pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976
Vol. 41 No. 23 June 9-15, 2017
Family Portrait: Alison Bechdel on a funny stage in life PAGE 41
Congreso CEO under fire to resign PAGE 5
HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM Clay Cane comes home to kick off new book tour
Accuser takes the stand in Cosby trial
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Office of LGBT Affairs unveils new community flag, website By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com
A NEW OUT-LET: Residents and visitors of Point Breeze headed to American Sardine Bar for the first OUT in Point Breeze event June 1. The social featured food, drinks and networking opportunities, with more than 100 guests from across the city. Organizers plan to hold socials every month at rotating locations in the neighborhood. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Gay man seeks court order for Social Security to recognize his common-law marriage By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com John D. Roberts wants a federal judge to order the Social Security Administration to recognize his same-sex common-law marriage so he’ll receive spousal-survivor benefits. Roberts, 64, of North Philadelphia, initially applied for the benefits in February 2016, after spouse Bernard O. Wilkerson passed away. However, since the men only were officially married for three months, Social Security denied his request for monthly spousal-survivor benefits. In September 2016, Orphans’ Court Judge George W. Overton ruled that the men were in a common-law marriage dating back to July 4, 1990. Despite Overton’s ruling, the Social Security Administration continues to refuse to recognize Roberts’ 25-year marriage for purposes of monthly spousal-survivor benefits, according to Roberts’ lawsuit. Roberts’ May 31 lawsuit doesn’t specify the amount of benefits in dispute.
M. Patrick Yingling, an attorney for Roberts, said that a Social Security employee told Roberts the agency doesn’t have a policy on same-sex common-law marriage, giving no indication on when such a policy would be developed. “Social Security is not respecting Mr. Roberts’ 25-year marriage to his late spouse. They are singling him out because of the nature of his same-sex marriage. There is no rational reason to discriminate against someone who was in a same-sex common-law marriage.” Yingling said a court order is necessary. “We are seeking a federal-court order that the Social Security Administration must evaluate Mr. Roberts’ application [for monthly benefits] based on his common-law marriage, dating back to 1990.” The lawsuit could help others in a similar situation, Yingling added. “We are also seeking a federal-court order that the Social Security Administration may not refuse to recognize same-sex comPAGE 28
The city unfurled a redesigned LGBT flag this week, the same day it launched a new website for the Office of LGBT Affairs. Amber Hikes, the city’s director of LGBT Affairs, said she teared up the first time she saw the new rainbow flag, which was raised Thursday at City Hall during the inaugural Pride Kickoff. The new flag expands on creator Gilbert Baker’s original design by including black and brown stripes to symbolize the LGBT community’s racial diversity. “Seeing an image like this flag instills so much pride in me as a queer black woman,” Hikes said. “When I see the flag, I feel like I see myself.” Tierney, a Philadelphia-based advertising agency, approached Hikes and the Office of LGBT Affairs with the new design. Hikes said the extra stripes are “simple, but remarkable.” “The new design is a symbolic representation of Philadelphia’s commitment to centering the experiences, contributions, activism and dedication of black and brown members of our community,” Hikes said. “To me, this flag says: ‘We see you. We honor you. We celebrate you. You’re not
just a part of us. You are us.’” For the flag-raising ceremony, Hikes said the office chose people of color as presenters and performers. “I feel that when we celebrate Pride Month and the LGBT community at large, we focus heavily on the same voices, identities and experiences,” Hikes said. “This year, I want to celebrate people who are too often left out of our narratives. I’m really excited to use this event to highlight people of transgender and gender-nonconforming experience [and] highlight youth and people of color for their contributions to the LGBTQ-liberation movement.” Hikes said she believes this flag is “historic on so many levels” and will expand beyond the city. “This is not going to just be in Philadelphia,” she said. “This is going to take the nation by storm. I believe that very deeply. This is an opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate not just Pride but also the community members whose voices and experiences so often get overlooked. To me, this is a chance to stop saying ‘We’re inclusive’ and to actually begin showing it. More importantly, this flag is a step toward healing for our community and this genuine unity that so many of us are saying we want.” Hikes added that, PAGE 28
The Pulse Nightclub tragedy, one year later
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