pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976
Vol. 42 No. 13 March 30 - April 5, 2018
Family Portrait: Phil Cochetti: rugby, his bear party and coming out in high school PAGE 29
Stories from our LGBTQ youth PAGE 17
HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
Grindr app security flaw ids users location PAGE 5
CDs for spring cleaning PAGE 28
Incoming Mazzoni Center CEO: ‘I want Will Gov. Wolf nominate trans to hear what the staff has to say’ attorney to fill judicial vacancy? By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com
Lydia Gonzalez Sciarrino is making history this month as the first straight ally to lead Mazzoni Center. “I feel honored about that,” Gonzalez Sciarrino told PGN in her first public comments since her hiring. “I look forward to this opportunity to be a greater advocate for the LGBT community.” Gonzalez Sciarrino said she was “ecstatic and thrilled” after receiving a phone call earlier this month notifying her she was selected to be Mazzoni Center’s new CEO. A five-month, national search took place prior to her selection. “It was a very extensive vetting process,” she said. “I feel honored.” Gonzalez Sciarrino, 50, cited her career in nonprofit work as one of the reasons she applied for the CEO position. “I’ve always been for the marginalized — for the individual that other people don’t give a chance.” The incoming CEO has worked for six nonprofits over the course of her career. “I get enjoyment and self-fulfillment from working for non-profits. The mission of an organization is very important to me.” Gonzalez Sciarrino’s last position was as CEO of Whole Family Health Center in Ft. Hood, Fla., where she said she helped stabilize and expand the agency. “I put a structure in place and formalized policies and procedures. I also established a chain of command.” Mazzoni Center, which turns 40 next year, is a comprehensive LGBT-focused health center based in South Philadelphia. The center counts 35,000 clients and an annual budget of $16.5 million, $6 million of which is comprised of federal grants. The balance comes from revenue generated through the health center and private-development funding. An estimated 20-25 percent of the clientele is non-LGBT, said PAGE 8
By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com
FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY: Thousands of students, educators and supporters march past Independence Hall March 24 to protest a lack of gun control nationwide. As a satellite march to the primary one in Washington, D.C., it was one of more than 800 demonstrations nationwide. Whosoever MCC pastor Rev. Jeffery Jordan organized an LGBTQ contingency to march in unity with the demonstrators and carried peace and rainbow flags. The march ended at Lombard Circle on South Columbus Boulevard, where a couple-dozen speakers addressed a crowd of thousands. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Margaret Cho to headline 30th-anniversary Philadelphia Pride By Scott A. Drake scott@epgn.com It took 20 years, says Philly Pride Presents executive director Franny Price, but Margaret Cho is finally taking the stage during the 30th annual Philly Pride parade and festival. Cho started performing around the time Philly Pride was finding its feet, but for a variety of reasons through the years, booking her just kept missing the mark. How happy is Price about Margaret Cho and 30 years of Pride? “I’m excited about Margaret! She won’t tell us who her opening act is yet and that person has to introduce her, but I’m really looking forward to Margaret being here.” PAGE 2 Cho has never performed at the
Attorney Henry M. Sias wants to serve as a Common Pleas Court judge in Philadelphia. If Gov. Tom Wolf gives him the nod, and the Pennsylvania Senate confirms the nomination, Sias would be the nation’s first transgender male judge. Sias’s application to fill a judicial vacancy has been pending with the governor’s office for about two months. The five vacancies on Philadelphia PAGE 16 Common Pleas Court are
Sims in uncontested race as Democrat challenger drops out Kristen Demilio and BethAnne Boyle The only Democratic challenger to State Rep. Brian Sims has dropped out, leaving the incumbent in an uncontested primary race. Louis D. Lanni Jr., a former Philadelphia police officer, had filed the paperwork to be a primary challenger to incumbent Sims to represent the 182nd District, which encompasses much of Center City and the Gayborhood. Earlier this month, according to Pennsylvania’s Voter Services website, Lanni cited simply “candidate withdrew” in the filing. Lanni did not reply to repeated requests for comment. Emails bounced back and his GoFundMe page is closed. His social media accounts have been defunct since 2014. Sims continues to fundraise, sending out an email request March PAGE 16