Pennsylvania Lesbian/Gay Support Network (PLGSN) Records - 1970s to 1980s

Date
1970s to 1980s

This collection documents the earliest known organizational history of the LGBTQ+ community in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley region. The Pennsylvania Lesbian and Gay Support Network (PALGSN) was established in 1978 after the first Pride Conference, and was a state-wide organization which worked for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community throughout the state of Pennsylvania. Materials include newsletters, meeting minutes, press releases, and promotional materials.

The items in this collection are shared through a collaboration between the Lehigh Valley LGBT Community Archive and the LGBT Center of Central PA History Project. For more information on Lehigh Valley LGBT Community Archives, visit https://trexler.muhlenberg.edu/library/specialcollections/collections/#lgbt

Materials include newsletters, meeting minutes, press releases, and promotional materials. View the collection on the Internet Archive.

General Subjects
Time Period
Origin
Gift of Joseph W. Burns
Collection
Location
LGBT-001 Joseph W. Burns Collection

LGBT History Project: LGBT-001 Joseph W. Burns Collection

Number of Pages
57
Date
1968 - 2015; Bulk Dates 1970 - 1980

Joseph W. Burns started to donate these materials in 2013 as the first contribution of historical documents to the LGBT Center of Central PA History Project.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.

Year
Origin
Gift of Joseph W. Burns
Collection
Location
LGBT-001 Joseph W. Burns Collection

The Gayfolio (MCC Harrisburg) - November 1981

Number of Pages
7
Date
November 1981

Founded in 1968 in California, the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) began as a Christian outreach to meet the needs of the LGBTQ+ community. MCC Harrisburg (later renamed MCC of the Spirit) and MCC Lancaster (later renamed MCC Vision of Hope) were two local parishes in the Central PA Area.

The Gayfolio, which after two issues later became The Link, was a gay community newspaper published by MCC Harrsiburg. The main article in this issue is "Election '81 Analysis: Did the gay and lesbian vote affect the outcome?" There is also news about local MCC chapters. 

Year
Time Period
Format
Origin
Gift of Joseph W. Burns
Collection
Location
LGBT-001 Joseph W. Burns Collection

The Link (MCC Harrisburg) - January/February 1982

Number of Pages
14
Date
January/February 1982

Founded in 1968 in California, the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) began as a Christian outreach to meet the needs of the LGBTQ+ community. MCC Harrisburg (later renamed MCC of the Spirit) and MCC Lancaster (later renamed MCC Vision of Hope) were two local parishes in the Central PA Area.

The Link, which was previously titled the Gayfolio, was a gay community newsletter published by MCC Harrsiburg. Note worthy items in this issue are: 

  • "San Francico will host Gay Olympic Games" (pg. 1)
  • "PL/GSN strives to improve conditions for gays" (pg. 9)
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Year
Time Period
Format
Origin
Gift of Joseph W. Burns
Collection
Location
LGBT-001 Joseph W. Burns Collection

Pride '80 Program - October 3 - 5, 1980

Number of Pages
14
Date
October 3 - 5, 1980

Program for Pride '80, a statewide gay rights conference. 

General Subjects
Year
Time Period
Origin
Gift of Joseph W. Burns
Collection
Location
LGBT-001 Joseph W. Burns Collection

Pride '79 Poster - October 19 - 21, 1979

Number of Pages
2
Date
October 19 - 21, 1979

Advertisement poster for Pride '79, a statewide gay rights conference.

General Subjects
Year
Time Period
Format
Origin
Gift of Joseph W. Burns
Collection
Location
LGBT-001 Joseph W. Burns Collection

Pride '79 Fundraiser Flyer - June 9, 1978

Number of Pages
2
Date
June 9, 1978

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

General Subjects
Year
Time Period
Origin
Gift of Joseph W. Burns
Collection
Location
LGBT-001 Joseph W. Burns Collection

Pride '80 Brochure and Registration - October 3 - 5, 1980

Number of Pages
6
Date
October 3 -5 , 1980

Brochure and Registration for Pride '80, a statewide gay rights conference.

Year
Time Period
Origin
Gift of Joseph W. Burns
Collection
Location
LGBT-001 Joseph W. Burns Collection

Pride '79 Brochure and Registration - October 19 - 21, 1979

Number of Pages
6
Date
October 19 - 21, 1979

Brochure and Registration for Pride '79, a statewide gay rights conference. 

Year
Time Period
Origin
Gift of Joseph W. Burns
Collection
Location
LGBT-001 Joseph W. Burns Collection

Here's How (Williamsport, PA) - June 1979

Number of Pages
4
Date
June 1979

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 issues, discussion on Governor Richard Thornburgh's decision to keep the Governors Counscil on Sexual Minorities is discussed, as well as Pride '79, and an update on Dan Manevla's neighborhood harrasment concerns.

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Year
Time Period
Format
Origin
Gift of Dan Maneval
Collection
Location
LGBT-008 Dan Maneval Collection

Here's How (Williamsport, PA) - May 1979

Number of Pages
3
Date
May 1979

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.

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People
General Subjects
Year
Time Period
Format
Origin
Gift of Dan Maneval
Collection
Location
LGBT-008 Dan Maneval Collection

Here's How (Williamsport, PA) - February/March 1979

Number of Pages
3
Date
February/March 1979

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.

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General Subjects
Year
Time Period
Format
Origin
Gift of Dan Maneval
Collection
Location
LGBT-008 Dan Maneval Collection

Lavender Letter (Harrisburg, PA) - May 1983

Number of Pages
3
Date
May 1983

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.

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Year
Time Period
Format
Origin
Gift of Lorraine Kujawa
Location
LGBT-009 Lavender Letter Collection

Gay Switchboard of Harrisburg (GSH) Newsletter - December 1981

Number of Pages
11
Date
December 1981

The GSH Newsletter is an outreach feature of the Gay Switchboard of Harrisburg. This was the last newsletter created by the Switchboard, due to the establishment of another gay press in Harrisburg. Notable articles in this issue are:

  • "Switchboard '82 Election"
  • "God & Gays Part III"
  • "Network Elects '82 Team"
  • "1981 in the Black $477.31"
  • "Harrisburg 'Press'es On"
  • "Dignity Elects New Team"
  • "CPGA (Central Pa. Gay Alliance) Dissolves
People
Year
Time Period
Format
Origin
Gift of Bob Riese
Collection
Location
LGBT-030 Bob Riese Collection

Gay Switchboard of Harrisburg (GSH) Newsletter - June 1981

Number of Pages
7
Date
June 1981

The GSH Newsletter is an outreach feature of the Gay Switchboard of Harrisburg. Notable articles in this issue are:

  • "A Rose" [La Rose Rouge] (p. 1)
  • "Switchboard Summer Picnic" (p. 1)
  • "June 30 - ERA Rally" (p. 3)
  • "Dignity/Central PA is Six" (p. 3)
  • "2 Flea Mkts. Net $98.38" (p. 4)
  • "Gods & Gays Part I" (p. 6)
Year
Time Period
Format
Origin
Gift of Bob Riese
Collection
Location
LGBT-030 Bob Riese Collection

Gay Switchboard of Harrisburg (GSH) Newsletter - May 1981

Number of Pages
8
Date
May 1981

The GSH Newsletter is an outreach feature of the Gay Switchboard of Harrisburg. Noteworthy articles in this issue are:

  • "New Officers in June" (p. 1)
  • "Treasurer Stays" (p. 1)
  • "Flea Mrkt. June 6" (p. 3)
  • "MCC News" (p. 4)
People
Year
Time Period
Format
Origin
Gift of Bob Riese
Collection
Location
LGBT-030 Bob Riese Collection

Gay Switchboard of Harrisburg (GSH) Newsletter - January 1981

Number of Pages
3
Date
January 1981

The GSH Newsletter is an outreach feature of the Gay Switchboard of Harrisburg. Notable articles in this issue are:

  • "81 Officers"
  • "In the Red"
  • "8 Resolutions"
  • "81 Training"
General Subjects
Year
Time Period
Format
Origin
Gift of Bob Riese
Collection
Location
LGBT-030 Bob Riese Collection

Gay Switchboard of Harrisburg brochure - 1979

Number of Pages
7
Date
1979

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

Topics
Year
Time Period
Origin
Gift of Joseph W. Burns
Collection
Location
LGBT-001 Joseph W. Burns Collection

Keystone (Dignity/Central PA) - July/Aug. 1979

Number of Pages
5
Date
July 1979

Keystone is an educational and communication feature of Dignity/Central PA Inc. Noteworthy articles in this issue:

  • "From the President" (p. 1)
  • "Summer with Dignity (Update" (p. 2)
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Year
Time Period
Format
Origin
Gift of Joseph W. Burns
Collection
Location
LGBT-001 Joseph W. Burns Collection