pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976
Vol. 41 No. 26 June 30 - July 6, 2017
Family Portrait: Dante Austin links LGBTs and the Sheriff’s Office
Two trans court cases proceed
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HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
HIV/AIDS still demands our attention PAGE 7
LGBTs represented in Philly’s new Museum of the American Revolution
Bill banning conversion therapy awaiting mayor’s signature
Weiss testifies in D.A.’s corruption trial By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com Michael Weiss, a local LGBT business owner who lavished gifts on Philadelphia District Attorney R. Seth Williams, testified this week during Williams’ ongoing corruption trial. Weiss testified under a grant of immunity. Federal prosecutors say Williams requested many gifts from Weiss. In return, Weiss received favors from Williams relating to Weiss’ various legal problems. In his testimony, Weiss denied giving any bribes to Williams. “I don’t believe I bribed anybody,” Weiss testified. Weiss co-owns Woody’s Bar, a popular LGBT venue in the Gayborhood. Prosecutors allege that between 2012-15, Weiss gave Williams gifts including a used Jaguar, cash payments and trips to vacation spots. In return, Williams appointed Weiss as “special advisor” to the D.A.’s Office, helped Weiss obtain a police accident report for a friend and sent letters on behalf of Weiss relating to Weiss’ tax problems. Williams even let Weiss and his boyfriend drive a city-owned car a short distance in New Jersey, while the two men attended a party in Wildwood, according to prosecutors. Weiss testified that he eventually became concerned that Williams was requesting too much from him. Weiss said he told his brother Billy, “We’ve got to stop this. We’ve put enough into this friendship.” Weiss and his brother loaned Williams more than $2,000, but never received repayment, Weiss said. But Williams did offer to serve as a “celebrity bartender” to help repay the loans, Weiss testified. Weiss also testified he thought the Jaguar he gave Williams would be used by Williams’ girlfriend or her father. “I was taken aback, extremely upset [to learn PAGE 16 Williams kept it for him-
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By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com
PROTESTERS GATHERED OUTSIDE SEN. PAT TOOMEY’S OFFICE JUNE 22 FOR THE BEGINNING OF A 24-HOUR VIGIL TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE SENATOR TO OPPOSE THE REPUBLICAN-LEAD HEALTH-CARE BILL. Photo: Scott A. Drake
As health-care debate wages, activists put the pressure on Toomey By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com “Rain or shine, day or night. Health care is a human right.” Protesters chanted in front of Sen. Pat Toomey’s Philadelphia office despite the early-morning rain June 23. The activists camped out overnight as part of a 24-hour vigil to protest Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell’s new healthcare bill. The legislation would repeal the Affordable Care Act, cutting funding to Medicaid and other programs. Jose DeMarco, a member of HIV/AIDSactivism group ACT UP Philadelphia, said he was “exhausted” after camping out overnight and only took a two-hour nap. However, he noted this form of protest will bring attention to the issue. “I stayed out all night mainly for people with HIV and AIDS that probably couldn’t attend themselves and to send a point to the rest of the world that these Medicaid cuts are going to be the death of many people,” DeMarco told PGN. “There needs to be a lot of attention
brought to this issue. People need to be getting angry. I don’t think just staying out all night may change anything but hopefully this will bring a lot of attention to the issue and let people know that people are willing to stay out in the street all night to stop this bill.” DeMarco spoke at the first of two rallies during the June 22 portion of the vigil. The queer HIV-positive activist told more than 150 protesters he has been using HIV treatments for more than 20 years to stay alive. He said he had a bottle of medication in his pocket that costs $2,300, and that many people would not have access to such medications if the Republican health-care bill moves forward. “I’m a person of color and in this country, I have no other choice but to see everything through these lenses,” DeMarco added. “When America has a cold, black America gets pneumonia. I’m just really angry that we’ve come this far fighting this disease and these people are going to set us back.” The Rev. Dr. William Barber, president PAGE 17 of the North Carolina
City Council last week unanimously passed a bill to ban conversion therapy for minors. The bill would prohibit “the practice of conversion therapy by mental-health providers on patients under 18 years of age, under certain terms and conditions.” Those who violate the bill would face a $2,000 fine and the revocation of their commercial licenses. Additionally, repeat offenders will be subject to a minimum $1,000 fine, up to 90 days of imprisonment or both. Councilman Mark Squilla introduced the bill in December and the Committee on Public Health and Human Services unanimously approved it earlier this month. Squilla told PGN he introduced the bill after seeing LGBT individuals being treated as if they had a mental disorder. “We believed it was necessary to introduce the bill to exclude minors from that process against their will to go through some type of conversion therapy,” Squilla said. “We looked at it as a form of abuse and I believed that as a progressive city [like] Philadelphia, we would take the forefront and not permit it to happen. “It shows the welcoming nature of our city, that we are understanding and that people have the right to feel comfortable in their own shoes and to be who they are,” Squilla added. “We’re not going to force anybody to be any different at that. We stand up for all of the people in the city of Philadelphia.” The bill is currently awaiting Mayor Jim Kenney’s signature before it takes effect. Kenney was not immediately available for comment but voiced support of the bill when it was introduced. Squilla said the mayor is still “strongly in favor” of the bill. Conversion therapy is currently banned in eight states, with Pittsburgh being the first cityin Pennsylvania to ban the practice last year. Legislation was also introduced in Allentown to ban the practice earlier this month. n