Hey FELA!
Family Portrait: Adam Hymans PAGE 25
Weigh It Forward participants weigh in at two months
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March 16-22, 2012
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Vol. 36 No. 11
Scouts blast Liberty City in latest court filing By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com
WOMEN ON THE SCREEN: More than 200 women and their supporters packed a screening of “Miss Representation” March 8 at William Way LGBT Community Center. Organized by Stimulus Productions, the documentary screening sought to bring attention to the far-reaching effects of the misrepresentation of women in the media. Photo: Scott A. Drake
In its latest effort to avoid eviction from a city-owned building, the BSA Cradle of Liberty Council this month filed a legal brief criticizing Liberty City Democratic Club’s indirect connection to the case. Liberty City is an LGBT Democratic organization in Philadelphia. Last year, the club sent a letter to U.S. Sen. Robert Casey, opposing a federal judgeship for City Solicitor Shelley R. Smith, alleging she mishandled the Scouts’ case. Last month, U.S. District Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter asked both sides to file updated briefs on the case, which has been held in abeyance for almost two years as both sides pursued an out-of-court settlement. Cradle’s brief includes a copy of Liberty City’s letter as an exhibit. Liberty City sent the letter because there are federal-judiciary vacancies in Pennsylvania, and Smith was believed to be a leading con-
Philly Councilman backs ‘Bully’ rating change
tender to fill one of the vacancies. The letter states that Smith “grossly mishandled and lost the [Scouts’ eviction] case, then failed to support an appeal, then proposed a sweetheart deal with the Boy Scouts.” The letter goes on to state: “Shelley Smith committed fundamental errors in the handling of the case. Those errors include rejecting early offers for pro-bono help, taking no discovery whatsoever from the national BSA, stating no objection to Judge Buckwalter’s potential bias based upon his [prior] board membership of the Boy Scouts and designating no expert witnesses for trial.” The letter also questions Smith’s ability to handle LGBT issues fairly and equitably if she were to serve as a federal judge. Cradle’s legal brief derides the views expressed in the letter. “These activists will settle for nothing short of complete victory over Cradle of Liberty, and have even attacked [Smith] for having the temerity to PAGE 22
Vote delayed on antigay marriage amendment
By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com
By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com
A Philadelphia City Councilmember is rallying Philadelphians to join the ranks of Johnny Depp, Meryl Streep, Ellen DeGeneres and scores of others calling for a lower rating for a film about bullying. Councilman Jim Kenney this week sent a letter to the Motion Picture Association of America, pressing the agency to change its “R” rating for “Bully” to a “PG-13,” and is taking to the airwaves and Internet to enlist support from other Philadelphians. Kenney said he began working with film producers more than a year ago on a plan to get the documentary out to local kids. The film, directed by Lee Hirsch, is set to release March 30, but its current rating would make it inaccessible to those under 17 not accompanied by a PAGE 9
A committee of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives failed to follow through with a scheduled vote this week on a bill that would ban same-sex marriage in the state constitution. Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-12th), the chair of the House State Government Committee and prime sponsor of the measure, pulled HB 1434 from consideration Tuesday. Metcalfe told committee members he was delaying the vote because of the large number of amendments that have been submitted to the bill. Metcalfe did not return a call for comment from PGN. The measure would define marriage in the constitution as being between one man and one woman and prohibit PAGE 8
OPTIMIZING HEALTH: A new fitness center opened its doors in the Gayborhood last week. About 100 supporters turned out March 8 to mark the grand opening of the gay-owned-and-operated Optimal Sport 1315 with food, drinks and a performance by pole-fitness expert Alfie Sosa. Located at 1315 Walnut St., the gym joins another Optimal local at Sixth and Walnut, as well as two others in the region, and will offer a vast array of fitness equipment, as well as group exercise classes and personal-trainer options. Photo: Scott A. Drake