Season prologue: The 5th annual PGN Summer Reading Guide
Family Portrait: Trevor Powell
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New Hope (p. 5) and Atlantic City (p. 6, 23) draw us out of the Philadelphia closet.
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May 20-26, 2011
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Vol. 35 No. 20
Primary races see gay wins, slim losses Two out Council candidates narrowly lost their races in this week’s primary election, although LGBTs did make gains in judicial contests. Council will welcome six new members in the fall, including Mark Squilla, who will represent the district that includes the Gayborhood. By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Primary Day brought both victories and losses to LGBT candidates in the area. Sherrie Cohen and Malcolm Lazin, both seeking to become the first openly LGBT members of Philadelphia City Council, placed sixth in the Democratic and Republican Council-at-Large contests, respectively, narrowly missing the coveted top-five spots. Cohen captured 9.3 percent of the vote, bringing in 43,690 votes, putting her less than 2,000 votes behind fifth-place incumbent Jim Kenney. “I think this reflected the power of unity among LGBT people, laborers, progressives — all the people who want a city with more economic and social justice,” Cohen said Wednesday. “The fact that we came so close to winning shows that even without the backing of the Democratic Party, we can unite so many segments of our citywide community and achieve victory in the near future.” Cohen, who said she would consider another run for Council in the future, added the close call should encourage LGBT voters to enhance their support for out candidates in future races. “I think next time people should just realize they need to do one extra thing, one extra step to help a candidate win,” she said. “We need everyone to jump into these campaigns and feel like it’s their campaign. I ran on behalf and for our community, and I think we need people to realize that’s in their best interests to do everything they can to have a COHEN (TOP) seat at the table and repAND LAZIN
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Night court to launch in June By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com
CANDIDATE CRAWL: Political hopefuls trolled the Gayborhood Friday night urging LGBTs to get out the vote for this week’s primary election. Led by former Gov. Ed Rendell, candidates such as First District hopeful Joe Grace courted LGBT voters at ICandy, also hitting nightspots like Q Lounge and Sisters, explaining their positions on LGBT issues and urging the community to turn out in full force at the polls Tuesday. Photo: Scott A. Drake
An innovative program kicks off next week in the 6th District to bring swift, pragmatic justice to petty criminals. Out Common Pleas Court Judge Dan Anders will preside over the district’s first night court, held in two sessions June 3 at district headquarters, 235 N. 11th St. The district includes the Gayborhood, Old City and Chinatown. The first session, at 7 p.m., will address those accused of summary offenses in the district the prior week. Once those cases are heard, Anders will return at 1 a.m. to hear cases of individuals cited that Friday night. Summary offenses include such transgressions as loitering, vandalism, disorderly conPAGE 14 duct or public urination.
Judge grants leniency to gay basher By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com A man who evaded justice for more than a decade in connection with a local gay bashing finally had his day in court this week. Patrick Groce, 36, came before Common Pleas Court Judge Harold Kane Monday, who sentenced him to 11-23 months in prison for the June 1994 beating of Alan Yollin. Groce was eligible for up to four years in prison for aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment and conspiracy charges. The sentence included work-release,
allowing him to leave the prison during the day to continue his car-detailing career. His sentence will be followed by seven years of probation. Groce and accomplice Thomas Grafton, now 35, attacked Yollin as he was walking near 13th and Lombard streets. The pair yelled antigay slurs at Yollin as they drove near the intersection and then parked the car and punched and kicked him, leaving him with bruised ribs and facial lacerations. Both were arrested shortly after the incident, but Groce, free on bail after his conviction, failed to show up for his sentencing proceeding. PAGE 16
DIVINE INTERVENTION: Radio celeb Pierre Robert welcomed guests to the AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania’s “One Divine Night” fundraiser May 12. The event featured performances by the Captivating Queens of Illusion and drew more than 100 guests. AIDS Law Project executive director Ronda Goldfein said the festivity brought in about $35,000 for the agency. Photo: Scott A. Drake