Arts and Entertainment

Julia “Julie” Lobur was born in New Kensington, Pennsylvania in 1955 and moved to Harrisburg in 1970. She received her bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) and received a master’s degree in Computer Science in 2003. Lobur briefly served in the military in 1983, eventually being discharged for being a lesbian, but it was also where she met her wife Marla.

For Lobur, her introduction to the LGBTQ+ community was influenced by the Commerce Diner. Located across the street from the then 400 Club, a LGBTQ+ bar of the time, and adjacent to State Street in Harrisburg, PA, the Commerce Diner catered to LGBTQ+ clientele in the 1970s. The diner eventually closed, and the building was demolished in the late 1980s.

Lobur currently works as a computer architect for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and is an adjunct professor of computer science for Penn State. She resides in Central PA today.

The Tassle Newsletter was produced by The Gay & Lesbian Organization of Reading & Allentown. 

Cathy Nelson was born in Brooklyn, New York, and moved to Staten Island, New York, at the age of two with her strict Italian-Swedish family. As a child, Cathy loved music and did well in school. She also participated in Catholic youth group retreats, where she first encountered anti-gay sentiment. Although she knew she was attracted to girls from an early age, Cathy did not act on these feelings until age 22, when she entered her first long-term relationship. Cathy worked as a teacher in Carlisle, PA, but stopped teaching after suffering a head injury that affected her speech. Currently, she does secretarial work for a friend and ally at Goldcrafter’s Corner. Cathy was involved with the Pride planning committee and sang with the Central Pennsylvania Women’s Chorus. In this interview, Cathy discusses the process of coming out to herself, her family, and her friends. She also describes the Harrisburg-area lesbian community in the early 1990s and the problems and successes of the Women’s Chorus throughout her years of involvement. Cathy also discusses the general acceptance of lesbians in mainstream culture, but condemns the exclusion of transgender issues from the LGBT community and the transphobia that she sees as a major issue of the day.

Shaka Hudson was born in 1949 in Harrisburg as the middle of five children. An artist his whole life, Shaka attended John Harris High School and Penn State University before unenrolling in college and leaving Harrisburg to join the Washington D.C. Repertory Dance Company and Theatre Company as a dancer. There, he met his first male partner, and together they moved to New York City in 1975. While modeling for an art class at the Art Students League, Shaka met and fell in love with a woman who he later married and had one daughter with. After they divorced approximately 10 years later, Shaka moved to Richmond, Virginia with a new male lover who, unbeknownst to Shaka, was sick with AIDS. Shaka contracted HIV in 1987. After his lover’s death, Shaka moved back to the Harrisburg area and had one more major relationship. In this interview, he thoroughly discusses his journey as an artist and a dancer. Shaka also discusses the AIDS epidemic, his relationships with family members, and changes he would make to the Harrisburg community. Additionally, he expresses his concern that the younger generation is too carelessly promiscuous as well as the importance of citizens exercising their right to vote.

Lindsay Snowden was born in Pittsburgh on March 15, 1976. Lindsay worked a bunch of odd jobs and has had an entrepreneurial spirit since a young age. Lindsay joined the military when sirb was 17. Lindsay realized after moving to Harrisburg that sirb would not be welcome in the military due to sirb’s sexuality. Coming out to sirb’s family was easy because sirb grew up with gay family members. Lindsay has worked on my projects in the area like forming the first all black drag king troupe in Central Pennsylvania, House of Game; publishing a magazine called Studs Magazine; and running a female football team. Lindsay talks about sirb’s experience with sirb’s drag troupe and how difficult it is to get booked as an all black group in Central Pennsylvania. Lindsay talks about sirb’s evolving gender identity, the intersections of sirb’s identity, and the importance of family.

David Walker was born in 1946 in Lancaster County, where he grew up in a strict Presbyterian family and always knew that he was different. He studied to be a teacher at Lebanon Valley College when the school was more fundamentalist, but after encountering difficulty finding a teaching job, David started working in broadcasting at WITF, where he encountered a supportive creative community where he wasn’t the only gay person, which he enjoyed greatly until his retirement in 2005. David has also worked with Open Stage of Harrisburg and Theatre Harrisburg doing sound design for performances, as well as with various musical groups, including working as the artistic director of the Harrisburg Gay Men’s Chorus. In this interview, David discusses these experiences, as well as his family life, what it was like to be gay in Central Pennsylvania from the ‘60s to now, and his current work in the community, which includes activism in support of marriage equality and non-discrimination laws and volunteering at the LGBT Center. David currently lives in Hummelstown with Jack, his partner of 36 years.

Mr. Boone is interviewed as an ally of the LGBT community. From a young age, he encountered members of the LGBT community but never judged or discriminated against them. He later joined the board of a Community Center, and through this Center allowed the expression of young LGBT community to flourish, specifically through theater. His daughter was very active with the LGBT community.

This is an oral history with David Payne. It was recorded on August 9th, 2014. David Payne was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended Temple University in Philadelphia as a communications major. The focus of his career has been working in radio broadcasting for several stations based in the Central PA region of Harrisburg as well as in Rehoboth, DE. In this interview, David discusses his career path in radio broadcasting, his involvement in the Gay Men’s Chorus of Harrisburg and other singing engagements with local churches, and also some stories about his relationships with his family members and their lack of awareness about his sexuality. David also comments on marriage equality and workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation. He remarks on his own experience of having his sexuality revealed in the workplace and how individuals should not have to fear that being out at work might cause termination. David’s interview concludes on his existing relationships with friends and family and the search for romance.

Abstract for Interview 1 (August 2, 2014): Lawrence von Barann was born on June 26, 1928 in Queens, New York to an American mother from New York City and an immigrant father from Germany. Lawrence spent the majority of his upbringing living in the Queens borough but left to live outside the city in Long Island about the time when he entered high school. Lawrence is an artist, primarily painting. He found his passion for art in middle school when he considered attending a specialized high school in the arts. Unable to make the daily commute to Manhattan Lawrence attended a local high school. Throughout his high school experience Lawrence was completely dedicated to his art. He had a teacher name Mr. Wickman that played a major role in developing Lawrence’s talents but also increasing his exposure to the art world. Lawrence discusses his adventures to the galleries and museums in New York during weekend class trips. Upon completing high school, at the end of WWII, Lawrence decided to enroll in art school but given the difficulties of applying during the G.I. admittance guidelines it was difficult to find a complete course load. Lawrence however did get an opportunity with the Brooklyn Museum art program. It was there that he received his first assistant position to his woodwork and carving professor in his private studio. Lawrence recounts his years working in the studio as well as his own business ventures at this early stage in his life. He also discusses some of his experience of living a “double life” as a gay man in New York City.

Abstract for Interview 2 (August 29, 2014): In this second interview with Lawrence von Barann he concludes his stories about living in New York and the events that eventually led to his move to central PA. Once he made the move to central PA, his business partner from New York got married so Larry was working independently. He started teaching at HACC (Harrisburg Area Community College) in fine arts courses. Larry also discusses the significant relationship he has had—including his life partner Bill as well as some others. He talks about his career evolved from not only working as an artist but becoming an advisor doing art appraisals and running a gallery. He discusses his never ending passion for the surrealist school is his own personal collection of famous works as well as encounters he has had with artists including Rothko, Pollock and Dalí throughout his life.

The bulk of the collection consists of buttons, ribbons, and t-shirts from LGBT events. It also contains documentation of the Gay and Lesbian Switchboard of Harrisburg and Dignity of Central PA. Several of the items in this collection relate the story of Dan Miller, a Central PA accountant who was fired for being gay in 1990. This collection also contains program materials from the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus, as well as Hershey, PA and NYC play performances. In addition, this collection includes items relevant to noteworthy LGBT Pennsylvanians. These items include an autographed photograph of Nancy Jane Kulp (born in Harrisburg, PA) who played Jane Hathaway on the television series Beverly Hillbillies; a photograph, publicity material, and an LP record album of T. C. Jones (born in Scranton, PA), well-known female impersonator; and an engraving of Bayard Taylor (born in Kennett Square, PA), who wrote Joseph and His Friend (1870), believed to be the first U.S. gay novel.

These images represent a cross section of the types of materials included in the LGBT Center of Central PA's History Project, which is housed in the Dickinson College Archives and Special Collections. View the Collection in Flicker. 

For inventories of more materials, visit this page.

Pink Triangle Coalition (PTC) was created in 1991 as a non-religious, LGBTQ+ civil rights advocacy and social organization in the City of Lancaster. The Coalition was instrumental in getting sexual orientation non-discrimination protection added to the human relations ordinance in 1991, and in creating a new city Human Relations Commission to enforce the ordinance in 2001. The Coalition dissolved shortly thereafter.

The Lancaster Inqueery was the PTC newsletter.

Invitation for a fundraiser event to support March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay, and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation, 1993.

Opened in 1966 in the small town of Spring Grove, PA, Altland’s Ranch was the first official LGBTQ+ bar in the York area, and was the longest running LGBTQ+ bar in the county. Altland’s Ranch was abspace for the LGBTQ+ community to make their own. It was known for hosting drag balls, discos, and particularly Halloween parties.

Altland’s Ranch became more than just a party space, it was also a space for LGBTQ+ community groups to use for programs and became a type of community center for the LGBTQ+ community in the York area. Altland’s Ranch closed in 2016.

These audio recordings are copies of mixed tapes that a Harrisburg resident made in the 1980s for the former La Rose Rouge Bar at 400 North Second Street.

Lesbian/Gay Fundraiser at Rosmary's for Pride '80 featuring Sharon Ettinger. 

Lesbian/Gay Fundraiser at Rosmary's for Pride '79 featuring Rainbow's End. 

Altland’s Ranch was the first official LGBTQ+ bar in the York area, and was the longest running LGBTQ+ bar in the county. It was known for hosting drag balls, discos, and particularly Halloween parties. Altland’s Ranch closed in 2016.

Altland’s Ranch was the first official LGBTQ+ bar in the York area, and was the longest running LGBTQ+ bar in the county. It was known for hosting drag balls, discos, and particularly Halloween parties. Altland’s Ranch closed in 2016.

Altland’s Ranch was the first official LGBTQ+ bar in the York area, and was the longest running LGBTQ+ bar in the county. It was known for hosting drag balls, discos, and particularly Halloween parties. Altland’s Ranch closed in 2016.

Altland’s Ranch was the first official LGBTQ+ bar in the York area, and was the longest running LGBTQ+ bar in the county. It was known for hosting drag balls, discos, and particularly Halloween parties. Altland’s Ranch closed in 2016.

Altland’s Ranch was the first official LGBTQ+ bar in the York area, and was the longest running LGBTQ+ bar in the county. It was known for hosting drag balls, discos, and particularly Halloween parties. Altland’s Ranch closed in 2016.

Altland’s Ranch was the first official LGBTQ+ bar in the York area, and was the longest running LGBTQ+ bar in the county. It was known for hosting drag balls, discos, and particularly Halloween parties. Altland’s Ranch closed in 2016.

Altland’s Ranch was the first official LGBTQ+ bar in the York area, and was the longest running LGBTQ+ bar in the county. It was known for hosting drag balls, discos, and particularly Halloween parties. Altland’s Ranch closed in 2016.