March 8-14, 2018 by The Philadelphia Gay News

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

Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 26

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

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 8-14, 2019

Resource listings Legal resources • ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215-592-1513; aclupa.org • AIDS Law Project of PA: 215-587-9377; aidslawpa.org • AIDS Law Project of South Jersey: 856-784-8532; aidslawsnj.org/ • Equality PA: equalitypa. org; 215-731-1447

• Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations — Rue Landau: 215-686-4670 • Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 215-7603686; ppd.lgbt@gmail.com • SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: 717-920-9537

• Office of LGBT Affairs — Amber Hikes: 215-686-0330; amber.hikes@phila.gov

Community centers • The Attic Youth Center; 255 S. 16th St.; 215-545-4331, atticyouthcenter.org. For LGBT and questioning youth and their friends and allies. • LGBT Center at the University of Pennsylvania; 3907 Spruce

St.; 215-898-5044, center@dolphin.upenn.edu.

• Rainbow Room: Bucks County’s LGBTQ and Allies Youth Center

Salem UCC Education Building, 181 E. Court St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981 ext. 9065, rainbowroom@ppbucks.org.

• William Way LGBT Community Center 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220, www.waygay.org.

Health and HIV testing • Action Wellness: 1216 Arch St.; 215981-0088, actionwellness.org • AIDS Healthcare Foundation: 1211 Chestnut St. #405 215971-2804; HIVcare.org • AIDS Library: 1233 Locust St.; aidslibrary.org/ • AIDS Treatment Fact line: 800-6626080 • Bebashi-Transition to Hope: 1235

Spring Garden St.; 215769-3561; bebashi.org • COLOURS: coloursorganization.org, 215832-0100 • Congreso de Latinos Unidos; 216 W. Somerset St.; 215-7638870 • GALAEI: 149 W. Susquehanna Ave.; 267-457-3912, galaei. org. Spanish/English • Health Center No. 2: 1720 S. Broad St.; 215-685-1821

• Mazzoni Center: 1348 Bainbridge St.; 215-563-0652, mazzonicenter.org • Philadelphia FIGHT: 1233 Locust St.; 215-985-4448, fight.org • Washington West Project of Mazzoni Center: 1201 Locust St.; 215985-9206 • Transgender Health Action Coalition: 215-732-1207

Other • Independence Branch Library Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection: 215-685-1633 • Independence Business Alliance; 215-557-0190, IndependenceBusinessAlliance.com

• LGBT Peer Counseling Services: 215-732-TALK • PFLAG: Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): 215-572-1833 • Philly Pride Presents: 215-875-9288

PROTECTIONS from page 1

an antidiscrimination bill, and it should be unanimous.” Everett told PGN he has had discussions with Frankel and other supporters of the bill. “The next steps take place when the bill gets filed,” he said. “At that point, the speaker will decide which committee the bill will get referred to. There is no guarantee that will be State Government.” Although it had been referred to that committee in the past. The top Democrat on the State Government Committee, Boyle told PGN that Everett is “very professional” and is not dismissing LGBTQ-friendly legislation out of hand, like his predecessor did. “That was contrary to what Daryl Metcalfe had allowed,” Boyle said. Metcalfe made his own obstructionism blatantly clear. For example, last spring, he posted on his Facebook page about “not allowing Democrat [sic] bills to run through my Republican Majority committee” and “I block all substantive Democrat legislation sent to my committee.” The PA Fairness Act would add sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression to the state’s nondiscrimination

HATE from page 1

legislation months after the 2014 attack on Zachary Hesse and Andrew Haught at 16th and Chancellor streets. Should the incarnation of the bill pass, it would mean stronger penalties for those convicted of hate crimes. Hesse and Haught were verbally taunted and kicked in their heads, chests and faces during an encounter and left severely injured. Three people were charged in the attack and witnesses said the trio used antigay slurs during the incident, which began as a verbal altercation. Haught suffered multiple broken facial bones, required surgery and had his jaw wired shut for eight weeks. Two of the attackers, Kevin Harrigan and Philip Williams, pleaded guilty and avoided jail time, instead being sentenced to comunity service. A third defendant, Kathryn Knott was tried for her role. Victims Hesse and Haught took the stand, and Knott was convicted of four misdemeanor charges: simple assault, reckless endangerment and conspiracy to commit simple assault against Hesse, and reckless endangerment against Haught. She served five months in prison.

law, which was originally written in 1955. The law only covers race, religion, ancestry, age, sex, national origin and disability. That makes Pennsylvania the only state in the Northeastern United States without a law protecting the LGBTQ population. Without the Fairness Act, Pennsylvania will continue to have a patchwork of legal protections for LGBTQ people rather than a uniform antidiscrimination law. More than 50 municipalities including Philadelphia have enacted LGBTQ ordinances on their own. Pennsylvania should have 203 House members serving two-year terms for the 2019-2020 session, only 201 were elected so far. Of them, 110 are Republicans and 91 are Democrats. In the last session, there were 121 Republicans and 82 Democrats in the House, so Democrats have gained 11 seats. Special elections will be held March 12 for the two vacant seats: Philadelphia’s 190th District and Lackawanna County’s 114th District. The 190th District, mostly in West Philadelphia, includes Belmont, Carroll Park, Cathedral Park, Mill Creek, Haddington, East Parkside, West Powelton, Allegheny West and Lehigh West. n

Under current state law, Hesse and Haught’s attackers could not be charged with a hate crime. That remains the case. So on Feb. 28, the latest bill (with 46 cosponsors) was referred to the House Judiciary Committee. “This is the third consecutive session that I’m introducing this piece of legislation that expands protections under the state’s Hate Crimes Law,” Boyle said. “It’s extremely disappointing that this bill is sent to committee to die rather than brought to the floor for a vote. It is well past time that this state address the lack of protections for members of the LGBTQ community and persons with disabilities.” Boyle added, “I hope that with this new session we are able to finally work to ensure the protection of these vulnerable communities.” Sens. Lawrence Farnese (D-1st Dist.) and Anthony Williams (D-8th Dist.) introduced a similar bill, SB 96, on the Senate side. Their bill was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Feb. 14. The victims in the 2014 case ultimately settled their civil suit against the three attackers. n

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News Briefing LGBTQ foster parenting session scheduled There are many LGBTQ youth in Philadelphia in need of LGBTQ affirming foster parents as they navigate the road to finding a forever family. To that end, Philadelphia Family Pride is hosting an information session for interested, and even just curious, participants to help them make informed decisions about fostering a young person. PFP is a nonprofit, volunteer run, membership organization for LGBTQ+ parents, prospective parents and children of all ages in the greater Philadelphia region. Foster agency representatives, Department of Health and Human Services staff members, fostered youth and fostering parents will gather to answer your questions and provide future resources along the fostering path. The event is 6-8 p.m. March 11 at Lovett Memorial Library, 6945 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. All are welcome.

On the road with Philadelphia Union The Philadelphia Union held a competition for its away-game jersey back tags to commemorate the team’s 10th year. Back tags are the labels printed onto the back of a player’s jersey. Each tag represents one of each of the years the team has been in the league. The default choice for representing the entire 10 years is an X with a snake wrapped around it. One of the 10 winning entries that was selected through social media includes the modified rainbow flag as a background. The design was submitted by

Spike Eskin, local sports radio and television personality. Players’ jerseys will bear one of the logos at every away game during the 10th season and fans also can purchase them. This year, the Union will hold its annual Pride Night on June 8, during Pride weekend in Phialdelphia. For more info on the Union, go to philadelphiaunion.com.

The Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus goes RISQUÉ The next Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus concert will be atypical from what audiences are used to hearing and seeing in the regular season lineups. The PGMC select ensemble Brotherly Love (BROLO) will be featured. Included will be songs from “Avenue Q,” Monty Python’s “Meaning of Life,” “South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut” and “Young Frankenstein.” The 90-minute performance will go behind closed doors 9 p.m. March 22, and 6 and 9 p.m. March 23 at International House Philadelphia, 3701 Chestnut St. Tickets start at $15. Attendees are encouraged to participate by dressing up in teasing, boudoir or come-hither attire or something just for fun for this one weekend only seductive serving. For additional details and ticket purchasing, go to pgmc.org/event/risque/

~ Marc Coleman on his company The Tactile Group, page 7

Softball recruitment and pub crawl The City of Brotherly Love Softball League is holding its annual open recruitment day 9 a.m.-12 p.m. March 16 at Everybody Hits Philadelphia, 529 W. Girard Ave. Note the location change from recent years when recruitment was at 10th and Fitzwater streets. Any players interested in joining the league are highly encouraged to attend so that team managers and captains can better assess skill levels to ensure players are placed on an appropriate team. Following the skills assessment, CBLSL will host a pub crawl throughout the Gayborhood starting at 1:30 p.m. at Boxers. Anyone may participate in the crawl by purchasing the 2019 pub crawl shirt online through CBLSL. Shirts may be picked up at the first or second location. More inforomation on the recruitment can be found at cblsl.org/events/965332new-players-2019. Information on the pub crawl and purchasing a shirt is at facebook.com/events/238046190474747/. n — Compiled by Scott A. Drake

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Sleepaway camps accommodating LGBTQ youth By Lenny Cohen PGN Contributor Sleepaway camp is an American summer tradition — and one that, in numerous communities, finally embraces and accommodates the diversity of LGBTQ campers. Camp Harlam, an overnight camp with recreational and educational activities for Reform Jewish youth, is among the summer programs that evolved to not only include LGBT youth, but also to celebrate them. “For many years — more than I’d care to admit — people who were part of the LGBTQ community did not feel like they could live out the best version of themselves here at camp,” said inclusion coordinator Lori Zlotoff. “It has taken the intentional thought and work of our professional staff and the LGBTQ task force to make inroads to start the work of cultural change in order to reverse six decades of the way things used to be.” The camp, which began in 1958 and provides youth activities from archery to audio production, is headquartered in the Poconos and, per a 2015 resolution submitted by the Union for Reform Judaism supports the full equality of gender identity and gender expression. “At Harlam, we pride ourselves on celebrating who we are by being the best version of ourselves — and that means being who

we want to be, and knowing that we will be unconditionally accepted for it,” Zlotoff said. Harlam has engaged all involved — staff, campers, parents, alumni and clergy — to imagine and create an inclusive environment, she said. Those efforts include a 35-member task force, a Gender Sexuality Alliance for the staff and for the campers and plans to celebrate Pride Month. Zlotoff also said that one camp parent, alumna and task force member Jennifer Levi, director of GLAD’s Transgender Rights Project, is one of two transgender attorneys leading the legal fight against President Trump’s transgender military ban in both Doe v. Trump and Stockman v. Trump, donated the Camp Harlam’s Pride flag. “We fly a Pride flag at camp and have been fortunate to be able to support the experiences of transgender members of our community so they can live and participate in all aspects of camp life,” Zlotoff explained. “We want people to know outside of our gates the rich tapestry of who makes up the community inside our gates. Everyone is welcome to join us!” Camp Tawonga, a youth camp in Northern California that began in 1925, is adding something different to help celebrate and include LGBTQ youth: all-gender cabins. J. The Jewish News of Northern California is reporting this summer, Camp Tawonga, will have not one, but two all-gender cabins.

That’s the due to the increasing number of kids like Jonathan Brunn among its campers The 10-year-old Brunn wanted to attend one of Tawonga’s LGBT family weekends, but his mother was understandably nervous, since he has had to deal with bullying at school. Brunn first attended a five-night session for younger, first-time campers, back in 2016. Back then, Jonathan’s mom and camp staff had decided Jonathan should sleep in a girls bunk, but the others there decided to call the bunk “all-gender” to make it more inclusive. “Tawonga has a long history of only offering girls’ and boys’ cabins, but it’s become clear in recent years that that doesn’t work for all kids,” said camp director Becca Meyer. “So we wanted to create another option so that all kids can live in a cabin that reflects their gender identity.” The two cabins will only be offered during one session, as a pilot program. One will be for children going into fifth and sixth grades, and the other for those going into seventh and eighth grades. Each will accommodate 12 campers. Another difference is the all-gender cabins will have a no-nudity rule. Changing into bathing suits and sleepwear will be done in the bathroom, sleeping bags or behind a privacy curtain. Meyer said a lot of counselors have expressed interest in staffing the cabins.

“We haven’t decided yet, but they will be excellent counselors who get additional training in working with diverse campers,” she said. Brunn said he is looking forward to another experience near Yosemite National Park. “Since my cabin will be all-gender, no one has to feel left out. Everyone will be included,” said Jonathan, who uses all pronouns interchangeably. Camp Moshava in northern Harford County, Md., has offered all-gender cabins for older campers since 2017, and helped advise Camp Tawonga. Camp Mosh’s website calls it “a camp community based on cooperation and equality. We simulate the kibbutz experience while we learn about social justice, Judaism and Israel.” Executive director Jennifer Braveman Silber called it “a safe space for children to learn and grow. We believe that a thriving community is one that acknowledges and embraces diverse identities — age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, nationality, religion, physical ability and socioeconomic status — explores the intersections of those identities and encourages children to be their truest selves. Our programming seeks to appreciate the value that each camper brings to camp. Because of the individual, the community is stronger, because of the community, the indiPAGE 16 vidual is stronger.”

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International Women’s Day — acknowledging and celebrating women for more than 100 years By Victoria A. Brownworth PGN Contributor March 8 marks International Women’s Day (IWD). It’s a day to recognize the achievement of women and the ongoing struggle for equality around the world. The history of IWD is rooted in women’s fight for political, social and economic justice over more than a century. In some countries, like the United States and throughout the U.K, and Europe International Women’s

Day is a day of protest. But it is also a day to celebrate the accomplishments of women and promote gender equality — IWD is more than just a social media hashtag. IWD is a national holiday in dozens of countries throughout Europe, Africa, Asia and South America and is honored with rallies, events and celebrations. The United Nations, which organizes IWD internationally and is the day’s primary sponsor globally, says empowering women is a key part of its efforts to address the

world’s social, economic and political challenges. The UN has encouraged even more countries around the world to embrace the holiday and its goal of celebrating “acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.” Under the Obama administration, IWD was celebrated widely in the United States and noted with fanfare by the president. In 2018, President Trump marked

IWD by touting achievements for women under his administration, even though he rescinded the Equal Pay Rule established by Obama that required businesses to reveal gender-pay imbalances. That law was considered key to equalizing pay for women, who still make far less than men in the workplace for the same jobs. The United Nations notes, “Women still earn only 77 cents for every dollar men earn for the same work.” The first National Women’s Day

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was celebrated on Feb. 28, 1909. According to the U.N., it was designated by the Socialist Party of America to honor women in the garment industry who went on strike in New York to protest working conditions. A year later, Socialist International established an International Women’s Day. After the grisly Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York in 1911, in which 146 mostly immigrant women and girls burned to death and 71 others were badly injured, the day came to symbolize the need to organize women for equality in the workplace. In the United States, women workers protest conditions and pay differences every year. Workplace discrimination has long been a focal point for protests on IWD. Lesbians and trans women face even more workplace discrimination than their heterosexual counterparts and there have been protests about this discrimination on IWD in the America and U.K. In 2019, the U.N. has designated the message of IWD as “Better the balance, better the world” with #BalanceforBetter on social media. The focus of the U.N. for women in 2019 is reducing violence against women, which is on the rise everywhere, including the United States where women are murdered every day in domestic violence incidents and one in five women is a victim of rape. At least 200 million women and girls alive today have undergone female genital mutilation. Women account for just 24 percent of parliamentarians/elected office holders. More than 35 percent of women globally have experienced physical and/or sexual violence.” VH1 is marking the celebration of all things female with the VH1 Trailblazer Honors, a one-hour special dedicated to some of today’s most respected politicians, entertainers, artists and activists. At the center of the big event will be four honorees: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi; Tarana Burke, #MeToo movement founder; black director Ava DuVernay; and Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Cher will be presenting the award to Pelosi. The special airs 9 p.m. March 8 on VH1 and Logo (and will repeat on both networks). It will also feature performances by Rita Ora and Elle King and appearances by Anita Hill, Mindy Kaling, Alyssa Milano and lesbian actress Samira Wiley. There will be a day-long celebration of IWD on March 8 at the U.N. with women speakers from around the world and presentations about women’s achievements and global goals for the future. n

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CEO Access for LGBTQ businesses create connections and profits By Lenny Cohen PGN Contributor Marc Coleman is a Philadelphia success story by any means. He grew up in North Philadelphia and went to high school in Willingboro, N.J. From there, it was on to Princeton and Temple universities. Today, his digital agency The Tactile Group has 20 employees and he hopes to hire five more by the end of this year. And since he’s outgrowing his brightly-colored Gayborhood office, he plans to get a space that’s twice the size. Coleman’s positive results come from a lot of hard work. He spent 70 hours a week on business-related matters until hiring an office coordinator a few months ago, and is now down to about 55. But The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia also played a role through its CEO Access program. It’s a free mentoring partnership that pairs some of the region’s top executives with rising entrepreneurs from LGBTQ, minority, disabled and woman-owned companies. Small Partners and Large Partners – as they’re known – share advice and counsel, as well as networking and business development opportunities. Since both lead their businesses, the Large Partners aren’t considered mentors. According to Shawnna Williams, Coordinator of Member Engagement and Diversity and Inclusion at the Chamber, “They are to be seen as peers throughout

the duration of their partnership.” On paper, the pairings are expected to last a year, with the hope of driving economic competitiveness and highlighting diverse employee populations, but they can go on forever. A new group of pairings will start in the fall, but don’t let the requirements scare you off. Small Partners must meet the demographics; have an existing for-profit business with at least threeyear sales history; demonstrate at least $500,000 in annual sales and an increase from the prior year; and provide goods, services, technology, capital or resources to create jobs, wealth, and a predictable rate of return to investors and owners. Williams said of the prerequisites, “We have found that the CEO Access model provides the greatest value to companies that, while possibly newer, have achieved some key basic business milestones.” Those Small Partners are paired with volunteer Large Partners, who are business leaders from prominent and large businesses, and whose companies, names and reputations are pretty famous. In fact, Comcast’s David Cohen came up with CEO Access when he was Chamber board chair in 2010. Since then, it has made almost 100 matches across a variety of industries. “Our volunteers are best at providing strategic counsel, helping their partners make more connections and build stronger networks,” Williams said. Coleman was matched with the president and CEO of the Kimmel Center, Anne Ewers. Ironically, Coleman’s husband Ron had a friend in common with Ewers and the two met socially, but never discussed business. After the pairing, they got together quarterly for an hour each session. Once, Coleman mentioned a human resources

issue he was having. He made his first hire in 2007. “I described to her what was going on Much more recently, his company and she was like, ‘Oh, you need to fire helped Philadelphia pitch itself to the person immediately,’ so those kinds Amazon as a potential HQ2 at https:// of pieces of advice probably saved me public.philadelphiadelivers.com/. $10,000 in legal fees.” Now, his main clients are large multiAlso, a raw deal had Coleman learn- year engagements along with some charing to make much better subcontractor ities. agreements. “We have a very diverse workforce. “‘Have a mentor, be a mentor’ has Here, we have folks from different genbeen my mantra for years and Marc erations, immigrants and native-born, Coleman is the epitome of why,” Ewers people of color, white folks, members explained. “During our time together, of the LGBT community … and with all he asked terrific questions, followed these different perspectives, we’re not all through on recommendations and taught approaching a problem from the same me a great deal in the meantime - a win- kind of direction.” win for both of us.” And what about readers looking to start Ewers also “opened her Rolodex” – businesses or have new ones? as Coleman put it – and connected him Williams responded that next month – with others who could help him grow April – will be Small Business Month, his business. and besides CEO Access, “There are He started disc jockeying and in the many other great programs out there record industry after college, but real- specifically designed to help smaller, ized he didn’t want to carry records for start-up businesses.” his whole life. Look for the Chamber to offer events After college, he used a three-unit featuring industry expert speakers geared apartment building as a B&B before toward start-up companies. n there was Airbnb, but that ended when Learn more about The CEO Access Network at www. the relationship with his partner ended. Coleman, as a DJ, had been doing ChamberPHL.com/CEOAccess; about Small Business graphic design for print, but realized that Month in April at chmbr.biz/smallbiz; and Marc Coleman’s business, The Tactile Group, at https:// wasn’t the future, so he taught himself www.thetactilegroup.com/. HTML and CSS, and started his business from his bedroom inPhiladelphia, 2004. Pennsylvania 19107-3290

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CANCELLED the Public Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 5, 2019, at 11:00 AM, and has RESCHEDULED the Public Meeting for Friday, March 29, 2019, at 11:00 AM, in City Council Chambers (Room 400, CHAIRPERSON City Hall). RICHARD LAZER,

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The Freddie Mercury and Queen biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody” will have all overt LGBT scenes removed for its release in China, it has been reported. At least a minute will be cut from the film in order to secure permission for it to be screened in Chinese cinemas, including scenes where Mercury (played by Rami Malek) kisses other male characters. Scenes of drug use will also be removed. China’s reluctance to allow LGBTthemed films to reach cinema audiences was underlined when a domestic TV streaming service, Mango TV, was reported to have censored Malek’s acceptance speech for his Best Actor Oscar on Feb. 24, replacing the phrase “gay man” with “special group” in its subtitles. Although a major commercial success all over the globe, “Bohemian Rhapsody” is likely to secure only a small-scale release in China — unlike Oscarwinners “Moonlight” and “Call Me By Your Name,” which failed to be released there at all. However, the live-action film “Beauty and the Beast,” with its brief “gay moment,” was given a significant release in 2017, earning a reported $85 million. “Bohemian Rhapsody” has already attracted considerable criticism for perceived “straightwashing” in its originally released form, with suggestions that it glossed over Mercury’s real-life hedonist persona. However, LGBTI activist Gary Nunn argued in the Guardian that the film was “inspiring” and a “job well done.”

Jerusalem pizzeria garners substantial fine for refusing to serve gay man A Jerusalem pizzeria has been ordered to pay a $4,500 fine after refusing to serve a gay man who was wearing a rainbow T-shirt. Sammy Kanter alleged that he was denied service at Ben Yehuda Pizza in Jerusalem, Israel, during the week of the city’s Pride Festival in August 2018. The U.S.-born rabbinical student was wearing a rainbow T-shirt when he entered the pizza shop with a friend. Kanter recalled: “After we entered the shop, the employee greeted us and handed

out menus. Immediately, his demeanor shifted after looking at my shirt. “He asked if I was gay. After responding ‘Yes,’ he simply said, ‘Get out.’” The student took legal action against the pizza shop over the discriminatory treatment, and this week Jerusalem Small Claims Court found in his favor. According to the Israel Religious Action Center, the court has ordered the pizza shop to pay 16,000 shekels ($4,500) in damages to Kanter. In a release, Kanter said: “I couldn’t believe I was being discriminated against for who I am in the place where all Jews are supposed to feel at home. I was proud to take the fight public, to make sure businesses know this is not OK, and at the same time tell those who might be afraid to be who they are that it’s also celebrated in this land. After going through the trial and winning, I now feel like I truly belong here, to know that discrimination based on sexual orientation is truly against the law.”

Pakistan opens public school for transgender students Pakistan has opened a public school exclusively for transgender pupils. The school is believed to be one of the first of its kind in the country. Approximately 20 students will attend the school, which was established by the government-run literacy department in the Lodhran District, in the Punjab province. Chief spokesperson of the chief minister of the Punjab in Pakistan, Shahbaz Gil, shared a video taken in the classroom of the school on Twitter. He wrote: “Transgender school established in Lodhran city under Literacy department. Under Usman Buzdar’s leadership Punjab will grow and prosper inshallah.” Last year, the region’s School Education Department directed authorities to make sure transgender children are treated as equals in government-run and private schools across the area. Last May, Pakistan’s parliament passed a law guaranteeing basic rights for transgender people, in a move hailed by advocates as historic for the country. The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act allows people to self-identify as male, female or non-binary and to have that identity recorded on official documents, including passports and identification cards. Human rights activists praised the bill for helping to pave the way for greater acceptance and inclusivity at a time when members of the trans community continue face disproportionate violence and discrimination. n — Compiled by Larry Nichols

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EDITORIAL PGN EDITORIAL

Creep of the Week

D’Anne Witkowski

Pat Robertson

Editorial Dear legislators: Put our money where your pledge is on defeating HIV/AIDS Early this week, a news alert from The New York Times proclaimed, “H.I.V. Is Reported Cured in a Second Patient, a Milestone in the Global AIDS Epidemic.” According to the story: “For just the second time since the global epidemic began, a patient appears to have been cured of infection with H.I.V., the virus that causes AIDS. The news comes nearly 12 years to the day after the first patient known to be cured, a feat that researchers have long tried, and failed, to duplicate. The surprise success now confirms that a cure for H.I.V. infection is possible, if difficult, researchers said.” What an amazing and wonderful thing. Could this be it? What does it mean? It means is the U.S. government needs to be called on the carpet if it doesn’t follow through on the vow President Trump made in his State of the Union address in February. “My budget will ask Democrats and Republicans to make the needed commitment to eliminate the HIV epidemic in the United States within 10 years,” Trump said in the speech. “We have made incredible strides. Together, we will defeat AIDS in America and beyond.” Well, the news above might be the breakthrough we’ve been waiting for, so it’s time to pony up the money. It’s not fine to say this is a goal and do nothing. The Trump administration has actually stripped resources from AIDS funding and research. Congress must turn the tide and get this done. Simply designating some money is not enough. We can’t have the status quo with drugs and treatments available that only certain people can access. If a cure is indeed near, it cannot mean only the wealthiest among us get it. As backwards as this may sound, having no cure may be more desirable than having a cure that only a privileged few can get. (Wonder how many LGBTQ Americans are among the privileged few?) Otherwise, we’re just dangling a carrot before those who need it and can’t reach it — which is cruel. If treatments exist and someday a cure is found, it should not matter what the patient’s socio-economic situation or LGBTQ status is. The cure must be for everyone. Demand that your members of Congress see this through. While this is a time when there are so many priorities on which to focus energies, this has to be one of them. n

You know those online ads that promise, “One weird trick to lose belly fat” next to an image of, say, a crudely drawn banana? Even if you don’t know what exactly those ads are trying to communicate, you know not to click them. But not Grandpa Robertson. And he didn’t even need to click to know it was trying to trick him into recognizing the “weird way” gays “do sex.” On the Feb. 25 episode of “The 700 Club,” racist/homophobic-grandpa-forhire Pat Robertson discussed the City of Philadelphia’s legal dispute with Catholic Social Services, an agency that handles foster placements for children, but will not do so for same-sex couples. Since the agency’s practice is against Philadelphia’s non-discrimination policy, its contract was not renewed. Robertson thinks this is appalling and that it violates the God-given right of Catholic Social Services to discriminate against lesbians and gays. And the very fact that lesbians, gays and their allies have the audacity to complain is proof that they’re out for blood. Weird sex blood. Or something. “The incredible thing about the homosexuals is they are willing to destroy lives and destroy the whole fabric of society so long as they and their weird way of doing sex is legitimized,” Robertson said. “They’re willing to tear down the entire edifice in order to have the majority of people recognize the way they do sex, that’s what it amounts to.” Is it, though? Is “weird sex” really what this all amounts to? Well, of course it is if you don’t think that gays and lesbians are actually human and capable of forming long-term loving relationships and creating safe and nurturing home environments for children. I mean, if when you see a gay man all you see is an anthropomorphic demon penis or when you see a lesbian you just see a vagina monster, then I guess I can see why you’d be afraid to let them take care of kids. But, of course, there’s one weird trick to getting over your irrational fear of lesbians and gays: visualize them as fully human. When you meet a gay man, say to yourself, “He’s more than just a penis, he’s more than just a penis. ...” Then ask yourself why you’re so obsessed with gay penises and how maybe, just maybe, that says a lot more about you than him. You could also try engaging someone you believe to be gay or lesbian in conversation. You could say something like, “Hello. How are you?” or “Gee, it sure is

cold/hot today!” You can then ask, “Does your life amount to more than doing weird sex?” And they’ll likely say, “Yes,” or possibly stop talking to you altogether because, seriously, what is wrong with you? One of the most fascinating parts of Robertson’s philosophy is that he argues that gays are destroying all that’s good and holy, while at the same time arguing that there are hardly any gays at all. “One percent, ladies and gentleman, get it? One percent of the country, from what we understand, are lesbian, 2 percent are homosexual. And that is all. And yet that 2 percent and 1 percent are taking charge of the rest of us because they’re so vocal and so authoritative and they apparently dominate these legislative bodies.” Got that? Hardly any homos to speak of, but who runs the world? Gays. Lesbians and gays are just so darn powerful that they run the whole country, which is why Trump is ... wait a minute. OK, either the gays are doing a very bad job dominating the government, or, and hear me out, maybe Robertson is just making shit up because he’s a harmful old man? Robertson continued, “I think if Christians begin to speak out and insist that if some politician goes along with the gay agenda that they’re going to be voted out of office, [politicians will] start saying, ‘We want to listen to the majority of the people in our society.’ Until they do, that small minority is going to be dominating everything we do and every aspect of our lives.” If only Christians had a voice in this country! If only there was some way Christians could meet in, like, groups. Maybe in special buildings. And they could establish specific days for, like, nationwide celebration. And maybe the whole thing could be tax exempt. I’m not sure what you’d call that or if we’ll ever see such a thing realized in America. Perhaps someday Christians will be able to withstand the LGBTQ tyranny that forces everyone to say, “Merry Penis” and “Vagina Bless America.” n

‘The incredible thing about the homosexuals is they are willing to destroy lives and destroy the whole fabric of society so long as they and their weird way of doing sex is legitimized.’

D’Anne Witkowski is a poet, writer and comedian living in Michigan with her wife and son. She has been writing about LGBT politics for over a decade. Follow her on Twitter @MamaDWitkowski.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 8-14, 2019

The case against impeachment America is more polarized now than it There are things we know would haphas been at almost any time in our history. pen. That is where this column begins — with Impeach Trump and you get Vice those polar ends. President Mike Pence, who has been utterTo many Americans, Trump ing Trump’s praises and has is clearly not seen as a good been following blindly like a president (an average of the puppy. We don’t want to unleash many polls that are out there Pence, who is as homophobic as indicates about 52 percent disthey come. His steadfast support approve of the job he’s doing). of Trump and the president’s He fares better with his base. wall tells you where he’d be on With those voters, his highest immigration and other issues. rate of disapproval was 46 perWith Trump out of the way, it cent. But, to many of those in would be Pence holding the that 46 percent, Trump can do Republican flag in 2020, and he no wrong. would most likely start with that Meanwhile, impeachment 46-percent approval. is not being talked about to While impeachment most address any illegal acts by the likely would make it through president; rather, it has become the Democrat-controlled House, Mark Segal getting 67 votes in the Senate a political weapon. It opens and changes the political landscape. (the Constitution requires a Rolling that dice would be like playing two-thirds majority vote of the Senate to craps. remove a president from office) is unlikely.

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For the Senate to vote to impeach, there’d likely have to be a smoking gun in the Mueller report or elsewhere. It would take 11 Republican votes. No American president has been impeached because the two-thirds majority of votes to convict him were never reached. So, what to do? Stay the course. Continue to uncover the evidence of wrongdoing. Continue to seek a Democratic ticket that can win the trust of the American public. What about your anger? Hold that in check, and hope that somewhere in the judicial system there is a sealed indictment just waiting for Trump to exit the White House and enter a courtroom. Which brings us to our last item: pardons. None should be offered. n Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the nation’s mostaward-winning commentator in LGBT media. You can follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ MarkSegalPGN or Twitter at https://twitter.com/ PhilaGayNews.

Gwendolyn Ann Smith

Ducking transgender athletes Centuries ago, during the witch trials of the medieval era, a unique way of determining who was or wasn’t a witch was created. A woman suspected of being a witch would have her right thumb bound to the big toe on her left foot. She would then have a rope tied around her waist, and be thrown into a nearby pond or river. She was viewed as a witch if she floated, as her body had “rejected baptism” in the water. She would then be put to death for her supposed crimes. If she sunk in the water — drowning in the process — she was deemed pure. Either way, the woman ended up dead. I remember hearing this story a lot as a kid, and always thought the whole idea was abhorrent. There was literally no way to prove your innocence and continue to live your life after you were accused. Guilty or innocent, your life was forfeited. This simply made no sense to me. Of course, we supposedly live in more enlightened times today, and the notion of ducking a witch has long become a tale we tell about backwards medieval peasants and their foolish practices. Oh, and yes, “ducking” actually is the correct term here. It is actually a bastardization of another Old English word, “cucking,” a term related to defecating. It was used to refer to the cucking stool, a seat with a lower opening for perhaps an obvious purpose. A few weeks ago, USA Powerlifting barred transgender women from competing as women amid claims that they had a “competitive advantage” thanks to factors like increased bone density and muscle mass from the testosterone trans women experienced during puberty.

Most recently, tennis legend Martina Navratilova spoke out against allowing transgender women to complete against non-transgender women. “A man can decide to be female, take hormones if required by whatever sporting organization is concerned, win everything in sight and perhaps earn a small fortune, and then reverse his decision and go back to making babies if he so desires,” said Navratilova in an article in The Sunday Times. “It’s insane and it’s cheating,” she added. “I am happy to address a transgender woman in whatever form she prefers, but I would not be happy to compete against her. It would not be fair.” It’s an odd statement, given what exactly a transgender woman has to go through to compete in the first place, the effects hormone-replacement therapy would have on her body, and the scrutiny she would be under if she did compete. It would likewise require a fairly large financial outlay just for the chance to win all this money Navratilova claims is in women’s sports. It also implies that transgender women have never yet participated in women’s sports, something Navratilova herself should know isn’t true: she played, and beat, Renee Richards decades ago. While I think about trans people in sports and these arguments, I find myself seeing an odd similarity to witches and ducking. I’m not saying transfeminine athletes are facing a situation as fraught as women accused of witchcraft in the Middle Ages. I do, nevertheless, see a parallel. A trans person who is involved with any given sport is in a no-win situation, stuck in a similar dilemma to medieval women — and sometimes men — accused of

witchery. If you lose at your sport, well, you lose. You’re viewed as a failure. This may, in fact, be the lesser of two bad situations, because if you win, well, then your win is blamed on your trans history. You are viewed as having a biological advantage, and any work you did to legitimately earn that victory is immediately discounted. There’s one more important parallel: Remember what I was talking about ducking witches? The process grew out of using ducking or cucking stools to lower women into waterways. But it wasn’t originally for witches. They were used to punish women — and sometimes men — with scorn and humiliation. The punishment was primarily for being a “scold.” A “scold” is a person who was quarrelsome or “nags” others over their behavior. In other words, this was a method of teaching a person — usually a woman — their place in the culture through torture and humiliation. I see the same issue with trans athletes. They have a no-win situation: lose and, well, lose. Win and face disqualification for having an “unfair advantage.” Meanwhile, much like the women in ducking chairs, the humiliation of having to face all this would simply drive trans people away altogether, which is what those opposed to trans people in sports wanted in the first place. This has nothing to do with equity in sports, just like ducking witches had little to do with proving who was in league with Satan. The cruelty is the point. n Gwen Smith can barely open a stuck jar, let alone powerlift. You’ll find her at www.gwensmith.com.

Street Talk Do you think a gay candidate could win a presidential election? “It would be an uphill battle with the perspectives some folks in this country have. But if they put Phil Charron a good executive VP campaign Wissahickon together and they can resonate with folks, I think there's been a monumental change in the past 10 years.” “I think a gay candidate could definitely win a presidential election. I feel like in society now, more Meghan Donovan than ever, Property manager inclusion is Fairmount so heavily promoted and I think that it’s a definite possibility that we could have a gay president in the future and I would welcome it.” “I believe that our world, our society, will eventually evolve to the point where they understand it doesn’t Cassandra really Jefferson matter what Art teacher Conshohocken a person’s sexual identity is, only what content of character they have inside that will place them in a position to lead our country. We need someone with morality.”

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The mayor of Alaska’s second-largest city vetoed a local law that gave sweeping equal rights protections to the LGBTQ community, The Fairbanks Daily NewsMiner reported. Fairbanks Mayor Jim Matherly said he hopes to put the issue on the municipal-election ballot in October and let voters decide. Matherly made the announcement in a column sent March 1. He said he arrived at his decision “after much soul searching.” The Fairbanks City Council approved the equal-rights ordinance on Feb. 25 by a 4-2 vote. The hotly debated measure extended anti-discrimination protections for employment, housing and public accommodations. Supporters of the measure were planning to hold a vigil in Fairbanks. Among them is Hayden Nevill, who said the veto “gives our neighbors a license to treat us poorly.”

Posthumous memoir by gay rights pioneer due in October A book drawn from an uncompleted manuscript and other personal papers by gay rights pioneer Edith “Edie” Windsor will be posthumously released in October, according to a report in The Washington Post. The book, “A Wild and Precious Life,” was finished by Joshua Lyon with cooperation from Windsor’s widow, Judith KasenWindsor. The book includes everything from her childhood to her coming out as a lesbian to the 2013 Supreme Court ruling she helped bring about that led to same-sex marriage nationwide. Windsor, who died in 2017, challenged a federal law that would have only granted her an inheritance tax break if she married a man. She was facing a big tax bill after the

Washington state Senate approves school transgender anti-bullying bill The Washington State Senate has passed an anti-bullying measure that would require policies intended to protect transgender students in public schools, The Spokane Spokesman-Review reported. On Feb. 27, Democrats who consider the legislation a basic school safety measure prevailed in a party-line vote over Republicans who argue the bill takes authority away from local school districts. The bill has moved to the State House for consideration. The bill would require the superintendent of public instruction and the school administrators association to develop strategies to eliminate gender-identity discrimination and address specific challenges for those public school students. Republican Minority Leader Mark Schoesler said anti-bullying protections already exist, while Democratic Sen. Lisa Wellman said the measure will help prevent cases from being overlooked.

Proposed ban on LGBT conversion therapy getting pushback A proposal to ban gay-conversion therapy for minors is encountering pushback in conservative Utah as state lawmakers question whether it could have a chilling effect on how therapists can discuss sexual orientation with young clients. A hearing among a panel of lawmakers took place on March 1, according to KMVT.com. Republican Rep. Karianne Lisonbee said she wants to be cautious with the proposal that’s drawn opposition from some therapists over provisions dealing with talk therapy. Supporters say the measure is similar to those passed in 15 other states, and passing it would be an important step to curbing a practice associated with higher rates of depression and suicide attempts. Republican sponsor Rep. Craig Hall said he expects to keep up talks and for the bill to be heard again shortly. n — Compiled by Larry Nichols

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METHODISTS from page 1

Association, which is based in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, and which describes itself as an organization of “spirit-filled orthodox churches,” announced contingency plans for leaving the denomination. Now that the convention has ended with a win for traditionalists, the organization says it will “work for renewal and revitalization in the church.” Most religions have experienced splits over theology and social issues like slavery. One early break from the Methodist Church came in Philadelphia in 1794 when Richard Allen and Absalom Jones led AfricanAmerican members out of St. George’s Methodist Church when white leaders tried to segregate the congregation. That break led to the formation of the African Methodist Episcopal church. Church schisms were more common when more people identified as churchgoers, said

Rebecca Alpert, professor of religion at Temple University. “When religions were more robust, the people [leading the revolt] could assume people would follow them,” said Alpert, a lesbian who was one of the first women ordained as a rabbi. The decision to break away is complicated, having to do with how strongly a congregation identifies as a Methodist, said the rabbi, adding, some Christians might be content identifying with another similar denomination. “It’s not just a game in which you can take your bat and ball and go home,” Alpert said. The Reconciling Ministries Network is advising its affiliates to take some time to think about what comes next, said spokesperson Kinney. “We have hopes that the institution can be reformed.” The Chestnut Hill United Methodist Church came up with a creative solution to its concerns

VICTORY from page 1

“We don’t normally take policy positions, save for being officially pro-choice, and full trans-inclusive,” she said. Parker added it’s not enough to just be openly LGBTQ or be a straight ally to get a Victory Fund nod. “You can’t ever deny who you are. We declined our support from one out candidate who wasn’t fully trans-inclusive,” she said. Parker and her staff examine each race and each candidacy with thoroughness and focus, with checkups within each voting area. “We want to know how much money they are raising, and what kind of campaign each candidate is running.” Last year, more than 700 out LGBTQ candidates ran for office across the United States. Parker said Victory Fund intersected with more than 400 of those candidates and made endorsements in 274 races. “This year will be even busier,” Parker said. “Our candidates have to be good investments for those who care about politics.” In Philadelphia, the Fund is endorsing

about the direction of the UMC in 2009 when it added an affiliation to the United Church of Christ and changed its name to Chestnut Hill United Church. But the latest developments will require some further thinking, said senior pastor Linda Noonan. One option is to affiliate with a part of the denomination that is openly resisting the antigay elements. The Western Jurisdiction, which includes six western states, is defying the changes called for in St. Louis and inviting churches elsewhere to join it. Noonan said she expects her 140 church members to take some form of action. “I have confidence that they will not do nothing.” The Rev. John Pritchard, pastor of Calvary United Methodist Church in West Philadelphia, said he was waiting to see what would happen when a Judicial Council reviews the actions of the conference. In the meantime, he and

three judicial candidates: Wade Albert, Tiffany Palmer and Henry Sias, all of whom are running for judgeships on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas as Democrats in the May 21 primary. “I was honored to have been endorsed by the LGBTQ Victory Fund,” said Palmer. “I’m grateful to be recognized for my extensive record advocating for LGBTQ rights cases for the past 20 years. I hope to be elected in May and serve the public as an openly LGBTQ judge in Philadelphia. It is so important for our society to have diverse representation in all branches of government.” Albert said Victory Fund has endorsed “quality candidates” in the past and that he is pleased to be considered in that league. “It is an awesome experience,” Albert said. “As a gay man, I hope this endorsement speaks to what I have put into this community over the years, and that I am able to win.” But, what about those Philly candidates who do fully support and work hard for LGBTQ rights and issues and miss getting a nod from the Victory Fund?

CAMP from page 5

“At Camp Mosh, we house campers according to gender identity and where they will feel most comfortable living,” said Silber, campers who “identify as gender nonbinary, genderqueer, agender, gender nonconforming, gender fluid, transgender and cisgender allies. … We will happily offer an all-gender option to our younger campers as well, if there are enough [at least five] who would select that option.” Camp Mosh offers an LGBTQIA club for campers and holds Pride celebrations for the entire camp. There’s a lot of Hebrew learned and spoken, which – like many languages – would include nouns with gender assignments. Silber explained they’ve started using gender-in-

his parishioners will consider whether they will be leave the UMC or look for ways to survive within it. But he asked, “How do you survive that? I have no idea.” The Rev. Lydia E. Muñoz, lead pastor at the Church of the Open Door in Kennett Square, said she and her congregation are going to treat LBGT worshipers with full equality no matter what. “The bottom line is: They can come for me,” she said about traditionalists who might complain. “I want to see people who have that much malice and un-Christian-like spirit come for me. I want them to do that in front of our whole congregation.” Muñoz is married to Jim McIntire, the minister of Royersford United Methodist Church in Montgomery County. He made a commitment with other clergy in the mid-1990s to perform same-sex marriages. “I will stick with that commit-

“We appreciate allies,” Parker said. “We don’t succeed nationwide without allies, but, our mission is to support those members of the LGBTQ community running for, or already in, office.” Attorney Beth Grossman, a Republican who ran unsuccessfully for Philadelphia District Attorney against Larry Krasner in 2017, also is running for a judgeship in May. Grossman said she is a huge advocate of all LGBTQ rights and issues, and that she doesn’t begrudge any LGBTQ candidate support of any kind. “I can’t emphasize my support enough, and am glad things have changed for the Human Relations Commission, although dealing with Harrisburg is another matter,” she said. “Look, I was a prosecutor for nearly 22 years. When you see people victimized due to sexual orientation and gender identification, it’s upsetting.” Grossman knows that if she wins her judgeship for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, at-Large, that she won’t get to pick her jurisdiction. But if she has her druthers, she would choose juvenile court.

clusive Hebrew, and even got a write-up about that in The Washington Post. The Reconstructionist movement, based outside Philadelphia, runs Camp Havaya in the Poconos. Its website says, “In our incredibly diverse and accepting community, all kids – no matter their race, sexual orientation, gender identity, family structure, or Jewish background – are more than welcomed. They’re celebrated!” Executive Director Rabbi Isaac Saposnik, who uses pronouns in his email signature, let PGN know, “While we’re not currently planning for all-gender cabins, our commitment to LGBTQ campers and families is longstanding and deep. At Camp Havaya, there’s never a reason for campers to be

ment,” he said. Michael Gilbertson plans to remain a Methodist. Gilbertson, who turned 70 this week, left the denomination several years ago after a previous failure of the church to fully accept gays and lesbians. But when Arch Street United Methodist Church minister Robin Hynicka and 35 other Methodist leaders conducted a same-sex wedding at Arch Street in 2013, he decided he would come back to the fold. That clergy faced a complaint filed by 50 area ministers, but it was later dropped when those at the wedding acknowledged that they had broken the rules. Although he feels that the UMC “has stabbed me in the back,” Gilbertson said he’s not moving. “I left once and came back. I’m not going to leave again. They aren’t going to kick me out. There’s work to be done to show them that the Kingdom of God includes all of God’s children.” n

“I think one of the most vulnerable populations is LGBTQ youth because they face issues of homelessness and are subject to trafficking. There is so much trauma and need in those courtrooms.” Philadelphia criminal attorney Gregory Weyer is running for a judgeship for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, at-Large. He’s straight, married and thoroughly supports all forms of LGBTQ rights. He doesn’t feel bad that the Victory Fund won’t look to him with their support. “Every organization has their own position as to who they want to endorse,” he said. “You get support where you get it, and I’m not upset that I didn’t have access to Victory Fund support. As a criminal attorney and a foster dad, I might have access to endorsements others might not. As long as it doesn’t get to a point of slamming all nonLGBTQ candidates, it’s all fair.” Weyer considers himself an ally to the LGBTQ community, and believes the law needs to work for everyone, gay and straight alike. “Everyone deserves dignity.” n

anyone other than their true selves. No matter who they are, our kids are both celebrated and challenged in ways that help them grow into amazing human beings. We proudly fly a rainbow flag and have signs on our dining-hall bathroom doors saying that they are for use by anyone, regardless of gender identity. Unlike many other camps, we don’t have a boys’ side and girls’ side and our activities aren’t gender-specific; while a nonbinary child would need to choose a particular bunk, the choice is theirs to make and it doesn’t pre-determine the rest of their day-to-day experience. And we were one of the first Jewish camps to welcome openly trans campers; we now consult to other camps across the country about issues of gender and diversity.” n

FINANCES PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 8-14, 2019

The skinny on long-term care insurance Q: My spouse and I are in our early 60s, without children, and are concerned about the risk of needing care in the future. Do you think most couples who can afford it should consider buying longterm care insurance? A: Unplanned, uninsured care needed may be the greatest risk to our assets as we age. When deciding whether or not to buy long-term care insurance, one should consider the potential cost of care, the cost of insurance premiums and of course the coverage provided.

services, but only if you meet stringent financial and functional criteria. What's more, most employer-sponsored or private health-insurance plans follow the same general rules as Medicare. Therefore, most people who need long-term care must pay for some or all of it on their own. Cost of Insurance

Like life insurance, longterm care insurance policy premiums largely depend on your age and health. If you take out a policy when you are young, Is Long-Term Care Insurance you can expect to pay comparaJeremy tively low premiums during the a Good Idea? Gussick life of the plan, while starting a There is a good possibility new policy when you are older that you or your spouse will will entail significantly higher eventually require some form of long-term monthly premiums. care (LTC). According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, at least Most long-term care policies sold 70 percent of people aged 65 or older will today are federally tax qualified, which require some form of long-term care sermeans the premiums paid and out-ofvices and support during their lives.1 pocket expenses for long-term care may Whether you or your spouse will be be applied to the medical-expense deducamong this group is impossible to predict. tion of the federal tax code. (For tax year But it is wise to consider how you might 2018, seniors may deduct the portion of pay for long- term care and whether longmedical and dental expenses that exceed term care insurance is a good idea for you. 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income.) Additionally, long-term care benefits Cost of Care received are not taxed as income up to certain limits. Consult with a tax advisor to Perhaps the first consideration is deterlearn more about the tax implications of mining the potential cost of long-term long-term care insurance. care. Below is a summary of current costs according to the Genworth 2017 Cost of Coverage Care Survey. Long-term care policies are complex and Median costs in the United States:1 vary widely. But in general, long-term care insurance typically covers the following: • $235/day for a semi-private room in a nursing home • Nursing home care • $267/day for a private room in a nurs• Adult day care ing home • Visiting nurses • $3,750/month for care in an assist• Assisted living ed-living facility (for a one-bedroom unit) • In-home assistance with daily activities • $135/day for a home-health aide • $131/day for homemaker/companion LTC includes a range of nursing, social services and rehabilitative services for people who need ongoing assistance due to a chronic With health care costs rising every year, illness or disability. LTC insurance can be these expenses can be expected to grow used by anyone at any age who suffers an substantially over time. Furthermore, neiaccident or debilitating illness, but it most ther Medicare nor Medicare supplemental frequently is used by older adults who coverage, also known as Medigap insurneed assistance with essential physical ance, typically covers long-term care. needs, such as bathing, dressing or eating. Medicaid will cover a large share of such

Out Money

Other Considerations Deciding whether to purchase longterm care insurance, and which type of policy to purchase, will depend on your personal situation. You may want to consider your family health history, your level of assets to potentially pay for longterm care and your feelings about relying on family members for support. Probing these and other individual circumstance can help you make a well-informed decision. n

Body U

Megan Niño

1Source: Genworth, 2017 Cost of Care Survey, 2017. Jeremy R. Gussick is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional affiliated with LPL Financial, the nation’s largest independent broker-dealer.* He is also Certified in Long-Term Care (CLTC).® Jeremy specializes in the financial planning and retirement income needs of the LGBT community and was recently named a 2018 FIVE STAR Wealth Manager as mentioned in Philadelphia Magazine.** He is active with several LGBT organizations in the Philadelphia region, including DVLF (Delaware Valley Legacy Fund) and the Independence Business Alliance (IBA), the Philadelphia Region’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce. OutMoney appears monthly. If you have a question for Jeremy, you can contact him via email at jeremy.gussick@lpl.com. Jeremy R. Gussick is a Registered Representative with, and securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC. This article was prepared with the assistance of DST Systems Inc. The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. This communication is not intended to be tax advice and should not be treated as such. Please consult me if you have any questions. Because of the possibility of human or mechanical error by DST Systems Inc. or its sources, neither Wealth Management Systems Inc. nor its sources guarantees the accuracy, adequacy, completeness or availability of any information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such information. In no event shall DST Systems Inc. be liable for any indirect, special or consequential damages in connection with subscribers’ or others’ use of the content. © 2018 DST Systems, Inc. Reproduction in whole or in part prohibited, except by permission. All rights reserved. Not responsible for any errors or omissions.

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*As reported by Financial Planning magazine, June 1996-2018, based on total revenues. **Award based on 10 objective criteria associated with providing quality services to clients such as credentials, experience, and assets under management among other factors. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of 2018 Five Star Wealth Managers.

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News analysis Beyond Neverland: Documentary Michael Jackson By Victoria A. Brownworth PGN Contributor It’s been a tough week for the millions of fans of Michael Jackson, an iconic figure in American music, often referred to as “The King of Pop.” A month after the six-hour Lifetime documentary “Surviving R Kelly” resulted in R&B singer R Kelly being arrest on sexual assault charges and held on $1 million bail, HBO has aired a 236-minute documentary, “Leaving Neverland.” Directed by British filmmaker Dan Reed, “Leaving Neverland” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25. It aired in two parts on March 3 and 4 on HBO and details the alleged sexual abuse of two boys–now grown men–with whom Jackson worked. It’s a searingly graphic film that is hard to watch, but speaks to the global awe and reverence with which Jackson was held. A musical and dance genius, Jackson had been in the international spotlight for decades before his sudden death in 2009 at only 50. Throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s, Michael Jackson’s music was the background for American lives. At the 1993 Super Bowl XXVII halftime show, Jackson stood for a full two minutes while the crowd cheered. It was a testament to his superstardom and his mastery of audiences. Comedian Chris Rock once joked on the Oprah Winfrey show that Jackson was so beloved, he got the first kid no questions asked — alluding to the pedophilia rumors that followed Jackson for years. Just months after that Super Bowl performance, in December 1993, Jackson was accused of sexually abusing 13-year-old

Jordan Chandler at his Neverland ranch. He denied the claims and settled the civil case out of court. No criminal charges were filed. In 2003, Jackson was charged with seven counts of child molesting and faced up to 20 years in prison. In 2005, following a 14-week trial, Jackson was acquitted of child abuse. Robson and Safechuck had previously denied being molested by Jackson. In 2013, Robson sued the Jackson estate, claiming he had been sexually abused from ages 7 to 14. Robson said, “I have never forgotten one moment of what Michael did to me, but I was psychologically and emotionally completely unable and unwilling to understand that it was sexual abuse.” Safechuck filed a suit in 2014, claiming that he had been abused from 1988 to 1992. “Leaving Neverland” details how Robson met Jackson after winning a dance contest in his native Australia when he was 5 years old. Safechuck shot a Pepsi commercial with the singer right before his 9th birthday. In the film, both men assert that Jackson warned them they had to keep the abuse a secret and allegedly pressured them to defend him in his sex-abuse cases. The Jackson family has denounced Robson and Safechuck as “opportunists” and “admitted liars.” His estate also sued HBO last week, calling the documentary a “one-sided marathon of unvetted propaganda to shamelessly exploit an innocent man no longer here to defend himself.” On “CBS This Morning,” Reed responded to critiques that he should have included the Jackson’s family’s viewpoint. Reed said, “This isn’t a film about Michael Jackson. It’s a film about Wade Robson and James Safechuck, two little boys to

whom this dreadful thing happened long ago. It’s the story of their coming to terms with that over two decades and the story of their families. As far as including other eyewitnesses to that, there was no one else in the room, I don’t believe, when Wade was being molested by Michael or when James was having sex with Michael.” Robson and Safechuck were 7 and 10, respectively, at the time the alleged abuse began. Robson, 36, is now a world-renowned dancer and choreographer. James “Jimmy” Safechuck, 40, a performer. Oprah Winfrey aired an hour-long interview with Reed, Robson and Safechuck following the second episode of the documentary and her unilateral support may be as controversial as the film itself. In “Oprah Winfrey Presents: After Neverland,” Winfrey said, “I know people all over the world are going to be in an uproar and debating whether or not Michael Jackson did these things and whether these two men are lying or not lying. But for me, this moment transcends Michael Jackson,” Winfrey said. “It is much bigger than any one person. This is a moment in time that allows us to see this societal corruption. It’s like a scourge on humanity. ...If it gets you, our audience, to see how it happens, then some good would have come of it.” Winfrey has long been an advocate for sexual abuse survivors. In 1989 she revealed on her talk show that she was sexually abused as a child, in what many considered a breakthrough moment for abuse survivors because of her celebrity. Winfrey praised Reed for the film. “I taped 217 episodes [of “Oprah”] on sexual abuse. I tried and tried and tried to

get the message across to people that sexual abuse was not just abuse. It was also sexual seduction,” Winfrey said, adding that Reed was “able to illustrate in these four hours what I tried to explain in 217.” Reed’s comments on the film reinforce Winfrey’s interpretation, supported by myriad studies, that sexual abusers groom their victims to make them feel loved and “special.” Reed said, “What people find it difficult to understand — and what I’ve always found while making this film sort of difficult to understand and very shocking — is the deep attachment formed between the abuser and the abused with this kind of grooming pedophile activity. So, both Wade and James were in love with Michael, even after the sexual activity stopped. They continued loving him and he was a close friend, particularly to Wade for many, many years.” Both Robson and Safechuck said they believe Jackson was in love with them, too. Neither Robson nor Safechuck was paid for their participation in the film and have “no future, past or present interest” in it, according to Reed. “Leaving Neverland” leaves no doubt that Michael Jackson — revered, iconic, beloved — was a pedophile who serially abused and raped children. Separating the music from the abuse will not be easy, but it will be necessary. “Neverland” ranch itself, catering only to children as it did, should have been a red flag and “Leaving Neverland” warns us — as did: “Surviving R Kelly” — that we can never again let adoration for any star blind us to the suffering of their most vulnerable victims. n

Native Texan rates offerings at William Way’s chili cook-off By Gary L. Day PGN Contributor Most people may not know this (or care), but I am not native to Philadelphia. In fact, I grew up on a farm 80 miles northwest of Amarillo, Texas. Yes, my adolescence was spent driving a tractor, dealing with cows, pigs and chickens — and doing my best to avoid getting beaten up by homophobic cowboys. Ah, childhood. It also means that I was essentially suckled on chili and weaned on barbecue. Don’t get me wrong. I love my adopted hometown of Philly beyond all measure, but I have to be honest: I miss chili and barbecue. It’s akin to Philadelphia expatriates searching for a decent cheesesteak in L.A. — it’s simply not to be had. I’ve been to several barbecue joints in Philly; some of them are decent, but it’s just not the same. And chili? What passes for chili in Philly would bring tears of hilarity to the eyes of those cowboys I used to know. So, when I heard that the William Way

Community Center was kicking off an annual Chili Cook-Off fundraiser, I convinced my editor that I was uniquely qualified to go see what’s what. What it was, was 20 aspiring contestants lined up in the Mark Segal ballroom with slow-cookers filled with their personal concoctions, and a large, enthusiastic crowd of chili aficionados sampling the offerings and voting on their favorites. The contestants were vying for first prize in two categories: traditional recipes and vegetarian. I admit, the second category made me nervous. Where I come from, vegetarian chili is one of the seven deadly culinary sins, right up there with ground-turkey burgers and soy milk. But I owed everyone a fair shake, so I dove in with gusto. First thing I noticed was that everyone had given their recipes cute descriptive names, presumably to increase identifiability among the voters. Or it could just have been in the spirit of the day’s fun. One thing I rapidly picked up was con-

firmation of something I learned long ago: amateur urban chili chefs tend to unnecessarily gussy up their recipes. Chili is best when kept simple and basic. Add too many extra ingredients and you end up with something more like a soup or a stew. Another thing common among the contestants seemed to be an aversion to seasoning and spice. For a former Texan, I have an unusually low tolerance for spicy heat, but even my fragile palate found many of the recipes in dire need of some additional kick. Turns out, though, some of the traditional recipes were pretty darn good. A friend had warned me that Leah’s Chili was the hottest and spiciest he had encountered. Indeed, it had some kick, but nowhere near uncomfortable levels. An offering called White Turkey Cajun, while not entirely traditional (turkey? in chili?) had a good spice level, with added sausage and other Cajun ingredients lending body and complexity. But my favorite was Chili Chili Bang

Bang. The cook used multiple meats and a nice level of seasoning. There was a good level of heat and an added taste of sweet not present in any other recipe. Anyone who’s watched “Chopped” on the Food Network knows that a good balance of spicy and sweet can yield really tasty results. As for the vegetarian recipes — well, I gave it a fair shot. Granted, many of the recipes were very tasty, but one and all, they were too bland to qualify as good chili. In addition to being under-seasoned, many had textural problems from a lack of an adequate meat substitute, leaving many too soup-like for my preference. Fortunately for the vegetarian chefs, my tastes did not carry the day. The vegan recipes in particular were a hit with many in the crowd. When the votes were finally tallied, my favorite traditional recipe, Chili Chili Bang Bang, took first prize. In the vegetarian category, Oak’s Best Chili Yet took the trophy. n

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 8-14, 2019

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Getting married? Here’s your legal cheat-sheet Maybe you’re thinking about proposing. Maybe you’ve set a date. Or maybe you’re taking the plunge next week — regardless of where you are in the wedding bliss process, this is a legal checklist for you and your spouse-to-be. While marriage is a time of joy, there are also very important legal and financial matters to address before (or after!) the wedding bells. This column is meant to be your cheat-sheet. ➢ Legal marriage requirements I hate to start out with a disclaimer, but hey, I’m a lawyer! First and foremost, please refer to the laws in your state and/or speak with a family-law attorney since each state is different when it comes to marriage-related issues such as the legal requirements for marriage. Make sure you have fulfilled all marriage requirements in your state prior to the big day, and this is even more crucial if you are having a destination wedding in another state or country.

signatures notarized. Keep in mind, everyone has pre-marital agreement; it’s whether you wrote it, or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania wrote it. ➢ Estate planning Where there’s a Will, there’s a way! You cannot “opt out” of estate planning. Whether you know it or not, you have an estate plan right now. If you did not draft an estate plan, the laws of the state you live in will govern your estate through its intestacy laws. At a minimum, I recommend the following documents for my LGBTQ clients:

• Powers of Attorney: A Health Care Power of Attorney is critically important if you want your partner to act for you should you become incapacitated. You also need a Durable Angela Power of Attorney. This gives Giampolo someone power over your affairs, such as businesses, finances and real estate.

Out Law

➢ Marriage ceremonies Most states have legal requirements pertaining to the marriage ceremony itself, including who may perform the marriage ceremony (i.e. a Justice of the Peace or a minister) and whether witnesses to the ceremony are required. If you are a Pennsylvania resident, I highly recommend taking advantage of the Quaker marriage license. The cost is $90, $10 more than a traditional marriage license, but allows you to self-unify your marriage with two witnesses, thus removing the need for an ordained minister or a Justice of the Peace. ➢ Pre-marital agreements Some say it’s not romantic to think of marriage as a legally binding contract, but it is one. People are offended by a two-year Comcast contract, but enter a marriage, which is a contract that lasts in perpetuity, without anything in writing; and the “breakage fee” is a lot more than $350! Particularly for LGBTQ individuals, who tend to marry later in life, the default state divorce code may not effectively provide for your relationship. Crafting a pre-marital agreement can be an empowering process that benefits you and provides stability around the legal and financial aspects of your marriage. Pre-marital agreements must be in writing (oral agreements are not enforceable) and voluntarily agreed to by both participants. Full disclosure of all assets and liabilities must be made at execution of the agreement and lastly, the agreement must be validly executed by having both parties’

• Advanced Directive: A “Living Will” enables you to provide instructions to physicians relating to prolonged life support in the event of incurable illness. • HIPAA Authorization: In the past few years, the law has changed to guarantee a higher right to privacy regarding patient health information. Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), specific authorization is now required to permit medical personnel to release “protected health care information.” If you do not have this authorization, it could potentially create a problem in the event a physician needs to release medical information in order to activate healthcare powers of attorney. • Hospital Visitation Authorization Form: This short document allows you to visit your partner in any medical or treatment facility, and depending on the couples’ wishes, it can also grant you the power to dictate who is allowed in the hospital room to visit your partner. • Pet Care Directive: These directives became much more popular after Hurricane Katrina. It is a document that provides for who will take care of your pet should anything happen to you. Moreover, it lists what veterinary practice the pet attends and can leave sums of money in order for your agent to properly care for your pet. • Last Will & Testament: Without a Will you are subject to the intestacy laws of your state. These laws adversely impact LGBTQ couples because they define

“heirs at law” as legal next of kin, blood relatives or adopted children. If you prepared estate-planning documents prior to getting married, have your plan reviewed by an attorney. Married couples enjoy impactful and robust privileges and benefits in estate planning and as such, your “pre-marriage” estate plan likely needs an overhaul. If nothing else, I recommend re-executing your estate-planning documents so that the definition used in the documents reflects your legal relationship — spouse, husband/husband or wife/wife. ➢ Family planning There is currently a proposed Pennsylvania Assisted Reproductive Technologies Act floating around in Harrisburg, but as of now, there is no statute governing parentage in Pennsylvania for children born through assisted reproductive technologies. Until there is, nothing other than legally forming the “child-parent” relationship through a kinship adoption will confer a parent-child relationship between a non-biological parent and his or her child. Through an adoption, the couple receives an Adoption Decree, and that document confers a legal parent-child relationship. The document clarifies many rights and obligations such as decision-making in medical situations, custody and child support, and inheritance rights. There are many other ways to grow your family including private adoption or foster care. Regardless of how you create your family, each has its own set of issues to address, so I urge you to consult with an attorney about your specific situation. ➢ Taxes — marriage bonus or marriage penalty? Everyone who gets married is either in a marriage-bonus or marriage-penalty situation as it relates to taxes, so the first step is to review your tax withholding status. Does your new status make you eligible for more tax deductions or does your combined income with your spouse put you in a higher tax bracket? If so, you might need to change your withholding allowances. TurboTax has a great W-4 calculator that makes it easy to see how many withholding allowances you should take to boost your tax refund — or your take-home pay. In most cases, married couples see a marriage bonus when they file as married filing jointly. However, depending on your individual tax situation this year, it might make sense to see which filing status (married filing jointly or married filing separately) gives you the biggest tax refund. If you file jointly, your spouse’s tax breaks are yours as well. Make sure that you review your tax breaks from the past year. If you just got married, you might be able to take advantage of your spouse’s generous charitable donations to help lower your bill. Consider investment

losses, dependent-care credits, education credits, mortgage interest and other tax breaks. Go back through the finances for both of you and identify your joint tax breaks — and see if you have time to rack up a couple more tax breaks before the end of the year. ➢ Real property If you and your partner owned real estate prior to tying the knot, you must retitle your deed to “Tenants by the Entirety;” which is a special type of joint ownership only permissible between spouses. When one spouse dies, the surviving spouse immediately becomes the sole owner of the property and the property passes outside of probate and it is completely creditor protected. Lastly, if you and your partner own property in multiple states, it is highly recommended that you obtain a Revocable Living Trust to avoid passing through probate in each state in which you own property. This can save you several thousands of dollars in probate fees and several months in the probate process. ➢ Changing your name after marriage Many new spouses choose to change their name for traditional and symbolic reasons. If you do decide to change your name, you’ll need to do this in addition to the marriage license paperwork and you’ll have to notify a handful of different agencies. Changing your name with Social Security is your top priority. You can’t apply for a new social security card online, so you’ll need a certified copy of your marriage certificate and birth certificate (or other proof of citizenship) and either mail the application or bring it to the Social Security office in person. Secondly, you’ll need a new driver’s license. I recommend waiting until you have your new Social Security card and taking that along with your birth certificate, marriage license and current driver’s license to the DMV in your area. Once you have your new Social Security card and Driver’s License, you can easily obtain a new passport, update credit cards, etc. CONGRATS – you’re done! This may seem like a long list of To Do’s, but please do not be overwhelmed. There is no perfect timeline. And ultimately, most of us just figure it all out as we go. With that said, knowing in advance what to expect can help streamline the process and make it a little easier. n Angela D. Giampolo, principal of Giampolo Law Group, maintains offices in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and specializes in LGBT law, family law, business law, real estate law and civil rights. Her website is www.giampololaw.com and she maintains a blog at www.phillygaylawyer.com. Reach out to Angela with your legal questions at 215-645-2415 or angela@giampololaw.com.

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Tips from the newlyweds: Lee Singletary and Nathan Bland By Jeremy Rodriguez PGN Contributor Lee Singletary and Nathan Bland were married Oct. 5 in Lancaster in front of family and friends. The happy couple shared their engagement story with PGN last year, and we caught up with them for their tips and tricks to having a successful wedding. 1. Pick your venue. The couple said the biggest and most important thing to figure out is the location and venue so you can focus on the other finer details. “We picked our venue within one month of the proposal. That gave us the freedom and the ability to really plan, and go into the details that we wanted for the wedding and [for] everyone who was attending,” Bland said. “I felt like we didn’t have so much stress because we had the biggest thing taken care of right away.” 2. Sweat the small stuff. Singletary said that while this contradicts many wedding guides, it proved helpful to think about the smaller tasks first to relieve future troubles.

“We found that a whole lot of potential stress was relieved when we got the DIY out of the way and some of the other things,” he said. “Things like table numbers, family photos, extra candles, signage, furniture layout pertaining to the rentals, etc. When it came time to actually solidify those decisions, we had already pretty much given so much thought to each of those areas that it just made it significantly easier.” 3. Think about the guests’ experience. The couple noted aspects where they ensured the guests had a positive experience. Bland said every guest had a glass of champagne as soon as they arrived to the big event. Additionally, Singletary made sure guests had a great experience outside of the ceremony as well. “We gave everyone a note — a sort-of ‘Welcome to Lancaster’ [note] — and I designed a map in the shape of a heart to let [the guests] know all of our favorite places, so they could plan their weekend without asking us one million questions,” Singletary said with a laugh. Singletary said the couple also sent out detailed emails one week and two days before the wedding so the guests and the wedding party knew the run of the show.

4. Go local, when possible. The couple suggested using locally grown flowers and to check with your caterer to create a modified menu of local food. Furthermore, they suggested reducing your carbon footprint by hiring vendors and rentals within the venue’s vicinity. Bland noted the misconceptions about working with local companies. “People sometimes think that going local can be more expensive because a lot of times, ‘local’ means a smaller company or a mom-and-pop operation, so they are not putting out the quantity or the volume of these larger companies and businesses that can do things on the cheaper side. But a lot of times when you are working local, there’s no delivery and maybe there is no upcharge because you’re hearing directly from the vendor and not a third party.” 5. Incorporate your personality. The couple made sure the personal traits of each of them shined through before and during the ceremony. Since Bland is a ballet dancer, they decided to incorporate a theatrical quality. This included bringing in the talents of Bland’s sister, an opera singer, as well as a string

NATHAN BLAND (LEFT) AND LEE SINGLETARY ON THEIR WEDDING DAY Photo: Katie Ging

quartet, DJ and live band. Singletary works in marketing and he made sure the entire event had a consistent brand, and put thought into the colors, fonts and other choices. “The wedding really starts with the announcement,” he said, pointing out that the brand had the same through line from the beginning. n

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Engagement Alyssa Cosentino and Julia Tich By Jeremy Rodriguez PGN Contributor Alyssa Cosentino recalled meeting her future wife while the two of them were grad students at the University of Pennsylvania in August 2017. “Personally, I thought she didn’t like me because she was very shy but …” Cosentino began. “I liked her right away,” Julia Tich, her fiancee, interjected. Cosentino, 27, led a volunteer group where Tich, 23, was a member. During meal time at a volunteer day, the two were across from each other scooping chicken onto their plates. Tich, who has food allergies, initiated the first conversation by asking Cosentino to check the food and ensure she would be safe. “I wanted to make sure I did a good job,” Cosentino joked. A few weeks later, Cosentino had tickets to see a show at

FringeArts and asked Tich to accompany her. The two have been dating ever since, and plan to marry on Sept. 12, 2020. The couple decided to buy engagement rings together and propose to each other within the same time-span. On Sept. 22, Tich proposed to Cosentino at a picnic in Valley Forge, where the two had one of their first dates. Tich presented a scrapbook of photos from their year as a couple. Then about an hour later, they went to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Cosentino gathered family together and received help from a Disney a capella group for her own proposal. The group sang “Lava” from the Disney short film of the same name. In the song, a volcano sings a song about wanting a mate of his own and a smaller volcano below sea level ends up falling in love with him from afar. The story ends with the two volcanoes forming an island and living happily ever after.

JULIA TICH (LEFT) AND ALYSSA COSENTINO

“I feel like I’ve always been hoping and praying that I would find someone that I love, and wondering if there was someone like me out there,” Cosentino said about the song’s parallels to her relationship with Tich. “And I found her,

and I can’t believe I did.” “It’s my favorite day ever,” Tich added about the proposal. When it comes to what the two like about each other, Cosentino said Tich is “the purest soul out of anyone I’ve ever met” and noted her fiancee’s passion for social-justice issues. Additionally, she noted that Tich complements her. “She can do things that I can’t do. I’m a kind-of all-over-theplace type of person and follow through is a difficult thing for me, but Julia is the type of person who will create an event for students and follow through with the whole thing and also do different partnerships with organizations where she’s working now,” Cosentino said of Tich’s leadership skills. “I just find that amazing because I’m not good at that, myself.” “Besides that, I love how humorous you are and I think you’re beautiful,” Cosentino said to Tich. “You have a beautiful

mind, body and soul. I love to be around you and I feel comfortable. I remember on our first date when we were eating together, we were sitting for three hours and I can’t sit with anyone for three hours. I’m always wondering when I’m going to head out and leave and I just felt safe and comfortable.” Tich said she knew she was enamored by her future wife’s involvement in student clubs at UPenn. “I just thought it was the coolest thing that [she] had a spirit and maintained it through many years,” Tich said. “I think she’s just the best person I’ve ever met. She’s so kind. She’s really funny. She has that combination of being an amazing person, but also being really genuine and being very funny. I think together we’re perfect for each other.” “I couldn’t imagine being with anyone else,” Cosentino added. “Me neither,” Tich said. n

wore wedding bands with the pansexual pride colors. It is here where the couple navigates situations differently from most queer couples. Hoops, who is pansexual, noted the couple has fortunately not received any comments from people who tried to erase her pansexuality or Lesage’s bisexuality. However, they have received backlash in other ways. Lesage spoke about their overall gender expression. “Appearances never mattered [to me] that much,” they said. “Physical health mattered. But clothing, fashion and anything that you would consider ‘gender presentation’ — I never thought they were important.” Lesage recalled a time speaking to someone about lesbian porn. From their perspective, Lesage envisioned themself in the body of one of the women onscreen. Lesage said the man he spoke to about this was disgusted by their perspective. “I didn’t realize that anyone was so attached to their identity in that way,” they said. “What’s weird to deal with, is there are some spaces where people don’t want masculine-presenting people and when I walk in those spaces, I am judged. And I totally

understand why people are uncomfortable. I’m not saying that’s an issue. I just think it’s interesting that I don’t feel I present that way, but other people interpret my existence as being masculine.” On the other hand, Hoops said people will often question her sexuality in queer spaces, where the couple is still very involved. “I’ve been told by everybody that I don’t look [gay]. What does that look like? Do I have to be throwing up rainbows or waving a Dorothy Gale flag? What do I have to do?” Hoops said. However, when things get difficult, the couple has each other to turn to. Lesage said Hoops is a “ferocious worker” and enjoys that their partner is “extremely loving.” “I feel supported,” they said. “I feel cared for. And I hope she feels the same.” It seems likely Hoops does feel the same. “Ian is so supportive and reassuring and builds me up more than anyone I’ve ever been with,” Hoops said. “I’ve never felt more supported by someone than I do with this weirdo,” she joked. n

Wedding Little Miss Rollerhoops and Ian Lesage By Jeremy Rodriguez PGN Contributor “Weird” and “awkward” is how Little Miss Rollerhoops and Ian Lesage lovingly describe their relationship. The couple spoke with PGN via phone from a honeymoon cruise where Little Miss Rollerhoops, who goes by “Hoops” for short, described how the two have yet to change. “We’re still very awkward. We’re giant children,” the 31-year-old said. “I’m sitting here in a Peter Pan costume and Ian has a rubber turtle. I tried to win [Lesage] a rubber duck in a game just now, and I got a turtle instead.” The couple, both of whom work in the entertainment industry, met in April 2016. Hoops was working at the door for an event at a Gayborhood bar where Lesage was scheduled to perform. The two went out to karaoke at Tavern On Camac with a small group a few occasions later. “The whole courtship was weird, which is actually appropriate,” said Lesage, 30, which made Hoops laugh. Lesage, who goes by they/them pronouns, recalled a notable one-

on-one interaction with Hoops that evening. “Hoops and I were chit chatting and she said, ‘Oh boy, if you weren’t gay ...’ and I was like, ‘Well I’m not technically gay,’” Lesage said, noting their bisexuality. “And she just stopped talking and just walked away.” “I remember thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, this person is really attractive and pretty, and the most ‘my type’ that I have ever met,’” Hoops added. The attraction was mutual. They began dating shortly after. Hoops recalled a time when the two walked down Walnut Street and she reached out to grab Lesage’s hand. She noted this action was out-of-character for her, but said she felt comfort with Lesage because they were treating her better than her previous relationships. Nowadays, the couple refers to hand-holding with one word: Beatles. “If one of us wants to hold the other one’s hand, we’ll say ‘Beatles,’ [referencing the band’s song] ‘I Want To Hold Your Hand’ because we’re cheesy,” Hoops said. The Beatles also played a role in the couple’s eventual marriage. In November 2017, Hoops proposed to Lesage in Las Vegas when they

Photo: Amanda Swiger

attended “The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil,” a show which combines the Beatles’ music with circus-based stage performances. The couple, who eloped on June 5, 2018 during a small ceremony, noted how they usually go outside society’s expectations of marriage. “We’re both super not traditional with all of the usual stuff,” Hoops said. “At our wedding, Ian wore space-robot-unicorn leggings and I was dressed as Peter Pan going to a ball.” Furthermore, Hoops and Lesage

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Four must-have discussions before the wedding It’s only been about 300 years since we would be like buying a house without started choosing our spouses based on reading the contract. being in love and not the execution of a First, take the time to talk with your contract for reasons such as class, money partner in a purposeful way about whether or land. As it relates to humankind, that you expect things to in some way be difis an incredibly brief amount of time; as ferent once you’re married. This may such, it is only logical that as a seem simple or obvious but the society we are still working out fact is, most couples are not the kinks of how to enter into addressing this question in the successful, love-based marmonths leading up to the wedriages. ding. Ask your partner directly: Even more recent, just a few Once we’re married what do decades, is the social acceptyou expect to be different? The ability of divorce. Through this answer may ultimately be that creation of an exit door, being neither of you expect much to successful in marriage has change or one or both of you become even more challenging. might have all kinds of ideas While every individual, every about what will be different. couple and every marriage is Whatever the case, by asking unique, there are some things and answering this question, you can do in preparation of the opportunity is presented your nuptials to help ensure address expectations and to Kristina Furia to you and your partner’s readiknock out any unrealistic ones. ness for such an immense comNext, if you and your mitment. spouse-to-be have not yet discussed While my list is not comprehensive money in a thorough and transparent due to space and time restrictions, I have way, it is time to rip off that ever-sochosen four points for consideration and sticky band-aid. Money is one of the discussion that I believe to be of particprimary cited reasons for divorce among ular importance. I encourage you and Americans. your partner to proactively address each Money relates to so much: power, control, dynamics, insecurities, fear, trust of them with the idea that entering into and more. While there is no denying that a marriage without discussing its terms

Thinking Queerly

financial talks can be incredibly vulnerable, consider such conversations crucial to a successful marriage. There is no right way to manage finances as a couple. Keeping your money separate is no better or worse than going the joint-account route, as long as you both are in true agreement about whatever arrangement is decided upon. To ensure that you are

about money. But, by opening up the dialogue, you have opened up your ability to increase your compatibility in this area. This next piece is not very romantic. In fact, it’s based in the very idea that marriage is generally not a romantic thing. Can and should romance exist within marriage? Yes, of course, but going through the ins and outs and ups and downs of

Going through the ins and outs and ups and downs of daily life with someone is not about the romantic. Instead, it is about the effectiveness with which you together navigate all of life’s complexities and responsibilities. Failure to appropriately distribute these duties between the two of you can result in serious and pervasive conflict and resentment. both actually comfortable with the money-management decisions you make as a couple, you need to get clear on the why. Is whatever arrangement decided upon rooted in power dynamics, insecurities or lack of trust? Are there incompatibilities in financial habits that you both have been avoiding addressing such as frugalness versus frivolousness? These discussions won’t be easy, and it’s also likely that you won’t align completely in your ideas

daily life with someone is not about the romantic. Instead, it is about the effectiveness with which you together navigate all of life’s complexities and responsibilities. Many of these shared responsibilities relate to home life: cooking, cleaning, laundry, taking care of kids and/or pets are some of the big ones. Failure to appropriately distribute these duties between the two of you can result in serious and pervasive conflict and resentment. So,

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even if you’ve been living together for a while, take the time to discuss the various responsibilities and what it makes sense for each of you to do — and when. If, as a couple, you can’t get on the same page about these sorts of things the resultant turmoil will end up having the effect of wearing away at your relationship. The last topic for discussion is related to goal setting and desires for the future. Marriage is meant to be a lifelong commitment, so having a sense of what each of you want individually and in the marriage over time is crucial. For instance, if one of you dreams of moving to the West Coast and the other of you can’t imagine moving away from family — getting clear on that now will help you identify the potential for future conflict. And, if you’re dedicated to the dialogue, hopefully you will also start to develop compromises (not sacrifices) to help you both live a satisfying life long term. Discussing future goals can also help you to identify scenarios worthy of being talked through. As an example, let’s say part of your five- or seven-year plan is to go back to school. While this goal is certainly an individual one it could potentially have substantial implications for the couple such as you needing to work only part-time. If you know this and discuss it well in advance of it becoming a reality, the two of you will not only have heightened awareness of what the future might look like, but you are creating the opportunity to plan for such goals jointly and mindfully. Marriage is not an easy thing and it definitely is not one-size-fits-all. It is an amazing gift to walk through life with someone, and it’s one that is worthy of being continually tended to. So, have the difficult conversations even when it’s easier to shy away from them (and it is). If it feels too overwhelming or scary to do it without some sort of third party mediation, don’t be afraid to utilize a couples counselor to help you navigate them. I assure you that no matter how you decide to go about these conversations, they will be worth it. And, don’t worry about not aligning perfectly in every area — the goal is not perfection. The goal is joint understanding of one another that leads to increased empathy, an important part of the recipe for success in marriage. n Kristina Furia is a psychotherapist committed to working with LGBT individuals and couples and owner of Emerge Wellness, an LGBT health and wellness center in Center City (www. emergewellnessphilly.com).

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Looking and feeling your best for the big day

Full-Time Writer Sought Philadelphia Gay News, the oldest LGBT newsweekly and the largest on the East Coast, is seeking a full-time writer for news and features assignments. Candidate should be outgoing, with a talent for telling interesting, relevant stories, which typically range from politics to crime to community events. Candidate must be willing to ask tough questions, understand the importance of community journalism, be deadline-driven and have strong writing skills. Journalism experience is preferred, but new grads may be considered. Local candidates who have a familiarity with LGBT issues are preferred. Diverse candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

By Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor For brides and grooms, having a good skin- and hair-care regimen is essential. Everyone wants flawless-looking skin, and the best way to achieve that is to start preparing five months before the big day. This could include everything from nutrition and vitamins to sleep and exercise. Shireen Mustafa, owner and director of operations at Skin Haus, 1238 South St., insisted that when it comes to skin care, “Maintenance is key.” She recommended talking with a dermatologist to determine if eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, or acne are issues, as stress — and who doesn’t have wedding stress? — can cause flare-ups.

followed by toning and hydrating (moisturizing). Masks every two weeks can be beneficial for hydration. Eye creams can be used if needed to reduce puffiness. Mustafa acknowledged that “skin is acidic,” so balancing one’s pH is important. She urged, “Shop for products based not on how your skin is, but how your skin feels.” Mustafa said that we all get a new layer of skin each month. Seasonal changes and stress can cause flair ups. She described facials as, “A workout for your skin. It wakes it up and helps with puffiness.” Skin Haus offers microcurrent technology and electrical muscle stimulation that lifts, tones and sculpts the skin and face. Services such as a hydrate peel help with exfoliation and hydrates skin to improve cell turnover.

Skin Haus offers a range of services for women and men ranging from peels, masks and facials, to microdermabrasion, dermaplaning and dermalinfusions that exfoliate, extract, infuse and even regenerate cells. Mustafa suggested getting monthly peels and/or microdermabrasion treatments based on one’s skin condition; having a treatment two weeks before the wedding will not have brides or grooms looking their best. It’s important to find a good, budget-friendly aesthetician who knows your goals and can help you achieve the look you want. The basics of skin care involve cleansing with warm (not hot) water and a good gel or lotion — not soap! — to remove oil and dirt,

Some brides — and grooms — may consider Botox treatments to minimize facial lines. Mustafa cautioned about doing this last minute or without a good professional. Each line around one’s eyes or smile can respond differently to treatment and it can take three weeks for the Botox to settle in; adjustments may be needed. Plan at least two months out to know what to expect as results may vary. Ultimately Mustafa insisted brides and grooms should look and feel their best. Her goal is to guide clients based on their skin condition, which can change based on climes, exercise and hydration. But skin isn’t the only consideration in

DUTIES: Receive assignments or evaluate leads and tips in order to develop story ideas. Report and write news and features stories for publication. Independently arrange interviews with sources. Gather information about events through research, interviews, experience and attendance at political, news, sports, cultural, social and other functions. Determine story emphasis, length and format and organize material accordingly. Review copy and correct errors in content, grammar and punctuation, following prescribed editorial style and formatting guidelines. REQUIREMENTS: Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communication or English Strong knowledge of proofreading, syntax, spelling and formatting functions Ability to collaborate with and draw information from others Proficiency in MS Word; familiarity with InDesign helpful Familiarity with AP style BENEFITS: Benefits package includes medical and dental insurance, paid holidays and vacation and a casual work environment. Please send résumé, cover letter and three writing clips to editor@epgn.com. Applicants who do not send writing samples will not be considered.

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looking one’s best. If brides and grooms want to whiten their teeth for a bright smile, they should try whiteners (if desired) about four months before the wedding to avoid last-minute issues. Teeth bleaching should be done a month prior. Makeup products and styles should be tested once the individuals know what they will wear. It can take time to find the right shade or combination. That said, getting a mani/pedi the day before the wedding is fine (and hopefully relaxing before the big day). As for eyebrows, threading, tints and shaping should be tested two months out and the final “look” and touchups should be done about three days before the wedding since the skin can be sensitive. The same holds true for any waxing. Regarding tanning, finding the perfect shade is important; folks should determine what they want months in advance, but do a spray tan two days before the wedding. When it comes to hair care for grooms, it’s important to communicate what you want to your stylist. Let the barber know it is your wedding, so he or she can pay extra attention to the details. Diego Rivera, the owner of The King of Shave, at 12th and Pine, a professional barber shop, has some tips for grooms. Plan to get a classic scissors cut about a week before the wedding and leave time for any touchups the day before. For grooms with very short hair, a cut two or three days before is sufficient. Changing a hairstyle weeks before the wedding is a bad idea. So is making any drastic color changes. Better to test any new looks out at least two months before the ceremony so there is time to make any adjustments if/as necessary. If guys plan to get a professional shave the day of the wedding, Rivera recommended getting a straight-razor shave at least a month before the wedding to see how your skin reacts (especially if this is the first time you get this service). The King of Shave offers a one-hour service that involves an application of pre-shave oil and hot-lather shaving cream followed by two hot towels and another round of shaving cream. Then the straight-razor shave begins. Once the shaving is done, the barber applies an avocado mask on the shaved area, an exfoliant cream on the nose and forehead and then a cold towel. It makes the skin radiant and soft. The King of Shave also offers services for groomsmen, including classic shaves or a beard trim or full-beard sculpting. It’s best to make appointments one to two months before the wedding. Lastly, Rivera shared some tips and best practices: do not drink heavily the night before a shave or take blood thinners as bleeding can occur; plan the bachelor party days before the wedding so as not to be tired or hungover; and ask your barber how to properly style your hair and what products he recommends you use on the day of the wedding. Most importantly, taking care of your skin and your hair and taking it seriously, will ensure brides and grooms look and feel their best on their big day. n

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PGNISSUE WEDDING

What is marriage? So, you think you’re married just like those getting married. Marrying into a fameveryone else? Well, maybe not just like ily that has had a divorce may be forbidden, everyone else. But if you are married, then or marrying into a family with a lesbian or what kind of marriage is yours? Many see gay man in it may mean a lack of family marriage as an everlastingly love affair support. — the mainstay of American fairy tales The civil marriage — This is the simand marketing by the marriage ple, unvarnished version of a industry and media. But at its marriage. Pick up a marriage most basic level, with or without license and head for City Hall love, what is marriage? Marriage or your parents’ backyard. Such is defined as “the legal union of a no-frills type of marriage cerecouple as spouses. The essentials mony may be a couple’s choice, of a valid marriage are (1) paryet the couple may be excluded ties legally capable of contractfrom the marriage ceremony ing to marry, (2) mutual consent common in their families. A or agreement, and (3) an actual Jewish lesbian and her fiancée contracting in the form preare unlikely to be welcomed scribed by law.” — BLACK’S into an ultra-Orthodox Jewish LAW DICTIONARY, 10th edicongregation to exchange martion, 2014. vows before a rabbi. But Mark-Allen riage Until 2015, a marriage conmaybe they could have a reliTaylor, Esq. gious and civil ceremony before sisted of a male and a female — an opposite-sex/opposite-gender a reformed or Reconstructionist relationship. I refrain from using the rabbi. phrases, “heterosexual marriage,” “heteroThere are many more types of marriages, sexual relationship” or “heterosexual couand probably most are a combination of the ple” because a couple composed of a male above selections. and a female does not guarantee that one or For most couples, anticipating and getboth are heterosexual, but that is a topic for ting married is a joy-filled time — choosanother column. ing rings, planning a party and honeymoon, In Pennsylvania, and nationally, a sameand simply being in a committed relationsex couple can marry. And just like marship that is legally protected. riages among opposite-sex couples, there Until recently, the benefits of marriage are amazingly rich and diverse types of were denied to members of the LGBTQ+ marriages. community. It is important to understand The religious marriage — A solemn that some individuals are not “out” and the religious act where the tenants of one’s LGBTQ+ community should not judge. faith control how the marriage operThere were, and still are, gay men and lesates. Adherence to the Torah may govern bians who are able to camouflage and presthe life of an Orthodox Jewish couple. ent as “straight.” Some may be isolated, Maybe “until death do us part” governs unmarried individuals or in a marriage with the marriage of a Roman Catholic couple. a person of the opposite gender, either by Whatever the faith of a couple, the religious deceit or through a private agreement by laws and commands will govern the marthe couple. riage and the behavior of the couple. Human sexuality is an enormously comThe golden-handcuff marriage — A few plex topic and often misunderstanding, individuals will be compelled to marry or a lack of compassion, has bred horrensomeone deemed by family to be an appro- dous treatment and exclusion of someone priate match so as not to forfeit family-sup- merely by how one’s identity or gender plied luxuries or an expected inheritance. expression is viewed. But in spite of all the Some families inculcate into their child differences and coping mechanisms, peorigid restrictions as to whomever he or she ple in the LGBTQ+ community are free to can marry. Children growing up under such marry. Free is a wonderful thing, but it canconditions can risk a parent or parents not not be taken for granted because the wolf attending their wedding and even banishis always at the door. And the wolf would ing them from the family. In some cases, like to smash hard-fought rights we have the individual’s marriage outside of famattained, largely thanks to previous genily restrictions may even be treated like a erations who marched, but were unable to death. realize in their own lives all the benefits we The business-deal marriage — Some have today such as the freedom to marry couples treat marriage like a deal between the person we love. to secure the social standing and accepIt is impossible here to address all the tance that comes with being married. This facets of marriage, like common law martype of marriage may also be a type of riages, second marriages, blended families, fraud when say one person pretends to love bigamy, etc. But we started with the questhe other, but is marrying for some type of tion: What is marriage? And the answer is: gain, like money, social standing, citizenMarriage, no matter what kind, is for everyship or escape, etc. one. n The arranged marriage — Arranged marMark-Allen Taylor, Esq. is a Center City attorney speriage usually is based on certain mutually cializing in family law (www.mat-law.com). Email him agreed upon terms between the families of

Family Law

at mat@mat-law.comor call 215-854-4008.

WEDDING PGN ISSUE

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 8-14, 2019

Weddings in film By Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor

director Jonathan Tunick’s absorbing chamber drama about the impending nuptials between Daniel (Anthony Rapp) and Engaged to be married? Need a lit- Christopher (Jonathan Bennett). As the tle inspiration or relief from the wedding guys prepare their rehearsal dinner the stress? These five films — four of which night before their wedding, the couple feature same-sex wedding ceremonies, and has an awkward fight and trust issues in one about the importance of equal rights the relationship are questioned. Perceived — might be just the thing for romantics to secrets and lies threaten to tear them apart. watch in preparation for the big day. The However, the film is quite touching as its films depict the joys and jitters couples face ensemble cast espouses views about love, marriage and the communication involved when they decide to tie the knot. Given the long fight for marriage equal- in making relationships work. “Do You ity, one of the best films about gay mar- Take This Man” is a bit talky and stagy, but riage is “No Dress Code Required.” This a scene where Daniel tells his best friend extremely moving documentary chronicles Jacob (Mackenzie Astin) about the gift he Victor Manuel Aguirre and Fernando Urias, bought for Christopher is especially romana couple who encountered hitch after hitch tic and lovely. “Love is Strange” is Ira Sach’s thoughtwhen they wanted to get hitched in Baja California, Mexico. While same-sex mar- ful and wistful film about a couple, George riage was legal in some states in Mexico, (Alfred Molina) and Ben (John Lithgow), in Mexicali, where Aguirre and Urias live, who have been together 39 years. They the local government prevented gay wed- marry in the opening scene, but after — dings. Even after a lawyer filed an appeal and because of — the wedding, George is of unconstitutionality, demanding equality, fired from his job at a Catholic school. This Victor and Fernando had to endure a lengthy causes them to lose their apartment, forcing George to move in with their downstairs neighbors (Cheyenne Jackson and Manny Perez), while Ben moves in with his nephew’s family. But living apart makes their time together special; audiences will feel their longing. This is an incredibly affecting film, buoyed by the lead actors’ strong performances. And although VICTOR MANUEL AGUIRRE (LEFT) FERNANDO URIAS it is not a film IN “NO DRESS CODE REQUIRED” about marriage, “Freeheld,” based battle — and even a bomb threat at the on the true story (and Oscar-winning short courthouse on one of their planned wedding documentary), shows the importance of days. As such, the couple became unlikely rights for same-sex couples. Laurel Hester activists, determined to exercise their rights. (Julianne Moore) is a dedicated detective It is a gripping story. It is also impossible not in Seaside Heights, N.J., who must fight for justice when her legal domestic partto cry happy tears at their wedding. For something lighter, “BearCity 2: The ner, Stacie (Ellen Page), is denied pension Proposal” is a charming farce that opens benefits after Laurel developed terminal with Roger (Gerald McCullouch) proposing cancer. Although civil unions were legal to his 23-year-old twink boyfriend, Tyler in the state at the time, the Freeholders of (Joe Conti). While Tyler, says yes, he also Ocean County had the power to determine has some trepidation about getting married. the pension benefits for state employees The couple, along with friends Fred (Brian in same-sex domestic partnerships; they Keane) and Brent (Stephen Guarino), head refused to grant Laurel’s pension benefits to off to Provincetown where the wedding Stacie. The film, written by Ron Nyswaner will take place. (It’s Bear Week!) The guys (“Philadelphia”), chronicles how Laurel engage in a naughty whale-watching trip and Stacie reluctantly but emphatically and go to a foam party that devolves into challenge this decision. They enlist the a slapstick fight. But it is the sensitive help of Steven Goldstein (Steve Carell), a moments about Roger and Tyler’s wed- Garden State Equality activist. It may not ding jitters, or the relationship issues that be a surprise how the story turns out, but develop between Fred and Brent, that pro- “Freeheld” makes a strong case for why equal treatment under the law is romantic. n vide this broad comedy with its big heart. “Do You Take This Man” is writer/

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 8-14, 2019

ELECCION ESPECIAL MARTES 12 DE MARZO DE 2019 REPRESENTANTE EN LA ASAMBLEA GENERAL DISTRITO 190°

ELECTION NOTICE - POLLING PLACES SPECIAL ELECTION MARCH 12, 2019 REPRESENTATIVE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 190TH DISTRICT

VERIFIQUE SI CAMBIÓ SU LUGAR DE VOTACIÓN. SI USTED NO SABE SU DISTRITO NI DIVISIÓN, LLAME AL 215-686-1590

CHECK TO SEE IF THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE IN YOUR POLLING PLACE. IF YOU DO NOT KNOW YOUR WARD AND DIVISION, CALL 215-686-1590. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: ALL POLLING PLACES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. AN ASTERISK BY THE POLLING PLACE LOCATION INDICATES HANDICAP ACCESSIBILITY; EVEN THOUGH A POLLING PLACE HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE PHYSICALLY ACCESSIBLE A VOTER MAY STILL BE UNABLE TO CAST A BALLOT ON THE MACHINE WITHOUT ASSISTANCE DUE EITHER TO THE NATURE OF THE HANDICAP OR THE DESIGN OF THE VOTING MACHINE. HANDICAPPED AND ELDERLY VOTERS WHO ARE VOTING BY MEANS OF AN ALTERNATIVE BALLOT BECAUSE OF INACCESSIBILITY OF THEIR POLLING PLACE MAY RETURN SUCH BALLOTS ON ELECTION DAY TO ROOM 142 CITY HALL NO LATER THAN 8 P.M.

RECUERDE: TODOS LOS LUGARES DE VOTACIÓN ESTÁN SUJETOS A CAMBIO.

UN ASTERISCO AL LADO DEL LUGAR DE VOTACIÓN INDICA QUE SE TRATA DE UN EDIFICIO ACCESIBLE PARA DISCAPACITADOS. AUNQUE UN LUGAR DE VOTACIÓN HAYA SIDO DESIGNADO FÍSICAMENTE ACCESIBLE, ES POSIBLE QUE EL VOTANTE NO PUEDA EMITIR SU VOTO EN LA MÁQUINA SIN AYUDA, POR LA NATURALEZA DE SU DISCAPACIDAD O POR EL DISEÑO DE LA MÁQUINA DE VOTACIÓN. LOS VOTANTES DISCAPACITADOS O ANCIANOS QUE VOTAN CON UNA BOLETA ALTERNATIVA DEBIDO A LA INACCESIBLIDAD DEL LUGAR DE VOTACIÓN PUEDEN DEVOLVER DICHA BOLETA EL DÍA DE ELECCIÓN EN LA SALA 142 DEL AYUNTAMIENTO NO MÁS TARDE DE LAS 8:00 P. M.

Si su actual lugar de votación no permite el acceso de sillas de ruedas, y usted sabe que en su división hay un edificio accesible para sillas de rueda que piensa que es adecuado como centro de votación, póngase en contacto con Charles Stroman llamando al 215-686-1523.

If your current polling place is not accessible for wheelchairs, and you are aware of a wheelchair-accessible building in your division that you think may be suitable for a polling place, please contact Charles Stroman at 215-686-1523.

LEYENDA DE LOS CÓDIGOS DE ACCESO DE LOS LUGARES DE VOTACIÓN

LEGEND FOR ACCESSIBILITY CODES FOR POLLING PLACES

EDIFICIO F= EDIFICIO TOTALMENTE ACCESSIBLE A= ENTRADA ALTERNATIVA (LLAME AL 215-686-1523) B= EDIFICIO CONSIDERABLEMENTE ACCESSIBLE R= ACCESSIBLE CON RAMPA M= EDIFICIO MODIFICADO PARA ACCESIBILIDAD N= EDIFICIO NO ACCESSIBLE

BUILDING F-BUILDING FULLY ACCESSIBLE A-ALTERNATE ENTRANCE (Call 215-686-1523) B-BUILDING SUBSTANTIALLY ACCESSIBLE R-ACCESSIBLE WITH RAMP M-BUILDING ACCESSIBILITY MODIFIED N-BUILDING NOT ACCESSIBLE

PARKING N-NO PARKING H-HANDICAP PARKING* L-LOADING ZONE G-GENERAL PARKING

www.Philadelphiavotes.com 1 7 8 12 13 19 20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 6 7 8 16

ESTACIONAMIENTO N- SIN ESTACIONAMIENTO H- ESTACIONAMIENTO PARA DISCAPACITADOS L- ZONA DE CARGA G- ESTACIONAMIENTO GENERAL

www.Philadelphiavotes.com

4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 24 24 24 24

SALVATION ARMY 5501 MARKET ST M SALVATION ARMY 5501 MARKET ST M SALVATION ARMY 5501 MARKET ST M MT CARMEL BAPTIST CHURCH 5732 RACE ST F ST MATTHEWS MANOR 230 N 57TH ST F BARRY SCHOOL 59TH & RACE STS M BARRY SCHOOL 59TH & RACE STS M FIRE ENGINE CO # 05 43RD & MARKET STS M ANGELA COURT NURSING HOME 4400 FAIRMOUNT AVE F SHEPARD SENIOR CENTER 642 N 41ST ST F LOCKE SCHOOL (AUDITORIUM) 46TH ST & HAVERFORD AVE F SHEPARD SENIOR CENTER 642 N 41ST ST F LOCKE SCHOOL (AUDITORIUM) 46TH ST & HAVERFORD AVE F SHEPARD SENIOR CENTER 642 N 41ST ST F MARTHA WASHINGTON SCHOOL (IMC BLDG) BROWN & LEX STS B SARAH ALLEN SENIOR HOUSING 4035 PARRISH ST F PHILA LEARNING ACADEMY SOUTH (FLAGPOLE ENT)43RD ST & WESTMINSTER AVE M SARAH ALLEN SENIOR HOUSING 4035 PARRISH ST F MARTHA WASHINGTON SCHOOL (IMC BLDG) BROWN & LEX STS B PHILA LEARNING ACADEMY SOUTH (FLAGPOLE ENT)43RD ST & WESTMINSTER AVE M 1ST AFRICAN PRESBYTER CHURCH 4159 W GIRARD AVE M SCHOOL OF THE FUTURE (LOWER LEVEL ENT) 40TH ST & PARKSIDE AVE F JAMESON COURT 4435 PARRISH ST F STEPHEN SMITH TOWERS 1030 BELMONT AVE M STEPHEN SMITH TOWERS 1030 BELMONT AVE M UNIVERSITY SQUARE 3901 MARKET ST F MANTUA HAVERFORD COMM CTR 631 N 39TH ST R PEOPLE’S EMERGENCY CTR (OLD ROWAN HOUSE) 325 N 39TH ST F CALVARY EPISCOPAL CHURCH 814 N 41ST ST M

L L L N L N N N H L L L L L N H L H N L L N L H H L L L L

24 38 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 52 52 52 52 52 52 52

17 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 1 2 3 4 6 7 8

MANTUA HAVERFORD COMM CTR 631 N 39TH ST THE SMART CENTER DAYCARE 3301 W WESTMORELAND ST CONESTOGA RECREATION CENTER 53RD & MEDIA STS CONESTOGA RECREATION CENTER 53RD & MEDIA STS SALVATION ARMY 5501 MARKET ST SALVATION ARMY 5501 MARKET ST GREATER BIBLE WAY TEMPLE-THE VIEW ROOM 5188 BIBLE WAY ANTIOCH UNIVERSAL CHURCH 50 N 52ND ST HADDINGTON TOWNHOMES COMM CTR 5437 WYALUSING AVE WEST PHILA H.S. (AUDITORIUM) 4901 CHESTNUT ST PARKWAY SCHOOL 48TH ST & FAIRMOUNT AVE RHOADS SCHOOL (AUDITORIUM) 50TH & PARRISH STS RHOADS SCHOOL (AUDITORIUM) 50TH & PARRISH STS RHOADS SCHOOL (AUDITORIUM) 50TH & PARRISH STS KATIE JACKSON HOMES(PHA) 400 N 50TH ST KATIE JACKSON HOMES(PHA) 400 N 50TH ST ANTIOCH UNIVERSAL CHURCH 50 N 52ND ST SPECTRUM COMMUNITY HEALTH CTR 5201 HAVERFORD AVE SPECTRUM COMMUNITY HEALTH CTR 5201 HAVERFORD AVE HADDINGTON TOWNHOMES COMM CTR 5437 WYALUSING AVE GREATER BIBLE WAY TEMPLE-THE VIEW ROOM 5188 BIBLE WAY PARKSIDE ASSOCIATION 1719 N 52ND ST RIVER PARK HOUSE APTS 3600 CONSHOHOCKEN AVE PRESIDENTIAL CITY JEFFERSON 3900 CITY AVE DUFFIELD HOUSE 3701 CONSHOHOCKEN AVE BRITH SHOLOM HOUSE 3939 CONSHOHOCKEN AVE BRITH SHOLOM HOUSE 3939 CONSHOHOCKEN AVE PARK TOWER APTS 4001 CONSHOHOCKEN AVE

PHILADELPHIA COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS

JUDGE GIOVANNI CAMPBELL

JUNTA DE ELECCIONES DEL CONDADO DE PHILADELPHIA

Chairperson, City Commissioners Vice Chairperson, City Commissioners Presidente, Comisionados Municipales Vicepresidente, Comisionados Municipales

JUDGE VINCENT FURLONG

R M M M M M F R M F R F F F F F R F F M F F M F M F F F

ANTHONY CLARK

KEVIN A. KELLY

City Commissioner Comisionada Municipales

Acting Supervisor of Elections Supervisor Interino de la Elección

L L N N L L N N L H N L L L L L N H H H N L L H L L L L

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 8-14, 2019

PGN

SPECIAL ELECTION NOTICE TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019 REPRESENTATIVE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 190TH DISTRICT

BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 7:00 A.M. AND 8:00 P.M. IN ALL ELECTION DISTRICTS OR DIVISIONS IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF PHILADELPHIA, STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA There are to be elected by the voters of the City and County of Philadelphia, persons to fill the following offices:

INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTERS 1. ENTER VOTING BOOTH This machine does not have a curtain rod lever. You enter the voting machine by parting and walking through the curtain. If you use a wheelchair, the voting machine will be lowered by the machine operator before you enter. 2. VOTING STRAIGHT PARTY To Vote Straight Party (vote for all candidates of a single political party) press the numbered box in the Political Party box of your choice and the red indicator lights for all candidates of that party will turn on within each of the candidates’ position boxes. The Political Party Boxes are located across the top of the ballot. 3. SELECTING CANDIDATES INDIVIDUALLY If you want to select your candidates individually, press the Numbered box within your candidate's position box and a red light will go on next to the number within your candidate's position, indicating the names you have selected. 4. CHANGING A SELECTED CANDIDATE If you change your mind after selecting a candidate, and don't want to vote for a candidate whose light is on, press that candidate's number again to deselect the candidate and the light will go off. 5. SELECTING A WRITE IN Find the Write-in box for the Office for which you want to write in a candidate's name. Press the Write In button in the box. Then press the Large Flashing red button at the top of the machine to open the Write In Window. Write or Stamp your candidates name on the exposed paper in the window. Then pull the black shutter down over the name you have written, closing the window. 6. VOTING ON A QUESTION Ballot Questions are usually located in the far right-hand columns or at the bottom of the machine. Make your selection by pressing either of the buttons. The red light next to the button will turn on indicating your selection. 7. CASTING YOUR BALLOT After you have made all the candidate selections you want, look for the GREEN button labeled VOTE below in the bottom right corner of your ballot. When you press the GREEN VOTE button all of your candidate selections will be recorded, all the lights in the voting machine will go out and you will hear a low bell-tone indicating you are finished. 8. LEAVING THE VOTING MACHINE After you finish voting by pressing the green VOTE button on the right side of the ballot, the lights inside the ballot door and all of your selection lights will turn off. To leave, part and exit through the curtain. If you are unable to read, write or speak English well and need assistance, ask the Polling Place Officials if an English/Spanish Interpreter is available. If an English/Spanish Interpreter is not available at your polling place you may call 215-686-1500 for assistance. If you are unable to read, write or speak English well OR you are unable to enter or operate the voting machine, and you need assistance, the law requires that you be permitted to receive assistance from the person you choose, except your employer, an officer of your union, or the Judge of Election.

AVISO DE ELECCION ESPECIAL MARTES, 12 DE MARZO DE 2019 REPRESENTANTE EN LA ASAMBLEA GENERAL DISTRITO 190°

ENTRE LAS HORAS DE 7:00 A.M. HASTA LAS 8:00 P.M. EN TODOS LOS DISTRITOS ELECTORALES O DIVISIONES EN LA CIUDAD Y EL CONDADO DE PHILADELPHIA ESTADO DE PENNSYLVANIA Se elegirán, por los votantes de la ciudad y el condado de Filadelfia, a personas que llenaran los siguientes puestos:

INSTRUCCIONES PARA EL VOTANTE 1. ENTRE A LA CABINA DE VOTACION Esta máquina no tiene palanca para el gancho de cortina. Ud. entra a la cabina de votación al separar y caminar tras la cortina. Si Ud. usa silla de ruedas, la máquina _ dé votación será bajada por el que corre la máquina antes de Ud. entrar. 2. VOTANDO POR LA NOMINA TOTAL DEL PARTIDO Para Votar por la Nomina Total del Partido (vote por los candidatos de un solo partido político) haga presión sobre el cuadro en el Partido Político que usted escoja y el indicador rojo quedara alumbrado por todos los candidatos de ese partido quedaran alumbrados dentro de cada posición en cada cuadro de los candidatos. Los cuadros del Partido Político se encuetran de un lado al otro arriba en la balota. 3. SELECCIONADO CANDIDATOS INDIVIDUALMENTE Si usted desea seleccionar a sus candidato individualmente, haga presión sobre el cuadró Enumerada dentro de las posición de sus candidato y una luz roja se alumbrara al lado del número dentro de las posición de sus candidato, indicando los nombres que usted haya seleccionado. 4. CAMBIANDO UN CANDIDATO YA SELECCIONADO Si cambia de mente después de haber escogido su candidato, y no quiere votar por un candidato cuya luz está prendida, haga presión en el Número de ese candidato de nuevo para no seleccionar el candidato y la luz se apagará. 5. SELECCIONANDO POR ESCRITO Encuentre la casilla para escoger Por Escrito para el Puesto por el cual Ud. desea escribir el nombre de un candidato. Haga presión sobre el botón de "Por Escrito" en la casilla. Luego haga presión sobre el botón de la Luz Roja Grande en la parte de arriba de la maquina para abrir la Ventanilla de Por Escrito. Escriba o estampe los nombres de sus candidatos en el papel expuesto en la ventanilla. Luego hale el contraventana hacia abajo sobre el nombre que ha escrito, cerrando la ventanilla. 6. VOTANDO POR UNA PREGUNTA Preguntas en la Boleta usualmente están localizadas en las columnas a mano derecha. Haga su selección haciendo presión sobre cualquiera de los botones. La luz roja al lado del botón se prenderá indicando su selección. 7. ECHANDO SU BOLETA Después de hacer las selecciones por todos los candidatos que Ud. quiera, encuentre el botón VERDE que dice VOTE abajo en los botones en la esquina derecha de la boleta. Cuando Ud haga presión sobre el botón VERDE DE VOTAR todos sus selecciones de candidatos serán archivadas, todas las luces en la máquina de votación se apagarán, y oirá un sonido de timbre bajo indicando que ha terminado. 8. SALIENDO DE LA MAQUINA DE VOTACION Después de que termine de votar al hacer presión sobre le botón verde de VOTAR en el lado bajo derecho de la boleta, las luces dentro de las puertas de la boleta y todas las luces de sus selecciones serán apagadas. Para salir, separe la cortina y salga por ella. Si usted no puede leer, escribir ni hablar ingles bien y necesita ayuda, pídale a los Oficiales del Lugar de Votar si hay un Interprete del ingles/español disponible. Si no hay un Interprete del ingles/español disponible en su lugar de votar, usted puede llamar al 215-686-1500 para ayuda. Si usted no puede leer, escribir, o hablar ingles bien O si no puede entrar u operar su maquina de votar, y necesita ayuda, la ley requiere que a usted se le permita recibir ayuda de parte de la persona que usted escoja, con acepción a su patrón, o un oficial de su sindicato obrero (unión laboral), o el/la Juez de Elección.

POLLING PLACES OPEN FROM 7 A.M. TO 8 P.M.

URNAS ABREN DE 7 A.M. HASTA 8 P.M.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 8-14, 2019

SPECIAL ELECTION - TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019 PHILADELPHIA COUNTY

OFFICE

DEMOCRATIC

REPUBLICAN

Democratico

Republicano

AMEN BROWN PARTY Partido de Amen Brown

Oficina Straight Democratic Ticket Boleta Democratica Consecutiva

Straight Republican Ticket Boleta Republicana Consecutiva

REPRESENTATIVE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

M OVITA JOHNSON HARRELL

101

2 MICHAEL HARVEY

201

Straight Amen Brown Party Ticket Boleta Partido de Amen Brown Consecutiva

AMEN BROWN

3 301

WORKING FAMILIES PART Y

PERSONAL CHOICE

Partido de las Familias Trabajadoras

Eleccion Personal

Straight Working Families Party Ticket Boleta Partido de las Familias Trabajadoras Consecutiva

PAMELA K WILLIAMS

4 401

190th District (Vote for 1)

Representante en la Asamblea General Distrito 190 (Vote por 1)

Write In Por Escrito

INSTRUCTIONS

I DO NOT WANT TO VOTE ON ANY OFFICE, CANDIDATE, OR ISSUE ---------------------------NO QUIERO VOTAR POR NINGUN PUESTO, CANDIDATO, O PREGUNTA

No Vote

Ningun Voto

REVIEW YOUR SELECTIONS AND MAKE SURE THE RED LIGHT IS ON NEXT TO EACH OF YOUR CANDIDATE CHOICES BEFORE PRESSING THE GREEN VOTE BUTTON BELOW ----------------------------------LAS INSTRUCCIONES REVISE TODAS SUS SELECCIONES Y ASEGURESE DE QUE LA LUZ ROJA ESTA ENCENDIDA AL LADO DE CADA CANDIDATO ESCOGIDO POR USTED ANTES DE HACER PRESION SOBRE EL BOTON VERDE DE VOTAR ABAJO

04-01,04-07,04-08,04-12,04-13,04-19,04-20,06-01,06-02,06-03,06-04,06-05,06-06,06-07,06-08,06-09,06-10,06-11,06-12,06-13,06-14,06-15,06-16,06-17,06-18,24-06,24-07,24-08,24-16,24-17,38-09,44-01,44-02,44-03,44-04,44-05,44-06,44-07,44-08,44-09,44-10,44-11,44-12,44-13,44-14,44-15,44-16,44-17,44-18,44-19,52-01,52-02,52-03,52-04,52-06,52-07,52-08,52-09,52-10,52-11,5212,52-13,52-21,52-28,60-04,60-05,60-06,60-08,60-09,60-10,60-11,60-12,60-13,60-14,60-15,60-16,60-17,60-18,60-20,60-21

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 8-14, 2019

SPECIAL ELECTION NOTICE TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019

NOTICE

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Between the hours of 7:00 A.M. and 8:00 P.M. in the following election districts and divisions in the City and County of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, there will be ELECTED by the voters, a person to fill the following office, as certified by the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

REPRESENTATIVE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 190TH DISTRICT

190TH DISTRICT

DEMOCRATIC AMEN BROWN PARTY MOVITA JOHNSON HARRELL 101 AMEN BROWN 301

REPUBLICAN

WORKING FAMILIES PARTY

MICHAEL HARVEY 201

PAMELA K WILLIAMS 401

AVISO DE ELECCIÓN ESPECIAL MARTES, 12 DE MARZO DE 2019

AVISO

POR MEDIO DEL PRESENTE, SE NOTIFICA QUE EL ESCRUTINIO Y CÓMPUTO DE LOS VOTOS EMITIDOS EN LA CIUDAD Y EL CONDADO DE FILADELFIA PARA LAS ELECCIONES ESPECIALES 2019 PARA REPRESENTANTE EN LA ASAMBLEA GENERAL – DISTRITO 190° CELEBRADAS EL MARTES 12 DE MARZO DE 2019 COMENZARÁ A LAS 9:00 A. M. DEL VIERNES 15 DE MARZO DE 2019 EN LA OFICINA DE LOS COMISIONADOS DE LA CIUDAD, SALA DE AUDIENCIAS DEL 6° PISO, RIVERVIEW PLACE, DELAWARE AVE. Y SPRING GARDEN ST, Y CONTINUARÁ DURANTE TODO EL VIERNES 15 DE MARZO 2019 HASTA FINALIZAR.

PHILADELPHIA COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS JUNTA ELECTORAL DEL CONDADO DE FILADELFIA

Judge Giovanni Campbell Chairperson, City Commissioners Presidente, Comisionados Municipales Judge Vincent Furlong Vice Chair, City Commissioners Vicepresidente, Comisionados Municipales

Entre las horas de 7:00 a. m. y 8:00 p. m. en los siguientes distritos y divisiones electorales en la ciudad y el condado de Filadelfia, Pensilvania, los votantes de la ciudad y del condado de Filadelfia podrán elegir una persona para cubrir los siguientes cargos según la certificación por el Secretario del Estado.

REPRESENTANTE EN LA ASAMBLEA GENERAL DISTRITO 190°

LOS DISTRITOS DE REPRESENTANTES ESTÁN CONSTITUIDOS POR LOS SIGUIENTES DISTRITOS Y DIVISIONES DENTRO DEL CONDADO DE FILADELFIA °

190 DISTRITO DISTRITOS 04 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 07, 08, 12, 13, 19 y 20], 06, 24 [PARTE, divisiones 06 al 08, 16 y 17], 38 [PARTE, división 09], 44, 52 [PARTE, divisiones 01 al 04, 06 al 13, 21 y 28] y 60 [PARTE, divisiones 04 al 06, 08 al 18, 20 y 21].

DEMOCRÁTICO

PARTIDO DE AMEN BROWN MOVITA JOHNSON HARRELL 101 AMEN BROWN 301

REPUBLICANO PARTIDO DE LAS FAMILIAS TRABAJADORAS MICHAEL HARVEY 201 PAMELA K WILLIAMS 401

PHILADELPHIA COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS

A QUIEN CORRESPONDA:

REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICTS ARE COMPRISED OF THE FOLLOWING WARDS AND DIVISIONS WITHIN PHILADELPHIA COUNTY WARDS 04 [PART, Divisions 01, 07, 08, 12, 13, 19 and 20], 06, 24 [PART, Divisions 06 thru 08, 16 and 17], 38 [PART, Division 09], 44, 52 [PART, Divisions 01 thru 04, 06 thru 13, 21 and 28] and 60 [PART, Divisions 04 thru 06, 08 thru 18, 20 and 21].

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE CANVASS AND COMPUTATION OF VOTES CAST IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF PHILADELPHIA FOR THE 2019 SPECIAL ELECTION FOR REPRESENTATIVE IN THE TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY – 190 DISTRICT, HELD ON TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019 WILL BEGIN AT 9:00 A.M. ON FRIDAY MARCH 15, 2019 IN THE CITY COMMISSIONERS, 6TH FLOOR HEARING ROOM, RIVERVIEW PLACE, DELAWARE AVE. & SPRING GARDEN ST., AND CONTINUE ALL DAY FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2019 UNTIL COMPLETED.

Anthony Clark City Commissioner Comisionado Municipal Kevin A Kelly Acting Supervisor of Elections Supervisor Interino de Elecciones

www.philadelphiavotes.com

If you live in west Philadelphia or you’re hanging out there, you can ﬁnd a copy of PGN at these convenient locations: Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St. • Drexel University, 4001 Walnut St. • Fresh Grocer, 4001 Walnut St. • Goodman Hall, 710 S. 42nd St. • International House, 3701 Chestnut St. • LGBT Center at Penn, 3907 Spruce St. • Metropolitan Community Church, 3637 Chestnut St. • Old Quaker Condos lobby, 3514 Lancaster Ave. • Oslo Hall, 510 S. 42nd St. • Penn Bookstore, 3610 Walnut St. • Saturn Club, 3430 Sansom St. • Saxby’s Coffee, 40th & Locust sts. • Sheraton Hotel, 36th & Chestnut sts. • St. Mary’s Church, 3916 Locust Walk • University of the Sciences England Library, 4200 Woodland Ave. • Wilson Hall, 708 S. 42nd St. • World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. •

Judge Giovanni Campbell

Chairperson, City Commissioners Presidente, Comisionados Municipales

Judge Vincent Furlong

Vice Chair, City Commissioners

Vicepresidente, Comisionados Municipales

Or from a news box at one of these convenient spots:

Anthony Clark

City Commissioner Comisionado Municipal

Kevin A Kelly

Acting Supervisor of Elections

Supervisor Interino de Elecciones

www.philadelphiavotes.com

epgn.com

@PhillyGayNews

30th & Market sts. • 34th & Spruce sts. • 34th & Walnut sts. • 36th & Walnut sts. • 37th & Spruce sts. • 38th & Chestnut sts. • 38th & Spruce sts. • 38th & Walnut sts. • 40th & Walnut sts. • 40th & Spruce sts. • University City SEPTA Station •

PGN FEATURE

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 8-14, 2019

entertainment Ambitious production puts abortion debate to music By A.D. Amorosi PGN Contributor Creators of a musical to be staged in Philadelphia later this month took the contemporary abortion debate, with its economic and socio-political weight and its issues of misogyny and hypocrisy, and made it sing. For at least three years, the Philly performance company Lightning Rod Special (LRS) has operated on the premise that the abortion debate and a woman’s right to control her own body could be put to music and a dark, satirical script. “The Appointment” is the result of that premise, and will premiere at the FringeArts High Pressure Fire Service Festival on March 20. “As we figure out what works and what doesn’t with this script and its staging, we’re questioning both what is right and what is most effective,” said out stage manager Sara Marinich. Marinich and actor-creators Alice Yorke, Scott Sheppard, Katie Gould, Brett Ashley Robinson, Jaime Maseda, Bren Thomas and Lee Minora have figured out how to accomplish that with Eva Steinmetz’s direction and Alex Bechtel’s original music. The dynamics of reproductive rights need not hit you over the head, according to the LRS crew, even if the actors do appear to dress in sperm costumes during certain interludes of “The Appointment.” Like many things having to do with this production, its relation to LGBTQ issues exists, however, subtly, Marinich said. But in discussing the difficulties of abortion and abortion access, Marinich believes LRS’ new work is spot on. “The difficulty of emotions, the complex feelings, the issues that are not black and white: these are issues queer people deal with, many queer people whose bodies

were told to not have these issues,” said the stage manager, who has been part of the production since 2017. “There are queer moments in the show, but like many other elements of ‘The Appointment,’ they are subtle.” As part of the team that made LRS’ Obie Award-winning “Underground Railroad

Game” a politicized sensation, Yorke, who co-founded LRS in 2012, said. “The Appointment” uses biting satire in regard to misogyny as it relates to abortion. “And somehow music was a part of that,” she added with a laugh. Shopping around a musical about abortion and making misogyny and the American male a large part of “The Appointment” wasn’t easy, according to Yorke. “The connection is that deeply-ingrained-in-thepsyche, ‘Father Knows Best’ness of politicians who aren’t medical practitioners, but who write laws based on certain restrictions,” she said. “A lot of those restrictions are based on things such as 24-hour waiting periods. Doctors in most states are legally mandated to give informed-consent speeches on associated proce-

dural risks. Now, that is great information to have. But, if you come in with a busted knee, the doctor won’t suggest you maybe sit on any decision for three days. “We’ve done research on abortion informed-consent speeches, and they are truly patronizing,” added Yorke. “They refer to the fetus as a baby. That is manipulation — one based on a politician’s assumption that a person getting an abortion isn’t prepared to make that decision for themselves.” Those manipulative speeches, made satirical, comprise a portion of the script and lyrics of “The Appointment.” “It took us a while to get there, especially as we used satire as our main delivery system,” Yorke said. “The use of Bechtel’s song isn’t hokey or jokey … even though we’ve pushed him to make music that is naughtier and a little less ‘composed’ than his usual. It’s like seeing a musical where you might not be into the story, but the music is so deliciously manipulative. You feel something there. Maybe it’s unease. Maybe you’re provoked. That’s fine. We’re asking the audience to feel, even if it is uncomfortable. Like other LRS works, such as “The

Photos: Johanna Austin

Dining Out Family Portrait Out & About

Page 43 Page 39 Page 44

Q Puzzle Scene in Philly

Page 42 Page 41

OUT on Stage PAGE 38

Underground Railroad” (investigating race and sex in contemporary culture in relation to education) and “Withstand Everything” (seeking the place of art in a world of automation), “The Appointment” looks at that which is bugging the performance company’s membership and its place in the world by portraying conscientious provocation. “I think ‘The Appointment’ putting people in an comfortable space only to change things up, especially with the music, is prickly,” Marinich said. “You get these really sweet songs that you want to groove with, then, the things they’re saying are pointy. They force you to deal with the situation of what abortion is in this society. Even if you want to glaze over it, you can’t.” n Lightning Rod Special’s “The Appointment” runs March 20-31 at FringeArts as part of its High Pressure Fire Service Festival. https://fringearts.com/ event/the-appointment/2019-03-20/ .

PGN ONSCREEN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 8-14, 2019

Queer comedians break ‘OUT’ in new series By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com

Bigelow said that being a part of such an eclectic array of LGBTQ talent was “an absolute delight.” “It was great to be part of something where so many letters of the spectrum of queerness were part of it, and just seeing friends that I've known in the standup world that I haven't seen in a while that were working on the project,” she said. Comedy specials geared t o w a r d LGBTQ audiences typically are subdivided, mainly focusing on gays and lesbians, with trans and nonbinary performers often under represented or not featured at all. GLORIA BIGELOW B i g e l o w ,

If laughter is the best medicine, a new queer comedy series is ready to write prescriptions and let the healing begin. A diverse lineup of out comedians recently brought its collective sense of humor to the small screen for “OUT on Stage,” a new live comedy showcase on Dekkoo, the streaming service for gay men. Comedian and Pittsburgh native Gloria Bigelow is one of the performers on the series, which also features Jonathan Rowell, Brendan Scannell, Casey Ley, Julian Michael, Irene Tu, Jared Goldstein, Raneir Pollard, Kyle Shire, Jordan Pease, Chris Bryant, Eric Hahn, Daniel Webb, Joe Dosch, Anthony Desamito, Janine Brito, A.B. Cassidy and Zach Noe Towers.

who has been in the comedy business for the better part of 30 years and has worked with the likes of Wanda Sykes and Ellen DeGeneres, is happy to see those barriers separating queer comedians start to dissolve with this series.

“I did my first special 10 years ago,” she said. “It was a mix of lesbians and gay men. What I like about this is it’s all of us together. I've seen stand-up specials that have featured lesbian comics or gay men or up-and-coming gay comedians. What's great about this is that it had everyone included.”

With more LGBTQ performers getting mainstream exposure and attracting mainstream audiences, is a showcase series like “OUT on Stage” as vital an outlet for queer comedians now compared to 10 years ago? “If you'd asked me two years ago, I would have said something different,” Bigelow replied. “I would have said that we’re part of mainstream culture and moved into more acceptance and queer visibility. But then I feel like recently things have taken a step back-

wards. That’s why I feel like a project like this is super important right now. “Culturally now I’ve felt that more isms are more prevalent; the racism, the sexism and the homophobia,” she added. “All of those things feel more prevalent right now. That's why I feel like having this kind of vehicle for stand-up is important, but also having this vehicle for others who aren’t standups so that they can see that we’re just like everybody else. There are all kinds of jokes and all kinds of people making those jokes, and I think that’s good for ZACH NOE TOWERS an audience to see. Even though the area featured is Hollywood, but we’re from all over.” n “OUT on Stage” streams on Dekkoo, which is available internationally via iTunes, Google Play, AppleTV and Roku. For more information, visit www.dekkoo. com or www.globigelow.com.

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PGN PROFILE

Family Portrait

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 8-14, 2019

Suzi Nash

Monique Impagliazzo: From Babs to the old Philly neighborhood Places, everyone, places! The Women’s Film Festival is about to kick off its fifth year of presenting 10 days of films “By, for and about women.” This year’s festival opens March 14 at The Kimmel Center with “This Changes Everything,” a documentary about gender equality in media that features a who’swho of prominent women in the film industry, including Geena Davis, Meryl Streep, Shonda Rhimes, Sandra Oh, Reese Witherspoon, Taraji P. Henson, Natalie Portman and Cate Blanchett. The documentary calls attention to sexism in Hollywood and beyond. Did you know that when it comes to directors, though males only slightly outnumber femails in the general population, male directors outnumber women 22-1? The stats for women of color and members of the LGBTQ community are even worse. And, according to the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, when there is a female lead, she’s onscreen and only speaks about a third of the time that a male lead does. Fortunately, as the festival demonstrates, things are beginning to slowly change. The 10 days of programming include knee-slapping comedies, soul-stirring dramas and moving documentaries along with networking events, receptions and parties. Also being shown on opening night is “Turkey’s Done,” a film that bucks all the statistics: It was written, produced and directed by women. Filmed in Philadelphia, it stars the hilarious “Saturday Night Live” alum and local native Cheri Oteri and is directed by South Philly’s Monique Impagliazzo.

soccer, basketball — which was my favorite — and tennis when I was in college. I’m a runner now and even managed to complete a half-marathon. PGN: What was a best sports moment? MI: It would be in eighth grade when I helped my team win the playoff game that got us into the softball championships by sliding into home plate … headfirst. PGN: Wow! Speaking of heads, who is Red Headed Rita? MI: That is my mother, Queen Rita. The name definitely suits her. She is one of the most fiery people you’ll ever meet. She’s the type of person who does whatever she wants and doesn’t worry about what people think. If she feels that something is right, she goes with it no matter what. PGN: Which parent do you take after? MI: I’m a combination of both my parents. My mom is very outgoing. She’ll stop and talk to a stranger for 30 minutes at the grocery store. I’m like that too. My dad is a workaholic, and I’m just like him. We both always need to have some kind of project going. We have to be doing something at all times. He’s worked in the labor union for 30-plus years and he’s barely missed a day. Freezing cold or blazing hot, he’s out there at the construction site no matter what.

PGN: Describe something that made your house definitively South Philly. MI: Well, one of the funny parts in the film is when Peaches, played by Cheri Oteri, is at home on the phone. It’s one of those old wall phones with the long cord. We had one of those and it went clear across the kitchen. I remember my mom on the phone cooking dinner or doing dishes with the phone in hand, cord stretching across the room. The cool thing is that we didn’t have to find one for the shoot. The house we shot in still had theirs!

PGN: You have an impressive bio as an actor, director and producer. What got you involved in the arts? MI: I used to watch a lot of movies with my mom. She’d take us to the Free Library and we’d rent films. She loved all of the old musicals. So, I always kind of knew I wanted to get into the business somehow, some way. I mean, in the summers I would dream about being able to go to the Walnut Street Theatre, but it was not something we could really afford. Then in my senior year in high school, I took a theater class and I was like, OMG, this is amazing! I was hooked and decided that I wanted to go to school to study theater or film. It was a scary decision to go to school for something like that. But my parents, who never had a chance to go to college, told me to go for it. I wanted to go to NYU [New York University], but they didn’t want me so far away, so I went to Temple. I agreed to stay at home if they agreed to let me study abroad for a semester. My junior year, I got to go overseas for the first time and study history and film and theater in London. I absolutely loved it.

PGN: What were you into as a kid? MI: I played a lot of sports. Early on, my mom could see that I had a lot of energy and she wanted me to have a place to channel it. So I got into gymnastics and then

PGN: How did you start your career? MI: While I was still in high school and interning at Mike Lemon Casting, I heard about Mary Anne Claro, who runs a talent agency right in South Philly. When I

PGN: What’s a favorite Philadelphia moment? MI: When the Eagles won the Super Bowl! I was here and out on Broad Street after the game and it was amazing. Strangers were hugging and high-fiving; it was like an extended New Year’s Day. The whole city was electrified!

got to college, I needed another internship asked if I could intern for her. She said, yes. It was one of those weird things that when we met, we felt like we’d known each other for years. I also took acting classes with her, which I loved. She was working with a producer named Diane Kirman. She and her husband, Stewart Raffill, had a movie called “Standing Ovation” with James Brolin as an executive producer. Mary Anne got me a job on the film, and that’s where I got connected with two old friends from high school, Jennifer and Krystal Tini. When the film was over, Diane and Stewart asked if I could come to L.A. to finish post-production. Jennifer and Krystal were already there and invited me to stay at their place. It was a studio apartment with one shower and one sink for all three of us. It was like an “E True Hollywood” story. When we finished post-production, James Brolin, who we called Jim, contacted me and said,

course I said yes, even though I had no experience as an executive assistant. I met with Barbra on a Thursday and started working for her Friday morning at 9. I was incredibly nervous, but as soon as I started talking to her, all my fear went away. She was so relatable. It was like talking to someone from the neighborhood. In three days, I was kneedeep in her projects. She was shooting a movie called “The Guilt Trip” with Seth Rogan. She also was finishing up a CD called, “What Matters Most.” She’s very involved politically, so she was invited to a lot of different events. Later, I went on tour with her in the states and Europe. PGN: What was a highlight of working with her? MI: Well, soon after I started working, Jen [the old high-school friend] came aboard too. It was always exciting when we got to go on set. But I think touring with her was life-changing for me. It showed me how much I could handle. Working with someone of her status and executing everything that needed to be done even with all the moving parts made me very, very proud.

PGN: Your story is such a great one of women helping women to make it. We so often are painted as competitive and mean, especially women like Streisand who have always stood strong. MI: Yes, like my mom, Barbra knows what she wants. She has an instinct like no one else. But when women vocalize what they want, they get labeled as aggressive and bitchy. When she makes a decision, she gets called a diva, but when a man does it, they praise him for his great idea. But let me tell you, she’s a genius. And in so many areas including Photo: David La Porte music, film, politics — you “You know my wife’s looking for name it. My experience an assistant. Do you want to come over with her was great. She’s actually really and meet with her?” I couldn’t believe it. funny and super down to earth. I actually read the email a few times to make sure I wasn’t mistaken. PGN: Something else that’s really funny and down to earth is your film, “Turkey’s PGN: Because of course his wife is the Done.” We are so excited to give it its one and only Barbra Streisand! Philly premiere! And the story is another MI: Exactly! I couldn’t believe it. I’ve one that fits right into TWFF’s mission of always loved her not only for her music, supporting women in film. but because growing up she was one of MI: Definitely, and it was totally by the few female directors I knew about, chance. It started when Jennifer was walkso I studied everything she did. So of ing her dog in a park. PAGE 44

The

Guide to the Gayborhood

The Philadelphia Gayborhood is roughly centered at Locust and Camac streets. Look for the rainbow street signs at intersections and remember to be aware of your surroundings wherever you go. Boxers

1330 Walnut St. facebook.com/ boxersphl Sports bar with a TVs, pool table, brick pizza oven, sports specials

Voyeur

Toasted Walnut Woody’s 1316 Walnut St. 215.546.8888 Festively lit women-owned bar complete with a “beer” pong table

Because Life Is More Than Just Gay News

1221 St. James St. 215.735.5772 voyeurnightclub.com After-hours private club; membership required

202 S. 13th St. 215.545.1893 woodysbar.com Includes attached Walnut Street bars Rosewood and GloBar

❍

❍ <—

Chancellor St.

❍

St. James St.

❍ Locust St.

<—

❒

Camac St.

13th St.

❍

❒

206 S Quince St. 215.627.1662 Levi Leather men’s bar; pool tables, second floor sports; basement has enforced dress code

Walnut St.

❍

The Bike Stop

Latimer St.

❍ Manning St.

❍

11th St.

Nightlife, Concerts, Art Exhibits, Readings, Cabaret, Films, Theater, Food, Books, Music, Sports and Travel

Quince St.

PGN Entertainment

PGN

12th St.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 8-14, 2019

Juniper St.

❍ Spruce St.

❍

Pa. bars close at 2 a.m. unless they have a private-club license. Please drink responsibly.

Cypress St.

Writer’s Block Rehab William Way 1342 Cypress St. 267.603.6960 A cozy, comfortable bar and lounge perfect for escaping the norm

Frankie Bradley’s

LGBT Community Center 1315 Spruce St. 215.732.2220 waygay.org A resource for all things LGBT

1320 Chancellor St. 215-735-0735 Resaturant, dance club, live performers and entertainment

<—

1220 Locust St. 215.546.6660 Relaxing corner bar, easy-going crowd, popular for happy hour and window watching

Tavern on Camac

<—

West of Broad Street The Attic Youth 1705 Chancellor St. Center Stir Lounge

215.732.2700 stirphilly.com Fun two-bar lounge, DJ in the back, regular poker games and specials

U Bar

255 S. 16th St. 215.545.4331 atticyouthcenter.org Safe space and programs for LGBTs age 16-23 weekday afternoons and evenings

255 S. Camac St. 215.545.8731 Piano lounge with upstairs dance floor; Tavern restaurant below is open late.

Knock

225 S. 12th St. 215.925.1166 knockphilly.com Fine-dining restaurant and bar, outdoor seating, piano in back room

Tabu

254 S. 12th St. 215.964.9675 tabuphilly.com Three floors with a dance floor,, drag shows, lounge and rootop deck.

Bar X 255 S. Camac St. Bar and dancefloor

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 8-14, 2019

MOVIES PGN

Film: Lacking provocation, ‘Mapplethorpe’ disappoints

MATT SMITH AS MAPPLETHORPE By Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor If only Ondi Timoner’s ambitious biopic, “Mapplethorpe,” was as stimulating as the titular artist’s work. This disappointing film, opening March 8 at Landmark’s Ritz at the Bourse, never quite captures his essence. There is more feeling and emotion in his images of calla lilies and penises — images graciously loaned from the artist’s foundation, and prominently featured throughout the film — than there is in the actual drama that unfolds. Early on, Robert Mapplethorpe (Matt Smith) meets Patti Smith (Marianne Rendón) in the park. They move in together and struggle and support each other. However, in dramatizing these moments, Timoner recounts facts that fail to illuminate either artist. (Smith’s musical aspirations are barely mentioned.) The pair acts more like roommates with benefits. “Mapplethorpe” picks up 19 minutes in — yes, watch-checking was done — when Robert meets Sandy Daley (Tina Benko), a Chelsea Hotel neighbor who gives him a Polaroid camera and encourages him to take photos. Robert also begins exploring his sexual attraction to men. A photo shoot with David Croland (Thomas Philip O’Neill) shows Robert “making history,” as he says, by photographing David shirtless and with his wrists and mouth bound. But rather than allow viewers to process these images, which are raw, sexy and scary, the film has Robert tell David that “beauty and the devil are sort of the same thing to me,” using his Catholicism to explain his fascination with taboos. Even Robert’s family priest (Brian Stokes Mitchell) later talks about the good and evil in the photographer’s

work. These moments are as obvious and on-the-nose as Robert telling a gallerist that visual art should speak for itself, and that images should move viewers, provoke them and make them think. The film never allows viewers to think as it spoon-feeds them almost every point. “Mapplethorpe” is never very moving or provocative. This all-too-conventional biopic takes too few chances. Although the artist’s daring photographs may elicit a gasp from viewers unfamiliar with his explicit work, the Robert in this film never comes off as someone who would take a self-portrait with a bullwhip in his ass. If that is Timoner’s point — that Mapplethorpe’s personal life plumbed depths as great as his art — it should have been heightened, not downplayed. “Mapplethorpe” does flicker to life briefly when Sam Wagstaff (out gay actor John Benjamin Hickey) turns up and takes a shine to the “shy pornographer.” A scene — 39 minutes in — where Sam visits Robert’s studio bristles with some sexual tension. Robert sizes up Sam while Sam sizes up Robert’s talent. Their personal and professional relationship helps Robert’s career and helps him to sell photography as collectable art. Robert insists that gallerist Holly Solomon (Kerry Butler) show all of his work or none of it. And while it is clear Robert’s work sells, his critical impact in the art world is understated. An hour in, “Mapplethorpe” cuts to 1981, with a montage featuring Ronald Reagan, Pac-Man and John McEnroe as Bronski Beat’s “Smalltown Boy” plays on the soundtrack. (Music is used as a crutch throughout the film; hear also T Rex’s “Children of the Revolution” to denote Mapplethorpe’s pornographic gallery show). It is in this chapter where Robert contrives to meet Milton Moore (McKinley Belcher PAGE 43

Q Puzzle Gay Things that Straight Athletes Do Across

1 “Alone ___ Drive-in Movie” (“Grease”) 4 Canning tomatoes 9 Visit Barneys, e.g. 13 Ballet supporters? 15 Pass, as a law 16 Site of desirable stones 17 Prot. denomination 18 ___ music (do Britten’s job) 19 Book after Joel 20 One who doubts there’s a Divine Miss M? 22 Julia’s pal in “My Best Friend’s Wedding” 24 Shoulder warmers 25 Rubs the right way 27 Doesn’t dine at the Rubicon, e.g. 29 Say “Bottoms up!” 33 Begin to wake up 36 Holds title to 37 When actors should come 38 Navel fetish accessory? 39 Knights’ atten-

dants 41 Pronoun for King James 42 Shaft in a straight simile 44 “Honky ___ Woman” 45 Pianist Dame Myra 46 Consider carefully 47 Matter 49 George Cukor’s “Dinner at ___” 51 Out in the open 55 Street in San Francisco 58 LGBT History Month, in the UK 60 Nevada neighbor 61 Drag queen Mann 63 Some Feds 64 Brought forth fruit 65 Kind of dish 66 Keep an eye on 67 Hit boxers 68 Stand next to Eakins 69 “Vox populi, vox ___”

Down

1 Son of Uranus 2 Hard to swallow, perhaps 3 Allstate rival 4 Where drivers get off 5 “That’s ___ haven’t heard” 6 Before the game

they put on... 7 ___ UP 8 Seattle’s WNBA team 9 During the game they exchange... 10 Chauffeur’s order 11 Lysol target 12 Pain in the derriere 14 After the game they... 21 P. Hearst’s kidnappers 23 Engaged in 26 Still waiting to go out 28 Cloth sample 30 BenGay target 31 Takes to court 32 Patty Sheehan’s supporters 33 Side dish with fish

34 Rubber on a rim 35 Letters over Mary’s son 40 Abscond after posting a surety 43 Spin like a top 48 Contemptible one 50 Pop one’s cork 52 Unable to walk like a man 53 Cara of “Fame” 54 “She Bop” singer Lauper 55 Young bears 56 Lying on 57 Gilbert of “The Talk” 59 Verb of Verlaine 62 R. Mapplethorpe supporter

DINING PGNOUT

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 8-14, 2019

Big-chain eatery fires up big flavors By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com We generally are lured out to King of Prussia to sample its culinary offerings in places that serve upscale comfort dishes in massive and visually stunning, expertly decorated spaces. Our destination this time was J. Alexander’s, 256 Mall Blvd. Part of the nationwide contemporary American wood-fired cuisine chain, the eatery fits the area perfectly. The spacious, dimly lit venue delivers suburban charm with lots of dark wood, shiny surfaces and comfortable seating. The menu aims straight for the carnivore heart of mainstream American tastes, with

a detour into sushi to keep things eclectic. The sushi offerings deliver a nice complexity, especially the avocado bomb ($13), served with house-made tortilla chips. It resembles a deconstructed guacamole, making it as much fun to explore the layers as it is to eat it. This is a recurring theme to the chain’s modus operandi: Go big and over the top.

MAPPLETHORPE from page 42

3d), an African-American man who becomes his muse and lover. Their relationship, however, is depicted in broad strokes. Milton’s criticisms of Robert’s inappropriate treatment of him in their personal relationship is discussed but never shown, thereby making it a onesided argument where everyone loses. In the film’s last 20 minutes, AIDS finally rears its ugly head. Both Sam and Robert contract the disease; the word “AIDS,” however, is deliberately never mentioned. But Robert’s shocking attitude about transmitting the disease through his behavior is — and it’s one of the few telling moments in the film. There is more crammed into the 102 minutes of “Mapplethorpe,” including Robert’s complicated working relationship with his brother, Edward (Brandon Sklenar), which suggests Timoner

Sometimes, though, too much is really too much. The deviled eggs ($8), while visually impressive with a mountain of filling topped with candied bacon, result in overkill. There is simply too much of the dense and under-seasoned filling, which ends up drowning out a lot of what the candied bacon brings to the dish. On the other hand, another starter that looked unassuming, but really knocked it out of the park was the spinach con queso ($10). had the ideal level of spice, flavor and fresh-tasting elements, thanks largely to the spinach and the lively pico de gallo. We could not stop eating it. On the entrée side of the menu, big and bold is the order of the day. The jumbo fried shrimp ($26) were gigantic, prehistoric brontosaurus prawns fried to exquisite perfection. Another winner was the “Not Your Ordinary Mac and Cheese” ($5 as a side dish). Every other restaurant from here to New Orleans has mac and cheese on its menu. And all think theirs is the best on the block, especially if they see fit to spike the comfort dish with lobster (boring). For the most part, 99 percent of them are just OK. Well, J. Alexander’s is definitely one of the top three mac-andcheese dishes in the Greater Philadelphia area. It was perfectly seasoned with fine chopped and fragrant onions, then topped with a crunchy layer of buttery bread

bit off more than he could chew. Had the film focused on a specific period of the artist’s life — his relationship with Patti, or Sam, or post-success — it might have been stronger. Instead, bon mots such as Sam’s comment, “Sentimentality is the kiss of death in art,” or Robert’s thoughts about beauty and perfection giving solace, or his legacy, are meant to pass as profound. There is also considerable text at the end of the film, suggesting there’s more to the story than viewers see. In the title role, Smith may resemble Mapplethorpe, particularly towards the end of his life, but he never quite brings the artist and his complexities to life. He acts haughty or bitchy as each scene requires, but it’s just posturing, not a really full-bodied performance. Ultimately, “Mapplethorpe” feels like a missed opportunity. n

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If you go J. Alexander’s 256 Mall Blvd. King of Prussia 484-322-2000

http://www.jalexanders.com/ Mon.-Thu.: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri.-Sat.: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sun.: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

crumbs. It’s not rocket science, but J. Alexander’s has stuck the landing where a lot of other places haven’t. If you have any room left, stick around for dessert. J. Alexander’s key lime pie ($8), sliced in large portions and topped

with silky whipped cream, is downright heavenly. Yes, it’s a chain restaurant. Yes, it’s a trek. But J. Alexander’s has more than enough culinary tricks up its sleeve to make it worth your time and energy. n

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 8-14, 2019

PORTRAIT from page 39

She was saying [with a Philly accent], “Do you want some wooder mah-me?” And a woman next to her said, “Excuse me, are you from Philly?” And Jennifer said, “How did you know?” The woman was Cheri Oteri [who’s from Upper Darby] and that was the start of getting her onboard! PGN: I understand half of Philly got onboard. MI: It was amazing. There was a deli named Pastificio that sold turkey hoagies for a day. They gave us all the proceeds and gave us a ton of food to feed the crew. A guy named Mark Leuzzi, who has a plumbing company, let us have space in his building for a month so we didn’t have to pay for an office. Both of the houses that we shot in were donated, so we didn’t have to pay location fees. People on Jessup Street, where we shot, all pitched in to help. It pulled at my heartstrings. PGN: One of the reasons I wanted to talk to you was that I saw the segment with you on “Right This Minute.” There was such camaraderie and support. It was heartwarming for me. It perfectly dovetailed with our mission of supporting women and refutes the old trope that women can’t work together. MI: Absolutely. And that’s what we did. “Turkey’s Done” is a spinoff from a feature film I wrote called “Shenanigans.” When I was in L.A., the three of us worked on it. Then I had the idea to make a short based on one of the characters. I knew it would be hard to make a feature on our own, but I knew we could do a short. Interestingly, when I wrote [the character] Peaches, I always had Cheri Oteri in mind. I knew she was from Philly, and I always wanted her for the part. So, when Jennifer randomly met her in the park, it was unbelievable. We sent her a script and she loved it. And here we are! By the way, it’s somewhat based on a true story.

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PGN: What? MI: Yeah. We have a friend whose grandmother actually threw the Thanksgiving turkey, fully cooked, out the front door at his grandfather. We took that and ran with it.

through April 7 at Independence Studio on 3, 825 Walnut St.; 215574-3550.

PGN: Any mishaps on set? MI: So we had a red Cadillac in the film. As we wrapped up filming, someone — well me — had left the trunk open. When we went to start it, it wouldn’t start. Then when we finally got it jumped, it caught on fire! Luckily, Johnny Baum Baum [his last name is Baumgartner] from Expressway Cinema had an extinguisher and we were able to put it out right away. But not before someone dialed 911, so we were soon surrounded by fire trucks and the police. It was one hell of a way to end the filming.

Long Light Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition featuring the photography of David Lebe, through May 5, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215763-8100.

PGN: So, getting personal, how did a nice Italian girl from South Philly get married to a nice Irish girl named MacKenzie? MI: [Laughing] Ah! My wife was married when she was 21, and that was her married name. She’s actually Spanish and Hungarian. PGN: When did you come out? MI: I was late to bloom. I kind of knew in college, but pushed it away. But when I was 33, I told one friend. She knew [nowwife] JoAnn, and introduced me to her. It was a set-up and neither of us knew, but it sure worked! PGN: You mean you attended St. Maria Goretti, an all-girl high school at the time, and it never came up? MI: No, not at all. I didn’t have a clue! PGN: What’s next? MI: Well, now that we have the short in the bag, we’re hoping to make the fulllength film “Shenanigans.” But there’s been talk of making it into a sitcom as well, so who knows? Stay tuned! n Find more information about “Turkey’s Done” and all the festival films at www.thewomensfilmfestival.org.

Nightlife, Concerts, Art Exhibits, Readings, Cabaret, Films, Theater, Food, Books, Music, Sports and Travel

Because Life Is More Than Just Gay News

CRACKING IT UP: Out cabaret singer and Philly superstar Martha Graham Cracker performs a special BYOB show, “Lashed But Not Unleashed,” an evening of original songs delivered with her usual over-the-top ﬂair, March 14-16 at The Kimmel Center’s SEI Innovation Studio, 300 S. Broad St. For more information or tickets, call 215-893-1999. Photo: Gustavo Garcia

Theater & Arts Arte Povera: Homage to Amalﬁ ’68 Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition recreating one artist’s reactionary exhibition against minimalism and pop art, through July, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. Bob: A Life in Five Acts Azuka Theatre presents the story chronicling the highly unusual life of a man named Bob and his lifelong quest to become a “Great Man,” through March 17 at Proscenium Theatre at The Drake, 302 S. Hicks St.; 215563-1100. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Walnut Street Theatre presents the adventure

focused on a teenage sleuth, March 12-April 28, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550. Dance Heginbotham Dance Affiliates presents the New York-based contemporary troupe making its Philadelphia debut, March 15-16 at Harold Prince Theater, 3680 Walnut St.; 215898-3900. Dieter Rams: Principled Design Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition surveying the designer’s prolific body of work — from radios, clocks and cameras to kitchen appliances and furniture, through April 14, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215763-8100. Don “DC” Curry The comedian seen in “Next Friday” performs March 15-17 at Helium

Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215-496-9001. Giselle The Pennsylvania Ballet performs the premiere of Angel Corella’s restaging of the story of a young woman whose love triumphs over vengeance and lasts even beyond death, through March 17 at The Kimmel Center’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; 215893-1999. Kate The Unexamined Life Walnut Street Theatre presents a production examining the life of Hollywood legend Katharine Hepburn,

Mendelssohn and Schubert The Philadelphia Orchestra performs with piano prodigy Jan Lisiecki, through March 10 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 300 S. Broad St.; 215893-1999. Michelle Wolf The comedian performs through March 9 at Punch Line Philly, 33 E. Laurel St.; 215606-6555. Mimi Imfurst Presents Drag Diva Brunch Mimi Imfurst and special guests perform 11 a.m.-2 p.m. March 9 at Punch Line Philly, 33 E. Laurel St.; 215-606-6555. New Chinese Galleries Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition exploring 4,000 years of Chinese art, through 2021, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215763-8100.

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

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Outta Town Crimes of Passion The Van Halen tribute band performs 8 p.m. March 8 at The Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 202-730-3331. THE BEAT FROM THE FAR EAST: KODO: Evolution, Japan’s preeminent taiko drumming troupe, explores the rhythmic possibilities with its electrifying performance, 7:30 p.m. March 12 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 300 S. Broad St. For more information or tickets, call 215-8931999. Photo: Takashi Okamoto

Rent Broadway Philadelphia presents the blockbuster rock musical about struggling artists in Manhattan, through March 10 at Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-893-1999. Vessels Dance Affiliates presents the allfemale dance group through March 9 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; 215-898-3900.

Music Nothing More The hard-rock band performs 6:30 p.m. March 8 at The Fillmore Philadelphia, 29 E. Allen St.; 215625-3681. Tony Toni Tone and Jody Watley The R&B singers perform 8 p.m. March 9 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; 215-5727650. A Bowie Celebration: The Bowie Alumni Tour Key musicians from David Bowie’s

band through the decades, including Mike Garson, Earl Slick, Charlie Sexton, Carmine Rojas, Bernard Fowler, Corey Glover and Lee John, perform 8 p.m. March 9 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; 215-572-7650. Lords of Acid The electro/dance group performs 7 p.m. March 11 at TLA, 334 South St.; 215-922-1011. Sponge The alternative rock band performs 8 p.m. March 15 at Sellersville Theater 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville; 215-257-5808. Teenage Fanclub The alternative rock band performs 8:30 p.m. March 15 at Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St.; 215-232-2100.

Nightlife Drag Wars: Totally Awesome ’80s Night Drag queens take on a “Garbage Pail Kids” theme to compete for glory, 8-11 p.m.

March 8 at Voyeur Nightclub, 1221 Saint James St.; 215-735-5772. SWAY The monthly queer dance party returns, 10 p.m.-2 a.m. March 9 at Tabu, 254 S. 12th St.; 215-964-9675. Nudey Tunes: Sports A burlesque show with live music, 8 p.m. March 10 at Franky Bradley’s, 1320 Chancellor St.; 215-735-0735. So You Think You’re a Headliner Philly’s newest talent competition showcasing various types of entertainers including drag, burlesque, live vocalists, comics and more, 9 p.m. March 13 at Franky Bradley’s, 1320 Chancellor St.; 215-735-0735. Not of This World Not of This Binary A showcase of nonbinary and genderqueer performers, 8 p.m. March 14 at Front Street Dive, 10 S. Front St.; 215542-6089.

Looney Tunes The classic cartoon shorts are screened, followed by a Q&A with Lind Simensky about the wonders of Cartoon Physics, 1:30 p.m. March 9 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-1228. Equality — Pride in Our History Exhibition This exhibit takes visitors on a journey through the decades of gay Pride, showcasing a collection of stories, photos and memorabilia contributed by LGBTQ individuals and their allies, through March 23 at Visit Bucks County, 3207 Street Road, Bensalem; www. newhopecelebrateshistory.org. Remember Jones performs Back to Black The band performs an Amy Winehouse tribute, 8 p.m. March 15 at The Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 202-730-3331. Conan the Barbarian The actionfantasy film is screened 9:45 p.m. March 15 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-1228. n

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 8-14, 2019

Out author explores unique family dynamics By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Nishta J. Mehra is a first-generation American, the daughter of Indian immigrants who was born and raised in Memphis, Tenn. She now lives in Phoenix, Ariz., with her wife, who is white, and her adopted child, who is black. In her new book of essays, “Brown White Black,” she paints a vivid picture of their experiences dealing with America’s rigid ideas of race, gender and sexuality, as well as her family’s daily struggle to make space for itself amid increasing social and idealistic divisions in society. Mehra said the book aims to answer the questions of those who want to understand her experiences and perspectives more than it tries to win over any hearts and minds that aren’t open. “A large part of the book grew out of questions that came to me from folks who are part of my life, who may be a little bit on the external circles,” Mehra said. There are also people with whom she grew up and still keeps in touch via social media, but not much else. Many of them live very different lives, but their curiosity about her and her experience “made it visible to me that a lot of the things I took for granted were not common-base knowledge for other folks,” Mehra said. “I did have people express interest in a sense of ‘some of the things you are saying are really challenging for me and I’d like to know more.’ To me, that’s a space that I speak into. It’s hard to speak into a space of ‘I’m not interested in your story or what you are going to say.’ But when people are willing to say, ‘This is maybe hard for me, and I get there’s something you have that I don’t,’ that’s a space where learning and growth can happen, as cheesy as that may sound. “I’m really hoping that for folks who are willing to engage with the book, that they’re willing to let it affect them in a way that it can,” she said. “We’re a family, and we care about a lot of the things that most families care about. What we look like is very different and some of the things we deal with are different. But I think there are access points into someone else’s experience, depending on which side you are coming from.” Mehra noted that writing the book was as much of a growing and learning experience for her as it is for anyone who might read it and connect with her perspectives. “I wrote it mostly for myself,” she said. “I

think many writers do that with an audience in mind and hope we will be an audience. A lot of the work that happens on the page is because we have questions ourselves that we’re trying to figure out and answer. The process of writing the book forced me to really discern and be careful about what I do think or believe, and what I hope for and what matters to me.” Mehra hopes that on some level, her work can serve as a model of each of us doing that for ourselves. She wants her voice as an author to not come across as someone who has everything figured out, but as someone who is sharing her process of trying to discern when things bump into her and force her to consider or examine preconceived notions she had of how she moved around in the world that no longer work. “This is the work that I was trying to do,” she said. “I hope that can serve as a model for people to do that work themselves.” The preconceived notions Mehra had to confront came to light after she became an adoptive parent. “Becoming a parent of a black child … it’s one thing to understand things intellectually, to understand that racism is structural and systemic in the fabric of American life,” she said. “And then there’s another thing to live that. Even in the process of adopting and becoming a parent, the visceral experience of that is different from an intellectual experience. That was something that I had to reckon with in terms of the distance I had put for myself between something that I believed in intellectually and paid lip service to, but didn’t necessarily push past that to impact my own live experience or daily life. “Having a child is gender-fluid. It was surprising to me how entrenched our gender roles still are and how familiar things felt from my own childhood. Those kinds of things surprised me in terms of what we have had to advocate and push for in terms of giving our child space to express herself in a way that is right for her. It pushed me to check my own assumptions about what I was attached to as a parent when gender is assigned at birth. What you then imagine down the line and what there is to let go of when your child says, ‘that doesn’t fit me anymore.’ Those are the two biggest things that I had to look at and continue to work on.” n “Brown White Black” is available now. For more information, visit nishtajmehra.com.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 8-14, 2019

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 8-14, 2019

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 8-14, 2019

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