• Check out a candidate’s website for their background, experience, and position on issues
• Get a personal look at their views by reviewing their social media
• Stay connected with the local news & fellow community members for more information
• Check out a candidate’s endorsements

Know what’s on your ballot!
Research = power

Start Here: Vote411.org or Ballotpedia.org

Bring the right ID to vote!

Need Help? Visit VoteRiders.org

*Encourage friends & family to come out to the polls!

The polling places are open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.

Polling places should be ADA-compliant. If you need assistance, ask.

Visit PaVoterServices.pa.gov

Wrong name or address? You could end up at the wrong polling place or turned away.

Registration deadlines (online, by mail, in person): Monday, October 19th, 2025

Visit PAVoterServices.PA.gov

Connection rarely happens on the first try.

Community grows through patience, repetition, and the courage to keep reaching out.

You don’t need a big city to find queer community. It can take a few tries and a little digging.

• Check your local library and bookstores for events, bulletin boards, and book clubs
• Ask around at coffee shops, craft fairs, farmers markets, and community centers
• Look into PFLAG chapters and welcoming congregations near you
• Search for local meetups and private online groups for your town or county
• Ask someone who already knows. A friendly “do you know of anything going on?” is a good start

Try this: Pick one place from this list and look it up this week.

Walking into a room of new people is hard. It’s okay to be nervous.

• Bring a friend if you can
• Arrive a little early, when it’s quieter and easier to say hi
• It’s fine to leave early. Showing up once still counts
• Ask one person one question. Most people are glad to be asked
• You don’t have to share anything personal until you’re ready

Try this: Pick one small goal for your first event, like saying hello to one person.

Not everyone can be openly out, and that’s okay. Community should protect that choice.

• Ask before you tag, post, or share a photo of someone
• Don’t out anyone, even by accident. When in doubt, leave names out
• Think about who is in a group chat or private group before you share details
• Agree on a simple rule for your group: what’s said here stays here
• You decide how visible you want to be. Trust your gut and leave if something feels off

Try this: Before your next event, ask the group how everyone feels about photos.

You don’t need a nonprofit or a budget to start. A few people and a regular time is enough.

• Pick one idea you would enjoy hosting, like a potluck, craft night, book club, walking group, or watch party
• Choose a simple, regular time, like the first Friday of the month
• Start with people you already know and ask each of them to invite one more
• Keep the plan simple. Snacks and a place to sit are plenty
• Say hi at the door and introduce people to each other

Try this: Pick a date, then invite three people.

Community doesn’t look the same for everyone.

Building something real means listening, sharing power, and making room for different needs.

At its core, it’s about care across difference.

Care across difference starts with asking what people need. A quick check before an event can help a lot.

• Access: Is the space step-free, with seating, parking, and a bathroom people can use?
• Sensory: Is it loud or bright? Can there be a quieter spot or a break?
• Cost: Is it free, or pay what you can?
• Rides: Can people carpool? Is it near public transit?
• Sober options: Is there something to drink besides alcohol, and is it okay to not drink?
• Who it’s for: Say clearly in the invite who is welcome
• Who has a say: Are trans, nonbinary, and BIPOC people included in how things are run?
• Staying in touch: Offer more than one way to RSVP and ask questions, like text, email, or a call

Try this: Add a line to your next invite: “Tell us what would help you feel comfortable here.”

Queer history in small towns and rural places lives in the people who were there. Younger and older community members have a lot to give each other.

• Invite elders and younger people to the same table and let both lead sometimes
• Ask older friends and neighbors about the places and people that mattered to them, if they want to share
• Record or write down local stories with permission, and ask how they want them used
• Trade skills: younger people can help with tech, and elders can share know-how and history

Try this: Invite someone from a different generation for coffee, and listen.

It asks you to show up when you’re able. Even when you’re tired. Even when you’re a little grumpy.

Consistency matters more than polish. Presence matters more than perfection.

Groups often fade because one person ends up doing everything. A few small habits help them last.

• Share the work: rotate who hosts, brings snacks, and sends reminders
• Keep a simple, regular schedule people can count on
• Say thank you out loud
• Plan for slow months. A small turnout still counts
• Write down the basics, like where, when, and who to ask, so anyone can step in
• Take a break when you need one and ask someone to cover for you

Try this: Ask someone to host next month.

Disagreements and hurt feelings happen in every community. Handling them with care is part of building something real.

• Talk to the person directly and kindly before talking about them to others
• Assume good intent first, then be honest about the impact
• Take a breather before a hard conversation if you need it
• Make a simple group agreement early, like listening without interrupting
• If someone drifts away, reach out once with no pressure. People come back when they’re ready
• Some situations need more help than a friend group can give. It’s okay to ask for outside support

Try this: Write a short group agreement together at your next meeting.

In an individualistic culture, giving without immediate return can feel risky, but it builds trust.

You offer what you can:

• Time
• Skills
• Care
• Attention

Mutual care can be small and specific. It works best when asking for help is normal and giving is shared.

• Rides to appointments, events, and the store
• Meals for someone who is sick, grieving, or just busy
• Skill swaps, like haircuts, mending, tech help, or resume help
• Sliding scale or pay what you can prices for events and services
• Lending tools, books, and gear
• Make asking easy. Try: “I need help with X. Can anyone do Y?”
• Remember who is doing the work. Thank them, share the load, and pay people when it’s their job

Try this: Offer one thing you can give this week, and ask for one thing you need.

Supporting local queer businesses & artists matters, especially when they’re your friends.

Mutual care doesn’t mean free labor. It means valuing each other’s work enough to sustain it.

Strong local economies strengthen communities.

Small moments add up!

Naming them reminds us that what we’re building matters.