‘Unapologetically Us’ exhibition showcases LGBTQ+ pride in Harrisburg

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  Katie Knol is WITF's General Assignment Reporter & Host.
  
  She graduated from Penn State University in 2024, earning bachelor's degrees in journalism and political science. She has also worked at WPSU, the News Lab at Penn State, The Daily Collegian and CommRadio.

The “Unapologetically Us” art exhibition in Harrisburg features work celebrating LGBTQ+ identity and is available for viewing through July.

Craig Bomberger, artist and curator of the exhibition, said he wanted to highlight LGBTQ+ artists and local businesses that show support for the community year-round — not just during Pride Month in June.

There are 40 pieces by 12 different artists, distributed across several locations throughout the city.

The locations include: 

• Wake and Bake Café at 240 North Third St.
• The Brownstone Lounge at 412 Forster St.
• Sweet T & Greens at 231 North St.
• Salted Butter Bakery at 1224 North Third St.
• Little Amps Coffee at 1836 Green St. and 133 State St.
• LGBT Center of Central PA at 1323 North Front St.

Some artwork focuses on the experiences of the LGBTQ+ community, Bomberger said, and some highlights LGBTQ+ artists without their identity being the topic.

He said he hopes the exhibition will also urge people to check out the other small businesses in the area.

“Hopefully they smiled, or it brought them joy, or at least made them stop and think,” he said.

This year’s Pride Month comes at a crucial time for the movement.

A Gallup poll released in June found that support for LGBTQ+ issues in the U.S. remains down from its peak. Support for same-sex marriage and relationships, and opinions on changing one’s gender have all dipped recently.

There are major differences based on political party alignment. In 2021 and 2022, 55 percent of Republicans said they favored same-sex marriage. That figure dropped to 37 percent in 2026. Support dropped six points to 67 percent for independents, and Democratic views remained consistent, with 87 percent in favor.

“For about two decades, Americans grew more accepting of LGBTQ+ people and more supportive of their civil rights,” said a Gallup report summarizing the findings. “However, those pro-LGBTQ+ attitudes peaked about five years ago and have since edged downward, mostly among Republicans.”

Bomberger said that makes fostering a safe environment where Pride and LGBTQ+ people can be themselves is even more important.

“I really genuinely feel that because there is so much hatred and homophobia and just disdain towards the LGBT community, that it’s just as relevant now as it was when it started with the Stonewall riot,” he said. “The visibility is such a big piece of it for me that we’re not just going to hide somewhere, but we’re still here, and there are artists making amazing artwork that we can showcase as well as celebrate in other ways.”