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A Food Lover's Guide to Downtown Erie Restaurants

Local breweries, cafés, bakeries, and restaurants serve everything from elevated comfort food to creative new flavors, making downtown a must-visit destination for food lovers.

Pride flags with the phrase "Love is Love" are handed out at an event.

LGBTQ+ Friendly Erie

Everyone deserves to feel welcome when they travel. VisitErie proudly celebrates and supports the LGBTQIA+ community and invites visitors to experience a destination where authenticity, inclusivity, and hospitality go hand in hand.

Whether you're visiting for Erie Pride, a weekend getaway, or simply exploring everything the region has to offer, you'll find welcoming businesses, vibrant events, and a community that believes travel should be enjoyable for everyone.

You Are Welcome Here

  • A woman holds up her hands, holding a Pride flag, in celebration.

    Perfect MEI Score

    The City of Erie has scored a perfect score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index (MEI) for four years in a row, most recently in fall 2025. The MEI examines how inclusive municipal laws, policies, and services are of LGBTQ people who live, work, and visit there. In 2025, Erie earned nine bonus points for initiatives such as banning conversion therapy and providing services for individuals living with HIV and AIDS.

  • A group of people are gathered on the steps of Erie County courthouse holding a banner stating: This is What Equality Looks Like.

    Legal Protections

    Erie County offers protections for the LGBTQIA community through its Human Relations Commission, which 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.

  • A person waves a Pride flag at an event in Erie, PA.

    Sanctuary City

    In 2023, the City of Erie declared itself a Sanctuary City, vowing to stand up to any anti-LGBTQ+ laws passed at the county, state or national level. 

  • A woman and two kids hold a beach ball and pose in front of a Pride display.

    Pride Events

    Erie goes big for Pride Month every June with two major celebrations: the Erie Pride Parade, and Pride on the Bay, both hosted by NWPA Pride Alliance. Other events happen throughout the year, including a regular Erie Pride Picnic at Presque Isle State Park, Erie Pride Day at Waldameer Park & Water World, and Afternoon for Equality. 

A group of people talks surrounding a table at a Pride resource event.

Resources for the LGBTQ+ Community

Looking for more support? Reach out to one of these local organizations or, better yet, get involved.