Cirque creation stands tall
What do small businesses know or think they know about LGBT rights?
Family Portrait: Julie Crist
PAGE 25
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June 14-20, 2013
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Vol. 37 No. 24
‘Glee’ star to headline Attic anniversary event By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com
A KEY LEADER: Clear Channel news and community-affairs director Loraine Ballard Morrill welcomed the Rev. Al Sharpton to Philadelphia FIGHT’s annual HIV Prevention and Outreach Summit June 12 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. About 1,000 packed the room to hear the keynote address from the civil-rights activist, who has become a leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS stigma in African-American communities. The summit was part of FIGHT’s AIDS Education Month, which will run through the end of June; aidseducationmonth.org. Photo: Scott A. Drake
The Attic Youth Center gleefully announced the headliner this week for its 20th anniversary gala. Alex Newell, who plays transgender student Unique Adams on the hit Fox show “Glee,” will be the special celebrity guest at The Attic’s Nov. 16 gala. The Attic will present Newell with the LGBT Youth Role Model Award at the gala. Newell spoke to a crowd of Attic supporters, via a video greeting, for a June 12 invite-only preview party of the gala at the Ritz Carlton. Carrie Jacobs, executive direc-
tor of The Attic, said Newell has helped promote LGBT awareness through his music and performances on “Glee.” “The way we see it, he demonstrates visibility on a national level and helps LGBT youth not to be afraid to be themselves,” she said. “He is someone who clearly has a commitment to LGBT youth and accepts them for who they are and tells them to be true to themselves, particularly for transgender youth.” Jacobs said before the big reveal that youth from the center were not yet made aware of Newell’s presence at the gala, which she thinks will be a hit. PAGE 20 “They will be
Pride 25 exceeds expectations
L&I closes Rosewood in connection with Center City collapse
By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com
By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com
Last Sunday wasn’t hot enough to prevent what Pride organizers said was the biggest crowd ever for Philly Pride Presents’ 25th anniversary parade and festival. Franny Price, Philly Pride Presents executive director, said about 11,000 turned out for the June 9 event, and that was not the only aspect that was larger than normal. “We had more parade contingents,” Price said. “Traditionally, we have maybe 50-51 in the parade, but we had 67. We also ran out of vending space and had to create spaces on the spot. The crowds were unbelievable.” Price said she was grateful Monday’s flash floods held off a day, but said the event draws people no matter the weather. “It was a lousy beginning to the weekend and, considering [Monday], I just thank God,” she said. Pride weekend was supposed to kick off with a June 7 block party in the Gayborhood but, due to inclement weather, the party was moved indoors to the various bars. Price said she didn’t PAGE 16
Rosewood, the city’s newest LGBT-oriented restaurant, has been closed indefinitely after a spot inspection by the city’s Department of Licenses and Inspections uncovered several electrical, plumbing and licensing violations. The inspection was prompted by last week’s deadly building collapse at 22nd and Market streets, an L&I official has confirmed. Rosewood is an upscale cocktail bar and restaurant that seats about 30 people. It’s contiguous to Woody’s Bar at 1300 Walnut St. Both establishments are owned by Michael Weiss and his brother Billy Weiss. Rosewood was closed by L&I inspectors about 10 a.m. June 5, causing staff and patrons to move to the adjacent Woody’s Bar. The space currently occupied by Rosewood was formerly occupied by De
BEACH BALL: Sandy Beach strutted her stuff to the top of the Best Female Impersonator category at Sunday’s Pride parade. Beach performed on the Venture Inn float, one of the more-than 65 contingents, a parade record. For more postPride coverage and photos, see pages 15-19. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Village, an Afrocentric retail store. On April 3, Plato A. Marinakos Jr. applied to L&I for an interior-alteration permit on behalf of the Weiss brothers, so the prior De Village space could be converted into a restaurant. Rosewood opened for business several days later. Marinakos is known as an expediter, because his job involves expediting the permitting process at agencies such as L&I. Marinakos also was the expediter for the demolition project at 22nd and Market streets. Last Wednesday, a wall at that site collapsed onto a nearby thrift store, killing six people. The alterations for Rosewood were to be performed by Griffin Campbell Construction, a demolition contractor also connected to the deadly demolition collapse. Griffin T. Campbell, owner of the demolition firm, couldn’t be reached for comment. PAGE 20 Marinakos also