PGN July 7-13, 2017 by The Philadelphia Gay News

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

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 7-13, 2017

Resource listings Legal resources • ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215-592-1513; aclupa.org • AIDS Law Project of PA: 215-587-9377; aidslawpa.org • AIDS Law Project of South Jersey: 856-784-8532; aidslawsnj.org/ • Equality PA: equalitypa. org; 215-731-1447

• Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations — Rue Landau: 215-686-4670 • Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 215-7603686; ppd.lgbt@gmail.com • SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: 717-920-9537

• Office of LGBT Affairs — Amber Hikes: 215-686-0330; amber.hikes@phila.gov

Community centers • The Attic Youth Center; 255 S. 16th St.; 215-545-4331, atticyouthcenter.org. For LGBT and questioning youth and their friends and allies. • LGBT Center at the University of Pennsylvania; 3907 Spruce

St.; 215-898-5044, center@dolphin.upenn.edu.

• Rainbow Room: Bucks County’s LGBTQ and Allies Youth Center

Salem UCC Education Building, 181 E. Court St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981 ext. 9065, rainbowroom@ppbucks.org.

• William Way LGBT Community Center

Musician in Craiglist sting slated for release By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com Charles L. Cohen, a prominent Center City musician ensnared in a Craigslist sting, is scheduled to be released from a Montgomery County jail later this month. Prosecutors say Cohen sought to have oral sex with an undercover officer posing as a 14-year-old on Craigslist. In September 2015, Cohen traveled to an Upper Providence shopping mall to meet the person. Eventually, Cohen pleaded no contest to multiple sex-related offenses and faced up to 43 years in state prison. But in February, a judge sentenced Cohen to six-23 months in county jail. Cohen requested probation rather than jail time, noting that his conduct was an “aberration” that won’t happen again. On March 3, Cohen, 71, began serving his sentence at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in Eagleville. He’s expected to receive credit for good behavior, thus he won’t be incarcerated for a full six months. At the time of the incident, Cohen

was on a medication known as Mirapex to treat Parkinson’s disease, which he said contributed to sexual compulsivity. Scott A. Harper, an attorney for Cohen, had no comment for this story. Harper previously told a judge that Cohen would limit his future concerts to the Philadelphia region if he’s healthy enough to perform. Before Cohen is released, authorities must ensure he’ll live at a suitable domicile. A Montgomery County government spokesperson issued this statement: “In the case of Cohen, he is a convicted sex offender. We confirmed his address and have forwarded this information to Adult Probation. Adult Probation goes out to the address to ensure it is a suitable home environment for a sex offender to reside in. They do this for all convicted sex offenders.” Additionally, Cohen will be under court-ordered supervision for about four years and, as a convicted sex offender, he must register with the Pennsylvania State Police every three months for the rest of his life, according to court records. n

1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220, www.waygay.org.

Health and HIV testing • Action Wellness: 1216 Arch St.; 215981-0088, actionwellness.org

• AIDS Library:

1233 Locust St.; aidslibrary.org/

• AIDS Treatment Fact line: 800-6626080

• COLOURS: colour-

sorganization.org, 215832-0100

• Congreso de Latinos Unidos;

216 W. Somerset St.; 215-763-8870

• GALAEI: 215-851-

1822 or 866-222-3871, www.galaei.org. Spanish/English

• Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad

St.; 215-685-1821

• Mazzoni Center:

1348 Bainbridge St.; 215-563-0652, mazzonicenter.org

St.; 215-985-4448, www.fight.org

News Briefing

• Washington West Project of Mazzoni Center:

1201 Locust St.; 215985-9206

• Transgender Health Action Coalition: 215-7321207

Other • Independence Branch Library Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection: 215-685-1633 • Independence Business Alliance; 215-557-0190, IndependenceBusinessAlliance.com

• LGBT Peer Counseling Services: 215-732-TALK • PFLAG: Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): 215-572-1833 • Philly Pride Presents: 215-875-9288

door. For more information, visit www.aidslawpa.org or call 215-587-9377.

• Philadelphia FIGHT: 1233 Locust

AIDS Law Project summer movie The AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania will hold its 18th-annual summer movie party this month. The festivities begin 6 p.m. July 14 at William Way LGBT Center, 1315 Spruce St. At 7:30 p.m., a screening of “Berserk” starring Joan Crawford will take place. Light food and drink will be served. Ronda B. Goldfein, the law project’s executive director, lauded the fundraiser. “From the threats to health care to the decrease in civility in public discourse, this summer has gone berserk,” she said in an email. “What better way to take a break from the madness than the AIDS Law Project’s annual summer movie party? Join us for a party, see a nail-biter film and support the vital work of the nation’s only independent public-interest law firm that provides free services to people living with HIV.” Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the

— Tim Cwiek

Attic Youth to present workshop series The Attic Youth Center is launching a new workshop initiative this summer to empower LGBT youth of color. The Thrive Project will run July 12-Aug. 18. According to event organizers, the series will connect youth with the “multi layers of knowledge, creative expression, first-hand testimonies, experiences and support directly from queer leaders of color who have spearheaded the narrative of building community, demanding justice, owning capital and business [and] fostering self identity in the city of Philadelphia.” Topics covered will include politics, spirituality, health and wellness and the art of rebellion, among others. For more information or to sign up, visit www.tinyurl.com/thriveproject-signup, call 215-545-4331 ext. 111 or email chris@atticyouthcenter.org. n — Jen Colletta

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News & Opinion

2 — News Briefing 8 — Obituary 10 — Creep of the Week Editorial 11 — Transmissions Mark My Words Street Talk

Columns

8 — Body U: Persist! 9 — Out Law: Religious freedom rears its ugly head

Arts & Culture 25 28 27 29 30 32

CHANGE MAKERS: The winners of Bread & Roses Community Fund’s 2017 grants celebrated June 28 at CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia. The grantees were all involved in projects promoting racial or economic justice, with several focusing their efforts on LGBT causes. The event featured remarks from Bread & Roses staff and grantees, and the opportunity for the winners to mix and mingle with one another and community supporters. Photo: Scott A. Drake

A local animator is turning his attention to LGBT youth for a new series on homelessness in the community.

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— Feature: Hot for this summer — Comic — Family Portrait — Scene in Philly — Out & About — Q Puzzle

Editor

Staff Writers Jeremy Rodriguez (ext. 215) jeremy@epgn.com Larry Nichols (ext. 213) larry@epgn.com Writer-at-Large Timothy Cwiek (ext. 208) timothy@epgn.com

~ Tony Sillemon on Kevin Jones’ new national position, page 6

Get your beach bod ready for Ascension, the gay festival heading to Asbury Park.

Jen Colletta (ext. 206) jen@epgn.com

“Throughout his career, Kevin has demonstrated a deep personal commitment to the kind of work UCHAPS does and the people and organizations we serve. His ability to lead our public health, community-based and national partners will further strengthen our one-of-a-kind coalition.”

Advertising Sales Prab Sandhu (ext. 212) prab@epgn.com Kyle Lamb (ext. 201) kyle@epgn.com

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From concerts to exhibits to parties, we break down the hottest of Philly’s summer events.

Art Director/ Photographer

Scott A. Drake (ext. 210) scott@epgn.com 267-736-6743 Graphic Artist Sean Dorn (ext. 211) sean@epgn.com

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“The Ornithologist” blends reality and fantasy for an imaginative reworking of a Portuguese cultural icon.

Copyright © 1976 - 2017 Copyright(s) in all materials in these pages are either owned or licensed by Masco Communications Inc. or its subsidiaries or affiliate companies (Philadelphia Gay News, PGN, and it’s WWW sites.) All other reproduction, distribution, retransmission, modification, public display, and public performance of our materials is prohibited without the prior written consent of Masco Communications. To obtain such consent, email pgn@epgn.com Published by Masco Communications Inc. © 1976-2017 Masco Communications Inc. ISSN-0742-5155

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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.

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PROM ROMP: Local youth got decked out and headed to the Philadelphia Alternative Prom June 30 at Arden Theatre Company. Organized by GALAEI, the annual event, which marked its 22nd year, allows youth to enjoy prom festivities in a safe, LGBT-affirming space. The event featured music, dancing and professional photography, along with decorations themed around “Neon Nights.” Photo: Scott A. Drake

Trans-rights conversation to be held at Smokin’ Betty’s By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com Naiymah Sanchez said she did not appreciate Pennsylvania’s size until she started working for the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania. “You don’t really grasp how big this state is, all of the land we need to cover and minds we need to change,” said Sanchez, who works as the organization’s transgender-advocacy coordinator. She will work to show the public which minds need to be changed when she co-hosts a community discussion July 11. Trans Rights in PA with Naiymah Sanchez and ACLU-PA’s Youth Leadership Outreach Team will take place at Smokin’ Betty’s, with ACLU-PA intake attorney Michelin Cahill co-facilitating. Free food and happy-hour drink specials will be served. The event will include Sanchez speaking on her lived experiences as a transgender woman and on the general state of trans rights in the state. Meanwhile, Cahill will discuss related lawsuits the organization is undertaking. They include a case in which a student filed a lawsuit against the Boyertown Area School District when he claimed his privacy was violated while getting changed in front of a trans male student. A separate case involves Niara Burton, a transgender woman who is suing to be transferred to a women’s prison after spending four years in men’s prisons. Sanchez said the event has not been “mapped out” and the format will be left

as an open discussion for individuals to learn. She noted that intersectionality plays a role in the marginalization of trans people. “Being trans is not just one issue,” Sanchez said. “You can be trans and Muslim. You can be trans and undocumented. You can be trans and black. I think an attack on one community is an attack on all communities.” While Sanchez noted the current presidential administration has taken actions to roll back rights for marginalized communities, she said some progress has been made locally. For instance, when President Donald Trump rescinded the protections offered by Title IX, which allowed students to use bathrooms corresponding to their gender identities, representatives from the Philadelphia School District and several others said they would not remove these protections. “That was a harsh feeling but knowing that the school board backed up the students and are still allowing trans students to use the restrooms and locker rooms of their identity, I think we’re in a good state,” Sanchez said. However, this is not necessarily true for the rest of Pennsylvania. “A lot of freedoms and privileges we have here in Philadelphia, we don’t have in Central PA,” she said. Overall, Sanchez said she hopes the community discussion will provide education, along with “good networking, good food and conversation.” “I can’t ask for a better night,” she said. n

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 7-13, 2017

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Penn grad to lead national HIV/AIDS org By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com While Kevin Jones had several leadership roles involving HIV/AIDS research, his own 2009 diagnosis with HIV gave him new insight into the fight against the disease. “Being infected gave me a whole other lens to look through the disease and to ask some different questions [from health-care providers],” said Jones, who is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. “Fortunately, I had the support to take my new diagnosis and to use it as a learning tool and to really use it to understand my next professional direction. That was one of the things that was an eye-opener for me: Despite the work that I had done, I did not have that lived experience.” The openly gay 40-year-old will take his lived and professional experiences to the Urban Coalition for HIV/AIDS Prevention Services (UCHAPS), where he was recently appointed as national executive director. The Washington, D.C.-based organization collaborates with health

departments and community partners to prevent new HIV infections. The group includes nine member jurisdictions, including Philadelphia. Jones said, “Philadelphia has a wonderful and strong community,” noting how he felt when he started seeing national stories about the city’s new rainbow flag featuring black and brown stripes. “I [thought], This is so Philadelphia. I love it,” he said. “Philly has always been able to take the lead on certain issues and create identities that support the people that live there as well as people who don’t. I’m happy to have been a part of that Philadelphia scene and be able to drink from the wells that continue to inspire Philly’s LGBT community to really advance racial equity throughout the community.” Jones’ work in Philadelphia includes being a founding member of the Black Gay Men’s Leadership Council, serving on the advisory committee of The COLOURS Organization and founder of the Black LGBT Archivists Society of Philadelphia. Additionally, he served as a qual-

itative researcher and project manager for Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine, where he managed several research projects and implemented strategies to introduce communities to early PrEP studies and HIV/AIDS vaccine trials. Jones said the “hallmark” of his time at Penn was when he coordinated “Ms. Lady V & Mr. V,” a drag competition held at Voyeur to educate the community on HIV/AIDS. Jones noted that HIV research is a subject he follows passionately and hopes the country gets to a point where there are zero infections.

“Since at least ’83, when I was about 6 or 7, and hearing my pastor clearly describing HIV as ‘God’s gift to the gays,’ that was something that troubled me then and it’s something that continues to trouble me to this day,” Jones said. “So that side of me keeps me looking forward to this work because I believe we can end this disease. I believe we can help inform and educate our loved ones so that they can also be the most ardent supporters to ending the epidemic.” In a statement, UCHAPS Board President Tony Sillemon noted that the team is “incredibly happy” to see Jones join. “It’s hard to imagine anyone whose lived and professional experience has better prepared them for this leadership opportunity,” Sillemon said. “Throughout his career, Kevin has demonstrated a deep personal commitment to the kind of work UCHAPS does and the people and organizations we serve. His ability to lead our public health, community-based and national partners will further strengthen our oneof-a-kind coalition. We couldn’t be any more thrilled.” n

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Animator tells stories of homeless LGBT youth By Beth Boyle PGN Contributor John Serpentelli can trace the origins of his new project “Came Out/Kicked Out” all the way back to 1992. “I graduated from Penn, and I was working at the Roxy movie theater. I was making the popcorn and sweeping it up at the end of the night. Finally, I said to myself, ‘This can’t be my life,’” he recalled. “So I did what I think everyone should sometimes do and asked myself what I would do if I could do anything. And I wanted to make animated films for children.” So Serpentelli worked up the courage to call a local children’s art organization, where it just so happened the school’s animation teacher had just walked out, leaving a major animation education grant available. Serpentelli described that day as fate calling his name. Before he knew it, he was on his way to 12th and Allegheny to teach the students in a correctional school for girls who had committed weapons offenses how to make movies. “I’d never taught before, and I didn’t know what I was doing. I was terrified, but I just walked in and started teaching,”

Serpentelli said. “I never had a single problem because I treated the girls with respect.” Together, Serpentelli and his class created “Some Girls in the Hood,” which would go on to screen at festivals, win accolades and garner attention from PBS producers. “Ever since that film, I’ve known that’s what I wanted to do,” Serpentelli said. “I

just want to be a conduit for people who don’t have a voice, so they can be as real as possible without being judged.” Serpentelli’s animated shorts have permeated public TV for over 20 years, including on HBO Family, Nick Jr. and a Romare Breaden-inspired anti-smoking commercial. His latest project is an ambitious series of animated short films titled “Came Out/ Kicked Out,” which depicts the first-person

stories of homeless LGBT youth. “[‘Came Out/Kicked Out’] sort of happened a bit by accident. Initially, I was focusing on homeless people through One Step Away. I interviewed three people but I didn’t have enough money to make three films,” Serpentelli said. “I chose Cadence’s story because I was so moved by it, how daring and brave Cadence must have been to embrace that identity at such a young age. And how Cadence found making comics for One Step Away helped him find his voice. I felt that was quite a story that hasn’t been heard before.” Cadence Reiner was 24 when he recorded his life story for Serpentelli, describing an abusive home in the Midwest and an escape to Philadelphia that left him and his partner homeless for a period. In the film, Cadence says, “Philadelphia’s a really scary place to be homeless in.” But he found refuge and self-respect in creating a popular comic strip for the street newspaper One Step Away. “I get people, one or two every week, who are like, ‘You do that comic? I love that comic!’” Cadence describes in the film. “One lady even told me she cuts out my comic every week. I feel proud of myself. My parents tried to subdue my voice, but I found it again.” “When I decided to do the second film,” Serpentelli noted, “I knew I wanted to continue exploring the lives of LGBTQ youth

facing homelessness.” Now, Serpentelli is raising funds through a Generosity campaign (https://www.generosity.com/community-fundraising/came-outkicked-out) to make the next installment in “Came Out/Kicked Out,” featuring the story of local transgender activist Hazel Edwards. “Hopefully we’ll raise enough money that we can interview her and record Hazel in a sound booth, and she can tell her story freely,” Serpentelli said. “Hazel is a mature person with a great sense of humor and a lot to say. I can’t wait to work with her again.” Serpentelli believes that animation is the perfect way to tell these stories because it allows flexibility and creativity that the traditional documentary format doesn’t permit. “These lives are complex. So why not let the animation be complex?” Serpentelli said. “[‘Came Out/Kicked Out’] isn’t a corporate viewpoint or a public-service announcement. This is real life. The purpose is to make it feel as real as possible.” As LGBT rights and funding for the social-safety net stand poised for deep cuts, Serpentelli is eager to keep telling the true stories of LGBT at-risk youth. “I want young, transgender people to see these films, so they see there are others like them, going through these struggles and still making an impact. But also, I want people who don’t understand or are mystified by LGBTQ people to watch these films and maybe be enlightened.” n

Goes where we go. With mobile banking at Josh and Kevin’s Most Convenient Bank. Download the TD Bank mobile app for your Apple and Android smartphones and tablets.

Member FDIC | TD Bank, N.A. TD Bank Mobile Deposit available to Customers with an active checking, savings, or money market account and using a supported, internet-enabled iOS or Android device with a camera. Other restrictions may apply. Please refer to the Mobile Deposit Addendum. TD Bank mobile app is only available in English at this time. iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad are trademarks of Apple, Inc. Android is a trademark of Google, Inc.

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Gettin’ On

Obituary Tom Sauerman, co-founder of Philadelphia chapter of PFLAG, 82 By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com

We’re all getting older. For LGBT seniors, being out in the golden years can pose a whole new set of challenges. Each month, Gettin’ On brings you insights on aging, from legal issues to sexual health.

Tom Sauerman, the co-founder of the Philadelphia chapter of PFLAG, died June 21 at age 82. Fran Kirschner, a former board member of PFLAG Philadelphia, noted Sauerman wrote the guide “Read This Before Coming Out To Your Parents,” which became the organization’s main source of revenue after he got it copyrighted. Kirschner said this helped the organization “tremendously.” Kirschner remembered Sauerman’s compassion the most and said he was welcoming to all members of PFLAG. She noted that there were few resources back when PFLAG was originally founded but said Sauerman “was a resource in and of himself.” After Sauerman left the organization, Kirschner would frequently reach out to him for assistance. “Whenever I called him and said, ‘I need this. Could you help out with this?’ he was right there without a doubt,” Kirschner said. “He just said, ‘Yes.’” “For many of us, he was ‘PFLAG Philadelphia’ for the longest time,” Kirschner added. Ellie Seif worked as PFLAG’s program coordinator from 1989-2003. She described Sauerman’s personality as “open and friendly.” Seif met Sauerman in 1988 when he held meetings in his home and noted that he provided emotional support to other members. She recalled how

WILLIAMS from page 1

Only in Online and in print every third Friday.

interim D.A. is appointed by the Court of Common Pleas. Democrat Larry Krasner and Republican Beth Grossman will vie for the title in November’s general election. Prior to his guilty plea, Williams faced 29 counts relating to bribery, extortion and honest-services fraud. His alleged felonious activity includes misuse of campaign funds and diverting for his personal use funds that were supposed to cover his mother’s nursing-home costs. For two days during the trial, Williams’ interactions with LGBT business owner Michael Weiss came under scrutiny by a 12-member jury. According to federal prosecutors, Weiss lavished many expensive gifts on Williams from 2012-15. In return, Williams allegedly performed favors for Weiss relating to Weiss’ various legal problems. Weiss co-owns Woody’s Bar, a popular LGBT venue in the Gayborhood. Prosecutors said Weiss gave Williams a used Jaguar, cash payments and trips

communities had discussions based on whether homosexuality was a choice and said Sauerman helped people “understand what it meant.” “Tom was welcoming, supportive and understanding [of] where everybody was coming from and he just knew instinctively how to get people involved, how to support them [and] get them involved in supporting PFLAG and reaching out,” Seif said. “He did that with my husband and myself. He’s just incredible in the way in which he organized PFLAG, the way in which it grew [and] the way in which it supported people over the years.” Seif added that Sauerman helped many parents accept their children as they were coming out. “It’s a journey and he helped us and many people along that journey by the way in which he helped you and the way in which he organized PFLAG,” she said. Sauerman is survived by his wife, Sue; his sons, David L. and Michael N.; his grandchildren, Rachel Piers and Joseph; his great-granddaughter, Kaimana; his brothers, Howard and Gary; his daughter-in-law, Pamela; his son-in-law, Tim; his grandson-in-law, Christian; his sisters-in-law Marilyn and Pat; and several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by extended family members, including Cheryl, Deborah, Kathryn, Rhoda and Samantha. A celebration of Sauerman’s life is planned for Sept. 2. Individuals can send donations in his memory to the Green Fund at Cathedral Village. n

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 vehicle a short distance in New Jersey, while the two men attended a party in Wildwood, according to prosecutors. Weiss testified under a grant of immunity and denied giving any bribes to Williams. “I don’t believe I bribed anybody,” Weiss told jurors. Weiss isn’t charged with any criminal wrongdoing in the Williams case. But in 2010, Weiss pleaded guilty to “corruptly endeavoring to impede the due administration of the federal tax code,” stemming from his involvement with the Palmer Social Club, an after-hours club on Spring Garden Street. Weiss was sentenced to three-years’ probation and fined $30,000. The social club was fined $562,063.04. n

Consistency is key As we find ourselves on the go and traveling this summer season, it may seem difficult to maintain daily routines that help us stay healthy. We may find ourselves traveling to the shore, attending more brunch or dinner dates and even exploring our favorite cities. These activities usually cause people to eat more or eat too little, drink too much alcohol and/or become more sedentary. Whichever the case may be for you, consistent exercise and eating regimens Megan Niño are very important — and very do-able. Typically taking a week or two off has great benefits for someone who consistently works out three or more times a week because it allows the individual to rest. There is a very low chance of muscle loss, but there is plenty to gain if the individual isn’t conscious of their eating habits. However, for someone who consistently takes days or weeks off, there is little chance of gaining any results or benefits. When you begin an exercise regimen, your body begins to change physiologically. Your metabolism increases, oxygen consumption increases, your heart strengthens from having to pump more blood faster, various chemical reactions occur in your brain that trigger positive moods and body reactions and the list goes on. As you work out consistently, your muscles break down to rebuild more fibers. You also sweat more, which clears your pores of toxins. Before you actually see physical results, all these things are happening at the same time and they have to happen consistently if you want to see a physical change. In fact, you can begin to see physical changes as early as four weeks with a concrete regimen. Why beat yourself up with inconsistency? Maintaining your regimen even through these busy weeks will keep you sharp, feeling good and looking good. Give yourself at least 30-50 minutes to exercise a minimum of two to three times a week. Don’t feel that you need a gym. Go for a run or bike ride or do basic body-weight exercises like squats and planks. Challenge yourself with sprints on the beach or plyometrics in the park. Remember, consistency is key! n

Body U

Megan Niño is a kinesiologist and personal trainer who trains at 12th Street Gym. She is an energetic and positive person, who prides herself on teaching others to find empowerment in their lives through fitness.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 7-13, 2017

The ‘icing’ on the discrimination cake On the final day of its session, the rently embroiled in the legal system from Supreme Court agreed to hear the case of more than one state. There have been sevColorado baker Jack Phillips, who refuses eral cases, including those that involve to make cakes for same-sex weddings other bakers, calligraphers and photograon the basis of his “religious beliefs.” phers, that have had little success in the Unfortunately, we are going to have to lower courts, with rulings along the lines wait to see if “religious freeof those in Colorado that mandom” includes the freedom to date businesses must comply discriminate as the case likely with their states’ anti-discrimwon’t be argued until late in the inatory laws. It was earlier next session, which begins in this year that the Washington October. State Supreme Court ruled The case has slowly prounanimously that a florist, gressed since David Mullens Barronelle Stutzman, broke the and Charlie Craig sued the state’s anti-discrimination laws; owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop Stutzman’s lawyers vowed to for discrimination when Phillips ask the Supreme Court to overrefused to bake them a wedding turn the decision, which now cake because of their same-sex will rest on the Colorado case. status back in 2012. The state Other state courts have come Angela to the opposite conclusion. courts agreed with the couple, stating Phillips violated Giampolo A Kentucky appeals court recently upheld a printer’s right Colorado’s public-accommodato refuse to print shirts promoting a Pride tions law, which prohibits service refusal festival, and the Texas Supreme Court on the grounds of things like race, sex, heard arguments in March regarding the marital status and sexual orientation. While Phillips’ lawyers more recently challenge to Houston’s decision to offer argued his refusal is more about not forcbenefits to municipal employees’ sameing an artist to create art that goes against sex partners in the wake of the Obergefell his personal inspiration, Phillips himself v Hodges decision that granted same sex initially stated it was based on the fact marriage rights throughout the country in that baking cakes for same-sex weddings 2015. The fight is far from over in Texas, was against his religious beliefs. In fact, as the Texas Supreme Court released its he decided that rather than risk having to unanimous decision that same-sex couples bake a cake for a same-sex wedding, he no are not guaranteed spousal benefits and longer makes wedding cakes at all. ordered the case back to the trial level. The Supreme Court agreement to hear Texas lawmakers also recently signed arguments in the Colorado case has the into law a measure allowing child-welfare potential to settle several disputes curagencies to discriminate on the basis of

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sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or religion by guaranteeing government funding will not be interrupted for denial of services — including service providers refusing to help patients secure birth control or abortion information. Many people, including myself, have wondered what newly appointed Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch will bring to the table. Gorsuch, as you recall, is the Republican-appointed justice who was sworn in a controversially long time after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. Since Gorsuch’s appointment, SCOTUS has ruled in a couple of cases regarding LGBT civil rights. The court sided with LGBT rights in upholding the California ban on conversion therapy for minors — a practice that’s been denounced by a plethora of medical and psychological organizations as fraudulent and dangerous to the patient. Just last month, SCOTUS overturned Arkansas Supreme Court ruling and mandated that states must list married same-sex parents, regardless of biological relation, on birth certificates. According to the ruling, refusal to list both partners in a married same-sex relationship was a denial of those married couples’ “access to the ‘constellation of benefits that the state has linked to marriage,’” quoting the Obergefell decision. While Gorsuch has agreed with the opinions of the conservative-minded Justices Thomas, Alito and Roberts, the balance of the court is still very similar to when Scalia was a member. SCOTUS is made up of four justice nominated by Democratic presidents,

and five by Republicans. However, it is Justice Anthony Kennedy, the moderate Republican appointed by President Ronald Reagan who wrote the majority opinions for Windsor and Obergefell, who is often the swing vote in LGBT-rights cases. The court’s makeup has not changed with the appointment of Gorsuch, but it is in our best interest to keep our eyes on Kennedy. Rumors have been circulating for weeks that the 80-year-old, now the longest-serving justice, may retire soon. Should he do so in the roughly 1,300 days remaining of the Trump administration, the battle over his seat would be very interesting and important. While SCOTUS declined to hear the Colorado bakery case in the past, some believe it’s Gorsuch’s presence and Kennedy’s impending retirement that have inclined it to finally hear the case. If recent rulings are taken into account, Gorsuch’s influence may not have enough weight to sway the court’s opinion in favor of Phillips and the right’s frequent assertion that the First Amendment protects the right to discriminate against same-sex couples based on religious beliefs. If this happens, the question of religious freedom-to-discriminate laws is answered and Kennedy will save us once again. n Angela D. Giampolo, principal of Giampolo Law Group, maintains offices in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and specializes in LGBT law, family law, business law, real-estate law and civil rights. Her website is www.giampololaw.com, and she maintains a blog at www.phillygaylawyer.com. Reach out to Angela with your legal questions at 215-645-2415 or angela@giampololaw.com.

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EDITORIAL PGN EDITORIAL

Creep of the Week

D’Anne Witkowski

Karen Handel

Editorial

Pride Month silence For the first time in many years, Pride Month passed without a mention by the president of the United States. The LGBT-visibility effort was heralded by proclamations, speeches and even celebrations at the White House by former President Barack Obama and many members of his administration. This year? Radio silence. While President Trump’s cold shoulder to LGBT Pride drew the ire of some, it also reinforces the point — which may be needed — that Trump is far from being a friend to the LGBT community, a title he has tried to adopt. Trump supporters who also purport to support LGBT equality have been quick to point to photos of Trump on the campaign trail holding a rainbow flag (albeit upside-down) as evidence that the commander-in-chief is an ally. That staged photo op and the lack of any overt attacks on LGBT people — which have colored Trump’s interactions with most other marginalized communities — seem, to some Trump backers, to suggest the president is LGBT-friendly. However, this pipe dream collapses when compared to the reality that Trump started turning back trans rights almost as soon as he got into

office, as well as appointed a sea of officials with robust anti-LGBT records. While some have decried the president’s intentional ignoring of Pride Month, perhaps it’s a move that should be welcomed. Were Trump to have acknowledged LGBT Pride, he likely would have turned to his favorite outlet, Twitter. A Pride message would have taken all of 10 seconds to type out — and while it may have had long-lasting reverberations among his conservative base, it also would have contributed to the highly misguided trope that Trump is LGBT-friendly. As LGBT acceptance continues to build among mainstream America, the community can’t afford to have voters who mistakenly think the president backs LGBT equality; such an inaccuracy could convince some Americans that they’re not betraying their LGBT family and friends by continuing to support Trump and his administration. That will be an especially salient topic come the midterm elections next year, as voters are given the opportunity to potentially reshape the Congress that will govern during the remainder of Trump’s term. So thank you, President Trump, for ignoring Pride Month. Your silence speaks volumes. n

believed is that Another day, another truly terrible perwhat has to be parson elected to Congress. America is on a amount is what is roll when it comes to voting for people the best interest who are the worst. of the child,” she As I write this, I’m in Chicago with my told The Reporter family during Pride. The Navy Pier Ferris Newspapers. wheel is lit up in rainbow colors. In fact, when my 7-year-old son saw it, he cried, But what does “Look! A gay Ferris sheel!” We also saw that mean, “best cars with rainbow flags waving out their interest of the windows as I drove down the freeway. It’s child”? Surely a happy time. Handel can be more Or at least it should be. specific? Sadly, I can’t help think about “The best interest of the child. Period, Georgia’s newly elected Republican end of paragraph,” she said. “That’s not for you to decide. That’s not for me to decide. Congresswoman, Karen Handel. She beat the much-better human being Jon Ossoff, It’s for the child advocates to decide, a Democrat, but not by much. While some whether that be the court or the child’s are pointing at Ossoff’s defeat and saying guardian. The child’s best interest must be it’s proof the Democratic Party is dead and paramount.” that Nancy Pelosi should be buried along Got it. The best interest of the child is some impossible-to-define thing that with it, that’s stupid and short-sighted. only “The Child America deserves Advocates” (which better than that. OK, but why am I “The best interest of the sounds like a thinking of Handel child. Period, end of para- group from “The as I gaze upon the Handmaid’s Tale”) graph. That’s not for you gay Ferris wheel? can dictate. Back in 2003, Well, I’ll tell you to decide. That’s not for according to Think what. I sure as hell me to decide. It’s for the am an advocate Progress, Handel for my child, and was a little more child advocates to decide, I don’t take kindly gay-friendly. Or whether that be the court to anyone claiming at least appeared so. The Log Cabin that my wife and or the child’s guardian. Republicans threw I are unfit parents. I especially loathe their support behind The child’s best interest the fact that Handel her because she must be paramount.” is joining the antiappeared to think LGBT scum that is domestic-partner benefits were not the work of Satan (LCR’s creeping across D.C. It’s hard not to feel hopeless, to look at standards are not high). But no more! In 2010, she told a local Georgia news the anti-LGBT backlash across the country and feel exhausted and want to give up. station that she not only didn’t know Or just ignore the news and watch nothing any gay couples with children, but that a but “RuPaul’s Drag Race” (everything in same-sex couple raising a kid “is not the moderation, dears). But then I look up and best household for a child.” When asked see a gay Ferris wheel shining in the night why she thought “gay parents aren’t as sky and my son in the back seat declaring legitimate as heterosexual parents,” she that “today was one of the funnest days of answered, “Because I don’t.” Well, then. my life.” And I know that love will win. But that was seven years ago! Surely she’s It’s going to be a bumpy ride, and oh, it’s come around since then, right? Ha. No. going to hurt sometimes. But love will win. In June, she was again asked about n same-sex couples adopting and she said D’Anne Witkowski is a poet, writer and comedian she still opposed it because of her “faith.” living in Michigan with her wife and son. She has been “My faith at the same time calls me to writing about LGBT politics for over a decade. Follow be compassionate and what I have always her on Twitter @MamaDWitkowski.

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.

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Wedding wisdom I’m writing this column on Jason’s and issues — what about bank accounts, credit my third wedding anniversary. Since marcards, etc.? Those are all serious issues that riage is something new for our community, should be clearly thought out before marand us, I thought I’d share what has been a riage. learning process. And after? As everyone says, marriage is an institu- That’s where the commitment comes in. tion that takes work. But there Once you sign that paper, you are other differences between should have already agreed to our marriages and the “tradilove each other unconditionally. tional” ones. Many of us grew That’s the hard part, since one up thinking that marriage was or the other will likely do somenot an option for us and found thing unacceptable in any numways to justify our position and ber of areas of living together. live with it as we fought that That’s when you learn that marbattle to gain that right. Once riage has to be worked at. And given those rights from the you also learn how well you can Supreme Court, which settled communicate with each other. the issue, there was a rush to If you’re doing it right, your the altar for many. At that time, spouse should be your best I wrote that people should not friend, advisor and companion. marry as a political statement or Over time, that brings comfort simply because they could; marto both of you. You find joys in riage is a serious step. Mark Segal the simplest of things. Jason and Now that some time has I have an agreement that when passed, we’re beginning to see same-sex we go on a road trip (something we enjoy), divorce rates rise — just like those “tradiI’ll do the driving and he’ll complain about tional” married couples. No trend can be my driving. I have a smile on my face as seen by the early numbers alone so let’s I write that, and I hope each of you get give it five years. that same feeling when you think of your The real issue of marriage for our comspouse. munity is the mandate to understand the There’s a Stephen Sondheim song that commitment, and the bond that the mardescribes it well: “Being Alive” from the riage license represents. Over the weekend show “Company.” When I look at Jason, you might have rented a car. Traditional I’m alive. I wish that for each of you. n couples know that listing a spouse on Mark Segal is the nation’s most-award-winning comthe rental form can get you a discount; mentator in LGBT media. His memoir, “And Then we have to make that point at the rental I Danced,” is available on Amazon.com, Barnes & counter. And we have to learn about similar Noble or at your favorite bookseller.

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Gwendolyn Ann Smith

A target for Pride It was 25 years ago this year that I began to come out in earnest as a trans woman. My wife and I both came out as bisexual around the same time. Depending on how you want to count things, she and I have been in a lesbian relationship for about as long. As a result, I often look at Pride events as a bit passé: I’ve been there, I’ve done that and I have the strands of cheap, plastic beads. What’s more, we’re an old, married couple, so the notion of running about and partying seems contrary to cracking open a pint of ice cream and staring at Netflix. In addition, Pride events themselves have changed. What were slightly more than spontaneous marches have given way to glitzy, corporate-sponsored, multi-block street fairs. They’ve become a part of the mainstream, with all the good and ill that entails. On the very ill side of this, food monolith McDonald’s has opted to “rainbow-ize” its fry containers. It’s a first for the golden arches, but comes at the same

time as allegations about ill treatment of a trans employee of the fast-food giant. La’Ray Reed, a McDonald’s crew member in Redford, Mich., claims many abuses from the local franchise in 2015. In her lawsuit, Reed claims to have faced insults and sexual harassment, and contends she was required to use a rear bathroom that doubled as a storage closet. After she complained to the franchise owner, she says she was terminated. So much for pretty, cardboard Frenchfry boxes. On the other end of this spectrum is Target, the large houseware chain. The company has, with some stumbles, shown itself to be largely LGBTQ-positive, insofar as it continues to assist its bottom line. Target’s biggest positive action has been standing tall on transgender restroom access, even as the religious right and others rally against the company for that position. Last month, many Target locations had a specialty section focusing on Pride-themed

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 7-13, 2017

Street Talk Should the names of jurors in the Bill Cosby trial be released to the media? "No, not in this age of social media. Social media will harass and stalk them to no end. I can't get behind that. Leah Bush However, it doctoral student would be nice Baltimore, Md. if we could get a breakdown of the vote — not by naming the jurors, just by their juror number. In a free society, we have a right to at least that much information."

"No. They'll get hounded by the press. They didn't ask to be on the case. They've suffered enough. If their names Kelsey Gunning are released, sales associate other people South Philadelphia will try to get out of jury service. It's hard enough to get people to serve on juries."

"No, they shouldn't release the jurors' names. Jurors have a right to privacy. But they should release David Smith how each student juror voted, Wynnefield without identifying them by name. That way, we can make an intelligent choice about having a retrial [for Cosby]."

"No. I feel the jurors have a right to their anonymity. They were put in a position where they had to make a hard Lori Vogt decision. nurse They Phoenixville deserve to be protected. Otherwise, people will be afraid to be jurors. And our justice system won't work."

merchandise, even including trans-themed goods. I’m pretty sure it’s the first major retailer to make such a move. Now, my feelings are a bit mixed. On the one hand, I see it as pure capitalism, with Target making bank off the backs of our lives. That stinks. As I already mentioned, so much of what was Pride has given way to big corporations looking to advertise their wares to yet another demographic. In this way, Target is just one more in a long line — and it doesn’t even need to sponsor a booth at any local Pride events to do it. One could take a very cynical view of this, and see Pride sliding into a mockery of itself. Like St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo and even the Fourth of July, it may simply devolve into yet another excuse for people to wear goofy, themed goods and drink watered-down beer. Yet, I want to provide an alternate view: Consider that I, who came out so long ago, still see a value in Pride. What’s more, I think that Target selling Pride goodies may be a very good thing for us.

Consider how many young LGBTQ folks — who may otherwise be unable to get to a Pride event — may see a trans, bi or good old rainbow Pride flag in the very store they and their family shop in? What might that mean to them? How might it change the power of the narrative the religious right and others might use against us, to see Pride items a few aisles from housewares and family staples? We live in harrowing times. The administration is stripping down our rights, while states as diverse as Washington and Texas face potential transgender-restroom battles. Transgender people are still being murdered at elevated rates. We face a tsunami of battles, all seeking to erase us, hold us down and shame us into closets and dark alleys. Square that against Target’s commitment to Pride gear in its stores. While it remains a consumer-focused, capitalist message — and I’m not going to suggest we throw in with anyone willing to slap a rainbow on their stock in June — it PAGE 24

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PA native pens first short-story collection By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com When Mike McClelland began writing, he said he didn’t want to initially be seen as a “gay writer” and instead be recognized for his ability to write on other experiences. “But the stories I was coming up with were not working,” the Meadville native said. “People weren’t responding to them. I wasn’t having as much fun writing. About six months into my writing life, I decided OK, just write what you want to write.” McClelland’s epiphany ended up working out; he will release his first book, “Gay Zoo Day: Tales of Seeking and Discovery,” Sept. 1. The book features eight short stories of various genres with queer characters at their center. Stories range from space adventures to ghost stories to love stories. McClelland noted how each takes place in a location around the world, such as Hong Kong, New York City and South Africa, to

name a few. “The idea is that each of the stories is a different exhibit that you would walk past in the zoo,” McClelland said. The 32-year-old, who currently lives in Athens, Ga., with his husband, said the first “gay” story he wrote was about pilots in Venezuela during the 1920s. “I really wanted to write stories that had characters in it that I cared about and LGBT characters that I had been missing [while] reading growing up,” McClelland said. “And in doing that, I just kind of unlocked all of these ideas that I wanted, over the years, to explore.” He noted how the basis of the book was to find stories that readers traditionally find in literary short fiction, which he said tends to be “very straight and very eastern.” “I thought, Let’s take them around the world, have characters from all over but also make them LGBT characters,” McClelland said. “It was really kind of exciting to take

Local writer debuts queer-centric compilation By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Although it won’t publish in time for beach-reading season, Carmen Maria Machado’s debut book is still set to make a splash. While “Her Body and Other Parties” is the first published book for the queer 31-year-old, she already has an impres-

sive list of writing accolades: Her writing has appeared in New Yorker, NPR and other national publications and she has been included in “Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy” and other short-stories collections — not to mention a number of fellowships and residencies, including as Artist in Residence at the University of Pennsylvania. “Her Body and Other Parties” is a collection of short stories she wrote from 201115. “It’s a pretty long span of work,” the West Philadelphia resident said, noting the book also spans many genres. “It’s a mixture of science-fiction, a lot of nebulous speculative fiction, liminal fantasy, horror. It runs the gamut of genres.” Despite the diversity, a number of themes

thread the stories together, Machado noted, like queerness, the female body, mental illness, abuse and sexual desire. She said she would characterize “Her Body and Other Parties” as a “queer book,” though she approached the topic in a way she has long sought from works of fiction. “I so rarely find queer narratives, so I wanted to create a collection about women who are queer that’s not about them coming out; being queer is just part of who they are. That’s what I wanted to see,” she said. “I also thought a lot about the liminality of queerness — being in this nebulous space of desire and on the fringe of societal acceptance struggling to find your place in society, in the world, in your own life and in your own community.” With “Her Body and Other Parties” set to publish Oct. 3, Machado is gearing up for a book tour that will kick off in Philadelphia. And she’s already looking ahead to her next book, “House in Indiana,” her memoir that’s set to publish in 2019. Both are being published by Graywolf Press. “Short stories are hard to sell and it’s rare you’ll get a publisher who’s really excited about publishing just your short stories but Graywolf has been amazing, really incredible,” Machado said, noting Graywolf was equally eager to publish her memoir. “[‘House in Indiana’] is weirdly structured and it’s a niche topic but they were stoked to work with me again. The memoir is about same-sex abuse and domestic violence; again, it’s a book I looked for and couldn’t find. “Write the stories you want to see in the world,” Machado advised emerging writers. “If you don’t see them, make them.” n For more information on Carmen Maria Machado, visit www.carmenmariamachado.com.

stories I recognized and turn them on their head a little bit.” He noted that he wanted to take these traditional literary short stories and make them “really gay.” “When you have a straight story, it’s so often that it’s character-first,” McClelland said. “And in a lot of cases, you get these full written straight characters that are allowed to be good and bad in literary short fiction in the straight world. I wanted to see those things happen to gay characters.” He said aspiring writers should try to experiment in different genres to determine their passions, adding he tried writing on several different topics but then when he found the writing that “got [his] pulse going” and couldn’t stop, he knew it was working. “So many of our queer stories aren’t being told because the dream is to have a best-seller and to be very popular, and you think you need to write something that the market is demanding,” McClelland said. “These stories that come from the heart and are the things you always wanted to write, when other people read them and they see those stories and they’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s the story I always wanted to read, it’s so powerful.’ “When I finally just sat down and was like, ‘I want to write the stories I want to

write,’ that’s when I started having any kind of success.” n For more information on Mike McClelland, visit magicmikewrites.com. “Gay Zoo Day: Tales of Seeking and Discovery” is currently available for pre-order on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2tata5d.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 7-13, 2017

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Philly native releases resource book on transgender youth By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com After working with transgender young people and their families as a therapist, Dr. Elijah C. Nealy was prompted to write a book. The Philadelphia native discussed his new work, “Transgender Children and Youth: Cultivating Pride and Joy with Families in Transition,” with students at the University of Pennsylvania June 23. In the book, Nealy discusses ways parents and professionals can work with trans children and adolescents to ensure healthy and happy lives. Nealy told PGN he did not come out as a transgender man until he was in his 40s but said a book such as his would have “helped a lot” if it existed when he was younger. He said he grew up in a conservative, religious background. “I don’t think I heard the words ‘gay’ or ‘lesbian’ back then until I was almost out of

ANTIBIAS from page 1

comment for this story. Justin F. Robinette, a local civil-rights attorney, said numerous judges have ruled that workplace antigay bias inherently involves gender stereotyping. “Unfortunately, Judge DuBois is not one of those judges,” Robinette told PGN. “He apparently believes there’s such a thing as antigay bias that doesn’t involve gender

high school,” he said. “I learned that there were lesbians in the world and I was in a female body and I liked women, so I just sort of deduced, ‘Oh, that must be what I am: a lesbian.’ And then I discovered at the bars here that there were butch lesbians. So at that point, no one was talking about trans stuff or gender identity at all.” Nealy said he often gets questions about why there are “so many more” trans young people today, but added he doesn’t know if that’s an accurate statement. “I think we’re living in a world now where there are more visible trans adults, increasingly visible trans adolescents [and] even young kids, who are living in a world where the Internet has suddenly reduced the isolation and lack of information trans people have had historically,” Nealy said. “That means young people are able to say, ‘This is who I am’ much earlier.”

Nealy noted that many parents may not necessarily know about the steps of social or medical transitions for trans youth. He added that parents have their own “coming-out” process as well. “If your kid comes out as gay or lesbian, that’s not necessarily visible,” Nealy said. “You don’t have to tell every single person in your neighborhood but if your kid is gender-transitioning, it’s very public. The neighbors see it when your kid goes to the bus stop. So the parents have huge circles — usually larger than the young person — that they have to tell.” Nealy’s book also touches on the intersections of race and class for trans youth. He said the LGB community needs to “step up” around these intersections. When Nealy left the LGBT Community Center in New York City, he said he conducted a survey of the board of directors of LGBT-identified organizations in the city. “Even eight years ago, most of those boards were almost entirely white and almost entirely white gay men and most of those agencies were serving queer people of color,” Nealy said. “That’s simply not

OK.” Additionally, he noted the “amplified risks” of trans people of color when dealing with police officers and described a hypothetical situation in which a black trans woman could be pulled over and the woman’s license would not have a gender matching her presentation. “I think it’s a very real fear for families, particularly for trans-feminine children and particularly families of color,” Nealy said. “I think it has to be talked about very directly and I think those of us who are working with trans youth need to be talking about it and the reality of how life-threatening it still is for many people to be out as trans, and particularly for trans people that are also navigating intersections around racism.” Nealy offered advice for trans youth: “Trust yourself, trust that you know who you are and to find people who can support and affirm you. To know that the way it may [feel] in the moment, with people who aren’t accepting in your life, it’s not necessarily the end of the story.” n

stereotyping. Thus, it’s not sex discrimination. His ruling sends a terrible message to employers in our region that if you discriminate against LGBT workers, you won’t necessarily be held accountable in federal court.” Robinette expressed disappointment that DuBois didn’t recognize that LGBT discrimination involves gender stereotyping. “LGBT litigants shouldn’t have to shoehorn their antibias cases into some judge’s

limited understanding of gender stereotyping. It’s frustrating to encounter a judge who thinks there’s such a thing as antigay bias that doesn’t include gender stereotyping. There is no such animal. I just wish every judge would realize that antigay bias always involves gender stereotyping. Period. There’s plenty of case law out there to support that fact. And plenty of common sense, as well.” LGBT plaintiffs shouldn’t have more

burdens than non-LGBT plaintiffs to sustain a sex-discrimination claim, Robinette added. “LGBT workers are told to act less gay in the workplace. Yet when they seek recourse in the courts, they may face a biased federal judge who encourages them to play up whatever gender-stereotypical traits they have — if they want their case to move forward. If that judge gets any whiff that the workplace bias is truly because the person is LGBT, then the claim likely will be dismissed.” Robinette also faulted DuBois for citing a 15-year-old appellate decision to justify his ruling. “So much has happened in the last 15 years. But you’d never know it from this judge’s ruling. He also acknowledges marriage equality, as if his ruling would be condoned by the Supreme Court. In my opinion, it’s absurd to think a Supreme Court that established marriage equality wouldn’t also want LGBT people protected equally under the law from workplace bias.” But Robinette said he’s encouraged by a significant number of federal judges who’ve ruled differently on the issue. “Most federal judges who’ve addressed the issue recently have treated LGBT plaintiffs in a more just fashion. That gives me optimism for the future. I can only hope that a new generation of more-enlightened judges will apply existing civil-rights law equally to the LGBT community.” n

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Books for the beach By PGN Staff “The Evolution of a Cro-Magnon” By John Joseph Autobiography Joseph, a legend in the New York hardcore scene as the singer for the Cro-Mags, lays it all out in the gripping new autobiography. Even if you have no interest in the hardcore punk or crossover-thrash music his band pioneered, his story is a compelling read. Among the more interesting aspects of this book are the harrowing details of life in New York City in the 1970s and early ’80s. The well-lit, sanitized, touristy, outrageously expensive and family-friendly Manhattan people have known for the past 25 years makes it easy to forget that not so long before that, New York City was a squalid, sleazy and dirty urban jungle overflowing with drugs, porn, violence and urban decay — and not in a good way. Joseph speaks very matter-of-factly about the lows and highs being raised in foster care, being left to his own devices to survive on the streets, dropping out of school and eventually forming what would come to be one of the most influential bands in the genre of hardcore music. There’s a brutally Dickensian feel to Josephs’ description of life on the poverty-stricken fringes of society. While this may not be the sunniest of reads, it is a vivid snapshot of a time, place and mindset that people like to pretend didn’t exist then and couldn’t exist now. — Larry Nichols “Make Trouble” By John Waters Graphic novel Out filmmaker, author and style icon Waters pretty much carved out his own niche and path to success in life as the creator of pop-culture touchstones like “Pink F l a m i n g o s ,” “Hairspray” and “Serial Mom” — so much so that he was asked to give the commencement speech to the graduates of the Rhode Island School of Design.

During the speech, he addressed the irony that he was asked to speak to college graduates, seeing as he was suspended from high school, kicked out of college and discouraged from following his dreams at every turn in his youth. The speech in its entirety is presented in graphic book “Make Trouble” — and who better to be your spirit animal and advisor in these uncertain times than John Waters? The book is a great read for young adults entering the world, as well as anyone looking to blaze their own path personally and professionally. If you have a talent, unconventional life goals and a desire to march to the beat of your own drum, “Make Trouble” is an entertaining read as well as a cheerleader and manifesto for all your wild ideas. And it’s all presented in a delightfully colorful and compact package. — L.N. “My Brother’s Husband” By Gengoroh Tagame (translated by Anne Ishii) Graphic novel Gay manja artist Tagame’s lovely blackand-white graphic novel gives readers a sense of varying attitudes towards homosexuality in Japan. Yaichi is a single parent, who is raising his young daughter Kana. One day, Mike Flanagan, a burly Canadian, arrives at their home. He is the husband of Yaichi’s late twin brother Ryoji. While Yaichi is taken aback by Mike’s presence, Kana readily accepts him. She literally embraces Mike (there is no hugging in Japanese culture), and says something in favor of gay marriage that causes Yaichi to do a spit-take. As Mike’s presence helps a closeted teen, Yaichi — who never knew his twin well — comes to understand more about homosexuality, and starts to change his mindset. Tagame’s drawings are terrific, and the story is visually, as well as verbally, dynamic. An image of Kana placing her hand on Mike’s furry chest is especially vivid and significant. Likewise, the characters’ thoughts and dreams (as well as the guys’ hunky bodies) are nicely depicted. “My Brother’s Husband,” is labeled Volume 1. As such, when the book ends, readers will be anxious for the next installment. — Gary M. Kramer

“Rough Patch” By Nicole Markotic Young adult While youngadult novels are increasingly centering on LGBT topics and characters, it’s rare to see one that explores the topic of bisexuality — which is what makes “Rough Patch” so refreshing. The book’s central character, Keira, is an aspiring figure skater who is dealing with the regular complications of high school: classes, extracurriculars and friendships, all amid a growing understanding of one’s identity. For Keira, that identity is coming into sharper focus, as she recognizes a budding attraction to girls. Like many LGBT and questioning teens, that period of exploration is not an insular one, as it is often guided by fears of societal perceptions. The strength of “Rough Patch” is that it recognizes the unique processes bisexual individuals may face during their coming-out process. Bisexual invisibility remains a significant issue in the LGBT community; in addition to seeking affirmation from society at large, those who identify as bisexual — or who consider their orientation to be more fluid than the standard labels allow for — may also face exclusion from within the LGBT community. Novels like “Rough Patch” play an important role in promoting “B” inclusion in the community, and in serving as a needed resource for youth looking for community. — Jen Colletta “Stealing Home” By Tom Mendicino Fiction “Stealing Home” were originally novellas printed a few years apart in various forums and have now been compiled into a trilogy. The main characters, Charlie and K.C., are followed from their summer after high school when they worked together at a moving company, to college and the West Coast, to finally resettling into the Philadelphia area. Written as stand-alones, each has its own strength, yet together the cohesion

wavers some, as is the case often with stories that are written and set years apart. I’d frankly recommend reading each one with a few days or even weeks between, as I did between parts two and three. To be sure, it is an easily read collection perfectly suited for summer afternoons. Charlie and K.C. are interesting enough to carry the reader into each stage of their relationship/non-relationship lives, but read consecutively, they each feel like a reboot of the others. Grab this one and take your time enjoying the parts. In the meantime, if you haven’t read Mendicino’s other books, “Probation” and “The Boys From Eighth and Carpenter,” then by all means dive into those as well. He is an author we always look forward to reading. — Scott A. Drake The Tower of the Antilles By Achy Obejas Short stories Wow. Reading “The Tower of the Antilles” is like being exposed to telepathic avantgarde imagery that consumes one’s consciousness and compels one to get copies of her previous works: “Ruins,” “Days of Awe” and “Memory Mambo.” If you haven’t heard of Obejas, as I hadn’t, it’s because it has taken some time for these works to make their way into the American stream after being translated into English. The stories in “Antilles” all have some kind of Cuba connection, whether it’s a revolutionary, an immigrant, an emigrant, a person of the working class or someone who was affected by the Cuban revolution in some way. Obejas visited Cuba multiple times and these stories are from different trips, different times and different circumstances, which gives the reader an excellently rounded picture of an island that is ever-changing. With such a variety of main characters, of course there’s a wide range of stories, so even if one doesn’t catch your fancy at first, there’s almost always another following it to get your attention. None of them take more than maybe 10 minutes to read. And to make a great story collection suitable for momentary indulgences, it’s a very small hardcover that will easily slip into a pocket or bag. Get a taste of Cuba, or maybe I should say several servings, this summer. No passport required. n — S.A.D.

SUMMER PGN FUN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 7-13, 2017

Beats for the beach By Ray Simon PGN Contributor Mary Lambert “Bold” Tender Heart www.marylambertsings.com

This seven-song EP delivers sexy, sugary dance pop with a sense of humor. It’s also unabashedly queer. “Hang Out With You” is a catchy ditty about wanting to spend the day with your crush, whether that’s your rescue dog or the cutie you met at the bar. The chorus comes complete with irresistible background “Oh, oh, ohs.” Lambert’s lusty side is on ample display in “Know Your Name,” an over-the-top number. With a growl in her voice, she details all the things she’d like to do to the gal she’s got her eye on: “But I probably should know your name/When I finally get to,” she sings. Lambert is sometimes flat-out silly. “Lay Your Head Down” begins as an earnest confessional about sadness, then veers off course during the spoken interlude: “Sometimes I cry when cheese is really good.” Fortunately for listeners curious to hear Lambert’s serious side, there’s “Love Is Love,” a heartfelt duet with her mom. Hurray for the Riff Raff “The Navigator” ATO Records www.hurrayfortheriffraff.com The new release from Alynda Segarra’s band is an ambitious concept album about a woman’s journey; it’s also a fresh take on Americana. Segarra, a Bronx-born runaway who settled in New Orleans before rediscovering her Puerto Rican roots, confidently mixes doo-wop and Springsteen, Cuban son and girl groups — there’s even some

Beatles. What anchors the music is Segarra’s soulful alto. “I got Hurricane/And Big Danny is wasted,” begins “Living in the City,” which includes a brief, slightly askew guitar solo. On “Fourteen Floors,” she explores tenement living accompanied only by piano. “The Navigator” features Latin percussion, reverbtinged guitar and defiant lyrics. She admonishes: “Oh where will all my people live?/The navigator won’t forgive.” By the record’s close, Segarra has addressed her Latinx heritage, gentrification and being an independent, creative woman, among other topics. The journey was tough, which is why, on the penultimate cut, she urges, “To all who had to survive, I say/ Pa’lante!” Plack Blague “Night Trax” Ormolycka Records www.plackblague.bandcamp.com The latest release from Lincoln, Neb., leather daddy and provocateur Ross “Raws” Schlesinger is a ninesong blast of electron-

ic-body music, complete with insistent beats, random sound effects and guttural vocals. Despite all that noise, you can still dance to it. Titles like “Leather Life” and “Body Talk” leave little doubt about Plack Blague’s perspective. “Just Another Man of The Street,” the opening track, is a paean to cruising the city streets for anonymous sex. “No names exchanged/ It’s so sweet,” Raws sings. Sometimes the songs are slightly disorienting, even druggy, like “Placktuality,” where the music shifts dramatically about a minute into the song. Fortunately, the propulsive beat will keep listeners nodding along. Plack Blague’s aggressive aesthetic flirts with comedy, but it’s also unapologetically kinky and queer. And there’s no denying the desire in “Man on Man,” where Raws sings, “I need a man on my erection.” Overall, “Night Trax” is the perfect soundtrack to your next dungeon party. Sera Cahoone “From Where I Started” Lady Muleskinner Records www.seracahoone.com

along with Annalisa Tornfelt’s fiddle and Jason Kardong’s pedal steel guitar, ensure that. Cahoone’s drumming adds a jaunty “oomph” to some tracks, nudging them towards rock. Her flourish at the end of “House of Our Own” is especially fun. Most of the 11 songs deal with love found and love lost, typical topics in mainstream country. In C a h o o n e ’s case, however, the lovers are women. Her lyrics are marked by attention to detail. In “Time to Give,” an up-tempo number about budding romance, it’s a harmless habit that sparks her attraction. “Ever since I saw you sittin’ twistin’ your rings on nervous fingers,” she sings. “Ladybug” deserves special mention. Cahoone wrote this unflinching look at domestic violence within the LGBTQ community about her cousin, Tawnee Baird, who was murdered by her partner. “All the signs were right there/We just couldn’t see,” she sings ruefully.

Cahoone’s first album in five years is an enjoyable alt-country record. Her clear, bright voice,

Diamanda Galás “All the Way” Intravenal Sound Operations

www.diamandagalas.com Galás’ approach to these six songs, all culled from the American Songbook or the folk tradition, is aggressive and harrowing. Throughout, she hammers at the piano or reels off quick runs while her voice bellows and soars. Sometimes she sustains piercing cries; others, she veers into glossolalia. On “You Don’t Know What Love Is,” Galás’ piano gestures towards the saccharine strings of Billie Holiday’s version, but her vocals stretch the words until the lyrics lose all meaning. Similarly, she transforms the wistful yearning of Sinatra’s “All the Way” into a threat: “But if you’ll let me love you/It’s for sure I’m gonna love you all the way.” The album’s centerpiece is “O Death,” clocking in at just under 11 minutes. The apocalyptic tone and athletic vocals — Galás wails and screams before breaking into a gasping, syllabic pant — make you wonder who’s more at risk, the singer or the Grim Reaper. Not for the fainthearted but well worth hearing. n

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SUMMER PGN FUN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 7-13, 2017

Finger Lakes: New York’s relaxing respite By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com When most Philadelphians hear “New York,” we likely conjure images of Times Square and the taxi-clogged thoroughfares of the city that never sleeps. But the Big Apple is but a sliver of the Empire State. If you’re looking to explore more of our northern neighbor, endless opportunity abounds in the Finger Lakes region. About a 4.5-hour drive from Philly, the area is best known as wine country — a reputation well-earned! — but there are also ample attractions steeped in history, culture and artistic expression. The region derives its name from the 11 spindly lakes that jut southward, and whose peaceful tranquility sets the backdrop for the area’s laidback vibe. Among the many beauties of Finger Lakes is its size; each lake and the surrounding towns offer so much to see and do that return trips to Finger Lakes can give you new vistas and experiences. Here are a few of our favorites: Rochester Just north of Finger Lakes, on the banks of Lake Ontario, sits Rochester, the third-largest metropolis in the state. Much like Philadelphia, however, Rochester oozes a small-town feel. Also on parallel with the City of Brotherly Love, history comes to life in Rochester. One of its most-visited tourist attractions is the National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House, which was home to the iconic

suffragette for about 40 years. The handsome three-story brick building sits on an unassuming residential block but, once you enter its doors, you walk back in time to the late 19th century. The home is masterfully restored to the period when Anthony was most politically active and features much of her actual furniture and belongings. Anthony’s storied activist career is told room by room, including the parlor that

to the 2016 presidential election, when the country was poised to elect its first female president; 15 news outlets from around the globe visited the house for election-related coverage. Hundreds waited hours in line on Election Day to visit Anthony’s gravesite at nearby Mount Hope Cemetery; signs carrying messages of support for Clinton, and thanks to Anthony for her leadership, now hang in the house.

weekend. History is also on display at the George Eastman Museum. The National Historic Landmark is the world’s oldest photography museum, offering a very diverse visitor experience. Guests can tour modern photography exhibits, explore rare collections of early photographs and learn about the evolution of photography through the collection of Eastman, the founder of Kodak. The site is situated within Eastman’s former home, a sprawling mansion that itself tells part of Eastman’s, and Rochester’s, story. The early-20th-cenutry building features gardens and greenhouses, innovations of the time like an elevator and 21 telephone stations. The main room features a pipe organ and a massive taxidermy elephant head, vestiges of Eastman’s lavish lifestyle, which often attracted Rochester’s elite. What the Eastman Museum provides for adults, The Strong: National Museum of Play offers for youngsters. NATIONAL SUSAN B. ANTHONY MUSEUM & HOUSE Photos: Jen Colletta The word “museum” belies what happens at The Strong, the only space of its kind in was the site of her 1872 arrest for voting Later this month, the Susan B. Anthony the world dedicated to the concept of and the bedroom where she passed away in House & Museum and other local part- “play.” Here, spread across 100,000 square 1906. ners will celebrate the 100th anniversary feet, kids can find age-tailored, interactive The house is not just a testament to the of woman suffrage in New York with activities like a full Wegmans supermarket past but also an active community partner, VoteTilla. From July 17-21, five boats where they can fill up and check out their with organizers staging educational and will set off from Seneca Falls destined carts, a Sesame Street playplace and the enrichment programs for youth and adults. for Rochester, with scores of accompany- popular butterfly conservatory. While The It also became a hub of activity leading up ing activities and events in Rochester that Strong provides endless hours of enter-

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tainment for kids, adults will find plenty to enjoy as well. Revisit childhood by playing vintage arcade games and perusing the massive collection of toys in an exhibit that traces the history of play. While families will have a ball playing the day away, it’s not uncommon to see adults sans kids getting in touch with their own inner child. When you’re museumed-out, check in

to Strathallan, a TAG-approved hotel and spa concept by Hilton. Modern décor, an on-site steakhouse and Japanese restaurant and a rooftop lounge featuring firepits and fantastic views all enhance your stay in Rochester. To kick off your night, grab a bite at The Cub Room, whose seasonally inspired menu is largely locally sourced. The Cub

On the Road On a drive between Rochester and Ithaca, stop into these other Finger Lakes destinations. Canandaigua About 10,000 live in the sleepy town, located on the northern shore of Canandaigua, which comes to life with tourists in the warmer months. Festivals and farmer’s markets bring flocks of Finger Lakes visitors, who can also enjoy the town’s historical landmarks, beach, parks and lake activities and, of course, wineries and breweries. Upstairs Bistro offers the best of all that Canandaigua has to offer. Enjoy brunch, lunch or dinner with lakeview seats, either indoor or outdoor. The menu is as satisfying as the backdrop; the Bacon Mac & Cheese is a particular must, with three cheeses and bacon sourced locally. The restaurant is located in the New York Wine & Culinary Center, where you can sample wine, beer and spirits from the region in the Tasting Room. Take your education to the next level in the center’s state-of-the-art kitchen, which hosts a diverse lineup of

hands-on cooking and pairing classes. Canandaigua combines charm and chic for an experience worthy of a return trip. Geneva Also high on the quaint scale is nearby Geneva, along Seneca Lake. Geneva’s downtown is an interesting mix of vintage and modern, with scores of new businesses situated in charming old buildings, alongside town mainstays. Dozens of restaurants dot the small streets, offering everything from home-

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 7-13, 2017

Room serves generously portioned and perfectly plated entrées, while the cleverly named cocktails pay homage to the Prohibition era, a theme running throughout the space. The Cub Room attracts a fun amalgamation of residents of the hip South Wedge neighborhood in which it is situated: in one corner, a large 40th-birthday party, in cooked diner grub to fine dining. The shopping district features antiques shops, bookstores and more. Stomping Grounds is a particular standout, with its used-book gems and unique gifts, including home accessories, art and antique maps. The shop embraces a vintage feel in much of its merchandise, enhancing the old-fashioned yet forward-thinking feel of the town. Linden Street is another spot that fuses old and new, with a print shop and a post office situated next to an eclectic mix of restaurants, bars and cafés. LGBTs and allies in the area turned out last month for the annual FLX Pride Festival, benefitting The Center of the Finger Lakes, an LGBT center headquartered in Geneva.

another a same-sex couple and in another an elderly couple with their grandkids. South Wedge is a hub of LGBT nightlife, with a number of LGBT-focused and -friendly bars, clubs and restaurants. Nearby Park Avenue is another section brimming with nightlife, and often serves as the host of outdoor festivals throughout warm months. The PAGE 24 tribe and its impact on the surrounding region and nation. See up close objects used by Seneca people for cooking, farming and medicinal purposes and hear stories about the tribe’s traditions and beliefs in interactive exhibits. From May-October, explore the Bark Longhouse, a full-size replica of the 17th-century structure that was key to Seneca life. The two-year-old center is a must-see for visitors looking to understand and appreciate the history of the Finger Lakes region, which was shaped significantly by the contributions of the Seneca people. n — Jen Colletta

Seneca Art and Culture Center at Ganondagan The history and culture of the Native-American Seneca people is explored and celebrated at Ganondagan, in Victor. The center is located on the site where thousands of Seneca lived until the town was destroyed in 1687. Scores of artifacts tell the story of the day-to-day life of the

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 7-13, 2017

Canada Pride to launch in Montréal By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com You might want to dig out your passport and bone up on your French because Montréal, one of the most picturesque cities in North America, is hosting the inaugural Canada Pride 2017, an LGBT festival with numerous events, conferences, dances, concerts, parades and more Aug. 10-20. Fierte Montréal Pride Vice President JeanSebastien Boudreault said that, much like World

Pride did with Toronto’s Pride festival in 2014, Canada Pride is bringing more interest, events and visitors to this year’s pride festivities in Montréal. “Canada Pride replaces MontréalPride for this year,” he explained. “The organizing groups of all the Prides in Canada gave us the license to organize Canada Pride. And like World Pride or Euro Pride, it’s all the same principles. We went from seven days to 11 days. We added two LGBTQ human-rights conferences. The parade is going to be bigger because at the same time

it’s the 375th anniversary of Montréaland and the 150th Anniversary of Canada. So it’s a big year in Montréal because of those two events. Basically, it’s MontréalPride on steroids.” Boudreault said that, while this event focuses on the Canadian LGBT community, Pride events in Montréal attract many attendees for other countries. “Most of our tourists come from the U.S.,” he said. “The biggest rankings of demographics of attendees for Montréal Pride are from the U.S., Europe and then the rest of Canada. We’re very popular internationally and we’re the biggest French LGBT event in the world. So we expect a lot of tourists from all over the place.” Like World Pride, Canada Pride is an event that will happen every few years in a different city. “It’s going to be a thing that happens every three years,” Boudreault said. “The next one will be in 2020 and will be hosted in the city of Winnipeg.” Boudreault said that Canada Pride, as well as the city of Montréal, will have a lot to offer for a wide range of people from across the LGBT community. “There are over 250 events happening over the course of the 11 days,” he said. “One of them is the Pride House where we showcase the different Prides in Canada. There’s also going to be a poster exhibition on the Pride and the LGBTQ movement in Quebec. We have theater, poetry, literature, workshops and events for women, the trans community and people of color. We really try to attract as many groups within the LGBTQ community as possible.” n Canada Pride Montréal 2017 runs Aug. 10-20. For more information, visit http://www.fiertemontrealpride.co

Gay-themed party festival to hit the Jersey Shore By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Ascension Party, the three-day party festival that draws thousands of men from around the world, is making its debut in Asbury Park Aug. 4-6. Now in its 12th year, Ascension launched in 2006 on Fire Island Pines, where it ran annually until 2014. For the last two years, the party relocated to Mykonos in Greece. Ascension founder and president Eric Von Kuersteiner said demand brought the festival back to the states. “A lot of our customers have been to Ascension before in the states and they really wanted us to bring it back,” Von Kuersteiner said when asked why Asbury Park was chosen to host. “We look around at different areas and I thought that Asbury Park really was a great place. They’ve been doing a lot of investment there and there’s a lot to do and the beach is beautiful. So we thought it would be a great fit. The host hotel there was really receptive to having us. They did a $50-million renovation. So it all worked out.” Host The Asbury Hotel, 210 Fifth Ave., opened last summer. The festival will feature music by DJ Eddie Martinez, DJ Lina,

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DJ Dani Toro, DJ Hansel, DJ Paulo, Dan Slater and many more, with other performers yet to be announced. “We always have some act that will come on but we’ll be announcing that within the next few weeks,” Von Kuersteiner said. “That will be at the main party on Saturday.” Putting together a festival isn’t an easy task these days and, given the times we live in, there is always news of public gatherings like this running into some kind of complications or controversy (do a quick news search of The Electric Daisy Carnival or the Fyre Festival for examples). But Von Kuersteiner said that, in his 12 years of producing the festival, organizers have never had any instances where events have threatened the good times of the attendees. “We’ve never had one issue or incident of anyone getting hurt or an overdose problem,” he said. “There’s never been a fight. We’ve never had an issue as far as the safety of our attendees. We’re working with local police departments and we’re going to have a lot of undercover police there as well as checkpoints. We don’t allow people to bring in backpacks or bags. We’re always vigilant; you have to be these days. But we’ve never had an issue as far as safety goes.” Von Kuersteiner added that while there are a lot of similar themed events to be had out there, Ascension stands out for its entertainment value — whether people stay for the whole weekend or take in just one day of revelry. “You don’t want to have the same weekend of another established event,” he said. “I don’t think we have anything that’s competing on our weekend. People want value. They want to have a good time. They want to have fun. So as long as we provide that at a good value, we’ll always do well. Most people come for the whole weekend but I would say if people are only coming for one event, they come for the Saturday daytime party. In general, most people come for the whole weekend.” n Ascension Party takes place Aug. 4-6 at Asbury Park. For more information or tickets, visit ascensionparty.com.

PGN FUN SUMMER

Angeline’s: Authentic Italian in Atlantic City By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

spicy Italian sausage — paradise for those of us who believe the only dish worth trying is one smothered in sauce and cheese. All of The already-robust culinary collection at Angeline’s pastas are handmade, continuing Atlantic City’s Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa the home-cooked feel throughout the menu. grew by one this spring with the opening of The entrées are served a la carte, with an extensive sides list to supplement your Angeline’s by Michael Symon. main dish. The aspar The award-winning agus is lightly grilled, celebrity chef brings offering a perfect texhis Sicilian roots to ture and a flavor that the table at Angeline’s, bursts with light lemon. which centers its menu The Brussels sprouts are on authentic Italian, to also seared to perfecgreat success; the flavors tion and enhanced with are so rich and genuine a generous sprinkling of — a welcome reprieve pine nuts. from the plentiful Italian Save room for restaurants whose dishes dessert because, again, have been Americanized — they’ll have you checking the kitchen at Angeline’s does not disappoint. On recommendation from our highly knowledgeable Angeline’s for your Italian grandma. For starters, the marinated artichokes are server, we tried the chocolate torta — and generous in portion and topped with just the are mightily glad we did so. The flourless right amount of toasted breadcrumbs, which cake melts in your mouth, almost with the helped to balance out the olive-oil marinade. consistency of fudge, and is topped with a The caponata is another standout. Served homemade whipped cream whose light fluffiness will have you convinced with grilled bread, the dish you didn’t just ingest a week’s fuses eggplant and vegworth of calories. gies to provide bold flavors Like any trip to your that strike the right balance Angeline’s Italian relatives’ house, you’ll between sweet and sour. 1 Borgata Way leave Angeline’s full to the On the entrée side, Atlantic City, N.J. gills — but once that wears Mom’s Lasagne is a towSun.-Mon., Wed.-Thurs.: off, you’ll be making plans for ering, layered mountain of 5:30-10 p.m your return trip. n homemade pasta and sauce, Fri.: 5:30-11 p.m. ricotta and mozzarella Sat.: 5-11 p.m. cheeses and veal, beef and

If you go:

Summer Picks COUNTRY TIME IN NEW HOPE: Out country star, singer-songwriter and author Chely Wright gets up close and personal in New Hope with an intimate show 7:30 p.m. July 28 at The Rrazz Room, 385 W. Bridge St. For more information or tickets, call 888-596-1027. GOOD TIMES IN BOOGIE WONDERLAND: Legendary and iconic funk band Earth, Wind & Fire teams up with classic and influential disco group Chic featuring Nile Rodgers for a tour sure to have people dancing in the aisles 8 p.m. Aug. 1 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St. For more information or tickets, call 215-389-9543. THE COMMORODE AND THE BUTTERFLY: In an unexpected pairing, R&B singers Lionel Richie, whose string of hits made him a superstar in the ’80s, has Mariah Carey — the superstar diva who pretty much ruled pop and R&B charts in the ’90s and early 2000s — opening for him on his latest tour 7 p.m.

Aug. 16 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St. For more information or tickets, call 215-389-9543. BLACK DIAMONDS AND PEARLS: Hip-hop and neo-soul superstar Ms. Lauryn Hill lately has had a reputation for showing up late for concerts, if she even shows up at all. But seeing as she is teaming up with acclaimed rap icon Nas for a tour, we are very tempted to buy a ticket when they come though the area 6:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at BB&T Pavilion, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, N.J. For more information or tickets, call 609-365-1300. GIRLS ROCK PHILLY: Two generations of fierce, female front-women come together when punk icons Blondie and alternative-rock darlings Garbage hit the road for “The Rage and Rapture Tour,” which blasts through Philly 7 p.m. Aug. 2 at The Mann Center, 5201 Parkside Ave. For more information or tickets, call 215546-7900.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 7-13, 2017

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SUMMER PGN FUN UPSTATE from page 21

Rochester Pride Parade will take over Park Avenue July 15, culminating in a festival at Cobb’s Hill Park. Another outdoor oasis is the Rochester Public Market, a must for visiting foodies. Row upon row of fresh produce and meats, flowers and artisan gifts draw packed crowds on weekends and give visitors a fascinating look at life in Rochester. Foodie or family, whatever experience you’re looking for, you can find it in Rochester.

College and Tompkins County Community College — don’t expect to be overrun by partying youngsters and red Solo cups. The Downtown Ithaca Commons is a diverse and tranquil gathering space for students, longtime residents and tourists, who explore four blocks of boutiques, bars and bookstores. Free concerts are held in the

Ithaca About two hours south of Rochester, Ithaca provides an equally exciting, but wholly unique, experience. Ithaca sits on the tip of Cayuga Lake, and the drive from Rochester will wend you through countryside, farmland and winery after winery (take advantage of one of the many designated-driver services if you choose to indulge!). The natural beauty surrounding the region sets the mood in Ithaca. Stroll the Cayuga and explore the Ithaca Farmers Market to get a taste of the town. The sprawling market is open AprilDecember and offers international flavors, an experience complemented by live music and lakefront views. Or lace up your sneakers and hit one of the many trails that cut through Ithaca, providing exercise and excellent ways to see the town’s many waterfalls and gourges. One of the best vantage points from which to see the picturesque town is La Tourelle Hotel, Bistro & Spa. Relaxation is requisite at La Tourelle: You can kick back in an Adirondack chair on the rolling lawns and take in the treetops and breathtaking views of Cayuga Lake. Pamper yourself in the facility’s spa or indulge at The Bistro, featuring farm-to-table local ingredients. While it’s far too easy to spend your entire stay in Ithaca at La Tourelle, you’ll have to force yourself off the property to explore the town. While Ithica is a college town — home to Cornell University, Ithaca TRANSMISSIONS from page 11

nevertheless pushes back against those who would rather see us simply go away. That Target backs this up by being more progressive than others is icing on the cake. It helps avoid being some form of LGBTQ-focused “pink washing” — presenting a positive veneer on an otherwise-problematic company or product — and instead enhances the company’s more-progressive policies. Again, though, I find myself thinking of a possible young and/or closeted person seeing those items and realizing, for the first time, that they need not live in shame. Or that same person going to their first Pride event, as I did two-and-a-half decades ago, and feeling a belonging they

VIEW FROM LA TOURELLE

Commons throughout the summer; on our trip, a street performer led fans and passersby on an impromptu parade through the pedestrian promenade during a rendition of Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida.” That camaraderie is exuded throughout Ithaca, including at the new LGBT-owned Watershed. The space mixes the highlights of a bar with that of a café, with some library and lounge sensibilities mixed in. Postcards for meetings, support groups and events dot the space, suggesting the community-minded nature of Ithaca — further emphasized by Watershed’s commitment to sustainability. Board games and books are available for visitors, as they sip a cocktail or coffee and munch on the small plates. Ripe for conversation, Watershed is a great place to either start or finish your night out on the town — which is also home to a number of other LGBT-owned establishments. While Ithaca boasts award-winning restaurants, wineries and breweries, and ample arts and cultural outposts, the town’s charming, cozy feel is itself a winner. n

may have never known. I may be somewhat old and jaded when it comes to my own involvement, but at the same time I feel a sense of duty for those who may need that extra bit of encouragement, and a place where they can feel welcomed and encouraged. This is why, even now, Pride matters. Indeed, it may be more relevant in this era of Trump and Pence than it has been in years, providing an all-too-fleeting moment of celebration in a pitched battle to secure what shreds of our rights we can continue to secure. We need this, to keep the flame alive as we go back to the front lines. n Gwen Smith tries to feel a little Pride every day. You’ll find her at www.gwensmith.com.

AC ul t ure rts

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 7-13, 2017

Family Portrait Out & About Q Puzzle Scene in Philly

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The hottest months of the year turn it up in Philly By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Summer is upon us and so are copious events looking to empty your wallets and purses, as well as make you use up your vacation and sick days. Whether you like your good times relatively intimate and confined or grandiose in the outdoors, Philly has way too much going on this summer to keep you anything less than gloriously entertained. So get ready to mark up your calendar because it’s time to get out there and have some fun. Comedy/Humor Jim Gaffigan The comedian performs 7 and 10 p.m. July 15 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.

Gabriel Iglesias The comedian performs 8 p.m. Sept. 1 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-3171000. Music Gorillaz The alt-rock band performs 7:30 p.m. July 13 at Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing, 601 N. Columbus Blvd.; 215-922-1011. King’s X The rock band featuring out bassist Dug Pinnick performs 8 p.m. July 15 at Sellersville Theater 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville; 215-257-5808.

at Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing, 601 N. Columbus Blvd.; 215-922-1011.

July 28 at The Rrazz Room, 385 W. Bridge St., New Hope; 888-596-1027.

John Legend The soul singer performs 8 p.m. July 24 at BB&T Pavilion, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, N.J.; 609-365-1300.

Primus and Clutch The hard-rock bands perform 7:30 p.m. July 29 at Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing, 601 N. Columbus Blvd.; 215-922-1011.

Toad the Wet Sprocket The alternative-rock band performs 8 p.m. July 26 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; 215-5727650.

Diana Ross The pop/R&B diva performs 8 p.m. July 29 at The Mann Center, 5201 Parkside Ave.; 215546-7900.

Korn and Stone Sour The hard-rock bands perform 5:30 p.m. July 26 at BB&T Pavilion, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, N.J.; 609-365-1300.

Queen with Adam Lambert The classic-rock band fronted by the out pop singer performs 8 p.m. July 30 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215-389-9543. Earth, Wind & Fire and Chic featuring Nile Rodgers The classic funk/R&B groups performs 8 p.m. Aug. 1 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215-389-9543.

Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling The comedian performs 7:30 p.m. July 22 at The Rrazz Room, 385 W. Bridge St., New Hope; 888-596-1027.

Blondie and Garbage The female-fronted rock bands perform 7 p.m. Aug. 2 at The Mann Center, 5201 Parkside Ave.; 215-546-7900.

Jeff Dunham The comedian performs July 22-23 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-3171000.

Social Distortion The punk-rock band performs 8 p.m. Aug. 4 at The Fillmore Philadelphia, 29 E. Allen St.; 215-625-3681.

Chris Franjola The comedian seen on “Chelsea Lately” performs July 27-29 at Punch Line Philly, 33 E. Laurel St.; 215-606-6555. Ted Alexandro The comedian seen on Comedy Central performs Aug. 4-5 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215-496-9001. Gina Yashere The comedian performs Aug. 10-12 at Punch Line Philly, 33 E. Laurel St.; 215-606-6555. Jon Lovitz The comedian seen on “Saturday Night Live” performs Aug. 10-12 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215-4969001. Bill Maher The comedian and talk-show host performs 8 p.m. Aug. 19 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.

The Melvins The alternative-rock band performs 8:30 p.m. Aug. 4 at Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St.; 215-232-2100. HEATING UP: Katy Perry (clockwise from top left), Howard Jones, Kinsey Sicks, Gina Yashere, Arcade Fire, John Mayer Idina Menzel The singer and actor performs 8 p.m. July 16 at BB&T Pavilion, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, NJ; 609-365-1300.

LFO The pop band performs 8 p.m. July 26 at The Fillmore Philadelphia, 29 E. Allen St.; 215625-3681.

Jill Scott The R&B star performs 8 p.m. July 16 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.

Boston and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts The rock bands perform 7:30 p.m. July 27 at BB&T Pavilion, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, N.J.; 609-365-1300.

Ghost The hard-rock band performs 8 p.m. July 20 at The Fillmore Philadelphia, 29 E. Allen St.; 215-625-3681.

Seether The hard-rock band performs 7:30 p.m. July 27 at The Fillmore Philadelphia, 29 E. Allen St.; 215-625-3681.

311 The rock band performs 7 p.m. July 21

Chely Wright The country-music artist performs 7:30 p.m.

Goo Goo Dolls The rock band performs 7 p.m. Aug. 6 at Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing, 601 N. Columbus Blvd.; 215-922-1011. Lifehouse and Switchfoot The alt-rock bands perform 7 p.m. Aug. 6 at The Fillmore Philadelphia, 29 E. Allen St.; 215-625-3681. Roger Waters The classic-rock artist performs the music of Pink Floyd 8 p.m. Aug. 8-11 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215-389-9543. Retro Futura featuring Howard Jones, Paul Young, English Beat, Men Without Hats, Katrina and Modern English The classic ’80s alternative-pop and rock groups perform 8 p.m. Aug. 11 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 7-13, 2017

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SUMMER PREVIEW from page 25

Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000. United We Rock Tour 2017 Rock bands Styx and REO Speedwagon perform 8 p.m. Aug. 12 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-3171000.

Lionel Richie and Mariah Carey The R&B singers perform 7 p.m. Aug. 16 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215-389-9543. BRING IT ON THE MUSICAL (clockwise from top left), SOCIAL DISTORTION, GHOST

John Mayer The rock guitarist and singer performs 7 p.m. Aug. 18 at BB&T Pavilion, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, N.J.; 609-365-1300. Lil’ Yachty The rapper performs 8 p.m. Aug. 24 at The Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St.; 800745-3000.

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Sting The singer performs 8 p.m. Sept. 3 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-3171000.

Kool & The Gang and The Commodores The R&B/funk groups perform 8 p.m. Aug. 13 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.

Jimmy Buffet The beach-influenced singer performs 8 p.m. Aug. 17 at BB&T Pavilion, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, N.J.; 609-365-1300.

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Aretha Franklin The R&B legend performs 8 p.m. Aug. 26 at The Mann Center, 5201 Parkside Ave.; 215546-7900. Green Day The punk-rock band performs 7 p.m. Aug. 31 at BB&T Pavilion, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, NJ; 609-365-1300. Made in America Festival Jay-Z headlines the outdoor festival featuring The Chainsmokers, Solange, Kaskade, J.

Queens of the Stone Age The rock band performs 8 p.m. Sept. 7 at Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing, 601 N. Columbus Blvd.; 215-922-1011. Lady Gaga The pop singer performs 7:30 p.m. Sept. 10-11 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215-389-9543. 2 Chainz The hip-hop artist performs 8 p.m. Sept. 10 at The Fillmore Philadelphia, 29 E. Allen St.; 215-625-3681. Ms. Lauryn Hill and Nas The hip-hop icons perform 6:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at BB&T Pavilion, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, N.J.; 609-365-1300. Project Pabst Citywide Festival The daylong festival features The Menzingers, Peaches, Big Thief, Speedy Ortiz and more 1 p.m. Sept. 16 at The

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PROFILE PGN

Family Portrait

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 7-13, 2017

Suzi Nash

Justin Nordell: Celebrating summer with song, Stonewall Sports Justin Nordell knows a little bit about summer fun. From music to sports, he’s the go-to fellow for some good, old-fashioned fun in the sun. PGN: What’s your day job? JN: I’m the executive director of the Philadelphia Folksong Society and the Philadelphia Folk Festival. It’s the oldest continuously run outdoor music festival in all of North America, which is pretty cool. A lot of people don’t know that, and it’s right here in our backyard, just outside of Philadelphia. I grew up going there; in fact, my parents met at the festival so, if it wasn’t for this organization, I quite literally wouldn’t be here! So it means a lot to me to be able to steer it forward. In addition to the festival, we go into a lot of Philly schools where they have cut the music programs and provide music lessons and in-class concerts or help connect music to various curriculums. We also work with local musicians and do artist-development programs teaching musicians the business side of music. Most artists already know how to write and perform and do the creative aspects but need help with the business end of things. We also just opened up a music school and music venue in Roxborough, which is exciting. The organization has been around for 59 years and this is the first time we’ve ever had our own venue so we can now present music all year long. That’s my day job. PGN: What was a favorite festival moment from when you were a kid? JN: Oh gosh, just getting to see so many musical legends and getting to experience that they’re just real people. Getting to interact with Jackson Browne, Joan Baez, Janis Ian, Bonnie Raitt, Lyle Lovett, and also getting to discover new people and new music. It’s really shaped who I am musically, and I have to say, growing up around all those hippies made it really easy to be gay. Being surrounded by people who were all about peace and love, who preached loving and being yourself ... PGN: My babysitter was a hippie. She used to drive a converted ambulance that had flowers painted all over it. All my friends’ parents were terrified that I “associated with hippies,” but the most radical thing we ever did was when she let me put a stainedglass lampshade that she made over my head while she played Beatles songs and I spun around to get the sensation of being high. JN: I love it! A safe high for kids! PGN: No favorite celebrity encounter? Ever get hit on or have a tryst with a musician? JN: No! The funny thing is that in the folk world there are very few gay men. I get

to meet the “who’s who” of lesbians, but very few openly gay men in this realm. Now, in a previous life, I worked for the Philadelphia Film Society and Festival and there I had some great celebrity interactions with people like Jennifer Lawrence and Kerry Washington and all sorts of famous-ish and up-and-coming people. But my favorite encounters are always with those who just act like regular people as the Lyle Lovett “Gosh darn, thank you for having me here”-types of people. PGN: You’ve had a pretty good variety of jobs. Give me a quick rundown. JN: Ha! I like to call myself culturally promiscuous. I’ve worked with a lot of different arts organizations. I was with the PA Ballet for a little while, the Philadelphia Film Society, I worked with Angela Giampolo at Philly Gay Lawyer for a bit, I was a trainer for the Bryson Institute, but Planned Parenthood was probably my first big-boy job. I’ve always worked in and around nonprofits; I guess I just have that do-goodery spirit. I always wanted to help people or help distract people, to give people some escape and something to look at or listen to to lift their spirits.

stand; you know, in my 16-year-old head I thought the world revolved around me and my sphincter, and I thought, How can you not immediately be supportive? You have all these gay friends! But I came to realize that it was because she had so many lesbian and gay friends that she was upset. She’d walked down the street when people had thrown stuff at them and yelled out slurs, she’d visited friends who’d had the shit kicked out of them and ended up in the hospital. She knew it was a hard life and as a parent you, of course, want the easiest life possible for your child so that’s why she reacted like she did, but by the next day all was fine and she’s been one of my biggest advocates ever since. I don’t get to see my father too often but I’ll never forget when I came out to him. My dad was very handy so he was coming over to fix something for me. My high-school boyfriend was just leaving as my dad came in and I introduced them. When we went up to my room I realized that my boyfriend had left a periodical right there on the bed. It was a

PGN: Tell me a little about the family. JN: I grew up with my mom and dad on a horse farm in Chester County for the first eight years of my life and then my parents split and my mom, sister, grandmother and I moved to Bucks County. My mom married husband number-three there;, she’s on number four now and she met all four at the Philadelphia Folk Festival, so if there are any hetero hippie ladies looking for love, that’s the place to go. PGN: I’ll tell my mother. JN: Definitely. So my mom had sooooo many lesbian friends growing up. I had my Aunt Nancy and my Aunt Beth and my Aunt Cathy, I think every lesbian in the tri-state area became an aunt to me at some point. I knew that they were women who loved women and that some of them had dogs and cats. [Laughs] I understood the word “lesbian” at the age of 2 but I don’t think I knew what gay was until I was in my teens! PGN: Siblings? JN: I have one sister who works in public health for the City of San Fransisco and she’s been working in HIV/AIDS prevention in LatinX, African-American and teen communities. I could not be more proud of her. PGN: How was your coming out? JN: Well, with all her lesbian friends, I expected my mother to exclaim, “Oh, that’s great!” but she got really, really upset and bawled her eyes out. I didn’t under-

little paper called the PGN! My dad saw it and went, “Oh ... Oh? Ohhhhh. Uh, is your friend gay?” I got quiet and then I said, “Yes, and so is your son.” Then he got quiet and then the first words out of his mouth were, “Don’t let it affect your school work.” And that was it. PGN: Any early signs? JN: No, I really didn’t know I was gay until my best friend kissed me at his 13th birthday party. It was a sleepover and we were

watching “Scream 2” on VHS and his dad told everyone to go to sleep. Neither of us could sleep and as we were up whispering he suddenly leaned in and kissed me. I flew back 10 feet and was like, “Whoa. This is my best friend! Who is a dude … and he just kissed me! Let’s do it again.” After that, we began to date in secret for two to three years, all of middle school. No one noticed or cared that me and my best friend spent a lot of time going to the movies, hanging out or locked in each other’s rooms. So that was a pretty big sign. PGN: That’s one of the few benefits of being an LGBT youth. In college, none of my girlfriend’s straight roommates were allowed to have boys in the dorm, but I was free to spend the night and no one thought anything about it! JN: Right! PGN: On behalf of my nephew, I have to ask you about one of your other lives. When did you get involved in anime? JN: How did you find that out? Yes, I was the director for voice-overs, dubbing anime cartoons. And if you’re a male that sounds young and you’re anywhere near it you’re eventually going to get dragged into a booth to act like a whiny teenager, which I did. I got to be in a gay ninja TV show, “Nabari no Ou,” which was pretty cool, being part of something that was gayfriendly. Anime and the Japanese culture have been very supportive of showing the LGBT community as special and unique and beyond the “normal” heteros. I got to work on things you may have heard of like Dragonball Z, did some script work on that and the biggest thing I’m most proud of was a show called “Sgt. Frog” on Netflix and Hulu. It was like “Pinky and the Brain” with alien frogs and it was so funny. I Photo: Suzi Nash played a whiny teenager in that too! I was also in “One Piece,” which a lot of anime fans know. PGN: How did you get into it? JN: I slept with the right person. [Laughs] While on vacation in Baltimore, I met this guy from Dallas who did voice acting. We hit it off and had a little weekend thing and followed up with trips to visit him in Dallas. It didn’t work — for me, a long-distance relationship is PAGE 32

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 7-13, 2017

PGN SUMMER PREVIEW from page 26

Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St.; 800-7453000. Arcade Fire The rock band performs 7:30 p.m. Sept. 17 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215389-9543. Katy Perry The pop singer performs 7:30 p.m. Sept. 18 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215389-9543. The Cranberries The alternative-rock band performs 8 p.m. Sept. 20 at The Fillmore Philadelphia, 29 E. Allen St.; 215-625-3681. Quicksand The alternative-rock band performs 8:30 STING, QUEEEN WITH p.m. Sept. 22 at Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St.; 215-232-2100. ADAM LAMBERT Hanson The pop-rock band performs 8 p.m. Sept. 28 at The Fillmore Philadelphia, 29 E. Allen St.; 215-625-3681.

Food and Drink Directory

Nightlife Martha Graham Cracker 12-Year Anniversary Party The Philly cabaret star performs with DJ Robert Drake and Christeene 8:30 p.m. Aug. 10 at The Trocadero Theater, 1003 Arch St.; 215-922-6888. Beth Malone The actor seen in “Fun Home” performs 7:30 p.m. Aug. 25 at The Rrazz Room, 385 W. Bridge St., New Hope; 888-596-1027. Kinsey Sicks The comedy “dragapella” group performs 7:30 p.m. Aug. 26 at The Rrazz Room, 385 W. Bridge St., New Hope; 888-596-1027.

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Alex Newell The performer and actor seen on “Glee” performs 7:30 p.m. Sept. 23 at The Rrazz Room, 385 W. Bridge St., New Hope; 888-596-1027. Theater & Arts BalletX Summer Series 2017 Philadelphia’s premier contemporary ballet company presents a series that includes two world premieres July 12-16 at Prince Music Theater’s Main Stage, 1412 Chestnut St.; 267-239-2941. Bring It! Live The hip-hop-flavored dance show comes to Philly 3 and 7 p.m. July 16 at Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St.; 215893-1999. Guys and Dolls Bucks County Playhouse presents the legendary musical July 21-Aug. 12, 70 S. Main St., New Hope; 215-8622121.

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Grease Camden County College presents the beloved musical set in the 1950s July 22-29 at Dennis Flyer Memorial Theatre, 200 College Drive, Blackwood, N.J.; 855-9362467. Wicked The Broadway musical based on the popular book returns July 26-Aug. 27 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; 215-893-1999. 2017 Fringe Festival The 17-day, citywide celebration of innovation and creativity in contemporary performance, Sept. 7-23 at various venues; http://fringearts.com. n

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 7-13, 2017

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

Reimagining Portuguese culture, mythology in ‘The Ornithologist’ By Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor

PGN: In many of your films, your LGBT characters are outsiders in society, more comfortable on their own than with other people. Can you talk about this theme in your work? JPR: It’s more that they follow their own instincts to cope with the world. They like being apart from society; they find their

Gay writer/director João Pedro Rodrigues’ spellbinding drama “The Ornithologist,” opening at the Ritz at the Bourse, has Fernando (Paul Hamy) observing black storks along the Douro River in Northeast Portugal (by the border with Spain). After getting caught in some rapids, he encounters a pair of Christian Chinese hikers, Fei (Han Wen) and Ling (Chan Suan), as well as Jesus (Xelo Cagiao), a hunky deaf shepherd with whom he has a tryst, and a trio of topless female hunters (Juliane Elting, Flora Bulcao and Isabelle Puntel). The further Fernando gets on his journey, the more he discovers about himself. “The Ornithologist” blends reality and fantasy, but it is also an imaginaPAUL HAMY (FROM LEFT) WITH XELO tive reworking of the allegory of St. CAGIAO IN “THE ORNITHOLOGIST” Anthony of Padua. Rodrigues spoke with PGN via Skype about making his remarkable new film. own space, and live with the idea that you have to create your own world to live in. It’s also connected to myself. I don’t think PGN: What inspired you to make this film, it’s possible to make something artistic and present a queer riff on St. Anthony of and not be personal. Films are my way of Padua? communicating with other people. This is JPR: I liked this idea of working with how I feel comfortable. I have something Portuguese popular culture, but also someto say through film. There are things I thing that is grounded in tradition, and also mythical. The film departs from a lot of dif- don’t understand, because I don’t think ferent mythologies — Christian mythologies films are stories that should have clear messages, but they are inspired by my and ancestral traditions. I like the idea of own experience. going back to something in our culture and appropriating that material and turn it into PGN: Can you talk about casting Paul my own material. During the dictatorship, religion was one of the pillars, and the story Hamy and Xelo Cagiao? of St. Anthony was told as a symbol of fam- JPR: I found Xelo for my previous short ily and good behavior, but that was not what film and I thought of him to play Jesus, and I wrote that part for him. Paul, I found he was about. He was a Franciscan born later. I rewrote the part thinking of Paul. in Lisbon and died in Padua and he was He [is French, and] learned Portuguese. much closer to nature, not material goods. I had to have St. Anthony speak with an I wanted to go back to something closer to these Franciscans, who were like ecologists. accent. It was difficult for me to dub him. The film is constructed with this idea of I took all these pieces and wanted to tell doubles, so my voice is haunting his body. [about] a man set in nature who gets lost We did some rehearsals, and the actors with no human contacts. It goes back to my met before shooting, but when I first made studying ornithology and biology before I films I did more rehearsals than I do now. studied film. These departures tell in a free There is more tension that builds up in the way the mythological story of this saint. real shooting. I also know what I want and how to direct the actors and how to reach PGN: There are many scenes that deal what I want in him. with communication and connection, from Fernando speaking English with the Chinese girls to his physical and erotic coupling with PGN: The film deals with myth and spirits, from the Mirandese and their ritual to Jesus. Can you discuss this theme? the ecstatic ending with Antonio. Can you JPR: I think that also came from the legdiscuss why and how you incorporated end of the saint. He could understand every elements of magical realism into the film? language, and everyone understood him, even if he spoke with a different language. JPR: I am not sure if it’s magical realism. Even fish could understand him. There is a Everything departs from reality. I’m afraid connection between human and animal that of being symbolical. Everything is hapSt. Anthony could make. I liked this idea of pening realistically. It’s not magical. The only way to get to fantasy is being physihaving many languages coexist in one film and in one place. cal and real. n

Theater & Arts

Bristol; 215-7850100.

Another Way of Telling: Women Photographers from the Collection Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition featuring exceptional and rare photographs by women exploring identity in and out of the studio through July 16, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

The Fate of the Furious The action film is screened 8 p.m. July 11 at The Trocadero Theater, 1003 Arch St.; 215-922-6888.

Around the World in 80 Days Hedgerow Theatre presents the global adventure story through Aug. 13, 64 Rose Valley Road, Media; 610-5654211.

Kyle Mooney The comedian from “SNL” performs 8 p.m. July 10 at The Trocadero Theater, 1003 Arch St.; 215922-6888.

Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story The story of the early rock ’n’ roll icon comes to the stage through July 9 at Perelman Theater, 300 S. Broad St.; 215-893-1999. Channeling Nature by Design Philadelphia Museum of Art examines how designers of handmade and industrial objects — including furniture, pottery, kitchenware and even a 3-D printed neckpiece — have responded to the beauty and fragility of the natural world through July 16, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100. Chris Kattan The comedian and “SNL” alum performs through July 8 at Punch Line Philly, 33 E. Laurel St.; 215-606-6555. Disney’s Cinderella Bristol Riverside Theatre presents the classic fairytale on stage through July 7, 120 Radcliffe St.,

Joe Machi The comedian seen on “Last Comic Standing” performs July 7-9 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215-4969001.

Lino Tagliapietra: Painting in Glass Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition showcasing the artist’s complex glass vessels through July 16, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215763-8100. Mystery Science Theater 3000 Live! Join Joel Hodgson, creator of the critically acclaimed TV show, and its new host Jonah Heston on the first live touring production of the popular series 7 and 10 p.m. July 7 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; 215-5727650. Philadelphia Assembled Initiated by artist Jeanne van Heeswijk, together with hundreds of collaborators from across the city, the project explores Philadelphia’s changing landscape and tells a story of radical communitybuilding and active resistance through July 31 at Philadelphia Museum

SUMMER CHILL WITH JILL: One of the community’s focal points hosts a concert when indie folk-rock singer songwriter Jill Sobule performs an intimate show 7 p.m. July 7 at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St. For more information or tickets, call 215-732-2220.

of Art, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. Phulkari: The Embroidered Textiles of Punjab Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition exploring the beauty and cultural significance of phulkari, ornately embroidered textiles from Punjab, a region straddling Pakistan and India, through July 9, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. Saturday Night Fever Walnut Street Theatre presents the stagemusical adaptation of the hit disco-era film featuring songs by the Bee Gees through July 16, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550. Transparency The LGBTQ glassart exhibition runs through Aug. 6 at National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut St.; 215925-2800. Wild: Michael Nichols Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition exploring the work of the legendary photographer, artist,

technical innovator and ardent advocate for preserving natural habitats through Sept. 17, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. Witness: Reality and Imagination in the Prints of Francisco Goya Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of works by Goya, who witnessed decades of political turmoil and social upheaval as court painter to four successive rulers of Spain, through Sept. 6, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100. The Woodmere Annual: 76th Juried Exhibition An exhibition featuring works in a wide variety of media from regional artists, through Sept. 4 at the Woodmere Art Museum, 9201 Germantown Ave.; 215-247-0476.

Music Vans Warped Tour The daylong lineup of punk and rock bands including CKY, Gwar, The Ataris, Save Ferris,

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 7-13, 2017

The

Guide to the Gayborhood

The Philadelphia Gayborhood is roughly centered at Locust and Camac streets. Look for the rainbow street signs at intersections and remember to be aware of your surroundings wherever you go. Boxers

Rakim and Ghostface Killah The acclaimed rappers perform 8:30 p.m. July 8 at The Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St.; 215627-1332. James Taylor and Bonnie Raitt The folk-rock singer and the blues guitarist perform 7:30 p.m. July 9 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215-389-9543. Better Than Ezra The alternative-rock band performs 8 p.m. July 9 at TLA, 334 South St.; 215922-1011. Kehlani The out pop singer performs 8:30 p.m. July 10 at The Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St.; 215-627-1332.

Foreigner and Cheap Trick The classic-rock bands perform 7 p.m. July 12 at BB&T Pavilion, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, N.J.; 609365-1300. Zac Brown Band The country-music group performs 7 p.m. July 14-15 at BB&T Pavilion, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, N.J.; 609365-1300.

Simply Barbra’s Starring Steven Brinberg The cabaret singer performs as the legendary Barbara Streisand 7:30 p.m. July 8 at The Rrazz Room, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; 888-596-1027.

Towering Inferno The classic disaster film is screened 2 p.m. July 9 at the Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-1228. Blobfest The celebration of the classic creature feature “The Blob” and its many incarnations comes to the theater it made famous July 14-16 at the Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-1228. n

Nightlife Bearlesque: Audience Choice The bear-themed burlesque revue returns for its monthly residency 9 p.m. July 7 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215964-9675.

Notices Send notices at least one week in advance to: Out & About Listings, PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147 fax: 215-925-6437; or e-mail: listings@epgn.com. Notices cannot be taken over the phone.

Walnut St.

Chancellor St.

St. James St.

m Locust St.

m <—

Latimer St.

m Manning St.

11th St.

The Ultimate Queen Celebration Starring Marc Martel The Queen tribute band performs 9 p.m. July 7 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.

<—

206 S Quince St. 215.627.1662 Old-school men’s bar; pool tables, big-screen sports action; basement has enforced dress code

Quince St.

Outta Town

Sleepaway Camp 2: Unhappy Campers and Sleepaway Camp 3: Teenage Wasteland The double feature of “campy” slasher films is screened 9 p.m. July 8 at the Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-1228.

The Bike Stop

200 S. 12th St. 215.964.9675 tabuphilly.com Sports bar with light fare and shows upstairs

12th St.

Ed Sheeran The pop singersongwriter performs 7:30 p.m. July 11 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215-389-9543.

Peppermint The “RuPaul’s Drag Race” performer comes to Philly 8 p.m. July 8 at Voyeur, 1221 St. James St.; 215-7355772.

202 S. 13th St. 215.545.1893 woodysbar.com Includes attached Walnut Street bars Rosewood and GloBar

Camac St.

Charlie Wilson The R&B singer performs 8 p.m. July 8 at The Mann Center, 5201 Parkside Ave.; 215546-7900.

Echo & The Bunnymen and Violent Femmes The classic alt-rock bands perform 6 p.m. July 11 at The Mann Center, 5201 Parkside Ave.; 215546-7900.

Tabu

Woody’s

1316 Walnut St. 215.546.8888 Festively lit women-owned bar complete with a “beer” pong table

13th St.

Sick of It All and more 11 a.m. July 7 at BB&T Pavilion, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, N.J.; 609365-1300.

Toasted Walnut

Juniper St.

FOREVER YOUNG AND COLORFUL: Rock stars Rod Stewart and Cyndi Lauper are set to share the stage for an evening of their greatest hits 7:30 p.m. July 12 at BB&T Pavilion, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, N.J. For more information or tickets, call 609-365-1300.

1330 Walnut St. facebook.com/ boxersphl Sports bar with a dozen huge TVs, pool table, brick pizza oven, sports teams specials

Spruce St.

Cypress St.

William Way LGBT Community Writer’s Block Rehab Center 1342 Cypress St. 267.603.6960 A cozy, comfortable bar and lounge perfect for escaping the norm

1315 Spruce St. 215.732.2220 waygay.org A resource for all things LGBT

<— <— West of Broad Street Stir Lounge

1705 Chancellor St. 215.732.2700 stirphilly.com Fun two-bar lounge, DJ in the back, regular poker games and specials

The Attic Youth Center

255 S. 16th St. 215.545.4331 atticyouthcenter.org Safe space and programs for LGBTs age 16-23 weekday afternoons and evenings

Voyeur

Knock

U Bar

ICandy

1221 St. James St. 215.735.5772 voyeurnightclub.com After-hours private club; membership required

1220 Locust St. 215.546.6660 Relaxing corner bar, easy-going crowd, popular for happy hour and window watching

225 S. 12th St. 215.925.1166 knockphilly.com Fine-dining restaurant and bar, outdoor seating (weather permitting), piano in back room

254 S. 12th St. 267.324.3500 clubicandy.com Three floors with a total of six bars; dance floor, lounge and rootop deck.

Tavern on Camac 255 S. Camac St. 215.545.8731 Piano lounge with upstairs dance floor; Tavern restaurant below is open late.

Pa. bars close at 2 a.m. unless they have a private-club license. Please drink responsibly.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 7-13, 2017

PORTRAIT from page 27

more than five SEPTA stops — but his best friend, Monica, and I became friends too. She’s the voice of “Hello Kitty,” amongst other things, and she got me into the studio to work on a show called “Shin-Shan” on the Cartoon Network. From there, I did some writing and coordinating, which was a blast. I remember I was auditioning people in Dallas and people would be like [with a thick Southern accent], “Oh no ya’ll, don’t go over they-ar.” I’d say, “OK, cool read, but your accent is coming through just a little” and they’d respond like Gomer Pyle, “Whut ak-ceyent?” PGN: Great story. When did you get involved in sports? JN: I played growing up. I loved, loved baseball; I’m a huge lifetime Phillies fan. It’s hard right now but I’m hanging in there. I played tennis and volleyball and have always loved sports, but for the longest time in LGBT Philadelphia it was, you can play softball or you can play softball or you could play softball. I know there were other choices, but that was the main one. But softball was the closest thing to baseball so I went to join a league until I saw the schedule. There were games scheduled for 8 a.m. on a Sunday! That’s the most homophobic thing I’ve ever encountered. I was just like, I can’t. Then a good friend of mine, Kevin Gallagher, messaged me, “There’s gay kickball in Philly!” But it was in summer when I do the folk festival and I knew I wouldn’t be able to attend much. I signed up anyway. It was only $40 and after the first game I had so much fun I completely rearranged my calendar so I could participate. Because of my nonprofit experience, I was asked to join the Stonewall Sports board. After kickball season, we were looking for a winter sport, and my hand immediately shot up and I yelled, “Volleyball! Let’s do volleyball!” I played in school and really missed it, so we started gay volleyball. PGN: What sports are offered with Stonewall Sports? JN: Right now, we have billiards and sand volleyball in the summer and kickball, dodgeball, volleyball later. We just added yoga and we’ll start bowling in the fall. It’s really grown. The first season we had 100-some odd people and nine teams; now, we just had close to 800 people sign up for dodgeball and are sold out for sand volleyball. There seems to be a real need for recreational sports for LGBT people on weeknights as well as weekends that are non-competitive and fun. OK, some of us — and by us, I mean me — can get a little yelley and screamy but all in fun. It’s a great way to bring the community together. This past spring, we really changed things with that in mind. For kickball, instead of letting people form their own teams with the same people they’ve played with since the beginning, we randomly picked people and put teams together. We called it the Kickball Remix and it was great. We all met and interacted with people of different ages, different backgrounds and met new friends.

PGN

PGN: Are the teams mixed gender? JN: We have no requirements. We let everybody play however you identify. We want women to have a place to connect as well since there are so few places for lady-loving or identified people to go. Thank God Toasted Walnut opened up, but before that, there wasn’t much available. PGN: Craziest sports moments? JN: I had a crazy, “OMG kill me now” year in 2105 where I went to 15 weddings! I was at a bachelor party in A.C. and I was asked to ref a game the next morning. I’m a Philly boy so I don’t have a car, so by the time I got back from A.C. I ended up having to go straight from the strip club to the game in my tux. It ended up becoming a weird tradition and I now wear a tux to any of the big match-ups that I’m called to referee. But so many great memories. I play billiards with “Ruth Bader Ginsballs.” We played 20 games and lost every single one — we were 0-20 — but somehow we rallied in the championships and won every game except the double elimination at the end. We had fun throughout. PGN: I love the team names. JN: Yeah, Volley Parton is my volleyball name. PGN: You mentioned a tux, but I understand you were in a more interesting outfit recently. JN: Yes! So Stonewall was invited to participate in Drag Wars last week, which is why I have no beard for the first time in six years. I was paired with the fabulous drag queen Jennie Haney and we won! It was fun, but I probably won’t be doing it again because I realized that high heels are terrifying! I can’t believe we ask women to wear them. It should be classified as a hate crime! Stairs? Horrifying in heels. I was grapevining down the stairs at Voyeur and one of my lesbian teammates had to talk me down. But I love drag. It was good to learn that I could do it, I just chose to leave it to those who are better at it. PGN: Best prank you ever pulled? JN: I was born on April Fool’s Day so my entire life is a joke. I’m very much a kidder. I had a boyfriend who was very skittish, so I took a coat and put it over some balloons that were in the house so that it looked like it was an intruder. He screamed and ran and called 911. We’re not together anymore ... PGN: If you could name the street you live on, what would you call it? JN: Gloria Way. PGN: No explanation needed. n For more information on Stonewall Sports, visit www.stonewallphillly.org. For more information on Philadelphia Folksong Society, visit www.pfs.org. To suggest a community member for Family Portrait, email portraits05@aol.com.

Q Puzzle Gay Bogeyman Across

1. Head-turner 5. Hightail it 9. Mortify with porn, perhaps 14. Palindromic fellow 15. Architecture, to Philip Johnson 16. Keep moist in the kitchen 17. Cordial, as a welcome 18. “The ___-splitter” (Lincoln nickname) 19. Where to find your first mate 20. Nursery rhyme in a gay horror film? 23. He made boxers more visible 24. Fleur for Foucault 25. Joan of Lesbian Herstory 26. Show a really good time 28. Poem of Sappho 30. Rock guitarist Barrett

31. “Come, come!” 32. Mychal Judge, e.g. 35. Horror film with a gay title character 38. Dictator of Nureyev’s land 39. Limp body part, allegedly 42. ICU amounts 45. Point between “gay” and “com” 46. Granola lesbian’s concern 47. Pinball Wizard’s game venue 50. The Batmobile, e.g. 51. One-nightstand partner, crudely 52. School where actors study to be in a gay horror film? 56. Day of many Hudson flicks 57. Cucumber wasted on the kitchen? 58. Gently sloped hill 60. Not potent 61. OffBroadway prize 62. Cole

Porter’s “___ Love Again” 63. Francis Bacon work 64. Come across as 65. “___ in the Clowns”

Down

1. Blow in a comic book 2. Stallion sheds 3. Like a beard 4. What Lara Croft raids 5. Ken’s fag hag? 6. Face-to-face tests 7. Carrie in “Star Wars” 8. It might go right to the bottom 9. Take down a peg 10. Sites for three men in a tub 11. Nice buns, e.g.? 12. Rock’s ___ Dan 13. In a mound 21. Cockeyed 22. Hit in the family jewels 23. Dadaist Jean 27. Sounds of “Baby, that was good!”

28. Circle of Uranus 29. “Gorillas in the Mist” author Fossey 32. Lorca’s stick 33. They scatter their seed afar 34. Scroll for the cut 36. Boy Scouts founder ___-Powell 37. Screw around without having sex 40. Doesn’t leave the closet 41. Leonard Bishop’s “Creep Into ___ Narrow Bed” 42. Bag carrier for Sheehan 43. Sings

“White Christmas,” maybe 44. Bernstein manuscripts, e.g. 46. Audre Lorde’s birthplace 48. “The Seven Samurai” director Kurosawa 49. Singer Springfield 50. Whoopi’s role in “The Color Purple” 53. Vows now legal for all 54. It’s a sensation 55. “The Unicorn” author Murdoch 59. Pull the plug on

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 7-13, 2017

Wedding Services Directory Spring Hollow Golf Club A venue as unique as you!

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PGN

Classifieds All real-estate advertising is subject to Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended. Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and handicap (disability). PGN will not knowingly accept any realestate advertising that is in violation of any applicable law.

PGN does not accept advertising that is unlawful, false, misleading, harmful, threatening, abusive, invasive of another’s privacy, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, hateful or racially or otherwise objectionable, including without limitation material of any kind or nature that encourages conduct that could constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability or otherwise violate any applicable local, state, provincial, national or international law or regulation, or encourage the use of controlled substances.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 7-13, 2017

Real Estate Sale

For Sale

VENTNOR, NJ House for sale in Ventnor NJ. 2 story 5 bedroom house, needs some repairs. Priced right. Call 215 468 9166. ________________________________________42-39

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Help Wanted

pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976

HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM

LGBT employees are everywhere — and we want to help tell their stories.

Adonis cinema needs cashier/ cleaner. 3rd shift. part time fornow. Call 215-557-9319. ________________________________________41-29 Vacancies – Assistant Elementary Principal, Elementary Education, Middle Education, Middle School Science, Middle School Mathematics, Business and Information Technology, English, Biology, Earth Science, Mathematics, History and Social Sciences, Special Education, Electronics/ Robotics, Physical Education. Application Procedure: To apply, please visit our website at www.pecps.k12.va.us and complete the online application. Closing: Until ﬁlled. EOE – Prince Edward County Public Schools, Farmville, VA 434-315-2100. ________________________________________41-26 DEDICATED DRIVING OPPORTUNITY – GUARANTEED SALARY & HOME NIGHTLY!!! Must have at least 3 years recent class A/CDL veriﬁable experience and live in Allentown PA area. Call 540-5148576 now! ________________________________________41-26

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. ________________________________________41-29 WM, NE Phila. If you’re looking for hot action, call 215-934-5309. No calls after 11 PM. ________________________________________41-27 WM ISO same that would a little patient with me in letting me try to orally service you. Call Walt, 856-625-9195. ________________________________________41-28 WOULD Like to meet men from Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic for friendship and more. Also Mexicans. 856-547-4163. _____________________________________________41-27

Massage MASSAGE IN CENTER CITY After your workout or just a special treat for yourself. Book an appointment for a masssge in a safe clean space located in Center City Phila. Swedish, erotic and deep tissue I will tailor the massage to your speciﬁc needs. Call 609-203-1156. ________________________________________41-26

Recently engaged or married?

PGN wants to hear from you! With marriage equality still the law of the land our August 11 Wedding Issue will celebrate local couples who have, or are planning to, put a ring on it. Nominate yourself or someone else for Day in the Life Of to have one of our reporters spend a day on the job with you, and write about the experience. Email editor@epgn.com with your name, occupation, employer and work schedule for consideration.

Email editor@epgn.com by August 4th to have your announcement included.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 7-13, 2017

ADONIS CINEMA “THE ONLY ALL MALE ADULT THEATER IN THE CITY”

2026 Sansom St (located 3 doors up from Sansom St Gym)

215-557-9319 4 Small Theaters with Video & Dark Room Area

HOURS OF OPERATION: Monday - Thursday

7am-6am

(closed an hour for cleaning)

Friday- Sunday:

Open 24hrs

ADMISSION: $12.00

We now accept all major credit cards.

Plenty of New Things Happening at 2020...... “THE SUITES”

• 8 NEW Deluxe Rooms “EVERYTHING is LARGER” • New sound system • New custom Slings • A New Video Room with 6 video booths

WEEKLY SPECIALS:

TUESDAYS & SUNDAYS

Half Price Rooms & Lockers (6am Sunday till 8am Monday, 12am Tuesday till 8am Wednesday) ROOMS: Members: $12.50 and Non-Members: $22.50 LOCKERS: Members: $9.00 and Non-Members: $19.00

MONDAY thru FRIDAY: (8am to 4pm) Business Mans Locker Special 4 hour lockers Members: $5.00 and Non-Members: $15.00 WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY NIGHT CRUISE $12 Flat Rate for Locker Admission & Clothing Optional (4pm-12 Midnight)

ALSO DO NOT FORGET P.A.N.G. (Philadelphia Area Nudist Group)

Sunday, June 25th • Time: 3pm- 6pm For More Information On Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/pang

SATURDAY AFTERNOON DELIGHT 4 Hour Lockers (8am - 4pm) Members: $5.00 and Non-Members: $15.00

Check out our website for our WEEKLY SPECIALS & JOIN OUR e-mail List to get the latest information on upcoming events....

www.sansomstreetgym.com

BIGGER, BETTER & MORE ENTERTAINING EVENTS...

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 7-13, 2017

SERVICES & HOME IMPROVEMENT DIRECTORY Filippone Electrical

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ContraCting ExpErts Serving Philadelphia for over 75 Years

PA Lisc # PA116613 Philadelphia Lisc #45244 OSHA Lisc # 14-60-1324882

No Job Too Small

Carpentry - Kitchen/Bathroom Hardwood Flooring - Windows Doors - Sheetrock - Plumbing Electrical - Cement - Stucco - Painting

We’ll Beat Any Written Estimate Financing Options Available %15 Off when this ad is presented at time of estimate, and always for seniors, military and local or state police and fire employees

NJ office: 8569528197 Philly office: 2157833844

• kitchen & bathrooms • custom tiLe work • trim work • drywaLL & spackLe over • painting • finished basements • masonry & cement work. ask for

20 years experience

Your Call for Complete Home Remodeling! John!

R. RHOADS & SONS ROOFING INC. Over 20 Years Experience - Owner Operated

• Rubber Roofs • Shingles • Sliding • Gutters

• Spouts • Coatings • Repairs • Skylights

Insured and License # 46941

215-888-2963

VETERAN’S DISCOUNT

J E S S C O R E N O VAT I O N S

POLICE & FIRE DISCOUNT

Filippone General ConstruCtion

Spring Special

SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNT

No Job Too Small - Free Estimates - Our Prices Will Not Be Beat

Call/Email John Florio:

family

OwnED — an d — OpERaTED No Salespeople So ® No Commissions out of Your Pocket!

— —

215-482-8800 :

email info@summersquality.com

seal roofing complete roofing service ®

CERTIFIED In all TypEs OF ROOFIng flat rubber roofs • coatings • shingles/metal roofs Payment Plan:

A SP LI EN TT D LE

KET AO M L A Spend as little as $50 a week when you run for a minimum of 8 weeks.

Make your voice heard to a target audience with higher than average disposable income.

1/2 Down after completed, Balance due after first rain. anufacturers Warranties *M C ommercial & Residential * White Energy Efficient Coatings * Downspouts & Gutters * * Roof Inspections * Leak Repairs * Sidings

www.filipponeelectric.com

8200 Ridge Ave PhilAdelPhiA PA 19128

Financing Options Available

FlorioHomeRemodelingLLC@gmail.com

LICENSED AND INSURED Philly Lic #18313 • PA. Lic #053919

Plumbing • Heating • Air Conditioning • Electrical Contracting •

Remodeling Professionals

267-972-5928

215-783-3844

www.summersquality.com

Customizable Kitchens and Bathrooms, Specialize in all Crown Molding, Install Windows and Hardwood Floors, Demolition and Home Clean Out Assistance Doors, Sheetrock, Electric & Plumbing

with this ad

(must be presented at time of estimate)

F R E E E S T I M AT E S

FLORIO HOME REMODELING Creating Fabulous Homes for Over 25 Years

10% OFF

20% off with this ad

I5% OFF

any new roof installation upto $300 | must present ad | cannot be combined

IO% OFF

any roof/GUtter rePair upto $300 | must present ad | cannot be combined

licensed & insured / / 24-hr. emergency service / / Payment Plans available

2i5.533.4066 www.sealroofing.net

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 7-13, 2017

PGN