Lily Tomlin — one-woman show
Family Portrait: Chris Alston
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Cheesesteaks in paradise: Taking Philly culture to South America
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April 27 - May 3, 2012
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Vol. 36 No. 17
By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com
Pennsylvania elected its first openly gay state legislator this week. Democrat Brian Sims won his bid to represent the 182nd District in the state House, defeating longtime incumbent Rep. Babette Josephs. Sims will not face a Republican challenger in the fall. As of presstime Wednesday, Sims had 3,681 votes to Josephs’ 3,463 — a difference of 218 votes. According to the City Commissioners office, there were two cartridges left to retrieve for the race on Wednesday, which City Commissioner Stephanie Singer said were unlikely to have any votes on them. Sims, an attorney and the former president of Equality Pennsylvania, watched the election returns at Woody’s Tuesday night, where about 150 supporters turned out to cheer him on. “I am extremely honored by this historic win,” Sims told PGN. “Our victory was made possible by the support and hard work of hundreds of individuals. With such a tight margin, every volunteer hour
and ever dollar counted. Representative democracy is what makes this nation great, and not only am I humbled to become our first openly LGBT state legislator, but I am proud to have won this election with one of the strongest grassroots campaigns this city has ever seen.” He continued, “From members across the spectrum of communities to allies, the old chant summarizes it best: This is what democracy looks like, this is what democracy feels like.” Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of national LGBT political group Victory Fund, which endorsed Sims, said the win is one for all LGBTs in the state. “LGBT Pennsylvanians will finally have a voice in their state legislature, and what a strong and unyielding voice it will be,” Wolfe said. “We are thrilled for Brian, who ran a remarkable campaign.” Sims was also endorsed by PGN, Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club and Equality PA. Prior to Tuesday, Pennsylvania was the second-largest state in the nation to never have elected an openly LGBT lawmaker at the state level. PAGE 27
HEADED TO HARRISBURG: About 150 supporters erupted in cheers Tuesday night at Woody’s for Brian Sims (center), the Democratic nominee for the 182nd District, which encompasses the Gayborhood. Sims unseated longtime incumbent Rep. Babette Josephs and — as there is no Republican challenger on the November ballot — will become Pennsylvania’s first openly gay state lawmaker. Photo: Scott A. Drake
EEOC makes landmark transgender ruling
Drexel LGBTs organize against Chick-fil-A event
By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com
By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com The LGBT and ally community on Drexel University’s campus is preparing to mobilize against a planned leadership event next week — one that is organized by a notorious right-wing food chain. As of presstime, Drexel was forging ahead with its May 4 Chick-fil-A Leadercast, a daylong conference broadcast live from Atlanta to venues throughout the world. The leadership-development event will feature presentations by such figures as conservative footballer Tim Tebow. In the past few years, Chick-fil-A has reportedly donated more than $3 million to antigay organizations, including National PAGE 30 Organization for Marriage
WELCOMING THE WEEK: Mr. Philadelphia Black Gay Pride Barron George (center, on stage) performs “My Testimony” by Marvin Sapp to compete for the title at the annual pageant April 22 at Gershman Y. Joy Mariner was crowned Miss PBGP at the event — which also featured a dance competition by Smoke, Lilies and Jade Arts Initiative — and the pair is appearing throughout the week at PBGP activities. The festival will feature a kickoff reception with former Congressman Patrick Murphy April 27, followed by the Evolution Ball at Crowne Plaza on City Line Avenue, which will host a series of PBGP workshops April 28. Photo: Scott A. Drake
In an unprecedented ruling this week, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission found that the law that prohibits sex discrimination against federal employees protects transgender people. EEOC found April 23 that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 extends to gender identity, marking the first time the agency, which enforces federal nondiscrimination laws, came to such a conclusion. The landmark ruling was handed down in the case of Mia Macy, a transgen-
der woman who was denied employment by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Macy applied for an ATF ballistics technician job as a male but disclosed her intent to transition during the hiring process, and was then informed that the position was cut for lack of funding. Another candidate was later chosen to fill the position. “As a veteran and a police officer, I’ve worked my whole career to uphold the values of fairness and equality,” Macy said in a statement Tuesday. “Although the discrimination I experienced was PAGE 30