PGN March 18-24, 2011 edition by The Philadelphia Gay News

Creating a bang

Family Portrait: Jose Rodriguez

PAGE 25

PAGE 31

University of Pennsylvania scientists are attempting to create HIV-resistant blood cells PAGE 7 Mar. 18-24, 2011

��

Vol. 35 No. 11

Fair Practices bill sails through Council Mayor Nutter signed into law a measure that updates the language of the city’s nondiscrimination ordinance, marking the first time in 60 years that the law has gotten a total overhaul. Included is the expansion of the definition of life partners and increased penalties for those who violate the LGBT-inclusive law. By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Philadelphia City Council last week approved a bill that strengthens the city’s nondiscrimination law. On March 10, Council gave a unanimous nod to Councilman Bill Greenlee’s measure to revamp the language in the LGBT-inclusive Fair Practices Ordinance and strengthen penalties against discrimination. Mark McDonald, spokesperson for Mayor Nutter, said the mayor will be “proud” to sign the bill, which he was expected to do March 17. Greenlee introduced the bill last month, and it passed out of committee with unanimous approval in early March. The measure will give the law its first major overhaul since its inception in 1951. Greenlee explained that while numerous amendments have been made since that time — such as the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity as classes protected from discrimination — many of those changes were not consistent throughout the legislation. Likewise, the language often was not uniform with state and federal laws, which Greenlee’s bill remedies. It also heightens the penalties the Human Relations Commission, which investigates and adjudicates discrimination complaints, can assign from $300 to up to $2,000. In updating definitions of various terms in the law, it also facilitates the process for same-sex couples wishing to register as “life partners,” lessening the number of months the couple needs to be together from six to three, and the number of documents needed to verify the relationship from three to two. Greenlee said he saw no opposition to the measure as it quickly wended its way through Council, which he said is a bit unusual. “Something usually this big does have a bit more discussion, but I think the issues here were pretty clear cut,” he said. “We’re dealing with antidiscrimination, with including more people protected under this law and increasing the penalties so the message is sent that folks can’t do PAGE 14

ALLY AT LARGE: LGBTs and allies gathered at the home of Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission chair Steve Glassman (standing, second from left) to rally in support of City Council hopeful Andy Toy (standing, second from right). About 40 supporters turned out for the meet and greet in the Rittenhouse Square area, in which Toy pledged to represent the interests of the community if successful in the upcoming election. Toy is one of 21 Democrats vying for one of five City Councilat-Large seats in May. Photo: Scott A. Drake

Primary ballot takes shape DIVAS IN DRAG: Broadway Divas brought the glitz and glamour of Times Square to Voyeur March 12. The sold-out event, hosted by Brittany Lynn, featured 18 drag queens and other live entertainers from around the region, who performed showstoppers from Broadway hits like “Wicked,” “Hairspray” and “Dreamgirls.” Photo: Scott A. Drake

DOMA repeal back in Congress By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Just two weeks after the Obama administration announced it would no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act in court, legislators in both chambers of Congress introduced measures to fully repeal the federal ban on same-sex marriage. The Respect for Marriage Act was introduced Wednesday by lead sponsors Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.). The House version has 108 cosponsors and includes cosponsorship from out Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who did not sign on to the bill last session. The legslation was first introduced in the House in 2009 with 91 original cosponsors

and died in committee with 120 cosponsors. This marks the first time the Respect for Marriage Act has been introduced in the Senate. The bill would repeal DOMA, which defines marriage as being between one man and one woman in federal law and prevents the federal government from recognizing legal same-sex marriages. Human Rights Campaign president Joe Solmonese commented Wednesday that the 15 years that have elapsed since DOMA’s introduction have served to highlight the true impact of the law. “In 1996, DOMA was just hypothetical discrimination because every state excluded same-sex couples from marriage,” he said. “Today we see it is much more concrete terms — as tangible, heartwrenching, real-life discrimination.” Late last month, PAGE 14

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Political hopefuls from around the state submitted their stacks of signed petitions last week to secure their spots on the ballot of the upcoming primary election. Candidates had until March 8 to file their petitions — Philadelphia City Council district candidates had to secure 750 signatures and all other candidates 1,000 — a deadline that PAGE 17

Maryland shelves marriage By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Although pundits had initially predicted a marriage-equality bill would easily sail through the Maryland House of Delegates this session, lawmakers in the state’s lower chamber last week sent the bill back to committee, where it won’t be revisited until next year. By voice vote March 11, supporters of the Civil Marriage Protection PAGE 19

2 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

4 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

PGN

BACK IN ACTION: With spring just a few days away, softball enthusiasts dusted off their gloves to try out for the City of Brotherly Love Softball League spring season. The recruiting event was held at Palumbo Recreation Center in South Philadelphia and drew about 50 athletes. Teams will be finalized in the coming weeks, as CBLSL will host opening games at noon April 17 at Dairy Fields in Fairmount Park. Photo: Scott A. Drake

NEWS

Contents

Crime Watch 6 News Briefing 12 Media Trail 13 International News 15

EDITORIAL/OP-ED

Editorial Op-Ed Mark My Words Street Talk Letters/Feedback

10 10 11 11 11

How do you feel about gays being banned from some St. Patrick’s Day parades?

Poll results from our online survey as of March16:

34% It should be illegal 18% It offends me as a gay Irish person 16% I say march and protest them 8% Two words: Green beer 11% No Irish in Pride parades then! 13% Who cares? Go to www.epgn.com to weigh in on this week’s question:

Target or Lady Gaga?

Philadelphia Gay News 505 S. Fourth St. Philadelphia, PA 19147-1506

For advertising inquiries; advertising@epgn.com or 215-625-8501 ext. 218.

Phone: 215-625-8501 Fax: 215-925-6437 E-mail: pgn@epgn.com Web: www.epgn.com

Advertising Director Tami Sortman (ext. 218) tami@epgn.com

Publisher

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

Mark Segal (ext. 204) mark@epgn.co0m Sarah Blazucki (ext. 206)

Advertising Sales Representatives David Augustine (ext. 219) david@epgn.com

Staff Writers Jen Colletta (ext. 215) jen@epgn.com

Amy Mather (ext. 214) amy@epgn.com

Larry Nichols (ext. 213) larry@epgn.com

National Advertising Rivendell Media 212-242-6863

Editor

sarah@epgn.com

Writer-at-Large Timothy Cwiek (ext. 208) timothy@epgn.com

Office Manager/ Classifieds Don Pignolet (ext. 200) don@epgn.com

Art Director/ Photographer Scott A. Drake (ext. 210) scott@epgn.com Graphic Artist Sean Dorn (ext. 211) sean@epgn.com Executive Assistant/ Billing Manager Carol Giunta (ext. 202) carol@epgn.com Philadelphia Gay News is a member of: The Associated Press Pennsylvania Newspaper Association Suburban Newspaper Published by Masco Communications Inc. © 2011 Masco Communications Inc. ISSN-0742-5155 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. 18-24, 2011

Federal gov’t confronts bullying By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com President and First Lady Michelle Obama met with scores of youth, parents and educators last week in the first-ever White House Conference on Bullying, one of a series of recent actions taken by federal officials and lawmakers to stem the tide of classroom harassment. Obama, who admitted to the crowd last Thursday that he himself was picked on when he was a child, said that while the conference couldn’t put an automatic stop to bullying, he was eager to at least “dispel the myth that bullying is just a harmless rite of passage or an inevitable part of growing up.” “Bullying can have destructive consequences for our young people,” the president said. “And it’s not something we have to accept. As parents and students, as teachers and members of the community, we can take steps — all of us — to help prevent bullying and create a climate in our schools in which all of our children can feel safe, a climate in which they all can feel like they belong.” After the Obamas’ remarks, the morethan 100 participants broke off into work groups to address the complex issues that fuel bullying and potential solutions to the epidemic. Joey Kemmerling, an openly gay former

Council Rock High School student who recently transferred to a New Jersey school after persistent antigay bullying, was one of the conference guests, representing the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network in his capacity as one of the agency’s student ambassadors. Kemmerling said his first visit to the White House, and especially its purpose, was overwhelming. “It was breathtaking. I don’t think I can really describe the feeling,” he said. “I’ve been a GLSEN ambassador since July and I’m so appreciative for the opportunities that’s given me. I went in there to talk not as Joey Kemmerling, an activist, but to represent GLSEN, which was incredible.” Kemmerling was assigned to a breakout session in which the participants discussed whether antibullying legislation is effective in stemming the tide of harassment, and he said the group unanimously agreed such laws are needed. Kemmerling said he’s seen the impact of antibullying laws firsthand, as New Jersey recently passed one of the nation’s strongest antibullying laws, while Pennsylvania’s measure is largely considered to be lacking. “Enumerated policies, ones that not only address the bully but also the victims, have been proven to work,” he said. “Since I transferred schools, I can tell immediately the difference between Pennsylvania and

New Jersey legislation. When you walk into a school in New Jersey, there’s a definite difference in climate.” During the conference, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Kevin Jennings, assistant deputy secretary for Safe and Drug-Free Schools and former executive director of GLSEN, participated in a conference call in which they announced the launch of the federal government’s PRESIDENTIAL INITIATIVE: President Obama and First new anti-bullying web- Lady Michelle Obama meet with students and parents site, www.stopbullying. March 10 during the Conference on Bullying Prevention in gov. the Oval Office. Photo: Courtesy of the White House/Pete Souza The site offers lem. But hopefully this site can help wellresources and advice for students, parents and educators who intentioned parents, who may not know how are contending with bullying, as well as an to handle this issue, by providing informaoverview of antibullying legislation and a tion about how to have these conversations, special tab on the front page dedicated to how to talk to their children, how to talk to administrators, how to build that bridge that information related to antiLGBT bullying. “If students are getting bullied there’s is so important.” Jennings said the spate of suicides by gay often a sense of shame, but this site encourages students to talk about what’s happen- youth in the fall, largely attributed to school ing,” Duncan said. “Parents also have to be bullying, sparked a firestorm of discussion vigilant. Anyone who thinks the govern- on the epidemic, which he said could begin ment can do this by itself doesn’t begin to to change societal views of bullying. “We know bullying is understand the complexities of this probPAGE 7

6 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

LOCAL PGN

Gayborhood Crime Watch

��

The following incidents in the Midtown Village and Washington Square West areas were reported to the Sixth Police District between Feb. 15-20. Information is courtesy of Sixth District Capt. Brian Korn; Stacy Irving, senior director, Crime Prevention Service; Center City District; the Police Liaison Committee and Midtown Village Merchants Association. To report crime tips, visit www.phillypolice.com or call 215-686-TIPS (8477).

��

�� Call�(215) 732-8655�or visit�NavalSquare.com

Sales Center Open Mon.-Sun. 11-6, Wed. 11-8 Brokers welcome. Prices subject to change without notice. *The Philadelphia Inquirer, 8/8/10 issue. This is not an offering where prohibited by law.

REPORT: At 10:30 a.m. Feb. 27, out-oftown woman left a backpack with a laptop unattended on a chair inside Cosi, 1130 Walnut St. A witness reported it was taken by a white male in his 20s, 5-foot-10, 150 pounds and bald with a star tattoo on the left side of his neck.

REPORT: Between 3 p.m. Feb. 20 and 8:30 a.m. Feb. 21, numerous offices on the 24th-30th floors of 123 S. Broad St. were found with open doors; one office had a laptop missing. Employees and cleaning staff have 24/7 access cards; there was no forced entry. Central Detective Division processed the scene for evidence.

ARREST (UPDATE): At 4:55 p.m. Feb. 27, the manager of Cosi, 1130 Walnut St., flagged down two officers and pointed out a male who fit the description of the person seen taking a backpack there earlier in the day. Officers apprehended the male, who was identified by the witness. The 24-yearold suspect with a local homeless shelter address was charged with theft.

REPORT: Between 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Feb. 21, complainant’s 1994 Plymouth, parked in the 300 block of South 13th Street, was stolen.

ARREST: At 8:25 p.m. Feb. 28, officers arrested a male for a summary offense at Camac and Locust streets.

REPORT: At 10:20 a.m. Feb. 21, officers arrested two males for summary offenses outside 1214 Chestnut St.

REPORT: Between Feb. 25 and March 2, an air-conditioning condenser, left in the common hallway of an apartment building in the 1100 block of Spruce Street by the contractor, was stolen.

REPORT: At 4:30 p.m. Feb. 24, complainant was walking in the 1000 block of Market Street with a $10 bill in her hand when a male walked up and asked for it. When she refused, the male cut her finger with a box cutter and took the money. The offender was described as a black male, clean-shaven and wearing a black hoodie and blue jeans. ARREST: At 9:30 p.m. Feb. 24, officers arrested a male in the 1200 block of Locust Street as a fugitive from justice.

24th & Bainbridge

two males for summary offenses in the 400 block of South Watts Street.

REPORT: Between 4-4:40 p.m. Feb. 25, complainant’s secured bicycle was stolen from the 1300 block of Spruce Street. ARRESTS: At 2 a.m. Feb. 25, officers arrested two males for summary offenses at 1000 Spruce St. and, at 7:25 p.m., at 261 S. 13th St.; police also arrested a male on a bench warrant at 6:05 p.m. in the 1000 block of Waverly Street. ARRESTS: On Feb. 26, officers arrested

REPORT: At 8:25 p.m. March 3, complainant was on her cell phone while in the 300 block of South 13th Street when a male came from behind, grabbed it and fled north on 13th in a gold or tan vehicle. The offender was described as a black male, 19 years old, 5-foot-2, with a thin build and dark complexion and wearing a black jacket. ARREST: At 12:30 a.m. March 4, officers arrested a male for a summary offense in the 300 block of South 13th Street. REPORT: Between 7:15 a.m.-7:55 p.m. March 4, complainant discovered a laptop missing from his apartment, in the 200 block of South Ninth Street, after maintenance personnel were in his property. Officer Minnis lifted fingerprints. ■

Look Better NAKED! Move Forward Fitness

13 Week Fitness Program! • Lose Fat! • Gain Muscle! • Speed Metabolism!

GUARANTEED RESULTS! 215-399-3541

MoveForwardFitness.com Call Today!

LOCAL PGN

U Penn pioneers HIV gene-therapy trial By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Earlier this month, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania unveiled a research study in which they’re attempting to create HIV-resistant blood cells — and so far are seeing encouraging results. The Penn scientists undertook the genetherapy trial in July 2009, and the study is still accepting participants. Researcher Dr. Pablo Tebas explained the study involves the physical manipulation of the T-cells in HIV-positive patients’ blood to remove the receptor through which HIV gains access to the cells. “We separate the cells in the lab and the protein in the membrane of the cell where the HIV virus uses to enter the cells is taken out,” Tebas said. “So we remove that particular gene from the cells and then monitor the patients to see if the HIV continues to expand or not.” The initial results have indicated that, after being placed back in the patients’ blood, the engineered cells did not become infected by HIV and “expanded” or multiplied, accounting for up to 6 percent of some patients’ T-cell count. Tebas noted that, while the results are preliminary and much more research is needed, BULLYING, from page 5

not a new phenomenon, it’s been pervasive for some time, but there comes a point in history where folks need to say this is something that’s been tolerated for a long time and it’s no longer tolerable and no longer acceptable,” he said. “We reached a tipping point over the last couple months, due to the suicides in the fall, to the point where the President and First Lady are standing together today to say bullying is unacceptable, both as leaders of the country and as parents.” Last year, the Department of Education invested $38 million in the new Safe and Supportive Schools program, which, through data collection that includes surveys given directly to students, identifies the institutions hit hardest by bullying and directs funds to those schools for anti-bullying programs. So far 11 states have benefited from the program, and Jennings said, depending on budgetary allowances, he hopes more states can be incorporated in the coming years. Legislators also made moves Thursday to fight back against bullying, with the introduction of the Student Non-Discrimination Act, which would ban LGBT discrimination in public schools. Spearheaded by out U.S. Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) and Sen. Al Franken (DMinn.), SNDA had 99 cosponsors in the House, including Pennsylvania Reps. Bob Brady (D-1st Dist.) and Michael Doyle (D14th Dist.), and 22 in the Senate, including

the study is promising. “We’ve seen that it is doable,” he said. “We can take cells and genetically modify them and reinfuse them and it’s safe, nothing bad has happened to the patients. The cells are alive when they go back into the patient and, while we don’t have all the data yet, the cells have expanded so far as normal cells as we can tell, which means that they are protected from HIV infection.” Tebas said the ultimate goal of the study is to get HIV-positive patients completely off their medications and free of the virus, and while that outcome is a long way down the line, the current study is necessary to eventually reach that end. “We’re basically looking to cure HIV infection but we’re far away from a cure. Right now we’re looking to answer the question of if you can make an immune system, in a patient, that is resistant to HIV. In order for there to be an actual cure, we’d need all cells in the patient to have this gene removed, and we can’t do that yet — we’ve only removed a very small fraction. But this is the first step of going in the direction of building an entire immune system that’s resistant to HIV.” Penn’s AIDS Clinical Trials Unit is still recruiting for the study. For more information, call 215-349-8092. ■ Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey (D). Also March 10, Rep. Rush Holt (D) and Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D), both from New Jersey, introduced the Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act, named for the Rutgers University freshman who committed suicide last fall after his roommate allegedly posted online a video of his sexual encounter with another man. The bill would require federally funded colleges and universities to develop antibullying policies that bar harassment based on sexual orientation, gender identity and other characteristics, extended to cyberbullying. The Tyler Clementi Act has six House cosponsors and eight Senate cosponsors. Earlier in the week, Casey and Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) introduced the Safe Schools Improvement Act, which would mandate that federally funded schools incorporate antibullying policies that are inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity, among other protected classes. Kemmerling said that while the conference was successful in that it opened a national conversation on bullying, the president’s response to antibullying legislation will be key. “It’s a two-way street,” he said. “It was important for this conference to happen, but we’re now waiting on what will come out of this. We need to see if this is a one-time deal or if the Obama administration will take on these issues and work to pass legislation and put more mandates in place that work toward antibullying efforts.” ■

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

8 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

LOCAL PGN

Over protests, out artist’s sculpture could get new home By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Openly gay artist Raymond Sandoval’s rendering of Chief Tamanend, who famously signed the peace treaty with William Penn, has stood sentinel over Front and Market streets for nearly 16 years. But an effort is underway to move the piece to a nearby park where the treaty was signed, despite the sculptor’s opposition. The Friends of Penn Treaty Park are seeking to move the statue to the waterfront park in Fishtown, contending that it would be a historically relevant spot for the piece. Sandoval, however, argues that the statue was designed for its current location. “That sculpture is site-specific, which means it was made for that site,” he said. “When you look at a space, you envision something to go into that space, so that’s why it has the bench and its height. It was made specifically for that space.” Sandoval was one of 3,000 artists across the nation who submitted proposals in 1992 in response to the city’s call for a sculpture for the location to honor NativeAmerican contributions to the Delaware Valley. The piece was part of a reconstruction effort of the historic Old City district, and Tamanend is positioned to face the William Penn statue atop City Hall. At the June 1995 unveiling of the chief, Sandoval recounted, that renowned city planner Edmund Bacon commented that the piece was the “exclamation point to Market Street.” “All these prominent architects, planners and politicians were involved in the creation of this sculpture, so for this group to just come in and say they don’t like it there and want it in their park just doesn’t make sense to me,” Sandoval said. Barb Morehead, founder and vice president of Friends of Penn Treaty Park, however, asserted that the location is less than prime for the piece. “People don’t know it’s there,” she said. “His rear end is facing the river, and his front should be facing the river. And it’s just dirty, the area isn’t kept up.” Morehead’s group is petitioning for the statue to be moved beneath a descendent of an elm tree where the treaty was said to have been signed in the park, which is also home to a statue of Penn. “It shouldn’t be all about William Penn all the time,” she said. “Chief Tamanend made the treaty with Penn, so without him there wouldn’t even have been a treaty, so he’s just as important.” Morehead said the effort to move the statue has gained support from Lenni Lenape in the area as well as some state lawmakers. The group raised the issue with the

CHIEF TAMANEND SCULPTURE, AT FRONT AND MARKET, MAY MOVE TO PENN TREATY PARK.

Fairmount Park Commission earlier this month and is waiting for a response. In the meantime, the organization is working to raise funds for the potential move through grassroots means like neighborhood and school penny drives. Morehead said she’s waiting for a cost estimate on moving the statue. Sandoval speculated that the group may not be prepared for the price tag. “The sculpture itself is 22 feet in bronze and weighs 4 tons. Then there’s the pedestal itself, which weighs three times as much,” he said, estimating that the entire structure weights about 20 tons. Sandoval said he’s spoken with the grand chief of the Lenni Lenape, who lives in Oklahoma and that he’s also opposed to the move. The artist said he plans to contact the Fairmount Park Commission with his concerns. “The whole point was for this to be in that area because of the historical reconstruction. Why did we put so much work into this back then when it’s just going to be undone?” Sandoval suggested the Friends group direct its efforts instead toward raising money to commission a new Tamanend statue, but Morehead said the group plans to proceed with its original goal. ■

LOCAL PGN

BINGO brings recognition, fundraising By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

the Gayborhood and, during last year’s OutFest, after witnessing the hateful messages by antigay protesters, constructed her April Fool’s Day will provide plenty of own “Don’t Believe It — God Loves You” laughs to one HIV/AIDS funding organiza- signs at the St. Luke’s booth to greet guests approaching the protest. tion this year. Haines said her time at St. Luke ministerAIDS Fund’s annual Black Tie Gay BINGO will kick off at 6:30 p.m. April 1 ing to the HIV/AIDS and LGBT commuat The Crystal Tearoom, 100 Penn Square nities has been invaluable to her personal growth, and she’s grateful that AIDS Fund East. The event, modeled after the agency’s appreciates that contribution. “It’s an honor for the community, for St. monthly BINGO fundraisers, generates funding for various HIV/AIDS service Luke and The Epiphany, who gave me the organizations in the region that AIDS Fund opportunity to work in the neighborhood. It’s an acknowledgment that we all need supports. In addition to the scores of BINGO allies. My life would be a lot less without games, the event will feature dinner, danc- the full complement — the full range of who people really are — black, white, red, ing and a silent auction. AIDS Fund will also present several long- blue, gay, straight, trans. I live in the subtime supporters with its annual awards. The urbs, and a lot of people there pretend that Founders’ Award will go to band The Dukes gays don’t exist or that HIV doesn’t exist. of Destiny, which plays each year at AIDS God loves diversity, and I think the world Fund’s AIDS Walk, while the Favorite is richer and deeper because of that diverStraight Person of the Year Award will sity.” Like Haines, Shenk has also been a familbe presented to the Rev. Marlene “Mike” Haines. The Ferrara Family Volunteer iar face to the AIDS Fund community. Shenk has served as a volunteer at the Awards will go to Joe Shenk and Howard monthly Gay BINGO events since 2002, Traivers. Haines recently retired as the assistant overseeing ticket sales as guests arrive. When he started volunteering, Shenk rector of St. Luke and The Epiphany, where she headed the church’s Hospitality Center, was new to the area and looking to get which has ministered to the HIV/AIDS involved in the city’s LGBT scene, and was connected to AIDS Fund through a friend community since 1997. who’d volunteered. That friend has since stopped volunteering, and Shenk said he’s seen a bevy of changes coming through the agency in his time, although he hasn’t tired of it yet. “I know sometimes people who volunteer get burned out and might leave and come back. I’ve seen volunteers change and hosts change and even the staff changes, but that has kept it fresh for me in a way,” he said. “I’ve met a lot of people there and have made a lot of friends I know I’m going to have for the rest of my life. I tend to dedicate myself to something ST. LUKE & THE EPIPHANY BOOTH AT OUTFEST and, unlike with a job that you could lose through no fault of your In 1989, the center provided office space own, with volunteering you can just keep for AIDS Fund as it was getting off the doing it and doing it and doing it.” Shenk rarely gets to sit and play the ground, and has long supported other HIV/ AIDS service organizations and the com- games at the event because he’s working, munity with a series of programs and activi- and said receiving the award will be a welties for people infected with and affected by come affirmation of his commitment to the agency. HIV/AIDS. “It’s really humbling,” he said. “I’ve been “It’s been getting harder to keep people aware of the devastation of the disease and there fairly long but I wasn’t expecting this. its impact, so a lot of what the center does It really reinforces my belief in this cause is to keep that awareness alive,” Haines and this organization and makes me realsaid. “And we try to make people aware that ize that as long as I’m able to, I’m going to there is a church, a Christian community, keep volunteering for them.” For more information or to purchase that says we know HIV exists and that HIVtickets, visit www.aidswalkphilly.org or positive people are welcome here.” Haines has been a constant presence in call 215-731-9255. ■

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

10 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

EDITORIAL PGN

For Carl Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover was a sixthspent more than two decades fighting this battle before I joined this administration, I grader in the Springfield (Mass.) Schools watched in awe as the combined leadership in the 2008-09 school year. School was of the Obama presidency sent a clear and an awful place for Carl, a place where he unequivocal message: We can’t wait for it was relentlessly bullied as “gay” by his to get better for LGBT kids — we need to peers because he was a good student who make it better right now. dressed neatly and didn’t fit the gender stereotype assigned to him as This high-profile event was not a one-shot deal for the an African-American male. On April 6, 2009, Carl decided he Obama administration. Our couldn’t take it any more and work against bullying began hung himself. in 2009, when a six-agency Carl was 11 years old when Federal Partners in Bullying he decided he’d rather die than Prevention work group was congo back to school. vened to tackle this problem. On March 10, 2011, I sat in The partners staged the firstthe Blue Room of the White ever federal Bullying Summit House and watched Carl’s mom, in August 2010, long before the national media frenzy that Sirdenear Walker, tell her son’s story to President and Mrs. accompanied the tragic suiObama right before the start cides of young people like Tyler Kevin Clementi in the fall of 2010. of the first-ever White House Conference on Bullying. The work group continues its Jennings The moment I will never forget was efforts today, unveiling a new when Mrs. Walker pulled out website —stopbullying.gov her son’s 8-by-11 school photo and handed — on March 10 to provide a one-stop shop it to Mrs. Obama. Looking both stricken for those looking for resources to fight all and moved, the First Lady grasped the pic- forms of bullying, including anti-LGBT ture, looked at it intently, and then wrapped bullying. The Department of Education also announced its intention to set up a Mrs. Walker in a tight embrace. At that moment, I thought that perhaps something special technical assistance center dedigood could come out of Mrs. Walker’s cated to bullying prevention. This will be loss, that perhaps her son did not die in followed by the department’s national sumvain, that perhaps Mrs. Walker’s courage in mits on Gender-Based Violence Among speaking out about the greatest nightmare Young People (including violence against that could befall any mother might help transgender youth) in April, a first-ever bring us to a tipping point where bullying federal Summit on LGBT Youth in June becomes simply unacceptable in America’s and a second-annual federal Bullying schools. Summit in September. In other words, the If that happens, I believe March 10, Obama Administration is in this for the long haul. 2011, will go down in history as the date when the tide turned. Every day I wear on my suit a button By convening the first-ever White House with Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover’s school Conference on Bullying and hosting it picture on it and the dates of his far-toopersonally in the East Room of the White short life. It reminds me of why I came to House, the President and the First Lady Washington, D.C., in the first place, which made the strongest statement possible that was to do my part to make sure these kinds of tragedies come to an end. Sitting they believe the moment for bullying to in the Blue Room watching Mrs. Walker end has arrived and that they are putting tell Carl’s story to the President and First themselves and our entire administration Lady last Thursday, I began to believe that on the front lines of this fight. From the — with this president’s leadership — that first remarks made by President and Mrs. Obama through the closing remarks by day might be coming very soon. ■ Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and Secretary of Kevin Jennings is the Assistant Deputy Education Arne Duncan, anti-LGBT bully- Secretary for the U.S. Department of ing was specifically and frequently called Education’s Office of Safe and Drug-Free out as unacceptable. As someone who Schools.

Op-Ed

Editorial

Japan’s triple threat Earthquake. Tsunami. Nuclear meltdown. After the 9.0 earthquake hit Sendai, Japan, at 2:46 p.m. March 11, the country faced a tsunami and, now, a nuclear crisis is continuing to unfold. The death toll stands at 4,100, with an estimated 11,000 still missing. This disaster — both natural and man-made parts — has had unprecedented media coverage, greatly due to the fact that Japan is so technologically advanced and connected. In just moments after the quake, there were videos and photos uploaded and broadcast around the world. After the tsunami struck, images quickly spread, showing the widespread devastation. These were all the more mesmerizing — terrifying — because Japan is a highly industrialized nation: That wave sweeping cars, boats, trucks, ships, houses, planes across fields, highways, bridges could just as easily be here in the United States. Unlikely, sure, but Americans could empathize. This disaster feels more real and pervasive than others in recent history, such as the tsunami in Indonesia or the earthquake in Haiti, partially because of the difficulty getting on the ground coverage in those areas and partially because Japan is a more developed country, there is more to destroy. With each day, the reports of the failing nuclear power plant become worse, shifting from likely no damage to the potential of major catastrophe: There isn’t any water in the cooling tanks, there are reports of fires and explosions, they’ve expanded the evacuation zone, countries are evacuating their citizens. Right now, it’s unclear if or how the release of radioactive material into the environment would transpire. If it’s severe, it could be catastrophic release that might devastate hundreds of square miles. If it’s less extreme, the containment structure may hold and only a small amount of radioactive material would be released. By comparison, experts have said the problems at Fukushima Daiichi plant are less severe than Chernobyl but more severe than Three Mile Island. Among the concerns in the aftermath of this disaster is, could it happen here? More specifically, could an earthquake trigger a nuclear meltdown in the U.S.? According to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the plant most likely to be damaged in a quake is Indian Point, Buchanan, N.Y., followed by Pilgrim, Plymouth, Mass., and third, nearby Limerick, with a one-in-18,868 chance of suffering core damage from an earthquake. To be sure, if there was a major earthquake here, we’d need to worry about the buildings collapsing first. But it’s far easier to repair physical damage than nuclear damage. For those advocating nuclear energy as an alternative to oil or coal, it would behoove us to proceed with extreme caution, and fully consider how devastating it could be. ■

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

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

OP-ED PGN

Protecting LGBT youth It’s great when LGBT media from they had since the U.S. government does around the country gets a chance to meet not recognize the LGBT community in with each other and share their experiits studies; Ali Forney Center, the LGBT ence and knowledge. After all, we are youth organization in New York City the communications platform of this whose goal is to take LGBT homeless community, and the more accurate infor- youth off the streets, and whose staffmation we have on any given ers explained there are less than 1,000 beds at homeless subject, the better. shelters for endangered and To this point, real statistical homeless LGBT youth in information is only beginning to come to light, since our the country; and the Suicide existence as a community has Prevention Resource Center. only taken shape over the last Many participants blogged few decades and accurate surabout the sessions, covering veys are hard to accomplish; topics such as how rejection many in our community do from family and friends in the coming-out process can not self-identify as LGBT. lead to mental-health and The Walter & Elise Haas substance-abuse issues, how Fund (www.haasjr.org) in San Francisco really gets it, and most shelter programs for completely underwrote the LGBT youth are run by the conference. Last year, they same religious organizations convened a conference at the Mark Segal who oppress them, and how, Desmond Tutu Center in New in suicide studies thus far, York City for LGBT print media and only 1.7 percent self-identify as LGBT, bloggers on the issue of immigration. demonstrating that the closet extends to Many of us learned for the first time suicide studies. Additionally, medical how important it was in our community, and government resistance of inclusion and why it’s an LGBT issue. contributes to most suicides never being With the help of Bill Browning, edirecorded as LGBT, with youth being tor-in-chief for the Bilerico project, the two to three times more likely, and this Haas Foundation expanded the program is a lowball figure due to the lack of research. last weekend. It was an ambitious program. They brought in experts who gave The material presented made a strong LGBT media an update and real material argument that we as a community must on LGBT youth issues, including suido more for our endangered youth. They cide prevention, homelessness, bullying make it clear that a support system must and how family life affects growth, the be put into place lest these drastic figures continue. It is our duty to increase tangled legal web of marriage-equality our efforts beyond legislation, to push law — from California’s Proposition 8 for funds to save our most cherished to Massachusetts Attorney General lawasset: our future, our youth. ■ suits, as well as the Obama administration’s decision not to defend the Defense of Marriage Act and trying to understand Mark Segal is PGN publisher. He is the nation’s most-award-winning commenhow this will end up at the Supreme Court. tator in LGBT media, having received Among the organizations that prethe 2010 Columnist of the Year Award sented was the American Foundation for from the 2,000-member Suburban Suicide Prevention, whose representaNewspapers of America. He can be tives spoke about what little information reached at mark@epgn.com.

Mark My Words

Letters and Feedback In response to “Former prison commish seeks judgeship,” March 11-17:

In response to “Archdiocese puts 21 more priests on leave,” March 11-17:

Leon would make an excellent judge. I hope to see all of you get out there and vote for him! — colleague of King’s

PGN and fair reporting of rabbi child sex abusers ... I guess Mark doesn’t want to include these articles because he is afraid — it is understandable. Read and see what happens when you press to help Jewish children of rabbi sex abuse.

I do believe that Mr. King can make a difference. He is a very good administrator, good listener and a man who is ready to help. I wish him all success. — Sam K

— anonymous

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

Street Talk Do you agree with the Supreme Court’s decision on funeral protests? “Yes. The Supreme Court’s job is to uphold the Constitution, and that’s what they’ve done in this case. I just wish saner Rebecca Hobson heads would student prevail. It Washington Square would be great West if — somehow — the protesters could be persuaded to back off.”

“I definitely disagree with the protesters' plan of attack. But I’m also a law-abiding citizen. The Michelle Mace Constitution graphic designer guarantees Northern Liberties free speech rights for everybody. Unfortunately, that includes funeral protesters. They have to be granted the same freedoms as everyone else.”

“No. The court should be protecting the military families. Their relatives died while protecting our country. Chris Robertson We should be illustration student protecting their Washington Square West families as they’re laid to rest. I hope counter-protesters will attend future events and drown out the horrible message of the funeral protesters.”

“Yes, because people have the right to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness and free speech. But there should be reasonable Abraham Smith student barriers North Philadelphia placed between the protesters and the families. The protesters shouldn’t be allowed to get too close to the actual ceremony.”

Planning a wedding, civil union or commitment ceremony? Let the community share your good news. E-mail announcements with your contact information to editor@epgn. com, and put “announcement” in the subject line.

PGN

12 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

Association wants the review board to reverse that decision and block the demolition. Siloam no longer has an executive director, now relying on volunteers to provide services, and most likely will have to close if it can’t raze the church, supporters testified at the March 14 hearing. They said Siloam offers alternate AIDS therapies including Reiki massage, stressreduction training and nutritional counseling to low-income people with HIV/AIDS. The former Catholic church, which has been vacant since the mid-1990s, is located at 1133 Spring Garden St. Siloam purchased it from the Archdiocese five years ago. Bevan Lawson, a structural engineer, testified that water infiltration and other problems have rendered the structure unstable. “There’s a significant amount of work that needs to be done to bring this structure up to code,” Lawson told review-board members. Other witnesses testified that a buyer for the church couldn’t be found when the economy was thriving, let alone during a nationwide recession. But CNA members said the church — which has historic ties to two saints —

News Briefing Church’s fate uncertain A city review panel heard testimony this week from supporters of an AIDS-services agency who say an old agency-owned church must be demolished, if the agency is to have any chance of surviving. Supporters of Siloam Ministries told the city’s Board of License and Inspection Review Monday that the historically certified Church of the Assumption is in danger of collapse — and its deteriorating facade is scaring away potential buyers of adjacent properties also owned by Siloam. Last September, the Philadelphia Historical Commission voted to allow the demolition on the basis that it would be a financial hardship for Siloam if it were required to maintain the church. But the Callowhill Neighborhood

attracts visitors to the area, and rehabbing it would be well worth the effort. They said Siloam’s survival isn’t controlled by the fate of the church, and noted that The Clay Studio, a nonprofit ceramic arts organization, is interested in purchasing it. Timothy Duffield, a representative of The Clay Studio, told board members he was prepared to testify about his organization’s desire to rehab the church. But, citing time constraints, board members asked Duffield to postpone his testimony until later this month. The next hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. March 28 at 1515 Arch St., 18th floor. —Timothy Cwiek

Abington continues nondiscrimination debate The Abington Board of Commissioners last week voted to form a committee to examine a revised version of an LGBTinclusive nondiscrimination ordinance. The board established the six-member committee at its March 10 meeting. The

first committee meeting has not yet been scheduled, but it will be closed to the public. The committee will discuss a nondiscrimination ordinance introduced last month by Commission President Carol DiJoseph after a more comprehensive bill, spearheaded by out Commissioner Lori Schreiber, was voted down.

Gala for AIDS awareness The Philadelphia AIDS Consortium will host a fundraising gala next weekend that seeks to counteract negative social attitudes toward HIV/AIDS. TPAC’s Erasing the Stigma will be held from 6:30-11 p.m. March 26 at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel, 1200 Market St. The event, which will feature dancing, a silent auction and raffle, will include celebrity guest speaker Sheryl Lee Ralph, emcee Jim Donovan from CBS3 and music by DJ Michael DeCero. Tickets are $125 and can be purchased at www.tpaconline.org or by calling 215-9889970. ■ — Jen Colletta

SERVICES DIRECTORY ��

INDEPENDENCE BUSINESS ALLIANCE DIRECTORY ��

��

�� • • • •

��

www.IndependenceBusinessAlliance.com

PGN

Media Trail

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

�� SERVICES DIRECTORY

��

Gay sex ban to stay MSNBC.com reports the ranking Republican and Democrat on the Kansas state House Judiciary Committee intend to leave a law criminalizing gay sex on the books, even though it’s unconstitutional. The law limits sex acts between same-sex partners. A 2003 U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down a similar law in Texas indirectly nullified the Kansas law, but the Legislature must vote to repeal it. Reps. Lance Kinzer (R) and Jan Pauls (D) said on March 10 it wasn’t necessary to remove the law. Kinzer says the law is unenforceable and no one is being harmed by it.

Homophobic Utah Sen. retires Advocate.com reports antigay Utah state Sen. Chris Buttars said March 11 that he was retiring immediately due to “human frailty.” Buttars, 69, has been suffering from health problems including diabetes. In February 2009, Buttars was removed from the Utah Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee and the Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee for making homophobic remarks. In the documentary “8: The Mormon Proposition,” Buttars said gays are “the greatest threat to America,” and compared them to radical Muslims.

DOMA activists held GayPeoplesChronicle.com reports five Ohio activists were arrested March 9 after staging a sit-in outside of U.S. House Speaker John Boehner’s 8th Congressional District office in West Chester. The five members of LGBT group GetEqual were charged with trespassing after sitting outside the speaker’s office. They had refused to leave after being denied entry to Boehner’s office, where they attempted to deliver a petition urging him not to defend the Defense of Marriage Act. The five are to appear in court March 29. They were part of a rally protesting Boehner’s March 4 announcement that he would defend DOMA. ■ — Larry Nichols

��

Reach Over 40,000 Readers Weekly For As Little A

��

�� ~ Now Accepting New Patients ~

• General and Specialized Dentistry • Cosmetic Dentistry • Early Morning and Evening Hours • Education

��

Cornell University, B.S., 1986 U of P School of Dental Medicine, DMD, 1990 Temple University, Residency in Prosthodontics, 1992

��

Dr. Ira Sheres (center) with his life partner and their children

��

Reach Over 40,000Weekly Readers Weekly As As A Week. Reach Over 40,000 Readers For$25.00 AsLittle Little As$25.00 $25.00 A Week. Reach Over 40,000 Readers ForWeekly As Little For As A Week. Call 215-625-8501 Today!

14 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

PGN FAIRNESS, from page 1

this. It’s hard to be against something like this.” Greenlee worked closely with the Human Relations Commission for about a year on crafting of the legislation. McDonald said the mayor was supportive of the measure throughout its crafting and tenure in Council, and noted its success was a collaborative effort. “This was a bill that the administration worked very, very closely with Councilman Greenlee on, Rue Landau from the Human Relations Commission and her staff, as well as the commission chair, Kay Yu,” he said. “This law hadn’t really been revamped in a comprehensive way for a number of generations, and this strengthens the enforcement tools and expands the coverage, so the mayor is very pleased that Council worked so expeditiously on getting this passed.” ■

Consumer Research Council’s top dentist 2007, 2008, and 2009. Rainbow Award best dentist who contributes to his community 2007 and 2008.

Medical Arts Bldg. 1601 Walnut St. , Suite 1302 Phila. PA 19102

215-568-6222

www.philadelphiadentist.com

DOMA, from page 1

We are a full service pharmacy Proudly serving the Philadelphia community

Free Delivery! 113 S. 18th Street • Philadelphia PA 19103

215-564-0900

• We can bill for all SPBP medications • All insurances accepted • No insurance? You’ll be surprised by our prices • Fast friendly service • Easy prescription transfers • Complete medication therapy for: • HIV/AIDS • Diabetes • Pain Mgmt

Questions About Hemorrhoids?

Proctology Colonoscopy Office Hemorrhoid Treatment Colon Cancer Screening Office Surgery • Laser Surgery Bleeding • Constipation • Diarrhea Treatment of Anal Warts (HPV) Most Insurances Accepted Day & Evening Appointments Dr. Lowell D. Meyerson D.O. Board Certified Proctologist

Two Locations City Line Professional Building 7516 City Line Avenue Suite 2 Philadelphia, PA 19151 215-877-3639

Medical Arts Building

50 East Township Line Rd. Suite 226, Elkins Park, PA 19027 215-379-0444

www.fannydoctor.com

��

18th Street Apothecary

Attorney General Eric Holder announced that he and President Obama agreed that the Department of Justice would no longer defend the law in federal court, as they had determined sexual-orientation discrimination deserved a stricter standard of review, under which DOMA would be found unconstitutional. Without the DOJ backing DOMA, defense of the law — which is being challenged by several federal lawsuits — was left up to Congress. The Bi-Partisan House Legal Advisory Group, led by House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), in a 3-2 vote March 9 decided to intervene and defend the law. On March 3, opponents in the House introduced a resolution condemning President Obama on his decision to drop his DOMA defense. The legislators argued that the “vast majority” of Americans are opposed to marriage equality and noted DOMA passed by a significant margin in both chambers, while the DOJ continues to “vigorously” defend laws such as the health-care reform, which were approved by slimmer margins. The nonbinding resolution measure has 94 cosponsors, including Pennsylvania Reps. Mike Kelly (R-3rd Dist.) and Joe Pitts (R-16th Dist.). ■

Celebrating 35 years of serving and informing the community. ��

��

PGN

International S. African lesbians protest corrective rape Lesbian activists in the South African capital of Cape Town held a demonstration outside parliament March 14 to call for more action on the problem of “corrective rape.” The 25 activists from lesbian group Luleki Sizwe want Justice Minister Jeff Radebe to recognize the issue as a hate crime. Corrective rape, as it is known, is the rape of lesbians to try and “turn” them straight. Activists say it is becoming more common. The most high-profile case was in 2008, when lesbian footballer Eudy Simelane was raped, beaten and murdered. Two men were jailed for her killing. As well as demonstrating outside parliament, Luleki Sizwe has organized a 170,000-signature petition from around the world asking the government to look at the issue. “We have shown that we can mobilize tens of thousands of people in South Africa and around the world, and the ministry now

knows that they can no longer ignore our long fight against corrective rape,” said Sizwe, founder of Ndumie Funda. “The question now is what they will actually do about it. The ball is in their court.” The group wants research into corrective rape and a national plan to tackle sexual violence and hate crimes. There are an estimated 500,000 rapes in South Africa every year and, for every 25 men accused of rape, 24 go free.

St. Lucia apologizes to gay tourists The tourism minister of St. Lucia apologized March 14 to the three American tourists brutalized this month in an antigay attack, and said the southern Caribbean island is safe for gay visitors. Tourism Minister Allen Chastanet issued an apology to three Atlanta men after masked bandits broke into their mountain rental home in Soufriere. One said the gunmen made slurs against gays, white people and Americans during the March 2 assault. According to the victims’ account, Michael Baker and his boyfriend Nick Smith were in the shower in the evening when they heard their friend Todd Wiggins scream in another part of the house. Baker emerged to find masked men beating Wiggins, and he and Smith eventually were tied up and beaten too. The men hiked down a mountain barefoot to escape after their attackers

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

left. St. Lucia police said March 14 that two suspects had been arrested and three more are sought. However, the same day, Baker said he was not notified of any arrests. Wiggins said he was frustrated with the portrayal of the attack. “I feel that the gay media rushed to declare this a hate crime and the St. Lucian police and government officials rushed to dismiss the possibility that any part of the incident was a hate crime,” he said.

Can. citizenship guide mentions gay rights The latest version of a Canadian citizenship study guide includes a single sentence about gay rights in what appears to have been an official effort to keep it short. The revised version of Discover Canada released March 14 follows the first version of the booklet released in 2009. That version contained a passing reference to gay people, namely with a photo and caption of Olympic gold medalist Mark Tewksbury. A draft indicated that more extensive information, including milestones in gay rights, had been planned, but the Office of Immigration minister Jason Kenney ordered the deletion of the material. On March 14, Kenney, who opposes marriage equality, unveiled the next version, which acknowledges gay rights in Canada, but still doesn’t outline how those relatively

recent rights came about. “Canada’s diversity includes gay and lesbian Canadians, who enjoy the full protection of and equal treatment under the law, including access to civil marriage,” the new version reads. Kenney said the guide should be praised for having any mention of gay rights, given that the guide published under the Liberal government did not include anything on the subject. Egale Canada, a national LGBT advocacy group, welcomed the addition to the guide, but called for transgender rights to be included.

Ireland may see first gay head of state Gay Sen. David Norris has formally announced his bid to become the next president of Ireland. If successful, he will become the first openly gay head of state. Norris is the current frontrunner for the mainly ceremonial position. When asked by reporters if Ireland is ready for an openly gay president, Norris said: “I don’t see myself as a gay president, I see myself as a president who happens to be gay.” A January poll put Norris ahead in the race for president. He was favored by 27 percent of the 1,001 people surveyed. ■ — compiled by Larry Nichols

16 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

PGN

ELEGANT. ACCESSIBLE. LOYAL.

EVERYTHING YOU WISH HE WAS…AND WE WON’T GET MAD WHEN YOU COME HOME LATE. Fabulous just got fabulouser. Experience the residential perfection of 10 Rittenhouse Square. Unparalleled location. Unequaled design. Unbeatable Lifestyle. Experience 10 Rittenhouse Square today 215.825.7710 10RittenhouseSq.com

R S A Rittenhouse Pension Investors Property

10RSQ_PGN_03.04.11.indd 1

3/8/11 11:24 AM

PGN PRIMARIES, from page 1

whittled down the list of hopefuls, including some from the LGBT community. At the municipal level, 99 candidates submitted nomination petitions, including 71 seeking a City Council seat. Of the 17 City Council seats, five incumbents are retiring this year. Among the 21 Democratic City Council-at-Large candidates who submitted petitions were out candidates Sherrie Cohen and Daryl LaFountain, as well as the five incumbent Democratic at-Large Councilmembers. Five at-Large seats will go to Democrats and two to Republicans, 10 of whom, including out candidate Malcolm Lazin, filed petitions for those seats. Two openly gay candidates who had announced the intent to run did not file: Chris Hayes, who had been running for an at-large seat, did not collect enough signatures by the deadline but has announced he will campaign as a write-in candidate, and Lou Lanni, who was running as a Republican in the hotly contested First District Council race, did not file.

The city’s openly gay former prison commissioner, Leon King, filed in his bid for one of the nine open Court of Common Pleas judgeships, along with out Common Pleas candidate Chris Mallios. Mayor Nutter will be challenged in the primary by T. Milton Street, a former state legislator and brother of former Mayor John Street. Nutter supporters filed suit this week to challenge Street’s position on the ballot, questioning the validity of his petition signatures and the residency requirement. On Wednesday, Street drew the top spot on the ballot over Nutter during the ballot-drawing ceremony at City Hall. Incumbent Democratic Councilmanat-Large Bill Greenlee drew the lucky first spot on that list, while Cohen took the sixth spot. Michael Untermeyer will lead the Republican at-Large ballot, while Lazin drew number two. In the judicial races, of the more-than 50 candidates for Common Pleas, Mallios will be number eight. ■

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

PGN

Gay is our middle name.

LEGAL & PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY SERVICES & HOME IMPROVEMENT DIRECTORY AMY F. STEERMAN Attorney at Law

��

215-735-1006

��

Concentrating in Planning for Lesbian and Gay Couples • Probate • Wills • Living Wills • Powers of Attorney 1900 Spruce Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 www.amysteerman.com

��

�� WWW.HOLTESQ.COM Philadelphia 215-545-7789

New Jersey 856-599-5555

“We are a debt relief agency”

��

Thomas E. Hora Attorney-at-Law ��

��

Reach Over 40,000 Readers Weekly For As Little As $25.00 A Week. Call 215-625-8501 Today!

18 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

PGN

SERVICES & HOME IMPROVEMENT DIRECTORY ��

��

“We Put Your Grandma’s Roof On”

��

Reach Over 40,000 Readers Weekly For As Little As $25.00 A Week. Call 215-625-8501 Today!

PGN MARYLAND, from page 1

Act withdrew the bill from the floor after it became clear there weren’t enough votes to advance it. Sponsors originally said they had the votes in the House, but several lawmakers dropped their support after intense lobbying from antigay groups. “Though we are disappointed that we must continue to fight for marriage equality, today’s move was a strategic step that will allow us to fight and win in the future,” said Equality Maryland in a joint statement. “We celebrate that, for the first time, marriage-equality legislation made it through the Senate Judicial Proceedings

Committee, the Senate, the House Judiciary Committee and was debated in the House of Delegates.” The Senate passed the bill last month and Gov. Martin O’Malley pledged to sign it if it reached his desk. The governor reaffirmed last week that it was his “firm belief that equality under the law means equality for everyone, and our laws should reflect that fundamental principle. It was my hope to sign a marriage-equality act consistent with these progressive reforms, while protecting religious freedom in our state. As one Maryland we must work together to respect the dignity

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

of every individual. I remain committed to working with all Marylanders to ensure that rights are protected equally for everyone.” Before the vote, legislators heard several hours of debate on the measure, including testimony from six of the seven openly LGBT House members, who provided a personal appeal to their fellow lawmakers. Delegate Luke Clippinger said inequalities facing LGBTs have communicated to him that “somehow I am less than natural, I am less than human, I am less than ... I am not less than.” In the weeks leading up to House debate,

however, antigay groups like National Organization for Marriage and the Family Research Council canvassed Maryland, focusing particularly on African-American and religious communities. The Maryland Catholic Conference also was active in the fight against marriage equality, urging parishioners throughout the largely Catholic state to lobby their lawmakers. Prior to the death of the bill, opponents of marriage equality were already ramping up to begin a petition drive to put the issue to voters. Under Maryland law, bills that are passed can be posed to voter referendum if enough signatures are collected. ■

SERVICES & HOME IMPROVEMENT DIRECTORY 615 North Broad Street, Phila., PA 19123-2495 Phone: 215.923.2003 E-mail: BethAhavah @rodephshalom.org

CONGREGATION BETH atAHAVAH Rodeph Shalom

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

JOIN US MONTHLY FOR SHABBAT SERVICES AT 8:00 PM

Coffee, cake & conversation at the oneg following services

Saturday, March 19, 8:00 PM - Purim Celebration: The Whole Megillah

Visit www.bethahavah.org for additional Join us for a Beit Cafe (Coffee House), a little Megillah, a little Havdalah, and Dessert information, programming and It is going to be a hilariously good time with dessert and a Beit Cafe (Coffee House) featuring favorites directions

Free secure parking: Cross Spring Garden at 13th St., left at next light, Mt. Vernon St. Parking lot entrance on left.

www.dignityphila.org Make us part of your Lenten Observance Ash Wednesday, March 9th

from past Beth Ahavah Purim Shpiels and acts from clergy and congregants. Get a babysitter and come dressed in your favorite costume (optional) and get ready to party! Get ready for some serious silliness for

Join us for mass at 7:30 pm in the Blue Room

St. Luke & The Epiphany Church

Purim. RSVP to Marcia at (215) 627-6747 x12 or mbiggs@rodephshalom.org.

330 S. 13th Street, between Spruce and Pine Streets, Philadelphia, PA Also join us on Sunday at 7 pm for mass – Social after mass on Sundays

Beth Ahavah and Rodeph Shalom are afﬁliated in spirit and share a sacred home. In July 2007 Beth Ahavah afﬁliated with Rodeph Shalom. Beth Ahavah retains its congregational status within the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) and proudly offers its congregation dual membership at both synagogues.

Communion in the form of Consecrated bread, wine and grape juice. Gluten-free communion available upon request.

SERVICES & HOME IMPROVEMENT DIRECTORY ��

MyPhillyRooferLLC.com

��

• Hot roofs • Rubber • Shingle • Metal • Gutters • Spouts • Siding • Shovel snow

15, 20, 30 year warrenties

215-289-5650 ��

��

Reach Over 40,000 Readers Weekly For As Little As $25.00 A Week. Call 215-625-8501 Today!

20 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

22 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

24 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

PGN

AC ul t ure rts

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

PAGE 34

Scene in Philly Worth Watching Q Puzzle Leather Lookout Family Portrait Outward Bound Out & About Bulletin Board

Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page

27 28 29 30 31 33 34 36

Filmmaker brings stylized surrealism — and fluid sexuality By Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor

Gregg Araki’s “Kaboom” is a sexy, sci-fi romantic mystery about Smith (Thomas Dekker), a bisexual film student. Smith lusts after his frequently nude surfer roommate Thor (Chris Zylka); is best friends with the wisecracking Stella (Haley Bennett); and has a series of intense, intimate sexual encounters with London (Juno Temple). In addition, Smith thinks animal-masked men are hunting him. In fact, three threaten him one night after he encounters a strange woman from his reccurring dream. Araki’s film throbs with sexual tension between Smith and Thor, and dramatic tension as the engaging mystery unfolds. “Kaboom” is vivid in both color and style. On the phone from Los Angeles, the filmmaker explains he likes to infuse his work with surrealism. (He even includes a clip of Luis Buñuel’s “Un Chien Andalou” in “Kaboom.”) “I’m not interested in reality when I go to the movies. I don’t want to see a constructed, controlled vision of the world. That‘s why my films have the colors and pop aesthetic. I want something more stylized.” The writer/director recounts an observation by his lead actor Dekker: This film is “like my greatest hits — the best bits from every film I’ve done.” He adds, “There is a certain truth to that. ‘Kaboom’ was a return to [my] culty films ‘The Doom Generation’ [1995] and ‘Nowhere’ [1997].” Those movies were part of Araki’s “Teen Apocalypse Trilogy.” (“Totally F***ed Up” from 1993 was the first in that series.) While “Kaboom” shares a fatalistic quality of those earlier films, it is a decidedly sunnier project despite the ominous title. “It’s a strange movie to me in that it’s dark and apocalyptic, but it’s fun — there is an optimism. I made it to return to a style unbound by genre, expectation and convention — an experiment

‘Kaboom’ keeps viewers at edge of seats “Kaboom” is classic Gregg Araki — even if it isn’t “a classic” along the lines of his best films, “The Living End” and “Mysterious Skin.” This heady, spellbinding good time boasts the director’s typical visual flair, as well as many of his hallmarks — smartass dialogue, uninhibited queer sexuality and film references galore. Both new and longtime fans will find multiple pleasures in what is essentially a Bmovie about oversexed college students, mysterious goings-on and supernatural powers. For everyone else, here is a warning: “Kaboom” is chock-full of nudity, sex and gore; violence, vomit and dog shit; drugs, dreams and disturbing behavior; and both cool and cheesy special effects. Ararki juggles all these disparate elements in a psychedelic framework that revolves around a vibrant color scheme and is underscored by a dreamy soundtrack. It’s all very vivid. Smith (Thomas Dekker) is a sexually undeclared but perpetually horny filmstudies major at an unnamed college. He is troubled by both a recurring nightmare and a feeling of impending doom. His life is further complicated by a series of anonymous cryptic messages he receives, as well as a series of bizarre encounters with animal-masked men he believes are following him.

Meanwhile, his best friend Stella (Haley Bennett, fabulously deadpan and wonderfully costumed) is sexually involved with Lorelei (Roxane Mesquida), who, it is revealed, is a witch. “Kaboom” keeps viewers — like the film’s characters — off guard as the various plots rise, develop and converge. As Smith follows the mysterious clues to pursue the identity of the masked men and what (if anything) they are after, Araki introduces a fair number of freaky moments — from possible hallucinations to some really sinister food. A clever match cut makes an innocent stack of pancakes resemble something icky. Yet the smart visual and aural cues Araki uses are more amusing than actually scary. A sequence juxtaposing Smith and his girlfriend London’s (Juno Temple) sex with Stella and Lorelei’s bedroom activity serves to re-emphasize the characters’ fluid sexuality. While “Kaboom” shows Araki is being clever — perhaps too clever — the scifi/horror/sex/comedy genre mash-up works well because the film is all just one really big tease. From the palpable sexual fantasies Smith has about hot guys, to determining if the mystery is real or all just a dream, Araki keeps viewers guessing until the final moment. And it’s a doozy of a punchline. ■

26 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

PGN’S COMMUNITY MARKETPLACE

resOURce COMMUNITY

MARKETPLACE

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

resOURce COMMUNITY

MARKETPLACE

only on epgn.com

PGN

in creative freedom. I let the story and the characters do whatever they want. I did not worry about it being too weird, or confusing or different. I was returning to a naïve creative place, and not thinking about marketplace or what’s ‘commercial.’” “Kaboom” unfolds in its own crazy logic, with characters and plots going off in all kinds of directions. Being along for the ride is part of the fun for viewers. Araki explains that his inspiration for the film began as “nostalgic recollection.” He cites his college routine of sitting in coffee shops with his best friend and talking about their days, as Smith and Stella do. And he still enjoys being transported by music, as Smith is when he sees his favorite band perform. “These are pure and real moments,” the filmmaker says about the scenes drawn from his experiences, adding, “All the conspiracy comes in from I don’t know where. I wanted it to be a mystery with an element of intrigue.” If the characters suffer from an impending sense of doom, it may be because Araki believes teenagers magnify every emotion they have. “When you are young and that age, you are consumed by feelings of apocalypse and that it’s near. I was. Your emotions are so big. Every person you fall in love with, every exam, is so big — it’s the end of the world.” He also appreciates the “cool metaphor” of the apocalypse becoming real, which may be why he titled his film “Kaboom.” But can this New Queer Cinema pioneer, whose landmark film “The Living End” was made almost 20 years ago, still relate to teenagers now that he’s 51? “I don’t know why I can’t,” he remarks, displaying a sassy attitude that is his trademark. “They are fictional characters. It’s not real. ‘Kaboom’ is about 18- and 19-year-olds, but for me, the starting place of the film was revisiting those years of your life — that age of being completely uncertain about every aspect of your life. That was fascinating for me.” He notes that his age and experience may actually make him more suited to telling stories about teenagers. “People talk about me or Larry Clark, or Gus Van Sant [making film after film about] adolescents. But are teenagers supposed to make these films? For me, teenagers are dramatically interesting because they are unformed, and unpredictable. Most middle-aged people have extremely boring lives that would make boring movies. Teenagers don’t have the ability to make a film about themselves — save Xavier Dolan.” [Fun fact: The 22-year-old Canadian writer/director/actor Dolan’s sophomore feature, “Heartbeats,” opens next week.] Araki insists that “Kaboom” is his most autobiographical film. He liked portraying that period where who you are, what you will

become and how you identify yourself are all “question marks.” He emphasizes that the bisexual and sexually ambiguous experiences the film’s characters are very much geared to that particular time. “London is not a slut or a nympho: She enjoys sex and it connects her to others and she learns about herself in the process. That’s what the film is about — finding out about yourself. The weird thing about sex [in “Kaboom”] is that it has no consequence — which is shocking in America, such a puritanical place.” While the filmmaker admits that his years as an undergraduate did not include as much sex as Smith has in the film, he has had relationships with both men and women. Araki’s romance with actress Kathleen Robertson, who starred in the director’s 1999 film “Splendor,” was much discussed in the gay press. When asked how he currently identifies his sexuality, he answers, “It depends on whom DIRECTOR GREGG ARAKI I’m talking to. I consider myself essentially gay.” However, he quickly confirms that today’s generation “is very much not into categories or into strict definitions of sexuality — what it is, or who they are. It’s individual desire and experience. The general loosening of boundaries is healthy and more natural. For political reasons, though, it’s important to declare yourself. There are shades of gray.” The discussion then turns to the casting of the actors in “Kaboom.” Most of the cast participated in same-sex sex scenes. Back when Araki made “The Living End,” it was hard to find actors — gay or straight — to play queer roles. But the filmmaker said that nowadays, that’s not the case. “The world is changing so rapidly. For actors in particular, it’s much easier for them [to play gay] in the wake of ‘Brokeback Mountain.’ It’s accepted. There are still actors that won’t do it, but it’s easier than it used to be. I don’t try to deliberately cast queer actors — I don’t care who they sleep with. Obviously, it would be cool to have an openly gay actor in a film, but it’s not an overriding factor.” So is Araki, the onetime “enfant terrible” of ACTRESS JUNO TEMPLE (LONDON) the New Queer Cinema era, mellowing? Perhaps. “The weird thing about this movie is that I find it very different from ‘Doom Generation.’ Although it has immature characters, it has a maturity about it. ‘Doom Generation’ was something I made when I was younger and angrier. Being younger, and of the mindset of the characters, I had a different perspective. There’s a certain level of wisdom here. Looking back on life at middle age, [college] was some of the best years. Stella says — she’s a mouthpiece for what I think about that period — that those years are about your experiences, not your exams/classes. What you get out of that period is the people you meet and relationships you have — that is your growth as a person. That was the starting point for ‘Kaboom.’” ■

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

WORTHPGN WATCHING

28 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

Worth Watching WHO’S YOUR DADDY?: Cantankerous skirt-chaser Barney (played by out actor Neil Patrick Harris) finally meets his dad, Jerry (John Lithgow), on a new episode of “How I Met Your Mother,” 8 p.m. March 21 on CBS. Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS

JIM DANDY: Comedian and actor Jim Carrey is the host in this repeat of “Saturday Night Live,” back from when he was promoting his film “I Love You Phillip Morris,” 11:30 p.m. March 19 on NBC. Photo: Dana Edelson/NBC

BABY BUMP IN THE ROAD: Mark and Arizona (Jessica Capshaw, left) have conflicting ideas of the kind of baby shower they want for Callie (Sara Ramirez), which is no surprise since Mark is the baby’s father and Arizona and Callie are a couple. Catch the drama in a new episode of “Grey’s Anatomy,” 9 p.m. March 24 on ABC. Photo:

LET’S DANCE: Television personality and Playboy model Kendra Wilkinson (“The Girls Next Door”) teams up with out dancer Louis Van Amstel for the new season of “Dancing with the Stars,” which also will feature Wendy Williams, Kirstie Alley, Ralph Macchio and Sugar Ray Leonard among others. The new season premieres at 8 p.m. March 21 on ABC. Photo: Rick

Ron Tom/ABC

Rowell/ABC

Starring

Tina Fabriq MAR 22 – 27

SIX PERFORMANCES ONLY!

It’s a life lived out loud in this exhilarating musical about “The First Lady of Song,” Ella Fitzgerald. This theatrical event weaves myth, memory and music as it tells the uplifting and poignant story of one of the greatest jazz vocalists of 20th century music. Featuring two dozen legendary hits including “Night and Day,” and “It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing),” you’ll fall in love all over again with the magic and soul of Ella Fitzgerald!

TICKETS START AT $20! ORDER TODAY! Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts 215.898.3900 AnnenbergCenter.org

PGN

Q Puzzle Proud Parents Across

1. Guy embraced by homophiles? 5. Put out 9. Continental coins 14. Go from one gay bar to another, e.g. 15. Ironicallynamed burning software 16. Dick’s running mate 17. Vivacity 18. Eat beaverstyle 19. Like a mouth, in B&D 20. “Sex and the City” star 23. Bouncing off the walls 24. Climbing plant’s leafless

organ 28. Beginning of a hickey? 29. Billy Douglas on “One Life to Live,” for one 31. Kahlo’s devil 32. Meadow moms 34. Time line divisions 36. Not erect 37. Marinoni (partner of 20-Across) 40. Where “Aida” premiered 43. Bring home the pork? 44. “What would you have ___?” 48. ___ fours (tea cakes) 50. Enjoy with the tongue 52. A striking blow 53. Streetcar track 55. Like someone easily seduced 57. Newborn son of 20- and 37Across

59. Jack, who licked it clean 62. Kind of a drag 63. Setting for “At Swim, Two Boys” 64. Drag queen’s facial application 65. Sea flier 66. Baltic Sea feeder 67. Gay rodeo target 68. Badgers or horses 69. Come clean, with “up”

Down

1. Come ahead of 2. Milk source at the Crystal Cathedral? 3. Great Scott romance 4. Slow, to SaintSaens 5. Bring about with some effort 6. Williams’ glass animals

7. Caspian Sea land 8. Namely 9. Language related to Finnish 10. Praise of an early morning erection? 11. Tombstone letters 12. Vein filler 13. “Get out!” to Orton, with “off” 21. Single, to Glenn Burke 22. Crossed through 25. Baseball card stat 26. Not in the pink 27. Worldly fate 30. Like a pair of orifices 33. Where Esera Tuaolo drew the line? 35. Pubescent person 38. It surrounds three men in a tub

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

39. Has a slant 40. Von Trapp’s rank 41. ___ Lingus (Irish airline) 42. Suffix that changes senor’s gender 45. One that comes out on the beach 46. Actress Del Rio 47. Tools in kitchen drawers 49. Clinton blows it 51. Family 54. Aden’s land 56. “___ Aquarius” 58. Byron poem 59. MTF operation 60. Gold holder 61. Golden Girl McClanahan

PAGE 34

www.epgn.com

The nation’s oldest, continuously operating LGBT bookstore.

3/26/11 5:30pm Victoria Brownworth (editor) and contributors Becky Birtha, Mecca Jamilah Sullivan, Lisa R. Nelson and Lowell Boston to the anthology of stories “From Where We Sit: Black Writers Write Black Youth” (Tiny Satchel Press, $16.95 pb).

3/26/11 7:30pm Release Party with Cheryl Dunye for her ﬁlm “The Owls”. This event is a fund raiser for paying off the last $4,000+ of the expense of rebuilding the store’s front wall. Admission is $5. The Owls on DVD is available at the event for $25, a 17% discount off the price plus sales tax.

www.queerbooks.com email: giovannis_room@verizon.net 345 S. 12th St. Philadelphia, Pa 19107 215-923-2960 Mon-Sat 11:30 - 7, Sun 1 - 7

��

PGN

30 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

High quality dental treatment and preventive care

• Cosmetic dentistry • Veneers • Crowns • Whitening • Implants

Craig T. Wakefield, DDS Proudly serving the LGBT community and PWA for over 20 years. Medical Towers Building • Suite 2306 255 S. 17th St., Philadelphia, Pa 19103 (215) 732-8080 Evening hours available.

Together like drag and leather It’s not uncommon to hear leathermen son of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” was going to compared to drag queens in a bitchy way. be there, but in the end we didn’t miss her. You’ve probably heard it too, comments The best news of the night was the announcement that this was the inauguralike, “Leather’s just another form of drag ... tion of what they plan to make a regular especially on her.” series of events. So when you start hearing Personally, I would take that as a compliment. And then I’d quote a certain Cee-Lo about Dragapalooza 2, do yourself a favor song in response. and run to get your tickets! Drag queens were the first to fight back Kickstand at the Stonewall Riots. They were on the Have you ever wondered what would front lines of every protest and every Pride happen if WOOF Philly and The event from the very beginning of Bike Stop had a baby? Well, we the gay-rights movement. They found out last weekend. weren’t always welcomed by Last Saturday saw the birth the more “mainstream” gays and of “Kickstand,” a new monthly lesbians, but without them we dance party at The Bike Stop would be nothing. They deserve hosted by DJ Barney and the and have earned our respect. men behind WOOF! Philly. Five As I understand it, drag queens and leathermen joined dollars got you into the party and together back in the early ’80s covered your first beer, and all to produce the first AIDS fundproceeds benefited the Mazzoni raisers. When no one else would Center. help the gay community and We dropped by Kickstand when we had no political or ecoafter Dragapalooza and the top nomic clout, drag queens and floor was already packed, the leathermen worked to form the music by Barney and DJ Ryan Jim Kiley- W. was intense, and the men first community outreach organizations to educate ourselves and Zufelt were beyond hot. Where have these guys been hiding? help fight the epidemic. Dates haven’t been selected Think of all the similarities yet, but Kickstand will be a monthly event between drag queens and leathermen: We going forward. I’ve said it before and like getting dressed up, we spend way too much time and money on our outfits and we I’ll keep saying it: The Bike Stop is back, people! put up with a lot of shit just for being ourselves (even from some in our own community). Meet the Meat But if you ask me, drag queens will On March 19, the Keystone boys of always have bigger balls than leathermen. Leather will host a Meet the Meat party at Leathermen do our stuff in basements and The Bike Stop. There will be specials and dungeons, but drag queens do it on stage other surprises, so get geared up and come with a spotlight. That takes real guts. out and meet Philly’s favorite boys! Check My cap is off to all of our amazing drag out the Facebook page or www.kbol.org for queens. more information.

Leather Lookout

Dragapalooza So why all this talk about drag queens? Because last Saturday I saw the best drag show I’ve seen in years, and it wasn’t in Provincetown or New York City. It was right here in Philadelphia. Dragapalooza at Voyeur was a huge smash. The line to get in was around the block half an hour before the doors opened. Hundreds of people showed up to watch 18 performers in a tribute to Broadway. Everything from the costumes to the choreography to the lighting was spectacular. My friends and I had a great time, whether we were fresh-faced drag-show virgins (two of us) or grizzled old hags who can’t remember how many we’ve been to (the rest of us). Even the bitchiest among us had to admit we’d never seen such cooperation and coordination among all the girls in a drag show. It was a top-notch professional production from beginning to end. We loved it. Unfortunately, some of the promotional materials were a little misleading by stating that Carmen Carrera from the current sea-

Kinky Karnival On April 9, Philadelphians MC will host its annual Kinky Karnival at The Bike Stop. Be sure to visit the top floor and get your tickets to ride! They’ll have a hot wax table, a flogging station and lots more. LOCAL CLUBS & EVENTS: — KEYSTONE BOYS OF LEATHER: Meets at 7:30 p.m. every second Thursday at The Bike Stop, 206 S. Quince St. Next meeting: April 14; www.kbol.org. — PHILADELPHIANS MC: Meets at 7:30 p.m. every first and third Monday at The Bike Stop. Next meetings: March 21, April 4; www.philadelphiansmc.org. — WOOF! PHILLY: Every Sunday at 5 p.m. at The Gold Club, 1416 Chancellor St.; www.woofphilly.com. ■ Questions? Comments? Predictions for the winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race”? Contact Jim at LeatherLookout@gmail.com.

PROFILE PGN

Family Portraits

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

Suzi Nash

Jose Rodriguez: Spreading goodwill on campus PGN receives many recommendations for this column, but this was a favorite. We received a letter from a student at Penn State Abington. The letter read, in part: “I am the captain of the men’s cross country team and I want to tell you a little about my coach. He is well known and very popular on campus. Many students go to him for help with schoolwork or just help in general. He is also head of the FLAGSA group on campus, which discusses issues of sexuality from a gay, lesbian and bisexual viewpoint and sponsors educational programs and social-awareness events, which allows students to learn about and/or discuss sexuality issues in a confidential and supportive environment. He also supports many other groups and programs on campus ... He is an icon to this campus.” We took his suggestion and spoke to coach Jose Rodriguez. A friendly guy with an easy laugh, we can see why he’s a campus icon. PGN: Tell me about the Rodriguez family. JR: My parents are from Puerto Rico, but I was born in Manhattan and grew up in Bayshore, Long Island. A very suburban upbringing. I have a brother who’s a year and a half younger, though he thinks he’s older — until it comes to big decisions! PGN: What did your parents do? JR: My dad worked for an aluminum company, but he loved to build things and do carpentry on the side and my mom was our school bus driver. PGN: Did you have to behave especially well on the bus? JR: Yes. But back then, everyone knew everyone, so we all had to behave. If someone got loud, my mother would just say, “Suzi, I’m going to tell your mom if you don’t keep it down!” And that was it. PGN: What was your favorite thing to do as a kid? JR: Soccer. I lived and breathed it, which is typical for someone from a Latino background. We had soccer balls everywhere. My bedroom, the kitchen, in the yard. If you opened a closet door, they’d fall out on you. PGN: What was your favorite class? JR: I was into the sciences — math, chemistry, physics. I loved them all. PGN: Did you go to Puerto Rico as a kid? JR: Not until I was an adult. Most of my mother’s family came to New York too, but my father’s family stayed there. He was the second youngest of 19 kids! We spent a lot of time with relatives on my mother’s side. PGN: Did you study sports in college?

JR: No. I studied economics at Allegheny College. But I was very active in track and field. PGN: So, coach, you’re not a gym teacher? JR: No, I’ve been an administrator at the school for 16 years. I’m the director of Cultural Affairs, which means I’m responsible for infusing diversity in the curriculum and making sure campus is a welcoming environment for all. I coach on the side. PGN: I was just reading about the racially motivated attacks against Asian students in Philadelphia. JR: Yes. It’s always a challenge. It’s interesting because it fluctuates. Gay folks used to be a bigger target, but after 9/11, intolerance against people who practice Islam spiked. It’s my job to help educate people. Not to just say something is wrong, but to explain why and challenge people to think differently. Thankfully, we’re in a really good place on our campus. I’m no longer the only openly LGBT person at the school. Of course I was never the only gay person here, but for years I was the only out person! Now it’s not even an issue. PGN: When did you know you were gay? JR: In high school I was on the track team. One September, I remember seeing one of my track mates, and boy had he blossomed over the summer. I remember saying, “Oh my God, Cory, you look really good.” He said thank you and I persisted, “I mean really good.” In my head, I kept thinking how hot he looked and then it registering that guys aren’t supposed to think of other guys as hot. So I knew that there was something going on but I didn’t pursue it. Gay wasn’t something you talked about or even saw on TV back then, except for “Three’s Company” and they made light of it. When I went to college, I joined a fraternity, and being surrounded by all those guys definitely brought it to my attention. I had a new frat brother assigned to me and we spent every Friday together. I started falling in love with him and one week when he wanted to cancel because he had a date, I got really jealous. [Laughs.] He couldn’t understand why it was a big deal and I was like, “No, Fridays are our night!” Then I had to check myself and deal with my feelings. For grad school, I chose Penn because I’d heard they had a large LGBT population. Once I got there, I was involved with all sorts of LGBT groups including the Front Runners, which was a gay running club. And I had my first kiss with a guy at age 26! [Laughs.] I was not his first, by far! But I was lucky and he was really great: We’re still best of friends.

PGN: Family? JR: They struggled a little, but it only took my mother two or three weeks to go through the “What did I do wrong?” phase and then she was fine. My dad was OK with it too. PGN: What traits did you get from them? JR: My father liked to build things. If he’d been better educated, he could have been an engineer, which is where I get my math and science interest. My social-service side came from my mother. We’d watch the news together and discuss it. They always instilled a belief that we should accept and respect everyone, never judge people collectively. We had people from all walks of life in our house. PGN: Were you ever harassed? JR: Of course! Coming out of Woody’s was the first time I ever had someone call me faggot. A car of guys just drove by and were shouting things out the window as

coming. I want it out there from the start. Racially? Here in the City of Brotherly Love, I can’t go shopping without having store keepers follow me around as if I’m going to steal something. PGN: Where did you go after grad school? JR: I went to the University of Toledo [Ohio]. I absolutely loved the school and my colleagues, but it was strange. It was such a closeted area that, being an out gay man, I’d get hit on by straight men in the grocery store while their wives were in another aisle picking out baby diapers. It was uncomfortable, so I left. PGN: As an openly gay administrator, what impact have you had? JR: I think just being able to be there for kids to approach — someone they feel safe talking to. Even being open to straight kids who may want to ask questions they’ve always had about gay people. I’m a firm believer in education and my students know that if they have the courage to ask the question, I will answer it. How else are they going to learn — other than Jerry Springer or home, where they oftentimes get misinformation? PGN: Any particular story come to mind? JR: I had one student who came to tell me that he thought he might be gay. When I asked him why, he told me that he’d slept with one of the other male students. I asked him if they’d spoken about it and he said, “No, but that always happens with us.” I asked how often it had happened and he said, “Every night for three years.” [Laughs.] I was blown away and finally said to him, “Uh, OK, you don’t need to question it. You spend more time together than a lot of married couples! You’re in a full-blown relationship.”

I was walking home to Penn. I was like, “Are you kidding? Don’t drive away from me! I’m from New York, I don’t run, park the car and let’s talk about it.” They didn’t. I’ve had a few job interviews that were going well until I mentioned being gay and suddenly, I could feel the air change. Nothing overt was said, but I could tell what was happening. But that’s why I say something, because I don’t want to get stuck working somewhere that’s not wel-

PGN: What are some of the racist moments you’ve had to address? JR: We had a kid who was elected as student president. He looked like a Ken doll and came from a very privileged background. I knew from past conversations that he was also very racist, sexist and homophobic, and was shocked that he’d been elected considering how progressive our school is. I sat him down for a talk and made it clear that he was the representative for all students, PAGE 32

PROFILE PGN

32 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

PORTRAIT, from page 31

not just his click of friends, but everyone. I pointed out to him how sexist, etc., his actions were. He resisted at first, but then he started to take note and really came around. One of the lessons he learned was not just to listen to the people who were visible and vocal, but to look out for the ones that usually don’t talk. To ask, who am I not hearing, who is not at the table? He really changed and ended up being a very good leader. By the end, we did a poster about homophobia. We had pictures of 10 people with the tagline that one in 10 people were gay and he volunteered to be one of the people on the poster. It was wonderful. He’s in his 30s now and has grown to be a great guy. PGN: How did it feel to have the students nominate you for this Portrait? JR: It’s touching. The men’s cross country team and their captain decided they wanted to do something nice for me. When they contacted PGN, it said a lot about them. When we first started, I’d hear

homophobic remarks on occasion but put an end to that quickly. It’s not an issue anymore and we’ve become very close. Just for them to do the research to find a gay paper and then to go through the trouble of contacting the paper and following through on it was a lot of effort on their part. Right before our break, Austin Lichtin, the team captain, told me he’d been in touch with the paper. He told me that he’d done it on behalf of the team, that they wanted everyone to know how much they respected and cared about me. It was such a wonderful gift. Don’t take it personally, but I didn’t think anything would come of it. I figured you guys had a zillion other things to cover: I was just floored that this group of heterosexual young men would go through so much effort to do something they thought would be meaningful to me. Actually being interviewed is just the icing on the cake. PGN: What’s a sporting event you wished you could have witnessed?

JR: Without a doubt, Cathy Freeman in the 2000 Olympics. That was so moving. Representing the Aboriginal people and the people of Australia — in her home country — must have been so much pressure and she handled it with such grace and poise. I don’t care if I had the last ticket in the highest nosebleed section, I wished I’d been there to see her win. I was fortunate enough to go to the Gay Games and run on the same track and, even then, I was emotional being right where that historic event occurred. PGN: What was your worst injury? JR: I pulled my hamstring during the qualifying race for the state championships. It was not my finest moment. I was really disgusted because it was my senior year and I’d been ranked No. 1 in the state and was expected to win. Of all times for it to happen! [Laughs.] It wasn’t pretty. My mother said she was highly disappointed in my behavior! If I could turn back time, I would have been much more sportsman-like than I was!

PGN: How do we all get along? JR: The first thing is to assume goodwill. If someone bumps into you, don’t assume they did it intentionally. If someone asks you a question, like are you black or mixed or gay or queer or whatever, don’t get defensive if you’re not. Or, if you are and don’t like the term, don’t react negatively: Use it as an opportunity to educate. Tell them that you prefer African American or lesbian or gay. And present it in a way that welcomes dialogue. Too many people walk around thinking ill of our brothers and sisters in the world, yet most people at heart are good, decent people. Just give them a chance to show it by opening up first. Say hello to the person standing on the elevator with you instead of jabbing the button until you get off. Let down your guard on occasion and good things will come to you. I firmly believe that. ■ To suggest a community member for “Family Portrait,” write to portraits05@aol.com.

Food & Drink THE ABBAYE EXCELLENT BELGIAN AND MICROBREW SELECTIONS

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

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

Happy Hour Mon- Fri 5:30-7:30pm $2.50 Domestics $3.50 Imports $3.50 Well Drinks $2.50 Pabst & Highlife Bottles Everyday

let us surpise you ...

Rainbow Award Best Bar and Bartender 2008, 2009, 2010

255 Camac St., Philadelphia

215.545.8731 www.VIphilly.com

Dinner served nightly 5:30-11pm Fox Philly Best Gay and Lesbian Bar 2008, 2009, 2010

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

Outward Bound

Miami and Key West are hot right now By Jeff Guaracino PGN Contributor

With so many destinations courting the gay and lesbian traveler these days, it is easy to forget that Miami and Key West are two fun and close-by getaways worth your money. Last month, I took a trip to see what’s up in these LGBT vacation towns. Key West The two best things to do in Key West are relax and rejuvenate. You won’t need a car in Key West, but do rent a bike and check out the cruise ships in port and the island’s attractions. Key West has great drag shows, male erotic dancers and, of course, the famous sunsets at Mallory Square. There are plenty of water activities, including jet-ski tours and LGBT sailing trips. Sunday brings the Tea Dance at La Te Da and special parties at the Island House. Every Saturday is the Key West gay trolley tour. Special events offer magi-

cal times to visit Key West. Upcoming events include Tropical Heat (Aug. 1821), Women’s Fest (Sept. 6-11) and Bear Fest (Sept. 22-25). For information on events, parties and shows, visit the LGBT Visitor Center at 513 Truman Ave. (www. gaykeywestfl.com). Key West is all about the guesthouse experience. Don’t miss the Island House, which recently completed a $2.5-million renovation: It’s the most luxurious gay guesthouse in Key West. The all-male resort is clothing-optional. Even if you prefer your bathing suit to your birthday suit, you’ll be comfortable here. You’ll also find the friendliest staff in Key West and one of the best restaurants on the island. The guesthouse draws a highly successful international crowd, so conversations over the daily happy hour are always interesting. There is an onsite massage therapist and a gym. There’s no need to ever leave. A popular guesthouse for women is Pearl’s Rainbow, which bills itself as all-

welcoming. Women can sunbathe topless here. Check out live music and events at Pearl’s Patio (www.pearlsrainbow.com). Alexander’s Guest House is a great option for gays and lesbians traveling together (www.alexanderskeywest.com).

Miami For some years now, the buzz has been that Ft. Lauderdale replaced Miami as the South Florida gay hot spot. Miami today is definitely worth a second look. Heck, the local gay chamber of commerce just opened a new LGBT Visitor Center in the Old City Hall, 1130 Washington Ave. In addition to the visitor center, the new Lords South Beach Hotel is Miami’s only hotel primarily geared toward gay and lesbian travelers. Located in the heart of South Beach at 1120 Collins Ave., the hotel is within walking distance to everything gay in South Beach. The hotel is fun and sexy. The staff is super-friendly and the hotel has pool parties, Sunday brunch,

parties for women and top-notch entertainment. The Lords is an awesome value in South Beach, worth every one of your travel pennies. A short cab ride away from Lincoln Road is the legendary Fontainebleau Hotel, among the world’s best hotels. From its magnificent pools and luxury cabanas to the stellar spa and rooms with inspiring views, it’s worth the trip. It’s no wonder that celebrities, including Lady Gaga, flock here to escape the winter blues. The onsite Studio 54-like nightclub Liv is a must-see, as is the smaller Arkadia lounge. This hotel has it all: incredible restaurants, an amazing gym, beautiful bodies around the pool and beach access. ■ Jeff Guaracino is vice president for the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation and author of “Gay and Lesbian Tourism: The Essential Guide for Marketing.” Traveling locally, check out visitphilly.com.

Palm Springs: Pack a swimsuit — and skis By Sarah Blazucki sarah@epgn.com

The first thing you need to know about Palm Springs is that it’s perpetually warm and sunny. The second thing you need to know is that the city of 50,000 is an estimated 40-percent gay. Have you booked your flight yet? If you need more coaxing, how’s this: The city hosts two back-to-back events for the LGBT community, The Dinah (March 30April 3) for women and The White Party (April 8-11) for men, each of which draws some 10,000 people. The city itself has 28 private LGBT resort properties, including two for lesbians, and a slew of LGBT-welcoming hotels — all with a view of the surrounding mountains. For the men, most of the resorts are clothingoptional; a few are clothes-required, and therefore welcoming to women travelers. Most of the resorts range between 15-30 rooms and often have a bed-and-breakfast feel, with the proprietor hosting a “back-

yard” party — if your backyard had a pool and a view of the mountains. The majority also offer some sort of spa services, from massages to the famed “Taking of the Waters” at Spa Resort Casino. The men’s resorts vary in atmosphere — from casual to hardcore (All Worlds), from private secluded rooms (Escape Palm Springs) to shared space (The View), from backyard BBQ (Triangle Inn) to pool party (INNdulge) to quiet respite (East Canyon), so take some time to review their websites to check out the amenities. Many have sex high on the to-do list, so be prepared for all types of entertainment — or if you’d rather steer clear. For women, Queen of Hearts (www. queenofheartsps.com) and Casitas Laquita (www.casitaslaquita.com) offer community and respite or a little more action, respectively. If you are looking for something hip and gay-friendly, try the laidback Ace Hotel (www.acehotel.com). It’s got a pool, 24hour gym, outdoor fireplaces, free bikes

and a dog park. (And lots of LGBT folks on the premises.) If you decide to venture out of resort for entertainment — some travelers don’t — Palm Springs has plenty to do: There’s golf, shopping (independent shops along Palm Canyon Drive or Desert Hills Premium Outlets), hiking (Indian Canyon, Joshua Tree) or you can take the Palm Springs Aerial Tram to the Mt. San Jacinto State Park (www.pstramway.com), where there’s snow in the winter. Skiing is close by too: You can be at the pool in the morning, ski in the afternoon, and back by the pool for dinner. If you want to try something different, Palm Springs Modern Tours offers small-group tours of the area’s mid-century modern architecture, led by Robert Imber (psmoderntours@aol.com). He’ll tell you about prominent architects in the area and take you to houses owned by Liberace, Dinah Shore, Bob Hope, Elvis Presley, Zsa Zsa Gabor and lots more. Because Palm Springs is a resort town, the nightlife can be hit or miss. Friday

nights at Wang’s in the Desert draws hundreds of men just getting in to town for the weekend; Hunter’s and Toucan’s Tiki Lounge offer late-night dance-club options. For something a little arty, visit the Palm Springs Villagefest, held every Thursday on Palm Canyon Drive. At some point, be sure to take time to sample Palm Springs dining, which ranges from casual to fine. Casual options include Jake’s and Bongo Johnny’s; don’t miss Trio for dinner. For more information on Palm Springs, visit www.visitpalmsprings.com; click on LGBT for gay-friendly travel options. ■

DINAH SHORE’S HOUSE (FROM LEFT), QUEEN OF HEARTS POOL AND A VIEW FROM MT. JACINTO Photos: Sarah Blazucki

34 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

OUT & ABOUT

PORTRAIT OF A JAZZ ICON: The Annenberg Center presents the story of one of the greatest jazz singers of all time with “Ella The Musical,” March 22-27 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St. Set in 1966, the production ﬁnds the fabled singer (played by vocalist Tina Fabrique) preparing for one of the most important concerts of her career in the French Riviera. For more information or tickets, call 215898-3900. Photo: Ed Kreiger

The week ahead Fri. 03/18 Open Mic Anyone wanting to read or perform can sign up at 6:40 p.m. for the open mic at 7 at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; 215-923-2960. Ladysmith Black Mambazo The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents the South African vocal group, 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; 215-898-3900. Lewis Black The comedian performs at 8 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way,

Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000. Will Downing and Lalah Hathaway The two singers perform at 8 p.m. at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215-5727650. The Ken Silver Ensemble The group performs at 8:30 p.m. at Bob Egan’s New Hope, Ramada Inn, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; 215862-5225.

Sat. 03/19 Batman: Mask of the Phantasm The animated

Batman film is screened at 2 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-0223. A Reading with Josh Aterovis and a performance by Jeremiah Clark The author of “The Truth of Yesterday: A Killian Kendall Mystery” hosts a reading at 5:30 p.m. at Giovanni’s

Room, 345 S. 12th St.; 215-923-2960.

Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-348-4411.

Alô Brasil: Carnaval 2011 The group specializing in Brazilian music performs at 7:30 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215222-1400.

Icandy grand opening The nightclub formerly known as 12th Air Command gets a spiffy makeover from its new owner, 8 p.m.-1 a.m., 254 12th St.; www.icandyphilly. com.

Diana Ross The legendary singer performs at 8 p.m. at Caesars Atlantic City, 2100 Pacific Ave.,

Lewis Black The comedian performs at 8 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.;

609-317-1000. Paula Johns The cabaret singer performs a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald at 8:30 p.m. at Bob Egan’s New Hope, Ramada Inn, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; 215862-5225.

Sun. 03/20 Pillow Talk The 1959 sex comedy is screened at 2 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610-917-0223.

Pressure Cooker The documentary film about a culinary course is screened at 4 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-0223. Purple Rain The smash hit film starring Prince and the Revolution is screened at 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400. Tribute to The White Stripes Local musicians pay tribute to the recently broken-up alternative-rock band at 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400.

Mon. 03/21 Kashu-juku Noh Theater The Kimmel Center presents Japan’s theater form, developed and preserved since the 14th century, 7:30 p.m. at Kimmel’s Perelman Theater, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5847. The Fighter The Oscar-winning film is screened at 8 p.m. at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215-922-6888.

Tue. 03/22 Soulidified: A Celebration of Soul Music, Past, Present and Future The R&B group performs at 9 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400.

Wed. 03/23 From Single to Soul Mate: Five Secrets for Attracting the Perfect Partner for You William Way LGBT Community Center hosts a relationship workshop for women, 7-8 p.m., 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220.

Thu. 03/24 Queens of the Stone Age The rock band performs at 8 p.m. at The Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St.; 800745-3000.

Fri. 03/25 Jeff Beck’s Rock & Roll Party The legendary guitarist performs at 8 and 10:45 p.m. at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215-5727650. ■

Q PUZZLE, from page 29

LOVE HANGOVER: The original I-can’t-wait-to-elbow-these-otherchicks-out-of-the-picture-so-I-cango-solo-and-star-in-movies diva is back. Before Beyonce, Mariah and Justin Timberlake, there was Ms. Ross. Legendary R&B diva Diana returns to the area March 19 for a performance at 8 p.m. at Caesars Atlantic City, 2100 Paciﬁc Ave. For more information or tickets, call 609-348-4411.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

Opening Ella The Musical The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents the story of the great jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, March 22-27 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; 215898-3900. French Connection The Philadelphia Orchestra performs with Stéphane Denève, music director of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, on a program of music by three major French composers, March 24-26 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-7905847. John Heffron The comedian who won the second season on “Last Comic Standing” performs March 23-26 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215-496-9001. Mary Poppins The adaptation of the beloved Disney musical is on stage March 23-April 17 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5847.

The Eyes of Babylon The Bristol Riverside Theatre presents the one-man show written and performed by out former Marine Jeff Key, who served in Iraq under the military ban on openly gay servicemembers, through April 3, 120 Radcliffe St.; 215-785-0100. Facing Out, Facing In: Figurative Works The James A. Michener Art Museum, through May 1, 138 S. Pine St., Doylestown; 215-340-9800. Fruitville/The School Papers AxD Gallery presents an exhibition of two series of intimate, seldom-seen works by artist Douglas Witmer, through April 2, 265 S. 10th St.; 215-627-6250. A Glimpse of Paradise: Gold in Islamic Art Philadelphia Museum of Art, through April, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215763-8100. In the Next Room or The Vibrator Play The Wilma Theater presents a comedy about Mr. Thomas Edison, who has A ROOMFUL OF SUGAR: “Mary Poppins,” umbrella and all, descends upon Philadelphia to tame your unruly brats (or at least entertain them for a few hours) when the Kimmel Center hosts the stage adaptation of the classic Disney musical about a magical nanny, March 23-April 17 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St. For more information or tickets, call 215-790-5847. Photo: Joan Marcus

Continuing The 39 Steps Walnut Street Theatre presents Alfred Hitchcock’s fast-paced spy mystery through May 1, 825 Walnut St.; 215-5743550. Epherman Existence Gallery 339, through May 7, 339 S. 21st St.; 215-731-1530.

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

become a personal hero of Dr. Givings, who begins harnessing the newfound power of electricity to treat hysterical patients at his home with an experimental electric apparatus, through April 3, 265 S. Broad St.; 215-546-7824.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

dia elements, immersive environments and stories of espionage, treason and deception in the United States, through May 30, 525 Arch St.; 215-409-6600. Superior Donuts Arden Theatre Company presents a comedy about a doughnut shop that’s undergoing some changes along with the community it’s in, through April 3 at F. Otto Hass Stage, 40 N. Second St.; 215922-1122. Tailoring Philadelphia: Tradition and Innovation in Menswear Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition focusing on Philadelphia’s tailoring industry, featuring clothing designed by Francis Toscani (1915-73), through summer, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215763-8100. The Terrible Girls Azuka Theatre presents a dark comedy of friendship, obsession and Southern sensibilities, through April 3 at The Latvian Society, 531 N. Seventh St.; 215-733-0255. To Love, Honor and Obey? Stories of Italian Renaissance Marriage Chests Philadelphia Museum of Art presents the commemorative works of art, through July, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100. WTC View Allens Lane Theater Company presents the story of a gay photographer who places an advertisement in the Village Voice for an available bedroom in his SoHo apartment, which boasts a view of the World Trade Center and appears on Sept. 10, 2001, through March 26, 601 W. Allens Lane; 215-248-0546.

Closing The Cunning Little Vixen Curtis Opera Theatre presents humans and creatures of the forest mingling together in a delightful tale about the circle of life, through March 20 at Kimmel’s Perelman

ART ‘SCHOOL’ IS IN: Artist Douglas Witmer hosts an artist talk at 3:30 p.m. March 19 at AxD Gallery, 265 S. 10th St., for his exhibition “Fruitville/The School Papers.” His exhibition consists of quirky and contemplative assemblages of wood, glue, paper and paint, carrying the spirit of Witmer’s well-known minimalist paintings. “The School Papers” series features drawings on vintage ruled notepad stock commonly found in grade-school classrooms prior to the digital age. The exhibition runs through April 2. For more information, call 215-6276250 or visit www.a-x-d.com.

Theater, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5847. Resisting Racism: 30 Years of Men of All Colors Together The William Way LGBT Community Center hosts an exhibition highlighting the long and rich history of the gay, multiracial, multicultural organization, through March 25, 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220. Steel Magnolias H.O.P.E. Players presents the dramatic comedy about love, faith and the unity of sisterhood, through March 19 at St. James Hall, 8306 Brookside Road, Elkins Park; 484-886-1869. ■

The Men of Mah Jongg Society Hill Playhouse, through April 17 in the Red Room, 507 S. Eighth St.; 215923-0210.

Special Events Commissioned Work Fine Art Photography Portraits Advertising

The Peacock Male: Exuberance and Extremes in Masculine Dress Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition, drawn from the museum’s collection of Western fashion, examining 300 years of men’s sartorial display, through June, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215763-8100. Spies, Traitors & Saboteurs: Fear and Freedom in America The National Constitution Center hosts the exhibition created by the International Spy Museum featuring artifacts, multime-

scottdrakephotos@gmail.com

267-736-6743

COMMUNITY PGN

36 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

Community Bulletin Board Community centers

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

Youth Center: 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays: Doylestown Planned Parenthood, The Atrium, Suite 2E, 301 S. Main St., Doylestown; 215-348-0558 ext. 65; rainbowroom@ppbucks.org

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

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

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

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

■ AIDS Library: 215-985-4851

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

■ AIDS Treatment hot line: 215545-2212 ■ Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection at the Independence Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library: 215-685-1633 ■ The COLOURS Organization Inc.: 112 N. Broad St., third floor; 215-496-0330 ■ Equality Pennsylvania: 215731-1447; www.equalitypa.org ■ Equality Forum: 215-732-3378

Men

A social gathering for gay men, meets at 7 p.m. every second and fourth Tuesday at Iron Hill Brewery, 30 E. State St., Media; BurbBoysNiteOut@aol.com.

■ Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force: 215-772-2000 ■ Philadelphia Police Department liaison — Deputy Commissioner Stephen Johnson: 215-683-2840 ■ Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 267-216-6606; ppd. lgbt@gmail.com

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

■ 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)

Health

AIDS Services In Asian Communities Provides HIV-related services to Asians and Pacific Islanders at 340 N. 12th St., Suite 205; 215-536-2424. Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative Free, anonymous HIV testing from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursdays at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; 215-851-1822 or 866-2223871. Spanish/English HIV treatment Free HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment for Philadelphia residents are available from 9 a.m.-noon Mondays and 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad St.; 215-685-1803.

HIV health insurance help Access to free medications and conﬁdential HIV testing available at 17 MacDade Blvd., Suite 108, Collingdale; Medical Ofﬁce Building, 722 Church Lane, Yeadon; and 630 S. 60th St.; 610-586-9077.

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

Professional groups

■ Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia GALLOP holds board meetings at 6:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at 100 S. Broad St., Suite 1810; GALLOP also provides a free referral service; 215-627-9090; www.galloplaw.org.

■ Greater Philadelphia Professional Network Networking group for area business professionals, self-employed and business owners meets monthly in a different location throughout the city, invites speakers on various topics, partners with other nonprofits and maintains a Web site where everyone is invited to sign up for e-mail notices for activities and events; www.gppn.org. ■ Independence Business Alliance Greater Philadelphia’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce, providing networking, business development, marketing, educational and advocacy opportunities for LGBT and LGBT-friendly businesses and professionals. Visit www.IndependenceBusinessAlliance.com for informa-

tion about events, programs and membership; 215-557-0190; 1717 Arch St., Suite 3370.

Young, Trans, and Uniﬁed!

Meets 7:30 p.m. the third Friday of the month, September through June, at the William Way Center; 610-277-6595; www.MACT-Phila.org.

Support group for transgender and questioning individuals ages 13-23 meets 7-8:30 p.m. every Thursday at The Attic Youth Center; 215-545-4331 ext. 24.

Men’s Coming Out Group

Women

Meets 7 p.m. Thursdays at Washington West Project, 1201 Locust St.; 215-563-0652 ext. 219.

Men of Color United

Bucks County Lesbian Alliance

Men of Standard

Lesbian Couples Dining Group of Montgomery County

Provides a place for gay men of color 21 and older to share issues of concern. Meets 7-9 p.m. every Thursday at Camden AHEC, 514 Cooper St., Camden, N.J.; 856-9632432 ext. 211; ruberte_j@camden_ahec.org.

Parents/Families

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Bucks County

Meets 7:30 p.m. ﬁrst Tuesday of the month at Penns Park United Methodist Church, 2394 Second Street Pike, Penns Park; 215-348-9976.

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Chester County

Meets 7 p.m. the ﬁrst Tuesday of the month at the Unitarian Fellowship of West Chester, 501 S. High St., West Chester; 484-354-2448.

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Collingswood, N.J.

Meets 2-5 p.m. the third Sunday of the month at the LGBT Center at the University of Pennsylvania, 3907 Spruce St.; 215-572-1833.

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Princeton, N.J.

Meets monthly for social events; http://buckscountylesbian alliance.org.

Meets monthly; 215-542-2899.

Lesbian Social Network of South Jersey 1,000-member social group for lesbians holds monthly activities in South Jersey and surrounding area; www. LSNSJ.com.

Queer Connections

Social group for women in their 20s meets weekly; 215-4681352; queerconnect@yahoo.com.

South Jersey Lesbians of Color

Meetings held the ﬁrst and third Fridays at 7:30 p.m. at The Starting Point, 215 Highland Ave., Suite C, Westmont, N.J.; 856-824-0881; e-mail: SJLOC-owner@yahoogroups.com.

The Womyn’s Village

The ﬁrst womyn-owned and operated think-tank targeting black African, Asian, Latina and Native American LBT and two-spirited womyn. Meets 5:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month at Safeguards, 1700 Market St., 18th ﬂoor; 267-221-6155; the_womyns.village@yahoo.com.

Youth

40 Acres of Change

Discussion group for teens and young adults meets 6-8 p.m. Thursdays at The COLOURS Organization Inc., 112 N. Broad St., third ﬂoor; 215-496-0330.

HAVEN

For GLBT, intersex, questioning, queer and allied youth ages 14-20; meets 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Lehigh Valley, 424 Center St., Bethlehem; 610-868-2153.

Meets 7:30 p.m. the second Monday of the month in the George Thomas Room at Trinity Church, 33 Mercer St.; 609-683-5155.

Main Line Youth Alliance

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Wilmington, Del.

Mountain Meadow

Philadelphia Family Pride

Rainbow Room — Bucks County’s LGBTQ and Allies Youth Center

Meets 7 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 13th and Rodney streets; 302-654-2995. Advocacy, support and social network for LGBT families offers play groups, monthly kids’ and teen-talk groups, activities and outings. Planning meetings are held monthly; 215-600-2864; www.phillyfamilypride.org.

Oasis

Trans

Meets 7-8 p.m. Wednesdays at 1201 Chestnut St.; 215-5630652 ext. 509.

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

Mazzoni Center Family and Community Medicine

■ Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus A regional organization dedicated to promoting gay and lesbian tourism to the Greater Philadelphia Region, holds meetings every other month on the fourth Thursday (January, March, May, July, September and the third Thursday in November), open to the public; P.O. Box 58143, Philadelphia, PA 19102; www.philadelphiagaytourism.com.

Renaissance Transgender Assoc.

■ Philly OutGoing Professionals Social group for gay, lesbian and bisexual professionals meets for social and cultural activities; 856-8579283; popnews19@yahoo.com.

WeXist

Men of All Colors Together

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Philadelphia Anonymous, free, conﬁdential HIV testing Spanish/English counselors offer testing 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 166 W. Lehigh Ave.; 215-763-8870 ext. 6000.

Peer trans health-advocacy organization. 215-732-1207; www.critpath.org/thac. FTM support group meets 6-8 p.m. second Friday of the month at the William Way Center; ﬁrst hour is open, second hour is for people assigned female at birth who have gender issues; 267-250-1548; www.wexist.org.

Meets 6-8:30 p.m. the fourth Monday of the month at the Collingswood Public Library, 771 Haddon Ave., Collingswood, N.J.; 609-202-4622; pﬂagcollingswood@yahoo.com.

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

Transgender Health Action Coalition

Meets 8 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesdays at the William Way Center; 215-483-1032.

Gay Married Men’s Association

A discussion/support group for gay and bisexual men of color meets from 6-8 p.m. every Wednesday at 112 N. Broad St., third ﬂoor; 215-496-0330.

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

■ ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215592-1513

Boys Night Out

Primary health care and specialized transgender services in a safe, professional, nonjudgmental environment, 21 S. 12th St.; 215-563-0652. Meets at 8 p.m. the third Saturday of the month at 9876 Old Eagle School Road; 610-975-9119; www.ren.org.

T-MAN

Meets 7-9:30 p.m. Fridays at 109 Lancaster Ave., Wayne; 610-688-1861; info@myaonline.org. For youth with GLBTQ parents. Monthly programs for ages 8-16, family programs and parent coffee groups. Residential program offered in August; 1315 Spruce St.; 215-772-1107; inquiries@mountainmeadow.org.

For ages 14-21; meets 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays at Doylestown Planned Parenthood, The Atrium, Suite 2E, 301 S. Main St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981 ext. 9024; rainbowroom@ppbucks.org.

Social X Change

Social activity group for LGBT youth of color ages 13-23 meets 6-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays at 112 N. Broad St., third ﬂoor; 215-496-0330.

Space to be Proud, Open, and Together

Open to all LGBTQ queer youth and allies, ages 1421, SPOT meets 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursdays at Planned Parenthood of Chester County’s West Chester ofﬁce, 8 S. Wayne St., West Chester; 610-692-1770 ext. 108 or thespot@ppccpa.org.

Teen Support Group

Drop-in group for teens and adolescents meets 4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursdays at 1201 Chestnut St.; 215-563-0658 ext. 319.

People of color support group for transmen, FTMs, butches, studs, aggressives, bois, genderqueer and all female-born individuals with gender questions meets 7:30-9:30 p.m. Mondays, second ﬂoor, 1201 Locust St.; 215-834-9063; tman215@aol.com.

Youth in Transition

Transhealth Information Project

For GLBTQ African-American and Latino youth ages 1324. Meets 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays at Camden AHEC, 514 Cooper St., Camden, N.J.; 856-963-2432 ext. 205; gibbs_d@camden-ahec.org.

Sponsors a weekly drop-in center from 7-11 p.m. Tuesdays at 1201 Locust St.; 267-549-6497.

A support group for transgender and questioning youth ages 12-23 meets 7:30-9 p.m. Tuesdays at The Attic Youth Center.

Youth Making a Difference

�

REAL ESTATE PGN

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

�� REAL ESTATE

SALE

VENTNOR, NJ, FACING THE BAY House and Adjacent Lot (inground swimming pool). 1st floor 3 bedrooms, bath, living room, dining room, kitchen,�� laundry room and deck. 2nd floor 2 bedrooms, bath, efficiency kitchen, �� living room, dining area and deck. Central Air. �� Corner Property. Call 215-468-9166 evenings �� only. $675,000.00. Also property for rent�� 1500.00 month plus utilities. �� _______________________________35-19 �� INVEST NOW IN NY LAND! Our best New�� York land Bargains EVER! Camp on 5 Acres-$19,995. Big acreage w/ �� timber. Farms & hunting tracts. Waterfront �� @ 50% discount! Over 150 properties on �� sale. Call now 800-229-7843 Or visit www. �� LandandCamps.com �� _______________________________35-11 �� Lake Morris, NY: 5 acres on Lake $29,900. �� 6�� acres Lakefront $29,900. 10 acres 2300’ �� Waterfront, Lake Peninsula $59,900. Village Road, Utilities. www.WaterfrontPropertyNY. �� com Owners-Broker 1-888-683-2626. �� _______________________________35-11

�� $435,900 �� This is a “WOW” Town House with �� endless options & upgrades. �� Short drive to New Hope and

Bucks Co./ Near New Hope

Home of the Week

��

Beds: 1 Baths: 1.5

Center City, Philadelphia

Square footage: 1,460

FOR SALE

SALE

PGN

E-mail: margaux.pelegrin@gmail.com

Phone: (215) 205-2400

REAL ESTATE Florida AUCTIONS, Boca Raton MANSION & Lake Worth ESTATE HOME, All Bids Due March 30, www.defalco.com (561)922-9727. _______________________________35-11

Luxurious and spacious one bedroom condominium on picturesque Clinton Street in Washington Square. Completely renovated in 2005, this unit is part of the “Cole House” condominiums- a boutique elevator building converted from a historic home. 302 is a bi-level unit-the first level is an open floor plan with gorgeous hardwood flooring, gourmet cook’s kitchen, living room w/ gas fireplace, powder room, and large windows overlooking Clinton St. Off the bedroom is a private deck ideal for BBQ-ing or just enjoying the stunning City Views. Low condo fees,storage and tax abatement. Includes 1 yr parking for 1 car at the 11th & Clinton Parking Garage with acceptable offer.

Price:PAGE $549,999 47

REAL ESTATE

SALE

REAL ESTATE

SALE

SAWMILLS Band/Chainsaw -Cut lumber any dimension, anytime. Build anything from furniture to homes. IN STOCK ready to ship. From $4090.00. www.NorwoodSawmills.com/300N. 1-800-661-7747. _______________________________35-11

REAL ESTATE

SALE

��

Jersey Shore - A Rehoboth/Fire Island Alternative!

Open Houses Sunday March 20, 2011 NOON - 2:00 PM 2155 MONSTROSE STREET new construction, tax abatement, 3BR/2.5BA.........................................$425,000 2136 Tryon St. New listing in Rittenhouse Square area. Cute 2 bedroom, one bath with small garden and nice deck. ..............................................................................$299,000 NOON - 1:00 PM 927 SPRUCE STREET, 2R Junior 1BR/1BA Condo, parking available for $20,000. .............................$199,000

3 BR, 2 1/2 Baths, 9’ ceilings. : pgn@epgn.com WALK-OUT BASEMENT, 2 CAR GARAGE!

1:30-2:30 PM 255 S. HUTCHINSON STREET. 2BR/1.5BA cute home in great area .........................................................$250,000

��

Call the 24 hour hotline for more exciting details of this “WOW” Town House. 1-800-505-3695 ext: 5007

1109 SPRUCE STREET 3 units available, Studio, and two, 1BR/1BA,Condos..........................................$180,000

Call for an appointment to see this

George T. Sale Condo” Unique Garden private entrance.. Low fees & Tax e 1 bd. in area ........................��.

Featured property: 915 Clinton St. #302

The Raven & Wedgewood Inn

Center �� 215-343-8200 Ext. 195 ness Flats. Large 2 bed, bath. last Randa1Hayes sirable building. Close to all Center City 215-290-7673 taxes ................................��

Open House 2-4 pm Sunday 3/13

�� many excellent restaurants like

spectacular luxury Town House. ��

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

www.15jacksoncircle.com

www.36navesinkavenue.com

For more info contact:

Robert Roccia 732-890-0598 John C. Conover Agency - Asbury Park

Search all Philadelphia area listings @ www.thephillyrealtors.com Dan Tobey

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

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

PGN

38 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

REAL ESTATE

VACATION

RENT

RENTAL

2TH & DICKINSON AREA Furnished Townhouse for rent: 3 levels. Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, 2 bedrooms , bath. Very Unique. 1500. mo plus util. (negotiable). Call 215 468-9166 after 6 pm. or 215 686 3431 daytime. _______________________________35-10 RITTENHOUSE SQUARE AREA Studios & 1 Bedrooms - Call for Availability (215)735-8050. _______________________________35-12 QUEEN VILLAGE 3RD & CATHARINE Gated. 1 BR, hdwd ﬂrs, F/P, C/A, W/D, D/W, private & quaint. $1100. 215-336-4629, cell, 215-687-8461. _______________________________35-13 TWIN HOUSE IN HAVERFORD, PA Stunning 3 story, 3 bdrm, 1-1/2 bath, W/D, private drive, C/A, Finished bsmt, wet bar, deck, porch, . $1600/mo. plus utilities, water included. Avail. April 1, 2011. 610-449-4931. _______________________________35-11 JEFFERSONVILLE, NEAR K OF P, BLUE BELL Apt. in private wing on home with large yard. Private bath, entrance, kit. $495/mo. + elect. & sec. dep. 610-539-6381, leave message. _______________________________35-14 VERY AFFORDABLE! New 1&2 BR Apts in desirable Phila. locale. Restricted to seniors 62+. For info: 1-877U-AGE-WEL; WesleyEnhancedLiving@wel. ORG Equal Housing Opportunity. _______________________________35-11

AFFORDABLE FORT LAUDERDALE All Gay Resort. Apts., full kit, 10 min Gay Nightlife, beaches, attractions. Clothing opt. pool, WiFi. 877-927-0090, www.LibertySuites.com _______________________________35-15 OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND Best selection of affordable rentals. Full/ partial weeks. Call for FREE brochure. Open daily. Holiday Real Estate. 1-800-638-2102 Online reservations: www.holidayoc.com _______________________________35-11 NEW REHOBOTH BEACH LUX. CONDO 2 BR, 2 BA, pool, tennis, clubhouse. 1 mile to beach. Season, $9800. No pets or smoking. 484-332-1686, db114rw421@verizon.net _______________________________35-11

ADOPTION UNIQUE ADOPTIONS Let us help! Personalized Adoption Plans. Financial assistance, housing relocation and more. Giving the gift of life? You deserve the best. Call us ﬁrst! 1-888-637-8200 24-hours hotline. _______________________________35-11

PGN

ROOMMATES PGN WILL NOT PUBLISH RACIAL DISTINCTIONS IN ROOMMATE ADS. SUCH NOTATIONS WILL BE EDITED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION. ___________________________________ GREATER NE PHILA. Have your own bedroom in a beautiful split level home with 2 gay men. House is 4 BR, 2 full baths, W/D, upper and lower decks, use of kitchen. Property is by Welsh & the Boulevard, 1 min. to 58 bus. We ask only that you be at least reasonably neat and employed. Rent is $600 + 1/3 utils. Contact Dave at 215-698-0215. _______________________________35-19 SPECT. RMATE IN BUCKS. FARM HS. Rarely avail. furn. by desgnr, lg 1 BR with sit. area, pvt. BR, C/A, cbl, W/D, swm. pool, must like pets. Resort set. $998 + sm. util. chg. 215-297-9751. _______________________________35-14

HELP WANTED Print Media Buyer-Database Support. Responsible for purchasing print media space, researching and developing effective campaigns by combining various media products. E-mail your response to info@promedmgt.com _______________________________35-11 DIVISION MANAGER Experience in managing gas crews, administration and recruiting. Pay Range DOE. Apply at: 338 Concord Chruch Rd., Beaver Falls, PA 15010 or www.TeamFishel.com _______________________________35-11 NOW HIRING: COMPANIES DESPERATELY NEED EMPLOYEES TO ASSEMBLE PRODUCTS AT HOME. ELECTRONICS, CD STANDS, HAIR BARRETTES & MANY MORE. NO SELLING, ANY HOURS. INFO:1-985-646-1700 DEPT:PA-1017 _______________________________35-11 GO REGIONAL NOW! Outstanding MILES; WEEKLY Home Time; TOP Pay & Equipment; 6 months CDLA experience required. Hazmat & TWIC preferred. EEOE/AAP 866-322-4039 www. Drive4Marten.com _______________________________35-11 TRUCK DRIVERS WANTED! 2011 PAY RAISE! UP TO $.52 PER MILE! HOME WEEKENDS! EXCELLENT BENEFITS! NEW EQUIPMENT! HEARTLAND EXPRESS 1-800-441-4953 www.heartlandexpress.com _______________________________35-11 Run With a Leader! We offer everything you need: Solid Pay & Beneﬁts. 2011 Tractors. High Miles and Great Hometime. $500 SignOn-Bonus: Van -avg $0.35cpm. Flatbed -avg $0.39cpm. Includes Bonuses. CDL-A, 6mo. OTR. 888-801-5295. _______________________________35-11 OWNER OPERATORS 85% of Gross. 40% Advance on Loads. No Forced Dispatch. Trailer Rental Program. Low Cost Insurance Available. Flatbed, Dryvan, Specialized. JRC 866-572-7297. www. jrctransportation.com _______________________________35-11

HELP WANTED Housekeeper/Driver Wanted Live in Housekeeper/Driver in center Atlantic City. Flexible hrs, large home; cleaning/errands/driving. Studio apt./real job/salary. contact jonn@ontopteam.com References & valid driver’s license required. Drivers- Paid CDL Training & a Stable Career! NO CREDIT CHECK! No Experience required! TRAINERS EARN $.49/MILE! 888-417-7564 CRST EXPEDITED www.JoinCRST.com _______________________________35-11 Drivers OWNER OPERATORS No Money Down - Lease Purchase. Home Weekly, Very speciﬁc Lanes. D & T Call 888482-8441. _______________________________35-11 Attention Reefer, Tanker, Flatbed Drivers Needed! If you’re ready to be the best, join the best! Experienced or recent grad with CDL welcome. Call PrimeInc. Today! 1-800-2770212 www.primeinc.com _______________________________35-11 Between High School and College? Over 18? Drop that entry level position. Earn what you’re worth!!! Travel w/Successful Young Business Group. Paid Training. Transportation, Lodging Provided. 1-877-646-5050. _______________________________35-11 GAS FOREMAN Experience in placing/replacing gas mainline and services. Pay Range DOE. Apply at: 338 Concord Church Rd., Beaver Falls, PA 15010 or www.TeamFishel.com _______________________________35-11

BUSINESS

OPORTUNITIES Do you earn $800 in a day? Your Own Local Candy Route! 25 Machines and Candy All for $9995. 877-915-8222 All Major Credit Cards Accepted! _______________________________35-11 Frac Sand Haulers with complete rigs only. Tons of Runs in warm, ﬂat, friendly and prosperous Texas! Great company, pay and working conditions. 817-769-7621, 817-769-7713. _______________________________35-11

SERVICES ATTEND COLLEGE ONLINE From Home. *Medical *Business *Paralegal *Computers *Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualiﬁed. Call 888-220-3984 www.CenturaOnline.com _______________________________35-11 AIRLINES ARE HIRING Train for high paying Aviation Maintenance Career. FAA approved program. Financial aid if qualiﬁed - Housing available. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance (888)834-9715. _______________________________35-11

E-mail us: pgn@epgn.com FINANCIAL

SERVICES

Attention Annuity Owners. Unhappy with your payments? Need money now? We provide immediate cash with our customized solutions. Call George at 610-304-4091 or visit www. ﬁvestarcommercialﬁnance.com _______________________________35-11

PGN’S COMMUNITY MARKETPLACE

resOURce COMMUNITY

MARKETPLACE

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

www.epgn.com

nite. GWM couple ISO GWMs 18-40 yrs. for 1 on 1 and group sex. Stockings, pantyhose, etc. Starts 9 PM Sat. Call Sat. 7-8 PM 856910-8303, ask for Mark. _______________________________33-24 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011 GWM, Italian, top or bottom, 7” cut. Also into assplay, toys & water sports. Bi, straight, out of towners welcome. Day or night. Call Jeff at CERTIFIED FRIENDS 215-850-7900. _______________________________33-18

Adult

ADULTPGN PERSONALS

Spring Cleaning and Maintenance Find help in the Home PGN Improvement Directory

FRIENDS

MEN

�� MASSAGE

MEN

��

LOOKING FOR ROMANCE Attractive GWM, warm, sensitive, caring, 48 y.o. with a smooth gymnast build looking for other GWM, 30-50, who is also in good shape. I live in NE Phila. I’m looking for guys who are also sensitive, caring with a fun personality. If this sounds interesting to you feel free to call me, David, 215-698-0215. _______________________________35-19

Erotic Dungeon Master

6’, 165 lbs., 60 year old Master, greek active, french passive requires obedient slave for training, S&M, B/D, W/S, etc. Limits respected and expanded. Assistant Master wanted. Call Dave at 215-729-6670, day or evening. _______________________________35-15 Daddy sks lover LTR. Delco. 610-931-6633. _______________________________35-12 Got a big torpedo? Fire it into a white butt. Call 8-11 PM, 215-732-2108. _______________________________35-14

Online. Anyti

WWW.EPGN

Handsome Certified Therapist

Gay is our middle name. FRIENDS

MEN

FRIENDS

MEN

FRIENDS

MEN

6’, 195 lbs, Muscle Gives Sensual / Therapeutic Massage

Call 215-432-6030 FRIENDS

Gay is our MA middle Rname. CH MEN

�� P.A.N.G. (Philadelphia Area Naked Guys) Sunday- March 13th, 2011 TIME: 3pm- 6pm

Come visit us. We are under NEW MANAGEMENT!! Sansom Street Gym 2020 Sansom Street 267-330-0151 www.sansomstreetgym.com

Saturday- March 19th, 2011

- Rooms are on a 1st Come, 1st Served Basis... Rooms Go Quickly! So CHECK IN EARLY :-)

*Don’t forget to visit the Adonis Cinema right next door!!

PGN

B-7

FRIENDS

MEN

Even ts

EVOLUTION: Fu*k me I’m Irish!

TIME: 10pm-3am · Dj Dutch · Food Catered by Tommy D. · HOT Dancers and more...

Support the advertisers who support our community.

��

40 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Mar. 18-24, 2011

PGN