About LGBT History Project Resources
The LGBT Center of Central PA and the Dickinson College Archives and Special Collections have partnered to document the stories and history of LGBT life and activism in the greater Central Pennsylvania region. This site contains oral histories that have been recorded for the LGBT History Project, as well as fully accessible digital versions of documents, images, and artifacts that have been donated to the project.
This is a quickly growing collection, and not all items are available through this website. Please contact Malinda Triller-Doran at archives@dickinson.edu for information about how to access all of the resources of the LGBT History Project, as well as how to donate additional materials.
Generous support to make these unique resources accessible has been provided by the Schlegel Deibler Charitable Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
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LGBT History Project
Date: February 1997
Created by Lorraine Kujawa, Cindy Mitzel, Mary Nancarrow, and several others in 1983, the Lavender Letter Newsletter was a calendar of events for, by, and about lesbian women to create community in the Central Pennsylvania area. The newsletter was distributed monthly until the mid-2000s.
This issues features The Law and You question and answer section.
Collection: LGBT-009 - Lavender Letter
Topics:
Organizations: Faculty, Staff, and Administrators (FASA), Pink Triangle Coalition (PTC)
Date: August 27, 2014
Nancy Datres was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania in 1948 and first moved to Harrisburg to pursue computer science after becoming blacklisted by the Altoona Police Department when she was just 27 years old. Thereafter, Nancy moved through several careers, holding positions such as a community college professor, journalist, legal writer, and lawyer. In her interview, Nancy discusses the incredible impact of her sexuality on the course of her academic and professional lives, which required her to change schools and even careers whenever an environment became too unsafe for her to stay. She illustrates several examples of harassment and discrimination in her life, as well as the inefficiency of local law enforcement, educational institutions, and court systems to help alleviate these injustices. Additionally, Nancy remarks on her difficult financial situation and her 20-year relationship and engagement with another woman. Since her first interview with the LGBT History Project, Nancy has become at peace with her sexuality, saying that after everything she’s been through, she does not care who knows she is gay.
Collection: LGBT Oral History
Topics:
Organizations:
View Item: Transcription of LGBT Oral History 020B: Nancy Datres
Date: March 26, 2015
Growing up in the conservative Lebanon County of central PA, Barbara Darkes attended grade school through the beginning of her pre-law college career without experiencing any attraction to women. It was at her summer job at the local YMCA during college that Barbara met and eventually fell in love with her long-term partner, Kathy. This same-sex relationship was the first for both of them, for neither woman had previously identified as a lesbian. Due to the conservative environment of central PA, the two women kept their relationship secret for years, which proved emotionally exhausting for both of them. Fortunately for Barbara, her work environment at McNees Wallace & Nurick, LLC, proved to be accepting and embracing of her intimacy with Kathy, and it became the site of the beginning of their coming out experiences in 2012. Although Barbara and Kathy encountered some painful disapproval during their coming out process, they also found spaces of acceptance that embraced them. The two married privately in Maryland in 2013, and they continue to have a healthy and loving relationship with each other and with Kathy’s kids. Barbara uses her position as a community organizer and as president of the LGBT Center to work towards generating a more accepting environment for LGBT people in the larger central Pennsylvania community.
Collection: LGBT Oral History
Topics: Coming Out
Organizations: LGBT Center of Central PA
View Item: Transcription of LGBT Oral History 019: Barbara Darkes
Date: August 8, 2017
Joe Christ was born in 1927 with Klinefelter syndrome and assigned male at birth. The seventh of eight children, Christ was placed into an orphanage during the Great Depression where they stayed until age 18. Two weeks later, Christ was drafted into the Army and fast-tracked to work as a stool pigeon in a secret German Prisoner of War camp in Richmond, Virginia due to their fluency in German, Pennsylvania Dutch, and English. Following World War II, Christ got their degree in education from Moravian College, going on to teach English, German, and Social Studies while building and driving racecars, motorcycles, and flying planes as a hobby. In 1974, Christ went to Germany to teach American English on a Fulbright fellowship, where they met their second wife, Liz, a Fulbright scholar who was in Germany teaching British English. While working there, Christ helped improve the English skills of a German cytogeneticist to allow her to participate in the World Health Organization, and it was through this connection that Christ discovered they have XXY chromosomes. Christ had occasionally started presenting as a woman before learning they were intersex following the end of their first marriage in 1973, but never formally came out, electing to present as masculine or feminine selectively. Christ expresses comfort in being able to present as either/or, while not particularly identifying with the LGBT community.
Collection: LGBT Oral History
Topics: Intersex
Organizations:
View Item: Transcription of LGBT Oral History 017: Joe Christ
Date: November 18, 2016
Joanne Carroll was born in Alberta, Canada in 1940 as John Carroll. She spent the first 60 years of her life as a man, marrying twice and having two children. She worked a number of jobs throughout the country, primarily in the Air Force but also in hotel management and security. She transitioned in the 90s at around 60 years old, moved with her mother to Lancaster, and got heavily involved in trans advocacy throughout all of Pennsylvania as the president of TransCentral PA. In this interview, Joanne discusses a number of subjects relating to her experiences as a trans woman, including mental health, the transition process, and her experiences in coming out as trans to her family and friends. She also discusses issues of race, politics, white and male privilege, the current political climate (as of November 2016), and the importance of faith in her life.
Collection: LGBT Oral History
Topics: Transgender Experiences, Coming Out
Organizations: TransCentral PA
View Item: Transcription of LGBT Oral History 014: Joanne Carroll
Date: January 1977
Created by Lorraine Kujawa, Cindy Mitzel, Mary Nancarrow, and several others in 1983, the Lavender Letter Newsletter was a calendar of events for, by, and about lesbian women to create community in the Central Pennsylvania area. The newsletter was distributed monthly until the mid-2000s.
This issue features "The Law and You" question and answer section.
Collection: LGBT-009 - Lavender Letter
Topics:
Organizations: Freedom to Marry Coalition
Date: December 16, 2015
John Barns was born in Perry County, Pennsylvania. He comes from a family of farmers and is Pennsylvania Dutch. He grew up on a farm, joined the military during Vietnam, and then worked for the Pennsylvania government for 30 years. He discusses his experience of being gay in a small farm community and the conflicts that arose within his family because of his sexuality. He discusses the gay community in Perry County, Lancaster, and Harrisburg, as well as relationships that developed in each. The most prominent relationship that he discusses is his relationship with Walter Lear, the Regional Health Commissioner of the Pennsylvania Department of Health. He also talks about Dignity, a Roman Catholic organization that was a refuge for gay Catholics and/or gays of any religious background in the Harrisburg area. He discusses the impact that Dignity had on the gay community in Harrisburg and as well as on him. Also, he touches on certain people in his life that helped him come to terms with his sexuality.
Collection: LGBT Oral History
Topics:
Organizations: Dignity/Central PA
View Item: Transcription of LGBT Oral History 005: John Barns
Date: November 19, 2015
In this oral history, Anonymous_001 starts off discussing his family life. He states that his family life was not the best but not the worst, however after his mother left and his father developed borderline personality disorder, he decided to find ways to escape reality. He then goes on to say how his sexuality and sex cannot be disconnected from his life. After being exposed to pornography at a young age, he struggled with porn addiction throughout his adolescent and adult life. Porn introduced him to different types of sexuality and it was through porn that he discovered that he is bisexual. He discusses how his struggle with pornography led to misconceptions of what a healthy relationship looked like, as well as what a healthy sexual relationship looked like, with either a man or a woman. Consequently, his porn addiction led him to child pornography when he was 12 years old. His addiction, specifically to child pornography, continued until he was arrested in 2010 for the consumption of child pornography. After being arrested, he was admitted to a center for sexual compulsion and trauma and it was there he was told and accepted that he was addicted to sex. After his rehab was over, he was sentenced to prison for up to five years. He only served 3 ½ years, but it was during his incarceration that he had his first “real” homosexual relationship. He mentions that before this relationship, even though his friends knew he was bisexual, he had been dating a women and only acted on his homosexual desires behind closed doors in secret and through cybersex. This relationship showed him that he could have a healthy homosexual relationship if he wanted to, and that his homosexual urges did not have to be expressed only in secret. Now he is discovering himself again and discovering other people. He warns the younger generation to be careful with what they do on the internet, because the internet is not reality and will never be reality. Reality is trusting people, loving people, and accepting yourself for who you are. He also warns the younger generation that “Living alone is not a way to live and there is no reason for it.” The world is full of good people that will love you and help you, all you have to do is ask.
Collection: LGBT Oral History
Topics: Addiction
Organizations:
View Item: Transcription of LGBT Oral History 001: Anonymous
Date: June 1976
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community.
This Statistic Report gives statistics of the LGBT population in Pennsylvania as a way to show why fighting for LGBT rights was important.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics:
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Statistics Report - June 1976
Date: 1976
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community.
This paper gives reasons as to why the Sodomy Statute should be repealed from the PA Crimes Code.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics: Sodomy Laws
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Reasons for Repeal of Sodomy Statute - 1976
Date: May 25, 1976
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community.
This report updates members on PA Senate Bill 743 and the Sodomy Repeal Bill, or “Hill’s Bill.”
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics: PA Senate Bill 743, Sodomy Repeal Bill
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Legislation Report - May 25, 1976
Date: May 22, 1976
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community.
This report gives suggestions to the Caucus about purpose and structure of the organization. The liaisons were representatives from activist groups in rural Pennsylvania.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics:
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Liaison Committee Report - May 22, 1976
Date: 1976
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community.
This Legislative Committee report focused on the status of both US HR 5452 and US HR 166, which were anti-discrimination bills.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics: US House Resolution 166, US House Resolution 5452
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Legislative Committee Report - 1976
Date: January 20, 1978
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community.
This is the original brochure for Pride 1978, that was later rescheduled to April 1978.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics:
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Pride '78 Brochure - January 20, 1978
Date: March 20, 2015
Peggy Allan grew up in Oregon, where she attended Northwest Christian College for a year before marrying and having two sons with her first husband, Gary, a pastor. After 10 years of marriage, while the two were living together in Northern California, Gary came out as a gay man, and the two divorced. Peggy then married her second and current husband, Don, whom she has been with for 40 years and with whom she has another son. In this interview, Peggy discusses the initial struggles she and her sons faced in their relationship with Gary after his coming out, and then the later friendship that she and Don developed with Gary and his partner, Hal, and the family unit that they all came to form, including Peggy’s children. She describes how her lifelong friendship with Gary and Hal brought her to understand and become a great supporter of the LGBT community in Northern California, especially in trying to help foster open and affirming faith communities there, and how she and Don have continued to support the LGBT movement since their retirement and move to Lancaster in 2007.
Collection: LGBT Oral History
Topics: Affirming Faith Communities, Family Unit
Organizations:
View Item: Transcription of LGBT Oral History 003: Peggy Allan
Date: June 22, 1976
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community.
This memo encourages the Legislative Committee of the PA Rural Gay Caucus to establish a strategy to handle legislative issues in an organized fashion, starting with education of legislators.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics: Sodomy Repeal Bill
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Memo - June 22, 1976
Date: 1976
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community.
This a draft of the position paper that the Caucus wrote up in support of Sodomy Status Repeal Bill. It lays out the philosophical premise, strategy, and organization that was needed to show support of the repeal bill.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics: Sodomy Repeal Bill
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus
Date: May 1978
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community.
This meeting notice gives the location of the next Caucus meeting, as well as the location of the “Governor’s Race Committee” meeting.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics:
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus
Date: July 10, 1976
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community.
This Legislative Committee meeting notice gives the location and date of the next meeting, and the topics that were discussed.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics: Sodomy Repeal Bill
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Legislative Committee Meeting Notice - July 10, 1976
Date: April 3, 1976
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community.
This meeting notice gives the location of the next Rural Gay Caucus meeting, along with directions to the meeting location.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics:
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Meeting Notice - April 3, 1976
Date: August 17, 2014
Arlene Ackerman was born in San Francisco, California, then adopted and raised in Lodi, California. Jacquie Bogle Ackerman was born and raised in northern Minnesota. Arlene became licensed as clergy with the Metropolitan Community Church in 1977, and Jacquie has supported Arlene by traveling with her when needed, performing odd jobs such as office work and driving buses in order to help financially. In this interview, the couple discusses their long journey in adopting a child as a lesbian couple while living in Minnesota together. They faced discrimination from their adoption agency, but after approximately nine months, they were finally able to adopt a baby girl named Amanda, and shortly after, moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Arlene and Jacquie explain the challenges of gaining parental rights for both of them and with raising Amanda as an adopted, biracial child of two LGBT parents. Despite that they became married for primarily legal reasons, the couple also discusses the emotional significance of their recent state-recognized marriage in June of 2014. Lastly, Arlene and Jacquie reflect on the gay rights movement and agree that they never thought that gay marriage would have been possible in their lifetimes, but they are grateful to see it happening today.
Collection: LGBT Oral History
Topics: Adoption
Organizations: Metropolitan Community Church (MCC)
View Item: Transcription of LGBT Oral History 002: Arlene and Jacquie Bogle Ackerman
Date: February 1978
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community.
In these minutes, the caucus discusses the rescheduling of PA Pride Conference 1978.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics:
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Minutes - February 1978
Date: June 4, 1977
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community.
In these minutes, the caucus discusses the reports of various committees and provides an evaluation of Human Rights Day. They also brainstorm ideas for the next Rural Conference and nominations for the secretary position.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics: PA Senate Bill 531
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Minutes - June 4, 1977
Date: October 1976
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.”
In these minutes, the Rural Gay Caucus announces two upcoming events, the appearance of Dr. Frank Kameny, a gay activist, and a hay-ride coordinated by GCS Berks. The minutes also announce the location of the next meeting for both the general caucus and the communication committee.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics:
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus, Lehigh Valley Homophile Organization (Le-Hi-Ho), Gay Coordinating Society of Berks County, Reading (GCS Berks)
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Meeting Minutes - October 1976
Date: May 22, 1976
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community. In these meeting minutes the Legislative Committee reports on the Legislative Education Packet that was created called “Gay Legislation ’76, Pennsylvania,” which was an endorsement of Gay Rights. There was no new legislation introduced, and the committee discussed the next steps since “Hill’s Bill” was not able to be introduced in the Senate.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics: Hill's Bill
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Legislative Committee Minutes - May 22, 1976