PGN Aug. 10 - 16, 2018 by The Philadelphia Gay News

pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976

Focusing on LGBT voters ahead of midterms PAGE 6

Vol. 42 No. 32 Aug. 10-16, 2018 Family Portrait: Country singer Mary Gauthier PAGE 47

Managing life ahead of a new baby PAGE 19

Comic Jennie McNulty heads to New Hope PAGE 39

Wedding Issue PAGES 22-29

Wolf announces first statewide LGBTQ commission in U.S.

Meet the NGLCC conference’s Biz Pitch finalists

By Kristen Demilio editor@epgn.com

By Adriana Fraser adriana@epgn.com The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce will host the seventh installment of its Shark Tank-styled business-pitch competition at the chamber’s annual LGBT business conference next week. The sold-out International Business and Leadership Conference, entitled “LGBT Unity,” takes place Aug. 14-17 and will feature more than 1,200 entrepreneurs, corporate decision-makers, affiliate chamber leaders and government officials from around the world. One of the events includes the LGBT Biz Pitch entrepreneurial competition, where three finalist companies will make onstage presentations in front of the conference’s plenary audience Aug. 17 at the Philadelphia Marriot Downtown. Finalists will conduct five-minute presentations about their company, a new or existing product, market or other innovations. Jonathan Lovitz, NGLCC’s senior vice president, said the competition is a celebration of the “most innovative LGBT-owned companies. “This year we’ve had the largest number of applicants since we started the competition because the stakes are so high. We’re giving away $50,000 in cash and prizes, and for a small business owner, that’s a game changer,” Lovitz said. “It’s a feel-good celebration of who’s getting it right. Attendees can use this as a learning experience by hearing the finalists’ pitch to our panel of expert judges and the feedback that they receive.” Three finalists were narrowed down from a pool of more than 500 applicants, and then narrowed down to 15 semifinalists. After an online public PAGE 33

HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM

RAISING TRANS AWARENESS: Evan Thornburg, Philadelphia Deputy Director of the Office of LGBT Affairs, greets a crowd of about 150 at the trans flag raising Aug. 2 in Thomas Paine Plaza. The ceremony coincided with the opening of the Trans Health Conference. See page 5 for additional conference photos. Photo: Scott A. Drake

Gov. Tom Wolf will sign an executive order Monday evening to form the Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs, the only one of its kind in the United States. “The creation of the commission on LGBTQ Affairs is one step of many we have taken to ensure obstacles are removed for anyone who is facing an unfair disadvantage based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression,” Wolf said in a press statement. The commission will “help coordinate and drive statewide equality efforts,” he added. The commission is comprised of executive director Todd Snovel, formerly an assistant dean of Lebanon Valley College, and 40 commissioners. Nominees from Philadelphia include William Way LBGT Community Center director Chris Bartlett; civic activist and Democratic nominee for the state House Malcolm Kenyatta; state Sen. Larry Farnese; Jere Mahaffey of the Philadelphia Youth Network; state Rep. Brian Sims, Philadelphia attorney Henry Sias; Amber Hikes, director of the Mayor’s Office for LGBT Affairs; and Roberto Valdes, an assistant city solicitor in the Child Welfare Department. “When I was a kid, I couldn’t have dreamed that I would be able to be myself

and stand up for the intrinsic humanity and rights of people like me, from within the government,” said Sias, a trans man. “This commission is going to change lives.” Wolf “understands that all Pennsylvanians deserve a voice in our government — no matter who you love, how you worship or how you identify. I welcome this opportunity and am grateful to the governor for his continued leadership and [being an] ally to the LGBT community,” said Kenyatta. Bartlett echoed the other commissioners’ sentiGOV. WOLF ments. Photo: Scott A. Drake “I’m honored to serve alongside such a diverse group of Pennsylvanians from around the state who are committed to working with Gov. Wolf to address the pressing needs of our LGBTQ communities statewide — including trans equity, LGBT economic justice and civil rights for all,” he said. “We need this kind of statewide organizing now more than ever.” The commission is necessary “to be able to speak on behalf of marginalized identities,” said Hikes. “I’ll be pulling from the work that we’re doing in PAGE 36

Activists renew goal post-PARS: Close Berks County facility By Adriana Fraser adriana@epgn.com Now that Mayor Jim Kenney decided not to revew Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s access to the city’s Preliminary Arraignment Reporting System, immigration advocates are refocusing their efforts to shut down a detention facility. Kenney’s July 27 decision to end PARS — a local, real-time database of police arrests that collects personal information such as Social Security numbers, birthdates of birth and countries

of origin — came as a shock to activists who have fought against the information-sharing agreement. “A lot of us are still coming to terms that this is a huge victory. We were speechless because we really didn’t think that it would happen,” said Miguel Andrade, the out communications manager of Juntos, a South Philadelphiabased immigration-advocacy group with several queer staff members. “Meetings with community members, conversations with Kenney’s office and the support

of the occupiers outside of City Hall all really helped to galvanize and push us forward to that win,” Andrade said. “We are the vanguard of immigrant rights.” Juntos staffers said they are renewing their goal to shut down the Berks County Residential Center, an immigration processing facility created as part of an arrangement between Berks County and ICE. Juntos has been actively fighting to close the Berks County facility since 2015. Francisco Cortes, a Juntos board member and the interim

executive director of Galaei, the queer Latinx social-justice group, praised Juntos’ efforts in pressuring Kenney to end PARS. “Juntos, along with other community groups, have fought hard to get Kenney to see the damage that PARS and ICE have done to the immigrant community in the city,” he said. “Our work isn’t done yet. We’re still fighting to shut down Berks County’s detention center.” The facility houses more than 50 undocumented immigrants who have entered the U.S. seeking asylum. PAGE 21

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 10-16, 2018

The Philadelphia Gay News won seven Keystone Press Awards this year, an honor that not only recognizes professional excellence, but journalism that “consistently provides relevance, integrity and initiative in serving readers, and faithfully fulﬁlls its First Amendment rights/responsibilities.” The Keystone Press Awards are sponsored by the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association.

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

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

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

PGN earned top honors in Division V for weekly publications with over 10,000 circulation in the categories of editorial, column, news photo and photo essay

Community centers

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Mark My Words

center.org. For LGBT and questioning youth and their friends and allies.

• LGBT Center at the University of Pennsylvania; 3907 Spruce

Transmissions

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

No matter how I put this, it feels like an understatement: We are living in increasingly frightening and dangerous times. This is especially true for those of us who are transgender. Sitting in a subcommittee right now in our House of Representatives is HR 2796, aka the Civil Rights Uniformity Act of 2017. I’ve written about this before. It would do nothing less than void protections for transgender people under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”), the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Housing Act and “any federal civil-rights law, and of any related ruling, regulation, guidance or interpretation of the various administrative bureaus and agencies of the United States.” Not apparently interested in waiting for HR 2796 to pass or fail, the Department of Justice — under “beleaguered” Attorney General Jeff Sessions — has filed a legal brief in Zarda v. Altitude Express claiming that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 doesn’t cover sexual orientation. While the brief doesn’t mention gender identity specifically, we can guess where Sessions’ DOJ might side. Oddly enough,

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

Health and HIV testing

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• AIDS Treatment Fact line: 800-6626080

• Bebashi-Transition to Hope: 1235 Spring Garden St.; 215769-3561; bebashi.org

• Congreso de Latinos Unidos;

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

• GALAEI: 149 W. Susquehanna Ave.; 267-457-3912, galaei.org. Spanish/ English

• Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad

St.; 215-685-1821

the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed its own brief, disagreeing with the DOJ. Meanwhile, a move by Congressmember Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.) to ban health care for transgender military personnel and their families failed to pass in the House of Representatives, in spite of a pair of odd speeches in support by Congressmembers Steve King (R-Iowa) and Louie Gohmert (R-Texas). King conflated transgender troops to slaves forcibly conscripted and castrated in the Ottoman Empire and suggested that trans folks would join to somehow “game the system” for surgical care. Gohmert tried to draw a comparison between money spent for transgender care and that used to defeat “radical Islam,” as if one would take away from the other. While the Hartzler amendment failed, it apparently was not unnoticed by President Donald Trump, who took to Twitter for one of his now-infamous tweetstorm-cum-policy statements. “After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to

"The Amalfi Coast in Italy. It's gorgeous. The scenery takes your breath away. There's nothing not to love about it. And it would Amanda Zullo be a relaxing attorney break from Queen Village my two toddlers and our recent Disney cruise in Alaska."

Mark Segal

serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military,” Trump wrote. “Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail.” This is all nonsense. Military leaders responded with surprise, having apparently not been consulted on this policy. What’s more, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Joseph Dunford has stood in opposition, stating in a memo that there are “no modifications to the current policy until the president’s direction has been received by the Secretary of Defense and the secretary has issued implementation guidelines.” To date, no such implementation guidelines have arrived. Trump seems somehow unaware that there are already transgender troops in our military. While reported numbers have varied from as little as 250 to as many as 50,000, a study by the Rand Corporation in June 2016 estimated somewhere between 1,320 to 6,630 active-duty trans service members out of a total pool of 1.3-million service members. What’s more, this same

Column: “Mark My Words: Obama made us cool; Conversion therapy is child torture; Glass half full of progress”

study noted that trans-related health care for these troops would cost somewhere between $2.4-$8.4 million per year. This is a drop in the bucket compared to current military spending. It is also a fifth of spending that the military currently doles out for erectile dysfunction medications to all troops, trans or otherwise. So we have a scattershot policy, dictated via social media without adequate consultation and not tethered in fact. Transgender troops are in no way bankrupting our armed forces, nor is there any evidence of them disrupting the service. Now, plenty have said that Trump’s tweets were nothing more than a distraction, something to steal the spotlight from news of the health-care bill and its failure, the increasingly dysfunctional administration or the continuing Russia probe. Maybe there is some truth to that, but I find myself considering that a distraction ceases to be a distraction when it is harming people. Trump’s insistence on attacking transgender soldiers, while his Department of PAGE 15 Justice and others attack

LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976

Vol. 41 No. 8

PAGE 9

Morris dispute gets a call for a public hearing

HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM

Tim Cain reopens the “Boys’ Entrance” with latest album

By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com

Photo Story/Essay: “2017 Philadelphia Women’s March”

NOT THEIR PRESIDENT: Hundreds protested in Center City Monday against restrictive policies and positions coming from the new Trump administration. The “Not My Presidents’ Day” march and rally, planned to coincide with the annual federal holiday celebrating American presidents, included remarks from speakers about LGBT rights, health care, immigration, racial justice, women’s rights and more. Photo: Scott A. Drake

Second place

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

GLMA will educate health providers and others on the health needs of LGBT people and their families. Additionally, GLMA will report the latest research impacting LGBT health. Vargas noted this is the first time the organization will host its conference here. “Philadelphia is a great place for us,” he said. “There’s a very vibrant LGBT community here. There’s a health center that focuses on LGBT health — Mazzoni. There’s a lot going on in the political and advocacy sphere around LGBT health both in Philadelphia and in Pennsylvania.” Meanwhile, the True Colors Fund will bring its 40 to None Summit to the city in October. No location or exact dates had been finalized by presstime. During this two-day event, individuals addressing LGBT-youth homelessness across the country will meet up for sessions, performances, action-planning breakouts and networking opportunities. PAGE 13 “For us at the True

Investigative Reporting: “Exclusive: Brian Sims target of state ethics investigation”

Independence Business Alliance

• Independence Branch Library Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection: 215-685-1633

Two LGBT organizations planning conventions in Philadelphia were represented at a local business luncheon Tuesday. PHL Diversity hosted its 11th-annual Business Opportunity Luncheon for professionals to network and learn about new business initiatives for the city. Kim Reed of Reed Development Group moderated a panel with representatives from Health Professionals Advancing LGBT Equality, formerly known as the Gay & Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA), and the True Colors Fund. GLMA Executive Director Hector Vargas and True Colors Fund Executive Director Gregory Lewis answered questions from Reed about their organizations. GLMA will bring its 35th Annual Conference on LGBT Health Sept. 13-16 to the Doubletree Philadelphia City Center, 237 S. Broad St. During this conference,

Jeremy Rodriguez

NORTHERN NETWORKING: City Fitness hosted ConnX Feb. 21 at WeWork at Schmidt’s Commons. The traveling monthly social brings together members and supporters of the Independence Business Alliance, the region’s LGBT chamber of commerce. Guests enjoyed beer and wine and food from SNAP Kitchen while they networked and explored the co-working space at WeWork. Photo: Courtesy of

Other

BusinessAlliance.com

News Photo: “Not their president”

By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com

• Transgender Health Action Coalition: 215-732-1207

• Independence Business Alliance; 215-557-0190, Independence-

Philly Pride Presents confirmed to PGN the organization will reschedule its annual Pride Parade and Festival for the first time in its 29 years. Pride will now be held June 18 at Penn’s Landing so it does not conflict with the Washington D.C. National Pride March on June 11, the local event’s original date. “It’s a decision that had to be made because even some people who work with us are going to go to D.C.,” said the organization’s executive director, Franny Price. “It was a decision that we never wanted to make but it was a decision to save the Philadelphia Pride Parade and Festival and OutFest. We did not want to cause a conflict [with] the community [members] who would want to go to the march.” The National Pride March began as a Facebook event that grew to more than 31,000 confirmed guests and more than 109,000 guests designated as “interested.” Price said out of the previous 28 Philadelphia Pride PAGE 13 events, 25 have been held during

Philly gears up for LGBT conferences

1201 Locust St.; 215985-9206

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.

We want to know!

PAGE 5

Scott Drake

By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com

• Washington West Project of Mazzoni Center:

as record numbers of trans women of color become victims of violence. And LGBT rights flourish under a progressive president only to be quickly yanked back by his successor. Freedom is a contextual concept, one that evolves with our progress and our pitfalls. In times of community successes, freedom may seem to be a finite, attainable goal, while in times of extreme crisis, the freedoms we once coveted may seem luxurious. What that dichotomy shows is that, while little is out of reach, little should be taken for granted. Our country and community are at interesting pinnacles right now; we’ve experienced tremendous gains but also seen the work that has fallen by the wayside. As a country, we’ve rebounded from a crippling recession but many blue-collar workers are suffering the impacts of globalization. As a community, we’ve won marriage equality and many other rights, but our most marginalized — trans individuals, elders, youth — continue to face serious hardships. Embracing our potential should be tempered by acknowledging the many gaps that need to be bridged — and the many more that need to be traversed as the concept of freedom continues its evolution. n

In light of National March, organizers reschedule Philly Pride

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

• Philadelphia FIGHT: 1233 Locust

As Pride Month comes to a close and Independence Day approaches, freedom has been a hot topic. While the word itself often signifies a fundamental, innate tenet upon which this nation was born, recent times have shown just how fluid of a concept freedom is. Two years ago, the LGBT community was celebrating marriage equality becoming the law of the land. Freedom to many at that time meant the ability to finally wed their partners, to join their names on legal documents, to create a family with fewer burdens. But just one year later, 49 people were gunned down at an LGBT nightclub in Orlando. The LGBT community was forced to re-examine the basic freedoms the incident threatened: the ability to be oneself, and associate as a community, without fear of violence or death. Weddings and legal paperwork took an immediate backseat. That back-and-forth seems to have been a recurring theme throughout LGBT history; when one hard-fought victory is won, another can cripple the community. Harvey Milk was elected in a historic move for LGBT representation in government, only to be gunned down. AIDS funding would be boosted in one part of the country and lost in another. A trans woman of color would grace the cover of a national magazine

If you’re a school administrator, teacher was doing? Well, or even a whole school district and you under Obama, want to assert your right to discrimithe Education nate against some of your students FOR Department took REASONS, you’re in luck! The Education students’ comDepartment under Betsy DeVos ain’t plaints about gonna stop you. (Unless you’re against serious issues, white Christians probably.) well, seriously, This is especially true if you want to dis- and investigated criminate against transgender students. The whether such Education Department recently dropped complaints were cases in Ohio and elsewhere involving “symptomatic of transgender students being harassed and a broader problem, in part by examining at denied bathroom access, basically saying, least three years of past complaint data.” “This isn’t our problem.” In other words, if a student complains You’ll recall that under Obama, the that he or she was sexually assaulted at Education Department issued guidelines to school, the Education Department felt like schools about how to handle transgender they should probably find out if this was students so that their dignity is respected an isolated incident or a pattern of wider and their right to an education is not tramabuse. pled. But under Trump and DeVos, the Under DeVos’ leadership, however, Education Department ain’t care. they’re so busy trying to find ways to make Needless to say, those who support trans education into a for-profit enterprise that students are alarmed by the department’s they can’t be bothered with systemic civshrugging off the issue. Shannon Minter of il-rights abuses at school. Ugh. Civil rights the National Center for Lesbian Rights told don’t make anybody rich. the Washington Post, “They have just sent Of course, the department claims that a message to schools that it’s open season this whole “don’t-look-into-civil-rightson transgender students.” complaints-too-deeply” policy is to alleIn other words, it’s a pretty clear signal viate a troublesome backlog of cases. And that the Trump administration has zero while it’s true that a backlog of cases is a interest in hearing problem, their solusome transgender tion isn’t to hire the But it’s not just trans kid bitching about personnel needed having to pee in a to get these cases students DeVos wants bucket in the janiexamined. Their tor’s closet or some- to abandon. Civil rights solution is to simply thing. Suck it up, are such a drag, after all. stopIn looking. buttercup, as Trump a press release, supporters like to What do they do besides Sherrilyn Ifill, pressay right before they ident of the NAACP get in the way of privatiz- Legal Defense and head out to protest against Shakespeare. ing America’s education Educational Fund, But it’s not just said the Education trans students system so that rich ass- Department was DeVos wants to abdicating its holes can get richer? abandon. Civil “responsibility to rights are such a protect the rights drag, after all. What do they do besides get and dignity of our nation’s vulnerable chilin the way of privatizing America’s edudren during the most crucial years of their cation system so that rich assholes can get lives, threatening not only to stall progress richer? The Education Department’s Office on racial, gender and sexual-orientation of Civil Rights is so over crybaby civequality in schools, but to undo it altoil-rights wanters. gether.” According to the Washington Post, the As is the plan, of course. MAGA ’til you head of the civil-rights office “has directed puke. n lawyers to narrow the scope of investigations into sexual assault and discriminatory D’Anne Witkowski is a poet, writer and comedian school-discipline policies.” living in Michigan with her wife and son. She has been writing about LGBT politics for over a decade. Follow What does this mean and how does it differ from what the Obama administration her on Twitter @MamaDWitkowski.

First place

• Mazzoni Center:

A jury trial for the alleged murderer of trans woman Diamond Williams has been postponed until December. Charles N. Sargent stands accused of stabbing Williams to death with a screwdriver, then dismembering her with an ax, depositing her body parts in a vacant lot in Strawberry Mansion in July 2013. Sargent told police he acted in self-defense after Williams became violent during a sexual encounter. Advocates for Williams dispute that claim. Sargent’s trial was scheduled to begin Feb. 27, but his standby attorney, J. Michael Farrell, recently was convicted of multiPAGE 13 ple felonies in

Guilty plea in Maya Young murder

PAGE 15

Trial for alleged murderer of trans woman postponed until December

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

Editorial

Fluidity of freedom

PAGE 2

D’Anne Witkowski

Betsy DeVos

Feb. 24 - March 2, 2017

Day in the Life of: digital agency executives CJ and Jolin Bachmann

EDITORIAL PGN EDITORIAL

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 30-July 6, 2017

Creep of the Week

First place

OP-ED PGN

Conversion therapy is child torture To the entire LGBT community: psychiatry put its hand in with aversion Let’s begin as a community to state the therapy, which uses the Pavlovian dog-like truth without putting lipstick on a pig. training to force us to be heterosexual with Personally, it sickens me when I see somea handful of horrific tortures. There’s the one from GLAAD or HRC on television electric-shock system, some connected to calling conversion therapy genetics, water treatment — “praying the gay away.” That hey, they had it before President is downright as truthful as a Bush — and then there were Donald Trump tweet, and might drugs of various types, some show how we attempt to soften of which stopped people from our message for consumption breathing before an antidote by the mainstream. Or, it might was administered. They lost a hide something very sad: our few on that one, but hey, better own attempt to not accept what dead than a fag. has been done to us as a collecNow comes conversion tive community for years — and therapy. But this one targets that, my friends, is torture. mostly children whose parents We use terms like hate are now trying to “save” them. crimes, pray away the gay … Almost all the types of torture but much that has been done to I’ve listed above have been “cure” LGBT is sheer torture. used in some of these converMark Segal sion camps … and others. ABC And yes, I’m even talking about the water torture. So once again, News investigative reporter let’s go back in recent history to make the Brian Roberts did one of the best onepoints and hopefully get us back on the hour reports on this practice on “20/20.” right track, as we are literally fighting to It showed corporal punishment, imprisonsave children’s lives. ment and lots more. For years, going back even before there I think you get the idea. It’s time to were lobotomies — oh yes, many lobotspeak out strongly. Say it loud, say it omies were performed on LGBT peoclearly: Conversion therapy is child torture. ple — society attempted to try and find n a way to “change” us, making us holy Mark Segal is the nation’s most-award-winning comheterosexuals. When threat of religion mentator in LGBT media. His memoir, “And Then and criminal justice began to fail, medical I Danced,” is available on Amazon.com, Barnes & science showed up with lobotomies. Then, Noble or at your favorite bookseller.

Mark My Words

• Philly Pride Presents: 215-875-9288

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Editorial: “Yes we can; Fluidity of freedom; pgn Philadelphia Gay News One year later, what have we learned?”

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

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"Morocco. It's so rich with history, and I'm a history buff. North Africa has been a hub for world history for a long time. Kitty Heite And I love project organizer MediterranWest Philadelphia ean food."

Jen Colletta

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Gwendolyn Ann Smith

First place

What foreign land would you like to visit this summer? "Calcutta, India. There's such an amazing culture of spirituality there. I would find that very inspirational. The symbols Ennis Carter and art that executive director I would see Gayborhood in that city would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

Transition the battlefield

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

1216 Arch St.; 215981-0088, actionwellness.org

Street Talk

To the entire LGBT community: psychiatry put its hand in with aversion Let’s begin as a community to state the therapy, which uses the Pavlovian dog-like truth without putting lipstick on a pig. training to force us to be heterosexual with Personally, it sickens me when I see somea handful of horrific tortures. There’s the one from GLAAD or HRC on television electric-shock system, some connected to calling conversion therapy genetics, water treatment — “praying the gay away.” That hey, they had it before President is downright as truthful as a Bush — and then there were Donald Trump tweet, and might drugs of various types, some show how we attempt to soften of which stopped people from our message for consumption breathing before an antidote by the mainstream. Or, it might was administered. They lost a hide something very sad: our few on that one, but hey, better own attempt to not accept what dead than a fag. has been done to us as a collecNow comes conversion tive community for years — and therapy. But this one targets that, my friends, is torture. mostly children whose parents We use terms like hate are now trying to “save” them. crimes, pray away the gay … Almost all the types of torture but much that has been done to I’ve listed above have been “cure” LGBT is sheer torture. used in some of these converMark Segal sion camps … and others. ABC And yes, I’m even talking about the water torture. So once again, News investigative reporter let’s go back in recent history to make the Brian Roberts did one of the best onepoints and hopefully get us back on the hour reports on this practice on “20/20.” right track, as we are literally fighting to It showed corporal punishment, imprisonsave children’s lives. ment and lots more. For years, going back even before there I think you get the idea. It’s time to were lobotomies — oh yes, many lobotspeak out strongly. Say it loud, say it omies were performed on LGBT peoclearly: Conversion therapy is child torture. ple — society attempted to try and find n a way to “change” us, making us holy Mark Segal is the nation’s most-award-winning comheterosexuals. When threat of religion mentator in LGBT media. His memoir, “And Then and criminal justice began to fail, medical I Danced,” is available on Amazon.com, Barnes & science showed up with lobotomies. Then, Noble or at your favorite bookseller.

• The Attic Youth Center; 255 S. 16th St.; 215-545-4331, atticyouth-

• Action Wellness:

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 4-10, 2017

Conversion therapy is child torture

Transmissions

Gwendolyn Ann Smith

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 4-10, 2017

Vol. 41 No. 18 May 5-11, 2017 Family Portrait: Spotlight on Samy el-Noury

PA Supreme Court says SEPTA not bound by Philly antidiscrimination laws

PAGE 37

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HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM Celebrations of Philly Black Pride

Fellowship awarded to GALAEI youth-program leader PAGE 8

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State agency: We’ll accept LGBT antibias complaints

Exclusive: Brian Sims target of state ethics investigation By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com

By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com Under proposed guidance posted on its website April 28, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission will investigate LGBTQ-related antibias complaints, despite the lack of an LGBTQ-inclusive statewide antibias law. The guidance notes that Pennsylvania’s antibias law covers sex discrimination, and multiple courts have ruled that anti-LGBTQ discrimination is a form of sex discrimination. However, neither the U.S. Supreme Court nor the Pennsylvania Supreme PAGE 28

FINAL BOW: At the April 29 “Shut Up & Dance” performance, longtime producing director Ian Hussey announced he was passing the baton for next year’s show to Alexandra Hughes. The annual Pennsylvania Ballet production raised more than $161,000 for MANNA, which provides nutritional meals to the ill. Nearly 1,400 people packed Forrest Theatre for the 25th-anniversary performance. Photo: Scott A. Drake

D.A. candidates address crime, corruption, community By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com The race for Philadelphia’s next district attorney is wide open. Seven Democratic contenders will vie for the nomination May 16, with one Republican running unopposed. The primary comes just weeks after current District Attorney Seth Williams was federally indicted on corruption and bribery charges. PGN spoke with all of the candidates about their vision for the District Attorney’s Office, and how the local LGBT community can be incorporated into those plans.

Larry Krasner Throughout his candidacy for district attorney, Larry Krasner has spoken about resisting the Trump administration, ending mass incarceration and standing up for civil-rights. During his 30 years as an attorney, he stood up for organizations such as ACT UP, Black Lives Matter and other organizations relating to LGBT rights, disabled people and immigrants.

PGN: There have already been nine transgender women of color murdered across the nation this year. If elected, what will your office do to combat violence against transgender individuals in Philadelphia, specifically women of color? LK: If and when there are incidents, I will have my supervisors and my prosecutors take those charges incredibly seriously. When I see violence involving a trans victim, to me, a red flag goes up immediately to see if this is a hate crime. I have been there when this Philadelphia Police Department wouldn’t take hate crimes seriously and, to me, that’s unacceptable. You have to have a police department that treats everybody equally and cares about everybody’s issues and that doesn’t consider certain people to be less than human. I think by using the office as a bully pulpit, being as serious as possible about properly prosecuting these cases, working with the police commissioner to

According to documents PGN exclusively obtained, a state commission is investigating Rep. Brian Sims following scrutiny about his travel reimbursements and speaking fees. PGN obtained a copy of an Ethics Complaint Form from a source whose identity we are withholding. The individual filed the complaint with the State Ethics Commission, contending Sims, the first LGBT person elected to the state legislature, violated the state Ethics Act. According to the Ethics Act, “No public official or public employee shall accept an honorarium.” A March 31 letter from the Ethics Commission, signed by Executive Director Robert P. Caruso, that was given to PGN states: “The Investigative Division of the State Ethics Commission has initiated a full investigation in relation to the complaint” that the individual filed. Caruso told PGN he was not permitted to comment on the investigation or the complaint. PAGE 28

do police trainings around this issue or to make sure the trainings are adequate, I believe we could make a difference and make the situation better for trans people.

Endorsements

District Attorney: Larry Krasner City Controller: Alan Butkovitz

PGN: If elected, will you assist PGN in our ongoing efforts to settle all open-records litigation for access to Nizah Morris records? LK: The short answer is yes. I am a great believer in providing information to the press. However, when you ask a candidate what will you do when you are in office and that candidate doesn’t have all of the information, you’re basically inviting a candidate to make promises that may or may not be appropriate. Every bit of my instincts favors transparency but if I were to find something in the file that the mother or the father of Nizah Morris didn’t want revealed, then that is something I would have to look at. Assuming that the family of Nizah Morris wanted the information revealed and assuming the law permitted it, I would like there to be the maximum amount of transparency and I would like to assist in getting all information out PAGE 19 about that incident.

Superior Court Maria McLaughlin Carolyn Nichols H. Geoffrey Moulton, Jr. Commonwealth Court Ellen Ceisler Todd Eagan Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Lucretia Clemons Mark Cohen Leon Goodman Shanese Johnson Vikki Kristiansson Zac Shaffer Henry Sias Dan Sulman Stella Tsai Philadelphia Municipal Court Marissa Brumbach George Twardy

Street Talk What foreign land would you like to visit this summer? "Calcutta, India. There's such an amazing culture of spirituality there. I would find that very inspirational. The symbols Ennis Carter and art that executive director I would see Gayborhood in that city would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

Transition the battlefield No matter how I put this, it feels like an understatement: We are living in increasingly frightening and dangerous times. This is especially true for those of us who are transgender. Sitting in a subcommittee right now in our House of Representatives is HR 2796, aka the Civil Rights Uniformity Act of 2017. I’ve written about this before. It would do nothing less than void protections for transgender people under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”), the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Housing Act and “any federal civil-rights law, and of any related ruling, regulation, guidance or interpretation of the various administrative bureaus and agencies of the United States.” Not apparently interested in waiting for HR 2796 to pass or fail, the Department of Justice — under “beleaguered” Attorney General Jeff Sessions — has filed a legal brief in Zarda v. Altitude Express claiming that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 doesn’t cover sexual orientation. While the brief doesn’t mention gender identity specifically, we can guess where Sessions’ DOJ might side. Oddly enough,

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General News/Weeklies: “City releases Gayborhood racism ﬁndings, recommends training”

HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM Celebrations of Philly Black Pride

Fellowship awarded to GALAEI youth-program leader PAGE 8

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State agency: We’ll accept LGBT antibias complaints

Exclusive: Brian Sims target of state ethics investigation By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com

do police trainings around this issue or to make sure the trainings are adequate, I believe we could make a difference and make the situation better for trans people. PGN: If elected, will you assist PGN in our ongoing efforts to settle all open-records litigation for access to Nizah Morris records? LK: The short answer is yes. I am a great believer in providing information to the press. However, when you ask a candidate what will you do when you are in office and that candidate doesn’t have all of the information, you’re basically inviting a candidate to make promises that may or may not be appropriate. Every bit of my instincts favors transparency but if I were to find something in the file that the mother or the father of Nizah Morris didn’t want revealed, then that is something I would have to look at. Assuming that the family of Nizah Morris wanted the information revealed and assuming the law permitted it, I would like there to be the maximum amount of transparency and I would like to assist in getting all information out PAGE 19 about that incident.

Endorsements

District Attorney: Larry Krasner City Controller: Alan Butkovitz Superior Court Maria McLaughlin Carolyn Nichols H. Geoffrey Moulton, Jr. Commonwealth Court Ellen Ceisler Todd Eagan

Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Lucretia Clemons Mark Cohen Leon Goodman Shanese Johnson Vikki Kristiansson Zac Shaffer Henry Sias Dan Sulman Stella Tsai Philadelphia Municipal Court Marissa Brumbach George Twardy

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Creep of the Week: Jeff Sessions is using religion as an excuse for discrimination.

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CONFERENCE CONNECTIONS: The annual Trans Health Conference, held Aug. 2-4 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, drew thousands of participants from across the country. Lucas Charlie Rose (left) performed original hip hop during session breaks to draw people and inform them about the all-trans artist collective Trans Trenderz, whom he was representing. Rainbow Times columnist Lorelei Erisis writes the “Ask a Trans Woman” column for the New England area newspaper. Other vendor offerings ranged from adult content to children’s books, in addition to an entire hall dedicated to health and wellness organizations. Photos: Scott A. Drake

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Lehigh Valley Pride celebrates 25 years By Adriana Fraser adriana@epgn.com The Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center is preparing for the Lehigh Valley’s 25th annual Pride in the Park celebration Aug. 19, the center’s first time organizing the festival since merging with local group Pride of the Greater Lehigh Valley. Adrian Shanker, executive director of Bradbury-Sullivan, said the celebration provides necessary community support for the region. “The existence of the festival is needed in areas like Allentown. There is still a need for increased visibility for our community. Pride in the Park is a celebration of our rights, and we’re doing all that we can to continue to advance our progress.” The celebration will return to Cedar Beach Park in Allentown and will include vendors, merchants, artisans, games, live entertain-

ment and resource-sharing tables from more than 150 community groups and local businesses. Festival headliners will include Vanessa “Vanjie” Mateo of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season 10 and her drag family, Alexis Mateo (season 3 and All Stars season 1 contestant) and Jelitza Fearce, current Miss Renaissance Plus drag-pageant winner. The event will also feature youth-friendly spaces with a kid space (for children up to age 14) and a teen space (ages 14-21). Drag performer Amie Vanité will host Drag Queen Story Hour during the celebration. Pride of the Greater Lehigh Valley was started in 1993 by a group of area activists who, after attending a civil-rights march in Washington, D.C., recognized “the need to provide a … welcoming atmosphere for the Lehigh Valley gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex community,” according to its website. The Pride organization merged with Bradbury-Sullivan last September. n

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HRC doubles down on voter contact ahead of midterms By Adriana Fraser adriana@epgn.com The Human Rights Campaign is targeting 2.1-million “equality voters” in Pennsylvania with a grassroots voter-contact campaign to flip elections in the state and across the country. HRC is predicting major turnout among voters in favor of LGBTQ-inclusive policies including marriage equality, equitable family law and antidiscrimination laws protecting sexual orientation and gender identity. With fewer than 100 days left until the mid-term elections, the national LGBTQ civil-rights advocacy group is leaning on its grassroots campaign, HRC Rising, said its national campaign director, Geoff Wetrosky. The campaign is engaging the 3-million members of HRC nationwide to volunteer to “fight back against the TrumpPence agenda with electing a pro-equality majority into the House.” The $26-million nationwide campaign, which launched last year, targets an estimated 50-million equality voters. HRC is aiming to turn out an additional 10-million LGBTQ voters. Wetroksy said the initiative so far has helped register more than 25,000 people to vote, while phone banking and canvassing for nearly 330 HRC-endorsed candidates at every level of government. Allison VanKuiken, HRC’s state director for Pennsylvania, said the focus is on strategic places where voter engagement could determine the outcome of an election. “We’re focusing on areas such as Allegheny County, Lehigh Valley, Northeastern and Southeastern Pennsylvania to get bodies to the polls,” she said. “The HRC Rising campaign is look-

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ing to identify supporters and train them to do the on-the-ground, voter-contact work that’s needed to win elections. We’re intentional about showing up and working with other groups to see how fast we can plug into the community.” VanKuiken said HRC is finalizing the hires of eight field organizers in Pennsylvania to intensify canvassing efforts. So far, more than 6,000 volunteer hours have been tracked, including phone banking and community events. The ground game of establishing voter contact will be crucial once the field organizers are onboard, she added HRC is looking to follow the campaign strategy of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who knocked on close to 120,000 doors ahead of her Democratic primary victory over Rep. Joe Crowley in New York’s 14th congressional district. Last month, HRC partnered with Equality PA, an LGBTQ advocacy group, to host the “Taking Action” discussion series with Sarah McBride, HRC’s national press secretary. McBride traveled to six locations throughout the state to discuss LGBT rights and “bending the arc of justice.” HRC is also hiring an additional 45 organizers nationally and deploying 50 headquarters-based staffers into key districts and states. In addition to Pennsylvania, the campaign will target five other states with competitive Senate races: Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio and Wisconsin. HRC Rising will remain active after November’s elections, Wetrosky said. “We’ll continue to have staff after the election to make way for the 2020 election,” he said. n

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New prosecutor assigned to murder case By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com A city prosecutor has stepped aside in a trans-related murder case due to issues stemming from alleged exculpatory evidence that was withheld from the defense, it was announced last week. Chesley Lightsey replaces Danielle Burkavage as prosecutor in the case of Matthew J. White, who allegedly murdered a trans woman’s boyfriend last year. The new assignment was announced during an Aug. 3 court proceeding, two days after White’s jury trial was halted due to alleged evidence mishandling. A spokesperson for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office said the office stands behind Burkavage and that she did nothing wrong. “The Philadelphia Police Department made an administrative error and failed to turn over photo arrays and related notes,” said the D.A.’s Ben Waxman. “Ms. Burkavage discovered the mistake and properly notified defense counsel and turned the information over. In response, defense counsel filed a motion alleging prosecutorial misconduct.” Burkavage stepped aside from the case because she cannot be a prosecutor and a witness at the same time, Waxman said. White is accused of murdering Barry Jones in the city’s Carroll Park section on Jan. 9, 2017. A day before J o n e s ’ m u r d e r, White allegedly burglarized the nearby residence of three trans women. White’s trial was scheduled to begin Aug. 1. Fifteen jurors, including three alternates, were selected on July 31. But later that evening, Burkavage emailed evidence relating to the case to defense attorney Eileen J. Hurley. Before jurors could be sworn in and opening arguments delivered the next morning, Hurley told Common Pleas Court Judge J. Scott O’Keefe the newly released evidence has the potential of clearing her client. O’Keefe promptly halted the trial and ordered the permanent removal of jurors. Later in the day, O’Keefe transferred the case to Common Pleas Judge Barbara A. McDermott, who held a two-hour hearing about the evidence dispute on Aug. 3. According to court testimony, White was arrested by Philadelphia police on Jan. 15, 2017, after a trans woman who witnessed the burglary spotted his photo on Facebook. A total of five witnesses subsequently identified White as the person

who either burglarized the trans women or killed Jones. But Hurley told McDermott that the most recent evidence raises the possibility that a person named Michael Attaway — not her client — is the killer. Attaway wasn’t in the courtroom and couldn’t be reached for comment. Hurley said police and prosecutors improperly withheld evidence indicating that multiple witnesses saw a tattoo under the left eye of the offender. She noted that White doesn’t have a tattoo or any type of notable features under his left eye. Homicide Det. William Kelhower Jr. testified that on Jan. 12, 2017, he detained Attaway for questioning because he appeared to meet the description of a witness. An array of headshots that included Attaway’s picture was shown to witnesses of the burglary, but they didn’t identify Attaway as the culprit. Kelhower said he didn’t document the photo lineup in his “activity sheets” because Attaway ultimately was cleared. Kelhower also said Vivian Royster — who was Jones’ girlfriend and witnessed his murder — wasn’t shown the photos because the burglary witnesses cleared Attaway. Homicide Det. Joseph Murray testified that he conducted the photo array at the residence of the three burglary witnesses. He said documentation of the photo lineup “ended up in my file cabinet” rather than being shared with prosecutors. “I forgot I had it,” Murray testified. McDermott urged Murray to handle evidence relating to a homicide investigation in a more appropriate manner. “You better go through all of your files,” the judge told the detective. Hurley told McDermott she didn’t learn about the photo lineup until July 31, when Burkavage emailed her copies of the photos shown to the burglary witnesses. Hurley expressed concern about the manner in which Murray conducted the photo lineup and told the judge she’d elaborate on those concerns at a later date. Hurley also brought up the contents of a notebook used by Kelhower, which indicate that multiple witnesses saw a tattoo on the offender’s face. Hurley said she wasn’t informed about Kelhower’s notebook until Aug. 2. Additionally, Hurley complained about not learning until July 31 that a witness spotted the burglar in the area of 52nd Street and Girard Avenue on Jan. 12, 2017 — four days after PAGE 21

Hurley said police and prosecutors improperly withheld evidence indicating that multiple witnesses saw a tattoo under the left eye of the offender.

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PGN has immediate openings

Advertising Account Executive Our account executives are responsible for maintaining and prospecting direct client and agency accounts. Key responsibilities include: • Prospecting clients from all types of businesses, non-profits, etc.; Working with agencies and clients who conduct business in the Trial-State area; Presenting client solutions; Closing sales contracts and managing post sales execution and follow up; Working closely with internal departments in order to maximize revenue and budget goals; Personally attending promotions and events involving your clients; Developing new business; Strategically managing complex accounts and or agencies; Creating proposals; Meeting revenue and activity standards; Negotiating annual advertising contracts; Securing meetings and presenting to groups; Client entertaining as needed including traveling; Engaging a team of marketing and other support services.

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Trans conference sets new record By Adriana Fraser adriana@epgn.com

Eating Out Should Be Fun! Read PGN’s food reviews every second and fourth week of the month - and check out our archive of past reviews on epgn.com.

M a z z o n i C e n t e r ’s a n n u a l Tr a n s Wellness Conference broke its attendance record with more than 9,500 guests in its 17th year, making it the largest transgender-focused conference in the country. “This was my first time being a part of the conference and seeing what we’re able to provide to the community,” said Lydia Gonzalez Sciarrino, Mazzoni Center’s executive director. Sciarrino, dressed in a light blue, pink and white shirt she said she wore because of its resemblance to the transgender-Pride flag, greeted guests as she stood in the middle of the conference Aug. 3 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. “So many people are walking up to us, thanking us for providing a space where they can feel seen, especially with an administration that’s doing all it can to tear down the community,” she said. The three-day conference hosted close to 250 workshops in all of the Convention Center’s 82 meeting rooms. Vendors, community groups, churches, universities and ally organizations set up tables that wrapped around two-thirds of the center’s Grand Hall. Attendees stopped to pose for photos in front of the trans-Pride flag backdrop.

K’Omari Lamar drove more than 13 hours from Birmingham, Ala., with his friend to attend the conference for the first time. It was also his first experience being around so many fellow transgender people. “In Alabama, there’s nothing like this going on. I only know one other trans man,” Lamar said. “It’s eye-opening and overwhelming to be around so many people who look like me and understand my experiences. Nothing compares to this moment.” Zayne Silva, one of the conference’s presenters, led his first workshop, “Trans Love and Spirituality,” with Rosalynne Montoya, a friend he’s known online for years but never met face to face until this year’s conference. “I was nervous to lead my first workshop at the conference. I thought that only five people would show up and to my surprise, so many people came and participated,” Silva said. More than 100 people filled the room where Silva and Montoya spoke about their experiences with religion and their trans identities. Participants eagerly chimed in with their experiences while sharing tips on how they practice selflove and acceptance. “I came out as a trans guy who would never physically transition because of

God,” Silva said. “I felt like it showed that I hated my body that was made in God’s image. Two years ago, I came to grips with physically transitioning as an act of love. I went from being very suicidal to very grateful,” he said. “This conference is a reminder that we are here for each other. This allows us to be in a space where we would’ve never met but we can share our deepest, most intimate fears and feelings.” Silva created TransAlike, an online spiritual-counseling service for trans youth. He also hosts speaking events at schools and churches where he educates spiritual leaders on how to treat LGBT church members — specifically trans members. Larry Benjamin, Mazzoni Center’s communications director, said he was reminded of the importance of the conference while he spoke with many of the first-time attendees. “I talked to many people who were at the conference for the first time, and they spoke of what it meant to be in a place with people who looked like them and who understood them,” he said. “People want to be visible,” Benjamin added. “They want to be able to share their stories and, for us, it opens up people’s hearts and minds who aren’t a part of the community.” n

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EDITORIAL PGN EDITORIAL

Creep of the Week

D’Anne Witkowski

Jeff Sessions

Editorial

Shots fired Gov. Tom Wolf signed an executive order Monday establishing the Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs, comprised of 40 unpaid leaders and allies from around the state who have an interest in the community’s advancement. Skeptics point to a Republican-dominated legislature as an obstacle to anything the commission might accomplish. But we work with the system we have, not wait for an ideal one. The commission is a milestone in the journey to equality. The order itself provides insight into how to work around an obstructionist legislative branch: “All agencies under the governor’s jurisdiction shall cooperate with and provide assistance and support as needed by the commission to carry out its functions effectively.” State agencies at every level will now have to work with the commission as the latter sees fit in order to carry out a mission of advising the governor on policies and legislation, strengthening the enforcement of antidiscriminatory hiring practices, serving as a liaison to state agencies and promoting the cultural arts of the community. The order puts on the historical record that such a commission “will benefit the commonwealth” to have such an advocacy group striving for “providing equality and opportunity for all its citizens.” To borrow from 19th-century Prussian General Carl von Clausewitz, war “is a continuation of policy by other means.” So it goes with political warfare as well. With this new state commission, Gov. Wolf sends a clear message to opponents of equality: Shots fired. n

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

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We have an executive branch bursting at the seams with corruption. We have a manbaby tyrant as “president,” likely installed by Russia. We have white supremacists emboldened by the highest reaches of government. Across the country, bridges are crumbling, drinking water is poisoned, kids are being taken from their parents and put in cages and people are still choosing between declaring bankruptcy or dying because of our health-insurance system. But don’t worry. If you’re a good Christian who wants to discriminate against gays and lesbians, the U.S. Justice Department has your back. Because — priorities. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a noted racist who is this nation’s top law-enforcement officer, announced the creation of a so-called “religious liberty task force.” According to The Hill, the task force “will help the department fully implement the religious liberty guidance it issued last year.” The guidance basically amounted to giving Christians the full power and authority to discriminate against LGBTQ people — and any other people they don’t like. Think, if you will, of the guidance as a hammer. A hammer by itself doesn’t present much of a threat until an arm picks it up and swings it. The new task force is that arm. And the hammer is aimed squarely at the heads of LGBTQ people. Behind this task force’s creation are many things, not least of which is this administration’s complete and utter disdain for civil rights. But there are two big myths at work here: The first is that Christians are persecuted in America. They aren’t. Jesus. Full stop. The second is that LGBTQ people have a power and dominance in this country that “silence” Christians. Also not true. Funny thing is, if you take those two myths and reverse them, you get closer to the truth, because this task force is nothing more than Christian dominance in action with the full weight of the federal government behind it. And the story that is being told to justify this whole thing is utter bullshit based on this lie that Christians are under attack in this current “cultural climate,” an all-powerful secular force where drag queens read to kids at local libraries, where a woman can choose whether or not to have children, where a man can kiss another man on the lips and say “I do,” where the building of a mosque or temple in a community causes no more stir than the building of a church. Where equality is an ideal we strive for, not something we fight against.

“We’ve seen nuns ordered to buy contraceptives,” Sessions said while announcing the task force. “We’ve seen U.S. senators ask judicial and executive-branch nominees about dogma — even though the Constitution explicitly forbids a religious test for public office. We’ve all seen the ordeal faced so bravely by Jack Phillips.” Phillips, as you remember, is the baker in Colorado who refused to make a cake for a gay couple. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court. As for nuns forced into buying contraceptives, maybe they’re just trying to ward off the Second Coming because they’d be too embarrassed for Jesus to come back and see what assholes so many of his followers have become. “In short, we have not only the freedom to worship — but the right to exercise our faith,” Sessions continued. “The Constitution’s protections don’t end at the parish parking lot, nor can our freedoms be confined to our basements.” Anyone else wondering what the hell Jeff Sessions has going on in his basement? Look, if you’re a member of a minority in this country, you are in trouble under this administration. If you’re white, heterosexual, cis gender, Christian and, especially, male, then you’ve got it made. As Charlotte Clymer put it on Twitter: “The ‘Religious Liberty Task Force’ is a cynical and cruel attempt to enable discrimination against LGBTQ people. That’s all this is. It has nothing to do with ‘religious liberty.’ It’s about controlling the bedrooms and bodies of other people.” She is, of course, right (also if you’re not following @cmclymer on Twitter, then you’re not doing Twitter right). This task force is yet another way for those in power to hurt the most vulnerable populations in this country. Bottom line: We need to throw them out of office. You MUST vote. And you must vote for people who recognize you as a person. Republicans keep making it harder to vote because they know the real majority is not silent and is not with them. n

Bottom line: We need to throw them out of office. You MUST vote. And you must vote for people who recognize you as a person.

D’Anne Witkowski is a poet, writer and comedian living in Michigan with her wife and son. She has been writing about LGBT politics for over a decade. Follow her on Twitter @MamaDWitkowski.

OP-ED PGN

LGBT commission makes history — again History is repeating itself 42 years I stepped into the room, the governor later. That’s where my thoughts were shook my hand and said with a smile, as Jason and I were on Amtrak on our “I saw your appearance on Cronkite.” way to a reception at the Governor’s Then he asked what he could do. Harry Residence this past Monday. and I had three items: 1. Issue an execuMany of you often remark how joyous tive order to ban discrimination in state I am, and this week proved government against the gay your point. How else to react and lesbian community, as to witnessing something that we were known at that time; you envisioned 42 years ago 2. Issue a state proclamation once again being used to declaring June Gay Pride empower our community? Month in Pennsylvania; and 3. What I called the brass Thanks to Gov. Tom Wolf, I had the honor to join him as ring — create an official state he made history — or should commission to look into issues I say, repeated history? It is a affecting the gay and lesbian history I took part in 42 years community. The first two he ago in that same building, agreed to on the spot, and we agreed to work with his staff alongside another pioneering governor. behind the scenes. To the third Most historians today think he said, “Let me give it some of my place in history as disthought.” rupting Walter Cronkite and long until the first Mark Segal twoIt wasn’t the CBS Evening News in steps he took created some very interesting feedorder to change network teleback and set him on a path of being a vision, which we did way back in 1973. strong ally. It took three years, but in It was that disruption led to what happened at the governor’s residence last 1976, the first official governmental Monday. body for the LGBT community in the After the Cronkite incident, the media country was announced: the Council for went wild covering me, since there Sexual Minorities. On Monday, Gov. Tom Wolf officially simply weren’t many people taking the out-loud radical view I took on gay libannounced a new version of that commission, and here’s the surprise: It is eration. My view was, You try every method the only one in the nation. So there are until you break through. During all 49 governors who have to step up to the this publicity, I wrote then-Gov. Milton challenge that Shapp — and now Wolf Shapp requesting a meeting and was — have set. n more than shocked that he agreed. After Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the nation’s mostall, no governor anywhere in the nation had ever agreed at that time to meet with award-winning commentator in LGBT media. You can follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ a gay activist. MarkSegalPGN or Twitter at https://twitter.com/ When PGN’s Harry Langhorne and PhilaGayNews.

Mark My Words

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 10-16, 2018

Street Talk Have you been the victim of a crime? "One time somebody tried to steal my bike. I had it locked up outside my job. The person wasn't able to steal the bike. But they damaged the chain used to lock it. charges.”

James Burton student South Philadelphia

I didn't file any

"Fortunately, I've never had that experience. Neither have my friends, to my knowledge. I always take precautions Keisha Martinez when I go transit supervisor out. I'm North Philadelphia aware of my surroundings. At night, I try to be very careful."

“Yes. In November, I was attacked by a flash mob in Rittenhouse Square. I was hit with pipes on my head and back. I Francis Madden got a concus- legal consultant sion and back Chinatown injuries. I still have blurry vision. It took police 90 minutes to arrive at the scene. No one was arrested, to my knowledge. I want to move away from Philadelphia.” "Yes, I was stabbed in my leg by someone. It happened 12 years ago. The person also stole $40 from me. It happened Brian Topaz at 17th and home-health aide Pine streets. Fishtown I was just minding my own business when I was accosted. I filed a police report. But nothing ever came of it."

Letters and Feedback Thanks for PGN As a recently out 62-year-old man who recently moved to Chester County, I was thrilled to find PGN at my church (Imago Dei MCC) and have read several issues from cover to cover. Having sequestered myself to an attempted life as a straight married man in central Pennsylvania for the last 38 years, your paper is a breath of fresh air as I fully embrace who I am as a gay man. Many thanks for your informative articles and coverage of LGBTQ issues in the greater Philadelphia area! — Todd Layser Exton, PA

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.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 10-16, 2018

Body U

Megan Niño

FINANCES PGN

Generating retirement income with ladders and barbells Q: I have most of my money invested in bonds now that I’m retired, and I’m living off the interest they produce. But I’m worried about changes in interest rates. Do you have any suggestions on how I should invest my bond money? A: In the current interest-rate environment, you certainly need to be careful with your bond-investment strategy. Here are a couple thoughts for you to consider:

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If you are at or nearing retirement, you may be looking for ways to transition a portion of your investment portfolio from growth to income. Switching from stocks to bonds is one way to do that. But that alone will not necessarily provide a predictable income stream and it may expose you to undue market risk if you have to cash in the bond before maturity. To address these concerns, there are two bond-investing strategies that retirees and other fixed-income investors frequently turn to: “laddering” and “barbell” strategies.

Online and in print every ﬁrst Friday.

Barbell strategy In a barbell strategy, only short-term and long-term bonds are purchased. Short term generally refers to maturities of one to three years, while long term typically involves maturities greater than 10 years. A barbell strategy balances defensive with offensive holdings, affording flexibility and some protection from a rise or fall in interest rates. Should rates rise, the portion of a barbell portfolio that is invested in short-term bonds will need to be rolled into new issues once they reach maturity. This will allow you to reinvest the principal at the Jeremy new higher rates. Should rates the portion that is invested Gussick fall, in long-term bonds offers protection, as this portion will be locked in at the higher rate you got when you initially invested. This is a hypothetical example and is not representative of any specific issue. The example does not reflect any fees or charges inherent to investing. Which strategy works best for you will depend upon your particular needs and circumstances. It will also depend upon the interest-rate environment and where rates may be headed. You may also want to avoid callable bonds, which may be called when rates are falling, potentially forcing you to lock in a lower rate if interest rates drop. Talk to your financial advisor to find out more about these and other bond-investing strategies and how they might suit your particular situation. n

Out Money

Building a bond ladder A bond-ladder strategy simply involves buying bonds of different maturities, then reinvesting the proceeds when they mature. By staggering maturities, you help reduce your exposure to interest-rate risk — the risk that your bond price will fall if interest rates rise. If rates rise, you can reinvest the proceeds from maturing bonds at the higher rate. If rates fall, you still receive interest from the remaining bonds in your ladder. You also stand to potentially improve your overall yield more than if you continually reinvest in oneyear maturities, since longer-term bonds of similar quality usually offer higher yields than short-term issues. A laddered portfo-

Only in

lio also gives you the flexibility to lock in for longer maturities should the economic and rate environment be favorable.

Jeremy R. Gussick is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional affiliated with LPL Financial, the nation’s largest independent bro-

ker-dealer.* Jeremy specializes in the financial planning and retirement income needs of the LGBT community and was recently named a 2017 FIVE STAR Wealth Manager as mentioned in Philadelphia Magazine.** He is active with several LGBT organizations in the Philadelphia region, including DVLF (Delaware Valley Legacy Fund) and the Independence Business Alliance (IBA), the Philadelphia Region’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce. OutMoney appears monthly. If you have a question for Jeremy, you can contact him via email at jeremy.gussick@lpl.com. Jeremy Gussick is a Registered Representative with, and securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC. This article was prepared with the assistance of DST Systems Inc. The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. We suggest that you discuss your specific situation with a qualified tax or legal advisor. Please consult me if you have any questions. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. LPL Financial Representatives offer access to Trust Services through The Private Trust Company N.A., an affiliate of LPL Financial. Because of the possibility of human or mechanical error by DST Systems Inc. or its sources, neither Wealth Management Systems Inc. nor its sources guarantees the accuracy, adequacy, completeness or availability of any information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such information. In no event shall DST Systems Inc. be liable for any indirect, special or consequential damages in connection with subscribers’ or others’ use of the content. To the extent you are receiving investment advice from a separately registered independent investment advisor, please note that LPL Financial LLC is not an affiliate of and makes no representation with respect to such entity. *As reported by Financial Planning magazine, June 1996-2017, based on total revenues. **Award based on 10 objective criteria associated with providing quality services to clients such as credentials, experience, and assets under management among other factors. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of 2017 Five Star Wealth Managers.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 10-16, 2018

In adults with HIV on ART who have diarrhea not caused by an infection IMPORTANT PATIENT INFORMATION This is only a summary. See complete Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com or by calling 1-844-722-8256. This does not take the place of talking with your doctor about your medical condition or treatment.

What Is Mytesi? Mytesi is a prescription medicine used to improve symptoms of noninfectious diarrhea (diarrhea not caused by a bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection) in adults living with HIV/AIDS on ART. Do Not Take Mytesi if you have diarrhea caused by an infection. Before you start Mytesi, your doctor and you should make sure your diarrhea is not caused by an infection (such as bacteria, virus, or parasite).

Possible Side Effects of Mytesi Include:

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Enough is Enough Get relief. Pure and simple. Ask your doctor about Mytesi.

Mytesi (crofelemer): • Is the only medicine FDA-approved to relieve diarrhea in people with HIV • Treats diarrhea differently by normalizing the flow of water in the GI tract • Has the same or fewer side effects as placebo in clinical studies • Comes from a tree sustainably harvested in the Amazon Rainforest What is Mytesi? Mytesi is a prescription medicine that helps relieve symptoms of diarrhea not caused by an infection (noninfectious) in adults living with HIV/AIDS on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Important Safety Information Mytesi is not approved to treat infectious diarrhea (diarrhea caused by bacteria, a virus, or a parasite). Before starting you on Mytesi, your healthcare provider will first be sure that you do not have infectious diarrhea. Otherwise, there is a risk you would not receive the right medicine and your infection could get worse. In clinical studies, the most common side effects that occurred more often than with placebo were upper respiratory tract (sinus, nose, and throat) infection (5.7%), bronchitis (3.9%), cough (3.5%), flatulence (3.1%), and increased bilirubin (3.1%).

Should I Take Mytesi If I Am: Pregnant or Planning to Become Pregnant? • Studies in animals show that Mytesi could harm an unborn baby or affect the ability to become pregnant • There are no studies in pregnant women taking Mytesi • This drug should only be used during pregnancy if clearly needed A Nursing Mother? • It is not known whether Mytesi is passed through human breast milk • If you are nursing, you should tell your doctor before starting Mytesi • Your doctor will help you to decide whether to stop nursing or to stop taking Mytesi Under 18 or Over 65 Years of Age? • Mytesi has not been studied in children under 18 years of age • Mytesi studies did not include many people over the age of 65. So it is not clear if this age group will respond differently. Talk to your doctor to find out if Mytesi is right for you

What Should I Know About Taking Mytesi With Other Medicines? If you are taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicine, herbal supplements, or vitamins, tell your doctor before starting Mytesi.

What If I Have More Questions About Mytesi? For more information, please see the full Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com or speak to your doctor or pharmacist. To report side effects or make a product complaint or for additional information, call 1-844-722-8256.

For Copay Savings Card and Patient Assistance, see Mytesi.com

Mytesi comes from the Croton lechleri tree harvested in South America.

Please see complete Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com. NP-390-18

• Upper respiratory tract infection (sinus, nose, and throat infection) • Bronchitis (swelling in the tubes that carry air to and from your lungs) • Cough • Flatulence (gas) • Increased bilirubin (a waste product when red blood cells break down) For a full list of side effects, please talk to your doctor. Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

RELIEF, PURE AND SIMPLE

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 10-16, 2018

International Japan lawmaker under fire for saying LGBT relationships are ‘like a hobby’ A junior Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker in Japan is under fire for suggesting that same-sex relations are a kind of “hobby” and that legal measures to allow same-sex marriage are unnecessary. “It’s not that I don’t approve of diversity and it’s fine if women like women and men like men. But it’s not necessary to legalize same-sex marriage. It’s like a hobby,” LDP Lower House member Tom Tanigawa, 42, said on an Internet television program on July 29. Tanigawa, a two-term member based in Osaka Prefecture, could not be reached for comment Aug. 2. The Asahi Shimbun reported Aug. 1 that, in a written reply to the paper earlier that day, Tanigawa said he did not intend to discriminate against the LGBT community, and that recognizing same-sex marriages under Article 24 of the Constitution was difficult. Article 24 says: “Marriage shall be based only on the mutual consent of both sexes and it shall be maintained through mutual cooperation with the equal rights of husband and wife as a basis.” Tanigawa’s remarks came just before a two-day meeting in Osaka, beginning Aug.

Media Trail College fund grows for gay teen who clashed with parents KSN.com reports a former teacher of a gay Florida teen who says he was ostracized for his sexuality has raised more than $122,000 to help the teen afford college. Seth Owen, 18, told news outlets that his Southern Baptist family earlier this year gave him an ultimatum: Go to their church or get out. Owen chose the latter and moved out in February. The lack of familial support left him short $20,000 for tuition at Georgetown University, which had accepted him for its Class of 2022, Owen said. The co-valedictorian of Jacksonville’s First Coast High School said he already had declined acceptance offers outside of Georgetown, which has refused to modify his financial-aid package. Georgetown can’t comment on individual cases but works “closely with students whose financial circumstances change after admission to modify financial-aid assistance,” the

PGN

3, of representatives from a nationwide group of over 200 local LGBT lawmakers that was formed last year. Taiga Ishikawa, a municipal assembly member from Tokyo’s Toshima Ward and a spokesman for the group, said Tanigawa’s comments invited misunderstanding and prejudice against the LGBT community and ran counter to the LDP’s own policy. “Tanigawa’s comments are not something we can tolerate, as this kind of prejudice will spread, making things worse. Despite the fact the LDP has a leaflet that says there are people who mistakenly call the LGBT lifestyle a ‘hobby’, we have comments like Tanigawa’s,” Ishikawa said. The comments were made just days after fellow junior LDP lawmaker Mio Sugita was heavily criticized for calling Japan’s LGBT community “unproductive” in terms of childbirth, and writing in the latest issue of the Shincho 45 magazine that tax money should not be used to support LGBT couples for this reason. Her comments immediately drew criticism from senior LDP officials, including former secretary-general Shigeru Ishiba, who is challenging Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for the party leadership. Thousands of people gathered outside LDP headquarters in Tokyo to protest Sugita’s remarks on July 27.

Zambia court finds men guilty of gay relationship A Zambian court on Aug. 3 convicted two men for homosexuality, the latest such ruling in the conservative African nation that has resisted international pressure to school said in a statement. Owen’s family found out about his sexuality in his sophomore year and sent him to “conversion therapy” with a Christian counselor, the teen said. “Technically he’s a ‘Christian counselor,’’’ Owen said. “But he made it very clear it was because I was gay, and his goal was to ‘fix’ that.” Owen said issues around the subject came to a head his senior year after he started bringing up his disagreements with his family’s church. Owen’s father, Randy Owen, said that his son can live in the family’s house if he “worships the same way we worship.” He says he “made clear we are not kicking him out, but we worship as a family.” After the teen moved out, biology teacher Jane Martin took to the crowdfunding site GoFundMe to ask for help. Martin wrote that Owen, who was the ring bearer in her wedding, has been living with friends and working to support himself since the split, according to the GoFundMe. The fundraiser was created June 18 with a goal of raising the needed $20,000. Owen and Martin planned to use the funds to help students in similar situations if Georgetown modified Owen’s financial-aid package. However, Martin updated the fundraiser Wednesday to say that Georgetown’s repeated refusal to update the package has

lift its tough antigay laws. The court in the northern town of Kapiri Mposhi found Stephen Sambo, 30, and Japhet Chataba, 38, guilty of “performing unnatural acts.” The pair, who were arrested last August, will be sentenced by a higher court. They were convicted on the testimony of a hotel employee who said she saw the pair having sex through a window. Prosecutors also presented videos and photographs of the men. President Edgar Lungu has spoken out strongly against gay rights, despite pressure from donor countries that provide essential aid to Zambia. People convicted of same-sex relations in Zambia face jail sentences of up to 14 years.

Thousands march in Jerusalem Gay Pride amid surrogacy uproar Thousands marched in the Gay Pride Parade through Jerusalem, partying in the shadow of a recently passed surrogacy law that excludes homosexual fathers. Waving rainbow flags and blasting music, revelers marched Aug. 2 amid tight police security. A few-dozen people protested the parade. Festivities mixed with outrage after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month pledged to pass legislation supporting surrogacy for gay fathers, but then voted against it, apparently under pressure from ultra-Orthodox Jewish coalition partners. Jerusalem holds a modest parade annually in contrast to celebrations in liberal Tel Aviv, which recently drew over 250,000 people. Much of Jerusalem’s residents are obserleft Owen with few options. She wrote that Owen is considering moving with her family to Boston to take a gap year.

Officials nix amended school antidiscrimination proposal The Washington Post reports that after backing off a controversial proposal allowing school children of any age to decide their race and gender self-identity without parental knowledge or consent, Delaware officials won’t be implementing a revised policy either. The revised antidiscrimination regulation would not have allowed students to self-identify gender or race at school without parental permission. The revision came after the original proposal, which also would have allowed students to choose preferred names based on “protected characteristics” including ethnicity, color and sexual orientation, drew widespread criticism. But the revised proposal received significant pushback from the gay and lesbian community. Education Secretary Susan Bunting said Aug. 2 that recent court decisions also have

vant Jews, Muslims or Christians, communities that often frown on homosexuality. A radical ultra-Orthodox Jew stabbed a 16-year-old girl, Shira Banki, to death at Jerusalem’s parade in 2015.

Russia LGBT activists detained during St. Petersburg rally Russian police have detained at least 25 LGBT rights activists during a protest in St. Petersburg to promote the rights of sexual minorities. About 60 activists gathered at the main square in the city center, despite a ban being placed on the rally. They held up placards and rainbow flags, and called for LGBT rights to be protected. In 2013, Russia passed legislation banning the spreading of what it described as gay propaganda. Organizers of the Aug. 4 rally said that each demonstrator had protested alone, to avoid the rally being classified as a gathering. There were no clashes between Russian police and the activists, but those holding up protest materials were pulled into a police van against their will. The demonstration’s co-organizer, Aleksei Nazarov, said that police had targeted demonstrators who had the “most colorful flags and clothes.” Demonstrators at the rally said they were there to show solidarity with the community. “This topic is silenced in the mass media. These [gay] people exist, the authorities should work with them somehow and we should search for dialogue,” one protester, Mikhail, said. n raised important legal questions regarding the issue. Gov. John Carney says officials are considering next steps and remain committed to public engagement.

N. Carolina parade nixed gayrights float, ends over threats The Charlotte Observer reports a North Carolina parade that refused to let gayrights supporters ride along last year has ended, citing hate mail and threats. A Holiday Caravan Parade statement blames “hate mail, emails and threats to protest the 2018 parade” for ending the 58-year tradition. Last November, the area’s Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays chapter accused parade organizers of discrimination. They called police to keep the parents and children on a float sponsored by Avita Pharmacy from participating. The local pharmacy had invited PFLAG members to ride along, and some wore gay-pride shirts and rainbow hats and beads. Parade organizers said this violated rules against unauthorized advertising. PFLAG and Avita urged them not to cancel; they said organizers had refused to talk with them. n

T:10.125”

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 10-16, 2018

T:11.35”

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MENTAL HEALTH PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 10-16, 2018

Five myths about suicide debunked Suicide is not a topic that many of us are compelled to talk about with any regularity, but with the recent suicides of Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade, our attention has suddenly turned. We are asking why someone might take their own life, and we are trying to wrap our heads around how there aren’t other, better options. This is such a deeply complex topic with many variables from person to person; however, some clear misperceptions that are worth knowing:

killed myself,” the emotional pain associated with simply staying alive supersedes any of these rational thoughts relating to loved ones. Alternately, some individuals who commit suicide may feel that their lives have no value and thus they will not be missed, or that their loved ones’ lives may be better without them.

2. The myth: “People who attempt suicide are just seeking attention from others.” While there are plenty of behaviors that human beings 1. The myth: “Suicide is engage in for the purpose of selfish.” gaining the attention of others, In discussion, the word “suiin most instances, attempting cide” often goes hand-in-hand is not one of them. As Kristina Furia suicide with the another s-word: selfyou might guess, suicide is ishness. It is a common notion highly correlated with menamong the non-mentally ill that to take tal illness. Suicide attempts are often the one’s life is to disregard the feelings of result of those symptoms becoming so everyone who knows and loves them. In severe that they feel unmanageable. The reality, someone who is pushed to the bottom line is that whatever the reason for point of considering, attempting or actuattempting suicide, it is deeply invalidatally committing suicide is dealing with ing, hurtful and unhelpful to suggest that feelings of severe hopelessness. It’s a kind it is a manipulative behavior designed to of hopelessness that transcends the types achieve a certain outcome. of thoughts that might be obvious to me or you. While there may be thoughts such 3. The myth: “If you ask someone if as, “My mom would be so devastated if I they’re having suicidal thoughts, it will

Thinking Queerly

cause them to become suicidal.” Talking can lead to many positive outcomes — such as increased understanding, improved interpersonal relationships and emotional release. If a situation arises where you find yourself concerned that a loved one may be suicidal, chances are they thought of it before you did, so don’t be afraid to ask. As long as you approach such a serious question with sensitivity and kindness, chances are you are going to be helping, not hurting. 4. The myth: “Suicide happens in a moment of intense emotion and is done impulsively.” Suicide is the most serious, and certainly the most final, act that a person can commit. Like the majority of important decisions we make throughout a lifetime, much thought and consideration go into a person’s decision to take their own life. The suicide note is just one small piece of evidence that demonstrates premeditation. If you’re listening carefully, an individual contemplating suicide may make subtle allusions in the weeks or months leading up to their decision.

to reduce and eventually eradicate the stigma associated with mental illness. If people are too ashamed to discuss struggles such as depression or anxiety, they are less likely to get the help they need and become more susceptible to attempting or committing suicide. Next, we need more education around suicide from an early age. If adolescents and adults alike are taught to recognize the warning signs of suicide, we could all do our part to save lives. More than half of all suicides in this country are carried out with a firearm — another reason for gun control. This is in no way a comprehensive commentary on misconceptions of suicide. It is merely some basic guidance on how to better support a loved one who may be struggling and how to avoid accidentally saying something harmful or insensitive. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thinking, help is available starting with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. There is no time like the present to get help or to help someone else. Life is just too precious not to. n

5. The myth: “There’s nothing we can do to prevent suicides.” There is so much we can do to reduce the occurrence of suicide. First, we need

Kristina Furia is a psychotherapist committed to working with LGBT individuals and couples and the owner of Emerge Wellness, an LGBT health and wellness center in Center City (www.emergewellnessphilly. com).

The Association of LGTBQ Journalists NLGJA Presents the 2018 Excellence in Journalism Award

Excellence in News Writing Award 6

LOCAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 21-27, 2017

Lesbian couple turned away from PA bridal shop Repairs, Renovations and Remodeling

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By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com The owner of a Pennsylvania bridal shop recently claimed that her faith precluded her from selling a dress to a same-sex couple. Shannon Kennedy and Julie Ann Samanas said the incident happened July 8 at W.W. Bridal Boutique in Bloomsburg, about twoand-a-half hours north of Philadelphia. The West Pittston couple visited the shop in search of a dress for Samanas for the couple’s March 2018 wedding. “We filled out the form that said ‘Bride’s name,’ ‘Budget’ and then where it said ‘Groom,’ we crossed it out and wrote ‘Bride’ and put Shannon’s name down,” Samanas explained. The couple, who were accompanied by Samanas’ sister, handed one of the two women who was working the form and, after reviewing it, she inquired if the dress was for a same-sex wedding. “She said, ‘I don’t know if you’ve heard, but we’re Christian and we don’t believe in that; our faith doesn’t let us believe in that,’” Kennedy recalled. The women said they didn’t challenge the staff member and exited. “I think we were kind of in shock,” Kennedy said. “We all looked at each other and went, ‘Oo-k’ and walked out. It was unexpected. Afterwards, you think of everything you should have said.” W.W. Bridal Boutique did not respond to a request for comment. The women posted about the incident on Facebook and tagged the store. In a July 11 post that has since been deleted, the store posted: ”The owners of W.W. Bridal Boutique reserve the rights afforded to them by the First Amendment of the Constitution to live out our lives according to our faith. ‘Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.’ We will continue to serve our customers based on the tenets of our faith.”

Kenney and Samanas said they believe the operators of the store’s Facebook page have blocked them both. They said they have received a wealth of support on social media. “I grew up about 20 minutes from there and I think about 90 percent of the people who commented were straight people I went to high school with, which is awesome,” Kennedy said. “We had about 300 shares of our post, and I think we only saw two negative things.” W.W. Bridal was embroiled in a similar situation in 2014, after the store owners, identified then as Victoria Miller and Jeremy Stabler, allegedly declined to schedule an appointment for a lesbian couple. Kennedy and Samanas said they recalled hearing about that incident but didn’t realize it was the same shop. Pennsylvania continues to lack a statewide LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination law; more than 40 municipalities have adopted their own nondiscrimination measures, though Bloomsburg is not among them. After the 2014 incident at W.W. Bridal, members of the Bloomsburg Town Council proposed asking the town solicitor to draft an LGBT nondiscrimination ordinance, but SHANNON KENNEDY after a community meeting (LEFT) AND JULIE ANN SAMANAS Photo: Tara that drew both Beth Photography support and opposition, voted 4-3 against moving forward with such a measure. The council did send a letter to the state legislature urging it to adopt statewide LGBT protections. Bloomsburg Mayor Sandy Davis did not respond to PGN’s request for comment. n

Jen Colletta for

“Lesbian Couple Turned Away From PA Bridal Shop”,

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 10-16, 2018

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 10-16, 2018

Finding the silver lining of change Ed.: Jackson Anthony was born Aug. 7 at 6:36 p.m., weighing 5 pounds, 4 oz.

is that we have more time to spend together — and in new ways. On New Year’s Eve, past protocol would I hate change — always have, and prob- have us at a crowded bar. This year, we ably always will. As we’ve found, howbypassed that mess to watch the ball drop ever, getting ready for a baby in front of our TV, with our is just one big change after pooch, doing a puzzle. When another usually even bigger football season rolled around, change. All of our habits have we grudgingly predicted that, been turned on their heads of course, this would be the in the past nine months, and season the Eagles went all the that trickles down to our relaway; as a native Northeast tionship and other dynamics Philly resident, it would have in our lives. My change-manbeen considered sacrilege not agement strategy is a work in to be at Frankford and Cottman progress, but it’s similar to the avenues celebrating the win. approaches I’ve come to rely on However, we skipped the big in other areas of this journey: party and instead had a few When things get scary, find family members and friends some perspective by looking over for the game, getting for the silver lining. to see how the wild streets Jen Colletta of Willow Grove celebrate a Coming together over change sports championship (surpris ingly well!). We recently took On a Sunday in June, I hopped in the a “babymoon” to Bucks County, where at passenger seat and, as Ashlee pulled out any other time, we probably would have of our driveway, I started scrolling through hit up some wineries or done some water my Facebook news feed. Post after post sports on the Delaware River. Instead, we showed friends and acquaintances clad went to a thrift store, played mini golf, in rainbows and heading down to Philly had a relaxing dinner and walked through Pride, bringing back fond memories of a field near our bed and breakfast looking our days of kegs and eggs prepping for the at lightning bugs — before turning in by celebration. This year? We were headed to 9 p.m. to play a board game in bed. That church … night may have sounded boring to us when We had been church-shopping in the we first started dating, but at this stage, that pace was just perfect. spring for a faith community in which to The side effects of pregnancy have also raise Jackson and had settled on our top meant changes to our routine. I’ve had pick, which we needed to check out, of course, on a Sunday morning. That was just to bite my tongue more times than I can count as Ashlee knocks the thermostat one of many factors that knocked Pride off down and down. While visions of a six-figure PECO bill dance in my head, I try to remind myself how she really has become a walking space heater. Sleeping is totally new, as pregnancy snoring has me fleeing to our second bedroom many nights. Especially in the first trimester, Ashlee would head to bed by 8 p.m. (sometimes earlier), so I got in the habit BUCKS COUNTY BABYMOON of catching up on my cable news with the dog, a nice respite at the end of a busy our calendars this year (the vast expanses day. In the second trimester, she started of Penn’s Landing under the June sun also wouldn’t bode well for a seven-month-preg- getting hit with the swollen ankles and aches and pains, meaning I had to pitch in nant, perpetually cranky woman). Pride with some extra house chores, and by the was one of a sea of social events we passed up recently and, while turning down party third trimester, she’d often be propped up invites or leaving a friend’s wedding early with ice packs and there have been times I’ve helped her put on her socks. The can be a bummer at the time, we’ve found that the upside in changing our social habits forced immobility has been an adjustment

Family Forward

for her usually busy self, as has been the need to ask for help. It’s taken me an extra dose of patience and some sharpening of my time-management skills. While the pregnancy-related shifts will fade, learning to navigate these new scenarios is preparing us for what I imagine will be an ongoing transition in both our habits and dynamics. Lifestyle overhaul Apart from bringing Ashlee and me together, the changes we’ve adapted to in recent months are touching other parts of our lives as well. Unsurprisingly, money has been one of the biggest stressors in this whole process, and our spending and saving habits had to change. We had long been a one-car family but, with a baby on the way, I decided to get my own wheels, meaning ASHLEE, NEW YEAR’S EVE Photos: Jen Colletta we had some serious saving. Not to mention, having so many new ing to do. In addition to closely budgeting things under our belts is a confidence each buck, our lack of social lives came booster, and helps us feel a bit more in in handy here, as we weren’t frivolously control of what’s otherwise a very unprespending on weekends. Previously, we’d dictable situation. often go out to eat a few times a month What we can’t control is the future, and that’s one change we’re coming to grips with. I recently received a wedding savethe-date and thought to myself, We’ll have to find someone to watch the dog. It took a minute for me to realize the wedding’s in November — and we’d need someone to also watch Jackson. Ashlee and I have always had the freedom to think ahead relatively free of constraints — to plan a vacation, brainstorm a couple’s Halloween costume or talk about how we can’t wait to see a new movie as soon as it hits theaters. We need to take a quick pause now when we start getting too far ahead of ourselves to remember we’ll soon have a whole new person to consider when making plans. While we’re adjusting to a new future, we’re also saying goodbye to the entire child-free chapter of our lives. In the past but have tried to eliminate that process. few months, I’ve felt like I was having a Instead, we’re trying new recipes at home, lot of “lasts”: the last time Ashlee and I making for fun (if not wholly successful) had a kid-free date, the last time I would culinary adventures. go out for an impromptu game of Quizzo Our weekends now also have some with friends, the last time I would celeother unexpected opportunities. Our frebrate Mother’s Day with my family withquent trips to Babies“R”Us in their closing out being one myself. days had us honing our bargain-hunting As trite as it sounds, however, each of abilities. The nursery-building process these endings will pave the way for beginhas meant trips to home-repair stores are nings that we can’t even yet imagine. The a common appearance in our weekends; inevitable changes to get to that point are perfecting the art of painting woodwork, definitely not easy but, as we’ll find out in learning how to steam wallpaper and figa few short days, the payoff will likely be uring out how to put together about 4,000 well worth the adjustment. n pieces of a crib are all challenges, but also opportunities for practical skills-build-

I recently received a wedding save-the-date and thought to myself, We’ll have to find someone to watch the dog. It took a minute for me to realize the wedding’s in November — and we’d need someone to also watch Jackson.

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The families held in the center “are not charged with criminal violations and are only held in custody to assure their presence throughout the administrative-hearing process,” according to the county’s contract with ICE. In 2016, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services revoked the center’s childcare license, but the state allowed it to continue to operate through an ongoing appeals process. That year, a guard was convicted of raping a 19-yearold woman from Guatemala who was detained with her 3-year-old son. It is unknown if any separated families are being housed at the facility following the Trump administration’s recent policy of separating and detaining immigrant children and their parents, Andrade said. “We’re shifting the focus to a statewide level, addressing Gov. Wolf to shut down the Berks County Residential Center,” he added. “If Mayor Kenney was able to make this decision when it came to the PARS contract and ICE in Philadelphia, Gov. Wolf needs to make the right decision when it comes to the Berks detention center.” Wolf’s office did not respond to PGN’s request for comment about the facility by presstime. WHITE from page 7

the burglary. The witness’ spotting of the burglar prompted the photo lineup conducted by Murray, Hurley said. At this late date, Hurley said, it’s difficult to establish White’s whereabouts on Jan. 12, 2017. If she could prove he was somewhere else that day, it would help clear his name, she added. Burkavage took the witness stand and acknowledged that Kelhower’s notebook was in a police homicide file that she had access to. She said she didn’t look through the notebook, partly because she trusted police and they didn’t tell her it contained relevant information. Otherwise, she said, she would

have shared its contents with Hurley sooner. “Based on what happened here, I will be flipping through every single notebook that comes to me,” Burkavage said on the stand. Hurley emphasized she wasn’t accusing Burkavage of acting in bad faith. But the defense attorney said it’s possible that police acted in bad faith by deliberately withholding exculpatory evidence. She reiterated her plea that all charges against White be dismissed, claiming he now faces challenges in getting a fair trial. McDermott said she wants to review additional information before ruling on Hurley’s request for dismissal. Hurley

AC ul t ure rts

Kenney announced his decision to withdraw his consent for ICE’s access to PARS during a press conference at City Hall, saying that he couldn’t “in good conscience allow the agreement to continue.” Amber Hikes, executive director of the Mayor’s Office of LGBT Affairs, said she supported Kenney’s decision, adding the mayor had a long history of being against the contract but lacked the legal backing to ensure it wouldn’t be renewed. “The only reason the city wasn’t able to make a decision sooner was because the last thing we wanted to do was a take a leap with the PARS contract and then get flagged down on appeal from the Department of Justice,” Hikes said. “It’s no secret the city has been battling with the DOJ around being a sanctuary city. After going to trial numerous times, we finally won that case and we were able to have a strong legal backing when deciding not to renew the contract.” Kenney filed a federal “sanctuary-city” lawsuit against the Trump administration in August 2017 over the right to limit police cooperation with ICE. Last month, a federal judge ruled in favor of Philadelphia, saying the city’s position was based on policies “that were reasonable, rational and equitable.” n said she’ll file a supplemental motion within the next several days. McDermott said the matter will be resumed at 9 a.m. Aug. 23 in Room 507 of the Criminal Justice Center, 1315 Filbert St. Meanwhile, White remains incarcerated at the CurranFromhold Correctional Facility in Northeast Philadelphia. However, Hurley said she intends to request his release on bail. She said her client continues to maintain his innocence. White, 34, is accused of murder, aggravated assault, burglary, reckless endangerment, possessing an instrument of crime and related offenses. He faces life imprisonment if convicted of all charges. n

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Day in the Life of ... By Jen Colletta PGN Contributor It took two Catering by Design event staffers to carry the massive “Community Salad Bowl” through the crowd of hundreds of guests assembled at Wall Ball, a fundraiser for Mural Arts Philadelphia. As the dish — which each of the guests got the chance to add ingredients to in the spirit of the beneficiary’s community-minded work — weaved its way over the heads of the crowd, Brooke Lutz ducked in and out of the packed room at the Fillmore, snapping

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a catering company marketing director, Brooke Lutz presence or helping to conjure new ideas on how to illustrate our company’s individuality in a sea of sameness.” Lutz, a resident of Manayunk, works out of CBD’s Mount Airy office a few days a Week — starting each with La Colombe coffee from the CBD warehouse — and then gets to work coming up with social-media posts, editing photos and working with the executive chef for photo ops of new menu items. She takes part in a weekly managerial meeting and frequently touches base with event specialists to keep informed. She is also in close contact with staff

way, I can funnel the sentiment to the rest of the world more accurately,” she said. Then, armed with her Canon DSLR, she got to work documenting all aspects of the event: action shots of guests chowing down on CBD food, close-up detail pictures of the food, menu signage (which she created earlier in the CBD office) and panoramic views of the entire venue. “The pictures of wonderful food and smiling faces create themselves,” she said. “I’m happy just to capture and represent what is already there.” At all of the events Lutz covers, she has to be ready for anything. Photo opportunities can pop up at any time, such as at Wall Ball, when performance artists staged an impromptu show in the crowd, or a group of guests descended upon the CBD desserts as servers were carrying them through the room. During each event, she’s usually doing double duty, switching between the camera and an iPhone to generate social-media posts. At Wall Ball, Lutz ventured up to a

attest to the fact that we are detail- and design-driven,” Lutz said. For instance, this year’s Wall Ball centered on Mural Arts’ Porch Light initiative, which features collaborative-art opportunities to empower local residents affected by trauma and mental-health issues. The event included an awards presentation for local community-arts pioneers, including Michelle Angela Ortiz, who led the Gayborhood community mural created in honor of late local activist Gloria Casarez. In keeping with the theme of the night, CBD encouraged guests to add veggies to the Community Salad Bowl on their way into the event, serving the finished product at dinner, along with offering cuisines from around the world. “We try to understand each nonprofit’s mission and, by putting that understanding forward into our work, we become part of their arm of marketing. I respect that responsibility,” Lutz said, noting CBD’s community work is among the most rewarding aspects of her position.

BROOKE LUTZ WORKING THE FALL BALL (LEFT) AND THE COMMUNITY SALAD BOWL

photos of the procession. As CBD’s director of marketing and communication, it is her job to capture both the food and the feel of the events the company caters. CBD, founded in 1991 and owned by Peter Loevy, provides catering and event décor for about 500 events per year throughout the region — from largescale weddings to sweet-16 parties to office luncheons to 5,000-guest picnics. As a one-woman marketing team, Lutz’s duties are varied: social-media management, photography, event-signage design, networking, website management. “I’m tasked daily with making sure the essence of CBD is communicated through various promotional channels,” she said. “It’s pivotal that I keep up with the growth of the company, whether that be by promoting upcoming events, advancing our online

at the four exclusive venues that CBD contracts with — ONE North Broad, The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, The James A. Michener Museum and Bolingbroke Mansion — as well as preferred and off-site venues to ensure things will run smoothly. Given the nature of the company’s work, Lutz is often on the go, usually attending about four CBD events per week, and sometimes several per day. While on site, her primary focus is photography. At Wall Ball, before the venue got too packed, she toured the whole facility to check out which areas had good lighting, where different portions of the program would take place and the menus for the evening. “I always make it a priority to make sure I absorb the event first and foremost. This

balcony to get an overhead shot, and then beelined to the lobby to come up with a few catchy hashtags, posted the photo on Instagram and got back into the crowd with the camera. The day after an event, she’ll download and edit the camera shots and share them on whichever social-media site she didn’t use the night before, and make them available for use on the CBD website and brochures. The photography and social-media portion of the job aren’t just about showcasing a perfectly crafted cream puff; rather, Lutz aims to communicate the company’s mission of providing an all-around experience. Garnish is CBD’s in-house décor department that uses florals, found art and other objects to accentuate each event to the tastes of the client. “Anyone who has worked with us can

In addition to Mural Arts, CBD has worked with the Eisenhower Fellowships program, the American Heart Association and is gearing up for the 30th-anniversary activities of the Michener; the nonprofit art museum in Doylestown is hosting Evening in Black & White Sept. 15 — starting with a ball and ending with a late-night party, for which CBD will have to vary both the dishes and décor. So far, Lutz, who joined the company in March, said Wall Ball holds the distinction of being her most difficult CBD event — but also the most fulfilling. “It was challenging because I could not move fast enough to capture everything I wanted. It was a three-hour swirl of color, art, food and community activism, but it was my favorite for similar reasons,” she said.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 10-16, 2018

The company’s creative fusion of cuisine and conceptual design is similar for both special events and weddings, as is Lutz’s workload. CBD works on close to 100 weddings per year and has created menus and décor to embrace everything from couples’ diverse ethnic backgrounds to their dietary needs. It also employs its own pastry chef, who decorates wedding cakes. The company will be working a number of LGBT weddings this fall, and Lutz, who identifies as queer, said she has been impressed by the welcoming nature — both for employees and clients. “There isn’t a hint of awkwardness or judgment that I have ever personally felt,” she said. “Individuality is encouraged here, and we treat each couple or client with the same undivided attention.”

That approach appealed to Lutz, whose own background includes work at mission-driven agencies: as an advertising account executive and freelance photographer at PGN, and with social-service agencies in Philadelphia and Boston, where she lived for several years, before moving back to the city last year. “I’ve wandered more often than most in terms of career path, never finding something that fit or kept my interest,” she said. However, she said, the multifaceted, fastpaced nature of event marketing and the “creative clearance” the position allows are both motivating and energizing. “This work is something I can honestly say keeps me on my toes.” n

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By Adriana Fraser adriana@epgn.com Philly In Love, an online resource for prospective brides and grooms in the Greater Philadelphia area, features weddings from couples of all ages, cultural backgrounds and sexual orientations in an effort to showcase the city’s “many faces of love.” “A lot of wedding publications focus on one demographic that they’re targeting as a business and there’s nothing wrong with that, but Philly In Love is about showing Philadelphia as a whole. We believe in featuring all of the people and the couples that make up our city,” said Darrell Aubert, Philly In Love’s business manager. Philly In Love’s website reaches nearly 11,000 unique visitors a month. It features real weddings, engagements and inspirational, editorial-styled posts for couples looking for ideas on how to plan their wedding. Couples and photographers can submit photos to the site for a feature. The website also features a newly updated vendor directory of local venues, planners and other wedding services. The site is a one-stop-shop for all wedding needs, Aubert said. The online wedding magazine was created by a team of experienced industry professionals in 2014. Aubert said they noticed “a gap missing in the wedding market where there was no high-quality online presence featuring the work of the vendors that make up [the] local industry.” “There were no wedding sites or blogs that focused specifically on our region. We wanted to provide people with a unique perspective of our city,” Aubert said. Aubert, who owns a wedding-videography company, said it’s “important to show the real Philadelphia” and made it a point to include LGBTQ couples on the site. “We feature weddings with $150,000 budgets and DIY weddings that cost no more than $5,000. We try to make the process easier for those looking to have their dream weddings and need inspiration on how to make it happen,” he said. n

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Wedding planner creates LGBTQ-themed look-books By Adriana Fraser adriana@epgn.com An LGBTQ-owned and operated wedding-planning service is offering same-sex editorial look-books as inspiration for couples. Zachary Connor, owner of Zachary Andrew Events, puts together a collection of editorial photographs for couples to envision what their wedding day can look like. “When I was planning to get married to my husband, Sean, same-sex weddings were still kind of new. All the magazines and blogs we looked at for inspiration for our

that one of his main responsibilities is scouting LGBTQfriendly vendors “I seek out vendors and creative partners who are inclusive and willing to accommodate all couples,” he said. “It was tough for me planning my own wedding and finding vendors who were OK with working with me and my partner. I had to emphasize in emails repeatedly that we’re a same-sex couple. Each time felt like I was coming out over and over again. I make it a point to be that barrier for LGBTQ couples so that they won’t have to go through that.” Connor also specializes in planning estate and destination weddings — the latter of which, he said, are becoming a trend he’s noticed in LGBTQ weddings. According to The Knot LGBTQ Weddings Study in 2016, an estimated 53 percent of gay men and 49 percent of lesbians are having destination weddings. Connor attributed the increase of same-sex destination weddings to the international recognition of LGBTQ inclusion. “More countries are getting onboard with being more welcoming to the LGBTQ community as a whole, and same-sex couples are taking advantage of that.” n

Photos: Sharyn Frankel Photography

Wedding Services Directory big day only showed very traditional, straight couples who looked nothing like me and my partner,” Connor said. “With my business, I wanted to highlight the diversity of weddings and give couples of all sexual identities and orientations an image in their mind of what their special day can be.” The Delaware County-based service specializes in creating “unparalleled experiences using timeless designs,” Connor said. “I want clients to look back on the wedding and not

have it look outdated. I want to help couples create something that is elegant and classic,” he said. Connor started his business in 2016 after being inspired by planning his own wedding. Along with detailed planning, Connor also provides wedding-design services that include color-palette advice and interviewing and working with creative partners and wedding vendors. He said

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Welcomes Half Page Vertical 5” x 11.35”

To Philadelphia Please enjoy all our city has to offer.

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vote, eParel, Hootlogy and Nap Bar were selected as this year’s Biz Pitch finalists. Matthew Wilson and Kevin Schiesz are the cofounders of eParel, a New York-based tech company that specializes in providing uniforms for the hospitality industry and services businesses of all kinds. The cofounders started the company in 2015 as grad students in New York City. Their combined experience in the catering and hospitality industry sparked the idea for the uniform-apparel company. “Employees have no say in what they wear to work. Style, fit, fabric and treatment of clothes are outside of employees’ control. We’re changing all of that by giving employees a portal where they can log in and view pieces that were approved by their managers,” Schiesz said. “We’re targeting independent hotels and restaurants that are underserved by huge conglomerates like Cintas or Aramark. Employers have a choice on how employees dress — they just don’t have any options,” he said. Schiesz mentioned that he and his longtime friend and now-business partner are looking to give employees “a voice” in what they would like to wear, as well as a place to find work-approved shoes, belts an accessories. eParel is already selling uniform brands such as Calvin Klein and Van Hausen. A second finalist is Hootlogy — a “modernized” market-research company founded by Stefanie Francis. The New York-based startup “incorporates modern technology and modern society in gathering research information so big businesses can make big decisions,” Francis said. Hootlogy, founded in January 2017, has worked with one-third of the Fortune-100 companies in providing “innovative” market research such as biometrics, qualitative-experiential environment data analysis, facial recognition and artificial intelligence. Francis said the market research methods such as focus groups or online surveys can be stale and not indicative of trends today. “The company began out of frustration with complacency in the industry in just settling for how things have always been done,” she said. “I wanted to be open-minded in questioning the way things that have always been done while working in what’s going on in today’s climate.”

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 10-16, 2018

Francis noted that what makes Hootlogy different from the other market-research companies is that involved with the process after the research reports are turned into the companies. “Market research tends to be stale and siloed, and we wanted to extend the process and make it be a part of what helps companies bring the information we provide to life. The process usually ends when a report is delivered — but we stay involved to help internal corporate teams do something with the information instead of leaving them to figure it out,” she said. Khaliah Guillory, the last Biz Pitch finalist, is looking to get her company, Nap Bar, off the ground. Nap Bar is Guillory’s solution to the afternoon crash that working professionals and entrepreneurs face during a workday. “I want to open a modern health and wellness center for professionals, entrepreneurs and globetrotters to take 20-30-minute power naps to recharge their productivity,” she said. The Houston native envisions Nap Bar to be a tri-level space with 10-12 napping pods made of mahogany wood, an inverted garage with greenery “to spark creativity” coupled with a coffee bar. Guillory thought of the idea of Nap Bar after leaving her 14-year career behind in financial services. “I knew I wanted to do something more than what I was doing and I went to something that I felt passionate about. There’s a stigmatism attached to napping. People can be thought of as lazy, but it’s the complete opposite. Power naps can promote productivity,” she said. The NGLCC The NGLCC has nearly 1,100 certified business enterprises, 204 corporate partnerships and 60 affiliate chambers, including its Philadelphia chamber, the Independence Business Alliance. “We’re certifying more businesses because it is now essential for companies to have LGBT suppliers included in their supplier-diversity programs if they want to receive a perfect score on the [Human Rights Campaign’s] Corporate Equality Index,” Lovitz said. “The impact of the LGBT economy is something that can’t be overlooked. LGBT businesses contribute $1.7 trillion to the economy.” n

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Welcome Welcome to the historic commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

From one media association to another, we are glad you are in Philadelphia. Your host organization, the Philadelphia Gay News, is an integral and important member of our 200+ association, and we are honored to represent the interests of all news media organizations.

The National LGBT Media Association is a proud organization representing the best in LGBT media that deliver both of weekly newspaper and online readers. Our organizations have similar issues, challenges and opportunities, but associations like the National LGBT Media Association and the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association are stronger when we exchange ideas, network and innovate. It has been a good year for both of our organizations. The Smithsonian National Museum of American History honored Mark Segal for his generous donation of personal papers, rare journals, flyers, posters, letters and materials that chronicle political developments from the 1970s to the present, along with personal artifacts that document his almost 50-year career in LGBTQ activism. Our organization, historically one of the best state newspaper associations in the nation, is particularly proud of our spirit and passion for fighting through the challenges of our First Amendment rights. This is where our two associations unite us as a media family. Enjoy your time in our wonderful area and we hope you visit PA again.

PGN

You belong here. The National LGBT Media Association could not have picked a better place to have its annual meeting than the City of Philadelphia. Our local LGBTQ community is unquestionably one of the key ingredients that makes Philadelphia the welcoming, vibrant, and progressive city that we at the Inquirer are proud to cover and support every day. In fact, the central element of the Inquirer’s mission is to serve “the diverse communities” of the Philadelphia region. It is in our diversity where we draw our strength. To highlight this significance, we recently promoted Michael Days to the newly created role of Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion. We established this position in order to systematically formalize how we as an organization embrace diversity and inclusion – in our coverage and in our hiring practices – so that we may better reflect the region we serve. Now more than ever, we join with the LGBTQ community and honor the tremendous journalistic efforts of the National LGBT Media Association. We hope you enjoy your time in Philadelphia—the city with love in its name.

Together, let’s continue to rise to the challenge!

Terry Egger Publisher & CEO

Mark Cohen President, PNA P E N N S Y L V A N I A

A S S O C I A T I O N

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 10-16, 2018

Welcome to Philadelphia “Since 1976 when Philadelphia Gay News hosted one of the very first national LGBT media conventions here in Philadelphia, each mayor of the city has welcomed you, and now I have that same honor. We in Philadelphia are proud of our part in LGBT history. As one of our city’s slogans goes — “Get your history straight, and your nightlife gay.” So, on behalf of all Philadelphians, I am proud to welcome the National LGBT Media Association to your annual meeting.”

- Jim Kenney, Mayor “Pennsylvania has played a major role in LGBT history. From the marches in front of Independence Hall each July 4th from 1965-1969, to the pioneering work of Governor Milton Shapp who in 1973 issued the nation’s first statewide nondiscrimination executive order, and followed that with the first government commission in the nation to address issues of concern of the LGBT community, and the first resolution for gay pride by a governor. My administration continues that work and I was proud to nominate Dr. Rachel Levine as the first trans person to head a state Health Department in the nation, expand nondiscrimination protections for state employees and contractors, and I will continue to work for full equality. With that history in mind I welcome The National LGBT Media Association to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”

- Tom Wolf, Governor

“I’ve been honored to work with and join the LGBT community towards its struggle for equality. Aside from sponsoring legislation in the United States Senate to safeguard LGBT youth, it was my honor to help bring funding to The John C. Anderson LGBT Friendly Senior Affordable Housing building in Philadelphia, a White House Challenge project under the Obama Administration. But our work is not done. We need to end discrimination by passing an Equality Act in the Senate. Each of these issues has allowed me to join with the LGBT community in seeking fairness, and in this time of uncertainty the journalistic work of the National LGBT Media Association is needed and we are proud to welcome its members to our state.”

- Bob Casey, Senator

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 10-16, 2018

HEALTH AND WELLNESS DIRECTORY

PGN WOLF from page 1

Philadelphia and be able to receive some support on a state level with the initiatives that we’re doing within my office,” she added. Another commissioner, Michael Kenton Mahler, co-editor of Erie Gay News, said he’s “looking forward to being able to keep Pennsylvania moving ahead.” Jason Landau Goodman, executive director of the Pennsylvania Youth Congress, also was appointed to serve on the commission. He authored the proposal for the commission after Wolf came into office in 2015. “I want to make sure that the issues of the most vulnerable Pennsylvanians are brought to the forefront,” he said. “Making sure there are community leaders on the ground having a platform to be at the table at the highest levels of government is critical.” While the commission is the only one of its kind nationwide, it is not Pennsylvania’s first. In 1976, Gov. Milton Shapp formed the Council for Sexual

Minorities, which looked at ways to implement nondiscrimination legislation and laws to support LGBTQ students. Members also discussed same-sex marriage, which would not be legal in Pennsylvania until 2014. The council formed out of a meeting Shapp had with PGN publisher Mark Segal and Harry Langhorne, the paper’s political reporter, in its early days. Shapp “was way ahead of his time,” Segal said. Shapp also issued an executive order banning employment discrimination based on sexual orientation — the first enacted in Pennsylvania. And he issued a statewide gay Pride resolution. The council operated until 1987, with LGBT people from across the state and representatives from eight major state agencies meeting regularly. Gov. Bob Casey Sr. neglected to reappoint members when he took office, despite telling PGN in 1986 while campaigning for governor that he would continue the Council for Sexual Minorities. n

The Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs Executive director: Todd Snovel Commissioners Chair: Anne Wakabayashi, EmergePA, Philadelphia Co-vice-chair: Shaashawn Dial, City of Harrisburg, Harrisburg Co-Vice-Chair: Tyler Titus, Erie School Board, Erie _______________________ Ben Allatt, Harrisburg City Council, Harrisburg Rich Askey, PSEA, Etters Mark Barbee, mayor of Bridgeport, Bridgeport Chris Bartlett, William Way LGBT Community Center, Philadelphia Rosemary Browne, Alder Health Services, Harrisburg Patricia Bucek, Vibrant Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Kathy Cameron, Washington County GSA, Washington Joanne Carroll, TransCentralPA, Lancaster Marc Coleman, The Tactile Group, Philadelphia

Katharine Dalke, Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute, Camp Hill Jim DePoe, IBEW, Pittsburgh Lawrence Farnese, state senator, Philadelphia Dan Frankel, state representative, Pittsburgh Elicia Gonzales, Women’s Medical Fund, Philadelphia Amber Hikes, Mayor’s Office of LGBT Affairs, Philadelphia Jodi Hirsh, Sequal Consulting, Pittsburgh Malcolm Kenyatta, civic and community advocate, Philadelphia Michele Kessler, UFCW, Mountain Top Jason Landau Goodman, Pennsylvania Youth Congress, Lower Merion Maryellen Madden, attorney, Philadelphia Jere Mahaffey, Philadelphia Youth Network, Philadelphia Michael Mahler, Erie Gay News, Erie Adil Mansoor, theatre director and educator, Pittsburgh Adanjesús Marín, Make the

Road Pennsylvania, Allentown Sean Meloy, Victory Fund, Gibsonia Gerald Montano, UPMC, Glenshaw Sebastian Palaez, Allentown Women’s Fund, Allentown Brian Patchcoski, Penn State University, State College Sarah Rosso, Persad Center, Pittsburgh Kristin Seale, Rose Tree Media School Board, Media Adrian Shanker, BradburySullivan LGBT Community Center, Allentown Henry Sias, attorney, Philadelphia Brian Sims, state representative, Philadelphia Sean Strub, mayor of Milford, Milford Roberto “Tito” Valdes, City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Harry Young, Central Pennsylvania Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Harrisburg Heshie Zinman, LGBT Elder Initiative, Philadelphia

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 10-16, 2018

National Praise For MARK SEGAL’s #1 Best Selling Memoir

AND THEN I DANCED TRAVELING THE ROAD TO LGBT EQUALITY

Now NLGJA BOOK OF THE YEAR

“Mark Segal’s work for LGBT equality is historic and significant. The fact that he is still connecting our community is a testament to the passion which he shares in this memoir.” --Billie Jean King

“I have read about Segal in other places but nothing is like reading about it as he tells it....Because of Segal and others we have openly LGBT people working in the White House and throughout corporate America. He has helped make it possible for an entire community of gay world citizens to finding the voice that they need to become visible.”

“Mark Segal is a beloved and respected activist for the LGBT movement, and he’s a pivotal voice to tell our story,”

--Reviews by Amos Lassen

--The Advocate

“Segal’s writing style is engrossing and never ponderous....And Then I Danced is highly recommended for all LGBT history collections and especially for readers with interest in Pennsylvania/Philadelphia politics.”

“Mark Segal made national news on December 11, 1973 when he interrupted a live broadcast of the CBS Evening News by yelling ‘Gays protest CBS prejudice!’ at none other than Walter Cronkite. He was wrestled to the floor on live national television, an incident often credited as the beginning of the end of LGBTQ invisibility. In his new memoir, Segal looks back on that defining moment in history, as well as the many battles that followed.”

--American Library Association’s GLBT Round Table “And Then I Danced is a fascinating page-turner that prompted my tears, laughter, envy, and astonishment--but most of all left me feeling very proud of what our community has accomplished and grateful to Mark for sharing his intimate memoir. While there are many who have witnessed the extraordinary history of the LGBT community, few have played as major a role in creating it as has Mark. It is no exaggeration to say that there is no person alive today who has been a more central participant in as much of the contemporary LGBT rights struggle than Mark Segal.”

--Queerty

--Sean Strub, author of Body Counts: A Memoir of Politics, Sex, AIDS, and Survival

“If it happened in the gay rights movement, Mark Segal was probably there.”

“Mark Segal has for decades been a pathfinder for LGBT journalists of all stripes. We’re indebted to him for his years of radical activism, helping to foster a movement for change that has had a dramatic and positive impact for millions.”

--ABC-TV “Mark Segal is one of the major actors in the struggle for LGBT equality in the U.S....A life as eventful as Segal’s demands that a book be written about it.”

--Michelangelo Signorile, author of It’s Not Over: Getting Beyond Tolerance, Defeating Homophobia, and Winning True Equality

--South Florida Gay News

“Real change never comes without real guts and real vision and real leaders. Mark Segal is the real deal.”

“Segal’s And Then I Danced harkens back to the glory days of the gay liberation era. Current activists could learn a lot of useful lessons from reading this memoir, and any American who reads it will learn about some interesting chapters in our nation’s ongoing struggle to form a more perfect union.”

--Robert Moore, cofounder of Dallas Voice “Mark Segal’s ideas run from the alpha to the omega. Sometimes I think there’s got to be more than one Mark Segal: he has done way too much for one lifetime. I highly recommend this book. If you can’t get to meet Mark in person, this is the next best thing!”

--David Carter, Author of Stonewall, The Riots that Sparked the Gay Revolution

--Michael Luongo, author of Gay Travels in the Muslim World

“And Then I Danced is more than a memoir; it’s a revelation……….and that’s a huge part of why this book is so vital. Equally important is how Segal shatters mistaken beliefs about queer history. Segal really puts the movement in context for the post-Stonewall generation.”

“Before there was Ellen, Will, Grace, Rosie, Andy, and Anderson, Mark Segal was the squeaky gay wheel of American television, pulling stunts that forced the medium to open its closet door. If Walter Cronkite were still alive, he’d say: Not HIM again! And that’s the way it is. And was. Read all about it.” --Bruce Vilanch, Six-Time Emmy Award Winner

--Lambda Literary Review “Read Mark Segal’s memoir and you’ll get the inside story of how and why he interrupted a live broadcast of The CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite. What happened afterward will surprise you. It’s one of many surprises in this must-read first-person account of LGBT history as it unfolded after Stonewall. Segal was a witness to that history, and he made some of it happen, changing our country and our lives for the better.”

“Mark Segal has taken the LGBT aging world by storm, and in the process has made a remarkable difference for our community’s courageous pioneers. We’ve all learned so much from him.” --Michael Adams, executive director, Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders “With gentle humor and the slightest touch of sardonicism….Segal lets readers into his personal life: his loves, losses, and (spoiler alert!) a very happy ending. “Drama seems to follow me,” he writes, and readers will be glad for it.”

—Louis Wiley, Jr., executive editor, Frontline (PBS)

ORDER AT:

--Washington Blade

Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble or Your Favorite Bookseller

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 10-16, 2018

PGN

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AC ul t ure FEATURE PGN

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 10-16, 2018

Dining Out Family Portrait Out & About Q Puzzle Scene in Philly PAGE 42

Globetrotting comedian and writer to touch down in New Hope By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com

Comedy has taken Jennie McNulty all over the world, whether it’s been performing for soldiers in Afghanistan and Europe or appearing in commercials and shows for Logo TV, NBC or the TLC networks. Between acting and live gigs, she also hosts the “Walking Funny” podcast and is a feature writer and contributor for Lesbian.com. We caught up with McNulty while she was performing on an Olivia Cruise to talk about her travels, her work outside comedy and what people can expect when she performs Aug. 11 at The Rrazz Room in New Hope. PGN: What are some of your favorite places to perform? JM: Why New Hope, of course! I spent six full seasons working nightly in Provincetown, so New Hope feels like a second home for me, and I love being there. This Riverboat gig with Olivia and any of those resort and cruise places are amazing. The military gigs in Iraq and Afghanistan were the most rewarding I’ve ever done. There’s always something cool about everywhere — except Ohio. Never Ohio. It’s full of Buckeyes! I’m kidding — but as a University of Michigan grad, I’m contractually obligated to say that. PGN: Do you think standup comedy has become more splintered as a scene, where performers only cater to people most like them, and do you think that is a good thing for the art form? JM: Well, I think the splintering of the country is what’s really bad. Hopefully, comics will remain true to themselves and continue to speak their own truths. They will just, unfortunately, not get booked in certain areas — or not get a good reception. I think most comics just write what they know; the good ones anyway. But laughter is so important and our particular art form has been a release for people for centuries. We just toured Lyon, France, on the Olivia trip and they have a famous puppet called Guignol who was part of a

children’s puppet show. Like a lot of kids’ comedy, it also served as a message to the adults of the past and allowed them to laugh at the people in power without, you know, getting beheaded. PGN: Do you think openly LGBT comedians have it easier in terms of finding an audience and success than they did 10 or 20 years ago? JM: Absolutely. First of all, society in general is more accepting. And now there are not only more outlets and venues with the Internet and “gay nights” at comedy clubs, it’s also more accepted in the mainstream clubs — maybe not everywhere, but in the bigger cities anyway. Back when I started, you couldn’t just send someone a link to your work. You had to hire someone to chisel hieroglyphics in stone of your jokes and deliver them by an ox-pulled wagon. PGN: How has performing in other countries influenced your worldview? JM: I know where a lot more places are. I am not exactly a geographical whiz. But now I have first-hand examples of things I had already thought to be true. I see how long our country’s history isn’t. I see how much better we have it here. Which, again, I knew intellectually but to see it first-hand can be enlightening. Some people in some places work so very, very hard for so little, and some of us here seem to lack the work ethic we once had. We worked really hard to create and innovate and make our lives easy — and now we take the easy for granted. It’s like once we earned our “We’re No. 1” foam finger, we forgot we had to work to keep it. I have been saying since the election how I just cannot understand the hypocrisy of the GOP and their supporters. How they can claim to be the keepers of “family values” and ... I don’t even need to finish that sentence for your readers. PGN: Do you think the social climate in the United States in 2018 is making things more difficult and hostile towards comedians and performers who have jokes that are political in nature?

JM: Yes and no. If you’re a gay comic bashing the idiot-in-chief, you might get applause breaks from a gay crowd. But, even in gay crowds, some people are so tired of it, so over the constant negativity, they come to the show to get away from that. I know, for me, never before have I watched more CNN than ESPN in my life. So, yes, I have more “political humor” than I used to, but still, not that much — mainly because it’s so negative. Even if you’re getting a laugh about it, you’re getting a laugh about a negative subject. I’ve never liked mean-spirited comedy. I like to point out the absurdities in our own behaviors, but in a playful way. But, for those comics who are primarily political, it’s probably harder because we are so divided right now — viciously so. A joke that in the past may have gotten an eye roll or a minimally raised hackle from someone of the opposing view now can start a fight. A lot of people just can’t take a joke anymore. PGN: Do you have any projects coming up that fans should be on the lookout for? JM: Yes! Please come find me on Facebook and walk with me. My show, “Walking Funny,” is live on Facebook on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 p.m. Eastern. So, clean the clothes and junk off your treadmills and walk with me and whoever it is I’m interviewing. It’s just enjoying a nice chat with a friend. And, if you do like exercise, get your steps with me. n Jennie McNulty performs 8 p.m. Aug. 11 at The Rrazz Room, 385 W. Bridge St., New Hope. For more information or tickets, call 888-596-1027 or visit www.jenniemcnulty.com.

Photo: Courtesy of Jennie McNulty

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 10-16, 2018

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Inspiring ‘McQueen’ showcases the late gay fashion designer

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN BACKSTAGE WITH A MODEL. Photo: Ann Ray

Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor The compelling new documentary, “McQueen” opening at the Landmark Ritz Five on Aug. 10, recounts the rollercoaster life and career of the late, great, out gay designer Lee Alexander McQueen. In five chapters, co-directors Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui trace the subject’s humble origins and phenomenal rise to the top of the fashion industry. According to revealing interviews with family members, collaborators and boyfriends, McQueen was passionate, focused and romantic — and not afraid to shock. One naughty runway show, titled “The Highland Rape,” generated headlines for featuring nudity, violence against women and pubic hair. His mantra was, “Be as different as you can,” and as “McQueen” illustrates, his daring paid off handsomely. He secured a job as chief designer at Givenchy (where he treated his staff like equals) while also designing his eponymous line. His risqué shows, prominently featured in the doc, were spectacles. Watch as two robots “paint” Shalom Harlow modeling a white dress, or his Voss show, featuring one-way mirrors and moths, and try not to be wowed. “McQueen” will also wow viewers who want to marvel at the outrageous couture and extraordinary silhouettes. The filmmakers address the designer’s personal demons: He became unhappy as a celebrity, and the pressure to achieve — along with drug use, surgeries (to look thinner) and even an HIV diagnosis — took a toll on his life. Lonely and depressed, he eventually took his life. While “McQueen” may be a mix of hagiography and cautionary tale, the film — like the designer’s shows — generates real emotions. n

AC ul t ure rts

Nightlife, Concerts, Art Exhibits, Readings, Cabaret, Films, Theater, Food, Books, Music, Sports and Travel

Because Life Is More Than Just Gay News

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PGNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Youth Supplement is Aug. 31

Young people aged 16 though 25 email editor@epgn.com to participate.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 10-16, 2018

EXCURSIONS PGN

Rehoboth Beach offers end-of-summer surprises By Fay Jacobs PGN Contributor From mid-August to early September, Rehoboth Beach is a resort town with a wild lineup of events. First up, on Aug. 12, is the 8th Annual CAMP Rehoboth Bachelor Auction. Professional auctioneer Lorne Crawford will keep the bidding rolling for the roster of bachelors donating their time and talents to raise money for the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center.

The auction takes place from 5-7 p.m. (at Aqua Grill, 57 Baltimore Ave.) with CAMP Rehoboth board president Chris Beagle and emcee and drag-queen extraordinaire Fancie P. Charmington assisting in the fun. This year’s impressive lineup will again feature a bachelorette, several of Aqua’s finest servers and local gents modeling swimsuits. Winning bidders will receive gift certificates to one of Rehoboth’s finest restaurants. It’s fast, it’s fun and here’s a teaser: Don’t miss the opening. With hazy, lazy, crazy beach days on tap, Poodle Beach at the far southern end of the Rehoboth boardwalk offers gorgeous scenery of sand, surf and otherwise. There are boardwalk treats such as fried chicken from Gus & Gus, ice cream from Starkey’s and arcade action at Playland. After a day on the sand, visi-

Tune in every Saturday 12pm noon on AyEERadio.com or

Pastor C. Brinson Facebook Live

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tors can freshen up and head into town for the entertainment. The Purple Parrot, Blue Moon, Murphs, Café Azafran, R i g b y ’ s Shorebreak and more offer live entertainment by local luminaries John Francis Flynn, Holly Lane, Bettanroo, the Girlfriends, Viki Dee, Matt Kenworthy and more. Dance parties abound at Restaurant G, Diego’s Hideaway and The Swell. For anyone bringing a pup or two to the beach, Diego’s Hideaway offers Yappy Hours 3-8 p.m. daily. The dogs have treats and water bowls while their humans have cocktails and everybody socializes. On Labor Day weekend, the sizzling summer culminates in the party of the year. Sundance, a two-night event held annually by CAMP Rehoboth Community Center, typically hosts more than 1,500

people at the extravaganza Saturday and Sunday night. This 31st annual event, titled “Sundance 2018—Rainbow XXXI: In the Name of Love” takes place Sept. 1-2 at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. That normally staid location will be decorated to the hilt with flowing fabric, bright colors, rainbow attitudes and a magnificent ambiance. On Saturday evening, amid bright lights, music, gourmet refreshments and an open bar, a silent live PAGE 48

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 10-16, 2018

Live your best (low maintenance) life! Located at the heart of charming, coastal Lewes, DE, Governors offers the best of both worlds – an incredible location paired with low maintenance townhomes that affords you with all the time you need to enjoy that coveted coastal lifestyle. This is a community that offers something for everyone in a location that truly cannot be beat. Peddle or stroll the Junction & Breakwater Trail for a quick and scenic commute to downtown Lewes. Explore all that downtown has to offer, from award-winning, locally-owned eateries to quaint shops and antique stores. Or stay even closer to home and enjoy drinks with the neighbors at the 5 O’Clock Island Bar community amenity. At Governors, you really can have it all! Your vacation home is waiting. Take advantage of LIMITED-TIME introductory incentives and new townhomes starting at $339,900 - priced almost $100,000 below area resales.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 10-16, 2018

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 10-16, 2018

DINING PGNOUT

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 10-16, 2018

Indian restaurant brings exotic flair to brunch By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Are you bored with your brunch routine? Well, you’re in luck. Modern Indian restaurant Veda recently unveiled a new brunch menu that brings some exciting twists to the brunch scene in Center City. But first, we have to talk about the drinks, because what is brunch without a cocktail? The Veda mimosa ($8) adds cranberry juice and sea salt to this brunch staple. Then there’s the Back to the Roots cocktail ($13). We were skeptical at first, because beet juice and gin form the basis of this drink, which we couldn’t imagine being a viable combination. But the honey, ginger and star anise, and the cracked black pepper along the rim of the glass, make for a bold

concoction that satisfies. Back to the food: The most Western of the brunch fare we tried was the Masala omelet ($9), served with a side of crisp naan bread. It was tasty as vegetable omelets go, but we were slightly disappointed that the dish didn’t have a more pronounced level of Indian spice. It turns out you can ask for a higher level of spice when you order; we just got served the tamest level available, which was still a nice diversion from the ordinary. The samosa chaat ($7) offered a more traditional level of spice and flavor, as well as unexpected decadence. The familiar fried potato turnover is drenched in yogurt, tamarind chutney, tomatoes and mint, giving the dish a luxurious texture and complex flavors. We ended up spooning the excess chutney onto our

omelet, which made it perfect. Veda’s take on shrimp tacos ($9) was another nice surprise. Phulka, a slightly thicker Indian version of a tortilla, played well with the spicy fried shrimp, which had an equally hearty and satisfying hush-puppylike density to its batter. The cachumber salad and sweet chili aoli that garnish the taco bring a pleasant acidity that pulls everything together. If you have room for dessert, the kulfi with poached blueberries ($7) is a refreshing way to cool down, as the Indian icecream dish tempers its sweetness, allowing the fruit to take center stage. If you are looking for something to make your weekend mornings more colorful and flavorful, Veda has plenty of delights to spice up your brunch. ■

VEDA BRUNCH Photo: Larry Nichols

If you go Veda 1920 Chestnut St. 267-519-2001 http://vedaphilly.com

Mon.-Thur.: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. & 5-10 p.m. Fri.-Sat.: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. & 5-10:30 p.m. Sun.: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. & 5-9:30 p.m.

Food and Drink Directory

LovasH Indian

236 South St Philadelphia, PA 19147 215-925-3881

Restaurant and Bar www.lovashrestaurant.com EAT IN - TAKE OUT - DELIVERY Serving Lunch Open 7 Days a Week

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Monday - Thursday: 4pm - 10pm Friday - Sunday: 11:30am - 10:30pm

Spice up your life with

Indian food

The Center City IHOP located at 1320 Walnut St. is now open 24 Hrs on FRIDAY and SATURDAY

THANKS FOR MAKING IT A IHOP DAY

Eating Out Should Be Fun! Read PGN’s food reviews every second and fourth week of the month

— and check out our archive of past reviews on epgn.com.

Eating Out Should Be Fun! Read PGN’s food reviews every second and fourth week of the month

— and check out our archive of past reviews on epgn.com.

PGN PROFILE

Family Portrait

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 10-16, 2018

Suzi Nash

Mary Gauthier: In service A Southern gal, out performer Mary Gauthier has lived a life worthy of a country song: family strife, drugs, alcohol, good food and music from the soul. In 1998, her second album “Drag Queens in Limousines,” won the 1st Annual Independent Music Award for Folk/SingerSongwriter Song. That same year she was also nominated for the Boston Music Awards’ Best New Artist of the Year and won for Best New Country Artist. Since then, she has carved out an amazing career replete with numerous awards and had her songs recorded by several notable artists, including Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Candi Staton and, for any parrot heads out there, Jimmy Buffet. In addition, her music has been featured in several TV shows, like the hit “Nashville,” Masterpiece Theatre’s Case Histories and two cable shows, “Banshee” on Showtime and “Injustice” on HBO. Her latest album, “Riffle and Rosary Beads,” was nominated for Album of the Year by The Americana Music Association and might be the one that has the biggest impact yet. PGN: You have such a lovely lilt to your voice; where are you from? MG: I was born and raised in Louisiana, in an area that was part of the deep, deep South. I came to Nashville in 2001 to pursue music. PGN: Tell me a little about the family. MG: It’s a big, long damn story. I never met my birth mother. I was born in and remained at St. Vincent’s Women and Infants Asylum until I was adopted when I was a year old. There was a lot of trauma experienced along the way. I left home at 15, with a drug and alcohol addiction because of the orphanage and the adoption and what I would call disordered attachment. I’ve always been gay; I’ve always been out. I got clean and sober when I was 27. So I’ve been in recovery for 28 years now. After I got clean, I started writing songs. Before that, I was in the restaurant business. I worked my way up and was the part-owner of a couple of restaurants in Boston. I walked away from all that when I was 40 to come to Nashville and become a professional songwriter. That’s the quick version — there’s all kinds of shit that went on in between. I’ve used songs and music to help me understand my own soul. Now I use that power of music to help veterans and other people who are dealing with quite a bit of trauma. PGN: You’ve been working with soldiers to heal through music. MG: Yes, I’ve been taking what I’ve learned about healing through music and have been able to apply it in a new way to other people’s lives who have been through some real challenges. Our veterans are really struggling, so I’m on the road with this album “Riffles and Rosary Beads,” a collection of songs cowritten with veterans.

PGN: When did you work in the restaurant business? MG: My whole life, but in the late ’90s, I moved to Boston to go to the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts. I opened a Cajun restaurant in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood, Dixie Kitchen, and was co-owner of several restaurants for about 15 years. PGN: What was the best and worst part of owning a restaurant? MG: It’s physically exhausting — you work 10-12 hours a day on your feet. The joy was being able to cook for people and show love through food, making people happy with a good meal. That was wonderful; I really liked that part. I didn’t like the responsibility of having so many employees and being in charge of other people’s lives and livelihood. PGN: How did you make the transition to music from the restaurant business? MG: I got arrested for drunk driving on the opening night of one of my restaurants. That finally was enough to get me to get — and stay — clean. I started writing songs in recovery, and music started taking more precedence in my life, and I decided to go into songwriting full-time. I wrote my first song at 35.

PGN: Congratulations! So, are you single or partnered? MG: I have a girlfriend. Her name is Jaimee Harris. She’s an amazing musician. [Suzi’s note: A quick Google search reveals that Harris is poised to be the “next queen of Americana-Folk.”] PGN: Are you going to sing together? MG: We’re working on it. It’s a relatively new situation, but yeah, I think that’s going to happen. PGN: So your newest album “Riffles and Rosary Beads” is pretty remarkable. Tell me a little about the project and how you got involved. MG: I was invited to participate in a project called “Songwriting With Soldiers,” which pairs professional songwriters with soldiers and vets. They paired me with two women who had been in combat, and right away I was drawn in. As soon as you listen to a soldier’s story, if you don’t love them, there’s something wrong with your heart.

homophobic Trump voters. When I agreed to do the project, I assumed I’d be entering a very conservative right-wing environment, but I was wrong. Our military as it stands today is 55-percent Democrat. A lot of them are very young and open-minded. Many of them are just like you and me — a lot of LGBT soldiers, a lot of African-American and Hispanic soldiers, a lot of female soldiers. Our military is incredibly diverse. PGN: The statistics about soldiers are alarming. MG: Every day, on average, 22 veterans commit suicide. That number does not include drug overdoses or car wrecks or any of the more-inventive ways somebody might less obviously choose to die. I think this program lets them know that their stories are important and that by telling their stories honestly and openly, they are helping other people. All 11 songs on the album are cowritten with and for wounded veterans. Songwriting saved me. It’s what I think the best songs do — help articulate the ineffable, make the invisible visible, create resonance so that people don’t feel alone. So far, we have not lost a single soldier who has participated in this program. PGN: Switching gears — a crazy concert moment? MG: One time, playing the [Grand Ole] Opry, a guy stood up and shouted, “God Bless America” at me. I just kept going.

PGN: What was the first thing that made you feel like, Wow, I really have something here? MG: I was nominated for and won the Boston Music Award for Best New Artist for my first album, so that was pretty wild. It made me feel like I should keep going — like I had a shot at this. It’s what made me realize I should get out of the restaurant business and concentrate on the music. It was very validating. PGN: What were some of the subjects of that first album? MG: The one I still use as a teaching tool is a song called “Goddamn HIV,” which was about a gay man living with HIV, told from his perspective. It was a country album and dealt with some issues not usually heard in country music. PGN: And you’ve always been an out artist? MG: I’ve always been an out everything; I was never in. PGN: Who was your first love? MG: Oh, I don’t know. I had so many problems with drugs and alcohol as a kid, I don’t remember — it was too messy. I nearly died from addiction. I OD’d and was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. It was terrifying, but didn’t stop me — I still abused until the night I was arrested for drunk driving. That’s when I put it down for good. It was my second arrest, and that did it. It was July 13, 1990, and I’ve been sober since.

Those human beings have been through so much. If you sit and listen to them, it’s impossible to explain. You have to bear witness. It’s a powerful thing to listen to a soldier’s story. PGN: What do you think are some of the misconceptions people have about soldiers? MG: One of the things is that we stereotype our military. I was guilty of that too. I thought they were mostly right-wing, Republican straight white dudes who were

Photo: Suzi Nash

PGN: The last time you were really angry? MG: I’m angry every day at the politics in our country right now. I had to wake up today to see fucking Trump demanding Sessions fire Mueller. I have to turn it off because I get so angry. You’ll notice that was my first f-bomb for the day. It enrages me, and I have to be careful how much I consume because we live in an incredibly scary time for LGBT people.

PGN: What advice would you give to yourself at 20? MG: I’d tell my 20-year-old self to relax — it’s all going to be OK. I’d also tell her to lay off the booze and dope; it’s not gonna fix the problem. n The Philadelphia Folk Festival is the longest continuously running outdoor musical festival of its kind in North America. The lineup of artist and workshops runs Aug. 16-19. For more information and tickets, go to www.pfs.org/philadelphia-folk-festival.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 10-16, 2018

REHOBOTH from page 21

auction will feature more than 600 items, typically filled with spectacular trips, original artwork and jewelry. Come for the food, drink and bidding fun, plus the spectacle of bidding wars and happy warriors walking away with their loot. On the second night of Sundance, the room becomes a hot NYC-style dance club, with stunning lighting effects by legendary designer Paul Turner with DJ/ Remixer Joe Gauthreaux’s signature club sound. New this year is a Disco Twilight Tea with famed Studio 54 and The Saint DJ Robbie Leslie. You can dance from 7:30-9:30 p.m. to nostalgic disco hits and keep going until 2 a.m. with the high-energy dance party. For the price of one ticket, enjoy two dance events and an amazing party. As if that’s not enough activity for a weekend, on Sunday afternoon comes the annual drag volleyball game on Poodle

A C ul t ure rts

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

Beach. Thousands of onlookers gather to watch the two longtime volleyball squads, mostly but not exclusively men, make their costumed entrances. What began as a volleyball pick-up game on Poodle Beach in 1988 has turned into a Labor Day tradition. This year, might we expect political satire as the athlete-drag queens play and perform to a diverse crowd? These volleyball players can rock the court as athletes and spike the ball in their spiked heels. It’s really something to see in the afternoon before cleaning up and heading back to the Convention Center for the dance party. The annual CAMP Rehoboth Sundance is one of the highlights of the summer season. Tickets for the auction, the dance or both are available at camprehoboth.com. The bachelor auction has no cover and, of course, watching volleyball on the beach, like the best things in life, is free. n

Nightlife, Concerts, Art Exhibits, Readings, Cabaret, Films, Theater, Food, Books, Music, Sports and Travel

Because Life Is More Than Just Gay News

STILL YOUR BOOGIE MAN: Long-running classic disco group KC & The Sunshine Band is set to get down with timeless dance hits 8 p.m. Aug. 11 at SugarHouse Casino, 1001 N. Columbus Blvd. For more information or tickets, call 877-4773715.

Theater & Arts Agnes Martin: The Untroubled Mind/ Works from the Daniel W. Dietrich II Collection Philadelphia Museum of Art presents paintings and drawings exploring the ideas that shaped Martin’s minimalist art, through Oct. 14, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215763-8100. Ann Travers The author hosts a reading and discussion of her latest book, “The Trans Generation: How Trans Kids (and Their Parents) Are Creating a Gender Revolution,” 5:307:30 p.m. Aug. 14 at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; 215923-2960. Biting Wit and Brazen Folly: British Satirical Prints, 1780s–1830s Philadelphia Museum of Art’s display on the appeal of caricature in Georgian England and the ways in which those images teased and provoked audiences, through Aug. 22, 26th Street

and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. Cirque du Soleil’s VOLTA The new Big Top production by the international acrobatic circus-arts company performs through Aug. 19 at Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, 100 Station Ave., Oaks; 484-754-3976. Design in Revolution: A 1960s Odyssey Philadelphia Museum of Art’s exhibition of pop art and psychedelia from the civilrights and antiwar movements through Sept. 9, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. Experiments in Motion: Photographs from the Collection Philadelphia Museum of Art presents a photographic exhibition where artists stop, extend and rearrange time for their own creative ends, through Aug. 19, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215763-8100. Face to Face: Art by Women The William Way

LGBT Community Center hosts an exhibition of works by queer female artists living in Philadelphia, through Aug. 31, 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220. Face to Face: Portraits of Artists Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition exploring how photographers helped craft the public personas of their creative subjects in this stunning collection of rare photographs from the museum’s collection, through Oct. 14, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100. IN THE PUBLIC EYE: Philadelphia’s LGBTQ Community and the Media The William Way LGBT Community Center hosts an archival and

photographic exhibition examining the relationship between the mainstream press and the community, through Aug. 31 in the John J. Wilcox Jr. exhibit space, 1315 Spruce St.; 215-7322220. Josh Blue The comedian seen on “Last Comic Standing” performs Aug. 16-18 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215-4969001. Kevin Nealon The former SNL cast member performs Aug. 9-11 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215-4969001. Modern Times: American Art 1910–1950 Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of American art

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.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

Gladys Knight & The O’Jays The classic R&B singers perform 8 p.m. Aug. 12 at The Mann Center, 5201 Parkside Ave.; 215-546-7900.

DON’T STOP ‘BELIEVE’-ING: Showing all these baby-pop divas how it’s done, style and pop icon Cher brings her greatest hits to the Borgata for the ﬁrst time when she performs Aug. 17-18 at the casino, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J. For more information or tickets, call 609-317-1000.

epitomizing the early 20th century, through Sept. 3, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. Rachel Rose: Wil-o-Wisp/The Future Fields Commission Philadelphia Museum of Art presents contemporary video installations that ruminate on our image-saturated culture and histories of the past, through Aug. 19, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. Serena J. Bishop The out author hosts a reading and signing of her latest novel, “Beards,” 6:30-7 p.m. Aug. 11 at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; 215923-2960. We (Too) Are Philly Poetry Festival A free summer poetry festival featuring poets from Philadelphia and beyond, 7 p.m. Aug. 11 at Norris Square Park, 2100 N. Howard St.; https://

raquelsalasrivera. com/we-too-arephilly/.

Music 311 & The Offspring: NeverEnding Summer Tour The alt-rock bands perform 7 p.m. Aug. 10 at Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing, 601 N. Columbus Blvd.; 215-922-1011. Dead Letter Ofﬁce: A Tribute to R.E.M. The tribute band performs 8:30 p.m. Aug. 10 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215222-1400. Counting Crows The alternativerock band performs 6:30 p.m. Aug. 11 at BB&T Pavilion, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, N.J.; 609365-1300. Jason Mraz The singer performs 8 p.m. Aug. 11 at The Mann Center, 5201 Parkside Ave.; 215-546-7900.

Nancy Wilson of Heart The rock guitarist performs with her new band 7:30 p.m. Aug. 12 at Xcite Center in Parx Casino, 2999 Street Road, Bensalem; 888-588-7279. American Idol Live Singers from the latest season of the hit TV show perform 7 p.m. Aug. 14 at Tower Theater, 69th and Ludlow streets; 610-352-2887. Pentatonix The vocal pop group performs 8 p.m. Aug. 14 at BB&T Pavilion, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, N.J.; 609-365-1300. Breaking Benjamin and Five Finger Death Punch The hard-rock bands perform 6 p.m. Aug. 15 at BB&T Pavilion, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, N.J.; 609-365-1300. CAKE and Ben Folds The alternative rockers perform 7 p.m. Aug. 16 at The Mann Center, 5201 Parkside Ave.; 215-546-7900.

Nightlife Happy Bear The bear happy hour runs 5-9 p.m. Aug. 10 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215-964-9675.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 10-16, 2018

Mimi Imfurst Presents Drag Diva Brunch Mimi Imfurst, Bev, Vinchelle, Sutton Fearce and special guests perform 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 11 at Punch Line Philly, 33 E. Laurel St.; 215-606-6555. Paula’s Drag Kitchen Paula Deen White’s monthly drag show with her friends, 9 p.m. Aug. 16 at L’Etage, Sixth and Bainbridge streets; 215-592-0656. La Maison Rose A burlesque tribute to Aerosmith 10 p.m. Aug. 16 at Franky Bradley’s, 1320 Chancellor St.; 215-735-0735. Peek-a-Boo Revue: Summer Vacation The acclaimed Philly burlesque group performs 8 p.m. Aug. 17 at Franky Bradley’s, 1320 Chancellor St.; 215-735-0735.

Outta Town Chaslyn Sweetwood The cabaret singer performs 8 p.m. Aug. 10 at The Rrazz Room, 385 W. Bridge St., New Hope; 888596-1027. Jennie McNulty The out comedian performs 8 p.m. Aug. 11 at The Rrazz Room, 385 W. Bridge St., New Hope; 888-5961027. North by Northwest The classic Hitchcock ﬁlm is screened 1:30 p.m. Aug. 12 and 7:30 p.m. Aug.13 at the Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-1228. n

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 10-16, 2018

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Q Puzzle Boy Erased Across

Read PGN’s food reviews every second and fourth week of the month

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1 Illegal block in Esera Tuaola’s sport 5 Place for Young men? 9 Painter Frida 14 “The Amazing ___” 15 Not elite 16 Weenie 17 Bird, to Brutus 18 Look for hotties in a gay bar 19 Juicy fruits 20 She plays the mom of a gay teen in “Boy Erased” 23 Immigrant ed. choice 24 Suffix for Krypton 25 Rufus Wainwright and Lance Bass 29 South Beach souvenir 31 Dollar bill holder for male strippers 33 Hustler’s stick 34 Rhine feeder 36 Latin I verb 37 Bang opening? 38 Type of therapy in “Boy Erased” 42 Joey and others 43 Big ___ (Lea DeLaria OITNB role) 44 Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the ___” 45 Improve wine or cheese 46 Butt in the mouth 48 They might bite

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Down

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OVERSTOCK & CLOSEOUTS

720 Hylton Road | Pennsauken, NJ 08110 Showroom Hours: Mon-Thu 11AM-8PM | Fri 9AM-8PM | Sat 10AM-6PM | Sun 11AM-5PM

5-Piece Dinette Sets (Table + 4 Chairs)

Other AFR Clearance Center Locations: New Castle, DE | Secaucus, NJ | Durham, NC | Lakewood, WA ®

*All items subject to availability. Photos are for illustration purposes only. Prices reflect previously rented merchandise. Other exclusions may apply. See store for complete details.