Summer reads and local authors
Family Portrait: Peter Hiler
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Philadelphia History Museum to launch LGBT exhibit
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May 31 - June 6, 2013
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Vol. 37 No. 22
Lesbian pediatrician accused of attempted murder
A Delaware County doctor allegedly shot her ex partner several times through a car window Monday following an argument over custody of their children. One child was in the car and another stood next to it at the time of the shooting. By Victoria A. Brownworth Special to PGN Just before 7 p.m. on Memorial Day, Dr. Lauren Patricia Daly, a pediatrician at Nemours Alfred I. DuPont Hospital in Wilmington, Del., allegedly shot her former partner in front of their two children. The shooting reportedly occurred in the driveway of Daly’s Media home after a custody dispute over the couple’s son turned rancorous, then violent. According to Pennsylvania State Police in Media, Daly’s former partner, 49, whose name is being withheld by police, was bringing the couple’s 9-year-old daughter to Daly’s from her own Wynnewood home. Also with her was the couple’s 11-year-old son. Daly is the biological mother of the couple’s daughter and the former partner is the biological mother of their son. When the women were partnered, each adopted the other’s biological child. The two have maintained shared custody since their break-up in 2011. According to police reports, the argument began because Daly wanted to speak to the boy, but her partner said she could not. She said Daly would have to call and make arrangements to talk to him, which is their current agreement. According to police, although they share custody, the boy can decide if he wants to see Daly or not. As police tell it, the women got into a heated argument. Daly was standing outside her ex’s car, yelling and smacking the front of the car. The couple’s daughter was outside the car, standing to the side of the vehicle. The boy was in the front passenger seat. According to police, as the argument escalated, Daly pulled a 9mm semi-automatic handgun out of her pocket and fired several times through the windshield. The boy told police he and his mother ducked down in the seat to avoid being hit, PAGE 19 but Daly’s ex was hit
Pittston makes history with nondiscrimination ordinance By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com
On May 28, Pittston became the 32nd municipality in Pennsylvania and the first in Luzerne County to pass a nondiscrimination ordinance to protect its LGBT citizens. The historic and unanimous vote will prohibit discrimination based on sexual orienPAGE 16 tation and gender identity
Judge bans antigay demonstrators from private property By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com
RUNNING THE RUNWAY: Youth participants from The Attic Youth Center, including Thomas (from left), Noah and Rico, took to the stage May 25 for a Vogue Ball to raise funds for the youth agency. About 70 people turned out for the event, held at The Underground Arts, and which featured a runway competition hosted by Lisa Lisa and a separate 21-and-over cocktail lounge with live performances. “It went really well,” said The Attic executive director Carrie Jacobs. “People felt really good about it and the performances were great.” Photo: Scott A. Drake
A popular retail complex in Center City filed a lawsuit last week against a group of demonstrators that it says uses antigay language on its property. Liberty Place Retail Associates, L.P., which owns The Shops at Liberty Place at 16th and Chestnut streets, filed suit in the Court of Common PAGE 12
Scouts will allow gay youth, not atheists or gay adults By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com Last week’s vote by the Boy Scouts of America to allow gay youth into the organization doesn’t impress Adam E. Gersh. “It doesn’t cut any mustard,” said Gersh, 38, who recently started an alternate Scout organization in Cherry Hill, N.J. Gersh is a straight ally of the LGBT community who wants his three young boys to treat everyone with integrity and respect, he said. So last year, he formed the non-discrimi-
natory Pioneer Scout Corps, and about 20 families have joined, he said. The ages of youth participants range from 5-11. Activities include hiking, camping, rock climbing, electric-car racing, disc golfing, swimming, attending a Phillies game, touring a local police station, participating in a corn maze and community-service projects. Gersh said the May 23 vote by the BSA’s national council to accept gay youth beginning Jan. 1 doesn’t go far enough. “They’re bending a little, but they’re really PAGE 17 not doing it in the right
SONGS OF THE ’70s: The Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus brought the music of ABBA to life with “ExtrABBAganza,” May 16-18 at the Prince Music Theater, drawing more than 1,200 audience members. This was the first time the group closed its season before Memorial Day and PGMC board president Bradley Hess said the event was an unprecedented success. “Ultimately our experiment was a success, as ‘ExtrABBAganza’ surpassed our expectations to become PGMC’s best-selling show ever.” Photo: Patrick Hagerty