PRN April 3-9, 2015

Quince Productions brings play about a play to the stage

PAGE 25

• LGBT story archivists hold brunch fundraiser • NJ Sen. proposes fund restrictions on conversion therapy PAGE 2

Family Portrait: Jeff Keith shares his history

PAGE 31

Apr. 3-9, 2015

Since 1976

PGN Philadelphia Gay News HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM

Vol. 39 No. 14

Gov. Wolf ‘exploring’ response to Indiana law

Three out candidates get Dem backing

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Three out candidates running in next month’s primary election were recommended for endorsement by local Democratic leaders last weekend.

At the Democratic City Committee’s Policy Committee meeting Saturday, members voted to recommend Sherrie Cohen, who is running for a City Council-atLarge seat, for party endorsement. This marks the first time an LGBT candidate for City Council has been recommended for endorsement by the full committee, which will release its official endorsements in a few weeks.

The group also voted to recommend PAGE 19 Christopher Mallios and

Judge: No delay in gay-cop trial

By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com Common Pleas Judge Linda A. Carpenter last week refused to postpone a trial in the antibias case of N. Melville Jones.

Jones, an openly gay police officer, claims pervasive anti-LGBT workplace bias and harassment at the Philadelphia Police Department.

He’s seeking more than $50,000 in damages. A non-jury trial is scheduled for April 28. But city attorneys want the scope of the trial limited to the alleged actions of Jones’ former supervisor, C. Daniel Castro.

Castro outed Jones, triggering a chain of events that caused Jones to be victimized by workplace homophobia, according to Jones’ lawsuit.

Alleged acts of bias against Jones include being sent out on patrol without proper uniform and weaponry, being asked if he gets paid while having sex in the men’s locker room and being transferred to the “graveyard” shift.

In February, in a three-page ruling, PAGE 19 Carpenter rejected the

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

HISTORIC HAPPY HOUR: Mayor Michael Nutter (center) attended the first-ever happy hour for LGBT and ally city employees, held March 27 at Tabu. The event, organized by the city’s new director of LGBT affairs, Nellie Fitzpatrick (left of Nutter), brought together dozens of employees from all branches of city administration. “The purpose was to allow for our city workforce to get to know their fellow LGBT and ally coworkers across offices, departments, agencies and branches,” Fitzpatrick said. “Often, we never have an opportunity to interact with those outside our individual office or cubicle, let alone across the city, and I wanted to change that.” Fitzpatrick said she plans to organize similar events in the future, as well as open some functions to non-city employees to encourage the public to consider a career in public service. Photo: Scott A. Drake

A spokesperson for Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf told PGN Wednesday that the governor is looking into a response to Indiana’s controversial new “religious-freedom” law, but stopped short of saying whether he would issue a ban on statefunded travel to the state.

“What happened in Indiana is wrong, and Gov. Wolf is exploring all ways to stand with the people of Indiana and those opposed to this law,” Wolf spokesperson Jeff Sheridan told PGN Wednesday, noting that the occasion sheds light on Pennsylvania’s need for an LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination law.

“Just as important, the governor knows we PAGE 19 need to advance equality

Bipartisan support for HB 300 grows before introduction

By Ryan Kasley ryan@epgn.com In light of the recent backlash Indiana has faced over passing a state-level Religious Freedom Restoration Act — legislation many believe essentially grants business owners and corporations a license to discriminate against LGBT individuals — Pennsylvania lawmakers are doubling down on efforts to sign Republican cosponsors onto House Bill 300.

The long-stalled legislation would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the classes protected from discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations.

Gabe Spece, chief of staff for state Rep. Dan Frankel (D-23rd Dist.), who has served as prime sponsor of the measure for several years, said Frankel is continuing to expand the copsonsorship list and will likely introduce the bill this month.

So far, it has 80 cosponsors, including nearly 15 Republicans.

When the measure was last introduced in 2013, it had 77 cosponsors, seven of whom were Republicans.

“The bipartisan nature we have so far in terms of support for the bill is encouraging,” said Spece. “That’s a good sign for us. But we are pushing for even more from both sides of the aisle.”

He said he hopes the public outcry over the Indiana situation encourages new cosponsors to sign on.

“I’m sure all of the legislators here in Harrisburg are aware of the backlash Indiana is receiving and that it’s going to force people to take a good, hard look at legislation like House Bill 300,” Spece said. “I hope it will lead people to take another look at the bill and the cosponsorship memo we circulated. No one wants to stand for discrimination.” n

POOL PARTY: Philadelphia Fins Aquatics Club president Bob Breitel (from left), Jean Voigtsberger and Arthur Zeng stretch their fins and sell 50/50 raffle tickets during a country-dancing fundraising party March 27 at Woody’s.

Also helping that night were Carol Weisl and Kim Dale, members at large, who assisted with set-up and the raffle.

About 100 people showed up to dance and drink, raising almost $450 for the Fins, which will go toward pool and membership costs. More information on the Fins can be found at philadelphiafins. org/. Photo: Scott A. Drake

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Apr. 3-9, 2015

LOCAL PGN

locations in Philadelphia Center city — Around THe gayborhood

12th Street Gym, 204 S. 12th St. • 13th Street Gourmet Pizza, 209 S. 13th St. • AACO, 1101 Market St., 9th floor • Action AIDS, 1216 Arch St. • Apt. & Townhouse Rentals, 304 S. 12th St. • The Bike Stop, 206 S. Quince St. • Bioscript Pharmacy, 1227 Locust St. • Boxers PHL, 1330 Walnut St. • Cafe Twelve, 212 S. 12th St. • Charlie Salon, 203 S. 12th St. • Charlie was a Sinner, 131 S. 13th St. • City Hall NE Entrance • Club Body Center, 1220 Chancellor St. • Com-Har Living Room, 101 S. Broad St., 14th floor • Criminal Justice Center, 1301 Filbert St. • Cut Salon, 204 S. 13th St. • Danny’s Bookstore 133 S. 13th St. • Dignity/St. Lukes, 330 S. 13th St. • Dirty Frank’s Bar, 13th & Pine sts. • The Foodery, 10th & Pine sts. • GALAEI, 1207 Chestnut St. • ICandy, 254 S. 12th St. • Independent Hotel, 13th & Locust sts. • John C. Anderson Apts., 249 S. 13th St. • Mazzoni Clinic, 809 Locust St. • Midtown II, 122 S. 11th St. • More Than Just Ice Cream, 1119 Locust St. • Nationality Service Center, 1216 Arch St. • Optimal Gym, 1315 Walnut St. • Paolo Pizzeria, 1336 Pine St. • PAT@Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St. • Phila. FIGHT/ Aids Library, 1233 Locust St., 2nd floor • Planned Parenthood, 1144 Locust St. • Reading Terminal Market, 12th & Filbert sts. • Salon K, 1216 Locust St. • Scorpio Books, 205 S. Juniper St. • Spruce Street Video, 252 S. 12th St. • Square One, 249 S. 13th St. • Tabu, 200 S. 12th St. • Toast, 12th & Spruce sts. • Triangle Medicine, 253 S. 10th St., 1st floor • U Bar, 1220 Locust St. • Valanni, 1229 Spruce St. • Venture Inn, 255 S. Camac St. • William Way LGBT Community Center, 1325 Spruce St. • Woody’s, 202 S. 13th St. •

Philly-based video makers host brunch fundraiser

By Ryan Kasley ryan@epgn.com A local organization that captures the unique stories of LGBT individuals all around the world recently celebrated its sixth anniversary, and is bringing back its boozy brunch fundraiser at the John C. Anderson Apartments.

The I’m From Driftwood second-annual Spring Brunch Fundraiser will take place noon-3:30 p.m. April 11 at the JCAA courtyard, 249 S. 13th St. The brunch will feature a buffet, open bar of mimosas and Bloody Marys with Tito’s Vodka, strawberry champagne mojitos from El Dorado Rum and Narragansett beer. The event includes live music by jazz band Tal Shtuhl Trio, raffles, silent auctions and free entry to the Stonewall Sports pub crawl.

brunch, well above its target of $5,000.

About 140 people were in attendance at what was the first event held in the JCAA courtyard.

“We are absolutely hoping to attract the same sort of crowd this year,“ said Lee. “This brunch fundraiser enables us to keep up our mission of collecting and sharing first-person LGBT stories from around the world, as well as archiving them.”

The event is also produced in partnership with William Way LGBT Community Center, which will have a preview of the special Annual Reminder Days anniversary exhibition on display.

“Philly is so rich in its history, especially around the Annual Reminder Days,” Lee said. “We are hoping to capture the original members of the Reminder Days at the brunch, then be able to release [the films]

“I’m From Driftwood is all about the connections that are made when we share our stories. Guests at our events don’t wear nametags, but stickers that say ‘I’m From’ and they fill in the blank,” said Marquise Lee, IFD board member and video producer. “It’s amazing to see the conversations that get started from those stickers, to hear people exchanging their personal histories, especially in a city with as rich a history as Philly’s.”

The fundraiser is part of IFD’s annual goal to raise approximately $25,000 to match a grant by the Palette Fund. Last year, the organization raised $7,000 at the

during the anniversary celebration.”

Lee noted that admission to this year’s event for JCAA residents would be covered by the Temple LGBT Alumni Society, the Jack Barry Group and individual gifts from Michael Pomante and Michael Anthony.

Tickets are $75 in advance at imfromdriftwood.com/brunch through 5 p.m. April 10, or $100 at the door. VIP tickets are $125 and include gift items from El Dorado Rum and Pig Iron Theatre Company.

Ticketholders also receive free entry to the Stonewall Sports pub crawl happening until 6 p.m. that day at various Gayborhood bars. n

NORTH OF Center City

1 Shot Coffee, 1040 N. Second St. • 2601 Parkway Condos lobby, 2601 Pennsylvania Ave. • Barnes & Noble, 1700 N. Broad St. • Bebashi, 1217 Spring Garden St. • Beth Ahavah, 615 N. Broad St. • Bridgeview Place Condo lobby, 315 New St. • Colonnade Condos lobby, 1601 Spring Garden St. • Community College CCP Lambda, 1700 Spring Garden St. • Congresso de Latinos, American St. & Lehigh Ave. • Darling’s Diner, 1033 N. Second St. • Girard Vet, 28th St. & Girard Ave. • HIV Early Intervention Clinic, St. Joseph’s Hospital, 16th St. & Girard Ave. • Logan View Apts. lobby, 17th & Callowhill sts. • Northern Liberties Iron Works, 821 N. Second St. • One Day At A Time, 2532 N. Broad St. • Packard Apts., 317 N. Broad St. • Philadelphian Condos lobby, 2401 Pennsylvania Ave. • PYT Restaurant, 1050 N. Hancock St., at the Piazza • Sammy’s Place, 1449 N. Fifth St., 1st floor • SILOAM Ministries, 1133 Spring Garden St. • Temple University Student Activity Center, 1755 N. 12th St. • Vice Coffee, 1031 Spring GardenSty. • Welker Real Estate, 2311 Fairmount Ave. • Whole Foods Market, 2001 Pennsylvania Ave. •

SOuth of Center city

Bethel Community Home, 933-935 S. Third St. • Black N Brew, 1523 E. Passyunk Ave. • Essene, 719 S. Fourth St. • Famous 4th St. Deli, Fourth & Bainbridge sts. • Fuel, 1917 E. Passyunk Ave. • Jackson Place, 501 Jackson St. • Rockerhead Salon, 607 S. Third St. • Wedge Medical Center, 1939 S. Juniper St. •

UNIVERSITY CITY

Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St. • Bucks County Coffee, 3430 Sansom St. • Bucks County Coffee, 30 S. 33rd St., Rom. 113 • Christian Association, 3627 Chestnut St. • Drexel University, 4001 Walnut St. • Fresh Grocer, 4001 Walnut St. • Goodman Hall, 710 S. 42nd St. • International House, 3701 Chestnut St. • LGBT Center at Penn, 3907 Spruce St. • Metropolitan Community Church, 3637 Chestnut St. • Old Quaker Condos lobby, 3514 Lancaster Ave. • Oslo Hall, 510 S. 42nd St. • Penn Bookstore, 3610 Walnut St. • Sheraton Hotel, 36th & Chestnut sts. • St. Mary’s Church, 3916 Locust Walk • University of the Sciences England Library, 4200 Woodland Ave. • Wilson Hall, 708 S. 42nd St. • World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. •

Would you like to be on our distribution list?

Contact: don@epgn.com or 215-451-6182 ext. 200 for delivery of complimentary copies.

N.J. Sen. offers conversion-therapy amendment

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com A U.S. Senator from New Jersey last week proposed an amendment to a federal spending bill that would have restricted federal funds for programs that seek to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

On March 26, Sen. Cory Booker offered an amendment to a federal spending bill that would restrict Medicaid or Medicare payments for so-called conversion therapy.

The amendment, one of more than 600 to the legislation, did not move forward.

In a statement provided to PGN, Booker said federal money should not be used for a practice that has been deemed dangerous by many leading health associations.

“Conversion therapy is the abject denial and rejection of another human being.

This discredited practice has been rejected

for years by countless medical and mental-health organizations and has no place in our society,” said Sen. Booker. “All people, regardless of their sexual orientation, deserve to be treated with compassion and respect. That’s why my amendment would prevent the use of federal dollars to support this harmful and traumatic practice.”

In 2013, New Jersey became the second state in the nation, after California, to ban conversion therapy for minors. The legislation was signed into law by Republican Gov. Chris Christie. The law later survived constitutional challenges.

In an ongoing challenge by the Southern Poverty Law Center against an agency that marketed itself as providing conversion therapy, a New Jersey Superior Court judge in February found that conversion therapy is fraudulent, as homosexuality is not a changeable disorder. It was the first time a court came to such conclusions. n

PGN

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Weekly features

News&Opinion 7 — News Briefing 10 — Creep of the Week Editorial 11 — Mark My Words Street Talk Transmissions 14 — Crime Watch 17 — International News 19 — Media Trail

AC &

31 29 32 36 37

C o l u m n s

— — — — —

Family Portrait Scene in Philly Out & About Q Puzzle Comic

This couple is lookIng for some votes to win the musical wedding of the year.

8 SOUTHERN REBELLION: Stimulus Productions cofounders Morgan Levine (left) and Amber Hikes introduced the screening of “Standing on My Sisters’ Shoulders” March 26 at William Way LGBT Community Center. The film, shown in recognition of Women’s History Month, traced the role of women in the civil-rights movement in Mississippi.

Also at the event, the city’s new director of LGBT affairs, Nellie Fitzpatrick, spoke to the crowd about her goals for the position. Photo: Scott A. Drake

This week in PGN 9 — Out Law: Taking a whack at inequality 12 — Before the Bells: Lessons learned

Classifieds 37 — Real Estate 41 — Personals 43 — Bulletin Board

Whether you are more likely to be in the lane or the gutter doesn’t matter when the goal is a good time and some networking.

6 — Same-sex couple hits the airwaves for a wedding Local couple has no bones with their free wedding 8 — CBLSL commish dishes on the 2015 season

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25 — Arts & Culture cover story: Acting out roles in “The Submission” 32 — Consolidating Philly’s theater scene

“The law in Indiana signifies the education and awareness-building that need to be done on both micro and macro levels to combat the misunderstanding propagated by lingering institutionalized homophobia.” ~ Editorial, page 10

Next week Out Money Thinking Queerly

Two weeks Gettin’ On Outward Bound Paw Prints

PGN 505 S. Fourth St. Philadelphia, PA 19147-1506 Phone: 215-625-8501 Fax: 215-925-6437 E-mail: pgn@epgn.com Web: www.epgn.com

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Editor

Jen Colletta (ext. 206) jen@epgn.com Staff Writers Ryan Kasley (ext. 215) ryan@epgn.com Larry Nichols (ext. 213) larry@epgn.com Writer-at-Large Timothy Cwiek (ext. 208) timothy@epgn.com

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The Drake opens its doors to several local theater companies.

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National Advertising Rivendell Media: 212-242-6863 Philadelphia Gay News is a member of: The Associated Press Pennsylvania Newspaper Association Suburban Newspapers of America

Published by Masco Communications Inc. © 2015 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 Apr. 3-9, 2015

Out judge seeks to retain seat on the bench

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

Prior to her appointment to the bench, Fletman was a partner at Wolf Block and later Flaster/Greenberg, where she was a Out Philadelphia Court of Common commercial litigator.

Fletman is now one of four out judges Pleas Judge Abbe Fletman is looking to bring her more-than 25 years as a trial on the Court of Common Pleas. She said lawyer — and nearly a year as a judge — the makeup of the local judiciary represents the diversity of the city well. back to the bench.

“It is important to have representation.

Fletman was nominated by former Gov. Tom Corbett to fill a Common Pleas I think it’s important for the integrity of vacancy last summer and was later unani- the system that all people feel like they mously approved by the Senate. She now are going to be treated fairly by our jusis among several-dozen Common Pleas tice system, and one way of doing that is to have a judiciary that reflects the comcandidates up for election next month.

Fletman, 55, ran for the bench in 2013 position of the city. I do think the First but withdrew from the race after drawing Judicial District does an excellent job in that regard,” she said. “I can tell you when I walk now to meetings of Common Pleas judges, there are men, women, AfricanAmericans, Latinos, openly gay people; it’s a diverse group compared to other groups of judges I’m familiar with. And I think that’s a good thing.”

Fletman said there are several factors that make her the most qualified candidate, chief among them her 26 years a trial attorney.

“I’m very well-acquainted with the courts, the courtroom and how the system works,” she said.

And, as a lifelong Philadelphian who has lived in a number of difJUDGE ABBE FLETMAN ferent areas of the city, she said she also has a deep understanding an unfavorable ballot position. This time of and knowledge about Philadelphia.

“I have the intellect, I’m hard-working, around, she pulled the 14th spot.

She is one of just three Common Pleas and I have the judgment and temperacandidates — including fellow out can- ment that you need as a judge, “ Fletman didate Chris Mallios — who was given added, noting she runs her courtroom with a “highly recommended” rating by the a Socrates quote in mind: “Judges should hear courteously, speak wisely, deliberate Philadelphia Bar Association.

Fletman, a native of Northeast soberly and decide impartially.”

“Those are the things I try to do on a Philadelphia, earned her law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law daily basis,” she said.

Fletman said she appreciates the strong School in 1988 and, later, a master’s of law from Temple University Beasley support she has received from the LGBT community.

School of Law in trial advocacy.

“Certainly having the support of the She has deep roots in the local LGBT LGBT community is meaningful to me and legal communities.

In the 1980s, she served as the first female personally and also important to the camco-chair of the organization that went on to paign,” she said.

Fletman has been scheduling campaignbecome the Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia and of the Philadelphia Bar ing around her duties as a judge, as well Association’s Legal Rights of Lesbians as a wife and mother. Fletman has been and Gay Men Committee, which she with her wife for 30 years and the couple helped found. Fletman co-chaired for- has two children, a 24-year-old son and a mer Mayor John Street’s LGBT Advisory 22-year-old daughter who is graduating Board for six years, served as a commis- college this spring. And, she’s also trainsioner of the Philadelphia Commission ing for her fifth Broad Street Run next on Human Relations and sat on Equality month.

“I’m very, very busy,” she laughed, Forum’s National Board of Governors.

On the national level, she helped noting she’ll be doing some campaigning establish the American Bar Association while she runs — wearing an “Elect Judge Litigation Section’s LGBT Litigator Fletman” shirt.

For more information on Fletman, visit Committee and co-chairs the ABA’s www.abbeforjudge.com. n Criminal Litigation Committee. ®

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Apr. 3-9, 2015

LOCAL PGN

Same-sex couple competes in local radio wedding contest

By Ryan Kasley ryan@epgn.com One local gay couple needs your vote to help them win a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: to tie the knot on stage in the company of some of today’s leading music stars.

Frank Copeland and Kevin Mong are the only same-sex couple in Radio 104.5’s Eighth Birthday Show wedding contest.

They are one of 17 couples vying for the chance to get married at the star-studded Susquehanna Bank Center concert May 10.

In addition to the ceremony being officiated by rapper Mike Jones and the first dance serenaded by hit Aussie singer Vance Joy, the contest winner will be given a pair of wedding bands, a Caribbean honeymoon, a private reception and a variety of other wedding services, all courtesy of Bernie Robbins Jewelers. The concert also will feature Of Monsters and Men, Hozier, Death Cab For Cutie, AWOLNATION, Walk The Moon and Passion Pit. The Blackwood, N.J., residents have been together for almost 14 years and had decided that 2015 will be the year they get married, regardless of the contest’s outcome.

“We wanted to wait until it was legal in New Jersey,” said Copeland, “but this contest is really the perfect way for us to get married. We see concerts at that venue throughout the whole summer. But even if we don’t win, we’re still getting married.”

Copeland and Mong are music lovers, to say the least.

They regularly see between 30-40 con-

FRANK COPELAND (LEFT) AND KEVIN MONG

certs a year, many of which are at the Susquehanna Bank Center.

“We like all different types of music: pop, rock and even a little country,” Copeland said. “It has become a passion of ours.”

The couple met Memorial Day weekend 2001 in Rehoboth, Del., at the Purple Parrot.

“We spent the whole weekend together. It was love at first sight,” Copeland said.

However, Copeland and Mong were living three hours apart from each other at the time — Copeland in Voorhees, N.J., and Mong in Waynesboro, Pa. “We continued to see each other after we first met and make the three-hour drive on weekends,” said Copeland. “Eventually, Kevin decided to uproot his life and move to Voorhees with me.”

To vote for the couple and see their video entry, head to www.radio1045.com/contests. Polls close April 5. n

Couple in viral video wins wedding

By Ryan Kasley ryan@epgn.com In response to last month’s viral “Love Has No Labels” PSA campaign, a major U.S. retailer stepped forward to sponsor a wedding for the former Philly-area couple that starred in the video.

After 10 years together, Anthony Henderson, from Germantown, and Jason Strong, from Abington, were married last Saturday in Los Angeles during Macy’s first-ever LGBT boutique bridal event.

The “dancing skeletons” PSA video quickly went viral and now has more than 47-million views on YouTube. It aims to spread the message that “love has no labels” by depicting dancing digital skeletons on a giant screen in front of a live crowd — gender, race, age, etc., are indiscernible — who eventually step out from behind the screen to reveal they are a same-sex couple, biracial friends, of different religions, etc.

The video caught the attention of Macy’s, which has long been an active participant in Pride events around the country. Macy’s

debut LGBT wedding expo featured a fashion show, music and more than 20 national and local vendors.

Henderson and Strong were originally planning to get married this summer, but when Macy’s invited them to wed at the expo, they couldn’t pass it up.

“We are excited that after 10 years together to finally be able to pledge our love in front of our closest family and friends, and are grateful to Macy’s for helping make our wedding dreams come true,” Henderson said.

While they currently don’t have plans for a honeymoon, the couple says they are happy — and busy — taking care of their son.

Henderson, 38, a celebrity fashion stylist, and Strong, 40, a manager at the L.A. LGBT Center, met online. Their dream of starting a family came true in May when they were able to adopt their 4-year-old son, Marcelino.

To watch the Love Has No Labels video, visit https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=PnDgZuGIhHs. n

LOCAL PGN

News Briefing

“I have a First Amendment right to speak out about the atrocities and hellish ordeal the Pennsauken School District has put us through,” he told PGN. “I will not be silenced. Vindication is very important to me and my family.”

Man sentenced for DUI Trial delayed for former Colours director A trial slated to start last week for the former executive director of The Colours Organization, Inc., who is accused of stealing money from the organization, has been postponed.

Ralph Godbolt was scheduled to stand trial March 26 but the case was preempted until April 13. At that hearing, a judge will consider a request from Godbolt’s defense team for a “possible nontrial disposition.”

Godbolt was hired as executive director of Colours, an LGBT people-ofcolor organization, in the spring of 2012. He was arrested in January 2014 for offenses that allegedly occurred June 20, 2012, from the organization. The total amount in question is unclear.

Godbolt faces charges of theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, receiving stolen property and theft by failure to make the required dispositions of funds received.

— Jen Colletta

School district seeks protective order Pennsauken School District officials last week asked a federal judge to issue a protective order in the case of Thomas Vandergrift.

Vandergrift, an openly gay teacher, filed suit against the district in 2012, after officials allegedly accused him of child molestation.

Vandergrift contends the accusations were retaliatory, after he advocated for a proper education for his autistic nephew.

Citing breach-of-confidentiality concerns, district officials refuse to turn over additional discovery items to Vandergrift until a protective order is issued.

Meanwhile, discovery items will be provided to U.S. Magistrate Judge Joel Schneider, according to court records.

District officials also want Schneider to restrain Vandergrift “from making further extrajudicial statements through any public or electronic means.”

Schneider is expected to consider the requests during a hearing set for 2 p.m.

April 14 in Courtroom 3C of the U.S. Courthouse in Camden.

Vandergrift said the molestation accusations are false, and he has a right to defend his reputation.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Apr. 3-9, 2015

Richard Patterson has been sentenced to 48 hours in jail for his recent DUI conviction. But with credit for time already served, he’ll avoid additional incarceration if he accepts the sentence.

On May 11, 2002, around 2:30 a.m., Patterson allegedly sideswiped another vehicle on the 900 block of Walnut Street.

In January 2015, Patterson was convicted of DUI. The only witness against Patterson was Elizabeth Skala, his arresting officer.

In December 2002, Skala gave Nizah Morris a Center City “courtesy ride.”

Shortly after the ride, the trans woman was found by passing motorists with a fractured skull. Her homicide remains unsolved.

Municipal Court Judge Craig M. Washington imposed the sentence on March 24. He also imposed fines and restitution costs on Patterson totaling $800.

Defense attorney Michael L. Doyle said his client hadn’t yet decided whether to appeal in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court. He has 30 days to make the decision.

Patterson faced a maximum of two years in jail and a $5,000 fine.

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Judge assigned to Morris case Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Nina Wright Padilla will consider PGN’s open-records request for complete dispatch records in the Nizah Morris case.

Morris was a transgender woman found with a fatal head injury in 2002, shortly after she received a “courtesy ride” from Philadelphia police.

PGN is seeking complete dispatch records for a vehicle stop initiated by Officer Elizabeth Skala while she was assigned to handle Morris, who was inebriated.

PGN initially requested the dispatch records from the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office in October 2009. The request was denied on the basis that the records are confidential in nature, if they exist.

The paper’s pending request for the records was filed with the D.A.’s Office in June 2014.

If the matter isn’t resolved, the D.A.’s Office has until May 6 to file a reply brief. Padilla is expected to preside over arguments later this year. n

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Apr. 3-9, 2015

LOCAL PGN

MERGING LANES: The Out Philadelphia Athletic League held another crosssports social event March 28, this time a bowling party at Saint Monica Lanes in South Philadelphia. About 50 people from softball, tennis, soccer, dodgeball, swimming and, of course, bowling groups converged for about four hours of rollicking and rolling, which also included food, soft drinks and raffles. Patrick Di Agosta won a bottle of champagne for bowling the high game of the evening with a 251, and David Swerdlow bowled the lowest game, winning a six-pack of Pabst Blue Ribbon. OPAL also raised about $1,200 to offset costs for this and future events. Photo: Scott A. Drake

New CBLSL commissioner previews season

By Ryan Kasley ryan@epgn.com Registration is still open for one of Philly’s longest-running and largest LGBT sports organizations, which kicks off its season next week.

City of Brotherly Love Softball League officially opens its season April 12, with a new commissioner at the helm. After four years on the board, the last two as commissioner of the competitive division, Kevin Armstrong was recently elected as the new CBLSL commissioner.

CBLSL is open to all, with men’s and women’s competitive divisions and coed recreational divisions. No experience necessary. Games are played in Fairmount Park on Sundays at various times. Cost is $65 for the season, mid-April to mid-July.

Armstrong said his new responsibilities include getting the fields ready for play, which entails acquiring the necessary permits, as well as organizing and planning the Liberty Bell Classic Tournament — the organization’s largest tourney, held every Memorial Day weekend. Armstrong also oversees the registration process and scheduling practices and games.

Among his goals as commissioner, Armstrong hopes to keep participation growing.

“I would say one of my big goals is to

expand the league a little bit,” he said. “We have 33 teams this year and approximately 500 players, but I definitely think there is room to add more players to the recreational side.”

Last year, CBLSL successfully added two competitive teams to the roster and came close to adding a 13th recreational team.

“This may be the largest number of teams we have had in a long time,” Armstrong said.

Games are typically played on Sundays and last around an hour, give or take a few minutes. Afterwards, players head to the “Bar of the Week” to relax and rehash the games.

“We’re a league that provides both social and competitive options,” Armstrong said.

“We like to think we meet the needs of both sides.”

For the competitive players, the goal is to qualify for the annual Gay Softball World Series tournament. Last year it was held in Dallas and this year will take place Aug. 17-22 in Columbus, Ohio.

Then, there’s the 2015 Liberty Bell Classic, May 22-25, when teams from all around the country will come to Philly for a weekend of play in every division.

Keep up to date with CBLSL happenings, including social events, practices and games, on the league’s Facebook page or at www.cblsl.org. n

LEGAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Apr. 3-9, 2015

9

Playing Whac-A-Mole with LGBT equality You almost expect states like Indiana, late 1970s, when it refused to give such Oklahoma and Alabama to rage against power to the office. Although having to the progress made in the fight for LGBT go to court takes time and resources, I equality, but California? The anti-LGBTcaution against giving unilateral power to rights movement reached a new extreme the attorney general to block an initiative last week when a ballot measure was pro- on the grounds of illegality. What if Chief posed, titled the Sodomite Suppression Justice Ray Moore of Alabama were the Act, which authorizes the public to shoot attorney general of California? What if in “practicing” gays and lesbians a particular instance the person in the head. Yes, in the very in Harris’ position believes, state of California, we are dealdespite the law as it stands, ing with a proposed law makthat two people of the same ing being gay punishable by gender having sex is unconstideath. tutional and worthy of assassi The proposed ballot measure nation? Just seven years ago, was introduced by an attorney enough Californians thought from Huntington Beach, Matt it was unconstitutional for McLaughlin, who paid $200 gay people to get married and to file the measure. It refers passed Proposition 8, while to “sodomy” as “a monstrous simultaneously there was outevil” and specifies that anyone cry within the LGBT commuwho touches another person nity as to the ballot measure’s Angela unconstitutionality. We created of the same gender for sexual gratification be put to death by and balances in our Giampolo checks “bullets to the head” or “any democratic system for a reason other convenient method.” and, while Harris is attemptMcLaughlin’s proposed ballot measure ing to uphold the Constitution in this also requires that anyone who transmits situation, we could easily find ourselves “sodomistic propaganda” to a minor be at the behest of someone like Moore and fined $1 million per offense, imprisoned rendered unable to retract the unilateral up to 10 years or expelled from the state. power once bestowed upon the office.

Should the measure be cleared for circu The second method of revising this lation, McLaughlin would have 180 days initiative filing process is procedural.

Democrats have introduced a bill to to collect the 365,880 signatures needed raise the filing fee to $8,000 — which to put the measure on the ballot. is approximately the same cost borne by There are three ways in which the state of California to prepare the title Californians and jurisprudential scholand summary that Harris is seeking relief ars are looking to address this situation: allowing the attorney general to terminate from doing. Recently an attempt to raise initiative proposals that are on their face the initiative filing fee to $2,000 was unconstitutional; raising the initiative fildenied so, if successful, this would be ing fee to avoid frivolous filings; and dis- the first increase in more than 70 years. barring McLaughlin.

While $8,000 is high in my opinion, and The first method would have Attorney could block grassroots organizations General Kamala Harris not only requestfrom putting forth creative ideas, I’m ing that the Superior Court in Sacramento not opposed because statewide initiative relieve her of her ministerial duties to proponents generally need more than $1 prepare a title and summary for the million to collect enough signatures to measure, before it advances to the sigqualify a measure for the ballot. Not to nature-gathering stage, but also to have mention, one would expect that it would future unilateral power to do so without cost exceedingly more than normal to asking leave of the court. Harris’ arguqualify a measure as outrageously unconment is that blocking the measure from stitutional as the SSA. being distributed for public comment or Another reaction to the SSA has been for signatures that would qualify the mea- to have the California State Bar dissure — due to its illegality — would save bar McLaughlin. An online petition at state resources.

Change.org calling for such an action However, the California Supreme Court — a move that would prevent him from already ruled on the attorney general’s practicing law in the state — is well on breadth of power in cases like this in the its way to its goal of 150,000 signatures.

Out Law

We love to get picked up.

As much as this hurts me to write, the bottom line is that the SSA and its content are protected speech under the First Amendment. At first glance, some argued it is unconstitutional on its face because McLaughlin is engaged in hate speech and is quite literally advocating for violence. But that is not the threshold test of whether or not hate speech is protected.

The advocacy of violence is protected speech unless it is intended and reasonably likely to incite imminent unlawful conduct. That’s why the American Nazi Party is allowed to march through the streets and the Ku Klux Klan is permitted to hold rallies espousing its cause.

In this instance, the speech in question will ultimately have to be circulated to obtain signatures to place it on the ballot and then, if successful, be voted upon. As such, there will clearly be ample time to respond to incendiary content and therefore, while wholeheartedly offensive, it cannot be said to likely incite imminent unlawful conduct or danger to the LGBT community.

Whether any of the above tactics work in defeating the proposed ballot measure is irrelevant because it will never see the light of day. The concern is that it was proposed in the first place. The visual I get when thinking about the fight for LGBT equality is embodied in the

favorite all-American boardwalk game, Whac-A-Mole. The minute we conquer one issue, another one pops up looking completely different at the far end of the board. We’re at the very beginning of seeing where the Religious Freedom Restoration Act takes us, Alabama is disregarding Supreme Court precedent, Oklahoma is trying to ban marriage for everyone across the board, Idaho is attempting to declare itself a Christian State, and now California is considering the death penalty for gay people.

We are at a very precarious point in our fight for equality and, with Supreme Court precedent like Hobby Lobby to deal with, it will be an uphill battle. But one thing I know for sure it’s that the LGBT community will not back down; we will achieve the full equality guaranteed to us in the Constitution — by whacking one mole at a time. n Angela D. Giampolo, principal of Giampolo Law Group, maintains offices in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and specializes in LGBT law, family law, business law, real-estate law and civil rights. Her website is www.giampololaw.com and she maintains a blog at www.phillygaylawyer. com. Reach out to Angela with your legal questions at 215-645-2415 or angela@ giampololaw.com.

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EDITORIAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Apr. 3-9, 2015

Creep of the Week

D’Anne Witkowski

Mat Staver

Editorial

Heartened from the Heartland Headlines in the last week have been dominated by news about Indiana’s new anti-LGBT law. While the law — and similar efforts growing in states across the country, seemingly spurred by the rapid pace of the marriage-equality movement — is a stain on our country’s progress, the news it is generating is a boon for LGBT equality.

The last time an LGBT topic drew such prolonged mainstream attention was perhaps the passage of Proposition 8, the California ballot initiative that banned same-sex marriage in that state. That is largely considered a turning point in the LGBT-rights fight — and hopefully the fervor being created by the latest wave of anti-LGBT actions will also be looked back upon as a rallying point for equality.

The law in Indiana signifies the education and awareness-building that need to be done on both micro and macro levels to combat the misunderstanding propagated by lingering institutionalized homophobia. However, the national outcry signifies that many are ready for that process to start.

On an individual level, musicians and comedians cancelled appearances in Indiana. On the corporate side, companies like Angie’s List took the bold step to halt planned expansion into the state, and other companies — international giants like Apple and Microsoft — signed on to a statement condemning the legislation and urging lawmakers across the country to defeat such measures. Organizers of large-scale conventions, some of which could have infused the state with tens of millions of dollars, announced they’ll take their business elsewhere. Cities and states have banned government-funded travel to Indiana.

The response has cut across all sectors, largely fueled by allies. All of the people, businesses and government entities that have taken a stand on this discriminatory law have used their unique positions of power to raise awareness about LGBT discrimination and its effects — which, as we’re seeing, increasingly include loss of revenue and reputation. From rallying Twitter followers to stockholders to residents, the coalition that is fighting the Indiana law and similar measures is taking an important step in the next phase of the LGBT-rights movement.

The future of the movement has been thrown into sharp illumination in the past week: Allies play a key role in educating the masses on the realities of LGBT equality and inequality. Marriage is all but won but, without basic respect, legal rights lose much of their significance. n

We want to know!

Like many a homo, I am anxiously And it’s true awaiting the Supreme Court’s ruling on that the Supreme whether or not my marriage is allowed Court sometimes by law or a Satan-spawn union of evil. makes terrible rulObviously, I am hoping for the former so I ings. Staver uses can do things like be on my wife’s health the Dred Scott insurance and be a legal parent to my own case as an example son. Or what right-wingers call “destroying where he writes, America.”

“The definition And if one were to take a quick surof ‘human’ was vey of right-wing punditry, it’s pretty at issue. Now the clear that they’re very worried that the definition of ‘marSupreme Court will rule that gays and lesriage’ is at issue.” bians across the land can put a ring on it, Uh, no. The Dred Scott case, where Beyoncé-style. the court ruled that “blacks are inferior Liberty Council’s Mat Staver, for examhuman beings,” is not comparable to the ple, is encouraging widespread “civil dismarriage-equality case. Such a claim minobedience” if he doesn’t get his antigay imizes the ugly history of racism in this way. country. Letting two men get legally mar “Civil disobedience has a long and noble ried is not the same as legally oppressing history in Western culture, an entire race of people.

He then invokes and we will need a primer If marriage equality on it if, as seems likely, the law of the Dr. Martin Luther becomes the Supreme Court rules land, Staver writes, “the temptation for many will against natural marriage King Jr. because, in June,” Staver writes in be to cave or comproyou know, the mise. The temptation even a March 20 column on BarbWire, a virtual town fight against racial for the faithful will be to retreat into our churches hall for terrible people and injustice and the ideas. and cloisters.”

He then invokes Dr. Presumably with plenty fight against two of canned goods, jugs of Martin Luther King Jr. ladies in wedding fresh water, plastic sheetbecause, you know, the fight against racial injusing and duct tape. dresses is the “But what would haptice and the fight against same thing. two ladies in wedding pen if, instead of quiet retreat, many thousands of dresses is the same thing.

“Merely because a legislature or a judge individuals, agencies, charities, churches passes a law or issues an opinion does not and schools all came together, prepared, make a law just,” Staver writes. “To cite prayed and peacefully refused to countean extreme example, if you lived under nance a Supreme Court decision that viothe Nazi regime and the law required you lates not only our highest legal document, to not hide or aid a Jew in any way, would but the laws of nature and nature’s God?” you comply with Hitler or obey God?” Staver asks.

I totally agree with Staver that some laws Nothing much, probably. I mean, for one are unjust. But then he goes and equates thing, there are millions of people in this the Supreme Court with Hitler. And while country. And “many thousands” break all he admits it’s an extreme example, it really kinds of laws, just and unjust, every day.

“Whatever the outcome, the hour is late. cannot be overstated that he is comparing the mass extermination of Jews with allow- It’s past time for us to get ready,” Staver writes. ing same-sex couples to marry. It’s not an Staver and his ilk have had years to pray analogy someone with a rational argument for the end of homosexuality. They’re welmakes.

But I get it, he’s trying to say that God come to keep praying, but he’s right. The wants same-sex couples to, like, uncouple time has passed. n or something and go forth and be straight.

D’Anne Witkowski has been gay for pay since God hates fags and all that. Got it. But 2003. She’s a freelance writer and poet (believe God doesn’t make the laws because of it!). When she’s not taking on the creeps of that whole separation of church and state the world, she reviews rock and roll shows in thing we’ve got going in the United States. Detroit with her twin sister and teaches writing at the University of Michigan.

Which Staver no doubt rejects.

If you are celebrating an anniversary, engagement, wedding, adoption or other life event, we would be happy to help you

announce it to the community. Send your contact information and a brief description of the event to editor@epgn.com.

Op-Ed PGN

Bracing for a backlash (part two) This past week, many of us were makers have now introduced more than amazed watching the tangled web of the 20 pieces of legislation attacking LGBT anti-LGBT legislation that became law Texans and their families. Way to go, in Indiana, which has become a national Texas. poster child for LGBT discrimination. The Most of this legislation was in reaction outcry over Indiana’s law likely served as to the various court rulings on marriage the impetus for the governor equality. A backlash begins of Arkansas to reject similar when one faction is gaining and legislation, although he callled another is losing and afraid of for a clarification. While it what that loss means. It’s an looks (as I write this column on overreaction. Thus, we are in Wednesday) that there is some the first stage of backlash since form of compromise or fix in equality is truly gaining. the Indiana legislation in the offYou can never guess the route ing, please note, as we did last a backlash will go. But what we week, that this is only one of 28 can do is keep alert and make states with antigay legislation in some educated guesses. The the making. first is obvious. June will be Victory or not in Indiana, we the next pressure point for both are now in the midst of a backsides, when the Supreme Court lash, and a backlash is not over issues its ruling on marriage in one battle. Recall that, as equality. Be assured that the Human Rights Campaign has Mark Segal justices are watching Indiana pointed out, there are four types and thinking about the reaction of antigay legislation among those moreto their ruling.

What effect Indiana will have on the rulthan two-dozen states. The Indiana model ing is unclear — as is what the backlash was the “freedom of religion” issue, but will be. n there are three other types waiting in the wings.

But of all the states, one must be singled Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the out: Texas. It now has the distinction of nation’s most-award-winning commenbeing, at least legislative-wise, the most tator in LGBT media. You can follow LGBT-unfriendly state in the nation. It is him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ the only state with all four forms of antiMarkSegalPGN or Twitter at https://twitter.

LGBT legislation and, get this, Texas lawcom/PhilaGayNews.

Mark My Words

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.

Transmissions

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Apr. 3-9, 2015

11

Street Talk What's your favorite Easter candy?

"Cadbury Eggs with pastel shells.

They're small so I can eat a few and keep my figure. At least I hope so! I put them in my pocket Nicole Hamilton and pop them server in my mouth South Philadelphia when I get the urge."

"Peeps. But they have to be blue. I also like Skittles. I have a sweet tooth and they're very sweet, and their flavor is long-lasting. Vallerie Ramirez sales clerk After you North Philadelphia chew them and swallow them, you still have the flavor in your mouth."

"Reese's PeanutButter Eggs. I love anything with peanut butter and chocolate.

It's a great combination.

Reese's Sarah Rawlings Pieces are homemaker also good.

Upper Darby They're pretty much the same thing."

"The large, darkchocolate Easter eggs.

Hollow, no cream inside.

But it has to be dark chocolate; Suzie Yong the white student chocolate is West Philadelphia too sweet for me. I also love jelly beans, all different colors. I grab a bunch and share them with friends."

Please include a daytime phone number.

Letters may be edited for clarity, style and space con­sid­er­ations.

Gwendolyn Ann Smith

The real predators After five hours of public comments that often proved contentious, the city council in Charlotte, N.C., recently voted down a nondiscrimination ordinance that would have provided protections for LGBT residents of the city. This would have been North Carolina’s first LGBT anti-discrimination ordinance, but it failed on a 6-5 vote.

Yes, one of the biggest issues on the table was transgender use of public facilities. Those opposed to the bill ran radio advertisements raising the specter of sexual predators using transgender bathroom protections as a way to assault women and children. It was this more than anything else that caused lawmakers to pause.

Prior to the vote, the bill was amended to disallow transgender people the use of appropriately gendered facilities. This led

two Democratic council members to vote against the bill.

That the bill was amended to deny the rights of people like me is offensive.

That Charlotte will continue to allow discrimination against all LGBT people is also offensive. Yet there was something worse done in Charlotte that night, and something that points to the future of the debate about transgender people being allowed appropriate facilities.

At the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center, while the hearing was ongoing, a 17-year old girl went into the public restroom on the second floor.

After doing her business, local anti-LGBT street preacher Flip Benham confronted her.

“Young man,” reportedly called out Benham, “You got to get out of there!”

This was one of two transgender people whom Benham so assaulted at the Government Center, both of whom Benham called “transvestites” and said they were “dressed in drag.” Benham also made it clear that he would be willing to go even farther.

“You know, I’d be greatly concerned if my daughters were in the bathroom and I saw a man dressed in drag,” Benham reportedly said. “I’d be more than concerned, I’d drag that queen right out of that bathroom. I mean, that would be the responsibility of the father. And then I’d go to jail for that.”

Benham has previously been convicted for stalking an abortion doctor and is no stranger to provocative — even dangerous — actions.

I’ve talked previously about a bill cur-

rently pending in Kentucky that would block transgender students from using gender-appropriate restrooms. One of the more disturbing facets of that bill is that it would award other students $2,500 every time they discover a transgender student in their school’s restrooms.

That bill has now passed the Kentucky Senate. It has also been added as an amendment to HB 236, a bill requiring committees to screen new school superintendents that has been widely expected to pass.

I’ve also spoken about a bill in Florida to criminalize transgender restroom use, which would jail transgender people for up to a year and fine them up to $1,000 for entering a public facility in line with their gender identity.

This bill is also movPAGE 20

12

WEDDINGS PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Apr. 3-9, 2015

Before the Bells

Jen Colletta

Lessons learned

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Knowing what kind of wedding you want before you start planning is important, as that will dictate the seemingly millions of subsequent choices you’ll have to make.

Booking a venue is the first decision you need to make, before you even can pick a date. Large or small, church or hall, backyard or beach? Give serious thought to the size and scope of your event because, once you book a venue, it’ll be hard to go back. Knowing your budget is key to figuring out realistic expectations. You likely can’t have a huge, upscale affair for under a couple thousand, but there are ways to cut corners if a low-key, small gathering isn’t your style. Look at your funds and the amount you could — without giving yourself or your partner too many extra grays — save before the wedding, with ongoing and possibly unforeseen regular life expenses factored in, and marry that to your own vision for your big day.

Similarly, do some thinking ahead of time about the different aspects of your day and what’s most important to you — photography, music, food — as diving in without having a general idea of what you want can lead to a lot of headaches.

Likewise, know what you want in terms of the guest list: This can be a major cause of stress, so be realistic about who needs to be there (making lists of people who could be cut or added as a Plan B can be helpful).

My fiancée and I are both list people — we love the feeling of getting to check things off. So we’ve been in list heaven.

We have a USB full of wedding documents, including an overall to-do list that we’ve been whittling down. We started an Excel workbook for our invitees, where we recorded everyone’s addresses, as well as an RSVP sheet with everyone’s meal choices once they started responding. We used those lists to organize our guests into tables, and we’re now compiling a sheet for people to whom we need to send thank-yous after the wedding.

When we were exploring honeymoon options, we kept lists full of websites and prices, and also have similar documents of vendor notes. After meeting with four or five photographers, they all started to blend together, so after each meeting we would write down the prices and a few pros or cons about each vendor to help us compare our choices.

Researching venues and vendors is enough to make the most patient person ornery, but it’s an unfortunate necessity.

LGBT wedding-planning sites like EquallyWed.com, GayWeddings.com and the LGBT section on TheKnot.com offer good resources to narrow your search. But don’t just take a listing on an LGBT guide as proof; look for photos of same-sex couples on their promotional materials, information about LGBT wedding expos where these vendors have tabled or reviews by couples they’ve worked with. Shouting out to friends, family or even social-media followers is also a good way to compile a list of LGBT-friendly vendors.

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After nearly two years of planning, my wedding is now just about two weeks away. It’s been a sometimes-stressful, often-fun, enlightening and exciting two years, with more lessons than I can count.

Here are just a sampling of dos and don’ts I picked up (or wish I had picked up!) to make your big day a bit easier.

3/26/15 2:46 PM

Don’t be easily offended Never again will I let an RSVP for a wedding accumulate dust on my kitchen table.

One of the biggest frustrations of the wedding-planning process was the painstaking collection of RSVPs, as we watched the deadline to reply approach, arrive and leave, with not a peep from many guests.

When following up, we literally got a “my dog ate it,” a “maybe,” a few “it must be lost in the mail” and a few more who said they didn’t know they needed to send their RSVP cards back.

But, from talking with other couples, we found that an aversion to the RSVP deadline is a common thing, so we didn’t take it personally.

Adapting to others’ habits was also necessary for working with our bridal party, such as when bridesmaids purchased their dresses two months after the cutoff date.

But, we tried to keep in mind that a wedding brings together a whole slew of people with different customs working for one joint goal, so there’s always bound to be some friction.

Don’t be afraid to say no In that vein, not shy-

PAGE 17

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Apr. 3-9, 2015

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Gayborhood Crime Watch The following incidents in the Midtown Village and Washington Square West areas were reported to the Sixth Police District between March 16-22.

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. INCIDENTS — At 5 a.m. March 17, a man punched another man at Broad and Spruce streets, causing a facial fracture. The suspect was described as a 6-foot, 190pound, 45-year-old black male.

— At around 3 a.m. March 20, a man was walking in the 200 block of South 12th Street when two males pushed him against a wall, punched him and stole his cell phone from his hand. The suspects fled south into the PATCO station at 11th and Locust streets. They were described as black males between 18-22 and 5-foot-8 to 6 feet, with thin builds and wearing dark clothing.

— Between 6 p.m. March 19 and 2 a.m. March 21, someone entered an apartment in the 400 block of South Broad Street without force and stole a tablet, jewelry and a Kindle. Sixth District Officer McCauley lifted fingerprints.

— Between 9:15 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

March 21, someone entered an apartment in the 1300 block of Locust Street without force and stole a laptop. Sixth District Officer Corrado attempted to lift fingerprints.

— At 2:40 a.m. March 22, a man woke up in the 1200 block of Sansom Street with a lump on his head and his wallet missing. He told police he doesn’t remember anything.

— At 9:20 a.m. March 22, some-

one stole a woman’s handbag from the back of a chair inside Green Eggs Cafe, 212 S. 13th St. Security video showed the suspect to be a black male, 40-45, 6-foot-3, 230 pounds and unshaven, wearing a white baseball cap, a navy blue hoodie and dark pants.

— There was one theft from a parked vehicle reported March 16-22: outside 1218 Sansom St. NON-SUMMARY ARRESTS — At 7:15 p.m. March 17, Sixth District plainclothes Officers Calhoun and Kennan observed a male pick up a package from the steps of a residence in the 300 block of South Camac Street and continue walking north. The male was stopped for investigation and the resident listed on the package was contacted. The 50-year-old homeless suspect was charged with theft.

SUMMARY ARRESTS — At 5:40 p.m. March 16, Sixth District officers issued a code-violation notice for possession of marijuana at 1026 Market St. — On March 17, Sixth District officers issued citations for summary offenses at 7:25 p.m. outside 1300 Locust St. and 9:50 p.m. outside 1300 Drury St. — On March 18, Sixth District officers issued citations for summary offenses at 2:25 a.m. outside 1300 Drury St. and 11:50 p.m. outside 1226 Chestnut St. — At 7:30 p.m. March 19, Sixth District officers issued a citation for a summary offense outside 1300 Locust St. — At 10:20 p.m. March 20, Sixth District officers issued a citation for a summary offense outside 912 Walnut St. — On March 22, Sixth District officers issued citations for summary offenses at 5:10 p.m. outside 1200 Chestnut St. and 8:25 p.m. outside 1300 Chestnut St. n

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International U.N. committee approves benefits for spouses of gay staffers

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The United Nations will now give benefits to all spouses of gay U.N. staffers who are legally married — after Russia and other opponents of same-sex marriage failed March 24 to scuttle the plan by SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon.

Currently, family benefits for U.N. staff members are determined by their country of origin. The secretary-general’s plan will give family benefits to all staffers who are legally married, regardless of the laws on same-sex marriage in their home countries.

The March 24 vote in the General Assembly’s budget committee was key because it must approve additional funding to pay for the new benefits.

U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said, “This means that the policy stands,” adding that Ban welcomes the affirmation of his authority under the U.N. Charter to make such decisions. Ban has been an outspoken supporter of gay rights.

Forty-three countries supported a Russian-sponsored resolution that called for the U.N. chief’s plan to be dropped, while 80 countries opposed it and 37 abstained. The Russian resolution was supported by many Arab and Muslim countries as well as China, India and Zimbabwe.

Members of the European Union and the United States lobbied hard against the resolution and were relieved that it was defeated.

“We must speak plainly about what Russia tried to do today: diminish the authority of the U.N. secretary-general and export to the U.N. its domestic hostility to LGBT BELLS from page 12

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ing away from the word “no” can cut down on friction.

Weddings involve a lot of decisions and a lot of people, and with a lot of decisions and a lot of people come a lot of opinions. Decide early on who gets to have a say, and on what, and who doesn’t.

Even if you make it clear who’s helping with what, or whose input you’re seeking with what, the opinions will surely flow; everyone involved comes to the table with

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Apr. 3-9, 2015

rights,” U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power said in a statement after the vote.

Power and others said the vote “never should have happened” and set “a dangerous precedent in challenging the secretary-general’s authority to make administrative decisions.”

Jessica Stern, executive director of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, said, “The vote offered a new twist on the kind of homophobic scapegoating we see globally.’’

“This was a disingenuous effort to shed the dignity of LGBT employees at the U.N., while clawing at the authority of the secretary general,” she said. “Those who sided with Russia should be ashamed of such a craven vote.”

Russia strongly opposes samesex marriage and has adopted laws restricting gay-rights activities.

The country’s deputy ambassador, Petr Iliichev, alluded to this in urging support for the resolution, saying the directive Ban issued last June can provide the basis “for legal conflict with national legislation” of U.N. member states.

Iliichev criticized the secretary-general for adopting a plan that he said discriminates against many member states and changes a nearly 70-year-old policy.

“We think we should leave the status quo. It is an example of how the United Nations respects cultural differences,” Iliichev said.

Trial begins in Philippines of U.S. Marine charged with murder A Philippine court has begun the trial of a U.S. Marine charged with murdering a transgender Filipino after allegedly discovering her gender when they checked into a hotel.

A court official says Marine Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton was taken

by American escorts to a heavily guarded courtroom for the trial in Olongapo, northwest of Manila.

Government prosecutors presented their own goals, views and vantage points, and wedding-planning seems to bring out the opinionated in all of us.

You can always just nod, smile, say thank you and then just do it your own way. Or, if that route becomes cumbersome, make clear to your (likely well-intentioned-butmaybe-not-very-aware) opinion-givers who’s making the decisions.

And then still go do it your own way.

17

their first witness, a hotel worker who identified Pemberton as having been with Jennifer Laude shortly before she was found dead last October in the bathroom of a hotel room.

Prosecutors say they had checked into the hotel after meeting in a bar.

Pemberton, from Bristol, Mass., is charged with murder, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Jamaican PM claims to ‘respect’ gay rights The Prime Minister of Jamaica has claimed that her country “respects” the rights of gay people.

Prime Minister Portia SimpsonMiller was addressing protesters March 26 who disrupted her speech to the Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference in New York, to protest her country’s antigay laws.

Homosexuality can lead to up to 10 years in prison in Jamaica — but a strong social taboo on the issue means that homophobic vigilante attacks and even murders are also commonplace.

She told the protesters that her country respects the human rights of all its citizens, including gays.

She said: “Nobody never hears the government of Jamaica beating up gays, not one. Let me tell you something: You want to disturb, you can disturb, but this woman come here with the blood of Nanny of the Maroons and the spirit of [former political leader] Marcus Mosiah Garvey. This woman is not afraid of no man, nowhere, anywhere, and I will speak the truth everywhere.

Jamaica will continue to rise and shine globally. Jamaica will rise and shine all over the world and no one man can stop that.”

The politician had said she would consider decriminalizing homosexuality before her election in 2011 — but she has gone back on her promise.

She has since been accused of “betraying” voters on the issue by failing to act on her pledge. n — compiled by Larry Nichols Perhaps the biggest lesson I took away was to keep things in perspective. It’s frighteningly easy to lose yourself among details when planning a wedding, so taking a step back to look at the big picture every now and then is absolutely necessary.

A wedding is just one day, but the marriage is (hopefully!) a lifetime, so find time to work on yourself and work on your relationship — and the wedding will work itself out. n

18

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Apr. 3-9, 2015

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“Mayor Nutter has stood firm against any right here in Pennsylvania. Indiana’s actions kind of discriminatory laws, whether in the should serve as a call for Pennsylvania overt language of Jim Crow laws in past to pass nondiscrimination legislation right centuries or the covert language used most now. All people — regardless of sexual recently by the Indiana General Assembly,” orientation — should be treated equally McDonald said. “In the name of protecting under Pennsylvania law. This fundamental religious freedom, this new Indiana law right is essential, and it is the very prin- would enable a business owner to deny ciple on which our Commonwealth was service to groups he or she did not wish founded by William Penn, who envisioned to serve simply by asserting his religious practice was ‘suba Pennsylvania that stantially burdened’ is open, diverse and Mark McDonald, a or likely to be so. inclusive for all peoThe mayor believes ple. Now is the time spokesperson for Mayor laws like this must for real progress.”

Michael Nutter, said the be repealed or comThe governors of pletely changed.”

Connecticut, New mayor opposes the law N e l l i e York and Washington but did not comment on Fitzpatrick, directhis week issued tor of the Mayor’s a moratorium on whether he would take Office of LBGT nonessential state- any action to restrict cityAffairs, added that funded travel to Indiana, which late funded travel to the state. the wave of “bias and hate-driven legislalast month adopted a law that critics say gives businesses author- tion [being] drafted, proposed, discussed, promoted and, in far too many instances, ity to discriminate against LGBT people.

Mayors of several American cities have passed” makes her “grateful to live in and issued similar bans. Mark McDonald, a honored to work for a city that has taken spokesperson for Mayor Michael Nutter, historic steps to protect our LGBT citizens. said the mayor opposes the law but did not As our nation moves forward, we must comment on whether he would take any work to make Philadelphia’s laws, ordiaction to restrict city-funded travel to the nances, beliefs and culture the norm and not the exception.” n state.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Apr. 3-9, 2015

INDIANA from page 1

LAWSUIT from page 1

city’s request to limit the scope of the trial.

Last week, she also rejected the city’s request for permission to pursue an interim appeal in Commonwealth Court.

The city is permitted to go directly into Commonwealth Court to pursue an interim appeal. By presstime, city attorneys hadn’t decided whether to do so.

An interim appeal in Commonwealth Court could delay the trial for several months, noted Barak A. Kassutto, an attorney for Jones.

This week, Kassutto said his client is eager to have his day in court.

“Officer Jones has been waiting for his day in court for several years now,” Kassutto told PGN. “We have a specified court date, and we want it to proceed as scheduled. The longer this goes on, the longer my client’s grievances remain unaddressed.”

Kassutto also said a timely trial could benefit other city workers in similar situations.

“It’s not just my client who will benefit from a prompt trial, but other people who may also be enduring similar problems with DEMS from page 1

Abbe Fletman, both running for Court of Common Pleas judgeships, for endorsement. Both Mallios and Fletman were also recently rated “highly recommended” by the Philadelphia Bar Association.

Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club sent the Policy Committee a letter the day before the meeting, urging it to back an LGBT candidate for Council.

“Despite the many gains that have been made over the last 20 years, the fact remains that Philadelphia is the only one of this

the city.”

City attorneys contend Jones failed to file administrative complaints against coworkers other than Castro, so only Castro’s actions should be considered at trial.

But Kassutto maintains the city is wrong in holding that position.

“My client diligently pursued all pretrial requirements, and fully exhausted his administrative remedies before filing suit [in 2013],” he said.

Kassutto said a timely trial would send a “clear message” to the city that an antiLGBT work environment is unacceptable.

“Officer Jones is, and was, owed a workplace free from discrimination,” he concluded. “Now that the city has failed to deliver a bias-free work environment, he’s owed his day in court. And it should be sooner rather than later.”

Castro no longer works for the city. In 2011, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit extortion in an unrelated matter and was sentenced to 60 months in prison. His release date is set for April 7, 2016.

He’s expected to testify during trial via a remote hook-up from prison. n country’s top-five major cities to never elect an open LGBT member to its City Council,” Liberty City co-chairs Sara Jacobson and Tony Campisi wrote. “Simply having allies on Council is not enough. It is critical for our community to have a direct vote in City Council and not only to serve as a voice for our community, but also to demonstrate to the thousands of LGBT Philadelphians that they are important and valued members of our party.”

Liberty City will make its own endorsements April 16. n

Media Trail Massive outcry against Indiana law The Indiana Gazette reports hundreds of people gathered outside the Indiana Statehouse last weekend to rally against the state’s new law that opponents say could sanction discrimination against gay people.

Republican Gov. Mike Pence signed a bill March 26 prohibiting state laws that “substantially burden” a person’s ability to follow his or her religious beliefs. The definition of “person” includes religious institutions, businesses and associations.

The law’s supporters say it will keep the government from compelling people to provide services they find objectionable on religious grounds.

The March 28 crowd chanted “Pence must go” and held signs reading “I’m pretty sure God doesn’t hate anyone” and “No hate in our state.”

Indiana’s law has been widely criticized by businesses and organizations around the country.

Sixteen states have introduced similar legislation, which is patterned after a federal act.

Bill makes it easier to change gender on birth certificates According to WTNH News 8, a bill moving through the Connecticut legislature would make it easier for transgender people to update their names and genders on their birth certificates.

The state already has a law on the books allowing people to change the sex on their birth certificates. But that’s only if they’ve undergone sex-reassignment surgery.

Transgender people and their advocates argue that standard is outdated and the course of care for gender transition doesn’t always involve surgery.

A bill being considered by the General Assembly would allow a transgender person to provide a written statement from a licensed health-care provider verifying that person has undergone surgical, hormonal or other treatment that’s clinically appropriate.

Missouri bills would ban gender-neutral dorms The Columbia Tribune reports gender-neutral university housing and many unisex public bathrooms would be banned

19

in Missouri under bills that have been introduced in the state legislature.

Rep. Jeff Pogue, a Salem Republican who submitted the bills last week, said in an email that he wants to “protect the social norms of our state.”

The introduction of the gender-neutral legislation comes about one month after the University of Missouri’s flagship campus in Columbia announced plans to test out a new 16-bed housing option starting this fall. The goal is to create a safe place for students who are transgender or gender-nonconforming, Frankie Minor, director of Residential Life at MU, said in February. MU spokesperson Christian Basi said the university does not comment on pending legislation.

The other bill would prohibit any statefunded bathroom from being unisex unless it is single-occupancy.

Pogue said in an email statement that if the state “were to change a social norm of this magnitude,” the General Assembly or voters should make the decision through a bill or a ballot measure. The result should apply statewide, he said.

Kyle Piccola, a lobbyist for the group PROMO, which advocates for gay and transgender rights, called Pogue’s legislation “disheartening.”

“They’re attacks on the transgender community,” Piccola said. “Everybody, including the transgender community, cares about privacy and safety, particularly in the bathroom.”

Piccola said bills proposed this late in the session “don’t typically go anywhere,” but PROMO will monitor the bills and create an advocacy plan if that changes.

Neither of the bills have been referred to a committee. Legislators are out this week for their annual spring break.

Michael Sam: Gay NFL players have reached out According to the Fort Worth StarTelegram, Michael Sam says there are “a lot” of gay players in the NFL and some have reached out to him.

Sam gave a speech March 26 at the Dallas Holocaust Museum and took questions from the audience.

Sam said: “I’m just saying there is a lot of us.” He added he’d never out a player who confided in him, but “there’s some famous people.”

Sam came out before last year’s NFL draft. The defensive end from Missouri was selected in the seventh round by the St. Louis Rams and cut in training camp. The Dallas Cowboys signed him to their practice squad but released him in October.

He’s currently a free agent.

Sam revealed he’s not talked to his father since Michael Sam Sr. criticized his son’s sexual orientation shortly after he came out. n — compiled by Larry Nichols

20

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Apr. 3-9, 2015

PGN TRANSMISSIONS from page 11

ing forward.

Finally, I talked about Texas, which had a bill similar to Florida’s, but with higher penalties — including penalties for businesses that allow transgender people to use appropriate facilities. Texas now has additional bills along the same lines, including HB 2801, which will not only make schools liable for transgender students using appropriate facilities but — like the Kentucky bill — will include a $2,000 bounty for catching transgender people, as well as whatever amount a judge might award for the “mental anguish” of having been in the restroom with a transgender person.

The argument that so many of these bills use is that allowing transgender people to use appropriate facilities will “open the stall door” for predators. To date, this has not been shown to be the case in any place where these protections already exist. That basic fact, however, has not swayed the emotion-based thinking of those affected by fears of these unseen sexual predators.

One thing I think is worth noting is that, by equating transgender rights with sexual predators, a false connection is made. It is the same argument that was used to blunt gay rights in the 1980s and ’90s, with the connection between gay-rights battles and fears of organizations such as the North American Man-Boy Love Association (NAMBLA) assaulting straight youth. The more the “bathroom predator” concept is introduced into this battle, the more transgender people come closer to being painted as these predators.

I never thought that the big battleground for transgender rights would be the toilet.

I look at how many of us — particularly trans women of color — are murdered. I look at our suicide rate. I look at all the other ill treatment we face, and it bemuses me that it all boils down to bathrooms.

I want to leave you with my greatest fear in all this. This is the “end game” of all these bills, presuming they pass: These bills will give people like Flip Benham the ammunition he so craves. This will allow for discrimination of transgender people on a grander scale and will cause an at-risk community to be even further at risk.

This will not just affect transgender people, of course: Imagine being a non-transgender person who gets netted in all this and has to prove — perhaps even in a court of law — what his or her gender is.

Think of that 17-year-old transgender girl who had to face Benham when she used the restroom. She was obviously not there to assault anyone, but Benham treated her as the worst of criminals.

Imagine for a moment if you were that girl, facing an angry man calling you names when you stepped out of the restroom.

That person will gain a bounty of thousands of dollars for doing so — and you will end up in jail. n Gwen Smith can’t hold it much longer.

You’ll find her on Twitter at @gwenners.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Apr. 3-9, 2015

I now pronounce you husband and husband ...

PGN is happy to publish your wedding/civil union/commitment ceremony announcement. E-mail information to editor@epgn.com or fax us at (215) 925-6437.

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215.238.0499 215.627.6181 215.923.2267 215.663.1495 215.592.7661 215.625.8800 DELAWARE SOCIETY HILL/SOUTH PHILA The Back Burner 302.239.2314 Adobe Cafe 215.551.2243 BBC Tavern & Grill 302.655.3785 August 215.468.5926 Cromwell’s American Beau Monde  215.592.0656 Tavern and Taqueria 302.571.0561 Bing Bing Dim Sum 215.279.7702 Doc Magrogan’s Bistro Romano  215.925.8880 Oyster House 302.857.3223 Bistrot La Minette 215.925.8000 Jessop’s Tavern 302.322.6111 Cafe Nola  215.574.1687 Kildare’s Irish Pub 302.224.9330 Cochon  215.923.7675 Krazy Kats 302.888.4200 Copabanana 215.923.6180 The Melting Pot, The Industry 215.271.9500 Wilmington 302.652.6358 Le Virtu 215.271.5626 Santa Fe, Wilmington 302.425.5200 Noord  267.909.9704 Soffritto Italian Grill 302.455.1101 Paloma Mexican Timothy’s of Newark 302.738.9915 Haute Cuisine 215.928.9500 Traders Cove Coffee Percy Street Barbecue  215.625.8510 Shop at Penn’s Place 302.322.6334 Pizzeria Stella 215.320.8000 Tutto Fresco 302.762.9094 Redwood Restaurant 215.238.1512 Ulysses American Gastropub302.691.3456 Southwark 215.238.1888 SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY Taproom on 19th 267.687.7817 856.468.3557 Villa Di Roma 215.592.1295 Barnsboro Inn Casa Bella Trattoria 856.429.2885 UNIVERSITY CITY/WEST PHILA CousCous Moroccan Distrito  215.222.1657 Cuisine  856.427.9994 Doc Magrogan’s District Riverton Bistro 856.499.2916 Oyster House 215.382.3474 El Sitio Grill & Café 856.240.1217 The Gold Standard Cafe  215.727.8247 Filomena Cucina Italiana  856.784.6166 Harvest Seasonal Grill & Harvest Seasonal Grill Wine Bar  215.662.1100 & Wine Bar 856.581.0044 JG Domestic  215.222.2363 Indeblue Indian Cuisine  856.854.4633 Pod  215.387.1803 Keg & Kitchen 856.833.9800 The Restaurant School L’Oceano 856.833.9888 at Walnut Hill College  215.222.4200 Norma’s Restaurant  856.795.1373 Nunzio Ristorante Rustico 856.858.9840 BUCKS COUNTY Oasis Mexican Grill 856.858.1807 Poco’s Restaurant  215.348.3424 The Pop Shop, The Raven 215.862.2081 Collingswood 856.869.0111 Rick’s Restaurant  609.397.0051 The Pop Shop, Medford 609.975.6888 CHESTER COUNTY Sapori Trattoria 856.858.2288 856.642.1200 Avalon 610.436.4100 Thomas’ Ristorante 856.869.3345 Barra Rossa 610.269.6000 The Tortilla Press Tortilla Press Cantina 856.356.2050 Catherine’s Restaurant @ the general store 610.347.2227 The Treehouse Coffee Shop 856.547.3270 Tre Famiglia Ristorante 856.429.1447 Cedar Hollow Inn 856.858.2999 Restaurant and Bar 610.296.9006 Villa Barone Villari’s Lakeside Restaurant Doc Magrogan’s & Bar 856.228.5244 Oyster House 610.429.4046 856.854.7220 Éclat Chocolate 610.692.5206 Westmont Diner  Zeppoli 856.854.2670 Harvest Seasonal Grill & Wine Bar 610.358.1005  FOOD TRUCK ROUND-UP  High Street Caffe/ 11am - 2:30pm Vudu Lounge 610.696.7435 1300 Block of Locust St. Jimmy’s BBQ 610.879.8805 Chef Johnny Bravo’s Surf n Turf Kildare’s Irish Pub 610.431.0770 The Cow and The Curd Market Street Grille 610.429.5328 Cupcake Carnivale Olive Branch Tapas The Farm Truck Restaurant 610.431.7141 Foo Truck Red Star Craft House 610.524.5893 Gigi’s and Big R Side Bar & Restaurant  610.429.8297 Mac Mart Spence 312 610.738.8844 Schmear It DELAWARE COUNTY Vernalicious Bogart’s Bar & Grill 610.544.9200 Diego’s Cantina and Tequila Bar 484.442.8741

Make an additional donation of $25 or more on April 30 and you will receive a 20% Off Tuesdays card with your thank you letter. This card entitles you to 20% off of your table's food bill on Tuesday evenings* throughout the year at participating 20% Off Tuesdays Restaurants. Listings with an  are 20% off Tuesdays participants. Restaurants with a  are donating 33% of food & alcohol *Excluding holidays. Not to be combined with other offers.

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Secrets

foR youR ConSIdeRAtIon: Andy Shaw (from left), Shamus Hunter McCarty and Hilary Asare in “The Submission” Photos: John Donges

Quince goes deep with new satire

By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Quince Productions is injecting a little seriousness into its latest comedy, “The Submission,” which comes to Walnut Street Theatre next week.

Written by Jeff Talbott, “The Submission” begins as a story of a young white gay playwright, Danny, who writes a play under a pseudonym about growing up poor and African-American. When a major theater festival comes calling, wanting to perform his play, he hires an African-American actress to “play” the playwright. As the characters in the play carry on with the charade, the comedic situation quickly turns into a heated examination about prejudice, class, race and sexuality.

Quince artistic director Rich Rubin, who is also the play’s director, said “The Submission” is a bit more serious than the comedies the company is used to producing

at this point in the season.

“It’s perhaps a little more though-provoking and a little more LGBT than our April shows usually are,” Rubin said. “It certainly, by the end, turns very serious in ways that I don’t want to give away.”

While most of the other characters in the play think the ruse is a bad idea, they all play along for their own reasons. “[Danny] believes the play wouldn’t be taken seriously if they knew he wrote it,” Rubin said. “He plans throughout this scheme to eventually reveal to them what the truth is. It was in a moment of panic that he put the pseudonym on the play and then he’s kind of stuck with it. He’s afraid that the big festival that accepted the play will just chuck the whole play. But once it’s successful, that is the time to do it. For the actress who goes along with it, there are two reasons. One is simply it’s a job, and the other is while she is not sure how someone like Danny could have come up

with this play, she thinks it’s an amazing play that deserves to be seen. She feels good in having a role in showing it to the public, even though she is dubious in the exact role she’s been asked to play. As far as Danny’s boyfriend and best friend, they really don’t have a choice.”

“They love the people who have the bad idea,” Talbott added. “We all get fooled by our affection for the people that we love.

Trevor and Pete, who spend a lot of the play saying to their partners, “This is a terrible idea,” go along because they love them. For Danny and Emily, the two central characters in the play, they have the best of intentions.

They think they are right and they are certainly both stubborn, but they are good people and want to do good things in the world.

They want to convince the other person that their position is right. Even though the play has its painful moments, it’s about young people who are trying to do the right thing.

They fail kind of miserably.”

Talbott added that the play walks a fine line between satire and serious drama.

“It wants to do both. It starts as a comedy and definitely starts as a satire but eventually is not funny at all. And now that I am six or seven plays and a couple of musicals in, it’s where my tastes lay. I like to lead my audiences down a path and then, as the path changes for me, let the path change for them. So hopefully the play feels like entertainment and then prompts a discussion.”

Talbott said the play came together because of a real-life interaction he had.

“I had an argument when I was much younger and in grad school with a classmate of mine that was the argument that sparked what became the play,” he said.

“We had a discussion about prejudice and each other’s lives and who feels what. And I was very young and thought I knew a lot of things and he was very young and thought he knew a lot of things. We had a great big fight about it. At some PAGE 26

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Apr. 3-9, 2015

FEATURE PGN SUBMISSION from page 25

Proud recipient of these 2015 PA Newsmedia Association’s Keystone Press Awards Scott A. Drake

2nd place—Sports Photo: “Crash Landing”

Jen Colletta

Honorable mention—Series: “After prison, one-half of ‘gay-porn twins’ speaks out”

Staff

Honorable mention—Special Project: LGBTQ Youth Supplement

point in my life, I sat down and started to write a play about theater and what I thought was going to be a satire. I started spinning my wheels about three scenes in because I thought the play couldn’t withstand itself and I remembered this discussion with the guy years ago, and that argument was really the thing that helped me write ‘The Submission.’ That central question the play kind of spins on — two Andy Shaw (left) and Doug Cashell people who both think they are absolutely right and absolutely are universal it becomes,” he said. “‘The West able to define for somebody else what their Wing’ is the best example of that. That seems pain should be — became a way to give the to be only about life in the West Wing of the play conflict and life. So the play is a little White House, but that show and the themes bit based on my life, but ultimately it just it touched on were so universal. I think that became me observing the characters having if you get the details right about a profession this discussion and shaping that discussion you are writing about, then it can talk about for them.” everything. The closer you get to getting it “There is an ongoing debate through the all right, the more everybody can relate to it.” show, as there is in life today, of the preju- Talbott added that, while this play doesn’t dice that he’s experienced as a gay man and have warm and fuzzy conclusions, the quesif that makes him automatically understand tions it raises are more important that wrapwhat she’s faced as a black woman,” Rubin ping it up with a feel-good ending. added about the issues tackled by the play. “I do feel as a human being responsible “His claim is that it does and her claim is, for people being uncomfortable,” he said. leave aside who you sleep with and you’re “There are moments in the play that make just another white man. Both characters people feel uncomfortable and that makes understand very quickly when prejudices me feel uncomfortable that I have written and inappropriate comments are aimed at something that causes that in some people. the community that they belong to. They However, without question, what the play are a little slower to understand when they wants to do is to get people talking and themselves do it with the other respective people have very different views about what community. That’s another important piece happened in the play and what that means to of the dialogue that this play raises. As nice them. I love all kinds of theater but I think as it might be that the LGBT community was it’s useful every once in a while to go to the free of racism or African-Americans all over theater and be put into a position where you the world are free from homophobia, those have to make some decisions after a play. things are not true, and how as someone who And this play definitely wants to do that.” n has experienced bigotry, you can unwittingly perpetrate it against others.”

Quince Productions presents “The Talbott said that, while this play might Submission” with a special LGBT preview seem like it is throwing some satirical barb and reception at the April 9 performance, at pointed at the theater community, it is more Walnut Street Theatre Studio 5, 825 Walnut universal in its scope than audiences might St. For more information or tickets, call suspect at the beginning.

215-574-3550 or visit www.quinceproduc “The more specifically you write, the more tions.com.

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Pa. bars close at 2 a.m. unless they have a private-club license. Please drink responsibly.

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Family Portrait

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Apr. 3-9, 2015

31

Suzi Nash

Jeff Keith: Turning the pages of LGBT history If you want to know about gay history, you’d do well to speak with Jeff Keith of the William Way LGBT Community Center Archives. Not only does Keith have material on file, but as the longest-working volunteer at the center (since 1978), he has personally seen many of the historic moments at the center and in the city.

A poet, author, linguist and activist, Keith joined the Quakers at age 16 and got involved in the civil-rights movement in the early 1960s. The non-violent philosophy he learned there prompted him to return his draft card and become a conscientious objector. This Easter Sunday marks a special milestone for Keith.

PGN: Tell me a little something about yourself.

JK: I was born during World War II on a military Navy base in Oregon, in January 1945, but home was Louisville, Ky. My father was a Southern boy who got to go to Harvard, where he got liberalized and met my mother, who was from Englewood, N.J. PGN: Any siblings?

JK: I’m one of six. I have an older sister and four younger siblings.

PGN: Since you archive history for William Way, what’s a fun historical fact about your family?

JK: My grandfather in Kentucky was the head of the state Board of Education. On my mother’s mother’s side we had a governor of Minnesota. He was an early liberal.

PGN: So tell me why Easter Sunday has special significance?

JK: I came out as gay on Easter Sunday in 1971; in Spanish they call it Resurrection Sunday. I left my marriage and joined the Boston Gay Liberation Front. I also told the folks at my Quaker Meeting.

PGN: Had you already joined GLF? JK: I had been calling myself bisexual for some time but the rest all happened pretty fast, within a month. There were so many bad gay stereotypes back then — that gay men were partiers and all that — that I was afraid to get involved. But the GLF mixed political radicalism with gay people and that appealed to me.

PGN: How did your wife respond? Did she know you were bisexual?

JK: Yes; we didn’t break up because of my sexuality, it was because of lifestyle differences. She was becoming more and more radical and wanted drop out and live off the land. She’s a tax resister, off-the-grid type person and I’m more of a city guy. She still lives on the land in New Hampshire.

PGN: How old were you?

JK: I was 26. I had a 2-year-old daughter

who I delivered myself. The hardest thing about breaking up is that I thought I would lose her, but I didn’t. We’ve always been close.

I taught for a while but really didn’t like it, and I got a job at a publishing company editing the famous “Dorland’s Medical Dictionary.” I did that for 22 years.

PGN: Backtracking, what was life like in Louisville?

JK: Well, it was very segregated. My parents, being liberals, were all for integration. I was one of the first white kids to go through integration, which is interesting because my grandfather — the big state educator — was against it. He believed in segregation. When I got into high school and started making friends with some really bright, amazing kids who happened to be black, I began to get really angry about segregation and social injustice.

PGN: Is that how you got to Philly?

JK: No, I was very active with the Quakers and there was a Philadelphia group called Movement for a New Society — they were pacifist and feminist and pro-gay — and I came partly to live in one of their houses.

You’d call it an anarchist house.

PGN: What’s a moment that stands out?

JK: There was an amusement park in Louisville called Fountain Ferry Park that we used to go to as kids. We spent many a happy summer there. It wasn’t until high school that I learned that they did not allow black people to go in. It still makes me want to cry to know that our beloved amusement park had been the cause of so much pain for other kids. They advertised the park heavily and it must have been terrible to be denied like that. It was a shock to learn that in the “Land of the Free,” a whole group of people were being denied basic rights and privileges. It was going on right under my nose.

It kind of rocked my world and spurred me to become involved in the movement. When we moved to the Washington area, there was still a lot of segregation. I remember a movie-theater chain that refused to admit black people to any shows. We went to hearings to try to get bills passed banning racial segregation. Another thing we did was to “test” restaurants. Some places that didn’t outright ban black people would do things to discourage them, not taking their orders, etc. We would send in a racially mixed couple to see how they were treated and then send in a white couple to compare.

PGN: Tell me about a character from the house.

JK: There was this older woman named Ruth who came out as a lesbian at an older age. She had two sons and she wanted to be a strong feminist lesbian but refused to be a separatist because of her boys. One of the problems that I had with the movement was that most of the guys were white; that really bothered me. Fortunately I found the group Men of All Colors Together and they were working on two things that were dear

PGN: I understand that you were jailed as a conscientious objector.

JK: Yes, in Louisville back in 1960 I was really antsy about breaking free of the conservative environment there. I started reading about the Beatniks and they talked a lot about the Quakers, so I started to go to Quaker meetings in Louisville. I learned about peace and the black civil-rights movement through them. So I sent back my draft card right as Vietnam was heating up and I went to jail for a year. I was raped in prison that first month.

PGN: Oh my.

JK: Part of the problem was that I was young and they put me in an adult prison.

They later moved me to a youth prison but I was the only draft resister there other than the Jehovah’s Witnesses. They saved my life and I’ll be forever grateful to them.

PGN: I didn’t know the Jehovah’s were pacifists.

JK: They’re not personally pacifists but they’re opposed to joining earthly armies. They believe they only serve God’s army.

PGN: How was the rape reported? You hear about prisons turning a blind eye.

JK: I didn’t go to the guards; someone else told them that there had been a rape. Rather than give me any counseling, they dragged me into a room and browbeat me for hours trying to get me to tell them who did it. I knew I shouldn’t tell considering I was still a prisoner but they broke me down and I finally told them. It put me in a lot of danger so they pulled me out and sent me to a youth prison.

PGN: So, what were your best subjects in school?

JK: English and French. The French had to do with trying to break free of that conservative environment. I got very passionate about languages.

PGN: How many do you speak?

JK: French, English, Spanish, Portuguese and now, with my boyfriend, who is deaf, I’ve learned to talk with my hands.

PGN: Where did you go to college?

JK: Ha. I dropped in and out of college — first Reed College for a year, then Antioch, then at age 30, I went to a community college and did well enough to do years three and four at University of Pennsylvania and then got a master’s in Spanish at Temple.

to me: gay rights and racism. I joined them right away and have been with them ever since 1981. I’m on the board and serve as treasurer. In fact, that’s where I met my boyfriend, Mark. It’s funny, our biggest challenges are not because of color, they’re because he is deaf and doesn’t read well. His mother said when he was little they put him in a class with people who had mental challenges, which he did not, and they never taught him good reading skills.

Photo: Suzi Nash

PGN: How did the experience change you?

JK: The whole experience made me hostile towards men. It made me think that having sex with men was dangerous so it delayed my sexual development.

PGN: I hadn’t even thought of that aspect, that being raped as a young gay man — in addition to the trauma of the assault — would have the effect of making you fearful of men. Male rape is so misunderstood; they still treat it as a joke, like in the new Will Farrell movie.

JK: Yes, I was very angry towards men for a while. People don’t PAGE 36

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Apr. 3-9, 2015

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

Change, collaboration abound in Philly theater scene

By A.D. Amorosi PGN Contributor One of the most highly anticipated secrets in Philly alternative theater circles finally reared its head April 2 when it was officially announced that The Drake Apartments at 1512 Spruce St. would welcome five new tenants — or one huge local theatrical conglomerate — in September: InterAct Theatre Company, Simpatico Theatre, PlayPenn, Azuka Theatre and Inis Nua Theatre.

With that, in one swoop, The Drake and its two large stages become Philly’s mini-mall of original theater, mirthful comedy and daring drama.

“Apart from its primary role as a performance venue with an emphasis on new works, The Drake will be a social and artistic hub for the region’s burgeoning ‘new play’ community, a place where playwrights and theater makers come to read, write, discuss, devise, exchange, rehearse and attend new plays,” said InterAct Theatre artistic director Seth Rozin. As the man who instigated The Drake deal and its gathering of theatrical troops, Rozin spoke excitedly of the space’s two theaters — a 128-seat main stage and a 75-80seat, flexible second stage — each with its own lobby, administrative offices for InterAct and storage space in the basement for all five of its participants. Yet Philly’s new towering inferno of theater is more than just a location and a new start for most of its collaborator/inhabitants.

“We all succeed when everyone succeeds,” said Inis Nua artistic director Tom Reing of the connection between his company’s objective (presenting original Irish theater voices) and his Drake brethren and Simpatico sisters. “We all have unique missions. Supporting each other leads to possible new audiences and that is always good.”

The Drake story started almost two years ago with Rozin’s disappointment regarding the (then-) future of his socio-conscious company at its present location, The Adrienne at 20th and Sansom streets. After 16 seasons of hosting InterAct (among other theatrical companies, including Simpatico Theatre’s women playwrights and PlayPenn’s writer-centric workshops), Rozin claimed the own-

problems at The Drake when its deal starts in September with “Grounded.”

Neither will PlayPenn (which has spent its entire history at The Adrienne, in a close relationship with InterAct) or Simpatico’s femme-focused theater project.

Then there is the case of Azuka Theatre and Inis Nua Theatre, who sought permanent roots when each of their companies were dislocated from their joint home base — the Off-Broad Street Consortium and its eponymous theatrical space in the sub-basement of the First Baptist Church at 16th and Sansom streets — in March.

“The First Baptist Church was sold to a congregation called Liberti with whom we began negotiating three months ago,” said Azuka Theatre boss Kevin Glaccum. “But they finally chose to end the negotiations and terminate the lease when we refused to sign a lease with a clause that gave them oversight of our material.

When that happened I reached out to Seth because I had heard from a mutual friend that they were negotiating the deal at The Drake and we were clearly in need of a new home.”

Reing agreed with Glaccum’s assessment.

“We had been talking to InterAct and they showed us The Drake.

It was exciting to be a part of this developing cultural hub. We wanted to be a part of a center for new work.”

Both Azuka and Inis Nua still SETH ROZIN IN FRONT OF THE had new plays during this current DRAKE season, and had to depend on the kindness of local theater operators at The Adrienne, which still has to help them through the rough two shows to go in its current patch. Inis Nua’s “Penelope” opens season, April’s “Uncanny Valley” this week at the newly reopened

by Thomas Gibbons and May’s Prince Music Theater and Azuka’s “The Three Christs of Manhattan,” “Speech & Debate” opens soon penned by Rozin. “We’ve pro- at South Philly’s Theatre Exile duced 66 plays since moving into home.

The Adrienne, and all but one were “Everyone has been amazingly performed in the main stage.” generous, even moving a few And that one — “The Elaborate events around in order to make Entrance of Chad Deity,” set in the their space available,” Glaccum world of professional wrestling — said. “Gotta love the Philly theater required one guy to lift another community.” guy over his head.

Reing — like everyone moving “If we did that at The Adrienne, to The Drake — is thrilled at the the actor on top would have hit prospects the new Spruce Street his head on a lighting instrument. space and team will bring.

There’s no question we learned “Our partnership with Azuka quickly what did and didn’t work was very successful. My hope is in the space, with its 10-foot ceil- this will be an extension of that. ings and structural pillars.”

I think we will all work together, InterAct won’t have those and well at that.” n ership of The Adrienne property might not have been interested in furthering the relationship. So he went shopping.

“When I was alerted to the fact that the University of the Arts was vacating The Drake, we moved swiftly to make a proposal for use to the owner — Forest City Enterprises, based in Cleveland — and in mid-July our proposal was forwarded for lease negotiations,” Rozin said. “We ended up with a 15-year lease and two fiveyear options, which we signed in February of this year.”

Though Rozin is quick to mention The Drake’s 15-foot ceilings and ample square footage, he fondly recalled InterAct’s tenure

Theater & Arts Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None Walnut Street Theatre presents the thriller about a group of people trapped on an island who get picked off one by one, through April 26, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550.

Allora & Calzadilla: Intervals Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of new and recent projects by Puerto Rico-based artists Jennifer Allora and Guillermo Calzadilla through April 5, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

And the Word Is …

The Gershman Y hosts an exhibition exploring religious text in contemporary art through May 14, 401 S. Broad St.; 215545-4400.

Dirty Dancing The musical based on the hit drama runs through April 5 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800.

Drawn with Spirit: Pennsylvania German Fraktur from the Joan and Victor Johnson Collection Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of decorated Germanic documents featuring brilliant colors through April 26, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100.

Epic Hollywood Soundtracks The Philly POPS! perform scores from blockbuster films April 10-12 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-

790-5847.

Ink and Gold: Art of the Kano Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition highlighting the artistry of the esteemed Kano painters through May 10, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100.

Jesus Christ Superstar The hit musical

by Andrew Lloyd Weber plays through April 4 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave. in Glenside; 215-572-7650.

Liberace!

Walnut Street Theatre presents a musical about the life of the iconic performer through April 12 at Independence Studio on 3, 825 Walnut St.; 215574-3550.

Beethoven and Mozart The Philadelphia Orchestra performs April 10-11 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5847.

Burlesque and Comedy Show Comedian and burlesque artists perform 8 p.m. April 8 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215-496-9001.

Candice Bergen The Emmy Awardwinning actor and author of “A Fine Romance” hosts a reading 7:30 p.m.

April 9 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215-567-4341.

IT WILL BE A HOOT: Out humorist and author of the bestselling collection of essays “Let’s Explore Diabetes With Owls,” David Sedaris brings his wry sense of wit and hilarious views to Delaware at 8 p.m.

April 9 at Grand Opera House, 818 N. Market St. For more information or tickets, call 302-652-5577.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

REACHING ‘CRITICAL’ MASS: Electro-pop and dance group The Ting Tings hit the road in support of their latest album “Super Critical,” co-produced by former Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor, and stop in Philly to perform 8:30 p.m. April 10 at Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St. For more information or tickets, call 215-232-2100.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Apr. 3-9, 2015

Girls Will Rock Philly Female musicians and storytellers perform 7 p.m.

April 7 at L’Etage, 624 S. Bainbridge St.; 215-592-0626.

Comedian Deconstruction Comedians and improv artists perform 7:30 p.m.

April 9 at L’Etage, 624 S. Bainbridge St.; 215-592-0626.

Outta Town Videodrome The sci-fi thriller is screened 9:45 p.m. April 3 at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-0223.

Raw Philadelphia: Exposure The event spotlighting independent artists in film, fashion, music, hair and makeup, photography and performing arts, 8 p.m. April 8 at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215-922-6888.

Represent: 200 Years of AfricanAmerican Art Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition highlighting its collection of African-American art through April 5, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100.

The Submission Quince Productions presents a comedy about a young,

white, gay playwright who pens a play under a pseudonym about growing up poor and AfricanAmerican and then tries to conceal his identity, April 9-25 at Walnut Street Theatre Studio 5, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550.

The Super Soul Musical: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz The AfricanAmerican Arts Alliance presents its spin on “The Wiz” April 3-4 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; 215-898-3900.

Wayne’s World The comedy film is screened 8 p.m.

April 6 at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215-922-6888.

Vitra-Design, Architecture, Communication: A European Project with American Roots Philadelphia Museum of Art presents some of the most innovative designs from the family-owned Swiss company through April 26, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100.

Music Coal Chamber, Filter, Combichrist and American Head Charge The rock bands perform 7:30 p.m.

April 4 at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215922-6888.

Rand Hubiak The out singer-songwriter performs 6:30 p.m.

April 5 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215222-1400.

The Devil Wears Prada The hard-rock band performs 7 p.m.

April 7 at TLA, 334 South St.; 215922-1011.

The Decemberists The folk-rock band performs 8 p.m. April 7 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 250 S. Broad St.; 215790-5800.

Paula Cole The singer-songwriter performs 8 p.m. April 10 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400.

Duck Soup The Marx Brothers comedy film is screened 2 p.m. April 4 at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-0223.

Nightlife Bearlesque A burlesque show featuring bear performers 9 p.m.-2 a.m. April 3 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215-9649675.

CutN Paste DJ Kilbourne performs 10 p.m.-2 a.m. April 3 at The Bike Stop, 206 S. Quince St.; 215-627-1662.

Roque Wilson The comedian performs 8 p.m.

April 4 at the Rrazz Room, in The Ramada New Hope, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; 888-596-1027.

Nellie McKay The singer performs 8 p.m. April 10 at the Rrazz Room, in The Ramada New Hope, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; 888-596-1027. n

Notices Send notices at least one week in advance to: Out & About Listings, PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147 fax: 215-925-6437; or e-mail: listings@epgn.com.

Notices cannot be taken over the phone.

Comedian APRIL 11 • 8PM 227 Bridge St Phoenixville PA TIX: thecolonialtheatre.com Box Office 610-917-1228 presented by

Point Entertainment pointentertainment.com

Eating Out Should Be Fun! Read PGN’s food reviews every second and fourth week of the month - and check out our archive of past reviews on epgn.com.

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Fun & Games PGN

Q Puzzle Homophobia is for nincompoofs Across

1. Lorca’s stick 5. Bandleader Shaw 10. Like a stereotypical wrist 14. Wife of Buck’s Wang 15. Quick raid 16. Canal of New York ferries 17. With 34-Across, “a sort-of survival guide” by LeightonDore 20. Reeves of “My Own Private Idaho” 21. Bear with a small package 22. Where to find a date in a hot place 23. “Beatle Bailey” dog

25. Revolting 27. Delinquent 30. Flockhart of “The Birdcage” 34. See 17-Across 35. Author Leighton-Dore 36. Islands instrument 37. Brings indignity to 41. Gift of Ellen DeGeneres 42. Abound (with) 44. Screwed up 45. Edna, for one 46. Like an active partner 48. Lubricant 49. Language of Leif 50. Poet ___ Wu 52. Cold feet 54. Leighton-Dore’s kiddie lit book about coming out 59. Strip a fruit 60. Rub it in

PORTRAIT from page 31

understand it very well but I think it’s common that you’re very hostile towards sex. It’s obvious in the book, which I wrote from my notes that were taken when it was still fresh.

PGN: You’ve said that there was a relief in not having to act “respectable,” not caring what people think.

JK: Well, my family turned out to have some problems with mental issues, which was very traumatic to go through as a teenager. My sister started having schizophrenic breaks when I was 12 and my mom was put in a mental hospital for three months for a different kind of mental illness. My younger brother had some problems too. I’ve actually helped start support groups for family members. I was angry and alienated and it spurred me to go out and change society.

PGN: Talk about your connection to William Way. JK: I started volunteering there in 1978.

I worked at the coffee house when the community center was on Kater Street, then I started volunteering at the library and did that for at least 10 years. I’ve kept personal diaries and archives for the last 50 years and eventually got involved with the archives and have been doing that for some time. A lot of my personal collection is in the library, including some things I’ve written. I love it.

PGN: Tell me about your written works.

JK: I used to read poetry at the coffee house and in 1979 I published a book of my poems. And 40 years after the event, I wrote a book called “Inmate 31114 “ about my time in jail. And of course there’s the medical dictionary. I’m credited as an author for that. It’s in just about every medical library.

61. Sound of being banged?

63. Tutti-frutti ingredient 64. “Wonder Woman” star Carter 65. Put in a position 66. Cleans the floor 67. Day one 68. Go up and down

Down

1. 11th U.S. president 2. Soothing agent for skin 3. Composition of some beds 4. Monotonous 5. It’s south of Eur. 6. A gangster shoots it off 7. Long pants, for short 8. Like Shakespeare’s feet

9. Optimist’s place for a cock?

10. Toast of the cut 11. Bisexual writer Murdoch 12. Skimpy skirt 13. Sheehan’s tees, e.g.

18. Went one one better 19. Stein’s Alice 24. Eliza Doolittle, for one 26. Checked out the joint 27. “Breakfast on ___” 28. Clay of “American Idol” fame 29 Shooting type 31. Type of daddy 32. Lions and Tigers and Bears 33. “A Delicate Balance” author 38. Area of the Audre Lorde Project

PGN: What would be the top-three items you’d put in a time capsule?

JK: When I lived in the woods in New Hampshire, my boyfriend Eddie and I tried to start the New Hampshire Gay Liberation Front. We got some publicity from that, which I would include. In West Philly, the Movement for a New Society kind of had an explosion of love for lesbians and gay men that I was in the middle of and I have some documents from that era. Also, now that I’m fluent in Spanish, I travel to South America fairly often. I always bring back magazines and stuff from LGBT organizations there.

PGN: What was the first time you ever left North America?

JK: I was 35 and I’d been studying languages for over 20 years. Penn sent me to Spain for a semester and it transformed my life. I got my master’s in Spanish and began a love of travel.

PGN: What can people find at the archives?

JK: We have what we call ephemera, which are all sorts of memorabilia, but my favorite things are the written archives. We have thousands of magazines from all over the place and I think we have almost every issue of the PGN. PGN: Tell me about your first love in 12th grade?

JK: Richard. It was after we’d moved to Maryland and an earlier friendship went bust around gay issues. But Richard loved me back. It was terrifying, and after a while I decided I had to break it off. It was 1962 and we were in love and you just couldn’t do that at the time. I was afraid people would reject me. I called myself bisexual but my image of myself was that I would get married and have kids; something told me, “If you keep having

39. Paul Newman role in “Exodus” 40. Successful on one’s own 43. Heather’s parents, in kiddie lit 45. Oz visitor 47. Letter before omega 49. Beauty sleep 51. “West Side Story” Jet, e.g.

53. Annoy during a blow job?

54. “Othello” villain 55. Bend in a sink pipe 56. Charged particles 57. John Goodman’s “Normal, ___” 58. Intense rage 59. Cager Parsons 62. To God, in Latin

gay experiences, you won’t want to stop.”

Which of course turned out to be true. I actually wrote a short story about it.

PGN: What’s the farthest you’ve hitchhiked?

JK: Oh, I’ve been all over the country, from the East Coast to Oregon and back. I went barefoot when I was a hippie. I had long hair that I would tie with a lavender scarf. Sometimes, when I was a really discouraged radical, I’d get out and hitchhike and people would be so kind it restored my faith in humanity.

PGN: What are you most afraid of?

JK: Physically, I’m afraid of getting hit in the face. When I was 11 years old I got shot with a slingshot and lost an eye.

PGN: Eek, that sounds like something from “The Christmas Story.” What’s your favorite photo of Mark?

JK: Well, it’s not exactly a photo. Mark likes to draw and he did a nice self-portrait from our trip to San Diego.

PGN: What’s a hidden gem here in the city?

JK: I’d say the Fair Hill Burial Grounds in the Northeast. There are famous Quakers buried there, including Lucretia and James Mott.

PGN: What genre of music would I find in your collection?

JK: My favorite music is a combination of Tex Mex and Norteña. It’s kind of a polka style, but it’s Mexican.

PGN: Share a memory about an LGBT leader.

JK: I loved Walter Lear. I knew him through the Lavender Left. He was my father’s age — they both went to Harvard — and he was always very nice to me. The

last time I saw him was at a Pride march and he wasn’t wearing a shirt. It was a good model of what being a sexy old man looked like. He was a real groovy guy.

PGN: Any other extracurricular work?

JK: I’ve been teaching English to immigrants for 40 years and it’s very satisfying.

I taught one family of refugees who had been kicked out of Bhutan. It’s really sad, they threw out all the ethnic Hindus and a bunch of them landed in Philly. I’ve met, taught and come to love a lot of undocumented Mexicans!

PGN: Three smells that make you stop and reflect?

JK: I’m ashamed to admit it but certain smells remind me of a gay bathhouse.

Olive oil reminds me of Spain, and Southern flowers like lily of the valley or peonies remind me of growing up. n Visit the William Way Archives at 1315 Spruce St. or learn more at waygay.org.

To suggest a community member for Family Portrait, email portraits05@aol. com.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Apr. 3-9, 2015

Food and Drink Directory

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Richard Avedon’s striking photographs helped define America’s perceptions of beauty, politics, and power. Come see more than 70 works by the renowned photographer, including a massive mural of beat poet Allen Ginsberg and his family, a group portrait of Andy Warhol and the Factory, and a series of portraits published by Rolling Stone on the eve of the 1976 presidential election.

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Richard Avedon: Family Affairs is based on a 2014 exhibition organized by the Israel Museum, Jerusalem. Major support for this exhibition has been provided

by The David Berg Foundation, The Director’s Fund, and Lynne and Harold Honickman. Additional support has been provided by The Abstraction Fund, Gagosian Gallery, Macy’s, The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation, Annette Y. and Jack M. Friedland, the Consulate General of Israel to the Mid-Atlantic Region, Gwen and Alan Goodman, and Marsha and Stephen Silberstein. Image: Allen Ginsberg’s Family, Paterson, New Jersey, May 3, 1970. Photograph by Richard Avedon. © Richard Avedon Foundation. Gift of the American Contemporary Art Foundation, Leonard A. Lauder, President, to American Friends of the Israel Museum.

Images clockwise from top left: Walter Annenberg, publisher, Radnor, Pennsylvania, May 10, 1976. Katharine Graham, Chairman of the Board, The Washington Post Company, Washington D.C., March 11, 1976. Jerry Brown, Governor of California, Sacramento, California, March 20, 1976. Bella Abzug, U.S. Congresswoman from New York, New York, June 19, 1976. Barbara Jordan, U.S. Congresswoman from Texas, New York, July 14, 1976. George H.W. Bush, Director, CIA, Langley, Virginia, March 2, 1976. Photographs by Richard Avedon. © The Richard Avedon Foundation. From the Collection of the Israel Museum, Jerusalem. Joint gift of Gagosian Gallery and the American Contemporary Art Foundation, Leonard A. Lauder, President, to American Friends of the Israel Museum.

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Classifieds 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 under the age of 18), and handicap (disability). PGN will not knowingly accept any real-

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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.

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Looking for a great weekend getaway or full time residence?

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AC ul t ure rts

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Apr. 3-9, 2015

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PGN

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39

4 Small Theaters with Video & Dark Room Area

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Friends 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. ________________________________________39-14 Philly boy looking for mail correspondence with guys in Philly while I finish my incarceration. 6’3”, blond hair, hazel eyes.

Lots to discuss. Will reply to every letter. Give this a try, I guarantee you’ll have fun. Kenneth Houck, #06743-015, Englewood FCE, 9595 W. Quincy Ave., Littleton CO 80123. ________________________________________39-14 BM with big tool wans to nail a bottom to the floor. BM has equipment to make a bottom wish he wants more.

I’m 6 ft and 198 lbs. and have 8.5 inches and 1.25 girth and know how to use it. Call anytime 215-763-3391. All replies answered. ________________________________________39-15 WM, NE Phila. If you’re looking for hot action, call 215-934-5309. No calls after 11 PM. ________________________________________39-14 A-B-C’s: would like to meet men from Argentina, Brazil and Colombia, and the Caribbean: Anguilla, Barbados and Costa Rica, also Puerto Rico and Mexico for friendship and more. 856-547-4163. Habla Espanol. ________________________________________39-17 Senior WM ISO WM or female that would like to receive oral pleasure. Call Bill at 856-761-7616. Please NJ only. ________________________________________39-14

PGN Massage David, 65, 6’, 200 lbs., attentive. 215-569-4949. (24/7) ________________________________________39-27 From the pages of GREEK mythology steps out this blue eyed hard body. Call JASON for ALL of your massage NEEDS. 267.733.5902. ________________________________________39-16

WEEKLY SPECIALS:

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Half Price Rooms & Lockers (6am Sunday till 8am Monday) ROOMS: Members: $12.50 and Non-Members: $22.50 LOCKERS: Members: $9.00 and Non-Members: $19.00

MONDAY thru FRIDAY: (8am to 4pm) Business Mans Locker Special 4 hour lockers Members: $5.00 and Non-Members: $15.00 TUESDAYS

Half Price Rooms (6am till 12 Midnight) Members: $12.50 and Non-Members: $22.50

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY NIGHT CRUISE $12 Flat Rate for Locker Admission & Clothing Optional (4pm-12 Midnight)

SATURDAY AFTERNOON DELIGHT 4 Hour Lockers (8am - 4pm) Members: $5.00 and Non-Members: $15.00

Check out our website for our WEEKLY SPECIALS & JOIN OUR e-mail List to get the latest information on upcoming events....

www.sansomstreetgym.com

THE BIGGER, BETTER & CLEANER CLUB IN THE CITY...

PGN

Men Delco Dudes A men’s social and support group meets 7-9 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of the month at Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County, 145 W. Rose Tree Road in Media; delco.dudes@ uucdc.org.

Gay Married Men’s Association Meets 7-9 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St.; www. gammaphilly.com.

Men of All Colors Together Meets 7:30 p.m. the third Friday of the month, September through June, at William Way; 610-277-6595, www.MACTPhila.org.

Men’s Coming Out Group, N.J. Meets 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays at The Pride Center of New Jersey; njwarrior@aol.com.

Men of Color United A discussion/support group for gay and bisexual men of color meets 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays at 1207 Chestnut St., third floor; 215-496-0330.

Parents/Families Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Bucks County Meets 7:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month at Penns Park United Methodist Church, 2394 Second Street Pike, Penns Park, and hird Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Warminster UCC, 785 Street Road; 215-348-9976.

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

PFLAG/Collingswood, N.J. Meets 6:30-9 p.m. the fourth Monday of the month at Collingswood Public Library, 771 Haddon Ave.; 609-202-4622, pflagcollingswood@yahoo.com.

PFLAG/Media Meets 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of every month at the Unitarian Universal Church, 145 Rose Tree Rd.; 610-368-2021.

PFLAG/Philadelphia 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.

PFLAG/Princeton, N.J. 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.

PFLAG/Wilmington, Del. Meets 7-9 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1502 W. 13th St.; 302-654-2995.

Philadelphia Family Pride Advocacy, support and social network for LGBT families offers play groups, monthly kids and teen talk groups, activities and outings. Planning meetings held monthly; 215-600-2864, www. phillyfamilypride.org.

Trans Evolutions A drop-in support group for anyone on the transgender spectrum meets 6 p.m. Thursdays at 21 S. 12th St., eighth floor; 215-563-0652 ext. 235.

Mazzoni Center Family and Community Medicine Primary health care and specialized transgender services in a safe, professional, nonjudgmental environment, 809 Locust St.; 215563-0658.

T-MAN People-of-color support group for transmen, FTMs, butches, studs, aggressives, bois, genderqueer and all female-born individuals with gender questions meets 7:309:30 p.m. Mondays, 1201 Locust St., second floor; 215-632-3028, tmanphilly.com.

Transhealth Information Project Sponsors a weekly drop-in center from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays and and 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fridays at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; 215-8511822.

Transgender Health Action Coalition Peer trans health-advocacy organization, 1201 Locust St., fourth floor; 215-732-1207.

Young, Trans and Unified Support group for transgender and questioning individuals ages 13-23 meets 7:15 p.m. Thursdays at The Attic Youth Center, 255 S. 16th St.; 215-545-4331, www. atticyouthcenter.org.

Women Hanging Out With Lesbians A group in Central Pennsylvania that organizes concerts, camping, golf, picnics, hikes, plays and game nights in nonsmoking environments; http://groups.yahoo. com/group/howlofpa/.

Lesbian Community of Delaware Valley Social group meets monthly for activities for gay women of all ages in Delaware, Chester and Montgomery counties; http:// groups.yahoo.com/group/LCDV/.

Lesbian Couples Dining Group of Montgomery County Meets monthly; 215-542-2899.

Mt. Airy Lesbian Social Club For lesbians in the Philadelphia area ages 35-plus; www.meetup. com/mtairylesbiansocial/.

Queer Connections Social group for women in their 20s meets weekly; http:// groups.yahoo.com/group/ queerconnections/.

Sisters United A social/support group for transwomen of color ages 13-24, with weekly social events, open discusson and monthly movie/ discussions meets 6-8 p.m.

Wednesdays, 1207 Chestnut St., third floor; 215-496-0330.

Women Coming-Out Support Group Women, ages 18 and over, who consider themselves gay, lesbian, bisexual or questioning and are at any stage of the coming-out process are welcome to meet 7:30 p.m. the first Tuesday and third Thursday of the month at the Pride Center of New Jersey; www. pridecenter.org.

Youth 40 Acres of Change Discussion group for teen and young adults meets 6-8 p.m.

Thursdays at The COLOURS Organization Inc., 1207 Chestnut St., third floor; 215-851-1975.

GLBT Group of Hunterdon County Social and support groups for youth, teens and young adults, as well as parents and family members, meet at North County Branch Library, 65 Halstead St. in Clinton, N.J.; schedule at www. glbtofhunterdoncountyofnj.com, 908-300-1058.

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

HiTOPS A safe-space support program for LGBT and questioning youth meets 2:30-4:30 p.m. the first and third Saturdays at 21 Wiggins St., Princeton, N.J.; 609-683-5155, hitops.org.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Apr. 3-9, 2015

Community Bulletin Board Community centers

■ The Attic Youth Center 255 S. 16th St.; 215-545-4331; atticyouthcenter.org. For LGBT and questioning youth and their friends and allies. Groups meet and activities are held 4-7 p.m. Monday-Tuesday and 48:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday. Case management, HIV testing and smoking cessation are available MondayFriday. See the Youth section for more events.

■ Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center at the University of Pennsylvania 3907 Spruce St., 215-898-5044; center@dolphin. upenn.edu. Regular hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday; noon-6 p.m.

Saturday; noon-8 p.m. Sunday. Summer hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

■ ActionAIDS: 215-981-0088 ■ AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania: 215-587-9377 ■ AIDS Law Project of Southern New Jersey: 856-933-9500 ext.

221 ■ AIDS Library: 215-985-4851

Main Line Youth Alliance Meets from 7-9:30 p.m. Fridays at 106 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne; 610-688-1861, info@myaonline. org.

■ ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215592-1513

Project Keeping it Safe LGBT youth drop-in center offers meetings, HIV and STD prevention and testing, counseling and other services on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 514 Cooper St., Camden, N.J.; 856963-2432, camden-ahec.org/.

■ Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection at the Independence Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library: 215-685-1633

PRYSM Youth Center Youth ages 14-20 meet 6:30-8:30 p.m Wednesdays at the center, 126 East Baltimore Pike, Media; 610357-9948.

Rainbow Room: Bucks County’s LGBTQ and Allies Youth Center Youth ages 14-21 meets 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays at Salem UCC Education Building, 181 E. Court St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981 ext.

9065, rainbowroom@ppbucks.org.

Social X Change Social activity group for LGBT youth of color ages 13-23 meets 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays at 1207 Chestnut St., third floor; 215-851-1975.

Space to be Proud, Open, and Together Open to all LGBTQ queer youth and allies, ages 14-21, the SPOT meets 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursdays at Planned Parenthood of Chester County, 8 S. Wayne St.; 267-6876648.

Young, Trans and Unified A support group for transgender and questioning youth ages 13-23 meets 7:15 p.m. Thursdays at The Attic Youth Center; 215-545-4331, www.atticyouthcenter.org.

You’re Not Alone Sponsored by AIDS Delaware, the group for gay, lesbian and bisexual youth meets during the school year at 100 W. 10th St., Suite 315, Wilmington, Del; 800-810-6776.

Youth Making a Difference A group for LGBTQ AfricanAmerican and Latino youth ages 14-24 meets 5-7 p.m. Tuesdays at Camden AHEC, 514 Cooper St.; 856-963-2432.

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■ AIDS Treatment Fact line: 800662-6080

n The COLOURS Organization Inc.: 215-496-0330

■ Rainbow Room — Bucks County’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and Allies Youth Center 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays: Salem UCC Education Building, 181 E. Court St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981 ext. 9065 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: noon-9 p.m.

Monday-Thursday; noon-3 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Friday; noon-6 p.m. Saturday. Volunteers: New Orientation: First Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.

Key numbers ■ Equality Pennsylvania: 215731-1447; www.equalitypa.org ■ Equality Forum: 215-732-3378 ■ LGBT Peer Counseling Services: 215-732-TALK ■ Mayor’s Director of LGBT Affairs: Nellie Fitzpatrick, 215-6862194; helen.fitzpatrick@phila.gov; Fax: 215-686-2555

■ Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force: 1-877-pride-2000 ■ Philadelphia Police Department liaison — Deputy Commissioner Kevin Bethel: 215-6863318 ■ Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 215-760-3686 (Rick Lombardo); ppd.lgbt@gmail.com ■ Philly Pride Presents: 215875-9288

■ Mazzoni Center: 215-563-0652; Legal Services: 215-563-0657, 866-LGBT-LAW; Family & Community Medicine: 215-563-0658

■ SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: 717-9209537

■ Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): 215-572-1833

■ Transgender Health Action Coalition: 215-732-1207 (staffed 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays and 6-9 p.m.

Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays)

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

Health

Anonymous, free, confidential HIV testing Spanish/English counselors offer testing 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 216 W. Somerset St.; 215763-8870.

ActionAIDS Provides a range of programs for people affected by HIV/ AIDS, including case management, prevention, testing and education services at 1216 Arch St.; 215-981-0088; www.actionaids.org.

AIDS Services In Asian Communities Provides HIV-related services to Asians and Pacific Islanders at 1711 S. Broad St.; 215-629-2300; www.asiac.org.

Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative Free, anonymous HIV testing from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; noon-6 p.m. Tuesdays at the Washington West Project, 1201 Locust St.; 215-851-1822 or 866-222-3871; www.galaei. org. Spanish/English HIV treatment Free HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment for Philadelphia residents are available from 9 a.m.-noon Mondays (walk-in) and 5-8 p.m. Thursdays (by appoint-

■ 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, selfemployed and business owners meets monthly in a different location throughout the city, invites speakers on various topics, partners with other nonprofits and maintains a website where everyone is invited to sign up for email notices for activities and

ment) at Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad St.; 215-685-1821.

HIV health insurance help Access to free medications and confidential HIV testing available 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays at 13 S. 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-Thursday; 9 a.m.-noon Friday; 1-5 p.m. Saturday; 1201 Locust St.; 215-985-9206.

Professional groups events; www.gppn.org; 215-9223377.

■ National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association The Philadelphia chapter of NLGJA, open to professionals and students, meets for social and networking events; www. nlgja.org/philly; philly@nlgja.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 information about events, programs and membership; 215-557-0190; 1717 Arch St., Suite 3370.

■ 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; 215-840-2039.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Apr. 3-9, 2015

PGN

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