Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health supports the health and well-being of all the communities we serve, including those within the LGBTQ+ community. Lancaster Pride, or “LancPride,” celebrates Lancaster’s LGBTQ+ community members and their allies, and promotes the message that everyone in Lancaster County, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, can live fulfilling lives.
Since 2008, Lancaster Pride has been a yearly event that attracts thousands of attendees and seeks to enrich the community while raising awareness of issues affecting LGBTQ+ individuals. LancPride 2021 was held on Oct. 24 at Clipper Stadium, home of the Lancaster Barnstormers baseball team, and drew around 100 vendors and talented performers from across the region.
LG Health has supported LancPride for multiple years – this year, as a top-level sponsor.
During LancPride, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health Physicians’ Comprehensive Care team administered a dozen rapid HIV tests and the Community Health and Wellness Team completed 40 flu shots. In addition, members of the Comprehensive Care team and employee volunteers distributed goodie bags that included branded masks, pens, stickers and a LGBTQ+ “hiring card.” The hiring card included information about medical services relevant to the LGBTQ+ community and job opportunities within LG Health.
“LG Health’s mission cannot be fully achieved without an environment that is inclusive of all communities, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race or cultural identity”, said Larry Strassner, PhD, MSN, RN, FACHE, chief nursing officer at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health.
“We were happy to partner with LancPride as it aligns with our efforts to create a more diverse and equitable Lancaster County and to serve a community that needs access to medical care and advancement opportunities,” he continued.
Strassner and his husband David Reed volunteered at the LG Health table.
While attendees visited the booth they were invited to fill out a Community Health Needs Assessment survey to help identify health needs in our communities.