pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976 Family Portrait: Justin Nordell on songs, sports PAGE 27
Vol. 41 No. 27 July 7-13, 2017
HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
Summer fun suggestions
ACLU of PA to host convo on trans equality PAGE 5
PAGES 13-24
Two trans-rights bills move forward in N.J. By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com
FABULOUS FOURTH: Out CBS 3 anchor Jim Donovan hosted the Let Freedom Ring celebration Tuesday in front of Independence Hall. The annual event culminates in the 2 p.m. ringing of the Liberty Bell, a tradition that’s actually mandated by federal law. Many revelers then headed to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway for that evening’s concert featuring Boyz II Men and Mary J. Blige, followed by fireworks behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Photos: Scott A. Drake
D.A. Seth Williams takes plea deal, heads to prison By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com In a surprise move, Philadelphia District Attorney R. Seth Williams entered a guilty plea June 29 to a single count of bribery and resigned his post as the city’s top law-enforcement official. The guilty plea came during the second week of Williams’ federal corruption trial, which spotlighted much alleged wrongdoing on his part. Williams faces up to five years in prison when sentenced Oct. 24 by U.S. District Judge Paul S. Diamond. Meanwhile, he’ll remain in the custody of federal authorities. In a statement, Kathleen Martin, first assistant for the D.A.’s Office, said the
office “embodies the phrase that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The assistant district attorneys and professional staff of the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office are among the finest in the country. Throughout this unfortunate period, they continued to display the diligence, fortitude and integrity that has historically been a hallmark of the office. I could not be more proud of how my hardworking colleagues have conducted themselves in light of the investigation and prosecution of Mr. Williams, and now with the conclusion of this case, Philadelphians should know that their District Attorney’s Office continues the pursuit of justice and the hope for a safer city endures.” Martin is expected to take the lead at the office, unless an PAGE 8
Measures to prevent anti-transgender discrimination in health care and schools advanced in New Jersey last week and await Gov. Chris Christie’s signature before becoming law. Democratic Sens. Teresa Ruiz and Joseph Vitale serve as primary sponsors for both bills. Christie spokesperson Brian T. Murray told PGN, “This office has had a long-standing, general policy of not discussing proposed legislation until a final bill is delivered to our offices and we have had ample time to thorough [sic] review it.” Senate Bill 3017 would prohibit “health insurers, [State Health Benefits Program], [School Employees Health Benefits Program], University Correctional Health Care and Medicaid from discriminating in providing coverage and services based on gender identity.” It passed the Senate unanimously June 29 in a 31-0 vote; it previously was passed by the Assembly. The bill would prevent insurers from designating gender identity as a pre-existing condition and from limiting access to gender-transition services. “While we will still need to fight to ensure that self-funded plans, including municipal and county health plans, stop discriminating, transgender people will remain
covered or gain coverage for transition-related care in much of the marketplace — provided of course that Gov. Christie signs this important legislation into law,” Garden State Equality Executive Director Christian Fuscarino said in a statement. Meanwhile, a separate bill requiring the “Commissioner of Education to develop guidelines for school districts regarding transgender students” passed the Assembly June 29, 10 days after advancing through the Senate. The bill would allow students to dress according to their gender identity, have school identification documents that match their gender identity and participate in physical-education classes with the gender matching their identity. Additionally, it would ensure school personnel follow confidentiality protocols for students’ transgender or transition status. “This guidance will be extremely beneficial to school districts in helping them to develop a policy and plan for transgender, transitioning, and gender creative youth and their families,” Fuscarino said. “However, it is important to note that the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination already mandates that access to sex-segregated facilities is determined on the basis of gender identity, not sex assigned at birth. This is true in all places of public accommodation, including public schools.” n
Judge dismisses gay man’s antibias claim By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com A federal judge in Philadelphia last month dismissed a gay man’s workplace antibias claim on the basis that it doesn’t constitute gender stereotyping. J u s t i n C o l e m a n , w h o wo r ke d a t AmeriHealth Caritas between 2012-16, filed the claim in federal court last year. But it was dismissed on June 2 by U.S. District Judge Jan E. DuBois. Coleman, of North Philadelphia, allegedly was victimized by workplace slurs including, “You look like a faggot,” “Your hair looks gay” and “Faggot, I’ll punch you in your face.” In a nine-page opinion, DuBois said he
was bound by a prior appellate ruling that dismissed an antibias bias claim of John Bibby, a Philadelphia gay man who alleged similar wrongdoing. The appellate ruling determined that Bibby’s claim didn’t constitute gender stereotyping, thus it didn’t allege sex discrimination, which is banned by federal civil-rights law. According to his lawsuit, Coleman was passed over for two promotions and physically assaulted by a coworker, who spoke to Coleman in a homophobic manner. AmeriHealth is a managed-healthcare organization located in Southwest Philadelphia. Coleman also is suing AmeriHealth for retaliation, disability discrimination and other alleged wrongdoing. Neither side had a PAGE 14