Ralfka Gonzalez talks about his latest art and how his diagnosis played a role in it
Family Portrait: Susan Gildea
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30 years of HIV/AIDS means a generation of changes
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Aug. 19-25, 2011
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William Way opts out of senior housing program By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Philadelphia’s proposed LGBT seniorhousing program saw a setback last week as the William Way LGBT Community Center withdrew its partnership from the initiative. The center’s board of directors voted unanimously Aug. 9 to drop out of the project, which sought to offer affordable residences for older adults in a building attached to William Way. The Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld Fund, which is spearheading the project along with development company Pennrose Properties, plans to seek another location for the residences. “The dmhFund has been exploring other locations for the senior-housing facility and
intends to move forward with the project at another site,” said DMH president and PGN publisher Mark Segal. Earlier this summer, the proposal did not make the list of initiatives slated to receive state tax credits, a major source of funding for the $20-million project. Applicants typically have to submit their proposals several times before making the cut; applications for next year’s funding are due in October. However, the center board did not feel the improvements to the building that were slated to accompany the construction of the senior residences could be delayed to accommodate the adjusted time frame. The proposed agreement would have provided about $6 million in renovations to the community center, including a $2.6-million full rehab to the front portion of the build-
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ing. The project would have provided 3,000 additional square footage to the center, including an expanded ballroom, new catering kitchen, a courtyard and a new library and archive space. “The William Way LGBT Community Center has worked in good faith over the last year to complete its due diligence for this very important project,” said Jeff Sotland, co-chair of the center’s board of directors. “We continue to support the project, but our organizational priorities and the immediate needs of the center do not allow us to postpone our strategic planning or the renovation of the center for another year.” William Way executive director Chris Bartlett noted the center must make immediate repairs to fix leaks and its HVAC system, areas of the building PAGE 8
Summer teamwork gives Attic youth tools for future By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com How can LGBTQ youth and youth allies be more visible in their schools and communities, so they can support each other and create safer and more inclusive environments? This is the question that 31 youth spent time answering this summer in a servicelearning project at The Attic Youth Center. The initiative, first held last summer and funded by the Philadelphia Youth Network WorkReady Program, allowed youth age 1418 to work for 20 hours a week at The Attic on two of six possible projects — video production, memoir writing, public speaking and performance, research, mural painting and T-shirt designing. The finished products, which all sought to answer the overarching question of youth visibility and empowerment, were unveiled in a public reception that drew about 100 guests Aug. 11. “I really can’t believe what an amazing job these young people PAGE 21
DAY OF UNITY: Members and supporters of Elements Organization spent Aug. 12 at William Way LGBT Community Center for a daylong event to build the LGBTQ women of color network. Elements will host its third annual LGBTQ Womyn of Color Conference Oct. 7-9. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Defendant seeks dismissal in Clementi case By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com The defense team representing the former Rutgers University student accused of spying on roommate Tyler Clementi is seeking dismissal of the charges against him, citing new evidence. Attorneys for Dharun Ravi submitted copies of text messages, online chats and Twitter postings exchanged between Clementi, Ravi and others that provide an overview of the days leading up to Clementi’s September suicide — information the defense says was not presented to the grand PAGE 18
61K gay couples in tri-state area By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com
SUMMER SHOWCASE: About 100 people gathered at the William Way LGBT Community Center Aug. 11 for a summer expo that exhibited the work of 31 members of The Attic Youth Center. The youth spent six weeks working on service-learning projects that allowed them to utilize art, performance, research and other skills to examine the visibility and potential of the LGBT youth community. Photo: Scott A. Drake
An analysis of U.S. Census data by LGBT thinktank Williams Institute found there are more than 60,000 same-sex couples living in the tri-state region, with the highest concentration in the nation’s first state. The Census numbers revealed that there are more than 33,600 same-sex couples in Pennsylvania, a population that is joined by 24,112 couples in New Jersey and 3,352 in Delaware, according to PAGE 21
Special pull-out section for ASANA and NLGJA visitors to Philadelphia
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