The Erie region celebrates and supports the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, and Intersexed and Ally/Asexual (LGBTQIA) community.
Whether you identify as LGBTQIA or are an ally, ALL are welcome!
Erie strives to be a welcoming, equitable, and inclusive community where we celebrate our rich diversity of cultures. Everyone has their own individual set of talents, skills, and perspectives. We believe that the color of your skin, the language you speak, the part of the world you come from, the faith you practice, your customs, your sexual orientation, and your gender preference, all make you the unique person you are.
Photo credit: David Tamulonis
Perfect Score on MEI - City of Erie
The City of Erie has scored a perfect 100 out of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign's Municipal Equality Index (MEI) three years in a row. The MEI examines how inclusive municipal laws, policies, and services are of LGBTQ people who live, work, and visit there. The MEI considers several important factors including non-discrimination laws, LGBTQ+ employee resource groups, inclusivity of city services, law enforcement practices, and municipal leadership’s stance on equality.
Erie is one of only five cities in Pennsylvania to receive a perfect score. To learn more about the work and advocacy being done in the City of Erie on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community, click here.
Legal Protections - Erie County
Erie County offers protections through its Human Relations Commission protecting LGBTQ+ individuals from discrimination at businesses countywide. The Erie County Human Relations Commission Ordinance affords individuals reasonable access to any public property, recognizing civil rights based on race, color, familial status, religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and disability of the person.
To learn more and read the ordinance, click here.
Sanctuary City - City of Erie
In 2023, Erie, PA declared itself a sanctuary city of members of the LGBTQ+ community. Read more here.
Annual and Regular Pride Events
Celebrate pride in Erie County at these events! For a more comprehensive calendar of LGBTQIA events and gatherings, click here.
Pride on the Bay - Celebrate Pride at northwestern Pennsylvania's largest Pride event each June! NWPA Pride Alliance hosts this and several other annual events, including Pride Parade in Downtown Erie, Erie Pride Picnic at Presque Isle State Park, and Erie Pride Day at Waldameer Park & Water World.
Queer Open Mic - Every third Thursday of the month from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Compton's Table, a sustainable organization where queer youth and young adults find community, are seen, valued, and affirmed. Hosted by Gwen Elaine. All queer performers are welcome!
Supporting your LGBTQIA family and friends is so much more than rainbow flags. It is about recognizing and remembering the struggles that the LGBTQIA community has faced to achieve equal justice and opportunities. There are a number of local and regional organizations that advocate for and provide services to members of this community.
Located at the Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel, Two45 pays homage to the precisde moment in history that Oliver Hazard Perry bravely led the US Navy on the path to victory during the Battle of Lake Erie. As a tribute to our fair city, the restaurant offers upscale, traditional American cuisines with a focus on seafood and coastal fare. Chef's specialities include macadmania-crusted grouper filet and bone in tomahawk pork chop. Private dining room available.
Tia Book Cellar is an independent bookstore offering new books, unique gifts, puzzles, and games for all interests and ages. Located across from Gibson Park in North East, their brand embodies the local business model and the local grape heritage. Tia believes that “there is always…local, an alternative, and a story.” They look forward to helping you discover your next read or gift.
Edinboro Community and Economic Development is a regional Edinboro area non-profit committed to fostering positive community-wide growth. Through economic and civic initiatives, the ECED seeks to empower the Edinboro community to effectuate targeted change to meet current needs and build regional resilience. Edinboro is a unique area where rural and urban values intersect, and the best "small town America" qualities shine.
Presenting SiriusXM host, pianist, conductor, writer, and performer Seth Rudetsky in “Divas by the Decade” on Friday, May 8, at 7:30 p.m. in Walker Recital Hall. Blending humor and insider insight, Rudetsky celebrates Broadway’s legendary leading ladies with stories, rare audio, and video from shows like “Hamilton,” “Gypsy,” and “West Side Story.”
Join us at Oliver’s Rooftop, located on the eighth floor of the Hampton Inn & Suites on Erie’s scenic Bayfront. Open daily, with Sunday brunch from 10 AM–2 PM, featuring chef-inspired specialties. Enjoy inventive cuisine paired with stunning views, unforgettable sunsets, and unique nature watching. Expansive floor-to-ceiling windows provide incredible vantage points overlooking Presque Isle Bay. Award-winning and recently recognized as Erie’s Choice Community Choice Awards Best Fine Dining Restaurant (2025). Reservations are recommended.
From tailgating and birthday parties to travel sports and family reunions, Donatos is here to feed your whole crew! Right now, get four large 1-topping pizzas and three 2-liter bottles of Pepsi products for just $74.99! Use code 262 when ordering online or mention at our Harborcreek on Buffalo Road!
The Field at DICK’S Sporting Goods is where passions come to life. Designed to inspire movement and connection, The Field offers opportunities to try new experiences, demo the latest gear from top brands, and bring people together. Host your next event with us. Also, offering a wide range of community programming, including fitness and yoga classes, youth sports camps and clinics, and more. Community partnerships are at the core of everything they do, and they take pride in supporting teams, athletes, and organizations in meaningful ways.
If you live more than 50 miles from Millcreek Mall, stop by the Customer Service Center to register. You’ll receive a Guest Rewards Tourism Program Luggage Tag. Scanning the QR Code on it will reveal special offers from participating mall merchants. If you spend $200 or more that day, take your receipts back to the Customer Service Center and you’ll get a FREE $20 Mall Gift Card. You get rewarded just for shopping!
Take a quick ride up to the observation deck to enjoy the stunning 360° veiws of Presque Isle Bay, Lake Erie, downtown Erie, and even Long Point, Ontario on clear days – all from 138 feet up at Erie’s iconic Bayfront Tower.
Discover Erie’s favorite dining destinations with the John Russell Hospitality app—bringing all six of our locations together in one place. Make reservations, order online, earn rewards, and stay up to date on events across every venue. Whether you're planning a waterfront dinner or a casual night out, everything you need is right at your fingertips.
UPMC Hamot is a 445-bed hospital in Erie, Pennsylvania. It is a regional hub for specialized health care, including advanced surgical services, private intensive care suites, and the area’s only accredited trauma center.
Whether you're planning a weekend escape or a full vacation, unforgettable live entertainment is waiting for you in Erie. Set along the scenic shores of Lake Erie, the Rebich Investments Amphitheater comes alive every summer with the “8 Great Tuesdays” free community concert series- taking place every Tuesday in July and August. Recently, voted Erie’s Choice for Best Local Event. Relax by the water, enjoy the view, and experience incredible live music under the open sky. Erie Events, the driving force behind downtown Erie’s vibrant entertainment scene, brings excitement year-round across five unique venues in Erie, PA. Come for the music, stay for the experience. Erie is where every show comes with a waterfront view.
Five Iron Golf is Erie’s premier indoor golf and entertainment destination, blending top-tier technology with a vibrant, social atmosphere. Featuring state-of-the-art TrackMan simulators, a full bar and kitchen, and Duckpin Bowling, it’s the perfect spot to play, practice, or just hang out. Whether you’re a scratch golfer or swinging for fun, Five Iron Golf brings people together through golf, food, and great times.
Explore the Erie Zoo, where every path leads to something new and exciting. From curious orangutans and playful otters to vibrant gardens and seasonal events, adventure awaits at every turn. Our habitats will bring you closer than you imagine to animals from around the world, creating wondrous and truly unforgettable moments. Your visit isn't about seeing wildlife —it's about connecting with nature, discovering the unexpected, and making memories you'll treasure for years to come.
Blissful Meads is an award-winning winery and restaurant in Meadville, PA, specializing in the production of excellent meads, wines, and ciders in small batches. We sell by the bottle, flight, or glass. We also offer imaginative cocktails & mocktails, local beer & spirits, and unique food. We're located at 847 Market Street in downtown Meadville. We offer catering options and you can rent our tasting room for events.
The Mazza family welcomes you to explore 3 unique locations in Lake Erie Wine Country. Sip and savor award-winning wines at Mazza Vineyards and the historic South Shore Wine Company, both located in North East, PA, and be sure to visit their combination winery, distillery and brewery, Mazza Chautauqua Cellars/Five & 20 Spirits and Brewing, in nearby Westfield, NY.
Welcome to The Cove Bay-Side Restaurant and Tavern. We invite you to enjoy a unique dining experience on Erie’s Bayfront with our nautically inspired decor, a carefully crafted menu, and an unbelievable view of Presque Isle Bay. With both indoor and outdoor seating right next to the bay, we want to be your destination of choice when you “just want to get away from it all” but without having to go far.
Stop by Port Farms to check out our on-site brewery, Poverty Knob! We offer hand-crafted beers and delicious sharable food year-round. The brewery is family and dog friendly with both indoor and outdoor spaces. We offer games, music and entertainment for all ages!
Voted Erie’s Choice Best Hospital for eight years in a row
Find true action with slots, table games, sports book, and horse racing.
Experience family summer fun on more than 100 great rides, slides and attractions at Waldameer!
Operating five unique venues right in the heart of downtown Erie’s entertainment and cultural district, there’s something for everyone.
Experience 84 degrees all year at one of the top water parks in the country.
VisitErie – 208 East Bayfront Parkway – Erie PA 16507 – (814) 454-1000 – info@visiterie.com
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