On Thursday, July 16, 2026, the Pittsburgh Equality Center hosted a town hall at CO-Hatch South Side Works, 2681 Sidney Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203. Ray Sidney-Smith, President and Chair of the organization, moderated a panel that consisted of Chris Soult, Deputy Director, Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations; Ian Price, Presidennt of the Steel City Stonewall Democrats and newly elected Chair, Democratic State Committee LGBTQ+ Caucus; Barb Warwick, Pittsburgh City Councilmember, District 5; and Julian McClain, Gender Equity Commission, member of the Pittsburgh LGBTQIA+ Commission, and director of Partners & Relations at True T Pittsburgh.
Soult said, “The Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations has over 100 open civil rights investigations.”
He mentioned the massive attack against queer and trans folx on the federal level but reiterated that the City of Pittsburgh has protections for those who live, work, and visit the city. He brought a one-sheet flyer outlining protected-class statuses in Pittsburgh.
Price, who is newly elected to his position as Chair of the Democratic State Committee LGBTQ+ Caucus, mentioned that he has been a long-time member of the Steel City Stonewall Democrats. The organization advances equal rights for all people, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, and supports public policies that advance that mission in the United States, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the greater Pittsburgh region. The organization helps elect qualified Democratic candidates who support equal rights for LGBTQ people.
Warwick spoke about legislation to preemptively strike against anti-trans bills and working with TransYOUniting, a local nonprofit providing resources for Pittsburgh’s Transgender, LGBTQIA+, and HIV+ communities. Her recent accomplishments include working with Theresa Nightingale, executive director of For Safer Sex Work Pittsburgh, and passing an ordinance that would reduce the minimum penalty for individuals convicted of engaging in sex work, downgrading the offense from a misdemeanor to a summary offense, which passed on July 8, 2026.
She said, “The ordinance would protect sex workers, who are often marginalized because of their race, gender, and/or immigration status, from further criminalization and vulnerability to state violence by reducing their contact with the criminal legal system.”
Warwick reiterated her accessibility by announcing that she has office hours at the Hazelwood branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh on every Friday.
McClain talked about viewing the services “from the bottom up, and making sure the system is fair for everyone.” He is an advocate for people who don’t have a voice, as he hopes to change minds and change policy.
Price reminded the audience at the CO-Hatch and online, “Elections have consequences.” He spoke of working to keep Josh Shapiro as Governor of Pennsylvania in the upcoming election, to keep Pennsylvania House members, and to change the balance of power in the State Senate. Price is dedicated to fighting anti-trans legislation. He quipped, “There are currently four sports-centric anti-trans bills. I mean, how many do you need?”
Price also mentioned a bill that would ban the Gay Panic/Trans Panic Defense, making it illegal for defendants accused of violent crimes against members of the LGBTQ+ community to use the so-called LGBTQ+ panic or gay-trans panic defense, which claims that a victim’s gender identification or sexual orientation provoked an emotional state in the defendant that led them to attack the victim.
McClain spoke about working on OUTfest, an event scheduled for October 11, 2026, National Coming Out Day. OUTfest invites residents and visitors alike to embrace authenticity and celebrate diversity within Pittsburgh. He also talked about SOGIE (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression) training, technical assistance, and creating culturally responsive systems for LGBTQ+ children, youth, and their families.
Soult spoke more about representation and visibility. Soult said, “Make it so they can’t ignore you. To build protections, you have to get together, organize, and agitate.”
Warwick said, “We must build solidarity with others who are doing the work. We are stronger together.”
Price said, “You want to change things, run for office. The community needs more leadership, especially among young people.”
Sidney-Smith took a few handwritten questions from the audience, but the event was scheduled from 7 PM to 8 PM and ran slightly over, wrapping up at 8:15 PM. Refreshments and cookies were provided.
For more information about the Pittsburgh Equality Center, please visit their website at pghequalitycenter.org.