Philadelphia Gay News Honesty Integrity Professionalism
June 25 - July 1, 2010
Mixed verdict in Scouts trial
New LGBT police liaison takes helm By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer Chief Inspector James Tiano, who served as the liaison between the LGBT community and Philadelphia Police for the past 12 years, is retiring at the end of the month, and his role will be filled by a longtime veteran who pledged to carry on his predecessor’s commitment to ensuring the safety of all LGBT Philadelphians. Stephen T. Johnson, the deputy commissioner of Homeland Security and Domestic Preparedness — now in the process of transitioning to the Office of Professional Responsibility — is a 32-year veteran of the force and a Philadelphia native. Johnson’s father and uncle both served on the force for decades, and his son is currently a sergeant in the 35th District. His brother, William, is the executive director of the Police Advisory Commission, DEP. COMM. w h i c h i nve s t i STEPHEN JOHNSON gates complaints Photo: Scott A. Drake against police. J o h n s o n worked with the LGBT community alongside Tiano in the past, which he said was the main motivator in his volunteering for the open position. “Several years ago, as an inspector, I worked as a subordinate to Chief Inspector Tiano in the now-defunct Community Affairs Bureau, and I went with him on various liaison projects, so I got to know a lot of people in the community and made a lot of good contacts. So hopefully I’m going to be able to parlay that into a successful venture with this position,” he said. “I wanted to take this [community] partially because I’d gotten to know a lot of people in the community and I was part of some of the earlier law-enforcement assistance to the LGBT community.” Johnson noted that he has supported efforts to curb crime against LGBT individuals throughout this career. “In 1991, before sexual orientation was
Vol. 34 No. 26
By Timothy Cwiek PGN Writer-at-Large
more to stop the spread of HIV and improve the health and prolong the lives of those who are infected.” On Testing Day, Philadelphia FIGHT will offer testing at three local churches: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, 6671 Germantown Ave.; 12:30-3 p.m. at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, 2800 W. Cheltenham Ave.; and 10:30 a.m.1 p.m. at Bright Hope Baptist Church, 1620 N. 12th St. FIGHT development director Mark Seaman said such faith-based communities can be influential in spreading the message about the importance of HIV testing. “Philadelphia FIGHT believes that the slowing of the spread of HIV requires the education of the general public, and that faith leaders have the ability to use their voices to ensure that everyone gets tested, those living with HIV seek treatment and those not exposed to the virus stay healthy,” Seaman said. He noted that the agency’s Faith Advisory Board — which includes former mayor Wilson Goode Sr., Bishop Audrey Bronson
A body of eight federal jurors handed down a mixed verdict Wednesday after deliberating the City of Philadelphia’s case against a local Boy Scout council. After several hours of deliberation, jurors said the city didn’t discriminate against the Scouts when it sought to evict them from a city-owned building, but it acted unconstitutionally when it requested fair-market rent or disavowal of the national Boy Scouts of America antigay policy. The jury also clearly rejected the Boy Scouts of America council’s claim that the city violated its 14th Amendment right of equal protection. But it reached a split verdict on the council’s claim that its First Amendment right to free speech was violated. Specifically, the jury found that the city did not engage in viewpoint discrimination in seeking the eviction of the BSA council, but it placed an unconstitutional condition on the council’s free-speech rights by requesting fair-market rent or disavowal of the national policy banning gays. Attorneys for the Scouts claimed victory on Wednesday after an eight-day trial, and plan to ask U.S. District Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter to convert the temporary injunction preventing their eviction into a permanent one. But the Scouts’ attorneys also said they were eager to speak with city attorneys to reach an out-of-court settlement to resolve the dispute. Attorneys for the city said it was too soon to decide their next move. Outside the courthouse, jury foreman Merrill Arbogast, 40, said the jury sympathized with both sides. “We did not feel that the city acted maliciously: They didn’t try to get the Scouts for some reason other than what they stated. But [city officials] could have gone about it with a better process.” He said the legal issues were compli-
See TESTING DAY, Page 23
See SCOUTS TRIAL, Page 9
MATTHEW’S LEGACY: University of Pennsylvania LGBT Center director Bob Schoenberg (from top right) and students Cory Lamoureux and Robert Fuss were among 100 people who turned out Tuesday night to hear LGBT activist Judy Shepard, mother of slain gay college student Matthew Shepard, talk about the transformations she’s undergone in the 12 years since her son’s murder. During the visit to the University of Pennsylvania bookstore, which was a stop on Shepard’s tour for her book, “The Meaning of Matthew: My Son’s Murder in Laramie, and a World Transformed,” she discussed the impact her son’s killing had on her personally and on the national discussion about LGBT rights. Shepard also took questions from the audience from everything about her family to her views on the future of the LGBT-rights movement and signed copies of the book. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Get tested on HIV Testing Day By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer
According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 200,000 Americans are currently unaware they’re living with HIV, and local HIV/AIDS service organizations are planning a host of events next week to reduce that figure. In honor of National HIV Testing Day, June 27, several agencies are staging free testing events to encourage Philadelphians to get tested and know their status. Gay and bisexual men make up more than half of new HIV infections, and the CDC recommends that this population get tested annually; however, the agency reports that about a third of the community has not been tested in the previous year. Dr. Kevin Fenton, director of the CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, said all individuals, regardless of risk factors, should verify their HIV status next week. “On National HIV Testing Day, I urge all Americans to get tested for HIV and to encourage friends and family to do the See LIAISON, Page 12 same,” Fenton said. “No single step can do
PAGE 2
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 3
PHILADELPHIA NEWS PHILADELPHIA GAY GAY NEWS
PAGE 4
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
News 10 11 11 7 5 7 5 11
Editorial Letters/Feedback Mark My Words Media Trail News Briefing National News Regional News Street Talk
PGN 505 S. Fourth St. Philadelphia, PA 19147-1506 Phone: (215) 625-8501 Fax: (215) 925-6437 E-mail: pgn@epgn.com Web: www.epgn.com
Decision time With litigation over in the California Proposition 8 challenge, the whole nation awaits the judge’s decision. Page 7
Publisher
Mark Segal (ext. 204)
DRAGGING INTO SUMMER: Lisa Lisa (right) performed and hosted Bob & Barbara’s drag show at the Summer Solstice celebration at the Kimmel Center June 19. Hundreds packed the hall for the event, which has become one of the highlights of the annual festival. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Detour Comics Diversions Meeting Place Portraits Q Puzzle Scene In Philly Worth Watching
Writer-at-Large Timothy Cwiek (ext. 208)
“I Am Love” is one of three LGBT films to appear at The Ritz prior to the opening of QFest on July 9.
Professional Portraits: Alan Robarge
Page 34
Page 37
Columns
Classifieds Directories
44 46
Graphic Artist Sean Dorn (ext. 211) sean@epgn.com Advertising Director Tami Sortman (ext. 218) tami@epgn.com Advertising Manager Greg Dennis (ext. 201) greg@epgn.com Advertising Sales Representatives David Augustine (ext. 219) david@epgn.com National Advertising Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863
Work It Out
Offline
Mombian
Diversions
Getting freaky
Health care starts with you
Ideas for a bang-up Fourth
Children and the marriage message
Otep talks it up
“Jesus Phreak” takes a Biblical stance
Page 14
Page 30
emails
Page 39
Page 42
Page 31
Poll results from our online survey as of June 23:
How many jobs do you have this summer? 33% One 20% Two 7% Three 17% None 20% Not enough 3% Too many
Events: diversions@epgn.com News/story ideas: editor@epgn.com Letters/Opinions: editor@epgn.com Distribution: don@epgn.com
Art Director Scott A. Drake (ext. 210) scott@epgn.com
Larry Nichols (ext. 213) larry@epgn.com
Big-time screen actor, John Leguizamo doesn’t mess around. He’s bringing his wit to the Philly stage in “Klass Klown.” Page 28
10 15 36 39 30 32 14
Editor Sarah Blazucki (ext. 206) sarah@epgn.com
Staff Writers Jen Colletta (ext. 215) jen@epgn.com
34 42 38 34 35 33 41
Creep of the Week Crime Watch Food Reviews Mombian Offline Outward Bound Work It Out
mark@epgn.com
Go to www.epgn.com to weigh in on this week’s question:
Tavern fare at Tabu
Page 36
When was the last time you were tested for HIV?
Office Manager/Classifieds Don Pignolet (ext. 200) don@epgn.com Executive Assistant Credit/Billing Manager Carol Giunta (ext. 202) carol@epgn.com Philadelphia Gay News is a member of: The Associated Press National Gay Newspaper Guild Pennsylvania Newspaper Association Published by Masco Communications Inc. © 2010 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.
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 5
News Briefing
Regional
New bar to give back The Gayborhood’s newest LGBT club recently announced the launch of a weekly event to benefit area nonprofits. Tabu Lounge and Sports Bar, 200 S. 12th St., began its Community Thursdays June 24, with all proceeds from the $5 cover going to benefit the William Way LGBT Community Center. The next event, on July 1, will fund the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society, and future beneficiaries include agencies such as Mazzoni Center, Delaware Valley Legacy Fund, Traverse Arts Project and Women of Hope. The $5 cover includes an open bar with well drinks from 9-10 p.m. Throughout the night, Tabu will also offer $2-youcall-its, $3 sweet-tea vodka drinks and $4 Long Island iced teas. For more information, visit www. tabuphilly.com or call (215) 964-9675.
SUGARY SWEET: About 200 local youth, including organizers Marqui Bailey (from left), Mia Rosa — who was picked as last year’s prom queen — Carolyn Valentin and Samantha Martinez, dressed to the nines for the 15th annual Alternative Prom, June 18 at the Gershman Y. The event, organized by such agencies as the Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative, The COLOURS Organization Inc. and The Attic Youth Center, was themed “Sugar Rush,” which GALAEI executive director Elicia Gonzalez joked fit nicely with the atmosphere at the prom. “People who’d gone to it in years previous said this year had a particular high level of energy and rejuvenation, so that may have been because of the sugar rush.” Photo: Gloria Casarez
Input sought from LGBT seniors By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer Throughout the summer, local seniors will have the chance to complete a survey that will assist both LGBT and mainstream agencies in becoming better equipped to handle the needs of the elder sexual-minority population. The survey, offered online and in print form at the William Way LGBT Community Center, is supported by a grant the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund received from the state Department of Community and Economic Development. Gloria Casarez, the city’s director of LGBT affairs, said the effort is collaborative. “DVLF was interested in trying to learn more about LGBT senior needs and then, at the same time, another group of folks, including my office, William Way and senior-serving organizations like the Senior Law Center, were looking at putting together a senior summit, so a couple of months ago those two efforts came together and we decided to reach out with a survey,” she said. The LGBT Elders Working Group, which
also includes representatives from such agencies as Mazzoni Center and Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative, recently launched the 18-question survey, which is geared for those 55 and over. In addition to gathering basic demographic information, such as income, race and age, the anonymous survey asks participants to prioritize such issues as nutrition, housing, recreation and socializing. It also questions respondents about the frequency of their medical check-ups, their transportation, nutritional and housing needs and their views on the current social services available for local LGBT seniors. Casarez noted that the survey is straightforward, but also an important first step in understanding the LGBT senior community. “It’s not meant to be an end-all, be-all, and it’s not super-scientific,” she said. “This is the first time we’re asking our seniors about what their needs are and is a first effort to get a better sense of what our community wants as we age.” Survey organizers originally expected about 250 responses, but after canvassing at such events as Pride and with the cooperation of the many partner organizations,
the coalition has already received half that number of responses. The survey will remain open until the end of the summer, with results expected to be presented at the first senior summit, planned for October. Casarez said the more input that’s received, the better local agencies can tailor their programs to seniors’ unique needs. “By and large, the LGBT organizations need to know more about the needs of our seniors and become more senior-competent. And the senior organizations need to be more LGBT-competent,” she said. “This is a good time where folks on both sides are wanting to know more about the other. So we see it as a jumping-off point for really developing culturally competent programming and services for our elder population.” To access the online version of the survey, visit www.surveymonkey.com/s/ localseniors. The survey can also be picked up at the William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St. ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn. com.
Scholarships for LGBT high school The GLBTQ Online High School, spearheaded locally by the Educational Justice Coalition, recently announced several scholarships for prospective local students. The EJC secured private funding that will assist up to 16 students in taking math and science courses at the school, which launched earlier this year as the world’s first online LGBT educational venue. Eligible recipients must be GLBTQ Philadelphia residents ages 14-24 who are seeking a high-school diploma. The students must be able to meet onsite at EJC’s Center City offices once a week. Interested students must submit an application form, a letter of recommendation and an official or unofficial transcript, and answer two of four essay questions. For more information or to obtain an application, call (215) 985-6757 or email educationaljusticecoalition@gmail. com.
Celebrate freedom at the center The William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St., will host a Fourth of July Potluck from 1-4 p.m. on Independence Day. The center will offer summer-style food and backyard games. For more information, call (215) 7322220. ■ — Jen Colletta
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 6
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
Police committee talks safety, security with new liaison By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer At the Police Liaison Committee meeting last week, members reviewed the crime statistics in the Gayborhood with input from the new LGBT police liaison, while they bid farewell to the longtime police LGBT point person. Chief Inspector James Tiano, who has served as the liaison between the police department and the LGBT community for the last 12 years, retiring at the end of the month. His duties will be taken over by Stephen Johnson, deputy commissioner of Homeland Security and Domestic Preparedness, who is moving to the Office of Professional Responsibility in the next few weeks. “If I was to pick anybody to play my part, it would be him,” Tiano said of his successor at the meeting. “He’s a great cop, and he’s very sensitive to all communities. He really knows his way around.” At his first committee meeting, Johnson discussed the ongoing prostitution and drug problems in the area, as well as the robbery
and burglary issues. While the spate of recent robberies and burglaries did not involve any weapons and resulted in minimal injuries, many allegedly were committed by repeat offenders. Sixth District Sgt. LaRose noted that when repeat offenders come through the system, the police captain usually notifies the district attorney’s office to request a higher bail — but it’s not always granted. Johnson suggested that one way to reduce the number of repeat offenders out on the street is to institute a notification system, so that committeemembers and other LGBT community members are aware of and attend judicial proceedings for those suspects. “Sometimes with the less-dire offenses, you need community support for what’s being done, to support the arrest and the seriousness of the transgression. In the overall course of events, while breaking into a vehicle isn’t comparable to murder or a major robbery, it’s detrimental to the quality of life, and the people who live in the community suffer,” Johnson said.
CHIEF INSPECTOR TIANO Photo: Scott A. Drake
“And that’s something the judicial people need to know,” the new liaison added. “We need to get people in the courtroom and have a packed house for the hearings to show the judge that this is something the community’s not going to tolerate. Sometimes when they sentence in a vacuum, they sentence leniently, because overall it doesn’t look like that serious of a transgression, but for anyone who’s come out in the morning and seen glass where their window used to be, it is serious.” Tiano noted that the broken
glass has a much wider impact than many residents realize. “If you go out to go to work in the morning and see your window’s broken, probably your insurance doesn’t cover it and then you have to take the whole day off to deal with it. And then if they took something out of your car, you have to pay for that, or suppose the person lives elsewhere and comes into the city. They’re not coming back,” Tiano said. “What can this do to tourism, to business? This is more serious than a lot of people think because of what it affects.” Tiano stressed that individuals living, working or visiting the area need to be conscious of locking their vehicles and ensuring that all their personal items — like GPS systems, gym bags or even loose change — are hidden. The police recently instituted the new Patrol Service Area system, which allows officers to focus on one specific area instead of being spread throughout the entire district. LaRose noted that Lt. Rick Lanzetta, the head of the PSA that encompasses the Gayborhood, reinstituted the former plan of hav-
ing a beat officer patrol the neighborhood on foot. LaRose noted that the officer, who has access to a car parked in the area, typically focuses on the hours after midnight, as that’s when most criminal activity takes place. “We’re going to have more foot patrol in the area and also going to be doing a lot more narcotics work and prostitution surveillance in the area,” LaRose said. “There’s myriad things we’re going to be doing because now that summer’s here, there are going to be a lot more people out.” In addition to addressing the security issues, the committeemembers also looked at organizational plans. The committee voted to elected member Fred Bostwick to the previously vacant treasurer post. Committeemember and Woody’s owner Michael Weiss donated $500 on behalf of the bar to the agency’s budget, which will be used to purchase items the committee will give out at this fall’s OutFest. ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 7
National
Media Trail
Prop. 8 case in judge’s hands
Court tosses anti-gay protester’s arrest Yahoo News reports that a federal-appeals court ruled an anti-gay evangelist arrested in 2007 had a First Amendment right to demonstrate on a sidewalk near the entrance of the building that houses the Liberty Bell. The June 16 decision overturns lowercourt rulings that upheld the arrest of Michael Marcavage, who lives in suburban Lansdowne. He had been sentenced to a year’s probation for refusing a National Park Service order to move to a nearby designated demonstration area. Marcavage founded Repent America, an organization that opposes abortion, gay rights and the teaching of evolution. The appeals court tossed out two charges on free speech and procedural grounds. The three-judge panel said Marcavage caused no more of a disturbance than other people near the Liberty Bell entrance, including a cancersurvivors group and the drivers of horse-drawn carriages hawking their services.
Anti-gay vandals allowed to return to school ARGUMENT OVER, FOR NOW: Attorneys Theodore Olson (left) and David Boies (right) talk with plaintiffs Sandy Stier (second from left) and her wife Kris Perry at a June 16 news conference at the University of California Hastings School of Law after closing arguments in the United States District Court proceedings challenging Proposition 8 in San Francisco. AP Photo: Jeff Chiu
By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer Attorneys in California rested their case last week in the suit that will decide the constitutionality of the state’s ban on same-sex marriage. Both plaintiff and defense attorneys delivered closing arguments June 16 before Judge Vaughn Walker, who is openly gay. Walker is expected to hand down his decision within a month. In their final statements, which lasted about five hours, the lawyers for both sides rehashed the arguments and witness testimony they presented in the two-week trial in January. The suit was filed in May 2009 by two gay couples, Kristin Perry and Sandy Stier and Paul Katami and Jeff Zarrillo, who were denied marriage licenses. Same-sex marriage was legal in California between May 2008 — when the state legislature overturned the state’s marriage-equality ban — and November of that year, when voters approved Proposition 8, reinstating the ban. Theodore Olson, a conservative who argued for the plaintiffs alongside David Boies, his opponent in the 2000 Bush v. Gore case, delivered the closing arguments, during which he replayed video tape of some of the plaintiffs testifying about how the marriage ban has impacted
them. “The fundamental constitutional right to marry has been taken away from the plaintiffs and tens of thousands of similarly situated Californians,” Olson said, who argued the marriage ban violates gay and lesbian individuals’ constitutional rights to equal protection and due process. “Their state has rewritten its constitution in order to place them in a special disfavored category where their most intimate personal relationships are not valid, not recognized and second-rate. The state has stigmatized them as unworthy of marriage, different and less respected.” Olson also revisited the testimony of several expert witnesses, including psychologists and historians, before turning the floor over to Charles Cooper, the defense attorney whose closing arguments centered on the notion that marriage has traditionally been reserved for procreation. “You need only to go back to your chambers, your honor,” Cooper said, “and pull down any dictionary, pull down anY book that discusses marriage, and you will find this procreative purpose at its heart wherever you go.” Walker questioned Cooper about whether he thought infertile heterosexual couples should be excluded from marriage, but the attorney replied that such couples still “further the traditions of mar-
riage.” The judge also asked Cooper what testimony in the trial supports the notion that marriage is solely for procreation, to which the attorney replied, “You don’t have to have evidence of this.” During his rebuttal, Olson attacked Cooper’s sentiments. “You are discriminating against a group of people,” Olson said in his rebuttal. “You are causing them harm. You are excluding them from an important part of life. At the end of the day, ‘I don’t know’ and ‘I don’t have to put any evidence,’ with respect to Mr. Cooper, does not cut it. It does not cut it when you are taking away the constitutional rights, basic human rights and human decency from a large group of individuals, and you don’t know why they are a threat to your definition of a particular institution.” During the trial, the defense called just two witnesses, only one of whom, David Blankenhorn, testified about the role of procreation in marriage. Blankenhorn was later hailed as having aided the plaintiffs for remarking that “we would be more American” if marriage equality was legalized. No matter which side Walker rules with, the case is expected to be appealed, possibly to the U.S. Supreme Court. ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn. com.
Oregon’s Fox 12 reports two Southern Oregon University students who wrote antigay graffiti in dorms will be allowed to return to school, but must perform community service and live off campus. The university’s hearings board ruled that 19year-old Blake Adkins and 20-year-old Kevin Novotny will be required to do community service projects for the school’s Queer Resource, Women’s Resource and Multicultural centers. Adkins said he and Novotny must also perform 25 additional hours of community service and attend a gay-rights meeting in October at the university. Adkins said on June 16 he and Novotny were sorry about the incident and thankful they were allowed to return to school in the fall.
Transgender program spared Advocate.com reports San Francisco’s Transgender Economic Empowerment Initiative has been saved by Mayor Gavin Newsom after being threatened by budget cuts. The program provides mentoring, legal help and assistance with job searching for transgender people. It also provides training to employers seeking to hire transgender employees. San Francisco’s budget is in the red by over $480 million, and city officials are being forced to cut programs such as TEEI. But after pressure from community members and city gay supervisor Bevan Dufty, Newsom helped saved the initiative by restoring $500,000 to its budget. ■ — Larry Nichols
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 8
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
Scott A. Drake Photography Your Premier Philadelphia Photographer 267.736.6743
Theater, Music, Exhibits
Diversions: page 38
scottdrakephotos@gmail.com
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
SCOUTS TRIAL From Page 1 cated, and jurors did their best when answering 11 questions put to them for the verdict. “We feel for the gay community, but we also feel for the Scouts,” Arbogast added. The local council, an affiliate of the national Boy Scouts of America, occupies a city-owned building, but refuses to adhere to a city anti-bias policy that protects gays, nor will it pay fair-market rent. The city’s Fair Practices Ordinance, along with other municipal codes, forbids antigay bias within city-owned buildings. The BSA council wants the right to remain in the building permanently, without paying any rent. It’s also seeking from the city an estimated $860,000 in legal fees and costs. City officials want the right to evict the council, but the mixed verdict leaves in question whether they have that right. The judge did not yet schedule a hearing to decide if the preliminary injunction should be permanent. The dispute has lasted several years, with the city urging the council to take responsibility for its discriminatory actions, and local Boy Scouts officials claiming the city is trying to force the group to “say something that Cradle of Liberty doesn’t have to say.” In closing arguments, David Smith, an attorney for the city, said the eviction became necessary because of an untenable relationship. He said city officials never knew when the council might oust another gay, issue another press release containing “hate language” or hand out another discriminatory employment application. When city officials tried to understand where the council stood, the organization would alternately point to the city’s antibias policy or the national office’s antigay policy, Smith said. The organization also pointed to a U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing the Boy Scouts of America to oust an openly gay assistant Scoutmaster. Smith said Cradle is a nonprofit affiliated with the national Scouts but doesn’t have to be controlled by it; similarly, Learning for Life — a vocational and educational youth program — is a nonprofit affiliated with the Scouts but not controlled by it. During the court case, the city found that the council’s under-
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
lying message is one of nondiscrimination, and the organization doesn’t have a constitutional right to act in violation of that message, Smith added. “Doing what you’re ordered to do even though you know it’s wrong isn’t protected by the Constitution,” Smith said. He said the local BSA council officials speak out of “both sides of their mouths,” contending the side that speaks of nondiscrimination is protected, but the side that spreads antigay bias is actually conduct — not speech — and not protected by the First Amendment. But William M. McSwain, an attorney for the BSA council, told jurors that Smith has his “legal theories” all wrong. McSwain said that, under the terms of a 1928 ordinance, the city didn’t have to give any reason for the eviction, but city attorneys were “dumb” by giving an unconstitutional reason. McSwain said the Scouts have a right to speak from both sides of their mouths, and can’t be forced to speak only from the side the city likes. McSwain said the council’s policy is one of discrimination. “Cradle of Liberty has a policy that discriminates — not a lot, but a little. We minimize it,” McSwain told jurors Tuesday. McSwain emphasized the good works done by the council, implying that the city should recognize those efforts and back off from trying to enforce its Fair Practices Ordinance. Smith responded by noting that the city is very aware of the council’s good works. “But doing great things is not a license to do bad things,” Smith told jurors. McSwain also told jurors that LGBT activists are “in bed” with city officials. “Normal people don’t have that kind of access to city officials,” McSwain said. He pegged Arthur Kaplan, a member of the LGBT Working Group, as trying to “destroy” the council. But Smith said that “demonizing” Kaplan and other members of the LGBT Working Group was just more evidence of the BSA council’s homophobic conduct. He said city officials listen to the views of all citizens, but just because the council distanced itself from the process doesn’t mean LGBT activists had to do the same. Trial testimony During the trial, BSA council See SCOUTS TRIAL, Page 13
Community centers, Health centers, Organization contact information
Meeting Place: page 38
PAGE 9
PAGE 10
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
Editorial Testing, one, two, three, testing ... June 27 marks the 16th annual National HIV Testing Day. If you haven’t been tested in the past six months to a year, you are overdue. There are numerous free, anonymous testing sites throughout the city. Visit www.hivtest.org to find a testing site. Think of getting tested as your patriotic duty. If public health is a matter of national security, and HIV is a public health concern, then getting tested for HIV and knowing your HIV status can be your contribution to keeping America safe and prosperous. If you won’t get tested for your own health, your family, your loved ones, your lovers and exes, do it for your country. In all seriousness, HIV is a concern at the community, city, state, national and international level. If we consider how many people died of AIDS in the 1980s and early ’90s, we’ll never know how much creative capital was lost, how much GDP was lost or how much productivity was lost to the epidemic. Now, more than ever, the sooner you know your status, the better your chances are for survival, and for finding medications that will keep you healthy longer. Also, HIV/AIDS doesn’t have the stigma the disease had in the early epidemic. It is treatable, and you can live with the disease. Anyone can get HIV. Long gone are the days when HIV/AIDS was a gay men’s disease. People with AIDS include gays and heterosexuals, blacks and whites. The list includes Magic Johnson, Greg Louganis, Ryan White, Jack Mackenroth, Freddy Mercury, Arthur Ashe, Rock Hudson and Amanda Blake. That is not to say that living with HIV/AIDS is desirable by any means: AIDS, frankly, is expensive. It can be disabling and financially, emotionally and physically draining. Reports put the cost of domestic HIV/AIDS funding at $10-$15 billion per year since 2000; if you don’t have insurance or other support, medications and care can cost an individual up to $25,000 per year. Over a lifetime, the cost of care for a person with HIV/AIDS can top $600,000. But HIV/AIDS isn’t the death sentence it was in the early days. People are living — and being healthy — with the disease. There are programs to help people with HIV/AIDS get the medications they need if they can’t afford them. There’s a proverb: Knowledge is power. When it comes to HIV/AIDS, it really is true. Get tested. ■
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.
Creep of the Week
D’Anne Witkowski
Family Research Council Ah, yes. The fabled “Gay Agenda.” Having invested so much in the fight against it, anti-gay groups will leap at anything that they can hold up as proof that a sinister gay agenda exists. So when the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, D.C., released “Agenda: 2010,” the Family Research Council pounced, claws out. GLAA calls “Agenda: 2010” an “election-year briefing paper on local LGBT issues.” FRC calls it a veritable blueprint for a hostile LGBT takeover. In a June 16 Washington Update post, FRC posits: “What’s left for homosexual activists to do after they’ve trampled voters on their way to the altar? In Washington, D.C., where same-sex ‘marriage’ is legal (for now), the gay and lesbian crowd is just getting warmed up.” “Apparently, their updated political agenda spans everything from classroom infiltration to legalizing prostitution,” FRC’s message continues. I have to ask — what does “classroom infiltration” even mean? Sending in undercover homos to high schools like a gay “21 Jump Street”? And I have a follow-up: Will there be a reality show? So just what is the “everything” this new agenda covers? “Local groups will try to elect more
homosexuals to places of power, push in-school gay-straight alliances, support D.C. sex-oriented businesses, defend adult entertainment, grant special perks to cross-dressing prisoners, force same-sex adoption and legalize sex trafficking,” claims FRC. Woah. Sounds ambitious. But let’s address some of these claims. First of all, what FRC calls “crossdressing prisoners” are often actually transgender people, some who have broken the law, others who have been victims of crimes. The “special perks” include not throwing them into jail cells based solely on what’s between their legs. GLAA also doesn’t want to see them “denied appropriate health care, sexually assaulted, abusively strip-searched, [or] placed in protective custody that amounts to punishing the victim,” which are some of the current “perks” of being transgender. As for legalizing “sex trafficking,” that’s not quite it. GLAA does advocate legalizing prostitution. While a controversial position, they’re hardly calling for a sex-for-money free-forall. GLAA raises a lot of important issues, including “survival sex,” where people — frequently gay runaways and transgender people — turn to prostitution out of desperation, when it’s the only option they have left. Throwing them in jail doesn’t address
the core problems. “If [policymakers] want to provide safer, healthier and more sustainable alternatives to survival sex, you can support the creation of drop-in centers, transitional housing, job training, counseling, addiction recovery programs and other services for at-risk populations,” GLAA’s agenda reads. Oooh, counseling and transitional housing. Really racy stuff. “Lots of people in this country mistakenly believe that this community will be satisfied when it redefines marriage,” FRC claims. “That’s not the case. Homosexuals and transgenders [sic] won’t be happy until they sever every moral underpinning in America.” That’s right. Because LGBT people have no morals and fantasize every night about living in some kind of lawless neo-sexual apocalyptic hellscape. You hear that, FRC? It’s right here, in writing. It must be true. And it must be true for all LGBT people without exception. Feel free to use it in your next fundraising letter. Tell your members we said, “Boo!” ■ D’Anne Witkowski is 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.
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
Mark My Words
Mark Segal
Taking stock of our community Gay Pride Month, every June, seems to be a good time to take stock of where we are as a community. After all, we only began to grow our community some 40 years ago. While there were gay organizations and bars, there was little else before June 1969. So what have we built in that blink of history’s eye? Let’s examine what I consider one of America’s gay-friendliest cities — our home, Philadelphia. Sports: We have a softball league made up of scores of teams, we have bowling teams, tennis, running and swimming, to mention just a few. We have two choruses and the Philadelphia Freedom Band. There’s Mazzoni LGBT Health Center, The Attic Youth Center and, of course, the William Way LGBT Community Center. We have a yearly film festival, QFest, this year beginning July 9, and an arts festival. Members of our community have served openly in nearly all categories of life in Philadelphia, from heading the largest philanthropic organization, United Way, to chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association. The Independence Business Alliance, our LGBT chamber of commerce, has become a great networking business force.
Socially: One night last week I stood in the Doubletree Hotel at a preview party for this October’s Indigo Ball, the yearly major fundraiser for the William Way Community Center. A group of us were chatting about how many events we had to attend just that evening. By the way, this year’s Indigo Ball theme is Mardi Gras, and last week was so successful that 65 percent of the tables are already sold. Come September, you’ll have event after event until Christmas — another success of our community. If all that were not enough, look at how intertwined we are in the political process here. No one runs for office expecting to get anything respectful in the way of votes without appealing to the LGBT community. We could go on, but this point is selfevident. Let’s face it: This is the city that wrote the book on gay tourism. We were the first city in America to create a campaign to bring gay tourists to our city. So it should be no surprise to see the rainbow street signs as you walk around what we call the Gayborhood. And while we have a Gayborhood, as do many cities, on July 10 we most likely will be the first city in America whose Gayborhood will be officially declared. Almost a week beforehand, on the Fourth of July, gay history will be recognized in our Independence Day parade. Does any of that happen in any other American city? ■ Mark Segal is PGN publisher. He can be reached at mark@epgn.com.
Letters and Feedback In response to “Justice pending in Scouts eviction trial,” June 4-10: Does anyone know whether Judge Buckwalter was a Boy Scout or recently served for the Scouts in a volunteer capacity (participated in one of their boards)? I could be having a false memory, but I seem to remember that this judge could have a big conflict of interest, which is worth mentioning. — Scott Lewis In response to “Scouts trial set to begin June 14,” June 11-17: What isn’t mentioned in this news story is that it grew out of an effort by the Cradle of Liberty Council to adopt a non-discriminatory policy which included gays. The national Boy Scouts of America came down heavy on the local council leadership, threatening that if they adopted such a policy they would lose their charter and that the BSA would organize a new council board. Shortly after this, the city of Philadelphia tried to withdraw the council’s use of
the building, based on its discrimination against gays. A recent decision in Portland found that the Columbia Pacific Council permitted a known pedophile to prey on Scouts, paying a multi-million-dollar judgment. The LDS (Mormon) Church was named in the suit also, for letting the pedophile continue in its Scout program. The BSA violated its own very strict policies on excluding pedophiles by granting the LDS an exception. The LDS settled the claims out of court by paying the plaintiff. Can anyone tell me the outcome of the court case on the BSA permitted to hold its Jamboree on the Army’s Fort A.P. Hill? I understand that this July’s Jamboree will be the last at A.P. Hill. — David A. Rice In response to “Why black gays should support marriage equality” June 11-17: I’ve been told the black community is loaded with gay people, but not only their gays but the whole community is in the closet.
Remember how blacks were castrated before being lynched, and called “boy” by their good Christian masters? So there is a real strain of super-machismo reaction in the community. Which of course conflicts with the homophobes painting gays as sissies. And religion just makes things worse. Blacks had nothing at all except their church for so very long. So they are very theologically conservative. And guess what — the American Taliban Christians know this, know they are fertile ground for hatred of gays, and have focused on them to break the connection between gay rights and civil rights. And anyone in the black community who supports gays is tarred and feathered, in a sense, as being a sissy. While I know there are millions of good religious people, sometimes I ask if the Bible should only have one sentence. The rest is just fluff. “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” Author: that guy whose name began with J 2,000 years ago. — SteveMD2
PAGE 11
Street Talk Are the courts too deferential to the free-speech rights of anti-LGBT protesters?
Teila Allmond student Southwest Philadelphia
Dominique Miller student Northwest Philadelphia
“Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but there’s a time and a place for everything. People are going too far with it. I’d like the courts to be more sensitive to the defamation that’s also taking place at these protests. People are saying some pretty mean stuff.”
“Yes. It’s really wrong to protest at a funeral. When you’re burying someone, you want to put the person to rest in peace, and with dignity. Loved ones should have beautiful memories of the event. They shouldn’t look back [at it] with unpleasant feelings.”
Charlie Potje salon owner Queen Village
Maya Wright student Wynnefield
“No, everyone has a right to freedom of speech. You can’t exclude any group because of their ignorance, or how annoying they are. [But] I do wish the protesters would get a new hobby. Meanwhile, just tune them out.”
“Yes, especially when it’s intruding on a private person’s space. People who aren’t bothering anyone need to be protected. Protesters are ruining occasions that don’t need to be ruined. I think the courts should place stronger restrictions.”
PAGE 12
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
LIAISON From Page 1
“Our” Family Plumber for 30 Years
ever part of the ethnic-intimidation law, when I was the commanding officer of the Conflict Prevention and Resolution Unit — which is the fancy name for the unit that enforces the ethnicintimidation law — I pioneered a concept where we kept statistics
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
on victimization in the [LGBT] community,” he said. “It didn’t include an enhanced penalty at that time but served as a precursor to that.” Johnson noted that while violent crimes aren’t commonplace in the Gayborhood, the area is often struck by vehicle thefts, assaults or other crimes that he said the police department takes seriously,
(215) 467-3335 Pa HIC #026545 Phila. Lic. #17895
PGN: Gay is our middle name.
Philly’s New Resource for HIV/AIDs and Hormonal Therapies HIV/AIDS Drugs Hepatitis B/C Anxiety / Depression Cancer Sterile Compounding of:
Sensitive to Needs of the LGBT Community
• Hormonal Therapies • Chemotherapy • Palliative Care Drugs
We Can Bill for SPBP Medications Discounts, Coupons & Rebates You Are Not Alone Available We’ll work directly with Lowest Prices for Un-insured your Clinic or MD Delivery Available
210 Market St., Philadelphia PA 19106 • (215) 625-6668
especially if the victim’s sexual orientation is a motivating factor. “A crime is a crime and any type of criminal action has to have a significant response, not only in terms of an aggressive arrest and prosecution, but also in terms of a preventive approach,” he said. “As far as victimization goes, people should never be victimized for who they are or what they believe in. I strongly believe that, and the police department strongly believes in fair and equitable enforcement of the law.” Johnson acknowledged some LGBT people might be hesitant to out themselves to police when reporting a crime, but said police need to know the full context of a crime to effectively respond. Johnson worked with many immigrants in South Philadelphia who were initially afraid to report crimes to police for fear of questions about their immigration status, and said he’s committed to treating LGBT victims with the same level of sensitivity. “We dealt with a great number of people who were victimized within that community and, of course, some were illegal and were hesitant to come to law enforcement for rectification, but we worked out a procedure so that they felt comfortable and so they knew that we’re not INS; we just wanted to help them resolve their issues,” he said. “The LGBT community needs to come forward and admit if they think the victimization was predicated on their sexual orientation and understand that, sadly, that’s the society we live in, but that we do need to know that and we understand and are going to be sympathetic and professional.” Johnson said he’s eager for his own relationship with the LGBT community to mirror Tiano’s. “I’m a protégé of Jimmy Tiano. I’ve known him for the better part of 30 years. He was my first platoon sergeant when I was a young highway patrol officer,” he said. “He’s the type of person who’s always led by example. And if you’re able to emulate his good works and his good deeds, then you’re a fortunate individual. So I don’t see anything being any different. The police department is still going to offer the same commitment to resolving issues in all communities, including the LGBT community. We need people to know that we’re there to help and be part of the solution process and hopefully never the problem.” ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
SCOUTS TRIAL From Page 9 attorneys asked city officials why they didn’t try to enforce the Fair Practices Ordinance by utilizing the Philadelphia Commission of Human Relations, which permits fines for discriminators. The Scouts’ attorneys maintained the city’s failure to use that mechanism suggested the local BSA council wasn’t violating the ordinance. Smith said the city took some time to decide the best mechanism to use, partly because of difficulties in communicating with the local Scouts. Lewis Rosman, a former city attorney, compared the situation to foreign diplomats who flout local rules. Host governments often take time before deciding whether to enforce a local rule or expel a diplomat. The building in question, built by the BSA council in 1928, is located at 231-251 N. 22nd St. The council presented several witnesses stressing how much the building means to them, and the hardships that would be imposed if they must relocate. Perhaps the witness who elicited the strongest reaction for the BSA council was Mark Chilutti, a young man who was shot during a robbery attempt in 1996 and suffered a spinal-cord injury. Chilutti, who serves as co-chair of the council’s board, appeared very cheerful and optimistic about life, despite his setbacks. “I credit Scouting for making me the person I am today,” he told jurors. But the trial also contained testimony that some felt was irrelevant or repetitive. For example, Common Pleas Judge John L. Braxton, who serves on the council’s board, spoke at length about his service in Vietnam. He even ventured an opinion that some South Vietnamese aided North Vietnamese during the Tet Offensive. But Braxton declined to venture an opinion on whether the council would violate the Fair Practices Ordinance, if handed down an
7 Make waves. Write a letter.
PGN
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
antigay order by the national Scouts office. Greg Lattera, a gay former Scout, testified that he was ousted from the council in June 2003, and his appeal to be reinstated is still pending. Lattera, 25, said he holds much affinity for the council, and has nothing against its occupancy of the building — even though he’s not permitted to enter any part of it, including its retail store. He said he even urged his mother not to remove his two younger brothers from the Scouts. Due to lack of communication, neither side realized at the beginning of the trial that Lattera’s 2003 appeal for reinstatement remains pending. Smith referred to the council’s appeals process as a “hoax” because the local Scouts never responded to the request. But outside the courtroom, McSwain told PGN he would look into the matter, and whether
Lattera at least could be permitted to enter the Scout store. Witnesses also were called from Maternity BVM Church and the Colonial Dames of America. Both organizations occupy a cityowned building for little or no rent in Fairmount Park, and the council says didn’t get the same “punishment” given to it. But representatives of the organizations in question, the Rev. Paul Quinter and Eleanor Penniman, testified that they welcome all members of the community to visit their buildings and utilize their services. Duties of jurors Jurors had their work cut out for them. The verdict form contained legal terminology such as “substantially similarly situated,” and “nonpublic forum.” In his jury instructions, Judge Buckwalter may have added confusion by referring three times to the council’s “lease” with the city,
PAGE 13
when there’s never been a lease. But Buckwalter also had a way of making witnesses from both sides feel comfortable in his courtroom. He exchanged pleasantries with former City Solicitor Romulo L. Diaz after his testimony. When Joyce Wilkerson, a former city official who now works in New Orleans, completed her testimony, Buckwalter extended words of encouragement about the oil-spill crisis. Humorous incidents Despite much heated emotion, the trial wasn’t without moments of levity. At the beginning and end of the trial, council attorneys showed jurors a photograph of a beautiful book of calligraphy displayed in the headquarters building. It recounts tales of heroism by council members. But the book hasn’t been updated for years because the council hasn’t found a calligra-
pher to do the work. “They need to find a fabulous gay artist to update that book,” someone in the audience quipped. And in his closing remarks, McSwain referred to Diaz and Kaplan as “live-in partners,” which brought chuckles from audience members who know the two men aren’t close at all. Later in his closing remarks, McSwain corrected himself. Outside the courtroom, McSwain said it was an honest mistake, and he wasn’t trying to convey to the jurors his perception of Diaz’ sexual orientation. Another humorous moment also occurred outside the courtroom, when Smith was asked about Cradle’s assertion that it only discriminates “a little.” Smith responded: “Can a woman be a little pregnant?” ■ Timothy Cwiek can be reached at (215) 625-8501 ext. 208.
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 14
Work It Out Jared Carter The real health-care solution If you ask people to explain the new healthcare reform legislation, you will get several different answers. The most common answer seems to be that people are confused. Nobody seems to know how this legislation will affect them or if they are even eligible. While it’s great that the government is taking some action to promote greater health, PAGE 15 they are missing the big picture. If we really want to improve the health of Americans, it starts with you. Many of the conditions and diseases we spend money treating are 100-percent preventable. Diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome and countless others are directly linked to lifestyle. Improving your health is not complicated: It simply requires that you make a few meaningful changes to your lifestyle. The first thing that most people need to look at is diet. The typical American diet has far too much fat, refined carbohydrates and alcohol. Most people say they know what to eat but, in my experience, they are wrong. We need to eat protein sources that are lean and low in fat. Turkey bacon
EWS
Russia cent of ry. o yet m the
g
14 that uropean be held
mprised , the in and ll meet st event
national such as mnesty o attend eriences hts and
of the ople In ess for vealed, 2,000
sgender sgender he city arty for
ched at
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
Spring Cleaning CONGREGATION Maintenance BETH AHAVAH and at Rodeph Shalom A GLBT synagogue welcoming people of all gender and sexual identities since 1975 Find help in the Home JOIN US MONTHLY FOR SHABBAT SERVICES AT 8:00 PM PGN Improvement Coffee, cake & conversation at the oneg following services Directory Winner of the 2009 Paddy and Barry Epstein Communicate! Award for innovative programming in a small congregation
Wednesday, June 16 7:00 PM. Annual Congregational Meeting. (NEW DATE!) Light dinner served as we elect the Board of Directors for 2010-11. Members only.
Craig T. Wakefield DDS
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.
A committed and caring dentist who has built his practice on referrals from patients.
muscle, your metabolism will get faster, and makes it easier to maintain a healthy weight. Resistance training also has hormonal benefits. As men age, they produce less testosterone; this loss is increased in sedentary individuals. Consistent weight lifting results in higher testosterone levels, and also has significant benefits such as increasing bone density and increasing insulin sensitivity. Exercise and nutrition alone will not cure every disease, and there is definitely a role for prescription drugs to play. Unfortunately, we usually turn to drugs first and a healthy lifestyle second. Rather than worry about health-care reform and how it affects you, start with yourself. Research has shown that by following a healthy diet and including moderate exercise, you can avoid most diseases that are costing our health-care system billions of dollars every year. While this may not be an exciting solution to our health problems, it works far more often than not. ■ Jared Carter, CSCS, owner of Move Forward Fitness Personal Training in Center City, has been helping clients reach their goals for the past eight years. He can be reached at www. moveforwardfitness.com or at jared@moveforwardfitness.com.
MARRIAGE MADE EASY IN D.C. www.dignityphila.org Facebook – Dignity Philadelphia Join us at St. Luke & the Epiphany Church 330 S. 13th Street, between Spruce and Pine streets, Philadelphia, PA
Sunday Mass at 7:00 p.m.
Communion in the form of Consecrated bread, wine and grape juice. Gluten-free communion available upon request.
Fi r st Ba p t i st C h u r c h SERVICES: Wednesdays Noon time Sundays 11a.m.
Friday, June 25, 8:00 PM. BA Shabbat Services. Please join us for a Beth Ahavah service to welcome the Sabbath. An oneg (social hour) will follow services. Visit www.bethahavah.org for additional information, programming and directions
is not low in fat, even if it is better than pork. Carbohydrates that come in a box are not always the best. As much as we like them, white flour and sugar are not healthy. They make your blood sugar skyrocket and have significant effects on your health over time. And finally, we should adjust our alcohol consumption. There is research that suggests small amounts of alcohol lower one’s chances for heart attacks. Unfortunately, as a society, we drink far more than this. Next, we need to look at the role exercise plays. We know exercise improves health, but it is important to look at exactly what happens. Cardiovascular exercise is the most common. This type of exercise can include running, swimming, biking, jumping rope or anything else that raises your heart rate for an extended amount of time. The purpose of doing this is to strengthen your heart, lungs and circulatory system. Consistent cardiovascular exercise has been linked to lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. While aerobic exercise is vital, resistance training is also essential to long-term health. We know that weight lifting can make us stronger and grow larger muscles, but there are other significant benefits. Our metabolism is linked to how much muscle mass we have. If you gain more
Rev. Dr. Peter C. Wool 17TH & SANSOM STREETS PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103 www.fbcphila1698.org
215.563.3853
Same-Sex marriage is now legal in Washington, D.C. Let me do the initial legwork for you. As your officiant, I can file your marriage application - it will be ready when you get here. No three - day wait! Spiritual and Civil Ceremonies Offered
Rev. Bonnie J. Berger Interfaith Minister www.ringinlove.com
301-270-4089
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
Gayborhood Crime Watch The following incidents in the Midtown Village and Washington Square West areas were reported to the Sixth Police District between June 2-13. Information is courtesy of Sixth District Capt. Brian Korn; Stacy Irving, senior director, Crime Prevention Service; Center City District; the Police Liaison Committee and Midtown Village Merchants Association. REPORT: Between 9 p.m. June 2 and 7:45 a.m. June 3, a brass doorknocker was taken from the front door of a residence in the 400 block of South Iseminger Street. REPORT: Between 10 p.m. June 5 and 6 a.m. June 6, a window of the Last Drop Coffee Shop, 1300 Pine St., was broken with a brick and money was taken from the safe. Central Detective Division personnel processed the scene for evidence and fingerprints. UPDATE/ARREST: On June 5, complainant reported the theft of her handbag from the lobby of her apartment building in the 1300
block of Locust Street. The incident was captured on video surveillance. The complainant identified the offender from the video as a friend of another resident in the building. Building management personnel were made aware of the incident and called police at 1 a.m. June 8, when the offender came into the building. Sixth District Officers Romanczuk and Cifelli took the male into custody after viewing the theft on video. The 25-year-old suspect with a Delaware address was charged with theft.
the DPR Unit via phone and police were not dispatched, therefore no prints were lifted.
REPORT: Between 5:45-6:45 p.m. June 8, complainant’s items were taken from an unsecured locker inside the Broad Street Gym, 1315 Walnut St., without permission.
REPORT: At 2:25 a.m. June 13, complainant was walking in the 200 block of South 13th Street when a male took his wallet from his rear pants pocket and fled. Complainant chased the male to the 1300 block of Irving Street, where a physical altercation took place and the complainant recovered his wallet. The offender was described as a white male, in his 20s, 6-feet tall with a medium build, brown hair and wearing a blue plaid shirt and jeans. ■
REPORT: Between 10:45 p.m. June 9 and 12:05 a.m. June 10, out-of-town complainant’s 2008 Nissan, parked in the paid garage, 1215 Walnut St., had a window smashed and a laptop and an iPod taken. This report was received by
REPORT: Between 8 a.m. June 8 and 7 p.m. June 11, complainant’s unlocked 2000 Honda, parked in the 900 block of Spruce Street, had a GPS taken. The incident was reported to the Third District. REPORT:Between midnight and 3:30 a.m. June 12, complainant’s secured bicycle was stolen from the 200 block of South Camac Street.
PAGE 15
PHILLIP R. REEVES, MD PSYCHIATRY FOR LGBT COMMUNITY PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND PSYCH0THERAPY DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, HIV, CHRONIC PAIN OFFICES AT 1601 Walnut St., Suite 1128 AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
EVENING HOURS AVAILABLE
(215) 740-4311
Look Better NAKED! Move Forward Fitness
13 Week Fitness Program! • Lose Fat! • Gain Muscle! • Speed Metabolism!
GUARANTEED RESULTS! 215-399-3541 • MoveForwardFitness.com Call Today!
Located Near Rittenhouse Square General & Aesthetic Dentistry Now Accepting New Patients Early Morning Appointments Available 248 South 21st St., Phila, PA 19103
215.732.3350
www.yourphillydentist.com Anthony Petchalonis, D.M.D
Featuring One Hour Teeth Whitening
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.
PGN: Gay is our middle name.
Medical Towers Building • Suite 2306 255 S. 17th St. Philadelphia, Pa 19103 (215) 732-8080 Evening hours available.
PAGE 16
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 17
PAGE 18
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 19
18th Street
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 20
Apothecary We are a full service pharmacy Proudly serving the Philadelphia community
Free Delivery! 113 S. 18th Street Philadelphia PA 19103 215-564-0900
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
Consumer Research Council’s top dentist 2007, 2008, and 2009. Rainbow Award best dentist who contributes to his community 2007 and 2008.
Medical Arts Bldg. 1601 Walnut St. , Suite 1302 Phila. PA 19102
215-568-6222
www.philadelphiadentist.com
Get the attention you deserve from your pharmacy, call us today! • We can bill for all SPBP medications • All insurances accepted • No insurance? You’ll be surprised by our prices • Fast friendly service • Easy prescription transfers • Complete medication therapy for: • HIV/AIDS • Diabetes • Pain Mgmt
PGN wishes everyone Happy Pride Month!
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 21
�����������������������������������
Celebrating Philadelphia’s “Gayborhood” July 10 through 24, 2010
Mark your calendar for these not-to-be-missed events: Southwest Airlines’ “Grand Reopening” Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Saturday, July 10, 4:00 p.m. ������������ ��������������������
Wachovia’s “Gayborhood” Block Party Sunday, July 11, 12:00 noon-6:00 p.m. �� ��������������������������� �������������������������������� ��������������������������������
For more information about the “Gayborhood” celebration and the Rainbow Discount Pass, visit facebook.com/visitgayphilly and visitphilly.com. �������������������
Philadelphia QFEST July 8-19, 2010
��������� ���������
���������������
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 22
����� . SEE IT BY ANY MEANS POSSIBLE. “
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
Ira Sheres, DMD ~ Now Accepting New Patients ~
• General and Specialized Dentistry • Cosmetic Dentistry • Early Morning and Evening Hours • Education
”
David Fear, TIME OUT NEW YORK
Cornell University, B.S., 1986 U of P School of Dental Medicine, DMD, 1990 Temple University, Residency in Prosthodontics, 1992
ATTENTION ALL MOVIE BUFFS:
“
GET READY TO HAVE YOUR MINDS BLOWN.
A bold and thrilling masterpiece–the introduction of a major talent to the world’s stage. The film gets better as it goes along, culminating in a rapturous ending that exhilarates the viewer in a manner I’ve never felt in a movie.” Rene Rodriguez, MIAMI HERALD
“AN
OFTEN SOARINGLY BEAUTIFUL MELODRAMA.” Manohla Dargis, THE NEW YORK TIMES
IT’S IMPOSSIBLE NOTMelissa TOAnderson, SUCCUMB TO THE OPERATIC SWEEP.” THE VILLAGE VOICE
“
“ ELECTRIFYING,
TIMELESS, BOLD, SEDUCTIVE, SPECTACULAR, GLAMOROUS, THRILLING-
A MASTERPIECE.” Karen Durbin, ELLE
“DON’T
WE HAVE MOVED!
Dr. Ira Sheres (center) with his life partner and their children
248 S. 21st Street • Phila, PA 19103 Call 215-546-6111
Triangle Medical General Practice Progressive HIV Care MARK T. WATKINS, DO JOHN DEL ROSSI, PA-C
WAIT.’’
Anthony Lane, THE NEW YORKER
(215) 829-0170 253 S. 10th St. First Floor Philadelphia
PGN wishes everyone Happy Pride Month!
TILDA SWINTON
A FILM BY LUCA GUADAGNINO
EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENTS NOW PLAYING
CENTER CITY LANDMARK THEATRES RITZ FIVE Center City 215-925-7900
NEW JERSEY RAVE MOTION PICTURES
RITZ CENTER 16 Voorhees 856-783-2726
WWW.IAMLOVEMOVIE.COM � WWW.MAGPICTURES.COM
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS FRIDAY 6.25
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
TESTING DAY From Page 1 and the Rev. Dr. Marguerite Handy — will continue to network with faith communities to enhance HIV prevention and education. “We will be working with this board a great deal in the coming months to keep the faith community engaged and committed to promoting HIV testing and connecting folks to care,” he said. Nishika Vidanage, FIGHT coordinator of HIV counseling and testing, said the agency will have four certified staffers on hand — two at St. Michael’s and one at each of the other sites — to conduct the tests. “I think we’ll get at least 100 people between the three sites,” Vidanage said. “And if we can get
scussion g with ddictive m. at The
ormation n center -11 p.m. oor;
gay and ill meet am Way 12-step
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
even more, that’ll be great. We’ll welcome them until the end of the day.” From 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Penn Community Practice at Presbyterian Hospital will offer testing services at the hospital’s emergency room at 38th Street and Powelton Avenue, and from noon-5 p.m., BEBASHI will provide testing at a barbeque, with a DJ and dancing, at Hunting Park Recreation Center, 1101 W. Hunting Park Ave. Mazzoni Center will deploy its mobile testing unit outside of Philly AIDS Thrift, 514 Bainbridge St., from 1-6 p.m. for testing, as well as pre- and post-test counseling, risk assessment and information on Mazzoni’s HIV services. “Our role is to support and assist people in finding feasible ways to
����������������������������������������������������
������������ � ��������������������
����������
�������� ����������������� ��������� ������������� ���� ��������������� ����������������������� ��������� ����������������� ������������ ��������� ���
������������������������������������
reduce their risk for contracting or transmitting HIV,” said Mazzoni Center Counseling, Testing and Referral STD Services Manager Rashita Hurst. “We’re pleased to provide this service on National HIV Testing Day at the Philly AIDS Thrift location, which allows us to reach people of all ages and diverse communities.” For a full list of local testing sites throughout the end of the month, visit ww.fight.org/aem/. ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.
PAGE 23
Philadelphia Gas Heating & Air Conditioning
A/C Sale Starting at
$1695
HEATER SALE
$1195
A/C check-up $80.00
Call Now 215.456.1300 FAST EMERGENCY SERVICE
PGN
PAGE 24
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 25
PAGE 26
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 27
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 28
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
THE YEARS OF A
A departure from the ordinary
Detour
Klown John Leguizamo brings new show to Philly By Larry Nichols PGN Staff Writer Actor, author and jack-of-all-trades performer John Leguizamo is back with his latest in a long line of oneman shows. “Klass Klown,” which runs through June 30 at Suzanne Roberts Theatre, finds the actor taking the audience on a trip through his long and colorful career. And what a roller-coaster ride that has been. Leguizamo has come about as close to doing it all as any actor can get in his more-than 20 years in the business. He’s appeared in blockbusters (“Ice Age,” “Romeo + Juliet,” “Moulin Rouge!”), gangster flicks (“Carlito’s Way”), horror films (“The Happening,” “Land of the Dead”), campy comedies (“To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar,” “The Pest”), popcorn action movies (“Spawn,” “Collateral Damage”), and just about
every other genre under the sun. In “Klass Klown,” Leguizamo opens up about his triumphs, mistakes and the misadventures he’s experienced in his personal and professional life, from the New York theater scene of the mid-’80s, where he started out, to where he is today. Leguizamo talked to PGN about his career and the creative process that goes into his outrageously funny solo show. PGN: In one of your books, you describe yourself as “a horrible example of how to have a successful career.” What would you have changed? JL: At this point, I wouldn’t change anything because it got me to write this show that I’m doing right now. If I had gotten it all right, I wouldn’t have written this show. There were so many things that I shouldn’t have turned down, things I should have turned down and people I
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
should have fired a long time ago. PGN: Given you’ve worked in television, movies and theater projects across many genres, don’t you think that you are the envy of about 99 percent of your peers? JL: I know. Dude, I’m still grateful. I know the percentage of SAG members that actually work. What is it, like 6 percent or something like that? It’s a low number. In that aspect, I’m grateful. Everybody is jealous of somebody. PGN: Who are your influences and inspirations as a performer? JL: I have my heroes and it’s Richard Pryor, because he talked the rawest about himself. He started that kind of thing. And then I would say Eric Bogosian brought the sex and the anger into it. Whoopi Goldberg brought in the poetry and the ghetto. And Lily Tomlin was the first to actually make it more of a play. And I just took a little bit of everybody and made my own hybrid version of that. PGN: How much of what you do as a performer pulls from your experiences and background in theater? JL: Most of it. I started acting in Lee Strasberg’s class and with Herbert Berghof. All we did was plays. That’s how you learn to act, in plays. Even my writing was influenced by reading plays, especially Eugene O’Neill. He’s one of my big influences. “A Long Day’s Journey Into Night” was always an extremely self-revelatory piece. It’s one of those exposés on yourself. That’s always been the high bar that I wanted to reach. I did improv live in New York at the First Amendment Theater. And that stayed with me pretty much into my film career. I always try to improv, rewrite and think like a playwright. What is the character arc? Where is it going? What are the scenes? PGN: Does any of the show fall back on your comedy-club roots? JL: The show is a strange hybrid. It’s a play. It’s a drama. It’s stand-up comedy. It’s performance art. This time, I’m doing something a little different in my show. It’s got more of a play in it. If I do say so myself, it’s getting very masterful. PGN: With the show being semi-autobiographical, do you ever get apprehensive about putting so much of your business out there? JL: Every fucking day. Every single
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 29
time. And my wife is coming to see it in Philadelphia. So are some friends. I’m trying not to find out when they’re coming so I can just be. I’m trying to keep my eyes on the road and not look around and do what I have to do as an artist and not worry about the consequences. I’m pretty foolish but I can’t help myself. PGN: How long do you have to workshop a show like this before it’s ready to go? JL: Time equals quality. The real nature of art is time equals quality. The longer I do it, the better it gets. I started writing this show eight years ago and I’ve been doing it on and off three or four. I did it like an improv at colleges. I’d drink a lot and I’d go on stage with my index cards. Then I’d have to run home and try to write before I fell asleep because I was drunk. That’s how I started, and then it started developing into more-solid pieces. Last year, I started really performing it seriously. PGN: Do you prefer doing a show like “Klass Klown” over movies or television? JL: This is the more-satisfying thing as an artist, actor and performer. Nothing has ever come close to capturing who I really am and what I can do but the stage and what I’ve done. PGN: Which role do you think you’ll be more remembered for: Chi-Chi Rodriguez or Sid the Sloth? JL: Oh, wow! There’s also “Carlito’s Way” and “Spawn,” and then my stage shows. I can tell who the people are in the audience by what they hoot and holler at. That’s how I can tell who’s in my house. I can tell there are young people because they hoot and holler at “The Pest” and “Super Mario Bros.” And I can tell there are more hoodie types when they holler at “Carlito’s Way.” I can tell where the women and the gay people are because they holler at “To Wong Foo.” And that’s how it goes. PGN: Which of your films are you the most proud of? JL: I’ve got to say “Where God Left His Shoes” is some of my best work and closest to who I am, and that’s why I’m really proud of it. It wasn’t seen by many people but it was one of the finalists at Tribeca Film Festival.
PGN: Are there any of your films that you’d like to burn every copy of? JL: Oh yeah. I would say “A Pyromaniac’s Love Story,” “Street Hunter,” “Lies and Alibis” and “Collateral Damage.” PGN: When you were doing these films, did you know that they were going to be bad going in, or was it not apparent until after they were done? JL: I was naïve back then. I always thought that because I do what I do and I write, I can fix anything. I had a naïve young-punk mentality. I knew they weren’t good but I thought I could fix them somehow. I thought I could rewrite my part and help them rewrite the rest. I couldn’t. PGN: Is that why you decided to become a producer? JL: I thought if I took hold of my career through producing, it could help a lot. And it has helped a lot. I’ve learned so much about the business that I never would have learned otherwise by just being an employee. It might have taken me to the next level. PGN: Having worked with many, many top Hollywood stars, is there anyone you haven’t worked with who’s on your wish list? JL: I would love to work with Meryl Streep, Glen Close ... I really dig Mark Ruffalo. Jeremy Renner is pretty great. I think there’s some great talent out there
that I’d like to work with. PGN: Do you think actors and actresses today have more control over their careers than they did when you started out? JL: Nope. The potential for performers to have more control over their careers is at a cusp right now. It’s a real possibility with technology and the Internet. It’s about to happen, but it has not happened. Musicians have tried more than actors because it’s much more expensive for an actor to put a film together than it is anything else in the world, more than an album, theater or anything else. The business is changing for the worse. The only movies they want to make are those dumb sequels or something that was a TV show. It’s the worst it’s ever been. The independent market dies because the investment banks and the money dried up in America. PGN: Is there anything you haven’t done in your career that you would like to do? JL: I want to write and be in a movie like I do in my plays. That’s in reach. ■ Philadelphia Theatre Company presents “Klass Klown” through June 30 at Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St. For more information or tickets, visit leguizamo.ning.com or call (215) 9850420. Larry Nichols can larry@epgn.com.
be
reached
at
PAGE 30
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
Offline
Bruce Yelk
Find ‘fireworks’ on July 4 In popular culture, “fireworks” can refer to a spectacular display of love or excitement. Though it usually describes a romantic connection, we can all experience fireworks during times of joy — a joy that can occur while you spend quality time with friends and loved ones. With July Fourth on the horizon, I hope each of us has the opportunity to experience fireworks — in every sense of the word. Here is a list of upcoming events to make this July Fourth the best ever. On June 26, one of the LGBT community’s most successful sporting organizations, the City of Brotherly Love Softball League, will host its annual bingo fundraiser at the William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the action beginning at 7. Food, soft drinks and beer will be available for purchase, and great prizes have been donated by local LGBT businesses. Tickets are $20; e-mail joincblsl@aol.com to reserve a spot. Visit www.cblsl. org to learn more. Jumping ahead to the July Fourth holiday, Philadelphia will host its annual Wawa Welcome America! celebration. The week is packed with events; view the full schedule, including parades, festivals, concerts and outdoor film screenings, at www.welcomeamerica.com. As a preview, here are details for three fireworks shows during this year’s celebration:
I now pronounce you wife and wife ... PGN is happy to publish your wedding/civil union/commitment ceremony announcement. E-mail information to editor@epgn.com or fax us at (215) 925-6437.
— 8 p.m. June 26 at Penn’s Landing: concert featuring Morris Day & The Time, followed by fireworks on the Delaware River — 8 p.m. July 3 at Penn’s Landing: concert by the Philadelphia Orchestra, followed by fireworks on the Delaware — 8 p.m. July 4 at Eakins Oval on the Ben Franklin Parkway: concert by The Goo Goo Dolls, followed by fireworks over the Philadelphia Museum of Art For women looking to get out
of the city over July Fourth without breaking the bank, look no further than New Hope! Over the holiday weekend, Diane Lusk and Ladies 2000 will host the “Ladies STAYcation” at the Nevermore Hotel, 6426 Lower York Road. Beginning July 2, Lusk will kick off a weekend of dinners, dancing and parties in celebration of our nation’s birthday. Special events include a T-dance at 5 p.m. July 3 with DJ Michael DeCero and a cabaret show later that evening. Ladies 2000 guests will receive a discounted room rate of $119 at the hotel. For more information, visit www.ladies2000.com. For guys who want to get away without flying away, Rehoboth Beach, Del., and Asbury Park, N.J., have huge July Fourth events on tap. In Rehoboth, gays can enjoy the annual Love party, benefiting CAMP Rehoboth (www. camprehoboth.com). The main dance party, at the Convention Center, 229 Rehoboth Ave., is “July4Love4all.” Kicking off at 8 p.m. July 4, DJ Joe Gauthreaux will spin classic anthems and pop hits. In addition, there are several “Love” events all weekend, including the “LottoHEART” benefit, a live-auction game show. Visit www.sundancebenefit.com for more information. Not to be outdone, Asbury Park also has an exciting slate of activities planned for the holiday. Local promoter Shep Pettibone will present three nights of dancing and entertainment at Paradise, 101 Asbury Ave. July 2 is the “Friction” dance party and “Follies” show with Victoria Lace and Lady Marisa. On the 3rd, DJ Drew G will spin a red, white and blue-themed dance party. On July 4 is Pettibone’s famous poolside Silver T-Dance, featuring DJ Chris Padilla. For more information, visit www.paradisnj.com. To view a listing of gay events in Asbury Park this July Fourth, visit www.gayasburypark.com. I hope my recommendations provide the spark to get your fireworks going. If you have events for my July 9 column, e-mail me at byelk@nightlifegay.com. ’Til next time, get offline and see what your community has to offer! ■
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 31
Out writer brings ‘Phreak’ show to Philly By Larry Nichols PGN Staff Writer “My mother is always scared that whenever I go somewhere that people are going to come after me,” out writer and performer R. Dale Smith said about his semiautobiographical one-man show, “Jesus Phreak.” In the show, Smith acts out a parable about a cynical church pianist who finds himself starting to believe in God even as the wider church excludes him for being a “mixer,” someone who wears clothes made of two different materials. (Apparently, this is a violation of Biblical law in the book of Leviticus. No more cotton-poly blends for us.) The 39-year-old, who is well versed in religion, grew up in rural Virginia, where he played the piano at his small country church. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in English from James Madison University and a master’s in Biblical studies from Union Theological Seminary in Richmond. He is now an adjunct professor of religious studies at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. Needless to say, Smith knows his Bible. “The cloth verse I use for the show [Leviticus 19:19] is close to another verse [Leviticus 18:22] that is often used to argue against homosexuality in general, as well as against gay marriage and gay ordination,” Smith said. His idea for the show was to explore gay issues through Biblical metaphors — and be able to speak to both gay and non-gay
R. DALE SMITH IN “JESUS PHREAK”
audiences. “I think by having it in metaphor, when it comes up in the second act of the show, there’s 30 seconds where I can see confused looks on people’s faces,” Smith said. “But then a light goes off and they get it. Because I never say the word ‘gay,’ I think the more moderate to conservative people in the audience are able to ride along with it. They can remain engaged and the walls don’t go up. In addition to keeping more conservative audience members from shutting down, the metaphor raises the question of, if we, as a culture, are willing to dismiss some rules from the Bible, such as the rule against wearing two different kinds of cloth, why do we hold onto other rules, such as the ones supposedly against homosexuality?” Still, Smith’s mother’s worries aren’t exactly unreasonable. But
the performer said he’s been surprised at how open audiences, even in some of the more conservative areas of the country, have been to his show. “When it was first being produced for a play festival, the director took me aside one day after rehearsal and said, ‘You may just want to prepare yourself for people walking out at some point during the show.’ Because midway through the show, the gay issue comes up. But that has never happened. I’ve always had an enthusiastic response from audiences, which has been great.
“Something that has surprised me is that shows in more conservative areas have drawn larger audiences on the whole than shows in more liberal areas. People in more liberal areas may hear about the show and go, ‘I’m OK with gay people in churches, so this show will have nothing new to say to me.’” He added that any negative reactions to the show haven’t been face to face. “I have gotten some bizarre emails from people that obviously haven’t seen the show but have stumbled upon the website,” he said. “They will send me these strange notes about how I’m going to hell and taking people with me, but the audience [members] themselves have been very open.” Smith said that “Jesus Phreak” appeals to both gay and straight audiences regardless of their faith. “Because the show is about more than being an outsider/being gay [and] because it is also about a bumpy/comic faith journey filled with many theological questions, I think even the most liberal and accepting people will find themselves engaged and challenged by it. It explores the question of what it means to be a person of faith, and the question of how one becomes a person of faith, just as
much as it explores what it’s like to feel excluded by a faith tradition. And it does so throughout with humor.” Smith performs “Jesus Phreak” at 7 p.m. June 27 at Trinity Memorial Church, 2200 Spruce St., followed by a discussion and wine and cheese reception. For more information or tickets, visit www.trinityphiladelphia.org. ■
Books Magazines CDs & DVDs for your summer vacation MON. - SAT. 11:30 - 7p.m. SUNDAY 1:00 - 7p.m. email: giovannis_room@verizon.net
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 32
Outward Bound
Saddle up and welcome the DC Cowboys to the City of Brotherly Love and a spectacular Fourth of July celebration!
✮
with
✮
First, join us at the William Way Community Center at 5 p.m. for a rousing show, food, drinks and some one-on-one time with the entire DC Cowboys organization.
✮
Later, at 11 p.m., join us at The Bike Stop for another show and some social time on their final night before they make LGBT history performing in Philadelphia’s July Fourth parade. Your $10 ticket gets you into both events – or $5 for The Bike Stop event only.
✮ Sizzling sex appeal ✮ Rugged good looks ✮ Brokeback meets Broadway
✮
The DC Cowboys dance company is an all-male, performing arts organization for gay men in the Washington, DC–metropolitan area founded in 1994 by Kevin Platte.
Our special thanks to these groups who helped make this happen:
Jeff Guaracino
BYOFC—Bring Your Own First Class
✮
Join Philadelphia FIGHT and the DC Cowboys for two AIDS fundraising shows and welcoming parties on Saturday, July 3.
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
✮
Tickets are available through Philadelphia FIGHT, William Way Community Center and The Bike Stop. For more information, call Mark Seaman at 215-525-8628.
I am on a plane at least once a month and, to be honest, I have been a bit spoiled in this recession as fewer people have been traveling. I was upgraded to first class almost every time I flew — even on overnight flights to Europe. Well, the U.S. economy is recovering and more people are traveling — that’s a good thing — but this week on my trip to France, I was “downgraded.” That’s right, even though I offered American Airlines 50,000 of my coveted points, plus $700, I was stuck in crowded coach class. Ah ha, no fear. First, class is a state of mind, and I have devised the BYOFC — Bring Your Own First Class — threestep system.
your own amenity kit at home and bring it with you. Pack these items in your carry-on luggage and be sure they are easily accessible before and after you put your bag in the overhead compartment or under the seat in front of you. The Sharper Image and online retailer TravelSmith both offer a great selection of practical and affordable items.
Choose your seat wisely First, it is essential to carefully select your seat. A best bet before choosing your seat is to visit www.seatguru.com, an independent website that is the authority on airline seating, in-flight services and airline information. The site will help you choose a seat that suits your comfort. Whether you prefer an aisle seat, a window seat or the exit row for the privileged few, Seat Guru will give you a complete description. It will warn you of exit rows that don’t offer extra legroom and tell you the rows that do. It will tell you seat width, pitch and if it has a power port for your laptop.
BYO pre-flight cocktail and food While technically against the rules, those mini-bar-sized spirits can fit neatly into the TSA regulation-sized plastic bag. In fact, four Absolute bottles are a perfect fit. To have your own spirits on hand is especially nice when those in first class are being offered a preflight cocktail. Simply purchase your favorite mixer from the airport concession stands and violà. Don’t forget to pack your favorite snacks, too. Even in first class, airlines are becoming increasingly stingy and offering fewer menu items. While you can’t heat anything up, you can enjoy your favorite snacks — just like in first class. I go to the grocery store before every trip and stock up on the mini-sized, low-calorie snacks. Sometimes an airport merchant will have a cheese and cracker platter for sale. There is nothing more civilized than enjoying a cocktail and cheese just minutes after take-off. ■
BYO amenities Flying in comfort is totally up to you and what you prefer. You can replicate the first-class amenity kit easily. Most standard first-class amenity kits include a blanket, eye mask, tissues, lip balm, socks and a pen. These products are now sold online and at the airport. You can also make
Jeff Guaracino is a vice president of the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation and author of “Gay and Lesbian Tourism: The Essential Guide for Marketing.” He has learned to how to find the best deals and travel resources out there for our community. If you’re traveling locally, check out visitphilly.com.
PGN WWW.EPGN.COM
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 33
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 34
Professional Portraits “ I l ove i t ! I l ive i n t h e Gayborhood and everything I could ever want is within a fiveblock radius. This place, Naked Chocolate, theater, music, good food, even a Tiffany’s ... not that I would ever go there, but still. I could live here for the rest of my life and have access to everything I wanted.” So says Alan Robarge, a new Philadelphian who’s been here a scant six weeks. His enthusiasm about the city is infectious and his ability to meet so many new friends in such a short time is impressive. I met up with Robarge at Absolute Abstract and spoke with him about his life, his work as a psychotherapist and what makes him a proud new Philadelphian. PGN: Where are you from? AR: I moved here from Denver, Colo., but I was born in Ohio. I’ve lived in several places from New York to Chicago. PGN: Where in Ohio were you born? AR: Rising Sun, Ohio. A small town, population 500. I left when I turned 18 to move to New York. People ask me if it was culture
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
Suzi Nash
shock and I tell them that, being who I am, it was culture shock living in a town with 500 people for 18 years. PGN: What was family life like? AR: My mother was a schoolteacher for 30 years — she retired last year — and my father worked as a machinist in a spark-plug factory. He passed away when I was 14. I have a sister who’s three years older than me. PGN: Did she treat you like a dress-up doll? AR: [Laughs.] She wasn’t really around, so I self-initiated dressing up! We actually have pictures of me in a slip and a wig. I also remember going over to my cousin’s house and getting all excited about painting her Barbie doll head. You know, those oversize Barbie heads that came with a make-up kit. PGN: And how did machinist dad take to seeing his son in a slip? AR: I was an entertainer from the start, and I was young enough that they thought it was funny. I would lip sync to old K-tel
albums. PGN: Where did your urban flair come from? AR: I have no idea. Probably a past life! PGN: What’s your best memory from back in rural Ohio? AR: [Long pause.] I just remember it being boring. Not my childhood — I had a good upbringing — but the place was boring. I think I managed to stay engaged through artwork. I was always painting and drawing and had several art projects. I enjoyed pursuing creative things. PGN: Where did you go when you left? AR: I thought I left to go to school in New York, but I really left to be gay and I spent a lot of time discovering what that meant. PGN: How did you decide how and where to figure things out? AR: Somehow, through television and the media, I figured that New York was the place where I could be myself. I had been non- or asexual for 18 years and, in New York, I came into my gay identity
ALAN ROBARGE Photo: Suzi Nash
and looked to find myself. I transferred schools a lot. I started at Fordham and, for a period, I think I went to a new school every semester. And then I dropped out of school altogether so I could go gay full-time! Eventually, I went back to school. PGN: What did you study? AR: I started out with liberal arts, pursuing a business track, then I went to Parsons School of Design, some marketing art program and then a host of others. I eventually graduated years later from the Columbia College of Chicago with a degree in nothing. Technically, it was a bachelor of arts degree in an undeclared major, but I like to call it a degree in nothing. PGN: What was one of the most exciting things you remember about New York? AR: I’d go dancing at the Roxy every Thursday night for the Disco Interruptus parties. We’d wear costumes and, on Saturday nights, everyone would wear their wildest outfits. I felt like every night was Halloween, every night was Carnivàle. It was the early ’90s and I felt like something special was going down and I was a part of it. It was a vibrant time. PGN: What was your worst outfit? AR: Probably a plain shirt and pants. I had read New York magazine all throughout high school and knew I always wanted to move there. My mother would run into people in downtown
Rising Sun and they would tell her that I’d mentioned that I was going to school in New York. She’d come to me and say, “Alan, why are you telling people that?” and I’d say, “Because I am.” And then we’d go into a “No, you’re not/Yes, I am” thing. From reading New York magazines, I was aware of the club scene but when I first moved there, I was out for a walk one day and stumbled upon a club and, even though I was in my plain old street clothes, I figured I’d check it out. They wouldn’t let me in! That’s when I figured out I needed to get hip to get through the velvet rope. One night I wore some spandexy pants and a glitter shirt and this guy thought I was European. When I spoke English he was surprised and it made me feel good to create such a mysterious aura. PGN: Do you remember your first kiss? AR: It was profound and exciting, but it also instantly connected to years of unacknowledged shame, so it had a bitter sweetness. Because even though the experience was wonderful, it was scary because it was the beginning of touching the edges of that shame that was buried deep inside. PGN: Was that the start toward getting involved in your current career as a psychotherapist? AR: Not really. During that time, I managed the guilty feelings I had. Years later, I met a man in Chicago and we had a wonderful, passionate beginning that ended abruptly and left me torn apart.
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
That triggered an incredible grief that cracked me open and made me confront my inner homophobia and other things. I came to the phrase, “I hate myself” and with the help of a good therapist, discovered a truth that was shocking and difficult to digest, but that led me eventually to the work that I do today, which is cultivating self -worth and selfkindness. PGN: Where did you study? AR: Initially the work found me, which sounds esoteric but it’s the truth. In studying acting, I learned about power dynamics, text, subtext, motivation, body language — and they’re all foundational pieces of how I work as a therapist: uncovering truths amid the drama. I was going to therapy myself at the time and with friends, our conversations would naturally turn to healing talk. Or I’d be on a bus, and someone would say, “I don’t know why I’m telling you this but ... ” I started to think about work as a therapist as a result of my natural ability to engage people, as well as my own desire to explore who we are, what’s the meaning of life, why are we doing certain things, etc. I studied contemplative psychotherapy at Naropa University in Boulder, Colo., which is based on Buddhist psychology and I got a degree in counseling psychology from Regis University in Denver.
Q Puzzle Rainbow Flag Across
1. Arnaz, whose in-laws had Balls 5. Whitman’s leaves 10. Cry of Dorothy 14. “Baseball Tonight” channel 15. Zellweger of “Chicago” 16. Not outstanding 17. Sites for three men in a tub 18. Cancel out 19. Chelsea Pines and others 20. ___ Red (Type of cock) 23. Weapon of Caesar’s day 25. Actor Bentley 26. Scenic view 29. ___ orange (Cut fruit, perhaps) 31. ___ yellow (“Cock-eyed Optimist” color) 32. “The African Queen” author 33. Poles for your first mate? 37. “Hollaback Gir l” singer Stefani 38. Where to meet Judy Garland, in a movie 40. Moisten one’s boxers 44. Where to find It. 45. Maupin stories 50. ___ green (Patty Shehan
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PGN: What is your clientele like? AR: It’s across the board: men, women, gay, straight, all types of people. They seem to break down mostly into two categories: the people who have had a life crisis or transition and have to go to a therapist because they need immediate help, and then the type of people who think everything is fine but just want more out of life. They feel something is missing and want to examine their lives. Therapy is a transitional process. You have one foot in the old life, of who you were, and one foot in your new life, who you are becoming. It’s managing the anxiety of letting go. A lot of times, acknowledging sexual orientation can be the change that brings you to that point — sometimes it’s women coming out of a marriage, sometimes it’s business owners or artists starting a new enterprise. It’s about trying to deepen and understand a new life. Psyche represents the butterfly in Greek culture, and so there’s a lovely analogy of the transformation from the caterpillar to the butterfly. The only people I don’t work with are couples or children. PGN: So what made you choose Philadelphia? AR: I researched it on the Internet. I liked the urban vibrancy of the city. I visited some cities in Connecticut, but that definitely wasn’t for me. area) 52. ___ blue (hearing some Billie Holliday songs) 54. Undisturbed 55. Least sweet 56. ___ violet (straight guy in a gay bar) 60. Tops a cupcake 63. Stiff-upper-lip type 64. Sea bottom captain 68. Russian singing duo 69. Reviewer Roger 70. Like McKellen’s Magneto 71. Years ago 72. Study stations 73. Six feet under
Down
1. Some, on the Somme 2. Gaydar, for example 3. Losing gladiator’s plea 4. Like a muscle Mary 5. Cap and gown wearer 6. Keep getting 7. Lennox of the Eurythmics 8. Dr. for the children’s hour? 9. VSucceed at pitching 10. Giving a piece of your mind 11. Carpenter’s tool 12. Hr. part 13. Meas. of a braggart? 21. The NBA’s Magic on scoreboards 22. Gardner of Hollywood
Philadelphia is such a great city. The biggest test was in my body. I came to visit and just wanted to see if the place felt right to me, and instantly I knew I could live here. It was a good fit. PGN: What personality traits have gotten you in the most trouble? AR: I can be loud ... at inopportune times. PGN: Really? You come across as mild-mannered. AR: Well, apparently my voice can be booming. In grade school, I was always being sent to stand in the corner. I would ask the teacher why I was being punished when everyone in the class was talking, and she’d tell me, “Yes, but your voice carries!” [Laughs.] PGN: Any pets? AR: I have a Jack Russell terrier named Liza. We go to Washington Park every day and she’s a great icebreaker. People will stop me and tell me how cute she is and start up conversations. We also like to sit on the benches and people watch. PGN: What profession, other than yours, would you most and least want to try? AR: If I had the body for it, I would love to be a dancer. I really respect dancers and love the visual images they create. What would I not want to pursue? 23. Castro Street, on BART 24. Hanging spot 27. Threesome for Michelangelo 28. Objectivist Rand 30. Mouth-to-mouth pro 31. CBS show in which semen may be evidence 34. Shake it 35. Small amount 36. Gang’s territory 38. Bessie of the blues 39. Sailor’s rear 40. Inflation meas. 41. Come quickly 42. Saucer pilots 43. On the table 46. Set straight 47. Serve up some whoppers 48. Print measures 49. Army NCO 51. Gave a breast to 53. Official decrees 57. End of a Beatles song title 58. Naysayers’ words 59. Sulu’s star ship captain 60. Simpson case judge 61. When repeated, a 1953 Cole Porter musical 62. Lister’s abbr. 65. She had no heterosexual parents 66. Jenny portrayer on “The L Word” 67. Like the gray mare
PAGE 35
Being a machinist! PGN: What book would we find on your nightstand? AR: “Momma and the Meaning of Life” by Irvin Yalom. I’m reworking my relationship with my mutha! PGN: What do you like about what you do? AR: I develop a relationship with my clients. It’s a one-on-one professional relationship designed to develop and improve their mental health and emotional well-being. Our talking is the foundation for them getting to know themselves better. PGN: Is it ever scary? What do you do if someone is suicidal? AR: That’s an intense question. My answer is that there is an official protocol that has to be followed; once those have been enacted and I know that there is no imminent danger or active intent to harm, I can discuss the fact that suicidal thoughts and questioning the meaning of life is normal. There is a difficult and dark side of self-discovery and I value the mythical approach, which says that there is a natural process of death when the caterpillar turns into the butterfly. It’s not a literal death, but a psychic transformation that can be so painful that suicidal thoughts can be informing that something needs to change.
See SOLUTION, Page 37
PGN: How does it make you feel? AR: I think I’m hardwired to receive the intensity of people’s emotions. It’s what I do and I’m honored by the honesty of meeting someone in that place. I’ve worked with rape survivors in Denver at a program called RAAP [Rape Assistance and Awareness Program] and I’m trained in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, which is a technique to release trauma from the body. It could be any trauma, from a car accident to sexual assault or covert incidental trauma. That can be something like, my parents would fight and though it was never directed at me, it was so scary that I’m now anxious all the time. It can be touching, it can be sad, it can be uplifting, but it’s something I always consider a privilege. I grow from the process too. [Laughs.] I don’t know how you are going to fit everything from playing with Barbie doll heads to mythological death processes in one article! PGN: It’s my specialty! ■ Alan Robarge can be reached at www.alanrobarge.com or (215) 983-9407. To suggest a community member for “Professional Portraits,” write to: Professional Portraits, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147 or portraits05@aol.com.
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 36
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
Tabu’s bar menu has ups, downs By Larry Nichols PGN Staff Writer
Published the 2nd and 4th week of every month.
Tabu Lounge & Sports Bar, 200 S. 12th St., has a winning Gayborhood location, an excellent vibe and an attentive staff. However, the menu has some challenges to overcome before it can fully live up to its potential. T a b u does a great job with traditional b a r fa r e . The crabcake sliders ($8.95) w i t h Louisiana mayonnaise had a great flavor and consistency that even crab snobs from Maryland couldn’t fault. And we could eat Tabu’s wings (10 for $7.95) all day, every day. Every flavor the bar offers is excellent, from the safe-but-savory bourbon-glazed wings to varying degrees of hot buffalo-style wings, all of which compliment how crispy and well cooked the juicy wings are. The baked macaroni and cheese ($8.95) hit all the right comfort-food spots. We were initially worried about the peas, thrown into the mix with bacon, but the dish was tasty and solid. The hangar steak sandwich ($8.95) is a nice-enough alternative to a hamburger, with tender beef and caramelized onion on a baguette. Some of the dishes disappointed, not because they were bad, but because a quick trip to the spice rack would have gone a long way. The Cajun-battered cauliflower ($5.95) was a prime example. Putting “Cajun batter fried” in front of anything raises hopes and expectations that whatever healthy morsels underneath will be magically transformed into something decadent. Instead, we were instantly transported back
to a time when we were threatened with no dessert to finish our veggies. The big portions of cauliflower fought the batter every step of the way, to the point that even the spicy Parmesan dipping sauce couldn’t rescue it. Likewise, the freshness of the fish tacos ($9.95) with corn salsa
TABU Photo: Scott A. Drake
was undermined by a severe lack of spice or lime. A dish that simple could have easily been among the best selections of the night, but it just fell short. Tabu won us over with dessert, which was a white-chocolate raspberry cheesecake. It was so good that it made us suspicious. (It wasn’t made in-house.) Tabu did a bang-up job on presentation. Let’s hope they keep the secret of where they buy, lest we go right to the source to buy whole cheesecakes. Stay focused on the basic bar grub and the action on the abundant flatscreens and you won’t be disappointed. ■ Larry Nichols can be reached at larry@epgn.com.
If you go Tabu Lounge & Sports Bar 200 S. 12th St. (215) 964-9675 www.tabuphilly.com Open daily 4 p.m.-2 a.m.
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 37
Riots, love and gay directors grace new indie films By Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor A trio of films with queer themes and/or by queer filmmakers opens at Ritz Theatres today. The movies range from an important historical documentary to an exquisite melodrama and an ambitious literary adaptation. “Stonewall Uprising” is a useful, if superficial, addition to the numerous histories of the 1969 Stonewall riots. The film, incredibly well edited by co-director Kate Davis, effectively uses the few extant photographs from the event along with recreations and images — such as newsreels and clippings — from the era. Interviews with participants in the riots and other talking heads flesh out the portrait. It’s all done in a traditional documentary approach, neither fancy nor stodgy. The film is loosely based on David Carter’s excellent book “Stonewall,” and the book’s trajectory — setting the stage, describing the riots and discussing the aftermath — provides the documentary’s narrative arc. But if the disturbing background information — that life was restrictive and difficult for lesbians and gay men in the 1960s — is beaten to death, too little is told about the efforts of queer activists to combat it and police harassment. The second half of the film chronicles the riots themselves — and the sense of rebellion and how the violence felt justified after so much anger and repression. This is the film’s greatest strength. When an interviewee sheds a tear recounting his experiences at the riots, it is quite moving. “Stonewall Uprising” may not be the definitive portrait of the riots, but it tells an important story that needs to be told and retold. Tilda Swinton gives a virtuoso performance in “I Am Love,” a sumptuous, enthralling Italian romantic drama. Written and directed by Luca Guadagnino, this story of a bourgeois Milanese family trying to hold on to the past is a truly sensory experience. From the fantastic pulsing John Adams score and the swirling camera that practically eavesdrops on the characters’ lives to the textures and aromas of the clothes, food, skin and snow, viewers will be completely enveloped by this decadent, insular world. Emma (Swinton) is the wife
of an industrialist who is grappling with unexpected love. First, she chances upon a note from her daughter Elisabetta (Alba Rohrwacher) confessing her passion for a female teacher. She is quietly devastated by the news, and Swinton is remarkably affecting in this moment — just watch how her face conveys multiple conflicting emotions. Yet, Emma cares enough about her daughter that this revelation — which she is asked to keep secret — actually brings the women closer. Moreover, Elisabetta’s clandestine love unexpectedly prompts Emma to act on her sudden attraction to Antonio (Edoardo Gabbriellini), a chef who is also her son Edoardo’s (Flavio Parenti) business partner. As the relationship between Emma and Antonio develops — a scene of her eating one of his dishes is an intense highlight — and the characters start having romantic fantasies, “I Am Love” induces all kinds of swooning. Guadagnino creates an intimacy that is infectious: Every touch, every smell is palpable. Moreover, scenes of Emma “chasing” Antonio through San Remo or reacting to a terrible tragedy are simply mesmerizing. “I Am Love” is a truly exceptional film. Queer filmmaker James Ivory’s “The City of Your Final Destination,” adapted from the Peter Cameron novel, is a handsomely produced but languid, soporific drama. In the opening moments, Omar (Omar Metwally) is sinking in quicksand. It’s an apt metaphor for his life, which is slipping out of his control. He is hoping to write a biography of the late, obscure novelist Jules Gund, to secure his Ph.D. and a teaching job, but Gund’s estate declined his request for authorization. Egged on by his demanding girlfriend, Deirdre (Alexandra Maria Lara),
SOLUTION From Page 35
Omar heads to Uruguay to meet with Gund’s gay brother Adam (Anthony Hopkins), wife Caroline (Laura Linney) and mistress Arden (Charlotte Gainsbourg) to see if they will change their minds. Ivory deliberately allows viewers to develop a sense of the mysterious Gunds, much like Omar does. The initial impressions are intriguing as they provide many telling details about manners and each character’s sense of decorum and discretion. A discussion about art or money suggests something far larger than the subject at hand. Yet when an accident — clumsily telegraphed by sinister music — lands Omar in the hospital, Ivory loses control of his film. Deirdre arrives in Uruguay and her character locks horns with Omar and the Gunds as she pushes them to resolve their matter quickly. She’s a symbol, of course, and a clunky one. “City” is best when little happens slowly, allowing viewers to sink into the rhythms of the story.
TILDA SWINTON (AS EMMA RECCHI, LEFT) AND ALBA ROHRWACHER (ELISABETTA RECCHI) IN “I AM LOVE”
When Ivory hurries the film, the dramatic tension evaporates and the characters exert little emotional pull. There’s an emptiness here that is enervating. Only a coda piques any interest. Nevertheless, Metwally makes Omar appealing, and Linney looks severe and acts her brittle best as
the icy Caroline. And Hopkins gives a relaxed performance as Adam: His affections with his lover are nicely handled. Ultimately, “The City of Your Final Destination” is less than the sum of its parts. It is as if Ivory set a gorgeous table, but failed to put any real food on it. ■
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 38
Meeting Place A community bulletin board of activities, facilities and organizations
Community centers ■ The Attic Youth Center: For LGBT and questioning youth and their friends and allies. Groups meet and activities are held from 4-8 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays; case management, HIV testing and smoking cessation are available Monday through Friday. See the Youth section for more events. 255 S. 16th St.; (215) 545-4331 ■ Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center at the University of Pennsylvania 3907 Spruce St.; (215) 898-5044; center@dolphin.upenn.edu, Summer hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. ■ Rainbow Room — Bucks County’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and Allies Youth Center: 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays: Doylestown Planned Parenthood, The Atrium, Suite 2E, 301 S. Main St., Doylestown; (215) 348-0558 ext. 65; rainbowroom@ppbucks.org. ■ William Way Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center: 1315 Spruce St.; (215) 732-2220; www.waygay.org. Peer counseling: Monday through Friday, 6-9 p.m. Library hours: Mondays 3-9 p.m., Tuesdays 3-6 p.m., Wednesdays 3-9 p.m., Thursdays 3-9 p.m., Fridays 3-9 p.m., Saturdays noon-6 p.m., Sundays noon-6 p.m. Volunteers: New Orientation: First Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.; Volunteer Velada, third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.
Health Anonymous, free, confidential HIV testing Spanish/English counselors offer testing 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 166 W. Lehigh Ave.; (215) 763-8870 ext. 6000. AIDS Services In Asian Communities Provides HIV-related services to Asians and Pacific Islanders at 340 N. 12th St., suite 205; (2215) 536-2424. Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative Free, anonymous HIV testing from 9:30 a.m.4:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursdays at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; (215) 851-1822 or (866) 222-3871. Spanish/English. HIV testing Free, anonymous testing and counseling is offered from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment at AIDS Resource, 520 W. Fourth St., suite 2A, Williamsport; (570) 322-8448.
Key numbers
HIV treatment Free HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment for Philadelphia residents are available from 9 a.m.noon Mondays and 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad St.; (215) 685-1803. HIV health insurance help Access to free medications, confidential HIV testing available at 17 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; 1201 Chestnut St.; (215) 563-0652. www. mazzonicenter.org. Washington West Project Free, anonymous HIV testing. Walk-ins welcome 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday; 1201 Locust St.; (215) 985-9206.
Casarez@phila.gov; Fax: (215) 686-2555
■ AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania: (215) 587-9377
■ Mazzoni Center: (215) 563-0652; www. mazzonicenter.org
■ AIDS Law Project of Southern New Jersey: (856) 933-9500 ext. 221
■ Mazzoni Center Family and Community Medicine: (215) 563-0658
■ AIDS Library: (215) 985-4851
■ Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): (215) 572-1833
■ ACLU of Pennsylvania: (215) 592-1513
Men
Boys Night Out A social gathering for gay men, meets at 7 p.m. every second and fourth Tuesday at Iron Hill Brewery, 30 E. State St., Media; BurbBoysNiteOut@aol.com. Delaware Valley 40-plus Club for Men Social group meets every other month; (215) 587-9933. Gay Married Men’s Association Meets at 8 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesdays at the William Way Center; (215) 483-1032. Men of All Colors Together Meets at 7:30 p.m. third Friday of the month September through June at the William Way Center; (610) 277-6595; www.MACTPhila.org. Men’s Coming Out Group, N.J. Meets at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays at The Pride Center of New Jersey. Men’s Coming Out Group Meets at 7 p.m. Thursdays at Washington West Project, 1201 Locust St.; (215) 563-0652 ext. 219. Men of Color United A discussion/support group for gay and bisexual men of color meets from 6-8 p.m. every Wednesday at 112 N. Broad St., 11th 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. every Thursday at Camden AHEC, 514 Cooper St., Camden, N.J.; (856) 963-2432 ext. 211; ruberte_ j@camden_ahec.org. Philly DADS An association of gay and bisexual fathers supporting each other meets at 7:30 p.m. 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 at 7:30 p.m. third Thursday of the month at Penns Park United Methodist Church, 2394 Second Street Pike, Penns Park; (215) 598-8005. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Cape May, N.J. Meets at 2 p.m. third Sunday of the month in the Maruchi Room of Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital, 2 Stone Harbor Blvd.; (609) 861-1848. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Chester County Meets at 7 p.m. first Tuesday of the month at the Unitarian Fellowship of West Chester, 501 S. High St., West Chester; (484) 354-2448. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Collingswood, N.J. Meets from 6-8:30 p.m. fourth Monday of the month at the Collingswood Public Library, 771 Haddon Ave., Collingswood, N.J.; (856)345-9112; pflagcollingswood@yahoo.com. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Philadelphia Meets from 2-5 p.m. 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 at 7:30 p.m. 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 at 7 p.m. second Thursday of the month at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 13th and Rodney streets; (302) 654-2995.
■ AIDS Treatment hot line: (215) 5452212
■ Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations: (215) 686-4670
■ Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection at the Independence Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library: (215) 685-1633
■ Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force: (215) 772-2000
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 are held monthly; (215) 844-3360; www. phillyfamilypride.org.
■ Philadelphia Police Department liaison — Chief Inspector James Tiano: (215) 685-3655
Gender Rights Advocacy Association of
■ The COLOURS Organization Inc. 112 N. Broad St., 11th floor; (215) 4960330.
■ Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: (215) 600-0627; ppd.lgbt@gmail.com
■ Equality Advocates Pennsylvania: (215) 731-1447; (866) LGBTLAW
■ Philly Pride Presents: (215) 875-9288
■ Equality Forum: (215) 732-3378
■ SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: (717) 920-9537
■ Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Peer Counseling Services: (215) 732-TALK ■ Mayor’s liaison to LGBT communities: Gloria Casarez, (215) 686-2194; Gloria.
■ Transgender Health Action Coalition: (215) 732-1207 (staffed 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays, and 6-9 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays)
Trans
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010 New Jersey A transgender civil-rights group meets first Sunday of the month at 1 p.m. at The Pride Center of New Jersey. Interweave New Jersey An organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Unitarian and their allies meets every third Sunday at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 401 N. Kings Highway, Cherry Hill, N.J.; (856) 667-3618. Oasis Meets 7-8 p.m. Wednesdays at 1201 Chestnut St.; (215) 563-0652 ext. 509. Mazzoni Center Family and Community Medicine Primary healthcare and specialized transgender services in a safe, professional, non-judgemental environment, 809 Locust St.; (215) 563-0658. Renaissance Transgender Assoc. Meets at 8 p.m. third Saturday of the month at Into the Woods office complex in King of Prussia; (610) 975-9119 box 5; and 7:30 p.m. first Thursday of the month at the William Way Center; www.ren.org. T-MAN People of color support group for transmen, FTMs, butches, studs, agressives, 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; tman215@aol.com.
Queer Connections Social group for women in their 20s meets weekly; (215) 468-1352; queerconnect@yahoo. com. Republican Lesbians Meetings held at 7:30 p.m. on first Monday of the month at The Pride Center of New Jersey. South Jersey Lesbians of Color Meetings are the first and third Fridays at 7:30 p.m. at The Starting Point, 215 Highland Ave., Suite C, Westmont, N.J.; (856) 824-0881; e-mail: SJLOC-owner@yahoogroups.com. Women’s Coffee House for Lesbians A group for lesbian and bisexual women meets on first Saturday of the month at 7 p.m. at The Pride Center of New Jersey. The Womyn’s Village The first womyn-owned and operated thinktank targeting black African, Asian, Latina and Native American LBT and two-spirited womyn. Meets at 5 p.m. on third Thursday of the month at COLOURS Organization, 112 N. Broad St., 11th floor; (215) 765-0121; the_womyns. village@yahoo.com.
Youth
Transhealth Programming Committee Meetings are at 5 p.m. second and last Sundays of the month at the William Way Center.
40 Acres of Change Discussion group for teen and young adults meets from 6-8 p.m. Thursdays at The COLOURS Organization Inc., 112 N. Broad St., 11th floor; (215) 496-0330.
Transhealth Information Project Sponsors a weekly drop-in center from 7-11 p.m. Tuesdays at 1201 Locust St.; (267) 549-6497.
Drop-in Group For gay, lesbian and bisexual youth; meets at 11 a.m. Saturdays at AIDS Delaware, 100 W. 10th St., Suite 315, Wilmington, Del.; (302) 652-6776.
Transgender Health Action Coalition Peer trans health-advocacy organization meets at 5 p.m. second and last Sundays of the month at the William Way Center; (215) 732-1207; www. critpath.org/thac. WeXist FTM support group meets from 6-8 p.m. second 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) 2501548; www.wexist.org. Young, Trans, and Unified! Support group for transgender and questioning individuals ages 13-23 meets from 7-8:30 p.m. every Thursday at The Attic Youth Center; (215) 545-4331 ext. 24.
Women
African Asian Latina Lesbians United Social-issues discussion group meets fourth Thursday of the month at The Pride Center of New Jersey. Bucks County Lesbian Alliance Meets monthly for social events; http://buckscountylesbianalliance.org. Expressions Women’s Space Lesbian singles, family and coming-out groups meet at 1538 Church St.; (215) 535-3600. Lesbians and BiWomen in Heterosexual Marriages A support group meets at 7:30 p.m. on third Wednesday of the month at The Pride Center of New Jersey. Lesbian Community of Delaware Valley Social group holds monthly meetings and activities for gay women of all ages in Delaware, Chester and Montgomery counties; P.O. Box 962, Phoenixville, PA 19460; http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/LCDV/; marichikogirl@yahoo.com. Lesbian Couples Dining Group of Montgomery County Meets monthly; (215) 542-2899. Lesbian Social Network of South Jersey 1,000-member social group for lesbians holds monthly activities in South Jersey and surrounding area; www.LSNSJ.com. Lesbians with Breast Cancer A support group meets from 6:30-8:30 on second Wednesday of the month at Gilda Club Delaware Valley, 200 Kirk Road, Warminster; (215) 4413290.
HAVEN For GLBT, intersex, questioning, queer and allied youth ages 14-20; meets from 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, will meet from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at 21 Wiggins St., Princeton, N.J.; (609) 683-5155. Main Line Youth Alliance Meets from 7-9:30 p.m. Fridays at 109 Lancaster Ave., Wayne; (610) 688-1861; 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.; (215) 772-1107; inquiries@mountainmeadow.org. Rainbow Room — Bucks County’s LGBTQ and Allies Youth Center For ages 14-21; meets 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays at Doylestown Planned Parenthood, The Atrium, Suite 2E, 301 S. Main St., Doylestown; (215) 3480558 ext. 65; rainbowroom@ppbucks.org. Social X Change Social activity group for LGBT youth of color ages 13-23 meets from 6-8:30 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 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Planned Parenthood of Chester County’s West Chester office, 8 S. Wayne St., West Chester; (610) 692-1770 ext. 108 or thespot@ppccpa.org. Teen Support Group Drop-in group for teens and adolescents meets Thursdays from 4:30-6 p.m. at 1201 Chestnut St.; (215) 563-0658 ext. 319. Youth in Transition A support group for transgender and questioning youth ages 12-23 meets from 7:30-9 p.m. Tuesdays at the The Attic Youth Center. Youth Making a Difference For GLBTQ African-American and Latino youth ages 13-24. Meets from 6:30-8:30 p.m. every Wednesday at Camden AHEC, 514 Cooper St., Camden, N.J.; (856) 963-2432 ext. 205; gibbs_ d@camden-ahec.org.
Send submissions to pgn@epgn.com or fax (215) 925-6437 PGN Meeting Place, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147
Meeting Place is a public service. Submissions must include a phone number for publication. Complete Meeting Place listings of all Parent/Family, Professional, Recovery, Recreation, Religion, Sports, Men, Women, Trans, Youth groups can be found online @ www.phliagaynews.com and www.epgn.com
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
Mombian
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 39
Dana Rudolph
How marriage bans teach children marriage isn’t necessary Parenting took center stage in the closing arguments of the California Proposition 8 case on June 16. Attorney Ted Olson, by most accounts, made a superb argument for marriage equality. There was one point he left out, however, that is worth exploring. Attorney Charles Cooper, speaking for the defenders of the same-sex marriage ban, argued that marriage should be limited to opposite-sex couples in order to “channel naturally procreative sexual conduct into stable and enduring unions,” and “to minimize what I would call irresponsible procreation.” He was unclear, however, as to how allowing same-sex couples to marry would dissuade opposite-sex couples from doing the same. He spoke only of the “very important and very negative social implications” when children “are born into the world without this stable, enduring marital union, raised and responsibility taken for the offspring by both of the parents that brought them into the world.” Olson did a stellar job refuting Cooper’s claim. He pointed out Cooper’s lack of evidence about the impact of same-sex marriages on opposite-sex ones, and noted that nearly 40,000 children in California were living in
households headed by same-sex couples. While Olson spoke generally of the legal and emotional benefits to children in same-sex headed households, however, he neglected to speak of how having married parents conveys certain things to children about the meaning of marriage itself — and what the long-term impact of that is on the institution of marriage. The majority of the children of lesbian and gay parents will be straight. They will grow up to have the same “procreative sexual conduct” Cooper wants to channel. Will they be more likely to “channel” that into marriage if they see their parents raised them successfully without marriage, or if they see their parents got married in order to declare their love and for the rights and stability that marriage provides? No matter what the outcome of the case, same-sex couples will continue to raise children. Open lesbians began seeking custody of children from previous opposite-sex relationships back in the 1970s. The term “gayby boom” dates from a Newsweek article in 1990. That’s a moving train of history that cannot be stopped. The danger isn’t just to the millions of children with lesbian or gay parents. If their friends and classmates see that same-sex couples are raising happy and healthy children without marriage (as valid academic studies continue to show), they, too, may begin to wonder if marriage is needed for
successful child rearing. This argument also answers the question of why domestic partnerships or civil unions won’t do. They provide some or all of the rights and benefits of marriage, but they will not — by definition — show children what it means to be “married.” Instead, they will convey that an alternative is acceptable. This is not to say that everyone will or should regard marriage as necessary. That is a personal choice faced by each person. The sweeping exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage, however, takes it away from the realm of personal choice and makes the statement that it isn’t necessary for an entire group of people. That, as I see it, is far more damaging to the institution. The ultra-right often claims that its anti-LGBT actions are
done to protect children. They cannot, in this case, have their wedding cake and eat it too. If they believe that marriage is the best place for rearing children, then they must agree it is the best place for same-sex couples to raise theirs as well — or they must assert that same-sex couples shouldn’t raise children at all. Many on the right do believe that — but such a belief, even more than marriage bans, is ceasing to have widespread appeal. Far more states allow same-sex couples to adopt or do secondparent adoptions than to marry. Still, Dr. Gary Segura, professor of political science at Stanford University, testified in the Prop. 8 trial that as fewer states are able to challenge samesex marriage via voter initiatives, gay and lesbian adoption will become “the new front line.”
I think it will be a harder sell than marriage initiatives. Even Arkansas, the latest state to institute an adoption ban, had to frame it as a ban on unmarried couples rather than on same-sex ones — and a state circuit court judge overturned it in April. (The state is expected to appeal.) If the Prop. 8 case has shown us anything, it is that the ultraright is running out of credible witnesses and logical arguments for limiting same-sex couples’ right to marry or parent children. It may still take time to achieve full equality — but when we do, it will strengthen the institution of marriage, not destroy it. ■ Dana Rudolph is the founder and publisher of Mombian (www. mombian.com), a blog and resource directory for LGBT parents.
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 40
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
Food & Drink THE ABBAYE PROUDLY SUPPORTS GAY PRIDE EXCELLENT BELGIAN AND MICROBREW SELECTIONS HAPPY HOUR
Mon.-Fri. 4-6 pm All drafts $2 off!
QUIZZO
Every Thursday 10 pm
BRUNCH
Sat. & Sun. 10 am-1 pm
KARAOKE
Every Sunday 10 pm Check out our daily menu specials
637 NORTH THIRD STREET PHILADELPHIA TEL: 215.627.6711 FAX: 215.627.6167 WWW.THEABBAYE.NET
Happy Hour Mon-Fri 5:30-7:30 $2.50 Domestics $3.50 Imports $3.50 Well Drinks $2.50 PBR and Miller High Life bottles all day every day
Rainbow Award Best Bar and Bartender 2008, 2009 Fox Philly Best Gay and Lesbian Bar 2008, 2009
DINNER SERVED NIGHTLY 255 S. Camac St., Philadelphia, Pa. (215) 545-8731
Brunch – Sunday 11a – 3p $3 Bloody Marys and $4 Mimosa’s All you can eat Mussels – Thursday 4p – 9p Lunch and Dinner by Chef Tommy D – 7 Days Happy Hour Mon – Fri 5p – 7p, Sat – Sun 3p – 5p $3 well drinks - $1 off all drafts • $3 Domestics • $4 Imports Margaritas always $5 • Karaoke w/Penny Productions Friday 9pm Dance Party in the Burbs – Every Saturday 9:30pm More events to come....... Find us on facebook ; BeagleTavern Plymouth The Beagle Tavern 1003 E. Main Street Norristown PA, 19401 (On the Plymouth/Norristown border) 610.272.3133
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
worth watching: Queer TV you can always see:
The Wanda Sykes Show The out comedian hosts this repeat of her weekly talk show. 11 p.m. on Fox.
SUNDAY Daytime Emmy Awards Regis Philbin hosts. Cher, Barry Manilow and Marie Osmond are The Rachel Maddow Show scheduled to appear. 9 p.m. on Monday-Friday, 9 p.m. on MSNBC. CBS. The Ellen DeGeneres Show Monday-Friday. 3 p.m. on NBC.
FRIDAY Michael Jackson History: The King of Pop Interviews and documentary footage of Michael Jackson. 8 p.m. on BET. Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration The star-studded 2001 concert featuring the Jackson 5, Britney Spears, Whitney Houston and more. 8 p.m. on TV One. Party Down Megan Mullally (“Will & Grace”) stars in this comedy series about Hollywood caterers with dreams of making it big. Out actress Jane Lynch stars in the season finale. 10 p.m. on Starz. SATURDAY The Beautiful People The comedy series based on the writings of out fashion critic Simon Doonan. 10 p.m. on Logo. The Jaquie Brown Diaries The new comedy features a TV journalist trying to claw her way to fame. 10:30 p.m. on Logo.
Drop Dead Diva Comedian Margaret Cho co-stars and Paula Abdul guest stars in the repeat of this dramedy’s secondseason opener. 9 p.m. on Lifetime. MONDAY Behind the Music Jennifer Hudson is profiled. 8 p.m. on VH1. How I Met Your Mother Out actor Neil Patrick Harris stars in this repeat with Carrie Underwood guest starring. 8 p.m. on CBS. RuPaul’s Drag Race The remaining queens must put together three different looks. Tatum O’Neal guest judges. 9 p.m. on Logo. True Beauty Out TV personality Carson Cressley hosts this reality competition. 10 p.m. on ABC. TUESDAY Losing It With Jillian Michaels The bisexual personal trainer from
“The Biggest Loser” gets her own series. 8 p.m. on NBC America’s Got Talent The auditions continue. 9 p.m. on NBC. The Big Gay Sketch Show The gay and irreverent comedy series. 10 p.m. on Logo. WEDNESDAY America’s Next Top Model Repeats of the previous season featuring out fashion experts Miss J. Alexander and Jay Hernandez. 8 and 9 p.m. on CW. So You Think You Can Dance The top nine dancers compete. 8 p.m. on Fox. Modern Family Look for out characters Mitchell and Cameron in this repeat where the family heads to Hawaii. 9 p.m. on ABC. Top Chef: Washington, D.C. Chefs compete in this cooking contest. 9 p.m. on Bravo. THURSDAY Glee A repeat of the musical comedy. 8 p.m. on Fox. Legally Blonde The comedy film starring Reese Witherspoon. 9 p.m. on Lifetime. So You Think You Can Dance The elimination round. 9 p.m. on Fox.
Rehoboth Beach
w w w. c a na l s i d e - i n n - r e h o b o t h . c o m
A casual and contemporary pet friendly boutique style inn. Canal & Sixth St. Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 866.412.2625 / 302.226.2006
PAGE 41
..WHERE BOYS WILL BE BOYS... A tradition in Rehoboth Beach for more than 20 years, The Shore Inn is now under new ownership. Call today for some (clothing optional) fun in the sun.
(302)227-8487
www.shoreinn.com
NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Comedian Kathy Griffin heads to Alaska to do a show and hang out with exPalin sperm donor and Playgirl cover boy Levi Johnson, whom she takes to a gay bar, on the new episode of “My Life on the D-List,” 9 p.m. June 29 on Bravo. Photo: Matt Hage/Bravo
Food & Drink
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 42
Diversions
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
Your guide to arts and entertainment
Theater
Black Pearl Sings! InterAct Theatre Company presents Frank Higgins’ musical drama set in the Depression as two women struggle for acceptance in society, through June 27 at The Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St.; (215) 5688079. Dreamgirls The hit musical about an up-and-coming girl group in the 1960s runs through June 27 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 893-1999. Fiddler on the Roof Walnut Street Theatre presents the award-winning musical, through July 18, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 5743550. Jesus Phreak Trinity Memorial Church presents R. Dale Smith’s comic one-man show about a gay man coming to faith, 7 p.m. June 27, 2212 Spruce St.; (215) 732-2515. Klass Klown Philadelphia Theatre Company hosts the oneman show starring John Leguizamo, through June 30 at Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St.; (215) 985-0420. The Musical of Musicals: The Musical Independence Studio on 3 presents a pastiche of elements from big-name musicals, through June 27, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 5743550. Respect: A Musical Journey of Women Society Hill Playhouse presents an exuberant musical that recounts the journey of women in the 20th century with popular music, through June 27, 507 S. Eighth St.; (215)
923-0210. Sunday in the Park with George Arden Theatre Company presents Stephen Sondheim’s Pulitzer Prizewinning musical, through July 4, 40 N. Second St.; (215) 922-1122.
Music
50 Cent The rapper performs at 8 p.m. June 25 at House of Blues, 801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City; (609) 3458652. Phish The jam band performs at 8 p.m. June 25 at the Susquehanna Bank Center, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, N.J.; (856) 365-1300. Weird Al Yankovic The comedic musician performs at 8 p.m. June 25 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; (215) 572-7650. Travis Sullivan’s Bjorkestra The jazz orchestra performs at 9 p.m. June 25 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400. Sugartown The monthly night of lady DJs and rockers features out band The Shondes, Post Post, Filmstar, DJ Lil Sis and Rachel Tension, 9 p.m. June 25 at Tritone, 1508 South St.; (215) 545-0475. Otep The out poet performs with her eponymous metal band at 7 p.m. June 26 at The Blockley Pourhouse, 3801 Chestnut St.; (215) 2221234 and at 7 p.m. July 1 at Hangar 84, 20 S. Sixth St., Vineland, N.J.; (856) 6926283. Adam Lambert The out singer performs at
8 p.m. June 26 at Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City; (609) 317-1000. Almost Queen The Queen tribute band performs at 8 p.m. June 26 at Sellersville Theater 1894, 136 N. Main St., Sellersville; (215) 2573000. Melissa Ferrick The out singer-songwriter performs at 7:30 p.m. June 27 at Sellersville Theater 1894, 136 N. Main St., Sellersville; (215) 2573000. Dave Matthews Band The rock band performs at 8 p.m. June 30 and July 1 at the Susquehanna Bank Center, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, N.J.; (856) 3651300. Soulidified Soul artists past and present team up to perform at 9 p.m. June 30 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400. Adrian Belew The prog-rock guitarist performs at 8 p.m. July 1 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400.
Exhibits
Ancient Rome & America The National Constitution Center presents an exhibition of rare artifacts from Italy and the United States, including excavated remains from Pompeii and Roman busts of Julius Caesar and Cicero, through Aug. 1, 525 Arch St.; (215) 409-6600. Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt The Franklin Institute presents an exhibition of
ANOTHER SWEET SHOW: This month’s edition of Sugar Town, the monthly night of lady DJs and rockers, features a number of acts with out members, including The Shondes (pictured), Post Post and DJ Lil Sis. Filmstar and Rachel Tension round out the bill. Catch the show at 9 p.m. June 25 at Tritone, 1508 South St. For more information, call (215) 545-0475. Photo: Will Haddad
150 artifacts from Egypt, through Jan. 2, 20th Street and the Parkway; (215) 448-1200.
College presents an exhibition addressing the global issue of femicide — targeted violence against women — through July 16, 3401 Filbert St.; (215) 895-2548.
East Meets West AxD Gallery presents an exhibition of works inspired by the culture of Japan, Queer Voices through July 3, 265 S. 10th The Institute of St.; (215) 627-6250. Contemporary Art presents a group exhibition of queer Inspiring Fashion: art, through Aug. 1, 118 S. 36th St.; (215) 898-7108. Gifts from Designers Honoring Tom Marotta Philadelphia Museum of Smooth Cartographies The Phillip and Muriel Art presents an exhibition of contemporary special Berman Museum of Art at occasion and eveningwear, Ursinus College presents through Sept. 6, 26th Street an exhibition of work from and the Benjamin Franklin digital media artist Greg Parkway; (215) 763-8100. Scranton using locative technologies, through Mimesis Aug. 1, 601 E. Main St.; The Clay Studio presents Collegeville; (610) 4093500. an exhibition of works by Molly Hatch, through June 27, 139 N. Second St.; Thomas Hucker & (215) 925-3453. Thomas Huang Wexler Gallery presents Ni Una Mas (Not One an exhibition of works by More) the two furniture artists, through June 26, 201 N. The Leonard Westphal
Third St.; (215) 923-7030.
Opera
Orphée and Eurydice The Opera Company of Philadelphia performs the mythical tale, 8 p.m. June 25 at Kimmel’s Perelman Theater, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
Film
Bob’s New Suit The New Hope Film Festival presents the world premiere of a film about a daughter in a 1960s working-class family coming to terms with her transgender identity, 6 p.m. June 26 at Stephen J. Buck Auditorium, 180 W. Bridge St., New Hope; www.newhopefilmfestival. com. The Deer Hunter The classic 1978 film is screened at 2 p.m. June 27 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; (610) 9170223.
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
PGN
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
Pick
Beetlejuice The gothic comedy film is screened at 8 p.m. June 28 at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; (215) 922-6888. Dazed and Confused Bryn Mawr Film Institute hosts a screening of the 1993 stoner film, 7 p.m. June 29, 824 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr; (610) 527-9898. Lifeboat Bryn Mawr Film Institute hosts a screening of the 1944 Alfred Hitchcock film, 7 p.m. June 30, 824 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr; (610) 527-9898.
Books
Lawrence Schoen Moonstone Arts Center hosts a multimedia tribute to the poet, 4-7 p.m. June 27, 110A S. 13th St.; (215) 735-9598. A Celebration of Light: Honoring Poet Lucille Clifton Moonstone Arts Center hosts a book event with the sci-fi author, publisher, psychologist and expert in the Klingon language, 7:30 p.m. June 25, 110A S. 13th St.; (215) 7359598. David Taylor The author of “Soul of a People: The WPA Writers’ Project Uncovers Depression America” hosts a discussion at 7:30 p.m. June 29 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; (215) 686-5322. Out poet and front woman Otep continues to tour behind her blistering new album, “Smash the Control Machine,” when she hits the area twice this week with her eponymous metal band, 7 p.m. June 26 at The Blockley Pourhouse, 3801 Chestnut St.; (215) 222-1234, and 7 p.m. July 1 at Hangar 84, 20 S. Sixth St., Vineland, N.J.; (856) 692-6283. For more information, visit www.otep.com.
Cabaret
Sherry Vine The New York-based performer takes the stage at 9 p.m. June 26 at Harlans at The Nevermore, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope, (215) 862-5225.
PAGE 43
Full House: A Series of Cabarets Quince Productions presents a series of cabaret shows through June 27 at Red Room at Society Hill Playhouse, 507 S. Eighth St.; (215) 923-0210. Mrs. Miller’s Coffee, Me or Tea Party Bob and Barbara’s hosts the comedic talents of Mrs. Miller, 11 p.m. June 30, 1509 South St.; (215) 545-4511. Drag Show Bob and Barbara’s hosts Miss Lisa Lisa and a rotating cast of drag talent, 11 p.m. July 1, 1509 South St.; (215) 545-4511.
Etc.
City of Brotherly Love Softball League Annual Bingo Fundraiser The William Way LGBT Community Center hosts the bingo fundraiser from 6-11 p.m. June 26, 1315 Spruce St.; joincblsl@aol.com.
Scene The monthly LGBTQ dance party runs 9 p.m.-2 a.m. June 26 at Voyeur Nightclub, 1221 St. James St.; www.tlbtbproductions.com. Aries Spears The comedian from “MADtv” performs June 30-July 2 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; (215) 496-9001. ■
Notices Send notices at least one week in advance to: Diversions, PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19147; fax them to (215) 925-6437; or e-mail them to diversions@epgn. com. Notices cannot be taken over the phone.
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 44
Classifieds
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
With Real Estate, Help Wanted, Services and Personals
Consumer prices dip again — break for shoppers By Jeannine Aversa The Associated Press
Consumer prices fell for the second straight month, extending a break for Americans’ pocketbooks. Less-expensive energy bills were the main factor pulling down prices. The Labor Department reported last Thursday that the Consumer Price Index, the government’s most closely watched inflation barometer, dropped 0.2 percent in May, following a 0.1-percent dip in April. “The weak recovery has its upside - declining energy costs and that is helping take pressure off the cash-strapped consumer,” said Joel Naroff, president of Naroff Economic Advisors. It marked the biggest decline since consumer prices plunged 0.7 percent in December 2008. That was a period when the worst recession since the 1930s stoked fears
of deflation. The country didn’t get stuck in a deflationary spiral then, and probably won’t now, economists say. Deflation is dangerous. It’s a widespread and prolonged drop not only in the prices of goods at stores but also real estate, stocks and wages. America’s last serious case of deflation was during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Meanwhile, “core” consumer prices, which strip out volatile energy and food, edged up 0.1 percent in May, after being flat in April. That meant core prices are up only 0.9 percent over the past year — below the Fed’s inflation target and holding at a 44-year low. For the year, overall consumer prices rose 2 percent — within the Fed’s inflation comfort zone. Falling energy prices pulled overall prices down last month. Energy prices dropped 2.9 percent, the most in more than a year.
Gasoline prices posted the biggest decline — down 5.2 percent in May, the sharpest decline since December 2008. Prices at the pump have dropped about 8 percent since hitting $2.93 a gallon on May 6. Global oil prices have been falling amid fears that the European debt crisis will hurt growth on the continent and possibly slow the global recovery. Food prices were flat in May, down from a 0.2-percent rise in April. Falling prices for fruits and vegetables swamped rising prices for meat, cereals and dairy products. Even though inflation is tame, workers’ paychecks aren’t benefiting. Average hourly earnings adjusted for inflation was flat for the 12 months that ended in May. That followed a 0.5-percent drop in April. Because inflation isn’t a problem for the economy, the Federal Reserve has leeway to keep hold-
ing a key interest rate at a record low near zero. Low rates should help nurture the economic recovery and nip deflationary forces. The Fed is all but certain to leave rates at record lows when it meets this week. Economists now predict the Fed won’t start boosting rates until next year — or possibly 2012. Surveying last week’s report, Sal Guatieri, economist at BMO Capital Markets Economics, predicted Fed policymakers will stay “on hold at least until the new year.” Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke says he expects inflation to be under wraps because there is so much “slack” in the economy. Companies are wary of jacking up prices because consumers are spending cautiously. Factories and businesses are still operating well below full throttle. Workers aren’t likely to see hefty pay raises any time soon given high unemploy-
ment. Best Buy shoppers, for instance, spent less than expected this spring, contributing to a rocky first quarter for the chain. Best Buy actually sold more TVs, but at lower prices. The average TV was about $150 cheaper in April than a year earlier, according to the NPD Group. Prices, however, are coming down more slowly than before as the market for flat-screen sets matures. Last Thursday’s price report also showed that new-car prices edged up 0.1 percent last month, while clothing prices rose 0.2 percent. Recreation prices were flat. Prices for education and prescription drugs each increased 0.3 percent — categories that are up sharply over the past year. Prices for airline fares jumped 1.9 percent last month, while prices for tobacco and other smoking products rose 1.3 percent, the most in nearly a year. ■
Location! Location! Location! This week’s featured property
729 S. Second Street, Queen Village
Beds: 3 Baths: 1.5 Cost: $519,000 Garage: Yes Realtor: Mike McCann Real-estate co.: Prudential Fox & Roach Phone: (215) 627-6005 Direct: (215) 440-8345 Website: www.mccannteam.com
Check your ad
PLACING ADS Using voicemail? Please be sure to have the following information ready when you call: • Your ad copy • The type of style you want • Desired abbreviations • American Express,Discover, MasterCard or VISA information • Your name and mailing address
Garage parking and incredible roof deck! Wood-burning fireplace, exposed brick, high ceilings, wide-open living spaces and 3-person hot tub!
• Daytime telephone number Having all this information ready will speed your order and help to avoid errors. Phone calls can only be returned during business hours. For more information, see the coupon page in this section.
Philadelphia Gay News assumes responsibility for errors in classified ads only when notified by noon the Tuesday after the ad first appears. To receive credit for errors, please notify PGN by then. Credit only will be extended in the form of additional advertising space. Any cash refunds, for any reason, are subject to a $10 service charge. PGN will publish no classified ad — in any category — that contains sexually explicit language. Obviously excluded are traditional four-letter words that relate to sexual activity. Other words may be excluded at the discretion of the publisher, who reserves the right to edit or rewrite any ad that, in his opinion, violates this policy or its intent.
MAY 125- 7, 2009 1, 2010 JUNE - JULY
����������� �����
PHILADELPHIA GAY GAY NEWS NEWS PHILADELPHIA
����������� �����
����������� �����
Real Estate
���������������������������������������
REAL ESTATE
SALE
YOUR REAL ESTATE PRO IN S. JERSEY Gay Realtor in SJ to serve all of your buying and selling needs. My team and I have just one priority...YOURS Scott Merkle - Realtor Century 21 Rauh & Johns / TEAM CRUGNALE 1-302858-8549 / C21teamcrugnale@aol.com _______________________________34-26 HUGE EAST FALLS COLONIAL 5 brs 3+ baths, huge double lot. $649,500. www.henryave.com Jon Christopher, Cell 267-342-1856, Citizens Premier Real Estate O 215-396-0500 x3539. _______________________________34-27 WYNDMOOR Within walking distance of Chestnut Hill, on highly desirable street, extraordinarily restored & updated 156 yr old Italianate-style gem offers sweeping vistas & streaming sunlight in every direction; Gourmet kitch w/granite; bedrm balconies; 7 BRs; 8 FP, 2 offices; 1 yr hm warranty. $2,485,000. Call Linda Baron, Prudential Fox & Roach – 215-850-0158 or 215-542-2200 x344. _______________________________34-27 WWW.GAYREALESTATE.COM Free On-Line Directory. Top Gay & Lesbian Realtors in Philadelphia. _______________________________34-40 FUTURE SHOWCASE HOME Your designer touches will make this wonderfully maintained 100+ year home a masterpiece. Lge rooms, high ceilings, orig HW floors, French doors & built-ins. Elec, Furnace, AC, windows & siding all newer. All on .71 acres in welcoming Cinnamonson, NJ. Asking $375,000. Contact: Robin Thomas @ LONG & FOSTER REAL ESTATE, Inc, 856-795-6966 (O) or 856-261-5978 (C). _______________________________34-26 VENTNOR, NJ, FACING THE BAY House and Adjacent Lot (inground swimming pool). 1st floor 3 bedrooms, bath, living room, dining room, kitchen, laundry room and deck. 2nd floor 2 bedrooms, bath, efficiency kitchen, living room, dining area and deck. Central Air. Corner Property. Call 215-468-9166 evenings only. $675,000.00. Also property for rent1500.00 month plus utilities. _______________________________34-29 ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITY (55 plus) in Beautiful, Historic Smyrna, Delaware. New Single-Home Development near beaches & bay areas. Purchase prices from $99,900. CALL 302-659-5800. Visit www. bonayrehomes.com _______________________________34-26 Central Adirondack Lake 47 Acres w/1000’ Frontage, Fully Approved & buildable. Gorgeous setting. List Price was: $229,995. REDUCED TO: $149,995! Call 800-229-7843 www.landandcamps.com _______________________________34-26 Great Land & Spectacular Oceanfront- Surf & turf, the best of all worlds at OCEANVIEW on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Spectacular 1 to 4 acre lots, many with deepwater frontage on the mainland overlooking pristine oceanfront island less than 2 miles away. Each lot includes deeded ownership in private oceanfront parcel with crashing surf. Sun, sail, swim, fish, clam, and play on your private island during the days and dine at nearby quaint restaurants at night. May remind you of the Jersey shore many years ago. Unique opportunity makes these lots available at prices last seen in 1986! Waterfront lots $100,000, pond lots $65,000 and view lots at $40,000. Every lot has DIRECT Ocean Views. Owner (757)665-4410, email: oceanlandtrust@yahoo.com or http://Wibiti. com/4XRV _______________________________34-26
PAGE 45 47 PAGE
���������������������������
������������������ ���������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������� REAL ESTATE ����������������� �������������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������� ������������ ������������������������������������������������ ����������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������� ������
SALE
�������� ����������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������� REAL ESTATE ������������� ���������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������� ������������������ �������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������� ��������������� ���������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������� �������������������� ��������������� ��������������������������������������������������������� �����������������������������������������������
SALE
��������
�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������������������������� Broker/Sales Rep. Since 1987 ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� NJAR Circle of Excellence Sales Award 1991- 2009 Weichert Presidentʼs & Ambassadorʼs Clubs
Conrad Kuhn
Office: 856.227.1950 ext. 124 Cell: 609.221.1196 www.conradkuhn.com Realtor856@aol.com
E-mail us: pgn@epgn.com
���
Washington Township Office 5070 Route 42 Turnersville, NJ 08012
������������������������������ Open Houses - Sunday June 27, 2010 ����������� Noon - 1:00 PM ���������������������. Furness Flats. Large 2 bed, 1 bath. 927 Spruce St. “Shippen House Condo”. Unit last unit left in this highly desirable building. Close to all Center 1R 1bd/1badeluxe kitchen, update bath, wood floors, low City Hospitals. Low fees and taxes ................................������������� taxes and condo fees. One block from Jefferson and Penn. Hospitals. ..................................................................$185,000 ������������������������ “George T. Sale Condo” Unique Garden level 1 bd, 1 ba. unit w/ private Low condo fees & deal Tax in 1109 Spruce St. Units 2R entrance.. and 3R. Best Abatement. Lowest price 1 bd. in area ........................��������. Washington Sq. West. ) 1 bd/1ba. Low taxes and condo fees. Close to Jefferson and Penn. Hospital ...................................... ����������� .......................................................$180,000 and $225,000 ����������������������. New open style 2 bedroom, 1 bath condo 1:30fees. PM -Great 2:30small PM pet friendly building. with low taxes and condo .........................................................................�������� 1109 Spruce St. Unit #1R. bi-level 2 bed. 2 ba. Lowest
priced 2/2 in Wash. Sq. West. Newly with S/S 3and ������������������� Old Swedes Court. renovated New Listing Large Bedroom 2.5 Bath with Garage, .......................only roof deck and hardwood floors. Granite Kit. Lovely rear garden. $299,900 Low association fees in Queen Village ....................�������� 927 Spruce St. Unit 2R. Very large Jr. 1 bed, totally �������������. LargeWood update 4 bd. 2 ba. with updated with NEW deluxeLISTING. kit and bath. floors and built-in huge garden and wonderfully roof and decktaxes. with city skyline views. queen sizeMurphy Bed. Low fees ............................. .................................................................................�������� ..................................................................reduced $215,000
����������������������������������������������������������������� Search all Philadelphia area listings @ www.thephillyrealtors.com ��������� Dan Tobey
������������������ The Curtis Center ������������������������������������� 170 W. Independence Mall , Suite L-44 ���������������������� Philadelphia, PA 19106
������������������������������������������� 215.546.2700 Business • 267.238.1061 Direct ������������������������������������ 215.432.7151 Cell • 215.546.7728 Fax ����������������� dtobey@cbpref.com
REAL ESTATE
SALE
REAL ESTATE
��������� ��������������� ����������������� �������������������������
������������
������������������������ ������������������� ���������������������������� �������������������
SALE
CLASSIFIEDS
PAGE 46
REAL ESTATE
RENT
12TH & DICKINSON AREA Furnished Townhouse for rent: 3 levels. Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, 2 bedrooms , bath. Very Unique. 1500. mo plus util. (negotiable). Call 215 468-9166 after 6 pm. or 215 686 3431 daytime. _______________________________34-29 RITTENHOUSE SQUARE AREA Studios & 1 Bedrooms - Call for Availability (215) 735-8050. _______________________________34-31 GAYBORHOOD ONE BEDROOM Beautiful One bedroom in Washington Square West (heart of Gayborhood) with carpet, bathroom, laundry in basement. Available June 1st, pets okay with deposit, all utilities extra. Call Leah Franqui at 215 564 7656 ext 23. _______________________________34-30 OLDE CITY 1BR, 1.5 BA Lg Priv. Deck, wall to wall carpeting 2nd between Race & Arch $900 monthly rent Call Ashley, 610-647-1776. eadeh.com _______________________________34-26 NEW HOPE APT. FOR RENT Pvt. quiet central location. One bedroom apt. near New Hope. Garage, deck, pool, jacuzzi, direct tv, laundry room.dlh07@verizon.net _______________________________34-26 QUEEN VILLAGE 2 BR, ultra modern, brand new, granite and total stainless steel kitchen, tile bath, C/A, W/D, G/D, hdwd flrs, architecht’s dream! $1250/mo. Call 215-336-4629, cell: 215-687-8461. _______________________________34-26 MODERN STUDIO FOR RENT 480 s.f. Studio, W/D, D/W, G/D, C/A, Ceramic Tile Bath, Lots of Closet Space. Prof. Fitness Center, Pet Friendly, & Close to C.C. Marine Club at Broad St. & Washington Ave. Credit Check req. Call Owner to see: 215292-4205. _______________________________34-26 COLLINGSWOOD HOME FOR RENT 3 bed, 1 bath, Walking distance to PATCO, close to parks, shops, restaurants. $1350/ month plus utilities. Pet OK with pet deposit. Pictures available. Call Main Street Realty for more info 856-547-5678. _______________________________34-26 NEW HOPE APT. FOR RENT One bedroom apt. near New Hope. Quiet, private central location. Garage, deck, pool, jacuzzi, direct tv, laundry room, private entrance. 215-794-1390 or 215-870-0040. _______________________________34-27 SOUTH PHILA. TOWNHOUSE FOR RENT Live on a gay street. Rent a row house in back of St. Agnes Hospital in South Philly 1 blk from pub. trans. 19XX blk. of S. Chadwick St. 1 BR, 1 BA, 3 floors, fin. bsmt. W/D, C/A/heat, patio. Avail. 7/1/10. $800/mo. + utils. 717589-7828, eves. _______________________________34-28
NOTICES Pennsylvania’s Largest Lost and Found: Last year, the Pennsylvania Treasury returned over $100 Million Dollars of uncliamed property. Search www.patreasury.org or call 1-800-2222046 to see if we have money for you. Each year, Treasury receives millions of dollars in unclaimed property-things like: *abandoned bank accounts *forgotten stocks *uncashed checks *certificates of deposit *life insurance policies *safe deposit box contents *recovered stolen property. At Treasury, we work hard to find the rightful owners of this unclaimed property. But even if we can’t find you, you can find your property. If you see your name, visit www.patreasury.org to make a claim. We are only required to publish the names of owners of property worth more than $250 one time-so even if you don’t see your name here this year, you may have something. It’s worth a search of our website. Visit us NOW and claim what’s YOURS! _______________________________34-26
ROOMMATES PGN WILL NOT PUBLISH RACIAL DISTINCTIONS IN ROOMMATE ADS. SUCH NOTATIONS WILL BE EDITED. THANK James M. Quesenberry, MA, CRC, CVE YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION. Disability Consultant James M. Quesenberry, MA, CRC, ___________________________________CVE GREATER NE PHILA. Disability Consultant Have your own bedroom in a beautiful split level home with 2 gay men. House is 4 BR, 2 Social Security Disability full baths, W/D, upperSecurity and lower decks, use of Social Disability Claims Appeals kitchen. Property is by Welsh & the Boulevard, 1 Appeals min. to 58 bus. WeClaims ask only that you be at least reasonably neat and employed. Rent is $600 + 1/3 utils. Contact Dave at 215-698-0215. _______________________________34-29 WANTED, Suite 202 FURNISHED ROOM Suite 202Sr.Rd. In Center City by GM starting in June. Call Oxford Valley Jay Fairless at 386-846-1230. Oxford Valley Rd. Hills, PA 19030 _______________________________34-26 Fairless Hills, PA 19030 HOUSE TO SHARE IN BLACKWOOD Single man looking to share my home in Blackwood, Conveniently located. $600 per James M. Quesenberry, MA, CRC, CVE month utilities included. Smokers preferred. Disability Consultant Call Matt (856) 228-6162. _______________________________34-26 FLORENCE TOWNSHIP, NJ Share Social townhouse with GM.Disability Pvt. BR. Near Security Riverlink rail line. Pet friendly. $500/mo. Call Claims Appeals Dave, 609-306-7846. _______________________________34-28 26XX W. MONTGOMERY AVE. Rooms for rent, from $325 to $475. Utils paid. Robert Langley, 917-825-7762. _______________________________34-26 Suite 202 NORTHERN COUNTY Oxford ValleyCHESTER Rd. Beautiful 200Hills, y.o. restored farmhouse. 3rd floor Fairless PA 19030 is one large room with private bath, internet access, cable and all utils. incl. Asking $575/mo. + $300 sec. dep. Call 610-731-4530. _______________________________34-27
215-629-0585 215-629-0585
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS PAGE 110
APRIL 25 - MAY 1, 2008
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010 CLASSIFIEDS
LEGAL & PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY AMY F. STEERMAN Attorney at Law
Concentrating in Planning for Lesbian and Gay Couples • Probate • Wills • Living Wills • Powers of Attorney
215-735-1006
1900 Spruce Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 www.amysteerman.com
William A. Torchia, Esquire ESTATE & TAX PLANNING GENERAL PRACTICE williamatorchiaesquire.vpweb.com 118 South 21st Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 Phone: 215-546-1950 Fax: 215-546-8801
HEALTH DIRECTORY
CONCIERGE LEGAL SERVICES
James M. Quesenberry, MA, CRC, CVE Disability Consultant
Social Security Disability Claims Appeals
215-629-0585
215-629-0585 Suite 202 Oxford Valley Rd. Fairless Hills, PA 19030
VACATION
RENT
OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND Best selection of affordable rentals. Full/ partial weeks. Call for FREE brochure. Open daily. Holiday Real Estate. 1-800-638-2102 Online reservations www.holidayoc.com _______________________________34-26
FOR SALE WWW.FUNMARRAIGE.COM Spice Up Your Date Night! _______________________________34-27
SERVICES ATTEND COLLEGE ONLINE From Home. *Medical, *Business, *Paralegal, *Computers, *Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified. Call 866-858-2121 www.CenturaOnline.com _______________________________34-26 AIRLINES ARE HIRING Train for high paying Aviation Maintenance Career. FAA approved program. Financial aid if qualified -Housing available. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance (888)349-5387. _______________________________34-26
this space: only $25 per week*
Reach Over 40,000 Readers Weekly For LittleEsq. As $25.00 Charles S. As Frazier,
Your ad dollars go further when you target your audience *when you run for a minimum of 8 weeks
Attorney at Law
• General Practice • Wills and Trusts • Living Wills • Powers of Attorney • Probate
Wayne, PA (610) 687-4077 cstar1@verizon.net
Reach Over 40,000 Readers Weekly For As Little As $25.00 A Week. Call 215-625-8501 Tod
BUSINESS
OPPORTUNITIES ALL CASH VENDING! Do you earn $800 in a day? Your own local candy route. Includes 25 Machines and Candy All for $9,995. 1-800-460-4027. _______________________________34-26
FINANCIAL
SERVICES
CASH NOW! Get cash for your structured settlement or annuity payments. High payouts. Call J.G. Wentworth. 1-866-SETTLEMENT (1-866738-8536). Rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau. _______________________________34-26
Reach Over 40,000 Readers Weekly For As Little As $25.00 A Week.
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
PAGE 106
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 47
SERVICES & HOME IMPROVEMENT DIRECTORY this space: only $25 per week*
James M. Quesenberry, MA, CRC, CVE Disability Consultant
Your ad dollars go further when you target your audience
Social Security Disability Claims Appeals
215-629-0585 Suite 202 Oxford Valley Rd. Fairless Hills, PA 19030
*when you run for a minimum of 8 weeks
DOUGLAS CONSTRUCTION • Complete Home Remodeling • Interior Design • Kitchen & Bath Specialists • Custom Interior renovations PAGE 106
Free Estimates Licensed & Insured
Douglas Morgan 215-462-1066
WINDOW TREATMENTS buy direct from manufacturer
WOODBLINDS • CELLULAR SHADES • SHUTTERS WOVEN WOODS • ROMAN SHADES VERTICALS FREE SHOP AT HOME SERVICE Residential Commercial
Highest Quality • Lowest Prices Guaranteed
1016-1018 S. Front Street
Expert Installation Philadelphia, PA 19147
Window Blind Factory (215) 755-4340 Reach Over 40,000 Readers Weekly For As Little As $25.00 A Week. Call 215-625-8501 Today!
PAGE 48
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 49
PAGE 50
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 51
PAGE 52
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
SERVICES DIRECTORY
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
HELP WANTED
ADOPTION
SECURITY For Atlantic City gentleman’s club. Requirements: must be 6’, with build type of athletic or bodybuilder. 484-239-6666. _______________________________34-27 There Are Many Reasons To Join Boyd Bros. Third Pay Raise in Place! Sign-On Bonus! Stay Loaded! Lease-Purchase Program. Hiring Company, Owner/Ops, Students. 800543-8923. _______________________________34-26 TRAVEL WORK PLAY! Now Hiring 18-24 guys/gals to travel w/fun young biz group. NY LA MIAMI. 2wk PAID training. Hotel and transportation provided. Return guaranteed. Call today/start today. 1-877-259-6983. _______________________________34-26 $1,000 sign on bonus! Great regional driving opportunities available now! 99% no-touch freight, late-model equipment, and competitive home time! McLeod Express. 866-379-8377. _______________________________34-26 COMPANY Experienced OTR drivers and Teams. Consistent Miles, Excellent Health Benefits. 6 mo. OTR exp. & current CDL 888-463-3962 www. usatruck.jobs EOE M/F/H/V. _______________________________34-26 CDL-A Drivers: We Have More Miles, Just Ask Our Drivers! Your hard work earns a solid paycheck. Van and Flatbed Divisions. CDL-A, 6 mo. OTR, Good driving record required. Western Express 888-801-5295. _______________________________34-26 WANTED: LIFE AGENTS! Earn $500 a Day, Great Agent Benefits. Commissions Paid Daily. Liberal Underwriting. Leads, Leads, Leads. LIFE INSURANCE LICENSE REQUIRED. Call 1-888-713-6020. _______________________________34-26
ADOPT A nurturing, loving teacher hopes to adopt newborn. Financial security, unconditional love, extended family for your baby. Expenses paid. Denise @ 1-877-309-5298. _______________________________34-26 Adoption: Loving parents and their 9 year old adopted daughter would love a baby brother or sister. Stay at home mom, professional dad. Expenses paid. Please call Becky/Mike 800-472-1835. _______________________________34-26
PGN
PAGE 53
SERVICES DIRECTORY ���������������� this space: only $25 per week*
Your ad dollars go further when you target your audience *when you run for a minimum of 8 weeks
looking for your dream home?
Real Estate Directory
Reach Over 40,000 Readers Weekly For As Little As $25.00 A Week.
Support the advertisers who support our community.
�����������������������������������������
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS ADULT PERSONALS
PAGE 54
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010
Adult/Personals FRIENDS
MEN
FRIENDS
MEN
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. _______________________________34-29
Erotic Dungeon Master
PGN Home Improvement
Directory
6’, 165 lbs., 60 year old Master, greek active, french passive requires obedient slave for training, S&M, B/D, W/S, etc. Limits respected and expanded. Assistant Master wanted. Call Dave at 215-729-6670, day or evening. _______________________________34-34 609-345-8203 oceanhouseatlanticcity.com _______________________________34-39 RELATIONSHIP WANTED GBM, 39, 5’10”, top, 160 lbs. with an athletic build. Looking for a passive, kind, serious bottom to share my life with. Only serious need to apply. Call before 10pm-215-765-7774. _______________________________34-27 Athletic older BJ expert to real men in PrincetonTrenton areas will take your load! No eves & no wknds. Lv msg 609-213-5013. _______________________________34-28 Attractive she-male looking for gay men or other she-males. Contact 484-636-6696. _______________________________34-29 Senior WM ISO WM wanting to receive oral pleasure. Call me at 856-672-0282, Walt. _______________________________34-28 WM, 61, nice looking in NE Philly seeks caring 60 to 70 yr old greek active tops only for discreet relationship. Leave message 215264-1068, Zack. _______________________________34-27 WM, NE Phila. If you’re looking for hot action, call 215-934-5309. No calls after 11 PM. _______________________________34-27 Gay man seeking funds from wealthy bisexual and queer businesswoman for me, Crystal Moyer Alaya to have female breast implant surgery in Reading, PA and will do anything they ask me to do for them and whatever they desire in return for writing me such funds for female breast implant surgery. Contact Miss Crystal Moyer Alaya at 484-269-2247 or leave name and phone number in a voice mail if too busy to talk to me in person. _______________________________34-26 GWM, 40’s looking for gay/bi males, 25-30, smooth, semi muscular for summer fun, possibly more down at the shore. Wildwood area. Call 732-850-6180. _______________________________34-29 FREE ONE HOUR FOOT MASSAGE Your choice of deep tissue or sensual or a combination of both. By appt only. The catch? You must be between 19 and 25 and clean and in good physical condition. 267-337-2313. Please call between 11 AM and 11 PM. _______________________________34-28 Freak-ass white boy looking for young-ass straight actin’ black bottom. 215-416-4146 _______________________________34-30 GWM, 62, good body seeks other gay/bi men with good bodies. John, 570-640-8179. _______________________________34-29
Recreational Activities IN THE
Meeting Place
nite. GWM couple ISO GWMs 18-40 yrs. for 1 on 1 and group sex. Stockings, pantyhose, etc. Starts 9 PM Sat. Call Sat. 7-8 PM 856910-8303, ask for Mark. _______________________________33-24 JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010 GWM, Italian, top or bottom, 7” cut. Also into assplay, toys & water sports. Bi, straight, out FRIENDS of towners welcome. Day or night. Call Jeff at 215-850-7900. _______________________________33-18
MEN
Adult
Strong Hands Massage & More
Books
ADULT PERSONALS PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
CERTIFIED
MODELS
MASSAGE ���������������������������� MASSAGE
�����Man for Man Massage ���������������������� Tall, attractive, muscular Sensual/Erotic Massage ����������������������������� I will tailor your massage ��������������������������������� to suit your needs... Incall/Outcall ������������������������ �������������������������������������
Convenient to Lower Bucks, NE Phila. 15 mins from CC & S.Jersey Available to any Phila area Hotel G12
ESCORTS Let my strong hands release all your tensions. FULLBODY • SENSUAL • EROTIC “Ask about my specials” Have car and will travel City/Suburbs/Jersey Shore/Hotels
(215)465-2427
�
Electronic PGN: MODELS ESCORTS www.epgn.com
�������� ���������
���������������
���������������������������������������
Call 215-432-6030 FRIENDS
GayMEN is our middle name.
���
FRIENDS
MEN
��������������������������������
• Full Body • Deep Tissue • Sensual
PLAYGIRL Centerfold is Back!
����������������� ������������� ������������������
WWW.EPGN.COM
6’, 195 lbs, Muscle Gives Sensual / Therapeutic Massage
���
G-02
215-313-1010 Online. Anytime.
Handsome Certified Therapist
������������ ������������
����������������
• Erotic
You Deserve It!
���������������������������������
Services Directory �����������������������������
B-7
B-2
FRIENDS
MEN
������������������������
FRIENDS
������������������������������ FRIENDS
MEN MEN �������������������������� ���������������������������
�������������������������������������
Advertising works.
���
�������� PGN
PAGE 55
Have an opinion? E-mail us a letter at pgn@epgn.com
C91
PAGE 56
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2010