{"id":2319,"date":"2025-10-15T19:25:19","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T19:25:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/2319\/"},"modified":"2025-10-15T19:25:19","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T19:25:19","slug":"national-coming-out-day-rally-in-bethlehem-calls-for-lgbt-protections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/2319\/","title":{"rendered":"National Coming Out Day rally in Bethlehem calls for LGBT protections"},"content":{"rendered":"

Getting the music going might have been the first order of business for Saturday\u2019s National Coming Out Day rally in Bethlehem, but organizers said the long-term goal is to push politicians to protect the LGBTQ community.<\/p>\n

Allentown recently declared itself a \u201csafe haven\u201d for gender-affirming health care<\/a> while Easton designated itself an \u201caffirming city\u201d for the LGBTQ community<\/a>, and organizers said they\u2019d like to see Bethlehem pass a similar welcoming ordinance.<\/p>\n

The recent resolutions go beyond nondiscrimination ordinances and seek to counter the Trump administration\u2019s restrictions on gender-affirming health care and denial of transgender identities.<\/p>\n

Federal government actions against the transgender community, along with the rise of online hate, have made it more difficult for LGBTQ advocates to turn out crowds, but the effort is worth it, organizers said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s more important than ever to hold public events,\u201d said Corinne Goodwin, executive director of Eastern PA Trans Equity Project<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Spencer<\/p>\n

Spencer Snygg of Allentown listens to Corinne Goodwin, executive director of the Eastern PA Trans Equality Project, speak during National Coming Out Day on Saturday, Oct., 11, 2025, at Payrow Plaza in Bethlehem. (Jane Therese\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Julie<\/p>\n

Julie Vitale and Spencer Snygg, both of Allentown, listen to Rev. Elizabeth Goudy, pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of Lehigh Valley, speak during National Coming Out Day Saturday, Oct., 11, 2025, at Payrow Plaza in Bethlehem. (Jane Therese\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"People<\/p>\n

People listen to Rev. Elizabeth Goudy, pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of the Lehigh Valley, speak during National Coming Out Day on Saturday, Oct., 11, 2025, at Payrow Plaza in Bethlehem. (Jane Therese\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Lehigh<\/p>\n

Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley, a Democratic candidate for Congress, draws a chalk heart during National Coming Out Day on Saturday, Oct., 11, 2025, at Payrow Plaza in Bethlehem. (Jane Therese\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"People<\/p>\n

People show their support during National Coming Out Day Saturday, Oct., 11, 2025, at Payrow Plaza in Bethlehem. (Jane Therese\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"People<\/p>\n

People attend National Coming Out Day Saturday, Oct., 11, 2025, at Payrow Plaza in Bethlehem. (Jane Therese\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Michelle<\/p>\n

Michelle Ritter-Santana of Bethlehem listens to Corinne Goodwin, executive director off the Eastern PA Trans Equality Project, speak during National Coming Out Day Saturday, Oct., 11, 2025, at Payrow Plaza in Bethlehem. (Jane Therese\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Corinne<\/p>\n

Corinne Goodwin, executive director of the Eastern PA Trans Equality Project, speaks during National Coming Out Day on Saturday, Oct., 11, 2025, at Payrow Plaza in Bethlehem. (Jane Therese\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Cheryl<\/p>\n

Cheryl Urban of Bethlehem attends National Coming Out Day Saturday, Oct., 11, 2025, at Payrow Plaza in Bethlehem. (Jane Therese\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"People<\/p>\n

People listen to Corinne Goodwin, executive director of the Eastern PA Trans Equality Project, speak during National Coming Out Day Saturday, Oct., 11, 2025, at Payrow Plaza in Bethlehem. (Jane Therese\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Robin<\/p>\n

Robin Gow, organizer for Queer and Trans Lehigh Valley, speaks during National Coming Out Day Saturday, Oct., 11, 2025, at Payrow Plaza in Bethlehem. (Jane Therese\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Karina<\/p>\n

Karina Ritter-Santana of Bethlehem draws in chalk during National Coming Out Day Saturday, Oct., 11, 2025, at Payrow Plaza in Bethlehem. (Jane Therese\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Corinne<\/p>\n

Corinne Goodwin, executive director of the Eastern PA Trans Equality Project, shows off a flyer to Mark Pinsley during National Coming Out Day Saturday, Oct., 11, 2025, at Payrow Plaza in Bethlehem. (Jane Therese\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"People<\/p>\n

People attend National Coming Out Day Saturday, Oct., 11, 2025, at Payrow Plaza in Bethlehem. (Jane Therese\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 14<\/p>\n

Spencer Snygg of Allentown listens to Corinne Goodwin, executive director of the Eastern PA Trans Equality Project, speak during National Coming Out Day on Saturday, Oct., 11, 2025, at Payrow Plaza in Bethlehem. (Jane Therese\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a><\/p>\n

Rally attendees chalked messages like \u201cLove is love\u201d and \u201cProtect trans kids\u201d onto Payrow Plaza outside Bethlehem City Hall as passing cars honked in support.<\/p>\n

Those audible reminders of community support show why it\u2019s important for LGBTQ people to be visible and seek out allies, Goodwin said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are a lot more good people than bad people in the world,\u201d Goodwin said.<\/p>\n

Saturday\u2019s rally was part of a national day of action called \u201cWe Will Not Be Erased,\u201d inspired by the removal of rainbow crosswalks in Orlando and other cities.<\/p>\n

Carrying a sign reading, \u201cYou are exactly who you are supposed to be, and you are loved,\u201d Whitehall Township resident Liz Fear joined friends in waving at passing motorists.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s more imperative than ever that we are visible as humans because so many people are forgetting that fact,\u201d Fear said.<\/p>\n

Allentown resident Julie Vitale carried a \u201cJoy is resistance\u201d sign and spoke of the importance of fighting against the criminalization of LGBTQ relationships.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re trying to marginalize an already marginalized community,\u201d Vitale said.<\/p>\n

Representatives from the Queer & Trans Lehigh Valley Mutual Aid Network<\/a> were on hand Saturday to showcase ways in which community members can support each other.<\/p>\n

Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley, who is among the Democrats vying to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie in the race to represent Pennsylvania\u2019s 7th Congressional District, said supporting LGBTQ community members is part of fighting back against federal government repression.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m hopeful that events like this become bigger and bigger,\u201d Pinsley said.<\/p>\n

About 30 people showed up to Saturday\u2019s rally. Goodwin hopes a few dozen will join a larger rally planned Oct. 26 at the state Capitol<\/a> in Harrisburg.<\/p>\n

Looking out at the plaza\u2019s newly colorful sidewalk, Goodwin urged rally attendees to make a plan to advocate long-term.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are looking for more than temporary change,\u201d Goodwin said.<\/p>\n

Lehigh County\u2019s year-old expansive antidiscrimination law<\/a> still has no counterpart in Northampton County, Goodwin said.<\/p>\n

Beyond lobbying local officials to take action, Goodwin said LGBTQ advocates should make a point to vote to retain the state Supreme Court justices in elections next month.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re what stands between us and the Trump administration right now,\u201d Goodwin said.<\/p>\n

The Rev. Elizabeth Goudy from the Metropolitan Community Church in Hanover Township, Lehigh County, also encouraged sustained political action.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe do not want to provide a vote for anti-LGBT political candidates, we do not want to use our purchasing power at businesses that are anti-LGBT and we do not want to give our time, talent and treasure to religious organizations that are anti-LGBT,\u201d Goudy said.<\/p>\n

Coming out in the mid-\u201990s meant Goudy had to find a new religious denomination to join in order to continue her path toward becoming clergy. She said she\u2019s witnessed many others coming out amid difficult situations and she believes it\u2019s more dangerous to stay closeted.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do want to share that it\u2019s OK for things to come apart,\u201d Goudy said. \u201cWe will get built back together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Originally Published: October 11, 2025 at 3:03 PM EDT<\/p>\n