Brennan, Jerry

This is a photo of Quentin Crisp with three members at Dignity/Central PA's 10th Anniversary Celebration, held on July 20, 1985 at the Excellent Inn in Harrisburg, PA. From left to right: Jerry Brennan, Richard Hause, Quentin Crisp, William Clifford. This picture is found on page 42 of the PDF of the Dignity/Central PA Scrapbook.

Dignity/Central PA is a forum for human concerns, a place of seeking for greater self, knowledge, and wisdom, an affirmation of one's sexual orientation in faith, and personal ministry. This scrapbook was created by Steven Leshner, a member of Dignity/Central PA, and includes mostly photos, unless otherwise noted, of annual picnics, events, and members, like those of founder Jerry Brennan and Father Wallace Sawdy.

This is a photo of Jerry Brennan (right) and two other members at Dignity/Central PA's 10th Anniversary Celebration, held on July 20, 1985 at the Excellent Inn in Harrisburg, PA. This picture is found on page 21 of the PDF of the Dignity/Central PA Scrapbook.

Dignity/Central PA is a forum for human concerns, a place of seeking for greater self, knowledge, and wisdom, an affirmation of one's sexual orientation in faith, and personal ministry. This scrapbook was created by Steven Leshner, a member of Dignity/Central PA, and includes mostly photos, unless otherwise noted, of annual picnics, events, and members, like those of founder Jerry Brennan and Father Wallace Sawdy.

This is a photo of PA Rural Gay Caucus members at the Philadelphia Gay Pride in 1976. Members include Aaron Spicher (with the Dignity Banner), Joe Burns, Richard Hoffman (with GCS Berks Banner), Sam Deetz (turned away from the camera) and Jerry Brennan. This picture is found on page 5 of the PDF of the Dignity/Central PA Scrapbook.

Dignity/Central PA is a forum for human concerns, a place of seeking for greater self, knowledge, and wisdom, an affirmation of one's sexual orientation in faith, and personal ministry. This scrapbook was created by Steven Leshner, a member of Dignity/Central PA, and includes mostly photos, unless otherwise noted, of annual picnics, events, and members, like those of founder Jerry Brennan and Father Wallace Sawdy.

Dignity/Central PA's is a forum for human concerns, a place of seeking for greater self, knowledge, and wisdom, an affirmation of one's sexual orientation in faith, and personal ministry.

This scrapbook was created by Steven Leshner, a member of Dignity/Central PA, and includes mostly photos, unless otherwise noted, of annual picnics, events, and members, like those of founder Jerry Brennan and Father Wallace Sawdy.

Photograph of members of PA Rural Gay Caucus with their banner at the 1976 Philadelphia Gay Pride Parade. Identified members from left to right: Aaron Spicher (with the Dignity Banner), Joe Burns, Richard Hoffman (with GCS Berks Banner), Sam Deetz (turned away from the camera) and Jerry Brennan. Photo by Bari Weaver.

Members of Dignity/Central PA gathering in 1985 at the organization's 10th anniversary celebration, with invited speaker and entertainer Quentin Crisp. Left to right: Jerry Brennan (founder); Richard Hause; Quentin Crisp;William Clifford.

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 May 24, 1978 meeting. Minutes include:

• Update on the ''complaint desk''
• Update on the PA Nurses Association and Liquor Retail Clerks unions
• Update on the Prison Project, specifically on LGBTQ+ Prisoner Sexual Assault
• Update on the Speaker's Bureau
• Update on the group called ''Young Democrats''
• New Projects
• Update on the Executive Order made my Shapp
• State Police Committee Report

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.

This was the agenda and minutes for a September 1978 meeting. The meeting included:

• announcements
• an update on the Gay State-wide Support Network
• updates on Affirmative Action training
• training in the State Police Academy on sexual minorities issues
• disucssion about the Prison Rape Project
• discussion on how the council can support education on Gay Alcoholism

This is an interview with Steven Leshner of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He conveys his struggles of coming out in the 1970s and being a gay man in central PA through a series of anecdotes. Steven also talks extensively about his work at Dignity and his relationship with Jerry Brennan. While Steven was not active in S.C.A.A.N. (South Central Aids Assistance Network), he was involved in a group that later became S.C.A.A.N. Also of note, Steven talks about his first time with a man, life as a male nurse in the 1970s and 80s, growing up Jewish, Jerry Brennan’s death, attending Pride festivals in NYC, and being a single gay man in Harrisburg.

This is a story circle with Barry Loveland, Richard Hause, and Steven Leshner discussing the life and work of Jerry Brennan. They begin with the discussion of Jerry’s childhood religion and his attendance of St. Bernard’s Seminary in Alabama. Barry, Richard, and Steven also discuss Jerry’s charitable works, including being a founding member of Gay Community Services, Gay Switchboard, and finally in the local Dignity chapter. The men attempt to nail down Jerry’s personal life, from childhood to adulthood, although since he rarely talked about it they are only able to piece together clues from the time they knew him. They also discuss Jerry’s social activism and involvement in both the Black Civil Rights Movement and the local gay community. Barry, Richard, and Steven go off on a pleasant tangent discussing comedians and speakers that Jerry had come to Harrisburg. The men finish reminiscing about Jerry by discussing what little they knew about his love life.

Dignity/Central PA Tenth Anniversary Dinner Celebration event timeline with names of guest speakers.

Program of 10 year anniversary celebration of Dignity/Central PA. The program summarizes the history of the organization, its services, supporters, and affiliations.

Document created by Jerry Brennan and Richard Hill recording the history and development of Dignity/Central PA as an organization in Harrisburg from July 1975 to June 1985. 

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

Mass of Thanksgiving Bulletin to celebrate six years of Dignity/Central PA being an organization. Bulletin contains mass events and outline.

Calendar of events hosted by Dignity/Central PA during the Summer of 1981.

Calendar of events hosted by Dignity/Central PA for Winter of 1980/1981.

Calendar of events hosted by Dignity/Central PA for the Fall of 1980.

Calendar of events hosted by Diginity/Central PA during the summer of 1980.

Calendar of events hosted by Dignity/Central PA during the Spring of 1980.

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

• Father John McNeill 
• Think About: On Going Home

Calendar of events hosted by Dignity/Central PA during the fall of 1979.

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

• Letter from President (p.2)
• Special Announcements (p.3)

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)

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

• "From the President" (p. 1)
• "Keystone Gay Library" (p. 3)