PGN May 6-12, 2011 edition by The Philadelphia Gay News

New Hope Celebrates turns eight with a parade and a rainbow of performers

Professional Portrait: Joseph Liana

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The Kimmel Center’s 2011 Marian Anderson Award will go to Mia Farrow

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May 6-12, 2011

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Antigay marriage bill back in state House

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Rep. Daryl Metcalfe wants to change the state constitution to prevent same-sex unions. Though previous efforts have failed the last several years, Republicans now hold the House, Senate and governor’s office. By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com For the first time in a number of years, a measure that seeks to amend the state constitution to prohibit same-sex unions has surfaced in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-12th Dist.) introduced HB 1434, the so-called Marriage Protection Amendment, May 2 along with 35 cosponsors. A version of the bill was introduced in the past two sessions in the Senate but not the House. It is unclear if a companion bill is planned for the Senate. Metcalfe did not return a call for comment but said in a statement that “the institution of marriage has never been under greater attack,” referencing the Obama administration’s recent decision to stop defending the federal ban on same-sex marriage in court. Pennsylvania has had its own statute banning same-sex marriage on the books since 1996, but Metcalfe’s bill would write the same language into the constitution to add another obstacle for LGBT advocates to overcome. The bill was last seen in the House in 2006, when it was approved. Although the measure gained Senate approval that year, it did not move forward because the bills differed. Metcalfe’s measure would define marriage in the state constitution as “the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife and no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized.” The measure would need to be approved by both chambers of the legislature in two consecutive sessions and would then be put to voters, where it would need to garner a majority of votes to be ratified. Metcalfe was a cosponsor of the 2006 version of the measure, PAGE 21

OUT IN THE PARC: Action AIDS executive director Kevin Burns greeted guests April 28 at Rittenhouse Square restaurant Parc for Dining Out for Life. More than 200 restaurants participated in the 21st annual event, with proceeds benefitting Action AIDS. In Philadelphia, 142 eateries participated, 20 more than last year’s event, which raised $190,000. Final tallies aren’t in yet, but Burns hopes to top $200,000. “Even with the bad weather, we had a great turnout, and it was a really fun evening.” Photo: Scott A. Drake

OUT! ON THE TOWN: The Piazza at Schmidt’s in Northern Liberties played host to the annual SundayOUT! festivities May 1, which closed a week of Equality Forum events. Organizers said that about 10,000 people came to the Piazza for the event, which featured resource tables from community organizations and live entertainers, including singer and DC Cowboy Jonathan Bascope (pictured). See related DC Cowboy and Bascope coverage on page 23. Photo: Scott A. Drake

Bethlehem advances rights bill By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Bethlehem took a decisive step last week toward becoming the next municipality in Pennsylvania to ban LGBT discrimination. A three-member committee of the Bethlehem City Council voted unanimously April 28 to send an LGBT nondiscrimination measure to the full council, where it will be introduced May 18. It is expected to come up for its final vote June 7, according to Adrian Shanker, vice president of the Pennsylvania Diversity Network, who, along with the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania

and Equality Pennsylvania, is leading the effort to pass the measure. If the council adopts the bill, Bethlehem would become the 21st jurisdiction in the state to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. All members of the council attended the meeting, as did the mayor, along with about 100 community members, several dozen of whom spoke out in favor of the ordinance. The bill received no opposition from those in the crowd. In addition to banning LGBT discrimination, the measure would also create a Human Relations Commission to handle discrimination complaints. Mayor John Callahan PAGE 22

MAKING PHILLY PROUD: The newly crowned Mr. and Ms. Philadelphia Black Gay Pride welcomed guests to the April 29 PBGP kickoff party at the DoubleTree Hotel. The 12th annual meet and greet was one of several PBGP events Shizz Elegance (left) and Karen Vonsay attended after their April 24 crowning, as the weeklong festivities included parties, socials and workshops, ending with the first-ever White Affair Saturday night. Photo: Scott A. Drake

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ASKING FOR EQUALITY: Equality Forum director Malcolm Lazin (from left) welcomed former U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, former West Point cadet Katherine Miller and Lt. Dan Choi to the National Constitution Center April 30 for the International Equality Dinner. Miller, who resigned under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” presented awards to Murphy and Choi for their efforts to repeal the military ban. Also honored at the dinner, which drew about 500, were Delaware Gov. Jack Markell and Daniel Hernandez, the openly gay intern credited with saving Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ life. Photo: Scott A. Drake

NEWS

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Contents

EDITORIAL/OP-ED

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

10 10 11 11 11

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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 Newspaper Published by Masco Communications Inc. © 2011 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.

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TRAVELING TEMPTATION: An array of travel-industry experts set up shop at the William Way LGBT Community Center April 28 to encourage members of the LGBT community to pack their bags and head out of Philadelphia this summer. The 2011 GLBT Travel Expo brought together representatives of hotels, cruise lines, visitors bureaus and other travel aficionados to offer information to locals on the best LGBTfriendly hot spots for their next vacations. The expo tour also made stops in Atlanta, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and New York City. Photo: Scott A. Drake

News Briefing AIDS law fundraiser The AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania will host a fundraising drag event and dinner from 6-8:30 p.m. May 12 at Vintage Instruments, 507 S. Broad St. “One Divine Night” will feature food and drinks, along with WMMR’s Pierre Robert and the Captivating Queens of Illusion. Tickets to the event are $150 and can be purchased at www.aidslawpa.org or by calling 215-587-9377.

Share bullying stories The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will host a hearing next month on the enforce-

ment of anti-bullying laws, and LGBT community members are encouraged to submit written testimony to be entered into the record. The May 13 hearing will address issues of bullying based on a number of factors, including sexual orientation and gender identity, and the need for strict enforcement of anti-bullying measures. Letters detailing personal experiences with student bullying can be sent to Roberta Achtenberg at deullusccr@gmail.com.

QOTA to benefit FIGHT The monthly LGBT social Queers on the Avenue next week will benefit HIV/AIDS service organization Philadelphia FIGHT. QOTA will be held from 6-9 p.m. May 10 at Le Virtu, 1927 E. Passyunk Ave. The event will feature drink and food specials, with a portion of the tab being donated to FIGHT. For more information, search for QOTA on Facebook. ■ — Jen Colletta

LGBT panel focuses on Scouts deal Participants at last week’s panel discussion on the proposed Boy Scouts deal said it would violate local civil-rights laws if consummated, and must be opposed. About 30 people attended the April 30 event at Temple University’s Center City campus, sponsored by Equality Forum, a weeklong LGBT civil-rights summit. Panelists included Stephen A. Glassman, Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission chair; attorney Arthur M. Kaplan, a member of the ACLU national board; and Dwayne J. Bensing, a student at Penn Law School. Mayor Nutter wants to sell 231-251 N. 22nd St. to the Boy Scouts of America Cradle of Liberty Council for $500,000 to settle a federal lawsuit. In return, the Scouts will stop seeking about $960,000 in legal fees from the city. In order to avoid public bidding, city offi-

cials plan to use the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development as an intermediary to transfer the property to the Scouts. But critics of the deal say the property in question is worth much more than $500,000, and that the deal would violate a 1974 law that prohibits PAID from selling city property at a discount. The law, known as Bill 1048, also bars an organization that discriminates on the basis of “creed” from purchasing city property through PAID. Kaplan, who has followed the dispute for about 10 years, said approval of the deal would damage LGBT rights nationally. “This is an important civil-rights issue. A settlement of this kind would give aid and comfort to subsidized discrimination elsewhere.” ■ — Timothy Cwiek

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Led by out arts exec, gala honors humanitarian actor By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Stars will converge at the Kimmel Center next week for an annual awards gala that honors artists whose work goes far beyond the screen or stage. The 2011 Marian Anderson Award Gala will be held at 8:30 p.m. May 10 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St., honoring the humanitarian efforts of actor Mia Farrow. The award dates to 1989, created at the behest of then-Mayor Ed Rendell, and came to life under the direction of openly gay founding executive director Patrick Moran. Moran said Rendell envisioned the award as the artistic counterpart to the Liberty Medal, which honors international leaders in the fight for democracy, a feat Moran said has been accomplished. Throughout the past decade, the award — named for the pioneering Philadelphia singer and civilrights activist — has been given to figures like Harry Belafonte, Gregory Peck, Elizabeth Taylor, Sidney Poitier and Oprah Winfrey. “I think one of the things that’s helped this grow so much has been the people who’ve PAT MORAN agreed to accept the award. Each one has added another layer of prestige,” Moran said. “And we’re not only honoring these extraordinary individuals for their roles in shaping society for the better, but every time we hold this gala, we recall the dynamic career of Marian Anderson.” Proceeds from the event benefit the Marian Anderson grant programs that are distributed throughout the year to support young artists, totaling $25,000 annually. “We work to make sure young artists are supported in their most vulnerable years,” Moran explained. “This is a time when most kids who are living in homes where they might have financial challenges may have to give up their art for one reason or another. So this program doesn’t necessarily seek to develop artists; we just work to make sure that young people don’t have to give up the opportunity to study their art until they know for sure what they want to do. We don’t want financial challenges to be the reason they stop pursuing their passions.” Moran himself has long been involved in the arts world, having grown up in a family that recognized the value of cultural performances. “Very early on, I spent a lot of time in cultural institutions and was lucky enough to go to some great performances — music, dance — and these things showed me, even when I was young, that they made life richer. Those live performances had an attraction for me

that the television just didn’t; I think it’s just that a performance or a concert is a much more dynamic experience,” he said. As a child, Moran said, he was impressed by the galas held at The Metropolitan Opera in New York City that featured an array of performing artists in one comprehensive exhibition. Throughout his career, Moran has held numerous development positions in area nonprofit arts agencies, but always kept the MET gala model in the back of his mind. He put it to practice with the launch of the Marian Anderson Awards Gala. Since its founding, the gala has included performances by artists Stevie Wonder and Lionel Richie and, this year, will feature Carly Simon, recent Grammy winner Esperanza Spalding and opera star Angela Brown, along with host and dance legend Judith Jamison and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Over the last decade, the connection between artistic and humanitarian endeavors has evolved. Moran said artists are increasingly expected to align themselves with a charitable cause, but the Marian Anderson Award has recognized many celebrities who’ve taken up that work independently. “To be without some type of charity is now really seen as bad form, but when we started there was really only a small group of people doing this work on their own initiative,” Moran said. “We gave the award to Liz Taylor one year, and she was really the first person of stature to speak out against AIDS when nobody else was doing so. People told her it’d be career-harming but she didn’t give a damn. The same is true when Gregory Peck won; even to this day, anything having to do with gun control people think is too controversial, but he took it upon himself to take a stand and speak out against gun violence. These people could just be having a fun life, enjoying their fame and their wealth, but instead they’re working to give a voice to vulnerable populations.” Farrow is no exception — the actor and former model is a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nation’s Children’s Fund and has visited Africa more than a dozen times in the past several years, focusing her humanitarian efforts on the war-ravaged Darfur region. She’s documented her experiences in publications around the world and has worked at length to press for enhanced humanitarian aid to the area. “The world has known about this crisis for years but little attention has been given to it,” Moran said. “She has insisted that the world turn around and see what’s happening there. It’s that kind of courage and leadership that this award seeks to honor.” Tickets to the gala and pre-event dinner vary and can be purchased by calling 215893-1999 or visiting www.philorch.org. ■

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Bill seeks to eliminate adoption discrimination By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

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A bill was submitted to Congress this week that aims to prohibit states from discriminating against prospective LGBT adoptive or foster parents. U.S. Rep. Peter Stark (D-Calif.) reintroduced the Every Child Deserves a Family Act on May 3, along with 34 cosponsors. No representatives from Pennsylvania are cosponsors. The measure would withhold federal funding for states whose adoptive or fostercare programs discriminate based on sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status. “There is an acute shortage of adoptive and foster parents,” Stark said in a statement on the floor of the House Tuesday. “Yet, despite this fact and the documented terrible consequences of long stays in the child-welfare system, some states have enacted discriminatory bans prohibiting children from being placed with qualified parents due solely to the parent’s marital status or sexual orientation.” Just last month, Arizona passed a law giving preference in adoption cases to married heterosexual couples. Pennsylvania law does not prohibit single or coupled gays or lesbians from adopting, and, in 2002, the state Supreme Court ruled that a same-sex partner of a parent can adopt his or her children. Only six states explicitly forbid discrimination based on sexual orientation and gen-

der identity in adoption laws. Stark said studies have shown that up to 2 million gays and lesbians in the country are interested in becoming adoptive or foster parents, and 1 million are already doing so. He estimated that the federal government disperses more than $7 billion per year to the child-welfare system. “We should not accept policies that use federal funds to enact discriminatory barriers to adoption and close the door to thousands of potential homes,” he said. Stark estimated that there are currently about 500,000 children in the foster-care system, about 125,000 of whom are waiting to be adopted. About 25,000 youth are “aging out” of the system, a population Stark said is “more likely than nearly any other group to become homeless or incarcerated or to suffer with mental illness and substance abuse.” Stark said his measure is similar to a law that withheld federal funds from child welfare agencies that discriminated based on race. “When considering a potential placement for a child, the only criteria should be what is in the child’s best interest and whether the prospective parent can provide a safe and nurturing home. Bigotry should play not part in this decision,” he said. Stark first introduced the measure last session, but it died in committee. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) will introduce the companion bill in the Senate next month. ■

Labor Dept. to protect trans By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

For the 3rd time, Otto’s BMW of West Chester has been awarded the BMW Center of Excellence Award. This award focuses on customer satisfaction, outstanding brand representation and operational excellence.

The U.S. Department of Labor last week announced that it was revisiting its antiharassment and equal-employment-opportunity policies, which included extending them to cover gender identity. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis announced the policy change last Thursday as part of a mandatory annual review of the department’s nondiscrimination policy. Sexual orientation was already included in the policies, and the new statement will protect against discrimination based on sex — into which gender identity and pregnancy are incorporated. The equal-opportunity policy extends to hiring, disciplinary action and promotion for department employees. In a statement issued last week, Solis said the changes will help the department to operate with the most capable and professional personnel. “I am expressing my personal commitment to ensure that the U.S. Department

of Labor is a model workplace, free from unlawful discrimination and harassment, which fosters a work environment that fully utilizes the capabilities of every employee,” Solis said. “It is my goal that we achieve and maintain a high-quality, diverse workforce at all organizational levels throughout the department.” Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, hailed the decision, saying it was long overdue. “With this change, the federal government is doing what smart employers in the private sector have been doing for years,” Carey said in a statement. “They know that in order to attract the best talent, they need to show that diversity is important to their companies.” The new policy statement has already been distributed to department employees. Last year, out director of the Office of Personnel Management John Berry announced gender identity would be included on the list of classes protected from job discrimination in federal hiring. ■

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EDITORIAL PGN

Creep of the Week

D’Anne Witkowski

Linda Harvey

Editorial

Better things to do Pennsylvania’s elected officials really should have better things to do than introduce a bill that would strengthen the state’s already-in-place ban on samesex marriage. Republican Rep. Daryl Metcalfe’s move this week evidences the apparent ability of conservatives to focus on divisive issues while ignoring matters of greater importance to more people, such as employment. Upon visiting Metcalfe’s website, it’s apparent who the Butler County representative is reaching out to — and who he’s not. His “hot issues” are, from the top, Protection of Life, Taxpayers First, Strike Free Education Act, Protecting 2nd Amendment Rights, National Security Begins at Home, Marriage Protection, Voter ID, 10th Amendment Resolution, Improving our Infrastructure and Right to Work. At least two of these — Strike Free Education and Right to Work — are focused on limiting the rights of labor unions. The rest are pretty standard rightwing calling cards: anti-pro-choice, anti-gun control, anti-immigration. For someone who is a member of a party that purportedly opposes government intervention/big government, it seems strange that Metcalfe would want to make something illegal that is already illegal. How — and why — do you further illegalize something? In Pennsylvania, unemployment is still a major concern for constituents, along with energy-supply issues and health-care reform. In March, Pennsylvania had 79 mass layoffs and 7,000 new unemployment claims. While the state hasn’t been hit as hard as some others, it still has an unemployment rate of 7.8 as of March. There is ongoing debate about drilling in the Marcellus Shale, including issues around taxation, regulation and natural gas wells on college campuses. Not to mention ongoing cost-of-living issues in the still-soft economy and foreclosures, and a $4-billion budget deficit. Pennsylvanians also are facing the ongoing issue of bullying and teen suicide, which don’t seem to make Metcalfe’s radar. Metcalfe also recently introduced a bill requiring candidates for general and municipal office to provide proof of citizenship, and for presidential and vicepresidential candidates to provide an affidavit with “proof that the candidate is a natural born citizen, proof of the candidate’s age and proof that the candidate meets the residency requirements set forth in section 1 of Article II of the Constitution of the United States.” After President Obama released his long-form birth certificate last week, he finished the weekend by announcing that American forces in Pakistan had killed Osama bin Laden. Doesn’t Metcalfe have something better to do than waste taxpayers’ time? ■

Calling all homos: Do you live near anyone facing foreclosure? Well, the least you can do is help them move — because it turns out that losing their home is all your fault. Or at least that’s where the twisted logic of Mission America’s Linda Harvey leads. In a recent article titled “The Sin-Based Family” published on the Mission America website, Harvey makes the case that tolerating homosexuality leads people to make bad financial decisions. Or, as she put it: “The weak foundations of American homes guarantee disintegrating lives and a crumbling economy.” Harvey takes issue with the GOP’s supposed preference for fiscal matters over social ones (though, seriously, I have to wonder if she’s been paying attention to things like, oh, the whole defense of DOMA fiasco) and thus seeks a connection between the two. And by “seeks” I mean “invents.” She writes: “The GOP can claim all day long that they need to stick to the ‘pressing’ issue of the economy in preference to the ‘divisive’ issues of abortion and homosexuality. But such cowardice ends up treating the symptoms and not the disease, and mis-understands that these weakened structures need the repairs first and foremost.” Got that, GOP? Family is the basis of any solid foundation, and the gays are destroying family. As Harvey explains, when the “[family] structure is sin-based, other sins are more likely to scurry in through the cracks. Substance abuse and self-destruction accompany sexual deviance. And some of this means poor decisions about finances.” She adds, “Sexual and material covetousness are usually sin siblings.” In other words, butt sex and bad checks go hand in hand. Harvey then goes on to make some rather sweeping and insulting generalizations about people who are losing their homes to foreclosure. “It would be interesting to study the families who have defaulted on mortgages for the correlations between structural and/ or functional weaknesses like infidelity, divorce, gambling or porn addictions, job instability, credit-card default, domestic abuse, sexual deviance and criminality,” she writes. “There is also a high likelihood that poor or no church attendance would show up as a factor as well.” Well gosh, that would be interesting.

In fact, we should mandate that intensive background checks be run on all of the deadbeat families being kicked to the curb right now and make public what God already knows about how much they suck. I especially appreciate how Harvey includes “job instability” in her list of “weaknesses,” because it’s about time people started treating unemployment as a sin and making clear that if you’ve lost your job, it’s because you don’t love Jesus enough. To be clear, the foreclosure families aren’t even the worst of the worst. Harvey explains that “probably few such households are homosexually headed, because few homosexuals want to settle down to any kind of permanence, despite the plea for the honor of the marital designation. Many unmarried mothers of children born out of wedlock are on public assistance, which means they are unlikely to have had a mortgage. So when we look at the mortgage crisis, we could analyze it as a shift in the American family, but these families would not begin to reflect where the greatest structural weaknesses already exist.” Yeah, you know how there aren’t any gays or lesbians losing their homes right now, or any single moms. Because they’re all too busy sinning in their apartments or something. “Like the home inspector who focuses on a leaky faucet and ignores termites, we need to see the reality before us,” Harvey writes, with unintended irony. “Reality” is clearly a very subjective term, and to say that gay people are the problem here demonstrates a pretty deep disconnect on Harvey’s part. But then again, maybe if more Americans stopped tolerating their gay neighbors and chose to stone them instead, we could stem the tide of foreclosures. And then we could give those homes to people who actually go to church. So long as Harvey approves of the way they live the rest of their lives, too. ■

Maybe if more Americans stopped tolerating their gay neighbors and chose to stone them instead, we could stem the tide of foreclosures.

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.

OP-ED PGN

Politics, bits and pieces President Obama, you nailed it. From never expected: It didn’t try to preach as it taught us about our past. I, for one, learned operation to burial, a perfectly thought-out from it and love my city more, if even posplan. Did anyone notice that this administration did not issue a threat alert, as did sible. the previous administration at the drop of a hat? Maybe this president can govern with- *** out fear. Something very nice is popping up in And to those who think the war on terthe press: Nongay people are being recogrorism is over, get over it. There have nized as gay activists. The one that stands out clearly is the Philadelphia always been and always will be Inquirer endorsement of people or groups somewhere Councilman-at-Large Jim in the world who have a grip Kenney for re-election. It read: with some form of government “Jim Kenney, 52, of South somewhere. Shall we mention Philadelphia. Running for his Russia and Georgia, Northern sixth term, Kenney has earned Ireland or Kashmir? Terrorism a reputation for working on is not new and has always been behalf of progressive causes, around. We attempt to control it as best we can and that is all we from gay rights to sustainability. can do. He doesn’t insert himself into the forefront of some debates But let me lay out my plan for ending “terrorism” or the as aggressively as he did in past war in Afghanistan. Provide years, but Kenney still has fire free cable/satellite-TV and in his belly and an unwavering Internet service — uncensored. sense of fair play.” Mark Segal First, it would be cheaper to Then, in Philadelphia Weekly, wire every cave and hamlet this sub-head: “Gay-rights activist Harriet Lessy discusses the decision to than continue to finance our current war allow the Boy Scouts to retain the use of and, hey, we could give the contract for city property. implementation to American companies. Save us a bundle. I write this not in complete jest, since I believe the western world *** And finally, I want to stress again has lots to offer and, if enemy nations see us for what we really are and have a choice that neither this columnist nor PGN will endorse any of the candidates in the 1st of numerous news sources, the anger they Councilmanic District race. I am too have of a mystical enemy dissipates. So closely involved in a project in the district, free cable and Internet to win the “war” in Afghanistan. making it problematic. To their credit, all four have voiced major support for the *** project that, if approved, would bring an Former perennial mayoral candidate LGBT-friendly affordable senior living Sam Katz has established himself with a facility to Philadelphia. new career — documentary filmmaker. This publication will be making endorsements in all other races as we usually do His first film, “Philadelphia: The Great the Friday before the election, the May 13 Experiment,” is what it sounds like — a issue. ■ history of Philadelphia. The first episode was recently broadcast on ABC6. I can’t express how impressive it was. As Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the nation’s most-award-winning commentaa Philadelphia fan and a lover of history, it tor in LGBT media. He can be reached at captured all that I expected in a first-class mark@epgn.com. look at our past. And it did something I

Mark My Words

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 6-12, 2011

Street Talk Should there be restrictions on televised same-sex displays of affection? “Yes, until 10 p.m. The younger kids will be in bed by 10 p.m. Young children deserve protection, ages 5 to 15. Andrew Ferguson They’re really cashier too young for Southwest that. Let kids Philadelphia have their childhood. At 16, they’re in high school, and don’t need to be protected.”

“There should be no gender-based restrictions. That would be blatantly discriminatory. Actually, I think sameJoseph Johnson sex affection medical student is a good South Philadelphia thing on television. It normalizes the LGBT community, and helps reduce bullying.”

“Only to the extent that heterosexuals are restricted. Time regulations are fine if they’re Jacqueline applied McEwan across the law student board. But sex Washington Square West is sex. Gay sex isn’t more offensive than straight sex. Making arbitrary distinctions would be going down a slippery slope.”

“Dry humping is too much for kids, regardless of gay or straight. But kissing is not that big of a Desmond Wilson deal. There medical student shouldn’t Society Hill be any restrictions on TV for kissing. Kids of any age can be exposed to that. If they’re confused, they can ask their parents.”

Tell us what you think: Send letters to editor@epgn.com

Letters and Feedback In response to “Sandy Beach out for 2012 Miss’d America,” April 29-May 5: Went to the pageant for the last two years. It was great, but didn’t Carson Kressley and Suzanne Westenhoefer host the shows? They were great. Can’t wait to see what 2012 brings. Looking forward to more talented contestants also. Congrats, Miss’d America. — Chris B. This is an outrage! Robert Hitchen (Sandy Beach) is the founder of the Miss’d America pageant. The fact that they are removing him is a disgrace! Well, good luck with your

show moving into a new direction. I, for one, will not be one of your supporters. — Salotta Tee I have proudly performed on stage with Sandy Beach since the inception of the Miss’d America pageant, winning the coveted title in 1995. I do understand the reasoning of those now in charge of what was our pageant to begin with, but I am truly saddened that they have decided to gut the heart and soul of Miss’d America by firing Sandy Beach. He poured his blood, sweat and tears, literally, into that show each and every year, and the memories I have of the wonderful and outrageous productions will

never fade. I also find that it’s a slap in the face to his talent and dedication. As I see it, his presence was sorely needed to get the show up and running when we did our first year at Boardwalk Hall. Now that it is successful, they decided to cast him aside in favor of yet another boring pageant with the same boring format. It’s a damn shame is what it is. — HRHMortimer

celebrity bring the same passion that Sandy offered? Will a celebrity host the show mere days after major surgery like Sandy did back in 2010? I think not. Great move, Mr. Sieg. Like Salotta, I will not be supporting your efforts from this point forward. I’d rather donate my money to charities that show loyalty to the people who have sacrificed time and energy for their cause. — Robb C. Sewell

What an absolute disappointment and an insult to Sandy and all she’s done for the Miss’d America pageant and for those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. Sandy was the heart and soul of the pageant. Will a

As the first runner-up in 2010, I really don’t see how you can do the show without Sandy! I think they will lose many, many supporters and local talent. — Vanessa Sterling

12 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 6-12, 2011

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Media Trail Gay-marriage ban moves in Minn. Senate The Duluth News Tribune reports a Minnesota Senate committee has passed a bill that would let voters next year decide whether to ban gay marriage in Minnesota’s Constitution. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the bill 8-4 April 29 with all Republicans in favor and Democrats opposed. The vote came after two hours of testimony and an hour-long debate between senators. Gay marriage is already illegal in Minnesota law but the amendment would give voters the choice of locking it into the state constitution. Similar bills died in the state Senate numerous times in past years, but Republicans newly in charge of the Legislature are making a new push.

Braves coach fined, suspended for slur Advocate.com reports Major League Baseball has suspended Atlanta Braves pitching coach Roger McDowell, who allegedly hurled antigay slurs at spectators attending a game in San Francisco between the Giants and the Braves. McDowell was suspended for two weeks without pay May 1. He also was fined an undisclosed amount. MLB commissioner Bud Selig said homophobic statements “simply cannot and will not be tolerated.” He added, “I understand that Mr. McDowell is very contrite about his conduct, and hopefully this incident will be used to increase public awareness of the importance of sensitivity to others.”

Gay-Lesbian center in Memphis struggling Tennessee State News reports a nonprofit center that has provided services to gays and lesbians in Memphis for 22 years is facing possible closure. Like other nonprofits struggling in the weak economy, the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center is seeing fewer donations and grant opportunities. It already has cut back its $125,000 budget. Board chair Christy Tweddle said that even laying off the executive director would not save enough money to keep the center, founded in 1989, open for long. A fundraising drive seeks to raise $45,000 by the end of May. ■ — Larry Nichols

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 6-12, 2011

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ONE SUMMER TOGETHER. BUT IT WILL BE ENOUGH. It takes a special kind of person to be a foster parent. To give a child a loving home – even if it’s only for a little while. And right now, during National Foster Care Month, there’s a child here in Pennsylvania who needs you. Can you help? 1-800-585-SWAN | adoptpakids.org STATEWIDE ADOPTION & PERMANENCY NETWORK

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14 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 6-12, 2011

JEWELL WILLIAMS FOR

SHERIFF

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Former Commissioner of Prisons & Deputy City Solicitor/Civil Rights & Labor Associate Teaching Professor of Criminal Justice, Drexel University

First Openly Gay Man to Head a City Department Highest Ranking Openly Gay Law Enforcement Official in United States History Board Member, William Way Community Center Attorney in Private Practice Specializing in Civil Rights, Labor, and Criminal Defense Law Co-Chair, Offender Re-entry Transition Committee, District Attorney Seth Williams, 2010 Kiyoshi Kuromiya Award, AIDS Education Month, Philadelphia FIGHT/ACT-UP, 2008 Equal Justice Award, Community Legal Services, 2005 School District of Philadelphia, Youth Champion Award, 2004 Fraternal Order of Police, Award for Dedication to Law Enforcement, 2001 Citizen’s Commendation for Bravery, Philadelphia Police Department, 1998

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 6-12, 2011

Vote For

CHRISTOPHER MALLIOS Democrat for Judge - Court of Common Pleas

Experience in our community: • Chair of Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia (GALLOP)

• Wants Full Marriage Equality for the LGBT community.

• Hate Crimes Prosecutor – Received the Civil Rights in Law Enforcement Award from the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations

• Wants more anti-bullying programs in schools — and support for LGBTQ youth.

• District Attorney’s Liaison to the LGBT Community

• Won Domestic Partnership benefits in union contracts for thousands of Philadelphia workers. • Wants an immediate end to SEPTA gender stickers.

• Wants Mandatory Domestic Partnership Benefits in all city contracts — and fair access to city contracts for LGBT-owned and operated businesses. • On record for exhausting all legal avenues so the city can deny contracts, business, and city property to those who discriminate against the LGBT community.

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International Lesbian murder in South Africa called ‘hate crime’ A lesbian who was raped and murdered in a South African township recently was clearly attacked because of her sexuality, gay advocates say. Noxolo Nogwaza, 24, was found dead in an alley in Kwa-Thema Township, South Africa, on April 24. She was a prominent local gay-rights activist and a member of the Ekurhuleni Pride Organizing Committee, the key LGBT organization in Kwa-Thema. Reports said she had been stoned and stabbed with broken glass, and there was evidence she had been raped. Nogwaza was killed in the same town as Eudy Simelane, a lesbian footballer who was raped and murdered in 2008. Her death sparked international concern about so-called “corrective rapes” of lesbians in South Africa. Human Rights Watch said it was likely Nogwaza was killed because she was gay. “[Her] death is the latest in a long series

of sadistic crimes against lesbians, gay men and transgender people in South Africa,” said HRW researcher Dipika Nath. “The vicious nature of the assault is a potent reminder that these attacks are premeditated, planned and often committed with impunity.” Nogwaza was found dead after an altercation with some men in a bar. No witnesses have come forward and no arrests have been made.

Pakistani court OKs third-gender category A landmark decision has been made in Pakistan to allow trans people to choose their own gender category on selected official documents. The country’s Supreme Court has ruled that Pakistanis who do not consider themselves to be either male or female should be allowed to choose an alternative sex when they apply for their national identity cards. The move was unexpected given the conservative climate in Pakistan, a country where trans people — known as hijras — are often ridiculed and forced to live in isolation. Many are unable to secure jobs other than sex work or begging, or even find a place to live away from their families. Illiteracy rates among trans Pakistanis are also reportedly high. With the new gender category comes new hope, and some trans men and women are

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 6-12, 2011

already being employed by the government in the drive to crack down on tax evaders.

Brit PM: Ban gay TV kisses British Prime Minister David Cameron wants to restrict same-sex kisses on television to late-night adult viewing hours. The Conservative leader supports a ban on same-sex kisses during the “pre-watershed” viewing hours before 9 p.m. An independent review may recommend the restriction. Brooke Vincent, who plays lesbian Sophie Webster on the soap opera “Coronation Street,” took to Twitter to accuse Cameron of not supporting equality. The 18-year-old actress tweeted, “I swear David Cameron’s meant to be supporting equal rights. I just think if same-sex kisses are what he is prioritizing and concentrating on changing, our country’s in trouble.”

IKEA ad draws Italian ire A top Italian official thinks an ad for Swedish furniture-maker IKEA featuring a gay couple holding hands is “in bad taste” and in opposition to Italy’s constitution. Secretary of State for Family Policy Carlo Giovanardi says he thinks it is “in bad taste that a Swedish multinational comes to Italy to tell Italians what they should think.” The ad, which features two men holding

hands, reads, “We are open to all families.” Sweden has had marriage equality since 2009 and civil unions since the early ’90s. By contrast, Italy does not recognize samesex unions. “I think that many clients of Ikea will not find this pleasant,” said Giovanardi, adding that while the company has a right to court any type of customer it pleases, the ad “is in direct opposition to our constitution, which says that family is founded on a marriage.”

Facebook fans fund gay Bollywood film Bollywood’s only openly gay director said his film, “I Am,” released April 29, was funded in large part through money he collected on his Facebook page. Onir, who goes by a single name, said producers were scared off by the film’s risqué content, which includes child sexual abuse, police harassment of gay men and a single woman’s search for a sperm donor. He said he raised about one-third of the $675,000 budget through donations, most of them from Facebook contacts. Onir is no stranger to struggling to get his films made. His first film, “My Brother ... Nikhil,” sat for years because producers were bothered by the story of a gay Indian man who fights discrimination after being diagnosed with HIV. ■ — compiled by Larry Nichols

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E-marriage: A simple trend or the future of marriage as we know it? Getting married used to be a simple trip States. It is becoming a way for LGBT down to the city clerk’s office, handing couples to legally marry under a different in some paperwork and (maybe) blood state’s laws and jurisdiction. However, it tests, paying a fee and then waiting for the is still necessary to physically travel to the state recognizing the marriage license in the mail. The process could be done without a certo obtain the license. emony and the certificate would The “e” in e-marriage refers legitimize the union. to an electronic ceremony in The recent trend of e-marwhich an officiant in a different state marries a couple through riage is changing the way the LGBT community is thinking Skype or a similar program. about marriage. This was the case for a Dallas Frustrated by both state and couple married in November federal restrictions such as the via Skype from their home state Defense Against Marriage Act, of Texas even though the state LGBT couples are turning to ebans same-sex marriage. marriage almost out of desperaAccording to Professor Mae tion — and protest — without Kuykendall, director of the EAngela Marriage Project at Michigan considering its validity or the consequences that may follow if Giampolo State University Law School, it the marriage fails. won’t make gay marriage legal in states where it is not. It has E-marriage is a means to have many cost benefits, saving couples huna traditional, legal ceremony in a state that does not otherwise recognize samedreds of dollars in travel costs for themsex marriage. Couples who reside in a selves and family members, and allows state where gay marriage is banned or not people to marry somewhere special or meaningful within their home state. legally recognized can obtain a marriage That said, it has many drawbacks. license from a state anywhere in the United

The validity of the virtual ceremony could be challenged in courts of states that do not recognize gay marriage. However, the larger issue is that if the marriage fails, e-marriage does not allow favorable options regarding divorce, short of moving to the state in which the couple was married. This is also the case for any LGBT couple who marries in a state other than their state of residency. If your state doesn’t recognize same-sex marriage, it will also not recognize samesex divorce — and therein lies the major issue with out-of-state and e-marriages. For example, at least one person in a couple who has a Massachusetts marriage certificate, but lives in Arkansas, would have to move to Massachusetts for a period of 12 months to declare residency and then file for divorce. This quandary is due to DOMA, which permits states to decide whether to give Full Faith and Credit to another state’s marriage. This issue in particular will make the potential repeal of DOMA very interesting. As it stands, the quandary doesn’t hold true in states that recognize out-of-state gay marriage such as Maryland, California

and New York. Though a recent CNN/Opinion Research poll found that 51 percent of those surveyed thought same-sex marriages should be valid — the first time a majority supported marriage equality in this poll — gay marriage is not valid in most states. E-marriage has recently emerged as another way for LGBT couples to get married but, unfortunately, does not solve the problem of marriage inequality. With minimal legal benefits and other complications, deciding to e-marry could have serious financial and emotional effects on the parties involved. Before getting e-married, please educate yourself thoroughly in order to decide whether it is the best option for you and you partner. ■

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which had 87 cosponsors at the time of its passage. Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission chair Stephen Glassman said it’s too early in the process, especially with the budget deadline looming next month, to speculate on how much support the bill will see. “It remains to be seen how interested the House is in wasting its time in passing divisive, punishing legislation when they ought to be focused on our economy, the production of jobs, appropriately funding education and responding to the needs of people who have been marginalized in many different ways,” Glassman said. “This will reveal the true social agenda of those who claim conservative values that are intended to keep government out of people’s personal lives.” The bill was spearheaded in 2008 and 2010 by Sens. Michael Brubaker (R-36th Dist.) and John Eichelberger (R-30th Dist.), respectively. Both bills died in committee. A spokesperson for Brubaker said she didn’t believe the senator would spearhead the Senate version, although she had not discussed the issue with him, and a spokesperson for Eichelberger said the senator is not going to reintroduce the bill this session. The bill failed to surface in the House the past two sessions after ally lawmakers made it clear that it would be sent to the State Government Committee, chaired by Rep. Babette Josephs (D-182nd Dist.). With Republicans now in control of the House, Metcalfe is now chair of that committee. It is unclear which committee the bill will be assigned to. “We’ve gone from Babette Josephs, who is a great friend of the LGBT community, to Daryl Metcalfe, who opposes LGBT equality, and that difference is resulting in this kind of legislative change,” Glassman said. Metcalfe’s cosponsor list is comprised entirely of Republicans with the exception of Democrat Ted Harhai (58th Dist.). Ted Martin, executive director of Equality Pennsylvania, said it was difficult to predict whether the Republican shift in power will spell success for the measure this session. “I think it will likely get a hearing, but I don’t know if it’ll be approved, although the people who are supportive of it are in power right now,” he said. “But the bottom line is, people need to be aware

that this is a real issue. It’s moving ahead in North Carolina, it’s moving ahead in Minnesota, and look what happened in Maryland [which rejected a marriage-equality bill]. Anything could happen.” Glassman said the LGBT and ally community needs to invest its full energy in opposing Metcalfe’s measure. “Every individual should contact their legislators and tell them to focus their attention on jobs and improving our economy in Pennsylvania, not wasting time on wrongheaded and divisive legislation intended to actively dis-

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 6-12, 2011

criminate against one group of people in the commonwealth,” he said. Martin agreed that Pennsylvanians should “repeatedly call their representatives, email them, visit their offices in Philadelphia, Harrisburg or elsewhere in the state and tell them they need to stick to the real issues that they were sent there to deal with, not issues like this that don’t impact the real issues our state is dealing with.” Among the cosponsoring legislators are Chester County Republican Reps. Steve Barrar

(10th Dist.), John Lawrence (13th Dist.) and Curt Schroder (155th Dist.), as well as Bucks County Republican Rep. Paul Clymer (145th Dist.). The remaining cosponsors are Harhai and Republican Reps. Scott Boyd (43rd Dist), Michele Brooks (17th Dist.), Martin Causer (67th Dist.), Jim Christiana (15th Dist.), Jim Cox (129th Dist.), Tom Creighton (37th Dist.), Matt Gabler (75th Dist.), Mark Gillen (128th Dist.), Doyle Heffley (122nd Dist.), Dick Hess (78th Dist.), David Hickernell (98th Dist.), Rob

Kaufmann (89th Dist.), Fred Keller (85th Dist.), Mark Keller (86th Dist.), Jerry Knowles (124th Dist.), Tim Krieger (57th Dist.), Carl Walker Metzgar (69th Dist.), David Millard (109th Dist.), Mark Mustio (44th Dist.), Donna Oberlander (63rd Dist.), Jeff Pyle (60th Dist.), Kathy Rapp (65th Dist.), Mike Reese (59th Dist.), Brad Roae (Sixth Dist.), Rick Saccone (39th Dist.), Jerry Stern (80th Dist.), Dick Stevenson (8th Dist.), RoseMarie Swanger (102nd Dist.), Will Tallman (193rd Dist.) and Randy Vulakovich (30th Dist.). ■

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REPORTING FROM TABU: NBC Philadelphia and Comcast hosted a welcome party for Equality Forum last Thursday night at Tabu, donating a portion of the proceeds to Mazzoni Center and Philadelphia FIGHT. The event drew participation from members of OUT@NBCUniversal, the affinity group for LGBT and ally employees of the entertainment company, representing stations from New York to Florida. Philadelphia’s own NBC personalities Glenn “Hurricane” Schwartz and Justin Pizzi joined in the festivities. Photo: Scott A. Drake

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Philadelphia Gay News

from page 1

told the crowd assembled at the meeting last Thursday night that the ordinance would “send a clear message that Bethlehem welcomes citizens from all kinds of backgrounds and that we will ensure that they will have an equal opportunity to succeed here in Bethlehem.” Shanker said the standing-room-only crowd was unusual for a committee meeting, which usually attracts a handful of people. Apart from the LGBT organizations pressing for the bill, more than 100 nonprofits, unions, faith leaders and businesses in the area signed on to a statement of support. In attendance at the meeting were representatives of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Association for the Advancement of Retired People and the Bethlehem YWCA. The lack of controversy was welcomed, Shanker said, and indicative of the changing tide in support of LGBT protections. “I don’t think it’s necessarily unique for 2011, but rather telling of 2011,” he said. “This is just not a controversial thing anymore. People have the basic right to not be discriminated against. That certainly doesn’t mean we don’t need to fight for this, but it means our opposition is showing up less and less.” Bethlehem is the state’s largest city to not have an LGBT-inclusive ordinance; the six larger cities have all adopted such measures, along with 14 other jurisdictions, most recently Conshohocken Borough earlier this month. ■

AC ul t ure rts

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PAGE 34

Bulletin Board Family Portrait Out & About Q Puzzle Scene in Philly Worth Watching

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DC Cowboys, other performers taking Pride stage By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com

as well. We run it but everybody comes to it. Other gay Pride festivals I go to are pretty exclusive and there’s something to be said for that also. But it’s typical of the area to be inclusive.” In the spirit of keeping things fresh, Brooks said the festival has some new events this year. “We decided to institute the Friday night fireworks,” he said. “They usually don’t start until after Memorial Day. I requested that. The first fireworks of the season were moved up earlier to spark the beginning of the Pride weekend. So we’ll have fireworks this weekend for the first time.” He added that another new activity, “Clue into New Hope,” will give guests an incentive to explore the town. “Basically, it’s an all-over-town scavenger hunt where guests can earn points by visiting various attractions and retailers that are participating,” Brooks said. “And after gathering an amount of points, they get a prize at the end.

It really encourages people to get around town in a wide range of activities or stores rather than just clumping themselves in one area, which Pride events are notorious for.” Once the parades and other daytime activities are done, visitors will have a number of entertainment possibilities to keep them occupied well into the night. “America’s Got Talent” ﬁnalists and dance troupe DC Cowboys will be on hand for the Pride Parade and performing May 14 at the Lambertville Inn in Lambertville, N.J., and May 15 at The Raven. Singer and DC Cowboys member Jonathan Bascope said the group enjoys the opportunity to perform in New Hope. “We’ve been there the past two years,” he said. “We’ve done the Pride Parade and performed at the Nevermore a n d The

Raven. I think we’ll be doing something similar this year. We’ll also do a meetand-greet session at one of the stores in the area. Then I’ll be doing a performance for my music.” Between his work as a florist in the Washington, D.C., area and his tours of duty with the DC Cowboys, Bascope is also launching his own solo music project. He recently released his first recording, featuring his new single “Live My Life.” “We just did remixes and put it up on iTunes,” he said. “It’s my first promotional album and a way for me to get my name out there. More stuff will be coming up along the way.” Upon listening to his debut CD, it become apparent that Bascope is flying the flag of some pop and dance influences. “I’ve always loved Michael Jackson, Elton John and Madonna,” he said. “Those are my top three favorites. Lady Gaga is also incredible right now. She’s fun to listen to. I grew up in the late 1980s and early ’90s, so a lot of that music is still imbedded in my head. I just love it when I hear a Journey song or any other ’80s rock band.” Bascope said his work with the DC Cowboys opens doors for his solo work.

A variety of talented performers and interesting events will converge upon New Hope for the town’s annual New Hope Celebrates Pride festival May 11-15. Since it started in 2004, New Hope Celebrates has attracted local and nationally known entertainers each May for events ranging from dance parties to parades and family activities. D a n i e l Brooks, founder and executive director of New Hope Celebrates, said he and the other festival organizers try to distinguish themselves from other Pride celebrations and at the same time appeal to a wide range of people. “I think at this point, it’s the eighth year, so the most challenging thing is to make it fresh,” he said. “A lot of times you get into a format with these things and it’s easy to go with that. But what we try to do consistently every year is to do something different and shake it up, make it more interesting and broader. The thing that’s made New Hope Celebrates different from other Pride festivals is that it’s longer, almost a week long, and it’s very inclusive. We really planned activities for every segment of the populace. In New Hope, SITTIN’ ON TOP OF THE WORLD: Singer and DC Cowboys member Jonathan Bascope (on piano) will peform those activities are not only twice at New Hope Pride (Photo: Scott A. Drake), while comedian Poppy Champlin (in circle) brings the laughs to attended by LGBT folk Ladies 2000. but the straight populace

24 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 6-12, 2011

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“They actually work pretty well will perform for guests of Ladies 2000, together,” Bascope said of his two at 3 p.m. May 15 at Havana, 105 S. Main gigs as a performer. “We have a lot of St. Champlin, who will be making her New performances where we need singing and dancing. So I’m able to do the singing part Hope debut, will be fresh off a weeklong engagement on a cruise ship. But given with them.” He added that the Cowboys’ exposure her busy schedule, she said, she’s used to on “America’s Got Talent” has won them drastic changes in venues from one day to the next. an international following. “I wouldn’t say “Because of it, we that there are any got a lot of awesome ‘normal’ gigs,” she gigs,” he said. “I said, comparing her joined the year upcoming New Hope after [the group’s performance to her appearance on the other performances. show]. But that “They’re all pretty year, we traveled to different. I do a lot Budapest, Ireland, of different things all across the U.S. and the time. I do HRC Canada as well, events. So the New because people saw Hope will probably us on the show. It be like that.” definitely helped the Except the New group out a lot.” Hope show will be in Other renowned a bar and during the entertainers coming day. to New Hope for the “So there’s a couple festivities include of factors that will be outrageous singer Singer-songwriter Christine different. I’m used to and comedian Miss Richfield 1981, who Havrilla (above) and Miss Richfield working in a bar. I’m 1981 not used to working will march in the during the day, but Pride Parade and perform her one-woman show, “30 Years usually bars are dark so it won’t be that on the Throne,” May 15 at the Raven, much of a factor. I don’t think there will direct from sold-out engagements in be a big difference. Comedy is universal and goes over in all venues and times. It’s Atlanta, New York and Chicago. Of course the main attraction for Pride all the same.” If you happen to miss Champlin’s week in New Hope is the parade, starting performance in New Hope, you can noon May 14, and also featuring probably catch her if you head to the DC Cowboys and The Provincetown, where she will Big Apple LGBT Marching be performing all summer. Corps, Mummers and “I’m writing that show right New Hope-Solebury now,” she said of her upcoming High School band, among other performers. P-town residency. “It’s called A block party follows ‘From Top to Bottom.’ That’s the parade from 1:30going to be a new show for me 5 p.m. on West with new songs that I’m writing Mechanic Street, and putting into the set.” featuring If you’d rather spend performances your evening in New Hope by New York listening to music rather than City pop jokes and laughter, there singer-songwriter are plenty other options. Kylie Edmond, Local singer-songwriter jazz singerChristine Havrilla will guitarist Laura perform at Triumph Cheadle, local Brewing Company (400 singer and dance Union Square Drive) as artist Chad D, and part of “Girls Night OUT” singer Christine Martucci, 9:30 p.m. May 13. The Raven’s Piano Bar who will perform with her in the Oak Room (385 W. Bridge St.) full band. hosts a performance 9 p.m.-1 a.m. New Hope will also host some by singer-pianist Michael Ferrari on riotous laughter during its Pride May 13 and cabaret singer Russell celebration. Bob Egan’s New Hope at the Effert on May 14. Also don’t miss Ramada hosts the one-two punch of singer “Diva Bingo,” featuring the Philadelphia Sharon McKnight and her show “Songs to Gay Men’s Chorus singing tunes from Offend Almost Everyone” May 14 at 8:30 “Dreamgirls,” from 6-9 p.m. May 11 at p.m., followed by comedian Judy Gold Eagle Fire Hall, 46 N. Sugan Road. at 10:30 p.m. The next day, comedian For more information about New Hope Poppy Champlin, best known as a comedy Celebrates and its Pride Week festivities, fixture in Provincetown and Key West, visit www.newhopecelebrates.com. ■

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 6-12, 2011

26 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 6-12, 2011

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 6-12, 2011

28 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 6-12, 2011

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The Sporting Life 11 9 10 14 12 3 19 14 16 12 12 5 16 12 6 16 9 12 2 14 8 8 3 9 13 7 13 6 11 15 6

ICandy ICandy Maniaxxx Bike Stop Triple Play WolvesC Fury Valanni Storm Valanni Shots Wolves Shots Sluggers Sluggers Storm Hangover Monkeys Martinis Sisters Dynasty 5 O’Clock GLU Ninjas Tailgaters HolySmoke Uglies Foulplay 369ers BucketBuds Institute

Standings as of May 2 (Week 2)

City of Brotherly Love Softball League scores from May 1: Triple Play Wolves C Bike Stop Outlaws Fury Outlaws Maniaxxx TOC Westbury Uncles TOC Homewreckers Westbury Wolves Uncles Homewreckers Martinis Hangover Saving2B GLU Sisters Monkeys Ninjas Tailgaters Holy Smoke Dynasty FoulPlay 369ers BucketBuds Institute Uglies

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 6-12, 2011

10 1 19 7 17 5 3 8 7 13 13 6 5 17 10 9 6 8 12 0 17 13 11 11 12 2 2 12 12 11 4

Men’s Competitive Team TriplePlay Bike Stop Fury Maniaxxx Outlaws ICandy WolvesC

W 3 0 0 2 3 2 4

L 1 4 4 2 1 2 0

W 2 3 0 3 3 1 0 4 2 2 1 3 1 2 0 1 0 1

L 1 0 3 1 0 0 4 0 2 2 2 1 3 2 3 3 4 2

Women Team 369ers 5 O’Clock BucketBuds Dynasty FoulPlay FPWSL Fury GLU Hangover HolySmoke Institute Martinis Monkeys Ninjas Saving2B Sisters Tailgaters Uglies

DIRTY MARTINIS DEFEATED SAVING SECOND BASE IN THEIR MAY 1 MATCH UP Photo: Brandi Fitzgerald

Co-Ed Recreation Team Shots Storm Westbury Wolves Sluggers TOC Uncles Homewreckers Valanni

W 2 0 2 2 3 2 0 2 1

L 2 3 1 1 0 1 3 1 2

Bar of the week for May 7: 369, 2516 S. 28th St.

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30 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 6-12, 2011

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1. “The Kids are All Right,” directed by Lisa Cholodenko (2010, 106 min., $19.95). The kids meet the sperm donor. 2. “Imagine Me and You,” directed by Ol Parker (2006, 94 min., $14.95). She falls in love on the way to the altar! 3. “A Marine Story,” directed by Ned Farr (2010, 93 min., $24.95). An ex-Marine coaches a troubled teen. 4. “Room in Rome,” directed by Julio Medem (2010, 109 min., $24.95). Erotic night in Rome. 5. “Elena Undone,” directed by Nicole Conn (2010, 111 min., $24.95). Writer + preacher’s wife = trouble. 6. “Lovers & Friends Show, Season 3,” directed by Charmain Johnson (2010, 217 min., $19.95). The ever-changing lives of your favorite women steam up as their worlds are turned upside-down. 7. “Edie & Thea: A Very Long Engagement,” directed by Greta Olafsdottir and Susan Muska (2009, 61 min., $24.99). Documentary of a life-long romance. 8. “My Normal,” directed by Irving Schwartz (2009, 77 min., $19.95). Dominatrix/filmmaker. Men’s 1. “Strapped,” directed by Joseph Graham (2010, 95 min., $19.99). A rent boy’s physical and emotional journey while lost in an apartment building. 2. “BearCity,” directed by Doug Langway (2010, 99 min., $19.99). Follows a tightknit pack of friends experiencing comical mishaps and emotionally sweet yet lusty romantic encounters. 3. “Vampire Boys,” directed by Charlie Vaughn (2010, 70 min., $29.95). Vampires looking to survive. 4. “Private Dicks: Men Exposed,” directed by Thom Powers and Meema Spadola (1999, 56 min., $19.99). 5. “David’s Birthday,” directed by Marco Filiberti (2009, 106 min., $19.95). Married man in love and in crisis. 6. “Noah’s Arc, Season 2,” directed by Patrik-Ian Polk (2008, 101 min., $39.95). 7. “Brother to Brother,” directed by Rodney Evans (2004, 90 min., $14.95). Gay glory days of the Harlem Renaissance. 8. “Love and Other Drugs,” directed by Edward Zwick (2010, 112 min., $29.98). Surprising love. Books General Interest 1 “From Where We Sit: Black Writers Write Black Youth,” edited by Victoria

Brownworth (Tiny Satchel Press, 350 pp., $16.95 pb). Stories. 2. “Against Equality: Queer Critiques of Gay Marriage,” edited by Ryan Conrad (Against Equality Press, 84 pp., $8 pb). 3. “Queer America: A People’s GLBT History of the United States,” by Vicki L. Eaklor (New Press, 304 pp., $17.95 pb). 4. “GLBTQ: The Survival Guide for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Teens,” second edition, by Kelly Huegel (Free Spirit, 240 pp., $15.99 pb). 5. “It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living,” by Dan Savage and Terry Miller (Dutton, 352 pp., $21.95 hb, less 10 percent in the store). Men’s 1. “A Body on Pine,” by Joseph R.G. DeMarco (Lethe, 364 pp., $18 pb). His second Philadelphia mystery. 2. “The World of Normal Boys,” by K.M. Soehnlein (Kensington, 296 pp., $14 pb). Great young adult novel. 3. “hidden,” by Tomas Mournian (Kensington, 387 pp., $15 pb). Teen in extremis. 4. “The Moonlit Earth,” by Christopher Rice (Pocket, 384 pp., $15 pb). A thriller. 5. “The Empty Family: Stories,” by Colm Toibin (Scribner, 288 pp., $24 99 hb, less 10 percent in the store). 6. “Bob the Book,” by David Pratt (Chelsea Station, 202 pp., $16 pb). A charming fairy tale. 7. “Both Sides of the Fence 2: Gate Wide Open,” by M.T. Pope (Urban Renaissance, 300 pp., $14.95 pb). Bi, African American. Women’s 1. “Scorpio Rising: Black Lesbian Erotic Poetry,” by Ms. Scorpio“N” (Createspace, 134 pp., $15 pb). 2. “The Fran Lebowitz Reader,” by Fran Lebowitz (Vintage, 352 pp., $15.95 pb). Humor. 3. “The Mere Future,” by Sarah Schulman (Arsenal Pulp, 184 pp., $22.95 hb, less 10 percent in the store). Dystopia. 4. “Patience and Sarah,” by Isabel Miller (Arsenal Pulp, 240 pp., $17.95 pb). Classic romance. 5. “Ash,” by Malinda Lo (Little, Brown, 272 pp., $8.99 pb). Much-praised young adult novel. Gender Studies 1. “Almost Perfect,” by Brian Katcher (Delacorte Press, 368 pp., $8.99 pb). On the rebound, Logan meets a new girl at school with a secret. Young adult novel with trans character. 2. “My Princess Boy,” by Cheryl Kilodavis (Aladdin Paperbacks, 36 pp., $14.99, hb less 10 percent in the store). A nonfiction picture book about a 4-yearold boy who loves dressing up in princess clothing. ■

PROFILE PGN

Professional Portrait

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 6-12, 2011

Suzi Nash

Joseph Liana: Landscaping urban spaces Thomas Jefferson, who lived for some time at Seventh and Market streets right here in our city, once said, “No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, and no culture comparable to that of the garden.” This week we spoke to the delightful Joseph Liana, landscape designer and owner of UrbanGreen, about his business and why his nursery was covered with four-leaf clovers on the day he was born. PGN: So, what was little Joey like? JL: Always outside, playing in the yard. Helping my mom with the garden and my dad with the lawn. Very imaginative. I didn’t have to have toys: I invented an imaginary world of my own. [Laughs.] My little fictitious life. PGN: Was it a city garden? JL: No, I grew up in North Jersey, Plainfield area. PGN: Any siblings? JL: I have an older sister. She’s four years older than me. PGN: And what was your relationship with your sister? JL: Good, she was my role model in a way. And also my protector. She protected me from older kids in the playground when I needed it. Saved me a few times! PGN: Did you have a stuffed animal or blanket? JL: I did. I had a little stuffed dog. A beagle. I especially loved it because my aunt had several beagles. I still have it to this day. PGN: What was his name? JL: His name? [Laughs.] Stubby, because he was this squat little dog. PGN: What did you want to be when you grew up? JL: I was always into artistic things. I liked drawing and I guess that, even though I was too young to even know the term “artist,” I knew that’s what I’d do for life. But I also really enjoyed helping my mom with her vegetable garden and playing in the dirt. PGN: Growing her own vegetables — was your mom a good cook? JL: Oh yeah, typical Italian mom cooking great things in the kitchen. I grew up in a predominantly Italian and Polish area and everyone had gardens. PGN: So why was your nursery covered in green clovers? JL: I was born on St. Patrick’s Day!

PGN: What’s the best thing about having a holiday birthday? JL: I never plan anything on my birthday because everyone’s going out anyway and there are plenty of parties to choose from. So we just go out with some friends and drink green beer and that’s just kinda how I do my birthday. PGN: What was the best one? JL: I guess it’s cliché to say my 21st, but that was a good one. I was in New York and when the whole bar found out it was my 21st birthday, on St Patrick’s Day, everyone went crazy! PGN: What brought you to Philadelphia? JL: I went to Temple to study landscape architecture. It’s funny, I went to Ambler campus, so I never really ventured downtown. Philadelphia was like this foreign city to me even though I chose Temple because I wanted to be near an urban environment — but New York was too expensive. I narrowed it down to Philadelphia or Jacksonville, Fla. Those were my two choices! Philly was closer to home and was more along the lines of what I knew, so I chose Philly and I love it.

They’re pretty and have a beautiful shape and they’re able to handle the pollution and all the stuff that comes with an urban environment.

paintbrush. Using the painter’s tape, mark where you want your chalkboard. Paint inside the area with a coat of the chalkboard paint. Let dry for about three days, then prepare the surface by rubbing the side of a piece of chalk over the entire area. Erase it and it’s ready to use. Instead of wasting paper, after you write your list on the board, take a picture of it with your camera phone and take it to the store with you. PGN: I saw that one. It’s good, but it’s time to put a new one up! JL: [Laughs.] I know! That’s one of the things we need to do is update the website. It’s a double-edged sword: Right now, we can’t update it because business is doing so well we don’t have the time to do some of the little things like that. We’re working on it, but it’s hard to complain when things are going so well. We’re doing an interior job today where we’re using recycled cans as planters, making the planters themselves

PGN: Probably a good choice for you: I believe we are the greenest city in the country. JL: I’m doing my part! PGN: What was a fun project you’ve worked on? JL: Oh my, I love all my projects. Right now we’re building a rooftop zen garden. It’s great, just being up there, above the city and seeing the beautiful view is really cool. And this is the first project I’m doing with Michael, who is my partner.

PGN: I have all these seeds that I’ve been given at the Flower Show and home shows, etc. Some of them are years old: How long do seeds last? JL: Surprisingly, they’re probably still viable. What you might have to do is put them between a folded towel and gently hit them with a small hammer or meat tenderizer, very gently, just enough to crack the outer shell open a little. That should allow them to germinate. Most seeds can last for years, some decades and even centuries. They’ll find seeds quite often from decades ago and find that they’re still viable. PGN: Looking at the news today with the tornadoes in the Midwest and floods elsewhere, what do you think about climate change? JL: It’s interesting, when you work outside like I do, you notice things all the time — weather becomes second nature to you. You can smell the rain in the air and notice subtle changes daily. In the plant world, it’s amazing. I’ve been doing design for about 16 years and there are plants that you’re able to grow up north now, that you weren’t able to a decade ago. There’s definitely a change — a warming trend — that’s noticeable. PGN: What does your garden look like? JL: I live in South Philly so I have the typical concrete paths that I’ve transformed into a little jungle. I have a lot of rescue plants that people have discarded and I’ve nursed them back to health, so I have a hodgepodge of plants.

PGN: In business or life? JL: Both! We’ve been dating for a while and he just came on with the company in September. It makes it a lot of fun to have him with me. PGN: How did you meet? JL: He was looking for a career change and had an interest in what I do. We started talking and found we had even more in common than our love of plants.

PGN: Changing topics, when did you first start to realize you were gay? JL: I think when I was in the seventh grade. I noticed that the other boys were interested in the girls and I wasn’t. I came out to my sister when I was 21 and the rest of the family followed. It was a little scary, coming from an Italian Catholic family, but it went fairly well. There was a little time needed to adjust. People have hopes and dreams of what they’ve envisioned for you, and that’s the PAGE 37

Photo: Suzi Nash

PGN: Tell me something great about him? JL: Ay yay, it would take an hour. I guess he’s the most compassionate person I’ve ever met.

an art exhibit in the kitchen. They’ll use the cans to grow fresh fruit and herbs inside the house. We’ll probably put some tips on using recycled goods for planters.

PGN: What’s a good green tip? JL: Well, one tip we have on our website is how to make a chalkboard grocery list. To do this, simply go to any local hardware store and pick up chalkboard paint, painter’s tape and a medium-sized regular

PGN: What’s a plant that grows well in Philadelphia? JL: There are so many, but I would say — and I really love these — something called a Zelkova tree. They’ve been planting them around the city and they work really well.

32 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 6-12, 2011

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 6-12, 2011

New film brings an updated ‘Graduate’ By Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor In the curious, provocative drama “Twelve Thirty,” written and directed by Jeff Lipsky, out actor Jonathan Groff plays Jeff, a young man who has been bewitched by Mel (Portia Reiners) since high school. After a lengthy and talky flirtation, they consent to have sex. Within the same week, Jeff seduces Mel’s sister Maura (Mamie Gumer) and has an intimate encounter with Vivien (Karen Young), Mel and Maura’s mother. Meanwhile, Vivien’s husband, Martin (Reed Birney), maintains a sexual relationship with his wife and a caring relationship with his daughters, although he now lives with his partner, Robert. The sexual roundelay that transpires in “Twelve Thirty” is intriguing, and in the film’s most dramatic moment — a set in the family’s kitchen — the gay Martin confronts the promiscuous Jeff about his interactions with his family members. In a recent phone interview, Lipsky, who is straight, said “Twelve Thirty” was inspired by two other films: a 1990 Russian comedy-drama entitled “Adam’s Rib,” about three generations of women living under the same roof; and the 1967 American classic “The Graduate.” He changed the three generations of “Adam’s Rib” to two and reversed the “Mrs. Robinson” character — represented here by Vivien. His conceit works well, as the balance of power between Jeff and the women he romances is always shifting and uneasy. Lipsky acknowledges that while his film’s protagonist shares his name Jeff, the early “loss of virginity” scene is the only autobiographical element in his film. The writer-director has created a multi-layered fiction that explores issues of truth and trust, as well as protection, control and sexuality. Lipsky coaxes an impressive performance

out of Groff, and he has the utmost praise for the actor, gushing, “He was inquisitive about every line. He and I were completely

cast him or not. But I can’t imagine another actor — straight or gay — who could be more believable or plausible.” Lipsky also insists that a line in the film where Jeff tells Maura that he is not gay was in the original script, and not added to address Groff’s off-screen sexuality. The comment specifically refers to Maura’s attitude toward her father’s bisexual identity. The filmmaker then cites a persuasive scene in the first 30 minutes of his film — shot in close-up to emphasize its intimacy — in which Jeff and Mel are sitting in a car. He is on the brink of losing his virginity to Mel, and his desire for her is palpable. “Twelve Thirty” is full of such sexual tension, especially in the third act, when Vivien holds Jeff’s penis and contemplates what — and if — something more physical will occur between them.

ACTOR JONATHAN GROFF

in lockstep with the character.” Of course the question is raised about Groff’s believability as a heterosexual man having sexual with a trio of women, given an April 2010 “Newsweek” article that named the openly gay actor as someone who could have trouble playing straight convincingly. Lipsky responds adamantly and definitively to the casting question: “I’d not heard of Groff before casting. I saw ‘Spring Awakening’ after he left the cast. ‘Taking Woodstock’ was released after we cast ‘Twelve Thirty.’ Then ‘Glee’ came along. I didn’t know of his fandom gathering critical mass. When I met and auditioned him, called him back, cast the film and directed him, I had no idea he was gay. If he came out before the movie, I can’t say if I would

DIRECTOR JEFF LIPSKY

Lipsky deliberately keeps what happens in the film vague. One key sex scene is shot almost entirely in darkness, with just the actors’ voices relating the action. Part of the pleasure of “Twelve Thirty” is determining what exactly is true. The writerdirector defends his ambiguous approach to storytelling by claiming, “I don’t like to tie things up in a nice, neat bow, so why should

something seem simplistic on the front end either?” The characters in the film are equally complex. Although Lipsky describes Jeff as “a complete innocent who has been experiencing all these desires ... then crosses a line and becomes testosterone out of control,” some viewers will see him as utterly duplicitous. Others still may feel he’s being manipulated. Perhaps the most interesting character is the bisexual Martin. Lipsky has a real fondness for this father figure, and admits that he would love to explore Martin’s story with Robert — his happy, well-adjusted but never-seen partner — in another film. He explained that while all the roles were interesting to write, this minor character was particularly challenging to create. “I’ve met many people in my life who are ‘Martin.’ But I am a heterosexual man, so when I write a bi character, I want to make sure I don’t make any mistakes, or undercut the character — that he’s as empathetic and believable and as important as any other character in the film.” Martin has only three scenes in “Twelve Thirty,” but each one is vivid and critical. And that confrontation scene in the family’s kitchen is one of Lipsky’s favorites. “It unnerves audiences,” he emphasizes gleefully. “It’s a big shocker.” All these complexities may be what make Lipsky’s film so noteworthy and refreshing. There is much to discuss — about the characters’ behavior, the actors’ daring performances and the bold storytelling — that “Twelve Thirty” practically demands a second look for audiences to believe what they have seen. ■ Jeff Lipsky will introduce and discuss “Twelve Thirty” with audiences prior to and following all evening performances at the Ritz at the Bourse on May 6 and for all shows on May 7.

Food & Drink

Scott A. Drake Photography

267-736-6743

scottdrakephotos@gmail.com

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS PGN

34 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 6-12, 2011

OUT & ABOUT The week ahead Fri. 05/06 Roy Ziegler The author of “The Parrys of Philadelphia and New Hope: A Quaker Family’s Lasting Impact on Two Historic Towns” hosts a reading 5:30 p.m. at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; 215-923-2960. My Chemical Romance The rock band performs at 8 p.m. at Tower Theatre, 19 S. 69th St., Upper Darby; 610-3522887. Stevie Nicks The rock singer performs at 8 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000. Uh Huh Her The electro-pop duo featuring out actress Leisha Hailey (“The L Word”) performs at 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215222-1400. Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience The Led Zeppelin

tribute group performs at 9 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000. Usher The R&B star performs at 8 p.m. at Boardwalk Hall, 2301 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, N.J.; (609) 348-7000. Maniac The controversial 1980 slasher film is screened at 9:45 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-0223.

Sat. 05/07 Love Songs, Doo Wop and Rock & Roll A Mother’s Day weekend concert featuring classic doo-wop performers kicks off at 8 p.m. at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215572-7650. Girl in a Coma The punk band with openly gay members performs 4 p.m. at North Star Bar, 2639 Poplar St.; 215787-0488.

Cinco de Miro: Maximum Ballroom Miro Dance Theatre hosts its annual performance and fundraiser 6:30-11 p.m. at Latvian Society, 531 N. Seventh St.; mirodancetheatre.tix.com. Peek-A-Boo Revue The neo-burlesque group performs at 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 215-222-1400. Nicki Parrott with Jeff Gordon The jazz duo performs at 8:30 p.m. at Bob Egan’s New Hope, Ramada Inn, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; 215862-5225.

Sun. 05/08 Mint Condition The hit R&B/funk group performs at 7:30 p.m. at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215-5727650. Bruno Mars and Janelle Monáe The two R&B singers perform at 8 p.m. at Susquehanna Bank Center, 1 Harbour Blvd.; 856-3651300.

Mon. 05/09 Goldfinger The classic James Bond film is screened at 7:30 p.m. at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215572-7650. A Night of Broadway Stars Broadway performers break out the showtunes to benefit youth shelter Covenant House, 7:30 p.m. at Kimmel’s Perelman Theater, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-7905800.

Tue. 05/10 Deftones The hard-rock band performs at 7:30 p.m. at The Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St.; 800745-3000. Philadelphia Sinfonia The award-winning Philadelphia Sinfonia Youth Orchestra performs at 8 p.m. at Kimmel’s Perelman Theater, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-7905800.

Wed. 05/11 The Green Hornet The comedic action film is screened at 8 p.m. at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215922-6888.

DYNAMIC: Uh Huh Her, the electro-pop duo featuring out actress Leisha Hailey (“The L Word”) and Camila Grey, is hitting the road before its upcoming second album, “Nocture,” drops sometime this year. Catch the pair at 8 p.m. May 6 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. For more information or tickets, call 215-222-1400.

Tokyo Quartet Philadelphia Chamber Music Society presents the celebrated quartet, 8 p.m. at Kimmel’s Perelman Theater, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800.

Splintered Sunlight The Grateful Dead tribute group performs at 9 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 215-222-1400.

Res The rock/R&B singer performs at 9 p.m. at Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 Frankford Ave.; 215-739-9684.

Fri. 05/13

Thu. 05/12 Lorene Cary The author of “If Sons, Then Heirs” hosts a book event at 7:30 p.m. at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215567-4341. Bob Egan’s Variety Showcase Night A variety of talent performs at 8 p.m. at Bob Egan’s New Hope, Ramada Inn, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; 215-862-5225. Echo and the Bunnymen The alt-rock band performs at 8 p.m. at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215-922-6888. Misstallica The all-female Metallica tribute band performs at 8 p.m. at Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 Frankford Ave.; 215-739-9684.

Other Worlds? The Philadelphia Orchestra, hosted by creative director Gerard McBurney and conducted by Charles Dutoit, performs at 7 p.m. at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800. Adele The U.K. singersongwriter performs at 7:30 p.m. at The Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St.; 800745-3000.

event/166705. Doug Stanhope The comedian performs at 9 p.m. at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215-922-6888. Nichole Canuso Dance Company’s Third Annual Benefit Cabaret Nichole Canuso Dance Company hosts a funhousethemed cabaret with some of the most beloved gypsies in Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. at Underground Arts at The Wolf Building, 1200

Callowhill St.; 215413-9083. Guys Night Out: Eastern State Penitentiary Season Eastern State Penitentiary and the William Way Community Center hosts a changing series of artist installations and historic exhibits, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Guests will meet at the center, 1315 Spruce St., and take public transportation to the penitentiary. RSVP is requested to cthompson@ waygay.org or 215732-2220. ■

Kathryn Stockett The author of “The Help” hosts a booksigning event at 7:30 p.m. at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215-567-4341. Nichole Canuso Dance Company’s Third Annual Benefit Cabaret The dance company performs a benefit show 7:30 p.m. at Underground Arts at The Wolf Building, 1200 Callowhill St.; www.brownpapertickets.com/

IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK: Eastern State Penitentiary presents “Beware the Lily Law,” a video installation addressing issues facing gay and transgender inmates, May 13-November. The video installation gives the viewer the experience of sitting in a cell with a trans inmate, listening to the story of ending up in prison and the self-discovery of trans identity. For more information, call 215-236-5111.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 6-12, 2011

Opening The Shadow Box Center City Theatre Works presents the drama about three terminally ill characters — one of whom is gay — being interviewed about death and dying, through May 15 at Upstairs at the Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St.; www. centercitytheatreworks.org or 215-5466718. Masur Conducts Tchaikovsky The Philadelphia Orchestra performs with Maestro Kurt Masur, the muchdecorated former music director of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, 8 p.m. May 6-7 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800. New Hope Celebrates New Hope hosts its eighth annual Pride Week and Parade with a weeklong celebration of LGBT arts and culture, May 11-15; www.newhopecelebrates.com. Dividing the Estate People’s Light & Theatre Company presents this drama set in Texas in the late 1980s during the oil recession, May 11-June 5, 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern; 610-644-3500. The Great American Songbook The jazz pianist and producer performs standards and jazz songs May 6-22 at Hedgerow Theatre, 64 Rose Valley Road; 610-565-4211. String of Pearls Allens Lane Theater and Art Center presents a story about a family’s search for a string of pearls handed down from generation to generation, May 621, 601 West Allens Lane; (215) 2480546. Holst The Planets The Philadelphia Orchestra performs with violinist Gil Shaham from May 12-17 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800. Judah Friedlander The comedian seen on “30 Rock” performs May 12-14 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215-496-9001. Beware the Lily Law Eastern State Penitentiary hosts a video installation on the experiences of trans prisoners, May 13-November, 2027 Fairmount Ave.; 215-236-5111.

Continuing The Bridge Club Society Hill Playhouse presents a play set on San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge as two characters contemplate ending their lives, through May 29, 507 S. Eighth St.; 215-923-0211.

FAKE IT LIKE A MAN: Misstallica, the all-female Metallica tribute band, throws down with some blistering metal 8 p.m. May 12 at Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 Frankford Ave. For more information, call 215-7399684.

Depth Perception AxD Gallery presents an exhibition by graphic designer and lettering artist John Langdon, best known for his pioneering work with ambigrams, through May 14, 265 S. 10th St.; 215-627-6250.

To Love, Honor and Obey? Stories of Italian Renaissance Marriage Chests Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of these commemorative works of art, through July, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

Hell EgoPo Theater presents the world premier theatrical adaptation of France’s most scandalous novel, about a man who uncovers the secrets of life by peering through a mysterious hole in the wall of his boarding house, through May 15 at The German Society, 611 Spring Garden St.; www.egopo.org.

Tommy Media Theater presents the classic-rock opera through May 22, 104 E. State St., Media; 610-891-0100.

Little Women Bristol Riverside Theatre presents the Broadway musical based on Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel, through May 22, 120 Radcliffe St.; 215-785-0100. My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra Walnut Street Theatre’s Independence Studio on 3 hosts a salute to Ol’ Blue Eyes, through June 26, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550. The Peacock Male: Exuberance and Extremes in Masculine Dress Philadelphia Museum of Art, through June, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215763-8100. Roberto Capucci: Art into Fashion Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of works by Italian fashion designer and artist Roberto Capucci, through June 5, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. Spies, Traitors & Saboteurs: Fear and Freedom in America The National Constitution Center hosts the exhibition created by the International Spy Museum featuring artifacts, multimedia elements, immersive environments and stories of espionage, treason and deception in the United States, through May 30, 525 Arch St.; 215-409-6600. Tailoring Philadelphia: Tradition and Innovation in Menswear Philadelphia Museum of Art, through summer, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

Unsettled: Photography and Politics in Contemporary Art Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of works by nine artists who used photography to address some of the most controversial political and social issues of the late 1970s through the early 1990s, including feminism, racism, the AIDS crisis and gay activism, through summer, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100.

Closing Aszure Barton & Artists The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents the Philadelphia debut of the acclaimed choreographer and her dancers, through May 7 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; 215-898-3900. PHILADANCO The dance company performs the Philadelphia premiere of “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?” through May 8 at Kimmel’s Perelman Theater, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800.

LET’S ‘DO’ IT AGAIN: The highly underrated Philly rock/R&B singer Res celebrates the 10th anniversary of her debut album, “How I Do,” by performing the album in its entirety 9 p.m. May 11 at Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 Frankford Ave. For more information, visit www.the1res.com or call 215-739-9684.

Swan Lake Ballet NJ presents the classic production starring dancers from the Pennsylvania Ballet, through May 8 at Voorhees Schools Theatre, 1000 Holly Oak Drive, Voorhees, N.J.; 856-768-9503. Tosca The Opera Company of Philadelphia performs an opera by Giacomo Puccini through May 8 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800. ■

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

Triangle Medical General Practice Progressive HIV Care MARK T. WATKINS, DO JOHN DEL ROSSI, PA-C

(215) 829-0170

253 S. 10th St., 1st Floor Philadelphia

36 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 6-12, 2011

Q Puzzle Was That Our Fault? Across

1. Cause of the fall of 67-Across, in a recent interview 5. Estimator’s phrase 9. Acceptance of LGBT life style, hopefully 14. “While ___ it ... ” 15. Where a sailor may hit bottom 16. Average booster 17. Richard of “And the Band Played On” 18. Lust for Roddy in a sci-fi flick? 20. Behind with the bucks 22. Quarters for

porkers 23. Plunk down your rear 25. Literary adverb 26. Wise old fruit? 30. Ready and willing partner 34. Playwright Hansberry 35. Former Minnesota state senator Allan 36. Mined-over matter 37. Gets the bottom line 40. Beebo Brinker creator Bannon 41. Great balls of fire 43. Sheepskins 45. Type of crime 46. Rides for male prostitutes? 48. Ill humor 50. Catherine ___Jones 51. One who comes

55. To the rear, when cruising 59. Where Margaret sleeps? 61. Slangy suffix 62. Fosse field 63. Diggs of “Rent” 64. In a bit, to the bard 65. It blows up in your mouth, in a gag 66. Lacking depth and height 67. Letters that “fall” from 4 answers in this puzzle

Down

1. Leslie Caron role 2. Baldwin’s “The ___ Corner” 3. Barbecue site 4. Like more pricey items at Barneys 5. Handel’s

PGN “Messiah”, e.g. 6. Weight training unit 7. Penetrate the cracks 8. Near future 9. In need of a backrub 10. Digs in ruins 11. Morales of movies 12. Org. that may include bears 13. Week parts 19. “The African Queen” author 21. Puffs up 24. Blow hard, in and out 26. Move in mire 27. One from the heart 28. Alexander, with “the” 29. Cries out for 31. Looks tinkled pink 32. Hawaiian isle

33. Adolf’s intimate Rohm 35. Pie fight soundtrack 38. Type of bath 39. Raised 42. “Gifts of the Body” author Brown 44. Running wild 46. Alan of “And the Band Played On” 47. Apparently do 49. “ ___ Shoes” (Toni Collette movie) 51. Band from Sydney 52. Asian cuisine 53. Half of a pair for grabbing 54. Meir contemporary 56. Cube designer Rubik 57. Panic place for Jodie 58. Zilch 60. Queer body part on TV

Worth Watching GARDEN OF GAGA: If you missed — or couldn’t afford tickets to — Lady Gaga’s recent tour, you can watch the shows from the comfort of home with the premiere of “Lady Gaga Presents the Monster Ball Tour: At Madison Square Garden,” 9 p.m. May 7 on HBO.

AISLE BE ALL RIGHT: Out character Kevin Walker (played by Matthew Rhys) and the rest of the Walker family try to hold it together as Sarah and Luc’s nuptials approach and plans go horribly awry, on the season finale of “Brothers & Sisters,” 10 p.m. May 8 on ABC. Photo: Adam Taylor

MAKING PHILLY PROUD: With the threat of Sarah Palin running for president in 2012, we are comforted by the fact that Upper Darbybred comedy superstar Tina Fey will host “Saturday Night Live” at 11:30 p.m. May 7 on NBC. Yes, it’s sad that we have to rely on comedians to point out things that competent politicians should be all over, but at least it’s entertaining to watch.

FRIENDLY ADVICE: When Ted (Josh Radnor) is faced with an important decision that might affect his future with his latest love interest, the gang, including Barney (played by out actor Neil Patrick Harris, center), express their true feelings about her on “How I Met Your Mother,” 8 p.m. May 9 on CBS. Photo: Fox/Ron P. Jaffe

PROFILE PGN from page 31

hardest part that they need time to process. PGN: Working with flowers wasn’t a giveaway? JL: [Laughs.] No, I think it was the skits that we used to do! My sister was older and taller, so she often played the male role. Oh gosh, she’s going to kill me for this ... She would put my dad’s cowboy boots and hat on and be the guy and I was smaller so I was left to play the more feminine role. Oh, geez Louise, be nice when you write this! PGN: [Laughs.] Hey, we’ve all been there! I had two brothers so I had to be a WWE wrestling character — before they had the women’s division. What’s your favorite conversation piece in your house? JL: I have a bust of an African-American woman that I picked up on a road trip. I love to travel and for my last big hurrah before I opened the business, I went to seven different cities. I was in a town in Kentucky that had all these beauty salons dating back to the ’50s and ’60s. They were closed but an antique shop nearby had a lot of their stuff for sale. There was a bust of this beautiful woman with an amazing afro, gold hoop earrings and bright red lipstick and I had to have her. There was beauty, humor and nostalgia all rolled into one. She’s well-known now and talked about quite a bit. PGN: Does she have a name? JL: Carol! A friend of mine named her and it just fits. I’ll run into people or be on a social-networking site and people will ask me about Carol. She’s great fun. PGN: If you could walk into any painting and experience the moment, which one would it be? JL: That’s easy. “Guernica” by Picasso. I have part of it tattooed on my arm. PGN: Ever play any sports? JL: I did. I played soccer, basketball and baseball, but soccer was always my favorite. I like the teamwork it required and the fact that there was so much movement. You were constantly running, while in baseball, you were just standing around for most of the game. I was good at basketball but when I didn’t make the highschool team, my dreams were crushed. [Laughs.] Another dream that fell by the wayside. PGN: A best or worst moment in sports? JL: My best was when I scored five goals in one soccer game, and the worst was when my coach purposely threw a baseball at me. He asked me earlier, “Have I ever hit you with a ball?” I said no and, later that day, I got nailed with a ball. He acted like it was an accident [laughs], but the timing was a little suspicious after that question! I was 9 and it was definitely not fun. PGN: Tell me a little about your road trip.

JL: When Myspace was still really popular, I made a lot of friends all over the country. I’d been talking online to several of them for years, and decided to take a trip and meet some of them. I got to experience different cities and different environments and meet all sorts of people. I love to travel: It’s my favorite thing to do. PGN: What’s the farthest you’ve traveled? JL: Seoul, South Korea. I was there in ’89. PGN: What was memorable about the trip? JL: You know, it was the first time I’d ever been in an environment where I could not physically blend in. Being an American, you really stood out. In Europe, even being foreign, you could still blend in somewhat. PGN: What was one of the most difficult parts of getting the business started? JL: I started the company on a whim, basically because someone took away my job and I decided that if I was going to have the pressure of losing a job, I wanted it to be solely on myself. I started UrbanGreen with $21 in my bank account. That was the most difficult part, you learn something new every day and not always the easy way. But it’s always a growing experience and so it’s difficult but fun. I try to learn from past mistakes and move forward. PGN: As a word of caution for a new business owner, what was one of the blunders you made? JL: I didn’t spend the money for a good accountant. I made the mistake of just picking someone with the best price and found you get what you pay for. It took me a while to get out of that. And make sure to get good referrals! PGN: How long have you been in business? JL: I started in July 2008. We’ve hung in there and this year is turning out to be a great year already. I’m really excited about it. PGN: What’s the next step? JL: Further building our reputation. We get a lot of referrals and it’s nice to know that people enjoyed our work enough to tell other people about us. It’s nice because there’s a kind of continuity, going to someone’s house and feeling you already know them because you worked on their sister’s or cousin’s house. PGN: What would I tell people you do? JL: We do everything from one person who I helped with an 8-inch potted plant to the whole-roof garden we’re working on. I don’t mind doing the small stuff, window boxes, etc. Sometimes they can be just as interesting as a big project — you have a little more room to get creative. If it’s green, we’ll do it! ■ To suggest a community member for “Professional Portrait,” write to portraits05@aol.com.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 6-12, 2011

COMMUNITY PGN

38 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 6-12, 2011

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 from 4-8 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays; case management, HIV testing and smoking cessation are available Monday through 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

Youth Center: 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays: Doylestown Planned Parenthood, The Atrium, Suite 2E, 301 S. Main St., Doylestown; 215-348-0558 ext. 65; 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: 3-9 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; 3-6 p.m. Tuesday; noon-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Volunteers: New Orientation: First Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.

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

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

Key numbers ■ 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

■ AIDS Treatment hot line: 215545-2212 ■ 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

Men

A social gathering for gay men, meets at 7 p.m. every second and fourth Tuesday at Iron Hill Brewery, 30 E. State St., Media; BurbBoysNiteOut@aol.com.

■ Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force: 215-772-2000 ■ Philadelphia Police Department liaison — Deputy Commissioner Stephen Johnson: 215-683-2840 ■ Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 267-216-6606; ppd. lgbt@gmail.com

■ 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

■ 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)

Health

AIDS Services In Asian Communities Provides HIV-related services to Asians and Pacific Islanders at 340 N. 12th St., Suite 205; 215-536-2424. Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative Free, anonymous HIV testing from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursdays at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; 215-851-1822 or 866-2223871. 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 available at 17 MacDade Blvd., Suite 108, Collingdale; Medical Ofﬁce Building, 722 Church Lane, Yeadon; and 630 S. 60th St.; 610-586-9077.

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. Mazzoni Center Family & Community Medicine Comprehensive primary health care, preventive health services, gynecology, sexual-health services and chronicdisease 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 and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday; 1201 Locust St.; 215-985-9206.

Professional groups

■ 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; 215-627-9090; www.galloplaw.org.

■ 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. ■ 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 informa-

tion about events, programs and membership; 215-557-0190; 1717 Arch St., Suite 3370.

Young, Trans, and Uniﬁed!

Meets 7:30 p.m. the third Friday of the month, September through June, at the William Way Center; 610-277-6595; www.MACT-Phila.org.

Support group for transgender and questioning individuals ages 13-23 meets 7-8:30 p.m. every Thursday at The Attic Youth Center; 215-545-4331 ext. 24.

Men’s Coming Out Group

Women

Meets 7 p.m. Thursdays at Washington West Project, 1201 Locust St.; 215-563-0652 ext. 219.

Men of Color United

Bucks County Lesbian Alliance

Men of Standard

Lesbian Couples Dining Group of Montgomery County

Provides a place for gay men of color 21 and older to share issues of concern. Meets 7-9 p.m. every Thursday at Camden AHEC, 514 Cooper St., Camden, N.J.; 856-9632432 ext. 211; ruberte_j@camden_ahec.org.

Parents/Families

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Bucks County

Meets 7:30 p.m. ﬁrst Tuesday of the month at Penns Park United Methodist Church, 2394 Second Street Pike, Penns Park; 215-348-9976.

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Chester County

Meets 7 p.m. the ﬁrst Tuesday of the month at the Unitarian Fellowship of West Chester, 501 S. High St., West Chester; 484-354-2448.

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Collingswood, N.J.

Meets 2-5 p.m. the third Sunday of the month at the LGBT Center at the University of Pennsylvania, 3907 Spruce St.; 215-572-1833.

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Princeton, N.J.

Meets monthly for social events; http://buckscountylesbian alliance.org.

Meets monthly; 215-542-2899.

Lesbian Social Network of South Jersey 1,000-member social group for lesbians holds monthly activities in South Jersey and surrounding area; www. LSNSJ.com.

Queer Connections

Social group for women in their 20s meets weekly; 215-4681352; queerconnect@yahoo.com.

South Jersey Lesbians of Color

Meetings held the ﬁrst and third Fridays at 7:30 p.m. at The Starting Point, 215 Highland Ave., Suite C, Westmont, N.J.; 856-824-0881; e-mail: SJLOC-owner@yahoogroups.com.

The Womyn’s Village

The ﬁrst womyn-owned and operated think-tank targeting black African, Asian, Latina and Native American LBT and two-spirited womyn. Meets 5:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month at Safeguards, 1700 Market St., 18th ﬂoor; 267-221-6155; the_womyns.village@yahoo.com.

Youth

40 Acres of Change

Discussion group for teens and young adults meets 6-8 p.m. Thursdays at The COLOURS Organization Inc., 112 N. Broad St., third ﬂoor; 215-496-0330.

HAVEN

For GLBT, intersex, questioning, queer and allied youth ages 14-20; meets 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Lehigh Valley, 424 Center St., Bethlehem; 610-868-2153.

Meets 7:30 p.m. the second Monday of the month in the George Thomas Room at Trinity Church, 33 Mercer St.; 609-683-5155.

Main Line Youth Alliance

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Wilmington, Del.

Mountain Meadow

Philadelphia Family Pride

Rainbow Room — Bucks County’s LGBTQ and Allies Youth Center

Meets 7 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 13th and Rodney streets; 302-654-2995. Advocacy, support and social network for LGBT families offers play groups, monthly kids’ and teen-talk groups, activities and outings. Planning meetings are held monthly; 215-600-2864; www.phillyfamilypride.org.

Oasis

Trans

Meets 7-8 p.m. Wednesdays at 1201 Chestnut St.; 215-5630652 ext. 509.

■ National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association The Philadelphia chapter of NLGJA, open to professionals and students, meets for social and networking events; www.nlgjaphiladephia.org.

Mazzoni Center Family and Community Medicine

■ 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.

Renaissance Transgender Assoc.

■ Philly OutGoing Professionals Social group for gay, lesbian and bisexual professionals meets for social and cultural activities; 856-8579283; popnews19@yahoo.com.

WeXist

Men of All Colors Together

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Philadelphia Anonymous, free, conﬁdential HIV testing Spanish/English counselors offer testing 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 166 W. Lehigh Ave.; 215-763-8870 ext. 6000.

Peer trans health-advocacy organization. 215-732-1207; www.critpath.org/thac.

Meets 8 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesdays at the William Way Center; 215-483-1032.

Meets 6-8:30 p.m. the fourth Monday of the month at the Collingswood Public Library, 771 Haddon Ave., Collingswood, N.J.; 609-202-4622; pﬂagcollingswood@yahoo.com.

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

Transgender Health Action Coalition

FTM support group meets 6-8 p.m. second Friday of the month at the William Way Center; ﬁrst hour is open, second hour is for people assigned female at birth who have gender issues; 267-250-1548; www.wexist.org.

Gay Married Men’s Association

A discussion/support group for gay and bisexual men of color meets from 6-8 p.m. every Wednesday at 112 N. Broad St., third ﬂoor; 215-496-0330.

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

■ ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215592-1513

Boys Night Out

Primary health care and specialized transgender services in a safe, professional, nonjudgmental environment, 21 S. 12th St.; 215-563-0652. Meets at 8 p.m. the third Saturday of the month at 9876 Old Eagle School Road; 610-975-9119; www.ren.org.

T-MAN

Meets 7-9:30 p.m. Fridays at 109 Lancaster Ave., Wayne; 610-688-1861; info@myaonline.org. For youth with GLBTQ parents. Monthly programs for ages 8-16, family programs and parent coffee groups. Residential program offered in August; 1315 Spruce St.; 215-772-1107; inquiries@mountainmeadow.org.

For ages 14-21; meets 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays at Doylestown Planned Parenthood, The Atrium, Suite 2E, 301 S. Main St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981 ext. 9024; rainbowroom@ppbucks.org.

Social X Change

Social activity group for LGBT youth of color ages 13-23 meets 6-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays at 112 N. Broad St., third ﬂoor; 215-496-0330.

Space to be Proud, Open, and Together

Open to all LGBTQ queer youth and allies, ages 1421, SPOT meets 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursdays at Planned Parenthood of Chester County’s West Chester ofﬁce, 8 S. Wayne St., West Chester; 610-692-1770 ext. 108 or thespot@ppccpa.org.

Teen Support Group

Drop-in group for teens and adolescents meets 4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursdays at 1201 Chestnut St.; 215-563-0658 ext. 319.

People of color support group for transmen, FTMs, butches, studs, aggressives, bois, genderqueer and all female-born individuals with gender questions meets 7:30-9:30 p.m. Mondays, second ﬂoor, 1201 Locust St.; 215-834-9063; tman215@aol.com.

Youth in Transition

Transhealth Information Project

For GLBTQ African-American and Latino youth ages 1324. Meets 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays at Camden AHEC, 514 Cooper St., Camden, N.J.; 856-963-2432 ext. 205; gibbs_d@camden-ahec.org.

Sponsors a weekly drop-in center from 7-11 p.m. Tuesdays at 1201 Locust St.; 267-549-6497.

A support group for transgender and questioning youth ages 12-23 meets 7:30-9 p.m. Tuesdays at The Attic Youth Center.

Youth Making a Difference

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�� REAL ESTATE �� NYS LAND ONE TIME SALE �� 10ac-Salmon River Area-$19,995. 7ac w/New �� Cabin-$29,995. 5ac-Hickory Ridge-$12,995. �� 97ac Surrounding State Forest-$119,995. �� 7ac-Trout Stream-$29,995. 14ac-Southern �� Tier-$24,995. 5ac on Big River-$39,995. 7ac�� Little Falls-$19,995. Over 100 new properties �� offered! Terms or cash discounts! Call Christ�� mas & Associates 800-229-7843. Or visit www. �� LandandCamps.com

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tiable). Call 215 468-9166 after 6 pm. or 215 �� 686 3431 daytime. _______________________________35-19 RITTENHOUSE SQUARE AREA Studios & 1 Bedrooms - Call for Availability (215)735-8050. _______________________________35-31 JEFFERSONVILLE, NEAR K OF P, BLUE BELL Apt. in private wing on home with large yard. Private bath, entrance, kit. $495/mo. + elect. & sec. dep. 610-539-6381, leave message. _______________________________35-22 HOUSE FOR RENT IN LEVITTOWN 4 BR, 2 BA, close to 95, New Hope & Trenton. $1600, negotiable. 215-943-7203. _______________________________35-20

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George T. Sale Unique Garden YOUCondo” FOR YOUR COOPERATION. private entrance.. Low fees & Tax ___________________________________ GREATER NE PHILA. e 1 bd. in area ........................��.

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.2Property is by Welsh & the Boulevard, ew open style bedroom, 1 bath condo 1 min. to 58 bus. We ask only that you be at least o fees. Great small friendly Rent building. reasonably neatpet and employed. is $600 + ..................................�� 1/3 utils. Contact Dave at 215-698-0215. _______________________________35-19

wedes Court. New Listing Large 3 Garage, roof deck and hardwood ﬂoors. Queen Village ....................��

Realtor: Kate Master Siedell

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Company: Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors

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Open Houses Sunday May 8, 2011 NOON - 1:00 PM 2011 Cartharine St. Newly rehabbed large classic 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath home with 2 Car PARKING. There is a finished lower level, deluxe S/S and granite kitchen, spa like master bath and a bi-level deck with the best views in the city. (Dan)...........................................................priced at only $499,000 927 Spruce St. Unit 2R New Jr. one bed. one bath. Heart of Washington Square West. Parking available for $20,000 K extra. ..............only $199,000 1109 SPRUCE ST. Units 1 & 4 1br/1ba,& Large loft studio Condo.Totally reahabbed. Between Penna. and Jefferson Hospitals in the heart of Washing Sq. West. ........................................................... $185,000 and $225,000 1:30 - 2:30 PM 2155 Montrose St. Brand New, large 3BR/2.5BA corner property with rear garden, rood deck, gourmet deluxe Kitchen, hardwood floors, spa baths & finished lower level. Tax abatement ...................................................$425,000 1109 SPRUCE STREET Unit 2R & 3R. Two 1br/1br,Condos. Great buys in Wash. Sq. West. Between Penna. and Jefferson Hospitals in the heart of Washing Sq. West. .................................................... $180,000 $ $215,000 255 S, Hutchinson St. Charming 2 bed. 1.5 bath on historic cobblestone street. Close to Penna. and Jefferson Hospitals. .............reduced $239,900

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

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40 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 6-12, 2011

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46 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 6-12, 2011

REAL ESTATE

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REAL ESTATE

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HELP WANTED

Program Director Resource for Human Development, Inc. (RHD) (www.rhd.org) is seeking a full-time Program Director for a new Housing and Drug & Alcohol Treatment program for 18 transgender adult individuals. Ideal candidate will be a member of the transgender community, and have a Bachelor’s degree (Master’s degree preferred) in a clinical ﬁeld, with prior drug & alcohol experience. In addition, the candidate will have 3-4 years experience providing clinical services to transgender individuals. Three to four years of experience managing and supervising others, and managing a program required. Please send your resume and cover letter with salary expectations to Debbie Kulp, by email: mgh@rhd.org, for consideration. EOE.

MECHANIC for Center City real estate ofﬁce. Must be fully experienced in all phases of building repair, recent references and live near CC. Salary and beneﬁts.

Call Mel

215-990-5800 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 _______________________________35-18 NORTH WILDWOOD, NJ- FLORENTINE FAMILY MOTEL Beach/Boardwalk Block, Heated Pools, Efﬁciency/ Motel units refrigerator, elevator. Color Brochure/ Specials 609-522-4075 DEPT.104 www.ﬂorentinemotel.com _______________________________35-18

ADOPTION UNIQUE ADOPTIONS Let us help! Personalized Adoption Plans. Financial assistance, housing relocation and more. Giving the gift of life? You deserve the best. Call us ﬁrst! 1-888-637-8200 24-hours hotline. _______________________________35-18 ADOPT A loving, young, ﬁnancially stable married couple yearns to adopt a baby. Expenses paid. Carly & Trevor, 1-800-619-4873. _______________________________35-18

Save up to $.32/gal using our Fuel Discount Network! Looking for Small Fleet Owners or Owner Operators. Earn $2.00/mi! 866970-2778. _______________________________35-18 REAL ESTATE APPRAISERS Certiﬁed w/minimum 5yrs experience & ACI knowledge to cover Eastern PA. Fax resume: 800-675-9392 Or Call: 800-477-5187. _______________________________35-18 CDL-A DRIVERS NEEDED! OTR, Regional & Dedicated Runs. Up to $.50 per mile! Class A-CDL & Hazmat Req’d. 800942-2104 Ext. 238 or 243 www.totalms.com _______________________________35-18

International Cultural Exchange Representative: Earn supplemental income placing and supervising high school exchange students. Volunteer host families also needed. Promote world peace! 1-866-GO-AFICE or www. afice.org _______________________________35-18 TRUCK DRIVERS WANTED! 2011 PAY RAISE! UP TO $.52 PER MILE! HOME WEEKENDS! EXCELLENT BENEFITS! NEW EQUIPMENT! HEARTLAND EXPRESS 1-800-441-4953 www.heartlandexpress.com _______________________________35-18 Drivers- No Experience ~No Problem. 100% Paid CDL Training. Immediate Benefits. 20/10 program. Trainers Earn up to $.49 per mile! CRST VAN EXPEDITED 800-326-2778 www. JoinCRST.com _______________________________35-18 TWO CENT PAY RAISE NOW OFFERED FOR NEW DRIVERS! Plus 2 day orientation, high miles, excellent equipment, dry van and flatbed freight! $500 Sign-On Bonus for Flatbed. CDL-A, 6mo.OTR. 888-801-5295. _______________________________35-18 Experienced OTR Drivers. Up to $4000 BONUS. $3500 Sign-on CASH and $500 LAPTOP or GPS. Up to $.50 Per Mile. Regional Lanes/ Home Weekly 888-463-3962. 6 Mo. OTR Exp. & Current CDL www.usatruck.jobs. eoe m/f/h/v _______________________________35-18

SERVICES HOMEOWNER HELP AIR CONDITIONING Services. Trustworthy Service! licenced and insured Pa.#079952 610-590-4265. _______________________________35-21 AIRLINES ARE HIRING Train for high paying Aviation Maintenance Career. FAA approved program. Financial aid if qualiﬁed - Housing available. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance (888)834-9715. _______________________________35-18 ATTEND COLLEGE ONLINE From Home. *Medical, *Business, *Paralegal, *Computers, *Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualiﬁed. Call 888-220-3984. www. CenturaOnline.com _______________________________35-18

BUSINESS

OPORTUNITIES Do you earn $800 in a day? Your Own Local Candy Route! 25 Machines and Candy All for $9995. 877-915-8222 All Major Credit Cards Accepted! _______________________________35-18

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LEGAL NOTICE Pursuant to §128.85 of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Title 7 regulations, GROWMARK FS, LLC. hereby gives notice of ground application of “Restricted Use Pesticides” for the protection of agricultural crops in municipalities in Pennsylvania during the next 45 days. Residents of contiguous property to our application sites should contact your local GROWMARK FS, LLC. facility for additional information. Concerned Citizens should contact: Michael Layton, MGR. Safety & Environment, mlayton@growmarkfs.com GROWMARK FS, LLC. 308 N.E. Front Street, Milford, DE 19963. Call 302-422-3002. _______________________________35-18

Are you a community leader? Mark Mitchell, board president, Delaware Valley Legacy Fund Amber Hikes, co-founder, Stimulus Drew Becher, president, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Alison Lin, co-founder, HotPot! Zane Booker, founder and artistic director, Smoke, Lilies and Jade Arts Initiative Wayne Knaub, commissioner, Greater Philadelphia Flag Football League

These people made the grade and were covered in PGN’s “Professional Portraits” column by Suzi Nash. Every week, Suzi talks to people making a difference in Philadelphia. Has she talked to you yet?

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