pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976
Vol. 42 No. 3
Family Portrait: Thomas Day III and what’s cookin’
Jan. 19-25, 2018
Criminal charges against trans woman upheld
PAGE 23
PAGE 2
HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
New year, new you: Our annual issue focusing on helping you keep your resolutions PAGES 8-17
PA moves up in HRC’s equality ranking
PAGE 21
Suspect charged in murder of UPenn student
By Brittany M. Wehner brittany@epgn.com Pennsylvania moved up in ranking on the Human Rights Campaign’s annual LGBT State Equality Index report. The state, which ranked in at “High Priority to Basic Equality” in HRC’s 2016 report, moved up to the “Building Equality” category. The annual report was released by the HRC and Equality Federation Institute in an effort to assess statewide LGBT-related legislation and policies. There are still 26 states in the “High Priority” category. Pennsylvania is in the second-lowest category. Pennsylvania still lacks statewide nondiscrimination protections for LGBT residents, according to Equality Pennsylvania Interim Executive Director John Dawe. In some parts of the state, there are no local laws and people can be fired or evicted for identifying as PAGE 18
Michael Cunio performs an Etta James tribute concert
By Brittany M. Wehner brittany@epgn.com
HAVING A BALL: The inaugural Bebashi Awareness Ball brought in about 100 people Jan. 13 at the Philadelphia Boys Choir and Chorale. The event included HIVawareness information, resource tables, testing, food and competitions in about a dozen categories. Photo: Scott A. Drake
State rep speaks out against LGBT-inclusive birth certificates By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com An anti-LGBT state representative this week spoke out against Pennsylvania’s recent policy on designating “parent/parent” rather than “mother/father” issued on birth certificates. State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) sent a letter to Gov. Tom Wolf requesting him to direct the Department of Health to rescind changes to the form, adding that it is in “violation of the PA Code, Title 28, Chapter 1. Administration of Vital Records.” Metcalfe, who serves as majority chairman for the House State Government Committee, also questioned Wolf’s transparency. “This first came to my attention in September 2017,” Metcalfe wrote. “The initial response I received from the Department of Health stated that the changes were made as a result of a negotiated settlement with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). I requested documentation about the same. “After I made the follow-up request, the Bureau of Vital Records then stated there was no lawsuit, but rather simply that they anticipated a lawsuit and initiated this change on their own
accord. After discussing this issue with the appropriate staff, the request was made, on my behalf, that documentation be provided to demonstrate that the necessary notice and publication requirements were met, as well as providing the authority under which the Bureau of Vital Records made this change without action by the General Assembly.” Metcalfe further contended that he did not receive any documentation from the Department of Health or the Bureau of Vital Records on “where the authority exists for the bureau to make this change.” Additionally, he said the amendment would cost millions of dollars. Equality Pennsylvania issued the following statement regarding Metcalfe and the 26 other Republicans who signed the letter: “These lawmakers are hiding behind the ‘cost of changing the label on birth certificates’ — but you and I both know their real target is — LGBTQ Families. We also know that families with two moms and two dads deserve equal recognition under the law.” J.J. Abbott, a spokesperson for Wolf, issued the following statement: “The Department of Health updated birth certificates to include all families and reflect the fact that same-sex marriage is the law of the land in Pennsylvania. Governor Wolf continues to support making government more respectful of all families and will continue to ensure state government treats all PAGE 18
A 20-year-old man was charged Wednesday with the murder of University of Pennsylvania student Blaze Bernstein. Samuel Lincoln Woodward was charged with one felony count of murder with a sentence enhancement for using a personal knife, according to Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas. Authorities have yet to release a motive and the investigation is ongoing. “Our priority on this brutal murder of a 19-year-old Ivy League student is to make sure Woodward is brought to justice,” Rackauckas said at a press conference. Bernstein, 19, was found dead last week in brush surrounding a neighborhood park in the Foothill Ranch area of Lake Forest, Calif., according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. The missing UPenn student was reported BERNSTEIN missing to the Sheriff’s (TOP) AND Department Jan. 3, and WOODWARD some 25 members of the department’s search-and-rescue team scoured the park and nearby wilderness area for days afterward. Bernstein, who was stabbed numerous times, was found Jan. 9 around 2 p.m., according to authorities. His father, Gideon Bernstein, posted a statement on Facebook Jan. 10. “Blaze was brilliant, colorful and charismatic; who shined a light on all of the lives of the people and communities he touched. Our family is devastated by the news. We — like so many of you around the world — love Blaze and wanted nothing more than his safe return. “We want to thank all of you who so PAGE 18 generously gave your