pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976
Vol. 40 No. 26 June 24-30, 2016
Family Portrait:
Chris Hudson camps it up
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Top 10 Louisville
HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
• Knott not going anywhere • Farnese trial date set
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Del Shores brings “Sordid” stories to New Hope PAGE 27
Philly schools adopt transgender policy
PA Senate Committee approves LGBT antibias protections
By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com
By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com
Following a trend this spring that saw five suburban schools adopt transgender-affirming student policies, the School District of Philadelphia adopted its own policy at a June 16 meeting. “We have worked closely with students and members of the LGBTQ community to develop these guidelines,” Superintendent Dr. William R. Hite said in a prepared remark. “Every student deserves to know their rights will be recognized and upheld at school. This policy provides clear guidance and will help to ensure that our schools remain welcoming to all of our students.” Philadelphia schools’ policy, called the Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming Students Policy, addresses names and pronouns, privacy rights, dress code, physical education and sports teams, and restroom and locker-room access that correspond to gender identity. It also stipulates that schools should use gender-neutral language in communication with all students and families, regardless of a student’s gender identity. Jason Landau Goodman, founding executive director of the Pennsylvania Youth Congress, said his organization, along with The Attic Youth Center, first approached Philadelphia schools in 2014 about instituting a trans policy. Since then, the policy has developed with input from students and parents. “Yes, this is a good start to center the needs of transgender students,” Landau Goodman said. “But the work is not done in terms of the training and implementation of the policy. We urge further development in articulating the policy’s scope.” The full policy is four pages. School officials said the policy is identical to the rights and accommodations provided to students in the Multiracial-MulticulturalGender Education Policy. For more information, visit www. philasd.org. The policy is posted in full at www.phila.k12.pa.us/offices/administration/policies/252.pdf. n
A committee of the Pennsylvania Senate this week approved legislation to ban LGBT discrimination in housing matters. The Pennsylvania Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee approved Senate Bill 1307 in a 7-4 vote. There was one amendment added by a 6-5 vote that would also prohibit LGBT discrimination in employment. An amendment to allow a religious exemption failed in a 5-6 vote. The amended bill will now move to the Senate floor. LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination legislation has only seen a committee vote in Pennsylvania once before. Voting in favor of the measure were Democratic Sens. John Blake, Wayne Fontana, Art Haywood and Shirley Kitchen. They were joined by Republican Sens. Camera Bartolotta, Thomas Killion and Scott Wagner, chair of the committee. Voting against the measure were Republican Sens. David Argall, Michele Brooks, Mario Scavello and Joseph Scarnati. Applause followed from the more than 50 people in the room, including Rep. Brian Sims, the first elected openly gay state lawmaker. PAGE 8 “It’s really great,” said Mara Keisling,
PURSUING PHILLY’S HISTORY: Ilene Trachtman, director of “The Pursuit: 50 Years in the Fight for LGBT Rights,” speaks about the filmmaking process before a screening June 16 at Independence Visitors Center. The film traces the LGBT-rights movement and Philadelphia’s role in it. Filmmakers interviewed scores of local LGBT people, as well as filmed at LGBT gatherings like the rally after marriage equality came to the nation, the 50th anniversary of the Annual Reminder marches and OutFest. The film debuted on WHYY at 9 p.m. June 23. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Plans forming for Gayborhood Orlando fundraiser By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com Politicians, Philadelphia police and a business leader are among the nine confirmed guest bartenders for a multi-bar Philly4Pulse fundraiser slated for July 21 in and around the Gayborhood. The event will raise money for the families of the victims in the June 12 mass shooting during Latin Night at Pulse, a popular LGBT nightclub in Orlando. Guest bartenders Mayor Jim Kenney and the Greater Philadelphia Gay Officer Action League, a fraternal organization for LGBT law-enforcement officials, will participate. Some people posted on social media suggesting GOAL’s inclusion after protests caused the group to step down as grand marshals of this month’s Philly Pride parade. “We want them involved,” said Jeffrey Sotland, co-owner of Tabu, who’s organizing the fundraiser with other bar owners. He said they’re working with GOAL to determine how many officers will volunteer. The other guest bartenders include U.S. Rep. Bob Brady; state Sen. Larry Farnese; Philadelphia City Councilmembers Mark Squilla, Helen Gym and Blondell Reynolds Brown; executive director of the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations Rue Landau; Philadelphia Police Captain Jack Ryan and a high-ranking official with the Philadelphia International PAGE 8 Airport.
EDUCATING TO END AIDS: Hundreds gathered at the Pennsylvania Convention Center June 22 for End AIDS: The HIV Prevention and Outreach Summit. The event was staged by Philadelphia FIGHT as part of its annual AIDS Education Month programming. The event included nearly 50 workshops on HIV/AIDS topics. Featured speakers include Dr. Rachel Levine, Pennsylvania physician general; Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, of New York City’s Department of Health; and Louie Ortiz-Fonseca, creator of “The Gran Varones.” Photo: Scott A. Drake