Philadelphia Gay News Honesty Integrity Professionalism
August 7 - 13, 2009
Vol. 33 No. 32
‘Lack of fiscal responsibility’ prompts Equal Forum board resignations By Jen Colletta and Sarah Blazucki PGN Staff Several members of the board of directors of Equality Forum recently resigned, some of whom contend the organization is headed in the wrong financial direction. Former board treasurer Louis Thomas and members Jeff Aldi and Greg Lowe stepped down last month, and member LAWYER THROWS A CURVE: Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia president Colleen Rooney and former chair Kevin Brian Sims threw out the ceremonial first pitch for Gay Community Day at Citizens Ray resigned in the spring. Bank Park on Aug. 4. Though he never played baseball, Sims came out to his colBoth Rooney and Lowe said they left lege football teammates in 2000 and is speaking about LGBT athletes and allies the board for “personal and professional” at several universities across Pennsylvania this fall. About 930 LGBT attendees reasons, and Ray told PGN he had to step this year watched the Phillies lose their sixth Gay Day game in seven years but, despite the loss, Larry Felzer, GALLOP treasurer, said the event was a big sucdown about two months before his term cess, garnering the second-highest attendance ever. Photo: Scott A. Drake would have ended for medical reasons. Board members Dr. Mark McClurg and Chris Higgins said their terms expired this summer. Stephenie Yeung, who had been serving By Jen Colletta zations. services for people with as interim chair after Ray’s departure, told PGN Staff Writer Gov. Rendell did sign a HIV/AIDS — announced PGN that at a meeting this week, the board budget Wednesday that the that it will follow the city’s elected Debra Blair as chair, Yeung as vice Pennsylvania is now legislature passed the day example and cease payment president and Daryl Evans as secretary. more than one month into before, but he vetoed all to a number of its own venYeung said the new board treasurer is still its fiscal year without a stipulations in it besides dors until the state finalizes awaiting approval. budget, and Mayor Nutter government-operations the budget. Thomas and Aldi both submitted resignaMatt Teter, executive announced late last month funding — which will allow that until the state govern- the 77,000 state employees director of Calcutta House, ment approves a spending to again receive paychecks, said that in addition to plan and releases funds to which they haven’t seen in delaying payment on its city governments, the City weeks — further prevent- water, electric and supply of Philadelphia will cease ing the release of money to bills, it will also withhold payment to all its vendors, social-service agencies. payroll taxes owed to the One such organization, state. Teter said the taxes cutting off a major cash flow to most of the city’s Calcutta House — which See AIDS ORGS., Page 9 HIV/AIDS service organi- provides housing and other
AIDS orgs. hit by budget issues
tion letters July 21, obtained by PGN, that detailed their dissatisfaction with the financial management of the organization. Both Thomas and Aldi said the budget the organization is looking to implement this fall does not make enough allowances for what is expected to be a more-than $200,000 reduction in state funding. According to executive director Malcolm Lazin, Equality Forum recently laid off three employees and hired a part-time financial consultant, and brought on two volunteers and is interviewing a third. But both Thomas and Aldi contended the organization needs to cut back on more than employment costs. According to Equality Forum’s 2007 tax return, the organization had a total revenue of $796,042 that year and total expenses that amounted to $823,149. The organization’s net assets at the beginning of the year were $212,257, leaving a fund balance of $185,150 at the end of the fiscal year. “Going forward given the economic situation, it was clear that we did not have a lot of money coming in,” Thomas told PGN. See FORUM, Page 2
DP bill passes House subcommittee By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer The bill that seeks to grant equal benefits to the gay and lesbian partners of federal employees saw a preliminary victory last week. A U.S. House subcommittee approved the DomesticPartnership Benefits and Obligations Act in a 5-3 vote July 30. The bill, introduced in May by openly lesbian
U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), would allow domestic partners of federal employees to be eligible for all the same benefits as married heterosexual partners, including access to healthcare coverage and retirement and disability plans. President Obama signed a presidential memorandum in June that granted samesex partners of federal employees access to some benefits, such as life-insurance plans and long-term-
care programs, but said he was prevented from granting full equal rights because of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits the government from recognizing same-sex marriages. Obama urged Congress to pass the domestic-partner bill and pledged to sign it if it reaches his desk. The eight members of the Committee on Oversight See DP BILL, Page 8
COMING TOGETHER: Tyron Harvey (standing) welcomes guests to the Aug. 1 banquet dinner at the National Association of Black & White Men Together’s annual convention in Philadelphia. Harvey and Aaron Libson (from left) co-chaired the event on behalf of Men of All Colors Together and were joined at the banquet by other speakers, such as Court of Common Pleas Judge Dan Anders, executive director of ASIAC Ron Sy and interim executive director of The COLOURS Organization, Inc., Mike Hinson. Libson said about 125 people attended the convention, participating in workshops and caucuses aimed at eradicating homophobia, racism and sexism, and were exposed to the many diverse communities within the city. Photo: Scott A. Drake