PGN april 20-26, 2012 by The Philadelphia Gay News

Dining Out with Ted Allen

Family Portrait: Johanna Rosen

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Election interviews Interviews with Josephs and Sims Editorial on endorsements

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April 20-26, 2012

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Vol. 36 No. 16

Senior-housing program gets green light, construction to begin this fall By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

After years of stops and starts, the city’s proposed LGBT-friendly senior residences got one of its most important green lights last week. Backers of the proposed William Way Senior Residences were notified April 12 that the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency awarded the proposal low-income housing tax credits, the final piece of the funding needed to move the project forward.

SEPTA to drop gender markers in 2013 The end appears to be in sight for SEPTA’s decades-old gender-marker system that many say discriminates against transgender and gender nonconforming riders. SEPTA general manager Joe Casey told PGN this week that the agency intends to cease use of the stickers in the second half of 2013, several months before its new farecollection process begins to be rolled out. Since the 1980s, markers designating “male” or “female” have been used on all SEPTA transpasses, an effort that the agency has said cuts down on pass-sharing. However, LGBT and ally activists have said the system leaves some passengers open to undue scrutiny PAGE 44

City appeals Scouts ruling

Endorsements U.S. Senate Bob Casey U.S. House of Representatives 13th District: Allyson Schwartz

City attorneys this week appealed recent rulings by a federal judge in the dispute involving a local Boy Scouts council’s occupation of a city-owned building. Two notices of appeal were filed April 16 with the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. The first document appeals last month’s ruling by U.S. District Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter upholding a jury verdict that the city violated the constitutional rights of the BSA Cradle of Liberty Council when trying to evict it from 231-251 N. 22nd St. The second document appeals a separate ruling by Buckwalter, ordering the city to pay Cradle about $877,000 in legal fees. The Center City law firm of Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis is handling the appeals on a pro-bono basis, in collaboration with senior attorneys at the city Law Department. The next major step in the litigation is for the court to issue a briefing schedule, specifying when the both sides are expected to file legal briefs supporting their respective positions. The case will be heard by a panel of three appellate judges, who haven’t been named yet. PAGE 2 Mary Catherine Roper,

NOT SO SWEET: Dozens of HIV/AIDS

activists, including some in Mars candy-themed costumes, spoke out against discrimination at Hershey Park April 15. The action, organized by the Metropolitan Community Church of Philadelphia, was in response to the Milton Hershey School’s denial of admission to an HIV-positive 13-yearold student. The school is funded in part from proceeds from the park and Hershey candy. Photo courtesy of

Rev. Jeffrey Jordan

Pennsylvania Attorney General Patrick Murphy

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By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com

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By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

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Senate 1st District: Larry Farnese House 103rd: Roy Christ 104th: Chris Dietz 105th: Kelly McEntee 111th: Jeff Dahlander 170th: Brendan Boyle 172nd: Kevin Boyle 180th: Angel Cruz 182nd: Brian Sims 186th: Jordan Harris 188th: James Roebuck 190th: Vanessa Lowery-Brown 192nd: Louise Bishop 194th: Pam DeLissio 195th: Michelle Brownlee 198th: Malik Boyd 200th: Cherelle Parker 201st: Michael Ellis 202nd: Mark Cohen 203rd: Dwight Evans

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STANDING FOR SENIORS: Mayor Michael Nutter joined the board of Dr. Magnus Hirschfield Fund president Mark Segal April 16 at William Way LGBT Community Center to celebrate a victory for LGBT seniors. Last week the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Authority awarded $11 million in tax-credit financing for a DMH Fund plan to create an LGBT-friendly seniorhousing facility. Construction is expected to begin in the fall. Photo: Scott A. Drake

Construction on the Gayborhood facility is scheduled to begin in the fall and is anticipated to last about 15 months. The tax credits are expected to generate $11 million for the program, and backers already closed the gap in the $19-million price tag by securing $8 million in public funding from the city and state. The project — spearheaded by the Dr. Magnus Hirschfield Fund and developer Pennrose Properties — was one of 32 multifamily housing initiatives to receive the PHFA credits. PAGE 44 It will be among the

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

REGIONAL PGN

Abington passes LGBT ordinance By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com A suburban LGBT nondiscrimination bill that had been stalled for more than a year was approved last week, marking Pennsylvania’s 28th such ordinance. The Abington Board of Commissioners approved the measure April 12 in a 105 vote — the same margin that last year rejected the bill. The bill was first proposed by out commissioner Lori Schreiber in January 2011. “It’s been a long road but I am so excited that we got here,” Schreiber said this week. The ordinance bans discrimination based on a number of factors, including sexual orientation and gender identity, in employment, housing and public accommodations, closing a gap in existence because of the lack of an LGBT provision in the statewide nondiscrimination law. The bill was amended to limit the authority of the human-relations commission that was established within the legislation, which Schreiber surmised may have changed some minds. “A couple of us worked together in a bipartisan way to come up with compromises,” she said. “The new version was based on one passed in a couple other municipalities, like Jenkintown and Springfield townships, which doesn’t include an adjudication portion. So there’s some belief that it won’t lead to as much potential for this to cost the township money. I think some people saw this as being more fiscally sound and that changed their votes.” The legislation stipulates that mediation between parties be handled by an outside APPEAL from page 1

senior staff attorney with the ACLU of Pennsylvania, said the city’s appeal raises issues of importance to the community. “We think the core issue here is that the city gets to decide how it allocates its resources as long as it does so in an evenhanded manner,” Roper told PGN. The city has been involved in a protracted dispute with Cradle since 2000, when the Supreme Court ruled that the BSA can exclude gays from the organization. While the city hasn’t challenged the Supreme Court ruling, it is against city policy to subsidize Cradle’s exclusionary membership policies by supplying it with a rent-free headquarters building on the Ben Franklin Parkway. In 2007, Philadelphia City Council passed a resolution to evict Cradle after the BSA council refused to pay $200,000 annual rent. The following year, Cradle filed a federal civil-rights lawsuit, claiming the city was violating its constitutional right to exclude gays. In 2010, a federal jury ruled that the city placed an “unconstitutional condition” on Cradle by allegedly requiring it to repudi-

agency and that the parties themselves be responsible for any financial obligations. If the mediation is not successful, the commission would then instruct the parties to take the case to the Court of Common Pleas or the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, if applicable. While Schreiber said there was a “very small but vocal” band of opponents who spoke out at meetings about the bill, feedback from residents was largely positive. She estimated that about 90 percent of the standing-room-only crowd at last week’s meeting was there to support the ordinance. Since the Abington bill was introduced, surrounding municipalities like Jenkintown and Cheltenham have adopted their own ordinances. “ M y h o p e i s t h a t n ex t w i l l b e Montgomery County passing something like this,” Schreiber said. “That way we won’t be going municipality by municipality but on the county level.” Ted Martin, executive director of Equality Pennsylvania, said his agency is working with a number of Pennsylvania locales on similar ordinances, and commended the Abington supporters for persevering. “The process of passing an ordinance in Abington has been long and detailed, and we really salute the local activists who led the way and helped to keep the process moving forward and on track,” he said. “For our part, we worked exceptionally hard to be a good partner to all of them. Passage of the Abington ordinance gives us courage to continue our work with over a dozen other communities throughout the state.” ■ ate the national BSA’s antigay policy to avoid eviction. The city asked Buckwalter to overturn the verdict, maintaining in part that the questions posed to jurors allegedly didn’t give enough weight to the rental-payment option offered to the Scouts. If the Scouts had paid fair-market rent, there would have been no expectation of a membership-policy change, according to the city’s court filings. But Buckwalter upheld the jury verdict last month, stating that the city placed an “overly broad speech restriction” on Cradle during the eviction attempt. At press time, Nutter spokesperson Mark McDonald had no comment on the appeal. In response to the filing, Cradle of Liberty Council issued a statement: “We are disappointed the City has chosen at this time to appeal since the result will be more tax dollars being wasted instead of going to provide services to at-risk children from all walks of life from throughout Philadelphia.” Earlier this month, the Mayor’s LGBT Advisory Board sent a letter to Nutter, reaffirming its position that the city should appeal Buckwalter’s ruling. ■

PGN

SAFETY FIRST �� > Ultra-rigid body structure > Dynamic Stability Control standard > Seven airbags standard

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

What: 8th Annual Sing Out Loud and Proud (a.k.a. SOLAP) When: 5:15 private reception with Cecile Richards (available 6:30 Doors and

through speciﬁc sponsorship opportunities) SOLAP begins (see timeline below for details)

Entertainment: Singer/Songwriter Adam Shenk and his band will be performing Honoring: Marlene Pray and Joe McCabe will be honored and receiving the “Beyond the Rainbow” Award

$100/ticket For more information Call:

610-481-0481 opt. #2

Email:

development@ planitpa.org

SHEDDING POUNDS: Contestants in the Weigh It Forward challenge — a weight-loss initiative that raises funds for LGBT causes — showed off their slimmer selves at a meet-and-greet April 16 at William Way LGBT Community Center. The crowd of 75 supporters heard about the weight-loss journeys of PGN advertising and marketing director Dan Calhoun (from right), Philly Pride Presents executive director Franny Price, Woody’s and Voyeur administrative manager Debbie Spadafora and political consultant Micah Mahjoubian. The four have collectively lost 150 pounds since January and raised more than $12,500 for William Way, The Attic Youth Center and Philly Pride Presents. The final weigh-in will be on stage at Pride on June 10. Photo: Scott A. Drake NEWS

Gettin’ On Local Media Trail News Briefing Obituaries Regional

15 5 18 9 20 2

Contents

EDITORIAL/OP-ED

Creep of the Week Editorial Letters/Feedback Mark My Words Street Talk

10 10 11 11 11

How do LGBT divorces impact gay marriage initiatives? Poll results from our online survey as of April 18:

39% It has some impact 32% It has no impact 29% It has a negative impact

What SOLAP does: SOLAP raises funds for our Education and Training Department, specifically youth programs such as Rainbow Room, Bucks County’s first and only center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning Youth and their allies (LGBTQA) ages 14 to 21. The Rainbow Room features educational, advocacy and recreational programs that foster peer support, self-confidence building, leadership skills and a sense of belonging and unity. Girlfriends Club is another youth development program that Bucks’ education department heads. It is an after-school program for girls ages 11 to 16. The Club provides recreational, community involvement and age appropriate education on sexuality and other health topics. Our Education and Training Department is Bucks County’s recognized expert in the field of sexuality education. Every year we provide comprehensive and medically-accurate sexuality education to youth in public and private schools, alternative educational settings, community groups, residential treatment facilities and more. We also provide much needed trainings to youth-serving professionals and parents. Many of these sites cannot afford to pay and your support helps to ensure that our community continues to receive these crucial services.

Go to www.epgn.com to weigh in on this week’s question:

Will you/did you vote in the April 24 primary? 505 S. Fourth St. Philadelphia, PA 19147-1506

For advertising inquiries: advertising@epgn.com or 215-625-8501 ext. 218.

Phone: 215-625-8501 Fax: 215-925-6437 E-mail: pgn@epgn.com Web: www.epgn.com

Advertising Director Dan Calhoun (ext. 218) dan@epgn.com

Publisher

Mark Segal (ext. 204) mark@epgn.com Editor

Sarah Blazucki (ext. 206) sarah@epgn.com Staff Writers Jen Colletta (ext. 215) jen@epgn.com Larry Nichols (ext. 213) larry@epgn.com Writer-at-Large Timothy Cwiek (ext. 208) timothy@epgn.com

Advertising Manager Greg Dennis greg@epgn.com Advertising Sales Representatives Prab Sandhu prab@epgn.com National Advertising Rivendell Media: 212-242-6863 Office Manager/ Classifieds Don Pignolet (ext. 200) don@epgn.com

Art Director/Photographer Scott A. Drake (ext. 210) scott@epgn.com Graphic Artist Sean Dorn (ext. 211) sean@epgn.com Executive Assistant/ Billing Manager Carol Giunta (ext. 202) carol@epgn.com Philadelphia Gay News is a member of: The Associated Press Pennsylvania Newspaper Association Suburban Newspapers of America Published by Masco Communications Inc. © 2012 Masco Communications Inc. ISSN-0742-5155

The views of PGN are expressed only in the unsigned “Editorial” column. Opinions expressed in bylined columns, stories and letters to the editor are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of PGN. The appearance of names or pictorial representations in PGN does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of that named or pictured person or persons.

LOCAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

Aspiring artist backed by Sapphire Fund By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

reaching the limits of her undergraduate degree and decided to go back to school. “I applied to a few different schools and University of the Arts graduate stu- I really wanted to move to Philadelphia dent Jenn Pascoe last week had her hard because it’s such a huge print town and has work rewarded by an LGBT grantmaking a great history of printmaking,” she said. Pascoe made the move here last summer agency. Sapphire Fund awarded Pascoe its $1,000 after being accepted to UArts. The busy schedule of graduate school has Tony Sparacino Memorial Scholarship in an April 11 ceremony at William Way LGBT limited her ability to get too involved in the local LGBT scene, which she is eager to Community Center. Pascoe, 30, is nearing the end of her first do. Pascoe said she first began recognizing year at UArts, where she is majoring in her sexual orientation in the fifth grade and bookarts and printmaking. came out in high school. “I identify as queer, and I think the gender spectrum is very fluid,” she said. “It’s just always been very intertwined with my identity. I joke that every day is drag.” Her coming-out experience was a gradual process, she said, one that was met with an eventually positive reception. She began a gay-straight alliance at her high school, which was largely motivated by concern for LGBT allies. “HELLO, HI” BY JENN PASCOE “I started that in response to a lot of my straight friends being bashed because they A native of Oregon, where she received were perceived as queer or gay or lesbian. her bachelor’s degree in intermedia from It was just so wrong,” she said. Her experiences in the LGBT community Northwest College of Arts, Pascoe moved to Pittsburgh in 2008 for a post-college were a primary topic of conversation durchange of scenery. She worked at a non- ing her interview for the Sparacino scholarprofit fine-arts print studio and undertook ship. The award is named after the late Tony teaching gigs, but said she found herself

Sparacino, an early Sapphire Fund board member and a local businessman and philanthropist. The scholarship is geared toward an LGBT or ally student pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in an art-related program. Pascoe said she was on the lookout for financial-assistance options when she came across the scholarship. ADVANCING ART: University of the Arts graduate student Jenn “When you hit grad Pascoe, winner of Sapphire Fund’s Tony Sparacino Scholarship, school, there really was joined by scholarship chair Tyler Ernest (from left), Sparacino’s partner Mark Toscani and Sapphire Fund board presaren’t a lot of finanident Domenic Gallelli at a reception April 11 at the William Way cial opportunities,” LGBT Community Center. Photo: Steve McCann she said. “You get less best but I knew there would also be a lot of grants from the government, less subsidized loans and it’s often other qualified people. But I walked away crazy expensive. I was trying to find any- really happy because I got to sit there for thing I could get my hands on to help allevi- an hour and talk about being radical, about ate my financial need and I discovered this being queer and an artist,” she said. “The in an email from a UArts financial advisor interview was the day before my birthand I was like, ‘Aha, this is something I can day and it just left me so pumped. It was so affirming and made me realize that I’ve do.’” Pascoe said she didn’t have high hopes always been the person I am. You can knock that she would be selected but, regardless, identity politics sometimes but there’s found the scholarship interview empower- power behind that, and it’s pretty awesome to tell the world who you are and what you ing. “I went into it thinking that I’d give it my do and be proud of it.” ■

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

LOCAL PGN

Flyers player reaches out to LGBT athletes By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com “If you can play, you can play.” This mantra is at the forefront of a new outreach campaign designed to encourage LGBT acceptance in the sports world, an effort that is being supported by a popular Philadelphia Flyers player. Flyers left winger James van Riemsdyk recently lent his voice and image to the “You Can Play” initiative, a project started by Flyers scout Patrick Burke. Burke’s brother, Brendan, was an openly gay college hockey player who spoke out against homophobia in sports. After Brendan died in a car accident in 2010, Burke and his father, Toronto Maple Leafs manager Brian Burke, as well as other family members, have continued his LGBT advocacy work. The Burkes’ latest initiative, “You Can Play,” launched last month, includes a series of videos of sports figures — pro and nonpro athletes, broadcasters, team managers — proclaiming the message that athletes should be judged simply on their ability to play. Van Riemsdyk is joined in his piece by both Burkes and nine other National Hockey League players, including players for the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders and Rangers. Burke said “You Can Play” enables the

Van Riemsdyk said he was encouraged players to make inroads in dispelling two myths: that LGBT people are not suited for to join the campaign in part because of the the sports world, and also that the sports longstanding reputation of the Burke family. world does not want them. “Patrick started all of this for his brother, “We’re fighting two different stereotypes here, that there are no gay athletes and that to carry on his mission and raise awareness,” van Riemsdyk said. “I all athletes are homophobic,” he said. “From had a few buddies who the athletes I’ve worked played at Miami College of Ohio where Brendan with, they’re sick of being portrayed as big was the team manager, and they had great meathead jocks who go things to say about him, around picking on peojust about what a great ple, just as the LGBT kid he was. So when community is sick of Patrick approached me being portrayed as nonabout getting involved, athletes or non-sports knowing what I knew fans. We hope that this about him and his famgives straight allies a ily, it just seemed like vehicle through which a great thing to do. The to speak out because Burkes are a great famthis is what they want.” New Jersey native ily and good people, and van Riemsdyk, 22, said they’re people I’d want homophobia was never to get involved with.” FLYERS PLAYER JAMES part of his own hockey B u r k e ’ s s c o u tVAN RIEMSDYK ing region takes in the upbringing. Northeast sector, and he “I honestly never really thought about it,” he said. “I wouldn’t met van Riemsdyk while the latter played at have thought any different of a teammate or University of New Hampshire. He said van Riemsdyk was a natural repwhoever if they were gay, and I owe that to my parents for raising me to treat everyone resentative for the initiative. “James is one of the players I know best the same way, and to treat people the way I on the team,” he said. “He’s the type of kid would want to be treated.”

we’re looking to get involved in this program: He has high character, a great work ethic, he’s well-respected and he’s a hell of a hockey player.” Since joining the “You Can Play” initiative, van Riemsdyk said he received a number of supportive messages on Twitter from fans. He also saw positive feedback from fellow Flyers, two of whom — Claude Giroux and Scott Hartnell — appeared in the first “You Can Play” video. “My close friends on the team definitely didn’t hesitate at all to get involved. In talking to Patrick, all the athletes who joined have been really happy to be a part of this and to raise awareness. That’s the whole goal of the project: If you can raise awareness for something, the more acceptance there will be.” Burke expects “You Can Play” to continue to cross barriers — engaging both male and female athletes from the hockey world and a number of other sports. Organizers received the first video focused on high-school athletes this week, and have seen an uptick in college-sports submissions. This fall, “You Can Play” will release its “playbook,” a resource guide for athletes, coaches and fans on how they can assist in making the sports world more LGBT-friendly. For more information, visit www.youcanplayproject.org. ■

PGN

YOU’VE DONE THE 60 HOUR WORKWEEK.

DO ATLANTIC CITY.COM

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

WEEK PGN IN PHOTOS

ACTIVISM AWARDED: Gloria Casarez, the city’s director of LGBT affairs, introduces David Acosta Revolutionary Leader Award winner Jose de Marco April 13 at a City Hall reception. The annual award, given by the Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative, recognizes a leader who embodies the traits of GALAEI founder Acosta. De Marco is a longtime HIV/AIDS advocate and activist, who was surrounded by about 125 supporters as he accepted the honor. Photo: Scott A. Drake

WINNING SMILES: Newly crowned 2012 Mr. Gay Philadelphia Sean Green (left), who competed on behalf of 12th Street Gym, met up with last year’s winner Dashiell Sears after the April 14 competition at Voyeur. About 300 spectators turned out to cheer on their favorite of the 14 contestants, who represented a number of local bars and businesses. Tabu’s Nathan Walk won Mr. Congeniality and Chroma Hair Gallery’s Rob Tini took home the Mr. Fitness title. Photo: Scott A. Drake

TRYING FOR THE TITLE: Contestants in the annual Mr. Philadelphia Drag King competition played to the sold-out crowd during the question-and-answer session of the show April 14 at William Way LGBT Community Center. Rough RydeHer (with microphone) was eventually crowned with the dual titles of Mr. PDK 2012 and Mr. Gay Philadelphia Pride, and additionally took home the Audience Favorite Award. The contest, organized by Liberty City Kings Drag and Burlesque, raised approximately $2,000 for Philadelphia Dyke March. Photo: Scott A. Drake

REGIONAL PGN

News Briefing Pa. school board OKs GSA On Monday night, the East Pennsboro Area School Board authorized the formation of a gay-straight alliance at its high school, reversing an earlier decision. The board members voted 7-0 in favor of the club’s creation, a sharp contrast to the 4-4 vote on April 2. One of the board members who changed his vote told reporters that there was not enough time for the board to consider the club earlier this month, as the proposal was introduced and voted on in the same night. The club is expected to cost less than $300 per year. One member who cited “budgetary” reasons for his initial no vote did not offer an explanation of his change of position at Monday’s meeting. — Jen Colletta

PAC closes 100 policemisconduct complaints At a stormy meeting April 16, the city’s

Police Advisory Commission announced the closure of 100 unresolved police-misconduct complaints that have accumulated at the agency over the past four years. PAC chair Ronda B. Goldfein said it’s unfair to complainants and target officers for cases to languish indefinitely. “A [PAC] system that allows cases to remain open indefinitely is fair to no one,” Goldfein said. She said the closings were confirmed April 11 by the PAC’s Investigatory Review Committee. “The IRC confirmed the administrative closing of 100 cases because we didn’t receive from staff any substantive request to keep them open,” Goldfein explained. “This decision wasn’t made lightly.” PAC executive director William M. Johnson expressed emphatic disagreement with the closings. He said PAC’s four staffers are doing their best to reach appropriate findings for the cases, but more time is needed due to limited resources. After the meeting, Johnson said he doesn’t intend to implement the closings. He noted that not every commissioner agrees with the closings, and said he’s prepared to seek the intervention of Mayor Nutter to keep them open, if necessary. At press time, Nutter spokesperson Mark McDonald had no comment on the dispute. Also during the meeting, PAC commissioners asked Johnson to get back to them with the number of complaints under active

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

investigation — apart from the 100 they want closed.

Co. seeks dismissal of transgender lawsuit An Allentown electronics firm has asked a federal judge to dismiss an employmentdiscrimination lawsuit filed by a former employee who is transgender. LSI Corp. wants U.S. District Judge Eduardo C. Robreno to dismiss the case of Janis Stacy, who worked at LSI for about 10 years as an engineer before she was terminated in 2008. Stacy’s lawsuit alleges she suffered adverse employment actions dating back to 2005, when she started transitioning at work. She sued LSI two years ago, claiming wrongful termination because of her gender, gender identity and disability. But the company contends that Stacy was terminated due to workforce reductions — and because she lacked the skills necessary to help move the company forward. At the time of her LSI employment, Stacy was suffering from Gender Identity Disorder, which in her case was disabling, according to court records. Last year, Robreno rejected LSI’s claim that GID isn’t a valid disability under state antibias laws. Stacy, who is suing for an undisclosed sum, has requested a jury trial. LSI’s request to dismiss the case has been

pending with Robreno since January. The judge has no deadline to rule on the motion. Attorneys for both parties declined to comment for this story. — Timothy Cwiek

Out coach in Philly The American Swedish Historical Museum will honor out soccer legend Pia Sundhage in an event from 6-9 p.m. April 21 at the museum, 1900 Pattison Ave. Sundhage is currently head coach of the United States Women’s National Team. The museum will present Sundhage its Outstanding Achievement Award at its annual Spring Ting Dinner and Auction. For more information, visit www.americanswedish.org.

Softball season opens The City of Brotherly Love Softball League will open its 2012 season April 22. Teams will begin playing at 9 a.m. and the opening ceremonies will commence at noon at Dairy Fields in Fairmount Park. The annual opening-day block party will be held from 4-11 p.m. on Camac Street between Locust and Spruce streets. For more information, visit www.cblsl. org. ■ — J.C.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

EDITORIAL PGN

Creep of the Week

D’Anne Witkowski

James Loomer

Editorial

Endorsements

April 24 is the Pennsylvania Primary. This cycle, Democrats and Republicans vote for candidates for president, U.S. Senate (one seat) and House (all seats), state attorney general, treasurer, auditor general, odd-numbered Senate seats and all House seats. For the LGBT community, there are a few races of particular interest, to which PGN gave more attention: attorney general, the 182nd District (which encompasses the Gayborhood) and other House seats with an openly LGBT candidate. For attorney general, PGN endorses former U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy. While in the House, Murphy spearheaded efforts to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” He has been consistently and steadfastly supportive of LGBT rights, as well as women’s, voters’ and workers’ rights. Before he was elected to the House, Murphy served in Iraq in the Army, taught at West Point, was a judge advocate and a special assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. Murphy is a genuine hero to the LGBT community. If for no other reason, vote for a man who fought for you. For the first time, there are six openly LGBT Democratic candidates for the state House: Roy Christ is a candidate for the 103rd District seat; Chris Dietz, 104th District; Kelly McEntee, 105th District; Jeff Dahlander, 111th District; Brian Sims, 182nd District; and Fatimah Lorén Muhammad, 188th District. One race in particular has received a lot of attention: the 182nd. In this election, incumbent Rep. Babette Josephs is being challenged by her former campaign treasurer, Sims. This has been a divisive race for the LGBT community. On the one hand, there is Josephs, who

is a staunch LGBT supporter and ally. A representative since 1985, Josephs stood up for all LGBT rights before many others did. Perhaps most notably, she defeated the anti-gay-marriage amendment, which would have amended the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage, on top of the state’s DOMA law. She is a reliable cosponsor and votes for LGBT-friendly legislation. Josephs is outspoken in her criticism of the Republicans, refusing to work with them. But Democrats and would-be supporters have also said she’s hard to work with. She’s the minority chair on the State Government Committee, where she has seniority. She is a founding member and co-chair of the LGBT caucus and has introduced nondiscrimination and marriage-equality legislation. But while she’s a progressive Democrat, Josephs has backed some questionable initiatives. Earlier this year, she voted for the Year of the Bible resolution. In 2011, she tried to extend prohibitions and disclosure laws to domestic partners of lobbyists and state elected and appointed officials — while they have neither equal rights nor protections. On the other hand, there is Sims. He has run an impressive campaign, raising a lot of money and gaining visibility and support in the LGBT community. Not surprisingly, he has good positions on LGBT issues, as well as on progressive and women’s issues. He has promised to work with Republicans and to represent LGBT people, which he would do well. He’s articulate, passionate, well-spoken and well educated. His résumé is not long, but he has some achievements. He was the first out gay football captain at a NCAA school and he led PAGE 17

Have you heard the one about the National Day of Silence? Here’s the set up: A teen walks into her high school. A few of her friends are all, “What’s up, girl?” And she’s all, “ ... ” And they’re like, “What’s your problem?” And she hands them a card that reads, “Please understand my reasons for not speaking today. I am participating in the Day of Silence, a national youth movement bringing attention to the silence faced by LGBT people and their allies. My deliberate silence echoes that silence, which is caused by anti-LGBT bullying, name-calling and harassment. I believe that ending the silence is the first step toward building awareness and making a commitment to address these injustices.” And her friends say, “OMG! Getting bullied for being gay? Sign us up!” And they start dyking it out in the hallway. Then some boys passing by are also handed a card and, after reading it, become gay-homo forever and ever, amen. Teachers and administrators who support the Day of Silence nod in approval. Gay at last, gay at last. Thank God almighty, the school is gay at last! All students who refuse to turn gay and claim religious objection are rounded up and sent to gay reform school. This is apparently how James Loomer, a Christian pastor in Connecticut, envisions how the Day of Silence goes down (no pun intended) across America and why he, and many others, want it banned. “Shut it down!” he told his local school board. But they said no. Because they hate God, obviously. That hasn’t stopped Loomer from railing against Day of Silence, nor has it stopped right-wing ilk giving him a platform to do so. In a radio interview with Focus On the Family’s Tony Perkins, Loomer said, “If the board decides they don’t want to take any corrective actions, we’re already making plans to call the city families together

and just apprise them of the situation. And I think the parents will be so appalled at what the Day of Silence could lead their children into that they’re going to want to stand up and say, ‘Let’s get rid of this.’ There are alternative programs that focus on disrupting the bullying that goes on in schools but this is one that’s got a serious kickback to it.” Just what could Day of Silence lead children into? How about an open mind? The ability to respect people who are different than them? Compassion and understanding? Oh, the horror. Also, I think Loomer means “drawbacks,” not “kickback.” Unless he’s claiming that the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network is getting rich off of this. Then again, considering how far off his info is, I wouldn’t be surprised if he thought such a thing. Perkins had nothing but praise for Loomer. “Look, bullying should not be taking place in our schools, every child in America should be able to go to school ... without the fear of threat or being intimidated, regardless of what the cause is, whether they’re overweight, whether their religious viewpoints, no child should be bullied because they are effeminate or because of their sexual orientation or whatever, it shouldn’t happen,” Perkins said. “But we cannot allow these programs like the Day of Silence to come into our schools as a cover for the promotion of homosexuality. That’s what is happening with this, so we appreciate Pastor Loomer and others who are drawing attention to this in communities across the country.” If only we could compel the loudmouth bigots to shut up for one day a year. ■

“I think the parents will be so appalled at what the Day of Silence could lead their children into that they’re going to want to stand up and say, ‘Let’s get rid of this.’”

D’Anne Witkowski has been gay for pay since 2003. She’s a freelance writer and poet (believe it!). When she’s not taking on the creeps of the world, she reviews rock ’n’ roll shows in Detroit with her twin sister.

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.

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OP-ED PGN

Getting a piece of the pie On Monday we announced that “The We’re moving very fast, and for that Pie in the Sky” project, which was made reason it hasn’t sunk in yet. I’m still public about two years ago, is now a real- doing my thank-you’s, and, as we all ity. (Read the story on page 1.) know, I’m bound to forget someone. This is how we put it in these pages The list is as big as the project: almost two years ago: two governors; Mayor Nutter; the “We call it the ‘Pie in the Philadelphia Congressional Sky’ project. For many of us, delegation, particularly it’s the most ambitious project Congressman Bob Brady we’ve ever undertaken. To find and Sen. Bob Casey; the a home, a safe place to give Pennsylvania Senate and House our LGBT seniors to live; to leadership, with a special shout bring them a home to thrive out to Rep. Mike O’Brien and in their very own community. Mary Isaacson. There are so I have no illusions that the many more, but two groups that need special thanks. One, proposal has many more mileour community. Thank you for stones to meet. It is not a done your overwhelming support. deal yet. And it will take the After our shaky beginnings, support and input of the entire community and our elected that support over the last year is officials who have commitheartfelt. And a personal thanks ted to follow through on this to the board of dmhFund, dream.” whom I am proud to say is the Mark Segal Last Thursday, the best board I’ve ever served on. Pennsylvania Housing Finance They were professional, pragAgency met to decide which projects matic and always found a way to move would be awarded tax credits this year. forward. “No” was never an option for I’m happy to report The Pie in the Sky them. project was awarded in that very competiI’ll finish where I began: We have many more hurdles to jump, but the question is tive field. no longer will it be built but, rather, when The project is now fully funded at $19 million. It is, as the mayor said during is the ribbon cutting? ■ the announcement, the largest LGBTfriendly capitol-building project in the Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the United States. The White House and nation’s most-award-winning commentator in LGBT media. He can be reached at HUD spotlighted the project as “pioneering innovation in U.S. housing solutions mark@epgn.com. for low-income LGBT seniors.”

Mark My Words

Letters and Feedback In response to “GALAEI honors AIDS activist,” April 13-19: Jose [de Marco] is also co-founder of the AIDS Policy Project’s Cure project — www.AIDSPolicyProject.org. That photo is from our town meeting about the cure, taken by Harvey Finkle. — Kate Krauss In response to “Lesbian attacked twice on SEPTA,” April 13-19: I’ve been attacked myself several times on SEPTA for being a transsexual woman. I am sick and tired of all this

violence on SEPTA’s system, and the fact that the SEPTA worker refused to call police is extremely telling. — JordanGwendolynDavis In response to “Drexel med student gets national LGBT award,” April 6-12: I wanted to thank the PGN for a terrific profile of Drexel University medical student Bobby Kelly, who was recently given the 2012 LGBT Health Achievement Award by the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association and the American Medical Student Association.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

Street Talk What’s your reaction to Rick Santorum suspending his presidential campaign? “Pleased and satisfied. It was a good decision. Santorum is an idiot. His views are disgusting. This is a free country, but Rebecca Jones Santorum is student trying to be Washington Square West a dictator. That’s not what America is all about.”

“Relieved, because if he won, it would have been a scary thing for the country. So it’s a relief that he’s Claire Kalala gone. But I student do think it South Philadelphia would have been easier for Obama to defeat Santorum, rather than Romney. I’m sad about that part.”

“Happiness. I’m tired of hearing the nonsense coming out of his mouth. Santorum has extreme views against women and James Merrell the LGBT student community. Tom’s River, N.J. I was very surprised that he won 11 states in this day and age. I thought the country was more progressive.”

“I’m glad, because he’s a closeminded person. I was shocked that he had a large following. His Sara Vantrieste candidacy student was a joke. South Philadelphia He didn’t have any chance of winning. But I’ll miss seeing him spoofed in political cartoons.”

We at Mazzoni Center have had the pleasure of working with Bobby on various projects, including last year’s LGBT Health Student Symposium, which was a tremendous success thanks to his dedication and unflappable organizing skills. We also have Bobby to thank for the wonderful LASOH (LGBTQ Alliance of Students Organized for Health) organization, which has been an ongoing source of volunteer help for programs such as our weekly youth drop-in at Mazzoni Center Family and Community Medicine, 809 Locust St. Bobby has always shown a tremendous amount of energy and initiative, combined with a sincere interest in advanc-

ing the understanding of health issues that impact the LGBT community. He has worked tirelessly to raise the level of awareness and training in LGBT cultural competency among fellow health students as well as practitioners. He has inspired fellow students — in Philadelphia and around the country — and has laid a foundation that will benefit the LGBT community for years to come. We are thrilled to see Bobby Kelly recognized for his contributions, and wish him all the best in his future endeavors. — Nurit L. Shein Executive Director, Mazzoni Center

We want to know! If you are celebrating an anniversary, engagement, wedding, adoption or other life event, we would be happy to help you announce it to the community. Send your contact information and a brief description of the event to editor@epgn.com.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

YOU’VE WORKED TO CONTROL YOUR HIV. NOW, TIME TO WORK ON YOUR

HIV-RELATED EXCESS BELLY FAT. In two separate clinical trials of HIV-infected people with lipodystrophy, each lasting 6 months, EGRIFTA® (tesamorelin for injection) reduced HIV-related excess belly fat by an average of 18% in the first trial, and 14% in the second trial. �� EGRIFTA®��

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The most common side effects of EGRIFTA® include: �� EGRIFTA®�� You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Please see Consumer Brief Summary of EGRIFTA® on following page.

Ask your healthcare provider if EGRIFTA®, the first and only FDA-approved medicine for HIV-related excess belly fat, may be right for you. For more information, visit www.egrifta.com or call the AXIS Center at 1-877-714-AXIS (2947).

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

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Consumer Brief Summary for EGRIFTA® (tesamorelin for injection) EGRIFTA® (eh-GRIF-tuh) (tesamorelin for injection) for subcutaneous use Read the Patient Information that comes with EGRIFTA® before you start to take it and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This leaflet does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about your medical condition or your treatment. What is EGRIFTA®? � EGRIFTA® is an injectable prescription medicine to reduce the excess in abdominal fat in HIV-infected patients with lipodystrophy. EGRIFTA® contains a growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) ��The impact and safety of EGRIFTA® on cardiovascular health has not been studied ��EGRIFTA® is not indicated for weight-loss management ��It is not known whether taking EGRIFTA® helps improve compliance with antiretroviral medications � It is not known if EGRIFTA® is safe and effective in children. EGRIFTA® is not recommended to be used in children

How should I use EGRIFTA®? � Read the detailed “Instructions for Use” that comes with EGRIFTA® before you start using EGRIFTA®. Your healthcare provider will show you how to inject EGRIFTA® � Use EGRIFTA® exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider � Inject EGRIFTA® under the skin (subcutaneously) of your stomach area (abdomen) � Change (rotate) the injection site on your stomach area (abdomen) with each dose. Do not inject EGRIFTA® into scar tissue, bruises, or your navel � Do not share needles or syringes with other people. Sharing of needles can result in the transmission of infectious diseases, such as HIV

will measure your blood sugar periodically � Injection-site reactions. Change (rotate) your injection site to help lower your risk for

injection-site reactions. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice if you have the following symptoms around the area of the injection site: – bleeding – redness – rash – itching – swelling – pain – irritation The most common side effects of EGRIFTA® include: – nausea – joint pain – vomiting – pain in legs and arms – rash – swelling in your legs – itching – muscle soreness – tingling, numbness, and pricking Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of EGRIFTA®. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects, contact EMD Serono toll-free at 1-800-283-8088, ext. 5563. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. Keep EGRIFTA® and all medicines out of the reach of children. General information about the safe and effective use of EGRIFTA®: Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information leaflet. Do not use EGRIFTA® for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give EGRIFTA® to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them. Do not share your EGRIFTA® syringe with another person, even if the needle is changed. Do not share your EGRIFTA® needles with another person. This Patient Information leaflet summarizes the most important information about EGRIFTA®. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about EGRIFTA® that is written for healthcare professionals. For more information about EGRIFTA®, go to www.EGRIFTA.com or contact the AXIS Center toll-free at 1-877-714-2947. What are the ingredients in EGRIFTA®? Active ingredient: tesamorelin Inactive ingredients: mannitol and Sterile Water for Injection

What are the possible side effects of EGRIFTA®? EGRIFTA® may cause serious side effects including: � Serious allergic reaction. Some people taking EGRIFTA® may have an allergic reaction. EGRIFTA® is a registered trademark of Theratechnologies Inc. Distributed by EMD Serono, Inc., Rockland, MA 02370

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What should I tell my healthcare provider before using EGRIFTA®? Before using EGRIFTA®, tell your healthcare provider if you: � have or have had cancer � have diabetes � are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if EGRIFTA® passes into your breast milk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that HIV-infected mothers not breastfeed to avoid the risk of passing HIV infection to your baby. Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you are taking EGRIFTA® � have kidney or liver problems � have any other medical condition Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. EGRIFTA® may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how EGRIFTA® works. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list with you to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

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Who should not use EGRIFTA®? Do not use EGRIFTA® if you: ��have pituitary gland tumor, pituitary gland surgery, or other problems related to your pituitary gland ��have active cancer (either newly diagnosed or recurrent) or are receiving treatment for cancer ��are allergic to tesamorelin or any of the ingredients in EGRIFTA®. See the end of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients in EGRIFTA® ��are pregnant or become pregnant. If you become pregnant, stop using EGRIFTA® and talk with your healthcare provider . See “What should I tell my healthcare provider before using EGRIFTA®?”

Stop using EGRIFTA® and get emergency help right away if you have any of the following symptoms: – a rash over your body – hives – swelling of your face or throat – shortness of breath or trouble breathing – fast heartbeat – feeling of faintness or fainting � Swelling (fluid retention). EGRIFTA® can cause swelling in some parts of your body. Call your healthcare provider if you have an increase in joint pain, or pain or numbness in your hands or wrist (carpal tunnel syndrome)

AGING PGN

Gettin’ On

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

Ed Bomba

LGBT seniors and the Affordable Care Act Does the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) really help LGBT seniors? Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius spoke recently in Philadelphia. She stated: “All Americans, regardless of where they live, what their age, sex, race, sexual orientation or gender identity, have a basic right to get the health care they need here in the United States, and that’s a principle we are committed to fighting for here in this administration. Now, that is one of the key reasons that we fought for the Affordable Care Act.” There are some key parts of the law that benefit LGBT communities and older adults in particular. You should know that under the Affordable Care Act: — Your coverage cannot be dropped by your insurer if you become ill or if you made an error on your application form; — There is no longer a lifetime limit on key benefits of your insurance coverage. All restrictions on annual limits will be removed in 2014; — If you are HIV positive, there is health insurance coverage available now (it may be very expensive); and — You can include your children on your health insurance policy until they reach age 26. Additional changes go into effect in 2014: — You will be able to get health insurance coverage if you have a pre-existing condition; — Millions of Americans will be able to purchase affordable coverage and have the same choices of insurance that members of Congress have; — The Medicaid program will be expanded to include millions of lowincome adults; and — Tax credits will help middle-class families afford health insurance. According to Sebelius, “The law is helping millions of LGBT Americans gain access to the care they need and stay healthy in the first place.” If you are covered under Medicare, or have an insurance policy that began before March 23, 2010, you can get preventative screenings at no charge. These screenings include the following: — mammograms, colonoscopies, prostate and other cancer screenings — blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol and HIV tests — some vaccinations — smoking-cessation programs — nutrition and weight-loss counseling

You can get complete details on what Medicare covers by calling 800MEDICARE or by visiting www.medicare. gov. In addition to the benefits listed above, the ACA is designed to reduce the cost of prescription drugs for seniors and people with disabilities who are on Medicare. Copays for prescription drugs under Medicare Part D have been reduced. By 2020, the “doughnut hole” will close, meaning that people on Medicare Part D who have high prescription drug costs will only pay the co-pay on their medications. For some, this will be a savings of over $1,500 a year. Harvey Hurdle, chief operating officer of Sellers Dorsey, a national health-care consulting firm, said, “The act helps address the so-called doughnut hole in Medicare for prescription drugs — important for all seniors. More importantly, however, may be the steps the administration has taken to address the unique needs of aging LGBT individuals through bold administrative action. Among many other meaningful policies and actions, they have funded an initiative to provide information, assistance and resources for aging services and, through the leadership of the president, have ensured we have hospital visitation rights to see our partners in the hospital. They have also clarified that states can protect the assets of LGBT couples when one individual needs to receive long-term-care services.” The ACA is also designed to make the health-care workforce more diverse and sensitive to the unique needs and cultural issues of LGBT people through additional training. This won’t change our world overnight, but it is a good start. More dollars will be going to community health centers, such as Mazzoni Center, that will serve up to 20-million more patients. There will be increased research and data collection on the specific health needs of LGBT Americans. Finally, for LGBT people who do not currently have health insurance, there is a website to help you find the health insurance best suited to your needs, www. healthcare.gov. The site even allows samesex couples to eliminate plans that would not cover both people. ■ Ed Bomba is communications chair of the LGBT Elder Initiative. The LGBTEI is dedicated to supporting and sustaining the lives of LGBT older adults in the Delaware Valley. To comment on this column, suggest topics for future columns or for more information, visit www.lgbtei.org and watch for “Gettin’ On” each month in PGN.

UNCORKEd!

--8- & tradition --8-Open April 28, 2012 – January 6, 2013 in the Winterthur Galleries Raise a glass in toast to this fascinating exhibition! Celebrate objects and imagery created in response to society’s love of wine. Explore the historic role this beverage has played in the worlds of design, international trade, and social life. For more information, please visit winterthur.org/uncorked.

Presented by With Support from Bouchaine Vineyards, Gerret & Tatiana Copeland, Proprietors

Winterthur is nestled in Delaware’s beautiful Brandywine Valley on Route 52, between I-95 and Route 1, less than one hour south of Philadelphia. 302.888.4600 • 800.448.3883 • winterthur.org

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

PGN PRIMARY COVERAGE

First Bap tist Church SERVICES: Wednesdays Noon time Sundays 11a.m.

Rev. Dr. Peter C. Wool 17TH & SANSOM STREETS PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103 215.563.3853

www.fbcphila1698.org

CONGREGATION BETH AHAVAH

A GLBT synagogue welcoming people of all gender and sexual identities since 1975

JOIN US MONTHLY FOR SHABBAT SERVICES AT 8:00 PM

Coffee, cake & conversation at the oneg following services Friday, April 13, 7:00 PM. Beth Ahavah Passover Shabbat Service. Please join us for our monthly BA Shabbat Service followed by Passover dinner led by Rabbi Sue Levi Elwell. Cost is $25 per person. Check can be mailed to Congregation Rodeph Shalom c/o Marcia Biggs, 615 N. Broad Street, Phila, PA 19123. For more information email us at bethahavah@rodephshalom.org or call 215-923-2003. Beth Ahavah and Rodeph Shalom are afﬁliated in spirit and share a sacred home. In July 2007 Beth Ahavah afﬁliated with Rodeph Shalom. Beth Ahavah retains its congregational status within the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) and proudly offers its congregation dual membership at both synagogues.

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 recently replaced many of its older honor boxes along Market, Chestnut and Walnut streets with brand-new ones and added boxes at the locations below. If you see a PGN box that might need some sprucing up or to be replaced, or if you have a suggestion for a new location, contact Don at don@epgn.com or call 215-625-8501 ext. 200

Broad & Arch Front & Girard Germantown & Girard 13th & Arch 13th & Ellsworth 18th & Spring Garden 20th & Fitzwater 27th & Poplar 28th & Girard 29th & Girard

CANDIDATES from page 23

A supporter of marriage equality, Murphy said he would follow President Obama’s lead and decline to defend Pennsylvania’s Defense of Marriage Act, which limits the definition of marriage to one man and one woman, in court. A former constitutional law professor at West Point, Murphy said he wo u l d p r i o r i t i z e upholding LGBT MURPHY youth’s first-amendment rights to access informational websites on LGBT issues. He would also work to “make sure we’re being aggressive and partnering with local DAs and police departments” to target online predators. He said he will use his office “as a bully pulpit” in supporting measures like LGBTinclusive nondiscrimination and hate-crimes laws and fighting against efforts to amend the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage. “Our constitution guarantees equality for everyone, and I will make sure that I will be the leader, the highest-ranking Democrat in Harrisburg, fighting for true equality for all Pennsylvanians,” he said. Murphy said he is “looking forward to hiring members of the LGBT community to be key leaders” in his office. “The LGBT community knows my record and knows my passion in fighting for equality,” he said. “The community knows that we’ll not just win in April and in November, but also that I will govern in a way that will make them proud of their support.” Murphy has been endorsed by Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club. STATE LEGISLATURE SENATE Larry Farnese Pennsylvania Senate, 1st District In his first term in office, Sen. Farnese was the prime sponsor of the Senate version of HB 300, which would extend nondiscrimination protections to LGBT FARNESE Pennsylvanians. Farnese is one of just three senators to join the LGBT Equality Caucus, and is also one of three cosponsors of his chamber’s bill to legalize same-sex marriage equality. Farnese has cosponsored the bill to extend hate-crimes protections to the LGBT community and said he supports including same-sex couples in the state’s inheritancetax exemption. He has opposed the constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. He supports funding for LGBT senior programs and has backed

the effort to create an LGBT-friendly senior housing program in the city. “I have been honored in previous campaigns to have had strong support from the LGBT community and would not have been successful without it,” he said. “I have worked hard throughout my first term in Harrisburg to be a voice for our city on issues that affect everyone, like public safety and economic development, and also specifically on issues that affect the LGBT community. I will continue to speak out on progressive issues that we all care about and work to improve the quality of life for everyone.” Farnese has been endorsed by Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Brendan Boyle 170th District One of Rep. Boyle’s first committee votes in the legislature was in favor of HB 300, an LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination law, and he said he would continue to BRENDAN BOYLE back this and other measures if he’s re-elected. Boyle is a cosponsor of HB 300 and said he has worked with Equality PA to advance similar local-level measures. He supports extending the hate-crimes and inheritancetax laws to the LGBT community. Boyle is a founding member of the LGBT Equality Caucus. “It is important to me that LGBT issues are given serious consideration in [the] House and Senate, and the LGBT Caucus figures to be a critical channel through which LGBT issues are brought to the forefront of policy discussions in Harrisburg,” he said. Boyle, who currently employs an openly gay staffer, said the most practical approach to relationship recognition is through a civil-union law. He opposes a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. He supports efforts to include LGBT-specific language in anti-bullying laws. “Despite representing a socially conservative district, I have been a leader for equality on LGBT issues,” he said. Kevin Boyle 172nd District Freshman Rep. Kevin Boyle is a founding member of the LGBT Equality Caucus and a cosponsor of the bill to include sexual orientation and gender identity in the state’s nondiscrimination law. B oy l e s a i d h e

KEVIN BOYLE

PRIMARY COVERAGE PGN

favors civil unions as the preferred method of recognizing same-sex relationships and said Pennsylvania’s inability to advance such a measure has “set us back as a state.” He is in favor of repealing the state’s Defense of Marriage Act, as it “does not serve any purpose other than to prevent a group of people from enjoying the benefits of marriage on the basis of sexual orientation,” and also opposes the “unequal and unjust” constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. He supports extending the inheritancetax exemption to same-sex couples and said the lack of LGBT protections in the hatecrimes law represents “a major hole.” Boyle supports stronger reporting requirements in anti-bullying laws as well as tougher accountability for both students and schools. “For too long, double standards for LGBT individuals have been allowed to persist in many aspects of public life in Pennsylvania, and I value the opportunity to continue to work in my community and in Harrisburg to overcome these injustices,” he said.

He supports marriage equality and LGBT individuals’ and couples’ right to adopt. He said he would advocate for the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity in the state’s nondiscrimination and hate-crimes laws, as well as the inheritance-tax exemption law. “We are striving to become a progressive society, therefore we must have progressive laws on the books,” he said. Roberts said that passage of such laws can be beneficial to de-stigmatizing the LGBT community and eventually lessening bullying of LGBT youth, an effort he said should be aided by holding administrators, faculty and teachers accountable. He said he would “absolutely” join the LGBT Equality Caucus. “I am committed to bringing freedom to every citizen of our country, specifically every Pennsylvanian,” he said. “The LGBT community has my full attention and support.”

Anthony Johnson 180th District

Rep. Roebuck is a founding member of the LGBT Equality Caucus. R o e bu c k i s i n favor of marriage equality and has cosponsored both the marriage-equalROEBUCK ity and civil-union bill. He is also a cosponsor of the measure to include same-sex couples in the inheritance-tax exemption. He has been a cosponsor of the legislation to amend the state’s nondiscrimination law to include LGBT individuals for a number of years. [Roebuck did not complete a 2012 PGN questionnaire.]

Anthony Johnson, a teacher and community organizer from North Philadelphia, challenging incumbent Democratic Rep. Angel Cruz, is a marriage-equality JOHNSON supporter who promised to ensure that “the LGBT community is treated with respect and integrity.” He said he would be very interested in joining the state’s new LGBT Equality Caucus and would create a cabinet comprised of people of all backgrounds, genders, ethnicities and sexual orientations. He opposes efforts for a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage and said he “enthusiastically” supports the rights of LGBT individuals to become foster or adoptive parents. Johnson is also in favor of statewide LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination and hate-crimes laws, as well as the effort to extend the inheritance-tax exemption to same-sex couples. Johnson said he would support legislation to fund LGBT senior programs, as well as those for youth, and that he would work to strengthen laws that include protections for LGBT students, favoring penalties of incarceration for violators. Damon Roberts 186th District Real-estate attorney and community organizer Roberts said he would back the LGBT comm u n i t y a t eve r y chance if elected to the vacant seat in the186th District.

ROBERTS

James Roebuck 188th District

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

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Fatimah Lorén Muhammad 188th District Muhammad, who is openly bisexual, is looking to unseat longtime incumbent Rep. James Roebuck. Muhammad, a teacher and community organizer, is in favor of marriage equality and would work to repeal the state’s Defense of Marriage Act and defeat a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. She supports an LGBT-inclusive hatecrimes and nondiscrimination law, as well as a measure that would extend the inheritance-tax exemption to same-sex couples. Muhammad supports funding for LGBT senior and youth programs and, a longtime anti-bullying advocate, she said she would work to encourage the formation of GSAs and PAGE 26 MUHAMMAD

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PGN PRIMARY COVERAGE CANDIDATES from page 25

other LGBT-supportive initiatives. “I believe if we start educating students early, we are more likely to reduce bullying across the board,” she said. Muhammad said she would join the LGBT Equality Caucus. “As a member of the community, I promise to be a vocal advocate for LGBT issues,” she said. “I will ensure that our issues are heard and that there is open communication in my district and in Harrisburg.” Muhammad has been endorsed by the Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club. Vanessa LoweryBrown 190th District R e p . L o w e r yBrown is among the founding members of the LGBT Equality Caucus and is one of a handful of cosponsors of the first marriageLOWERY-BROWN equality bill in the House. She is also a cosponsor of the LGBTinclusive nondiscrimination bill and has cosponsored a bill to include sexual orientation and gender identity in the state hatecrimes law. Lowery-Brown is a cosponsor of the measure that would extend the inheritancetax exemption to same-sex couples. “Same-sex couples should be allowed the same privilege under the law as heterosexual couples,” she said. She supports LGBT adoption rights and said she is in favor of funding for programs that address the needs of LGBT youth and seniors. “My voting record during my tenure has consistently been in support of the legislation that promotes and protects the rights of all our citizens,” she said. “I vow to continue to advocate for equal rights, human rights, affordable healthcare, same-sex marriages, pro-choice protections and parity in insurance benefits.” Lowery-Brown has been endorsed by the Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club. Pamela DeLissio 194th District Freshman Rep. DeLissio was one of the founding members of the LGBT Equality Caucus. During her term, she cosponsored the bill that would extend nondiscrimination protections to LGBT Pennsylvanians. She supports marriage equality and has cosponsored a bill to legalize civil unions. She is in favor of amending the state hate-crimes law to include protections based on DELISSIO

sexual orientation and gender identity. [DeLissio did not complete a 2012 PGN questionnaire.] Michelle Brownlee 195th District In her first term, Rep. Brownlee became a founding member of the LGBT Equality Caucus and supported a number of proLGBT pieces of legislation. Brownlee is a cosponsor of the bill that would extend nondiscrimination protections to LGBT Pennsylvanians and has also signed on to an effort to include same-sex couples in the state’s inheritance-tax exemption. She supports amending the state’s hate-crimes law to include LGBT individuals and is in favor of marriage equality. Brownlee opposes a Department of Public Welfare proBROWNLEE posal to put HIV/ AIDS medications on the list of drugs for which a preauthorization is needed. She opposes the constitutional ban on same-sex marriage and is in favor of repealing the state’s Defense of Marriage Act. Brownlee said she would support efforts to make school bullying illegal. [Brownlee is not a current co-sponsor of HB 1805, which would require schools to adopt an anti-bullying policy.] “I am for equality for all people,” she said. Charisma Presley 198th District As assistant director at Villanova University’s Center for Multicultural Affairs, Presley deals with diversity issues daily and said she would make diversity a cornerstone of her work in Harrisburg. Presley is looking to unseat Democratic Rep. Rosita Youngblood. Presley supports marriage equality and would work to repeal the state’s Defense of Marriage Act and fight against efforts to amend the constitution to ban same-sex marriage. “[The constitution] is not meant to harbor bigotry or limit the rights of a minority for the benefit of a few,” she said. Presley pledged to join the LGBT Equality Caucus, as “a representative must not only talk about support, she or he must also be willing to stand up for their convictions.” She supports adoption rights for LGBT individuals, as well as extending nondiscrimination, hate-crimes and inheritance-tax laws PRESLEY to LGBT people.

PGN PRIMARY COVERAGE

Presley had a family member who died of AIDS and said she recently hosted a forum in her campaign office about heightening awareness of the disease. She said she would utilize religious institutions, schools, community events and other means to continue that work of “bringing the information to the people and not the people to the information.” Michael Ellis 201st District S e c u r i t y m a nager and former president of the Young Democrats of Philadelphia, Ellis said he would work to protect the rights of LGBT ELLIS Pennsylvanians if successful in his efforts to replace the retiring Democratic Rep. John Myers. “It is only right, fair and just to do so in a pluralistic democratic society where I believe diversity in all its forms can be a great asset to all,” he said. Ellis said he would be “proud” to join the LGBT Equality Caucus and would support the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes in the nondiscrimination and hate-crimes laws. He supports funding for LGBT senior and youth programs and would advocate for state funding for anti-bullying conferences and workshops for students, teachers and administrators. He is in favor of marriage equality and would work to repeal the state Defense of Marriage Act and to block the constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. Ellis said he would work to include LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination provisions in state-funding programs for business loans, grants and other services. Stephen Kinsey 201st District Lifelong Northwest Philadelphia resident Kinsey is looking to transition from chief of staff of the 201st District to the district seat, which is being vacated by a retiring

representative. Kinsey is in favor of marriage equality and said he would work to repeal the state’s Defense of Marriage Act and defeat efforts to ban same-sex marriage in the state constitution. He would work to extend the state’s hate-crimes and nondiscrimination laws to LGBT individuals. Kinsey said he would support the inclusion of anti-bullying education in school curricula. He said he would work with organizations that incorporate strategies of the Centers for Disease Control to alleviate the impact of HIV/ AIDS on minority KINSEY populations. He is in favor of LGBT adoption rights and of funding for LGBT youth and senior programs. He pledged to join the LGBT Equality Caucus. “I’m fair, open-minded and an advocate for diversity,” he said. Mark Cohen 202nd District Rep. Cohen first spearheaded the state’s first civilunion bill last session and again introduced it last year. He is a cosponsor of a bill to legalize COHEN marriage equality and a longtime supporter of the LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination measure. Cohen is a cosponsor of the bill to extend the inheritance-tax exemption to same-sex couples. He is a founding member of the LGBT Equality Caucus. Cohen has been endorsed by Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club. [He did not complete a 2012 PGN questionnaire.] ■

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

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in Philadelphia CENTER CITY PHILADELPHIA

TRIANGLE MEDICINE, 253 S. 10th St. 1st floor • 10TH ST. POUR HOUSE, 252 S. 10th St. • SANTE FE BURRITO, 212 S. 11th St. • BIKE STOP, 206 S. Quince St. MORE THAN JUST ICE CREAM, 1119 Locust St. • MIDTOWN II, 122 S. 11th St. • FUSION GYM, 105 S. 12th St. 2nd floor • 12th & Walnut St. • 13th & Walnut St. DANNY’S BOOKSTORE 133 S. 13th St. • SANSOM CINEMA, 120 S. 13th St. • I GOLDBERG 1300 Chestnut St. • MAZZONI CLINIC LOBBY, 21 S. 12th St. ETTORE SALON IN MARRIOTT, 1201 Market St. • WOMEN’S ANON. TEST SITE LOBBY, 1211 Chestnut St. • SAFEGUARDS LOBBY, 1211 Chestnut St. #610 PA AIDS LAW PROJECT LOBBY, 1211 Chestnut St. 12th fl. • Phila. Family Planning Commission, 260 S. Broad St. 10th fl. • City Hall NE Entrance • SCORPIO BOOKS, 202 S. Juniper St. • SISTERS, 1320 Chancellor St. • Paolo Pizzaria, 1336 Pine St.• DIGNITY/ST. LUKES, 330 S. 13th St. • GIOVANNI’S ROOM, 345 S. 12th St. • FOODERY, 10th & Pine St. • VALANNI RESTAURANT, 1229 Spruce St. • APT. & TOWNHOUSE RENTALS, 304 S. 12th St. • PARKER HOTEL LOBBY, 261 S. 13th St. • WESTBURY BAR, 261 S. 13th St. • BUMP, 13th & Locust Sts. • CLUB BODY CENTER, 1220 Chancellor St. • WOODY’S BAR, 202 S. 13th St. • CUT SALON, 204 S. 13TH ST. • 13TH STREET PIZZA, 209 S. 13th St. • Phila. Fight/Aids Library, 1233 Locust St. 5th floor • BIOSCRIPT PHARMACY, 1227 Locust St. • UNCLES BAR, 1220 Locust St. • SALON K, 1216 Locust St. • TAVERN ON CAMAC, 243 S. Camac St. • VENTURE INN, 255 S. Camac St. • PLANNED PARENTHOOD, 1144 Locust St. • TABU, 200 S. 12th St. • 12TH STREET GYM, 204 S. 12th St. • Charlie Salon, 203 S. 12th St. • Brew Ha Ha Coffee Shop, 212 S. 12th St. • SPRUCE STREET VIDEO, 252 S. 12th St. • I Candy 254 S. 12th St. • WILLIAM WAY CENTER, 1325 Spruce St. • READING TERMINAL MARKET, 12th & Filbert St. • Action AIDS, 1216 Arch St. • ASIAC, 1201 Chestnut St. 5th floor • AACO, 1101 Market St. 9th Floor • Com-Har Living Room, 101 S. Broad St. 14th floor • Mazzoni Clinic, 809 Locust St. • Packard Apartments, 317 N. Broad St. •HONOR BOXES 8th & Walnut St. • 10th & Locust St. • 10th & Spruce Sts. • 11th & Locust St. • 11th & Walnut St. • 13th & Sansom Sts. • 13th & Chestnut St. • Broad & Walnut Sts. • Juniper & Market • Broad & Chestnut St. • Broad & Spruce Sts. • 13th & Pine St. • 11th & Pine St. • 10th & Pine St. • 9th & Pine St. • 12th & Spruce Sts. • 13th & Spruce Sts. • 13th & Locust St. • 12th & Locust Sts. • 12th & Manning St. • 8th & Market St. • 9th & Market St. • 11th & Arch St. •12th & Filbert St. • Broad & Arch Sts.

OTHER PHILADELPHIA NEIGHBORHOODS

PHILADELPHIA, OLD CITY/SOCIETY HILL ZIP CODE 19106 • Independence Visitors Center, Sixth & Market streets • Free Library, Independence Branch, 18 S. Seventh St. •

Coldwell Banker Real Estate, Curtis Center, 170 W. Independence Mall • Independence Place Condos, 241 S. Sixth St., lobby in both towers • Zeke’s Lunch, 318 S. Fifth St. • Best Western Independence Park Hotel lobby, 215 Chestnut St. • Hyatt Regency Hotel lobby, 201 S. Columbus Blvd. • Philly Paws, 100 N. Second St. • Strands Salon, 25 N. Third St. • Dane Décor, 315 Arch St. • Old City Ironworks Gym, 141 N. Second St. • Chocolate Works Condo lobby, 321 N. Third St. • Bridgeview Place Condo lobby, 315 New St. • HONOR BOXES • Seventh & Pine streets • Fifth & Pine streets • Third & Spruce streets • Fifth & Spruce streets • Sixth & Chestnut streets • Fifth & Chestnut streets • Fourth & Chestnut streets • Third & Chestnut streets • Second & Chestnut streets • Second & Walnut streets • Walnut & Dock streets, by Ritz Movies • Fifth & Market streets • Third & Arch streets • Third & Race streets • Fourth Street bet. Arch & Market streets, by Holiday Inn

PHILADELPHIA: SOUTH ST./BELLA VISTA/PASSYUNK ZIP CODE 19147 • Whole Foods Market, 929 South St. • Big Green Earth Store, 934 South St. • Bean Café, 615 South St. • Copabanana, 342 South St. • PGN offices, 505 S. Fourth St. • Famous 4th St. Deli, Fourth & Bainbridge streets • Essene, 719 S. Fourth St. • Paper Moon, 524 S. Fourth St. • Rockerhead Salon, 607 S. Third St. • Philly Bagels, 613 S. Third St. • Office of Dr. Lynne Rosenthal, 530 S. Second St., second floor • Michael’s Café, 1623 E. Passyunk Ave. • Black N Brew, 1523 E. Passyunk Ave. • Carmen’s Country Kitchen, 11th & Wharton streets • Free Library, Southwark Branch, 932 S. Seventh St. • Bethel Community Home, 933-935 S. Third St. • Hideaway, Days Inn, 2015 Penrose Ave. • HONOR BOXES • 10th & South streets • Eighth & South streets • Sixth & South streets • 505 S. Fourth St. • Fourth & Bainbridge streets • Third & South streets • Passyunk Avenue & Mifflin Street • Passyunk Avenue & Tasker Street • Passyunk Avenue, 10th & Reed streets PHILADELPHIA WEST OF BROAD ZIP CODE 19102/19103 • U Do It Laundry, 15th & Spruce streets • Touraine Building lobby, 1520 Spruce St. • The Attic Youth Center, 255 S. 16th St. • TLA Video, 1520 Locust St. • Latimer Deli, 255 S. 15th St. • Dr. Wakefield’s Office, 255 S. 17th St., Suite 2306 • Art Institute, 1622 Chestnut St. • Art Institute, 1610 Chestnut St. • Café Cret, 1301 Race St. • Wyndham Franklin Plaza Hotel, 17th & Race streets • Adonis Cinema, 2026 Sansom St. • Sansom St. Gym, 2020 Sansom St. • Titan Room, 22nd & Market streets • Manna, 12 S. 23rd St. • Art Institute, 2300 Market St. • Phila. Daily News/Inquirer lobby, 400 N. Broad St. • Drexel Partnership, 1427 Vine St., third floor • Main Branch Phila. Free Library, 19th & Vine streets • HONOR BOXES • 17th & Pine streets • 20th & Pine streets • 15th & Spruce streets • 17th & Spruce streets • 18th & Spruce streets • 19th & Spruce streets • 23rd & Spruce streets • 25th & Spruce streets • 18th & Locust streets • 20th & Locust streets • 21st & Walnut streets • 22nd & Walnut streets • 20th & Sansom streets • Broad & Chestnut streets • 22nd & Chestnut streets • 16th & Market streets • 18th & Market streets • 22nd & Market streets • Design Center, 2400 Block Market St. • 16th Street & JFK Boulevard • 18th Street & JFK Boulevard • 20th & Vine streets PHILADELPHIA, FAIRMOUNT, ZIP CODE 19130 • Bebashi, 1217 Spring Garden St. • Colonnade Condos lobby, 1601 Spring Garden St. • CCP Lambda, Phila. Community College, 1700 Spring Garden St. • Logan View Apts. lobby, 17th & Callowhill streets • Free Library, Main Branch, 19th & Vine streets • Whole Foods Market, 2001 Pennsylvania Ave. • Welker Real Estate, 2311 Fairmount Ave. • Beehive Hair Salon, 2319 Fairmount Ave. • Philadelphian Condos lobby, 2401 Pennsylvania Ave. • 2601 Parkway Condos lobby, 2601 Pennsylvania Ave. • Crooked Frame Café, 2545 Brown St. • HONOR BOX, 23rd Street & Fairmount Avenue

PHILADELPHIA, WEST PHILLY, ZIP CODE 19104 • LGBT Center at Penn, 3907 Spruce St. • Penn Bookstore, 3610 Walnut St. • Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St. • St. Mary’s Church, 3916 Locust Walk • International House, 3701 Chestnut St. • University Lutheran Church, 3637 Chestnut St. • Sheraton Hotel, 36th & Chestnut streets • Old Quaker Condos lobby, 3514 Lancaster Ave. • World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. • Bucks County Coffee, 3430 Sansom St. • Bucks County Coffee, 40th & Locust streets • Fresh Grocer, 4001 Walnut St. • Osol Hall, 510 S. 42nd St. • Wilson Hall, 708 S. 42nd St. • Goodman Hall, 710 S. 42nd St. • University of the Sciences England Library, 4200 Woodland Ave. • HONOR BOXES • 30th & Market streets, NW corner • 33rd & Market streets, SW corner • 38th & Chestnut streets • 38th & Walnut streets • 36th & Walnut streets • 34th & Walnut streets • 34th & Spruce streets • 37th & Spruce streets • 38th & Spruce streets • 38th & Walnut streets • 40th & Walnut streets • University City SEPTA Station

PHILADELPHIA, OTHER, BY ZIP CODE 19111 • Almost Paradise, 742 Frankford Ave. • Free Library, Welsh Road, 9233 Roosevelt Blvd. • Honor Box, Welsh Road & Roosevelt Boulevard • Harry’s Natural Foods, 1805 Cottman Ave. • 19114 • Today’s Videos, 9255 Roosevelt Blvd. • 19116 • GWHS Beacon Center, 10175 Bustleton Ave. • Free Library Bustleton Branch, 10199 Bustleton Ave. • 19118 • Weaver’s Way, 559 Carpenter Lane • Coffee Junction, 7210 Cresheim Road • Infusion Salon, 7133 Germantown Ave. • Newsstand, 8600 Germantown Ave. • Border’s Books, 8701 Germantown Ave. • 19119 • TLA Video, 7630 Germantown Ave. • Honor Box, Wyndmoor SEPTA Station • 19120 • Free Library, Olney Branch, 5501 N. Fifth St. • 19122 • Rainbow Eye, 1449 N. Fifth St., second ﬂoor • Free Library, Rodriguez Branch, 600 W. Girard Ave. • Barnes & Noble, 1700 N. Broad St. • Temple University Student Activity Center, 1755 N. 12th St. • 19123 • Darling’s Diner, 1033 N. Second St. • Beth Ahavah, 615 N. Broad St. • SILOAM Ministries, 1133 Spring Garden St. • Shampoo, Seventh & Willow streets • Honor Box, Fifth & Spring Garden streets • 1 Shot Coffee, 1040 N. Second St. • PYT Restaurant, 1050 N. Hancock St., at the Piazza • Northern Liberties Iron Works, 821 N. Second St. • HIV Early Intervention Clinic, St. Joseph’s Hospital, 16th Street & Girard Avenue • 19124 • Free Library Fishtown Branch, 1217 E. Montgomery Ave. • Free Library Frankford Branch, 4634 Frankford Ave. • Free Library Oak Lane Branch, 6614 N. 12th St. • 19126 • Free Library, Roxborough Branch, 6245 Ridge Ave. • 19127 • Free Library, Andorra Branch, 705 E. Cathedral Road • Honor Box, Main & Cotton streets • 19128 • Elfant Wissahickon Realty, 8962 Ridge Ave. • 19129 • Free Library Falls of Schuylkill, 3501 Midvale Ave. • 19131 • WCAU TV lobby, City Line Avenue & Monument Road • WPVI TV lobby, City Line Avenue & Monument Road • Free Library Wynneﬁeld Branch, 5325 Overbrook Ave. • Honor Box City Avenue & 63rd Street • 19132 • One Day At A Time, 2532 N. Broad St. • 19133 • Congresso De Latinos, American Street & Lehigh Avenue • Free Library Lehigh Branch, 601 W. Lehigh Ave. • Prevention Point, 166 W. Lehigh Ave. • Free Library Richmond Branch, 2987 Almond St. • 19134 • Free Library McPherson Square Branch, 601 E. Indiana Ave. • Touch of Class Books, 3342 Kensington Ave. • 19136 • Fantasy Island Books, 7363 State Road • 19139 • Free Library West Phila. Branch, 125 S. 52nd St. • 19141 • Free Library Logan Branch, 1333 Wagner Ave. • Free Library Olney Branch, 6017 Ogontz Ave. • 19143 • Free Library Blanche A. Nixon Branch, 5800 Cobbs Creek Parkway • Free Library Kingsessing Branch, 1201 S. 51st St. • Philadelphia University KANBAR Center, 4201 Henry Ave. • 19144 • Free Library Joseph E. Coleman Branch, 68 W. Chelten Ave. • Free Library Lovett Branch, 6945 Germantown Ave. • 19145 • Free Library South Phila. Branch, 1700 S. Broad St. • Free Library Passyunk Branch, 1935 Shunk St. • 19146 • South Square Market, 2221 South St. • Honor Box, 22nd & South streets • L-2 Restaurant, 22nd & South streets • Honor Box, 19th & South streets • Honor Box, 17th & Lombard streets • Marine Club Condos lobby, Broad Street & Washington Avenue • 19149 • Newsstand, Bustleton & Cottman avenues • Free Library, Northeast Regional Branch, 2228 Cottman Ave.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

PRIMARY COVERAGE — OP-ED PGN

Why I’m voting for Babette Josephs By Chris Pinto The Babette Josephs/Brian Sims matchup has garnered a lot of heated discussion in our community and rightfully so. Incumbent Babette Josephs has spoken on our behalf for decades. She has singlehandedly prevented bills from moving to the House floor that were outright discriminatory to the LGBT community. And now, we are in a position where an openly gay male is mounting a well-funded campaign against her. Babette Josephs is the senior-most female legislator in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. She, for over 27 years, has tirelessly worked on behalf of women’s wellness, and her record is second to none. She was the lone advocate for gay rights when no one dared to even utter the word “gay” in the state legislature. She took on the powerful gun lobby to reduce the amount of illegal guns and assault weapons on the streets. Every single time in the past 27 years, when legislators decided to legislate on their own personal morals, Babette has been in their face,

with her signature backpack, to stop them dead in their tracks. Transit funding, school advocate, rights and protections for seniors — the list goes on. And she’s done this with no state car (she uses public transportation) and a lean staff (efficient and effective). And there’s never a time where Babette won’t spend time with the people in her district. Brian Sims is not a native to the district and, in fact, he’s not native to Philadelphia. His work experience is anemic when compared to the comprehensive list of national publicity that he’s garnished as the “out” football player at Bloomsburg University. From his website, he’s actively practiced law for approximately one year, on his own. I’m not sure how any of this equates to being qualified or capable of representing or even understanding the issues and the people of the 182nd District, when, for the majority of his personal and professional life, he’s lived outside of the very district he’s running to lead. There’s absolutely nothing that Brian has said in this campaign that differs from what Babette

has said, and has delivered on, for years. So, if there’s no difference in policy, why would anyone actively mount a campaign against a person that he worked for just 24 months prior? Brian had the opportunity to run in his former district for Kenyatta Johnson’s seat and he declined. He decided to move to the 182nd District and challenge our staunchest ally in the state House. Anyone running for this level of state office has to plan a run like this years in advance. If you look at the dates of his campaign announcement, his contributors and his actions in those 12 months after his work with his opponent, this wasn’t a move driven by personal reasons. I am insulted that people would even believe this is a matter of “coincidence.” Mr. Sims worked for his challenger just 24 months ago, as treasurer for her campaign. After having access to all of her campaign information, and her successful reelection, his camp claims that by a series of “coincidences,” he would move for personal reasons, and then decide to challenge the one person that

we’ve supported as a community for decades (almost immediately after the conclusion of her campaign). This is not a “coincidence.” This is a calculated betrayal of someone who has selflessly spoken up for us when no one else dared to. I am offended and outraged at Mr. Sims’ actions. I am disgusted that many people in this community have been blinded by the singular notion that being gay trumps experience and steadfast support for three decades. We can say that we want an out candidate, but what are we willing to sacrifice for it? Are we that fickle of a community that we embrace someone who has betrayed our staunchest statewide ally and, by his own campaign literature, is clearly unaware of the needs of his constituents? Are we willing to sacrifice a ranking ally in the House for a freshman whose ethics are compromised before he even walks in the door? Thanks to the many pioneers who have gone before us, we will win a seat not simply because we are gay. We will win a seat because we are qualified to do the

job, and do it because we understand the people who we are representing. We as a community cannot and should not turn our backs on someone who has an exemplary record of protecting us. We have fought discrimination all of our lives and have no right to discriminate against someone because of their gender or sexual orientation. Babette has done and continues to do the job exceptionally well. To vote any other way would reverse years of fighting for gender and racial equality, and will do us all more harm than good. I have faith that the residents of the 182nd District will vote for Babette. And I hope that after the election, Sims will reevaluate his short-lived, self-proclaimed contributions to our community. Because true LGBT advocates work selflessly toward the cause, above and beyond their own personal aspirations, for the good of the community. ■ Chris Pinto is a senior manager for global web strategy and design at Klish Group and resident of the 182nd District since 2002.

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PRIMARY COVERAGE PGN — OP-ED

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

Why I’m voting for Brian Sims By Rick Naughton I’m voting for Brian Sims to be my state representative in the 182nd District because he is the best candidate for the job. He is a true progressive who not only has a proven track record of fighting for the issues that matter most, but he also has a record of creating real change. Brian has a history of fighting for what is right and winning, and I have absolutely no doubt he will be our champion in Harrisburg. Brian cut his teeth as a senior law clerk at the Environmental Protection Agency’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., working as an attorney representing disabled clients who were denied benefits from insurance companies. He then worked as the staff counsel for Policy and Planning at the Philadelphia Bar Association. At both the EPA and the Bar Association, he gained in-depth knowledge that most legislators don’t get until well into their careers.

He took that experience and applied it when he served as president of the board of directors at Equality Pennsylvania, the only statewide LGBT civil-rights organization. There, he not only led a major restructuring of the organization, but he also helped to focus Equality PA’s efforts on passing municipal nondiscrimination ordinances across the commonwealth. Too many Pennsylvanians live in places where they are not protected from discrimination like we are here in Philadelphia. But because of Brian’s work helping chart Equality PA’s course, thousands of additional Pennsylvanians now have the rights that they deserve. Brian doesn’t just stand up and fight for issues — he gets results. In Harrisburg, he can do this because he is willing to roll up his sleeves and work with his fellow legislators to build the coalitions it takes to create change, and not just alienate those who disagree with him. To pass good legislation or defeat bad legisla-

tion, you have to be able to persuade your fellow lawmakers that your ideas make sense. If you can’t even start that conversation because you’re isolated, then you’ve already lost the argument. Brian is a progressive policy wonk at heart. He has a detailed plan for job creation that can be found at www.sims4pa.com/jobs/. While the legislature has done nothing effective to address the job crisis, Brian has some great ideas on how to increase green jobs and make a smart investment in the high-tech sector. His experience working on regulation and enforcement at the EPA gives him great perspective on the environmental issues our state faces concerning natural gas and fracking. We don’t just need a leader who will vote the right way on the issues: We need someone who understands them, and can be a more effective leader because of in-depth experience, knowledge and understanding of the issues. A staunch ally of public educa-

Philadelphia Gay News

tion, Brian is committed to helping improve the School District of Philadelphia by lobbying for increased funding and looking at reforms that have worked elsewhere. He’s a strong supporter of women’s rights, including choice, access to contraception and equal pay. And he will fight to restore the health insurance that Gov. Corbett and his administration have cut from families across the state. Brian’s progressive bona fides and experience getting results make him the right candidate for this job. But I am most excited about what it will mean to have our first out legislator. I would not be surprised if Brian is the first openly LGBT person that some of our state representatives ever meet, let alone serve alongside of. And it’s much easier to deny equal rights to some imaginary person than it is to deny equal rights to someone you know personally. In fact, not a single state that has achieved marriage equality has done so

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without an openly LGBT member of their state legislature. This year we will have the opportunity to elect the first — and possibly up to six — openly LGBT people to Pennsylvania’s legislature. With the highest LGBT population in the state, the 182nd, which includes the Gayborhood, would be sending a strong message to the rest of the commonwealth that we fully expect a seat at the table. Because you know what they say: “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.” This is a historic election — so many of us have worked for so long to see the day when an out LGBT person would be elected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. I can think of no one better to represent the district — to represent us — than Brian Sims. ■ Rick Naughton, J.D., is a longtime advocate for the LGBT community and is a member of the board of directors at Equality PA. He is a proud resident of the Gayborhood.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

PRIMARY COVERAGE PGN — 182ND RACE

Babette Josephs, the longtime incumbent PGN: What LGBT effort or initiative have you been involved with that you’re most proud of? BJ: One was the work I was able to do as majority chair of the State Government Committee on trying to expand the jurisdiction of the Human Relations Act to cover sexual orientation and gender expression. Even though Philadelphia and a handful of other localities do include sexual orientation, 80 percent of people in the state are not covered. If they’re fired, they have no recourse. So we did hearings all over the state — in Erie, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh — and we had such effecting testimony. I left a couple of those hearings in tears. To hear about the lives these people have to live was very moving. And, historically speaking, there had never been a positive hearing, an official action, from the Pennsylvania legislature for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning people until I did those hearings. In the next session, we voted the bill out of committee but we didn’t feel it was safe to bring it to the floor, and then we lost the majority. I’m also proud of what I’m working on now, HB 1828, which allows life partners, both same-sex and oppositesex, to not pay the onerous inheritance tax. It would treat them the same as married couples are treated. I testified in front of the Finance Committee on that and plan to hold a policy committee hearing on it after the primary. I’m also proud of being instrumental in stopping the constitutional DOMA. PGN: What would you do to curb crime in the 182nd District? BJ: I would like to be in a position to get some money for town watches. They’re the answer in many ways. We need to prevent crimes and the more cohesive a neighborhood is, the fewer crimes there are. The whole reason we have so much crime in urban areas is because people are pretty anonymous. In a small village, everyone knows you and if you’re someplace you aren’t supposed to be, somebody’s father would chase you or a grandmother would threaten to tell your mom. But in urban areas we need to work very hard to make our neighborhood more cohesive, to get people involved in neighborhood organizations, involved on the street. We need small-town atmospheres in our Center City and South Philadelphia neighborhoods — and to some extent we do — but the more we can achieve that, the less and less crime we’ll have. PGN: What would you do to bring jobs to the district? BJ: I would bring pressure on the governor to fund what his own commission said must be funded — transportation and transit. We will have no economy whatsoever in Philadelphia if we do not fund transit. That’s how people get to work, how people come from the suburbs, how tourists get

here, how students get around. We have bridges that are over 100 years old, and they have to be fixed. Also, I don’t like to criticize the mayor because he is in a bad position, but he should be in Harrisburg advocating for education money, not turning to the growth areas in the cities through this valueassessment project and raising our property taxes. I can’t figure out how it helps to punish people who live in middle-class neighborhoods. Philadelphia is growing and we’re growing in middle-class neighborhoods where people are investing in property. Turning that around is a job killer. This also has to do with the idea of crime. We have a certain amount of money, and we can spend it on jails or we can spend it on schools. We need to spend it on schools and go back to the reputation we had under the Rendell administration where our reading scores went up in every grade between 2003-08, even in Philadelphia, because of the fiscal choices the Rendell administration made with early-childhood education and some other programs. We can’t bring jobs to the city, to my district, if we don’t have a pool of people a business would want to hire, if we don’t have a reputation for turning out workers who can work and learn on the job. We went from going up a mountain to falling over a cliff and into an abyss. PGN: How would you ensure that your office represents the makeup of the 182nd District? BJ: I have tried to be diverse in my campaign staff, and the same with the staff in my office. In my campaign, I asked Brian Sims to be my treasurer because I wanted that to be a signal that I understand how important LGBT issues are and that LGBT people, along with others like those here without papers, are a legitimate object of discrimination from some people. That cannot be in society. Brian actually approached me to be in the campaign and I asked him to be treasurer. And then he emailed me and resigned, never telling me any problems he had with me, never complaining about anything. I knew by his tone in the email that he was running against me. PGN: What would you do to support funding for LGBT youth and senior programs? BJ: Both populations are unfortunately very vulnerable. I’m working with [PGN publisher] Mark Segal and [state Rep.] Mike O’Brien on the senior-housing project. I’m very willing to do whatever

I can to bring money forward for that. I think especially older men, who haven’t been allowed to get married, who don’t have children, are very isolated in their older age. Women tend to have better social networks but that’s not always the case. But older LGBT people are very isolated and so are youth in a different way. It goes back to the problem that this governor signed a stupid pledge not to tax this enormous industry, which is taking minerals out of our soil and which is not a huge job provider. We pay more than we get back from Harrisburg, that’s why the city’s taxes are so high and why it’s so difficult for small businesses to get along here. If we had a decent tax on Marcellus Shale, we would have the resources to fund senior and youth programs for LGBTs and other people. All I can do is raise my voice because right now we don’t have the votes to make that happen. PGN: What would you do to decrease HIV infection rates in Philadelphia? BJ: We need more good, objective sex education for everybody in our schools. And when I say that, I mean it in the widest, broadest sense. Kindergarten children should be talked to about babies, and third-graders should have a little bit of info about your responsibilities as a big sister or big brother. And once kids get to the age where they’re sexually active, which is sadly younger and younger, they should have some knowledge to protect themselves from venereal diseases and HIV. And we need more money for research. I’ve constantly advocated for absolute anonymity and confidentiality for people who get tested for HIV. I’ve worked to pass legislation like the HIV Preventive Education Act, which requires counseling even when a test turns out negative. If you come to get a test because you think you’re engaged in risky behavior, then you should have somebody to talk to who’s a professional. And I’d like to see that expanded and adhered to. The more we talk about this, the more people get information from objective sources, and the less transmission of HIV we have. I would hope there’s a cure but right now we have take other steps, and they’re not expensive to fund, not nearly as expensive as dealing with someone who dies of AIDS. For a person to die of AIDS prematurely, and that’s always the case, is the most expensive thing because we’ve lost a person. That’s an untold price. It’s shameful and it shouldn’t happen. I was the first person,

working with Sen. Fumo, in the legislature in the 1980s to get serious money — a million dollars — for HIV preventive education. It wasn’t all the money we needed but it was our first million and that was before people were seriously talking about this. PGN: What LGBT issue will you work most closely on in the next legislative session? BJ: I’ll keep pushing on the inheritancetax bill but I think it really depends on the makeup of the General Assembly. If voters are as angry as I think they are, we — the Democrats in the House and Senate — may make serious incursions. If that’s the case, I’d try my very best to move forward with the civil-rights issues, the marriage issues, all kinds of family and relationship issues regarding the second-class-citizen treatment of LGBT people. And if that doesn’t happen, it’ll be defensive. We’ll be fighting off the marriage amendment. But I can’t say what’ll happen in November. PGN: What is the first piece of legislation you would introduce next session? BJ: I would certainly introduce the inheritance bill on day one, and would also put the marriage bill out again. [State Rep.] Dan Frankel and I have been working together [on the LGBT nondiscrimination bill], so I wouldn’t introduce that because he will, but I would certainly put my name on it on day one. PGN: How would your plan for taxes impact the residents of the 182nd District? BJ: The reason why the city’s taxes are so burdensome is because we don’t get what we need from the state. My struggle is constantly trying to make the state give us back the dollars we send them in tax money. We should at least get that back and we don’t. That is atypical of big cities and it dampens the economy of the entire Delaware Valley and makes taxes go up. When we have a small tax base, each one of us is paying more and it’s wrong. PGN: What will you do to build support for LGBT issues among lawmakers outside the Philadelphia area and with Republicans? BJ: I’m very encouraged with the Democrats outside of the Philadelphia area. We have a lot of people in the LGBT Caucus who are not only younger in terms of service but who are also actually younger, people like Matt Smith, Pam DeLissio, Vanessa Lowery Brown. It’s encouraging to see that at least the Democrats are becoming interested in this, partly because they support me and because they know we’re going in the right direction. We have three co-chairs, myself, Dan Frankel and Daylin Leach, and I’d like to see some folks who don’t have our seniority to take on some leadership position in some form. That would encourage even more of PAGE 35

PRIMARY COVERAGE PGN — 182ND RACE

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

Brian Sims, the openly gay challenger PGN: What LGBT effort or initiative have you been involved with that you’re most proud of? BS: That’s an easy one, Equality Pennsylvania. At the time I got involved with Equality PA, most would agree that it was on its last leg. It had lost the best executive director that it had had for years and who was responsible for its growth over the years. It was extremely underfunded and, quite frankly, extremely inactive. Before I joined the board, they voted twice to shutter the organization altogether. I think people often think that it was my job for two-and-a-half years versus something I did wholeheartedly as a volunteer. It’s been three years since I stepped in and this is now an organization that has played an active role in every municipal nondiscrimination ordinance in the last two-and-a-half years. It’s now their second year in a row where they’ve been able to do endorsements of statewide LGBTQA candidates. It’s an organization that others around the country are looking at to establish a [501](c)(4) and a PAC and how to get steady streams of funding. I’m very proud of my background, very proud of my time in college football and of becoming an attorney, but stepping in and leading the charge at Equality PA was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done and also one of my proudest moments. PGN: What would you do to curb crime in the 182nd District? BS: Engagement, engagement, engagement. There is no “silver bullet” to end crime anywhere. Here in the 182nd District, I am a strong advocate of allowing Philadelphia to enact its own gun-control law. I disagree with the current laws that force Philadelphia to accept the same gun laws as, say, in Potter County, Pa. But it’s also about engagement. Throughout Philadelphia’s history, when the services the city provides are not enough to sustain a neighborhood, the neighborhood steps up and rises up. When we’ve seen success at curbing crimes, it’s in things like nuisance court at night, town-watch programs, things that engage people who live in the neighborhoods directly. We also need to engage with police officers and law enforcement, but it starts with engaging the community, which is something I’ve done in my campaign and my whole career. PGN: What would you do to bring jobs to the district? BS: This is probably my favorite topic. I’ve spent a whole lot of time working on jobs because that’s what people in this district are focusing on. I go door to door and I could talk for hours on end about civil rights, education, the environment, but most people want to talk about jobs. I just released an extremely comprehensive jobs program that focuses on three things: incentivizing the types of businesses we want here in Philadelphia — so, green,

high-tech businesses; innovation, because that is the future of green jobs and tax reform. Unfortunately, the tax system we have in this state does a great deal of harm to Philadelphia businesses. Having to compete against New Jersey or Delaware businesses, with a shift in revenue to Delaware so you don’t have to pay taxes, is ridiculous and puts all businesses, small and large, at a massive disadvantage. By shifting to a commercial activity tax, we’re lowering corporate tax rates to a way that is revenue-neutral and putting money into the pockets of our local businesses. PGN: How would you ensure that your office represents the makeup of the 182nd District? BS: Diversity is the name of the game when it comes to modern success. While I was recruiting board members for Equality PA, we would talk about their job, their backgrounds, their likes and dislikes, and then afterward, about what affinity they were a part of — were they African American, a woman, did they use a wheelchair, were they Hispanic or Latino? People deserve to hear from people who understand their backgrounds — that’s not pandering. This is one of the most diverse districts in the state. My staff is as diverse as the district and, if I’m successful, my office in and of itself will absolutely reflect my campaign, the district and the people who surround me in my life, who are massively diverse. PGN: What would you do to support funding for LGBT youth programs? BS: This is a two-part answer. There is RCAP funding that legislators are able to bring to those in their district, so I would no doubt bring RCAP funding to youth programs. It harkens to what I was talking about, about crime. But also, the district has, without a doubt, the best-funded nonprofit, public-interest organizations in the state, and they’re not engaged in the way they should be. I would work to get funding from Harrisburg and help Philadelphia push funding toward youth, but I’d also use my voice and my coalition-building skills to form partnerships that are able to build an influx of private money. PGN: What would you do to support funding for LGBT seniors programs? BS: It’s almost an identical answer. RCAP funding is important for youth and for seniors; there’s always a certain amount of money I can bring back to my district, and

I’m very committed to bringing that money to youth and to seniors but that’s only half the answer. The other is making the case for private investment — that it’s not just good for neighborhood- and community-building but also it’s good for people to build good corporate citizenship and stewardship. PGN: What would you do to decrease HIV infection rates in Philadelphia? BS: It comes down to research and development. We need an investment in biomedical research in Philadelphia, which will create jobs and put the focus on HIV rates here in the city. One of the things I hope to be able to do is bring more funding to biomedical research in Philadelphia. There are a number of places, not just CHOP and Penn, focusing research on the HIV infection rates in the city. There are a number of populations that we may describe as LGBT but who don’t identify as LGBT, so it may be difficult to address that community. But we need to be out there finding out why the rates are high, talking to people in the communities and drawing as much attention to the fact that HIV is still a massive issue, more so in Philadelphia that anywhere in the state. PGN: What LGBT issue will you work most closely on in the next legislative session? BS: I plan to start with anti-bullying and with a version of HB 300. Both can be worked on at the same time on day one. Our anti-bullying legislation is so woefully inadequate. Yet New Jersey, which has a governor who is not a fan of LGBT people, clearly, still signed into law perhaps the strongest anti-bullying policy in the country. Given what’s happening nationally and in retail politics and in Pennsylvania, a solid push for anti-bullying will happen on day one. PGN: What is the first piece of legislation you would introduce next session? BS: It would be one of those two. Several years ago I worked closely with [state Rep.] Tim Briggs out in King of Prussia to develop what I believe is the comprehensive anti-bullying bill put together in Pennsylvania. We pulled language from laws from all over the country and I plan to reintroduce that bill, and I know there are a number of co-spsonsors throughout the state who are anxious to support it. PGN: How would your plan for taxes impact the residents of the 182nd District?

BS: The truth is it will lower the tax rate of every business owner here in Philadelphia. It broadens the tax base but lessens the overall tax burden, so we’ll literally be putting money into every pocket in Philadelphia, which they can use to invest in future business or, frankly, invest on their own. Having a tax rate that no longer punishes Philadelphia businesses is a benefit to all Philadelphians. It brings more money into Philadelphia from companies actually based in the city. PGN: What will you do to build support for LGBT issues among lawmakers outside the Philadelphia area and with Republicans? BS: I spent a lot of time over the last couple of years building relationships with legislators outside of Philadelphia. One of the things we did with Equality PA early on was move the headquarters to Harrisburg. One, because a lot of the action on these issues is happening in Harrisburg, and also any one statewide organization that’s based in Philadelphia isn’t viewed as statewide by the rest of the state. I’ve spent a lot of time in the last two-and-ahalf years reaching out to people all over the state, all the way out to Erie, to engage people. It’s about relationships. Legislators haven’t been able to hear from an LGBT colleague about their lives, who they are. Every legislator uses examples from their own lives when they’re advocating, and I plan to do that every single day. On the flip side, it’s not about how many times you sit down with a representative from Potter County and say, “I’m LGBT and I want you to focus on LGBT issues.” It’s about how many times you’re sitting together in a cafeteria, in caucus meetings working on bridges or the budget, on the train to and from Harrisburg. The more exposed these legislators are to LGBT people, the more they will be able to make the cases in their own mind about why they should support LGBT issues. PGN: How would you work against antiwomen’s rights measures, such as the recent ultrasound bill? BS: I plan on making it very clear from day one that an attack on women’s rights is an attack on my rights as well. I live in a state where my mother, my sister, my future daughter, my best friend, my neighbor all have the same rights as I do. This is something some men in the House are forgetting. Every civil-rights fight in history has benefited from unexpected allies. I will be the strongest man in the Pennsylvania House on women’s rights. Anyone who thinks women’s rights are only a woman’s issue are unprepared for what I will have to say about women’s rights. I got to my LGBT work through feminism. I’m the son of an Army-colonel mother, and I’m fond of telling people that I never once heard the phrase, “Wait until your father gets home.” My mother was PAGE 35

PGN PRIMARY COVERAGE

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PERKING UP THE VOTERS: Democratic primary candidates Babette Josephs (left) and Brian Sims listen as an ACLU representative reminds the attendees before the debate that a photo identification is now required when voting in Pennsylvania. The two 182nd District candidates participated in about an hour-long moderated Q&A at the April 17 event at La Colombe on 19th Street near Rittenhouse Square. About 100 people packed the coffeeshop to listen to, question and meet the two candidates just one week before the April 24 primary. Photo: Scott A. Drake

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PRIMARY COVERAGE PGN — 182ND RACE SIMS from page 33

enough. I was raised by co-equal parents who were strong, loving and caring people. A state that would treat my father differently than it would treat my mother would rob me of my rights, and it’s not something I’ll stand for. PGN: How will you work to mobilize LGBTs and allies to lobby for pro-LGBT measures? BS: This is the thing I’m most excited to get the opportunity to do. The last time LGBT organizations in the state really mobilized was in 2006 to get rid of Rick Santorum. We partnered with many other progressive organizations as well, but that was the last time the state’s LGBT community really rallied together. I’ve had the opportunity to work with many, if not all, of this state’s LGBT organizations, not just Equality PA and ACLU, but the LGBT Center Coalition in Harrisburg, the PA Diversity Network and Mazzoni Center, which often doesn’t get included in these discussions but, as the state’s largest LGBT organization, it should. Mobilizing LGBT people and allies to lobby for proLGBT legislation is the definition of being a legislator who’s really working on this legislation. There’s not a single legislator who can introduce a bill and get it passed without the support of those organizations with a vested interest in the issue. We’ve seen a lot of that with LGBT bills. Bills get introduced before those groups who are most vested in it have the ability to get out the vote, to raise awareness, so we see a history of failed votes on LGBT issues that perhaps shouldn’t have been brought up until stronger partnerships have been JOSEPHS from page 32

their friends in the legislature to join. In terms of the Republicans, with the makeup we have now, I despair. I talk to them of course, but my opponent must be the only Democrat in Pennsylvania, or on the planet, who thinks he can sit down with Republicans and explain the dilemma of being LGBT and get them to vote with us. These people have an agenda: They’re taking bills word for word from the think-tank American Legislative Exchange Council. They don’t care who talks to them about anything: They have an ideological bent and they’re following it. Unless the people sets themselves on fire like they did with the Susan G. Komen issue and later with the ultrasound bill, we’re not going to see any change in the Republicans. Not until they’re threatened with really losing their seats to Democrats. I don’t care how handsome you are, you’re not going to talk them into voting with you. For him to believe that could happen is so naïve. PGN: How would you work against antiwomen’s rights measures, such as the recent ultrasound bill? BJ: It’s the same thing in regards to LGBT issues. Organizing successfully makes for a win. You don’t win anything in the building, it all happens out in the community. I’m out in the public all the time, urging

formed. About a third of Democrats in the state House don’t vote how we as progressive Philadelphians would like them to vote, so when we bring bills up that we know they’re going to vote against, we hurt ourselves because, two years down the line, we’ll hear from Republicans that this bill failed by a bipartisan vote in the past. So we need to make sure we are bringing all of our interest groups together, and that’s something I know I can do because I’ve done it before. And having an LGBT voice in the House would be an impetus to bring even more voices together. We need strength in numbers. PGN: What will be the top issues facing LGBTs and other Pennsylvanians in the coming session? BS: Hands down, we’ll still be talking about the budget a year from now. It’s no surprise that Gov. Corbett slashed the budget; we expected that to happen because it does when there’s a power change. But what is unexpected is that, after the wholesale, chainsaw slashing, there has been no thoughtful period where those organizations and institutions that had their funding cut can make their case. That’s not happening, so the budget will be a big part of the discussion going forward. Education as well. The state will not for a whole lot longer be able to continue to control all of Philadelphia’s schools. That’s not intended to be a permanent fix, and only those in the legislature in Harrisburg and those in Philadelphia over the next two years can make a serious case for reform. Also, jobs, jobs, jobs. I wish all Republicans in the state House and Corbett, when they said they were running on jobs and economy, people to organize, to join organizations that fight these fights, to give these organizations money, to use social media, write letters to the press. None of these challenges are going to be addressed successfully without a firestorm from the public. That’s what I did with the voter ID bill. I saw it coming in the State Government Committee and held a press conference in the House with all of the leadership from the Democrats in the House and everyone ran stories about it. That’s what I attempt to do with all of the issues we can’t move forward because of the ideologically closed-minded, indoctrinated extremists we have in the House. PGN: How will you work to mobilize LGBTs and allies to lobby for pro-LGBT measures? BJ: There are four candidates in other parts of the state who are openly gay, and people from Philadelphia should be helping them. The community should be contacting their campaigns, offering them support, offering to volunteer and go door-to-door for them. There are two people running in districts just outside of Harrisburg, which is not far. They would be outstanding as the first openly gay people in the Pennsylvania legislature and they would defeat wicked Republicans. They wouldn’t defeat a longtime ally.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

actually meant it. Because we haven’t seen jobs bills and those addressing the economy. There’s no way they can continue to not address the economy. Over the next couple years, we need to be bringing green jobs to Pennsylvania, and with all the issues we have in the state, with fracking and environmental issues, we need to be talking about how we can continue to grow new jobs and hold on to those jobs. There’s been a lot of lip service but no substantive legislative conversation to make sure Pennsylvania is competitive in five, 10, 20 years. PGN: How would you work to build support for these issues among Democrats, and how would you work to build support among Republicans? BS: I will help elect other Democrats. In Political Science 101, you’re told the middle district in the largest city in the state is going to have the most Democratic leverage, but that’s not the case here. When you have the privilege of running in a one-party town where, after the primary, the elected candidate is the presumptive winner, you should be going out and raising money for other Democrats. This district has been woefully lax in supporting other Democrats around the state. When Democratic candidates from Montgomery County are looking for support, they come to Philadelphia because this is where the hub of Democratic power and authority is, but they do everything on their own. There’s not coordinated help from this district. In the next six months after I win, I’ll raise as much as I did over the last seven months, which is pretty historic in itself, for Democrats in Potter, Elk, Center PGN: What will be the top issues facing LGBTs and other Pennsylvanians in the coming session? BJ: I think this economy. People don’t have jobs. People are underemployed. College students are sitting at home. High-school students can’t get to college because tuition keeps going up. Voters — it doesn’t matter if you’re LGBT, straight, old or young — want this economy fixed. We want job training, job opportunities, we want businesses moving here and employing people. The Corbett administration and Republicans who got elected campaigned on that issue. They’ve been in office for 15 months. We have a meeting every week with the State Government Committee and this is the very first week we had a bill come up that actually helps somebody retain a job. It was a resolution to Congress to keep open a military facility outside of Pittsburgh, which would retain jobs. PGN: How would you work to build support for these issues among Democrats, and how would you work to build support among Republicans? BJ: If we have the Republicans we have now, I wouldn’t bother. I’d of course notify them and talk to them, but I wouldn’t expect to persuade them on much. It has to

counties. That’s not happened before. The potential for this district to capitalize on its assets and its strength to support other Democrats outside this region is incredible, but is perhaps one of the areas where we have been most lacking over the last several decades. This is the way we get legislation passed in Harrisburg, by leveraging relationships and helping build relationships. We get things passed when we have more Democrats in the House, so we need to get out and help raise money for them, and that’s what I’ll be doing every day after the primary election until Nov. 2. I hope to raise more money than anybody has. That’s how you build leverage, power and get things done. PGN: Why should the LGBT community vote for you? BS: I’m running after years of working and advocating on behalf of the LGBT community and of the many communities and neighborhoods they’re a part of. It became clear to me that my values and my experience could lead me to do a better job for this district than has been done. My experience taught me that in the absence of actual representation, allied representation can only go so far. We’ve come a long way in the history of LGBT civil rights in this state but, for the toughest roads ahead, we have to be ready, we have to be capable and we have to be present. Barney Frank always says, “If you don’t have a seat at the table, you’re on the menu,” and the LGBT community has been on this state’s menu for years and years. A gay man joining the legislature is not a referendum on the last 20 years, but a referendum on the future. ■ be a firestorm on the outside. Unremitting editorial. People asking, where’s the job growth? Where’s the business development? Where’s the support for small businesses? In Philadelphia, in the 182nd District in particular, small-business activity is by and far the biggest generator of jobs. I support all of the small-business associations. When I was in the majority, I worked hard to have minority and women businesses become contractors with the Department of General Services. Small businesses in places like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh deserve a chance to have a piece of the pie. That’s how you create jobs, and we saw that under the Rendell years. PGN: Why should the LGBT community vote for you? BJ: I think it would be hard to find anybody in this state who has been longer serving and more committed to the LGBT community than myself. I am the leader in the state and to turn on me in the way that my former treasurer, Mr. Sims, did sends a message to every other state legislator and elected official who wants to help this community. And we want to help not because we’re making a political judgment, but because it’s the right thing to do. The message is that when somebody does the right thing, we defeat her. Now how does that help the cause? ■

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

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��REYATAZ® (atazanavir sulfate) is a prescription medicine used in combination with other medicines to treat people 6 years of age and older who are infected with the human immunodeﬁciency virus (HIV). REYATAZ has been studied in a 48-week trial in patients who have taken anti-HIV medicines and a 96-week trial in patients who have never taken anti-HIV medicines. ��

�� may develop with other symptoms that could be serious and potentially cause death.�� — Shortness of breath – General ill-feeling or “flu-like” symptoms – Fever – Muscle or joint aches – Conjunctivitis (red or inflamed eyes, like “pink eye”) �� – Blisters – Mouth sores �� – Swelling of your face �� may occur due to �� increases in bilirubin levels in the blood (bilirubin is made �� by the liver). �� Versed® (midazolam) when taken by mouth, �� may occur. Halcion® (triazolam), ergot medicines (dihydroergotamine, You may feel dizzy or lightheaded. These could be symptoms ergonovine, ergotamine, and methylergonovine such of a heart problem. as Cafergot®, Migranal®, D.H.E. 45®, ergotrate maleate, �� may occur in patients taking Methergine®, and others), Propulsid® (cisapride), or protease inhibitor medicines like REYATAZ. Some patients may ® Orap (pimozide). need changes in their diabetes medicine. �� , including hepatitis B or C, �� it may get worse when you take anti-HIV medicines like ��Camptosar® (irinotecan), Crixivan® (indinavir), REYATAZ. Mevacor® (lovastatin), Zocor® (simvastatin), �� have been reported in patients taking Uroxatral® (alfuzosin), or Revatio® (sildenafil). REYATAZ. Signs or symptoms of kidney stones include pain in �� your side, blood in your urine, and pain when you urinate. �� have increased bleeding ��which may lead to increased HIV viral load and problems with protease inhibitor medicines like REYATAZ. resistance to REYATAZ or other anti-HIV medicines: rifampin (also known as Rimactane®, Rifadin®, Rifater®, �� have been seen in some patients taking or Rifamate®), St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum)anti-HIV medicines. The cause and long-term effects are not containing products, or Viramune® (nevirapine). known at this time. Serevent Diskus® (salmeterol) and Advair® (salmeterol �� has been seen in some with fluticasone) are �� patients with advanced HIV infection (AIDS) and a history of opportunistic infection. Signs and symptoms of inflammation ��Vfend® (voriconazole) if you are taking from previous infections may occur soon after starting anti-HIV REYATAZ and Norvir® (ritonavir). treatment, including REYATAZ. The above lists of medicines are not complete. �� (including gallstones and gallbladder inflammation) have been reported in patients taking REYATAZ. �� of REYATAZ taken with other ��Discuss with your anti-HIV medicines include: nausea; headache; stomach pain; healthcare provider all prescription and non-prescription vomiting; diarrhea; depression; fever; dizziness; medicines, vitamin and herbal supplements, or other health trouble sleeping; numbness, tingling, or burning preparations you are taking or plan to take. of hands or feet; and muscle pain. �� You should take �� REYATAZ use during ��(a meal or snack). Swallow the capsules pregnancy has not been associated with an increase in whole; �� birth defects. Pregnant women have experienced serious �� side effects when taking REYATAZ with other HIV �� medicines called nucleoside analogues. �� tell your healthcare provider if your �� baby’s skin or the white part of his/her eyes turns yellow. �� if you are HIV-positive. �� managed with hemodialysis �� or �� Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any side �� effects, symptoms, or conditions, including the following: �� (redness and itching) without other symptoms �� sometimes occurs in patients taking REYATAZ, most �� often in the first few weeks after the medicine is �� started, and usually goes away within 2 weeks with �� no change in treatment.

��

REYATAZ is a registered trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners and not of Bristol-Myers Squibb.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

DETERMINED + UNDETECTABLE REYATAZ CAN HELP GET YOU TO UNDETECTABLE, SO YOU CAN FIGHT HIV YOUR WAY.

ONCE-DAILY REYATAZ IN HIV COMBINATION THERAPY: �� help raise your T-cell (CD4+ cell) count �� 200,000 HIV patients since 2003 † �� treatment for the ﬁrst time and adults who have already been on HIV treatment Do not take REYATAZ if you are allergic to REYATAZ or to any of its ingredients. REYATAZ does not cure HIV or AIDS and you may continue to experience illnesses associated with HIV-1 infection, including opportunistic infections. Individual results may vary.

Ask your healthcare team how REYATAZ in combination therapy can help get you to undetectable.

Fight HIV your way.

www.REYATAZ.com * Undetectable was deﬁned as a viral load of less than 400 copies/mL.

† Wolters Kluwer. SDI Product Brand

Report. Total Patient Tracker; November 2010.

Pub:

4/18/12 12:48 PM

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

REYATAZ® (atazanavir sulfate)

Patient Information

REYATAZ® (RAY-ah-taz) (generic name = atazanavir sulfate) Capsules ALERT: Find out about medicines that should NOT be taken with REYATAZ. Read the section “What important information should I know about taking REYATAZ with other medicines?” Read the Patient Information that comes with REYATAZ before you start using it and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This leaflet provides a summary about REYATAZ and does not include everything there is to know about your medicine. This information does not take the place of talking with your healthcare provider about your medical condition or treatment. What is REYATAZ? REYATAZ is a prescription medicine used with other anti-HIV medicines to treat people 6 years of age and older who are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV is the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). REYATAZ is a type of anti-HIV medicine called a protease inhibitor. HIV infection destroys CD4+ (T) cells, which are important to the immune system. The immune system helps fight infection. After a large number of (T) cells are destroyed, AIDS develops. REYATAZ helps to block HIV protease, an enzyme that is needed for the HIV virus to multiply. REYATAZ may lower the amount of HIV in your blood, help your body keep its supply of CD4+ (T) cells, and reduce the risk of death and illness associated with HIV. Does REYATAZ cure HIV or AIDS? REYATAZ does not cure HIV infection or AIDS and you may continue to experience illnesses associated with HIV-1 infection, including opportunistic infections. You should remain under the care of a doctor when using REYATAZ. Avoid doing things that can spread HIV-1 infection. �� Do not share needles or other injection equipment. �� Do not share personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them, like toothbrushes and razor blades. �� Do not have any kind of sex without protection. Always practice safe sex by using a latex or polyurethane condom to lower the chance of sexual contact with semen, vaginal secretions, or blood. Who should not take REYATAZ? Do not take REYATAZ if you: �� are taking certain medicines. (See “What important information should I know about taking REYATAZ with other medicines?”) Serious life-threatening side effects or death may happen. Before you take REYATAZ, tell your healthcare provider about all medicines you are taking or planning to take. These include other prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. �� are allergic to REYATAZ or to any of its ingredients. The active ingredient is atazanavir sulfate. See the end of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients in REYATAZ. Tell your healthcare provider if you think you have had an allergic reaction to any of these ingredients. What should I tell my healthcare provider before I take REYATAZ? Tell your healthcare provider: �If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. REYATAZ use during �� pregnancy has not been associated with an increase in birth defects. Pregnant women have experienced serious side effects when taking REYATAZ with other HIV medicines called nucleoside analogues. You and your healthcare provider will need to decide if REYATAZ is right for you. If you use REYATAZ while you are pregnant, talk to your healthcare provider about the Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry. � ��After your baby is born, tell your healthcare provider if your baby’s skin or the white part of his/her eyes turns yellow. �� If you are breastfeeding. Do not breastfeed. It is not known if REYATAZ can be passed to your baby in your breast milk and whether it could harm your baby. Also, mothers with HIV-1 should not breastfeed because HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in the breast milk. �� If you have liver problems or are infected with the hepatitis B or C virus. See “What are the possible side effects of REYATAZ?” �� If you have end stage kidney disease managed with hemodialysis. �� If you have diabetes. See “What are the possible side effects of REYATAZ?” �� If you have hemophilia. See “What are the possible side effects of REYATAZ?” �� About all the medicines you take including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Keep a list of your medicines with you to show your healthcare provider. For more information, see “What important information should I know about taking REYATAZ with other medicines?” and “Who should not take REYATAZ?” Some medicines can cause serious side effects if taken with REYATAZ.

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How should I take REYATAZ? �� Take REYATAZ once every day exactly as instructed by your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider will prescribe the amount of REYATAZ that is right for you. �� Always take REYATAZ with food (a meal or snack) to help it work better. Swallow the capsules whole. Do not open the capsules. Take REYATAZ at the same time each day. �� If you are taking antacids or didanosine (VIDEX® or VIDEX® EC), take REYATAZ 2 hours before or 1 hour after these medicines. �� If you are taking medicines for indigestion, heartburn, or ulcers such as AXID® (nizatidine), PEPCID AC® (famotidine), TAGAMET® (cimetidine), ZANTAC® (ranitidine), AcipHex® (rabeprazole), NEXIUM® (esomeprazole), PREVACID® (lansoprazole), PRILOSEC® (omeprazole), or PROTONIX® (pantoprazole), talk to your healthcare provider. �� Do not change your dose or stop taking REYATAZ without first talking with your healthcare provider. It is important to stay under a healthcare provider’s care while taking REYATAZ. �� When your supply of REYATAZ starts to run low, get more from your healthcare provider or pharmacy. It is important not to run out of REYATAZ. The amount of HIV in your blood may increase if the medicine is stopped for even a short time. �� If you miss a dose of REYATAZ, take it as soon as possible and then take your next scheduled dose at its regular time. If, however, it is within 6 hours of your next dose, do not take the missed dose. Wait and take the next dose at the regular time. Do not double the next dose. It is important that you do not miss any doses of REYATAZ or your other anti-HIV medicines. �� If you take more than the prescribed dose of REYATAZ, call your healthcare provider or poison control center right away. What are the possible side effects of REYATAZ? The following list of side effects is not complete. Report any new or continuing symptoms to your healthcare provider. If you have questions about side effects, ask your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider may be able to help you manage these side effects. The following side effects have been reported with REYATAZ: �� mild rash (redness and itching) without other symptoms sometimes occurs in patients taking REYATAZ, most often in the first few weeks after the medicine is started. Rashes usually go away within 2 weeks with no change in treatment. Tell your healthcare provider if rash occurs. �� severe rash: Rash may develop in association with other symptoms which could be serious and potentially cause death. If you develop a rash with any of the following symptoms stop using REYATAZ and call your healthcare provider right away: � �� yellowing of the skin or eyes. These effects may be due to increases in bilirubin levels in the blood (bilirubin is made by the liver). Although these effects may not be damaging to your liver, skin, or eyes, call your healthcare provider promptly if your skin or the white part of your eyes turn yellow. �� a change in the way your heart beats (heart rhythm change). Call your healthcare provider right away if you get dizzy or lightheaded. These could be symptoms of a heart problem. �� diabetes and high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) sometimes happen in patients taking protease inhibitor medicines like REYATAZ. Some patients had diabetes before taking protease inhibitors while others did not. Some patients may need changes in their diabetes medicine. �� if you have liver disease including hepatitis B or C, your liver disease may get worse when you take anti-HIV medicines like REYATAZ. �� kidney stones have been reported in patients taking REYATAZ. If you develop signs or symptoms of kidney stones (pain in your side, blood in your urine, pain when you urinate) tell your healthcare provider promptly. �� some patients with hemophilia have increased bleeding problems with protease inhibitors like REYATAZ.

TRIM SIZE 10.125" X 11.35"

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

REYATAZ® (atazanavir sulfate) c� hanges in body fat. These changes may include an increased amount of fat in the upper back and neck (“buffalo hump”), breast, and around the trunk. Loss of fat from the legs, arms, and face may also happen. The cause and long-term health effects of these conditions are not known at this time. �� immune reconstitution syndrome. In some patients with advanced HIV infection (AIDS) and a history of opportunistic infection, signs and symptoms of inflammation from previous infections may occur soon after anti-HIV treatment, including REYATAZ, is started. Other common side effects of REYATAZ taken with other anti-HIV medicines include nausea; headache; stomach pain; vomiting; diarrhea; depression; fever; dizziness; trouble sleeping; numbness, tingling, or burning of hands or feet; and muscle pain. Gallbladder disorders (which may include gallstones and gallbladder inflammation) have been reported in patients taking REYATAZ. What important information should I know about taking REYATAZ with other medicines? ��

Do not take REYATAZ if you take the following medicines (not all brands may be listed; tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take). REYATAZ may cause serious, life-threatening side effects or death when used with these medicines. �� methylergonovine such as CAFERGOT®, MIGRANAL®, D.H.E. 45®, ergotrate maleate, METHERGINE®, and others (used for migraine headaches). �� ® (pimozide, used for Tourette’s disorder). �� ® (cisapride, used for certain stomach problems). �� ® (used for insomnia). �� ® (used for sedation), when taken by mouth. Do not take the following medicines with REYATAZ because of possible serious side effects: �� ® (irinotecan, used for cancer). �� ®� �� sometimes cause increased levels of bilirubin in the blood. �� ® (lovastatin) or ZOCOR® (simvastatin). �� ® (alfuzosin, used to treat benign enlargement of the prostate). �� ® (sildenafil, used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension). Do not take the following medicines with REYATAZ because they may lower the amount of REYATAZ in your blood. This may lead to an increased HIV viral load. �� ®, RIFADIN®, RIFATER®, or RIFAMATE®, used for tuberculosis). �� (Hypericum perforatum), an herbal product sold as a dietary �� ® (nevirapine, used for HIV infection). The following medicines are not recommended with REYATAZ: � ��® (salmeterol) and ADVAIR® (salmeterol with fluticasone), used to treat asthma, emphysema/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease also known as COPD. Do not take the following medicine if you are taking REYATAZ and NORVIR® together: �� ® (voriconazole). The following medicines may require your healthcare provider to monitor your therapy more closely (for some medicines a change in the dose or dose schedule may be needed): �� ® (tadalafil), LEVITRA® (vardenafil), or VIAGRA® (sildenafil), used to treat erectile dysfunction. REYATAZ may increase the chances of serious side effects that can happen with CIALIS, LEVITRA, or VIAGRA. Do not use CIALIS, LEVITRA, or VIAGRA while you are taking REYATAZ unless your healthcare provider tells you it is okay. �� ® (tadalafil) or TRACLEER® (bosentan), used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension. �� ® (atorvastatin) or CRESTOR® (rosuvastatin). There is an increased chance of serious side effects if you take REYATAZ with this cholesterollowering medicine. �� ® (amiodarone), lidocaine, ��®��®, and others). �� ® (rifabutin, an antibiotic used to treat tuberculosis). �� ®�� ®�� ®, (buprenorphine or buprenorphine/ naloxone, used to treat pain and addiction to narcotic painkillers). �� ® (bepridil, used for chest pain).

REYATAZ® (atazanavir sulfate) ��® (warfarin). �� ® (amitriptyline), NORPRAMIN® �� ®� �� ® (trimipramine), TOFRANIL® (imipramine), or VIVACTIL® (protriptyline). �� ® or NEORAL® ��® (sirolimus), or PROGRAF® (tacrolimus). �� ® and others). �� ®, FLOVENT®), given by nose or inhaled to treat allergic symptoms or asthma. Your doctor may choose not to keep you on fluticasone, especially if you are also taking NORVIR®. �� ®), used to prevent or treat gout or treat familial Mediterranean fever. The following medicines may require a change in the dose or dose schedule of either REYATAZ or the other medicine: �� ® (saquinavir). �� ® (ritonavir). �� ® (efavirenz). �� ® (didanosine). �� ® (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate). �� ® (rifabutin). �� ® or TIAZAC® (diltiazem), COVERA-HS® or ISOPTIN SR® (verapamil) and others. �� ® (clarithromycin). �� ® (nizatidine), PEPCID AC® (famotidine), TAGAMET® (cimetidine), or ZANTAC® (ranitidine). Talk to your healthcare provider about choosing an effective method of contraception. REYATAZ may affect the safety and effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives such as birth control pills or the contraceptive patch. Hormonal contraceptives do not prevent the spread of HIV to others. Remember: 1. Know all the medicines you take. 2. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take. 3. Do not start a new medicine without talking to your healthcare provider. How should I store REYATAZ? �� not store this medicine in a damp place such as a bathroom medicine cabinet or near the kitchen sink. �� keep medicine that is out of date or that you no longer need. Dispose of unused medicines through community take-back disposal programs when available or place REYATAZ in an unrecognizable, closed container in the household trash. General information about REYATAZ This medicine was prescribed for your particular condition. Do not use REYATAZ for another condition. Do not give REYATAZ to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them. Keep REYATAZ and all medicines out of the reach of children and pets. This summary does not include everything there is to know about REYATAZ. Medicines are sometimes prescribed for conditions that are not mentioned in patient information leaflets. Remember no written summary can replace careful discussion with your healthcare provider. If you would like more information, talk with your �� What are the ingredients in REYATAZ? Active Ingredient: atazanavir sulfate Inactive Ingredients: Crospovidone, lactose monohydrate (milk sugar), magnesium stearate, gelatin, FD&C Blue No. 2, and titanium dioxide. ��® and REYATAZ® are registered trademarks of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. ��®� �� ® are registered trademarks of Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Company. DESYREL®� �� Company. Other brands listed are the trademarks of their respective owners and are not trademarks of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. ��

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Pub:

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

SENIORS from page 1

first LGBT-friendly senior residences in the nation. In a posting on its blog this week, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development called the program a “pioneering innovation” for low-income LGBT seniors. “Successes like Philadelphia’s LGBT senior-housing initiative demonstrate that purposeful, collaborative, pointed action not only impacts communities but changes

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lives,” HUD wrote. The six-story facility will be housed in the Gayborhood, at 249-257 S. 13th St., in the lot next to the Parker Spruce Hotel. The building was originally proposed to adjoin the William Way LGBT Community Center on Spruce Street, but the center backed out of the deal after the project did not receive tax credits last year. After submitting a new application to PHFA in October, organizers anticipated groundbreaking could happen in early 2013, but Pennrose development officer Jacob Fisher noted that backers “are trying to push this up because why wait?” “We’re so excited to be part of history,” Fisher said. “We feel very lucky and happy that Mark [Segal] and DMH put their eggs in a basket with us as the developer and we’re looking forward to a lot of work between now and closing, and a lot of work to get this opened in 2013.” When its doors open, the facility will be home to 56 one-bedroom units, as well as 2,700 square feet of rental retail and com-

munity space on the ground floor. DMH Fund president and PGN publisher Mark Segal said the facility is meant to be a community hub — with Mazzoni Center offering health services and William Way serving as the conduit for all social services. Segal said organizers are encouraging Independence Business Alliance to bid on subcontracting opportunities. “We see this project as an economic engine for Washington Square West and the LGBT community,” Segal said. “We’re going to have 200 union workers working every single day on this project and people living in the building and working in the building every day.” The residences are designed to be accessible to seniors of varying economic capacities. Six apartments will be reserved for those making less than 20 percent of the area median income — $81,500 — and those units will be leased for $175 a month. The other residences will range from $615-$775 per month, depending upon the

resident’s income. Fisher said the application process for potential residents, who must be 62 and older, will begin about three months before construction is completed. There are still a number of details that need to be ironed out before groundbreaking. “We need to go through all of the city land development approvals, get our drawings — both civilian and architecture — up to speed to submit for permits,” Fisher said. “We have all of our financing commitments in place but we need to get the loan documents negotiated and agreed on with due diligence and then bring in our investor, who has yet to be determined, who will be the entity purchasing the tax credits we were awarded.” Backers will also need to go through the disposition process with the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, which owns the lot on which the facility will be built — an undertaking that will require approval by the RDA board and City Council. ■

SEPTA from page 1

the stickers,” Casey said. “There was some anxiousness on the part of the transgender community, so we didn’t want to wait until the full implementation of NPT to get these markers off.” As fares are tariffed, any fare-policy changes must be addressed in public hearings. SEPTA will hold such proceedings next spring on fare-policy proposals for the new system, at which time the proposal to remove the gender markers will be discussed, Casey said. Following the hearings, and pending approval of the SEPTA board, Casey said the gender stickers will then be eliminated. Meanwhile, the GM doesn’t anticipate resistance from the board, as he said he expects majority public support for the removal of the markers. “We have had one person who called asking us to keep them, but I think those people are few and far between,” he said. “I think

most people support getting rid of them.” Casey said RAGE and other activists with whom he’s met over the last few years were “certainly influential” in bringing about the change. Last week’s decision was expedited by a complaint he received from a rider who contended discrimination because of the gender markers, Casey said. He emphasized that SEPTA has long valued the diversity of its riders. “When I initially met with [activists], I was certainly sympathetic to their concerns because we want all of our customers to feel welcomed on the system and comfortable using it,” he said. “If anyone is being mistreated or called out by our employees, we want to know. All of our employees should treat all of our customers with respect and dignity; that has always been my reaction. All people should feel comfortable and safe on SEPTA. We want all of our customers to feel appreciated.” ■

and harassment. Activists had raised issue with the stickers as early as 2006 and Riders Against Gender Exclusion formed in 2009 to speak out against the markers, staging several public protests and meeting with SEPTA officials to urge action. Casey informed RAGE activists of the plan in a letter last week. In the past, Casey told RAGE and other activists that SEPTA would phase out the markers with the eventual introduction of its New Payment Technology, a fare-collection overhaul that was delayed by funding issues. This past fall, SEPTA awarded a contract to ACS/Xerox to spearhead the NPT development and installation, a process that is expected to wrap up in 2014. “The introduction of [NPT] would make the gender-marker system obsolete but we didn’t want to wait until then to remove

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PGN FEATURE

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

PAGE 57

Bulletin Board Go Out and Play Family Portrait Out & About Outward Bound Scene in Philly Q Puzzle Worth Watching

Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page

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TED ALLEN AND PAM GRIER

Out celebrity chef Dines Out For Life By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com

on top of things in the ever-changing world of food, chefs and restaurants.

It’s that time of year when your night out on the town at a local restaurant can benefit local HIV/AIDS organizations. On April 26, over 200 restaurants in the Delaware Valley — and many others across the country — will participate in Dining Out For Life, each donating 33 percent of their sales that evening to local HIV/AIDS organizations. In Philadelphia, proceeds benefit ActionAIDS. Out food expert and celebrity chef, author and TV personality Ted Allen (“Chopped,” “Best Thing I Ever Ate” and “Top Chef”), along with actor Pam Grier and fellow celebrity chef Daisy Martinez, are national spokespeople for Dining Out For Life. Allen talked to PGN about how the event has grown and the hard work it takes to stay

PGN: Is the number of people and restaurants participating in Dining Out For Life growing? TA: We’re up to 60 cities this year and 3,500 restaurants. Last year, I think it was in the low 50s. I spoke with someone in Charlottesville, Va. It’s their first year and it happened because an executive director of the HIV service organization in Palm Springs took a job in Charlottesville and brought this event with him. He liked it some much and found it effective. And really, what’s not to like? All of the money that is raised stays right in your own community. It’s an appealing part of this message and event. I just want to say this operation raises north of $4 million in a single day and all that money stays in your

own community, not just in HIV service organizations but it also brings new customers into restaurants and supports local jobs. PGN: When you come to Philadelphia, what restaurants do you like to visit? TA: Philadelphia is an amazing restaurant town. You have all the Steven Starr restaurants. You have, of course, Iron Chef Jose Garces, who has also worked for Dining Out For Life in the past. I only get to go to Philadelphia for working for Dining Out For Life. The past year I have been working so much. I’m not really getting out of town except for when I’m working. We’re shooting “Chopped” now. Before that, I was writing my cookbook that comes out in May. Before that, I was shooting “Chopped” again. So I’m a bad person to ask for restaurant reviews. I’m usually

working, then I come home and defrost something and eat it and then curl into a little sugary ball. PGN: What is the biggest misconception people have about your work? TA: One misconception people have about my work is that my friends and I are gallivanting around to glamorous restaurants in New York every night and whooping it up. We do get to taste a lot of great things and, when I do have time, I love sampling the wares of amazing chefs in New York and Philly and Miami and New Orleans. But I think one misconception people might have about television is they may not realize it’s long hours and hard work. And when you’re lucky enough to have that work, far be it from me to complain about it. The irony is, when you work for Food Network, you’re not getting good

FEATURE PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

food unless you’re judging on “Iron Chef.” That’s one misconception to have. We’re just too busy. It’s a good problem to have. PGN: What makes a restaurant stand out for you? TA: One thing that really makes a restaurant stand out is chefs that know how to season their food — chefs who know how much salt is necessary on a pork chop. It sounds so simple but it’s actually one of the most important things about cooking, and it’s something that so many chefs don’t do right. Home cooks almost always under-season their food. People have an irrational phobia about salt. Food needs salt. What do I look for in a restaurant? Food that is cooked lovingly. And that can be anything from a hot dog to a 12-course, fancy French meal, as long as it is clearly made by someone who loves it. PGN: Are there any shortage of chefs who want to compete on “Chopped”? TA: Apparently not. We do run into a problem in that we started out with chefs

New Year’s resolution ... vacation ...

from New York and New Jersey and we burned through a lot of those real fast. So we expanded to recruiting chefs from Philly, D.C. and Boston. We used up a lot of those. So now we’re casting in other American cities — New Orleans, Atlanta, Denver, Seattle and San Francisco. It costs extra money to do that. We’re finding also that when we draw from fresh cities, we get fresh talent and the quality of the show improves. The show rises and falls on having good cooks and good characters. PGN: Why do you think the popularity of food-related TV shows has exploded over the last decade? TA: Across the country, and not just in the big cities, there are retailers like Whole Foods that have rekindled interest in fresh foods and herbs and artisan [products]. Food Network has recognized that there is a huge audience for shows like this even with people who don’t even cook. They are clever enough to take the act of cooking and make it visually exciting like a sport. Children even like the show. Our ratings are fantastic. We’re very fortunate.

Work It Out

PGN: Do you think it’s a good thing that chefs today have become extremely media savvy? TA: It’s an essential thing these days. It’s interesting to watch how savvy they are. Chefs by nature are competitive in the marketplace, so to see them compete in these shows is a natural extension of that. PGN: Now that anyone with Internet access and an opinion can become a food blogger, what separates their views from the views of professionals like yourself? TA: That phenomenon is definitely a double-edged sword for chefs and restaurateurs. On the one hand, social media gives them an enormous amount of power to quickly communicate to an audience. Of course that means that absolutely anybody can trash your restaurant. Among professional restaurant critics, there is the philosophy that you always give a restaurant a few weeks to get their sea legs because it is so hard to open and run a restaurant — and expensive. To

the general public, a regular person who is posting on Yelp isn’t going to think about that. I’ve never been interested in popularity contests among the general public. Zagat, for example: I would only use them to get the phone number of a restaurant. Not everybody is right about whether a restaurant is good or not. I tend to rely on advice from people who have knowledge on this subject. I have critics that I trust and, for me, that hasn’t changed. PGN: What do you have coming up in the near future? TA: I have a new cookbook coming out in May called “In My Kitchen.” It’s a collection of new recipes that I’ve cooked up in my own house. There are no new television projects because I just don’t have the time. On “Chopped,” with the success of the live Thanksgiving show, there is talk of doing more live shows. People really liked that. ■ For a full list of area restaurants participating in Dining Out For Life or more information, visit diningoutforlife.com or call 877-EAT4LIFE (877-328-45433).

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Family Portrait

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

Suzi Nash

Johanna Rosen: From AmeriCorps to urban farmer For those of you who don’t know, Earth Day, which is April 22, was first celebrated in 1970 and is sometimes credited for launching the modern environmental movement. I hate to admit it, but I was around then and remember the excitement of people all over the country coming together to try and save the environment. That first Earth Day drew 20-million participants across the U.S. Even though topics such as air breathability are now part of the nightly news along with the local forecast, there’s still hope. Everywhere you go, people are going green and there are a number of people trying to make a difference. This week, we spoke to one of our own, urban farmer Johanna Rosen, co-director of Mill Creek Farm in West Philadelphia. The organic foods grown at this collectively run urbaneducation farm are sold to locals and the occasional restaurant, but the priority is healthy food for the neighborhood. Before it became a farm six years ago, the Mill Creek site was a vacant lot filled with trash. In addition to growing everything from asparagus to zucchini, Mill Creek functions as an education center, offering field trips for school groups, community service projects and educational workshops for neighbors, and they’ve even hosted a barbecue or two. PGN: Are you from Philly? JR: No, I grew up in Newton, Mass., which is a suburb of Boston. PGN: Tell me about growing up in Newton. JR: Well, I went to public school through ninth grade, and then transferred to a private school for three of my high-school years. It was a pretty typical suburban upbringing — sports, music lessons, dance lessons, etc. My parents were always supportive of all my interests. PGN: Any siblings? JR: I’m the oldest of four. PGN: What did your parents do? JR: My mom had a variety of — well, both my parents had a variety of career changes — but she primarily works in education. And my father trained as a lawyer but he’s gotten more into investment management. PGN: What was a favorite class in school? JR: Let’s see. In high school, I had an English class that was nature-based writing. I loved it, which was unusual for me because typically I was stronger in math and had a harder time with English, but that was an amazing class. We read “Walden” by Henry David Thoreau and since the school was in Concord, we actually got to go to Walden Pond. We also studied Walden in science class and social

studies, so it was kind of neat having so many different courses come together. PGN: Did that prompt your interest in nature and the environment? JR: That was part of it — coming to the realization that everything was interconnected. And my parents always took us camping and hiking, which also fostered an appreciation of the outdoors and the natural environment. PGN: What was a favorite sports moment? JR: I played on a woman’s ice-hockey team in high school. I was new to the school and my best friend who’d played a lot told me something I always remembered: She told me the only way to improve was to get out of my comfort zone. It worked, and that advice has always stuck with me and has been useful in a number of situations. PGN: I didn’t know there were many girls playing ice hockey. JR: There weren’t! It was pretty unusual back then. Now there are a lot more highschool teams. I actually still play on a team in Philly.

Springfield, Mass., with local youths doing gardening on vacant lots. After it was over, I knew I wanted to keep doing that kind of work, but I didn’t know where. I’d never been to Philly but I got an AmeriCorps position working at University City High School. I figured I’d stay on the job in Philly a year or two and move back, but I fell in love with the city. I was fortunate enough to be doing work here that I loved, so I stayed. PGN: Community service and community activism have taken a lot of hits lately. What did it mean to you? JR: For me, AmeriCorps was a great stepping stone into a job that maybe I wasn’t qualified for straight out of college. It allowed me to get some experience under my belt. That said, because it’s stipendbased, it’s not necessarily accessible to everyone. I was privileged enough to be able to do it and still feed myself. Not everyone is able to. But if you can, they’re a great way to get involved with different organizations that do amazing work,

PGN: Did you pursue higher learning? JR: Yeah, I went to a school in Massachusetts. Smith College. PGN: So are only lesbians allowed at Smith? JR: [Laughs.] No. Everybody is welcome. PGN: But it does have a reputation, doesn’t it? JR: Yeah, I have to admit it does. PGN: I just recently heard the term LUG; are you familiar with it? JR: Lesbian Until Graduation. Yeah, I have a few friends that fit into that category! Pretty funny. PGN: What was your major? JR: Well, I designed my own major. I called it “The Political Economy of the Environment.” It was mostly government and economics with some anthropology thrown in. But I tried to concentrate on food and agriculture. PGN: I got your name from another environmentalist, Molly Tsongas. I loved her father, the late great Sen. Paul Tsongas, and her mother, Nicki Tsongas, who served as a U.S. Representative for Massachusetts. How do you know her? JR: I knew her through my friend Amy, who is Molly’s partner. Molly and I were roommates for a while. PGN: What brought you to Philadelphia? JR: After graduation, I was working in

but can’t afford to hire employees. I was very lucky that I got placed with University City High School. I got to work with the Urban Nutritionists Initiative and got to work directly with the students. PGN: Were kids more or less knowledgeable about food than you expected? JR: That’s hard. It varied. Some kids had never seen food growing before but on the other hand, a lot of them had gardened with grandparents or other family mem-

bers or had participated in other growing projects like ours. PGN: Any kid stick out as memorable? JR: Not one in particular, but I’m still in touch with a great number of them. A lot of them have kids now and one of the things that’s most special to me is when they bring their kids to Mill Creek. To see the next generation get involved at an even younger age is wonderful. Most of the youth I worked with were all high-school age, and most had not had much exposure to nature, so to see them getting their kids involved, helping with the garden, eating fresh vegetables and learning about nutrition at a really young age, is pretty exciting. PGN: What in your make-up do you think prompted you to do something to help save the environment? I think most people say they care about it, but don’t actually do much aside from choosing paper over plastic. JR: I guess the values that my parents instilled in me around taking care of the earth, from being responsible around the house to the larger-scale social justice of taking care of the world and treating our environment and our communities with respect. I was taught that our environmental problems are an equality issue and something should be done about them. One of our value statements is that we believe healthy, affordable food is a basic human right. PGN: How did you get started with the farm? JR: I mentioned that I facilitated the Urban Nutrition Initiative, where I was working. My cofounder and co-director of the farm project, Jade Walker, also worked there with me. They’d decided that they were going to start a separate nonprofit, A Little Taste of Everything Photo: Suzi Nash (ALTOE). At the same time, we heard that there was a plot of land available through the water department that was part of the storm-water management project. We’d been brainstorming about growing more foods than we could in the school garden and what we could do with a farm in the city. We also wanted other people outside the school to have access to a community garden. We proposed the idea to the water department and they PAGE 51

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

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liked it and helped us get started. That was in 2005, so 2006 was our first growing season and now we’re in our seventh! PGN: What are your “open work” days? JR: They’ve been an amazing resource for us. They are certain time slots each week where people can come help around the farm. The farm started out with just me and Jade on staff, so we needed volunteers to make the project possible. It’s been great for us and also a great way for people to get involved and learn about gardening, farming and the environment — in a real hands-on fashion. PGN: Did you learn about it in school? JR: Not really; I didn’t have a lot of formal agricultural training in school. But after I graduated from high school and throughout college, I worked on a lot of different farms. I learned a lot on the job. And then later, I’ve gone to different conferences, workshops and programs. PGN: And what’s it like being part of the new queer farming movement? JR: [Laughs.] Well I try not to make it about being gay, but just being a lesbian in the neighborhood mixes it up a little bit. I think people are more interested in having fresh organic vegetables accessible to them than worrying about my sexuality. PGN: When did you come out? JR: I came out to my family when I was in college, although I’d told a few close friends in high school. My family was pretty receptive. I’m so lucky because I know a lot of other people weren’t as readily accepted by their families as I was. [Laughs.] I’m sorry, there’s not a lot to that story! There wasn’t any drama. PGN: Not a problem! It’s not always about angst. Do you have a partner now? JR: Yes, I do.

PGN: How did you meet? JR: We met in college, where we were just friends, and then at our two-year reunion we got involved. She’s also involved in the environmental field. PGN: What’s a fun adventure you’ve had? JR: Canoeing on the Schuylkill! When we first moved here, she brought her canoe and we’d almost never taken it out. One day, we got it together and decided to put it to use. We got in the river, north above the dam, paddled to the shores further up and had a little picnic. It was a nice adventure. PGN: Which one of the “Gilligan’s Island” characters, would you be? JR: [Laughs.] Probably Gilligan! PGN: What game show/reality show would you want to go on? JR: Oh, when I was a kid I loved “Double Dare.” PGN: What’s the craziest thing you’ve done lately? JR: I don’t know — I’ve been really boring lately! I guess it would be joining a weight-lifting class called “Body Pump,” which Molly recommended. I dove in and did it and then all week I was so weak I couldn’t move my arms. It was pretty pathetic: I couldn’t even lift my fork to my mouth! PGN: Advice your parents gave you? JR: They’ve both been really encouraging about doing what you love and I don’t think all parents adhere to that philosophy. I don’t know that every parent would be so proud that their child grew up to be a city farmer. PGN: What was the title of the last selfhelp book you read? Did it help? JR: “Mindfulness Meditation” by Jon Kabat-Zinn. Yeah, I think it helped. PGN: So I interviewed someone recently,

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

Krisi Myers, who could never be a farmer because of her fear of worms. Tell our readers why you like it. JR: Ha. I don’t mind dirt or worms. I find it satisfying the way you can plant a seed and, with a little patience and care, see the fruits of your labor. Harvesting beautiful vegetables that can feed and nourish people is very rewarding. I love getting to work with both plants and people; seeing the joy on kids’ faces when they discover something in the garden. It’s also very zen in the garden: Zoning out while weeding or something and then noticing a really interesting flower is a great feeling. Getting pleasure out of the micro. PGN: I never even thought about the patience aspect. Especially since I tend to lean toward instant gratification. I usually get my plants already flowering and put them in already in bloom. You must be much more patient. JR: I don’t know that I’m all that patient in general! Just with plants. I’ve learned to trust that they’ll do what I expect eventually, even if it takes a while. Outside of that, I can be impatient about other things. PGN: Hmm, maybe it’s not so much patience but confidence that farmers have. I don’t trust my skills enough to think if I put a seed in that I will actually get something out of it. JR: Yeah, that’s true. I’ve been doing it long enough to trust the process. Even though it’s easy to get derailed by the weather or a squirrel or something else. PGN: What are your thoughts about climate change and our future? As an environmental person, are you terrified? JR: I do fear all of the environmental degradation, in terms of the extremes, but I also think that there’s a lot of resilience and resistance built into the environment. I think it’s built to adapt to a certain extent. I believe that people should get involved

in whatever way is meaningful for them, whether it’s lobbying for policies that protect air and water or something as simple as planting a seed in their backyard. It’s easy not to think about our impact on the environment every day, especially living in the city, but choices that we make about transportation and food and water use and other essential resources can have a big impact. There are many different levels that people can get involved on and every little bit makes a difference. For more information on Mill Creek Farm, go to www.millcreekurbanfarm.org. Five Earth Day tips: 1. Run your dishwasher only when it’s full. Don’t pre-rinse — tests show pre-rinsing doesn’t improve dishwasher cleaning, and you’ll save as much as 20 gallons of water per load. 2. Get off junk-mail lists. GreenDimes. com can get you started. They’ll even plant a tree for you! Go to CatalogChoice.org to put a stop to unwanted catalogs. 3. About 90 percent of the energy in your washing machine is used to heat the water. Most clothes will come clean in cold water, so switch your washing machine’s temperature setting. 4. Buy foods locally. Check out EatLocalChallenge.com, foodroutes.org or eatwellguide.org to get started. 5. Switch to recycled toilet paper. If every household in the U.S. bought just one four-pack of 260-sheet recycled bath tissue, it would eliminate 60,600 pounds of chlorine pollution, preserve 356 million gallons of fresh water and save nearly 1 million trees. ■ Resources: EPA.gov, DivineCaroline.com and TheDailyGreen.com. To suggest a community member for “Family Portrait,” write to portraits05@aol.com.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

SPORTS PGN

Get Out and Play

Scott A. Drake

Stay in and play So far, PGN has been getting great responses to this new column — and being reminded of the myriad athletic activities available to the community in this area. It was again brought to our attention by Philthy Britches player Stingray and friends while they were handing out schedule cards last week. The Philly Roller Girls were off and rolling for their seventh season in the City of Sisterly Shove as of April 14. They are among the top 12 orgaIN THE LANE: Rainbow Rollers league president Mike nizations in the world in Humphreys (left) presented a check for $1,000 to Mazzoni the Women’s Flat Track Center’s Perry Monastero at the league’s annual banquet Roller Derby Association. and awards presentations April 17 at Westbury. One of Next up are the Broad three LGBT bowling leagues in the area, the Rainbow Street Butchers v. Heavy Rollers will commence their 12th season of bowling every Metal Hookers and Tuesday for 30 weeks in September. Terry Geyer from the another pairing to be Philadelphia Gay Bowling League was also presented a check to benefit that organization’s Fourth of July weekdetermined on May 12 at end Liberty Belle Invitational. Photos: Scott A. Drake the Class of 1923 Arena, 3130 Walnut St. The third Standings early season challenge is on June 9, durHalfway through the spring scheding Pride weekend. ule, it’s a case of the blues for Greater Tickets are only $10-$15 and the first Philadelphia Flag Football teams. Tied in whistle is at 6 p.m. For more informafirst place at 5-1 are the Blue Diamond tion, visit phillyrollergirls.com. Phillips and the Aquamarines. Go to It’s always swimsuit season The Philadelphia Fins Aquatics Club has adjusted its practice times. Swimmers now meet 7-8:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 1011:30 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays at Friends Select School until summer, when they’ll paddle over to Kelly Pool in Fairmount Park. No one is expected to attend all practices. Did you know the Fins were founded in 1988 and hundreds of Philadelphians have hit the water with them since? If you just want to give it a try, your first week is free. If you’re just looking to get or stay fit, get more information (and check out some great photos) on the website: www.philadelphia-fins.org.

phillyflagfootball.com/Standings.html for the entire league standings. The Philadelphia Gryphons RFC have two games left this spring. They play at home April 21 and May 5 and an open date April 28. Home games are played at George Pepper Middle School, 2901 S. 84th St. Directions and more can be found at philadelphiagryphons.org.

Short notes • Sunday, April 22 is the opening of the City of Brotherly Love Softball League season. The ceremonial openingday pitch is scheduled for noon. • Team Philadelphia is still looking for men and women to be paddlers in this year’s Independence Dragon Boat Regatta; email Bob at rszrun@aol.com if you are interested. • The PGN Bulletin Board lists sports and recreation organizations and how to contact them. The sports information is printed the fourth week of every month or can be found online under the community tab at epgn.com. Softball, soccer and tennis are picking up steam so we’ll go back outdoors next time. Until then, get out and play! ■

KICKING UP DIRT UNDER THE FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

To submit information for Get Out and Play, email scott@epgn.com.

PGN FILM

‘Blue Sea’ brings beauty, lacks depth By Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor

desires. “Guarded enthusiasm. It’s safer,” she is told. Davies plays it safe too, mostly. Much of “The Deep Blue Sea” is so acutely meaRachel Weisz is perfectly cast as the troubled heroine of gay filmmaker Terence sured — from the stagey sets to the long dialogue pauses fraught with meaning Davies’ stylish adaptation of gay play— that these fine moments feel artificial: wright Terence Rattigan’s period drama They lack the impact they might otherwise “The Deep Blue Sea,” which opens at the have. A long tracking shot in a subway tunRitz today. The Oscar-winning actor is so nel during the blitz is a virtuoso sequence, convincing as a woman in 1950s London, but the meaning of this event from Hester’s it’s hard to believe she’s a contemporary past is minimal given the way Davies performer. jumps the narWeisz plays rative back and Hester, who forth through attempts suitime. cide (which is A better examillegal) in the ple of effectively film’s opendownplaying the ing moments. drama occurs Davies uses in a scene in a series of which the landmasterfully lit lady at Freddie and composed and Hester’s vignettes, set boarding house to a swelling learns that the musical score couple is unmarto dramatize TOM HIDDLESTON AND RACHEL WEISZ IN “THE ried. She neither Hester’s deciDEEP BLUE SEA” condemns nor sion to end her condones the life. situation, indicating that what people do in This dazzling early sequence shows private is their business. Still, the scene has how Hester, though married to the wealthy a keen sense of judgment about it. The film William (Simon Russell Beale), met and could have used more sharp moments like fell in love with the poorer Freddie (Tom this. Hiddleston). The couple, however, has When Davies captures the unbearable since grown more distant. Hester’s heartaspects of Hester’s life, he creates uncombreak is palpable. Alas, the rest of the fortable situations that sting all of the charfilm, while equally elegant, has a sense of acters. A fight between Freddie and Hester diminishing returns rather than exponenin a museum, for example, plays more on tially increasing power. the characters’ class differences than what Saved from death, Hester must conis really being discussed. Another argufront her situation. As the film unfolds, ment, outside a pub, also has potency, in scenes show what prompted Hester’s part because Hester seeks Freddie out in (melo)dramatic actions. One key scene the pub first, only to encounter the patrons has Hester taking tea with William and his singing at full volume, drowning out their icy mother (Barbara Jefford). When she exchange. excuses herself to call her lover, Freddie, Despite its flaws, the film is incredibly William discovers the betrayal. He refuses beautiful. The characters’ costumes and to grant her a divorce, and says he never hairstyles are spot-on, down to every last wants to see Hester again. detail — from the landlady’s headscarf to The affair with Freddie quickly grows William’s mother’s brooch. The cinemasour, even though the couple continues to tography is also superb. One of the most live together. He returns home from a golf exquisite shots in “The Deep Blue Sea” weekend and, feeling bad about missing is an oft-used image of Hester’s profile Hester’s birthday, accidentally discovreflected back in a mirror as she looks out ers her suicide note. Freddie’s anger and a window. betrayal upon reading it — though Hester Likewise, Davies uses music appropripleads with him not to — and their breakately throughout, as is his signature as a up form most of what audiences see of filmmaker. A scene of the characters singtheir relationship. The film’s title comes from Hester’s line ing “You Belong to Me” in a pub captures Freddie and Hester’s enthusiasm but is also about being caught between the devil and full of irony. the deep blue sea — the two lousy choices For all the wonderful touches, however, she has made — i.e., the men in her life. “The Deep Blue Sea” fails to yield enough Hester maintains that she loves Freddie — she gave up a title for him — but that he emotion to be fully satisfying. Although Weisz gives a magnificent performance, does not love her. Yet audiences can only Hiddleston and Beale seem more like cardtake her word for it. The film is as stifling board cutouts than real flesh-and-blood as Hester is suffocated in her situation. characters. Maybe it’s British stiffness but, When she is warned, “Beware of passion, as Hiddleston cries out in anger and Weisz it always leads to something ugly,” Hester just cries, viewers may be bored to tears. ■ questions how to act upon her romantic

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

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Philadelphia Gay News M A K E S

H I S T O R Y

PGN won 10 awards from the Local Media Association for news, entertainment and column writing, page and graphic design and sections. — Highest number of awards for an LGBT publication from a mainstream journalism organization ever — PGN ranked second in the nation among weekly newspapers

PGN won the following 2011 LMA editorial awards: • • • • •

1st Place, Best Continuing Coverage: Stacey Blahnik murder by Jen Colletta 1st Place, Best Entertainment/Lifestyle Section: Arts & Culture Section 1st Place, Best Column Writing: Millennial Poz by Aaron Stella 1st Place, Best Graphic Artwork: Election 11/10, Regional Civil Unions/Marriage Laws, 35 Years of PGN timeline by Scott A. Drake and Sean Dorn 1st Place, Best Non-Page One Layout: Arts & Culture Feature Story Covers by Sean Dorn

• • •

3rd Place, Best Opinion Column: “Mark My Words” by Mark Segal 3rd Place, Best Arts & Entertainment Criticism/Commentary: “These Women Want To Rock You With New Music” by Larry Nichols 3rd Place, Best Special Section: “World AIDS Day”

• •

Honorable Mention, Best Arts & Entertainment Writing-Feature: “Author Brings Her Story to the Stage in Philly” by Larry Nichols Honorable Mention, Best In-depth Reporting: “Crystal Meth: Clubs, Culture And The Gay Community” by Jen Colletta

The Local Media Association serves over 2,000 member North American newspapers. With this year’s recognition, PGN is the most award-winning LGBT newspaper in the country, and in LGBT media history.

PGN

Outward Bound

Sarah Blazucki

London calling In London, the current debate on same-sex rights differs greatly than that in the United States: Namely, it’s the conservatives who are backing marriage equality, after years of the leading gay-rights organization arguing that gays and lesbians didn’t want or need marriage, and were content with civil partnerships. Recently, the prime minister published an op-ed piece in favor of marriage equality on PinkNewsUK.com. Now, England is going through a “consultation” process, asking citizens’ opinions on “equal marriage.” This summer, London also hosts the Q u e e n ’s D i a m o n d Jubilee (aka 60 years of reign), World Pride and the 2012 Summer Olympics. It’s a great time to visit London. The metropolis is chock-full of attractions for the LGBT traveler — theaters, shopping, queens, bars/clubs/pubs and even great restaurants (I swear).

something centrally located and easy to get to, Radisson Blu Edwardian, Mercer Street is on Seven Dials in Covent Garden. The 137room boutique hotel recently underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation, updating the décor with understated furnishings and muted shades with bright accents. Don’t miss the views of the neighborhood and (if you must) the solitaire on the treadmill. More Radisson Edwardian hotels are spread throughout the city (www.radissonedwardian.com). Seven Dials is an intersection of seven small streets marked with a dial in the center — an extremely convenient landmark when you are walking around the neighborhood. The neighborhood itself is full of independent and small storefronts of larger retailers, running the gamut from quirky (Tatty Devine acrylic jewelry), iconic (Wolsey British menswear), to original (Orla Kiely womens’ and housewares and Albam menswear). Don’t miss Neal’s When to go Yard — a courtyard with Contrary to its repucoffee and cheese shops, RADISSON BLU EDWARDIAN, Neal’s Yard Remedies tation, it doesn’t always MERCER STREET (beauty products and masrain in London. And sometimes it’s actually warm. For your best sage) and organic foods. option, go in spring or summer. If you want to go this summer, you have your selection of Where to dance/drink royalty, gay or athletic. There are plenty of gay bars in Soho, but From June 2-5, London will host the only one lesbian bar in London, Candy Bar. Queen’s Jubilee. Who doesn’t love Queen For the gents, try Village (small club), G-AElizabeth? The highlight of the event will Y at Heaven (huge club, mixed crowd), Circa be a 1,000-boat flotilla down the Thames. (small bar in Soho) or Retro Bar (classic, oldTalk about pageantry. Later that month, school alternative). London is hosting World Pride, June 23-July 8. Organizers promised a gay jazz festival, a Don’t miss dog show, art exhibits, a parade and an LGBT Make sure to plan enough time to visit the “Strictly Come Dancing.” Other highlights tourist draws, then take time for the unconvenwill be a street party in Soho, which will be tional. For a traditional afternoon tea, go to The closed to vehicle traffic, and a conference on human rights. Orangery, Kensington Gardens; in summer, They also promised some surprises, which the gardens will be beautiful. For a traditional they refused to dish on. Guess you’ll have to perfume experience, visit Penhaligon’s (www. check www.pridelondon.org for details. penhaligons.com), where they’ll take you London rounds out the season with the upstairs in the former brothel for a perfume Summer Olympics July 2-Aug. 12. This is the consultation. For some of the best chocolates Summer Olympics with a Pride House, which around, visit Hotel Chocolat (www.hotelchowill host LGBT athletes and spectators. Visit colat.com). The cocoa grower and chocolatier www.london2012.com for information. has its own plantation in St. Lucia (where the hotel is); they roast the cocoa beans and make Get there, stay there the chocolate on-site, and have a small café. From Philadelphia, both American Airlines Grab a quick lunch — everything is made and British Airways have nonstop flights to with cocoa — or a decadent chocolate. Heathrow. If your flight leaves in the mornFor a different perspective, rent one of the ing, you’ll get to London at night, so you can “Boris Bikes,” installed by London Mayor hit a bar, then hit the sack and be ready to start Boris Johnson. Find a docking station, pay your itinerary fresh the next day. If you leave with a credit card, and remember to bike on the in the evening, you can sleep on the plane and left side of the road. One note: Make sure you arrive in the morning, ready to start the day. locate a docking station near your destination. Because London grew from small villages For something off the beaten path, visit into the city it is today, it can be overwhelm- Boxpark, a pop-up mall made of storage coning to sort out where to stay. If you want tainers (www.boxpark.co.uk) in Shoreditch. ■

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

Visit Manchester for Big Pride

A short two-hour, 18-British-pound train ride away from London is Manchester, England. It is a small-town big city much like Philadelphia. It has charm, culture, a vibrant nightlife and an annual pride event, Manchester Pride’s Big Weekend, that shouldn’t be missed. This year’s festival kick-off is on Aug. 17 with the “big weekend” starting on Aug. 27. What’s so different about Manchester Pride? Everything. City Hall hoists a giant rainbow flag. The Pride Parade goes on and on (in a good way) with 120 floats including a contingent of openly LGBT police officers. There is a women’s-only space at Sacksville Park with music and live perforPRIDE IN mances. And, most importantly, this Pride festival has raised 1 million pounds for HIV/AIDS services over the past 22 years. According to organizers, Manchester Pride has traditionally been a fundraiser for the LGBT and HIV communities and is the only Pride event in the U.K. that has consistently done so. Manchester’s Canal Street is the center of the LGBT community, both daytime and nighttime. This street was home to the origi-

nal “Queer As Folk” series, before HBO introduced the groundbreaking script to U.S. audiences. During the day, Canal Street is a tranquil retreat with interesting shops, great outdoor cafes and funky restaurants. At night, the Rembrandt and Churchill’s are traditional gay pubs. (Note: Drink the beer! It’s cheap and the hard alcohol drinks like vodka are measured by the ounce.) Nightclub/bar Queer is fun while Mancunia, Cruz and Legends are the main dance clubs. There are some “men only” bars in Manchester organized by the local business guild in an effort to reclaim a strictly menonly environment. And there are great hotels close to Canal Street. You will want to save time during the day to MANCHESTER take in the local culture. Manchester is a sports town, just like Philly. If you are lucky enough to catch a Manchester United game, do it! Check the schedule at www.manutd.com and buy your tickets early, as they are hard to get. For more information on travel to Manchester, check out www.visitmanchester.com/lgbt. For more information on Manchester Pride and to buy tickets, visit www.manchesterpride.com. — Jeff Guaracino

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

OUT & ABOUT The week ahead Fri. 04/20 “The Glamour Kills Tour” The Wonder Years, Polar Bear Club and Transit perform 7 p.m. at TLA, 334 South St.; 215-922-1011. Holler! The open-mic night commences 7 p.m. at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; 215-923-2960. First Person Story Slam: Mistaken Identities Spoken-word artists perform 7:30 p.m. at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215-567-4341. MST3K: Mitchell Sarcastic robots skewer the 1975

action film, 9:45 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-0223. Stimulus’ three-year anniversary The monthly women’s party celebrates 10 p.m.-2 a.m. at Shampoo, 417 N. Eighth St.; 215922-7500.

Sat. 04/21 Jonathan Haidt The author of “The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion” hosts a reading 2 p.m. at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215-567-4341.

The Princess Bride The 1987 fantasy film is screened 2 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610-917-0223. Joseph R. G. DeMarco The author of “Crimes on Latimer: From the Early Cases of Marco Fontana“ hosts a reading 5:30 p.m. at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; 215-923-2960. The Pop-up Museum on Queer History The William Way LGBT Community Center hosts an opening reception for an exhibit celebrating the rich, long and largely unknown histories of queer communities in Philadelphia, on view through May 19, 7-10 p.m.,

Get the scoop on Philly’s LGBT nightlife in Barcrawlr, PGN’s biweekly take on not-to-miss events

1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220.

Steve Aoki The electro-dance artist takes over the dance floor 10 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Mur. Mur nightclub, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.

Sun. 04/22 The Miracle Worker The 1962 drama about Helen Keller is screened 2 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-0223.

Mr. & Miss PBGP ’12 Pageant Philly Black Gay Pride hosts its annual pageant 6-10 p.m. at Gershman Y, 401 S. Broad St.; www.phillyblackpride.org.

Mon. 04/23 Groove Night Local musicians join forces to bring the R&B, soul, jazz and funk, 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-994-1400. Dragonforce The epic metal band performs 8 p.m. at TLA, 334 South St.; 215-922-1011.

Barcrawlr Jim KileyZufelt

Written by PGN’s intrepid reporter, Jim Kiley-Zufelt Online and in print every other week.

Only in

PHILADANCO GETS SOULFUL: The acclaimed dance company performs a program featuring “Tribute,” a full-company piece celebrating the soulful sounds of Philadelphia International Records, April 20-22 at Kimmel’s Perelman Theater, 260 S. Broad St. For more information, call 215790-5800. Photo: Lois Greenﬁeld

This Is How We Do It The ’90s party featuring DJ Money Fame Love begins 9 p.m. at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215-922-6888.

Lipstick Mondays A weekly drag show featuring a changing roster of queens takes the stage, 9 p.m. at The Raven, 385 W. Bridge St., New Hope; 215-8622081.

Tue. 04/24 Nickelback, Bush and Seether The rock bands perform 7 p.m. at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215-336-3600. Unlabeled: The Acoustic/ Electric Open Mic for Up and Comers Sign up and play, 7

p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-994-1400. Dionne Warwick The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents the acclaimed R&B singer performing a benefit concert for St. Ignatius Nursing Home, 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; 215-898-3900. TuesGAY Nights Lyrics Lounge and DJ June Rodrigues host a weekly night of music and performers for the LGBT community, 8 p.m., 6527 Roosevelt Blvd.; 215-533-5888.

St.; 215-923-2960. Girlyman The acoustic trio performs 7:30 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400. Rammstein The German industrial hard-rock band performs 8 p.m. at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215-336-3600.

Fri. 04/28 Cornel West and Tavis Smiley The renowned educator and intellectual and the long-time broadcaster bring

their “The Rich and the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto” tour to Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215-567-4341. Kioi Sinfonietta Tokyo The Philadelphia Orchestra performs 8 p.m. at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215790-5800. Girlyman The acoustic trio performs 8:30 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-994-1400.

Wed. 04/25 Bowling for Soup The rock band performs 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400. 4W5 Blues Jam Local musicians get down 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-994-1400.

Thu. 04/26 Greg Youmans The author of “Word is Out“ hosts a reading 5:30 p.m. at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th

FUNKY TOWN: Out electro-dance artist Sam Sparro is on the road promoting his upcoming new album “Return To Paradise,” inspired by late 1970s and early ’80s funk music. Catch him at 8 p.m. April 23 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. For more information, visit www.samsparro. com or call 215-222-1400.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

Opening Manon Lescaut The Opera Company of Philadelphia performs Puccini’s opera April 20-29 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800. Miss Richfield 1981 The outrageous performer returns to town April 27-29 at Society Hill Playhouse, 507 S. Eighth St.; 215-923-0210. Rattle Returns The Philadelphia Orchestra performs with the acclaimed conductor Simon Rattle April 26-29 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800. Richard Lewis The comedian performs April 26-28 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215-496-9001.

From Asbury Park to the Promised Land: The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen The National Constitution Center presents an exhibition giving a comprehensive look at The Boss’ entire career, with numerous items never before seen by the public, through Sept. 3, 525 Arch St., Independence Mall; 215-409-6895. Girls Night: The Musical The popular musical returns through May 13 at Kimmel’s Innovation Studio, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800. God of Carnage Walnut Street Theatre presents the Tony Award-winning comedy through April 29, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550. Spring Awakening The rock musical in which 19th-century German students explore their lives and BURNING DOWN THE HAUS: The German industrial hard-rock band Rammstein brings the best rock concert spectacle on Earth to Philly, probably singeing the eyebrows of anyone facing the stage, when they perform 8 p.m. April 23 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St. For more information or tickets, call 215-3363600.

Tchaikovsky’s Fourth The Philadelphia Orchestra performs April 20-21 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800.

Continuing Collab: Four Decades of Giving Modern and Contemporary Design Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition that includes some of the finest examples of European, American and Japanese design, through fall, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. Q PUZZLE from page 59

loves, hits the stage through May 20 at Media Theatre, 104 E. State St.; 610-8910100. Titus Andronicus The Philadelphia Shakespeare Company presents the bard’s violent and rarely performed masterpiece through May 19, 2111 Sansom St.; 215-496-9722. Twelfth Night The Philadelphia Shakespeare Company presents the bard’s meditation on romantic delusion involving a woman disguised as a man, through May 20, 2111 Sansom St.; 215-496-9722. Van Gogh Up Close Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of works by Vincent van Gogh through May 6, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

Notices

Send notices at least one week in advance to: Out & About Listings, PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147 fax: 215-925-6437; or e-mail: listings@epgn.com. Notices cannot be taken over the phone.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

Closing Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents the acclaimed dance company through April 21 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; 215-898-3900. The Outgoing Tide Philadelphia Theatre Company presents the darkly humorous drama about a man’s unorthodox plan to secure his family’s future, through April 22 at Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St.; 215-985-0420. PHILADANCO The acclaimed dance company performs April 20-22 at Kimmel’s Perelman Theater, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-7905800. Shagging The William Way LGBT Community Center hosts an exhibition of works by textile artists including K. Pannepacker, through April 27, 1315 Spruce St.; 215732-2220. Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival The Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia presents a series of events celebrating traditional and contemporary Japanese entertainment through April 21, various locations; www.subarucherryblossom.org.

NOT SILENT, BUT DEADLY: Miss Richﬁeld 1981, the outrageously funny force of nature, returns to town with her new show “2012: We’ll All Be Dead by Christmas,” April 27-29 at Society Hill Playhouse, 507 S. Eighth St. For more information or tickets, call 215-923-0210.

Vanities Quince Productions through April 21 at Walnut Street Theatre’s Studio 5, 825 Walnut St.; www.quinceproductions.com or 215-6271088. Zoe Strauss: Ten Years Philadelphia Museum of Art, through April 22, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. ■

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

PGN

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BRIDAL ‘TARDY’: Bravo has the hottest seat in the house for “Real Housewives” alum Kim Zolciak’s extravagant wedding to Kroy Biermann, defensive end for the Atlanta Falcons, in a new docu-series titled “Don’t Be Tardy for the Wedding,” premiering 9 p.m. April 26 on Bravo. Photo: Willford Harewood

PGN FUN & GAMES

Q Puzzle What’s He Doing with Her? Across

1. With 5- and 10Across, Andrew’s mom on “Desperate Housewives” 5. See 1-Across 10. See 1-Across 14. Feels poorly 15. “The Remains of the Day” director James 16. Petri dish medium 17. Wraps around drag queens 18. Poet Vivien 19. Wear down 20. Not straight 22 Uses one’s head 24. Start of the objection of 1Across when

Andrew got engaged to a woman 28. Trifling amount 31. Cult members that drop trou? 32. Great serve from Navratilova 35. Marine eagle 37. Used brooms 38. Stuck-up sort 39. Old coins of Lorca’s land 41. Stick in a rubber? 43. More of the objection 44. More of the objection 45. Willa Cather character 48. “___It Be Loverly” 50. Tiny bit 51. Giant quarterback Manning 52. End of the objection 59. Ballet bends 60. Hosp. worker

61. “Otherwise ... ” 63. Female lead in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” 64. Randy’s skating partner 65. Be a ham in “Hamlet” 66. Moves the ball between your legs 67. U-turn from NNW 68. Be aware of

Down

1. Small rum cake 2. Rivera’s rivers 3. Carrier to Tel Aviv 4. “A Room of One’s Own”, e.g. 5. Whiz 6. “Ciao, Caesar” 7. No to Rimbaud 8. Eminem’s mentor Dr. ___ 9. Some canines 10. Holmes of

Wonder Boys 11. Opposed to, to Jethrene Bodine 12. Letter from the teacher 13. LBJ or JFK 21. Name in Nantes 23. Lots of mins. 25. Spreadsheet lines 26. Hydrocarbon ending 27. RuPaul swings them 28. “So long!” 29. Husband of 1-Across 30. Not edited for TV 32. Paid for a hand 33. “Suzanne” composer Leonard 34. Reviewer Roger 36. Current currency of Sitges and Ibiza 38. Israel’s first

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

king 40. They’re down in the mouth 42. They may be sold in a bear market 46. “How Dry ___” 47. Grownups 48. Member, in slang 49. “Arsenic and ___ Lace” 52. Alda of “The West Wing” 53. Actress Foch 54. Bottomless 55. Where women might sweat together 56. “All ___” (1984 Tomlin film) 57. Party to 58. Rug rats 59. Duds in the bedroom 62. Where drivers go swinging PAGE 57

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

Community Bulletin Board Community centers

■ The Attic Youth Center: For LGBT and questioning youth and their friends and allies. Groups meet and activities are held 4-8 p.m. MondayFriday; case management, HIV testing and smoking cessation are available Monday-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, Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday

and Allies Youth Center: 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays: Doylestown Planned Parenthood, The Atrium, Suite 2E, 301 S. Main St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981; rainbowroom@ppbucks.org

■ William Way Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center: 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220; www.waygay.org. Hours: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Peer counseling: 6-9 p.m. Monday through Friday Library hours: 12-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 12-3 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Friday; 126 p.m. Saturday. Volunteers: New Orientation: First Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.

■ Rainbow Room — Bucks County’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning

■ AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania: 215-587-9377

Key numbers

■ AIDS Law Project of Southern New Jersey: 856-933-9500 ext. 221

■ Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Peer Counseling Services: 215-732-TALK

■ AIDS Library: 215-985-4851

■ Mayor’s Director of LGBT Affairs: Gloria Casarez, 215-6862194; Gloria.Casarez@phila.gov; Fax: 215-686-2555

■ ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215592-1513 ■ AIDS Treatment Fact line: 1800-662-6080 ■ Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection at the Independence Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library: 215-685-1633 ■ The COLOURS Organization Inc.: 112 N. Broad St., third floor; 215-496-0330 ■ Equality Pennsylvania: 215731-1447; www.equalitypa.org ■ Equality Forum: 215-732-3378

■ Mazzoni Center: 215-563-0652; www.mazzonicenter.org. Legal Services: 215-563-0657, 866-LGBTLAW; legalservices@mazzonicenter. org ■ Mazzoni Center Family & Community Medicine: 215-563-0658 ■ Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): 215-572-1833

Health

AIDS Services In Asian Communities Provides HIV-related services to Asians and Pacific Islanders at 340 N. 12th St., Suite 205; 215-629-2300. www.asiac.org Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative Free, anonymous HIV testing from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; 12-6 p.m. Tuesdays at the Washington West Project, 1201 Locust St. 215851-1822 or 866-222-3871. www.galaei.org. Spanish/English 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 and confidential HIV testing

■ 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.

■ Philadelphia Police Department liaison — Deputy Commissioner Stephen Johnson: 215-683-2840 ■ Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 215-760-3686; ppd. lgbt@gmail.com ■ Philly Pride Presents: 215875-9288 ■ SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: 717-9209537 ■ Transgender Health Action Coalition: 215-732-1207 (staffed 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays and 6-9 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays)

■ Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations: 215-686-4670

Anonymous, free, conﬁdential HIV testing Spanish/English counselors offer testing 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 3439 N. Hutchinson St..; 215-763-8870 ext. 6000.

■ 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) 6279090; www.galloplaw.org.

■ Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force: 215-772-2000

Mazzoni Center Family & Community Medicine Comprehensive primary health care, preventive health services, gynecology, sexual-health services and chronic-disease management, including comprehensive HIV care; 809 Locust St.; 215-563-0658. Washington West Project Free, anonymous HIV testing. Walk-ins welcome 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday except for 12-1 p.m. and 5-6 p.m. and 1-5 p.m. Saturday; 1201 Locust St.; 215-985-9206.

■ National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association The Philadelphia chapter of NLGJA, open to professionals

Pennsylvania Al-Anon Alateen Family Groups: Events, meeting times and locations at pa-al-anon.org.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

■ Acceptance meets 7:30 p.m. on Fridays at

Episcopal Church, 22nd and Spruce streets.

■ Meets daily 8:30-9:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m-

midnight and 11 a.m.-noon at the William Way Center. ■ Community meets 8 p.m. on Thursdays at Holy Communion Church, 2111 Sansom St. Gay and lesbian but all are welcome. ■ GLBT Alcoholics Anonymous meets 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 11 a.m. Sundays at the William Way Center. ■ Night Owl meets 11:30 p.m. Sunday through Saturday at the William Way Center. ■ Stepping Stone meets 2:30 p.m. Mondays at the William Way Center. ■ Meets 5:30-6:30 p.m. daily at Washington West Project, 1201 Locust St; 215-985-9206. ■ Ties That Bind Us, a 12-step Alcoholics Anonymous meeting for BDSM, leather and alternative sexuality community, meets 7:30-9 p.m. in South Philadelphia. For location, call 800-581-7883.

Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA)

■ Meets 7 p.m. on Sunday, Tuesday,

Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at the William Way Center.

Emotional Support

Mazzoni Center Free, anonymous HIV testing; HIV/AIDS care and treatment, case management and support groups; 21 S. 12th St., eighth ﬂoor; 215-563-0652. www.mazzonicenter.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.

Al-Anon

■

■ Pink and Blues, a free peer-run mental health

available by appointment at 13 S. MacDade Blvd., Suite 108, Collingdale; Medical Ofﬁce Building, 722 Church Lane, Yeadon; and 630 S. 60th St.; 610-5869077.

Professional groups

12-step programs and support groups

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; 856857-9283; popnews19@yahoo. com.

support group for LGBT people, meets 7 p.m. Wednesdays at St. Luke and The Epiphany Church, 330 S. 13th St.; 215-627-0424. ■ Survivors of Suicide Inc. meets 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 7:30 p.m. on second Wednesday of the month at Paoli Memorial Hospital, Willistown Room, Medical Ofﬁce Building; 215-5452242; phillysos.tripod.com.

HIV/AIDS

■ Strength In Numbers

Visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ SINPhiladelphia.

Mondays: ■ Positive Brothers, a support group for men of color living with HIV/AIDS, meets 6-8 p.m. at 112 N. Broad St., 11th floor; 215-496-0330. Tuesdays: ■ A support group for HIV-positive men and women meets 1:30-3 p.m. at BEBASHI — Transition to Hope, 1217 Spring Garden St., first floor; 215- 769-3561. bebashi.org ■ Encuentros Positivos, a group for HIVpositive Latino men who have sex with men, meets on first and third Tuesday of the month at 1205 Chestnut St. ■ “Feast Incarnate,” a weekly ministry for people affected by HIV/AIDS, meets 5 p.m. at University Lutheran Church, 3637 Chestnut St. Bible study follows at 6 p.m.; 215-3872885. ■ A support group for people recently diagnosed with HIV/AIDS meets 6:30-8 p.m. at the Mazzoni Center; 215-563-0652 x 235. ■ Youth Outreach Adolescent Community Awareness Program’s Voice It Sistah, a support group for HIV-positive women, meets 11 a.m. every first and third Tuesday at

YOACAP, 1207 Chestnut St., Suite 315; 215851-1898. Wednesdays: ■ AIDS Services in Asian Communities’ weekly volunteer work group meets 6-8 p.m. at 340 N. 12th St., Suite 205; 215-629-2300. ■ Project Teach, a peer-education and empowerment program for people living with HIV/AIDS, meets at Philadelphia Fight, 1233 Locust St. ﬁght.org. ■ Positive Effect, for HIV-positive people 18 and over, meets 5-7 p.m. second and fourth Wednesdays at Camden AHEC, 514 Cooper St., Camden, N.J.; 856-963-2432. Thursdays: ■ A support group for HIV-positive men and women meets 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; azaklad@craftech.com. Saturdays: n AIDS Delaware’s You’re Not Alone youth support group meets during the school year. Call 1-800-810-6776 for meeting location and time.

Debtors Anonymous

■ Meets 7-8 p.m. Monday and Thursday at the

William Way Center.

Overeaters Anonymous (OA)

■ Open meeting, Tuesdays, 5:45 p.m., and

7 p.m. Friday, at Hahnemann University Hospital, 245 N. 15th St.; call Troy for ﬂoor/ room number, 215-514-3065; www.oa.org. ■ Meets at 11 a.m.-noon at the William Way Center.

S.A.R.A.

■ Substance Abuse – Risk Assessment; day and

evening hours; 215-563-0663 ext. 282.

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous

■ Meets 7:30 p.m.Thursdays at All Saints

Church, 18 Olive Ave., Rehoboth Beach, Del.; 302-542-3279.

SEPCADD

■ Safe space to meet and discuss substance

abuse problems at the William Way Center.

Health

Alder Health Services provides LGBT health services on a sliding-fee scale; 100 N. Cameron St., Ste. 301 East, Harrisburg; 717-233-7190 or 800-867-1550; www.alderhealth.org. Anonymous, free, confidential HIV testing with Spanish/English counselors 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 3439 N. Hutchinson St.; 215-763-8870 ext. 6000. HIV treatment: Free HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment for Philadelphia residents available 9 a.m.-noon Mondays and 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad St.; 215685-1803. HIV health insurance help: Access to free medications and confidential HIV testing available at 17 MacDade Blvd., Suite 108, Collingdale; Medical Office Building, 722 Church Lane, Yeadon; and 630 S. 60th St.; 610586-9077. Philadelphia FIGHT provides HIV primary care, on-site lab services, clinical trials, case management, mental-health services and support groups for people living with HIV regardless of insurance status or ability to pay; 1233 Locust St., fifth floor; 215-985-4448; www. fight.org.

REALPGN ESTATE

Classifieds

Home of the Week

PGN does not accept advertising that is unlawful, false, misleading, harmful, threatening, abusive, invasive of another’s privacy, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, hateful or racially or otherwise objectionable, including without limitation material of any kind or nature that encourages conduct that could constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability or otherwise violate any applicable local, state, provincial, national or international law or regulation, or encourage the use of controlled substances. All real-estate advertising is subject to Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended. Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental and ﬁnancing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and handicap (disability). PGN will not knowingly accept any real-estate advertising that is in violation of any applicable law.

REAL ESTATE

SALE

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

Featured property:

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REAL ESTATE

SALE

The right place. The right time. Right in the Heart of Packer Park.

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REAL ESTATE

Virginia Seaside Lots: Absolute buy of a lifetime! Fully improved 3 acre lots, exclusive development on the seaside (the mainland) overlooking Chincoteague Bay and islands. Gated entrance, paved roads, caretaker, community dock, pool and club house including owners guest suites. Build the house of your dreams! Unique bank foreclosure situation makes these lots available at 1/3 of original cost. Great climate, low taxes and National Seashore beaches nearby. Only $49,000 each or pond lots $65,000. Tel. (757)824-5284 website:http://ViewWebPage.com/5EUO or email:oceanlandtrust@yahoo.com _______________________________36-16

ADIRONDACK LAKE, NY Off market since 1947, former Scout Camp. 2 lake cabins 147’ lakefront $119,900. 5 acre cabin on Portaferry Lake $149,900. www. LandFirstNY.com 1-888-683-2626. _______________________________36-16

SALE

VACATION

RENTAL OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND Best selection of affordable rentals. Full/partial weeks. Call for FREE brochure. Open daily. Holiday Real Estate. 1-800-638-2102 Online reservations: www.holidayoc.com _______________________________36-16

FOR SALE SAWMILLS From only $3997-MAKE & SAVE MONEY with your own bandmill- Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship. FREE Info/DVD: www.NorwoodSawmills.com 1-800-578-1363 Ext.300N. _______________________________36-16 ATTENTION DIABETICS With Medicare. Get a FREE talking meter and diabetic testing supplies at NO COST, plus FREE home delivery! Best of all, this meter eliminates painful ﬁnger pricking! Call 888-856-1106 _______________________________36-16

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

REAL ESTATE

SALE

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

REAL ESTATE

��

Historical estate with additional carriage house

SALE

Open House Sunday April 22, 2012 ��

SALE

PAGE 47

$549,000

Noon-2:30PM 540 Cypress St, Philadelphia, PA 19106

2BR/1.5BA house—Quaint, completely upgraded home on cobblestone street in the heart of Society Hill. ��

REAL ESTATE

SALE

��

$374,900

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$189,900

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428 West Browning St Prudential Fox Roach Collingswood NJ 1 West Main St, 08057 Ofﬁce: 856 234 0011 Cell: 267 259 2432

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$325,000

Noon-2:00PM The Lenox Condominiums 250 S. 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 ��

�� Condos from $175,000 Rentals from $1,800/mo �� Search all Philadelphia area listings @ www.thephillyrealtors.com �� Dan Tobey �� The Curtis Center �� 1401 Walnut St. 8th Floor �� Philadelphia, PA 19102 �� 215.546.2700 Business • 267.238.1061 Direct �� 215.432.7151 Cell • 215.546.7728 Fax �� dtobey@cbpref.com • www.cbpref.com �� REAL ESTATE REAL ESTATE ��

�� RENT RENT

E-mail us: pgn@epgn.com

�� . Furness Flats. Large 2 bed, 1 bath. last unit left in this highly desirable building. Close to all Center City Hospitals. Low fees and taxes ................................��

COLLINGSWOOD, NJ

�� “George T. Sale Condo” Unique Garden level 1 bd, 1 ba. unit w/ private entrance.. Low fees & Tax Abatement. Lowest price 1 bd. in area ........................��.

Sunny, 3BR townhouse across �� the street from speedline, walking ��. New open style 2 bedroom, 1 bath condo distance to fees. town, with low taxes and condo Greatrestaurants, small pet friendly building. .........................................................................�� shops, parks and library. �� Old Swedes Court. New Listing Large 3 Bedroom 2.5 Bath with Garage, roof deck and hardwood ﬂoors. Wood ﬂoors, newly painted, full Low association fees in Queen Village ....................�� . NEW LISTING. Large update 4 bd. 2 ba. with basement, W/D. huge garden and wonderfully roof deck with city skyline views.

$1300+ util.

.................................................................................��

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Call Lee @ 856-905-1991 ��

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�� REAL ESTATE

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. _______________________________36-20 RITTENHOUSE SQUARE AREA Studios & 1 Bedrooms - Call for Availability (215) 735-8050. _______________________________36-17 HADDON TWP, NJ Safe, sunny 2 BR apt. 2nd ﬂ owner occ. duplex. 1000 sq.. ft., A/C, D/W, W/D, new carpet & paint. Pvt. ent. Close to speedline, bus, walk, bike to shops, parks, lakes, library. Call Brian, 12 Noon-7 PM, 856-858-8620. _______________________________36-18 EAST PASSYUNK AVE. AREA 2nd ﬂoor 1 BR, EIK, pvt. patio & ent. 215468-2482. _______________________________36-15 CENTER CITY ONE Juniper and Spruce - 2 bedroom/2 bathroom apt for rent in mid-May. D/W, washer dryer, new carpets. Spacious apartment, balcony, city view in great doorman building. $1,895 mo + security deposit. 267-262-1789. _______________________________36-16 OXFORD CIRCLE AREA 5915 Algin St. 3 BR, A/C, no pets. Garage. $990. Call 215-331-2329. _______________________________36-15

ADOPTION ADOPTION: DEVOTED FAMILY Promises to cherish your child unconditionally. Financially secure; expenses paid. Your child is already loved in our hearts! Susan/Patrick 1-877-266-9087. www.susanandpatrickadopt. com _______________________________36-16 Are you pregnant? A childless married couple seeks to ADOPT. Financial security. Expenses paid. Call Christine & Norbert. Ask for Michelle/ Adam 1-800-790-5260. _______________________________36-16

PGN

ROOMMATES PGN WILL NOT PUBLISH RACIAL DISTINCTIONS IN ROOMMATE ADS. SUCH NOTATIONS WILL BE EDITED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION. ___________________________________ GREATER NE PHILA. Have your own bedroom in a beautiful split level home with 2 gay men. House is 4 BR, 2 full baths, W/D, upper and lower decks, use of kitchen. Property is by Welsh & the Boulevard, 1 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. _______________________________36-22 COLLEGEVILLE, PA, $680 Seeking male for private room and bath. 2 males seeking a third to share expenses in a 3200 sq. ft. 2 story home. Utils. incl. Beautiful home in a great neighborhood. Full house priv. Beautiful landscaping, prvt. back yard w/inground pool & Jacuzzi. A must see property. Call 484-635-7588 for more info. _______________________________36-19

FINANCIAL

SERVICES GOVERNMENT INSURED LOANS! Residential remodeling. Many programs require no equity, bad credit often O.K. Consolidate, extra $ in your pocket. www.TRISTATECREATIONS.COM 1-888-990-8886. _______________________________36-16 Need Home Improvements? No Equity? Low Credit Score? Our Experts will work to turn your impossible dream into the Home of Your Dreams! www.TriStateCreations.com 888-990-8886. _______________________________36-16

WANTED

TO BUY WANTED UNEXPIRED DIABETIC TEST STRIPS Up to $26.00/Box. PRE-PAID SHIPPING LABELS. Hablamo Espanol. 1-800-266-0702 www.selldiabeticstrips.com _______________________________36-16

HELP WANTED BECOME A SURROGATE MOTHER!!! Generous Compensation! Help an infertile couple! Non-smoker, 21-42 years old. Must have given birth. Visit www.newlifesurrogacy. com Or call 212-969-7419. _______________________________36-16 “Can You Dig It?” We will train, certify & provide lifetime assistance landing work. Hiring in Pennsylvania. Start digging as a heavy equipment operator. 866-362-6497. _______________________________36-16 **ABLE TO TRAVEL** Hiring 10 people. Work and travel all states, resort areas. No experience necessary. Paid training & Transportation. OVER 18. Start ASAP. 1-888-853-8411. _______________________________36-16 Drivers - CDL-A. DRIVE WITH PRIDE. Up to $3,000 Sign-On Bonus for Qualified Drivers! CDL & 6mo. OTR exp. REQ’D. USA TRUCK 877-521-5775 www.usatruck.jobs _______________________________36-16 Drivers: New Freight lanes in your area. Annual Salary $45K to $60K. Flexible hometime. Modern Fleet of trucks. CDL-A, 3-months Current OTR experience. 800-414-9569. www. driveknight.com _______________________________36-16 COMPANY DRIVERS / RECENT TRUCKING SCHOOL GRADUATES Your new career starts now! *Up to $4,800 tuition reimbursement (for a limited time only) *Great Pay & Benefits *Excellent Training Program *Industry-leading safety program. New to trucking? Call us for opportunities. Call: 866-346-1856 www.joinCRST.com _______________________________36-16 HIRING EXPERIENCED/INEXPERIENCED TANKER DRIVERS! Great Benefits and Pay! New Fleet Volvo Tractors! 1 Year OTR Exp. Req.- Tanker Training Available. Call Today: 877-882-6537 www. OakleyTransport.com _______________________________36-16 Exp. Reefer Drivers: GREAT PAY /Freight lanes from Presque Isle, ME, Boston-Lehigh, PA. 800-277-0212 or primeinc.com _______________________________36-16 Drivers: Sign On Bonus $2000 - $7500. Solo & Teams. 1 year OTR. CDL-A-Hazmat Up to .513 877-628-3748 www.driveNCTrans.com _______________________________36-16 CDL-A SOLOS & TEAMS. NEED MORE MILES? We’ve got them! Top Pay for experience! MORE PAY w/ Hazmat! 800-942-2104 Ext. 7307 or 7308 www.TotalMS.com _______________________________36-16

SERVICES EARN COLLEGE DEGREE ONLINE *Medical, *Business, *Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified. SCHEV Certified. Call 888-220-3984. www.CenturaOnline.com _______________________________36-16 AIRLINE CAREERS Begin here-Become an Aviation Maintenance Tech. FAA approved training. Financial aid if qualified-Housing available. Job placement assistance. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance 888-834-9715 _______________________________36-16

AUTOS DONATE YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR BOAT TO HERITAGE FOR THE BLIND. Free 3 Day Vacation, Tax Deductible, Free Towing, All Paperwork Taken Care Of. 888-643-5496. _______________________________36-16

Gay is our middle name.

PGN

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

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Barrons Urban Warehouse- 2 Night Extravaganza “FORE PLAY”

Friday, April 27th, 2012 • TIME: 8pm-8am Celebrity Host: Mega Star Venom

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* MUST BE ON GUEST LIST TO GAIN ENTRANCE TO BARRONS URBAN WAREHOUSE PARTIES.

WEEKLY SPECIALS BUSINESS MANS 4HR LOCKER SPECIAL Mon. thru Friday (8am-4pm) Members: $5.00 & Non-Members: $15.00 $12 Locker Wed. & Thurs., 4pm-12 Midnight LATE NIGHT CREEP Monday - Thursday (12 Midnight - 8am) Members: $9.00 & Non-Members: $19.00 HALF PRICE ROOMS Tuesday ( 6am- 12 Midnight) Members: $12.50 & Non-Members: $22.50 $12 FLAT RATE LOCKERS 4pm -12 Midnight, Wednesday &Thursday Check out our website for our HOT NEW WEEKLY SPECIALS & JOIN OUR e-mail List to get the latest information on upcoming events...

(PRIVATE EVENT: For More Information & to be put onto guest list email: badboi215@gmail.com) Don’t forget to visit the Adonis Cinema right next door!! 2026 Sansom St/ PH: 215-557-9319

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PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

��

FRIENDS

LOOKING FOR ROMANCE Attractive GWM, warm, sensitive, caring, 48 y.o. with a smooth gymnast build looking for 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, 215-698-0215. _______________________________36-19 SERIOUSLY Is there anyone out there who wants more than a one-night stand? Please call 215677-5610. _______________________________36-19 WM, NE Phila. If you’re looking for hot action, call 215-934-5309. No calls after 11 PM. _______________________________36-17 BM, 60 looking for British gent, 35-45 for intimate encounters. 215-763-3391, 6PMMidnight. _______________________________36-17

BRUCE A: KEEPER OF THE GREEN FLAMES Dear Brucey, “Everyone must know that I love you so. Together, forever... that’s how it will be. Dear beloved you are the one for me. All FOUR one and FOUR for all. I live at 745 Cedar Street, Marquette MI 49855. Check for Hilary on Hewitt Avenue. Please text me at 414-882-1464. Ask your mom, my Fairy-God Mother. Amen,Theodore Michael Gagnon _______________________________36-17 SEEKING WM in 50’s seeks younger men, Asians, Latinos & Mexicans a +, for friendship & fun. Enjoy arts, travel & outdoors. 856-547-4163. No calls after 11. _______________________________36-20 If you are WM, very husky, big build, nice full moon butt, to age 58, call me. I’m a WM, 58, 6’1”, 215. 215-732-2108, 8-11 PM. _______________________________36-19

MEN

MASSAGE

�� PAGE 54 �� Attractive GWM, warm, sensitive, caring, 48 �� y.o.�� with a smooth gymnast build looking for 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, 215-698-0215. �� _______________________________33-28 �� 6’, 165 lbs., 60 year old Master, greek active, �� french passive requires obedient slave for �� training, S&M, B/D, W/S, etc. Limits respected �� and expanded. Assistant Master wanted. Call �� Dave at 215-729-6670, day or evening. ��

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Erotic Dungeon Master

_______________________________33-48 Xdress sex party. CD house orgy every Sat. nite. GWM couple ISO GWMs 18-40 yrs. for 1 on 1 and group sex. Stockings, pantyhose, etc. Starts 9 PM Sat. Call Sat. 7-8 PM 856910-8303, ask for Mark. _______________________________33-24 GWM, Italian, top or bottom, 7” cut. Also into assplay, toys & water sports. Bi, straight, out of towners welcome. Day or night. Call Jeff at 215-850-7900. _______________________________33-18

CERTIFIED

WM 60, 5 ﬁt, hot, se NE. 215________ WM, NE action, ca 11 PM. ________

You: big e 215-732________

SERVICES

MASSAGE

Deep Tissue, Sensual and Erotic Massage by handsome athletic man

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Ask about the After Midnight Special.

Call Mario anytime 24/7 at 215-490-7353 B24

Massage/escort WM, 50, 5’10”, 170. Your location. 267-391-5787, evenings. _______________________________36-17

Handsome Certified Therapist 6’, 195 lbs, Muscle Gives Sensual / Therapeutic Massage

Call 215-432-6030

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 20-26, 2012

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