In Plain Sight
York's Hidden LGBT History
This Tour is Incomplete!
Until very recently, homosexuality was seen as inherently taboo, and oftentimes stories were either left unrecorded or actively suppressed. As a result this history can be hard to trace. If you or someone you know has documents, photos or other items related to York’s LGBT history please consider contacting the York History Center. If you have stories and memories, consider contacting our archive about giving an oral history. If all you have is a desire to preserve York’s LGBT history, please consider attending our Oral History training. Together we can preserve this important history for generations to come!
Town Tavern
In the 50’s and 60’s, defiance of gender norms was still very much taboo. While attitudes were slowly inching towards acceptance, community was hard to find. Finding a place where a couple could be openly affectionate without fear of harassment was an accomplishment in itself.
The owners of the Town Tavern were not themselves gay, and did not set out to open a gay bar. But they were happy to serve polite, paying customers regardless of their identity. As one regular remembered, “as long as your money was green they didn’t care who you loved- and they wouldn’t tolerate anyone else giving you a hard time about it either.”
Altland's Ranch
1966-2016
Altland’s Ranch was opened as York’s first official gay bar in 1966. From the beginning it was more than just a bar; alongside hosting drag balls and disco parties it was known to lend space out to gay outreach groups, functioning as a sort of community center for a community that often struggled to find space.
As time went on and society became more accepting towards gays and lesbians the demand for a gay bar began to wane. No longer relegated to the edges of society, LGBT people had more freedom to be out in public, regardless of the venue. Altland's remained open for fifty years, distinguishing it as both the oldest and the last gay bar in the county.
14 Karat Room
1985-2001
Opened in 1985, the 14 Karat Room was the second gay bar to open in the county and the first within the city limits. It quickly became known as a safe place to be authentic and open.
At the time, public opinion was hostile towards homosexuality. Something as simple as flirtation could mean losing your job or even risking physical harm. The atmosphere at the 14 Karat was quiet, intimate, safe. Regulars might use the pool table, or join a partner on the tiny dance floor. They might also grab a hot dog and watch Jeopardy, calling out the answers to the questions among people who wouldn’t judge. It wasn't only about finding a party, it was about finding community.
York House Hospice
1990-1995
By the time York House Hospice opened, over 400k cases of AIDs had been reported worldwide- a quarter of them in the United States. York was third in the state for positve AIDs cases. It was founded by Joy Ufema-Counsel who purchased the small brownstone house for a one dollar down payment and kept it going with hard work, donations and love.
York House distinguished itself through its careful attention to detail. Students of Bradley Academy worked closely with Ufema to ensure that the three-bed hospice would be bright and cheerful while serving the unique needs of terminal AIDs patients; cotton sheets to wick away sweat, down comforters to ward off chills; an onsite chef so that they could eat on their own schedule.
Over time, declining infection rates and better treatment options meant that fewer people were dying of AIDs. When Ufema made the decision to close in 1995 it wasn’t because of a lack of funding, but a lack of demand. By that time, 95 patients had made their final passage at Hospice House.
While Hospice House was open, photographer Jack Radcliffe visited regularly to take photos of the patients. Click here to view his gallery. *contains graphic images that may be upsetting for some audiences
The Appell Center
1992, 1993, 1994
In 1992, with little fanfare, the organization York Support Inc held York's First Annual Gay and Lesbian Short Film Festival at The Appell Center (then called the Strand-Capital Theater). The festival boasted two hours worth of locally produced short films. Although press releases were issued, the event wasn't mentioned in newspapers or on the theater's marquis; nevertheless a hundred people attended.
The following year, York Support brought the festival back. This time it was announced in local newspapers, and advertised through fliers circulated around town. Twice as many people showed up to watch-- many of whom were straight. "Invisibility is the gay community's biggest enemy," Randy Blymire wrote in a letter to the York Daily Record. This festival gave young gay and lesbian people a chance to see themselves in media, perhaps for the first time. It also disavowed straight viewers of the stereotype that gay media is necessarily sexual.
Gay York Live, YCAT Studios
1997-1998
In 1997 gay right’s activist Randy Blymire aired the first episode of a new television show, Gay! York! on York’s public access channel, YCAT. Blymire was already known for his activism; he was a regular contributor for the York Daily Record, an outspoken advocate for equal rights, and a leader in several local organizations. In the early nineties he was a driving force behind ordinance 7a, the first piece of legislation which explicitly protected York’s citizens from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
In 1992, in an article about the high rate of suicide among gay and lesbian teeangers, Blymire laments, “ Gay children are not exposed to factual information about gays and lesbians and as a result, they accept all this information as the gospel truth -- long before they begin to recognize their own orientation. It’s easy to understand why gay and lesbian teen-agers often have such a low self-esteem.” It is easy to see Gay! York! as Blymire’s attempt to combat this misinformation. Episodes included segments reviewing movies with gay or lesbian characters, hosted lgbt artists and activists, and discussed serious topics like AIDs and mental health.
Despite gaining popularity among York’s LGBT community, the show drew in its fair share of criticism. In 1998, Blymire aired an episode featuring a brief montage of same-sex kisses from several movies, challenging viewers to “guess the kiss.” This sparked a controversy that led to the show first being moved to a less popular time slot, then pulled from the air completely. It returned in 1999 under a new title, Gay York Live!
Share Your Story!
Have a story to tell? Consider giving an oral history! Send an email to nsmith@yorkhistorycenter.org to learn more!
