1970-1979

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities."

In this letter, the Rural Gay Caucus encourages members to participate in a "blitz" campaign to show their support for the passage of the bill repealing the "Voluntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse" section of the PA Crime Code.

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.”

In this flier, the Rural Gay Caucus is defined, organizations involved in the Caucus are listed, the statement of purpose provided, and the different committees within the caucus are explained.

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.”

Feedback form created to get community members' opinions on certain issues and involvement opportunities.

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.”

This is an event flyer promoting a Picnic and Garage Sale hosted by the Gay Switchboard of Lancaster.

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.”

This a form used to evaluate Legislators.

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities."

Flow chart of how information spreads for each Legislative Committee section of the PA Rural Gay Caucus.

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.”

In this report, the PA Rural Gay Caucus Legislative Committee and the Governor's Council on Sexual Minorities discus:

• The Telephone Tree
• Updates on the Sodomy Law Repeal
• Fundraising for campaigns of State Legislators 
• Newspaper Clippings discuss the House Resolution againts Governor Shapp's Gay Pride Week Proclomation

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.”

In these meeting minutes, the Education Committee discusses Sam Edmiston's discrimination experience at Bloomsburg University, which then leads the committee to gather information to help change policies pertaining to discrimination against gays on college campuses.

Anthony Silvestre was born in 1946 in the Bronx in New York. He finished his final year of college at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, PA, and then attended Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) as a graduate student.

Silvestre was introduced to gay rights while at Penn State. While there, he became active in an organization called the Homophiles of Penn State (HOPS). He became president of HOPS and subsequently met many of Pennsylvania’s leading activists. He was appointed Chair of the Pennsylvania Council for Sexual Minorities and became a leader in the Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus, which provided a forum for collaboration among numerous groups outside of the cities of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community.

In this report, the Caucus gives the location of the nest meeting in June and gives the meeting minutes from the May meeting. Minutes to note are: 

• discussion of formation of a state wide gay support group
• postive and negative comments of Pride '78
• update on the Human Relations Ordinance in Allentown, PA

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community.

In this report, the Caucus gives the location for the next meeting in April and more information on the Rural Conference.

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community.

In this report, the Caucus discusses the new board that was elected and the progress of the Rural Conference.

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community.

In this report, the Caucus discloses the location of the Rural Conference that they have been planning over the past month.

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ+ community.

In this report, the Caucus mentions the location of the meeting in April and the meeting minutes from March. Minutes to note are:

• The update on PA Senate Bill 83
• The Allentown Human Relations Ordinance
• The PA Rural Gay Caucus sending a letter to the Dade County Coalition for the Humanistic Rights of Gays in supporting their stance against Anita Bryant
• The idea of a gay youth center is raised
• Shippensburg State College passes a non-discrimination clause
• Discussion of reaching out to people of color

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ+ community. In this report, the Caucus mentions the location of the February meeting and provides the meeting minites from the previous January meeting.

Meeting minutes of note are: 

• Deputy State Attorney General addressed the Caucus and discussed the "Sodomy Repeal Bill," as well as the concern about PA Senate Bill 83, which would bar gay or lesbian individuals from certain employment positions
• Report on the Lebanon High School student who committed sucide and how the Caucus Education Committee was to proceed with outreach and support
• Report on the Telephone Tree that was established 
• Discussion of the status of other organizations that are part of the Rural Gay Caucus

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The newsletter was used as outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community. In this report, the Caucus gives the location for the January meeting and provides the meeting minutes from December. Theses minutes include:

• Legislative Committe Report Communications Committee Report 
• Education Committee Report
• Summary of groups that make up the Rural Gay Caucus
• Notice about the Phone Tree that was put together

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The newsletter was used as outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community. In this report, the Caucus provides the location of the December meeting and the minutes from the November meeting.

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The newsletter was used as outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community. Highlights of this report include:

• Plans for Gay Lobby Day
• Dyketactics group protests film "The Snuff"
• Efforts to pass Human Relations Act in Reading, PA

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus is an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities. The newsletter was used as outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community. In this newsletter the PA Rural Gay Caucus metions:

• the withdrawl of Le-Hi-Ho from the Caucus
• the strucutre of the Caucus was disucssed
• elections were held when multiple chairpersons resigned
• the tragic news of a young LGBTQ teenager's suicide

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus is an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities. The newsletter was used as outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community. In this newsletter, the editor describes the purpose of the newsletter and explains how someone could become involved in the Caucus, as well as the different committee they could be involved in.

The newsletter then gives the meeting minutes from the August, which cover:

• the recognition of the in-house Gay Rights Advisory Committee under the Department of Education and the sensitization sessions in the works for upper members of the Pennsylvania Department of Education
• the scheduling of sensativity sessions for student workers at Bloomsburg State College
• an invitation to join the National Coalition of Gay Activities
• follow-up on the responses from senators and representatives about the letter sent to them in July about Gay Pride Week.