pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976
Vol. 43 No. 2
Jan. 11-17, 2019
COLOURS is making a comeback
HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
Music to listen out for in 2019 PAGE 15
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PAGE 7
With Metcalfe out, does nondiscrimination have a chance?
New Year’s plans for LGBTQ orgs By Adriana Fraser adriana@epgn.com As 2019 begins, local LGBTQ-serving nonprofit organizations have big plans for the upcoming year including celebrating milestones, bolstering community-based programs and services, and changing some leadership roles. A pearl anniversary celebration is on tap for GALAEI this year. The organization will celebrate its 30 years by hosting several community events and fundraising initiatives, said Francisco Cortes, executive director of the LGBTQ Latinx social-justice organization. In February, GALAEI plans to begin its “Loving the Legacy” dinner series, a “fundraising effort where community members host a dinner at their homes with friends and families to learn more about GALAEI and how to support the organization,” Cortes said. “Comradery and families are an essential part of building relationships and at GALAEI. We’re excited to utilize this format to bring community together.” Cortes said the North Philadelphia-based organization also plans to expand its board of directors as well as bringing back its David Acosta Revolutionary Leadership Award gala. The awards ceremony, which will be celebrating its ninth year and will be held in the fall, recognizes influential LGBTQ community leaders. Meanwhile, Philadelphia Family Pride, a volunteer-run, nonprofit group for LGBTQ parents and prospective parents, began the New Year with the introduction of three new board members, said Stephanie Haynes, the organization’s executive director. “Our other plans include hosting another Family Pride Picnic in June, our 10th annual Family Matters Conference in October and restarting the Maybe Baby groups for prospective LGBTQ parents,” she added. The Independence Business Alliance — the LGBTQ chamber of commerce of Greater Philadelphia — has plans to expand its educational and business-development programming for its estimated 200 members. “We’ll continue to do even more in 2019 to collaborate with other regional businesses and LGBTQ PAGE 8
LGBTQ history exhibition opening in Bucks County
By Lenny Cohen PGN Contributor
FAMILY FUN: Philadelphia Family Pride held its annual holiday potluck and membership drive Jan. 5 at Children’s Community School of West Philadelphia. The party is held after the major holidays so it doesn’t conflict with other holiday happenings. In addition to food and drink, there was a craft table for the kids and a silent auction to raise money for the organization. More than 40 families attended; about of them were new. More PFP events can be found on Facebook under Philadelphia Family Pride. Photo: Scott A. Drake
HIV-testing van rolls through Philly By Adriana Fraser adriana@epgn.com A new mobile-testing van is letting Philadelphians take advantage of free HIV testing. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation is making testing and treatment options more accessible with a specially equipped van that makes weekly stops around the city. Gone are the days of secretly slipping into a Planned Parenthood, health clinic or doctor’s office for an HIV test. Since 2012, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation has provided more than one million rapid HIV tests through its mobile-testing van in cities such as San Francisco, New York, and now, Philadelphia. “The van allows us to go to parts of the city that don’t easily offer these services,” said Quincy Greene, a testing counselor at AHF’s Philadelphia location. “We’re doing all we can to make HIV testing and conversations about HIV prevention available to people who don’t live in Center City or don’t often travel downtown.”
AHF, the largest global AIDS organization that services more than 950,000 patients in 41 countries, opened its new healthcare center and pharmacy in Center City in May. Since August, Greene and his mobile-testing-team have issued more than 1,000 free one-minute HIV tests in locations including Woody’s bar in the Gayborhood, Walnut Street, the Frankford Transportation Center, Broad Street, and Snyder and Allegheny avenues. With different sites come different demographics, said PAGE 7
A leadership change in Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives could mean LGBTQ people in the Keystone State will have a renewed chance for protections against discrimination at work, in housing and in business services. The change has Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-12th Dist.) out as chairman of the Pennsylvania House State Government Committee after eight years. As chairman, Metcalfe was able to prevent pro-LGBTQ bills from getting voted on in his committee and to keep such bills from making their way to the House floor. Metcalfe was re-assigned to a new committee by House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-28th Dist.) on Jan. 2. T h e n ew c h a i r m a n o f t h e S t a t e Government Committee, Rep. Garth Everett (R-84th Dist.), told PGN, “We reassign chairmanships at the start of each term. A number of senior chairpersons retired, so Chairman Metcalfe requested to move to Environment and Energy, and I requested State Government.” One of the most important bills Metcalfe had stopped from moving forward for a vote was the Pennsylvania Fairness Act, which would add sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression to the state’s nondiscrimination law, originally written in 1955. The law as it exists covers race, religion, ancestry, age, sex, national origin and disability. Pennsylvania is the only state in the Northeast without such a law protecting the LGBTQ community. Everett, the government committee’s new chairman, said he was just getting organized in his new role and hopes to look into the issue of the Fairness Act in February. Until that happens, Pennsylvania will continue to have a patchwork of legal protections for LGBTQ people rather than a uniform anti-discrimination law. PGN reported in July that at least 50 PAGE 8
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 11-17, 2019
Resource listings Legal resources • ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215-592-1513; aclupa.org • AIDS Law Project of PA: 215-587-9377; aidslawpa.org • AIDS Law Project of South Jersey: 856-784-8532; aidslawsnj.org/ • Equality PA: equalitypa. org; 215-731-1447
• Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations — Rue Landau: 215-686-4670 • Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 215-7603686; ppd.lgbt@gmail.com • SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: 717-920-9537
• Office of LGBT Affairs — Amber Hikes: 215-686-0330; amber.hikes@phila.gov
Community centers • The Attic Youth Center; 255 S. 16th St.; 215-545-4331, atticyouthcenter.org. For LGBT and questioning youth and their friends and allies. • LGBT Center at the University of Pennsylvania; 3907 Spruce
St.; 215-898-5044, center@dolphin.upenn.edu.
• Rainbow Room: Bucks County’s LGBTQ and Allies Youth Center
Salem UCC Education Building, 181 E. Court St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981 ext. 9065, rainbowroom@ppbucks.org.
• William Way LGBT Community Center 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220, www.waygay.org.
Health and HIV testing • Action Wellness: 1216 Arch St.; 215981-0088, actionwellness.org • AIDS Healthcare Foundation: 1211 Chestnut St. #405 215971-2804; HIVcare.org • AIDS Library: 1233 Locust St.; aidslibrary.org/ • AIDS Treatment Fact line: 800-6626080 • Bebashi-Transition to Hope: 1235
Sales Representative at PGN
Spring Garden St.; 215769-3561; bebashi.org • COLOURS: coloursorganization.org, 215832-0100 • Congreso de Latinos Unidos; 216 W. Somerset St.; 215-7638870 • GALAEI: 149 W. Susquehanna Ave.; 267-457-3912, galaei. org. Spanish/English • Health Center No. 2: 1720 S. Broad St.; 215-685-1821
• Mazzoni Center: 1348 Bainbridge St.; 215-563-0652, mazzonicenter.org • Philadelphia FIGHT: 1233 Locust St.; 215-985-4448, fight.org • Washington West Project of Mazzoni Center: 1201 Locust St.; 215985-9206 • Transgender Health Action Coalition: 215-732-1207
Philadelphia Gay News (PGN) currently has immediate opening for advertising sales position available for an energetic, self-motivated individual with outstanding communication skills. Our ideal candidate must have polished sales skills with experience in lead generation and cold calling, combined with a track record of closing the sale. Qualifications: * Two years minimum of successful sales experience, former print and/or advertising sales are a plus * Strong verbal and writing skills * Excellent at relationship building * Ability to work independently and part of a team * Knowledge of local media market and LGBT community a plus * Computer literacy a must Salary/Benefits: Competitive Salary based on your past experience, plus commission. Our benefits package includes medical and dental insurance, paid holidays, vacation and a casual work environment. Qualified individuals interested in applying are encouraged to send their résumé. to mark@epgn.com
Other • Independence Branch Library Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection: 215-685-1633 • Independence Business Alliance; 215-557-0190, IndependenceBusinessAlliance.com
• LGBT Peer Counseling Services: 215-732-TALK • PFLAG: Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): 215-572-1833 • Philly Pride Presents: 215-875-9288
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COLOURS’ community comeback By Adriana Fraser adriana@epgn.com After two years of leadership changes, relocation to a new space and unfounded rumors of financial difficulties, the COLOURS Organization started 2019 with a new goal in mind: A reintroduction to the community. The health-services organization that provides free HIV testing among other services is bringing back its “community presence” with new programming and events for the New Year, said COLOURS staffer Jaurez Crosby. “This year, COLOURS is making more of a concerted effort to host more community events. We’re trying to get the organization back into the community with a strong presence,” Crosby said.
The organization has lurched from crisis to crisis over the last decade. COLOURS began as a social-justice magazine in 1991 that addressed issues of importance for black LGBTQ people. Dorena Kearney, who headed COLOURS from 200107, was indicted in 2009 for embezzling more than $130,000 from the organization. Her successor, Robert K. Burns, died suddenly at the end of 2011, and then Lawrence “Fuzzy” Frasier, the executive director who followed him, died in 2014. The organization shuffled through leaders before Damon Humes was named aexecutive director in 2017. “We need to be as transparent as possible as an organization about the challenges we face,” Humes told PGN last May while refuting unfounded allegations that surfaced on social media that the organization lost its primary funding from the Philadelphia Department of Health. James Garrow, the city’s director of digital public health, told PGN at the time that the allegations were false, saying “we continue to fund COLOURS to provide access to HIV testing, linkage to HIV medical care
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and referrals and support for individuals seeking PrEP.” After a year of organizational rebuilding, COLOURS has rolled out new programs and services that will “reestablish that we’re for the community and about the community,” Crosby said. As its first step, COLOURS unveiled its new computer lounge in December. The space is outfitted with three new desktop computers and a printer/fax machine. Anyone can utilize the center to explore employment opportunities, work with staff to update resumes and cover letters and access information on HIV-prevention methods and treatment options. The nonprofit will also start its biweekly movie nights beginning Jan. 15. COLOURS will screen LGBT movies and discussion sessions every first and third Tuesday of the month. The organization is also reviving its vogue group starting Jan. 24. LGBTQ youth are invited to compete in ballroom runway category-competitions every second and fourth Thursday at the Bodies in Motion Dance Studio, 1000 Diamond St. COLOURS once played a major role in the ballroom community in Philadelphia, said Crosby. “We’re looking to bring that back and engage with more members of the ballroom houses here in the city,” Crosby said. COLOURS will be offering free tickets to the 24th annual Dorian Corey Awards Ball, held on Feb. 2, for anyone who gets HIV tested at the organization through Feb. 18. Community members can get tested at COLOURS from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at its location on 1211 Chestnut St. The ball is being held in honor of ballroom legend Dorian Corey, a drag-queen performer and fashion designer featured in the 1990 documentary “Paris is Burning.” The organization will also be providing free clothing, hygiene products and specialized programs for the transgender community with its new trans group, scheduled to launch later this year. COLOURS’ programs include rapid HIV testing, STI screenings, support groups, sexual-health counseling, access to PrEP and wellness-navigation services for men of color who have sex with men and are at high risk of acquiring HIV. The organization also participates in community-outreach events, providing low-income neighborhoods in the city with free HIV/STI testing and educational resources on HIV/ AIDS prevention-methods. n
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titis-C by sharing needles with someone who didn’t disclose Roberta Gallaway, another his status and said she was testing counselor at AHF. In afraid of having HIV. many locations in Center City, “I saw the truck parked outAHF prioritizes identifying side the [Frankford] terminal new cases of HIV in men who and thought it would be best have sex with men (MSM). to get checked out,” she said. “Downtown is where so The 55-year-old said she many people who are posihad unprotected sex with tive congregate because all strangers and still actively of the services are downtown shares needles during her and we’ve seen that there’s drug use. After gentle coaxless stigma attached to HIVing from testing counselor positive people as opposed to Greene about the importance people living in other parts of of knowing her status, she the city,” Gallaway said. stepped into the van to receive This year, Greene said he testing. After six minutes, she and his mobile team are workexited with a negative HIV ing to get at least five more QUINCY GREENE (LEFT) AND ROBERTA GALLAWAY Photo: Adriana Fraser status and a referral for hepsites approved for testing. atitis C treatment at AHF’s The van, which has two consaid during a recent weekly stop for testfidential testing rooms, is parked outside of ing outside the Frankford Transportation pharmacy. Fredrick Micicki, 24, also received an the pre-approved testing sites for three to Center. four hours a day. Participants must sign a The city has a seen a surge in new HIV HIV test at the Frankford site. He said the consent waiver before they are tested. Two cases found in IV drug users. CHART — the last time he was tested was in jail a year testing counselors are available on-site to health department’s monthly publication on ago, and he felt it was time to get another administer the one-minute tests, and partic- underreported health issues in Philadelphia check up. “It’s convenient to have the truck here ipants are asked 33 survey questions based — cited 46 newly diagnosed cases of HIV on their lifestyles. The process takes up to among people who inject drugs between offering free tests. I don’t have a job and five minutes. August 2017 to August 2018. That rep- getting money to get to some of these An average of 25 people are tested for resented a 48 percent increase compared places is not always easy. Getting this card free at each site, Greene said. Those who with the 31 cases found in the previous that says I’m HIV-negative is so empowerare tested can also be referred to treatment 12 months. Fifty-seven percent of the new ing,” he said. Along with confirmation of his negative services at AHF’s pharmacy. HIV, non-AIDS diagnoses among people Greene regularly submits proposals to the who inject drugs were also infected with status, Micicki also received a referral for PrEP after disclosing to his tester that he city’s health department to target areas that hepatitis-C. have large populations of MSM or intrave“Through the mobile unit, we have iden- frequently engages in unprotected sex and nous drug users. tified at least a dozen people who have occasional heroin use. Greene said he makes it a point to have “We can’t test wherever we want. Based contracted HIV,” Greene said. “We’re on epidemiological data, we have to show if approaching mobile testing as they do it conversations with the people he tests the area has a high prevalence rate of HIV around the country — which is stop and go. beyond asking the routine survey questions. “You never know how much you’re and if we can reach our targeted demo- In Philly, you have to get the sites approved graphic,” Greene said. throughout the week and then you can go able to impact someone during that time. In locations such as Frankford, the tar- to that site, but only on that approved day.” I like to dive deeper into people’s actions geted demographic is intravenous drug users. One mobile-testing participant, who and decisions when it comes to why they “You can see how opioids have taken requested anonymity, said she was scared engage in risky behavior,” he said. “There over, especially in the Frankford area. HIV to know her status. She spent 14 years bat- are real people and real stories behind the and hepatitis-C rates have spiked because tling drug addiction — first with heroin and data we collect and the statistics we see.” n of the mode of transmission,” Gallaway now fentanyl. She already contracted hepaAHF from page 1
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Learn about local LGBTQ history at new exhibition By Adriana Fraser adriana@epgn.com A new exhibition, set to debut next week in Bensalem, will explore five decades of LGBTQ history in Pennsylvania as a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. L G B T Q n o n p r o fi t N ew H o p e Celebrates will run “Equality: Pride in Our History” Jan. 13 through Mar. 23 at the Bucks County Visitor Center in Bensalem. The exhibition will feature a collection of stories, photos and memorabilia from LGBTQ people living in New Hope and surrounding areas. It is free and open to the public daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The equality exhibition will commemorate the Stonewall Riots in New York City, which served as a catalyst for the gay-rights movement in the United States and around the world. The fivepanel, freestanding display follows the progression of LGBTQ history throughout Pennsylvania starting in the 1960s until now. “While progress in equal rights and status has been significant in the LGBTQ community, it is important to recognize who — nationally, statewide and locally — has worked diligently through the decades to pave the way,” said Daniel Brooks, founder of New Hope Celebrates. The exhibition is an extension of New Hope Celebrates History, an interactive website where people can contribute their photographs and stories to be archived and preserved. n
If you live in or are visiting Bucks County you can find a copy of PGN at these convenient locations: Bristol • Bristol News World, 576B Bristol Pike • Doylestown • Doylestown Bookshop, 16 S. Main St. • Siren Records, 25 E. State St. Levittown • Levitt Books, 7406 Bristol Pike • New Hope • Cornerstone Gym, 322 W. Bridge St. • Havana, 105 S. Main St. • John & Peters Place, 96 S. Main St. • Karla’s Restaurant, 5 W. Mechanic St. • La Chateau Exotique, 31A W. Mechanic St.• New Hope Lodge, 400 W. Bridge St. • Raven, 385 W. Bridge St. • St. Philips Church, 10 Chapel Road • Triumph Brewing Co., 400 Union Square Drive • Wishing Well B&B, 144 Old York Road •Newtown • Bucks Co. Community College, 275 Swamp Road • Quakertown • Adult World, 880 S. West End Blvd. • Warminster • Planned Parenthood of Bucks Co., 610 Louis Dr
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 11-17, 2019
METCALFE from page 1
municipalities in Pennsylvania have enacted LGBTQ ordinances on their own. They include Philadelphia, Norristown, Ambler, West Conshohocken, Hatboro, Plymouth, and locally within the past month, Lansdale Borough and Newtown Township. “I believe that citizens deserve a government that is transparent and makes use of taxpayer dollars with frugality,” Everett said in a statement released Jan. 2. “I’m excited and thankful to be given this opportunity to head an important House committee that is largely responsible for holding government agencies accountable and keeping them transparent for the public,” added Everett, who previously served on the Appropriations, Environmental Resources and Energy, Game and Fisheries, and Judiciary committees. The change in committee chairman alone in no way means the passage of the Fairness Act is a sure thing. Rep. Christopher Rabb (D-200th Dist.) said getting the act passed could be harder than the numbers show because most of the new Democrats who turned seats over in November’s election defeated moderate Republicans. “The significant gains Democrats made in November represent a bittersweet victory,” Rabb said. “While we’re only nine seats away from regaining the majority, we’re also left with a far more right-wing Republican caucus.” The change, however, has been welcome news to several of Metcalfe’s colleagues. “Rep. Metcalfe was being an obstructionist within his own committee, not including the minority party, not even letting the party be heard,” said committee member Rep. Donna Bullock (D-195th Dist.). As for Metcalfe’s replacement, Bullock hopes Everett will be more bipartisan and fair. PGN reached out to Metcalfe and Turzai for this article, but neither responded. Metcalfe himself has discussed his own obstructionism, like in posts on his Facebook page in the spring about “not allowing Democrat (sic) bills to run through my Republican Majority committee” and “I block all substantive Democrat legislation sent to my committee.” In the latter Facebook post from April, he referred to “liberal loser Democrat legislators on my committee,” calling Rep. Brian Sims (D-182nd Dist.) a “lying homosex-
2019 from page 1
organizations,” said Zach Wilcha, IBA’s executive director. “After hosting the NGLCC’s International Business and Leadership Conference in Philadelphia last summer and helping to bring in millions of dollars of economic impact to the city, we plan to concentrate on building more infrastructure to the IBA.” The William Way LGBT Community Center is continuing its renovation plans that began in December with the installment of 24 new windows on the center’s façade, according to Chris Bartlett, the center’s executive director. “We’re continuing our renovations with work on creating an accessible entrance
LOCAL PGN
ual” and describing Rep. Matthew Bradford (D-70th Dist.) as “constant touchy-feely.” Fellow committee member Rep. Jared Solomon (D-202nd Dist.) made it clear how he feels about the leadership change: “I think it’s fantastic he’s not on State Government.” Solomon said he doesn’t know Everett well, but is “looking forward to working with him” and is optimistic Everett will work in a bipartisan manner, taking up the issue of LGBTQ protections. Last year, PGN reported that Rep. Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny County) reintroduced the Pennsylvania Fairness Act, but it was referred to the “consistently anti-LGBT Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler), who also prevented the bill from moving forward in the past. The bill has yet to receive a full vote due to Metcalfe’s — likely false — belief that it would not receive support.” Besides consistently voting against
Name: House district: Area served: Elected to House: Background:
Work experience:
time opponent of LGBT rights, responded with insinuations about Bradford’s sexual orientation and affirmations of his heterosexuality. “‘I’m a heterosexual,’ Metcalfe responded at the time after Bradford touched his arm. ‘I have a wife. I love my wife. I don’t like men, as you might, so stop touching me all the time. Keep your hands to yourself. If you want to touch somebody, you have people on your side of the aisle that might like it. I don’t.’ Bradford, who is married to a woman and has four kids, laughed off the comments. “‘We are officially off the rails,’ Bradford said at the meeting. ‘My intent was just to beg for your permission for about 30 seconds.’” Bradford told PGN that he was “disgusted and appalled” by Metcalfe’s remarks. “Those comments are never acceptable and completely beyond the pale,’ Bradford
University in 1976. After that, he spent more than 20 years in the Air Force. When he retired, he attended and graduated from Penn State’s Dickinson School of Law in 2000. Between graduation and his election, Everett practiced law and served as the solicitor for many townships, boroughs, school districts and municipal authorities in his area. There should be 203 House members serving two-year terms. For this 2019-2020 session, only 201 were elected in November. Of them, 110 are Republicans and 91 are Democrats. In the previous session, there were 121 Republicans and 82 Democrats in the House, so it seems Democrats made a net gain of 11 seats, at least for now. Special elections are set to be held March 12 for two vacant seats: Philadelphia’s 190th District and Lackawanna County’s 114th District. The 190th District elected
Rep. Garth Everett (R) 84 Parts of Lycoming and Union counties surrounding Williamsport 2007 Penn State University, 1976 20 years in the Air Force Penn State Dickinson School of Law, 2000
Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R) 12 Part of Butler County, about 20 miles north of Pittsburgh 1999 Four years in the Army Attended Kansas State University
Solicitor and private-practice lawyer
14 years as electronic technician for Magnavox, field engineer for DuPont/ Dade Behring
LGBTQ interests, Metcalfe held a homophobic tirade during a committee session in late 2017. PGN reported the next day: “On Tuesday, state Rep. Matt Bradford (D-Montgomery County) touched Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler County) briefly on the arm in what Bradford later described as a plea for more time to discuss a vote on a bill related to eminent domain and roads. Metcalfe, a long-
said. An entire Metcalfe Facebook post from November contained just one sentence: “Our nation is in dire straits due to the cultural war that is devouring the moral fabric of our country.” Everett, Metcalfe’s replacement as chairman, has been a member of the House since 2007. He graduated from Montoursville Area High School in 1972 and Penn State
Vanessa Lowery Brown (D), but she was convicted of a bribery charge in October and not eligible to serve, according to the Committee of Seventy. That district, mostly in West Philadelphia, includes Belmont, Carroll Park, Cathedral Park, Mill Creek, Haddington, East Parkside, West Powelton, Allegheny West and Lehigh West. The General Assembly is scheduled to reconvene Tuesday, Jan. 15. n
off of Irving Street, new HVAC systems and a new reading room for our archives,” Bartlett said. “The center will also be creating a new transgender-resource center on the building’s fourth floor.” The money raised at the center’s annual fundraising gala, the Indigo Ball, along with donations, helped pay for the center’s renovations, Bartlett said. He added that William Way also hopes to expand its senior services and add a nutrition program in the coming months. Bebashi-Transition to Hope plans to reinvigorate Club 1509, its navigation-services program for high-risk men who have sex with men. The HYPE Program, will provides HIV-prevention
services such as free and confidential screenings. The organization is also working towards more involvement in the ballroom scene with its monthly “kiki lounge,” said Brenda Alexander, Bebashi’s communications specialist. “The lounge attracts an average of 150 attendees who battle for prizes and other incentives, similar to a traditional ball. We also have a trainer program where we train [ballroom] house leaders on HIVprevention methods and PrEP,” she said. In Allentown, the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center started off the New Year with a new chair and vice chair of its board of directors, along with three
new members. This month, the center unveiled six new programs that include a medical-marijuana enrollment-assistance program, an LGBT spirituality-discussion mini-series, a community book-discussion group and its “Dead & Alive: Floral Photography by Richard Begbie and Will Hübscher” fine-art exhibit. The center recently received a $10,000 grant from the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation to fund its programs. “We’re already off to a great start to the year and we’re looking to continue our work of being a fundamental resource for the LGBT community in the Lehigh Valley,” said executive director Adrian Shanker. n
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 11-17, 2019
EDITORIAL PGN EDITORIAL
Creep of the Week
D’Anne Witkowski
MassResistance
Editorial
The long arc of equal-rights history In the years after the Civil War and the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment that freed slaves, Congress debated the status of the black population. While freed slaves were not granted the right to vote until the Fifteenth Amendment, they would each be counted as whole people rather than five slaves being counted as three people, as outlined in the Constitution. This demographic shift signaled that proportional representation in the House of Representatives would lean further Democratic in the southern states given that the entire black population would now be counted. Thus, undoing that advantage became a priority for Republicans. Unlike today when voter suppression happens under our noses, the goal in the 1860s was to enfranchise freed slaves and court their vote. The Civil Rights Act of 1866 guaranteed protections for all, regardless of race. President Andrew Johnson vetoed it on the grounds that it discriminated against whites in favor of blacks. It was overridden and became law anyway, and the tiniest seed of equality in this country was planted. Republicans worried the new law would be overturned based on the whims of politics and ruling majorities, and sought to entrench the measure within the Constitution. In June 1866, the Fourteenth Amendment was born. Within section one is the following provision: “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” While most of the southern states opposed the amendment, Pennsylvania ratified it in February 1867. Which basically means that the Pennsylvania of 1867 was arguably more progressive than the Pennsylvania of 2019. The commonwealth still does not have equal protections, despite section one of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Fairness Act, which would expand existing nondiscrimination provisions in employment, housing and other areas to include sexual orientation and gender identity, languishes in committee. Daryl Metcalfe was the chairman of the House State Government Committee who kept the bill stalled along with any other Democratic legislation. Now that he’s gone, which we cover on page one, there is hope. But how much? It’s a Republican-majority assembly in Harrisburg and there is much work to be done. What we know is that the business of equal protections is at least 153 years overdue. n
imagination and play of the gender fluidJust about all LGBTQ people have a ity of childhood and gives kids glamorous, story about something that confirmed for positive and unabashedly queer role modthem that they were LGBTQ. For me, it was Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman. That els,” the library’s website reads. “In spaces like this, kids are able to see people who is, you might say, my root. For the next generation of LGBTQ folks, defy rigid gender restrictions and imagine a world where people can present as they their root will be Drag Queen Storytime at wish, where dress-up is real.” their local library. Now, to me, this sounds amazing. But A whole host of kids who would have to the hateful folks at MassResistance, it otherwise been 100 percent heterosexual sounds downright apocalyptic. and have a rigidly traditional masculine or “Drag Queen Story Hour is nothing feminine gender identity that matches 100 more than a subtle push of the harmful percent with their genitals will now grow and immoral LGBT ideas,” MR warns in up to be some variety of gender-noncona poorly written message. “This agenda is forming homo. Ugh, and they’ll probably anti-family, anti-life, anti-biology, and it is love books and reading, too. coming for your children!” Thankfully, a group that calls itself That doesn’t appear to bother the parents MassResistance is rising from the depths to who bring their kids to the Storytime. As defeat the drag-queen, story-hour menace and make sure children are trained up to be one parent told the local news about his 2and 3-year-olds, “We just wanted them to bigots just like them. have these early memories of experiencing Yes, I used the “B” word, which I know diversity as a social norm.” MassResistance would take offense to. MassResistance believes that this parent As the group writes on its website, “It’s is committing child abuse. Its members becoming common for the media or leftalso have no idea what the difference is wing public officials to attempt to marginbetween being transgender and drag-queen alize any group of people who oppose the liberal agenda and support religious values performance. They are very confused. In an email to the library, MR by publicly calling them a ‘hate group.’” Well, I call MassResistance a hate group. Organization Director Arthur Schaper wrote, “The very idea of allowing adult, And I’d love to attend a Drag Queen perverse entertainStorytime. ment into a public MassResistance’s “Drag Queen Story Hour is library and offering latest focus is on nothing more than a subtle it to preschoolers — Michigan, my it is beyond outrahome state, where push of the harmful and geous.” they are forming a immoral LGBT ideas. This I’d have to agree, chapter. And MR if that’s what was has a pretty interagenda is anti-family, antihappening. Drag esting view of how life, anti-biology, and it is shows can definitely LGBTQ-friendly get pretty raunchy. Michigan is. coming for your children!” But this isn’t a drag “The LGBT show. This is a permovement has son in a costume reading a kids’ book to been plowing ahead at the local level, and kids. even the state level, in Michigan,” the MR In a local news story about the library website reads. “Republican Party memevent, there is a photo of a child with fairly bers have developed a pro-gay attitude long hair who is wearing pajamas with and even reach out to ‘gay’ groups, we’ve footballs on them. No doubt someone is been told. Sadly, this even includes former Michigan GOP chair and current Secretary holding this picture up at a MassResistance chapter meeting screaming, “Is this a boy of Education Betsy DeVos.” or a girl? How can we know for sure? So Michigan Republicans are on some CURSE YOU DRAG QUEENS!” kind of pro-equality mission? I’ve lived in And hey, I didn’t even know that there Michigan my whole life and I can tell you was a Drag Queen Storytime at a library that the GOP isn’t pro-LGBTQ, and Betsy DeVos sure isn’t leading any Pride parades. near me, so I thank MR for letting me know. My son’s a little too old for it, but “Thankfully,” the MR website continyou can bet your Mass that we’re going to ues, “Michigan pro-family activists have be at the next one. held back most of these changes, but as is Because you know what’s a real drag? happening across the country, the homosexual-transgender ideology is still making Hatred and illiteracy. Drag queens reading to kids combats both. n headway on the Wolverine State.” Case in point: Mass Resistance’s first tarD’Anne Witkowski is a poet, writer and comedian get: shutting down Drag Queen Storytime living in Michigan with her wife and son. She has been at the Huntington Woods Library. writing about LGBT politics for over a decade. Follow “Drag Queen Storytime captures the her on Twitter @MamaDWitkowski.
OP-ED PGN
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 11-17, 2019
The spectrum of oppression Coming out is personal to each of us, so hadn’t raised “the hyper masculinity” of Hart’s is how we recognize and understand our comments. This led another comedian of color oppression. Each of us has a moment that to post support for Hart and then attack one of hits us in the face and says this is why I feel the trans actors on “Pose” as a “pussy” if he the way I do about how I’ve been treated by couldn’t take a joke. my family and community. I wrote about just One voice on Twitter made it clear, “As a that in my memoir “And Then I queer person of color, Ellen canDanced, Traveling the Road to not speak for me.” This was the LGBT Equality.” For me it was at overwhelming sentiment. Stonewall and here’s how I put it. While Hart’s homophobic state“Stonewall would become a ments were years ago and he has four-night event and the most visapologized for them, maybe he ible symbol of a movement. We hasn’t completely understood the united for the first time: lesbian gravity or that his comments repseparatists, gay men in fairy comresented an oppression that has munes, people who had been part not completely disappeared and of other civil rights movements but his refusal to address it allows that never thought about one of their culture to continue. own, young gay radicals, hustlers, It’s often remarked that the cordrag queens, and many like me, nerstone of the black community is who knew there was something out the church, and while LGBT peothere for us, but didn’t know what it ple are part of its choirs and comMark Segal mittees, they are often not allowed was. It found us. So, to the NYPD, thank you. Thank you for creating to be OUT. Hart’s remarks, as a unified LGBT community and thank you for Porter labeled “hyper masculinity,” somehow becoming the focal point of years of oppression empowered that continual oppression, spoke to that many of us had to suffer growing up. You those who have endured it and opened a deep represented all those groups and individuals that wound. While Hart opened that wound in his wanted to keep us in our place.” original homophobic statements and later apolThe backlash that Ellen is getting for her ogized, he continued to attack racism in his soft-pedaled treatment of Hart is coming material and comedy routines, but remained largely from LGBTQ people of color and it silent on homophobia for 10 years. Silence might benefit many of us to listen to those or invisibility is the weapon that is most used voices since what Kevin Hart and even Ellen to oppress us. Ellen of all people should have might not understand is that Hart and the understood that. words he used just might have been the symEllen, as many of us do, needs to listen. bol of the culture that LGBTQ’s of color had Porter’s exact statement, said in an interto endure: “hyper masculinity.” view with Consequence of Sound: “I say to Billy Porter, a proud gay man of color, Kevin Hart, and I say to D.L. Hughley, I say to Broadway performer and the star of the TV those people who think that they don’t need to show “Pose,” knows this well and spoke up apologize for shit and dig their heels in their that he saw something in the issue that others toxic masculinity: But you want your rights!
Mark My Words
You want people to stop shooting your children in the back? But yet still, you turn around and oppress other people the same way you’re being oppressed.” Has Hart changed? Why are people angry? From E-News: From a 2011 quote “Yo if my son comes home & try’s 2 play with my daughters dollhouse I’m going 2 break it over his head & say n my voice ‘stop that’s gay’.”….. Another Twitter user went to the great lengths of searching every time Kevin used the words “fag,” “homo” or “gay.” They realized the comedian “seems to have basically stopped tweeting those words after 2011 — i.e. the year his first stand-up movie became a hit.” While Hart has adamantly denied being homophobic, prior statements about his feelings seem conflicting to some. In a 2015 profile for Rolling Stone, he once said one of his “biggest fears is my son growing up and being gay.” That’s just over three years ago… maybe he changed his words with his new star power, but maybe not his true feelings? Update: New York Magazine’s music division also conducted its own search of Hart’s tweets from the period in question and discovered that the words expressed by Hart never included an apology or “I’m sorry.”… And several out black celebrities are coming forward to express their anger. It’s time to listen to their oppression and to respect them more than someone who has literally expressed violence against his own child if he were gay, and only feels forced to walk it back when it was convenient due to changing times, not his own change of heart. n Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the nation’s mostaward-winning commentator in LGBT media. You can follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ MarkSegalPGN or Twitter at https://twitter.com/ PhilaGayNews.
Op-Ed It’s Time for Safe Injection Sites Among the worst and most consequential policy decisions we’ve ever made as a nation was choosing to treat drug addiction as a crime. The stigmatization and criminalization of what is essentially a medical problem has cost us many billions of dollars and destroyed many thousands of lives. Human frailty and/or desperation, resulting in the use of drugs such as opioids like heroin has been met with contempt, demonization, incarceration and general cruelty for too long. It’s time we stop punishing people who need help, and actually help them instead. One of the best ways to stop the unnecessary suffering and death we see in today’s opioid crisis is to legalize, fund and establish safe injection sites. Currently, people often find themselves in trouble because they deal with chronic pain by using legal opioids prescribed by their doctor. These opioids are highly addictive and soon users are hooked. But eventually the prescription runs out, and addiction treatment is unavailable or unaffordable. So, users go to the streets, where they find narcotics without knowing how potent, or pure they are. For example, heroin may be cut with Fentanyl, which is 100 times more potent than heroin. As a result, we are rapidly approaching 3,000 people dying of overdoses annually in Pennsylvania, and almost 65,000 Americans dying per year. This is more lives lost in one year than in the entire Vietnam War. At a safe injection site, addicts can acquire pre-measured drugs, and they can know exactly what is in their fix and how potent it is. This will
dramatically reduce overdose deaths. Further, there will be trained medical personnel on site to administer Naloxone or whatever overdose remediation might be needed. The outcomes in other countries already doing this render our current policy all the more heartbreaking. In over one million injections at 90 safe injection sites around the world, there has NOT BEEN ONE fatal overdose. Compare that to the epidemic of death we see with our indefensible “tough on drugs” approach. Further, upon receiving a supervised fix, the user will be offered treatment options. In Germany, 45% of users at safe injection sites sought treatment. This is a far higher percentage than those who used on the streets. There are additional benefits, such as an end to addicts sharing dirty needles, spreading dangerous diseases such as hepatitis or AIDS. The main argument against safe injection sites seems to be that they will “send the wrong message” to addicts, and “encourage” them to use drugs. But this argument misapprehends the nature and roots of addiction. There is no evidence that anybody is going to start using dangerous drugs because they were “encouraged” to by the existence of a safe injection site. And those who are addicted need to have their lives valued and protected, not the wagging-finger of condemnation. That approach has been tried for decades, and it is an abject failure, as all of the caskets being lowered into the ground prove. We can do better. And now, we know how. n
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Street Talk Should a street be renamed in Philadelphia to honor Harvey Milk? “Yes. It’s bound to happen. It’s only a matter of time. But the street should be in the Gayborhood. Ånd it Josue Castillo should be a student street that North Philadelphia doesn’t have a lot of history attached to it already. I’m sure they’ll find a suitable street. I fully support LGBT rights.” "Yes. I think that's the least we can do. He sacrificed so much for the cause of LGBT equality. Philadelphia Alex Ricchini has a electrician large LGBT Fishtown population. It would be a good fit. There are plenty of streets to choose from." “Yes. I don’t see why not. He fought for a cause. He represented a minority of people. I think it would be Manuela Villasmil perfect yoga instructor to have Gayborhood a street renamed for him in the Gayborhood.”
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 11-17, 2019
PGN
A different approach to a new year New Year’s resolutions are a tricky history has taught us we probably won’t thing. Lots of people seem to take the maintain or maybe even remember them idea with a grain of salt, and may even as the year progresses. Again, this is chuckle about January’s motivation — information about our desire for change. which leads to February’s decline and But the truth is, to really change, we need March’s inevitable disenchantment. But a to do much more than simply identify a lot of people are making resoresolution at the beginning of a lutions they are serious about. new year. To me, the real reason resLet me be clear that I am olutions are important is in no way suggesting you because they are an indicator shouldn’t make a resolution of a desire for change of some and I’m certainly not saying kind. So, first and foremost, you don’t have the ability to the setting of a resolution change. Quite the contrary — I offers insight: You want someknow for a fact we all possess thing to be different. While the profound ability to contininevitably we all understand a ually grow, evolve and change. new year does not really mean It’s just the process requires a new you, and we wake up hard work, discipline, shifts Jan. 1 just the same as we were in thinking, a clear plan, supDec. 31, we have been culturport and encouragement from ally conditioned to view the others and a steadfast desire to start of a new year as an oppor- Kristina Furia truly see results. tunity for a new life. Herein So, you’ve got your resolulies the reason why most resotion in mind? Maybe you’ve lution-setters are likely to fail. Change is committed it to pen and paper. Great. difficult. You’ve set an intention. This is your first The notion of somehow having the step. As an aside, it is ideal that your resability to wipe the slate clean as one year olution or intention be something you ends and another begins is a powerful would love to do, feel, be, or become. If one — and it’s why we are so compelled you’re focusing on what you do not want, to make resolutions, even when personal instead of what you do, you won’t have
Thinking Queerly
as much success. For example, if you set the intention to read more books in 2019 because you don’t want to feel stupid around your new, smart group of friends, you’re less likely to be able to truly commit yourself to this change because it’s about what you don’t want (to feel stupid). On the other hand, if you set the intention of reading more books in 2019 because you truly love to read and your busy life has gotten in the way, you are substantially more likely to find success. Once you’re clear on your resolution being the right one for you, you need to take it and get really specific. You want to read more books? How many books? Which type of books? By which authors? If you already know the exact books, write them down. It is important to develop a clear picture of what you want and visualize it every day. You should be pursuing your resolution or intention each day in one way or another, focusing on trying to shift just 1 percent in the direction of who you want to become, or how you want to exist in the world. Small change is sustainable change. This last piece is a big one: the people you surround yourself with. If you have a spouse, it’s probably a good idea to check in with him/her about his/her own personal goals for the year. Are your
aspirations compatible? Can you support, encourage, and hold one another accountable? Human beings are simply too complex to be able to go it alone. As it relates to truly changing or shifting, having support is crucial. For some, this will be a spouse, but for others it may be a friend or friends. It is important to identify whether there are people in your world who will be a hindrance to your growth and put appropriate boundaries in place. Boundary setting may require the actual limiting of time spent with certain people. While this can be difficult, the truth is, child or adult, we are all susceptible to peer pressure. Other people’s negativity about what we are doing can and will affect how we feel about it — and ourselves. Don’t let this in. Creating change within yourself and your immediate world is an entirely doable thing. You have the tools you need and you are worthy of the results you will get over time. Focus on each day. Focus on small, realistic shifts. Focus on how much you deserve to live the life you want to be living. Happy New Year. n Kristina Furia is a psychotherapist committed to working with LGBT individuals and couples and owner of Emerge Wellness, an LGBT health and wellness center in Center City (www.emergewellnessphilly.com).
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New Rutgers law dean brings reproductive justice to forefront By Kristen Demilio editor@epgn.com A s t h e n ew l y a p p o i n t e d co-dean of Rutgers Law School in Camden, Kimberly Mutcherson’s goals include imbuing in each student a sense of how the law can improve people’s lives. As the first black lesbian to be named co-dean, Mutcherson said her academic work advocating for reproductive justice and equality will continue alongside her high-profile position. “I’m a social justice person,” she said. “I will continue to be a social justice person.” Mutcherson began her career as a public-interest lawyer and then moved into academia where she writes on bioethics and reproductive justice, a term coined in the 1990s by women of color who wanted to expand the debate around procreation beyond abortion. Who gets to be a parent? Who gets to have a family? Poor people, people of color and LGBTQ people (and any combination thereof) are often marginalized within the current framework, Mutcherson said. Assisted reproduction is costly and often not covered by health insurance. LGBTQ people in particular can face discrimination when doctors tell them they only help the medically infertile, not the “socially infertile.” If two men want to hire a surrogate in order to bring a child into the family, Mutcherson pointed out some of the legal questions around it: “What are the laws in your particular jurisdiction? Is it even legal for you to have an arrangement like that?” These are some of the ways in which LGBTQ people who build families are subjected to levels of public scrutiny that aren’t necessarily true for other people, Mutcherson said. “So that’s the stuff that’s interesting for me, in large part because who you marry, who you fall in love with — these deeply personal parts of people’s lives for many of us become very public because of the ways in which we have to go about the process of building our families.”
Mutcherson has personal experience with some of the topics she covers in her scholarship. She has two children, ages 13 and 10. How did her work overlap with creating her own family? “I was very cognizant of how critical it was for my then-partner and I to make sure that our children were legally linked to both of us even though they are genetically linked to only one of us,” she said. “Post-marriage equality, too many LGBT people make the mistake of believing that marriage solves all of the problems of family formation.” The laws about families created with assisted reproduction vary from state to state. “Therefore, it’s vital that people consult with a lawyer who is well-versed in LGBT family law issues before they bring children into their families.” Mutcherson sums up her work as a message to recognize “how the law treats families and that our fundamental ways of deciding who gets to have a family are ways of deciding who is worthy.’” The chancellor of appointment of Rutgers UniversityCamden applauded the selection of Mutcherson as co-dean. “What makes her truly remarkable is how she instinctively develops opportunities to help our students learn and grow,” Phoebe A. Haddon told PGN. Mutcherson is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania who got her law degree from Columbia Law School. She wanted to use the law to “dismantle systemic ways in which people are disadvantaged in this country, whether it’s sexual orientation or gender identity or race or immigration status — I don’t really care what the impetus is, I just want us to be better about how we treat people.” Her lived experience as black gay woman is a part of what she brings to her advocacy, but there’s more. “It’s also just a really ingrained sense of justice and of what this country’s potential is and that’s what I keep coming back to,” she said. “I think what’s really exciting about being an American is thinking about how to make this country live up to its promises and that’s what I’m trying to do.” n
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entertainment
SOUNDING OFF: Amanda Palmer (clockwise from top left), Courtney Act, Laura Jane Grace & The Devouring Mothers, Naomi Smalls, King Princess, Bob Mould
The sounds and the fury: New noise for 2019 By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com With the new year upon us, something, anything, has got to fill the sensory void left by all the holiday music, festive lighting and big concerts blissfully and sometimes annoyingly occupying your psyche for the last couple of months. You need a new infusion of sonic inspiration, and luckily for us, a bunch of new and established LGBTQ artists from across the musical spectrum are stepping up. Get your headphones on and your Spotify/iTunes accounts fired up, people, and let’s find some new music. Artist: Amanda Palmer New Release: “There Will Be No Intermission” dropping March 8 Out singer-songwriter, activist, author and artist Amanda Palmer hasn’t released a solo album in six years. Sure, there have been songs, books, Dresden Dolls reunion shows and other performance projects trickling out since then, but anybody familiar with Palmer’s prolific and frenetic pace of touring and recording up until now is probably feeling a little bit starved. Well, that changes this year. Not only is Palmer releasing a new album — an eclectic collection of personal
Dining Out Family Portrait Out & About
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songs tackling the big questions: life, death, grief and how we make sense of it all — but she is also releasing a new hardcover book of narrative photography to accompany the album’s release. Palmer hits the road for a tour that lands in Philadelphia on April 6. For more information, visit www.amandapalmer.net. Artist: Bob Mould New Release: “Sunshine Rock” dropping Feb. 8 Out singer-songwriter and alternative and punkrock icon Bob Mould (Hüsker Dü, Sugar) took an extended break from writing, recording, touring and DJing and moved to Berlin three years ago. Mould found the new environment inspirational and the resulting optimism comes through on his soon-to-be-released album “Sunshine Rock.” Mould even brought cameras into the studio with him for the first time, giving his fans a behind-the-scenes look at his recording process. Mould is taking his solo band on the road in support of the new album and performs in Philadelphia on Feb. 15 at Union Transfer. For more information or tickets, visit www.bobmould.com. Artist: Courtney Act New Release: “Fight For Love” single
Q Puzzle Scene in Philly
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Drag star and pop singer Courtney Act was the first queer contestant to appear on “Australian Idol” in 2003. This year, the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” finalist and “Celebrity Big Brother UK” champion is taking her new single, “Fight For Love,” global with the dance-pop anthem as Australia’s entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 2019. Act will also compete on Australia’s “Eurovision — Australia Decides” on Feb. 9. For more information, visit http://courtneyact.com/. Artist: King Princess New Release: “Pussy Is God” single The genderqueer electro-pop singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist turned heads in 2018 with her debut EP, “Make My Bed,” dropping a new single called “Pussy Is God”
Phantomz of the WFA PAGE 21
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 11-17, 2019
toward the end of the year. Her confident sexual identity and talent for crafting pop hooks have spawned a tour, which stops in Philadelphia for a sold-out show Jan. 28 at TLA. King Princess could easily give artists like Lorde and Robyn a run for their money. For more information, visit https://kingprincessmusic.com/. Artist: Laura Jane Grace & The Devouring Mothers New Release: “Bought to Rot” album Trans singer-songwriter, activist and author Laura Jane Grace is taking a break from her punk-rock group, Against Me!, having released her acclaimed debut solo album late last year with The Devouring Mothers. The album covers a host of topics detailing Grace’s fractured relationships with her adopted hometown, interpersonal acceptance, all-consuming affection, complicated romance and reconciliation.
Laura Jane Grace & The Devouring Mothers embark on a spring tour that brings them to Philadelphia on April 19 at Underground Arts. For more information, visit https://www.bloodshotrecords.com/artist/laura-jane-grace-devouring-mothers. Artist: Naomi Smalls New Release: “Pose” Drag performer and fashion model Naomi Smalls is currently competing on the fourth season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars,” but she isn’t waiting for the season to end before unleashing her new single, “Pose” — out now with her fierce new ballroom house anthem, “Pose,” produced by Cameron Traxxx and Todd Diederich. Her stage name is an amalgam of 90s supermodel Naomi Campbell and rapper The Notorious B.I.G, also known as Biggie Smalls. She merges the world of fashion, house beats and hip-hop. For more information, visit https://naomismalls.com/. n
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 11-17, 2019
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS PGN
a journey through the decades of gay Pride, showcasing a collection of stories, photos and memorabilia contributed by LGBTQ individuals and allies, Jan. 13-March 23, at Visit Bucks County, 3207 Street Road, Bensalem; www. newhopecelebrateshistory.org.
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FROM THE PAGES TO THE STAGES: Out author, essayist and humorist David Sedaris brings his insights to the stage for a spoken-word performance 7:30 p.m. Jan. 11 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside. For more information or tickets, call 215-572-7650.
Theater & Arts Arte Povera: Homage to Amalfi ’68 Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition recreating one artist’s reactionary exhibition against minimalism and pop art through July, 26 Street and the Parkway; 215763-8100. Beautiful — The Carole King Musical Broadway Philadelphia presents the story of the award-winning songwriter and performer, through Jan. 20 at the Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; 215893-1999. Betrayal Lantern Theater Company presents a drama exploring love, sex, marriage and friendship, through Feb. 17 at St. Stephen’s Theater, 8923 Ludlow St.; 215829-0395.
Between Nature and Abstraction: Edwin Dickinson and Friends Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition exploring the works of the modern American painter through Feb. 10, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. Bonnie & Clyde 11th Hour Theatre Company presents a blues-androckabilly-infused musical telling the story of America’s most notorious lovers and bank robbers taking the country by storm, through Jan. 13 at The Drake Theater, 302 S. Hicks St.; 215-568-8079. Bye Bye Liver: The Philadelphia Drinking Play A sketch-comedy show that revels in the crazy moments everyone has had when practicing that favorite pastime, Jan. 11-25 at Yards Brewing Company, 500 Spring Garden St.; 800-650-6449.
Company The Players Club of Swarthmore presents the classic Sondheim musical comedy about a young man who just can’t commit, through Jan. 19, 614 Fairview Road, 610328-4271. Dieter Rams: Principled Design Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition surveying the designer’s prolific body of work — from radios, clocks and cameras to kitchen appliances and furniture, through April 14, 26 Street and the Parkway; 215763-8100. Equality - Pride in Our History Exhibit A new exhibition takes visitors on
Fallen Angels Mauckingbird Theatre Company presents a comedy by England’s distinguished gay writer, Noël Coward, through Jan. 27 at Louis Bluver Theatre at The Drake, 302 S. Hicks St.; 267385-6910. Gershwin Forever A concert celebrating the music of the incomparable George Gershwin, 8 p.m. Jan. 11 at Kimmel’s Perelman Theater, 300 S. Broad St.; 215-893-1999. Gilbert Gottfried The comedian performs Jan. 17-19 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215-496-9001. Iliza Schlesinger: Elder Millennial The comedian seen on “Girl Code” performs at 7 and 10 p.m. Jan. 12 at Merriam Theater,
Notices Send notices at least one week in advance to: Out & About Listings, PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147 fax: 215-925-6437; or e-mail: listings@epgn.com. Notices cannot be taken over the phone.
PGN ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 11-17, 2019
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S. Sixth St.; 215592-0656. Drag Queen Story Time Drag queens read stories about diversity, love and acceptance, while raising muchneeded funds to help the Fumo Library, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 12 at Tabu, 254 S. 12th St.; 215-9649675.
LOVE WILL LEAD YOU BACK IN THE DAY: Platinumselling singer Taylor Dayne teams up with R&B group Color Me Badd for a an evening of classic hits, 8 p.m. Jan. 18 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside. For more information or tickets, call 215-5727650.
250 S. Broad St.; 215-893-1999. Ken Ludwig’s A Comedy of Tenors Walnut Street Theatre presents the comedy set in 1930s Paris, just hours away from “The Concert of the Century,” Jan. 15-March 3, 825 Walnut St.; 215574-3550. Little Ladies: Victorian Fashion Dolls and the Feminine Ideal Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition exploring the influence of Miss Fanchon, the ultimate toy for privileged girls in the 1860s-’70s, through March 3, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215763-8100. Mimi Imfurst Presents Drag Diva Brunch Mimi Imfurst and special guests perform 11 a.m.2 p.m. Jan. 12 at
Punch Line Philly, 33 E. Laurel St.; 215-606-6555. Oleanna Walnut Street Theatre presents David Mamet’s explosive drama about gender politics, privilege and power, Jan. 15-Feb. 17 at Independence Studio on 3, 825 Walnut St.; 215574-3550. Wizard of Oz Media Theatre presents the classic musical about Dorothy and her adventures in a strange land, through Jan. 13, 104 E. State St., Media; 610891-0100.
Music A Night of Stardust The grand finale of Philly Loves Bowie Week, 7 p.m. Jan. 11 at Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St.; 215232-2100.
Cracker The rock band performs 8 p.m. Jan. 18 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215222-1400. MØ The Danish pop singer performs 8:30 p.m. Jan. 18 at Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St.; 215232-2100.
Nightlife Gay Men Speed Dating An all-ages, speed-dating event 7 p.m. Jan. 11 at Stir, 1705 Chancellor St.; 215-732-2700. Miss Masc The drag and burlesque show graces the stage 9 p.m. Jan. 11 at Tabu, 254 S. 12th St.; 215-964-9675. Martha Graham Cracker The drag cabaret singer performs a tribute to David Bowie 7 p.m. Jan. 11 at L’Etage, 624
SWAY The biggest, queerest monthly dance party returns with hiphop, Latin pop and reggaeton 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Jan. 12 at Tabu, 254 S. 12th St.; 215-9649675.
Outta Town Rob Thomas The rock singer performs Jan. 1820 at the Borgata Lady of Spain Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, Across 1 One of the Three 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; Bears 5 Sites for three 609-317-1000.
Q Puzzle
Cash Unchained The Johnny Cash tribute band performs 8 p.m. Jan. 11 at The Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 202-730-3331. Wonder The 2018 drama film is screened 1:30 p.m. Jan. 12 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-1228. Hot Fuzz The action/ comedy film is screened 9:45 p.m. Jan. 18 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-1228. n
men in a tub 9 Dave Pallone and others 13 Hertz competitor 14 “A” in radio lingo 15 Witty Coward 16 Lairs of bears 17 Petty of “A League of Their Own” 18 Claim innocence of 19 Miss Spain in this year’s 34-Across pageant 22 Prefix with media 23 Scare the pants off of 27 Deems necessary 30 Twin city of Mary Richards’ Minneapolis. 31 Bus. school course 33 Tom of “Philadelphia” 34 Beauty pageant that recently had its first 50-Across contestant 38 Campbell of “Martin” 39 Practice boxing 40 Like Fiennes’s Shakespeare 42 With petticoat exposed?
47 49 Language of Leif 50 Like 19-Across 53 Royal threesome 56 Fly like a falcon 57 Men behaving badly 58 Second fruit eater 59 Columnist Bombeck 60 Sexologist Shere 61 Choice for Hamlet 62 A Scout may do a good one 63 ___ about
Down
1 Brothel bosses 2 Q, in a theater 3 4 Nice buns, e.g.? 5 Room for Frida 6 Plunk down 7 Kinky coifs 8 Peter and Mary 9 Like an eagle, for Sheehan 10 Howard of a comic threesome 11 Whitman’s tool 12 20 It has a
hole and you put it in your mouth 21 Keener of “Capote” 24 South Beach mementos 25 26 Dottermans of _Antonia’s Line_ 28 Hosp. ward 29 Loads 32 They may show through a wet T-shirt 34 35 Man or Lesbos 36 “The L Word” channel 37 Kilmer of “The Doors” 38 7th notes in
“Do-Re-Mi” 41 Used rubbers 43 Something to save for a rainy day 44 Make like Mychal Judge, e.g. 45 46 Less likely to use the tongue 48 Make noise in bed 51 ___-sex marriage 52 New alum 53 Where wrestlers lie together 54 “Much ___ About Nothing” 55 Gift of Ellen
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 11-17, 2019
PGN
SOMO SoPhi steps up its game By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com
Back on the lighter, more responsible side of things, the frisée salad ($12) was an impressive composition, thanks to crisp roasted potatoes that brought an interesting contrast to the cool, bright flavors of the salad. The main dishes are comprised of solid offerings, with attention to detail. The crab cake sandwich ($16) was crisp with a respectable level of spice. The lobster mac and cheese ($19) was served up steaming hot in a cast-iron skillet with generous pieces of lobster swimming in the luscious cream sauce. SOMO SoPhi might be a South Philly establishment, but with its overall vibe and menu quality, could easily hold its own downtown. If you find yourself on your way to a sporting event or a concert, SoPhi is an ideal spot to kick off your evening. n
With its proximity to the stadiums and arenas of South Philly, you’d probably expect SOMO SoPhi, 3101 S. 13th St., to be just another sports bar with a restaurant as a distant second in priority. Well, read on, intrepid foodies. The new sibling of the SOMO restaurant in Manayunk, the two-story restaurant is located on the corner of a quiet residential street and a main drag (on Packer Ave.) And while there is a bar on the ground level with large flat screens tuned to the sports networks, the upstairs space is modern, cozy and classy — designed for comfort and dining. The menu vacillates between comfort food and upscale modern American bistro. A small plate such as the eggplant dip ($8) coexists with the unabashed caloric glory of disco fries ($12). The dip had a lovely texture and a unique balance of refined flavors. The disco fries impressively managed to achieve balance between the fries and the toppings, which didn’t bury the perfectly fried spuds under daunting layers. The cheese sauce was pleasantly mild and creamy, making it a fine vehicle for the tender pieces of short rib and bacon LOBSTER MAC AND CHEESE Photos: Larry Nichols that punctuated the dish.
–NY1
If you go SOMO SoPhi
3101 S. 13th St. 267-239-2176 https://somohospitality.com Mon.-Tue.: 5 p.m.-1 a.m. Wed.-Thur.: 10:30 a.m.-1 a.m. Fri.-Sat.: 10:30 a.m.-1 a.m. Sun.: 10:30am.-1 a.m.
Giuseppe & Sons heats up Philly’s Italian scene Photo: Joan Marcus
By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com
THE TONY® AND GRAMMY® AWARD
WINNER!
JANUARY 8–20 KIMMELCENTER.ORG BROADWAY PHILADELPHIA is presented collaboratively by the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and the Shubert Organization.
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Giuseppe & Sons, 1523 Sansom St., is the new restaurant by Michael Schulson and Nina Tinari, inspired by South Philly’s Termini family and generations of Italian cooking and culture. And boy, does it show. Down the staircase from the street-level entrance is a spacious and elegant area. It’s as if you’re walking into a bygone era (in the best of ways). With classic soul, lounge and jazz music filtered through the house sound system and soft lighting permeating the room, the throwback vibe is alluring. We kept wondering whether Dino, Sammy and Frank were going to walk by on their way to the VIP section. The menu appears deceptively simple. The appetizers all have unassuming names and deliver perfect classic flavors. The meatballs and gravy ($12) were massive, but not dense, with a lovely sauce that didn’t overpower the quality flavors of the meat. The tomato pie ($5), served up in delectable breadstick-like slivers, crushes all other versions of the Philly staple. The shrimp scampi ($12) is superb, with plump fresh shrimp bathed in a bright and buttery sauce. The Giuseppe salad ($12) is surprisingly bold and spicy with soppressata adding some heft to the dish.
If you go Giuseppe & Sons
1523 Sansom St. 215-399-9199 https://giuseppesons.com Dinner hours Sun.-Tue.: 5-10 p.m. Wed.- Thur.: 5 p.m.-11 p.m. Fri.-Sat.: 5 p.m.-midnight
CRABS AND SPAGHETTI The attention to elegant detail carries over to their entrées, too. The flounder sorrento ($16), dressed lightly with lemon juice and capers, pretty much melts in your mouth. The chicken parmigiana ($15) is another well-executed classic — gigantic, pounded almost paper-thin and fried up nice and crispy. The crabs and spaghetti ($18) have more than enough personality and flavor to live up to its impressive presentation. And as if this menu weren’t doing enough to throw your dietary New Year’s resolutions under the bus, the desserts are temptation incarnate. As a general rule, we usually aren’t impressed by cannoli. And if you are in love with another establishment’s cannoli, Giuseppe & Sons’ take on the classic will probably put your favorite to shame. Yeah, we said it: They have, absolutely, positively, the BEST cannoli in town. Come at us! n
PGN PROFILE
Family Portrait
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 11-17, 2019
21
Suzi Nash
Amanda Avvento: A centered life I’ve mentioned in my column before that I’m a couch potato sports enthusiast. I can watch anything from curling to rhythmic gymnastics (I actually kind of miss them), but my favorite sport is football. Perhaps it was the many years I spent as my older brother’s tackle dummy, or sitting in the freezing cold bleachers watching him score on an exciting flea flicker play. Whatever it was, I learned the ins and outs of the game pretty well. I’m excited about the Eagles making the playoffs. Hopefully, they will go far. But if not, I will rest easy knowing that my football fever will have another outlet: The Philadelphia Phantomz. The Phantomz are a full-contact, women’s football team that is part of The Women’s Football Alliance (www.wfaprofootball.com). Boasting almost 70 teams, WFA is the largest and most competitive women’s tackle football league in the world. The league is in recruiting mode right now, as it looks for new players for the start of the season in the spring. We spoke to one of the starting players, Amanda Avvento, as she was on her way to a winter practice session in the cold. PGN: Tell me a little about the family, and who instilled your love of sports? AA: I come from a loving, caring family. Both mother and father are Italians from Brooklyn, and I have an older sister who lives in Minnesota. I grew up and still live in the Poconos. Both parents, but mainly my father, encouraged me to do things outside the box. In ninth grade, my father suggested I try out for the men’s football team. He saw the passion that I had for the game. We’d watch it on TV, and I’d be calling the plays or we’d play out on the front lawn. I made the team, and the guys were kind of confused at first to see a female player on the team, but they were welcoming. The first time I made a hit during practice, the boys were like, “Holy crap, she can play!” Unfortunately, a few practices in, I was facing off against this guy, a real nice guy, but he was 6’4” and 240 pounds and I blew out my knee. I was devastated. PGN: Oh, that stinks. AA: I know. But I tried to stay involved. I went to all the games. My sister was in color guard so I went to support her, too. When I got to college, it wasn’t possible to play football, so I played rugby. PGN: I know you have several jobs. Can you list a few? AA: Currently I work at Under Armour, which is a fantastic store for all athletes. I’ve been there for five years. I’ve grown as a person there and I do my best to represent them in every way, on and off the field. My full-time job is working as an emotionalsupport teacher in the East Stroudsburg School District for kids with ADHD and autism, or other emotional and learning
challenges. I love to teach, but it’s one of those jobs where you don’t know what to expect each day, so you kind of have to roll with the punches. It can be stressful, but it can also be very rewarding. PGN: What are your responsibilities? AA: I work primarily with just one student, but I bounce around and work with all the kids in the classroom when I can. I help with classroom work and setting goals. I am there to do crisis intervention if needed; I help them on and off the buses, stuff like that. I also coach at school so the kids all call me Coach A. They get a kick out of me playing football, so they’re always asking me, “How was practice?” “When is the next game?” PGN: That’s sweet. On the not-so-sweet side, do you have to deal with the modern side of schools these days? Activeshooter drills? AA: Yeah, we have security guards on each floor. We do a good job of communicating, so we know who is in our building at all times. You have to show ID to get in and we do monthly drills. We have protocols for both the school building and on the buses — we want to do everything we can to make our students feel safe. It is scary that we live in such a crazy world today. I grew up in Tobyhanna, a small town where you knew your neighbors and left your doors unlocked.
people get drunk and sloppy. I had a beer spilled on me two games ago. It wasn’t intentional, but this woman was walking and she got called a really bad name by some guy. She turned around really quickly and accidentally doused me with beer as she tried to go after him. I was like, “Oh, are you kidding me?” when I got soaked, but he deserved it after what he said. I was just collateral damage.
the injuries. I might be bruised, but I’m healthy.
PGN: Well, as someone who plays full contact football, I’m sure you can handle it. AA: Yes, I’m the starting center for the Philadelphia Phantomz women’s football team. We’re a relatively new team, but we have some amazing athletes. I’m proud to say that last year I made Team USA and All-American. It’s amazing to be surrounded by women who are passionate about the sport, people who aren’t afraid of hard work and are willing to do what it takes to be successful. I travel two hours,
PGN: And for the record, neither league is strictly LGBT, correct? AA: No, we have gay and straight players and people from all walks of life — but we’re not a gay league. And we’re not the lingerie league, either!
PGN: My, how times have changed. But that’s not it for your jobs, is it? AA: No, I also work at Lincoln Financial Field. I’ve been an event-staff supervisor there for about five years, working all Philadelphia Eagles events, concerts and other sports tournaments. It’s up to me to provide a safe and fun environment for all guests, staff and performers. It’s fun because I like working with and around people with high energy. PGN: Philadelphia fans are notoriously rowdy. It must get crazy for you. AA: Yeah, especially if the Eagles are losing, people can get rude and disrespectful, especially to my staff. If they’re not having a good day, they’ll let you know. Luckily, with the great season and the Super Bowl win last year, the fans have been much happier lately, which makes the job much easier. But you never know what’s going to happen until the final score. PGN: What’s the worst incident that comes to mind? AA: Often people will screw up their tickets and then want to blame our staff. Fortunately, if they get too belligerent, we have police officers right at the stadium and [the fans] can be arrested if they get physical with the staff. I don’t tolerate that. But
four times a week to go to practice. The team has been in the league for three years now, and I think we’re on the verge of going to the top. We’re representing Philadelphia and women’s tackle football. It’s an honor to be a part of that. PGN: What was your worst injury? AA: Oh, I’ve had several concussions over the years, sprained ankles. I fractured a toe. I’ve dislocated my kneecap four times. A lot of it happened in high school and college. But overall, I’m in good shape despite
PGN: I understand your partner plays too. AA: Yes, Ashley Maslowski, but she’s in a different league, the Tyrants, part of the USWFL. She was playing in Michigan with the Flint City Riveters, but now she lives in Virginia where she started her own team, the Winchester Tyrants.
PGN: And most amazingly, the players just do it for the love of the game, correct? AA: Yes, we’re part of a league called the Women’s Football Alliance. It’s pretty big. Unfortunately at this point we don’t get paid. In fact, we have to pay for our own equipment; jerseys, helmets, knee pads, travel costs, hotels — all of it. It’s serious, because if I were to get injured, not only does it mean I don’t get to play, it can affect me off the field. If I were in the NFL and got hurt, it’s OK. That’s my only job and I get compensated, but for me, I have four jobs. I could lose some or all of them if I can’t go to work because of a football injury, so it’s no joke. We need to make people aware of what we do because we are passionate about playing and we’re good. Once people see how we play, it changes minds. Women in football is a thing, in the U.S. and overseas. Even on men’s teams, we’re seeing women as kickers and punters — there’s even one female wide receiver. We need to find individuals who are willing to support and invest in Philadelphia Photo: Suzi Nash women’s football. We want to inspire girls who want to get into the sport. There are teams in the league like the New York Wolves or the Boston Renegades who have been established for up to 20 years. They have great support behind them, but we need Philly to step up to the plate. PGN: Do you hear that, Philly? Are you ready for some (women’s) football? n For more information about games or trying out for the team, visit www.phantomzfootball.com.
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 11-17, 2019
HEALTH AND WELLNESS DIRECTORY Small businesses can afford special attention in our PGN directories. Spaces this size are only $50 per week when you run for a minimum of 8 weeks.
rev. dr. Nadine
Rosechild Sullivan, ph.d.
Spiritual Counseling drsullivan@rosechild.org
215.704.4264
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This Fabulous Space Could Be Yours
for only $50 per week when you run for a minimum of 8 weeks. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Tobacco Control Project is an initiative of Health Promotion Council.
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Classifieds All real-estate advertising is subject to Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended. Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and handicap (disability). PGN will not knowingly accept any realestate advertising that is in violation of any applicable law.
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 11-17, 2019
Real Estate Rent PGN does not accept advertising that is unlawful, false, misleading, harmful, threatening, abusive, invasive of another’s privacy, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, hateful or racially or otherwise objectionable, including without limitation material of any kind or nature that encourages conduct that could constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability or otherwise violate any applicable local, state, provincial, national or international law or regulation, or encourage the use of controlled substances.
WOODBURY, NJ. 807 N. BROAD ST. Renovated two bedroom for $910.00 per month. Arrive in Center city in less than 12 minutes! Property is right off interstate route # 295 & route 676. Property offers private fenced in yard and off street parking. There is plenty of room for a garden. Carpet is new! Unit has gas heat, washer/ dryer, refrigerator and electric range. There is a dining area, kitchen, two bedrooms, living room, one bath and an office. Tenant pays $910.00 per month for rent and gas & electric. Owner pays for lawn care, water & sewer. 1.5 months security deposit. Please contact owner directly at 856-522-9000. ________________________________________43-02
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Help Wanted Part tme position availabe for cleaner/cashier. Will interview on the spot. Looking for somone who is self motvated. Adonis Theater 2026 Sansom St. Interviews from 9 to 2. _____________________________________________43-04
Legal Notices Court of Common Pleas for the County of Philadelphia, November Term, 2018, No. 1972, Notice is hereby given that on November 26th, 2018, the petition of Margaret Ellen Avener was filed, praying for a decree to change Margaret Ellen Avener’s name to Max Emlen Avener. The Court has fixed January 25, 2019 at 11 A.M. in Room 691 City Hall, Philadelphia, PA for hearing. All persons interested may appear and show cause if any they have, why the prayer of the said petition should not be granted. ________________________________________43-02
SERVICES & HOME IMPROVEMENT DIRECTORY
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Friends Men WM, NE Phila. If you’re looking for hot action, call 215-934-5309. No calls after 11 PM. ________________________________________43-05
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 11-17, 2019
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