Family Portrait: Ron Mulray feels the flower power PAGE 21
Immigration Services gets backlash PAGE 8
A final nod to local activist and volunteer Ed Bomba PAGE 5
• 40 Years Ago in PGN • Judge urged to not resentence Knott • Charges filed in woman’s death
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Feb. 26 - Mar. 3, 2016
Since 1976
PGN Philadelphia Gay News HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
Vol. 40 No. 9
Two challenge Sims’ petitions There were two challenges filed Tuesday that seek to knock state Rep. Brian Sims off of this spring’s primary ballot. A challenge to Sims’ nominating petitions was submitted by Walter Spencer and Sunanda Ghosh and another by Michael T. Connor and Andrew Allison. Connor is the partner of one of Sims’ primary challengers, Lou Lanni. To appear on the April 26 ballot, all candidates were required last week to submit 300 valid signatures from individuals who belong to their political party and who live within their district. Objections to the validity of those petitions were then due to the Commonwealth Court this week. Sims, who did not respond to a request for comment, submitted approximately 580 signatures, according to state records. The state’s first openly gay elected state lawmaker is set to face primary challengers Lanni, Ben Waxman and Marni Snyder. Sims last week ended his Congressional bid, in which he would have challenged embattled Congressman Chaka Fattah. n
Community mourns fatal stabbing victim Maya Young By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com
LUCK OF THE BRITISH: BINGO Verifying Diva Stella D’Oro picks raffle winners at ActionAIDS’ Glamsino fundraiser Feb. 18 at Hotel Palomar. The British-themed casino event drew a sell-out crowd of 250, who raised more than $150,000 for the HIV/AIDS service organization. “Glamsino was a great success,” said ActionAIDS executive director Kevin Burns. “We are very proud of our partnership with Kimpton Hotels and the Palomar; their generosity makes this event shine!” Photo: Scott A. Drake
— Jen Colletta
Maya Young asked Anthony Harper for the time six years ago while she was walking in the Gayborhood. It was a simple question that spawned a long friendship. “I noticed the birthmark on her cheek and told her it was beautiful,” Harper told PGN through his tears. “We talked for four hours that day and have been friends ever since.” Young had recently come out as transgender and moved to Philadelphia to find other people in the community. She started living with Harper and his partner, Jonathan Carton. Harper remembered the pair used to sing the Queen song “Bicycle Race” whenever they walked around the city. “She was a light in a dark room,” Harper said, noting Young moved out in 2011 and found a roommate in Frankford. “It was us against the world.” Young, 25, died over the weekend after suffering several stab wounds to the neck and chest late Saturday night in Frankford, police confirmed Feb. 23. The investigation into Young’s death is ongoing with the homicide unit, Philadelphia police said, noting the motive is unknown. Anyone with information is asked to call 215686-3334. There is a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. PAGE 16
Medicaid’s anti-trans provision challenged By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com
BOXERS AND BRIEFS: Bryon Yoder (center) was one of a dozen of Boxers’ Stonewall kickball team members participating in the annual Cupid’s Undie Run Saturday at XFINITY Live! Runners of all abilities stripped down to festive skivvies of all varieties for the 1-mile fun run. The fundraising event brought in nearly $200,000 for the Children’s Tumor Foundation. Photo: Scott A. Drake
A federal lawsuit was filed last week seeking to eliminate the state Medicaid program’s ban on covering treatments for gender dysphoria. The named defendant is Theodore Dallas, secretary of the state’s Department of Human Services. Medicaid is a health-care program for low-income individuals that receives state and federal funds. But many states, including Pennsylvania, won’t allow their Medicaid program to fund treatments for gender dysphoria. Those treatments include gender-confirmation surgery, hysterectomy, hormonal therapy, breast reconstruction, penectomy, vaginoplasty, mastectomy, vaginal dilation and release of labial adhesions. Advocates say the gender-dysphoria exclusion discriminates against the transgender community, in violation of federal laws. The Feb. 18 lawsuit was filed on behalf of “John Doe,” 30, a Delaware County trans man with gender dysphoria. Doe has received Medicaid benefits since 2013. He seeks a hysterectomy, but the state’s
Medicaid program refuses to pay for one. In July 2015, Doe’s physician submitted a request on Doe’s behalf for Medicaid coverage for a total abdominal hysterectomy. The request was denied by Keystone First Health Plan, one of the state’s designees for administering the Medicaid program in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Doe appealed the denial, and on Oct. 26, 2015, an administrative-law judge denied Doe’s appeal, citing the gender-dysphoria exclusion in the state’s Medicaid rules. “Doe’s untreated GD has led to his constant suffering and emotional distress,” the lawsuit states. “He is unemployed and has other issues, due in part to his untreated GD. Immediate and medically-necessary GD treatment should be provided to [Doe] in accordance with the Constitution and laws of the United States.” The lawsuit also states that “other Medicaid eligible individuals who have not been diagnosed with GD and have been prescribed a medically necessary hysterectomy will receive Medicaid coverage for a hysterectomy and associated medically necessary PAGE 13 procedures and