Doing nothing for an election is not enough if you or someone you care about are LGBTQ+. Casting your own ballot on Election Day is necessary, but at this moment all of us must do more.
Across the nation and right here in Pennsylvania, the political attacks targeting the LGBTQ+ community are escalating at an alarming rate. Extremist politicians and anti-equality groups have made our rights, dignity, and safety a partisan weapon—introducing cruel legislation aimed at stripping away life-saving healthcare, banning inclusive books, erasing queer history from classrooms, and targeting transgender and nonbinary youth.
Trans youth are less than 1% of our population, yet they are being used as a distraction from rising gas prices and ending healthcare for all of us. These coordinated attacks are designed to roll back decades of hard-won progress and force our community back into the shadows while using vulnerable members of our community as a distraction.
Doing something in these difficult times means turning anger and heartbreak into organized action:
Canvass on your feet, by phone, or by text: Knock on doors across your neighborhood and staff phone banks to talk directly with undecided voters about what is at stake for human rights in this election. Not sure where to get started – search for your favorite candidate, go to their web page, and find the volunteer form. If you don’t have a favorite and want to go where needed, you can volunteer with Allegheny County Democratic Committee, Shapiro campaign, or PA Voter Protection – link below.
Donate what you can: Fund candidates, legal defense efforts, and grassroots organizations that unapologetically fight to protect LGBTQ+ civil rights. You can go to ActBlue and search for the candidates you want to donate to – link in resources below. Or you can go to our candidates page and choose someone to donate to – link below.
Get folks to the polls: Drive neighbors to polling places, verify that your friends and family have checked their registration status, and help young or homebound voters navigate their mail-in or absentee ballot deadlines. Remind people voting in PA is Feet in the Streets – every PA citizen who will be 18 before election day can register by Oct 19th to vote on November 3rd, even if they have a record. Information about election day voting, vote-by-mail, and early satellite voting is available on the county elections website – link below.
Use your voice to talk to those who will speak to you, your social media and your contact list to educate, empower and get people to the polls. Elections are often won from a very few votes and there’s definitely someone who’s not going to vote unless you PM or talk directly to them.
Voter registration deadline is October 19, 2026
Right here in Western Pennsylvania, LGBTQ+ candidates and allies are stepping forward at a critical moment for our community. Across Beaver, Allegheny, and Westmoreland counties, LGBTQ+ candidates include Jake Young in House District 14; incumbent La’Tasha D. Mayes in District 24; incumbent Abigail Salisbury in District 34; incumbent Jessica Benham in District 36; Dylan Altemara in District 39; and Rob Francis in District 57. South of us, LGBTQ+ advocate Alan Bradstock is running for Congress in Pennsylvania’s 14th District as the proud father of a trans son. Their candidacies ensure that LGBTQ+ people and our families remain visible in the political conversation. We encourage voters to learn about the candidates, examine their records and positions, and make informed choices at the ballot box. Information about candidates is available on our candidates page.
Rights are never permanently protected; people must defend them. Our community’s history was forged through direct action, solidarity, and courage in the face of hostility. We urge every ally and community member to stand up, get involved, and mobilize before the ballots are counted.
In solidarity,
The Steel City Stonewall Democrats Board