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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

Rise of Publications and Organizations

One of the earliest and influential publications that focused on and circulated among people expressing and identifying 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
Picture
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 Hecker (formerly 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

© 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