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.
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
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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)
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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.
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Miss Tina talks about the interplay between gender identity, expression, and sexual orientation on a personal level.
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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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