July 27, 2025
— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
Allentown’s Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Center said in a Facebook post Sunday that it has reduced its staff after losing a contract to help people get health insurance.
That is part of a national trend, the center says, to cut funding to LGBTQ+ organizations.
The post said “due to a change in contractors selected by Pennie — Pennsylvania’s health insurance marketplace — we are no longer able to offer Pennie Navigation Services” at the LGBT center.
Pennie is Pennsylvania’s healthcare exchange, part of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).
As a result, “we have made the incredibly difficult decision to reduce our workforce,” the post said.
“This change is part of a much larger, troubling national trend: Queer and Trans organizations across the country are facing unreliable and shifting government funding streams, often with little notice and lasting impact,” according to the Facebook post from Bradbury-Sullivan Executive Director Krista Brown-Ly.
As of Sunday afternoon, the Bradbury-Sullivan website listed 16 employees. The post asked for financial support. Donations are accepted via the website.
The statement said anyone needing help with Pennie should go to https://pennie.com/connect/.
From the center’s website: “Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center creates a vibrant LGBTQ+ community in the Lehigh Valley through arts, health, youth, training, and Pride programs.“
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 