We Believe?
LGBTQ+ Groups: Social Life
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While Dignity, MCC, and other groups were religiously affiliated, they were also important social spaces. They hosted events such as potlucks, discussions, summer picnics at Pine Grove Furnace, and other events throughout the year. Dignity had a volleyball team for many years. Both groups organized bus trips to Gay Pride parades in nearby cities such as New York, Philadelphia, and DC. Both published monthly newsletters informing members of events and masses. Jerry Brennan would write something for every issue of the Keystone, Dignity’s newsletter. Arthur Runyan did the same for Freedom, the combined newsletter of MCC Lancaster and Harrisburg, until he died of AIDS in 1984. Father Sawdy often contributed a “Reflections” column to Dignity’s Keystone. These newsletters also included articles, poems, and stories from members of both local and national chapters of Dignity and MCC. Dignity also published seasonal calendars of events, like the Springtime with Dignity issue to the right.
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Steven Leshner and Richard Hause at DC Pride
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Front page of the 1980 Springtime with Dignity calendar
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Click on a newsletter to enlarge.
Front page of May 1979 Keystone newsletter
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Front page of October 1982 issue of Freedom newsletter
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Front page of September 1979 Keystone newsletter
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Arthur Runyan article on Gay Pride in 1983 issue of Freedom newsletter
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