An in-depth look at “Bully”
Family Portrait: Jade Starling
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Weigh It Forward participants weigh in at three months
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April 13-19, 2012
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Vol. 36 No. 15
No charges filed in prison assault
Despite alleged bias motivation and identification of suspects — and nearly two months in the hospital — detaineeʼs assailants have so far escaped charges. By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com Five months after an openly gay detainee at the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia was brutally assaulted, no criminal charges have been filed against his alleged assailants. On Nov. 10, Kenneth J. Houck Jr. was reading a gay novel inside his cell when two males entered, pulled him by his legs from the top bunk bed, then stomped on him and beat him with a chair. The tibia and fibula bones in Houck’s right leg were fractured during the assault, requiring the installation of a metal rod from his ankle to his knee for stabilization. At the time of the incident, Houck was awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to one count of transporting child pornography, according to court records. Houck told PGN he doesn’t know the names of his assailants, but he identified them through a photo display shown to him by detention-center officials. In Houck’s opinion, he’s the victim of an anti-LGBT hate crime. “I want all involved punished for the hate crime — to give them a reason to not let their homophobic aggression be taken out on anyone else ever again,” the prisoner said. Houck also expressed remorse for his own crime — which involved downloading child porn, then sharing it with an undercover federal agent through a computer file-sharing network. Houck’s criminal activity took place between November 2010 and February 2011, according to court records. Houck was living in South Philadelphia at the time, and the undercover agent was located in Delaware. In February, U.S. District Judge Gregory M. Sleet sentenced Houck to 97 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Houck also must register as a sex offender in any jurisdiction where he lives, works or goes to school — for the remainder of his life. Houck’s projected release date is March 3, 2018, if he doesn’t commit any infractions while in custody. PAGE 22
Lesbian attacked twice on SEPTA By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com A lesbian was recently attacked in two separate incidents on the city’s public-transit system. Christina Molieri said she was attacked March 28 and April 2, while on her way to work. She is unsure whether her sexual orientation had anything to do with the incidents. Molieri, who works as a therapist in East Oak Lane, suffered possible rib fractures, contusions, abrasions, a lower-back sprain and musculo-skeletal damage, among other injuries, in the two attacks. PAGE 22 T h e fi r s t o c c u r r e d
HALLOWEEN IN APRIL: Out Halloween party connoisseur Henri David led the 81st annual Easter Promenade on April 8 down South Street. David, who has been a figure in the parade for decades, directed the hundreds of bunny-earwearing residents, merchants and visitors from Passyunk Avenue and South Street to Headhouse Square. David judged the annual costume contest after the parade, and festivalgoers enjoyed the music of the Mummers and a vintagecar show. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Grants to go to LGBT of color groups By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Five local organizations will next week become the beneficiaries of a unique partnership between a local LGBT grantmaking agency and a national program that focuses on furthering racial equity. Delaware Valley Legacy Fund will award $12,500 in grants through its Racial Equality Initiative program at a reception from 5:30-7:30 p.m. April 24 at Woody’s, 202 S. 13th St. The event is free. DVLF was one of five agencies across
the nation selected to participate in the REI program, supported by Funders for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Issues. Since joining the effort three years ago, DVLF has distributed $100,000 to area agencies that support LGBT of color communities. The latest grantees are Beta Phi Omega Sorority, Hotpot!, House of Blahnik, Philadelphia Black Gay Pride and Unity Fellowship of Christ Church Philadelphia. Each organization will receive $2,500. DVLF executive director John Moeller said the awards are PAGE 2
Alleged victims, others take stand in church trial By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com The man who leveled sex-abuse charges against an Archdiocesan priest took the stand last week to defend his claims. The alleged victim, now 30, testified over a several-day period about the abuse he says he suffered at the hands of the Rev. James Brennan. Brennan faces attempted rape and other charges stemming from the allegations. He is standing trial with Monsignor William Lynn, the first known church official in the nation to face child-endangerment charges for his role in allegedly helping to cover up abuse allegations. Brennan was a priest at a Newtown parish where the alleged victim, identified as Mark, attended with his family in the 1990s. Mark said Brennan, who was also a close family friend, showed PAGE 23