The Out List
All about Pride
Family Portrait: Bob Lawson
PAGE 61
PAGES 10-11, 24-29, 61-63, 68-69, 83-84
PAGE 83
June 7-13, 2013
����������
��� ������������ �������� �����������������������������������������
Vol. 37 No. 23
SEPTA to drop gender markers next month
Penn finds improvements among HIV-poz trans community
By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com
By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com A new study out this week from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania found that HIVpositive transgender people were just as likely to adhere to medicine and care regimens as other positive communities. The study, published May 30 online in “Clinical Infectious Diseases,” found that outcomes were improving among transgender individuals who were HIV-positive. The study looked at 36,845 patients from 13 HIV Research Network clinics between 2001-2011. Of the sample size, 285 patients self-identified as transgender. The trans patients had similar rates of retention, adherence to antiretroviral therapy and HIV suppression as non-trans patients, suggesting a reversal from previous studies that showed HIV-positive trans populations were less likely to stay in care and on medications. During the 10-year period, transgender patients were retained in care 80 percent of the time, compared with 81 percent each for self-identified men and women. About 76 percent of trans patients received ART, compared with 77 percent of men and 73 percent of women. And 68 percent of trans people achieved HIV suppression, compared with 69 percent of men and 63 percent of women. PAGE 50
OUT ON TOP: Construction workers put one of the final pieces on the exterior of the John C. Anderson Apartments Wednesday in a “topping-out” ceremony in the Gayborhood, signaling a milestone in the construction of the LGBTfriendly senior residences, expected to wrap up by the end of the year. Mayor Michael Nutter was scheduled to participate but was unable to attend due to Wednesday’s Center City building collapse, but other guests included Councilman Jim Kenney, John Dougherty and the Hon. Dan Anders. Photo: Scott A. Drake
After years of discussions, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority will finally discontinue gendermarker stickers on their monthly and weekly trail and trans passes starting July 1. The discussion came about a year after Philadelphia City Council passed a resolution calling for an end to the gender-marker system. Efforts to abandon the system were largely led by Riders Against Gender Exclusion, which contended the markers discriminated against transgender and gender nonconforming riders. Philadelphia’s transit system has used the designated male and female stickers since the 1980s. SEPTA will implement a New Payment Technology system in 2014 but announced last year that it would do away with the gender markers before then. Many LGBT activists hailed the end to the policy but some contended the decision should have come years ago.
“It’s long overdue and that it’s still taking so long points to how SEPTA really values the LGBT people who pay fares and taxes to support the system,” said LGBT activist Kathy Padilla. Padilla referenced a lawsuit SEPTA filed in 2009 in Common Pleas Court that claimed the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations did not have jurisdiction to investigate bias complaints against the transit agency. “SEPTA’s assertion that they are not covered by the Philadelphia Fair Practices Ordinance before the Philadelphia Human Relations Commission to further delay this rather simple change is appalling and should be a warning to LGBT people who might consider working there,” Padilla added. But, she said the new move will finally put SEPTA more in line with the rest of the city’s proLGBT policies. “The progress made by the city of Philadelphia in valuing its LGBT citizens is nothing short of amazing. It’s sad that SEPTA has chosen to resist the arc of history PAGE 48 for so long,”
Philly Pride Presents celebrates 25 years By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com At least 10,000 people are expected to flock to Philadelphia for the June 9 Pride Parade and Festival and, this year, organizers are expecting the entertainment and partici-
pants — including a villainous reality star, a new DJ and a group of firefighters — to be even hotter than the weather. Philly Pride Presents executive director Franny Price said the weekend-long celebration will start with the second annual kick-off party from 6-11 p.m. June 7 on 12th street
between Walnut and Spruce. “The kick-off party is going to be a lot of fun. We are excited about that because we will have a lot of amusement and it is a great way to kick off Pride weekend,” she said. Attendees will be able to play miniature golf, ride a mechanical PAGE 28
What’s happening around town this Pride weekend?
AIDS EDUCATION MONTH FOCUSES ON THE YOUTH Photo: Scott A. Drake Page 5
Gayborhood Block Party: The party is back for its second year, 611 p.m. June 7 on 12th Street between Walnut and Spruce. Celebrate the beginning of Pride weekend with games, music, food and drink specials.
Philadelphia Dyke March: The annual Dyke March begins with a rally at 3 p.m. June 8 at Kahn Park at 11th and Pine streets, followed by the 4 p.m. march. After, enjoy with live performances and free water ice.
Homecoming: The William Way LGBT Community Center will celebrate local activists from 6-10 p.m. June 8 at 1315 Spruce St. Tickets are $35-50.
Pride Parade: The 25th annual parade steps off from 13th and Locust at noon June 9, headed for Penn’s Landing. Pride Festival: After the parade, head to the festival to see Omarosa
and gay mentalist Bob Lawson. The festival runs noon-6 p.m. Admission is $10, and wristbands will be sold at the gate and at Friday’s block party. — compiled by Angela Thomas
PAGE 2
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PRIDE
PRIDE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PAGE 3
PAGE 4
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PRIDE
SONGS FOR HEROES: The Anna Crusis Women’s Choir staged “Good Happens! Honoring Our Ordinary Heroes” June 1 and 2 at the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia. More than 400 audience members cheered for the choir and the more-than 50 community heroes they honored in song. Artistic director Mariam Davidson said the choir saw a wealth of positive feedback about the event and its mission. “The concert was an effort on our part to respond to the fact that we hear so much bad news and good things are overlooked,” she said. “We don’t hear about the great things that happen all the time and we all know people who do kind things every day.” Photo: Scott A. Drake NEWS
Like us.
Win tickets, passes and other great stuff!
Crime Watch Local Media Trail News Briefing Out Law Regional
10 10 11 11 11
Poll results from our online survey as of June 5:
28% Yes, if they really wanted to 18% Yes, but we would talk first 15% It would depend on others in the troop 21% Not if they begged me 18% Don’t know
We want to know!
Send your contact information and a brief description of the event to editor@epgn.com.
Contents
EDITORIAL/OP-ED
Creep of the Week Editorial Op-Ed Mark My Words Street Talk
If you had a gay child, would you permit him to be a Scout?
Congratulations If you are celebrating an anniversary, engagement, wedding, adoption or other life event, we would be happy to help you announce it to the community.
41 5 47 16 14 36
Go to www.epgn.com to weigh in on this week’s question:
How many Pride events will/did you attend? 505 S. Fourth St. Philadelphia, PA 19147-1506
For advertising inquiries: advertising@epgn.com or 215-625-8501 ext. 218.
Phone: 215-625-8501 Fax: 215-925-6437 E-mail: pgn@epgn.com Web: www.epgn.com
Advertising Director Dan Calhoun (ext. 218) dan@epgn.com
Publisher
Mark Segal (ext. 204) mark@epgn.com Editor
Jen Colletta (ext. 206) jen@epgn.com Staff Writers Angela Thomas (ext. 215) angela@epgn.com Larry Nichols (ext. 213) larry@epgn.com Writer-at-Large Timothy Cwiek (ext. 208) timothy@epgn.com
Advertising Manager Greg Dennis greg@epgn.com Advertising Sales Representatives Prab Sandhu prab@epgn.com National Advertising Rivendell Media: 212-242-6863 Office Manager/ Classifieds Don Pignolet (ext. 200) don@epgn.com
Art Director/Photographer Scott A. Drake (ext. 210) scott@epgn.com Graphic Artist Sean Dorn (ext. 211) sean@epgn.com Executive Assistant/ Billing Manager Carol Giunta (ext. 202) carol@epgn.com Philadelphia Gay News is a member of: The Associated Press Pennsylvania Newspaper Association Suburban Newspapers of America Published by Masco Communications Inc. © 2013 Masco Communications Inc. ISSN-0742-5155
The views of PGN are expressed only in the unsigned “Editorial” column. Opinions expressed in bylined columns, stories and letters to the editor are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of PGN. The appearance of names or pictorial representations in PGN does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of that named or pictured person or persons.
LOCAL PRIDE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
AIDS Education Month launches with new youth focus By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com Philadelphia FIGHT has launched its annual AIDS Education Month, with a wealth of events planned for the coming weeks, including one new concert to empower youth to know their HIV status. Hip Hop for Philly, hosted by FIGHT, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and other community partners, will be held June 27, National HIV Testing Day, at Trocadero Theater, headlined by hip-hop artist Fabolous. Free tickets to the event will only be available to those ages 13-24, who get an HIV test from FIGHT or a partner organization or at one of three upcoming free testing events. There are 1,200 tickets available on a first-come, first-serve basis. “Over the past several years, we have seen increased numbers of young people with newly infected statuses, but young people erroneously think the AIDS epidemic happened in the previous generation,” said FIGHT executive director Jane Shull. “The idea of the concert is to get
youth’s attention and one way of doing that is doing a free concert. It gives us the ability to talk about risk behaviors and encourage them to stay safe.” The June 1 kick-off event for the initiative at the Wilson Park Community Center brought 80 youth to be tested. FIGHT director of education Juliet Fink said she hopes all 1,200 tickets will be claimed by the end of the month. AIDS Education Month itself kicked off with an opening reception and awards ceremony from 5:30-7:30 p.m. June 4 at the Racquet Club of Philadelphia, a new venue for the event. Fink said organizers normally change the venue for the opening reception every few years. The annual Kiyoshi Kuromiya Award for Prevention, Treatment and Justice went to Prevention Point Philadelphia executive director Jose Benitez. Kuromiya was an influential local civilrights and HIV/AIDS activist. “ [ Ku r o m i y a ] wa s r e a l l y involved in information access and activism and fighting for the rights of people and was influential in the larger world,” Fink
EDUCATING, AWARDING: Philadelphia FIGHT kicked off its annual AIDS Education Month activities June 4 at the Racquet Club of Philadelphia. Among the speakers were Bishop Ernest McNear (from left), FIGHT executive director Jane Shull, William Way LGBT Community Center executive director Chris Bartlett, FIGHT director of development and communication Mark Seaman, Department of Behavioral Health’s coordinator of faith and spiritual affairs Mary Harper and 2013 AEM honorary chairperson Loraine Ballard-Morrill. For the full AEM schedule, visit www.aidseducationmonth.org. Photo: Scott A. Drake
said. “We have named this award in honor of people who we feel are not just active in the HIV/ AIDS community, but are activists, and Jose has been on the forefront of the most difficult issues surrounding HIV/AIDS and drug use.”
FIGHT and The Colours Organization will host the Legendary Crystal Ball from 7 p.m.-midnight June 8 in Hamilton Hall at the University of the Arts, 320 S. Broad St. The free event is one of the most popular house/ ballroom community events in
PAGE 5
the region. Free HIV testing will be available there. “We usually get 600-700 people, and it is an incredible experience to see the different houses competing against each other and using prevention messages and understanding the importance of testing,” Fink said. Following the ball, Philadelphia FIGHT and Philadelphia Freedom from AIDS Campaign will host Gospel Concert 2013 from 7-10 p.m. June 9 at the Triumph Baptist Church, 1648 W. Hunting Park Ave. Gospel acts will include Bishop Ernest McNear, True Gospel Tabernacle Choir and Philadelphia FIGHT Gospel Choir. June 12 will bring the 14th Annual Prevention and Outreach Summit from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, 13th and Arch streets. The summit will feature the Rev. Al Sharpton as keynote speaker as well as a diverse range of speakers, panels and discussions. Fink said Sharpton’s support for the HIV/AIDS community has not wavered. “We always look for a dynamic PAGE 8
PAGE 6
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PRIDE
Morris advocates push for federal probe By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com Encouraged by reports of an upcoming review of lethal force used by Philadelphia police, advocates for Nizah Morris are pushing for a federal probe of her homicide. Representatives of the U.S Department of Justice will be in Philadelphia in July to assist with the review, requested by Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey. Morris was a transgender woman found with blunt-force trauma to her head shortly after she received a courtesy ride from Philadelphia police in 2002. Her homicide remains unsolved, and Morris’ relatives are concerned that police used excessive force while transporting her. Rich Wilson, 61, a longtime LGBT advocate, is endeavoring to form a committee to push for a federal probe of Morris’ death. “Apparently the feds are going to be here in July, so we should take advantage of that opportunity,” Wilson told PGN. Wilson said anyone who wants to join the Justice For Nizah
committee may contact him at pizzachocolate@yahoo.com. He said it’s logical to view the police as suspects, because their sworn testimony about the Morris incident is directly contradicted by civilian witnesses. “The police version of events appears to be a bundle of lies,” Wilson said. “Naturally, if the last known people to be in the presence of a murder victim are lying, suspicion is going to fall on them.” He hopes to organize a townhall meeting at the William Way LGBT Community Center to explore ways of securing a federal probe. “The local authorities are pulling our chain,” Wilson added. “We’ve reached the end of the rope with them. We need to explore ways of getting the attention of the feds.” He expressed particular concern that the unredacted police report in the Morris case was withheld from the city’s Police Advisory Commission until 2011. The unredacted report ascribes male and female genders to Morris, but says nothing about the courtesy ride and her subsequent assault. “Obviously, the cops played
pronoun games to help dummydown their report,” Wilson said. “If they can get away with that in the Morris case, what’s to stop them from doing the same thing with other transgender victims?” PAC members didn’t obtain a copy of the report until eight years after it was written, at which time they said it was too late to question police about it. “The cops successfully evaded the civilian-oversight mechanism that’s in place in Philadelphia,” Wilson continued. “They shouldn’t be allowed to evade an unbiased criminal probe. That’s why federal intervention is crucial.” In April, the PAC issued a report that recommends state and federal probes of the Morris case. Last month, the state Office of the Attorney General referred the matter to the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office. But Wilson said the D.A.’s office has shown itself to be incapable of investigating the Morris case in an unbiased manner. He also said a federal review could clarify whether the D.A. has any Morris-related 911 tapes. “The D.A.’s office told the PAC that it doesn’t have 911 tapes of the
Morris incident,” Wilson noted. “But that doesn’t make any sense. If a federal review determines that the D.A. does, indeed, have the tapes, then safeguards can be put in place so the PAC isn’t misled by the D.A. in future cases.” Ramsey hadn’t responded to the PAC report at press time, though his response was due by May 5. Lt. John Stanford, a Ramsey spokesperson, had no comment on whether Ramsey will respond to the PAC report, nor whether Ramsey will request a federal probe of Morris’ homicide. Peter H. Jacoby, another LGBT advocate, said the review of lethal force in Philadelphia is happening at a fortuitous time. “Federal personnel who will already be reviewing the police department’s use of deadly force could also look into the circumstances of Ms. Morris’ death,” Jacoby said. “The challenge will be to convince the Justice Department to initiate a separate inquiry into the Morris matter.” Jacoby, 64, is drafting a letter to the U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division in Washington, D.C., requesting an investigation into the Morris case.
He also plans to post a petition in support of such a probe on change.org, after consulting with relatives of Morris. “From what I’ve seen of other petitions on that website, we should be able to garner several-thousand names on the petition, both from the Philadelphia LGBTQ community and its allies and from other LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ folks elsewhere in the nation who recognize that this case needs to be properly investigated to preserve not only the Morris family’s interest, but also the broader interest in combating possible police abuses against disfavored segments of the population of all genders, gender identities and races,” he said. Nadia Fairbairn, a local transwoman, said she supports justice for Morris, holding that many other transpeople of color have been victimized by police. “The Nizah Morris case is reflective of the systemic racism and transphobia within the Philadelphia Police Department,” said Fairbairn, 29. “But it’s just the tip of the iceberg of all the under-investigated crimes of violence against people of color in this city.” ■
PRIDE
PTHC brings new training programs By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com A month after Philadelphia passed one of the nation’s most transgender-inclusive laws, the city is gearing up to welcome more than 3,000 trans and ally guests for the 12th annual Philadelphia Transgender Health Conference. The June 13-15 conference will feature nearly 500 speakers and panelists, who will explore issues surrounding health, safety, education, employment, housing and social support for trans people. This year’s conference, a program of Mazzoni Center, will feature two new training programs. “Last year, we started a medicalprovider training where we wrote an actual curriculum, introduced it and taught that curriculum,” said PTHC logistical coordinator Jacsen Callanan. “It went so well that we decided to write a behavioralhealth provider and legal/attorneyprovider curriculum.” The conference brings in people from all over the country, and this year will include 29 international participants. This year’s keynote speakers
are Geleni Fontaine and Qwo-Li Driskill, who will speak at 8:45 a.m. June 13 and 12:45 p.m. June 14, respectively. Fontaine is an acupuncturist at Third Root Community Health Center in New York City. “We have been moving more and more towards trying to open up what we mean by health — we do not define health as medical care, we define it broadly and we are moving to try and open that concept,” Callanan said, noting that Fontaine “serves LGBT and trans folks and does not provide a typical take on transgender health, but a more holistic view on taking care of the body.” Callanan said Driskill can speak to the diversity within the transgender and gender nonconforming communities. “We have a growing representation of people who identify as Native American Indigenous who have been coming to the conference for years, and so folks from those populations had asked to see more representation,” Callanan said. “[Driskill] is a known speaker and poet and has more of an artistic background. We wanted to include
folks who represent different backgrounds, populations, areas and specialties.” Callanan said he hopes the conference, which is free, shows guests their potential. “I hope more and more people move through the world with a sense of empowerment about who they are and what they deserve, because I think that we have finally come to a point in the last year where we saw regulatory moves from government protecting trans folks,” Callanan said. Callanan noted that allies can also bring the lessons learned back to their respective communities to create meaningful advances for the trans community. “I want to have allies be more empowered and be better allies. We have over 300 providers coming and I hope to see those people empowered to provide proper care to people in their communities. My hope is those from small towns go back to their respected towns and provide services to those places where most people do not have access, Callanan said. For more information on PTHC, visit www.trans-health.org. ■
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PAGE 7
SOUTH PHILLY SHOWDOWN: Greater Philadelphia Flag Football League members and brothers Mitch (left) and Terrence Doran went head to head as quarterbacks for The Red Sea and The Dental Dams in the GPFFL’s June 1 championship. The two LGBT allies and quarterbacks led their respective teams through a 2920 nail-biter that ultimately saw The Red Sea come out on top. The league will resume play in the fall. For more information, visit www.phillyflagfootball.com. Photo: Scott A. Drake
PAGE 8
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PRIDE
MANNA to reach 10-million milestone By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com This summer, the Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutritional Alliance will deliver its 10-millionth meal — and is inviting the people who’ve benefited from its services to share another meal with the agency. MANNA will host a luncheon for clients from 12:30-2 p.m. June 17 at its headquarters at 23rd and Ranstead streets. Mayor Michael Nutter and Camden Mayor Dana Redd will be on hand for the celebration. MANNA was founded in 1990 to provide nutritional meals, as well as education, to those struggling with life-threatening illnesses, such as HIV/AIDS. The agency now delivers 65,000 meals monthly and sometime this summer will deliver its 10-millionth meal. Executive director Sue Dougherty said the agency tracks its meals through a client database system that manages the delivery and routing of meals to its 875 clients. Clients receive 21 meals per week and most stay with the program for between six and nine months. Each client is placed on a meal regimen tailored to his or her illness. “We serve people with many different illnesses so we try to have diets appropriate for every disease,” Dougherty said, noting
that MANNA offers 11 different diets, and clients may be on a combination of several regimens, depending on their needs. “Someone with renal or kidney disease may need a diet with low potassium where other people may need a diet with high protein. And unfortunately, many of our clients have more than one illness. So when a client comes to us, they’re connected with our client-services team and a registered dietician then works with the client to figure out which diets would be best.” MANNA recently completed a study that established that medically appropriate meals can keep patients in their homes and out of the health-care system. As a dietician who formerly worked in acute-care hospitals, Dougherty said she’s seen firsthand the power of nutrition as medicine. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen people admitted with a diagnosis of failure to thrive or dehydration,” she said. “So often, the discussion is around food insecurity, which is certainly an issue, but not enough conversations are happening around therapeutic nutrition as treatment.” MANNA is committed to accepting all eligible clients, she added, and it is their stories that keep the agency invested in this work. “You look at that number, 10 million, and it’s really our clients that motivate us,” she
said. “In the 23 years of this organization, we’ve never had to say no to anyone who’s eligible for our services, and that envelope gets pushed each year more and more. But I come to work in the morning and look at the referrals from the previous night and think, How could we say no? You see a 45year-old woman who was just diagnosed with stage-three breast cancer and has three small children. I can’t imagine the day we would have to say no and put anyone on a waiting list. Our clients are our motivation.” Just as inspiring as the clients are the more-than 100 daily volunteers who assist with food prep and delivery. With a full-time staff of just 30, volunteers are one of the driving forces behind MANNA’s 10-millionth meal milestone. “For every full-time employee, we usually have two full-time volunteers. It’s really the thousands of people who’ve ever volunteered who make all this happen,” she said. “They chop, dice, prep, pack and that’s so inspiring to me. Those people get it. They believe, they’re passionate and they’re the reason we can celebrate our 10millionth meal. Without them, we wouldn’t have survived.” For more information, visit www.mannapa.org. ■
AEM from page 5
person to speak to the community during the summit and Al Sharpton has a number of thoughts around HIV/AIDS that most people in his position aren’t talking about. It really is important because a lot of politicians won’t talk about it,” Fink said. The Faith Leaders and Community Summit will be held at 8 a.m. June 15 at the DoubleTree Hotel, 237 S. Broad St. Actor and HIV/AIDS activist LisaRaye McCoy will be this year’s keynote speaker. AEM will close with a community cookout from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. June 27 at Fairmount Park, 33rd and Cecil B. Moore Avenue. Schull said she hopes AEM raises awareness of the continuing epidemic as well as promotes treatment options. “The epidemic is not over, it’s not a thing of the past,” she said. “We also want people to know that we have effective treatment that works and not to be reluctant to learn their status, because then they can get into treatment and live a long and healthy life.” For more information about AIDS Education Month, visit www.aidseducationmonth.org. Tickets to “Hip Hop for Philly” can be obtained with HIV tests from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. June 8 at the York House, 5325 Old York Road, or 11 a.m.-4 p.m. June 15 and 22 at Meyers Recreation Center, 57th Street and Kingsessing Avenue, and Cobbs Creek Recreation Center, 63rd and Walnut streets, respectively. ■
PRIDE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PAGE 9
Attic launches video series to countdown to 20th anniversary By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com The Attic Youth Center is gearing up to celebrate two decades of outreach and advocacy for LGBT youth in November. To prepare for the celebration, the agency has launched videos to share stories of youth who have been positively impacted by the center. The Attic will celebrate 20 years with an Anniversary Gala at 6 p.m. Nov. 16 at The Crystal Tea Room Wanamaker Building. Leading up to the celebration, every two weeks the organization will release a video as part of “Twenty.” According to Attic program specialist Randy Grishow-Schade, the effort started as a creative-action movement with a group of 10 youth from the center. The first video was released May 17 and tells the story of Maro and their gender identity within the gender binary. The May 31 video centers on Robert, an individual who was discriminated against by their own family because of their identity. The Attic sees about 1,000 youth
each year, and Grishow-Schade said the videos were created to highlight the individual stories of struggles and triumphs from within the diverse Attic youth community. “Their greatest gift is their personalized and honest letters about how The Attic has changed their lives. We wanted to start celebrating our own individuality and what makes us different in the world and how that relates to Philly.” Grishow-Schade said the ultimate goal of the series is to raise awareness about The Attic. “It has been around for 20 years, and that to me is entirely unbelievable that it has been around for so long,” Grishow-Schade said. “The Attic had to be secret for the longest time because it was a safe place and a safe place for individuals to explore who they are, but now the culture is morphing and now it is the time to pull back that protective shroud.” The group will release 20 videos over the next few months. Each one will focus on various topics, including HIV-prevention and awareness, art, music and the celebration of identities.
Composer Foster Longo is assisting with background music for the videos, but the youth are in charge of creating concepts, videotaping, editing and all other responsibilities. “They are so excited and that is one of my favorite things about working on the project, seeing their stories come to life through a visual medium,” they said. “I don’t do anything except listen and they have artistic control. It is my responsibility to help craft that. Seeing them come up with their ideas and to be creative and celebrate that is so rewarding and fulfilling.” Grishow-Schade said the series provides a look into the full impact The Attic has had over the past 20 years. “We are really sharing the experience of The Attic and how it has changed and shaped so many lives, and so this is just a tiny fraction of every single youth we get to be with, explore and serve every day. These videos will get more detailed and enriched and we as a team will start to understand dynamics. We have nowhere to go but up.” For more information or to view the videos, visit www.youtube.com/user/ TheAtticYouthCenter. ■
SMOKIN’ HOT: The Goddess Isis performed in front of a record-breaking crowd of 200 people for Smokin’ Betty’s Broads, Brews and Queens event June 1. The fourth-annual event, the only drag party as part of Philly Beer Week, raised funds for the William Way LGBT Community Center. In addition to Isis, the party featured performances by The Sisters in Sin and drinks by leading women-driven breweries. William Way development director Michael Pomante said the staff and board are “very grateful” to event organizer Kory Aversa for selecting the center as a beneficiary. Photo: Scott A. Drake
PAGE 10
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
EDITORIAL PRIDE
Creep of the Week
D’Anne Witkowski
Bryan Fischer
Editorial
The need for Pride
With the dramatically building support for LGBT issues in the past few years, some community members have questioned the necessity of Pride celebrations, promulgating the notion that, as the community quickly gains acceptance into mainstream society, are Pride events becoming an outdated tradition? Without a doubt, the LGBT community of today is drastically different than it was 25 years ago when the modern incarnation of Pride in Philadelphia was founded, and even a far cry from a few years ago. At Pride 2008, just one state in the country (excluding California, which enjoyed a several-month legalization of same-sex marriage that year) had sanctioned marriage equality. Now, five years later, we have 12 states and Washington, D.C., on board. In the past few years, a wealth of mainstream organizations have joined their voices to encourage LGBT youth that “it gets better.” Earlier this year, the first actively playing professional athlete in the nation came out. Pennsylvania is now home to two openly gay state legislators, one Democrat and one Republican. And LGBT characters take center stage on shows like “Modern Family,” “The New Normal” and “The Fosters,” which debuted this week. But, these advances in no way mean that the LGBT community is fully integrated into society. In most of Pennsylvania, it is still legal for LGBTs to be fired, or denied housing or public accommodations simply because of their orientations or identities. The state does not treat anti-LGBT hate crimes comparably to those promulgated by race, religion or other factors. In New
York City, a rash of antigay attacks recently left one dead and others with severe injuries. Homophobia continues to force countless LGBT youth from classrooms and from their own homes on a daily basis. With the growing dichotomy between the community’s victories and obstacles, having a once-a-year opportunity for LGBTs to show others, one another and themselves the meaning of community is vital. Pride celebrations are a way for LGBTs to demonstrate to mainstream populations — both allies and opponents — that we are indeed a “community,” a self-sufficient, strong entity. Establishing that we do exist and are a thriving and unified body makes the work of those hoping to silence our voices harder. Functions such as Pride also send a valuable message to our youth. While the young people may think they’re turning out for a chance to hang with their friends, collect rainbow stickers and check out scantily clad guys and gals, Pride has the potential to show them, whether they realize they’re learning it yet or not, that they are part of something larger, that there is a whole community of support awaiting them. The local Pride was founded from a political standpoint, and has since evolved into more of a community celebration, with political undertones. Evolution is key to Pride’s relevance; as long as the event continues to speak to the ever-changing needs of our community, it can and should remain a pillar of our event calendar. No matter one’s inspiration for participating in Pride, it is a way for our community to harness our spirit for good. ■
Did you hear the news? It’s now OK to be a gay Boy Scout. But you still can’t be a gay Man Scout. Because as we all know, the second a gay male turns 18, he turns from a child into a child predator. At least on the planet inhabited by the antigay right. On May 23, the Boy Scouts of America’s National Council voted to end the longstanding ban on gay Scouts, but to keep the ban on gay troop leaders in place. Gay-rights folks are only half-impressed. Unsurprisingly, the antigay right is going berserk. A lot of nastiness erupted on Twitter after the announcement. Peter LaBarbera, founder and president of the ironically named Americans for Truth about Homosexuality, sputtered, “Boy Scouts dug own grave,” and warned of an antigay splinter group. Liberty Counsel’s Matt Barber tweeted, “Boy Scouts of America: Born Feb. 8, 1910 | Died, May 23, 2013 #RIP,” as if death notices don’t deserve at least a phone call. But by far the nastiest comments came from the American Family Association’s Bryan Fischer. “BSA now stands for Boy Sodomizers of America, because that’s what will happen,” Fischer tweeted. “Mark my words.” Get it? Because gays are all about the butt sex and letting gay kids be Boy Scouts, instead of ostracizing them like God intended, means that the entire organization is basically going to be a big rape party. No longer will Boy Scouts make pinewood derby cars or learn how to build campfires. The BSA in Fischer’s twisted fantasy is all anal penetration, all the time. “Mark my words” is a nice touch, too. As if Fischer is gleefully waiting to be proven right, as if this is actually what he wants to see happen. But perhaps Fischer is just speaking out of unhinged anger after being proven wrong. “[T]he ban on homosexual Scout mas-
ters and homosexual participants, that ban is going to be upheld. It’s going to be defended,” Fischer ranted on “Focal Point,” his radio show, in February. “It’s the end of the game. This is game over. This is the Super Bowl and the good guys have won. Make no mistake about this, this is a huge win for the pro-family movement; it is a big, big, big setback for Big Gay.” Oops. Granted, you could say he was half-right since, after all, gay grownups are still banned, but Fischer was adamant that BSA would never change its youth policy. He had no contingency plan. It never dawned on him that BSA would adopt a more humane policy toward gays of any age. Of course, now that they’ve done it, Fischer is sure he knows why. He tweeted, “Boy Scouts have sold their soul for a mess of corporate pottage. They will wind up with lots of money and no Scouts.” That’s right. It’s all about the Benjamins. Just a bunch of greedy bastards in neckerchiefs up in the BSA. No doubt money is going to start pouring in now that the queers are here. And with cash in hand, the gay BSA takeover will be complete. Before you know it, Dan Savage will get a fleur-de-lis tattoo on his forehead and Elton John will perform “Can You Feel the Cubs Tonight” at the next National Scout Jamboree. Or, in all likelihood, nothing much will happen except some gay kids who previously felt excluded may join. Some kids who are freaked out (or, more likely, whose parents are freaked out) may quit. And gay kids who are already members will take comfort in knowing that an organization that requires a serious level of dedication doesn’t officially forsake them. Mark my words. ■
“BSA now stands for Boy Sodomizers of America, because that’s what will happen.”
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.
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.
Please include a daytime phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity, style and space considerations.
PRIDE OP-ED
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
Remembering Pride’s roots June is Gay Pride Month. What does that mean to you? When first conceived, it was a celebration of the first anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, which took place in 1969. So that 1970 march that was called “The Christopher Street Liberation Day March” eventually became an annual event that we now call Gay Pride. But what did it actually mean? To us who began it, it stood for publicly standing up for our community — all in our community, regardless of sex, race, gender identity, age. And not only standing up, but actually fighting back. The reality is that we were ACT UP before there was an ACT UP. We were the first generation of activists, and some in our group still call themselves gay liberationists rather than activists. These are people who stood tall and weren’t afraid to get arrested. Hell, that first march, we weren’t sure if we’d get the permit, but permit or not we intended to march. But we also must remember that before that march there were others. Their fight
was for “equality for homosexuals.” Our fight was for a visible LGBT community, free from oppression. We who created that first march and the concept of community will once again march as a group in New York in what they now call a parade this year. But, we will be Mark Segal marching rather than parading to symbolize the seriousness of our fight and to continue to create what is now a vibrant LGBT community. ■
Mark My Words
Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the nation’s most-award-winning commentator in LGBT media. He can be reached at mark@epgn.com.
Op-Ed Are you a ‘good witch’ or a ‘bad’ one? This question is most familiar. It was asked of Dorothy as she tried to find her way out of Oz. At Gay Pride, the better question is, “Are you a ‘good homosexual’ or a ‘bad’ one?” There are phrases from the AfricanAmerican experience, like the “good negro,” “Uncle Tom,” “house negro” and “acting white” — meant for people who are excessively subservient to perceived authority figures or for any person viewed as a participant in the oppression of their own group. In the controversy with the Boy Scouts and their exclusion of gay people, I have been in discussions with those in this locality who have been partnering with and financially supporting them. One of the largest financial supporters of the local Scouts is United Way, and I have tried in the last number of months to sensitize them on GLBT issues. Recently I made a presentation to the United Way. I asked that they stop funding the Scouts; that they include the GLBT community in their efforts; that they start by attending the local Pride festival; and that they bring with them checks for the two local GLBT youth groups and the local Pride group. I told them the local GLBT community had many needs, among them a youth shelter, a community center and a day center for seniors. I also asked for inclusion of GLBT professionals in their community leadership development program. At the end of my presentation, I was advised that the director of a longstanding recipient of United Way’s funding was next to speak, and it quickly became clear that she was there to sing for her supper and she
sang out of both sides of her mouth. From one side, this executive director said she agreed with everything I said and even acknowledged being a lesbian. But then from the other side, she said she favored the funding of the Scouts; that she was against a GLBT center; that she was opposed to the inclusion of GLBT professionals in the leadership program; and characterized my thinking and my being so “out” as “extremist.” In short, she was there as their “house homosexual” and the “good homosexual” and to declare me the “bad homosexual.” With its complete exclusion of gay people, the Scouts long ago lost their way. With voting recently to allow gay youth, they are starting to find their way. In time, the local United Way may also find its way to the GLBT community. The director in favor of Scouts funding too has lost her way. She needs to become willing to be the “bad homosexual” and to start speaking up for herself and for her own community. If she is not able or willing to do this, then this “good homosexual” should resign. Perhaps other elements of “The Wizard of Oz” provide the way forward. Maybe a young Scout who is a “friend of Dorothy” and a very good “bad homosexual” can help the United Way, that executive director and the Scouts themselves find their way to the GLBT community. Like Dorothy and her three traveling companions, maybe they too should yearn for a rainbow and follow the yellow brick road. Happy Gay Pride! — Donald Maher Stony Run
PAGE 11
Street Talk What does the LGBT community have to be proud of this Pride month? “So many people are coming out in unexpected areas, like professional sports. For many years, homosexuality Steven was very Florkiewicz taboo in housekeeping manager Garfield, N.J. sports. But times are changing. I think it’s great these sports players can finally be themselves, in an environment of their choosing. And they’re leading the way for others to follow their footsteps and come out.”
“The spread of LGBT marriages — not just in this country, but around the world. I recently read about a Roberto Martire male couple food server who had a Washington Square commitment West ceremony in Rome, which is a very conservative area. I found that very encouraging, especially since my parents are from Italy.”
“The Boy Scouts are leaving the city-owned building [this month]. That’s a great victory for everybody who opposes Piero Santini discrimbartender ination. I Washington Square have nothing West against the Scouts. They are making some changes. But they still have exclusionary policies. They shouldn’t be headquartered in a city building.”
“More unity within the LGBT community and beyond. A lot of straight allies are supporting Mark Tucci the cause. hair stylist I’m a straight Northeast ally. My Philadelphia girlfriend lives with five gay guys. Everyone gets along beautifully. In my opinion, it makes sense to support each other. And it bodes well for the future.”
Feedback Congratulations to Philadelphia’s LGBT community and the Senior LGBT Living Facility Committee, which is celebrating the topping ceremony of construction. Thank you to PGN and its staff, especially Scott Drake, for supporting and acknowledging the [Team Philadelphia] sports leagues, which have more than 1,300 participants, making it the largest adult sports and recreation organization in the region. The recognition in Mark’s column [last week] is appreciated. — Bob Szwajkos Team Philadelphia, chair
In response to “William Way marks Pride with homecoming to honor leaders,” May 31-June 6: It is wonderful to see William Way giving an award to ShaRon L. Cooks. RadicalQueens, the group that Tommi Avicolli Mecca and I co-founded, held the first benefit for the Gay Community Center in 1973. It was disappointing in the mid-’90s when William Way had to decide whether transgender people were part of the community. I never really felt connected after that. Giving the well-deserved award to ShaRon is a positive step. — Cei Bell
PAGE 12
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PRIDE
Obituaries Rita Cisneros, LGBT mental-health advocate, 62 By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com Rita Cisneros, an advocate for mentalhealth awareness in the LGBT community, died May 25 at Harrisburg Hospital of cancer. She was 62. Cisneros, a native of Baldwin Park, Calif., lived and worked in Harrisburg as a project coordinator of Pennsylvania Mental Health Consumers’ Association’s Keystone Pride Recovery Initiative. Cisneros was born Jan. 20, 1951, to Trinidad and Carmen Cisneros. She was a member of and served as a deacon at Metropolitan Community Church of the Spirit of Harrisburg and also sat on the board of directors for the church. Cisneros was active in the Central PA LGBT Community Center Women’s Group and Stonewall Democrats, and served on the board for Adler Health Services. Friends and coworkers remembered her as a lively and passionate individual who put her everything into advancing mental-health awareness within the LGBT community. Pat Madigan, director of training and technical assistance for PMHCA, knew Cisneros through their work at the organization and
said they became quick friends shortly after she interviewed Cisneros for the position. Madigan said Cisneros worked hard to bring the Keystone Pride Recovery Initiative to PMHCA. “It was a project that we funded and we got a threeyear grant from The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration,” she said, explaining that the project “provided us an opportunity to put forth training that would have providers, community people and specialists to hopefully provide a welcoming and affirming environment for persons of the LGBT community when receiving services,” Madigan said. Madigan said Cisneros was a driving force behind the initiative. “These last three years really have been about her commitment and passion for this, and she helped to move this not only in the state but nationwide,” she said. “We would go to the yearly national meeting through SAMHSA and explain what we were doing here in Pennsylvania. The impact she had was amazing.” Madigan described Cisneros as someone who made deep connections with the individuals with whom she worked.
“She had a keen sense of the needs of the LGBT community and she could sense that from one-on-one discussions. Her commitment and keying in on particular issues of the LGBT community and what is needed was special,” Madigan said. Mark Davis, founding president of PMHCA and co-chair of KPRI, said he bonded with Cisneros over their past as high school cheerleaders and traded jokes about her love of the Los Angeles Dodgers, whom he disliked. Davis met Cisneros when he was presenting a workshop on LGBT mental-health issues in St. Louis. “She was in the audience that day and I was just so impressed by her,” Davis said. “So when PMHCA started doing mentalhealth LGBT planning, I said right away, ‘We’ve got to get Rita involved to help with this.’ It was admiration at first sight.” Davis said Cisneros had a way of talking about issues in places people would never expect. “What is remarkable is that she had been in the corners and pockets of Pennsylvania that you would never expect to be open to discussing LGBT mental-health issues,” Davis said. “She had charisma and was someone who just has been out and open her whole life and open about her own mental-health struggles, and has been able to turn it around and be a role model and example for others to help people recover.” Cisneros is survived by partner Ginny Dikeman; father, Trinidad; brothers Gary, Trini, David and Carlos; sister Lucy Armas; nieces, nephews, cousins; a wide circle of friends; and her two cats, Bob and Ditto. ■
����������
���
Gay is our middle name.
NJ Sen. Frank Lautenberg, LGBT ally, 89 By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Democratic U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg from New Jersey died Monday at age 89 from complications of viral pneumonia. He was the oldest member and last World War II veteran in the Senate. He had announced earlier this year that he would retire when his term expired in 2015. Lautenberg was a staunch LGBT supporter, who coauthored the original Ryan White HIV/ AIDS Care Act and was a longtime advocate of the Employment Nondiscrimination Act and the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” as well as a marriage-equality supporter. He was the author and primary sponsor of the Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act, a federal anti-bullying measure named for the gay Rutgers University student who committed suicide after cyber bullying. Garden State Equality executive director Troy Stevenson said Lautenberg frequented GSE events and “personally engaged our members, his constituents, when they needed assistance. He was the first person to offer help when we needed it. He not only talked the talk, he walked the walk.” Stevenson said Lautenberg “gave a voice to the LGBT community when we didn’t have one. A great deal of the progress made by our community, our state and our nation is the direct result of Sen. Lautenberg’s vision of true equality for all.” Human Rights Campaign president Chad Griffin called Lautenberg “a beacon for equality in Congress.” “He fought for justice with more than simply his vote,” Griffin continued. “He knew bullying in our schools is a scourge, and he stood up to end it. He knew that workplace discrimination and hate crimes erode the freedom of all Americans, so he worked to stop them, session after session.” Griffin noted that in 2004, Lautenberg delivered a moving speech on the floor of the Senate opposing a proposed constitutional amendment to ban marriage equality, in which he said, “When we see things that are shameful, we should not be too spineless to respond.” “Sen. Lautenberg had spine, and he will be deeply missed,” Griffin said. Gov. Chris Christie announced Tuesday that a special election will be held in October to fill Lautenberg’s seat, with an Aug. 13 primary to select nominees. Christie had not named an interim senator as of presstime. ■
PRIDE
Print Ads_Philadelphia_Magz.indd 1
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PAGE 13
5/9/13 2:28 PM
PAGE 14
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PRIDE
The Great LGBT Migration
When Suze Orman, renowned financial be the end of anti-LGBT discrimination, as advisor and host of CNBC’s “The Suze LGBT individuals will still be vulnerable Orman Show,” hosted a conference call in to inequality perpetuated at the state level. April on the financial burdens imposed on But, should the general public, and LGBT couples due to marriage inequality, LGBT couples in particular, choose to follow Orman’s advice, we can her guidance was practical, sensible and matter-of-fact. expect to witness one of two One of Orman’s most exupossible outcomes: Either states berant suggestions was an that are not LGBT-friendly will actual migration to recognition. be alienated and become even Orman advised LGBT couples less willing to accommodate LGBT citizens, or the LGBT to move to states that are establishing safe zones and honing migration will provide a firm nudge in the right direction. in on LGBT-friendly policies The less-desirable outcomes and practices. The simplicity and eloquence with which she would result from the alreadyaddressed the matter made the inadequate advocacy presence notion seem inconsequential in notoriously “anti-LGBT” in theory — but the aftermath leaving. Having millions Angela states would cause a substantial shift of LGBT individuals relocate in state economies. In practice, Giampolo would be akin to having the the theory would have drastic most intelligent students leavsocial and economic implications for both ing certain states for states with better straight and LGBT individuals alike. colleges. If this happened, you will essentially have the best and the brightest in Orman encouraged same-sex couples one place, and the less-qualified college to move to states that have already legalized and recognize LGBT marriage. The hopefuls would remain in the states with mass influx to these states would result in less prestigious schools. A “Great LGBT a shift she has coined “The Great LGBT Migration” could essentially polarize the dynamic of equality among states that fosMigration.” While the overturn of the ter tolerance and acceptance, and those Defense of Marriage Act, which defines that have yet to embrace against a 21stmarriage as between a man and a woman, is what many advocates, including Orman, century notion of equality. However, a “Great LGBT Migration” believe to be inevitable, its demise will not
Out Law
could also develop a very public stage on which anti-LGBT marriage legislators could see the positive effects that legalizing the institution could yield. LGBT marriage creates new markets for business in both private and public sectors, so passing it would be beneficial in more than just a social sense. LGBT couples taking their businesses and livelihood to states that permit same-sex marriage would rip economic opportunities away from prejudicial states and hand them to states that value equality. This fact may be becoming more evident to policymakers in states on the precipice of passing LGBT marriage; Rhode Island, Delaware and Minnesota have all recently approved same-sex marriage laws. When Massachusetts became the first state to codify marriage equality in 2003, it took nearly five full years before Connecticut followed suit. But now, over the course of two weeks, these three states joined the ranks of nine others (and the District of Columbia) that have taken this momentous step towards LGBT equality. Why is it best practice for policymakers to step up and pass equality? In short, it’s good business, and having all of our best business-minded individuals polarized to certain states would create unequal state economic growth. Currently, businesses comply with a patchwork of state and local laws that prohibit discrimination, which is why Orman
suggests the move to the progressiveminded states. However, overpopulating the areas will not bring uniformity or clarity to the legal employment landscape. Orman’s assertion and promotion of a “Great LGBT Migration” could be hit or miss; it could polarize support for LGBT marriage through the development of purely “LGBT-friendly” and “anti-LGBT” states, or it could pressure states to further advocate for marriage equality in order to maintain the LGBT community as both consumers and residents. Orman’s goal is for LGBT couples to move to states that recognize marriage equality but that is not a solution to the big-picture problems. LGBT individuals relocating their lives is not the answer. The true work will lie in pushing states to adopt pro-LGBT laws through advocacy and policy reform. The goal is for every LGBT marriage to be legalized, regardless of what state the couple lives in. ■ 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 and she maintains two blogs, www.phillygaylawyer.com and www.lifeinhouse. com. Send Angela your legal questions at angela@giampololaw.com.
PRIDE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PAGE 15
PAGE 16
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
News Briefing Judge rules against convicted killer Frank R. Chester, the convicted killer of gay artist Anthony Milano, has received a setback in his quest for a new trial. On May 22, U.S. District Judge C. Darnell Jones 2d ruled that Chester’s trial attorney, Thomas F. Edwards Jr., didn’t have a conflict of interest while representing Chester. At the time of Chester’s 1988 trial, Edwards had a pending DUI charge, which Chester contends in part kept Edwards from being conflict-free. But Jones rejected that contention. “At the end of the day, nothing [Chester] has provided to this court establishes that a conflict of interest existed which deprived [Chester] of his Sixth Amendment right to counsel,” Jones wrote. “The existence of potentially different trial strategies that might have been employed by counsel is not enough. Instead, [Chester] must demonstrate that the pending DUI charge against Edwards caused him to adversely change his trial strategy and/or fail to employ cer-
PRIDE
tain methods in his trial strategy. [Chester] has failed to do so.” Daniel A. Silverman, an attorney for Chester, had no comment for this story. But in court papers, Silverman indicated that an appeal will be filed in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Chester and Richard R. Laird were convicted of first-degree murder in the 1987 slashing death of Milano, and sentenced to death. Laird received a new trial in 2007, and he was re-convicted of first-degree murder and re-sentenced to death. Laird’s request for a new trial is pending before Bucks County Common Pleas Court Judge Rea B. Boylan. Stephen B. Harris, chief of appeals for the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, said the commonwealth will continue to oppose new trials for both men. Laird, 49, remains on death row at a state prison in Greene County. Chester, 44, remains on death row at a state prison in Graterford.
No settlement in Burnett case A settlement conference was held last week in the federal employment-discrimination case of Bobbie E. Burnett, but no settlement was reached. U.S. Magistrate Judge Lynne A. Sitarskie presided at the May 31 conference.
Burnett, a city library assistant, claims she suffered ongoing workplace harassment and discrimination due to her transgender status. She’s suing the city and four coworkers for an unspecified amount of damages, alleging violations of state and federal laws dating back to 2001, shortly after she transitioned to the opposite gender. Her lawsuit alleges constitutional violations of right to due process, equal protection under the law, freedom of expression and other rights. She’s also suing under Title 7 of the Civil Rights of 1964 for alleged discrimination on account of her sex. Additionally, Burnett alleges that four of her coworkers intentionally inflicted emotional distress upon her, which is prohibited under state law. The case is in the discovery phase of litigation, and a jury trial is expected in the fall. Brian J. Pierce, a city attorney handling the case, declined to comment. John W. Beavers, an attorney for Burnett, also had no comment. — Timothy Cwiek
Free screening of ‘The Out List’ The Free Library of Philadelphia, 1901
Vine St., will host a free screening of new documentary “The Out List” at 7:30 p.m. June 10. The documentary was filmed by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders and tells intimate stories from LGBT celebrities, activists and politicians such as Ellen DeGeneres, Neil Patrick-Harris, Christine Quinn, Wanda Sykes and more. Recording devices are not permitted for the screening. Greenfield-Sanders will be present for a question-and-answer session after the screening.
NBC to back nonprofits NBC10 Philadelphia this week announced the launch of its 21 Century Solutions, an annual grant program for local nonprofits. The program, which is in partnership with the NBCUniversal Foundation, will award 30 grants totaling $1.2 million to nonprofit organizations in 10 markets across the country, including Philadelphia. Organizations that focus on civic engagement, education, environment, jobs and economic empowerment, media arts and technology are encouraged to apply. One winner and two runners-up will be selected from each participating city. Applications will be accepted for the grants until July 31. For more information, visit https://online.foundationsource.com/ public/home/NBCUniversalFoundation. ■ — Angela Thomas
T:10.125”
PRIDE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
UNDO THE WORKWEEK.
PAGE 17
PAGE 22
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PRIDE
Pro-LGBT senator to run for Congress State Sen. Daylin Leach (D-17th Dist.), who spearheaded proposed marriage-equality legislation for the past several legislative sessions, is running for Congress in the 13th Congressional District and needs our help.
John L. McClain & Mitchell J. Prince, Esqs. Jacqueline Needleman & David Cohen Invite you to join them for a garden cocktail party in honor of
DAYLIN LEACH Democratic Candidate for Congress 13th District in Pennsylvania
Sunday June 23rd, 4-6pm at John & Mitch’s Home
For more information e-mail John McClain at AAAMcClain@aol.com.
$250 Guest ~$500 Sponsor~$1,000 Host
Please RSVP to Meghan Lane 484-344-5708 Meghan@votedaylin.com Contributions are payable to: Daylin for Congress, PO BOX 228, Jenkintown, PA 19046 Or visit www.votedaylin.com to make a secure online contribution Contributions to Daylin for Congress are not tax deductible for federal income tax purposes. Federal law requires us to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation and name of employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $200 in an election cycle. Contributions by corporations and foreign nationals are prohibited. Not printed at government expense.
Paid for by John L. McClain & Mitchell J. Prince, Esqs. and authorized by Daylin for Congress
��������������������������������������� ���������������������������
“Pride Sale” = 15%off any one item over $20.00 from participating dealers
1 coupon per customer - not valid on items marked “Firm” - Expires 7/31/13
PRIDE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PAGE 23
Founded on the principles of
Enjoy
TOLERANCE and LOVE – of the brotherly and sisterly variety
Gay Pride This is PHILADELPHIA– in
Philadelphia Celebrate Safely
Councilman Mark Squilla 1st District
PRIDE you can’t hide. �
CELEBRATING THE 2013 LGBT PRIDEDAY PARADE AND FESTIVAL
State Senator
ANTHONY HARDY WILLIAMS Representing Philadelphia and Delaware counties
MAIN DISTRICT OFFICE
2901 Island Avenue • Suite 100 • Philadelphia, PA 19153 (215) 492-2980 • Fax: (215) 492-2990 A D V O C AT I N G F O R C I T I Z E N S ’ R I G H T S
Web: SenatorAnthonyHWilliams.com Facebook: Anthony Hardy Williams Twitter: @sentonywilliams YouTube: youtube.com/user/SenTonyWilliams/videos
PAGE 24
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PRIDE
Looking back on Pride’s 25 years By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com For 25 years, Philly Pride Presents has brought together thousands of people from throughout the city, region and country to celebrate the LGBT community. Just as the community has gone through a tremendous evolution in those years, the event itself has seen changes in format and focus. The modern Pride parade and festival, organized by Philly Pride Presents, trace their roots to an organization called Lesbian & Gay Pride of the Delaware Valley, Inc., founded in 1989. The previous year, a group of LGBTs staged an impromptu march to Love Park, where the Philadelphia Gay and Lesbian Task Force was having a rally. “They had this spontaneous parade and it was so successful that they got together and said, ‘We should do this every year,’” said Philly Pride Presents Chuck Volz. “And that’s when the Pride group was born.” Philly Pride Presents executive director Franny Price, owner of Spruce Street Video, said she and her store workers turned out to support marchers in the 1988 event. “We heard there was going to be a march to Love Park and they were going to be passing the video store so we made a banner that said, ‘Spruce Street Video salutes gay Pride,’ and we stood out on the corner,” she said. That effort, however, was not the city’s first Pride event. “The first parade was long before that, in 1972,” explained William Way LGBT Community Center archivist Bob Skiba. The route for that early parade went from the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to Rittenhouse Square, as the area west of Broad Street used to be one of the city’s largest hubs of LGBT activity. The 1989 event, which coincided with the 20th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, culminated in a rally at Love Park. Shortly after the inception of the Pride agency, the festival moved to Penn’s Landing. In 2000, the event was staged at a lot near Columbus Boulevard and South Street, when there was planned construction at Penn’s Landing. It also spent two years at Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing, a location Price said was too far removed from the Gayborhood, and two years at a lot at Broad Street and Washington Avenue. It came back to Penn’s Landing’s Great Plaza in 2007 and now draws about 10,000 people annually. Volz, who started volunteering with the group in 1994, said early planning for the festival was a lengthy, tedious process. While the event is still a massive undertaking, it has been streamlined, he said. “We used 3-by-5 sheets of paper with a big outline of Penn’s Landing trying to pencil in where all the vendors went. And back then, every board member took home about 200 envelopes to hand-address because we were sending them out to every business and gay
Photos: Courtesy John J. Wilcox Jr. LGBT Archives
PRIDE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PAGE 25
Photos: Courtesy John J. Wilcox Jr. LGBT Archives and Scott A. Drake
group in the tri-state area,” he said. “Now, our mailing labels are all on the computer, my map of Penn’s Landing is in a graphicarts program. We’ve definitely refined the process in those ways.” The organization has also done a good job managing its finances, Volz said. “Early on, there was a time where the organization was $35,000 in debt. And you just can’t run an organization like that and be further and further in debt like that every year,” he said. “We’re financially healthy now, and that’s a really big plus.” Philly Pride Presents’ board also operates without a hierarchy, such as a president or vice president, a feature Volz said is unusual for a community group but which helps organizers work collaboratively with one another and the rest of the community. The event has increasingly grown in importance as a community-network event, Price added. When the festival started, it featured sev-
eral dozen vendors, and now boasts more than 140, the majority of which are LGBT and ally organizations. “It’s a great networking event,” Price said. “Most of our vendors are organizations doing outreach that day. It’s turned very much into a community event. It’s probably the biggest LGBT networking day in the city each year.” But the list of parade contingents and vendors has also become increasingly diversified, Volz said, to include non-LGBT entities. “We have big places like Verizon and Comcast who want a tent now,” Volz said. “I think it shows the gradual LGBT acceptance in society and the mainstreaming of the gay community that these big corporations want to be involved.” While Pride has seen tremendous growth in the past 25 years, the journey hasn’t always been a smooth one. With an early summer timeframe, weather
has always been a concern, Price said, and it was especially an issue in 2000, when the temperature reached 103, with a heat index of 110. “We had 12 people pass out that year,” Price said. “That was the worst year for the heat.” No matter the weather, Price said, the event’s entertainment has always kept the crowds big. Among the most memorable headliners were comedians Judy Tenuta and Phyllis Diller, actor/comedian Sandra Bernhard and actor Harvey Fierstein, who Price said was one of the first big names the agency secured. “We always try to have someone unique, that no one else would think of,” Price said. “And often, after we have them, the following year you hear about them being at this Pride or that Pride. After we had Wendy Williams, she did something like seven Prides around the country. We always try to be unique and different with headliners that
you wouldn’t get to see anywhere else.” In addition to the ongoing growth of the event, Price said, the crowd has gotten increasingly younger, a byproduct of the evolution of LGBT acceptance. “About three or four years ago, you’d look at the front of the stage and most of the people sitting on the steps would be in their late 20s or 30s, but now the crowd literally goes right up to the stage and it’s full of teenagers,” Price said. “People are coming out younger and younger and younger, which is really exciting to me.” But the increased acceptance of the community doesn’t negate the importance of Pride celebrations, Skiba noted. “I think a lot of people think we don’t need Pride anymore, but I believe firmly we do,” he said. “We’ve come a remarkable way, even in the past five years, but things happen every day that remind us that we still have a long way to go. And Pride events are an important part of that.” ■
PAGE 26
PRIDE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
Couple to commit at Pride By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com This year, Philly Pride will not only celebrate a parade and festival, but a wedding ceremony. Antoine Pierre, 44, and his partner Anthony Jones, 37, will “tie the knot” in front of a crowd of potentially thousands of witnesses at 1 p.m. in front of the judge’s stand at Sixth and Market streets. The Rev. Jeffrey H. Jordan-Pickett, pastor of Metropolitan Community Church of Philadelphia, will serve as the ceremony officiate. Members of MCCP’s praise team will serve as singers, and church congregants will arrive in style in a trolley to serve as VIP wedding guests. Pierre and Jones, who live in South Philly with their son, want the event to highlight the fact that Pennsylvania lacks recognition
for same-sex couples — and it will also help prepare them for a commitment ceremony they’re planning in the city in October. Pierre, a Baltimore native, and Jones, who hails from New Jersey, have been together for a year, but met and talked online for six months prior. The two met on a dating site and Pierre said when he saw Jones for the first time, sparks flew. “He was beautiful — I mean just perfect,” he said. “When we first met, it was love at first sight, and I knew he was perfect for me.” Jones said he was taken by Pierre’s good looks and that he turned out to be everything Jones had been looking for in a partner. “My first impression was that he was fabulous, very handsome and I loved his state of mind,” Jones said. “He was just everything I was always looking for: excellent personality, good spirit, and he took to my
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.
son and was just perfect.” At the beginning of their relationship, Pierre was hospitalized for 30 days and Jones and their 2-year-old son were a constant support. “Just the support and him being there, it made our relationship stronger and showed me he had a heart and cared so much about me and that drew me to him,” Pierre said. “He didn’t really know me at the time, but just sticking by me was amazing.” Jones said the relationship works well because of their open communication and their ability to support each other. “I feel like he is my backbone with everything and he is an understanding person. Our communication is outstanding,” Jones said. “I’ve learned patience, to trust, to be able to reach out for my own goals. He is very supportive.” Pierre said he hopes the couple’s ceremony at Pride sets an example that samesex couples are just as worthy of marriage as heterosexual couples. “We are hoping this sparks some attention and people look up to us,” he said. “We want people to see that it is just love; you can love somebody of the same sex and it
JONES (LEFT), PIERRE AND THEIR SON
be true love. It is more than a ceremony to us: We just hope that other people look at it and use it as a platform for marriage equality.” Jones agreed and added, “I hope that they learn that being gay does not mean you cannot find love. People should learn how to allow people to have the right to love who they love.” ■
Visitors to get dose of LGBT history on Pride weekend By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Both locals and Philadelphia visitors will have ample opportunity to learn about the city’s LGBT community and its history this Pride weekend. Among the offerings are a first-time educational program at Independence Visitors Center. Led by National Park Service Ranger Mike Doveton, in conjunction with the William Way LGBT Community Center, the LGBT history program will be staged at 2 p.m. June 7, 8 and 9 at the Visitors Center, Sixth and Market streets. The free slideshow presentation will educate tourists — both locals and non-locals and LGBTs and non-LGBTs — on the role Philadelphia has played in the LGBTrights movement, centering on the use of Independence Hall as the backdrop of the Annual Reminders gay-rights demonstrations in the 1960s. “I do talks every day in front of the Liberty Bell and I speak about all the individuals and groups that have used Independence Hall as a symbol for the natural rights enshrined in the Declaration of Independence,” Doveton said. “We had the first colonists descending upon the founders; we had Franklin, Adams, Jefferson putting forth this notion of natural rights and life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; abolitionists; women’srights groups, civil-rights groups and then of course gay-rights groups. Independence
Hall is a site that’s both symbolic in place and time for these natural rights.” The talk will include profiles of local late activist Barbara Gittings as well as Frank Kameny, and their roles in the Independence Hall demonstrations as well as in rectifying the American Psychiatric Association’s definition of homosexuality. Doveton will be joined Friday and Saturday by William Way LGBT Community Center executive director Chris Bartlett and Sunday by WXPN radio host Debra D’Alesandro. Doveton, an ally, said the program is a timely way to kick off the countdown to the 50th anniversary of the Annual Reminders. “We’re coming up on the 50th anniversary of the first demonstrations in front of Independence Hall, so we figured now is a good time to start rolling this out and making this event public,” he said. Doveton undertook extensive research at William Way to inform the presentation, and said center archivist Bob Skiba was a valuable resource in that process. He added that organizers are hoping to attract local LGBTs looking to learn more about both their community and city, as well as out-of-towners hoping for a full, inclusive view of Philadelphia’s history. This program could be the start of increased LGBT-specific programming at the National Park Service, Doveton noted. “We’d love to see a great attendance and that could dictate what further programs we do,” he said. “Everyone is welcomed.” ■
PRIDE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
Weigh It Forward, one year later By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com
WE
Towards the end of the third-story walk-up and said Weigh It Forward program, Weigh It Forward the stairs have not daunted Calhoun said he was going to him like they would have previously. At Pride 2012, four community mem- the gym twice a day and was IGH IT Eating right has been a bers took the stage for their final weigh-in on a very strict diet. After the challenge, Mahjoubian said. of Weigh It Forward, a fundraising weight- challenge, he said, he veered WA D He has learned to cut out loss journey. The scales proved their hard off course from his routine R processed food and mainwork — the four lost a total of 237 pounds for a breather but then strugtain a certain caloric intake, in five months, and also raised more than gled to get back on track. “A gay man with no carbs is although in the past few $20,000 in pledged funding for three LGBT months he said he has been groups. Some pledges are still outstanding a bad combination! It burned veering off course a bit with so, if you made a pledge, make sure to fol- me out a little, and I took a break right after the final some fast-food choices. low through. “I try to make the healthiest substituPGN caught up with the four participants weigh-in,” he said. “After final weight-in one year after their last weigh-in to talk at Pride, I went straight to Krispy Kreme. tions I can, but I know I shouldn’t be eatabout how the post-Weigh It Forward expe- It was darn good. It is hard to get back on ing McDonald’s. I got lulled into a sense of, rience has been. While all four have seen track when you take a short break; I should ‘It’s OK because I wasn’t gaining weight.’ But in the last six months I gained about 10 some ups and downs, the consensus is that have scaled back rather than take a break.” Staying focused on your goals, and doing pounds so I’ve begun refocusing my efforts the weight loss has been a tremendous gain so with others, is key, Calhoun said. to get back to healthier eating habits.” for each of them. “Be reasonable about your expectations. Having a strong support system was key If you are going to a trainer, make sure that to the journey, Mahjoubian noted. Dan Calhoun, PGN advertising and marhe/she is knowledgable about nutrition. “Before, I didn’t want to go to the gym keting director My trainer Jared really knew his stuff,” he because I was self-conscious but this time Starting weight: 268 said. “Go through the process with a friend, I had people with me,” he said. “And the Pride 2012 weight: 230 even if you do not work out with them. Our group sessions at Unite Fitness were helpful Current weight: “A lady doesn’t tell her group met regularly for a healthy lunch and too because I became friends with the group weight.” it really helped me stay on track when I had members and we all encourage each other. to report to them how I was doing and see The social aspect was something I didn’t Since complethow well they were doing.” initially think I would like but it turned out ing the Weigh It to be instrumental in my success.” Forward challenge, Micah Mahjoubian, Mahjoubian aims to lose about 35 more Calhoun stayed on Soapbox Solutions CEO pounds. his exercise regimen Starting weight: 267 but back problems Pride 2012 weight: 212 Franny Price, Philly Pride Presents exechave kept him from Current weight: 200 utive director the gym in the past Starting weight: 264 few months. Mahjoubian iniPride 2012 weight: 201 “It is really frusCurrent weight: 226 tially set out to lose trating because I really want to get back in the gym but I 50 pounds and then Price said that, one maintain that loss, a can’t lift anything,” he said. year ago, she was in But his blood pressure has improved dra- goal he exceeded. the best shape of the He works with a matically, he said, and he’s found new sucpast two decades, cess in the City of Brotherly Love Softball personal trainer and and she’s looking has continued his League. to get back to that “I hit several home runs last season and, membership at Unite point. before the program, I hadn’t hit a home run Fitness, attending After being diagin my life,” he said. “I had a lot of support four group sessions each week, where he from the players in the CBLSL encourag- spends 25 minutes on cardio, 30 minutes on nosed with vertigo, Price had to avoid ing me. There are so many people that vol- strength training and 20 minutes on yoga. His new-found strength motivated him to the gym for several unteer to organize the group and it offers a sign up for a number of competitive exer- months, and just began being able to go great opportunity to be active.” more than once a week. cise events. Her diet is not as strict as it was while she In October, he participated in the United Fitness was participating in the weight-loss chalDecathlon, a 10K with 10 lenge, but she said she did retain a wealth fitness challenges. He went of important dietary lessons. “I don’t put sugar in my coffee anymore. on to complete the Broad Street Run last month And if I have red meat, I feel guilty,” she and now has his sights set said. “I don’t eat any cheese and I’m very on the Philadelphia Half particular about my bread; it can’t be greasy Marathon. or anything.” “I’ve become addicted to While her medical condition was an working out. I just really, impediment in recent months, Price said really like it,” he said. “I’ve she’s eager to refocus her efforts on losing layered it into other things. more. “I got off track and need to get back on I joined Team Philly to train and get my running track again because that was the best I’d felt endurance up. I’m very in the last 20 years,” she said. “I’m not as SPADAFORA (FROM LEFT), CALHOUN, MAHJOUBIAN heavy as I was so people who haven’t seen much into running now.” AND PRICE AT PRIDE 2012 Photo: Scott A. Drake He recently moved into a me in a few years see a big difference. But
PAGE 27
FOR
I know I’ve been in better shape than I am now, and I want to get back to that.” Losing with others, Price said, is a great motivator. “The support was everything. We would meet every week and told war stories and that was really important,” she said. “It was very encouraging having the support of the other Weigh It Forward group, doctors, trainers and having the whole community watching me. If you get too sure of yourself, the next thing you know you’ve put 10 pounds back on and then 20 pounds on, so it’s important to have people there encouraging you.” Debbie Spadafora, Woody’s and Voyeur administrative manager Starting weight: 339 Pride 2012 weight: 258 Current weight: 195 At last summer’s final weigh-in, Spadafora hoped to ultimately get her weight to under 200 pounds, which she accomplished by the start of 2013. “ I l ive i n t h e gym,” she said about her success. She goes to the gym five days a week, spending an hour on cardio and an hour on strength-training each day. Since completing Weigh It Forward, Spadafora earned a certification in spin and in March began teaching two spin classes at 12th Street Gym and a beginner’s step class. She’s also working on her personal-trainer certification and a nutrition certification. While Spadafora said she hasn’t been as diligent with her diet as she was in the beginning, she knows her limits. “I changed the way of eating so I don’t deprive myself,” she said. “The exceptions are more frequent than they were before but I feel like I eat well on such a regular basis that I sometimes can afford the luxury of dessert if I go out to dinner.” In the past, Spadafora said she only got to 215 pounds, so the under-200 mark has boosted her confidence. “I feel empowered that everything’s possible. I don’t mean to sound like a cliché but that’s how I feel these days. My trainer keeps me inspired and working at the gym, the atmosphere and the people keep me really positive,” she said, noting that each person’s weight-loss journey is unique. “Do whatever you can. It’s not about comparing yourself to others because we’re all at different fitness levels, and any activity is good. And don’t go on a diet; change your way of eating and gradually cut out things that are bad for you. Whatever you do, it’s more than what you were doing before. You have to start somewhere.” Spadafora hopes to lose 40-50 more pounds. ■
PAGE 28
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PRIDE
Pride party roundup PGMC Pride Drag Review 6-10 p.m. June 6 254 S. 12th St. $10 cover goes to PGMC fundraising Gayborhood Block Party 6 p.m.-2 a.m. June 7 12th Street between Walnut and Spruce Official Pride 2013 ICandy Block Party 7-11 p.m. June 7 254 S. 12th St. Hosted by Tiffany Richards Woody’s Block Party Noon-2 a.m. June 8 202 S. 13th St.
PRIDE from page 1
Pride Weekend 2013 at Sisters 9 p.m.-2 a.m. June 8 1320 Chancellor St. DJs on both levels, dancers and rainbow Jell-O shots. Admission $6 ICandy Pride Pre-Game Party 10 p.m.-2 a.m. June 8 Over 21 Arouse: The Pride Edition 10 p.m.-3:30 a.m. June 8 Voyuer Nightclub 1221 St. James St. Drink specials, shot girls and go-go dancers; official afterparty of Dyke March
shark, dance and stop into parties thrown by the sea of bars and nightclubs in the Gayborhood. On Sunday, the parade will step off from 13th and Locust at noon, head down Locust, over Seventh Street, down Market Street and proceed towards Penn’s Landing. Price said this year has seen a record number of parade contingents. “We have more people registered to participate in the parade than we have ever had,” she said. “At Pride last year, we had 51 participants, and now we already have 58 people and that is not counting last-minute participants. We never turn anyone away. If you do show up on the day, we will find a spot for you.” Price said the parade is unlike others. “Our parade is unique to Philly. We have 20-something floats and a lot of our contingents do performances and it is kind of unique to Philly and very entertaining.” Both new groups and old favorites would march in the parade. For the first time, CIGNA Health will participate along with parade favorite Woodbury Heights Fire Department. “They are always the highlight of the parade and they come with a fire truck and the men always come in their fire hats. They didn’t do it for the last two years, but they are back and that’s exciting,” Price said. Price said 160 vendors are signed up to be at the festival. This year will be the first year that book bags are prohibited at the festival due to the recent bombing at the Boston Marathon. Also new to the festival is DJ June Rodriguez. “We used DJ June for Winter Pride and everybody loved him,” Price said. “So it was time for a change.” This year’s headliner is “The Apprentice contestant” Omarosa Manigault, and the rest of the lineup also includes gay mentalist Bob Lawson.
and Homecoming. Admission is $10 or $5 for those with Dyke March T-shirts or Homecoming ticket stubs. IBA Sails with Pride 1:30-4 p.m. June 9 The Freedom Elite takes IBA members and guests for a cruise down the Delaware River; www.independencebusinessalliance. com Party after the Parade 11 a.m.-2 a.m. June 9 Woody’s Bar 202 S. 13th St. Brunch and drinks
Official 2013 Pride ICandy Sunday Funday Blast 11 a.m.-2 a.m. June 9 ICandy Drink specials all day, contests and no cover Bruce Yelk’s Triumphant Pride 2-8 p.m. June 9 Encore, 112 Chestnut St. Enjoy Mr. Gay Philadelphia contest, music, drink specials and more Stimulus Presents: The Ultimate PRIDE Party 4 p.m.-midnight June 9 Voyeur $5 cover before 7 p.m.
“We try to be unique and think of people nobody else thinks of,” Price said. “We have so many Prides in Pennsylvania and near us that we don’t want to have a chain reaction; we don’t have headliners that we can see everywhere at other Prides. We try to be unique to Philly.” Pride will also honor local LGBT and ally leaders, including grand marshals Larry Felzer and Amber Hikes; Friend of Pride Jim Julia; and youth grand marshals Lillian Rodriguez and Oberon Wackwitz from The Attic Youth Center. Chris Bartlett, executive director of the William Way LGBT Community Center, will sing the unofficial gay national anthem, “I Am What I Am.” “We’ve had people sing it solo, sing to a track or on the piano. We had people start it in the mid-’90s and the point is everybody loves that song and it is easy to sing and people will sing along,” Price said. “I know that Chris is a musical person. We try to have a special person sing the song and Chris is very special to our community and we are very proud that he will sing it.” It is unclear whether antigay protestors will show up, but Price said the community has become accustomed to handling them. “They show up and our community is getting more and more used to them and ignoring them,” she said. “My advice to the community: Don’t pay them attention.” Price noted that Pride is a good networking day for organizations and businesses, as well as a day of empowerment for individuals. “Pride day is about visibility and celebration and you come to Pride day to celebrate being proud of who you are. It is more than just a party — there is something for everyone. There is a pet zone, family zone, all the sports leagues are there, there is dancing, and hopefully some people will join an organization. You want to stay because it is Pride and there are so many things going on.” For more information on Pride, visit www. phillypride.org. ■
PRIDE
Out in the h Gayborhood g
65
Market St. Loews Hotel
Prince Music Theater
11th St. 4
g
3 4
13th St. 4
g
CITY HALL
12th St. 3
g
65
s St. 4 Chestnut tnes
e Fi Unit
iii
3. 2. A a •2 m don e e n v i 15. i St. C m & E rt S s Cin Sansom St. 3 Spo ansom’s Ada l 13. ansom ema a Plea tim 14. S anny St. G p O sure • • 7. D y 2. Che m • 1 st H. Inn Walnut St. 3 Express Forrest 19. Stir Theatre Lou ks o y l o l i nge ’s B b Ph ody The rpio . Wo • 6. Clu •5. e Stop Sco . 8 6 2 u • ym Bik •1 Tab Chancellor St. 20. th St. G r • s u r 2 e e t .1 oy . Sis •1 5. V • 17 •2 St. James St. el Hot ck ent 4. A d Kno n . r e 1 a p TTIC 1 B Locust St. 4 • de YOUT 2. U 0. In HC •2 •1 Academy ENT c ER Latimer St. of Music ama . Video on C n r e St e pruc y BT . Tav S G 1 L 8 2 Merriam d • AY •1 . ICan R MW NTE Theater •9 ILLIA ITY CE W Manning St. . 27 OMMUN Inn y r Wilma u r C tu e stb n n e e Theater V er In 4. 6. W and •2 •2 x e l .A Kimmel Spruce St. 3 •3 Quince St.
Camac St.
Broad St.
i
Juniper St. 3
i
Center
65
1. 12th Street Gym 204 S. 12th St. 215.985.4092 12thstreetgym.com 2. Adonis Cinema 2026 Sansom St. 215.557.9319
dult s • A yms club rs t h g G g • odgin s, Ni ente •L Tavern unity C ars, Comm •B • 9. ICandy 254 S. 12th St. 267.324.3500 clubicandy.com
3. Alexander Inn 301 S. 12th St. 215.923.3535 alexanderinn.com
10. Independent Hotel 1234 Locust St. 215.923.3535 theindependenthotel. com
4. Attic Youth Center 255 S. 16th St. 215.545.4331 atticyouthcenter.org
11. Knock 225 S. 12th St. 215.925.1166 knockphilly.com
5. The Bike Stop 206 S. Quince St. 215.627.1662 thebikestop.com
12. Optimal Sport 1315 Walnut St. (entr. on Juniper St.) 215.735.1114 optimalsporthealthclubs.com
6. Club Philly 1220 Chancellor St. 215.735.7671
13. Pleasure Chest 2039 Walnut St. 7. Danny’s Adam & Eve 215.561.7480 133 S. 13th St. 14. Sansom Street 215.925.5041 Cinema 8. Giovanni’s Room 120 S. 13th St. 1145 Pine St. 215.545.9254 215.923.2960 15. Sansom Street giovannisroom.com Gym Oldest LGBT 2020 Sansom St. bookstore in the country 267.330.0151
•
16. Scorpio Books 205 S. Juniper St. 215.525.2181
oom i’s R n n iova 8. G Pine St. 4
23. Unite Fitness 105 S. 12th St. 215.733.0633 17. Sisters 1320 Chancellor St. unitefitnessstudios. com 215.735.0735 sistersnightclub.com 24. Venture Inn 18. Spruce Street 255 S. Camac St. 215.545.8731 Video 252 S. 12th St. 25. Voyeur 215.546.6843 1221 St. James St. 19. Stir Lounge 215.735.5772 1705 Chancellor St. voyeurnightclub. com 215.732.2700 stirphilly.com 26. Westbury 261 S. 13th St. 20. Tabu 215.546.5170 200 S. 12th St. thewestburybar.net 215.964.9675 tabuphilly.com 27. William Way LGBT CC 21. Tavern on 1315 Spruce St. Camac 215.732.2220 243 S. Camac St. waygay.org 215.545.0900 tavernoncamac.com 28. Woody’s 22. U Bar 202 S. 13th St. 1220 Locust St. 215.545.1893 woodysbar.com 215.546.6660
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PAGE 29
PAGE 34
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PRIDE
PRIDE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
#1 CASINO IN PENNSYLVANIA
5:00 PM: LEAVE PRIDE DAY 5:30 PM: WINNING ACTION!
At Parx, nonstop excitement is just around the corner. Enjoy everything from our top-rated casino and poker room to live thoroughbred action, fine dining and America’s #1 sports bar. It’s all here, just minutes from home.
Street Road Exit off I-95 or PA Turnpike www.parxcasino.com
Must be 21. Gambling problem? Call 1.800.GAMBLER
PAGE 35
PAGE 36
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PRIDE
Photography • Fine Art • Portrait/Nude • Advertising • Events Scott A. Drake 267.736.6743
Lt. gov. candidate booted from band for marriage stance By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com Mark Smith recently made headlines for getting kicked out of his Christian rock band for his pro-marriage-equality stance. Now, Smith hopes to continue to make a name for himself as a progressive Democrat looking to become the state’s next lieutenant governor. Smith, 35, hails from Athens, Pa., and is currently in his second term as Bradford County commissioner in Northeast Pennsylvania. He got involved in Christian group One Floor Away through an ad on Craigslist. “I have played in a lot of bands over the years and this was the first I played with that was faith-based,” he said. “I met with them and we seemed to get along well and the music came along well.” Conversations on same-sex marriage came up throughout his tenure with the band and Smith said his fellow members were aware of his support for marriage equality. But, he said, when he decided to run for public office, things changed. He was asked by the band to change his position and, when he refused, they asked him to leave. “I have a hard time understanding their beliefs but it was more of an issue later on, and it took me by surprise,” he said. “But, on the other hand, it does not compare to what the LGBT community is going through by not being able to express who you are and who you love.” Smith said he’s since received emails and correspondence from across the state from people supporting his position. “It has been a great thing for me as a person and certainly for the campaign. It’s been wonderful to talk about this issue and have something that has brought it to life.” Smith said his bid for public office is allowing him to share his progressive views with people of all ideologies.
NATURAL
“This is an opportunity for me to come out of a very rural, traditional and conservative area as a liberal Democrat and talk about issues that are important to me — one of those being marriage equality,” he said. “As I travel the state, I have seen that the issues are very similar and people are concerned about education, social issues and natural-gas drilling issues, which is something I am close to because I am from the most drilled county in the state.” Smith and his sister were raised by a single parent and attended public school, so he said he’s seen firsthand the need for proper education funding. “It meant a lot to us to have a place to go with after-school programs. It really made a difference in my life and I know they are important to kids all over Pennsylvania.” In terms of LGBT equality, Smith said efforts need to be made to ensure nondiscrimination is in place. “It is extremely important to step forward and make sure each county, town and city in PA does not discriminate based on gender identity and sexual orientation,” he said. “I think how we approach our youth needs to be addressed as well and we need to have conversations in our high school to have a better understanding of these issues.” Taking that dialogue across the state is key, he said. “We have to have that conversation in all of Pennsylvania. It is common to talk about these issues in Southeastern PA and Western PA, but coming from rural PA, we have to have that conversation in every corner of the state.” Smith will run against current Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley in November 2014. For more information on Smith, visit www.marksmithforpa.com. The LGBT community is invited to a fundraising party for Smith’s campaign, June 15 at 334 Callendar Lane in Wallingford. ■
™
PEST CONTROL COMPANY Since 1979
Specializing In Bed Bug Control The best time to learn about bedbug is before you get them THREE BIGGEST MISTAKES
1. HIRING AN INEXPERIENCED COMPANY. 2. THROWING FURNITURE AWAY. 3. NOT REACTING SOON ENOUGH.
TOLL FREE (888) 234-1888 www.naturalpest.com
HUNDRED’s OF SUCCESSFUL BEDBUG TREATMENTS COMPLETED!!
Servicing PA, NJ and DE
(215) 276-2962 • (856) 361-7910 w w w. n a t u r a l p e s t . c o m
PRIDE
Sims, Fleck honored for LGBT work By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com The Keystone Alliance/Gaylife Newsletter, based in Western Pennsylvania, will honor Philadelphia’s out Rep. Brian Sims (182nd Dist.) along with openly gay Rep. Mike Fleck (R-81st Dist.) at this year’s Spirit Award Ceremony. The Spirit Awards, from 4-6 p.m. June 13, will be held at the Cambria County Library Community Room, in a ceremony that is free and open to the public. The Keystone Alliance will also present Presidents Awards to local chapter presidents Melinda Ann Bleazer, Spokane Chapter, Wash.; Catherine S. Cox, Altoona Chapter, Pa.; Sue Marie Isbell, Quad Counties chapter, Idaho; Janet Palovich, Johnstown Chapter, Pa.; and Wade Bowers, Cumberland chapter, Md. “We are honoring some of our local chapter presidents, those that have done an outstanding job not only for the organization but for what they are trying to do in their communities,” president John DeBartola said, adding that the recipients “have shown determination to support the issues and the community of the Keystone Alliance/Gaylife Newsletter. These people have served the organization and their community at no pay with dedication and service to all.” The agency’s membership voted for Sims and Fleck to receive the honors because of their positive representation of and for the LGBT community, DeBartola said. “They have shown courage in the face
of hate, in the face of those who probably would have told them that they could not do it, in the face of those that tried to discourage them, in the face of their enemies,” he said. “This award is given to those heroes who are willing to stand up and be themselves and be strong in who they are and say, ‘I can do the job, and it is not relevant what my personal life is like because I am a loving, kind, hard-working individual that represents the community.’” Although Sims will not be present at the ceremony, he said he felt honored to receive the award and regrets not being able to attend. “I am incredibly excited to be joined by Rep. Fleck also, as it means so much to me to share this honor with my colleague across the aisle,” Sims said. Fleck also said he was “honored” by the recognition. State Sen. John Wozniak will be the keynote speaker at this year’s Spirit Awards. DeBartola said Wozniak has been a strong supporter of both the organization and the LGBT community. “Sen. Wozniak was one of the recipients of last year’s Spirit Awards, the other being President Obama,” he explained. “Sen. Woziank has participated in our events in the past, is a strong LGBT supporter and we are thrilled he was able to come and be our keynote speaker this year.” For more information on the Keystone Alliance/Gaylife Newsletter or the Spirit Awards, visit www.gaylifenewsletter.com. ■
Sisters hosts wedding weekend By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com Although Pennsylvania is not on the short list of states that could sanction same-sex marriage, one local club is making it possible for same-sex couples to get “formally attached” for the night. Sisters Nightclub will host a “Big Gay Wedding” weekend event from 9 p.m.2 a.m. June 14 and 15 at the venue, 1320 Chancellor St. Attendees will have the chance to get formally attached for the night or the weekend to their special someone. Admission is $5 for The Bachelor and Bachelorette Party on June 14 and $8 for The Wedding and Reception the following night. Sisters owner Denise Cohen said the club hosted a mass wedding in 1997, a year after the nightclub first opened. “We married 15 couples — not legally of course — but we had someone to officiate the ceremonies,” Cohen said. “With everything going on with marriage equality, we wanted to raise awareness in a fun way and have a party to raise awareness.” A portion of the proceeds will go to support bus trips the club is helping organize to take local activists to Harrisburg for a June 22 marriage-equality rally. Funds raised
will also go to Human Rights Campaign, local LGBT efforts and to support proLGBT politicians. The club will make ample use of its three floors, with the poolroom used as the wedding chapel and the entrance and upper level for the reception. “We will have somebody dressed like the pope who will officiate the ceremonies,” she said. “People can get formally attached, get a certificate. There will be complimentary wedding cake and champagne, food and a DJ. People can get their picture taken and then party to raise awareness.” The events will also feature a raffle, with prizes ranging from gift certificates for rings to a wedding cake and a limo. The club may stage a similar event in October, although Cohen said she ultimately hopes such events will be unnecessary. “I hope Pennsylvania gets marriage equality. But, if not, we will continue to do it to raise awareness.” Cohen said those who don’t “take the plunge” can treat the event like they would any other wedding. “Just like everybody going to a wedding, you are going to have a good time. There will be champagne, people will dance and you might hook up with someone — just like any other wedding.” ■
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PAGE 37
PAGE 38
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
���������������������������
������������������������������������ ���������������������������������������������������� ����������������������
������������������������������������������ ��������������������������������������������������������
������������ ������������������������������������������������������������������������
PRIDE
PRIDE
Philly author releases book on trans youth experience By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com A Philadelphia-based expert on gendervariant youth recently released her first book, and will give local audiences an insider’s view of her work. Dr. Michele Angello, author of “On The Couch With Dr. Angello: A Guide to Raising & Supporting Transgender Youth,” will read from and speak about her new book from 6:30-8:30 p.m. June 12 at the William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St. Angello, a clinical sexologist and gender specialist, has 14 years of experience working with transgender and gender nonconforming youth and their families. She is an adjunct professor at Widener University and has appeared on talk shows such as “Larry King Live” and “The Tyra Banks Show” to discuss issues regarding the transgender community. Angello said she drew inspiration from the clients with whom she has worked. “The primary inspiration was the families I work with and in particular with the children I have been working with the past 14 years,” she said. “They are the most inspirational people I have ever met in my life.” Angello said it is especially satisfying to follow the families and the youth through their journeys of acceptance. “The most rewarding thing has been seeing the amount of love that the family has for one another even when they struggle to understand and accept their children’s challenges as gender variant. Most patients have family that come around,” she said. “Beyond that, the most amazing thing is that these kids — as young as 3 years old — are coming in and, oftentimes, declaring who they are and what they need.” There are, however, other situations in which a parent or caregiver refuses to stand by his or her child. “Families typically come around and show their unconditional love for their children, but watching the parents or caregivers
struggle with understanding or accepting their child and, in particular, those times when a parent just can’t — they don’t have the skills to accept them or they kick them out or emotionally abandon them — are heartbreaking,” she said. Angello said she has been impressed with Philadelphia’s transgender and gender-variant movement, noting that the Philadelphia Transgender Health Conference continually offers a diverse and progressive range of topics. “I think they have an incredible movement. What is most wonderful to see is how the community has organized this movement — it is filled with people who are just so ahead of the curve in Philly,” she said. Angello’s book signing will coincide with the PTHC. She said the conference is something that helps bring both visibility to the community as well as offers a welcoming and affirming environment. “I think it has brought and continues to bring a safe space for people who are exploring gender identity and it allows for an increased level of visibility among mainstream non-transgender people,” she said. “A lot of times people show up to conferences because they heard a lot about it and their minds are just blown. It is powerful.” Angello said her book is largely geared for those individuals who are not familiar with the transgender and gender nonconforming community. “The goal for my book is to attempt to reach that exact audience. I attempted to write it in a way that anyone can pick it up, but especially a parent who found out yesterday that their child is gender-variant, and how they can support their child. It is not pathological; these kids risk everything to be authentic to themselves. It is my intention to make it accessible and to allow for people to see, even if they don’t know someone who has had trans experience, to understand what the experience is about and that it is not unusual.” For more information, visit www. michele-angello.com. ■
The ice cream store of your New Hope memories now with
the new hope grille farm fresh breakfast, bistro lunch & garden fresh specialS Outdoor garden seating & a view overlooking the river
UNIQUE
ice cream flavors. Ukrainian Rose Petal African Violet Caribbean Spicy tree Bark 22 S Main St. New Hope, PA Call us at (215) 862-2050 Open 8AM - 10PM gerensersexoticicecream.com
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PAGE 39
PAGE 40
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PRIDE
PRIDE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
Gayborhood Crime Watch The following incidents in the Midtown Village and Washington Square West areas were reported to the 6th Police District between May 20-26. Information is courtesy of 6th District Capt. Brian Korn; Stacy Irving, senior director, Crime Prevention Service; Center City District; the Police Liaison Committee and Midtown Village Merchants Association. To report crime tips, visit www.phillypolice. com or call 215-686-TIPS (8477). INCIDENTS — At 2:30 a.m. May 20, two males followed a man from 16th and Pine streets to 1200 block of Waverly Street and punched the victim, stealing his wallet and cell phone. The first suspect was described as a white male in his late 20s with a thin build and goatee, wearing a cap and a red shirt; the second was described as a black male in his late 20s with a thin build, wearing a gray hoodie and a backpack. — At 6:40 p.m. May 21, someone snatched a woman’s iPhone from her hand at the corner of 10th and Chestnut streets. The suspect was a described as a 15-year-old black male, 5-foot-5, about 100 pounds,
with tattoos and wearing a blue Tshirt and tan shorts. — At 1:30 p.m. May 24, someone stole an iPad from a desk inside Show of Hands, 1006 Pine St., while the owner was helping a customer. The suspect was described as a black female, between 20 and 30, with a heavy build, wearing a tan jacket and red head covering, pushing a stroller. — At 1:30 p.m. May 24, someone stole a cell phone from a counter inside Bereket Furniture, 1032 Pine St. The incident was captured on video and showed the suspect to be a black male, 5-foot-10, with a thin build and glasses, wearing a gray hoodie and tan pants. — At 9:45 p.m. May 25, someone stole a bicycle from a customer who had left the bike outside while ordering food inside the Burger King at 15 S. Eighth St. — Between 7:50-10:30 p.m. May 25, someone stole a secured bicycle from outside 100 S. Ninth St. — At 12:50 a.m. May 26, two groups of patrons were ejected from McGillin’s, 1310 Drury St., for fighting inside, and one of the males involved was assaulted outside 100 S. 13th St. He was knocked unconscious and sus-
tained a possible broken jaw. The suspect was a white male about 50, wearing a white shirt. — At 2:35 a.m. May 26, a man was standing at 13th and Market streets when a male walked up and asked him about his iPhone and then snatched it, fleeing north on 13th Street. The suspect was described as a black male, 5-foot10, 130-150 pounds, with a goatee and wearing a dark green hoodie. — At 3:20 p.m. May 26, a woman was sitting in the lobby of the Marriott, 1201 Market St., with her handbag on a chair next to her when a male stole the bag and fled onto 13th Street. Hotel security gave chase but lost the male in the area of Broad and Race streets. The suspect was described as a white male in his 30s wearing a long-sleeve white shirt and black shorts. NON-SUMMARY ARRESTS — At 7:45 p.m. May 20, 6th District Officer Braceland arrested a 64year-old male with a Francisville address for failure to pay for his meal at Varalli Restaurant, 231 S. Broad St. — At 10:55 a.m. May 21, 6th
District plainclothes Officers Ferrero and Hill observed an illegal narcotics transaction outside 901 Market St. The seller and two buyers were apprehended and a quantity of narcotics pills were confiscated. The 38-year-old suspected seller with a Logan address was charged with illegal narcotic sales, while the 58- and 42-yearold suspected buyers were charged with possession of controlled substances. — At 4:30 p.m. May 22, a woman was on the Market-Frankford train when a male snatched her cell phone and fled at 11th and Market streets. Center City District Officers Lawson and Manzo made the apprehension at 900 Market St., and a 15-year-old suspect with a Germantown address was charged with theft and related offenses. — At 8:45 p.m. May 22, a man was inside Tabu, 210 S. 12th St., when a witness saw another male steal his iPhone from his table and exit. Sixth District Officers Butler and Burrell responded to the 911 call, stopped the man and recovered the phone. The 38-year-old suspect with a West Philadelphia address was charged with theft.
PAGE 41
SUMMARY ARRESTS — On May 20, Center City District officers issued citations for summary offenses at 1 p.m. outside 1300 Market St. and at 1:50 p.m. outside 1300 Chestnut St. Sixth District officers issued a citation at 8:20 p.m. outside 233 S. 13th St. — On May 21, Center City District officers issued citations for summary offenses at 11:05 a.m. outside 730 Market St. and at 1 p.m. outside 801 Market St. — On May 22, Center City District officers issued citations for summary offenses at 11:45 a.m. outside 1000 Chestnut St. and at 1 p.m. outside 1014 Market St. Sixth District officers issued citations at 2:50 p.m. outside 1200 Manning St. and at 7:35 p.m. outside 1200 Chestnut St. — On May 23, 6th District officers issued citations for summary offenses at 9:55 p.m. outside 1318 Walnut St. and at 11:20 p.m. outside 1314 Walnut St. — On May 24, 6th District officers issued citations for summary offenses at 9:10 p.m. outside 1300 Drury St. and at 11:25 p.m. outside 1314 Walnut St. ■
A Drexel degree for men and women who served. Drexel University proudly participates in the Yellow Ribbon program, working in cooperation with the U.S. government to extend Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits and cover up to the full cost of a Drexel education. ANY TIME Full-time or part-time ANY PLACE On campus or online ANY DEGREE More than 170 undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs Joseph M. DeCato, J.D., Law - U.S. Air Force, 2007-11 Ashley O. Parker, B.A., Communications - U.S. Navy 2005-09
1.800.2.DREXEL
drexel.edu
PAGE 42
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PRIDE
PRIDE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PAGE 43
spring ad PGN_Layout 1 6/4/13 3:55 PM Page 1
STREET Domestic & Foreign Care State Inspection & Emissions Inspection
215-928-0376
820-22 S. 11th Street at Christian
PAGE 44
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PRIDE
PRIDE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PAGE 45
Š2013 California Closet Company, Inc. Franchises independently owned and operated.
Designs for every room.
PA128_10.1x5.6_0513.indd 1
Custom designs to fulďŹ ll your dreams and suit your lifestyle. Call today to schedule your free in-home design consultation.
Megan Brown mebrown@calclosets.com
Cheryl Harvey 610.304.3989
californiaclosets.com
5/30/13 11:03 AM
PAGE 46
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
International Sao Paulo’s Pride parade draws more than a million More than a million people took to Sao Paulo’s streets June 2 for a massive gay Pride parade, aiming to end discrimination
PRIDE
and support same-sex-marriage rights in Brazil. Under rainy skies and cold that did not dampen many spirits, marchers waved banners like “Never going back in the closet” in the financial and industrial hub of this majority Roman Catholic country of about 196 million. “We have got to make a change in the constitution so that we are all citizens with the same rights,” said Culture Minister Marta Suplicy, a former Sao Paulo mayor and gay-rights supporter, drawing cheers from the crowd. In May, Brazil became the third and largest Latin-American country to give a de
facto green light to same-sex marriage. In a bold stride for the majority Roman Catholic nation, the National Council of Justice, a panel that oversees Brazil’s legal system and is headed by the chief justice of the Supreme Court, said government offices that issue marriage licenses had no standing to reject gay couples. Since 2011, some offices have granted marriage licenses to gay couples but others have not. While some state courts have recognized same-sex marriages, the council’s ruling was the first to set out a national standard. In Congress, a strong religious faction opposes same-sex marriage, and has not yet
������������������������������ ������������������������
AMY F. STEERMAN Attorney at Law
���������������
Concentrating in Planning for Lesbian and Gay Couples • Probate • Wills • Living Wills • Powers of Attorney
������������������ ������������������ �������������� �������������������� ���������
1900 Spruce Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 www.amysteerman.com
��������� �������������� ������������������
215-735-1006
�������� �������������� ������� ����������� ������ ��������������������������� ���������������������� ��������������������� ����������������������� ����������������� �������������������������
������������������������������ ���������������������
��������������������������������������������
��������� ����������� ������������ ���������� �������������� ������������ �����������������
���������������������� �����������������
����������������� ����������������������
�������������������������������������������������
approved a law on same-sex marriage regulations. And the NCJ’s decisions are subject to appeal before the Supreme Court.
Nigeria bans same-sex marriages with prison term
The Parliament of Nigeria has passed a bill to further criminalize same-sex marriages with prison terms of up to 14 years. Same-sex relationships are already illegal in Nigeria and the new law means gay couples entering into either marriage or cohabitation could face 14 years each in prison. Those “witnessing” or “abetting” such relationships would also face custodial sentences of at least eight years, and groups that advocate for LGBT rights are also set to be penalized by the new bill. Nigeria’s House of Representatives approved the bill ������ �� ��� May 30. ������������������������� It passed its second reading in the Nigerian House last November. ����������������� However, it remains unclear if ������������������� President Goodluck Jonathan will ������������������������������ sign the bill into law. ��������������������������������� Nigeria’s Senate previously ���������������������������������� passed the bill in November 2011 and the measure quietly disappeared for some time before coming up in last Thursday’s session of the House. ���������������
��
�� ��
�
������������
����������������
����������������������� ������������������� ������������������ ������������������ ����������� �������������� ��������������� ����������������� ������������������ ��������������������� ����������������
��������������� ��������������� �������������������������� ���������������������������
����������������������
�������������������
������������������ ��������������
���������������������
����������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� �����������������������������������������������
�����������������������������������������������
Russia may block adoptions by French A Russian official is reacting badly to France’s new law granting equal marriage and adoption rights to same-sex couples, saying his nation should place a moratorium on adoption of Russian children by French citizens. France’s law is contrary to Russia’s, so “it is evident that a moratorium should be imposed until [both countries’] legislation is brought into accord. This is logical,” Pavel Astakhov, Russia’s ombudsman for children’s rights, told journalists May 30. French president François Hollande signed the marriage and adoption bill into law May 18, and the first legal same-sex marriage ceremony in France took place May 29. Astakhov and Russian president Vladimir Putin have a history of opposition to adoption of Russian children by people in other countries. Astakhov was the force behind a law signed late last year by Putin to end U.S. adoptions of Russian children, ostensibly to protect the children from abuse, but some sources have said it’s retaliation for U.S. actions concerning human-rights violations in PAGE 54 Russia.
PRIDE
Media Trail Lutherans elects first out bishop USA Today reports The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America elected its first openly gay bishop to a six-year term on May 31 at an annual assembly in Southern California. The election of the Rev. Dr. R. Guy Erwin comes after the church’s controversial rule change in 2009 that allowed gays and lesbians to be ordained in the largest U.S. Lutheran denomination. More than 600 congregations have left the denomination since the change. “The ELCA is a church that belongs to Christ, and in it there is a place for all,” said church spokesperson Melissa Ramirez Cooper. “The election of Pastor Erwin illustrates what many in the 4-million-member church believe: that God calls each of us by name.” Erwin, a resident of the Woodland Hills area of Los Angeles, currently serves as a pastor at Faith Lutheran Church and as a professor of Lutheran Confessional Theology at California Lutheran University. He has also served on a variety of boards and committees of church-related institutions and agencies. Officials say Erwin is also the first Native American to be elected.
Boy Scouts defy orders, wear uniforms in Utah Pride NBC News reports Boy Scouts and adult volunteers wore their uniforms June 1 as they marched in Utah’s gay Pride parade — defying a leader of the youth organization who had said they couldn’t do so under the organization’s guidelines prohibiting the advocacy of political or social positions. The Utah Pride Festival Parade came a little more than a week after national delegates of the Boy Scouts of America approved allowing gay youth to join, ending controversial membership guidelines that had in recent years dogged one of the nation’s most popular organizations for children and teens. “It just feels like the right thing to do,” Kenji Mikesell, an 18-year-old Eagle Scout and high-school senior still active with his troop, said before leaving for the parade in Salt Lake City in his uniform. Peter Brownstein, a Scoutmaster in Salt Lake City who helped organize the Boy Scouts’ participation in the march, said a few adults and youth marched at the front of the parade in uniform, including a Cub
Scout, a Boy Scout and his stepdad, an Eagle Scout, who borrowed a uniform to wear, and an Assistant Scoutmaster. But a local leader of the Boy Scouts had said May 31 that they were prohibited from doing so. “We as a Scouting movement do not advocate any social or political position, so I reminded Mr. Brownstein that we do not wear uniforms at an event like this,” said Rick Barnes, chief Scout executive of the Great Salt Lake Council, which consists of more than 75,000 youth. “We do not, as Boy Scouts, show support for any social or political position. We’re neutral. If he wants to attend the parade and others do that are Scouts or Scouters, they’re welcome to do so as private citizens wearing whatever they want except their uniform. That’s our official position. It always has been, there’s nothing new here.” In a statement, Deron Smith, a spokesperson for the national headquarters of the Boy Scouts of America, said it was up to the local council to determine any punishment.
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PAGE 47
34377 Neverland Lane Lewes, DE 19958 Like us on
@ Neverland Kennel and Cattery, Inc.
Ill. House adjourns without vote on gay marriage The Chicago Tribune reports the Illinois House has adjourned without taking a vote on legislation to allow same-sex couples to marry. Supporters filled the House gallery May 31 in hopes the measure would be called. The bill cleared the Senate in February. But the sponsor of the bill said at the end of the day he didn’t have enough support to pass it and didn’t call it for a vote. It capped months of arduous lobbying by gay-rights advocates and opponents. Opponents said marriage should be between a man and a woman. Proponents touted it as a civil-rights matter, and Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn had pledged to sign it into law if it reached his desk.
Neb. lawmakers to debate gay foster-parent bill According to Omaha.com, Nebraska lawmakers will debate a bill next year that would allow gay and lesbian couples to serve as foster parents if they are related to the child or have a well-established relationship. The Judiciary Committee voted May 31 to advance the bill to the full legislature. Lawmakers are about to adjourn for the year but will debate it in 2014. The bill would change current state policy that bans openly gay people and unrelated, unmarried adults who live together from serving as foster parents. The measure was introduced by Sen. Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha. Nordquist has said foster children often do better in homes with relatives or foster parents they know. ■
— compiled by Larry Nichols
JEFFREY E. GOLDMAN, ATTORNEY AT LAW SPECIALIZING IN PARTNERSHIP AND EMPLOYMENT LAW Proven track record of recovering millions of dollars for wrongfully treated employees!* Experience litigating: • Partnership & business disputes • Non-competes • Executive compensation • Employment discrimination • Real Estate Litigation Jeffrey E. Goldman, Esq. 100 S. Broad St. Suite 1330 Philadelphia, PA 19110
Also handle: • Wills, Living Wills, Trusts and Powers of Attorney
Jeff.Goldman@verizon.net
*Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Put 18 years of experience to work for you!
CONGREGATION BETH AHAVAH
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
Friday, June 7, 6:00 PM. - Rodeph Shalom/Beth Ahavah Joint Shabbat Services Celebrating Gay Pride Month. Please join us as we partner with Rodeph Shalom at a Community Dinner and Awards ceremony following services. Beth Ahavah and Rodeph Shalom are affiliated in spirit and share a sacred home. In July 2007 Beth Ahavah affiliated with Rodeph Shalom. Beth Ahavah retains its congregational status within the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) and proudly offers its congregation dual membership at both synagogues.
Visit www.bethahavah.org for additional information, programming and directions 615 North Broad Street, Phila., PA 19123-2495 Phone: 215.923.2003 E-mail: BethAhavah@rodephshalom.org
Free secure parking: Cross Spring Garden at 13th St., left at next light, Mt. Vernon St. Parking lot entrance on left.
PAGE 48
PRIDE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
�������������������������������������
������ ��������
���������������������������������� ������������������������������������ �����������������������������������������
�����������������������������������
����������������� ���������������������������� ������������������������ ������������������� ������������������ ���������������������� �����������������������������������������������
����
���������������������������������������� ���������������������������������
� �� �� � �� �� �� � �
� � � � �� � �� � ����������������������������������� ���������������������������������
������������������������������������������������ �������������������������������������� �������������������� ���������������������� ������������ ������������������������������������
��������������������
����������
�������������������� ������������ ��������������������� �������������� ���������������������� ������������������������
������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������
SEPTA from page 1
Padilla said. SEPTA spokesperson Jerri Williams said general manager Joseph Casey had long been open to discontinuing the gender markers. “He was interested and he had met with members of the transgender community at least once if not more than once,” she said. “He understood their concerns and always wanted to make sure our system was comfortable and accessible for everyone and never wanted to be in a situation that anyone felt it wasn’t.” Williams added that the gender markers are part of the fare tariff, so the change required public hearings and an affirmative vote by the SEPTA board, which took place earlier this year. “There was also concern about lost revenue and it would be easier for people to share passes, which is still a concern but we only have another year before we move to a new payment system and [Casey] was willing to go ahead and make changes now,” Williams said. Director of LGBT Affairs Gloria Casarez told PGN that the removal of the stickers should be celebrated by those who fought so hard for it. “It is a great and positive outcome after many years of fighting. I’ve always felt that the stickers were inappropriate,” she said. “Nowhere on a bus driver or train-operator job description is there ‘gender assessor,’ yet that is what SEPTA drivers have had to do. Having to do so was, frankly, a safety issue for the drivers as well as the person they were assessing. Potentially denying a person access to public accommodations based upon a sticker is pretty outrageous.” Casarez noted that the victory took longer than necessary. “It took Charlene Arcilla, a transwoman who had a dispute while trying to access mass transit, to file with the PCHR for us to get movement on this longstanding issue. At any point in our legal challenge, which is active to this day, they could have just stopped using the stickers,” Casarez said. “It took years of waiting even after they said they would phase out the stickers with the new fare card system to get to this day. In the end, they’re eliminating them before the new card system, which they could have done at any time. We’ll take it as a victory, but it was a fight that shouldn’t have taken SEPTA this long to resolve. All riders should have equal access to public transportation. I’m glad we will now.” ■
PRIDE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PAGE 49
������������������������������������� ����������� � ���������� ��������������
��� ������������������ � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ��
���������������
��������� ��������������������� ������������������� ������������������� ���������������������� �����������������������
����������������������������������������������������
��������� ����������������
�������
������������������ �����������
������������� ���������������
�������� �����������������
����������������������� �����������������
���������
����������������
����������������� ������������������������ ������������������������ ��������������������
�������������
����������������� ����������
����������������������
����������������������
����
������������
�������������������������� ��������������������������
������������
������������������ ����������������������������
������������� ������������������ ����������������� �������������������������������� ����������������� ����������������������
������������������������� ���������������������
��������
�����������
�����
������� ���� �����
����������������� ���������
������
���������������������
����������������������
���������������������������������������
���������������� ���������� ������� ����������� ������� ����������������������
��������� ������� �������� ���������
����������� ��������� ��������� ����������������� ���������
�������������������������������� �������������������������������������� ���������������������������
���������������� �������������������� �������������������� ���������������������� ��������������������������� ���������������������
PAGE 50
PRIDE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PENN from page 1
�����������������������������
��������������
���������������������� ���������������������� �������������������������
��������������������
��������������������������
��������������������������� �������������������������
������������������������������� ����������������������������� �������������������������� ������������������������������������ �����������������������������������
������������������������������������� ������������������������������������ ����������������������������������� �������������������������
������������
�������������������������
���������������������������� �����������������������������������
����������������
����������������������������������
���������������� ������ �����������
����������������������������� ���������������������� ������������
������������ ������������
�������
������������������ ���������������������������� ���������������
������������
The trans patients, however, were more likely to be young, Hispanic and be biological men who have sex with men, all factors that put the community at higher risk for HIV infection, the report said. The study was led by Dr. Baligh R. Yehia, a clinical instructor in the division of infectious diseases, who said the report was motivated by the lack of data on the transgender community. “We do not have a lot of health information about transgender individuals in general and transgender individuals with HIV, so there is a huge gap in research and a huge gap in care information that we need different studies to inform us,” Yehia said. Yehia said the most surprising finding of the study also turned out to be the most significant: He was pleased to see that transgender persons are doing as well in treatment as cisgender individuals. “Based on what I have been reading, I expected transgender persons would not be doing as well just because that is how it has always been or at least reported. It is refreshing that they are doing just as well,” Yehia said. The study only reported on individuals who were currently in care. Yehia reiterated the importance of all people, regardless of gender identity, getting tested for HIV. “A lot of folks don’t know they are infected, so once you get in care you do just as well,” he said. “It is motivation to make sure we test everyone and test transgender individuals since they are a highrisk group and get them into care.” Yehia said he hopes this study fuels similar projects. “It calls for more studies like these and research to focus on LGBT health and really build on those qualities, and it should drive people to get tested and get into care regardless. You have a chance of being retained in care and starting therapy and there are so many benefits once you enter care.” ■
Philadelphia Gay News
�����������������������
������������������������ ������������������������
�������������������������������������������������
epgn.com
PRIDE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
At TD Bank, we like to bank human. And we’re proud to celebrate the LGBT community.
PAGE 51
PAGE 52
PRIDE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
Proudly supporting your journey to parenthood.
Happy Pride!
Free Sperm Donor Information Call Now for Free Unlimited Access
$150 Value Call 800-338-8407
800-338-8407 | www.fairfaxcryobank.com Available Nationwide
Mention Philly Pride and receive 1 week Unlimited Access FREE Offer Expires 12.31.13
PRIDE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PAGE 53
R E P RO D U C T I V E M E D I C I N E A S S O C I AT E S of Philadelphia
Hy Paul Studio www.hypaul.com
Trying to build a family? The doctors of RMA of Philadelphia are devoted to helping you achieve your dream of parenthood. Our doctors are highly experienced, board-certified fertility specialists with some of the highest success rates in the area. At RMA of Philadelphia, we are proud to serve the LGBT community. To schedule a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION or for more information, call (855)-RMA-PHIL (855-762-7445); or visit www.rmaphiladelphia.com. Barton Paul Photography www.bartonpaul.com
We specialize in all events including Commitment Ceremonies, Engagement Parties, Rehearsal Dinners and Social Events.
Spring Mill Country Club
Blair Mill Inn
www.springmillcountryclub.com
www.blairmillinn.com
www.springmillmanor.com
215-674-3900
Spring Mill Manor
215-675-6000 Ivyland, PA
Horsham, PA
RMAphiladelphia.com | 855-RMA-PHIL (855-762-7445) Philadelphia • King of Prussia • Willow Grove • Langhorne • Harrisburg
PAGE 54
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PRIDE INTERNATIONAL from page 46
U.K. coroner slams press in trans suicide case A British coroner has criticized the press for “salacious” coverage of a transgender teacher who later killed herself. Coroner Michael Singleton says the British press displayed ignorance and bigotry in covering the case of a man who went through a transition shortly before she committed suicide in March. The teacher’s pupils had been told they should refer to her as Lucy Meadows after she returned to school. The case generated national news coverage after some parents raised questions. Singleton said the coverage was inflammatory. He urged the government to adopt the recommendations of a recent inquiry into press wrongdoings. A spokesperson for the Daily Mail said May 29 that Meadows’ suicide note did not mention press coverage as a factor.
Hundreds celebrate France’s first gay marriage Two men wed in the southern city of Montpellier on May 29 in the first legal same-sex marriage in France. The wedding of Vincent Autin, 40, and Bruno Boileau, 30, came just 11 days after President François Hollande signed a marriage-equality law. The men married in a civil ceremony at the Montpellier town hall conducted by the mayor, Hélène Mandroux, who has been an outspoken proponent of gay rights. About 500 people were reported to be in attendance, including a government minister and more than 200 journalists. Television news channels offered live coverage, and news agencies published urgent dispatches at the conclusion of the ceremony, which the men sealed with a lengthy embrace.
Puerto Rico governor signs
gay-rights bill
Puerto Rico’s governor has signed a bill that prohibits employment discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation. Alejandro Garcia Padilla said May 29 that he met his obligations as a Christian by signing the bill and congratulated legislators on approving the proposal. The original measure would have also banned discrimination in commercial transactions, property rentals, public transportation and other circumstances. Those clauses were removed after heavy opposition by religious groups. Most government agencies in the U.S. territory already have anti-discriminatory policies, but human-rights activists say they are often not enforced. Garcia also signed a separate bill that extends a domestic-violence law to gays. ■ — compiled by Larry Nichols
PRIDE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PAGE 55
Community Bulletin Board Community centers
■ The Attic Youth Center 255 S. 16th St.; 215545-4331; atticyouthcenter.org. For LGBT and questioning youth and their friends and allies. Groups meet and activities are held 4-7 p.m. Monday-Tuesday and 4-8:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday. Case management, HIV testing and smoking cessation are available Monday-Friday. See the Youth section for more events. ■ Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center at the University of Pennsylvania 3907 Spruce St., 215-898-5044; center@dolphin.upenn.edu. Regular hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday; noon-6 p.m. Saturday; noon-8 p.m. Sunday. Summer hours: 10 a.m.5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
■ ActionAIDS: 215-981-0088
■ Rainbow Room — Bucks County’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and Allies Youth Center 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays: Salem UCC Education Building, 181 E. Court St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981 ext. 9065 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: noon-9 p.m. MondayThursday; noon-3 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Friday; noon-6 p.m. Saturday. Volunteers: New Orientation: First Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.
Key numbers
■ AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania: 215-587-9377
■ Equality Pennsylvania: 215-731-1447; www.equalitypa.org
■ AIDS Law Project of Southern New Jersey: 856-933-9500 ext. 221
■ Equality Forum: 215-732-3378
■ AIDS Library: 215985-4851 ■ ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215-592-1513 ■ AIDS Treatment Fact line: 800-6626080 ■ Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection at the Independence Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library: 215-685-1633
■ LGBT Elder Initiative: 267-546-3448; info@LGBTEI.org ■ LGBT Peer Counseling Services: 215732-TALK ■ Mayor’s Director of LGBT Affairs: Gloria Casarez, 215686-2194; Gloria. Casarez@phila.gov; Fax: 215-686-2555
■ The COLOURS Organization Inc.: 215-4960330
■ Mazzoni Center: 215-563-0652; Legal Services: 215-5630657, 866-LGBT-LAW; Family & Community Medicine: 215-5630658
■ District Attorney LGBT Liaison:Helen “Nellie” Fitzpatrick, 215-686-9980, helen. fitzpatrick@phila.gov
■ Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): 215572-1833
■ Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations: 215-686-4670 ■ Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force: 1-877-pride2000 ■ Philadelphia Police Department liaison — Deputy Commissioner Kevin Bethel: 215-686-3318 ■ Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 215-760-3686 (Rick Lombardo); ppd. lgbt@gmail.com ■ Philly Pride Presents: 215-875-9288 ■ SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: 717920-9537 ■ Transgender Health Action Coalition: 215-732-1207 (staffed 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays and 6-9 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays)
Health
Anonymous, free, confidential HIV testing Spanish/English counselors offer testing 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 216 W. Somerset St.; 215-763-8870. ActionAIDS Provides a range of programs for people affected by HIV/AIDS, including case management, prevention, testing and education services at 1216 Arch St.; 215-981-0088; www.actionaids.org. AIDS Services In Asian Communities Provides HIV-related services to Asians and Pacific Islanders at 1711 S. Broad St.; 215-629-2300; www.asiac.org.
Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative Free, anonymous HIV testing from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; noon-6 p.m. Tuesdays at the Washington West Project, 1201 Locust St.; 215-851-1822 or 866-222-3871; www.galaei.org. Spanish/English HIV treatment Free HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment for Philadelphia residents are available from 9 a.m.-noon Mondays
■ 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; 215-6279090; 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 website where everyone
(walk-in) and 5-8 p.m. Thursdays (by appointment) at Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad St.; 215-685-1821.
HIV health insurance help Access to free medications and confidential HIV testing 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays at 13 S. 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 chronic-disease 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-Thursday; 9 a.m.-noon Friday; 1-5 p.m. Saturday; 1201 Locust St.; 215-985-9206.
Professional groups is invited to sign up for email notices for activities and events; www.gppn.org; 215922-3377. ■ 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 information about events, programs and membership; 215557-0190; 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.nlgja.org/philly; philly@nlgja.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; 215-840-2039.
PAGE 56
PRIDE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
Men
Delco Dudes A men’s social and support group meets 7-9 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County, 145 W. Rose Tree Road in Media; delco. dudes@uucdc.org. Gay Married Men’s Association Meets 8 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesdays at the William Way Center; www.gammaphilly.com. Men of All Colors Together Meets 7:30 p.m. the third Friday of the month, September through June, at the William Way Center; 610-2776595; www.MACTPhila.org. Men’s Coming Out Group, N.J. Meets 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays at The Pride Center of New Jersey; njwarrior@aol.com. Men of Color United A discussion/support group for gay and bisexual men of color meets 6-8 p.m. every Wednesday at 112 N. Broad St., third 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. Thursdays at Camden AHEC, 514 Cooper St., Camden, N.J.; 856-963-2432. Philly Dads An association of gay and bisexual fathers supporting each other meets 7:30 p.m. the fourth Friday of the month at the William Way Center; 215-668-5239.
Parents/Families Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Bucks County Meets 7:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month at Penns Park United Methodist Church, 2394 Second Street Pike, Penns Park; 215-3489976.
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Chester County Meets 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month at the Unitarian Fellowship of West Chester, 501 S. High St.; 484354-2448. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/ Collingswood, N.J. Meets 6:30-9 p.m. the fourth Monday of the month at the Collingswood Public Library, 771 Haddon Ave.; 609-202-4622; pflagcollingswood@yahoo.com. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Media Meets 7 p.m. the second tuesday of every month at the Unitarian Universal Church, 145 Rose Tree Rd.; 610-368-2121. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/ Philadelphia Meets 2-5 p.m. the 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 7:30 p.m. the 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 7-9 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1502 W. 13th St.; 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 held monthly; 215-600-2864; www. phillyfamilypride.org.
Trans
Evolutions A drop-in support group for anyone on the transgender spectrum meets 6 p.m. Thursdays at 21 S. 12th St., eighth floor; 215-563-0652 ext. 235. Mazzoni Center Family and Community Medicine Primary health care and specialized transgender services in a safe, professional, nonjudgmental environment, 809 Locust St.; 215563-0658. T-MAN People of color support group for transmen, FTMs, butches, studs, aggressives, bois, genderqueer and all female-born individuals with gender questions meets 7:30-9:30 p.m. Mondays, second floor, 1201 Locust St.; 215-834-9063; tmanphilly.com. Transhealth Programming Committee Meets 5 p.m.the second and last Sundays of the month at the William Way Center. Transhealth Information Project Sponsors a weekly drop-in center from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. MondayThursday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fridays at 21 S. 12th St., 10th floor; 215-568-2221. Transgender Health Action Coalition Peer trans health-advocacy organization; 215-732-1207; www. critpath.org/thac. 1201 Locust street 4th floor. WeXist FTM support group meets 7-9 p.m. the second and fourth 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. Young, Trans and Unified Support group for transgender and questioning individuals ages 13-23 meets 7:15 p.m. Thursdays at The Attic Youth Center; 215-545-4331.
Women
Hanging Out With Lesbians A group in Central Pennsylvania that organizes activities such as concerts, camping, golf, picnics, hikes, plays and game nights in nonsmoking environments; http://groups.yahoo. com/group/howlofpa/. Lesbian Community of Delaware Valley Social group meets monthly for activities for gay women of all ages in Delaware, Chester and Montgomery counties; http://groups. yahoo.com/group/LCDV/. Lesbian Couples Dining Group of Montgomery County Meets monthly; 215-542-2899. Mt. Airy Lesbian Social Club For lesbians in the Philadelphia area ages 35-plus; www.meetup.com/ mtairylesbiansocial/. Queer Connections Social group for women in their 20s meets weekly; http://groups.yahoo. com/group/queerconnections/. Sistah 2 Sistah A social/support group for lesbians of color, ages 13-24, with weekly social events, open discusson and monthly movie/discussions, 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays, 112 N. Broad St., third floor; 215-496-0330. Women Coming Out Support Group
Women who consider themselves gay, lesbian, bisexual or questioning and are at any stage of the comingout process are welcome. Ages 18 and over. Meets 7:30 p.m. first Tuesday and third Thursday of the month at the Pride Center of NJ.
Youth
40 Acres of Change Discussion group for teen and young adults meets 6-8 p.m. Thursdays at The COLOURS Organization Inc., 112 N. Broad St., 11th floor; 215496-0330. GLBT Group of Hunterdon County Social and support groups for youth, teens and young adults, as well as parents and family members, meets at North County Branch Library, 65 Halstead St. in Clinton, N.J. Schedule at www.glbtofhunterdoncountyofnj. com; 908-300-1058. HAVEN For GLBT, intersex, questioning, queer and allied youth ages 14-20; meets 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Lehigh Valley, 424 Center St., Bethlehem; 610-868-2153. HiTOPS A safe-space support program for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth, meets 2:30-4:30 p.m. on the first and third Saturdays at 21 Wiggins St., Princeton, N.J. Call Connie at 609683-5155 (day); hitops.org. Main Line Youth Alliance Meets from 7-9:30 p.m. Fridays at 106 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne; 610688-1861; 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.; 215772-1107. PRYSM Youth Center For youth ages 14-20. Meets 6:30-8:30 p.m. at center, 126 East Baltimore Pike, Media; 610-3579948. Rainbow Room — Bucks County’s LGBTQ and Allies Youth Center For ages 14-21; meets 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays at Salem UCC Education Building, 181 E. Court St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981 ext. 9065; rainbowroom@ppbucks.org. Social X Change Social activity group for LGBT youth of color ages 13-23 meets 6-8 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, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at Planned Parenthood of Chester County’s West Chester office, 8 S. Wayne St.; 610-692-1770. Young, Trans and Unified A support group for transgender and questioning youth ages 13-23 meets 7:15 p.m. Thursdays at The Attic Youth Center. You’re Not Alone A group for gay, lesbian and bisexual youth that meets during the school year; sponsored by AIDS Delaware, 100 W. 10th St., Suite 315, Wilmington. Call 800-810-6776 for more details. Youth Making a Difference For GLBTQ African-American and Latino youth ages 14-24. Meets 5-7 p.m. every Tuesday at Camden AHEC, 514 Cooper St.; 856-9632432.
Activism/Politics
ACT-UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) meets 6-9 p.m. every Monday at St. Luke and The Epiphany Church, 330 S. 13th St.; 215-386-1981; www.actupphilly.org. Delaware Valley Chapter, Americans United for Separation of Church and State seeks activists and supporters of church-state separation. Holds monthly meetings and events; www.dvau.org. Equality Pennsylvania holds a volunteer night the second Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m., 1211 Chestnut St., Suite 605; 215-731-1447; www.equalitypa.org. Green Party of Philadelphia holds general meetings the fourth Thursday of the month except August and December, 7 p.m.; 215-243-7103; www.gpop.org. Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club meets seasonally; www.libertycity.org.
Arts
Library Book Club meets to discuss a new book 7 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month at the William Way Center. Philadelphia Freedom Band, an audition-free LGBT band that does concerts and parades, rehearses Mondays 7-9:30 p.m.; philadelphiafreedomband.com. Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus rehearses 7-10 p.m. Wednesdays; 215-731-9230; auditions@pgmc.org. Philadelphia Gay Men’s Opera Club meets to share and listen to recordings 6:30 p.m. the last Saturday of the month; 215-732-7898. Philadelphia Voices of Pride, Philadelphia’s first mixed GLBT chorus, rehearses 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the William Way Center; www.pvop.org. Queer Writer’s Collective workshop and discussion group meets 4-6 p.m. the fourth Saturday of the month at the William Way Center. Reading Queerly, open to all women and genderqueer/ trans people, meets 6:45 p.m. the first Thursday of the month at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.
Recreation
Gay Bridge Club non-beginners group meets Monday 1:30-4:30 p.m. at the William Way Center; reservations required. Call 215-732-2220. Gay-friendly Scrabble Club meets 6-11 p.m. in the P.I.C. Building, 42nd and Locust streets; 215-382-0789. Gay Opera Guys of Philly, a new group for opera appreciation, meets the last Sunday of the month at 2:30 p.m. in Roxborough/Andorra area; 215-483-1032. Humboldt Society: Lesbian and Gay Naturalists meets the second Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the William Way Center; 215-985-1456; www.humboldtsociety.org. Independence Squares LGBT square-dance club, modern Western square dancing. Monthly open house. Tuesday classes in the fall; Lutheran Church, 2111 Sansom St.; philadances@gmail.com; www.independencesquares.org. Male Oenophile Group forming to discuss, appreciate and taste various wines. Will meet once a month to investigate the nuances and glories of the fermented grape. Call 267-230-6750 for more information. Mornings OUT LGBT Senior Social activities for senior gay men are held every Tuesday, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the William Way Center. PhilaVentures, Philadelphia’s LGBT outdoor group, meets for hikes in Wissahickon Valley and Valley Forge Park; philaventures.org.
Sports
Brandywine Women’s Rugby Club meets for Tuesday and Thursday practice at 8 p.m. Greenfield Park, West Chester; www.brandywinerugby.org. City of Brotherly Love Softball League serves the Philadelphia metropolitan area. Games are played Sundays, beginning in April, in Fairmount Park; www. cblsl.org. Frontrunners running club meets 9:30 a.m. Saturdays for a run and brunch. Lloyd Hall, No. 1 Boathouse Row; www.philadelphiafrontrunners.org. Philadelphia Falcons Soccer Club LGBT and allies; plays 6 p.m. Wednesdays and 10 a.m. Saturdays at Edgely Fields in Fairmount Park; www.falcons-soccer.org. Philadelphia Fins Swim Team, male and female swimmers, meets 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday at Friends Select School and 10:30 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays at Kelly Pool in Fairmount Park; www.philadelphia-fins.org. Philadelphia Gay Bowling League meets 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays September-April at Brunswick Zone, 1328 Delsea Drive, Deptford, N.J.; 856-889-1434; www.philagaybowling.com. Greater Philadelphia Flag Football League games played Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., at Columbus Square Park, 1200 Wharton St.; phillyflagfootball.com. Philadelphia Gryphons Rugby Football Club seeks players, all skill levels welcome; meets 7:45
p.m. Thursdays at Columbus Square Park, 1200 Wharton St.; 215-913-7531; philadelphiagryphons.org; becomeagryphon@gmail.com. Philadelphia Liberty Belles women’s semi-pro full-tackle football league holds fall tryouts; phillybelles.com. Philadelphia Liberty Tennis Association plays yearround, all skill levels welcome; philadelphialibertytennis. com. Philadelphia Firebirds women’s football team seeks players; www.philadelphiafirebirds.com. Philadelphia Women’s Baseball League seeks players, all skill levels and ages welcome. Practice is Thursdays, 7 p.m. at Marian Anderson Recreation Center, 17th and Fitzwater streets, with games on Sundays 2:30 p.m.; phillywomensbaseball.com; contact Narda Quigley, (day) 215-991-5995 or (evening) 301-919-1194. Philly Gay Hockey Association Philadelphia Phury seeks players; 917-656-1936; phury@gayhockey.org. Philly QCycle LGBT bicycling club promotes organized recreational riding for all levels in the Greater Philadelphia region. Contact the organization via Facebook. Rainbow Riders of the Delaware Valley motorcycle club meets regularly; 215-836-0440; www.groups.yahoo.com/ group/rainbowridersdv/. Rainbow Rollers gay and lesbian bowling league meets 7:45 p.m. Tuesdays at Boulevard Lanes in Northeast Philadelphia; rainbowrollers.com. Spartan Wrestling Club, the gay wresting team, meets 6:30-9 p.m. Mondays (no August practice) at the First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St.; 215-732-4545; www.phillyspartans.com. Suburban Gay Bowling League bowls at 8 p.m. Thursdays from August-April at Facenda-Whitaker Lanes, 2912 Swede Road, Norristown; sgblbowl@gmail.com. Team Philadelphia, the umbrella group for gay and lesbian sports teams, and individual athletes in the Delaware Valley come together to provide a healthy outlet for all members of the community; teamphiladelphia.org.
Etc.
AIDS Law Project provides free legal assistance to people with HIV/AIDS and sponsors free monthly seminars on work and housing; 1211 Chestnut St., Suite 600; 215-587-9377; www.aidslawpa.org. BiUnity, Philadelphia-area social and support network for bisexuals, their family members and friends meets the second Friday of every other month at the William Way Center; www.biunity.org. Delaware Valley Pink Pistols for LGBT people dedicated to legal, safe and responsible use of firearms for self-defense; meets 2 p.m. the third Saturday of the month at Classic Indoor Range, 1310 Industrial Blvd., Southampton; 610-879-2364; www.pinkpistols.org. Delaware Pride holds planning meetings 7 p.m. the first Thursday of the month at the United Church of Christ, 300 Main St., Newark; 302-265-3020; delawarepride.org. Haverford College’s Sexuality and Gender Alliance holds open meetings 10-11 p.m. Mondays during the school year in the lounge in Jones Basement at Haverford College, 370 Lancaster Ave.; 610-896-4938. Men and Women for Human Excellence support group meets from noon-2 p.m. the first and third Saturdays of the month at 26th Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue; 267273-3513; cmoore8300@yahoo.com. Long Yang Club Philadelphia social organization for gay Asians and their friends holds monthly socials; www. longyangclub.org/philadelphia. Our Night Out, a casual social networking party of LGBT professionals, friends and colleagues, meets in a different Philadelphia hot spot each month. To receive monthly event invitations, email OurNightOutPhilly@gmail.com; more information on Facebook. Philadelphia Bar Association Legal Advice offered 5-8 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month; 215-238-6333. Philadelphia Prime Timers club for mature gay and bisexual men and their admirers meets regularly; primetim ersofphiladelphia@yahoo.com. Philadelphians MC Club for leather men and women meets 7:30 p.m. the first and third Monday of the month at The Pit at The Bike Stop, 201 S. Quince St.; philadelphiansmc.org. Rainbow Amateur Radio Association ARRL-affiliated, weekly HF nets, quarterly newsletter; www.rara.org. Rock ’n’ Roll Queer Bar Party for gay and lesbian rockers with host Psydde Delicious starts 10 p.m. every first Sunday at Fluid, 613 S. Fourth St.; www. RocknRollQueerBar.com. Silver Foxes, a social and educational group for gays and lesbians 50 and older, meets 3-5 p.m. the fourth Sunday of the month at the William Way Center. SNJ Queers meets monthly for queer/queer-friendly folks in South Jersey to mix and mingle. Search for SNJ Queers on Facebook; contact Wendy at 856-375-3708 or wmf69@comast.net.
PRIDE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PAGE 57
locations in Philadelphia PHILADELPHIA — AROUND THE GAYBORHOOD
12th Street Gym, 204 S. 12th St. • 13th Street Gourmet Pizza, 209 S. 13th St. • AACO, 1101 Market St., 9th floor • Action AIDS, 1216 Arch St. • Apt. & Townhouse Rentals, 304 S. 12th St. • ASIAC, 1711 S. Broad St. • The Bike Stop, 206 S. Quince St. • Bioscript Pharmacy, 1227 Locust St. • Cafe Twelve, 212 S. 12th St. • Charlie Salon, 203 S. 12th St. • City Hall NE Entrance • Club Body Center, 1220 Chancellor St. • Com-Har Living Room, 101 S. Broad St., 14th floor • Criminal Justice Center, 1301 Filbert St. • Cut Salon, 204 S. 13th St. • Danny’s Bookstore 133 S. 13th St. • Dignity/St. Lukes, 330 S. 13th St. • Dirty Frank’s Bar, 13th & Pine sts. • The Foodery, 10th & Pine sts. • Fusion Gym, 105 S. 12th St., 2nd floor • Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St. • I Goldberg, 1300 Chestnut St. • ICandy, 254 S. 12th St. • Independent Hotel, 13th & Locust sts. • Mazzoni Clinic, 809 Locust St. • Midtown II, 122 S. 11th St. • More Than Just Ice Cream, 1119 Locust St. • Pa. AIDS Law Project, 1211 Chestnut St., 12th floor • Paolo Pizzeria, 1336 Pine St. • Parker Hotel Lobby, 261 S. 13th St. • Phila. FIGHT/Aids Library, 1233 Locust St., 5th floor • Phila. Family Planning Commission, 260 S. Broad St., 10th floor • Planned Parenthood, 1144 Locust St. • Sansom Cinema, 120 S. 13th St., basement • Santa Fe Burrito, 212 S. 11th St. • Scorpio Books, 202 S. Juniper St. • Sisters, 1320 Chancellor St. • Spruce Street Video, 252 S. 12th St. • Packard Apartments, 317 N. Broad St. • Safeguards lobby, 1211 Chestnut St. #610 • Salon K, 1216 Locust St. • Sansom Cinema, 120 S. 13th St. • Sante Fe Burrito, 212 S. 11th St. • Tabu, 200 S. 12th St. • Tavern on Camac, 243 S. Camac St. • Triangle Medicine, 253 S. 10th St., 1st floor • Uncles, 1220 Locust St. • Valanni, 1229 Spruce St. • Venture Inn, 255 S. Camac St. • Voyeur, 1220 St. James St. • Westbury, 261 S. 13th St. • William Way LGBT Community Center, 1325 Spruce St. • Woody’s, 202 S. 13th St. •
PHILADELPHIA — C.C. EAST OF BROAD
Bean Café, 615 South St. • Best Western Independence Park Hotel lobby, 215 Chestnut St. • Chocolate Works Condo lobby, 321 N. Third St. • Copabanana, 342 South St. • Dane Décor, 315 Arch St. • Famous 4th St. Deli, Fourth & Bainbridge sts. • Hopkinson House, 604 S. Washington Sq. • Hyatt Regency Hotel lobby, 201 S. Columbus Blvd. • Independence Place Condos, 241 S. Sixth St., lobby in both towers • Independence Visitors Center, Sixth & Market sts. • Old City Ironworks Gym, 141 N. Second St. • Nationality Service Center, 1216 Arch St. • Packard Apts., 317 N. Broad St. • PGN offices, 505 S. Fourth St. • Philadelphia Java Co., 518 S. Fourth St. • Reading Terminal Market, 12th & Filbert sts. • Strands Salon, 25 N. Third St. •
PHILADELPHIA — C.C. WEST OF BROAD
Adonis Cinema, 2026 Sansom St. • Art Institute, 1610 Chestnut St. • Art Institute, 1622 Chestnut St. • Art Institute, 2300 Market St. • The Attic Youth Center, 255 S. 16th St. • Bob & Barbara’s, 1509 South St. • Book Bin, 22nd & Market sts. • Dan Tobey R/E, 1401 Walnut St., 8th floor • Dr. Wakefield’s Office, 255 S. 17th St., Suite 2306 • Drexel Partnership, 1427 Vine St., 3rd floor • Latimer Deli, 255 S. 15th St. • L-2 Restaurant, 22nd & South sts. • MANNA, 12 S. 23rd St. • Marine Club Condos lobby, Broad St. & Washington Ave. • Metropolitan, 115 N. 15th St. • Safeguards Lobby, 1700 Market St., 18th floor • Sansom St. Gym, 2020 Sansom St. • South Square Market, 2221 South St. • Titan Room, 22nd & Market sts. • Touraine Building lobby, 1520 Spruce St. • U Do It Laundry, 15th & Spruce sts. • Wyndham Franklin Plaza Hotel, 17th & Race sts. •
PHILADELPHIA — NORTH OF C.C.
1 Shot Coffee, 1040 N. Second St. • 2601 Parkway Condos lobby, 2601 Pennsylvania Ave. • Bebashi, 1217 Spring Garden St. • Beehive Hair Salon, 2319 Fairmount Ave. • Beth Ahavah, 615 N. Broad St. • Bridgeview Place Condo lobby, 315 New St. • Colonnade Condos lobby, 1601 Spring Garden St. • Community College CCP Lambda, 1700 Spring Garden St. • Congresso de Latinos, American St. & Lehigh Ave. • Crooked Frame Café, 2545 Brown St. • Darling’s Diner, 1033 N. Second St. • Filter Coffee House, 331 Race St. • Girard Vet, 28th St. & Girard Ave. • HIV Early Intervention Clinic, St. Joseph’s Hospital, 16th St. & Girard Ave. • Logan View Apts. lobby, 17th & Callowhill sts. • Northern Liberties Iron Works, 821 N. Second St. • One Day At A Time, 2532 N. Broad St. • Philadelphian Condos lobby, 2401 Pennsylvania Ave. • PYT Restaurant, 1050 N. Hancock St., at the Piazza • Sammy’s Place, 1449 N. Fifth St., 1st floor • Shampoo, Seventh & Willow sts. • SILOAM Ministries, 1133 Spring Garden St. • Temple University Student Activity Center, 1755 N. 12th St. • Welker Real Estate, 2311 Fairmount Ave. • Whole Foods Market, 2001 Pennsylvania Ave. •
PHILADELPHIA — SOUTH OF C.C.
Bethel Community Home, 933-935 S. Third St. • Black N Brew, 1523 E. Passyunk Ave. • Carmen’s Country Kitchen, 11th & Wharton sts. • Class Act Auto Repair, 2042 S. Bancroft St. • Equal, 1516 Snyder Ave. • Essene, 719 S. Fourth St. • Expressive Hand, 622 S. Ninth St. • Fuel, 1917 E. Passyunk Ave. • Hideaway, Days Inn, 2015 Penrose Ave. • Jackson Place, 501 Jackson St. • Kris Restaurant, 1100 Federal St. • Rockerhead Salon, 607 S. Third St. • South Philly Bagels, 613 S. Third St. • Ultimo Coffee, 1900 S. 15th St. •
PHILADELPHIA — UNIVERSITY CITY
Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St. • Bucks County Coffee, 3430 Sansom St. • Bucks County Coffee, 40th & Locust sts. • Fresh Grocer, 4001 Walnut St. • Goodman Hall, 710 S. 42nd St. • International House, 3701 Chestnut St. • LGBT Center at Penn, 3907 Spruce St. • Old Quaker Condos lobby, 3514 Lancaster Ave. • Oslo Hall, 510 S. 42nd St. • Penn Bookstore, 3610 Walnut St. • Sheraton Hotel, 36th & Chestnut sts. • St. Mary’s Church, 3916 Locust Walk • University of the Sciences England Library, 4200 Woodland Ave. • University Lutheran Church, 3637 Chestnut St. • Wilson Hall, 708 S. 42nd St. • World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. •
PHILADELPHIA NEIGHBORHOODS — OTHER
Almost Paradise, 742 Frankford Ave. • Coffee Junction, 7210 Cresheim Road • Elfant Wissahickon Realty, 8962 Ridge Ave. • Fantasy Island Books, 7363 State Road • GWHS Beacon Center, 10175 Bustleton Ave. • Harry’s Natural Foods, 1805 Cottman Ave. • Infusion Salon, 7133 Germantown Ave. • Morris House, 5537 Woodland Ave. • One Day At A Time, 2532 N. Broad St. • Philadelphia University KANBAR Center, 4201 Henry Ave. • Prevention Point, 166 W. Lehigh Ave. • Today’s Videos, 9255 Roosevelt Blvd. • Touch of Class Books, 3342 Kensington Ave. • WCAU TV lobby, City Line Ave. & Monument Road • Weaver’s Way, 559 Carpenter Lane • Welker Real Estate, 2311 Fairmount Ave. • WPVI TV lobby, City Line Ave. & Monument Road •
PAGE 58
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
����������
���
PRIDE
locations in Pa. outside of Philadelphia
Allentown • Allentown Brew Works, 812 Hamilton St. • Candida, 247 N. 12th St. • MCCLV, 930 N. Fourth St. • Stonewall, 28-30 N. 10th St. • Annville • Lebanon Valley College, Sheridan Ave. • Ardmore • Ardmore Station, Anderson Ave. near Coulter Ave. • Bethel • Adult World, 341 Midway Road • Bethlehem • LGBTQ Services Lehigh U, 25 Trembley Dr. • Bloomsberg • Bloomsberg University LGBTA Center, 400 E. Second St. • Bristol • Bristol News World, 576B Bristol Pike • Bryn Mawr • Bryn Mawr College, Canaday Library • Bryn Mawr Station, Morris Ave. near Bryn Mawr Ave. • Fox & Roach Realty, 763 Lancaster Ave. • TLA Video, 761 Lancaster Ave. • Chester • Harrah’s Chester Casino, 777 Harrah’s Blvd. • Widener University, 1 University Place • Collegeville • Adult World, 3975 Ridge Pike • Devon • Devon Station, Devon State Road & Lancaster Pike • Doylestown • Doylestown Bookshop, 16 S. Main St. • Siren Records, 25 E. State St. • East Stroudsburg • Rainbow Mountain Resort, 210 Mt. Nebo Road • Easton • La Pazza, 1251 Ferry St. • Gibson • Hillside Campground, 1 Creek Road • Glen Mills • Imago Dei MCC, 1223 Middletown Road • Glenside • Keswick Cycle, 408 N. Easton Road • Harrisburg • 704 Strawberry Café, 704 N. Third St. • AIDS Community Alliance, 100 N. Cameron St. • Brownstone Lounge, 412 Forster St. • Liquid 891, 891 Eisenhower Blvd. • Midtown Scholar Bookstore, 1302 N. 3rd St. • MCC of the Spirit, 2973 Jefferson St. • Stallions, 706 N. Third St. • Haverford • Haverford Station, Haverford Station Road near Lancaster Ave. • Kutztown • Kutztown University, 15200 Main St. • Lancaster • Downtown Books, 227 N. Prince St. • Sundown Lounge, 429 N. Mulberry St. • Tally Ho Tavern, 201 W. Orange St. • Lansdale • Gwynedd Vet Hospital, 1615 W. Pointe Pike • Lehighton • Woods Campground, 845 Vaughn Acres Road • Levittown • Levitt Books, 7406 Bristol Pike • Malvern • Malvern Station, King St. & Warren Ave. • Media • Unitarian Universalist Church, 145 W. Rose Tree Road • The Media Theater, 104 E. State St. • LGBT Alliance Group, Delaware Co. Campus, Penn State Univ., 901 Media Line Road • Moosic • 12 Penny Saloon, 3501 Birney Ave. • Narberth • Narberth Station, Haverford & Narberth avenues • New Hope • Café Europa, 11 Market Place • Cornerstone Gym, 419 York Road • Eagle Diner, 6522 York Road • Havana, 105 S. Main St. • John & Peters, 96 S. Main St. • Karla’s Restaurant, 5 W. Mechanic St. • La Chateau Exotique, 31A W. Mechanic St. • Havana Bar & Grill, 105 S. Main St. • The Raven, 385 W. Bridge St. • Sandbar, 90 S. Main St. • Triumph Brewing Co., 400 Union Square Drive • Wildflowers, 8 W. Mechanic St. • New Milford • Oneida Campground, 2580 E. Lake Road • Newtown • Bucks Co. Community College, 275 Swamp Road • North Wales • Adult World, 608 Upper State Road • Paoli • Paoli Station, North Valley Road & Lincoln Highway • Plains Township • Twist Bar, Fox Ridge Plaza, Rte. 315 • Quakertown • Adult World, 880 S. West End Blvd. • Reading • Berls Aid Network, 429 Walnut St. • Reading Adult Center, 316 Penn St. • Rosemont • Rosemont Station, Airdale Road & Montrose Ave. • Spring Grove • Atland’s Ranch, RR6, Box 6543 • Swarthmore • Swarthmore College, 500 College Ave., Parrish Hall • Temple • Naughty But Nice, 4502 N. Fifth St. • Upper Darby • Honor Box, 69th Street Station • Villanova • Villanova Station, Spring Mill Road near County Line Road • Warminster • Darkanyu, Bux Mont Unitarian Church, Street Road at Rt. 611 • Planned Parenthood of Bucks Co., 610 Louis Dr. • Wayne • Central Baptist Church, 106 W. Lancaster Ave. • Stafford Station, Old Eagle School & Crestline roads • Wayne Station, N. Wayne & West Ave. • West Chester • Chester County Books, 975 Paoli Pike • Williamsport • Peachies, 144 E. Fourth St. • Willow Grove • Barnes & Noble, 102 Park Ave. • Wynnwood • Wynnwood Station, Wynnewood & Penn roads •
����������
��� locations outside of Pennsylvania DELAWARE
Wilmington • AIDS Delaware, 100 W. 10th St. • Crimson Moon, 1909 S. Sixth St. • Rehoboth Beach • Canal Side Inn, 34 Sixth St. • Double L Bar, 622 Rehoboth Ave. • Proud Bookstore, 149 Rehoboth Ave. • Rams Head Inn, 35006 Warrington Ave. • Rigby’s Bar & Grill, 404 Rehoboth Ave. • Shore Inn, 37239 Rehoboth Ave. •
NEW JERSEY
Asbury Park • Georgie’s, 812 Fifth Ave. • Paradise, 101 Asbury Ave. • Atlantic City • Oasis, 32 S. Tennessee Ave. • Ocean House, 127 S. Ocean Ave. • Pro Bar, Resorts Casino, 1133 Boardwalk, 13th floor • Ritz Condo lobby, 2715 Boardwalk • Bordentown • Shoppe 202, 202 Farnsworth Ave. • Camden • Honor Box, PATCO Ferry Ave. Station • Cherry Hill • Unitarian Church, 400 N. Kings Hwy. • Andriotti’s Viennese Café, 1442 E. Route 70 • Collingswood • Honor Box, PATCO Collingswood Station • Honor Box, PATCO Ferry Ave. Station • Egg Harbour City • Red Barn Books, 1204 White Horse Pike • Galloway • Pride Alliance Stockton College, 101 Vera King Farris Dr. suite 240 • Gloucester City • Red Barn Books, 600 Rt. 130 South • Haddonfield • Honor Box, PATCO Haddonfield Station, PATCO Westmont Station, PATCO Woodcrest Station • Highland Park • Pride Center of NJ, 85 Raritan Ave. • Lambertville• Body Tech, 80 Lambert Lane • Lebanon • GLBT of Hunterdon Co., 126 Petticoat Lane • Lindenwold • Honor Box, PATCO Lindenwold Station East • Honor Box, PATCO Lindenwold Station West • Morristown • Gay Activist Alliance, Unitarian Church, 29 Normandy Heights Road • Oaklyn • Sacred Green Earth, 511 Whitehorse Pike • Princeton • LGBT Center, Princeton University, 246 First Campus Center • Somerset • The Den, 700 Hamilton Ave. • Stratford • White Horse Books, 906 White Horse Pike • Vineland • J&J News, 729 N. Main St. • West Berlin • Red Barn Books, 597 Route 73 North • Williamstown • Book Bin, 3852 S. Black Horse Pike •
NEW YORK Blooming Grove • Help Inc., 48 Sylvan Trail • New York City • Lesbian and Gay Services Center, 208 W. 13th St.
All of these locations are now visible on a zoomable Google Map at
http://www.epgn.com/pages/where_to_find WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE YOUR BUSINESS OR ORGANIZATION ON THIS LIST? Contact Don at don@epgn.com or 215-625-8501 ext. 200 to arrange for delivery of complimentary copies.
PRIDE
Every Wednesday night 8 p.m. - 1 a.m. you can get a free confidential HIV test at
Philadelphia FIGHT
and receive free admission to Woody’s dance floor, a free slice of pizza from 13th Street Gourmet Pizza, and a chance to win great prizes.
Philadelphia FIGHT 1233 Locust St., 3rd floor
www.fight.org 215.985.4448
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PAGE 59
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PRIDE
Photo by J. Smith for GPTMC
PAGE 60
, e m o h t a l e e f o t DeaR wants follow the signs .
P.S. Plan your visit to Philadelphia’s LGBT PRide ParAde and Festival on June 9.
PRIDE
AC ul t ure rts
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PAGE 68
Barcrawlr CD Reviews Family Portrait Out & About Scene in Philly Q Puzzle Worth Watching
PAGE 61
Page 69 Page 70 Page 83 Page 96 Page 65 Page 84 Page 95
PHILLY’S
OUT LIST
By Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor On June 27, HBO will air “The Out List,” an inspiring, hour-long documentary featuring interviews with 16 LGBT folks, ranging from Neil Patrick Harris and Wanda Sykes to Lady Bunny and Cynthia Nixon. In monologues of fewer than five minutes, the interviewees eloquently address topics ranging from acceptance and self-expression to marriage equality. The documentary inspired PGN to create our own “Out List” for Pride, finding unique but universal stories from within our own queer community. Here’s what some leading LGBT community members had to say.
Amber Hikes, co-founder of Stimulus Productions and a board member of the William Way LGBT Community Center, talked about the importance of coming out. “ Vi s i b i l i t y is an issue I’m incredibly passionate about. I agree wholeheartedly with Harvey Milk that ‘every gay person should come out,’” she said. “If you do not put yourself AMBER HIKES
in physical or financial danger by doing your neighbors, your bosses, your daughso, please come out. There is tremendous ters, your friends, etc. We are you. In this community, our diversity is our strength, power in visibility.” so visibility is one of our stronShe continued, “As a femgest tools.” inine-presenting woman of color, there is power in my Justin Cook, a local publicoming out of the closet. cist, described his coming-out My mere existence proves and how, despite accepting that gay looks different himself, he still had fears. from what you imagined. “I had a rather painless realThat is huge. It blows your ization of my sexuality at 12 or homophobia (and the justifi13. But I quickly realized this cation for it) out of the water. was not something to broadI believe that when people cast at this time. It was not a leave the closet and step bad thing, but it was not in my into the streets, homophobia best interest to talk about this to begins to disappear. We are no longer the other. We are JUSTIN COOK people. PAGE 62
PAGE 62
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PRIDE
said. “Bisexuality seemed like a heavy label at the time. But it’s how I now describe myself — more as a way for others to understand me than any need For Justin Nordell, volunteer chair for I have to explain the Philadelphia Folk it to myself. It’s Festival, acceptance taken many years, “is an action word.” but I understand “We have seen in my identity as our lifetime the collecsomething a lot tive conscience mature less rigid, not easMEREDITH RAINEY f r o m t o l e r a n c e t o i l y d e fi n e d b y acceptance. I realized a label at all. In “The biggest thing was that I was scared JUSTIN NORDELL many ways, it has of losing my family. My parents had gay I was gay at a seventhhelped me apprefriends, but it’s always different when it’s grade sleepover and spent the better part of middle school figurciate other people’s differences someone you know as opposed to your ing out who I was supposed to be. I snuck and motivations. My hope is that child or a member of your family,” he said. “I decided to keep it to myself until I was downstairs late every Sunday to watch if the LGBT community truly wants to find on my own. I’d planned to come out on my ‘Queer as Folk’ 2 inches from the screen acceptance in society, they must first accept 23rd birthday. I was going to leave them a at the lowest possible volume to look for each other — regardless of where one may voicemail that I was gay and ask them to the future me onscreen. Was I a Brian or a fall on the Kinsey Scale. If the transgencall me back if they loved me. Turned out, I Michael? Ultimately I accepted that I am der community can teach us anything (has told my mom on three hours of sleep when I neither, learning to appreciate who I am, it ever!), it’s that identity doesn’t always was 21. There was a little awkwardness for and that I am awesome. Appreciate your- require a label. It’s simply about finding a while, but my sexuality has not altered my self for the individual that you are. If we peace within yourself — whoever you may can appreciate each other, and ourselves, be or whoever you may love.” relationship with my mother.” the rest of the world will follow suit. I’m Jasper Liem, MSS, therapist, echoed Meredith Rainey, artistic director/cho- ready to grow beyond acceptance to appreMcDonald’s points. ciation.” reographer of Carbon Dance Theatre, found “In my own experience, it has become a valuable connection with a gay friend. Bisexual writer and artist Natalie Hope increasingly important for me to be ‘out’ “To me, it’s always very funny that male McDonald, founder of as a transguy, especially dancers are [assumed to be] gay. In most ThePhillyQ.com, also since I now have the dubiof the companies I was in, it was always ous privilege of ‘passing.’ half and half. There were macho guys who talked about acceptance. “I wasn’t one of those When I started pursuing a were trying too hard, and guys you wish kids who had an epiphmore comfortable physical were gay,” Rainey said. “One of my best any at an early age. In appearance, I did not have friends, who is also gay, and I performed the intention of passing as the same part [in “Othello”] and it was fact, I had been attracted male, I just knew I didn’t amazing how it brought us together. When to men for as long as I can remember. It wasn’t want to have breasts anywe got this role, and we both investigated it until college that I entermore. A few months after together, we grew from it. That camaradesurgery, I decided to start rie ... he was like a brother; he will tell me tained the notion that taking testosterone. Maybe when I suck, or am doing something stupid. women could be as much a part of my romantic life a year later, people began There’s a sense that we have each other’s as men had been,” she assuming I was a gay man, NATALIE HOPE MCDONALD backs, and we won’t let the other get away LIST from page 61
with any shit: ‘You can do better than that.’ We only want the best and more for each other. He’s an amazing role model, and makes me want to be better.”
and that wasn’t how I identified at all. I missed having a community of queer women but felt outside of that community now that they also perceived me as a gay man,” he said. “Before I transitioned, my gender presentation made it obvious that I was a queer woman who fucked with gender stereotypes whenever possible. Being out as trans* JASPER LIEM has helped me keep some of that queerness that I had lost. I’m incredibly fortunate to have a supportive family and community around me, and I’m painfully aware that this is not the case for the majority of the trans* and gender nonconforming community. I can’t say that the process has been easy; in fact, it has taken a lot of personal work and finances, but I can say that the reward of accepting and loving myself has made it all worth it.” Educator and activist Van Nguyen also finds strength in embracing his gender nonconformity. “It was only a few years ago that, more often than not, I had long, flowing
VAN NGUYEN
Keep your puppy healthy for less with our monthly payment plan �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
WHY DOES YOUR PUPPY NEED PREVENTATIVE CARE? Illness is more common than you think
Prevention is the key to better healthy
Growing bones need special care
expensive.
Puppy Plan Basic Monthly Payment: One-time enrollment fee:
$34.23 $49.00
- Up to 4 Comprehensive Physical Exams - Up to 2 Intestinal Parasite Exams - Parasitology Blood Screen (Heartworm/Lyme/Ehrlichia/Anaplasmosis Test) - Up to 3 Deworming Treatments - Recommended Core Vaccines (Including Distemper, Leptospirosis, Bordetella, and Rabies Vaccinations) - 10% Off Any Other Products (does not include medications) Yearly Plan Cost: $410.74 Total Retail Value: $464.43
YOU SAVE OVER $
5300
These plans help keep your pet healthy while reducing the overall cost of their care!
������������������������������������������������������������� www.phillypethealthcenter.com | Facebook: http:www.facebook.com/PhillyPetHealthCenter
HOURS: MON.-THURS. 10AM-7PM; FRI. 10AM-6PM; SAT. 10AM-4PM; SUNDAY - CLOSED
PRIDE
hair and wore some kind of makeup. Nowadays, the only time I recreate that appearance is when I’m performing as a drag queen. I am not male, nor am I female. Being genderqueer has brought a new perspective into my life that allows me so much freedom in expressing myself, from the clothing that I wear to how I approach people. I am Van, and I can be anything I want to be. I don’t fit in boxes, and that’s all right.” Drag is also a form o f s e l f - ex p r e s s i o n f o r Nathan Walk, aka Mrs. Pinklewinkle. “People are always shocked when I tell them I’m a drag queen. Honestly, I never thought I’d do drag. When I first moved to Philadelphia, this guy I dated said he did drag. I never wanted to see a photo of him [in drag]. He left one on the bed once, and I was so pissed off.” But Walk changed his attitude, acknowledging, “I did drag because I wanted to be a comedian, and I was too nervous. I made YouTube videos of Mrs. Pinklewinkle (aka ‘Queen of the Gutters’) to express my creativity. I was the anti-drag queen. I used to wear nude fat suits with a giant X over the crotch. I wanted to go against typical drag queen. They were glamorous. I am more masculine in drag. I don’t look like a woman, so I don’t pretend to be one. I wanted my character to stand out and I put my own spin on it. The point is to get people to pay attention. What I do doesn’t embarrass me. If people embarrass you, then they got to you. Gay people are resilient.” Resilience is a topic of importance to Nick Padilla, Groundwork massage therapist and a Sacred Intimate. “Living in the LGBTQ world today takes
courage and passion. W hy wo u l d a ny one expect less?” he posed. “For me, being gay and queer means making conscious decisions to define myself, my sexuality and my spirituality. This is living powerfully. Being sexual is one way I express my true spirit into the world: open, playful, exploring and accepting. I help others to do the same in healthy and empowering ways — a role for which I feel NATHAN WALK great passion. Being LGBTQ is not about being a sexual minority, it’s a movement to create a majority of people consciously choosing to shape their personal world and, subsequently, the world around them.”
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
ADAM HAINES
Sexuality and spirituality have also been intertwined for Adam Haines, a musician/ educator and founder of Mobile Music. “Being raised in a conservative Evangelical household played a major role in my identity. I was Christian and I was gay. I’ve experienced the full array: prayer groups,
reparative therapy, dozens of ‘Biblical selfhelp’ books and ‘support groups,’” he said. “I can tell you firsthand, you can’t pray the gay away. To folks like myself, who have been offended and put off by the Christian community, I want to inform you that not all churches are created equally. There are many communities of faith, such as the Episcopal Church, that offer messages of love, inspiration and kindness to the world around them, regardless of their sexuality, religion, race or age. My hope is, as a global community, we will not focus on our differences, but focus on building communities where acceptance, peace and love are the foundations.”
NICK PADILLA
As members of the queer community move towards greater acceptance and equality, some are seeking marriage. Alisha Simons, quality-assurance and logistics manager at Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutritional Alliance, spoke on this topic. “Growing up, I never really thought about getting married. Having a piece of paper legitimize my relationship did not seem important to me. I always knew I would find that one special person to share my life with, but did I really need a legal marriage certificate that qualified me as officially married in the eyes of the law?” she posed.
PAGE 63
“I liked the romance, the pledge of love and commitment that marriage embodied; those were the things I most wanted. I still want those things today, only now I want more. “Over the years, I have come to realize just how powerful that piece of paper is, and how unprotected and vulnerable the LGBT community is without it. Without a marriage certificate, FMLA does not cover us to take leave from work to care for our partner if they become ill. Without marriage, our children are unprotected — as are the rights of the non-biological parent. We have no rights in medical emergencies, to shared property, to tax breaks or death benefits, to cover our partners on health insurance or to petition for our partners to immigrate. The list goes on and on. To d a y I realize how important, how vital, gay marriage ALISHA SIMONS is; that it does not do more to legitimize our relationships to ourselves, but rather protects and provides for those we love the most.” The message from all the respondents seems to be: Be out. Be proud. ■ Gary M. Kramer will host a free public screening of “The Out List” with director Timothy Greenfield-Sanders and special guests at 7:30 p.m. June 10 at the Free Library of Philadelphia, 1901 Vine St.
South Jersey’s original FEATURING: Always Fabulous Events is a wedding planning and event management company serving the Philadelphia area. Yes, we do same sex commitment celebrations too! Visit alwaysfabulousevents.com or call 866-653-9966 to schedule an initial meeting to discuss your special event.
Glass Fusing • Paint ‘Til You Faint VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR INFO ON THESE AND ALL OF OUR EVENTS, LIKE:
Glass Fusing Events • Birthday Parties Field Trips • Handprints You Can Live With
Paint Your Own Pottery Studio
��������������������������������������������������������������
856-833-1330 • www.paintatallfiredup.com
PAGE 64
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PRIDE
“DIVAS AND ROMANCE AND THRILLS: OH MY!”
JUNE 26 - AUGUST 4 ACADEMY OF MUSIC HURRY FOR THE BEST SEATS KIMMELCENTER.ORG/BROADWAY · 215-731-3333 Kimmel Center Box Office 300 S Broad Street Open daily 10am – 6pm Groups 20+: 215-790-5883
Kimmel Center for the performing arts
– TIME OUT NEW YORK
PRIDE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PAGE 65
PAGE 66
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PRIDE
PRIDE
���
PAGE 67
���������������
���
���
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
���������������
���������������
�������������� Michael Feinstein, Christine Ebersole, and Betty Buckley The Philadelphia Orchestra
FRI � AUG 2 ELECTRIC PET SHOP BOYS LIVE
������
���
Performing New Order’s Movement & Power Corruption & Lies Live
��������������
SEPT 22 ���������������������������������������� ������������������������������� ��������������������������������� �������������������������������
�����������
��������������������������
PAGE 68
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PRIDE
Reality-TV star to headline Philly Pride By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Yeah, so ... “Celebrity Apprentice” alum Omarosa is this year’s headliner for Philly Pride. Given the eclectic headliner choices in previous years, like Jennifer Coolidge and Wendy Williams, this year’s choice shouldn’t have surprised us. But it did ... a lot. We put on our best game face, though, when speaking to Omarosa and she was pleasant to hold a conversation with. Hopefully that will translate into something entertaining when she takes the stage. We asked the high-profile businesswoman and reality-TV star what’s going to happen come show time. “I’m looking forward to talking with the folks about the issues that I’ve been working on with the LGBT community, particularly the homeless, runaway and bullied teens as it relates to the LGBT community,” she said. “I live in Los Angeles and I work on Skid Row, which has the largest population of homeless folks in the United States. But the people who are particularly victimized are the teens that end up in the community of Skid Row and don’t have someone to direct them and to guide them. And most of them are LGBT. They don’t have anyone to give them the resources or make them aware of what’s available to them or have a support system. I just want them to be aware. I’m not sure that people realize that there is such a large population of LGBT teens in Los Angeles. So what we’re doing in Los Angeles, and I’m hoping it is emulated across the country, is starting a network for teens to have those resources.” OK, we weren’t expecting that deep of an answer, but kudos to her for charitable
Astrology Boutique
Rated NJ’s Top Psychic & Spiritual Consultant Palm, Tarot and Psychic Readings as well
Life, Love & Career
Specializing in Healing Broken Hearts and Reuniting Loved Ones
Appointments
(856) 701-6583
411 Black Horse Pike, Haddon Heights
works for the LGBT community. But we’re still kind of concerned that there won’t be some kind of performance element to the appearance. (Sing us a song. Do a skit. Something!) Then we then wondered out loud how she came to be interested in the issues affecting LGBT youth. “I kept meeting these amazing teenagers who had been turned away from their homes because they came out to their family members,” she said. “When I heard their stories, I was so profoundly touched and I knew there was something that needed to be done and resources needed to be allocated. And those resources were not reaching the teens. LGBT teens have different concerns and issues that go beyond what teens in general deal with. Directing those very-unique needs pushed me into finding the resources and connect them to the teens I was encountering day to day in Los Angeles.” Since we kind of never, ever watch “The Apprentice” (with “The Good Wife,” “The Walking Dead,” “Mad Men” and whatever happens to be on the Food Network or the Discovery Channel in that time slot, the show never stood a chance with us), we just kind of expected Omarosa to be in full Cruella Deville mode 24/7. But, she said that person she’s been pegged as is mostly a product of the show. “The villain characterization is exactly that: a caricature of who I am,” she said. “I’m a businesswoman and I went on a business-reality show and I’m tough. But I also use that same tough approach to advocate in a strong way for what I believe in. I’m a very passionate woman. I brought that into the board with me on ‘The Apprentice,’ and I bring that to the table when I’m fighting for a cause that is near and dear to my heart.” Catch Omarosa on stage at the Philly Pride Festival, noon-6 p.m. June 9 at Penn’s Landing. For more information, visit www. phillypride.org. ■
PRIDE
Don’t rain on my parade While sunning my buns up at Sandy plus special guest Manila Luzon, while you Hook last weekend, I overheard a conversa- enjoy a delicious Mediterranean dinner buftion about Pride. fet and open bar. Tickets are $50 and are The speaker was bitching about how he available online at www.waygay.org. thought all the fun went out of it years ago AROUSE: Stimulus Pride Edition and now it’s only about corporate sponsorships. He just didn’t see what made Pride Stimulus is doing triple duty at 10 p.m. worth going to anymore. June 8 at Voyeur Nightclub, 1221 St. I couldn’t disagree more. So here’s my James St. This one party is their pre-Pride annual sermon about how Pride will always bash, the Dyke March after-party and the be important. Homecoming 2013 after party all rolled Pride is a celebration of who we are and into one! Your Dyke March T-shirt or your how far we’ve come — just Homecoming ticket stub will get you in for only $5, which I look at all the progress we’ve made in the last year! Pride is a think was the cover charge when reminder of everyone who came Voyeur was known as the DCA back in 1984. (Remind me to before us and who sacrificed so much to get us where we are tell you about the truck cab they had on the second floor sometoday. time.) There will always be people who want us to disappear, and Pre-Pride Gear Party there will always be people who Philadelphians MC invites you want us to shut up. Screw them! to gear up and get out 9 p.m. It will always be important to on June 8 on the third floor of remind them that we won’t, The Bike Stop, 206 S. Quince because frankly, my dear, we don’t care what they want. Jim Kiley- St. New York City DJ Dave Huge will keep you moving on a I say it every year but it Zufelt dance floor packed with sweaty never gets old: We’re here, men in uniforms, leather, sport we’re queer, you know the rest, kit, rubber, skinhead gear and more fetish bitches... Now get out there and celebrate! wear than you can imagine (or identify). Cover charge is only $5 and dress code will Pride Kick-Off Block Party be strictly enforced (jeans and a white T or Start your Pride weekend with a bang at shirtless at a minimum). See www.philadelthe official kick-off party from 6-11 p.m. phiansmc.org for more information. June 7 on 12th Street between Walnut and Spruce. There will be carnival rides, an outdoor DJ and dancing in the streets! Hint: Pride March and Festival Buy your Pride festival wristbands tonight Don’t miss the 25th anniversary of Philly and avoid standing in that hellacious line Pride! The march steps off promptly at outside the gate on Sunday! noon June 9 from 13th and Locust streets, then winds its way through the Gayborhood Woody’s Block Party to Penn’s Landing, where the gates to the Woody’s goes over the top with its own festival open at noon. block party June 8 celebrating both Pride The festival will feature a very eclectic mix of local and national speakers and and Philly Beer Week (I keep reading that as “Bear” Week ... wishful thinking, I know entertainers, a dance area with live DJ, food and drinks, craft vendors, the famous ... ). It all starts with a pig roast at noon, a Sisters dunk tank, plus lots more! Festival fabulous Summer of ’69 drag fashion show admission is still only $10, and don’t forget at 3 p.m. and the debut of the new Absolut your sunscreen. Outrageous Masterpiece bottle with Mimi After the festival, spend the evening bar Imfurst at 5 p.m., with the party lasting all hopping from one after- party to another in the way until 2 in the morning. the ’hood — they’ll all be jam-packed! Dyke March Triumphant Pride These boots are made for stompin’! Join After the parade and the festival, check the dyke rally at 3 p.m. June 8 in Kahn Park at 11th and Pine streets, then march around out Bruce Yelk’s Triumphant Pride from 2-8 p.m. June 9 at Encore, 112 Chestnut the Gayborhood at 4 p.m. and finally relax St., right by Penn’s Landing! You can enjoy back in the shade of the park while you enjoy speakers and entertainers on the main this year’s Mr. Gay Philadelphia contest as well as DJ Jimmy DePre and superstar DJ/ stage. Plus there will be free water ice to Producer Susan Morabito. If you haven’t help you cool down! heard her live, you don’t know what it Homecoming 2013 means to dance. Get your tickets now at Join William Way Community Center as www.nightlifegay.com. ■ they celebrate all the talent and fabulousness of our community from 6-10 p.m. June Questions, comments, home remedies for sunburn? Contact Jim at barcrawlr@gmail.com 8 at the center, 1315 Spruce St. Notorious or follow him on Facebook for links to back OMG and Miss Mary Wanna will present an amazing group of local performers, articles and totally bitchin’ music videos!
Barcrawlr
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PAGE 69
PAGE 70
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PRIDE
CD Reviews
New sounds for summer By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Alice In Chains “The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here” Capitol Music It doesn’t matter how long and hard imitators like Nickelback and Godsmack try: The true originator of gloriously dark and lush rock, Alice In Chains, always comes back to shame them by showing how it is supposed to be done — making it look effortless in the process. Of all the early ’90s classic-grunge artists, Alice In Chains still feels as fresh and vital as the day fans were introduced to its signature sound, which is an amazing feat considering the group has been operating for the last two albums without its original singer, the late Layne Staley. Still, the replacement singer-guitarist continues to do a frighteningly good job as a dead ringer for the original vocalist. Everything that makes the band special is here, and every bit as sharp and powerful as ever. The trippy and crushing riffs and the haunting harmonies of the vocals
are still beautifully menacing on tracks like “Hollow,” “Stone” and “Pretty Done.” Also, the band can still wrap listeners around its finger with acoustic-tinged masterpieces like “Scalpel” and “Voices,” as well as more psychedelic turns like the title track and “Hung on a Hook.” Rock albums rarely get any better than this. Alpine “A is For Alpine” VOTIV Alpine is what would happen if ABBA was reincarnated as an electro-influenced shoegaze rock band. The debut album from this Australian band is awash with enjoyable and effortless-sounding, ethereal Europop rock that serves as the perfect backdrop for the band’s dual vocal lines. Fans of The Cardigans and Kylie Minogue alike should immensely enjoy playful, sexy songs like “Lovers 2” and “Hands.” The band also takes on a welcome punkish, garage-rock edge on tracks like “In The Wild” and “Too Safe,” as well as a danceable new-wave swagger on tracks like “Gasoline.” D is for damn good.
Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Show An Outdoor Art Show of Original Artwork
The oldest outdoor art show of only original artwork in the entire country
82ND ANNUAL More than 140 top artists from around the country will
“CIRCLE THE SQUARE” Rittenhouse Square at 18th and Walnut in Center City Philadelphia
June 7 - 9, 2013
Friday 11-7 • Saturday 11-7 • Sunday 11-5 For more information call 1-877-689-4112 or visit RittenhouseSquareArt.org
Dave Koz “Summer Horns” Concord Records The out Grammynominated saxophonist recruited a bunch of his friends to crank out horn-drenched renditions of classic songs from the ’60s and ’70s. The album is peppy, jazzy and thoroughly upbeat throughout, and the interplay between Koz and horn-blowers like Gerald Albright, Richard Elliott and Mindi Abair are stellar on The Beatles’ song “Got to Get You into My Life” and Sly and the Family Stones’ “Hot Fun in the Summertime.” Koz’s take on Herb Alpert’s “Rise” strips the song of its syrupy-thick and bass-heavy 1980s groove, which is a shame because this light and airy version loses something in translation. Still, Koz keeps it funky for his takes on James Brown’s “I Got You (I Feel Good)” and Stevie Wonder’s “You Haven’t Done Nothing.” If you’re looking for some upbeat background music for a wine party, Sunday brunch or a Cialis commercial, this is something you should pick up. Marc Silver “A Miners’ Town” Pink Belly Publishing The out singer-songwriter really lets his backing band and musicians shine on his latest effort, a beautifully crafted collection of songs rooted in traditional folk and bluegrass. The songs where Silver shares vocal duties with vocalist Meg Moyer-Herman shine brightest, like “The Great Machine” and “Fools and Foul.” There is an intoxicatingly somber tone to the album, especially on tracks like “In Colorado” and “Ghosts and Graves.” But Silver does shake things up with some convincing rock barnburners on tracks like “Priest” and “New Rising Sun.” We don’t know where this miners’ town is that Silver is singing about, but we’d sure like to visit. Natalie Maines “Mother” Columbia This solo outing from the Dixie Chicks singer keeps a baby toe planted in her familiar country sound while she explores radio-friendly acoustic folk, rock and pop. And we seriously doubt any of her longtime fans will be mad at her. The alt-rock feel of the album is no sur-
prise, considering it was co-produced by rock singer Ben Harper and finds Maines covering songs by Eddie Vedder, Jeff Buckley and Pink Floyd. The result is a solid effort made all the more appealing by Maines’ confident and soaring vocals. The mid-tempo blues rockers are all well and good, but the really exciting moments are when Maines goes to sonic extremes, like with the fun-loving, fuzzrocking Patty Griffin’s “Silver Bell” and the stomping Ben Harper-penned song “Trained.” On the other side of the spectrum are the more melancholy tracks, like Buckley song “Lover, You Should’ve Come Over” and “Vein In Vain.” Artists like Sheryl Crow and Melissa Etheridge should be shaking in their boots, because if Maines gets comfortable in roots rock and forsakes country, they’ll have some serious competition. Various Artists Music from Baz Luhrmann’s “The Great Gatsby” Interscope Records Modern-day hip-hop and rock in a period film about the roaring 1920s? Fine, whatever. The soundtrack as a whole might seem a bit incongruous with the classic story and the big-budget spectacle of the recent film, but if you look at it as an album instead of a calculated product-placement opportunity, there is some fun to be had. For their part, Jay-Z and Fergie go the by-the-numbers modern route with their respective songs, the club thumper “$100 Bill” and dance-floor-rattling “A Little Party Never Killed Anybody.” Other artists try to take a cue from the era. will.i.am blended big-band swing with electro and hip-hop on the rather corny and disposable-sounding “Bang Bang.” “Where the Wind Blows” by Coco O does a better job of blending the classic with the modern, while Brian Ferry goes full-on retro with the pleasantly authenticsounding “Love in the Drug.” Other artists do what they are known for, regardless of copying styles from the film, and in the process set quite the mood. Lana Del Ray’s “Young and Beautiful” and Florence + The Machine’s “Over the Love” are both bold and dramatic. Gotye’s “Heart’s A Mess” is lighter in sound but still heavy with emotion and atmosphere. Jack White unleashes psychedelic fury on “Love Is Blindness.” Nero’s dubstep machinations in “Into The Past” should seem out of place, but fit in well with the vibe of the aforementioned songs. The jury is still out on whether the movie was great, but there are some great moments on the soundtrack. ■
PRIDE
LGBT performance artists take audiences to the river By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com A number of LGBT artists are collaborating for a spectacular aerial dance and music concert. “ I nv i s i b l e River” brings the choreograELLIOTT phy of Alie & HARVEY the Brigade into Photo: Grace the folk compoWinter sitions of trans artist Elliott Harvey of Stick and a Stone. The free shows, June 15-16 and 22-23, allow the audience to watch from a vacant lot — transformed to a carnival themed by SpArc Philadelphia — as aerial dancers swing beneath the Strawberry Mansion Bridge until descending into the river and swimming to the lot for the finale. We love us some spectacles for the sake of art, but that sounds a tad dangerous. “Yeah, you’ve got a couple people
jumping off a bridge and swimming in the polluted Schuylkill River,” Harvey laughed. While Harvey has collaborated with performance artists before, he said writing music for this show was more time-consuming. “I’ve done commissions before, composing music for various things like film or theater, but it’s definitely been a lot more loose because it’s not based on particular movements measure by measure,” he said. “Working with a choreographer has been interesting because there has been a lot of back and forth to get my music to sync up with her choreography second by second. It’s definitely the most I’ve collaborated with a performance artist.” Harvey said he became acquainted with Alie & the Brigade founder Alie Vidich by chance. “Alie and I met on the trolley four years ago,” he said. “We just started chatting and she told me she was a dancer and choreographer and I told her I was a musician. I gave her my CD and she ended up choreographing to one of the songs on my first record. This time, instead of her
creating choreography to my music, I’m making music to her choreography. But I’m excited about the show because the Schuylkill River is a special place to me, and I’m excited to be a part of a performance that is celebrating the river.” He’s also excited the production is aimed at a mass audience but features LGBT performers. “It’s a show for all Philadelphians that love the river but it’s kind of cool that so much of the cast ended up being so gay,” he said. “I’ve played a lot of shows and been a part of events that have been queer or trans-specific. That’s nice performing with other queers and celebrating being queer, but it starts to feel kind of pigeonholing. I like that this is a performance where a lot of the cast happens to be queer but that’s not the focus of the show.” “Invisible River” is free and takes place in Fairmount Park by the Strawberry Mansion Bridge on Kelly Drive from 7:30-8:30 p.m. June 15-16 and June 22-23. For more information, visit www. alieandthebrigade.org or astickandastone.com. ■
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PAGE 71
GOOD DEEDS: The monthly NSFW party (and if you don’t know the acronym, you should) kicked off its second year May 31 in their new digs at Khyber Pass Pub, 56 S. Second St. The “Scout’s Honor” theme was a tongue-in-cheek salute to gays in Scouting, a timely topic considering last month’s move by the Scouts to permit openly gay youth. Some of the more appropriately costumed participants among the 100 attendees were Marquise Lee (front row, left), Clint Brody, Messapotamia Lefae, Paul Blore, John Jarboe, Sebastian Cummings, Stuart Meyers, Paul Sabatino, JT Goodson (back left) and Andrew Kunka. The next party is June 28 and will have a patriotic red, white and blue theme. Photo: Alexander John Ortiz
PAGE 72
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
BOR_23748_10yrAnnvConcert_PGN_AD.indd 1
PRIDE
5/28/13 8:48 AM
PRIDE
Out comedian stops at Tabu By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Out comedian and actor Erin Foley is coming to Tabu smack-dab in the middle of the city’s Pride weekend festivities. “I had the weekend open and booked some road work. Then I realized it was Pride so that’s even better,” she said. “I hope people come to the show before they get wasted. I’m looking forward to it.” Foley, who has appeared on TV sitcoms like “Go On” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” as well as comedy shows like “Chelsea Lately” and “Premium Blend,” usually performs in bigger venues, so the Philly performance will be an opportunity for audiences to see her in a more intimate setting. “I don’t do bar gigs anymore so it’ll be interesting,” she said. “I usually do theaters or comedy clubs. Everyone I’ve talked to said they have so much fun there. I just
haven’t done a bar show in a long time.” Foley lives in Los Angeles after spending a number of years based in New York City. When it comes to making a living as a comedian, gay or straight, both cities have their pros and cons, she said. “I don’t think there are any differences between the gay and straight comedy scenes,” she said. “I don’t look at it that way. I’m a standup comic. It’s tough because every time you hit the road, the phone rings and you have to be in two places at once. Gay or straight, it’s kind of irrelevant. For me, when I do the standup clubs it’s all straight. Once in a while, I’ll do these fun gay shows and it’s a treat. But the audiences have been really so receptive when I say I’m gay on stage. I call it ‘gay-lite.’ They don’t care and it’s so exciting that they don’t.” Foley performs 8 p.m. at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St. For more information, call 215964-9675 or visit www.erinkfoley.com. ■
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PAGE 73
PAGE 74
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PRIDE
DJ Robert Drake to celebrate birthday in the ’80s way By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Robert Drake, local out DJ, WXPN radio personality and sonic purveyor of everything that was cool in the 1980s, is set to celebrate his 50th birthday in grand fashion with a blowout at The Trocadero June 15. If you’ve ever been to Sex Dwarf, his monthly ’80s DJ night, you kind of know what to expect. But Drake is going the extra mile to make this party memorable. “I have the ’80s dance party,” he said. “I have the live performance from the band Bush Tetras, which hasn’t been in Philly for a number of years. I have the ‘Rocky Horror’ screening at midnight with a live performance cast. I have some people who are going to be stopping by to do quick performances. They will be local icons. It will definitely have a Philadelphia flair.”
Drake has been a fixture in the Philadelphia nightclub scene since the beginning of the early 1980s and, needless to say, he’s seen many clubs and trends come and go in his time. We also imagine that he’s had quite a few memorable moments to reflect on. “The highlights go back to the early years,” he said. “Spinning in the clubs in the 1980s was my best time. Philadelphia in the 1980s ... the scene was so strong and it was very DIY. That was where my love for that generation was born, when it was new, and that is why I never let it go. My best memories were spinning in various clubs in Philadelphia back in the 1980s. Specifically one club that comes to mind was a place called the Kennel Club, which was located on Walnut Street. Before it was called the Kennel Club it was called Rainbows and it was a gay disco. Then when it changed hands it became a new-wave avant-garde art club. My foundations were born there.”
DRAKE AT THE FINAL SEX DWARF PARTY AT FLUID Photo: Scott A. Drake (no relation)
These days, the sounds of the ’80s are inescapable with pop, rock and R&B artists embracing classic synth-pop sounds and droves of artists from that era still performing their hits on the summer-tour circuit. But Drake said he carried the flag for that era even when it wasn’t particularly hip. “There was a period of time where I really started to embrace that decade,” he said, “It was 2003, around my 40th birthday. I had a big party in the city and decided to play a lot of old stuff from back in the day as party of my 40th birthday. The response from people hearing that music was overwhelming enough for me to say, ‘This has legs. Let’s look into it.’ So I gave birth to a party called Sex Dwarf, a mostly new-wave dance party. I also gave birth to a radio show celebrating the ’80s new-wave scene. At that point, nobody was celebrating the ’80s. The only part of the ’80s that people knew was the pop ’80s, the cheesy parts. I thought it was really important to showcase the quality artists that kind of got forgotten about. Now pop culture has kind of caught up with me. Everywhere I turn I see someone or hear someone embracing the genre in one fashion or another. It makes sense because Madison Avenue always targets the 40-50-year-old crowd. What better way to reach them than to target their youth?” Not your typical ’80s dance party, Sex Dwarf offers up deep cuts from influential and obscure artists of the era. But Drake said there are some stars from the era whose music he finds indispensable to his playlists. “Soft Cell is definitely one of them,” he said. “New Order is definitely one. Another artist that is the foundation of Sex Dwarf is the B-52s. I like to branch out a bit with artists like Grace Jones and more obscure artists like Yello and artists that don’t get recognized enough today. We try to avoid the weddingparty songs, the songs that are really tired that everybody has heard everywhere. Especially now that we have moved it to Ruby Lounge, because of the environment and because it’s a bar and you have places to sit, I’m branching out a bit and play some that is less danceable.” Sex Dwarf runs every second Saturday at Ruby Lounge in Voyeur, 204 S. Camac St. Robert Drake’s 50th Birthday Blowout takes place 8 p.m. June 15 at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/djrobertdrake or call 215-922-6888. ■
PRIDE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
Ladyfest returns to Philly By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com A number of local and regional musicians and performance artists are converging on Philadelphia for Ladyfest, an activism, music and arts festival dedicated to the artistic work of cis-women, trans, genderqueer, intersex and queer people and their allies. The first Ladyfest took place in Washington in 2000 and made its Philadelphia debut in 2003. Ten years later, the festival is back June 7-9 at locations across West Philadelphia. One of the bands slated to perform, Aye Nako, a homopop/queercore punk band from Brooklyn, heard about the festival through like-minded bands they perform with. “A mutual friend who was helping to organize it had known our drummer Angie for a while,” said band bass player Joe (no last name...so punk rock!). “We’ve played
with most of the other bands that are there. It’s kind of a loose network of people who know each other.” Philadelphia rock duo Trophy Wife is no stranger to events like Ladyfest. Band member Diane Foglizzo runs Girls Rock Philly and said events like Ladyfest are important to local artists. “I think it’s incredibly valuable to be creating a performance space that is really intentional and deliberate, where they have conversations about trying to create safer spaces, where we talk about different sections of our identities and being aware of all of those things,” Foglizzo said. “To me, Ladyfest has been a nice change from your standard music festival. Katy [Otto] and I have been incredibly lucky that the shows that we have played have been mostly in feminist spaces or with other queer bands, or bands with lots of women and gender-
A sense of community is what many people look for in a bank. With over 250 branch locations, we’re dedicated to providing exceptional service and convenience. Catering to your specific banking needs is important to us. That’s why we provide a full range of products and services, along with our promise of personalized Star Service. Stop in to talk about how we can help you achieve your financial goals. Rittenhouse Square Branch 1845 Walnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 215.563.1168
Doing what counts™. susquehanna.net | 800.311.3182 Member FDIC
Seven Penn Center Branch 1635 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 215.561.0342
queer people in them. From what I hear of other festivals, that isn’t always the case. So think it’s nice we can create that kind of space.” Otto said performing outside of queer and feminist circles gives them an increased appreciation for events like Ladyfest. “We like taking up space in both of those kinds of worlds because I like that we can defy people’s expectations of what music made by women can sound like,” she said. “It’s really great to have a festival that is organized just out of the energy and creativity of the individuals and is taking place outside of a commercial atmosphere. Ladyfest’s organizers have done a lot to include art and film and community building. So that feels really important and special, highlighting the contributions of women-identified folk and trying to make sure that the environment is inclusive and might be a little bit
PAGE 75
TROPHY WIFE
friendlier than some dirty dank bar with a bunch of aggressive dudes playing.” Ladyfest runs June 7-9 at the Rotunda (4014 Walnut St.), Locust Moon Comics and Movies (34 S. 40th St.) and Airspace Gallery (4013 Chestnut St.). For a full list of performers, events, tickets, schedules and more information, visit www.ladyfestphilly.com. ■
PAGE 76
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PRIDE
PRIDE
Sheena Easton
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
Bobby Rydell
BJ Thomas Rich Little
June 28 & 29
July 19 & 20
August 9 & 10
PAGE 77
August 30, 31 & September 1
All tickets $20
A Great Excuse To Dine Out. Buy Dinner. Get $10 Free Slot Play! Dine at Simon AC, Patsy’s Trattoria or Ono Chinese Bistro and get $10 in FREE same day slot play.
Jazz Brunch at Ono Sundays 10am - 4pm
The Atlantic Club Casino is the only place that lets you use your comps at over 150 businesses all over South Jersey.
$35 Full Brunch Menu World Renowned Jazz Artists from 12:30pm - 3:30pm
Also Available in The Bar & Lounge Only Jazz Bites Featuring: $5 Bloody Mary’s and Mimosa’s Select ½ price Ono Appetizers
See atlanticclubcasino.com/locals for details
Boston Ave. & The Boardwalk | Atlantic City 1-800-338-7937 | AtlanticClubCasino.com | Cash only. Subject to change. Not to be combined with any other offer. Restrictions apply. Shows subject to change. Must be 21 or older. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. TAC_4017_Entertainment_PrintAd_10.125 x 11.35_v2.indd 1
6/5/13 1:16 PM
B:10.125” T:10.125”
PAGE 78
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PRIDE S:9.125”
perspectives and backgrounds drive some of the most powerful outcomes. In fact, Exelon, PECO’s parent company, was recently awarded the Equality Forum’s International Business Leadership Award. The award recognized Exelon for their commitment to LGBT inclusion and equality in the workplace. It’s what makes us proud to be a part of Exelon and happy to celebrate the power of diversity.
© 2013 PECO Energy Company, an Exelon Company
www.peco.com
B:11.35”
At PECO, we’re proud to support the LGBT community. We believe that working with individuals with different
T:11.35”
S:10.35”
We put our energy into diversity.
PRIDE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
���������������� �������� ������������ ������������
PAGE 79
PAGE 80
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PRIDE
Book programs abound at trans conference By Ray Simon PGN Contributor
Lovers of literature will find plenty to hold their attention during the Philadelphia Trans-Health Conference, which runs June 13-15. In addition to numerous seminars, workshops and keynote speeches, the three-day event also offers four programs specifically designed to appeal to devotees of the written word. And just as the entire conference celebrates the diversity of the transgender experience, its book-related programming is similarly wide-ranging, including authors and readers, fiction and nonfiction, veteran scribes and writers making their literary debuts. One attractive aspect of the PTHC’s literary events is that they encourage attendees
to venture outside of the Pennsylvania Convention Center, where the majority of the conference takes place, and visit two of Philadelphia’s independent bookstores, Giovanni’s Room, a venerable LGBT institution at 345 S. 12th St., and Wooden Shoe Books, an outpost of alternative ideas at 704 South St. The fun begins at 7 p.m. June 13 at Giovanni’s Room with a reading showcasing the variety of transgender writing. Among the four authors featured are Brett Axel, whose children’s book “Goblinheart” employs elements of allegory and fairy tales to discuss issues of gender identity, as well as Jala Mckenzie-Burns,
whose “Climbing Life’s Mountains: Overcoming Challenges of Biracial Birth, Adoption, Gender Identity and Depression” takes readers through Mckenzie-Burns’ storied history. Dr. Michele Angello, a local therapist whose new book “On the Couch with Dr. Angello” offers guidance and support to gender-variant Photo: Stacie Joy individuals and their families, will also participate. The event promises to be just as special for the authors as it is for attendees. Elliott DeLine, author of the novella “I Know Very Well How I Got My Name,” responded enthusiastically when asked if he was looking forward to the conference. “This is my first time attending the Philadelphia TransHealth Conference and I’m very excited,” he said. “I’m grateful that Giovanni’s Room has set up this reading at the convention. I can’t imagine a better opportunity to share my writing with other transgender people and allies.” In addition to Thursday evening’s author event, DeLine, a regular blogger for the popular FTM magazine “Original Plumbing,” will be manning his own vendor booth throughout the conference. Also on Thursday evening, Ceyenne Doroshow will be reading and signing her new book, “Cooking in Heels: A Memoir Cookbook” at the Wooden Shoe. Doroshow, who is making her first visit to the PTHC, published her book in conjunction with the Red Umbrella Project, an organization that advocates on behalf of sex workers, particularly those who are queer or transgendered. The cookbook reflects Doroshow’s lifelong belief that food can bring people together. As a child, she learned to cook from her paternal grandfather, a chef at New York City’s Copacabana, and from
watching Julia Child. Confused by gender issues and seeking protection from an abusive father, she found comfort and refuge in the kitchen. Later, while serving a brief prison sentence for escorting, the feisty survivor calmed her fellow inmates by improving their daily rations and reminiscing about home-cooked meals, an experience that inspired her to collect these recipes and share them with readers. At 6 p.m. June 14, writers of all sorts will gather for the Trans Literary Salon. Hosted by local poet and activist Nico Amador, this wordy soiree will provide authors the opportunity to share their work, whether fiction, memoir, poetry or spoken word. The only limit is one’s imagination. And, like Thursday’s events, it will get attendees out and about, taking place at the Leeway Foundation, 1315 Walnut St. Finally, at 10:20 a.m. June 15, early risers can catch a panel discussion entitled Writing Trans. Three established authors, including Laura Antoniou, who is well known for a series of lesbian-themed BDSM novels known as the “Marketplace,” will discuss their experiences as published authors and also take questions from the audience. Attendees should expect a mixture of practical advice about the craft of writing, as well as more philosophical ruminations on the nature and purpose of writing literature within and for the transgender community. Novelist DeLine expressed the current situation well when he unequivocally stated: “We need art just like all people need art, and our mental health has suffered from a lack of it. Our experiences are medicalized, memoir-ized, theorized and trivialized, but rarely treated seriously as something artistic. Fiction, and all art for that matter, gives the soul something that pragmatic things cannot, and nourishing the soul is an important part of being healthy.” For more information about the PTHC and a complete schedule, visit www.transhealth.org/. ■
PRIDE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
Disco pioneer to get down again By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Disco group KC and The Sunshine Band are coming to the area this summer to celebrate 40 years of making booties shake with their dance hits. Founded by vocalist Harry “ K C ” Wa y n e Casey in 1973, the group helped to define the disco sound of the era and had a number of iconic hits, like “Get Down Tonight,” “That’s the Way (I Like It)” and “ S h a k e Yo u r Booty,” all of which you can still hear played at sporting events and on radio stations and dance floors everywhere. Disco became a dirty word in the early 1980s, and many of the acts associated
with the genre saw their popularity decline during that time. But, Casey said, the sound of disco never really went away. “I don’t think it fell out of fashion,” he said. “You can’t be more disco than Madonna or the music of the 1980s. They just called it something else. I don’t think it ever died. I think it was just growing bigger and bigger. It’s 2013 and every record on the radio is by Rihanna and Lady Gaga. It’s eve r y t h i n g w e did 40 years ago. It never died. It might have gone underground. If you listen to all those songs of the ’80s, they were all danceable. They were just more electronic than the sounds of the ’70s. It’s in rock, hip-hop and country. It’s in everything.” Disco went through a resurgence in
OUTDOOR DINING
6th & BAINBRIDGE STS.
PHILADELPHIA CREPERIE HOURS
TUESDAY–FRIDAY NOON–11PM SATURDAY 10AM–11PM SUNDAY 10AM–10PM
FOR A GOOD TIME CALL
215-592-0656 CABARET HOURS
TUESDAY–THURSDAY 7:30–1AM FRIDAY & SATURDAY 7:30–2AM SUNDAY 7:30–1AM
popularity in the 1990s that continues to this day. Casey said he can see the enduring appeal of the music in the audiences he performs for, which include old and new fans. “I think there’s a lot of new people in the audience,” he said. “My audiences have always been from babies to grandmas. There’s always a diverse demographic in the audience. It seems like a lot of different people, which is great. Sometimes we do concerts with [other disco artists like] Gloria Gaynor or the Village People. We do stuff by ourselves or with other people. It depends on what the venue wants for that evening.” Even though Casey has been performing with his reactivated band for the last 20 years, he said he hasn’t made any new music until recently.
PAGE 81
“I have not been in that part of business for a long time,” he said. “I’ve just in the last year or so gotten creative again and started making music. I’ve got a song that I wrote for the Village People that I’m excited about. I have my own album that I’m working on with different people. I’m just getting back into it. In 1984, I walked away from it all and quit. Then in 1993, I came back just to tour and not really make records. In the last year, I’ve started working on one album and it has turned into two albums. One of them is ’60s music and the other is going to be new stuff. It’s been an interesting trip that I’ve been on so who knows what might come of this?” KC and the Sunshine Band perform 6:30 p.m. June 15 at APG Federal Credit Union Arena, 401 Thomas Run Road, Bel Air, MD. For more information or tickets, call 443412-2211 or visit www.heykcsb.com. ■
PAGE 82
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PRIDE
Filmmaker working on new doc on pioneering activist Kuromiya By Ray Simon PGN Contributor Kiyoshi Kuromiya, a local AIDS activist who died in 2000, once regaled an interviewer with an amusing anecdote about his childhood in suburban Monrovia, Calif. In 1954, when he was just 11 years old, Kuromiya was caught by the police engaging in harmless sexual play with a teenage boy, which led to an appearance before a stern judge at juvenile hall. In court, Kuromiya recounted, the judge “told me that I was in danger of leading a lewd and immoral life.” Chuckling, he continued, “I spent two years trying to find a definition for the word lewd, but I couldn’t figure out how it was spelled, so I was in the dark as to what my future held for me.” Actually, an eventful life was awaiting the precocious youth. Just 57 when he died from AIDS-related complications, Kuromiya had met and worked alongside notable figures, including civil-rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the visionary thinker R. Buckminster Fuller. He was also a nationally ranked Scrabble player and a yoga master. Kuromiya’s most substantial achievement, however, was founding the Critical Path Project in 1989. Originally conceived as a newsletter, Critical Path was designed to empower PWAs by providing them with information enabling them to participate
fully in their medical treatment. By the early 1990s, he had harnessed the power of the Internet and transformed the publication into an online clearinghouse for patients and researchers worldwide. Yet despite these accomplishments, many people are unaware of Kuromiya’s accomplishments. Che Gossett hopes to rectify that situation. The genderqueer activist and author is currently working on a biography of Kuromiya. In the midst of combing through archives — William Way LGBT Community Center houses more than 40 boxes of the activist’s papers — this fierce black femme also found time to direct a brief documentary on Kuromiya. The video, which is a work in progress, will be screened at 7 p.m. June 9 at Wooden Shoe Books, 704 South St. Gossett, whose preferred pronoun is they, first learned of Kuromiya in 2008, shortly after arriving in Philadelphia, where they came to pursue graduate studies. With their interest in social movements — particularly grassroots activism, queer history and transgender politics — Kuromiya proved to be an ideal subject. A Japanese-American, Kuromiya was born during World War II at the Heart Mountain internment camp in Wyoming, an experience that affected him profoundly. Arriving in Philadelphia in 1961 to attend the University of Pennsylvania, he threw
KIYOSHI KUROMIYA (LEFT) AT A 1960s ANTIWAR RALLY AT PENN Photo: Robert Brand
himself into the struggle for civil rights and protests against the war in Vietnam, experiences that informed his later work as an AIDS activist. What triggered Gossett’s interest in making the documentary was locating the audio tape of a three-hour-long interview Kuromiya did with the Philadelphia Folklore Project in the late 1990s. “I was working on a biography of Kiyoshi,” Gossett explained. “The biography came first. I had done a lot of research; then I got the audio. It’s powerful, different. It’s Kiyoshi reflecting on his life and the movements he was involved in and what he learned from them.” Indeed, one of the documentary’s chief pleasures is hearing Kuromiya’s deep, expressive voice. His tone, alternately reflective and humorous, gives the impression that the pony-tailed figure is present and talking directly to viewers. Kuromiya’s FBI file also proved to be a treasure trove of information. According to Gossett, the agency placed the young radical on its national security index because of his “anarchist tendencies,” monitoring him for roughly 12 years, from 1960 until 1972. In addition to numerous photos of Kuromiya and transcripts of his speeches,
the file also afforded Gossett insight into the broader history of radical Philadelphia. “It’s copious, over 100 pages,” the filmmaker said of the file. “The material was collected as part of COINTELPRO, a domestic program that uses surveillance and sabotage to undermine the New Left and the Black Panther Party.” As the documentary shows, Kuromiya had a knack for being in pivotal places at opportune moments. In 1965, he rushed to Alabama to support Dr. King’s voting-rights efforts, only to be clubbed so badly by sheriffs that he required 22 stitches. Accounts of the incident were covered in both the national press and his hometown newspaper. Undeterred, Kuromiya joined Students for a Democratic Society and traveled to Washington, D.C., for the 1967 “March on the Pentagon,” a protest chronicled in Normal Mailer’s famous book, “The Armies of the Night.” By the time Kuromiya cofounded the Gay Liberation Front in 1970, he had already accumulated a wealth of experience as a political activist, which he put to good use. “We were gathering the experiences from one movement and using them for other movements,” he later recalled. In its current version, Gossett’s documentary does not examine many aspects of Kuromiya’s life, but it still makes a persuasive case that the indefatigable organizer viewed the liberation struggles emerging in the 1960s as inextricably bound and as a radical challenge to the status quo. Discussing the GLF, for example, Kuromiya said: “We would be the group that showed up at a welfare-rights demonstration and be 40 percent of the crowd. We were the people that would support the Latina mothers or the Concerned Powelton Residents or whatever organization it was. We were really community activists.” Kuromiya worked his entire life to build that community; Gossett gives it new vigor with this provocative new documentary. ■
Haute Mexican? Haute Mexican! After ten successful years in northeast Philadelphia, Paloma is serving to-die-for French-Mexican cuisine in Bella Vista. ������������������������������������������������ ���������������� �������������������������� �������������������������
a semifinalist for the 2011 James Beard Foundation awards 763 South 8th Street (corner of 8th & Fulton) www.palomafinedining.com www.facebook.com/palomarestaurant 215.928.9500
PROFILE PRIDE
Family Portrait
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PAGE 83
Suzi Nash
Bob Lawson: Prepping his mind for Philly Pride “What, are you some kind of mind reader?” Actually in the case of this week’s profile, Bob Lawson, the answer is yes. Lawson is an entertainer and professional mind reader who will perform at Philly Pride on Sunday. A two-time winner of the New York Cabaret Society Award for Best Variety Act of the Year, Lawson contributed many of his original thoughts and ideas to the hit CBS show “The Mentalist” and is a professional member of the Psychic Entertainers Association. When asked what to expect during his performance, Lawson will tell you: “The impossible.” PGN: Hi Bob! BL: Hello from my home in sunny Florida! It’s 80 degrees and fabulous here. PGN: I’m jealous. Tell me a little about yourself. BL: I’m originally from Syracuse, N.Y. PGN: Oh, so you’ve been through cold weather. BL: Oh yes. And I really don’t miss it. My brother still lives in New York and I’ve worked the New Jersey State Fair a few times. Even being there in September, the joints started aching from the cold and damp and I remember why I moved to Florida! But Philadelphia is such a beautiful part of the world. People don’t realize how nice an area it is. You have the city and all the museums and historical areas and you have Fairmount Park, and just outside the city are beautiful farmlands and Valley Forge Park. People have no clue. PGN: So tell me about your family. BL: I have two brothers. The one in New York and the other lives here in Florida but we’re not so close; he lives a mile away but we haven’t spoken for five years. My sexuality seems to be a problem for him along with some other family drama. My husband Mark and I have been together ... it’ll be 35 years in August. [Laughs.] I tell people I was 9 and he was 11 when we met! We weren’t quite that young; I was 20 and I’d just gotten out of the Navy. I went to Provincetown on vacation and we met in a laundromat. Somewhere between spin and rinse, I knew he was the guy I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. I guess it was one of those ESP gifts that I have, I could immediately envision our happy future. Mark truly completes me as a man and in every aspect of my life. PGN: When did you get married? BL: Well, when we do the New York State Fair we usually visit my brother up in Syracuse and stay nearby for a long weekend. Four years ago, we were driving with my brother and his wife and he said, “If you come next year we should do a weekend in Canada.” I jokingly said, “Sure, and while we’re there, Mark and I can get married!” My sister-in-law got all excited and said, “Would you? I would love that!” Well,
there was no turning back after that and we started planning. It was a small wedding but beautiful. We got married on Lake Niagara and they stood up for us. I think we did it more for them than for us, but it was lovely and now I love saying “my husband.” We’d never used the term before, he was always my partner or my lover. At first as we got into bed I’d jokingly say, “Goodnight my husband,” and he’d say the same and we’d giggle, but now I can’t imagine referring to him as anything other than my husband. It’s very nice, very nice. PGN: And your parents? BL: Both second-generation Italian. They owned a really lovely restaurant on Oneida Lake in Cicero, New York. I lost my dad about 10 years ago and my mother lives near us in Florida. My dad and mom loved Mark from day one but at the time we never felt the need to come out to them, it just was what it was. Until we started volunteering at Francis House in Tampa. There was an older Cuban woman who lived there whose son was gay. It was during the early stages of the AIDS epidemic and she had lost her son. We never met him but he was working on a project to get the Empire State Building lit up in lavender to commemorate World AIDS Day. He was too ill to go to the building but his mother got ... Sorry, I get choked up every time I talk about it. She got a hotel room for him overlooking the Empire State Building so that he could be there when they lit it up in lavender. He died a few days later. So she said to me, “I’ve met your mom and dad and they’re very sweet people. But they’re getting older, so whatever you do, don’t let them leave this world without knowing completely who you were.” So, I came out to them. My dad’s answer was “I love you both and that’s all you need to know,” and then we never discussed it again. We’re very close to my mom. We all attend Mass together every Sunday at a Franciscan center. It’s primarily for the LGBT community and my mother calls everyone there the rest of her children. They treat her like a surrogate mother. PGN: So what were you like as a kid? BL: I loved school, which I guess is odd for a kid. I loved gym, which I guess is how I knew I was gay! Get your mind out of the gutter, it wasn’t so much because of the showers, it was for the camaraderie with all the guys in baseball and football. My women friends say I’m so much into sports I’m part lesbian! I loved high school and college because I loved learning about what made people tick. That’s partly why I do what I do today. I was also into theater and was lucky enough to be involved with the Famous Artist series in New York. It was amazing; all of the TV and movie stars would be off in the summer, so they’d want to get back on the boards to keep their acting skills sharp. They’d star in a show that would travel around the country and they would have people like me, called the
apprentices, to play the minor roles. I got to work with some amazing people and remained friends with a lot of them. I have about 50 photos in my office of people I’ve worked with: Elizabeth Taylor, Vivian Vance, Tony Randall, William Bendix, Bette Davis. Unfortunately, so many of them have passed, on Mark now calls it my wall of death! But what a wonderful gift it was to have worked with them and have those memories. Joan Fontaine — Olivia de Havilland’s sister — and I still keep in touch. We’ve been friends since I was 16 years old. She lives in Carmel, and Mark and I have been out to visit a number of times. She keeps saying, “You’re my oldest friend,” and I keep telling her she needs to rephrase that! She’s good friends and neighbors with Doris Day so we’ve become friends with her too. They were from the time when stars were really stars. They were professional and glamorous but they were real people too. I remember Vivian Vance, who played Ethel on “I Love Lucy,” came to do a show. We were striking down the set of the show that was up before hers and
it was about 4 a.m. The previous show had starred Guy Madison,who you are probably too young to remember — I Googled your bio before you called me — anyway, he was the star of the TV show “Wild Bill Hickok” (and really handsome). His set was huge and it took us all night to pack it up. We were exhausted and she stopped in on her way from the airport to the hotel to check out her set. We hadn’t even started putting up her show yet and she knew we were in trouble, so here she was, Ethel Mertz/Vivian
Vance, in dungarees and a sweatshirt, helping us build sets at 4 in the morning! That’s class, a real star. PGN: What a great experience. BL: And it gets better! I’d been there 18 hours and left the theater to go take a nap. The Famous Artists had rented a school for the show and the nurse’s office had a cot in it so I laid down for a quick nap. Around 7 in the morning, I woke up as the sun started to shine in the window. I suddenly realized that I wasn’t alone on the cot. I turned over and was nose to nose with Vivian Vance. The nurse’s office was supposed to double as the stars’ dressing room so I said, “Oh Miss Vance, I’m so sorry! I was so tired, I just meant to sleep for a little while. I’m so sorry!” She put her arm around me and said, “Yeah, I’m tired too so why don’t you just shut up and go back to sleep.” So my claim to fame is that, at 16, I slept with Vivian Vance. PGN: And how did you get to what you do now? BL: Well, I did some other theater and some small movie and TV roles. But I always knew that there was something there as far as ... I don’t really like putting a label on it, but psychic phenomenon, ESP, mentalism, whatever you want to call it. It’s something that I think we all have, just some stronger than others. From early on, I used to play a game with my ex-brother — I spy with my little eye. He’d think of something in the room and I’d have to guess and vice-versa. I’d always guess what he was thinking right away and it would really piss him off. The more it aggravated him, the more I wanted to get it right, so I tried to develop it. PGN: I read that you were called an illusionist. BL: No, I don’t like to use that. And I don’t like to use the word magic either, because that implies trickery. I may use psychology, body language, just reading the tone of someone’s voice, etc., but I don’t use trickery. In psych terms, they call it leakage. Unless they’re pathological liars, most people cannot lie without giving themselves away somehow. In our show, I may use a little manipulation to get someone from point A to point C, but there’s never any sleight of hand or plants in the audience, it’s all genuine. I don’t like to use the term mind control, but in a way that’s what we all do. I mean, look at the PGN. You open it up PAGE 84
PAGE 84
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
FUNPRIDE & GAMES
Q Puzzle The best husband Across 1. Start of a list of who you should be the best husband to 5. Newbies on the job market 10. More of the list 14. Are, in Argentina 15. Like bell-bottom jeans 16. Deck foursome 17. Biker’s mount, in slang 18. Place to become wife and wife 19. Seasonal melody 20. More of the list 23. Carte start 24. Half score 25. Like Mary or Peter 29. With petticoat exposed? 34. Pieces of music 35. Like a nervous Nellie 36. Ron Howard film with Ellen DeGeneres
37. Tomato impact sound 42. “Am ___ bad guy here?” 43. Often fruity dessert 44. Alternatives 46. Little red bird of folklore 47. End of the list 50. Name 51. “An American Tragedy” writer 53. Like a clipped sheep 54. Soul of Foucault 56. Dull finish 57. Emphatic affirmative, to Frida 58. Source of the speech with the list 60. Broadway mewsical? 61. Guinness of “The Lavender Hill Mob” 62. Marble handle? 63. “This is the thanks ___?” 64. Office station 65. Get rid of the hoar
PORTRAIT From page 83
and it has ads for things you want people to buy, it’s a form of mind control. We’re subjected to it every day. It’s not harmful in our show, we don’t hypnotize people to make them do crazy things. It’s light and fun. I use a lot of humor. If I just went out there and said, “OK, you’re thinking of a clock” — snooze. How would that be entertaining? Sometimes I go to other mentalists’ shows at our conventions and it’s like watching paint dry. We predict things and read minds and that’s about it, so you need to find a way to make it entertaining. We’re not magicians, and I don’t really like to talk about them. Mentalists and magicians don’t get along very well. Mainly because mentalists get paid more and we don’t have to do children’s parties! But with them, it’s all about the trick and people know that. But with us, 99 percent of what we do is not a trick and it’s not magic and it doesn’t always work. It’s not exact science: I may get someone who’s a pathological liar and I can’t read them. Or someone who’s on stage who wants you to fail. That’s why I hated doing colleges, you always had some wise guy who wanted to try to screw with you and say you were wrong even when you were right. But what can you do [laughs]— you can’t call them a lying little bastard on stage! But we have ways of handling it and fortunately it’s very rare. PGN: How did you get involved with the show “The Mentalist?” BL: Well, they first came to me and a number of my colleagues at our convention with the premise (even before Simon Baker was attached to the show) and it was quite different. The protagonist was a mentalist who billed himself as a psychic and took people’s money. He was going to be played as a fraud so some of our members were against it, but a handful of us decided to participate because I felt it would give us a chance to influence from the inside and
66. Untouchable head Down 1. Informal affirmative 2. Key opening 3. Bono’s band, written out 4. Prego rival 5. ‘40s pinup Betty 6. Get ready to shoot off again 7. Lambda Leg. Defense lawyer, e.g. 8. Bartenders’ servings 9. Horse of another color 10. Go down 11. Click it to go to AfterEllen.com 12. Satellite transmission 13. Night school subj. 21. “Nuts!” 22. Pt. of B.D. Wong 25. Type of father Robert Reed played 26. Collector of Johnny Mathis records, e.g. 27. Sticks in
28. St. of Liberace Museum 30. Contemporary of architect Johnson 31. Treading the boards 32. Guys in drag looking for your seat? 33. Adult-to-be 37. Blackball 38. Small TV set 39. Labium 40. Campus figure 41. O-o-o-o-okla., once 44. Susan B. Anthony dollar, e.g. 45. Banana stalk 48. Shakespearean jester 49. Vitamin B acid 50. Former leader of Syria 52. Silences for Tchaikovsky 55. Three men in a stable relationship? 58. Set of Brit. tomes 59. Request to Sajak
make the character someone who would better reflect us and what we do. It was a chance to protect ourselves. It’s actually been very helpful. Before the show, I would tell someone I was a mentalist and they’d say, “What? You work with metal?” Or they’d say, “You’re a medalist? You don’t look like an Olympic athlete!” Plus, we got a free thank-you trip to California to meet Simon and the cast. It’s been fun. Mark and I watch it faithfully and it’s a kick when we see one of our ideas on screen. PGN: What’s an episode that has one of your ideas? BL: The latest is one that hasn’t aired yet. It’s going to have a body that they show to Patrick and he tells them that the woman had a rare disease six months prior. She looks healthy so they can’t figure out how he knows that but he’s noticed that her fingernails are half-black. When you have liver problems and a lot of fatal diseases, that’s one of the symptoms and it may take a year to grow back — hence she was sick six months before. Those are the types of things we’re trained to observe. PGN: So you must also study a lot of different fields — health, medicine, psychology? BL: You do. A lot of mental issues and problems come from physical problems; the mind and body are very attached so we have to learn about both. I studied psychology but I’m glad I took the path I did. It’s a great profession to get to travel and meet people. We’ve literally been around the world. I think I’m the only American mentalist to perform at the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia. PGN: Ever screw up? BL: Oh yes, once in a while, but it’s rare. We have one part of the show where I have to choose from several envelopes and put them in a shredder. One of them has
PAGE 97
a $100 bill from someone in the audience in it and they are the only one who knows which envelope it’s in. I have to read their thoughts to figure out which one. On two occasions, I’ve had to replace the bill. Like I said, it’s not an exact science. But two times in all these years is not a bad record! And hey, after that, people realize that it’s not a trick. Because it’s really not. As I said, sometimes we have to manipulate things just to move the show along, but there’s no magic or tricks involved. There’s one piece that we do with whistles and people thought I was using a special whistle or holding it a certain way to make it blow. So now I give the whistle out at the end to the audience and let them hold it and examine it and keep it. Because I don’t want people to leave the theater thinking, Did he really do that or was there something rigged? Because we don’t, it’s all about the mind. PGN: I understand Mark is from this area. BL: Oh yes, he’s from Lehigh Valley. I’m looking forward to coming back to Philly. It’s like coming home because we used to go into town quite a lot when he lived there. Great city, great people. In fact, we use a Hershey bar in one of my new bits because Mark is from Pennsylvania. We go to watch the Phillies during their spring training here and Mark roots for them but don’t ask me to choose between them and the Rays. PGN: Do you read his mind? BL: I can read Mark’s mind like I’m reading a book. We’ll practice it when we travel, like when we’re driving around I’ll read his mind. It’s usually about food! I’ll pick up Pizza Hut or Taco Bell or wherever he’s thinking about stopping. PGN: You been together for 34-plus years. What’s the key to a long relationship? BL: We make sure we argue at least once a week because makeup sex is the best. And we go out to dinner once a week.
PGN: And what do you do outside of your mentalist work? BL: I paint. In fact, Mark and I had a small art gallery in Alexandria Bay, N.Y. It’s right on the St. Lawrence River and it was great. We had a lot of local artists. For years we would do the cruise-ship circuit during the winter and the art gallery in the summer. We never mixed the two lives. Until one day I was on a Royal Caribbean cruise and a woman came up and said, “I know you! You own the art gallery.” I said, “Yes, but we really like to keep that separated from what we do here.” She said she understood and promised to keep it to herself, but the next issue of the 1,000 Island Sun had us on the front page with the headline, “Gallery owners have hidden life as entertainers.” She outed us to the entire bay! That summer ,as soon as we returned, we got a call from the garden club to do a fundraiser for them and it sold out, so we had to add a second show, then another group wanted to do one. People coming into the gallery wanted me to read their minds and everyone treated us differently so we ended up closing the shop. It was a shame, but I’m one of these people who believe that everything happens for a reason. Before we’re born, before we’re even out of our mother’s womb, it’s all written for us. You are supposed to be doing this interview right now, it’s all written. We all have free choice but we’re supposed to be at certain places at certain times. Mark and I were both in the Navy at the same time and at the same base, one barrack away from each other, yet we didn’t meet until four years later. And we didn’t meet in a bar, I didn’t even know if he was gay, even though we were in P-town so the odds were in my favor. But I knew at first sight that we were meant to be together. ■
Catch Bob Lawson on stage at the Pride festival, noon-6 p.m. June 9 at Penn’s Landing. To suggest a community member for Family Portrait, write to portraits05@aol.com.
PRIDE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PAGE 85
Come see what’s new at your local, non-corporate, gluten-free historic queer bookshop! Browse, chat, and support the oldest continuously operating LGBT book store in the USA!
10% most hardcovers, over 5 million books and 3 million eBooks available at 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
PAGE 86
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PRIDE
Proudly supporting your journey to parenthood.
Happy Pride!
Free Sperm Donor Information Call Now for Free Unlimited Access
$150 Value Call 800-338-8407
800-338-8407 | www.fairfaxcryobank.com Available Nationwide
Mention Philly Pride and receive 1 week Unlimited Access FREE Offer Expires 12.31.13
PRIDE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PAGE 87
SHOW OFF YOUR PRIDE! ALL-OUT ACTION, ALL THE TIME AT SUGARHOUSE CASINO!
��NEW HOT SLOTS ������������� ����������������������� ���������������� IN THE REFINERY ������������& ���������������� ����������������THE ����������������
SUGARHOUSECASINO.COM ON DELAWARE AVE. 1 MILE NORTH OF THE BEN FRANKLIN BRIDGE
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1.800.GAMBLER.
PAGE 88
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PHILADELPHIA THEATRE COMPANY at the
VENUS IN FUR by David Ives directed by kip fagan
“Very SAUCYand very FUNNY!” "BRILLIANT - the production is DAZZLING!” - WHYY
- Philadelphia Inquirer
NOW THROUGH JUNE 23 PHILATHEATRECO.ORG | 215.985.0420 BROAD AND LOMBARD STREETS Season Sponsor
Official Beverage Sponsor
PRIDE
PRIDE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PAGE 89
PAGE 90
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PRIDE
PRIDE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PAGE 91
PAGE 92
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PRIDE
Food & Drink
PRIDE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PAGE 93
PAGE 94
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PRIDE
PRIDE
Worth Watching ENCORE: Once again, out actor Neil Patrick Harris has been tapped to host the Tony’s, and will preside over “67th Annual Tony Awards,” live from Radio City Music Hall in New York City, 8 p.m. June 9 on CBS. Photo: CBS
THE GLAMOROUS LIFE: If you missed the premier of the Steven Soderberghproduced biopic about the flamboyant and closeted life of Liberace “Behind the Candelabra,” do not despair. The critically lauded film starring Michael Douglas and Matt Damon will be re-aired this weekend, 5 p.m. June 9 on HBO. Photo: HBO
ISN’T THIS BASICALLY A NON-LETHAL ‘SAW’?: Based on the Nippon Television Network’s hit Japanese series “Dero!” the new series “Exit” pits four teams of two contestants against each other in a battle to escape a series of four mind-bending and seemingly diabolical rooms, each more challenging than the last, 10 p.m. June 11 on SyFy. Photo: SyFy
LATE-NIGHT LAUGHS: Wind down from the Pride festivities and watch comedians Zach Galifianakis, Maria Bamford, Brian Posehn and Patton Oswalt bring the laughs in the comedy special “The Comedians of Comedy: Live at the Troubadour,” 12:30 a.m. June 10 on Logo.
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PAGE 95
PAGE 96
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
OUT & ABOUT The week ahead Fri. 06/07 Anthony Hamilton The R&B singer performs 8 p.m. at House of Blues, 801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-343-4000. The B-52s The rock band performs 8 p.m. at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215-5727650. Jay Mohr The comedian performs 8 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000. Grizzly The 1976 horror
film is screened 9:45 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-0223.
Sat. 06/08 The Times of Harvey Milk The Oscar-winning documentary about the gay activist is screened 7 p.m. at Ibrahim Theater at International House, 3701 Chestnut St.; 215387-5125. Billy Idol The rock singer performs 8 p.m. at House of Blues, 801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-343-4000. Erin Foley The comedian per-
forms 8 p.m. at Tabu Lounge, 200 S. 12th St.; 215964-9675. GAME OVER Philadelphia Voices of Pride Concert Philadelphia Voices of Pride offers a new perspective on life and death with an evening of dark humor, 8 p.m. at Trinity Center For Urban Life, 2212 Spruce St.; www. pvop.org.
Sun. 06/09 The Hurricane The 1937 drama is screened 2 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-0223. Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds The R&B singer and producer performs 7:30 p.m. at Keswick Theatre,
PRIDE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS
291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215-5727650.
BILLY BADASS: Punkish superstar Billy Idol still rocks harder and with more swagger than most musicians half his age. Watch the iconic singer perform 8 p.m. June 8 at House of Blues, 801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, N.J. For more information or tickets, call 609-3434000.
Toad the Wet Sprocket The rock band performs 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-994-1400.
Mon. 06/10 Free Quizzo & Board Game Night Roll the dice, 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-994-1400. The Out List The documentary film where Americans share their stories about the LGBT experience is screened 7:30 p.m. at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215686-5322.
First Person StorySlam Local spoken-word artists perform 8:30 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400.
in Love: Straight Talk About Gay Marriage” hosts a reading noon at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215686-5322.
Wet Hot American Summer The comedy film is screened 8 p.m. at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215-922-6888.
4W5 Blues Jam Local musicians get down 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-994-1400.
Lipstick Mondays A weekly drag show featuring a changing roster of queens takes the stage 9 p.m. at The Raven, 385 W. Bridge St., New Hope; 215-8622081.
The Go-Go’s The rock band performs 8 p.m. at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215-5727650.
Tue. 06/11 Tricky The trip-hop artists perform 8 p.m. at Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St.; 215232-2100.
Wed. 06/12 Gene Robinson The openly gay bishop and author of “God Believes
Saul Williams The spoken-word artist performs 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400.
Thu. 06/13
at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; 215923-2960. The Burlesque Show The new event kicks off 9 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000. Bob and Barbara’s Drag Show The outrageousness begins 11 p.m. at Bob and Barbara’s, 1509 South St.; 215545-4511.
Fri. 06/14 Laura Antoniou The author of “The Killer Wore Leather: An S/M Mystery” hosts a reading 5:30 p.m. at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; 215-923-2960.
Lamb of God The metal band performs 8 p.m. at House of Blues, 801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-343-4000. The Psychedelic Furs The new-wave band performs 8 p.m. at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215-922-6888. Jo Koy The comedian performs 9 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000. Marc Silver The out singersongwriter performs 9 p.m. at Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford St; 215-739-9684.
Four New Authors Reading at the Philadelphia Trans Health Conference Four authors of brand-new books of fiction and nonfiction will present their work 7:15 p.m.
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.
A SHOT OF LAUGHTER FOR PRIDE: Out comedian Jess Carpenter will have audiences roaring when he performs at 8 p.m. June 8 at Tabu Lounge, 200 S. 12th St.; 215-9649675.
PRIDE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS
Opening Forsythe & Kylián The Pennsylvania Ballet performs premiers by two of today’s most influential choreographers, June 13-16 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; 215790-5847. Rock of Ages The hit musical about ’80s rock, June 1416 at Merriam Theatre, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800. Sting The rock singer performs 8 p.m. June 1415 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.
Continuing All Dressed Up: Fashions for Children and Their Families Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of clothing from the late-18th through mid-20th centuries, comparing and contrasting adults’ apparel with children’s smaller styles, through Dec. 1, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. The Art of Golf Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of paintings celebrating the sport, through July 7, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. Bootycandy The Wilma Theater presents the production consisting of sketches that interconnect to portray growing up gay and AfricanAmerican, through June 16, 265 S. Broad St.; 215-546-7824. Candy Coated Wonderland Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition by Philadelphia-based multimedia artist Candy Coated (formerly Candy Depew), reinterpreting children’s fancy dress costumes from the museum’s collection, through Nov. 17, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. Design for the Modern Child Philadelphia Museum of Art presents SOLUTION from page 84
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PAGE 97
an exhibition featuring some of the latest furniture, toys, tableware, wallpaper and textiles designed internationally in Australia, Asia, Europe, Great Britain and the United States, along with classics from the museum’s design collection, through Oct. 14, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215763-8100. DINO! An Evening with Dean Martin at the Latin Casino Walnut Street Theatre presents a recreation of a legendary Dean Martin concert, through June 30 at Independence Studio on 3, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550. Grease Walnut Street Theatre presents the classic musical through July 14, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550. In Visible Skin: Portraits of Transgender Philadelphia The William Way LGBT Community Center hosts an exhibition by artist Emily Smith Satis, through June 28, 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220. MAME Bucks County Playhouse presents Andrea McArdle and Lea DeLaria in the popular musical, through June 9, 70 S. Main St.; 215-862-2121. Pinocchio The classic children’s tale comes to life on stage through June 23 at Arden Theatre Company, 40 N. Second St.; 215-9221122. Powder Her Face Opera Philadelphia performs through June 16 at Kimmel’s Perelman Theater, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5847. Ragtime The Centre Theater presents the musical written by Terrence McNally with lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty, through June 23, 208 DeKalb St., Norristown; 610-279-1013.
Closing Heroes Lantern Theatre Company presents the Philadelphia premier of the comedy about vets plotting to escape from a retired soldiers’ home, through June 9, St. Stephen’s Theater, 10th and Ludlow streets; 215-8290395. Inherit the Wind Bristol Riverside Theatre presents the courtroom drama about creationism vs. evolution, through June 9, 120 Radcliffe St.; 215-785-0100. Jon Dore The comedian seen on “Canadian Idol” performs through June 8 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215-4969001. ■
PREACH ON!: Openly gay bishop Gene Robinson, the world’s leading religious spokesperson for gay marriage and author of “God Believes in Love: Straight Talk About Gay Marriage,” is in town to host a reading and discussion, noon June 12 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St. For more information, call 215-686-5322. Robinson will also attend a pre-screening reception of “Love Free or Die,” 6 p.m. June 13 at WHYY, 150 N. Sixth St. The reception is for WHYY members and the 7 p.m. film screening, which traces Robinson’s life, is free and open to the public. For more information, call 215-351-1200.
COME ON, FEEL THE NOISE: “Rock of Ages” the hit musical about ’80s rock music and the Sunset Strip hits town with acres of spandex and a cloud of hairspray June 14-16 at Merriam Theatre, 250 S. Broad St. For more information or tickets, call 215-790-5800.
PAGE 98
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PRIDE
Classifieds Real Estate Sale
Real Estate Sale
Real Estate Sale
Travel & Resorts
Waterfront Lots-Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Was $300k, Now From $55k. Large Lots, Community Pool, Pier and Recreational Center. Great for boating, fishing & kayaking. www.oldemillpointe.com 757-824-0808. ________________________________________37-23 LAKE SALE, NY 5 acres Bass Lake $29,900. 7 acres 400’ waterfront $29,900. 6 lake properties. Were $39,900 now $29,900. www.LandFirstNY.com Ends May 31st. Call 1-888-683-2626. ________________________________________37-23
OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND Best selection of affordable rentals. Full/ partial weeks. Call for FREE brochure. Open daily. Holiday Real Estate. 1-800638-2102. Online reservations: www.holidayoc.com ________________________________________37-23 NORTH WILDWOOD, NJ - FLORENTINE FAMILY MOTEL Beach/Boardwalk Block, Heated Pools, Efficiency/Motel units refrigerator, elevator. Color Brochure/Specials 609522-4075 Department 104 www.florentinemotel.com ________________________________________37-23 609-345-8203. oceanhouseatlanticcity.com ________________________________________37-45
For Sale SAWMILLS From only $3997.00- MAKE & SAVE MONEY with your own bandmill- Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship. FREE Info/DVD: www.NorwoodSawmills.com 1800-578-1363 Ext.300N. ________________________________________37-23
Real Estate Sale
Open House, Saturday, June 8th 11:00-1:00 1220 Walnut Avenue, Haddon Township - This unique home represents a way of life; located on quiet Newton Lake with beautiful gardens, hot tub on the deck, a home gym, sauna w/ full bathroom, all perfect for outdoor entertaining. More? How about a second floor master suite with sitting area with windows facing the lake, skylights, a through-wall fireplace from living area to bathroom? Plus a wet bar, ample closets, dressing area, washer, dryer, Jacuzzi, glass block shower & dual sinks. Kitchen has Corian counters, Jenn Aire cooking and Subzero fridge a few steps to the sunroom overlooking the raised bed gardens & lake, sliders to the deck. Bamboo flooring in living and dining room. Three zone heating/ac, new metal roof, irrigation system including a fountain. Basement is a woodworkers dream with air handling system & a separate 30 amp service; a French drain and a 300 bottle wine rack. Ask for Denise. $310,000
Main Street Realty
730 Haddon Avenue • Collingswood, NJ
856-858-2200
www.MainStRealty.com All real-estate advertising is subject to Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended. Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and handicap (disability). PGN will not knowingly accept any real-estate advertising that is in violation of any applicable law.
PGN does not accept advertising that is unlawful, false, misleading, harmful, threatening, abusive, invasive of another’s privacy, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, hateful or racially or otherwise objectionable, including without limitation material of any kind or nature that encourages conduct that could constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability or otherwise violate any applicable local, state, provincial, national or international law or regulation, or encourage the use of controlled substances.
PRIDE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PAGE 99
The story of A. Criniti Realty Inc. began in 1975 when Anthony Criniti III bought his first property at the age of 24. He always had a passion for real estate but waited until the right opportunity to pursue his interest. When he met his mentor, Bob Aversa, the late owner of Aversa Realty, he was given the chance to learn more about the business.
In 1987 , he decided to pursue his passion full time and began studying for his broker license. Finally, in 1991 he received his broker license and shortly after opened up A. Criniti Realty Inc. on Broad and Reed. The company gradually built up its reputation over several years. In 1994, Anthony bought the building at 1633 East Passyunk Avenue and relocated his business. Working on its 18th year, A. Criniti Realty Inc. has grown a reputation for being one of the best family-owned real estate companies in South Philadelphia.
Anthony Criniti, Broker Theresa Criniti, Property Rental Manager 1633 E. Passyunk Ave., Phila., PA 19148 Tel: (215) 465-4225 Fax: (215) 465-4229 Email: myphillyrealestate@gmail.com or crinitirealty.com
PRIDE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
Help Wanted Marketing person needed. Experienced in website and SEO. Great pay and benefits. Email resumes to anna@guesswho.com ________________________________________37-24 LIVE, WORK, PARTY, PLAY! Hiring 18-24 girls/guys. Awesome Sales Job! $400-$800 Weekly. PAID Expenses. Signing Bonus. Are You Energetic & Fun? Call 1-866-574-7454. ________________________________________37-23 Heavy Equipment Operator Career! 3 Weeks Hands On Training School. Bulldozers, Backhoes, Excavators. National Certifications. Lifetime Job Placement Assistance. VA Benefits Eligible! 1-866-362-6497. ________________________________________37-23 YOUR NEW DRIVING JOB IS ONE PHONE CALL AWAY! Experienced CDL-A Drivers and Recent Grads - Excellent Benefits, Weekly Hometime. Paid Training. 888-362-8608 AverittCareers.com Equal Opportunity Employer. ________________________________________37-23 GORDON TRUCKING, INC. CDL-A Drivers Needed! Up to $3,000 SIGN ON BONUS. Starting Pay UP to .46 cpm. Refrigerated Fleet, Great Miles, Full Benefits, Great Incentives! No Northeast Runs! Call 7 days/wk! TeamGTI.com 866-554-7856. ________________________________________37-23 Exp. Reefer Drivers: GREAT PAY /Freight lanes from Presque Isle, ME, Boston-Lehigh, PA. 800-277-0212 or primeinc.com ________________________________________37-23 NEED CLASS A CDL TRIANING? Start a CAREER in trucking today! Swift Academies offer PTDI certified courses and offer ‘Best-In-Class’ training. *New Academy Classes Weekly *No Money Down or Credit Check *Certified Mentors Ready and Available *Paid (While Training With Mentor) *Regional and Dedicated Opportunities *Great Career Path *Excellent Benefits Package * Please Call: (866) 271-7613. ________________________________________37-23 HIRING EXPERIENCED/INEXPERIENCED TANKER DRIVERS! Earn up to $.51 per Mile! New Fleet Volvo Tractors! 1 Year OTR Exp. Req.-Tanker Training Available. Call Today: 877-882-6537 www.OakleyTransport.com ________________________________________37-23 CDL-A Drivers: Hiring experienced company drivers and owner operators. Solo and teams. Competitive pay package. Sign-on incentives. Call 888-705-3217 or apply online at www.drivenctrans.com ________________________________________37-23 A. Duie Pyle Needs: Owner Operators and Company Drivers: Regional Truckload Operations. HOME EVERY WEEKEND!!! O/O AVE. $1.85/Mile. REQUIRES 2-YRS EXP. CALL DAN @ 888-301-5855 OR APPLY @ www. driveforpyle.com ________________________________________37-2
Friends Men LOOKING FOR ROMANCE Attractive GWM, warm, sensitive, caring, 48 y.o. with a smooth gymnast build looking for other GWM, 30-50, who is also in good shape. I live in NE Phila. I’m looking for guys who are also sensitive, caring with a fun personality. If this sounds interesting to you feel free to call me, David, 215-698-0215. ________________________________________37-25 BM, 60 looking for British gent, 35-45 for intimate encounters. 215-763-3391, 6PM-Midnight. ________________________________________37-22 WANTED Live-Out or Live-In Companion, maybe more. 215-6775610. ________________________________________37-25 Senior GWM ISO male, 40+, all races for platonic relationship. Phila. area only. PO Box 302, Merion Sta., PA 19066. ________________________________________37-24 WM, NE Phila. If you’re looking for hot action, call 215-934-5309. No calls after 11 PM. ________________________________________37-23 GWM, 50s, 5’7”,145, looks & acts younger seeks younger 18-45. Me: quiet, easygoing, likes music, film, theater, cooking, exercise. Leave msg 215-590-1446. ________________________________________37-27 CUTE ITALIAN, 36 Cute Italian, 36 looking for beefy or guys with hard bodies for good times. I live near Philly in NJ. Call Gregg at 412-596-9050, cell. ____________________________________________37-23 64 yo, hot, in shape 5,7, seeks hunky, top only masc guys 4 fun. Asian, PR great. Leave message 215-264-1058. ____________________________________________37-25
Massage David, 63, 6’, 200 lbs., educated. 215-569-4949. ________________________________________37-32
Handsome Certified Therapist 6’, 195 lbs, Muscle Gives Sensual / Therapeutic Massage
Call 215-432-6030
B-7
PAGE 101
PAGE 102
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PRIDE
Scott A. Drake Photography 267-736-6743 GYM, DRY SAUNA, and STEAM ROOM ARE AVAILABLE...
LATE NIGHT FOOLING AROUND
Sat., June 15th, 2013 • Time: 11pm-3:30am WHAT TO EXPECT: • DJ David Dutch • Complimentary Food & Beverages • A Full House of Guys To Choose From & So Much More..
P.A.N.G. (Philadelphia Area Nudist Group)
Sun., June 16th, 2013 • Time: 3-6pm BOYS WILL BE BOYS- AWAKEN YOUR INNER SPIRIT JOIN PANG FOR: • An Afternoon of Naked Socializing • Complimentary Food & Beverages and Much More... For More Information On Group:www.phillynakedguys.com/
NIGHT OF MAGNUM
Sat., June 22nd, 2013 • Time: 11pm-3:30am WHAT TO EXPECT: • DJ David Dutch • MEN OF MAGNUM ENTERTAINMENT • Complimentary Food & Beverages • A Full House of Guys To Choose From & So Much More..
SIP-N-TWIRL SUNDAY(1st Summer Tea Dance Party) Sat., June 23rd, 2013 • Time: 3pm- 6pm
WHAT TO EXPECT: • DJ David Dutch • Complimentary Food & Beverages • A Full House of Guys To Choose From & So Much More.. - CHECK IN EARLY IF YOU WANT A ROOM... ROOMS GO QUICKLY!!! -
BUSY TIMES FOR US:
These our are most popular days when people come-
SUNDAY RELIEF Half Price Rooms (6am Sunday till 8am Monday) Members: $12.50 and Non-Members: $22.50
MONDAY thru FRIDAY: Business Mans Locker Special (8am to 4pm) Members: $5.00 and Non-Members: $15.00
TUESDAYS Half Price Rooms (6am till 12 Midnight)
Members: $12.50 and Non-Members: $22.50
WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY NIGHT CRUISE $12 Flat Rate for Locker Admission & Clothing Optional (4pm-12 Midnight) Check out our website for our HOT NEW WEEKLY SPECIALS & JOIN OUR e-mail List to get the latest information on upcoming events.... Also, RENOVATIONS are being done, So swing by & Check Out The Transformation!
Don’t forget to visit the Adonis Cinema right next door!! 2026 Sansom St/ PH: 215-557-9319
PRIDE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PAGE 103
OWN THE VIEW. OWN Y YOUR DREAM.
Actual view from The Residences at Dockside
215.925.3000
DocksideGayPhilly.com
Sales Center: 717 South Christopher Columbus Blvd., in Philadelphia. Open Mon.– Sat. from 10am – 5pm; Sun. 12pm to 5pm; Private Appointments Recommended. Another Fine Property from The DePaul Group. Broker Cooperation Invited. FREE CONDO FEES FOR 1 YEAR!*
*Offer applies to new sales on 2-bedroom units only. Expires June 30, 2013.
DOCKSD 13-0037 GPhilly.indd 1
Quietly set apart from all the clamor of the city, yet remarkably close to the heart of it all, The Residences at Dockside is your private enclave on the water. Own an elegant condominium and enjoy a sophisticated lifestyle – right where you want to be, with views that are simply unmatched. FITNESS CLUB. 24/7 DOORMAN. HEATED INDOOR POOL. INDOOR PARKING. PRIVATE SHUTTLE. 1-BR’s from the mid $200’s 2-BR’s from the low $400’s 3-BR’s from the low $ 800’s
6/4/13 12:55 PM
PAGE 104
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 7-13, 2013
PRIDE