PGN March 11 - 17, 2015

Family Portrait: Anthony Noce, stripped down PAGE 19

Senate candidates sound off on LGBT issues PAGES 6-7

PGMC takes on the silver screen PAGE 17

• Toomey targeted by Equality PA • Quest continues for Morris records • 40 Years Ago in PGN

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Mar. 11-17, 2016

Since 1976

PGN Philadelphia Gay News HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM

Vol. 40 No. 11

ChesCo students charged in ‘No Gay’ hazing incident

By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com

ART AND ADVOCACY: Mt. Airy Art Garage co-owners Linda Slodki (left) and wife Arleen Olshan celebrated the opening reception of “No Longer Anonymous” March 4. The launch of the fiber exhibit by women artists kicked off several weeks of events in honor of Women’s History Month. On March 12, music lovers are invited to “Women Who Love Women Who Make Music,” featuring a series of women musicians. “No Longer Anonymous” runs through May 1. Photo: Scott A. Drake

No hate-crime charges are expected against three students charged in relation to weekly hazing among football players at Conestoga High School as part of so-called “No-Gay Thursdays,” Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan told PGN. “We looked directly at that and we looked hard at it,” he said. “We have not uncovered any evidence that any of this was motivated explicitly by anti-LGBT bias. None of the kids who were targeted were gay.

“But I can’t imagine if you are a gay student at Conestoga that ‘No Gay Thursdays’ made you feel particularly welcome or comfortable.”

Hogan told reporters at a March 4 press conference that upperclassmen football players started the weekly hazing to allow explicit sexual behavior, like placing their

genitals on younger players’ heads and forcing those students to clean the locker room in their underwear.

Hogan said the three students who were charged were all 17 at the time of an alleged incident in October in which two senior football players held down a freshman who refused to clean the locker room in his underwear, while a third senior penetrated the victim’s rectum with a broomstick.

The three face charges of unlawful restraint, terroristic threats, conspiracy to commit assault and related offenses in the juvenile system. Hogan told PhillyVoice that the victim, who no longer attends the school, requested that sexual-offense charges not be filed.

Hogan said the victim’s father reported the incident to the school last month. After the investigation, he said his office communicated with the Tredyffrin-Easttown School District about the need to work with

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Kenney among mayors backing Two arrested in murder of Fairness Act trans woman Maya Young

By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com Mayor Jim Kenney signed a pledge this month with 21 other Pennsylvania mayors to call on legislators to pass the Pennsylvania Fairness Act, which would protect LGBT people from discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodation.

“It is critical that we welcome and protect anyone who wants to work hard and make a living in Philadelphia, whether that is working for a major corporation like Comcast or starting a bakery in South Philly,” Kenney told Pennsylvania Competes, the bipartisan group working to pass the Fairness Act. He added Philadelphia protects LGBT people from discrimination in its Fair Practices Ordinance, and they should enjoy the same protections in the rest of the state. Thirty-four municipalities in Pennsylvania have enacted local antidiscrimination laws that include LGBT people, said Sam Gehler, field director for Pennsylvania Competes and organizing

director for Equality Pennsylvania.

“Being able to attract smart LGBT people who are also well-qualified for many jobs can help make their cities economic drivers in the state,” Gehler said. “It also helps make their city a decent place to live and work.”

Pennsylvania Competes said the mayors who support the Fairness Act come from across the state, including urban, rural, Republican and Democratic communities.

Mayors from many of Philadelphia’s suburbs have signed on. From Bucks County, they include Laurence D. Keller of New Hope and Ron Strouse of Doylestown. From Chester: Carolyn Comitta of West Chester, Josh Maxwell of Downingtown and Michael J. Speck of Phoenixville. From Delaware County: Anthony Campuzano of Lansdowne.

From Montgomery County: Ed Foley of Jenkintown and Jeanne Sorg of Ambler.

“This is the beginning of the mayor’s coalition,” Gehler said, noting three other mayors have contacted Pennsylvania Competes and more are expected. n

By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com Philadelphia police have arrested two people in connection with the fatal stabbing of Maya Young, a transgender woman of color, in Frankford last month.

Police said Tiffany Floyd, 24, and Jose Pena, 19, both face charges of murder and conspiracy.

Floyd, of the 4300 block of Cloud Street, was denied bail and is being held in Riverside Correctional Facility.

She has a preliminary hearing 9 a.m. March 16 in Room TIFFANY FLOYD 306 of the Criminal Justice Center, 1301 Filbert St. Pena, of the 900 block of Pratt Street, was also denied bail and is being held in Summit Academy, a juvenile facility. He has a preliminary hearing 9 a.m. March 23 in Room 306 of the Criminal Justice Center.

According to authorities, police responded to the report of a “stabbing on the highway” near 4900 Griscom St. around 11:50 p.m. Feb. 20. When officers arrived, they found Young suffering from several stab wounds to the neck and chest.

They transported her to Aria Health Frankford, where officials pronounced her dead at 12:21 a.m. Feb. JOSE PENA 21. n

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 11-17, 2016

News Briefing

LOCAL PGN

Despite identifying hundreds of cases of suspected child abuse, the report doesn’t recommend any criminal prosecutions, noting the length of time that elapsed since the alleged abuse occurred.

Instead, the report recommends an abolishment of the statute of limitations on prosecuting child sexual abuse in Pennsylvania, so that future abuse cases can be prosecuted without an imposed deadline.

“It is believed that O.G. called S.B. these names because playing football with males did not conform to the gender stereotype that O.G. had for females. O.G. did not call any of the male students ‘lesbians’ or ‘sluts’ because they were playing football.

S.B. decided to stop playing football with the male students as a result of the repeated harassment at the hands of O.G.” A jury trial has been requested, and the case remains pending before U.S. District Judge Lawrence F. Stengel.

An April 9 deadline has been set for AIDS Care Group to respond to an antibias suit filed by Dr. Emmanuella Cherisme.

Cherisme, a physician specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, worked at AIDS Care Group in 2013. However, she left her job after allegedly experiencing sexual harassment and discrimination on the basis of her race, gender and national origin.

Cherisme is seeking in excess of $150,000 in damages, along with legal fees and costs.

A jury trial has been requested. The matter remains pending before U.S. District Judge Nitza I. Quinones Alejandro.

AIDS Care Group, based in Delaware County, was formed in 1998 and serves as a comprehensive health-services agency for people with HIV/AIDS.

Settlement conference in Blatt case

TIP invites discussion on trans violence New deadline set in AIDS suit The Trans-Health Information Project, a program of GALAEI, is inviting trans individuals and allies for a community discussion on violence facing the trans community.

The discussion will take place 6-8 p.m.

March 11 at TIP, 149 W. Susquehanna Ave. Refreshments and SEPTA tokens will be provided.

The event comes after three young trans women of color were killed in the city in the last year. Kiesha Jenkins and Londyn Chanel were murdered last year, and Maya Young was stabbed to death last month. Two arrests were made in her murder last week.

For more information about the TIP event, call 267-457-3912.

— Jen Colletta

Grand-jury report reveals widespread clergy abuse

Attorneys in bullying case file amended complaint

Last week, a state grand jury released a 147page report documenting widespread clergy abuse of children with the Archdiocese of Altoona-Johnstown. The report was unveiled during a press conference by state Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane.

The report contends that about 50 priests and other religious leaders sexually abused hundreds of children over a 50-year period.

Most of the cases spotlighted in the report involved same-sex abuse.

The report suggests local authorities should have been more diligent in prosecuting the suspected abusers. But it also notes that high-ranking church officials concealed the abuse, thus hindering prompt prosecutions.

“Priests were returned to ministry with full knowledge that they were child predators,” the report states.

Attorneys for a bisexual girl who alleges extensive bullying at her former school in Pennsylvania have filed an amended complaint in federal court.

S.B. alleges the anti-LGBT bullying at the Bangor Area School District was so extensive, she sought refuge at a school in New Jersey, where she’s doing much better.

Her parents, Tammy and Russell Bittenbender, are suing BASD for more than $150,000 in damages.

Their attorney, Jason D. Schiffer, recently filed an amended complaint, giving more details about the alleged gender stereotyping S.B. experienced by O.G., a classmate.

“On several occasions, S.B. would play football with male students and would be subjected to a barrage of sexually charged comments from O.G., such as being called a ‘lesbian’ and a ‘slut,’” the complaint stated.

A telephonic settlement conference was held March 1 in the Kate Blatt antibias lawsuit. Details of the conference were unavailable at press time.

Blatt, a transgender woman, is suing Cabela’s Retail Inc. for firing her, allegedly after she complained about not being allowed to use a female restroom and not being provided with a female name tag.

Blatt worked as a seasonal stocker at Cabela’s outlet in Hamburg, Pa. In her suit, Blatt also challenges the constitutionality of the Americans with Disabilities Act’s exclusion of gender-identity disorder as a protected disability.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry S. Perkin participated in the settlement conference, according to court records.

Neither side had a comment for this update.

Scholars, activists discuss post-marriage LGBT movement The University of Pennsylvania is hosting a panel this month on the direction of the LGBT movement after the U.S. Supreme Court decision that created marriage equality nationwide.

“After Obergefell: What’s Next for the LGBTQ Movement” takes place from 4:30-6 p.m. March 22 in Room 110 of the Annenberg School for Communication, 3620 Walnut St. Speakers include Elicia Gonzales, former executive director of GALAEI: A Queer Latin@ Social Justice Organization; Craig Konnoth from the University of Pennsylvania Law School; Gary Mucciaroni, interim chair of political science at Temple University; and Lisa Duggan, associate professor of history and American studies at New York University.

Serena Mayeri, professor of law and history at Penn, will moderate the discussion.

For more information, visit http://ow.ly/ ZablK.

Edie Windsor gets social-justice award

Jewish Pride, an LGBT affinity group of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, is holding a social event later this month.

“Jewish Pride is having a happy hour get-together and we’re looking forward to having everyone come out for a drink, a nosh and some schmoozing at Knock,” said David G. Gold, an organizer. “Come hear about upcoming events and an update about our upcoming Pride Mission to Israel.”

The event will be held 5-7 p.m. March 16 at Knock Restaurant and Bar, 225 S. 12th St. Cost of admission is $10. For more information, contact Warren Hoffman at whoffman@ jfgp.org.

Edie Windsor, the Philadelphia native whose case at the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act, will receive a social-justice award next week from the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW).

The group is hosting the award dinner at 6 p.m. March 14 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert St., Washington, D.C. Roberta Kaplan, Windsor’s lawyer, will also be honored.

The awards form part of the Washington Institute, which takes place every three years as a way for advocates across the country to convene with experts and elected officials in the promotion of progressive social change.

A Philadelphia-based group of NCJW members will attend parts of the three-day institute. PGN will cover updates from the group’s experience and Windsor and Kaplan receiving their awards. n

— Timothy Cwiek

— Paige Cooperstein

Jewish Pride to gather

Guess who’s turning 40?

Join us in celebrating 40 years of PGN with our special anniversary issue

April 8.

LOCAL PGN

GayBINGO honors three at ‘Great Gatsby’ Black Tie event

2015 BLACK-TIE GAYBINGO Photo: Scott A. Drake

By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com Robert Murray lives up to his Volunteer of the Year title from AIDS Fund. He plans to spend the majority of next Saturday setting up the 17th-annual Black Tie GayBINGO event, and making sure it runs smoothly.

Then Murray, who has volunteered with the organization’s GayBINGO and AIDS Walk for nearly five years, will receive the 2016 Ferrera Family Volunteer Award. He said he didn’t want to miss an opportunity to work with the many dedicated volunteers on this year’s event.

“It’s fun,” said Murray, who has also performed in drag at past GayBINGOs. Black Tie GayBINGO takes place at 6:30 p.m. March 19 in Millennium Hall at Loews Philadelphia Hotel, 1200 Market St. Because the hotel has art-deco architecture, the event boasts a “Great Gatsby” theme, said Robb Reichard, executive director of AIDS Fund. A half-dozen BINGO Verifying Divas (BVDs), will perform a choreographed opening number, and Carlotta Ttendant will emcee the evening.

Tickets cost $175 and the money benefits grants that AIDS Fund makes to more than 30 regional organizations that provide direct care, education and prevention programs to people living with HIV or those at risk of contracting it.

Murray said the fun he had at GayBINGO drew him to AIDS Fund in the first place, but the organization’s mission hits home for him as well. One of his friends died from AIDS-related complications.

“It’s a demographic that’s only really been seen in a negative light,” Murray said.

“There’s so much stigma surrounding it.

“Had my friend not been so scared to tell his family and friends, he could’ve gone out and gotten treatment and he’d still be here.”

The 2016 Founders Award for a person or group that fights HIV/AIDS in a unique way goes to the cofounders of The Woods Campground in Carbon County: Patrick Gremling, Scott Heffelfinger and John Adam Parr.

Gremling said the campground started

collecting new toys and cash donations for AIDS Fund at its Christmas in July event four years ago. The campground has since added a Santa Trot, a bar-crawl event with stops at several campsites, with participants fundraising for AIDS Fund.

“One of the things I feel is important to our success is to give back to the community,” Gremling said. “Obviously, being an LGBT business, a lot of our ideas went to helping people and families with AIDS. Our community overall has been affected so much by AIDS.” More than 400 toys and $3,400 have been donated to the fund through the campground tradition, Reichard said.

The 2016 Favorite Straight Person Award goes to Judith Porter, who worked on AIDS education in welfare offices, street outreach about HIV/AIDS with Congreso and needle-exchange programs with Prevention Point. A retired sociology professor from Bryn Mawr College, Porter now serves on the Mayor’s Executive Commission on Drugs and Alcohol in Philadelphia. Her work has focused on preventing HIV infection among drug injectors and connecting people to resources.

“Needle exchange is a form of harm-reduction,” Porter said. “For many people, you can’t take that big step of saying, ‘You’re going to get clean tomorrow.’ If people start taking care of themselves in small ways, then they may feel encouraged to take a bigger step and a bigger step.”

Porter said she assisted with outdoor needle exchanges, which Prevention Point used to run out of a van. She also visited “shooting galleries,” indoor locations where people injected heroin. Porter would also hand out condoms while sharing information about HIV/AIDS. “I’m really thrilled with the people we’re recognizing,” said Reichard of AIDS Fund, adding Black Tie guests will also enjoy six games of BINGO, dinner and dancing.

“It’s one of the most fun fundraising events in the city,” he said. “When the BVDs are out on the dance floor with our players, people are really having a lot of fun, and I love to see that.” n

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 11-17, 2016

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PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 11-17, 2016

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Weekly features

News&Opinion 2 — News Briefing 10 — Creep of the Week Editorial 11 — Letters/Feedback Mark My Words Street Talk

Friends and colleagues remember Ronald Sy, the former executive director of ASIAC.

AC &

19 21 22 20 28

— — — — —

C o l u m n s

Family Portrait Scene in Philly Out & About Q Puzzle Comics

8 — Out Money: Think ahead about drawing on your retirement funds 13 — Thinking Queerly: Meeting your anxiety head on

Classifieds 29 — Personals 30 — Real Estate 31 — Bulletin Board

24 NEIGHBORHOOD NEWBIE: The Gayborhood’s newest addition celebrated with a soft opening Feb. 26. Nutz & Boltz owner Anthony Noce (left) chatted with customer Francesco Di Maio at the event, which featured discounts and champagne. The boutique, at 1220 Spruce St., focuses on men’s intimate apparel, with a product line tailored to gay men but open to all customers. Read more about Noce and the new business in this week’s Family Portrait on page 19. Photo: Scott A. Drake

This week in PGN 6 — Election Focus: U.S. Senate candidates 7 — DNC invites LGBT businesses to take part in conference 9 — Patron settles suit with ICandy 17 — Arts & Culture cover story: PGMC goes to the movies 22 — 12th Air Show resurrected at ICandy 23 — The Academy is alive with “The Sound of Music”

Bernie’s makes the trip to the ’burbs well worth it.

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“He knew that the kind of work we did could take an emotional toll on us, so he was very concerned to make sure we were taking time for ourselves and to create boundaries. He mentored us and taught us ways to do that.” ~ Junnie Cross, on Ron Sy’s impact at ASIAC, page 12

Next week Gettin’ On Outward Bound

Two weeks Mombian On Being Well

PGN 505 S. Fourth St. Philadelphia, PA 19147-1506 Phone: 215-625-8501 Fax: 215-925-6437 E-mail: pgn@epgn.com Web: www.epgn.com

Publisher Mark Segal (ext. 204) mark@epgn.com Executive Assistant/ Billing Manager Carol Giunta (ext. 202) carol@epgn.com

Editor

Jen Colletta (ext. 206) jen@epgn.com Staff Writers Paige Cooperstein (ext. 215) paige@epgn.com Larry Nichols (ext. 213) larry@epgn.com Writer-at-Large Timothy Cwiek (ext. 208) timothy@epgn.com

Advertising Manager Greg Dennis (ext. 201) greg@epgn.com

Advertising Sales Representative Prab Sandhu (ext. 212) prab@epgn.com Office Manager/ Classifieds Don Pignolet (ext. 200) don@epgn.com

Modern race, gender relations explored in 21st-century update to “Octoroon.”

Art Director/ Photographer

Scott A. Drake (ext. 210) scott@epgn.com 267-736-6743 Graphic Artist Sean Dorn (ext. 211) sean@epgn.com

National Advertising Rivendell Media: 212-242-6863 Philadelphia Gay News is a member of: The Associated Press Pennsylvania Newspaper Association Suburban Newspapers of America Published by Masco Communications Inc. © 1976-2016 Masco Communications Inc. ISSN-0742-5155

Copyright © 1976 - 2016 Copyright(s) in all materials in these pages are either owned or licensed by Masco Communications Inc. or its subsidiaries or affiliate companies (Philadelphia Gay News, PGN, and it’s WWW sites.) All other reproduction, distribution, retransmission, modification, public display, and public performance of our materials is prohibited without the prior written consent of Masco Communications. To obtain such consent, email pgn@epgn.com

The views of PGN are expressed only in the unsigned “Editorial” column. Opinions expressed in bylined columns, stories and letters to the editor are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of PGN. The appearance of names or pictorial representations in PGN does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of that named or pictured person or persons.

LOCAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 11-17, 2016

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Equality PA urges Sen. Toomey to consider SCOTUS nominee

By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com In a rally of about 40 people to call on Sen. Pat Toomey to support a timely hearing for any U.S. Supreme Court nominee from the president, two groups stood with particular urgency as federal cases for their causes took center stage this week.

A speaker from Equality Pennsylvania made reference to the first federal claims filed March 1 by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation.

The Philadelphia EEOC office is handling a claim against a Pittsburgh-area medical center. The other claim is against a Baltimore pallet-distribution company. No courts have yet ruled on the EEOC guideline that sexual-orientation discrimination should be prohibited based on an existing law that prohibits discrimination based on sex.

“It’s important more than ever to make sure that we don’t hold back and we don’t hesitate,” Ernest Owens, Equality Pennsylvania board member, told PGN at the March 3 rally outside Toomey’s office at 17th Street

and JFK Boulevard.

Maggie Groff, vice president for external affairs at Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania, referenced Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments March 2 to determine whether a Texas law that places restrictions on the state’s abortion providers creates an undue burden for women.

“It’s time we actually restore access, not do more to restrict it,” Groff said. “The Supreme Court’s role in deciding important cases on women’s health is a very big deal.”

Owens and Groff were joined by members of PennEnvironment, Action United and the National Employment Lawyers Association, among others.

Toomey has stood with other Republican lawmakers in saying that naming a replacement for the late Justice Antonin Scalia should be done by the next president and that they won’t consider a nomination made

by President Barack Obama.

Obama has not announced a nominee or a timeline for when he will do so.

Staff at Toomey’s Philadelphia office directed questions to the Harrisburg office.

Staff at that office was not immediately available for comment.

Adam Garber, field director for P e n n E nv i r o n m e n t , helped organize the various interest groups at the rally.

“It really had to be a joint effort,” Garber said. “Whether fighting climate change, for voting and women’s rights or LGBT-equality issues, we need the system to fairly listen to justices the president may nominate.”

Scott Collins, of the EQUALITY PENNSYLVANIA SUPPORTERS DEMONSTRATED National Employment Lawyers Association, OUTSIDE SEN. PAT TOOMEY’S CENTER CITY OFFICE MARCH 3 TO URGE HIM TO SUPPORT A VOTE TO FILL THE U.S. said it’s important to SUPREME COURT VACANCY. Photo: Paige Cooperstein have nine justices hearing each case that ident is someone the LGBT community can comes before the Supreme Court. Swiftly trust. filling the vacancy on the court, he said, will “Given that he’s the most progressive proallow it to function efficiently while avoidLGBT elected official that we have had, and ing any decisions that end in a tie. at the highest ranking level that we have had Owens of Equality Pennsylvania said in history, it would be important for us to Obama has a constitutional obligation to have him there to appoint a Supreme Court nominate the next justice, and that the presnominee,” Owens said. n

PGN files brief in Morris open-records case

By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com PGN has filed a legal brief urging a Philadelphia judge to uphold an order by the state Office of Open Records pertaining to the Nizah Morris case.

Morris was a trans woman found with a fatal head wound in 2002, shortly after a Center City “courtesy ride” by Officer Elizabeth Skala. Morris’ homicide remains unsolved.

In August, the OOR ordered the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office to provide to PGN a certified copy of its dispatch records for a traffic stop initiated by Skala. When Skala initiated the traffic stop, at 3:30 a.m. Dec. 22, 2002, Morris was in critical condition several blocks away due to a fractured skull.

Though Skala was assigned to Morris until 4:02 a.m., she stayed at the traffic stop rather than ensure Morris’ prompt transportation to a hospital.

At 6:20 a.m., Skala made a belated visit to Morris at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. But by then, Morris was braindead.

In 2009, PGN gave the D.A.’s Office a document containing 13 dispatch entries for Skala’s traffic stop. PGN obtained the document from the city’s Police Advisory Commission.

The document is missing several dispatch entries, including an entry specifying the priority level of the traffic stop.

Last year, PGN asked the D.A.’s Office to provide a certified copy of all of its dispatch records pertaining to Skala’s traffic stop in order to clarify the agency’s holdings. The D.A.’s Office refused to comply, arguing that it’s not required to certify records it received from PGN. After the OOR ordered the D.A.’s Office to comply with PGN’s request, the D.A.’s Office filed an appeal in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court, where the matter remains pending.

In its March 3 brief, PGN maintains the D.A.’s Office should certify the dispatch records it received from PGN. Alternately, the D.A.’s Office should certify that none of its other documents contains dispatch records for Skala’s traffic stop.

PGN’s brief also notes that in 2009, the D.A.’s Office refused to disclose whether it has any dispatch records for Skala’s traffic stop.

“If the DAO hasn’t reversed its 2009 position, [PGN] has the right to be informed of that fact, so that [it] can make informed decisions as to [its] legal options,” the brief states.

The D.A.’s Office admits to destroying the document it received from PGN in 2009.

But PGN gave the D.A.’s Office additional copies of the document in 2013, which the agency hasn’t destroyed.

The case remains pending before Common Pleas Judge Linda A. Carpenter.

Oral arguments are scheduled for 10 a.m.

April 7 in Courtroom 232 of City Hall. n

40 years ago in PGN Bisexual man fighting Navy discharge speaks in Philly Adapted from reporting PGN staff Vernon E. Berg III, fighting a Navy discharge due to his bisexuality, spoke for more than an hour following services at the Metropolitan Community Church here in February 1976.

Berg said the trouble started the previous summer when the Naval Intelligence Service began investigating his sex life. Initially, Berg resigned. But when he read about Leonard Matlovich, who was challenging his discharge from the Air Force for being gay, Berg also decided to fight.

“I made the only decision I could make,” he told the congregation, adding he could not see “how my private sex life could have any bearing on my public life as a naval officer.”

Berg participated in a weeklong hearing in late January 1976 to fight his “less than honorable” discharge. He said that while he has had sex with both men and women, none was armed-forces personnel. In particular, Berg denied accusations from Journalist 2nd Class Laurent Crofwell that he had made advances toward him while they were both stationed in Italy.

The Navy upgraded Berg’s discharge to

“honorable” in 1977. He was not reinstated, as he wanted.

Berg’s lawsuit is credited with ending the military’s practice of giving gay people “less than honorable” discharges. He died Jan. 27, 1999, in New York of complications of AIDS. Berg was 47.

Two more gay candidates to run for Philly posts Adapted from reporting PGN staff

Two more openly gay men filed to run for places on the Democratic committee in the April 27, 1976, primary, which brought the number of out people in the race to four.

Jack Friel, one of the owners of the Hasty Tasty Restaurant and Deli on South 12th Street, and George Hodges, owner of Georgetown Market on Pine Street, filed in the Fifth and Eighth wards, respectively.

Jeff Britton and Harry Langhorne, politics reporter for PGN, also filed papers in February 1976 to run in the April primary.

Friel and Hodges said they felt “encouraged” to run by growing support within the city’s Democratic Party and the increasing presence of out politicians. n — compiled by Paige Cooperstein

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 11-17, 2016

ELECTION PGN

Election Spotlight: U.S. Senate Each election cycle, PGN reaches out to candidates in contested races to explore their positions on LGBT issues. In the coming weeks, we will profile candidates in state and national races ahead of the April 26 primary.

This week, we begin our election coverage with the race for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senator among John Fetterman, Katie McGinty and Joe Sestak, one of whom will face Republican Sen. Pat Toomey in the fall. All three recently visited PGN’s offices for interviews about their plans for advancing LGBT equality.

Katie McGinty

John Fetterman lence against LGBT people, particularly transgender people of color?

JF: Just being an advocate and taking a moral stance on the cruelty and absurdity of treating anybody differently based on any of those factors. I’d like to be a strong advocate for that, and have been a strong advocate.

PGN: Do you support the Equality Act? JF: Yes, very much. I would consider myself a champion of all LGBT rights and policies.

As a small-town mayor, I did the first wedding ceremony in the state by an elected official. This was in 2013, when it was still technically illegal [in Pennsylvania]. Gov. [Tom] Corbett took some pot shots, like, “Wait ’til the voters get a hold of you.”

There was a lot of rhetoric and intensity surrounding that decision, whereas I felt we finally had an opportunity to make a statement here in Pennsylvania to support marriage equality. When Montgomery County began issuing those licenses back in 2013, I was like, “Hey, send them our way for the ceremony,” and that’s what happened in August of 2013.

PGN: How would you advance the Equality Act? JF: In terms of who we’d speak to legislatively, if we ever got to vote on a Supreme Court justice, that would be an issue that would be very important to me. I think we need to get to a place where we have more gay legislators in the House and Senate.

PGN: Does Braddock have an ordinance including protections for LGBT people from discrimination?

JF: We don’t.

PGN: Is there a general anti-bias ordinance on the books for Braddock?

JF: I believe so. It’s never really come up in that sense. We’ve always been very open and tolerant.

PGN: How would you strengthen hatecrime reporting for violence against LGBT people?

JF: If you commit a crime against somebody based on their sexual orientation or their gender identity, that is the definition of what a hate crime is. There shouldn’t be any gaps in terms of eligibility for that kind of charge.

PGN: How would you help decrease vio-

PGN: What needs to be done to combat LGBT harassment and bullying in schools?

JF: In terms of awareness, I was a huge fan of Dan Savage’s “It Gets Better” project.

The federal government has a long history of helping shape regulations based on having strings attached to their funding. I absolutely would support a stringent federal guideline across the board to make sure that, if you’re going to get federal dollars, these protections and services need to be present in the school to make sure that this kind of bullying doesn’t occur; and if it does, there are resources to address it.

PGN: How would you address HIV/AIDS, particularly in minority communities?

JF: There need to be more guidelines and protections to prevent drug companies from gouging pharmaceutical prices. There was that dirtball that jacked up the price of certain drugs [that could be used to treat HIV].

Medical treatment for that has to be affordable to everybody, no matter what socioeconomic rung. Even though it hasn’t affected me personally, HIV/AIDS literally changed the trajectory of my life. It was one of the defining events of my life when I was introduced to a little boy [through Big Brothers Big Sisters of America]. He was 8 at the time. This was 1994. His father had recently died of AIDS. His mother was in the final stages. I promised his mother before she died that I would do everything I could to make sure he made it to college. He graduated in 2009 from Washington and Jefferson College in Pittsburgh.

PGN: What do you see as legislative priorities for the LGBT community after marriage equality?

JF: I love the anti-conversion therapy laws.

I would support a federal ban on conversion therapy. I’d support stringent anti-hate legislation to protect those communities, as well.

for open transgender service in the military?

KM: I would.

PGN: Do you support the Equality Act, and what would you do to advance it?

KM: Yes. The approach being taken now is, “Listen, let’s think about this as an economic-competitiveness issue.” The places that are most welcoming to the LGBT community will be the places that are most competitive. They’ll attract young people, investments. They’re places that show better quality of life overall. I think strategies like that can expand the tent of people who are willing to put a shoulder to the wheel behind important legislation like this.

PGN: How would you strengthen hatecrime reporting for anti-LGBT crimes?

KM: One is to reexamine the law and see if there is language that could be made clearer.

Second, with leaders like Brian Sims, I would love to have public forums where we’re bringing law enforcement together with the LGBT community. We need to make sure we’re working in partnership to understand where these crimes are happening, the circumstances around them and make sure we’re taking action.

PGN: How would you help cut down on violence against LGBT people?

KM: Keeping this human, keeping this about your son or daughter, your next-door neighbor. Put a name to the person who is being harmed. One of the things that has inspired me over the last decade is the degree to which people have shown themselves willing to listen to their heart and have it trump their biases. Having said that, I would tolerate discrimination in no form.

There would be enforcement and serious consequences: Loss of business, loss of contract, inability to avail of public dollars for anyone guilty of hate or discrimination.

PGN: Why do you think the LGBT community should vote for you?

JF: Of all the three candidates in the race, I have the strongest actual record. I quite literally risked my professional career for standing up for that community. I’ve been a longstanding supporter. n

PGN: What is your stance on open transgender service in the military?

KM: There should be no discrimination against the LGBT community, period. That means the L, the G, the B and the T.

John Fetterman is mayor of Braddock, Pa.

PGN: Would you support legislation to call

PGN: What would you like to see done further for people dealing with HIV/AIDS, especially those in minority communities?

KM:First and foremost, we can’t be prematurely declaring victory. Keeping the issue in the forefront is critically important. I sat down not too long ago with the ActionAIDS team and learned a great deal from them in terms of the intricacies of Medicaid and Medicare and other policies that right now can make it very difficult for HIV and AIDS health services to be fully and adequately covered. I’d like to partner with the LGBT community to make sure we’re addressing and fixing those problems. I would also, as I have done, sit down with the experts who are looking at the populations that are most vulnerable and supporting them in having adequate resources.

PGN: What do you consider LGBT legislative priorities after marriage equality?

KM: Unfortunately, we have to be ever vigilant. I’m not a bit sanguine about any gains that have been made in the face of Pat Toomey, who is determined to try to roll back the gains in marriage equality. A Sen. McGinty would work very hard to protect the gains we have made. I want them moved further in nondiscrimination. I think we also need to take on the Fair Housing Act and make sure there is no discrimination.

We have to look at health care. There are challenges in fully meeting HIV and AIDS treatment needs. With respect to the transgender community, there are still issues in Medicaid to make sure that medically necessary services are provided and covered.

PGN: Why do you think an LGBT voter should look to you in this election?

KM: This election is critically important.

We have the opportunity to say “no” to an incumbent senator who has voted against hardworking people in this state time and time again: voting against college affordability, voting to get rid of Social Security, voting against universal pre-K and funding our schools and voting directly against the LGBT community. I’m in this race to stand up for people who have been left behind or left out. There’s no question when it comes to the LGBT community, we are still talking about basic human rights. This is a community that it’ll be my honor to stand with and stand up for. n Katie McGinty is the former chief of staff for Gov. Tom Wolf and former secretary of the PA Dept. of Environmental Protection.

ELECTION PGN

Joe Sestak have the standards, and let’s do the inspection and then make it transparent in the reports. When you reveal something, all of a sudden people as the public under a leader say, “Let’s fix that.” That’s how you do it; not just for the LGBT community, but for everyone. This is the transformative age for kids.

PGN: Do you support open transgender service in the military?

JS: Absolutely.

PGN: Do you support the Equality Act, and how would you advance it?

JS: Yes. I fought for the previous ENDA [Employment Non-Discrimination Act]. Let me just tell you how it works in the military. There was a study done [to determine] whether gays would impact us under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” The assessment came out that, no, it would have no impact on operation readiness. That’s how I feel about why we need to make sure we have a federal nondiscrimination law. It isn’t just that you want equality. It’s that we want the best of everybody. Therefore, to have something like “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” or the failure to have an antidiscrimination law, it’s harmful to the common effort. As I advance these arguments, I like to say the common mission benefits by having the best of the best.

PGN: How would you strengthen hatecrime reporting for crimes motivated by anti-LGBT bias?

JS: We don’t have [a hate-crime law] at the state level. It’s a big, open loophole that people can dive right through despite federal law. We need here in Pennsylvania not just to have a hate-crime bill. We also need to have nondiscrimination laws.

PGN: What would you do to prevent violence against LGBT people?

JS: Leadership is about galvanizing people toward an idea. I think we’re in a fight for the character of America right now. Yes, we need laws that advance individual opportunity like antidiscrimination laws for the LGBT community. But you need leadership to galvanize the people so they know it’s the right thing to do. A servant leader is what you’re supposed to be. We don’t have the leaders, in my belief, that are out there warring upon the fact that this is what we stand for and this is good for people to have a hate-crime bill.

PGN: What could be done to strengthen anti-bullying programs in public schools?

JS: Do you need anti-bullying laws? Damn right, you do. Expect what you inspect is what you learn in the military. You should have standards for that inspection. Let’s

PGN:Do you think a legislative solution is needed to say you can’t turn away a transgender person who wants to serve openly?

JS: If that’s what it takes, if the service isn’t doing it on its own, absolutely.

PGN: Is there anything you’d like to do for stronger outreach about HIV/AIDS to minority communities?

JS: I’ve spoken to African-American pastors. The best thing we can do is to have the African-American leadership and ministries speaking out even more on this.

They’re very open. They’ll stop a service and someone will get up. They’ll have someone there from an AIDS organization and the gentleman will make his comments and say he’ll be in the back. We need to do more of that. Another end of HIV that I’d like to work on: We’re going to have to really start taking care of seniors. Those in the early ’80s when the epidemic really started breaking out, all of a sudden are going into their 70s and 80s. If you go to ActionAIDS, the gentleman in charge will walk you through this wonderful effort of how they’re changing to help all senior people, not just in the gay community.

PGN: What do you see as the next legislative priority for the LGBT community in the post-marriage moment?

JS: The real step is to ensure this issue of equality overall with nondiscrimination in public accommodations and housing. I think the Affordable Care Act did a good job. But I think you have to watch it to ensure that the LGBT community has equal access.

PGN: Why should an LGBT voter cast a ballot for you?

JS: I think an LGBT voter is like any other American. I would like to have their support because I truly do believe in equality.

We are better as a country if all hands are on deck. And hold me accountable. As my record has shown, I’ve stayed the course no matter what tough seas are out there. n

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 11-17, 2016

DNC increases outreach to LGBT-owned businesses

By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com The first contract awarded by the Democratic National Committee for its July convention in Philadelphia went to an LGBT-owned hospitality company. Todd Lambert owns EventSphere in Atlanta and has handled delegate housing since 2008.

It’s part of the DNC’s commitment to spend 35 percent with diverse businesses, up 5 percent from the commitment for the 2012 convention.

Of the five contracts so far awarded for this summer’s convention, four went to diverse businesses.

The DNC also increased its outreach to LGBT professionals in September when it partnered with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. In Philadelphia, that means working with the Independence Business Alliance, the region’s LGBT chamber of commerce and an affiliate of the national chamber.

“When you set these goals, it’s a twoprong approach,” said The Rev. Leah D. Daughtry, CEO of the Democratic National Convention Committee. “There’s the setting of the goal, but you have to do the outreach.

“We know as communities of color and as minority communities, we often don’t hear about the opportunities,” Daughtry continued. “We understand we have to do more outreach to ensure that people have the information so they can compete.”

Daughtry said the DNC isn’t the only entity putting money on the table.

Corporations, donors, other committees and state party groups will also be spending in Philadelphia during the convention.

Zach Wilcha said he’s been working with local LGBT professionals since he started in October as the Independence Business Alliance’s first executive director. He helped people sign up for the DNC’s vendor directory online at www.phldnc.com/philadelphia-2016-vendor-form, which is how businesses receive information about and bid on the contracts the DNC looks to award for everything from construction and computer services to entertainment and catering.

Wilcha said no local LGBT businesses have yet been selected for a DNC contract, but he noted the vendor directory will have a lasting effect beyond the four-day convention starting July 25.

“The city government and a number

of other places like the [Pennsylvania] Convention Center are going to be using that directory to help fill whatever needs that they have in the future,” he said.

“Having as many LGBT-owned businesses and women-owned businesses on there as possible is great for our community.”

The DNC has an eye on the future as well. The committee partnered with Google to help businesses establish a web presence. Daughtry said only 56 percent of Pennsylvania businesses have a website, and many of those that don’t are small businesses often owned by minorities.

Google hosted a workshop in January for business owners who participate with the various chambers of commerce in Philadelphia. About 150 professionals attended to learn how to set up a website, spruce up an existing site or work with search-engine-optimization algorithms to make their businesses more findable.

“That’s a lasting legacy item for us to leave for the Philadelphia community that will reap benefits for these businesses in the years to come,” Daughtry said.

The chambers of commerce are also scheduling individual sessions with Google in the coming months. The Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has a workshop in May. An IBA workshop has not yet been determined, Wilcha said.

While the DNC does not have goals for specific communities within its commitment to diversity spending, Daughtry said a post-convention analysis of spending will look at spending patterns within the diversity category.

Daughtry said the Democratic Party considers itself the “big tent party” as an advocate for key communities that include LGBT people.

“It is an article of faith for us that we ought to allow the people who move our party forward to be able to be beneficiaries of the party’s resources,” she said.

Wilcha said he hopes the DNC’s commitment to diversity spending has a ripple effect on other conventions that come to Philadelphia.

“We definitely applaud the inclusion of businesses that are LGBT or other minorities,” he said. “I think that in a city like Philadelphia where everything started, it’s all part of the American Dream that everybody has an equal seat at the table.” n

Joe Sestak is a former Congressman from the Seventh District and a U.S. Navy Three-Star Admiral.

PGN

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Gay is our middle name.

8

FINANCES PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 11-17, 2016

Event Photography — Scott A. Drake — 267-736-6743

Make a plan for withdrawing retirement assets Q: I’m in my mid-60s and recently retired. I’ve saved well over the years and now need to start living off the assets I have accumulated. I’m not sure which accounts I should draw from first, and how that decision might impact my taxes.

Can you please help?

A: If you have various types of accounts — such as an IRA, 401(k) or 403(b), Roth IRA and other investment accounts — it can be challenging to figure out your best distribution strategy. I’d strongly recommend developing an action plan with your financial and tax advisors before doing anything. Here are a few considerations to get you started.

You’ve worked long and hard to accumulate the assets that you are using to help finance your retirement. Now it’s time to start drawing down those assets. Exactly how you withdraw assets from various accounts will affect your taxes and impact how long those assets last, so it pays to plan a withdrawal strategy that is efficient and maximizes the benefits of different types of investments.

approach, so seek the help of a financial and/or tax professional before taking any action. Note, too, that estate-tax considerations might have an impact on your withdrawal priorities.

• Meet the rules for Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). Owners of traditional IRAs and participants in 401(k), 403(b) and 457 plans must follow IRS schedules for the size and timing of their RMDs. Those who fail to do so face a penalty tax equal to 50 percent of any required distribution that has not been taken by the applicable deadline.

• Sell losing positions in taxable accounts. If you have an investment that is worth less now than when you bought it, you may be able to create a tax deduction by selling that investment. This Jeremy deduction can be used to offset any investment gains you realize Gussick or to offset up to $3,000 in ordinary income. Losses in excess of the limits can usually be carried forward for use in future years.

• Realize long-term gains from taxable accounts. When liquidating taxable account assets, liquidate the holdings with long-term capital gains — which are taxed at a maximum of 20 percent — before those with short-term gains, which typically are taxed at ordinary income-tax rates, the highest of which is currently 39.6 percent.

• Withdraw assets from tax-deferred accounts to which non-deductible contributions have been made, such as traditional IRAs. If you ever made a non-deductible contribution to an IRA, then part of every withdrawal will be tax-free. If you filed a Form 8606 with your tax return for every year you made a non-deductible contribution, the most recent of these should show the total amount of all non-deductible contributions.

This amount represents your basis in your IRA, from which you can determine the percentage of your withdrawal that will be tax-free. Your accountant or other financial professional can help you with this calculation.

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First: Take an inventory The first step in planning your withdrawal strategy is to take an inventory of all the assets you have accumulated for retirement, paying particular attention to distinguish between taxable accounts, such as ordinary bank or brokerage accounts, and tax-deferred accounts such as 401(k), 403(b) and 457 plans and IRAs. From this process, you can begin to estimate how much cash you may be able to count on receiving from dividends, interest payments, redemptions and distributions in a given year. You can also assess how much you will need to hold in reserve in order to meet your tax obligations.

If your total expected income from the assets in your taxable accounts is great enough to meet your budgeted cash needs for the year, consider yourself to be fortunate. You need not weigh the transaction costs of different asset-sale strategies or consider the added income-tax effects of withdrawing assets from employer-sponsored plans and IRAs. But if you do need to liquidate assets in order to meet your cash-flow targets, then you should consider the pluses and minuses of each withdrawal strategy below.

Set withdrawal priorities As you consider these options, keep in mind that no single plan can be right for every person and situation. Among the additional issues you should consider when designing your withdrawal strategy are the management of portfolio risk, your tax bracket and the cost basis of the investments.

With that in mind, below is a general summary of guidelines for creating an appropriate strategy. Remember, this is just an example.

Your circumstances may require a different

These are just a few of the withdrawal strategies you may want to consider. Keep in mind that the IRS has exacting requirements for exploiting all of these strategies and that tax laws are always subject to change. You should review your retirement distribution strategies with your tax and investment advisors before taking any specific action.

Jeremy R. Gussick is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional affiliated with LPL Financial, the nation’s largest independent broker-dealer.* Jeremy specializes in the financial planning needs of the LGBT community and has been named a FIVE STAR Wealth Manager (2010-2015) as mentioned in Philadelphia Magazine.** He is active with several LGBT organizations in the Philadelphia region, DVLF and the

PAGE 16

LOCAL PGN WHO RUN THE WORLD: Lascivious Jane was among several performers who embraced the “grrl power” theme at Vixens & Vagabonds Queer & Kinky Cabaret show Saturday at Tabu. The March incarnation of the monthly event

by Liberty City Drag Kings and Burlesque celebrated Women’s History Month. Tying in to the theme, the show served as the first fundraiser for a new documentary that is in the works to honor the life and legacy of the late Gloria Casarez, the city’s inaugural director of the Office of LGBT Affairs.

Filming for “The Gloria Project,” directed by Kelly Burkhardt, began in September. Photo: Patrick Hagerty

ICandy lawsuit settled

By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com The ICandy slip-and-fall case was settled this week, shortly before jury selection was to begin. Terms of the settlement were unavailable.

Alina T. Zabroski alleged that a fog-producing machine at ICandy created unsafe conditions inside the building, causing her to fall and sustain serious injuries.

In September 2014, Zabroski filed suit against ICandy in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court, seeking in excess of $50,000 in damages.

The popular LGBT nightclub is located at 254 S. 12th St. According to Zabroski’s suit, the incident occurred about 1:15 a.m. Nov. 23, 2013. Fog inside the club, produced as a special effect, obstructed her vision, causing her to fall at a stairway.

She sustained injuries to her wrist, hand, ankle and shoulder, with “some or all” of those injuries being of a permanent nature and requiring the continuing expense of medical care. The incident resulted in “great financial loss and detriment” to

Zabroski, according to her suit.

Zabroski claimed ICandy failed to maintain its stairs in a safe condition, failed to reasonably inspect the premises, failed to warn patrons of defective conditions, obstructed the vision of patrons by use of a fog-producing machine, failed to place an appropriate barrier so fog wouldn’t enter the stairway and failed to provide adequate lighting.

In court papers, ICandy denied any wrongdoing in the matter.

“It is denied there was a dangerous, negligent or defective condition on the premises of which defendants knew the existence of on the night of the alleged incident,” a defense filing stated.

Prior to the case settling, both sides remained on call for jury selection, which could have commenced on any business day this month.

Notice of the settlement was filed with Common Pleas Judge Lisa M. Rau. The contentious litigation included multiple discovery disputes, resulting in court orders for both sides to turn over records.

Neither side had a comment for this story. n

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 11-17, 2016

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 11-17, 2016

EDITORIAL PGN

Creep of the Week

D’Anne Witkowski

Manny Pacquiao

Editorial

Pushback against the pushback When the nation won marriage equality last year, most pundits predicted that there would be pushback. With a hotly debated social issue making such immense progress in such a short amount of time, it was bound to rattle the cages of the most extreme of opponents.

In a short time, we saw the rise of so-called “religious-freedom” bills, designed to exempt bigoted individuals and organizations from following the law of the land, and other legislative efforts designed to slow the inevitable. This week, however, we thankfully witnessed some sharp resistance to that wave.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday overturned an Alabama Supreme Court decision that effectively invalidated adoption by same-sex partners in that state.

The top court unanimously shot down the state court’s finding, without even permitting a hearing on the merits of the case — a strong and resonating rebuke.

The basic right of a parent to be a parent shouldn’t be an issue that progressed to the highest court in the nation; however, that it did illuminates the lengths opponents are eager to go to chip away at basic human rights. However, that SCOTUS cleared the way, summarily and forcibly, for same-sex adoption illustrates that the pushback is not without its own opposition.

Likewise, LGBTs and allies are hailing the work of a coalition of Democratic state senators in Missouri who spent 39 hours filibustering a “religious-freedom” bill. For nearly two days, the handful of senators waxed philosophical on the measure and even spiraled off on tangents about everything from fashion to cinema to run down the clock. Unfortunately, Republicans ultimately forced a vote on the measure, which was approved 21-11. But the efforts of the long-talking lawmakers were praised state- and nationwide, with Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon calling them “heroic” and LGBT and ally organizations across the country heralding their efforts.

Even though the bill passed that first hurdle, the lawmakers who took a stand against it exhibited the resilience that is needed to resist anti-LGBT pushback.

Discriminatory bills and court rulings will doubtlessly persist — but, if the foresight of the Supreme Court and the fortitude of the Missouri Democrats showed us anything, it’s that there are people at the ready to push right back. n

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.

Let’s pretend that it’s your job to get brick wall punched in the head over and over and over Dave again by muscular men who train for hours Bautista, every day with the specific goal of hitting who called you harder. Granted, you also hit these men Pacquiao in the head, but that doesn’t change the fact a “fucking that getting punched is your job. And you idiot.” do this for years.

“My It might not surprise the people around mom hapyou if, after a while, you started saying pens to be a really stupid shit. lesbian so I Which leads us to professional boxer don’t fuckand Philippine Senate candidate Manny ing take Pacquiao. that shit,” Last month during a debate televised by Bautista Filipino station TV5, Pacquiao and other told TMZ Sports. “I don’t think it’s funny Senate candidates were asked about their ... If anyone called my mother an animal views on same-sex marriage, which is illeI’d stick my foot in his ass.” gal in the Philippines. Pacquiao’s answer Asked if an apology from Pacquiao was clearly the result of being punched in would help, Bautista said no. “You can’t the head too many times. come back from that, man. There’s no “It’s just common sense,” he said. “Do coming back from that.” you see animals mating with the same sex? “I still look up to him as a fighter,” If you have male-to-male or female-to-feBautista said. “But as far as his opinions, male [relationships], then people are worse he can stick that shit up his ass.”

Pacquiao did apolothan animals.”

Later he posted a Bible gize, for what it’s worth. verse about putting gays Does Pacquiao have And it’s not worth much. to death on his Instagram a right to his own He posted an apology on account. social media. opinion? Of course Well, it’s not the first “Please forgive me time LGBT people have for those who I’ve hurt,” he does. But he been compared to anihe said. “But this does doesn’t have a right mals. And it’s also not not change my posithe first time someone tion against same-sex to his own facts. The has pointed to non-humarriage. That’s what I man species for evidence comparison of gay believe. My only mistake that being a homo is is comparing gay people and lesbian people unnatural. to animals.” to animals isn’t just It is not, as Pacquiao Does Pacquiao have claims, “common sense.” offensive because it’s a right to his own opinWhat is common, howion? Of course he does. crude, it’s offensive ever, is the well-docBut he doesn’t have a because the “homoumented instances of right to his own facts. animals other than sexuality isn’t found in The comparison of gay humans getting, as sciand lesbian people to nature, so being gay entists put it, “gay up animals isn’t just offenin this bitch.” Pacquiao sive because it’s crude, is just a sick choice” might want to add Bruce it’s offensive because argument is 100-per- the “homosexuality isn’t Bagemihl’s 1999 book “Biological Exuberance: cent bullshit. found in nature, so being Animal Homosexuality gay is just a sick choice” and Natural Diversity” to argument is 100-percent his reading list (that is, if he can still read bullshit. This idea that people could just after being used as a human punching bag as easily choose to be heterosexual if they for years). Bagemihl includes a multitude weren’t so hot for pervert sex has led to so of examples of same-sex pairings across much unnecessary harm for LGBT people.

So I’m with Bautista about where many species.

Pacquiao faced some pretty steep conPacquiao can go stick his apology. n sequences for his “worse than animals” comment. Nike dropped him. He also lost D’Anne Witkowski has been gay for pay his nuts. Or, more specifically, Wonderful since 2003. She’s a freelance writer and Pistachios quickly distanced itself from poet (believe it!). When she’s not taking on Pacquiao, even though he was in a TV ad the creeps of the world, she reviews rock for them in 2012. and roll shows in Detroit with her twin sis He was also punched in the head (figuter and teaches writing at the University of Michigan. ratively) by actor, pro wrestler and human

OP-ED PGN

Sentimental times

Mark My Words

— Lana Moore This is an excellent example why elections matter, every election. Educate yourself on who’s running for local bench seats, where they stand on issues

Should trans youth under 18 be permitted to undergo gender-confirmation surgery?

"Yes. For a child who's been living as a different gender since the age of 3, it seems wrong for them to have to wait until they're Miriam Baldwin 18 to have teacher their body Somerville, Mass. correspond with who they are. When they're that clear about their gender identity early on, it's not going to change. I definitely feel this option should be a possibility, on a case-by-case basis."

"Yes. We shouldn't stop kids from doing the things that make them feel themselves.

I might have questions Ryan Ruopp about a teacher 10-year-old Ayer, Mass. making that decision. A child of 10 or under might not have a clear decision of what they're giving consent to.

But from 13 on up, I think it's a decision they can make. They're not going to make it lightly."

"Yes, it's not the government's business.

There shouldn't be an arbitrary minimum age set at 18.

It's nobody's Kira Hill business, student other than Lowell, Mass. the child and their physician. Whatever makes the child comfortable in their own body should be the determining factor."

"Yes, I think the procedure should be available.

Many children have a valid perception of their gender Sophie Bonazoli that should student be respected. Worcester, Mass.

A lot of youth feel they're being invalidated.

It shouldn't be a back-alley deal, though. With proper screening, I'm all for it."

We want to know!

If you are celebrating an anniversary, engagement, wedding, adoption or other life event, we would be happy to help you announce it to the community. Send your contact information and a brief description of the event to editor@epgn.com.

Letters and Feedback

I hope this doesn’t sound mean, but this story makes me wish that karma is real and this judge someday gets to fully know and understand the hurt and damage he is causing.

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Street Talk

In less than a month, this newspaper about loved ones and friends, we had the will celebrate its 40th anniversary. That’s double duty of reporting on the epidemic really something when you consider there and trying to bring sense and calmness are only two other LGBT publications in to a calamity. That was difficult when the nation that can make a similar statePGN discovered a police station in West ment. But even more amazing is that we Philadelphia that was keeping a list of peohave never missed an issue or ple it knew had AIDS and then a deadline, and we’ve had the giving them “special treatment.” same leadership since day one.

Despite threats, we ran that So, since that leader was me, story, and the community got an I’ve been thinking about those apology from the city, and the 40 years a lot lately. list was destroyed.

The beginning was not The community sometimes easy. We had death threats. wondered why we continued to People came into our office report on a story. That was never and destroyed it one evening more true than with the case of by ripping out all the electrical Nizah Morris, the trans woman wiring and what pipes there who ended up dead after a courwere. Our vending boxes were tesy ride from police. To us at bombed, set on fire and had PGN, she has become a family cars driven into them, yet we member and represents what had that paper on the streets many trans people endure each each and every issue, year in Mark Segal and every day. Our more than and year out.

13 years of reporting and inves The PGN you look at today tigating that case has led us to is the nation’s most awarded of all LGBT court on many occasions, as we attempt to media. You might wonder how we got to get records that have appeared and disapthis point from our meager beginnings. peared. No other LGBT media outlet has We knew from our very start that our put the resources into a story for as long as mission was to inform our community and PGN has — and we will continue to do so. to give people who had different views a That investigation led PGN to win a place to have dialogue with each other. We national award for investigative reporting, also knew that we were going to be a hard- which put us in the same category as the news publication, not a “happy” newspaWall Street Journal. And just this week, per, or newspaper lite. once again we were informed that we had Our very first issue featured an interwon seven journalistic awards from the view with the highest-appointed out offiLocal Media Association. cial in the nation, and the second with Thank you to a staff that has continued Pennsylvania Gov. Milton Shapp. That to live up to our motto, and thank you to interview was the first time any governor our faithful readers who might not always anywhere in the United States was interagree with us, but who have continued viewed by LGBT media. Our political supporting us. We promise you that we’ll reporting is only one of many ways that continue to make you proud of this publiPGN differed from other LGBT media. cation, week after week. n Our coverage of trans issues goes back to our earliest days. Youth issues were always Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the nation’s most-award-winning commenon our agenda. And then there was AIDS. For many older LGBT people, the 1980s tator in LGBT media. You can follow will always be associated with HIV/AIDS. him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ For us on the front lines, it was sheer MarkSegalPGN or Twitter at https://twitter. com/PhilaGayNews. hell. For those at PGN who were warring

In response to “Judge denies name change for trans youth,” March 4-10:

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 11-17, 2016

important to you. I had to try several times myself because of bigoted Republican judges in Dallas before we flipped Dallas County blue.

— Pamela Curry A one-sentence decision would seem completely ripe for appeal, since the judge’s analysis and rationale cannot have been adequately explained.

you and your family are going through this. I’m sure Aidan knows this, but there are hundreds of thousands of us out here who love his authentic self!

— Amy Serafino Sauerwalt

Melissa, if you’re reading this, you and your spouse are awesome. Aidan?

You’re awesome too. You all deserve your own love as well as the love of others. Please don’t give up. You’ll come — Chrissie See through somehow. There are lots of folks like me out there who are more I have a trans son in MD. I’m so sorry than willing to accept and love you for

who you truly are. You rock!

— zid In response to “Should President Obama have attended Justice Scalia’s funeral?” March 4-10: Considering what Scalia said about African-Americans and gays, I think the president was correct in not attending the funeral. Why pay respect to someone who said awful things about fellow humans?

— Lane

12

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 11-17, 2016

PGN LOCAL

Obituary Ronald Sy, 54, former ASIAC executive director

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Ronald Sy, who helmed AIDS Services in Asian Communities for a dozen years, died of complications of an infection earlier this month. He was 54.

Sy served as executive director of ASIAC from 1998-2010. The organization folded in 2013.

Sy moved back to his native Chicago in 2012 and had been working as a consultant for several nonprofits.

Sy began as director of programs for ASIAC in February 1996. He previously worked at Chicago’s Asian American AIDS Foundation, the only HIV/AIDS service organization in the Midwest focusing on the Asian and Pacific-Islander communities.

ASIAC founding executive director Richard Liu said Sy was the agency’s third employee, hired a year after the organization opened.

“The premise of the organization was developed because the majority of HIV infections in the Asian community were among gay men and men who have sex with men, but those cases were underrepresented in the city of Philadelphia,” Liu said.

“The epidemic had devastated AfricanAmerican and Latino communities, and the Asian community was on the same path, but at an earlier stage. Creating ASIAC was a way to step in in that early stage of what would become a worsened epidemic within the Asian community.”

As director of programs at ASIAC, Sy was tasked with managing programs such as the Gay Asian Community Health Empowerment Project, which fused education, support, advocacy and referrals to improve the quality of life of its target populations. A restructuring change led to his title transitioning to program manager within his first year at ASIAC. With Liu, Sy co-created Project Assist (Asian Specialized Services in Support & Treatment), which provided everything from client advocacy to case management for people living with HIV/AIDS. He also helped Liu launched Asian Langauge Project, the predecessor of the Language Access Project, which focused on translation services.

Liu and Sy conceived of The Jaded Lounge during their participation in the United States Conference of AIDS. “We came up with an ‘edu-tainment’ approach and created an LGB-Asian safe and affirming space free of the racism from the LGB community and free from the homophobia from the Asian community,” Liu said.

Monthly Jaded Lounge parties were held at 12th Air Command starting in 1997, with Liu co-hosting as DJ and Sy co-hosting under the drag name “Lola Libido.” Each month’s event would focus on a different

aspect of HIV and STD prevention.

“It was a hit from the start and Lola Libido emerged as a star educator,” Liu said. “Ron and I could not believe how successful this outreach event was. The monthly fliers were so much fun to create.

Coming up with new themes every month sometimes made us laugh until we fell off our seats. To have success in reaching a hard-to-reach population is something we treasured. And somehow it also lifted the esteem of the gay Asian community in Philadelphia to have an event that was their own.”

Sy also pioneered ASIAC’s Phoenix Project, an outreach initiative targeting commercial sex workers at Asian massage parlors.

Sy was also actively involved in The Collective — a coalition ASIAC formed with groups like Mazzoni Center and GALAEI to address sex and drug use among men who have sex with men of color — and Men of All Colors Together.

In 1998, Liu stepped down as executive director of ASIAC and the board appointed Sy to the position.

Junnie Cross worked as program manager and director of programs from 200710. She said Sy understood the pressures his staff faced.

“He was a really kind and generous mentor. He was always very invested in all of the staff,” she said. “He knew that the kind of work we did could take an emotional toll on us, so he was very concerned to make sure we were taking time for ourselves and to create boundaries. He mentored us and taught us ways to do that.”

He also encouraged a positive atmosphere at the office, which helped make for a productive staff, said Cyndi Gutierrez, who worked as a care-outreach specialist and an HIV-testing counselor at ASIAC from 2003-12.

“He wanted to make work fun,” Gutierrez said. “He saw it as, this was a serious job but there was no reason you couldn’t have fun. And that helped us all do a better job basically.”

PAGE 16

PGNHEALTH MENTAL

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 11-17, 2016

13

I’m anxious, you’re anxious, everybody’s anxious Every single adult human is the product of an innumerable amount of factors.

Genetics, predisposition, parents, childhood, siblings, friendships, heartbreaks, accomplishments and failures are just a few of the elements that contribute to who we are and how we function in the world.

Due to the complex nature of our development, there are many opportunities for things to go awry and negatively contribute to our ability to navigate through life completely happily and successfully. It isn’t a matter of if this will happen but a matter of when, how and how much. Some effects of our life experiences, especially in our youngest years, are severe, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, while others are too subtle to be recognized as disorders at all. One of the most common manifestations of the human experience is anxiety.

In fact, anxiety is the most common mental-health concern in America and, whether it’s been diagnosed by a doctor or not, it prevents many of us from having the quality of life we deserve.

Before I go further, I’d like to encourage you to separate out the words “anxiety”

and “disorder” because, ultimately, anxiety of their control. As a result, it is quite posis experienced by many, many people who, sible for anxiety to go unrecognized by by conventional standards, are not mentally its possesser, perhaps being mistaken as a ill or disordered. Anxiety is perhaps the medical problem (headaches, nausea, etc.) most commonly cited reason or as being high energy (can’t for beginning therapy among sit still). new clients to my office and, If any of this resonates with you, it’s OK — it’s a nod whether the client is aware or to your humanity and, more not, a primary barrier to a more importantly, it’s manageable! satisfying life.

One of the more curious eleThe easiest and most obvious ments of anxiety is that it can way to decrease anxiety is with look almost entirely different therapy. Through the process of from one person to the next, sharing thoughts and feelings to while depression, for instance, a neutral figure — your therahas common-enough attributes pist — there is a natural relief that most plagued by it are that is experienced. I like to call onto what’s ailing them pretty it the talking cure, a term origiquickly. Depression is typically nally coined by Sigmund Freud marked by low mood, changes that refers to the result over in sleep and appetite and genKristina Furia time of unburdening yourself of eral lethargy. On the other concerns, fears and anxieties. hand, one person’s anxiety may Often times, the addition of this cause headaches and nausea while anothspecific type of talking results in signifier’s results in shortness of breath, inability cant anxiety reduction in a short amount of to be still for long periods of time, racing time. thoughts or preoccupation with things out If you aren’t prepared to commit to pro-

Thinking Queerly

fessional guidance (and even if you are), it is important to improve your ability to self-monitor. For instance, if your anxiety manifests itself primarily in physical ways, such as a constricted chest, begin to take note of when your chest becomes tight and what the circumstances are. Are you under increased stress as you notice this unpleasant feeling? What are your current worries? Are you presently fearful of anything and is what you’re fearing out of your control? How long did it take for the feeling to go away? Did anything in particular help it to go away more quickly? Through the process of self-monitoring, we develop awareness of what causes us anxiety, which gives us the ability to work through some possible scenarios. For example, if your anxiety in a moment is related to fear of messing up at work, it is helpful to look to the past as a frame of reference. Have you messed up at work in the past? If so, what was the consequence? What was it like getting through it? Did you survive? I imagine you did — and reminding yourself that you will survive this as well, whatever this may be, is hugely PAGE 16

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OBITUARY from page 12

During Sy’s time at ASIAC, the organization was awarded PGN’s 2000 Lambda Award for Oustanding Health Organization and GlaxoSmithKline’s 2006 Impact Award for Outstanding Health Organization. Sy served as grand marshal of the 2008 Philadelphia Pride Parade and was a runner-up for PGN’s 2010 Person of the Year Award.

When Sy left ASIAC in October 2010, he told PGN he was most proud of his ability to grow Jaded Lounge and diversify the organization’s HIV prevention, testing, counseling and other services. He also noted the group’s efforts to work with community members who speak little to no English and its successful partnership with other HIV/AIDS and LGBT organizations.

Outside of his community work, Sy was a gifted cook and also a talented screenwriter,

HAZING from page 1

students to curb instances of homophobia.

“We told the district, ‘You need to address this head on,’” he said, noting they discussed sensitivity training for staff and programs for students.

Mark Cataldi, the district’s director of assessment and accountability, said Conestoga has had a Gay-Straight Alliance and Anti-Defamation League for several years. High-school students had been planning activities for the Transgender Day of Visibility March 31 even before news of the hazing surfaced.

“We have a lot of pride that we have these strong groups,” Cataldi said.

Students, teachers, administrators and community members can gather quarterly as part of the district’s Diversity Committee, Cataldi added. He said the Gay-Straight Alliance has given presentations at sev-

having studied at Chicago Filmmakers School. He submitted several scripts for film contests and wrote in genres from comedy to horror.

“I read a couple of his scripts and they were absolutely wonderful,” Cross said. “They always were so colorful and had really interesting characters who jumped off the page.”

Cross also moved to Chicago after Philadelphia and kept in touch with Sy, whose giving nature persisted, she said.

“He always wanted to help people whenever he could,” she said. “If anybody needed a parttime job or a place to stay, he would do anything he could. He was very, very giving and cared about his friends and family.”

A funeral was scheduled for March 12 in Chicago, and a local memorial service is being planned for the spring.

Sy is survived by his mother, brother and a wide circle of other family and friends. n

eral of these meetings.

The school district has begun its own investigation to determine the level of supervision provided by the coaching staff, whether code of conduct violations occurred, and what further measures can promote respectful behavior.

Cataldi said the district has policies in place to prohibit hazing and prevent harassment, including any motivated by someone’s sexual orientation.

“This investigation is a top priority for the high school,” Dr. Richard Gusick, superintendent, said in a statement March 4. He added district policy dictates that the athletic director meet with all coaches and teams to go over “expectations for conduct, including no tolerance for hazing.”

The head football coach has been suspended pending the outcome of the school investigation, Gusick said, adding student disciplinary outcomes will remain private. n

OUT MONEY from page 8

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Member FINRA/SIPC. *As reported by Financial Planning magazine, 1996-2015, based on total revenues. **Award based on 10 objective criteria associated with providing quality services to clients such as credentials, experience, and assets under management among other factors. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers.

This article was prepared with the assistance of Wealth Management Systems Inc. The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. We suggest that you discuss your specific situation with a qualified tax or legal advisor.

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Because of the possibility of human or mechanical error by Wealth Management Systems Inc. or its sources, neither Wealth Management Systems Inc. nor its sources guarantees the accuracy, adequacy, completeness or availability of any information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such information. In no event shall Wealth Management Systems Inc. be liable for any indirect, special or consequential damages in connection with subscribers’ or others’ use of the content.

THINKING from page 13

helpful and even empowering.

If you are one of the lucky people who doesn’t suffer from some version of anxiety, I offer you congratulations, as you are truly lucky. Alternately, if you are one of the countless people who does experience anxiety, learn a little bit more about yourself through it — its roots, manifestations and ways to resolve it. Your anxiety is one of the many layers of your complexity but it certainly does not define you, nor should it rule you. n Kristina Furia is a psychotherapist specializing in issues and concerns of the LGBTQ community in addition to depression, anxiety, substance abuse and other mental illnesses. Her private practice, Philadelphia LGBTQ Counseling, offers both individual and couples sessions (www.lgbtphillytherapy.com).

AC ul t ure rts

FEATURE PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 11-17, 2016

Dining Out Family Portrait Out & About Q Puzzle Scene in Philly

Page Page Page Page Page

17

24 19 22 20 21

PAGE 25

PGMC goes to the movies for latest concert

By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus is ready for its close-up when it performs “Lights, Camera, Sing!,” a series of performances featuring songs from famous and cult-favorite Hollywood classics, March 17-19 at Prince Theater.

Joseph J. Buches, PGMC artistic director, said the concert really gets into the spirit of Hollywood and the awards season with audience votes and awards given out to add a heightened sense of spectacle.

“This concert is always around this time of year so that’s why we decided to go the

awards-ceremony route because of all the award shows happening,” Buches said.

“We’ve done a movie-themed concert before, which was probably around eight years ago, but this time I wanted to do a concert where the audience got to pick.”

The voting aspect was even involved as the chorus prepped for the show, with members taking a survey to narrow the song list.

“My committee and I came up with a large list of songs for them to pick from.

From that, the chorus members voted on their favorite songs from that category. And then we broke them down into drama, comedy, action and gay must-

sees and cult classics,” Buches explained.

“Then we sent out some email surveys to our audience members to get the audience favorites that we are adding in at the end of the categories. [The idea is] just to have a little awards show to have a different spin on it instead of singing from start to finish.”

Buches added that anyone who even casually enjoys movies will be highly entertained by the concert.

“We’re doing the theme from ‘Rocky,’ ‘Little Shop of Horrors,’ and ‘Time Warp’ from ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show,’ to name a few. So everything is definitely notable from the audience’s perspective.

We have dancers, a narrator to host the evening and costumes. It’s definitely more of a fun, light-hearted show.”

The chorus hosts numerous shows, and a few auditions, every year.

Buches noted the holiday shows usually draw the biggest crowds, but said audiences have been coming to their performances in increasing numbers year-round.

“The December concert is definitely our most attended. I think people just love the holiday music,” he said. “For the most part, recently, the March and June concerts have been pretty consistent.”

PGMC’s membership has also been consistent as of late.

PAGE 18

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FEATURE PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 11-17, 2016

cal. It’s about a guy who got married and Buches said the chorus is always bringing had a kid and then came out. His wife in new members, who are often impressed disowned him and kept him away from by how much work goes into an operation his son. Throughout the years, he’d send his son birthday and holiday presents, like PGMC. “It takes a lot for new members,” he but his ex-wife would always send them said. “Sometimes people don’t know what back. So the story is about his son coming is expected when they join a chorus, espe- to terms with his father’s death and finding out about his cially one with father through 120 people. It his family and is demanding. friends.

It’s We have threevery funny and hour rehearsemotional. I’m als weekly. We really excited to do all of our do this piece.” concerts from The secmemory.

We ond half of the have a Saturday show will fearehearsal for ture “Summer: every concert.

A Fantasia on We have secFamily,” an tionals once original piece a month on the chorus Sunday evening. commissioned So there are a from Andrea lot of demands Clearfield, a on the singers local composer that sometime known around they don’t comthe globe. prehend right “It’s based away. But this off of texts and year we had stories from our a really good chorus members retention.” who were inter Buches said viewed about the chorus’ next a year ago. It’s series of shows, really nice with this summer PGMC ARTISTIC DIRECTOR JOSEPH percussion and will retail the BUCHES piano accomfun of the movpaniments. And ie-themed show but also venture into more dramatic terri- then we’re filling it in with songs about family. That’s our June concert.” n tory.

“In June we are having our ‘Modern Families’ concert,” he said. “In the first half, Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus preswe’re doing a piece called ‘Alexander’s ents “Lights, Camera, Sing!” March House,’ which the Gay Men’s Chorus of 17-19 at Prince Theater, 1412 Chestnut Washington, D.C., commissioned a few St. For more information or tickets, visit years back. It’s like a staged mini-musi- www.pgmc.org or call 215-442-4580.

PGMC from page 17

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PROFILE PGN

Family Portrait

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 11-17, 2016

19

Suzi Nash

Anthony Noce: Biz owner on nuts and bolts of the undie industry OK, I admit it, I don’t know Victoria’s secret — I’m more of a sleep-in-sweats (if anything) kind of gal — but Anthony Noce certainly knows the Nutz & Boltz of men’s boxers and briefs. The Delaware Valley native did a brief stint in the fashion industry in New York City before coming home to get into men’s underwear. (I’m sure that joke never gets old for him …)

We spoke to the boxerpreneur about the fun of opening a gay-owned and -operated business in the middle of the Gayborhood.

PGN: Where in the Delaware Valley are you from?

AN: I grew up about 30 minutes outside of Philadelphia in Montgomeryville. It’s a little weird because it doesn’t actually have its own mailing address so we use North Wales, even though it’s not in North Wales.

PGN: It sounds like … What was the musical about the hidden city that only can be seen for one day every 100 years?

“Brigadoon”!

AN: Yes! It feels a little like that.

PGN: Tell me about the family.

AN: I’m the oldest of five kids. You met my sister, Emily, at the front of the store and two of my brothers help out on occasion. The youngest is in college so I haven’t harassed him to work for me yet. I thought I’d let him enjoy his college days first.

PGN: With a household full of kids, what was your best Christmas?

AN: [Laughs] I hate to say it, but the first one, when it was just me! But the most memorable one was when my parents decided to surprise us and took four of us (before my sister was born) to Disney World.

They bought me a camera, a pink Minnie Mouse camera because all the blue Mickey ones were sold out.

PGN: They turned you gay!

AN: [Laughs] Right! I guess it was apt; my brothers got a He-Man shirt or something like that. We’re a Roman-Catholic family so Christmas was always a huge event in our house. Christmas Eve is the big night; we have over 30 people at our parents’ house each year to this day.

PGN: What do the folks do?

AN: My mom is a home-ec teacher … wait, we’re not allowed to call it that anymore.

I think it’s now called FCS for Family and Consumer Sciences. She runs the department at North Penn School District. My dad is a lawyer and a civil engineer and has his own consulting firm. He’s also the president of Drexel’s alumni association.

PGN: Did you go there?

AN: We all did, including my mother — well, except for the second-oldest, Joey. He

went to Villanova. Drexel is where my parents met. She was in a sorority, he was in a fraternity, which my brother Michael is now the president of. My dad wanted me to join but I passed on it. I didn’t go to Drexel until several years after graduating high school so I was a little too old to be hanging with frat boys.

PGN: When did you come out?

AN: It was by accident, back when I was about 14. I was talking to somebody on the phone and apparently my sister was listening in on an extension. She told my mother to pick up the phone and she overheard my conversation and I was busted. She’d actually asked me about it a week before and I denied it.

[His sister’s voice is heard from the front room: Wait, what? I outed you? I do not remember that.]

AN: You were little, maybe 4? I think you just were playing with the phone and mom heard me and listened in.

EN: I was gonna say … That is funny though.

AN: It was a little difficult coming out in a Roman-Catholic family but they’re obviously OK with it now. My dad’s met my boyfriends over the years and he’s been in here a bunch of times, most of my family has.

in people’s lives, but sad at the same time because you’re dealing with a lot of death.

I did that for quite a while and I still have friends there, but after a while I wanted something else. So I went back to school and got into the fashion program at Drexel, which is pretty hard to get into, and I did an internship for Michael Kors. It was a good experience because unlike most internships, where all you do is fetch coffee, I got to actually have some input in the designing. When I graduated, I ended up with a job in New York with Macy’s childrenswear line called Greendog, until they decided to outsource everything. That was right before I was supposed to be hired on a permanent basis. So I had to move back to Philly and live with my parents until I got a job with another children’s clothing company, Hartstrings, based out of King of Prussia. They’re a very preppy line of kids’ clothes. I ended up as head designer for the boy’s line until they got bought out by a company that wanted to base operations out of New York.

PGN: Has he gotten underwear from here?

AN: Actually, yes. He has a large group of friends from his fraternity who all get together each year for a New Year’s Eve party. Apparently it gets a little rowdy and there’s something involved where he needed underwear — I don’t know what or why and don’t think I want to know!

PGN: I’m guessing you didn’t give him the Nasty Pig brand.

AN: No, no, no, no. He’s not allowed to go near that. Besides, it’s my most popular-selling brand so I don’t give those away. There’s something about the masculinity of them that appeals to Philadelphians. They’re one of my favorite brands too, they really hold up well.

PGN: Were you always into fashion and clothing?

AN: Yes, I’ve always been an artistic child.

My grandfather was a tailor so I learned to sew at a very young age, around 5, but then when I was still young we went to Rhode Island and I saw all these amazing houses from the Gilded Age. We went on several tours and I thought I wanted to be an architect and do interior design until I realized how much math was involved. When I graduated high school, I started working and wound up as a CNA, a certified nurse’s aid. It was a really fulfilling job — helping out people and making a difference

PGN: Do you have to be up on the latest princess and train trivia to be able to design for kids?

AN: Well, I did boys, so no princesses. But yes, you do a lot of online research to see what’s hot and I paid attention to my friends who had kids and what they were into. The boys are pretty limited — mostly planes and trains; even when we wanted to try something different, like dinosaurs, we were told they weren’t preppy enough. But it was a fun company and I liked the people I worked with.

PGN: So what prompted you to open up Nutz & Boltz?

AN: Well, as I mentioned, two years ago, the whole company got laid off, right after I’d just bought my first house. I didn’t want to sell the house or go to New York, and my goal was always to get into menswear.

Womenswear is fun because of the variety, but there’s a lot of attitude that comes with the people involved. Menswear seems to draw people who are more relaxed. I like to have fun and talk to people; I don’t enjoy an environment where everyone screams at each other. The epiphany came when I was in D.C. We’d gone down there for the anniversary of Stonewall and I noticed that there were a ton of boutiques specializing in men’s underwear and T-shirts targeted primarily to a gay clientele. I’d noted that New York had similar stores on every block and even Pittsburgh, but there was nothing in Philly. So I decided to go for it.

PGN: What kinds of things do you have in the store?

AN: We’re mostly underwear and swimwear. I try to have a combination of things that you can’t find elsewhere, as well as brands that people know and want.

It’s difficult trying to figure out what’s going to sell, how much to have, what to get, but we’re working it out.

I also have some clothing, mostly jeans and T-shirts. I try to keep it on the casual side; I don’t plan on ever carrying anything you could wear to an office setting, except maybe on a very casual Friday. The closest thing I have is a brand called Eleven Paris — they’re also sold at Nordstrom, but I like them because their quality is insane. We carry brands like Marco Marco, Andrew Christian, loungewear from Diesel, shirts from a Spanish company called Costalamel — I think we’re the only ones who carry them. In the near future, I’ll start bringing other products into the store, Photo: Suzi Nash some things that are a little racier, like a cock ring, primarily because to me it’s a kind of jewelry, but that’s the closest I’ll get to anything pornographic.

PGN: Do you have many straight customers?

AN: We do have some. We also have straight women buying gifts for their boyfriends, and sometimes for themselves. Our Cheap Monday jeans are unisex so anyone can wear them. We also have PAGE 26

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PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 11-17, 2016

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Q Puzzle You’ve got the wrong man Across

1. “Look but don’t touch” type 6. Debussy contemporary Satie 10. Broadway opening for a lot?

14. Drag queen Joey 15. Man-to-man offense, in Leviticus 16. Vegetarian’s staple 17. Countries where people drive?

19. Larry Kramer and peers 20. B.D. Wong movie set on an island 22. African queen 25. Halloween mo.

26. Black to Bonheur 27. Dwarf tree in the land of the samurai 29. Watch a NY Liberty game here 30. With 37- and 43-Across, start of a B.D. movie set in Asia 31. Use your tongue 33. Neighbor of Kan. 36. “Heather Has ___ Mommies” 37. See 30-Across

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41. “Oy” follower 42. Alison Bechdel cartoon character 43. See 30-Across 45. Barenaked Ladies’ “Am ___ Only One” 47. Bathtub Madonna, e.g.

48. Sri ___ 50. Harry of the Mattachine Society 52. “Nuts!”

53. B.D. Wong TV show about fighting crime 56. Slangy suffix 57.

Time long ago 61.

Queer spelling of a word for ice house 62. Tops a cupcake 63.

Vanilla, in the sack 64.

Ending with Pride 65.

Triangle ratio

66. Peter the Great, and more

Down

1. Tic ___ (sometimes fruit candy) 2. Bill written by Alice Paul 3. Football center?

4. City in a Dionne Warwick hit 5. Victim of Jacob’s tricks 6. Seminal computer 7. Layer’s lair 8. Chelsea Pines and others 9. “Being There”

novelist Jerzy 10. Come between parties, perhaps 11. Kind of bear 12. Like a flaming queen?

13. It’s sent from animals 18. “Star Trek” counselor Deanna 21. Persona for one of the Village People 22. « I Love Lucy » venue 23. “My Fair Lady” composer 24. Diplomatic agent

Eating Out Should Be Fun! Read PGN’s food reviews every second and fourth week of the month

- and check out our archive of past reviews on epgn.com.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 11-17, 2016

21

22

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 11-17, 2016

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

The return of the 12th Air USO Show

By Gary L. Day PGN Contributor Back in the day, as they say, 12th Air Command nightclub used to play host to a legendary weekly drag cabaret, called USO. In the 1990s, this cabaret featured such recognizable names as Salotta Tee — a 12th Air DJ who currently spins for ICandy — and it was hosted by Sandy Beach, a longtime 12th Air bartender who currently mixes for Stir.

USO was basically a drag contest in which the winners went on to compete for the annual title of Miss 12th Air Command. In its heyday, the regular event was quite popular. But, as they say, all good things must come to an end.

The 12th Air Command is long gone and in its stead stands ICandy, and a whole new generation of partygoers who show up there on a nightly basis to make merry.

But the previous generation hasn’t dried up and shriveled away either. To prove that there is plenty of fabulousness left in the old bones, it occurred to Salotta Tee to hold a reunion of the old USO crowd.

Salotta first contacted Sandy Beach, who was not receptive to the idea at first.

“I didn’t want to do it,” Sandy said.

“I didn’t want to go back to that place.

You’ve got to remember how I left 12th Air after years of working there. I just walked out one night.”

The reason for Beach’s abrupt departure was a dispute with the mercurial thenowner.

But Salotta persevered. Together, they had meetings with the current owners of ICandy ,where they worked out terms and logistics and came up with a workable plan. Sandy agreed to step into his original role of host, and Salotta would DJ, in conjunction with returning 12th Air star DJ Reenie Kane.

“We got in touch with as many of the original winners as we could,” Sandy said.

“I got the — I don’t want to say the best because more were willing to come back than we had room for on the program, and

they’re all really good — so let’s just say we have a program full of the most fabulous of the original winners.”

This includes such familiar names like Miss Tatiana, Aeryanah Von Moi, Vanessa

Theater & Arts Adam Ferrara The comedian seen on “Nurse Jackie” performs March 17-20 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215496-9001.

Art of the Zo: Textiles from Myanmar, India and Bangladesh Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition offering a look at beautiful woven textiles of the Zo people of Myanmar, India and Bangladesh through March 20, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100.

SANDY BEACH

Photo: Courtesy of Sandy Beach

Sterling and Lisa Lisa, among many others.

If the USO reunion proves to be a big success, might that signal a regular return of the popular drag contest?

“Of course,” Sandy asserted, warning, “but not so often. Events stop being special if they happen too often. Maybe once a month.”

Currently the reunion is being promoted heavily on social media. If the response on Facebook and Twitter is any indication, there’s still plenty of life — and fabulousness — in the old 12th Air Command crowd yet, who seem ready to mix it up and make new merry and memories with the new crowd. n The 12th Air Command USO Reunion will be held March 20 at ICandy, 254 S. 12th St. Doors open at 8 p.m., with the show commencing around 9 p.m. There is no cover.

Follow us @phillygaynews.

News updates more reliable than “a little bird told us”.

Boondock Saints The crime caper film is screened 8 p.m. March 14 at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215922-6888.

Don Quixote The Pennsylvania Ballet performs the classic Spanishflavored dance comedy through March 13 at the Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; 215-8931999.

Donnell Rawlings The comedian seen on “The Chappelle Show” performs through March 13 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215-496-9001.

Drawn from Courtly India: The Conley Harris and Howard Truelove Collection Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of masterful drawings from the royal courts of northern India through March 27, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215763-8100.

Garth Greenwell and Paul Lisicky The authors of “What Belongs to You” and “The Narrow Door” host a reading 6-8 p.m. March 15 at Giovanni’s Room at Philly AIDS Thrift, 345 S. 12th St.; 215-923-2960.

Holly Trostle Brigham: Sisters and Goddesses The Michener Art Museum hosts an exhibition of works

by Philadelphiabased artist Holly Trostle Brigham, featuring seven self-portraits in which she takes the guise of artists of the past, through May 26, 138 S. Pine St., Doylestown; 215340-9800.

International Pop Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition chronicling pop art’s emergence as a global movement, migrating from the United Kingdom and the United States to Western and Eastern Europe, Latin America and Japan, through May 16, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215763-8100.

Local Girls Azuka Theatre presents the Philadelphia world premiere

by Philadelphia playwright Emma Goidel about a high-school burnout who needs to find a new singer for her heavy-metal band through March 13 at the Drake, 1512 Spruce St.; 215-5631100.

Khaner Plays Mozart The Philadelphia Orchestra performs March 17-19 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5847.

SPRING IS IN THE AERIALS: Tangle, a 10-woman aerial dance company whose work emphasizes female strength and queer visibility, performs “RetroAct: Circus Theater Remix,” a retrospective performance featuring the most exciting moments from its five-year history, March 17-19 at Christ Church Neighborhood House, 20 N. American St. For more information or tickets, visit www.tangle-arts.com/ tickets.

Look Closer: The Work of Michael Newman and Stuart Alter The William Way LGBT Community Center presents a special exhibition of abstract paintings March 11-April 29, 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220.

Mahler Eight The Philadelphia Orchestra performs through March 14 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5847.

Philadelphia in Style: A Century of Fashion The Michener Art Museum hosts a display of approximately 30 dressed forms and additional accessories spanning a century of high fashion March 13-June 26, 138 S. Pine St., Doylestown; 215340-9800.

Picture This: Contemporary

Photography and India Philadelphia Museum of Art presents the work of four contemporary photographers for whom India is an important subject or setting through April 3, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

Plays of/for a Respirateur Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an installation by Joseph Kosuth that includes a selection of his work along with a group of seminal works by Marcel Duchamp through the fall, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

Peter and the Starcatcher Walnut Street Theatre presents the grown-up prequel to “Peter Pan,” March 15-May 1, 825 Walnut St.; 215574-3550.

PGN ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS

BENEATH THE FRINGE: Fringe regular, performance artist and choreographer Gunnar Montana is the star of an intimate performance and story-telling event, “Gunnar Montana: EXPOSED,” hosted by R. Eric Thomas and featuring cast members from his shows from the last five years, 8 p.m.

March 17-19 at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St. For more information or tickets, call 215732-2220 or visit www. gunnarmontana.com.

RetroAct: circus-theater remix Tangle Aerial Dance Theater Arts performs the most exciting moments from its five years of queer aerial dance theater March 17-19 at Christ Church Neighborhood House, 20 N. American St.; www. tangle-arts.com/ tickets.

Ron White The comedian performs 8 p.m. March 12 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215572-7650.

The Sound of Music The musical story of Maria and the Von Trapp Family, March 15-20 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-7905800.

Work on What You Love: Bruce Mau Rethinking Design Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of designs by the acclaimed commercial artist through April 3, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

Music Patty Larkin The out singer-songwriter performs 8 p.m. March 11 at Sellersville Theater, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville; 215257-5808.

Celebrate the Great Women of Blues and Jazz A musical tribute to Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and other female pioneers of jazz, 8 p.m. March 12 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; 215-8983900.

S. Broad St.; 215389-9543.

PGMC: Lights, Camera, Sing!

Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus performs famous songs from the silver screen March 17-19 at Prince Theater, 1412 Chestnut St.; www.pgmc.org.

The Temptations The classic R&B group performs 8 p.m. March 18 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215-572-7650.

Nightlife

Christine Arias The Tony Awardwinning actor and singer performs 8 p.m. March 12 at The Rrazz Room, 1412 Chestnut St.; 215-422-4580.

Kiss Me I’m Irish & Gay The Gayborhood’s St. Patrick’s Day party runs 1-4 p.m.

March 13 at U Bar, 1220 Locust St.; 215-546-6660.

John 5 The rock-guitar virtuoso performs 8 p.m. March 13 at Sellersville Theater, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville; 215257-5808.

Happy Bear The bear-themed happy hour, 5-9

The Who The rock band performs 7:30 p.m.

March 14 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601

p.m., March 18 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215-964-9675.

Outta Town Witchfinder General The Vincent Price film is screened 9:45 p.m. March 11 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610-917-1228.

The Isley Brothers The pop/R&B band performs 8 p.m.

March 12 at Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.

Drunken Master 2 The Hong Kong action film is screened 9:45 p.m.

March 18 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-1228. n

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.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 11-17, 2016

23

Classic musical to take the stage in Philly

By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com The hills are alive again when “The Sound of Music,” the beloved Rodgers & Hammerstein musical about the adventures of the von Trapp family, rolls into town March 15-20 at the Academy of Music.

Out actor Christopher Carl, who plays Admiral von Schreiber and occasionally Captain von Trapp in the productions, has performed in many Broadway classics — “Mamma Mia!” “Chicago,” “Les Misérables,” and “South Pa c i fi c ,” to name a few — said that being in “The Sound of Music” is definitely a highlight of his career.

“It’s a treat when anyone in theater today gets to do one of the traditional Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals,” he said. “It’s nice to be involved with something that is a classic. There are a lot of things going on right now that will become classics later down the road. But to be able to have the experience of doing these wonderful modern takes on Rodgers & Hammerstein shows makes it really exciting.”

Carl said people attending live-theater shows are getting a more meaningful experience than if they just watched the movie, or witnessed the recent live-theater event on television.

“There’s an experience that you get with live theater that you don’t get with a piece of cinema,” he said. “Live theater is so unique. Just being in the same space with other people experiencing a live performance the same time that you are just takes it to another level.”

Carl added that the show occasionally attracts some fans who really get into the spirit by showing up in costume.

“We recently had a group of people show up: One man was dressed up in

lederhosen and alpine boots and he was with a group dressed as nuns. It happens every once in a while. I have to applaud them for their chutzpah showing up dressed and ready to go.”

Fans of “The Sound of Music” know that local venues will sometimes host sing-along screenings of the film. Carl said that level of participation rarely happens during the live-theater shows, although there was one occasion where the audience was appropriately inspired to take over the vocal duties of the show.

“No one sings along in the theater that

we’ve heard of except for one time and it was really a magical moment,” he said.

“We were playing in L.A. and for some reason the electric grid that the theater was on went black. It was momentary, but we had to then go back and reboot the programming and the light board.

It happened in the portion of the play where Maria is teaching the children ‘Do Re Mi.’ They had to take the actors off the stage to reboot the computer.

When they brought the actors back on to the stage and told them where we were going to start, the entire audience started singing ‘Do Re Mi.’ Of course, everyone had a big laugh about it. There was lots of applause and it was a magical moment. That was one of the highlights of the tour so far.” n The Kimmel Center presents “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music” March 15-20 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 250 S. Broad St. For more information or tickets, call 215-790-5800.

24

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 11-17, 2016

PGNOUT DINING

Bernie’s turns up the creative heat in the ’burbs

By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com From the outside, the recently opened Bernie’s Restaurant & Bar in Glenside, looks like your standard modern, suburban upscale restaurant, with a bar section leaning towards the laidback sports crowd. But the menu tells a far more interesting story.

Bernie’s offers familiar fare ranging from comfort bar food to fancier entrées, with some interesting twists, usually in the direction of international flavor profiles.

For example, Bernie’s “skinz” ($9) take the standard potato skins we all know and love in an Indian direction, with chicken and curry taking the place of bacon and scallions. The result is a dish with the same texture that scratches the potato-skin itch, but it’s much less fatty, messy and greasy than the usual version of the appetizer. The panko-crushed goat cheese ($10)

had a hearty crust that was the perfect accompaniment for the bright and flavorful salad that came with it.

The true highlight of the menu was the sesame-crusted ahi tuna ($12). The beautifully presented sliced tuna was perfectly seared and crusted on the outside, leaving the interior raw and sushi-like. The contrast in warm and cool, and the Asian flavor profile of the fish, played well with the warm mushroom risotto on the plate.

Bernie’s entrées, if nothing else, deliver healthy, bordering on massive, portions. The salmon vera cruz ($19) had a Mediterranean flair, with a massive slab of salmon resting on top of mashed potatoes, dressed with olives, roasted garlic and white wine. The Thai BBQ chicken ($16) was a nicely roasted skin-on chicken breast on a bed of fried rice; both were solid but the magic is in the sweet chili sauce that comes on the side and that

gives the dish a nice kick in the pants. The shaken crispy beef ($15) is basically the Canadian staple poutine filtered through the sensibilities of a steak house. The roast piece of tenderloin rests on a plentiful bed of house-cut fries and is drizzled with a sweet and savory ginger-orange gravy.

Desserts at Bernie’s are pleasantly decadent. The apple crumb pizza ($6) was nicely balanced with an oat crust and creamy vanilla ice cream. The bread pudding ($6) was something out of Willie Wonka’s factory: oversized and piled high with whipped cream and choc-

If you go Bernie’s

Restaurant & Bar 391 Highland Ave., Glenside 215-572-5927 www.mybernies.com Mon.-Fri.: 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m.

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Photo: Dallyn Pavey

olate. You’ll need a friend or two to finish it, but it’s definitely worth diving into.

Bernie’s creative twists and turns on the menu are well worth the twists and turns you have to make on the road to Glenside. n

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 11-17, 2016

25

Updated Civil War-era play comments on race, gender relations

By A.D. Amorosi PGN Contributor Sometimes the choice of an article — such as “the” or “an” — can make a big difference.

Take “The Octoroon” — an 1859 play by Dion Boucicault based on Thomas Mayne Reid’s novel “The Quadroon of 1856” — that was a romanticized hit melodrama of the Antebellum South involving murder, mayhem and the pitfalls of mixedrace marriages. Fast-forward to 2015’s “An Octoroon,” penned by Branden JacobsJenkins, starring James Ijames (Barrymorewinning, African-American gay Philly actor) and directed by Joanna Settle at the Wilma Theatre March 16-April 10. In the trio’s hands, this version of “Octoroon” is an experimental, race-baiting comedy/commentary on social injustice of all stripes, colors and sexualities. Oh, and it’s done in blackface, whiteface and redface.

Settle and Ijames sat for a joint interview to discuss how “An Octoroon” turns to face the strange and embrace the moment.

PGN: What is each of your experiences at the Wilma?

JI: I was in their production of “Angels in America,” which I guess actually counts as two productions. Strangely, “Angels” and “Octoroon” are both these large sweeping

choices and emotions to fill those melodramatic forms. The scale of the performance in melodrama is huge and if it’s completely filled, it’s actually astonishing.

JS: Like both of our authors, we enjoy taking a giant bath in the multiple theatrical conventions at play. The mystery to be solved in this production is the construction of race in America right now. I’m pretty sure we don’t solve it.

JUSTIN JAIN (FROM LEFT), JAMES IJAMES AND ED SWINEY IN “AN OCTOROON” Photo: Matt Saunders worlds and, in both, I played three different characters. I’m having a similar experience working on “Octoroon” as I did with “Angels.” The Wilma does a great job of pushing the production and the process to get a final product that is both beautiful and unsettling.

JS: I directed last season’s “Rapture Blister Burn.” Must say, the Wilma is a completely marvelous place to make work.

I’m thrilled to be working again with all these mission-driven, adventurous people.

PGN: “The Octoroon” — as written by Boucicault and produced in 1859 — was

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as much of a dread murder mystery as it was a hard race-based melodrama about the “mash-up of Indian, French and Mexican.” Do you reach back at all to the original’s odd, wobbly self-seriousness?

JI: Great question. “An Octoroon” is truly an adaptation that deconstructs the original, so much so that it feels like its own play. I did a great deal of reading about melodrama and sort of playing with how to translate that form to a contemporary world, acting approach, etc. I think the misconception about melodrama is that it was bad acting. The most difficult part of this for me has been finding large-enough

PGN: Interracial love is a large aspect of “Octoroon.” How does your production take the opportunity to comment about gender and sexuality, as well as race?

JI: The production Joanna creates does a great job of looking at how women at the time navigated their positions. The slave women have one set of complications and the “ladies” have another. These begin to slam into each other and reveal the status systems inside of a single gender.

JS: Like our authors, we believe in love.

We submit wholeheartedly to the love stories, and enjoy the sensuality not only of the characters, but of telling a story in luxurious costumes that has characters climbing, dancing and engaging in all manner of physical exertion. As James points out, we do lean into the gender angles, especially the situations of the women in the show.

We have some very powerful ladies up there giving all the PAGE 26

26

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 11-17, 2016

OCTOROON from page 25

SERVICES & HOME IMPROVEMENT DIRECTORY

rules and roles at play powerful focus.

PGN: How do you believe your “Octoroon” embraces, castigates or comments upon sexual/ LGBTQ bigotry, as well as racism? And how much of that has something to do with why you took it on?

JI: I was very frightened of this play — Joanna sort of made me audition — because it doesn’t comment. It is a play that reveals to the audience, and its players in the process, the racism and prejudice we allow to exist.

JS: I think James actually passed on this show at one point. The show doesn’t explicitly comment on LGBTQ bigotry, but we sure do see our company move from being themselves into being brutalized, and back. America is a great idea that goes too frequently wrong.

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PGN: What is most difficult: doing blackface, whiteface, redface?

JI: I perform in whiteface, which has a significantly less-fraught history. There is not a long tradition of black actors playing white people in a stereotypical way. The make-up has been quite helpful for me. The blackface, in the way

PORTRAIT from page 19

meggings, which are leggings for men but anyone can wear them. There’s a lot of stuff that’s androgynous and I’m working on more products that would be a little more butch.

PGN: For butch women?

AN: Well, I meant butcher stuff for men, but women too. I get a lot of women who like the menswear products for themselves. Everyone’s welcome. It’s exciting and what’s nice is that I have room to expand to the back room eventually where I’ll probably carry more items for women.

I also plan to create my own Nutz & Boltz line of underwear and other apparel down the line.

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PGN: What are some of the other things you’re looking to do here?

AN: I want to get involved with other gay businesses and organizations in the city. I’ve done some collaborating with Josh Schonewolf and Bearlesque and will be helping Valanni’s with the Emerald City event on March 17. As you can see, the area around the cash register is full of promotional materials, with everything from fliers for doggie daycare to a health and wellness center to the bath house. I want that, I want to help the community. In fact, I’m very open to ideas from my customers, especially local designers. I would love to feature products from Philadelphia designers.

PGN: We have so much talent in Philadelphia, we should be able to conjure you up some people.

How should they contact you?

AN: That would be great. They can email, call the store or stop in.

PGN: Very nice. OK, time to do some random questions. What’s your favorite genre of books: mystery, romance, biographies?

AN: Ha. It’s a little embarrassing. I like sci-fi.

Well, it’s a little more specific; it’s a sexually based sci-fi genre. It’s hard to describe.

PGN: Give me two authors in the genre.

that the play uses it, is necessary. When we talk about brutality and wounds, that’s one that hasn’t healed, mostly because folks do it every Halloween like it’s funny. This play forces us to confront the ugly past. The same is true of the redface. There is a long history there as well. I can’t speak for the other two actors, but for me it doesn’t feel difficult; it feels imperative.

JS: The play kicks it all up at the same time.

We offend everyone equally. Only the women are clean of face. The men run around in masks, brutalizing. It feels correct for a story spending its time either three years before the Civil War or right now today. We are in a moment when the ugly masks are out and hatred is spewing, as we were before the Civil War. Do you know 625,000 people died in the Civil War? That’s more Americans than died in both world wars, Korea and Vietnam combined. The birth of our nation was ugly, as are race and gender relations right now. Honestly, walking around on a flat floor looking fresh-faced just can’t cut it right now. Our art needs to explode. These are explosive times. n For more information on “An Octoroon,” visit wilmatheater.org/production/octoroon.

AN: Laurell K. Hamilton. She writes the “Merry Gentry” books, which are a really cool series about fairies, but not the kind you’d thinking of flying through the air: real people who are kind of godlike creatures and very sexual beings. [Laughs] They’re straight so I skip over a lot of the sex parts, but the plots are riveting. And I love Christopher Rice, even though that’s a slightly different genre.

PGN: Favorite piece of clothing as a kid?

AN: It was a corduroy long-sleeved shirt with snaps instead of buttons. It felt cool because with the snaps you could rip it open like you were He-Man. PGN: Silliest or most outrageous thing you’ve worn?

AN: I went to visit the rainforest in Puerto Rico and I was wearing a black button-down shirt over a black tank top with tan suede pants. I loved those pants until my cat decided to pee all over them, but anyway, it was silly to wear them to a rainforest.

I also love my tie-dyed denim jeans. I like crazier pieces just because they’re fun and get people’s attention.

PGN: Ever worn women’s undergarments?

AN: A bra, quite a few times. I do drag at Halloween. Last year, I was Marilyn Monroe.

PGN: Something people would be surprised to find out?

AN: I can build things. I know how to use the majority of power tools out there and can build shelves from scratch and do construction with some pretty heavy-duty equipment. When I bought my house, I gutted the place, did most of the repairs and put in my own deck. I enjoy doing it.

Bubble baths aside, I have a butch side too! n For more information on Nutz & Boltz, visit www. nutzandboltzfashion.com.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 11-17, 2016

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

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 11-17, 2016

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Legal Notices Court of Common Pleas for the County of Philadelphia, JAN Term, 2016, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on January, 28, 2016, the petition of Amy Christina Beauchamp was filed, praying for a decree to change their name to Maro Beauchamp.

The Court has fixed March 28, 2016 at 11 AM, in Room No. 691, in Philadelphia City Hall for hearing. All persons interested may appear and show cause if they have, why the prayer of the said petitioner should not be granted. ________________________________________40-11

Adoption A childless, financially secure couple seeks to adopt. Will provide safe, creative, happy, loving home. FT/AT-Home Parent. Expenses paid. Courtney & Ela. ce.adopt@gmail. com or 1-855-883-0433. ________________________________________40-11

NOTICE

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE CANVASS AND COMPUTATION OF VOTES CAST IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF PHILADELPHIA FOR THE 2016 SPECIAL ELECTION HELD ON TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 WILL BEGIN AT 9:00 A.M. ON FRIDAY MARCH 18, 2016 IN THE CITY COMMISSIONERS, 6TH FLOOR HEARING ROOM, RIVERVIEW PLACE, DELAWARE AVE. & SPRING GARDEN ST., AND CONTINUE ALL DAY FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016 UNTIL COMPLETED.

AVISO

A QUIEN CORRESPONDA:

POR MEDIO DEL PRESENTE, SE NOTIFICA QUE EL ESCRUTINIO Y CÓMPUTO DE LOS VOTOS EMITIDOS EN LA CIUDAD Y EL CONDADO DE FILADELFIA PARA LAS ELECCIONES ESPECIALES 2016 CELEBRADAS EL MARTES 15 DE MARZO DE 2016 COMENZARÁ A LAS 9:00 A. M. DEL VIERNES 18 DE MARZO DE 2016 EN LA OFICINA DE LOS COMISIONADOS DE LA CIUDAD, SALA DE AUDIENCIAS DEL 6,° PISO, RIVERVIEW PLACE, DELAWARE AVE. Y SPRING GARDEN ST, Y CONTINUARÁ DURANTE TODO EL VIERNES 18 DE MARZO 2016 HASTA FINALIZAR.

PHILADELPHIA COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS JUNTA ELECTORAL DEL CONDADO DE FILADELFIA Anthony Clark Chair, City Commissioners Presidente, Comisionados Municipales

Lisa M Deeley City Commissioner Comisionada Municipal

Al Schmidt Vice Chair, City Commissioners Vicepresidente, Comisionados Municipales

Kevin A Kelly Acting Supervisor of Elections Supervisor Interino de Elecciones

www.philadelphiavotes.com

29

30

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 11-17, 2016

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Religion/Spirituality Arch Street United Methodist Church Services 8:30 and 11 a.m. at 55 N. Broad St.; youth/adult Sunday school at 9:30 a.m.; 5:30 p.m. prayer service; 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.; 302-750-4045.

N.J.; 856-779-7739, mapleshadeucc.org.

Metropolitan Community Church of Christ the Liberator Holds services 10:45 a.m. Sundays at the Pride Center of New Jersey; 732823-2193, mccctl.com.

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

BuxMont Unitarian Universalist Church Services 10:15 a.m. at 2040 Street Road, Warrington; 215-343-0406.

Old First Reformed Church Open and affirming United Church worships at 11 a.m., summer services at 10 a.m, at 151 N. Fourth St.; 215-922-4566, www.oldfirstucc.org.

Calvary United Methodist Church Reconciling, welcoming and affirming church holds services 11 a.m. Sundays at 801 S. 48th St.; 215-724-1702.

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.

Central Baptist Church Welcoming and affirming church holds services at 10:45 a.m. Sundays, summer services 9:30 a.m, at 106 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne; 610-688-0664.

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, 9:30 a.m. at 8812 Germantown Ave.; 215-242-9321.

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

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 11-17, 2016

Community Bulletin Board Community centers

■ The Attic Youth Center 255 S. 16th St.; 215-545-4331, atticyouthcenter.org. For LGBT and questioning youth and their friends and allies. Groups meet and activities are held 4-7 p.m. Monday-Tuesday and 4-8:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday. Case management, HIV testing and smoking cessation are available Monday-Friday.

■ Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center at the University of Pennsylvania 3907 Spruce St., 215-898-5044, center@dolphin. upenn.edu. Regular hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. MondayThursday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday; noon-6 p.m. Saturday; noon-8 p.m. Sunday. Summer hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

■ Rainbow Room: Bucks County’s LGBTQ and Allies Youth Center Salem UCC Education Building, 181 E. Court St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981 ext.

9065, rainbowroom@ppbucks.org. Activities held 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays.

■ William Way Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220, www.waygay.org.

Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon-5 p.m.

Saturdays and Sundays Peer counseling: 6-9 p.m.

Monday-Friday Library: noon-9 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday Volunteers: New Orientation, first Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.

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.

Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting worships 11 a.m., summer services 10 a.m, Sundays at 1515 Cherry St.; 215-241-7000, cpmm@afsc.org.

Church of the Holy Trinity Inclusive church holds services 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sundays at 1904 Walnut St.; 215-567-1267.

Resurrection Lutheran Church Services 10 a.m. Sundays at 620 Welsh Road, Horsham; 215-646-2597.

■ ActionAIDS: 215-981-0088

Silverside Church Services 10 a.m. Sundays followed by a group discussion at 2800 Silverside Road, Wilmington, Del.; 302-478-5921, silversidechurch.org.

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

■ Equality Pennsylvania: 215731-1447; www.equalitypa.org

St. Asaph’s Church Inclusive and progressive Episcopal church holds services 8 and 10 a.m.

Sundays, summer services 9:15 a.m., at 27 Conshohocken State Road, Bala Cynwyd; 610-664-0966, www.saintasaphs.org.

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

221

■ Equality Forum: 215-732-3378

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.

■ AIDS Library: 215-985-4851

Congregation Rodeph Shalom Shabbat services every Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 10:45 a.m. at 615 N. Broad St. ; 215-627-6747.

Dignity Jersey Shore An organization for sexual-minority Catholics meets the first Saturday of the month in Asbury Park; 732-502-0305.

Dignity Metro NJ An organization for sexual-minority Catholics meets 4 p.m. the 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.

St. Luke and The Epiphany Church Open and welcoming church holds fall liturgy 9 and 11 a.m.

Sundays, summer sevices 10 a.m., at 330 S. 13th St.; 215-732-1918, stlukeandtheepiphany.org.

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.

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.

Emanuel Lutheran Church Reconciling in Christ congregation meets at 10:30 a.m. Sundays, summer services 9:30 a.m., New and Kirkpatrick streets, New Brunswick, N.J.; 732545-2673; www.emmanuelnb.org.

St. Mary’s Church Diverse and inclusive Episcopal church celebrates the Eucharist 11 a.m.

Sundays at 3916 Locust Walk; 215-386-3916; www.stmarysatpenn.org.

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

First Baptist Church Welcoming and affirming church holds prayer services 10:30 a.m. Sundays and community worship 11:30 a.m. at 123 S. 17th St.; 215-563-3853.

First Baptist Church of Moorestown Welcoming and affirming congregation holds Bible study and discussion at 9 a.m. Sundays and worship services at 10 a.m. Sundays at 19 W. Main St., Moorestown, N.J.; 856-235-1180; www.fbcmoorestown.org; info@ fbcmoorestown.org.

First Presbyterian Church of Lansdowne Welcoming church holds services at 10 a.m. Sundays at 140 N. Lansdowne Ave.; 610-622-0800; www.lansdownepresbyterian-church.com.

First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia A liberal, welcoming and diverse congregation that affirms the dignity of all. Sunday services at 10 a.m., 2125 Chestnut St.; 215-563-3980, www. firstuu-philly.org.

The First United Methodist Church of Germantown A sexual-minority-affirming congregation holds services at 10 a.m., summer services 11 a.m., Sundays, with lunch to follow, at 6001 Germantown Ave.; 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 9 a.m. Sundays at 2111 Sansom St. and 11 a.m. at 2110 Chestnut St. in the main sanctuary; 215-567-3668, www.lc-hc.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; 215-688-1796, www. stpaullevittown.org.

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Welcoming and diverse congregation with numerous outreach and fellowship groups holds services at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday at Third and Pine streets; 215-925-5968; www.stpetersphila.org.

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

Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church Sunday worship with nursery care, 10:30 a.m. and fourth Thursday of the month contemporary worship with Communion at 7 p.m. at 2212 Spruce St.; 215-732-2515, trinityphiladelphia.org.

Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County Welcoming congregation holds services 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. Sundays, summer services 10:30 a.m., at 145 W. Rose Tree Road, Media. Interweave, a group for LGBT parishioners and allies, meets 12:30 p.m. the third Sunday of the month and holds a potluck brunch 12:30 p.m. 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 Services 10:15 a.m. Interweave, a group of LGBT Unitarians and their allies, meets at 401 N. Kings Highway, Cherry Hill, N.J.; 856-667-3618, uucch.org.

Unitarian Universalist Church of the Restoration Welcoming congregation holds services 11 a.m. Sundays at 6900 Stenton Ave.; 215-247-2561, www.uurestoration.us.

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.

Unitarian Universalist Congregation, South Jersey Shore Services 10 a.m. Sundays in Galloway Township; 609-965-9400, www. uucsjs.org.

Living Water United Church of Christ An open and affirming congregation that meets for worship 11 a.m. on Sundays at 6250 Loretto Ave.; 267-388-6081, www.lwucc.org.

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Pottstown Services 10:30 a.m. at 1565 S. Keim St.; 610-327-2662, www.uupottstown. org.

Kol Tzedek Reconstructionist synagogue committed to creating a diverse and inclusive community meets at Calvary Center, 801 S. 48th St.; 215-764-6364, www. kol-tzedek.org.

United Christian Church Open, affirming and welcoming congregation holds services 10:15 a.m.

Sundays, summer services 9:15 a.m., at 8525 New Falls Road, Levittown; 215-946-6800.

Mainline Unitarian Church Holds services 10 a.m. Sundays at 816 S. Valley Forge Road, Devon; 610688-8332, www.mluc.org.

Unity Fellowship Church of Philadelphia Diverse, affirming LGBT congregation holds services 2 p.m. Sundays at 55 N. Broad St.; 215-240-6106.

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,

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 a.m.; 215-387-2885, www. uniphila.org.

31

■ ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215592-1513 ■ AIDS Treatment Fact line: 800662-6080 ■ Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection at the Independence Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library: 215-685-1633 n The COLOURS Organization Inc.: 215-496-0330

Key numbers

■ LGBT Peer Counseling Services: 215-732-TALK ■ Mazzoni Center: 215-563-0652; Legal Services: 215-563-0657, 866-LGBT-LAW; Family & Community Medicine: 215-563-0658 ■ Office of LGBT Affairs — Director Nellie Fitzpatrick: 215-6860330; helen.fitzpatrick@phila.gov

■ Philadelphia Police Department liaison — Deputy Commissioner Kevin Bethel: 215-6863318 ■ Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 215-760-3686 (Rick Lombardo); 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)

■ Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): 215-572-1833 ■ Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations: 215-686-4670

Health

Anonymous, free, confidential HIV testing Spanish/English counselors offer testing 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 216 W. Somerset St.; 215-763-8870.

ActionAIDS Provides a range of programs for people affected by HIV/ AIDS, including case management, prevention, testing and education services at 1216 Arch St.; 215-981-0088, www. actionaids.org.

GALAEI: A Queer Latin@ Social Justice Organization Free, anonymous HIV testing from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; noon-6 p.m.

Tuesdays at the Washington West Project, 1201 Locust St.; 215-851-1822 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 (walk-in) and 5-8 p.m. Thursdays (by appointment) at Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad St.; 215685-1821.

HIV health insurance help Access to free medications and confidential HIV testing 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays at 13 S. MacDade Blvd., Suite

■ Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia Board meetings at 6:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at 100 S. Broad St., Suite 1810; free referral service at 215-6279090, www.galloplaw.org.

■ Independence Business Alliance Greater Philadelphia’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce, providing networking, business development, marketing, educational and advocacy opportunities for LGBT and LGBT-friendly busi-

108, Collingdale; Medical Office Building, 722 Church Lane, Yeadon; and 630 S. 60th St.; 610-586-9077.

Mazzoni Center LGBTQ counseling and behavioral health services, HIV/ AIDS care and services, 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, as well as youth drop-in (ages 14-24) 5-7p.m. Wednesdays; 809 Locust St.; 215-563-0658.

Philadelphia FIGHT Comprehensive AIDS service organization providing primary care, consumer education, advocacy and research on potential treatments and vaccines; 1233 Locust St.; 215985-4448; www.fight.org.

Washington West Project of Mazzoni Center Free, rapid HIV testing. Walk-ins welcome 9 a.m.-9 pm.

Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Sunday; 1201 Locust St.; 215-985-9206.

Professional groups nesses and professionals; 215557-0190, www.IndependenceBusinessAlliance.com.

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

■ Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus Regional organization dedicated to promoting LGBT tourism to the Greater Philadelphia region, meetings every other month on the fourth Thursday (January, March, May, July, September and the third Thursday in November), open to the public; 215-8402039, www.philadelphiagaytourism.com.

32

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 11-17, 2016

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COMING UP AT FRIDAY, MARCH 11 5PM The Diligents 9:30PM Drop Dead Sexy 10PM DJ Paul Desisto

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SATURDAY, MARCH 12 5PM Tuesday’s Gone 9:30PM GoodMan Fiske 10PM DJ Eric Vanderslice

SUNDAY, MARCH 13 3PM Showcase Sunday

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16 8PM Conklin’s Comedy Night

MONDAY, MARCH 14 – WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16

THURSDAY, MARCH 17 9PM Latin Night

All Xclub members receive one free entry!

Fill out your bracket to score big free slot play prizes!

FRIDAY, MARCH 18 5PM Second Time Around Band 9:30PM Digital Getdown 10PM DJ Paul Desisto

1st Place: $5,000 2nd Place: $2,500 3rd Place: $1,000 4th – 10th Place: $100 11th – 100th Place: $25

SATURDAY, MARCH 19 5PM Shot of Southern 9:30PM John Eddie 10PM DJ Eric Vanderslice Visit parxcasino.com/calendar for full schedule.

PARXCASINO.COM • MANAGEMENT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE OR CANCEL THESE PROMOTIONS AT ANY TIME. MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN. VISIT XCLUB FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS, RULES AND REGULATIONS. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1.800.GAMBLER