Long, Harry H.

Harry Long was born in Lebanon, Pennsylvania in 1951 and attended Lebanon High School. After attending Millersville State College, now Millersville University, and becoming involved with an underground newspaper, Harry began his career of working for newspapers; in addition to doing freelance artwork. In the early 1980s, Harry came out publicly as gay. In this interview, he discusses the struggles and joys of his experience affected by his sexuality, throughout his careers. Growing up in a fairly traditional family, it was a “long time coming” to be open about his sexuality to his parents. He discusses the challenges he faced in building up several successful newspapers and the relationships he made being a part of several gay rights organizations. Harry elaborates upon the importance of close friends and navigating through different jobs to find how one can be most accommodating in society. In this interview, Harry also touches on his experiences of being involved in politics and the changes (and similarities) that he has witnessed in Lebanon, Pennsylvania over the years.

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:

• "Gay Prisoners: Should We Care Just Because They're Gay?" (p. 2)
• "Rural Caucus Dissolved" (p. 3) "Defense Department Changes Policy" (p. 7)
• "Rural Resources" (p. 9)
• "Gay Rights Symposium" (p. 13)
• "Gay Issues in New Civil Rights Survey" (p. 18)
• "Gayton (PA) Mayor Swears to God" (p. 20)
• "A.D.A. for Gay Rights" (p. 22)

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)

Letter from Gay Era editors informing readers that the September and October issues will not be availible due to printing issues.

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. This is an anniversary issue. Noteworthy news in this issue includes:

• "State Hiring Regulations" (p.3)
• "Dyke Cooper" (p. 5)
• Rural Caucus Report (p. 7)
• "Shapp and Shrinks" (p. 9)
• "Reading (PA) Items" (p. 9) 
• "Council on Sexual Minorities" (p. 10)
• "Lebanon Items [Gay League of Lebanon]" (p. 11)
• "Pennsylvania Gays - It's Time" (p. 12)