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  • History of LGBTQ+ Bars in Central PA
    • Bars of the 1950's & 1960's
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    • Harrisburg, PA
    • Lancaster, PA
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    • Bar Spotlights >
      • 400 N. 2nd Street, Harrisburg: Pre-Raids
      • Johnny Kobler's
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      • 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

History of Gender Identity and Gender Expression in Central PA

Medical Classification

​In the United States, many more people know about the American Psychiatric Associations inclusion than removal of homosexuality from its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), with homosexuality in the first edition then removed by the time of the second edition in 1973. Less people know about the American Psychiatric Association’s dealings with gender identity and gender expression.
​Unlike homosexuality, gender identity was never mentioned in the first two editions of DSM. In 1980 with the publication of the third edition, the diagnosis “transsexualism” was included. The term Transsexualism and what it meant was laid out by Dr. Harry Benjamin in his work The Transsexual Phenomenon, 1966. Dr. Benjamin received funding from the Erickson Educational Foundation and Reed Erickson was one of his patients. He advocated the use of hormonal treatments if the person desired it as part of their gender transition. The medical world was becoming increasingly interested in gender identity and how to interact with individuals pursuing gender transition.
Photo of Dr. Harry Benjamin in 1978, World Professional Association for Transgender Health
Photo of Dr. Harry Benjamin in 1978, World Professional Association for Transgender Health
Reed Erickson Collection University of Victoria Special Collections Erickson Educational Foundation Newsletter Information Brochure, Undated
Reed Erickson Collection University of Victoria Special Collections Erickson Educational Foundation Newsletter Information Brochure, Undated
Due to connotations surrounding the phrasing and methods surrounding transsexualism it was revised in each of the subsequent editions of the DSM. In the fourth edition, 1994, it was replaced with gender identity disorder and then in the most recent DSM it was changed to gender dysphoria. From the very beginning, the American Psychiatric Association’s dealings with gender identity met with push back from those who saw its work as harmful in similar ways to the inclusion of homosexuality in the first edition. However, some saw the diagnosis that occur as beneficial and that it is only meant for a small number of transgender peoples. A gender identity disorder diagnosis, before its replacement by gender dysphoria, was necessary in many cases when it came to legally changing names, gender on government identification, and seeking medical treatments. 
​

The medical worlds connection with gender identity and the transgender community is a complicated one. The work funded by Erickson and laid out within the DSM was controversial at the time and still is. Nevertheless, it started the formalizing and acceptance among the medical community of working with those seeking a medical path during their gender transition. 

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Harrisburg, PA 17110

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info@centralpalgbtcenter.org

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  • Home
  • The Long Road
    • Beginning
    • Philadelphia >
      • Philadelphia Part 2
    • Harrisburg
    • Lancaster
    • York
    • Allentown
    • Montgomery >
      • Montgomery Part 2
    • Work Continues >
      • 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
    • Transgender Discrimination
    • Housing and Property Discrimination >
      • Vision of Hope MCC
    • Conclusion
  • We Believe?
    • Early Expereriences >
      • Praying the Gay Away
    • 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
    • Closing >
      • Citations
  • Other Resources
  • History of LGBTQ+ Bars in Central PA
    • Bars of the 1950's & 1960's
    • Bars of the 1970's
    • Bars of the 1980's
    • Bars of the 1990's & 2000's
    • 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