsafe environments.
To learn more or get involved locally, visit the LGBT Center of Central PA, which offers youth programs like Common Roads, ally training, and support services.
As Roadcap put it best: “At the end of the day, we should all be treating all humans with the same equity, kindness, and empathy. Love your children unconditionally. Let them be their authentic selves.”
