Kim Coles keeps it natural PAGE 23
How new legislation fuels hatred towards the LGBT community
Family Portrait: Ignacio Rivera is a sexy talker PAGE 29
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Trans history exhibitors looking for input PAGE 5 Apr. 10-16, 2015
Since 1976
PGN Philadelphia Gay News HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
Vol. 39 No. 15
Community mourns loss of Charlene Arcila By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Charlene Arcila, credited with a number of pioneering LGBT and HIV/AIDS efforts, died Tuesday afternoon at age 52. Arcila was known for both her advocacy and activism; among her achievements, she founded the Philadelphia Trans-Health Conference in 2000 and filed a discrimination complaint against SEPTA’s use of gender markers, which it ultimately removed. “There would be no Trans-Health Conference without Charlene,” said Yoshiaki Yamasaki, executive director of The Philadelphia AIDS Consortium. “She initiated it with the support of TPAC more EMBRACING TRADITION: About 75 people turned out for an LGBTQ Community than a decade ago and then Mazzoni picked Seder April 6 at William Way LGBT Community Center. The Passover event was it up. It is because of Charlene it exists in organized by Jewish Philly LGBTQ Consortium (J.Proud), which hosted for the first the first place.” time, taking the reins of the event from Spectrum, one of its affiliate organizations. Mazzoni Center executive director Nurit The seder was led by Rabbi Isabel de Koninck and featured guest speakers such Shein said Arcila remained involved with as Elad Strohmayer, Israel’s openly gay deputy consul general to the Mid-Atlantic region. Photo: Scott A. Drake the conference for years after getting it off the ground. “She was working at TPAC and they were willing to put up dollars to fund the beginning of the conference and we collaborated as the fiscal conduit. Charlene was very instrumental in bringing that money around,” Shein said. “She then served on the committee that created the program and was involved in the conference on the comcommunity. By Timothy Cwiek munity committee for a number of years.” timothy@epgn.com Mazzoni Center honored Arcila with an Police paperwork questioned award during the conference’s 10th anniWhen Philadelphia District Attorney The paperwork turned in by officers who versary. Shein said PTHC organizers will Seth Williams agreed to attend next week’s Nizah Morris forum, he sent a ripple of responded to Morris on the morning of her announce at this summer’s event the crehomicide has long been a source of conhope for transparency in the case. Numerous questions plague the Morris cern. Not only does the paperwork fail to doccase that Williams may be able to answer. Advocates also hope he’ll lift a non-disclo- ument the courtesy ride and subsequent By Ryan Kasley sure agreement preventing public access to homicide, it contains speculation about ryan@epgn.com Morris’ transgender status and ascribes dozens of Morris investigative records. Morris was a trans woman found with two genders to her. Last week a pre-trial conference was held It’s unclear why the paperwork would a fatal head injury during the early-morning hours of Dec. 22, 2002, shortly after contain any mention of Morris’ transgen- for Randolph Sanders, the man accused a Center City “courtesy ride” from der status, since the officers supposedly of shooting his lesbian coworker this past thought Morris was simply a “hospital winter. Philadelphia police. Sanders is charged with murder and Her homicide remains unsolved, and case,” not a hate-crime victim. Another troubling aspect of the paper- weapons charges in the Jan. 13 shootadvocates want a state probe. Aspects of the case that require clari- work is a patrol log filled out by Officer ing of Kim Jones at 12th and Jefferson fication include paperwork turned in by Elizabeth Skala, who gave Morris the streets in North Philadelphia. Jones, 56, responding officers, missing and with- courtesy ride. was waiting for a SEPTA bus to her job at On its face, the log indicates that Skala Turning Points for Children; Sanders was held evidence and communication gaps PAGE 19 a coworker there and investigators say he between police and the civilian-oversight was with Morris during
Forum could mark shift in transparency in Morris case
ation of an annual award in Arcila’s name. “The conference has created visibility for the community, opportunities for networking, for learning and, now that we have created professional tracts, an opportunity for us to educate providers — legal, medical or behavioral health — on issues relating to the trans community,” Shein said. In her professional work, Arcila served as Yamasaki’s assistant for 20 years, the past six as his executive assistant. He said her “passion and drive” were inspiring, as was her “patience and dedication” to the fight against HIV/AIDS. “She’s going to be missed by the entire community,” Yamasaki said. “We have lost a great advocate and great human being.” William Way LGBT Community Center executive director Chris Bartlett sat with Arcila on the board of a local community organization, for which she served as treasurer. He said she had natural leadership abilities. “She accomplished that role with incredible dignity and integrity, always patiently answering questions, completing all the PAGE 12 necessary work at hand
Alleged murderer of Kim Jones back in court killed Jones because she suspected him of stealing from the organization. At the proceeding, assistant district attorney Mark Levenberg shared the prosecution’s evidence against Sanders with the defense team, as is expected during the discovery-exchange phase of the trial. Defense attorney Michael Coard requested time for further investigation of the evidence. At the April 1 hearing, Common Pleas Judge Benjamin Lerner scheduled Sanders for another pre-trial conference at 9 a.m. May 6 at the Criminal Justice Center, 1301 Filbert St. n