pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976
Vol. 42 No. 1
Philadelphia FIGHT to start pediatrics program
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Jan. 5-11, 2018
Family Portrait: Dan Vetrano starts the year with a chuckle PAGE 23
HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
Meal Prep 101 for better eating habits in 2018
’Tis the season for all things indoors, any way you look at it PAGE 21
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Trans woman charged 12th Street Gym’s future uncertain under with assaulting firenew owners of building long as it can and still be ecoBy Timothy Cwiek fighter nomically viable,” Baer said. timothy@epgn.com By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com
Kate Lynn Blatt, a trans woman who achieved a landmark civil-rights ruling, was incarcerated last week after an altercation with a Pottsville firefighter. Blatt, 36, faces felony and misdemeanor charges, including aggravated assault, simple assault, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. The incident occurred Dec. 23, after firefighters responded to reports of a fire at a property owned by Blatt. Blatt emphatically denies the charges. She told PGN she acted in self-defense after a Pottsville firefighter touched her breast inappropriately, then other firefighters assaulted her. “They had me pinned to the ground for 20 minutes. One of them put his boot on my head at my neck. Another pushed my head down into dirt. Somebody spit in my hair. Another one reached under my clothing to see if I had a penis.” Pottsville police arrived, placed Blatt under arrest and impounded her vehicle — even though a friend offered to drive it away, she said. Blatt claimes that personal belongings and money subsequently were stolen from her vehicle. Firefighters misgendered Blatt during the incident and police officers failed to give her a Miranda warning, she added. Blatt was denied access to a female section of Schuylkill County Prison during her fourday incarceration. A prison staffer allegedly told her: “You’re not a woman if you have a swinging dick,” according to Blatt. But Blatt said that, to her relief, other inmates treated her kindly, getting her a wool blanket and placing a phone call to her mother at her request. “The prisoners took care of me,” she said. “I had a Christmas miracle.” On Dec. 27, a $25,000 bond was posted, paving the way for Blatt’s release. An arraignment is tentatively set for 9:30 a.m. Jan. 15 at the Schuylkill County Court House in Pottsville, she said. Last year, Blatt received a landmark ruling in her civil-rights suit against Cabela’s Inc. when a federal judge said anti-trans bias is forbidden under the Americans With Disabilities Act. Blatt’s case subsequently was settled for an undisclosed amount of money. n
The fate of 12th Street Gym remained unclear this week as lease negotiations were ongoing with new owners of the building. Located at 202-204 S. 12th St., the gym has been a well-known presence in the Gayborhood for three decades. Advocates say thousands of LGBT people use the facility to stay fit and healthy. But last month, New York-based developer Midwood Management Corp. purchased the building that houses the gym and 25 other tenants. This week, gym co-owner Frank Baer said efforts were underway to establish a longterm lease with Midwood. “These negotiations are very important to us,” Baer told PGN. “They’ll determine the future of the gym. We’re keeping all inter-
A post on the gym’s Facebook page states: “All membership contracts will be honored and we appreciate your patience during this process. We expect to have more specifics for you in the coming weeks.” A spokesperson for Midwood Management Corp. couldn’t be reached for comment. Casarez mural a source of concern
LOUIS ORTIZ SPEAKS AT THE DEDICATION OF THE CASAREZ MURAL ON THE WALL OF 12TH STREET GYM IN OCT. 2015 Photo: Scott A. Drake
ested parties informed. As soon as we get more information, they’ll be notified.” Baer said a sharp increase in property taxes — along with the imposition of code upgrades by
the city’s Department of Licenses and Inspections — have taken a toll on the gym’s financial situation. “We’re doing the best we can to have the gym continue for as
An exterior wall of the building housing the gym displays a mural of Gloria Casarez, a local LGBT icon. Jane Golden, executive director of Mural Arts Philadelphia, said the mural cannot be transferred to another location for reinstallation. She said the mural PAGE 8 was painted
Local lawyer attends Irish senator’s wedding By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com
WATER OF LIFE: Pastor BJ Tillman (left) and the Rev. Jeffrey Haskins share history and libations during the annual Kwanzaa celebration Dec. 30 at William Way LGBT Community Center. The weeklong observance focused on the sixth principle, creativity, as seven poets, writers, singers and musicians shared their original works. Sisters with Hands (far right) were part of the celebratory evening, leading the opening procession and continuing throughout the event. About 50 people braved the frigid temperatures to attend. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Jim Pavlock, a lawyer based in Center City, told PGN about the wedding he attended last weekend. The civil ceremony was between Fine Gael Senator Jerry Buttimer and his long-term partner, Conchobar Ó Laoghaire. “It was one of the nicest ceremonies I have ever attended,” the 59-year-old said. The Dec. 29 ceremony took place at the Triskel Arts Centre in Cork City, Ireland, and the reception was held in the Rochestown Park Hotel in the city. Pavlock met the high-profile Buttimer and Laoghaire at the White Wind Inn in Provincetown about 10 years ago. He said the couple visits his home in Fairmount each year before heading to Provincetown. He also vacations with them in Sitges, Spain. Pavlock wasn’t just a guest at this wedPAGE 7 ding; he also performed