First gay rights demonstration held in Harrisburg, protesting anti-gay legislation introduced into the Pennsylvania legislature in 1977 in reaction to Governor Shapp's executive orders; photo by Bari Weaver; courtesy of the History Project of the LGBT Center of Central PA, Archives and Special Collections, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA. Photo: Bari Weaver

First gay rights demonstration held in Harrisburg, protesting anti-gay legislation introduced into the Pennsylvania legislature in 1977 in reaction to Governor Shapp's executive orders; photo by Bari Weaver; courtesy of the History Project of the LGBT Center of Central PA, Archives and Special Collections, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA. Photo: Bari Weaver

In April of 1975, a groundbreaking event occurred in the fight for gay and lesbian equal rights.

In Pennsylvania, a state not generally known for liberal politics, a courageous and progressive governor, Milton J. Shapp, signed an executive order that banned discrimination in state government.

This was the first state in the nation where a governor had taken such action. It would be another four years before another state would take such a bold move.

In Pennsylvania, activist groups had sprung up throughout the state. Gay activist Mark Segal was active in the Gay Liberation Front in New York (GLF-NY) and gained notoriety as founder of the Gay Raiders, famous for their “zaps.”

As Segal’s visibility and reputation grew, he soon brought his urgent feelings of activism back home to Philadelphia, wanting to make an impact politically.

Segal knew that he had to do something out of the box, so in 1974 he sent a letter to Shapp, requesting a meeting.

“Up until that point,” Segal said in an interview, “no governor anywhere in the nation had met with gay activists. There was not one elected official anywhere that had mentioned gay, lesbian, or homosexual. If anything, if they saw a gay person coming towards them, they would have run the other way.”

Governor Shapp had a reputation for being progressive. His businesslike approach to government, strong sensitivity to the plight of the disadvantaged, along with the overriding conviction that government must serve as an advocate for all people, made him enormously popular.

He was an individual on whom one could take a chance — and that is exactly what Segal did.

To Segal’s surprise, he received a letter and follow-up phone call stating that the governor would be glad to meet with him during a visit to Norristown.

At the meeting, Shapp put Segal completely at ease listening to his story. Instead of asking Segal what he could do for him, he asked Segal what he could do for his cause.

Segal went for the brass ring, saying “Governor, gay men and lesbians are discriminated against in almost every part of the state government.”

Shapp then asked, “How can we change that?”

Segal replied, “Create a commission to explore these problems and find solutions.”

The governor immediately responded: “Let me consider the options and get back to you.”

After the conversation, the governor turned to his assistant and asked that the doors be opened to allow the press corps to enter. He wanted the meeting on record.

Questions were asked of the governor — too many to answer. Shapp said to the press: “We had a good meeting,” adding, “It’s a start.”

Photographs were taken of the governor and Segal. Those were the first photographs of any governor in the United States meeting with a gay activist, and the following morning they were in every newspaper in the state.

Governor Shapp’s decision to meet with Segal was a groundbreaking event. What happened next was even more important.

In late 1974, Shapp convened a task force to study issues of importance to the gay community. Chaired by Terry Dellmuth, Shapp’s Special Assistant for Human Services, and Barry D. Kohn of the Community Advocate Unit in the Department of Justice, the task force was made up of gay activists throughout the Commonwealth.

One of the first requests the gay and lesbian activists made was to ban discrimination in employment on the basis of sexual orientation. Governor Shapp was powerless to do that on behalf of the entire Commonwealth without the state legislature passing legislation. He knew that would be an impossible fight.

As governor, however, he did have administrative control over policies in state government. On April 23, 1975, Governor Shapp made history, by issuing the following landmark executive order:

In furtherance of my commitment to provide leadership in the effort to obtain equal rights for all persons in Pennsylvania, I am committing this administration to work towards ending discrimination against persons solely because of their affectional or sexual preference. Terry Dellmuth, my Special Assistant for Human Services, and Barry Kohn, Directory, Community Advocate Unit, Pennsylvania Department of Justice, are hereby assigned to review and monitor this effort. They will work with state agencies and private groups to further define the problem and make recommendations for further action. State departments and agencies are instructed to fully cooperated within the effort to end this type of discrimination.

With the single stroke of a pen, Governor Shapp signed the first anti-discrimination order for sexual minorities in the nation. No other state or governor had taken such a bold move for gay and lesbian equal rights.

On February 12, 1976, Governor Shapp formalized the task force by issuing another executive order creating the Pennsylvania Council for Sexual Minorities. He ordered each department to appoint a top official to be member of the council along with 18 gay and lesbian activists that he would appoint.

The council immediately started working with the 27 state agencies providing speakers and hosting educational seminars on employee education and hiring practices. The council also issued a policy based on sexual orientation preventing discrimination in hiring, employment, housing, credit, or any related matters to the 27 state agencies.

The council and the governor quickly encountered opposition. State Sen. Thomas M. Nolan (D), Majority Whip Leader, immediately introduced legislation to revoke Shapp’s executive order. This failed to pass.

He continued introducing legislation that would forbid the hiring of people known to be gay for jobs interacting with children, specifically in education.

Nolan introduced Senate Bill 83, which would have denied employment as a policeman, prison guard or in juvenile or mental institutions to anyone convicted of admitting to deviant sexual intercourse as defined by state law. The law passed both houses of the state legislature, but was vetoed by the governor.

The bill was aimed at homosexuals, but could have easily applied to heterosexuals. It also would not have withstood a constitutional challenge if the bill had been passed, since it was in clear violation of the equal protection under laws guaranteed by the 14th amendment.

Not long after the council was created, Ethel D. Allen, the first African-American elected to the Philadelphia City Council, made a special request of the governor, to issue a proclamation in support for gay pride week in June 1976.

The governor did so, and the reaction was swift and vociferous. The state legislature immediately issued a rebuke to his proclamation. A resolution was offered in Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives that put lawmakers on record as oppose to Shapp’s proclamation because it was “contrary to the morality and laws of the Commonwealth.”

Many people found it easier to accept the notion that the governor supported civil rights, but not that he would support gay pride. They saw it as proselytizing or a level of approval that was not appropriate for a governor.

Governor Shapp was outspoken on the issue of gay and lesbian equal rights. The struggle and fight for LGBTQ rights has had many valiant and courageous leaders. Governor Shapp was one of the first political leaders who took a stand, stood by his beliefs, and enacted change that advanced gay rights. He helped pave the way for other individuals and politicians to follow.

Governor Shapp is one of the heroes of the LGBTQ fight for equality.

This article is published as part of the LGBT History Project.