Pennsmen Inc.

This collection was donated by an unidentified donor during a LGBT History Roadshow event in Harrisburg in October of 2019. It includes a t-shirt, a trophy, 4 buttons, and 1 wooden nickel.

The Pride Festival of Central PA is an annual event celebrating the LGBTQ+ community in the Central Pennsylvania region. Founded in 1992, the festival takes place every year on the last Saturday of July in the city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Each July, approximately 5,000 individuals travel to downtown Harrisburg and attend the Pride Festival. It is the largest Pride celebration between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

This is advertisement brochure for Pride 1996, being held at Harrisburg Area Community College in Harrisburg, PA.

Crossroads Magazine was a bi-monthly local LGBTQ+ magazine created, edited, and published by Dr. Eric Selvey. The goal of Crossroads was to bring together the LGBTQ+ community of Central Pennsylvania by creating a space to showcase the efforts and talents of local LGBTQ+ organizations, people, and events, with all articles being voluntary contributions. Crossroads was published from June 1996 – October 1997.

In this Love & Romance Issue: 

• The Pennsmen and All Things Leather
• Moving to and from Harrisburg
• Streisand's Mirrored Talesman
• Gathering What Was Once Theirs
• Photo Essay - FAB '96

Gold Pennsmen Inc. 7th Anniversary Pin.

Bob Deibler discusses his experiences as a member of both the Pennsmen and the Satyr Men, as well as what it was like to be a gay teacher and the surprising lack of discrimination, he faced in his life due to his sexuality. He also talks of his long-time and now deceased Partner Ron Think, who he helped run a popular gift shop and LGBT meeting place, The Bare Wall Gallery.

These materials document several LGBTQ+ bars that operated in the Harrisburg, PA area, namely The Archives Nightclub and Restaurant (1983), La Rose Rouge (1978-1992), Neptune’s Lounge (1972), and the Shadows bar (1980-1984). These items take the form of bar memorabilia, photographs, and video recordings.

This collection also includes trophies, plaques, and buttons highlighting the Harrisburg Hustler’s volleyball team, which Larry Wilson sponsored from 1981-1987. In addition, it includes an anniversary pin from The Pennsmen Inc., an organization for LGBTQ+ individuals with an interest in the leather/rubber/fetish lifestyle and was founded in South Central PA in 1977, and a scrapbook featuring Pennsmen events.

The beginning pages of the Pennsman scrapbook also includes pictures of Benedict A. “Wesley” Trautwein, a drag performer known as Francis Parker. Wesley was a part of the The Jewel Box Revue, a troupe of drag performers who traveled around the country from 1939 to 1969, which made many stops in Pennsylvania. After departing the Revue, he moved back to Harrisburg and continued preforming at local bars and clubs, such as The Neptune Lounge.

Handmade chain vest created by Thomas Pfeiffer for Pennsman Inc.

Two handmade, black leather spats covered in metal studs created by Thomas Pfeiffer for Pennsman Inc.

A black string bolo tie, with a silver, blue and gold clasp with the Pennsmen Inc. logo.

Pin crated for the Pennsman Inc. 

The Pennsmen is a leather and Levi men's group in Central Pa. This item is a round, metal belt buckle with the Pennsmen logo on the front. The Logo consists of a sword pointing into the Harrisburg Capital Dome, cross by two arrows, which are chained together at the bottom, with "Pennsmen" arching over where all three cross.

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: 

• "Market Square arrests prompt action" (pg. 1) 
• "Pennsylvania NOW Lesbian Caucus Update" (pg. 10)
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Twaddle was a member of The Pennsmen, a group of LGBT people with a common interest in the leather/fetish lifestyle, for approximately 12 years. This collection consists of artifacts from his time in The Pennsmen. The artifacts include a Bolo Tie, Belt Buckle, and Pin.

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

• "Gay by Birthright" (p. 1)
• "Switchboard Elections" (p. 4)
• "Co-Director Mr. Buns" (p. 4)
• "1981 Flea Mkts. Nets $125.38" (p. 4)
• "Rabbit - November 14" (p. 5)

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)

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

• "Anniversary Party, April 26" (p. 1)
• "Harrisburg Gay Switchboard Presents 'That Rabbit'" (p. 1)
• "Pennsmen Night" (p. 1)
• "Joann Farr Outstanding" (p. 2)
• "What's going on?" (p. 3)
• "Library Missing Books" (p. 3)
• "February a Record!" (p. 4)

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

• "From the President" (p. 1)
• "Elections" (p. 1)
• "The Closet as Killer" (p. 5)

Calendar of events hosted by Dignity/Central PA in the Winter of 1981/1982.