PGN March 9-12, 2012 by The Philadelphia Gay News

Hope on the street

Family Portrait: FrancIs Elling PAGE 27

Creep of the Week: Boner’s best friend, Kirk Cameron

PAGE 29

PAGE 10

March 9-15, 2012

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Vol. 36 No. 10

The Power List Philly’s out movers and shakers PGN Staff Power: possession of control, authority or influence over others PGN’s Power List: A snapshot of out Philadelphians who influence, impact

Dr. Donald Schwarz

City of Philadelphia Health commissioner and deputy mayor for health and opportunity Dr. Schwarz was appointed to head the city’s health department in 2008 after a career in pediatric medicine. Schwarz, 55, manages a $2.1-billion budget and has direct supervision over about a dozen employees. Schwarz said that “maintaining services for the most vulnerable during the recession” has been his greatest accomplishment — as well as a “huge and constant” challenge — in both of his city positions. Schwarz’s educational background includes a bachelor’s from Brown University, his medical degree and a master’s in public health from Johns Hopkins University, and a master’s in business administration from University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton

or otherwise shape the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection and its surrounding environs — its corporations, government, nonprofits and academic institutions. School of Business. He completed his residency training at Yale-New Haven Hospital and also did fellowships at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Schwarz was vice chair of the department of pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine when he was tapped for city government, which he said was a transition, but a welcome one. “The content in the current position wasn’t unfamiliar but there was a lot to learn and I’m still learning,” he said. “The management structure is a little bit different but the basic parts of management are similar most places you go — the planning, talking, getting input.” One simple mantra has helped Schwarz navigate the ins and outs of his two positions in the last four years. “Do the right thing,” he said. “When I’m up in the middle of the night trying to fig-

It’s often said that gays have power. Though veracity of that across the board is debatable, it’s certainly true for those on this list. For more about the criteria, see the editorial on page 10.

Antigay incident sparks media controversy By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Local news coverage about the investigation of an alleged incident of antigay bias within a city government office has itself created more allegations of homophobia. In early February, an employee of the city controller’s office and his partner, a contractor with the office, were the target of a sexually explicit note on a bathroom stall door in the office in the Municipal PAGE 2 Services Building.

Groundbreaking HIV data comes out of Philly study By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Local researchers unveiled a pioneering study this week that showed some ure out what to do, the real question it comes patients with HIV were able to remain down to is, What’s the right thing? Not what’s healthy, despite discontinuing their antithe smart thing to do politically or the thing retroviral medication. that’s easiest. But what’s the right thing?” At the 2012 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Seattle Wednesday, scientists from Philadelphia’s More Power people Pages 6-8 Wistar Institute, Philadelphia FIGHT and other organizations presented results of a clinical trial that PAGE 19

Penn expands health coverage for trans employees By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

THE ATTIC GOES GLAM FOR FUNDRAISER: Members of The Attic Youth Center performed in the second-annual Sweethearts and Redhots Drag Extravaganza at Broad Street Ministries March 2. The drag show raised $2,800 for The Attic Youth Center’s trip to Connecticut for the annual True Colors LGBT Youth Conference March 15-18. Photo: Scott A. Drake

Beginning this summer, University of Pennsylvania’s employee healthcare plan will cover gender-reassignment surgery for transgender individuals. The new coverage, offered under the Aetna Point of Service II plan, was announced last week and will go into effect July 1. Penn joins just a handful of other American universities that offer this option to employees.

The university currently has more than 16,000 faculty and staff members. Penn has offered similar coverage to students who take advantage of its student healthcare plan for two years. Efforts were underway last year to extend the benefits to employees, but the university at the time said the change would be too costly. The university did not respond by presstime to a request for comment. Jason Landau Goodman, executive director of the Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition and a Penn PAGE 2

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 9-15, 2012

LOCAL PGN

City Council urges state action on pro-LGBT bill By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Philadelphia City Council last week called on the state legislature to amend the tax law to provide for more equitable treatment of same-sex couples. Council last Thursday unanimously approved Councilwoman-at-Large Blondell Reynolds Brown’s resolution in support of a bill that would exempt same-sex couples from paying state inheritance taxes. “While City Council does not have a vote in Harrisburg, we do have the power of our collective voice as a legislative body representing 1.5-million Pennsylvanians,” Reynolds Brown said. The state effort is being spearheaded by Rep. Babette Josephs. Currently, if a person dies, his or her unmarried partner would be required to pay a full 15-percent tax on any inheritance left to them. Heterosexual spouses and children under 21 are exempt from paying tax on property bequeathed to them, and Josephs’ measure would include both same- and opposite-sex domestic partners in that exemption. Josephs bill was introduced in September with 11 cosponsors and has since gained three more cosponsors, all of whom are Democrats. It came up for a hearing before the House Finance Committee in the fall but no vote was taken. A copy of the Council resolution will be sent to the majority and minority leaders in the House, the chairs of the Finance Committee and the Philadelphia delegation. “We have learned from past experience that when we put our support on record, whether UPENN from page 1

student, noted the policy change “says a great deal about our community that we were able to push forward and extend this essential coverage.” Landau Goodman, the former vice chair for political affairs at Lambda Alliance, previously testified before the University Council in favor of extending the benefit to faculty and staff. “It took a long time to process this within the university but I’m very proud that finally, after several years of advocating for this, they came through to add this to the plan,” he said. “This is an important step for our community, and I hope that other schools and institutions will follow.” Dawn Munro, a transgender scientist employed by the university for more than 20 years, was involved in the advocacy process for the change for a number of years. She said an array of individuals — from faculty and staff, students and leaders across the city — were involved in pushing for this change, which represents that the university is “very forward-thinking.” “They’re keeping the best interests of the

MAZZONI FUNDRAISER IS A SMASH: Mazzoni Center executive director Nurit Shein (left) and legal director David Rosenblum (right) broke plates to honor Philadelphia City Councilwoman At-Large Blondell Reynolds Brown at the third annual “Open Bar” fundraiser March 6 at Opa restaurant and lounge, 1311 Sansom St. The event raised $3,825 in funds for Mazzoni Center’s Legal Services program. Photo Scott A. Drake

people agree or not, they do pay attention,” Reynolds Brown said. “We hope that advocacy organizations can use this as a tool to start a dialogue in municipalities across the state.” ■ faculty, staff and students at the top of their agenda,” she said. “This is a very positive change.” Dana Lane Taylor, another trans employee who works in the Office of Information Security, testified before the University Council in 2010 to lobby for the benefits change. After the university failed to adopt the policy at that time, she said supporters “kicked it into high gear.” “I was actually overwhelmed by the support we received, especially from Penn students,” she said. “If it wasn’t for the support of these amazing people, we might not have gotten this approved this year.” Taylor noted that this decision comes just months after Harvard made a similar move — examples that she said can fuel change on other campuses. “When something like this comes up for discussion, the first question is, ‘What are our peers doing?’” she said. “Now that two Ivy League universities offer this, we hope that our peers will offer the same for their students, faculty and staff.” ■

WEEKLY from page 1

The situation was detailed in a story in last week’s Philadelphia Weekly, penned by contributing writer Aaron Kase, although the two victims and the city controller have asserted numerous factual errors, as well as ethical questions, in the reporting. One of the primary complaints against the piece is that Kase identified the alleged victims by name. PW declined comment for this story. In an interview with PGN this week, Controller Alan Butkovitz contended that “Philadelphia Weekly violated the norm of how you’re supposed to handle” alleged hate crimes. “If this was a woman who had been harassed, no one in journalism would ever have written her name,” he said. “But somehow Aaron Kase and Philadelphia Weekly think it’s OK because this is a gay couple and they either have a blind spot or don’t understand that this should be no different.” The PW story focused on the bathroom-stall incident, although the men say they have faced other occurrences in the past year — including an antigay slur on a bathroom urinal, a water bottle of one of theirs that was filled with urine and a slashed tire on their car. Kase’s sources were granted anonymity. An attempt to reach Kase was unsuccessful. Brett Mandel, who ran against Butkovitz for city controller, told PGN this week that he did not disclose information to Kase. “I was not a source for the article about the hate crime or the scrawl on the wall,” he said. The story questioned whether the “mysterious bathroom scribbler” will ever be caught and “how many taxpayer dollars will be spent hunting him down.” In response to backlash from PGN publisher Mark Segal about the content and direction of the story, Kase published a blog post in which he referenced that when he was “in elementary school and people wrote offensive comments on bathroom stalls, the school erased the writing without launching private investigations.” In a letter to PW’s publisher, one of the victims wrote that “Kase’s haphazard dismissal of such hate-based graffiti is not only appalling, but scary — especially in light of the belief that such deliberate acts of bias give license to, and encourage, other like-minded people to commit similar homophobic and bias-based acts of intimidation — whether in our schools or places of employment.” The investigation to which the story referred was conducted by private investigative agency Keystone Intelligence Network. Butkovitz said his office has never experienced a situation similar to the antigay incident, but that his office has used Keystone for other matters, such as “background checks, allegations of misconduct or of non-residency.” The total cost for this investigation was

$7,746. Butkovitz said that figure is “relatively small,” and not the most the office has paid for an investigation. Keystone investigators removed the stall door on which the graffiti was written and dusted it for fingerprints, although Butkovitz said employees were not fingerprinted, as was reported in the PW story. A handful of employees were asked to submit samples of their printing by writing out the phrase that was written on the stall door. The PW story alleged that employees were asked private medical questions, but Butkovitz said the only medical question was, “Are you under the influence of any medication that would make it difficult to understand these questions and respond?” The article also noted that no union representative was present for the writing sample, but Butkovitz said that only one of the employees — of the 12 who were under investigation — was a union member and that “the issue was discussed with the union people, and the union reps came in and advised people to cooperate.” None of the samples definitively matched the graffiti and the case was closed without the perpetrator being identified. Butovitz said he wanted to contact lawenforcement authorities when the urine was found in the water bottle, but the victim declined. Butkovitz contends the Keystone investigation was warranted considering the crimes. “We have a legal and moral obligation to protect people from being targeted on the basis of hate,” he said. “In this case, there was a long pattern — the spike in the tire and the urine — of what I would consider to be assaults, and the writing on the bathroom stall made it clear the motivation was antigay hate. To not do anything would be to encourage and incite that same kind of violence and hate activity, which is exactly what Aaron Kase and Philadelphia Weekly are doing.” The couple is in the process of speaking with the Philadelphia Human Relations Commission, which handles complaints of discrimination, and said they are considering legal action against the publication. They also enlisted the assistance of the Anti-Defamation League. ADL Eastern Pennsylvania-Delaware regional director Barry Morrison told PGN his agency sent PW owner Anthony Clifton a letter March 5 noting that the agency “wholeheartedly shared [the victims’] feelings and concerns about the very poor judgment and sensitivity exhibited by Mr. Kase and permitted by the editors of the newspaper.” Morrison said the incident was “extremely uncomfortable, embarrassing and painful” for the couple and that “being exposed by the media in the face of this victimization further exacerbated negative feelings and reactions.” ADL asked the publication to “take immediate actions to correct the egregious actions” and ensure a similar situation does not arise in the future. ■

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 9-15, 2012

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 9-15, 2012

READY TO RIDE: The William Way LGBT Community Center hosted a send-off March 3 for 17 young LGBTQ activists, as well as 200 of their friends and family, participating in Soulforce’s Equality Ride, a two-month social justice bus tour that will visit fundamentalist, anti-LGBTQ religious colleges and universities throughout the country and holding dialogues with students and staff. Over $2,000 was raised to benefit this year’s Equality Ride. Updates can be found on Facebook, EqualityRide.com and live tweets @equalityride. Photo: Scott A. Drake NEWS

Crime Watch Local Millennial Poz News Briefing Out Money

20 6 14 12 16

Contents

EDITORIAL/OP-ED

Creep of the Week Editorial Mayor’s note Mark My Words Street Talk

10 10 11 11 11

Will Super Tuesday determine the Republican presidential nominee?

New Year’s resolution ... vacation ...

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Go to www.epgn.com to weigh in on this week’s question:

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PGN LOCAL

The Power List Craig Alston

Casey Cook

A practicing attorney for 20 years, Alston is now lending his legal expertise to the children and families involved with the city’s Department of Human Services. As deputy city solicitor since 2008, Alston has litigated hundreds of cases, with a multitude of outcomes. “Our overall goal is to enable children to be with families that are going to make them successful as adults,” he said. “That may end up in the termination of the parental rights of a mother and father who are drug-addicted and unable to care for their children or we may move children into foster care. We work to get children into a permanent, stable home and to strengthen families that are in crisis.” Alston, who earned his law degree from Temple University, previously worked in the solicitor’s office on general defense, later was in private practice with a local firm and then branched out into his own general-practice work. In working with families through DHS,

As head of Bread & Roses Community Fund, Cook is tasked with guiding an agency that has provided over $10 million in grants to social-justice causes throughout the Delaware Valley. Cook, who holds a bachelor’s degree from Temple University and master’s degrees in social science and law and social policy from Bryn Mawr College, came to the helm of the agency in 2007. Cook oversees the organization’s fundraising, programming and grantmaking initiatives. Bread & Roses distributes about $220,000 annually through funding streams and scholarships and offers technical assistance to an array of local organizations, valued at an additional $150,000 a year. Cook, 40, directs a staff of three and manages an annual budget of $500,000. The organization recently wrapped up a year-long planning process that Cook said stands out as one of the agency’s most successful efforts in recent years. Bread & Roses conducted focus groups, interviews and two town-hall meetings that generated input from about 400 people, including grantees and supporters. “This was a really incredible process,”

City of Philadelphia Deputy city solicitor

Bread & Roses Community Fund Executive director

Alston, 57, said he’s learned that empathy must play a role for those with a career focus like his. “You can be professional but not completely detached from the work that we do,” he said. “You need to have some compassion overarching your professionalism. These people are going through a lot of pain and challenges so, even though you need to be a consummate professional, you still need compassion. Whatever we’re doing, we have to be thinking about the safety and the well-being of these children.”

Sean Buffington

Klayton Fennell

When he was named to the top spot of the University of the Arts in 2007, Buffington was one of a handful of out university leaders, and among the nation’s youngest. Now 42, Buffington oversees all aspects of operations of the university, home to 2,100 students, 120 full-time and 350 part-time faculty, and about 300 full-time staff. While he initially envisioned his career to be a fusion of teaching and scholarly work, Buffington — who earned his undergrad degree from Harvard and his master’s in American culture from University of Michigan — said that an initial job in university administration convinced him he could “make a significant impact on education through institutional leadership.” When he came to the helm of the school, Buffington asked faculty to imagine the institution’s future, a question that sparked an “intensive academic-planning process” that the university is now in the midst of

As the VP of government affairs for the cable gian, Klayton Fennell fuses his background in both the legal and technology fields. Fennell joined the Comcast team in 2001, working out of Florida for a number of years before coming to Philadelphia, where he is now charged with “supporting government-affairs folks across the nation as they work with local and state regulators and communities as we roll out our services and products,” he said. Fennell and his colleagues also provide strategic counsel to the company’s business and operations teams. Fennell, 41, came to Comcast after serving as executive director of planning and administration for TESS Communications. He earned his bachelor’s in political science from Jacksonville University and his law degree from Florida State University School of Law. One of his most notable accomplishments occurred in his first year with Comcast. “I shepherded the AT&T broadband acquisition through the regulatory process at the local and state levels,” he said. “It was the largest cable acquisition in American

University of the Arts President and CEO

she said. “What I’m most proud of in my work at Bread & Roses is having led the organization through a strategic visioning process that encouraged our founders and stakeholders to reinvent a 35-year-old organization. As a result of our re-visioning, Bread & Roses is poised to lead strategic change in the Delaware Valley by supporting community groups working to transform our society into one that is fair, equitable and just.” Cook said her career has been guided by some simple yet sage career advice. “Stay true to yourself. Honor your values. And do your homework.”

Comcast Vice president of government affairs

implementing. Buffington noted that a career in university administration can take on an array of focuses — marketing, fundraising, financial management, technology and academic planning, to name a few — yet all require a basic commitment to education. “The most important factor is caring passionately about the mission and believing deeply in the potential of the institution to change itself, to change the lives of students and to transform the fields in which it works,” he said.

history.” Fennell serves on the company’s Internal Diversity Council and is an Executive Champion in its new LGBT employee group. He noted that “consensus-building” in the workplace is one of the toughest challenges he has faced in his field. “You have to make sure everyone understands our external pressure points and how we respond to those so we can efficiently get our products and services out there,” he said. However, as an employee of one of the world’s leading communication companies, Fennell said he’s learned that “there’s no such thing as over-communication.”

LOCAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 9-15, 2012

Philly’s Out Movers and Shakers Dr. Marla Gold

David Huting

Drexel University School of Public Health Dean Dr. Gold took the helm of Drexel University’s School of Public Health in 2002 and has helped it grow from a fledgling program, whose parent corporation had a few years previously declared bankruptcy, to an internationally renowned school. In the past 10 years, the school’s enrollment has grown exponentially to nearly 500 students — who are participating in degree and certificate programs that range from undergraduate to post-doctoral. The school employs about 140 people, and Gold manages an annual budget of $20 million. “Being here to oversee our growth into this gem of a school of public health in both the Philadelphia region and the nation has been incredible,” she said. “We’re now a research powerhouse, a school that has authentic partnerships with the community, and we stay true to our core of focusing on health disparities and social-justice issues.” Gold oversees Drexel’s Autism Research Institute and was instrumental in launching the school’s Program for LGBT Health. Gold, 55, earned her doctorate of medicine from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. She worked as an internist before she became assistant

PNC Wealth Management, Vice president and senior investment advisor

health commissioner for Infectious Disease Control in the Philadelphia Public Health Department in the early ’90s. Gold also founded Drexel College of Medicine’s Partnership Comprehensive Care Practice, focused on HIV services, and co-founded Philadelphia Family Pride. In her career, Gold said, she’s come to value the contributions of individuals. “It’s all about relationships,” she said. “In every position I’ve had, I try to be aware that the people I work with are first and foremost people. They bring to the workplace the whole context of their lives, and I think you need an understanding of that before you can have a vision and really lead.”

Huting taps into his extensive finance background to assist others in protecting their finances through his role at PNC. In the position since 2000, Huting develops and manages portfolios of individual securities as well as mutual-funds products for individual advisory, trust and guardianship clients. Huting, who earned his bachelor’s degree in economics and finances from the University of Maryland and his master’s in finance from Drexel University, manages a staff of seven. Prior to joining PNC, Huting led a group of portfolio managers at Vanguard Group, which provides financial assistance to institutional clients. Huting, 49, also runs the local chapter of the company’s Employee Business Resource Group that provides resources and outreach for LGBTs and allies, and serves on the national leadership team for PNC’s diversity efforts. Huting said his commitment to being open about his full identity in the work-

Jim Grimmer

Alba Martinez

Grimmer has been in the banking industry since he was a teen, working his way up from teller to now overseeing operations at 1,300 TD Bank branches. As senior vice president and director of store operations at TD, Grimmer ensures that the “financial integrity and operational excellence” in all of the bank’s stores, from Maine to Florida is “sound and set.” “The most important thing is that we set the tone for how the stores operate on a daily basis, with our focus toward the customer experience, the employee experience and shareholder value,” he said. Grimmer, 50, got his start at former Philadelphia banking system PSFS as a teller straight out of high school, and at nights pursued his bachelor’s degree from Holy Family University. Throughout the 1990s he served as vice president of bank operations at Mellon Bank and joined TD in 2000 in the bank operations department before moving into his current position in 2005. He now directs a team of 160 employees. “I want to have an impact on all of our employees as a role model but particularly on those who identify as LGBTA,” he

Following a career that included time as an attorney and as a nonprofit executive, Martinez is now a leader in one of the world’s largest mutual-fund companies. As a principal in Vanguard’s Retail Investor Group, Martinez is tasked with leading a business group “dedicated to providing outstanding service and investment guidance” to over 5-million direct investors. “We are unique in the industry in that we are client-owned, and this drives our powerful low-cost, client-focused investing and business philosophy,” Martinez said of her company, which she joined in 2008. Martinez has six employees who report directly to her and assists in leading the 500-plus investment professionals. Martinez, 49, said her team has made great strides in easing the investment process for their clients. “I am proud of our practice to shape our strategy by listening and responding to our clients’ voices, and by engaging our crew at all levels in the process of improving our business,” she said. Prior to Vanguard, Martinez served in a

TD Bank Senior vice president and director of store operations

place has served him well. “Being out since literally the first week of work here has led to a lot of accomplishments, a lot of leadership opportunities and the ability to change a lot of hearts and minds,” he said. An adjunct professor of finance in Villanova University’s College of Commerce and Finance, Huting said he has found that success in the finance world is contingent upon two basic factors. “You have to have a high level of competence and you have to be honest,” he said.

Vanguard Group Principal in retail investor group

said. “I am out at work and, as an executive, I want that to show them that TD does value diversity and the idea of bringing your whole self to work. I want our employees to be comfortable in their own skin.” Grimmer said he tries to use his example to communicate several lessons he’s learned throughout his career in banking. “You have to be passionate about what you do. People can recognize that, and you want other people to be passionate as well, so that’s really important. And you can’t take yourself too seriously. We’re in a human-services business and by showing our human elements, you can make other people comfortable. And you have to remember where you came from; it keeps you humble.”

number of other local leadership positions — including as CEO of United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, commissioner of the Philadelphia Department of Human Services, executive director of Congreso de Latinos Unidos and managing attorney at Community Legal Services. While her career has been varied, she said all her positions were guided by two principles. “Make sure I am doing something I love, and give 100 percent every single day,” she said. “You can never get complacent. Every day is an interview.” PAGE 8

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 9-15, 2012

LOCAL PGN

PGN’s Power List Marlene Olshan

Paul Steinke

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeastern Pennsylvania CEO Ten years ago, Olshan switched her career focus back to where her passion lies — social services. After earning her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Temple University, Olshan spent about 14 years as vice president of several different national retail chains and went on to work for several years in an investment-services consulting group before joining BBBS in 2002. “I wanted to do something more meaningful,” she said. “I have a lot of passion for equal rights and social justice and that’s what we do here. We’re about leveling the playing field for kids who may not have a chance.” As CEO, Olshan, 58, manages a staff of 60 and an annual budget of $4.3 million. Among her accomplishments in the last decade, Olshan supervised the creation of the Amachi program, which seeks to break the cycle of incarceration by introducing mentors to children whose parents are in jail. Founded in 2002, the program has since reached thousands of Philadelphia youth. Also founded under her direction was Beyond School Walls, which brings

Reading Terminal Market Association, General manager

young people into local workplaces for direct mentoring. Twenty-two companies have since signed on as partners, and the program has engaged about 600 youth. Both pioneering programs, however, have since garnered national attention and been replicated at BBBS chapters throughout the country, reaching an untold number of youth at risk. Having a true investment in the mission of her organization has been key to her success, Olshan said. “You have to be authentic,” she said. “You need to have a true passion for what you’re doing.”

As head of the Reading Terminal Market Association, Steinke runs one of the city’s most bustling attractions. Last year, about 6.35 million, or 122,000 people per week, made their way through the aisles of the market, currently populated by about 80 merchants. Steinke came aboard as GM in 2001 and directs nearly all aspects of the market’s operations — marketing, leasing, budgeting, tenant relations, customer relations — and supervises a staff of seven. “I oversee the entire operations of the market, everything except running the stores themselves,” he said. Steinke, 47, earned his bachelor’s degree in economic and business administration from Penn State University and previously worked as executive director of University City District and director of finance and administration at Center City District. He served on the Philadelphia Human Rights Campaign Dinner steering committee from 2004-08 and chaired the committee the final two years. Steinke said he has worked hard to bring the market’s operations forward. “What I’m most proud of is strengthen-

Clark Pingree

Beatriz “Bia” Vieira

Pingree has held varying positions with Wells Fargo over the past decade and now directs the company’s regional efforts to identify, recruit and retain affluent customers. Pingree’s role at the helm of the organization’s Affluent Customer Segment gives him oversight for 75 store-based private bankers and nearly 200 licensed personal bankers in both Pennsylvania and Delaware. He also serves as the liaison between Wells Fargo’s Community Banking and Wealth Management businesses. Pingree, 36, previously worked for Wells Fargo in San Francisco and Salt Lake City, a position he attained after receiving his bachelor’s in finance from Brigham Young University in 2001. When he arrived in Philadelphia, the company had recently acquired Wachovia, and Pingree helped navigate his staff through the subsequent transition. “I think my biggest accomplishment here in Philadelphia has been empowering my team through a lot of the change and help-

The nation’s fourth-oldest community foundation disperses more than $20 million in grants each year, an effort managed by Beatriz “Bia” Vieira. As vice president for philanthropic services, Vieira oversees the annual grantmaking process, which requires “assessing community needs and interests and creating innovative strategies for discretionary grantmaking and grants from our donors.” Vieira, who supervisors three managers and one administrative staff member, also works with donors to advise them on their philanthropic decisions in creating and managing funds that suit their interests. Vieira, who holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and anthropology and a master’s in literature from Temple University, came to the Foundation in 2008 as its first vice president of community impact and took on the current position, which was also new to the organization, in 2010. “One of the amazing things about the Foundation is that when there was the economic downturn in 2008, we were able to respond to the emergency needs of the community and of nonprofit organizations

Wells Fargo Community Banking Senior vice president and affluent customer Segment leader for Pennsylvania-Delaware region

ing Reading Terminal Market’s visibility in both the local and national consciousness,” he said. “And strengthening the merchant base and attracting more visitors and customers to the market.” The market is enjoying a more-than 25-percent increase in visitor flow since 2003, the first year it began tracking visitor counts. Practicing effective communication has proven vital in his position, he said. “Listen and be cautious before jumping to conclusions,” he said. “You have to be deliberate.”

The Philadelphia Foundation Vice president for philanthropic services

ing them to be successful through a very significant merger and integration,” he said. The ability to build strong relationships has been key in his work at Wells Fargo, Pingree said. “I need to be able to rely on strong partnerships, both internally and externally — in the Wells Fargo organization and also in the community — so I think that has been a very significant driver in my success and something I would always recommend to others,” he said.

in a very nimble and quick way,” she said. In 2009 and 2010, the Foundation partnered with individual donors to create a fund that generated about $600,000 to organizations providing basic-needs services to communities across the five-county area. Vieira, the former executive director of Lutheran Settlement House, said she’s learned that being open to the ideas of others is integral in the workplace. “It’s very basic but always good to be reminded of: Listen, listen carefully and continue to listen,” she said. ■

LOCAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 9-15, 2012

Trans woman arrested for illegal silicone injections By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

is next due in court March 13. Police say Windslowe, 42, is a “person of interest” in the death of Claudia Aderotimi A local transgender woman suspected last February. Aderotimi traveled to Philadelphia for to be responsible for the death of a British tourist more than a year ago was arrested the buttocks injection and allegedly paid Windslowe $1,700 for the this week, although she procedure, but died shortly does not yet face murder after. charges. Toxicology results from the Police arrested Padge Food and Drug Administration Victoria Windslowe, known in that case have not yet been as the “Black Madam,” completed, which has prebefore a “pumping party” vented the Delaware County she was slated to host Medical Examiner from issulast Wednesday night in ing a final manner and cause Germantown. of death and halted the filing She is charged with of murder charges. aggravated and simple Police say the woman who assault after a 23-year-old was hospitalized last month woman whose buttocks had silicone in her lungs. Wi n d s l ow e a l l eg e d l y PADGE VICTORIA They believe Windslowe hit a injected with silicone late WINDSLOWE blood vessel during the injeclast month became ill. tion and the silicone entered After the woman’s family contacted police, she identified Windslowe the bloodstream, traveling to the lungs. Police say that since the Aderotimi incias the woman who administered the injection and an informant later tipped off police dent, Windslowe cut her prices, selling one Solo cup of the silicone for about $700 at the to the location of the party. In addition to the assault charges, pumping parties. Among the items invesWindslowe, an aspiring hip-hop artist, also tigators collected from the Germantown faces counts of conspiracy, theft, reckless home were gloves, needles and glue. A police spokesperson said it did not endangerment and other charges. As investigators believe she could be tied appear that many of the individuals who to as many as 14 injections in the past few sought the injections were transgender. ■ months, her bail was set at $10 million. She

Man with Clementi testifies By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com The man who was caught on a webcam in an embrace with Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi testified this week in the trial of the man accused of spying on them. The trial against Dharun Ravi entered its second full week with testimony by the man known only as “M.B.,” whose full name has not been disclosed. The judge in the case prohibited courtwatchers from taking his photo or recording the testimony. Prosecutors say Ravi tapped into his webcam remotely after Clementi asked for time alone in their shared dormroom on the Rutgers campus Sept. 19, 2010. He and another student allegedly saw Clementi and M.B. kissing and then invited other students to view the feed. Two days later, Ravi allegedly set up his webcam pointed at Clementi’s bed and sent out messages to friends inviting them to watch the feed on his Twitter account. Classmates testified this week that Ravi planned to stage a “viewing party” Sept. 21, with beer and rum on hand. However,

the webcam malfunctioned. M.B. said that he met Clementi in an online chatroom for gay men and first met him in his dormroom Sept. 16, followed by the two encounters that week. M.B. testified that he noticed the camera when he was with Clementi and was apprehensive about meeting Clementi in his dorm again after noticing other students staring at him when he left. After learning that Ravi had seen him with M.B., Clementi requested a room change but two days later committed suicide. On Tuesday, a computer expert who worked on the case testified that Clementi was aware of two tweets Ravi sent — the initial one where he said his roommate was “making out with a dude” and the subsequent one in which he invited followers to tune in to see the live stream — as Clementi took screenshots of both Sept. 21. Clementi visited Ravi’s Twitter page nearly five-dozen times between Sept. 13 and Sept. 22, the day he jumped from the George Washington Bridge, the expert testified. Testimony is expected to continue through the middle of the month. ■

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 9-15, 2012

EDITORIAL PGN

Creep of the Week

D’Anne Witkowski

Kirk Cameron

Editorial What’s power got to do with it? This week, PGN is recognizing openly gay leaders who have influence and power in the Philadelphia region. While the LGBT community often honors leaders within the community, we don’t often take time to recognize those in positions of power and responsibility in mainstream organizations, be they at corporations, nonprofits or government agencies. For this list, we set a few parameters for inclusion. We looked at job titles and level in the organization, budget, number of staff managed and ability to influence or impact public citizens through policies or programs. We excluded people who had been with their organizations for less than a year. (Recent promotions, we’ll be looking at you for next year.) This list is neither exhaustive nor complete: We did not reach as widely as we’d hoped across race and ethnicity, nor across industries where we might have expected to see more out individuals. Some specific examples include Asian Americans, African-American women and leaders in the pharmaceutical industry. This list also doesn’t include anyone who self-identified as bisexual or transgender. And while this list demonstrates the breadth and depth of influence and impact that the LGBT community has, both in Philadelphia and corporations based here, assembling it also highlighted that there are still some who are not comfortable being included on such a list — individuals who may be privately out but not publicly out. In one instance, PGN contacted an individual that more than one person suggested for inclusion and, to our chagrin, discovered that the person was not out at work, and who felt that being on the list could hinder the access, influence and impact the person has. In this case, that’s likely true:

There are still professions where it’s hard to be openly gay — even in Philadelphia, where nondiscrimination protections have been law for 25 years. In another incident this week, a newspaper named a high-ranking official at a city office as a victim of an alleged hate crime, in what appears to be an effort to criticize the person’s boss. For someone who was quietly out, this had the effect of repeating the alleged hate crime and magnifying it. It’s one thing to have sexually explicit language written about you and your partner on a bathroom wall in your workplace; it’s quite another to have that language published verbatim in a paper with a circulation of 100,000. This incident highlights a few areas where there is homophobia and/or a lack of sensitivity for a minority that the Attorney General concluded deserves “heightened scrutiny” with consideration to law. First, there’s the perpetrator of the alleged hate crimes (there was more than one act). Second, there’s the apparent assumption by the reporter that it’s OK to identify the alleged victim. Media outlets generally have a code of ethics about withholding names of victims, particularly in cases of sexual assault or hate crimes. That this reporter (and editor) chose to identify the person shows a lack of sensitivity around the issue. While this person might have a position of power and influence, that does not exempt him from being a target for bullying, intimidation and harassment. That the person was singled out because of his sexual orientation compounds the damage; the reporter’s efforts to casually dismiss his own insensitivity is an attempt to dismiss the damage as inconsequential. It’s not. ■

On March 2, Kirk Cameron was on CNN’s “Piers Morgan Tonight” for some reason. To many viewers, it must have come as quite a shock that he was still alive (that was Corey Haim, folks). But if you want to get people talking about you again, your best bet is to go on TV and say something crazy. And that’s just what Cameron did. Now, Cameron’s extreme-right beliefs are no secret. He’s a pin-up boy for zealous Christianity these days. But usually the stuff that comes out of his mouth has a limited audience. Not so this time. During the interview, Morgan asked Cameron about gay marriage. Cameron responded, “I believe that marriage was defined by God a long time ago. Marriage is almost as old as dirt and it was defined in the garden between Adam and Eve, one man, one woman for life, ’til death do you part. So I would never attempt to redefine marriage and I don’t think anyone else should either. So do I support the idea of gay marriage? No, I don’t.” Now, someone who believed in evolution obviously wouldn’t be making the argument that marriage was older than dirt. Certainly if we turn to science, we would find otherwise. But facts are for the godless. I also think it’s important to point out that the Bible says a lot of stuff about marriage, and it isn’t all “one man, one woman for life.” Some crazy shit happens in the Bible, people. Morgan then asks if homosexuality is a sin. “I think that it’s unnatural,” Cameron said. “I think that it’s detrimental and ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of our civilization.” How does Cameron know what will “ultimately” be “destructive to so many of the foundations of our civilization,” you ask? Because he’s seen the future. He

starred in the lowbudget movie based on Tim LaHaye’s Left Behind series, a zany ArmegeddonRapture rom-com. He’s no doubt read the whole series. He knows the Truth. But what if one of Cameron’s six kids ended up gay?

Here’s hoping that none of the Cameron kids are gay. And here’s hoping that if they are, they’re strong enough to break away from daddy’s homophobic stronghold and misguided sense of morality.

“I’d sit down and I’d have a heart to heart with them,” Cameron said. “Just like you would with your kids.” Morgan interrupts: “But it one of my sons said that, I’d say, ‘That’s great, son, as long as you’re happy.’ What would you say?” “Well, I wouldn’t say, ‘That’s great, son, as long as you’re happy,’” Cameron responds. “I’m gonna say there’s all sorts of issues that we need to wrestle through in our life and just because you feel one way doesn’t mean we should act on everything that

we feel.” Hoo boy. Here’s hoping that none of the Cameron kids are gay. And here’s hoping that if they are, they’re strong enough to break away from daddy’s homophobic stronghold and misguided sense of morality. Cameron’s comments caused quite a stir, needless to say. Morgan even said that Cameron was “brave” for saying these things. I don’t think “brave” is the right word. “Tone deaf” and “ignorant” feel more accurate to me. And that’s the Truth. ■

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

Tell us what you think Send letters and opinion column submissions to: pgn@epgn.com; PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147; fax: 215-925-6437.

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

OP-ED PGN

Don’t victimize gay hatecrimes victims further

What do you call it when a quasi-out gay or did he participate in political retribuemployee in an agency has his tires slashed, tion? I’ve asked that question for a week large graphics of him and his lover having now and the Weekly and the writer haven’t sex drawn on a bathroom wall (with gay responded. I wonder why? slurs and names attached), urine put in his The article made a point of the somedrink and other continuous harassment? I $8,500 it cost for the investigation into call it a gay hate crime. If just one of those the hate crime. Gee, are gay hate-crime actions was done solely because victims not worth $8,500? He the victim was gay, it’s still a also makes a point of both gay hate crime. men having a working relationWhat do you call it when ship with the controller’s office a newspaper (Philadelphia — one as an employee, one as a Weekly) publishes the story contractor. Aren’t there numerand includes the names of the ous heterosexual married couples with similar connections in alleged victims, which further numerous departments in city victimizes them? News organizations usually don’t publish government? Does he feel that the names of rape or hate-crime since we cannot legally marry victims without their permiswe should be discriminated sion to shield them from further against? actions from the perpetrator(s) If all of that is not bad — or further victimization from enough, the writer, or someone connected to him, posted a blog the public attention. And to Mark Segal with this headline: “Response boot, the story comes out against to Mark Segal’s Hateful Slurs.” the investigation into the hate crime? Let’s make this very clear: Attempts to I’d call that, and the writer, homophobic. bully me after you’ve victimized a hateEvery hate crime should be investigated. crime victim just won’t fly. Our community If you belittle hate crimes perpetrated on is tired of this form of hate, bullying and gays, that is homophobia. victimization. And if you want a fight on this, you certainly have it. When someone See related coverage Page 1 victimizes a member of our community, we’ve learned to fight back. If the author’s point was to go after the This alleged hate crime took place in city controller, feel free and I could not the city controller’s office. As an elected care less. But don’t do it by walking on the official, one can assume the controller bodies of gay hate-crime victims. ■ has political enemies. So was this hateful Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the nation’s story based on misinformation given to the reporter for political gain? If it was, did the most-award-winning commentator in LGBT writer check out the facts, or was he duped, media. He can be reached at mark@epgn.com.

Mark My Words

Op-Ed

Mayor Michael A. Nutter

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 9-15, 2012

Street Talk Should the R rating for the documentary “Bully” be lowered to PG-13? “Yes. Forget the R rating. The documentary should be available to the widest audience possible. It sensitizes Matthew Khon people, and student saves lives. I Center City was bullied a lot growing up. I’m straight, but people thought I was gay. That makes me see the importance of the issue.”

“Yes. I’ve dealt with bullying all my life. It’s a horrible, scarring experience. I would have felt better Mikhail King about myself student if this movie Center City was available when I was growing up. Don’t make access difficult by requiring an adult to be present. If you limit who can see it, you limit the good it can do.”

“Yes. That restriction makes no sense. Any teen who wants to see it should be allowed. It’s unrealistic to require an Kelsey Niziolek adult to be student with them. Italian Market If a parent wants to be there, fine. But adults aren’t around when kids are bullied. Their attendance shouldn’t be required for a kid to see the documentary.”

“Yes. I don’t trust the rating system. It’s very arbitrary — a small group of people making big James Simpson decisions. student They’re Italian Market disconnected from the actual situation. And they’re open to social and political manipulation. So why not let kids make their own choices in this case?”

The fifth annual Philly Spring Cleanup is April 14 Get your brooms, bags and cleaning supplies ready because the fifth annual Philly Spring Cleanup is on Saturday, April 14 (rain date April 28). In the last four years, we’ve stashed a mountain of trash and a whole lot more: — We’ve collected 5.8 million pounds of trash — that’s enough to fill the Eagles’ football field and create a pile 17.4 feet high. — We’ve had more than 45,000 volunteers participate — enough people to fill Citizens Bank Park to capacity plus standing room. — We’ve cleaned more than 175 Philadelphia Parks & Recreation areas and dedicated more than 200,000 volunteer hours to clean and beautify our city. — And last year, we delivered the most projects for a single cleanup with 250-plus project sites.

As important as a one-day citywide cleanup surely is, we’re also deeply committed to using Philly Spring Cleanup as an organizing tool for keeping our city clean year-round. Residents can join the UnLitter Us movement, the city’s sustained effort to remove and prevent litter. Visit www. philadelphiastreets.com/unlitterus to learn more about UnLitter Us, its many programs and to view a calendar of cleanups. Residents can “Like” UnLitter Us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/unlitterus) or follow the movement on Twitter @UnLitterUs. But that’s not all. Those looking to stay active can also look to our partners for ideas or opportunities. The Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee schedules its Clean Block events on Saturdays throughout the spring and summer. Visit www. philadelphiastreets.com to find out when a

cleanup is coming to your neighborhood. In honor of the Philly Spring Cleanup’s fifth anniversary, let’s join together in a united effort to make every part of our city a place of pride. Our city has a lot to be proud of, and I know we can do better this year. My favorite part of the Philly Spring Cleanup is observing civic pride in action. Every year, I have the opportunity to visit and participate in cleanup projects across the city. I see motivated residents taking ownership of their blocks, community centers and neighborhoods and expending a tremendous amount of effort and energy in these projects. There are many ways that residents and organizations can get involved for this year’s Philly Spring Cleanup. Visit www. phillyspringcleanup.com to find a cleanup near you, register to volunteer or submit your own project.

You can also get involved through SERVE Philadelphia, the City’s initiative to connect residents of all ages to volunteer opportunities. Visit http://volunteer. phila.gov to find out how you can get involved in community projects throughout Philadelphia. I look forward to seeing thousands of Philadelphians cleaning their neighborhoods on April 14 at our fifth annual Philly Spring Cleanup. And let’s build great momentum that day and keep the work going to create a more beautiful home for ourselves and a better place for others to visit. Let’s keep up the sweep up 365 days a year. I hope all Philadelphia residents participate in this milestone event and help make it our biggest and best cleanup yet! ■

— Mayor Michael A. Nutter

REGIONAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 9-15, 2012

Lesbian engineer runs for Pa. House By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

and is helping to start the South Central Pennsylvania chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. In her facilitator training, she learned of While Kelly McEntee already lives near Harrisburg, she’s looking to elevate her a Chicago-based support group specifically for LGBT individuals. presence in the state’s capi“Chicago is a large metrotal. politan area where there are The Dauphin County resplenty of LGBT people to ident is running unopposed attend this, but for smaller in next month’s Democratic areas where we’re not as huge primary to represent the of a demographic, it would 105th District in the House, still be good to have a place a seat held by the same like this to go,” she said. Republican incumbent for That idea set in motion more than 20 years. the creation of an online McEntee, 50, is a quality LGBT support group, which engineer for Honeywell in will launch later this year. York, which manufactures McEntee, with three others, industrial-control products. will serve as co-facilitator. An engineer for more McEntee said she’s been than two decades, McEntee KELLY MCENTEE contemplating a run for office is a native of Ohio and for a number of years and in a graduate of Ohio State the past few years has taken on a leadership University College of Engineering. After living in California and Maryland, role in local politics. She currently serves as the secretary of McEntee moved to Gettysburg in 2005 and the Dauphin County Democratic Party and Lower Paxton Township in 2009. She came out at age 21, at a time when vice chair of the Capital Region Stonewall Democrats. she had been engaged to a man. McEntee said she’s eager to lend her sta“It was a difficult process to get through,” she said. “I didn’t really have any idea grow- tus as an LGBT person, as well as a woman, ing up that I was gay, but I just always felt to the state House. “For any demographic group, the repdifferent. So coming out was difficult but I had a lot of accepting family and friends, resentation needs to be there,” she said. “The representation of women in our state and I’m very appreciative of that.” While living in Maryland about 12 years legislature dropped dramatically in 2010; ago, McEntee suffered the trauma of her women make up more than 50 percent of the population of Pennsylvania but we’re partner’s suicide. McEntee currently serves as facilitator for very underrepresented in the legislature. It’s two monthly peer-to-peer support groups very important to start having a voice in the for those who have been affected by suicide state legislature.” ■

News Briefing Women, girls vs. AIDS

                                          

     

Philadelphia will take a stand against HIV/ AIDS this weekend at a local event marking National Women and Girls HIV Awareness Day. The event will be held 11 a.m.-3 p.m. March 10 at Berachah Baptist Church, 6327 Limekiln Pike. The afternoon, which includes lunch, giveaways and free HIV testing, will feature a film screening of “Many Women, Many Voices,” followed by a panel discussion. For more information, call 267-231-2347.

LGBT at circus school The Philadelphia Circus School and Team Philadelphia will host LGBT Night at the Circus School March 11 at 5900A Greene

St. Registration begins at 5:15 p.m., with the one-hour training session at 5:45 followed by a meet-and-greet. No prior training is required. Registration is $25 and refreshments are an additional $10. Register online at www.phillycircus.com or call 215-840-9216 for more information.

Priest trial jury picked Six men and six women have been seated for the jury in the landmark trial against several former Archdiocesan priests accused of sex abuse. The trial for the Rev. James Brennan and Edward Avery, who has been defrocked, and Monsignor William Lynn begins March 26. Brennan and Avery are charged with the rape of a boy, while Lynn is accused of covering up their alleged crimes, marking the first time such charges have been filed against an Archdiocesan official in the nation. Another priest and a former lay teacher, indicted along with Brennan, Avery and Lynn, are being tried separately. ■ — Jen Colletta

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 9-15, 2012

PGN

��

Go public with your status I’m asking all the readers of poz status incurs the occasional this column to perform a charitapolemic — typically from past ble act for someone they’ve never lovers — that I’ve got HIV on met — for all those individuals the brain. When I write these fearfully closeted because of his/ columns, I have to face difficult her HIV status. Call it inter-social truths about poz life that dig into me, make me obsessive and ratcircle care for HIV-poz folk. Inasmuch that sunlight is the best tled and endure a gloom so great disinfectant, so too is the greater that sometimes it’s hard to bring exposure of HIV-poz folk in soci- myself to exist. ety a combatant to HIV’s stigma. What would happen, say, if more than half the people in To all poz folk: You don’t have your life — friend, to blast, “Yo Philly! acquaintance and othI’ve got HIV!” from the top of City Hall, or erwise — knew you were poz? Perhaps run naked through the that is already the street with an AIDS quilt tied around your case for some of you. neck (save that for Regardless, imagine summertime). Just tell what would change one person in your life in your life, for better that you’re poz and or worse. What emotions spring up? What have a conversation with them. Do it out would scare you? of principle. Do it out What would goad of love. That in itself your mettle? It’s true does more good than that it’s no one’s business other than your you can know. Aaron Stella own what your HIV To all neg folk: Write a letter to or status is. But if a good have a drink with somebody who turn may be done, shouldn’t some you know is HIV poz and tell thought be given toward its realization? them that they’re brave. Then go For any of you who may be have a conversation with someone familiar with Socrates, out of all else about HIV and how people the questions he parsed through in with HIV dwell in every societal circle. dialogue, there was one question Our country holds thousands of he left unanswered: If a person closeted poz people living in soci- is shown the truth — the unaduletal cliques (typically religious terated truth — will that person ones) where public disclosure of change? Until I got this point in their status would mean social writing this article, I didn’t undersuicide, if not wholesale shunstand why that was left as a quesning. tion. But then, there are the rest of But now, I do. us — we who live in major citThe truth, like anything ies, consort with liberal crowds, else that lives, must be shared vouchsafe our status without fear lest falsehoods and obscurity of rejection and enjoy abundant enshroud it. Everyone is capable support systems. of both seeing the truth and blindI’m sure quite a few people ing themselves to it. The greater who read this column are poz and the presence of the truth, the already out to some people in lesser the room will be left for their lives. While I can’t tell you anything else. what to do, better that I say, “Just By sharing the truth with othdo it!” and be criticized than say ers, its presence grows greater. nothing at all. But the onus of this deed And shit, I know I can’t just needn’t fall on the shoulders of a say, “Hey look! I’m publicly few. Many hands make for light poz everywhere I go! I write a work, as they say. So lend me damn column about it for Christ’s your hands, for the sake of someone you’ve never met. sake!” I enjoy many unmerited We’re all in this together, folks. circumstances that give breadth to my big mouth: I’m white, young, Now get out there and talk about partnered, good looking (yeah, I it. ■ said it and, yeah, it helps), prideIn the spirit of the “It Gets ful and an inveterate blabberBetter” campaign, Stella started mouth such that even my doctors tell me to “heshhup my mouth” in the “It Gets Better HIV” video campaign for people living with their examination rooms. HIV. Email millennialpoz@gmail. Still, my disclosure campaigns com to participate. aren’t easy either. My publicly

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Tax strategies for retirees Q: Now that I’m entering retirement, I’m trying to plan for the best use of my assets while taking taxes into consideration. What are some of the things I should be considering to help keep my taxes as low as possible in retirement? A: “In this world nothing is certain except death and taxes.” — Benjamin Franklin That saying still rings true centuries after the statesman coined it. Yet, by formulating a tax-efficient investment and distribution strategy, retirees may keep more of their hardearned assets for themselves and their heirs. Less taxing investments Municipal bonds, or “munis,” have long been appreciated by retirees seeking a haven from taxes and stock market volatility. In general, the interest paid on municipal bonds is exempt from federal taxes and sometimes state and local taxes as well (see table).1 The higher your tax bracket, the more you may benefit from investing in munis. It is also important to review which types of securities are held in taxable versus taxdeferred accounts. Why? Because at least through the end of 2012, the maximum federal tax rate on some dividend-producing investments and long-term capital gains is 15 percent. Work with your financial advisor to review your overall investment holdings and determine which investments might be best suited for tax-deferred accounts versus taxable accounts.

rule is simple: The longer you are expected to live, the less the IRS requires you to withdraw (and pay taxes on) each year. RMDs are calculated using a Uniform Lifetime Table, which takes into consideration the participant’s life expectancy based on his or her age. Failure to take the RMD can result in a tax penalty equal to 50 percent of the required amount. TIP: If you will be pushed into a higher tax bracket at age 70-and-a-half due to the RMD rule, it may pay to begin taking withdrawals during your 60s. Unlike traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs do not require you to take distributions at all during your lifetime and qualified withdrawals are tax free.2 For this reason, you may choose to begin withdrawing assets held in a Roth IRA after you have exhausted other sources of income. Be aware, however, that any named beneficiaries of a Roth IRA will be required to take RMDs following the rules that govern traditional IRAs after your death. Estate planning and gifting There are various ways to make the tax payments on your assets easier for heirs to handle. Careful selection of beneficiaries is one example. If you do not name a beneficiary, assets could end up in probate, and your Jeremy your beneficiaries could be taking distributions Gussick faster than they expected. In most cases, spousal beneficiaries are ideal because they have several options that are not available to other beneficiaries, including the marital deduction for the federal estate tax. As you likely know, LGBT partners are not considered spouses under federal law, and therefore are treated differently as a beneficiary. It’s important to understand the distinction and plan for it appropriately. Also, consider transferring assets into an irrevocable trust if you are close to the threshold for owing estate taxes. In 2012, the federal estate tax applies to all estate assets over $5.12 million, but this threshold is scheduled to revert to $1 million in 2013, unless Congress elects to extend it. Assets in an irrevocable trust are passed on free of estate taxes, saving heirs thousands of dollars. TIP: If you plan on moving assets from tax-deferred accounts, do so before you reach age 70-and-a-half, when RMDs must begin. Finally, if you have a taxable estate, you can give up to $13,000 per individual each year to anyone tax-free. Strategies for making the most of your money and reducing taxes are complex. Please meet with an estate attorney and/or a financial advisor to help you sort through your options. For specific tax advice, please see a tax professional. ■

Out Money

The tax-exempt advantage: When less may yield more Would a tax-free bond be a better investment for you than a taxable bond? To find out, compare the yields. For instance, if you were in the 25-percent federal tax bracket, a taxable bond would need to earn a yield of 6.67 percent to equal a 5 percent tax-exempt municipal bond yield. Federal Tax Rate 15% 25% 28% 33% 35% Tax-Exempt Rate Taxable-Equivalent Yield 4% 4.71% 5.33% 5.56% 5.97% 6.15% 5% 5.88% 6.67% 6.94% 7.46% 7.69% 6% 7.06% 8% 8.33% 8.96% 9.23% 7% 8.24% 9.33% 9.72% 10.45% 10.77% 8% 9.41% 10.67% 11.11% 11.94% 12.31% This hypothetical example is used for illustrative purposes only and does not reflect the performance of any specific investment. State, capital gains and alternative minimum taxes are not considered. This formula is only one factor that should be considered when purchasing securities and is meant to be used only as a general guideline when calculating the taxable equivalent yields on municipal securities. Which securities to tap first? Another decision facing retirees is when to liquidate various types of assets. The advantage of holding on to taxdeferred investments is that they compound on a before-tax basis and therefore have greater earning potential than their taxable counterparts. On the other hand, you need to consider that qualified withdrawals from tax-deferred investments are taxed at ordinary federal income tax rates of up to 35 percent, while distributions — in the form of capital gains or dividends — from investments in taxable accounts are taxed at a maximum of 15 percent. (Capital gains on investments held for less than one year are taxed at regular income tax rates.) For this reason, it may be beneficial to hold securities in taxable accounts long enough to qualify for the 15-percent tax rate. The ins and outs of RMDs The IRS mandates that you begin taking an annual distribution from traditional IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans after you reach age 70-and-a-half. The premise behind the required minimum distribution (RMD)

1. Capital gains from municipal bonds are taxable and may be subject to the alternative minimum tax. 2. Withdrawals prior to age 59-and-a-half are subject to a 10-percent penalty. Jeremy R. Gussick is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, the nation’s largest independent broker-dealer.* Out Money appears monthly. If you have a question for him, email jeremy.gussick@lpl.com. *As reported by Financial Planning magazine, 1996-2011, based on total revenues. This article was prepared by McGraw-Hill Financial Communications and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations for any individual. Consult your financial advisor, or me, if you have any questions. Because of the possibility of human or mechanical error by McGraw-Hill Financial Communications or its sources, neither McGraw-Hill Financial Communications 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 McGraw-Hill Financial Communications be liable for any indirect, special or consequential damages in connection with subscribers’ or others’ use of the content.

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FIGHT from page 1

marked an important first in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In the study, HIV-positive individuals replaced their antiretroviral medications with interferon-alpha, an antiviral chemical produced by the immune system. While many studies have shown HIV viral loads increase and white blood cells decrease once ARTs are stopped, this study found viral loads in many of the patients remained under control and HIV reservoirs — the cells that harbor the virus — were able to decrease with the interferon. “Our data shows that our human immune response can be made to control HIV in persons who have otherwise lost that ability and, if sustained by natural interferon production, it establishes proof-of-concept that a functional cure is theoretically possible,” said Dr. Luis Montaner of Wistar Institute. Interferon is created by the immune system to inhibit viral replication in cells, but the natural form of the chemical is not strong enough to successfully function as an antiviral tool against HIV. “When someone is first infected with HIV-1, the immune system is overwhelmed, and the natural release of interferon into the bloodstream is ineffective as cells that produce it are quickly impaired,” Montaner explained. “But in our study, conducted at a later stage of chronic infection in an individual, we saw that adding interferon to a recovered immune system can have a dramatic effect in directing responses against HIV-1 to both control and reduce its detection within places we know it can hide.” The form used in this study was created through the addition of polyethelyne glycol to the interferon molecule, a drug approved several years ago to fight hepatitis. Study catalyst FIGHT executive director Jane Shull said the hepatitis connection set this latest study in motion. “A few years ago, Luis said that they have this situation where interferon seems able to control a virus, namely hepatitis C, and it had been given to a lot of people with HIV because so many are co-infected,” she said. “So Luis said we’re going to see if it can also control HIV. And then it worked so much better than anyone thought it would.” Twenty patients were involved in the study, identified through FIGHT, Drexel University and University of Pennsylvania. Of the 20 participants, 45 percent were able to sustain viral control under 400 copies per milliliter and a similar percentage saw a 50-percent reduction in HIV reservoirs. Montaner said researchers were “surprised to see patients maintain the gains made through ART using only interferon that modulates our body’s response rather than acting directly against HIV as all current HIV drugs do.” The trial lasted up to 24 weeks or until a patient’s HIV levels rose or CD4-T cell level dropped below a certain level. Even those whose levels fell out of range before the 24 weeks had better results than the control group, researchers noted. Montaner acknowledged that while the findings “may not immediately change clinical practice,” they represent “the first strategy that shows a clinical response where both viral replication and HIV reservoir indicators are observed to be reduced in absence of current chemotherapy. This is the type of response HIV cure research aims to achieve.” “We’re actually moving toward eradication,” added Shull. “This is going to change everything.” Shull said the next step will be constructing a larger trial to evaluate interferon effects in a wider pool of patients. Funding for this study came from national resources as well as The Philadelphia Foundation’s Robert I. Jacobs Fund, the StengelMiller family, HIV/AIDS funding from the state of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Commonwealth Universal Research Enhancement Program and Penn Center for AIDS Research. In addition to Wistar and FIGHT, authors of the study are from University of Massachusetts, University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, Blood Systems Research Institute, University of California and National Cancer Institute. ■

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Gayborhood Crime Watch

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The following incidents in the Midtown Village and Washington Square West areas were reported to the 6th Police District between Feb. 13-27. Information is courtesy of 6th District Capt. Brian Korn and Stacy Irving, senior director, Crime Prevention Service. To report crime tips, visit www.phillypolice.com or call 215-686-TIPS (8477). INCIDENTS — At 5:15 p.m. Feb. 13, an unattended handbag was taken from inside Lucky Strike, 1336 Chestnut St., by a black male, in his 40s, tall with salt-and-pepper hair and wearing a black leather coat. — At 11:30 p.m. Feb. 13, complainant picked up a male dressed as a female in the 1200 block of Locust Street who took a laptop from the rear seat of the vehicle and fled. The suspect was described as 5-foot-10 with black shoulder-length hair and wearing a dark jacket, dark kneehigh boots and dark leggings. — At 10:05 p.m. Feb. 17, a man was walking in the 300 block of South 12th Street when two males came up behind him, punched him in the head without warning and fled west on Panama Street, then north on 13th. The man received a cut to the ear and described the suspects as black males, in their 20s; one was wearing a gray jacket with a white stripe on the sleeve. — At 12:05 a.m. Feb. 18, a man was walking in the 1200 block of Market Street when three males accosted him and demanded his money. The victim fought with the males, receiving a cut on his leg, but nothing was taken. The suspects were described only as three black males. — At 12:30 a.m. Feb. 18, a man was on the steps to his residence in the 1000 block of Clinton Street when two males pulled him down and demanded money. When the man yelled for help the males fled east on Clinton. The suspects were described only as black males in their late 20s. — Between midnight and 2:15 a.m. Feb. 18, someone entered a 2006 Buick parked in the 1300 block of Walnut Street and stole a .9mm handgun. There was no forced entry and no fingerprints were lifted. The complainant drove to the 6th District to make the report and was arrested for DUI. — Between 6:30-9 p.m. Feb. 19, someone entered an unlocked 2003 Infinity parked in the 1100 block of Sansom Street and stole a backpack with an iPad. The incident was reported to another district, thus no fingerprints were lifted.

— Between noon-12:20 p.m. Feb. 22, a secured bicycle was stolen from outside 1210 Walnut St. — Between midnight Feb. 19 and 4 p.m. Feb. 22, two guitars left by the front door of a residence on the 700 block of Lombard Street, were stolen. Numerous people have access to the residence throughout the day and night. — Between 2-11:20 p.m. Feb. 23, a secured bicycle was stolen from outside 832 Pine St. — Between 7:15-11:15 p.m. Feb. 23, a bicycle was stolen from the common hallway of an apartment building in the 1000 block of Pine Street. — At 10 a.m. Feb. 24, a man was walking in the 1000 block of Market Street when a male placed an unknown object to his neck and took his prescription drugs, cell phone and some cash. The suspect was described as a black male, 5-foot-8, with a thin build and wearing a black hoodie and black baseball cap. — After parking in the paid lot at 1301 Market St. between 11 a.m.12:45 p.m. Feb. 24, the owner of a 2012 Chevy discovered an iPad was missing. This report was received by the DPR Unit via phone, thus police were not dispatched. — At 3:26 a.m. Feb. 25, two males entered the Mitchell & Ness store, 1201 Chestnut St., without force. Video shows two males, no further description, entering the second-floor exit door, which is usually locked. Three jerseys were recovered outside the door, but nothing else was taken. No fingerprints were lifted as conditions were too dusty due to renovations. — Between 12:10-4:50 p.m. Feb. 25, a laptop, an iPod and some jewelry went missing from an apartment in the 1100 block of Pine Street. All the windows and doors were secured when complainant left and upon return; there was no damage and no forced entry. Officer DeLuca attempted to lift fingerprints. — At 2:25 p.m. Feb. 25, two males took a tip jar from the counter of Capogiro, 119 S. 13th St., and fled north on 13th. The suspects were described as white males, one in his mid- to late 20s, 5-foot-10 with scruffy facial hair and wearing a white tank top and gray sweat pants; the other was in his 30s, 5foot-10, wearing two hoop earrings and light-colored clothing. — Between midnight-5 p.m. Feb. 26, a brass knocker was taken from the door of a residence in the 400 block of South 10th St. — At 11:30 p.m. Feb. 27, a parking attendant at 1337 Chestnut St. was assaulted by a PAGE 26

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Patient model. Pill shown is not actual size.

INDICATION COMPLERA® (emtricitabine 200 mg/rilpivirine 25 mg/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg) is a prescription HIV medicine that contains 3 medicines, EMTRIVA® (emtricitabine), EDURANT™ (rilpivirine), and VIREAD® (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) combined in one pill. COMPLERA is used as a complete single-tablet regimen to treat HIV-1 infection in adults (age 18 and older) who have never taken HIV medicines before. COMPLERA does not cure HIV and has not been shown to prevent passing HIV to others. It is important to always practice safer sex, use latex or polyurethane condoms to lower the chance of sexual contact with any body ﬂuids, and to never re-use or share needles. Do not stop taking COMPLERA unless directed by your healthcare provider. See your healthcare provider regularly.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION Contact your healthcare provider right away if you get the following side effects or conditions while taking COMPLERA: ��Nausea, vomiting, unusual muscle pain, and/or weakness. These may be signs of a buildup of acid in the blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious medical condition ��Light-colored stools, dark-colored urine, and/or if your skin or the whites of your eyes turn yellow. These may be signs of serious liver problems (hepatotoxicity), with liver enlargement (hepatomegaly), and fat in the liver (steatosis) ��If you have HIV-1 and hepatitis B virus (HBV), your liver disease may suddenly get worse if you stop taking COMPLERA. Do not stop taking COMPLERA without ﬁrst talking to your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider will monitor your condition COMPLERA may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how COMPLERA works, and may cause serious side effects.

Do not take COMPLERA if you are taking the following medicines: ��other HIV medicines (COMPLERA provides a complete treatment for HIV infection.) ��the anti-seizure medicines carbamazepine (Carbatrol®, Equetro®, Tegretol®, Tegretol-XR®, Teril®, Epitol®), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal®), phenobarbital (Luminal®), phenytoin (Dilantin®, Dilantin-125®, Phenytek®) ��the anti-tuberculosis medicines rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifampin (Rifater®, Rifamate®, Rimactane®, Rifadin®) and rifapentine (Priftin®) ��a proton pump inhibitor medicine for certain stomach or intestinal problems, including esomeprazole (Nexium®, Vimovo®), lansoprazole (Prevacid®), omeprazole (Prilosec®), pantoprazole sodium (Protonix®), rabeprazole (Aciphex®) ��more than 1 dose of the steroid medicine dexamethasone or dexamethasone sodium phosphate ��St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) ��other medicines that contain tenofovir (VIREAD®, TRUVADA®, ATRIPLA®) ��other medicines that contain emtricitabine or lamivudine (EMTRIVA®, Combivir®, Epivir® or Epivir-HBV®, Epzicom®, Trizivir®) ��rilpivirine (Edurant™) ��adefovir (HEPSERA®) In addition, also tell your healthcare provider if you take: ��an antacid medicine that contains aluminum, magnesium hydroxide, or calcium carbonate. Take antacids at least 2 hours before or at least 4 hours after you take COMPLERA ��a histamine-2 blocker medicine, including famotidine (Pepcid®), cimetidine (Tagamet®), nizatidine (Axid®), or ranitidine hydrochloride (Zantac®). Take these medicines at least 12 hours before or at least 4 hours after you take COMPLERA ��the antibiotic medicines clarithromycin (Biaxin®), erythromycin (E-Mycin®, Eryc®, Ery-Tab®, PCE®, Pediazole®, Ilosone®), and troleandomycin (TAO®) ��an antifungal medicine by mouth, including fluconazole (Diflucan®), itraconazole (Sporanox®), ketoconazole (Nizoral®), posaconazole (Noxafil®), voriconazole (Vfend®) ��methadone (Dolophine®) This list of medicines is not complete. Discuss with your healthcare provider all prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements you are taking or plan to take.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 9-15, 2012

COMPLERA is a prescription medicine used as a complete single-tablet regimen to treat HIV-1 in adults who have never taken HIV medicines before. COMPLERA does not cure HIV or AIDS or help prevent passing HIV to others.

COMPLERA.

A complete HIV treatment in only 1 pill a day. Ask your healthcare provider if it’s the one for you.

Before taking COMPLERA, tell your healthcare provider if you: ��have liver problems, including hepatitis B or C virus infection ��have kidney problems ��have ever had a mental health problem ��have bone problems ��are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if COMPLERA can harm your unborn child ��are breastfeeding; women with HIV should not breast-feed because they can pass HIV through their milk to the baby Contact your healthcare provider right away if you experience any of the following serious or common side effects: Serious side effects associated with COMPLERA: ��New or worse kidney problems can happen in some people who take COMPLERA. If you have had kidney problems in the past or take other medicines that can cause kidney problems, your healthcare provider may need to do blood tests to check your kidneys during your treatment with COMPLERA ��Depression or mood changes can happen in some people who take COMPLERA. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms: feeling sad or hopeless, feeling anxious or restless, or if you have thoughts of hurting yourself (suicide) or have tried to hurt yourself ��Bone problems can happen in some people who take COMPLERA. Bone problems include bone pain, softening or thinning (which may lead to fractures). Your healthcare provider may need to do additional tests to check your bones ��Changes in body fat can happen in people taking HIV medicine. These changes may include increased amount of fat in the upper back and neck (“buffalo hump”), breast, and around the main part of your body (trunk). Loss of fat from the legs, arms and face may also happen. The cause and long-term health effect of these conditions are not known ��Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution Syndrome) can happen when you start taking HIV medicines. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to ﬁght infections that have been hidden in your body for a long time. Tell your healthcare provider if you start having new symptoms after starting your HIV medicine

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Common side effects associated with COMPLERA: sleeping (insomnia), abnormal dreams, headache, dizziness, diarrhea, nausea, rash, tiredness, and depression

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FDA-Approved Patient Labeling Patient Information COMPLERA® (kom-PLEH-rah) (emtricitabine, rilpivirine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) Tablets

COMPLERA may help: � Reduce the amount of HIV in your blood. This is called your “viral load”. � Increase the number of white blood cells called CD4+ (T) cells that help ﬁght off other infections.

Important: Ask your doctor or pharmacist about medicines that should not be taken with COMPLERA. For more information, see the section “What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking COMPLERA?”

Reducing the amount of HIV and increasing the CD4+ (T) cell count may improve your immune system. This may reduce your risk of death or infections that can happen when your immune system is weak (opportunistic infections).

Read this Patient Information before you start taking COMPLERA and each time you get a reﬁll. There may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about your medical condition or treatment. What is the most important information I should know about COMPLERA?

COMPLERA does not cure HIV infections or AIDS. � Always practice safer sex. � Use latex or polyurethane condoms to lower the chance of sexual contact with any body ﬂuids such as semen, vaginal secretions, or blood. � Never re-use or share needles.

Ask your healthcare provider if you have any questions about how to prevent passing COMPLERA can cause serious side effects, including: 1. Build-up of an acid in your blood (lactic acidosis). Lactic acidosis can happen in HIV to other people. some people who take COMPLERA or similar (nucleoside analogs) medicines. Lactic Who should not take COMPLERA? acidosis is a serious medical emergency that can lead to death. � Do not take COMPLERA if your HIV infection has been previously treated with Lactic acidosis can be hard to identify early, because the symptoms could seem like HIV medicines. symptoms of other health problems. Call your healthcare provider right away if you � Do not take COMPLERA if you are taking certain other medicines. For more get any of the following symptoms which could be signs of lactic acidosis: information about medicines that must not be taken with COMPLERA, see “What � feeling very weak or tired should I tell my healthcare provider before taking COMPLERA?” � have unusual (not normal) muscle pain � have trouble breathing What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking COMPLERA? � have stomach pain with Before you take COMPLERA, tell your healthcare provider if you: - nausea (feel sick to your stomach) � have liver problems, including hepatitis B or C virus infection - vomiting � have kidney problems � feel cold, especially in your arms and legs � have ever had a mental health problem � feel dizzy or lightheaded � have bone problems � have a fast or irregular heartbeat � are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if COMPLERA can harm your unborn child Pregnancy Registry. There is a pregnancy registry for women who take antiviral medicines during pregnancy. Its purpose is to collect information about the health of you and your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about how you can take part in this registry. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms � are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed. The Centers for Disease Control and of liver problems: Prevention recommends that mothers with HIV not breastfeed because they can pass � your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice). the HIV through their milk to the baby. It is not known if COMPLERA can pass through � dark “tea-colored” urine your breast milk and harm your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best � light-colored bowel movements (stools) way to feed your baby. � loss of appetite for several days or longer Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription � nausea and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. � stomach pain 2. Severe liver problems. Severe liver problems can happen in people who take COMPLERA or similar medicines. In some cases these liver problems can lead to death. Your liver may become large (hepatomegaly) and you may develop fat in your liver (steatosis) when you take COMPLERA.

You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or severe liver problems if you are COMPLERA may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may female, very overweight (obese), or have been taking COMPLERA or a similar affect how COMPLERA works, and may cause serious side effects. If you take certain medicines with COMPLERA, the amount of COMPLERA in your body may be too low and medicine containing nucleoside analogs for a long time. it may not work to help control your HIV infection. The HIV virus in your body may become 3. Worsening of Hepatitis B infection. If you also have hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection resistant to COMPLERA or other HIV medicines that are like it. and you stop taking COMPLERA, your HBV infection may become worse (flare-up). A “flare-up” is when your HBV infection suddenly returns in a worse way than before. Do not take COMPLERA if you also take these medicines: COMPLERA is not approved for the treatment of HBV, so you must discuss your HBV � COMPLERA provides a complete treatment for HIV infection. Do not take other HIV medicines with COMPLERA. therapy with your healthcare provider. � the anti-seizure medicines carbamazepine (CARBATROL®, EQUETRO®, TEGRETOL®, � Do not let your COMPLERA run out. Refill your prescription or talk to your healthcare TEGRETOL-XR®, TERIL®, EPITOL®), oxcarbazepine (TRILEPTAL®), phenobarbital provider before your COMPLERA is all gone. (LUMINAL®), phenytoin (DILANTIN®, DILANTIN-125®, PHENYTEK®) � Do not stop taking COMPLERA without first talking to your healthcare provider. ® ® � If you stop taking COMPLERA, your healthcare provider will need to check your health � the anti-tuberculosis medicines rifabutin (MYCOBUTIN ), rifampin (RIFATER , ® ® ® ® , RIMACTANE , RIFADIN ) and rifapentine (PRIFTIN ) RIFAMATE often and do regular blood tests to check your HBV infection. Tell your healthcare provider about any new or unusual symptoms you may have after you stop taking � a proton pump inhibitor medicine for certain stomach or intestinal problems, including esomeprazole (NEXIUM®, VIMOVO®), lansoprazole (PREVACID®), omeprazole COMPLERA. (PRILOSEC®), pantoprazole sodium (PROTONIX®), rabeprazole (ACIPHEX®) � more than 1 dose of the steroid medicine dexamethasone or dexamethasone sodium What is COMPLERA? COMPLERA is a prescription HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) medicine that: phosphate � is used to treat HIV-1 in adults who have never taken HIV medicines before. HIV is the � St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). If you are taking COMPLERA, you should not take: � contains 3 medicines, (rilpivirine, emtricitabine, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) � other medicines that contain tenofovir (VIREAD®, TRUVADA®, ATRIPLA®) combined in one tablet. EMTRIVA and VIREAD are HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency � other medicines that contain emtricitabine or lamivudine (EMTRIVA®, COMBIVIR®, virus) nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and EDURANT is an EPIVIR® or EPIVIR-HBV®, EPZICOM®, TRIZIVIR®) HIV-1 non-nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI). � rilpivirine (EDURANT™) It is not known if COMPLERA is safe and effective in children under the age of 18 years. � adefovir (HEPSERA®)

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 9-15, 2012

Also tell your healthcare provider if you take: The most common side effects of COMPLERA include: � an antacid medicine that contains aluminum, magnesium hydroxide, or calcium � trouble sleeping (insomnia) carbonate. Take antacids at least 2 hours before or at least 4 hours after you take � abnormal dreams COMPLERA. � headache � a histamine-2 blocker medicine, including famotidine (PEPCID®), cimetidine � dizziness (TAGAMET®), nizatidine (AXID®), or ranitidine hydrochloride (ZANTAC®). Take these � diarrhea medicines at least 12 hours before or at least 4 hours after you take COMPLERA. � nausea � the antibiotic medicines clarithromycin (BIAXIN®), erythromycin (E-MYCIN®, ERYC®, � rash ERY-TAB®, PCE®, PEDIAZOLE®, ILOSONE®), and troleandomycin (TAO®) � tiredness ® � an antifungal medicine by mouth, including fluconazole (DIFLUCAN ), itraconazole ® ® ® (SPORANOX ), ketoconazole (NIZORAL ), posaconazole (NOXAFIL ), voriconazole � depression (VFEND®) Additional common side effects include: � methadone (DOLOPHINE®) � vomiting Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if your medicine is � stomach pain or discomfort � skin discoloration (small spots or freckles) one that is listed above. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of your medicines and show it to your � pain healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. Your healthcare provider and your pharmacist can tell you if you can take these medicines with COMPLERA. Do not start any new medicines while you are taking COMPLERA without first talking with your healthcare provider or pharmacist. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of medicines that can interact with COMPLERA. How should I take COMPLERA? � Stay under the care of your healthcare provider during treatment with COMPLERA. � Take COMPLERA exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. � Always take COMPLERA with a meal. Taking COMPLERA with a meal is important to help get the right amount of medicine in your body. A protein drink does not replace a meal. � Do not change your dose or stop taking COMPLERA without first talking with your healthcare provider. See your healthcare provider regularly while taking COMPLERA. � If you miss a dose of COMPLERA within 12 hours of the time you usually take it, take your dose of COMPLERA with a meal as soon as possible. Then, take your next dose of COMPLERA at the regularly scheduled time. If you miss a dose of COMPLERA by more than 12 hours of the time you usually take it, wait and then take the next dose of COMPLERA at the regularly scheduled time. � Do not take more than your prescribed dose to make up for a missed dose. � When your COMPLERA supply starts to run low, get more from your healthcare provider or pharmacy. It is very important not to run out of COMPLERA. The amount of virus in your blood may increase if the medicine is stopped for even a short time. � If you take too much COMPLERA, contact your local poison control center or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away. What are the possible side effects of COMPLERA? COMPLERA may cause the following serious side effects, including: � See “What is the most important information I should know about COMPLERA?” � New or worse kidney problems can happen in some people who take COMPLERA. If you have had kidney problems in the past or take other medicines that can cause kidney problems, your healthcare provider may need to do blood tests to check your kidneys during your treatment with COMPLERA. � Depression or mood changes. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms: - feeling sad or hopeless - feeling anxious or restless - have thoughts of hurting yourself (suicide) or have tried to hurt yourself � Bone problems can happen in some people who take COMPLERA. Bone problems include bone pain, softening or thinning (which may lead to fractures). Your healthcare provider may need to do additional tests to check your bones. � Changes in body fat can happen in people taking HIV medicine. These changes may include increased amount of fat in the upper back and neck (“buffalo hump”), breast, and around the main part of your body (trunk). Loss of fat from the legs, arms and face may also happen. The cause and long term health effect of these conditions are not known. � Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution Syndrome) can happen when you start taking HIV medicines. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that have been hidden in your body for a long time. Tell your healthcare provider if you start having new symptoms after starting your HIV medicine.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of COMPLERA. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088). How do I store COMPLERA? � Store COMPLERA at room temperature 77 °F (25 °C). � Keep COMPLERA in its original container and keep the container tightly closed. � Do not use COMPLERA if the seal over the bottle opening is broken or missing. Keep COMPLERA and all other medicines out of reach of children. General information about COMPLERA: Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information leaflet. Do not use COMPLERA for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give COMPLERA to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them. This leaflet summarizes the most important information about COMPLERA. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about COMPLERA that is written for health professionals. For more information, call (1-800-445-3235) or go to www.COMPLERA.com. What are the ingredients of COMPLERA? Active ingredients: emtricitabine, rilpivirine hydrochloride, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate Inactive ingredients: pregelatinized starch, lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, povidone, polysorbate 20. The tablet film coating contains polyethylene glycol, hypromellose, lactose monohydrate, triacetin, titanium dioxide, iron oxide red, FD&C Blue #2 aluminum lake, FD&C Yellow #6 aluminum lake. This Patient Information has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Manufactured and distributed by: Gilead Sciences, Inc. Foster City, CA 94404 Issued: August 2011 COMPLERA, the COMPLERA Logo, EMTRIVA, HEPSERA, TRUVADA, VIREAD, GILEAD, and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc. or its related companies. ATRIPLA is a trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb & Gilead Sciences, LLC. All other trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. © 2012 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. 202123-GS-000 02AUG2011 CON11823 1/12

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LOCAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 9-15, 2012

CRIME WATCH from page 20

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male attempting to park on the lot for free. The attendant suffered a broken rib and described the suspect as a white male in his 30s, 5-foot-7 with a medium build and driving a Lexus with a New Jersey tag.

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CONGREGATION BETH AHAVAH

A GLBT synagogue welcoming people of all gender and sexual identities since 1975

JOIN US MONTHLY FOR SHABBAT SERVICES AT 8:00 PM

Coffee, cake & conversation at the oneg following services Friday, March 9, 8:00 PM. Beth Ahavah Shabbat Services. Please join us for our monthly BA Shabbat Service followed by a sumptuous oneg (social hour). Dinner at a local restaurant at 6:00 PM precedes services. Please call or email for restaurant location and to RSVP. Beth Ahavah and Rodeph Shalom are afﬁliated in spirit and share a sacred home. In July 2007 Beth Ahavah afﬁliated with Rodeph Shalom. Beth Ahavah retains its congregational status within the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) and proudly offers its congregation dual membership at both synagogues.

Visit www.bethahavah.org for additional information, programming and directions 615 North Broad Street, Phila., PA 19123-2495 Phone: 215.923.2003 E-mail: BethAhavah@rodephshalom.org Free secure parking: Cross Spring Garden at 13th St., left at next light, Mt. Vernon St. Parking lot entrance on left.

First Bap tist Church SERVICES: Wednesdays Noon time Sundays 11a.m.

Rev. Dr. Peter C. Wool 17TH & SANSOM STREETS PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103 215.563.3853

www.fbcphila1698.org

NON-SUMMARY ARRESTS — At 7:25 p.m. Feb. 13, 6th District Officers DeCrosta and Grant arrested a male outside 200 S. 12th St. wanted on a bench warrant for failure to appear for court. The 34-year-old suspect with a Tacony address was charged with contempt of court. — On Feb. 14, Central Detective Division arrested a male for multiple counts of theft by pick-pocket occurring in the 6th District, including Jan. 12, Forrest Theatre, 1114 Walnut St.; Jan. 18, Pennsylvania Hospital, 800 Spruce St.; and Jan. 26, Marriott Hotel, 1201 Market St. The 46-year-old suspect with an Overbrook address was charged with theft, robbery and related offenses. — At 4:50 p.m. Feb. 14, 6th District bike patrol Officer Sprouls observed two males fighting in the middle of the street at 13th and Locust. The officer attempted to break up the fight, but was met with physical resistance that resulted in all parties falling to the ground and struggling. The suspects, a 31 year-oldmale with a Roxborogh address and 33-yearold male with a local address, were charged with obstruction, resisting arrest and related offenses. — At midnight Feb. 15, the attendant at the paid parking lot at 1327 Locust St. saw a male attempting to take something from a car on the lot and called 911. Ninth District police found the suspect in another parking lot at 230 S. Broad St., where he allegedly attempted a similar theft. The 54-year-old homeless suspect was charged with two counts of theft from motor vehicle and related offenses. — At 6:33 p.m. Feb. 15, a male entered the Doggie Style store, 114 S. 13th St., with his hand in his pocket, stating he had a gun, and took money and fled with another male who was waiting outside. The suspects were described as black males, both in their 20s; one 5-foot-8, clean-shaven and wearing a heavy black coat with a red shirt, black hat, black sweatpants with a white stripe and black sneakers; the other wearing a black coat with a white shirt. Central Detective Division processed the scene for evidence and latent fingerprints and recovered security video. — On Feb. 19, 6th District Officers Pariseau and Greco arrested a male for a robbery of the Travel Lodge, 1227 Race St. This male was identified for the robbery of the Doggie Style store, 114 S. 13th St., on Feb. 11 and 15, as well as The Roadway Inn, 1208 Walnut St., on Feb. 7. The 49-year-old suspect with a Southwest Philadelphia address was charged with three additional counts of robbery. — At 10:15 p.m. Feb. 16, 6th District bike Officers McQue and Keenan arrested a 23year-old suspect with a Blue Bell address for DUI in the 900 block of Locust Street. — At 2:45 a.m. Feb. 17, a woman was accosted in the 1300 block of Pine Street by a male with a handgun who took her iPhone and wallet and fled north on 13th. Using GPS tracking and the description of the suspect, 6th District officers and Central Detective person-

nel located the male in the 800 block of North Warnock Street. The 16-year-old suspect with a Richard Allen address was charged with robbery and related offenses. — At 2:50 a.m. Feb. 19, 6th District Officers Erwin and Young responded to a call in the 1100 block of Spruce Street, where they arrested a 24-year-old suspect charged with domestic assault. — At 4 a.m. Feb. 21, 6th District bike patrol Officers Erwin and Stone arrested a 34-yearold suspect with a South Philadelphia address in the 100 block of South 11th Street for possession of 33 baggies of marijuana. — At 3 p.m. Feb. 23, 6th District plainclothes Officers Kovach and Calhoun observed a male walking from the 400 to the 1000 block of Pine Street trying to open car doors. The officers followed the male into the 3rd District, where he continued trying door handles until a door opened in the 700 block of South Sixth Street. The male entered the vehicle, rummaged through it and took a GPS. The male was apprehended, the GPS recovered and the owner located. The 35-year-old homeless suspect was charged with theft from motor vehicle. — At 7:40 p.m. Feb. 24, officers of the Narcotics Unit served warrants at a residence in the 1200 block of Chancellor Street and on a vehicle parked in the area, and confiscated a large quantity of crystal methamphetamine along with Valium, GHB, cash and drug paraphernalia. Arrested were two suspects, a 34-year-old and 37-year-old, both with local addresses, who were charged with illegal narcotic distribution. — At 2:05 a.m. Feb. 26, 6th District Officers Macchione and Cifelli arrested a male outside 1200 Spruce St. wanted on a bench warrant for failure to appear for court. The 32-year-old suspect with a local address was charged with contempt of court. SUMMARY OFFENSE ARRESTS — On Feb. 14, police issued citations for summary offenses at 7:50 p.m. outside 200 S. 13th St. and at 10:20 p.m. outside 1200 Locust St. — On Feb. 15, police issued citations for summary offenses at 8:55 p.m. outside 244 S. 13th St.; at 9 p.m. outside 1222 Locust St. (two); and at 9:05 p.m. outside 261 S. 13th St. — On Feb. 16, police issued a citation for a summary offense at 10:05 p.m. outside 300 S. 12th St. — On Feb. 18, police issued a citation for a summary offense at 5:45 p.m. outside 1234 Locust St. — On Feb. 22, police issued a citation for summary offenses at 11:50 p.m. outside 1245 Lombard St. — On Feb. 23, police issued citations for summary offenses at 10:45 a.m. outside 1101 Locust St.; at 9 p.m. outside 912 Walnut St.; and at 8:35 p.m. outside 1201 Chestnut St. — On Feb. 24, police issued citations for summary offenses at 12:50 a.m. outside 1237 Lombard St.; at 1:15 a.m. outside 1135 Waverly St.; at 8:50 p.m. outside 260 S. 13th St.; and at 9:10 p.m. outside 1200 Chancellor St. — On Feb. 25, police issued citations for summary offenses at 6:50 p.m. outside 200 S. 12th St. and at 9:25 p.m. outside 1222 Locust St. ■

AC ul t ure rts

PGN FEATURE

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 9-15, 2012

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

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Out playwright to premiere first work in Philly By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com

believes other characters in the play might resonate with the LGBT community. “The main LGBT characters are Jeanette Who knew the City of Brotherly Love and Frankie. But their relationship is integral to the entire play,” she said. “The love could be so lonely? Azuka Theatre hosts “Hope Street and that Frankie has for Jeanette bookends the Other Lonely Places,” the first full-length play and frames her entire journey to recovplay by out playwright and Philadelphia ery. It’s a huge theme of the play. The final native Genne Murphy, March 15 through character is the son of Jeanette. Me and the actor talked about how we see him. We April 1. The play, set in Philadelphia, follows five don’t necessarily see Jeanette’s son Sam as individuals struggling to cope with love, straight, per se, but we don’t really get into loss and addictions both physical and emo- his relationships with people outside of his family. It can be a little bit up in the air but tional. “There is one thing that happens before I don’t see him as straight. But it doesn’t the play that impacts all the characters,” come up in the course of the play.” Even though this is Murphy’s first fullMurphy said. “A young man dies of an accidental overdose before the play starts and he length play, her shorter works have been is the son of Jeanette and the older brother of making the rounds in the area. Her short plays and monoSam. So they are logues have dealing with the been featured by death of their son numerous area and brother. He theater compais the best friend nies and she has of Jack and his been the co-progirlfriend Meg ducer of “Queer and Jack’s death M e m o i r,” a impacts them New York Cityand what they based storytellgo through. He’s ing series, which also the friend partnered locally of Frankie who with First Person is very recently Arts in 2010 and sober and out of the Free Library rehab. They’re all of Philadelphia connected by this in 2011. Murphy, offstage charwho is also a acter. Frankie is 2011 Eugene the first love of O’Neill National Jeanette. They Conference haven’t seen finalist, first each other for developed “Hope about 25 years. Street” at Azuka They meet again Theatre in its in the play and Spotlight Series. there’s a lot of But Murphy history between them and there’s “Hope Street and Other Lonely said the play has a lot of things Places” playwright Genne Murphy evo l ve d s i n c e those initial readthat are compliings. cated about them “It’s changed a lot,” she said. “The first meeting again.” Murphy said that the off- and suddenly full draft of ‘Hope Street’ was in 2009. The on-again relationship between the out char- five main characters have been in the play acters Frankie and Jeanette are at the center the whole time. When I wrote it in the iniof the story in “Hope Street,” but she also tial drafts, I almost had the different story-

FEATURE PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 9-15, 2012

lines in different drafts. It was almost as if I had two different plays sort of butting up against one another. It was sort of my job over the next year or so to find ways to show that these characters did belong in the same story. I cut up the script a lot and I rearranged things. I spent more time pushing the stories together. Some of the style of the play was very different early on. There is a lot of direct address where the characters would talk to the audience. A lot of the scenes would break from regular dialogue. That’s where a lot of the language and the poetry came out. But the more I worked on it, the more I realized that it was taking away from the urgency and the interactions the characters had together. A lot changed there in the styles of the play.” Murphy said that the people and the places she has experienced in and around Philadelphia were a huge source of inspiration for the characters and the stories that make up “Hope Street.” “I am born and raised in Philly,” Murphy said. “Being someone who has a love and

working on the scenes and the characters, I explored themes of addiction, harm reduction, clean needle exchange and the impact of addiction on the loved ones of people who are addicted. It just became a union of my interest in the city. It happened almost organically. I couldn’t write the play any place but Philadelphia.” Oddly enough, Murphy is debuting her play, set in Philadelphia, in Philadelphia, not long after she relocated to her current home of San Francisco. Murphy describes her current bi-coastal existence of overseeing the first play in her hometown and adjusting to her new surroundings in San Francisco as “a little weird.” “I feel like I’m straddling different worlds,” she said. “The West Coast feels different from the East Coast. It feels like right now I’m in Philly for the play and I’ll go back to San Francisco as soon as it’s done. Right now, I’m trying to focus on being in the moment of bringing the play together and doing all the revisions and trying to focus on being here. It is challenging

FLOWER TOWER: Eric Schellack concentrates on preparing the next piece of his architectural arrangement during the design competition Monday night at the Philadelphia International Flower Show. The contest featured three designers who were given identical materials to create a distinctive arrangement. Schellack was voted the winner by audience cell phone vote. Photo: Scott A. Drake

DELAWARE’S BROADWAY EXPERIENCE

The Cast of “Hope Street and Other Lonely Places”

MARCH 6-11, 2012 302-656-4401 or 800-338-0881 www.duponttheatre.com

interest in Philadelphia, I believe it’s a fascinating place. I’ve always been inspired by life and the world around me. It’s only natural that, over the years, bits of where I come from would work their way into anything I write. “As a young writer, when I was right out of school, I started working on a project of short plays which I called ‘The Lonely Places’ where I would go to places in Philly and I would write a scene based on a location. I would set one at a Wawa and on street corners, places I’d been to where I’d get inspired by something and write. I’d already been thinking about Philadelphia as a place where I could literally write a play about any place I had visited. It was an exercise for myself. Then one day I passed by Hope Street [in North Philadelphia] and I became fascinated with this street. So I already had Philadelphia as a backdrop in my thoughts. When I started

to be divided in that way. I try to see it as an opportunity to take time away from the world I know, which is Philadelphia, and sort of see how that impacts me as a person and a writer.” That being said, don’t expect another play immediately after the production of “Hope Street.” “As soon as I’m done working on ‘Hope Street,’ I’ll try to clear my head a little bit and jump into some other projects,” Murphy said. “It’s my entire focus at the moment, but I’m looking forward to finishing it and moving on to the next thing.” ■ Azuka Theatre presents the world premiere of “Hope Street and Other Lonely Places” March 15-April 1 at the Off-Broad Street Theater at First Baptist Church, 1636 Sansom St. For more information or tickets, visit www.azukatheatre.org or call 215-563-1100.

PROFILE PGN

Family Portrait

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 9-15, 2012

Suzi Nash

Francis Elling: He’s not in Kansas anymore He describes himself as a childless, middle-aged, white, queer Quaker man. With at least three major career changes under his belt, Francis Elling has packed in a whole lot of living thus far — and he’s just getting started. PGN: Where do you hail from? FE: I’m a Midwesterner, born in a little town named Breeze in Southern Illinois. PGN: Is Breeze where they had all the tornados lately? FE: Illinois did have a number of tornados but I called my sister and she said they were clear. PGN: So you have at least one sibling? FE: I have seven siblings: three sisters, four brothers. I’m the youngest and I admit to being a little bit spoiled. My parents were working-class — my father was a factory worker and my mother was a housekeeper — but by the time I came along, my father had started to do plumbing work and my mother became a seamstress. She made wedding dresses and formal gowns and he made hats, and then she started doing secretarial work. We were a little more upwardly mobile so I got much more, materially, than my siblings. PGN: What did you kids do for fun? FE: We played lots of outside games together, we roller-skated and flew kites and hunted for frogs and snakes by a little branch of water nearby. It was the kind of small town where no one locked their doors and you ran in and out of everyone’s house: only 2,700 people and almost all German-Catholic. Until my sexual orientation came up, it was really fun and safe. PGN: What was your first exposure to other people? FE: Diversity-wise? The first time we went into St. Louis was the first time I saw people of color. I particularly remember an African-American boy in a stroller and I was really curious about him: It was hard to understand because no one had given me a frame of reference for it. PGN: What was a favorite class outside of art? FE: I was the only guy who took homeec and I loved it. We made lunch and I got to invite my favorite teacher, our gym teacher. PGN: Really? FE: Yes. [Laughs.] My favorite and least favorite teachers were both gym teachers. My least-favorite class, though, was definitely gym. I hated dodge ball and the awkwardness of waiting to get picked for a team.

PGN: Did you go to college? FE: Well, my parents learned a lot with seven kids before me, so my choices were a trade school or junior college. I needed to get out of town quick so I graduated high school in three years and went to beauty school. I then went to barber school and became a barber. I realized after six years I didn’t want to stand on my feet for the rest of my life, so I went to a career counselor and decided to study community health education at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, and I got a degree in social work at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. PGN: How did you end up in Philadelphia? FE: I did social work for 14 years in a wonderful little town, Lawrence, Kansas. Then my career kind of went down in flames. It ended horribly and I decided that God was kicking me out of social work. So I studied ceramics and became an artist. My fiancé and I had a five-bedroom house in Topeka, Kansas, and when I told him that I wanted to be a potter, he said, “Well, then we might as well put our house on the market,” and that was the end of that relationship. We were supposed to go to a queer Quaker gathering in New Mexico at Ghost Ranch, where Georgia O’Keeffe did her paintings, but he decided not to go. His excuse was that he couldn’t afford it but everything was already paid for, so that was BS. I went by myself and several of the people I met told me I should go to Pendel Hill, which is a Quaker study center in Pennsylvania for cultivation of inner spiritual life. I decided to apply for the artist’s scholarship and to be a resident student. At the gathering I’d also met a man from D.C. and he invited me to stay with him and his boyfriend. I love all the free museums in Washington and, to make it even sweeter, there was a big ceramics conference in Baltimore at the same time, so I signed up for that too. He lent me a car and I drove up to Pendel Hill to interview and got the scholarship. Everything fell into place and by the time I flew back to Kansas, I was ready to move to PA. It was amazing. After two semesters, I got offered the job of arts and spirituality teacher. I also got an offer to go to Santa Fe, but I’d met somebody here and he really didn’t want me to go to Santa Fe. When I was on the fence he even offered to go to Santa Fe with me and I thought, Woah, you don’t know me that well. I guess he did because we’re married now. PGN: But you took a little time out first ... FE: Yes, I always wanted to learn Spanish so I took a semester off and traveled to Guatemala. I lived with different families throughout Central America. When I came

back, Lee invited me to move to Philly with him. PGN: Backing up, you mentioned that the social work ended abruptly. Could you elaborate? FE: I’m pretty comfortable talking about it now, but it was very painful. I was a social worker but I was working in a mental-health center, so it was like a school setting. Lawrence had equal protection in the workforce for sexual minorities so I felt safe being out. When Massachusetts passed gay marriage, my fiancé at the time and I were thinking about getting married and I was so excited about it, I shared it with the class. I brought it up when we covered things in the news. Apparently some of the students were really uncomfortable with it. Later we had a song-writing therapy class and I wrote a song from a really painful place and it included a line, “dreaming about you in the sack.” I was fired for sexual harassment: I was told to leave that day. It was terrible. As a gay-

PGN: Also, you mentioned that you had fun as a kid until your sexual orientation came up? FE: Well, a small town is great as a kid, especially for me being the youngest of eight. With so many brothers and sisters, everyone knew us: Teachers knew my family before I even had them. Being an all-Catholic town, once I noticed my attraction to boys, there was a huge sense of guilt and shame and feeling I had to keep it secret. So on a certain level, being there was very toxic for me. I’ve gone back for every class reunion and, at one reunion, I asked the principal if there was a support group for LGBT kids and he looked at me straight-faced and said, “We don’t have any.” I looked at one of my classmates and said, “Wow, you know that means it’s still not safe for kids to be out here.” That was sad.

PGN: When did you come out? FE: I fell in love with a man at 24. It only lasted about six months but I came out to my mother, my coworkers and my sister in that time. My sister tried to convince me that I was straight but all it did was made me look at my emotional and sensual relationships with women and acknowledge that some of them were really significant and that I was bisexual. Not her goal at all. My mother wanted me to see a priest, but I told her there probably wouldn’t be a lot of objectivity there. So they went into denial for a few years and then I had another painful incident where my sister wanted me to go back into the closet. I refused so she made me say goodbye to my nephews. It was horrible, they were in tears and I was in tears and it was awful. Only recently have we begun to mend the situation. She came to our wedding, which was very healing. Another sister and my brother came also. Photo: Suzi Nash What’s weird is that my sibidentified man, to accuse me of sexually lings with daughters didn’t harassing children was the most painful seem to mind so much, it’s the ones who thing you could accuse me of. I had to get had boys who somehow seemed to think a lawyer and fight for my unemployment the boys would catch it. I was like — then so I had to recount the story over and over. where did I catch it? I don’t remember any Thankfully, the judge decided what they gay people around me as a kid. did was not right. I got them to change the official reason to “Poor Judgment,” which PGN: Tell me about your activism. was important because sexual harassment FE: I’d say it started around bisexuality on my record would have been the end in the late ’80s. It seemed to be a closeted of my license. Not that I practiced social part of the community back then and we work again. were starting support PAGE 34

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 9-15, 2012

PGN

THEATER PGN

Activists to perform in ‘Vagina Monologues’ for V-Day events By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com

loid nature of the story. “It makes me sick to my stomach most times because they want to sensationalize In the United States, nearly one in four things,” Regina said. “That situation in particwomen reports being sexually or physically ular twists my stomach: I feel that she could be such a stronger female role model and abused by a partner in her lifetime. Worldwide, one in three women will be she’s not. As far as wanting to reward him for going through any kind of DV classes or anger sexually or physically abused in her lifetime. In 2005, actor Lisa Regina, who starred management, it’s senseless that we feel that on “The Sopranos” and “All My Children,” we have to reward him. He did something that was beaten by her then-fiancé and left on a was criminal. Violence is violence and that is the thing about the law that is really distorted. Manhattan street. The event served as a catalyst for the If someone assaults someone on the street, South Philly native, who will perform in they are charged the same as someone who a production of Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina assaults an intimate partner. As far as Chris Brown, personally I don’t like Monologues” March 16-17 at the attitude of how he grabs Voyeur Nightclub, 1221 St. the Grammy and says, ‘In your James St. face, haters.’ He’s not really In 2011, over 5,800 events a role model. I never saw any were held around the world in remorse. It was sensationalized connection with Ensler’s V— they never talked about the Day movement to raise funds issue. I don’t see him going out and awareness to end violence and educating young men on it. against women. This year, VHe’s surely in a position where Day Philadelphia 2012 is hosting he could.” several events in the city, includMunro also worries about ing a reading of Ensler’s awardhow the issue is handled and winning “Vagina Monologues” perceived. featuring Regina and a local “I’m extremely concerned transgender activist with her own about the violence that is out tale of surviving abuse. there in society that affects Dawn Munro, a biologist women so frequently,” she said. born in the U.K., now works at “There was a time in my life the University of Pennsylvania. when I was living as female, Munro, who has a history of before I transitioned, when I social activism dating back to got beaten to a pulp and ended the civil-rights period, has been up in a hospital. I’m very familparticularly active in the push for iar with that experience and it is trans rights. As a transwoman, she regularly participates in panels DAWN MUNRO not just a physical experience. teaching about trans and related (ABOVE) LISA REGINA There’s all the verbal abuse that goes along with it. Since then, issues and currently serves on I have learned that people can the University of Pennsylvania’s LGBT Center Advisory Council. For the be brutal without ever using physical violence last three years, Munro has been involved in that way. They can do it just with how they in organizing the Philadelphia Transgender speak to you and how they treat you.” Munro added that oftentimes transwomen Day of Remembrance and memorials at the University of Pennsylvania’s LGBT Center who are victims of domestic abuse or targeted and the William Way LGBT Community as women don’t have the same resources availCenter. She has also been involved in the able to them as other women. “One of the things that come up is how peofounding of Philadelphia’s first Trans March. After her attack, Regina suffered from phys- ple who have been assaulted on the street get ical injuries and post-traumatic stress. During treated when they get taken to the ER,” she her recovery, she discovered writing empow- said. “They can sometimes be treated abysered her and helped her to heal — and led to mally. Even if they have some kind of docuher current role as a domestic-violence advo- mentation they can be rottenly treated. There cate and educator. Regina now travels across have been cases of trans people having been the country performing her one-woman show injured and the ambulance will come to col“A Write to Heal” and has founded a nonprofit lect them, find out what the status is and say, ‘Let someone else pick it up’ and leave.” ■ by the same name. Both performers agree that there are diffiV-Day Philadelphia presents “The Vagina culties in getting the issue of violence against Monologues” 8 p.m. March 16-17 at Voyeur women the attention it deserves. Regina said it’s difficult to get the main- Nightclub, 1221 St. James St. Tickets are stream media to address the issue, and when it $20 or $10 for students and benefit Women does, like the situation involving Chris Brown Against Abuse and A Write to Heal. For more and Rihanna, any positive message that might information, visit www.vday.org or www. come out of coverage is often lost in the tab- awritetoheal.com.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 9-15, 2012

Haute Mexican? Haute Mexican! After ten successful years in northeast Philadelphia, Paloma is serving to-die-for French-Mexican cuisine in Bella Vista. ��

a semifinalist for the 2011 James Beard Foundation awards 763 South 8th Street (corner of 8th & Fulton) www.palomafinedining.com www.facebook.com/palomarestaurant 215.928.9500

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 9-15, 2012

BOR_19962_LizaMinnelli_PGN_AD.indd 1

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2/21/12 11:57:46 AM

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 9-15, 2012

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 9-15, 2012

Q Puzzle An Old Pro Among the Beginners Across

1. Start of what 72-Across said to his Oscar 8. Vidal essay collection 14. Earhart and others 16. Black eye 17. Where motorists get off 18. “Lions and ___ and bears ...” 19. Flock tender, for short 20. More of the quote 22. Brian Boitano’s milieu 25. Cut out 26. ___ Plain (lesbian-popular neigh-

borhood in Boston) 30. Landscape blot 34. Shoshonean tongue 35. Language of Bangkok 37. “___ she blows!” 38. Short one 39. More of the quote 43. Constellation over Rio 44. It serves Tel Aviv 46. Verlaine’s mother 47. Image clarity, for short 48. Library section 52. Richard Chamberlain’s Dr. role 54. Hotel staff 56. Giant ball-handler Manning 57. End of the quote 61. One that comes

PORTRAIT from page 29

groups and just trying to get the B in LGB. We weren’t even thinking about trans yet. That’s how it started, but I kind of think just being openly queer is an act of activism itself. Waking up my family and educating people just by being yourself. More recently, I’ve been doing a lot of spiritual development building within the Quaker community. I joined a spiritual formations group and we’ve committed to daily spiritual practice and started an accountability group. We read a book by Marcus Borg called “Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time” that changed my attitude about The Bible. He really put it in context so Jesus seems much more human. Ideas like, Jesus would probably never have used language like “Our Father,” he would have said, “Popa,” changed the whole feel for me. I’d always been a little afraid of The Bible, because of how often it’s been used against me. I decided that I should probably get more familiar with it so that it couldn’t be used in ways that I thought were inappropriate. I started doing visualizations where you place yourself in the stories of The Bible. Visualize the sights and the sounds and the smells and that’s how I ended up becoming involved with Occupy Philadelphia. In one of the visualizations, I asked Jesus, “What do you think about

quickly, formerly 64. Thelma’s lady friend 65. Has some 69. Art historian Raven 70. Not in a gay way 71. “Full” or “half” wrestling hold 72. Christopher, who won Best Supporting Actor for “Beginners”

Down

1. Women’s patriotic org. 2. Spit it out, with confidence 3. Sophie B. Hawkins’ “The Cream Will ___” 4. Riga’s country 5. Señor suffix 6. Neither companion 7. What the fruits did in the orchard

8. Off the trail 9. Have sticky fingers 10. Like the top level 11. Top draft level 12. Griffin of game shows 13. Tongue of Wilde’s land 15. Canadian comedian Mort 21. Wide shoe spec 23. Place for Maupin’s tales 24. Radar blip 26. “Jesus Christ Superstar” setting 27. Not straight 28. It may be picked up in a bar 29. Track-and-field org. 31. Poet Frank 32. Like pinker meat 33. Tape over 36. Mac rival

it, what would you do?” And he said, “I would be there!” So I went. I lived in the interfaith tent during the occupation. PGN: Interesting. FE: Before that, I was led to the conference on fracking at the synagogue on Broad Street and that changed me as well. I realized that the carbon footprint from my ceramic work is pretty high and it made me feel really uncomfortable as a potter. Thinking that my art was adding to the poisoning of our water made me stop doing what I thought was my calling. It’s been freeing laying down that part of my life. PGN: I was reading about your ceramic “face jugs,” which have a history from when slaves were unable to have tombstones and used face jugs instead. Did it bother you being a white guy doing African-American art? FE: Well, I didn’t even know there was a history behind them at first. I just was trying to challenge myself and instead of making pottery with faces by sticking clay on the outside, I altered the clay by pushing out from the inside. The only awkwardness was in that the first pieces were ugly! Not what I had in my mind for them to look like.

40. Comics cry 41. Canal traveled by New York ferries 42. Title role for Jodie Foster 45. LGBT literary awards 49. Refuses 50. Myles of poetry 51. Reagan’s Star Wars letters 53. Drop your guns 55. Bay Area bulls (abbr.) 57. “Six Feet Under” creator Ball 58. Folk history 59. Break in the action 60. He shot off at O.K. Corral 62. Take off the top 63. TV part 66. Fam. member 67. T, to a Greek 68. Neighbor of Leb. PAGE 39

PGN: Who would you call to bail you out of jail? FE: I’ve done a lot of work with the Earth Quaker Action Team and they have lawyers on speed dial. You have the numbers written right on you so if something happens you know whom to call. Outside of that, I’d call my husband, though he’d probably appreciate it if I told him ahead of time that I was putting myself at risk. PGN: Favorite piece? FE: There’s a big pot called “Flow” that I did, that looks like a big sea creature. It’s a significant-sized piece and so many things can go wrong along the way, but that came out perfectly. To me it looks like it’s really moving. PGN: Best scar? FE: When I was in third grade, I played on a Little League team and this other kid called me a girl. We got into a fight and he bit me on the back shoulder: I still have the scar! I haven’t been a fan of baseball since. PGN: If you could fly or breathe underwater, which would you prefer? FE: Oh fly. I love to travel and to be able to do it without leaving a carbon footprint would be lovely! [Laughs.] I’m getting ready to leave for Africa and that would be

great if I could fly on my own! PGN: A great travel experience? FE: The Great Wall of China. It’s like the Grand Canyon everywhere you look. PGN: When did you and Lee get married? FE: We married in September 2009 in the Quaker meetinghouse. He’s the director of OperaDelaware. He’s getting ready to retire in May and then we’re finally going on our honeymoon. PGN: Where are you headed? FE: We’re backpacking around the world. We got one-way tickets and expect to be gone for six months to a year, traveling to Australia, Singapore, Korea, Egypt, Denmark and China. PGN: Words to live by? FE: If you fear something, look it in the eye and deal with it. There have been times in my life where I feared things and avoided them and it causes so much more pain in the long run. See fear as a challenge and opportunity for growth instead of as an obstacle. Unless it’s going to kill you ... then run! ■ To suggest a community member for “Family Portrait,” write to portraits05@aol.com.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 9-15, 2012

�� OF EQUALITY �� BE PART OF EQ �� BE PART OF EQUALITY �� OF EQUALITY �� BE PART OF EQ �� PART OF EQUALITY �� To purchase tickets, get more information or to notify us about your special needs, �� contact Box Office Tickets® at 800-494-8497 or go to www.hrcphillydinner.org. ��

Saturday, March 24th, 2012

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 9-15, 2012

Worth Watching

FASHION’S NEW VICTIMS: A new reality competition is entering the fray. “Fashion Star” is searching for the next big brand in fashion featuring host and executive producer Elle Macpherson, along with celebrity mentors Jessica Simpson, Nicole Richie and John Varvatos. The series will give 14 unknown designers the chance to win the multimillion-dollar prize of launching their collections in three of America’s largest retailers: Macy’s, H&M and Saks Fifth Avenue. Catch the premiere 9:30 p.m. March 13 on NBC.

PSYCHO THERAPY: Openly gay obsessivecompulsive house-flipper Jeff Lewis is now moving in with his clients on his new reality show “Interior Therapy with Jeff Lewis.” On the show, Lewis and Jenni Pulos judge their clients’ flaws and redesign their space. This probably won’t end well. Watch the drama unfold 9 p.m. March 14 on Bravo. Photo: Bravo/ Tommy Garcia

Photo: NBC/John Russo

CLOWNING AROUND: The funeral service for a beloved clown mentor reunites out character Cameron (Eric Stonestreet, left) with his estranged ex-clown partner, which probably won’t sit too well with Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) on Modern Family, 9 p.m. March 14 ABC. Photo: ABC/

BULLY FOR YOU: Dave finds himself bullied at the gym and a former bully, gay character Alex (Adam Pally, left), coaches him on how to fight back on “Happy Ending” 9:30 p.m. on ABC. Photo: ABC/Michael Desmond

Peter “Hooper” Stone

Are you a community leader? Bia Vieira, longtime activist and vice president for community impact, Philadelphia Foundation Quincy Greene, founder, Educational Justice Coalition David Acosta, writer, poet, longtime HIV/ health activist, prevention coordinator for HIV programs at AIDS Activities Coordinating Ofﬁce Joe Ippolito, founder/organizer of the Gender Reel multimedia festival Monica Bey-Clarke, author, entrepreneur, founder of My Family! books and products for LGBT families Sue Gildea, women’s commissioner, City of Brotherly Love Softball League

These people made the grade and were covered in PGN’s “Portrait” column by Suzi Nash. Every week, Suzi talks to people making a difference in Philadelphia. Has she talked to you yet?

DINING PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 9-15, 2012

Gypsy Saloon takes on brunch — and wins! By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Funny. Whenever we are on the Schuylkill complaining about having to drive out of the city to visit a restaurant, we end up eating our words ... and some really good food. Such was the case with Gypsy Saloon, 128 Ford St., West Conshohocken. The place exudes a warm bohemian vibe with its artsy, colorful décor and laidback but friendly, attentive staff. We were shocked to find out that brunch was a new addition to the menu at Gypsy Saloon. It was supposed to be a special Valentine’s Day event but the response was so strong, they decided to make it a permanent Sunday occasion. And judging from what we saw, the popularity of the brunch menu is growing. Around 11 a.m., business was brisk with Gypsy Saloon attracting a “girls’-morning-out” kind of crowd, but by noon the place was hopping with an eclectic mix. We soon found out what the buzz was about: Once you get past the lovely start of yogurt, small pastries and (somebody’s got great taste in champagne!) mimosas, diners are in for some well-crafted dishes. All of the dishes we sampled were Sunday-morning perfection. The poached eggs and asparagus ($8) benefited from the added flair of shaved parmesan cheese and chopped bacon. The steak and eggs ($23) was massive, reminiscent of a dish straight out of “Man vs. Food,” a well-executed New York strip topped with two fried eggs and parked next to an acre of spicy French fries all drizzled with garlic aioli. We usually aren’t the biggest fans of steak for breakfast, but Gypsy’s take on the standard won us over hands down. But the dishes that really rung our brunch bell were the omelet with crab

POACHED EGGS WITH ASPARAGUS

meat ($16) and the Mexican fried eggs ($8). Most often, your average omelet suffers from an overabundance of egg and/or cheese, leaving the ingredients you crave struggling in the background like anyone in Destiny’s Child who isn’t Beyoncé. But Gypsy’s omelet was super-generous, with crab meat and roasted red peppers from one end of the omelet to the other. The sliced avocado that topped the omelet and too-good-to-be-anything-but-homemade home fries were a nice bonus. The Mexican fried eggs tasted authentic thanks to the bright flavors of the green tomatillo sauce, salsa and avocado layered over fried eggs and warm tortilla.

THE ABBAYE EXCELLENT BELGIAN AND MICROBREW SELECTIONS

HAPPY HOUR Mon.-Fri. 4-6 pm $2 off all Drafts $5 glass of wine $2 select daily $3 Well Drinks domestic bottle New Happy Menu - Nothing over $5 DAILY LUNCH SPECIAL Mon-Fri. 11:30 -2:30pm $2 off all Sandwiches $1 off all Entrees (Eat-in Only) BRUNCH - Sat. & Sun. 10 am-3 pm QUIZZO - Every Thursday 10 pm KARAOKE - Every Sunday 10 pm

637 NORTH THIRD STREET PHILADELPHIA TEL: 215.627.6711 FAX: 215.627.6167 WWW.THEABBAYE.NET

Gypsy offers a prix-fixe brunch menu on Sunday, with three courses and unlimited mimosas or Bloody Marys for $20. Thankfully, the Mexican fried eggs and the poached eggs with asparagus are options on the prix-fixe menu, along with a lot of other crave-worthy dishes. We had heard that Gypsy Saloon’s lobster mac and cheese ($18) was a house favorite. That was enough for us to make a detour out of brunchland, and we are so glad we did. A lot of places boast lobster mac and cheese on the menu, but this is one of the best we have come across in a long time. Made to order, never in a large batch, the noodles are nice and firm, the lobster comes in thick, juicy pieces, and the mixture of cheeses (asiago, parmesan and goat) strikes a unique and memorable balance that doesn’t go overboard or drown the noodles in a swamp of dairy indulgence. For a restaurant so new to brunch, Gypsy Saloon has definitely come out swinging. And once the weather gets nicer, there’s no doubt the outdoor tables are going to be some of the most sought-after seats in Conshohocken on Sunday morning. ■

If you go

Photos: Scott A. Drake

Gypsy Saloon 128 Ford St., West Conshohocken 610-828-8494 www.gypsysaloon.com Open daily for lunch and dinner; serv ing brunch on Sundays.

Food & Drink

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 9-15, 2012

OUT & ABOUT The week ahead

back, 10 p.m.-2 a.m. at Landmark Americana, 3333 Market St.; www. stimulusphilly.com.

Sun. 03/11

Mon. 03/12 Groove Night Local musicians join forces to bring the R&B, soul, jazz and funk, 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-994-1400.

Fri. 03/09

Sat. 03/10

The Cowboy Junkies The blues/folk band performs 8 p.m. at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; 215572-7650.

Looney Toons Selected cartoons from the Warner Brothers catalog featuring Bugs Bunny are screened 2 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-0223.

Alain de Botton The author of “Religion for Atheists: A NonBeliever’s Guide to the Uses of Religion” hosts a reading 2 p.m. at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215567-4341.

Sophie B. Hawkins The singer-songwriter performs 7 and 9:30 p.m. at Tin Angel, 20 N. Second St.; 215928-0770.

Get Carter The revenge thriller is screened 2 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-0223.

First Person StorySlam Spoken-word artists perform 8:30 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400.

Mr. Rogers & Me The documentary film is screened 4:30 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-0223.

Lipstick Mondays A weekly drag show featuring a changing roster of queens, 9 p.m. at The Raven, 385 W. Bridge St., New Hope; 215862-2081.

Dropkick Murphys The rock band performs 8 p.m. at House of Blues, 801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-343-4000. Paddy Moloney and The Chieftains The Grammywinning Irish band performs 9 p.m. at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215790-5800.

Arouse’s twoyear anniversary DJ Jovi Baby and DJ Kash spin in the front and DJ NiiLo spins all Latin music in the

Immortals The fantasy film is screened 8 p.m. at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215-922-6888.

��

TWELVE ANGRY MEN

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MARCH 13 – APRIL 8

Tue. 03/13 Unlabeled: The Acoustic/ Electric Open Mic for Up and Comers Sign up and play, 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-994-1400. George Dyson The author of “Turing’s Cathedral: The Origins of the Digital Universe” hosts a reading 7:30 p.m. at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215-567-4341. Shatner’s World Iconic actor William Shatner performs 7:30 p.m. at Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800. Eric Himan The out singersongwriter performs 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400. TuesGAY Nights Lyrics Lounge and DJ June Rodrigues host a weekly night of music and performers for the LGBT community, 8 p.m., 6527 Roosevelt Blvd.; 215-533-5888.

Wed. 03/14

PRIDE PARTY Thursday, March 29 . visit GSPonline.org for pride party and show details.

Box office: 732-246-7717 • Online: www.GSPonline.org Only at GEORGE STREET PLAYHOUSE 9 Livingston Avenue , New Brunswick, NJ 08901 David Saint, Artistic Director • Norma Kaplan, Managing Director This Program is made possible in par t by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Ar ts/Depar tment of State, A Par tner Agency of the National Endowment for the Ar ts.

Cast of Twelve Angry Men, photo by Frank Wojciechowski.

4W5 Blues Jam Local musicians get down 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-994-1400. PGMC invitational rehearsals Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus hosts open rehearsals ahead of its March 21 auditions from 7-10 p.m. at Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion,

THE INCREDIBLE HAWKINS: Bisexual singer-songwriter and activist Sophie B. Hawkins comes to town to celebrate the release of her latest album, “The Crossing,” with two shows 7 and 9:30 p.m. March 10 at Tin Angel, 20 N. Second St. For more information or tickets, call 215-928-0770.

2111 Sansom St.; auditions@pgmc.org.

Thu. 03/15 Beyond the Score Mozart: Piano Concerto The Philadelphia Orchestra performs 7 p.m. at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215790-5800. A Program on HIV Clinical Trials Pizza and soda will be available 7 p.m. at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; 215-923-2960. Elaine Pagels The author of “Revelations: Visions, Prophecy and Politics in the Book of Revelation” hosts a reading at 7:30 p.m. at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215-567-4341.

p.m. at Bob and Barbara’s, 1509 South St.; 215545-4511.

Fri. 03/16 HOLLER! An open-mic night, 7 p.m. at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; 215-923-2960. Edwidge Danticat The author of “Create Dangerously: The Immigrant Artist at Work” hosts a reading 7:30 p.m. at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215-567-4341. Spirit of Uganda The Annenberg Center for the

Performing Arts presents a production celebrating the sounds and movements of East Africa, 7:30 p.m. at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; 215898-3900. Hank 3 The country-rockpunk artist performs 9 p.m. at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215-922-6888. Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure Keanu Reeves in his cinematic peak, 9:45 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-0223.

Henry Rollins The rock singer performs a spokenword show 8 p.m. at Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St.; 215232-2100. Rosie Thomas The singer-songwriter performs 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400. Bob and Barbara’s Drag Show The outrageousness begins 11

AW SHAT!: We have no idea what iconic actor William Shatner is going to do on stage as part of his “Shatner’s World” show, but he’s sure to boldly go somewhere entertaining, 7:30 p.m. March 13 at Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St. For more information or tickets, call 215-790-5800.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

Opening Eric N. Fausnacht Solo Gallery Show Twenty-Two Gallery presents original paintings and new silkscreens and painted furniture March 9-April 8, 236 S. 22nd St.; 215-722-1911. A Grand Tour The Philadelphia Orchestra performs March 16-18 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800. Hope Street and Other Lonely Places Azuka Theatre presents the story of five individuals struggling to cope with love, loss and addictions both physical and emotional, March 15-April 1 at The Off-Broad Street Theater at First Baptist Church, 1636 Sansom St.; 215-563-1100. On The Town The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents the classic American musical, composed by Leonard Bernstein and set in New York during World War II, when three young sailors hit the town for

From Asbury Park to the Promised Land: The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen The National Constitution Center presents an exhibition giving a comprehensive look at The Boss’ entire career with numerous items never before seen by the public, through Sept. 3, 525 Arch St., Independence Mall; 215-409-6895.

and the first critical assessment of her 10-year project to exhibit her photographs annually beneath a section of Interstate-95 in South Philadelphia, through April 22, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

Messiah The Pennsylvania Ballet performs an epic ballet that translates Handel’s worldfamous libretto, through March 17 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800.

Ethel! Walnut Street Theatre presents the story of blues and jazz vocalist Ethel Waters, through March 11 at Independence Studio on 3, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550.

Van Gogh Up Close Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of works by Vincent van Gogh, through May 6, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

Rhapsody in Blue The Philadelphia Orchestra performs with conductor James Gaffigan through March 10 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215790-5800. ■

Zaha Hadid: Form in Motion Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of product designs by architect Hadid, who in 2004 became the first female recipient of the renowned Pritzker Architecture Prize, through March 25, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

FREE-SPIRITED: The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts hosts “Spirit of Uganda” dance company, a production celebrating the sounds and movements of East Africa while promoting awareness of Uganda’s dual crises — AIDS and civil war, 7:30 p.m. March 16 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; 215898-3900. Photo: Dan

Continuing Collab: Four Decades of Giving Modern and Contemporary Design Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition that includes some of the finest examples of European, American and Japanese design, through fall 2012, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. Doing Time | Depth of Surface Philagrafika hosts an exhibition exploring the architecture and stories of Philadelphia’s historic Holmesburg Prison, through March 17 at The Galleries at Moore, 20th and the Parkway; 215-9654027; thegalleriesatmoore.org.

Closing

LOCAL FOLK STAR: It’s hard to believe out singer-songwriter Eric Himan has been recording and touring for 10 years now. Celebrate his great music and tenacity when he performs 8 p.m. March 13 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. For more information or tickets, call 215-222-1400 or visit www. erichiman.com. Photo: Jeremy Charles

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.

WIN 2 FRONT ROW TICKETS TO SEE

LIZA MINNELLI AT THE BORGATA HOTEL CASINO AND SPA!

Ozminkowski

a day’s leave in the big city, March 14-17 at Harold Prince Theater, 3680 Walnut St.; 215-898-3900.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 9-15, 2012

Zoe Strauss: Ten Years Philadelphia Museum of Art presents a mid-career retrospective of the acclaimed out photographer’s work SOLUTION from page 34

“Like” PGN on Facebook for a chance to win a VIP experience Saturday, March 24 at the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City, NJ. • Overnight accommodations in the Fiore Suite at Borgata • Two front-row tickets to see Liza Minnelli at the Borgata Event Center • Dinner for two at Izakaya — a modern Japanese pub • VIP Entrance for two to MIXX Nightclub

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 9-15, 2012

Community Bulletin Board Community centers

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

and Allies Youth Center: 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays: Doylestown Planned Parenthood, The Atrium, Suite 2E, 301 S. Main St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981; rainbowroom@ppbucks.org

■ William Way Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center: 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220; www.waygay.org. Hours: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Peer counseling: 6-9 p.m. Monday through Friday Library hours: 12-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 12-3 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Friday; 126 p.m. Saturday. Volunteers: New Orientation: First Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.

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

Religion/Spirituality Arch Street United Methodist Church Services 8:30 and 11 a.m. at 55 N. Broad St.; 215-568-6250. Bethlehem-Judah Ministries Open and afﬁrming congregation holds services 10 a.m. Sundays at 5091 N. Dupont Hwy., Suite D, Dover, Del.; 302-730-4425. BuxMont Unitarian Universalist Church Services 10:15 a.m. at 2040 Street Road, Warrington; 215-3430406. Calvary United Methodist Church Reconciling, welcoming and afﬁrming church holds services 11 a.m. Sundays at 801 S. 48th St.; 215-724-1702.

Key numbers

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

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

■ AIDS Library: 215-985-4851

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

■ ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215592-1513 ■ AIDS Treatment Fact line: 1800-662-6080 ■ Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection at the Independence Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library: 215-685-1633 ■ The COLOURS Organization Inc.: 112 N. Broad St., third floor; 215-496-0330 ■ Equality Pennsylvania: 215731-1447; www.equalitypa.org ■ Equality Forum: 215-732-3378

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

Health

AIDS Services In Asian Communities Provides HIV-related services to Asians and Pacific Islanders at 340 N. 12th St., Suite 205; 215-629-2300. www.asiac.org Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative Free, anonymous HIV testing from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; 12-6 p.m. Tuesdays at the Washington West Project, 1201 Locust St. 215851-1822 or 866-222-3871. www.galaei.org. Spanish/English HIV treatment Free HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment for Philadelphia residents are available from 9 a.m.-noon Mondays and 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad St.; 215-685-1803. HIV health insurance help Access to free medications and confidential HIV testing

■ Greater Philadelphia Professional Network Networking group for area business professionals, self-employed and business owners meets monthly in a different location throughout the city, invites speakers on various topics, partners with other nonprofits and maintains a Web site where everyone is invited to sign up for e-mail notices for activities and events.; www.gppn.org.

■ Philadelphia Police Department liaison — Deputy Commissioner Stephen Johnson: 215-683-2840 ■ Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 267-216-6606; ppd. lgbt@gmail.com ■ Philly Pride Presents: 215875-9288 ■ SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: 717-9209537 ■ Transgender Health Action Coalition: 215-732-1207 (staffed 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays and 6-9 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays)

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

Anonymous, free, conﬁdential HIV testing Spanish/English counselors offer testing 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 3439 N. Hutchinson St..; 215-763-8870 ext. 6000.

■ Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia GALLOP holds board meetings at 6:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at 100 S. Broad St., Suite 1810; GALLOP also provides a free referral service; (215) 6279090; www.galloplaw.org.

■ Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force: 215-772-2000

Mazzoni Center Free, anonymous HIV testing; HIV/AIDS care and treatment, case management and support groups; 21 S. 12th St., eighth ﬂoor; 215-563-0652. www.mazzonicenter.org. Mazzoni Center Family & Community Medicine Comprehensive primary health care, preventive health services, gynecology, sexual-health services and chronic-disease management, including comprehensive HIV care; 809 Locust St.; 215-563-0658. Washington West Project Free, anonymous HIV testing. Walk-ins welcome 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday except for 12-1 p.m. and 5-6 p.m. and 1-5 p.m. Saturday; 1201 Locust St.; 215-985-9206.

Professional groups ■ Independence Business Alliance Greater Philadelphia’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce, providing networking, business development, marketing, educational and advocacy opportunities for LGBT and LGBT-friendly businesses and professionals. Visit www.IndependenceBusinessAlliance.com for information about events, programs and membership; 215-557-0190; 1717 Arch St., Suite 3370. ■ National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association The Philadelphia chapter of NLGJA, open to professionals

and students, meets for social and networking events; www.nlgjaphiladephia.org. ■ Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus A regional organization dedicated to promoting gay and lesbian tourism to the Greater Philadelphia Region, holds meetings every other month on the fourth Thursday (January, March, May, July, September and the third Thursday in November), open to the public; P.O. Box 58143, Philadelphia, PA 19102; www.philadelphiagaytourism.com. ■ Philly OutGoing Professionals Social group for gay, lesbian and bisexual professionals meets for social and cultural activities; 856857-9283; popnews19@yahoo. com.

Old First Reformed Church Open and affirming United Church worships 10 a.m. at 151 N. Fourth St.; 215-922-4566; www.oldfirstucc.org. Penns Park United Methodist Church Welcoming and affirming church holds services 10 a.m. Sundays at 2394 Second Street Pike, Penns Park; 215-598-7601. Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral Progressive and affirming congregation holds services 10 a.m. Sundays with Holy Eucharist at 3723 Chestnut St.; 215-386-0234; www.philadelphiacathedral.org.

Chestnut Hill United Methodist Church Services 11 a.m. and Spirit at Play, an arts-based Sunday school for children, at 9:30 a.m. at 8812 Germantown Ave.; 215-242-9321.

Rainbow Buddhist Meditation Group Meets 5 p.m. Sundays at the William Way Center.

Church of the Holy Trinity Inclusive church holds services 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sundays at 1904 Walnut St.; 215-567-1267. Dignity Jersey Shore An organization for sexual-minority Catholics meets the first Saturday of the month in Asbury Park. For time and location, call 732-502-0305. Dignity Metro NJ An organization for sexual-minority Catholics meets 4 p.m. first and third Sundays of the month at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 550 Ridgewood Road, Maplewood; 973-509-0118. Dignity Philadelphia Holds Mass 7 p.m. Sundays at 330 S. 13th St.; 215-546-2093; dignityphila@aol.com. Drexel Hill Baptist Church Nonjudgmental Christian congregation affiliated with American Baptist Churches of the USA holds services 11 a.m. Sundays at 4400 State Road, Drexel Hill; 610-259-2356; www.dhbaptist.com. Emanuel Lutheran Church Reconciling in Christ congregation meets 9:30 a.m. Sundays at New and Kirkpatrick streets, New Brunswick, N.J.; 732-545-2673; www.emmanuelnb.org. St. Paul Episcopal Church Welcoming and inclusive church holds services 9:30 a.m. Sundays and 7 p.m. Tuesdays at 89 Pinewood Drive, Levittown; 215-6881796; www.stpaullevittown.org.

available by appointment at 13 S. MacDade Blvd., Suite 108, Collingdale; Medical Ofﬁce Building, 722 Church Lane, Yeadon; and 630 S. 60th St.; 610-5869077.

Metropolitan Community Church of Philadelphia Holds services 1 p.m. Sundays at the University Lutheran Church of the Incarnation, 3637 Chestnut St.; 215-294-2020; www. mccphiladelphia.com.

Central Baptist Church Welcoming and afﬁrming church holds services 10:45 a.m. Sundays at 106 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne; 610-688-0664.

Church of the Cruciﬁxion Inclusive Episcopal community holds services 10 a.m. Sundays and 6 p.m. Fridays at 620 S. Eighth St.; 215-922-1128.

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

Metropolitan Community Church of Christ the Liberator Holds services 10:45 a.m. Sundays at the Pride Center of New Jersey; mccctl.com.

Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting worships 11 a.m. Sundays at 1515 Cherry St.; 215-241-7260; cpmm@afsc.org. Resurrection Lutheran Church Holds services 10 a.m. Sundays at 620 Welsh Road, Horsham; 215-646-2597. Silverside Church Holds services 10 a.m. Sundays followed by a group discussion at 2800 Silverside Road, Wilmington, Del.; 302-478-5921; silversidechurch.org. St. Asaph’s Church Inclusive and progressive Episcopal church holds services 9:15 a.m. Sundays, with a contemplative communion at 8 a.m., at 27 Conshohocken State Road, Bala Cynwyd; 610-664-0966; www. saintasaphs.org. St. John’s Lutheran Church (ELCA) Reconciling in Christ congregation holds services 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 24 N. Ridge Ave., Ambler; 215-646-2451; www. stjohnsambler.org. St. Luke and The Epiphany Church Open and welcoming church holds liturgy 9 and 11 a.m. Sundays fall through winter at 330 S. 13th St.; 215-732-1918; stlukeandtheepiphany.org. St. Mary of Grace Parish Inclusive church in the Catholic tradition celebrates Mass 6 p.m. Sundays in the Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County, 145 W. Rose Tree Road, Media; 610-566-1393; www. inclusivecatholics.org.

Evangelicals Concerned Lesbian and gay Christian group; 215-860-7445.

St. Mary’s Church Diverse and inclusive Episcopal church celebrates the Eucharist 11 a.m. Sundays; adult forum 9:30 a.m.; and evening prayer 6:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday at 3916 Locust Walk; 215-386-3916; www. stmarysatpenn.org.

First Baptist Church Welcoming and afﬁrming church holds services 11 a.m. Sundays at 123 S. 17th St.; 215-563-3853.

Tabernacle United Church Open and afﬁrming congregation holds services 10 a.m. Sundays at 3700 Chestnut St.; 215-386-4100; tabunited.org.

First Presbyterian Church of Lansdowne Welcoming church holds services at 10 a.m. Sundays at 140 N. Lansdowne Ave.; 610-626-0800; www.lansdownepresbyterianchurch.com.

Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church Christian Formation: Adult, 9:30 a.m.; Children: 10:30; Youth: Noon Sundays. Worship with nursery care 10:30. First Sunday of the month, 7 p.m. Mosaic: jazz with poetry and prose; 2212 Spruce St.; 215-732-2515; trinityphiladelphia.org.

First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia A liberal, welcoming and diverse congregation that affirms the dignity of all. Sunday services 10 a.m., 2125 Chestnut St.; 215563-3980; www.firstuu-philly.org. The First United Church of Germantown A sexual-minority-affirming congregation holds services 11 a.m. Sundays at 6001 Germantown Ave.; lunch follows; 215-438-3077. www.fumcog.org. Grace Epiphany Church A welcoming and diverse Episcopal congregation in Mt. Airy with services 9:30 a.m. Sundays at 224 E. Gowen Ave.; 215-248-2950. www.grace-epi.org. Holy Communion Lutheran Church ELCA Reconciling in Christ congregation worships Sundays at 9 a.m. at 2111 Sansom St. and 11 a.m. at 2110 Chestnut St.; 215-567-3668; www.lc-hc.org/drupal. Imago Dei Metropolitan Community Church Sexual-minority congregation worships at 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 1223 Middletown Road (Route 352), Glen Mills; 610-358-1716; www.ImagoDeiMCC.org. Living Water United Church of Christ An open and affirming congregation that meets for worship 11 a.m. on Sundays; 2006 Germantown Ave.; 215-765-1970; www. lwucc.org. Kol Tzedek Reconstructionist synagogue committed to creating a diverse and inclusive community meets at Calvary Center, 801 S. 48th St.; 215764-6364; www.kol-tzedek.org. Mainline Unitarian Church Holds services 10 a.m. Sundays at 816 S. Valley Forge Road, Devon; 610-688-8332; www.mluc.org. Maple Shade Congregational Church of the United Church of Christ Affirming congregation open to all sexual orientations and gender identities holds services 10 a.m. Sundays at 45 N. Forklanding Road, Maple Shade, N.J.; 856-779-7739; mapleshadeucc.org.

Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County Welcoming congregation holds services 10:30 a.m. at 145 W. Rose Tree Road, Media. Interweave, a group for LGBT parishioners and allies, meets noon the first Sunday of the month; 610-566-4853; www.uucdc.org. Unitarian Society of Germantown Welcoming congregation holds services 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 6511 Lincoln Drive; 215-844-1157; www.usguu.org. Unitarian Universalist Church of Cherry Hill Holds services 10:15 a.m. Interweave, a group of LGBT Unitarians and their allies, also meets at 401 N. Kings Highway, Cherry Hill, N.J.; 856-667-3618; uucch.org. Unitarian Universalist Church of the Restoration, Mt. Airy Welcoming congregation holds services 11 a.m. Sundays September-June at 6900 Stenton Ave.; 215-247-2561; www. uurestoration.us. Unitarian Universalist Congregation, South Jersey Shore Holds services 10 a.m. Sundays in Galloway Township; 609-9659400; www.uucsjs.org. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Pottstown Holds services 10:30 a.m. at 1565 S. Keim St.; 610-327-2662. www.uupottstown.org. United Christian Church Open, affirming and welcoming congregation holds services 10:15 a.m. Sundays at 8525 New Falls Road, Levittown; 215-946-6800. Unity Fellowship Church of Philadelphia Diverse, affirming LGBT congregation holds services 2 p.m. Sundays at 55 N. Broad St. University Lutheran Church of the Incarnation Welcoming congregation holds services 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 3637 Chestnut St. preceded by “Adult Forum: Sundays” at 9:30 with discussion of religious alienation and struggles of faith; 215387-2885; www.uniphila.org.

REALPGN ESTATE

Classifieds

Home of the Week

PGN does not accept advertising that is unlawful, false, misleading, harmful, threatening, abusive, invasive of another’s privacy, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, hateful or racially or otherwise objectionable, including without limitation material of any kind or nature that encourages conduct that could constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability or otherwise violate any applicable local, state, provincial, national or international law or regulation, or encourage the use of controlled substances.

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

�

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 9-15, 2012

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PAGE 47

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�� REAL ESTATE �� LARGE WEST MT. AIRY HOUSE FOR �� SALE �� 300 block W. Hortter St.: Modern. 3Brms, 2.5 �� baths. Fireplace. Front & back yards. Off-street �� parking, Skylight. Near regional rail. Central �� air/heating. Whole-house water softener. �� $250,000. Call 215-848-4000. �� _______________________________36-15 �� REAL ESTATE

SALE

��

RENT

��

�� 12TH & DICKINSON AREA �� Furnished Townhouse for rent: 3 levels. Living �� Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, 2 bedrooms, �� bath. Very Unique. 1500. mo plus util. (nego�� tiable). Call 215 468-9166 after 6 pm. or 215 �� 686 3431 daytime. �� _______________________________36-10 �� RITTENHOUSE SQUARE AREA �� Studios & 1 Bedrooms - Call for Availability �� (215) 735-8050. _______________________________36-17 �� SOUTH PHILA, PENNSPORT ��

Beds: 3 Baths: 2.1 Square footage: 2,012 Age of Property: 66 years

REAL ESTATE

PGN

ew open style 2 bedroom, 1 bath condo o fees. Great small pet friendly building. ..................................��

wedes Court. New Listing Large 3 Garage, roof deck and hardwood ﬂoors.

REAL ESTATE

SALE

REAL ESTATE

SALE

5 Balwyn Place, Bala Cynwyd Newer kitchen & bathrooms, Central air, garage & more! Walk to shops and train

��

Open House - Saturday, March 3rd, 12:00-2:00

��

SALE

Phone: (610) 325 – 4100 Direct: (610) 789 – 0982 E-mail: andy@andymariano.com

��

ROOMMATES

e 1 bd. in area ........................��.

24 Bryan Street, 19083 Spacious brick colonial with open floor plan and plenty of flow. Entry Vestibule, Formal Living room, Large dining room that opens to Eat-In Kitchen with center island, 1st floor office w/ laundry. Family Room w/ FP, Finished basement and much more.

Charming single home in private community in Lower Merion

: pgn@epgn.com

��

Havertown, PA

Open House - Sunday March 11 2:00-4:00pm

3 story , 2 BR, 2 full BA, MBR ste w/vaulted �� ceiling & deck. H/W ﬂrs thruout, ceiling fans, C/A, W/D, granite countertops, 1st. ﬂ patio. CC, ref req. $1750/mo. 1st & last, one mo. sec. req. 215-514-8129, suze331@comcast.net _______________________________36-09

PGN WILL NOT PUBLISH RACIAL DISTINCTIONS IN ROOMMATE ADS. SUCH NOTATIONS WILL BE EDITED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION. ___________________________________ GREATER NE PHILA. Have your own bedroom in a beautiful split level home with 2 gay men. House is 4 BR, 2 �� full baths, W/D, upper and lower decks, use of kitchen. Property is by Welsh & thelast Boulevard, 1 ness Flats. Large 2 bed, 1 bath. min. to 58 bus. We ask only that you be at least sirable building. Close to all Center City reasonably neat and employed. Rent is $600 + taxes ................................�� 1/3 utils. Contact Dave at 215-698-0215. _______________________________36-10 George T.Owner SalehasCondo” Unique Garden 1 BR avail. furn. $600 + 1/3 utils. 19th ﬂ Independence Pl. 267-519-0091. private entrance.. Low fees & Tax _______________________________36-14

Featured property:

Price: $299,900 Real Estate Company: RE/MAX Preferred Realtor: Andrew J. Mariano

REAL ESTATE

SALE

110 Coolidge Ave., Collingswood, NJ MLS#5186534

Perfect location in the heart of COLLINGSWOOD! Just one block from restaurants and shops of charming Haddon Ave. This bright and beautiful townhome has it all. A newly renovated enclosed porch greets you. Step into a cozy living and dining room with RESTORED ORIGINAL HARDWOOD ﬂoors and crown molding. Both kitchen and bath have been updated. GRANITE COUNTERTOPS, GLASS MOSIAC BACKSPLASH, customized SOLID OAK cabinets and more. CUSTOM CERAMIC TILE throughout bath room plus NEW ﬁxtures. There are 3 bright and spacious bedrooms with newer carpets. CENTRAL AIR, thermopane windows throughout, CUSTOM WOOD BLINDS and so much more. Just 10 minutes from Center City and close to all major highways. Close to parks and patco speedline too! Koi pond in backyard. Bring ALL reasonable offers...Come see what this beautiful townhome has to offer! Owner is a licensed NJ real estate associate. New Price $173,900

730 Haddon Avenue Collingswood, NJ David G. Donch 856-858-2200 Cell: (856) 220-6773 www.MainStRealty.com E-mail: daviddonch@yahoo.com VACATION

RENTAL OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND Best selection of affordable rentals. Full/partial weeks. Call for FREE brochure. Open daily. Holiday Real Estate. 1-800-638-2102 Online reservations: www.holidayoc.com _______________________________36-10

ADOPTION A loving, educated, well traveled couple hoping to adopt a newborn. Home ﬁlled with love, laughter. Nearby extended family awaits. Please call: Lisa/Brian 1-888-939-8399 www. Lbadopt.info _______________________________36-10

Call Jacki Pearlman 610-662-6958

Open House Sunday March 11, 2012 Noon-2:30PM 705 Carpenter Lane 19119 (West Mt. Airy) 4BR/1.5 BA House Charming Dutch stone cottage. REDUCED! $325,000 Noon-1:30PM 1318 Addison St 19147 2BR/1BA house Fully renovated trinity on quiet street. $289,900 1:30 - 2:30PM 250 S 13th St 4F 19107 1BR/1BA Condo Large bright condo with high ceilings in the Lenox. $267,900 Search all Philadelphia area listings @ www.thephillyrealtors.com Dan Tobey

The Curtis Center 1401 Walnut St. 8th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19102

215.546.2700 Business • 267.238.1061 Direct 215.432.7151 Cell • 215.546.7728 Fax dtobey@cbpref.com • www.cbpref.com

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 9-15, 2012

FRIENDS

LOOKING FOR ROMANCE Attractive GWM, warm, sensitive, caring, 48 y.o. with a smooth gymnast build looking for other GWM, 30-50, who is also in good shape. I live in NE Phila. I’m looking for guys who are also sensitive, caring with a fun personality. If this sounds interesting to you feel free to call me, David, 215-698-0215. _______________________________36-19 WM 65 ISO WM 18-30 FOR MUTUAL ENJOYMENT. COMPENSATION AVAILABLE TO SERIOUS CALLERS. CALL 610-418-1485 AND LEAVE CALL BACK NUMBER. _______________________________36-15

Friendly WM, 6’1’, 210, 59 looking for big bud to appreciate smooth bottom. 215-732-2108 8-11 PM. _______________________________36-11 WM, NE Phila. If you’re looking for hot action, call 215-934-5309. No calls after 11 PM. _______________________________36-12

MEN

PGN

FRIENDS

MEN

Man for Man Massage

by handsome athletic man

Ask about the After Midnight Special.

Call Mario anytime 24/7 at 215-490-7353 B24

Gay is our middle name. MEN

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P.A.N.G. (Philadelphia Area Nudist Group)

MARCH MADNESS Saturday, March 10th, 2012 • TIME: 11pm-3:30am

WHAT TO EXPECT: * DJ Dutch * Food Catered by 13th St Pizza * OPEN BAR * Men of Magnum Erotic Dancers (private lap dances upon request) * Special Pole Dancing Performance * A Full House of Guys To Choose From & Soo Much More...

BARRONS URBAN WAREHOUSE PARTY Saturday, March 17th, 2012 • TIME:11pm-6am - Always bringing in the Sexy Black & Latin Men For The NightMUST BE ON GUEST LIST TO GAIN ENTRANCE TO PARTY (PRIVATE EVENT: For More Information & to be put onto guest list email: badboi215@gmail.com)

Saturday, March 18th, 2012 • TIME:3pm-6pm Boys will Be Boys- Awaken Your Spirit w/ An Afternoon of Naked Socializing and Fun...

WEEKLY SPECIALS BUSINESS MANS 4HR LOCKER SPECIAL Monday thru Friday (8am-4pm) Members: $5.00 & Non-Members: $15.00 $12 LOCKER WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY 4PM-12 MIDNIGHT

Check out our website for our HOT NEW WEEKLY SPECIALS & JOIN OUR e-mail List to get the latest information on upcoming events...

Don’t forget to visit the Adonis Cinema right next door!! 2026 Sansom St/ PH: 215-557-9319

And if you are in A.C., please check out:

10 South Mt. Vernon Avenue •Atlantic City, NJ 08401

OPEN DAILY! Sunday- Thursday 4pm to 4am Friday & Saturday 4pm to 6am www.brassrailac.com

PGN

Support the advertisers who support our community.

PGN

REAL ESTATE

SALE

Conrad Kuhn

Broker/Sales Rep. Since 1987 NJAR Circle of Excellence Sales Award 1991- 2011 Weichert President’s & Ambassador’s Clubs

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 9-15, 2012

HELP WANTED

ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVE WANTED

Ofﬁce: 856.227.1950 ext. 124 Cell: 609.221.1196 www.conradkuhn.com Realtor856@aol.com Washington Township Ofﬁce 5070 Route 42 Turnersville, NJ 08012

LEGAL NOTICE

TRENTON Take notice that in accordance with N.J.S.A. 39:10 A-8 Et. Seq. Application has been made to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, Trenton, NJ to receive title papers authorizing the sale of:

PGN currently has an advertising sales position available for an energetic, self-motivated individual with outstanding communication skills.

2001 Honda Odyssey 2HKRL18691H605393

1977 Ford Pick-Up F14SNAG4032

Our ideal candidate must have polished sales skills with experience in lead generation and cold calling, combined with a track record of closing the sale.

1997 Chevrolet Tahoe 3GNFK16R5VG188542

1995 Toyota Tacoma 4TAVN73K8SZ047445

QUALIFICATIONS:

Objections, if any, should be made immediately in writing to Special Title Section/Abandoned Vehicle Unit, P.O. Box 071, Trenton, NJ 08666-0017

PGN

’S

COMMUNITY MARKETPLACE

Listings for everything you need. Click on the resource button on the home page to start shopping today!

only on epgn.com

WANTED

TO BUY VINTAGE PAPER STORE We buy your old photos/magazines. Have you got some old gay magazines or photos gathering dust in your closet (pun intended)? We’re looking to buy older (pre-1980) gay magazines, brochures, ﬁlm posters, printed information or photos. Please call Vintage Paper Store at 267-385-6292 or send us an email at vintagepaperstore1@gmail.com _______________________________36-15 WANTED DIABETIC TEST STRIPS Any Kind/Brand. Up to $25.00/Box. SHIPPING PAID. Hablamo Espanol. 1-800-266-0702 www.selldiabeticstrips.com _______________________________36-10

• Two years of successful sales experience, preferably in print and/or online sales • Strong verbal and writing skills • Excellent at relationship building • Ability to work independently and part of a team • Knowledge of local media market and/or LGBT community a plus • Computer literacy a must Salary/Benefits: Salary plus commission. Our benefits package includes medical and dental insurance, paid holidays, vacation and a casual work environment. Qualified individuals interested in applying are encouraged to send their resume to dan@epgn.com.

PGN recently replaced many of its older honor boxes along Market, Chestnut and Walnut streets with brand-new ones and added boxes at the locations on the right. If you see a PGN box that might need some sprucing up or to be replaced, or if you have a suggestion for a new location, contact Don at don@epgn.com or call 215625-8501 ext. 200

Broad & Arch Front & Girard Germantown & Girard 13th & Arch 13th & Ellsworth 18th & Spring Garden 20th & Fitzwater 27th & Poplar 28th & Girard 29th & Girard

HELP WANTED LANDSCAPE HELP Horticultural co. seeks hardworking, creative people to design/mantain landscape beds, perennial gardens and container garden displays. Hort. exp. pref. but will teach. Main Line area. Garden Gallery Designs, 610-789-2130. _______________________________36-10 $ATTENTION! We buy Frac Sand trucking companies and complete sand rigs. Must have tractors, blowers & pneumatic trailers. Call Now! 1800-397-2672. _______________________________36-10 Drivers - DAILY PAY! Hometime Choices: Express lanes 7/ON-7/OFF. 14/ON-7/OFF, WEEKLY. Full and Part-time. New Trucks! CDL-A, 3 months recent experience required. 800-414-9569 www.driveknight.com _______________________________36-10 $0 TUITION CDL (A) Training & a JOB! Top Industry Pay, Quality Training, Stability & Miles! *Short employment commitment required. 800-326-2778 www. JoinCRST.com _______________________________36-10 Exp. Reefer Drivers: GREAT PAY /Freight lanes from Presque Isle, ME, Boston-Lehigh, PA. 800-277-0212 or primeinc.com _______________________________36-10 DRIVE WITH PRIDE Up to $3,000 Sign-On Bonus for Qualiﬁed Drivers! CDL & 6mo. OTR exp. REQ’D. USA TRUCK 877-521-5775 www.usatruck.jobs _______________________________36-10 Baylor Minimum Weekly Pay $1000. BAYLOR TRUCKING: Work for a Company Who Cares. 1.800.322.9567 www.driveforbaylor.com OTR Drivers CDL-A 1 year Exp. Req. _______________________________36-10 $$ LCL Bulk Transport $$ OTR CDL-A Drivers *$2,000 SIGN ON BONUS *Avg $800-$1,000/ week *Good Home Time *Medical & Dental *2 years experience 877-955-6955 www. LCLBULK.com _______________________________36-10 Drivers: Sign On Bonus $2,000 - $7,500. Solo & Teams. 1 year OTR. High Pay & Beneﬁts. 877-628-3748 www.driveNCTrans.com _______________________________36-10

FOR SALE SAWMILLS From only $3997-MAKE & SAVE MONEY with your own bandmill- Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship. FREE Info/DVD: www.NorwoodSawmills.com 1-800-578-1363 Ext.300N. _______________________________36-10

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 9-15, 2012

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