Welch, Delma

York Area LAMBDA memo in replacement of general meeting minutes for January 17 and February 21 meetings. The memo updates members on the status of the gay rights ordinance proposed by Mayor Althaus to the York City Council. 

York Area LAMBDA, started in the 1990s and originally known as York Support Inc., was an educational, political, and social group for the LGBTQ+ community of York, PA and the surrounding area.

Peg (Stoppard) Welch was born in December 1951 near Chester County, Pennsylvania. Peg was a young mother of two and worked at various jobs until joining Parents Without Partners where she met her second husband, Phil. With his help, Peg was able to graduate from Millersville University with a degree in social work, and later worked at Big Brothers Big Sisters, the United Way, the YWCA, and Planned Parenthood. At the YWCA, Peg met her future wife, Delma Welch. Peg was an active member in York Area Lambda, helped to establish the Lesbian Alliance, and was involved in activism to get LGBT ordinances passed with the York City Human Relations Commission.

Delma Welch was born in Washington D.C. and grew up in Cardiff, Maryland. Delma began going to National Organization for Women (NOW) meetings in 1975 after becoming interested in feminism. After being in a relationship with a man for 23 years, she met her future wife, Peg (Stoppard) Welch, at the YWCA. Today, Peg and Delma live in York, PA.

Delma Welch was born in Washington D.C. and grew up in Cardiff, Maryland as a Catholic with her three brothers and one sister. Delma began going to NOW [National Organization for Women] meetings in 1975 after becoming interested in feminism from an early age. After being in a relationship with a man for 23 years, she met her future wife at the YWCA and ended her marriage. Originally a stay at home mother, Delma has since held several jobs throughout her life, including her current position at the Margaret Moul Home. Today, she lives in York, Pennsylvania with her partner of 25 years, Peg Welch. In this interview, Delma discusses her involvement in many civil rights organizations and marches starting in the 70s, issues with coming out to her family, and marriage to Peg—once in Canada and once more in Pennsylvania, when gay marriage became legalized in the state. She also briefly expresses the importance of lesbian and woman-only spaces and her positive experiences dealing with the legal system as a lesbian woman in a same-sex relationship.