PGN Jan. 20-26, 2012 by The Philadelphia Gay News

Doing it “For the Boys”

Family Portrait: Ahavia Lavana

PAGE 17

Two Philadelphians co-direct the 2012 Soulforce Equality Ride

PAGE 19

PAGE 5

Jan. 20-26, 2012

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Vol. 36 No. 3

New push for action on Scouts building ACLU, Lambda Legal send letters to city leaders; businessman Heifetz offers $2 million. By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com Two advocacy groups and a local businessman have sent new salvos to the city on the issue of the Boy Scouts occupying a city building rent-free, calling for a quick, lawful resolution. Local philanthropist and businessman Mel Heifetz has made a new offer of $2 million to purchase the controversial property occupied by a local Boy Scouts of America council — if that’s what it takes to outbid any other offer for the property. The BSA Cradle of Liberty Council is headquartered on public property at 231251 N. 22nd St., even though it refuses to accept participants who are gay, atheist or agnostic. Since those persons are protected by local antibias laws, the city tried to evict

the Scouts — but the eviction process has been mired in litigation since 2008. In 2010, the Nutter administration tried to settle the litigation by agreeing to sell the property to the Scouts for $500,000 — a fraction of the property’s estimated value. If they purchase the parcel, the Scouts would be on private property. Thus, they would be able to set their own membership standards without violating local laws. The deal, however, sparked an outcry by LGBTs and their allies, who said it would pave the way for other discriminators to buy or lease city property at a reduced rate. Heifetz made his latest offer to purchase the property in a Jan. 17 letter to City Solicitor Shelley R. Smith. He also renewed his previous offer of

$1.5 million for the property — regardless of whether there’s a counteroffer to match — or $1 million plus payment of any legal fees assessed against the city due to its prior efforts to evict the Scouts. Smith has rejected both of Heifetz’s previous offers, noting that an agreement of sale already has been reached with the Scouts. Smith couldn’t be reached for comment on Heifetz’s latest offer. William H. Ewing, an attorney for Heifetz who sent the letter to Smith, said he couldn’t predict what Heifetz might do if a counteroffer exceeds $2 million. City Council President Darrell L. Clarke, who introduced a bill in 2010 to enable the property’s sale to the Scouts, couldn’t be reached for comment on Heifetz’s latest offer. Clarke’s bill died in comPAGE 8

Harrisburg couple looks for immigration reprieve By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com A gay couple from suburban Harrisburg has all the makings of the modern allAmerican family — except that one father is fighting to become an American citizen. Mark Himes, 43, and husband Frédéric Deloizy, 48, met with officials from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services last Wednesday in PAGE 6

Woman sues over fake-penis firing By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com A woman contemplating gender-reassignment surgery says she was fired from a Northeastern Pennsylvania company for wearing a prosthetic penis to work. Pauline Davis filed a federal suit against J&J Snack Foods last week, alleging gender discrimination. PAGE 14

WHOLE-HEARTED SHOPPING: Joe Carlucci (center), grants associate at Mazzoni Center, distributes shopping bags during a fundraiser for the organization’s food pantry Jan. 12 at Whole Foods on South Street. Vivian’s Cupboard, which provides nutritious meals to those affected by HIV/AIDS, was selected as the beneficiary of the store’s 5% Day, in which it donates a portion of its proceeds to a deserving nonprofit. While the South Street fundraising numbers were not yet finalized, the Callowhill Whole Foods location generated $5,492 for Vivian’s Cupboard. “We’re thrilled with the results and very grateful to Whole Foods for the opportunity to participate,” said Elisabeth Flynn, Mazzoni Center communications manager. Photo: Scott A. Drake

MINDS IN MOTION: Brenda Dixon Gottschild (seated, right) reads selections from her new book about Joan Myers Brown (seated, left), founder and artistic director of the Philadelphia Dance Company, at a discussion about African-American dance Jan. 14. Organized by The Brothers Network, the event, which drew about 50 people to Moonstone Arts Center, gave an inside look at Philadanco while examining the history and development of the larger black dance community in Philadelphia. Photo: Scott A. Drake

Robber hits Spruce Street Video By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com LGBT video shop Spruce Street Video was robbed by a man purporting to have a gun Monday night. The man entered the store, at 252 S. 12th St., around 5 p.m. and indicated to the clerk that he had a gun in his pocket, and ordered him to empty the cash register. The robber made off with $110. A few minutes before the robbery, store owner Franny Price said she and her partner were sitting in their car in front of the store when they noticed two suspicious men outside. She described them as a black male in his early 30s, about 5-foot-10, and a while male in his late 20s, about 5-foot-9. Price said she had never seen either man in the neighborhood before, which alerted her. “I was in the car getting it warmed up, and I saw the black guy go down the steps to the video store then turn right around and come back and connect with the white guy, who looked like a hustler. I said, ‘They’re up to no good,’” Price said. “I’m guessing there were too many people in the store right then when the first guy went in. And the white guy went in and bought a lollipop and came back out.” Price and her partner pulled away and were PAGE 2 only about six blocks from the

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Judge rules against NJ church group in beach conflict By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com A judge in New Jersey last week ruled against a religious institution that sought to prevent a same-sex couple from using its beachside boardwalk pavilion for a commitment ceremony. Judge Solomon Metzger found Jan. 12 that the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association violated the state’s Law Against Discrimination when it denied a lesbian couple access to its pavilion, which it had been renting to heterosexual couples for wedding ceremonies. At the time complainants Harriet Bernstein and Luisa Paster applied to use the pavilion in 2007, Metzger said the structure was functioning as a public accommodation, subject to the state’s nondiscrimination law, which includes sexual orientation and gender identity. Following the denial of the couple’s application, the association ceased renting the pavilion for weddings. Additionally, Metzger noted the association had a tax exemption from the state, which requires nonprofit entities to open up their property for “public use on an equal basis.” “When we first started planning our civil union, we had no idea that it would come to this,” Bernstein said. “We weren’t asking

the association to change their beliefs. We just wanted them to give us the same opportunity to use a beautiful space that we had seen open for public use.” The couple filed a complaint with the Division on Civil Rights, which in 2008 found probable cause that the association violated the nondiscrimination law. The case came before Metzger, an administrative law judge, for his finding. Metzger wrote in his opinion that he did not believe the association acted with “ill motive,” but rather that the organization’s religious beliefs placed it “on the wrong side of recent changes in the law,” referring to the 2006 adoption of New Jersey’s civilunion law. Metzger did not recommend monetary damages but said “the finding of wrongdoing should be an adequate redress.” The case will now return to the Division on Civil Rights, whose director will have 45 days to adopt the decision or make changes to it. Alliance Defense Fund, which is representing the association, said it is considering its next steps, which could include an appeal. “The government should not be able to force a private Christian organization to use its property in a way that would violate its own religious beliefs,” said ADF Litigation Staff Counsel Jim Campbell. ■

ROBBERY from page 1

shop when the clerk, who had just started his shift, called to report the robbery. The clerk said the robber, who fit Price’s description of the black man who had been outside, lifted his jacket pocket and said he “would blow your brains out” if he didn’t give him all of the money in the register. He did not actually produce a gun. Because of the recent shift change, the amount of money in the register was minimal, although Price noted that the store rarely keeps a lot of money on hand. “Anybody with sense would know not to rob a video store,” she said. “We deal mostly with credit cards and people who have prepaid rental plans and who pay in advance. But these people are stupid and just see people and think money.” Price said she suspects that the assailant knew the owner had just left. The employee contacted police, who were immediately on the scene. The officers dusted for fingerprints and brought the clerk to the station for a report. Police looked at surveillance from 12th Street Gym, although neither suspect was seen on the tape. A nearby house has a surveillance camera outside but Price said police haven’t yet been able to contact the owners. Price said the situation highlights the need for residents and business owners with surveillance cameras to register their devices with the city. Deputy Commissioner Steven Johnson,

SPRUCE STREET VIDEO Photo: Scott A. Drake

who serves as the LGBT liaison, said the robbery does not appear to be part of any kind of pattern in the area. “We have some information indicating that the perpetrator cased the place prior to committing the crime so we need to stress that if anyone sees anything at all suspicious, always take a minute to call us,” Johnson said. Police do not currently have any suspects, he said. On Monday night, Price purchased a surveillance system for the store. This marks only the second robbery in the store’s 28-year history. Price commended the employee for his actions. “He did all the right things,” she said. “We don’t want people trying to be heroes, just give them what they ask for. He’s the youngest person I have working there, and no one should have to experience that.” ■

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THE JURY HAS SPOKEN: Artist Elise Dodeles (center) welcomed supporters to the opening of her exhibit at the William Way LGBT Community Center Jan. 13. Dodeles, the winner of the center’s 2011 Juried Art Competition, will showcase myriad paintings that bring life to still photographs, using the works to explore ideas of race, gender and sexuality. Her art will be on display through March 3. Photo: Scott A. Drake

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Philly activists to lead Equality Ride By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Fifteen LGBT activists will set off from Philadelphia in March to spread a message of acceptance in college campuses around the nation, with two Philadelphians at the helm of their quest. Locals Jason Conner and J. Mason will serve as co-directors of the 2012 Soulforce Equality Ride, which brings LGBT education and awareness to campuses that embrace homophobic discrimination, often because of religious convictions. The Equality Ride bus will leave from Philadelphia March 4 and head south to Atlanta, with 11 stops scheduled throughout the two-month tour. Conner and Mason, both 27, were drawn to the Ride because of their own life experiences dealing with discrimination — through Conner’s coming-out in a Mormon community and Mason’s work for The Attic Youth Center. Conner participated in the last Ride, held in 2010, and it was a transformative experience. At the time, he was living in Salt Lake City and, despite reparative therapy, was struggling with his orientation when he saw “Equality U,” a documentary about the first Equality Ride in 2006. “I was watching this really powerful scene where a mother is talking about how her son would be better off dead than gay and my brother walked into the room. I turned to him and I was outraged about this scene and his response was just, ‘Yeah, that’s about right,’” Conner said. “It was a turning point for me. I realized that I was doing a very big disservice to my family by not being open with them about who I was. So right then I decided I was going to apply for this ride and, if I got accepted, I was going to come out to them.” While the coming-out process was difficult, Conner said his family has made a lot

of progress in the past few years. “It’s been hard because I think they didn’t see a lot of the internal struggle I was dealing with,” he said. “For them, it was one day I was engaged to be married to this nice young Mormon girl and the next day I was riding around the country on this big, gay bus. So it’s been a process for them to understand what led me from one point to the next.” His coming-out did lose him a number of friends, as most were fellow members of the Church of Latter-Day Saints; however, he has found a new community in Philadelphia, he said. While he was on the 2010 Ride, the tour passed through Philadelphia, and Conner said he loved the city so much, he decided to make it home, coming directly here with his suitcases after the journey wrapped up. Mason comes to the Ride with five years of experience as the training coordinator at The Attic Youth Center’s Bryson Institute, where he works to heighten awareness about the challenges LGBT youth face in numerous entities. “I’ve been doing outreach work to everyone from teachers to medical professionals to lawyers and church folk,” he said. “The biggest issue I’ve seen that’s stopped people from supporting LGBT youth wasn’t their own capacity to learn but just their own religious convictions. That has stopped so many people from being able to provide support for these youth. So I wanted to help people address their spiritual and religious needs in a way that also addresses the needs that LGBT people have.” While the Ride will focus on colleges that embrace discriminatory policies, this year there will also be a new emphasis on community-wide education, as Riders will spend five days in each city working on collaborative service projects. Although religion has a strong bearing on the LGBT-rights movement, Mason said open, honest conversations that strive

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to bridge the gaps between LGBT and religious communities are rare. “I’m really excited to have a dialogue about religious issues in a way that I don’t think always happens in LGBTQ activism,” he said. “In a lot of ways, I think that’s where our activism falls short. Faith and religion impact so much of what we do as LGBTQ activists, and if we’re serious about fighting for our rights, we need to get people more comfortable having a dialogue about religion.” Starting that dialogue is not always an easy process, however. During the first stop of the 2010 ride at Valley Forge Christian College SOULFORCE 2012 IN FORCE (CLOCKWISE FROM in Phoenixville, Pa., the TOP), MASON AND CONNER group encountered protesters from Repent America, like us but who will be throwing negative whose leader, Michael Marcavage, spurned energy our way.” a rider who attempted to introduce herself However, reaching the young people to him, Conner said. who are eager for their message, and others “He refused to shake her hand when she who are willing to be open to it, will outheld it out,” Conner said. “So she just held weigh the challenges the Ride will present, it out for about two hours. People had to Mason said. actually come over and hold it up for her. “A lot of LGBTQ people who grew up And that was such a powerful moment for religious are now distanced from their own me to see where some folks were and that spaces of faith,” Mason said. “I hope that this guy wouldn’t even shake her hand.” by us doing this ride, it gives them a space Mason said confronting such realities to come back home in a way. The hurt that while on the road will be a difficult combi- you can feel when a family or friend says nation. they don’t like you because you’re gay is “We’re going to be away for two months bad enough, but to hear that God doesn’t and we’ll be dealing with some people who like you can affect people in a different are excited to see us and others who are not way.” excited to see us,” he said. “That’s going For more information, visit www.soulto be extremely hard, to interact with folks force.org. ■ who may not even know why they don’t

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IMMIGRATION from page 1 until 1997, flying back and forth for visits. Deloizy obtained a work visa that year Philadelphia to review the couple’s application for a green card for Deloizy, a French and began teaching at a Harrisburg high school. The couple purchased a home for national. Deloizy’s student visa expired last year just $1 through a city renovation program and, while he obtained a work visa in 2011, and adopted an infant son, John, in 2000, and newborn daughter Claire in 2003. it too will expire later this year. Deloizy’s work visa expired in 2004, and The couple, who married in California in 2008, has been together for 22 years and the deadline for an extension passed unbeknownst to the couple. has four adopted chilFaced with a possible dren, ages 6-11. Deloizy separation, Himes said has been living full-time the pair decided to sell in America since 1997. their house, despite the The couple brought work and money they extensive documentainvested into renovations, tion of their relationship and move to France. — including evidence The couple had of their marriage, adopobtained the French vertion papers and outlines sion of a civil union of their finances — to through the French last week’s meeting, and embassy in Washington, attorney Lavi Soloway, D.C., in 2000. founder of Stop the H o w e v e r, s h o r t l y Deportations, who is repbefore the move they resenting the couple, said learned that French law the immigration repreprohibits same-sex adopsentative acknowledged MARK HIMES AND FRÉDÉRIC tion and, thus, both could that the federal Defense of Marriage Act could DELOIZY WITH THEIR CHILDREN not serve as legal parents AT THE WHITE HOUSE EASTER to their two children. be the only impediment EGG ROLL IN 2010 To circumvent that to Himes’ sponsoring issue, Deloizy quickly Deloizy for a green card. DOMA bans the federal government from attained a student visa and headed back to recognizing same-sex marriage and, thus, school in Harrisburg. However, since the couple had already American citizens from sponsoring their same-sex spouses for citizenship, a right sold their house, they had to rent for 18 months before they were able to buy another given to heterosexual married couples. “Once he reviewed everything, the officer fixer-upper, which they moved into in 2005. said they met the eligibility requirements But with Deloizy in school and only one and he believed that their marriage was income, the family was forced to sell again bona fide, real and genuine, and therefore and move to a smaller home. Their family grew again in 2009 when there would be no obstacle to the case being approved with the exception of DOMA,” they adopted twin boys, Joshua and Jacob, Soloway said. “It was clear that if this was then 4 years old. Himes is a facilities manager for the not approved, the only reason is DOMA.” The office will notify the couple by writ- Pennsylvania Department of Education, and ing of the status of their application, which Deloizy teaches online courses at Harrisburg Area Community College, which enables Soloway said could take weeks or months. The couple is hoping that, if USCIS does him to be home with the kids. The couple outlined their family dynamic not accept the application, it will hold the case in abeyance as the courts work out the and history for immigration officials last Wednesday, bringing with them photos and constitutional questions around DOMA. If the application is denied, USCIS documents explaining the interdependence could transfer the case to Immigrations and of their relationship. Apart from the obvious concern of separaCustoms Enforcement to begin deportation tion, Deloizy’s potential deportation would proceedings. “What we’re trying to accomplish here also bring a bevy of logistical hardships for is avoiding discussion of deportation and the family, Himes said. “Since Fred works out of the house, he’s instead focusing on the real possibility that despite the fact that DOMA is the law of the there all day for the children. He sees them land, administrative agencies, with the lead- off to school, and he’s able to be there when ership of President Obama and [Homeland they get home. He’s in charge of food, Security] Secretary Napolitano, can fashion cleaning, everything to do with the house,” an intermediate solution,” Soloway said. Himes said. “Beside causing a major, major “Witholding a decision on this case does not crisis for the children losing one of their violate DOMA and would have the immedi- parents, it would also be an incredible hardate effect of allowing Fred to stay here, to ship on me as well. I would be losing my work and would prevent their family being husband and I’d also be losing the person who takes care of our children most of the torn apart.” The pair met in Harrisburg in 1990 when time.” The couple is working with Sen. Bob Deloizy was in the United States as a visitCasey and U.S. Rep. Tim Holden to urge ing professor at a local college. After he returned to France, the pair immigration officials to make a fair and maintained a long-distance relationship deliberative decision. ■

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 20-26, 2012

Queer comedy show brings humor to health By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Health issues are no laughing matter — unless you’re at “Queer Bodies, Queer Selves,” a comedy show infused with health education. The show, crafted by and starring comic Kelli Dunham, along with R. Eric Thomas and Dan Horrigan, will be held at 8 p.m. Jan. 21 at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St. The stand-up routines will center on LGBT health, with the all-queer cast using comedy to explore common health issues the community faces in an effort to get LGBTs motivated to make their health a priority. Dunham, a nurse, entered the world of stand-up comedy about eight years ago but has long been eager to make audiences laugh. “When I was a kid, I would tell jokes to the cows walking home from school,” the Wisconsin native said. “I always wanted to be a comic, but you get to be a good stand-up comic by first doing bad comedy. That’s how you learn, but I didn’t have the self-confidence for that rejection. But when I turned 30, I realized that this isn’t just going to happen, I have to start actually doing it.” At the time, she was working as a nurse in North Philadelphia and said she realized that the comedy stage would be an ideal outlet to promote the importance of proper healthcare. Her sexual-health musings have been popular at college campuses, bars and other

Media Trail Tennessee senate pulls anti-trans bill The Advocate.com reports a Tennessee state senator withdrew a controversial bill that would bar transgender people from using public restrooms and dressing rooms that match their gender identity. The house version of the bill was introduced by state Rep. Richard Floyd, who said he would “stomp a mudhole” into a transgender woman who tried to use the same department-store dressing room as his wife or daughters. Floyd said he was introducing the bill after a woman was fired from a San Antonio, Texas, Macy’s department store, because she did not allow a transgender teenager to try clothes in the women’s dressing room. Sen. Bo Watson, who introduced the Senate version of the bill, withdrew it

lar routine about the dichotomy of lesbians who are afraid to get a pelvic exam despite having piercings, a piece that Dunham said is played regularly on Sirius Satellite Radio. The show will also offer practical advice, such as through a comedic animated short film about preparing for a medical emergency, getting audience members thinking about what hospital they’d feel most comfortable at and which of their friends or family members they would ask to transport them in case of an emergency. Additionally, Action AIDS will be at the event to provide HIV testing, and a num-

ber of LGBT health organizations will be on hand with resources so guests can also undergo health screenings such as bloodpressure and blood-sugar checks. Admission is on a sliding scale from $10-$20, but Dunham said no guest will be turned away because of an inability to pay. “This is a way for people to have a really fun time and laugh but also get some good information,” she said. “If you have a friend that you’ve been trying to have this conversation with, this is a great way to make that happen.” For more information, visit www.kellidunham.com. ■

NURSE/COMIC KELLI DUNHAM Photo: Syd London

venues, and Dunham said the routine has a wide applicability. “The idea is really to start a conversation about health,” she said. “As a butch-identified person who has traditionally dated femmes, a lot of times we let our partners be the ones who push us to take care of our health, and that’s not fair to our partners. We need to start talking about what it takes to be personally empowered. And that’s not easy — there are a lot of barriers, especially for gender-noncomforming people, but we have to start those conversations.” While the topic is serious, it will be framed in a comedic light, with bits like “Of Piercings and Pap Smears” — a popupromptly, and said there were more pressing issues for the Tennessee House to consider. Watson said he only sponsored the bill as a courtesy to his fellow Hamilton County legislative delegates.

Orlando starts domestic partners registry The Miami Herald reports Orlando is becoming the first central Florida city to have a domestic-partner registry. The city of Orlando on Jan. 12 joined seven other Florida municipalities with domestic-partner registries, primarily in South Florida. The registry allows same-sex and unmarried heterosexual couples to register their partnership with the city and get certain protections. Those include the right to visit each other in hospitals or make health-care decisions for each other. Advocates for the registry are hoping the county that surrounds Orlando follows suit. But Orange County officials have no immediate plans to create a registry for county residents. ■ — compiled by Larry Nichols

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SCOUTS from page 1

mittee last year, but it remains unclear if he’ll reintroduce similar legislation this year. The Heifetz letter also states that he’ll donate the property to a nonprofit group that doesn’t discriminate, and he’ll preserve the building’s “height and footprint,” in deference to neighbors’ concerns about over-development. In June 2010, a federal jury ruled that the city violated the Scouts’ constitutional rights when allegedly asking them to renounce the national BSA’s antigay policy to avoid eviction. U.S. District Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter, who presided over the trial, said the jury’s ruling means the city has the right to evict the Scouts — but only if it does so in a constitutional manner. However, the Scouts claim that the city owes them about $960,000 in legal fees — a claim that Buckwalter hasn’t yet ruled on. The Scouts say they’ll forgive the legal fees if they can purchase the property at a reduced rate. The Heifetz letter specifies a closing date of April 30, 2013, for his purchase of the property to give the city ample time to once again initiate eviction proceedings against the Scouts. “Judge Buckwalter specifically stated that the city has the right to give oneyear’s notice to terminate the lease for a legitimate reason, such as the potential to sell this unneeded parcel of city-owned property to help cope with its financial

straits,” the letter states. Also this month, both Lambda Legal and the ACLU of Greater Philadelphia sent letters to the city advocating a public, market-rate sale of the building. This week, Thomas W. Ude Jr., senior staff attorney with Lambda Legal, sent city officials a letter expressing concern about the amount of time that’s transpired while discrimination continues on the property. “While Lambda doesn’t recommend a specific course of action, an open, competitive and public process for any sale of the property would be one way of ending the subsidy,” Ude told PGN. “Every day that passes is another day that the city of Philadelphia continues a subsidy that it long ago decided to end.” The ACLU of Greater Philadelphia last week sent a letter to all members of City Council urging them to reject any “sweetheart sale” the Nutter administration might again propose to settle the Scouts litigation. The Jan. 13 letter urges city officials not to sell the property at a reduced rate to any organization that discriminates against individuals protected by the city’s Fair Practices Ordinance. “Selling to the lowest bidder is offensive to the taxpayers of Philadelphia, at a time of great financial and budgetary need,” the letter states. “Philadelphians simply should not subsidize discrimination.” The ACLU letter also states that any legislation introduced in City Council enabling the property’s sale must be

referred to City Council’s Committee of the Whole — comprised of all 17 council members. The property is part of Fairmount Park and, under City Council’s internal rules, any legislation enabling the sale of park property must be referred to that committee, the letter states. According to City Council’s website, 12 members of the committee — not a simple majority of nine — must approve a bill enabling the sale of park property before it can be given final consideration. If such a bill reaches City Council for final consideration, it would only need a simple majority of nine votes to pass, according to City Council’s website. Getting 12 members to support a reduced-rate property sale to the Scouts may be problematic, because at least seven Council members have opposed such a transaction. Those Council members include Cindy Bass, W. Wilson Goode Jr., Bill Green, Bill Greenlee, Kenyatta Johnson, Jim Kenney and Blondell Reynolds-Brown. Mark McDonald, a spokesperson for Nutter, had no comment on whether the Nutter administration considers the property as part of Fairmount Park. He also had no comment on Heifetz’s latest offer. City Councilperson Bill Green expressed support for the ACLU’s position that the property is part of Fairmount Park. “The land surrounding the building on the 231-251 N. 22nd St. parcel arguably is outdoor park or recreation land that could be subject to the special disposition procedures outlined in City Council’s rules,” Green stated in an email. City Councilperson Bill Greenlee also said he considers the property to be part of Fairmount Park. Greenlee said he would like the Scouts to vacate the premises as soon as possible, because they exclude gay youths. “If the Scouts were doing that to Jewish kids, or Catholic kids, or Puerto Rican kids, we wouldn’t stand for it,” Greenlee told PGN. “Why should it be any different for gay kids?” Greenlee added: “I’m not an attorney, but my understanding is that it’s city property. We have the right to control our own property.” If the property is sold to an entity or person other than the Scouts, Greenlee said, he wouldn’t oppose using a portion of the proceeds to settle the Scouts’ litigation. “That would be fine, if people would be happy with that,” he said. “Why would I oppose something that makes everyone happy?” In legal papers, the Scouts maintain they have a right to exclude gays from the property because of a 2000 U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing the Scouts to set their own membership standards. Advocates for the LGBT community, however, point to a 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision reinforcing the right of governments to condition subsidies on compliance with antibias rules. ■

LOCAL PGN

Gayborhood Crime Watch The following incidents in the Midtown Village and Washington Square West areas were reported to the Sixth Police District between Jan. 1-8. Information is courtesy of 6th District Capt. Brian Korn; Stacy Irving, senior director, Crime Prevention Service; Center City District; the Police Liaison Committee and Midtown Village Merchants Association. To report crime tips, visit www.phillypolice.com or call 215-686-TIPS (8477). INCIDENTS — Between 2 a.m. Jan. 1 and 8 a.m. Jan. 3, a secured bicycle was stolen from outside 234 S. Eighth St. — Between 1 p.m. Jan. 1 and 5 p.m. Jan. 3, a secured bicycle was stolen from outside 1326 Spruce St. — At 8:30 p.m. Jan. 2, complainant was at 11th and Walnut streets when two males approached him, one with a knife, and demanded and took his wallet, then fled south on 11th. The suspects were described as black males, one in his 40s, 5foot-8, 200 pounds with a beard and wearing a black leather coat and jeans; the other about 30, 5-foot-11, 200 pounds and wearing a brown coat with fur lining. — Between 10 a.m. Jan. 1 and 4:45 p.m. Jan. 3, a 1966 Sears Motor Scooter was stolen from the driveway outside 250 S. 12th St. — At 11:05 p.m. Jan. 3, complainants were walking together in the 300 block of South 10th Street when two males, one armed with a handgun, approached and demanded their valuables; the thieves took a handbag and a wallet. The suspects were described as a white male, late 20s-30s, 5foot-7 with a medium build, goatee and a tan complexion and wearing a dark waistlength jacket and dark ski mask; the other was a black male, 5-foot-10 with a medium build and wearing a grey hoodie. — At noon Jan. 4, a male took seven CDs from the counter of Starbucks, 1301 Chestnut St., and left without paying. The suspect was described as a black male, 40 years old, 5-foot-6 with a grey beard and wearing a blue hoodie and khaki pants. — Between 10:20 p.m. Jan. 5 and 4 a.m. Jan. 6, someone smashed the window of a 2003 Honda parked in the 1100 block of Chestnut Street and stole a GPS and an iPod. This report was received by the DPR Unit via phone, thus police were not dispatched. — Between 4:15 p.m. Jan. 5 and 2 p.m. Jan. 6, someone smashed the window of a 2003 Toyota, parked outside 240 S. 13th St., and stole a duffle bag. Sixth District Officer Borras was unable to lift fingerprints. — At 2:15 p.m. Jan. 6, a man grabbed an iPhone from a woman’s hand while she was on a westbound Market-Frankford El train at the 13th and Market streets station, and fled off the train going west through the concourse. The suspect was described as a black male, 13-15 years old, with

short dreadlocked hair and wearing a white sweater and dark jeans. — Between 3:10-8 p.m. Jan. 6, someone stole an iPad from a 2009 unlocked BMW, parked in the paid garage at 221 S. 11th St., with no forced entry. This report was received by the DPR Unit via phone, thus police were not dispatched. — Between 7:35-7:50 p.m. Jan. 6, someone stole complainant’s unsecured bicycle outside 240 S. Eighth Street while he made a delivery. — At 10:50 p.m. Jan. 6, complainant was walking outside 1208 Walnut St. when a male snatched a MacBook Pro laptop from his hand and fled south on Camac Street. The suspect was described as a black male, 20 years old, 5-foot-8 and wearing a black shirt, black jeans, white sneakers and a black hat. — Between 3-4 p.m. Jan. 7, complainant’s secured bicycle was stolen from outside 200 S. 12th St. — At 2:47 p.m. Jan. 8, complainant responded to his business, 215 Secure, 1315 Walnut St., ninth floor, after his alarm company reported an activation; he found the door pried open and a laptop missing. Sixth District officers responded and held the scene until Central Detectives arrived to lift fingerprints. — At 11:05 p.m. Jan. 8, complainant was outside 2 S. 11th St. when two males asked to try his brown BMX-style bicycle. He refused and the males punched him and took the bicycle. The suspects fled north on 11th Street and were described as black males in their mid-20s: One was 5-foot-10 and wearing a grey hoodie; the other was 6-foot and wearing a blue hoodie. SUMMARY OFFENSE ARRESTS — On Jan. 4, citations were issued for summary offenses at 8:20 p.m., 1200 Spruce St.; and 8:55 p.m., 1200 Locust St. — On Jan. 5, a citation was issued for a summary offense at 2:40 a.m., 200 S. 13th St. — On Jan. 5, five citations were issued for summary offenses, 8:55 p.m., 13th and Spruce streets. NON-SUMMARY ARRESTS — At 2:55 p.m. Jan. 4, undercover police officers arrested a female inside a room at the Marriott Hotel, 1201 Market St., after responding to an ad for sex on an Internet website. The 22-year-old suspect with an Orlando, Fla., address was charged with solicitation of prostitution. — At 11 a.m. Jan. 5, 6th District plainclothes officers observed an illegal narcotic transaction taking place on the northeast corner of 10th and Market streets. The officers confiscated 49 controlled substance narcotics (pills), along with U.S. currency. Two males, ages 60 and 57, both with homeless-shelter addresses, were charged with illegal narcotic sales; a 49-year-old homeless male (the alleged buyer) was charged with possession of narcotics. ■

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 20-26, 2012

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EDITORIAL PGN

Creep of the Week

D’Anne Witkowski

Pope Benedict XVI

Editorial

What would MLK say? January has not been a good month for crime in Philadelphia. Or rather, it’s been a great month for crime, and not so great for law-abiding citizens. By Jan. 18, the city had seen 21 homicides — more than it experienced during that period in the past five years. Earlier in the month, there were the Flyers fans who beat a man in a Rangers jersey until he was unconscious near Geno’s cheesesteak shop. Last week, a man shot and killed three teens who were threatening his stepson, prompting Mayor Nutter to chastise the young people and call for “adults not to act like idiots and assholes.” Early Saturday morning, three men beat another man to death near Fourth and Chestnut streets after a misunderstanding over a cab. At presstime, the suspects had not been identified. On Monday evening — about the time when people have left work, before they’ve sat down to dinner — a man purported to have a gun held up Spruce Street Video, in the heart of the Gayborhood. Since early 2010, PGN has run a weekly summary of crime in the Gayborhood, with the full knowledge that this represents only a portion of the crime that affects the LGBT community in Philadelphia. For the most part, Philadelphians are dealing with petty crime — break-ins, bicycle, phone and computer thefts, car windows smashed. Though annoying and obnoxious, these types of crimes are different from violent crimes. They can be frustrating and leave victims feeling violated. Perhaps angry and disappointed that someone took something you worked hard for, contained valuable data or that had sentimental value. A few might be magnanimous, believing that whoever took it needs it more than they do: The universe gives, the universe takes. But it’s the violent crimes that make one feel physically unsafe — not just those specifically victimized, but also anyone who works, lives or frequents that neighborhood or area. In general, violent crimes have declined in Philadelphia. Murder, rape and arson are down 55 percent since the 1990s. And perhaps that is what makes these recent incidents so disturbing. Certainly, citizens can take steps to make themselves safer — security cameras, avoid walking alone in dark alleys, be aware of one’s surroundings. But when it comes to violence, Philadelphia — we — needs to find a solution. Whether it’s stricter penalties for illegal guns, better education and programs for youth or efforts to reduce poverty, the city and its citizens needs improvement. Having a violent reputation hurts us all — residents, youth, businesses, tourists. ■

You know, whenever I’m in the market for marriage advice, the only person I trust is an unmarried guy in a dress. It also helps if he was once a Hitler Youth. So you can imagine that whenever Pope Benedict XVI starts dishing out the marriage talk, I am all ears. In a New Year’s address to a bunch of folks at the Vatican, the pope made it clear that 2012 is still the Year of the Queer, at least if we’re categorizing each year by whatever the Catholic Church considers to be the most urgently pressing issue. Which means it’s been the Year of the Queer for over a decade now. Past issues have included poverty, world hunger, abortion and other things that have long since been resolved. Speaking of the best place for children to be educated, the pope said that “pride of place goes to the family, based on the marriage of a man and a woman.” In other words, one penis + one vagina = happy, welladjusted kids. “This is not a simple social convention, but rather the fundamental cell of every society. Consequently, policies which undermine the family threaten human dignity and the future of humanity itself,” he said. Oh, my. “Humanity itself,” eh? Somebody loves himself a little melodrama. In case it’s not clear what exactly the pope means by “policies which undermine the family,” he’s talking about gays being allowed to marry. Each other. Granted, from what I understand, that whole gay man marrying a straight woman or lesbian marrying a hetero dude thing doesn’t work out very well. But at least it doesn’t threaten all of humanity. I love how the pope makes clear that marriage isn’t a “simple social convention,” as if anyone were saying otherwise.

As if gays and lesbians just want equalmarriage rights because marriage is such an inconsequential institution and wouldn’t it be fun and ironic to walk down the aisle and said, “I do.” Nor are gay and lesbian families with kids taking that responsibility lightly. Don’t tell the pope, but there is just no evidence that kids with same-sex parents are in any way being harmed by their family structure. In fact, one week after the pope made his remarks, Live Science’s top story was, “Why Gay Parents May Be the Best Parents.” Granted, where the pope gets the balls to even talk about what’s best for children is beyond me. As John Aravosis put it, “[W]hy should we care about the moral pronouncements of people who aid and abet the rape of small children?” Ha. That Aravosis. He’s such a kidder. I mean, that whole child-abuse scandal is so 2002, right? Um, not so much, actually. Child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church has by no means gone away, and anyone who claims otherwise either hasn’t done their research or is lying. So, yeah, I think gays and lesbians are more than entitled to be outright disgusted with the pope’s continued gay bashing and homophobia. Let’s face it, if a man with as much power and influence as the pope uses his voice to tell an audience of people representing countries worldwide that homosexuals are destroying humanity, then this is not a man who actually cares about human beings, gay or straight. ■

In case it’s not clear what exactly the pope means by “policies which undermine the family,” he’s talking about gays being allowed to marry.

D’Anne Witkowski has been gay for pay since 2003. She’s a freelance writer and poet (believe it!). When she’s not taking on the creeps of the world, she reviews rock ’n’ roll shows in Detroit with her twin sister.

Correction In the Jan. 13-19 issue, PGN incorrectly listed the phone number of Helen Fitzpatrick, the District Attorney’s LGBT liaison. Fitzpatrick can be reached at 215-686-8093.

We want to know! If you are celebrating an anniversary, engagement, wedding, adoption or other life event, we would be happy to help you announce it to the community. Send your contact information and a brief description of the event to editor@epgn.com.

OP-ED PGN

There are no gay Jews For me, the aging process has led to a museum. clearer view of equality. After all, it has Here’s the rub. Many of the most prominent pioneers of the LGBT community been the passion of my life for 42 years. were Jewish; perhaps the most well known, Everywhere I travel, I’m in search of how Harvey Milk, does not even get a mention. our community is depicted. Unfortunately, In fact, in what might look like a backI notice we are not always included. That is discrimination by censorship. handed insult to the LGBT comAnd unfortunately, many of our munity, there are two gay men national organizations get a failin the museum’s Hall of Fame ing grade on this subject. They gallery — Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein — who don’t understand the seriousare both closeted thanks to the ness of this censorship. Even museum, as neither of their disGLAAD doesn’t know the history of the battle to end censorplayed bios mentions it. ship in mainstream media. They Not only is this discrimination by censorship, it reminds must learn that our collective me of a time when, in the Jewish history is the building blocks for tradition, if you discovered our future, and the justification something about a member of of why our struggle for equality the family that was shameful, deserves to become a reality. you didn’t talk about it. Does the About two months ago, my museum find LGBT shameful? nephew and I visited the new National Museum of American Mark Segal This becomes somewhat personal for me since, in my family, Jewish History in Philadelphia. one of my cousins was one of “those indiThe museum opened a little over a year ago with much fanfare. It was a spectacular viduals.” At the tender age of 16, my cousin Norman was asked to leave his home. As debut with the likes of Barbra Streisand, a child on the streets in the 1950s, he was Bette Midler, Steven Spielberg and Jerry Seinfeld. The museum not only covered the homeless and had a life of drugs and alcohol. And growing up, we children occasionplight of the Jews in coming to the States, ally heard his name and asked about him. it showcased their religious and political views. It also highlights 12 people from the We were told we don’t talk about cousin Jewish community who represent who Jews Norman. Imagine growing up, knowing you’re gay, and discovering the real story of are and their contributions to American cousin Norman. How do you tell your parsociety. ents? Do you worry about what the rest of It’s a shock and a failure on the part of the family will think? Does it sound like the the museum that we gay Jews do not exist. 1950s? That is what the NMAJH has done. A total failure, and they should bow their On behalf of my cousin Norman, shame on heads in shame. That’s a tough statement, you! ■ but as I went through the museum and saw how Jews dealt with the Revolutionary War, Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the nation’s the Civil War, the fight for civil rights and most-award-winning commentator in LGBT women’s rights, it was obvious that something was missing. LGBT. In fact, I didn’t media. He can be reached at mark@epgn. com. find those four letters anywhere in the

Mark My Words

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 20-26, 2012

Street Talk Is glitter-bombing an effective form of protest? “Yes, because it grabs people’s attention. That’s the first step to bring about change. If I saw someone glitterHolly Jackson bombed on teacher the news, I’d Mt. Airy be laughing so hard. It’s better than throwing a shoe at someone.”

“No, it’s not productive. You’re just making people mad. The politician is less likely to agree with your point of Amir Karim carpenter view if you North Philadelphia behave that way. It backfires, and doesn’t help the protester.”

“No. I would find it offensive. Glitterbombing detracts from the message you’re trying to get across because people are Keith Murray turned off by financial analyst the process. Abington It’s pointless to do something like that.”

“Yes. It’s very humorous. People appreciate a good laugh. At the same time, it forces them to look at an issue. That’s where Maureen Welsh you start. registered nurse And it’s Roxborough harmless. It doesn’t hurt anyone — as long as the glitter doesn’t get in anyone’s eyes.”

Letters and Feedback In response to “New name, location for Blue Ball,” Jan. 13-19: What a vapid decision! There must be new “management” in place that made this terrible decision. — Old School In response to “District Attorney appoints LGBT liaison,” Jan. 13-19: I look forward to Ms. Fitzpatrick’s support in getting the release of the 911 recording/transcript from the Nizah Morris death. There can be no conceivable reason to keep the public in the dark on this matter. The statute of limitations on any violation of law regarding police misconduct has long since expired. There is no active homicide investigation. Unless the stonewalling release of this information implies the police are the target of such an investigation. That would be the only legitimate reason to conceal the police

actions that evening. But that’s a highly doubtful course for them to be following. More likely is that the tape includes embarrassing information. — AgentJ In response to “Roller derby girls organize against trans policy,” Jan. 13-19: Roller derby started as a women’s sport and should stay a women’s sport. Men have way too many sports that they don’t let women play in. I don’t think we should let men play in it. Yes, I know there are men’s leagues out there, which already upsets me. But, if a guy puts on a dress and says he is a woman, we let him play on a woman’s team, then any man could do that, and then soon it would be a maledominated team, just like pretty much every other sport out there. Leave something for the women. I don’t think any transy should play; just because he wears girls’ clothes

doesn’t make him a woman. I bet if a girl got dressed up like a guy and tried out for a man’s sport, they wouldn’t let her on the team, because she is a girl. So why should we let men join a girls sport? — DerbyGirl DerbyGirl makes the statement that just because a man puts on a dress doesn’t make him a woman. This misses the whole issue. The fact is that some people are born to the wrong gender. They may look male or female on the outside, but can feel the exact opposite on the inside. Maybe one day there will be a medical reason to explain why this happens. But if you think for a minute that this is a fun place to find yourself in, think again. If you have never had a conversation with a transgender person, I challenge you to do so. I think it will be eye-opening for you and you will understand that this is not an

easy path, and those who are forging ahead and trying to present themselves as the gender they know themselves to be on the inside is true bravery. — Molly Bolt I agree with DerbyGirl. Roller derby started off when the women’s rights movement was going on so women had something to call their own. It should stay that way. If a woman went to try out for a men’s team in a sport, dressed like a man and told them she was going to become a man, I highly doubt they would let her join the team and treat her like a man and let her use the men’s locker room. If a man tries to become a woman, we should let him. But if a girl does the same thing, they wouldn’t let her because she is a woman first and wouldn’t have the same physical abilities as a man. So they would deny her. PAGE 12 — KreamKorn

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Gettin’ On

Terri Clark

Coming out is ageless “Coming out” is the term LGBT people use to describe the process of disclosing their sexual orientation or gender identity to other people. It’s very often a scary and risky experience. I’m sure that most of us who have been through the process can recall the feelings of hope and fear that mingled with pure need. Though some come out in high school or college, many disclose and/ or discover their sexual orientation later in life. Images in the media show young people telling their friends and family that they are gay, which often leaves the older set at a loss for examples and models. Some people assume that there must be a “right” age for coming out. How can someone live into their adult years, no less senior adult years, and not know they identify other than straight? I was well into my adulthood at age 34 when I came out as a lesbian. Years later, I experienced another coming-out process as a bisexual person. There are many influences on an individual’s coming-out process, including ethnicity, religion and sociocultural factors. These can both positively and negatively influence the coming-out process. Baby boomers grew up during a time when homosexuality was considered a psychiatric disorder and morally wrong. Remember that the LGBT civil-rights movement is still rather young. Being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender was something you didn’t talk about openly. Just 30 years ago, sex education was fraught with lies (even more so than today) and nearly nonexistent. Conformity was more important than diversity when it came to social structures, and power, fear, shame and even violence were used to keep people in the closet. Others, because of internalized doubt and fear, were aware of their true feelings but believed the myth that “it’s only a phase.” They hoped that by getting married and having children, they could suppress their feelings. Some of us stayed in those marriages for the sake of the children and are coming out later in life as grandparents. Today there is increasing acceptance, especially among younger generations, for LGBT people that didn’t exist when current seniors were younger. Legislation provides some rights and protections. Organizations such as the LGBT Elder Initiative are bringing attention and support to the elders in our community. Older people are learning about, LETTERS from page 11

First of all, this is not the Olympics; the league needs to settle down a little on the “produce your documentation on official letterhead” bit. Second of all, courtesy of the Olympics, it’s a well-documented fact that a lot of women athletes have hormone levels that are not, say, average, and that some women who present as CIS women are not sex-typical and they never know it. All that is to say if you had every player in

and coming to terms with, their true sexual identities. Does it matter if you don’t come out? For many, yes. Living in the closet is stressful and it can be emotionally taxing — especially with the fear that you may be “outed” and lose friends and family. Many seniors seize the opportunity to come out when a life change occurs, such as the children leaving home or a spouse dying. They feel circumstances have aligned to give them the “permission” to act on their true attractions. They have an “aha” moment, maybe in conjunction with meeting a particular person of the same gender, and it all comes into focus. One man who came out at age 58 put it this way: “Finally what I always knew to be true on the inside could be reflected on the outside.” Thinking about coming out in your senior years? Here are a few tips: 1. Educate yourself. You are not alone. People discover their sexual identity and come out at all ages, for many different reasons. By understanding this, and finding examples of others who have taken a similar path, you can feel less isolated. 2. Find community. There are many LGBT resources for finding a supportive community. Reach out to the William Way LGBT Community Center or the LGBT Community Center Coalition of Central PA. Connecting with others and discovering the same struggles and joys creates a feeling of solidarity. 3. Find support. Come out initially to people who you know/think will be supportive. It is important to find friends or family members that are understanding, compassionate and, most importantly, happy about the discovery you have made. (It’s quite possible that not everyone will be supportive.) The more positive reactions you get, the better you’ll feel — and you’ll be better able to develop your confidence in coming out. ■ Terri Clark, MPH, CHES, is prevention services coordinator for ActionAIDS. Along with Heshie Zinman, longtime community health activist, Clark serves as co-chair of the LGBT Elder Initiative. To contact the LGBTEI to comment on this article, suggest topics for future articles or for more information, visit www.lgbtei.org and watch for “Gettin’ On” each month in PGN.

the league go through hormone testing, you would wind up finding that some women the league would never question have “questionable” hormone levels (by their standards). So come off it, quit it with the fear and discrimination and welcome skaters who love the sport as much as you do and want to be a part of it. Exclusion is a slippery slope and it does nothing but hurt the players and sport. — MoDerbyFan To clarify, the Philly Roller

Girls are the “League” protesting the “Association’s” (Women’s Flat Track Derby Association’s) regulation. There are over 150 member leagues throughout the world within the WFTDA. Roller derby started as a rollerskating race involving both men and women in the Depression era, and has evolved many times over the years. The modern interpretation of roller derby — some call it the resurgence, or birth of flat track derby — was based in Austin, Texas, in 2003. — The Cycrone!

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Davis, 45, said she was terminated from her position as a line inspector in the snack-food factory in early 2010, shortly after she told coworkers that she was wearing the device. The suit alleges that one of her coworkers told a manager, who summarily terminated her employment. The suit contends that the device was concealed and did not interfere with Davis’ work. Additionally, the filing argues that a male employee who had undergone a gender transition, including wearing women’s clothing to work and taking hormones, did not face any adverse conditions in the workplace at J&J. Davis worked in the Moosic location of the company, in Lackawanna County near Scranton, while J&J is headquartered in Pennsauken, N.J. J&J did not return a call for comment, nor did an attorney for Davis. Davis is seeking punitive damages, as well as damages for suffering and humiliation and backpay. ■

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Love Lust Valentine’s Day is the annual day of love — a time for dinner, ﬂowers, chocolate, candlelight, gifts and ever ything else sexy and romantic! Be part of our Feb. 10 Love & Lust Issue and help our Philly lovebirds have a great Valentine’s Day! Ad reser vation deadline is noon Friday, Feb. 3 Contact PGN advertising director Dan Calhoun at 215-625-8501 ext. 218 to show your love!

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 20-26, 2012

PAGE 26

Family Portrait Bulletin Board Out & About Q Puzzle Scene in Philly Worth Watching

Page Page Page Page Page Page

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Controversial Kander and Ebb musical comes to Philly By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com

thing new for me. It is an archaic art form but an art form that I think, as an actor, has a virtuoso element to it. So to be able to explore The Philadelphia Theatre Company is sure that again and at the same time tell a real to create a buzz among local theatergoers story while working with Kander and Ebb when it brings the Tony Award-winning musi- really was quite enough. Suddenly, they tell cal “The Scottsboro Boys” to town Jan. 20- me I’m going to Broadway and then somebody calls me after the show closes and told Feb. 19. The musical, which debuted both on and me I was nominated. For that to happen was off Broadway in 2010, has courted intrigue really, really amazing and deeply gratifying. and controversy because of the subject matter, Because we always think we’re doing someand because it was the final musical written thing meaningful and important, and then to by legendary gay composers and songwriting have the community come back and recognize the show was absolutely amazing.” team John Kander and Fred Ebb. McClendon said that Mr. Tambo — one of The musical explores the Scottsboro case of the 1930s in which a group of African- the two end-men who take on different characAmerican teenagers are falsely accused of ters to portray the story — is one of the more rape and denied a fair trial, ultimately provok- complex roles in the show. “The interesting thing abut playing Mr. ing a national outcry that laid the groundwork Tambo is just that it’s one for the American civil-rights of the end-men in a tradimovement. tional minstrel show,” he After making his Broadway said. “There’s an interlocudebut as Mr. Tambo in the tor, who’s kind of a masproduction and being nomiter of ceremonies. Then nated for a Tony Award in there’re the two end-men 2011 for best supporting that — in a traditional actor, out performer Forrest minstrel show with a semiMcClendon returns to the circle of singers, the interrole in the Philadelphia run locutor sits in the center of the show. and the two end-men sit on McClendon said receiving either end of the semicircle a Tony nomination for the — they basically interpart changed his life. act with the interlocutor, “I’m trying to find the telling jokes and largely right words for it,” he said. “I was gobsmacked, I was FORREST MCCLENDON moving the story forward, whatever story the interlocstunned, I was a lot of things utor has chosen to tell on and really overwhelmed. For me, I’m a Philadelphia-based actor and I’ve that particular evening. It just turns out in our worked in all of the companies here. So to just case the interlocutor has chosen the story of work at The Vineyard Theatre [off-Broadway] the Scottsboro Boys.” He added that through Tambo, he gets to on this play was quite enough. I’ve done the ‘Threepenny Opera’ at the Wilma Theater, so play other roles in the story. “That’s what’s really fun about it as an minstrel scenes and blackface wasn’t someCOLEMAN DOMINGO (LEFT) AS MR. BONES AND MCCLENDON AS MR. TAMBO Photo: Paul Kolnik

FEATURE PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 20-26, 2012

NOTICE To whom it may concern: Notice is hereby given that the City Commissioners sitting as the County Board of Elections, will begin their weekly meetings concerning the April 24, 2012 Primary Election on Wednesday Jan. 25, 2012 at 11:00 A.M. in The City Commissioners, 6th Fl. Hearing Room Riverview Place, Columbus Blvd. & Spring Garden Sts. Meetings will continue every Wednesday thereafter until further notice. Stephanie F. Singer Chair, City Commissioners

Anthony Clark City Commissioner

Al Schmidt City Commissioner

Carmelo Seminara Acting Supervisor of Elections

AVISO A Quien Corresponda: Se avisa que Los Comisionados de la Ciudad de la Junta Electoral del Condado en sesion, comenzaran sus reuniones semanales con respecto al 24 de Abril de 2012 Elecciones Primarias el Miércoles 25 de Enero, 2012 a las 11:00 A.M. en Los Comisionados Municipales, 6FL. Sala de Audiencias Riverview Place, Columbus Blvd. & Spring Garden Sts., Reunion continuará cada Miércoles a partir de entonces hasta nuevo aviso. Stephanie F. Singer Presidenta De Los Comisionados De LaCiudad

Anthony Clark Comisionado De La Ciudad

Al Schmidt Comisionado De La Ciudad

Carmelo Seminara Supervisor Interino De La Electoral

KENDRICK JONES (FROM LEFT), JAMES T. LANE, JULIUS THOMAS III, JOSHUA HENRY, CHRISTIAN DANTE WHITE, JEREMY GUMBS, RODNEY HICKS, JOSH BRECKENRIDGE AND DERRICK COBEY IN THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS. Photo: Paul Kolnik.

actor,” he said. “You play this guy that morphs into six or seven other people. For Mr. Tambo, I not only get to play not only within the construct of the minstrel show, but he also plays several key characters that are involved in the fate of the Scottsboro Boys. I play their first lawyer, who is so drunk in their first trial that he can barely stand up. The fact that they didn’t have adequate representation resulted in the legal precedents that came out of the case. So the right to adequate representation is something that became codified in the country. So I get to play him and then I get to play the Northern Jewish liberal lawyer who comes down to try and save the day. I play a couple of guards and a deputy — again, all characters the boys interact with in the course of the story.” The minstrel elements of “The Scottsboro Boys,” a form of entertainment popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s that included, among other things, white actors performing in blackface and racist humor, drew protests during its run on Broadway. McClendon, who is black, viewed the controversy in a positive light. “I loved it but of course it was difficult. I don’t think you can do bold, daring work that is provocative and have people say that it’s provocative, then expect people to not be provoked. I love to embrace the controversy in that sense. The difficulty in commercial theater is you sometimes can’t come out and have the full-blown discussions that you can have [because] you are trying to sell tickets. For me, when you go to someplace like The Vineyard where one expects to find very edgy work, it’s obviously a little more tolerable. When you go someplace like The Guthrie [Theater in Minneapolis], where people expect bold experimental work, it’s a little more palatable. In commercial theater, sometimes you can’t come out and talk about some of the tough stuff. I didn’t mind it so much and the reason why I would want to revisit a chapter like this is the discussion it can start. Sadly, when you’re dealing with people who said they would not even see the show, you can’t have that conversation and that’s the unfortunate thing.” McClendon acknowledged hat people might have objected to such a heavy subject being addressed on stage as a musical. “I agree and disagree,” he said. “I think

that the idea of musicalizing this story is what was so offensive to some of those who protested it. They couldn’t comprehend that you could take something so serious and trivialize it by making it a musical. The flipside of it is I don’t see drama doing spectacularly well on Broadway. So nothing indicates to me that if it had been done as a drama, it would have had more success. I think for the audiences that did see it, the musical elements were helpful because it was the only way they could really deal with this very, very heavy subject matter. The minstrel form, in spite of the fact that it has a racist history, is an entertaining form. It’s a form that is all about coming out, taking three minutes and giving the audience a rise. The form was helpful in terms of presenting something that was so heavy.” As the last show to feature music written by Kander and Ebb, “The Scottsboro Boys” won’t disappoint the duo’s fans. “It’s right in line with the work that they do,” McClendon said. “The idea of ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman,’ this story set in a Latin American prison, the idea of ‘Cabaret,’ a story set in the middle of Nazi Germany, the idea of taking really big moments in history and using them for storytelling in musical form is very in line with what Kander and Ebb have always done. The darker, the better. Kander said to me in my first coaching with him, ‘You cannot go too far.’ There’s no better way to begin as an actor.” He added that all audiences, whether they’re fans of Kander and Ebb or just enjoy theater, will find something entertaining and uplifting about the production. “People are absolutely going to be entertained and educated,” McClendon said. “There is just nobody who has seen the play who has failed to be moved. I think one of the things that may be interesting for the LGBT audience is that idea that you will have men playing women and, in particular, you will have black men playing women. So we’ll be crossing racial lines, which is what is so inflammatory about the minstrel form, but we’re also crossing gender lines.” The Philadelphia Theatre Company presents “The Scottsboro Boys,” Jan. 20-Feb. 19 at Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St. For more information or tickets, visit www. forrestmcclendon.com or www.philadelphiatheatrecompany.org, or call 215-985-0420. ■

PROFILE PGN

Family Portrait

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 20-26, 2012

Suzi Nash

Ahavia Lavana: Mother, Quaker, lesbian Ahavia Lavana’s Facebook page states: “I am the Mother of all things and all things should wear a sweater in winter and sunscreen in summer.” She’s a Jewish Quaker lesbian mother with musical tastes that run from folk-duo Trout Fishing in America to rapper Eminem, with a life story that could be a best-selling book. PGN: From the beginning? AL: I was born in 1945 in Northampton, Pa. My father was from Czechoslovakia and a survivor of the Holocaust and my mother was Lithuanian. We were one of two Jewish families in Northampton, which was not easy. My father lived in Spain for a while and since his Spanish was good, after he came to the States he spent a lot of time in South America looking for Nazis. I grew up around a lot of people who were activists fighting for statehood of Israel and other causes. A number of them were communists, which gave me a different view of the world than most kids my age. I remember sitting around the radio as we listened to the news when Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed as communist spies. A few of the people knew them and were very upset and scared. In third grade, I remember a teacher hitting me with a Bible saying she did it because the Jews killed Christ. I didn’t even know who Christ was; I just felt, I’m just a kid, I didn’t kill anybody! I also got in trouble because somewhere along the way I decided to stop saying the Pledge of Allegiance. I’d seen too much going on in the world. PGN: You were a little rebel! AL: Yeah, it scared my parents. They were afraid I was going to say something that would get me in real trouble. One time I got into it with a teacher and he turned around and wrote “respect” on the board. Instead of backing down, I told him, “You don’t just get respect, you have to earn it just like I do.” The other kids liked it when I spoke up because it distracted the teacher from giving tests and things. PGN: What was your father’s work when he wasn’t chasing bad guys? AL: My family had a grocery store and apartments. Both of my grandfathers were rabbis. The family was ultra-orthodox. As a result, I never learned about Christmas. In kindergarten, I remember the kids being excited because Santa was coming. They said that if you were good, Santa would bring you lots of toys. So Christmas Day, I came downstairs and of course there was nothing there. I started crying because I realized that I must be bad. I told my mother and she explained that we didn’t celebrate Christmas. PGN: I understand you were a young

mother. AL: Yes, in high school I had a boyfriend and got pregnant before I graduated. We got married and I had my oldest son, Ron. The marriage didn’t last and shortly after that, I got involved with the civil-rights movement and joined the NAACP. I got involved with the head of the local chapter and had my second son with him. Hunter was born with spina bifida and clubfeet and had a series of surgeries starting when he was two days old. My parents had helped with my first son, but they didn’t welcome a child of color in their house, so he ended up in foster care. It took me a while to get him back. PGN: How did you feel having parents who were fighting injustice on one front and then not accepting your mixed child? AL: They were fighting Jewish causes and they felt that aligning yourself with an even more oppressed group didn’t make sense. It made you even more of an enemy to the powers that be. There was a cross burned by the KKK not far from where we lived, so they were afraid people would stop coming into the store if they associated us with black causes. So I went back to school and studied nursing. I ended up at a state hospital, where I saw one of the head nurses abusing patients. I reported her and I got fired! I switched to a nursing home and, in my depression, started taking antidepressants, which I got addicted to. At that time, I was dating another nurse who was addicted to speed. She had a whole bowl full of pills, probably stolen, in the home. I realized that it wasn’t a good situation and got into a drug rehab center. There I met a man who was visiting his sister. He was in the Marines and gay, but in the closet, so we got together. He was a Quaker and introduced me to the Friends. We married and he adopted my sons. I found out after we got married that he came from a family with money. We were able to buy, restore and flip old houses. I also went back to college again while we were together.

so I didn’t want to compromise that. I’d become a drug and alcohol counselor, and I also started doing social research. It was funny: I noticed the closer you get to the computer and the farther away you got from actual clients, the more money you made, so I started learning computers. I began getting jobs in information technology. This was back when we were still using Hollerith cards and binary numbers. I learned assembly language, the basic computer language that all other computer languages are based on even now, so it has been very helpful. PGN: It sounds like Latin for computers. AL: Exactly. I became a systems analyst and really took to it. I left social work as a job but I was volunteering with the youth services bureau in Montgomery County, and we were getting a lot of young women coming in who had been raped. So I took a course with Women Organized Against Rape (WOAR) and we started a local chapter, which is now the Victims’

PGN: How old were you then? AL: This was in my 20s. PGN: Wow, that’s a lot packed into two decades! AL: [Laughs.] I know. At that time the feminist movement was starting and I began speaking at events. I gave a speech at the Revolutionary People’s Convention here in Philadelphia. I gave a talk about the use of hallucinogenic drugs. I never took them and we instructed people not to use them during revolutionary acts, because you might accidentally blow up something! I met a lot of lesbians in the movement, but I was married and had my kids back and lived in a nice house,

Service Center of Montgomery County. I’m proud to say it’s still very active and every year they do an awards ceremony and give away the Matty Muir awards, which is my other name. PGN: How many names do you have? AL: I was born Mindle Nebel, then when I went to school I was called Madaline, then I married and I became Madaline Magliane. After we divorced and I remarried, I became Madaline Muir. Friends

started calling me Maddy, but I changed it to Matty because I didn’t want to be “Mad.” Later I became involved with someone who spoke Hebrew and we came up with Ahavia Lavana, which means “beautiful moon.” PGN: That’s lovely. AL: Thank you. Unfortunately after I got divorced, my second husband went to court to get legal custody of my sons. At the time, if you were a drug addict or a prostitute or a criminal, a negative effect on the children wasn’t assumed. But if you were lesbian, it was automatically assumed that it would hurt the children. I couldn’t out him as gay because then they would have taken the kids from both of us and put them in foster care. One day I got a call from the school social worker saying that the kids were coming to school in dirty clothes and she was concerned. My ex husband had started drinking and wasn’t taking care of the kids. When she asked why I didn’t have custody, I told her it was because I was a lesbian. She paused and said, “I’m a member of Sisterspace.” She gave me the name of a woman, Rosalie Davies, who ran a group called Custody Action for Lesbian Mothers (CALM). I got my children back and became a board member of CALM for many years. PGN: What was coming out like? AL: I had a friend Peggy who I knew since we were toddlers. Our parents used to put us in a playpen together. When I got older, I remember meeting some people who I at first thought were men and then realized that they were very butch women and thought, Oh, I like that idea! I fell in lust with one of them and told Peggy about it. She lived 45 minutes away and was at my house in 30. She thought she was gay too and was always afraid to Photo: Suzi Nash tell me. So we explored the lesbian community together and then became lovers. The only problem was that back then you had to be butch and femme, so since she looked like a mini Dolly Parton, I became the butch one. It was a role I didn’t really take to and after a while it wore thin. I had to be just me. PGN: How did you meet Inspira? AL: Well, even while I was married, I was involved with PAGE 22

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 20-26, 2012

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Food & Drink

PGN PROFILE PORTRAIT from page 19

a Quaker group called Committee for Concerns. [Laughs.] It was basically a gay group, but we left what we were concerned about out of the name. After I got divorced, I met a child psychologist named Inspira at one of the conferences. She was a 6-foot tall beautiful black woman. Because of the custody battle, we weren’t able to live together. In fact, with the first judge, I was ordered to give my ex, a man who had inherited millions of dollars, a quarter of my salary and was told I was lucky he let me see my kids at all. I never got legal custody: I just took my youngest son, but my husband decided not to fight me as long as I signed over any rights to his money. I jokingly called my son my $2million baby. I met Inspira 26 years ago and we were together until recently. While we were together, we took in foster kids. One child, two-and-a-half months old, was in the hospital with shaken baby syndrome, a broken collarbone and fetal alcohol poisoning. We took her in and eventually adopted her, and so I have one daughter, Shante. She’s now all grown up. PGN: Tell me a funny mother story. AL: It’s funny: Years ago at the Friends Meeting House, we were having a discussion as to whether or not we should allow gay ceremonies to be held. One of the fellows got up and said, “If this is allowed to go on, there won’t be any more children!” At the time I was in the back holding Shante along with a number of lesbian mothers, some who had birthed their kids, some adopted. We all stood and held up our kids and said, “Trust us, we won’t run out of babies. We will continue to have them, get them, take care of them, one way or another.” My sister is also a lesbian with two children. She’s been with her partner for a while and when her second child was born, my mother said, “Oh, the baby has Betty’s eyes and Diana’s chin.” We all just looked at each other and said, “Sure, Mom.”

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PGN: I read a paper you wrote called “Helping and Healing.” AL: Yes, that was for Hunter. He died of AIDS in 1991 at the age of 25. He was a beautiful gay boy and very much an LGBT activist. He was involved with a gay youth group in Philly and was a filmmaker and movie critic. He loved people and they loved him back. The night my son told me he had AIDS, I felt my blood run cold. Fortunately, my nursing background allowed me to take care of him. I was able to dress bandages and flush lines, etc. He was the only patient in his hospital that didn’t get an infection because I was able to stay on top of it. People always told me, “You took such good care of him,” but he died, so I didn’t find much solace in that. I was glad for the time we got to spend together. PGN: What was helpful? AL: One friend sent over a giant box of food. There was a whole meal, a beautiful tablecloth, candles — and a Mozart tape! It was fantastic. Her idea was to feed the soul and the body. Several Friends sent over casseroles and tried to think themselves of things that they could do, not putting another burden on me by asking, “What can we do to help?” That was very helpful. What was not was people asking me how he got the disease. What did that matter? It just meant somebody else was sick, and it’s irrelevant. But for the most part, people were kind and helpful — from the friend who sent $10 to buy vitamins to the pharmacist who made sure to order medicine three days before so my son wouldn’t run out. I found there is more lovingness and more kindness than not. ■ To suggest a community member for “Family Portrait,” write to portraits05@aol.com.

PGN

Outward Bound

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 20-26, 2012

Jeff Guaracino

Giving back to his community with a hotel B&Bs and guesthouses that predominantly serve the LGBT traveler have been around for decades. Now, full-service hotels catering to our community are gaining ground. Arguably the famed Axel Hotels in Spain and Argentina started the gay-focused trend, followed by Miami’s Lords South Beach and, in March, The OUT NYC opens, billed as New York’s first gay- and straight-friendly urban resort. Native New Yorker Brian Gorman, 36, opened the Lords South Beach Hotel one year ago. South Beach’s only hotel catering almost exclusively to the LGBT community garnered rave reviews and even an item in The New York Times Travel section. PGN interviewed the young entrepreneur about his concept. PGN: How is your hotel different than other South Beach hotels? BG: We are about creating a space where anyone who feels different feels comfortable. When you stay at our hotel, it’s like being at a friend’s beach house. You feel like you are at home and you can be who you

want to be. Our guests have responded very well.

tele. We have lesbians, gays, straights and transgender staff.

PGN: Why do you need a gay hotel or, as your tagline says, an appropriately oriented hotel? BG: It doesn’t always have to be about need; why can’t it be about want? I am about creating a product that supports the individual guest. I wanted to create a hotel for a community where I feel my strongest roots. If you took away my gay community, what community would I be a part of?

PGN: A recent search on your website found very affordable rates for South Beach in season. You have one penthouse for $350 a night. BG: Before the recession, you couldn’t go to the beach unless you wanted to pay $500 a night. To keep the creative spirits connected, we try to keep our rates affordable and reasonable. We are trying to create a certain experience here by drawing a certain creative crowd. So most rooms are around $220 per night.

PGN: Guests can choose to stay in a room that gives back to the local Miami LGBT community. BG: We do a lot to bring the community together. One program I am very proud of is called “Rooms That Matter.” We have dedicated five rooms in the hotel and each local organization gets 10 percent of the revenue from those rooms. It is a great way to tie a for-profit with a not-for-profit. Among our charities are the Aqua Foundation and

LORDS SOUTH BEACH OWNER BRIAN GORMAN

Miami Beach Pride. We have given $10,000 to the local community already. PGN: Lords South Beach is turning one. What have you learned? BG: It’s been a major learning curve. We have found who we are and what we are about. Our clientele is mixed. On average, we are 80-percent men and 20-percent women. On party weekends, we are almost 95-percent men. Our staff reflects our clien-

PGN: Any expansion plans? BG: Getting into New York is a possibility. There really is a market for gay hotels and for niche products that helps you stand out. ■ Jeff Guaracino is VP for Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation and vice chair for International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association. For local travel, go to visitphilly. com/gay and friend visitgayphilly.com/facebook.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 20-26, 2012

Hazy Shade of Winter

Worth Watching

If you’re a “Game of Thrones” fan, you know the significance of the phrase, “Winter is coming.” After last week, I think we all have to admit that winter is here. MLK weekend was cold but lots of fun. We spent one day at MidAtlantic Leather weekend in Washington, D.C., and then came back up to host a friend who was in Philly for the Radical Faerie Gatherette. That meant lots of time relaxing, catching up with old friends and making plans for the coming year.

FUNK BUDDIES: Out comedian and TV personality Wanda Sykes lends her distinctive voice to Stella, the sassy skunk who winds up getting involved with Tiger, a Persian cat that has lost all sense of smell, in the animated feature “Over the Hedge,” 8 p.m. Jan. 21 on ABC. Photo: Dreamworks Animation

you’ll get to see performances by Alien Beauty, Chaos and Lace, Dynasty, Wordz, Messy and J Mase III. Performances start at 10 p.m., with dancing after midnight with DJ Evil V. For more information, check out www. genderreelfest.com.

Stimulus’ Winter Wonderland Ball Don’t miss the second-annual Stimulus Winter Wonderland Ball from 10 p.m.-3 a.m. Jan. 27 at Voyeur Nightclub. The Winter Wonderland Ball benefits the Sapphire Fund, which supports local LGBT organizations. This is a semi-formal event, so don’t miss your chance to dress up and knock everyone’s socks off on the red carpet entry. DJ Jivey Rivas, DJ Kash and DJ Jovi Baby will spin the tunes. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door, which makes this a great warm-up for the Sapphire Ball. For more information, check out www.stimulusphilly.com or Jim Kiley- friend the group on Facebook.

“RuPaul’s Drag Race Battle of the Seasons” Don’t forget about “RuPaul’s Drag Race Battle of the Seasons,” 9 p.m. Jan. 20 at Voyeur Nightclub, 1221 St. James St. I talked about this event two weeks ago, but I found out VIP tickets include a one-hour open bar and a meetand-greet! The Battle stars Bebe and Rebecca (season one), Sahara and Pandora (season two), Mimi and Manila (season three) and Phi Phi and Sharon (season four), which premieres Jan. 30 on Logo. Tickets are $25 for standing room or $50 for VIP seating. For tickets and more information, find “RuPaul’s Drag Race Battle of the Seasons” on Facebook.

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TABATHA TAKES CHERRY HILL: On “Tabatha Takes Over,” out hairstylist and hair expert Tabatha Coffey visits Beyond Hair Salon and Spa in Cherry Hill, N.J., to see if she can whip the struggling business into shape, 10 p.m. Jan. 24 on Bravo. Photo: Mitch

CATER TO THEIR EGOS: On the season finale of reality series “Chef Roblé & Co.,” the team has to cater a gay wedding featuring a runway theme for the reception, as well as a dinner party for SNL alum Rachel Dratch, 10 p.m. Jan. 22 on Bravo.

Haaseth

Photo: Heidi Gutman

SKINTERVENTION: On the season-two premiere of “Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?” Melissa holds an intervention on mama Joan Rivers when Joan decides it’s time for another plastic-surgery procedure. Joan then turns the tables, offering to pay for any procedure anyone wants. Brilliant! Watch the drama unfold 9 p.m. Jan. 24 on WeTV. Photo: Joe Toreno

Jocks The Greater Philadelphia Flag Football League is off-season right now, but that doesn’t mean the players are just sitting around. Catch up with all the lads at their winter fundraising party 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Jan. 21 at Venture Inn, 255 S. Camac St. The Venture was just completely renovated, so check out the new look of this historical establishment and hang with a bunch of hot jocks at the same time. The $5 cover includes one domestic beer or Finlandia drink, with music by DJ Salotta Tee. All proceeds go to the GPFFL. For more information, visit www.phillyflagfootball.org. MixTape Want to make a real difference in someone’s life? MixTape is a quarterly showcase sponsored by Gender Reel that features queer and transgender performance artists. Each event is a fundraiser for a local member of the community to help with the cost of gender-reassignment surgery. When you go to MixTape, you not only know exactly where your donation is going, but you get a chance to actually meet the person you’re helping and learn precisely how much your assistance means. Join MixTape 9 p.m. Jan. 27 at Tritone, 1508 South St. Cover charge is $5 and

Zufelt

First Annual Sapphire Ball The fine folks who brought you Blue Ball now introduce Sapphire Ball, which also supports Sapphire Fund. The big event takes place Jan. 28 at The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th St., and kicks off with the Sapphire Ball Reception from 8-10 p.m., followed by Sapphire Ball Live from 10 p.m.-1 a.m. Dress is blue-tie optional with a masquerade theme. The ball will feature a dessert buffet and entertainment by Bounce, a live 10-piece band. Tickets are available in a variety of configurations: $60 for the ball only, which includes a cash bar; $100 for two student tickets to the ball only and a cash bar (student IDs required with each ticket); or $150 for the reception and the ball, including hors d’oeuvres at the reception and an open bar at both events. Sapphire Brunch Sapphire Ball weekend winds up with the Sapphire Brunch from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Jan. 29 at The Pyramid Club, 1735 Market St., 51st floor. This event is separately ticketed at $65 for the brunch alone. Oh, hell, make it easy on yourself and just get the VIP pass. It’s only $185 and it includes the reception, the ball, the brunch and open bar at the Sapphire Ball. Tack on the Winter Wonderland Ball and, for under $200, you get one amazing weekend while raising money for a great cause. For more information, check out www. sapphirefund.org. ■ Questions, comments or news about upcoming events? Contact Jim at barcrawlr@gmail.com.

GAMESPGN & COMICS

Q Puzzle Who’s That Girl Crush? Across

1. Inedible Apple 5. Thailand neighbor 9. He gives gifts in stocking 14. “Safe!” or “Out!” 15. Heterogeneous mixture 16. George, who was Mary Ann 17. “The African Queen” author 18. Middle of Caesar’s boast 19. Drummer managed by Brian Epstein 20. She admitted a crush on Sophia Loren 23. Gay city 24. What male impersonators do?

28. Augusten Burroughs’ works 31. LBJ’s veep 32. Bullring bravo 33. Boston ball handlers, briefly 34. She admitted a crush on Christina Hendricks 37. Bear’s den 38. Spit that didn’t get swallowed 39. Porter’s regretful miss 40. She admitted a crush on Charlize Theron 42. Trial figure 43. “Eeew!” 44. They could come from Uranus 45. Completely faithful 46. What livers do 48. Spacey’s “The ___ Suspects”

50. She admitted a crush on Angelina Jolie 55. Frock wearer 58. Susan Feniger preparation 59. Barbra’s “Funny Girl” costar 60. “One of Ours” novelist Cather 61. Like a virgin 62. The number of people who like it hot 63. Raggedy Ann and others 64. Went licketysplit 65. Slant unfairly

Down

1. Optimist’s phrase 2. Three guys who went to see Mary 3. “ ___ Baldwin Doesn’t Love Me” 4. Elizabeth

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Taylor movie 5. Brooks and Barney, for two 6. Quite similar 7. Nostalgic song 8. Came out with 9. Top angels 10. Dress with a flared bottom 11. Henry and June’s Anais 12. Dress (up) 13. From ___ Z (completely) 21. One-nightstand partners 22. Taj ___ 25. Made purely academic 26. Current event? 27. Liam of “Kinsey” 28. Cream-filled pastry 29. Medium meeting 30. Moves like Mae West 31. Med. care groups

34. Screws up 35. François Ozon, to himself 36. Huge flop 38. Mr. Rightnow 41. Felt around the head? 42. One that plays with balls at the circus 45. Crossed swords 47. Darn extension 48. Finish off 49. You might pick one up in an alley 51. Little fairies 52. Welcome response after an SM session 53. “Zami: A New Spelling of My ___ “ 54. Shot up 55. WNBA position 56. Carnaval locale 57. Will descriptor

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 20-26, 2012

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 20-26, 2012

OUT & ABOUT The week ahead Fri. 01/20 Philadelphia Funk Authority The party-funk band performs 8 p.m. at Sellersville Theater 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville; 215257-5808. The Smithereens The rock band performs 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400. The Big Lebowski The comedy film is screened 10 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-0223. Everlast The singer performs a free show

10 p.m. at House of Blues, 801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-3434000.

Sat. 01/21 William Way LGBT Community Center annual membership meeting Members of the center will learn about the organization’s future and direction, as well as vote on candidates running for the board of directors, 1 p.m. at 1315 Spruce St.; 215732-2220. Jeremy Filsell The organist performs 3 p.m. at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800.

A Penny for Your Thoughts A guided discussion on all issues impacting lesbian, bisexual and questioning women, 4-7 p.m. at the William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St.; 215732-2220. 2012 Miss’d America Pageant The Greater Atlantic City GLBT Alliance presents the drag pageant featuring a performance by Martha Wash, 8 p.m. Jan. 21 at Boardwalk Hall, 2301 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, N.J.; www.acglbt.org/ mainpages/missdamerica.asp. Snowball Brian Sanders’ JUNK hosts a onenight fundraiser 8 p.m. at Hamilton

Hall at University of the Arts, 320 S. Broad St.; 215893-1999. The Ultimate ’80s Dance Party with DJ Robert Drake The DJ spins you right round like a record, baby, 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 215-222-1400. The Legwarmers The ’80s tribute band performs 9 p.m. at The Trocadero Theater 1894, 1003 Arch St.; 215-922-6888.

Sun. 01/22 A Few Dollars More The Western film is screened 2 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-0223.

goes mobile

Mon. 01/23 Groove Night Local musicians join forces to bring the R&B, soul, jazz and funk, 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 215-222-1400. Pulp Fiction The crime film is screened 7:30 p.m. at Sellersville Theater 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville; 215257-5808. 50/50 The dramatic film is screened 8 p.m. at The Trocadero Theater 1894, 1003 Arch St.; 215-922-6888.

Tue. 01/24 Unlabeled: The Acoustic/ Electric Open Mic for Up and Comers Sign up and play, 7 p.m. at World

SNAP TO IT: The RUBBERBANDance Group blends hiphop and ballet dancing to create a spectacular stage show, performing through Jan. 21 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St. For more information or tickets, call 215898-3900. Photo: Michaël Slobodian

Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 215-222-1400. TuesGAY Nights Lyrics Lounge and DJ June Rodrigues host a weekly night of music and performers for the LGBT community, 8 p.m., 6527 Roosevelt Blvd.; 215-533-5888.

Wed. 01/25 4W5 Blues Jam Local musicians get down 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live

Thu. 01/26 Bach to Mahler The Philadelphia Orchestra performs 8 p.m. at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800. Bob and Barbara’s Drag Show The outrageousness begins 11 p.m. at Bob and Barbara’s, 1509 South St.; 215545-4511.

Fri. 01/27

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at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 215-222-1400.

SLUSH FUND FUN: Brian Sanders’ JUNK hosts “Snowball,” a one-night fundraiser featuring performances by JUNK, MOMIX, Koresh Dance Company and guest performers from Cirque du Soleil, Pilobolus and more. Creative white dress is suggested, with awards for most creative attire and jewels, and the event also promises creative white cocktails, drinks and hors d’oeuvres, 8 p.m. Jan. 21 at Hamilton Hall at University of the Arts, 320 S. Broad St. For more information or tickets, call 215-893-1999. Photo: Steve Belkowitz

Guys Night Out: Moore College of Art & Design Meet at the William Way LGBT Community Center for a field trip to Moore College of Art and Design for the opening reception of three new exhibits: Philagrafika’s “Doing Time/ Depth of Surface,” “A Circumstantial Assembly” and the works of Shizuko Kimura, 5:30 p.m. at 1315 Spruce St.; RSVP at 215-732-2220. HOLLER! An open-mic night, 7 p.m. at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; 215-923-2960.

For the Love of Pig Iron: THE APORKALYPSE Pig Iron Theatre Company hosts its annual benefit cabaret and auction featuring Quinn “Nose-tradamus” Bauriedel, Rosie Langabeer and the 12th Night Gypsy Band, Johnny Showcase and his Lefty Lucy Cabaret, The Ladies of Elegance, The Berzerker Residents, Amy Pickard, Club Lyfestile, Charleigh Parker, The Bearded Ladies and Miss Martha Graham Cracker, 8 p.m. at The Trocadero Theater, 1003 Arch St.; 215922-6888. MixTape Gender Reel presents a quarterly surgery fundraising showcase for gender nonconforming and transgender people 9 p.m. at Tritone, 1508 South St.; 215545-0475. Winter Wonderland Ball Stimulus hosts an upscale event to benefit the Sapphire Fund, 10 p.m.-3 a.m. at Voyeur Nightclub, 1221 St. James St.; www.stimulusphilly.com.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

Opening In the Footprint: The Battle Over Atlantic Yards The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents the political stage drama through Jan. 28 at Harold Prince Theater, 3680 Walnut St.; 215898-3900. The Coming World The Players Club of Swarthmore Theater presents the drama about a man whose life is heading off the tracks, Jan. 20-Feb. 4, 614 Fairview Road, Swarthmore; 610328-4271.

Continuing Body Awareness The Wilma Theater presents a heartwarming comedy about a lesbian couple dealing with issues of sexuality and identity, through Feb. 5, 265 S. Broad St.; 215-546-7824. Ludwig Live! Ludwig van Beethoven entertains audiences with his swinging new lounge act, through Jan. 29 at Kimmel’s Innovation Studio, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800. Member Artists’ Group Show Twenty-Two Gallery presents a grouping of 22 local artists’ work in a variety of media including oils, acrylics, sculpture, print work, mixed media and photography, through Feb. 11, 236 S. 22nd St.; 215-722-1911. Motherhood: The Musical Society Hill Playhouse presents the musical comedy from the creators of “Menopause: The Musical,” through Feb. 29, 507 S. Eighth St.; 215-923-0211. Rent The hit musical about impoverished artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York City’s Lower East Side is on stage through Feb. 11 at Eagle Theatre, 208 Vine St.; Hammonton, N.J.; 856-704-5012. The Scottsboro Boys The Philadelphia Theatre Company presents the Tony Award-winning musical from the legendary songwriting team of Kander and Ebb exploring the infamous 1930s Scottsboro case, in which a group of African-American teens are falsely

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.

accused of a terrible crime, through Feb. 19 at Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St.; 215-985-0420. Time, Light, Chance The James Oliver Gallery presents Ron Johnson’s exhibition of oil paintings through March 2, 723 Chestnut St., fourth floor; www.jamesolivergallery. com. Tristin Lowe: Under the Influence Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition debuting works from the Philadelphia artist, through Jan. 29, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 20-26, 2012

LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE: Comic, nurse and queer-health advocate Kelli Dunham hosts “Queer Bodies, Queer Selves: A MultiMedia LGBT Health Comedy Extravaganza,” an entertaining and informative event featuring guest performers R. Eric Thomas and Dan Horrigan, 8 p.m. Jan. 21 at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St. For more information, call 215-7322220. Photo: Robin Fradkin Mathews

Zaha Hadid: Form in Motion Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of product designs by architect Hadid, who in 2004 became the first female recipient of the renowned Pritzker Architecture Prize, through March 25, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

SHE’S THE MANN: Chances are none of her ‘Til Tuesday classics will be heard, but you should still catch rock-starturned-indie-singersongwriter Aimee Mann when she performs 8 p.m. Jan. 26 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. For more information or tickets, call 215222-1400.

The Mousetrap Walnut Street Theatre presents the Agatha Christie murder mystery about a group a people trapped in a mansion during a snowstorm only to find out that one of them is a murderer, through March 4, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550. Proof Walnut Street Theatre presents the Pulitzer Prize-winning play about fathers and daughters, genius and insanity, legacy and truth, through Feb. 5 at Independence Studio on 3, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550. Zoe Strauss: Ten Years Philadelphia Museum of Art presents a mid-career retrospective of the acclaimed out photographer’s work and the first critical assessment of her 10year project to exhibit her photographs annually in a space beneath a section of Interstate-95 in South Philadelphia, through April 22, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

Closing Beethoven by Blomstedt The Philadelphia Orchestra performs through Jan. 21 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800. Memphis The Kimmel Center presents the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical through Jan. 22 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; 215-7905800. RUBBERBANDance Group The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents the dance company that combines hip-hop and ballet through Jan. 21 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; 215-898-3900. ■

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 20-26, 2012

Community Bulletin Board Community centers

■ The Attic Youth Center: For LGBT and questioning youth and their friends and allies. Groups meet and activities are held 4-8 p.m. MondayFriday; case management, HIV testing and smoking cessation are available Monday-Friday. See the Youth section for more events. 255 S. 16th St.; 215-545-4331 ■ Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center at the University of Pennsylvania 3907 Spruce St.; 215-898-5044; center@dolphin.upenn.edu, Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday

and Allies Youth Center: 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays: Doylestown Planned Parenthood, The Atrium, Suite 2E, 301 S. Main St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981; rainbowroom@ppbucks.org

■ William Way Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center: 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220; www.waygay.org. Hours: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Peer counseling: 6-9 p.m. Monday through Friday Library hours: 12-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 12-3 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Friday; 126 p.m. Saturday. Volunteers: New Orientation: First Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.

■ Rainbow Room — Bucks County’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning

■ AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania: 215-587-9377

Key numbers

■ AIDS Law Project of Southern New Jersey: 856-933-9500 ext. 221

■ Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Peer Counseling Services: 215-732-TALK

■ AIDS Library: 215-985-4851

■ Mayor’s Director of LGBT Affairs: Gloria Casarez, 215-6862194; Gloria.Casarez@phila.gov; Fax: 215-686-2555

■ ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215592-1513 ■ AIDS Treatment Fact line: 1800-662-6080 ■ Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection at the Independence Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library: 215-685-1633 ■ The COLOURS Organization Inc.: 112 N. Broad St., third floor; 215-496-0330 ■ Equality Pennsylvania: 215731-1447; www.equalitypa.org ■ Equality Forum: 215-732-3378

■ Mazzoni Center: 215-563-0652; www.mazzonicenter.org. Legal Services: 215-563-0657, 866-LGBTLAW; legalservices@mazzonicenter. org ■ Mazzoni Center Family & Community Medicine: 215-563-0658 ■ Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): 215-572-1833

Health

AIDS Services In Asian Communities Provides HIV-related services to Asians and Pacific Islanders at 340 N. 12th St., Suite 205; 215-629-2300. www.asiac.org Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative Free, anonymous HIV testing from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; 12-6 p.m. Tuesdays at the Washington West Project, 1201 Locust St. 215851-1822 or 866-222-3871. www.galaei.org. Spanish/English HIV treatment Free HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment for Philadelphia residents are available from 9 a.m.-noon Mondays and 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad St.; 215-685-1803. HIV health insurance help Access to free medications and confidential HIV testing

■ Greater Philadelphia Professional Network Networking group for area business professionals, self-employed and business owners meets monthly in a different location throughout the city, invites speakers on various topics, partners with other nonprofits and maintains a Web site where everyone is invited to sign up for e-mail notices for activities and events.; www.gppn.org.

■ Philadelphia Police Department liaison — Deputy Commissioner Stephen Johnson: 215-683-2840 ■ Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 267-216-6606; ppd. lgbt@gmail.com ■ Philly Pride Presents: 215875-9288 ■ SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: 717-9209537 ■ Transgender Health Action Coalition: 215-732-1207 (staffed 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays and 6-9 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays)

■ Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations: 215-686-4670

Anonymous, free, conﬁdential HIV testing Spanish/English counselors offer testing 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 3439 N. Hutchinson St..; 215-763-8870 ext. 6000.

■ Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia GALLOP holds board meetings at 6:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at 100 S. Broad St., Suite 1810; GALLOP also provides a free referral service; (215) 6279090; www.galloplaw.org.

■ Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force: 215-772-2000

Mazzoni Center Family & Community Medicine Comprehensive primary health care, preventive health services, gynecology, sexual-health services and chronic-disease management, including comprehensive HIV care; 809 Locust St.; 215-563-0658. Washington West Project Free, anonymous HIV testing. Walk-ins welcome 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday except for 12-1 p.m. and 5-6 p.m. and 1-5 p.m. Saturday; 1201 Locust St.; 215-985-9206.

■ National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association The Philadelphia chapter of NLGJA, open to professionals

Pennsylvania Al-Anon Alateen Family Groups: Events, meeting times and locations at pa-al-anon.org.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

■ Acceptance meets 7:30 p.m. on Fridays at

Episcopal Church, 22nd and Spruce streets.

■ Meets daily 8:30-9:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m-

midnight and 11 a.m.-noon at the William Way Center. ■ Community meets 8 p.m. on Thursdays at Holy Communion Church, 2111 Sansom St. Gay and lesbian but all are welcome. ■ GLBT Alcoholics Anonymous meets 7 p.m. on Sundays and 8 p.m. on Wednesdays at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 100 W. Windsor St., Reading; 484-529-9504. ■ Living In Sobriety meets 11 a.m. Sundays at the William Way Center. ■ Night Owl meets 11:30 p.m. Sunday through Saturday at the William Way Center. ■ Stepping Stone meets 2:30 p.m. Mondays at the William Way Center. ■ Meets 5:30-6:30 p.m. daily at Washington West Project, 1201 Locust St; 215-985-9206. ■ Ties That Bind Us, a 12-step Alcoholics Anonymous meeting for BDSM, leather and alternative sexuality community, meets 7:30-9 p.m. in South Philadelphia. For location, call 800-581-7883.

Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA)

■ Meets 7 p.m. on Sunday, Tuesday,

Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at the William Way Center.

Emotional Support

Mazzoni Center Free, anonymous HIV testing; HIV/AIDS care and treatment, case management and support groups; 21 S. 12th St., eighth ﬂoor; 215-563-0652. www.mazzonicenter.org.

■ Independence Business Alliance Greater Philadelphia’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce, providing networking, business development, marketing, educational and advocacy opportunities for LGBT and LGBT-friendly businesses and professionals. Visit www.IndependenceBusinessAlliance.com for information about events, programs and membership; 215-557-0190; 1717 Arch St., Suite 3370.

Al-Anon

■

■ Pink and Blues, a free peer-run mental health

available by appointment at 13 S. MacDade Blvd., Suite 108, Collingdale; Medical Ofﬁce Building, 722 Church Lane, Yeadon; and 630 S. 60th St.; 610-5869077.

Professional groups

12-step programs and support groups

and students, meets for social and networking events; www.nlgjaphiladephia.org. ■ Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus A regional organization dedicated to promoting gay and lesbian tourism to the Greater Philadelphia Region, holds meetings every other month on the fourth Thursday (January, March, May, July, September and the third Thursday in November), open to the public; P.O. Box 58143, Philadelphia, PA 19102; www.philadelphiagaytourism.com. ■ Philly OutGoing Professionals Social group for gay, lesbian and bisexual professionals meets for social and cultural activities; 856857-9283; popnews19@yahoo. com.

support group for LGBT people, meets 7 p.m. Wednesdays at St. Luke and The Epiphany Church, 330 S. 13th St.; 215-627-0424. ■ Survivors of Suicide Inc. meets 7:30 p.m. on ﬁrst Tuesday of the month at 3535 Market St., Room 2037; 215-545-2242; www.phillysos. tripod.com. ■ Survivors of Suicide Inc., Chester County meets 7:30 p.m. on second Wednesday of the month at Paoli Memorial Hospital, Willistown Room, Medical Ofﬁce Building; 215-5452242; phillysos.tripod.com.

HIV/AIDS

■ Strength In Numbers

Visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ SINPhiladelphia.

Mondays: ■ Positive Brothers, a support group for men of color living with HIV/AIDS, meets 6-8 p.m. at 112 N. Broad St., 11th floor; 215-496-0330. Tuesdays: ■ A support group for HIV-positive men and women meets 1:30-3 p.m. at BEBASHI — Transition to Hope, 1217 Spring Garden St., first floor; 215- 769-3561. bebashi.org ■ Encuentros Positivos, a group for HIVpositive Latino men who have sex with men, meets on first and third Tuesday of the month at 1205 Chestnut St. ■ “Feast Incarnate,” a weekly ministry for people affected by HIV/AIDS, meets 5 p.m. at University Lutheran Church, 3637 Chestnut St. Bible study follows at 6 p.m.; 215-3872885. ■ A support group for people recently diagnosed with HIV/AIDS meets 6:30-8 p.m. at the Mazzoni Center; 215-563-0652 x 235. ■ Youth Outreach Adolescent Community Awareness Program’s Voice It Sistah, a support group for HIV-positive women, meets 11 a.m. every first and third Tuesday at

YOACAP, 1207 Chestnut St., Suite 315; 215851-1898. Wednesdays: ■ AIDS Services in Asian Communities’ weekly volunteer work group meets 6-8 p.m. at 340 N. 12th St., Suite 205; 215-629-2300. ■ Project Teach, a peer-education and empowerment program for people living with HIV/AIDS, meets at Philadelphia Fight, 1233 Locust St. ﬁght.org. ■ Positive Effect, for HIV-positive people 18 and over, meets 5-7 p.m. second and fourth Wednesdays at Camden AHEC, 514 Cooper St., Camden, N.J.; 856-963-2432. Thursdays: ■ A support group for HIV-positive men and women meets 6-8 p.m. at BEBASHI — Transition to Hope, 1217 Spring Garden St.; 215-769-3561. ■ Diversity, an HIV/AIDS support group for all infected or affected, meets from 7-9 p.m. at Arch Street United Methodist Church, 55. N. Broad St.; call Zak, 215-848-4380; azaklad@craftech.com. Saturdays: n AIDS Delaware’s You’re Not Alone youth support group meets during the school year. Call 1-800-810-6776 for meeting location and time.

Debtors Anonymous

■ Meets 7-8 p.m. Monday and Thursday at the

William Way Center.

Overeaters Anonymous (OA)

■ Open meeting, Tuesdays, 5:45 p.m., and

7 p.m. Friday, at Hahnemann University Hospital, 245 N. 15th St.; call Troy for ﬂoor/ room number, 215-514-3065; www.oa.org. ■ Meets at 11 a.m.-noon at the William Way Center.

S.A.R.A.

■ Substance Abuse – Risk Assessment; day and

evening hours; 215-563-0663 ext. 282.

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous

■ Meets 7:30 p.m.Thursdays at All Saints

Church, 18 Olive Ave., Rehoboth Beach, Del.; 302-542-3279.

SEPCADD

■ Safe space to meet and discuss substance

abuse problems at the William Way Center.

Health

Alder Health Services provides LGBT health services on a sliding-fee scale; 100 N. Cameron St., Ste. 301 East, Harrisburg; 717-233-7190 or 800-867-1550; www.alderhealth.org. Anonymous, free, confidential HIV testing with Spanish/English counselors 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 3439 N. Hutchinson St.; 215-763-8870 ext. 6000. HIV treatment: Free HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment for Philadelphia residents available 9 a.m.-noon Mondays and 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad St.; 215685-1803. HIV health insurance help: Access to free medications and confidential HIV testing available at 17 MacDade Blvd., Suite 108, Collingdale; Medical Office Building, 722 Church Lane, Yeadon; and 630 S. 60th St.; 610586-9077. Philadelphia FIGHT provides HIV primary care, on-site lab services, clinical trials, case management, mental-health services and support groups for people living with HIV regardless of insurance status or ability to pay; 1233 Locust St., fifth floor; 215-985-4448; www. fight.org.

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Classifieds 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. 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 real-estate advertising that is in violation of any applicable law.

REAL ESTATE

SALE

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 20-26, 2012

Home of the Week

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Seller: James Moffa

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SALE

Phone: 609-458-3711

REAL ESTATE

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AUTOS Stunning Cathedral Kitchen & Family Room ceilings, w/ Remote skylights & shades.... built around a center ﬁreplace with three Casablanca Remote Controlled Fans & Lights. Recessed Lighting, Pendent Quartz over Island and Kitchen Peninsula. Oak Hardwood ﬂoors in Master Bedroom & Family Rooms. Beautiful Tile Design in Kitchen, Jacuzzi in Master Bath. Two Ext. Porches, One Enclosed, Hugh private patio.

Contact James Moﬀa at 609-458-3711

HONDA 1988 GL1500 MOTORBIKE FOR GIVE AWAY TO A RESPONSIBLE PERSON DUE TO MY SON SUDDEN DEATH IF INTERESTED CONTACT jane.gank2009@yahoo. com _______________________________36-04 SELL YOUR CAR, TRUCK or SUV TODAY! All 50 states, fast pick-up and payment. Any condition, make or model. Call now 1-877818-8848 www.MyCarforCash.net _______________________________36-04

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�� Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com �� REAL ESTATE ��

SALE

�� REAL ESTATE ��

Jan. 20-26, 2012

SALE

PGN

REAL ESTATE

SALE

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SALE

AIRLINES ARE HIRING Train for high paying Aviation Maintenance Career. FAA approved program. Financial aid if qualiﬁed - Housing available. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance (888)834-9715. _______________________________36-03

Open House Sunday Jan. 22, 2012

Noon-2:30pm

540 Cypress St. - 19106 ��

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2BR/1.5BA house Quaint, completely upgraded 2BR/ 1.5BA home on cobblestone street in the heart of Society Hill. ...$374,900

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E-mail us: pgn@epgn.com

Search all Philadelphia area listings @ www.thephillyrealtors.com Dan Tobey

The Curtis Center 1401 Walnut St. 8th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19102

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215.546.2700 Business • 267.238.1061 Direct

215.432.7151 Cell • 215.546.7728 Fax �� dtobey@cbpref.com • www.cbpref.com

FRIENDS

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��. Furness Flats. Large 2 bed, 1 bath. last unit left in this highly desirable building. Close to all Center City Hospitals. Low fees and taxes ................................��

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FOR SALE

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XXX DVDs! No computer necessary! Get your DVD’s the old fashion way, by mail order. Call for a FREE DVD catalog from RAD Video. 1-800-722-4336 - Mention PGN and get $10 voucher for your ﬁrst order. _______________________________36-04

EARN COLLEGE DEGREE ONLINE *Medical, *Business, *Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualiﬁed. SCHEV Certiﬁed. Call 888-220-3984. www.CenturaOnline.com _______________________________36-03

PRIVATE DJ LESSONS WITH DJ LISA LOVE Private DJ Lessons for you, the Everyday Person, to express yourself & build self-conﬁdence through music. There is no prerequisite, nor do you need DJ equipment to take a courses. All skill levels welcome. Flexible evening and weekend schedules. www.mtmdji.com _______________________________36-03 SHIELDS CONTRACTING, INC. We have been servicing the Philadelphia and tri state areas since 1989. From minor repairs to total rehabs. Specializing in kitchen and bath remodeling. We will beat any written quote by 10%. 24 hr emergency service available. Tel: 215-470-0469. SATISFACTION GUARaNTEED _______________________________36-03

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JOBS WANTED Call Jim! Clean, organize, errands, parties. Honest, insured, refereces. 267-770-8988. _______________________________36-04

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�� “George T. Sale Condo” Unique Garden level 1 bd, 1 ba. unit w/ private entrance.. Low fees & Tax Abatement. Lowest price 1 bd. in area ........................��. �� . New open style 2 bedroom, 1 bath condo with low taxes and condo fees. Great small pet friendly building. .........................................................................�� Old Swedes Court. New Listing Large 3 Bedroom 2.5 Bath with Garage, roof deck and hardwood ﬂoors. Low association fees in Queen Village ....................�� . NEW LISTING. Large update 4 bd. 2 ba. with huge garden and wonderfully roof deck with city skyline views. .................................................................................��

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BARRONS URBAN WAREHOUSE PARTY Saturday, January 21st, 2012 TIME:11pm-6am

- Always bringing in the Sexy Black & Latin Men For The NightMUST BE ON GUEST LIST TO GAIN ENTRANCE TO PARTY (PRIVATE EVENT: For More Information & to be put onto guest list email: badboi215@gmail.com)

NEW WEEKLY SPECIALS SUNDAY RELIEF

Half Price Rooms (6am Sunday till 8am Monday) Members: $12.50 & Non-Members: $22.50

MANIC MONDAY

5 for 5- $5 Lockers for 5 hrs (4pm- 12 Midnight) Members: $5.00 Non-Members:* $15.00

TUESDAY

Half Price Rooms (6am– 12 Midnight) Members: $12.50 & Non-Members: $22.50

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY EVENING CRUISE $12 Flat Rate for Locker Admission/Clothing Optional (4pm- 12 Midnight)

MONDAY - FRIDAY: BUSINESS MAN SPECIAL 4hr Lockers (8am- 4pm) Members: $5.00 & Non- Members: $15.00

MONDAY - THURSDAY: LATE NIGHT CREEP Half Price Lockers (12 Midnight- 8am) Members: $9.00 & Non- Members: $19.00

Check out our website & JOIN OUR e-mail List to get the latest information on upcoming events...

Don’t forget to visit the Adonis Cinema right next door!! 2026 Sansom St/ PH: 215-557-9319

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And if you are in A.C., please check out:

10 South Mt. Vernon Avenue •Atlantic City, NJ 08401

OPEN DAILY! Sunday- Thursday 4pm to 4am Friday & Saturday 4pm to 6am www.brassrailac.com

PHIL

PAGE 54 PGN

HELP WANTED

NEW CAREER FOR THE NEW YEAR! NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED! No credit check! Top Industry pay / quality training, 100% Paid CDL Training 800-326-2778 www.JoinCRST. com _______________________________36-03 CDL-A Drivers- Steady Miles, New Equipment, Regular Hometime. Dry Van and Flatbed ($500 Sign-On for Flatbed). Beneﬁts after 30 days! CDL GRADUATES NEEDED. Call Patty: 615522-4558 or 888-801-5295. _______________________________36-03 Driver: Start out the year with Daily Pay and Weekly Home Time! Single Source Dispatch. Van and Refrigerated. CDL-A, 3months recent experience required. 800-414-9569. www. driveknight.com _______________________________36-03

Drivers - CDL-A. DRIVE WITH PRIDE. Up to $3,000 Sign-On Bonus for Qualiﬁed Drivers! CDL & 6mo. OTR exp. REQ’D. USA TRUCK 877-521-5775 www.usatruck.jobs _______________________________36-03 Attn: Exp. Reefer Drivers: GREAT PAY /Freight Lanes from Presque Isle, ME, Boston-Lehigh, PA. 800-277-0212 or primeinc.com _______________________________36-03 Owner/Operator’s $5,000 Sign-On Bonus! Relocate for tons of warm South TX runs! Frac Sand Hauling. Must have tractor, pneumatic trailers, blower. 1-800-397-2672. _______________________________36-03 CDL drivers wanted to deliver Semi and Box Trucks throughout the NE Region. Tow Vehicle is beneﬁcial. Call 866-764-1601 or www.qualitydriveaway.com _______________________________36-03

PGN

’S

COMMUNITY MARKETPLACE

ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVE WANTED

Listings for everything you need. PGN currently has an 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 of successful sales experience, preferably in print and/or online sales • Strong verbal and writing skills • Excellent at relationship building • Ability to work independently and part of a team • Knowledge of local media market and/or LGBT community a plus • Computer literacy a must Salary/Benefits: Salary 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 resume to dan@epgn.com.

Online. Anytime.

www.epgn.com Now with a mobile-optimized version for your iPhone or Android.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 20-26, 2012

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LOOKING FOR ROMANCE Attractive GWM, warm, sensitive, caring, 48 y.o. with a smooth gymnast build looking for other GWM, 30-50, who is also in good shape. �� I live in NE Phila. I’m looking for guys who are also sensitive,�caring with a fun personality. If this sounds interesting to you feel free to call me, David, 215-698-0215. �� _______________________________36-10 Attractive sensitive, 48 WM, NE GWM, Phila. warm, If you’re lookingcaring, for hot y.o. withcall a smooth gymnast build lookingafter for action, 215-934-5309. No calls other GWM, 30-50, who is also in good shape. 11 PM. I live in NE Phila. I’m looking for guys who are _______________________________36-06 caring fun personality. If Ialso am asensitive, 46 y.o man livingwith in NEaPhila and am lookthisfor sounds interesting you feel to call ing a serious person.toPlease no free smoke, no me, David, 215-698-0215. drugs. Reply to minotti2000@live.com or call 215-437-5740 after 4 pm and before 9 pm. _______________________________33-28 _______________________________36-04 Friendly WM, 6’1’, 210, 59 looking for big bud to appreciate smooth bottom. 215-732-2108 8-11 PM. _______________________________36-06 6’, 165 lbs., 60 year old Master, greek active, Daddy, smooth, 6’, 175, 8 obedient cut sks new friend. french passive requires slave for Delco. 610-931-6633. training,Dan, S&M, B/D, W/S, etc. Limits respected _______________________________36-06 and expanded. Assistant Master wanted. Call Dave at 215-729-6670, day or evening. _______________________________33-48 Xdress sex party. CD house orgy every Sat. nite. GWM couple ISO GWMs 18-40 yrs. for 1 on 1 and group sex. Stockings, pantyhose, etc. Starts 9 PM Sat. Call Sat. 7-8 PM 856910-8303, ask for Mark. _______________________________33-24 GWM, Italian, top or bottom, 7” cut. Also into assplay, toys & water sports. Bi, straight, out of towners welcome. Day or night. Call Jeff at 215-850-7900. _______________________________33-18

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WM 60, 5’7’ 155, bottom, nice looking, discreet, ﬁt, hot, seeks top men only for relationship in NE. 215-264-1058 LM. _______________________________33-19 WM, NE Phila. If you’re looking for hot action, call 215-934-5309. No calls after 11 PM. _______________________________33-19 �� You: big equipment! Me: real nice white butt. 215-732-2108, 8-11 PM. _______________________________33-20

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 20-26, 2012

PGN