The resilience of the LGBTQ+ community is deeply rooted in its ability to create and sustain supportive spaces. From the underground networks of the past to today’s well-established organizations like ours, these efforts have empowered individuals, strengthened communal bonds, and driven advocacy for a more inclusive society.
Throughout history, the LGBTQ+ community has demonstrated remarkable resilience, often by creating and nurturing spaces that foster solidarity, support, and activism. From the early days of gay and lesbian bars to the establishment of community centers and mutual aid organizations, these efforts have been played an essential role in building and sustaining community resilience for queer people.
Lancaster County Chooses Love continues this legacy by ensuring that mutual aid, social support, and advocacy remain at the heart of our work. By providing essential resources and fostering meaningful connections, we are building a stronger, more resilient community for LGBTQ+ individuals in Lancaster County and beyond.
Why Our Work Is More Vital Than Ever
The current political climate has created an environment that echoes the challenges of the 1960s and 1970s, when the LGBTQ+ rights movement first gained momentum. Then, as now, LGBTQ+ individuals faced political scapegoating, legal attacks on their rights, and widespread social discrimination. Hard-won protections are now under threat, from laws restricting gender-affirming care and LGBTQ+ visibility in schools to rising hostility toward queer and trans people in public life. These challenges make the work of Lancaster County Chooses Love more urgent than ever.
History has shown that when LGBTQ+ rights are under attack, community resilience becomes the strongest form of resistance. In the past, resilience meant organizing mutual aid when government institutions failed to protect or support LGBTQ+ people. It meant building networks of care, from underground health clinics during the AIDS crisis to legal defense funds for those criminalized simply for existing. Today, that same spirit of resistance and solidarity is needed to combat new waves of discrimination and marginalization.
At Lancaster County Chooses Love, we are committed to strengthening our community’s ability to weather these challenges. However, this work cannot be done alone. The need for resources, donations, grants, sponsorships, and partnerships has never been greater. Every contribution—whether financial, material, or through direct involvement—helps sustain the programs that ensure LGBTQ+ individuals in Lancaster County have what they need to thrive.
With sustained support, we can:
- Expand our mutual aid programs to reach more people facing economic hardship and social exclusion.
- Strengthen our partnerships with affirming organizations, businesses, and faith communities to build a more inclusive and supportive local network.
- Provide more educational and advocacy initiatives to push back against harmful policies and misinformation.
- Ensure that Lancaster remains a place where LGBTQ+ individuals can live openly, safely, and with dignity.
The fight for equality has never been easy, and history reminds us that progress is not linear. But just as LGBTQ+ activists before us built lasting change through collective action, we, too, can ensure that our community not only survives these challenges but thrives in the face of them.
How Lancaster County Chooses Love Builds Resilience
At Lancaster County Chooses Love, we believe that true community resilience is built through sustained mutual aid, resource accessibility, and meaningful social connections. Our programs are designed to directly address the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals while fostering a strong, interconnected support system that empowers both individuals and the broader community.
- Clothing Closet: Access to gender-affirming clothing is essential for mental well-being, self-expression, and professional opportunities. Our Clothing Closet ensures that individuals can find outfits that reflect their identity, including professional attire for job interviews and work, empowering them to confidently participate in daily life without fear of discrimination or dysphoria.
- Lending Library: Information access is key to resilience, especially when LGBTQ+ narratives are frequently censored or erased. Our Lending Library provides access to LGBTQ+ literature, history, and resources, helping individuals educate themselves and find representation in stories that affirm their identities.
- Food Pantry: Many LGBTQ+ individuals face barriers to traditional food assistance due to discrimination or lack of affirming spaces. Our Food Pantry not only fights food insecurity but also provides a welcoming, stigma-free environment where individuals can access essential nourishment without fear of judgment or exclusion. More importantly our pantry is open to all, not just members of the queer community, our families, and our allies. A strong and resilient queer community is supported by a local community that is also strong and resilient. By inviting all members of the local community to access this essential resource, we help build a community resilience that weaves queer community resilience into the broader fabric of community resilience here in Lancaster County.
- Support Groups and Community Events: Isolation is one of the biggest threats to resilience, and our support groups, social groups, and community events create spaces where individuals can share experiences, find solidarity, and build lifelong friendships. Through peer-led groups, mentorship programs, and social gatherings, we nurture a culture of mutual care that strengthens emotional and mental well-being.
- Emergency Assistance & Resource Navigation: Life’s unexpected challenges—from housing instability to job loss—can be especially difficult for LGBTQ+ individuals with limited support networks. We provide limited emergency assistance, resource referrals, and advocacy to help community members navigate these hardships with dignity and security.
By addressing these core needs, Lancaster County Chooses Love not only provides direct support but also fosters long-term stability and empowerment. Every program is rooted in the belief that when we uplift each other, we create a community that can withstand challenges and thrive together.
Support Our Mission
The challenges facing the LGBTQ+ community today are significant, but with your help, Lancaster County Chooses Love can continue to build a community that not only survives but thrives. Whether through financial contributions, volunteer work, or simply raising awareness, your involvement makes a real difference in strengthening the resilience of our community. Join us in creating a more inclusive and supportive Lancaster County, where LGBTQ+ individuals can live openly, safely, and with dignity. Together, we will weather these challenges and ensure that progress toward equality continues, no matter what obstacles lie ahead.
Donate Now to support our mission.
