Philadelphia Gay News Judge: Scouts must post $1 bond
Out green expert to head PHS
By Timothy Cwiek PGN Writer-at-Large
By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer As a child growing up in Ohio, Drew Becher would cut the grass, plant flowers and pull up weeds — not as a punishment or for money, but rather for fun. “I was just a weird kid,” he said. But this self-proclaimed weird kid is about to take the helm of the country’s first horticultural society, one that in recent years has been gaining increasing prominence in the international realm. Becher, who is openly gay, will take over as president of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society in June, when longtime leader Jane Pepper retires. In addition to hosting the Philadelphia Flower Show — the world’s largest indoor display of its kind — the nonprofit PHS funds community gardens and greening projects throughout the city. Becher most recently served as executive director of the New York Restoration Project, a greening effort founded by Bette Midler. Under his direction, the NYRP launched its MillionTreesNYC and, in the past three years, has planted more than 310,000 trees in the city. Before moving to New York City, Becher spent two years in Washington, D.C., working on economicdevelopment efforts as deputy director of the Office of Planning, and also serving INCOMING PHS as the assoPRESIDENT ciate direc- DREW BECHER tor of the Department of Parks and Recreation in the district. From
Vol. 34 No. 15
Honesty Integrity Professionalism
April 9 - 15, 2010
SWEET SMELL OF CENSUS SUCCESS: Director of LGBT Affairs Gloria Casarez (left) and Mayor Nutter combine forces in a Gayborhood census push April 3 with store owners Steve Duross and James Langel at Duross & Langel, 117 S. 13th St. Nutter spoke with dozens of people in the store and along the street in Midtown Village, emphasizing the need for the LGBT community to accurately report to the U.S. Census Bureau for federal recognition, including the “unmarried partner” designation, which same-sex couples can use to report their relationships. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Gays run against cancer By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer
Most have pulled all-nighters at one time or another — for work, school or a night on the town that blends into the morning — but hundreds of LGBTs are expected to camp out all night in South Jersey this summer for an even worthier cause: the fight against cancer. Supporters of the American Cancer Society will host the firstever national GLBT Relay for Life June 25-26 at the Oscar McClinton Waterfront Park in Atlantic City. Relays for Life — in which teams of supporters walk around a track continuously for 24 hours to raise money for ACS — have been held for 25 years, but the Atlantic City event marks the first time a relay will be geared specifically to the LGBT community. A similar LGBT relay will be held September in New York City. Dr. Tammy Ledden, a Millville, N.J., chiropractor, is one of the cochairs for the New Jersey event. Ledden, a lesbian, is herself a cancer survivor and said she has several family members who’ve also battled the disease, some of whom See BECHER, Page 19 didn’t survive.
Ledden noted that the LGBT community is disproportionately affected by cancer, something she said many community members don’t realize. “There’s a higher rate of smoking in the lesbian community, as well as high-fat diets and obesity, which can put people at a higher risk,” she said. “And gay men are twice as likely [as heterosexual men] to smoke and also 17 times more likely to develop anal cancer, so there are a lot of added risks in the community.” Ledden has been involved with the Relay for Life for more than a decade and said she was eager to help spearhead the LGBT-specific event when the opportunity arose. “I was already involved in another Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society, and a staff partner with that one indicated to me that this was something they were interested in doing, so I let her know that I wanted to also help out however I could,” she said. To participate in the relay, supporters are asked to form teams, with each participant aiming to raise at least $100, either from See RELAY, Page 16
A federal judge has ordered the Boy Scouts Cradle of Liberty Council to post a nominal bond of $1 while the city continues efforts to evict the club from a city-owned building. U.S. District Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter issued the order on April 1, which was accompanied by a one-sentence explanation. “While [the city] is generally correct that a case seeking protection for fundamental constitutional rights does not itself foreclose the posting of a bond, it is a very important consideration where the [Scouts] have made out a prima facie case and [the city] has provided no more than an appraisal of the fair market and rental value of the property in question,” the judge wrote. Last month, city attorneys requested an $80,000 bond from
the Scouts to help indemnify the city for losses sustained until it can gain possession of the building at 231-251 N. 22nd St. If the Scouts remain in the facility after next month, they should post an additional bond of $13,333 for each succeeding month, city attorneys contended. Buckwalter held a hearing on March 30 to determine the bond amount, which focused on the actual value of the deteriorating structure. The Scouts’ appraiser placed the annual fair-market rental amount at $59,000, while the city’s appraiser placed the amount at $160,000. In last week’s order, Buckwalter didn’t determine the fair-market rental amount. Instead, he indicated the Scouts’ constitutional rights would be violated, at this stage of the litigation, if they were required to post anything but a See SCOUTS, Page 12
STRIKING IT RICH: About 25 members of ACT UP, Health Global Access Project and Philly Global AIDS Watchdog marked April Fool’s Day with a visit to the Center City offices of U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-2nd Dist.) and U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter (D). The activists parodied the presentation of a Publisher’s Clearinghouse check for $9 billion, the amount of money ACT UP member Kaytee Riek said is needed to fund global AIDS services. Riek said two years ago Congress pledged to double the number of people who are getting treatment around the world, adding that, in reality, many are now being turned away from treatment programs. “This wasn’t necessarily an angry protest, because both of them have been supportive in the past, but we wanted to make sure they’re aware that the millions of people who’ve been promised AIDS drugs by the U.S. government are now just being told to go home and die.” Photo: Scott A. Drake
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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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Attic to honor community pillar News Briefing By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer The Attic Youth Center will honor one of its most pioneering supporters and the namesake of its longstanding outreach and education program. The Attic will pay tribute to Jim Bryson, after whom The Bryson Institute for Sexual and Gender Diversity Education is named, at 5 p.m. April 17 at the facility. Founded in 2000, The Bryson Institute provides training and other education efforts on LGBT issues to adults and youth throughout the region. Bryson laid the framework for the agency shortly after the murder of Wyoming gay college student Matthew Shepard. Carrie Jacobs, executive director of The Attic, said Bryson was so affected by Shepard’s murder that he reached out to various local faith communities — such as Lutheran Children and Family Service, Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Greater Philadelphia and Episcopal Community Services — to assist him in trying to stem the tide of antigay violence. In 2000, Bryson connected with Jacobs, who was eager to jump on board. “At the time, we were feeling that it was great that we could offer this safe space for the youth, but we were concerned about their safety once they left The Attic,” she said. “We had started a speaker’s bureau to go out and train folks, but what was different about what Jim was doing was that it put more of a focus on actually affecting institutions, making real institutional change.” Since becoming a program of The Attic 10 years ago, The Bryson Institute has now trained more than 30,000 individuals: teachers, principals, students and those involved in faith communities throughout the tri-state area.
Beef, beer and fundraising HIV/AIDS service organization Siloam will host a fundraising beef and beer from 8 p.m.midnight April 9 at the FOP Lodge No. 5, 1336 Spring Garden St. Siloam provides support groups, exercise programs, arts activities and social outings for those with HIV/AIDS. Tickets to the event are $25 and include a buffet and drinks. The party will be deejayed and feature a 50/50 raffle and an auction. For information, call (215) 765-6633. THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE INTERFAITH ADVISORY BOARD, LATER RENAMED THE BRYSON INSTITUTE, INCLUDING JIM BRYSON (FRONT ROW, RIGHT) AND ATTIC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CARRIE JACOBS (FRONT ROW, CENTER).
Bryson director Michelle Kline, who’s been at the helm of the agency for about three years, said the organization’s work has opened countless eyes to the obstacles faced by LGBT people. “We try to create safe spaces for folks to talk about some very taboo topics — even basic things like what does ‘LGBT’ stand for or what people’s views on sexual orientation or gender identity are,” Kline said. “There are no stupid questions and no judgment on our part with what people bring to the table, in terms of their beliefs or where they are in relation to the topic. And we try to incorporate storytelling, which I think is one of the most powerful pieces of work we do. There has to be a personal connection for folks to take our message to heart, so to hear from people the discrimination they’ve faced helps them understand that this really is happening to real people.” Jacobs noted that The Bryson Institute’s current work would not have been possible without those early efforts by Bryson, who was also a founding board member
THE ATTIC YOUTH CENTER’S 16TH STREET STEPS AND DOOR (LEFT) AND ONE OF THE CENTER’S STAIRWELLS. Photos: Scott A. Drake
of the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund and ActionAIDS and has also done extensive work with the local and national Human Rights Campaign, among many other LGBT organizations. “He’s the type of person who goes somewhere and starts something and then walks away and serves as that spark that starts new things happening that are really positive for the community,” Jacobs said. “He’s really quite a guy and a really important part of our community.” Bryson, who has also been one of the main funders of the institute in the past decade, was a valuable mentor to Kline when she began her work with The Attic. She said she’s eager to show her appreciation for the role he played in her own growth, as well as that of innumerable others in the region. “Jim has had an impact on a lot of different people and organizations, and I think it’s important that when you have folks in the community who give their time and support, that we celebrate that,” she said. “A lot of times in social services, people are always just working, working, working and not thinking about the big picture, but Jim did look at the big picture and played a very important role in it.” Tickets to the tribute, which will be held at The Attic, 255 S. 16th St., are $20 and admission will include dinner and drinks. Proceeds from the event will benefit The Bryson Institute. Guests will be able to place bids in an auction in which the prizes are actual repairs to The Attic’s building. Those in attendance can bid to have their contribution go towards such projects as the repainting of certain rooms, the purchase of such new appliances as an air condition or refrigerator and the replacement of carpeting and certain doors. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.atticyouthcenter.org, email events@atticyouthcenter.org or call (215) 545-4331. ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn. com.
Gambling for good LGBT-grantmaking agency Sapphire Fund will host its annual Casino Night from 6:3010 p.m. April 10 at the William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St. The luau-themed event will feature a silent auction and complimentary drinks, hors d’oeuvres and play chips. Tickets are $50 in advance or $60 at the door, and proceeds benefit Sapphire Fund, which this year is supporting the Drexel University Program for LGBT Health, LGBTQ Womyn of Color, Mountain Meadow and the Smoke, Lilies and Jade Arts Initiative. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.sapphirefund.org.
Softball season arrives The City of Brotherly Love Softball League will kick off its season April 18 at the Dairy Fields, Fountain Green and Mount Pleasant drives in Fairmount Park. City director of LGBT affairs Gloria Casarez will toss the opening pitch at 12:15 p.m. The night before, CBLSL members and supporters are invited to an opening-weekend party from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St. For more information, visit www.cblsl.org.
Gay Day returns to zoo The LGBT community is invited to the second-annual Gay Day at the Philadelphia Zoo, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. April 17. In addition to visiting the hundreds of animals housed in the zoo, guests will also have the chance to attend “Creatures of Habit: A Gazillion-Piece Animal Adventure,” the new exhibit of life-sized Lego animal sculptures being unveiled this month. Participants can purchase tickets — at $10 each — in the name of one of several LGBT organizations, such as the William Way LGBT Community Center, Mountain Meadow, Philadelphia FIGHT, Mazzoni Center or Philadelphia Family Pride. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.waygay.org, call (215) 732-2220 or visit the William Way center, 1315 Spruce St. ■ — Jen Colletta
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Philly welcomes regional LGBT business leaders By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer Two-dozen LGBT business leaders will gather later this month in Philadelphia to share best practices and exchange ideas on strengthening their relationships in the first-ever regional summit of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. Independence Business Alliance, Philadelphia’s LGBT chamber of commerce, will host the NGLCC’s Northeast Region CCBO Summit, the acronym for Council of Chambers and Business Organization, the national agency’s umbrella
group that works with individual chapters throughout the nation. From April 29-May 1, representatives of chambers in Boston, Connecticut, New York, central Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Virginia and the national chamber will participate in socials and workshops at both the William Way LGBT Community Center and the Sofitel Hotel. Although LGBT chambers of commerce have been in existence for decades, the NGLCC launched only six years ago, and its CCBO has attempted to foster connections among local chapters in all corners of the country. The CCBO has staged sum-
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mits in other regions, but this month’s event marks the first in the northeast sector, which was fueled in part by IBA president Bill Gehrman’s position as chair of the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast CCBO Region, which encompasses Maine to Virginia. “I was coming on as chairman of the region in November, and last year we had been talking about having the first summit in the Northeast, and everyone just agreed that Philadelphia was a nice central location,” he said. The summit will allow the business leaders to discuss the experiences they’ve each faced in trying to develop the LGBT business community in their respective cities, some of which Gehrman said the chambers will share and others that will be unique — but all of which, he noted, can be valuable learning experiences for the participants. “Our primary goal is really to exchange information,” Gehrman said. “Every chamber has done their own certain things well, and a lot have seen great successes
and also challenges that other people also face.” In addition to the practical discussions that will take place — in workshop sessions that address such topics as the relevance of LGBT chambers of commerce, efforts to grow membership and revenues and event-planning — Gehrman said the summit will also provide social opportunities integral to unifying the business community in the entire region. “It’s really important that we all get to know each other,” he said. “I have met some of the people from the chambers, but for instance I haven’t met anyone from Boston, so I’m really excited to get to know them. We need to have that social exchange so we can raise that comfort level and all work together in the future.” Kate Karasmeighan, chief of staff and director of external affairs at NGLCC, predicted the inaugural summit would have measurable benefits for the participants and their respective chambers.
Philadelphia Gay News
“I look forward to the great results that are always netted when chamber leaders come together for several days of brainstorming, best-practices-sharing and networking,” she said. “I know that Philadelphia will provide a fantastic backdrop to those important conversations as leaders from the NGLCC’s MidAtlantic/Northeast Region come together this month.” Gehrman noted that IBA members are eager to showcase the city’s burgeoning LGBT business community to the visitors. “We’re happy to have had such great success, and we’re excited not only to share our successes but also to show how the Philadelphia community is behind us and involved in the IBA and helped our growth. We’re really excited for them to see the breadth of everything that goes on in Philadelphia and all the great things that are happening.” ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.
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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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Media Trail Gay-rights order OK’d Advocate.com reports openly lesbian Houston mayor Annise Parker issued an executive order banning discrimination against LGBT city employees. The sweeping order, which was signed March 25 and took effect immediately, includes gender-identity and genderexpression protections. The policy applies to contractors, vendors and city agencies. The order makes it a violation “to fail or refuse to hire, recruit, appoint, promote or train any individual” based on sexual orientation or gender identity. It’s also a violation “to discipline, demote, transfer, lay off, fail to recall or terminate” for those reasons.
Transgender inmates have right to therapy
VYING FOR THE VOTE: Members of the LGBT community turned out in force April 1 at Tabu for a meet-and-greet with nearly 20 political candidates who are seeking LGBT support in next month’s primary. The event, organized by Liberty City Democratic Club, drew about 150 community members, about which Liberty City co-chair Micah Mahjoubian said he was “pleasantly surprised.” On Tuesday, Liberty City hosted a similar event at Q and the organization’s endorsement meeting was scheduled for April 7. Photo: Scott A. Drake
DOJ, school settle gay discrimination case By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer The U.S. Department of Justice late last month agreed to a settlement with a New York school district that was accused of failing to protect a student who faced persistent antigay discrimination. The case marked the first in more than a decade in which the federal government contended harassment based on one’s gender identity should be classified as sex discrimination under Title IX. The settlement stipulated that the Mohawk Central School District, located in central New York, will give the targeted student $50,000, which will be placed in a trust fund for him, and an additional $25,000 to the New York Civil Liberties Union, which represented the teen. The agreement does not amount to an admission of wrongdoing on the part of the district, but in a joint statement released by the district and the DOJ last week, both
said they hoped the case will “serve as a model for other school districts confronting the issues of bullying and intolerance” for LGBT youth. In addition to the compensatory provisions, the school district will review its policies regarding harassment based on sex, gender identity and expression and sexual orientation, and will work with the AntiDefamation League to train staff on the best methods to stem classroom bullying. “We applaud the school district for making this commitment to protect all students from bullying and harassment,” said Corey Stoughton, New York Civil Liberties Union senior staff attorney and lead attorney for the plaintiff. “We look forward to working with district officials and the Department of Justice on implementing these important reforms and hope that they will inspire other school districts to confront bullying of LGBT and gender-non-conforming students.” The now-15-year-old student, Jacob, filed
suit against his school district in August after enduring a barrage of both verbal and physical harassment for dressing and acting too effeminate, which the student argued school officials were aware of but didn’t do enough to prevent. While initially represented by the New York Civil Liberties Union, the DOJ filed a motion to intervene in January, citing “important issues” the federal case brought up and its goal of working to ensure “district-wide relief for all district students.” Since filing the suit, Jacob has transferred to a school in another district. Mohawk superintendent Joyce Caputo said in a statement last week that Mohawk is committed to offering safe learning environments for all of its students. “We recognize there is always room to learn and improve, and we intend to do just that,” she said. ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn. com.
The Washington Post reports a federal judge has struck down a Wisconsin law that prohibits transgender inmates from receiving taxpayer-funded hormone therapy. A group of male inmates who identify as female had challenged the 2006 law with the help of the ACLU of Wisconsin and Lambda Legal. They say they need the hormones to treat their gender-identity disorder, and not having them would lead to severe health problems. The ACLU and Lambda Legal said the law was the only one of its kind in the nation that denied such medical care to transgender inmates. Lawmakers who wrote the measure, declared unconstitutional March 31 by U.S. District Judge Charles Clevert, reacted with outrage and urged Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen to appeal.
Salt Lake City’s gayrights laws take effect Salt Lake City’s ABC4.com reports the city’s landmark ordinances to protect gays from discrimination in housing and employment have taken effect. Mayor Ralph Becker was joined by gay-rights advocates at a ceremony April 1 marking implementation of Utah’s first such laws. John W. Bennett, who is gay and a nephew of Sen. Bob Bennett (R-Utah), praised the city for offering the protections for LGBT residents. He recalled being fired from a state-government job in 1986 for his sexual orientation. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints endorsed the ordinances as protecting people’s right to work and have a roof over their heads. ■ — Larry Nichols
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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APRIL 9 - 15, 2010
NJ court rules ‘gay’ is not defamatory By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer A U.S. District Court judge in New Jersey ruled last week that falsely accusing someone of being gay no longer constitutes defamation. Photographer Peter Murphy filed suit against shock jocks Craig Carton and Ray Rossi, who host the “Jersey Guys” show on WKXW 101.5 FM in Trenton, N.J., after the pair insinuated onair that he was gay. Judge Joel A. Pisano ruled against Murphy, however, citing the growing acceptance of the LGBT community and specifically referencing the 2006 New Jersey Supreme Court decision in “Lewis v. Harris,” in which the court found that same-sex couples are entitled to the same rights as heterosexual married
couples. “Given the decision in ‘Lewis’ and the recognized evolution of the societal landscape, it appears unlikely that the New Jersey Supreme Court would legitimize discrimination against gays and lesbians by concluding that referring to someone as homosexual ‘tends to so harm the reputation of that person as to lower him in the estimation of the community as to deter third persons from associating or dealing with him,’” Pisano wrote, quoting the former precedent set in the 2001 “Gray v. Press Communications,” in which television personality Sally Star Gray won a defamation suit against another radio show on 101.5 FM for calling her a “lesbian cowgirl.” Murphy’s claim originated several years ago after he took a photo of the radio hosts for New
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Jersey Monthly magazine, which had chosen the pair for a “Best of 2006” award. Murphy’s photo showed Carton and Rossi backto-back, apparently naked except for a sign with the station’s name covering them. The radio hosts posted the photo on their Web site and invited listeners to modify the picture with their own entertaining additions. Murphy took issue with the revisions on his photo, however, and his attorney filed a ceaseand-desist order, claiming copyright infringement. The station removed the altered pictures, but Carton and Rossi discussed the issue on the air shortly after, suggesting Murphy was gay and also calling him a “man not to be trusted” and an individual with whom “a person should avoid doing business.” Pisano called the accusations about Murphy’s orientation “nothing more than rhetorical hyperbole, name calling or verbal abuse” that is common on the radio show, which he said is known as one with a “controversial and humorous character.” Murphy’s attorney, Michael Kassak of the Cherry Hill firm White & Williams, did not return a call for comment. ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.
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APRIL 9 - 15, 2010
Editorial Prom wars High school isn’t meant to be pleasurable. Some teens, inexplicably, have great high-school experiences, but the vast majority find that high school sucks. LGBT teens face an even tougher time than those on the mainstream Island of Misfit Teens. In high school, you have to figure out who your friends are, what you are good at, what music you like. You have to see if you are good at a sport, try out for the school play, maybe appear in the talent show. You probably have to get a summer job and get your driver’s license. And then you have to think about college. Are you going to live on campus or commute? Do you want urban or rural? Do you want to be far, far away from your family, or opt for a few hours’ drive? What about a major? How are you going to pay for it? Add to this the pressure of realizing that you are attracted to the same sex. Telling your best friends. Telling your family. Trying not to tell the whole school. And what about prom? If you are going, can you take your boyfriend/girlfriend? Can you push the gender stereotypes with your dress/tux? Likely, if you attend public school nowadays, you can take your same-sex date, and you can wear what you’d like. Unless you are Constance McMillen and live in the small town of Fulton, Miss. Last weekend, the 18year-old senior who gained national fame for suing her school after she was told she couldn’t take her date, was sent to a fake prom. That’s right. After the school cancelled her prom to prevent her from attending with her girlfriend, the parents got together to throw the rest of the students a prom and lied to her about where it was. The young lesbian wasn’t the only one who got the short shrift. According to the Advocate, other attendees at the fake prom included two students with learning disabilities. Perhaps there are other facts in the case, but it certainly seems that this is discrimination based on disabilities, a federally protected class. While gays and lesbians might not have federal protection yet, disabled Americans — including students who attend public schools — do. The Itawamba Count School District already faced one lawsuit for canceling the prom, where the judge ruled the district had violated McMillen’s civil rights. It won’t be a surprise when the district — or the parents — faces another lawsuit. ■
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.
Creep of the Week
Glenn Lash (glennlash@yahoo.com)
D’Anne Witkowski
Tom McClusky Call me overly sensitive, but I always thought it was an insult to black people when Bill Clinton was called America’s “first black president.” For one thing, it was as if folks were saying that Bill Clinton was as close as we’d ever get to pigmentation in the White House. But it also set a ridiculously low standard for what it meant to be a friend to minority groups beleaguered by oppression. All he had to do, it seemed, was acknowledge that black people existed and throw some sunshine their way and all of a sudden Clinton’s got a brand-new bag. Using this same ass-backward standard, Tom McClusky from the Family Research Council is claiming that Barack Obama is America’s first gay president. “[I]t was argued during his two terms in office that Bill Clinton was ‘our first black president’ because of his supposed liberal policies that would benefit African Americans,” McClusky writes on the FRC’s ominously named Cloakroom blog. “With that argument, shouldn’t Barack Obama already be our ‘first gay president’ due to his liberal policies pushing the homosexual agenda?” Super-genius logic, Tom. Super-
genius. Can we get a Presidential Medal of Freedom pinned to this guy’s nose, please? It should be noted that McClusky isn’t the first person to pair the “first gay president” label with Obama’s name. Shaun Jacob Halper did that via the Huffington Post back in early 2008. But that was before Obama was even elected. Halper’s column was a litany of what-ifs, wondering if Obama would really be the gayfriendliest president of them all. Today, anyone who has spent even the time it takes to watch an episode of “Elimidate” in reality knows that Obama is hardly the great presidential savior of gays. All you need for proof is the fact that gay and lesbian members of the military are still getting the boot on his watch. But apparently anything other than overt abject scorn for gays and lesbians makes you a total fag-hag of a president. “During the campaign President Obama made it clear he would be a strong advocate for the homosexual agenda when elected, however the bumbling of the health-care debate by his party has been a roadblock for him on two big issues, allowing gays to serve in the military and passage of the Employment NonDiscrimination Act, which would allow for special protections for
homosexuals, transgendered and transvestites,” writes McClusky. Now, wait just a minute. That’s a misrepresentation of ENDA. The act does not include transvestites, only “Sweet Transvestites from Transsexual, Transylvania.” There’s a difference, Tom. A difference. “Since taking office the president and his administration has done all they could to chip away at the protections to the states and the institution of marriage provided by the Defense of Marriage Act,” continues McClusky. For proof, McClusky offers the fact that gay U.S. diplomats have been granted domestic-partner benefits under Obama. Well gosh, I guess all the homos in America have to do to achieve some semblance of recognition and fairness is become a diplomat. Easy-peasy. But you know, even if Obama did do away with “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” got federal recognition for same-sex marriage and gave all of the country’s homos a pony, a Nintendo Wii and a lifetime supply of 5-Hour Energy drinks, he still wouldn’t be America’s first gay president. Have you seen Michelle Obama? That lady ain’t no beard. ■ D’Anne Witkowski is a freelance writer and poet.
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
APRIL 9 - 15, 2010
Mark My Words Mark Segal Blame the dead pope? Pope Benedict XVI blames Pope John Paul II for the cover-up of abusive priests. At least that was one of just four public-relations tactics the Vatican used last week to distract the press from looking too hard at Benedict’s past, and his involvement in a mass international criminal cover-up. And we won’t even count the “blame the media for reporting on it” attempt targeted at the New York Times. In just one week, the Vatican has made four different excuses for its abuse and cover-up scandal — an attempt to keep its so-called moral standing. Last Friday, the preacher of the papal household attempted to characterize the criticism of Benedict and the church as akin to anti-Semitism, which enraged Jews around the globe. On Sunday at Easter services in the Vatican, Cardinal Angelo Sodano addressed the pope on behalf of the College of Cardinals and called the allegations “petty gossip,” which inflamed thousands of victims worldwide. My personal favorite was a little behind-the-scenes PR move in which “sources” told ABC News that the current pope is attempting to blame all of the abuses on a dead pope, namely his predecessor John Paul II. In a far-reaching report on ABC’s “World News Tonight” last week, Brian Ross reported that, according to his sources at the Vatican, during the reign of John Paul II, a wealthy religious order called the Legion of Christ headed by Father Marcial Maciel paid off Vatican officials when it became known that Maciel was abusing members of his order, including teenage boys. The report went on
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Street Talk
to state that this created a rift between the Vatican’s then-Secretary of State, Cardinal Sodano, and thenCardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict), the latter of whom wanted to take action against Maciel but was stopped by Sodano and then-Pope John Paul II. Almost reads like a murder mystery, doesn’t it? But putting it all together reveals the intriguing story of the admission of greed and cover-up of the abuse itself — not by any particular cardinal but by the collective leadership of the Vatican. According to what the Vatican sources said, the Vatican can be bought and it proves that the highest levels of the Vatican were involved in the abuse cover-up. Moreover, Benedict is accusing John Paul II of taking bribes. Now for the clincher: Why pin it on Sodano and John Paul II? It’s unclear why they’d target Sodano, but John Paul is dead and can’t defend himself. Benedict seems to be willing to go to any level to blame anyone, including his predecessor. But that won’t fly. Even if you believe John Paul took payoffs to protect pedophile priests, this proves Ratzinger’s complicity in this and other cases: The little information the Vatican “leaked” on the Maciel case revealed that Benedict was more concerned about the scandal it would cause the church than the victims. If he’d really been concerned about the victims, he would have spoken out/up at the time. On becoming pope, Benedict did get his way, though he merely removed Maciel from formal ministry. He did not defrock or excommunicate him. Even after learning Maciel was a serial abuser, had fathered up to six children and let’s not forget those bribes to Vatican officials. This seems to be a pattern for Ratzinger/Benedict. ■
Should the pope resign?
Allen Dobbins student Washington Square West
Alexander Purdy visual artist Wilmington, Del.
“Yes. He’s stonewalling and trying to brush aside the accusations. That’s not a responsible way of dealing with the issue. What about all the children who’ve been molested? They have to deal with it for the rest of their lives. There’s no magical pill for them.”
“Yes. I didn’t like him from the beginning, when I heard he was a Hitler Youth. He doesn’t exude the compassion one would expect from someone in his position. But even if the pope does resign, I don’t have any great hope for justice for his victims.”
Megan Rugg student Washington Square West
Spencer Starnes student Washington Square West
“While I have an uneasy feeling about this particular pope, I feel it would be premature — a rush to judgment — to call for his resignation. We don’t have all the facts. But I’m not ruling out the possibility. Anything could happen.”
“Yes. There’s enough of a cloud of suspicion over him that’s impeding his ability to lead. The allegations make me question his moral compass. He should go.”
Mark Segal is PGN publisher. He can be reached at mark@epgn.com.
Letters and Feedback In response to “Civil-union bill to hit PA House,” April 2-8: Civil unions, although unequal to full marriage, are a logical step toward basic equality for all. I live in New Hampshire. My (same-sex) husband and I, together for 15 years, were married in Massachusetts, which became fully recognized in N.H. as of Jan. 1, 2010. We had civil unions in N.H. before this, which allowed our out-of-state marriage license to be recognized automatically. My husband died last May, after a long illness. Without marriage rights and protections, I would still be struggling with comprehensive details, while feeling emotionally crippled by loss. Just seeing the word “spouse” next to my name on his official death certificate was like seeing a “bright” spot in the midst of my
devastating pain and grief. For gay people who simply need to live our lives like everybody else, we do not deserve to be inundated with an avalanche of conflicts and additional hardships in times of emergency. Also, we are typically very isolated from mainstream supports, and don’t receive any of the traditional support systems that straight people take for granted in times of loss, such as support from the deceased’s family, neighbors, coworkers, clergy, etc. In fact, often there is hostility and ridiculously insensitive demands placed upon the surviving spouse of a same-sex relationship — even legal action to acquire property of the deceased’s despite clearly written wills, even slanderous and defamatory allegations against the survivor, just to fortify the unjust legal action(s).
Although usually unsuccessful, these acts of hate leave scars, on both victim(s) and perpetrators. People who act out in hatred toward a suffering soul must one day face the reality of their own actions when life shall, inevitably, show them an example of what hate feels like. Having the marriage license or at least civil-union license helps tremendously by providing a level of certification and validation to the relationship, which cannot be achieved in any other single form. Perhaps we should all look at ourselves, our loved one(s), and think carefully about what kind of world we really want for ourselves. Let your conscience and your true soul be your guide to your ultimate level of humanity. With peace and respect, — Bill in NH
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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SCOUTS From Page 1
nominal bond. City attorneys aren’t expected to appeal Buckwalter’s ruling, as federal judges are given wide discretion in setting preliminaryinjunction bond amounts, sources told PGN. The city is attempting to evict the Cradle of Liberty Council from the building, maintaining the organization is in violation
of the city’s anti-bias law, which prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation in accommodations. In a prepared statement, the Scouts praised Buckwalter’s ruling: “We are pleased that the court recognized this matter involved the [Scouts’] important constitutional rights, and thus imposed a nominal bond payment.” In recent court papers, the Scouts derided city officials for allegedly bowing to political pres-
sure exerted by the LGBT community. “The dirty secret of this case is that the city is selectively enforcing its policies, and targeting [the Scouts] specifically, because the city is bowing to political pressure exerted by an aggressive and vocal interest group,” the Scouts stated in the motion. “There is nothing principled about that; it is raw politics in an ugly form. The gay community in Philadelphia that has targeted [the Scouts] evi-
APRIL 9 - 15, 2010
dently cares nothing about [the Scouts’] myriad good works, it cares only about its own political agenda.” Thomas W. Ude Jr., senior staff attorney with Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, defended the right of LGBT individuals to engage in the democratic process. “People who are discriminated against should stand up for themselves,” Ude told PGN. “Would we criticize someone who’s
PGN staff brings home gold, silver and bronze! Mark Segal First place, Best Column Writing, Non-Daily “Mark My Words”
N G P
Scott A. Drake Second place, Best Feature Photo, Non-Daily “Gone but not Forgotten”
Congratulations on winning four awards in the 2009 Suburban Newspaper Association Editorial Contest, the best out of more than 2,000 U.S. and Canadian publications.
Scott A. Drake First place, Best Feature Photo, Non-Daily “Love Park” Larry Nichols Third place, Best Arts & Entertainment Writing — Feature “Reality TV comic to get real live in New Hope”
Jewish for protesting a city subsidy for a neo-Nazi group?” Ude also said it’s wrong for the Scouts to portray themselves as victims. “The Boy Scouts are hurting gay youth and adults while they proclaim their own victim status.” Margaret A. Downey, president of the Freethought Society, based in Pocopson, said the Scouts are sending the wrong message about equal opportunity in Philadelphia. She said many people suffer due to the Scouts’ exclusionary policies; thus, the council should have been ordered to post a substantive bond. “Judge Buckwalter should have taken into account all the harm resulting from the Scouts’ bigoted policies,” Downey said. “They have entangled the city in their bigotry, and it causes damage in so many ways.” A jury trial on the Scouts’ eviction case is scheduled to begin April 21. But at the bond hearing, Buckwalter said he doesn’t expect a trial because both sides have filed summary-judgment motions, and he thinks the case will be disposed of through his summary-judgment rulings. The Scouts want Buckwalter to dissolve the preliminary injunction and replace it with a permanent injunction, allowing them to remain inside the building in perpetuity, without paying any rent or allowing openly gay participants, according to the Scouts’ motion. City attorneys want Buckwalter to order the immediate eviction of the Scouts, since they haven’t proven their eviction would be unconstitutional and the city has cited ample law to justify the eviction. The Scouts refuse to sign a lease with comprehensive anti-bias language covering gays and other protected categories — which has been a major stumbling block in resolving the dispute. However, the Scouts have pointed out that several city tenants — including St. Joseph’s University, Colonial Dames of America, Philadelphia Girls’ Rowing Club, the Roman Catholic Church of Nativity BVM, Women for Greater Philadelphia and The Royal Heritage Society of the Delaware Valley — haven’t signed such comprehensive leases, yet still are permitted to occupy city buildings for little or no rent. ■ Timothy Cwiek can be reached at (215) 625-8501 ext. 208.
APRIL 9 - 15, 2010
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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Gayborhood Crime Watch The following incidents in the Midtown Village and Washington Square West areas were reported to the Sixth Police District between Feb. 28 and March 4. Information is courtesy of Sixth District Capt. Brian Korn; Stacy Irving, senior director, Crime Prevention Service; Center City District; the Police Liaison Committee and Midtown Village Merchants Association. ARREST: At 4:40 p.m. March 22, complainant stepped outside his place of employment, Hard Rock Cafe, 11th and Market streets, and a male attempted to snatch an apron from his waist. The male failed to get the apron and was apprehended by police officers from the Homeland Security Unit assigned to the East Market Street after-school detail. The 29year-old alleged offender with a Mayfair address was charged with theft and related offenses. REPORT: Between 2-5:30 p.m. March 22, a laptop and a PS3 game box were taken from complainant’s rooms inside a frat house in the 1100 block of Spruce
Street without permission. The rooms were unlocked. REPORT: Between 7:30 a.m.6:25 p.m. March 22, complainant’s apartment in the 1200 block of Spruce Street had the door forced open and an iPod and laptop taken. Sixth District Officer Trautz lifted fingerprints from the scene. REPORT: At 11:10 p.m. March 22, complainant placed her handbag on the counter inside a restaurant in the 1100 block of Spruce Street when a male grabbed it and fled. The offender was described as an Hispanic male, 25-30 years old, medium build, wearing a white baseball cap and Flyers jacket. REPORT: Between 2-6 p.m. March 23, out-of-town complainant’s Ford truck, parked in the 1000 block of Walnut Street, had a window smashed and tools taken. This report was received by the DPR Unit via phone and police were not dispatched; therefore, no prints were lifted.
REPORT: Between 9-11:30 a.m. March 24, complainant’s laptop and camera were taken from his apartment in the 1300 block of Walnut Street. There was no forced entry into the apartment, which complainant shares with three roommates. The scene had been contaminated before police were contacted and no fingerprints were lifted. ARREST: At 1:15 p.m. March 24, due to a recent increase in apartment burglaries, Sixth District Officer Cullen was assigned to plainclothes duty in the Washington Square West area. The officer observed a male going in the front doors of two apartment buildings in the 1000 block of Spruce Street and exiting almost immediately. The male was then observed going into an alley and attempting to forcibly pull open a door. The male was taken into custody and transported to Central Detective DivisionSpecial Investigation Unit. The 46-year-old alleged offender, who gave an address at the Parker Spruce Hotel, was in wanted status with an open bench warrant
for a previous burglary and was charged with attempted burglary for this incident. The investigation continues. REPORT: Between 11:30 p.m. March 25 and 5:45 a.m. March 26, complainant’s apartment in the 1200 block of Chestnut Street was entered without force and a laptop was taken. Complainant reported that a key was left under the doormat. Scene processed for latent fingerprints by Sixth District Officer Kelly. REPORT: At 5:10 a.m. March 26, complainant set his laptop and iPhone down on a counter inside the gym, 1315 Walnut St. when a male took the items and fled from the building. The offender was described as a black male, 40s, 5foot-10, dark complexion, wearing a blue jacket. REPORT: Between 5 p.m. March 26 and 11:50 a.m. March 28, the glass door of Riverside Care (Drug Rehab), sixth floor of 1217 Sansom St., was broken. SEPTA tokens were taken. No alarm or video was present. The scene was
contaminated by an employee, thus no latent prints were available. REPORT: At 12:58 a.m. March 27, an apartment alarm went off in the 300 block of South 13th Street, to which the landlord responded (tenant was away) and found pry marks around the doorframe and lock. Entry was not gained. Sixth District Officer Kelly processed the scene for evidence. REPORT: At 3 a.m. March 28, complainant was walking in the 200 block of South 11th Street and was pushed down from behind. A male then took his wallet from his pants pocket and fled. The alleged offender was described as a black male, 25-30 years, scruffy beard, 5-foot-6, wearing dirty clothes and a hoodie. If you recognize or know anything or anyone involved in any of the crimes reported, please call the Police Liaison Committee at (215) 600-0627 or Chief Inspector James Tiano at (215) 685-3655 with any additional information. ■
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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
APRIL 9 - 15, 2010
APRIL 9 - 15, 2010
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
Philadelphia Gay News
PAGE 15
April 23: Dining Out for Life April 30: Equality Forum
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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A GLBT synagogue welcoming people of all gender and sexual identities since 1975
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Winner of the 2009 Paddy and Barry Epstein Communicate! Award for innovative programming in a small congregation Friday, April 30, 8:00 PM. Equality Forum Shabbat Services. Please join us in the sanctuary for a special joint BA and RS service to celebrate Equality Forum. Our guest speaker will be Nurit Shein, Executive Director of the Mazzoni Center. A native Israeli, Nurit also served as a colonel in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). A special oneg (social hour) will follow services. Wednesday, May 5, 7:00 PM. Annual Congregational Meeting. Please join us for a light dinner as we hold elections for the Board of Directors for 2010-11. Members only are invited to this meeting. Sunday, May 16, 12:00 PM. Brunch at Marathon Grill on the Square, 1829 Spruce Street, and 2:00 PM with “An Evening Without Woody Allen” at Plays and Players, 1714 Delancey Street. Come join us for a relaxing brunch with friends followed by a cool and classy afternoon with the work of Woody Allen, an American comedy master. Watch this space for more details! Visit www.bethahavah.org for additional information, programming and directions
615 North Broad Street, Phila., PA 19123-2495 Phone: 215.923.2003 E-mail: BethAhavah@rodephshalom.org
Free secure parking: Cross Spring Garden at 13th St., left at next light, Mt. Vernon St. Parking lot entrance on left.
PGN
www.epgn.com
APRIL 9 - 15, 2010
Wednesdays Noon time Sundays 11a.m.
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RELAY From Page 1 their own donations or from supporters. The relay kicks off with cancer survivors taking the first lap, followed by the teams. One member of each team must be walking at all times throughout the 24 hours, and those who aren’t on the track can either relax at their campsites or take in the many activities at the site, such as games and live entertainment. Once the sun goes down, Ledden said organizers plan to set up a Luminary Ceremony, in which candles are placed in small white bags that participants can decorate with the names of loved ones who died of cancer. Ledden said the relays typically draw a very diverse crowd, with everyone from young children to seniors participating, and she’s hoping the LGBT event will garner participation from at least 500. Jackie Gallagher, ACS community executive, said the donations will be integral to the agency’s efforts to stem the tide of cancer. “The money will save lives by funding cutting-edge research, advocacy efforts and patient services to those diagnosed with cancer, as well as early-detection and prevention education,” she said. Numerous cancer-prevention and education groups will be on hand to raise awareness about the disease’s impact on the LGBT community. Gallagher noted that while the fundraising component is vital to ACS, the relay also aims to enlighten participants. “I’d encourage members of the GLBT community to participate to raise their own awareness about what’s available to them in their area regarding services, programs and education,” she said. Interested participants can attend one of three planning meetings this month to get materials and more information about the event: April 19 at Rams Head Inn, 9 W. White Horse Pike in Galloway; April 20 at Millville Chiropractic Center, 1014 N. High St.; or April 28 at Club In or Out, 19 N. Egg Harbor Road in Hammonton. All meetings will run from 7-8:30 p.m. For more information about the GLBT Relay for Life, visit www. relayforlife.org/glbtsouthjerseyNJ. For more information about the American Cancer Society, visit www.cancer.org or call (800) 2272345. ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.
APRIL 9 - 15, 2010
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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Out Money Jeremy Gussick Reviewing your credit situation Q: Can I lower the interest rate on my credit card? A: The simple answer is: It never hurts to ask! A study conducted by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group found that more than half (57 percent) of those who called their credit-card issuer and requested a lower interest rate were successful. On average, the rate was lowered by between 7-10 percentage points. Here’s what you need to know: Getting to yes Now that most of the provisions of the Credit Card Act (signed into law last May) have finally gone into effect (as of Feb. 22, 2010), there is no better time to review your own credit situation with an eye toward making improvements. Your chances of getting a lower rate are improved if you meet most of these qualifying factors: — Good credit rating. A good rating applies both in terms of your payment history with the card issuer and your overall credit score. You are entitled to a free copy of your credit report every year from each of the three major credit-reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. To save time, log on to www.annualcreditreport. com to access reports from all three. For a small fee, these agencies also provide personal credit
scores. — Low card balance. You have a history of paying off the entire balance or paying more than the minimum required each month. — Track record with card issuer. You have held the card for a year or two before requesting the rate change. — Your card is not classified as “subprime.” The credit card is not marketed solely to consumers with bad credit. The law of averages To negotiate successfully with the credit-card company, you will have to be prepared. Know what your current interest rate is and make sure that it is not a promotional rate that will expire within a matter of months. Also research what other banks and credit-card companies are charging their customers. According to the Federal Reserve, the average interest rate on existing credit-card balances is approximately 13.5 percent. If you are paying significantly more than that and have done your research, you are ready to make the call. Be sure to remain upbeat, confident and persistent. If the first person you speak with turns you down, ask for his or her manager. Base your argument on logic and facts and politely threaten to take your business elsewhere unless you get some satisfaction. Remember, the better your payment record with the card issuer and the higher your credit score, the better your bargaining posi-
tion. One final word of advice: Be careful about getting overly zealous in your search for the lowest rate card. Applying for multiple new cards at the same time (three or more inquiries in one month) could cause your credit score to be lowered. Doing your homework Visit these Web sites for competitive rate information and more: www.creditcards.com www.lowcards.com/ CreditCardIndex.aspx www.bankrate.com/brm/rate/ brm_ccsearch.asp ■ Jeremy R. Gussick is a financial
consultant with LPL Financial, the nation’s largest independent wealth management firm.* Jeremy specializes in the financial planning needs of the LGBT community. He is active with several LGBT organizations in the Philadelphia region, including the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund, the Greater Philadelphia Professional Network and the Independence Business Alliance. OutMoney appears monthly. If you have a question for Jeremy, contact him at jeremy.
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gussick@lpl.com. This article was prepared with the assistance of Standard & Poor’s Financial Communications and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations for any individual. Consult your financial advisor or Jeremy Gussick if you have any questions. LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. *Based on total revenues, as reported in Financial Planning Magazine, June 1996-2009.
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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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Out Law Angela Giampolo The pre-prenup
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APRIL 9 - 15, 2010
Spring Cleaning
As states move slowly to adopt same-sex marriage, couples are turning to other legal mechanisms to govern their relationships. One such tool is the cohabitation agreement or “living together” contract — or more commonly known in the LGBT community as the pre-prenup. A cohabitation agreement is a legal agreement reached between an opposite- or samesex couple who have chosen to live together (cohabitate) but are not married. Similar to a pre-nup, it establishes each party’s legal rights and responsibilities in the event of a break-up or death. For much of American history, courts would not enforce cohabitation agreements because the law saw it as an assault on marriage: Judges did not want to encourage such behavior by allowing the parties the protection of the law. However, as the norms of society changed, so did the practice of cohabitation. For example, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, only 523,000 heterosexual couples were cohabitating unmarried in 1970. By 1995, the number of cohabitating couples grew to 3,668,000. Most courts now recognize cohabitation agreements by relying on contract PAGE 15 law as opposed to family law. Contract law is concerned with keeping promises between contracting parties and tries to uphold the wishes of parties to a contract, so long as the parties intended to be bound and are contracting for a legal purpose. In contrast, family law is traditionally concerned with how the state maintains the idea of the nuclear family and its objectives concern how persons should marry, divorce and care for children. Since only a few jurisdictions recognize samesex marriage, same-sex couples should fashion their agreements in terms of an ordinary exchange of contractual promises and avoid the use of family-law terms like alimony, support, guardianship of children, etc., to increase the likelihood that their cohabitation agreement is enforced. In 1976, the California
Supreme Court in “Marvin v. Marvin” first recognized the ability of unmarried cohabitants to enter into both oral and written agreements, so long as they were not premised on sexual services. Since “Marvin,” states have moved toward the acceptance of cohabitation agreements, and allowed cohabitants to contract concerning exchange of property and services, so long as the contract is not premised on sexual relations. However, state to state, courts recognize the scope of these contractual rights quite differently. Some states only validate express written agreements. Other states are willing to entertain oral agreements, or even sometimes an implied agreement. Still, some states don’t recognize cohabitation agreements at all, based on the notion that cohabitation without marriage is immoral. In Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the necessity for a cohabitation agreement prior to unmarried cohabitation is great, because courts in these states have demonstrated a willingness to use various theories to grant relief to the aggrieved party upon termination of a period of unmarried cohabitation. An unmarried cohabitant in Pennsylvania and New Jersey may establish property rights in the assets of his/her partner in multiple ways, unless a cohabitation agreement exists to establish terms of property division. In practice, cohabitation agreements can serve a variety of purposes for same-sex partners. Among other things, a cohabitation agreement may be utilized to outline each party’s responsibilities with respect to financial expenses associated with living together or specify each party’s responsibility for his or her individual debt. A cohabitation agreement may be entered into as a precaution to protect each party from the cost and stress associated with litigation in the event the partners decide that they no longer wish to live together in the future. Cohabitation agreements also permit parties to make arrangements regarding specific assets acquired before deciding to live together and/or assets that they anticipate they will acquire during the period of their cohabitation. Perhaps most importantly, cohabitation agreements allow
parties to set forth their agreements regarding child-related and parenting issues. While these agreements are legally binding on both parties regarding financial issues, issues involving custody of children and their welfare are always subject to review by the court system. In some cases, a written agreement regarding custody may be reviewed or changed by the courts if circumstances or the needs of the minor children have changed. To summarize, cohabitation agreements should be drafted with care and both parties should have independent counsel to represent their interests. Tips to writing a cohabitation agreement: 1. Talk the issues out at length and come to joint understandings. 2. Regardless of how comprehensive, make sure to cover the basics of property and money. 3. If necessary, have different contracts covering property, support, housing and joint costs — don’t try to cover everything in one contract. 4. A cohabitation agreement is personal but exclude personal arrangements such as house chores and cooking. 5. Don’t mention sexual services. 6. Each party should obtain independent legal counsel before executing the agreement, especially if there is a large sum of money and property involved or if bargaining power is not equal. 7. Agree in advance to mediation as the method of dispute resolution. 8. Modifications of a cohabitation agreement should always be in writing and drafted by an attorney (especially if the modifications are significant). 9. The cohabitation agreement may need to be notarized depending on what state the parties reside and whether the agreement contemplates real estate. 10. Don’t prepare a cohabitation agreement if one or both parties are married to someone else. ■ Angela D. Giampolo, principal of Giampolo Law Group with offices in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, specializes in LGBT, business and real-estate law and civil rights. Send Angela your legal questions at info@giampololaw.com.
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
APRIL 9 - 15, 2010
BECHER From Page 1 1996-2004, Becher worked in city government in Chicago, holding such titles as assistant director of planning of the Department of Cultural Affairs, assistant to the mayor and chief of staff of the Chicago Park District. Becher was instrumental in the institution of numerous beautification projects in the Windy City that garnered Chicago a place on Forbes’ list of the most beautiful cities in the world. “It’s actually been quite rewarding,” Becher said of living and working in some of the country’s largest cities in the past decade. “You take the different experiences that happen in each city and the many different neighborhoods you work in, and it actually helps you to form a better product, a better thought and a better end to what you’re trying to accomplish. And it’s really eye-opening, because while each city and area is extremely different from one another, they face a lot of the same issues.” Becher, 40, and his partner, Eric, have owned a house in Chestnut Hill for several years, which they’ve now permanently moved into, and he said he’s been a fan of the Philadelphia horticultural scene, and PHS, for some time. “I’ve been orbiting around PHS for a while, going to a lot of the same events and conferences and serving on the same boards as some of the staff, and even when I was out in Chicago we tried to create a flower show to rival Philadelphia’s; we took a lot of cues from this organization,” he said. “I came here in the ’90s and talked to some people from the Center City District and toured the area, and this whole area is just amazing. I think Chanticleer, Longwood [Gardens] and Morris Arboretum are really three of my favorite places in the whole country.” U n l i k e o t h e r c i t i e s h e ’s worked in, Becher said the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection is already tuned into the importance of focusing on the environment. “The horticultural and greening stuff is already in the DNA, the makeup of this whole region,” he said. “It’s not something that we need to re-teach anyone. When I was in Chicago, that whole component wasn’t there — it is now, but it didn’t used to be — but that’s not the case here in Philadelphia.”
Becher said he wants to guide the city through the implementation of the mayor’s plan to make it the greenest metropolis in the nation within the next five years, noting Philly can become more aesthetically pleasing as it grows more ecologically conscious. “What needs to be done here is really just trying to help us get where we want to be through Mayor Nutter’s Greenworks project and by introducing sustainable practices and working on the landscapes. My overall goal is not just to make Philadelphia the greenest city, but also the most beautiful. They go hand in hand.” The PHS president-elect said that in terms of the Philadelphia International Flower Show — during which he gave a tour to his former boss, Midler, last month — he has several areas he’d like to work on in the coming years. “This is one of the signature events in the region and now it even has an international flair.
And now I’d like to focus on introducing some more interactive technology to the event and upping the focus on the design side of it as well. And I’d really like to beef up the whole education component that goes along with the show; the students are the future and the future clients who will be attending the Flower Show, so we want to get them involved.” He said he’s also eager to pay tribute to the men and women who cultivate the flowers featured in the show but whose hard work is rarely acknowledged. “I really want to bring out the people component. There are so many people involved who enter their violets or their orchids or whatever it may be, and I want to find a way to bring them out. People come by and see these great flowers, but there are also great people who helped to grow them.” Becher said he’s eager to
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implement these changes and others with the support of the entire horticultural community in Philadelphia — a place, he said, that already feels like home. “People in Philadelphia have been so welcoming. It’s just great to see how open and welcome this city has been. Philadelphia should be proud of that. This city has so
much to offer, and I’m really looking forward to working with all of our partners and everyone in this city to make this the greenest and most beautiful city and a place where even more people want to be.” ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.
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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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APRIL 9 - 15, 2010
THE ‘BIG’ THREE
A departure from the ordinary
Detour
KATE MCKINNON, JONNY MCGOVERN, NICOLE PAONE Photos: Courtesy of Logo
Gay sketch comedy launches third season, comes to Philly By Larry Nichols PGN Staff Writer Logo’s comedy powerhouse, “The Big Gay Sketch Show,” is back for the third hilarious season, with most of the cast favorites back on board and Rosie O’Donnell producing. This season features guest appearances from stars like Sharon Osbourne, Julianna Margulies and Rachel Dratch, among others. And on April 17, their chuckleinducing antics of the sketch show are set to jump off the screen and into the faces of some lucky spectators when some of the cast members judge and perform at Mr. Gay Philly. Cast members and performers Jonny McGovern, Nicole Paone and Kate McKinnon talked to PGN about the new season and all the action that happens on and off the show. PGN: Are there any particular indi-
viduals, groups or topics the show is taking aim at this season? JONNY MCGOVERN: The world, honey! I think we’re really playing with a broad stroke. We’re jumping out of just doing gay topics and hitting all of pop culture. Some of
my favorites are, I get to play and interact with a bunch of my favorite pop-culture icons. I get to play Karl Lagerfeld this year, which is tons of fun. I’ve been trying to do that on the show for a couple of years now. We even have André Leon Talley, the [former] editor[-at-large] from Vogue, come in and do a sketch with me. We hit up a lot of celebrities. Nicole really rips a new one for Glenn Close. We also do a version of “The Hills” set in Afghanistan. The show is sharp like Ginsu this year. NICOLE PAONE: I think we went after everyone this year. We’re going to have a fatwa on our heads because of the Afghanistan sketch. Mother Theresa is going to be pissed at me. We’re going to have a lot of curses on us after the season airs. KATE MCKINNON: We widened our focus from just gay things and just approached it from a gay sensibility. PGN: Even though the show is on
cable, are there certain things you can’t get away with content-wise? NP: There are some things. We can’t really talk about any sort of sexual act. We can abbreviate or imply it.
We have had to cut out some of those things. But as far as swear words and cursing, they beep it out, which is nice. Sometimes all a sketch needs is a good swear word. KM: A lot of our fans really enjoy that on DVD they can get the uncensored version. It’s happened a little bit more every season. The first season was clean as a whistle. I could show the whole season to my grandmother without any problem. But as we’ve progressed, all of our dirty minds have come up with more and more inappropriate things. And this season is no exception. They’ll be certainly naughtier and juicer things on the DVD. PGN: What would you say are the
show’s most popular characters so far? JM: Hard to say. Everybody in the cast has their one piece that’s extremely popular that they get a lot of response from. I tend to find that people love “Tranny 911” where I play Chocolate Puddin’. But I also get tons of love for playing Fitzwilliam’s father. NP: I hear all different things. I
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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
hear Fitzwilliam. I’ve heard Chocolate Puddin’. I’ve gotten a few of mine like Elaine Stritch. It depends on who you’re talking to. It’s great because it appeals to a lot of different people.
breakout hit]. This year it became more than “The Big Gay Sketch Show.” It’s like a big sassy sketch show. We should call it that.
PGN: Are the guest stars easier or harder
boy bands, where everyone is talented but there’s one person who seems to be ready to blow up and go solo. Who on the cast of the show is that person?
to work with than the regular cast? JM: They’re all pretty dreamy. They come in and shine their superstar light on us for a day. So everyone is so excited to be around actual celebrities. It’s super-fun and super-easy. Our schedule is tights as it is. We film the whole show in a month. They’re there for a quick amount of time. We’re just in there, do it and say, “Bye! Let us take a photo with you.” Although when André Leon Talley came in the first time, he did not like what he was wearing and we had to reschedule him. He ended up coming a few days later wearing a couture muumuu and necklace that he had just worn to the Met Ball the night before. But he’s André Leon Talley: He can do whatever he wants. NP: It depends on the sketch, obviously. But it’s fairly easy to work with celebrities and guest stars because they’re always so willing to play as opposed with the regular cast, which is amazing as well. We’re definitely more familiar with each other. So we’ll take risks. I don’t know if I would take a risk with a celebrity because you want to maintain your professional reputation.
PGN: Most sketch comedies are like
KM: Oh, I can’t do that. You never know.
Success is just a strange thing and you
a hundred lesbians, you’d think you’d seen Christ rise again. NP: I would say Stephen. During the first season, I felt like I was watching the beginning of something special. I think we’re all going to break out in our own way. Colman is a Broadway star. Jonny is dynamic. Stephen is definitely going to make it in Hollywood. That’s sort of starting to happen already. PGN: How involved is Rosie O’Donnell in the creative process of the show?
of course, us.
KM: She was very hands-off the last two
seasons. She made sure the tone was right and it wasn’t too bitter. We were just having fun poking fun at pop culture in a gay way. NP: She was very instrumental in what the show wasn’t going to be, which is clichéd, what the mainstream viewers in America would think a gay show would be. But for season three, she showed up, did her bits, wished us well and is getting the word out about the premiere. I think it’s great of Rosie to let us have fun and do our thing. PGN: Jonny, you’re scheduled to judge Mr. Gay Philadelphia on April 17. Are you going to perform at the event? JM: [Fellow cast member] Paolo [Andino] and I are both performing little segments. We’re working up something fun. I’m also working up one of my dirty gay hits. I want to impress all the contestants as well. PGN: Are you working on any more music CDs? JM: I’m working on my new record right now. I just released the last single, “Bossy Bottom,” from the “Gays Gone Wild” album. That’s another I probably won’t play for my grandmother but the gay teens of America seem to love it. I’m now back in the studio working on new music. The first single will probably be a song called, “I Saw Your Cock on Craigslist.”
PGN: With shows like “RuPaul’s
Drag Race” showing up on networks like VH-1, do you think mainstream networks are becoming more open to shows like “The Big Gay Sketch Show”? JM: Bit by bit, cable is more and more open than ever. Even networks are starting to show you more realistic and fun versions of gay that aren’t just making people over. We’re all crossing our fingers that it’ll get bigger and bigger because as a gay artist, you want more and more jobs. I’m praying to gay Jesus that that is the case. NP: “The Big Gay Sketch Show” is one of the few shows on Logo that can cross over. On season one, not that my uncle in Florida should be our target audience, but he had a bunch of people in his condo community gathering around to see the show. It was great to hear. In season three, we eased up on going after any target [audience] and wrote what was funny. That has more mass appeal than having a gay character in a gay situation talking about being gay. I think this could be our breakout season as far as mainstream viewers. KM: I would love if it did [become a
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PGN: How do the rest of you occupy your time between seasons on the show? NP: I do a lot of standup and a lot of live shows around L.A. and the country. I just finished a screenplay and worked on a pilot for CBS. It’s just acting and writing all year round. I was just in “Funny People” with Adam Sandler. KM: I started doing standup because I thought I should. It took a couple years but I think I got the hang of it. I prefer acting in a sketch, but it’s a good way to practice being on stage. I perform a lot at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theater in New York and I do cartoon voices for Cartoon Network.
MCGOVERN, MCKINNON, PAOLO ANDINO, JULIE GOLDMAN, STEPHEN GUARINO, PAONE AND COLMAN DOMINGO Season three of “The Big Gay Sketch
never know. JM: I think we’re all solo superstars in our own right. Everybody has their own flavor that will take them to the next level. Everybody does projects out on their own. Stephen Guarino has been in a couple of movies. Julie Goldman, I went on a cruise with her. If you ever see Julie Goldman in front of an audience of
JM: The first season, Rosie was really
involved. She cast us all and she was really involved every step of the way to set the tone of the show. At the beginning of this season, she was still there to make sure that the right team is together. But I think in the last two seasons she let us do our thing. She really trusted in the staff, the writer, the producers and,
Show” premieres at 10 p.m. April 13 on Logo. For more information, visit www. logoonline.com. Jonny McGovern and Paolo Andino guest judge and perform at Mr. Gay Philly, 8-11:30 p.m. April 17 at Voyeur Nightclub, 1221 St. James St. For more information, call (215) 735-5772. ■ Larry Nichols can be reached at larry@epgn.com.
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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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APRIL 9 - 15, 2010
Gay comedians take the ‘bait’ in Cape May By Larry Nichols PGN Staff Writer Some of the country’s funniest gay and lesbian comedians will converge upon Cape May, N.J., for “Bait and Swish,” a comedy show celebrating the seaside town’s Third Annual Diversity Weekend April 10. Out comedian and writer Adam Sank (“Last Comic Standing,” “Best Week Ever” and “Hot Gay Comics”) will host the event for the second time. The first time he hosted, in 2008, was fun and memorable. “It was fantastic,” he said. “I had no idea what to expect. I had never been to Cape May before but I had a ball. It’s a really diverse and wonderful audience.” Since that first Diversity Weekend, Sank has relocated from New York City to the West Coast and back again after living in San Diego for a year and a half. But unlike most comedians that move out West, Sank said his move wasn’t for the benefit of his career. “I fell in love with a gay sailor
and thought it would be a good idea to move across the country for a brandnew relationship,” he said. “It turns out it didn’t work out so well.” Much like his relationship, Sank’s career suffered from his relocation. “It was tough,” he said about trying to establish himself as a comedian on the West Coast. “It would have been better for me had I been in Los Angeles. San Diego is not a comedy town, and certainly not a showbiz town. And the drive to and from L.A. is a nightmare. But I kept performing. I found little underground places to perform and wrote a lot of new material about what it was like to be a military wife.” Sank said he’s glad to be back in the Big Apple. “I’m a bit of a snob when it comes to New York. I feel like New York has the purest comedy scene,” he said. “I think it’s got people who do it because they love
per se. They were inviting agents to see them so they would hopefully sign them and put them in TV shows or movies. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. It felt a little bit artificial to me. In general, I think New York has the best comedians in the world. I don’t think any city can compare to the talent and diversity of talent.” He added that he’s working hard to make up for lost time. “It’s hard,” he said of being away from the New York scene for that long of a time. “You’re sort of out of the game and then you try to get back in. I’m fortunate that I do know a lot of people and have a lot of contacts. But it’s hard. It’s like I’ve been asleep for ADAM SANK the last year and a half and I’m just waking up now.” the discipline of comedy. L.A. Sank also got back on the road. seemed to be more about wannabe actors trying to get stage time Earlier this year, he completed just so they can be seen. They a tour that took him across the weren’t interested in being comics country and ended at Rainbow
Mountain in the Poconos. It must have been a grueling trek — evidenced by his blog, in which he stated: “God, I hate Pennsylvania.” Sank said his hatred was directed toward parts of Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and not its people. “I was only referring to the roads that take you from Pittsburgh to the Poconos,” he said. “I actually love Pennsylvania, but the routes always seem to be under construction. For 20 years now, it’s been under construction. It’s sort of hellish, even in the wintertime. I have nothing against Philadelphia and I especially love Philadelphia.” Sank hosts “Bait and Swish,” featuring performances by Brad Lockle (“The Smoking Gun Presents: World’s Dumbest”) and Kate McKinnon (“Big Gay Sketch Show”), at 8:30 p.m. April 10 at Cabanas on the Beach, 419 Beach Ave., Cape May, N.J. For more information, visit www.adamsank.com or call (609) 861-1848. ■ Larry Nichols can be reached at larry@epgn.com.
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
APRIL 9 - 15, 2010
The Sporting Life
PAGE 25
Kevin Aldridge
The Falcons soar as soccer kicks into full gear
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nightlife and going out — she couldn’t resist her yearning for gay fellowship. She beams, “The Falcons changed my life!” The new level of community she has experienced keeps her active. She met her current girlfriend through Falcons friends, and her sister — also a lesbian — played with the club while she lived in Philadelphia. Numerous couples — same- and opposite-sex — have met through the club. Of these pairings, at least three straight and one lesbian couple have given birth to “Falcons babies.” And while many LGBT club members seek out and prosper in the gay-friendly sports environment, the club is very inclusive of straight players: Zack Rivera was recently honored as the first heterosexual Falcon elected to the board. Here, being part of a community with non-LGBT friends and allies
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is easily the most revered sport in the rest of the world — translating to a diverse team that attracts players from around the globe. Soheila Nikhour, current treasurer and past president, was born in Iran and moved to the U.S. 30 years ago. According to Nikhour, “Players from other countries bring their language, culture and style of soccer.” Despite outward cultural differences, soccer is an international language that bonds teammates. Each player, no matter his or her origin, contributes to the rich spirit of the club. A traditional Falcons Thanksgiving tournament used to pit older players against younger ones; now, the international members scrimmage against native U.S. members. When Nikhour joined in 1999, there were only three female Falcons — two of whom were heterosexual. Though women had only begun to join in 1998, they have since become a grounding force in the club, with three female teams across three competitive levels. Kharina joined the Falcons two years ago, after briefly playing soccer with a group of straight men. Born and raised in Brazil — where the gay community is mostly about
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Last year, LGBT soccer club the Falcons celebrated their 20th anniversary. The occasion was marked with a dinner and, in January, several founders and longtime players were inducted into the Falcons Hall of Fame. Before the club’s founding in 1989, local gay soccer players traveled to New York City to play with the Ramblers. It eventually became apparent that the number of players trekking up to the Big Apple warranted a Philadelphia team. Like other amateur sports clubs, the Falcons’ purpose is predominantly recreational. According to longtime club member Raed Nasser, the Falcons, which had 150 members last season, are about playing soccer and educating and helping each other. Potential Falcons are encouraged to check out a few practices, no matter their skill level. Experienced players embrace newcomers with camaraderie to the thrice-weekly practices. Board president Ian Hannigan’s favorite aspect of the club is the pick-up games: “Everyone is just there to play and have fun.” Though not the most popular sport in the United States, soccer
is just as important as being surrounded by LGBT peers. Tournaments tend to be all female or all male — transgender players choose where they compete — and the Falcons are scheduled to play tournaments in Toronto, Rehoboth Beach, Del., Washington, D.C. and New York this year. The Falcons ladies play in the Tri-County Women’s Soccer League and just returned from an indoor turf tournament in D.C. The Falcons will host the annual Liberty Classic during Memorial Day weekend and wrap up the summer with a friendly club tournament. For now, they are savoring their emergence from indoor practices at 12th Street Gym to outdoor practices in Fairmount Park. Beginning their third decade, the Falcons avoid stagnation by adapting to the club’s ever-evolv-
ing composition. Longtime players like Nikhour recognize the Falcons are a microcosm of society, where players’ sexuality is not as easily discerned as it once was and barriers that once divided people — and athletes — continue to crumble. This diverse club of soccer players is brought together by the love of a game and thrives because of the members’ love for each other. ■ For more information about the Falcons, visit www.falcons-soccer. org or e-mail info@falcons-soccer. org. Kevin Aldridge swims with the Fins Aquatics Club and competes in local triathlons and races. He is a freelance writer with a sports column at PhillyGayCalendar. com. Kevin can be reached at kevincaldridge@gmail.com.
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PAGE 26
Family Portraits You may know that Gloria Casarez was appointed by the mayor to be the director of LGBT Affairs, that she is the former executive director of the Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative, that she sits on the board of the Bread & Roses Community Fund and was a founding member of the Philadelphia Dyke March. But did you know about her infatuation with a certain buxom cartoon/TV character? PGN: I understand you’re a Philadelphia native. GC: Yes, I was born in South Philly, but grew up mostly in North Philly until I went to high school. After college I lived in West Philadelphia for 17 years, and now I’m back in South Philadelphia, just a few blocks from where I was born, so I guess I’ve come full circle. PGN: Family? GC: My parents split when I was pretty young and I don’t have much contact with my father’s side of the family. They all live in Texas, but my mother is an artist and a very creative person. I remember growing up she was very involved in everything I did. She was one of those parents who was always pounding on the principal’s door. My mother’s side of the family is originally from West Texas and traces its roots to back when Texas was Mexico. I guess they were the first wave, if you can call it that, of Mexicans to come to this area, and they did what any newly arriving people did back then: They tried to find community, and when it wasn’t there, they made it and helped other people coming after them. My family has been in Philadelphia since the 19-teens and they were never the kind to sit back and be bystanders: They were always involved in things. PGN: Any siblings? GC: No. PGN: [Laughs.] Oh, one of those. GC: Everyone always says that! Everyone always thinks that we were either lonely or selfish or both. My partner and I are both only children, so we understand each other and the need for quiet time. PGN: Well it’s not just being an only child. I have a friend who I tease and call a SPOC — single
APRIL 9 - 15, 2010
Suzi Nash parent, only child — which is a different dynamic than just being an only child. GC: I’m definitely a SPOC, but I had a lot of cousins and aunts around too. And my mother was very careful about making sure I had a lot of positive male role models around, so that I wouldn’t grow up to be a man-hating lesbian. My grandfather was one of my best friends, and my uncle was very important in my life as well. PGN: Tell me a great memory about your grandfather. GC: This is my favorite. He always wanted me to be happy. When I was very little we were close but then I went through that normal teenage state where hanging out with your grandparent wasn’t cool, but as I grew older we became friends again. When I was in college, he’d take the bus every Sunday all the way out to West Chester University, where I went to school, to visit me. He was originally from Uruguay and had traveled all over the world as a merchant seaman and he was always up on current politics, so we had wonderful conversations together. At my graduation I was really nervous. He’s the kind of guy who liked to defuse stressful moments with his sense of humor. He was in his late 60s and, at my graduation, he wore a T-shirt that said, “40 and Feeling Sporty.” It made me laugh because a) he probably had the T-shirt since he was 40 and b) he knew it would be hilarious to me since I knew his real age. Any stress that I was feeling dissipated after seeing him in that shirt. PGN: And you went to high school in New Jersey? GC: Yeah, at the time I was living in Kensington and things were getting dangerous there. Looking back, I realize that it was because most of the factories had closed or moved out of state. It was a real manufacturing part of town and a lot of people lost their jobs. One of the side effects of that was the neighborhood going down and the crime rate going up. The schools were bad as well and I remember my mother saying to the principal, as I was getting ready to go into middle school, “I can’t send her to that school, I haven’t trained her to use a switchblade yet.” I was little for my age so they
were afraid for me. There was also the fact that Kensington was a tough, mostly white neighborhood and I was this little brown child. Fortunately, I had an aunt who lived in New Jersey and let me stay with her so I could go to a better school in South Jersey. It’s interesting: Growing up, I didn’t know I lived in a tough neighborhood, but I was taught city smarts. My cousin taught me how to walk with authority and be aware of my surroundings, which is a good thing for any girl to learn, but in the suburbs, when you’re constantly looking around it looks like you are up to something! It was a good experience, though; I don’t know that I would have gotten into college if I’d stayed in Kensington for school under the circumstances. PGN: And what did you study once you got to college? GC: At West Chester I studied political science and criminal justice. At the time, I thought I was going to be a lawyer. But I got really active in student government and activism on campus. I started learning about cities and how they worked and didn’t work and wanted to connect back to Philadelphia and do some community organizing. PGN: [Laughs.] You know that’s a bad job title these days ... GC: I know: “Community organizer” never had such a bad rap! That’s just crazy. Of course, the other side is that in some circles it’s now super-cool. I think I was the first person in my family to go away to school and they thought that I was going to become a big-time lawyer and make lots of money, so when I became an anti-poverty activist, they were like, “Wait, that’s not about money.” And I responded, “It is about money, just not about me getting any of it!” They just wanted the best for me. PGN: What was your first job? GC: I had all sorts of summer jobs during school. I worked for Domino’s when it was not politically correct — but they were willing to hire me for two-month spells. When I got out of school, I worked on anti-poverty/welfarerights campaigns and, at the time, President Clinton was working on the new national service model. I was one of the people who started what became a national youth
GLORIA CASAREZ Photo: Suzi Nash
organization called “Empty the Shelters.” PGN: What made you interested in helping others? GC: I was different — I grew up in a mostly white area and I was little and brown. Our family is really, really Mexican. We very much adhered to Mexican culture and traditions, and I think that made me stand out. PGN: When did you first know you were gay? GC: I was 17 and I had never really dated before. I remember friends in high school having their hearts broken by guys and thinking how silly they were, that I would never be caught crying at my locker over someone. And then I had my heart broken by a girl and there I was in school thinking, “Oh my God, I just want to stand at my locker and cry!” but by that time I was in college and we didn’t have lockers! PGN: Now for some random questions. What Olympic sport would you want to compete in? GC: Ooooh, I’m afraid of most sports. I’m not athletic at all and, in fact, my partner has been teasing me because the City of Brotherly Love Softball League is having their opening-day ceremony on April 18, and they’ve asked me to throw out the opening pitch. When I told my partner I had to throw a ball, she laughed for about five minutes. I have to say, I do love watching the rivalries in figure skating, especially
between Johnny Weir and Evan Lysacek. I’m addicted to “Be Good Johnny Weir” on Sundance. He’s so precious. PGN: What’s your favorite vending-machine snack? GC: I’m not a big sweets person, but when I have a snack attack, I want M&Ms. Though I’m disappointed that they took the lightbrown ones away. PGN: What profession that you’ve never pursued do you think you’d be good at? GC: I would like to make things. I’ve always taken photographs and I’ve done some letterpress printing. I sometimes joke that my dream job would be to open up an iron-on T-shirt shop. PGN: A carton or a comic strip you enjoyed? GC: It’s all about Wonder Woman! It always has and always will be. When I was at GALAEI, I had a huge poster of Wonder Woman on my wall. It was of Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman, so I justified it by explaining that she was Mexican. PGN: Other than your partner, if you had to do a duet with anyone, who would you choose? GC: Dolly Parton. I love her. She has a way of singing — when she hits some notes — that could break your heart. [Laughs.] That might could break your heart. PGN: Did you ever see “For the Love of Dolly”? It’s a beautiful documentary about people who
APRIL 9 - 15, 2010
are obsessed with Dolly including one girl who lost her mother and speaks about Dolly, being a surrogate mother who taught her about life through her songs. GC: Well, it’s true! When Dolly sings, you know that she loves you. PGN: What’s your sign? GC: I’m a Sagittarius. We’re supposed to be outgoing and fearless, but tact is not a strong point. We sometimes put our foot in our mouths. I don’t really follow astrology, but [my partner] Tricia and I recently went to Italy and went to the science museum in Florence. I saw Galileo’s original mappings of the stars and his instruments and it was all about the zodiac calendar, so I learned to appreciate the science behind it. PGN: Something you do that embarrasses people? GC: I tend to repeat stories. I like to say, I relive precious memories ... over and over. I’ve made Tricia hear about going to Jazz Fest to see Celia Cruz about 45 times. She was amazing: She was in her 80s and she was totally doing it. It was a million degrees out and she was doing moves I can’t do
Q Puzzle Ian as We Speak Across
1. Top targets 6. Second fruit eater 10. Royal threesome
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
now. PGN: What’s a situation that really moved you in your work? GC: There are so many people that have inspired me. When I was younger and doing grassroots work, I was moved over and over again by women who were poor but always put their families first and tried to make things better. People who in the media were characterized as downtrodden but who rose to the occasion to fight for their families. We did housing takeovers, which can be dangerous, but they were fearless. Watching that mama-bear instinct was inspiring. Working with David Acosta when I first came to GALAEI was also a learning experience. He was the first man I ever met who described himself as a feminist. He was a mentor, both as an activist and as a creative person. PGN: What’s a housing takeover? GC: It’s where you take over an abandoned house and move people in to give them a place to live. I should say I don’t do that anymore — that was from my younger days — but at the time we felt that there were 40,000 14. Butler’s burden on the stairway 15. Barneys event 16. Bus. major’s study 17. Like phone sex 18. Dangerous meat-eater 19. Greek consonants 20. With 22-Across, 2006 Ian flick 22. See 20-Across 23. Islamic ruler
boarded-up homes and 40,000 homeless people, and it was a shame to let them go to waste. PGN: That must have been exhilarating. GC: It was. People were on waiting lists for affordable or Section 8 housing for over 10 years, and this was something that could be accomplished immediately. But it was illegal so it could be tricky. PGN: OK, this is my personal request to you, as a community leader and an activist. Can you please put an end to “Hey hey, ho ho ... ” etc. GC: [Laughs.] Yes, we do need better chants! Let’s get someone on that. Especially since my office is now in City Hall. My window faces the courtyard, so I hear them all with full acoustics. PGN: What are some of the most interesting protests you’ve participated in? GC: One time we set up a tent city in front of Independence Hall. It was pretty awesome and a really striking visual to see all the tents everywhere. That is, until the sprinklers went on at 5 in the morning and we looked like drowned rats! Also, I didn’t 24. Regis, to Kathie Lee 26. Keanu Reeves film series, with “The” 29. Place where a Greek would speak 31. Latin I verb 32. Land of Emma Donoghue 34. Finish with 38. 1998 Ian flick 42. “Bottoms up!” 43. Anka’s “Eso ___” 44. JFK info 45. Used U-Hauls 47. Oakland tight end, e.g. 50. Heirs split it 53. Words from a non-folder 54. 2000 Ian flick 55. 1995 Ian flick 61. Where Boy Scouts sleep together 62. Gay nightlife district of London 63. Is bothered by 64. Too hasty 65. Lone Star sch. 66. “Hollywood Squares” choice
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organize them, but I remember a few ACT UP events where they used very symbolic imagery to get the point across — coffins filled with kitty litter to simulate the ashes of people who’d died of AIDS. People who were scared of ACT UP would be horrified as if they were real ashes, and I’d be like, “Relax, it’s just Tidycat.” There were a few political funerals at the White House where they did spread real ashes and that was very moving, as well as effective. PGN: I meant to ask, how long have you and Tricia been together? GC: Nine years now! PGN: I know you’ve had some health issues: How are you feeling? GC: I just completed five months of chemo and right now I’m just dealing with maintenance, learning to live with something that isn’t in a crisis mode. PGN: What did you not know about cancer? GC: I was diagnosed with breast cancer about this time last year, so it’s been a crash course for me. I’ve been around the health-care industry, but mostly around the 67. Drama, to Tennessee Williams 68. Like sex with a condom 69. Some people make it in bed
Down
1. One tied up in Key West 2. “No way!” 3. Container weight 4. Bear or bull 5. Delicious dangler 6. No longer lying with one’s partner 7. “Nuts!” 8. Actor Mapa 9. Kahlo’s country 10. Filmmaker Ismail 11. Cold explosion 12. Incriminating evidence, with “the” 13. Atlas enlargement 21. She’s a real fox 25. Rock group? 26. “Inches” and “Curve” 27. Running wild 28. Kind of list
AIDS issue. I had no known family history, so there was no one to navigate it with me who had experience with it: It was new to the whole family. I did a blog while I was going through chemo and I was constantly struck by the parallels to HIV and what it means to manage a chronic disease while not looking “sick.” It was weird: Before I knew I had breast cancer, I looked fine but my body was sick. Then, when I was going through chemo, I was losing my hair and looked anemic with no eyebrows, but in fact it was the time when I was receiving the life-saving poison that helped me get better. I looked at holiday pictures just before I was diagnosed and thought, that was the time when I had cancer and didn’t know it: That’s when I was really sick, when I looked the healthiest. PGN: I’m glad you’re doing better. What’s fun for the summer? GC: I bought a scooter and I love buzzing around the city. I can’t wait to get it out! ■ To suggest a community member for “Family Portraits,” write to: Family Portraits, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147 or portraits05@aol.com. 29. Ready to shoot off 30. Bygone GM cars 33. “Why, ___ delighted!” 35. Home paper 36. Michelangelo’s painting and sculpture 37. Peter the Great, for one 39. TV wife of two gay Dicks 40. Loads 41. Marilyn’s almost normal name? 46. In contrast with 48. Male counterpart of Earhart 49. Deep blue 50. Spear carrier 51. Accusation of pedophilia, e.g. 52. Like a nervous Nellie 53. Wishful words 56. Sappho’s “I” 57. Nick Malgieri, for one 58. Icon letters 59. Bad day for Caesar 60. Therapist’s response
See SOLUTION, Page 33
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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APRIL 9 - 15, 2010
Offline Bruce Yelk The spring and summer hotel hot list Since I began this column a few years ago, I’ve provided readers with several “favorite” lists that pay tribute to local and regional leisure activities consistently among the most impressive in their respective categories. These lists have covered outdoor excursions, LGBT special events, holiday attractions and summertime destinations. In gathering material and inspiration for this week’s article, I reviewed these past columns and noticed a glaring omission. Despite their diver-
sity, quality of service, LGBT friendliness and importance to local residents and tourists alike, I’ve never offered top recommendations for hotels. As a strong sector of the local economy, Philadelphia’s hotels provide space for special events, top-tier restaurants and innovative architecture that keeps our streets and skyline evolving. Most importantly, the experiences of Philadelphia visitors at the hotels are largely responsible for stimulating tourism, making an impression that keeps guests coming back. The following list recognizes my top picks in Philadelphia’s hotel game, with a special twist for spring and summer. I hope you enjoy!
Favorite LGBT-friendly staff: Loews Hotel Philadelphia, 1200 Market St., (215) 627-1200; www.loewshotel.com The Loews Philadelphia is spectacular from top to bottom, but it receives especially incredible reviews from LGBT visitors. The staff is accommodating, respectful and accessible. The way you are treated upon checking in to a hotel sets the stage for your entire trip, and gay and lesbian visitors are always made comfortable by the Loews staff. Favorite rooms at the best price: The Independent Hotel, 1234 Locust St., (215) 772-1440; www.theindependenthotel.com The Independent Hotel is the most recent hotel addition to Philadelphia’s Gayborhood. The design is progressive, the rooms are spacious and the amenities
are some of Philly’s best. It successfully combines the intimacy of a boutique hotel with the professionalism of a major chain. Favorite view of the city: XIX, Hyatt at the Bellevue Philadelphia, 200 S. Broad St., (215) 790-1919; www.nineteenrestaurant.com Many local hotels are home to critically celebrated restaurants, but none is more spectacular than XIX. Located on the top floor of the Hyatt at the Bellevue, it includes two exceptional dining rooms bracketing an amazing bar. With the recent addition of an outdoor space and new windows, XIX provides breathtaking views of Center City’s skyline. Favorite lounge for happy hour: Sofitel Philadelphia, 120 S. 17th St., (215) 569-8300;
www.sofitel.com Though it’s a world-famous hotel chain, the Sofitel Philadelphia has all the accouterments of a European boutique hotel. On the ground floor, adjacent to the lobby, is the bar and lounge. The happy-hour cocktails and food specials are phenomenal, and its position in the middle of Philadelphia’s business district makes it the perfect happy-hour destination. Favorite specialty summer drink: Cucumber Cocktail at 1682 Restaurant, Hotel Palomar,
117 S. 17th St., (215) 563-5006; www.hotelpalomar-philadelphia. com
If you have yet to stop by the new 1682 Restaurant in Hotel Palomar, this needs to be a top priority on your social “to do”
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
APRIL 9 - 15, 2010
list. Once there, you must try the Cucumber Cocktail — hands down the most refreshing specialty drink I have ever had: a simple concoction of fresh cucumber, vodka and lime juice. Favorite spa/salon: Ettoré Salon and Spa, 1201 Market St., (215) 928-9010; www.ettorespa.com Ettoré Salon and Spa is gayowned and -operated by an exceptional team — brothers Ettoré and Gary Mastrodi. In a time when many local businesses have folded, Ettoré Salon and Spa is thriving due to innovation, exceptional leadership and outstanding customer service. Ettoré’s location on the ground floor of the Marriott Downtown makes the wide range of personal grooming and wellness services equally accessible to residents and visitors.
Favorite brunch: Four Seasons Hotel, 1 Logan Square; (215) 963-1500; www.fourseason.com The Four Seasons is known across the globe as one of the best luxury hotels. The Four Seasons Philadelphia is situated on the Ben Franklin Parkway with amazing views of area museums and cultural attractions. And if you’re a brunch-lover, there is no better place to go than the Swann or the Fountain. Favorite outdoor patio: Hyatt Regency at Penn’s Landing, 201 S. Columbus Blvd.; (215) 928-1234; www.pennslanding. hyatt.com The Hyatt Regency at Penn’s Landing features an outdoor patio with some of Philadelphia’s most expansive views. Whether facing the water or the city, it’s an incredibly relaxing patio that’s removed from the hustle and
bustle of Center City, while being easily accessible from all locations throughout Philadelphia. Favorite place for visiting parents of LGBT residents: The Alexander Inn, 301 S. 12th St., (215) 923-3535; www.alexanderinn.com Most LGBT transplants to Philadelphia have family or friends visit the city at one time or another. If your guests prefer a hotel to your couch, put them up at The Alexander Inn. The Gayborhood’s most historic boutique hotel has it all — fantastic service, beautiful rooms and reasonable room rates. And it’s central to historical attractions and retail shops, as well as a variety of gay restaurants and bars. That’s it for the “Hotel Hot List.” As you embrace springtime over the next two weeks,
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don’t forget that Nightlifegay. com’s Mr. Gay Philadelphia competition is on April 17 at Voyeur Nightclub, 1221 St. James St. If you haven’t purchased tickets yet, be mindful that this event has sold out for the last three years. Advance VIP tickets, which will guarantee you a seat close to the action, are $50, and advance general admission passes are $25. Tickets can be purchased online at www.Nightlifegay.com/tickets; at Charlie Salon, 203 S. 12th St., and at Metro Men’s Clothing, 1615 E. Passyunk Ave. A limited number of VIP and general admission tickets will be available at the door for $60 and $30, respectively. For more information, visit www.nightlifegay.com. Feel free to send questions or feedback to Bruce@nightlifegay. com. ’Til next time, get offline and see what your community has to offer! ■
worth watching: FRIDAY Who Do You Think You Are? Produced by out actor Dan Bucatinsky. This week’s episode looks into the family history of Sarah Jessica Parker. 8 p.m. on NBC.
SUNDAY The Amazing Race The gay teams continue to bicker amongst themselves, but at least they remain competitive in this reality-travel game. This week, they travel to Singapore. 8 p.m. on CBS.
SATURDAY Pink: Funhouse — Live In Australia The pop singer performs a soldout show Down Under. 2 p.m. on Logo.
Brothers & Sisters Look for out characters Kevin and Scotty. This week the family flashes back to 1986. 9 p.m. on ABC.
Eye Candy: The Crazy World of David LaChappelle This documentary explores the man behind the camera lens and his creative process for shooting celebrities including Madonna, Paris Hilton and Pamela Anderson. 9 p.m. on Logo. Suze Orman Show The out money expert talks about finances. 9 p.m. on CNBC.
MONDAY Dancing With The Stars Look, shiny outfits! 8 p.m. on ABC. How I Met Your Mother Out actor Neil Patrick Harris stars as womanizer Barney. 8 p.m. on CBS. RuPaul’s Drag Race Only four drag queens left in this reality competition. 9 p.m. on Logo.
Queer TV you can always see: The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Monday-Friday, 3 p.m. on NBC. The Rachel Maddow Show
Monday-Friday, 9 p.m. on MSNBC.
TWISTED SISTER: We still can’t figure why Barb (played by out comedian Wanda Sykes) puts up with Christine’s crazy ass. But it sure is fun to watch her and the other slightly bent characters on a new episode of “The New Adventures of Old Christine” at 8 p.m. April 14 on CBS. Photo: Jordin Althaus/Warner Bros.
Trauma Gay character Tyler disagrees with Boone on how to treat a patient in a mosque in this medical drama. 9 p.m. on NBC. TUESDAY American Idol Out comedian and talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres judges. 8 p.m. on Fox. WEDNESDAY America’s Next Top Model Tyra Banks, Jay Hernandez and Miss J. Alexander put model hopefuls through the paces in this reality competition. 8 p.m. on CW. Modern Family Look for gay couple Mitchell and Cameron in this new episode in
which they go on a job interview. 9 p.m. on ABC. The Robert Verdi Show This week, the out TV personality demands that his staff film a documentary about him. 10 p.m. on Logo. Ugly Betty It’s the series finale. 10 p.m. on ABC. THURSDAY The Cho Show Catch the entire first season of Margaret Cho’s reality show. 2:30-6 p.m. on Logo. Grey’s Anatomy Look for out characters Callie and Arizona. 9 p.m. on ABC.
Sunday, April 11, 5:30 to 7 pm
K.M. Soehnlein
author of “Robin and Ruby,” set in Philadelphia and South Jersey MON. - SAT. 11:30 - 7p.m. SUNDAY 1:00 - 7p.m. email: giovannis_room@verizon.net
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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APRIL 9 - 15, 2010
Food and Drink Directory
Happy Hour Mon-Fri 5:30-7:30 $2.50 Domestics $3.50 Imports $3.50 Well Drinks $2.50 PBR and Miller High Life bottles all day every day
Rainbow Award Best Bar and Bartender 2008, 2009 Fox Philly Best Gay and Lesbian Bar 2008, 2009
DINNER SERVED NIGHTLY 255 S. Camac St., Philadelphia, Pa. (215) 545-8731
Open Mon thru Sat 8am to 10pm, Sun 8am to 4pm (215) 925-1150 800 North 4th Street Philadelphia 19123 www.honeys-restaurant.com
Happy Hour 6pm - 8pm
Movie Night Wed. @ 8 pm
A Night of Industry
Mon. 8pm - 12 am
Saturday Lunch & Sunday Brunch 12-3pm
Hours: Mon. - Fri. 4-2, Sat. - Sun. 12 -2 1305 Locust St., Phila, PA 19107
APRIL 9 - 15, 2010
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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Sauté’s spring menu knocks it out of the park By Larry Nichols PGN Staff Writer Sauté, 775 S. Front St., has got to be the best-kept secret in Queen Village. Tucked away among the row houses on Front Street, this contemporary American bistro, led by chef Nicholas Cassidy, is taking no prisoners with its simple, yet flavorful spring menu. Diners can choose among the half-dozen options from the appetizer and entrée menus or select the four-course tasting menu ($35): Choose for yourself or let Cassidy choose for you. It makes no difference: The meal will be amazing. The appetizer menu is full of familiar concepts with surprising twists. The sweetbread BLT ($12) was the most surprising and delectable of the choices. Normally we would have little love for sweetbreads, but this dish won us over. As much as this offering made us fall in love with sweetbread, the Bibb salad ($9) worked the same magic on us with beets. Sliced paper-thin and tossed with pistachio, cucumber, goat cheese and raspberry-sage vinaigrette, the salad was irresistible. Sauté’s housemade charcuterie ($13) has all but ruined us for any other meat-and-cheese platters we have had in the past. The quality and volume of the platter puts similar offerings from other restaurants to shame. On offer: pancetta, chorizo, duck pâté, chicken, olive tapenade and a seriously rich and addictive truffle chickenliver mousse topped with clarified butter. The last option is a sinful indulgence and we recommend having a friend with you while partaking of this delicacy — both to share it and to keep you from going overboard. You have been warned. The tempura squid ($11) shook off any comparisons to the fried calamari most are familiar with, offering a sesame-oil sauce to
dip the perfectly fried pieces of squid into instead of the derigueur marinara or sweet chili sauce. The entrée menu was an even bigger, but pleasant, shock to the system. The monkfish ($24) was excellently prepared with lemon verbena bur fondue that complimented the fish without overpowering it. The accompanying gnocchi melted in the mouth. The Spanish mackerel ($22) was also a home run, delivering a spicy, pan-seared punch. The chicken ($20) was falloff-the-bone tender and spiced quite nicely with basil, lemon, zatar and red pepper. The fried green tomatoes that accompanied it amounted to a few slices
of heaven. Elsewhere on the farm, the pork chop ($26) was an absolute delight, properly cooked and resting on a bed of malanga and spinach with a flavorful tomato escabeche, giving the dish a Mediterranean kick. Sauté’s dessert menu is another minefield of temptation. The flourless chocolate cake hit all the right spots with a warm, brownie-like texture made all the more pleasant by the raspberry and caramel on the plate. The peanut-butter chocolate tort, a graham-cracker crust loaded with peanut-butter mousse and chocolate ganache, looks like it’s ready to drop the sugary hammer of the gods on you, but one bite put those
fears to rest. The mousse and ganache are both pleasantly light in texture and embody a restrained sweetness. Sauté’s spring menu will be around until the end of May. We can’t stress enough about how much of a mistake it would be to miss out on it. Oh, and we will be back for the summer menu. ■
If you go Sauté 775 S. Front St. (215) 271-9300 www.sauteonline.com Open for dinner Tuesday t h r o u g h S u n d a y, w i t h brunch on Sunday.
Larry Nichols can be reached at larry@epgn.com.
Fresh and Healthy Food DINING ROOM AT SAUTÉ Photo: Scott A. Drake
Dine In, Take Out, Free Delivery, BYOB Philadelphia, PA
Lunch Special, Dinner Special 3 courses - until 6 p.m.
2028 Chestnut St.,
between 20th and 21st sts.
215-568-7058
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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
Diversions
APRIL 9 - 15, 2010
Your guide to arts and entertainment
Theater
Diary of Black Men Maceba Theater Group of Chicago presents a theatrical drama about male and female relationships from a black man’s point of view, April 10-11 at Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847. Fallen Angels Walnut Street Theatre presents a comedy about bored wives, old flames and high society, through May 2, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 574-3550. The Irish ... and How They Got That Way The irreverent but affectionate history of the Irish in America uses classical songs and stories as told by Pulitzer Prizewinning author Frank McCourt, through April 18 at Kimmel’s Innovation Studio, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847. The Lion King The Kimmel Center’s Broadway Series presents the wildly successful stage adaptation of the hit animated film, through April 24 at the Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847. Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins Philadelphia Theatre Company presents Kathleen Turner in this world-premiere play, written by noted journalists and twin sisters Margaret and Allison Engel to celebrate the life of the acclaimed columnist, through April 25, 480 S. Broad St.; (215) 985-0420. Respect: A Musical Journey of Women Society Hill Playhouse presents an exuberant musical that recounts the
journey of women in the 20th century with popular music, through May 23, 507 S. Eighth St.; (215) 923-0210.
PGN
Pick
Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet Arden Theatre Company presents the tragic love story, through April 11 on Arden’s F. Otto Haas Stage, 40 N. Second St.; (215) 922-1122.
Ax Plays Beethoven American pianist Emanuel Ax joins Maestro Dutoit and the Philadelphia Orchestra for Beethoven’s B-flat-major Concerto, 8 p.m. April 15-17 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 7905847.
Shining City Plays and Players Theatre presents the story of two men in Dublin dealing with the ghosts of their pasts and seeking redemption, through April 25, 1714 Delancey St.; (215) 218-4022. Sick The Walnut Street Theatre’s Studio 5 presents a dark comedy about one family’s attempts to keep out the “sickness” of the world by isolating themselves in a house where all the windows are covered with plastic, April 14-May 2, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 574-3550. Some Assembly Required BCKSEET Productions presents the one-act musical about a woman’s struggle to determine what is real and what is part of her medicated daydreams, through April 17 at the Red Room at Society Hill Playhouse, 507 S. Eighth St.; (215) 923-0210. Travels With My Aunt The Walnut Street Theatre’s Independence Studio 3 presents the adventures of retired bank employee Henry Pulling and his effervescent aunt Augusta as they travel around the world, through April 18, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 574-3550.
of Montgomery County for a performance of one of Shostakovich’s most popular works, Symphony No. 5, 7:30 p.m. April 11 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 7905847.
States, including excavated remains from Pompeii and Roman busts of Julius Caesar and Cicero, through Aug. 1, 525 Arch St.; (215) 409-6600. Contemporary Folklore The James A. Michener Art Museum presents an exhibition featuring the works of four regional artists mining both collective and personal stories to create sculptures that retell new histories, through June 13, 138 S. Pine St., Doylestown; (215) 340-9800.
Music other
Out singer-songwriter Avi Wisnia celebrates the release of his first full-length studio album with a performance backed by a full band, 7 p.m. April 9 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. Wisnia fuses elements of classic Brazilian bossa nova, acoustic folk, 1950s jazz and pop. His 2007 debut EP won rave reviews and his debut album, “Something New,” recorded with Grammy-winning producer Glenn Barratt, is expected to do the same. For more information, visit www.aviwisnia.com or call (215) 222-1400.
When We Go Upon The Sea InterAct Theatre Company presents a world-premiere production written by Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-nominated playwright Lee Blessing, imagining George W. Bush at a hotel in The Hague the night before going on trial for international war crimes, through May 9 at the Mainstage of The Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St.; (215) 568-8079. William Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part I Lantern Theater Company presents Shakespeare’s historical play, through May 2 at St. Stephen’s Theater, 923 Ludlow St.; (215) 8290395.
Music classical
The Rite of Spring The Philadelphia Orchestra presents works written for the Ballets Russes, 2 p.m. April 9 and 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. April 10 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847. Wharton International Cultural Show The celebration of the myriad international cultures represented by the Wharton community starts 8 p.m. April 10 at Kimmel’s Perelman Theater, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847. Philadelphia Youth Orchestra The orchestra joins forces with the Choral Society
For Ruthie: Ruth Krauss, Maurice Cinderella Sendak and Their The Philadelphia hairYoung Philosophers metal band performs at 8 The Rosenbach Museum p.m. April 9 at the Electric presents an exhibition Factory, 421 N. Seventh St.; exploring the working (215) 627-1332. relationship between the two authors, through June Richie Havens 21, 2008-2010 Delancey The folk singer performs Place; (215) 732-1600. at 8 p.m. April 9 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 The Hermaphrodites: Bridge St., Phoenixville; Living in Two Worlds (610) 917-0223. Wexler Gallery presents a group show focusing The Fab Faux on figural sculptures that The Beatles Tribute band performs at 8 p.m. April 10 embody the literal definition of hermaphrodites at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. (encompassing both Keswick Ave., Glenside; genders) and the conceptual (215) 572-7650. nature of the term, through May 1, 201 N. Third St.; Arlene McCann (215) 923-7030. The out singer-songwriter performs at 10:30 p.m. April 10 at Tin Angel, 20 N. Second St.; (215) 928-0770.
Notices
Chris Pureka The out singer-songwriter performs at 8 p.m. April 13 at Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford St.; (215) 739-9684.
Exhibits
Ancient Rome & America The National Constitution Center presents an exhibition of rare artifacts from Italy and the United
Send notices at least one week in advance to: Diversions, PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19147; fax them to (215) 925-6437; or e-mail them to diversions@epgn.com. Notices cannot be taken over the phone.
APRIL 9 - 15, 2010
Inspiring a Nation The National Constitution Center hosts an exhibition featuring World War I posters created by Philadelphia Sketch Club artists, through April 25, 525 Arch St.; (215) 409-6700. Moore Adventures in Wonderland The Rosenbach Museum presents a Marianne Moore and “Alice in Wonderland”inspired installation, created by Rosenbach artist-in-residence Sue Johnson, through June 6, 2008-2010 Delancey Place; (215) 732-1600. Of This Century The Clay Studio presents an exhibition of works by select guest artists, through May 2, 139 N. Second St.; (215) 925-3453. Other Worlds AxD Gallery presents an exhibition of graphite-and-ink work by Greg Brellochs and sculpture and prints by Allen Linder, through May 8, 265 S. 10th St.; (215) 627-6250. The Peaceable Queendom Wexler Gallery presents an exhibition of works by Adelaide Paul exploring the alternately sentimental and callous relationship between humans and both domesticated and wild animals, through May 1, 201 N. Third St.; (215) 923-7030. Picasso and the AvantGarde in Paris Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of works from the influential artist from the period 1905-45, through April 25, 26th Street and the Parkway, (215) 763-8100. The Souvenir Shop ArtStar Gallery presents an exhibition of works from ceramic artists from all over the country, through April 25, 623 N. Second St.; (215) 238-1557. SOLUTION
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
Opera
Belisario Amici Opera Company present Donizetti’s opera for the first time in the U.S., at 2:30 p.m. April 11 and 18 at The Garden Church, 82 N. Lansdowne Ave.; (215) 224-0257.
Dance
Rasta Thomas’ Bad Boys of Dance The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents a troupe of versatile male dancers, some seen on “So You Think You Can Dance,” April 15-17 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; (215) 898-6791. Philadanco: 40th Anniversary Philadanco presents a historical reflection set to the music of the Funkadelics, April 15-18 at Kimmel’s Perelman Theater, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 7905847.
Film
Eight Men Out The 1988 baseball film is screened at 2 p.m. April 11 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; (610) 917-0223. Citizen Kane Bryn Mawr Film Institute screens the 1941 cinema classic at 7 p.m. April 13, 824 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr; (610) 527-9898. The Lost Boys The very-1980s teen-vampire film is screened at 8 p.m. April 13 at Trocadero Theater, 1003 Arch St.; (215) 922-6888.
PAGE 33
Books
Heretical Text University of the Arts presents out author C.A. Conrad in a reading with four other authors at 8 p.m. April 10 at Terra Hall, Broad and Walnut streets, seventh floor; (800) 616-2787. K.M. Soehnlein The author of “Robin and Ruby” hosts a reading at 5:30 p.m. April 11 at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; (215) 923-2960.
Cabaret
Nancy Weiss The celebrated singer performs at 9 p.m. April 9 at Harlans Cabaret, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; (215) 862-5225. Miss Gay NJ US of A Sahara Davenport crowns the next Miss Gay NJ at 6 p.m. April 10 at Harlans Cabaret, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; (215) 862-5225. Umcolo Webhubesi (The Lion Sings Tonight) Cast members from “The Lion King” perform a benefit for ActionAIDS and Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS at 8 p.m. April 12 at Trocadero Theater, 1003 Arch St.; (215) 922-6888.
Etc.
Hal Sparks The comedian seen on “Queer As Folk” performs April 9-10 at Helium, 2031 Sansom St.; (215) 496-9001. First Person StorySlam First Person Arts presents the storytelling competition at 8:30 p.m. April 12 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400. ■
SWEET REVENGE: Catch out comedian Neil McGarry when he hosts “The Revenge of the 1-4-5 Show,” 8 p.m. April 9 at Tuscany Café, 222 W. Rittenhouse Square. His latest self-produced gayfriendly comedy show features performances by Carolyn Busa, Jason Pollock, Samita Pendse and Jeff Soles. For more information, visit neilmcgarry.com or call (215) 772-0605.
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 34
Meeting Place A community bulletin board of activities, facilities and organizations
Community centers ■ The Attic Youth Center: For LGBT and questioning youth and their friends and allies. Groups meet and activities are held from 4-8 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays; case management, HIV testing and smoking cessation are available Monday through Friday. See the Youth section for more events. 255 S. 16th St.; (215) 545-4331 ■ Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center at the University of Pennsylvania 3907 Spruce St.; (215) 898-5044; center@dolphin.upenn.edu, Summer hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. ■ Rainbow Room — Bucks County’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and Allies Youth Center: 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays: Doylestown Planned Parenthood, The Atrium, Suite 2E, 301 S. Main St., Doylestown; (215) 348-0558 ext. 65; rainbowroom@ppbucks.org. ■ William Way Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center: 1315 Spruce St.; (215) 732-2220; www.waygay.org. Peer counseling: Monday through Friday, 6-9 p.m. Library hours: Mondays 3-9 p.m., Tuesdays 3-6 p.m., Wednesdays 3-9 p.m., Thursdays 3-9 p.m., Fridays 3-9 p.m., Saturdays noon-6 p.m., Sundays noon-6 p.m. Volunteers: New Orientation: First Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.; Volunteer Velada, third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.
Health Anonymous, free, confidential HIV testing Spanish/English counselors offer testing 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 166 W. Lehigh Ave.; (215) 763-8870 ext. 6000. AIDS Services In Asian Communities Provides HIV-related services to Asians and Pacific Islanders at 340 N. 12th St., suite 205; (2215) 536-2424. Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative Free, anonymous HIV testing from 9:30 a.m.4:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursdays at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; (215) 851-1822 or (866) 222-3871. Spanish/English. HIV testing Free, anonymous testing and counseling is offered from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment at AIDS Resource, 520 W. Fourth St., suite 2A, Williamsport; (570) 322-8448.
Key numbers
HIV treatment Free HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment for Philadelphia residents are available from 9 a.m.noon Mondays and 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad St.; (215) 685-1803. HIV health insurance help Access to free medications, confidential HIV testing available at 17 MacDade Blvd., suite 108, Collingdale; Medical Office Building, 722 Church Lane, Yeadon; and 630 S. 60th St.; (610) 586-9077. Mazzoni Center Free, anonymous HIV testing; HIV/AIDS care and treatment, case management and support groups; 1201 Chestnut St.; (215) 563-0652. www. mazzonicenter.org. Washington West Project Free, anonymous HIV testing. Walk-ins welcome 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday; 1201 Locust St.; (215) 985-9206.
Casarez@phila.gov; Fax: (215) 686-2555
■ AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania: (215) 587-9377
■ Mazzoni Center: (215) 563-0652; www. mazzonicenter.org
■ AIDS Law Project of Southern New Jersey: (856) 933-9500 ext. 221
■ Mazzoni Center Family and Community Medicine: (215) 563-0658
■ AIDS Library: (215) 985-4851 ■ ACLU of Pennsylvania: (215) 592-1513
■ Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): (215) 572-1833
■ AIDS Treatment hot line: (215) 5452212
■ Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations: (215) 686-4670
■ Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection at the Independence Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library: (215) 685-1633
■ Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force: (215) 772-2000
■ The COLOURS Organization Inc. 112 N. Broad St., 11th floor; (215) 4960330. ■ Equality Advocates Pennsylvania: (215) 731-1447; (866) LGBTLAW ■ Equality Forum: (215) 732-3378 ■ Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Peer Counseling Services: (215) 732-TALK ■ Mayor’s liaison to LGBT communities: Gloria Casarez, (215) 686-2194; Gloria.
■ Philadelphia Police Department liaison — Chief Inspector James Tiano: (215) 685-3655 ■ Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: (215) 600-0627; ppd.lgbt@gmail.com ■ Philly Pride Presents: (215) 875-9288 ■ SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: (717) 920-9537 ■ Transgender Health Action Coalition: (215) 732-1207 (staffed 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays, and 6-9 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays)
Professional groups ■ Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia GALLOP holds board meetings at 6:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at 100 S. Broad St., Suite 1810; GALLOP also provides a free referral service; (215) 627-9090; www.galloplaw.org. ■ Greater Philadelphia Professional Network Networking group for area business professionals, self-employed and business owners meets monthly in a different location throughout the city, invites speakers on various topics, partners with other nonprofits and maintains a Web site where everyone is invited to sign up for e-mail notices for activities and events.; www.gppn.org. ■ Independence Business Alliance Greater Philadelphia’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce, providing networking, business development, marketing, educational and advocacy opportunities for LGBT and LGBT-friendly businesses and professionals. Visit www.IndependenceBusinessAlliance. com for information about events, programs and membership; (215) 557-0190; 1717 Arch St., Suite 3370. ■ National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association The Philadelphia chapter of NLGJA, open to professionals and students, meets for social and networking events; www.nlgjaphiladephia.org. ■ Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus A regional organization dedicated to promoting gay and lesbian tourism to the Greater Philadelphia Region, holds meetings every other month on the fourth Thursday (January, March, May, July, September and the third Thursday in November), open to the public; P.O. Box 58143, Philadelphia, PA 19102; www.philadelphiagaytourism.com. ■ Philly OutGoing Professionals Social group for gay, lesbian and bisexual professionals meets for social and cultural activities; (856) 857-9283; popnews19@yahoo.com.
APRIL 9 - 15, 2010
12-step programs and support groups
Gay Al-Anon meets at 8 p.m. Fridays at St. Andrew’s Church, 50 York St., Lambertville, N.J.; (215) 986-1029.
S. Seventh St.; (215) 685-1633. ■ A support group for HIV-positive men and women meets from 1:30-3 p.m. at BEBASHI — Transition to Hope, 1217 Spring Garden St., first floor; (215) 769-3561. ■ Encuentros Positivos, a group for HIV-positive Latino men who have sex with men, meets on first and third Tuesday of the month at 1205 Chestnut St.; (215) 985-3382. ■ “Feast Incarnate,” a weekly ministry for people affected by HIV/AIDS, begins at 5 p.m. at University Lutheran Church, 3637 Chestnut St. Bible study follows at 6 p.m.; (215) 387-2885. ■ A support group for people recently diagnosed with HIV/AIDS will meet from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Mazzoni Center. ■ Youth Outreach Adolescent Community Awareness Program’s Voice It Sistah, a support group for HIV-positive women, meets at 11 a.m. every first and third Tuesday at YOACAP, 1207 Chestnut St., Suite 315; (215) 851-1898.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
Wednesdays:
Adult Children of Alcoholics
Meets at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at the William Way Center. ■ Rainbow Adult Children of Alcoholics and Alcoholics Anonymous meet at 7 p.m. Saturdays at Limestone Presbyterian Church, 3201 Limestone Road, Wilmington, Del.; (302) 4569129. ■
Al-Anon
■
Acceptance meets at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays at Episcopal Church, 22nd and Spruce streets. ■ Beginnings meets at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at 1201 Locust St.; (215) 563-0663 ext. 282. ■ Community meets at 8 p.m. on Thursdays at Holy Communion Church, 2111 Sansom St. Gay and lesbian but all are welcome. ■ GLBT Alcoholics Anonymous meets at 7 p.m. on Sundays and 8 p.m. on Wednesdays at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 100 W. Windsor St., Reading; (484) 529-9504. ■ Living In Sobriety meets at 10 a.m. Mondays through Fridays and 11 a.m. Sundays at the William Way Center. ■ Night Owl meets at 11:30 p.m. Sunday through Saturday at the William Way Center. ■ Philadelphia Gay & Lesbian Beginners meets at 7:30 p.m. Mondays at Trinity Episcopal Church, 2212 Spruce St. ■ Sober and Gay meets at 8:30 p.m. Sunday through Friday at the William Way Center. ■ Stepping Stone meets at 2:30 p.m. Mondays at the Mazzoni Center. ■ Ties That Bind Us is a12-step Alcoholics Anonymous meeting for the BDSM, leather and alternative sexuality community. Meetings are held from 7:30-9 p.m. in South Philadelphia. For location, call (800) 581-7883. ■ Way Gay Young Peoples meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday at the William Way Center. ■
Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA)
Meets at 7 p.m. on Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the William Way Center.
■
Emotional Support
Healing After Loss has monthly activities in South Jersey and surrounding area; www.lsn. southjersey.com. ■ Pink and Blues is a free depression and bipolar support group for sexual minorities and meets at 7 p.m. Wednesdays at St. Luke and The Epiphany Church, 330 S. 13th St.; (215) 627-0424. ■ Pink and Blues Main Line, a peer-run mental health support group, meets 6 p.m. Thursdays at Bryn Mawr Consumer Center, 1001 W. Lancaster Ave.; (610) 527-1511. ■ Survivors of Suicide Inc. meets at 7:30 p.m. on first Tuesday of the month at 3535 Market St., Room 2037; (215) 545-2242; www.phillysos. tripod.com. ■ Survivors of Suicide Inc., Chester County meets at 7:30 p.m. on second Wednesday of the month at Paoli Memorial Hospital, Willistown Room, Medical Office Building; (215) 545-2242; www. phillysos.tripod.com. ■
HIV/AIDS
Strength In Numbers Visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ SINPhiladelphia.
A support group for HIV-positive women will meet from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the Arch Street United Methodist Church, 55 N. Broad St.; (215) 387-6055. ■ AIDS Services in Asian Communities’ weekly volunteer work group will meet from 6-8 p.m. at 340 N. 12th St., Suite 205; (215) 563-2424. ■ Project Teach, a peer-education and empowerment program for people living with HIV/AIDS, will meet from 3-5 p.m. at Philadelphia Fight, 1233 Locust St. ■ Positive Effect, for HIV-positive people 18 and over, meets from 5-7 p.m. at Camden AHEC, 514 Cooper St., Camden, N.J.; (856) 963-2432. ■
Thursdays:
A support group for HIV-positive men and women will meet from 6-8 p.m. at BEBASHI — Transition to Hope, 1217 Spring Garden St.; (215) 769-3561. ■ Diversity, an HIV/AIDS support group for all infected or affected, meets from 7-9 p.m. at Arch Street United Methodist Church, 55. N. Broad St.; call Zak, (215) 848-4380, or Paul, (215) 307-0347. ■
Saturdays:
AIDS Delaware’s You’re Not Alone youth support group meets at 11 a.m. at AIDS Delaware, 100 W. 10th St., Suite 315, Wilmington; a social session will follow at 12:30 p.m.; (302) 652-6776. ■
Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
Meetings are at 2 p.m. Sunday through Saturday and at 5:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the William Way Center. ■
Overeaters Anonymous (OA)
Open meeting, Tuesdays, beginners meet at 5:30 p.m., regular meeting at 6 p.m. at Hahnemann University Hospital, 245 N. 15th St., third floor, room 3208; call Troy, (215) 514-3065. ■
S.A.R.A.
Substance Abuse – Risk Assessment; day and evening hours; (215) 563-0663 ext. 282. ■
Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
Mondays, 7 p.m. at the William Way Center. Mondays, 7:30 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 20 N. Route 9, Marmora, N.J.; (609) 675-1998. ■ Thursdays, 7:30 p.m. at All Saints Church, 18 Olive Ave., Rehoboth Beach, Del.; (302) 5423279. ■ Fridays, 7:30 p.m. at the Ocean View Lodge, Metropolitan Community Church, 521 Glade Road, Rehoboth Beach, Del.; (302) 945-5982. ■ Saturdays, 8:30 p.m. at the William Way Center. ■ ■
■
Meeting Place rotates listings on a four week schedule.
Mondays:
Positive Brothers, a support group for men of color living with HIV/AIDS, meets from 6-8 p.m. at 112 N. Broad St., 11th floor; (215) 496-0330. ■
Tuesdays:
AIDS Services in Asian Community offers safer-sex and HIV/AIDS information at 10 a.m. on second Tuesday of the month at the Independence Branch of the the Free Library, 18
■
SEPCADD
Safe space to meet and discuss substance abuse problems with office in William Way Center; (215) 340-9995. ■
Smoking Cessation
FreshOUT!, Mazzoni Center’s free quitsmoking program, hosts individual sessions, classes and support groups and offers Nicotine Replacement Therapy (patches, gum and lozenges); (215) 563-0652 ext. 228 or e-mail quitsmoking@mazzonienter.org. ■
Send submissions to pgn@epgn.com or fax (215) 925-6437 PGN Meeting Place, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147 Meeting Place is a public service. Submissions must include a phone number for publication.
Complete Meeting Place listings of all Parent/Family, Professional, Recovery, Recreation, Religion, Sports, Men, Women, Trans, Youth groups can be found online @ www.phliagaynews.com and www.epgn.com
APRIL 9 - 15, 2010
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 35
Classifieds With Real Estate, Help Wanted, Services and Personals
Geithner: Commercial real-estate loans problematic By Marcy Gordon The Associated Press
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Mounting losses from commercial real-estate loans will continue to be a problem for the U.S. and especially smaller banks, but it can be managed, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said last week. “Commercial real estate’s still going to be a problem for the country,” Geithner said in an interview with CNBC last Monday. “But we can manage through this process.” Geithner also said the Treasury Department’s announcement that it will begin selling the stake it owns in Citigroup Inc., which could net about $7.5 billion to the government, shows “how far we’ve come” in exiting from the
financial bailout program. The government received 7.7-billion shares of Citigroup in exchange for $25 billion of the total $45 billion it gave the financial behemoth during the 2008 credit crisis. The Treasury Department said it will sell the shares over the course of this year, depending on market conditions. Like any investor, the government will likely hold on to its shares if prices fall steeply. However, Citi shares have been steadily rising with the broader market in recent months, which means the government is likely to pocket a hefty profit. The government has been trying to unwind the investments it made in banks under the $700-billion Troubled Asset
Relief Program, or TARP, that came in at the height of the financial crisis. Geithner said in the interview the government doesn’t want to keep an ownership stake in the financial companies “a day longer than necessary.” The government will use a “careful process” to balance two objectives, he said: ensuring maximum return on the taxpayers’ investment while also getting the U.S. out of the business of owning private companies. On other subjects, Geithner: — affirmed the Obama administration’s recent optimism that an agreement can be reached with Republicans on legislation to bring sweeping new regulations to the U.S. financial system, opening the way
to enactment possibly within months. “We’re getting close,” he said. — said the financial system “is in a much, much stronger position today” than it was three years ago in the run-up to the financial crisis and the U.S. economy has recovered from the crisis faster than those of other countries. Major U.S. financial institutions have far stronger capital positions than they did three years ago, though many of them still face daunting challenges, he said. While losses on mortgage loans socked banks at the beginning of the 2008 financial crisis, it is commercial and development loans that have brought dramatic losses for banks in recent months.
Losses have mounted on loans for commercial projects like stores and office complexes, as buildings sit vacant and builders default. Many midsize and regional banks hold large concentrations of those loans. U.S. banks face as much as $300 billion in losses on loans made for commercial property and development, according to the Congressional Oversight Panel, which monitors the government’s efforts to stabilize the financial system. Sheila Bair, the head of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., has said that losses on commercial real-estate loans are expected to be the primary cause of bank failures this year, which are likely to exceed the 140 collapses in 2009. ■
Location! Location! Location! This week’s featured property
Beds: 3 Baths: 2.5 Cost: $349,900 Realtor: Conrad Kuhn Real-estate co.: Weichert Realtors Phone: (856) 227-1950 x.124 Direct: (609) 221-1196 Web site: www.conradkuhn.com
Spectacular end-unit in Europa. 3 floors of living. Features a high-end kitchen and spa-like master bathroom. Many upgrades inside and out.
Check your ad
PLACING ADS Using voicemail? Please be sure to have the following information ready when you call: • Your ad copy • The type of style you want • Desired abbreviations • American Express, Discover, MasterCard or VISA information • Your name and mailing
Cherry Hill, N.J.
address • Daytime telephone number Having all this information ready will speed your order and help to avoid errors. Phone calls can only be returned during business hours. For more information, see the coupon page in this section.
Philadelphia Gay News assumes responsibility for errors in classified ads only when notified by noon the Tuesday after the ad first appears. To receive credit for errors, please notify PGN by then. Credit only will be extended in the form of additional advertising space. Any cash refunds, for any reason, are subject to a $10 service charge. PGN will publish no classified ad — in any category — that contains sexually explicit language. Obviously excluded are traditional four-letter words that relate to sexual activity. Other words may be excluded at the discretion of the publisher, who reserves the right to edit or rewrite any ad that, in his opinion, violates this policy or its intent.
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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS PAGE 47
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Washington Township Office 5070 Route 42 Turnersville, NJ 08012
PGN
OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY APRIL 10th - From 1-4 pm
WASH WEST WINNER
115 Fowler Ave., Haddonfield NJ 08033
Stunning Haddonfield Home
1229 PINE ST $519,000
Fabulous townhome in the heart of Wash West...2br/2b plus den plus large deck plus 25’ garden!!! 2 fireplaces High ceilings. OPEN FLOOR PLAN....Be a neighbor in the most exciting location !!!
OPEN THIS SUNDAY 12-2 • 4/9/10
with 3 or 4 bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths incuding family addition with gas fireplace - Fully Renovated - Beautiful, Private yard - 5 Minute Walk to Downtown Shops! $419,900
Contact - Susan Levine Phone - 609-230-1639 E-mail - sulevine@comcast.net
Open Houses - Saturday April 10, 2010 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM 1109 Spruce St. New condo conversion. 1 bd. 1 ba and 2 bd. 2 ba units. This building is FHA approved and qualifies for $8,000 first time home buyers tax credit. ........................................................................ Priced from $180,000
Open Houses - Sunday April 11, 2010 Noon - 1:00 PM
927 Spruce St. Unit 1R. “newly rehabbed 1 bd. a ba. condo w/ garden. FHA approved and parking available.............................................................................TBD Noon - 1:30 PM 2500 S. Cleveland St. NEW LISTING in rarely available Girard Estate. 4br / 2.5 Ba. corner twin. Newly updated, painted and in move-in condition......... only $329,000 Noon - 2:30 PM 1109 Spruce St. New condo conversion. 1 bd. 1 ba and 2 bd. 2 ba units. This building is FHA approved and qualifies for $8,000 first time home buyers tax credit. ........................................................................ Priced from $180,000
1228 Catharine St. New Listing. Totally restored Victorian era townhouse. 3/4 bd 2.5 ba. large rear garden. Great Bella Vista location. low taxes. ..................................... ......................................................................................... Priced to sell $375,000
RENT
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SALE
SALE
Broker/Sales Rep. Since 1987 NJAR Circle of Excellence Sales Award 1991- 2009 Weichert President’s & Ambassador’s Clubs
Garage, roof deck and hardwood floors. VACATION Queen Village ....................��������
weeks. Call for FREE brochure. Open daily. Holiday Real Estate. 1-800-638-2102 Online ��������������������������������������� reservations www.holidayoc.com _______________________________34-15
REAL ESTATE
REAL ESTATE
Conrad Kuhn
��������� ��������������� ����������������� �������������������������
Have your own bedroom in a beautiful split George T.level Sale Condo” Garden home with 2 gayUnique men. House is 4 BR, 2 full baths, W/D, upper and lower decks, use of private entrance.. Low fees & Tax is by Welsh & the Boulevard, 1 e 1 bd. inkitchen. area Property ........................��������. min. to 58 bus. We ask only that you be at least reasonably neat and employed. Rent is $600 + ����������� 1/3 utils. Contact Dave at 215-698-0215. _______________________________34-15 ew open style 2 bedroom, 1 bath condo VIC. 51ST & CITY AVE. o fees. Great small petUniv. friendly building. Near St. Joseph’s Quiet neighborhood. N/S male; kit, laundry priv. Utils incl. Furnished. ..................................�������� $375/mo. Call 215-880-1459. _______________________________34-16 wedes Court. New Listing Large 3
ING. Large update 4 bd. 2 ba. with CITY,skyline MARYLAND rfully roof deckOCEAN with city views. Best selection of affordable rentals. Full/ partial ..........................................��������
APRIL 9 - 15, 2010
2:30 - 4:00 PM
Suzanne E. Petruzel, GRI Sales Associate Cell 610-859-8030
Fox & Roach REALTORS®
At the Rittenhouse 210 W. Rittenhouse Sq. Phila, PA 19103 Dir. 215-790-5671 Fax 215-546-3415 Office 215-546-0550 suzanne.petruzel@prufoxroach.com
306 - 308 Cherry St. Unit #300 New Listing. Very large 2 bd. 1ba. renovated condo w/ hardwood floors, fireplace, low taxes and condo fees. A must see ................ .....................................................................................................................$385,000
Search all Philadelphia area listings @ www.thephillyrealtors.com Dan Tobey
The Curtis Center 170 W. Independence Mall , Suite L-44 Philadelphia, PA 19106
215.546.2700 Business • 267.238.1061 Direct 215.432.7151 Cell • 215.546.7728 Fax dtobey@cbpref.com
RC, CVE
bility
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
APRIL 9 - 15, 2010
SERVICES DIRECTORY
BUSINESS
OPPORTUNITIES ALL CASH VENDING!
Do you earn $800 in a day? Your own local
candy route. Includes 25 Machines and Candy All for $9,995. 1-800-460-4027.
_______________________________34-15
Insurance Agency for Sale. Affiliated with major
national carrier. A great business opportunity!
Please send inquires to: agencyforsalePA@aol. com or Fax: 866-296-7535.
PAGE 108
_______________________________34-15
SERVICES
SERVICES
ATTEND COLLEGE ONLINE From Home. *Medical, *Business, *Paralegal, *Computers, *Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified. Call 866-858-2121 www.CenturaOnline.com _______________________________34-15 AIRLINES ARE HIRING Train for high paying Aviation Maintenance Career. FAA approved program. Financial aid if qualified -Housing available. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance (888)349-5387. APRIL 25 - MAY 1, 2008 _______________________________34-15
IF YOU USED TYPE-2 DIABETES DRUG AVANDIA AND SUFFERED A STROKE OR HEART ATTACK? You may be entitled to compensation. Call Attorney Charles Johnson 1-800-535-5727. _______________________________33-15
REAL ESTATE
RENT
1 BEDRM ITALIAN MRKT $650 nw flr bckyd 5th/Reed. Call 267 294 9624. CLASSIFIEDS _______________________________34-15
PAGE 37
REAL ESTATE
HELP WANTED
RENT
12TH & DICKINSON AREA Furnished Townhouse for rent: 3 levels. Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, 2 bedrooms , bath. Very Unique. 1500. mo plus util. (negotiable). Call 215 468-9166 after 6 pm. or 215 686 3431 daytime. _______________________________34-20 MANAYUNK 1BR,1BA on Main Street. W/D in unit, dishwasher, new corian counters Rent $900 a mo. Heather 610-647-1776. eadeh.com _______________________________34-18 OLD CITY 1BR, 1.5 BA., New LR carpet, lg. priv. deck. Rent $1025 a mo. Heather 610-647-1776. eadeh.com _______________________________34-18 WAYNE 2BR, 1 BA. Center of downtown Wayne Access to priv. backyard, w/d in unit kitchen opens to LR. Rent $975 a mo Heather 610-647-1776. eadeh.com _______________________________34-18 RITTENHOUSE SQUARE AREA Studios & 1 Bedrooms. Call for Availability (215) 735-8050. _______________________________34-18 OAKLYN Cute 1 BR apt -gay frdly bldg. $800+ele-heat/wat inc. No Pets, no smkg, app $35 Kelly 856-693-4938. _______________________________34-19 LOCUST & 22ND UNIQUE BI-LEVEL APT. $1,295. INCL. ALL UTILS. 2 fireplaces, mod. bath jacuzzi tub, new kitch. granite tops, ss appls. Priv. yard/patio 215567-7169 No smoke/pets. _______________________________34-15 17XX E. PASSYUNK AVE. 5 rooms and bath, 2nd floor, pvt. entrance. W/D, many windows. $1200 + utils. Call 215463-2028. _______________________________34-18 EAST PASSYUNK GAYBORHOOD Newly Done Huge! Bi-Lev Beauty 3Br/ 2bth+Den, HW Floors, SSteel Kitch, Disp, DW, W/D in Apt, Granite/Tile Bath, CFans, Skyline Vu Uniquely Modern w/Old World Charm $1179 215-218-0191. _______________________________34-17
SERVICES DIRECTORY ����������������
CLASSIFIEDS
Is it time to look for a new doctor?
APRIL 25 - MAY 1, 2008
Want to let mom, dad and all of your exs know you’re tying the knot?
HELP WANTED
DESPERATELY SEEKING STYLISTS Work in fun professionals salon located at 108 Market St. Ongoing education. Set your own hours. Open every day but Monday. Must be able to B.Y.O clients. Call Carmela. She’s waiting! 215-627-6337. _______________________________34-16 Local Reliable Typist Needed Immediately. $400 Part-time, $800+ Fulltime Weekly. Flexible schedule. Type on your own Computer, APRIL 25 - MAY 1, 2008 training provided. 1-800-341-2673. _______________________________34-15 REGIONAL DRIVERS NEEDED! MORE HOMETIME! TOP PAY! Up to $.43/mile company drivers! 12 months OTR required. HEARTLAND EXPRESS 1-800441-4953 www.heartlandexpress.com _______________________________34-15 CDL-A Drivers: Our Freight Needs You! OTR Flatbed & Dry Van. High Miles, Great Runs, Good Driving Record Required. Western Express. Call Nancy 888-801-5295 _______________________________34-15 Between High School and College? Over 18? Drop that entry level position! Earn what you’re worth!!! Travel w/Young Successful Business Group. Paid Training. Transportation, Lodging Provided. Call 1-877-646-5050. _______________________________34-15 We’ve Expanded to Milton, PA! Class-A CDL drivers needed! Practical Mile Pay. Great Benefits Guaranteed Home-Time. Strong, Stable & Safe 1 Year OTR experience required www. veriha.com 800-333-9291. _______________________________34-15 REGIONAL COMPANY DRIVERS Home Weekly. Competitive Pay. Immediate Benefits. CDL-A with 1 year experience, 23 yoa. Call NFI Sunday or anytime: 877-8888476. www.nficareers.com _______________________________34-15 DRIVER FFE seeks Eastern PA based driver for a dedicated regional run. Class A CDL & 1yr. Exp. Req. Apply online: www.ffejobs.com or call 214-819-5680. _______________________________34-15
Want to let mom, dad and all of your exs know you’re tying the knot?
Advertising Sales Representative PGN, one of the country's most award-winning Gay and Lesbian publications, is looking for a special candidate to fill this position in our advertising sales department.
Us
���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Applicants should have previous advertising sales experience, preferably in a similar environment. You should have a strong work ethic, good communication skills (both written and verbal), and an aggressive desire to sell advertising in this very special niche market.
You
Most important, you should aspire to become an integral part of our successful sales team. We offer a competitive salary plus bonus, as well as Health Insurance.
Team
Send us your wedding/civil union/ commitment ceremony S. 4th St., Phila. PA. 19147 Attn.: Tami Sortman announcement EOE and we’ll share it with the City of Brotherly Love. Applicants should call Tami Sortman at 215-625-8501, ext. 218. Email resume to tami@epgn.com or send resume to:
PGN, 505
Reach Over 40,000 Readers Weekly For As Little As $25.00 A Week.
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 38
REAL ESTATE
SALE
REAL ESTATE
SALE
REAL ESTATE
SALE
APRIL 9 - 15, 2010
REAL ESTATE
SALE
FINANCIAL
SERVICES CASH NOW! Get cash for your structured settlement or annuity payments. High payouts. Call J.G. Wentworth. 1-866-SETTLEMENT (1-866738-8536). Rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau. _______________________________34-15
ADOPTION Stunning and Dramatic Lower Gwynedd Estate Home Designed for Entertaining Yet Relaxed Living. Your Own Private Oasis. 5 Bedrooms, 6.2 Baths,
Adopt: Energetic creative childless couple promises love, wonderful future, stayat-home mom, lots of cousins. Expenses Paid. www.CuddlyHome.com; email CuddlyHome@yahoo.com or call Marianne/ Dan toll-free 1-877-739-6889. _______________________________34-15 Adoption: Loving parents and their 9 year old adopted daughter would love a baby brother or sister. Stay at home mom, professional dad. Expenses paid. Please call Becky/ Mike 800-472-1835. _______________________________34-15
No Matter...
$1,795,000. MLS #- 5542306.
Contact Rachel Rothbard at 215-901-1279 or Vanessa Klein at 215-582-9338 for a private showing
Home Improvement & Services Directory
How You...
Get Naked In Your Hot Tub For Memorial Day! PGN
Real Estate
$599,000 Move in this secluded 3 bedroom 2 bath designer home in New Hope.
Look at it...
Great location in a “friendly” neighborhood, close to bars, restaurants and everything else New/ Hope/Lambertville has to offer. Easy commute ot Philly and NY. Call Stefan & Tom direct at 215-862-8404 for more information and/or to schedule your private showing.
We’ve got your color!
Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors Stefan Wester & Tom Hora 6319 Lower York Rd. New Hope, PA 18938 215-862-3385
You Can Always Trust
PGN
APRIL 9 - 15, 2010
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 39
CRC, CVE
bility
PAGE PAGE 40 110
APRIL 25 - MAY 1, 2008
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS CLASSIFIEDS
9 - 1, 15,2008 2010 APRIL APRIL 25 - MAY
LEGAL & PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY
AMY F. STEERMAN Attorney at Law
Concentrating in Planning for Lesbian and Gay Couples • Probate • Wills • Living Wills • Powers of Attorney
215-735-1006
1900 Spruce Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 www.amysteerman.com
James M. Quesenberry, MA, CRC, CVE Disability Consultant
Social Security Disability Claims Appeals
215-629-0585 Suite 202 Oxford Valley Rd. Fairless Hills, PA 19030
this space: only $25 per week*
Your ad dollars go further when you target your audience *when you run for a minimum of 8 weeks
Reach Over 40,000 Readers Weekly For As Little As $25.00 A Week. Call 215-625-8501 Today!
APRIL 9 - 15, 2010
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 106
PAGE 41
SERVICES & HOME IMPROVEMENT DIRECTORY
Reach Over 40,000 Readers Weekly For As Little As $25.00 A Week. Call 215-625-8501 Today!
��������������� Adult/Personals PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS ADULT PERSONALS
PAGE 42
������� ���� ������������������� Attractive GWM, warm, sensitive, caring, 48 y.o. with a smooth gymnast build looking for FRIENDS other GWM, 30-50, who is also in good shape. I live in NE Phila. I’m looking for guys who are also sensitive, caring with a fun personality. If LOOKING FORtoROMANCE this sounds interesting you feel free to call Attractive warm, sensitive, caring, 48 me, David,GWM, 215-698-0215. y.o. with a smooth gymnast build looking for _______________________________33-28 other GWM, 30-50, who is also in good shape. I live in NE Phila. I’m looking for guys who are also sensitive, caring with a fun personality. If this sounds interesting to you feel free to call me, David, 6’, 165 lbs.,215-698-0215. 60 year old Master, greek active, _______________________________34-20 french passive requires obedient slave for GWM, 55, athletic, professional. Prefer Black or training, S&M, B/D, W/S, etc. Limits respected Latino non smoker for intelligent and intimate and expanded. Assistant Master wanted. Call relationship. Call 609-530-1726 Dave at 215-729-6670, day or evening. _______________________________34-16 _______________________________33-48 GBM, 28, 8 seeks WM, Puerto Rican 20 to 30 Xdress sex party. CD house orgy every Sat. for instant relationship. I want someone I can nite. GWM couple ISO GWMs 18-40 yrs. for love. Fem act a +. College students, Mexicans 1 on 1 and215-227-2180. group sex. Stockings, pantyhose, welcome. etc. Starts 9 PM Sat. Call Sat. 7-8 PM 856_______________________________34-15 910-8303, asksissy/TV. for Mark.Don, 610-352-1188. Daddy 8” sks _______________________________33-24 _______________________________34-17 GWM,NE Italian, top or bottom,looking 7” cut. Also WM, Phila. If you’re for into hot assplay,call toys215-934-5309. & water sports. No Bi, straight, out action, calls after of towners welcome. Day or night. Call Jeff at 11 PM. 215-850-7900. _______________________________34-16 _______________________________33-18
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Erotic Dungeon Master
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WM 60, 5’7’ 155, bottom, nice looking, discreet, fit, hot, seeks top men only for relationship in NE. 215-264-1058 LM. FRIENDS _______________________________33-19 WM, NE Phila. If you’re looking for hot action, call 215-934-5309. No calls after 11 PM. _______________________________33-19 6’, 165 lbs., 60������������ year old Master, greek active, french requires obedient slavebutt. for You: bigpassive equipment! Me: real nice white training, S&M, B/D, 215-732-2108, 8-11W/S, PM. etc. Limits respected and expanded. Assistant Master wanted. Call _______________________________33-20 Dave at 215-729-6670, day or evening. _______________________________34-34I am looking for a horny Puerto Rican for sex in the daytime. Walt, 267-259-5436. _______________________________34-16 Older guy who likes younger guys. Also looking for personal driver who is willing to be involved with an older man. Full time. Reply to pjayf33@gmail.com _______________________________34-17
GWM seeks new friends. 610-352-1188. _______________________________33-21 ������������� FRIENDS Shuttle service within city limits, personal shopping, help with bags, companion service, lite cooking, dog walking & house sitting, any Dom top leather M 215-205-5453. has submissive male for reasonable request. Refs. avail. use and abuse by leather punk type G females. Reasonable rates! Lifestyle S&M, B/D only reply. Call Chic *82 _______________________________33-18 nights 60 y.o.,only 5’7”,215-869-4030. 160, 7” crossdresser looking for casual sex. Northern suburbs. 215-538-2040 _______________________________34-15 ask for WM, 34,Zeta. clean seeks mature Latin/Black TS. _______________________________33-21 Meet, hangout, have fun. 215-416-4146. _______________________________34-15 Well built & hung FF B butt type TS to work in underground dom kink videos. If interested, call Chuck at *82 215-869-4030, nights only. _______________________________34-15 Gerard, lives by Danny’s, worked at Sanson St. Gym, goes to film school call Chic, *82, 215-869-4030. _______________________________34-15
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Fantasy
Adult Recreational
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APRIL 9 - 15, 2010
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APRIL 9 - 15, 2010
PHILADELPHIA ADULT PERSONALS GAY NEWS
CERTIFIED
MASSAGE
MASSAGE
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Man for Man Massage • Full Body • Deep Tissue • Sensual
• Erotic
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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
APRIL 9 - 15, 2010