Avi Wisnia brings audio art to Philadelphia Museum of Art
Family Portrait: Calvin Terrell
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Conshohocken’s LGBT ordinance hits a speedbump
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Feb. 24 - March 1, 2012
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Vol. 36 No. 8
Villanova nixes gay artist’s workshop By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com
HEALTHY ENGAGEMENT: Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius (center) was among a number of federal officials who met with local community members last week at the Feb. 16 White House Conference on LGBT Health at Thomas Jefferson University. Held in partnership with Mazzoni Center, the summit was the first in a series of community discussions designed to open lines of communication between the federal government and local LGBT communities. Among the more than 300 attendees, who hailed from 22 states, were local leaders such as Equality Pennsylvania executive director Ted Martin (from left), Sellers Dorsey principal Christopher Labonte, Jefferson president Dr. Robert Barchi, Mazzoni Center executive director Nurit Shein, William Way LGBT Community Center executive director Chris Bartlett and Philadelphia health commissioner Donald Schwarz. Photo: Patrick Hagerty
Women get jail time in Breakfast Club death By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Two women accused of driving their car into a crowd outside of an LGBT party were sentenced to prison time last week. Judge Benjamin Lerner handed down multiyear sentences and fines to Sharonda Cheeves, 24, and Jesslyn Williams, 23, Feb. 16 for their involvement in the September 2010 melee outside the Breakfast Club in North Philadelphia, in which 27-year-old Alisha Moore was killed. The Sept. 4 incident arose after Cheeves and Williams were barred from entering the party, popular with the house/ballroom community, that was held that night at Club Motivation on North Eighth Street. The pair reportedly punched a security guard and was escorted to their car several times. However, around 4:30 a.m., they returned to the club in their Chevy Monte Carlo,
Villanova University this week cancelled an upcoming workshop by a nationally renowned gay performance artist, citing the series’ incompatibility with the Catholic tradition of the college. Tim Miller was scheduled to deliver a weeklong series of self-discovery exercises in April that were meant to enhance the students’ performance skills but was notified Sunday that the event was cancelled — a decision reportedly handed down by university president the Rev. Peter Donohue. The university released a statement this week explaining that it had “concerns that [Miller’s] performances were not in keeping with our Catholic and Augustinian values and mission.”
Miller’s public performances are known for their edginess, with the inclusion of occasional nudity and simulated sex acts, although this series was meant to be academic in nature. While his work is controversial, Miller has presented at a number of religiously affiliated institutions, including DePaul University in Chicago, the nation’s largest Catholic university. Villanova went on to note in its statement that the school “embraces intellectual freedom and academic discourse” and that it is an “open and inclusive community.” The university did not respond to a request for further comment by PGN. J a s o n L a n d a u G o o d m a n , exe c utive director of statewide LGBT youth agency Pennsylvania Student Equality PAGE 24
NJ approves marriage equality, Christie vetoes By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com
For the first time ever, the New Jersey legislature has approved same-sex marriage — but the state’s governor summarily vetoed it. The Assembly passed a marriage-equality bill in a 42-33 vote Feb. 16, and Republican Gov. Chris Christie vetoed the measure the following day. The Senate had approved the bill in a 24-16 vote earlier in the week. Christie billed his veto as a “conditional” one, in that he recommended the creation of an ombudsman to manage complaints from same-sex couples experiencing discriminaCLUB MOTIVATION, 2315 N. EIGHTH ST. tion under the current civil-union law. PGN FILE PHOTO While announcing his veto, Christie reitwhich they proceeded to drive into the erated his support for putting the question of crowd assembled outside, hitting more vic- marriage equality to voters. Senate President Steven Sweeney called tims each time they circled the block. Williams drove the first three rounds but the governor’s action “a shameful act hidden Cheeves was behind the wheel the fourth behind the guise of a public referendum. He firmly planted his feet on the wrong side of and final time, when Moore was struck. PAGE 20 PAGE 24 history.” Six other individu-
PORTRAIT OF AN ARTIST: Out artist Zoe Strauss got up close and personal with supporters at a behind-the-scenes look at her exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Organized by William Way LGBT Community Center, the sold-out event allowed the 45 guests to peruse the retrospective look at Strauss’ extensive photographic collection with commentary by the artist herself. “Zoe Strauss: Ten Years” will be on display through April 22. Photo: Patrick Hagerty