We Believe?
LGBTQ+ Groups: Political Life
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While these groups provided religious and social spaces, they were also political. Jerry Brennan, the founder of Dignity/Central PA, involved the group in advocacy for LGBTQ+ anti-discrimination protections. Steven Leshner said “it was maybe only within a few weeks of my being involved that John and […] Jerry [and I], went to the Capitol to lobby for gay rights.” The AIDs Crisis had a significant effect on both groups, impacting much of MCCs male clergy, such as the founder of MCC Lancaster, Arthur Runyan, who died of AIDs in 1984.
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Graphic from January 1980 Keystone newsletter
Graphic from May 1979 issue of Keystone newsletter
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Dignity members marching with PA Rural Gay Caucus members at the 1976 Philadelphia Gay Pride Parade
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Dignity became the forefront here in Harrisburg area fighting for rights. You know, we talked to our senators. We talked to our mayor.” – John Barns, 2015
By about 1990, I think we [MCC] had lost probably a third of our clergy because they were men, and they […] all died of AIDS.” – Rev. Mary Merriman, 2013
