SHARON, Pa. — After years of serving the local LGBTQ+ community, Mercer County’s only LGBTQ+ organization is closing following ongoing financial challenges. Even so, supporters gathered this weekend not only to say goodbye, but also to celebrate a new state-recognized holiday honoring the group’s impact.
The Shenango Valley Pride Alliance hosted a farewell picnic Saturday at its Sharon headquarters, bringing together community members, families, and longtime supporters. Guests shared food and reflected on the memories created in a space that became a source of acceptance and support for many LGBTQ+ residents and allies.
For founder and president Pam Ladner, the day carried a mix of appreciation and heartbreak. She said the organization was born out of her family’s personal experiences after her child struggled to find support and resources while exploring their identity. Wanting to create a welcoming environment for others facing similar challenges, Ladner established the alliance in 2021.
She said watching the organization grow alongside her child was especially meaningful. Over time, her child became someone others in the community could turn to for encouragement and understanding, particularly those who lacked support at home.
“The organization depended largely on community donations and fundraising events to stay afloat. Although grant funding initially helped secure a physical location,” Ladner said. “Maintaining long-term financial support became increasingly difficult…I am so grateful for all my friends along the way that made all of this possible and our next step possible.”
Ladner said their child is scheduled to receive top surgery in Cleveland at the end of the summer.
“We’ve waited for this surgery for years,” Ladner said. “Now they are 19 and can finally get into a body they want.”
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Several advocacy groups attended the farewell event, including Mahoning Valley Queer Action. Volunteer D.B. Buck Hornberger said the gathering was both a “celebration of the organization’s accomplishments and a difficult goodbye.”
UPMC stopped gender-affirming care for individuals under 19 last March after the decision by President Donald Trump to cut funding for institutions that provide this care for LGBTQIA+ youth.
“UPMC is all we have in this region; we can’t always drive up to Cleveland for someone to listen to my child and want to take care of their heart for surgeries,” Ladner said.
Hornberger, originally from the Pittsburgh area, came to the Mahoning and Shenango Valleys for similar reasons.
“This place has become a home for so many,” Hornberger said. “Why does it have to go away?”
Community advocate Ella May Canek is one of those people who settled in Trumbull County a couple of decades ago.
“These safe spaces continue to get kids [like Pauly Likens] out of horrific situations,” May Canek said. “You sadly never know when someone will turn against their own people.”
May Canek is referring to the death of 14-year-old Pauly Likens. Likens’ dismembered remains were found around the Shenango Reservoir in June 2024.
DaShawn Watkins, 31, is charged with first-degree murder, criminal homicide, abuse of a corpse and other charges. Court records state the trial was most recently moved from May 12 to September 14 after a request by the Commonwealth. Charges against Watkins were filed in July 2024, and the case has been continued a few times since.
“When will this family get to rest?” Hornberger said. “When will Pauly get to rest in peace?”
“She had so much life ahead of her, just like all the other queer kids here today,” May Canek said. “Say her name. Trans kids have existed forever and will continue to. This case is the definition of [a] federal hate crime. We need more federal oversight in this region.”
During Saturday’s event, executive director for Pennsylvania’s Advisory Committee on LGBTQ+ Affairs Ashleigh Strange read a proclamation recognizing May 23, 2026, as Shenango Valley Pride Day in Pennsylvania.
“The proclamation stated that LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians deserve dignity, inclusion, and the freedom to participate fully in society without discrimination or stigma,” Strange said. “It also acknowledged that while progress has been made in advancing LGBTQ+ rights, continued efforts are needed to address discrimination tied to sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.”
Strange also said Governor Josh Shapiro and Attorney General Dave Sunday continue to fight for Likens’ case at the federal level.
Although the Shenango Valley Pride Alliance is closing, several organizations will continue offering LGBTQ+ resources and support throughout the Shenango and Mahoning valleys: New Castle Prism Initiative, PFLAG, Full Spectrum Community Outreach, Rae’s Safe Haven, and Mahoning Valley Queer Action Network.
