pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976
Vol. 43 No. 10 March 8-14, 2019
Spring forward: Daylight Saving Time begins 2 a.m. March 10
Philadelphia Union include LGBT tag in 10th-year celebration PAGE 4
HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
Comics stream live performances “OUT on Stage” PAGE 38
‘Brown White Black’ explores a unique and diverse American family. PAGE 45
Renewed bipartisan push gets tougher Pa. hate-crime bill back on the table
By Lenny Cohen PGN Contributor
A CHILI DAY IN MARCH: About 100 people came out March 3 for the William Way LGBT Community Center’s first annual chili cook-off and tasted up to 20 entries. Cooks prepared either a meat or vegan chili for the event and provided many options for toppings. A winner was crowned in each category at the end of the day. For more on the contest and winners, see page 18. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Victory Fund backs Philly candidates By A.D. Amorosi PGN Contributor While anticipation mounts for the 2020 presidential election, there are candidates for offices across the country who could start making an impact this year. Those at LGBTQ Victory Fund — the only national organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ leaders to public office —
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Pa. Fairness Act gains cosponsors and momentum
By Lenny Cohen PGN Contributor Pennsylvania Reps. Kevin Boyle (D-172nd Dist.) and Thomas Murt (R-152nd Dist.) have tried but failed to toughen the state’s hate-crime law. They’re hoping their third try will be the charm. Inspired by a vicious, high profile attack in 2014 on a young gay couple in Center City, their bipartisan bill is now in the hands of the State House Judiciary Committee. Boyle and Murt reintroduced the bill, now called HB 635, “to expand the offense of ethnic intimidation to include malicious intention against the actual or perceived ancestry, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity of another individual or group of individuals.” The new language would make “a crime motivated by hatred towards these protected classes … graded one degree higher than already specified in law.” Boyle and Murt, despite being on opposite sides of the aisle, joined forces to propose the PAGE 2
Camps offering LGBT cabin options
are onboard with those 2019 hopefuls. “While many in the political world are preparing for 2020, including the team here at LGBTQ Victory Fund, we will not overlook this year’s elections and the state and local LGBTQ candidates who can make an enormous impact on equality in their communities,” said former Houston Mayor Annise Parker, president/CEO of Victory Fund.
The organization has endorsed 19 new, openly LGBTQ candidates for the 2019 U.S. election cycle in races including mayor, city council and state legislature throughout the nation, including some in the Greater Philadelphia area. “We are the only organization that only supports LGBTQ candidates, and the only organization that engages at every level on PAGE 16 the ballot,” Parker said.
Another legislative session means yet another attempt at making discrimination against LGBTQ people illegal in Pennsylvania, but things are a little different this time around. The Pennsylvania Fairness Act — which would provide protection at work, in housing and in business services — has a fighting chance now that Rep. Garth Everett (R-84th Dist.) replaced Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-12th Dist.) as chairman of the House State Government Committee. Metcalfe let the bill die in committee for each of the past four sessions. Rep. Dan Frankel (D-23rd Dist.) introduced the bill in the last session. His office confirmed to PGN that he has circulated the bill and is working to get the maximum number of cosponsors. As of March 1, the bill had 83 cosponsors — 20 more than it had last session. “Rep. Frankel was pushing this bill hard with colleagues this week, so he is expecting a few more to trickle in,” said spokesperson Daphne Retter. “Rep. Frankel feels strongly that voters are driving this change, and he’s very encouraged by it. Of course, he wants more, PAGE 2 more, more! This is
Area Methodists weigh in on debate over LGBT acceptance By Timothy Roberts PGN Contributor Before Methodists gathered in St. Louis last month to debate the future of LGBT people in the second-largest denomination of protestant Christians in America, it was the conservatives who were talking about leaving. Now it is the progressive wing of the United Methodist Church that is considering its options.
Wedding Issue:
The denomination voted Feb. 26 at a conference in St. Louis to reinforce its prohibitions against same-sex unions and the hiring of openly gay clergy. As a result, it is widely expected that some churches will leave the denomination. “Some will want to disaffiliate from the UMC sooner rather than later,” said Ophelia Hu Kinney, spokesperson at the Reconciling Ministries Network, a national organization of pro-LGBT churches. It has 973 affiliates representing more than 35,000 people.
A getting-married legal cheat sheet Tips from newlyweds Engagements and weddings Must-have discussions before the wedding
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So great is the anticipation of defections that a law firm in Detroit is advertising on its web page that it can help churches break free from the denomination. “Lead your congregation to a New Beginning,” says the Dalton Tomich law firm. It offers a free guide to leaving the United Methodist Church. Leaving, the web page says, is a “complex but navigable process.” In the months leading up to the special General Conference, the Wesleyan Covenant PAGE 16
Grooming tips for brides and grooms Page 28 What is marriage? Page 30 LGBT weddings in film Page 31