A Divine show comes to Philly PAGE 29
Thinking Queerly: Continuing marriage-equality talk and avoiding complacency PAGE 12
Family Portrait: Charles Gassaway welcomes you
Philly lawyer a ‘Best under 40’
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July 10-16, 2015
Since 1976
PGN Philadelphia Gay News HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
Vol. 39 No. 28
Location set for Casarez mural
Lesbian teacher fired from Catholic school
By Ryan Kasley ryan@epgn.com New details have been released about the recently announced plan to create a mural in honor of the late Gloria Casarez, the city’s first director o 1f LGBT affairs. PGN has confirmed that the mural will be located on the front wall of 12th Street Gym, 204 S. 12th St. Artist Michelle Angela Ortiz will paint the mural, which will celebrate Casarez’s life and commitment to social justice and human rights. A public outdoor dedication ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. Oct. 11 at the gym, in conjunction with Philly Pride Presents’ OutFest. There will also be a public “Paint Day,” where members of the public will be able to participate in the creation of the mural. The time and date has not yet been determined. Mayor Michael Nutter announced the creation of the mural April 22 at the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations’ PCHR Awards, though details such as its location were not yet finalized. The project is a collaboration among several community organizations, including the Mayor’s Office, PCHR, William Way LGBT Community Center, Bread and Roses Community Fund, GALAEI, Leeway Foundation, 12th Street Gym, Philly Pride Presents and the Mural Arts Program. “We at the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program feel privileged when we have the opportunity to commemorate individuals who have impacted our city and allow their legacy to live on in an artistic way,” said Jane Golden, executive director of the Mural Arts Program. “We are pleased to be able to honor Gloria Casarez and her work to gain equality for LGBTQ members of our community.” Over $30,000 has been raised to fund the mural so far. An exact cost for the project is not yet known, though it will be funded in part by the Mayor’s Office. In addition to honoring her legacy, many hope the mural will inspire a new generation of leaders. “I am so grateful to Mayor Nutter, Jane Golden, Michelle Angela Ortiz, and our community partners for honoring Gloria’s legacy of civil rights PAGE 19
By Ryan Kasley ryan@epgn.com
HISTORY, RECREATED: Dozens of volunteers restaged the Annual Reminder Day march outside Independence Hall July 4 where, 50 years before, one of the nation’s first LGBT-rights demonstrations took place. A number of Reminder-related events were held throughout the weekend, including a ceremony featuring Wanda Sykes, a luncheon featuring Edie Windsor and Judy Shepard and a panel discussion with LGBT historians and Reminder marchers. Additional photos from the weekend of events are on pages 16-17. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Nondiscrimination bill coming ‘soon’
A local teacher has been fired from a Catholic grade school after a parent reportedly complained about her sexual orientation. Margie Winters, who married her wife in Boston in 2007, taught at Waldron Mercy Academy in Merion for eight years. Most recently, she served as director of religious education. Winters told the Philadelphia Inquirer she was open with principal Nell Stetser from the beginning about her orientation and her marriage and was told she could be out to faculty and staff but remain closeted around parents and students. Winters said that request PAGE 18
By Ryan Kasley ryan@epgn.com Following the historic U.S. Supreme Court ruling on marriage equality, local state lawmakers are gearing up to introduce legislation to ban discrimination against LGBT people — with such a bill possibly coming in the next few days. Gabe Spece, chief of staff for lead House sponsor Rep. Dan Frankel (D-23rd Dist.), said House Bill 300 would be ready for introduction soon. “We’ve been working closely with advocates and stakeholders to get the bill ready to go and we hope to introduce it very soon,” Spece said. Lawmakers in the Pennsylvania House and Senate are coordinating efforts to introduce near-identical legislation as early as this week. “We are working with our co-prime sponsors in the Senate and PAGE 19
STEPPING FORWARD: Hundreds made their way across the new rainbow crosswalks at 13th and Locust streets at the July 5 Annual Reminders Block Party. The Gayborhood festival capped a weekend of events celebrating the 50th anniversary of the LGBT-rights demonstrations. The crosswalks, spearheaded by the city and Philly Pride Presents, were officially dedicated in a ceremony, after which four Annual Reminders participants were invited to be the first to cross the intersection. Photo: Scott A. Drake