The Rainbow Rose Center is a nonprofit in York County, Pennsylvania that promotes awareness of LGBT interests through advocacy, public outreach, and media. The Rainbow Rose Center provides assistance through an all-volunteer staff on medical, legal, and support resources. The Rainbow Rose Center offers support services and provides training to organizations on various LGBT issues. ¹

History

After the enactment of state recognition of same-sex marriage in Pennsylvania in 2014, yearly “Equity Fest” events were organized in York, Pennsylvania. ² Through these events, the Rainbow Rose Center began in 2019 as a volunteer-based informational and organizing entity for LGBT individuals in York. ² The Rainbow Rose Center raises LGBT awareness through advocacy, public outreach, events, and media. ¹

Services

The Rainbow Rose Center, through its volunteer staff, assists in finding doctors, attorneys, mental health therapists, and safe spaces; in navigating the name-change process; and in securing emergency rental assistance and housing services. ³ The Rainbow Rose Center offers support groups on “gender diverse support,” “all adult identities,” “living proudly HIV,” “queer and transgender people of color,” “silver triangle,” and “pride family support for parents.” ⁴ The Rainbow Rose Center offers a traveling “Clothing Closet” to provide free, gender-affirming clothing. ⁵

Training

The Rainbow Rose Center provides training to assist clients in understanding the rights, risks, and needs of LGBT people. ⁶ Allyship training provides an overview of the differences between orientation, identity, and expression while family impact training examines family relations impacts of coming out. ⁶ Health training provides information on LGBTQ healthcare, risks, and disabilities. ⁶ Youth training examines challenges to youth at home and school and domestic violence training provides detail about types of domestic violence and perceptions. ⁶ Aging training examines challenges in healthcare, care giving, assisted living and nursing homes, and physical and social isolation. ⁶

The Rainbow Rose Center provides training on political advocacy regarding the current state of LGBTQ issues, a historical overview, and current legislative topics and bills that impact the community. ⁶  Transitioning training is available to provide an overview of the transgender community, the process of transitioning, legal issues, discrimination, access to public accommodations, and violence. ⁶ The Rainbow Rose Center provides intersectionality training on potential issues based on race, gender, identity, ethnicity, religion, political views, and abilities. ⁶

Tobacco Cessation and Resistance

The Rainbow Rose Center offers tobacco cessation and resistance programs. Through health care partners, the Rainbow Rose Center provides group cessation sessions, one-on-one counseling, and additional support. ⁷ The Rainbow Rose Center has been developing a Tobacco Resistance Unit (TRU) for the York area to provide training to youth 12-18 to refrain from tobacco and nicotine use. ⁷  Additionally, the Rainbow Rose Center advocates stricter tobacco-control policies. ⁷

Activities

The Rainbow Rose Center celebrates holidays aimed at the LGBT community including pride month, coming out day, transgender day of remembrance, bisexual awareness week, international day against homophobia, and the Stonewall riots anniversary. ⁸ The Rainbow Rose Center publishes a monthly newsletter for the LGBTQ community. ⁹ In 2023, the Rainbow Rose Center was part of a statement calling on Target to reaffirm its commitment to the LGBTQ community. ¹⁰

Financials

In 2021, the Rainbow Rose Center had net assets of $120,943. ¹¹ According to the organization’s tax returns, in 2021 the Rainbow Rose Center recorded $116,465 in revenue and $47,936 in expenses. ¹¹ In 2020, the Rainbow Rose Center raised $56,680 in revenue and $8,007 in expenses. ¹²

Funding

The Rainbow Rose Center is sponsored by WellSpan Health, The GIANT Company, JLS Automation, Hollywood Casino York, Highmark Wholecare, Kahler Wealth Solutions, TransCentralIPA, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, York College, Family First Health, Harley-Davidson Motorcycles, Capital Blue Cross, American Lung Association, Starbucks, and Pennsylvania American Water. ¹³

1. “Overview.” Rainbow Rose Center. Accessed January 14, 2024. https://www.rainbowrosecenter.org/what-we-do/.
2.  “History.” Rainbow Rose Center. Accessed January 14, 2024. https://www.rainbowrosecenter.org/who-we-are/history.html.
3. “Resource Connection.” Rainbow Rose Center. Accessed January 14, 2024. https://www.rainbowrosecenter.org/what-we-do/services.html/title/resource-connection; “Services.” Rainbow Rose Center. Accessed January 14, 2024. https://www.rainbowrosecenter.org/what-we-do/services.html.
4. “Support Groups.” Rainbow Rose Center. Accessed January 14, 2024. https://www.rainbowrosecenter.org/what-we-do/support-groups.html.
5. “The Closet.” Rainbow Rose Center. Accessed January 14, 2024. https://www.rainbowrosecenter.org/what-we-do/the-closet.html.
6. “Training.” Rainbow Rose Center. Accessed January 14, 2024. https://www.rainbowrosecenter.org/what-we-do/training.html.
7. “Tobacco Cessation & and Resistance.” Rainbow Rose Center. Accessed January 14, 2024. https://www.rainbowrosecenter.org/what-we-do/tobacco-cessation-resistance.html.
8. “Days We Celebrate.” Rainbow Rose Center. Accessed January 14, 2024. https://www.rainbowrosecenter.org/events/days-we-celebrate.html.
9. “The Rainbow Connection.” Rainbow Rose Center. Accessed January 14, 2024. https://www.rainbowrosecenter.org/news/.
10. “BREAKING: Over 200 LGBTQ+ and Allied Organizations Call on Target, Business Community to Speak Out Against Extremist LGBTQ+ Attacks.” Human Rights Campaign. June 5, 2023. Accessed January 14, 2024. https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/breaking-over-200-lgbtq-and-allied-organizations-call-on-target-business-community-to-speak-out-against-extremist-anti-lgbtq-attacks.
11. Rainbow Rose Center, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990EZ), 2021.
12. Rainbow Rose Center, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990EZ), 2020.
13. “Sponsors.” Rainbow Rose Center. Accessed January 14, 2024. https://www.rainbowrosecenter.org/who-supports-us/sponsors.html.