We Believe? LGBTQ+ Religious Experiences in Central PA

Some expressed in their oral histories that they did not see a conflict in their religious upbringing and their sexual orientation. For instance, Steven Leshner said he “never really found a conflict” between being gay and being Jewish. Steve Glassman attributed his parents’ progressive thinking to being Jewish, saying it gave them “a sense of empathy for other marginalized and discriminated against groups and also a sense of commitment to social responsibility.”

Many of the earliest LGBTQ+ groups in Central PA were religiously affiliated, such as the Catholic organization Dignity/Central PA, which was founded in 1975 by Jerry Brennan. Two Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) were started in the Central PA area, one in Harrisburg started by Gary Norton in 1980 and one in Lancaster started by Arthur Runyan in 1981. There was also the Friends Lesbian and Gay Concerns, which advocated for LGBTQ+ people within the Quaker community. Martin Rock founded the Brethren and Mennonite Council for Gay Concerns in 1976 to do the same within Mennonite and Church of the Brethren communities.

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.

While these groups provided religious and social spaces, they were also political. Jerry Brennan, the founder of Dignity/Central PA, involved the group in advocacy for LGBTQ+ anti-discrimination protections. Steven Leshner said “it was maybe only within a few weeks of my being involved that John and […] Jerry [and I], went to the Capitol to lobby for gay rights.”