pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976
Vol. 40 No. 33
Family Portrait: Shamus Hunter McCarty — stage struck at an early age PAGE 35
Aug. 12-18, 2016
HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
• Action Wellness nabs $325K in federal funding for re-entry programs
Beared Ladies Cabaret dig in at the Delaware Art Museum
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Surgery policy lifted for PA birth-certificate changes
Lesbian couples challenge NJ insurance law
By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com
By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Four New Jersey women filed a federal lawsuit last week charging that a state insurance law regarding payments for fertility treatments is discriminatory against same-sex couples. New Jersey is one of 15 states that requires insurance providers to pay for infertility treatments. However, the wording of the state’s law requires that patients prove they are infertile through both medical documentation and by attesting to unprotected heterosexual sex. Erin and Marianne Krupa, of Montclair, and Sol Mejias and Sarah Mills, of North Bergen and Union City, respectively, were denied coverage by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield because of the language defining infertility. The company eventually agreed to pay for the Krupas’ infertility treatments, but has continued to deny payments for treatments for Mejias and Mills. In a statement issued this week, attorney Grace Cathryn Cretcher of Beranbaum Menken LLP, who is representing the couples, said their “goal in filing this case is to affirm that this most basic human hope — to experience the joy of bringing a child into the world — is one shared by New Jerseyans regardless of sexuality, and that the state’s interest in building strong families and strong communities is best served by protecting the ability of all its citizens to realize their dreams of becoming parents. Garden State Equality executive director Christian Fuscarino noted in a statement that New Jersey Sen. Loretta Weinberg and Assemblywoman Pam Lampitt have introduced legislation to rectify the language in the law. California and Maryland have adopted laws clarifying that insurance companies must offer benefits regardless of patients’ sexual orientation. “We look forward to working with [Weinberg and Lampitt] to ensure the language is as protective for same-sex couples as possible,” Fuscarino said. n
PRIDE 2.0: Participants at the second-annual Youth Pride cooled off with a water-balloon fight Aug. 6 at Palumbo Playground. The Mazzoni Center event featured free food, music, live performances and games for LGBTs and allies 23 and under. Youth Pride was conceived of last year as an alternative to Pride, which includes alcohol and often has adult themes. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Under an updated state policy, trans people born in Pennsylvania are now permitted to change the gender on their birth certificates without undergoing gender-confirmation surgery. The updated policy went into effect Aug. 8, said Philadelphia-based trans attorney Julie Chovanes. With valid identification, a $20 payment and a doctor’s verification that the person is transitioning, trans people may now change the gender on their birth certificate without a court order. The updated policy also per-
mits trans youth to change the gender on their birth certificate, with parental consent. In May, Chovanes filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of two trans people who wanted to change the gender on their birth certificate without undergoing gender-confirmation surgery. The case was settled on Aug. 8, the same date that the updated state policy went into effect, Chovanes said. “This settlement is another example of how the Wolf administration is trying to eradicate anti-LGBT discrimination,” Chovanes said. “I’m grateful there was such a quick resolution of the federal lawsuit. I also wish to thank PAGE 2
Human-rights leaders explore LGBT Philly By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com Although not marked by a rainbow flag, Rittenhouse Square played an important part for LGBT people in Philadelphia. “It was a gay meeting spot in the ’60s and ’70s,” said Bob Skiba, archivist at William Way LGBT Community Center. “Gay people have always found ways to make public spaces their own, being visible and invisible at the same time.” He outlined the routes of the first Gay Pride parades in the city in the 1970s. They started at Rittenhouse and ended at Independence Hall, where early gay-rights protesters held Annual Reminder marches. Skiba led an hour-long tour Aug. 8 for about 50 representatives from humanrights agencies across the country. Another 50 were on a bus with William Way’s executive director, Chris Bartlett. They were in Philadelphia for the 67th-annual conference of the International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies. This year PAGE 21
OUT IN PHILLY: About 100 leaders of human-rights agencies around the country convened in Philadelphia this week for the 67th-annual conference of the International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies. This year’s event focused on LGBT issues. On Monday, the group members were given tours of Philadelphia’s LGBT sites by Bob Skiba, archivist at William Way LGBT Community Center, and center executive director Chris Bartlett. Photo: Scott A. Drake