pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976
Vol. 43 No. 17 April 26-May 2, 2019
Family Portrait: Gordon Pulaski, artful in his activism PAGE 35
Assault alleged at Valley Forge Military Academy PAGE 12
HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
Local GLF members among grand marshalls for World Pride 2019 PAGE 6
Community heads off protesters at local Drag Queen Story Time By Gary L. Day and Jess Bryant PGN Staff The nation’s newest culture war played out on the grounds of a Philadelphia library last weekend, marking the first such local demonstration over a Drag Queen Story Time. A Christian group from Hanover clashed with community members outside the Free Library’s Lovett Memorial Branch in Mount Airy during an April 20 DQST reading. “It was hard,” said Ian Morrison, known as drag performer Brittany Lynn, who founded the local DQST. “One guy had a 6-foot-tall picture of Mary. Someone yelled out, ‘Homosexuality is a sin!’ They started walking toward me and telling me something about how this will cause me to go to hell. I couldn’t help but wonder why they take so much time to protest diversity, love and acceptance. I’m a little shook up that, even in 2019, people have time to do this.” The counterprotesters, in support of DQST, blocked the library entrance to prevent the protesters from disrupting the reading. The local clash is only the most recent salvo in what has become a national controversy. DQST promotes children’s literacy by having drag queens present readings at libraries, museums and other kid friendly venues. The program has gained nationwide popularity and traction in library systems. But protests have erupted in various cit-
The Third Circuit Court of Appeals this week said city officials acted within their legal rights when they stopped referring children to a Catholic foster-care agency that refuses to certify same-sex couples as foster parents. In March 2018, city officials stopped
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The Attic names acting executive director as investigations continue By Josh Middleton PGN Contributor
NEIGHBORHOOD VOICES: Mount Airy neighbors gather in support of Brittany Lynn as protesters from ANF attempt to interrupt Drag Queen Story Time.
ies, with conservative Christian groups trying to block DQST readings while supportive parents and other community members stage counterprotests like the one on Germantown Avenue last Saturday. Ten members of a group called American Needs Fatima showed up in front of Lovett with about 20 community members ready to keep them from entering the library. The exchange became heated, with an ANF member calling out, “The 3-year-olds inside didn’t have a choice to be there” — to which a counter-
protester replied, “They didn’t choose to go to church either.” ANF and similar sects of radically conservative Christians contend that Drag Queen Story Time introduces radical gender idealogy to children. A series of clashes at the Landsdale Public Library last February garnered considerable publicity. Since then, Lynn said, “my [Facebook] page started being attacked,” with messages such as, “‘You’re a horrible person,’ and ‘You’re going to burn in hell.’” PAGE 14
Appeals court sides with city in foster-care dispute By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com
Experimental queer porn festival
referring foster-care children to Catholic Social Services after published reports disclosed the agency wouldn’t place children with same-sex couples. City officials said CSS’ policies violate the city’s Fair Practices Ordinance, which bans LGBT bias in public accommodations. But, two months later, CSS filed suit against the city, claiming violations of its constitutional rights to freedom of speech
and religion. CSS asked U.S. District Judge Petreses B. Tucker to issue a preliminary injunction ordering the city to renew its contract despite its unwillingness to comply with the city’s nondiscrimination requirement. Tucker denied that request in July. On April 22, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Tucker’s ruling. In a 50-page opinion, PAGE 23
The Attic Youth Center has named an acting executive director and launched two investigations following damaging allegations that a minor was sexually assaulted on its premises and that former employees had experienced racial discrimination while working at the LGBTQ youth-serving nonprofit. Attic board member Shawnese Givens stepped into the acting executive-director role, replacing Carrie Jacobs, who was immediately relieved of her duties when the accusations surfaced in early March. The replacement was announced on April 4 in an open letter to the community, which stated that Givens, a self-identified feminist and social-justice advocate with a background in marriage and family counseling, was expected to begin her duties on April 15. Kate Wilhelm, director of Ceisler Media, a public-relations and issue-advocacy firm hired by The Attic following the allegations, told PGN that Givens, who has been on The Attic board since 2016, will report to board president Shawn Leavitt as she “oversees day-to-day operations, represents The Attic in the community and makes sure the legal council gets access to anything they need to conduct thorough and complete investigations.” Wilhelm told PGN that The Attic has obtained two law firms to handle each allegation facing the center. Abara Law is conducting the investigation into the claims of racial discrimination against employees, while Morgan Lewis is looking into the claims of sexual assault. “Both law firms have also been charged with providing recommendations on policies and procedures that will make sure [that The Attic] will always be a safe, inclusive environment,” Wilhelm said, estimating the investigations would take a couple of months to be completed. She said The Attic is committed to being transparent throughout the process. All new information will be shared with the community via open letters posted on the organization’s website. PAGE 23