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  • History of LGBTQ+ Bars
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    • Bar Spotlights >
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    • What is the Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus? >
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History of Gender Identity and Gender Expression in Central PA

Expansion of Organizations and Activities

As visibility and empowerment grew in Pennsylvania, it was realized that an entity needed to exist in Washington D.C. to push for gender identity and expression protections and rights at the federal level. Mara Kiesling, a Central PA native and member of Renaissance, stepped up and founded the National Center for Transgender Equality in 2003. The Center became a lobbying group in the nation’s capital urging lawmakers to create laws for the transgender peoples. As the organization developed it became the leading transgender focused advocates at the federal level. The International Bill of Gender Rights now had a speaker in the halls of federal power.
As the years passed, the achievements of the early 2000s were not sustained in the PA state legislature or in D.C. However, the lack of progress legally did not alter the hopes and aspirations of transgender and gender nonconforming individuals in Pennsylvania. In 2007, under the leadership of Jeanine Ruhsam, TransCentral PA was established. It grew out of Renaissance and created an independent entity for the Central PA region that was separate from the more eastern centered Renaissance. TransCentral PA is a non-profit organization that focuses on advocacy, education, and support. The organization holds events, monthly meetings, outreach programs, and provides resources for the transgender community of Central PA. One of their major events is the Keystone Conference.
Jeanine Ruhsam describes the creation of Keystone,
​its growth, purpose, and impacts. (Audio Only) 
The Keystone Conference has become one of the leading conferences focusing on transgender, gender identity, and expression in the United States. It was started by TransCentral PA as a local community event, but it has grown over the years with over 700 people attending in 2019. It primarily focuses on providing education on gender identity and expression topics and providing resources for those within the community. The conference is a prime example of the hard work and dedication of the community within Central PA. Their ability to establish national connections and to continue its growth show its success and appeal.
Central Pennsylvania Pride Festival & Parade, TransCentral Website, Undated
Central Pennsylvania Pride Festival & Parade, TransCentral Website, Undated
Picture
Mara Kiesling talks about the formation of the
National Center for Transgender Equality. (Audio Only)
Mara Kiesling, Photograph, National Center for Transgender Equality Blog, March 26, 2021
Mara Kiesling, Photograph, National Center for Transgender Equality Blog, March 26, 2021
Keystone Conference Brochure, TransCentral PA Digital Library, 2013
Keystone Conference Brochure, TransCentral PA Digital Library, 2013
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P.O. Box 5629
Harrisburg, PA 17110

(717) 409-5781
info@centralpalgbtcenter.org

© COPYRIGHT 2020. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
  • The Long Road
    • Beginning >
      • Early Experiences
    • Philadelphia >
      • Philadelphia Part 2
    • Harrisburg >
      • Harrisburg Experiences
    • Lancaster >
      • Lancaster Experiences
    • York >
      • York Experiences
    • Allentown
    • Montgomery >
      • Montgomery Experiences
      • Montgomery Part 2
    • Work Continues >
      • Current Challenges
    • Acknowledgments
  • With Open Hearts & Open Arms
    • Gay LIfe in Pre-Castro Cuba/Homophobia/What's In a Name? Part 1
    • What's in a Name? Part 1 Continued/UMAP/Mattachine Society
    • Leftist Gays in the US/The Mariel Boatlift
    • The Mariel Boatlift Part 2/Resettlement Camps
    • Resettlement Continued/Press Coverage
    • Immigration/What's In a Name? Part 2
    • LGBTQ+ Organizing
    • The Mariel Generation/Life in PA
    • The Eromin Center/Impact of AIDS
    • AIDS in Cuba/LGBTQ+ Rights in Cuba
    • Acknowledgements
  • Stories of Discrimination
    • Hate Crimes >
      • Anita Bryant
      • Escalating Violence
      • Appalachian Trail
      • Bookstore Bombings
    • Employment Discrimination >
      • Blacklisted
      • "Moral Turpitude"
      • Elected
      • Traumatized and penalized
      • Other Stories of Employment Discrimination
    • Transgender Discrimination >
      • High School Experiences
      • Other Stories of Transgender Discrimination
    • Housing and Property Discrimination >
      • Vision of Hope MCC
    • Conclusion
  • We Believe?
    • Early Expereriences
    • Coming Out
    • LGBTQ+ Groups >
      • Religious Life
      • Social Life
      • Political Life
    • Faith and Identity
    • LGBTQ+ Clergy
    • Responses: Backlash
    • Responses: Acceptance
    • Looking Forward
  • Duty, Honor, Pride
    • Vietnam War Era >
      • Investigations
    • Post-Vietnam Experiences
    • "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Policy >
      • Personal Experiences
      • Criticisms
      • Repeal
    • Closing >
      • Citations
  • History of LGBTQ+ Bars
    • Bars of the 1950s & 1960s
    • Bars of the 1970s
    • Bars of the 1980s
    • Bars of the 1990s & 2000s
    • Harrisburg, PA
    • Lancaster, PA
    • York, PA
    • Bar Spotlights >
      • 400 N. 2nd Street, Harrisburg: Pre-Raids
      • Johnny Kobler's
      • Harrisburg LGBTQ+ Friendly Bars of the 1960s
      • The Neptune Lounge
      • The Strawberry Inn
      • Harrisburg LGBTQ+ Bars of the 1970’s
      • Silhouette/D-Gem
      • Shadows
      • The Archives
      • Harrisburg LGBTQ+ Bars of the 1980’s
      • Harrisburg LGBTQ+ Bars of the 1990/2000’s
      • Village Tavern Night Club
      • Tally-Ho Tavern/ The Loft
      • Railroad House Bar
      • The Fiddler
      • Sundown Lounge
      • Altland’s Ranch
      • Town Tavern
      • 14 Karat Room
  • Gender Identity and Gender Expression
    • Terminology
    • Early Years: Impersonation
    • Entertaining for a Cause
    • Gender During Gay LIberation
    • Medical Classification
    • Rise of Publications and Organizations
    • The 1990s
    • Advocacy and Visibility
    • Expansion of Organizations and Activities >
      • Oral Histories and Photos
    • Where We Are Now
  • LGBTQ+ Art and Artists
    • Jude Sharp
    • Paul Foltz
    • Inspired
    • Aries and the Gay Era
  • The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus
    • What is the Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus? >
      • PA Rural Gay Caucus Education Committee
    • Where were these groups located?
    • Gay Lobby Day
    • Important People
    • Pushback Against Opposition
    • What Happened to the Caucus?
  • Early LGBTQ+ Activism
    • Life Before Stonewall
    • Who's Who?
    • Richard Schlegel
    • Social Organizations
    • Effects of Stonewall on Central PA
    • Political Organizing
    • Rifts in the Movement
    • Read All About It!
  • Coming Out
    • Emily Newberry
    • Joanne Carrol
    • Amanda Hecker
    • Mara Kiesling
    • Maria Warren
    • Shaka Hudson
    • Lindsay Snowden
    • David Payne
    • Dr. Eric Selvy
    • Heidi Notario
    • Tammy de Sol
    • Cindy Lou Mitzel
    • LGBTQ+ Support Groups
  • Out on Campus
    • Acknowledgments
    • Bryn Mawr
    • HBCUs
    • Lafayette College
    • BCCC
    • Penn State
    • UPenn
    • Pitt
    • Lehigh University
    • Shippensburg University
    • HACC
  • Other Resources