History Project Online Exhibits
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    • 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
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    • The Eromin Center/Impact of AIDS
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    • Acknowledgements
  • Stories of Discrimination
    • Hate Crimes >
      • Anita Bryant
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      • 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

History of Gender Identity and Gender Expression in Central PA

Rise of Publications and Organizations

One of the earliest and influential publications that focused on and circulated among people expressing and identing their gender in various ways was Transvestia. This publication, which was based in Los Angeles, California was started by Virginia Prince and her organization the Foundation for Personality Expression in 1960. Both the magazine and the foundation spread across the nation and laid the groundwork for organizations and communities focused on gender identity and expression to be formed. The foundation and Prince can be reproached on their beliefs in other areas of life, such as classism, racism, and other isms, but they are an initiating force in transgender and gender expression history in modern America.

Transvestia stopped being published in the 1980s, but it was soon replaced by regional and organizational based publications. Here in central and eastern PA LadyLike Magazine and Renaissance News started being published in 1987 by the Renaissance Education Association, which later became the Renaissance Transgender Association. The publications at first were in the realm of what its members defined as cross dressing and various other forms of gender expression, which can be gleamed from LadyLike and Renaissance News. However, towards the end of their publication run in the early 2000s a switch occurred within the organization and publications away from gender expression to gender identity, especially dealing with transgender related topics and issues.
LadyLike, Vol. 29, 1197, Front Cover, Boston Public LIbrary
LadyLike, Vol. 29, 1197, Front Cover, Boston Public LIbrary
Renaissance News, Vol. 2 No. 5, 1998, University of Victoria Special Collections
Renaissance News, Vol. 2 No. 5, 1998, University of Victoria Special Collections
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Mara Kiesling talks about the role of early publications in Transgender community. (Audio Only)
Renaissance Education Association was founded around the time when what we know now as Transgender started to take shape and gain traction. Renaissance Education Association was the first major organization focused on supporting those not conforming to societal expectations around gender identity and expression in central PA. It still operates through local chapters such as Lehigh Valley Renaissance and Renaissance of South Eastern PA (ROSE). The organization and its branches have been and continue to be a source of community building, social life, and resource center.
Miss Tina talks about the interplay between gender identity, expression, and sexual orientation on a personal level.
Even though Amanda Porter didn't become a member of Renaissance until 2007, her story still conveys the role it played in many people's lives.
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P.O. Box 5629
Harrisburg, PA 17110

(717) 409-5781
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