Quince Productions brings play about a play to the stage
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• LGBT story archivists hold brunch fundraiser • NJ Sen. proposes fund restrictions on conversion therapy PAGE 2
Family Portrait: Jeff Keith shares his history
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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