PGN May 8-14, 2015 by The Philadelphia Gay News

Take a pop-music ride with Derek Bishop

DNC Convention housing to be covered by LGBT-owned group

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Family Portrait: Laurent Widjaya on keeping tradition, culture alive PAGE 35

Trans is now trendy PAGE 8

May 8-14, 2015

Since 1976

PGN Philadelphia Gay News HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM

Vol. 39 No. 19

Parker-Spruce Sounding off: Where local candidates sale finalized stand on LGBT issues By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

The former management company of a now-defunct and often-blighted Gayborhood hotel recently purchased the property, and plans to rehab and reopen it. The Wankawala Organization purchased Parker-Spruce Hotel from owner Spruce Hotel Corp. late last month for nearly $3.5 million. Spruce Hotel Corp. had owned the property since the early 1980s and Wankala had been leasing and managing it for the past several years. The hotel has been shuttered since the fall, after a small fire broke out in an upper floor, prompting citations by Licenses & Inspections that pre-empted its reopening. The building was home to The Westbury, one of the city’s longest-running LGBT bars, which closed in November, after Wankawala management indicated the property would remain closed indefinitely. Mihir Wankawala, the organization’s managing director, did not respond to repeated requests for comment as of presstime. Wankawala told the Philadelphia Business Journal that his company will spend 12-15 months renovating the building and will reopen it as a higher-end hotel, with 110120 rooms. Parker-Spruce had long been a haven for crime. City Councilman Mark Squilla told PGN this past fall that he planned to work with Wankawala, if the sale went through, to hold community meetings to address the concerns of local residents and business owners about the property. Squilla did not respond to a request by presstime. n

*PGN conducted interviews with candidates running in the May 19 municipal election about a wide range of LGBT issues, to inform our community about their positions and to form the basis for PGN’s endorsement decisions (see below). We reached out to all Democratic candidates for mayor, and conducted phone interviews

with the four who responded. We sent written surveys to all Democratic candidates for City Council-at-Large and the District Council candidates in contested races, to all Democratic state Supreme Court candidates and to all Democratic City Commissioner candidates; the respondents are included below.

THIRSTY THURSDAY: Members and supporters of Philly Roller Derby were among the partiers at a Philadelphia Dyke March fundraiser April 30 at Franky Bradley’s, the new venue operating in the space formerly occupied by Sisters. The annual happy-hour fundraiser featured karaoke and drink specials and, hosted the same night as Dining Out for Life, revelers were encouraged to stay for dinner to benefit local HIV/AIDS causes. The 2015 Dyke March will be held June 13. Photo: Scott A. Drake

Jim Kenney Jim Kenney resigned from his at-large City Council seat after 23 years to run for mayor this year. Kenny’s track record on LGBT rights has been proven by his strong advocacy for and leadership on various pieces of legislation over the years; he was the prime sponsor of the landmark domestic-partnership bill in the mid-1990s and more recently led the LGBT hate-crimes measure. “It’s not enough, though,” he said about the hate-crimes measure. “We must lobby the state to pass these protections as well. There must also be more grassroots education and training about cultural sensitivity in the schools.” To advocate for LGBT inclusion in statewide nondiscrimination and hate-crimes laws, Kenney said that, while his authority on such issues would be limited as mayor, he would do everything he could. “I would not shy from speaking up and lobbying when the opportunity arises,” Kenney said. Throughout his career, Kenney said, he has maintained a diverse staff in his office, and would continue to do so if elected. “I will make diversity important as I have done throughout my entire career,” he said. “But in a more comprehensive and important way as mayor.” Joining the national Mayors for Marriage Equality coalition would be a given, he said. PAGE 24

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Mayor

Endorsements Mayor Jim Kenney

✁

City Commissioner Carol Jenkins Lisa Deeley

Council-at-Large Sherrie Cohen Bill Greenlee Ed Neilson Blondell Reynolds-Brown Paul Steinke

City Council Second District Kenyatta Johnson City Council Seventh District Maria Quiñones-Sánchez

Court of Common pleas Abbe Fletman Leon King Christopher Mallios Dan Clifford (Montgomery County)

Supreme Court Kevin Dougherty Anne Lazarus

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 8-14, 2015

pGN LOCAL

LGBT-owned group to head DNC convention housing By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com An LGBT-owned company was selected as the housing provider for next year’s Democratic National Committee Convention, to be held in Philadelphia. The DNC late last month announced that EventSphere (EVS), an LGBT-owned business, will work cooperatively with Akintayo Management Group (AMG) as the convention’s housing provider. The companies will secure and oversee hotel-room blocks for convention participants. Thousands of political delegates and reporters are expected to flock to Philadelphia in July 2016 for the convention. Philadelphia boasts nearly 17,000 hotel rooms across nearly 70 properties. Tiffany Newmius, director of diversity and community engagement with PHL DNC 2016, said a national RFP was put out for the 2016 housing provider. AMG and EVS, both based in Atlanta, jointly

oversaw housing for the 2008 and 2012 DNC conventions, as well as for the 2013 presidential inauguration. “They essentially manage all of the housing blocks and reservations and all the moving parts to the housing for the DNC,” Newmius said. Newmius said the companies’ work starts immediately. “They have to gear up and prepare for the influx,” she said. “Once the delegates are selected, they arrange for their housing, so there’s a lot of legwork they have to start now to prepare for that.” AMG is African-American-owned and EVS is LGBT-owned; it’s helmed by Todd Lambert, who has worked at Marriott, Intercontinental, Wyndham and Starwood hotel groups. “It’s important to everyone working on the DNC convention to have diversity at the forefront,” Newmius said. “Everyone is looking at each step of this along the lines of diversity.” n

locations in Philadelphia NORTH OF CENTER CITY

1 Shot Coffee, 1040 N. Second St. • 2601 Parkway Condos lobby, 2601 Pennsylvania Ave. • Barnes & Noble, 1700 N. Broad St. • Bebashi, 1217 Spring Garden St. • Beth Ahavah, 615 N. Broad St. • Bridgeview Place Condo lobby, 315 New St. • Colonnade Condos lobby, 1601 Spring Garden St. • Community College CCP Lambda, 1700 Spring Garden St. • Congresso de Latinos, American St. & Lehigh Ave. • Darling’s Diner, 1033 N. Second St. • Girard Vet, 28th St. & Girard Ave. • HIV Early Intervention Clinic, St. Joseph’s Hospital, 16th St. & Girard Ave. • Logan View Apts. lobby, 17th & Callowhill sts. • Northern Liberties Iron Works, 821 N. Second St. • One Day At A Time, 2532 N. Broad St. • Packard Apts., 317 N. Broad St. • Philadelphian Condos lobby, 2401 Pennsylvania Ave. • PYT Restaurant, 1050 N. Hancock St., at the Piazza • Sammy’s Place, 1449 N. Fifth St., 1st floor • SILOAM Ministries, 1133 Spring Garden St. • Temple University Student Activity Center, 1755 N. 12th St. • Vice Coffee, 1031 Spring GardenSty. • Welker Real Estate, 2311 Fairmount Ave. • Whole Foods Market, 2001 Pennsylvania Ave. •

SOUTH OF CENTER CITY

Bethel Community Home, 933-935 S. Third St. • Black N Brew, 1523 E. Passyunk Ave. • Essene, 719 S. Fourth St. • Famous 4th St. Deli, Fourth & Bainbridge sts. • Fuel, 1917 E. Passyunk Ave. • Jackson Place, 501 Jackson St. • Rockerhead Salon, 607 S. Third St. • Wedge Medical Center, 1939 S. Juniper St. •

UNIVERSITY CITY

Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St. • Bucks County Coffee, 3430 Sansom St. • Bucks County Coffee, 30 S. 33rd St., Rom. 113 • Christian Association, 3627 Chestnut St. • Drexel University, 4001 Walnut St. • Fresh Grocer, 4001 Walnut St. • Goodman Hall, 710 S. 42nd St. • International House, 3701 Chestnut St. • LGBT Center at Penn, 3907 Spruce St. • Metropolitan Community Church, 3637 Chestnut St. • Old Quaker Condos lobby, 3514 Lancaster Ave. • Oslo Hall, 510 S. 42nd St. • Penn Bookstore, 3610 Walnut St. • Sheraton Hotel, 36th & Chestnut sts. • St. Mary’s Church, 3916 Locust Walk • University of the Sciences England Library, 4200 Woodland Ave. • Wilson Hall, 708 S. 42nd St. • World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. •

Would you like to be on our distribution list? Contact: don@epgn.com or 215-451-6182 ext. 200 for delivery of complimentary copies.

News Briefing Court won’t consider appeal in Shephard case The state Supreme Court has declined to consider the appeal of William F. Smithson, who’s convicted of murdering Jason Shephard in 2006. Smithson wanted the court to consider granting him a new trial for Shephard’s murder. But in a one-page order issued April 14, the court’s five judges denied Smithson’s request to consider his appeal. In 2008, Smithson was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the strangulation death of Shephard. Both men worked for Daktronics, an electronic-billboard manufacturer. In 2006, Smithson invited Shephard to his Delaware County home. There, Smithson strangled Shephard in the course of trying to rape him, according to prosecutors. Smithson denies the allegations. He maintains that F. Bruce Covington, who was also inside Smithson’s home when Shephard died, wasn’t properly investigated. Covington was convicted of drug-related offenses relating to the incident, but prosecutors say he didn’t kill Shephard. In December, the state Superior Court denied Smithson’s request for a new trial, stating that Covington was adequately investigated. Advocates for Smithson, who is openly gay, say there’s no direct evidence linking Smithson to Shephard’s murder. They also say homophobia played a significant role in Smithson’s prosecution. Smithson, 50, remains incarcerated at a state prison in Huntingdon.

rejected their request. “Plaintiffs have a First Amendment right to discuss the litigation,” Schneider wrote. “Additionally, trial is still far off. At this time, Pennsauken has not submitted persuasive evidence that plaintiffs are likely to interfere with its right to a fair trial. Nor has Pennsauken submitted persuasive evidence that [Vandergrift’s Facebook] posts will have a substantial likelihood of causing material prejudice to this litigation.” Neither side had a comment for this update. A pre-trial status conference is set for 3 p.m. June 4 at the U.S. Courthouse in Camden, N.J.

Workplace-bias trial continues The workplace-bias trial of Jeffrey S. Downs has moved into its second week. Downs, an openly gay attorney, claims that two Center City law firms discriminated against him due to anti-LGBT bias. The law firms that allegedly discriminated against Downs are Anapol Schwartz and Raynes McCarty. Anti-LGBT bias allegedly cost Downs a job at Anapol, and a job offer at Raynes. A Philadelphia Common Pleas Court jury must decide whether to hold Anapol liable for defamation and tortious interference. Defense attorneys contend that Downs made unreasonable demands at Anapol, justifying Raynes’ withdrawal of a job offer. But last week, attorney Daniel C. Fleming, a former supervisor of Downs, praised his legal acumen. “He was a great attorney,” Fleming testified. He said Downs was particularly talented at vindicating people’s civil rights. “It’s something I’ve never forgotten,” Fleming added. The trial is expected to end by next week. — Timothy Cwiek

No gag order in Pennsauken case

Stimulus party to fundraise for Philly Dyke March

U.S. Magistrate Judge Joel Schneider has declined to issue a gag order in the federal lawsuit filed by Thomas Vandergrift, an openly gay teacher. Vandergrift alleges that Pennsauken school district officials wrongfully accused him of child molestation after he advocated for a proper education for his autistic nephew. Vandergrift seeks policy changes within the school district and an unspecified amount in damages. Pennsauken officials claim Vandergrift defamed defendants and violated confidentiality requirements on his Facebook page. They asked Schneider to issue a gag order in the case, but on April 29, Schneider

This weekend’s Back 2 Basics party, hosted by Stimulus Philly, will raise funds for next month’s Philly Dyke March. The event will be held 10 p.m.-2 a.m. May 9 at Tabu Lounge, 200 S. 12th St. The party will feature drink specials, such as $3 PBR pounders and $5 well drinks, with cover $5 before midnight and $10 after. Proceeds will support next month’s march, scheduled for June 13. The Back 2 Basics party will also serve as the official after party for SEXx Interactive, a muti-day, sex-positive conference, with events running through May 10. ■ — Jen Colletta

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 8-14, 2015

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 8-14, 2015

Weekly features

Escape the ’hood with Pride

News&Opinion 2 — News Briefing 7 — Crime Watch 10 — Creep of the Week Editorial 11 — Letters/Feedback Mark My Words Street Talk

AC &

35 37 38 42 33

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SAfETY SESSION: Don Melnick of Israeli Krav Maga of Cherry Hill spoke to the participants of a nightclub-safety session at ICandy April 28. The complimentary class offered safety tips to help diffuse potentially dangerous or uneasy situations group members could find themselves in at local clubs. Organizers accepted donations for the family of fallen Philadelphia Police Office Richard Wilson 3d.

Family Portrait Scene in Philly Out & About Q Puzzle Comics

This week in pGN

8 — Thinking Queerly: Trans trendy

C o l 12 — Out Money: business u Small m financing n 39 — Get Out and Cache as s Play: cache can

6 — Charges withdrawn against HIV-positive nurse 7 — Wine, women and song unite 31 — Arts & Culture cover story: Pop wheelies with Derek Bishop 41 — Dining Out: See you at Savona

“They need to be punished to the fullest extent of the law! It would have been great had they been charged with a hate crime! I hope that these privileged a**holes pay for their crimes!”

Classifieds 42 — Real Estate 46 — Personals 47 — Bulletin Board

pGN 505 S. Fourth St. Philadelphia, PA 19147-1506 phone: 215-625-8501 fax: 215-925-6437 E-mail: pgn@epgn.com Web: www.epgn.com

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Visit Bucks County Special Issue

~ Michael White, in response to the story “Judge moves gay-bashing case forward,” page 15

Editor

Jen Colletta (ext. 206) jen@epgn.com Staff Writers Ryan Kasley (ext. 215) ryan@epgn.com Larry Nichols (ext. 213) larry@epgn.com Writer-at-Large Timothy Cwiek (ext. 208) timothy@epgn.com

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Published by Masco Communications Inc. © 2015 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.

May 15th

LOCAL pGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 8-14, 2015

celebrating 35 YEARS OF LGBT HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

A benefit to support mazzoni center

Friday, May 15, 2015 Tickets available @ mazzonicenter.org/elixir2015

2015 ELIXIR HONOREES michael tambón aka Cherry pop

fRanny price

Master of Ceremonies: 13-time Emmy Award winner Jim Donovan of CBS Philly News

Mill House Deck at philadelphia’s historic water works

640 Waterworks Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19130 VIP Reception: 6:00pm - 7:30pm General Admission: 7:30pm - 11:00pm live entertainment · delicious food · open bar · silent auction

2015 ELIXIR hosts

AIDS Fund John R. Alchin and Hal Marryatt Mark Blecher, MD and Lary Aasheim Kelly A. Harris Russ Harris, MD and John Casavecchia Dorothy Mann and Bill White Philly AIDS Thrift Staff, Board, and Volunteers Ron Powers

Jimmy Ruiz, MD & Matthew Capucini Thomas Runkle Nurit L. Shein and Sue Levi Elwell Michael D. Soileau and Thomas Ude, Jr. Jessica Slack and Domenic Gallelli Louis Thomas, PhD and Christopher Meffe Christine Caputo Winn and Robert Winn, MD Michael J. Wolf, MD

Gold Sponsors Silver Sponsors Bronze sponsors Tony Verdi, PhD and Mark Mainville

fOOD, fUNDRAISING fRENZY: The Gayborhood was packed April 30 for the lunchtime segment of the annual Dining Out for Life. This marked the third year that food trucks participated, with nine lining the intersection of 13th and Locust, drawing several-hundred lunchers in picture-perfect weather. At night, Frankford Hall was DOFL-central, with diners including Philadelphia FIGHT communications manager Chip Alfred (from left), Kurt Douglass, Common Pleas Judge Dan Anders, mayoral candidate Jim Kenney and Jeff Guaracino. Photos: Scott A. Drake

event sponsors

12th Street Gym Barefoot Wine & Bubbly Bittenbender Construction, LP CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP Commonwealth Consulting, LLC Hahnemann University Hospital Ingage Security

DJ Carl Michaels Philadelphia FIGHT PHL Diversity Sellers Dorsey Foundation Strassheim Graphics Thorbecke Agency West Tavern

(Elixir Sponsors as of April 30, 2015)

Media Sponsor

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 8-14, 2015

Criminal charges against HIVpositive nurse withdrawn By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com

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Julie Ann Graham went through a very challenging experience relating to her HIVpositive status, and she hopes her story will serve as an inspiration to others. In January 2014, Graham was charged with two felonies and two misdemeanors for allegedly having sex with a man without disclosing her serostatus. Even though the man didn’t become HIV-positive, Graham was charged with simple assault, aggravated assault, sexual assault and reckless endangerment. The Carlisle woman was suspended without pay from her job as a nurse, her serostatus was divulged in the local news media and she incurred significant financial losses. But with the assistance of supportive parents, attorney Lawrence S. Krasner, the AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania and other advocacy groups, Graham has pulled her life back together. In February 2014, prosecutors agreed to withdraw three of the criminal charges lodged against Graham. Thirteen months later, prosecutors agreed to withdraw the remaining charge of reckless endangerment — upon completion by Graham of a diversionary program. Graham recently completed the community-service requirement and her criminal record ultimately is expected to be expunged. Ronda B. Goldfein, executive director of the law project, said it’s wrong to use criminal statutes against people with HIV/AIDS who engage in consensual sex. “Consensual sex between adults isn’t the business of the government,” she said. “And criminalization of HIV isn’t an effective way to deal with a public-health issue.” In March, Goldfein and law project staff attorney Adrian M. Lowe met with Lebanon County District Attorney David J. Arnold Jr. “We are grateful and appreciate that [Arnold] took the time to meet with us and give real thought to our concerns,” Goldfein said. “This is how law enforcement should work. We told him it wasn’t his job to take responsibility for someone else’s sexual health. We all have a responsibility to take care of ourselves. He really paid attention to what we said.” Arnold had no comment for this story. Krasner, who serves as Graham’s defense attorney, said his client’s participation in the diversionary program was in her best interests. “There’s no admission of wrongdoing by my client, nor is there any finding of wrongdoing by the court,” he said. “I think this is a perfect outcome. Julie doesn’t have to go through the stress of a trial, nor the risk of an unjust outcome, which accompa-

nies any trial.” He praised the law project for facilitating such a favorable outcome. “I think Ronda Goldfein, Adrian Lowe and their organization were the real reason that this outcome was achieved. They deserve all the credit in the world. They persuaded the D.A.’s Office to handle the case appropriately.” Krasner said the complainant wasn’t at risk of acquiring HIV from Graham. “My client had a zero viral load,” he said. “My understanding of the science, after consulting with experts, is that the complainant had zero risk of acquiring HIV through Julie. I appreciate that prosecutors who are not necessarily experts in this field were willing to listen — and eventually recognize the science.” Goldfein echoed Krasner’s sentiments. “We had law enforcement who didn’t understand the science,” she said. “Julie was caught up in the lack of understanding. [Prosecutors] became educated on the subject and more thoughtful about the risk.” She added: “It’s always a victory when you can participate in somebody becoming more educated on an important issue.” Graham, 27, said the experience propelled her forward as an HIV advocate. “People with HIV need to know that if these laws are brought against them, they can fight it,” she said. “They need the right resources and the right people on their side. We can change attitudes and the stigma associated with being HIV-positive.” The law project represented Graham in civil matters, ensuring that she received unemployment compensation, had continuous health-care coverage and was reinstated to her job in April. “We represented her at the unemployment-compensation hearing and in discussions with the hospital to reinstate her,” Goldfein explained. Graham said the experience had an empowering effect, but she wouldn’t wish it on anyone. “The positive part was meeting people who are HIV-positive and networking with them. I do feel at home when I’m with them. But I would never wish this upon anyone. Even though I grew and matured over this, it wasn’t a positive experience.” She expressed hope that her story will inspire others. “I truly hope my story can shed some light on how wrong it is to criminalize HIV,” she concluded. “And I hope others can take heart and find the right resources and the right people to fight back, if they’re in a similar situation.” Krasner sees a bright future for Graham. “Julie was heroic for hanging in there and fighting,” he said. “She’s a strong, intelligent person with a bright future in many areas. And I hope she achieves all of her goals.” n

LOCAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 8-14, 2015

Gayborhood Crime Watch Wine, women and song for a cause The following incidents in the Midtown Village and Washington Square West areas were reported to the Sixth Police District between April 20-26. Information is courtesy of Sixth District Capt. Brian Korn; Stacy Irving, senior director, Crime Prevention Service; Center City District; the Police Liaison Committee and Midtown Village Merchants Association. To report crime tips, visit www.phillypolice. com or call 215-686-TIPS. INCIDENTS — At 11:30 a.m. April 21, a man was on a westbound MarketFrankford train when another rider demanded his cell phone and watch near the 11th Street stop. He refused, and the male rider punched him and then exited at 13th Street along with four other males. The suspect was black, 5-foot-9, with a medium build, wearing a black hoodie and jeans. — Between 3:50-11:30 p.m. April 26, someone stole a wallet from inside a suitcase in a guest room at Loews Hotel, 1200 Market St. There was no forced entry into the room and no record of the key card

used during that time period. — There were two thefts of bicycles reported April 20-26: outside 1001 Market St. and 1300 Market St. NON-SUMMARY ARRESTS — On April 20, members of the Citywide Vice Unit conducted an investigation inside the Bangkok Spa, 1124 Walnut St., and arrested and charged one suspect with prostitution. — At 10:50 a.m. April 22, a teller inside Citizens Bank, 1234 Market St., was handed a demand note for money and complied. The culprit took the cash and fled north on 12th Street. The next day, the same man attempted to rob a bank in Atlantic City, N.J., and was apprehended. The suspect will be charged and prosecuted for both robberies by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. — Between 7:15 a.m.-4:40 p.m. April 26, someone stole a 2013 Nissan that was parked in the paid garage (keys left inside by the attendant) at 1305 Walnut St. It was recovered, unoccupied, April 27 in the 3200 block of North Carlisle Street. n

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com A giving group is gearing up to wine and dine for the benefit of local seniors. Philly Women Give to Others (GO!) is hosting “Wine, Women and Song: Help Our Senior Sisters” May 16 at John C. Anderson Apartments, 251 S. 13th St., to benefit the LBT residents at the senior affordable-living complex. GO!, founded in 2012, follows a “giving-circle” model, in which they host events strategically centered on different needs and nonprofits, with a special focus on the LBT female community. The group has hosted six fundraising events so far, as well as service-focused initiatives, like sprucing up a meeting room at Mazzoni Center and rehabbing the kitchen at the Foyer of Philadelphia shelter. “Most of the work we’ve done so far has been on behalf of younger or middle-aged people and we felt it was time to do something for our seniors,” said GO! member Bonnie Strahs, one

Paid for by Friends of Paul Steinke

of several co-founders, along with wife Rita Myers. “We ourselves are seniors and a lot of people in the group are middle-aged and older, so we’re very aware of the needs and difficulties our community faces as we age.” The group connected with Ed Miller, who runs the senior programming at William Way LGBT Community Center, and who suggested they focus their event on the JCAA residents, many of whom, the women noted, are low-income. Fifteen LBT women were identified, and they will all benefit from next weekend’s event. GO! conducted a survey of the women to determine what type of fundraising would be most beneficial, and compiled a list of the food stores they most often shop at; guests at next week’s event are asked to make at least a $25 donation or bring a gift card to one of the stores, which include Wawa, SuperFresh, Reading Terminal Market, Walgreens, CVS and Walmart. Myers noted that donors have often given more than the requested donation at their previ-

ous events. “We’ve been astonished by the generosity of the community,” she said. In addition to providing support for the beneficiaries, GO! events, the women noted, are designed to be fun outings for community networking. “We really want to encourage people to be joyful and celebratory about giving,” Myers said. “Giving should be a fun thing, so we incorporate something that means you’ll have a good time when you come out.” For this event, South African musician Sharon Katz of Sharon Katz and the Peace Train will perform, along with duo Joanne and Kevin Joella. Food, beer, wine and soft drinks will be served. “You’ll have a great time, and it’s an important population to support; we want to support our seniors who paved the way for us,” Strahs said. Guests are asked to RSVP to Myers at rita1212@comcast.net. For more information about GO!, email Strahs at bonnie2121@comcast.net or visit facebook.com/pwgto. n

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 8-14, 2015

pGN MENTAL HEALTH

When trans became trendy

At TD Bank, we like to Bank Human™. And we’re proud to celebrate the LGBT community. #TDBankForeverProud

I had the opportunity to see “Kinky intents and purposes, I am a woman” on Boots” earlier this week at the Forrest national television. I wonder how easy it is Theatre. I knew going in that there was a for mainstream America to give themselves drag-queen component that had our coma few pats on the back and turn in peacemunity especially engaged with the show. fully after a night at the theater seeing What I didn’t expect was the excellent job “Kinky Boots.” that “Kinky Boots” does of presenting the After all, “Kinky Boots” ends, as any challenges of the trans experience. good musical should, happily. Lola is free It reflects on the struggles of “Lola,” from the constraints of society’s harsh who was born male and who faced ongojudgments and dances joyfully around ing rejection throughout her life the stage in all of her feminindue to her need to express femity (and, of course, her Kinky ininity in a small, conservative Boots). In reality, however, such British town. At one point, she happy endings are still not as sings, “Look at me, powerless easy to come by for transgenand holding my breath, trying der individuals. Many trans hard to repress what scared him men and women are currently to death. It was never easy to engaged in a painstaking strugbe his type of man, to breathe gle to find a tolerant corner of freely was not in his plan and the world where they can be the best part of me is what themselves without fear. (It he wouldn’t see. I’m not my should be noted that tolerance father’s son.” These lyrics speak is not the same thing as accepso eloquently and powerfully to tance but, sadly, far too many the almost-impossible task that trans people are in a position many trans men and women finding just tolerance Kristina Furia where face before deciding to come is the absolute best-case sceout: hiding. nario). So while the Lolas, Repression is a form of hiding. The Bruce Jenners and Laverne Coxes of the definition of the word is the exclusion of world are helping to pave the way towards unwanted feelings, desires and thoughts a more tolerant and accepting society, we from the conscious mind. The ability to must not forget that suicide rates among repress is a defense mechanism or, in other the trans community are astronomical, with words, something that humans do to promore than 40 percent of trans individuals tect themselves in the face of perceived attempting suicide at some point during danger, whether psychological, physical or their lives. Depression and other menboth. It is figurative protective armor worn tal-health disorders are also substantially by the individual who understands, most more prevalent within this community than likely on an unconscious level, that failure society at large; however, the rate of trans to hide certain thoughts and feelings will individuals seeking help for such issues result in potentially grave negative conis very, very low. In short, trans men and sequences. The best defense mechanisms women are merely at the beginning of a effectively conceal the dangerous content long fight for tolerance, acceptance, strong not just from others, but also from the self. and accurate representation in the media, Of course, most of my trans clients discuss legal protections, appropriate health and having had an innate knowledge of their mental-health services and equality overall. true identity from a very young age, but Let’s all remember that as we high-five one the ones who repressed these feelings most another for being so open-minded. effectively managed to hide their desires Please note: I have written this article as almost completely from themselves, leava cisgender woman and, as such, I do not ing them only with a deeply rooted sense wish to suggest that I fully understand the of emptiness and incompleteness. experience of transgender men and women. Even now, as you read this, there are I have utilized my professional knowledge countless boys and girls and men and as a therapist actively working with trans women hiding their true identities because clients in various stages of transition to of fear. But I can’t help but wonder how write this article in the hopes that it serves many people from the largely heterosexual this community well. n audience at “Kinky Boots” left the perKristina Furia is a psychotherapist specialformance feeling like our society is right izing in issues and concerns of the LGBTQ where it should be on trans issues. Heck, community in addition to depression, anxiety, we have a black trans woman, the beautiful substance abuse and other mental illnesses. Laverne Cox, socializing with the president Her private practice, Philadelphia LGBTQ Counseling, offers both individual and couples and First Lady of the United States, and sessions (www.lgbtphillytherapy.com). we’ve got Bruce Jenner declaring “For all

Thinking Queerly

New Hope Celebrates Pride: May 15-17 TD Bank, N.A. | Equal Housing Lender

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WE FOCUS ON HIV TO HELP YOU FOCUS ON

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Ask your doctor if a medicine made by Gilead is right for you.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 8-14, 2015

EDITORIAL PGN

Creep of the Week

D’Anne Witkowski

Scott Walker

Editorial

Endorsing equality We’re heading into the final week of campaigning for the municipal primary, an election that could bring significant changes to our city government and judicial systems across the state. Locally, the mayoral race is, of course, the hottest. While several of the Democratic contenders presented strong campaigns, PGN found Jim Kenney to be the right choice for the LGBT vote. Kenney has been a friend to the community for decades — and not just an ally, but a leader. Twenty years go, Kenney championed domestic-partner legislation, at a time when LGBT-rights issues were taboo and certainly not politically expedient, a topic he proudly has touched on in campaign commercials. Over the years, he has led efforts like the 2013 measure that offered firstin-the-nation tax credits to companies that provide trans-inclusive health care and domestic-partner benefits, and last year’s successful hate-crimes measure. His advocacy has not just been limited to lawmaking. In 2012, when the head of Chick-fil-A came out swinging against LGBT equality, Kenney fired off a scathing letter, urging him to “take a hike.” Also that year, Kenney worked to raise money for thousands of school children to see the documentary “Bully,” which highlighted anti-LGBT bullying, and pressed the Motion Picture Association of America to change the film’s rating to make it more accessible to youth. And, following the high-profile Russian law banning LGBT “propaganda” in 2013, Kenney pressed Mayor Nutter to cut ties with Philadelphia’s Russian sister city.

Kenney has also been a ubiquitous presence at local LGBT events, long before he was campaigning for mayor or looking for fundraising dollars. From Pride to OutFest to community protests and celebrations, Kenney has been one of our staunchest and most visible allies. PGN is confident he will continue that role if elected to lead our city. We strongly endorse Jim Kenney for mayor. This year’s race also presents the potential for Philadelphia to elect our first out LGBT City Councilmember; both Sherrie Cohen and Paul Steinke are running for at-Large seats. Apart from bringing an LGBT voice to the table, both present progressive, community-focused backgrounds that would be a boon for all Philadelphians. Also in the at-Large race, PGN is endorsing incumbents Blondell Reynolds-Brown, Bill Greenlee and Ed Neilson, all of whom have shown both support and leadership on our community’s issues. Voters will also select nominees for the state Supreme Court, and PGN is endorsing Kevin Dougherty and Anne Lazarus, both of whom have extensive records as fair and inclusive judges. Also in the judicial races, PGN is endorsing out candidates Christopher Mallios, Abbe Fletman and Leon King for Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, and Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas candidate Dan Clifford — all of whom boast impressive and diverse legal careers. This is an important election for our city and community — so get out to the polls May 19 and do your part to bring progressive change to Philadelphia. n

Think of the last time you’ve gotten an country who supinvitation to a wedding and thought to ports marriage yourself, Ugh. These people. I totally don’t equality while think they should be getting married, and still throwing a if I could stop it I would. I’m not going to bone to the antithat! gay right grov But then you think, But I am totally eling under the going to the reception. Free cake! Free table. wine! I’m in. According to If you’ve done that, then you are a terMediaite, the rible person, and it’s highly possible your wedding Walker name is Scott Walker. And if you’re Scott didn’t attend Walker, that means you also — really, was for Walker’s really, really, oh please, oh please, oh wife’s cousin, Shelli Marquardt, and her please — want to be president. Which co-lesbian in crime, Cathy Priem. explains this “I went to a celebration of a Walker just happened to be “away on same-sex couple’s marriage but I did not business when the wedding occurred,” inhale” explanation. according to the New York Times. How The media has been very into asking convenient. GOP presidential hopefuls if they would The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports attend a wedding for a same-sex couple. that while Walker might have skipped the Some would (Rubio, for instance) and oth- nuptials, his son Alex, 19, was there in full ers wouldn’t (Santorum, duh). support, and even “scribbled his signature When Walker, curon the marriage certifiAww. How sweet. If rently the governor of cate as one of two adult Wisconsin, was asked to the wedWalker loves you, he witnesses a similar question, he ding.” will show that love by came up with a “have In fact, both of your cake and eat it too” Walker’s sons have a skipping your vows kind of response. more evolved view of “That’s certainly a marriage equality than because he thinks personal issue. For a Dad. His wife seems to you’re immoral. But family member, (my as well. wife) Tonette and I and But Walker, who he’ll totally come our family have already is on record time and dance to “Old Time had a family member time again speaking who’s had a reception. against marriage equalRock and Roll” I haven’t been at a ity, doesn’t seem to at your reception. wedding,” Walker told be changing his mind. MSNBC. “That’s true In fact, he’s recently Because love. even though my position been claiming that due on marriage is still that to recent court rulings it’s defined between a man and a woman, striking down an antigay marriage ban in and I support the constitution of the state. his state, the whole gay-marriage issue But for someone I love, we’ve been at a is out of his hands, so who cares what he reception.” thinks anyway? Aww. How sweet. If Walker loves you, Uh, gays and lesbians care. I, for one, he will show that love by skipping your would like to know whether the people in vows because he thinks you’re immoral. power think I’m a second-class citizen. But he’ll totally come dance to “Old Time “Uh, I went to a homo wedding reception Rock and Roll” at your reception. Because once” doesn’t cut it. n love. D’Anne Witkowski has been gay for pay since But your love for each other will not 2003. She’s a freelance writer and poet (believe change Walker’s stance that marriage is it!). When she’s not taking on the creeps of strictly a one-penis-plus-one-vagina thing. the world, she reviews rock and roll shows in So there. Detroit with her twin sister and teaches writing Way to pander to the majority of the at the University of Michigan.

Correction In the May 1-7 edition of PGN, a page-one photo of Philadelphia Black Pride’s Social Sunday event incorrectly stated that 100 people attended the April 26 party at the Kimmel Center. About 300 people attended. Additionally, Garces Group provided the food for the event and music was provided by DJ Dior with a special appearance by recording artist Dawn Richard. Philadelphia Black Pride returns the fourth weekend of April 2016.

Op-Ed PGN

Final push to the polls The municipal primary is just days away and this week PGN released our list of endorsements. Let’s take a closer look at the candidates.

Sherrie, Paul and other at-Large candidates

Sherrie Cohen has the potential of becoming the highest-level LGBT representative in Mayor: Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club our city, and it’s about time that a represenand a great number of LGBT tative from our community be a community leaders are backing woman. And Sherrie has a proven Jim Kenney for mayor, while track record: scores of years on Anthony Williams has garnered the front-line battle for LGBT the support of community memequality, fighting to keep libraries bers like Malcolm Lazin and Mel open, winning housing issues and Heifetz. But this race is not about fighting for small businesses. And popularity, it’s about facts. during that time, she found out the Both candidates for mayor success of winning: working with support LGBT equality. And people, all kinds of people. they both do so honestly and out So she set herself a goal of of a sense of passion. Kenney meeting Philadelphia citizens supported LGBT equality in his in all their neighborhoods, and first race more than two decades she met them as an out lesbian. ago. I know this personally since The result was that she won the it was part of a strategy to defeat most coveted election prize of Fran Rafferty, and replace him Mark Segal them all: the endorsement of the with Kenney. It was one of our Democratic City Committee, and local LGBT community’s first went on to win endorsements in major political victories. Kenney has gone almost every part of the city, including neighon to support every LGBT political initiative, borhoods, unions, family organizations and sometimes putting his own career in peril to a host of elected officials like Congressman do so. Bob Brady, former Gov. Ed Rendell and state Reps. Brian Sims and Curtis Thomas. With Kenney’s support so high in the LGBT community, Williams could have In fact, it would take two columns to just list shied away from the issue and won some the endorsements she has. Sherrie is poised to win, and in a race with this many candidates, votes from more conservatives in his comthat’s proof of what a strong presence she munity, but he stood tall in his support of will be on behalf of our community. this community. Williams has defended this community in the state Senate against anti We are lucky to have another out LGBT candidate in the race this year: Paul Steinke. gay-marriage battles, and is the proud sponFor a first campaign, he has run a fine one, sor of the anti-conversion-therapy legislation to protect youth. but he has fallen short of breaking out of cer Both Kenney and Williams were early sup- tain city districts; you can’t run a citywide porters of our community’s pride, the John campaign falling short from winning rankC. Anderson Apartments, the LGBT-friendly and-file labor and the Democratic party or affordable senior-living building. As the even neighborhood organizations. These are developer of that project, I can attest to how essential to winning elections. He is worthy each helped to make it a reality. of your vote to encourage him to run again in The simple fact is that, while Williams is the future and, like many of you, I note there a true ally of the LGBT community, Kenney are two out candidates for City Council’s five has become family, or I’d go as far as saying, seats. So if you are a proud LGBT person, an LGBT activist. Not a single LGBT bill you should be voting for both, as I will be. in Council has gone to the floor without his So that leaves us with three. It’s an easy name in 23 years. When he realized that trans choice: Blondell Reynolds Brown, Bill issues were not covered in our original LGBT Greenlee and Ed Neilson. nondiscrimination measure, he rewrote it to Remember, this is going to be a close electhe point that it is the best LGBT nondiscrim- tion. Please vote! n ination legislation in the nation. Many activists will tell you about the days Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the nation’s when our community didn’t want visibility. most-award-winning commentator in LGBT Kenney understood that 23 years ago, but that media. You can follow him on Facebook invisibility or darkness has led to sunshine — at www.facebook.com/MarkSegalPGN or and Philadelphia becoming the most LGBTTwitter at https://twitter.com/PhilaGayNews. friendly city in America. It’s simple: Jim Kenney for mayor.

Mark My Words

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 8-14, 2015

Street Talk After a harsh winter, what's a great spring-vacation destination? "Costa Rica. I went to a resort there about five years ago. It was like paradise. There were 15 mineral springs of Kendra Blyth varying nanny temperaQueen Village tures. I went into most of them. It was very relaxing and rejuvenating. The adjacent forest was magnificent."

"Paris is wonderful. The city has beautiful cherry blossoms in the spring. I danced under the Eiffel Tower. It was Sherri Moore absolutely educational director gorgeous. Queen Village Romance was in the air. They were selling roses that you could give to strangers! I had a great time."

"The Virgin Islands. I was going to attend a school in the Virgin Islands. It has nice scenery and a calm Destiny Morgan atmosphere student that help you North Philadelphia regain your thoughts. I live in the city. Going to the Virgin Islands would be a welcome change of pace."

"I'm a Pisces. I'm definitely a fish. So I'll say Aruba. It's beautiful. Extremely blue water, blue sky, white sandy beaches. Great seafood. I'm a seafood fanatic!"

Shae-Marie Williams artist North Philadelphia

Letters and Feedback In response to “Day in the Life of: a restaurant senior server, Harry Watkins,” April 17-23: He was our server for a Christmas girlsnight-out dinner and is the best there is. Fantastic service, even better food and can’t wait to go back for the food and the company! — Patty Ferry Gallagher In response to “Creep of the Week: Pat Robertson,” April 17-23:

I have been listening to this bozo for years. Most intelligent people ignore him while the ignorant don’t. The good news is that religious frauds like him are dying out. Real Christians, full of love, will take over. We all end up in heaven but I understand special men like him who misquote God and misuse their power will have some explaining to do. He’s reading the wrong books. I would not want to be him. Say a prayer for his nasty soul. — Brian Martenis PAGE 15

Tell us what you think Send letters and opinion column submissions to: pgn@epgn.com; PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147; fax: 215-925-6437. Please include a daytime phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity, style and space considerations.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 8-14, 2015

finances PGN

Securing financing for your small business Q: I’m strongly considering opening my own business, but I’m not sure how much it will cost to get things up and running in the beginning, as well as how to manage ongoing financial needs. Can you offer any guidance on financing options?

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A: Opening a new business or expanding an existing one can be an exciting and often scary proposition. It’s always best to have a solid plan in place so you know what to expect cost-wise, in the short and longer term. Here are some thoughts to help you get started. And best of luck with the new business!

Out Money

When managing a small business, few things are more important than understanding potential sources of financing for your short- and long-term capital requirements. A comprehensive capiJeremy talization strategy enhances your ability to obtain the funding you Gussick need and realize your ultimate business goals. When creating a capitalization strategy, you first must think through which business activities you plan to finance, such as developing a new product or service offering, acquiring inventory or hiring staff. Then you’ll need to estimate how much these activities will cost and research appropriate sources of financing. To some degree, the state of the economy and a business owner’s management skills will also influence a company’s need for capital. For instance, an economic downturn may result in reduced sales or profits, prompting an entrepreneur to rely on outside financing for a period of time. Or, poor management of accounts receivable or inventory may require a capital infusion while a business owner addresses these issues. Common uses of capital The capital needs of a small business vary depending on the company’s size, maturity and the complexity of its operations. Some of the most common reasons companies require capital include the following: Stage of Company’s Development

Typical Needs for Capital

Prelaunch

Create business plan, develop product or service, recruit business partners.

Start-up

Incorporate the business, prepare store or plant, obtain marketing materials, purchase inventory, hire staff.

Ongoing operation

Finance regular expenses such as payroll, utilities, inventory, rent/mortgage, taxes, marketing.

Expansion

Open new branch, launch new product, increase capacity, purchase equipment.

Crunching the numbers Once you understand the business activities you need to finance, you can develop an annual budget and estimate your capital requirements one and two years in advance. Your accountant can help with this exercise. Many experts recommend planning for worst-case, realistic and best-case scenarios. This approach may decrease your likelihood of underestimating your capital requirements, which could cause you to run out of money or pass up potential opportunities. You may want to consult outside sources to ensure your budget is as reliable as possible. Your local chamber of commerce or a regional business association may help you estimate expenses such as utilities or payroll that tend to vary regionally. A professional association that represents your industry may have information about standard costs, margins and financial ratios. In the Philadelphia region, our community has access to resources through the Independence Business Alliance, our LGBT chamber of commerce. Their website is www.thinkIBA.com for more information. Sources of capital Once you have determined your capital needs, you’re ready to consider potential sources of funding. The table on the next page explains sources that entrepreneurs frequently use and the characteristics associated with each. If you are estimating capital needs for a start-up business, plan on maintaining sufficient funding to cover anticipated expenses for at least six months. Most start-up businesses are not profitable and typically operate six months or longer before generating capital internally. PAGE 14

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 8-14, 2015

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finances PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 8-14, 2015

OUT MONEY from page 12

Source of Capital

Advantages

Disadvantages

Company profits

Allows owner maximum control of business.

May be unpredictable for early-stage company. May be inadequate to finance long-term expansion.

Owner maintains control. May provide flexible terms.

May require business owner to increase personal debt or jeopardize long-term goals such as a secure retirement.

Entrepreneur’s personal resources

Frequent source of short-term May lack business expertise or be financing. Loan officers may inadequate for long-term needs. have business experience and provide assistance with financial issues.

Family and friends

Loan from bank or commercial finance company

Often a former entrepreneur or executive; investor may possess considerable management expertise.

May be reluctant to provide long-term loan or to finance a start-up company. Requires collateral to secure loan agreement.

“Angel” investor who finances small businesses

May provide access to business associates and other investors.

May desire active involvement in the business, resulting in less control for the entrepreneur.

Venture capitalist

Does not require additional debt, providing the business owner with financial flexibility.

Often necessitates a higher rate of return than lenders because there is no requirement to make current payments.

Also, the type of business you manage will influence your capital requirements. For example, a retail business requires inventory that must be financed before taking delivery. Many service businesses typically wait 30-90 days before receiving payment from customers, which may require an infusion of capital to pay interim expenses. Keep in mind that the time to develop a capitalization strategy is before your company needs the money. You are more likely to impress financiers if your current affairs are in order and you have a thorough understanding of your future needs. n

Jeremy R. Gussick is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with LPL Financial, the nation’s largest independent broker-dealer.* Jeremy specializes in the financial planning needs of the LGBT community and was recently named a 2014 FIVE STAR Wealth Manager by Philadelphia Magazine.** He is active with several LGBT organizations in the Philadelphia region, including the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund and the Independence Business Alliance, the Philadelphia region’s LGBT chamber of commerce. OutMoney appears monthly. If you

have a question for Jeremy, email Jeremy. gussick@lpl.com. LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC. This article was prepared with the assistance of Wealth Management Systems Inc. The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. We suggest that you discuss your specific situation with a qualified tax or legal advisor. Please consult me if you have any questions. Because of the possibility of human or mechanical error by Wealth Management Systems Inc. or its sources, neither Wealth Management Systems Inc. nor its sources guarantees the accuracy, adequacy, completeness or availability of any information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such information. In no event shall Wealth Management Systems Inc. be liable for any indirect, special or consequential damages in connection with subscribers’ or others’ use of the content. Wealth Management Systems, Inc. and LPL Financial are not affiliated entities. *As reported by Financial Planning magazine, 1996-2014, based on total revenues.

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LOCAL PGN FEEDBACK from page 11

In response to “Judge moves gay-bashing case forward” They need to be punished to the fullest extent of the law! It would have been great had they been charged with a hate crime! I hope that these privileged a**holes pay for their crimes! — Michael White Do not drop the charges! Aggravated assault is a very serious crime. Make these privileged a**holes pay for their actions. In Pennsylvania, aggravated assault that does not involve serious bodily injury is a second-degree felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000. If the defendant causes serious bodily injury or attempts to cause serious bodily injury, aggravated assault is a first-degree felony, punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of up to $25,000. — Joe

cop doesn’t mean you can get away with senselessly beating two people. Here’s hoping the judge drops the hammer on them and gives them a strict punishment. You do the crime, you do the time! — chris968 In response to “Fueling hatred towards the LGBT community,” April 9-15: It seems to me the root cause of hate would be not pride but fear. It would arise from social conditioning that threatens one with rejection by the in group if one manifests any characteristics of, or sympathy toward, the out group. This would lead to hatred of those aspects of self that could lead to rejection, and rather than acknowledge those aspects, the person transfers the hate to the out group. This would include cases of covert membership in the out group, but also simple empathy and the desire for friendship. Pride in this self-repression might then develop as a reinforcement for in-group identification, but the root cause would still be fear. n — Eric Hamell

Just because you’re rich and daddy is a

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 8-14, 2015

Office of LGBT Affairs bill clears committee By Ryan Kasley ryan@epgn.com Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown’s bill that would make permanent the Mayor’s Office of LGBT Affairs unanimously cleared City Council’s committee on law and government. Several local LGBT community-organization leaders testified at an April 30 hearing, including William Way LGBT Community Center executive director Chris Bartlett, Mazzoni Center executive director Nurit Shein, Philadelphia Human Relations Commission director Rue Landau and Office of LGBT Affairs director Nellie Fitzpatrick. A spokesman for Reynolds Brown’s office said the bill was scheduled for a full Council vote May 14. If the bill clears Council, it would move to the desk of Mayor Michael Nutter, who has already endorsed it. Once signed, the bill would appear on the Nov. 3 gener-

al-election ballot, where voters would be asked: “Shall The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to establish and define the functions of the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Affairs, headed by a Director of LGBT Affairs?” The measure would essentially make the office immune to closure by any future mayoral administrations. Nutter created the office in 2008 and named Gloria Casarez the first director. The office was designed to serve as a conduit between the LGBT community and City Hall. Casarez died this past fall and, during her tenure, she coordinated outreach among LGBT community members, the police department and the District Attorney’s Office, launched the raising of the rainbow flag to commemorate LGBT History Month and represented LGBT interests in legislative and policy matters. Fitzpatrick took over the post early this year. n

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ELECTIONS PGN

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Superior Court Judge Christine Donohue Donohueforjustice.com The daughter of a United Mine Worker and a union seamstress, Superior Court Judge Christine Donohue has roots in working-family values. Throughout her career, Donohue has had the opportunity to litigate or preside over landmark cases protecting the rights of injured persons, holding corporations accountable for fraudulent behavior, eliminating bias against LGBT parents in custody matters and more. Donohue supports marriage equality, the statewide LGBT nondiscrimination and hate-crimes bills and LGBT-specific sensitivity training for judges and court employees. “As judges we must educate ourselves on all LGBT issues, including the insidious nature of crimes directed at members of the LGBT community,” Donohue said. “Within the context of our written decisions, judges can educate members of the bar and the public on the impact of such offenses on members of the LGBT community and society.” Donohue added that, during her 2007 campaign for Superior Court, she hosted a reception at her home for former Congressman Barney Frank and, during that campaign, earned endorsements of the Liberty City Stonewall Democrats, the Steel City Stonewall Democrats and the Gertrude Stein Political Club of Greater Pittsburgh. Once elected, she authored an opinion that eliminated the presumption against a gay parent in child custody proceedings, “evidencing my commitment to equal protection under the law for all citizens,” Donohue said. Common Pleas Court Judge Kevin Dougherty Doughertyforpa.com Judge Kevin Dougherty is looking to bring his nearly 15 years on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas to the state’s top court. During his tenure as administrative judge of Philadelphia Family Court, Dougherty said, he worked to advance the interests of all children, including LGBT youth. “I made it a priority to streamline the process for second-parent adoptions, dramatically increasing the amount of kids who were able to be placed in permanent, loving homes,” he said. “Whether the issue was custody rights, discrimination issues or violence perpetrated against someone because of hate, I made sure that my Family Court was one where all members of the LGBT community got a fair shake.” Dougherty said he worked collaboratively with the commissioner of the Department of

ELECTIONS PGN

Human Services to ensure the “safety, treatment and education of transgender youth in juvenile detention. As a result, we established protocols and an educational curriculum for court employees related to the special needs of transgendered youth.” After learning about a fellow Family Court judge who mistreated a transgender youth who came through the system, Dougherty said he volunteered to handle all cases of trans youth. “I recruited judges belonging to the LGBT community to educate myself so I could treat my transgender kids with respect and dignity and ensure they received the services needed to get back on their feet,” he said. As administrative judge, he selected the first openly gay woman to serve as the chief of court operations. He additionally recruited the first openly gay male and female judges to serve in the Family Division, he noted. “I strongly value the importance of ensuring that those who work in public service at any level reflect the diversity of the communities they serve.” Dougherty said he is a longtime supporter of marriage equality and the inclusion of LGBT protections in state nondiscrimination and hate-crimes laws. With three of the seven seats on the Supreme Court open, Dougherty noted this election is integral to the direction of the state’s top court for at least the next decade.

“Important issues like LGBT equality, women’s health, voting access, workers’ rights and redistricting are all on the line,” he said. “We need to elect the strongest slate of candidates who can win in the fall against the Republican ticket. My campaign has broad support and the resources it needs to run a winning statewide election.” Common Pleas Judge John Foradora voteforadora.com Jefferson County Common Pleas Judge John Foradora said he is not a “political insider” and “rules according to the law,” which he said he would continue if elected to the state’s top court. In 2001, Foradora became the second-youngest president judge ever elected in Pennsylvania and was the first Democrat ever elected to the bench in Jefferson County. Ten years later, Foradora was retained for a second 10-year term with 84 percent of the vote, the highest retention percentage in Pennsylvania over a four-year period. Foradora said he granted adoptions to same-sex couples prior to marriage

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 8-14, 2015

equality in the state and authorized name changes for same-sex couples. Along with marriage equality, he supports the statewide LGBT nondiscrimination and hate-crimes bills and LGBT training for judges and court employees. “I have been at the forefront of providing same-sex equality in my community,” Foradora said. “I have performed wedding ceremonies for all who have asked, even couples returning to my area from Texas during Christmas season. I have also allowed same-sex couples to adopt and I have hired and contracted with LGBT employers and providers. I strive to treat everyone equally and with the respect they deserve.” Superior Court Judge Anne E. Lazarus www.voteannelazarus.com Superior Court Judge Anne E. Lazarus was elected to her current position in 2009, and was the only statewide Democrat to win a seat in that election. She chaired the State Conference of Trial Judges Ethics Committee for six years, has sat on the Judicial Conduct Board since 2011

and led an ad-hoc committee charged with reviewing the Canons of Judicial Conduct. The Pennsylvania Bar Association honored her with its Judicial Award for Legal Services to the Public for her work in recognizing attorneys who excel in providing probono legal service to ensure that everyone has access to the judicial system. Lazarus said she is limited in many ways from advocating for pro-LGBT legislation because of her position on the bench, but she supports marriage equality, statewide LGBT nondiscrimination and hate-crimes bills and LGBT-specific sensitivity training for judges and court employees. Lazarus said she has always been an ally of the LGBT community and would continue to be, if elected to the Supreme Court. “I employ openly LGBT people on both my campaign and official staff, and my personal hiring policy is to not discriminate based on race, age, religion, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. Further, I have been committed over the years to recruiting and hiring a diverse staff,” she said, noting that commitment goes back decades. “In my courtroom, everyone is equal under the law, no matter your background, and when I was practicing law in the late ’70s and early ’80s I would regularly lecture and advise LGBT couples on how to protect themselves, their partners and their families under the law.” n

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ELECTIONS pGN

City Commissioner Carol Jenkins http://caroljenkins.nationbuilder.com/ As a ward leader of the 27th Ward, Carol Jenkins has been responsible for supervising the election process in University City and Southwest Philadelphia, and has worked with city workers and institutional administrators who support Election Day activities. Jenkins holds a master’s in public administration and has taught politics at Temple University since obtaining her doctorate degree in political science. Jenkins said she would reach out to voters in marginalized communities, including LGBT voters, and work with community organizations “to educate voters and make sure that they have confidence that their votes are valuable and that the city wants to hear their voices.” Jenkins said a lack of elected officials prepared to work with the LGBT community and represent their issues is the most pressing issue facing the LGBT community. “But this might be the year for change,” she added. Jenkins noted that LGBT equality is personal for her: She has a gay brother and bisexual daughter, which she said has given her “a personal knowledge of and interest in LGBT issues, and especially ensuring that community members feel that they are welcomed at every level of civic engagement.”

Will Mega www.votewillmega.com/ Will Mega has volunteered and worked on political campaigns and voter-registration drives since the age of 9, when he started as a youth volunteer for now-Congressman Chaka Fattah and state Sen. Vincent Hughes. After running for state represen-tative in the past, he decided he could make a greater impact in the City Commissioner’s Office, by using his community-organizing skills to drive the 600,000 registered voters to the polls who don’t traditionally vote in elections. Mega is currently employed as dean of students at a Philadelphia accelerated and alternative high school that serves previous highschool drop-outs. He said Philadelphia’s LGBT community needs “equal representation in every field of human endeavor.” “I don’t just mean having people of the LGBT community being employed in a leadership capacity in every field, but more so, having people in leadership positions that understand the LGBT community and assure and understand their issues from a culturally competent position,” he said. “If elected City Commissioner, I will work to create an environment that is free from stigma and bias, and accepts people for who they are and that enables all to contribute to their full potential, regardless of their background. I have spent my entire adult life as an activist fightign for the politically, socially, economically and racially oppressed community. As I have grown in my activism, I now fight for all people who are being discriminated against.” n

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 8-14, 2015

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PGN ELECTIONS

City Council Second District Kenyatta Johnson Second District City Councilman and former state lawmaker Kenyatta Johnson is running for reelection. Since taking office in 2012, he said he has focused on lowering taxes, enhancing education and preventing gun violence. Johnson represents a diverse district including parts of South Philadelphia and employs several openly LGBT members on his staff. He said he will continue to surround himself with a diverse team to make sure he sees issues from all perspectives. He voted in favor of the recent LGBT-inclusive hate-crimes bill and similar pro-LGBT legislation. He commended the police department for establishing relationships with the LGBT Police Liaison Committee. Johnson said he would work with police to make sure acts of violence against transgender women of color are fully investigated. Long involved in curbing violence in public schools, Johnson said he would support efforts to evaluate the climate of LGBT bullying in Philly schools as well as the necessary corrective measures. He said he supports laws that specifically ban bullying based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Johnson said Council must advocate for increased funding at the local, state and federal level for housing opportunities for people with HIV/AIDS. In the last three years, Johnson has supported the placement of more than 100 units of affordable, workforce and mixed-income housing in his district. He said he is open to working with LGBT advocates to locate land in the Second District to develop affordable housing for LGBT seniors. Johnson has worked with Greater Philadelphia Health Action and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to bring two new health centers to his district, which will open soon. He said LGBT-owned businesses should be included in city contracting requirements, which currently are open to other minority communities. According to Johnson, anti-LGBT violence is the most pressing issue facing the community. “Throughout my career, I have consistently supported legislation and other initiatives that aim to ensure equal rights for the LGBT community and prevent unfair treatment of LGBT individuals,” he said. “I will continue to advocate for policies that ensure that everyone feels welcome in Philadelphia.” Ori Feibush Ori Feibush, perhaps best know for kickstarting the redevelopment of the Point Breeze neighborhood, wants to take his passion for the Second District to City Council.

Feibush said that, if elected, he would continue the practices he used to build his campaign team, like selecting representatives from each of the neighborhoods in his district. Feibush supports the recently passed LGBTinclusive hate-crimes measure and other similar pieces of legislation. To increase security in his district, Feibush said he would like to install more lighting and security cameras. To address the rising rates of violence against transgender women, Feibush would continue to facilitate meetings among law enforcement and LGBT community representatives. To combat bullying in public schools, Feibush would support enhanced outreach to parents and increased education about the city’s bullying hotline. Additionally, he said greater training for teachers and counselors is needed. He also supports laws that specifically ban bullying based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Feibush would work with community leaders and other groups that were part of the coalition to build the John C. Anderson Apartments in order to secure funding for housing for people living with HIV/AIDS. His plan to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic includes fighting to increase funding for programs or institutions that focus on research, testing, health care and prevention education. One of Feibush’s campaign platforms is ensuring all individuals have equal access to economic opportunities, including LGBTs. He has outlined several policy initiatives that aim to improve business development, remap commercial corridors and streamline the process for opening a small business. Feibush said the same issues affecting LGBT people — public education, economic opportunity and safety and security — impact all Philadelphians. “Unlike most elected officials in Philadelphia, I don’t have a background in politics,” Feibush noted. “Instead, I have a background and track record of creating local jobs, cleaning and improving the safety of my neighborhood, and helping our public schools. I have the real-world experience and perspective that is currently lacking from the politicians in City Hall.” Third District City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell is running for reelection this year to continue to represent the Third District — which covers West and Southwest Philly, including University City. The Democrat has served on Council since 1992 and has been part of landmark LGBT legislation such as the recent LGBT-inclusive hate-crimes law that maximized municipal penalties for offenders. Blackwell said she would continue her office’s efforts to hire people from diverse backgrounds and that all people are made to feel welcome in her office. Blackwell believes transgender women of color, who she noted are disproportionately

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 8-14, 2015

susceptible to violent crime, are entitled to the same rights and protections as any other citizen. She also wants to raise awareness among the trans community about the city’s “311” hotline. Blackwell said she takes a hard line against bullying in Philly public schools. She said a coordinated effort among teachers, administrators, parents and volunteers is key to monitoring and addressing the issue at school and other places like on the Internet. Blackwell supports funding for housing opportunities for people with HIV/AIDS. Her district has extremely high rates of the diseases and she said she has worked over the years to ensure that city dollars have been invested in her neighborhood to help affected individuals. As a member of the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation, Blackwell has long advocated for financing and technical assistance to minority-owned enterprises. She said ensuring equal rights and access to opportunities are the most pressing issues facing the local LGBT community. Blackwell said she continues to strive to emulate her late husband, former Congressman and City Councilman Lucien Blackwell. “He introduced the first human-rights bill in the city and I have followed in his footsteps and supported equality,” she said. Seventh District Maria Quiñones-Sánchez Maria Quiñones-Sánchez may not have received the Democratic Party endorsement, but she did earn the Liberty City Democratic Club’s vote of confidence. And throughout her time as Councilwoman representing the Seventh District, she said she has consistently shown strong support for LGBT legislation. Quiñones-Sánchez said she employs people from all religions, races, gender identities and sexual orientations, noting diversity creates strong, dynamic workplaces. She voted in favor of the recent LGBTinclusive hate-crimes bill and said that understanding systemic minority abuse is critical to creating better policies for Philly’s LGBT community. To combat the rising rates of violence against trans women of color, Sanchez said programs must be in place that empower these individuals and show them how to protect themselves. She also strongly supports sensitivity training for law enforcement. Quiñones-Sánchez sees schools as the greatest opportunity to eradicate homophobia. She fully supports programs like Restorative Practices, which holds people accountable while also supporting their growth. Quiñones-Sánchez said she would continue to work with the Housing Trust Fund to identify LGBT-specific housing needs and work with her colleagues to implement a strategic plan. She also supports the expansion of programs that seek to educate and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS as well as underutilized prevention methods like PreP. She also has actively supported funding for health-service

providers Prevention Point and Philly FIGHT to expand in her district. Quiñones-Sánchez has made small-business tax reform a large part of her legislative record. She led successful legislation that reduced the businesses’ use and occupancy fee and another that exempted businesses from their first $100,000 of gross receipts. She said she would push to see more LGBT-owned businesses operating across the city. Quiñones-Sánchez said discrimination is the most pressing issue facing the LGBT community in Philadelphia, and that she will continue to urge the state legislature and the governor’s office to adopt a statewide LGBT nondiscrimination measure. “I have fought tirelessly for all those who have felt disenfranchised and forgotten,” she said. “My record shows that I have consistently supported the LGBT community throughout Philadelphia and my district.” Eighth District Michael Galganski In 2012, Michael Galganski founded an independent political party based on dignitarian ideology, the Free Dominion Party, under which he is currently running. The self-starter Germantown resident and teacher at Philadelphia University is making his first attempt at a seat on City Council. Galganski said persecution of any group is unacceptable but that he wants a municipal resolution that advocates for hiring based on equitable and entrepreneurial ideals, rather than diversity quotas. Galganski said he does not support criminal prosecution based “solely on positive or negative disposition or laws that discriminate between social groups concerning malevolent intent.” Instead, he thinks such cases should be litigated on ethical principles such as “sanctifying vested property, currency, corporality, sovereignty, philosophy and spirituality.” He believes that “individual rights are bestowed by a Creator, rather than being granted through collective personhood such as age, ethnicity, gender or sexuality.” As for addressing bullying, Galganski said offenders should be punished but that it is not realistic to completely eradicate youth bullying. He said he does not advocate for laws that discriminate among social groups. To fund housing opportunities for people living with HIV/AIDS, Galganski would like to see such funding supported by charitable organizations rather than the city. If elected, Galganski said, he would propose public trusts to which individuals could endow whichever type of chapter within the trust they believe has value. Funds from this system would go towards addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic within the city and other issues. Galganski said his platform “aims to align with principled and free public citizenry from imposed preconceptions, while corroborating with justice to dutifully guard undeliberated innocence.” n

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 8-14, 2015

MAYOR from page 1

“Absolutely, yes,” he said. “It’s a civil right that everyone is entitled to.” Also a given would be retaining the Office of LGBT Affairs, he said. “Absolutely,” he said. “[Director] Nellie [Fitzpatrick] is doing a great job in the wake of [the late director] Gloria [Casarez], who we continue to mourn.” Kenney also supports Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown’s bill that would amend the City Charter to make the office permanent. “There will be no question of its existence in my administration. I would also like to make the inspector-general position permanent as well,” he noted. To address rising rates of violence against transgender women of color, Kenney applauded the current efforts between the police department and the LGBT Police Liaison Committee, and said there is still room for evolution. “I think the police and the D.A.’s Office and the community are going in the right direction, but there is still more room for them to understand about the trans community,” he said. “I would also like a trans presence in the administration, not unlike what Gov. Wolf has done.” Wolf recently nominated Dr. Rachel Levine as physician general, making her the state’s highest-ranking out transgender individual. Kenney supports laws that specifically ban bullying based on sexual orientation and gender identity. He sees himself in a “hands-on” role in curbing violence in Philly schools. “I want to do a wide array of things to inject life into the schools, which includes anti-bullying efforts,” Kenney said. “I plan to really coordinate with principals and school officials on the matter. We want to save as many people from that experience as possible.” Under the direction of community organizations like Mazzoni Center, Kenney said he would evaluate need and direct funding accordingly for housing opportunities for people living with HIV/AIDS. To address the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Kenney said, the city’s health department plays a significant role in education, though the burden may be too much for it to handle alone. “We have the capacity in this city to be guided by the experts,” said Kenney. “I’m willing to allocate the resources to the appropriate organizations.” As a board member on Independence Blue Cross’ Minority Contracting and Hiring Committee, Kenney said he has worked hard to ensure LGBT- and other minority-owned businesses receive fair and equal opportunities. “Our inclusionary attitude toward spreading the wealth without a doubt includes the LGBT community. The LGBT community is a vital part of our economy.” According to Kenney, the most pressing issues facing the LGBT community in Philadelphia are those are affecting all Philadelphians — jobs, crime and schools. “I recognize there are issues unique to the LGBT community,” he said. “But these

PGN ELECTIONS

larger issues affect all of us and must be addressed.” If elected, Kenney said, some of his top priorities would be enhancing access to quality education, including at the pre-K level, and advancing employment opportunities for people who don’t have a college education. Kenney said he believes his lengthy record as an LGBT ally should earn him the community’s support. “I have been an ally of this community, made the folks in this community a part of my own personal family, so to speak,” Kenney said. “They are part of my world. I am proud of them, and will defend their rights.” Lynne Abraham The city’s former five-term district attorney, Lynne Abraham, wants to bring her public-service expertise to the mayor’s office. The Philadelphia native said she would ensure diversity in City Hall the same way she did during her time in the D.A.’s Office — avidly recruiting people from all walks of life to be on her staff. Of note, she appointed openly gay current Common Pleas candidate Chris Mallios to be her liaison to the LGBT community while she was in office. Abraham said she would retain the Office of LGBT Affairs and supports recent legislation that would amend the city charter to make the office permanent. She said she would mandate staffers in all city departments to undergo LGBT-sensitivity training. Abraham also supports the recently passed law instating penalties for antiLGBT hate crimes. But the state still lags far behind. As mayor, Abraham said she would do everything she could to advance statewide proLGBT legislation and advocate for the idea that “we are better served by being inclusive, not discriminating against LGBTs and other minorities.” To address rising rates of violence against transgender women of color, Abraham said it is important that police keep careful recordings of every incident reported. “I would speak to members of the LGBT community to make sure that trans issues in particular are watched and monitored so that there is no gap in what is reported and what is recorded,” she said. Abraham supports laws that specifically ban bullying based on sexual orientation and gender identity. She added that there should be strict policies in place in Philadelphia, “from the top of the administration down through to the students.” She also said students who identify with a different gender should be able to use a bathroom that is appropriate with their gender identity. Abraham said she strongly supports

funding for housing opportunities for people with HIV/AIDS. To address the HIV/AIDS epidemic within the city, she emphasized prevention and said she would use the mayor’s office as a bully pulpit to call for more public education about the epidemic. And she would urge local companies to continue to advance anti-retroviral pharmacology. “The public in general has to understand that it’s not just a gay disease,” Abraham said. “The community has to be constantly vigilant.” As part of her plan to ensure LGBTowned businesses receive fair and equal opportunities, Abraham would ensure everyone has equal access to capital, city programs, loans, grants and contracts that are available throughout the city. “Everyone also must be aware of the Fair Practices Ordinance,” she added. According to Abraham, the most pressing issue facing the LGBT community in Philadelphia is housing for aging LGBT community members. “There is so much emphasis on youth, but we too easily forget that we have a burgeoning elderly population. They need housing, food, medicines, social services. While the John C. Anderson Apartments are a good start, it’s a small start.” Abraham also said housing developers should have to allot a certain number of units for the elderly and disabled. She said she would join the national Mayors for Marriage Equality coalition. “Long before anyone else got on the LGBT-equality bandwagon, I was an urban pioneer,” she said. “I used to go out with gay men all the time. They were my friends. I have a strong track record of supporting LGBT issues and I am 100 percent on board.” Doug Oliver Doug Oliver may be the youngest candidate running for mayor, but the Philly native said he is full of great ideas. Oliver currently works in business development at Philadelphia Gas Works, where he is also responsible for corporate communications and public affairs. He also previously served as press secretary under Mayor Nutter. To ensure diversity in City Hall, Oliver said he would make sure his senior team included people from every walk of life. “I would seek to have my staff reflect t h e d iv e r s i t y o f the city,” he said. “It’s not the only place to influence policy but it’s a good start. Fairness is one of my campaign platforms and is the approach I would take to ensure diversity.” Oliver said he would retain the Office of LGBT Affairs and supports recent legislation that would make it permanent. “I served under Mayor Nutter for his first three years and knew [late LGBT

director] Gloria [Casarez] well,” Oliver said. “Giving respect to her memory alone would be enough to continue the office, but I also believe it is important and worthwhile.“ Oliver also supports the recent law instating penalties for anti-LGBT hate crimes. He said education, another of his campaign platforms, is key to curbing antiLGBT violence and crime in general in Philadelphia. “Education and having a full understanding and awareness and sensitivity to diversity is probably one of the best things you can do to create a safer city,” Oliver said. “I would like to see the various diversity offices, including the Office of LGBT Affairs, cross-pollinate and work together; some things could be better accomplished if we collaborated.” If elected, Oliver would work closely with City Council and the governor’s office to advocate for LGBT inclusion in statewide nondiscrimination and hate-crimes laws. “While the mayor is not a legislator himself, he should be in sync with the legislative body.” To address rising rates of violence against transgender women of color, Oliver pointed to continued police sensitivity training, and said there was also potential in community policing. “There seems to be something motivating the perpetrators besides just being violent people,” said Oliver. “I would encourage law enforcement to be fully aware of the ‘why’ in these cases and others like it.” According to Oliver, education is the starting point for reducing bullying in Philly schools. “I would seek to not simply educate bullies not to bully, but I would encourage others who witness to stand up and to be vocal about it. Bullying tends to occur to underrepresented groups. It’s not just up to schools to solve the problem; we have to start much sooner to stop it on the front end.” Oliver said he supports city funding for housing opportunities for people with HIV/ AIDS, and that the mayor is obligated to ensure affordable housing for underserved communities. An awareness-building campaign would be at the forefront of Oliver’s efforts to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic. “We have made significant strides throughout the years in terms of de-stigmatizing, but have a long way to go,” he said. “We must educate people before they contract HIV, though I will also make sure there is access to care and other treatment services.” According to Oliver, the city has an obligation to create an environment where every business can grow, including LGBTowned businesses. “Small business is the life blood of a city like Philly. We must ensure minority participation. I am a proponent of those types of targets and goals.” Oliver said his top priorities in office would be education, job creation and fairness. They are also his three primary cam-

ELECTIONS PGN

paign platforms. As an African-American, Oliver said, he sees some similarities in the issues that the LGBT community and other minorities face. “There is always a sense that you are still marginalized, tolerated but not accepted.” He said he would join the national Mayors for Marriage Equality Coalition. To help enhance education throughout city government on marriage equality, Oliver said the state is obligated to push the message. “But city government can also be a useful tool to educate,” he said. “It’s another reason why it’s important to have an Office of LGBT Affairs.” Oliver noted that his inherent belief in equality is a concept he would bring to the table every day if he were elected. “My world view — the way my mother raised me, my community, my village, raised me — is to be committed to inclusion.” Anthony Williams Anthony Williams has served as both a state representative and state senator and is now looking to bring that lawmaking experience to city governance. To ensure diversity in City Hall, Williams said he would continue his record of hiring a diverse staff. “My campaign staff has Latino, LGBT, white, black, moms, etc.,” Williams said. “My working staff also has representation across the board. I found the best people I could possibly find. Diversity is a strength we can build upon for Philly.” Williams said he wo u l d r e t a i n t h e O ffi c e o f L G B T Affairs but noted that certain other offices need to be expanded as well. He said that, on principle, he supports recent legislation that would make the office permanent, but that he would need to evaluate how much such a move would cost. Williams also supports a recently passed law instating penalties for anti-LGBT hate crimes. “I have always supported LGBTinclusive legislation,” he said. “Two years ago, I introduced a conversion-therapy ban in Pennsylvania as a state senator.” To take further action against the tide of anti-LGBT violence, Williams said there needs to be a representative from the LGBT community within the police department. To advocate for LGBT inclusion in statewide nondiscrimination and hate-crimes laws, Williams pointed to his track record as state senator. “My votes and resolutions, my record as a state representative and senator, and most significantly the fact that I am here working with people that are different than me are all ways in which I have and will continue to lobby for inclusion. We

are going to need the state to cooperate with us, and I have a unique ability to do that.” According to Williams, addressing the rising rates of violence against transgender women of color begins with relationship-building. “The relationship that the mayor will have with advocacy groups and other city departments will be a great strength in addressing this issue,” he said. Williams has already taken steps to address bullying in public schools. He said he created an anti-bullying mobile app for a school in Delaware County that provided resources for both victims and bullies. He also supports laws that specifically ban bullying based on sexual orientation and gender identity. “Besides the app, we must be able to provide someone for these young people to talk to,” Williams said. “I was also the first one to ask the school district to start recording the number of incidents that occurred to students based on their sexual orientation, but was not successful in getting them to cooperate.” Williams said he supports funding for housing opportunities for people with HIV/AIDS and noted he has long maintained relationships with community organizations like William Way LGBT Community Center. “I was also a part of the collaborative effort that approved funding for the John C. Anderson Apartments,” Williams added. To address the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Williams said the public-health sector must evolve. “Our public-health delivery system dealing with AIDS must be more mobile. HIV is a unique disease that people assume is just LGBT. There needs to be public collaboration with the different communities involved.” Williams said he would ensure LGBTowned businesses receive fair and equal opportunities by creating a municipal bank that would act as a small lending bank to minority-owned and small businesses. “Center City is growing but many small businesses don’t have access to capital,” Williams said. “We also need to revamp our city contract policy to be inclusive of LGBTs.” According to Williams, the most pressing issue facing the LGBT community in Philadelphia is that many people think the work to advance LGBT rights is already done. “I recognize we have a distance to go,” he said. “Incidents like the gay-bashing incident last year make me understand that we live in a cocoon of sorts.” Williams said his record illustrates that, if elected, he would bring real action to City Hall. “When you look at the body of my work, and see who I am, I support fairness and equality and have taken active steps through my actions to support the LGBT community and other minorities. I have worked across party lines. And I have not just talked about it, I have acted.” n

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 8-14, 2015

PGN recently won eleven awards from the Local Media Association 2014 Editorial Contest Best Arts & Entertainment Writing, Honorable Mention Best Special Section, Honorable Runaways Singer To Perform in PhillyMention Staff, World AIDS Day Supplement Community Service Award, Third Place

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Best Editorial Writing, Second Place

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City Council-at-Large Jenné Ayers Jenné Ayers might be one of the youngest candidates running for City Council, but the Harvard grad and current Yale law student has returned to her hometown eager to share her energetic vision at the Council table. As Councilwoman, Ayers said she would be conscious of diversity in the workplace and advertise widely for open positions, as well as work with organizations in the LGBT community to notify its members of employment opportunities. Ayers strongly supports the recently passed LGBTinclusive hate-crimes legislation; however, she said she thinks more can be done in the school system and the law-enforcement field to curb anti-LGBT violence. To combat the rising rates of violence against women of color, Ayers said the city’s enforcement of the Fair Practices Ordinance must be improved. She also stressed the importance of education efforts and effective and thorough criminal investigations. She supports laws that specifically ban bullying based on sexual orientation and gender identity in Philly public schools and said more funding must be set aside for high-quality anti-bullying and sexuality-education training. If elected, Ayers said she would make sure the city budget provides sufficient funds for housing opportunities for people living with HIV/AIDS. She added that developers in areas with high HIV/AIDS rates should set aside a certain percentage of housing for these individuals. To combat the disproportionately high rate of infection in Philadelphia, Ayers would press for more public health centers, partner with HIV/AIDS groups like Action AIDS and BEBASHI to conduct citywide awareness and prevention campaigns, support education programs in schools and partner with the AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania to connect people living with HIV/AIDS to needed legal services. She said she would work to ensure LGBT business owners are aware of the resources available to them by holding trainings in local community spaces. Ayers also said Council needs to commit to increasing the number of LGBT-owned business with which it contracts. Ayers said the most pressing issue facing the LGBT community in Philadelphia is the increasing physical violence towards, and lack of inclusion of, transgender Philadelphians. “As a city councilwoman, I will work hard to support and facilitate the political power of the LGBT community,” she added. “As an attorney, I will be a tireless advocate for the equal civil rights of all

ELECTIONS PGN

individuals. I will be a new kind of city councilwoman — one who puts the people first and implements the best solutions for all Philadelphians. It would be an honor to receive support from the LGBT community.” Sherrie Cohen Sherrie Cohen is making her second attempt for a seat on Council after a narrow loss in 2011. The self-described activist for social, economic, racial, educational and LGBT rights hopes to bring her experience fighting for the voiceless to City Council as its first openly LGBT member. To ensure diversity in her office if elected, Cohen said she would reach out to all communities when seeking employees and have a strong affirmativeaction policy. She supports the recently passed law instating penalties for anti-LGBT hate crimes, though she said prevention is the best approach. Cohen said age-appropriate education on sexual orientation and gender identity is one action that could be taken to stem the tide of anti-LGBT violence. According to Cohen, public-education campaigns are also key to addressing rising rates of violence against transgender women of color, as is ensuring they have access to safe and affordable housing, employment, health care and a fair path to citizenship. Cohen support laws that specifically ban bullying based on sexual orientation and gender identity, such as the state PASS Act, and the federal Safe Schools Improvement Act. Locally, she said the comprehensive anti-bullying rules the school district already has in place must be enforced. To ensure funding for housing opportunities for people with HIV/AIDS, Cohen would lobby for Pennsylvania to apply for a Medicaid waiver, which would allow Medicaid funds to be used for supportive housing for people with HIV/AIDS. Her plan to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic adopts similar steps as that of the community organization ACT UP and includes increased funding for education and prevention programs. Cohen said the city should include LGBT people as a protected class in its diversity-contracting program as the primary way to ensure that minority-owned businesses receive fair and equal opportunities. She said the most pressing issue facing the LGBT community in Philadelphia is the epidemic of violence against transgender people, especially against transgender women of color. Cohen said having an LGBT person at the table can also be effective in promoting understanding.

“It’s long past time that Philadelphia had a publicly out member of the LGBTQ community on City Council,” she said. “I believe that my knowledge of the issues facing our community and my commitment to ensuring our full equality will greatly benefit our community, if I am elected to City Council.” Derek Green Attorney Derek Green, former special counsel to City Councilwoman Marian Tasco, hopes to bring his experience in City Hall to a seat on City Council. Green has also served as counsel to the Council Committees on Finance and Public Health and Human Services. Additionally, he has worked as campaign manager for various political campaigns including for Tasco, state Rep. Stephen Kinsey, District Attorney Seth Williams and state Rep. Cherelle Parker. Green said an individual’s differences enhance the workplace and our city. As an AfricanAmerican and father of an autistic son, Green said he understands diversity and its importance, and will work to ensure opportunities exist for LGBTs in his office if elected. He supports LGBT-inclusive hatecrimes legislation but also believes the city must use existing resources to promote educational efforts. For example, inserts regarding sexual-orientation discrimination and the new hate-crime legislation could be included in various city mailings (e.g. tax, gas or water bills). Green supports the efforts of the Police LGBT Liaison Committee, which he said can be integral to training the department to be more responsive to the concerns of the transgender community. As a parent of a child in a Philly public school, he commended the current anti-bullying campaign that is promoted throughout the schools, but said it needs to be expanded and revised to be LGBTinclusive. As former deputy city solicitor, Green worked with the federal Housing Opportunities for People With AIDS (HOPWA) program and, as councilman, said he would advocate for funding and adequate resources for citizens living with HIV/AIDS. As counsel to Council’s Public Health and Human Services Committee, Green organized hearings regarding the HIV epidemic in Philadelphia. As councilman, he said he would push the city’s AIDS Activities Coordinating Office to develop sustained marketing and social-media campaigns to raise awareness among youth, communities of color and elderly regarding HIV. To ensure LGBT-owned businesses receive fair and equal opportunities, Green

would lobby the Commerce Department to create an LGBT economic advisory board. Green said the most pressing issue facing LGBTs in Philly is unsupportive legislators in Harrisburg; he said he would work to persuade lawmakers to support civil rights for the LGBT community. “I am an advocate for diversity. From racial diversity to people with learning differences like autism, I believe that our city is enhanced when we embrace people from various backgrounds. I believe that I represent this value and would bring this perspective to Council.” Helen Gym Public-school teacher and community activist Helen Gym wants to bring her two decades of experience navigating one of the city’s most pressing issues — the under-funded public-school system — and all she has learned addressing poverty in her neighborhood to better the city as a councilmember. Gym is no stranger to diversity. She is on the board of Asian Americans United, Public School Notebook and Rethinking Schools, where she employs a workforce that includes members who identify as LGBT, and said she will continue to ensure diversity if elected. Gym knows LGBT people suffer from disproportionate rates of violence, especially transgender people, and supports LGBT-inclusive protections. Additionally, she would work to ensure that such crimes are specifically tracked by the police department. In 2009, Gym led a campaign for school safety that resulted in a federal civil-rights settlement against the school district to ensure safe-school climates free of bias and harassment. She also helped write the School District of Philadelphia’s first anti-harassment policy. Gym said she would help build a larger public understanding of need and cost as it relates to HIV/AIDS and noted, in particular, that she strongly supports increased funding for the Housing Trust Fund. She also said the city must call on its major pharmaceutical companies and academic institutions to prioritize HIV/ AIDS research. Gym said she has made it her life’s work to address institutional bias and other issues that limit opportunity, in a way that uplifts and empowers the most vulnerable. “Philadelphia needs elected officials who understand not only what bias is but how to address it institutionally,” she said. “I have worked all my life to end hate crimes and institutional biases that limit opportunity and reduce our sense of humanity and connection to one another.”

ELECTIONS PGN

Paul Steinke Paul Steinke is running to be the first openly gay city councilmember. The longtime former general manager of the Reading Terminal Market, William Way board of directors member and former executive director of the University City District is hoping to bring his wealth of civic experience to City Hall. Steinke said he has consistently strived to create a diverse workforce at every organization he has been a part of. His campaign is equally diverse and he is committed to maintaining this diversity if elected, he said. Steinke said he strongly supports the recently passed LGBT-inclusive hatecrimes legislation. As an openly gay man who came out in the 1980s, he said he knows firsthand just how important those types of protections are. To address violence against LGBT people, Steinke said the city needs enhanced police sensitivity training, especially as it relates to transgender people; increased use of body cameras; and the continued presence of citizen-police advisory councils. Additionally, he said all women, trans included, should be able to seek refuge in the city’s domestic violence and women’s abuse shelters without the fear of being rejected because their gender identity doesn’t match their birth certificate. He supports state-level anti-bullying legislation and said a weighted funding formula for education would allow for additional staff in school, which would help keep all students safe. Steinke said he would work to identify funding in the city’s housing budget for housing opportunities for people with HIV/AIDS and would advocate for greater funding support from state and federal resources. To address the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Steinke would prioritize funding for the city’s Department of Human Services’ annual budget and would support funding for awareness and prevention programs. He also would propose legislation to require the city’s Office of Equal Opportunity to add LGBT-owned businesses to its list of disadvantaged classes. Further, he would press the OEO to accept the certification of LGBT-owned businesses from the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. According to Steinke, the most pressing issues facing the LGBT community in Philadelphia are police relations with the trans community and LGBT youth homelessness. Steinke said his 25 years of community and economic-development experience make him the most viable candidate. “I have devoted my life to making Philadelphia a better, safer, cleaner, more prosperous and more vibrant city in which to live, work and do business,” he said. “All of my roles have required me to bring people from diverse backgrounds and having disparate interests together to find solutions to common problems, much like being a member of City Council. I

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 8-14, 2015

believe I represent the most well-rounded candidate in terms of my experience and what I have to offer as a member of Council.” Tom Wyatt Tom Wyatt currently chairs the education committee of the Passyunk Square Civic Association, which supports Kirkbride and Jackson elementary schools. Before that, he was the chief ethics compliance officer for almost a decade at American Water, a publicly traded utility company. Wyatt began his career as a public-school teacher in rural Mississippi. Today, he wants to bring his public-school and corporate experience to City Council. During his time at American Water, Wyatt was responsible for keeping the workplace respectful and safe, which included advocating for LGBT acceptance. He said he understands the importance of a diverse workplace and would make sure that, if elected, his staff would reflect the diversity of Philadelphia. Wyatt supports the recently passed LGBTinclusive municipal hate-crimes law, and said it’s important that statewide protections be in place for LGBT people. To address rising rates of violence against transgender women of color, Wyatt would work to increase funding for all domestic-violence shelters in the city and make sure those services were extended to transgender victims. Also, he would support funding for projects that focus on improving law-enforcement response to such cases. As councilman, Wyatt would advocate for the development of anti-harassment policies that protect LGBT students and training for faculty, staff and students. Wyatt believes in continued funding for housing opportunities for people living with HIV/AIDs. He said he would conduct a housing-needs assessment to evaluate the federal HOPWA program to improve efficacy and overall housing programs. To address the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Wyatt would explore the use of community-development block grants from the state to increase funding for needle exchange and condom-distribution programs. Wyatt supports the growth of minority-owned businesses and believes his “Bringing Jobs to Philadelphia” plan is the ticket. The plan overhauls the local tax code to incentivize business growth in the city. He is also committed to exploring opportunities that incentivize the growth of LGBT-owned businesses. According to Wyatt, adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the state nondiscrimination law is the most pressing issue facing the LGBT community in Philadelphia. “I am running to make positive change and help restore the people’s faith in local government leaders,” he said. “I want a new era of leadership — young or old, millennial or baby boomer — but all with a collaborative spirit, the energy to move us ahead and the ideas that will really move the needle.” n

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AC ul t ure &

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FEATURE PGN

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Cartoons Dining Out Family Portrait Get Out and Play Out & About Q Puzzle Scene in Philly

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Out singer-songwriter gets funky on new album By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Out pop singer Derek Bishop is reaching back to the more experimental eras of pop music with his latest release, “Bicycling in Quicksand,” which draws inspiration from the funky and somewhat edgy heyday of disco, new wave and early synthpop. Bishop sees his style of music as an antidote for the soulless by the number of pop songs that seem to be dominating the airwaves these days. “It sounds in general like it’s been dumbed down a bit,” Bishop said of today’s pop sounds. “It’s the way a lot of things are. You just want something quick and easy that doesn’t really stretch your brain too much. I’m always drawn to artists that go about it in a little bit more of an avant-garde kind of way, whether they just have a weird song structure or they take bizarre left turns in the middle of a tune.

It’s very exciting when I hear a song or an album that has elements like that. So I just want to write the same type of music like the stuff that inspires me or that I really enjoy. I’m writing it myself but I know there are other people out there that like those twists and turns. But I do feel like a lot of what you hear on the radio is pre-packaged-type things so I’m trying my hardest to not sound like something that is on the radio. I’m trying to write music that is intelligent and interesting.” Up until recently, Bishop was balancing his musical pursuits with his other gigs, which included

being an art director designing Broadway cast albums. One would think that the musical traditions of Broadway would have crept into his music, but Bishop insists that the theater has no bearing on his musical style. “I just design the Broadway stuff,” he said. “I listen to it and I get a free ticket. I don’t think that it really influenced me. I’m influenced by music that is a bit more — and this is probably conflicting with what I just said — theatrical. But it’s not because I have a Broadway influence. I just grew up listening to a wider variety of songs than

just pop music or whatever. I’m just trying to blend as many influences as possible. I really don’t think Broadway had much of an influence on this record.” Bishop started his music career as an out musician and said the atmosphere is changing for openly LGBT artists in pop music. “I don’t think growing up anyone that has heard someone like Elton John or Freddie Mercury back in the 1970s heard those songs and said, ‘I wonder if that is a gay dude singing,’” he said. “They heard the songs and thought, These are fantastic songs. So I would hope that that is still the case, that you judge based on what you hear versus what you know about the person doing it. But now, these days with social media and the nonstop amount of information you can find on someone, it’s more obvious and easy to stalk someone and find out about them. So I think you have to lay your cards PAGE 32

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on the table. If not, the gossip blogs are always trying to find out which member of this band is gay. Maybe that is good for your publicity but I would hope that newer generations are growing into music and culture so that it’s really not that important anymore. If fact, in some cases, it would seem like a fun twist to it because I have nieces and nephews and they think gay is cool. So sometimes that can help.” In a genre of music where youth is king, Bishop, who is 43, said ageism is a more considerable hurdle than issues about sexuality. “I feel that once you hit 30 or 40, they start to think that you’re old,” he said. “Having said that, there are tons and tons of artists that are in their 50s, 60s and even 70s, like The Rolling Stones, that are still selling out stadiums. Granted, most of their audience is close to their age. I hope and I pray that you’re not judged too much on your sexuality or your age, but just on the quality of the art that you make. If you are young and you’re pretty, you can definitely get attention faster. But to hold on to that attention: Your beauty is going to fade, so hopefully you can get a lot better songwriting-wise and all that stuff.” With his focus fully on his music, Bishop is gearing up to take his show on the road at some point this summer. “I had a tour set up for May and it sort of blew up and I had to scrap all that,” he said. “But yes, I’m going to go on the road in the summer because we had to reschedule everything. What I think I’m going to do to make it easier is just do little pocket tours. It’s not going to be one big threemonth tour. It’s going to be little five-date tours once a month just to make it finan-

cially feasible. Driving around for all that time when it’s just you and a guitar player, you want to come back home and sleep in your own bed and recharge. So that’s the plan. I will definitely be hitting all my favorite places on the East Coast and I think I will also be going to California in September as well.” Bishop added that one of the challenges of taking his music on the road is stripping down his layered pop songs into something he can execute live with only two or three musicians on stage. “I had 10 musicians for the album-release party because I really wanted to simulate the sound on the album,” he said. “And that is not financially feasible to take 10 musicians on the road. I’ve got to figure out a way to shrink that sound while still making it big. That will be my challenge for the next month or so, so it doesn’t come across like me and a laptop. I don’t want it to be karaoke. I’m very open to exploring how I can interpret the songs on a more acoustic level or a more bizarre level. You have the option to take the song structure and peel away all the different layers and see what really makes the song hold up. Does the song hold up without all the percussion and all the extra guitars and keyboards? So that is going to be fun for me, how to figure out how to do that so that the audiences enjoy it.” n “Bicycling in Quicksand” is out now. For more information, visit www.derekbishop.net.

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PROFILE PGN

Family Portrait

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 8-14, 2015

Suzi Nash

Laurent Widjaya: Making a new home in Philly “What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or in the holy name of liberty or democracy?” – Mahatma Gandhi We’ve been lucky in this country that we have not had a major conflict on our soil for quite some time. Other places are not so fortunate. This week, we speak to a person who has had firsthand knowledge of what violent upheaval and poor immigration policies can do to a family. PGN: So where are you from? LW: I’d like to say from Philly, but I actually immigrated here in 2002 from Indonesia. I came here to study at the Art Institute. PGN: Oh, cool. What were you studying? LW: Multimedia and web design, and I ended up with a graphic-design degree. PGN: How did you end up at the Art Institute? It’s kind of a long commute from Indonesia. LW: Well, my parents came here in 1998 because the situation was not great in Indonesia. There was an uproar and during the May riots of 1997 in Indonesia they were … I shouldn’t say hunting, but they were looking to attack Chinese-Indonesian people, especially women. It was genocide and the city I came from, Surabaya, is the country’s second-largest city, so it really exploded there. People were looking for safety and spread to different parts of the world; some went to Malasia, some to Australia, New Zealand, the United States, things like that. My parents went to Philly. PGN: I think it’s hard for us to understand what goes on around the world every day. We have problems here, but I can’t imagine what it would be like to be under siege in your own city. LW: I remember I was about 13 or 14 at the time and our school was closed for several weeks after the uprising. I got to witness firsthand how cruel people can be to another human being. My friend’s brother was a journalist and he went out in the middle of everything and took photos. He had two thick albums of pictures that he brought to school once it reopened. I won’t get too graphic but it was horrible. They were looking for women to rape and kill. And they weren’t just raping women with their body parts but also using objects to accomplish the deed. Afterwards, they would kill the women and their family members. They would parade the heads or other body parts to prove that they had killed a Chinese person. They would loot homes and then burn them, oftentimes with the people inside.

PGN: So awful. And this was going on around you? LW: Yes, yes. Mostly in Jakarta, but in Surabaya as well. I went to a private Catholic school and they were known for having a lot of Chinese-Indonesian kids, so we would have been a big target. Luckily, our head mistress found out about what was happening and closed the school ahead of time. They put guards outside the school and were able to keep it from being ransacked. PGN: That must have been terrifying. LW: It was. We had the advance warning that something was going to happen and when they closed the school, we just had to wait at home. Fortunately, the people in my area, village or whatever you want to call it, protected us. They put barricades on both entrances to our section and told people that there were no Chinese people living inside. The purpose of the people committing the genocide was to find people of Chinese descent and wipe them out. PGN: I remember I did an interview with Laurentius Purnama, who owns a salon in South Philly. He also was from Indonesia. His grandparents were Chinese and his family changed their last name because he wouldn’t have been allowed to go to school if they knew about his Chinese side. LW: Ah yes, there are a lot of Indonesians in South Philly. Do you mind telling me which city he came from? PGN: (Note: The answer is Nganjuk in East Java.) LW: But that’s good, that you know about what’s happened over there. PGN: Yeah, I try to keep up a little. We get so complacent here and then when something does happen, like 9/11, we go nuts. LW: Well, it’s hard when you’re used to peace and quiet and something disturbs that. Unfortunately, it makes the immigration problem even harder. PGN: Definitely. So what were you into as a kid? LW: It’s hard to remember, but I was into everything. I loved being outside and climbing trees. I was a little monkey. I remember my teachers always shouting, “Get down from that tree!” and I’d respond, “Why? I love it up here!” I know I liked to ride bikes too. PGN: Any siblings? LW: One older brother, he’s not here. I don’t have any family members here except for one cousin, who has her own family. PGN: Oh, I thought your parents were here.

LW: Well, that’s where the immigration problems come in. They came here to find safety and a better future for us in 1998 but they failed to get immediate asylum status. They would have been detained and put in prison while waiting to find out if their status was approved or not, so my dad decided to take the family home. By that time, I had been here for a year and was in school, so I decided to stay. Sadly, because they had overstayed their visa, they received a 10-year ban. Since they left Indonesia when I was 14, I’ve only seen them for that one year in the states when we were together in 2002. That was the last time I was able to be with them in person. PGN: God, we need better immigration reform. So, what made you choose to go to an arts school? LW: When I was looking for a major, I’d already started doing a little web design in high school. My mom asked if I’d be interested in studying multimedia and web

ness, Swadilo Kitchen. My business partner, Reeta, is from Nepal, and Swadilo means “delicious” in Nepalese. We started the business because we wanted to hold on to and share our cultures — the traditional ways of creating food before they’re lost. There are a lot of Nepalese refugees who came to the United States in 2007, and Indonesians have been here even longer. We need to make our food and remember it and spread cultural awareness. Not a lot of people know about the foods from both these countries. Would you like to try some? PGN: But of course! (We pause while I sample a delicious dish called mayo risoles, made with smoked beef sausage, egg, onion and sweet mayo, and try a special non-alcoholic beverage called Gembria, or Happy Soda). OK, I would add this to my repertoire of meals! LW: These are family recipes from Reeta’s home in Nepal. They’re from Lalitpur, not Katmandu. She too has not seen her family in a long time, so the recipes are a way to connect with home. My food is also a lot different from what you’d get in most Indonesian restaurants. I take the recipes from my mom and grandmom and add a modern touch. PGN: Nice. LW: It’s fun because I’m also getting back into my graphic design too. I developed our website and logo, business cards, all of that. PGN: Any crazy catering incidents? LW: Not really. We started in March and our first week we got an order for 540 momos, which are the Nepalese dumplings. We didn’t sleep for two to three nights trying to fulfill the order.

PGN: And what’s your day job? LW: I work as an interPhoto: Suzi Nash preter. I do legal and meddesign because it was really coming into ical interpretation and its own at that time. I thought it was a translation. I’ll go from CHOP [Children’s good idea, and learned a lot. [Laughs] I Hospital of Philadelphia] to a law office, especially learned that I wasn’t that much then back to a different hospital in the into the web design, but that I really liked course of a day. I get to see a lot of blood the fine arts and graphic design. I also learned film and video, editing, etc., which and guts and body parts in my job; it’s kind of cool. For me it’s exciting, but my was pretty cool. idea of fun is probably not most people’s! I love medical stuff. I’m fascinated by body PGN: And I understand you’re a pretty parts and anatomy, anomalies and surgergood cook too! ies. Working in the LW: Yes, I actually started a catering busiPAGE 42

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PGN Guide to the Gayborhood

The Philadelphia Gayborhood is roughly centered at 12th and Camac streets. Look for the rainbow street signs at intersections and remember to be aware of your surroundings wherever you go. Boxers

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The Bike Stop

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St. James St.

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Quince St.

Latimer St.

12th St.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 8-14, 2015

Juniper St.

❍ Spruce St.

William Way LGBT Community Center

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A resource for all things LGBT

Voyeur

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U Bar 1220 Locust St. 215.546.6660

Relaxing corner bar, easy-going crowd, popular for happy hour and window watching

Tavern on Camac West of Broad Street Stir Lounge

1705 Chancellor St. 215.732.2700 stirphilly.com Fun two-bar lounge, DJ in the back, regular poker games and specials

The Attic Youth Center

255 S. 16th St. 215.545.4331 atticyouthcenter.org Safe space and programs for LGBTs age 16-23 weekday afternoons and evenings

255 S. Camac St. 215.545.8731 Piano lounge with upstairs dance floor; Tavern restaurant below is open late.

Knock 225 S. 12th St. 215.925.1166 knockphilly.com Fine -dining restaurant and bar with outdoor seating (weather permitting)

ICandy

254 S. 12th St. 267.324.3500 clubicandy.com Three floors with a total of six bars; dance floor, lounge and rootop deck.

Venture Inn 255 S. Camac St. 215.545.8731 Bar and restaurant with frequent entertainment

Pa. bars close at 2 a.m. unless they have a private-club license. Please drink responsibly.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 8-14, 2015

PGN ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 8-14, 2015

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THE MAN BEHIND THE MUSIC MACHINE: Iconic industrial-rock icons Ministry (led by songwriter and frontman Al Jourgensen and featuring a revolving cast of musicians) thunder into Philadelphia to rain mechanized beats and walls of heavy rhythms onto the heads of their faithful fans 9 p.m. May 13 at TLA, 334 South St. For more information or tickets, call 215-922-1011.

Theater & Arts

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Adventures in Photography Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition featuring diverse works, including rare early pictures and major examples of the Pictorialist art movement, by figures such as Peter Henry Emerson and George Seeley, May 9-Aug. 20, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100. And the Word Is … The Gershman Y hosts an exhibition exploring religious text in contemporary art through May 14, 401 S. Broad St.; 215545-4400. Beethoven’s First The Philadelphia Orchestra performs through May 9 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5847.

Brownsville Song (B-Side For Tray) Philadelphia Theatre Company presents a show about a family dealing with the aftermath of a tragic loss from urban violence through May 31 at Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St.; 215-985-0420. Dance: Movement, Rhythm, Spectacle Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of prints, drawings and photographs that celebrate the world of dance May 9-Aug. 2, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215763-8100. Fifty Shades of Grey The drama film is screened 8 p.m. May 11 at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215922-6888. I Love A Piano Walnut Street Theatre presents a production featuring the music

of Irving Berlin through June 28 at Independence Studio on 3, 825 Walnut St.; 215574-3550. Ink and Gold: Art of the Kano Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition highlighting the artistry of the esteemed Kano painters through May 10, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. Kate Breakey: Small Deaths An exhibition of hand-colored, oversized images of the birds, flowers and insects that photographer Kate Breakey has memorialized through her work runs through July 12 at Michener Art Museum, 138 S. Pine St., Doylestown; 215340-9800. Kinky Boots The Tony Awardwinning musical about a shoe factory that finds a new lease on life making shoes for drag queens, through May 10 at Forrest

Theatre, 1111 Walnut St.; 215923-1515. Legends of Rock The Philly POPS! perform a rock retrospective featuring the music of The Beatles, Queen, Coldplay and more, May 15-17 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5847. Pilobolus Dance Theater Dance Affiliates and the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts present the gymnastic, gravity-defying dance company through May at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; 215-898-3900. Sarah Colonna The comedian seen on “Chelsea Lately” performs through May at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215496-9001. Speech & Debate Azuka Theatre presents the story of a budding journalist who uncovers a sex scandal at

PGN LISTINGS & SPORTS

The Rat Pack: Together Again A tribute show taking the audience back to the glory days of Las Vegas, 8 p.m. May 8 at the Rrazz Room in The Ramada New Hope, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; 888-5961027.

his school through May 24 at Studio X, 1340 S. 13th St.; 215-218-4022. A Tribute to Jerome Robbins The Pennsylvania Ballet performs through May 10 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; 215-7905847. Yannick Conducts Rachmaninoff The Philadelphia Orchestra performs May 13-16 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5847

Music Brian McKnight The R&B singer performs 8 p.m. May 8 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215572-7650. Erika Jayne The dance/pop singer performs midnight May 8 at Voyeur Nightclub, 1221 St. James St.; 215-735-5772. Ben Folds The alt-rock pianist and singer-songwriter performs 8 p.m. May 11 at TLA, 334 South St.; 215-922-1011. Kiesza The electro/pop singer-songwriter performs 8 p.m. May 12 at TLA, 334 South St.; 215922-1011.

Nightlife

ROCK OUT AND ROCK ON!: Out bassist and King’s X frontman Dug Pinnick teams up with Living Colour singer Corey Glover for a night of eclectic rock, 8 p.m. May 8 at Sellersville Theater 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville. For more information or tickets, call 215-257-5808.

Miss Fish Philly 2015 Teena Handline, Mary D’Knight, Icon Ebony Fierce and Robert Alexander perform at the pageant, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. May 15 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215-9649675. Lil’ Steph presents RASPUTIN’S ROOM The burlesque show begins 9 p.m. May 15 at Ruba Club Studios, 416 Green St.; 215-627-9831. Stimulus: Six-Year Anniversary The LGBTQ dance party celebrates, 10 p.m.3:30 a.m. May 15 at Voyeur

Nightclub, 1221 St. James St.; 215735-5772.

Outta Town Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience The rock-tribute band performs 9 p.m. May 8 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000. Paramore The rock band performs 9 p.m. May 8 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.

Notices Martha Graham Cracker Cabaret The drag star performs 8 p.m. May 14 at L’Etage, 624 Bainbridge St.; 215-592-0626.

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

Get Out and Play

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 8-14, 2015

Scott A. Drake

Caching in on outdoor fun

container. It’s kind of a sport, definitely a Several years ago, my curiosity was piqued by a treasure-hunting game that recreation and quite possibly addictive. made use of increasingly prevalent GPS I say addictive because, as I finish technology. I didn’t follow through to any this column, it’s 78 degrees outside and great extent then, and let it slide out of I just returned from finding a cache in a my mind. Earlier this month, I rediscovSociety Hill location over my lunch hour. ered it as the game celebrated 15 years. Yes! They are even in Philadelphia! So It’s called geocaching (geocaching.com) the next time it’s gorgeous out and you’re and it’s a relatively simple concept with taking a walk or ride, hit up the website, Jackie “The extraordinary and unlimited possibilities. click for local caches and get out and Joke Man” Simply put, geocaching is using a play! Martling GPS, and sometimes-encoded clues and The comedian comments, to locate a container in some Summer in the city parks performs 8 p.m. unique, beautiful, educational or curious The May 22 “Get Out and Play” is a May 9 at the spot. The cache always contains a hard log compilation of all the summer activities Rrazz Room in to sign and an online log to make entries that go on here, starting with Memorial The Ramada New so the world can know where you’ve been Day weekend. A quick heads up for all Hope, 6426 Lower and when. And world is the right word, as the soccer and softball players, fans and York Road, New it’s hide-and-seek played across a sizable wannabe players: There are tournaments Hope; 888-596portion of the planet. Memorial Day weekend and you need 1027. We were in Bucks County May 1-3 to get signed up/registered fast! Visit visiting and photographing for our Bucks Falcon-soccer.org and cblsl.org for that Wendy County Issue coming out next week and information. Williams we checked out a couple of caches at Lake There are also tennis and bowling The talk-show tournaments on the horizon, as well as Nockamixon State Park. These were relahost performs tively simple finds 9 p.m. May 9 that are maintained at the Borgata by park employees Hotel, Casino & and geared towards Spa Music Box, family fun, but 1 Borgata Way, others can be more Atlantic City, N.J.; difficult to find due 609-317-1000. to size, terrain or even camouflage. Miss Pumpkin The idea is to The drag star look for these performs 8 p.m. caches in parks May 12 at the and recreation Rrazz Room in areas that someone The Ramada New believed deserved Hope, 6426 Lower more visitors for York Road, New whatever esthetic Hope; 888-596or historic reason, COLONY INVASION: Kenny Oh (center) charges into the fray during the inaugural Colonial Cup championship game. Teams 1027. so they planted a were invited from the original 13 colonies to compete in the cache. Some are Philadelphia Gryphons’ tournament held April 25 in Fairmount Karen Williams small — only a Park, thus the tournament name. The Gryphons lost the final and Michelle tiny piece of paper game 26-5 to the Gotham Knights. Join the ruggers at the Balan is inside for the Collegiate Rugby Championship Invitational with a tailgate party The comedians log — whereas May 30 or for their first Saturday social each month, with ICandy perform 8 p.m. others contain playing host June 6. Visit Philadelphiagryphons.org or facebook. May 15 at the objects that are com/PhillyGryphons for additional info. Photo: Scott A. Drake Rrazz Room in traded (you take The Ramada New one thing and leave another of equal or many other fun and fundraising activHope, 6426 Lower greater value). Some are mystery caches ities. Check back in two weeks for the York Road, New where you have to use divine clues in sev- full account. Hope; 888-596eral spots (think “National Treasure”) to If you or an organization you’re with 1027. reveal the final location. has information for the community to What’s this doing in a sports column? know, now’s the time to email me. See Tony Orlando First of all, sports and recreation go contact info at the end. The singer and hand-in-hand, but additionally, the more actor performs difficult caches can require hiking and Short Stops 9 p.m. May 15 even climbing; with the easier locations, • Philadelphia Liberty Tennis Association at the Borgata you usually just have to go walking and/ is moving back outside for the summer. Hotel, Casino & or biking to reach them. No, there’s no Games are played in FDR Park on the Spa Music Box, digging (burying a cache is a no-no) weekends; philadelphialibertytennis.org/. n 1 Borgata Way, and no prying out of bricks or anything Atlantic City, N.J.; destructive like that. The cache may be in Send your summer fun events to scott@ 609-317-1000. n a magnetic key box or even a Tupperware epgn.com.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 8-14, 2015

PGN

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PGN OUT DINING

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 8-14, 2015

Savona: classy thrills in the hills By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Planted on a picturesque hilltop outside Philly, Savona, is the kind of place you would imagine James Bond having a meal after bankrupting his enemies in poker games and foiling their nefarious plans. Yes, it is that classy. No exaggeration. The place is sunlit and gorgeous during the day and even more alluring when candlelit at night, where the meticulous French and Mediterranean menu and attentive staff take center stage. And then there’s the wine cellar. With a wine menu the size of a coffee table book (the menu by comparison is only one page long), it’s easy to see why this is the largest wine cellar in the state of Pennsylvania. And if we ever get “Wolf of Wall Street” or “Goodfellas” rich, our first stop to celebrate will be in the amazing and gigantic downstairs dining-table area, where you can spend the cost of a brand-new car on a bottle of wine. Don’t worry, until that happens, there are plenty of wines in their larders that fit our current meager budgets. The menu at Savona seeks to equal the visual impact of the restaurant’s surroundings. The menu doesn’t stray too far from traditions, but focuses on presenting perfection on the plates. The charred baby octopus ($17) had some interesting textures that set it apart from similar dishes we’ve has elsewhere. The melted fennel and orange played in stark contrast to the crispy parsnips that garnished the dish. The “escargot casseroula” ($15), with a faro ragu and roasted garlic, was a warm and inviting dish with complex and classic French flavors that gave it a hearty feel without seeming heavy or

unrefined. It was easy to see why the Hartley Ranch “Bistecca” is a favorite at Savona. When it hits the table, the aroma from the smoked onions seduces you right away. The sizable portion of steak rests on bed of asparagus, onions and salsa verde, creating a feast for all the senses. The dessert menu at Savona has the usual suspects: tarts, soufflés, cakes and cheese plates to tempt you, and very well they should. But Savona could also build itself a considerable reputation as a high-end ice-cream shop if it wanted to. Its gelatos and sorbets ($7 for three healthy scoops) are decadent and mesmerizing, with flavors like salted-caramel cream cheese, lemon basil and raspberry-chocolate brownie. Like its extensive wine menu, Savona is a dining experience you have to take in with all of your senses. n

KOKOPELLI Photo: Scott A. Drake

If you go Savona

100 Old Gulph Road Gulph Mills, PA 610-520-1200 www.savonarestaurant.com Lunch Mon.-Fri.: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Dinner Sun.-Thurs.: 5:30-9 p.m. Fri.-Sat.: 5:30-10 p.m.

Looking for a new way to reach out to customers? Try Food and Drink Directories in PGN. CONTACT YOUR PGN AD REP AT (215) 625-8501

FUN & PGN GAMES

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 8-14, 2015

Q Puzzle Gay actors in straight roles Across 1. Sounds of stallions on streets 6. Low man in the loft 10. *Guillermo of “Weeds” 14. Like a room by Thom Filicia 15. “It ___ Necessarily So” 16. Prime the poker pot 17. It arouses you in bed 18. Unappetizing fare 19. Creator of Sal Mineo’s “Exodus” character 20. *Jim of “The Big Bang Theory” 22. *Jonathan of

“Mean Girls” 24. Pinch opening? 25. Small fry 26. Marble named for a pussy part 30. Inning to stretch in 34. State of gay Paree 35. Look from Snidely 37. Type of straits for straights in a gay bar? 38. Divided terr. 39. Drops on the grass 40. Made a mark in “Hollywood Squares” 41. Position at sea 43. “Air Music” composer Ned 45. The sound of Patti LaBelle?

46. Bury again 48. Thaw with Nureyev’s land 50. LP successors 51. Edvard Grieg’s land (abbr.) 52. *Sarah of “American Horror Story” 56. *Alan of “The Good Wife” 60. Food on the floor 61. Go lickety-split 63. Soap star Susan 64. Vows for many gays these days 65. 1982 Disney flick 66. Rupert Everett’s “An ___ Husband” 67. *Nathan of “The Good Wife”

PORTRAIT from page 35

emergency room as an interpreter, you get to see all of that firsthand. It’s probably not as much fun for the families, but I learn a lot! PGN: Eeek, more power to you. So what do you think of when you think of Surabaya? LW: The best memories are of going around by myself. Because my parents left when I was 14, I had a fake ID and they got me a motorbike so I could be independent. During the day, I’d do typical teen things — hanging out at the mall with my friends — but at night, I loved riding around, getting lost and finding my way back, exploring different parts of the city. There were a lot of parks, and I’d see gay or trans people going in — well, I assumed they were gay once I found out what it meant. The sad part is, I’d see waria or trans women go in happy and run out screaming because they’d been sexually assaulted or beaten. I understood as I got older that they were probably prostitutes or with someone they thought wanted to be with them, and things turned ugly. PGN: There was a great movie I saw called “Tales of the Waria.” LW: Yes, I was asked to speak when they screened it at the University of Delaware. There’s another good film called “Children of Srikandi” about FTM and gender-nonconforming people from Java Island. PGN: When did you come out? LW: I’ve told my friends this and it always tickled them. I have a brother who’s five years older than me. He used to have Playboy magazines he would hide in his closet underneath all his clothes,

68. Dundee denizen 69. ___ T. Lardbottom of “Kudzu” Down 1. E.M. Forster’s fellow 2. Song with the line “girls will be boys and boys will be girls” 3. Nicky, in “Funny Girl” 4. Hang tough 5. *Raven of “The Cosby Show” 6. Bases for Glenn Burke 7. Feel badly 8. Stuffed shirt 9. Member of the apostles? 10. Overcome 11. Start of an Evan Wolfson memo 12. Keep ___

(persevere) 13. Quality of Feniger’s cooking 21. Thumbsdown votes 23. Mo. to elect pro-gay pols 26. Wood that doesn’t need moth balls 27. “___ of Two Cities” 28. *George of “Star Trek” 29. Moon in “Return of the Jedi” 30. Clinched, with “up” 31. *Cynthia of “Sex and the City” 32. Staffordshire river 33. Hem and haw 36. Always, to Byron 42. Wall off

but somehow I still managed to find them along with some porn DVDs. They were Playboys from the ’70s, which weren’t as explicit as now. I learned a lot of my English from reading the stories in Playboy! It’s where I learned the words “queer” and “lesbian.” I thought, Hmmm, what’s this or that word? I’d go to the library and look them up. I’d read the definitions over and over and say, Ah, that sounds kind of like me but not really. But it’s the best that I have. And that’s when I came out to myself. I didn’t really like the word “gay” and didn’t really fit the word “lesbian.” It made me uncomfortable at first. PGN: When did you start coming to terms with it? LW: I tried to come out to a close friend at home first but it didn’t go well. They advised me to fight against it. I didn’t really come out until I came to the states. When I was at school I joined a gay alliance group. My parents were still here but I didn’t tell them. In fact, I remember going to my first gay Pride. I was volunteering for something and was terrified that someone was going to see me! PGN: You mentioned that you weren’t comfortable with the terms gay and lesbian that you originally found. Tell me a little about your gender journey and where you are now. LW: I felt like I was originally pushed into identifying as a butch lesbian. Most of my friends were the typical butchfemme couples. They were my introduction to the queer world here in the United States. They were all Indonesian and I think they weren’t quite comfortable themselves and didn’t quite know what to do, so they just followed the recipe that if you were butch, you had to be with a

43. P-town and Fire Island 44. Cafeteria list 45. Islands in the Atlantic 47. Scores by David Kopay 49. *Lily of “Nashville” 52. Beach toy 53. Alan of “The Object of My Affection” 54. Second word of fairy tales 55. Drug cop 56. Relief of Lincoln 57. Tops cakes 58. Mar. Madness source 59. Quark founder Tim 62. Loving murmur

femme. Because I looked more masculine, I was pushed in that route but, for me, I can be attracted to both butch and femme women. But whenever I expressed interest in a butch person, my friends would steer me away. They would tell me that I was a lesbian but I preferred using the term gay. I didn’t exactly know why, and then I joined Hotpot! They really helped in the journey to finding myself and becoming comfortable with myself. I now identify as “he” or “they” for pronouns. They also gave me a platform for speaking about immigration laws and how they affect queer people, and specifically how they affect trans people. And that’s how I went from thinking, I’m gay to I’m pro-masculine. [Laughs] Right now there’s such an explosion of terms that I just picked one or two that fit me! I was debating between “genderqueer” and “gender-nonconforming” and I think the difference is that, with genderqueer, you can still be kind of femmy if you want and that’s not how I present, so I choose gender-nonconforming. And within that, the part I like most is that you don’t have to define yourself as binary at all; you can just kind of float. I don’t feel trapped in any kind of expectation. Then, I found out about trans-masculine and I was like, Yes! That’s me! PGN: It’s funny, I’m a femme attracted to femmes and when I first came out, people also were like, “No, no no. You can’t do that! You’re a femme, you need to be with a butch!” So on both sides, we had people trying to dictate who we should love or be attracted to. LW: It’s crazy, but I think it’s gotten better. PGN: OK, random questions. What’s your go-to karaoke song? LW: “Valerie” by Amy Winehouse.

PGN: Excellent choice of Winehouse. I used to sing that myself at Sisters. Topthree TV shows? LW: Oh, I love to watch TV, so that’s hard. “Bones,” “Orange is the New Black,” “Orphan Black” and “Elementary.” Oh, and “Grey’s Anatomy” because of my fascination with all things medical. PGN: Last book you read? LW: It was called “Ashes.” A gay chick-lit book a friend wrote. PGN: Best birthday? LW: That would be some years ago when I was at a Creating Change conference. My friends threw me a surprise birthday party. PGN: If you were a natural element, what would you be? LW: Air. I feel like I’m flexible enough to change and mold into something else and flow into different spaces. n To suggest a community member for Family Portrait, email portraits05@aol.com.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 8-14, 2015

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 8-14, 2015

Classifieds All real-estate advertising is subject to Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended. Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and handicap (disability). PGN will not knowingly accept any realestate advertising that is in violation of any applicable law.

PGN does not accept advertising that is unlawful, false, misleading, harmful, threatening, abusive, invasive of another’s privacy, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, hateful or racially or otherwise objectionable, including without limitation material of any kind or nature that encourages conduct that could constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability or otherwise violate any applicable local, state, provincial, national or international law or regulation, or encourage the use of controlled substances.

Real Estate Sale

For Sale

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Help Wanted

Adoptions

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Legal Notices Court of Common Pleas for the County of Philadelphia, April Term, 2015, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on April 13, 2015, the petition of JOHN DAVID LOPEZ was filed, praying for a decree to change her name to NINA NEREYDA LOPEZ. The Court has fixed May 13, 2015 at 11:00 a.m., in Room No. 691, in Philadelphia City Hall for hearing. All persons interested may appear and show cause if they have, why the prayer of the said petitioner should not be granted. ________________________________________39-19 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. ________________________________________39-19

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PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 8-14, 2015

SERVICES & HOME IMPROVEMENT DIRECTORY Damage to your Home or Business? Fire, Smoke & Soot Floods

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PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 8-14, 2015

ADONIS CINEMA

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PGN

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PGN

Religion/Spirituality Arch Street United Methodist Church Services 8:30 and 11 a.m. at 55 N. Broad St.; youth/adult Sunday school at 9:30 a.m.; 5:30 p.m. prayer service; 215-568-6250. Bethlehem-Judah Ministries Open and affirming congregation holds services 10 a.m. Sundays at 5091 N. Dupont Hwy., Suite D, Dover, Del.; 302-750-4045.

N.J.; 856-779-7739, mapleshadeucc.org. Metropolitan Community Church of Christ the Liberator Holds services 10:45 a.m. Sundays at the Pride Center of New Jersey; 732823-2193, mccctl.com. Metropolitan Community Church of Philadelphia Services 1 p.m. Sundays at the University Lutheran Church of the Incarnation, 3637 Chestnut St.; 215-294-2020, www.mccphiladelphia.com.

BuxMont Unitarian Universalist Church Services 10:15 a.m. at 2040 Street Road, Warrington; 215-343-0406.

Old First Reformed Church Open and affirming United Church worships at 11 a.m., summer services at 10 a.m, at 151 N. Fourth St.; 215-922-4566, www.oldfirstucc.org.

Calvary United Methodist Church Reconciling, welcoming and affirming church holds services 11 a.m. Sundays at 801 S. 48th St.; 215-724-1702.

Penns Park United Methodist Church Welcoming and affirming church holds services 10 a.m. Sundays at 2394 Second Street Pike, Penns Park; 215-598-7601.

Central Baptist Church Welcoming and affirming church holds services at 10:45 a.m. Sundays, summer services 9:30 a.m, at 106 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne; 610-688-0664.

Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral Progressive and affirming congregation holds services 10 a.m. Sundays with Holy Eucharist at 3723 Chestnut St.; 215-386-0234, www. philadelphiacathedral.org.

Chestnut Hill United Methodist Church Services 11 a.m. and Spirit at Play, an arts-based Sunday school for children, 9:30 a.m. at 8812 Germantown Ave.; 215-242-9321.

Rainbow Buddhist Meditation Group Meets 5 p.m. Sundays at William Way.

Church of the Crucifixion Inclusive Episcopal community holds services 10 a.m. Sundays and 6 p.m. Fridays at 620 S. Eighth St.; 215-922-1128.

Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting worships 11 a.m., summer services 10 a.m, Sundays at 1515 Cherry St.; 215-241-7000, cpmm@afsc.org.

Church of the Holy Trinity Inclusive church holds services 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sundays at 1904 Walnut St.; 215-567-1267.

Resurrection Lutheran Church Services 10 a.m. Sundays at 620 Welsh Road, Horsham; 215-646-2597.

Congregation Rodeph Shalom Shabbat services every Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 10:45 a.m. at 615 N. Broad St. ; 215-627-6747. Dignity Jersey Shore An organization for sexual-minority Catholics meets the first Saturday of the month in Asbury Park; 732-502-0305. Dignity Metro NJ An organization for sexual-minority Catholics meets 4 p.m. the first and third Sundays of the month at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 550 Ridgewood Road, Maplewood; 973-509-0118.

Silverside Church Services 10 a.m. Sundays followed by a group discussion at 2800 Silverside Road, Wilmington, Del.; 302-478-5921, silversidechurch.org. St. Asaph’s Church Inclusive and progressive Episcopal church holds services 8 and 10 a.m. Sundays, summer services 9:15 a.m., at 27 Conshohocken State Road, Bala Cynwyd; 610-664-0966, www.saintasaphs.org. St. John’s Lutheran Church (ELCA) Reconciling in Christ congregation holds services 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 24 N. Ridge Ave., Ambler; 215-646-2451, www.stjohnsambler.org.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 8-14, 2015

Community Bulletin Board Community centers

■ The Attic Youth Center 255 S. 16th St.; 215-545-4331; atticyouthcenter.org. For LGBT and questioning youth and their friends and allies. Groups meet and activities are held 4-7 p.m. Monday-Tuesday and 48:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday. Case management, HIV testing and smoking cessation are available MondayFriday. See the Youth section for more events.

■ Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center at the University of Pennsylvania 3907 Spruce St., 215-898-5044; center@dolphin. upenn.edu. Regular hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday; noon-6 p.m. Saturday; noon-8 p.m. Sunday. Summer hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

■ ActionAIDS: 215-981-0088 ■ AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania: 215-587-9377 ■ AIDS Law Project of Southern New Jersey: 856-933-9500 ext. 221 ■ AIDS Library: 215-985-4851 ■ ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215592-1513

Dignity Philadelphia Holds Mass 7 p.m. Sundays at 330 S. 13th St.; 215-546-2093, dignityphila@ aol.com.

St. Luke and The Epiphany Church Open and welcoming church holds fall liturgy 9 and 11 a.m. Sundays, summer sevices 10 a.m., at 330 S. 13th St.; 215-732-1918, stlukeandtheepiphany.org.

■ AIDS Treatment Fact line: 800662-6080

Drexel Hill Baptist Church Nonjudgmental Christian congregation affiliated with American Baptist Churches of the USA holds services 11 a.m. Sundays at 4400 State Road, Drexel Hill; 610-259-2356, www.dhbaptist.com.

St. Mary of Grace Parish Inclusive church in the Catholic tradition celebrates Mass 6 p.m. Sundays in the Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County, 145 W. Rose Tree Road, Media; 610-566-1393, www.inclusivecatholics.org.

■ Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection at the Independence Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library: 215-685-1633

Emanuel Lutheran Church Reconciling in Christ congregation meets at 10:30 a.m. Sundays, summer services 9:30 a.m., New and Kirkpatrick streets, New Brunswick, N.J.; 732545-2673; www.emmanuelnb.org.

St. Mary’s Church Diverse and inclusive Episcopal church celebrates the Eucharist 11 a.m. Sundays at 3916 Locust Walk; 215-386-3916; www.stmarysatpenn.org.

n The COLOURS Organization Inc.: 215-496-0330

Evangelicals Concerned Lesbian and gay Christian counseling; 215-860-7445. First Baptist Church Welcoming and affirming church holds prayer services 10:30 a.m. Sundays and community worship 11:30 a.m. at 123 S. 17th St.; 215-563-3853. First Baptist Church of Moorestown Welcoming and affirming congregation holds Bible study and discussion at 9 a.m. Sundays and worship services at 10 a.m. Sundays at 19 W. Main St., Moorestown, N.J.; 856-235-1180; www.fbcmoorestown.org; info@ fbcmoorestown.org. First Presbyterian Church of Lansdowne Welcoming church holds services at 10 a.m. Sundays at 140 N. Lansdowne Ave.; 610-622-0800; www.lansdownepresbyterian-church.com. First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia A liberal, welcoming and diverse congregation that affirms the dignity of all. Sunday services at 10 a.m., 2125 Chestnut St.; 215-563-3980, www. firstuu-philly.org. The First United Methodist Church of Germantown A sexual-minority-affirming congregation holds services at 10 a.m., summer services 11 a.m., Sundays, with lunch to follow, at 6001 Germantown Ave.; 215-438-3077, www.fumcog.org. Grace Epiphany Church A welcoming and diverse Episcopal congregation in Mt. Airy with services 9:30 a.m. Sundays at 224 E. Gowen Ave.; 215-248-2950, www.grace-epi.org. Holy Communion Lutheran Church ELCA Reconciling in Christ congregation worships 9 a.m. Sundays at 2111 Sansom St. and 11 a.m. at 2110 Chestnut St. in the main sanctuary; 215-567-3668, www.lc-hc.org.

Tabernacle United Church Open and affirming congregation holds services 10 a.m. Sundays at 3700 Chestnut St.; 215-386-4100, tabunited.org. Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church Sunday worship with nursery care, 10:30 a.m. and fourth Thursday of the month contemporary worship with Communion at 7 p.m. at 2212 Spruce St.; 215-732-2515, trinityphiladelphia.org. Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County Welcoming congregation holds services 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. Sundays, summer services 10:30 a.m., at 145 W. Rose Tree Road, Media. Interweave, a group for LGBT parishioners and allies, meets 12:30 p.m. the third Sunday of the month and holds a potluck brunch 12:30 p.m. the first Sunday of the month; 610-566-4853. www.uucdc.org. Unitarian Society of Germantown Welcoming congregation holds services 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 6511 Lincoln Drive; 215-844-1157, www.usguu.org. Unitarian Universalist Church of Cherry Hill Services 10:15 a.m. Interweave, a group of LGBT Unitarians and their allies, meets at 401 N. Kings Highway, Cherry Hill, N.J.; 856-667-3618, uucch.org. Unitarian Universalist Church of the Restoration Welcoming congregation holds services 11 a.m. Sundays at 6900 Stenton Ave.; 215-247-2561, www.uurestoration.us.

Imago Dei Metropolitan Community Church Sexual-minority congregation worships at 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 1223 Middletown Road (Route 352), Glen Mills; 610-358-1716, www. ImagoDeiMCC.org.

Unitarian Universalist Congregation, South Jersey Shore Services 10 a.m. Sundays in Galloway Township; 609-965-9400, www. uucsjs.org.

Living Water United Church of Christ An open and affirming congregation that meets for worship 11 a.m. on Sundays at 6250 Loretto Ave.; 267-388-6081, www.lwucc.org.

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Pottstown Services 10:30 a.m. at 1565 S. Keim St.; 610-327-2662, www.uupottstown. org.

Kol Tzedek Reconstructionist synagogue committed to creating a diverse and inclusive community meets at Calvary Center, 801 S. 48th St.; 215-764-6364, www. kol-tzedek.org.

United Christian Church Open, affirming and welcoming congregation holds services 10:15 a.m. Sundays, summer services 9:15 a.m., at 8525 New Falls Road, Levittown; 215-946-6800.

Mainline Unitarian Church Holds services 10 a.m. Sundays at 816 S. Valley Forge Road, Devon; 610688-8332, www.mluc.org.

Unity Fellowship Church of Philadelphia Diverse, affirming LGBT congregation holds services 2 p.m. Sundays at 55 N. Broad St.; 215-240-6106.

Maple Shade Congregational Church of the United Church of Christ Affirming congregation open to all sexual orientations and gender identities holds services 10 a.m. Sundays at 45 N. Forklanding Road, Maple Shade,

University Lutheran Church of the Incarnation Welcoming congregation holds services 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 3637 Chestnut St. preceded by “Adult Forum: Sundays” at 9:30 a.m.; 215-3872885, www.uniphila.org.

■ Rainbow Room — Bucks County’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and Allies Youth Center 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays: Salem UCC Education Building, 181 E. Court St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981 ext. 9065 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: noon-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; noon-3 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Friday; noon-6 p.m. Saturday. Volunteers: New Orientation: First Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.

Key numbers ■ Equality Pennsylvania: 215731-1447; www.equalitypa.org ■ Equality Forum: 215-732-3378 ■ LGBT Peer Counseling Services: 215-732-TALK ■ Mayor’s Director of LGBT Affairs: Nellie Fitzpatrick, 215-6862194; helen.fitzpatrick@phila.gov; Fax: 215-686-2555

■ Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force: 1-877-pride-2000 ■ Philadelphia Police Department liaison — Deputy Commissioner Kevin Bethel: 215-6863318 ■ Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 215-760-3686 (Rick Lombardo); ppd.lgbt@gmail.com ■ Philly Pride Presents: 215875-9288

■ Mazzoni Center: 215-563-0652; Legal Services: 215-563-0657, 866-LGBT-LAW; Family & Community Medicine: 215-563-0658

■ SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: 717-9209537

■ Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): 215-572-1833

■ Transgender Health Action Coalition: 215-732-1207 (staffed 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays and 6-9 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays)

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

St. Paul Episcopal Church Welcoming and inclusive church holds services 9:30 a.m. Sundays and 7 p.m. Tuesdays at 89 Pinewood Drive, Levittown; 215-688-1796, www. stpaullevittown.org. St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Welcoming and diverse congregation with numerous outreach and fellowship groups holds services at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday at Third and Pine streets; 215-925-5968; www.stpetersphila.org.

Health

Anonymous, free, confidential HIV testing Spanish/English counselors offer testing 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 216 W. Somerset St.; 215763-8870. ActionAIDS Provides a range of programs for people affected by HIV/ AIDS, including case management, prevention, testing and education services at 1216 Arch St.; 215-981-0088; www.actionaids.org. AIDS Services In Asian Communities Provides HIV-related services to Asians and Pacific Islanders at 1711 S. Broad St.; 215-629-2300; www.asiac.org. Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative Free, anonymous HIV testing from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 149 W. Susquehanna Ave.; noon-6 p.m. Tuesdays at the Washington West Project, 1201 Locust St.; 215-851-1822 or 866-222-3871; www.galaei.org. Spanish/English HIV treatment Free HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment for Philadelphia residents are available from 9 a.m.-noon Mondays (walk-in) and 5-8 p.m. Thursdays (by appoint-

■ 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, selfemployed and business owners meets monthly in a different location throughout the city, invites speakers on various topics, partners with other nonprofits and maintains a website where everyone is invited to sign up for email notices for activities and

ment) at Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad St.; 215-685-1821. HIV health insurance help Access to free medications and confidential HIV testing available 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays at 13 S. 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-Thursday; 9 a.m.-noon Friday; 1-5 p.m. Saturday; 1201 Locust St.; 215-985-9206.

Professional groups events; www.gppn.org; 215-9223377.

■ National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association The Philadelphia chapter of NLGJA, open to professionals and students, meets for social and networking events; www. nlgja.org/philly; philly@nlgja.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 information about events, programs and membership; 215-557-0190; 1717 Arch St., Suite 3370.

■ 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; 215-840-2039.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 8-14, 2015

PGN