PGN April 7 - 14, 2017

pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976

Vol. 41 No. 14 April 7-13, 2017

Family Portrait: Ryan Lewis gears up for biking PAGE 29

Pa Supreme Court gives Judge Segal a win PAGE 2

HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM

“Shut Up & Dance” hits milestone

Music of spring

PAGE 7

PAGE 25

Appeals court issues landmark ruling on workplace discrimination

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com For the first time, a federal appellate court has found that gays and lesbians are protected from employment discrimination under federal law. The landmark finding is expected to ultimately bring the issue before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday ruled 8-3 that a case by Indiana college professor Kimberly Hively, who contends she was discriminated against by an Indiana university because she is a lesbian, can proceed. A previous hearing of the case in a trial court resulted in a find-

ing that Title XII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 did not prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.

However, Tuesday’s ruling opined the opposite, that “discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is a form of sex discrimination.” Judge Diane Wood wrote that an adverse employment decision based on the way a woman dresses, speaks or acts — including whom she dates or marries — qualifies as sex discrimination.

Wood wrote: “Hively represents the ultimate case of failure to conform to the female stereotype (at least as understood in a place such as modern America, which views heterosexuality as the norm and

other forms of sexuality as exceptional): She is not heterosexual.

“Hively’s claim is no different from the claims brought by women who were rejected for jobs in traditionally male workplaces,” Wood continued, “such as fire departments, construction and policing.

The employers in those cases were policing the boundaries of what jobs or behaviors they found acceptable for a woman (or in some cases, for a man).”

Hively contends conditions at Ivy Tech Community College went downhill in 2009, after she kissed her girlfriend goodbye on campus. She was admonished by a supervisor and went on to be denied several

Commission on LGBT Affairs elects three officers

First-ever resolution honors trans visibility

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Philadelphia City Council chambers were packed last week for the introduction — and swift, unanimous adoption — of a resolution celebrating the transgender community.

The legislation, passed March 30, declared the next day Transgender Day of Visibility, an international occurrence since 2009. Past city efforts have included proclamations about the day, but this was the first time Council adopted a resolution in honor of the occasion.

The text of the resolution noted an estimated 1-million transgender Americans, who it said have “bravely overcome significant hardships to build vibrant and thriving communities, often in the face of systemic and interpersonal prejudice, discrimination, and violence.” The measure highlighted the vibrant history of the trans community, from early pioneers like Sylvia Rivera, Miss Major and Marsha P. Johnson to recent civil-rights efforts led by trans activists.

The measure emphasized that, despite growing visibility, trans individuals, particularly women of color, continue to face violence, and listed the names of eight trans women of color murdered this year.

“The trans community has been very visible and powerful, working on a number of different issues, PAGE 14

promotions and opportunities for full-time employment.

Hively filed suit in 2014, but her case was dismissed by the trial court, a decision upheld by a panel of the Seventh Circuit.

Lambda Legal appealed to the full appellate court, leading to this week’s ruling.

“I have been saying all this time that what happened to me wasn’t right and was illegal. Now I will have my day in court, thanks to this decision,” Hively said in a statement Tuesday. “No one should be fired for being lesbian, gay or transgender like happened to me, and it’s incredibly powerful to know that the law now protects me and other LGBT workers.” n

By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com

UNWELCOME WAGON: More than 200 activists put up a united front against an anti-transgender bus that visited Philadelphia Saturday afternoon. The city’s Office of LGBT Affairs and local agencies and leaders organized a counter-protest to proclaim support for transgender individuals, under attack by the messaging on the bus, spearheaded by the National Organization for Marriage.

Prior to the bus’ arrival, city and community leaders spoke outside City Hall and raised the transgender flag.

Photo: Scott A. Drake

He said he is “excited” to take on the treasurer role to see what the commission can do with funds.

“We’ll definitely have some opportunities to fundraise,” Evans said. “I have a decent amount of experience in coming up with ideas for fundraising efforts and getting people engaged. Time will tell what we’ll need the money for but when we identify those things, we want to be ready.”

Peters took on some responsibilities of secretary even before

The city’s Commission on LGBT Affairs held elections last week for three board members: Sharron Cooks, Jason Evans and Libby Peters were elected as chair, treasurer and secretary, respectively.

The commissioners voted through an online poll after a nomination process.

City Director of LGBT Affairs Amber Hikes noted the activism efforts of Cooks, who declined to comment.

A city spokesperson confirmed that Cooks is the only transgender individual leading a city commission.

LGBT COMMISSION CHAIR SHARRON “Sharron has been such COOKS (LEFT), TREASURER JASON D. an incredible leader in EVANS AND SECRETARY LIBBY PETERS terms of trans issues and people of color in this city for she was officially elected. Hikes years,” Hikes said. “Sharron has noted that Peters was the first perreally been a force in this commu- son to volunteer to take minutes during the first commission meetnity.”

Evans noted his experience in ing.

The newly elected secretary Penn Law’s development office, where he helped organize fund- said that, in addition to recording raising, and his work coordinat- meeting minutes, she wants the ing fundraisers for politicians and committees to collaborate without community centers at local bars. repeating their PAGE 14

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 7-13, 2017

PGN LOCAL

ACLU seeks to intervene in PA trans student case

By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com A civil-rights organization filed a legal motion Monday to defend a Pennsylvania school district and its policy of protecting transgender students.

Last month, a high-school student and his parents filed a lawsuit against the Boyertown Area School District claiming the student’s privacy was violated by a transgender male student in the boys’ locker room. The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Pennsylvania this week filed to intervene on behalf of a transgender student, Aidan DeStefano of Boyertown Area Senior High School, and the Pennsylvania Youth Congress, a statewide coalition of LGBT youth leaders and organizations. One of PYC’s member organizations is the Boyertown Gay-Straight Alliance, which includes transgender members who could be affected by the lawsuit, according to the filing.

“Transgender students just want what

everyone else wants, to be accepted for who we are,” DeStefano said in a statement. “Reversing the practices that have allowed me and other trans kids to thrive at school would be devastating.”

DeStefano is not the student who is being sued.

The Alliance Defending Freedom and Independence Law Center filed on behalf of the complainant, who is identified as Joel Doe in the filing.

According to the complaint, Doe was changing in the locker room for gym class and, while standing in his underwear, realized a transgender male student was in the room wearing shorts and a bra.

Doe and his classmates claim they spoke with Assistant Principal Dr. E. Wayne Foley about the student’s presence in the locker room and that Foley responded there was nothing he could do.

After this conversation, Doe’s parents scheduled an appointment with Foley and Principal Dr. Brett Cooper. According to court papers, Foley told the family that the

school was “all-inclusive,” while Cooper suggested Doe could use the nurse’s office to change instead.

Additionally, the complaint noted that Superintendent Dr. Richard Faidley said Doe could withdraw from school and be homeschooled.

The student and his family are suggesting the school should regulate facilities based on sex rather than gender identity. In the suit, Doe claims he has been forced to stop changing during class and has received disciplinary actions and poor grades as a result.

In a statement, ACLU of Pennsylvania Executive Director Reggie Shuford commended the school district for defending trans students’ rights.

“The Boyertown Area School District did the right thing in affirming and respecting their students’ gender identity,” Shuford said. “To foster a positive learning environment, students need an atmosphere that is supportive and respectful of who they are. Boyertown did that and we

intend to defend that practice in the interests of our clients.”

“Schools that foster inclusive environments for all students, including transgender youth, should be commended, not sued,” added Pennsylvania Youth Congress Executive Director Jason Landau Goodman.

Leslie Cooper, senior staff attorney at the ACLU’s LGBT & HIV Project, will be on counsel on the motion to intervene, along with Mary Catherine Roper of the ACLU of Pennsylvania, and Amanda Nelson and Harper Seldin of law firm Cozen O’Connor.

“It’s important that trans students are given the opportunity to defend themselves against these shameful attempts to isolate and stigmatize them,” Cooper said in a statement. “Schools can and should provide extra privacy protections or private restroom or changing areas for any student who requests it. But no student has a right to demand that transgender students be segregated from their peers.” n

Wording of D.A.’s Morris affidavit challenged

By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com PGN is challenging the wording of an affidavit that supposedly proves the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office doesn’t possess 911 recordings pertaining to the Nizah Morris incident.

On March 24, the state Office of Open Records determined that the affidavit passed legal muster. But PGN is asking the office to take another look. On March 30, PGN filed a “petition for reconsideration” with the OOR. In the affidavit at issue, a D.A. staffer wrote “I personally searching,” rather than “I personally searched” — referring to a

search for Morris 911 recordings at the D.A.’s Office. According to PGN’s petition, the D.A.’s language demonstrates an “ongoing” search for Morris 911 recordings, rather than a completed search.

The D.A.’s language is “particularly unsettling” because the office is believed to have at least nine pages of Morris 911 recordings, according to the petition. In 2009, PGN gave Morris 911 recordings to the D.A.’s Office, but they’ve never been certified. PGN received the recordings from a private individual after Morris’ death.

Morris was an African-American trans woman found with a fatal head wound in 2002, shortly after a police “courtesy ride”

in the Gayborhood. Her homicide remains unsolved.

Additional Morris recordings could clarify why Morris wasn’t given prompt medical attention after 911 calls were placed on her behalf, why detectives weren’t summoned to investigate and why a police report assigned two genders to Morris.

Melissa B. Melewsky, media law counsel for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, said agencies should provide clear affidavits.

“This [wording] seems like an unintentional drafting oversight on the part of the D.A.’s Office,” Melewsky told PGN. “But as I’ve said before, affidavits should be as clear as possible when they are taking

the place of testimony given under oath because it is the only evidence provided by an agency during a Right-to-Know Law appeal before the Office of Open Records.”

Charles P. Goodwin, an attorney for PGN, echoed Melewsky’s sentiments.

“All lawyers make mistakes and always hate it. Let’s hope this doesn’t reflect any lack of attention,” Goodwin said.

In a related open-records case, the D.A.’s Office acknowledged it discarded a Morris dispatch record provided to the office by PGN in 2009. However, PGN provided another copy of the record to the office in 2013. That case remains pending in Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court. n

Judge Segal gets favorable ruling from high court

By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com Philadelphia voters in the May primary won’t be able to select a replacement for disqualified Municipal Court Judge Dawn A. Segal, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled March 31.

Three candidates were expected to be selected in the May primary for a municipal-court judicial seat. Now, the ballot will instruct voters to select two candidates.

Segal, an open lesbian, was removed from the bench in December, after discussing three cases pending before her with then-Municipal Court Judge Joseph C. Waters Jr., who had an interest in the cases.

Segal admits improperly discussing the cases with Waters, but denies altering any of her rulings to satisfy him.

The high court’s March 31 ruling states: “[T]he order of the Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline dated Dec. 16, 2016, is hereby stayed pending the completion of this appeal. The Secretary of the Commonwealth is hereby directed to refrain from placing Dawn Segal’s judicial seat on the Philadelphia Municipal Court on the May 16, 2017, primary ballot, or on any election ballot thereafter, until final resolution of this appeal. This stay is not to be construed as this court taking any position with respect to the merits of Dawn Segal’s appeal.”

Seven justices comprise the high court.

Chief Justice Thomas G. Saylor Jr. and Justice Sallie U. Mundy dissented in the ruling.

In more good news for Segal, the court agreed to hold oral arguments on her

appeal. Arguments will be limited to the question of whether Segal was held to a different standard when her discipline was imposed.

Oral arguments are expected to be held within the next few months, but an exact date hasn’t been announced.

In her appeal, Segal asserts she’s being unfairly blamed for Waters’ corruption.

Waters was convicted of fraud and spent almost two years in federal prison. He was released on Nov. 25, according to prison records. Segal isn’t accused of any criminal wrongdoing.

Segal also maintains that Pennsylvania judges involved in more serious wrongdoing were given mere reprimands or temporary suspensions.

Moreover, Segal contends the court deprived her of her right to be presumed

innocent.

“The presumption of innocence is a core value to be accorded to all of those accused of wrongdoing. That presumption should not be cast aside or ignored merely because the accused wears a judicial robe.”

The court’s handling of Segal’s case was such a travesty of justice, it conducted a trial “in name only,” according to her appeal.

In a related matter, the high court stayed the removal of Angeles Roca from Philadelphia Common Pleas Court. Roca is accused of fixing a case on behalf of her son. The ruling means voters in the May primary will be instructed to select nine people from the ballot, rather than 10.

Henry Sias, a trans man, is vying for a seat on Philadelphia Common Pleas Court. n

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 7-13, 2017

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PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 7-13, 2017

News & Opinion

9 — News Briefing 10 — Creep of the Week Editorial 11 — Letters/Feedback

Mark My Words

Street Talk 15 — International News 19 — Media Trail

Columns

12 — Body U: The push

to summer 13 — Out Law: Forcing

Congress’ hand

“It’s not like going to see something on Broadway that you can see again and again. ‘Shut Up & Dance’ is one night only and after that night, it’s over. It’s really special to be part of that. Part of the excitement of the evening is, What are they going to do next?”

Arts & Culture

25 — Cover: Music of

the moment

GARDEN STATE SUPPORT: Phil Murphy (center), Democratic candidate in New Jersey’s gubernatorial race, was the guest of honor at Gary Hill (left) and John Shultz’s Atlantic City home March 31. On Monday, Murphy delivered more than 42,000 petitions to kickstart the next phase of his campaign. Murphy faces three other Democratic contenders in the November election.

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Phone: 215-625-8501 Fax: 215-925-6437 E-mail: pgn@epgn.com Web: www.epgn.com

Publisher Mark Segal (ext. 204) mark@epgn.com

— — — — —

Scene in Philly Family Portrait Out & About Comics Q Puzzle

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Creep of the Week: Roger Severino thinks marriage equality is a threat to religious liberty because it’s a religious right to discriminate against icky gays.

“Shut Up & Dance” celebrates its silver anniversary.

PGN 505 S. Fourth St. Philadelphia, PA 19147-1506

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Editor

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

~ Rob Saxon, MANNA Director of External Affairs

Advertising Sales Representative Prab Sandhu (ext. 212) prab@epgn.com Office Manager/ Classifieds Don Pignolet (ext. 200) don@epgn.com

Philly Dyke March held a carnival/ flea-market fundraiser April 1 at the William Way LGBT Community Center.

Art Director/ Photographer

Scott A. Drake (ext. 210) scott@epgn.com 267-736-6743 Graphic Artist Sean Dorn (ext. 211) sean@epgn.com

Philadelphia Gay News is a member of: The Associated Press Pennsylvania Newspaper Association Suburban Newspapers of America

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Depeche Mode proves it’s again à la mode with new CD.

Copyright © 1976 - 2017 Copyright(s) in all materials in these pages are either owned or licensed by Masco Communications Inc. or its subsidiaries or affiliate companies (Philadelphia Gay News, PGN, and it’s WWW sites.) All other reproduction, distribution, retransmission, modification, public display, and public performance of our materials is prohibited without the prior written consent of Masco Communications. To obtain such consent, email pgn@epgn.com Published by Masco Communications Inc. © 1976-2017 Masco Communications Inc. ISSN-0742-5155

National Advertising Rivendell Media: 212-242-6863

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

MARCHING FORWARD: LGBTQ Home for Hope Executive Director Deja Lynn Alvarez (right) welcomed a visit by members of the Gay Officers Action League March 31. GOAL members Officer Berry (from left) and Deputy Sheriff Officers Taylor and Dante Austin delivered bins of clothing they had collected throughout March to the LGBT homeless shelter and recovery facility. The donation dropoff coincided with Transgender Day of Visibility and capped off Women’s History Month.

LGBT center to pioneer emergency plan after rise in violence, hate speech

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com An LGBT agency in the Lehigh Valley is developing rapid-response and support programs in light of the uptick in hate violence after the presidential election.

The Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center on Monday announced the effort, which is being funded by a grant from Open Society Foundations Communities Against Hate Initiative. The center will work with LGBT organizations, law-enforcement officials and clergy in the area to put together an emergency-response plan in the event of a violent or hateful incident. In addition to developing an emergency-response plan, BradburySullivan will offer free individual counseling and support groups to LGBT community members for 14 weeks.

“Since the 2016 election, many vulnerable communities, including the LGBT community, have seen increased violence and violent rhetoric targeted at us,” said Bradbury-Sullivan Executive Director Adrian Shanker.

Leading rights organizations reported sharp increases in hate crimes and violence in the weeks and months following the election of Donald Trump, as well as a rise in hate speech. In recent weeks, a number of LGBT community organizations, including Garden State Equality in New Jersey, have been the target of antiLGBT vandalism.

“The surge in hate incidents since the 2016 election is profoundly disturbing, and the LGBT community has been particularly hard-hit by slurs, vandalism, graffiti and the like,” said Nancy Youman of Open Society.

S h a n k e r applauded Open Society for the funding program and said the center’s participation in the initiative will have real results for the Lehigh Valley.

“Planning for emergency preparedness is our responsibility, and … we are sensitive to the real anxieties many in our community are experiencing,” Shanker said. “We must change the current narrative that is normalizing hate and we must push our society toward viable solutions.”

“We must change the current narrative that is normalizing hate and we must push our society toward viable solutions.”

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 7-13, 2017

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 7-13, 2017

LOCAL PGN

Trans male lieutenant speaks on experiences in the military

By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com

If you live in west Philadelphia or you’re hanging out there, you can find a copy of PGN at these convenient locations: Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut 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. • Redcaps Corner, 4812 Baltimore Ave. • Saturn Club, 3430 Sansom St. • Saxby’s Coffee, 40th & Locust sts. • 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. •

Or from a news box at one of these convenient spots:

epgn.com

@PhillyGayNews

30th & Market sts. • 34th & Spruce sts. • 34th & Walnut sts. • 36th & Walnut sts. • 37th & Spruce sts. • 38th & Chestnut sts. • 38th & Spruce sts. • 38th & Walnut sts. • 40th & Walnut sts. • 40th & Spruce sts. • University City SEPTA Station •

Since coming out as a transgender man in the military, Lt. Shachar Erez started speaking publicly with audiences around the country about his experiences.

Erez sat down with PGN March 27 in between speaking engagements at Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania. The 23-year-old noted mixed feelings about sharing his story.

“It’s a great honor. It’s a bit embarrassing,” Erez said with a laugh. “I’m not used to speaking in front of people. It’s very personal for me but I understand this story can affect others. I’m too privileged. So I have to use this privilege to help others.”

Erez, who is from South Israel, recognizes these privileges as an officer in the Israel Defense Forces. He said all of his commanding officers have been supportive, and the IDF paid for his transition-related hormones and surgery.

One particular positive experience came from a commanding officer who discovered he was sleeping in his work uniform. She gave Erez the ability to shower separately and permission to wear only his field uniform, which is the same for men and women.

“It gave me the confidence I needed to believe in myself, to believe that my professional abilities have nothing to do with my gender,” Erez said. “This was my main fear — that my gender identity would get in my way and stop me from doing a good job. [My officers] made me feel like I can do anything.”

However, Erez still feared coming out to his colleagues.

“It was terrifying, not because of my colleagues but because it was to let go of this secret,” Erez said. “I truly felt that if I let go, the sky would fall.”

The sky ultimately did not fall.

Once Erez officially “let go,” the IDF expanded to include educational programs promoting acceptance and providing lessons on the needs of transgender colleagues. Additionally, officers are now required to address others by the pronouns corresponding to the gender with which they identify.

Erez also developed deeper connections with colleagues. He recalled one transgender individual who was drafted into the IDF and who wanted to be on the force.

“In the beginning, I spoke with him and his parents and everything was fine,” Erez said. “[Then he went] to a military psychologist who said to him, ‘You are a great kid.

You are smart. You are passionate. I think you are great but I don’t think the IDF can treat you well because you are trans.’ So he dismissed him from the service and said he didn’t have to join the military. And he wanted to join the military.”

Erez, who was already an officer at the time, said, “The psychologist was just wrong.” So he accompanied the aspiring officer and spoke with the Gender Affairs Office within IDF to reverse the decision.

Erez said the man is currently in one of the best intelligence units in the IDF because he’s a “genius.” He still remains in touch with the officer and his family.

Erez has influence in the IDF but said he would also like to speak directly with the transgender students who are being harmed

by President Donald Trump rescinding protections for them in the United States.

“I wish to say to each and every one of them if I had a chance: Things will get better,” Erez said. “I can’t imagine the prime minister of Israel addressing where I should go to pee. It’s ridiculous when you say it like this but it’s not ridiculous. In the IDF — for me — it was never an issue. It’s sad to hear that people are making it an issue when it doesn’t have to be.” n

LOCAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 7-13, 2017

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‘Shut Up & Dance’ turns 25

By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com After taking the reins as producing director of “Shut Up & Dance” in 2011, Ian Hussey said he always planned to be a part of the event’s 25th anniversary.

“It’s really one of the most important things I have ever done in my life,” Hussey said. “To be a small part of ‘Shut Up & Dance’’s great legacy and history, I feel very honored to be running the show [during] its 25th year. It’s a remarkable feeling for me because I’m so proud that the dancers of the Pennsylvania Ballet have done something special for this long.”

The event began as the brainchild of Pennsylvania Ballet dancers Michael Sheridan, Leslie Carothers, Nick Stuccio and Kelly Moriarty in 1992. Sheridan, who was unavailable for comment, stayed involved as an advisor.

“The dancers really wanted to do something to support those impacted by HIV/ AIDS and were having a brainstorm about different fundraisers the dancers of the community could put on for the cause,” said MANNA Events Manager Laura Payne, noting how the event began. “Someone suggested that they stop suggesting all of these different fundraisers and just ‘shut up and

dance’ because that’s what they do best.”

The April 29 show will once again benefit MANNA, a nonprofit organization that delivers meals to those with life-threatening illnesses.

‘One night only’ for 25 years While MANNA and the Pennsylvania Ballet will celebrate the event for its 25th year, two members of MANNA’s leadership board describe each year as “one night only” due to choreography and show themes being changed up annually.

“At the end of the show, I want to leave the theater and call my friends and be like, ‘Oh my God, you have to go see this show,’” said MANNA CEO Sue Daugherty.

“And you can’t. It’s truly one night only.

The only thing that I can expect is that every year, you are going to laugh, you are going to cry and you’re going to blush. This show and the energy that is in that theater each year gets stronger.”

Director of External Affairs Rob Saxon said this aspect of the show is what makes “Shut Up & Dance” “the best event [people will] see all year.”

“It’s not like going to see something on Broadway that you can see again and again,” Saxon said. “‘Shut Up & Dance’ is one night only and after that night, it’s over.

It’s really special to be part of that. Part of the excitement of the evening is, What are they going to do next?”

‘The Dying Swan’ and annual traditions While the event has a “one-night-only” feeling each year, “Shut Up & Dance” still holds true to traditions.

One convention Daugherty noted is “The Dying Swan,” a short ballet routine detailing the last moments of a swan’s life.

“When they perform that piece, it brings everybody back and reminds us of what

MANNA’s roots were and where we came from during the HIV/AIDS crisis, and thankfully how we evolved,” Daugherty said, noting how MANNA started as an HIV/AIDS organization. “[MANNA was originally] founded to help people die,

staff had with them, that was really wonderful to observe and be a part of.”

Dominic D’Orazio, 85, has sold tickets for “Shut Up & Dance” since its first year.

He said he got involved because he had friends who died from HIV/AIDS in the 1980s. Additionally, D’Orazio, who identifies as gay, noted how times have changed.

“When I was coming out, nobody knew what it was to be gay,” D’Orazio said. “But today, it’s wonderful.”

The 25th festivity

and now MANNA is here to help people live. And I think ‘Shut Up & Dance’ is a reminder for everyone that night that that’s where we came from and [makes us] thankful for where we are today.”

The event continually raises more than $150,000 for MANNA, bringing in more than $1.5 million in the last 24 years.

“At the end of the day, it’s about providing nutrition to our clients — three meals a day, seven days a week — as they battle this illness,” Saxon said.

This year’s event will once again feature drag performer Martha Graham Cracker as host for her second year, and an after party at Voyeur Nightclub with DJ Robert Drake.

Additionally, Hussey noted the event will include a string quartet and two film projects, one of which will commemorate the event’s 25 years. “‘Shut Up & Dance’ is such a wonderful event where you will laugh and cry and be on the edge of your seat the whole night,” Hussey said. n “Shut Up & Dance” will take place 8 p.m. April 29 at the Forrest Theater, 1114 Walnut St. Visit www.mannapa.org/shut-up-and-dance/ to order tickets.

Shut up and reminisce “Shut Up & Dance” relies on volunteers each year. Karen Mauch, a 65-year-old lesbian, has consistently volunteered for the event over the years and has memories of spending time with the dancers.

“It was fun to observe them in their world — a world I might not otherwise be able to be a part of — and watching them go through their routines,” Mauch said.

“Seeing the camaraderie that the MANNA

Photos: Scott A. Drake

4/9 : Palm Sunday Mass 7: 00pm 4/13 : Holy Thursday 7:30pm 4/14 : Good Friday, Prayer Around The Cross 7: 00pm (A service in conjunction with St. Luke and The Epiphany Church)

4/15 : Easter Vigil Mass 10:00pm (4/16 : No Mass Easter Sunday) Dignity services are held in the Lower Church

St. Luke and The Epiphany Church 330 S. 13th St. (bet. Spruce & Pine Streets) Philadelphia, PA

Happy Easter!

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 7-13, 2017

LOCAL PGN

Bus to ‘drag’ locals to national Pride march

By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com Locals will have the chance to participate in the Equality March for Unity and Pride — while enjoying a family-friendly drag show — on a bus en route to the Washington, D.C., march.

Philadelphia Creatives For Change will organize Drag Me to the March, with performances from drag performer Ophelia Hotass, on June 11. Christopher Jayne, the organization’s treasurer, noted the importance of locals getting involved in the D.C. event, originally conceived of as the National Pride March.

“We want to make sure our community is represented at a national level and we want people in Philadelphia to know this isn’t just something that’s happening in D.C.,” Jayne said of the political climate. “It’s something that’s happening in Philadelphia. There’s a voice that needs to be heard and a visibility that needs to be seen. We wanted to make sure that even if we can’t control the national conversation, we can help enhance those voices locally.”

Jayne and others founded Philadelphia Creatives For Change in January to improve the culture and political climate in Philadelphia. The group is currently in the process of pursuing nonprofit status and has several events planned to fundraise for Drag Me to the March.

The organization plans to collect donations at Ophelia Hotass’ Wednesday shows

at the Sprout Music Collective, 130 E. Prescott Alley in West Chester. Additionally, supporters can learn other ways to donate to the group directly by emailing info@phl4change.org.

Currently, the group is looking into providing a bus to seat 52 people but will add a second bus depending on interest and funds raised. They will also provide riders with a bag filled with a water bottle, snacks and an itinerary.

Jayne referred to the event as “an entirely unique drag experience.”

“It’s a story that you can tell somebody in 10 years: ‘I was on a bus to a march for LGBT rights back in the day, back in 2017, where we had a drag queen tear the roof off the bus. It was great,’” he said.

Jayne noted the importance of the community attending the national march.

“The LGBT community and the allies of the community need to make sure that the country, state, local [governments and] everybody [else] know that we are here.

We’re present. We’re not going away. It’s such a great cause. It’s going to be unique and entertaining. If you’re nervous about attending a march, it’s a safe space so nobody has to feel like they can’t participate, protest, shout or bring their signs. This is a safe space for you.” n Visit www.phl4change.org/events for more information on Drag Me to the March and other future Philadelphia Creatives for Change fundraising events.

Tickets are $30 and can be purchased on Eventbrite: http://bit.ly/2oI0cp3.

INTERFAITH ALLIANCE: Members of Sacred Justice, a new coalition of LGBT faith leaders in the region, gathered for their inaugural event March 30 at William Way LGBT Community Center. Sacred Justice brought together about two-dozen individuals under the theme of “resistance and healing” to share song, reflection and prayer. Photo: Scott A. Drake

LOCAL PGN

News Briefing Local health orgs receive national recognition A national LGBT civil-rights organization recognized four local health agencies for their work as “Leaders in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality.”

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation released its Healthcare Equality Index 2017 March 29, in which it recognized 303 LGBTfriendly organizations. In the 10th edition, HRC included 12 Pennsylvania organizations, including four from Philadelphia.

These included the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia, Mazzoni Center and Willowcrest Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Philadelphia. These organizations were also recognized in the Healthcare Equality Index 2016.

To be considered for this recognition, 509 groups participated in a survey to measure their implementation of LGBT-inclusive policies and practices in patient-centered care, patient services and support, inclusive employee benefits and policies and patient and community engagement.

Former LGBT director to discuss navigating legal system Nellie Fitzpatrick, the city’s former director of LGBT Affairs, will host a discussion this weekend regarding LGBT individuals navigating legal systems.

“And Justice For All: LGBTQ Individuals in Criminal Legal Systems” will include remarks on how LGBT people face barriers to equality and safety as defendants, vic-

AC ul t ure rts

tims and witnesses.

Fitzpatrick was an assistant district attorney for the city prior to becoming the director of LGBT Affairs, a position she vacated in February. She is set to start her own law practice later this year where she will focus on criminal defense and civil-rights work.

Fitzpatrick’s discussion will take place 11 a.m. April 9 at the Philadelphia Ethical Society, 1906 S. Rittenhouse Square.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 7-13, 2017

pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976

PGN just received 8 journalism awards from the PA NewsMedia Association!

— Jeremy Rodriguez

Comcast to volunteer at LGBT shelter A group of LGBT and ally Comcast employees and friends is inviting the community to volunteer later this month at LGBT Home for Hope, the state’s first LGBT-specific homeless shelter and recovery center.

The initiative is part of Comcast Cares Day April 22, during which Comcast employees will participate in service projects throughout the region.

The Home for Hope event will take place from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the facility, 2831 N. Hutchinson St. For more information or to RSVP, visit https://www.comcastinthecommunity.com/ Project/Detail?projectId=8618.

Get flippin’ for charity The fourth-annual Charity Flip Cup Tournament returns from 7-11 p.m. April 21 at Field House, 1150 Filbert St. The festivities benefit the local chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and Stonewall Sports, an association of LGBT and ally sports groups.

Admission costs $35, which includes beer for the flip-cup tournament and snacks. Teams can be comprised of up to eight players.

Spectator tickets are available for $10.

For more information, email flipcup@chatterblast.com. n — Jen Colletta

Because Life Is More Than Just Gay News

HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM

PA News Media Association

Keystone Press Awards First place, News Photo “Hillary at the DNC,” Scott A. Drake Second place, News Photo “Rooting Out Racism,” Scott A. Drake Second place, Sports Photo “A Homerun,” Scott A. Drake First place, Editorial “No winners, blood on their hands, What the F*%$,” Jen Colletta Second place, Ongoing News Coverage Coverage of Kathryn Knott case, Jen Colletta Honorable Mention, Ongoing News Coverage DNC in Philly, Staff First Place, Special Project DNC in Philly, Staff

Nightlife, Concerts, Art, Films, Cabaret, Theater, Food, Books, Music, Sports, Travel, More!

First Place, Sports/Outdoors Column Get Out and Play, Scott A. Drake

PGN is the most award-winning LGBT newspaper in the country.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 7-13, 2017

EDITORIAL PGN EDITORIAL

Creep of the Week

D’Anne Witkowski

Roger Severino

Editorial

Keeping Trump in check In our current political climate, progressives have been grabbing onto every crumb of good news like a life raft. This week, the LGBT community was dealt a colossal crumb.

A federal appeals court on Tuesday ruled for the first time that the sex-discrimination clause under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 includes discrimination based on sexual orientation. While we wish the ruling was broader to also include gender identity, this was a landmark decision, the highest court to ever deliver such a finding.

The finding sets up what will likely be a battle of LGB rights in the U.S. Supreme Court. It also emphasizes the significance of the judiciary’s role in the next four (hopefully fewer) years.

At a time when the Trump administration is rolling back LGBT protections left and right, the appellate court’s ruling sends a message that civil rights aren’t to be subjected to partisan politics. Trump and his band of alt-righters have the potential to run roughshod over the progress that has been made toward LGBT equality in recent years. And with a Republican-controlled Congress, they will likely face little opposition on that front.

The judiciary, then, is a key component of the checks-and-balances setup on which our country was founded. So far, this branch has been integral in slowing the damage the Trump administration promised to inflict. Most notable, federal courts — in a series of rulings — have knocked down the two incarnations of Trump’s Muslim travel bans. Last month, a federal judge allowed a lawsuit to move forward that was filed by anti-Trump protesters who contend the then-candidate’s vitriolic speech incited violence against them.

One of Trump’s many alarming messages in the past three months is that, as president, his word is law. He’s proffered this in subtle ways and also more overtly; he actually told a reporter in an interview last month, “I’m president and you’re not.”

He may be president, but last we checked, he wasn’t coronated king. Checks and balances have long been a fabric of our federal government. And now more than ever, we can see why. n

Send letters and opinion column submissions to: pgn@epgn.com; PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147; fax: 215-925-6437.

Please include a daytime phone number.

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

Honestly, it’s hard to keep up. Even with so many positions in the Trump administration left unfilled, he’s still stacking the deck with swamp monsters.

It seems like, in order to work in this administration, you have to have an utter disdain for whatever you’re going to be in charge of.

Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos hates public education. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson thinks the State Department is useless. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry is currently channeling his energy into bitching about the election of a gay student-body president at Texas A&M. And then there’s Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price, who cares about neither health nor humans, especially not LGBT humans.

So it should come as no surprise — but is still incredibly disappointing and gross — that Trump appointed Roger Severino to lead the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Civil Rights.

So who is Roger Severino? Oh, just some guy from the rabidly antigay Heritage Foundation who use to be the director of the DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society (yes, that DeVos).

Severino’s no fan of Section 1557, the nondiscrimination provision of the Affordable Care Act. He believes that medical professionals should be allowed to discriminate against transgender patients if said medical professional believes “that maleness and femaleness are biological realities to be respected and affirmed, not altered or treated as diseases.”

Which is interesting because while he claims to respect the biological realness of women, he sure doesn’t support their reproductive rights.

He also thinks marriage equality is a threat to religious liberty because it’s a religious right to discriminate against icky gay people, thank you very much.

Severino is an ardent defender of North Carolina’s anti-LGBT law HB2, often referred to as “the bathroom bill” because of its dumbfuckery telling trans people they basically can’t use public restrooms.

HB2 has cost North Carolina, according to the Associated Press, nearly $4 billion.

But that’s a small price to pay for dehumanizing trans folk, apparently!

Considering that Severino’s job is now

to ensure “that people have equal access and opportunities to participate in certain health care and human services programs without unlawful discrimination,” I’m sure he’ll protect LGBT rights real good.

“I could not think of a more dangerous person to head up the Office of Civil Rights at HHS,” Senior Vice President of Policy and Political Affairs of Human Rights Campaign JoDee Winterhof said in a statement. “Once again, Donald Trump is declaring war against our community by appointing anti-LGBTQ people at all levels of his administration.

Mr. Severino takes pride in being a stark opponent of the LGBTQ community and has made it clear that his number one priority is to vilify and degrade us.”

Remember when Trump said “LGBTQ” during the Republican National Convention and people were all, “He’s a champion of equality!”? It was a silly thing to believe then, and it’s completely delusional to believe now.

Severino’s appointment is, as National Center for Transgender Equality Executive Director Mara Keisling said in a statement, essentially “the fox in charge of the hen house.”

Keisling continued, “He has made attacking women’s and LGBT people’s access to health care one of the centerpieces of his career, while his baseless claims about protections for transgender people — repeated over and over without any regard for the consequences on transgender people’s lives — betray a fundamental misunderstanding of federal civil rights laws, medical science, the reality of what it means to be transgender.”

In other words, we can expect the disregard for transgender health and lives to worsen under Severino, which is, no doubt, exactly how he wants it. n

So who is Roger Severino? Oh, just some guy from the rabidly antigay Heritage Foundation who used to be the director of the DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society (yes, that DeVos).

D’Anne Witkowski is a poet, writer and comedian living in Michigan with her wife and son. She has been writing about LGBT politics for over a decade. Follow her on Twitter @MamaDWitkowski.

OP-ED PGN

Transparency from the top Nizah Morris. By this point you should

thwarted our efforts is the recently indicted know that name. After all, PGN has been Philadelphia District Attorney Seth investigating her mysterious death going Williams. Williams announced earlier this on 15 years now. year he was not running for re-election, but A brief recap: Morris was a trans woman the editorial team here at PGN had already of color who was given a courtesy ride by decided that, if he had, we would not be the Philadelphia police. Shortly endorsing him. after, she was found brain dead There has been a rash of trans in Center City. She died two violence since the beginning days later, and was declared a of this year. Violent death is homicide victim on Dec. 25, still something our trans com2002. munity must constantly be Our reporter Tim Cwiek has worried about. When there’s covered that story and every an unsolved homicide still out twist — from city departments there with unanswered questo state agencies to police headtions and a district attorney quarters and beyond. PGN has who can possibly bring closure, taken multiple government there’s something the commuagencies to court to attempt to nity should do: Take action.

There’s a really simple way get all city records on this incito do that. Tell all the candident.

Cwiek’s investigative dates vying for that role that, if efforts have not gone unnoMark Segal they are elected, the commuticed. In 2015, the Society nity expects them to release all of Professional Journalists awarded his records relating to the Morris homicide.

It’s too late for Nizah Morris, but her work with the Sigma Delta Chi Award for family is still here. They deserve answers.

Investigative Journalism, honoring him at the National Press Club in Washington, n D.C., in a category alongside the Wall Mark Segal is the nation’s most-award-winning comStreet Journal. mentator in LGBT media. His recently published mem The reason this is important now is oir, “And Then I Danced,” is available on Amazon. that one of those public officials who has com, Barnes & Noble or at your favorite bookseller.

Mark My Words

Letters and Feedback Editor: I’ve been thinking about the Log Cabin Republicans for a very long time, and trying to understand them. I went on their website to try to have some concept what they are about. I get the whole “we are everywhere” concept — the chorus-line dancer on Broadway, the lawyer in Philadelphia, the sales associate in Walmart in Kansas, the ranch hand in Wyoming, the preacher in Alabama, black, white, Asian, Latino/Hispanic, Native American: “We are everywhere.”

I decided not to go off on a tangent about social responsibility or small government.

Instead, I’ll try to limit myself to issues that affect the gay community.

To that end, rather than be accused of relying on “fake news,” I checked out the GOP platform just before the convention this past summer (which also means that I won’t delve into the AIDS issue, ignored for eight years, or the “Read my lips, no new taxes” campaign promise). Here is what they have to say about marriage: “Traditional marriage and family is based

on marriage between one woman and one man.”

Transgender issues: “Title IX is used by bureaucrats to impose a social and cultural revolution upon the American people by wrongly defining sex discrimination to include sex orientation or other categories.”

Gay adoption: Discourage gay couples from adopting children because children have a right to grow up with a mother and father.

And finally, the GOP wants to make conversion therapy legal for minor children, because parents have a right to make decisions about what is right for their children.

I know Caitlin Jenner and other “famous” transgender Republicans have written or plan to write to Trump about his administration’s decision to roll back protections for transgender or other nonconforming students. Good luck with that, because I have been following the uptick in bullying of transgender students, as well as the murder of transgender women as reported in this very paper.

— Rachel Garber Philadelphia

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 7-13, 2017

Street Talk Should June Pride events be bypassed in favor of the National LGBT March on Washington?

"We should do both.

Philly is known as the City of Brotherly Love. I'd be reluctant to forego the event Carla Hopkins here. Our tattoo artist community Queen Village seems to have a real strength in protesting. Why not do both?"

"We should totally have both events.

Some people can only afford to do local Pride.

Why deprive them of that opportunity? Melissa Ramos We should student provide Queen Village options for everyone and be fair to every income bracket."

"I think we should keep both events.

For example, I attended the Philly Women's March, rather than the Women's Jamey Sheehan March in physician’s assistant D.C. I had South Philadelphia my parents visiting that weekend so it was easier for me to go to the local event. I'm envisioning other folks facing similar circumstances, where it's easier for them to stay local."

"No. We have it in us to do both. It's not a matter of doing one or the other.

The National March on Washington is important but we can't forget our local Pride.

I think it makes more of both."

Reginald Lee Stokes retail manager South Philadelphia

an impact to do

We want to know!

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.

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.

Please include a daytime phone number.

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

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 7-13, 2017

FITNESS PGN

Operation Summertime Summer is approaching fast! Many of everything about working out right away us may feel guilty for having procrasor knowing how to use every machine. tinated on our summer fitness goals.

It is all a journey and you will learn new There are about 11 weeks left before things as you progress. summer and that is more than enough Start with what you know or ask a time to get the ball rolling and shed a professional for help. Remember to few pounds. You can lose a minimum of warm up with either your preferred car4 pounds of body weight a month, which dio machine, such as a rowing machine averages to one pound lost or treadmill, or doing your per week. This is a graspable favorite sporting warm-ups. goal!

Begin your exercise regimen The first step to losing a with three sets of approxipound a week is to modify mately 10-12 repetitions of your food and alcohol conboth body-weight and resissumption. I have mentioned tance exercises, or start by before in a previous article taking a fitness class of your that the best caloric estimate liking. If you do not attend a is to consume 10 calories per gym, start with bodyweight pound of body weight, which exercises such as dips or is very minimal. Realistically, squats. You can use chairs and most people consume way broomsticks as props or invest in a weight set. more than they are supposed Megan Niño I recommend resistance to.

Try to consume the same training because, as you portions throughout the day, every day, develop your muscles, your metabolism and add 200-300 calories on active days. increases, which will promote fat loss.

That 200-300 calories can be from a pro- Inviting a friend to work out can help make the workout fun while increasing tein shake blended with some fruits or a small meal. This will give you a sense of motivation and accountability. Because the weather is getting nicer, take your control and consciousness.

Drink a glass of water when you feel workout to your favorite park or trail. hungry. Dehydration can mask itself as There are many different ways to exerhunger, among other ways. Statistics cise; it is a matter of finding the best fit show that 75 percent of Americans are for you. dehydrated. Infuse your water with fruits Lastly, get some rest. Rest and sleep are very important in the recovery proor herbs and always carry a water bottle cess. If your sleep is limited, take a to quench your thirst. Carry your favornap or meditate for about 15 minutes. ite snack to eat during your breaks. It The good news is that, according to Dr. can be fruit, granola, a protein shake Zelasko, an American Council of Sports or bar, vegetables, etc. If you have a Medicine workshop instructor and sweet tooth, fruit or a small portion of researcher, when you exercise regularly, dark chocolate are great snacks. You’d you actually do not need as much sleep be surprised how many variations of because when you do sleep, you sleep snack-making there are. better. I mention sleep as a step to helpIf you drink alcohol, try to reduce your consumption by one drink per week ing you lose a pound a week because, in or limit yourself to two to three drinks some cases, when your body is in high per week if you tend to drink excesstress, it is more likely to hold on to sive amounts. Instead of mixing liquor weight, or it can cause people to eat or with juices and sodas, try using lemons, drink more.

If you stay consistent with these steps, limes, oranges or cherries to flavor your you will begin to see results. If you have drinks. Seltzer and club soda are also a great option. This will reduce your sugar any questions about what exercise regimen works for you or any fitness-related intake (and the effects of a hangover the questions, email me at megananino@ next day!).

The second step is to start an exercise vigorvida.com. n regimen. It is recommended that people exercise two to three times per week for Megan Niño is a kinesiologist and personal trainer who about an hour. If you have never worked trains out of 12th Street Gym. She is an energetic and positive person, who prides herself on teaching others out before, start with one or two days.

Don’t feel pressured into having to know to find empowerment in their lives through fitness.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 7-13, 2017

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expansion of legal protections as a matter of basic human dignity.”

The introduction of the Equality Act is also symbolically important.

President Trump has said several times that he’s friendly to LGBT issues. But his words and actions and those of his administration are silently eviscerating progress towards full equality. As a master of spin and “alternative facts,” Trump says he’s friendly to the LGBT community but then practically on day one of his administration, all mention of “LGBT” is erased from the White House website, Trump reversed Obama’s guidelines protecting transgender kids in schools, revoked Obama’s executive order protecting LGBT employees of federal contractors from discrimination, hired and appointed people with staunchly anti-LGBT views and, in 2020, the census won’t count us, as if we don’t exist. But truly, there’s nothing to see here!

Reintroducing this bill has the effect of saying to politicians that we are still here and that we aren’t going anywhere. What’s more, the vast majority of U.S. citizens is behind us and supports our right to be counted as full citizens, with full equality. While it may not always feel like it, the political landscape has shifted on its axis in a little over a decade and we are on top. n

onard J e Le .B g d

wn ro

On Feb. 24, 2004, then-President because Democrats are introducing George W. Bush announced that he the bill knowing that it has zero supported a constitutional amendchance of passing, but progresment banning gay marriage, declar- sives hope inaction by Republicans ing it was the only way to protect will illustrate a chasm between the status of marriage between man the major political parties as we and woman, which he called “the approach the 2018 midterm elecmost fundamental institution of civ- tion — and, as a result, turn several ilization.” states blue again. This “The voice of the is an opportunity for all people must be heard,” Americans to find out Bush said in a brief exactly where their repWhite House speech that resentative falls on the then-Sen. John F. Kerry issue of full equality. called an attempt to find The last time this bill “a wedge issue to divide was introduced was 2015 the American people.” and it had some support The prospects for the from Republicans but ultimately dwindled and constitutional amendfailed — and that was ment passing were by during an Obama adminno means clear because, like now, it was introistration. The argument duced at a time when Angela now is that opponents of many Washington lawthe bill will pay a politiGiampolo cal price next year. makers, along with their state counterparts, had to We are at a point in run for re-election. history, especially after Trump Well, close to 14 years later, became president, that an elected LGBT issues are being used as a leader who wants to use his or wedge issue yet again, but this time her position to discriminate has to for good instead of evil. Later this explain why. Recent polls around month, Democrats in Congress, this issue show that 69 percent of despite facing a conservative major- voters support the Equality Act, and ity that’s been generally hostile that includes 55 percent of people toward the issue, are expected to who voted for Trump. Also, when reintroduce the Equality Act. it was introduced previously, the The Equality Act would amend Equality Act always garnered huge existing civil-rights laws to add support from corporations that have protections on the basis of sexual been negatively impacted by the orientation and gender identity patch-quilt and piecemeal way in in workplaces, housing and pubwhich LGBT individuals have won lic spaces. The bill would clarify equality. A statement from Apple that transgender students can use said: “At Apple we believe in equal single-sex facilities in schools in treatment for everyone, regardless accordance with their gender idenof where they come from, what tity. they look like, how they worship or It’s called a “wedge issue” who they love. We fully support the

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 7-13, 2017

Gettin’ On

You can find a copy of PGN at these locations: Show off your stuff — Chester County

Spring portrait special April 14St. • Phoenixville • Artisans Gallerythrough and Cafe, 234 Bridge scottdrakephotos@gmail.com Steel City, 203 Bridge St. • Spring City • Spring Hollow Golf Club, 2250 Schuylkill Road • West Chester • Chester County Books, 975 Paoli Pike •

Delaware County Chester • AIDS Care Group, 2304 Edgemont Ave. • Widener University, 1 University Place • Glen Mills • Imago Dei MCC, 1223 Middletown Road • Media • Penn State Brandywine, 25 Yearsley Mill Road, Suite 115 • Unitarian Universalist Church, 145 W. Rose Tree Road • Sharon Hill • Sharon Hill Medical, 907 Chester Pike • Swarthmore • Swarthmore College, 500 College Ave., Parrish Hall • Wayne • Central Baptist Church, 106 W. Lancaster Ave. • Stafford Station, Old Eagle School & Crestline roads • Wayne Station, N. Wayne & West Ave. Would you like to be on our distribution list?

We’re all getting older. For LGBT seniors, being out in the golden years can pose a whole new set of challenges. Each month, Gettin’ On brings you insights on aging, from legal issues to sexual health.

Only in Online and in print every third Friday.

epgn.com

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Contact: don@epgn.com or 215451-6182 ext. 200 for delivery of complimentary copies.

Discover A New Destination

Spring Travel Preview Coming April 21

COMMISSION from page 1

work.

“We have a lot of committees within the commission and then there will be subcommittees within the committees,” Peters said.

“I think there’s a lot of work to be done and there are so many diverse communities even within the LGBTQ community. [I want to] make sure that progress being made in each of these different areas is recorded and we can keep moving forward.”

Hikes said she is looking forward to working with the new officers.

“I’m excited to have so many people who are willing, who are able, who are available to really help push our new directives and our objectives forward,” she said. “It’s particularly exciting to have these three commissioners who have stepped out and offered to lead in a different capacity and help the goals of the commission.” n RESOLUTION from page 1

such as how the community is valued in our city establishments,” lead sponsor Councilwoman Helen Gym told PGN. “I was thinking how we could do something to show more support and this [resolution] came up.”

Gym said she worked closely with local community members, including Commission of LGBT Affairs Chair Sharron Cooks, to develop the resolution.

“I really wanted it to be about community members,” Gym said about the atmosphere at last Thursday’s resolution adoption. “It wasn’t just folks there representing city agencies but there were so many community members, members of Morris Home who held the flag, out there in front of City Council. I was very deeply

“Visibility isn’t a substitute for justice, but it’s a good first step toward the city really taking that road together with our communities.” moved to be a part of the whole process and to talk about what it means for the community to have visibility. Visibility isn’t a substitute for justice, but it’s a good first step toward the city really taking that road together with our communities.”

Gym said the event also provided a good opportunity for the community to meet members of the Commission on LGBT Affairs and Amber Hikes, the new director of the Office of LGBT Affairs.

The office was among the collaborators on the counter-protest the day after Trans Day of Visibility in response to an anti-transgender bus tour.

“It was great to join with the trans community and the broader community of advocates to stop that hate bus coming through Philadelphia. We were glad to be the first city to actually be able to stop it from parking in front of City Hall.” n

PGN

International Report: Chechnya police arrest 100 alleged gays, 3 killed A Russian newspaper says it has uncovered information that police in the southern Russian republic of Chechnya have rounded up more than 100 men suspected of homosexuality and that at least three have been killed.

The April 1 report in Novaya Gazeta said it confirmed the information with sources in the Chechen police and government, but gave no details.

Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov’s spokesman denied the report, suggesting there are no gays in the Muslim-majority region. According to the state news agency RIA Novosti, the spokesperson said, “It’s impossible to persecute those who are not in the republic.”

The Kremlin-backed Kadyrov is widely accused of extensive human-rights violations.

Canadian pol wants to out gay students to their parents A Canadian politician who said teachers should tell parents if their kids join gaystraight alliances has been criticized as “extremist.”

Jason Kenney, the newly elected leader of the Alberta Progressive Conservatives, on March 28 suggested that students who join gay-straight alliances should be outed to their parents.

He said: “I do … think that parents have a right to know what’s going on with their kids in the schools unless the parents are abusive. I don’t think it’s right to keep secrets from parents about challenges their kids are going through.

“I trust teachers, principals and school counselors to exercise their judgment about such matters, and that there should be a presumption that most parents are loving and caring, seeking only what is best for their children,” added Kenney in a Facebook post. “The law should neither force schools to release information to parents, nor should it create an adversarial relationship between parents and their children.”

Many have come out against the suggestion, saying that LGBT students and allies could be outed to their parents before they

have a chance to come out themselves.

Alberta Education Minister David Eggen branded the comments as “extremist.”

“If the government is compelling people to out those students in a very compromised situation, then they are only serving to make the situation even worse,” he said.

“Jason Kenney has shown, once you scratch the paint off a little bit, you find the extremist that he actually is.”

Eggen suggested that the law should be strengthened to prevent schools from speaking to parents about things like gaystraight alliances.

Kenney was also criticized by two out of Alberta’s four opposition parties.

“We feel that this stance by Mr. Kenney demonstrates his social conservative credentials and why he is not fit to lead Alberta,” Alberta Party Leader Greg Clark said in a statement.

TV channel postpones controversial documentary on trans kids An Australian TV channel has postponed the broadcast of a controversial BBC documentary about transgender children.

“Transgender Kids: Who Knows Best?” first aired on BBC Two in the United Kingdom in January, purporting to “present different views from experts and parents on gender dysphoria in children.”

The program uncritically featured disgraced doctor Kenneth Zucker, who was sacked from a gender-identity clinic following a damning review of his treatment of transgender children.

The controversial doctor had focused treatment on convincing transgender youth to “feel more secure about his or her actual gender” while encouraging parents to “set limits on things like cross-dressing” and stop them playing with “girlish” toys.

He urged parents “to steer their children toward gender-typical toys, clothes and playmates and advises them to prohibit behaviors associated with the other sex” — advice condemned as potentially harmful by trans-health experts.

The BBC was flooded with complaints over the film, with trans activists alleging the film was unbalanced and did not reflect the medical consensus or the controversy around Zucker’s views.

The film was set to air on ABC2 in Australia recently, but the broadcaster has pulled it to address “concerns.”

ABC confirmed: “We will delay broadcasting ‘Transgender Kids: Who Knows Best?’ while we consider concerns raised about the film. New broadcast date is [to be confirmed].” n — compiled by Larry Nichols

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 7-13, 2017

CARNIVAL KICKOFF: Supporters of Philadelphia Dyke March geared up for this year’s event at William Way LGBT Community Center last weekend. The April 1 Carnival Flea Market raised funds for the annual march, to be held this year on June 10. The event featured sales of an array of items, as well as carnival-like activities, including balloon animals, a kissing booth, fortune teller and games. Photo: Scott A. Drake

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Media Trail Creator of rainbow flag dies at 65 U.S. News & World Report reports the creator of the rainbow flag that has become a widely recognized symbol of LGBT rights has died at age 65.

Gilbert Baker’s death was reported March 31 to the New York City Medical Examiner. The cause wasn’t known.

Baker was born in Kansas and served in the U.S. Army from 1970-72.

He was stationed in San Francisco in the early days of the gay-rights movement and continued to live there after his honorable discharge.

Baker’s website says he taught himself to sew and began making banners for gay and anti-war marches. He created the rainbow flag in 1978.

San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee said in a statement that the flag “has become a source of solace, comfort and pride for all those who look upon it.”

NPR raises concerns about firing of Tennessee reporter ABC News reports top editors at National Public Radio challenged the firing of an affiliate reporter who covered meetings between highschool students and legislators who said they were secretly recorded talking about LGBT issues.

Reporter Jacqui Helbert was dismissed from her job at WUTC-FM recently by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, which holds the radio station’s license. Her firing raised questions about whether legislators, who control the university’s funding, pressured the school into dismissing her. Legislators disputed those allegations.

NPR news director Michael Oreskes and standards editor Mark Memmott said in a statement that, while Helbert should have announced herself as a reporter, her media credential and recording equipment were “obvious signs” that she was gathering news for broadcast.

The reporter’s editors didn’t consider Helbert’s mistake a firing offense, and Oreskes and Memmott said that decision should be left to them, not the university.

“Taking the decisions about enforcing ethics out of their hands did more to undermine the station’s credibility than the original infraction,” they said. “We strongly urge the university and WUTC to reach an agreement that ensures the station’s editorial independence in the future.”

Helbert had joined members of Cleveland High School’s gay-straight alliance club on a visit to the state Capitol complex. The gayrights club met with Republican lawmakers to speak out against a bill requiring transgender

students to use bathrooms corresponding to the gender listed on their birth certificates. The bill later failed in a Senate committee.

Republican Sen. Mike Bell said he greeted each of the visitors when they came to his office and again when they left. He said Helbert could have identified herself then, but didn’t.

While Bell said he doesn’t take issue with the substance of the report, he was upset about the circumstances.

“It’s not right for somebody to secretly record you, period,” he said. “She should have identified herself.”

The report quoted Bell as asking the students about how “transgender” should be defined.

“Is it how I feel on Monday? I feel different on Tuesday? Wednesday I might feel like a dog,” Bell was quoted as saying.

At another meeting, the students were told by Rep. Kevin Brooks that he didn’t think the bill would make it beyond its first committee vote.

“If it does I probably will not support it,” Brooks said.

Bell said he complained to colleagues, but did not demand that the reporter be fired. A few days after the report aired, three fellow Republicans had a previously scheduled meeting with university officials.

George Heddleston, the school’s senior associate vice chancellor of marketing and communications, said that Helbert’s story was discussed at the March 17 meeting. Heddleston made the decision to fire the reporter, according to the school.

Sen. Todd Gardenhire, a Chattanooga Republican, said the decision was made before the lawmakers attended the meeting.

Helbert said March 28 that she felt vindicated by the statement from NPR. The university, which contributed more than $500,000 to the station in 2016, stands by its decision to fire Helbert because lawmakers weren’t “treated equally” in her story, spokesman Chuck Cantrell said.

Lawsuit: Bus terminal bathroom arrests target gays According to the New York Times, a lawsuit accuses Port Authority of New York and New Jersey police of targeting gay men who use the restrooms at New York City’s main bus terminal.

The class-action lawsuit claims Port Authority police officers engage in discrimination by falsely arresting men perceived as gay at the Port Authority Bus Terminal on baseless charges including public lewdness and exposure.

According to the complaint, officers are targeting gays to boost quality-of-life arrest statistics, believing that most of those arrested will ultimately be forced to plead to lesser charges to avoid public humiliation.

The suit was filed March 27 in Manhattan federal court by Winston & Strawn LLP and the Legal Aid Society. The plaintiffs are seeking a stop to the practice, as well as compensatory and punitive damages.

The Port Authority has declined to comment. n

— compiled by Larry Nichols

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 7-13, 2017

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locations in Philadelphia GAYBORHOOD BUSINESSES 12th Street Gym, 204 S. 12th St. • 2101 Condos, 118 S. 21st 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. • Charlie Salon, 203 S. 12th St. • Charlie was a Sinner, 131 S. 13th St. • Chocolate Works lobby, 321 N. 3rd St. • City Hall NE Entrance • Club Body Center, 1220 Chancellor St. • Com-Har Living Room, 101 S. Broad St., 14th floor • Condo Shop, 1415 Locust St. • Criminal Justice Center, 1301 Filbert St. • Cut Salon, 204 S. 13th St. • Danny’s Bookstore 133 S. 13th St. • DBHIDS, 1101 Market St. • Dignity/St. Lukes, 330 S. 13th St. • Dirty Frank’s Bar, 13th & Pine sts. • The Foodery, 10th & Pine sts. • ICandy, 254 S. 12th St. • John C. Anderson Apts., 249 S. 13th St. • Mazzoni Clinic, 809 Locust St. • More Than Just Ice Cream, 1119 Locust 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. • William Way LGBT Community Center, 1325 Spruce St. • Woody’s, 202 S. 13th St. •

PGN

Visit Bucks County Special Issue

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OTHER BUSINESSES EAST OF BROAD Bean Café, 615 South St. • Bethel Community Home, 933-935 S. Third St. • Best Western Independence Park Hotel lobby, 215 Chestnut St. • Black N Brew, 1523 E. Passyunk Ave. • Bodhi Coffee, 410 S. 2nd St. • Bridgeview Place, 315 New St. • Class Act Auto Repair, 2042 S. Bancroft St. • Community Behav. Health, 801 Market St. 7th floor • Copabanana, 342 South St. • Essene, 719 S. Fourth St. • Famous 4th St. Deli, Fourth & Bainbridge sts. • Fuel, 1917 E. Passyunk Ave. • Hopkinson House, 604 S. Washington Sq. • Hyatt Regency Hotel lobby, 201 S. Columbus Blvd. • Independence Place Condos, 241 S. Sixth St., lobby in both towers • Independence Visitors Center, 6th & Market sts. • Jackson Place, 501 Jackson St. • One Independence Place, 241 S. 6th St. mailroom • Paper Moon, 520 S. Fourth St. • Philly Bagels, 613 S. Third St. • PGN offices, 505 S. Fourth St. • Philadelphia Java Co., 518 S. Fourth St. • Philly PAWS, 100 N. Second St. • Reading Terminal Market, 12th & Filbert sts. • Rockerhead Salon, 607 S. Third St. • Ruff Life, 25 N. Third St. • Two Independence Place, 233 S. 6th St. • Tiffin Restaurant, 1100 Federal St. • Ultimo Coffee, 1900 S. 15th St. • Wedge Medical Center, 1939 S. Juniper St. • Wireworks, 301 Race St. •

STREET CORNERS 2nd & Chestnut sts. • 2nd & Market sts. • 2nd & Poplar sts. • 2nd & Walnut sts. • 3rd & Chestnut sts. • 3rd & Market sts. • 3rd & South sts. • 3rd & Spruce sts. • 4th & Bainbridge sts.

• 4th & Chestnut sts. • 4th St. bet. Arch & Market sts., by Holiday Inn • 5th & Chestnut sts. • 5th & Market sts. • 7th & Pine sts. • 8th & Market sts. • 8th & South sts. • 8th & Walnut sts. • 9th & Market sts. • 9th & Passyunk sts. • 9th & Pine sts. • 10th & Market sts. • 10th & Pine sts.

• 10th & South sts. • 10th & Spruce sts.• 11th & Arch sts. • 11th & Locust sts. • 11th & Spruce sts. • 11th & Tasker sts. • 11th & Walnut sts. • 12th & Filbert sts. • 12th & Locust sts. • 12th & Manning sts. •12th & Market sts. •12th & Spruce sts. • 12th & Walnut sts. • 13th & Arch sts. • 13th & Chestnut sts. • 13th & Locust sts. • 13th & Pine sts. • 13th & Spruce sts. • 13th & Walnut sts. • 15th & JFK • 15th & Market sts. • 16th & Chestnut sts. • 16th St. & JFK Boulevard • 16th & Market sts. • 17th & Lombard sts. • 17th & Pine sts. • 17th & Spruce sts. • 18th St. & JFK Boulevard • 18th & Locust sts. • 18th & Market sts. • 18th & Walnut sts. • 19th & JFK • 19th & South sts. • 20th & Chestnut sts. • 20th & Locust sts. • 20th & Sansom sts. • 20th & Vine sts. • 20th & Walnut sts. • 22nd & Chestnut sts. • 22nd & Market sts. • 22nd & South sts.

• 23rd & Market sts. • 23rd & South sts. • Broad & Cherry sts. • Broad & Chestnut sts. • Broad & Ellsworth sts. • Broad & Locust sts. • Broad & Lombard sts. • Broad & McKean sts. • Broad & Morris sts. • Broad & Race sts. • Broad & South sts. • Broad & Spruce sts. • Broad & Vine sts. • Broad & Walnut sts. • Main & Cotton sts. • Passyunk Ave & 10th & Reed sts. • Pine & Hicks sts.

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PAGE 25

GEtting into the

New CD releases will liven up your spring

By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Depeche Mode “Spirit” Columbia/ Mute Records It’s nothing short of amazing how electro-pop pioneers Depeche Mode has evolved and stayed interesting and ahead of the curve in its 35-plus years of making music. From their early newwave and synthpop sound, they pushed into industrial and alternative-rock territory by the late 1980s and early ’90s, and then, as the new millennium came and went, into a sound that kept pace with the constant shifts in tastes, all with an admirable level of sophistication. Who else from that genre and the era besides Duran Duran (a comparison we’re pretty sure Depeche Mode is sick of) can still put out albums and tour

without being lumped into and packaged on some form of nostalgia circuit?

Sonically, Depeche Mode is sticking to the intricate and dramatically somber signature sound they’ve comfortably settled into in the latter half of their prolific career. The music is anchored by Dave Gahan’s soulfully brooding vocal style and alternates between densely layered electronic beats with big, sexy alien-sounding synths (“You Move” and “Fail”) and sparse noir-ish tunes with ghostly guitar or piano melodies (“Cover Me,” “Poison Heart” and “Poorman”).

Throwback ’80s synth sounds are showing up in pop culture more than ever these days, and while this album still has a toehold in that vibe, songs like “Scum” and “No More (This Is The Last Time)” have enough of an edge and songwriting prowess to feel fresh and innovative, while still coming across like the soundtrack to the next season of “Stranger Things.”

Electro-pop pioneers Depeche Mode have always come from a deeply personal place, with their dark and seductive style of music. It’s interesting on their latest album,

their 14th, that they seem to be taking on global and political themes in their lyrics.

That interpretation is up to the listener. But given the social and political climate, it’s hard to take in the confrontational lyrics on the album’s opening salvo of songs (“Going Backwards,” “Where’s the Revolution,” “The Worst Crime” and “Scum”) and not read some form of commentary about the state of the world into them. And if that was their intention, bravo! Keep it coming.

That’s the … “Spirit”!

Goldfrapp “Silver Eye” Mute Records After experimenting with folk influences on their last few efforts, electro-dancepop duo Goldfrapp returns with disco and EDM guns blazing on a brand-spanking-new seventh album. And thank goodness.

The opening tracks, “Anymore” and “Systemagic,” waste no time in getting into a dirty, digitized groove with a grindingly pulsing mid-tempo dance beat that lays the foundation for singer Alison Goldfrapp’s breathlessly alluring vocal lines.

Not leaving all their experimentation behind, Goldfrapp delivers some pleasantly welcome detours into more ethereal, new-age and trippy territory on tracks like “Tigerman,” “Zodiac Black” and “Faux Suede Drifter.” But the album’s comfort zone is the kind of dark and sexy neon-lit ambience that sets an otherworldly mood.

The robotic “Become The One,” the spacy “Moon In your Mouth” and the slow, building groove of “Ocean” are perfect examples of this.

Welcome back to the dance floor, Goldfrapp. We have missed you.

Tyce “Hero” Broadway Records New York-based Broadway actor Tyce teamed up with Jim PAGE 26

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Steinman — the composer, producer and songwriter who penned massive hits for Meatloaf and Celine Dion, among others — for his debut double album, which finds him covering hits Steinman wrote for other artists.

Legend has it that Tyce met Steinman at a tribute concert honoring the latter in New York where Tyce received a standing ovation for singing “Bat Out Of Hell,” the epic rock song Steinman wrote for Meatloaf. This inspired Steinman to sign on as the creative consultant and give Tyce his blessing for the project.

At first glance, Tyce seems to really be leaning into the idea of a Steinmanwritten album with the cover art by fantasy illustrators Boris Vallejo and Julie Bell. And to be honest, we’ve seen enough singers — professional, Broadway and otherwise — belting out “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and “Holding Out for a Hero” to expect this album to be an ego-stroking sonic cheese-fest of the highest magnitude. But, shockingly enough, it isn’t. It’s actually damned good.

Tyce and company strike a good balance in executing these songs. He has a stellar voice, and, more importantly, he knows when to show off and when to do what’s best for the song. It also helps that the album balances its dramatic songwriting touchstones with tastefully hard-rocking instrumentation. That attention to detail elevates his renditions of “Holding Out for a Hero,” “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and “I’ll Kill You If You Don’t Come Back To Me” to something infectiously epic that listeners will want to rock out to. Tyce can also sing the hell out of a piano ballad on tracks like “It’s

All Coming Back To Me Now” and “Left in the Dark.”

The second disc features acoustic versions of the songs for the people who want more of a cabaret vibe. While not as dynamic as the electric-rock disc that precedes it, the performances of classics like “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)” are stellar and allow Tyce to show off his emotional range away from the bombast of the rock songs.

“Hero” is a solid effort and Tyce definitely deserves to wear cape for this performance on his debut album.

Nancy and Beth s/t Hepursef Nancy And Beth are the self-described “punk vaudeville band” led by Megan Mullally and Stephanie Hunt. And at first listen, their album is more vaudeville than punk, giving off sassy waves of jazzy and bluesy charm that will make you want to open up a juke joint.

The duo definitely has some singing chops to compliment the captivating retro songs driven by upright bass and piano melodies. And while playfully upbeat songs like “Please Mr. Jailer” and “One Mint Julep” generate a carnival-like atmosphere, it’s when they dive into moodier and darker territory that they really start to impress. “Vibrate” is hauntingly good — so much so that Mazzy Star needs to watch her ass. “He Stopped Loving Her Today” is a delightfully melancholy country song. Rounding out the madcap vibe are the filthy, hip-hop-influenced “I Don’t Love Her” and the gospel revival of “Saved.”

Nancy and Beth are a fun and talented pair. They can crash our party and get crazy any time. n

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Suzi Nash

Ryan Lewis: Keeping things moving, on and off the bike As many of you know, I hate working out.

Fortunately, I’ve been pretty lucky in the gene pool and it hasn’t taken much to keep me looking like I’m in shape without actually doing a sit-up or donning something made from Lycra. Unfortunately, age is starting to trump genetics and I may have to break down and do something more strenuous than lifting the remote. If anyone could inspire me to do it, it may be this week’s profile.

Ryan Lewis is a trainer at the brand-new SoulCycle facility in Rittenhouse Square. If you’re not familiar with SoulCycle, it’s billed as a combination of music, exercise and a little spirituality if you like. The classes are held on specialized yellow stationary bikes equipped with three-tiered handlebars. Everyone rides to the music as a high-energy instructor puts the group through its paces. The exercise program focuses on rhythm and the “energy of the pack,” which creates a strong bond between riders. The instructors, who are inspirational coaches, push riders to do their best on and off the bike.

SoulCycle is intended to invoke a self-cleansing quality, much like yoga.

PGN: What does the “soul” in SoulCycle mean to you?

RL: To me, it means the space and how it’s presented in terms of the physical nature of it. It starts with the ambience we set with the lights, either dim or off, with everything lit by candlelight, and the music blasting super loud. It creates a space where you can just lose yourself, immerse yourself and take yourself away from whatever is going on in your life outside. That’s where the physical combines with the mental and becomes a little more spiritual.

PGN: Exercising by candlelight is certainly something I haven’t heard of before. Explain the difference between your class and me sitting on a stationary bike at home.

RL: At the core of this, it’s an indoor cycling class, but the way I describe it is that this is a workout that has a lot of emotion and a lot of power to it. There’s a certain ownership that I think you’ll find here coming from the instructors that you won’t find anywhere else. It’s something I found both as a rider and as an instructor. There’s something authentic that you feel from the instructors and the people around you in the room.

There is a communal energy. We ride to the rhythm of the music together, so everything we do, we do together. I find people come out of here with friendships they didn’t expect. When you push your limits there is a certain endorphin high that you get and you want to share it and talk about it so you might be a little more outgoing than normal.

You’ve just done something you didn’t think you could and you want to share it.

PGN: So speaking of sharing, tell me your story.

RL: I grew up in Montgomery County but I attended St. Joe’s Prep in the city. I had a traditional upbringing: mom, dad and little brother. I went to Catholic school all my life but we weren’t raised in a very religious household. Growing up, I tried to do what all the other guys were doing — going out for sports and all that stuff. My parents never forced me but they were both all-star athletes and just assumed those genes would be passed down. Unfortunately not; I have zero eye-hand coordination, I was always the first one cut or the last one picked. I was the kid who would get up to the plate in kickball and everyone would come in. I was mortified but I tried. It just didn’t work out. And then I tried out for my first musical; it was the local community production of “Annie.”

There weren’t many guys participating so I ended up playing several roles. That was the first time I felt like I was doing something that I was meant to do, something that I was good at.

PGN: Favorite role and worst mishap?

RL: Favorite? Jean Valjean in “Les Misérables” in the summer between my junior and senior years in high school. The worst was when I was in “The Sound of Music.” I played the youngest von Trapp child and at the end of the “So Long, Farewell” song, I was supposed to hit this long, high note. I was in the eighth grade and right before we were ready to open my voice started to change. We ended up actually having the girl who played Gretl sing the note and I would just open my mouth and lip sync. No one had any idea it wasn’t me.

RL: No, I was “friends first, family second.” But I told my mom towards the end of my senior year and my father a little bit later. We’ve been through a lot, but I’m happy to say I don’t think there’s a stronger family unit than mine. With everything we’ve been through, there’s nothing we can’t talk about.

PGN: Let’s talk about that. So what happened when a small-town guy from Gwynedd Valley hit the Big Apple?

RL: Since I was in fifth grade, I’d always wanted to go to school at New York University. In high school, we would take field trips to Philadelphia and I got a taste of city life but I wanted to immerse myself in it. There’s no campus like NYU; I say that as a former tour guide at the university.

When I went, I set some ground rules for myself because I knew I was going to get exposed to a lot. New York has the best of everything, including the best of the worst, and I definitely took a walk on the dark side.

The limits I set were to not inject anything

PGN: I read that your mother came to the rescue.

RL: Yes, she took me rehab shopping and got me into an outpatient facility. My parents do the snowbird thing and spend most of the winter in Florida but she usually comes back around my sobriety anniversary and it feels safe. Kind of like when she flew up here that first time without a return ticket and didn’t leave until she found help for me.

PGN: What other clubs were you involved with in high school?

RL: My freshman year I was on the crew team. It was my first foray into sports and they were a no-cut team so they had no choice but to put me on. I actually did well, but they were too serious for me. I was also the editor-in-chief of our yearbook and I did some local theater.

PGN: When did you come out?

RL: I came out to a close group of friends between my junior and senior year. We were on a summer retreat and I was a team leader.

We were supposed to make a speech so I made my theme about coming out and shared my story. It was just a small group of my classmates but as soon as we got back, the story spread like wildfire. I was scared but I wanted it to happen. St. Joe’s is a very academic- and sports-oriented school. I’d been afraid to come out because I thought I was surrounded by meat-headed jocks but once I came out, I realized it wasn’t true at all.

Everyone was so supportive. It was one of the best years of my life. I hold it dear.

PGN: Did you tell your parents before your retreat speech?

PGN: Was there something in your personality that pushed you beyond just social use?

RL: I think at the core, I was striving to figure out who I was. I was in two relationships during the five years I was using, which was from 18-23 — pretty formative years as you’re trying to decide what to do with your life and are being exposed to certain freedoms for the first time. I was living according to other people and not according to me.

I would get high to feel good about myself and the more I did, the better I felt. I figured, why not? I was young and that’s the time to be stupid and wild but then it got out of control. I tried to get clean on my own and maintained it for about 120 days until that little voice said, “You should be able to have just one drink. You’re 23, you can handle it, just know that when it gets to a certain point, when you want to introduce the other things, you can’t let that happen.” And the first night I had a drink it happened, everything came back. When I took that first sip, I immediately knew I was going to go back to using.

And I was back on that train for five months until it all caught up with me again. That’s when I learned that what is true for many people was true for me: One is too many and 1,000 is not enough. I knew that I had to cut out everything, that even a glass of wine at dinner would send me down the wrong path.

and to not stick anything up my nose.

Luckily, the injections never happened, but

by October of my freshman year, I was snorting cocaine. It was social at first but it pretty quickly became more and more of a solitary endeavor. Drugs are very expensive and on a student budget I didn’t want to share — that, and the fact that I was ashamed of what I was doing. It continued until I was 23 but I’m happy to say that come April 27 of this year I will have maintained three years of complete sobriety.

PGN: What was the silliest thing you lied about during the time you were using?

RL: My mother’s dentist Photo: Suzi Nash was in New York so when she came up to see him we went out to dinner. [Laughs] When you’re in college you don’t turn down a free meal. I was drinking at dinner and then I would sneak away to do drugs in the bathroom. In the beginning, when you’re using drugs, you’re very careful about hiding it but by this time I was starting to get sloppy. I apparently went to the bathroom a lot that night, to the point that my mother asked if I was OK— she had an idea of what was going PAGE 34

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

‘A Girl Named Bill’ channels life, music of legendary musician

By A.D. Amorosi PGN Contributor It’s always fascinating to find the singular sensation that is Nellie McKay — risk-taking vocalist/composer in a contemporary pop/jazz vein, Bernie Sanders supporter, dog lover, one-time Poconos native — elbowsdeep in one of her several character-driven, live showcases.

“It’s nice getting lost sometimes,” she said from her home in New York City.

The soft-spoken McKay has, so far, written and portrayed the stories of sly murderess Barbara Graham (in the musical cabaret “I Want to Live!”) and environmental activist Rachel Carson (in “It’s Not Nice to Fool Mother Nature”), each with confident assurance and actor-ish Wiles.

“These women, these characters, they definitely choose me to portray them, rather than the other way around,” McKay said.

“This is kismet. I’m like the mom to these shows being my kids.”

For our purposes, however, it’s nice that McKay is again focusing her attentions upon legendary jazz pianist, band leader and vocalist Billy Tipton (her first time was 2014). McKay interprets/extrapolates/ becomes him in “A Girl Named Bill,” a program she’s executing with her small ensemble April 8 at the Rrazz Room in New Hope and April 9 at the Rrazz Room at the Prince Theater.

For the uninitiated, Tipton was a post-vaudevillian who worked primarily throughout the late ’30s into the early ’60s before becoming a talent agent. He also led jazz trios and swing bands, composed for the likes of Fletcher Henderson and was known for his humorous, loud stage patter and his imitations of celebs such as Elvis and Liberace.

“Billy’s story is fascinating. He was really something, a musical whiz kid,” said McKay. She should know a thing or two about whiz kids; she was a member of the Young Persons Poconos Orchestra as a child and was mentored by the likes of jazzbo saxophonist Phil Woods and crooner/”Schoolhouse Rock” composer Bob Dorough before she made her first album at 22. “Get Away from Me” made her the first woman to release a double album as her debut.

After his death at age 74, in 1989, it was discovered that Tipton was originally Dorothy Lucille Tipton from Oklahoma City, Okla., a woman who lived and worked as a man by binding her breasts and padding her pants. Tipton married women, adopted children and existed mostly as a man — save for two close female cousins privy to his secret.

“I have no idea how he could deal with binding his breasts and such. I tried to do it for the few performances and couldn’t breathe. No way,” McKay said. “I could handle it maybe an hour, but he did it all the time. So uncomfortable. It’s like having your

hair in a ponytail that you can’t take out.

I dress up in a suit and such, sure, but I feel as if I inhabit his spirit more than just those trousers.”

It’s not so much as if McKay is becoming Tipton, but rather channeling all the cheery show-biz and hidden nuances of all that the Midwestern pianist/singer was — mostly according to the testimony of family members and old friends, as well as the text of “Suits Me: The Double Life of Billy Tipton.” That McKay has managed to do this without an ounce of kitsch or camp in her work is smartly illustrative of the thoughtful, wise and provocative artist that she is sans character.

“I appreciate your faith in me,” she laughed, “but I don’t think I could do kitsch if I tried. “I’m not good at creating

Photo: Michelle V. Agins/The New York Times

any sort of kitsch and make it an art form — corny stuff, maybe, but not camp; I’m too much of a slob and a hobo. Besides, Billy wasn’t camp, he was a mensch.”

Along with performing signature Tipton tunes from his repertoire such as “Willow Weep for Me,” McKay has even penned a few Tipton-like tunes such as “I’m in the Luckiest Mood,” where “channeling” the man, woman and their shared moment was crucial.

“You have to live in those shoes for a bit. We tried to be true to Billy, so anything you write or do has to be upbeat — have joie de vivre. Being a cynic myself, I have to put aside the pessimism for 90 minutes.

He’s such a pleasure to play.”

Asked about remaking “A Girl Named Bill” for the currency of trans identity issues and policy-making, the always-political McKay said Tipton was a pioneer whose story should be witnessed.

“He braved great dangers for the cause.

And he did it with a twinkle in his eye.” n Nellie McKay performs “A Girl Named Bill” 8 p.m. April 8 at the Rrazz Room, 6426 Lower York Road in New Hope, and 8 p.m. April 9 at Rrazz Room at the Prince Theater, 1412 Chestnut St. For more information or tickets, visit www.therrazzroom. com.

Theater & Arts Alec Baldwin The actor and author of “Nevertheless: A Memoir” hosts a reading 7:30 p.m.

April 7 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215-567-4341.

American Watercolor in the Age of Homer and Sargent Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition exploring watercolor painting’s remarkable rise in the United States between 1860-1925 through May 14, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100.

Bruce Nauman: Contrapposto Studies, I through VII Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of new works by Bruce Nauman, which continues the artist’s exploration of video, sound and performance, through April 16, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100.

Cabaret Broadway Philadelphia presents the classic Tony Award-winning musical through April 9 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800.

Carol Burnett: An Evening of Laughter and Reflection The comedy icon tells stories and answers questions 7:30 p.m. April 11 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800.

DRAG INJECTION: “RuPaul’s Drag Race” alum and singer Sharon Needles comes to Philadelphia to rock out 7:30 p.m. April 14 at Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St. For more information or tickets, call 215-291-4919.

Hand to God Philadelphia Theatre Company presents the Tony Award-nominated Broadway comedy about a puppet at the Christian Puppet Ministry who presents a shockingly sinister agenda of its own, through April 30 at Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St.; 215-9850420.

The Importance Of Being Earnest Walnut Street Theatre presents the classic Oscar Wilde play through April 30, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550.

Lino Tagliapietra: Painting in Glass Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition showcasing the artist’s complex glass vessels through July 16, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

Person of the Crowd: The Contemporary Art of Flânerie The Barnes Foundation presents an exhibition featuring works by

40 international artists making provocative spectacles of themselves through May 22, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.; 215-2787000.

PHILADANCO The acclaimed Philadelphia dance company performs April 13-15 at Perelman Theater, 300 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5847.

Phulkari: The Embroidered Textiles of Punjab Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition exploring the beauty and cultural significance of phulkari, ornately embroidered textiles from Punjab, a region straddling Pakistan and India, through July 9, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100.

Romance The Pennsylvania Ballet performs a playful modern ballet through April 9 at Kimmel’s Merriam Theatre, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800.

Sesame Street Live Elm, Grover, Abby Cadabby and all their “Sesame Street” friends come to town through April 9 at The Liacouras Center, 1776 N. Broad St.; 215-204-2400.

Shadowland Dance Affiliates and the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts present the fulllength piece about a teenage girl who wakes up one day to something incredible lurking behind her bedroom wall, through April 7 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; 215898-3900 Todd Barry The comedian and actor seen on Comedy Central performs through April 8 at the Punch Line Philly, 33 E. Laurel St.; 215-6066555.

Tony Rock The comedian seen on “Apollo Live” performs April 14-15 at the Punch Line Philly, 33 E. Laurel St.; 215-6066555.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 7-13, 2017

31

‘The Assignment’: an offensive disappointment

By Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor

BURLESQUE BONANZA: More than 50 burlesque artists share the stage and their art for a four-day festival through April 9 at both Franky Bradley’s, 1320 Chancellor St., and Plays & Players, 1714 Delancey Place. The annual festival will also celebrate the debut of the Sparkle Market from noon-6 p.m. April 9 at Irish Põl, 114 Market St., a showcase of local artists and small businesses. For more information, visit www.phlburlesquefest.eventbrite.com.

Yannick and Trifonov Reunited!

The Philadelphia Orchestra performs selections with young Russian prodigy Daniil Trifonov through April 9 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-7905800.

You For Me For You InterAct Theater Company presents the fantastical humor-filled play about North Korean sisters racing across time and space to be together again through April 16 at The Drake Proscenium Theatre, 302 S. Hicks St.; 215-568-8079.

Music Deadmau5 The electronic music artist and DJ performs 9 p.m.

April 7 at BB&T Pavilion, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, N.J.; 609-365-1300.

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

John 5 The acclaimed rock guitarist performs 8 p.m. April 10 at Sellersville Theater 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville; 215257-5808.

Modern English The new-wave band performs 8 p.m. April 11 at Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave.; 215-739-9684.

Nancy & Beth The punkvaudeville duo performs 8 p.m.

April 11 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215222-1400.

Big Sean The rap artist performs 8 p.m. April 12 at The Fillmore Philadelphia, 29 E. Allen St.; 215625-3681.

Broadway Sings The concert series performs the music of Beyoncé and Bruno Mars 8 p.m. April 14 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400.

The Decemberists The indie-rock band performs 8 p.m. April 14 at The Fillmore Philadelphia, 29 E. Allen St.; 215625-3681.

Nightlife The Shady Bunch: Aloe’s Girls vs.

Turnpyke’s Boys Sharp Robert, Babyface Reid and Josh Schonewolf perform 8 p.m.

April 12 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215-964-9675.

Sharon Needles The drag star seen on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” performs 8 p.m. April 14 at Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St.; 215-2914919.

Outta Town One Night of Queen The Queen tribute band performs 8 p.m.

April 7 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; 215-5727650.

Air Supply The soft-rock band performs 8 p.m.

April 9 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; 215-5727650.

The Beast Within The 1980s horror film is screened 9:45 p.m. April 7 at the Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-1228.

Leela James and Daley The R&B singers perform 8 p.m.

April 13 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; 215-5727650. 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.

“The Assignment,” opening April 7 at AMC Cherry Hill, has already upset the trans community for its “high-concept” plot about Dr. Rachel Jane (Sigourney Weaver), performing an unwanted gender-reassignment surgery on hit man Frank Kitchen (Michelle Rodriguez).

The uproar, which is not unjustified, concerns two issues: first, that the film’s idea of gender-reassignment surgery is an act of punishment; and second, that the Kitchen character was not played by a trans actress. However, director Walter Hill and co-screenwriter Denis Hamill seem more impressed with the idea of their film than doing any justice to its execution.

“The Assignment” is a down-and-dirty revenge flick that wants to be a cross between a film noir and a graphic novel.

There are times when the shots freeze into comic-book-y panels, and the film features an appropriate seediness (even if that’s Canada standing in for San Francisco’s Tenderloin). But the film’s style only seems to mask its lack of substance.

The opening voice-over has Frank lying bandaged after the unexpected sex change.

He says, “I’ve killed a lot of guys — and you’re not supposed to kill people. What happened to me is a lot better than I deserve. It took me a long time to work that out. In the meantime, I just want to get even.”

The points Frank makes play out in the film’s first act. He’s a hit man who is assigned by Honest John (Anthony LaPaglia) to kill Sebastian (Adrian Hough), who owes a large sum of money. Frank does this, but Sebastian’s murder upsets his sister, Dr. Rachel Jane, who exacts revenge by changing Frank’s gender. Frank, of course, wants payback once he realizes what happened to him.

Meanwhile, Dr. Jane’s story unfolds in a Mendocino psychiatric facility where she is in a straightjacket for her interviews with Dr. Ralph Galen (Tony Shalhoub). Dr. Jane has being performing illegal, off-thebooks surgery in her clinic after losing her medical license. She’s under observation after being found shot in her illegal lab. Dr. Jane treats Dr. Galen with withering disdain, and is given to quoting Shakespeare to show how clever she is. These scenes should be compelling, but they feel contrived.

As Frank’s story continues, he checks into a Tenderloin hotel and takes a shower so the film can show, with graphic full-frontal nudity, that Frank indeed has a penis.

Seeing Rodriguez, who plays Frank as a man with a full beard, wearing some kind of false front — and this refers to his hairy chest (hiding the actress’ breasts) — is distracting. But the penis is shown so that, a few scenes later, when he wakes up with

women’s breasts and his penis removed, Frank can scream “Noooo!” in horror. It is a campy moment when Frank examines his (now her) naked body in front of a mirror. That she soon leaves the seedy room barefoot and in a bathrobe only adds to the unintentional hilarity.

“The Assignment” is not meant to be funny, but it has many head-scratching moments. Chief among them is Frank’s relationship with Johnnie (Caitlin Gerard), a young nurse he picks up one night for sex. After he becomes a she, Frank calls Johnnie and asks to move in with her.

It may be “progressive” that this couple makes love regardless of Frank’s gender, but what makes little sense is that there is no real discussion between them about what has transpired.

When the film actually does initiate a discussion around the gender-reassign-

ment surgery, it is especially ham-fisted.

In one scene, Frank goes to Dr. Lin (Terry Chen) to get his unwelcome operation reversed. If Dr. Lin’s remarks are meant to pay lip service to trans experience, they feel tone-deaf. Moreover, Dr. Jane testifies that her surgery on Frank was an “experiment” to test if gender is tied to identity.

Acknowledging that her extreme procedure failed to “alter Frank’s essence” — he still believes he is a man despite having a woman’s body — Dr. Jane’s hubris is offensive.

But so much of “The Assignment” is offensive. Rodriguez and Weaver both try to enhance the lousy material, but these fine actors deserve better than this lousy B-movie. Rodriguez may take a risk by playing Frank as both a man and woman, but she is not convincing as a man and creates very little empathy for her character. The feisty actor does better fighting and shooting her way through the film; the clunky dialogue strands her.

In contrast, Weaver delivers her lines with considerable aplomb, but she is mostly constrained by her straightjacket. When Dr. Jane is seen in flashback, curiously, she wears men’s suits and ties, an obvious nod to gender identity that reflects the film’s lack of subtlety or understanding.

“The Assignment” is a film about nasty double-crosses. Everyone, from the cast to the viewers, should feel betrayed by this nasty film. n

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 7-13, 2017

DIRECT FROM BROADWAY THE TONY WINNING SMASH!

A GLAM SLAM!

Discover A New Destination

ONE NIGHT ONLY! BENEFIT CONCERT! The concert is the featured presentation in a weekend of events celebrating the importance of lyric writing in the creation of new musicals. Passes are also available for the entire weekend of workshops and presentations!

NEW YORK POST

HAMMERSTEIN IN HOLLYWOOD

Shirley Jones today ... and with Gordon MacRae in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s film adaptation of Oklahoma.

Benefit Concert Saturday, April 22 at 8 pm

Featuring a Q&A Session with Shirley Jones and her induction into the Playhouse Hall of Fame

Join film and TV icon Shirley Jones, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Ted Chapin and four Broadway stars as they explore Oscar Hammerstein’s remarkable contributions to film and television . . . ONE NIGHT ONLY!

APRIL 18–23

FORREST THEATRE

TELECHARGE.COM BROADWAY PHILADELPHIA is presented collaboratively by the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and the Shubert Organization.

OFFICIAL AIRLINE

PROUD SEASON SPONSOR

Spring Travel Preview Coming April 21, 2017 DEADLINE TO ADVERTISE: April 14 215-625-8501 ext. 212 or email prab@epgn.com

Ashley Brown

Carmen Cusack

Malcolm Gets

Max von Essen

Saturday, April 22 at 8 pm | Tickets $45 | $75 | $150* (*includes VIP reception) From Show Boat to Carousel and beyond, Hammerstein’s contributions to some of Hollywood’s great movie musicals is staggering. With memories and stories from film and TV icon Shirley Jones and songs from a talented cast of Broadway stars, Ted Chapin illustrates Hammerstein’s complex relationship with Hollywood — guaranteeing you an evening of story and song you will never forget.

Musical direction is by David Dabbon (Broadway’s Disaster); Josh Rhodes (Broadway’s Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella) is the director.

VIP and passholder reception follows the performance in the Playhouse courtyard.

BUCKSCOUNTYPLAYHOUSE.ORG • 215-862-2121

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 7-13, 2017

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BROADWAY’S DEFINITIVE TONY®WINNING MASTERPIECE

DIVINELY, DANGEROUSLY

DECADENT.” BEN BRANTLEY

Andrea Goss and the 2016 national touring cast of Roundabout Theatre Company’s CABARET. Photo by Joan Marcus

PGN

NOW THRU APRIL 9 ACADEMY OF MUSIC

KIMMELCENTER.ORG C abaret M usiCal . CoM

BROADWAY PHILADELPHIA is presented collaboratively by the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and the Shubert Organization.

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PROUD SEASON SPONSOR

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 7-13, 2017

PORTRAIT from page 29

on — but I chalked it up to a small bladder. I appreciated the fact that my parents didn’t constantly call me on it because, as I know now, that doesn’t really help anything. People don’t change or get clean until they’re ready to. Another silly thing I did was to change my major just to hide my drug use from my dad. I was going out every single night partying and he called me to see how I was doing. I was afraid he knew what was up so I thought, What can I do to get on his good side and make him proud? I know, I’ll become a business major! He never went to college but he was a businessman and I knew he would be pleased, so I ended up graduating NYU with a degree from the world-renowned Stern School of Business just to cover up my drug use!

PGN: And now you’ve quit your job in marketing to teach SoulCycling.

RL: Yes! My mother took me to my first indoor cycling class when I was 13. I wasn’t very sports-oriented but I was very active and she thought I would like it. With spin class, all you had to do was strap in and move your legs! You didn’t need any coordination. I fell in love immediately and would spin weekly all throughout high school. When I went to college, I’d heard about SoulCycle but avoided it because I didn’t have the budget to join; any money I had was going to support my habit. I have a very addictive personality and knew that once I started, I would want to do it all the time. It combined two things I loved: music and indoor cycling. Once I got a full-time job at the end of my senior year I figured I could afford the drugs and the classes. I started going nine times a week.

PGN: I understand the classes are kind of like choreographed dance on a bike. My first thought was, I don’t want to be the knucklehead lagging behind the rest of the class.

RL: First of all, there is no such person as the knucklehead lagging behind. To ensure that, we go over everything at the beginning of each class just so you know what to expect. I ride the entire class with you so visually you know, not where you should be, but where you can be. Where you should be is wherever you feel good. Even if that’s just staying seated. As instructors, we have modifications to give people so that everyone can participate, whether it’s someone who’s a beginner or someone just coming off of an injury. Because it’s low impact, it’s often the first thing doctors will let someone do after an injury. It’s one of the reasons I love it; whether you’re a three-time Olympian or someone who hasn’t gotten off the couch since last June, you can participate.

PGN: Last July.

RL: [Laughs] OK. Either way, we’re all in this together and we will all cross the finish line together.

PGN: What does it take to become an instructor?

PGN

RL: You have to audition first and then if you’re hired you train four hours a day, four days per week for six weeks in New York City. You have to have what they call a “rock-star” quality, a certain energy or power that you bring to class that affects the people around you.

PGN: Have you ever been harassed for being gay?

RL: Yes. I was with my boyfriend at the time at a McDonald’s in Union Square, downtown New York City where you couldn’t throw a stone and not find a gay person. We were in line waiting to place our order and I leaned over and gave him a kiss. Seconds later, I felt a splat on my face and looked over and realized some guy had just spit on me. Then he started yelling homophobic slurs. It was apparent he wasn’t all the way there mentally, but then he hocked up another one and it landed on my boyfriend. As he turned to walk away, he told us he was going to wait for us outside to beat the shit out of us. It was one of those cases where you didn’t know what to do, because he was obviously unstable.

I looked behind us and he was peering in the window. He came back in and started to hock up another mouthful of spit, which luckily we avoided, and he finally walked out and left. It was just shocking to realize it can happen anywhere, even in the most liberal of places. So sad and tragic to realize that that kind of hate is still happening everywhere.

PGN: A song that feels like it was actually written for you …

RL: That’s easy, it’s called “Do or Die”

by Thirty Seconds to Mars. I’d been going to meetings and when I got to 90 days of sobriety the second time, it was the first big milestone. I thought, Why is 90 days so important? Am I going to wake up and see Jesus in my bedroom telling me, “You did it!” But it was just a normal day until I put on my headphones and hit shuffle and that song came on. It’s a very anthemic song and the message of do or die cut through to me and I had a 90-day cloud-parting moment.

PGN: Any tattoos?

RL: Oh yeah, I got my first one when I was 18. It’s on my hip below my underwear line because I had to hide it from my parents.

It has the number 23 in Roman numerals because that’s my birthday. One of my favorites is a circle that says “Keep moving,” which is for my dad even though he hates the tattoos. They both do. But there were three things my dad taught me: Don’t do drugs, don’t get a tattoo and a moving target is hard to hit so keep it moving. So I listened to one out of three lessons. I always keep things moving. I’m never satisfied, which can be good and bad, but it’s gotten me to where I am today. n For more information on SoulCycle, visit www.soul-cycle.com.

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

Q Puzzle 30-Mile Zone and More Across

1. Like gay porn, to some 5. Sondheim’s Sweeney 9. Place for a G-string 14. Carmela of “The Sopranos” 15. Switch ending 16. Prepare to get plucked 17. They poke around in leather 18. Take another tour 19. Rob of “Melrose Place” 20. Anchor of ABC’s “Good Morning America” 23. “___ the Top” 24. Tropical hurricanes 28. Sucked up 31. “Tales of the City” author Armistead 32. Eat away at 35. Honest-togoodness 36. Creator and managing

editor of TMZ 40. Club for Sheehan 42. River of Gay Paree 43. Rita Mae Brown’s “___, She Meowed” 46. Oscar Wilde tragedy 50. Kisser of Scarlett in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” 53. Othello and more 55. MSNBC host of the show that bears her name 58. “Stop!” to pirates 61. Pancake topping 62. Stringed instrument of Shakespeare’s day 63. One that ought to be paddled 64. Where Boy Scouts sleep together 65. Peace Nobelist Wiesel 66. Humped antelope 67. Estimator’s words 68. Result of a split in a religious body

Down

1. “Rescue Me” star Denis 2. Depp’s cross-dressing role 3. Mr. Ed’s owner 4. Handle on a streetcar, for Williams?

5. O-o-o-o-okla., once 6. It may get a licking 7. 2008 flick about a priest and a boy 8. Speechless Disney dwarf 9. “Queen of Soul” Franklin 10. Home of the first openly gay Miss America contestant 11. Quick on the uptake 12.

Photographer Corinne 13. House seat holders, e.g.

21. More up-todate 22. Letters on a Johnny Mathis record 25. What you do at the other end 26. Vardalos of “My Big

Fat Greek Wedding” 27. Where you can see Baldwin do Trump 29. “Meet Me in St. Louis” writer Brecher 30. Denials 33. Change color 34. David Hyde Pierce and peers 36. One to blow on 37. Hans Christian of fairy tales 38. Bambi’s aunt 39. “ScoobyDoo” girl 40.

Shakespeare’s Puck, e.g.

41. Golden Girl McClanahan

44. Tickled pink 45. Mythical bird 47. Loads 48. Vehicle for a moonshot 49. Like Mapplethorpe pix 51. F. Holland Day work 52. Moray seeker 54. Short partner 56. Part of Bob Mizer’s equipment 57. Lorre’s detective 58. Crack pilot 59. Batman portrayer Kilmer 60. Writer Castillo

PGN PERFORMANCE

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 7-13, 2017

35

Tangle sees the ‘light’ in new aerial show

By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Philadelphia’s all-female aerial dance company Tangle Movement Arts is bringing a collection of queer circus theater stories off the ground with its new show, “Points of Light,” debuting this weekend at Old City’s Neighborhood House.

Tangle founder and performer Lauren Rile Smith said company members are using their skills on the trapeze and aerial silks to share stories of women traveling blindfolded, surviving under the weight of the earth and climbing to new heights.

“We bring our signature aerial storytelling to every new work that Tangle produces,” Smith said about this show’s focus. “But right now it’s a political time when we feel it’s especially important to raise the voices of women, particularly queer women. This show reflects that, with a dozen fresh stories of challenge and triumph told in the kinetic language of circus arts.”

Smith added that, while the stories being told come from people’s experiences, the way they are presented on stage can leave them open to different audience interpretations.

“We have a really good range,” she said. “Some of the stories follow concrete and relatable paths and others are more elusive, letting the audience use their own experiences and imaginations.”

This show also differs from previous Tangle productions in that the stories were developed before the choreography came into the picture.

“Usually, we build the physical technique and the messaging with one another during the creation process,” Smith said. “This time around, I think we were especially inspired by telling stories of survival and resistance.

That’s a really strong theme in our show.”

Adding another layer of complexity and meaning to the show is the fact that Smith will be performing a trapeze solo for two when she takes to the stage.

“I’ll be performing at seven-months pregnant,” she said. “I must say, I can’t get on or off the trapeze by myself so I have a human pyramid of literal support. But once I’m up there, I have a story to tell. So I’m really excited about that.”

Yeah, we’re thinking the same thing: It must be quite the feat doing circus aerials while very pregnant, right?

“There are certain things I’m taking more care with,” Smith admitted. “It ramps up the tension for the audience, particularly my wife, who is one of Tangle’s collaborators and instrumental to the piece. But it really stresses her out to watch it.”

Us too. Good luck! n

Photo: Michael Ermilio

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PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 7-13, 2017

Classifieds All real-estate advertising is subject to Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended.

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HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM

Legal Notices Court of Common Pleas for the County of Philadelphia, February Term, 2017, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on March 22, 2017, the petition of Sarah Lynne Koelle-Pittel was filed, praying for a decree to change their name to Ari Koelle-Pittel.

The Court has fixed April 28, 2017 at 11:00 am, in Courtroom No. 691, in Philadelphia City Hall as the time and place for the hearing of said Petition, when and where all persons interested may appear and show cause, if they have any, why the prayer of the said petition should not be granted. ________________________________________41-14

An estimated one-third of LGBTs in Philadelphia have children. Every month, Dana Rudolph dissects parenting from our perspective, from watching your children grow up to teaching them how to deal with bullies, to interviews with authors and filmmakers.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 7-13, 2017

37

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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.meetup.com/GAMMAGay-Married-Mens-SupportGroup-in-Philadelphia-PA. Men of All Colors Together

Meets 7:30 p.m. the third Friday of the month, September through June, at William Way; 610-2776595, 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 Family & Community Service of Delaware County

Provides comprehensive care serving Delaware County and Philadelphia. Services include behavioral health and addiction counseling; HIV/AIDS medical case management/prevention; housing, food and transportation assistance. Offices in Media and Clifton Heights, the Ralph Moses House in Chester and in other community locations. Insurances accepted. Hours are 8:30 a.m.4 p.m. Monday-Friday, and evenings by appointment; 610566-7540 or www.fcsdc.org.

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.; 609-6835155.

PFLAG/Wilmington, Del.

Meets 7-9 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1502 W. 13th St.; 302654-2995.

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, info@phillyfamilypride.org, 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.; 215-563-0658.

T-MAN

People-of-color support group for transmen, FTMs, butches, studs, aggressives, bois, genderqueer and all female-born individuals with gender questions meets 7:30-9:30 p.m. Mondays, 1201 Locust St., second floor; 215632-3028, 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; 215-851-1822.

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.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 7-13, 2017

39

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 4-8:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday. Case management, HIV testing and smoking cessation are available Monday-Friday.

■ 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. MondayThursday; 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.

■ Rainbow Room: Bucks County’s LGBTQ and Allies Youth Center Salem UCC Education Building, 181 E. Court St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981 ext.

9065, rainbowroom@ppbucks.org. Activities held 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays.

■ William Way Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220, www.waygay.org.

Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon-5 p.m.

Saturdays and Sundays Peer counseling: 6-9 p.m.

Monday-Friday Library: noon-9 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday Volunteers: New Orientation, first Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.

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.

■ Action Wellness: 215-981-0088

HiTOPS

■ AIDS Law Project of Southern New Jersey: 856-933-9500 ext.

221

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.

Main Line Youth Alliance

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

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.; 856-963-2432, camden-ahec.org/.

■ AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania: 215-587-9377

■ AIDS Library: 215-985-4851 ■ ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215592-1513 ■ AIDS Treatment Fact line: 800662-6080 ■ Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection at the Independence Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library: 215-685-1633 n The COLOURS Organization Inc.: 215-496-0330

Key numbers ■ Equality Pennsylvania: 215731-1447; www.equalitypa.org

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

■ Equality Forum: 215-732-3378

■ Philadelphia Police Department liaison — Deputy Commissioner Kevin Bethel: 215-6863318

■ LGBT Peer Counseling Services: 215-732-TALK

■ Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 215-760-3686 (Rick Lombardo); ppd.lgbt@gmail.com

■ Mazzoni Center: 215-563-0652; Legal Services: 215-563-0657, 866-LGBT-LAW; Family & Community Medicine: 215-563-0658 ■ Office of LGBT Affairs — Director Amber Hikes: 215-686-0330; amber.hikes@phila.gov ■ Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): 215-572-1833

■ Philly Pride Presents: 215875-9288 ■ SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: 717-9209537 ■ Transgender Health Action Coalition: 215-732-1207 (staffed 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays and 6-9 p.m.

Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays)

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; 215-8511975.

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.

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.; 215-763-8870.

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.

GALAEI: A Queer Latin@ Social Justice Organization Free, anonymous HIV testing from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-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 appointment) at Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad St.; 215685-1821.

HIV health insurance help Access to free medications and confidential HIV testing 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 LGBTQ counseling and behavioral health services, HIV/ AIDS care and services, 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 chronic-disease management, including comprehensive HIV care, as well as youth drop-in (ages 14-24) 5-7p.m. Wednesdays; 809 Locust St.; 215-563-0658.

Philadelphia FIGHT Comprehensive AIDS service organization providing primary care, consumer education, advocacy and research on potential treatments and vaccines; 1233 Locust St.; 215985-4448; www.fight.org.

Washington West Project of Mazzoni Center Free, rapid HIV testing. Walk-ins welcome 9 a.m.-9 pm.

Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Sunday; 1201 Locust St.; 215-985-9206.

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.

■ Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia Board meetings at 6:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at 100 S. Broad St., Suite 1810; free referral service at 215-6279090, www.galloplaw.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 busi-

Professional groups nesses and professionals; 215557-0190, www.IndependenceBusinessAlliance.com.

■ National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association Philadelphia chapter of NLGJA, open to professionals and students, meets for social and networking events; www.nlgja.org/ philly; philly@nlgja.org.

■ Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus Regional organization dedicated to promoting LGBT tourism to the Greater Philadelphia region, meetings every other month on the fourth Thursday (January, March, May, July, September and the third Thursday in November), open to the public; 215-8402039, www.philadelphiagaytourism.com.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 7-13, 2017

$1,500

BONUS SLOT DOLLARS

EVERY 15 MINUTES

FRIDAY, MARCH 24 l NOON–7PM

®