PGN June 3 - 9, 2011 edition by The Philadelphia Gay News

Summertime is sporting time in the LGBT community

The great debate in gay relationships: Is mainstream America ready for equality?

Family Portrait: Samantha Giusti

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June 3-9, 2011

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Vol. 35 No. 22

Homelessness bill draws opposition By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com A bill recently introduced by Councilman Frank DiCicco has drawn sharp criticism from advocates for the homeless. Bill 110386, introduced May 12, would amend the “sidewalk behavior” section of the Philadelphia Code to give law enforcement more authority to arrest individuals living on the streets. As the current law stands, before issuing a violation or taking “coercive action” against COUNTRY MEETS CITY: About 400 LGBT dancers strapped on their cowboy someone who is lying, sitting or obstructboots last weekend for the annual convention of the International Association of ing a sidewalk or soliciting near a buildGay/Lesbian Country Western Dance Clubs, held in Philadelphia. The 18th annual ing entrance, an officer must first issue an convention brought together dancers from across the country who spent Friday participating in dance workshops led by experts from the United States and Canada, oral warning to move, followed by a written and Saturday put their talents to the test in line dance, couples and team competiwarning — stipulations that DiCicco’s bill tions. The event generated about $15,000 in fundraising, half of which will go to would remove. the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, and the other half of which will be DiCicco’s measure would also lift the split between the William Way LGBT Community Center and The Attic Youth Center. requirement that, before taking action, offiPhoto: Scott A. Drake cers must attempt to determine whether the person is in need of medical or social-service assistance, instead making the connection to social services contingent solely which enforces the upon whether the officer determines the By Jen Colletta state’s nondiscrimina- person is in need. jen@epgn.com tion law, Glassman said the move was a natuStephen Glassman handed in his resignaral one, precipitated tion letter last week after a successful run as by the recently elected Pennsylvania’s highest-ranking openly gay Republican administraofficial. tion. Glassman is set to begin a new venture as Gov. Corbett will president and CEO of the nonprofit design have the opportunity to agency Community Design Center of Pittsburgh, tapping into his 25-year career nominate a current commissioner as chair or fill one of the two vacancies on the comas the owner of an architectural firm. After eight years as chair of the mission and then nominate that individual. PAGE 6 Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, Glassman will remain

Glassman reflects on state service

Currently, if the officer believes the person is in need of homeless-assistance services, mental-health treatment or drug and alcohol rehabilitation, the officer contacts an Outreach Team, which evaluates the individual’s needs, and the officer is not permitted to arrest the individual without the presence of an Outreach Team; in the proposed bill, that stipulation is also dropped, and the dispatch to an Outreach Team is optional. DiCicco did not return a call for comment. Project H.O.M.E., which provides street outreach, housing opportunities and other homelessness-assistance services, has launched an online petition to press Council to oppose the measure. The agency’s executive director, Sister Mary Scullion, said the bill is especially unfortunate in light of the city’s previously successful approach to homelessness. Of the nation’s 10 largest cities, Philadelphia has the least number of people per capita living on the street, Scullion said. “Philadelphia has PAGE 15

Easton gets DP benefits By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com The city of Easton became the fifth in the state last week to approve domesticpartner benefits for same-sex partners of city employees. The Easton City Council unanimously approved a domestic-partner measure in a vote May 25. Mayor Sal Panto is scheduled to sign the bill next week.

After taking the vote, the councilmembers received a standing ovation from the packed room. No member of the public spoke out against the measure at the meeting. The measure was first introduced in April by Councilman Michael Fleck and passed out of committee last month. Pennsylvania Diversity Network vice president Adrian Shanker, who, along with president Liz Bradbury, PAGE 6

CLASSIC COLORS: LGBT soccer club Philadelphia Falcons celebrated Memorial Day weekend with its annual Liberty Classic Tournament May 28 at Edgely Field. The fourth-annual event brought together several dozen co-ed LGBT and ally soccer players who braved Saturday’s heat for the day-long tournament. The final standings, in order, were the lime, pink, blue, orange, jade and yellow teams. Photo: Scott A. Drake

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COMING OUT SWINGING: LGBT softball clubs from around the region converged in Philadelphia last weekend for the annual Liberty Bell Classic Softball Tournament. The two-day tourney drew participation from Washington, D.C., New York City, Boston and New Jersey, in addition to contingents from Philly’s own City of Brotherly Love Softball League. The Philly Outlaws won the Men’s Competitive Division, while the Boston Diablos took the Men’s C Division, the Southern New England Hangovers won the Men’s Recreational Division and the New York Silent Assassins topped the Women’s Division. Photo: Scott A. Drake

Colours Crystal Ball looks into the future By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com After a several-year hiatus, the Legendary Crystal Ball will return to Philadelphia this weekend, bringing HIV-prevention messages to center stage. The house/ballroom community event, organized by the Colours Organization, will be held from 6 p.m.-midnight June 4 at the Gershman Y, 401 S. Broad St. Colours ﬁrst created the ball in 1997 but hadn’t held it in a number of years. The agency decided to bring the ball back this year, as it prepares to mark a signiﬁcant milestone, said Colours board president John Clayton. “We are excited that in celebrating 20 years of the Colours Organization that we are able to relaunch the Crystal Ball,” Clayton said. “It is important that we continue to remain strong to the roots of the organization as we move forward in building our future with the LGBT community.” The ball is being held with the support of Philadelphia FIGHT and its Youth Health Empowerment Project, along with The Legacy Project, and is being staged in conjunction with FIGHT’s AIDS Education Month, which will run throughout June. Free anonymous HIV testing and STD screening will be available at the ball. There will be about 20 categories in which contestants can compete, with a $1,000 grand prize in the School Boy Realness category, which asks entrants to

incorporate a “history lesson” in their performance by recreating a memorable act from a past ball. A mini grand prize of $500 will go to the house that has the most members receive an HIV test in the preceding week. Colours will offer testing from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, and YHEP will provide tests from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. The house/ballroom community has a signiﬁcant resonance with AfricanAmerican and Latino youth communities, populations that, according to Colours executive director Robert Burns, need to be targeted by proper HIV and STD prevention messages. Currently, Philadelphia’s rate of HIV incidence is ﬁve times the national average, with men who have sex with men comprising more than a third of that population. Recent statistics out of the city’s STD Control Division found that 78 percent of new syphilis cases were among the MSM community and, of those cases, 85 percent were African American or Latino, and more than a third were under age 24. “It’s very important that we connect and reach people with prevention in their communities and where they are,” Burns said. “If we fail to integrate our messages and learn from the house/ballroom community, we fail at doing effective HIV prevention for many of our LGBT people of color.” For more information, search for Legendary Crystal Ball on Facebook. ■

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LIFTING LEGEND: 12th Street Gym kicked off its monthlong 25th-anniversary celebration with a party May 27. Mayor Nutter stopped by to mark the occasion and presented a City Council citation to owner Rick Piper (left) and general manager Frank Baer in recognition of the milestone. The gym also unveiled a new artist’s rendering of the building, on display to contrast the original building sketch. Photo: Scott A. Drake

Antigay stigma addressed in new AIDS guidelines By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com A few days before the world marks the 30th anniversary of the beginning of the HIV/ AIDS pandemic, a federal agency released new guidelines that seek to ensure global cooperation in approaching the disease’s continued impact on men who have sex with men. The Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator issued its “Technical Guidance: Prevention for Men Who Have Sex With Men” late last month to all participants in the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which provides funding and other resources to fight the disease across the globe. The MSM guidance is the latest in a series of supporting documents released since the 2009 PEPFAR five-year strategy, which is meant to specifically target at-risk populations. The report notes that HIV/AIDS is having a “severe and disproportionate impact” on MSM in low- and middle-income countries, estimating MSM are 19 times more likely than other populations to contract the disease in such nations. The study added that institutionalized homophobia in some countries further puts MSM at risk, as many in the population cannot access proper prevention or treatment for fear of arrest or persecution. The document advises that successful prevention programs must combine “structural, biomedical and behavioral interventions” that are evidence-based and nonjudgmental, proposing that the optimal MSM HIV-prevention program should include communitybased outreach, condom distribution, HIV

counseling and testing, linkage to healthcare and antiretrovirals, targeted information and sexually transmitted infection resources. Successful prevention cannot be achieved, however, without the implementation of policies that seek to eradicate antigay stigma, the guidance said. “PEPFAR programs in all countries should be based on principles of equity, nondiscrimination and voluntariness in order to ensure access to services. Programs should develop strategies to ensure that all MSM are able to receive HIV prevention, care and treatment that is affirming and nondiscriminatory and does not place these men at risk for violence, arrest or other forms of discrimination.” PEPFAR programs are also encouraged to provide staff training on MSM issues, collect information on this demographic and involve MSM in prevention programs. Sean Cahill, managing director of Public Policy, Research and Community Health at the Gay Men’s Health Crisis, commended the release of the guidance as drawing needed attention to the role of homophobia in the fight against HIV/AIDS. “The exclusively heterosexual HIV-prevention campaigns in Uganda and elsewhere have led many African gay men to believe they are not at risk for HIV,” Cahill said. “President Obama’s National HIV/AIDS Strategy notes that we cannot fight HIV in the U.S. without bringing down HIV rates among gay men. This is also true of Africa and the Caribbean. Thirty years into the epidemic, it is critical that we acknowledge that gay men exist in the global south and provide them with HIV prevention education.” ■

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GLASSMAN from page 1

a commissioner until his term expires next summer. Although he will work out of Pittsburgh, Glassman will maintain his Philadelphia residence and said he is committed to keeping up ties to his colleagues and friends in the area. “I’m certainly not going to be abandoning Philadelphia, but I’ll be adding Pittsburgh to my life in an exciting way,” he said. G l a s s m a n wa s o r i g i n a l l y appointed to the commission by former Gov. Mark Schweiker in 2002, becoming the first openly gay individual in Pennsylvania to receive a Senate-approved gubernatorial appointment. In 2003, then-Gov. Ed Rendell named Glassman as the chair of the agency. Throughout his tenure, Glassman worked to bring the concerns of the LGBT community

to a statewide audience. He strongly backed the state effort to include sexual orientation and gender identity as classes protected from discrimination, and worked with local-level legislators and activists across the state to secure municipal LGBT-inclusive ordinances, which are now on the books in 20 jurisdictions. Ted Martin, executive director of Equality Pennsylvania, said the successful push for the adoption of local nondiscrimination measures will be one of Glassman’s strongest legacies. “I think the community owes him a great debt of gratitude,” Martin said. “He’s worked tirelessly to pass local ordinances and really been out there as a spokesperson for the community. I’m personally grateful and salute all of his hard work and respect him for everything he’s done.” Glassman said he is also partic-

ularly proud of the executive order Rendell asked him to craft at the beginning of his first administration, which was the first of its kind in the nation to extend nondiscrimination protections to transgender state employees. Stacey Sobel, the former executive director of Equality Advocates, which is now Equality Pennsylvania, said Glassman’s leadership on LGBT causes elevated the state’s consciousness of the community. “He was able to educate people about the need to treat LGBT people fairly and equally and about the need for our laws to protect LGBT people from discrimination,” she said. “He is a tireless and passionate advocate for equality and he will be missed from the commission, along with the work he did on a daily basis.” Outside of his LGBT work, Glassman led the PHRC’s 2004

adjudication of a predatory-lending case, which resulted in a $900,000 fine, the largest ever at the time, for a mortgage broker who was illegally targeting African Americans, and he also spearheaded the 2009 investigation of the high-profile racial discrimination case at the Valley Swim Club. He noted that the PHRC’s recent work with the U.S. Department of Justice on the racial violence at South Philadelphia High School has provided a model for the rest of the country on the collaboration among local, state and federal bodies to contend with school harassment and bullying. Under Glassman’s leadership, the PHRC established the Disability Stakeholders Taskforce, the first of its kind in the nation, and in 2006, Glassman was appointed as the vice chair of the Governor’s Cabinet on the Rights of People With Disabilities. Glassman worked to establish the nation’s first Accessibility/ Disability website, an interactive outlet that allows individuals to navigate local, state and federal nondiscrimination laws to determine possible courses of action. He also oversaw the creation of the Minority Police Chiefs Taskforce to fuel progress in testing, hiring and promotion oF minorities and women in local police forces. Andy Hoover, legislative director for the Pennsylvania American Civil Liberties Union, said Glassman’s work has extended to all corners of the struggle for civil rights. “Steve has been a fierce advocate not only for the LGBT community, but for all minority communities during his time at the PHRC,” Hoover said. “A lot of folks may know him because

of the work he’s done for the gay community, but I’ve also watched his work on immigration, and the energy and passion he brought to the table on both these issues has been a huge help to our efforts. Any time there’s an historically marginalized community that’s facing a rollback of rights, Steve has been right there to advocate.” Glassman, who has degrees from Brown and Yale universities and is a graduate of Harvard University’s JFK School of Government program for senior executives, was this week given the Humanitarian Award by Shomrim of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley, the local Jewish police association, the latest in a long line of honors that includes the Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition Lifetime Achievement Award, the Philadelphia Bar Association Cheryl Ingram Award for Community Service, the Human Rights Campaign’s Outstanding Person of the Year Award and the Governor’s Award for Outstanding Public Service in Fighting HIV/AIDS, among numerous other commendations. While he’s eager to move on to his next endeavor, Glassman said he had mixed emotions about stepping down from the PHRC. “It’s certainly bittersweet,” he said. “I’ve loved the position and the opportunity to serve the residents of the commonwealth. It’s been a privilege to be able to offer whatever talents and expertise I have to improve conditions for minorities and women throughout Pennsylvania and to have an impact throughout the country in the human-rights field. But I’m looking forward to new challenges and new opportunities to make different contributions to the commonwealth where there’s a need.”

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EASTON from page 1 ��

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worked with Fleck to craft the bill, praised its passage. “I am so pleased by the unanimous and bipartisan support for relationship recognition for same-sex couples in Easton,” Shanker said. “Easton now joins the vast majority of Fortune 500 companies in providing the best human-resources policies for their employees.” Bradbury noted that the success of the domestic-partner legislation signals the progress Easton has made in recent years on LGBT acceptance. “Easton has come a long way, and I am thrilled that I can recommend it as a progressive

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place to live or work for the LGBT community,” she said. To be eligible for the program, city employees must have cohabitated with their same-sex partners for at least six months and provide proof of financial interdependence, such as a shared lease, mortgage or bank account. Allentown adopted a similar measure earlier this year. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Harrisburg also offer domesticpartner benefits for city employees. A signing ceremony is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. June 5 at Centre Square. In the event of rain, the signing will take place in Easton’s City Hall. ■

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News Briefing Center homecoming The night before Pride, the William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St., will open its doors to the community for Homecoming 2011. From 8 p.m.-midnight June 11, guests can explore the center, partake in a cookout and enjoy entertainment by the Liberty City Kings, Ladies of Sinful Sundays and gospel choir A Voice 4 All People. The center will also crown a Homecoming queen and king. Tickets range from $20-$75. Earlier that week, the center will host a preview for fall fundraiser Indigo Ball. The event, to be held from 6-8 p.m. June 6 at the Prime Rib, 1701 Locust St., will offer hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar and preview the October event, to be held at the Kimmel Center’s Wolfgang Puck dining room. For more information, visit www.waygay.org or call 215-732-2220.

Church welcomes Ugandan minister The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Lower Bucks County will host activist Ugandan minister the Rev. Mark Kiyimba

Media Trail Diocese ends adoptions over Illinois civil unions Yahoo News reports a Catholic diocese in northern Illinois said May 26 that it will end its state-funded adoption and fostercare program rather than comply with a new civil-unions law that would require it to place children with gay couples. Officials from the Rockford Diocese said they were forced to terminate state contracts after lawmakers failed to pass an amendment exempting religious groups from provisions of the state’s new civil-unions law, which will let gay and lesbian couples form civil unions. The law took effect June 1.

Va. schools lift gay filter The Washington Post reports the Prince William County school system has removed a filter that blocked school computers from accessing information about LGBT issues.

at 10:30 a.m. June 5 at Pen Ryn School, 235 S. Olds Blvd., Fairless Hills. Kiyimba is the founder of Kampala’s only Unitarian Universalist Church and has campaigned against LGBT discrimination. Kiyimba, visiting the States to raise awareness about anti-LGBT persecution in Uganda, will also speak at BuxMont Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 2040 Street Road in Warrington, at 3:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.uuflb. org or call 215-752-5689. — Jen Colletta

DA meets with PAC Members of the Police Advisory Commission met with District Attorney R. Seth Williams last week to discuss the release of additional records related to the unsolved Nizah Morris homicide. Morris was a West Philadelphia transwoman found with a fatal head wound on Dec. 22, 2002, shortly after receiving a courtesy ride from Philadelphia police. She died two days later. The PAC is investigating the incident and, in May, subpoenaed the Morris records from the DA. Rather than comply, Williams agreed to meet with the PAC to discuss resolving the dispute out of court. The 30-minute meeting took place May 26 at Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads in Center City. Also attending were Todd M. Mosser, chief of the DA’s litigation unit, and Edward McCann, deputy DA for the trial division. ■

— Timothy Cwiek The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia sent a letter in April asking that the filter be removed. The filter blocked content from such organizations as the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network and the It Gets Better Project. On May 26, the school system announced it has removed the filter while keeping other software in place to screen out sexually explicit websites.

HRC backs Obama 2012 365gay.com reports the Human Rights Campaign has officially announced its endorsement of Barack Obama for reelection in 2012, sparking mixed reactions within the LGBT community. Alec Gerlach, spokesperson for the Democratic National Committee, said the endorsement “is a clear sign that the president has fought for LGBT rights across the country.” In the endorsement, the HRC had said, “President Obama has improved the lives of LGBT Americans more than any president in history.” Yet some gay activists worry that the endorsement may have come too early. The Log Cabin Republicans said the endorsement “sends the wrong message” to a Republican candidate who may want to reach out to the gay community. ■ — Larry Nichols

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NATIONAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 3-9, 2011

Gay-relationship debates hit a crucial turn By David Klepper The Associated Press PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A flurry of activity in efforts to legally recognize gay relationships or ban same-sex marriage is reminding advocates that even though polls indicate growing acceptance, the debate is far from settled in U.S. states. Rhode Island is pondering a proposal to allow civil unions, a compromise that arose after it became clear there weren’t enough votes in the state legislature to approve same-sex marriage. Minnesota lawmakers voted to put a constitutional marriage ban on the ballot, and the mayor of New York City spoke out strongly in favor of samesex marriage as talks continue in his state. In Rhode Island, gay-marriage advocates say they’re unsatisfied with the civil-unions proposal, which will provide many legal benefits without the name “marriage.” “There’s a special status when you say ‘my wife,’ and civil unions don’t give that,” said Annie Cronin-Silva, of West Warwick, R.I., who married a woman in Massachusetts in 2008. Gay marriage is allowed in Iowa, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut and the District of Columbia. Several other states offer civil unions or domestic partnerships instead. Illinois, Delaware and Hawaii enacted civil unions this year. The debate continues to rage in several other states. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg last Thursday warned lawmakers in his state that they will be remembered as civilrights obstructionists if they block attempts to pass gay marriage. Opponents have committed $1.5 million to defeat the efforts, matching the amount raised by supporters. Minnesota lawmakers voted a week ago to put a constitutional prohibition against gay marriage on the 2012 ballot. Voters in 29 states have already added similar

amendments, and gay-marriage supporters hope to make Minnesota the ﬁrst state to reject such an amendment. “It’s a changed debate in Minnesota and in the nation,” said Monica Meyer, executive director of OutFront Minnesota. “I’m hoping we can ride that sea change. But we know we have a very big challenge in front of us.” Even though Massachusetts considers Cronin-Silva and her wife, Melanie Silva, legally married, Rhode Island doesn’t. They’ve had legal agreements drawn up granting rights that are automatic through marriage, such as making medical decisions in an emergency. Civil unions could spare gay couples an expensive trip to a lawyer, Cronin-Silva said. But she said it’s no substitute for marriage. Groups on both sides of the debate have long pointed to polls that appear to advance their agenda. But in the past nine months, several major surveys are showing a trend of increasing support for gay marriage. A Gallup poll released this month found that a majority of Americans believe samesex marriage should be legal. In 1996, Gallup found that only 27 percent of Americans supported gay marriage. It’s just the latest of several major surveys showing that a slim majority of Americans now support gay marriage. “I thought for a while it might be one ﬂuky poll,” said Gregory Lewis, a professor of public management and policy at Georgia State University who tracks public attitudes on gay marriage. “But now it’s just one after another. It does seem like this year’s polls are noticeably different even from last year.” An ABC-Washington Post survey in March found that 53 percent of Americans support gay marriage. An Associated Press poll in August found that 52 percent of Americans think the federal government

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should extend legal recognition to married gay couples, up from 46 percent the year before. Opponents note that public opinion polls in Maine and California showed majority support for gay marriage in those states, too — right before voters rejected gay marriage measures. Even in left-leaning Rhode Island, efforts to pass marriage rights stalled this year after legislators balked. The polls show at least two factors contributing to changing attitudes. For one, younger Americans of all political persuasions say they’re more tolerant of homosexuality than older generations. Meghan McCain, the daughter of former Republican presidential candidate and gay marriage opponent Sen. John McCain, is one example of a prominent Republican who says the party’s opposition to gay marriage is causing it to turn off younger voters. Madeline Koch, a 24-year-old heterosexual Republican, told Minnesota lawmakers to oppose the gay-marriage amendment because it would put inequality in the state Constitution. Second, while older Americans identifying themselves as Republicans remain ﬁrmly opposed to gay marriage, Democrats and independents appear to be changing their minds, Lewis said. The Gallup poll found that 69 percent of self-described Democrats support gay marriage, com-

pared with 56 percent the year before. “The generational changes don’t explain everything,” Lewis said. “There’s a fair amount of Americans who are just changing their minds.” Gay-marriage opponents concede that surveys show increased support for gay marriage. But they say polls are different from ballot questions. “A poll is just a poll,” said Chris Plante, executive director of the National Organization for Marriage-Rhode Island. “The reality is, when people go to the voting booth, they protect marriage. Legislatures including our own in Rhode Island recognize that people don’t want it.” From the other side of the debate, New York Mayor Bloomberg also endorsed viewing it in context. A measure to legalize gay marriage in the state is being negotiated among Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders, but Cuomo has said he won’t put it to a vote until enough legislators are on board. The billionaire mayor has lobbied Republican state senators, but no senator has committed to switching camps. “As other states recognize the rights of same-sex couples to marry, we cannot stand by and watch,” Bloomberg said last Thursday in a Manhattan speech. “To do so would be to betray our civic values and history — and it would harm our competitive edge in the global economy.” ■

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EDITORIAL PGN

Creep of the Week

D’Anne Witkowski

Gary Cass

Editorial

What are you doing this summer? No, it’s technically not summer yet. June 21 will actually mark the longest day of the year — summer solstice — and the first day of summer. But, with the heatwave that rolled through this week, it felt like dog days of August. That didn’t stop folks from getting outside and taking advantage of the three-day weekend with tournaments, games, cookouts and parties. With softball, baseball, soccer and tennis. Truth be told, joining an LGBT sports team, club or league is a great way to show your Pride, it being Gay Pride Month and all. For some, joining a sports league can be intimidating, bringing up bad memories of being picked on (or not picked at all) in grade, middle and/or high-school gym class. For others, sports are a way of life that makes up part of their identity. No matter where you fall on the spectrum of athleticism, gay sports leagues can be a way to meet new people, make friends, come out, learn new skills and get into (or stay in) shape. More than that, sports can be fun. And who doesn’t like to have fun? Depending on the activity, athletics can be a way to foster teamwork, communication, strategic thinking and problem solving. Sports can increase strength, agility, flexibility and endurance. One can cultivate better discipline, self-confidence and manage stress. As well as develop a better appreciation for air conditioning and cold adult beverages. For those who may have missed out on sports activities growing up, recreational leagues offer a way to get involved and get active without having to worry about highly competitive teams, parents, players and coaches. Or, for that matter, being all that athletic or competitive. In a sports town such as Philly, it’s difficult — and sometimes alienating — to not be invested in professional teams. Someone’s always talking about the Phillies, Flyers, Sixers or Eagles. Not to mention the sports that rarely get a mention in casual conversation and mainstream media — lacrosse, soccer, tennis or any of the women’s teams. But rec leagues give you the opportunity to be a player, not a spectator. On some level, getting involved in a gay sports league gives you the opportunity to be an activist, raising the profile of LGBT athletics — and be active. So when you are planning your summer, don’t forget to think about how to get outside. Try something new, challenge yourself and go play. Just remember to wear sunscreen and play nice. ■

By now you’re probably familiar with the It Gets Better Project, but in case you’re not, here’s a little refresher. It Gets Better was started by Dan Savage after a spate of suicides following antigay bullying. Savage and his partner Terry made a video and put it up on YouTube, basically telling gay kids that even if things suck right now, things won’t always suck. They encouraged others to make videos and show gay kids who might be feeling isolated and alone that they aren’t. There are more than 10,000 videos on the site now, including messages from Kathy Griffin, Sarah Silverman, Janet Jackson, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Vice President Biden and President Obama. All of them have the same basic message: You’re OK the way you are and don’t kill yourself. Most folks would see this as a positive thing. But not Gary Cass of the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission, who saw an It Gets Better ad on TV. He’s created his own video to counterattack It Gets Better. His message to gay kids? It gets worse, you’re a sinner, you’re disease-ridden and you make Jesus puke. But if you pray to Jesus really, really hard, you might find the strength to “change.” Cass claims that the thousands of people who have contributed to the It Gets Better Project are all a bunch of liars who refuse to acknowledge the truth about homosexuality. “What people trapped in homosexuality really need is hope that they can find peace and escape the lifestyle,” he writes. “It’s up to us, who love those who live as homosexuals, to tell them the truth.” See? If you’re gay Cass loves you, just not the way you are. He then trots out all of the usual antigay arguments and, in text accompanying the video, provides documentation by citing other antigay organizations like Exodus International and the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality as “proof.” Not surprisingly, the C-word comes up. “It is a lie that people are born homosexual and that the incidence of homosexuality is unaffected by influences from culture, family, peer socialization and incremental choices,” he writes. “It is a lie that homosexual conduct is not a choice. Although same-sex attraction may be involuntary, one’s response to it

is completely voluntary. All sex is voluntary except rape.” Um, OK. Thank you for that clarification. I think it’s interesting that he acknowledges “same-sex attraction may be involuntary.” It almost feels like a bit of a concession. But, of course, even if someone of the same sex has got your pants on fire, Cass says it’s your duty to point a fire extinguisher at your crotch. “All people have the obligation to resist temptations, no matter how strong, that lead to personal and social harms,” he continues. And what are those personal and social harms? Well, starting with the personal harms Cass claims will befall gay kids as they get older: You’ll get AIDS, you’ll get cancer, you’ll become an alcoholic, you’ll kill yourself. As for social harms, gays are basically out to subvert and destroy civilized heterosexual society and turn the whole country into a gay sex-crazed cesspool like Europe. The answer? God. And going to an exgay therapist even though ex-gay therapy has been proven bunk by respectable psychological groups. Homos are, according to Cass, “fighting with God.” He writes, “All you have to do is turn from your sin and place your trust in him.” He then asks his readers to raise a fuss whenever an It Gets Better ad comes on TV. “Next time you see one of those deceitful TV ads, call your local television station and ask them why they hate our children so much that they persist in promoting such a pernicious lie.” Hmm ... Looks like Cass should really sort that one out himself first before pointing fingers. ■

If someone of the same sex has got your pants on fire, Cass says it’s your duty to point a fire extinguisher at your crotch.

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.

OP-ED PGN

Memorial Day at the (gay) Jersey shore I did something this past Memorial Day sure time and the place where we’ll spend weekend I haven’t done in years: I spent it. Rehoboth Beach, Del., Asbury Park, it in Atlantic City, N.J. There’s a lot of N.J., Cherry Grove/Fire Island Pines and excitement in Atlantic City these days for Provincetown, Mass., are all vying for several reasons. Far from Las Vegas — the those pink vacation dollars. other U.S. gaming capital — with over 200 And they all have something unique. Pcasinos, little Atlantic City with Town has entertainment each and every night along with about a dozen is growing. A being a quaint New England new $2.5-billion mega-casino gem, Rehoboth has outlet shopresort is set to open next May, ping and new condos, while and there was an announcement this week that Hard Rock Cafe Asbury pumps away at being the will build a hotel casino. But “new” kid on the block. while Las Vegas seems stagOn the other hand, Atlantic nant and using the same safe City is thinking big. It’s a commarketing, Atlantic City is getbined effort by the tourist industing back to its roots and doing try and the LGBT community what it does best: showcasing itself. This effort has led to a the new. And in our case, that casino club and show specifically to attract the LGBT leisure means the nation’s first gay traveler at Resorts International, dance club devoted to the gay various themed LGBT weekcommunity inside a casino. And Mark Segal ends by Harrah’s and Caesars that’s just the starting point. and LGBT promotions at We as a community have Borgata. high expectations when it comes to where And why not? Atlantic City has what leiwe’re going to spend our hard-earned dollars. On the East Coast, Atlantic City was sure travelers want. Shopping, the largest once a major LGBT tourist destination, the outlet mall in any resort on the East Coast, hub of which was New York Avenue and which leads to The Pier Shops at Caesars, the surrounding streets. It was filled with with upscale names such as Ferragamo, numerous LGBT hotels like the Grand Armani, Gucci, etc. Food and entertainment of all sorts, from the boardwalk water Central, the nation’s first gay resort complexes, which housed clubs, restaurants, taffy to numerous five-star restaurants. And entertainment, no question there. But cabarets, even a bathhouse. The Chester, the Spruce and in between these full-scale what it doesn’t have yet is a well-defined hotels were gay clubs. The street was lined LGBT beach. The first question is, is that with them. even necessary these days? If it is, why do I sense that the folks at Resorts are already A typical day was getting up, having brunch, going to the pool or sunning on thinking about it? ■ the gay beach, dressing for dinner, having drinks and partying the night away— all in Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the nation’s most-award-winning commentaan LGBT ghetto. It was a hub of activity. tor in LGBT media. He can be reached at As a community, our tastes have mark@epgn.com. changed and we expect more from our lei-

Mark My Words

Please include a daytime phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity, style and space considerations.

Can a state restrict its municipalities from enacting civil-rights laws? “No, not unless the state will include everyone in its antidiscrimination laws. The world is changing. Erica Haydel People have loan processor different Northeast lifestyles that Philadelphia should be respected. It’s 2011 — get with the times. Discrimination isn’t cool. I’m pro-everybody.”

“No. That sounds outrageous. If the local communities want to have laws that protect everybody, Marissa Luft they should nurse be able to Washington Square do that West without state interference. If the state won’t protect people’s rights, then the local communities should be able to.”

“No. That would be going in the wrong direction. In this day and age, we should be adding more protections, Madeleine not taking Mackell them away. If nursing student something like Fishtown that happened in Pennsylvania, I’d be shocked and horrified.”

“No. I’m sensitive to equal rights. It’s an issue that comes up a lot at my school. Just because I’m straight, Olivia Robinson that doesn’t college student mean I Northeast want to see Philadelphia gay people discriminated against. The bottom line is, we all need equal rights.”

Letters and Feedback Thank you, Steve! You rock on! — madpride We will all miss him! He has done more to inspire than he will ever know, what a voice for equity and justice. Good luck, Steve! — Stacey Gray

Send your engagement, wedding, anniversary and other life milestone information to: editor@epgn.com.

Street Talk

In response to “Glassman resigns as PHRC head,” May 27-June 2:

Tell us what you think Send letters and opinion column submissions to: pgn@epgn.com; PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147; fax: 215-925-6437.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 3-9, 2011

In response to “Atheist poised to challenge Scouts deal,” May 27-June 2: BSA has argued First Amendment freedom of assembly gives them the right to discriminate. If they are private, then they do have the right to discriminate against

anyone they please. But the BSA always wants public support and the right to discriminate. That is the real issue. BSA needs to choose: Does it want to be private and limit who can join or be public and accept gays and atheists? — NoGods In response to “Cabletown is LGBT Comtastic,” May 27-June 2: Letter to Mark Segal: Your service to the LGBT and heterosexual community is more than commendable. I think I foresee a charter school named in your honor. You are a remarkable human being and I am honored to know you. — EFY-V

12 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 3-9, 2011

PGN

Using ‘heightened scrutiny’ for sexual-orientation discrimination For those who are underrepresented in tion for all citizens, the Supreme Court, in the seminal 1938 case “United States v. the political process, there are channels Carolene Products,” introduced the idea and avenues available to them so they can of heightened judicial scrutiny of “sushave their voices heard and affect change. But what happens with the pect” legislation. In doing so, LGBT community, when underit opened the door for great representation is systematic and strides in civil rights for women historical exclusion? and race-based minorities. In 1980, John Hart Ely Legislation subsequent to published “Democracy and Carolene Products provided Distrust,” a work that forever heightened judicial protections altered public perception of for race-based minorities and how much protection the people women, making laws that made of the United States find in the classifications based on immuConstitution. In his book, Ely table characteristics subject to introduced his Political Process either heightened or strict scruTheory, which states that continy. In “Loving v. Virginia,” a stitutional protections are proVirginia law banning interracial cedural rather than substantive. Angela marriage was subjected to strict The people elect government scrutiny. The law made a clasGiampolo sification based on race. Under representatives, who in turn produce legislation that mirstrict scrutiny, the government rors constituencies’ will. The people elect had to show that the proposed legislation a president who, with elected officials, served a compelling state interest — narselects justices for the Supreme Court. The rowly tailored to this objective (compare nine justices interpret the Constitution and this threshold to that of rational basis apply it to the cases they elect to hear. above). The government was unable to satisfy the strict scrutiny inquiry, and the law With an eye to ensuring equal protec-

Out Law

was found unconstitutional. So what do we make of laws that deny same-sex couples the right to marry? The fact that these marital statutes exist at all is evidence that gay people are underrepresented in the legal process. We are at a crossroads in American history similar to the one faced by the nine Supreme Court Justices who issued the opinion in Carolene Products. Laws such as California’s Proposition 8 have been struck down as unconstitutional, however decisions made at a state level are confined in scope to their respective states. In order to effect national, federal change, the Supreme Court must rule on a state law similar to Proposition 8. For instance, laws that explicitly prohibit same-sex marriage are upheld as constitutional on the belief that homosexuality is not an immutable characteristic and they seek to preserve the idea of a traditional family and help work toward regeneration and population. Whether the laws in questions serve these means at all is debatable. What is not debatable is the fact that these means are not sufficiently tailored to the ends being sought, and the result is gross

and widespread discrimination. It will take judicial activism for Americans to come to the same realization with respect to the LGBT community. The action has begun in more progressive states. These are the seeds of change. However, it will take federal action — a Supreme Court ruling — to cultivate those seeds and affect proper constitutional protections for everyone. The precedent exists to heighten judicial scrutiny as it applies to discrimination based on sexual orientation, and as more states strike down laws prohibiting samesex marriages, the impetus on the Supreme Court to act will increase. Perennial swing votes (Justice Anthony Kennedy) will be forced to align with a side, and more progressive-minded justices who have yet to impose their leanings (Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan) will be asked to speak up. ■ Angela D. Giampolo, principal of Giampolo Law Group, maintains offices in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and specializes in LGBT law, business law, real-estate law and civil rights. Her website is www.giampololaw.com. Send your legal questions to angela@giampololaw.com.

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made a lot of strides in addressing the issue of people living on the streets. Both the public and private sectors have really made efforts to engage people on the street and get them to come into housing and take steps forward in their lives,” she said. “We know that many of the people who are living on the streets have special needs, like medical issues, addiction, mental-health issues, and that’s not a crime, it’s a social-service issue. Removing that step of having social services available to people on the street would be taking a giant step backward.” Leigh Braden, executive director of Foyer of Philadelphia, which works with the LGBT homeless youth population, said her organization plans to join Project H.O.M.E.’s efforts to oppose the bill. Braden said LGBT youth could be particularly hard-hit by the measure. “A lot of homeless LGBT youth hang out in Center City, so they’re going to be in the population of people that will be getting cited and arrested because they’re homeless,” she said. “To start a young person off in this direction is really critically damaging to their sense of safety, stability and well-being and puts them in a position of being a criminal instead of a young person who’s homeless. We’re very concerned about how this would affect the young people we’re trying to serve.” Scullion added that the bill has the potential to put an undue burden on people all across the city. “This could cost the taxpayers a lot of money in terms of police time, court time and jail time, all of which is unnecessary. Homelessness is not a crime and shouldn’t be treated as such.” To view the Project H.O.M.E. petition, visit www.projecthome. org. ■

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PAGE 23

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Go out and play By Scott A. Drake scott@epgn.com

division. The rowers will compete in three 500-meter races: a time trial, a division placement and the championship race. After a long, cold, snowy winter and a Bike, blade, board or walk up Kelly Drive chilly, damp spring, it’s nice to get out- between 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and look doors for some sun and fun. Philly has for the crowd around the rainbow flag. long been a sports town, and the LGBT This is a fun, relaxed event where food community is no exception. Not only do and drink are available. Just two weeks ago, the Philadelphia we have three self-proclaimed sports for athletic voyeurism, we also boast more Gryphons rugby football club than a dozen different leagues and orga- completed its season with a 61-0 nizations, many of which are participating win over the Boston Ironsides. This in tournaments and championships this weekend, players are going to the USA 7’s Collegiate Rugby Championships at summer. What’s that you say? You didn’t know PPL Park in Chester and, on Sunday night, there were that many sport options? Indeed the Gryphons are hosting a beef-and-beer there are, under the Team Philadelphia fundraiser at 7 p.m. at the Loews Hotel (www.teamphiladelphia.org) beach Philadelphia, 1200 Market St. The fundumbrella alone, and a few others besides. raiser will offset costs for the team to play Team Philadelphia held the first LGBT in the 2012 Bingham Cup in Manchester, sports summit in February and, under the England. If you missed it last weekend, the Team Philadelphia banner in 2010, 60 athletes from the area participated in the Gay Philadelphia Falcons soccer league and Games in Kohl, Germany, with 80 percent the City of Brotherly Love Softball League held their annual Memorial Day weekreturning as medalists. But you don’t have to be a three-sport end tournaments. About 60 players from athlete to be active in the Philadelphia Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and gay sports scene. All skill levels are wel- Washington, D.C., competed in the soccome and most clubs welcome visitors. So cer tournament at Edgely Fields on May get off your beach bum and check out a 28 and finished their day in the sun with team, championship, tournament or sea- a cookout in Fairmount Park. The Falcons hold scrimmages regularly during the year son game. and anyone can join regardless of abilities First up is the Independence Dragon (falcons-soccer.org). The CBLSL continues its season through Boat Regatta on the Schuylkill River, June 4. Team Philadelphia is a two-time July and culminates with a cookout, homedefending silver medalist in the mixed run derby and a block party on July 31. The league exploded to over 600 players on 34 teams this year, which allows every skill level to find a home. The teams compete at Dairy Fields every Sunday through July and welcome spectators (cblsl. org). This year in August, CBLSL hosts the ASANA women’s softball tournament in Philadelphia for the first time. Thousands of players from across the continent will converge Philadelphia Revolution flag football teammates Brian in Philly Aug. 23-27. Brittingham (from left), Brian Veasy, Matt Pitucco and Morgan Opening ceremonies, a Sampson will compete in the Chicago Pride Cup at the end golf outing, a cheeseof this month.

ners. org.

steak party Wo m e n and much with wheels more will fill can take it easy in time between o r get tough games. Go to with Sturdy Girl www.bringtheCycling, which love2011.org for offers weekly or complete informonthly base mation. rides, Sturdy Girl Do you like to tempo rides or watch? During Dirty Girl mounthe week of the All photos: Scott A. Drake tain-biking rides. ASANA World Information on Series, our own Philadelphia Phillies will hold the ninth- dates, times and starting locations for pedannual Community Night at Citizens Bank aling around town is at www.sturdygirlcyPark on July 26. From the ceremonial first cling.com. The Philadelphia Liberty Tennis pitch through the last out, this is one of the brightest stars in the nighttime sky of Association has singles and doubles games spectator sports. This year, in conjunction every Saturday afternoon and Sunday with the ASANA World Series, there will morning in FDR Park through October, when the club championship takes place. be a tailgate party starting at 4 p.m. PLTA has 80 active members and welIf you’re more into personal achievement than team sports, the Frontrunners meet at Boat House Row to run Kelly Drive every Saturday morning starting between 9:30-10 a.m. Run at your own pace alone or with someone and join some of them for brunch after the run. Many runners will participate this fall in the ING Rock & Roll half marathon Sept. 18 in Philadelphia. More information is at www. For the spectator in you, Gay Community Night at Citizens philadelphiafrontrun- Bank Park this year is Aug. 26.

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18 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 3-9, 2011

Don’t miss these events JUNE Team Philadelphia participates as the two-time silver-medal defending champion in the mixed division at the Independence Dragon Boat Regatta from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. June 4 on the Schuylkill River. USA 7’s Collegiate Rugby Championship games June 45 at PPL Park in Chester. The Gryphons host a beef-and-beer fundraiser at 7 p.m. June 5 at the Loews Hotel, 1200 Market St.; www.phillygryphons.org. Two Philadelphia Falcons teams head off to Canada and participate in the Toronto International Pride Cup June 17-19; www. tipc.org. The Spartan Wrestling Club has a tournament June 18 at the Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St.; www.phillyspartans.com. The GPFFL Revolution will play at the Chicago Pride Bowl, held in conjunction with Chicago Gay Pride Fest and Pride Parade June 24-25; www.pridebowlchicago.com/pbc. JULY The annual Philadelphia bowling classic Liberty Bowl Invitational is held July 1-3 at Laurel Lanes, 2825 Route 73 South, Maple Shade, N.J.; www.libertybelle. org.

The Camden Riversharks host the second annual Gay Day at Campbell’s Field July 5. Members of the FINS Aquatic Club will be participating in the 2011 IGLA Championships July 6-10 in Hawaii. CBLSL hosts an end-of-season block party 6 p.m. July 31 on Camac Street. AUGUST The Philadelphia Liberty Tennis Association hosts the Atlantic Cup tournament Aug. 5-7 at FDR Park in South Philadelphia; www.philadelphialibertytennis.com. ASANA Softball World Series 2011 hosted by the CBLSL is held Aug. 23-27; www.bringthelove2011.org. The ninth annual Gay Community Night with the Phillies starts at 7:05 p.m. Aug. 26 at Citizens Bank Park, preceded this year by a tailgate party at 4 p.m.; www. phillygaydays.com. SEPTEMBER Philadelphia Falcons begin fall scrimmages; falcons-soccer.org. Philadelphia Gryphons RFT begins its fall season. GPFFL starts its fall flag football season the weekend after Labor Day; www.phillyflagfootball. com.

PLAYING TENNIS IN FDR PARK (CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE), A WRESTLING DEMONSTRATION AT TABU AND SWIMMING AT FRIENDS SCHOOL

comes newcomers to the courts and to other social events during the year. For another Philadelphia first, the PLTA is welcoming players from Boston, New York City and Washington, D.C., as the club hosts the 2011 Atlantic Cup Aug. 5-7. This summer also will include a couple of tournaments on mats and in alleys. The Spartan Wrestling Club Tournament is at the Unitarian Church June 18. Check out some maneuvers that may be useful at home and become a fan of singlets. Hit the alley for the Liberty Bowl Invitational bowling tournament, rolling July 1-3 at Laurel Lanes, 2825 Route 73 South, Maple Shade, N.J. But wait, there’s more! If you think this is all just Philadelphia fun, the GPFFL Revolution is traveling again this year to compete in the Chicago Pride Bowl June 24-25 and the Gay Bowl from Oct. 8-10 in Houston; 10 members of the FINS

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267-736-6743

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Aquatic Club are heading to Hawaii for an international competition, Falcons players will compete in the Toronto International Pride Cup, and a number of the women softball teams are traveling to play in tournaments in Boston, Knoxville, New York City and Washington, D.C. If summer isn’t your thing, wait for the fall sports. The CBLSL will again start Fall Ball in September and the Gryphons, Falcons and GPFFL are all preparing their fall schedules. Dodgeball will return to 12th Street Gym on Thursday nights and there are still women’s football, martial arts and roller-derby action clubs to watch or play. If the summer doldrums get you in a funk this year, hit a park and cheer on a hunky guy, hot woman or an entire team if you want. At least in these leagues, you’ll likely be able to guess which team they’re playing for. ■

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 3-9, 2011

20 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 3-9, 2011

THEATER PGN

‘Vigil’ laughs in the face of death By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com

ing how awful it was for a person to be left alone at the end of their life. Thatʼs where this story begins.” Openly gay Canadian playwright Morris Yes, we know. It sounds kind of bad: Panych mines some unlikely humor out of Witnessing someoneʼs moment of ultimate the subjects of illness, death and loneliness despair and filing it away in your mind in “Vigil,” presented by Lantern Theater to later turn it into a comedy. But Panych Company through June 12. knows what heʼs doing. The playwright, In the dark but heartactor and director has written over 20 plays felt comedy, middlethat have been produced across Canada, aged curmudgeon Britain and the United States and won some Kemp quits his job and of Canadaʼs highest honors for playwrittravels aross the couning. try after receiving a let“It was a way for me to express my own ter from his aunt — so conflicted feeling about my parents getting he can ready her for older and how I deal with that, and also how death. A series of outrawe deal with that as a society and sometimes geous misunderstandthe tragic stories that are involved there,” ings and turns follow, PLAYWRIGHT Panych said about the somewhat-morbid orileading to a surprising MORRIS gins of “Vigil.” “Thatʼs how I write. I write finish. PANYCH comedies. Iʼm telling you a very dark story, Panych said he was but that was the inspiration story for it. I inspired to write the story after a visit to a tried to extrapolate that into a kind of bitterhospital. sweet comedy because thatʼs the nature of “My partnerʼs mother was in the hospi- how I write plays. It was never going to be tal,” he recounted. “She was sharing a room a serious play. I donʼt think it is as effective with another woman, a very old woman. to write a serious play about that subject as We could see the woman but there was a it is to write a comedy, because comedy has candy-striper volunteer in the room tell- much more contrast and itʼs so much more ing her that her nephew and her family shocking. It appeals to peopleʼs sense of couldnʼt come and visit her from England frustration and this story is very macabre. and she was crying. It was an awful scene People really respond to that because they and I remember leaving the hospital think- secretly feel all those feelings this character

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expresses in the play or worries about them or feels guilty about them.” Panych added that Kempʼs character originally appears to be motivated by greed but, as the story progresses, you realize he is just as fragile a character LEONARD C. HAAS AS KEMP AND CEAL PHELAN AS AUNT GRACE as his aunt. Photo: Mark Garvin “People often say heʼs motivated by the possibil- For the first time in his life, he has real ity of inheriting something, but as soon as human contact because he is a misanthrope you see how she lives and what her life is, and a person who has lived by himself for a thereʼs no possibility of inheriting anything. long, long time. And not happily.” Lantern Theater Company presents Heʼs not there for the money. He actually becomes the central question of the play: “Vigil” through June 12 at St. Stephenʼs What is his motivation for staying? Itʼs the Theater, 923 Ludlow St. For more inforsecret unspoken truth about that character. mation or tickets, visit lanterntheater.org or He needs somebody as much as she does. call 215-829-0395. ■

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PROFILE PGN

Family Portrait

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 3-9, 2011

Suzi Nash

Samantha Giusti: Fundraiser, activist, would-be nun This week, PGN spoke to Samantha Giusti, who, along with her partner Amber Hikes, has been labeled one of the “Most Captivating Couples” of the year by GO Magazine. Of all her many activities, Giusti was most excited to share her passion for Philadelphiaʼs Dyke March on June 11. PGN: So where are you from originally? SG: I was born in Philadelphia but raised in South Jersey. My mother is from here, but my father was born in Italy. All my extended family, the ones who arenʼt in Italy, are all in this area. PGN: Any siblings? SG: No, Iʼm an only child. I donʼt know exactly what it means, but Iʼm told that I donʼt act like one. PGN: What do the folks do? SG: My mother worked for Philadelphia Life and worked her way up to account executive. Then the company moved to Texas. They offered her a job, but she checked it out and Texas wasnʼt really for us. Plus, all the family was here, so she became a stay-at-home mom. When I became school age, she went back to work doing social services, but she took the night shift at a shelter for homeless youth so that she could be home with me during the day. She was part of the reason I got into social services. My father is in sales with a chemical company. PGN: Describe a favorite relative. SG: My aunt and godmother, Joanne. She died of breast cancer three years ago. It was devastating: She was my motherʼs only sibling. We were very close: There wasnʼt a game or recital or choir performance of mine that she missed. She and my mother are very different personalities. She was nine years older than my mother, got married and had kids while my mother was pursuing a career. I learned a lot from both of them, though I think Iʼm more like my aunt. One of the things I appreciate about my mother is that, being different from me, she brings out qualities that arenʼt innate. Iʼd be so boring and less fun if it wasnʼt for her. My aunt is more type-A personality. Between the two, I developed a good balance. PGN: What were you like as a kid? SG: Oh, I had a great childhood. It was idyllic. My parents were great. They always supported each other: My father helped with household chores and was a good cook. They still live in the same house that I grew up in. Even though I was an only child, I had lots of friends and cousins around. There was a strong ItalianAmerican population there so I grew up with a real sense of family and community. When I went to high school, it had a much more diverse population, which Iʼm grateful for too. They involved me in everything under the sun. Piano lessons,

dance, I played the recorder, I played the trumpet, soccer, basketball, swimming lessons, drama camp, choir, tap, jazz, ballet, you name it. They wanted me to be wellrounded. PGN: Favorite subject in school? SG: History! Amber makes fun of me because I was president of the history club in high school, which is probably the nerdiest club of them all, but I loved it. I love learning about people and different cultures. PGN: An early sign you were gay? SG: I look back and wonder how I didnʼt know, but I guess it wasnʼt on my radar when I was a kid, mainly because I didnʼt even know that “gay” existed. How can you want to be something that doesnʼt exist? But there were signs. I would play house with the girl across the street. Sheʼd pretend she was cooking for her husband. I would tell her that I didnʼt have a husband and she would respond, “You have to have a husband — you have kids.” Remember, we were good Catholic girls, so I would say that my husband was off at war or that I was a widow. As Catholics, divorce wasnʼt an option. And I would make my girl Barbies kiss each other: Even though thatʼs not something Iʼd ever seen girls do before, it just seemed right. PGN: What college did you go to? SG: I knew I was gay and yet chose to go to Catholic University, which is very conservative. I grew up Catholic and was — and still am — very religious, though I saw a side of Catholicism there that was different than what I was raised with. It was more of a conservative mindset than most Catholics really are. That being said, while it was difficult and challenging, it was a good experience. PGN: What was a good moment? SG: I was a student leader and student minister on campus and one day a young man came up to me and said, “I have to tell you. Iʼm gay and have been struggling with it at this school. But seeing you, someone who is popular, is respected by the administration, is openly gay and still has a strong faith, has changed my life. I was really depressed and was considering suicide, but to see you being yourself and being accepted was an inspiration to me. I told my cousin about you and used that to come out to him and my family, and they wanted me to tell you thank you for helping me pull through. Iʼm OK now and I feel proud of who I am.” It let me know there was a reason and a need for me to be open despite the challenges it entailed. PGN: Worst sports moment? SG: I discovered rugby in college. Itʼs a pretty big sport in the lesbian community, probably second to softball, but since I was at Catholic University, I played on

the straightest rugby team in the country. Anyway, we were doing a practice drill and a rookie didnʼt realize it was not supposed to be full contact. I wasnʼt prepared for it so she knocked me over. I hit my head and got a concussion. Theyʼre pretty common in the sport — you can probably have five or six in the season and be all right (not recommended though) — but my luck, the way I hit, it did serious damage. I have vertigo and balance problems and weak peripheral vision in my left eye. PGN: When did you move to Philly? SG: I came here for my graduate studies at Penn. PGN: How did you meet Amber? SG: She actually did the same program as me at Penn, but she was two years earlier. A mutual friend introduced us. PGN: Was it exciting being named one of the “Most Captivating Couples” by GO Magazine? SG: It was! We were so honored. It was

from all over the city. Itʼs super-exciting. PGN: How did you get into it? SG: I never thought of this as a profession, but I took a fundraising course and really got into it. I figured, no matter where I went or what I did in the nonprofit sector, it was always important to know how to raise money. Though where Iʼd planned on going, I wouldnʼt necessarily have needed it: I was planning on being a nun. PGN: Say what? SG: Pretty crazy, right? I always thought Iʼd be involved in politics and I still might get involved someday. Iʼve been passionate about politics since I was 13. I actually went to D.C. to major in politics and I loved my classes, but was turned off by the fact that a lot of my peers were into it for the power and not because they wanted to serve people. It may sound naïve, but thatʼs why I wanted to go into politics — to make a difference. It didnʼt feel right and one day I woke up and I felt that I was being called to enter the religious community as a nun. Iʼve met so many truly good priests and good sisters from various orders who live really wonderful, happy lives giving of themselves. There were a lot of things that were really attractive: meeting amazing women who I could see myself living with and become a sister to and dedicating your life to God and community service. I went through a discernment period but, in the end, I wasnʼt called to it.

PGN: Tell me about the Dyke March. SG: The Dyke March is one of the things Iʼm most passionate about. Iʼve been working on it for three years, but itʼs been going on for almost 14 years. You donʼt have to identify as a dyke to participate. Our brothers and allies are also welcome to cheer for us along the march route or join us in the park, like the Radical Faeries who serve Photo: Suzi Nash water ice at the rally! Itʼs lovely. really empowering. The first time I went, I couldnʼt believe how PGN: Tell me about your day job. incredible it was to feel the energy of so SG: Iʼm the manager of corporate and many women. In addition to the march, foundation relations at Womenʼs Way, the there will be music and speakers and pernationʼs oldest and largest womenʼs fundformers, including the Liberty City Kings ing federation. It was started in the ʼ70s and The Attic Youth poetry group. This and next year weʼll celebrate its 35th anni- will be the biggest one to date and I hope versary. I do fundraising and grant writing to see a lot of new faces out there! ■ and corporate sponsorships. I love the mission of the organization and I get to meet To suggest a community member for “Family some wonderful and powerful women Portraits,” write to portraits05@aol.com.

PGN

22 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 3-9, 2011

Best-sellers Information is courtesy of Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; 215-923-2960; www.queerbooks.com. Ten-percent off most hardcover in-store sales. DVDs Women’s 1. “Lovers & Friends Show, Season 3,” directed by Charmain Johnson (2010, 217 min., $19.95). The ever-changing lives of your favorite women steam up as their worlds are turned upside-down. 2. “The Owls,” directed by Cheryl Dunye (2010, 67 min., $27.95). Ten years ago, The Screech was the hottest lesbian band around. But the mighty musicians have fallen into obscurity and unanticipated turmoil. 3. “A Marine Story,” directed by Ned Farr (2010, 93 min., $24.95). An exMarine coaches troubled teen. 4. “Room in Rome,” directed by Julio Medem (2010, 109 min., $24.95). Erotic night in Rome. 5. “Edie & Thea: A Very Long Engagement,” directed by Greta Olafsdottir and Susan Muska (2009, 61 min., $24.99). Documentary of a lifelong romance. Men’s 1. “Straight and Butch,” directed by

Butch Cordora (2010, 87 min., $19.99). Documentary of making a calendar of nude straight men with nude gay Philadelphia TV personality Butch Cordora. 2. “Mysterious Skin,” directed by Gregg Araki (2004, 99 min., $24.95). Based on Scott Heimʼs novel of youthful innocence, sexual abuse and survival. 3. “Deleted Scenes,” directed by Todd Verow (2010, 90 min., $19.95). A sexy, romantic relationship. 4. “Crush,” directed by Michael J. Saul (2010, 77 min., $19.95). Four stories of love and longing. 5. “David’s Birthday,” directed by Marco Filiberti (2009, 106 min., $19.95). Married man in love and in crisis. General Interest 1. “Stonewall Uprising,” directed by David Heilbroner and Kate Davis (2010, 84 min., $24.95). A documentary about the three days of riots in New York City in 1969 sparked by a police raid on the gay bar The Stonewall Inn on Christopher Street. BOOKS General Interest 1. “A Queer History of the United States,” by Michael Bronski (Beacon, 288 pp., $27.95 hb, less 10 percent in the store). From pre-1492 to the present.

2. “Great Speeches on Gay Rights,” edited by James Daley (Dover, 160 pp., $3.50 pb). From the late 1800s to now. Men’s 1. “A Body on Pine,” by Joseph R.G. DeMarco (Lethe, 364 pp., $18 pb). When Marco Fontana enters his friendʼs spa on Pine Street, he doesnʼt find the peaceful retreat he expected. DeMarcoʼs second Philadelphia mystery. 2. “Internal Chaos,” by M.W. Moore (M.W. Moore, 300 pp., 14.99 pb). The author writes, “This is the second of the trilogy highlighting my life story and how I struggled with sexual addictions, drugs and crime after robbing six banks in the state of Texas.” 3. “Obscene Diary: The Visual World of Sam Steward,” edited by Justin Spring (Elysium Press/Antinous Press, 320 pp., $149.99 hb, less 10 percent in the store). To order, please call or email. This lavishly illustrated volume illustrates the extraordinary visual world of a talented writer, artist, photographer and sexual outlaw. Edited by the author of the hugely popular “Secret Historian: The Life and Times of Samuel Steward, Professor, Tattoo Artist and Sexual Renegade.” 4. “Bob the Book,” by David Pratt (Chelsea Station, 202 pp., $16 pb). The life and times of a contemporary gay book and his friends, humans and other books. A love story. 615 North Broad Street, Phila., PA 19123-2495 Phone: 215.923.2003 E-mail: BethAhavah @rodephshalom.org Visit www.bethahavah.org for additional information, programming and directions

Women’s Interest 1. “Belonging: A Culture of Place,” by bell hooks (Routledge, 240 pp., $23.95 pb). What does it mean to call a place home? Who is allowed to become a member of a community? When can we say that we truly belong? 2. “The Fran Lebowitz Reader,” by Fran Lebowitz (Vintage, 352 pp., $15.95 pb). Brings together in one volume, with a new preface, two bestsellers, “Metropolitan Life” and “Social Studies,” by an “important humorist in the classic tradition” (The New York Times Book Review), who is “the natural successor to Dorothy Parker” (British Vogue). In “elegant, finely honed prose” (The Washington Post Book World), Lebowitz limns the vicissitudes of contemporary urban life — its fads, trends, crazes, morals and fashions. By turns ironic, facetious, deadpan, sarcastic, wry, wisecracking and waggish, she is always wickedly entertaining. 3. “Just Kids,” by Patti Smith (Ecco, 320 pp., $16 new in pb). Smithʼs evocative, honest and moving coming-of-age story reveals her extraordinary relationship with artist Robert Mapplethorpe. Part romance, part elegy, “Just Kids” is about friendship in the truest sense, and the artistʼs calling. 4. “Heather Has Two Mommies,” by Lesléa Newman (Alyson, 36 pp., $12.95 pb). Twentieth-anniversary edition. ■

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Free secure parking: Cross Spring Garden at 13th St., left at next Beth Ahavah and Rodeph Shalom are afﬁliated in spirit and share a sacred home. In July 2007 light, Mt. Vernon St. Beth Ahavah afﬁliated with Rodeph Shalom. Beth Ahavah retains its congregational status within Parking lot entrance the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) and proudly offers its congregation dual membership at on left.

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FILM PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 3-9, 2011

Teen film tries to have it both ways By Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor The title character of “Spork” (Savannah Stehlin) is a misfit hermaphrodite teen coping with the hazards of junior high. Produced by out actor Chad Allen, and written and directed by J.B. Ghuman Jr., who is gay, this uneven comedy with music and dance is best appreciated by younger audiences who need the “different is good” message reinforced. The film opens today at the Roxy. As the film opens, Spork is the victim of incessant bullying. Kids shoot spitballs at her frizzy hair on the school bus and she sits alone in the cafeteria at lunch. One day, she retaliates against the abuse and throws a basketball at the thin, blonde popular girl, Betsy Byotch (Rachel G. Fox), in gym class, breaking her nose.

either oblivious or secretly grateful that she has a “dingaling,” as the film describes her genitalia; the film is never clear. The gender confusion is duly acknowledged, but “Spork” wants to be satirical and celebratory. Unfortunately, the writing isnʼt sharp enough to have it both ways, as “Napoleon Dynamite” was. The filmʼs main narrative arc has Spork entering the schoolʼs dance contest to win money so her trailer-home neighbor Tootsie Roll (Sydney Park) can visit her father in prison. Tootsie Roll is an African-American teen who speaks in urban slang. Her dialogue may be authentic, but it is exaggerated and also a bit grating. If audiences really want to take offense, however, there is a scene of Betsyʼs friends dancing in blackface to mock/“get back” at Spork and her African-American friends. It is a low point for both Spork and the film.

SAVANNAH STEHLIN AS SPORK (TOP) AND HER BLONDE TORMENTORS

“Look at the up side,” Betsyʼs friend Loosie Goosie (Oana Gregory) tells her in one of the filmʼs funnier moments: “Now you can get a nose job!” “Spork” relies — perhaps too heavily — on the very stereotypes it wants to deflate for comedy. One character, Charlie (Michael William Arnold), is teased as he is perceived to be gay. He has two dads, and he later reveals to Spork that he knows all of Justin Timberlakeʼs dance moves. Oddly, Charlie wants Spork to be his girlfriend, even if she is a hermaphrodite. He is

Tootsie Roll canʼt compete in the contest because she injured herself slipping on her hair products on the gym floor while practicing her moves. So she teaches the uncoordinated Spork how to do hip-hop dances like Dookie Dump. Eventually, the pair determines Sporkʼs skills are more suited toward putting Twister positions to music. The dance scenes are, in fact, the filmʼs highlights, and an early club sequence shows off Tootsie Rollʼs talents and provides Betsy and Loosie a few opportunities to strut their stuff. A later musical number

in the school hallway featuring Betsy and her friends is particularly fun and well-choreographed. Other fine moments feature Spork bonding with her brother, Spit (Rodney Eastman), and underscore her need to fit in, make friends and find her self-worth. These scenes are magnified with less successful ones of Spork talking to her late (and stuffed) dog, or her late mother, who is “temporarily” buried in the backyard. “Spork” often takes a joke and beats it into submission. A scene in anatomy class about reproduction is tiresome. In contrast, an exchange between Spit and Spork, where he asks if she got someone pregnant, or if she got pregnant, traverses the same sexual territory with slightly more wit. These moments suggest that Ghuman was uncertain of the tone he wanted to take and tried every permutation of a joke, hop-

ing some of them would connect. Apropos of nothing, the filmʼs use of animated clouds is a nice touch. If the characters are underwritten and their situations are overwritten, at least the filmʼs performances are engaging. Stehlin makes Spork sympathetic throughout, and her ability to capture the gawkiness of adolescence makes up for some of the filmʼs more unconvincing moments. When Spork tells Charlie sheʼs never heard of “The Wizard of Oz,” only “The Wiz,” it falls flat. Stehlinʼs deadpan delivery is not the problem, itʼs the material. In support, Park is memorable as the motor-mouthed Tootsie and Fox plays her princess character well, even if she could be haughtier and bitchier. Like its determined heroine, “Spork” keeps trying to get its message across. And for viewers who embrace this message, that will be entertaining enough. ■

PGN

24 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 3-9, 2011

Q Puzzle Remembering Arthur Laurents Across

1. Two foursomes, to Lorca 5. Exclusion of gays from the military, and more 9. Denmark coastal feature 14. One may be proper 15. Morales in movies 16. “Milk,” when it plays in Mexico? 17. Top 18. Teutonic turndown 19. Anesthesia of old 20. Gang member of interest? 22. City in the Ruhr valley

23. Martin of “Ed Wood” 24. Religious splinter group 26. Mardi ___ 29. For skin 33. Instrument strummed in “Mame” 37. Comfy and cozy 39. Jane of fiction 40. Place for Proust 41. “West Side ___ ” (Laurents musical about gangs) 42. Field of expertise 43. Cukor’s rib donor 44. Crew tools 45. Overhand stroke, for Mauresmo 46. Menotti’s man 48. “Forbidden” perfume brand 50. Alternative to butter 52. Arousing sounds 57. Cinema canine 60. Sexy underage

gang member? 63. Covered with climbers 64. Fruit center 65. La Douce role of Shirley 66. Davis of “The Virgin Queen” 67. Like a thermometer that tastes funny 68. Bucks, for example 69. Billie Holiday’s “God ___ the Child” 70. Trust (with “on”) 71. Tongue of Wilde’s land

Down

1. ___ fours (doggy-style) 2. Brown beverage 3. Homo sapiens 4. Erect 5. Charlton Heston classic 6. “... against

___ of troubles” (Shakespeare) 7. “Neet” rival 8. Goes to the bottom 9. Rip off 10. Sign of a gang member doing golden showers? 11. Singer Phil 12. South Korea’s Syngman 13. Laura of “Recount” 21. Food thickener 25. Like Cho’s comedy 27. Nick and Nora’s dog 28. Stallion’s sound 30. Vidal’s Breckinridge 31. “Xena” deity 32. Remini of “The King of Queens” 33. Let out a secret 34. Elton John Broadway musical 35. At hand

36. Huge gang members? 38. Bear up there 41. In need of a massage 45. Mope around 47. Passes over in pronouncing 49 How a male stripper makes a living? 51. Kidman’s award for “The Hours” 53. Bear 54. Like pinker meat 55. They don’t use their mouths for talking 56. Gawk like a chicken hawk 57. Type of leaf found on a head 58. Big name in stunt riding 59. Dark time, in ads 61. Cutting edge creator 62. Asian inland sea

Worth Watching OUT-STANDING: Out Bravo Network personality Andy Cohen is featured in the new documentary “OUT in America,” a collection of unique, transformative stories and inspiring personal narratives told through the lens of prominent LGBT figures and pioneers, as well as many average yet extraordinary citizens from LGBT communities, 8 p.m. June 8 on PBS.

NEW CHICKS ON THE BLOCK: We hope you didn’t get too attached to last season’s cast, because the new season of “The Real L Word” features all new lesbians, including Rachel (pictured), when the reality show returns 10 p.m. June 5 on Showtime. Photo: Showtime/ Warwick Saint

OUT WITH THE BOYS: In this week’s repeat(s) of “Modern Family,” papa Jay avoids sitting through a symphony concert with Gloria and Manny, but lands in the middle of gay couple Mitchell and Cameron’s “boys’ night out.” As an added bonus, Nathan Lane guest stars. 9 p.m. June 8 on ABC. Photo: Karen Neal

UH ... WTF?: It’s a reality show starring Paris Hilton. It’s probably got Chihuahuas, ponies and an army of Hollywood socialite BBFs du jour following her around as she does stuff. It’s called “The World According to Paris,” 10 p.m. June 8 on Oxygen. What can we say? It’s summer and TV is going to suck for a while.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 3-9, 2011

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

26 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 3-9, 2011

OUT & ABOUT The week ahead Fri. 06/03 Ann Hampton Callaway The cabaret singer performs at 8:30 p.m. at Bob Eganʼs New Hope, Ramada Inn, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; 215862-5225. Black Label Society The hard-rock band performs at 9 p.m. at House of Blues, 801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-343-4000. Jeffrey Ross and J.B. Smoove The comedians perform at 9 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000. Transistor Rodeo with The Cocks The alt-country bands perform at 9 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 215-222-1400.

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension The 1984 scifi comedy is screened at 9:45 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-0223.

Sat. 06/04 Get Your Geek On: A Concert by the Philadelphia Freedom Band The Philadelphia Freedom Band performs a spring concert, 7 p.m. at Arch United Methodist Church, 55 N. Broad St.; 215-568-6250. Aaron Lewis The rock singer performs at 8 p.m. at Susquehanna Bank Center, 1 Harbour Blvd.; 856-365-1300. Ann Hampton Callaway The cabaret singer performs at 8:30 p.m. at Bob Eganʼs New Hope,

Ramada Inn, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; 215862-5225. The Go-Go’s The iconic allfemale new-wave band performs at 9 p.m. at House of Blues, 801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-343-4000. Wanda Sykes The out comedian and TV personality performs at 8 and 11 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000. Philly Fusion Project The fusion group performs at 10:30 p.m. at Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St.; 215-928-0770.

Sun. 06/05 Philly Beer Week: “The Philly Cheese Experiment” Amateur chefs throw down in a cook-off at noon at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400. School of Rock Best of Season

Show Rockʼs next generation gets its collective feet wet at 3 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 215-222-1400. New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys The boy bands perform at 7 p.m. at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215336-3600.

Mon. 06/06 Philly Rising Open Stage Hopeful performers take the stage at 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400. Tom Tom Club The pop band performs at 8 p.m. at Sellersville Theater 1984, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville; 215257-5808.

Tue. 06/07 Oscar Hijuelos The author of “Thoughts Without Cigarettes: A Memoir” hosts a signing 7:30 p.m. at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215567-4341.

ANGER IS A GIFT: Not inspired by the offerings in the multiplexes these days? We can’t blame you. But there’s hope. Head to The Trocadero for the screening of gender-bending rock musical “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” midnight June 10, 1003 Arch St. For more information, call 215-9226888.

Yoga for Men Anyone identifying as male is welcome to attend this clothing-optional class focusing on the practice of yoga, community building and joyful living, from 7-8:30 p.m. at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220.

Wed. 06/08 Zoe Keating The cellist performs at 9:30 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400. Glee Live! In Concert! Cast members from the hit TV show perform at 7:30 p.m. at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215336-3600.

Thu. 06/09 Imperial Dances The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and guitarist performs 7 p.m. at Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800. Eli Pariser The author of “The Filter Bubble: What the Internet is Hiding from You” hosts a signing 7:30 p.m. at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215-

567-4341.

Fri. 06/10 Jay Brannan The singer-songwriter performs at 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400. Bob & Barbara’s Drag Show The outrageousness begins at 11 p.m. at Bob & Barbaraʼs, 1509 South St.; 215-545-4511. Miranda Lambert The country singer performs 8 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.

screened at midnight at The Trocadero, 1003 Arch St.; 215922-6888.

the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, 5201 Parkside Ave.; 215-546-7900.

Being Queer Saved My Life: An Evening of Solidarity and Pride Performance artists lend their talents to this fundraiser from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220.

Phish The rock band performs at 8 p.m. at Susquehanna Bank Center, 1 Harbour Blvd.; 856-3651300.

Bright Eyes The rock band performs at 7:30 p.m. at

Logo’s Drag Race Tour! Raja, Carmen Carrera and Manila Luzon perform at 9 p.m. at Voyeur Nightclub, 1221 St. James St.; 215-7355772. ■

Leslie Orofino The cabaret singer performs at 8:30 p.m. at Bob Eganʼs New Hope, Ramada Inn, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; 215-8625225. Sully Erna The Godsmack frontman performs as a solo act 9 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000. Hedwig and the Angry Inch The gender-bending rock musical film is

THEY STILL HAVE THE BEAT: The iconic all-female punk band The Go Go’s unseal their lips when they rock out 8 p.m. June 4 at House of Blues, 801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, N.J. For more information or tickets, visit www. gogos.com or call 609-343-4000.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

Opening Paul Simon The singer-songwriter performs June 45 at Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800. Antony & Cleopatra Puppet Uprising presents a production featuring sound artists, clowns, drag kings, opera singers and puppeteers, June 7-12 at a secret location: Meet at SEPTAʼs Girard Street El stop at 8 p.m. wearing a red carnation to be escorted to the Secret Theater; www.puppetuprising. org. Christian Finnegan The comedian seen on VH1ʼs “Best Week Ever” performs June 8-11 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215-496-9001.

July 31, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215763-8100. La Fille mal gardée by Sir Frederick Ashton The Pennsylvania Ballet performs Ashtonʼs touching tale of two determined lovers and their quest to marry, through June 11 at Kimmelʼs Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800. Miss Saigon Walnut Street Theatre presents the popular musical love story, through July 17, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550. My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra Walnut Street Theatreʼs Independence Studio on 3 hosts a salute to Olʼ Blue Eyes, through June 26, 825 Walnut St.; 215-5743550. THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN: Platinum-selling boy bands New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys team up for what is sure to be post-teenybopper nirvana with special guest Jordin Sparks opening the show, 7:30 p.m. June 5 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St. While we’re on the subject, please do not let 98 Degrees and Color Me Badd get any ideas. For more information or tickets, call 215-336-3600.

Continuing Beware the Lily Law Eastern State Penitentiary hosts a video installation on the experiences of trans prisoners, through November, 2027 Fairmount Ave.; 215-236-5111.

The Peacock Male: Exuberance and Extremes in Masculine Dress Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition, drawn from the museumʼs collection of Western fashion, examining 300 years of menʼs sartorial display, through June, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

The Great American Trailer Park Musical 11th Hour Theatre Company presents a new musical about agoraphobia, adultery, ʼ80s nostalgia, spray cheese, road kill, hysterical pregnancy, a broken electric chair, kleptomania, strippers and disco, through June 19 at The Arden Theatreʼs Arcadia Stage, 40 N. Second St.; 215-922-8900.

Phaedra The Opera Company of Philadelphia performs the classic Greek myth of Phaedra, wife of Theseus, the Athenian king who vanquished the dreaded minotaur, through June 12 at Kimmelʼs Perelman Theater, 260 S. Broad St.; 215790-5800.

Health for Sale: Posters from the William H. Helfand Collection Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of medical poster prints, through

Porcelain for the Emperor Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of Chinese ceramics through Sept. 5, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

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

Ruined Philadelphia Theatre Company presents the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama set in the war-torn Congo, through June 12 at Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St.; 215-985-0420. The Sound of Music The Centre Theater presents the musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 3-9, 2011

Hammerstein based on the memoir by Maria von Trappe, through June 28, 208 DeKalb St.; 610-279-1013. Tailoring Philadelphia: Tradition and Innovation in Menswear Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition focusing on Philadelphiaʼs tailoring industry, featuring clothing designed by Francis Toscani (1915-73), through summer, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. To Love, Honor and Obey? Stories of Italian Renaissance Marriage Chests Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of the commemorative works of art, through July, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. Unsettled: Photography and Politics in Contemporary Art Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of works by nine artists who used photography to address some of the most controversial political and social issues of the late 1970s through the early ʼ90s, including feminism, racism, the AIDS crisis and gay activism, through summer, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

Closing The Flea & The Professor Arden Theatre Company presents the childrenʼs story about a young professor who loses everything in the world but the flea who lives in his vest, through June 12 at Arden Theatre Companyʼs F. Otto Haas Stage, 40 N. Second St.; 215922-1122. Vigil Lantern Theater Company presents the dramatic comedy about a sour middleaged man who goes to his dying auntʼs

SATURDAY NIGHT LAUGHS: With appearances in TV shows such as “Drop Dead Diva” and movies “The Muppets” and “Ice Age: Continental Drift” on the horizon, out comedian Wanda Sykes is getting in a few jokes while her schedule permits it. Catch the outrageous laughs she brings when she performs at 8 and 11 p.m. June 4 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J. For more information or tickets, call 609-317-1000.

beside, through June 12 at St. Stephenʼs Theater, 923 Ludlow St. For more information or tickets, visit lanterntheater.org or call 215-829-0395. Dividing the Estate Peopleʼs Light & Theatre Company presents this drama set in Texas in the late 1980s during the oil recession, through June 5, 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern; 610-644-3500. Roberto Capucci: Art into Fashion Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of works by the Italian fashion designer and artist through June 5, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. ■

High quality dental treatment and preventive care

• Cosmetic dentistry • Veneers • Crowns • Whitening • Implants

Craig T. Wakefield, DDS Proudly serving the LGBT community and PWA for over 20 years. Medical Towers Building • Suite 2306 255 S. 17th St., Philadelphia, Pa 19103 (215) 732-8080 Evening hours available.

COMMUNITY PGN

28 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 3-9, 2011

Community Bulletin Board 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, Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday

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. Hours: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Peer counseling: 6-9 p.m. Monday through Friday Library hours: 3-9 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; 3-6 p.m. Tuesday; noon-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Volunteers: New Orientation: First Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.

■ Rainbow Room — Bucks County’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and Allies

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

Key numbers ■ Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Peer Counseling Services: 215-732-TALK

■ AIDS Library: 215-985-4851

■ Mayor’s Director of LGBT Affairs: Gloria Casarez, 215-6862194; Gloria.Casarez@phila.gov; Fax: 215-686-2555

■ AIDS Treatment hot line: 215545-2212 ■ Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection at the Independence Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library: 215-685-1633 ■ The COLOURS Organization Inc.: 112 N. Broad St., third floor; 215-496-0330 ■ Equality Pennsylvania: 215731-1447; www.equalitypa.org ■ Equality Forum: 215-732-3378

■ Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force: 215-772-2000 ■ Philadelphia Police Department liaison — Deputy Commissioner Stephen Johnson: 215-683-2840 ■ Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 267-216-6606; ppd. lgbt@gmail.com

■ Mazzoni Center: 215-563-0652; www.mazzonicenter.org. Legal Services: 215-563-0657, 866-LGBTLAW; legalservices@mazzonicenter. org ■ Mazzoni Center Family & Community Medicine: 215-563-0658 ■ Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): 215-572-1833

■ Philly Pride Presents: 215875-9288 ■ SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: 717-9209537 ■ Transgender Health Action Coalition: 215-732-1207 (staffed 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays, and 6-9 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays)

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 866-2223871. Spanish/English 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 and 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; 21 S. 12th St., eighth floor; 215-563-0652. www.mazzonicenter.org. Mazzoni Center Family & Community Medicine Comprehensive primary health care, preventive health services, gynecology, sexual-health services and chronicdisease management, including comprehensive HIV care; 809 Locust St.; 215-563-0658. Washington West Project Free, anonymous HIV testing. Walk-ins welcome 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday; 1201 Locust St.; 215-985-9206.

Professional groups

■ Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia GALLOP holds board meetings at 6:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at 100 S. Broad St., Suite 1810; GALLOP also provides a free referral service; 215-627-9090; www.galloplaw.org.

■ Greater Philadelphia Professional Network Networking group for area business professionals, self-employed and business owners meets monthly in a different location throughout the city, invites speakers on various topics, partners with other nonprofits and maintains a Web site where everyone is invited to sign up for e-mail notices for activities and events; www.gppn.org. ■ Independence Business Alliance Greater Philadelphia’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce, providing networking, business development, marketing, educational and advocacy opportunities for LGBT and LGBT-friendly businesses and professionals. Visit www.IndependenceBusinessAlliance.com for informa-

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 Meets at 7 p.m. Thursdays at Washington West Project, 1201 Locust St.; (215) 5630652 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

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.

Health

AIDS Services In Asian Communities Provides HIV-related services to Asians and Paciﬁc Islanders at 340 N. 12th St., Suite 205; 215-629-2300.

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

Parents, Families and Friends

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

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.

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.

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

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

■ ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215592-1513

Men

tion about events, programs and membership; 215-557-0190; 1717 Arch St., Suite 3370.

■ National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association The Philadelphia chapter of NLGJA, open to professionals and students, meets for social and networking events; www.nlgjaphiladephia.org.

■ Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus A regional organization dedicated to promoting gay and lesbian tourism to the Greater Philadelphia Region, holds meetings every other month on the fourth Thursday (January, March, May, July, September and the third Thursday in November), open to the public; P.O. Box 58143, Philadelphia, PA 19102; www.philadelphiagaytourism.com. ■ Philly OutGoing Professionals Social group for gay, lesbian and bisexual professionals meets for social and cultural activities; 856-8579283; popnews19@yahoo.com.

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) 3542448. 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) 8443360; www.phillyfamilypride.org.

Trans

holds monthly activities in South Jersey and surrounding area; www.LSNSJ.com.

Association of New Jersey A transgender civil-rights group meets ﬁrst Sunday of the month at 1 p.m. at The Pride Center of New Jersey.

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) 441-3290.

Gender Rights Advocacy

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. 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) 5630658. 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) 8349063; 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) 250-1548; 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

Queer Connections Social group for women in their 20s meets weekly; (215) 468-1352; queerconnect@yahoo.com. Republican Lesbians Meetings held at 7:30 p.m. on first Monday of the month at The Pride Center of New Jersey. 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; e-mail: SJLOCowner@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 think-tank 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) 8682153. HiTOPS A safe-space support program for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth, will meet from 2:304:30 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) 772-1107; 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 Countyʼs 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.

16 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 3-9, 2011

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Best-sellers Q Puzzle Family Portrait Bulletin Board Out & About Scene in Philly Worth Watching

Page 22 Page 24 Page 21 Page 28 Page 26 Page 19 Page 24

Go out and play By Scott A. Drake scott@epgn.com

division. The rowers will compete in three 500-meter races: a time trial, a division placement and the championship race. After a long, cold, snowy winter and a Bike, blade, board or walk up Kelly Drive chilly, damp spring, it’s nice to get out- between 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and look doors for some sun and fun. Philly has for the crowd around the rainbow flag. long been a sports town, and the LGBT This is a fun, relaxed event where food community is no exception. Not only do and drink are available. Just two weeks ago, the Philadelphia we have three self-proclaimed sports for athletic voyeurism, we also boast more Gryphons rugby football club than a dozen different leagues and orga- completed its season with a 61-0 nizations, many of which are participating win over the Boston Ironsides. This in tournaments and championships this weekend, players are going to the USA 7’s Collegiate Rugby Championships at summer. What’s that you say? You didn’t know PPL Park in Chester and, on Sunday night, there were that many sport options? Indeed the Gryphons are hosting a beef-and-beer there are, under the Team Philadelphia fundraiser at 7 p.m. at the Loews Hotel (www.teamphiladelphia.org) beach Philadelphia, 1200 Market St. The fundumbrella alone, and a few others besides. raiser will offset costs for the team to play Team Philadelphia held the first LGBT in the 2012 Bingham Cup in Manchester, sports summit in February and, under the England. If you missed it last weekend, the Team Philadelphia banner in 2010, 60 athletes from the area participated in the Gay Philadelphia Falcons soccer league and Games in Kohl, Germany, with 80 percent the City of Brotherly Love Softball League held their annual Memorial Day weekreturning as medalists. But you don’t have to be a three-sport end tournaments. About 60 players from athlete to be active in the Philadelphia Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and gay sports scene. All skill levels are wel- Washington, D.C., competed in the soccome and most clubs welcome visitors. So cer tournament at Edgely Fields on May get off your beach bum and check out a 28 and finished their day in the sun with team, championship, tournament or sea- a cookout in Fairmount Park. The Falcons hold scrimmages regularly during the year son game. and anyone can join regardless of abilities First up is the Independence Dragon (falcons-soccer.org). The CBLSL continues its season through Boat Regatta on the Schuylkill River, June 4. Team Philadelphia is a two-time July and culminates with a cookout, homedefending silver medalist in the mixed run derby and a block party on July 31. The league exploded to over 600 players on 34 teams this year, which allows every skill level to find a home. The teams compete at Dairy Fields every Sunday through July and welcome spectators (cblsl. org). This year in August, CBLSL hosts the ASANA women’s softball tournament in Philadelphia for the first time. Thousands of players from across the continent will converge hiladelphia Revolution flag football teammates Brian in Philly Aug. 23-27. Brittingham (from left), Brian Veasy, Matt Pitucco and Morgan Opening ceremonies, a Sampson will compete in the Chicago Pride Cup at the end golf outing, a cheeseof this month.

ners. org.

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18 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 3-9, 2011

PLAYING TENNIS IN FDR PARK (CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE), A WRESTLING DEMONSTRATION AT TABU AND SWIMMING AT FRIENDS SCHOOL

Scott A. Drake Photography

267-736-6743

scottdrakephotos@gmail.com

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 3-9, 2011

20 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 3-9, 2011

THEATER PGN

‘Vigil’ laughs in the face of death By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com

BE THE

GENERATION

TO FIND A VACCINE TO

PREVENT

HIV

Find out how you can make a difference at:

Questions About Hemorrhoids?

Two Locations City Line Professional Building 7516 City Line Avenue Suite 2 Philadelphia, PA 19151 215-877-3639

Medical Arts Building

50 East Township Line Rd. Suite 226, Elkins Park, PA 19027 215-379-0444

www.fannydoctor.com

The nation’s oldest, continuously operating LGBT bookstore.

Support your local independent bookstore!

Shop at Giovanni’s Room

10% off most hardbacks

3 million eBooks available at www.queerbooks.com email: giovannis_room@verizon.net 345 S. 12th St. Philadelphia, Pa 19107 215-923-2960 Mon-Sat 11:30 - 7, Sun 1 - 7

PROFILE PGN

Family Portrait

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 3-9, 2011

Suzi Nash

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22 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 3-9, 2011

CONGREGATION BETH atAHAVAH Rodeph Shalom

A GLBT synagogue welcoming people of all gender and sexual identities since 1975

JOIN US MONTHLY FOR SHABBAT SERVICES AT 8:00 PM

Coffee, cake & conversation at the oneg following services

Watch this space for our schedule of events and Shabbat services.

both synagogues.

Look Better NAKED! Move Forward Fitness

13 Week Fitness Program! • Lose Fat! • Gain Muscle! • Speed Metabolism!

GUARANTEED RESULTS! 215-399-3541

MoveForwardFitness.com Call Today!

FILM PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 3-9, 2011

SAVANNAH STEHLIN AS SPORK (TOP) AND HER BLONDE TORMENTORS

PGN

24 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 3-9, 2011

Q Puzzle Remembering Arthur Laurents Across

Down

1. ___ fours (doggy-style) 2. Brown beverage 3. Homo sapiens 4. Erect 5. Charlton Heston classic 6. “... against

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 3-9, 2011

Food & Drink THE ABBAYE EXCELLENT BELGIAN AND MICROBREW SELECTIONS

637 NORTH THIRD STREET PHILADELPHIA TEL: 215.627.6711 FAX: 215.627.6167 WWW.THEABBAYE.NET

EL VEZ CR.

Happy Hour Mon- Fri 5:30-7:30pm

$2.50 Domestic Beer $3.50 Import Beer $3.75 Well Drinks $4.75 Well Martinis $2.50 Pabst & Highlife Bottles Everyday

let us surpise you ... Dinner served nightly Rainbow Award Best Bar and Bartender Hours: Sunday-Thursday 5-10 pm 2008, 2009, 2010

255 Camac St., Philadelphia

215.545.8731 www.VIphilly.com

Friday - Saturday 5-12 pm

Fox Philly Best Gay and Lesbian Bar 2008, 2009, 2010

The Westbury The Gayborhoods First Craft Beer Sports Pub

The Westbury 261 South 13th St. Philadelphia, Pa

215.546.5170

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

26 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 3-9, 2011

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension The 1984 scifi comedy is screened at 9:45 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-0223.

Sun. 06/05 Philly Beer Week: “The Philly Cheese Experiment” Amateur chefs throw down in a cook-off at noon at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400. School of Rock Best of Season

Tue. 06/07 Oscar Hijuelos The author of “Thoughts Without Cigarettes: A Memoir” hosts a signing 7:30 p.m. at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215567-4341.

567-4341.

screened at midnight at The Trocadero, 1003 Arch St.; 215922-6888.

the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, 5201 Parkside Ave.; 215-546-7900.

Phish The rock band performs at 8 p.m. at Susquehanna Bank Center, 1 Harbour Blvd.; 856-3651300.

Bright Eyes The rock band performs at 7:30 p.m. at

Logo’s Drag Race Tour! Raja, Carmen Carrera and Manila Luzon perform at 9 p.m. at Voyeur Nightclub, 1221 St. James St.; 215-7355772. ■

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

Continuing Beware the Lily Law Eastern State Penitentiary hosts a video installation on the experiences of trans prisoners, through November, 2027 Fairmount Ave.; 215-236-5111.

Health for Sale: Posters from the William H. Helfand Collection Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of medical poster prints, through

Porcelain for the Emperor Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of Chinese ceramics through Sept. 5, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 3-9, 2011

High quality dental treatment and preventive care

• Cosmetic dentistry • Veneers • Crowns • Whitening • Implants

COMMUNITY PGN

28 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 3-9, 2011

Community Bulletin Board Community centers

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

■ Rainbow Room — Bucks County’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and Allies

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

Key numbers ■ Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Peer Counseling Services: 215-732-TALK

■ AIDS Library: 215-985-4851

■ Mayor’s Director of LGBT Affairs: Gloria Casarez, 215-6862194; Gloria.Casarez@phila.gov; Fax: 215-686-2555

Professional groups

Parents/Families

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.

Health

AIDS Services In Asian Communities Provides HIV-related services to Asians and Paciﬁc Islanders at 340 N. 12th St., Suite 205; 215-629-2300.

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

Parents, Families and Friends

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

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.

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.

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

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

■ ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215592-1513

Men

tion about events, programs and membership; 215-557-0190; 1717 Arch St., Suite 3370.

■ National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association The Philadelphia chapter of NLGJA, open to professionals and students, meets for social and networking events; www.nlgjaphiladephia.org.

Trans

holds monthly activities in South Jersey and surrounding area; www.LSNSJ.com.

Association of New Jersey A transgender civil-rights group meets ﬁrst Sunday of the month at 1 p.m. at The Pride Center of New Jersey.

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) 441-3290.

Gender Rights Advocacy

Women

Youth