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Richard Schlegel

​​The First LGBTQ+ Activist in Central PA

Picture
“Richard Schlegel at a desk in the PA Department of Highways,” circa 1964 LGBT Center of Central PA History Project collection at Dickinson College Archives. Gift of Robert “Bob” Diebler" 1

Richard Schlegel is widely considered the first gay activist in Central Pennsylvania for establishing the Harrisburg chapter of the Janus Society, the first LGBT+ organization in the region. However, his involvement in the Janus Society is just one of his many accomplishments that contribute to the history of early queer activism in Central PA.

Picture
Richard Schlegel at dinner event - circa 1964 LGBT Center of Central PA History Project collection at Dickinson College Archives. Gift of Robert “Bob” Diebler 2
Richard Schlegel was born in Berrysburg, PA (Dauphin County) in 1927. He attended Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) during and immediately after World War II. In 1958, Schlegel went to work for the United States Army in Honolulu, HI, as a civilian employee. After three years, the Army fired Schlegel for his “immoral and indecent conduct,” or more plainly, on the suspicion that Schlegel was homosexual. Schlegel sued the Army and in 1969, the Supreme Court ruled against him in Schlegel v. U.S. (1969).

​For more information go to: https://www.centralpalgbthistory.org/blacklisted.html to learn more about Schlegel v. U.S. and the fight in Central PA against employment discrimination of LGBTQ+ people.

In 1963, Schlegel found a job with the PA Department of Highways, but his ongoing court case kept him connected to the homophile movement and other activists. Schlegel became acquainted with Clark Pollack, President of the Philadelphia chapter of the Janus Society. In 1965, Pollack asked Schlegel to allow Janus Society mail to be sent to Schlegel’s P.O. box in Harrisburg and thus the Harrisburg chapter of the Janus Society was born. 

The Janus Society of Philadelphia published two publications: Janus and Drum. In 1965, Schlegel responded to a letter in Janus using his real name. He signed his name because, in his own words, “I thought I was brazen enough to just stand up and face whatever there was without hiding behind something.” (Oral Interview, 1997)

Although only 25 copies of Janus were distributed in Harrisburg, a post office worker spoke to the Department of Highways about Schlegel’s name in Janus. Schlegel was asked to resign and he did so “voluntarily.” 
Picture
Janus Advertisement in Drum Magazine. Courtesy of LGBT-001, DCA. 3
Picture
Richard Schlegel (far right) at the Bucknell University Seminar for Highway Executives - August 1963. Courtesy of LGBT-081, DCA. 5
Picture
Richard Schlegel at the Pennsylvania Highway Information Association dinner - March 11, 1964 LGBT Center of Central PA History Project collection at Dickinson College Archives. Gift of Robert “Bob” Diebler 4

​Drum Magazine was the successor to Janus magazine, and was edited by Clark Polack. Drum was different in its mission than the “militant respectability” of the Janus Society. It drew its name from the Henry David Thoreau quote from Walden, "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears the beat of a different drummer.” Schlegel wrote for Drum until its shut down in mid-1969, just before Stonewall.
"First of all, why could anyone take exception with the content, the columns and the humor of Drum? It was a very funny magazine. And secondly, he made the decision--it turned out to be a very right decision in terms of commercial and profit making--to put the nudes in. Nobody else had done that.” (Oral Interview with Richard Schlegel, 1993)
Citations 
  1. Richard Schlegel at a desk in the PA Department of Highways, circa 1964, photo, LGBT-081 Robert “Bob” Deibler Collection, LGBT History Project Collection, Archives and Special Collections, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA.
  2. Richard Schlegel at Dinner Event, circa 1964, photo, LGBT-081 Robert “Bob” Deibler Collection, LGBT History Project Collection, Archives and Special Collections, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA.
  3. ​Janus Advertisement in Drum Magazine, photo, LGBT-001 Joseph Burns Collection, LGBT History Project Collection, Archives and Special Collections, Dickinson College, Carlisle PA.
  4. Richard Schlegel at the Pennsylvania Highway Information Association dinner - March 11, 1964, photo, LGBT-081 Robert “Bob” Deibler Collection, LGBT History Project Collection, Archives and Special Collections, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA.
  5. Richard Schlegel (far right) at the Bucknell University Seminar for Highway Executives - August 1963, photo, LGBT-081 Robert “Bob” Deibler Collection, LGBT History Project Collection, Archives and Special Collections, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA.
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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