PGN May 21-27, 2010 edition

Philadelphia Gay News LGBT police liaison to retire

Equality PA names new ED

By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer

By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer After a three-month search for a permanent executive director, Equality Pennsylvania has selected former board member Ted Martin to take the reins of the agency.

Martin, 45, who most recently served as the executive director of economic development marketing at Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development, will officially start June 1.

Nineteen candidates applied for the position between February and March, and board president Brian Sims said Martin ranked in the top five. A search committee reviewed the candidates and the board of directors made the final decision.

Sims said Martin, one of several individuals appointed to the Equality Pennsylvania board of directors in January, was not involved in any board correspondence or meetings after his application.

Thomas Waters, a former board member who resigned in January, expressed reservations with the agency selecting a board member for the position.

“I think it’s disappointing that with a national search, Equality P e n n s y l va n i a was left offering the position to one of its board members,” he said.

“Pennsylvania is behind many TED MARTIN o t h e r s t a t e s when it comes to LGBT rights, and Equality Pennsylvania has been off the map now for almost six months. I wish Ted the best of luck, and I hope it goes well for him, but I just think it’s sad that we didn’t bring in a heavier hitter to help turn the state

Vol. 34 No. 21

Honesty Integrity Professionalism

May 21 - 27, 2010

A SHOT IN THE ARM: Dave Metzger (from left), director of University of Pennsylvania Clinical Trials Unit, HIV Prevention Research Division; Dr. Ian Frank, Penn Clinical Trials medical director; Betty Hennigan, UPenn Community Advisory Board; Tony Daniel, CAB cochair and David Acosta, coordinator of prevention programs for the AIDS Activities Coordinating Office, were among 80 guests at the HIV Vaccine Awareness Day, held by the SafeGuards Project on May 18.

Vaccine tester Deb Dunbar and vaccine testing participant Tommy Atz answered audience questions and Off the Street Entertainment performed. For more information on the HIV Vaccine Project, go to www.safeguards.org. Photo: Scott A. Drake

Trans woman gets favorable PHRC ruling

By Timothy Cwiek PGN Writer-at-Large

The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission has ruled that a transgender woman probably was discriminated against when she was denied access to the women’s restroom at her former job.

Kate Lynn Blatt, of Pottsville, worked at Cabela’s Retail Store Inc. from September 2006 until March 2007 as a seasonal stocker.

She earned about $400 weekly, she said.

The store, located in Hamburg, is part of a chain that specializes in outdoor hunting and fishing equipment.

At the time she was hired, Blatt was in the process of transitioning from James to Kate Lynn.

Blatt said she was grateful to be hired, but began experiencing problems with Cabela’s management almost immediately.

“One of the early problems See EQUALITY PA, Page 17 was getting permission to wear

a female uniform,” Blatt said. “I had to constantly ask management for about a week, before they finally gave me permission.”

In January 2007, Blatt presented her employer with a court order, stating that her name is Kate Lynn Blatt, and that her gender is female.

Due to the court order, she requested permission to use the female employees’ restroom at the worksite, according to PHRC records.

In February 2007, Blatt’s employer denied her request, and instead required that she use a “unisex” public restroom until she provided medical documentation of her “anatomically appropriate gender,” according to PHRC records.

The unisex restroom was a five-minute walk from Blatt’s work location, and not as clean and hygienic as the women’s See RULING, Page 18

Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector James Tiano, who has served as the liaison between the police and the LGBT community for the past 12 years, will retire from the force this summer.

Tiano, 65, is set to serve his last day on June 29.

At press time, Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey had not indicated when a replacement would be named.

Tiano, who has served on the force since age 20, was appointed as the liaison by former Police Chief John Timoney.

“John Timoney had this role of liaison when he was in New York, and he knew that Philadelphia should have something like this as a big city,” Tiano said. “He considered a few people, and since I had been with the Central Division for a lot of years, I’d had a lot of dealings with the gay community. So he asked if I would do it and would form a committee, and that’s how it started way back in ’98.”

Tiano, who was named as the Friend of Pride at last summer’s Pride Parade, also serves as the

police liaison to the Asian community, the African-immigrant population and other groups.

“I’ve done a lot of work with diverse communities, and it’s very enjoyable. We’ve had a lot of good rapport with different communities and been able to accomplish some really good things.”

In the past 12 years, Tiano has worked with the Police Liaison Committee to address the concerns of the LGBT community, and he said the working relationship that has developed between the community and the police has been impressive.

“It’s really been about communication,” he said. “If someone has a problem, they call our office, and if I’m not there, they get a hold of me by cell phone. If there’s a rumor going through the community and people want to find things out, they call me and within hours I’ll have the facts of a case. And I’ve been able to seek advice from the community, just from us getting to know each other and becoming allies. It’s been really good to just open up those lines of communication.”

In addition to working to See TIANO, Page 16

SALUTING A LEADER: Current and former members of the Police Liaison Committee gathered May 13 to celebrate the retirement of longtime LGBT liaison Chief James Tiano (center). Tiano announced his retirement last week, and is expected to remain in his position through June. Photo: Scott A. Drake

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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

MAY 21 - 27, 2010

MAY 21 - 27, 2010

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

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Latino community celebrates Pride, autism awareness

By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer Although it’s one of the newer additions to the Philly area, the Latino Pride Festival is quickly becoming a staple of the local Pride Month celebration.

The third-annual event will be held from 2-9 p.m. June 5 at Fifth and Jefferson streets. The street festival will feature vendors, food and drink, live music and entertainment — the usual lineup for local Pride celebrations — but with a Latin flair.

“There are lots of different Prides in the area, like Black Pride, and they’re all a little bit different,” said co-organizer Brenda Torres. “With Latino Pride, we want to give people what they usually get at Pride, but with that Latin flavor that’s there in the music, in the food and in the performances.”

This year, Latin singers, dancers performing renditions of traditional Puerto Rican folk dance Bomba y Plena and an array of local drag queen celebs will populate the stage.

While the festival is largely focused on entertainment,

organizers have also aimed to heighten awareness among the LGBT community to different health concerns. Last year, the event promoted cancer education, and next month’s festival will be organized around autism awareness.

“We want people to have fun, but it’s also about providing education,” Torres said. “We always try to find something healthrelated because it’s important for people to think about these issues affecting our community, and all communities, while also having fun.”

Torres said she and co-organizer and partner Iris Melendez, who co-own North Philadelphia LGBT nightclub Rainbow Eye, have met several customers who are parents of autistic children and even have some members of their own families who’ve been affected by the condition.

“These are magnificent kids and, in my opinion, they’re really not getting the support they need out there. They’re going through struggles in school and at home, and even just in the gay community there are a lot of parents out there who have autistic kids,

and who are struggling, and we want to raise awareness about what’s happening and what needs to be done.”

A t t h e ev e n t , To r r e s and Melendez will present a check to a local agency that works to support autism causes, with funds generated in part through a recent date auction at Rainbow Eye. While fundraising has been difficult for this year’s event, which the organizers say is probably a result of the current economy, support from the LGBT community, local LGBT agencies and an increasing number of mainstream organizations has been steadily building over the past three years. Next month’s festival is expected to draw more than 4,000 people, double the attendance at the inaugural event.

LATINO PRIDE 2009 Photo: Scott A. Drake

Even though the festival is centered on and organized by the Latino community, LGBTs and allies of all backgrounds are welcome at the party.

“It’s all about uniting the forces,” Melendez said. “We want to bring together everyone from the LGBT family. We all tend to have our own events, but we want to bring everybody together

into one place so they can celebrate that the Latino community is here in Philadelphia. And that we’re here with open arms.”

For more information or to get involved with Latino Pride, contact Torres at (267) 235-6045 or Melendez at (267) 332-9282. ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.

PHILADELPHIA NEWS PHILADELPHIA GAY GAY NEWS

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MAY 21 - 27, 2010

News

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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

Immigration conversations

Food for thought and deed

The Asian LGBT community discussed immigration and is planning to participate in a rally to bring immigrant rights into view.

MANNA celebrates the dedication of volunteers and partners during its first annual Nourish Awards.

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Detour Comics Diversions Meeting Place Portraits Q Puzzle Scene In New Hope Worth Watching

Publisher

Mark Segal (ext. 204) mark@epgn.com

Editor Sarah Blazucki (ext. 206) sarah@epgn.com Art Director Scott A. Drake (ext. 210) scott@epgn.com Staff Writers Jen Colletta (ext. 215) jen@epgn.com

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Larry Nichols (ext. 213) larry@epgn.com Writer-at-Large Timothy Cwiek (ext. 208)

John Waters praises his role models in his new book.

Page 20

The song says “a kiss is just a kiss,” but “The Last Days of Judas Iscariot” explores whether that is true or not.

Family Portraits: Tiona McClodden

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Columns

Graphic Artist Sean Dorn (ext. 211) sean@epgn.com Advertising Director Tami Sortman (ext. 218) tami@epgn.com Advertising Manager Greg Dennis (ext. 201) greg@epgn.com Advertising Sales Representatives David Augustine (ext. 219) david@epgn.com

Creep of the Week 10 Outward Bound 30

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Stimulating

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Scene what? Where?

Worth Watching

Girls’ night out parties thrive

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PGN hits the road ... you may be Scene in Philly this summer, or you may not ...

Or maybe not ...

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emails

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News/story ideas: editor@epgn.com

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Poll results from our online survey as of May 19:

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PGN Special Issue

11% Robin Hood 11% Toy Story 3 14% Last Airbender 15% Sex & the City 2 8% Shrek Forever After 5% Twilight Saga: Eclipse 3% Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps 33% None of the above

Go to www.epgn.com to weigh in on this week’s question: What are your Memorial Day plans?

National Advertising Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863 Office Manager/Classifieds Don Pignolet (ext. 200) don@epgn.com Executive Assistant Credit/Billing Manager Carol Giunta (ext. 202) carol@epgn.com Philadelphia Gay News is a member of: The Associated Press National Gay Newspaper Guild Pennsylvania Newspaper Association Published by Masco Communications Inc. © 2010 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 21 - 27, 2010

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

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News Briefing

Regional

Pets at the Piazza Hundreds of animals looking for a new home will be strolling the Piazza at Schmidt’s this weekend for the largest animal-adoption event in the city’s history.

Citizens for a No-Kill Philadelphia will host With Love Super Adoption Day from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 22. More than a dozen rescue groups and shelters will be on hand with their animals, and the event will also feature live music, food, drinks and pet-friendly vendors.

For more information, visit www. phillynokill.com.

Museum to host Philly Family Pride meet Photos: Scott A. Drake

The Please Touch Museum will host a gathering for Philly Family Pride from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. May 24 at the facility, 4231 N. Concourse Drive in Fairmount Park.

Philadelphia Family Pride is a nonprofit organization creating family-oriented events, education and advocacy work for LGBT parents, prospective parents and their children in the Philadelphia area.

The event is an opportunity to meet with other PFP families. Guests will meet in the main hall under the big torch sculpture at 10 a.m. Entertainment includes a showing of “Pinch Bear” at 11 a.m. and 1 and 3 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to pack a lunch or visit the museum’s cafe.

Visit www.familypride.org or contact Stephanie at stephanie@phillyfamily pride.org or (215) 888-0722 for more information.

Last chance to register for 2010 Gay Games

PICTURE-PERFECT PRIDE: Guests of the seventh-annual New Hope Celebrates were in abundance as they enjoyed an abundance of sunshine and warm temperatures May 15. Parade host Angel warmed up the crowd on Main Street with humor and song, while special guests state Sen. Daylin Leach (D-17th Dist.) and Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission chair Stephen Glassman gave a welcoming speech. The parade featured floats, antique cars, organizations from across the region and musical groups such as the Big Apple Corps LGBT Marching Band, Lambertville Drum and Bugle Corps and the Philadelphia Freedom Band. There was also entertainment by the Glamazons, Josh Zuckerman and “America’s Got Talent” finalists DC Cowboys. This July 4, the DC Cowboys will be the first openly LGBT group to participate in Philadelphia’s Wawa Welcome America! parade. See additional photos on page 23.

The registration period for the 2010 Gay Games VIII in Cologne, Germany, will end May 31.

The sports and cultural festival will take place from July 31-Aug. 7 and is expected to attract 12,000 LGBT participants from more than 70 countries competing in 35 athletic disciplines.

Team Philadelphia is the organizing committee for athletes from the area.

For information on participating in the games, contact Team Philadelphia at Info@TeamPhiladelphia.org. For travel information, contact Event Logistics International at (877) 354-6082 or Rese rvations@EventLogisticsTravel.com.

For more information on Gay Games 2010, visit www.games-cologne.com. ■ — Jen Colletta and Larry Nichols

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

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MAY 21 - 27, 2010

BUILDING IMMIGRATION BRIDGES: Sam Van (far left) of Queer Philadelphia Asians joined members of the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance, GALAEI, the Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition and the Nationalities Service Center to host a disucssion May 17 at the Asian Arts Initiative. More than 100 attended the panel “LGBT Queer Immigrants’ Rights” to discuss immigration laws, local legislative initiatives and human-rights violations in and outside the LGBT community. A protest of the recently passed Arizona immigration law and similar Pennsylvania legislation will be held at 11:30 a.m. May 26 at Fifth and Market streets. For more information, e-mail marchforamericapa@gmail. com or call (866) 956-8590. Photo: Scott A. Drake

Giovanni’s Room burglarized

By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer

Philadelphia Gay News

We love to get picked up.

Giovanni’s Room, the oldest LGBT bookstore in the nation, was the site of an attempted burglary last week.

Ed Hermance, store owner, said he was contacted by police on the morning of May 13, after the officers noticed the window on the front door of the store, at 12th and Spruce streets, was smashed.

Police had no suspects as of press time. Nothing was taken, and investigators so far don’t believe the incident was motivated by anti-LGBT bias.

Police believe the incident occurred at about 1:10 a.m.

May 13. Someone threw a brick through the windowpane on the door and then reached inside to unlock it.

Once inside, the would-be thief or thieves unsuccessfully searched for money, Hermance said.

“They headed straight for the cash register on the first floor and pulled it out from under where we keep it and got it open, but there was no money in it,” he said. “But we think they just left shortly after that, because nothing else seemed to be missing.”

Store employee Qui Alexander said it appears the culprit proceeded upstairs and “rummaged around” looking for money, but nothing was missing there either.

Police noticed the damage around 3 a.m. and entered the store. The officers located a list of employee phone numbers and began placing calls, reaching Hermance at 8 a.m.

Alexander said the store’s alarm could be heard in the background of the messages left by police, but it was unclear whether the alarm system — located in the store’s office — was tripped by the burglar or police.

Alexander said the police stayed at the store until Hermance and other employees arrived.

There was no other property damage besides the shattered glass that was strewn across the first floor, the cleanup of which delayed the store’s opening last Thursday.

“There was glass in the whole front room,” Alexander said. “All of the bookshelves in the front were filled with glass.”

Hermance contacted a repair company Thursday and expected the replacement of the window to cost at least $300. Until the window can be installed, a piece of wood was secured over the pane.

Police spokesperson Officer Christine O’Brien said the responding officers dusted for fingerprints, and that the investigation is ongoing. ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.

MAY 21 - 27, 2010

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

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Media Trail LA LGBT center joins Arizona boycott

MANNA SALUTES: Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance presented its inaugural Nourish Awards on May 12, recognizing organizations that have made strides in health care and nutrition, at the 23rd Street Armory, garnerning some 450 guests and raising a total of $145,000. Nancy Mahon, executive director of the MAC AIDS Fund and senior director of MAC Cosmetics (from left), received an award presented by Kay Keenze, the first executive director of MANNA. Dr. John H. Glick, president of Abramson Family Research Institute, received an award for Abramson Cancer Center presented by John Barnes, the second executive director of MANNA. Greg Goldman, third executive director of MANNA, presented an award to R. Duane Perry, founder of The Food Trust. Photos: Scott A. Drake

Conservative friends rise in support of Kagan

By Mark Sherman The Associated Press Conservative lawyers and academics are voicing support for Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan, praise that could soften criticism from the right and provide cover for any Republican senators inclined to vote for her nomination.

The essence of their take on Kagan, the former Harvard Law School dean who now serves as solicitor general, is that she has the smarts to be a justice and can work with all sides on thorny issues.

“She has had a remarkable and truly unusual record of reaching out across ideological divides,” said Michael McConnell, a former federal appeals court judge who was nominated by President George W. Bush.

Longtime Kagan friend Miguel Estrada, whose appeals-court nomination by Bush was blocked by Senate Democrats, said, “She’s clearly qualified for the court and should be confirmed. Obviously, she’s a left-of-center academic who never would have been picked by a Republican. But no one can doubt her intellectual accomplishments.”

In a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee last Friday, Estrada said, “If such a person, who has demonstrated great intellect, high accomplishments and an upright life is not easily confirmable, I fear we will have reached a point where no capable person will readily accept a nomination for judicial service.”

Former special prosecutor Kenneth Starr, who ran the investigation that led to President Bill Clinton’s impeachment, said charges by some conservatives that Kagan

holds extreme views are off-base.

“That’s politics, and unfortunately confirmation politics have been very ugly, with a few happy interludes, ever since the nomination of Judge Robert Bork,” Starr said on MSNBC. Conservative interest groups and some senators have raised questions about Kagan’s lack of judicial experience and suggested that she might be a “rubber stamp” for Obama on the high court. They also have seized on her opposition to military recruiters at Harvard over the Pentagon’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy on gay soldiers. The conservative critics argue that she would be a liberal, activist justice.

Carrie Severino, chief counsel to the Judicial Crisis Network, said endorsements by prominent conservatives do nothing to answer the questions about Kagan.

“I don’t think that really changes our analysis,” Severino said. “We’re very interested in finding out what kind of a justice she would be. As of right now, what we see looks very troubling.”

Severino’s group released a video last week blasting Kagan for barring military recruiters over “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

GOP senators have said the decision casts doubt on Kagan’s fitness for the bench.

Thomas Goldstein, a Supreme Court lawyer who writes about the court and nominations for Scotusblog.com, said the support on the right is potentially useful to Kagan.

“When conservative icons strongly endorse Kagan, that knocks the legs out from under the claim that she’s either unqualified or a liberal activist. Those arguments end up looking like pure politics,” Goldstein said.

“The endorsements also give critical cover

to moderate Republicans who want to vote for her but worry about criticism from the right.”

So far, no Republican senator has announced support for Kagan, who received seven GOP votes when she was confirmed as solicitor general last year.

McConnell, who teaches law at Stanford University, agreed with Severino that Kagan’s stand on military recruiters was a “dreadful decision.” But he said that Harvard was like many other major law schools at that time in seeking to bar military recruiters over discrimination against gays. He said the episode was “not a serious black eye.”

He also said that Kagan will be a safe liberal vote in most cases that divide on ideological grounds.

Yet, he said, “as I chat with other centerright law professors, she’s got overwhelming affection and support.”

He attributed some of that support to Kagan’s openness to arguments across the political spectrum.

“She’s a bit unusual in this respect, particularly at this juncture when not just the Supreme Court but the country basically is divided into two camps that often cannot speak to each other,” McConnell said.

Kagan, who has known McConnell since their days as law professors at the University of Chicago in the early 1990s, wrote a letter of support for McConnell in 2002 urging Senate Democrats to confirm him.

She and Estrada have been friends since they sat next to each other in several law school classes 25 years ago. And Starr held the same job as Kagan, as President George H.W. Bush’s solicitor general. ■

Advocate.com reports the country’s largest gay and lesbian center has officially cut ties with Arizona following that state’s enactment of a strict law aimed at combating illegal immigration.

The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center announced May 17 that it is joining the growing economic boycott of the state.

Cities including Los Angeles and West Hollywood have already severed economic ties with Arizona.

“As of today, the center will prohibit staff travel to Arizona for conferences or other professional activities and will take steps to end all relationships with businesses headquartered in Arizona,” said center chief of staff Darrel Cumming.

Minn. guv vetoes funeral-rights bill 365gay.com reports Minnesota’s Gov. Tim Pawlenty recently vetoed a bill that would have given gay partners the right to decide what to do with the remains of their deceased loved ones.

Pawlenty said the bill was unnecessary because “partners can draw up a living will.” But gay-rights advocates countered that married couples don’t have to take that step.

The bill would have also allowed gay partners to sue for wrongful death.

Church offers to find school for couple’s son MSNBC reports the head of education for the Boston Archdiocese offered to help find a different Catholic school for a boy denied acceptance at a Hingham Catholic school because his parents are gay.

In a May 13 statement, superintendent Mary Grassa O’Neill said she spoke with a parent of the 8-year-old boy and “offered to help enroll her child in another Catholic school in the archdiocese.”

The parent called the archdiocese’s response “compassionate,” but said she was uncertain she would enroll her son in another Catholic school.

The boy was to enter third grade in the fall. But the woman said the parish priest began asking questions about her relationship during a meeting.

On May 10, she learned her son’s acceptance had been rescinded during a conference call with the priest and the school’s principal, Cynthia Duggan, because her relationship was “in discord” with church teachings. ■ — Larry Nichols

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MAY 21 - 27, 2010

Area tourism organizations host sensitivity training

By Larry Nichols PGN Staff Writer Some 50 hotel employees in the region learned how to be gayfriendlier on the job during a training session last week.

The Valley Forge Convention and Visitors Bureau sponsored the gay-sensitivity training May 17 at the Crowne Plaza Valley Forge in King of Prussia. The training was coordinated by the Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus and Temple University’s School of Hospitality and Tourism.

Tom Haberland, director of tourism and sales for Valley Forge CVB, said the organization sponsored the program to foster understanding of the growing LGBT tourism market.

“We joined the GLCVB [Gay and Lesbian Convention and Visitors Bureau] and the IGLTA [International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association],” he said. “I think we’ve always belonged to the Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus. So I thought it would be a great thing to offer to all of our members, especially in the hotel industry. I think everybody in the world needs to do it.”

This particular training focused on hotel employees, but Haberland said it also applies to other areas of the hospitality industry.

Most of [the participants] were from hotels,” he said. “We had housekeeping, engineering, sales, all across the board. You can have them geared to restaurants and attractions. I find that we have some people out there that could be interested. It took a little urging of people to come to this. But when they were all there, they participated.”

The training involved a series of one-hour real-time dialogues between actors and participants designed to simulate situations they might experience involving LGBT guests.

Dr. Debra Blair, assistant professor at Temple University School of Hospitality and Tourism, moderated the dialogues.

GETTING GAY-FRIENDLY: Actor Carly Bodner (from left) plays a hotel front-desk clerk checking in gay couple Tyrone Holt and Eric Singel at a gay-sensitivity training program May 17, hosted by the Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus and Temple University’s School of Hospitality and Tourism at the Valley Forge Convention and Visitors Bureau. Photo: Courtesy of Valley Forge Convention and Visitors Bureau

“Dr. Blair would stop them in character and say, ‘What do you think of this?’ and ‘What’s going on here?’” Haberland said. “Then the audience starts asking questions and saying how they feel at that time. So it’s incredibly effective because everybody gets involved in it.”

Blair said most individuals generally don’t have insight into what the consumer is feeling in these situations.

“I think to be able to get feedback from a consumer in a conflict situation, that never really happens,” she said. “You’re in a problem scenario and you really want to ask that consumer what they are feeling and really dig deep. You don’t really have the chance to do that in the real world in terms of customer service. So I think for them to hear from a deep perspective how people are feeling about experiences was eye-opening for them.”

Haberland added the training also deepened participants’ understanding of what being “gayfriendly” means for the hospitality industry.

“One of the things that they didn’t expect is being ‘gayfriendly’ is more than just being

friendly,” he said. “They realize now that gay-friendly is knowing where gay people can go to have dinner and, if they ask where is the Gayborhood, they know how to direct them there. It’s that they know as much about gay activities as they would about straight activities. Another thing was don’t assume. That was the number-one thing. That was the largest point.

People in the hotel would say, ‘Well, I assumed that the woman was with her husband.’ But she wasn’t. She was with her life partner.”

Blair said she was very pleased by both the number of participants and the range of industry professionals that was represented.

“We had people representing everywhere from maintenance to human resources,” she said. “We had a variety of different positions, which also makes for good training because you get to hear what your employees are feeling and the kinds of questions they ask. It opens your eyes to potential hot-button situations you might have to deal with. That makes you a better-prepared manager.” ■ Larry Nichols can be reached at larry@epgn.com.

MAY 21 - 27, 2010

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

Gayborhood Crime Watch The following incidents in the Midtown Village and Washington Square West areas were reported to the Sixth Police District between May 3-9. 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.

ARRESTS: At 9:15 p.m. May 3, Center City District bicycle patrol Officer Pagan and Sgt. Paraschak were in plainclothes at 1200 Chestnut St. and observed a male panhandling in traffic and banging on the windows of motorists who didn’t give him money. The officers identified themselves and the male grabbed one of the officers by the shirt, ripping it, and a struggle ensued. During the struggle, two other males joined in assaulting the officers to help the first male escape. All three males, ages 48, 44 and 29, all reportedly homeless, were subdued and arrested for disorderly conduct, assault on police and resisting arrest.

REPORT: At 10 a.m. May 5, complainant was making a delivery for Tri-State Vending. While parked in the 1000 block of Sansom Street, someone cut the lock to the back door of the delivery truck and took money bags. Sixth District Officer Maiorano checked for fingerprints.

REPORT: At 8:40 p.m. May 5, a male entered the Wine and Spirits store, 1218 Chestnut St., lit a plastic container with a flammable liquid and threw it at the counter, while another male in the store grabbed a bottle of rum. Both males fled. Suspect No. 2, with the bottle of rum, was apprehended in the 200 block of South Camac Street by Sixth District bicycle patrol Officer Blackburn. The 19year-old alleged offender with a Washington Square West address was charged with retail theft. The male who started the fire was described as white and in his 20s with a thin build and sandy hair, wearing green pants and shirt. The fire department doused the minor

blaze and the fire marshal is investigating along with the Arson Task Force.

REPORT: On May 5, complainant left his apartment in the 1300 block of Spruce Street, leaving the door unlocked; when he returned he found a laptop, backpack and wallet missing. A review of security video shows two black males: No. 1 wearing a white shirt, khaki cargo pants and a baseball cap; No. 2 wearing a tank top and jeans, carrying complainant’s backpack as he exited the building.

Sixth District Officer McCausland checked the scene for possible fingerprints.

REPORT: At 2 a.m. May 7, complainant was in the 300 block of South 13th Street when a silver vehicle, possibly a Lexus SUV, pulled up next to him and shots were fired from the passenger-side window. The vehicle fled north on 13th Street; the male was struck in the hand and leg. The complainant walked to the emergency room at Jefferson University Hospital.

Base on complainant’s prior history, it is believed this was not a random act but that he was targeted.

ARREST: At 4:25 p.m. May 7, complainant was walking home from high school and was followed from 12th and Pine streets to 13th and Locust by a male who asked for money. The complainant said no, and the male replied that he didn’t like the complainant’s tone of voice. The victim then took out his cell phone to call police and the male punched him in the arm and side of his neck. Center City bike patrol Officer Wright responded to a call for a fight and arrested the alleged offender in the 1300 block of Locust Street. The 34-year-old suspect with a North Philadelphia address was charged with assault, harassment and related offenses.

ARREST: At 10:40 a.m. May 8, a male was harassing customers inside Macy’s, 1300 Market St., and was escorted out of the store by security. The male returned and refused to leave. Sixth District

Officer Sweeney was called and, upon investigation, found narcotics in the male’s pocket. The 31year-old alleged offender with an Oxford Circle address was charged with possession of crack cocaine.

ARREST: At 4:20 p.m. May 8, a witness observed two males in the alley at 1200 Manning St., one acting as a lookout while the other opened a secured gate behind a property on Spruce Street and entered the yard. The witness called police and took a cell-phone photo of the male leaving the yard.

The lookout eluded apprehension, but police napped the other suspect near 1500 Latimer St. The 25-year-old alleged offender with a Frankford address was charged with criminal trespass after the owner of the Spruce Street property was contacted.

REPORT: At 3:15 p.m. May 9, the complainant was in the 1200 block of Chestnut Street watching his uncle’s Rascal motorized wheelchair when a male with a knife demanded the Rascal, then took off with it heading east on Chestnut Street. The offender was described as a black male, 40 years old, about 5-foot-7 and 140 pounds, with fuzzy hair and wearing a gray sweatsuit.

REPORT: At 9:05 and 9:15 p.m.

May 9, two complainants on the 400 block of South Quince Street were accosted at gunpoint by three males and had their wallets and cell phones taken. A similar incident occurred minutes prior near 11th and Lombard streets. The offenders were described as white males, late teens or early 20s. No. 1 was 5-foot-10, thin, wearing a red hoodie; No. 2 was 5-foot-10, thin, wearing a black hoodie; and No. 3 was 5-foot-8, thin, wearing a black hoodie and jeans. They were last seen fleeing east on Waverly Street.

REPORT: Between 6:45 a.m. May 7 and noon May 9, complainant’s 2001 Chrysler, parked in the 800 block of Locust Street with a flat tire, was stolen. ■

Philadelphia Gay News

PAGE 9

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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

MAY 21 - 27, 2010

Editorial

Election headache Elections are always headache-inducing here in the editorial department of PGN. There is the stress of will the candidates respond to us, how many do we reasonably need to speak to, what do we want to know, do we conduct in-person, phone or written interviews? Do we need a picture?

Every election cycle, we go through the same process: Identify the candidates, develop a list of questions, find the candidates’ contact information, contact them, wait for a response, wait some more, call them back. After the interview, we have to determine how to present the information. Do we convert their answers to a narrative format or create a chart? Which is easier for the reader? Which is easier for us?

Then, as always, elections are held on a Tuesday; we go to production on Wednesday. When we come in on Wednesday morning (unless we stayed up late on Tuesday to get a jump on it), we have to quickly ascertain what happened in the races we care about. Who won, who lost, who is too close to call?

And then we have to determine if the results will still be news by the time the paper hits the streets on Friday. (Case in point: Arlen Specter’s loss to Joe Sestak in the U.S. Senate Democratic primary is going to be old news by the time you read this. It was almost old news by the time I was writing it.)

As a weekly LGBT newspaper, our priorities are different from those of a mainstream daily. In election news, we aren’t necessarily going to be the media source readers go to for the results.

Instead, we are here to analyze what the election results mean for this community, provide information on community and political leaders’ strategies for advancing equal rights and report on what our friends and enemies are doing.

While this election cycle wasn’t as heartbreaking, bittersweet, exciting or historical as those in years past, it was still an important day for the community.

For the local LGBT community, strong and tepid allies won locally, statewide and in Congress; our next challenge will be to flex our muscle in the November general election. We’ll need to see who really is committed to our issues and get out the gay vote.

I’ll have the aspirin ready. ■

Correction In “Philly to get dose of HIV vaccine education” (May 14-20), the article incorrectly stated the compensation for each study visit. According to Annet Davis-Vogel, Community Advisory Board coordinator for the University of Pennsylvania, HIV Prevention Research Division, participants receive $35 and two SEPTA transit tokens per study visit.

Creep of the Week

D’Anne Witkowski

George Rekers Say you’ve had surgery that renders you unable to carry luggage and you’re about to go on a European vacation. What’s a person to do?

Well, if you’re Family Research Council co-founder and ex-gay therapy champion George Rekers, you look no further than RentBoy.com for a “travel assistant.”

And then you get caught at the airport with this hot young stud while pushing your own luggage cart.

Whoops.

That’s right, yet another anti-gay so-called Christian has been caught gay-handed.

Rekers doesn’t seem to think so, however. He’s sticking very hard to his “travel assistant” story.

According to a statement on his website, “Following medical advice [Rekers] requires an assistant to lift his luggage in his travels because of an ongoing condition following surgery. His family, local friends and even another university professor colleague have offered to accompany him on trips to assist him in his travel.”

Wow. It looks like he had a lot of people he could have asked to accompany him on his trip. And yet he still went with the prostitute from RentBoy. Maybe his family, friends and that mysterious other university

professor don’t give good enough hand jobs.

“Rekers found his recent travel assistant by interviewing different people who might be able to help, and did not even find out about his travel assistant’s Internet advertisements offering prostitution activity until after the trip was in progress,” his website’s message continues.

I reckon “interviewing different people” means “I looked at lots of hot naked dudes on RentBoy before deciding on the one I now refer to as my ‘travel assistant.’ It’s kind of hard to believe that Rekers found out about the RentBoy profile while the two were in Europe together, unless of course his so-called assistant said, “Oh, by the way, want to see pictures of my penis online?”

Rekers claims that there “was nothing inappropriate with this relationship” and that he “was not involved in any illegal or sexual behavior with his travel assistant.”

He even went as far as comparing himself to Jesus and John the Baptist, saying he was just ministering to his sinner of a travel assistant and trying to save his soul.

Needless to say, it’s all kind of hard to swallow. Rekers can claim all he wants that he isn’t gay, has never been gay and just wants to save the

real gays from their evil gay selves, but he is definitely one confused and hypocritical little man.

Rekers has made a career of demonizing LGBT folks and doing everything he can to make this country less safe for anyone who isn’t heterosexual. For example, Rekers was paid real taxpayer dollars to testify for the state in favor of Florida’s antigay adoption ban.

It’s really not a surprise that so many folks who are rabidly antigay have turned out to be closeted and suffering even as they fight to keep discrimination against LGBT people written in this country’s laws. It’s as if they’re thinking, “Gosh, this had better stay illegal, otherwise I’m going to do it all day long.”

You know what, Rekers? You don’t end up at RentBoy.com by accident, and you sure as hell don’t hire a guy whose credentials include a “large” and “uncut” cock as a “travel assistant.” I’m not a doctor, but I don’t think foreskin is usually involved in carrying a suitcase. ■ D’Anne Witkowski has been gay for pay since 2003. She’s a freelance writer and poet (believe it!). When she’s not taking on the creeps of the world, she reviews rock ’n’ roll shows in Detroit with her twin sister.

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

MAY 21 - 27, 2010

Mark My Words

Mark Segal

LGBT victorious in primary vote The maturation and empowerment of Philadelphia’s LGBT community was in full view after Tuesday’s primary election. And this community pulled in some very impressive wins. But while all eyes were on the marquee races for governor and U.S. senator, we also had two high-profile races and, as the expression goes, all politics are local.

The races were two Center City state House of Representatives districts, the 175th and 182nd. In both, proven incumbents with long track records were challenged by LGBT people, both with no community ties and little record. The LGBT political establishment endorsed incumbents Mike O’Brien and Babette Josephs, respectively.

O’Brien and Josephs soundly beat their opponents.

O’Brien won with a whopping 80 percent of the vote and Josephs received 61 percent of the vote.

Here’s where a politically organized community comes into play. Community leaders overwhelmingly supported incumbents O’Brien and Josephs. Those leaders, from a cross-section of the community and with the trust of the community, took that message to the community itself with meet-and-greets, fundraisers and a get-out-the-vote campaign. Finally, Liberty City endorsed both candidates, as did this publication.

On primary day, the organizations went to work.

Mass e-mails went out to almost all LGBT voters in the districts, mailers were out and, finally, the field operation took over. Liberty City Democratic Club had 60 poll watchers. In some cases, Liberty City was

the only organized political presence.

These are the races city political leaders and pundits look to in order to gauge the community’s strength and political maturity. And the margins are impressive. Yet, as impressive as the margins are, those numbers will only be good when you have candidates who have their own strong operations. It’s a delicate balance but, this year, the community and the candidates were like a symphony.

All this LGBT political activity also showed results with the election of a slew of out individuals to Democratic state committee positions.

But we’d be remiss if we didn’t discuss those two marquee races. The heart of this community was clearly with Joe Hoeffel, but his loss comes at the hands of a much-better-financed campaign, that of Dan Onorato. While all the candidates for governor had LGBT support, this publication endorsed Williams for his long voting record and keeping an antigay marriage referendum off the ballot. While not the strongest on LGBT issues, Onorato shows promise.

Hopefully, you’ll see his vision for the LGBT community in these pages.

On to the U.S. Senate race. The community was split. This publication and many LGBT leaders backed incumbent Arlen Specter for his long record and a belief that he would be better positioned to beat Republican Pat Toomey in the fall. Joe Sestak won convincingly and is now the Democratic candidate; he must move quickly to paint Toomey for the rightwinger he is, which will unite the Democratic Party base for a strong turnout in November. ■ Mark Segal is PGN publisher. He can be reached at mark@epgn.com.

PAGE 11

Street Talk Is Elena Kagan’s sexual orientation of any interest to you?

Maureen Belluscio graduate student Society Hill

Joshua Hey graphic designer/store clerk South Philadelphia

“No, because I have nothing to do with her sexuality. In the broader perspective, if she is a lesbian, I’d like to see her come out. She’d be a valuable role model for the younger generation.

But I hate that we live in a world where being lesbian is seen as a negative.”

“No. It’s a non-issue — though some people will try to make it one.

I’m straight, but I’m all for the advancement of gay rights. I realize that some people will try to turn [Kagan] into a gay crusader. Others will try to use the information against her.

I don’t think she wants any of that attention.”

Ryan Kurtz bartender Rehoboth Beach, Del.

Brian Lavery student Washington Square West

“No. Politics don’t mix with the Supreme Court. Her sexual orientation shouldn’t have any effect on her judicial rulings. My mother is a lesbian, and I work in a gay bar. But I’d never ask [Kagan] about her sexuality.”

“No. It’s better kept unsaid. Sexual orientation doesn’t have anything to do with her ability to be a Supreme Court justice. I could care less whether she’s a lesbian. I just care that she does her job correctly and morally.”

Letters and Feedback In response to Letters, May 1420: Thanks for your continued efforts for keeping all peeps in the LGBT community and beyond heard. Yet a question I have: How do you know when the inclusion of persons of color has manifested itself with the William Way Center [and] that letters as above and rallies for change are no longer needed?

— Derek Baker-Gutierre I think there are some valid points made here, but I do not believe anyone has been excluded, denied or refused at the William Way. Ever. And why were concerns not addressed before the need instead of once the interview process has been well under way?

And what is this “healing the divide?” In the past few months I have seen artwork, the WWCC Archives Ballroom exhibit, the Black Gay Youth party and other

events that sure as hell didn’t look like anyone was being excluded!

I applaud organizations like COLOURS and GALAEI and ASIAC for their work in selective communities because they have a specific purpose. They are trying to reach and teach a target group within the community. But my gut reaction to the many “inclusive” issues that are cried out month after month is this: Quit segregating yourselves first!

If someone tried to organize a White Gay Pride, you’d be all over their shit, yet groups feel it is necessary to have a Black Gay Pride, a Latino Gay Pride and a Dyke March. Do we really need to continue to subdivide ourselves?

Do these groups reach out to the non-black, non-Latino/a, non-lesbians for inclusion, participation and cooperative understanding?

On the flip side, The Attic Youth Center does a tremendous job assisting all Philadelphia youth.

No one wants to open a white

Attic Youth Center just because the greater percentage of youth who use the facility are of color.

This melting pot of a nation goes through fits and starts of blending people in, for sure. As individuals and groups, we also have a desire to remember our personal heritage, whether through holiday events, dance and music, parades or food.

But angry, demanding letters like this one do not blend us: They further divide us. And when these divisions occur, guess who is going to take the heat again?

I hope that the community center’s search for a new director, Philly Pride and all other all-inclusive organizations and events will continue to have these dialogues to bring us together. Surely, we are not one opinion with a single voice; we are thousands of voices that need to learn to sing together, and the music of us as a community could be remarkable.

— Scott A.

PAGE 12

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MAY 21 - 27, 2010

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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

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TIANO From Page 1 address the specific concerns of the LGBT community, the committee, Tiano and members of his staff have instituted LGBT-training programs for graduates of the Police Academy, recently produced a training DVD and, earlier this year, presented the program for the first time to new members of the department who previously served on other police forces.

Franny Price, who’s served as chair of the committee since December, said Tiano has been an excellent resource for the community.

“I’ve only been chair for half a year, but I’ve worked with him for the past several years, and every time there’s been a situation that I know of, Chief Tiano has responded instantly,” Price said. “We’ve gotten nothing but understanding and concern from the chief. This will be a big loss for our community.”

Price noted that, when a replacement is named, the committee will do its best to acclimate him or her to the community’s needs, but it will be a challenge after having developed such a strong connection with Tiano.

“He’s one of the most accepting people, and just a nice guy.

And you know he’s genuine; he’s not going to sit at our meeting and then an hour later go to his fellow officers and say he was at a ‘faggot’ meeting or anything. That’s not his style. He really, really just genuinely cares. It’s been great to have had someone who supports us and understands us. You have to be extremely open-minded, and he always has been.”

The committee, which got wind of the retirement before Tiano made the official announcement, surprised the chief with a party at its monthly meeting May 13.

In addition to the current members, several former committee members were in attendance, which Tiano said he appreciated.

“I wasn’t expecting it,” he said.

“There were a lot of old members who showed up, and that was really nice. It was just very touching.” ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.

The Pride Edition: June 11

Our biggest issue of the year!

MAY 21 - 27, 2010

EQUALITY PA From Page 1 around.”

Martin is taking the helm of an agency that has undergone an array of organizational transitions in the past few years.

Former executive director Stacey Sobel resigned in August 2008, and the following February the agency selected Lynn Zeitlin as its new head. Last summer, the majority of the agency’s board of directors resigned, followed by Zeitlin’s stepping down this past January, along with several more board members.

In addition to leadership changes, Equality Pennsylvania — which recently dropped its “Advocates” moniker — transferred its legal department to Mazzoni Center so that it can focus primarily on policy work and outreach.

Both Zeitlin and Sobel were attorneys, but Sims said the board decided it wasn’t necessary for the new leader to have a legal background.

“That was something that we discussed at length, whether the person needed to be an attorney or not,” Sims said. “We no longer have a legal clinic, so we didn’t think it was necessary. And in the application pool, we had attorneys and non-attorneys, but we knew we wanted someone with advocacy skills and Ted certainly has that.”

Martin acknowledged the agency has been through several ups and downs recently, and said he wants to restore the public’s confidence in the organization by opening up a statewide dialogue about its future.

“In order for this to be a true statewide organization, I’m going to have to get out there and talk to people across the state. The idea of this statewide political organization is pretty new to Pennsylvania, so I want to make sure I listen to people throughout the state — in the Southeast, Central, Northwest, everywhere — to bring everyone into this,” he said.

Equality Pennsylvania’s website has not been operating in recent months but Sims said the organization has contracted a web designer in Ohio, who has been working on the new site since February, although a launch date has not yet been set.

Steve Glassman, chair of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, who served as an adviser to Equality Pennsylvania’s search committee, said he hopes Martin can get the agency on

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

track.

“I support the mission and goals of Equality Pennsylvania and have worked closely with them in the past and enjoyed the opportunity to work on legislation with the previous executive director, Stacey Sobel,” he said.

“I hope that Ted Martin is able to take the organization back to the level of success they enjoyed for many years prior to her leaving Equality Advocates, and I wish him well in his new position.”

Martin, who lives with his husband in Camp Hill, will be working out of Equality Pennsylvania’s new Harrisburg office, but said he will make frequent trips to the Philadelphia office and other locales throughout the commonwealth.

The agency has brought on several board members in the past few months in an effort to build representation throughout the state. Current board members besides Sims include vice president Dr. Mark Usry, secretary Paul Nardone, Jeff Brauer, Syngred Briddel, Joyce Avila, Chris Gatesman and David Price.

The board does not currently have a treasurer, but one will be selected in the near future, Sims said.

The agency currently employs a part-time office manager in Philadelphia but Sims said the members plan to hire new staffers once Martin is situated.

After Zeitlin resigned, former policy and program director Jake Kaskey was named managing director, but recently went on medical leave.

Sims said Kaskey is still employed by the agency but declined to discuss whether the leave was paid.

Martin will receive an annual salary of $75,000.

Sims said the members are working to stabilize the agency financially and formulate a fundraising plan.

“I think everybody understands that the financial position of Equality Advocates before we became Equality Pennsylvania was not great,” Sims said, noting that the agency is working on a number of fundraising events for the coming months. “And Ted and I have already started discussions with national organizations who’ve funded us in the past and we’ve started looking at grant applications to see when things with them need to happen.”

In his position with the state, which he held for seven years, Martin oversaw business-attraction and retention programs, and

currently serves as the president of the board of the Central Pennsylvania LGBT Community Center Coalition, an agency he helped merge last year with a local youth agency, of which he was also president of the board.

Martin plans to stay on as president of the coalition’s board until a new leader can be selected and transition into the role.

PAGE 17

Martin said his previous experiences — which also include several years as the deputy chief of staff for the Subcommittee on Labor Standards, Occupational Health and Safety with the U.S. House of Representatives — coupled with his own personal strengths, will help him guide Equality Pennsylvania.

“I have the ability to listen to

people, and I don’t pretend to know what I don’t know. I’m pretty determined and persistent in making sure that once a goal is set, I follow through in meeting it, and I’m comfortable working with people and with building coalitions.” ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

PAGE 18

RULING From Page 1

www.dignityphila.org Facebook – Dignity Philadelphia Join us at St. Luke & the Epiphany Church 330 S. 13th Street, between Spruce and Pine streets, Philadelphia, PA

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CONGREGATION BETH AHAVAH at Rodeph Shalom

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JOIN US MONTHLY FOR SHABBAT SERVICES AT 8:00 PM

Coffee, cake & conversation at the oneg following services

Winner of the 2009 Paddy and Barry Epstein Communicate! Award for innovative programming in a small congregation Sunday, May 9, 10:30 AM-11:30 AM. “The Arab-Israeli Conflict: History, Reality & Hope” (Part 2). Nurit Shein, a native Israeli who served as a colonel and education director in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), will help us explore the people, politics, and complexities of the Middle East with documents, video and discussion.

Sunday, May 16, 12:00 PM. Brunch at Marathon Grill on the Square, 1829 Spruce Street, and 2:00 PM with “An Evening Without Woody Allen” at Plays and Players, 1714 Delancey Street.

Come join us for a relaxing brunch with friends followed by a cool and classy afternoon with the work of Woody Allen, an American comedy master. Show tickets: $29. All payments due May 10. RSVP required (brunch cost not included.)

Friday, May 28, 8:00 PM. BA Shabbat Services. Please join us for a service led by Rabbi Sue Levi-Elwell to welcome the Sabbath. An oneg (social hour) will follow services.

Visit www.bethahavah.org for additional information, programming and directions

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restroom, Blatt told PGN. “I felt like I was on parade every time I had to walk to the unisex restroom,” said Blatt, 29.

“It was on a different floor, and I had to go from one end of the building to the other [end]. The store is enormous.”

When Blatt expressed dissatisfaction with the situation, she found herself the target of allegedly “fictitious” accusations of inappropriate workplace conduct, she said.

Blatt also said she had problems getting an appropriate employee nametag from management.

“They misspelled my name several times, and never gave me a nametag with my full name, Kate Lynn,” she recalled. “The best I got from them was a name tag that said ‘Kate.’”

In March 2007, after several disputes with management, Blatt was discharged from the job.

“Not only did they discriminate against me because I’m a female, but when I voiced concerns about that discrimination, I was fired,” she said. “When something like that happens, you feel like you got kicked in the stomach.”

In August 2007, Blatt filed a complaint with the PHRC, alleging discrimination because of her sex, and also because of retaliation when she complained of differential treatment based on her sex.

Two months ago, the PHRC issued a probable-cause finding, stating that Blatt probably was discriminated against — and retaliated against — by Cabela’s.

“Male employees are not required to leave their work area and walk long distances in order

MAY 21 - 27, 2010

to use the restroom and are not denied access to gender-specific restrooms,” the PHRC finding stated. “No male employee was required to use the unisex restroom. [Cabela’s] did not require that any male employee present evidence of male genitalia in order to use the male restroom.”

The finding reiterates that Blatt is legally a female. “[Blatt] was subjected to different treatment because, although she was legally female, she was not permitted to use the women’s restroom unless and until she provides medical documentation of her anatomicallyappropriate gender,” the PHRC finding stated.

Cabela’s recently filed a motion with the PHRC, seeking reconsideration of the probablecause finding and dismissal of Blatt’s complaint.

The motion contends that Blatt isn’t a female. It also states that Blatt is complaining of “genderidentity” discrimination, which isn’t covered under state law.

Rick L. Etter, an attorney for Cabela’s, declined to comment for this story.

Due to Cabela’s motion, Blatt said it could take another year or so before her case is resolved, but she’s up for the challenge.

“I’ve become a full-time trans activist, because of this case and other situations I’ve dealt with,” she said.

She said most of her coworkers at Cabela’s were supportive, and had no problem with her use of the women’s restroom.

Items to be discussed in the settlement process include compensation for Blatt’s lost wages, payment of interest for backpay liability computed at the rate of 6 percent per year, reasonable and verifiable expenses incurred by Blatt while pursuing her discrimination complaint,

and a written policy stating that Cabela’s will not discriminate on the basis of gender, according to PHRC records.

“I won’t even consider settling unless Cabela’s adopts a nondiscrimination policy that clearly covers transgender people, and that offers guidelines in dealing with employees who are transitioning,” Blatt said.

She also expressed thanks to the PHRC. “I’m impressed with the efforts of the commission, and although it’s frustrating that the complaint is taking so long to resolve, I understand they have procedures to follow,” Blatt said. “It’s been a very long process.”

Shannon Powers, a PHRC spokesperson, said she couldn’t comment on the probable-cause finding, since the case remains active.

Amara S. Chaudhry, legal director of Mazzoni Center, praised the PHRC’s ruling.

“I’m reassured that the commission is continuing to allow these sorts of claims to go forward,” Chaudhry told PGN. “I think it’s good news for trans people across the state. The commission could have refused to accept the complaint for investigation. Instead, they’ve allowed it to move forward. I just hope that justice will be served.”

Blatt also has two additional complaints pending with the PHRC. They’re against Manpower Inc., of Pottsville, and Sapa Industrial Extrusions, of Cressona. Blatt is alleging that a Manpower staffer asked her to provide photographs of her genitalia as a condition for continued employment at Sapa.

Those complaints are pending.

■

Timothy Cwiek can be reached at (215) 625-8501 ext. 208.

MAY 21 - 27, 2010

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

PAGE 19

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

A departure from the ordinary

Detour

PAGE 20

By Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor John Waters may be a role model to his fans, but whom does he admire?

In his terrific new book, “Role Models,” Waters writes about what he calls “the amazing people who inspire” him. The choices are, as his fans might expect, an eclectic collection of outsiders, ranging from fashion designer Rei Kawakubo and artist Cy Twombly to the singer Little Richard. But the one quality they all share is that they have lived, as Waters puts it, “an extreme life.”

MAY 21 - 27, 2010

John Waters is my role model

Sitting in the living room of his Baltimore home, surrounded by books and copious amounts of fake food — from a plastic hamburger on the window sill to a tempting box of chocolates on the table — the filmmaker explains what it takes to be one of his role models: “They are certainly people who have survived something — whether it’s great success, or great horror. They have had to be braver [than me]. They can inspire me through patience like Leslie Van Houten, who has been in jail for 40 years for something terrible she did, or being the opposite of me, like Johnny

Mathis. Or they can inspire me as a kid, as Madalyn Murray O’Hair did, even though she turned out to be kind of a horrible person. Sometimes we have to embrace the extremes in people that change the laws and how we live, even if they are not so honorable.”

Embracing extremes is what Waters has done from his infamous 1972 classic cult film “Pink Flamingos” to his more mainstream success with “Hairspray.”

(The latter became a hit Broadway musical, followed by a hit Hollywood film version/remake, and a sequel to the movie-musical is due out this summer).

Waters has always “stuck up for those people who had a tough time,” and this is why his fans like the way he thinks.

“Everybody feels they are an outsider,” he says.

Waters’ chapter on Tennessee Williams is especially revealing. After reading Williams’ “One Arm” — which he confesses to stealing from the library, because it was forbidden — he writes, “[I] didn’t have to worry about fitting in with a crowd I didn’t want to hang out with in the first place ... Didn’t want to be part of this dreary conformist life that I was told I had to join.”

MAY 21 - 27, 2010

As he describes his teen years, Waters is candid and thoughtful. “I felt anger, but I never felt I was a victim. I didn’t fit in, but I didn’t know how angry I was about that. I didn’t want to [fit in]. I wanted to hang out with other people who didn’t want to fit in.” He continues, clarifying his point: “The ones who chose not to.

I hung around with the worst boys and always the trashiest girls — the girls they said were the whores.”

The filmmaker returns to the topic of Tennessee Williams only to pause the conversation while he looks for a copy of “One Arm,” “Have you seen that new little book that just came out?” he asks, as he searches his shelves for “Tales of Desire,” a new collection of Williams’ stories, including “One Arm” published in February by New Directions. Ever the role model — Waters’ library contains over 8,000 volumes — his lengthy search makes me feel better about the difficulties of finding titles on my own overcrowded bookshelves.

He finally secures the copy and effusing about the picture of an electric chair in the book, admits he didn’t re-read “One Arm” when he wrote the essay in “Role Models” about Williams. But he did read the story again recently. “You know what?” he says in a confessional hush. “It was better than I remembered.

It sooo lived up to my obsession in my mind!

“Sometimes you don’t even remember what it is [about something]; it was just an influence when you were young.”

I cite Waters’ own 1987 book “Crackpot” as something that influenced my outlook 20-some years ago, and he thanks me politely. Then he says proudly, “Both ‘Crackpot’ and [his 1981 book] ‘Shock Value’ have never gone out of print.” Indeed, it is a testament to his talent as a writer — and his fans’ ardor for his work.

If Waters had not become a filmmaker or a writer, he admits he would have probably been a defense attorney.

“That is a world I am fascinated with because there is no clear answer,” he says, adding he has attended numerous trials, including the Manson case,

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

and has taught for many years in prisons.

“Corrections is my field, weirdly enough,” he demurs.

His chapter “Leslie” in “Role Models” chronicles his friendship with Van Houten, one of the Mason family members. He emphasizes that she has taken “full responsibility” for her crimes, and judiciously includes what the victims’ families have said against Van Houten’s release.

“Leslie is a case like no other — ever.

Who meets a madman when they were 17 — and he turns out to be one of the most notorious madmen in the history of criminals?”

The topic of crime soon leads to some Philadelphia stories. He mentions “Fast” Eddie Savitz, “the most notorious pervert to come out of Philadelphia.” In a few fascinating paragraphs in “Role Models,” Waters describes troubles of this man who bought sweaty socks and soiled underwear from teens.

And while he declines to discuss notoious Philadelphian Mumia Abu Jamal, Waters gushes about the MOVE case: “I’ve been to all their trials, and I know some of them. Talk about a strong group that doesn’t give up their beliefs!

They keep coming up for parole, but they never admit their guilt, so it’s really hard to get out of jail. But if they aren’t guilty — and they don’t think they are — it’s [a Catch22].”

Waters himself has been arrested on several occasions.

“I went to jail for conspiracy to commit indecent exposure making ‘Mondo Trasho,’ for underage drinking twice — in a drive-in movie and a fast-food parking lot. I did get arrested once for DWI, but I was actually on Quaaludes. I couldn’t tell the police that.”

“Role Models” also recounts one particular incident that Waters hasn’t discussed much, in which he was found “not guilty of involuntary manslaughter.” And he claims this episode was not what interested him in the criminal psyche.

It was villains in movies that sparked his

interest in bad behavior, he says.

“I wanted to be the Wicked Witch of the West, the Bad Seed or Captain Hook, not Peter Pan, Dorothy or Snow White. The Evil Queen was a better part.”

“But then the fact that there was a real person that was a villain was something that always intrigued me because I don’t think I could do that — but eve r y o n e ’s capable.”

This idea of being villainous is a continuation of the extreme behavior Waters mentioned at the beginning of our i n t e r v i e w.

He also puts contemporary artists in that category, as their whose work is often confrontational. “That’s contemporary art’s job — to wreck what came before it!” Waters insists. “You have to learn how to see.

That’s what contemporary art is — learning how to see something new, in a totally different way, and the artwork/artists [featured in “Role Models”] make you do that. And that is the kind of art people need, because they refuse to see things in a different way. Initially, it always gets the reaction, ‘Anybody could do that’ or ‘It looks failed.’ Well, you didn’t, stupid, and I bought it!”

Waters’ impressive collection of art, like the books, threatens to overtake his house, appearing in every possible inch of wall or floor space. In the entryway is Fischli/Weiss’ “Invitation,” a rubber 331/3 record that sits on a pedestal and practically invites people to use it as a coaster (Waters bemoans they do in his book).

The same artists’ “Fotografias,” a collection of six “underexposed” images that are hard to see, hang in the living room and are, indeed, dark and hard to see. But it is to the artists’ credit that you do want to see them. Across the room hangs Moyra Davey’s equally frustrating photograph “The Problem of Reading,” which presents a handful of books facing spine in, so all viewers see are the edges of the pages.

PAGE 21

It’s fantastic, and reminds me of Rachel Whiteread’s negative cast of a library. I mention this, and Waters responds that he appreciates Whiteread too.

His dining room is filled with some of his favorite pieces as discussed in “Role Models,” including Mike Kelley’s “ We d g e d Lump,” which dares guests to look at it during meals. I am wowed by the seven Twombly prints on the opposite wall entitled, “Five Greek Poets and a Philosopher,” one of the highlights of Waters’ collection.

With the possible exception of the Twombly prints, humor seems to be the element that connects most of Waters’ artwork.

“I Peed in My Pants,” by Tony Tassett, hangs in Waters’ hallway — a six-foot photograph of the artist with a wet leg that is amusing and yes, artful.

Of course, right after this, I zoom in on a spilled cup of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream sitting on top of more books. It is another faux-food gag item, and one that momentarily fools me because I’m not expecting to see it.

Waters ends his tour, and closes with a comment about humor, art and shock value that appropriately sums up his thoughts on the subject. “Trying to be shocking, especially today, seems to me to be desperate. I can still be surprised, by wit, and shocked — in a good way. But trying too hard is the ultimate sin. I never tried to top myself after ‘Pink Flamingos.’”

Waters also doesn’t try to exceed his limits with “Role Models.” The book is suitably smart and queer and slightly unwholesome. “My mother is not allowed to read the book. My sister just read it and agreed it won’t bring her pleasure. Why torture her?”

Yet fans of the author/filmmaker will find much to appreciate in this impressive collection of essays. ■ John Waters will discuss “Role Models” at 7:30 p.m. June 1 at the Free Library of Philadelphia, 1901 Vine St.

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MAY 21 - 27, 2010

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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

PAGE 23

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

PAGE 24

MAY 21 - 27, 2010

Women rock the house at monthly parties

By Larry Nichols PGN Staff Writer This weekend, the Stimulus party will celebrate, with Scene, a year of women’s parties growing and thriving in Philadelphia.

Both monthly parties were born out of a desire for something the Philadelphia bar scene just didn’t offer lesbian and bisexual women. Stimulus creators Amber Hikes and Morgan Levine found they could envision what they wanted in a party.

“We felt like a lot of the events that were out a year ago, around the time that we started, were the same,” Hikes said. “We really wanted to diversify the space that women had for their nightlife. We came in with different ideals. Morgan’s passion and focus was creating a really classy

STIMULUS Photo: Courtesy of Stimulus

space for women. She wanted something different from your regular bar where everybody is in T-shirts and jeans. For me, the

classy thing was important: to be able to dress up when you’re going out. That’s something our heterosexual counterparts get to

do on a regular basis. That was important, but more so for me, it was having a diverse space where white women, women of color, bio-guys, transguys and people in between can have a good time.”

Both Tracy Buchholz, founder of the Scene parties, and Hikes said they had to jump hurdles to get their parties up and running.

“Some of the challenges I’ve had are venue issues,” Buchholz said. “We had to move around a few times before we found a good home with Voyeur. It’s definitely been picking up. There’s definitely a resurgence of women wanting to go out and do different things in the city. I think you always have to find ways to brand your party and come up with new things. At least for the Scene, once I found the new

home at Voyeur, it was bringing in different vendors to showcase — be it T-shirts, sex toys, jewelry — just bringing in different components, not just a dance party.”

Hikes said it was a challenge to get people to attend an event they weren’t accustomed to.

“Getting the word out was a struggle and positioning ourselves as something different from what was out there was difficult because people were used to the same bars and parties that they always went to,” she said. “We’re really trying to do something different. We’re not just a party: We’re a movement. We’re trying to get out there and get people to pick up on this idea and accept change.

It’s difficult to pull people out of the Gayborhood. It’s difficult to move them to accept different things in the community.”

Yet, once they got the party going, it caught on quick.

“We were expecting 100 people and we were going to be ecstatic at that,” Hikes said. “But we got about 200-250 people at the first party. The next one we got 300350. Then 400. By the time we were in October, we hit about 600. The thing I always hear is, ‘Where are all these beautiful women coming from?’”

To celebrate Stimulus’ first anniversary, Hikes has planned parties for the entire weekend starting May 21 at Marathon Grill, 929 Walnut St., and extending it to Rehoboth Beach May 22 and 23.

Buchholz is also taking Scene to the shore.

“We’ve expanded the Scene into Rehoboth for summer parties,” Buchholz said. “I think this year we’re going to start doing a lot more work with nonprofits.”

Buchholz said the Scene gives women something different.

“Each party kind of brings its own flavor. We all start out wanting to throw a party but each party ends up being geared toward different people, and I think that’s through how we market it.”

Check out Stimulus, 10 p.m.-2 a.m. May 21 at Marathon Grill.

For more information, look up Stimulus on Facebook.

After heading to Rehoboth, Scene returns to Philadelphia June 26 at Voyeur, 1221 St. James St. For more information, search for Scene Philly on Facebook. ■ Larry Nichols can be reached at larry@epgn.com.

MAY 21 - 27, 2010

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

PAGE 25

Rethinking Judas’ kiss, Jesus’ betrayal

By Larry Nichols PGN Staff Writer “When I went on that audition, I was pretty determined to walk away with that role,” out actor Peter Danzig said about landing the part of Jesus in “The Last Days of Judas Iscariot.” “I had read the script a couple years ago and I’ve always loved the play. Ironically, I understood the character of Jesus the way that the playwright wrote him.”

The play, which is running through May 29 at the Second Stage at the Adrienne Theater, is a dark comedy by Stephen Adly Guirgis, imagining an atheist lawyer filing suit to get Judas released from Hell on the grounds he doesn’t deserve to be there. During the trial, testimony is heard from all the big names involved in the Bible’s story of betrayal, including Satan and Jesus.

Danzig said he doesn’t necessarily view the production as a comedy.

“I personally would classify the show more along the lines of a melodrama. I think that there are comedic elements but the mate-

rial is really serious. I think it all depends on somebody’s background and how literally they take these characters.

Somebody with a really strong religious background may walk into this show and not find some of these scenarios and occurrences between these characters funny.

But somebody who just walks in and is just looking at it as a non-religious piece about one man and his despair may find some really comedic elements. It all just depends on your background and how much you’re willing to take a leap and forget all the associations that everybody knows about these characters.”

People with a strong religious background might also take umbrage with the play’s perceived characterization of both Jesus and Judas as gay. But Danzig doesn’t fully buy into that interpretation of the characters either.

those feelings were there for either character, I don’t know if they were necessarily explored between the characters.

In terms of our story, it could be interpreted that way. The audience could definitely walk away with that interpretation, but it’s not the way that myself and the other actor geared it. We weren’t working toward that association. These two characters share this really in-depth relationship. It transcends sexual and personal relationships. It’s truly one of a kind. That doesn’t necessarily mean that there is or are those tendencies between those two characters but maybe PETER DANZIG there were, and who are we to say?”

“Through my research of Jesus He added that he wouldn’t be and Judas’ relationship, that dichotomy and understanding has surprised if audiences see a gay been around for centuries,” he subtext in the production and, said. “There’s always been a ques- thus, he’s prepared for any uproar tion that people had as to their that could arise.

“The story of Judas has excited relationship. For me as an actor, if

people and brought out controversy,” Danzig said. “It’s the most intimate relationship that I have played as an actor in a long time.

This script is definitely urban and new-age. It’s written in a contemporary manner. The way that these characters interact may cause some controversy but that is the essence of theater: to make people think outside of the box.

Whenever that happens, there’s always controversy.”

Yet it’s Danzig’s hope that audiences will see past any preconceived notions or taboos to the message at the core of the play.

“Everything in this world has a cause and effect and this play explores that,” he said. “I hope that when people walk out of this show, they will really see that things are not always what they seem or so one-sided.”

Fever Dream Repertory presents “The Last Days of Judas Iscariot,” through May 29 at Second Stage at the Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St. For more information or tickets, call (267) 997-3799. ■ Larry Nichols can be reached at larry@epgn.com.

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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

MAY 21 - 27, 2010

MAY 21 - 27, 2010

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

The Sporting Life

PAGE 27

Team scores from the May 8 games, followed by standings.

Away Team 369ers Hangover Phlapjacks Hangover FoulPlay Monkeys GrognGrill Blaze

City of Brotherly Love Softball League

Team

W

L

T

RS

Home Team FoulPlay TOC 369ers Monkeys Blaze TOC Phlapjacks GrognGrill RA

Men’s B Knock

2

1

0

48

32

Men’s Competitive Rage Wolves Triple Play The Bike Stop Maniaxxs Vipers

3 2 2 2 0 0

0 1 1 1 3 3

0 0 0 0 0 0

36 44 42 44 31 22

22 26 27 34 54 56

4 3 3 2 1 1 0 0 0

0 1 0 1 2 2 3 3 3

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

56 49 53 51 42 31 26 24 13

49 15 21 29 34 42 35 52 61

Co-Ed Recreation NightHawks TOC SUNDAY’S HANGOVER SLIDES IN WHILE THE FLYING MONKEYS Westbury AWAIT BALL. Photo: Brandi Fitzgerald Storm Homewreckers Wolves Shots Stir Sluggers

Runs Away 4 13 2 7 7 6 2 10

Runs Home 7 3 3 6 0 12 9 0

Team

W

L

T

RS

RA

Women’s A Hangover 5 O’Clock Dirty Martini Saving Second Base Monkeys

5 4 3 2 0

1 0 1 2 4

0 0 0 0 0

68 43 33 20 24

42 28 18 29 37

Women’s B Dynasty TOCW GLU Holy Smoke Sisters

3 2 1 1 0

1 2 3 3 4

0 0 0 0 0

33 42 37 22 19

26 44 25 33 59

Women’s C Foulplay 369ers Phlapjacks Blaze GrognGrill

6 5 2 2 0

0 1 4 4 6

0 0 0 0 0

63 64 34 36 21

15 32 48 51 73

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

PAGE 28

Family Portraits In her feature-length documentary “black./womyn.: conversations with lesbians of African descent,” Tiona McClodden — Ms. m. — interviews black gay women from various backgrounds about myriad subjects. Ms. m. (which stands for McClodden, but everybody mangles it so she just goes by m.) is a multi-media artist whose mission is to make visible the invisible and humanize her subjects. McClodden began her career apprenticing on musicvideo sets and as a freelancer working with various production companies and nonprofit organizations. She hopes her work as a filmmaker and visual artist can inspire various communities by affirming their existence in contemporary society. We turned the tables on the filmmaker and asked her a few questions.

PGN: Let’s start with the basics: Where are you originally from, Ms. m.?

TM: I’m from Greenville, S.C. PGN: And what was it like growing up in South Kakalak?

TM: Oh man, it’s funny answering that because growing up it seemed fine, but now that I’ve grown up, I go back and visit and realize how hard it was. I went back recently for the first time in a while and had a whole different perspective of it. We grew up pretty poor, but back then it seemed pretty carefree for us kids. I’m the oldest of four.

[Laughs.] I have memories of us playing down the road in the local creek, things like that. But it was a very white area with very old money, and we weren’t very welcomed. In school, I was in a lot of advanced-placement classes and most times I was the only black kid, which kind of sucked!

Otherwise, it was pretty nice, a typical Southern upbringing.

PGN: When did you come to

MAY 21 - 27, 2010

Suzi Nash Philadelphia?

TM: Well, I first moved to Atlanta for six years and then I moved to Philadelphia, and I’ve been here since 2006.

PGN: What was the biggest difference living above and below the Mason-Dixon Line?

TM: People like to think that they’re super-duper northern here, but what attracted me to Philly is that it has a little bit of a southern feel to it, especially in terms of the people and the way they talk and interact with each other. The biggest difference to me is the mobility. Back home, there’s no real solid transportation system. You’re pretty much stuck where you are. If you don’t have a car, you’re practically immobile, as opposed to here, where you can pretty much get to any part of the city and even the suburbs if you want to. Although it is funny that in Greenville, you have to leave your home to do anything: If you want to go to a department store or out to dinner, you have to drive to a strip mall. I remember having to drive downtown with my mother just to pay the electric bill. Granted, downtown was just a few stores, but you get used to moving around. Here, I’ve found many people don’t ever leave their neighborhood. You need milk or toothpaste, there’s a store on the corner, half a block away, so people stay where they are. I like to navigate around the city, so even though I’ve only been here four years, I’ve been to more sections of the city than most of my friends who were born here.

I’ve found that West Philly folks really don’t leave West Philly, etc. But I’ll go to an event in the upper Northeast, browse a music store in South Philly, visit a museum in West Philly, go see a play in North Philadelphia, wherever. If there’s a train, bus or subway that can take you

there, I’m on it.

PGN: You’re a writer; what was your first favorite book?

TM: “The Mouse and the Motorcycle,” a book by Beverly Cleary about a headstrong mouse who longs for adventure.

PGN: What was your favorite game as a kid?

TM: “Algebra Dragons” on Commodore 64. It was from one of the early computer-gaming systems.

PGN: Tell me a fun memory about your mother.

TM: I’m a tomboy and always have been and, when I was in middle school, my mother would come to the school whenever I had a recital or a sporting event.

I played basketball and ran track.

I’d be dressed like me and my mother was always dressed to the nines in very feminine attire.

[Laughs.] The other kids would question whether or not she was my real mom because we were such opposites!

PGN: Where did you go to college?

TM: I went to Clark Atlanta University but I didn’t stay long.

I knew how to work a camera and was itching to start work in the film industry. After two years, I felt that if I stayed in school any longer I would be behind my peers actually working in the field.

PGN: What brought you to Philly?

TM: A couple of friends and I took a road trip here in 2005 and it was really nice. I liked the city and I liked the people. I liked the proximity to New York and D.C. without the overwhelming feeling I had in New York. I was looking for a place to move to because I felt I’d exhausted the film community in Atlanta.

TIONA MCCLODDEN Photo: Suzi Nash

It wasn’t the place to do the kinds of films I wanted to do.

The Atlanta film industry was big on doing music videos and hip-hop and not as much into exploring social issues. I wanted to move to a place that I chose, not because of family or school but because I wanted to be there.

[Laughs.] It was my big-girl move! My first adult decision, and it was a good one. I’ve been able to be the kind of filmmaker I wanted to be and get the kind of support I needed here in Philly. There are so many great organizations like the Leeway Foundation and the Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival [now Qfest] and the Black Women’s Arts Festival and supportive venues like the International House. As a filmmaker, it’s important not just to have people who will help you make your film, but then you need a place to screen it and people who will come see it.

Philadelphia has a very strong activist environment.

PGN: What type of filmmaker are you?

TM: I am a social-realist filmmaker. I try to do projects that are relevant to the times and relevant to the community that I belong to and therefore feel I can represent. I can’t see myself trying to do films about another group or issues that I’m not familiar with or a part of. I think I would feel like I was an imposter and not qualified to portray them properly. I have a fear of misrepresenting people.

PGN: I haven’t heard that term, “social realist.”

TM: [Laughs.] It’s actually old-school, but so many people now confuse documentary filmmaking with reality TV: I try to distinguish it by calling it social realism.

PGN: What are you working on now?

TM: I’m working with Staceyann Chinn on a film called “Baby Makes Me.” We’re traveling around the country and internationally, as much as we can, interviewing women about motherhood, specifically single motherhood and the lengths people go to become a mother, as well as exploring some of the cultural issues that arise with being a single parent. Staceyann is contemplating becoming a mother herself, so her story is the underlying thread as she speaks to women about the joys and difficulties of single motherhood. We just got back from filming in South Africa, where I also got to screen “conversations ... ” PGN: What’s a memorable story that you’ve heard so far?

TM: In Johannesburg, they have a process called “corrective rape;” where they rape lesbians in the effort to “cure” them of their homosexuality.

One of the women we spoke to was “correctively” raped and got pregnant but lost the child.

She wanted a child, so she managed to have a child with a donor, and we were able to

MAY 21 - 27, 2010

interview her with the daughter.

The crazy thing was how open and matter-of-fact the women were, speaking about the horrific ordeals they’d been through.

The majority of the women have been raped at some point in their lives, so it wasn’t something they didn’t speak about because they’d all experienced it. To hear them discussing it in front of the kids without a flinch or in whispers was startling. There was a collective bravery in facing it openly. It was, hands down, the most intense and moving interview I’ve ever done.

PGN: Tell me about coming out.

TM: It’s a never-ending experience! But I came out when I was about 16. Just about everyone on the basketball team was gay, so I had a pretty good support system. We’d all sneak into clubs together. When I told my mom at 16, she just kept thinking I was playing around. When I was 19, I finally sat both my parents down and said, “Look, this is not a game, this is for real.” Then they both freaked out! It was one of those things where they knew but didn’t want to get it. Finally, the fifth time you tell them, it sinks in. It caused a rift between me and my father. He was mentally ill and it became a lightning rod for him.

He is also very religious. The first few years of my life, before my parents separated, I grew up in a hyper-religious environment. Fortunately I waited until I was in a position where I had the power, so I was able to disown him instead of the other way around. I don’t talk to him now, not just because of the gay thing, that’s only about one of 20 issues we don’t agree on.

But considering the experiences of a lot of people that I have interviewed, my coming out was easy. It also paved the way for my sister to come out as well.

PGN: Since you like to film what you know, is mental illness a subject you’re likely to tackle?

TM: Oh yes, it’s something that doesn’t get a lot of attention, especially in communities of color. With black men, it’s treated as a weakness. You’re not encouraged to speak to a therapist or take medication for help with mental issues. I want to explore how that affects the families, because his difficulties definitely had an effect not just on him, but on everyone around him. It’s something I want to address down the road either as

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

a documentary or even as a fictional work.

PGN: What’s a tradition from another culture that you admire?

TM: In South Africa, despite the other problems, gay marriage is legal. One of the traditions when you propose to someone there is to give gifts to the family of your betrothed. You must sit with the family and get to know them and basically get their blessing. It’s kind of like paying a dowry, which to us is like, “Oh shit, you’re paying for your wife,” but in actuality, it was kind of sweet. A way to honor the family. It was interesting to hear the lesbians who told us stories of going to speak to the father or mother of her intended and honor them with a gift.

The old-fashioned side of me was like, Wow. I like that! That would be so cool to do. It makes a statement.

Q Puzzle

PAGE 29 62. Spine-chilling 63. Many, many moons

Down

1. Itinerant folk 2. It tops a B 3. Mate of a heterosexual goose Across 4. Mortimer, with a wooden head 1. Worn-out stallions 5. Where the rubber meets the road, 5. Sound of three men in a tub in winter 10. Speak like a tough guy 6. Tyler of “Lord of the Rings” 14. Middle Eastern sultanate 7. Alternatives to asses 15. Undeliverable letter, in post-office 8. Successfully donated sperm slang 9. Trapped, with “in” 16. Capable of performing 10. The daily grind 17. Stuff out of your shaft?

11. Ian McKellen played a Nazi war 20. “Evita” composer Lloyd Webber criminal in this film 21. DeGeneres’ “Finding ___ ” 12. Took the wheel 22. Stroke your furry one 13. Cole’s family 23. Breeder’s concern 18. Completely faithful 25. You may take it out before a blow 19. Top drawer job 24. “Great balls of fire!”

27. Ukraine, once (abbr.)

28. Slangy home 30. Bottom’s cry 3 1 . S c r o l l s a t B e t h C h ay i m Chadashim 33. Box tops 34. Cutie at a gay bar?

37. Minor dispute 39. Gertrude with a beer mug?

40. Like a “Man of la Mancha” PGN: If you could walk into knight any painting, which would you 43. Give some relief choose?

44. “Isn’t __ _ bit like you and me?”

TM: Ooh, I have a lot of art, so (“Nowhere Man”) I’m looking around my room 47. End of an Oscar Wilde title trying to choose. I have a lot of 49. Bonheur’s motives early black cinema posters from 51. ’70s org. of kidnappers back in the ’20s and ’30s. They 52. Kind of time hand-painted the posters then 54. Salon staple and they were so much more 55. Ticketed a homophobe?

58. Engrossed with indicative of the movies. You 59. “Desperate Housewives,” and look at a movie poster now and others 60. “Money __ __ object!”

See PORTRAIT, Page 31 61. Dick Tracy’s girlfriend Trueheart

Kined Words

Fresh and Healthy Food

26. Follows up on a kiss?

29. “On the Beach” author Nevil 31. Atlas was one 32. Weapon of Caesar’s day 34. Search requirements 35. Put straight 36. “At Swim, Two Boys” writer Jamie 37. Deems necessary 38. Confection with nuts 41. Uncool sort 42. Fly over the equator 44. Like Brando’s Godfather voice 45. San Fernando Valley locale 46. Hubby of Demi 48. Lake site of gay and lesbian ski week 50. Old photo color 53. “Maude” producer 56. Canon camera 57. Cost-of-living stat

See SOLUTION, Page 33

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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

PAGE 30

Rehoboth Beach

Outward Bound Jeff Guaracino Five tips for your summer travel This summer, I’ll be in France, Belgium, Argentina, Chile, Canada and five U.S. cities. Here are five steps I take, and you can too, to keep safe while traveling.

Double check everything It is essential to check and re-check all your reservations. Airlines can change their schedules even after you purchase your tickets — even on the day of departure. The airlines can also change planes, which means your seat assignment can be changed too. So for all of you who want to avoid a middle seat, it is best to check in at least twice before flying. It’s also smart to double check your hotel reservation for both arrival and departure dates, especially if you made your reservation through a third-party hotel booking site and not directly with the hotel. Be sure to call your car insurance and credit-card companies before your trip to confirm if you already have car-rental insurance coverage, so you can avoid costly insurance fees.

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emergency. Register your trip at www. travel.state.gov. Also at this site, you can find travel warnings, travel alerts and specific country information.

Share your itinerary It’s smart to share your detailed travel itinerary with someone back home. You will want to e-mail it from an account that you can remotely access, such as Yahoo or Gmail. This itinerary should include all your travel information, including airline name and flight number, all reservation numbers, hotel or cruise-line phone numbers, your international cell number, your passport number, names of everyone traveling with you and any information that might be needed in case of emergency.

Plan ahead to avoid fees Call your credit-card company and bank to inquire about fees you might incur while using your credit or debit card outside the country. Most creditcard companies charge a foreign-transaction fee plus a currency-conversion fee. Your bank will also charge significantly more when using your debit card to access currency outside the U.S. There are credit cards and local banks that don’t charge fees, so be sure to shop around. Your cell phone, text messaging and data plans can get very expensive when roaming abroad. Your

cell-phone carrier might offer international plans — sometimes expensive.

Or consider renting an international cell phone from a company such as Vodafone, which will charge you only a few dollars a day, plus a per-minute charge.

Protect yourself It’s a wise investment to buy travel insurance from a gay-friendly company such as Travel Guard, which is a member of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association. Travel insurance can provide significant health-insurance coverage, especially internationally, and a wide range of emergency services such as prescriptions refills, evacuation and other benefits such as trip interruption. You can buy this insurance by the trip or for the year. Also, be mindful of what information you share on social networking sites, like Facebook. You may be telling lots of people where you are, that you are not home or traveling alone. Be strategic in what you post. ■ Jeff Guaracino is a vice president for the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation and the author of “Gay and Lesbian Tourism: The Essential Guide for Marketing.” He has learned how to find the best deals and travel resources out there for the LGBT community.

When traveling locally, check out visitphilly. com.

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MAY 21 - 27, 2010

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Located along the picturesque Rehoboth-Lewes Canal, the Canalside Inn is a short walk to the beach, boardwalk and all the best restaurants in town. Visitors will appreciate the peaceful, quiet location in the evenings and the relaxed, adults-only environment.

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Hobos Restaurant and Bar Hobos Restaurant and Bar, 56 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach, Del., is everything you would expect from a major metropolitan boutique bistro tucked away in the heart of Rehoboth Beach. Featuring the sassy global eco-fusion style of executive chef Gretchen Hanson, Hobos captures the simplicity of street food from around the world with the unique twist of its creator’s wild imagination. Featuring a 40-mile menu during the summer season and a completely green restaurant year-round, everything is as local and

organic as possible. Menu selections are often prefaced with the farm that grew them and the chef will personally walk you through the dinner menu, which changes daily.

Vegetarian, vegan and all food choices and limitations are welcomed with open arms by the chef-owner as she stops by each table to personally greet you and talk about your food needs.

Dine al fresco in one of the biggest pet-friendly patios in the area or in the charming and cozy restaurant. From the cucumber-lemongrass vodka cosmos to the crab, artichoke and brie quesadillas, Hobos is a delicious stop along the way every time you are at the beach.

For more information, call (302) 226-2226. ■

MAY 21 - 27, 2010

PORTRAIT From Page 29 you can’t tell what the movie is about. Right now, I’m looking at a poster from the French artist Paul Colins: I wish he’d done more real-life images of black women in his poster work, but it is otherwise magnificently done. He was most famous for his poster of the movie “Revue Nègre,” which helped to launch the career of Joséphine Baker, who became his mistress. You look at one of these and you want to walk into the scene.

You can feel it, you can hear the music, you can see the movement. I’d walk into one of those.

PGN: What’s a smell that makes you stop and reflect?

TM: Thierry Mugler’s perfume “Angel.” It makes me think of my mother.

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

how people will respond. I feel like he’s done that: He shows the grittier side of society and I think I could learn from him how to commit to something without second-guessing yourself or worrying how others are going to take it.

PGN: What about you as a kid led you to the path of filmmaking?

TM: Reading books, without a doubt. Because of the religious way I was raised, I wasn’t allowed to watch much television or go to see most movies.

The only things I could watch were fantasies or cartoons, things that didn’t deal with real life and society’s ills. Until I was 13, I didn’t know much about the world. I still see

things now that I find hard to imagine. But I could read any book that I was able to comprehend and discuss it with my dad. I didn’t want to read — I wanted to watch movies — so I would create the films in my head. Then I would take my favorite books and re-read them and try to make them different each time. I think that’s what filmmaking is about, you recreate a story over and over, first when you write it, then when you shoot it, then again when you edit it. So books are the reason I do films. ■ To suggest a community member for “Family Portraits,” write to: Family Portraits, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147 or portraits05@aol.com.

PAGE 31

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PGN: And the nominees for best filmmaker go to ...

TM: There are three Asian filmmakers that I really like: Tsai Ming-liang, Kim Ki-duk and Hou Hsiao-Hsien. They all do films that have a very minimalist aesthetic. Not a lot of dialog, very slow, maybe 10 shots: a realistic snapshot of life, like you just dropped a camera in unseen. That’s the kind of filmmaking I admire.

PGN: Any hobbies?

TM: I collect old cameras. I have a bunch of old Polaroid cameras, as well as old 35-millimeter cameras. And I also collect first-edition books. As much as I can afford to!

PGN: What’s your best find?

TM: I have a first-edition copy of “Meridian” by Alice Walker.

PGN: Whom would you want to apprentice for?

TM: Right now, I’m feeling Michael Haneke. I just ordered a box set of his movies. He did the films “The White Ribbon” and “The Piano Teacher.” He’s an Austrian filmmaker and known for a real violent and bold style of filmmaking. He scares me a little. But I like the fact that he’s not afraid to tackle taboo subjects. There are things that I want to address that may be unflattering to the community and I’m always concerned about

PGN

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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

PAGE 32

MAY 21 - 27, 2010

Food & Drink

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Happy Hour 6pm - 8pm

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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

MAY 21 - 27, 2010

PAGE 33

worth watching: FRIDAY Party Down Megan Mullally (“Will & Grace”) stars in this comedy series about Hollywood caterers with dreams of making it big.

10 p.m. on Starz.

Brunch – Sunday 11a – 3p $3 Bloody Marys and $4 Mimosa’s All you can eat Mussels – Thursday 4p – 9p Lunch and Dinner by Chef Tommy D – 7 Days Happy Hour Mon – Fri 5p – 7p, Sat – Sun 3p – 5p $3 well drinks - $1 off all drafts • $3 Domestics • $4 Imports Margaritas always $5 • Karaoke w/Penny Productions Friday 9pm Dance Party in the Burbs – Every Saturday 9:30pm More events to come.......

Find us on facebook ; BeagleTavern Plymouth The Beagle Tavern 1003 E. Main Street Norristown PA, 19401 (On the Plymouth/Norristown border) 610.272.3133

Real Time with Bill Maher The antidote for Glenn Beck. 10 p.m. on HBO. SATURDAY Adam Lambert Unplugged The out singer performs in New York City. 5:30 p.m. on Logo.

Troy The sword-and-sandal epic based on Homer’s “The Iliad” starring Brad Pitt and Orlando Bloom. 8 p.m. on AMC. The Wanda Sykes Show The out comedian hosts this repeat of her raucous talk show. 11 p.m. on Fox. Saturday Night Live Tina Fey hosts this repeat. 11:30 p.m. on NBC. SUNDAY The Simpsons Ellen DeGeneres guest stars as herself when Moe ends up joining the panel on “American Idol.” 8 p.m. on Fox. Celebrity Apprentice The live finale. 9 p.m. on NBC. MONDAY Dancing With The Stars The season finale. Who will win? Who will care? 8 p.m. on ABC. How I Met Your Mother Out actor Neil Patrick Harris stars as womanizer Barney in the season finale.

8 p.m. on CBS.

SOLUTION From Page 29

RuPaul’s Drag Race A repeat from the past season of this drag-queen competition. 9 p.m. on Logo.

Nurse Jackie Look for gay character Thor in this dark comedy. 10 p.m. on Showtime.

United States of Tara Lionel takes Marshall cruising for guys.

10:30 p.m. on Showtime.

TUESDAY American Idol Out comedian and talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres judges. 8 p.m. on Fox.

LET THE SUMMER OF CRAP TELEVISION BEGIN!: That’s right, the regular TV season is over and, until the summer season takes off in earnest, we have this. The picture says it all.

Let the narcissism soak in as you watch the hour-long special, “Hollywood Salutes Matt Damon: An American Cinematheque Tribute,” 9 p.m. May 27 on ABC. Photo: Adam Larkey

Glee Out actress Jane Lynch stars in this musical high-school comedy. This week, Will tells the kids to express themselves through the music of Lady Gaga. 9 p.m. on Fox. The Big Gay Sketch Show Gay-themed sketch comedy.

10 p.m. on Logo.

WEDNESDAY America’s Next Top Model Out fashion experts Jay Hernandez and Miss J. Alexander help Tyra Banks put hopeful models through the paces in a repeat from the

latest season of this reality competition. 8 p.m. on CW. Law & Order: SVU Look for out actor B.D. Wong.

Philly neo-soul singer Jill Scott guest stars in this repeat.

10 p.m. on NBC. THURSDAY So You Think You Can Dance The new season of this reality competition opens with audition rounds. 8 p.m. on Fox. Grey’s Anatomy Look for out characters Callie and Arizona in this repeat. 10 p.m. on ABC.

Queer TV you can always see: The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Monday-Friday, 3 p.m. on NBC. The Rachel Maddow Show

Monday-Friday, 9 p.m. on MSNBC.

PAGE 34

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

Diversions

MAY 21 - 27, 2010

Your guide to arts and entertainment

Theater

Diana Ross The R&B diva performs at 8 p.m. May 21 at Caesars, 2100 Pacific Ave., Atlantic City; (800) 277-5990.

Falsettos City Theater Company presents the Tony Awardwinning musical comedy about a married man exploring what it means to be a modern family with the help of his gay lover, his wife, his shrink, his son and the lesbians next door, through May 22 at Opera Delaware Studios, 4 S. Poplar St., Wilmington, Del.; (302) 220-8285.

Jerry Blavat’s Legends of Doo Wop The Kimmel Center hosts a concert featuring Tommy Mara and The Crests, Little Isidore, The Chantels, Eugene Pitt and The Jive Five, The Classics, The Demensions, Cathy Jean and The Roommates, and an all-star finale featuring The Trammps, 8 p.m. May 22 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 7905847.

Fiddler on the Roof Walnut Street Theatre presents the award-winning musical, through July 18, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 5743550.

516 [five sixteen] Walnut Street Theatre’s Studio 5 presents the story of revenge, romance and academics written

by Katharine Clark Gray, through June 6, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 574-3550.

Girls Night: The Musical Follow five friends as they relive their past, celebrate their present and look to the future on a hilarious karaoke night out, through May 23 at Kimmel’s Innovation Studio, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.

If You Give A Mouse A Cookie Arden Theatre Company presents an adaptation of Laura Joffe Numeroff’s bestselling children’s book about the chaos a demanding mouse can create, through June 13 on Arden’s Arcadia Stage, 40 N. Second St.; (215) 9221122.

The Last Days of Judas Iscariot Fever Dream Repertory presents the dark comedy in which an atheist lawyer files suit to spring Judas

MOMMA NATURE: Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents “MOMIX: Botanica” through May 23 at Zellerbach Theater, 3680 Walnut St. The athletic dance company explores themes of fantasy and nature using large-scale puppets, projected imagery and elaborate props designed by Michael Curry (“The Lion King”). For more information or tickets, visit www.mosespendleton.com or call (215) 898-3900.

from Hell on the grounds he doesn’t actually deserve damnation, through May 29 at the Second Stage at the Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St.; (267) 997-3799.

The Musical of Musicals: The Musical Independence Studio on 3 presents a pastiche of elements from big-name musicals, through June 27, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 5743550.

The Next Reunion Society Hill Playhouse presents the story of friends who crash a 10-year highschool reunion after their own turns out to be a bust, through June 20, 508 S. Eighth St.; (215) 923-0210.

Rent The blockbuster musical about artists struggling with love and HIV in the 1980s runs through June 6 at Media Theatre, 104 E. State St., Media; (610) 891-0100.

Respect: A Musical Journey of Women Society Hill Playhouse presents an exuberant musical that recounts the journey of women in the 20th century with popular music, through May 23, 507 S. Eighth St.; (215) 923-0210.

10th St.; (215) 829-0395.

Sunday in the Park with George Arden Theatre Company presents Stephen Sondheim’s Pulitzer Prizewinning musical, May 27July 4, 40 N. Second St.; (215) 922-1122.

Rodgers and Hammerstein Are Dead Philadelphia Joke Initiative presents a fully improvised musical comedy, through May 29 at Latvian Society, 531 N. Seventh St.; (215) 8218754.

Buddy Guy The blues singer-guitarist performs at 8 p.m. May 21 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; (215) 572-7650.

The Screwtape Letters Lantern Theater Company presents an adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ revered classic about a demon in Hell’s bureaucracy writing letters to his nephew, through June 6 at St. Stephen’s Theater, 19 S.

Music

Coheed and Cambria The prog-rock band performs at 7:30 p.m. May 21 at the Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St.; (610) 784-5400.

SONiA and disappear fear The out singer-songwriter performs at 7:30 p.m.

May 21 at Tin Angel, 20 N. Second St.; (215) 9280770.

Bob Dylan’s Birthday Eve Tribute Philadelphia musicians pay tribute to the iconic singersongwriter at 7 p.m. May 23 at Tin Angel, 20 N. Second St.; (215) 928-0770.

performs at 8 p.m. May 26 at Tower Theatre, 19 S. 69th St., Upper Darby; (610) 3522887.

Toad the Wet Sprocket The alt-rock band performs at 8 p.m. May 26 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; (215) 5727650.

Imogen Heap The British rock singer performs 8 p.m. May 27 at Tower Theatre, 19 S. 69th St., Upper Darby; (610) 3522887.

Mozart and Rachmaninoff The Philadelphia Orchestra presents an evening of classical classics, 8 p.m.

May 27 and 29 and 2 p.m.

May 28 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.

Exhibits

Ancient Rome & America The National Constitution Center presents an exhibition of rare artifacts from Italy and the United States including excavated remains from Pompeii and Roman busts of Julius Caesar and Cicero, through The Flobots The rap-rock group performs Aug. 1, 525 Arch St.; (215) 409-6600. an all-ages show at 7:30 p.m. May 24 at Trocadero Contemporary Folklore Theater, 1003 Arch St.; The James A. Michener Art (215) 922-6888.

WMMR BBQ Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, Fuel and Three Days Grace perform at noon May 23 at Susquehanna Bank Center, 1 Harbour Blvd.; (215) 3362000.

The Yardbirds The classic English rock band performs at 8 p.m.

May 25 at Sellersville Theater 1894, 136 N. Main St., Sellersville; (215) 2573000.

Eric Himan The out singer-songwriter performs at 8 p.m. May 26 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400.

Erykah Badu The neo-soul superstar

Notices Send notices at least one week in advance to: Diversions, PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19147; fax them to (215) 9256437; or e-mail them to diversions@epgn.com.

Notices cannot be taken over the phone.

MAY 21 - 27, 2010

Museum presents an exhibition featuring the works of four regional artists mining both collective and personal stories to create sculptures that retell new histories, through June 13, 138 S. Pine St., Doylestown; (215) 3409800.

For Ruthie: Ruth Krauss, Maurice Sendak and Their Young Philosophers The Rosenbach Museum presents an exhibition exploring the working relationship between the two authors, through June 21, 2008-2010 Delancey Place; (215) 732-1600.

Moore Adventures in Wonderland The Rosenbach Museum presents a Marianne Moore and “Alice in Wonderland”-inspired installation, created by Rosenbach artist-inresidence Sue Johnson, through June 6, 2008-2010 Delancey Place; (215) 732-1600.

Queer Voices Institute of Contemporary Art presents a group exhibition of queer art, through Aug. 1, 118 S. 36th St.; (215) 898-7108.

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

development and arts education program, 4 and 8 p.m. May 22 at New Freedom Theatre, 1346 N. Broad St.; (215) 978-8497.

MOMIX: Botanica Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents an evening of athletic dance, riveting music, inventive costumes and props to create a world of surrealistic images, through May 22 at Zellerbach Theater, 3680 Walnut St.; (215) 898-3900.

Film

Johnny Guitar The 1954 fantasy Western film starring Joan Crawford is screened at 2 p.m. May 23 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; (610) 917-0223.

The Road The post-apocalyptic drama is screened at 8 p.m. May 25 at Trocadero Theater, 1003 Arch St.; (215) 922-6888.

PGN

So I Married an Axe Murderer The comedy film is screened for free at 6 p.m. May 26 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400.

Books

Holler!

Giovanni’s Room hosts an open-mic night at 6:30 p.m.

May 22, 345 S. 12th St.; (215) 923-2960.

Martha Nussbaum The author of “Not for Profit: Why Democracy Needs the Humanities” hosts a reading at 7:30 p.m. May 24 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; (215) 686-5322.

Cabaret

Matt Alber The out singer-songwriter performs at 7 p.m. May 22 at Harlans Cabaret, 6426 Lower

Pick

Slow Movements ArtStar Gallery presents an exhibition of works from Julie West, through June 13, 623 N. Second St.; (215) 238-1557.

Small Favors V The Clay Studio presents an exhibition of small sculptural works, through May 30, 139 N. Second St.; (215) 925-3453.

Sublime Nature AxD Gallery presents an exhibition of the photography of Mark Fields and Georg Purvis III, through June 5, 265 S. 10th St.; (215) 627-6250.

Thomas Hucker & Thomas Huang Wexler Gallery presents an exhibition of works by the two furniture artists, through June 26, 201 N. Third St.; (215) 923-7030.

Opera

Falstaff Bryn Mawr Film Institute presents Verdi’s comedic opera at 1 p.m.

May 23, 824 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr; (610) 527-9898.

Dance

Kulu Mele African American Dance Ensemble Philadelphia’s acclaimed African dance and drum ensemble performs to benefit its youth

Out singer-songwriters Patty Larkin (pictured) and Erin McKeown will perform at 7:30 p.m. May 23 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. Larkin is celebrating 25 years of recording with her new album, “25,” where she reworks as many love songs with a number of special guests.

McKeown, who is one of the guest performers on “25,” is supporting her latest release, “Hundreds of Lions.”

It would be a treat to see either one of them on their own, but the fact that they are sharing a bill makes this show one you should not miss.

For more information or tickets, call (215) 222-1400. Photo: Jana Leon

PAGE 35

York Road, New Hope; (215) 862-5225.

Red Light Cabaret The festivities start at 8 p.m.

May 27 at L’Etage, 624 S. Sixth St.; (215) 592-0656.

Etc.

Mo’Nique The Oscar-winning comedian performs at 8 p.m. May 21 at The Liacouras Center, 1776 N. Broad St.; (800) 298-4200.

Bobcat Goldthwait The comedian and director performs through May 22 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; (215) 496-2001.

Keith Robinson The comedian seen co-hosting “The Wanda Sykes Show” performs May 26-29 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; (215) 496-2001. ■

Lots of new fiction.

Lots of new movies.

This week!

(Every week!)

MON. - SAT. 11:30 - 7p.m.

SUNDAY 1:00 - 7p.m. email: giovannis_room@verizon.net

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

PAGE 36

Meeting Place A community bulletin board of activities, facilities and organizations

Community centers ■ The Attic Youth Center: For LGBT and questioning youth and their friends and allies.

Groups meet and activities are held from 4-8 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays; case management, HIV testing and smoking cessation are available Monday through Friday. See the Youth section for more events. 255 S. 16th St.; (215) 545-4331 ■ Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center at the University of Pennsylvania 3907 Spruce St.; (215) 898-5044; center@dolphin.upenn.edu, Summer hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

■ Rainbow Room — Bucks County’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and Allies Youth Center: 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays: Doylestown Planned Parenthood, The Atrium, Suite 2E, 301 S. Main St., Doylestown; (215) 348-0558 ext. 65; rainbowroom@ppbucks.org.

■ William Way Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center: 1315 Spruce St.; (215) 732-2220; www.waygay.org. Peer counseling: Monday through Friday, 6-9 p.m. Library hours: Mondays 3-9 p.m., Tuesdays 3-6 p.m., Wednesdays 3-9 p.m., Thursdays 3-9 p.m., Fridays 3-9 p.m., Saturdays noon-6 p.m., Sundays noon-6 p.m.

Volunteers: New Orientation: First Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.; Volunteer Velada, third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.

Health Anonymous, free, confidential HIV testing Spanish/English counselors offer testing 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 166 W. Lehigh Ave.; (215) 763-8870 ext. 6000.

AIDS Services In Asian Communities Provides HIV-related services to Asians and Pacific Islanders at 340 N. 12th St., suite 205; (2215) 536-2424.

Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative Free, anonymous HIV testing from 9:30 a.m.4:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursdays at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; (215) 851-1822 or (866) 222-3871.

Spanish/English.

HIV testing Free, anonymous testing and counseling is offered from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment at AIDS Resource, 520 W. Fourth St., suite 2A, Williamsport; (570) 322-8448.

Key numbers

HIV treatment Free HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment for Philadelphia residents are available from 9 a.m.noon Mondays and 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad St.; (215) 685-1803.

HIV health insurance help Access to free medications, confidential HIV testing available at 17 MacDade Blvd., suite 108, Collingdale; Medical Office Building, 722 Church Lane, Yeadon; and 630 S. 60th St.; (610) 586-9077.

Mazzoni Center Free, anonymous HIV testing; HIV/AIDS care and treatment, case management and support groups; 1201 Chestnut St.; (215) 563-0652. www. mazzonicenter.org.

Washington West Project Free, anonymous HIV testing. Walk-ins welcome 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Saturday; 1201 Locust St.; (215) 985-9206.

Casarez@phila.gov; Fax: (215) 686-2555

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

■ Mazzoni Center: (215) 563-0652; www. mazzonicenter.org

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

■ Mazzoni Center Family and Community Medicine: (215) 563-0658

■ AIDS Library: (215) 985-4851 ■ ACLU of Pennsylvania: (215) 592-1513

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

■ AIDS Treatment hot line: (215) 5452212

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

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

■ Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force: (215) 772-2000

■ The COLOURS Organization Inc. 112 N. Broad St., 11th floor; (215) 4960330.

■ Philadelphia Police Department liaison — Chief Inspector James Tiano: (215) 685-3655 ■ Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: (215) 600-0627; ppd.lgbt@gmail.com

■ Equality Advocates Pennsylvania: (215) 731-1447; (866) LGBTLAW

■ Philly Pride Presents: (215) 875-9288

■ Equality Forum: (215) 732-3378

■ SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: (717) 920-9537

■ Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Peer Counseling Services: (215) 732-TALK ■ Mayor’s liaison to LGBT communities: Gloria Casarez, (215) 686-2194; Gloria.

■ Transgender Health Action Coalition: (215) 732-1207 (staffed 3-6 p.m.

Wednesdays, and 6-9 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays)

Men

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

Delaware Valley 40-plus Club for Men Social group meets every other month; (215) 587-9933.

Gay Married Men’s Association Meets at 8 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesdays at the William Way Center; (215) 483-1032.

Men of All Colors Together Meets at 7:30 p.m. third Friday of the month September through June at the William Way Center; (610) 277-6595; www.MACTPhila.org.

Men’s Coming Out Group, N.J. Meets at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays at The Pride Center of New Jersey.

Men’s Coming Out Group Meets at 7 p.m. Thursdays at Washington West Project, 1201 Locust St.; (215) 563-0652 ext. 219.

Men of Color United A discussion/support group for gay and bisexual men of color meets from 6-8 p.m. every Wednesday at 112 N. Broad St., 11th floor; (215) 496-0330.

Men of Standard Provides a place for gay men of color 21 and older to share issues of concern. Meets 7-9 p.m. every Thursday at Camden AHEC, 514 Cooper St., Camden, N.J.; (856) 963-2432 ext. 211; ruberte_ j@camden_ahec.org.

Philly DADS An association of gay and bisexual fathers supporting each other meets at 7:30 p.m. fourth Friday of the month at the William Way Center; (215) 668-5239.

Parents/Families

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Bucks County Meets at 7:30 p.m. third Thursday of the month at Penns Park United Methodist Church, 2394 Second Street Pike, Penns Park; (215) 598-8005.

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Cape May, N.J. Meets at 2 p.m. third Sunday of the month in the Maruchi Room of Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital, 2 Stone Harbor Blvd.; (609) 861-1848.

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Chester County Meets at 7 p.m. first Tuesday of the month at the Unitarian Fellowship of West Chester, 501 S. High St., West Chester; (484) 354-2448.

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Collingswood, N.J. Meets from 6-8:30 p.m. fourth Monday of the month at the Collingswood Public Library, 771 Haddon Ave., Collingswood, N.J.; (856)345-9112; pflagcollingswood@yahoo.com.

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Philadelphia Meets from 2-5 p.m. third Sunday of the month at the LGBT Center at the University of Pennsylvania, 3907 Spruce St.; (215) 572-1833.

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Princeton, N.J. Meets at 7:30 p.m. second Monday of the month in the George Thomas Room at Trinity Church, 33 Mercer St.; (609) 683-5155.

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Wilmington, Del. Meets at 7 p.m. second Thursday of the month at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 13th and Rodney streets; (302) 654-2995.

Philadelphia Family Pride Advocacy, support and social network for LGBT families offers play groups, monthly kids and teen talk groups, activities and outings. Planning meetings are held monthly; (215) 844-3360; www. phillyfamilypride.org.

Trans

Gender Rights Advocacy Association of

MAY 21 - 27, 2010 New Jersey A transgender civil-rights group meets first Sunday of the month at 1 p.m. at The Pride Center of New Jersey.

Queer Connections Social group for women in their 20s meets weekly; (215) 468-1352; queerconnect@yahoo. com.

Interweave New Jersey An organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Unitarian and their allies meets every third Sunday at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 401 N. Kings Highway, Cherry Hill, N.J.; (856) 667-3618.

Republican Lesbians Meetings held at 7:30 p.m. on first Monday of the month at The Pride Center of New Jersey.

Oasis Meets 7-8 p.m. Wednesdays at 1201 Chestnut St.; (215) 563-0652 ext. 509.

Mazzoni Center Family and Community Medicine Primary healthcare and specialized transgender services in a safe, professional, non-judgemental environment, 809 Locust St.; (215) 563-0658.

Renaissance Transgender Assoc.

Meets at 8 p.m. third Saturday of the month at Into the Woods office complex in King of Prussia; (610) 975-9119 box 5; and 7:30 p.m. first Thursday of the month at the William Way Center; www.ren.org.

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

Transhealth Programming Committee Meetings are at 5 p.m. second and last Sundays of the month at the William Way Center.

Transhealth Information Project Sponsors a weekly drop-in center from 7-11 p.m.

Tuesdays at 1201 Locust St.; (267) 549-6497.

Transgender Health Action Coalition Peer trans health-advocacy organization meets at 5 p.m. second and last Sundays of the month at the William Way Center; (215) 732-1207; www. critpath.org/thac.

WeXist FTM support group meets from 6-8 p.m. second Friday of the month at the William Way Center; first hour is open; second hour is for people assigned female at birth who have gender issues; (267) 2501548; www.wexist.org.

Young, Trans, and Unified!

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

Women

African Asian Latina Lesbians United Social-issues discussion group meets fourth Thursday of the month at The Pride Center of New Jersey.

Bucks County Lesbian Alliance Meets monthly for social events; http://buckscountylesbianalliance.org.

Expressions Women’s Space Lesbian singles, family and coming-out groups meet at 1538 Church St.; (215) 535-3600.

Lesbians and BiWomen in Heterosexual Marriages A support group meets at 7:30 p.m. on third Wednesday of the month at The Pride Center of New Jersey.

Lesbian Community of Delaware Valley Social group holds monthly meetings and activities for gay women of all ages in Delaware, Chester and Montgomery counties; P.O. Box 962, Phoenixville, PA 19460; http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/LCDV/; marichikogirl@yahoo.com.

Lesbian Couples Dining Group of Montgomery County Meets monthly; (215) 542-2899.

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

Lesbians with Breast Cancer A support group meets from 6:30-8:30 on second Wednesday of the month at Gilda Club Delaware Valley, 200 Kirk Road, Warminster; (215) 4413290.

South Jersey Lesbians of Color Meetings are the first and third Fridays at 7:30 p.m. at The Starting Point, 215 Highland Ave., Suite C, Westmont, N.J.; (856) 824-0881; email: SJLOC-owner@yahoogroups.com.

Women’s Coffee House for Lesbians A group for lesbian and bisexual women meets on first Saturday of the month at 7 p.m. at The Pride Center of New Jersey.

The Womyn’s Village The first womyn-owned and operated thinktank targeting black African, Asian, Latina and Native American LBT and two-spirited womyn.

Meets at 5 p.m. on third Thursday of the month at COLOURS Organization, 112 N. Broad St., 11th floor; (215) 765-0121; the_womyns. village@yahoo.com.

Youth

40 Acres of Change Discussion group for teen and young adults meets from 6-8 p.m. Thursdays at The COLOURS Organization Inc., 112 N. Broad St., 11th floor; (215) 496-0330.

Drop-in Group For gay, lesbian and bisexual youth; meets at 11 a.m. Saturdays at AIDS Delaware, 100 W. 10th St., Suite 315, Wilmington, Del.; (302) 652-6776.

HAVEN For GLBT, intersex, questioning, queer and allied youth ages 14-20; meets from 7-9 p.m.

Wednesdays at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Lehigh Valley, 424 Center St., Bethlehem; (610) 868-2153.

HiTOPS A safe-space support program for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth, will meet from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at 21 Wiggins St., Princeton, N.J.; (609) 683-5155.

Main Line Youth Alliance Meets from 7-9:30 p.m. Fridays at 109 Lancaster Ave., Wayne; (610) 688-1861; info@myaonline.org.

Mountain Meadow For youth with GLBTQ parents. Monthly programs for ages 8-16, family programs and parent coffee groups. Residential program offered in August; 1315 Spruce St.; (215) 7721107; inquiries@mountainmeadow.org.

Rainbow Room — Bucks County’s LGBTQ and Allies Youth Center For ages 14-21; meets 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays at Doylestown Planned Parenthood, The Atrium, Suite 2E, 301 S. Main St., Doylestown; (215) 348-0558 ext. 65; rainbowroom@ppbucks.org.

Social X Change Social activity group for LGBT youth of color ages 13-23 meets from 6-8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at 112 N. Broad St., 11th floor; (215) 496-0330.

Space to be Proud, Open, and Together Open to all LGBTQ queer youth and allies, ages 14-21, the SPOT meets Thursdays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Planned Parenthood of Chester County’s West Chester office, 8 S. Wayne St., West Chester; (610) 692-1770 ext. 108 or thespot@ppccpa.org.

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

Youth in Transition A support group for transgender and questioning youth ages 12-23 meets from 7:30-9 p.m.

Tuesdays at the The Attic Youth Center.

Youth Making a Difference For GLBTQ African-American and Latino youth ages 13-24. Meets from 6:30-8:30 p.m. every Wednesday at Camden AHEC, 514 Cooper St., Camden, N.J.; (856) 963-2432 ext.

205; gibbs_d@camden-ahec.org.

Send submissions to pgn@epgn.com or fax (215) 925-6437 PGN Meeting Place, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147

Meeting Place is a public service. Submissions must include a phone number for publication.

Complete Meeting Place listings of all Parent/Family, Professional, Recovery, Recreation, Religion, Sports, Men, Women, Trans, Youth groups can be found online @ www.phliagaynews.com and www.epgn.com

MAY 21 - 27, 2010

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

PAGE 37

Classifieds

With Real Estate, Help Wanted, Services and Personals

Senate votes to rein in mortgage lenders

By Jim Kuhnhenn The Associated Press

Taking aim at deceptive lending, the Senate voted last Wednesday to ban mortgage brokers and loan officers from getting greater pay for offering higher interest rates on loans, and to require that borrowers prove they can repay their loans.

The Senate, however, rejected a measure that would have required homebuyers to make a minimum downpayment of 5 percent on their loans. The votes were part of the Senate’s deliberations on a broad overhaul of financial regulations designed to avoid a repeat of the crisis that struck Wall Street in 2008.

President Obama weighed in on the Senate debate last Wednesday, criticizing efforts to exclude auto dealerships that offer car loans from the oversight of a proposed consumer financial protection bureau.

Auto dealers — influential figures in their communities — have been aggressively lobbying for an exemption from the law, and the amendment, offered by Republican

Sen. Sam Brownback, could win bipartisan backing.

“This amendment would carve out a special exemption for these lenders that would allow them to inflate rates, insert hidden fees into the fine print of paperwork and include expensive add-ons that catch purchasers by surprise,” Obama said in a statement.

The administration has fiercely tried to protect the consumer provisions of the bill. It has answered the political power of the auto dealers with an appeal on behalf of the military, arguing that soldiers and their families have been particularly targeted by deceptive dealers.

Last week, Holly Petraeus, wife of U.S. Central Command chief Gen. David Petraeus, made a plea for the bill’s consumer protections to apply to car buyers.

Petraeus, director of the Council of Better Business Bureau’s Military Line Program, said financial counselors at military installations find many of their customers in financial trouble with their auto payments, locked into loans of 15 percent or higher.

In a statement, Brownback argued auto dealers are already regulated by the Federal Trade Commission and by local and state agencies. “If any servicemember is the victim of predatory lending while trying to buy a car,” he said, “I encourage him or her to seek out local and state authorities, which already handle these investigations and can take care of the problem.”

Separately, the Senate overwhelmingly voted to let the Federal Reserve retain its supervision of smaller banks. The underlying regulation bill would have given the central bank oversight only over the largest financial institutions.

Regional Fed presidents have lobbied senators to allow them to continue watching over smaller bank holding companies and state-chartered community banks.

Limiting the Fed’s supervision only to bank-holding companies with assets of more than $50 billion — as proposed by Senate Banking Chairman Christopher Dodd, a Democrat — would have left many of the Fed’s 12 regional banks with few institutions under their over-

sight.

The lending-related measures attempted to respond to one of the issues at the heart of the financial crisis — the abundance of bad mortgage-backed securities that nearly toppled Wall Street and knocked some of the nation’s largest financial institutions to their knees.

Senators voted 63-36 to amend an underlying financial regulation bill to place restrictions on how mortgage brokers and bank loan officers get compensated. The measure’s lead sponsor, Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley, argued that consumers were steered into higher-rate mortgages that they were unable to pay, resulting in foreclosures and toxic mortgage-backed securities that poisoned the markets.

Borrowers would have to provide evidence of their income, either through tax returns, payroll receipts or bank documents. That provision seeks to eliminate so-called statedincome loans where borrowers offered no proof of their ability to pay.

But the Senate voted 57-42

against a Republican amendment that set tougher underwriting standards, including the downpayment requirement. That measure also would have eliminated a condition that mortgage lenders retain 5 percent of any mortgages they resell in the securities market.

Democrats opposed the plan, citing both their desire to have banks keep some of the risk of the mortgages they write and their concern that the downpayment mandate would hurt lower-income families.

Mortgage brokers opposed Merkley’s measure, arguing it would create a two-tiered system separating mortgage brokers from bank lenders. They noted that the amendment would permit banks to receive greater payments from investors, such as large Wall Street firms, for bundled mortgages with higher interest rates.

“It’s a legal incentivizing payment for those very loans that put the industry in this mess,” said Roy DeLoach, executive vice president of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers. ■

Location! Location! Location!

This week’s featured property

Beds: 4 Baths: 4.5 Cost: $500,000 Square footage: 3,096 Age of property: 20+ years Realtor: Laurel Witts Real-estate co.: Weichert Realtor Phone: (856) 983-2888 Direct: (856) 768-6330 Website: www.5Bramfield.com

Magnificent 4-bdrm 4-bath home, radiates serenity and blends beautifully with its natural surroundings. Nestled on 1.53 acres. Sleek, sophisticated and stylish. The kitchen is a masterpiece with lavish use of quartz , high-end Bosch appliances and hardware that blends culinary functionality with sublime design purity. French doors open to the incredible multi-level deck with 6-person hot tub, in-ground heated pool and pool house with kitchen area and full bath.

Check your ad

PLACING ADS Using voicemail? Please be sure to have the following information ready when you call: • Your ad copy • The type of style you want • Desired abbreviations • American Express, Discover, MasterCard or VISA information • Your name and mailing

5 Bramfield Ct., Medford, N.J.

address • Daytime telephone number Having all this information ready will speed your order and help to avoid errors.

Phone calls can only be returned during business hours.

For more information, see the coupon page in this section.

Philadelphia Gay News assumes responsibility for errors in classified ads only when notified by noon the Tuesday after the ad first appears.

To receive credit for errors, please notify PGN by then. Credit only will be extended in the form of additional advertising space. Any cash refunds, for any reason, are subject to a $10 service charge.

PGN will publish no classified ad — in any category — that contains sexually explicit language.

Obviously excluded are traditional four-letter words that relate to sexual activity.

Other words may be excluded at the discretion of the publisher, who reserves the right to edit or rewrite any ad that, in his opinion, violates this policy or its intent.

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

PAGE 38

MAY 21 - 27, 2010

REAL ESTATE

Real Estate REAL ESTATE

SALE

LANCASTER COUNTY REAL ESTATE Come home to the scenic countryside of southern Lancaster County in this 1854 farmhouse situated on 14.95 acres. $580,000 MLS# 163109. Call Beiler-Campbell Realtors at 717786-8000 for more details. EHO. _______________________________34-21 VENTNOR, NJ, FACING THE BAY House and Adjacent Lot (inground swimming pool). 1st floor 3 bedrooms, bath, living room, dining room, kitchen, laundry room and deck.

2nd floor 2 bedrooms, bath, efficiency kitchen, living room, dining area and deck. Central Air. Corner Property. Call 215-468-9166 evenings only. $675,000.00. Also property for rent1500.00 month plus utilities. _______________________________34-29 5 ACRES w/ CAMP $19,995!

“I Can’t Believe it!” “Something must be wrong with it!” See for yourself! It’s the best Investment in land in NYS! Christmas & Associates Call us at 800-229-7843 or visit www.LandandCamps. com Find us on Facebook! _______________________________34-21 Potter County- 17 acres bordering state forest in Keating Township. Perc approved, electric, surveyed, road frontage, access to public snowmobile trails. $72,900. Owner financing.

800-668-8679. _______________________________34-21 North Carolina Mountains E-Z Finish Log Cabin Shell with Acreage. PRE-APPROVED Bank Financing! Only $99,900. Ask About our Mountain Land for sale 828-247-9966 Code 71A. _______________________________34-21

ROOMMATES PGN WILL NOT PUBLISH RACIAL DISTINCTIONS IN ROOMMATE ADS. SUCH NOTATIONS WILL BE EDITED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION. ___________________________________ GREATER NE PHILA. Have your own bedroom in a beautiful split level home with 2 gay men. House is 4 BR, 2 full baths, W/D, upper and lower decks, use of kitchen. Property is by Welsh & the Boulevard, 1 min. to 58 bus. We ask only that you be at least reasonably neat and employed. Rent is $600 + 1/3 utils. Contact Dave at 215-698-0215. _______________________________34-29 NORTHERN CHESTER COUNTY Beautiful 200 y.o. restored farmhouse. 3rd floor is one large room with private bath, internet access, cable and all utils. incl. Asking $575/mo. + $300 sec. dep. Call 610-731-4530. _______________________________34-22 ROOMMATE WANTED, 5 BR. HOME Trenton, NJ. Looking for a roommate to share my 5 bedroom home in quiet Hiltonia, in Trenton. 30 minutes from Philly and 15 minutes to New Hope. Close to trains to NYC and Philly.

Clean, no smoking, and ability to use all areas of the house. I do have a male black lab, fenced in back yard, sunken patio and hot tub. Rent is $1000.00 a month and includes all utilities.

609-777-9182 _______________________________34-22 GM sh. 2 BR apt. Upper Darby. $350. 610931-6633. _______________________________34-23

REAL ESTATE

SALE

SALE

REAL ESTATE

SALE

CONTEMPORAR Y GEM! WILLISTOWN TOWNSHIP - CHESTER COUNT Y

REAL ESTATE

SALE

Absolute idyllic setting on 2+ acres with stream and an incredible 2 story house with oak floors, French stone tiles & granite countertop. $639,000

Call: 610.347.2065 cprops@voicenet.com ROUTES 82 & 162 - UNIONVILLE, PA 19375

Classic reproduction farmhouse in bucolic Upper Makefield offers privacy and the charm of yesteryear coupled with 9’ ceilings, great closet space and the modern amenities expected in today’s competing luxury residences. This home is located on 3.67 acres and set back off a 700’ treelined driveway with private back drop in a non development setting. Random width pine floors adorn the main level, 3 fireplaces, Sylvan swimming pool, morning room, full basement, 3 car garage, first and second floor libraries plus a private 3rd level suite (5th BR) with its own sitting room and bathroom.

Offered at $1,049,000.00

Contact Gary Coughlan at Prudential Fox and Roach Realtors for your private viewing.

Gary Coughlan PFR 215-601-9010 cell 215-860-9300 office

www.TheCountryProperties.com

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MAY 21 - 27, 2010

HOME IMPROVEMENT DIRECTORY

REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE

SALE

SALE

PAGE 47

Conrad Kuhn

Broker/Sales Rep. Since 1987 NJAR Circle of Excellence Sales Award 1991- 2009 Weichert Presidentʼs & Ambassadorʼs Clubs

Office: 856.227.1950 ext. 124 Cell: 609.221.1196 CLASSIFIEDS www.conradkuhn.com Realtor856@aol.com Washington Township Office 5070 Route 42 Turnersville, NJ 08012

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RENT

OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND Best selection of affordable rentals. Full/ partial weeks. Call for FREE brochure. Open daily.

Holiday Real Estate. 1-800-638-2102 Online reservations www.holidayoc.com _______________________________34-21

VACATION

James M. Quesenberry, MA, CRC, CVE Disability Consultant

RENT

NORTH WILDWOOD, NJ- FLORENTINE MOTEL Social Security Disability Beach/Boardwalk Block, Heated Pools, Efficiency/ Motel units refrigerator, elevator. Color Claims Appeals Brochure/ specials 609-522-4075 DEPT.104 www.florentinemotel.com _______________________________34-21

215-629-0585

PAGE 39

BUSINESS

REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE

RENT

OPPORTUNITIES

12TH & DICKINSON AREA Furnished Townhouse for rent: 3 levels. Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, 2 bedrooms , bath. Very Unique. 1500. mo plus util. (negotiable). Call 215 468-9166 after 6 pm. or 215 686 3431 daytime. _______________________________34-29 MANAYUNK 1 BR, 1 BA. W/D in apt Located Main & Grape. Rent $800 Call Heather 610-647-1776. eadeh.com _______________________________34-22 OLD CITY 1BR, 1.5 BA., lg. priv. deck.

2nd between Race & Arch. Rent $900 Call Heather 610-647-1776. eadeh.com _______________________________34-22 AMBLER 3 story guest house on “1702” estate. 2 BR, 2.5 BA, newly remodeled eat in country kitchen, den, W/D, D/W, C/A, hdwd flrs, overlooks formal gardens, use of swimming pool. $1800/mo. +.

215-542-5642. _______________________________34-24 RITTENHOUSE SQUARE AREA Studios & 1 Bedrooms - Call for Availability (215) 735-8050. _______________________________34-31 1700 JACKSON ST. VICINITY Large, ultra modern 2 BR on 2nd floor. Totally new! C/A, D/W, G/D, hdwd flrs, GARAGE! Call Villa Realty, 215-271-0600. _______________________________34-21 LG. MODERN STUDIO NEAR CC $850/mo. 480 s.f. studio. W/D, D/W, G/D, side by side fridge. H/W floors, ceramic tile bath, loads of closets. Garage parking avail. Pets welcome. Apt in The Marine Club. Two stops on subway to Broad & Walnut. $850/mo + elec.

Cdt. check req. Available now. Call Owner: 215-292-4205. _______________________________34-21 WEST. MT. AIRY Sale or lease. Partially renovated warehouse.

For retail off space or commercial use. 5000 sq. ft. 215-233-5303 for appointment. _______________________________34-22

HEAVEN IN SOUTH PHILLY! For rent 2 bdr., 1 bath, open floor plan with hardwood and tile throughout, sweet private deck that leads you to your own gated driveway. You gotta see this. Call Glenn 856-8161932 email for pics and more awesome info glennaschultz@hotmail.com Rent $1800. per month. First, last & 1K sec. dep. move-in. _______________________________34-23 17XX E. PASSYUNK AVE. 5 rooms and bath, 2nd floor, pvt. entrance, W/D, many windows. Call 215-463-2028 APRIL 25 - MAY 1, 2008 _______________________________34-22 WEST MT. AIRY Large, bright 1 bedroom, HW flrs, gas F/P, patio, dog run, laundry facil. $875/mo. incl. all utilities. Avail. immed. 215-233-5303 for appointment. _______________________________34-22 MT. AIRY BUSINESS DIST. PRIME LOCATION 3500 sq. ft. corner. 215-233-5303 for appointment. _______________________________34-22

ALL CASH VENDING! Do you earn $800 in a day? Your own local candy route. Includes 25 Machines and Candy All for $9,995. 1-800-460-4027. _______________________________34-21

RENT

SERVICES ATTEND COLLEGE ONLINE From Home. *Medical, *Business, *Paralegal, *Computers, *Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified. Call 866-858-2121 www.CenturaOnline.com _______________________________34-21 AIRLINES ARE HIRING Train for high paying Aviation Maintenance Career. FAA approved program. Financial aid if qualified -Housing available. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance (888)349-5387. _______________________________34-21 WET BASEMENT? 800-511-6579 Free inspection/estimate. Call today, don’t delay. No costly excavation, finished and unfinished, Lifetime transferable warranty. Financing available. PA Basement Waterproofing, Inc. PA001027 _______________________________34-21

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ADOPTION Educated, traveled, fun-loving same-sex couple promise unconditional love in safe, nurturing and fun home with pets. MyTwoDadsAdopt. com or call Chris/Bob at 800-204-3475. _______________________________34-21 Are you Pregnant? Considering adoption?

A childless couple seeks to adopt. Financial security. Loving Home. Expenses paid. Barbara & Jacqueline. 1-800-691-5604. _______________________________34-21

E-mail us: pgn@ epgn.com

PGN

Suite 202 Oxford Valley Rd. Fairless Hills, PA 19030

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PAGE PAGE40 110

APRIL 25 - MAY 1, 2008

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS CLASSIFIEDS

MAY 21 - 1, 27,2008 2010 APRIL 25 - MAY

LEGAL & PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY

AMY F. STEERMAN Attorney at Law

Concentrating in Planning for Lesbian and Gay Couples • Probate • Wills • Living Wills • Powers of Attorney

215-735-1006

1900 Spruce Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 www.amysteerman.com

James M. Quesenberry, MA, CRC, CVE Disability Consultant

Social Security Disability Claims Appeals

215-629-0585 Suite 202 Oxford Valley Rd. Fairless Hills, PA 19030

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MAY 21 - 27, 2010

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

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SERVICES HOME IMPROVEMENT DIRECTORY Want to let LEGALHEALTH && PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY DIRECTORY mom, dad and all of your exs know you’re tying the knot?

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Send us your wedding/civil union/ commitment ceremony announcement and we’ll share it with the City of Brotherly Love.

E-mail information to editor@epgn.com or fax us at Reach Over 40,000 Weekly AsLittle Little For As $25.00 A Week.

215-625-8501 Today! Today!

Reach Over Readers 40,000 Readers Weekly As Little AsCall $25.00 A Week. ach Over 40,000 Readers Weekly ForFor As As $25.00 A Week.

Call 215-625-8501 (215) 925-6437.

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS ADULT PERSONALS

PAGE 42

HELP WANTED

NOTICES

Alexander Inn

Hotel desk clerk for full or part time. Must have prior hotel experience with references. Good salary plus bonus pkg. Apply in person or call days.

Call John 215-923-3535 Let’s Talk!

MAY 21 - 27, 2010

Adult/Personals FRIENDS

MEN

FRIENDS

MEN

FRIENDS

MEN

LOOKING FOR ROMANCE Attractive GWM, warm, sensitive, caring, 48 y.o. with a smooth gymnast build looking for other GWM, 30-50, who is also in good shape.

I live in NE Phila. I’m looking for guys who are also sensitive, caring with a fun personality. If this sounds interesting to you feel free to call me, David, 215-698-0215. _______________________________34-29

Erotic Dungeon Master

**ABLE TO TRAVEL** Hiring 6 people, Free to travel all states, resort areas. No experience neccessary. Paid Training & Transporation. OVER 18. Start ASAP. 1-888-734-5216. _______________________________34-21 REGIONAL DRIVERS NEEDED! MORE HOMETIME! TOP PAY! Up to $.43/mile company drivers! 12 months OTR required. HEARTLAND EXPRESS 1-800441-4953 www.heartlandexpress.com _______________________________34-21 COMPANY Experienced OTR drivers and Teams. Consistent Miles, Excellent Health Benefits. 6 mo.

OTR exp. & current CDL 888-463-3962 www. usatruck.jobs EOE M/F/H/V. _______________________________34-21 CDL-A Drivers: Our Freight Needs You! Over The Road Flatbed & Dry Van. Professional Equipment. High Miles. Good Driving Record Required. We accept your long form and medical card. Western Express. Call Nancy: 888-801-5295. _______________________________34-21 Drivers NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED Tuition Paid CDL Training. NO CREDIT CHECKS, IMMEDIATE BENEFITS. Recent School Grads welcome. 800-553-2778 www. joinCRST.com CRST VAN EXPEDITED _______________________________34-21 REGIONAL COMPANY DRIVERS Home Weekly. Competitive Pay. Immediate Benefits. CDL-A with 1 year experience, 23 yoa. Call NFI Sunday or anytime: 877-8888476, www.nficareers.com _______________________________34-21 FLORIDA BOUND! Guys/ Gals to travel USA with coed business group representing major Rock & Roll, Hip-Hop, Fashion and Sport publications! Transportation furnished. Must Start ASAP 1-888-890-2250. _______________________________34-21 FLATBED DRIVERS NEEDED IMMEDIATELY! (REGIONAL RUNS) *GREAT PAY *GREAT MILES *GREAT CAREER Minimum 2 years OTR, with 6 months Flatbed exp. CALL NOW: 866-415-3022 Swift. _______________________________34-21

PGN

LEARN TANTRA FOR MORE PLEASURE Men’s workshop. June 4-6. Expand your sensual nature. Part lecture, often clothes off & always fun. 215-844-6537 or be.philly@gmail. com _______________________________34-22 Pennsylvania’s Largest Lost and Found: Last year, the Pennsylvania Treasury returned over $100 Million Dollars of uncliamed property.

Search www.patreasury.org or call 1-800-2222046 to see if we have money for you. Each year, Treasury receives millions of dollars in unclaimed property-things like: *abandoned bank accounts *forgotten stocks *uncashed checks *certificates of deposit *life insurance policies *safe deposit box contents *recovered stolen property. At Treasury, we work hard to find the rightful owners of this unclaimed property. But even if we can’t find you, you can find your property. If you see your name, visit www.patreasury.org to make a claim.

We are only required to publish the names of owners of property worth more than $250 one time-so even if you don’t see your name here this year, you may have something. It’s worth a search of our website. Visit us NOW and claim what’s YOURS! _______________________________34-21

Gay is our middle name.

6’, 165 lbs., 60 year old Master, greek active, french passive requires obedient slave for training, S&M, B/D, W/S, etc. Limits respected and expanded. Assistant Master wanted. Call Dave at 215-729-6670, day or evening. _______________________________34-34 609-345-8203 oceanhouseatlanticcity.com _______________________________34-39 GWM, 35 ISO blk/Latino male or TS. 215416-4146. _______________________________34-24 Older GM sks friends. Dan, 610-931-6633. _______________________________34-23 WM, NE Phila. If you’re looking for hot action, call 215-934-5309. No calls after 11 PM. _______________________________34-21 RELATIONSHIP WANTED GBM, 39, top, 160 lbs. with an athletic build.

Looking for a passive, kind, serious bottom to share my life with. Only serious need to apply.

Call between 5pm and 10pm-215-765-7774. _______________________________34-27 I’m looking for an attractive she-male, hermaphrodite, transsexual girlfriend in Phila. or Berks County. Contact Crystal Moyer Ayala or leave a voicemail with name, phone number and address optional at 484-269-2247. _______________________________34-24 Daddy sks sissy friends. Dan, 610-931-6633 _______________________________34-24 GWM, 55, 6’3”, slim, romantic for black or Latino (nonsmoker). I enjoy working out, bicycling, canoeing, hiking, gardening and antiques. Please leave a message at 609-530-1726. _______________________________34-24

FRIENDS

BI

Puerto Rican man, 5’7”, 180 lbs. med. build BR/BR, looking for M/F for friendship or relationship. No smoking/drugs. 267-581-9529.

No calls after 7 PM. _______________________________34-22

Recreational Activities

IN THE

Meeting Place

MAY 21 - 27, 2010

MODELS

ESCORTS

MODELS

ESCORTS

nite. GWM couple ISO GWMs 18-40 yrs. for 1 on 1 and group sex. Stockings, pantyhose, etc. Starts 9 PM Sat. Call Sat. 7-8 PM 856910-8303, ask for Mark. _______________________________33-24 ADULT PERSONALS PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS GWM, Italian, top or bottom, 7” cut. Also into assplay, toys & water sports. Bi, straight, out FRIENDS of towners welcome.

Day or night. Call Jeff at 215-850-7900. _______________________________33-18

MEN

Adult

Str

Books

PAGE 43

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PAGE 44

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

MAY 21 - 27, 2010