Community steps up to help couple after Locust Street fire
Pinning hopes on a new release PAGE 21
Family Portrait: Behind the scenes with James Ijames
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Final call for ‘Love Story’ contest PAGE 18
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Feb. 5-11, 2016
Since 1976
PGN Philadelphia Gay News HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
Vol. 40 No. 6
D.A.’s Office pursues reversal of order in Morris case By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com
BEST FIN FORWARD: Members of the Philadelphia Fins Aquatic Club took a breather after the 2016 Postal Swim. Held Jan. 31 at Friends Select School, the event is part of an annual national competition run by U.S. Masters Swimming. The local tourney allowed swimmers to swim laps for 30 or 60 minutes, or take part in a 20-minute relay. Participants were tasked with fundraising, with proceeds benefiting The Attic Youth Center. Photo: Scott A. Drake
The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office this week filed a legal brief urging a Philadelphia judge to reverse an order by the state Office of Open Records pertaining to the Nizah Morris case. Morris was a trans woman found with a fatal head wound in 2002, shortly after a Center City “courtesy ride” by Officer Elizabeth Skala. Morris’ homicide remains unsolved. PGN seeks from the D.A. certified copies of its dispatch records for a traffic stop initiated by Skala while assigned to handle Morris, who was intoxicated. In August, the state Office of Open Records ordered the D.A.’s Office to comply with PGN’s request, but the agency has refused to do so. Instead, the D.A. appealed the order in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court. Since 2013, the D.A.’s Office has sub-
Out lesbian at center of Cosby case
‘DJ registry’ bill is dead By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com
By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com
Philadelphia City Councilman Mark Squilla killed a bill that venue owners referred to as the “DJ registry” bill after a Feb. 1 meeting with about a dozen representatives from the local music industry. “At the end of the meeting, all present agreed that withdrawing was the best way to end the confusion created by this proposed bill,” Squilla posted in a statement to his Facebook page, adding he plans “to work with those in the industry to craft new legislation that will reflect his original intent.” There is not yet a timeline for when a new bill would be introduced. Squilla said he wanted to close the loophole in the definition of “social entertainment” in the current law PAGE 20
After two days in a special hearing, Montgomery County Judge Steven T. O’Neill decided Wednesday to proceed with charges against comedy icon Bill Cosby that stem from the alleged assault of a lesbian. If convicted of aggravated indecent assault, Cosby could face up to 10 years in prison. Cosby, 78, is accused of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand, a lesbian former employee of Temple University, at his Cheltenham Township home in 2004. According to reports from inside the courtroom Wednesday, Constand’s law-
Photo: Paige Cooperstien
t • Out & About Valentine’s Day s u • Intimacy and discovery are &L PAGE 17
Love
mitted five affidavits indicating its only dispatch record for Skala’s traffic stop was given to it by PGN. Two other agency affidavits indicate it doesn’t have any dispatch records for Skala’s traffic stop. The dispatch record PGN gave to the D.A.’s Office in 2009 was received from the city’s Police Advisory Commission in 2008. It’s missing several entries, and one of its entries appears to contain a redaction. PGN gave the record to the D.A.’s Office in order to help the agency locate more complete records for Skala’s traffic stop believed to be in its possession. Last year, PGN asked the D.A.’s Office to provide a certified copy of all of its dispatch records for Skala’s traffic stop, including its record from PGN. As stated earlier, the D.A.’s Office declined to comply with PGN’s request, even when ordered to do so by OOR. In its Feb. 1 appellant’s brief, the D.A.’s Office calls OOR’s order “illogical.” PAGE 20 The brief claims
yer, Dolores Troiani, told the court that she resisted efforts by Cosby’s lawyers in 2005 to have her client promise not to cooperate with a criminal investigation. Troiani said Constand agreed only not to ask authorities for a further investigation, but she could work with them if they contacted her. Former Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor spent the majority of Tuesday offering testimony regarding an oral agreement he made not to prosecute Cosby in 2005, according to reports from inside the courtroom. The idea was to grant Cosby immunity so he would give a deposition in a civil case. Castor said he hoped Constand would benefit financially in the civil case. Just after 8 a.m. Feb. 1, Cosby’s law-
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• Day in the Life of: Passional, Sexploratorium’s Kali Morgan highlighted at CRUXspace • Philly promoter launches D.C. party • ChesCo group hosts LGBT art show • Final call for ‘Love Story’ contest
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Have a winter get-away to rekindle the spirit
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Feb. 5-11, 2016
News Briefing Attacker of trans woman headed to trial The 23-year-old homeless man accused of attacking and robbing three individuals, including a transgender woman, was held for trial on all charges at a Jan. 28 preliminary hearing. Marcus Jones will face trial for attempted murder in relation to the incident involving the 53-year-old transgender woman, who was taken to Hahnemann University Hospital in critical condition after the Aug. 18 attack. Philadelphia police responded to a call reporting an assault about 1 p.m. in the 900 block of North Watts Street. Officers found the woman unconscious. Video surveillance later obtained showed a man police say is Jones punching and kicking the victim until she was unconscious. The man in the video repeatedly stomped on her face before fleeing with her purse. The woman and the suspect were known to each other, police spokesperson Officer Tanya Little told PGN in August, but police did not believe Jones targeted the woman because she is transgender. The investigation revealed two men who said they had also been assaulted and robbed by a man matching Jones’ description. Jones is being held in CurranFromhold Correctional Facility awaiting further court action, according to court documents.
Philly to host conference for African-American doctors The National Medical Association, a professional group promoting the interests of African-American physicians and patients, will hold its 2017 conference in Philadelphia, the organization announced last week at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The conference is slated for July 27-Aug. 3 and is expected to draw 3,500 people to the city, according to the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau. It was last held in Philadelphia in 2003. Dr. Edith P. Mitchell, a local doctor who works with the Kimmel Cancer Center and serves as president of the National Medical Association, emphasized the importance of partnerships to address health disparities. She said the city, Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health Systems among others are fighting “the barriers that have an impact on disparities in medicine.” Mitchell said the goal is to “head toward health-care equity for all.” Martin Hamlette, NMA executive direc-
tor, said the group uses its conference to tackle issues of access, health equity, chronic conditions and aging and wellness. “Philadelphia was chosen not only because it is a vibrant city,” Hamlette said, “not only because it’s a progressive city, not only because it’s a good city in which to conduct business, but because it is a city that embraces diversity.”
then-Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey accused Rossiter of overtime abuses. In a federal lawsuit, Rossiter claims his dismissal was retaliatory, due to his union activities. He’s seeking an unspecified amount in compensatory and punitive damages from the city. In December, U.S. District Judge Gerald A. McHugh refused to dismiss Rossiter’s suit. Last week, the city appealed McHugh’s ruling to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. James E. Beasley, an attorney for Rossiter, expressed optimism that Rossiter DVLF, an LGBT philanthropy organi- would have his day in court. zation, is taking nominations for its 10th “I think Judge McHugh got it right,” Beasley told PGN. “I don’t think the city annual HEROES Awards. The deadline is Feb. 19. Nomination will be successful on appeal. And I’m conforms are available at: http://ow.ly/XOQyi. fident my client will get a chance to let a The organization honors youth, adults, jury decide who is right.” nonprofits, straight allies and businesses City attorney Elise Bruhl, who’s han“who have bold ideas, act with selfless dling the appeal, declined to comment. intention, are admired for their integrity In 2007, Rossiter helped secure a first-deand are regarded as courageous in advanc- gree murder conviction for Barry Mason, ing the equality of the LGBT community in who shot to death Jamil Burton, an openly gay youth, after an alleged robbery in the Delaware Valley and beyond.” The reception for award winners and Center City. Mason died in prison in April. friends takes place April 17 at Hotel Monaco, 433 Chestnut St. For more information, visit www.dvlf. org.
DVLF seeking HEROES nominations
Shephard trial transcript delivered to judge The complete state-trial transcript regarding the murder of Jason Shephard has been delivered to a magistrate judge who must consider whether a new trial is necessary. In 2008, William F. Smithson Jr. was convicted of murdering Shephard inside Smithson’s home, located in Thornton, Pa. Smithson was sentenced to life imprisonment, without the possibility of parole. But Smithson claims F. Bruce Covington, who was also inside Smithson’s home when Shephard died, wasn’t adequately investigated. Smithson’s appeal for a new trial remains pending with U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard A. Lloret. On Jan. 21, Lloret received a complete transcript of Smithson’s murder trial, which he must review before issuing a recommendation about a new trial. Delaware County prosecutors had no comment for this update. n — Timothy Cwiek
— Paige Cooperstein
Brief filed in cab case Attorneys for Mark M. Seaman recently filed a legal brief with the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations pertaining to Seaman’s complaint that he was wrongfully ejected from a taxi cab due to his sexual orientation. In December 2009, Seaman and his then-partner were traveling in a cab from Philadelphia International Airport to Center City. After Seaman kissed his partner, both men were ejected by the driver. Shortly after the incident, Seaman filed an antibias complaint against PHL Taxi Co. with the PCHR. The PCHR is trying to determine whether PHL breached its legal obligations under the city’s Fair Practices Ordinance. The legal brief recently filed on behalf of Seaman isn’t available to the public, according to the PCHR. “[T]he brief is not a public document and as such there is a restriction on making this document public by releasing it to the press,” according to the PCHR.
City appeals cop ruling City officials are appealing a ruling in the case of Detective Kenneth Rossiter, who claims he was wrongfully dismissed from the Philadelphia police force due to his union activities. Rossiter, who’s handled several LGBTrelated murder cases, was dismissed from the force in July 2012, but an arbitrator ordered him reinstated nine months later. When announcing Rossiter’s dismissal,
40 years ago in PGN PGN exclusive interview with Gov. Milton J. Shapp Adapted from reporting by Mark Segal and Keith Clark As former Gov. Milton J. Shapp campaigned for the 1976 Democratic presidential nomination, he talked with PGN about his lifelong support “to end discrimination anywhere it raises its ugly head.” PGN publisher Mark Segal and editor Keith Clark traveled to Harrisburg for an exclusive interview with Pennsylvania’s 40th governor, the first to serve two terms. “Certainly discrimination because of sexual preference is one of the big fields that still remains for people who want to discriminate,” Shapp told PGN. Shapp said he got both praise and criticism for the 1975 order he signed banning antigay discrimination in Pennsylvania government. He also talked about Dr. Walter J. Lear, openly gay state health commissioner for the Philadelphia area and member of the governor’s administration. “If [people] want to publicize any fact about themselves — whether they’re gay, what their religion might be or their ethnic background — I encourage people to do this. A lot of people have hang-ups about it and this creates a lot of internal anxiety in people. And I think this frustrates people because they feel they can’t accomplish all the things they would like to.” Shapp emphasized how coming out could open doors for gay people in the future.
“For many years, gays in the military or in intelligence-gathering services have been ostracized, kicked out, on the basis that they would be easy to blackmail,” he said. “But the more gays that come out in the open, the less chance there would be in the future for anybody to be blackmailed. It would be more and more common, and people wouldn’t feel they had to hide.” Jimmy Carter, former governor of Georgia, ultimately won the Democratic nomination and presidency in 1976. New features in PGN Adapted from reporting by PGN staff PGN debuted three new columns in February 1976: two in arts and one in news. Betti Watts, a longtime arts critic and artist, started writing “Speaking of Art” to highlight gay sensibilities in graphic and fine arts. Nina Feldman started “Classical Notes” to feature reviews of new classical releases and think pieces on appreciation and history of the music. Staff at PGN started “Etc …” to highlight snippets of local, national and international news. The two arts columns have ceased appearing in the paper. But “Etc …” morphed into “News Briefing” for local coverage, “Media Trail” for national coverage and “International News” for the rest. n — compiled by Paige Cooperstein
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Feb. 5-11, 2016
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Weekly features
News&Opinion 2 — News Briefing 10 — Creep of the Week Editorial 11 — Mark My Words Street Talk Transmissions 12 — International News 14 — Media Trail 16 — Crime Watch
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City Council took to the streets with homeless LGBT youth.
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Comic Family Portrait Scene in Philly Out & About Q Puzzle
FIRE & ICE: The blizzard of 2016 is behind us, but snow was still in the air last weekend at Union Transfer for Snowball 2016. The celebration is an annual fundraiser for local dance company Brian Sanders’ JUNK. The evening included music by DJ Carl Michaels, raffles, a costume contest and more. Photo: Patrick Hagerty
This week in PGN 12 — Out Law: The significance of estate planning 28 — Get Out and Play: The Davids and Goliaths
CRUXspace offers a touching and engaging exhibit on LGBT perspectives on emotions and actions.
6 — Activist launches mapping project — Trans name-change project expands locally 7 — Homeless youth take City Council to the streets 8 — Reading reaches out to LGBT tourists
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15 — Giant replies to antibias complaint 17-19 — Love & Lust and what you can do about it
Classifieds 33 — Real Estate 34 — Personals 35 — Bulletin Board
“We’re always in favor of simplifying the process for transgender people to get legal names that match who they truly are.” ~ Michael D. Silverman, founder of Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund, page 6
Next week Out Money Thinking Queerly
Two weeks Gettin’ On Outward Bound
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Community steps up to help couple after Locust Street fire By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Christopher Molinari and Todd Nuttall have had a rough few weeks — but they’ve been made a bit brighter by the generosity of the local community. The couple was among several-dozen residents displaced after a four-alarm fire at their apartment building, 2122 Locust St. The Jan. 19 blaze took several hours to get under control. Molinari and Nuttall had just finished dinner in their basement apartment when the smoke alarms went off, Molinari said. He said they assumed it was a drill and Nuttall took their pug, Berkley, outside because the noise was bothersome. But he came racing back a minute later to get Molinari. “Todd took the dog out and smelled smoke and then saw flames and ran back in for me,” he said. “I don’t know what the outcome would have been if he wasn’t there; he saved my life.” Two firefighters were injured battling the blaze, but no residents reported injuries. However, the couple and the
other residents have been left with both an emotional and logistical nightmare, Molinari said. He said he doesn’t believe his apartment had any fire damage, but was flooded by the firefighters’ hoses. “To protect the structural integrity, they flooded the basement. They put one hose through our bedroom window and one through the living-room window, and turned them on full blast,” Molinari said. “And we were just sitting there watching.” The couple hasn’t been allowed back into the structure. They lost all of their clothes, important documents like diplomas, photographs and Nuttall’s engagement ring; they were planning a spring wedding, which Molinari said they’re now postponing. Nuttall’s employer, Dave Fine Schmear It food truck, put the couple up the first night, and Molinari’s boss, Tracey Shannon at SWEAT Fitness, also covered a room at The Westin for several days. The night of the fire, Molinari was late to dance practice for Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus’ upcoming March production,
Molinari and Nuttall to that evening’s rehearsal. “He was like, ‘Can you come to rehearsal today?’ And I wasn’t supposed to be there that day but I was like OK, and he asked me to bring Todd also. When we got there, everybody in the room stood up and applauded and hugged us and brought us to a room where there was — the only word I can use to describe it is a cornucopia — of clothes, supplies, money, everything you could possibly imagine.” Molinari said he was particularly touched as he is a relatively new member of PGMC: He and Nuttall moved to Philadelphia 10 months NUTTALL (LEFT) AND MOLINARI ago from Maine to be AND THE APARTMENT BUILDING ON closer to family. FIRE JAN. 19 “I could see them doing and explained to a fellow dancer this if I was a member for the circumstances. That mem- three or four years and a part ber contacted PGMC president of every concert but I’ve only Adam Funk, who shared the known them for six months. But story through PGMC’s private PGMC showed me what it’s like Facebook group and email list to to be part of a community. They generate support for the couple. were like, ‘Look, we’re all in this The next day, Funk invited together.’”
Funk said he wasn’t surprised by the outpouring of support. “One of the reasons why we’ve been such a strong organization and had the opportunity to grow to the size we are today is because we’re a community. When I moved to Philadelphia, I didn’t know a soul and I joined and instantly had 100 friends who were like family,” Funk said. “It’s a brotherhood of support within the organization and it shows in day-to-day moments and then also in moments of crisis, like what Chris went through.” Molinari said that support was heartening and inspiring. He’s only seen Nuttall cry a handful of times in their 11 years together — and one was when he saw the pile of donations. “It renewed our spirit,” Molinari said. “They’re a nonprofit and they depend on the kindness of strangers, but they opened up and gave what they could to me and family. That was a beautiful thing.” n PGMC will perform “Lights, Camera, Sing!” March 17-19 at The Prince Theater, 1412 Chestnut St. For more information or tickets, visit www.pgmc.org.
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HEALTH AND WELLNESS DIRECTORY
Archivist launches mapping project By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Locals now have another way to learn about Philly’s LGBT history. Bob Skiba, archivist at William Way LGBT Community Center, recently launched the LGBT Mapping Project, an initiative to amass and promote the area’s many sites of LGBT historical significance. Skiba said the effort grew out of the National Park Service’s 2014 LGBTQ Heritage Initiative to identify and celebrate places of LGBT import. “I heard about this initiative and was spurred to create this by the Reminder Day marches, which happened on park land,” Skiba said, referring to the 1960s LGBT-rights demonstrations that took place in front of Philadelphia’s Independence Hall. “I started working with a few other people here at the center — archivist John Anderies and Rich Wilson, who loaned us some materials for the database — to come up with 150 spots in Philadelphia that are important to LGBT history.” While 150 sites have already been identified, Skiba said he’s eager to expand the list, which is where the project’s social-media presence comes in. Organizers are posting at least one story a week
on a Facebook page (facebook.com/PhiladelphiaLGBT-Mapping-Project), where followers are also encouraged to suggest sites for project organizers to explore. “We want people to read and learn about what we’re doing and about all of these great places; there are a lot of sites in Philadelphia that have LGBT stories behind them that many people don’t know,” Skiba said. “And I’d love people to go to the Facebook site and add on anything they think could be of interest.” Skiba said he hopes the project results in new Philly additions to the NPS’ Places with LGBTQ for only when Heritage map. Currently, the NPS site (www. a minimu nps.gov/history/heritageinitiatives/LGBThistory/ places.html) includes information on the site of the Reminder Day marches, Giovanni’s Room, the Drake Hotel and the Gayborhood. The local project also aims to expand the number of LGBT-specific state historical markers in the city. Skiba said organizers have their sights set on a marker for Little Pete’s on 17th Street, which used to house Dewey’s, a diner where LGBT protesters, particularly trans folks, staged a sit-in and picket in 1965, even before Reminder Days. To get involved in the project or suggest additions, email Skiba at bskiba@waygay.org. n
This Fab Could
Trans name-change project expands locally By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com
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A national program that provides free name-change services to low-income trans people is expanding its services in Philadelphia. The program, known as The Name Change Project, is run by the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund, based in New York City. Michael D. Silverman, founder of TLDEF, said he’s “thrilled” with the expansion in Philadelphia. “Trans people everywhere struggle to get basic legal help,” Silverman said. “We are thrilled to be able to expand our legal services in the Philadelphia trans community.” He said the local program has helped 17 trans city residents get legal name changes, due in large part to the pro-bono work of the Reed Smith law firm. “We’ve already helped 17 people in Philly with our program-launch partner, Reed Smith — which also works with us in Pittsburgh and New York,” Silverman said. “We couldn’t have done this without them.” Since 2007, the project has helped about 2,000 trans folks in a dozen cities legally change their names, Silverman noted. “In New York City, we’ve been able to keep up with the
demand for this service — but just barely,” he continued. “In other cities, the demand far exceeds our ability to provide this service.” Along with effectuating name changes, the project also seeks to simplify the process — which in some states requires fingerprinting, background checks and legal notices in newspapers. “We’re always in favor of simplifying the process for transgender people to get legal names that match who they
truly are,” Silverman explained. He said placing notices in newspapers can be very expensive, as well as intrusive. “Sometimes our law firms are able to help with that [financially],” he added. Training for PNC Bank attorneys who want to participate in the program will be held 10:30 a.m.-noon Feb. 9 at PNC Bank in Center City. Later that day, from 2-3:30 p.m., a similar training will be held at the Center City law firm of Saul Ewing. Neither session is open to the general public. Attorney Anthony P. Forte
is helping to organize Saul Ewing’s training session. “The Name Change Project is a wonderful program that offers low-income trans clients the support and assistance they need to achieve an important and profound milestone in their new identity,” Forte said. “We at Saul Ewing are thrilled to be partnering with TLDEF and Reed Smith to expand this important program in Philadelphia — and to offer this vital assistance to trans people here. This is the type of probono legal work that we can all feel really great about.” Luke E. Debevec, an attorney at Reed Smith, spearheaded the firm’s work on the namechange project in Philadelphia. Debevec will help provide training at both sessions. “Reed Smith has a long history of working hand in hand with TLDEF and the Name Change Project,” Debevec said. “I have found that helping transgender people maneuver through the court system to match their names with who they are is truly satisfying and rewarding work. We’re excited to help TLDEF expand this program and assist a greater number of their clients.” Local attorneys interested in attending Saul Ewing’s training session may email Forte at Aforte@saul.com. n
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Valley Youth House leads Philly council reps on homeless youth count By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com Bella Davenport had been homeless as a teenager in Philadelphia. She moved to California when she was 17 and started attending college. “I was house-hopping,” she said. “Living expenses were outrageous.” “After exhausting all my couches and parks in terrible weather, I came back to Philadelphia,” said Davenport, who identifies as bisexual. She had a friend who received help from Valley Youth House, an Allentown-based organization with offices in Philadelphia that helps young people with housing and life skills. Davenport joined the group’s Pride program. “I didn’t get my sense of LGBT community until the Pride program,” she said. “When you’re bisexual, you’re kind of discriminated against in the LGBT community. I was never welcomed completely.” Noah Brown got to know Davenport through the Pride program. He also became homeless during college at the University of Valley Forge. He was living off campus when the building was deemed uninhabitable by local authorities. He left school and had nowhere to turn until he found Valley Youth House. “It’s a saving grace for the LGBT community,” he said. “That’s what I’d call it.” Brown is back in classes at
Delaware County Community College working toward a bachelor’s degree in political science. To give back to the organization that helped them find housing and community, Davenport and Brown joined Valley Youth House in a Youth Count Jan. 27 in Love Park. The annual survey tracks homeless youth in Philadelphia and details their stories. Last year’s count found that 40 percent of homeless youth identify as LGBT. Davenport and others from Valley Youth House led Philadelphia City Council representatives through a day of the Youth Count. Councilwoman Helen Gym, elected in November, invited her colleagues to the count. She will serve as chairwoman of the new Committee on Children and Youth. “One of the things we’re trying to understand is the dedicated funding stream for this issue and any gaps in city services,” Gym said. Council President Darrell Clarke said councilmembers would debrief after the count to discuss the level of support that’s required. Volunteers spoke with about a dozen young people who were homeless. Gym said she was taking note of how long the survey took and what kinds of questions were asked. She said it was important to watch the Youth Count in action instead of only seeing the data it generates. “You can’t do this work behind a desk,” Gym said. “This gives us
Hearing delayed for defendant in murder of trans woman The preliminary hearing for a man charged with murder and related offenses in the October killing of a transgender woman in Logan was delayed until March 2. Pedro Redding, 24, was denied bail and is being held at Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility until further court action. He was arrested in connection with the Oct. 6 fatal shooting of Keisha Jenkins at 13th and Wingohocking streets. Jenkins, 22, was assaulted by several men around 2:30 a.m. and shot twice in the back. Police said the motive was robbery and Jenkins was not targeted for being transgender. Police do not believe Redding, of the 4500 block of North 13th Street, was the shooter. No further arrests have been made.
an appreciation of why the numbers are so difficult to ascertain and respect for the groups who do this.” “It’s important to care for the needs of communities we don’t often hear from,” she said. “Some young LGBT people may feel uncertain about coming out.” Kristy Schneider, Valley Youth House program supervisor for the Supervised Independent Living program, said wintertime is particularly difficult for young homeless people. “Adult shelters are completely full,” Schneider said, noting there aren’t many youth-focused spaces. Kyana Hopkins, life skills counselor for the Supervised Independent Living program, noted Covenant House on East Armat Street in Germantown as a place where youth could spend the night. She said young homeless people are resourceful during the day. “They know what programs they can stay at all day, but at night it’s a different story,” she said. Davenport said she’s seen her peers stick to warm places where the food is cheap, like fast-food restaurants, or subway stations where they can also perform for small change. Hopkins said homeless young people might not want to accept help right away. “They’re scared,” she said. “They might say no. But we give them our information so they know they have resources.” n
HEALTH AND WELLNESS DIRECTORY rev. dr. Nadine
Rosechild Sullivan, ph.d.
Spiritual Counseling drsullivan@rosechild.org
215.704.4264
www.rosechild.org
Spirituality • Sexuality • Relationships • Self-Esteem Anthony Petchalonis, D.M.D
Sixers first NBA team to host ‘You Can Play’ game LGBT pride spread from hockey to basketball last week. Just three days after the Philadelphia Flyers hosted a You Can Play night to promote LGBT inclusion in sports, the Philadelphia 76ers announced their own. That makes the Sixers the first team in the National Basketball Association to partner with You Can Play, a nonprofit that works to guarantee that athletes are given a fair opportunity to compete regardless of sexual orientation. Tickets for the March 29 game are on sale now at www. sixers.com/promocode. The code is YOUCANPLAY76. It costs $16-$115, depending on seat location. The deadline to purchase tickets is March 21. The Sixers will face the Charlotte Hornets from North Carolina in the game. For more information, contact Mitch Cohen at 267479-1125 or mitchcohen@sixers.com. n
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— Paige Cooperstein
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— Paige Cooperstein
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REGIONAL PGN
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Feb. 5-11, 2016
Reading poised to become LGBT hot spot By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com
“One cannot think well,
love well, sleep well,
if one has not dined well.” -Virginia Woolf Read PGN’s food reviews every second and fourth week of the month
- and check out our archive of past reviews on epgn.com.
As Reading Pride celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, city groups continue taking steps to welcome the LGBT community to Berks County. Reading participated for the first time in the Human Rights Campaign Municipal Equality Index, the year after a tourism summit highlighted LGBT visitors as an untapped market. “I think it’s smart,” said Jeff Guaracino, who helped develop Philadelphia’s award-winning tourism campaign: “Get your history straight and your nightlife gay.” “You’re showing people your community is worth discovering. Reading sits between large population centers with thriving gay communities,” he said, noting Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and New York City. In December, HRC released its fourth-annual Municipal Equality Index, which rates a community’s policies regarding LGBT residents. Reading earned points for the 2009 amendment to its nondiscrimination policies that added protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity. “The City of Reading is right now the only municipality in the area that has protections for the LGBT community,” said Ben Renkus with Reading Pride, the city’s LGBT organization. Overall, the city reached only 58 points out of 100, but that’s on par with the firsttime scores of other Pennsylvania municipalities like Allentown, Erie and New Hope, the latter of which is considered a top gay destination. Rainbows for Reading Crystal Seitz, president of the Greater Reading Convention and Visitors Bureau, called Go Greater Reading, said her organization decided to get involved with direct marketing to the LGBT community after a 2014 tourism summit with Berks organizations. “Our research has shown that lesbian women with children are more interested in spending their money in family-friendly destinations with educational attractions,” Seitz said. “Berks is a great family destination. “I’d love to encourage more LGBT visitors,” she added. “When they see the beauty of the area and what we have to offer, they may want to come back and live here or open a business here.” Seitz highlighted Centre Park with its historic mansions as an emerging destination. Reading Pride hosts its annual LGBT festival in the park, and the Inn at Centre Park is one of the top places to stay for people traveling from out of town for the summertime event. “Any effort we make toward becoming more inclusive is a positive,” Seitz said. She said Eron Lloyd was the city official who pushed for Reading to participate
READING PAGODA, SEPT. 24, 2015 Photos: Scott A. Drake
in the MEI. Before Lloyd pleaded guilty in November to federal charges in a payto-play investigation of City Hall, he had a penchant for thinking getting Reading ranked could be good for business. Lloyd also secured national ratings for the city for sustainability practices and bicycle friendliness. Go Greater Reading partnered with Reading Pride after the summit to compile a list of LGBT-friendly businesses in Berks. More than 150 entities, from hotels and restaurants to museums and attractions, have received rainbow stickers that say “Greater Reading” to hang on their front doors, Renkus said. He said they signed pledges that say they’re willing to serve LGBT customers, and if they have LGBT employees, they’ll be treated equally. The LGBT-friendly businesses are listed under the resources tab at www.readingpridecelebration.org. “Reading has a lot of things I think would interest the people of our community,” Renkus said. “Reading is very well known for promoting the arts. There’s a lot of antiquing in the area. We have a lot of outdoor activities.” Pride in sports There’s also been a recent push to get more LGBT visitors into the city’s sporting venues. The Reading Royals hockey team started
SANDY BEACH THROWS OUT THE FIRST BASEBALL AT THE 2015 READING FIGHTIN’ PHILS LGBT NIGHT
PGN
a Reading Pride Night last year as a fundraiser for the LGBT organization. This year’s event takes place Feb. 19 and tickets cost $15. A busload of people from Philadelphia has made the trip to Reading every summer for the last three years to visit FirstEnergy Stadium for LGBT Night with the Reading Fightin Phils. Last year, 900 LGBT Night ticket holders joined other baseball fans in the 9,000-seat stadium. “We consider ourselves a mini chamber of commerce,” said Anthony Pignetti, director of business development with the Fightin Phils. “Everyone can mix and mingle. Others can hear the Reading Pride message.” This year’s LGBT Night will take place Aug. 1. Rainbow flags festoon the plaza outside the stadium and Reading Pride has a table at the entrance to tell people about the LGBT community in the Reading area. “The idea is to get more people into Reading,” Pignetti said. “We want to work with everyone.” Pignetti said LGBT visitors had been “an untapped market in this area,” and noted, “In general, the group spends a little more.” Small cities, big reach FirstEnergy Stadium is one of the few Minor League Baseball venues to receive a TAG-approved designation. Community Marketing Inc., an LGBT market-research firm based in San Francisco, maintains the national list of TAG-approved hotels and attractions that welcome the LGBT community. The Fightin’s stadium is the only attraction in Reading to earn TAG approval. The hotels that received the designation include the Best Western in Cumru Township, the Courtyard by Marriott in Wyomissing and the Inn at Reading in Wyomissing. “Twenty years ago, just a couple of organizations were reaching out to the LGBT community,” said Dave Paisley, senior research director with Community Marketing Inc. “Really Philadelphia broke through what I’m going to call the ‘nongay Mecca’ destinations, so that’s anything
outside of San Francisco, New York City and Amsterdam.” Paisley, a Reading High School graduate, said LGBT tourism campaigns spread three years ago to medium-sized cities like Louisville, Ky.; Richmond, Va.; and Rochester, N.Y. The trend now is to see smaller cities like Reading marketing themselves to the LGBT community. “There’s not really great data on the success of the smaller cities yet,” Paisley said. “But it’s something we’re seeing more and more.” Visit Philadelphia has some numbers that Reading might consider. In 2003, the city’s tourism board spent $900,000 to launch what was to be a three-year campaign with the tagline “Get your history straight and your nightlife gay,” said Arturo Varela, media relations manager. The campaign included print ads and a television commercial. A 2005 study, conducted by Community Marketing Inc., found a campaign impact of $153 in visitor spending for every $1 spent by Visit Philadelphia. The tourism board developed a custom survey that found gay and lesbian hotel visitors in 2010 spent more and stayed longer in Philadelphia than they did in 2005; spending increased 21 percent to an average of $878 from $726 per trip, and length of stay increased to 3.1 nights from 2.5. Lesbian and gay visitors also spent at least 50 percent more than the average tourist at hotels, restaurants and stores in Philadelphia. Paisley said smaller cities may have faced backlash for trying to attract LGBT visitors even 10 years ago, but it’s not seen as “unsafe” anymore. “Marriage equality really opened the doors for a lot of places to market to the LGBT community,” he said. Paisley said there are also tangential benefits to smaller cities having an LGBTaffirming reputation. “People will think it’s a much more progressive and interesting place,” he said. “It really impresses millennials. Outreach to the LGBT community is something millennials like, gay or straight.” n
Photography • Fine Art • Portrait/Nude • Advertising • Events Scott A. Drake 267.736.6743
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Feb. 5-11, 2016
ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVE
WANTED Beginning in Feb 2016 PGN will have an advertising sales rep position for an energetic, self-motivated individual with outstanding communication and sales 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. 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 mark@epgn.com.
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Feb. 5-11, 2016
EDITORIAL PGN
Creep of the Week
D’Anne Witkowski
Liberty Ridge Farm
Editorial
Appreciating the chaos PGN is in the throes of planning for our 40th-anniversary issue (coming your way April 8!). Putting together an edition that adequately speaks to four decades of work is no easy task, as we’re learning. Our staff is hard at work researching our archives for features on big moments in LGBT history and in PGN’s organizational development. We’re hitting our extensive photo collection for shots of community events, protests and PGN staff functions. We’re pulling together timelines, revamping our look and introducing new features. In short, it’s going to be a pretty busy two months. As the community edges its way toward spring, many will likely sympathize with our fatigue. Festivals, fundraisers and galas abound in the spring, so our planning weariness will surely be shared by many in the community. But even as we barrel full steam ahead, we’re quickly learning the value in appreciating the chaos, instead of being overwhelmed by it. It’s easy to become immersed in the pages of PGN through the years as we do our research. As we look at the paper in chronological order, we can clearly see the gradual growth and development of the community — organizations opening, legislative wins building upon legislative wins, even our own understanding of and expectations about being LGBT evolving. A quick look through our photo archives tells a similar tale: protests followed by celebrations, followed by even larger protests and celebrations. Compiling lists of former staff members, chronicling the writing awards we’ve won and learning about big moments in PGN’s history has been an equally enlightening experience. We’ve certainly found ourselves wringing our hands about how to condense and present all of this information to our readers, but that anxiety has been tempered by taking a step back to put the issue in context. In 1976, the first staff members of PGN likely couldn’t have foreseen the day when our employees were surrounded by 40 years of issues, memories and progress in a city, state and country that has made tremendous strides toward fully affirming LGBT equality. Reframing our busy workload in this spirit has been inspiring. PGN has spent 40 years documenting our community’s evolution, and we’re looking forward to sharing all that we’ve been fortunate to witness with our readers. n
We want to know!
Tell us what you think Send letters and opinion column submissions to: pgn@epgn.com; PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147; fax: 215-925-6437.
While I’ve never been there in person, Wrong. They lost again. On Jan. 15, the Liberty Ridge Farm looks like a beautiful appeals court ruled that the Giffords were place according to the photos on its webin the wrong and that their argument was site. Lush green grass, handsome horses bullshit. and goats, a rainbow of various flowers, That doesn’t mean it’s over, of course. hearty corn stalks taller than your head … According to their lawyer, Caleb Dalton of It’s the kind of place at which a couple the virulently antigay Alliance Defending looking to get married might want to hold Freedom, “The government went after their event. And Liberty Ridge Farm offers both this couple’s freedom and their abilthat experience. “Panoramic views, beauity to make a living simply for adhering to tiful barns and acres of picturesque countheir faith on their own property. The court tryside makes Liberty Ridge Farm an ideal should have rejected this unwarranted and location for those bridal couples looking unconstitutional government intrusion, so for country rustic charm,” its website reads. we will consult with our client regarding To be clear, though, you can’t get marappeal.” ried there. Your vows have to happen some- The headline on the ADF’s press release where else. But you can reception there all is very revealing: “NY court: Farmers can’t you want. That’s because in 2012 a lesbian obey their faith in their own backyard.” couple, Jennifer and Melisa McCarthy (not According to ADF, when the McCarthys to be confused with Jenny “anti-vaccine first called about using Liberty Ridge Farm lunatic” and Melissa for their wedding, “Cynthia politely told “hilarious actress” See the difference? McCarthy that she and McCarthy, who are cousins, not spouses “Hey judge, it isn’t about her husband don’t host … at least not to each and coordinate sametheir sexual orientation, sex ceremonies but other), wanted to left open an invitation have their wedding at it’s about our religious to visit the farm to Liberty Ridge. And belief about marriage. Liberty Ridge said, consider it as a potential reception site. “Uh, no thanks. That’s Granted, our belief just Instead, McCarthy gross. Because God.” happens to hinge on the and her partner filed So the McCarthys sued. And the law was sexual orientation of the a complaint with the on their side. It took Division of Human people getting married, Rights.” a couple of years, but they won. What? They filed but that’s a minor tech- a complaint According to the about ACLU, “(A)s the New nicality, right?” discrimination? But York State Division of Cynthia Gifford was Human Rights ruled in 2014, under New polite! How dare they? Make no mistake that this case will York’s Human Rights Law, public busiramp up efforts across the country to pass nesses cannot discriminate on the basis of so-called “religious-freedom” laws. The race, sexual orientation, national origin or antigay right has gotten quite used to disother protected classes.” Not satisfied with that ruling, the owners criminating for any reason with impunity. of Liberty Ridge Farm, Robert and Cynthia Now that LGBT people are winning more Gifford, appealed, saying they weren’t dis- civil rights, the antigay wing is doubling criminating based on sexual orientation, down on legislation that declares discrimthey were just making a decision “based ination against LGBT people a “religious solely upon the Giffords’ religious beliefs freedom.” About half of the states have regarding same-sex marriage,” according some kind of legislation in place. Stay to ThinkProgress. tuned. n See the difference? “Hey judge, it D’Anne Witkowski has been gay for pay since isn’t about their sexual orientation, it’s 2003. She’s a freelance writer and poet (believe about our religious belief about marriage. it!). When she’s not taking on the creeps of Granted, our belief just happens to hinge on the sexual orientation of the people get- the world, she reviews rock and roll shows in Detroit with her twin sister and teaches writing ting married, but that’s a minor technicalat the University of Michigan. ity, right?”
Please include a daytime phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity, style and space considerations.
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
Iowa: What it means Finally, the Iowa caucuses have come and Onto the Democratic side … In all transgone and with them come the pundits and parency, I’m a Hillary supporter. That said, candidates with their spin. But what about Bernie Sanders lost, but it wasn’t just any the LGBT spin? Let’s look at what those loss. As he said the entire last week of the races meant and maybe do a little crysrace, “If there is a big turnout, I win.” Well, tal-ball predicting. he got the biggest turnout in history … and Let’s start with the fun house, he still lost. the Republicans. As stated in But why was it so close? this column long ago, take Maybe we should see the obviTrump seriously. That said, he ous. How many strong women came in second, with Marco are there in elected office? Few. Rubio a strong third, nipping at Why? Sexism is still an issue. Trump’s heels. The remainder And aside from pundits sayof the card is unimportant at this ing, “Is Hillary going to use the point, unless somewhere down woman card?” have you heard the line they prove viable. any of them say, “Is Hillary The big loser in Iowa was going to face sexism in the Trump. He boasted everywhere race?” I haven’t. up to the minute of the caucuses Sanders is positioned to win that he was number one in the New Hampshire. Clinton is posiIowa polls, and he was. But by tioned to lose. There are only a coming in second he proved few days left before that race, what some were saying: People Mark Segal so that shouldn’t change and it only becomes an issue if Clinton came to his rallies for the show, but wouldn’t vote for him. New Hampshire, wins or does better than expected. She will most likely do better than expected simwhere he is also number one in the polls, is ply because the polls currently have her 20 a must-win for him. If he does not have a points behind. So she goes into the next commanding victory, his support will begin round with her toughest states behind her. to fade away. After all his appeal was, “I From that point on, it’s uphill for Sanders. can win, I’m a winner.” A two-time loser is As to that LGBT factor … Of those three not a winner. Republicans in the top spots in Iowa, not Ted Cruz won Iowa by a goof ground game and by sucking up to conservatives one of them has an acceptable position on LGBT rights. You might even say they are and evangelical voters, who comprised 64 all homophobic since they want to take percent of Iowa Republican voters. To do away the rights we have fought so hard to so, he used every right-wing trick, some obtain. As for the two Democrats, they both Nixonian and Bush ones and gay-bashhave good positions. ing. Personally, I’d like for Cruz to get the Republican nomination. Why? Even So anyone who cares about LGBT rights Republicans hate him and they’ll sit on their should be supporting the most electable Democratic nominee. And that’s the postilhands. His appeal might work for rightion that both Sanders and Clinton are trying wing conservative states, but there are not to show to their fellow Democrats now. n enough of them to win a national election. Rubio in third place was the wild Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the nation’s mostcard. The only question is, can he ride award-winning commentator in LGBT media. the momentum? He’s looking at New You can follow him on Facebook at www.faceHampshire, then Nevada and South book.com/MarkSegalPGN or Twitter at https:// Carolina, which will make or break him.
Mark My Words
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Feb. 5-11, 2016
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Street Talk Should Mayor Kenney issue a formal apology to Caitlyn Jenner for the Mummers controversy? "Yes, she's a person with feelings. I don't think anybody should be made fun of. The apology would be good — not Justin Brown only for student Caitlyn, but South Philadelphia the entire LGBT community. I hope he does it."
"Yes, it was highly offensive, what happened to Caitlyn. I don't think trans people should be held up Sarah Jalbert to public student ridicule, as Society Hill if they're something to be mocked. An apology from Mayor Kenney would be totally appropriate."
"Yes, it would be a nice gesture, for a government official to take the high road. Even though it's not Mayor Kenney's Kayla O’Donnell fault, he Internet-branding could set an specialist Gayborhood empathetic tone for future generations. And it would be a great morale boost for Caitlyn. I can only imagine what she's going through."
"Yes, it was very messed up, what the Mummers did. Kenney should make clear that Philly has no tolerance for hatred. Kristie Wuttke As a former student Mummer, South Philadelphia he's in a good position to extend an apology to Caitlyn Jenner."
twitter.com/PhilaGayNews.
Transmissions
Gwendolyn Ann Smith
Button, button It’s a great irony about being trans: We are expected to both look and act in certain ways to fit into gender roles defined by non-transgender people, yet are also criticized by non-transgender people for adhering to gendered standards developed by non-transgender people. It’s a classic no-win situation. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently released its new policy change to better serve transgender people. Rather than referring to the particulars of our anatomies as “anomalies” when we pass through their body scanners, we shall now be known as “alarms.” They’re not making any other change, however, just using an even worse term to describe our bodies.
As an aside, I think it is worth mentioning that these scanners have cost the TSA $160 million. That’s more than $150,000 per unit. In a recent security audit, these scanners failed to stop weapons and explosives passing through security checkpoints a staggering 96 percent of the time. Oh, and in recent news, they’re now moving towards mandatory full-body scanning for some passengers, but have opted to not clarify what would cause a person to lose the right to a pat down. Let me back up a moment. When you go through a full-body scan at your local airport, the TSA agent operating the machine chooses one of two color-coded buttons for you: pink or blue. So a TSA agent visually determines what gender you are, presses a
button, and if the machine does not agree with his or her findings, you now have triggered that “alarm.” I can’t think of a more appropriate analogy for the lived experience of many transgender people. We’re expected to be stereotypically handsome or beautiful, and if we are not we are the subject of insults and death threats. Sometimes we are murdered. Yet if we fit well into our preferred genders, and someone discovers we are transgender, we still face insults and death threats -- and yes, still sometimes are murdered. When someone is identified as transgender, those who are not transgender immediately descend to pick them apart. Either
they look too much like their birth sex, or act too much like it, or they’re trying to “trap” straight men and women, or they’re acting too stereotypically masculine or feminine and reinforcing gender norms. More years ago than I care to count, when I had just begun living in my preferred gender, I had an experience that many other transgender people have discovered. At the time, I was working for a large reprographics and desktop-publishing company, serving up freshly laser printed layouts for resumes and party fliers. I was pretty good at my job, able to crank out a professional layout quick and fast, and had developed a good and loyal customer base. I also had the PAGE 20
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Feb. 5-11, 2016
PGN
LGBT estate planning: Not an option, it’s a must The financial and legal impact of being Some questions to consider when married is significant. There are 1,138 planning your estate: identified federal provisions in which mar- • Who should help me manage my affairs ital status is a factor in receiving benefits, in the event of short- or long-term incapacrights and privileges. While it is absolutely ity? advisable for married people or those with • Who should make medical decisions for children to work with a wills and trusts me if I cannot speak for myself? lawyer, it is just as important for single • What will happen to my property? adults. • If I am in a relationship, how should If you were to suddenly become incamy partner and I organize our financial pacitated, who would make your medical affairs? decisions for you? Who would continue to • How can I leave a legacy for my compay your mortgage or file your munity? taxes? If you haven’t worked with an estate-planning attorAt a minimum, I recomney, the answer to this question mend the following docubecomes quite complicated. ments for my LGBT clients: Possibly your parents would • Powers of attorney: a healthbe called in to determine how care power of attorney is crityour medical care should proically important if you want ceed. However, if hostilities your partner to act for you among family exists, planning should you become incapaciahead ensures your wishes are tated. You also need a durable followed. Even if your parent power of attorney. This gives or sibling would be your first someone power over your choice, that doesn’t mean that such as businesses, Angela affairs, the courts would agree without finances and real estate. Giampolo • Advanced directive: A “living having your express wishes legally documented. will” enables you to provide If you prepared estate-planning docuinstructions to physicians relating to proments prior to marriage equality, the firm longed life support in the event of incuryou executed them with understood the able illness. unique needs of LGBT individuals and • HIPAA authorization: In the past few likely drafted your documents in light that years, the law has changed to guarantee a you were not married. Married couples higher right to privacy regarding patient have always enjoyed impactful and robust health information. Under the Health privileges and benefits in estate-planning, Insurance Portability and Accountability and as such, your “pre-marriage-equality” Act of 1996 (HIPAA), specific authoriestate plan needs an overhaul. If nothzation is now required to permit medical ing else, I recommend re-executing your personnel to release “protected healthestate-planning documents so that the care information.” If you do not have this definition used in the documents reflects authorization, it could potentially create your legal relationship: spouse, husband/ a problem in the event a physician needs husband or wife/wife. And for those with to release medical information in order to more complicated needs, you should activate health-care powers of attorney. review what new benefits are available to • Hospital visitation authorization form: This short document allows you to visit you and take advantage of them. Without clearly outlining your wishes your partner in any medical or treatment with an estate-planning attorney, you have facility and, depending on the couple’s very little control over the matter. A sinwishes, it can also grant you the power to gle adult without children may not need to dictate who is allowed in the hospital room worry about creating guardianships for his to visit your partner. or her offspring, but it’s certainly a good • Pet-care directive: These directives became much more popular after idea to look out for yourself and perhaps Hurricane Katrina. It is a document that leave a philanthropic legacy behind. What happens, for example, to the financial provides for who will take care of your pet assets of an unmarried person who dies should anything happen to you. Moreover, it lists what veterinary practice the pet without a will? Under Commonwealth of attends and can leave sums of money in Pennsylvania law, the assets held in the order for your agent to properly care for sole and separate name of an unmarried your pet. person who has no written plan in place • Cohabitation agreement: If you and your will pass through the public proceedings known as “probate” in the following order: partner live together and share assets, a cohabitation agreement is critical. This • Descendants (children or grandchildren) agreement is a cross between a prenuptial agreement and a partnership agreement. • Parents Not only can the contract dictate how • The descendants of your parents (sibmoney and expenses will be managed and lings, nieces, nephews and so on) divided, but it also defines the duties and • Lineal descendants of maternal and responsibilities of each party and may paternal grandparents (uncles, aunts and reduce taxable gifts. cousins) • Will: Without a will, you are sub• The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
ject to the intestacy laws of your state. These laws adversely affect LGBT couples because they define “heirs at law” as blood relatives or adopted children. Without a will, your domestic partner may not be entitled to any of your assets, even assets you may jointly own!
estate plan for you. This means the Commonwealth decides who is in charge and who gets what through its intestacy laws — and no one wants that! Make an appointment today with an estate-planning attorney and take your legacy into your own hands. n
You cannot “opt out” of estate-planning. Whether you know it or not, you have an estate plan right now. If you don’t have a drafted estate plan you have already made decisions regarding what will happen to your estate. Without a will, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania law “writes” your
Angela D. Giampolo, principal of Giampolo Law Group, maintains offices in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and specializes in LGBT law, family law, business law, real-estate law and civil rights. Her website is www.giampololaw.com, and she maintains a blog at www. phillygaylawyer.com. Reach out to Angela with your legal questions at 215-645-2415 or angela@giampololaw.com.
International
Out Law
Thousands protest Italian civil unions Thousands of people have rallied in the Italian capital of Rome against a bill that would give gay couples legal recognition and adoption rights. Protesters came from across Italy to attend “Family Day,” which featured conga-dancing Catholic priests. Parliament began considering the legislation recently and is due to vote on it this month. Italy is the last major Western nation not to give legal recognition to same-sex couples. Many of those attending the rally at Rome’s Circus Maximus, a former chariot-racing venue, held up banners saying, “It is wrong even if it becomes law.” “These unions are very easy to form but also easy to collapse,” said one protester. “Instead, we think that the family has great value and this law can destroy it.” A clause in the bill that allows gay people to adopt the biological children of their partners is proving particularly contested. Organizers said two million had attended, far more than the venue’s capacity, yet journalists at the scene estimated the figure at around 300,000. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi faces opposition within his coalition government in his bid to pass the bill, with his environment minister attending and his interior minister tweeting support for the rally.
UK couple loses partnership challenge A British couple who wanted their relationship recognized as a civil partnership instead of a marriage lost their case Jan. 29 at the High Court.
Rebecca Steinfeld, 34, and Charles Keidan, 39, said they objected to the history and institution of marriage and argued that they and others faced discrimination because the law says only same-sex couples are eligible for civil partnerships. But the British government’s lawyers said since gay marriage became legal in 2014, civil partnerships may be abolished or phased out in a few years. The government wants to wait and see the impact of gay marriage before deciding on the future of civil partnerships. Judge Geraldine Andrews dismissed the couple’s claim for judicial review Jan. 29, saying that opposite-sex couples are not disadvantaged compared with gay couples just because the latter have two ways to legally recognize their relationship. She said heterosexual couples can achieve exactly the same rights and protections by getting married. The judge said while many people may also have “deeply held objections” to marriage and sympathize with Steinfeld and Keidan’s view, “unfairness does not necessarily equate to incompatibility” with European human-rights law. The couple said they planned to appeal.
PM says Australian vote to decide gay marriage Australia’s prime minister has given a personal assurance that his government will legalize gay marriage if a majority of Australians choose marriage equality in a popular vote. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Jan. 29 that his center-right government will keep its promise to hold a plebiscite on the gay-marriage question if the government is re-elected at elections due this year. A number of the government’s most conservative lawmakers have recently announced that they might vote down gay marriage against the wishes of a majority of Australians. But Turnbull says his government would “absolutely” follow the result of the plebiscite. The center-left opposition Labor Party supports gay marriage. But the ruling coalition is bitterly divided on the issue. n — compiled by Larry Nichols
PGN
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Feb. 5-11, 2016
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Feb. 5-11, 2016
Leaders in the Republican-led legislature have said such a measure has little chance of passing.
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Gay vet receives honorable discharge ABC News reports an 82-year-old Ohio veteran has received an honorable discharge a half-century after the Army kicked him out for being gay. Donald Hallman of Columbus requested a reversal of his 1955 “undesirably” discharged status after President Barack Obama repealed the military’s “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” rule in 2010. U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat, helped Hallman obtain the update. Brown says an estimated 100,000 Americans have been discharged from the military because of their sexual orientation since World War II and often lost benefits they had earned. Brown cosponsored federal legislation to help servicemembers discharged solely due to their sexual orientation correct their military records and receive reinstated benefits. Hallman served from 1953-55 and was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany.
Missouri biz groups divided on LGBT-discrimination ban According to the Herald Courier, Missouri business groups are divided over a proposed ban on discrimination against LGBT people. The bill would bar discrimination against LGBT people in employment, housing, financial assistance and public accommodations. In a Jan. 27 hearing in the Senate’s only Democratic-led committee, representatives for Monsanto and the St. Louis Regional Chamber said such a policy would help Missouri compete for job candidates. But the bill doesn’t have support from two of the state’s most powerful business groups. Associated Industries of Missouri president and CEO Ray McCarty says adding protections for LGBT people could open businesses up to new lawsuits. The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry also opposes the legislation.
The Oakland Press reports supporters of amending Michigan’s constitution to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender are suspending efforts to get the measure on the November ballot. The Fair Michigan ballot committee was seeking to gather roughly 315,000 valid voter signatures by summer to put the initiative on the statewide ballot. Dana Nessel, one of the lawyers who helped win a historic legal battle to strike down the state’s gay-marriage ban, has been organizing the effort. She said it’s “not the end of Fair Michigan.” Nessel cited finances as a reason for suspension. Major gay-rights advocacy groups such as Equality Michigan and the American Civil Liberties Union opposed the 2016 measure because they worried voters would defeat it.
Gay-marriage opposition kills IRS bill According to the Rexburg Standard Journal, Idaho lawmakers have sent a tax-conformity bill back to the drawing board because it would have removed an unenforceable rule banning joint returns from same-sex couples. Members of the Idaho House of Representatives voted 54-15 Jan. 28 to send the bill back to committee. The legislation is brought annually to make the state’s tax code conform with changes to federal tax code. This year’s version sought to remove a requirement for same-sex couples to file separate state-tax returns. That requirement is now void because the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that states can’t enforce gay-marriage bans. Lawmakers usually prefer to sync the state’s tax code with the federal version to make it easier for residents and businesses to do their taxes or avoid having to keep separate accounting books to track the different rules. Rep. Heather Scott of Blanchard was the only Republican to vote against sending the bill back to committee, even though she cast one of the few nay votes to send the measure to the House floor. A new version of the bill was scheduled to be introduced on Jan. 29. n — compiled by Larry Nichols
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PGN LOCAL
Giant replies to antibias complaint By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com Giant Food Stores Co. recently replied to an antibias complaint filed by trans man Sam Melrath by denying most of the allegations in his complaint. Between 2011-13, Melrath worked as a bagger at the Giant store in Huntingdon Valley. But Melrath claims his employment became intolerable because management continually pressured him to appear as a female. For instance, Melrath was pressured to let his hair grow long, wear a female nametag and uniform, act in a feminine manner and
avoid any LGBT references. In 2013, Melrath quit his job, due to the alleged mistreatment, and filed a federal lawsuit against Giant in November. In an 11-page reply brief filed Jan. 29, COSBY from page 1
yers carted about 15 boxes of documents into the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown. A black vehicle pulled up to the East Airy Street side entrance about 8:50 a.m. Cosby emerged with his security detail, who helped him into a green suit coat. He shuffled and looked around on his way into the courthouse while a couple people shouted, “We love you, Bill,” and took pictures from the street. Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele, who beat Castor in the
Giant denied any wrongdoing in the matter. “Any action taken by [Giant] with respect to [Melrath] was taken in good faith, in a reasonable manner and fashion, and for legitimate and lawful reasons,” Giant’s brief asserts. The brief also requests that Melrath’s complaint be dismissed, and that Giant’s legal fees be paid by Melrath. Giant’s brief admits that Melrath was disciplined during his employment but claims the discipline was due to an “inappropriate conversation” initiated by Melrath. The brief also admits that Giant doesn’t have a formal policy regarding employee nametags. But it notes that Giant allowed a female employee to shorten her name to a unisex version on her nametag. Moreover, the brief contends that if Melrath experienced any difficulties during his employment, it was due to his own actions. The Center City law firm of Saul Ewing, which is handling Giant’s defense, declined to comment for this story. Richard S. Swartz, an attorney for Melrath, couldn’t be reached for comment. Melrath is seeking an unspecified amount in damages, and he’s requested a jury trial. A pre-trial conference is set for 2 p.m. Feb. 18 in the chambers of U.S. District Judge J. William Ditter at the U.S. Court House in Center City. n
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Feb. 5-11, 2016
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Recently engaged or married? PGN wants to hear from you!
With marriage equality now the law of the land in Pennsylvania, our March 4 Wedding Issue will celebrate local couples who have, or are planning to, put a ring on it.
November election for the post, brought charges against Cosby last month, just days before the 12-year statute of limitations on the incident was set to expire. Steele based his decision to charge Cosby in part on the deposition from the civil case, which was unsealed over the summer. Cosby is free after posting 10 percent of his $1-million bail. Constand now lives in Toronto, Canada, near where she grew up. n
Email editor@epgn.com by Feb. 27 to have your announcement included.
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Feb. 5-11, 2016
PGN LOCAL
Gayborhood Crime Watch The following incidents in the Midtown Village and Washington Square West areas were reported to the Sixth Police District between Jan. 18-24. Information is courtesy of Sixth 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. INCIDENTS — At 3:10 a.m. Jan. 18, two men knocked another man down outside 21 S. 13th St. One of the men had a knife. They stole the victim’s wallet, cell phone and tablet and fled south on 13th Street. They were described as black and in their 20s. One was wearing a brown jacket and gray skull cap, and the other was wearing all black. — At 9:30 a.m. Jan. 18, an individual was stabbed in the shoulder with scissors in the SEPTA subway platform at 800 Market St. by a known associate during a domestic argument. Central Detectives is investigating and will obtain an arrest warrant. — There was one theft of a bicycle reported Jan. 18-24: outside 1 S. Broad St. NON-SUMMARY ARRESTS — At 3:40 a.m. Jan. 19, Sixth District Officers Mason and Brown detained a man who had spray-paint cans in the 100 block
of South Juniper Street. They determined he had spray-painted graffiti on two newsstands in the 1300 block of Market Street, a newsstand and dumpster in the 1500 block of JFK Boulevard and on City Hall. The 29-year-old suspect with a Port Richmond address was charged with multiple counts of institutional vandalism and criminal mischief. — At 3:45 p.m. Jan. 20, store security detained a man who was causing a disturbance inside Century 21, 821 Market St. They found him to be in possession of a loaded handgun and narcotics. The 20-yearold suspect with a West Philadelphia address was charged with weapons and narcotics violations. — At 6 p.m. Jan. 20, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital security stopped a man inside 833 Chestnut St. for trespassing. The man struck the officer and fled. He was later apprehended in the emergency room and held for police. The 24-year-old suspect with a Cherry Hill, N.J., address was charged with trespassing and assault. — At 3:25 p.m. Jan. 22, a woman’s wallet was stolen from her handbag inside Burlington Coat Factory, 1001 Market St. Two female suspects were later apprehended by Center City District Officer Crothers and the wallet was recovered. The 26-year-old with a West Philadelphia address and the 29-year-old with a Northeast Philadelphia address were charged with theft. n
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Feb. 5-11, 2016
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Intimacy and discovery are Out & About Valentine’s Day highlighted at CRUXspace
Whether you’re single, partnered, married or in the “it’s complicated” stage, there is plenty to do out and about in the Philly area for Valentine’s Day weekend. Show Queen Quizzo 7 p.m. Feb. 12 William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St. This all-ages event tests your knowledge all things Broadway. Hosted by Simone, teams of up to six will go head to head in three rounds of theater-related trivia, with performances by several local entertainers. Gift certificates to local eateries and bars will be awarded to winners. Entry is $15 per team, and registration can be completed at www.gaygay.org.
Be Mine; A Valentine’s Day Cabaret 8 p.m. Feb. 12 Pennsylvania 6, 114 S. 12th St. Drag celeb Bev will host this Valentine’s Day-themed cabaret featuring several local drag and burlesque entertainers. Tickets are $12 or $20 per couple and can be purchased at the door or ahead of time at ow.ly/XAUDh. Lovin’ on the Wild Side 6:30 p.m. Feb. 13 Philadelphia Zoo, 3400 W. Girard Ave. The Philadelphia Zoo gives animal lovers a unique behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of the nation’s oldest zoo. This overnight event features a tour, animal interactions and more. Guests are invited to sleep in the children’s zoo and are encouraged to bring an air mattress and sleeping bag. Tickets include a taco bar dinner, midnight champagne toast and a souvenir. Happy hour drinks and breakfast will be available for purchase. Tickets are $185 per person or $350 per
couple. For more information or tickets, visit www.PhiladelphiaZoo.org.
Mr. & Ms. Philadelphia Leather 2016 7 p.m. Feb. 13 The Bike Stop, 206 S. Quince St. The annual contest features bar-wear, hot-wear, formal-wear and audience-vote categories. Limited seating will be available for the third-floor competition, but TV monitors will be located throughout the venue for patrons to catch all the action. For more information, visit www. phillyleathercontest.org. Philadelphians MC will present after-party Gear Up, a leather dress-code-enforced event, starting at 10 p.m. For more information, visit www.phillyleathercontest.org. Sweethearts and Red Hots 6 p.m. Feb. 19 William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St. The Attic Youth Center will stage its sixth-annual Valentine’s-themed drag show. The event raises funds for the organization’s youth programming. Tickets range from $5-$20. For more information or tickets, visit http://bit. ly/1SCZCmz. Cupid’s Undie Run Noon Feb. 20 XFinity Live, 1100 Pattison Ave. Hundreds of runners will don their Valentine’s best for the 1-mile fun run. The event, held in cities across the country, raises funds for the Children’s Tumor Foundation; last year’s events brought in $3.5 million. Registration is $55 and includes an open bar after the run. For more information or to register, visit http://www.cupidsundierun.com/city/ philadelphia/.
ChesCo group hosts LGBT art show By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com LGBTea Dances wanted to support Chester County artists, which led to the creation of the For the LOVE of Art event. It takes place the weekend after Valentine’s Day. “We’re inviting people to come see the work the LGBT community is doing in their backyard,” said Rachel Stevenson, who founded the LGBT social and educational group last year. “A big focus is always to bring everyone out.” Stevenson said LGBTea Dances hosts a fair share of nightlife activities for people who are over 21, and she wanted to organize an event that teens could attend as well. The art show runs from 3-7 p.m. Feb. 21 at Franklin Commons, 400 Franklin Ave.,
Phoenixville. It will include artworks from painting to photography and a print giveaway of work by Andrew Wyeth, the realist artist from Chadds Ford who died in 2009. Authors Rae Theodore and Jess Branas will read selections from their work. Musical performers include the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus; Vocal Fusion, an a-cappella group of local teens; Christine Havrilla; and Andrea Nardello. Light refreshments will be served. Tickets cost $25. The money supports Gay-Straight Alliances at local schools. Stevenson said an anonymous donor has contributed $1,000. More business sponsors to support the cause are always welcome, she said. For more information, visit www. lgbteadances.org. To purchase tickets, click the “events” tab. n
By Scott A. Drake scott@epgn.com Touching. With its many definitions, “touching” aptly describes the next gallery offering at CRUXspace, 700 Master St. “Tasteful Yet Biting” is also the first show for CRUXspace made up entirely of LGBT artists who were selected from Philadelphia and New York. Works were chosen based upon a broad cross-section of concepts including emotion, evocation, physicality and experimentation. CRUXspace is self-described by that catch-all “new media,” that contrived description with an ever-evolving and elusive definition. While many of the art styles and constructs are traditional in this case, their concepts are not. When asked how to describe this particular show collection, co-directors and curators of the show, openly gay Andrew Cameron Zhan and openly bisexual Kim Brickley, looked long at each other and then carefully chose words such as “engaging,” “personal” and “intimate.” And with those descriptions, it’s easy to understand how such diverse and yet thematically similar these artists’ works really are. The only self-imposed restriction put to the show by Zhan and Brickley was no full frontal. The show is meant to be “engaging and thought-provoking” without becoming completely “sexual or pornographic.” Future shows may or may not push that envelope, they noted. Consider the collection of black and white photographs entitled “17 Strangers.” It involved photographer Joe
Ovelman approaching people, asking to switch coats with them and be photographed with Joe on his knees in front of the subject. At first glance, it seems like a typical collection of male erotica, but the more one considers the faceless subjects in similar, yet distinctively different presentations, the more personal the images become and the viewer becomes something more than just an observer. Photographer Chad States has done work over the past couple of years of men having public sex and a series on masculinity and de-stereotyping gay men. For this show, States was busy photographing the reactions/emotions of various subjects who were told to express themselves after sex. Blurring the lines of gender is also in his portfolio, just as it is in Sean Fader’s. Fader took photographs of friends and Photoshopped himself into them and added a zipper, as though he is wearing a bodysuit of each person. The result is a series of strikingly curious images that evoke a sense of comfortableness in one’s own skin. The collaborators are eagerly anticipating an expanded role in this year’s Fringe Festival as well. The role of the gallery will be “Digital Fringe,” which could include digital images, video, audio, set work or even as-it-happens work. Much like “new media,” this digital fringe is still fluidly indistinct. n “Tasteful Yet Biting” will celebrate an opening reception 5-8 p.m. Feb. 12. CRUXspace is open by appointment and has Second Friday openings approximately every other month. Contact the co-directors through cruxspace.com.
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Feb. 5-11, 2016
Day in the Life of ...
Passional and Sexploratorium owner, Kali Morgan
By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com In the calm quiet just after the blizzard of 2016, things are relatively peaceful at Passional Boutique and Sexploratorium (317 South St.). But with Valentine’s Day and Leather Weekend coming up, business will definitely be getting busier. For Kali Diana Morgan, the store’s “retail proprietrix,” running the fetish fashion shop and adult store is usually fun, and always a lot of work. That’s because this isn’t your average fetish shop. The queer-owned and operated store has been a Philadelphia institution for 20 years and has grown in size and popularity during that time. “When we opened our first retail location we were only open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays,” Morgan said. “Now we’re open seven days a week in two stores. When we first started, there simply was not anything like we had to offer in Philadelphia. There wasn’t a place to buy fetish clothing. There wasn’t a place where you could buy hypoallergenic sex toys. And now a lot of those products are more widely available. You can get fetish clothing at Halloween stores. You can get sex toys at Target.” Yeah, don’t buy your sex toys at Target. (That’s coming from us, not Sexploratorium. You’ll thank yourself later.) The friendly and knowledgeable staff at Sexploratorium expertly walks customers through their expansive and diverse selection of fetish wear and/or devices. Individuals and couples, some looking for basic accessories and others expert, Jedilevel sex toys, get the same level of customer service and attention when they come into the store.
And really, in the work of fetish wear and sex toys, you really do get what you pay for. “We did a lot of education because people could not understand why a silicone toy you were selling costs $100 while you can buy a latex toy that costs $15,” Morgan said. “In 1996 through 1998 when we were first going into business, we spent a lot of time educating people. In the 1980s, as somebody who was involved in AIDS activism, latex was used for every single thing because your life depended on it. But because the proteins in latex can trigger allergies, right around the 1990s when we were going into business, health-care professionals were becoming deathly allergic to latex and there were no hypoallergenic
products on the market. We had a lot to overcome at first because everyone would come to the store and go, ‘Wait, your stuff is way too expensive. I can get a dildo down the street for one fifth of the price.’” The staff will explain to customers in fascinating detail why certain toys cost as much as they do. But the store also stocks items to appeal to the newbies. “We have entry-level price point on all of our items,” Morgan said. “Our criteria are they have to be body-safe, non-allergenic and able to function for at least 30 days.” Sexploratorium also hosts classes and events to educate and engage their clientele — from doctor-hosted seminars about sexual wellness to more instructional BDSM classes like Caning 101. Morgan said that when the store was located away from the main drag at its old Fifth Street location, customers mainly came to them from within fetish and LGBTQIA communities. Since the shop relocated to its current storefront on a busy section of South Street, they are seeing more customers from a wide range of backgrounds. “We definitely have our core audience,” Morgan said. “We’re marketing towards people in the fetish and BDSM community. Those people tend to be more connoisseurs. They’re more aware of social etiquette and product and quality differences. We came of age at a time when people were becoming more aware about sexual heath and ‘forbidden topics.’ The Internet really opened all of that stuff up and opened up an awareness of a lot of sexual practices and diverse sexual orientations. Now that we are on South Street, we’re getting a lot more people who are unfamiliar and uninitiated. At the same time, we’re able to
Philly promoter launches D.C. party By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com The out former head of public relations for Visit Philadelphia invites locals to take a Valentine’s Day trip to Washington, D.C., for a leather-themed dance party. “It’s a great weekend trip for folks in Philadelphia,” said Bruce Yelk, the party’s creator. “It’s cheap to get there. It’s cheap to stay. The party’s not overpriced.” DistrktC will feature DJs Manny Lehman and Mark DeMarko. It runs from 8 p.m. Feb. 13 to 8 a.m. Feb. 14 at the new dance floor at the DC Eagle, 3701 Benning Road NE, Washington. Tickets cost $20 until Feb. 7, when the price will steadily increase until it hits the $35 door price. A portion of the door sales will support D.C. Leather Pride. Lehman created some origi-
nal music for the opening of the party, which will return the second Saturday of every month. DeMarko serves as the DJ in residence while the second DJ slot will feature rotating talent. Yelk said he wanted to host the party in Washington because of the longer hours. “In Philadelphia, unfortunately, people come out at 11 and they have to be done by 2,” he said. “You can’t experience it in the right flavor with international DJs who go until 6 a.m.” Yelk said Pennsylvania’s liquor laws also curb the style of the party he wanted to promote. The DC Eagle can serve liquor until 3 a.m., he said. The DC Eagle has about 5,000 square feet that Yelk calls a “sexy warehouse space.” “I wanted it to be very simple,” he said. “It’s not just a party. For me, it’s the whole creation. It’s
my art.” Yelk said people are encouraged to dress up according to their preferred “fetish,” whether that’s leather or sportswear or other gear. “The more people take on the theme of it, the more fun people will have,” he said. “Whatever your fetish is, it fits with the party.” If the DistrktC parties build a following in Washington, Yelk said he would like to travel with the concept to other cities. Most likely, Chicago, Miami or Los Angeles would be the next locations, he said, noting that Philadelphians are close enough to experience the original parties. “I hope to see a lot of friendly faces from Philadelphia coming out to the party,” Yelk said. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit http://ow.ly/ XODyL. n
be a bridge and liaison to our core customers, who are LGBTQIA and people in the leather fetish community. That can be challenging sometimes. You have someone who is shopping for their first vibrator and then you have a leather daddy with two boys on leashes come in and you have to really kind of negotiate a safe space for all of the people.” Maintaining a safe space does become a juggling act sometimes on South Street, which can go from Dr. Jekyll in the daytime to Mister Hyde when the sun goes down as people start flocking to the area for the nightlife. But Morgan said the store is used to the occasional looky-loos and does its best to keep the atmosphere in the store civil. “The overwhelming majority of people who come in here are respectful,” she said. “We are on a block with four bars so occasionally some drunk people will come in and do the point and giggle thing. We just try to keep it down to a minimum. We have to have a sense of humor about it because people are nervous about that kind of thing. Everybody who walks through our door to one degree or another is vulnerable. So we ask them questions: ‘Is there any way we can help you? Can you please keep it down?’ Educating people out of the door is part of our training. We do have to have signs big enough for tipsy people to read about consent and don’t pick up a flogger and hit your friend with it without asking first. We do try to really emphasize that we need to keep the space safe for everybody.” n
For more information about Passional and Sexploratorium, visit http://passionalboutique.com/sexploratorium/.
Final call for ‘love story’ contest This weekend is your last opportunity to tell PGN your love story for the chance to have it preserved on a free keepsake video. PGN is teaming up for the Valentine’s Day contest with PersonalCast Studios, a local production company from the producers behind such reality hits as “Ambush Makeover,” “A Wedding Story” and “Trading Spaces.” The company’s founders, Jan Dickler and Susan Cohen-Dickler, will offer one PGN reader and his or her partner a professionally edited “Love Story” video, valued at $599. For the video, the duo interviews both members of a couple — separately — via FaceTime or Skype about their relationship, allowing them to talk about everything from their first date, the highs and lows of their relationship and what they hope for the future. The filmmakers then professionally edit the footage into a seamless story, complete with music and photos. Interviews can be done right from the comfort of the couple’s own living room (interested contest applicants must have access to FaceTime or Skype). To enter, simply email editor@epgn.com and tell us — in 100 words or less! — when you knew your partner was THE one! Your story can be cute, serious, funny — just tell us what makes your relationship worthy of this great prize. Entries are due by midnight Feb. 7. We’ll announce the winner in next week’s PGN. Happy Valentine’s Day! n
LOVE & LUST PGN
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Feb. 5-11, 2016
Have a winter getaway to rekindle the spirit By Scott A. Drake Scott@epgn.com Sometimes the best way to celebrate love is a nice dinner, a card, a small gift, some champagne and candlelight — and sometimes, it’s all of those and a getaway for the night. Face it: Even when the sweetheart pseudo-holiday isn’t in play, it’s nice to step back from the snow and gray and routine and change your view. Some of these places offered here in Bucks County are V-Day specific for that special lovers’ weekend while others are more for a simple winter-weary weekend. Check the offers carefully for details and restrictions and visitbuckscounty.com/ hotels-bb/lodging-packages/ for other info. • You’ll be in walking distance to any of New Hope’s shops and restaurants while you stay at the quaint, peaceful Wishing Well Guest House. Enjoy any two-night weekend stay for $109 (queen) or $99 (full) or book a stay for any one night in a Royal Room for $79. Available until April 30; wishingwellguesthouse.businesscatalyst.com/index.html#contact. • Remember your lovely two-night stay in a romantic room at the Fox & Hound with the “Romance and Elegance” Valentine’s Day special with champagne, a single red rose, a custom love message and a Fox & Hound robe. You’ll also receive $40 off a Swarovski crystal necklace from the venue’s boutique and a hot gourmet breakfast; foxhoundinn.com/specials-and-localevents/. • Enjoy a romantic dinner and getaway at the charming Plumsteadville Inn in Pipersville for a great price. Your overnight stay includes dinner for two,
including an appetizer and dessert, at the Plumsteadville Bar and Grill. Available until March 25; www.plumsteadvilleinn. com/. • Book a romantic getaway for Valentine’s Day at the Golden Plough Inn, located right in the heart of Peddler’s Village, and receive a chilled bottle of sparkling wine, chocolates and a long-stemmed rose. Included is an a-la-carte breakfast for two at the award-winning Buttonwood Grill. Or enjoy a luxurious stay a different weekend and receive 50-percent off your stay in a fantastic suite and a-la-carte breakfast for two at the Buttonwood Grill. Available Sunday-Thursday and select weekends; goldenploughinn.com/offers. • Stay any weeknight (Monday-Thursday, non-holiday evenings) at the Pineapple Hill Inn in the romantic Goldfinch Room and receive a $50 gift card to any one of these three fabulous local restaurants: The Washington Crossing Inn, Bowman’s Tavern or Marsha Brown; pineapplehill. com/travel-packages/. • Add the Wine and Roses Package to your Bridgeton House stay and a bouquet mix of roses and flowers with a love note will be waiting for you in your room. You’ll also receive a 30-minute cellar tour and tasting at the Sand Castle Winery, which is located only five minutes from the inn; bridgetonhouse.com/specials/. n Visit Bucks County (VBC) is the official tourism-promotion agency for Bucks County. For more information on VBC activities, call 1-800-836-BUCKS, visit VisitBucksCounty.com or stop by the Bucks County Visitor Center at 3207 Street Road in Bensalem.
Portraits — Scott A. Drake — 267-736-6743
’s Spring Wedding Issue is Mar. 4
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Feb. 5-11, 2016
PGN MORRIS from page 1
locations in Philadelphia CENTER CITY — AROUND THE GAYBORHOOD
12th Street Gym, 204 S. 12th St. • 13th Street Gourmet Pizza, 209 S. 13th St. • AACO, 1101 Market St., 9th floor • Action AIDS, 1216 Arch St. • Apt. & Townhouse Rentals, 304 S. 12th St. • The Bike Stop, 206 S. Quince St. • Bioscript Pharmacy, 1227 Locust St. • Boxers PHL, 1330 Walnut St. • Cafe Twelve, 212 S. 12th St. • Charlie Salon, 203 S. 12th St. • Charlie was a Sinner, 131 S. 13th St. • City Hall NE Entrance • Club Body Center, 1220 Chancellor St. • Com-Har Living Room, 101 S. Broad St., 14th floor • Criminal Justice Center, 1301 Filbert St. • Cut Salon, 204 S. 13th St. • Danny’s Bookstore 133 S. 13th St. • Dignity/St. Lukes, 330 S. 13th St. • Dirty Frank’s Bar, 13th & Pine sts. • The Foodery, 10th & Pine sts. • GALAEI, 1207 Chestnut St. • ICandy, 254 S. 12th St. • Independent Hotel, 13th & Locust sts. • John C. Anderson Apts., 249 S. 13th St. • Mazzoni Clinic, 809 Locust St. • Midtown II, 122 S. 11th St. • More Than Just Ice Cream, 1119 Locust St. • Nationality Service Center, 1216 Arch St. • Optimal Gym, 1315 Walnut St. • Paolo Pizzeria, 1336 Pine St. • PAT@Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St. • Phila. FIGHT/ Aids Library, 1233 Locust St., 2nd floor • Planned Parenthood, 1144 Locust St. • Reading Terminal Market, 12th & Filbert sts. • Salon K, 1216 Locust St. • Scorpio Books, 205 S. Juniper St. • Spruce Street Video, 252 S. 12th St. • Square One, 249 S. 13th St. • Tabu, 200 S. 12th St. • Toast, 12th & Spruce sts. • Triangle Medicine, 253 S. 10th St., 1st floor • U Bar, 1220 Locust St. • Valanni, 1229 Spruce St. • Venture Inn, 255 S. Camac St. • William Way LGBT Community Center, 1325 Spruce St. • Woody’s, 202 S. 13th St. •
CENTER CITY OTHER — EAST OF BROAD
Bean Café, 615 South St. • Best Western Independence Park Hotel lobby, 215 Chestnut St. • Bodhi Coffee, 410 S. 2nd St. • Bridgeview Place, 315 New St. • Cedrone’s Flowers, 800 Lombard St. • Class Act Auto Repair, 2042 S. Bancroft St. • Copabanana, 342 South St. • Dane Décor, 315 Arch St. • Filter Coffee Co., 331 Race St. • Hopkinson House, 604 S. Washington Sq. • Hyatt Regency Hotel lobby, 201 S. Columbus Blvd. • Independence Place Condos, 241 S. Sixth St., lobby in both towers • Independence Visitors Center, 6th & Market sts. • Modish Hair Salon, 640B South St. • PGN offices, 505 S. Fourth St. • Philadelphia Java Co., 518 S. Fourth St. • Reading Terminal Market, 12th & Filbert sts. • Strands Salon, 25 N. Third St. • Two Independence Place, 233 S. 6th St. •Ultimo Coffee, 1900 S. 15th St. • Wireworks, 301 Race St. •
CENTER CITY OTHER — WEST OF BROAD
Adonis Cinema, 2026 Sansom St. • Art Institute, 1622 Chestnut St. • Art Institute, 2300 Market St. • The Attic Youth Center, 255 S. 16th St. • Bob & Barbara’s, 1509 South St. • Dan Tobey R/E, 1401 Walnut St., 8th floor • Dr. Wakefield’s Office, 255 S. 17th St., Suite 2306 • Drucker & Scaccetti, 1600 Market St., Suite 3300 • Drexel Partnership, 1427 Vine St., 3rd floor • Latimer Deli, 255 S. 15th St. • MANNA, 12 S. 23rd St. • Marine Club Condos lobby, Broad St. & Washington Ave. • Metropolitan, 115 N. 15th St. • PA Law Project, 2122 Chestnut St., Suite 1600 • Phila. Daily News, 801 Market St. • Safeguards Lobby, 1700 Market St., 18th floor • Sansom St. Gym, 2020 Sansom St. • South Square Market, 2221 South St. • Stir, 1705 Chancellor St. • U Do It Laundry, 15th & Spruce sts. • Westminster Arch Apts., Vine St., 3rd floor •
PHILADELPHIA NEIGHBORHOODS — OTHER
Almost Paradise, 742 Frankford Ave. • Awbry Aboretum, 1 Awbry Rd. • Caribbean Pharmacy, 3825 N. 5th St. •Elfant Wissahickon Realty, 8962 Ridge Ave. • Fantasy Island Books, 7363 State Road • Harry’s Natural Foods, 1805 Cottman Ave. • Infinity Jewelers, 3528 Cottman+ Ave. • Infusion Salon, 7133 Germantown Ave. • Morris House, 5537 Woodland Ave. • One Day At A Time, 2532 N. Broad St. • Philadelphia University KANBAR Center, 4201 Henry Ave. • Philly Pharmacy, 9475 Roosevelt Blvd. • WCAU TV lobby, City Line Ave. & Monument Road • Weaver’s Way, 559 Carpenter Lane • Welker Real Estate, 2311 Fairmount Ave. • WPVI TV lobby, City Line Ave. & Monument Road •
Would you like to be on our distribution list? Contact: don@epgn.com or 215-451-6182 ext. 200 for delivery of complimentary copies.
OOR’s order could result in people demanding “legal certifications from the DAO of any document imaginable, including Barack Obama’s birth certificate, a transcript of the 18 and one-half missing minutes of the Nixon tapes or a photograph of the Loch Ness monster.” The brief also argues that the D.A.’s Office isn’t a “custodian” of computer-assisted dispatch documents, thus PGN’s request is inappropriate. However, the D.A.’s Office provided several Morris computer-assisted dispatch documents to the city’s Police Advisory
DJ BILL from page 1
regarding special-assembly licenses. Only venues hosting live music — like DJs, singers or bands — are required to have a license. Squilla told PGN some venue owners could claim, “I don’t need a license because I’m just using an iPod and streaming music.” Before withdrawing the bill, Squilla made two big changes regarding the registry requirement and license fee. He said when he initially proposed his bill to close the loophole, it included language to ask for the names and addresses of performers. It was meant to help police in case an incident occurred at an event, he said. “I requested to remove that because we had some pushback and concern,” Squilla told PGN. Josh Schonewolf, LGBT event producer, said he was concerned that collecting names and address of performers “could potenTRANSMISSIONS from page 11
respect of my coworkers and management. Once I transitioned, this changed. I still had my customers and they were still plenty happy with my work, but things were clearly deteriorating among the staff. I had coworkers who would refuse to do anything I asked of them, and I ended up getting written up a couple times by the assistant manager. It wasn’t my appearance that caused the trouble, I was told, and me being transgender had nothing to do with how I was treated at work. Rather, it was my attitude. When I was still presenting as male, my assertiveness was perceived as an asset, but post-transition, it was identified as “bitchiness.” To me, I’d rather that all women could be perceived as assertive and not be labeled for speaking up. This is but one example of many similar tales you’ll hear from trans folks, of how they have had to change their ways or end up being seen as somehow “imperfect.” In some cases, they’ve even been disallowed care because they have opted to not fall into expected gendered stereotypes. Every situation I walk into, someone is pushing their mental blue or pink button, and assigning a number of stereotypes to me. They’re determining how I should look, act and feel based on their assumptions of my gender identity and how I choose to express
Commission in 2008. Additionally, the D.A.’s brief raises concerns about the authenticity of its document from PGN. Those concerns weren’t raised in the D.A.’s five affidavits citing the document as a responsive record. PGN’s position is that the D.A.’s Office has ample resources to ascertain the document’s authenticity, if it believes that’s necessary. The case is assigned to Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Linda A. Carpenter. PGN’s reply brief is due March 7, and oral arguments are tentatively set for 9 a.m. April 4 in Courtroom 232 of City Hall. n
tially really muddy the performance scene in Philadelphia.” He noted the performers he often works with — particularly in burlesque and drag — don’t use their real names. “If I’m booking them a flight, I have to know their legal name, but otherwise, no,” Schonewolf said. Squilla also removed a fee increase that stipulated it would cost $500 annually to get a license, instead of $100. “Some smaller locations said they wouldn’t be able to afford it,” he said. Before withdrawing the bill, Squilla changed the language to say it would cost $200 every two years; essentially the same annual cost, but the venue owners would not have had to apply as frequently. Squilla said he hopes to have venue owners’ support for any bill meant to close the loophole in licensing. n it. In the course of that interaction, if their mental “alarm” is tripped, I am judged unfit and treated accordingly. I have to live in this world, and one has to interact with others on a daily basis. We end up having to traverse the pink and blue buttons of people all day long, from the bagger at your local supermarket to television pundits and political leaders. Today we’re in the midst of a pushback against transgender rights, with people trying to literally police gender identity. While we dodged a bullet in California in the battle over bathrooms and public facilities, the fight is heating up elsewhere. While it does, I will never be able to live up to the conflicting standards non-transgender people will put up to fight against my identity. The majority of the time, I really don’t care about your judgment of me. As a friend of mine taught me many years ago, my body is not a democracy: You do not get a vote. This is my flesh and blood, and I get to choose what I do with it. The thing is, I really am not the person with the problem here. I got to spend a lot of time trying to figure out which button to press for myself. I also know there’s a whole hell of a lot more options than just pink and blue. n Gwen Smith believes in a much broader spectrum. You’ll find her on Twitter at @gwenners.
AC ul t ure rts
FEATURE PGN
Needles
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Feb. 5-11, 2016
Family Portrait Get Out and Play Out & About Q Puzzle Scene in Philly
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Drag star injects Philly with unique music By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Drag star, TV personality and musician Sharon Needles is plunging into Philadelphia as part of her national tour in support of her latest album, “Taxidermy,” which was released this past fall. Needles (the alter ego of Aaron Coady) is probably best known for winning season four of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” where her outrageous and often macabre styles and sense of humor made her a fan favorite. She’s certainly not the first drag queen to parlay her visibility from the show into a career in music but, sonically, Needles and her new album stand out by injecting (no pun intended) a wider range of influences into the club-oriented, electronic dance music (EDM) formula. “I knew I wanted it bare-bones and its structure to be in EDM and electronica, in a compromise with the industry and where I’m performing and who I’m performing for,” she said. “But I didn’t grow up on that; I grew up on a lot of industrial, punk rock, glam rock, surf rock and dark EDM. I definitely used sprinkles of nostalgia and other
styles of music, but the bones are always in an EDM format. For a drag artist, it’s pretty moody. I was listening to a lot of Brian Eno, Throbbing Gristle and my old high-school Marilyn Manson albums. Everything comes back around. I wanted this record to have a little more despair because I was feeling the star of temporary reality-TV fame coming to an end and I was going through a public breakup and I lost a shitload of money. So the album is definitely moodier.” Needles said she prefers to perform with a live band backing her but sometimes logistical and financial constraints prevent her from doing so. “Some clubs don’t care,” she said. “They want the thing from the TV on the stage to sing a couple songs and then have it bring 300 patrons. Then they are fine and money to me, money to them. Other venues put a
little more investment into the artistic intention of the performance. I write my songs in a tempo very similar to the Sex Pistols. That allows songs to be performed electronically or with my band. Unfortunately, due to what it costs to get bands and myself paid and housed, it has made it so that I don’t get to use my live band as much as I would like to.” With one foot in the drag world and another in the world of music, Needles said the line between the two is becoming less and less defined. “Drag at this point in the game is merely a visual,” she said. “I spend so much time in her that the forces have kind of combined. I never write songs in the headspace of Sharon. They’re always written in my own personal headspace. That is why ‘Taxidermy’ is so raw and honest and not vain. The words ‘her’ or
‘she’ are never used. And I never speak as other people as ‘him’ or ‘he.’ I try to keep it gender-neutral. ‘Taxidermy’ was primarily written by me as opposed to ‘PG-13,’ which was written by this dead, funny Elvira-like character.” Needles said that her unconventional style of drag has been both an advantage and a disadvantage, both on the show and off. “I know exactly why I was a success story on my season on ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race,’” she said. “I attributed a lot of it to Lady Gaga’s success in 2010. I filmed ‘Drag Race’ in 2011 and we were on this cultural verge of super acceptance, high theatrics, outlandish visuals and pure honesty. I got on ‘Drag Race’ at the right time because that was synonymous with the way that I conduct my art and what I do. Would I win today? No. That ship has sailed and we focus on being politically correct and keyboard terrorists and that is unfortunate. It helped me because the planets aligned for me to be successful that year. It hinders me now because I’ve become a niche market. In some markets, I’m perceived as the queen of Halloween, but that PAGE 22
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Feb. 5-11, 2016
PGN FEATURE NEEDLES from page 21
is fine because when it comes to fans, it’s quality over quantity. I’d rather be understood by a few than universally accepted because that would mean I was Taylor Swift or One Direction and that is just not possible for me.” Needles, an Iowa native who currently calls Pittsburgh home, said she could probably run in the same circles as her “Drag Race” peers in more happening cities, but she prefers living in a more down-to-earth city. “I’m not a New York girl,” she said. “I’m not an L.A. chick. After ‘Drag Race,’ we go from hobby queens to entrepreneurs and we have the financial opportunities to move wherever we want. It’s common for ‘Drag Race’ alumni to flock to these hotbeds of talent but I couldn’t do it. I’m just Pittsburgh. I’m dirty, I’m dusty, I’m dilapidated and I also like focusing on a city that doesn’t get much attention. I was really inspired by John Waters’ dedication to Baltimore. I just decided to stay in Pittsburgh. No one else would have me anyway. In L.A., I’m a two. In Pittsburgh, I’m a 10.” Needles added that being on the fringes of drag fame suits her just fine. “The great thing about being Sharon is that I never set any form of precedent on
m y s e l f ,” she said. “I was typecast as an Elvira with a dick but that never held me down. I’ve dabbled in so many different things, from modeling to music and theater. All Sharon Needles really is is a Rolodex of pop culture. I‘ve worked with icons like Amanda Lepore and [Wayne] Jayne County to singing at Lou Reed’s tribute show. I’ve performed in techno clubs in the UK, but I’ve also done South By Southwest. My true fans know how versatile I try to create my art. For everyone else who is just a ‘Drag Race’ fan, when they come to my show they get an extra Halloween.” n Sharon Needles performs 8 p.m. Feb. 6 at Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St. For more information or tickets, call 215-2914919 or visit www.sharonneedles.com.
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PROFILE PGN
Family Portrait
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Feb. 5-11, 2016
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Suzi Nash
James Ijames: Writing his name in lights Prepare to be dazzled by this week’s Portrait, James Ijames, an actor and a playwright. As an actor, he has appeared regionally at Arden Theatre Company, Philadelphia Theatre Company, The Wilma Theatre, Baltimore Center Stage and Interact Theatre Company. As a playwright, his shows include “The Most Spectacularly L a m e n t a b l e Tr i a l o f M i z M a r t h a Washington,” which received its world premiere with Flashpoint Theater; “WHIITE”; “Moon Man Walk”; “The Threshing Floor”; and “Osiris: Redux.” Ijames won the 2011 F. Otto Haas Award for Emerging Artist and two Barrymores for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play for “Superior Donuts” and “Angels in America,” as well as a Barrymore for Best Direction of a Play for “The Brother Size.” He’s a 2015 Pew Fellowship Recipient and is an assistant professor of theater at Villanova University. He is also a founding member of Orbiter 3, a member of InterAct Core Writers Group and a mentor for The Foundry. PGN: So how do you pronounce that last name? JI: It’s pronounced “I’ms.” The J is silent. PGN: How’d that happen? JI: I’m not really sure! I have a friend who’s into surnames, and he said it’s Welsh and means “of James.” I’m a junior, so that works for me. PGN: Are you a Philly native? JI: I’m not. I’m originally from North Carolina. I came here for graduate school at Temple and just stayed. The theater community is really vibrant and there’s a diversity of things that you can do here: traditional regional theater, small blackbox theater, films — it’s all available here. I love the energy of the city itself.
Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and a big brunch the next day. One year we had a dance party. It’s just a lot of fun and a way for me to reconnect and re-energize. PGN: Any siblings? JI: I have two sisters, one older and one younger. They’re both still in North Carolina. PGN: A silly memory with your sisters? JI: One year we all got big boxes of crayons, you know with like 84 crayons or so. I was very particular about my stuff and I made sure to keep my crayons neat and sharpened. I wanted them pristine so I barely used them. My younger sister was notorious for getting into my things and so when I saw her using my crayons I lost it. I grabbed her box of crayons and in a fit of anger broke all of them. She looked up at me with a shake of her head and said, “Actually, those are yours … I’m playing with my own crayons.” I was so upset I went to my room and grabbed a big plastic bag, one of those Wendy’s bags that you get salad in, and packed it to run away from home. I think I packed a shoe and a cassette tape, with no cassette player. It was just a mess! They tease me to this day about it. I was so dramatic! PGN: Were you shy or outgoing? JI: That’s a hard question, it depends on the situation. You know when you take that Myers-Briggs personality test? Sometimes I come out as an introvert, sometimes an extrovert. I was very active in the church growing up and I could sing solos at choir but I wasn’t very talkative in class. Even now, my job is to be in front of people, both as a teacher and as an actor, but I oddly feel much more comfortable as a playwright, where it’s just me and the words.
PGN: Tell me about growing up in North Cackalacky? JI: [Laughs] What? That’s such a native thing! I haven’t heard that for a while. It was nice. My mother worked in the school system and they have really good public schools there. I grew up surrounded by a large extended family — grandmothers on both sides, great-grandmothers, lots of cousins. There was a constant flow of family in and around. Talk about “raised by a village.” It was super-defining for me in a very beautiful way.
PGN: When did you catch the acting bug? JI: In college; I was a really late bloomer. I actually thought I was going to be a choral music teacher. I started college as a music major and then I auditioned for a musical and got in. I’d always written little plays and skits, but never thought of the theater as something I could make a living at.
PGN: What was a favorite holiday tradition? JI: In my family Christmas was our primary holiday. You hear about the 12 days of Christmas … our celebration went on and on. It’s the one thing I make sure I’m home for every single year. I must be home for at least the three-day extravaganza:
PGN: What was a favorite class? JI: Can I pick two? In my freshman year, it was a world-history class with an African-American slant to it. It was when I realized, Wow, I’ve been taught a very slim depiction of the larger narrative. The professor, Dr. Carlton Usher, was a mesmerizing teacher. He brought history alive
PGN: Where did you go to school? JI: I got my MFA in acting from Temple and received a BA in drama from Morehouse College in Atlanta.
and really made it compelling. The other class was called “Black Masculinities.” That class has had the most lasting effect on how I think about gender, how I think about race in relationship to gender and sexuality, how I think about what masculinity is and the possibilities of that. It’s hugely influential on me as a person an as an actor. PGN: What are the benefits of going to a historically black college or university? JI: I was always encountering black excellence. I was surrounded by brilliant black people. And I’m third-generation college-educated so I’m not someone who didn’t know the worth and value of education and striving for excellence, but it was quite a different thing to be immersed in it, to feel, Wow, everyone here is really smart and accomplished. I come from educators and teachers, so I don’t come from money, but what was great about the school was that you were conditioned to move through the world in a princely way. And I liked
would be in many predominantly white schools. JI: Yes, I think the reason many people go to HBCUs is that desire to not have to be the person that people come to to ask, “What do you think, what is your position on this?” but for us all to be asking questions together and disagreeing with people that look like you, proving that we’re not monolithic or of a singular mind. We have very affluent students who are fifth- and sixth-generation college-educated people and people who are the first in their families to go to college. There are all different points of view and it’s all miraculous and exciting. PGN: How old were you when you came out? JI: Oh boy! I was old. It’s a tricky thing. I’ve never really come out to my father, never said the words. But if you Google me, the first thing that comes up is “Out gay black actor” so I think he knows. I did tell my mother and individually told other people. My mother was very kind about it and it was a largely uninteresting experience. PGN: What was the first play that you wrote? JI: When I was 13, I wrote something for my grandmother’s church. It was a Christmas play. Someone recently gave my mother a copy of the script that they had saved from a rehearsal and she sent it to me. I have to say it wasn’t very good. PGN: [Laughs] I wasn’t expecting that. Don’t be so hard on your 13-year-old self. JI: I know. The first play I wrote where I’d consider myself a playwright was in college. It was a retelling of the Osiris myth.
PGN Are you a history PGN: buff? JI: I am. I think it was nurtured with that class Photo: Suzi Nash that. The world media was telling you at Morehouse, I really one thing about what kind of person you do. There was a split secwere and could possibly be and Morehouse ond where I thought I might be a history taught you that you get to set that narrative teacher. for yourself. That was really empowering and powerful for me, especially as a young PGN: The power of a good teacher. person. What inspired you to write about Martha Washington? PGN: I would guess other benefits are that JI: The fascination with her came from you aren’t the “exceptional” black person watching a documentary on PBS called and that you aren’t put in a position to be “Africans in America.” It really chronicled “the expert” on all things black like you the African-American PAGE 30
PGN
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Feb. 5-11, 2016
The
Since 1976
PGN Guide to the Gayborhood
The Philadelphia Gayborhood is roughly centered at 12th and Camac streets. Look for the rainbow street signs at intersections and remember to be aware of your surroundings wherever you go. Boxers
1330 Walnut St. facebook.com/ boxersphl Sports bar with multiple plasma tvs, pool table, brick oven, djs
❍
<—
❍
Rosewood
Tabu
Woody’s
1302 Walnut St. 215.336.1335 rosewood-bar.com Cozy, panelled bar with dj and high-end cocktails
200 S. 12th St. 215.964.9675 tabuphilly.com Sports bar / drag shows and bar food
202 S. 13th St. 215.545.1893 woodysbar.com American-style bar food and large dance floor
❍ ❍
The Bike Stop
Four-level leather bar; basement enforces a dress code; secondfloor pool table and big-screen sports action
Walnut St. Chancellor St.
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St. James St.
❍ Locust St.
Manning St.
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11th St.
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Quince St.
Latimer St.
12th St.
13th St.
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Camac St.
❍ Juniper St.
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❒ ❒ Spruce St.
William Way LGBT Community Center
1315 Spruce St. 215.732.2220 waygay.org
A resource for all things LGBT
Voyeur
1221 St. James St. 215.735.5772 voyeurnightclub.com After-hours private club; membership required
U Bar 1220 Locust St. 215.546.6660
Relaxing corner bar, easy-going crowd, popular for happy hour and window watching
Tavern on Camac
FEB 11–14
MERRIAM THEATER
KIMMELCENTER.ORG @KIMMELCENTER
#BWYPHL
BROADWAY PHILADELPHIA is presented collaboratively by the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and the Shubert Organization.
West of Broad Street Stir Lounge
1705 Chancellor St. 215.732.2700 stirphilly.com Fun two-bar lounge, DJ in the back, regular poker games and specials
255 S. Camac St. 215.545.8731 Piano lounge with upstairs dance floor; Tavern restaurant in the basement.
Knock 225 S. 12th St. 215.925.1166 knockphilly.com Fine -dining restaurant and bar with outdoor seating (weather permitting)
ICandy
254 S. 12th St. 267.324.3500 clubicandy.com Three floors with a total of six bars; dance floor, lounge and rootop deck.
The Attic Youth Center
255 S. 16th St. 215.545.4331 atticyouthcenter.org Safe space and programs for LGBTs age 16-23 weekday afternoons and evenings
Pa. bars close at 2 a.m. unless they have a private-club license. Please drink responsibly.
PGN
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Feb. 5-11, 2016
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Feb. 5-11, 2016
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS
From the altar to the silver screen By Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor An inspiring documentary portrait of an unexpected queer activist, “An Act of Love” recounts the heartfelt and impassioned story of United Methodist Church (UMC) pastor the Rev. Frank Schaefer. In November 2013, Schaefer was put on trial in a church court at Camp Innabah in Spring City, Pa., for violating the covenant of the Book of Discipline. He had officiated at his son Tim’s same-sex wedding ceremony in Massachusetts in 2007. Writer/director Scott Sheppard makes Schaefer’s case riveting. He shows how Schaefer, along with other Methodist pastors, including Beth Stroud and Jimmy Creech, have risked their careers and church credentials to fight for social justice. While the film’s politics are squarely on the side of equality, “An Act of Love” also gives voice to those who condemned Schaefer’s actions. A queer ally, Sheppard spoke with PGN about making “An Act of Love.”
told Frank I didn’t want to make a film to defame the church or bring it down. We had a lot of love for the church except this one thing that was a real problem. PGN: You give both sides of the issue the chance to tell their story. Can you talk about your approach to telling the tale without bias? SS: It was important for me to show both sides and not to judge either side. Within my own extended family, there’s a history of United Methodists. I have relatives on both sides of this issue. I love all of them, but I don’t have to agree with them. I don’t see this as progressives vs. bigots. My goal with the interviews was to learn and get a sense of where they were coming from. They all believe they are doing the right things. Why did they do what they did? It’s a really relevant issue now that we have marriage equality in all 50 states. You have pastors facing the question of [being asked to] marry the people they baptized, and have known their entire lives. But because of the separation of church and state, [marriage equality] does not directly affect UMC policy. There is a social influence that makes the UMC behind the times culturally — more so than ever in terms of LGBTQ inclusion. PGN: What do
THE REV. FRANK SCHAEFER you think will
PGN: How familiar were you with the UMC and how did you learn of the Schaefer case? SS: My father was a UMC minister. When I first heard this story about a church trial that was underway, it was a side of the Methodist Church I knew nothing about. I did not know about trials, or the antigay rules. I felt really connected to Rev. Schaefer and his son Tim; it was a father performing a service for his son. I had never considered what the situation would be if an LGBT child wanted to have his father officiate his wedding, which is not permitted by the UMC. PGN: How did you gain the trust of the Rev. Schaefer, and how did you come to tell his story? SS: I spoke with Frank Schaefer first. I knew I wanted the film to center around him, his story and his trial. I connected with him because I was a Methodist PK [preacher’s kid]. He appreciated that as a parent. He knew his kids would relate to me. We had a lot of life experiences in common as Methodist pastor family members. We related a lot, and had the same positive feelings for the UMC. I
happen regarding LGBT issues at the May 2016 General Conference, which is the next opportunity to change the Book of Discipline? SS: That’s hard to say. That’s the question on everyone’s minds in the UMC. A lot of passionate people have been fighting for this for decades. And many of them are not hopeful. This May’s General Conference is the only shot until 2020. But that does not mean there won’t be a big shift in the next four years. A lot of people are in this for the long haul. They are fighting for inclusion because they were born in the UMC, grew up in the UMC and met their partners in the UMC.
Theater & Arts Art of the Zo: Textiles from Myanmar, India and Bangladesh Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition offering a look at beautiful woven textiles of the Zo people of Myanmar, India and Bangladesh through March 20, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100. Ballet Hispanico Dance Affiliates and the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents the contemporary Latin dance company Feb. 5-6 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; 215-898-3900. Blade Runner The classic sci-fi film is screened 8 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215922-6888. Brahms and His Legacy The Philadelphia Orchestra performs through Feb. 6 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5847.
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Bronfman Plays Beethoven The Philadelphia Orchestra performs with conductor Yefim Bronfman Feb. 11-14 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5847.
“An Act of Love” will screen at the PSF Roxy Theater, 2023 Sansom St., at 7 p.m. Feb. 12-13. Each screening will also include a Q&A session with director Scott Sheppard and local United Methodists whose stories are part of the film. Panelists will vary each night, but will include: Debbie Schaefer (the Rev. Frank Schaefer’s daughter); the Rev. Bob Coombe (First UMC of Germantown, and Schaefer’s clergy counsel); Bill Ewing (Schaefer’s assistant counsel); Beth Stroud (whose clergy credentials were taken in 2004); and Clydette Overturf (Schaefer’s former assistant pastor at Zion of Iona UMC).
Drawn from Courtly India: The Conley Harris and Howard Truelove Collection Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of masterful drawings from the royal courts of northern India,
RUBBER SOULS: Relive the rise of the Fab Four with “RAIN,” a live multi-media spectacular that takes you on a musical journey through the life and times of the world’s most celebrated band, The Beatles, Feb. 11-14 at Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St. For more information or tickets, call 215-893-1999.
through March 27, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100. Exit Strategy Philadelphia Theatre Company presents the story of a dilapidated public school in Chicago targeted for closure and the power struggles that ensue among the faculty and students desperate to keep it open, through Feb. 28 at Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St.; 215-985-0420. FUNNYMAN Arden Theatre Company presents the story of an aging comic who is forced to adapt to the changing tastes and times in post-war America through March 6, 40 N. Second St.; 215-922-1122. Hal Sparks The comedian seen on “Queer As Folk” performs Feb. 11-14 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215496-9001. Harvey Walnut Street Theatre presents the classic Pulitzer Prize-
winning comedy about a man with an unwavering friendship with a 6-foot-tall invisible white rabbit through March 6, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550. Michael Eric Dyson The minister, professor and author of “The Black Presidency: Barack Obama and the Politics of Race in America” hosts a reading 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215-567-4341. A Moon For the Misbegotten Walnut Street Theatre presents the story set on a barren patch of land in 1923, where two lost souls find hope under a lover’s moon, through Feb. 7 at Independence Studio on 3, 825 Walnut St.; 215574-3550.
Multitude, Solitude: The Photographs of Dave Heath Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of the acclaimed photographer’s black-andwhite pictures of the 1950s and ’60s through Feb. 21, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100. Picture This: Contemporary Photography and India Philadelphia Museum of Art presents the work of four contemporary photographers for whom India is an important subject or setting through April 3, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100. Plays of/for a Respirateur Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an instal-
Notices Send notices at least one week in advance to: Out & About Listings, PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147 fax: 215-925-6437; or e-mail: listings@epgn.com. Notices cannot be taken over the phone.
PGN ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS
Feb. 9 at TLA, 334 South St.; 215-9221011. Be Mine: A Valentine’s Day Cabaret Anita Manhattan, Keely Sibilia, Tesla Tease, Emily Valentine, Victoria Page, Chali, Cherry St. Cartier and Travis Tea perform 8-11 p.m. Feb. 12 at Pennsylvania 6, 114 S. 12th St.; 267639-5606.
ON ‘FIRE’: Out country singer Brandi Carlile is on the road in support of her latest album, “The Firewatcher’s Daughter,” and comes to the area 8 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J. For more information or tickets, call 609-317-1000.
lation by Joseph Kosuth that includes a selection of his work, along with a group of seminal works by Marcel Duchamp, through the fall, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100. Paul Reiser The actor and comedian performs 8 p.m. Feb. 5 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215-5727650. Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles The live concert-musical featuring songs from the Beatles anthology, Feb. 11-14 at Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-893-1999. Strength and Longing The Pennsylvania Ballet performs a contrasting piece portraying the ups and downs of everyday life through Feb. 7 at
Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-893-1999. To Kill a Mockingbird Media Theatre presents the play adapted from the classic Harper Lee novel through Feb. 14, 104 E. State St., Media; 610891-0100. Twelfth Night The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents a new take on Shakespeare’s lyrical work Feb. 9-13 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; 215898-3900. Work on What You Love: Bruce Mau Rethinking Design Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of designs by the acclaimed commercial artist through April 3, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100.
Music The Carole King Songbook The Philly POPS! perform the music of Carole King Feb. 5-7 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5847. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band The rock singer performs “The River” in its entirety 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215389-9543.
Nightlife La Vie Bo-Ham Pig Iron Theatre Company hosts its annual benefit cabaret 8 p.m. Feb. 5 at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215-922-6888. Chippendales: The 2016 Break the Rules Tour The dance troupe performs 8:30 p.m.
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Feb. 5-11, 2016
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Out Philly composer on reaching new operatic heights
Peek-a-Boo Revue presents Free Love The burlesque troupe performs 8 p.m. Feb. 12 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400. Happy Bear Reunion Suit Party Happy Bear celebrates Leather Weekend 5-9 p.m. Feb. 12 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215964-9675.
Outta Town No Way Out The classic film starring Sidney Poitier is screened 2 p.m. Feb. 7 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-1228. Fierce Drag Sundays Drag performers Natasha Rose, Tina Montgomery, ChaChi Divine and Selena Dela Luna perform 8-10:30 p.m. Feb. 7 at Oddity Bar, 500 Greenhill Ave., Wilmington, Del.; 302-668-1078. Brandi Carlile The out country singer performs 8 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000. n
By A.D. Amorosi PGN Contributor Jennifer Higdon may be Brooklynborn and Tennessee-raised but it’s Philly, where she’s lived for three decades with partner-turned-wife Cheryl Lawson, that has provided the backdrop for her biggest musical moments — like writing her violin concerto, for which she won a 2010 Pulitzer Prize, or her percussion concerto, for which she snagged a 2009 Grammy Award for best contemporary classical composition. So where better to hold the East Coast premiere of her debut opera than home sweet home? Based upon Charles Frazier’s 1997 novel “Cold Mountain,” Higdon’s same-titled work — with a libretto penned by Gene Scheer and co-commissioned by The Santa Fe Opera and Opera Philadelphia — opens Feb. 5 at the Academy of Music. PGN: Is it fair to say that you have been hands on for “Cold Mountain”? And, at what point do you draw back? JH: I am hands on for the music only. There are so many people who work together to make an opera that it truly takes a village. But my responsibility really is just the music. Having said that, there is a lot of music in an opera, and a lot of performers: singers and an orchestra. PGN: Did you truly consider “Cold Mountain” after reading the book or seeing the movie? What did you get internally from the story? And what did you get musically? JH: It was reading the book that made me realize this was the exact story I
needed to be inspired to write the opera. I have seen the movie several times, though not for half a dozen years. The story felt familiar because I lived some of my formative years in East Tennessee, which isn’t too far from the real Cold Mountain. But, I found the characters to be fascinating and great variety in the story-telling itself, which is perfect for operatic treatment … Love and death, two big opera themes. PGN: Was there a composer or a compositional model for “Cold Mountain” different than, say, what might have been for another work of yours such as “Smash” or “Light Refracted”? JH: There wasn’t any compositional model. I studied a tremendous number of opera scores from all periods and a wide range of composers in order to figure out how to balance a full orchestra with singers. Then there’s the question of how to move the action along to keep things interesting. The number-one piece of advice I got was, “Don’t make the opera too long.” Composing an opera feels so different from chamber works like “Smash” and “Light Refracted.” With this opera, I am responsible for taking care of the characters and drawing a musical version of the emotional and psychological state of the characters, through musical notes. PGN: How much is genuine mountain music a part of your life? JH: Mountain music has been a part of my life since I was 10, when I moved to East Tennessee. I have written bluegrass-flavored music before in my bluegrass/classical concerto “Concerto 4-3”; my choral work, PAGE 28
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SPORTS PGN
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Feb. 5-11, 2016
OPERA from page 27
“Southern Grace”; and my string-quartet piece, “Southern Harmony.” But, I find that it is best used as a musical language when suited for the occasion. I suspect it’s a little unusual to have someone crossing genres in such a manner. But I would say that it truly is bluegrass “flavoring” to a classical context. PGN: How does the pulse, twang and flow of the speech of its people — mountain people — affect the opera? JH: When my librettist gave me the libretto, I “Southernized” the language by converting some of the sentences and words used by the characters into a vernacular more suited to the South. I also tried to stay as close to the actual speech patterns when setting the words to music. The opera is in English, and I want it to be understandable even if there aren’t subtitles. PGN: Let’s talk about you and Philly. You went to University of Pennsylvania. At Curtis, you hold the Milton L. Rock chair in compositional studies. How and why did you get to Philly in the first place? JH: I came to Philly in the fall of 1986 to attend Curtis and have been here ever since. One of the things I love about this
town is the chance to work with so many wonderful musicians in all of the various performing groups, and there are a lot. There’s a real spirit and willingness to work hard and put your heart into the effort. And, over time, I’ve enjoyed not only that experience but getting to know audience members and concert attendees.
Get Out and Play
Scott A. Drake
An evolution within LGBT sports organizations
PGN: Your wife Cheryl is from Philly. Where did you meet? JH: I met my wife in high-school band in East Tennessee, so we’ve been together for 35 years. Because we’ve lived in Philly for 30 years, it feels like our town. Cheryl’s patience while I was composing this opera was amazing; even though I was home composing for 28 months, my brain was definitely not present. I was living in another time and place. PGN: How does Opera Philadelphia embody or take to your work? JH: “Cold Mountain” here has been one of the absolutely, most inspiring experiences I’ve ever had. I am in heaven. n “Cold Mountain” runs through Feb. 14 at the Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St. For more information or tickets, visit www.operaphila.org.
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POOLING TALENTS: Philadelphia Fins Aquatics Club president Arthur Zeng (left) and vice president Edmond Chan take five between heats during the Fins’ annual Postal Swim Jan. 31 at Friends Select School. More than a dozen participants competed against each other and against their own past performances. The goal is to swim as many laps as possible in a set amount of time — either 30 or 60 minutes. The fundraiser is held every January to raise money for the organization, and this year part of the proceeds will go to The Attic Youth Center. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Whether it’s the change in acceptance and openness, what is now being taught in gym classes and after-school sports or just the desire to be a team player versus an individual competitor, sports organizations in Philadelphia are reaching new, and frequently difficult, crossroads. The Philadelphia Fins Aquatics Club, for instance, is currently comprised of only about 30 percent LGBT members, according to one of the recently elected officers. While the Fins have always been an all-inclusive group for many reasons, recent years have seen a decline in the number of new LGBT swimmers. As previous LGBT members move on, the ranks contract, as the total number of new members in a year often does not match the number of those leaving. The Spartans Wrestling Club has been facing similar obstacles for the past few years also. While still a viable organization with annual tournaments and weekly sessions, the group is actively working to strengthen its ranks by courting new wrestlers and encouraging those who have relapsed from competition into returning. One problem for groups that face declining participation can be dwindling rosters, which means reduced membership and members’ fees while costs for rental spaces remain the same or even increase. It also makes it more difficult to recruit with less resources and exposure. On the other end of the spectrum, organizations like Stonewall Sports, Greater Philadelphia Flag Football League and the City of Brotherly Love Softball League have hundreds of members spanning almost all demographics and, in the case of GPFFL at least, have to turn away
potential players due to limited field availability and time constraints. It’s an almost certainty that, as in the case of LGBT bookstores worldwide, we are once again victims of our own rights-garnering success. The need or even desire to be part of an elite LGBTs-only club is becoming less necessary or even desired as we gain mainstream acceptance in many facets of daily life. Still, there are as many personal reasons as there are people for wanting to be part of an all-gay team or at least a majorly gay group for camaraderie and commonality. If you know of any LGBT person interested in sports in any capacity, encourage them to join your, or another, sports group. Strength in numbers isn’t just a thing of the past; it’s still as viable and relevant to many as it was when these groups formed. And, at the very least this spring, get out and play. Short stops • Philadelphia Falcons (falcons-soccer.org) indoor pickup schedule began Feb. 1 at Guerin Rec Center, 2201 S. 16th St. Your first time is free, so get out and play! • City of Brotherly Love Softball League announced the 2016 spring skills day for March 19 at Palumbo Softball Fields, 10th and Fitzwater streets. Co-ed Division is at 10 a.m. and Women’s Division at 11:30 a.m., followed by the annual pub crawl. Rain, shine or snow. Register at cblsl.org. n
If you want to share a story idea, an interview possibility, fundraiser event or tournament invite, contact scott@epgn.com.
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PROFILE PGN
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Feb. 5-11, 2016
PORTRAIT from page 23
journey from first contact with the New World, to Jamestown, through emancipation. One of the episodes prominently featured Martha Washington’s decision to free her slaves early, which I thought was interesting because George Washington stipulated in his will that the slaves that he owned, the dowry slaves … people were given as dowry, insane huh? Anyway, his will stated that they weren’t to be freed until Martha’s death and that the other slaves were to be inherited by her children. But she freed them while she was alive and the interesting thing was that she apparently thought they were planning to kill her. She moved to a small bedroom on the third floor because she was frightened of them. I’ve always been into speculative examinations of history and speculative fiction. I like the “what if?” scenarios. There was a letter that was written by Mary Cranch, who was a bit of a gossip at the time. She was writing to her sister Abigail Adams and basically saying, “Girl, she’s flipping out!” So I started writing about the situation: Was it scary, funny, suspenseful? What if I used contemporary story idioms within this antebellum tale? It was a lot of fun. PGN: What curiosity drew you to James Baldwin? JI: I had a professor who used to constantly tell me I looked like him. [Laughs] At first I had a very … let’s say … negative response to that. But then I started to read his books and came to realize why he made the comparison. I do favor him a little but I think it’s more of an affinity for the way he thought about race and gender. He was always thinking ahead, he was never passive in his thoughts about society. I wanted to have a chance to be him in some fashion so I started working on a solo show examining his life through the eyes of a student who idolized him. PGN: And you played him? JI: [Laughs] I played everybody. I think there were 14 different characters.
PGN: Cool. What was your biggest stage mishap? JI: I was doing “Around the World in 80 Days” and there’s a moment where my character was supposed to jump on a train and then shimmy down the side and slide underneath it. They’d choreographed a way to do it from a stack of trunks that were on the set and I somehow missed my footing or where my hands were supposed to be placed and I fell … onto the assistant stage manager! As I fell, my thoughts were, Oh my God, I’m going to die right now in front of all these people. What a way to go. The only reason I didn’t fall straight onto my head was because the stage manager caught my shoulders and flipped me onto my feet. It was super scary in the moment but it could have been a lot worse. PGN: Well, if you can’t make a splash, at least make a splat! What are some of the struggles of being a full-time actor? JI: The thing about being an actor is that you’re constantly interviewing for a job. That can be scary, but it’s part of the deal. You develop a network of people around you who can support and encourage you. What I tell my students … PGN: Ah, I forgot, you have that to fall back on. JI: Yes, and it’s great. I’m on the tenure track and it’s my primary job so it lets me pick and choose the acting that I want to do in a much more intentional way. I can be more selective and decisive about what I want to do instead of needing to do it for the money. But one of the things I tell my students is that people tend to romanticize the business as this thing that is always rewarding and always full of passion, and it often is — especially if it’s what you love and what you’re good at. But sometimes it’s hard and sometimes it hurts and sometimes you get rewards and awards and sometimes you fall off of trunks. Sometimes you don’t work for weeks and sometimes you get so many offers you don’t know what to do. It’s more like hiking than cruising with all sorts of ups
and downs. You do it because you must, not because you think it’s an easy way to become rich and famous. I’d say the vast majority of working actors are not rich or famous. PGN: I’d think being an actor, you’d have to worry about things like health care. JI: Yes, it’s super scary. Pre the Affordable Care Act, I went for years without health care. You wonder about making your rent, but I think that’s the same for anyone coming out of college and entering the workforce. PGN: I’m looking at your résumé. How’s your swordplay? JI: Oh gosh, in grad school we had to take stage combat but I haven’t done a show where I had to wield a sword since “Romeo and Juliet” and then it was more of a dagger. In my upcoming play, I have to do a knife fight with myself, which ought to be interesting. PGN: Hmmm, what are some other interesting courses you have to take as an actor that we might not think of? I see you have several dialects listed as well. JI: We had to take speech, which was not only learning dialect or accents, but it also teaches you how to neutralize any regional dialect you might have. I’m from the South, and I don’t have much of an accent but there are certain words that I never managed to completely scrub clean. When I’m tired I tend to do things like make the word 10 into a two-syllable word: “te-yun.” We also took modern, ballet, tap and social dance. We had to learn theater history and take four hours of acting class each day. We learned Shakespeare and the Alexander technique, which has to do with posture and the body, voice and how not to lose it. There was a lot. PGN: Who’s an actor you’d like to do a love scene with? JI: Rami Malek, that guy from “Mr. Robot.” He’s totes hot. Or Oscar Isaac. PGN: Something you’re often compli-
mented on? JI: When it’s longer, people compliment me on my hair, which is weirdly often accompanied by them petting me. PGN: In high school I was voted … JI: Most dependable. Not the sexiest category. But people know they can count on me, which means a lot to me. PGN: Any tattoos? JI: I have several. My very first tattoo consists of two Chinese characters that are supposed to say “The Virtuous Way” but I didn’t research them very well, so who knows? I have one on each shoulder with a constellation of stars. On the base of my neck I have an African Akan symbol, Gye Nyame, which means “I fear no one but God.” In Kevin Young’s book “The Grey Album,” he talks about “elsewhere” being a driving idiom for African-American storytellers. We’re always interested in getting to a place where we can be freer, so I have “elsewhere” on my arm. Last is an arrow, which is my tribute to the last line in “Paris is Burning,” which was “If you shoot an arrow and it goes real high, hooray for you.” PGN: Are you a method actor? JI: Oh God no. PGN: That brings to mind the famous quote when Sir Laurence Olivier was working with Dustin Hoffman on “Marathon Man.” Hoffman told him that he’d stayed up for three days because that’s what his character had done and Olivier quipped, “Why don’t you just try acting?” JI: [Laughs] Exactly! It’s called acting, not being. If it were being, and you had to play a plumber, why not just hire a plumber? n For more information on Ijames, visit www.jamesijames.com. To suggest a community member for Family Portrait, email portraits05@aol. com.
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Q Puzzle Major Tom Across
1. Historic Stonewall event 5. Reformer Anthony 10. Top 14. Word used in dating 15. In flames 16. Lake traveled by Ohio ferries 17. Romeo or Juliet 18. Puccini opera 19. Neighbor of Mass. 20. Androgynous alter ego of David Bowie 23. Egypt and Syr., once 24. Ford flub 25. Puts in a position? 28. “Diamonds ___ a Girl’s Best Friend” 29. Airport fleet 33. Childcare writer LeShan 34. Tiny balls 35. Stritch of Broadway 36. David Bowie song with the lyric “Look up here,
I’m in heaven” 39. David Bowie hit of 1972 40. Use them to play Johnny Mathis records 41. Cocks and bulls 42. Chicago trains 43. A bit, informally 44. Half of a Greta Garbo monogram 45. What gay partners can walk in every state 47. List-maker Schindler 49. Curry of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” 50. David Bowie role in “The Last Temptation of Christ” 55. Cry of Dorothy 56. Neighbor of Sudan (var.) 57. Marilyn Monroe’s sexy pair 59. Hold, as an opinion 60. “If ___ Walls Could Talk” 61. Salt’s saint
62. Doesn’t rent 63. Toys that do tricks 64. Hayes of “Will & Grace”
Down
1. Sarah Schulman novel “___ Bohemia” 2. Don Juan’s mom 3. R.E.M.’s “The ___ Love” 4. Source of oral pleasure 5. Lusty deity of antiquity 6. Sky sightings 7. Women who don’t have sex with men 8. Where a pinball wizard might lurk 9. Moves toward 10. Queer 11. Love of Lesbos 12. “It ___ Necessarily So” 13. Doll that “came out” in 1993 21. “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” to Mick Jagger 22. Actress
Reese 25. Aids 26. “My Own Private ___” 27. Stropped item 28. Muscle Mary’s pride 30. They don’t use their mouths for talking 31. ___ fours (doggy-style) 32. Gaydar, e.g. 34. Mass transit vehicle 35. Saucer pilots 37. Straight and gay 38. Friar’s affair 39. Get a load of 41. Town for fudge packers?
44. Evita’s cowboy 45. Be confined to the bed, perhaps 46. They may be spitting 48. Litter critter 49. Streisand’s “Prince of ___” 50. “That was close!” 51. Serious sign 52. Part of UTEP 53. Maupin story 54. Thompson of “Angels in America” 55. Rene Auberjonois role 58. Chaz to Cher
31
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Feb. 5-11, 2016
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Since 1976
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Photos: Scott A. Drake
‘s Dining Out
A rainbow of flavors, every second and fourth week
PGN
Classifieds All real-estate advertising is subject to Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended. Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and handicap (disability). PGN will not knowingly accept any real-estate advertising that is in violation of any applicable law. 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.
Real Estate Sale VENTNOR, NJ House for sale in Ventnor NJ. 2 story 5 bedroom house, needs some repairs. Priced right. Call 215 468 9166. ________________________________________40-10
Vacation / Seasonal Rentals NORTH WILDWOOD, NJ Southern Comfort Apartments located on 18th Ave. 1 blk. from the beach. Large 2 & 3 BR apts. Pet friendly. Web site:southerncomfortapartments.net. Call Cheryl Crowe at 609-846-1254 for more information. ________________________________________40-14
For Sale Oxygen Concentrator. InogenOne – Regain Independence. Enjoy Greater Mobility. NO More Tanks! 100% Portable Long-Lasting Battery. Try It RISK-FREE! For Cash Buyers Call 1-800-614-1512. ________________________________________40-05 SAWMILLS From only $4,397.00 – MAKE & SAVE MONEY with your own bandmill – Cut lumber any dimension. In Stock, ready to ship! FREE info/DVD: www.NorwoodSawmills.com _____________________________________________40-05
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 4-10, 2015
Help Wanted Adonis Cinema needs cashier/cleaner. 2nd & 3rd shift. Call 215-557-9319. ________________________________________40-05 LATIN MALE STRIPPERS NEEDED Looking for Latin male strippers for monthly events in Phila. Send ptotos to johnny.nguyen1971@gmail.com or contact 215-519-8319, _____________________________________________40-07 Can You Dig It? Heavy Equipment Operator Career! We Offer Training and Certifications Running Bulldozers, Backhoes and Excavators. Lifetime Job Placement. VA Benefits Eligible! 1-866-362-6497. _____________________________________________40-05 Werner Enterprises wants YOU! Great Pay, Home-time, Benefits, & New Equipment! Need your CDL? 3-4 wk training avail! Don’t wait, call Career Trucker to get started! 866-494-8633. _____________________________________________40-05 EARN $500 A DAY Insurance Agents Needed *Leads, No Cold Calls *Commissions Paid Daily *Lifetime Renewals *Complete Training *Health & Dental Insurance *Life License Required. Call 1-888-713-6020. _____________________________________________40-05 Tractor Trailer Drivers: Transport US Mail Scranton/Harrisburg areas. Dedicated run/pays postal wage **CDL Class A **Good Driving Record **2yrs experience. Midwest Transport 618-553-1068. _____________________________________________40-05
Services AIRLINE CAREERS begin here. Get hands on training as FAA certified Aviation Technician. Financial Aid for qualified students. Job placement assistance. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance 888-834-9715. ________________________________________40-05 PA DRIVERS Auto-Insurance-Help-Line. Helping you find a Car Insurance Payment You can afford. Toll Free 1-800-231-3603 www. Auto-Insurance-Helpline.ORG ________________________________________40-05
Auto For Sale 2002 PT Cruiser. Red with wood grain. 112K. Runs good. Well maintained. $3000.00. Call Joe-856-275-6271. ________________________________________40-10
Adoption Love and security await your baby! Loving family looking to adopt a newborn. State-approved. Expenses Paid. Contact us at: 646-675-7269 or lizandeliadopt@gmail. com, or https://www.facebook.com/lizandeliadopt?_rdr=p ________________________________________40-05
Friends Men 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. ________________________________________40-09 WM, NE Phila. If you’re looking for hot action, call 215-934-5309. No calls after 11 PM. ________________________________________40-06
Massage David, 65, 6’, 200 lbs., attentive. 215-569-4949. (24/7) ________________________________________40-07 Massage + GuyCarolina@aol.com Incalls - Norristown - 610-312-9519 ________________________________________40-15 Massage with hot blonde female and male assistant. Also looking for well hung black male for fun. Call Matt at 267-278-0545. ________________________________________40-08
Eating Out Should Be Fun! Read PGN’s food reviews every second and fourth week of the month
Wedding Issue - March. 4
- and check out our archive of past reviews on epgn.com.
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PGN
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 4-10, 2015
ADONIS CINEMA
I’m Here For You!
“THE ONLY ALL MALE ADULT THEATER IN THE CITY”
2026 Sansom St
RANKED TOP 1% NATIONALLY
(located 3 doors up from Sansom St Gym)
by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach Realtors. The Menno Team
215-557-9319 4 Small Theaters with Video & Dark Room Area
HOURS OF OPERATION: Monday - Thursday
Tom Sherwood
7am-6am
(closed an hour for cleaning)
Sales Associate, Real Estate Agent Berkshire Hathaway Home Services
Friday- Sunday:
Open 24hrs 693 South State Street Newtown, Pa 18940 Business 215-968-6713 x3020 Fax 215-968-7823 tom.sherwood@foxroach.com
267-784-3106
Direct
ADMISSION: $12.00
TomSherwood.foxroach.com
WEEKLY SPECIALS:
SUNDAY RELIEF
Half Price Rooms & Lockers (6am Sunday till 8am Monday) ROOMS: Members: $12.50 and Non-Members: $22.50 LOCKERS: Members: $9.00 and Non-Members: $19.00
MONDAY thru FRIDAY: (8am to 4pm) Business Mans Locker Special 4 hour lockers Members: $5.00 and Non-Members: $15.00 TUESDAYS
Half Price Rooms (6am till 12 Midnight) Members: $12.50 and Non-Members: $22.50
WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY NIGHT CRUISE $12 Flat Rate for Locker Admission & Clothing Optional (4pm-12 Midnight)
P.A.N.G. (Philadelphia Area Nudist Group)
WHAT TO EXPECT: • Complimentary Food & Beverages • A Full House of Guys To Choose From & So Much More
BOYS WILL BE BOYS- AWAKEN YOUR INNER SPIRIT
For More Information On Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/pang
Saturday, Feb. 21st, 2015 Time: 3pm- 6pm
SATURDAY AFTERNOON DELIGHT 4 Hour Lockers (8am - 4pm) Members: $5.00 and Non-Members: $15.00
Check out our website for our WEEKLY SPECIALS & JOIN OUR e-mail List to get the latest information on upcoming events....
www.sansomstreetgym.com
BIGGER, BETTER & MORE ENTERTAINING EVENTS...
PGN
Men Delco Dudes A men’s social and support group meets 7-9 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of the month at Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County, 145 W. Rose Tree Road in Media; delco.dudes@ uucdc.org. Gay Married Men’s Association Meets 7-9 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St.; www. meetup.com/GAMMA-GayMarried-Mens-Support-Group-inPhiladelphia-PA. Men of All Colors Together Meets 7:30 p.m. the third Friday of the month, September through June, at William Way; 610-277-6595, www.MACTPhila.org. Men’s Coming Out Group, N.J. Meets 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays at The Pride Center of New Jersey; njwarrior@aol.com. Men of Color United A discussion/support group for gay and bisexual men of color meets 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays at 1207 Chestnut St., third floor; 215-496-0330.
Parents/Families Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Bucks County Meets 7:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month at Penns Park United Methodist Church, 2394 Second Street Pike, Penns Park, and hird Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Warminster UCC, 785 Street Road; 215-348-9976. PFLAG/Chester County Meets 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month at the Unitarian Fellowship of West Chester, 501 S. High St.; 484-354-2448. PFLAG/Collingswood, N.J. Meets 6:30-9 p.m. the fourth Monday of the month at Collingswood Public Library, 771 Haddon Ave.; 609-202-4622, pflagcollingswood@yahoo.com. PFLAG/Media Meets 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of every month at the Unitarian Universal Church, 145 Rose Tree Rd.; 610-368-2021. PFLAG/Philadelphia Meets 2-5 p.m. the third Sunday of the month at the LGBT Center at the University of Pennsylvania, 3907 Spruce St.; 215-572-1833. PFLAG/Princeton, N.J. Meets 7:30 p.m. the second Monday of the month in the George Thomas Room at Trinity Church, 33 Mercer St.; 609-6835155. PFLAG/Wilmington, Del. Meets 7-9 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1502 W. 13th St.; 302-654-2995. Philadelphia Family Pride Advocacy, support and social network for LGBT families offers play groups, monthly kids and teen talk groups, activities and outings. Planning meetings held monthly; 215-600-2864, info@ phillyfamilypride.org, www. phillyfamilypride.org.
Trans Evolutions A drop-in support group for anyone on the transgender spectrum meets 6 p.m. Thursdays at 21 S. 12th St., eighth floor; 215-563-0652 ext. 235. Mazzoni Center Family and Community Medicine Primary health care and specialized transgender services in a safe, professional, nonjudgmental environment, 809 Locust St.; 215563-0658. T-MAN People-of-color support group for transmen, FTMs, butches, studs, aggressives, bois, genderqueer and all female-born individuals with gender questions meets 7:309:30 p.m. Mondays, 1201 Locust St., second floor; 215-632-3028, tmanphilly.com. Transhealth Information Project Sponsors a weekly drop-in center from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays and and 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fridays at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; 215-8511822. Transgender Health Action Coalition Peer trans health-advocacy organization, 1201 Locust St., fourth floor; 215-732-1207. Young, Trans and Unified Support group for transgender and questioning individuals ages 13-23 meets 7:15 p.m. Thursdays at The Attic Youth Center, 255 S. 16th St.; 215-545-4331, www. atticyouthcenter.org.
Women Hanging Out With Lesbians A group in Central Pennsylvania that organizes concerts, camping, golf, picnics, hikes, plays and game nights in nonsmoking environments; http://groups.yahoo. com/group/howlofpa/. Lesbian Community of Delaware Valley Social group meets monthly for activities for gay women of all ages in Delaware, Chester and Montgomery counties; http:// groups.yahoo.com/group/LCDV/. Lesbian Couples Dining Group of Montgomery County Meets monthly; 215-542-2899. Mt. Airy Lesbian Social Club For lesbians in the Philadelphia area ages 35-plus; www.meetup. com/mtairylesbiansocial/. Queer Connections Social group for women in their 20s meets weekly; http:// groups.yahoo.com/group/ queerconnections/. Sisters United A social/support group for transwomen of color ages 13-24, with weekly social events, open discusson and monthly movie/ discussions meets 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays, 1207 Chestnut St., third floor; 215-496-0330. Women Coming-Out Support Group Women, ages 18 and over, who consider themselves gay, lesbian, bisexual or questioning and are at any stage of the coming-out process are welcome to meet 7:30 p.m. the first Tuesday and third Thursday of the month at the Pride Center of New Jersey; www. pridecenter.org.
Youth 40 Acres of Change Discussion group for teen and young adults meets 6-8 p.m. Thursdays at The COLOURS Organization Inc., 1207 Chestnut St., third floor; 215-851-1975. GLBT Group of Hunterdon County Social and support groups for youth, teens and young adults, as well as parents and family members, meet at North County Branch Library, 65 Halstead St. in Clinton, N.J.; schedule at www. glbtofhunterdoncountyofnj.com, 908-300-1058. HAVEN LGBT, intersex, questioning, queer and allied youth ages 14-20 meet 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Lehigh Valley, 424 Center St., Bethlehem; 610-868-2153. HiTOPS A safe-space support program for LGBT and questioning youth meets 2:30-4:30 p.m. the first and third Saturdays at 21 Wiggins St., Princeton, N.J.; 609-683-5155, hitops.org. Main Line Youth Alliance Meets from 7-9:30 p.m. Fridays at 106 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne; 610-688-1861, info@myaonline. org. Project Keeping it Safe LGBT youth drop-in center offers meetings, HIV and STD prevention and testing, counseling and other services on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 514 Cooper St., Camden, N.J.; 856963-2432, camden-ahec.org/. PRYSM Youth Center Youth ages 14-20 meet 6:30-8:30 p.m Wednesdays at the center, 126 East Baltimore Pike, Media; 610357-9948. Rainbow Room: Bucks County’s LGBTQ and Allies Youth Center Youth ages 14-21 meets 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays at Salem UCC Education Building, 181 E. Court St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981 ext. 9065, rainbowroom@ppbucks.org. Social X Change Social activity group for LGBT youth of color ages 13-23 meets 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays at 1207 Chestnut St., third floor; 215-851-1975. Space to be Proud, Open, and Together Open to all LGBTQ queer youth and allies, ages 14-21, the SPOT meets 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursdays at Planned Parenthood of Chester County, 8 S. Wayne St.; 267-6876648. Young, Trans and Unified A support group for transgender and questioning youth ages 13-23 meets 7:15 p.m. Thursdays at The Attic Youth Center; 215-545-4331, www.atticyouthcenter.org. You’re Not Alone Sponsored by AIDS Delaware, the group for gay, lesbian and bisexual youth meets during the school year at 100 W. 10th St., Suite 315, Wilmington, Del; 800-810-6776. Youth Making a Difference A group for LGBTQ AfricanAmerican and Latino youth ages 14-24 meets 5-7 p.m. Tuesdays at Camden AHEC, 514 Cooper St.; 856-963-2432.
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 4-10, 2015
35
Community Bulletin Board Community centers
■ The Attic Youth Center 255 S. 16th St.; 215-545-4331, atticyouthcenter.org. For LGBT and questioning youth and their friends and allies. Groups meet and activities are held 4-7 p.m. Monday-Tuesday and 4-8:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday. Case management, HIV testing and smoking cessation are available Monday-Friday. ■ Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center at the University of Pennsylvania 3907 Spruce St., 215-898-5044, center@dolphin. upenn.edu. Regular hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. MondayThursday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday; noon-6 p.m. Saturday; noon-8 p.m. Sunday. Summer hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
■ ActionAIDS: 215-981-0088
■ Rainbow Room: Bucks County’s LGBTQ and Allies Youth Center Salem UCC Education Building, 181 E. Court St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981 ext. 9065, rainbowroom@ppbucks.org. Activities held 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays.
■ William Way Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220, www.waygay.org. Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays Peer counseling: 6-9 p.m. Monday-Friday Library: noon-9 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday Volunteers: New Orientation, first Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.
Key numbers
■ AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania: 215-587-9377
■ Equality Pennsylvania: 215731-1447; www.equalitypa.org
■ AIDS Law Project of Southern New Jersey: 856-933-9500 ext. 221
■ Equality Forum: 215-732-3378
■ AIDS Library: 215-985-4851 ■ ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215592-1513 ■ AIDS Treatment Fact line: 800662-6080 ■ Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection at the Independence Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library: 215-685-1633 n The COLOURS Organization Inc.: 215-496-0330
■ LGBT Peer Counseling Services: 215-732-TALK ■ Mazzoni Center: 215-563-0652; Legal Services: 215-563-0657, 866-LGBT-LAW; Family & Community Medicine: 215-563-0658 ■ Office of LGBT Affairs — Director Nellie Fitzpatrick: 215-6860330; helen.fitzpatrick@phila.gov
■ Philadelphia Police Department liaison — Deputy Commissioner Kevin Bethel: 215-6863318 ■ Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 215-760-3686 (Rick Lombardo); 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)
■ Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): 215-572-1833 ■ Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations: 215-686-4670
Health
Anonymous, free, confidential HIV testing Spanish/English counselors offer testing 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 216 W. Somerset St.; 215-763-8870. ActionAIDS Provides a range of programs for people affected by HIV/ AIDS, including case management, prevention, testing and education services at 1216 Arch St.; 215-981-0088, www. actionaids.org. GALAEI: A Queer Latin@ Social Justice Organization Free, anonymous HIV testing from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; noon-6 p.m. Tuesdays at the Washington West Project, 1201 Locust St.; 215-851-1822 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 (walk-in) and 5-8 p.m. Thursdays (by appointment) at Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad St.; 215685-1821. HIV health insurance help Access to free medications and confidential HIV testing 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays at 13 S. MacDade Blvd., Suite
■ Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia Board meetings at 6:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at 100 S. Broad St., Suite 1810; free referral service at 215-6279090, www.galloplaw.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 busi-
108, Collingdale; Medical Office Building, 722 Church Lane, Yeadon; and 630 S. 60th St.; 610-586-9077. Mazzoni Center LGBTQ counseling and behavioral health services, HIV/ AIDS care and services, case management and support groups; 21 S. 12th St., eighth floor; 215-563-0652, www. mazzonicenter.org. Mazzoni Center Family & Community Medicine Comprehensive primary health care, preventive health services, gynecology, sexual-health services and chronic-disease management, including comprehensive HIV care, as well as youth drop-in (ages 14-24) 5-7p.m. Wednesdays; 809 Locust St.; 215-563-0658. Philadelphia FIGHT Comprehensive AIDS service organization providing primary care, consumer education, advocacy and research on potential treatments and vaccines; 1233 Locust St.; 215985-4448; www.fight.org. Washington West Project of Mazzoni Center Free, rapid HIV testing. Walk-ins welcome 9 a.m.-9 pm. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday; 1201 Locust St.; 215-985-9206.
Professional groups nesses and professionals; 215557-0190, www.IndependenceBusinessAlliance.com. ■ National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association Philadelphia chapter of NLGJA, open to professionals and students, meets for social and networking events; www.nlgja.org/ philly; philly@nlgja.org.
■ Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus Regional organization dedicated to promoting LGBT tourism to the Greater Philadelphia region, meetings every other month on the fourth Thursday (January, March, May, July, September and the third Thursday in November), open to the public; 215-8402039, www.philadelphiagaytourism.com.
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 4-10, 2015
PGN
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Photo by Peter Valpiani. Additional photography by Atelier Mateo M.
160105_VISIT_10.125x11.35_PGN.indd 1
2/1/16 3:27 PM