Who We Are
In 2021, we founded our mutual aid organization on seeds planted by a Lititz resident reporting multiple acts of vandalism against her pride flag. Fueled by the belief that love is love is love, our grassroots movement started as a call to action for the Lititz community to openly and unapologetically embrace love, inspiring our first-ever Pride event.
Since 2021’s first Pride Festival, we have built a mutual aid organization committed to advocating for LGBTQ+ individuals across the larger Lancaster community, creating safe spaces and connecting community members with local resources. Our annual Pride Festival, still held in Lititz, remains a continual reminder of our humble beginnings and the Lititz community’s incredibly generous support.
Over time, Lancaster County Chooses Love evolved into a trans-led, 501(c)3 organization that addresses the growing need for direct services across the county. Our grassroots organization is committed to advocating for LGBTQ+ individuals within the community by creating safe social spaces, and connecting community members with local resources.
In 2026, Trans Minors Rights officially merged with Lancaster County Chooses Love after TMR’s leaders approached LCCL to explore a merger. They believed our missions and community work closely aligned and wanted to ensure that TMR’s work supporting transgender youth could continue and grow. We are honored to carry that work forward through expanded youth advocacy, gender-affirming resources, educational materials for healthcare professionals, and intergenerational programming for trans youth and elders.
Today, we provide mutual aid and offer services to many seeking support, offering a resource center that includes:
- Food pantry for all community members without requiring them to be on public assistance, serving more than 20,00 community members in 2024
- Gender affirming closet with volunteers who help support visitors
- Library with books focused on LGBTQ+ social justice issues
Lancaster County Chooses Love also offers a variety of social and support programs to the community. A few examples include:
- A young adult support group
- After School Alliance, a program for teens in partnership with the Lancaster Public Library
- Dungeons and Dragons events for teens and adults
- Different workshops and family fun nights–like bowling, a clay workshop, and more
We have also partnered with different state and local services and have built a mutual aid program that helps community members in need to find:
- Financial support
- Sharing resources
- Resources that address specific needs, like housing and healthcare costs
Through our advocacy and unwavering commitment to inclusivity, Lancaster County Chooses Love continues to shape a future based on the power of a community where every person, regardless of their identity, can thrive in an environment of acceptance and compassion.
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