Creating a bang
Family Portrait: Jose Rodriguez
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University of Pennsylvania scientists are attempting to create HIV-resistant blood cells PAGE 7 Mar. 18-24, 2011
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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