Bananas and cukes on TV, oh my! PAGE 23
Quince revisits fundraising marriage play PAGE 5
New name, events for Black Pride
Family Portrait: Kevin Armstrong is next at bat PAGE 29
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Apr. 17-23, 2015
Since 1976
PGN Philadelphia Gay News HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
Vol. 39 No. 16
Local Dems make historic endorsements
Hearing set for Office of LGBT Affairs bill
By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com
By Ryan Kasley ryan@epgn.com Last month, City Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown proposed a bill to make permanent the Office of LGBT Affairs. Now PGN has obtained a more concrete timeline for the bill and its expected path onto the general-election ballot. The bill is scheduled for a hearing at 1:30 p.m. April 30 in the Committee on Law and Government. If approved, the bill would be eligible for a first reading in City Council May 7 and, pending that proceeding, would be eligible for a final-passage vote May 14. If it clears Council, the bill would move to the desk of Mayor Michael Nutter, who has already endorsed it. Once signed, the bill would appear on the Nov. 3 general-election ballot, where voters would be asked: “Shall The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to establish and define the functions of the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Affairs, headed by a Director of LGBT Affairs?” The measure would essentially make the office immune to closure by any future mayoral administrations. “Philadelphia has an international reputation as a city that both celebrates diversity and has no tolerance for intolerance,” Reynolds Brown said. “This bill offers the LGBT community a permanent seat and voice at the table.” n
THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKIN’: I’m From Driftwood’s famous pink boot served as a centerpiece for the LGBT-storytelling program’s fundraising brunch April 11 at John C. Anderson Apartments. I’m From Driftwood documents personal stories of LGBT people, with the pair of pink boots making its way around the nation with Driftwood organizers on their 2010-11 Story Tour. The brunch netted about $7,000 for the organization. IFD is also a beneficiary of the April 19 production of “Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays,” from Quince Productions. Stories and other information can be found at imfromdriftwood.com. Photo: Scott A. Drake
For the first time ever, the local Democratic party has endorsed an openly LGBT candidate for Philadelphia City Council. At its endorsement meeting last Saturday, the Philadelphia Democratic City Committee endorsed Sherrie Cohen for a City Council-at-Large seat. The committee also endorsed out candidates Christopher Mallios and Abbe Fletman, who are both running for Court of Common Pleas judgeships. Philadelphia remains the only major city in the nation to never have elected an openly LGBT councilperson. “I’m honored to receive the Philadelphia Democratic City Committee endorsement,” Cohen said. “I want to thank every member of the committee, not only for their support but [their] faith in myself
and the campaign we are building.” Democratic voters will pick five candidates for Council-at-Large in the May 19 primary. The committee endorsed the four incumbents and Cohen. A dozen challengers are also vying for an at-Large seat, including openly gay candidate Paul Steinke. Cohen acknowledged the history-making nature of the endorsement. “This is a victory for the entire LGBT community that has fought for years to have direct representation on council,” Cohen said. “This is also a victory for working families, union members and for every Philadelphian who feels like city government doesn’t work for them.” Cohen, Mallios and Fletman were initially recommended for endorsement last month by a subset of the committee. The committee did not make an endorsement for mayor. n
City seeks to exclude anti-LGBT evidence in police brutality trial By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com City attorneys want a federal judge to exclude LGBT-related evidence in an upcoming police-brutality case, claiming the evidence is irrelevant and inflammatory. Luis A. Berrios 3d is suing Officer Michael Gentile for allegedly using excessive force when arresting him during a domestic disturbance in December 2010. He’s also suing Officer Robert Taverez and Detective Joseph Newbert for allegedly standing by and facilitating the excessive
force. Berrios contends police were motivated by homophobia, noting that slurs and taunts such as “faggot” were hurled at him during the incident. Last month, U.S. District Judge C. Darnell Jones 2d allowed the case to move forward to a jury trial. However, Jones dismissed several counts, including false arrest, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution and conspiracy. On April 10, the city filed a six-page motion asking that LGBT-related evidence be excluded at trial. The motion quotes from a Third PAGE 19
FLOOR SHOW: ICandy manager Michael Probe took a hot minute from the latest bar renovations for an exclusive quick tour and photo op April 15. The almost-completed dance floor, dubbed The Arena, will open 10 p.m. April 18 in conjunction with the bar’s fourth anniversary party. The special event includes a Marco Marco fashion walk-off, performances by drag superstar Rhea Litre and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season-three winner Raja with a VIP party at 8 p.m. before the formal opening. Photo: Scott A. Drake