Pennsylvania Youth Congress

The Pennsylvania Youth Congress is Pennsylvania's first and only statewide youth-led LGBTQ advocacy organization, headquartered in Harrisburg, PA, directly across from the State Capitol. Founded in April 2011, PYC advances freedom and justice for young LGBTQ Pennsylvanians through strategic public policy advocacy, community mobilization, and direct education initiatives. As a volunteer-based organization, PYC specializes in connecting and empowering young LGBTQ leaders across the commonwealth to address critical issues affecting their schools and communities. PYC's core services include leadership development training, statewide coordination support for LGBTQ youth organizations, and advocacy platforms at local and state government levels—from city councils and school boards to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. The organization hosts Pennsylvania's largest annual gathering of young LGBTQ advocates through the Pennsylvania Youth Action Conference (YAC), along with regional convenings and retreats throughout the commonwealth. PYC represents over 50 member LGBTQ student organizations and provides these groups with direct access to networking opportunities, skill-building workshops, and advocacy resources. The organization champions policy solutions addressing violence and discrimination in schools, advocates for inclusive educational environments, and works to ensure that young LGBTQ Pennsylvanians have meaningful representation in government decision-making. Operating with an intersectional framework rooted in the civil rights movement's Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), PYC centers the voices and leadership of those most impacted by systemic oppression. The organization maintains strict independence from political parties while building collaborative partnerships with allies throughout Pennsylvania to advance comprehensive LGBTQ equality and justice.