Bisexual men topic of new book
Speaking out about a silentfilm actress PAGE 25
Family Portrait: Jeff Balke is a comic painter
PAGE 6
PAGE 31
Four-day sex forum coming PAGE 5 soon May 1-7, 2015
Since 1976
PGN Philadelphia Gay News HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
Vol. 39 No. 18
former LGBT liaison Gloria Casarez to be honored with a mural this fall By Scott A. Drake scott@epgn.com The City of Philadelphia and the Mural Arts Program will honor the former LGBT Affairs director Gloria Casarez with a mural later this year. Several people in the LGBTQA community, including PCHR executive director Rue Landau, William Way LGBT Community Center executive director Chris Bartlett and Casarez’s personal friends Louis Ortiz and Beth Larin, are working out the details this spring. A site has not been selected yet, but a few locations in the Gayborhood and Bella Vista are under consideration. Mayor Nutter announced the mural plans April 22 during the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations’ PCHR Awards. The unscripted announcement was a surprise to friends and family members, most of whom had not known about the mural proposal. Landau told PGN that the idea has been in the works since the beginning of the year. “We had considered trying to dedicate the PAGE 19 mural in July, coincid-
The nation’s highest court takes on marriage equality By Ryan Kasley ryan@epgn.com
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE: Tricia Dressel (second from left) spoke about Gloria Casarez’s legacy as she accepted the Sadie T.M. Alexander Leadership Award on her behalf April 22 at the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations’ PCHR Awards, with Mayor Michael Nutter and PCHR executive director Rue Landau in the background. Photo: Scott A. Drake
On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark marriage-equality case that is expected to settle the issue nationwide. “Today’s oral argument at the Supreme Court is a historic moment that caps a collective decades-long movement for the freedom to marry,” said Ted Martin, executive director of Equality PA. “The question at issue is whether all people, including samesex couples, are given the freedom to marry under the Constitution. We believe that all loving and committed couples should have the freedom to marry — and we are very hopeful that the court will agree.” The nine justices heard two-and-a-half hours of arguments by both sides that centered on two questions: First, can states ban same-sex marriage? And second, must a state recognize a lawful marriage performed in another state? PAGE 19
Workplace-bias trial begins By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com Jeffrey S. Downs says he never set out to be an LGBT crusader, but his alleged encounters with anti-LGBT bias at two Center City law firms thrust him into that role. The openly gay attorney claims antiLGBT bias cost him a job at the Anapol Schwartz law firm and derailed a job offer from the Raynes McCarty law firm. He’s seeking in excess of $6 million in damages, and the first of two trials in his case began this week in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court. A jury of seven women and five men must decide whether to hold Anapol officials liable for allegedly defaming Downs and interfering with his livelihood. Downs alleges that Anapol officials spoke about him in a defamatory manner to Raynes officials in March 2012, causing
Raynes to withdraw a lucrative job offer. The alleged wrongdoing resulted in a lengthy period of unemployment for Downs, and necessitated a refinancing of his home to make ends meet. During a break in the trial, Downs said he never aspired to the role of LGBT crusader, but he won’t shrink from it. He said his ordeal with the law firms has renewed his commitment to working for LGBT rights on the state and federal levels. “The only way that change is made is to speak out,” Downs told PGN. His attorney, Michael A. Bowman, told jurors that Downs isn’t the type to pick a fight. “But he’s no shrinking violet,” Bowman added. “Jeff will stand up for himself.” Downs maintains it was appropriate for him to speak out against the anti-LGBT bias that he encountered at Anapol because it was prevalent and unprofessional. PAGE 19 Examples of anti-
pROUD AND OUT: Philly Black Pride capped off five days of events with a cocktail party and dancing April 26 at the Kimmel Center with over 100 people enjoying food by Garges Group and music provided by award-winning artist Dawn Richard. The second-floor outdoor seating area was especially popular for the duration of the party. Philly Black Pride will return the last weekend of April 2016. Photo: Scott A. Drake.