A chat with Philadelphia Pride Festival headliner Aisha Tyler
Family Portrait: Peter Allen Prete
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Special Pride issue See pages 5, 55-58, 67-69 June 10-16, 2011
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Vol. 35 No. 23
Council considers inclusive sick-day bill By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com A bill before City Council would mandate private businesses to provide a minimum number of earned sick days for employees, a measure that is LGBT-inclusive. The Promoting Healthy Families and Workplaces measure, introduced by Councilman Darrell Clarke (D-5th Dist.) and Councilman-at-Large Bill Greenlee, could come up for a vote this month. According to the Coalition for Healthy Families and Workplaces, the leading agency lobbying for the bill, there are currently about 210,000 workers in Philadelphia who receive no paid sick days at their jobs. If enacted, the legislation would allow for employees to earn one hour of sick time for every 30 hours worked. At larger companies, employees could earn up to 56 hours of sick
SPEAKING OUT FOR THE SICK: William Way LGBT Community Center executive director Chris Bartlett took the podium Wednesday to lend support to the city’s proposed Earned Sick Days bill, which would mandate private companies to offer employees the opportunity to earn a minimum amount of sick time that can be used to care for other family members, including domestic partners. Also speaking out in favor of the measure were Philadelphia Family Pride community coordinator Stephanie Haynes (from left) with son Griffin, Sherri Cohen (not pictured), Action AIDS executive director Kevin Burns, AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania project and development associate James Rosica, AIDS Fund executive director Robb Reichard and Mazzoni Center executive director Nurit Shein. Photo: Scott A. Drake
time annually, or the equivalent of seven eight-hour work days, and up to four days for companies with 10 or fewer employees. The accrued sick time could be used for the employee or for the individual to care for an ill family member, which is defined as a biological, adopted or foster child, stepchild or a child to whom the employee stands in “loco parentis,” a spouse, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling or domestic partner, among other classifications. The Family and Medical Leave Act, which authorizes employees at larger private companies to take unpaid sick leave, does not extend to domestic partners. The bill has the support of more than 100 area businesses and organizations, although the Nutter administration has expressed resistance to the measure, and it is opposed by the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. Independence Business Alliance, Philadelphia’s LGBT chamber of commerce, has not yet taken a formal position on the issue. A group of LGBT and HIV/AIDS leaders came together at the William Way LGBT Community Center Wednesday to voice their support for the measure. Marianne Bellesorte, senior director of policy at PathWays PA and a founding member of the Coalition for Healthy Families and Workplaces, said the measure is vital to Philadelphia families. PAGE 52
BACK TO THE BALL: Hundreds of house/ballroom community members from around the region packed the Gershman Y June 4 for the return of the Legendary Crystal Ball. The event, staged by The Colours Organization and Philadelphia FIGHT, returned after a several-year hiatus with more than a dozen competition categories, including an award for the house whose members received the most HIV tests. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Pride to set new records in Philly By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com
P R I D E I N T H E WAT E R : Te a m Philadelphia members hit the Schuylkill last weekend for the fifth-annual Dragon Boat Regatta. The team placed fourth in the C Division of the Mixed Division; an overall time from three heats placed them 22 out of 60 teams from all divisions. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Homelessness bill sees changes After backlash from advocates for the homeless, Councilman Frank DiCicco this week agreed to change his proposed measure that he said is meant to curtail aggressive panhandling on city streets. The City Council Streets and Services Committee approved the amended bill Tuesday; a full vote is expected June 16. The original bill sought to eliminate the stipulation that police officers contact a social-service agency before citing or arresting someone for panhandling or lying or sitting on or obstructing a sidewalk. The bill drew sharp criticism from some Philadelphians, who turned out in full force
at Tuesday’s hearing. After last-minute negotiations, DiCicco agreed to shelve the majority of his proposed measure and proceed only with a one-sentence amendment to the current Sidewalk Behavior legislation. The amendment clarifies that police need not wait for an outreach team from a social-service agency to take coercive action against an individual who is threatening or intimidating others or using obscene language. Project H.O.M.E., one of the main opponents of the original bill, has indicated it supports the measure in its current form. ■ — Jen Colletta
Thousands of rainbow-clad men and women will be packed onto Penn’s Landing Sunday for the Pride festival. The annual Pride parade will kick off at 13th and Locust streets at noon, while the Penn’s Landing festival will run from noon6 p.m. This year’s event is expected PAGE 5
Judge clears way for trans bias case By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com A federal judge has cleared the way for a Pennsylvania litigant with Gender Identity Disorder to pursue her disability-discrimination claim in federal court. On May 2, U.S. District Judge Eduardo C. Robreno ruled that GID in some cases can be disabling — or perceived to be disabling — and thus protected from bias. The judge denied a request from a firm being sued by transwoman Janis Stacy to categorically exclude GID from antibias protections in the state. Last year, Stacy filed a PAGE 49