Last night the front doors of the LGBT Center of Central PA were smashed in an act of vandalism. The Center – mere steps from the State Capitol – is a hub for the central Pennsylvania LGBTQ community.

In a Facebook post discussing the vandalism the Center said:

Overnight, someone smashed the glass window to the front door of the LGBT Center of Central PA office in Harrisburg, entered, took a donation bin with a small amount of cash, and left. No one was in the Center at the time. Harrisburg police are investigating the incident. As we work on moving forward from this disruptive act, the LGBT Center remains open, welcoming, safe, and steadfast in its mission to create common ground for the LGBT community and its allies by providing services through educational, cultural, and community activities that foster wholeness. In turn, the leaders of the LGBT Center and its board of directors appreciate the community’s continued support of our goals. For more information about the LGBT Center at 1306 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg, and the communities we serve, please visit www.centralpalgbtcenter.org.

Commenting on the incident, openly gay PA state Representative Brian Sims called for the community to come together to support the Center:

PLEASE HELP: Last night the front doors of the LGBT Center of Central PA were smashed in by vandals! These doors are just blocks away from the front doors of the State Capitol and I’m certain that whoever felt the need to try and hurt our community in this way did so because they knew exactly how much hard work and determination existed behind these doors! We won’t be stopped… Please join me in making a contribution to the Center, not just to rebuild, but to grow even stronger! We’ve got too much work to do to be slowed down by idiots with bricks and rocks so let’s show them that when you cut us down, we grow back stronger than ever! “I lay me down to bleed awhile but I will rise again to fight!” https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/lgbtcenter/donate

The Center of Central PA is a a volunteer-led organization whose mission is “to create common ground for the LGBT community and allies in central Pennsylvania by providing services through educational, cultural, and community activities that foster wholeness.”

Peacock Panache readers:

Tim Peacock is the Managing Editor and founder of Peacock Panache and has worked as a civil rights advocate for over twenty years. During that time he’s worn several hats including leading on campus LGBTQ advocacy in the University of Missouri campus system, interning with the Colorado Civil Rights Division, and volunteering at advocacy organizations. You can learn more about him at his personal website.

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