June Events
A message from the Movement Advancement Project: Under Fire: The War on LGBTQ+ People in America.
It could be easy to think that LGBTQ+ people are continuing to move toward acceptance and equality, but in fact, the opposite is true. LGBTQ+ people in America are under attack like never before. Certainly, there has been increased media attention to so-called “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” bills and efforts to censor school curricula, ban books, ban transgender youth from playing sports, and ban transition-related care for transgender youth. Seeing each of these issues individually is like focusing on a single skirmish without understanding that they are part of a larger war against LGBTQ people in America.
Anti-LGBTQ+ forces want nothing less than to eliminate openly LGBTQ+ people from the fabric of society. They are launching fast, furious, and coordinated attacks that are astonishing in their breadth, cruelty, and flagrant disregard for personal freedoms. In this new series, MAP will dive deeper into each of these attacks, how opponents are executing these attacks, and how these attacks are impacting LGBTQ+ people.
There are several different ways in which anti-LGBTQ+ activists are attacking LGBTQ+ people and their right to exist. The goal of these activists is to eliminate LGBTQ+ people from society by:
In all these efforts, opponents are using increasingly dangerous and inflammatory rhetoric to vilify LGBTQ+ people. Anti-LGBTQ+ activists paint LGBTQ+ people as predators and foment violence against them. The resurgence of the “groomer” narrative—that LGBTQ+ people are explicitly sexualizing and abusing children—is particularly troubling and dangerous. These harmful narratives seek to push LGBTQ+ people to the corners of society and have them fear for their lives.
It could be easy to think that LGBTQ+ people are continuing to move toward acceptance and equality, but in fact, the opposite is true. LGBTQ+ people in America are under attack like never before. Certainly, there has been increased media attention to so-called “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” bills and efforts to censor school curricula, ban books, ban transgender youth from playing sports, and ban transition-related care for transgender youth. Seeing each of these issues individually is like focusing on a single skirmish without understanding that they are part of a larger war against LGBTQ people in America.
Anti-LGBTQ+ forces want nothing less than to eliminate openly LGBTQ+ people from the fabric of society. They are launching fast, furious, and coordinated attacks that are astonishing in their breadth, cruelty, and flagrant disregard for personal freedoms. In this new series, MAP will dive deeper into each of these attacks, how opponents are executing these attacks, and how these attacks are impacting LGBTQ+ people.
There are several different ways in which anti-LGBTQ+ activists are attacking LGBTQ+ people and their right to exist. The goal of these activists is to eliminate LGBTQ+ people from society by:
- Erasing LGBTQ+ people from schools and public life.
They want to make it impossible for LGBTQ+ youth to be themselves in schools—banning or fining teachers and schools for even talking about LGBTQ+ people or issues, pulling books off library shelves, and banning teachers from supporting LGBTQ+ students. In short, they want LGBTQ+ youth to be treated like they don’t exist, and those who disagree will be fired, fined, or even imprisoned. - Criminalizing and banning transition so transgender people can’t be themselves.
Opponents want to make it impossible for transgender people to be themselves by banning transition-related care and criminalizing supportive parents and doctors. They are also prohibiting transgender and nonbinary people from updating their identity documents like birth certificates driver's licenses, and ID cards. They are passing policies requiring governments, schools, and teachers to only recognize sex assigned at birth or inaccurate pronouns. - Enshrining inequality.
They want to enshrine legal inequality so that LGBTQ+ people and their families will be poorer, less secure, and face more obstacles. This includes repealing or fighting nondiscrimination protections so that LGBTQ+ can be fired or not hired, refused housing, denied service in public places, even denied medical care, and more. - Erecting systemic and structural barriers to make change harder.
By rolling back voting rights, doubling down on gerrymandering, insulating lawmakers from accountability, and much more, these opponents have made it even harder than ever before for individuals to make change, or to elect leaders that reflect the values held by the majority of Americans, including support for LGBTQ+ people. - Silencing supporters.
Anti-LGBTQ+opponents also want to silence, sue, fine and penalize parents, teachers, doctors, companies and others who are LGBTQ+ allies.
In all these efforts, opponents are using increasingly dangerous and inflammatory rhetoric to vilify LGBTQ+ people. Anti-LGBTQ+ activists paint LGBTQ+ people as predators and foment violence against them. The resurgence of the “groomer” narrative—that LGBTQ+ people are explicitly sexualizing and abusing children—is particularly troubling and dangerous. These harmful narratives seek to push LGBTQ+ people to the corners of society and have them fear for their lives.
JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION
June 17th
Noon to 4 pm
Brandon Park, Williamsport, PA
The CommUnity Zone is pleased to announce that we are working on a regional Juneteenth celebration in Williamsport for 2023. This is the third year that we are doing this event in partnership with members of the Lycoming Tri-County NAACP. The three counties referenced in the NAACP unit name are Lycoming, Clinton, and Northumberland. In addition, they have members who live in Union and Snyder Counties which are not otherwise served by an active NAACP unit. The CommUnity Zone serves the entire region, with programs and activities extending through Union, Snyder, Northumberland, Columbia, and Lycoming Counties to date. Our two organizations are the most broad-based of the community and organizational partners involved in the event.
The Juneteenth event scheduled for Saturday, June 17, at Brandon Park in downtown Williamsport will be a truly regional celebration, providing a draw and a beacon for racial justice awareness in north central PA. Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery and is a day of joy, a celebration, and a re-commitment to the values of freedom and building a good community for all.
This year’s Juneteenth event theme is: “STRENGTHENING Our Roots to EMPOWER Future Generations.” This year the focus will be centered on children and young people. We will be shining a spotlight on Black youth as well as presenting scholarships to young people graduating from high school and college.
EVERYONE, of all races, backgrounds, religions, and ideologies, is encouraged and invited to come out to celebrate. The day will start with a Prayer Vigil and Walk starting at Freedom Road at 11am, advancing to Brandon Park where festivities will begin. Events on the stage at the park will run from 12pm to 4pm. Vendors and food trucks will be present as well as many activities for all to enjoy. We will celebrate with physical fitness intro sessions, yoga, meditation, drumming, food, a live band, music, dance, spoken word, and much more.
This is an opportunity to visibly show support for our active African American community here in Central Pennsylvania. When we come together to support one another – black, white, and brown – our communities become stronger and we feel great pride in what this country stands for.
Past Event Highlight: Stories on Tap - "Loved"
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Our first storytelling event in our partnership with Stories On Tap was a huge success! After our workshop in January, we invited storytellers and audience members to the Community Partnerships office for an evening of live performance on February 11th.
Hosted by Monica Prince, the night featured 10 storytellers - including Stories on Tap founder Julie Hagenbuch - sharing real events from their lives on the theme of "Loved." The audience of 85 enjoyed those stories along with refreshments, and a great time was had by all! Pictures from the event are available to view on the CommUnity Zone Facebook page. Our second round of storytelling, hosted in Milton with the help of other local partners and organizations, was also a fantastic evening. We look forward to more Stories on Tap events in the future! |
Event Highlight: Historic Walking Tours
On September 17th, the CommUnity Zone joined with the Lewisburg Downtown Partnership and a huge team of volunteers and local homeowners to provide Historic Walking Tours to locals and visitors for the Bucknell Family Weekend! The tour included buildings built as early as 1841, and they were all magnificent showcases of history and architecture from our town.
Along with the buildings, there were also volunteers offering historical information and even tours of some locations, many of whom were dressed in period costume. Participants got to see a Civil War reenactor by the famous Cameron/Cook house, a period lady by the Lewisburg Hotel, and Tom Morgan - or rather, 'an ancestor' of his - walking the streets as our very own town crier.
This event was an incredible time, with fun had by all, and a great success for everyone involved. Nearly 200 people bought tickets to take the tour, raising thousands of dollars to support Lewisburg and its downtown businesses and nonprofits!
Along with the buildings, there were also volunteers offering historical information and even tours of some locations, many of whom were dressed in period costume. Participants got to see a Civil War reenactor by the famous Cameron/Cook house, a period lady by the Lewisburg Hotel, and Tom Morgan - or rather, 'an ancestor' of his - walking the streets as our very own town crier.
This event was an incredible time, with fun had by all, and a great success for everyone involved. Nearly 200 people bought tickets to take the tour, raising thousands of dollars to support Lewisburg and its downtown businesses and nonprofits!
What's Happening
ACLU of Pennsylvania – Events
Campus Theatre – Special Events
League of Women Voters – Lewisburg, PA – What’s Happening
Lewisburg Arts Council – Events
Lewisburg Downtown Partnership – Events
Lewisburg Prison Project – News
Pennsylvania Interfaith Power & Light – Upcoming Events
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church – Worship Services
Susquehanna Valley Visitors Bureau – Events in the Susquehanna River Valley
Susquehanna Valley Ethical Society – SVES Programs & Events
Susquehanna Valley Mediation Center – Events
Susquehanna Valley Progress – SVP Calendar
The Improved Milton Experience – TIME Events
Campus Theatre – Special Events
League of Women Voters – Lewisburg, PA – What’s Happening
Lewisburg Arts Council – Events
Lewisburg Downtown Partnership – Events
Lewisburg Prison Project – News
Pennsylvania Interfaith Power & Light – Upcoming Events
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church – Worship Services
Susquehanna Valley Visitors Bureau – Events in the Susquehanna River Valley
Susquehanna Valley Ethical Society – SVES Programs & Events
Susquehanna Valley Mediation Center – Events
Susquehanna Valley Progress – SVP Calendar
The Improved Milton Experience – TIME Events
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