PGN May 13-19, 2016

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pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976

Vol. 40 No. 20 May 13-19, 2016

• Day in the Life of ... Bob Egan • Jazz at The Rrazz • Out & About in Bucks County • Destination Doylestown

p. 21 p. 24 p. 26 p. 27

Visit Bucks County Issue

HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM

• Dining at Earl’s Prime • New Hope movie maven • Boutiques abound • Luck o’ the river Irish

p. 30 p. 31 p. 33 p. 34

Photo: Scott A. Drake

Germantown Academy wants to publicly name a student who’s suing the prestigious college-prep school for pervasive same-sex abuse. School officials claim the young man doesn’t have a legal right to litigate under a pseudonym. But his attorneys say a pseudonym is needed to protect their client and his family. “John Doe” filed suit against the school in February, claiming school officials facilitated pervasive same-sex abuse from participants in a swim program. The school is located in Whitemarsh Township, Montgomery County. The alleged abuse of Doe includes being urinated on, being kneed in the genital area, being degraded “in any way possible” and threatened with anal

A Pennsylvania high school is coming under fire after administrators ejected a lesbian student from her prom. Aniya Wolf reports she was barred from Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg after arriving in a suit instead of a dress. Wolf, a junior, told media outlets she identifies as a “masculine” lesbian and feels more comfortable in pants than “girly” clothes. The Catholic school maintains it informed students and parents several months ago of its prom policy that girls must wear “formal dresses” and sent a reminder a few weeks before the May 6 event. Wolf’s mother contends the original notice was ambiguous, and the follow-up didn’t give the family enough time to find new attire. According to a statement from the school after the incident, administrators learned Wolf

planned to wear a suit a few hours before the prom and “contacted her mother in hopes we could resolve the situation.” It is unclear if the school reached Wolf’s mother that day. Wolf reported that, when she and her date arrived at the prom venue, a teacher pulled her aside and told her she couldn’t enter and said she would be arrested if she didn’t leave the premises. In its statement, the school defended its dress-code policy. “Without question, we love, respect and cherish all of our students,” the statement said. “Bishop McDevitt will continue to practice acceptance and love for all of our students. They are tremendous young men and women. We simply ask that they follow the rules that we have put into place.” After the dustup, William Penn High School in neighboring York extended an invitation to Wolf and a date to attend its upcoming prom. n

rape, the suit states. The student no longer participates in the swim program. He wishes to remain anonymous, in order to avoid further embarrassment, humiliation and harassment, according to his attorneys. In court papers, school officials note that Doe is an adult. They say it’s unfair for Doe to remain anonymous while his attorneys publicly criticize the school. They also raised the possibility of publicly naming Doe in future pleadings. Attorneys for Doe called the school’s desire to publicly identify their client “outrageous.” “This attempt to force [Doe] to disclose his identity in public pleadings is nothing more than an additional attempt to intimidate [Doe],” according to Doe’s attorneys. School officials recently reiterated their position that Doe PAGE 19

Plaintiff seeks archdiocese’s secret archive

PA lesbian kicked out of prom By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

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School wants alleged abuse victim named in court papers By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com

OFF TO THE RACES: Geno Vento, the out owner of Geno’s Steaks, was among several judges of a costume contest at West Laurel Hill Cemetery’s Derby Party. Vento, pictured with West Laurel Hill sales director Deb Cassidy (left) and marketing coordinator Priyanka Setty, was among more than 50 revelers at the May 7 festivity, which raised funds for Hope Springs Equestrian Therapy, Inc. As the derby played live on TVs, guests got into the spirit of the tradition with mint juleps and sweet-tea vodkas, mason-jar pies and carriage rides through the cemetery.

Pack your bags for a weekend in Doylestown

By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com

PRIDE PLANNING: Staffers at Humphrys Flag Company, on Arch Street in Philadelphia, were hard at work last week putting the finishing touches on a new rainbow flag for New Hope Celebrates. The Pride group will unfurl the flag May 15 in New Hope to kick off its weeklong celebration. For more, see our special Bucks County coverage, pages 21-36. Photo: Courtesy Humphreys Flag Company

Deborah McIlmail, who’s suing the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for allegedly contributing to her son’s death, wants to buttress her case with records contained in a “secret archive” at the archdiocese. Sean McIlmail allegedly was molested by the Rev. Robert L. Brennan between 19982001, while he was a student at Resurrection of Our Lord Catholic School in Rhawnhurst. Sean died in 2013 at the age of 26 due to a drug overdose. McIlmail holds Brennan; Brennan’s former supervisor, Msgr. William J. Lynn; and the archdiocese responsible for Sean’s death. She filed suit in 2013, seeking more than $50,000 in damages. The secret archive contains sensitive personnel records for local priests accused in various scandals over the past several decades. The archdiocese PAGE 2


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