The story of a rejected youth and his dying father will have audiences “Melting Away.”
Family Portrait: Heshie Zinman
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Area youth have a new “Outlet” at GALAEI
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March 30 - April 5, 2012
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Vol. 36 No. 13
Liberty City, Equality PA back Sims over Josephs By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com With the municipal primary just weeks away, an openly gay candidate vying to represent Philadelphia’s Gayborhood in Harrisburg has picked up key LGBT endorsements. Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club voted Tuesday night to endorse attorney Brian Sims for the 182nd District in the Pennsylvania House. Sims is challenging longtime
incumbent and LGBT ally Rep. Babette Josephs (D182nd Dist.). Additionally, Equality Pennsylvania, of which Sims was formerly president, also endorsed him this week. The Liberty City endorsement came after a lengthy debate that split the room at Gershman Y. The endorsement committee, which makes recommendations to the general membership, backed Josephs for endorsement,
but the membership voted down that recommendation, 24-14. Supporters of both candidates took the floor in their favor in a discussion that endorsement committee chair Sara Jacobson said was “spirited but respectful.” “People felt very strongly on both sides,” she said. “People spoke out in support of Babette and people spoke out in support of Brian, so there was a lot of support on both sides.”
Analysis
The Scouts ruling By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com Last week, U.S. District Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter upheld a jury verdict that the city placed an “unconstitutional condition” on a local Boy Scouts of America council’s right to exclude gays by allegedly asking it to repudiate the national BSA’s antigay policy to stay in a city-owned building. The judge said the repudiation requirement was an “overly broad speech restriction” on the BSA Cradle of Liberty Council’s firstamendment rights, thus PAGE 14
AN APPLE A DAY: University of Pennsylvania students and supporters got down and dirty at the annual PATH Pride Games March 25, the culmination of Q Penn Week. Fifteen teams of 10 rolled up their sleeves in a series of challenges that included this game, which required competitors to fish M&Ms from a pan of apple sauce — without using their hands — and then consume the sauce in the fastest time. The games were organized by Penn Athletics, Penn Athletes & Allies Tackling Homophobia and other university departments. Photo: Scott A. Drake
The eventual endorsement was made in a 22-12 vote, Jacobson said. Jacobson declined to specify why the committee was favoring an endorsement for Josephs, but said that decision was preceded by an involved and purposeful conversation. “We spent a very long time talking about it, probably as long as we did talking about every other race on the ticket,” she said. “It was a very thoughtful discussion.” A lot of attention was also given to the 188th District race, in which longtime incumbent James Roebuck is being challenged by bisexual candidate Fatimah Muhammad. The endorsement committee made no recommendation in that race, but the membership voted to endorse Muhammad following a
DEMOCRATIC PROCESS: Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club endorsement committee chair Sara Jacobson welcomed members and guests to the group’s endorsement meeting March 27 at the Gershman Y. The approximately 40 members in attendance spent several hours debating the candidates up for election in next month’s primary and voted on a slate that includes out state candidates Brian Sims and Fatimah Muhammad. Photo: Scott A. Drake
debate that Jacobson noted had a different focus than that of the 182nd. “The 182nd debate had more to do with the people involved, with people speak-
ing out in support of Brian or Babette as a person, but the 188th debate was more philosophical,” Jacobson said. “The members talked about the PAGE 15
Landmark priest abuse trial begins By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com The trial began this week in the first case in the nation in which a high-ranking Catholic official has been charged with allegedly covering up sexual-abuse complaints against priests. Following opening arguments, the prosecution team began calling witnesses Tuesday in its case against Monsignor William Lynn and the Rev. James Brennan. Lynn is a former aide to the late Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua and PAGE 15
MANNA IN MOTION: Members of the Pennsylvania Ballet warmed up for the March 24 “Shut Up & Dance” benefit show for Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutritional Alliance, which provides nutritional meals to those with life-threatening illnesses. The 20th annual event drew the biggest crowd yet — upwards of 1,600 people — and raised more than $150,000. MANNA put faces to the fundraising by marking off seats with information about real MANNA clients. Photo: Scott A. Drake