Lititz Chooses Love is committed to fostering and preserving an inclusive culture of belonging for our board, staff, and the communities we serve. We believe that individuals and communities thrive when people can live as their whole authentic selves without fear of discrimination or prejudice. We honor the humanity in each person and value the diverse identities, experiences, and perspectives that make each individual unique.
We are committed to fostering an environment that empowers people to share their stories, honor their roots, and celebrate what makes them different. There is no need to cover or change parts of yourself with Lititz Chooses Love – you are accepted for who you are. We are committed to realizing the goal of inclusion and belonging not only among our board, staff, and the LGBTQ+ community but throughout Lancaster County’s businesses, schools, faith communities, and government services.
We know that our organization is strengthened when people feel psychologically safe expressing all aspects of their identity, including race, ethnicity, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, and other important characteristics. By embracing our differences, we can build a culture of belonging where everyone feels seen, heard, valued, and can make a meaningful contribution. Our commitment is to see, hear, and value the rich tapestry of diversity across our organization, the LGBTQ+ community, and the entirety of Lancaster County. We pledge to listen with empathy, act with care, and create equitable systems that allow each person to thrive as their whole, authentic self.
Lititz Chooses Love Leadership Statement
Lititz Chooses Love is proudly an LGBTQ+-led and focused organization. We were founded by and for the LGBTQ+ community to advance equity, inclusion, and justice.
To maintain our mission and LGBTQ+ cultural perspective, Lititz Chooses Love seeks to engage board members and staff who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or any sexual orientations and gender identities that are part of the wider LGBTQIA2S community. We believe that centering LGBTQ+ identities in our leadership helps ensure our work is grounded in lived experience and a nuanced understanding of our communities’ needs.
Lititz Chooses Love is dedicated to uplifting and empowering all members of the LGBTQ+ community. We recognize that Trans people face disproportionate discrimination and violence compared to other groups under the LGBTQ+ umbrella. Trans people, especially Trans women of color, are frequently the targets of hate crimes and denied basic rights like healthcare, housing, and employment. As an organization that values equity and justice, Lititz Chooses Love believes it is critical that we center and amplify Trans voices within our work.
While we aim to maintain an LGBTQ+ majority in board and staff roles, we also value diversity within our LGBTQ+ community and encourage representation across the spectrum of sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, disability status, age, and experience. We are committed to being led by those within the LGBTQ+ community while also collaborating with allies who demonstrate tangible commitment, knowledge, and passion for our mission. By preferring LGBTQ+ leadership, we can stay true to our origins while advancing equality.
We believe everyone has a role to play in creating a more just and equitable society for LGBTQ+ people. The LGBTQ+ community is minority group and cannot drive progress on LGBTQ+ rights alone. Allies from outside the community are crucial to help advocate for and uplift LGBTQ+ people. That’s why we welcome allies who are committed to listening to and amplifying LGBTQ+ voices and working alongside us to dismantle systems of oppression. When we build a broad coalition united behind a shared vision of LGBTQ+ liberation, we are far more powerful agents of change.
Employees
Our passionate, driven staff are the most valuable assets we have. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, inventiveness, innovation, self-expression, unique capabilities, and talent that our employees invest in their work and our mission represents a significant part of not only our culture, but our reputation and Lititz Chooses Love’s achievements as well.
We embrace and encourage our employees to honor and celebrate everyone’s whole and authentic selves including differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make each of us unique.
Our employee focused diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion initiatives are applicable—but not limited—to our practices and policies on recruitment and selection; compensation and benefits; professional development and training; promotions; transfers; social and recreational programs; layoffs; terminations; and the ongoing development of a work environment built on the premise of inclusion, belonging, and equity that encourages and enforces:
- Respectful communication and cooperation between all employees and the communities we serve and live alongside.
- Teamwork and employee participation, permitting the representation of all groups and employee perspectives.
- Work/life balance through flexible work schedules and locations to accommodate employees’ varying needs.
- Employer and employee contributions to the communities we serve to promote a greater understanding and respect for diversity.
Board Membership
Lititz Chooses Love seeks to assemble a board of directors that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We encourage board membership from individuals of all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences. While we have an LGBTQ+ preference in board membership and staffing, board member nominations and appointments shall otherwise be made without regard to age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics.
Community Service
Lititz Chooses Love is dedicated to serving diverse communities through outreach programs, services, and assistance. Our community initiatives and services shall be accessible to all, without discrimination based on protected characteristics. We will endeavor to tailor our community programs to promote inclusion and meet the needs of historically excluded, underrepresented, and marginalized populations.
All board members and employees of Lititz Chooses Love have a responsibility to treat others with dignity and respect at all times. All employees and board members are expected to exhibit conduct that reflects inclusion during work, at Lititz Chooses Love functions on or off work sites, and at all other organization-sponsored and participative events.
All board members and employees are also required to attend and complete annual diversity awareness training to enhance their knowledge to fulfill this responsibility.
Infractions and Misconduct
Any board member or employee found to have exhibited any inappropriate conduct or behavior against others may be subject to disciplinary action.
Board members, employees, and community members who believe they have been subjected to any kind of discrimination that conflicts with our Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination Policy and initiatives should report the incident immediately. Reports may be made to the Board President, CEO, or other member of the Executive Committee.
