A winter with no discontent
Family Portrait: John Cibenko, nurse on a mission
Morris advocates continue call for state investigation
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Jan. 3-9, 2014
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Vol. 38 No. 1
Person of the Year: D. Bruce Hanes This past summer, 174 same-sex couples were granted marriage licenses in Montgomery County, the first time that such licenses were ever issued in the state of Pennsylvania. The couples, and the rest of the community, largely had one man to thank: D. Bruce Hanes. Hanes is the Montgomery County Register of Wills whose decision to grant licenses to same-sex couples made national headlines and sparked an ongoing lawsuit. While the legal impact of his decision will play out in the courts over the coming months, Hanes’ gutsy move has already fueled new waves of discussion and debate about the constitutional issues involved in prohibiting same-
sex couples from marrying — and has given new hope to Pennsylvania couples seeking full equality in the Keystone State.
Coming to the decision Hanes, 66, is a native of New Orleans who has lived in Montgomery County for more than four decades. He and his wife of 42 years, Rosemary, live in Elkins Park and have two adult daughters. Hanes attained his law degree from Temple University and taught real-estate law there, as well as served as assistant attorney general for the state Department of Justice, before entering private practice.
Rosemary said Hanes has been active in politics since moving to the area, serving as a committeeperson and later co-chair for Cheltenham Township, experiences that inspired him to seek public office. He made two unsuccessful bids for countywide office before being elected in 2007 as Montgomery County’s Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans’ Court, the first Democrat to ever be elected to the office, and one of five Dems that year who shook up the longheld Republican-controlled Montgomery County government. Hanes was reelected in 2011. Rosemary said her husband’s six years in office were relatively without controversy.
But that all changed this past summer. I n J u l y, a f ew weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court found a key portion of the federal ban on same-sex marriage to be unconstitutional, a lesbian couple from Montgomery County approached Hanes’ office to ask if he would issue them a marriage license. The issuing of marriage licenses to same-sex couples, without a state law allowing PAGE 8
Person of the Year runners-ups
Bail reduction denied in Gayborhood attack
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By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com A judge last week refused to lower the bail for a former Voyeur staffer accused of attacking a gay man last month. At a preliminary hearing Dec. 27, Judge Patrick Dugan rejected a request by Julia Theobald, defense attorney for Miguel Maldonado, to reduce the bail for her client. Bail is currently set at $50,000, and Maldonado would need to post 10 percent of that amount to be released. Maldonado, 32, remains incarcerated at the House of Corrections in connection with the Nov. MORRIS (LEFT) AND 10 attack on MALDONADO N i c k F o r t e near Voyeur. His co-defendant, Matthew Morris, 27, posted the requisite $5,000 Dec. 8, the day after their arrest. At last week’s proceeding, Theobald argued that Maldonado, a father of two, was needed at home. Neither defendant was present in the courtroom, but Maldonado’s wife was. Dugan gave no reason for his denial. Both men are charged with aggravated and simple assault, robbery, conspiracy, theft, receiving stolen property PAGE 12
TURNING BACK THE PAGES: Ed Hermance and Arleen Olshan celebrated the 40th anniversary of Giovanni’s Room Dec. 28 at the store. Giovanni’s Room, the nation’s oldest LGBT bookstore, opened its doors in 1973, and Hermance and Olshan took over its operation in 1976. Olshan departed in 1986, and Hermance announced last year that he plans to sell the business and building this winter. About 50 people turned out for the anniversary party, which was complete with champagne and snacks. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Favorite photos of 2013 PAGES 20-21
Psych exam scheduled for alleged Williams killer By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com A man accused of murdering a transgender woman this past summer will undergo a psychiatric evaluation today. At a Dec. 24 hearing, Municipal Court Judge James DeLeon granted a continuance in the case of Charles Sargent and scheduled the defendant for a mental-health evaluation on Jan. 3. An attorney will be present during the evaluation, which will be con-
ducted by an unnamed party. Sargent, 44, is charged with the July murder of transwoman Diamond Williams, as well as with possession of an instrument of crime and abuse of a corpse. At a Dec. 17 preliminary hearing, Sargent’s attorney, J. Michael Farrell, asked Judge Teresa Carr Deni to grant Sargent a psychological evaluation in order to decide if he is competent to stand trial. Farrell did not respond to a request for comment.
Sargent has also been charged with making terroristic threats for allegedly threatening to kill his girlfriend if she contacted law enforcement about his alleged involvement in Williams’ murder and dismemberment. Williams had reportedly gone to Sargent’s Strawberry Mansion home for a sexual encounter. It is unclear what led to her stabbing. Sargent has been held at CurranFromhold Correctional Facility since his July 20 arrest. ■