National Gay Task Force (NGTF)

The Pennsylvania Governor’s Council for Sexual Minorites was an officially appointed advisory committee created by Governor Milton J. Shapp in 1976. Governor Shapp, by executive order, declared that all executive branch offices and services were to end discriminatory practices and policies against all LGBTQ+ employees, clients, and program of state services. The proposed council was his instrument guaranteeing the implementation of his decree throughout the Executive Branch of state government.

Minnutes for the Steering Committee meeting of the Governor's Council for Sexual Minorities. Minutes include:

• Committee Reports
• Committee Organization
• Press Kit
• White House meeting 
• General Updates

The Pennsylvania Governor’s Council for Sexual Minorites was an officially appointed advisory committee created by Governor Milton J. Shapp in 1976. Governor Shapp, by executive order, declared that all executive branch offices and services were to end discriminatory practices and policies against all LGBTQ+ employees, clients, and program of state services. The proposed council was his instrument guaranteeing the implementation of his decree throughout the Executive Branch of state government.

Minutes for the March 8, 1979 meeting. Minutes include:

• Update on Media Coverage
• Information from the Governor's Office
• White House Conference of the Family participation
• General Announcements

Joseph W. Burns started to donate these materials in 2013 as the first contribution of historical documents to the LGBT Center of Central PA History Project. These materials reflect his involvement in, and document, LGBTQ+ activism in Central PA.

This collection contains materials from 1968 – 2015, but the bulk of the materials focus on LGBTQ+ activism from 1970 – 1980. There are 14 Series which highlight LGBTQ+ activist organizations, legislation, publications, photographs, personal/miscellaneous items, media, and artifacts, as well as Subject Files regarding people, organizations, or issues related to LGBTQ+ activism. Materials include documents, photos, a cassette tape, and multiple artifacts.

Minutes from the entirity of Pride'78, a statewide gay rights conference. 

Pamphlet and organizational document that explains the Gay Switchboard of Harrisburg’s mission, background, funding, call-in categories, and call statistics.

Dinner program put together by Dignity/Central PA for a celebration of the organization.

The Gay Era was a newspaper that reported news of interest from around the United States, with a specific focus on the news surrounding the gay community in Central PA, and provided a central forum for gay communities that were spread out across Central PA. Noteworthy news in this issues:

• "Gay Prisoners: Should We Care Just Because They're Gay?" (p. 2)
• "Rural Caucus Dissolved" (p. 3) "Defense Department Changes Policy" (p. 7)
• "Rural Resources" (p. 9)
• "Gay Rights Symposium" (p. 13)
• "Gay Issues in New Civil Rights Survey" (p. 18)
• "Gayton (PA) Mayor Swears to God" (p. 20)
• "A.D.A. for Gay Rights" (p. 22)

The Gay Era was a newspaper that reported news of interest from around the United States, with a specific focus on the news surrounding the gay community in Central PA, and provided a central forum for gay communities that were spread out across Central PA. Noteworthy news in this issues:

• "Lancaster City Council Votes against Anti-Porn Law" (p. 3)
• "Centre County Minorities Form Democratic Club" (p. 3)
• "Bill Gray for Congress" (p. 4)
• "Era Extension Drive" (p. 6)
• "Gubanatorial Candidates on Gay Issues" (p. 7)
• "Impressions of Pride '78" (p. 9)
• "Bruce Voeller" (p. 12)
• "Tom Wilson: They Laugh When He Sits Down at the Piano" (p. 14)
• "Tony Silvestre: Why Are You Gay-Because I'm Lucky" (p. 16)
• "Wanted: Volunteers for Research Project" (p. 17)
• "Report from Millersville" (p. 17)
• "Ecumenical Conference" (p. 18)
• "N.O.W. in Lancaster" (p. 19)
• "Rural Resouces" (p. 23)

The Gay Era was a newspaper that reported news of interest from around the United States, with a specific focus on the news surrounding the gay community in Central PA, and provided a central forum for gay communities that were spread out across Central PA. Notable news in this issues:

- Conference Site Found (p.4)
- Affirmative Action Plans Sent to Governor Shapp (p.4)
- New Members to Governor's Council (p.5)
- Rural Resources (p.10)
- Pride '78 (p.19)

The Gay Era was a newspaper that reported news of interest from around the United States, with a specific focus on the news surrounding the gay community in Central PA, and provided a central forum for gay communities that were spread out across Central PA. Notable news in this issues:

- National Gay Blue Jeans Day Held in State College (p.4)
- Allentown Battle: State Conference in Limbo (p.4)
- PA Rural Gay Resource List (p.10)
- Martin Rock (p.14)
- National Endowment for the Humanities (p.24)
- PDE Supports Affirmative Action for Gays (p.25)

The Gay Era was a newspaper that reported news of interest from around the United States, with a specific focus on the news surrounding the gay community in Central PA, and provided a central forum for gay communities that were spread out across Central PA. Notable news in this issues:

• Bryant Aid Details Gay Dade County "Errors"(p.4)
• School Cuts "Propaganda" Film (p.6)
• Harrisburg Radio Show (p.6)
• Allentown Rights a Political Hot Potato (p.7)

The Gay Era was a newspaper that reported news of interest from around the United States, with a specific focus on the news surrounding the gay community in Central PA, and provided a central forum for gay communities that were spread out across Central PA. Notable news in this issues:

• What to do about Anita Bryant (p.8)
• Gay Religious Leaders Deplore Anita Bryant's Misleading Use of Bible (p.9)
• PA Rural Gay Resource List (p.13)
• Over the Back Fence (p.15)
• Dyke Cooper (p.18)

The Gay Era was a newspaper that reported news of interest from around the United States, with a specific focus on the news surrounding the gay community in Central PA, and provided a central forum for gay communities that were spread out across Central PA. Noteworthy news in this issues:

• "What is Obscenity?" (p. 3)
• "Gay Rights Ordinance Attempted in Allentown ("p. 5)
• "Lobbyist Kohn Denies Charges "(p. 6)
• "PA Rural Gay Resource List" (p. 12)
• We Are Not the Criminals: Support Human Rights Day (p. 13)
• "Dyke Cooper" (p. 15)
• "Gay Awareness at MSC" (p. 19)

In these Meeting Minutes, motion to dissovle the PA Rural Gay Caucus as a formal organization is passed. Agenda concerns next steps of group.