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