The first openly transgender mayor in Pennsylvania will serve as the 2026 grand marshal for State College Pride, organizers announced this week.
Downingtown Mayor Erica Deuso, the only openly transgender mayor currently serving in the United States, was selected to lead the celebration on June 13 “as communities across the country continue to see increasing representation of LGBTQ+ people in public leadership,” Centre LGBT+ wrote in a news release.
“Mayor Deuso is a public servant who brings new levels of visibility to the experiences and challenges faced by transgender people in Pennsylvania, while also underscoring an important truth: trans people, and all LGBT+ people, are regular people who enrich their communities through their presence, visibility, and service,” Cat Cook, executive director of Centre LGBT+, said in a statement. “Transgender people continue to face serious challenges in many parts of the country, which makes it especially meaningful to celebrate leaders who serve their communities openly and proudly.”
Deuso was was elected mayor of Downingtown borough in Chester County in November and was sworn into office in January after “running on a platform focused on public safety, sustainability and strengthening community ties,” according to Centre LGBT+.
She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Equality Project.
“Pride reflects the same values that guide my public service: community, honesty, and the belief that every person deserves life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” Deuso said in a statement. “In Downingtown we talk about the Good Neighbor spirit, the belief that every person belongs and every voice matters. Pride reflects that same commitment to community. I am honored to serve as Grand Marshal for State College Pride and to stand with a community that understands LGBTQ rights are not a partisan issue. They are fundamental human rights.”
The annual State College Pride event hosted by Centre LGBT+ and community partners will begin at 10 a.m. on June 13 with a parade followed immediately by a festival in Sidney Friedman Park. In 2025, the event drew about 7,000 people.
