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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Date: May 8, 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 minutes, the Legislative Committee updates members on the legislation being considered, and the process of contacting legislators from Gay Lobby Day was discussed.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics: PA Senate Bill 743, PA House Bill 2220, Hill's Bill
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus, Homophiles of Penn State (HOPS)
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Legislative Committee Minutes - May 8, 1976
Date: April 24, 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 minutes, the Legislative Committee discuss issues at the local, state, and federal level. They also provide data on the recent Gay Lobby Day, and propaganda and advertisement ideas.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics:
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Legislative Committee Minutes - April 24, 1976
Date: February 18, 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 this memo, Joseph W. Burns encourage members to lobby against PA Senate Bill 83 that was introduced into the PA Senate on January 4, 1977.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics: PA Senate Bill 83
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Memo - February 18, 1977
Date: June 20, 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 this memo, Bill Hollabaugh mentions the next meeting of the Legislative Committee of the Caucus to discuss the continuation of lobbying for the repeal of the Sodomy Law status.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics: Sodomy Laws
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Memo - June 20, 1976
Date: June 8, 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 this memo, Bill Hollabaugh discusses the logistics of the joint meeting between the Caucus and the Governor's Council for Sexual Minorities.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics:
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus, PA Governor's Council for Sexual Minorities
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Memo - June 8, 1976
Date: May 19, 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 this memo, Bill Hallobaugh discuses the next steps for the Caucus to continue lobbying for the removal of the Sodomy status in PA law.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics: Sodomy Laws
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus - May 19, 1976
Date: April 17, 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 this memo, Sam Deetz is explaining how to get to the location for the next meeting of the Legislative Action Committee.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics:
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Memo - April 17, 1976
Date: October 1996
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 a spotlight article called "The Law and You."
Collection: LGBT-009 - Lavender Letter
Topics:
Organizations:
Date: August 1996
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.
Collection: LGBT-009 - Lavender Letter
Topics:
Organizations: Central PA Womyn's Chorus
Date: June 1996
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.
Collection: LGBT-009 - Lavender Letter
Topics:
Organizations:
View Item: Lavender Letter (Harrisburg, PA) - June 1996
Date: May 1996
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.
Collection: LGBT-009 - Lavender Letter
Topics:
Organizations: Central PA Womyn's Chorus
View Item: Lavender Letter (Harrisburg, PA) - May 1996
Date: April 1996
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.
Collection: LGBT-009 - Lavender Letter
Topics:
Organizations:
Date: March 1996
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.
Collection: LGBT-009 - Lavender Letter
Topics:
Organizations:
Date: February 1996
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.
Collection: LGBT-009 - Lavender Letter
Topics:
Organizations:
Date: January 1996
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.
Collection: LGBT-009 - Lavender Letter
Topics:
Organizations:
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 this letter, Joseph Burns tells members of the departure of Lehigh Valley Homophile Organization (Le-Hi-Ho) from the group due to division among the group. He also goes on to talk about the protentional for growth and change within the caucus, starting with the next meeting, where they will decide if the caucus stays an organization or dissolves.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics:
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus, Lehigh Valley Homophile Organization (Le-Hi-Ho), PA Governor's Council for Sexual Minorities
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Letter from the Editor - October 1976
Date: April 2, 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.”
In this letter, the Caucus is writing to the Majoyr of Allentown, PA in support of the adding sexual orientation preferences as a protection clause in the Human Rights Ordinance.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics: Human Rights Ordinance
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus, Lehigh Valley Homophile Organization (Le-Hi-Ho)
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Letter - April 2, 1977
Date: February 1, 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.”
In this letter, it is told that Lehigh Valley Homophile Organization (Le-Hi-Ho) has decided to reaffiliate with the PA Rural Gay Caucus.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics:
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus, Lehigh Valley Homophile Organization (Le-Hi-Ho)
Date: November 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 this letter, Joseph W. Burns mentions the joint meeting between the Governor's Council on Sexual Minorities and the PA Rural Gay Caucus Legislative Committee. At this joint meeting, they will be looking at expand the "Hill" Bill to include more issues in addition to the repeal of the Sodomy Laws.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics:
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus, PA Governor's Council for Sexual Minorities
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Legislative Committee Letter - November 1976
Date: circa 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 this letter, Lehigh Valley Homophile Organization (Le-Hi-Ho) withdraws their support and recall their liaison from the PA Rural Gay Caucus due to breakdown of cooperation among members.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics:
Organizations: Lehigh Valley Homophile Organization (Le-Hi-Ho), PA Rural Gay Caucus
Date: September 20, 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 this letter, Barry Lace encourages committeepersons to respond to the position paper sent to them about the repeal of the Sodomy Laws.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics: Sodomy Laws
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus
Date: August 11, 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.”
This letter was written by Barry Lace introducing himself as the new Chairperson for the Caucus, specifically for the Legislative Committee.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics:
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Legislative Committee Letter - August 11, 1976
Date: July 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.”
In this letter, the Caucus informs the PA House of Representatives it's disappointment in their action of passing a resolution that rejected Governor Milton J. Shapp's proclamation making June 12-19 as Gay Pride Week.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics:
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Letter - July 22, 1976
Date: May 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."
In this letter, the Rural Gay Caucus encourages members to participate in a "blitz" campaign to show their support for the passage of the bill repealing the "Voluntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse" section of the PA Crime Code.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics: Sodomy Repeal Bill, Sodomy Laws
Organizations: Homophiles of Penn State (HOPS)
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Letter - May 10, 1976
Date: June 5, 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 this flier, the Rural Gay Caucus is defined, organizations involved in the Caucus are listed, the statement of purpose provided, and the different committees within the caucus are explained.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics:
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus, PA Governor's Council for Sexual Minorities