pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976 Family Portrait: Jasmine Morrell can permanently color your world PAGE 31
Vol. 40 No. 32 Aug. 5-11, 2016
• A federal judge has dismissed an antibias complaint against AIDS Care Group PAGE 2
HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM As gay as it gets PAGE 29
• Delware Pride: more super than ever
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Philly delegates: Turn excitement to action
State police remove criticized hatecrimes language By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com The Pennsylvania State Police last month ended its practice of reporting anti-transgender hate crimes by using “female-portrayal” or “male-portrayal” descriptors. In an email, Cpl. Adam Reed, a state-police spokesperson, said the practice ended July 27. “[W]e regret this oversight and apologize for the terminology,” Reed said. “We are committed to working with the LGBT community and will continue our efforts.” State police collect hate-crime data from local police departments throughout Pennsylvania and convey the data to the FBI. State police also display hate-crimes data on the agency’s website. Last year, state police reported an antitrans hate crime in Philadelphia using a “female-portrayal” descriptor. No other state-police agency uses such a descriptor when reporting anti-trans hate crimes. Additionally, the FBI doesn’t recommend the use of such a descriptor. Trans people said the descriptor denied their humanity, was insulting and discouraged trans people from reporting hate crimes. Last month, state police deleted the entire hate crime at issue from its website, rather than limiting the deletion to the “female-portrayal” descriptor. On Aug. 1, after questioned by PGN, the hate crime reappeared on the state-police website, but without the “female-portrayal” descriptor. “The [entirely deleted] information was corrected to reflect the proper number [of hate crimes in Philadelphia],” Reed explained. “In addition, steps were taken to ensure the error doesn’t occur again.” Julie Chovanes, a Philadelphia-based trans attorney, applauded the policy change. “As a trans person, and an attorney who’s represented the community, I applaud the state police for removing the offensive language,” Chovanes told PGN. “I hope this change will encourage police to expand their understanding of the hate crimes that trans people suffer every day. And I also hope this will encourage the community to step forward when they’re victimized.” n
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Delegates get their due
By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com
THAT’S A WRAP: Hillary Clinton embraced family and friends at the close of the Democratic National Convention July 28 at Wells Fargo Center. Clinton formally accepted the party’s nomination in an hour-long speech that night, which capped four days of addresses from party leaders like President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden and Americans who touted Clinton’s record on social-justice and civil-rights issues. For full DNC coverage, see pages 15-19. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Philadelphia’s LGBT delegates to the Democratic National Convention, many of them participating for the first time in the political event, felt the excitement in rousing speeches by First Lady Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton, the first female nominee for president. The next step is to turn the excitement to action, the delegates said. Many took advantage of the opportunity to meet openly gay elected officials like Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Rep. Mark Takano of California. PAGE 15
Evidence review continues in Maya Young murder case By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com
VISIBLE VICTORY: Transgender delegates to the Democratic Convention assembled for a group photo July 28 at the second LGBT Caucus meeting at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. There were 28 trans delegates this year, the largest-ever in DNC history. Overall, there were 516 LGBT-identifying delegates, approximately 11.6 percent of the overall delegate count, also a record. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Lawyers for the two accused in this year’s fatal stabbing of a transgender woman in Frankford will review evidence against their clients until the next court date in October. They had perused some evidence previously and received further documents at a pre-trial conference Aug. 3 with Judge Lillian Ransom. Jose Pena, 19, remains in custody at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility after having been denied bail. Tiffany Floyd, 25, is held at Riverside Correctional Facility. She was also denied bail. The two were arrested in March and charged with murder and related offences in relation to the February killing of Maya Young, 25. Statements from Pena and Floyd read at their preliminary hearings in June said Floyd thought Young had tried to steal her boyfriend, and that Floyd had enlisted Pena to help kill Young. According to authorities, police responded to a call near 4900 Griscom St. around 11:50 p.m. Feb. 20. They found Young suffering from several stab wounds to the neck and chest. She was pronounced dead early the next morning at Aria Health Frankford. n