Community

Centre County residents have several options for getting involved with the local community.

• Centre LGBT+ is a large non-profit organization based in downtown State College. In addition to hosting State College Pride, they also host a number of other public events throughout the year and have a calendar on their website. Resources they offer include a clothing closet, support groups, social groups, and a space that people can use to study or hang out. Centre LGBT+ is also engaged in some advocacy work, such as pressuring local and statewide institutions to continue providing trans healthcare.

  • Website: https://www.centrelgbtplus.org/

  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centrelgbtqa

  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/centrelgbtplus/

• Central Pennsylvania Trans Alliance (CPTA) is a trans-specific community group that hosts a variety of events, notably potlucks and HRT workshop events. It is a grassroots org that engages in a mix of community events and more political events. For example, they have hosted community events like movie nights, bowling night, pumpkin-carving, as well as protests. They have a Signal group chat as well as an Instagram. The group chat has an announcements chat tied to it for events promoted by CPTA.

  • Instagram with events: https://www.instagram.com/centralpatransalliance/

  • Linktree: https://linktr.ee/centralpatransalliance

  • CPTA’s charter describes its mission as “upholding revolutionary anti-Capitalist lines.” Some members of the organization participate in socialist organizing in the Centre County area, but trans people are welcome at CPTA events even if they don’t share its political views.

• Trans Chat SC Area is a large Signal chat in the area exclusive to trans people, and is a good source for event announcements, political news, and community humor. Members may add local trans friends or acquaintances to the chat without seeking permission.

  • The chat is very active, but is tied to a much slower announcements chat (linked in its bio). Community members may participate in only one of the two chats if they prefer.

  • Some social events planned by members of the community are announced exclusively on these chats.

• The Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity (CSGD) at Penn State is a location and resource on Penn State Campus for the LGBT student community. It is located in the HUB’s lower level across from the bookstore. See their website for more.

  • CSDG has board games and books, and there is very often a crowd there. It can be a good place to meet people. It is possible to get some free resources from the CSGD as well such as books, magazines, and transition related items like Trans-tape and binders.

  • They have a free clothing exchange.

Getting Involved

In general, the best way to become part of a group and make friends is to show up for a public event. Because trans people face such wide-ranging threats, most groups don’t have open sign-ups for things like email lists, group chats, and so on. Instead, if you get acquainted with a few people at an in-person event, and ask around, someone will likely be happy to invite you.