pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976
Vol. 42 No. 15 April 13-19, 2018
Family Portrait: Antar Bush talks about HIV stigma and the Black Pride Parade PAGE 23
HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
Food trucks at Philly’s largest dining fundraiser PAGE 6
Liberty City makes its primary picks
The new Village People on the block PAGE 26
PAGE 5
Gov. Wolf in push for legislation that would provide more LGBT rights By Timothy Roberts PGN Contributor
FOUR QUEENS: Philly Pride Presents crowned four area drag-queen mainstays during the weekly show April 5 at Bob and Barbara’s Lounge. The organization chose Sandy Beach (from left), Finesse A. Ross, Les Price and Marcello Brening Barrera collectively as the 2018 Miss Philly LGBT Pride for the 30th-anniversary parade June 10 because none had held the title through 30 years of Pride. Each of the recipients performed a number prior to receiving the sash and crown. Bob and Barbara’s Philly Pride Presents expects to announce the grand marshals next week. Photo: Scott A. Drake
‘The world needs people to be happier’ N.J. legislature expected to pass trans birth certificate bill By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com Proposed legislation that would allow trans people born in New Jersey to obtain an amended birth certificate consistent with their gender identity is expected to pass the state Assembly next month. “I support it and will get it on the agenda for a committee vote in May,” John Burzichelli, chair of the New Jersey Assembly’s Appropriations Committee, told PGN on April 5. “I don’t see any reason why it won’t pass the Assembly, considering we have a Democratic majority. We’ll get 41 votes in the Assembly, if not more, and then it goes to the governor for his signature.” Senate Bill 478 passed the Democratic-
controlled New Jersey body on Feb. 26 by a vote of 30-7. It was then forwarded to the New Jersey Assembly for consideration. On March 12, in a 4-0 vote, the New Jersey Assembly’s Human Services Committee approved the bill, and it was referred to the Appropriations Committee, where it remains pending. Burzichelli, a Democrat, said he’s a strong supporter of the bill. His district covers Salem County and parts of Cumberland and Gloucester counties in South Jersey. The legislator said he has a close family member who’s transgender. “Genitalia do not define a person,” Burzichelli said. “This bill will help people gain some comfort, knowing their [birth] records accurately reflect who they are. The world needs people to be happier. This will help.” Burzichelli didn’t specify an exact date in May when the bill would come up for an appropriations-comPAGE 13
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf and a host of legislators and activists made a stirring call April 5 for antidiscrimination legislation that would give LGBT people the same rights as heterosexuals in employment, housing and public accommodations. “No one, absolutely no one, should ever be a victim of workplace discrimination or sexual harassment,” Wolf said at a press conference at Temple University’s Liacouras Center. “We cannot and will not accept this behavior as normal.” The governor called for a wide range of actions against sexual harassment, which may attract varying levels of opposition. Still, the proposal appears to have little chance of passing any time soon. State Rep. Dan Frankel, an Allegheny County Democrat and the House sponsor of the bill, which is called the Pennsylvania Fairness Act, said his bill
and the corresponding legislation in the Senate sponsored by Philadelphia Democrat Larry Farnese are “buried” in their respective state government committees. In the last session, there was a move to at least get employment and housing protection for LGBT people. The move failed and the bill got nowhere. “That would have codi fi e d d i s c r i m i n a t i o n ,” Frankel told PGN. “That would have given LGBT people 75 percent of their civil rights. I found that offensive.” Attempts to water down the legislation appear less likely in this session. At the press conference, Farnese said he would oppose any attempt to strip the bill of its public-accommodation provisions. “When the time comes, I’m sure Gov. Wolf will join me in demanding that any antidiscrimination bill will include employment, housing and public accommodation protections so that the LGBT community will be
GOV. TOM WOLF DURING THE APRIL 5 PRESS CONFERENCE AT TEMPLE UNIVERSITY Photo: Scott A. Drake
treated fairly and equally like each and every other citizen in the commonwealth.” The opposition to LGBT equality is familiar. “Everyone is in agreement that we don’t want to discriminate against LGBT people, but we don’t want to step on the rights of people with religious objections,” said Fred Sembach, chief of staff for PAGE 2
Krasner: New crime-victims’ panel will have LGBT representation By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com A new crime-victims advisory committee under formation by the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office will have LGBT representation, D.A. Larry Krasner said during a recent press conference. “We would invite LGBTQ presence on this committee,” Krasner said during an April 6 press conference at the D.A.’s Office. “We certainly have an [LGBTQ] presence in our office, and we invite peo-
ple from all communities to participate.” During the press conference, Krasner explained the purpose of the committee. “What we need is a system where there is … more access to information every step of the way, where the communications are clear and concise,” he said. Movita Johnson-Harrell, supervisor of the D.A.’s victims-services unit, said the committee will be composed of victims of crimes, their relatives, crime witnesses and professional advocates for crime victims. PAGE 15