PGN Aug. 2-8, 2013

Super Phreak!

Family Portrait: Brett Nicol PAGE 17

Philly Black Gay Pride announces new president and vice president

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Aug. 2-8, 2013

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Vol. 37 No. 31

Trans woman survives shooting in NoLibs

State sues MontCo to stop same-sex marriages

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com About three-dozen same-sex couples received marriage licenses in Montgomery County since a county official’s groundbreaking decision last week — but the state this week sought to put a stop to that practice.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Tuesday filed suit, asking Commonwealth Court to issue an immediate injunction to stop MontCo Register of Wills D. Bruce Hanes from issuing any more marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Hanes announced last week that he was willing to issue marriage licenses to samesex couples, despite the state’s ban on samesex marriage. As of presstime, 36 couples had taken Hanes up on that offer.

Tuesday’s suit argued that Hanes is “repeatedly and continuously acting in clear derogation” and “direct defiance” of the state’s marriage law.

“There is no limit to the administrative and legal chaos that is likely to flow from the clerk’s unlawful practice of issuing marriage licenses to those who are not permitted under Pennsylvania law to marry,” the suit stated.

Furthermore, the DOH maintained that public officials have a “mandatory duty” to follow state law, which defines marriage as between one man and one woman.

It requested that the court issue a writ of mandamus, a court order, that would order Hanes to cease and desist issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Hanes has 30 days to respond to the suit.

The DOH is spearheading the suit, as it regulates marriage licenses.

Hanes’ move ca me shortly after Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane announced she would not defend against a challenge to the constitutionality of the state’s marriage-equality ban by the American Civil Liberties Union.

Kane’s office did not respond to a request PAGE 2 for comment on Hanes’

By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com

NUTRITION ON THE GO: Runners set off from the headquarters of Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutritional Alliance on Ranstead Street for the July 25 Summer Fun Run. The agency, which provides nutritional meals to those with life-threatening illnesses, held its first 3-mile run last month in Bryn Mawr and will stage the third and final run Aug. 15 in Haddonfield, N.J. About two-dozen runners took part in the Center City event, raising about $675 for the organization, which will support the production and delivery of nearly 200 meals. Photo: Scott A. Drake

Lesbian widow awarded benefits

By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com

to Tobits or Farley’s parents.

Cozen cited the federal Defense of Marriage Act and Pennsylvania’s DOMA A federal judge has ruled in favor of as reasons to not recognize the women’s Jennifer Tobits, a lesbian widow who had marriage.

But a relevant section of the fedpetitioned for the death benefits of her eral DOMA was struck down by the deceased wife, Sarah Ellyn Farley.

In a 12-page ruling issued July 29, Supreme Court in June, and Jones ruled U.S. District Judge C. Darnell Jones 2d that Pennsylvania’s DOMA isn’t relevant, awarded Tobits a lump-sum payment of since the women lived in Illinois.

The judge also noted that the women’s about $41,000.

Canadian marriage was recognized in The women Illinois. lived in Illinois, “There can be no doubt that Ms. Tobits where Farley is Ms. Farley’s ‘surviving spouse’ under wa s a n a t t o r[Cozen’s benefits] plan,” Jones wrote. ney at the law Additionally, the judge cited the need firm of Cozen for “national uniformity” among federO’Connor, ally regulated pension plans when dealing which is based in with same-sex marriages.

Philadelphia.

Tobits wasn’t available for a comment, In 2006, they were married in SARAH FARLEY AND but she issued this statement: “I am overJENNIFER TOBITS joyed that the court has said my marriage Canada. to Ellyn deserves the same respect as After Farley’s death in 2010, Cozen filed a court action everyone else’s. Nothing can ever replace in Philadelphia, asking a judge to decide Ellyn, but it’s a great tribute to her that the PAGE 9 whether Farley’s death benefits should go courts have rejected

A transgender woman was shot July 30 in her Northern Liberties apartment.

According to police spokesperson Officer Christine O’Brien, police responded to a call at approximately 7:40 p.m. at the victim’s apartment on the 100 block of West Girard Avenue. The victim suffered a gunshot wound to the left side of her head.

“The victim stated that somebody rang her doorbell and when she answered it, they forced her upstairs and then shot her once, causing her to black out,” O’Brien said.

Other media outlets are reporting that the assailant also struck the woman with a pistol.

O’Brien said the victim, age 27, was in critical condition Wednesday at Hahnemann University Hospital, but that it was a good sign she could speak to officers after she was found with a gunshot wound.

The woman described her assailant to police as an unknown black male, 6-feet tall, with a thin build, a light complexion and light facial hair.

Deputy Commissioner and police LGBT liaison Kevin Bethel said there seemed to be no connection between this incident and the unsolved murders of transgender women Kyra Cordova in 2012 and Stacey Blahnik in 2010.

“At this point we have no indication that this is connected but we are looking. We are mindful of that and looking out, but so far there are no connections at this point.

If there are any patterns, we trace that,” he said.

Bethel said police had no motive behind the incident as of Wednesday and that it is not being investigated as a hate crime.

“Unless we find the motivation behind this, we can’t investigate it as a hate crime and there is no hate-crime law in Pennsylvania but we will be looking at this closely,” he said. ■

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NEWS PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 2-8, 2013

MONTCO from page 1

decision.

While Montgomery County’s move was historic, the licenses themselves do not hold any legal weight.

“Technically, it’s just a piece of paper. There’s no legal significance,” said Mazzoni Center legal director David Rosenblum.

Rosenblum noted that the licenses would likely not hold up in court, not necessarily because of the state’s current position on same-sex marriage, but rather because marriage has historically been a state, not a county, issue.

“I know some people have it in their heads that when this is challenged, they can appeal and then go forward with that, but the sad reality is that ultimately a court will say that the county didn’t have a right to do this — not on substance but on process,” he said. “Hurray for the register of wills who decided to do this; he’s definitely on the right side of history and we agree it’s unconstitutional. But I think the process will instead play out through the court system with the challenge by the ACLU. I think that’s the way [the state’s ban on same-sex marriage] will be found unconstitutional.”

Rosenblum said Mazzoni has been advising inquiring clients of the neighboring states that offer full marriage equality, as well as the legal documents, such as wills and powers of attorney, that can be obtained to safeguard couples’ and families’ rights. But the Montgomery County licenses

offer an important message, he added.

“We’ve been telling people that if what they want is to make a statement, that’s fine. You can pay the $45 and do just that,” Rosenblum said. “It’s like if you have just a religious service; it makes you feel good — and I don’t say that in a dismissive way — it gives you a certain power. But it doesn’t give you any rights.”

Last Friday, about 10 protesters from the Pro-Life Coalition of Pennsylvania converged on Hanes’ office to demonstrate against his decision, holding a “pray in” in the lobby.

Hanes said the environment at his office has been “hectic” in the past week.

Philadelphia residents Marion Leary and Lara Kelly received their license last Friday — and just barely missed the protesters.

“We were on the way up in the elevator when they were on their way down. So we missed them by about a minute,” Leary said.

“Once we got there, it was so pleasant and everybody was so nice. And then Bruce Hanes came out to talk to us, and he was so genuinely nice and supportive.

It’s better that all the press and protesters had left; it was just pleasant and normal.”

Leary and Kelly have been together for 13 years and will celebrate the 10th anniversary of their commitment ceremony in October.

They had been thinking about celebrating the anniversary with

a legal marriage in Delaware, but are now committed to waiting until there’s full equality in Pennsylvania.

“When Montgomery County did this, we decided to go up and get a license more out of support and solidarity for Bruce Hanes and Montgomery County for taking a stand for marriage equality in this state,” Leary said.

Norristown Council Vice President Bill Caldwell and his partner, Ken Olin, had the same intention.

The Norristown residents have been together for 28 years and marked their union with a religious ceremony 22 years ago.

hadn’t come up there to get married, and we said we wanted to wait until it was legal in Pennsylvania.

And then this came up just two floors below my office,” Caldwell said. “I called Ken and said, ‘This may not be legal but Bruce Hanes and [County Commissioners] Josh Shapiro and Leslie Richards made a huge political statement on our behalf. We need to support them.’ Regardless of whether this license is legal today, tomorrow or not for 10 years, we wanted to support them because they took a really big risk for us.”

Shapiro was on hand when the couple applied for the license, as was the county treasurer. Caldwell

“We’ve been telling people that if what they want is to make a statement, that’s fine. It’s like if you have just a religious service; it makes you feel good — and I don’t say that in a dismissive way — it gives you a certain power. But it doesn’t give you any rights.”

Caldwell, the second deputy treasurer for Norristown, whose office is in the same building as Hanes’, and Olin, an office manager, said they already considered themselves a married couple, but wanted to take the opportunity to support their elected officials’ stance on this issue.

“We had been in New York a week before and a couple of Ken’s siblings were asking why we

said the couple plans to hold a ceremony to sanction the license in the near future.

No other county officials have yet followed Hanes’ lead.

Philadelphia Register of Wills Ronald Donatucci said in a statement that he believes such a move is outside his power.

“Until the courts in the state of Pennsylvania determine the validity of same-sex marriages and the

Defense of Marriage Act, it is outside the authority of my office to issue marriage licenses to samesex couples,” Donatucci said.

Hanes, however, said he would be violating the constitution by denying same-sex couples the right to marry.

“I swore in an oath to uphold the constitution of the United States and the constitution of the commonwealth. That’s my point of view,” he said. “That’s my conclusion and the conclusion of the solicitor of the register’s office and the solicitor of the county. I cannot administer an unconstitutional statute.”

While the legalities of the county’s move are now to be sorted out in court, Caldwell said he believes the action brings the issue, and the people personally affected by it, to the forefront of the commonwealth’s consciousness.

“The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has to either stand up and recognize the fact that equal marriage is equal marriage, or take a stand and fight it out,” he said. “I’ve been on council for eight years and Ken and I have been very public around town; we go to things as a couple, we act married already. We wanted to make sure that the local community can put a face to the marriageequality debate. That strategy has worked well for the gay community in general. We need to be out and visible and as many people as possible need to see gay couples and see that we do not have the same rights as they do.” ■

locations in Philadelphia PHILADELPHIA — SOUTH OF C.C.

Bethel Community Home, 933-935 S. Third St. • Black N Brew, 1523 E. Passyunk Ave. • Carmen’s Country Kitchen, 11th & Wharton sts. • Class Act Auto Repair, 2042 S. Bancroft St. • Equal, 1516 Snyder Ave. • Essene, 719 S. Fourth St. • Expressive Hand, 622 S. Ninth St. • Fuel, 1917 E. Passyunk Ave. • Hideaway, Days Inn, 2015 Penrose Ave. • Jackson Place, 501 Jackson St. • Kris Restaurant, 1100 Federal St. • Rockerhead Salon, 607 S. Third St. • South Philly Bagels, 613 S. Third St. • Ultimo Coffee, 1900 S. 15th St. •

PHILADELPHIA — UNIVERSITY CITY

Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St. • Bucks County Coffee, 3430 Sansom St. • Bucks County Coffee, 40th & Locust sts. • Fresh Grocer, 4001 Walnut St. • Goodman Hall, 710 S. 42nd St. • International House, 3701 Chestnut St. • LGBT Center at Penn, 3907 Spruce St. • Old Quaker Condos lobby, 3514 Lancaster Ave. • Oslo Hall, 510 S. 42nd St. • Penn Bookstore, 3610 Walnut St. • Sheraton Hotel, 36th & Chestnut sts. • St. Mary’s Church, 3916 Locust Walk • University of the Sciences England Library, 4200 Woodland Ave. • University Lutheran Church, 3637 Chestnut St. • Wilson Hall, 708 S. 42nd St. • World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. •

All of these locations are now visible on a zoomable Google Map at

http://www.epgn.com/pages/where_to_find WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE YOUR BUSINESS OR ORGANIZATION ON THIS LIST? Contact Don at don@epgn.com or 215-625-8501 ext. 200 to arrange for delivery of complimentary copies.

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Community continues to grieve Williams

By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com

On July 13, a transgender woman was brutally murdered in North Philadelphia.

The following week, her alleged murderer was captured and, days later, the LGBT community game together to mourn.

And now, the LGBT community is ready to keep up the fight for justice for Diamond Williams.

Williams, 31, was a former member of The Attic Youth Center who aspired to be a nurse.

On July 20, Charles Sargent, 43, was charged with her murder.

Authorities say Sargent allegedly stabbed Williams in his Strawberry Mansion home and then dismembered her body, dumping her remains in a vacant field at York and Sedgley streets. It has been reported that the two had a sexual relationship, but police have continued to decline comment on the nature of their relationship to PGN. Police did not respond to multiple requests

by PGN for additional information on the investigation.

On July 23, the LGBT and ally community gathered at Love Park to both mourn the loss of a friend and call for justice for her, as well as for other local transgender women who were murdered, including Kyra Cordova last year, Stacey Blahnik in 2010 and Nizah Morris in 2002.

SIGNS OF PROTEST AND SUPPORT AT THE JULY 23 RALLY Photo: Scott A. Drake

For various community leaders, Williams’ murder opens up old wounds, but it has also motivated some to work to correct the rights that were wronged.

For Gloria Casarez, the city’s director of LGBT affairs, one wrong came from local media outlets that originally reported Williams’ gender identity as male instead of female.

“There has been a mix of feelings,” Casarez said. “Initially, the media coverage was disappointing and didn’t respect or reflect her gender identity, so initially folks were shocked, insulted and angry when her life wasn’t reflected accurately. Now I think there is a changing tide; subsequent coverage has been reflective and accurate.”

Casarez did note that the community response felt different this time, as the

alleged killer has been caught, but that it has reinvigorated the push for justice for other victims.

“It is the first case in long time where we actually have the suspect arrested, so it is very different than Nizah or Kyra or Stacey,” she said. “Of course whenever something like this happens, we think about the other cases, not just murder but the violence in our communities. It kicks up things for folks whether you knew that person or not.”

Samantha Jo Dato, peer outreach worker for Mazzoni Center’s Trans* Wellness Project, attended a self-help class with Williams last October at the Morris Home.

Dato said it was important to make sure that people are made aware of the transgender community.

“Diamond is a part of a long list of vic-

tims in Philly who are trans who have been attacked, murdered or brutally killed, so what we are trying to do is make people aware that trans people exist and get them out of danger’s way,” Dato said.

The Trans* Wellness Project and Mazzoni’s Sisterly Love Project had a planned meeting Aug. 1 to discuss a collaboration to keep the focus on Williams’ case.

Topics of safety within both the trans community and sex-work industry have been at the forefront of conversations among the community in the past few weeks.

But, said Elicia Gonzales, executive director of GALAEI: A Queer Latin@ Social Justice Organization, neither community should be open to the victim-blaming that she’s seen.

“I think it’s a matter of holding the people who perpetrate and murder trans people accountable and sending a clear message that this behavior will not be tolerated,” she said. “Stop pointing the finger at those who are hurt. People are just trying to survive.”

Casarez agreed, noting that the LGBT and ally community should continue to keep lines of communication open with loved ones and friends.

“Sometimes people are forced to live in dangerous situations and are in dangerous situations, so I definitely think having friends you are checking in with regularly is PAGE 8 a good thing,” she said.

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PEACEFUL PROTEST: State Rep. Brian Sims (second from left) and state Sen. Anthony Williams (right) talked to guests at the kickoff of the March for Justice July 29 at Wharton Square Park in South Philadelphia. The march launched Peace Week, a second-annual event staged by Unity in the Community, to call attention to the issue of gun violence in the city. Peace Week activities continue through Aug. 3. For a listing of events, visit www.unityinthecommunity215.com. Photo: Scott A. Drake

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Contents

Would you get a marriage license in Montgomery County even though you can’t get married in Pennsylvania?

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.

Gettin’ On

9 3 6 7 5

Staff Writers Angela Thomas (ext. 215) angela@epgn.com

Mombian Dana Rudolph

Larry Nichols (ext. 213) larry@epgn.com Writer-at-Large Timothy Cwiek (ext. 208) timothy@epgn.com

Advertising Sales Representatives Prab Sandhu prab@epgn.com National Advertising Rivendell Media: 212-242-6863 Office Manager/ Classifieds Don Pignolet (ext. 200) don@epgn.com

Philadelphia Gay News is a member of: The Associated Press Pennsylvania Newspaper Association Suburban Newspapers of America Published by Masco Communications Inc. © 2013 Masco Communications Inc. ISSN-0742-5155

The views of PGN are expressed only in the unsigned “Editorial” column. Opinions expressed in bylined columns, stories and letters to the editor are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of PGN. The appearance of names or pictorial representations in PGN does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of that named or pictured person or persons.

REGIONAL LOCAL PGN

Marriage advocates launch social-media campaign

By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com

so when she told me I was excited,” she said.

Leary, whose nonprofit Sink or Swim The fight for marriage equality in Philadelphia utilizes social media to genPennsylvania is not just being taken up erate funds to help people who are uninwith legislation and litigation, but is also sured or underinsured pay for medical expenses, said she believes social media is now being forged through social media.

Marion Leary launched Commonwealth one of the best ways to spread messages.

“Social media in general can reach Equality on July 15 along with photograthousands of people in a short amount of pher Elizabeth Field.

The new social-media campaign allows time, so for all issues, it has such massive individuals, families and/or couples to power to spread a work or campaign and upload inspirational photos, via Facebook give visibility that, before social media, or Twitter, of what equality would mean to may have been more difficult or taken more time. It brings an issue to the forethem in Pennsylvania.

Leary, a Philadelphia resident and front,” she said.

Commonwealth Equality allows locals clinical researcher, said Commonwealth Equality allows Pennsylvanians to take to download a template — a blank map of the state that includes either the Human Rights Campaign’s red equal sign logo or a rainbow flag — and write their own messages about LGBT equality on the sheet, and then photograph themselves and their loved ones holding the paper.

Nearly 100 photos had come in by press time earlier this week.

“We definitely want more photos from individuals, families, MESSAGES FROM MONTCO: Marion Leary (left) and allies — I have even partner Lara Kelly celebrated their newly issued marriage reached out to all license last Friday with Montgomery County Register of the LGBT Equality Wills D. Bruce Hanes (more coverage, p. 1). The couple was Caucus members and one of about three dozen who have been granted a maram trying to get lawriage license in the county since Hanes’ landmark decision makers involved,” last week to defy the state’s ban on same-sex marriage.

Leary said.

Leary recently launched Commonwealth Equality, a socialShe added that media campaign that encourages LGBTs and supporters social media has to circulate photos and messages about LGBT equality via been integral lately social media. in spreading the word on LGBT issues and an active and visible role in the Keystone news and noted, with this campaign, it State’s marriage-equality movement, could also be helpful in putting a perwhich has seen a wealth of new develop- sonal face to the LGBT community, and the issues LGBT people face on a daily ments in the past few weeks.

“I have a hard time sitting around doing basis.

“For me, my friends on Facebook are nothing when I see injustices happen. I really loved how it puts visual faces to a my friends on Facebook regardless of message and allows people to see who dis- sexual orientation,” Leary said. “I have crimination affects,” Leary said. “When friends from all spans of my life, so they I saw all that was happening with Rep. can now see how these marriage-equalBrian Sims and Attorney General Kathleen ity laws or DOMA affect my family and Kane saying she would not defend the friends in a way they might not have seen state’s Defense of Marriage Act, I thought before.”

For more information or to download I would build on the momentum and let the template, visit www.facebook.com/ people know who we are.”

Field said she was excited to join with CommonwealthEquality or www.Twitter. com/PAEqual. Photos can be emailed to Leary on the effort.

“Marion is a very motivational person commonwealthequality@gmail.com for and the issue is really important to me, upload. ■

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 2-8, 2013

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REGIONAL LOCAL PGN

Man with HIV awarded $20K in settlement

By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com

An HIV-positive man will receive $20,000 from a Bucks County weight-loss surgical facility that allegedly refused to treat him because he’s HIV-positive, under a settlement reached with the U.S. Justice Department.

In October 2009, the man was allegedly denied weight-loss surgery at Barix Clinics of Pennsylvania in Langhorne because of his HIV-positive serostatus.

An investigation was conducted by the DOJ, which determined that Barix violated the Americans with

Disabilities Act when turning the man away.

The man isn’t identified by name in the settlement.

In May 2012, Barix allegedly delayed performing weight-loss surgery on another HIV-positive man, Frank Hill, at its surgical facility in Ypsilanti, Mich.

The DOJ determined that Barix violated the ADA in that incident as well.

Hill will receive $15,000 from Barix within 30 days, according to the settlement.

However, Barix denies any wrongdoing in both incidents.

The company agreed to settle “to

News Briefing Woody’s protests Russian policies Woody’s Bar was scheduled to sponsor a public protest July 31 against Russia’s antiLGBT policies.

LGBT Pride parades are banned in Russia, LGBT adoption rights are nonexistent and violence against the LGBT community is pervasive, according to media outlets.

The Woody’s protest was scheduled to take place 8 p.m. July 31 outside the establishment, located at 202 S. 13th St. Bottles of Stolichnaya vodka were to be poured down a drain, as a show of solidarity with the LGBT community in Russia, according to a press release issued by

avoid further expense and uncertainty,” according to the settlement announced last week.

Barix also must pay the government a civil penalty of $10,000, under terms of the settlement.

Additionally, Barix must begin training its clinical staffers about HIV issues within 30 days.

Within 45 days, Barix must develop and implement an HIVinclusive antibias policy covering people with HIV/AIDS. For the next three years, the antibias policy must be displayed prominently at Barix facilities.

If Barix denies or delays weightloss surgery for another person with

Woody’s.

Several area politicians were expected to be in attendance, according to the release.

Organizers hope to encourage Stolichnaya vodka producers to work harder at opposing anti-LGBT policies in Russia, according to the release.

Nizah committee holds first meeting The Justice for Nizah Committee held its first meeting July 29 at the William Way LGBT Community Center.

Eleven people in attendance pressed forward with plans to obtain an independent probe into the death of Nizah Morris.

Morris, 47, was a transgender woman found with a fatal head wound in 2002, shortly after she received a courtesy ride from Philadelphia Police.

In April, the city’s Police Advisory Commission called for state and federal probes of Morris’ death, citing an “appalling” local investigation.

Phil Cochetti, a J4N committee member, volunteered to draft a letter to the appropri-

HIV, it must provide written justification of that action to the DOJ within 14 days.

Tony James, president of Barix’s Langhorne facility, had no comment.

Trevor Dyksterhouse, president of the Barix’ Ypsilanti facility, also had no comment.

Ronda B. Goldfein, executive director of the AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania, expressed satisfaction with the settlement.

“We assisted the complainant [denied services] at the Pennsylvanila facility,” Goldfein told PGN. “We played an instrumental role in developing the case.

ate officials, seeking the probe.

Once the letter is finalized, J4N members will ask individuals and groups concerned about Morris’ death to become signatories.

Dawn Cypress, a friend of Morris, expressed optimism that some type of justice will be obtained for the victim.

“Nizah’s murder may never be solved,” Cypress noted. “But at least we can hold local authorities accountable for so much evidence that appears to be missing or altered. We owe Nizah that much.”

The next meeting of the committee is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sept. 9 at the William Way, 1315 Spruce St. The public is invited to attend.

— Timothy Cwiek

Senior apartments to host info sessions Backers of the John C. Anderson Apartments will host informational meetings for those interested in applying for residence at 6 p.m. Aug. 6 and 28 at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315

And we’re pleased that the DOJ has reached this important settlement.”

Both men signed the settlement, which is posted on the DOJ’s website.

In a press release, Barbara L. McQuade, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, said: “Blanket exclusions of patients with HIV are misguided and illegal.

Under the law, caregivers cannot withhold care unless the decision is based on current medical knowledge about the particular patient and condition, not on stereotypes about a disability.” ■

Spruce St. The LGBT-friendly senior apartments will be located in the heart of the Gayborhood and feature brand-new one-bedroom apartments for seniors ages 62 and older.

The same information will be covered at both meetings.

To RSVP or for more information, email marketing@pennrose.com.

PGMC holds auditions for new season The Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus is gearing up for its 2013-14 concert season by holding auditions for new members.

Those interested in joining PGMC can audition Aug. 7, 19 or 21 at the Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion, 2111 Sansom St. PGMC has an exciting lineup for the season with a big-band holiday concert, a show centering on coming-out stories in March and a focus on Cole Porter in May. To sign up for an audition time visit www. pgmc.org. ■ — Angela Thomas

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LEGAL PGN

Nondiscrimination: Not as sexy, but just as important, as marriage equality Policymakers are finally taking the steps necesequality in the workforce. ENDA proposes the prosary to codify equality in several facets of everyhibition of discrimination based on sexual orientaday life, starting with the federal Employment tion or gender identity by all businesses with more Nondiscrimination Act and Pennsylvania House than 14 employees, excluding religious institutions Bill 300. Successful outcomes with both legislative and the military. This ideology will permeate all pieces will help to outlaw discrimination against aspects of employment; employers will be strictly the LGBT community, particularly in the workprohibited from considering factors such as sexual place, at both the local and national orientation or gender identity when making decisions with respect to hiring, level. firing, compensation or promotion.

HB 300 will serve as an amendment Initially drafted in 1994, ENDA to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, which prohibits discrimination has been reintroduced in the House by State Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) with based on race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, handicap or dis178 cosponsors, and in the Senate by ability, education and the use of a guide Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) with 53 dog. Currently, it provides no legal procosponsors. ENDA has never before tection on the basis of sexual orientabeen introduced with such firm support within the Senate. On July 10, it passed tion, gender identity or expression. As a result, the LGBT community is vulnereffortlessly through a Senate committee able to legally permissible — though in a 15-7 vote. The legislation received not morally or ethically sound — disall of the Democratic committeememAngela bers’ crimination in employment, housing, votes, in addition to those of three public accommodations and education.

Giampolo Republican members.

It is being coupled with Senate Bill 300, When endorsing ENDA June 13, which seeks to serve the same purpose.

President Obama also noted that in dozens of states In an early May press conference, HB 300’s lead ,“you can be fired just because of who you are or sponsor, Rep. Dan Frankel (D-23rd Dist.), said, who you love. That’s wrong. We’ve got to change “Being gay or transgender has nothing to do with it.” His solution is simple: Pass ENDA. And he is your ability to do a good job or to be a good neigh- eager to do so, proclaiming, “I want to sign that bor or tenant. This is just commonsense legislation. bill. We need to get it done now. And I think we Many people think it’s can make that happen.” the law already, and it The bottom line?

In most parts of should be.”

Pennsylvania today, HB 300 has bipartisan support from 89 someone can still be denied a hotel room legislators in the House, for being LGBT. They while 25 Pennsylvania senators are currently can be fired for being backing SB 300.

LGBT. LGBT individuals are vulnerable to One of HB 300’s unequal treatment by other large proponents their landlords, educais the American Civil Liberties Union, which tors or employers. The offers a tally on how measures being taken many jurisdictions by legislators throughout Pennsylvania and have already taken up such measures to ensure workplace equality. If HB federally, if successful, will be a massive step toward workplace and overall equality with regard and SB 300 are successful, Pennsylvania will join to the LGBT community. We are closer than ever 17 other states that have already amended their to equality nationwide, and the successful passage civil-rights laws to include protections for both of HB and SB 300 will help make state-mandated sexual orientation and gender identity, including nondiscrimination concrete. Then, ENDA will neighbors New Jersey and Delaware. New York and Maryland are among the four states that ban secure the concept of equality in employment at discrimination based on sexual orientation, but are the federal level as well. ■ not yet inclusive of gender identity. Additionally, somehundreds of municipalities in the United Angela D. Giampolo, principal of Giampolo Law States, including more than 30 in Pennsylvania, Group, maintains offices in Pennsylvania and have civil-rights protections based upon sexual ori- New Jersey and specializes in LGBT law, business entation, gender identity or both. law, real-estate law and civil rights. Her website While HB 300 is an all-encompassing approach is www.giampololaw.com and she maintains two to LGBT equality with regard to employment, blogs, www.phillygaylawyer.com and www.lifeineducation, housing and public accommodations, house.com. Send Angela your legal questions at ENDA is a more pinpointed act aimed primarily at angela@giampololaw.com.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 2-8, 2013

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Out Law

Out Law is an exclusive PGN feature the first week of every month.

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This ideology will permeate through all aspects of employment; employers will be strictly prohibited from considering factors such as sexual orientation or gender identity when making decisions with respect to hiring, firing, compensation or promotion.

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LOCAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 2-8, 2013

Phillies LGBT night back in full swing

By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com The Philadelphia Phillies will take on the Chicago Cubs next week, as the annual Gay Community Night at the Phillies celebrates 11 years of bringing the community out to the ballpark.

The game starts at 7:05 p.m.

Aug. 7 at Citizens Bank Park, and usually brings together hundreds of LGBTs and allies for a night of socializing and networking with new and old friends.

The community night is presented by the Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia. The event was created by Larry Felzer, treasurer of GALLOP and development coordinator for SeniorLAW Center.

This year, GALLOP chair ing or rolling, I will be fine.”

Giampolo has been attending Angela Giampolo of Giampolo the LGBT night for seven Law Group will throw years and said the event out the first pitch. shows how teams like the Giampolo, who Phillies have been at the hails from Montreal forefront of promoting and still mourns over LGBT equality and accepher fallen hometown tance. team Montreal Expos, “The Phillies have been has been a Phillies doing this for 11 years fan since she moved and just think of where to the city. She said we were 11 years ago: she’s excited about the ANGELA We didn’t have same-sex opportunity to throw GIAMPOLO marriage yet, we hadn’t the first pitch and has been practicing. even reached that very first “My arm hurts,” she said. “It milestone and the Phillies were is 60 feet that I have to throw the doing this before then,” she said. ball. I heard when Bill Clinton “I don’t think people realize how threw the first pitch, it bounced progressive the Phillies have been. before it got to the plate. As long For a sports team to highlight a gay as I can get it there without bounc- community night is amazing and

in 2013 with all the professional athletes coming out and showing equality from within the sport realm, this goes a long way.”

Beyond its symbolic nature, Giampolo noted that the event is also a fun night for the local LGBT community to enjoy a Philadelphia favorite.

“It is just so much fun. When you go to big nonprofit event like Mazonni Center’s annual gala or William Way LGBT Community Center’s Homecoming, it is a big gay camp reunion and you see all the people you wouldn’t see on a day-to-day basis, and community night at the Phillies is exactly like that. We all come together for one night to cheer for the Phils and catch up at a major league sports event. The energy is good from

WILLIAMS from page 3

*See this award-winning photograph now in the LGBT display at the Philadelphia History Museum, 15 S. 7th St., Philadelphia

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Police Public Affairs commanding officer Lt. John Stanford said the case is not being investigated as a hate crime. The District Attorney’s Office did not respond to whether it will track this as a hate crime.

Casarez, however, contended Williams’ murder was clearly brought from hate.

“In initial media reports, we heard that [Sargent] tried to use the ‘she tricked me’ defense and that has been used for decades and sometimes can be successful. The reality is that she was killed because she was transgender, so I think we will have to follow this case. I have full confidence that the DA will follow this aggressively.”

Sargent is currently being held at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility and will face a preliminary hearing Aug. 7.

With Sargent caught, the community has now turned its attention to keeping Williams’ legacy alive. Gonzales said keeping the conversation going about antitrans violence is one way.

“I think in doing some of the work that we have been doing and trying to do for a long time is a step in the right direction,” she said. “The fact that the community rallied together so quickly and bonded over this means that we have to have ongoing conversations about how to right a system that continues to be wrong in many ways.”

Trans activist and co-founder of the Philly Trans* March Christian Lovehall spoke at the vigil that was held for Williams.

Lovehall said it was important to keep Williams’ story fresh and to continue the fight for equality for all.

“I think it’s all about acknowledging what happened to her and that she was a

the first pitch to the end.”

Felzer said the event is even a good time for those who are not baseball fans.

“It is always an enjoyable evening for people, even if you don’t like baseball,” he said. “There are plenty of things to do; you can eat, drink and hang out with people.

We are all sitting together. There are people in the LGBT community that go to baseball games every game of the season but this is one chance a year where we can sit together not just as a community, but as a family.”

Tickets for the community section, which are $20 and $28, are now only available via phone at 215-463-5000. For more information, visit www.phillygaydays. com. ■

person. She was a friend, a sister, a loved one, and knowing that her flaws did not epitomize her personality. Although it’s sad to have to add more and more names to the [Transgender Day of Remembrance] list every year, we must speak her name as a community. We also can keep Diamond’s legacy alive by remaining resilient in the fight towards freedom as a community.”

Casarez said William’s murder can push the investigations in the other murders forward.

“This draws attention to these other cases.

We want to get resolutions for Kyra’s family. Kyra was active in the community and with her family. They loved her and supported her and respected her gender identity and they are hurting and it’s the same with S t a c e y ’s f a m i l y,” Casarez said, noting that Blahnik’s mother periodically emails her to catch up on the investigation. “We need to make sure families are briefed on status of investigations. I believe there are witnesses that have seen things. We need everyone engaged and even the rumors are important for us to get and follow up on. There is a role for everyone.”

Lovehall added that he hopes Williams’ story encourages unity among the LGBT community year-round.

“We have to come together as one community and combine our efforts in fighting against transphobia and hate violence,” Lovehall said. “We have to confront the very real racial tensions that often separate us and realize the power in numbers and that we are all in this together. We have to let our voices be heard, not just once a year at Philly Trans* March or at vigils, but all year in all different types of ways.” ■

“We have to let our voices be heard, not just once a year at Philly Trans* March or at vigils, but all year in all different types of ways.”

PGN LOCAL

Gayborhood Crime Watch The following incidents in the Midtown Village and Washington Square West areas were reported to the 6th Police District between July 15-21. Information is courtesy of 6th District Capt. Brian Korn; Stacy Irving, senior director, Crime Prevention Service; Center City District; the Police Liaison Committee and Midtown Village Merchants Association. To report crime tips, visit www. phillypolice.com or call 215-686-TIPS (8477).

INCIDENTS — At 11:40 a.m. July 15, two males were inside Platinum Jewelers, 1136 Market St., making a small purchase and talking on their cell phones when two other men, armed with handguns, entered wearing black cargo pants, police ballistic vests and masks. The four males conversed and the gunman went behind the counter as an employee activated the panic alarm. All four fled without taking anything. Central Detectives processed the scene for evidence and security video was obtained.

— At 7:40 p.m. July 15, three males entered Bronzed Tanning, 1120 Walnut St. Two distracted the employee while the other male stole an iPhone from the counter.

All three fled west on foot and were all described as black males in their 20s, 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-10, with beards and wearing white T-shirts and jeans.

— Between 5 p.m. July 15 and 6 p.m. July 16, a man left his room at the Parker Spruce Hotel, 261 S. 13th St., and returned to find jewelry and cash were missing. There was no forced entry.

— Between 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. July 17, someone stole a secured bicycle from outside 1000 Walnut St. — At 10:10 p.m. July 19, a woman was walking in the 1300 block of Lombard Street when a male attempted to steal her iPhone from her hand. The woman resisted and the male sprayed her with pepper spray and fled east on Lombard. The culprit was described as a black male about 25, 5-foot-8, with a medium build and medium brown complexion, wearing black eyeliner, a black T-shirt and jeans.

— Between 9:30-10:30 a.m. July 21, someone stole a secured bicycle from outside 1300 Market St. NON-SUMMARY ARRESTS: — At 12:35 a.m. July 15, 6th District Officers Cifelli and Macchione arrested a male for domestic assault at

BENEFITS from page 1

these challenges to our marriage and recognized our commitment to each other and the life we built together.”

Christopher F. Stoll, an attorney for Tobits, praised Jones’ ruling.

“The judge’s decision indicates that every federally regulated pension plan must recognize a samesex spouse,” said Stoll.

Stoll expects other judges around the country to rely on Jones’ ruling for guidance when faced with similar cases.

“I think other courts will be influenced by this opinion.”

Tiffany Palmer, another attorney for Tobits, was optimistic that Jones’ ruling will withstand an appeal, if one is filed by the Farleys.

“I think Judge Jones wrote a

the Parker Spruce Hotel, 261 S. 13th St. — On July 17, 6th District plainclothes officers made arrests for prostitution at 12:15 a.m. outside 300 S. 13th St., at 12:30 a.m. outside 300 S. 12th St. at 12:50 a.m. outside 400 S. 13th St. and at 1:20 a.m. outside 1201 Lombard St. — Between 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. July 17, someone stole a secured bicycle from outside 1000 Walnut St. — At 12:05 p.m. July 18, 6th District Officer Duncan stopped a 2004 Buick in the 1000 block of Locust Street for traffic violations. An investigation determined that the vehicle had been reported stolen from a valet in Abington. The 21-year-old suspect with a Levittown address was charged with unauthorized use of auto and related offenses.

— On July 19, 6th District plainclothes officers made arrests for prostitution at 12:30 a.m. outside 400 S. 12th St. and at 1:35 a.m. outside 1201 Lombard St. — At 7 p.m. July 20, 6th District bike-patrol Officer DeLuca arrested a male outside 1222 Locust St. who was wanted for probation violations. The South Philadelphia resident was charged with escape.

SUMMARY ARRESTS: — On July 16, 6th District officers issued citations for summary offenses at 7:10 p.m. outside 1200 Chancellor St. and at 9:15 p.m. outside 122 S. 12th St. — At 8:50 p.m. July 17, 6th District officers issued a citation for a summary offense outside 200 S. 13th St. — At 7:45 p.m. July 18, 6th District officers issued two citations for summary offenses outside 1234 Locust St. — On July 19, 6th District officers issued citations for summary offenses at 1 a.m. outside 1201 Lombard St., at 11:40 a.m. outside 1222 Locust St., at 8:20 p.m. outside 261 S. 13th St., at 9:45 p.m. outside 300 S. Camac St. and at 11:20 p.m. outside 1201 Chestnut St. — At 11:10 p.m. July 20, 6th District officers issued a citation for a summary offense outside 1200 Locust St. — At 2:40 a.m. July 21, 6th District officers issued a citation for a summary offense outside 1200 St. James St. ■

very clear opinion,” Palmer said.

“If the Farleys decide to appeal, I believe the Third Circuit [appellate court] will come to the same conclusion.”

H. Robert Fiebach, a Cozen attorney, said the law firm will place the disputed funds in a court registry shortly.

“We’re pleased with the result, and we’ll pay the money into the court’s registry as soon as possible,” Fiebach said. “Once we pay the money into the registry, the judge said we’re absolved of any liability to either Ms. Tobits or the Farleys.”

The Farleys have 30 days to appeal to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

Peter C. Breen, an attorney for the Farleys, issued the following statement:

“We respectfully disagree with the most recent ruling holding that Ms. Tobits is a ‘surviving spouse’ under federal law. The available evidence shows that the deceased, Ms. Farley, who was an accomplished attorney, intended to leave her retirement plan benefits to her parents, and she had otherwise provided for her lesbian partner, Ms. Tobits,” Breen said. “At the time of Ms. Farley’s death, Illinois did not recognize same-sex unions, only months later recognizing civil unions. This ruling also equates a civil union to a marriage, which conflicts with Illinois law and with the Obama administration’s stated position that federal marriage benefits are not available to civil union and domestic partnership participants.” ■

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 2-8, 2013

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 2-8, 2013

EDITORIAL PGN

Creep of the Week

D’Anne Witkowski

Ken Cuccinelli

Editorial

MontCo mixes it up Philly usually takes up much of the LGBT spotlight in the Keystone State, but all eyes have been on Montgomery County in the past week.

The county’s register of wills, D. Bruce Hanes, made national headlines last week when he said he would issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, prompting dozens of couples from around the region to head to his office.

Even though the documents aren’t legally valid — as marriage is conferred by the state, and state law currently bans same-sex marriage — many have hailed the action as an important public statement.

But, Gov. Corbett’s administration is now seeking to squash the celebration with a lawsuit that would compel Hanes by court order to stop issuing licenses to same-sex couples.

Although the ramifications of Hanes’ actions are far from certain, what is for sure is that his move — and the support by county leaders like Commissioner Josh Shapiro and Leslie Richards — was pioneering. Just as Attorney General Kathleen Kane refused to back the state law that bans marriage equality, Hanes took a very revolutionary move, and one that has only been adopted by just a handful of county and municipal officials across the nation.

And his explanation for his position is not one that centers on personal accounts of discrimination by residents in his county or on his own experience with the LGBT community; he took a purely legal standpoint, even declin-

ing to talk about his personal views with PGN. Hanes’ theory is simple: The state law that prevents same-sex couples from accessing the rights and benefits afforded to married heterosexual couples violates the state and federal constitutions. And, as a public servant, he is obliged to uphold those documents.

His decision raised immediate and, in some cases, rightful questions about whether it is advisable for county-level officials to weigh in on state laws.

As the marriage-equality movement powers full-steam ahead, this is just one of the many issues advocates are going to need to consider, as state after state, and possibly county after county, wages into this fight.

But Montgomery County’s approach signals yet another turn in the debate.

Earlier this summer, Rep. Brian Sims embraced antigay lawmaker Daryl Metcalfe’s epitaph that he was acting “in open rebellion to God’s law.”

Maybe it’s time for more elected officials to follow Hanes’ lead and rebel against state law.

While the path to full marriage equality likely lies with the lawsuit recently filed by the American Civil Liberties Union that challenges the constitutionality of the state ban on same-sex marriage, each ally the movement can accrue — especially those willing to take a highly public and highly criticized position for our community — puts us one step closer to equal rights. ■

Let’s say, hypothetically, that you want to become Virginia’s next governor and you want to find a way to stand out and get noticed. You could run on a job-creation platform. You could promise to lower taxes. Or maybe even vow to improve public education.

But let’s face it. Those issues are boring. Voters have been there, done that.

Let’s think. There’s got to be something ...

Wait, I’ve got it! If you really want to win, campaign on the promise to ban oral sex.

Because if there’s one thing that people hate, it’s the scourge of fellatio and cunnilingus.

Ha ha. Just kidding.

Who would ever run on such a platform?

Why, Ken Cuccinelli would, of course. And

by Jove he will fight for your right to have only penile-vaginal intercourse, the way God intended. (And then, not incidentally, he will fight against your right to have an abortion, also because of God and Cuccinelli’s belief that he should be in charge of what goes in and comes out of Virginia’s vaginas.)

You see, Cuccinelli, who is currently Virginia’s Attorney General and is running for governor, is campaigning hard and fast to keep Virginia’s sodomy law, which makes anal and oral sex a felony, on the books. The very type of law that was declared unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court in the 2003 Lawrence v. Texas ruling.

But that is just a pesky little detail.

Granted, any politician worth his salt knows that positioning is everything. (To be clear, I’m talking “positioning” as in public relations—not um, pubic relations.)

So just how do you sell the criminalization of Virginian’s own sex lives to voters?

Under the guise of keeping “kids safe,” of course! Cuccinelli would like you to believe that Virginia simply must keep “sodomy” illegal in order to protect children from child predators. Because apparently only pedophiles would stoop so low (figuratively, though also literally at times) as to have oral or anal sex.

Granted, this is coming from the man

who said in 2008, “When you look at the homosexual agenda, I cannot support something that I believe brings nothing but selfdestruction, not only physically but of their soul.”

He reaffirmed this belief in a debate against his Democratic opponent, Terry McAuliffe, on July 20.

So it’s understandable that one might think this whole “keep the sodomy law alive” crusade is just Cuccinelli’s way of saying “go blow” (figuratively only) to the gays. But don’t worry.

The sodomy law applies to everyone, equally.

Now whether or not it’s enforced equally is another story. But you can rest easy knowing that just about everybody around you is a felon.

Cuccinelli claims that consenting adults are not impacted by the law, but as NBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell and others have pointed out, the law’s wording literally covers everyone or, as the law’s own language puts it, “any person.” Added bonus fact: When Cuccinelli was a state senator, he voted against exempting consenting adults from the law.

Another fun fact: In 2004, Cuccinelli claimed that homos wanted to “dismantle sodomy laws” and “get education about homosexuals and AIDS in public schools.”

So sodomy-law fever is nothing new to him. Which is all the more reason to be suspicious of his “save our souls from sodomy” campaign.

If this guy gets his way, Virginia is going to have to change its motto to “Virginia is for lovers, but not the icky kind who make God puke.” ■

“When you look at the homosexual agenda, I cannot support something that I believe brings nothing but self-destruction, not only physically but of their soul.”

D’Anne Witkowski has been gay for pay since 2003. She’s a freelance writer and poet (believe it!). When she’s not taking on the creeps of the world, she reviews rock ’n’ roll shows in Detroit with her twin sister.

Tell us what you think Send letters and opinion column submissions to: pgn@epgn.com; PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147; fax: 215-925-6437.

Please include a daytime phone number.

Letters may be edited for clarity, style and space considerations.

OP-ED PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 2-8, 2013

The Russian issue Russia is beginning to prove, under the would have discovered that NBC is obliged leadership of President Putin, a former KGB by not only legal issues but is also a highly leader, to be not only an authoritative state, regulated business that deals in news and but one of the most homophobic in Europe. international trade, so it was in its best The city of St. Petersburg and the nation interests to work behind the scenes with itself have passed several antigay laws, the International Olympic Committee and the Obama administration quiincluding one that mandates gays cannot get permits to hold Pride etly. But press releases are very important to HRC. events or meetings — and if they On the other side of the scale do so anyway, they risk physical attack. were the thousands of gay businesses that took it upon themNow comes the new antigay selves from coast to coast to toss propaganda law, signed by Putin.

Stoli liquor and other RussianUnder the law, any LGBT person made products out of their bars caught talking about gay rights, and businesses. That action, demonstrating for gay rights which should be highly praised, or two men or women showing along with behind-the-scenes affection — i.e., holding hands diplomatic work, started to get — can be arrested. Think it’s just results by weekend’s end. a joke? Ask the people who have Russian officials told IOC already been hauled off to jail, including four Dutch tourists. that the ban would not be used They were eventually deported.

Mark Segal during the Olympics. Stoli has issued numerous press releases Giving credit where it’s due, themselves — as good as the HRC press actor/writer Harvey Fierstein first made releases on the same subject, meaning not an issue of Russia’s policies, followed by at all.

Dan Savage of the “It Gets Better Project.”

So, LGBT bars, thumbs up. HRC, learn Then, HRC does what it does best: puts diplomacy or learn how to communicate out a press release. Now I’m a supporter with those you have relationships with. And of HRC, but their press release was a little strange. They publicly called on NBC to use let’s remember that President Obama will be meeting with Putin in September. I’m its clout, since it has the broadcast rights to sure it will be one of their topics of commuthe Russian 2014 Winter Olympics. I found nication, but this comes at a bad time since that a little strange since HRC already has a there’s this guy named Snowden living in line of communication open with NBC and its parent company, Comcast (I’m a member the airport transit area in Moscow. ■ of the Comcast Joint Diversity Board and Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the nation’s know this personally). Broadcast is usually most-award-winning commentator in LGBT an issue of another organization, GLADD. media. He can be reached at mark@epgn.com.

Finally, if they had realized point one, they

Mark My Words

Op-Ed When I get married, I want to worry about the caterers, not wonder about my government. I want to think about my nails and hair, not my lack of benefits and impending court challenges.

These last few days in Montgomery County have been monumental and historic. I am so happy that my friends and allies — D. Bruce Hanes, Josh Shapiro and Leslie Richards — are so supportive of equality. I celebrate those happy couples who made the personal decision to be pioneers and get their marriage licenses. Their joy was apparent in every news article or television spot. And, I wish them the very best.

But the phone calls and texts started to arrive at our house too.

Would Linda and I go get our marriage license was the burning question. And so, our next chapter

of the conversation began.

This is not the first time we have had this conversation. Over more than 15 years, we have stayed committed through the heartbreaking loss of beloved family members, life-threatening illness, job losses, pressures of home ownership and also the high points of job promotions, degree completion, winning elections and more. We have had several friends choose to have same-sex commitment ceremonies over those years but, for us, we decided to wait until we could have all the benefits that come with marriage.

After the recent Supreme Court decisions, we also had friends drive to neighboring states to get married, and we considered doing that. But again, we rejected the idea. Pennsylvania is our home and our marriage would mean nothing in our own state.

11

Street Talk Should Russian vodka be taken off the shelves of LGBT bars?

“Yes, Putin is very intolerant of homosexuals.

If people want to stop serving Russian vodka, I’m all for it. If it Garen Bennett makes them student feel better, South Philadelphia more power to them. But I question whether it will make any difference. I don’t think it will bring about tangible results.”

“No, it strikes me as petty.

LGBTs have problems everywhere.

If you’re going to boycott all Peter Callan products chef connected South Philadelphia to LGBT oppression, you’re not going to have much of a life. You’ll have to live in a bubble, with very few things to do.”

“No. Your goal is to win people over, not alienate them.

Granted, LGBTs are mistreated in Russia.

But you don’t Alexander Lenard solve the bartender problem by Manayunk behaving in a similar manner. It just adds a negative to your rap sheet. It’s not helpful.”

“If gay bars want to boycott Russian vodka, that’s fine with me. It might send a ripple of hope to April Myers that far-off student country. The South Philadelphia situation for LGBTs in Russia is pretty bad.

It sounds like Nazi Germany in 1933.”

Since Tuesday, we again had the conversation that none of my straight friends have had. Do we go through a marriage that most likely will need a “re-do” to afford us all of the rights and privileges our government has bestowed on married couples? Do we have the “skim-milk” marriage?

So, for our friends who have recently, so happily, asked us if we are getting married, here is our reply: For me, and for Linda, our commitment doesn’t need a piece of paper. But, it does deserve legal recognition and financial security. When this does happen, we will get married. We want to worry about the flowers for the ceremony, not the second-class status of our love. ■ — Lori Schreiber Abington Township Commissioner

Letters and Feedback To the Editor: We are the Sex Worker Outreach Project (SWOP)Philadelphia, the local chapter of SWOP USA, a movement fighting for the fundamental human rights of people in the sex trade, ending violence and stigma through advocacy and education. We are writing in response to the four-part series “Victims of the Night,” written

by Victoria Brownworth. Within our large and diverse community, it is widely known trans women of color are some of the most vulnerable to physical assault and targeting by law enforcement — itself a kind of structural violence. The recent brutal murder of Diamond Williams by a

client is a heartbreaking — and all too familiar — reminder. For too long, their stories have been ignored at best and treated as sensationalistic entertainment at worst. Adding pain to an alreadytraumatized community, the news coverage of Diamond’s murder used the wrong name and pronouns and a police file photo was published instead of one chosen by her family. While it is a sign of progress the Philadelphia Gay News wants to change that, there are some problematic aspects of the series we wanted to address.

First, there is the matter of language. Ms. Brownworth uses “sex work,” “prostituted” and “trafficking” interchangeably, when they have distinctly different definitions.

PAGE 13

12

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 2-8, 2013

LOCAL PGN

PBGP brings on new board; former pres leaves

By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com After one year as the head of Philadelphia Black Gay Pride, Jeremy Taylor has stepped down, and last month, PBGP voted in its new president and vice president.

Le Thomas, 39, will take the helm as president while D’Ontace Keyes, 22, will be PBGP’s youngest-ever vice president.

Both Thomas and Keyes have been extensively involved with PBGP and said they are ready to enhance the agency’s influence and reach in advance of its 15th anniversary.

Le Thomas Thomas has been a member of PBGP for six years, volunteering for one year before he became a member of the general board and then treasurer for the last two years.

Thomas, a Philadelphia resident who grew up in Chester, earned his bachelor’s degree in fashion merchandising from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

He said he was eager to get involved in the local LGBT community, and that PBGP was a natural fit.

“Growing up, I have always been active in various things. I didn’t come out until I was 20-21, so I wasn’t active in the community because I wasn’t out of the closet, but I’ve always been active in school activities,” he said. “As an adult, I was working and going out here and there but I was missing that part of my life that I was always dedicating myself to. It felt weird not being a part of something. I reached out to PBGP and attended some general meetings and I started volunteering my time and services to them.”

Thomas said the decision to step up as president took a lot of consideration.

“Although I was involved in a lot of organizations, I never really had a position of authority, but I just felt it was time to step into something and offer some of the things that have made me the person I am today,” he said.

Thomas hopes to bring more youth into the organization as well as new minority voices.

“We’re approaching our 15-year anniversary, so that is a big milestone year for us,” he said. “Since I have been a part of PBGP, I have seen so many faces come in.

I just want to continue to grow the organization and have it be a voice for everyone that faces the challenges as we do in the LGBT community. I want to reach out to the youth a little more. We always say youth are the future but we don’t invest our time with them and we need future leaders for organizations to continue to

grow and strive.”

Thomas said Taylor left a good foundation for him to build upon.

“He just had other interests and he wanted to give those a try so he stepped out and asked us for our blessing and we said yes,” Thomas said. “We are happy and proud that he is moving forward in a direction that is best for him as we continue to move the organization forward with some things he set up for us.”

D’Ontace Keyes Keyes hails from Chicago but has lived in Philadelphia for five years after pursuing both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of the Arts.

The openly gay project assistant for Youth Health Empowerment Project, a program of Philadelphia FIGHT, has long supported bringing youth to a more visible level — a goal that motivated him to join PBGP at age 18.

“They had this gap and that gap was youth and doing youth programming, so I was approached by them,” he said. “I was already involved with nonprofits and doing community work with Philadelphia FIGHT’s Youth Health Empowerment Project and wanted to reach out to the

youth. It motivated me to keep going and make sure [youth] are included and visible in programming.”

Keyes helped start PBGP’s youth scholarship, which provides funding for an LGBTQ-identified student who has the goal of obtaining a degree from a highereducation institute.

Keyes said it has been a rewarding experience to create a positive atmosphere for youth at PBGP at such a young age himself.

“Being able to be a trailblazer for so many young people has been amazing and being the youngest individual on the board and the youngest-ever vice president is a big role but I think I have worked towards it,” he said. “Being 22 and being partially in charge of a gay black organization in Philly is very rewarding.”

Keyes hopes to expand and diversify PBGP programming.

“I want to bring in more innovative programming that is attractive and inclusive of different social groups so we can engage them. I want to bring a young fresh voice to Pride and have productive activities to keep community engagement going and stronger,” he said. “We have done wonderful things with the community and it is time for us to give back a little bit and build ties and work with partners better and strengthen those relationships.” ■ For more information on PBGP, visit www.phillyblackpride.org.

We want to know!

If you are celebrating an anniversary, engagement, wedding, adoption or other life event, we would be happy to help you announce it to the community.

Send your contact information and a brief description of the event to editor@epgn.com.

OP-ED PGN LETTERS from page 11

Sex work is a type of criminalized labor entered through choice or circumstance. The technical definition of prostituted is to offer sex in exchange for money, but its contemporary connation is that of a prostitute/ pimp relationship and complete lack of agency on the part of the person performing sexual labor — someone in need of rescue. No woman quoted in this story made reference or even alluded to a pimp, much less trafficking (the keeping of persons through threat, force or coercion). It is disingenuous for Ms. Brownworth to imply streetbased sex work and trafficking are one and the same. When she uses the word “forced,” it is unclear whether she is referring to an individual or the larger structural forces around race, class and gender that severely limit choices for these young women of transgender experi-

It is disingenuous for Ms. Brownworth to imply streetbased sex work and trafficking are one and the same. ence. People in the sexual labor market, including trans women of color, are not a monolithic group. There are many types of sex work and myriad reasons, positive and negative, why one would enter the trade. To deny the reality of the situation in favor of a victim narrative is to deny the complexities of a whole person’s lived experience, and our ability as sex workers and allies to fight back against oppression. Only in the last paragraph of the fourth installment of the series is there any recognition of criminalization and other structural oppressions, in a quote by the local trans* rights activist Christian Lovehall.

We have no doubt in the good intentions of Ms. Brownworth and the editors at PGN. To begin to address this injustice, it must first be brought to the attention of the public. Yet by focusing solely on the individual experiences of assault without examining the society that perpetuates this individual and institutional violence, you do a great disservice to the community you wish to help.

— SWOP Philadelphia

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 2-8, 2013

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 2-8, 2013

FIRST FRIDAY BIRTHDAY BASH FRIDAY, AUGUST 2 • 4PM – MIDNIGHT Calling all August Birthdays…

One date randomly selected every hour.

Win free slot play or match play if your birthday is picked!

AWESOMFEST GOES FLOORWIDE SATURDAY, AUGUST 3 • NOON – 8PM One winner every 15 minutes takes a turn on the Parx Strongman game.

Ring the bell to win $2,000 free slot play!

80’S OUTDOOR FILM FESTIVAL

Free movies under the stars every Saturday night at Parx East Picnic Grove!

SATURDAY, AUGUST 3 DOUBLE FEATURE: ROCKY III & CONAN THE BARBARIAN Visit parxcasino.com/awesomefest for full schedule.

FRIENDSHIP WEEK

FALL INTO WINNING

SUNDAY, AUGUST 4 – SATURDAY, AUGUST 10 Invite your friend to sign up for an Xclub card and you both receive*: $10 free slot play, $10 food & beverage comp, PLUS an entry into the $20,000 Friendship Sweepstakes on August 10!

NOW OPEN AT PARX CASINO!

SANG KEE NOODLE BAR • Authentic Chinese cuisine and signature regional dishes

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Earn 1,000+ entries August 1 – 24 to receive a $25, $50 or $100 gift card to America’s #1 superstore!

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MANAGEMENT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE OR CANCEL THESE PROMOTIONS AT ANY TIME. MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN. VISIT XCLUB FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS, RULES & REGULATIONS. MUST BE 21 OR OLDER TO ENTER PARX CASINO. *EXISTING GUEST & NEW MEMBER MUST BOTH BE PRESENT AT TIME OF SIGNUP, ONLY ONE REDEMPTION PER GUEST.

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AC ul t ure

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 2-8, 2013

rts

PAGE 27

Barcrawlr Family Portrait Out & About Q Puzzle Scene in Philly Worth Watching

Page Page Page Page Page Page

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20 23 26 28 19 20

FULLY PHREAK’N: Phreak ’N Queer Festival performers Needles Jones (clockwise from top left), Kelly Burkhardt, Messapotamia Lefae, Ruby LL Voyager, the band HIRS, Icon Ebony Fierce and midnight Burlesque performers

Phreak ’N Queer branches out in its third year

By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com

LGBT performers and artists of all stripes are once again answering the call and gathering for the annual Phreak ’N Queer Arts & Music Festival, through Aug. 4.

Now in its third year, the festival aims to get even more diverse in its mission to cre-

ate safe spaces where local queer/trans talent can gather and perform.

For this year’s festival, organizers are exploring new directions, steering toward a more political bent, and will also host a more eclectic range of musicians. The festival has also expanded its literary offerings with a Queer Writers Reading, hosted by the Wooden Shoe and featuring readings by

Alex Smith, Tim Trace Peterson and others.

“This year, it’s a lot of the same organizers for each night but different artists,” performance artist, writer and festival organizer Ruby LL Voyager said. “Last year, the opening show leaned more towards a burlesque show. This year, there are more noise artists and free jazz. The artists bring

a lot of political edge and the organizers are facilitators.”

Voyager said the artists are given creative license over their pieces.

“We bring together different communities of Philadelphia for different nights and spaces for artists to showcase their beliefs,” Voyager said. “In a lot of ways, we know a lot of artists will perform PAGE 18

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PGN FEATURE

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 2-8, 2013

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QUEER from page 17

but we don’t know exactly what the content of the festival will be. We don’t ask performers and artists to do specific things. We just have faith in the material we have seen for them to present a quality show.”

The Sunday-night closing party will take on a new theme this year. Last year’s event featured a country-styled closing with “The Gay Ol’ Opry,” while this year’s event will be titled “Grindhouse A Go-Go” with partners Dolph and DJ Robert Drake.

Fellow festival organizer and performer Messapotamia Lefae said the people who have seen previous editions of the festival are often inspired to throw their hats into the ring when it comes around again.

“We’ve gathered a lot of momentum,” Lefae said. “We’ve raised a lot of awareness about queer artists that work within a gender binary, like drag kings and drag queens that typically cater to shedding gender stereotypes. While it’s interesting for the audience at large, I feel like bringing queer performance artists and showcasing their talent and their decision to be gendervariant or gender-nonconforming is important. I’ve seen a lot more artists coming out doing their own thing and being very transgressive. It’s a good moment for queer artists in Philly. We’re actually moving away from drag and moving into a new queer world.”

Lefae said organizers reached out to local talent after last year’s festival and saw an influx in interested performers, especially spoken-word artists and trans-identified musical acts.

“They were encouraged by the other artists that we showcased in previous years,” Lefae said. “We lead by example. If you put forward an artist that would otherwise be considered underground or alternative, it becomes hot. That’s awesome. There are people that are leading by example and there are people that are inspired by them that have emerged in the last year. I’m in the position where I’m a contemporary dancer but I just land in the direction of drag queen. Outside of those things, I like to do random gender-variant contemporary dance and multimedia performances. So, if you appeal to an audience or a venue or a performance showcase, you can do you own thing and once you feel like you are comfortable doing your own thing, then people

want that.”

This year’s festival will also feature more all-ages events.

“It’s hard enough for queers and freaks outside of bars,” Voyager said. “Bars still form a big part of spaces for LGBT folk. It’s a time when you’re very estranged. I’m 24; I’m not far away from all-ages. I remember how difficult it was to just find festivals to go to. I had to sneak into a number of festivals when I was under 21. It can also push the atmosphere away from alcohol, which changes how the audience takes in art and changes the very atmosphere. It changes the way that people receive art.”

Both Lefae and Voyager will be performing during the festival as well.

For Voyager, the festival will be the last for a while, as the artist plans to stop performing for the time being to focus on writing.

“I’m taking a hiatus,” Voyager said. “I’ve been performing throughout the city at various bars and venues. But I’m focusing more on my ’zine writing for Sissy Bitch after Aug. 1. It’s a ’zine that is geared for nonmen, sissies, for people who fail at being men. It’s a collage of magazines, erotica, short stories, academic and critical analysis of gender and sexuality.”

Lefae will be on hand performing at the festival’s 21-and-over burlesque party with Miss Mary Wanna, Sebastian and Wurli & His Ragtag Vintage Orchestra. Lefae said this year’s late-night burlesque show should be more creative than in previous years.

“I’ll be performing at XO Lounge at ‘Phreak ’N Knnnky,” Lefae said. “We were going to go queer sci-fi, but now that we’re at a venue, which is similar to the Trocadero Balcony Bar, that has a burlesque vibe or an old vaudeville feel, we decided to go in that direction. Last year, we did a 1950s sockhop theme and the year before we did a 1920s Prohibition theme. This year, it’s not limited to a decade. It’s more open-ended.

We’re just making it open for the performers to do their own things, to be themselves and not try to fit a theme.” ■ The third annual Phreak ’N Queer festival runs through Aug. 4 at venues all over Philadelphia. For more information, a complete list of venues and performers and tickets, visit phreaknqueerfestival.wordpress. com/.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 2-8, 2013

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ENTERTAINMENT PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 2-8, 2013

Take me out

Worth Watching

Can you believe it’s August already?

Summer always seems to fly by in the blink of an eye but with all the heat waves and heavy rains this year, it’s been a little harder to get outside and have fun.

But Labor Day is farther away than you think, and there are still lots of events going on all over town! Whether you like movies, sports, theater or hundreds of guys and girls running around in swimsuits with drinks in their hands, there’s something for everyone in the next couple of weeks!

JABBER-JAWS: The Discovery Channel kicks off Shark Week Aug. 4 with programming celebrating and exploring the popular sea predator, including Discovery’s first-ever late-night live talk show that will be featured each evening.

GIRL ON GHOUL ACTION: A group of women fight for their lives against hungry cave dwellers in the excellent horror film “The Descent,” 6:30 p.m. Aug. 8 on Logo, followed by “The Descent 2” at 9 p.m.

ALWAYS BE CLOSING: Catch the season premier of “Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles” which centers on the cutthroat Los Angeles real-estate world, where the market has rebounded and Josh Altman, Josh Flagg and Madison Hildebrand are pulling out all the stops to nab million-dollar listings and get them sold, 9 p.m.

Aug. 7 on Bravo. Photo: Bravo/Adam Olszewski

GIRL ON GIRL ACTION: “Total Divas” reveals the real women behind the WWE Divas for the first time in the new one-hour series, 10 p.m. Aug. 6 on the E! Network. Photo: E!/ Timothy White

GayFest Got the theater bug? Then you’re going to be in Heaven!

From Aug. 6-24, Quince Productions once again presents GayFest, its signature gay theater festival. That’s over two-and-a-half weeks packed with more than four-dozen performances of some amazing staged readings, incredible special performances and great plays having their Philadelphia or world premiers. Check out www.quinceproductions.com for complete details about productions, dates, times, venues and, of course, ticket information.

West — to West Philly, that is, for a fabulous outdoor screening of the incredible camp classic “Can’t Stop the Music.” It stars none other than the Village People and Bruce Jenner — Olympic gold medalist if you’re over 40, bit player on “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” if you’re not.

Showtime is from 8-10 p.m on Aug. 9. at the International House, 3701 Chestnut St. The event is free, but you’ll want to bring lawn chairs or blankets, and plenty of change for snacks and refreshments. In case of bad weather, the movie will be shown inside.

Boys of Summer It’s time once again to celebrate the Boys of Summer in the City of Brotherly Love!

Enjoy a weekend packed with events, including: Boys on a Boat Party: 9 p.m.

Aug. 9 onboard Moshulu, 401 S. Columbus Blvd., featuring Jim Kiley- DJ Carl Michaels, go-go danctropical cocktails plus lots Zufelt ers, of fun and games. (Note: The Splash Pool party that was originally advertised for this time slot was renamed and moved to Moshulu. Don’t go Gay Community Night at the Phillies to the wrong venue, or you’ll be dancing Watch the Phillies play the Cubs at 7:05 on your own!) p.m. Aug. 7 at Citizens Bank Park while Saturday Brunch: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. surrounded by hundreds of your clos10 at Pennsylvania 6, 114 S. 12th St., feaest gay friends! This event keeps getting turing a prix-fixe menu for only $35 that bigger every year because it’s always a includes your first drink and unlimited sell-out. This year they have 10 sections non-alcoholic beverages. reserved in the 300 level! Tickets are $20 Block Party: 2-6 p.m. Aug. 10 at Tavern or $28 each, depending on which section on Camac, 243 S. Camac St., featuring you choose. A portion of the proceeds music, mayhem and a chance to mix and will benefit the Sean Halpin Memorial mingle with the Boys of Summer lifeScholarship Fund. guards!

Visit www.phillygaydays.com for more Main event: 9 p.m.-3 a.m. Aug. 10 at information and tickets either online or by Voyeur Nightclub, 1221 St. James St., phone. Remember to get there early to see featuring DJ Drew G, performance artAngela Giampolo throw out the first pitch! ist Gunner Montana, pole dancers from Alfi Sosa, drag queens from all over town, Surely she’ll do a better job than poor literally hundreds of hot guys dancing all Carly Rae Jepsen a few weeks ago. night long in nothing but swimsuits, and Our Night Out headliner Natalia Kills fresh off the tour Join the ONO crew for cocktails, nibbly bus opening for Kelis, Robyn and Ke$ha. bits and networking from 6-8 p.m. Aug. Sunday BBQ: 2-6 p.m. Aug. 11 up on 8 at M Restaurant in the Morris House the roof deck at iCandy, 254 S. 12th St., Hotel, 231 S. Eighth St. Special guest featuring food from the grill, frozen drinks will be Steve McCann of phillygaycalenfrom the blender and Bloody Marys from dar.com, who will kick off the “Boys of ... wherever the hell Bloody Marys come from! ■ Summer” weekend!

Barcrawlr

Can’t Stop the Music Want to see one of the gayest movies ever made? Then shimmy into your construction-worker, cowboy, cop, Army, leather or American-Indian gear and go

PGN

Questions, comments, know where Bloody Marys come from? Contact Jim at barcrawlr@gmail.com or follow him on Facebook for links to back articles and totally bitchin’ music videos!

Philadelphia Gay News

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Photos: Scott A. Drake

’s Get Out and Play All the action with Philly’s jocks

Every other week in PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 2-8, 2013

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PGN MUSIC

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 2-8, 2013

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By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com

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1. 12th Street Gym 204 S. 12th St. 215.985.4092 12thstreetgym.com 2. Adonis Cinema 2026 Sansom St. 215.557.9319

dult s • A yms club rs t h g G g • odgin s, Ni ente •L Tavern unity C ars, Comm •B • 9. ICandy 254 S. 12th St. 267.324.3500 clubicandy.com

3. Alexander Inn 301 S. 12th St. 215.923.3535 alexanderinn.com

10. Independent Hotel 1234 Locust St. 215.923.3535 theindependenthotel. com

4. Attic Youth Center 255 S. 16th St. 215.545.4331 atticyouthcenter.org

11. Knock 225 S. 12th St. 215.925.1166 knockphilly.com

5. The Bike Stop 206 S. Quince St. 215.627.1662 thebikestop.com

12. Optimal Sport 1315 Walnut St. (entr. on Juniper St.) 215.735.1114 optimalsporthealthclubs.com

6. Club Philly 1220 Chancellor St. 215.735.7671

13. Pleasure Chest 2039 Walnut St. 7. Danny’s Adam & Eve 215.561.7480 133 S. 13th St. 14. Sansom Street 215.925.5041 Cinema 8. Giovanni’s Room 120 S. 13th St. 1145 Pine St. 215.545.9254 215.923.2960 15. Sansom Street giovannisroom.com Gym Oldest LGBT 2020 Sansom St. bookstore in the country 267.330.0151

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16. Scorpio Books 205 S. Juniper St. 215.525.2181

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23. Unite Fitness 105 S. 12th St. 215.733.0633 17. Sisters 1320 Chancellor St. unitefitnessstudios. com 215.735.0735 sistersnightclub.com 24. Venture Inn 18. Spruce Street 255 S. Camac St. 215.545.8731 Video 252 S. 12th St. 25. Voyeur 215.546.6843 1221 St. James St. 19. Stir Lounge 215.735.5772 1705 Chancellor St. voyeurnightclub. com 215.732.2700 stirphilly.com 26. Westbury 261 S. 13th St. 20. Tabu 215.546.5170 200 S. 12th St. thewestburybar.net 215.964.9675 tabuphilly.com 27. William Way LGBT CC 21. Tavern on 1315 Spruce St. Camac 215.732.2220 243 S. Camac St. waygay.org 215.545.0900 tavernoncamac.com 28. Woody’s 22. U Bar 202 S. 13th St. 1220 Locust St. 215.545.1893 woodysbar.com 215.546.6660

Fans of classic American songs are sure to rejoice when out Emmy and Grammy-winning musician and singer Michael Feinstein comes to town, performing Aug. 2 at the Mann Center with fellow stage and singing stars Christine Ebersole and Betty Buckley.

The three stage and screen icons sharing the same stage is amazing in and of itself, but the trio has the added bonus of being backed by the Philadelphia Orchestra for this show.

Feinstein, who is used to performing in large venues with acclaimed musicians, said he plans to bring his best efforts to the stage for this show.

“Working with the Philadelphia Orchestra, which is one of the great orchestras in history, spurred me to make sure that the orchestrations and arrangements that I bring are ones that are lavish and show off the brilliance of the orchestra,” he said.

“Working with Christine and Betty just is a reminder that I’d better be on the top of my game because there is nobody better or more charismatic than either of them.”

While the show will consist of sets by each of the three singers, Feinstein said they will also team up for numbers over the course of the evening.

“I’ll be doing a duet with Christine and a duet with Betty,” he said. “Of course they have their solo spots.

The rest of the show is ‘Great American Songbook’ selections that will be largely solo but I think we’ll do something all together as an encore.”

Besides recording and performing the songs, Feinstein has spent a large part of his career researching and archiving classic American music, leading to the launch of the Michael Feinstein Great American Songbook Initiative in 2008, which collects and exhibits physical artifacts, both published and non-published, of the “Great American Songbook.”

Feinstein said the music of the “Songbook” was something he became enamored with early on.

“The music that I perform is music that I grew up with my entire life,” he said. “I was one of those kids that had an interest in classic and show music. I had a singular, lonely childhood. I didn’t have the commonality of being interested in pop music in the way that all of my contemporaries were. So there was always an interest there. I started to become a professional pianist and singer right out of high school and it was this music that I performed and I became recognized wherever I was performing. It was something I always did.”

Feinstein’s initiative also seeks to educate younger musicians and music lovers about the “Songbook’s” relevance to the history of music in the United States and today’s popular music.

“We live in a time when art overall is devalued so we have a generation that doesn’t know anything about music, which I think is a great loss for our culture and the country,” he said. “We’ve lost the commonality of common ground that united us, and that is what great art can do. It makes people look past the differences and find things in common and creates a shared humanity.

So in that sense, I think it’s tragic. The good thing about our world today is, because of technology, all of this classic music, regardless of whatever you are interested in or

MICHAEL FEINSTEIN Photo: Guilles Toucas

looking for, is out there and you can discover classic jazz, the ‘Great American Songbook’ or reggae. Whatever it is, it’s out there in a way that wasn’t possible 20 years ago. So I feel that we have a great hope for the future and there’s accessibility. So for that reason, I know that none of this will ever die. The music will live.” ■ Michael Feinstein performs with Christine Ebersole, Betty Buckley and the Philadelphia Orchestra, 8 p.m. Aug. 2 at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, 5201 Parkside Ave. For more information or tickets, call 215546-7900 or visit www.michaelfeinstein. com.

PROFILE PGN

Family Portrait

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 2-8, 2013

23

Suzi Nash

Brett Nicol: Swashbuckling with a smile If you missed Gay Day at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire last year, you missed a grand old time. I was at the front table and it was truly inspiring how many straight couples and families came up and said, “It’s Gay Day at the Faire? Good for you guys.

Have fun!” One woman actually startled me when she ran up to the table jumping up and down screaming, “Oh my God! They’re having Gay Day here! You’re kidding me?”

She was so emotional I thought perhaps she was a protestor until she then loudly shouted as she clapped her hands together, “This is FANTASTIC! I bet the costumes will be better than ever!” (Thanks to Van Nguyen, who won our costume contest, we did sport some fun costumes). Throughout the day, I spotted LGBT couples walking hand in hand and rainbow colors everywhere — OK, maybe that was mostly me and my rainbow boa molting. The capper to a great day was the grand finale, when the entire cast did a special number just for us.

The crowd rocked out as they did a renaissance version of Lady Gaga’s “Thou Were Born This Way.” The event did so well, they’ve invited us back for a second annual Gay Day Aug. 11! This week’s interview is with Brett Nicol, one of the many LGBT actors who will be entertaining us at this year’s Faire.

PGN: Tell me a little about yourself.

BN: I’m 23 years old. I’m originally from Damascus, Md., and went to college at East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C., where I got a BFA in acting. When I moved to North Carolina, the rest of the family moved nearby to Winston-Salem.

I have three brothers, one older, two younger.

PGN: [Laughs.] Do you suffer from somewhat-middle-child syndrome? Getting into acting for the attention?

BN: Yeah. Well, I lucked out somewhat in that my older brother got into all the trouble before me so by the time I came along, my parents weren’t as harsh as they might have been. And my younger brothers look up to me, so I try to be a good example and lead them in the right way. I got into acting in middle school. There was a random show that me and my friends auditioned for. I got a part and from there fell in love with acting. I loved entertaining and being able to make people laugh.

the more outgoing side of them to come forward.

PGN: Did you do the family “let’s put on a show” type of thing?

BN: Yes! We had a giant 16-passenger van and we would open the sliding side doors like curtains and get a bunch of the neighborhood kids together to do a show from inside. It was kind of ridiculous.

PGN: It sounds like fun. Tell me about a favorite family tradition or trip.

BN: Christmastime had a lot of traditions for us. We were/are all allowed to open one present on Christmas Eve and even though we’re all over the age of 18 now, we still make Christmas cookies to put out for Santa and my father eats them.

Every single Christmas to this day, before we go to bed, he reads us the Christmas story. We’re all about 5-foot-10 and above but we still gather around my Dad and squish on to the same couch that we did as kids. There’s a lot of poking and laughing that goes on; it’s not really about the story anymore but about having fun together and goofing off. It’s a lot of fun.

PGN: Ha! In my wildest imagination I wouldn’t have thought of lava! I guess your improv skills will come in handy at the Renaissance Faire.

BN: Oh, definitely. This will be my first time there and I’m really excited.

I’m playing Slade Bladewell, who is a sword for hire and highwayman. His bio says that he thinks he’s all that and an order of fish and chips. He’s very confident and cocky, which is fun to play.

PGN: A highwayman. Isn’t that a land version of a pirate?

BN: Yes, he’s like Robin Hood except that he steals from the rich and gives to himself.

PGN: Have you gotten your costume yet?

BN: Yes, it’s all black: black boots, black tights, black pants with a thick black belt, black shirt with a black doublet, a huge black hat and my sword.

PGN: That’s so sweet. So what was a crazy moment in acting class; did you do method acting?

BN: Oh God, there were many goofy moments. I was taught the Meisner technique, which emphasizes improvisational skills. I absolutely loved it. We were doing an exercise called mirroring where you work off of other people’s behavior and at one point I was doing some emotional prep work in a closet in the back of the room. I had too much drama and crap going on in my life and I just lost it! I just sat in the closet and bawled my eyes out.

I never even got to the exercise because I couldn’t control how upset at myself I was, so the acting teacher continued to yell at me, which made me feel even worse. It wasn’t a good day.

PGN: What was the first show you were in?

BN: “A Christmas Carol.” I played Peter Cratchit.

PGN: You specialized in improvisation, the kind where you take suggestions from the audience. Were there any suggestions too bizarre to tackle?

BN: Yeah, we were like “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” where we’d get our rules and suggestions from the audience.

They’d pick occupation and scenario and we got some strange ones. We decided that we wouldn’t take gynecologist as a suggestion anymore because it always led us into taboo territory. We also stopped taking lava as a setting.

PGN: Are your parents extroverts?

BN: It’s kind of funny. I think they’re naturally introverts, but having four boys, we pull the extrovert out of them.

We all like to goof off and we really get

PGN: Lava?

BN: Yeah, the audience would give us prompts like “The floor is made of Jell-O or lava.” Lava was suggested so often that we stopped using it.

PGN: Wow, in the middle of August, that’s got to be challenging.

BN: Yes, we’ve been wearing layers during rehearsal to get us ready for it. I got a taste of how killer it can be two weeks ago when we had that little heat wave with record temperatures.

PGN: This is your first professional acting job. What surprised you?

BN: I was surprised at how tired I am. We

put a lot into it — physically, emotionally and mentally — so to come out of school and think I knew what tired was and then to come here and learn what exhausted really is was eye-opening.

PGN: No going back, what was coming out like for you?

BN: At the end of my sixth-grade year, I decided one day to sit at the girls’ table at lunch. Everyone divided into boys and girls, not because of any rule, just by choice. It was the beginning of a very rough time. After that one lunch period, all the boys, every single one of my friends, told me I wasn’t allowed to sit with them anymore. They started calling me gay and queer and a fag. I’d never really thought about it, it had never even crossed my mind that I might be. From there, my former friends turned pretty much the whole school against me. I lost all my friends and had no one to talk to. I didn’t want to tell my family, so I basically lost them and then I lost myself as well. Being told who I was was a difficult thing at such a young age. I had no idea myself how I felt about anything in this gigantic world so being told who and what I was, I struggled against that. It was a very difficult time. I moved from one group of people to another and another trying to figure out where I fit in or where I was wanted.

PGN: Sheesh, not a happy time.

BN: No, I absolutely hated middle school. I walked down the hallways every single day of my life to a chorus of “fag” and “queer.” It tore me up inside. Eventually my parents found some pornography on the computer and that’s how I came out to them. That was in seventh grade. They were both raised very Christian and didn’t believe in the idea of homosexuality, so they took me to a therapist with the idea of curing me. I really didn’t like the idea of talking to someone whom I didn’t know so they could tell me that what I was feeling was wrong. So I caved and told my parents that it had just been a phase and that it was over and we just dropped the subject. High school was a little better. I still got called names and stuff but I was able to find some friends who wanted to be around me but it was still difficult trying to fit in and be someone I wasn’t.

And constantly make PAGE 28

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PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 2-8, 2013

Come see what’s new at your local, non-corporate, gluten-free historic queer bookshop!

Browse, chat, and support the oldest continuously operating LGBT book store in the USA!

10% most hardcovers, over 5 million books and 3 million eBooks available at queerbooks.com email: giovannis_room@verizon.net 345 S. 12th St. Philadelphia, Pa 19107 215-923-2960 Mon-Sat 11:30 - 7, Sun 1 - 7

PUBLIC NOTICE &

PRESENT

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Apartments

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John C. Anderson Apartments will be hosting public interest meetings for those interested in applying

Tuesday, August 6th at 6:00pm* or Wednesday, August 28th at 6:00pm* William Way Community Center 1315 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107

RSVP Preferred: marketing@pennrose.com *Attendance at only one session is necessary.

The same information will be covered at both sessions.

We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation.

We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation or gender identity.

Income restrictions apply

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 2-8, 2013

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FIRE AND ICE SHAKY BEEF SALAD

FIRE AND ICE WILTED WATERCRESS

SOWE - TACO TARTARE

PGN

PENNSYLVANIA 6 YELLOWFIN TUNA TARTARE

StT. JAMES PEPPERONI PIZZA

REVEL - CALIMARI

Food & Drink

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Photos: Scott A. Drake

‘s Dining Out

A rainbow of flavors, every second and fourth week

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 2-8, 2013

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

Wed. 08/07

OUT & ABOUT

PGMC Auditions The Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus will be holding auditions for its new season from 68 p.m. at Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion, 2111 Sansom St.; email in advance to schedule an audition time slot at auditions@pgmc. org.

The week ahead Fri. 08/02 Michael Feinstein and Friends — Christine Ebersole & Betty Buckley The Philadelphia Orchestra performs 8 p.m. at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, 5201 Parkside Ave.; 215-546-7900.

Frank Caliendo The comedian seen on “Mad TV” performs 9 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.

Thank Goddess It’s OMG! The Misfits Farewell Tour The Goddess Isis

and The Notorious OMG host an evening of fun, 9 p.m.2 a.m. at Tabu. 200 S. 12th St.; 215964-9675.

Sat. 08/03 Vaden Todd Lewis of The Toadies The rock musician performs 6:45 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400.

Summer Music Festival with Maze featuring Frankie Beverly Maze featuring Frankie Beverly perform with the Isley Brothers featuring Ronald and Ernie Isley and Kem 7 p.m. at the Mann Center for the Performing

IT TAKES A VILLAGE ... : The 1980 campy cult film classic “Can’t Stop the Music,” starring disco icons The Village People, is screened 8 p.m. Aug. 9 at International House, 3701 Chestnut St. For more information, call 215-387-5125.

Arts, 5201 Parkside Ave.; 215-5467900.

Rodney Carrington The comedian performs 8 p.m. at Mark G. Etess Arena, 1000 Boardwalk,

Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-449-5150. ’80s Live-Music Dance Party The band Weird Science and DJs performs 8:30 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400.

Sun. 08/04 8 1⁄2 The Fellini film is screened 2 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610-917-0223.

Mon. 08/05 Free Quizzo and Board Game Night Roll the dice, 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-994-1400.

form 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400.

Beth Orton The British singer-songwriter performs 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215222-1400.

4W5 Blues Jam Local musicians get down, 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-994-1400.

Thu. 08/08 The Burlesque Show The new event kicks off 9 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.

Tue. 08/06 Philly Rising Showcase Local artists per-

Bob and Barbara’s Drag Show The outrageousness begins 11 p.m. at Bob and Barbara’s, 1509 South St.; 215-545-4511.

Fri. 08/09 Jimmy Eat World The rock band performs 7:30 p.m. at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, 5201 Parkside Ave.; 215-5467900.

Burlesque-apades Beach Party Burlesque performers heat things up 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400.

Can’t Stop the Music A free screening of the film starring The Village People, 8 p.m. at International House, 3701 Chestnut St.; 215387-5125.

The Killers The rock group performs 8 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.

Philly Rising Open Stage Local artists perform 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400.

Lipstick Mondays A weekly drag show featuring a changing roster of queens takes the stage 9 p.m. at The Raven, 385 W. Bridge St., New Hope; 215862-2081.

Godsmack The hard-rock band performs 9 p.m. at House of Blues, 801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-343-4000.

THE REAL ‘DEAL’: Comedian, actor, game-show host and TV personality Wayne Brady brings the laughs 9 p.m. Aug. 9 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J. For more information or tickets, call 609317-1000.

Wayne Brady The comedian and TV personality performs 9 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.

Fright Night The 1980s vampire film is screened 2 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610-917-0223.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

Opening Aries Spears The comedian seen on “Mad TV” performs Aug. 7-10 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215-496-9001.

Cirque Du Gay Gayfest presents the gala show performed by two gay clowns, Aug. 6-7 at Plays and Players Theater, 1714 Delancey St.; 215985-0420.

The Importance of Being Earnest Mauckingbird Theatre Company presents a gender-bent interpretation of the stage classic, Aug. 7-25 at Off-Broad Street Theater, 1636 Sansom St,; 215-923-8909.

Puppet Festival (r)Evolution Workshops and performances from America’s best puppeteers are presented Aug. 5-10 at Swarthmore College, 500 College Ave., Swarthmore; 267-240-3679.

Continuing All Dressed Up: Fashions for Children and Their Families Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of clothing from the late-18th through mid-20th centuries, comparing

and textiles designed internationally in Australia, Asia, Europe, Great Britain and the United States, along with classics from the museum’s design collection, through Oct. 14, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215763-8100.

Jerry Pinkney, Sept. 22, 26th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway; 215-7638100.

Private Lives/Public Spaces: Bringing Philadelphia’s LGBT History Out in the Open The William Way LGBT Community Center presents the first solo exhibition of LGBT history in a mainstream museum in Philadelphia, which features a glimpse into the John J. Wilcox, Jr. Archival Collection, through Oct. 25 at The Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent, 15 S. Seventh St.; 215-6854830.

The Importance of Being Ernest The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival presents the comedy satire, through Aug. 4 at Labuda Center for the Performing Arts, 2755 Station Ave., Center Valley; 610-2829455.

Serpentine The Academy of Natural Sciences hosts an exhibition of photography by Mark Laita of the world’s most deadly snakes, through Sept. 22, 19th Street and the Parkway; 215-299-1000.

SPY: The Secret World of Espionage The Franklin Institute presents an exhibition of historical artifacts from the intelligence community, through Oct. 6, 20th Street and the Parkway; 215-448-1200.

QUEERS OF A CLOWN: GayFest, Quince Productions’ festival of LGBT plays and shows, kicks off with “Cirque Du Gay,” the show created by two gay clowns, Dennis Porter and Peyton Westfall, featuring music, muscle, magic and more Aug. 6-7 at Plays and Players Theater, 1714 Delancey St. For more information or tickets, call 215-9850420 or visit www. quinceproductions. com.

and contrasting adults’ apparel with children’s smaller styles, through Dec. 1, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

Candy Coated Wonderland Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition by Philadelphia-based multimedia artist Candy Coated (formerly Candy Depew) reinterpreting children’s fancy dress costumes from the museum’s collection, through Nov. 17, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

Design for the Modern Child Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition featuring some of the latest furniture, toys, tableware, wallpaper

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 2-8, 2013

Starting from Scratch: The Art of Etching from Dürer to Dine Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of its finest etchings through Aug. 11, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

The Two Noble Kinsmen The Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre presents the story exploring the desperate path of two men driven out of home and country by an untimely war, through Aug. 18, 2111 Sansom St.; 215-496-8001.

Witness: The Art of Jerry Pinkney Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of drawings and watercolors by

Closing

Nick DiPaolo The comedian seen on “Louie” performs through Aug. 3 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215-496-9001.

Wicked The hit musical about characters from “The Wizard of Oz,” through Aug. 4 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800. ■

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.

DRESSED TO KILL: Glitzy modern rockers The Killers should fit in fine under the bright lights of Atlantic City when they perform 8 p.m. Aug. 9 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J. For more information or tickets, call 609317-1000.

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FUN PGN & GAMES

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 2-8, 2013

Q Puzzle Summer hunks Across

1. Israeli author Oz 5. Mushroom source 10. Greet Pat Robertson 14. That’s bull, to Frida 15. She came between Bess and Jackie 16. Hit the ground 17. Armchair athlete’s channel 18. Writer Dykewomon 19. “Now ___ me down to sleep ...”

20. “Step Up” star 23. Flew high 24. Murdoch with a flower?

26. Lodging place 27. Things to consider 31. Snaky shape 32. Bowling lane button 34. Home state of J. Nabors 35. Select from the

menu 37. Captain Kirk portrayer 40. Judy Garland concert persona 43. Civil War side 44. Pink Triangle Press publication 48. Game with “Reverse” cards 49. Feeler 51. One of Lee’s men 52. Fruit with a peel 54. Paths of Uranus and others 56. “Man of Steel” star 60. Mendicant’s selfdescription?

62. Socrates’ market 63. Seep slowly 66. Spot for gay honeymoons 67. Celestial ice ball 68. Opposed to, to Jethrene Bodine 69. Scores for Patty Sheehan 70. Remove a slip?

71. “Equal justice under law,” to homophobes

PORTRAIT from page 23

people believe I was someone that I’m not while they’re all telling me who I am. It was a struggle figuring out who I was and where I fit in and how not to be alone. It didn’t help that in high school my parents once again found stuff on my computer. Thankfully, theater got me through a lot of it and when I got to college it was a lot better.

As a theater major, the people I hung around with were a lot more open and accepting and I was able to finally be myself fully. It was very freeing. That Thanksgiving, I even came home and officially came out to the family.

PGN: How did that go?

BN: Well, it was confusing. I’d been talking to this guy who I really wanted to be with but I was still very much into my religion and my relationship with Jesus. I believed in God and Christ but I was having feelings that I knew were against His teachings, so I called the guy and said, “Sorry, I can’t be with you.” It really upset me so when I went home, I told my parents everything that was going on. I just remember my mom crying her eyes out and yelling at me, “I thought this nonsense was over!” Then she ran to her car and drove off into the night. My father was a lot more comforting.

He sat and talked with me and told me that they’d always love

Down

1. Went down on 2. George once of San Francisco 3. Broadway Annie, and others 4. Source of waves at sea 5. Changes a bill 6. “___ Hai” of “South Pacific” 7. Muscat site 8. Dynasty long before the Carringtons 9. Song about loving yourself?

10. Caribbean republic 11. Manhandled 12. Like the tutees in “Anna and the King” 13. Filthy digs 21. Like a bottom 22. Flaming queen’s activity?

23. Title for Elton 25. Old letters from Russia?

28. A stripper takes it off 29. De Wolfe of design 30. Food fowl

me and love me for who I was and just to give my mother time.

A few weeks later after I’d gone back to school, she called me and said the same thing. They’ve both come a long way in realizing that me being gay doesn’t change who I am as a person or as a son, it’s just who I am. And they absolutely support me now 100 percent.

PGN: You are a walking, breathing “It Gets Better” ad!

BN: [Laughs.] I know! I was actually thinking of getting a tattoo along those lines.

PGN: Let’s do some random questions now. Three smells that make you stop and reflect.

BN: I love the smell of freshly baked brownies. I’m into colognes, when you find a really nice one, and the sugar cookiescented Yankee candles. They’re my mom’s favorite so they always make me think of home.

PGN: The feature I get most compliments on is ...

BN: Oh, I guess my smile. I’m told it’s big and warming and welcoming.

PGN: You’re playing a Renaissance highwayman at the Faire. What do you think you might have been in another life?

BN: A chef. I love cooking. My dad went to culinary-arts school and he taught me and my brothers to cook.

33. “The Name of the Rose” writer 36. Title for Oedipus 38. Emulate George Frenn 39. Do pioneer work 40. Dupont Circle of D.C., e.g.

41. “Put ___ Happy Face” 42. Animal painter Rosa 45. Torch song threesome 46. Living in Fla., perhaps 47. Tummy muscles 49. Sothern of old TV 50. Jackie O.’s second husband 53. Sponsorship 55. Puff up 57. “Son of Frankenstein” character 58. Time out?

59. Deity on “Xena” 60. Shakespeare’s Puck, e.g.

61. Ewe said it!

64. Fly on a guy 65. Bowie collaborator

PGN: What’s your stupid human trick?

BN: I solve Rubik’s cubes. I even have that on my resume!

PGN: What other “special skills” are on your resume?

BN: Juggling and the ability to burp loudly on cue.

PGN: Any hobbies outside of acting and cooking?

BN: I love solving puzzles, not just jigsaw puzzles but crosswords, cryptograms and brainteasers, anything that makes you think. I also enjoy video games.

PGN: What’s your game?

BN: I love “Zelda.” It’s awesome.

PGN: What’s your go-to karaoke song?

BN: “What Was I Thinking?” by Dierks Bentley.

PGN: Any pets?

BN: I have a hamster named Kevin who’s staying with my brother right now. The family has two dogs, Fudge and Bentley.

PGN: Who was someone you idolized as a youth?

BN: It would definitely be my youth pastor. He was a best friend and the only one I could talk to about everything. He was outgoing and eccentric and loved to help people. He was the greatest person that I knew. He was accepting of who I was and helped me figure things out.

PGN: First kiss?

BN: It was in middle school, sixth grade before everything happened.

My friend and I made plans to kiss our girlfriends after school behind the vending machines. We met the girls and I exchanged the smallest peck you could imagine. She screamed “Ewww!’ and ran away.

PGN: Not a very good start to your romantic life!

BN: No! PGN: What was the first LGBT movie you watched?

BN: I think I’ve only seen one all the way through, “Prayers for Bobby.” The actor part of me couldn’t handle some of the things that were going on, it was really heavy-handed, but I liked the message.

PGN: That’s the only gay film you’ve ever seen? [Laughs.] We’ve come a long way since then, you need to check out QFest next year.

Let’s wrap up with two questions.

First, with all the drama you went through coming out, what got you through it?

BN: Oh man, I’d have to say it was acting. Without having a firm grasp of something that I loved and wanted to pursue, I would have been lost. I wouldn’t have had anything else. It was the only thing that was solid. It was the one thing that I was good at and people liked me when I was on stage. I was in every middle-school show and every high-school show they did.

PGN: And you got to slip into someone else’s life for a while.

BN: Yes, I loved that. Becoming different people and telling their stories. You had a chance to forget your own problems and deal with other people’s instead. It was nice.

PGN: And what are you looking forward to this year at the Faire?

BN: Oh I can’t wait until the grounds are filled with people.

When the shops and vendors are open and the whole place comes alive. And Gay Day of course! I saw the video of the Lady Gaga number they did last year and I think they are planning something this year as well! I can’t wait! ■ Gay Day at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire will be held from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Aug. 11. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.parenfaire. com or www.facebook.com/ events/180620092109442.

To suggest a community member for Family Portrait, write to portraits05@aol.com.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 2-8, 2013

29

Classifieds Real Estate Sale

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Real Estate Sale

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Adoption A LIFETIME OF Laughter and Happiness awaits your child. Happily married, financially stable couple looking to adopt. Please call Jason & Sheila (800)494-5978. Expenses Paid. ________________________________________37-31

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 real-estate advertising that is in violation of any applicable law.

Help Wanted

For Sale

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR Center City non-profit organization seeks individual to coordinate and implement community engagement, social media outreach, and HIV counseling and testing within the LGBTQ community in Philadelphia. Must have three years of related experience in this area. Familiarity with evidence-based intervention preferred. Must have minimum Associate’s degree and HIV certification. Flexibility is essential to work in late afternoon, evenings, and/or weekends.

Email resumes to: pennarecruiter@gmail.com ________________________________________ Can You Dig It? Heavy Equipment Operator Training!

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Legal Notices Court of Common Pleas for the County of Philadelphia, August Term, 2013, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on July 23, 2013, the petition of Kathryn Rebecca Young was filed, praying for a decree to change her name to Andrew James Young.

The Court has fixed August 16, 2013 at noon, in Room No. 691, in Philadelphia City Hall for hearing. All persons interested may appear and show cause if they have, why the prayer of the said petitioner should not be granted. ________________________________________37-31 Court of Common Pleas for the County of Philadelphia, August Term, 2013, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on July 8, 2013, the petition of John Robert Stephen Oros, Jr. was filed, praying for a decree to change his name to Jessica Willow Oros.

The Court has fixed August 16, 2013 at noon, in Room No. 691, in Philadelphia City Hall for hearing. All persons interested may appear and show cause if they have, why the prayer of the said petitioner should not be granted. ________________________________________37-31

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If this sounds interesting to you feel free to call me, David, 215-698-0215. ________________________________________37-39 BM, 60 looking for British gent, 35-45 for intimate encounters. 215-763-3391, 6PM-Midnight. ________________________________________37-39 WM, NE Phila. If you’re looking for hot action, call 215-934-5309. No calls after 11 PM. ________________________________________37-33 Looking for a heavily endowed top for white butt. 215732-2108, 8-11 PM. ________________________________________37-33 Male, 65 seeks muscular male. John, 570-624-8538. ________________________________________37-34

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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.

30

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 2-8, 2013

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GYM, DRY SAUNA, and STEAM ROOM ARE AVAILABLE...

LONG SUMMER DAYS

Sat., Aug. 10th, 2013 • Time: 11pm-3:30am

WHAT TO EXPECT: • DJ David Dutch • Complimentary Food & Beverages • A Full House of Guys To Choose From & So Much More..

P.A.N.G. (Philadelphia Area Nature Group) Sun., Aug. 11th, 2013 • Time: 3pm-6pm

BOYS WILL BE BOYS- AWAKEN YOUR INNER SPIRIT WHAT TO EXPECT: • An Afternoon of Naked Socializing • Complimentary Food & Beverages and Much More..

FIRE & ICE

Sat., Aug. 17th, 2013 • Time: 11pm-3:30am WHAT TO EXPECT: • DJ David Dutch • Complimentary Food & Beverages • A Full House of Guys To Choose From & So Much More.

- CHECK IN EARLY IF YOU WANT A ROOM... ROOMS GO QUICKLY!!! -

BUSY TIMES FOR US:

These our are most popular days when people come-

SUNDAY RELIEF

Half Price Rooms (6am Sunday till 8am Monday) Members: $12.50 and Non-Members: $22.50

MONDAY thru FRIDAY:

Business Mans Locker Special (8am to 4pm) Members: $5.00 and Non-Members: $15.00

TUESDAYS

Half Price Rooms (6am till 12 Midnight)

Members: $12.50 and Non-Members: $22.50

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY NIGHT CRUISE $12 Flat Rate for Locker Admission & Clothing Optional (4pm-12 Midnight)

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

Don’t forget to visit the Adonis Cinema right next door!! 2026 Sansom St/ PH: 215-557-9319

PGN

Men Delco Dudes A men’s social and support group meets 7-9 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County, 145 W. Rose Tree Road in Media; delco. dudes@uucdc.org.

Gay Married Men’s Association Meets 7-9 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesdays at the William Way Center; www.gammaphilly.com.

Men of All Colors Together Meets 7:30 p.m. the third Friday of the month, September through June, at the William Way Center; 610-2776595; www.MACTPhila.org.

Men’s Coming Out Group, N.J. Meets 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays at The Pride Center of New Jersey; njwarrior@aol.com.

Men of Color United A discussion/support group for gay and bisexual men of color meets 6-8 p.m. every Wednesday at 112 N. Broad St., third floor; 215-496-0330.

Men of Standard Provides a place for gay men of color 21 and older to share issues of concern. Meets 7-9 p.m. Thursdays at Camden AHEC, 514 Cooper St., Camden, N.J.; 856-963-2432.

Philly Dads An association of gay and bisexual fathers supporting each other meets 7:30 p.m. the fourth Friday of the month at the William Way Center; 215-668-5239.

Parents/Families Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Bucks County Meets 7:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month at Penns Park United Methodist Church, 2394 Second Street Pike, Penns Park; 215-3489976.

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Chester County Meets 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month at the Unitarian Fellowship of West Chester, 501 S. High St.; 484354-2448.

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/ Collingswood, N.J. Meets 6:30-9 p.m. the fourth Monday of the month at the Collingswood Public Library, 771 Haddon Ave.; 609-202-4622; pflagcollingswood@yahoo.com.

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Media Meets 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of every month at the Unitarian Universal Church, 145 Rose Tree Rd.; 610-368-2021.

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Philadelphia Meets 2-5 p.m. the third Sunday of the month at the LGBT Center at the University of Pennsylvania, 3907 Spruce St.; 215-572-1833.

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Princeton, N.J. Meets 7:30 p.m. the second Monday of the month in the George Thomas Room at Trinity Church, 33 Mercer St.; 609-683-5155.

play groups, monthly kids and teen talk groups, activities and outings. Planning meetings held monthly; 215-600-2864; www. phillyfamilypride.org.

Trans Evolutions A drop-in support group for anyone on the transgender spectrum meets 6 p.m. Thursdays at 21 S. 12th St., eighth floor; 215-563-0652 ext. 235.

Mazzoni Center Family and Community Medicine Primary health care and specialized transgender services in a safe, professional, nonjudgmental environment, 809 Locust St.; 215563-0658.

T-MAN People of color support group for transmen, FTMs, butches, studs, aggressives, bois, genderqueer and all female-born individuals with gender questions meets 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Mondays, second floor, 1201 Locust St.; 215-834-9063; tmanphilly.com.

Transhealth Programming Committee Meets 5 p.m.the second and last Sundays of the month at the William Way Center.

Transhealth Information Project Sponsors a weekly drop-in center from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. MondayThursday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fridays at 21 S. 12th St., 10th floor; 215-568-2221.

Transgender Health Action Coalition Peer trans health-advocacy organization; 215-732-1207; www. critpath.org/thac. 1201 Locust street 4th floor.

WeXist FTM support group meets 7-9 p.m. the second and fourth Friday of the month at the William Way Center; first hour is open, second hour is for people assigned female at birth who have gender issues; 267-250-1548.

Young, Trans and Unified Support group for transgender and questioning individuals ages 13-23 meets 7:15 p.m. Thursdays at The Attic Youth Center; 215-545-4331.

Women Hanging Out With Lesbians A group in Central Pennsylvania that organizes activities such as concerts, camping, golf, picnics, hikes, plays and game nights in nonsmoking environments; http://groups.yahoo. com/group/howlofpa/.

Lesbian Community of Delaware Valley Social group meets monthly for activities for gay women of all ages in Delaware, Chester and Montgomery counties; http://groups. yahoo.com/group/LCDV/.

Lesbian Couples Dining Group of Montgomery County Meets monthly; 215-542-2899.

Mt. Airy Lesbian Social Club For lesbians in the Philadelphia area ages 35-plus; www.meetup.com/ mtairylesbiansocial/.

Queer Connections Social group for women in their 20s meets weekly; http://groups.yahoo. com/group/queerconnections/.

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Wilmington, Del. Meets 7-9 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1502 W. 13th St.; 302-654-2995.

Sistah 2 Sistah A social/support group for lesbians of color, ages 13-24, with weekly social events, open discusson and monthly movie/discussions, 6-8 p.m.

Wednesdays, 112 N. Broad St., third floor; 215-496-0330.

Philadelphia Family Pride Advocacy, support and social network for LGBT families offers

Women Coming Out Support Group Women who consider themselves

gay, lesbian, bisexual or questioning and are at any stage of the comingout process are welcome. Ages 18 and over. Meets 7:30 p.m. first Tuesday and third Thursday of the month at the Pride Center of NJ.

Youth 40 Acres of Change Discussion group for teen and young adults meets 6-8 p.m. Thursdays at The COLOURS Organization Inc., 112 N. Broad St., 11th floor; 215496-0330.

GLBT Group of Hunterdon County Social and support groups for youth, teens and young adults, as well as parents and family members, meets at North County Branch Library, 65 Halstead St. in Clinton, N.J. Schedule at www.glbtofhunterdonco untyofnj.com; 908-300-1058.

HAVEN For GLBT, intersex, questioning, queer and allied youth ages 14-20; meets 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Lehigh Valley, 424 Center St., Bethlehem; 610-868-2153.

HiTOPS A safe-space support program for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth, meets 2:30-4:30 p.m. on the first and third Saturdays at 21 Wiggins St., Princeton, N.J. Call Connie at 609683-5155 (day); hitops.org.

Main Line Youth Alliance Meets from 7-9:30 p.m. Fridays at 106 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne; 610688-1861; info@myaonline.org.

Mountain Meadow For youth with GLBTQ parents.

Monthly programs for ages 8-16, family programs and parent coffee groups. Residential program offered in August, 1315 Spruce St.; 215772-1107.

PRYSM Youth Center For youth ages 14-20. Meets 6:308:30 p.m Wednesdays at center, 126 East Baltimore Pike, Media; 610357-9948.

Rainbow Room — Bucks County’s LGBTQ and Allies Youth Center For ages 14-21; meets 6-8 p.m.

Wednesdays at Salem UCC Education Building, 181 E. Court St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981 ext.

9065; rainbowroom@ppbucks.org.

Social X Change Social activity group for LGBT youth of color ages 13-23 meets 6-8 p.m. on Tuesdays at 112 N. Broad St., 11th floor; 215-496-0330.

Space to be Proud, Open, and Together Open to all LGBTQ queer youth and allies, ages 14-21, the SPOT meets Thursdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at Planned Parenthood of Chester County’s West Chester office, 8 S. Wayne St.; 610-692-1770.

Young, Trans and Unified A support group for transgender and questioning youth ages 13-23 meets 7:15 p.m. Thursdays at The Attic Youth Center.

You’re Not Alone A group for gay, lesbian and bisexual youth that meets during the school year; sponsored by AIDS Delaware, 100 W. 10th St., Suite 315, Wilmington. Call 800-8106776 for more details.

Youth Making a Difference For GLBTQ African-American and Latino youth ages 14-24. Meets 5-7 p.m. every Tuesday at Camden AHEC, 514 Cooper St.; 856-9632432.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 2-8, 2013

31

Community Bulletin Board 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. Groups meet and activities are held 4-7 p.m. Monday-Tuesday and 48:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday. Case management, HIV testing and smoking cessation are available MondayFriday. See the Youth section for more events.

■ Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center at the University of Pennsylvania 3907 Spruce St., 215-898-5044; center@dolphin. upenn.edu. Regular hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday; noon-6 p.m.

Saturday; noon-8 p.m. Sunday. Summer hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

■ ActionAIDS: 215-981-0088 ■ AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania: 215-587-9377 ■ AIDS Law Project of Southern New Jersey: 856-933-9500 ext.

221 ■ AIDS Library: 215-985-4851 ■ ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215592-1513 ■ AIDS Treatment Fact line: 800662-6080 ■ Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection at the Independence Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library: 215-685-1633 ■ The COLOURS Organization Inc.: 215-496-0330 ■ District Attorney LGBT Liaison: Helen “Nellie” Fitzpatrick, 215-686-

■ Rainbow Room — Bucks County’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and Allies Youth Center 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays: Salem UCC Education Building, 181 E. Court St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981 ext. 9065 rainbowroom@ppbucks.org.

■ William Way Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220; www.waygay.org.

Hours: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Saturdays and Sundays. Peer counseling: 6-9 p.m.

Monday through Friday Library hours: noon-9 p.m.

Monday-Thursday; noon-3 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Friday; noon-6 p.m. Saturday. Volunteers: New Orientation: First Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.

Key numbers 9980, helen.fitzpatrick@phila.gov ■ Equality Pennsylvania: 215731-1447; www.equalitypa.org ■ Equality Forum: 215-732-3378 ■ LGBT Peer Counseling Services: 215-732-TALK ■ Mayor’s Director of LGBT Affairs: Gloria Casarez, 215-6862194; Gloria.Casarez@phila.gov; Fax: 215-686-2555

■ Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations: 215-686-4670 ■ Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force: 1-877-pride-2000 ■ Philadelphia Police Department liaison — Deputy Commissioner Kevin Bethel: 215-6863318 ■ Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 215-760-3686 (Rick Lombardo); ppd.lgbt@gmail.com ■ Philly Pride Presents: 215875-9288

■ Mazzoni Center: 215-563-0652; Legal Services: 215-563-0657, 866-LGBT-LAW; Family & Community Medicine: 215-563-0658

■ SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: 717-9209537

■ Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): 215-572-1833

■ Transgender Health Action Coalition: 215-732-1207 (staffed 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays and 6-9 p.m.

Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays)

Health

Anonymous, free, confidential HIV testing Spanish/English counselors offer testing 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 216 W. Somerset St.; 215763-8870.

ActionAIDS Provides a range of programs for people affected by HIV/AIDS, including case management, prevention, testing and education services at 1216 Arch St.; 215-981-0088; www.actionaids.org.

AIDS Services In Asian Communities Provides HIV-related services to Asians and Pacific Islanders at 1711 S. Broad St.; 215-629-2300; www.asiac.org.

Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative Free, anonymous HIV testing from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; noon-6 p.m. Tuesdays at the Washington West Project, 1201 Locust St.; 215-851-1822 or 866-222-3871; www.galaei. org. Spanish/English HIV treatment Free HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment for Philadelphia residents are available from 9 a.m.-noon Mondays (walk-in) and 5-8 p.m. Thursdays (by appoint-

■ Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia GALLOP holds board meetings at 6:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at 100 S. Broad St., Suite 1810; GALLOP also provides a free referral service; 215-627-9090; www.galloplaw. org.

■ Greater Philadelphia Professional Network Networking group for area business professionals, selfemployed and business owners meets monthly in a different location throughout the city, invites speakers on various topics, partners with other nonprofits and maintains a website where everyone is invited to sign up for email notices for activities and

ment) at Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad St.; 215-685-1821.

HIV health insurance help Access to free medications and confidential HIV testing available 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays at 13 S. MacDade Blvd., Suite 108, Collingdale; Medical Office Building, 722 Church Lane, Yeadon; and 630 S. 60th St.; 610-586-9077.

Mazzoni Center Free, anonymous HIV testing; HIV/AIDS care and treatment, case management and support groups; 21 S. 12th St., eighth floor; 215-563-0652; www.mazzonicenter.org.

Mazzoni Center Family & Community Medicine Comprehensive primary health care, preventive health services, gynecology, sexual-health services and chronicdisease management, including comprehensive HIV care, 809 Locust St.; 215-563-0658.

Washington West Project Free, anonymous HIV testing. Walk-ins welcome 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-noon Friday; 1-5 p.m. Saturday; 1201 Locust St.; 215-985-9206.

Professional groups events; www.gppn.org; 215-9223377.

■ National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association The Philadelphia chapter of NLGJA, open to professionals and students, meets for social and networking events; www. nlgja.org/philly; philly@nlgja.org.

■ Independence Business Alliance Greater Philadelphia’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce, providing networking, business development, marketing, educational and advocacy opportunities for LGBT and LGBT-friendly businesses and professionals. Visit www.IndependenceBusinessAlliance.com for information about events, programs and membership; 215-557-0190; 1717 Arch St., Suite 3370.

■ Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus A regional organization dedicated to promoting gay and lesbian tourism to the Greater Philadelphia region holds meetings every other month on the fourth Thursday (January, March, May, July, September and the third Thursday in November), open to the public; P.O. Box 58143, Philadelphia, PA 19102; www. philadelphiagaytourism.com; 215-840-2039.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 2-8, 2013

PGN