pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976
Vol. 42 No. 12 March 23-29, 2018
Seminary president removed after past conversion therapy connection uncovered PAGE 2
HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM Meshell Ndegeocello talks about the inspiration behind the music
Salus University to help transgender community with “Raise Your Voice”
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Rachel Levine becomes first trans Cabinet member
Trial postponed for murder suspect in trans case by Tim Cwiek timothy@epgn.com A jury trial for Matthew J. White, charged with murdering the boyfriend of a West Philadelphia trans woman, has been postponed until July. White allegedly killed Barry Jones and assaulted his girlfriend, Vivian Royster, inside Royster’s West Philly residence on Jan. 9, 2017. The motive remains unclear. The day before the murder, White allegedly robbed three trans women inside their shared residence, also in West Philly. White, 33, will be tried for murder, aggravated assault, robbery, reckless endangerment, burglary, possessing an instrument of a crime and related offenses. If he’s convicted of all charges, he faces life in prison. Jones, 32, was shot multiple times, according to medical records. “The cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds and the medical examiner classified the manner of death as a homicide,” confirmed James Garrow, a spokesperson for the city Medical Examiner’s Office, in an email. A weeklong jury trial tentatively was scheduled to begin March 19. But during a March 14 hearing, defense attorney Eileen J. Hurley requested additional time to prepare the case. Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Barbara A. McDermott granted the request and set the new trial date for July 30 in Room 507 of the Criminal Justice Center, 1315 Filbert St. The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office “is ready for trial and we look forward to presenting the commonwealth’s case on July 30,” Ben Waxman, a spokesperson for the D.A., said in an email. Hurley, White’s attorney, couldn’t be reached for comment. White remains incarcerated at the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center in Northeast Philadelphia. n
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By Kristen Demilio kristen@epgn.com
OVERTURE: qFLIX Philadelphia kicked off March 19 in the Kimmel Center’s Perelman
Theater with brief remarks and a proclamation by Mayor Jim Kenney (center) and the premiere of the film “Hello, Again.” The opening celebration also included qFLIX producer Thom Cardwell (from left), Ebony Ali, qFLIX co-producer James Duggan and city Director of LGBT Affairs Amber Hikes. The weeklong festival includes more than 75 films from 29 countries and is screening at Plays and Players Theater and the University of the Arts’ Connelly Auditorium. For titles and times, see qflixphilly.com. For an overview of the LGBTQ shorts program March 24, see page 20. Photo: Scott A. Drake
City Council to investigate two faith-based foster agencies by Tim Cwiek timothy@epgn.com Philadelphia City Council unanimously approved a resolution calling for an investigation into two faith-based agencies that refuse to accept same-sex couples as foster parents. The agencies at issue are Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and Bethany Christian Services. Both agencies receive city tax dollars to provide foster-care services for hundreds of local children each year. The city’s Department of Human Services has contracted with the agencies for about 20 years — though local officials reportedly were unaware of the agencies’ exclusionary policies until recently. The two agencies receive an aggregate of about $3 million annually in city tax
dollars, according to published reports. The March 15 resolution to investigate, introduced by Councilmember Cindy Bass, states: “At least two [DHS] providers have policies that prohibit the placement of children with LGBTQ people based on religious principles, although the City of Philadelphia has laws in place to protect its people from discrimination that occurs under the guise of religious freedom.” Bass chairs Council’s Committee on Public Health and Human Services, which will hold a public hearing on the matter. Angela Bowie, senior policy advisor for Bass, said the hearing is expected to be held in June. The resolution urges DHS to “conduct a thorough review of its contracts with all of its 26 foster-care agencies to ensure that providers are adherPAGE 12
The Pennsylvania Senate this week confirmed Dr. Rachel Levine, along with three other women, to cabinet-level positions, making Levine the commonwealth’s first-ever transgender individual to reach this level of government. Levine, who was already serving as P e n n s y l va n i a ’s P h y s i c i a n General — also a first for the trans community — was appointed Secretary of Health, joining the appointments of Department of Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller, Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs Secretary Jennifer Smith and Insurance Commissioner Jessica Altman. As Physician General, Levine initiated the effort to establish opioid-prescribing guidelines in Pennsylvania. She also has led an LGBT workgroup on behalf of the governor’s office to promote fair and inclusive access to healthcare. Levine, who specializes in pediatrics and psychiatry, “is firm in her stance, but professional and gentle in her delivery,” said Dane Menkin, clinical operations director of the Mazzoni Center and a member of the workgroup. “She takes issues that could spark conflict and de-escalates them.” Adrian Shanker, executive director of the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center in Allentown, also congratulated Levine on her appointment. She “will be clear in her views that all people deserve PAGE 12