The purpose of the Commission is to gather information regarding LGBTQ Pennsylvanians’ experiences and needs; review, evaluate, and assess programs affecting them; provide the Governor with information and recommendations regarding how best to meet their needs; and provide information about programs and services that may be relevant to LGBTQ Pennsylvanians’ needs. The Commission and its Executive Director also serve as an extension of the Governor’s office in their respective communities and are responsible for communicating the priorities and accomplishments of the Governor and his Administration. This effort seeks to spread awareness and increase access to programs and services provided by the Commonwealth that benefit every-day Pennsylvanians.
Connect with the Commission on LGBTQ Affairs
Executive Director of the Commission
Henry Sias
A civil rights lawyer in Philadelphia for over a decade, Henry co-founded a nonprofit that has provided thousands of free expungements for low-income Philadelphians. He began working on pro bono projects benefiting the LGBTQ community during his first semester of law school, when he assisted professors working on a brief in Lawrence v. Texas. Henry has been working on projects to advance that cause ever since, from decriminalizing LGBTQ relationships to promoting marriage equality and fighting discrimination. An out transgender man, Henry brings his decades of experience to the cause of transgender equality, fighting to protect children from bullying and workplaces from discrimination while maintaining and expanding freedom and security for the entire LGBTQ community.
Henry Sias graduated from Yale Law School in 2005 and Western Michigan University in 1998. He is an active member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. He is an avid amateur guitarist and cyclist.