PA Gay Pride Week

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 from the July [7], 1979 meeting. Minutes include:

• Schedule for the 1979-80 Council Meetings
• Proclamation of Gay Pride Week by Governor Thornburgh
• Pride '79 Conference
• Alcoholism Update
• Report on Aging
• General Announcements
• Notes updates from smaller committees in the Council

Statement proposed by Joseph W. Burns in representation of the PA Rural Gay Caucus against the PA House of Representatives for rejecting Governor Shapp's Proclamation of Gay Pride Week, June 12 -19, 1976.

Founded in the early 1970’s, Northeast Pennsylvania Gay Alliance (NEPGA) was a major LGBTQ+ group in northeast Pennsylvania. The newsletter was used to relay monthly meeting minutes and upcoming events.

Founded in the early 1970’s, Northeast Pennsylvania Gay Alliance (NEPGA) was a major LGBTQ+ group in northeast Pennsylvania. The newsletter was used to relay monthly meeting minutes and upcoming events.

Homophiles of Williamsport (HOW) was founded in 1975 to be an educational outreach and social group for members of the LGBTQ+ community in the Williamsport, PA area, through monthly meetings, social events, and discussion sessions. The newsletter, Here’s How, was a way to keep group members up-to-date on news and events.

In this issue, plans for future events are discussed, specifically looking for members who would be willing to speak at events in Williamsport. There is an update on Dan Maneval’s harassment concerns, and a reminder that dues are important to help HOW to survive and grow as a group.

Homophiles of Williamsport (HOW) was founded in 1975 to be an educational outreach and social group for members of the LGBTQ+ community in the Williamsport, PA area, through monthly meetings, social events, and discussion sessions. The newsletter, Here’s How, was a way to keep group members up-to-date on news and events.

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.

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 report, the PA Rural Gay Caucus Legislative Committee and the Governor's Council on Sexual Minorities discus:

• The Telephone Tree
• Updates on the Sodomy Law Repeal
• Fundraising for campaigns of State Legislators 
• Newspaper Clippings discuss the House Resolution againts Governor Shapp's Gay Pride Week Proclomation

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:

• "State of the Publication" (p. 2)
• "Gay Pride Week Rapped" (p. 2)
• "House Condemns Thornburgh for 'Gay Pride Week'" (p. 2)
• "Switchboard Anniversay" (p. 3)
• "Penn Acts to Prohibit Discrimination against Gays" (p. 3)
• "HOPS Blue Jeans Day" (p. 3)
• "Gay Pride Week Proclamation" (p. 4)
• "Anti-Gay Bill Proposed" (p. 5)
• "Culture Shock" (p. 10)
• "Aries Portfolio" (p. 11)
• "PA Lawmakers Get No Respect" (p. 13)
• "Gay Professionals' Licenses Safe" (p. 18)
• "Human Rights Resolution" (p. 18)
• "When Lady Gay Was Queen of Conestoga" (p. 18)
• "Sex and the Government Worker" (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. Noteworthy news in this issues:

• "Pennsylvania Gay Pride Week: Legislators Freak Out" (p.3)
• "Dyke Cooper" (p.6)
• "Gay Pride Seventy-Six" (p.8)
• "Rural Caucus Report" (p.10)