PGN March 4 - 10, 2011 by The Philadelphia Gay News

What if you’d placed a roommate ad on Sept. 10, 2001?

Family Portrait: Micah Mahjoubian

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Mayor Nutter to hear LGBT concerns regarding Boy Scouts building deal

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Mar. 4-10, 2011

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Vol. 35 No. 9

Gay priest denied Chestnut Hill teaching position Chestnut Hill College declined to offer the Rev. James St. George a teaching contract for the semester scheduled to start this week, citing his committed relationship with another man as the reason. By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Just a few days before the Rev. James St. George was to start another semester of teaching at Chestnut Hill College, the openly gay pastor was informed his services were no longer required — a decision stemming from his sexual orientation. St. George, the pastor of St. Miriam in Blue Bell, taught several religion classes as an adjunct professor at the Roman Catholic college since January 2010 and was set to begin two more this week. On Feb. 21, however, he received a brief letter from dean of continuing studies Elaine Green, who wrote, without an explanation, that he would not be granted the two contracts he had been offered for a class on justice and one on religion and culture. “I opened that letter, and I just started crying,” St. George told PGN this week, saying he thought when he saw the envelope that it contained the contract agreements he was awaiting. Following intense media coverage, the college posted a statement to its website saying St. George was not offered a new contract “not because he is gay but because his recent public statements regarding his long-term, same-sex partnership are at odds with the beliefs and mission of Chestnut Hill College and the THE REV. JAMES Catholic Church.” ST. GEORGE The college asserted St. George referenced his longtime partner on his blog last week when he made a passing reference to a PGN article on him published last year, in which he talked about his relationship. St. George repeatedly tried contacting PAGE 18 Green and other college

CLOCK’S TICKING FOR BUDGET: ACT UP members converged on City Hall Feb. 24 to urge Mayor Nutter to include sufficient funding for HIV/AIDS causes in his coming budget proposal. About 20 activists participated in the demonstration, which centered on the need for funding for housing for people with HIV/AIDS. Nutter is scheduled to release his proposal March 3. Photo: Scott A. Drake

Maryland Senate approves marriage equality By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

TEAM HUDDLE: Team Philadelphia co-chair Kurt Douglass (second from left) speaks with the two-dozen local sports enthusiasts who turned out Feb. 27 at the Loews Hotel for the All-League Sports Summit, hosted by Team Philadelphia, the umbrella agency for the city’s LGBT sports teams. The event brought together representatives of the organization’s myriad LGBT sports clubs to examine opportunities for growth and upcoming events like the ASANA Softball World Series. Several guests in attendance expressed an interest in launching new clubs, such as basketball and track and field. Photo: Scott A. Drake

DOMA finding has symbolic, practical impact By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com The Obama administration last week declared a portion of the federal samesex marriage ban unconstitutional, saying it will no longer defend the measure in court, a sudden about-face that sent waves throughout both LGBT and antigay circles. While the Defense of Marriage Act, which prevents federal marriage benefits from being bestowed upon same-sex couples who are legally married, will still

remain in place, Obama’s announcement dealt a major symbolic blow to the law — one that could also have vast logistical implications for marriage equality. Attorney General Eric Holder, the nation’s top lawyer, wrote last Wednesday that the administration determined that cases centering on discrimination based on sexual orientation deserve “heightened scrutiny,” a standard of review that compels the government to show that a law significantly advances a nondiscriminatory government interest — a PAGE 14

The marriage-equality bill in Maryland cleared a major hurdle when it gained final approval from the Senate last Thursday night, paving the way for Maryland to become the sixth state in the nation to sancPAGE 2 tion same-sex marriage.

PA anti-bullying bill in the works By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com State Rep. Mike O’Brien this week introduced a bill that seeks to strengthen the state’s anti-bullying law and is modeled after New Jersey’s recently adopted law, considered the toughest in the nation. O’Brien’s HB 879 was introduced March 1 and is still being circulated for cosponsorship. O’Brien noted that while the state enacted a 2008 anti-bullying law PAGE 22

Commission report

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FIGHT, Calcutta won’t partner By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Philadelphia FIGHT announced this week that it would not proceed with a suggested plan to take over the operations of HIV/AIDS housing agency Calcutta House. Last month, outgoing Calcutta executive director Matt Teter said the two agencies were in discussions about a possible merger, but the FIGHT board decided last week against such a relationship. Teter said Calcutta House is considering several other options for the the future course of the agency. FIGHT director of development and communications Mark Seaman said he and executive director Jane Shull, along with Calcutta board chair Joe Drennan, toured Calcutta House’s facilities last week and, while FIGHT was impressed with what the agency has to offer, elected not to take over its programs. “We were pleased with what we saw: a warm, clean and welcoming environment for people living with HIV and in need of housing,” Seaman said. “After careful consideration and much discussion, however, FIGHT’s board of directors came to MARYLAND, from page 1

The House began consideration of the bill Friday, and the state’s governor has said he would sign it if it reaches his desk. A vote in the House could come by the end of the week. Out Sen. Rich Madaleno said in a statement last Thursday that the Senate vote was “a reflection of the values we share as Marylanders and Americans” and “demonstrates our commitment to civil rights and equality for all.” The Senate vote was 25-21, with one Republican joining the Democratic supporters and 11 Democrats voting against the measure with Republicans. Equality Maryland executive director Morgan Meneses-Sheets praised Madaleno and other prime sponsors Sens. Rob Garagiola and Jamie Raskin for their leadership, and congratulated the many LGBTs and allies who pressed for the victory. “We are proud of all the 25 senators who stood up for the fairness today and voted to support SB 116. We also thank the thousands of Marylanders who have not only worked tirelessly, but also opened their hearts to share their stories and their experiences with their senators to explain why marriage matters,” she said. Prior to the vote, the Senate weighed several amendments. Senators defeated efforts to add several “conscientious-objection” amendments that would have allowed judges and clerks to refuse to issue licenses to same-sex couples and wedding-related businesses, like caterers and photographers, to decline services for same-sex weddings, based on personal objections. Another rejected amendment

the conclusion that the housing programs of Calcutta House are simply outside the scope of our mission.” FIGHT offers comprehensive HIV/AIDS services, but Seaman said the agency is not currently able to branch off into the housing sector. “FIGHT is dedicated to providing HIV treatment, case management, education and prevention services,” Seaman said. “Housing is not something we are currently in a position to deliver, but we will continue to promote the critical need for housing, and agencies such as Calcutta House, in ending the AIDS epidemic.” Teter announced late last month that, after about two-and-a-half years at the helm of the organization, he was stepping down, effective next week. Teter said the financial challenges the organization is facing, coupled with the increasing need for expanded housing options for those with HIV/AIDS, necessitated a major overhaul that could have included FIGHT absorbing the organization’s operations. Calcutta House currently houses 31 residents in two separate facilities to whom it provides comprehensive medical and social-services assistance. ■ would have exempted public-school teachers opposed to marriage equality from teaching about same-sex marriage. Legislators did approve the expansion of the bill’s religious exemption to stipulate that religious retreats and camps do not need to serve same-sex couples, as well as religiously affiliated organizations like the Knights of Columbus, and also dropped “Religious Freedom” from the title. While marriage-equality advocates were celebrating last Thursday night, the next day all eyes turned to the House, whose Judiciary Committee heard testimony from about 100 supporters and opponents. Among those speaking out against marriage equality were the state’s Catholic Conference and Maggie Gallagher of the National Organization for Marriage, while support came from the state’s six openly LGBT members of the House of Delegates and LGBT and ally residents. To pass the House, the measure will need 71 votes and, while the House is considered the more liberal of the two voting bodies, the bill already lost one cosponsor last week: Rep. Melvin Stukes said that, although he’s cosponsored the bill four years in a row, he didn’t realize it seeks to legalize same-sex marriage but rather thought it would allow civil unions. The measure now has 58 cosponsors. If it is passed, opponents will have until June 1 to collect about 19,000 signatures from residents who support the issue being placed on next year’s ballot. If the signatures are successfully submitted, the law will not go into effect until the state’s voters cast their opinions in the November 2012 election. ■

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 4-10, 2011

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Contents Jeremy Bernard is the first openly gay man named as a White House social secretary and special assistant to the president.

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NEWS

Local News 5 News Briefing 6 Media Trail 8 International News 15

EDITORIAL/OP-ED

Editorial Creep of the Week Mark My Words Street Talk Letters/Feedback

10 10 11 11 11

COLUMNS

On Being Well Out Law

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JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND BLOOMS

Our top five reasons to go to the Philadelphia International Flower Show.

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Is the Flower Show a good place for a gay date? Poll results from our online survey as of Mar. 2:

48% Absolutely 28% Mostly yes 6% Mostly no 8% Not at all 10% It would be if I didn’t have allergies Go to www.epgn.com to weigh in on this week’s question:

What do you think about the proposed sale of the building on the Parkway to the Boy Scouts?

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 4-10, 2011

Mayor to meet with LGBT reps about Scouts deal By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com A meeting has been scheduled between Mayor Nutter and leaders of the LGBT community to discuss a controversial proposal to sell publicly owned land to a local Boy Scouts of America council. Meanwhile, members of the Mayor’s LGBT Advisory Board have sent a letter to Nutter conveying opposition to the proposal. Additionally, about 50 rabbis, ministers and other religious leaders have signed an open letter opposing the deal. “The sale of a public building to an organization that denies the essential worth of every individual disenfranchises those of us who work towards equality for all,” states a letter from Religious Leaders Against Subsidized Discrimination. “The liberty of citizens will be preserved when the city guarantees that no public dollars will be used to dehumanize anyone because of their sexual or religious identity.” The BSA Cradle of Liberty Council wants to purchase 231-251 N. 22nd St. from the city for $500,000 in order to settle a civil-rights lawsuit pending in federal court. City appraisals for the property have ranged between $1 million and $2 million. Nutter has stated that a tentative agreement in support of the deal has been reached between the city and the Scouts, which cannot be breached.

Critics of the deal. however, question the enforceability of the agreement, pointing out that City Council approval is required before any public property can be sold. City officials have been involved in lengthy eviction proceedings against the Scouts because the organization won’t permit gay participants and has refused to pay fair-market rent. Last June, after an eight-day federal trial, a jury ruled that the city violated the Scouts’ constitutional rights when citing the club’s antigay policy as a reason for the eviction. As the prevailing party, the Scouts are seeking almost $1 million in legal fees from the city, which they say they’ll forgive if the sale is consummated. The LGBT leadership meeting with Nutter will be held at City Hall on March 9. It’s expected to last about an hour. The Rev. Nate Walker, a spokesperson for RLASD, is optimistic about the meeting, saying he views it as an opportunity for Nutter to embrace equal opportunity for all. “A morally grounded leader doesn’t fall prey to discrimination,” Walker told PGN. “We need creative, morally grounded leadership that will find alternatives to discrimination. You cannot put a monetary value on the fight against discrimination. The value of human dignity far outweighs any legal costs that might be incurred by appealing the jury’s verdict. And I truly believe that

an appeal most likely will result in affirming equality.” Nutter’s press secretary, Mark McDonald, said the March 9 meeting is closed to the public. To his knowledge, no representatives from the Scouts have been invited. “A number of people from different groups wanted to have this meeting, and to talk to the mayor,” McDonald told PGN. “This is the mayor reaching out to them, and to hear their concerns about the Boy Scouts proposal.” New motions Pro-bono attorneys for the city have filed post-trial motions urging U.S. District Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter to overturn the verdict or, in the alternative, to hold a new trial. The city contends that Buckwalter conducted the trial in a manner that minimized the right of the city to set antibias standards — and that overstated the right of the Scouts to discriminate on public property. Last August, attorneys for the Scouts filed reply briefs, urging Buckwalter to leave the jury verdict undisturbed and to require that the city pay them $960,000 in legal fees. Buckwalter has yet to rule on the motions. The judge told PGN this week that he has no timeframe for rendering decisions. “I do not have a standard procedure

in cases such as this one where settlement negotiations take place after a trial,” Buckwalter replied in an e-mail. Rabbi Sue Levi Elwell, who signed the RLASD letter, said she recognized the historic contributions of the Scouts, but that they don’t excuse the club’s exclusionary policies. “The Scouts are an historic and wonderful organization. But at the end of the day, they’re discriminating, and the city of Philadelphia cannot countenance and support this,” said Elwell. “We’re talking about a city-owned building. They should no longer have the privilege of occupying it. If the Scouts stop discriminating, I have no problem with them being in the building.” City officials should stand strong against anti-LGBT bias, Elwell added. “This needs to be pursued to the end. It’s unfortunate that significant city funds have been expended, but so be it. The situation needs to come to an end that honors the dignity and equal rights of all Philadelphians.” R . D u a n e P e r r y, a m e m b e r o f Philadelphians Against Subsidized Discrimination, said about 20 LGBT leaders met Feb. 23 and reached a consensus that Nutter should pursue an appeal of the jury verdict. “We decided that we wanted to urge the mayor to take an appeal,” Perry said. “I’m very hopeful that Mayor PAGE 6

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LOCAL PGN

News Briefing Adoption discussion for LGBT parents LGBT individuals exploring the idea of adoption are encouraged to attend a free information session from 6-8 p.m. March 10 at the Commodore Barry Club, 6815 Emlen St. The LGBT Adoption Café, organized by the National Adoption Center and Mountain Meadow, will feature a discussion on the ins and outs of adoption led by a panel of LGBT adoptive parents, representatives of adoption agencies and social workers. There will be a light dinner served and resource tables from different adoption agencies. To RSVP, contact Beth Vogel at 215-7359988 ext. 304 or bvogel@adopt.org.

Mazzoni celebrates legal milestone

Presenting Sponsor:

Mazzoni Center will mark the one-year anniversary of its legal-services department with its second-annual Open Bar social from 5:30-7 p.m. March 9 at Kokopelli Restaurant and Tequila Bar, 1904 Chestnut St. The event will feature cocktails and appetizers and give community members a chance to hear about recent legal victories for LGBTs from director of legal services Amara Chaudhry. The agency will also present its Justice in Action Award to Andrew Chirls, Mel Heifetz, Arthur Kaplan and R. Duane Perry. Tickets, which are available online or at the door, are $40, or $20 for professionals under 30. Law students can pay what

SCOUTS, from page 5

Nutter will decide to do the right thing. While much of the nation appears to be moving into the 21st century in terms of LGBT rights, we wouldn’t want the city moving in the opposite direction.” Offering options Some LGBT activists have suggested the Scouts could remain in the building if they purchased it for the estimated $2-million market value. Others have suggested the Scouts could stay in the building if they limit their activities inside to Learning for Life, an educational and vocational program that purportedly doesn’t discriminate against individuals protected by the city’s Fair Practices Act. The Scouts declined to comment on those

they’re able to at the door and are encouraged to RSVP to tporter@mazzonicenter. org. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.mazzonicenter.org.

Lib City to present candidates Liberty City Democratic Club will host a series of candidate nights this month to introduce potential politicos to the LGBT community. The group will welcome candidates for judge, sheriff and city commissioner on March 16 and City Council, council-atlarge and mayor March 21. All meetings will be held at the William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St., with social time beginning at 6 p.m., followed by the meeting at 6:30. Board elections will also take place at the March 21 meeting. Liberty City will hold its general membership endorsement meeting April 14.

Trial delayed in domestic case The trial for a man accused of aggravated assault after an altercation with his boyfriend has been continued again. Jason Mendez is now set to face trial at 10 a.m. March 29 in Room 606 of the Criminal Justice Center, 1301 Filbert St. Mendez and his boyfriend, Luis Berrios, were arrested in late December after a domestic disturbance. The pair contends that when police arrived on the scene, they were unnecessarily rough and used homophobic and racist language. Berrios filed complaints with both the Internal Affairs Bureau and the Police Advisory Commission, which are pending. Berrios faces a trial at 10 a.m. March 29 in Room 906 of the CJC. ■ — Jen Colletta

options. City Councilmember Darrell L. Clarke has introduced a bill that would sell the property to the Scouts for $500,000 — providing the Scouts allowed LGBT groups access to the facility. But Perry said the community-access proviso isn’t workable. “What self-respecting LGBT organization is going to bring their client into a building where people are discriminating against them?” he posed. “It sounds like a good idea on the surface: ‘OK, let’s open it up and share space.’ But the reality is completely different. If the KKK opened up its property to Jews and blacks, would that be OK? I think that’s not a workable solution, though it certainly sounds good on paper.” At press time, a public hearing hadn’t been scheduled for Clarke’s bill. ■

LOCAL PGN

HUGGING IT OUT: Board president Mark Mitchell (from left) and John Moeller, the new executive director of Delaware Valley Legacy Fund, welcomed guests to the agency’s volunteer-appreciation night Feb. 24 at CITYSPACE. The agency’s “HUG” social allowed the group to give a nod to its longtime volunteers and also recruit new community members to lend their time to the LGBT grantmaking organization. The social marked the first public DVLF event for Moeller, who took over as executive director last month, and allowed him to introduce himself and his vision for the agency to its supporters. Photo: Scott A. Drake

Fair Practices bill moves forward By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com A City Council committee last week unanimously approved a measure that would strengthen the city’s LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination law. The Law and Government Committee voted Feb. 24 to approve Councilman Bill Greenlee’s bill that would create uniform definitions throughout the Fair Practices Ordinance and heighten the penalties associated with violations. The bill was scheduled to come up for its first reading before the full City Council on March 3, and Greenlee said he expects it to receive final approval at the March 10 meeting. Greenlee said that while he expected full support for the bill in committee, it was “still nice to see it happen like it did.” “There was no opposition, and I don’t see why there should be,” he said. “Bigots would be the only people against this. This is just basic antidiscrimination and fair practices — that speaks for itself.” If adopted, the measure would raise the fines for discriminatory practices from $300 to a maximum of $2,000, and would also facilitate the process for same-sex couples to register as domestic partners, lessening the time they need to be in an interdependent relationship and the number of documents needed to verify that relationship. Prior to the vote last week, the committee heard testimony from the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, which enforces the Fair Practices Ordinance, as well as Equality Pennsylvania, the Women’s Law Project, Women Against Abuse and Community Legal Services. Rue Landau, executive director of the PCHR, testified that Greenlee’s bill is the “result of an extensive review” of the law,

originally adopted in 1951. While the measure has undergone significant changes since its implementation — such as the incorporation of sexual orientation and gender identity as classes protected from discrimination — such changes were at times piecemeal, necessitating a complete overhaul of the law to ensure the language is internally consistent and also uniform with state and federal laws. In addition to heightening the fines, the new bill would also enable the PCHR to order the granting of punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and hearing costs, which the state and federal nondiscrimination laws currently allow. The bolstering of the commission’s ability to enforce the law is especially significant for LGBTs, Landau said. “Having a civil-rights agency with more limited administrative remedies than its state and federal counterparts hurts all Philadelphians. But it particularly harms the LGBT community because state and federal law do not recognize sexual orientation and gender identity as protected categories from discrimination,” she testified. “As a result, members of the LGBT community have no other place to turn if they experience discrimination based upon their sexual orientation or gender identity. While other Philadelphians can go to the state or federal government for relief, members of the LGBT community must either accept the limited remedies in the current ordinance or receive nothing at all.” Landau told the councilmembers that the changes proposed to the law can have farreaching results. “They will make Philadelphia a better place to live, work and visit, while also bringing additional revenue to the city,” she said. “The entire commission looks forward to enforcing the new Fair Practices Ordinance when it becomes law.” ■

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 4-10, 2011

8 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 4-10, 2011

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EMPOWERMENT, EDUCATION: Career counselor Uda Bartholomew (from left), Educational Justice Coalition executive director Quincy Green and local performer Tony Enos welcomed guests to EJC’s second-annual LGBTQ Youth Empowerment Fair Feb. 25 at the William Way LGBT Community Center. The event brought in more than 75 youth to network with representatives of local schools, companies looking to hire young people and health agencies to arm the youth with well-rounded resources for their growth. Photo: Scott A. Drake

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Media Trail

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Obama names first gay social secretary

24th & Bainbridge ��

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The White House announced Feb. 25 that Jeremy Bernard, a senior staffer at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, has been named the new White House social secretary and special assistant to President Obama, CBSnews. com reported. Bernard is the first male and the first openly gay person to be named to the post. JEREMY Bernard currently BERNARD serves as a senior adviser to the U.S. ambassador to France. Prior to that, he worked as the White House liaison to the National Endowment for the Humanities. He also worked on the Obama presidential campaign. Bernard also previously served as a board member of Access Now for Gay & Lesbian Equality and the National Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.

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Belmont recognizes gay student group

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student organization for the first time. Bridge Builders is dedicated to advancing a campus dialogue about Christianity and human sexuality. The group had tried twice before to gain official status on campus. Belmont is a Christian university that had been affiliated with the Southern Baptists until it broke away in 2007. The school’s policies toward gays drew national attention in December after soccer coach Lisa Howe left her job. Students have accused the university of firing Howe for coming out as a lesbian to her team. Belmont provost Thomas Burns and Bridge Builders president Robbie Maris announced the decision to recognize the student group in a joint statement on Feb. 25.

Burger King to pay $3.15M to gay couple Advocate.com reports a gay New Jersey couple who were chased and beaten by Burger King employees in 2007 have been awarded $3.15 million by a Hudson County jury. In a civil trial that began Feb. 7, victims Peter Casbar, 43, and Noel Robichaux, 46, testified that a dispute with the person taking their order escalated to involve other workers and then became violent, even after the couple had left the Union City restaurant. The couple’s attorney, James F. Fine, said the manager and a group of angry restaurant employees chased the couple and then mercilessly assaulted them while screaming antigay invectives. The jury ordered Food Service Properties Corp. and Union City Restaurant Corp., which owned the Burger King where the incident occurred, to pay damages. ■ — Larry Nichols

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 4-10, 2011

Commission report finds widespread school bullying By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

After months of hearing public testimony from local students, parents and publicschool staff, the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations released its report on intergroup school conflicts, providing a bevy of recommendations to counteract school violence. Following reports of widespread racial tensions at South Philadelphia High School, the commission held 11 hearings throughout last year — eliciting oral testimony from 130 witnesses and written statements from 40 — that examined classroom conflicts that stem from race, sexual orientation and a number of other factors. The commission found intergroup conflicts to be “widespread” throughout the public-school system and said the school district does not employ an effective framework for resolving or preventing such conflicts. A number of LGBT students testified about their own experiences, along with teachers, who saw firsthand the treatment some LGBT students faced. One transgender college student said she experienced violence from both students and staff throughout high school, a pattern she said many LGBT students face. “With my situation and others, I’m just a little upset that it took this long for this situ-

ation and this hearing to come up because even before now this has been happening, and I don’t see why it took so long to be recognized,” she testified. Mayor Nutter testified directly after several of the LGBT students at one hearing and apologized to them for the harassment they faced. “It is unfortunate that your lives have been affected by the few who damaged the reputation of our great city, our state and our country through their demonstrations of ignorance and intolerance and often through violence,” he said. “It is our work, it is our mission, it is our collective responsibility to addresses these issues.” One consensus that emerged from the hearings was that, while the district has adopted a multicultural policy and newly strengthened bullying and harassment policies, they are rarely enforced uniformly, with patterns of bullying often going unaddressed by those in authority. One high-school teacher said she noticed LGBT students at her school faced an unusually high number of suspensions and other disciplinary issues, which she attributed largely to a basic lack of enforcement and confusion over reporting practices. “If you could really take a look at it, it’s because they’re defending themselves. They’re being bullied, and they retaliate physically. And there’s no support system that they can go to and complain about

these issues,” she said. The district has a zero-tolerance policy that mandates suspensions for those involved in intergroup conflicts, but many witnesses testified that this policy is ineffective in creating positive change. Most of the witnesses instead advocated for an approach that involved collaboration among students, staff and faculty in addressing issues of integroup conflict head-on and in an open manner. One high-school teacher testified that he conducted a presentation on LGBT issues last year in which he came out as gay and “encouraged everybody to take a more active role in making sure that our schools are safe places for people of all sexual orientations or gender identities. Whether it’s due to my efforts or it’s just a new crop of students, I think I’ve seen a great improvement in, as far as a reduction, in the amount of homophobic language that I see in my classes.” The commission laid down a number of recommendations, primarily the need for the district to recognize that intergroup conflicts require a comprehensive and uniform approach to resolve, track and prevent future conflicts. The commission recommended amending the district’s bullying policy to clarify reporting procedures, and suggested the district publicize a simple reporting procedure so victimized students know how and

where to seek help. The report says multicultural education should be incorporated in all district curricula, and policies should be implemented that include constructive discipline, suggesting the abandonment of the zero-tolerance policy. It also put forth that each individual school should adopt an antidiscrimination policy and procedure for reporting discrimination, consistent with the district’s plan and the one put in place with the intervention of the Department of Justice at South Philadelphia High School. The report suggests allowing students a greater role in the conflict-resolution process, with the institution of peer-mediation groups at every high and middle school, as well as the creation of student committees to address intergroup conflicts. To track complaints, the report said all incident reports must list if the conduct was based on motivators like sexual orientation, gender identity or gender, and the district’s compliance officer should be tasked with ensuring all schools are properly documenting conflicts. The district already employs an annual survey from students and staff, and the commission suggested asking the participants to self-identify a number of factors — such as sexual orientation and gender identity — and solicit information on intergroup conflict experiences to help the district better track progress. ■

10 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 4-10, 2011

EDITORIAL PGN

Creep of the Week

D’Anne Witkowski

Donald Trump

Editorial

Seeking inclusive Catholicism Last month, a local college declined to renew the adjunct contract for a gay priest after administrators learned about his sexual orientation. The college “learned” of it after a Daily News columnist wrote about the Rev. James St. George and his parish, St. Miriam, an Antioch Catholic Church — separate from the traditional Roman Catholic Church — and a reader researched St. George and forwarded what he found to the college and the Archdiocese, calling him a “heretic.” In her Feb. 17 column, writer Ronnie Polaneczky never mentioned that St. George is gay or in a longterm relationship. She focused on St. Miriam’s ad campaign, which contrasts the church with the Roman Catholic Church and its sexabuse scandals. Nowhere did she mention that PGN had interviewed St. George in March of last year, where he talked about his partner Sean. The next day, Chestnut Hill College sent St. George a letter stating his services wouldn’t be needed. He’d been expecting to find a contract requiring his signature. In the letter, the college gave no indication of why it chose to rescind its employment offer. According to its website, the mission of Chestnut Hill is to “provide students with holistic education in an inclusive Catholic community.” Furthermore, the school seeks to “uphold an atmosphere of communal respect in which all may clarify and articulate personal values and beliefs while exploring the ethical and moral dimensions underlying all relationships. The college encourages inter-faith opportunities by acquainting all students with Catholicism, its theology and its Judeo-Christian roots and by engaging in dialogue with women and men of other beliefs.” It’s curious that the college employs teachers of many different faiths, yet seems to have recanted when it comes to St. George. The school’s actions, while disagreeable and intolerant, are also blatantly hypocritical. They never asked if St. George was a Roman Catholic in the interview process — or if he was gay — and apparently never did any due diligence to determine if St. Miriam’s was either. One would think someone in the administration of a Catholic institution might be familiar with various types of Catholicism — or at least familiar enough to know that it was a question that might need to be asked if it were so paramount to the school’s ideals. And they recruited him. Apparently, school administrators think St. George misrepresented himself. A more accurate statement would be that the college misrepresented itself and its mission of inclusion. ■

Aww, so sweet. Donald Trump thinks gay people are great. Mind you, not so great that they should be allowed to marry. And if there’s anyone we should take advice about marriage from, it’s Donald Trump. I mean, he’s had a lot of practice. First there was Ivana Trump, then he cheated on her with Marla Maples who became his second wife, and then he dumped Maples for his current wife, Melania Knauss. So, let’s see. That’s two divorces, three marriages. The man obviously knows what he’s doing. After all, each new wife is younger and hotter than the wife she’s replacing. Hey, Trump’s just keepin’ it sacred. During a Feb. 14 interview on Fox News with Greta Van Susteren, Trump flexed his conservative muscles and showed off the world’s most expensive comb-over mullet. “I’m probably as conservative as anybody on your show, and that’s going a pretty strong step. I’m Republican, a very conservative Republican. I believe strongly in just about all conservative principles,” he gushed. “Gay marriage?” Van Susteren asked. “I’m not in favor of gay marriage,” Trump replied. Then Van Susteren asked if he had any doubt about that position. “No,” he said. “I’m just not in favor of gay marriage. I live in New York. New York is a place with lots of gays, and I think it is great. But I’m not in favor of gay marriage.” This isn’t a huge surprise. According to Politico, Trump entered into the gay marriage fray in 2009, when he defended Carrie Prejean’s stated opposition to gay marriage. Trump, who owns the Miss USA pageant, defended Prejean for speaking out, comparing her views on gay marriage to President Barack Obama’s. Mind you, he doesn’t tell Van Susteren why he’s against gay marriage. But really, he doesn’t have to. No doubt his position has a lot to do with his talk that he might run for president in 2012. And even a

super-rich tycoon who lives in faggy New York City feels obliged to appeal to the wingnuts in the GOP these days. Trump was a big hit at last month’s Conservative Political Action Conference, long a bastion of antigay fervor. Mind you, this year GOProud, a group of gay Republicans, was involved in the CPAC mix, which made a lot of the antigay groups cry and go home. Still, CPAC is hardly a gay pride parade. “Well, they’re really my people,” he said of the CPAC folks. And this certainly includes GOProud, who not only invited him to CPAC, but who also pushed for Trump as a write-in candidate for CPAC’s presidential straw poll. It didn’t work, but Trump is hardly discouraged. He said he’s “incredibly tempted” to run and that he’ll decide by June. Why does he want to run? “I love this country. I hate what’s happening to this country. It’s just different. It’s not like when I was growing up,” he told Van Susteren. “During these times we were really a respected country.” Hmm. Let’s see. If we take “when I was growing up” to mean birth to age 18, then America was a respected country from 1946 to 1964. He’s right. Times were different then. During that time, 14-year-old Emmett Till was murdered for whistling at a white woman, Rosa Parks got thrown in jail because she wouldn’t give up her bus seat to some white asshole, the National Guard had to be sent in so that nine black kids could go to school in Little Rock, Ark. And racists in Birmingham, Ala., had their hands full throwing Martin Luther King Jr. in jail, blowing up little black girls in church and turning fire hoses on civil-rights protesters. People who wax nostalgic about that era always seem to forget about that kind of stuff. Something tells me only rich, white, heterosexual men would actually like to go back. ■

If there’s anyone we should take advice about marriage from, it’s Donald Trump. He’s had a lot of practice.

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

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Marriage in the Free State? If you haven’t kept track of the marriage- scare tactic: Marriage equality will somego-round, our state-by-state tour has taken how hurt the institution of marriage. But up camp in lovely Maryland. that might not work in this case, since Maryland is a blue state but connected to Maryland has a trump card: Washington, D.C. the South, so it’s a great place to take the A scare tactic only works country’s temperature. if you can prove your theory, Thus far, it’s going pretty easy but next door to Maryland is with few disruptions, as we’ve Washington, D.C., where marseen in other states. Actually it’s riage is legal. And where the been very civil, but reports tell Assembly members will note us that’s all about to change. that marriage equality has not Last week, the marriagecaused one problem for those equality legislation passed in the in so-called “traditional marMaryland Senate and was sent riages.” to the General Assembly. There, it will get a hearing, which Adding to that, there are many feel might get a little several out state Assembly testy. It seems the anti-equalmembers who are well known ity people decided that equality to their peers. When you get to had the votes in the Senate and know us and our issues, the fear decided not to spend their time crumbles. This is the message Mark Segal for our community: The only or resources there, but instead to target the Assembly, where they weapon our opponents have is feel they have a better chance of defeating fear. If we are known, that weapon no longer works. ■ marriage equality. The governor has agreed that if passed Mark Segal is PGN publisher. He is the nation’s by both the state Senate and Assembly, he’ll sign the bill into law. So the Assembly most-award-winning commentator in LGBT media, having received the 2010 Columnist now takes main stage and marriage oppoof the Year Award from the 2,000-member nents will make their last stand. Suburban Newspapers of America. He can be The opposition always uses the same reached at mark@epgn.com.

Mark My Words

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.

Please include a daytime phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity, style and space considerations.

Street Talk How long will it take for national marriage equality? “Fifteen years. First, people have to learn how to get along. They have to learn how to work together. Then they can address the Christopher gay-marriage Boland issue. Right general contractor South Philadelphia now, there’s too much else to deal with — earthquakes, war, the economy.”

“Five years. The South is going to drag its feet. Ditto for the Republicans. They can be a problem. It will take Alix Cullum five years student for [opponents] Easthampton, N.Y. to realize that gays are people too. They’re born that way, and have the same rights as everyone else.”

“Within the next seven years. Obama is paving the way. He’s giving the green light to a lot of advances. People Tarrah Curcio will see that house painter imitation is the South Philadelphia sincerest form of flattery.”

“Probably not in my lifetime. The world has such a closed view on things. The barrier isn’t going to Joseph Staerk break that welder easily. People Port Richmond are judgmental, and led by the Bible. That will keep their minds closed.”

Letters and Feedback In response to “LGBT in the Libyan revolution,” Feb. 25-March 3: Great story! Exciting account of your coverage. It’s almost a shame that PGN is a print publication and not an Internet news site. Regardless, this was a very exciting read. — Randolfe Wicker In response to “Senior-housing program is a go,” Feb. 25-March 3: A great project — and wonderful to see Philadelphia leading the way for the rest of the country! — Kath2 In response to “Bindi re-creates with Indian flavors,” Feb. 25-March 3: Good luck getting any advertising

out of Bindi, or even a rainbow decal in their window, from these community-closeted owners. Shame on you for even acknowledging their existence.

Thanks again, — A.G. West Philadelphia

— Abu Manmeet In response to “Gay couple alleges police brutality,” Jan. 21-27:

In response to “Plan spring flings and summer vacations now,” Feb. 18-24:

I want to thank you for Jen Colletta’s article. It is so important to share these stories and encourage all of us to think about the possible consequences of calling the cops, especially for poor people, queer people, people of color and other communities who are criminalized rather than protected by law enforcement. Many of us who read this article were outraged and reminded of the violence police can cause without being held accountable, especially when racism and homophobia are backing them up. Please keep covering these stories.

I had an amazing time performing on the Allure of the Seas. Guys and gals were super friendly. I think everyone should at least try an all-gay cruise once! — Aiden James www.aidenjamesmusic.com Atlantis Cruises have been a huge and amazing part of my 20s ... for the past six years. I’ve defended it against the drug and bathhouse-on-the-seas name-calling and will continue to. The truth is, in addition to having the time

of your life with your friends, you get to meet amazing, successful, friendly, happy gay men from all over the place — and make lasting friendships with many. The environment at any given moment on any given Atlantis vacation is exceedingly friendlier than that of any Philly gay bar (or NYC, or wherever) at any given moment. Drug busts are drug busts. They happen every day in every city. On a ship this big, it’s surprising there weren’t more incidents and drug busts. And people die all the time on straight cruises. This just happened to be the most publicized gay cruise ever on a ship, so well known Oprah talked about it. As for the people in the ads, yes, they are real passengers. And for every “hot” person there are probably 15 average people onboard. And everyone gets along. Amazing. — bobbydeluxe

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12 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 4-10, 2011

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Gayborhood Crime Watch The following incidents in the Midtown Village and Washington Square West areas were reported to the Sixth Police District between Feb. 15-20. 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 (8477). ARRESTS: Between 7:35-9:30 p.m. Feb. 15, Sixth District plainclothes officers arrested two males for prostitution at 245 S. 13th St. and 1200 Locust St. REPORT: Between 2:20-3:35 p.m. Feb. 15, someone smashed a window of complainant’s 2002 Chevy, parked in the 300 block of South Camac Street, and stole a bag of dirty clothes and some toys. Sixth District Officer Sprouls was unable to lift fingerprints. REPORT: At 10:15 p.m. Feb. 15, complainant was outside his residence in the 900 block of Clinton Street when a male grabbed his gym bag and attempted to take it. The complainant struggled and held on to his gym bag. The male fled west on Clinton, empty-handed. The offender was described as a black male, 17 years old with curly hair

with cornrows and wearing a black coat. ARREST: At 2:55 a.m. Feb. 17, 6th District officers arrested a male for a summary offense at 1300 Spruce St. ARREST: At 8:50 p.m. Feb. 17, district officers arrested a male for obstruction of a highway related to prostitution at 1200 Locust St. ARRESTS: At 8:55 p.m. Feb. 17, 6th District officers arrested two males for summary offenses at 400 S. Watts St. REPORT: At 6:10 p.m. Feb. 18, complainant tied his dog on a leash to a pole at 10th and Locust streets and left her unattended. At 6:25 p.m., he discovered the dog was missing. The dog is described as a female Wirehair Jack Russell Terrier named Molly, approximately 14 pounds. REPORT: Between 10:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m. Feb. 18, someone smashed a window of outof-town complainant’s 2001 Nissan, parked in the 400 block of South Hutchinson Street, and stole an iPhone. Sixth District Officer Romznczuk attempted to lift fingerprints. ARREST: Between 12:15-4 a.m. Feb. 18, 6th District officers arrested two males for summary offenses at 410 S. 13th St. and 12th and Pine streets. ARREST: At 2 p.m. Feb. 18, 6th District officers arrested a male for a summary offense and as a fugitive on an open bench warrant in the 1200 block of Spruce Street. REPORT: Between 9 a.m.-6:10 p.m. Feb. 19, someone smashed the window of complainant’s 2005 Honda, parked in the 1100 block of St. James Street, and stole a GPS. This report was received by the DPR Unit via phone, thus police were not dispatched. ARREST: At 2:20 p.m. Feb. 19, 6th District officers arrested two males for summary offenses at 1301 Lombard St. REPORT: At 2:40 a.m. Feb. 20, out-oftown complainant returned to his 2009 Ford, parked in the 1300 block of Locust Street, and observed a male leaning inside a broken window. The complainant confronted the male, who pulled a small pocketknife and took a bottle of soda from the front seat, then fled north on Juniper Street. The offender was described as a black male, 45-50 years old, with large framed glasses. He walked with a limp and was wearing a black knit cap and a black coat. ■

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 4-10, 2011

An ‘ex’ you would be proud to claim Imagine a treatment that would reverse Nicotine has long been implicated as the skin aging, whiten teeth and improve addictive substance in tobacco. When one’s sense of taste, sense of smell and inhaled, it is rapidly absorbed through the lungs into the bloodstream and personal odor. Add to this a substantial decrease in your quickly concentrates in the risk for devastating breathing brain. Nicotine has many different effects throughout the disease, heart attack, stroke and a multitude of cancers. brain — activating excitation Furthermore, this treatment and reward pathways similar to would not cost money but, in those implicated in cocaine and fact, save money — possibly heroin. As a response to this several hundred dollars a year. excitation, the brain increases its capacity to be stimulated by This “treatment” exists, of nicotine. This increased capaccourse, for every tobacco user in the act of quitting smoking. ity is thought to intensify the It’s no secret. I’ve never met a cravings for and withdrawal from nicotine. smoker who doesn’t know the myriad reasons for needing to The rapid transit of nicotine to the brain is a crucial part quit. I’ve rarely met a smoker Dr. Andrew of associating the reward of who doesn’t want to quit. Convincing smokers to begin Goodman nicotine with the behavior of smoking. The behavioral assothe act of quitting, however, ciations do not, however, end with the act remains a tough sell. This seems to be of smoking. Every smoker can identify especially true within the LGBT community, where individuals are twice as likely other cues that trigger cravings. These can to smoke as non-LGBT populations, include smoking cues, such as ashtrays; thought to be a result of aggressive tarsituational cues, such as drinking at the geting of our community by the tobacco bar or finishing a meal; and mood cues, industry. such as feeling anxious or depressed. As with other kinds of addictions, any Although a few people can successfully attempt to quit smoking involves underquit “cold turkey,” the negative effects of standing both the pharmacologic and quitting and withdrawal symptoms make the behavioral basis for the addiction. this profoundly challenging for most

On Being Well

smokers. That’s why I advise people to consider both the chemical and behavioral components of their addiction. Nicotine replacement therapies were some of the first medications developed to assist in the chemical addiction to smoking. There are many different methods of replacement — patches, lozenges, gum and inhalers — most of which are available without a prescription. An important distinction to consider between these methods is the continuous nicotine replacement of a patch, which allows for a gradual weaning off of the addiction to smoking, compared to the on-demand replacement of gums and lozenges, which can immediately manage cravings but may still encourage a strong behavioral association with nicotine. With any nicotine-replacement therapy, it’s important to pay attention to the dosage of nicotine, as poisoning can occur. Other prescription medications are available to assist with quitting. These medications work in altering the excitation and reward pathways and reducing the effectiveness of nicotine. After a few weeks using these medications, many patients report a loss of interest in cigarettes. Although many intensive therapies are available to assist with quitting, my advice in facing the behavioral addiction to

smoking is simple: plan ahead. Anticipate situations that may bring on a nicotine craving, and plan ahead to better control them, so they don’t control you. If you rely on tobacco to soothe anxious feelings or take a break from work, then consider some alternatives to manage these situations, such as taking a walk or chewing gum. If smoking is a complement to your routine activities, like driving or eating a meal, then you may need to work on developing new, different habits. Be warned: Most smokers do relapse after their first attempt at quitting. I encourage people to view unsuccessful attempts not as failures, but as learning experiences to better prepare them for their next attempt. I have often heard that quitting smoking is one of the hardest things to do. While I don’t think this gloomy prophecy is helpful for someone facing the challenge of quitting, I do appreciate the difficulty of that challenge. I would encourage any smoker who is ready to stop to talk with a medical provider, develop an individualized plan for quitting and become an “ex-” — the kind that anyone would be proud to claim. ■ Dr. Andrew Goodman is a physician at Mazzoni Center, the region’s only LGBT health center.

14 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 4-10, 2011

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PGN DOMA, from page 1

much stricter form of review than “rational basis,” in which a defense can utilize looser rationalizations and hypothetical situations to justify a law. When applying heightened scrutiny to DOMA, Holder said the administration found Section 3 of the law — which limits the definition of marriage to being between one man and one woman — to violate gay individuals’ equal-protection constitutional rights. “While both the wisdom and legality of Section 3 of DOMA will continue to be the subject of both extensive litigation and public debate, this administration will no longer assert its constitutionality in court,” Holder wrote. Directional shift While Obama has previously stated his opposition to the 1996 law, last week marked the first time he publicly committed to the idea that it is unconstitutional. Mary Bonauto, civil-rights project director of Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, said the decision on the standard of review was “extraordinarily significant.” “Laws that distinguish between people based on sexual orientation are more likely to reflect prejudice against gay people than good public policy,” she said. “Discrimination based on sexual orientation needs to be justified by the government with exceptionally good reasons rather than being assumed to be permissible. The attorney general concedes that DOMA fails this test.” Molly McKay, executive director of Marriage Equality USA, noted the administration’s shift in position reflects a turning point in marriage equality. “To have the president of the United States and the attorney general of the United States so strongly concur that DOMA violates the equal-protection clause of the U.S. Constitution is a very, very big deal,” McKay said. “It’s just tremendous that they basically said that you can’t write exceptions into the equal-protection clause. That’s just unconscionable, and they said that they can no longer defend that because there’s just no argument for it. This is really a watershed moment for the LGBT community when we have our elected representatives standing up and so strongly affirming that this is time to end legal discrimination.” In the past two years, the Department of Justice has defended the law in two federal lawsuits filed by marriage-equality advocates, from which it will now remove itself. If both cases proceed, members of Congress will be allowed to step in and defend DOMA. If the U.S. Supreme Court or Congress eventually overturns DOMA, marriage equality would not be the law of the land across the country, but rather federal benefits could be available for same-sex couples

who are legally married. Several senators, including Sens. Dianne Feinstein (Calif.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), said they were committed to repealing DOMA after the administration’s statement, but a repeal bill has not yet been introduced. ACLU and GLAD roles Last week’s announcement was precipitated by two separate suits filed in November by the American Civil Liberties Union and GLAD, in which motions by the defense were due next month. Both suits were filed in jurisdictions where a precedent for standard of review in sexual-orientation cases had not yet been set, allowing for the DOJ opinion. GLAD is also spearheading “Gill v. Office of Personnel Management,” in which a District Court judge last summer found that Section 3 violated the constitutional equalprotection clause. The same court also ruled last summer in “Massachusetts v. Office of Personnel Management” that DOMA violated states’ rights. “Golinski v. Office of Personnel Management” is also challenging DOMA in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Holder said in his statement he would instruct “department attorneys to advise courts in other pending DOMA litigation of the president’s and my conclusions that a heightened standard should apply, that Section 3 is unconstitutional under that standard and that the department will cease defense of Section 3.” Accordingly, the DOJ will not move forward with its appeals in Gill and Massachusetts, although whether the defense will be taken up by members of Congress, as Holder authorized, is uncertain. The development comes at a time when the California Supreme Court is reviewing whether the defendants in a case seeking to nullify the state’s ban on same-sex marriage have proper legal standing; like Obama and Holder, that state’s former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown declined to defend the law, and a group of anti-LGBT activists stepped in. McKay said, in light of the ongoing discussion in California, it will be interesting to see what implications could arise if a member of Congress does attempt to defend DOMA. “[Holder’s] statement said the administration wouldn’t oppose someone picking up the defense, but whether that person is really allowed to do so is a question that each court is going to have to consider,” she said. “Whoever does step forward is going to be known throughout history as the person who stood in the doorway, blocking full equality for LGBT people. I anticipate their grandchildren will be embarrassed that that’s the infamous role their grandfather or grandmother played in the advancement of civil rights.” ■

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International Italian PM: Gays never to marry, adopt

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 4-10, 2011

because they disapprove of homosexuality. Judges at London’s Royal Courts of Justice ruled that laws protecting gays from discrimination take precedence over the couple’s religious beliefs. Eunice and Owen Johns, aged 62 and 65, had previously fostered children in the 1990s, but what one social worker described as their “strong views” on homosexuality raised red flags with authorities in the English city of Derby when they were interviewed in 2007. Eunice Johns said Feb. 28 that she was “extremely distressed” by the decision. But the judges ruled that Britain was “a secular state, not a theocracy.”

England cricketer comes out Embattled Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has said gay couples will never be permitted to marry. Speaking at a Catholic conference in Milan, he said: “Gays will never have marriages equal to traditional family values because there is only one family.” He added: “This government will not allow singles or gays to adopt.” The 74-year-old leader told the conference he would not resign, despite his own moral troubles. He has been charged with having sex with an underage prostitute and will go on trial in April. Police say that Karima El Mahroug, who was 17 at the time, was a guest at one of Berlusconi’s so-called “sex” parties. He is also on trial for tax fraud. Last year, Berlusconi angered gay groups by saying: “I have a grueling work schedule and if I happen to look pretty girls in the face now and then, well then, it’s better to be a fan of pretty women than to be gay.”

Gay Zimbabwean fights for amnesty A demonstration broke out in Finland in support of a gay Zimbabwean man who faces deportation, despite three applications for asylum in Finland. The man, identified only as Farai, is staying in the Metsälä Reception Center in Helsinki, according to Finnish gay-rights group Seta. He first came to Finland in 2002 to study. He applied for asylum after his first year, stating he feared returning to Zimbabwe because of the government’s antigay actions, but was denied. His most recent application for asylum was Feb. 18.

Antigay couple loses foster-care rights A British court has ruled that a Christian couple cannot care for foster children

England wicketkeeper Steve Davies has become the country’s first professional cricket player to publicly come out. “It is something I have lived for a long time with and I am really comfortable about things right now,” Davies said. “I have got nothing to hide and I am ready to tell people.” The 24-year-old player made the announcement Feb. 27 in video interviews, saying he told England coach Andy Flower last year before going on tour to Australia. “It was a tough thing for me to do, to tell him face to face, but I had to do it,” Davies said. “He supported me 100 percent, him and [captain] Andrew Strauss. It was the right thing to do, as I felt I couldn’t live like this any more.”

Gay men outed in Indian TV report An Indian TV-news broadcast in Hyderabad outed several gay men with a sting operation through an online dating site. The broadcast, called “Gay Culture Rampant in Hyderabad,” by Channel TV9 Telugu, showed a reporter logging on to the gay website PlanetRomeo.com. The reporter telephoned two men and asked intimate questions about their sex lives and where they lived and worked. NDTV reported that one young man attempted suicide after his parents saw him on the program that claimed students and white-collar professionals were becoming “slaves” to an “unnatural lifestyle.” The report showed victims’ profile photos and names and called them “deviants.” Gay-rights advocates have threatened legal action and called for an apology. Although homosexuality is not widely accepted in Indian society, gay sex is no longer illegal following a ruling of the Delhi High Court in 2009 that struck down section 377 of the British colonial-era penal code. The Indian Supreme Court is scheduled to hear an appeal of the ruling this April. ■ — compiled by Larry Nichols

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 4-10, 2011

President and AG challenge DOMA The Obama administration has taken the cases of Windsor v. United States another progressive step toward equalin New York, Pedersen v. Office of Personnel Management in ity that has LGBT-rights advoConnecticut and the earcates feeling victorious. On Feb. 23, President Obama declared lier case of Gill v. Office Section 3 of DOMA (Defense of of Personnel Management Marriage Act) unconstitutional, in Massachusetts. All cases and stated the Department of address the federal govJustice would no longer defend ernment’s “denial of marthe statute in federal court in riage-related protections in jurisdictions that have no precthe areas of federal Family edent in defending the act. Medical Leave Act benefits, In a letter addressed to federal laws for private pension plans, federal laws conSpeaker of the House John A. cerning state pension plans.” Boehner, Attorney General Eric In a letter addressed to the H. Holder Jr. states that Section 3 of DOMA “contains numerAngela D. LGBT community during his election campaign, Obama ous expressions reflecting moral Giampolo wrote, “I support the comdisapproval of gays and lesbians plete repeal of the Defense and their intimate and family of Marriage Act (DOMA) ... Federal relationships — precisely the kind of stereotype-based thinking and animus the law should not discriminate in any way [Constitution’s] Equal Protection Clause against gay and lesbian couples, which is is designed to guard against.” precisely what DOMA does.” DOMA is being challenged in the Holder in his letter denounces the act Second Circuit Court of Appeals in as unconstitutional, even comparing it to

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tion. Much more must be done to create a sense of security in the LGBT community that same-sex marriages will be offered federal protection and enjoy the same benefits as heterosexual couples. So, although the challenge itself is something to celebrate, DOMA is not dead yet. Holder’s letter makes it clear that the Obama administration in its executive capacity must enforce DOMA as long as it exists, and recognizes that the judiciary will be the final arbiter of the law. Obama can state his feelings about DOMA, but the administration has to continue to abide by the statute unless (or until) the judiciary itself makes the final determination. ■

the fight for women’s rights. Specifically, DOMA Section 3 states: “The word ‘marriage’ means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word ‘spouse’ refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife.” Holder wrote that DOMA is a purposeful act of discrimination, holding that homosexuality is an “immutable characteristic” that in no way affects someone’s ability to contribute positively to society. Holder and Obama focus on the need for a heightened standard of scrutiny when reviewing “classifications based on sexual orientation” and argue the act clearly violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, which reads, “No State shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” The attorney general’s letter addresses fundamental problems with DOMA but doesn’t outline a plan to repeal or alter it. The language of the letter is based upon stating facts rather than outlining a solu-

Angela D. Giampolo, principal of Giampolo Law Group, maintains offices in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey and specializes in LGBT, business, real-estate and civil-rights law. Her website is www. giampololaw.com and her blog appears at www.phillygaylawyer.com. Send legal questions to angela@giampololaw.com.

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ST. GEORGE, from page 1

representatives but, as of press time, no one from the school had responded to his phone calls. St. George, 45, is an ordained priest with the Old Catholic Apostolic Church of the Americas, a denomination that branched away from the Roman Catholic Church more than a century ago and allows priests to be male or female, straight or gay, and does not require celibacy. The college statement, issued by president Sister Carol Jean Vale, continued that St. George’s church’s acceptance of gay priests is “contrary to the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church.” The issue first arose after St. Miriam was in the news a few weeks ago, when Daily News columnist Ronnie Polaneczky

wrote about the church and its unique mission of providing a safe space for Catholics who feel excluded from traditional Roman Catholic communities. R e a d e r J a m e s P e p p e r, a f o r m e r Archdiocesan history teacher and an attorney at Elliot Greenleaf — a firm headed by state Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, who has repeatedly voted against pro-gay measures — evidently was offended by the goals of the church and on Feb. 17, the day the column was published, sent an e-mail to Chestnut Hill College administrators and Archdiocesan leaders, calling St. George a “heretic” and referring to his being openly gay. St. George’s sexual orientation was not specifically referenced in the Daily News column, but a Google search of the pastor’s

“In an interview you’re not going to go in and say, ‘Hi, I’m straight.’ You just don’t do that.”

respond to repeated requests for comment. St. George said he never hid his orientation, but also did not address his sexuality in class or in his job interview. “In an interview you’re not going to go in and say, ‘Hi, I’m straight.’ You just don’t do that,” he said. “And I never brought it up in class because I wouldn’t want to sway my students. There’s just no place for that in the classroom, and it wasn’t germane to my teaching.” Vale’s statement alludes to the notion that the school was unaware of St. George’s affiliation with the Old Catholic Church. In his initial interview at the college in the fall of 2009, St. George said he asked if his not being Roman Catholic would be problematic and was told the school employs teachers of many denominations. He said the college has changed its statement on the situation numerous times and called the latest comments “backpedaling.” “Why has this not been an issue up until now? I did the PGN interview last year and I was working there at that time. And sometime last year, in the spring I think,

name brings up last year’s PGN article. Pepper did not respond to a request for comment. The letter St. George received from Green is dated Feb. 18, the day after Pepper sent the e-mail. St. George was on campus Feb. 18 but said no one notified him of the pending letter. Vale’s statement said that “it was with great disappointment” the school learned of St. George’s same-sex relationship, an admission they emphasized “came to our attention only after St. George chose to make his private life public information on his blog.” In a post published Feb. 18 in reference to Polaneczky’s column, St. George referenced backlash he faced from the story, including Pepper’s e-mail, which he suggested was motivated by the PGN story. Nowhere in the post, however, did St. George say that he was gay or in a longterm relationship with a man, issues that are addressed in the first paragraph of last year’s PGN interview. Chestnut Hill College officials did not

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the Archdiocese sent out this really nasty letter telling all their churches that St. Miriam’s isn’t really Catholic and they put it in all of the bulletins. And Fox and CBS actually came to investigate because they thought we were committing fraud. They saw that we weren’t, obviously, but they did stories on it. So they’d really have to be blind, deaf and dumb to not have realized anything in the past 14 or 15 months.” In the latest statement, Vale wrote that St. George “presented” as a Catholic priest and she significantly dropped the “Father” from the front of his name, an action St. George said was as offensive as the school’s openness to admitting he was not awarded the contract solely because he is an active gay man. “They felt comfortable enough to put that in writing, and that amazes me,” he said. “If they would have written a statement that said they fired someone because they were black or Jewish or Italian, people would be in an uproar. But they actually felt comfortable enough to say that I was fired for being gay and they thought that that’s OK and people would understand. It doesn’t make any sense to me how they could openly admit their hatred and bias.” In addition to the emotional toll the situation has had on St. George, it also creates a financial hardship, as he earned about $20,000 a year from his position at Chestnut Hill, supplementing his income as a trauma chaplain and wedding officiate. He earns no salary at St. Miriam. St. George said he’s meeting with his attorney this week and has not yet made a decision about how he’s going to proceed. Rue Landau, executive director of the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, which enforces the city’s LGBT-inclusive Fair Practices Ordinance, said St. George’s case would fall under the current religious exemption in the law. St. George said he’s never considered himself an LGBT activist but his situation has begun to stir a new drive in him. “I’m a little parish priest, and I believe in equal rights and marriage equality and everything, but I never really felt called to be waving rainbow banners or anything. But since that has happened, I realized that maybe this is something I have to stand up for not only for myself but because of who’s going to come after me and, in the future, who’s going to be fired because of their sexuality. As a priest, I want to call Mr. Pepper and Sister Jean and sit down with them and reconcile, but as someone who’s been wounded, I also want to seek justice.” ■

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 4-10, 2011

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22 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 4-10, 2011

ANTI-BULLYING BILL, from page 1

OUT ON TOUR: Members of the board of the Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus were joined by about 75 supporters at the agency’s annual event Feb. 24 at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel. In addition to presentations by several local tourism officials, guests also got the chance to meet and greet the board members and leaders: membership chair Michael Sheridan (back row, from left), Marian Conicella, Russell Kice, vice president Jimmy Contreras, Mark “Chumley” Singer, Bruce Yelk, president Carlos Estela, Nicole Bertrand (front row, from left), marketing chair Steve Rosen, training co-chair Gregory DeShields, Steve Duross and secretary Joey Ly. Photo: Scott A. Drake

that requires schools to create anti-bullying policies, that law “sets almost no standards for ensuring the performance of their policies and provides no guidelines on implementing a successful policy. My legislation would provide the specificity and clarity needed to better protect our kids.” The bill calls for each school to lay out stricter definitions of bullying, behavioral codes and consequences for violations of their policies, along with creating and publicizing a comprehensive reporting and investigative procedure for complaints. In response to incidents of bullying, the measure would call for all schools to offer a range of counseling, support and intervention services, and would mandate that all policies stipulate that retaliation for reporting bullying is prohibited. The bill would further extend the definition of bullying to acts that are committed off

school grounds that disrupt the orderly operation of the school or the rights of students. In January, O’Brien also introduced a measure, along with 22 cosponsors, that would add bullying to the state Crimes Code and set down criminal penalties for violators — such as a third-degree misdemeanor charge for repeat offenders who are minors, and the same charge for the first offense for those over 18. Pennsylvania’s anti-bullying law does not cite specific classes, such as sexual orientation and gender identity, in its definition of bullying. HB 879 would allow for victims to file a complaint with the state Human Relations Commission if they were targeted for belonging to a specific protected class delineated in the Human Relations Act, which does not currently cover sexual orientation or gender identity. ■

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FEATURE PGNSTORY

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 4-10, 2011

PAGE 35

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

Page Page Page Page Page Page

31 25 36 34 27 30

After the

fall

Out playwright relives post-9/11 events By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Before Sept. 11, 2001, a room in a lower Manhattan apartment would take just days to rent out. But when out playwright Brian Sloan advertised his “WTC View” apartment in the Village Voice the day before the terrorist attacks, he could have had no way of knowing what the outcome would be: that the World Trade Center would collapse, that it would take months to rent his room and that he’d write a play about the experience. His acclaimed play — named “WTC View” after the ad he placed — details life in lower Manhattan in the months after the attacks, and will be performed for the ﬁrst time outside of New York City at Allens Lane Theater March 11-26. “WTC View” follows the story of a gay

MORE THAN A VIEW: Alex (Patrick Alcarlo, above right, sitting) and Eric (Joseph Nevin) share an intimate moment; Alex comforts Eric Photo: Scott R. Grumling

man, Eric, and his friend Josie after he places ad looking for a roommate for his SoHo apartment on Sept. 10, 2001. “I had taken an ad out in the Village Voice at midnight on the night of Sept. 10,” Sloan said. “That was the last thing I did before I went to bed that night. Then everything happened the next morning. Then I went to stay in Brooklyn for about a week. When I got back to my apartment, there were all these messages on my phone from people who had started calling me on Sept. 12 wanting to come

see the apartment. It was kind of a surprise. I had sort of forgotten that I had taken the ad out because of everything that had happened ... You couldn’t even get into the neighborhood because it was shut down by police.” Sloan said that normally a room in an apartment in The Village would have been snapped up in a heartbeat, but the extraordinary circumstances of that time complicated things. “I’ve had a number of roommates and, in previous instances, I usually found a roommate very quickly — within a week,” he said. “But this was the ﬁrst time that it took me much longer than a week. I was seeing people for almost two months to ﬁnd someone to move in, which again was such an unusual situation.” The lengthy procession of potential

24 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 4-10, 2011

roommates, all with their own emotional baggage in tow, became exhausting. “For me, it became frustrating because I got a little tired of the parade of people coming and telling their stories, in some ways,” he said. “People came to the apartment certainly, but after a few minutes the conversation would inevitably turn toward 9/11. My apartment was only about 20 blocks from the Trade Center. The site was still on ﬁre and smoking. It was a fact you couldn’t ignore. It was the elephant in the room. “Often people just, unbidden from me, would just start telling me their 9/11 story. It became more than just a roommate interview: It became these intense emotional encounters in that people were processing their own feelings and grief and shock over what happened. The funny side effect of all of this was that there were so many people coming to the apartment that I started taking notes just to keep track of all these people. It was through these notes and a journal that I

FEATURE PGN STORY

was keeping at the time that serves as the genesis for the play. This was just like an unlikely outlet for that.” “WTC View” debuted in New York in 2003 and was adapted into an independent ﬁlm starring Michael Urie in 2005, making the rounds at festivals internationally. But aside from a few readings, the play has never been fully staged outside of New York City. The Allens Lane Theater production will be the ﬁrst. Sloan said it didn’t feel right until now to have the play performed outside of New York. “In some ways, I think the readings were too soon after the original production in 2003,” he said. “I think maybe at that time it was too soon for people to look at it as a play objectively. Now that we’re closer to the 10-year mark, people can look back on that time and see the play in a different light and not get caught up in the politics of that moment.” Tom Ryan, director for “WTC View” during its run at Allens Lane, said this

production has been on his bucket list to direct ever since he first read it, and that Philadelphia is an ideal place to stage it. “ W i t h Philadelphia being as close to New York as it is, I think people have a sense of what the Trade Center was and what it meant,” Ryan said. “I think Philadelphia audiences are connected enough to New York. It’s still timely. It’s the 10th anniversary of 9/11. There’s some beautiful moments in it.” Ryan said he likes that “WTC View” is different from the many documentaries and films that have been made about that day. “It really isn’t a story about 9/11 itself,” he said. “It’s about the people that had to deal with the outcome and try to find some normalcy. The play doesn’t preach about the hidden agendas and terrorists. What I love about the script is it deals with all these people that, for one reason or another, were left homeless and responding to the ad and really trying to reestablish some normalcy in the days and weeks that followed it. It’s very different from the documentaries that were about survivor stories. It’s really a character study.” “Everybody knows the more traditional stories of firemen and heroes,” Sloan added. “There’s certainly nothing about those stories that aren’t incredible. But everybody knows them. This is trying to show a different aspect of the story of 9/11. It’s the story of the people who were living around the Trade Center and how it affected their lives directly. I really tried to keep politics out of it as much as I could. For me, it’s a very personal, intimate story about one man’s struggle to keep his life together living downtown after 9/11.” An aspect of life after 9/11 that “WTC View” touches upon is the presence of environmental hazards in the area. While it is widely known now that the air at Ground Zero was toxic after 9/11 and that many rescue workers developed serious

PGN

and deadly health issues from exposure, at the time, the EPA told the public that the air posed no danger. “Right at the b eg i n n i n g , one of the characters enters the room and he’s wearing a surgical mask,” Sloan said. “One of the other characters comes and asks, ‘Why are you wearing the mask? Everyone says the air is fine.’ And he doesn’t believe it’s true. As it has been shown, especially recently with Congress passing the relief for the 9/11 responders, the air was not safe to breathe. It addresses that issue in the way that people living downtown dealt with it. Some people were like, ‘What are you worried about? Everything is fine.’ Other people, myself included, were like, ‘This is not healthy to be breathing this air.’” Sloan continued, “Depending on the way the wind was blowing, the neighborhood would smell awful. It was such a nauseating smell and it lasted for months. That’s the one thing people don’t understand. For my neighborhood, Sept. 11 didn’t end on Sept. 11. It actually continued for months afterward. You’d see the [missing people] posters every day on the street. You’d smell the noxious fumes coming from the site. The traffic patterns were all screwed up because a lot of roads were closed off. You were constantly seeing police and National Guard vehicles. That’s what the play is about.” Surprisingly enough, even with all the emotional baggage it has brought him, Sloan still lives in the same apartment that sparked “WTC View.” “I have a different roommate, but it is the same apartment,” he said. ■ Allen Lane Theater Company presents “WTC View” March 11-26, 601 W. Allens Lane. Sloan will host a free talkback with the audience after the March 19 performance. For more information or tickets, visit www.allenslane.org or call 215-248-0546.

E-mail us: pgn@epgn.com

PROFILE PGN

Family Portraits

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 4-10, 2011

Suzi Nash

Micah Mahjoubian: Politics, religion and technology Micah Mahjoubian’s website for his company, Soapbox Solutions, a political management firm specializing in campaign operations, provides a glimpse of what goes into an election. Services range from political strategy and fundraising, web building, literature and graphic work to event scheduling, financial accounting, IT services and those annoying automatic robocalls. As Philly gears up for another election, PGN spoke to one man who works behind the scenes for the men and women who want to garner our votes. PGN: Where are you originally from? MM: Both of my parents were from Philly, but I was born in Chichester. PGN: What did your parents do? MM: My mother was a homemaker and my father was self-employed. I classify him as a hustler, but in a good sense. He didn’t have a high-school diploma and my mother just finished high school, but they worked really hard to provide for the family. He worked mostly as a laborer but, in addition to that, he also did everything from selling Christmas trees to baseball cards and opening up a little five-anddime. He’d sell Pogs, Beanie Babies, whatever was the trend. PGN: Any siblings? MM: Yes, a younger brother. He’s a photographer. He’s actually photographing a judicial candidate for me next week. PGN: What are the Chiaddicts? MM: Like a lot of people, growing up I was in the misfit category — nerds and theater people. When I was in college and came back for summers, I met a lot of people who felt the same and we started a group. I was really into computers and IT stuff, so I developed an early Facebook kind of page called “Chiaddicts” where we could post pictures and announcements. It’s nice to have a group of friends who are outside of the political realm. I’m close to my immediate family, but my father was estranged from his family: He didn’t think they’d be good influences, so I didn’t know that side at all. My friends are my extended family, so I wanted to do traditional things with them as well. We do a big dinner on the day after Thanksgiving called TurkeyFest and it has grown from eight people the first year to over 100 last year. PGN: What was a favorite subject in school? MM: Definitely social studies. I loved mixing politics and culture. In high school, I was in the close-up program, which took kids to Washington, D.C., to see politics at work close-up. It was an amazing expe-

rience not just for the political insight: Since we were paired with kids from other schools across the country, I got to meet kids that a little suburban boy might not have otherwise been introduced to — kids from Utah, Alabama, Boston ... all over the place. It was fun learning about cultural differences, like how someone else pronounced water, or that some people called soft drinks pop instead of soda. I liked it so much I did it four years in a row, and then worked for close-up while I attended American University in D.C. It was one of the most rewarding jobs I ever had. PGN: Wasn’t there a big scandal at AU? MM: That was right before I got there. The university president, Richard Berendzen, resigned after being charged with making a series of obscene phone calls. The funny thing was that though he was no longer president, he still taught a wildly popular astronomy class. He was know for being interesting and engaging. I actually took the class myself. PGN: How did you get started in politics? MM: Well, I went to school thinking I would study international relations. But it was 1992 and Bill Clinton was running for president. Living in D.C., it was hard not to get involved. He was young and charismatic and I got swept up in the campaign, much like young people recently got swept up in the Barack Obama campaign and like people from my parents’ generation got excited by the Kennedy campaign. When I was ready to graduate, I reached out to my Delaware County Democratic chairperson to see if I could get a job doing youthorganizing for Clinton’s reelection and he said sure, but that he had a better idea and got me a job as a campaign manager for a local candidate. We didn’t win, but we got 48 percent of the vote in a 75-percent Republican area, so it went pretty well and it got me noticed. That led to managing other campaigns. PGN: What are some of the things that go into managing a campaign? MM: Kind of like I lovingly spoke of my father being a hustler, I sometimes think of myself in the same vein. I put myself out there and tailor to the needs of each candidate, whether they need more help fundraising or getting name recognition. I get to use my love of technology to enhance a campaign, especially utilizing all the social media these days. PGN: So you’re a gadget guy? MM: Oh, yeah. It was fun when Mayor Street was in office. He loves to be on the cutting edge. I’m sure you remember when he famously waited in line at the Apple Store to be one of the first to get

the iPhone. Whenever he got a new toy, the first thing he’d do was bring it to me to help him set it up and teach him to use it. It was funny: Even though he had a love for technology, he still used it like he was a grandfather. He’d move the mouse and accidentally change something and call me over. We really bonded over it. PGN: What was your biggest blunder as a campaign manager? MM: I don’t know; campaigns are a series of mistakes one after another. It’s about realizing that something’s not working and immediately trying something else. You try to develop relationships with as many people as possible, and you realize that when you move in one direction and it helps you in one area, it might detract in another. You just try to achieve balance. PGN: We have three openly gay candidates for City Council: What advice would you give to someone just starting out?

the labor movement is big and they are responsible for a lot of the decisions made in this city. The black clergy is hugely influential in Philadelphia politics, but a lot of times our candidates don’t have conversations with them and that’s a mistake. PGN: Mayor Street is one who certainly made a transition: He went from being a Seventh-Day Adventist and not very gayfriendly to officiating at your commitment ceremony. How did that come about? MM: In addition to his campaigns, I worked for him as deputy director of external affairs. Over time, we’d become friends beyond the working relationship. He had a computer in every room of his house and I’d to help him with technical things. He was also a fitness buff, so on Sunday mornings at 6 a.m., he’d go for a walk anywhere from 12 to 26 miles. A lot of times, I’d join him and we’d just talk about life on an eight-hour walk. I told him about my wedding, at brunch after one of those walks, and asked if he would honor us by officiating. Considering the politics, I thought he’d think about it, but he said yes immediately. He doesn’t know it, but since I didn’t grow up with an extended family, he was like the grandfather I never had.

PGN: How did it go? MM: Even though it wasn’t a legally binding ceremony — we still need to work on that — just the act of celebrating a wedding was amazing. A lot of times it was the little things that touched me most. When we went to get our tuxedos, at most shops, the policy is that the groom gets his tux free and the rest pay. We told the store person that there were two grooms, so he should bill us for the extra suit. When we came back for the fitting, the manager said he’d been Photo: Suzi Nash thinking about it and it MM: There are actually four gay didn’t seem fair for a groom candidates: three Democratic and one to pay for his tuxedo, either one of us, so Republican. I’m asked this a lot and I’d he paid for the second tux out of his own say, before you consider running, spend money. It was such a sweet gesture. several years working in the community, PGN: All right, when I saw the pictures of doing substantive work, volunteering time your wedding, I thought, either this guy is and working with groups like Liberty City a member of the Dupont family or politics or another political organization. Then has been very, very good to him. It was branch out, expand outside the gay comspectacular. munity building coalitions in other comMM: We actually didn’t spend much. I munities, even in communities that may did theater when I not always be friendly to us. For example, PAGE 28

26 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 4-10, 2011

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 4-10, 2011

PROFILE PGN

28 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 4-10, 2011

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PORTRAIT, from page 25

was young, and it was almost a piece of theater. I was lucky that I had a lot of connections that helped me achieve our dream wedding. Our families helped out — each side gave a third of the costs along with us. Which was remarkable, especially since Ryan’s family are cotton farmers from Louisiana and born-again Christians, Southern Baptist, yet they were fully supportive and it was an honor to have them participate in the wedding. Back to Mayor Street, because of the transformation you mentioned, someone did an article about it a week before the wedding. When we pulled up to City Hall in our bus, Michael Marcavage and Repent America were out there with protest signs. We just decided to make it part of the day and posed for pictures in front of them. PGN: You incorporated so many different traditions into your wedding, like jumping the broom, which dates back to slave days. MM: When Mayor Street agreed to do the ceremony, he asked us what we wanted to do. I searched the Internet and there weren’t really any suggestions for gay wedding traditions so we decided to create our own. He had a few suggestions such as jumping the broom. It seemed appropriate because it originated in slave days when slaves were not allowed to marry legally. We didn’t want to appropriate from anyone else, but to incorporate things that had meaning. It was a poignant moment when he explained the meaning of the tradition. We also chose to sign a Ketubah, even though neither of us is Jewish. It is a contract and, since we weren’t able to get a marriage license, we wanted to have some sort of contract even if it was mostly ceremonial. PGN: You also read words from Mr. Rogers. MM: [Laughs.] Yes, Mr. Rogers had a huge impact on me both as a child and an adult. He taught me values: kindness, acceptance, understanding, love. He wanted every child to know that they were special, no matter how different they were from other kids. I was a big Mr. Rogers fan. My three favorite show growing up were “Mr. Rogers,” “Cooking” with Julia Child and “The PTL Club” with Jim and Tammy Bakker.

believe he really exists, but if you use him to spread love and joy and goodwill, I’m all for it. MM: I use the Santa analogy, too! It’s funny, I was an Eagle Scout, and being an atheist was more of an issue than my being gay. Sex wasn’t something talked about in Scouting, but God was. To become an Eagle Scout, I had to do an interview and they asked each of us to talk about a tenet of the Scout Code. I got “Reverent” and I had to really tap dance around the question so as not to out myself as an atheist. PGN: You also read a passage from “The Wizard of Oz” in the ceremony. MM: Ryan is a huge “Oz” fan, he’s done research and presented papers on it. We go to Oz conventions, which are like “Star Trek” conventions, but with a weird mixture of stuffy academics, campy gay men and families. By the way, there wasn’t just the one story, there were 40 books written by five or six authors. L. Frank Baum wrote the first 14. I’ve read 17 so far. PGN: What was a favorite book as a kid? MM: I was into the Roald Dahl books, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “James and the Giant Peach.” I also liked the Judy Blume books, though I was only allowed to read all the “boy” books. I desperately wanted to read “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret,” but the teachers wouldn’t let me take it out of the library. PGN: Do you collect anything? MM: Lots of things. I have collections of foreign money and political buttons. I used to have a canned-meat collection: I even went to the Letterman show to try to win his canned-meat giveaways, but didn’t get it. I gave up my collection when we moved into our current home.

PGN: The last one is interesting since you are an atheist. MM: Yes, I am an atheist but, like a lot of us, I’m not a religion-hating atheist. Just like there are some bad things about organized religion, there are a lot of good things as well, especially the focus on community, which is such an important part of our society. I don’t know what it was about “The PTL Club.” I guess it was Tammy Faye and those eyelashes that drew me in. It was one of those OGTs — obviously gay traits — that surfaced when I was a kid.

PGN: You went to Egypt and Israel for your honeymoon. What was Egypt like? MM: Whenever we could, we tried to stray away from the touristy stuff, and we saw how impoverished the country was. People thought we were rich and there was a lot of begging and people trying to make you buy things from them. We actually didn’t have much money. One of the ways we paid for the trip was through one of my father’s ventures. He and a partner have a company where they buy up coins from armored trucks. When the trucks get money from banks and businesses, they sort them and there’s always a reject pile of foreign money, tokens and bent coins. My father purchases those rejects by the ton and separates them into different countries. When he gets enough money, he’ll actually take the coins to the country and exchange them so that he gets the best rates. When we went to Israel, he gave us two suitcases filled with shekels, 40 pounds apiece, and we exchanged them at the Bank of Jerusalem when we arrived. It was cool. ■

PGN: I’m the same way about religion. I look at God like Santa Claus: I don’t

To suggest a community member for “Family Portraits,” write to portraits05@aol.com.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 4-10, 2011

Five reasons to check out the Philadelphia International Flower Show By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com

CaviarTM beading. The collectible piece can be purchased at the official Flower Show Shoppe during the duration of the show either as a ballchain necklace ($195), link bracelet ($275) or key ring ($250). Proceeds from the sale of the Lagos jewelry will benefit PHS. That’s two birds with one nicely crafted stone.

Sometimes you really do have to stop and smell the roses. The 2011 Philadelphia International Flower Show will pretty up the city March 6-13 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Aside from the breathtaking displays of fierce vegetation, the world’s largest indoor flower show has way too many things going on to mention. We settled for five good reasons to check it out. 1. It supports a good cause. Admission, which includes access to world-class floral and landscape designs, culinary demonstrations, family activities, shopping and entertainment, benefits Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s new initiative to plant 1 million trees throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, and expand its City Harvest program that brings thousands of pounds of fresh produce to hundreds of families weekly throughout the growing season. 2. The real spring can’t come fast enough. The theme for this year’s show is “Springtime in Paris.” Sold! Because, dammit, after the seemingly non-stop cavalcade of weather patterns that rained frozen icy hell from the skies, we want to be sur-

rounded by the fertile colorful magic that will greet you when spring comes in the City of Lights. 3. You get to drool over — and maybe purchase — some exclusive bling-bling. Award-winning Philadelphia designer Steven Lagos has created a signature jewelry piece for the 2011 Flower Show. Inspired by an art-nouveau silver jewelry box he saw in the famed Les Puces flea market in Paris (has everybody been to Paris but us?), Lagos designed a pendant worth carrying his name: an ornately hand-carved floral design framed by Signature

4. It smells damn good. Competing with the natural bouquet of the acres of flowers present will be renowned Parisian perfume house Lubin, which is offering a variety of fragrances including one that pays homage to the magnificent Grace Kelly. The featured fragrance, “Gin Fizz,” claims to evoke the extraordinary beauty of the legendary Philadelphian. Um, sure, we’ll take their word for it, since we dig the name of the fragrance. 5. It’s also a fashion show. PHS recently teamed up with Philadelphia University to bring haute couture to the flower show. To that end, show organizers selected 16 dresses created by students that will be featured at the

show and serve as inspiration for companion floral designs. The dresses and accompanying floral designs will be rotated every two days, and it would be a shame to miss any of them. Fashion further inspires the flower arranging with Coco Chanel as the muse for one of the displays. Designer Donna O’Brien of Beautiful Blooms, who began her career in the fashion industry, blends whimsy with elegance in a display of boxes that feature Chanel’s signature tweed and other textures, each blooming with an array of flowers. The Parisian theme carries over to products available at the show, including French towels and linens by Garnier-Thiebaut and collectible pieces by Boehm Porcelain. ■ Pennsylvania Horticultural Society presents the 2011 Philadelphia International Flower Show March 6-13 at Pennsylvania Convention C e n t e r, 1 1 0 1 A rc h St. For more information, v i s i t w w w. theflowershow.com.

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30 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 4-10, 2011

WORTHPGN WATCHING

Worth Watching HOT MONKEY LOVE: Director Peter Jackson puts his stamp on the cinema classic “King Kong,” the story of a young, beautiful actress named Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts) who finds herself lost in a Depression-era New York City, until she meets overly ambitious filmmaker Carl Denham, who takes her on an expedition to the remote Skull Island. Upon arriving, they realize the legendary gorilla known as King Kong does indeed exist, along with other creatures from prehistoric times that have remained hidden and protected Photo: WETA Digital Ltd./Universal Studios for millions of years. Then they come back to New York with the titular simian and all hell breaks loose, 8 p.m. March 5 on ABC.

GOOD NIGHT HANNA: Between her sugary Disney past, smoking party-girl present and her father smack-talking her career in the press, pop star and actress Miley Cyrus probably has a lot of fodder for satire when she hosts “Saturday Night Live,” 11:30 p.m. March 5 on NBC.

TRUMP-ED UP: Out “Survivor” champ Richard Hatch is one of the celebrities competing on the new season of “Celebrity Apprentice.” He joins Lil Jon, Gary Busey, David Cassidy, Niki Taylor, Dionne Warwick, Jose Canseco, LaToya Jackson and more in attempt to win money from Donald Trump for their favorite charities. It’s going to be hard to beat last season, when Bret Michaels’ health issues grabbed headlines and pretty much won him the show. But the new season has a much more palpable freak factor in its casting. Catch the premiere at 9 p.m. March 6 on NBC. Photo:

HER TWO DADS: Gay couple Kevin and Scotty (Matthew Rhys and Luke Macfarlane) are thrilled to have officially signed the papers to be Olivia’s (Isabella Rae Thomas) parents, but the excitement quickly fades when Olivia seems a little nervous about moving in and starting a new life, 10 p.m. March 6 on “Brothers & Sisters.” Photo: ABC/Adam Taylor

Mitchell Haaseth/NBC

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AMUSEMENTS PGN

Q Puzzle That’s a Fact, Jack Across

1. Bride and bride’s vehicle 5. The d. of k.d. lang 9. Rock costar 14. Declare openly 15. Nastase of the net 16. Standing up straight 17. Character in 63-Across 19. Kind of blitz 20. Hit in the family jewels 21. Caesar’s final reproach 23. What an octopus shoots off 24. Actor who played 17Across 28. Come out on the beach 31. Tear up 32. AZT, e.g.

34. Break for Heather’s mommies 35. Made less difficult to bear 39. With 41Across, actor who played 51Across 41. See 39Across 43. Ventriloquist Bergen 44. Bottom line 45. Village People hit 46. Plant collections 50. Crazy like a fox 51. Character in 63-Across 55. HMO concern 56. “Like ___ not” 57. “There Is Nothing Like a Dame” fruit 61. Sacred song 63. Upcoming movie based on a Jack Kerouac

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book 66. Write “The Hot’l Baltimore” 67. Moliere’s mom 68. “Six Feet Under” character 69. Smooths 70. Where the last ferry leaves 71. Antony of “Shakespeare in Love”

Down

1. Be deficient in 2. Russian John 3. “Oliver!” request 4. One of the little hooters 5. Soft in the head 6. Home state of J. Nabors 7. Bug a phone 8. At the head of the line 9. Showed reluctance

10. Stuff from your shaft 11. Took advantage of a decorator 12. Danish topper 13. Vampire vanquisher 18. Nose activator 22. Sung syllable 25. Pre-kiss insert, perhaps 26. Chose not to swallow 27. Pisa place 28. Beat barely 29. Pitt of “Inglourious Basterds” 30. Hamlet 33. Poet Judy 36. Bottom lines 37. Letter abbr. 38. Time of decision 40. Isolated individuals 41. Greek queen of heaven 42. Islamic

leader 44. Cover for locks 47. “Poppycock!” 48. Hag transport 49. Where to look, in “Misty” 51. Coins featuring Eleanor’s husband 52. ___ Gay 53. Husband of a Duke 54. Fish stories 58. Guy that cruised with a pair of bears 59. Concert receipts 60. Baltic Sea tributary 62. Announcer Hall 64. “I’m a trisexual, I’ll ___ anything once” 65. Put the whammy on PAGE 32

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 4-10, 2011

32 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 4-10, 2011

BEST-SELLERS PGN

Best-sellers Information is courtesy of Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; 215-923-2960; www.queerbooks.com. Ten-percent off most hardcover in-store sales.

Books Men’s

1. “hidden,” by Tomas Mournian (Kensington, 387 pp., $15 pb). Gay Ahmed’s parents take him to a residential treatment center in Nevada, where he’s tortured, molested and put through a “straight” rehabilitation program. After 11 months, Ahmed manages to escape to a safe house for runaway gay teens in San Francisco. 2. “Mary Ann in Autumn: A Tales

of the City Novel,” by Armistead Maupin (Harper, 304 pp., $25.99 hb, less 10 percent in the store). Twenty years have passed since Mary Ann Singleton left her husband and child in San Francisco to pursue her dream of a television career in New York City. 3. “The Empty Family: Stories,” by Cólm Toíbin (Scribner, 275 pp., $24.95 hb, less 10 percent in the store). “This is some of Toíbin’s most beautiful and heart-stopping writing. The story ‘The Street’ is one of the great love stories of our time, gay or straight.” — Edmund White 4. “Don’t Tell Nobody,” by Darryl Wayne (CreateSpace, 202 pp., $12.95 pb, $25.95 hb). A boy tells this tale, set in the North Philly ghetto, of molestation, poverty and self-loathing. His early life foreshadows dysfunctional relationships. 5. “Roman,” by Dwayne Vernon (Norcarjo, $15 pb). Roman, a street hustler with an 11th-grade education, is running the streets of Washington, D.C.

6. “Sal Mineo: A Biography,” by Michael Gregg Michaud (Crown, 432 pp., $25.99 hb, less 10 percent in the store). One of the hottest stars of the 1950s, Sal Mineo’s life was tragically cut short when he was murdered at the age of 37. 7. “Me,” by Ricky Martin (Penguin, 304 pp., $26.95 hb, less 10 percent in the store). Superstar Ricky Martin opens up for the first time about his early childhood, reflections on coming to terms with his sexuality and much more. 8. “Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary,” by David Sedaris (Little, Brown, 176 pp., $21.99 hb, less 10 percent in the store). Featuring Sedaris’ unique blend of hilarity and heart, this is a collection of keen-eyed animal-themed tales. 9. “Two People,” by Donald Windham (Mondial, 196 pp., $15.85 pb). A love affair in Rome between a middle-aged American and a much younger Italian. First published in 1965. 10. “Great Speeches on Gay Rights,”

edited by James Daley (Dover, 150 pp., $3.50 pb). Speeches include Robert G. Ingersoll’s “Address at the Funeral of Walt Whitman,” Harvey Milk’s “Hope Speech” and Franklin Kameny’s “Civil Liberties: A Progress Report.”

Women’s

1. “Dangerous Pleasures,” by Fiona Zedde (Kensington, 288 pp., $15 pb). Sex with no strings, dangerous one-night stands — Zedde explores one woman’s desire to push her sexual boundaries in this erotically charged novel. 2. “Stone Butch Blues,” by Leslie Feinberg (Alyson, 320 pp., $14.95 pb). Now that Alyson has ceased publishing, we’ve bought all the copies we can find.

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BEST-SELLERS PGN

These may be the last copies available, at least for a while. 3. “Every Dark Desire,” by Fiona Zedde (Kensington, 288 pp., $14 pb). More hot stuff from Fiona. 4. “Tipping the Velvet,” by Sarah Waters (Riverhead, 480 pp., $16 pb). This stunning and steamy debut chronicles the adventures of a small-town girl at the turn of the century whose life takes a wild turn when she follows a local music-hall star to London. 5. “Shadow Point,” by Amy Briant (Bella, 200 pp., $14.95 pb). It wasn’t easy getting to Shadow Point. Turns out it’s even harder to leave. Romantic suspense. 6. “Keeping Up Appearances,” by Ann Roberts (Spinsters Ink, 288 pp., $14.95 pb). Each woman has her own reason for keeping up appearances at Cedar Hills Elementary, a school that boasts high academic standards and a spotless reputation. 7. “The Butterfly Moments,” by S. Renee Bess (Regal Crest, 208 pp., $16.95 pb). After a 20-plus-year career as a parole officer in Philadelphia, Alana Blue is ready to leave her job for more rewarding work. 8. “For Frying Out Loud: Rehoboth Beach Diaries,” by Fay Jacobs (A & M, 233 pp., $17 pb). Wise and witty recollections about contemporary life in general and, more specifically, life in Rehoboth Beach. 9. “Souls’ Rescue,” by Pat Cronin (Regal Crest, 170 pp., $14.95 pb). Kelly McCoy, a New York City firefighter and paramedic, relocates after Sept. 11 to Cincinnati, nursing a broken heart and looking for a new start.

DVDs Women’s

1. “Lovers & Friends Show, Season 3,” directed by Charmain Johnson (2010, 217 min., $19.95). The ever-changing lives of your favorite women steam up as their worlds are turned upside down. 2. “Elena Undone,” directed by Nicole Conn (2010, 111 min., $24.95). When two women meet, they form an immeasurable bond that shakes the foundation of their sheltered worlds. 3. “Purple Sea,” directed by Donatella Maiorca (2011, 105 min., $24.95). Two women in 19th-century Sicily defy tradition. Italian with subtitles. 4. “My Normal,” directed by Irving Schwartz (2009, 77 min., $19.95). The story of Natalie, a young lesbian from the Lower East Side, who’s struggling to find a balance between her dreams of becoming a filmmaker and her lifestyle as a dominatrix. 5. “The Final Girl,” directed by Todd Verow (2010, 80 min., $24.95). A sultry mystery that takes us on a captivating journey through the psyches of three Parisian women. 6. “Wanda Sykes: I’ma Be Me” (2009, 60 min., $19.95). Wanda holds nothing back as she riffs on the perks of having a black president, coming out, getting married, motherhood, aging and 21st-century pirates. 7. “The Gymnast,” directed by Ned Farr (2006, 98 min., $19.95). Gymnast plus dancer in the circus.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 4-10, 2011

Gay Men’s

1. “Howl,” directed by Jeffrey Friedman and Rob Epstein (2010, 90 min., $29.95). It’s San Francisco in 1957, and an American masterpiece, Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl,” is put on trial. 2. “David’s Birthday,” directed by Marco Filiberti (2009, 106 min., $19.95). While vacationing in an Italian summer home, happily married Matteo is surprised to find himself attracted to his best friend’s underwear-model son, David. Italian with subtitles. 3. “Role Play,” directed by Robb Williams (2010, 85 min., $19.95). Love and trouble in Palm Springs. 4. “Strapped,” directed by Joseph Graham (2010, 95 min., $19.95). A routine trick at a man’s apartment propels a cynical hustler into a series of strange and life-changing encounters. 5. “Patrik, Age 1.5,” directed by Ella Lemhagen (2008, 98 min., $24.95). Not a 1.5 baby but a 15-year-old homophobe. Swedish with subtitles. 6. “Pooltime,” directed by Michael Donahue (2010, 86 min., $29.95). Entering a gay midlife crisis, David, a handsome urban professional, decides to hold a different kind of pool party this weekend in West Hollywood. 7. “Komrades” and “Birch,” written/ directed by Steve Kokker (2003, 94 min., $19.99). This pair of films explores the lives of Russian seamen and cadets with an unusual intimacy and in a gloriously homoerotic way. Russian with subtitles. ■

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS PGN

34 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 4-10, 2011

OUT & ABOUT The week ahead Fri. 03/04 Motörhead The hard-rock band performs at 8 p.m. at House of Blues, 801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-343-4000. Ron White The comedian performs at 8 p.m. at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215-5727650. Destroy All Monsters Horror movies are screened with live performances from Hipnosis, an alternative belly-dance group, at 9 p.m. at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215-922-6888.

In the Mouth of Madness The horror film is screened at 9:45 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610-917-0223.

Sat. 03/05 Batman and Robin The 1949 blackand-white film starring the caped crusaders is screened at 2 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610-917-0223. Ron White The comedian performs at 7 and 10 p.m. at

Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215-5727650. Brian Regan The comedian performs at 7:30 p.m. at Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St.; 215790-5847. Randy Weston Quintet The Kimmel Center presents the acclaimed pianist and composer at 7:30 p.m. at Kimmel’s Perelman Theater, 260 S. Broad St.; 215790-5847.

Sun. 03/06 Second Annual Bucks County LGBT Wedding Expo The Rainbow Wedding Network hosts the event from

12:30-3:30 p.m. at Homewood Suites by Hilton, 110 Pheasant Run, Newtown; www.samelovesamerights.com/ Events/buckscounty11.html The Peking Acrobats The group performs extraordinary feats at 3 p.m. at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215-572-7650. Drag Pageant & Competition: Introducing Ms. Lady V & Mr. V Voyeur Nightclub hosts a night of fashion, lipsyncing, talent performances and competition to crown two ambassadors for vaccine research, 7-10 p.m., 1221 St. James St.; 215-735-5772.

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ROLLING THE ‘BONES’: Out singer-songwriter Sonia continues to support her latest album “Bones & Baltimore” when she comes to town for a performance at 8 p.m. March 11 at PSALM Salon, 5841 Overbrook Ave. For more information, visit www.disappearfear.com or call 215-477-7578.

Mon. 03/07 Pee Wee’s Big Adventure The classing comedy film is screened at 8 p.m. at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215-922-6888.

Tue. 03/08 Mardi Gras with Toy Soldiers and TJ Kong It’s not drunken debauchery on Bourbon Street, but it’ll do, 7:30 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400.

Wed. 03/09 ��

The Smiths Indeed The Smiths tribute band performs at 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400.

Thu. 03/10 Jeff Dunham The comedian and his array of puppets performs at 7:30 p.m. at Wells Fargo Center, 3601

S. Broad St.; 215336-3600. LGBT Adoption Café The National Adoption Center hosts a free informational event for LGBT individuals considering adoption, with panel discussions and adoption agency representatives, from 6-8 p.m. at the Commodore Barry Club, 6815 Emlen St. To RSVP, contact Beth Vogel at 215735-9988 ext. 304 or bvogel@adopt. org; www.adopt. org.

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Paula Poundstone The comedian performs at 8 p.m. at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215-572-7650. Sonia The out singersongwriter performs at 8 p.m. at PSALM Salon, 5841

Overbrook Ave.; 215-477-7578. Dancing with Myself: A Celebration of Solo Sex Danger Danger Gallery hosts an entertaining and educational night that includes drag and burlesque performances by ScrewSmart, Ms. Mary Wanna and Chlamydia Dell’Arte, 9 p.m.-1 a.m., 5013 Baltimore Ave.; www.myspace. com/dangerdangergallery. ■

Fri. 03/11 Pete Yorn and Ben Kweller The two singersongwriters perform at 7:30 p.m. at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215-922-6888. Louie Anderson The comedian performs at 8 p.m. at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215-5727650.

Notices

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Michael Ian Black The comedian tapes his new Comedy Central special at 7 and 10 p.m. at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215922-6888.

Send notices at least one week in advance to: Diversions, PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147 fax: 215-925-6437; or e-mail: diversions@epgn.com. Notices cannot be taken over the phone.

WEEK OF A THOUSAND LAUGHS: An inordinate amount of comedians are descending upon Philadelphia this week. Brian Regan is at the Merriam Theater March 5, Jeff Dunham is at the Wells Fargo Center March 10, Michael Ian Black is at the Trocadero May 11. But if you don’t want to bounce all over the city, camp out at The Keswick Theatre, which is hosting Ron White March 4-5, Louie Anderson March 10 and Paula Poundstone (pictured) March 11, 291 N. Keswick Ave. For more information on the Keswick shows, call 215-572-7650.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

Opening

13, 39 Conestoga Road; Malvern; 610644-3500.

Epherman Existence Gallery 339 presents an exhibition by Tetsugo Hyakutake exploring the contradictions inherent in the Japanese landscape and how those contradictions offer clues to understanding Japan today, March 8-May 7, 339 S. 21st St.; 215731-1530.

Facing Out, Facing In: Figurative Works The James A. Michener Art Museum, through May 1, 138 S. Pine St., Doylestown; 215-340-9800.

The Men of Mah Jongg Society Hill Playhouse presents the story of four aging poker buddies who discover the joy of playing Mah Jongg, March 8April 17 in the Red Room, 507 S. Eighth St.; 215-923-0210. Spies, Traitors & Saboteurs: Fear and Freedom in America

Fruitville/The School Papers AxD Gallery presents an exhibition of two series of intimate, seldomseen works by artist Douglas Witmer, through April 2, 265 S. 10th St.; 215627-6250. A Glimpse of Paradise: Gold in Islamic Art Philadelphia Museum of Art, through April, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215763-8100.

BIKES TO WATCH OUT FOR: Ah ... the classics never go out of style. For the latest edition of the Movie Monday series, whimsical 1980s epic “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure” is screened at 8 p.m. March 7 at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St. For more information, call 215922-6888.

The National Constitution Center hosts the exhibition created by the International Spy Museum featuring artifacts, multimedia elements, immersive environments and stories of espionage, treason and deception in the United States, through May 30, 525 Arch St.; 215-409-6600. Steampunk Expo The first-ever exhibition artists, builders, craftspeople and innovative companies offering modern Victorian functional appliances, Victorian and industrial décor and steampunk, March 5-6 at The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, 100 Station Ave., Oaks; 781-784-0250. WTC View Allens Lane Theater Company presents the story of a gay photographer who places an advertisement in the Village Voice for an available bedroom in his SoHo apartment, which boasts a view of the World Trade Center and appears on Sept. 10, 2001, March 11-26, 601 W. Allens Lane; 215-248-0546.

Continuing The Adventures of Tom Sawyer People’s Light & Theatre, through March

In the Next Room or The Vibrator Play The Wilma Theater, through April 3, 265 S. Broad St.; 215-546-7824. The Lieutenant of Inishmore Theatre Exile, through March 13 at Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey St.; 215218-4022.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 4-10, 2011

Swan Lake by Christopher Wheeldon The Pennsylvania Ballet performs the classic through March 12 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; 215790-5847. Tailoring Philadelphia: Tradition and Innovation in Menswear Philadelphia Museum of Art, through summer, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100. To Love, Honor and Obey? Stories of Italian Renaissance Marriage Chests Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of the commemorative works of art, through July, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. The Ugly One Walnut Street Theatre presents the comedy about success, fame and plastic surgery, through March 13 at Independence Studio on 3, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550.

Closing ’50s Dance Party Peter Nero and the Philly Pops perform songs from the era when rock ’n’ roll was born, through March 6 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5847. Amadeus Walnut Street Theatre, through March 6, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550.

SOPHISTICATED THROWBACKS: If you want to get your Jules Vern ﬁctional freak on, pay attention. Turn-of-the-century aesthetics and gadgetry meet modern technology at the Steampunk Expo, a ﬁrstever exhibition of artists, builders, craftspeople and innovative companies offering modern Victorian functional appliances and industrial décor, March 5-6 at The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, 100 Station Ave., Oaks. For more information, visit www.backhometothefutureshow.com or call 781-784-0250.

March 6, 9201 Germantown Ave.; 215-2470476.

Dutoit Conducts Strauss The Philadelphia Orchestra, through March 8 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5847.

Parenting 101: The Musical! The musical comedy about the various stages of raising children is on stage through March 6 at Kimmel’s Innovation Studio, 240 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5847.

John Folinsbee and American Modernism Woodmere Art Museum presents a fresh look at the New Hope painter’s life and work, revealing the artist’s move from impressionism toward modernism, through

Pilobolus Dance Theatre The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents the long-running innovative dance troupe, through March 6 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; 215898-3900. ■

Mark Cohen: Strange Evidence Philadelphia Museum of Art, through March 13, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. The Peacock Male: Exuberance and Extremes in Masculine Dress Philadelphia Museum of Art, through June, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100. Resisting Racism: 30 Years of Men of All Colors Together William Way LGBT Community Center, through March 25, 1315 Spruce St.; 215732-2220. Superior Donuts Arden Theatre Company presents a comedy about a doughnut shop that’s undergoing some changes along with the community it’s in, through April 3 at F. Otto Hass Stage, 40 N. Second St.; 215-922-1122.

Gay Philly’s Favorite Photographer Scott A. Drake • 267.736.6743

COMMUNITY PGN

36 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 4-10, 2011

Community Bulletin Board Community centers

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

Youth Center: 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays: Doylestown Planned Parenthood, The Atrium, Suite 2E, 301 S. Main St., Doylestown; 215-348-0558 ext. 65; rainbowroom@ppbucks.org

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

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

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

Key numbers

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

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

■ AIDS Library: 215-985-4851

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

■ ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215592-1513 ■ AIDS Treatment hot line: 215545-2212 ■ Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection at the Independence Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library: 215-685-1633 ■ The COLOURS Organization Inc.: 112 N. Broad St., third floor; 215-496-0330 ■ Equality Pennsylvania: 215731-1447; www.equalitypa.org ■ Equality Forum: 215-732-3378

■ Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force: 215-772-2000 ■ Philadelphia Police Department liaison — Deputy Commissioner Stephen Johnson: 215-683-2840 ■ Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 267-216-6606; ppd. lgbt@gmail.com

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

■ Philly Pride Presents: 215875-9288 ■ SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: 717-9209537 ■ Transgender Health Action Coalition: 215-732-1207 (staffed 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays, and 6-9 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays)

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

Anonymous, free, conﬁdential HIV testing Spanish/English counselors offer testing 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 166 W. Lehigh Ave.; 215-763-8870 ext. 6000.

Health

AIDS Services In Asian Communities Provides HIV-related services to Asians and Pacific Islanders at 340 N. 12th St., Suite 205; 215-536-2424. Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative Free, anonymous HIV testing from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursdays at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; 215-851-1822 or 866-2223871. Spanish/English HIV treatment Free HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment for Philadelphia residents are available from 9 a.m.-noon Mondays and 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad St.; 215-685-1803.

HIV health insurance help Access to free medications and conﬁdential HIV testing available at 17 MacDade Blvd., Suite 108, Collingdale; Medical Ofﬁce Building, 722 Church Lane, Yeadon; and 630 S. 60th St.; 610-586-9077.

Mazzoni Center Free, anonymous HIV testing; HIV/AIDS care and treatment, case management and support groups; 21 S. 12th St., eighth ﬂoor; 215-563-0652. www.mazzonicenter.org. Mazzoni Center Family & Community Medicine Comprehensive primary health care, preventive health services, gynecology, sexual-health services and chronicdisease management, including comprehensive HIV care; 809 Locust St.; 215-563-0658. Washington West Project Free, anonymous HIV testing. Walk-ins welcome 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday; 1201 Locust St.; 215-985-9206.

Professional groups

■ Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia GALLOP holds board meetings at 6:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at 100 S. Broad St., Suite 1810; GALLOP also provides a free referral service; 215-627-9090; www.galloplaw.org.

■ Greater Philadelphia Professional Network Networking group for area business professionals, self-employed and business owners meets monthly in a different location throughout the city, invites speakers on various topics, partners with other nonprofits and maintains a Web site where everyone is invited to sign up for e-mail notices for activities and events; www.gppn.org. ■ Independence Business Alliance Greater Philadelphia’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce, providing networking, business development, marketing, educational and advocacy opportunities for LGBT and LGBT-friendly businesses and professionals. Visit www.IndependenceBusinessAlliance.com for informa-

tion about events, programs and membership; 215-557-0190; 1717 Arch St., Suite 3370.

■ National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association The Philadelphia chapter of NLGJA, open to professionals and students, meets for social and networking events; www.nlgjaphiladephia.org.

■ Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus A regional organization dedicated to promoting gay and lesbian tourism to the Greater Philadelphia Region, holds meetings every other month on the fourth Thursday (January, March, May, July, September and the third Thursday in November), open to the public; P.O. Box 58143, Philadelphia, PA 19102; www.philadelphiagaytourism.com. ■ Philly OutGoing Professionals Social group for gay, lesbian and bisexual professionals meets for social and cultural activities; 856-8579283; popnews19@yahoo.com.

Activism/Politics

ACT-UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) Meets at 6 p.m. every Monday at St. Luke and The Epiphany Church, 330 S. 13th St.; 215-386-1981; www.critpath.org/actup. Delaware Valley Chapter, Americans United for Separation of Church and State Seeks activists and supporters of church-state separation. Holds monthly meetings and events; 856-863-3061; www.dvau.org. Equality Philadelphia Holds a volunteer night the second Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m., 1211 Chestnut St., Suite 605; 215-731-1447; www.equalitypa.org. Green Party of Philadelphia Holds general meetings the fourth Thursday of the month except April at 6:30 p.m., 4134 Lancaster Ave.; 215-243-7103; www.gpop.org. Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club Meets seasonally; 215-760-7184; www.libertycity.org.

Arts

Gay Men’s Book Discussion Group Meets at 6:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at the Independence Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia, 18 S. Seventh St.; 215-6851633. Library Book Club Meets to discuss a new book at 7 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month at the William Way Center. Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus Chorus rehearses from 7-9:30 p.m. Wednesdays; 215-731-9230; auditions@pgmc.org. Philadelphia Gay Men’s Opera Club Meets to share and listen to recordings at 6:30 p.m. the last Saturday of the month; 215-224-6995. Philadelphia Voices of Pride Philadelphia’s first mixed GLBT chorus rehearses at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the William Way Center; 888-505-7464; www.pvop.org. Queer Writer’s Collective Workshop and discussion group meets 4-6 p.m. the fourth Saturday of the month at the William Way Center. Women’s Book Group Meets the first Thursday of the month at 6:45 p.m. at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; brassygrrl@hotmail.com.

Recreation

Diversity Dancers Ballroom dancers meet the first Sunday of the month for tea dance and lessons. Other events scheduled throughout the year; 215-922-2129; DiversityDancers@aol.com. Gay Bridge Club Non-beginners group meets Monday afternoons at the William Way Center; 215-985-4835. Gay-friendly Scrabble Club Meets from 6-11 p.m. in the P.I.C. Building, 42nd and Locust streets; 215-382-0789. Gay and Lesbian Scrabble Players in the tri-state area gather for socializing and friendly/competitive games; ScrabbleGroup@excite.com. Gay Opera Guys of Philly New group for opera appreciation meets the last Sunday of the month at 2:30 p.m. in Roxborough/Andorra area; 215-483-1032. Humboldt Society: Lesbian and Gay Naturalists Meets the second Thursday of the month at the William Way Center; 215985-1456; www.humboldtsociety.org. Independence Squares GLBT square dance club, modern Western square dancing. Monthly open house. Tuesday classes in the fall; Lutheran Church, 2111 Sansom St.; philadances@gmail.com; www.independencesquares.org. Male Oenophile Group Male group forming to discuss, appreciate and taste various wines. Will meet once a month to investigate the nuances and glories of the fermented grape. Call 267-230-6750 for more information. Mornings OUT LGBT Senior Social Activities for sexual-minority seniors are held every Tuesday from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the William Way Center. PhilaVentures Philadelphia’s GLBT outdoor group meets for a hike in Wissahickon Valley Park on Sundays at 2 p.m. at Borders Books, Music and Café, 8701 Germantown Ave.; 215-271-8822. Rainbow Bridge Group Congenial group meets for supper and to play bridge monthly on a Monday at 6:30 p.m. Members rotate serving as host. New players welcome. For information, call Gerry at 215-592-1174. Rainbow Room A meeting/activity night held for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth and their friends Wednesdays from 6-8 p.m. at the Rainbow Room of Planned Parenthood in Doylestown; 215-348-0558.

Sports

Brandywine Women’s Rugby Club Meets for Tuesday and Thursday practice at 1st West Chester Fire Co., 70 S. Bradford Ave., West Chester; www.brandywinerugby.org. City of Brotherly Love Softball League GLBT softball league serves the Philadelphia metropolitan area. Games are played Sundays, beginning in April, in Fairmount Park; 215-462-2575; www.cblsl.org. Frontrunners Running club meets Saturday mornings at 9:30 for a run and brunch. Lloyd Hall, No. 1 Boathouse Row; www.philadelphiafrontrunners.org; philadelphiafrontrunners@gmail.com. Philadelphia Falcons Soccer Club GLBT and allied soccer club; practices Saturdays 10 a.m.-noon and Wednesdays 6-8 p.m. at Edgeley Fields in Fairmount Park; www.falconssoccer.org. Philadelphia Fins Swim Team Male and female swimmers meet at 7 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and 10 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays in Center City; 610-5646661; www.philadelphia-fins.org. Philadelphia Gay Bowling League Bowls at 8:15 p.m. Wednesdays from September-April at Pinsetter Bar & Bowl, 7111 Maple Ave., Pennsauken, N.J.; philagaybowling@yahoo.com. Philadelphia Gay Flag Football Contact Jered at gayflagfootball@gmail.com or 214-770-5373. Philadelphia Gryphons Rugby Football Club Team seeks players; all skill levels welcome; 215-913-7531; info@phillygryphons.org. Philadelphia Liberty Belles Women’s semi-pro full-tackle football league holds fall tryouts; phillybelles.com. Philadelphia Liberty Tennis Association Plays year-round, all skill levels welcome. www.plta.us. Philadelphia Firebirds Women’s football team seeks players; 484-682-4238; www.philadelphiafirebirds.com.

Philly Gay Hockey Association Philadelphia Phury seeks players; 917-656-1936; phury@gayhockey. org. Rainbow Riders of the Delaware Valley Motorcycle club meets regularly; 215-836-0440; www.groups.yahoo. com/group/rainbowridersdv/. Rainbow Rollers Gay and lesbian bowling league meets 8 p.m. on Tuesdays from September-April at AMF Boulevard Lanes, 8011 Roosevelt Blvd.; www. rainbowrollers.com. Spartan Wrestling Club The gay wresting team meets 7-9 p.m. Mondays at the First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St.; 215-732-4545; www.phillyspartans.com. Suburban Gay Bowling League Bowls at 8 p.m. Tuesdays from August-April at Facenda-Whitaker Lanes, 2912 Swede Road, Norristown; sgblbowl@gmail.com.

Etc.

AIDS Law Project Provides free legal assistance to people with HIV/AIDS and sponsors free monthly seminars on work and housing; 1211 Chestnut St., Suite 600; 215-587-9377; www.aidslawpa.org. BiUnity Philadelphia area social and support network for bisexuals, their family members and friends meets 7 p.m. the second Friday of the month at the William Way Center; www.biunity.org. Global A political, community and social group that also works to promote Bordentown as a gay-friendly community meets the first Saturday of the month at Firehouse Gallery, 8 Walnut St., Bordentown, N.J.; jerseyglobal@yahoo.com. Delaware Valley Pink Pistols For LGBT people dedicated to legal, safe and responsible use of firearms for self-defense; meets 2 p.m. the third Saturday of the month at Classic Indoor Range, 1310 Industrial Blvd., Southhampton; 267-3868907; www.pinkpistols.org. Friday Feast and Fun Dinner hosted by St. John’s Lutheran Church at 6:30 p.m. the second Friday of the month, 24 N. Ridge Ave., Ambler; 215-576-8008. Haverford College’s Sexuality and Gender Alliance Open meetings 10-11 p.m. Mondays in the lounge in Jones Basement at Haverford College, 370 Lancaster Ave.; 610-896-4938. Latina/o Virtual Community Local listserv offers various information and resources; 215-808-2493; Zorros_mail@yahoo.com; LatinPhillyLGBT@yahoogroups.com. LGBTQ and Friends Activity Group Meets 7 p.m. the third Friday of the month to plan outings and potlucks at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County. Long Yang Club Philadelphia Social organization for gay Asians and their friends holds monthly socials; P.O. Box 401, Philadelphia, PA, 19105; www.longyangclub. org/philadelphia. Our Night Out A casual social networking party of LGBT professionals, allied communities, friends and colleagues meets in a different Philadelphia hot spot each month. To receive monthly event invitations, send e-mail to OurNightOutPhilly@gmail.com; PhillyGayCalendar.com/org/ OurNightOut. Philadelphia Bar Association Legal Advice Offered from 5-8 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month; 215-238-6333. Philadelphia Prime Timers Club for mature gay and bisexual men and their admirers meets regularly; 610-344-0853; www.primetimersphiladelphia.org. Philadelphians MC Club for leather men and women meets 7:30 p.m. the first Monday of the month at The Pit at The Bike Stop, 201 S. Quince St.; 215-627-1662. Philly Paw Pals Gay and lesbian dog owners and their dogs meet the first Saturday of the month at a dog park; 215-618-5290; PhillyPawPals@aol.com. Rainbow Amateur Radio Association ARRL affiliated; private; weekly HF nets, monthly newsletter, e-mail server; 302-539-2392; www.rara.org. Rock ’n’ Roll Queer Bar Party A party for gay and lesbian rockers with host Psydde Delicious starts at 10 p.m. every first Sunday at Fluid, 613 S. Fourth St.; www. RocknRollQueerBar.com. Silver Foxes Social and educational group for gays and lesbians 50 and older meets 3-5 p.m. the fourth Sunday of the month at the William Way Center. Stonewall Model Railroad Club Meets monthly; 215-769-4230; k3k@yahoo.com. Thirsty Third Tuesdays Collingswood Out in the Neighborhood meets 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month for coffee, dessert and conversation at Three Beans, 40 N. Haddon Ave., Haddonfield, N.J.; 215-439-8337.

Health

Alder Health Services Provides LGBT health services on a sliding fee scale. 100 N. Cameron St., Ste. 301 East, Harrisburg; 717-233-7190 or 800-867-1550; www. ACA-PA.com. Anonymous, free, confidential HIV testing Spanish/English counselors offer testing 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 166 W. Lehigh Ave.; 215-763-8870 ext. 6000. AIDS Services In Asian Communities Provides HIV-related services to Asians and Pacific Islanders at 340 N. 12th St., Suite 205; 215-536-2424. Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative Free, anonymous HIV testing from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursdays at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; 215-851-1822 or 866-222-3871. Spanish/English. HIV treatment Free HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment for Philadelphia residents available from 9 a.m.-noon Mondays and 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad St.; 215-685-1803. HIV health insurance help Access to free medications and confidential HIV testing available at 17 MacDade Blvd., Suite 108, Collingdale; Medical Office Building, 722 Church Lane, Yeadon; and 630 S. 60th St.; 610-586-9077. Mazzoni Center Free, anonymous HIV testing; HIV/AIDS care and treatment, case management and support groups; 21 S. 12th St.; 215-563-0652; www. mazzonicenter.org. Philadelphia FIGHT Provides HIV primary care, on-site lab services, clinical trials, case management, mental health services and support groups for people living with HIV regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. 1233 Locust St., fifth floor; 215-790-1788; www.fight.org. Washington West Project Free, anonymous HIV testing. Walk-ins welcome 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday; 1201 Locust St.; 215-9859206.

�

REAL ESTATE PGN

Classifieds

Home of the Week

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.

Sales Center: 215-732-8655

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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

NOON - 2:00 PM

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All real-estate advertising is subject to Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended. Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental and ﬁnancing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and handicap (disability). PGN will not knowingly accept any real-estate advertising that is in violation of any applicable law.

REAL ESTATE

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 4-10, 2011

�� 1401 Walnut St. 8th Floor �� Philadelphia, PA 19102 �� 215.546.2700 Business • 267.238.1061 Direct �� 215.432.7151 Cell • 215.546.7728 Fax �� dtobey@cbpref.com • www.cbpref.com ��

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ROOMMATES

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VENTNOR, NJ, FACING THE BAY House and Adjacent Lot (inground swimming pool). 1st floor 3 bedrooms, bath, living room, dining room, kitchen, laundry room and deck. 2nd floor 2 bedrooms, bath, efficiency kitchen, living room, dining area and deck. Central Air. Corner Property. Call 215-468-9166 evenings only. $675,000.00. Also property for rent1500.00 month plus utilities. _______________________________35-10 Upstate NY Land Bargains 7.5 Acres w/ Beautiful Trout Stream Frontage - $29,995. 23 Acres w/ Road & Utilities $39,995. 7.75 Acres w/ Beautiful Views, Road & Utilities - $19,995. Financing Available. Call 800-229-7843 Or visit www.LandandCamps.com _______________________________35-09 Cameron County - 7 acres with trout stream and state forest land frontage, perc, electric, near Sizerville State Park. $59,900. Owner financing. 814-435-2570. _______________________________35-09 Lake Morris, NY: 5 acres on Lake $29,900. 6 acres Lakefront $29,900. 10 acres 2300’ Waterfront, Lake Peninsula $59,900. Village Road, Utilities. www.WaterfrontPropertyNY. com Owners-Broker 1-888-683-2626. _______________________________35-09

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PGN WILL NOT PUBLISH RACIAL DISTINCTIONS IN ROOMMATE ADS. SUCH NOTATIONS WILL BE EDITED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION. ___________________________________ GREATER NE PHILA. Have your own bedroom in a beautiful split level home with 2 gay men. House is 4 BR, 2 full baths, W/D, upper and lower decks, use of kitchen. Property is by Welsh & the Boulevard, 1 min. to 58 bus. We ask only that you be at least reasonably neat and employed. Rent is $600 + 1/3 utils. Contact Dave at 215-698-0215. _______________________________35-10 RIDLEY PARK HOUSE SHARE, $600 Skg single working NS M/F, no pets or children. 3 BR house, close to train, 15 min to CC. TV/Internet. Full hse priv. Utils incl., off st. pkg, great � peyton4321@yahoo.com yd. & patio. Jim, _______________________________35-09 ROOMMATE WANTED IN LANSDALE End Unit, Pool, Tennis, Large Patio. All Utilities Included, Available April 1st. $550 a month. 1st and security needed. Short or long term availPAGE 47 able.Furnished or Unfurnished. PLEASE be clean, responsible and laid back. No Whores! Ron, (609) 495 4540. _______________________________35-09

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SERVICES ATTEND COLLEGE ONLINE From Home. *Medical *Business *Paralegal *Computers *Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualiﬁed. Call 888-220-3984 www.CenturaOnline.com _______________________________35-09 IF YOU USED TYPE 2 DIABETES DRUG AVANDIA Between 1999- present and suffered a stroke, heart attack or congestive heart failure you may be entitled to compensation. Attorney Charles Johnson 1-800-535-5727 _______________________________35-09

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REAL ESTATE

RENT

12TH & DICKINSON AREA Furnished Townhouse for rent: 3 levels. Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, 2 bedrooms , bath. Very Unique. 1500. mo plus util. (negotiable). Call 215 468-9166 after 6 pm. or 215 686 3431 daytime. _______________________________35-10 RITTENHOUSE SQUARE AREA Studios & 1 Bedrooms - Call for Availability (215)735-8050. _______________________________35-12 9TH & TASKER, $1290, MARSTON & REED. $770 Rowhouses w/ great features. 215-849-4049 _______________________________35-09 JEFFERSONVILLE, NEAR K OF P, BLUE BELL Large efﬁciency on private wing on home with large yard. Private bath, entrance, kitchen. $495/mo. + elect. & sec. dep. Call 610-5396381, leave message. _______________________________35-09

VACATION

RENTAL AFFORDABLE FORT LAUDERDALE All Gay Resort. Apts., full kit, 10 min Gay Nightlife, beaches, attractions. Clothing opt. pool, WiFi. 877-927-0090, www.LibertySuites.com _______________________________35-15 OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND Best selection of affordable rentals. Full/ partial weeks. Call for FREE brochure. Open daily. Holiday Real Estate. 1-800-638-2102 Online reservations: www.holidayoc.com _______________________________35-09 NEW REHOBOTH BEACH LUX. CONDO 2 BR, 2 BA, pool, tennis, clubhouse. 1 mile to beach. Season, $9800. No pets or smoking. 484-332-1686, db114rw421@verizon.net _______________________________35-09 Stone Harbor, NJ - Family Oriented Community. 4 bedroom 2 1/2 baths. Sleeps 8. Near Beach and Town. Call for photo Web page 610-967-5532. _______________________________35-09

BUSINESS

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38 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 4-10, 2011

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FINANCIAL

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Attention Annuity Owners. Unhappy with your payments? Need money now? We provide immediate cash with our customized solutions. Call George at 610-304-4091 or visit www. ﬁvestarcommercialﬁnance.com _______________________________35-09 Trying to Get Out of Debt? NO ObligationComplimentary Consultation. $10K in Credit Card/Unsecured Debt. YOU Have Options!! Learn about NO Upfront Fee Resolution Programs! Call 888-456-4551. _______________________________35-09

ADOPTION

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LOOKING FOR ROMANCE Attractive GWM, warm, sensitive, caring, 48 y.o. with a smooth gymnast build looking for other GWM, 30-50, who is also in good shape. I live in NE Phila. I’m looking for guys who are also sensitive, caring with a fun personality. If this sounds interesting to you feel free to call me, David, 215-698-0215. _______________________________35-10 Got a big torpedo? Fire it into a white butt. Call 8-11 PM, 215-732-2108. _______________________________35-09

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PREGNANT? Why answer only one adoption ad... Forever Families Through Adoption offers you many different families/ options to consider. Call Joy: 866-922-3678 Financial assistance available. _______________________________35-09 UNIQUE ADOPTIONS Let us help! Personalized Adoption Plans. Financial assistance, housing relocation and more. Giving the gift of life? You deserve the best. Call us ﬁrst! 1-888-637-8200 24-hours hotline. _______________________________35-09

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 4-10, 2011

MASSAGE

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Man for Man Massage Tall, attractive, muscular Sensual/Erotic Massage I will tailor your massage to suit your needs... Incall/Outcall Convenient to Lower Bucks, NE Phila. 15 mins from CC & S.Jersey Available to any Phila area Hotel G12

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Handsome Certified Therapist 6’, 195 lbs, Muscle Gives Sensual / Therapeutic Massage

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40 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 4-10, 2011

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