'Pride' in Chambersburg: LGBTQ group begins effort for walk, other events

CHAMBERSBURG - For the first time in Chambersburg's history, a major LGBTQ event may come to the square this summer.

U-Belong, a group supporting the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning) community and its allies that was founded by local transgender woman Sasha Mowen, is a fledgling organization that has begun working with businesses and groups from around the region to put on events for Pride Month, held nationally in June.

Noel Purdy, president of the Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce, along with Mike Carty, the Downtown Business Council coordinator, and Scott Fish, the Downtown Chambersburg Inc. events coordinator, met with Mowen and Melissa Mattson Friday to discuss putting on the events.

Purdy said there was some discussion of putting together events for the community several months ago, when Mowen came to her Carty separately to discuss the possibilities. From there, they set up the meeting to discuss Mowen's vision and look at the logistics of such an event.

"We're here to help," Purdy said, hoping they can be a resource to everyone. She said people around the community are talking about LGBTQ issues more, "and that's a good thing."

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She acknowledged the lack of support from the greater community, and understands the need to raise awareness among those citizens.

"This sounded like a great opportunity," Purdy said.

"I was shocked, Melissa was shocked, because it was like 'okay let's do this. Let's get right to it,'" Mowen said about the response she got from from group. "And I'm like wait, I've lived in Chambersburg for a number of years. I don't remember it being easy."

For Mowen and her group, they knew there was a push for more events representing the community.

"I started the event page (the Facebook page Chambersburg LGBT Pride) and everybody's coming out of the woodwork saying 'hey, I've been trying to start something like this forever,'" Mowen said. And she said more simply, they're going to do it.

"You jump in feet first and figure it out," Mowen said. Mattson said discussion at the meeting covered making connections to the different groups, understanding logistics behind creating a proper nonprofit organization, and how to get the event off the ground.

"It just took one person to say 'we're doing this, who's with me?'" Mattson said. "And people jumped on board."

Both she and Mowen hope the event opens up the community a little, and lets people know there's support around Franklin County.

"To say we're not alone, I mean so many times we go out and I think, you know you're not the only one, but you don't ever see anybody because everybody else is afraid to be themselves or to hold their partner's hand," Mattson said. "To say we're not the only gay family in Chambersburg. There's others like us. And there's other who support us, even.

"That's the biggest thing for me, is knowing I have allies out there, and this is a supportive community," Mattson said. She wants people to know there are more people welcoming them than not in Franklin County.

"The hate out there is in the minority," Mowen said, referencing the good experience she had at a rally last Saturday, Feb. 4, against President Donald Trump's anti-immigration ban. That ban is now on hold following a third court decision against it, and the next step will be the U.S. Supreme Court if the Trump administration appeals the most recent decision.

"And even somebody who comes out initially negative, we're starting a dialogue," Mowen said. "As long as you're not bringing violence along with you, we can be cool. We can talk all day long. I have people who don't like my lifestyle, but I still have dialogue with them. It doesn't mean that we can't still connect as human beings. It's about bringing people together."

Because Pride Month is considered all of June, the group is looking to have some key events during First Friday, a monthly arts and entertainment event, and the following Saturday, but U-Belong hopes to have businesses work with them to host events throughout the rest of the month.

There's talk of a walk on Saturday, potentially with a moment of silence to be officiated by public officials that want to participate.

One of the events likely to happen will be a silent auction at J. Bryant Photography studio, where the money raised will go toward a formal "prom" like event that enables people who were closeted during their first prom to enjoy such an event while being true to themselves. Any remaining funds will go toward a community/resource center geared toward the LGBTQ community - and perhaps used in other ways they find are needed - that the group believes is needed in the community.

"This June is definitely going to give us a sense of how much a center is needed in Franklin County, not even just in Chambersburg. A really good starting point just for the county itself," Mattson said.

So far, they have gotten a response that surprised both of them with its positivity. From people interested in attending, to the vendors who want to host events, Mowen and Mattson are excited to see the possibilities for the event with the support.

"They might be in for a surprise, actually, at how big a response that first Friday or Saturday events are gonna be," Mattson said. "Because we don't have to go to Harrisburg anymore, we don't have to go to Hagerstown anymore. We're in our own backyard."

Purdy said the various Chamber organizations and planning organizations will be there to provide support to the group in preparing for the event both logistically and in marketing as the planning continues.

First Friday is scheduled to occur June 2, with events to follow.

Anyone interested in participating in the event can email UBelong4state@gmail.com, or check out the event Facebook Chambersburg LGBT Pride.

UBelong's Facebook Page can be found at U-Belong, Franklin County LGBTQ and Allies, with their regional group to be found here. They can also be found at @UBelong4State1 on Twitter.