Pennsylvania fines gay grandpa with stage 4 cancer $16k for protesting trans youth suicide

A Vermont grandfather has been ordered to pay over $16,000 in damages after gluing his hand to a Pennsylvania Capitol railing to protest lawmakers' indifference to transgender youth suicides.

James Lantz, a filmmaker known online as "Angry Gay Grandpa," pleaded guilty on Tuesday to criminal mischief and misdemeanor vandalism as a result of his demonstration in April of last year, during which interrupted a Senate session by distributing flyers and yelling at Republican state senator Ryan Aument, who had sponsored several anti-LGBTQ+ bills. Lantz then glued his hand to a railing on the fourth-floor visitors’ gallery.

“I felt that if the cycle could be interrupted — even by one voice, one story — we might save a life — here, or nationally,” Lantz told Dauphin County Judge William Tully, via Penn Live .“Time, I believed, was of the essence. I knew I had to act. I also knew my time was limited. I have stage 4 cancer.”

Lantz said that he had attempted on over six occasions to meet with Aument to discuss suicide among trans youth, citing five who died by suicide in Lancaster County between 2022 and 2024. Aument never returned his request.

Related: Anti-LGBTQ+ laws lead to 'public health crisis' with higher suicide rates among queer youth

Lantz was initially charged with two felony counts of institutional vandalism and criminal mischief, as well as a misdemeanor offense for obstructing an official proceeding. The felony vandalism charge was lowered to a misdemeanor as part of the plea deal. He has been fined $16,575 for the damages — $11,250 for carpet replacement, $3,775 to remove the glue, and $1,550 to repair the wood trim.

Alisa Davidson, a prosecutor with the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office, told the outlet that the fines are high because the damaged objects are historic. Lantz took responsibility for the damage, but maintained that the fees are “politically punitive and grossly inflated."

Lantz has not yet launched a public fundraiser to cover his costs, but has been raising money through GoFundMe for a commercial supporting LGBTQ+ youth since February. The public service announcement, titled "Not Losing You," is at just over $40,000 out of its $75,000 goal.

“They chose to ignore five trans youth. But they didn’t choose to ignore the chair and glue I spilled on it," Lantz continued. “I remember what I endured as a closeted teen in the 1970s. I don’t want to see another LGBTQ kid die by suicide. Our kids are suffering — physically, mentally and emotionally. And I did what I felt I had to do.”

If you or someone you know needs mental health resources and support, please call, text, or chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or visit 988lifeline.org for 24/7 access to free and confidential services. Trans Lifeline, designed for transgender or gender-nonconforming people, can be reached at (877) 565-8860. The lifeline also provides resources to help with other crises, such as domestic violence situations. The Trevor Project Lifeline, for LGBTQ+ youth (ages 24 and younger), can be reached at (866) 488-7386. Users can also access chat services at TheTrevorProject.org/Help or text START to 678678.