PGN Aug. 24-30, 2012 by The Philadelphia Gay News

Adam Levine defends the gay community

Family Portrait: Amelia Carter

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Gay reservist hits a happy trifecta of good news

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Aug. 24-30, 2012

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Vol. 36 No. 34

Complaints filed against local therapists The credentials of two area therapists are under fire after an advocacy group questions their support for therapies that seek to ʻchangeʼ patientsʼ sexual orientation. By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Ethics complaints have been filed with a state-licensing board and the American Psychological Association against two Philadelphia-area therapists who purportedly support and could be practicing conversion therapy for LGBT patients. Peace Advocacy Network said that a board member and a mental-health professional filed a complaint earlier this month with the Pennsylvania Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors against Peter Kleponis and Dr. Richard Fitzgibbons, both based out of the Institute for Marriage Healing in West Conshohocken. A PAN board member filed an additional complaint with the APA’s Ethics Committee against Kleponis. Fitzgibbons is not an APA member. Kleponis and Fitzgibbons did not return a call for comment. A representative of the Department of State declined to confirm whether the complaint had been filed with the state licensing board. The Bureau of Enforcement and Investigation handles such complaints, with consultation with prosecuting attorneys if necessary. Investigations, which could require interviews and other evidence-gathering processes, typically take at least several months. Some investigations involve hearings before the licensing board, which then determines the course of discipline, which the licensee could appeal to the Commonwealth Court. APA executive director for public and member communications Kim Miller also said she could not confirm that the complaint was filed because of confidentiality reasons. Complaints filed with the APA Ethics Committee undergo a committee investigation and, if an APA member is found to be in violation of the Ethics Code, he or she could have his or her APA membership revoked. The APA has previously rejected therapies that seek to change one’s sexual orientation. PAGE 14 PA N s h a r e d w i t h

QUEEN FOR THE DAY: Latrice Royale lit up the stage at Pride in the Park, held Aug. 19 at Cedar Beach Park in Allentown. The “RuPaul’s Drag Race” alum headlined the event and performed alongside the Lehigh Valley Drag Review. This marked the 19th annual festival hosted by Pride of the Greater Lehigh Valley. Photo: Dan Calhoun

Penn ranks as top trans-, gayfriendly school UN-FEARFUL FRIDAY: About 75 people attended AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania’s 13th annual Summer Movie Party Aug. 17 at William Way LGBT Community Center, which featured a screening of Joan Crawford’s “Sudden Fear.” The event raised about $2,700 for the agency, which executive director Ronda Goldfein said will be used to support the organization’s general casework. “The event was great; it was well-attended and everyone stayed for the movie and all the way to the end of the movie,” she said. Photo: Scott A. Drake

Pennsylvania marks decade with adoption protections By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Although Pennsylvania is lagging behind neighbor states in nondiscrimination protections for LGBTs and relationship recognition for same-sex couples, for the past 10 years the state has allowed countless LGBT couples to create legally protected families, thanks to a pivotal ruling from Pennsylvania’s top court. On Aug. 20, 2002, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court found that same-sex couples cannot be barred from petitioning for second-parent adoptions — which allow the child’s biological or legal parent to incorporate a partner as the joint co-parent, with both retaining equal parental rights. The lawsuit that led to the ruling was spearheaded by lead counsel Christine

SAME-SEX-HEADED FAMILIES CELEBRATE 10 YEARS OF SECONDPARENT ADOPTION RIGHTS AUG. 18 IN PITTSBURGH WITH THE WOMEN’S LAW PROJECT Photo: Sam Hens-Greco

Biancheria with attorney Sandra Grey and support from Women’s PAGE 16

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com LGBT college group Campus Pride last week released its inaugural list of the nation’s best schools for transgender individuals, and a local university made the cut. University of Pennsylvania was among the institutions included in the “2012 Top 10 Trans-friendly Colleges & Universities,” presented in partnership with The Advocate. The schools were selected based on an analysis of the past five years of the Campus Pride Index, which ranks colleges and universities on LGBT-friendliness based on an array of policies, programs and practices. Joining Penn is Ithaca University and New York University in New York, Princeton University in New Jersey, University of California’s Los Angeles and Riverside campuses, University of Massachusetts’ Amherst campus, University of Michigan’s Ann Arbor campus, University of Oregon and University of Vermont. Penn incorporated gender identity into its nondiscrimination policy in 2003 and began offering transgender-related health coverage for students in 2010. The plan, which includes up to $50,000 in coverage for counseling, hormone treatment and genderreassignment surgery, was extended to staff PAGE 13 last month.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 24-30, 2012

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Gayborhood Crime Watch The following incidents in the Midtown Village and Washington Square West areas were reported to the 6th Police District between Aug. 6-17. Information is courtesy of 6th District Capt. Brian Korn; Stacy Irving, senior director, Crime Prevention Service; Center City District; the Police Liaison Committee and Midtown Village Merchants Association. To report crime tips, visit www.phillypolice. com or call 215-686-TIPS (8477). INCIDENTS — Between 8 p.m. Aug. 5 and 9 a.m. Aug. 6, someone shattered the window of Sound of Philadelphia, 309 S. Broad St. Review of security video showed that a male broke the glass with a skateboard and then attempted to open the locked door; no access was gained. The suspect was described as a black male, early 20s, tall, bald and wearing a black shirt. — Between 12:35-3 p.m. Aug. 7, someone broke the lock of a 2008 Chevy parked in the paid garage at 801 Spruce St. and stole an iPhone. This report was received by the DPR Unit via phone, thus police were not dispatched. — Between 8 a.m. Aug. 7 and 8 a.m. Aug. 8, a secured bicycle was stolen from outside 310 S. 10th St. — At 1:40 p.m. Aug. 7, someone took an iPhone from the bar inside El Vez, 121 S. 13th St. Security

video showed a black male, in his 20s wearing a light colored Polo shirt and a red baseball cap took the phone and exited. — At 5:10 p.m. Aug. 7, a male snatched a woman’s iPhone from her hand while she was on the SEPTA 11th and Market streets crossover in the subway concourse. The suspect was described as a black male, in his early 20s, with a light complexion and thin build and wearing a blue T-shirt and jeans. — At 1:20 a.m. Aug. 10, a woman was in a fight with another woman she knew outside 1125 Walnut St. The first woman was injured when she was knocked to the ground, possibly striking her head on the sidewalk. Central Detective Division has information concerning the suspect and will obtain an arrest warrant. — Between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Aug. 11, a copper downspout was stolen from a residence in the 900 block of Clinton Street. — Between 8 p.m. Aug. 11 and 1 p.m. Aug. 13, someone forced open the door of a 2012 Toyota parked in the 200 block of South 12th Street and took a wallet. This report was received by the DPR Unit via phone, thus police were not dispatched. — At 6:30 p.m. Aug. 12, a woman was in the 1100 block of Walnut Street when a male asked her a question, she turned

and saw that the male was indecently exposed. The suspect was described as a black male, 20-30 years old, 6-foot, wearing glasses and all black clothing and a green surgical mask. — At 10:15 p.m. Aug. 12, complainant was accosted in the 300 block of South 13th Street by a male with a knife who demanded and took complainant’s wallet. The suspect fled north on 13th and was described as a black male, 2530 years old and was wearing a black T-shirt and jeans. — At 12:15 a.m. Aug. 14, a woman looked out a window and saw a white male and a black male, no further description, take her secured bicycle from a pole outside 1027 Pine St. — Between 5 p.m. Aug. 9 and 7 p.m. Aug. 15, complainant’s unsecured bicycle was stolen from the 1300 block of Walnut Street. — Between 10:30 p.m. Aug. 13 and 12:30 a.m. Aug. 14, a secured bicycle was stolen from the corner of 13th and Chestnut streets. — On Aug. 16, a man got into an argument with another male in the 1200 block of Chancellor Street and was hit in the head with a bottle. The suspect was described as a black male, 24 years old, 5-foot10 with a thin build. NON-SUMMARY ARRESTS — At 9:30 a.m. Aug. 7, a female presented a demand note to a

teller inside the TD Bank, 1032 Chestnut St., and left after being given cash. Highway Patrol officers in the area responded to the description provided and stopped the suspect outside 25 S. 11th St. She was positively identified and the money was recovered. The 43-year-old suspect with a West Oak Lane address was charged with bank robbery and related offenses. — At 8:40 p.m. Aug. 15, a woman flagged down a passing officer and reported she was pushed down and had her iPhone taken by two males while in the 1200 block of Market Street. A GPS tracking feature was activated and led police to an eastbound Market-Frankford train that was boarded at the Berks Street station. Two males were stopped, the iPhone was recovered and both males were positively identified. The 20- and 18-year-old suspects, both with East Philadelphia addresses, were charged with robbery and related offenses. SUMMARY ARRESTS — On Aug. 7, 6th District officers issued citations for summary offenses at 7:05 p.m. outside 1319 Locust St. and at 11:25 p.m. outside 245 S. 13th St. — On Aug. 9, 6th District officers issued citations for summary offenses at1:40 a.m. outside 13th and Chancellor streets, at 4:05 a.m. outside 400 S. 12th St., at

5:05 p.m. outside 337 S. Broad St. and three at 11:10 p.m. outside 1239 Lombard St. — On Aug. 9, Center City officers issued two citations at 5 p.m. outside 1200 Market St. — On Aug. 10, 6th District officers issued citations for summary offenses at 3:55 p.m. outside 1200 Pine St., at 8:30 p.m. outside 1200 Drury St., at 9 p.m. outside 1200 Locust St. and two at 10:45 p.m. outside 416 S. Camac St. — On Aug. 10, Center City officers issued two citations for summary offenses at 5 p.m. outside 1200 Market St. — On Aug. 11, 6th District officers issued two citations for summary offenses at 8 p.m. outside 1200 Walnut St. — On Aug. 12, 6th District officers issued citations for summary offenses at 2:15 a.m. outside 12th and Spruce streets and at 7:50 p.m. outside 1200 Walnut St. — On Aug. 14, 6th District officers issued a citation for a summary offense at 9:25 p.m. outside 261 S. 13th St. — On Aug. 15, 6th District officers issued a citation for a summary offense at 12:20 p.m. outside 401 S. Broad St. — On Aug. 16, 6th District officers issued citations for summary offenses at 12:20 a.m. outside 200 S. 13th St., at 12:50 a.m. outside 233 S. 13th St. and at 9:40 p.m. outside 100 S. Juniper St. ■

locations in Pa. outside of Philadelphia Allentown • Allentown Brew Works, 812 Hamilton St. • Candida, 247 N. 12th St. • MCCLV, 930 N. Fourth St. • Stonewall, 28-30 N. 10th St. • Annville • Lebanon Valley College, Sheridan Ave. • Ardmore • Ardmore Station, Anderson Ave. near Coulter Ave. • Bethel • Adult World, 341 Midway Road • Bethlehem • LGBTQ Services Lehigh U, 25 Trembley Dr. • Bloomsberg • Bloomsberg University LGBTA Center, 400 E. Second St. • Bristol • Bristol News World, 576B Bristol Pike • Eager Beaver Bookstore, 833 New Rodgers Road • Bryn Mawr • Bryn Mawr College, Canaday Library • Bryn Mawr Station, Morris Ave. near Bryn Mawr Ave. • Fox & Roach Realty, 763 Lancaster Ave. • TLA Video, 761 Lancaster Ave. • Chalfont • Dr. Annette Lee, 700 Horizon Circle, Suite 202 • Chester • Harrah’s Chester Casino, 777 Harrah’s Blvd. • Widener University, 1 University Place • Collegeville • Adult World, 3975 Ridge Pike • Devon • Devon Station, Devon State Road & Lancaster Pike • Doylestown • Doylestown Bookshop, 16 S. Main St. • Siren Records, 25 E. State St. • East Stroudsburg • Rainbow Mountain Resort, 210 Mt. Nebo Road • Easton • La Pazza, 1251 Ferry St. • Gibson • Hillside Campground, 1 Creek Road • Glen Mills • Imago Dei MCC, 1223 Middletown Road • Glenside • Keswick Cycle, 408 N. Easton Road • Harrisburg • 704 Strawberry Café, 704 N. Third St. • AIDS Community Alliance, 100 N. Cameron St. • Brownstone Lounge, 412 Forster St. • Liquid 891, 891 Eisenhower Blvd. • MCC of the Spirit, 2973 Jefferson St. • Stallions, 706 N. Third St. • Haverford • Haverford Station, Haverford Station Road near Lancaster Ave. • Kutztown • Kutztown University, 15200 Main St. • Lancaster • Downtown Books, 227 N. Prince St. • Rainbow Pet Creations, 305 N. Queen St. • Sundown Lounge, 429 N. Mulberry St. • Tally Ho Tavern, 201 W. Orange St. • Lansdale • Gwynedd Vet Hospital, 1615 W. Pointe Pike • Lehighton • Woods Campground, 845 Vaughn Acres Road • Levittown • Levitt Books, 7406 Bristol Pike • Malvern • Malvern Station, King St. & Warren Ave. • Media • Unitarian Universalist Church, 145 W. Rose Tree Road • The Media Theater, 104 E. State St. • LGBT Alliance Group, Delaware Co. Campus, Penn State Univ., 901 Media Line Road • Narberth • Narberth Station, Haverford & Narberth avenues • New Hope • Café Europa, 11 Market Place • Cornerstone Gym, 419 York Road • Eagle Diner, 6522 York Road • Havana, 105 S. Main St. • John & Peters, 96 S. Main St. • Karla’s Restaurant, 5 W. Mechanic St. • La Chateau Exotique, 31A W. Mechanic St. • Havana Bar & Grill, 105 S. Main St. • The Raven, 385 W. Bridge St. • Sandbar, 90 S. Main St. • Triumph Brewing Co., 400 Union Square Drive • Wildﬂowers, 8 W. Mechanic St. • New Milford • Oneida Campground, 2580 E. Lake Road • Newtown • Bucks Co. Community College, 275 Swamp Road • North Wales • Adult World, 608 Upper State Road• Old Forge • Twelve Penny Saloon, 535 Hickory St. • Paoli • Paoli Station, North Valley Road & Lincoln Highway • Plains Township • Twist Bar, Fox Ridge Plaza, Rte. 315 • Quakertown • Adult World, 880 S. West End Blvd. • Reading • Berls Aid Network, 429 Walnut St. • Reading Adult Center, 316 Penn St. • Rosemont • Rosemont Station, Airdale Road & Montrose Ave. • Spring Grove • Atland’s Ranch, RR6, Box 6543 • Swarthmore • Swarthmore College, 500 College Ave., Parrish Hall • Temple • Naughty But Nice, 4502 N. Fifth St. • Upper Darby • Honor Box, 69th Street Station • Villanova • Villanova Station, Spring Mill Road near County Line Road • Warminster • Darkanyu, Bux Mont Unitarian Church, Street Road at Rt. 611 • Planned Parenthood of Bucks Co., 610 Louis Dr. • Wayne • Central Baptist Church, 106 W. Lancaster Ave. • Stafford Station, Old Eagle School & Crestline roads • Wayne Station, N. Wayne & West Ave. • West Chester • Chester County Books, 975 Paoli Pike • Williamsport • Peachies, 144 E. Fourth St. • Willow Grove • Barnes & Noble, 102 Park Ave. •

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BUSINESS AT THE BAR: Thom Cardwell (center), president of the Greater Philadelphia Professional Network, presents real-estate agent Paul Fontaine with his door prize winnings at GPPN’s summer mixer Aug. 21. Held at Mac’s Tavern in Old City, the event brought together about two-dozen LGBT professionals for a night of networking. The group will reconvene Sept. 10 for a tour of Suzanne Roberts Theatre. Photo: Scott A. Drake NEWS

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MANNA welcomes new director By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com A local agency that provides meals to people fighting life-threatening illnesses will come under new leadership this fall. Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutritional Alliance announced last week that current chief operating officer Sue Daugherty will take over as executive director in October. Daugherty will replace longtime chief executive officer Richard Keaveney, who announced his retirement earlier this summer. Keaveney will stay on as an advisor through the end of the year. The board elected to move away from the CEO structure to the executive-director leadership format during the search process. Daugherty, 39, will be the agency’s sixth executive director and its first to ever rise to the position from within MANNA. She joined the agency in 1999 as a dietician and later ascended to the position of director of nutrition and client services. She was named COO in 2005. A native of Philadelphia, Daugherty earned a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and food science from Immaculata University. In her first position in the field, she was

asked by her employer to serve as dietician for an HIV/AIDS clinic for which the agency procured a contract. She said that, while she felt unprepared for the role, it was a pivotal time. “When I walked in, I felt like I was in another country — they were speaking with terminology and about medication

SUE DAUGHERTY

I’d never heard of,” Daugherty said. “I walked up to the practice doctor and said, ‘I don’t think you want me here,’ and he asked if I would be afraid to shake the patients’ hands. And I said, ‘Of course not, no.’ And he said, ‘Well everything else you can learn.’ That moment was life changing for me.” She got a crash course in the nutritional landscape for the HIV/AIDS community, and eventually went on to work for the clinic. When the MANNA dietician position came up, she said she jumped at the chance to join the organization. In 2004 and 2005, MANNA underwent a period of financial struggle and was forced to lay off a number of employees and cut services. Over the ensuing months, the agency spearheaded a reorganization, and Daugherty helped implement the pilot program that led to the agency expanding its mission to incorporate people living with myriad illnesses, not just HIV/AIDS. “The financial crisis we had was a very hard time for everyone at MANNA, but when we were able to reopen our doors with renovated facilities and an expanded mission, that was the happiest and proudest I’ve ever been,” she said. Daugherty became COO in 2005 during the restructuring process and said she

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was again eager to step up into a new role when Keaveney announced his departure. “I’m so excited for MANNA and for our future,” she said. “We just completed a study that proves that keeping people nourished with three meals a day, seven days a week is keeping them out of hospitals. Nutrition is such a hot topic and it’s an exciting time for this. I think of MANNA as a 900-bed acute-care hospital: We’re delivering nourishment right to people’s homes instead of in hospital rooms. I’m very excited for the future and the great things we’re doing.” Daugherty said one of her upcoming goals is to solidify MANNA’s image in the public eye, as some still confuse its mission with that of Meals on Wheels and other nutrition-focused organizations. She said she plans to incorporate the entire MANNA team into the agency’s future work. “We’re no longer a grassroots group but we can’t forget where we came from,” she said. “The most important lesson I’m going to take with me into this position is that any successes we have are because we’re a team — staff, volunteers, donors. We have 100 volunteers who come through our kitchen and our offices every day and without them we can’t do what we do.” ■

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 24-30, 2012

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Advocate brings acceptance through Philly By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Helene DeBoissiere-Swanson is wrapping up her summer with a trip across the Mid-Atlantic — trading in wheels for walking shoes to make a statement about equal rights. DeBoissiere-Swanson spent the last several weeks walking more than 500 miles from upstate New York to Washington, D.C., to raise awareness about the need for full women’s and LGBT rights. DeBoissiere-Swanson, a California resident, set off from Seneca Falls, N.Y., July 19 and plans to arrive in D.C. Aug. 26, the 92nd anniversary of the adoption of the 19th Amendment. She walked about 15 miles per day, and her trip brought her through Philadelphia Aug. 16-17. DeBoissiere-Swanson, an LGBT ally, has been spending nights at Episcopal churches throughout her journey and locally stayed at Church of the Advocate, where her mother-in-law was ordained in the 1970s. Katrina Welles Swanson, who died in 2006, was one of the “Philadelphia 11,” a group of women whose 1974 ordination caused divisive backlash in the Episcopal Church. DeBoissiere-Swanson, who co-founded social-justice agency Katrina’s Dream with her husband, said she sees LGBT and women’s rights as intrinsically linked. “I want to see women and the LGBTQ community get their rights,” she said. “Bias against women is so deeply ingrained in our society, and that often translates to bias against lesbians, bias against gays and bias against transgender people. When men come out, other men often shun them because they see them as being put in the role of women, a subjugated class, and the same for transgender people. Often when you come out, you lose your rights in the process.” Her walk is meant to raise awareness about the work that still needs to be done

HELENE DEBOISSIERE-SWANSON Photo: Jen Colletta

for marginalized communities. She began hiking to prepare but said her training was “extremely inadequate” for the effort she’s had to expend. However, the emotional toll that that the walk has had on her has been more challenging than the physical demands. “The toughest part so far has been seeing how gays are genuinely not welcomed in so many places,” she said. “People barely accept women’s rights. Even women and girls assume women have rights across the board, and then you have to go through the whole education process with them. And when you get to gay rights, you sometimes get the eye-roll and they ask, ‘Why do you have to bring these two together?’ That’s really painful for me. It’s been 30 or 40 years since the LGBTQ-rights movement and women’s rights movements have gone off on their own paths, but I think it’s a good time to try to bring them both back together.” For more information about DeBoissiereSwanson and Katrina’s Dream, visit www. katrinasdream.org. ■

LOCAL PGN

Instead, others testified on their behalf or read statements to jurors that purportedly were made by the witnesses. In a related matter, Dozor recently appointed attorney Henry DiBenedettoForrest to assist Smithson during the evidentiary hearing. DiBenedetto-Forrest replaces Stephen D. Molineaux, another court-appointed attorney for Smithson who was dismissed from the case after he said publicly Smithson’s petition for a new trial lacks merit.

News Briefing Hearing scheduled in murder appeal William F. Smithson, a gay man convicted of murdering a coworker six years ago, is headed back to court this fall for an evidentiary hearing to determine whether he should get a new trial. In 2008, Smithson was convicted of murdering coworker Jason Shephard and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. Smithson maintains his innocence, and contends his trial attorney, G. Guy Smith, was ineffective during his murder trial. During an Aug. 2 court proceeding, Delaware County Common Pleas Judge Barry C. Dozor said an evidentiary hearing was necessary, before he decides whether Smithson should have a new trial. The evidentiary hearing is set for 9:30 a.m. Oct. 17 at the Delaware County Courthouse, 201 W. Front St., Media, in a courtroom to be announced. According to the prosecution, Smithson lured Shephard into his home, slipped him the “date-rape” drug gamma hydroxybutyrate, then strangled him to death in the course of trying to rape him. But Smithson contends that Shephard willingly came to his home on Sept. 18, 2006, partly for the purpose of having sex — which the two men had also engaged in the day before, according to Smithson. In his petition for a new trial, Smithson refers to another man in the house, F. Bruce Covington, as a “prime suspect.” However, Covington was never called as a witness during Smithson’s trial. Smithson’s petition also states that other important witnesses weren’t subjected to cross-examination during his trial, including a serologist and toxicologist whose findings contributed to the belief that Shephard had GHB in his system when he died, and Smithson’s niece.

Disability group speaks out against Chick-fil-A Thomas H. Earle, CEO of Liberty Resources Inc., a local disability-rights group, has publicly denounced Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy’s opposition to marriage equality. In an Aug. 10 letter to Cathy, Earle stated he no longer will patronize the restaurant chain — and he’s encouraging others to avoid eating there too. “A good deal of our work is accomplished during lunch and dinner meetings, for which we usually order food for attendees,” Earle told Cathy, in the letter. “We cannot support or patronize Chick-fil-A after hearing such intolerant exclusionary statements.” In the letter, Earle also drew a connection between the civil rights of the disabled community and the LGBT community. The letter will be posted on Liberty Resource’s website, which is accessed by about 8,000 consumers locally, Earle said. He said Liberty Resources also networks with many other community-based organizations in the region, who will be informed of the letter. At press time, Earle hadn’t received a response from Chick-fil-A, he said.

Antibias employment complaint settled The antibias complaint filed by Anthony Alvarez — a gay man who says workplace harassment at a local Holiday Inn cost him a job — has been settled, according to records released by the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations last week.

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Alvarez worked as a laundry attendant at the Holiday Inn Stadium hotel for a brief period last year, before he resigned due to alleged workplace harassment and genderstereotyping. The hotel is located 900 Packer Ave. in South Philadelphia. Coworkers at the hotel allegedly hurled antigay slurs at Alvarez and treated him differently because of his sex, according to a complaint Alvarez filed with the PCHR last October. PCHR commissioners formally closed the case at their Aug. 17 public meeting. Terms of the settlement are confidential. Alvarez was represented in the matter by Mazzoni Center. David R. Rosenblum, Mazzoni Center legal director, said he’s precluded from discussing details of the settlement. “We are happy that we could help Mr. Alvarez resolve this matter expeditiously, without the need for costly and protracted litigation,” Rosenblum told PGN. “We are lucky to have a strong Fair Practices Ordinance in Philadelphia that includes protection against employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender stereotyping.” Penelope Jones, an attorney for the hotel, couldn’t be reached for comment. — Timothy Cwiek

Voter-ID session With Election Day fast approaching, a group of Pennsylvania lawmakers is looking to ensure voters know the ins and outs of the state’s new voter-identification law. State Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown (D190th Dist.), along with Reps. Ronald Waters (D-191st Dist.) and Michelle Brownlee (D-195th Dist.), will host an information session from 1-4 p.m. Aug. 24 at Mt. Olivet Tabernacle Baptist Church, 647 N. 42nd St. “We want to make sure people know the details of the new voter-ID law,” Brown said. “That’s why these meetings are so important — to get the word out and make sure that everyone has the appropriate ID for voting so they won’t be turned away at the polls in November.”

The session will include participation from the Department of Transportation, Committee of Seventy, Vital Records, City Commissioners Office, Philadelphia Corporation for Aging, Skyler Group and Philadelphia Law Center. Those who have questions about the law can also contact Brown’s office at 215-8796615 or by visiting 1435 N. 52nd St.

Charges lowered in priest case A judge last week dropped the felony charges against a priest accused of assaulting a 10-year-old boy in the 1990s. Municipal Court Judge Karen Simmons dismissed sexual assault and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse charges last Thursday against the Rev. Andrew McCormick. McCormick, 56, still faces misdemeanor charges of indecent assault, child endangerment and corruption of minors. The District Attorney’s Office refiled the charges Wednesday, and a Court of Common Pleas judge will deliver a ruling on the ANDREW felony charges in the next MCCORMICK month. McCormick was accused of grooming an altar boy at St. John Cantius in Bridesburg and threatening the boy after the alleged assault. Simmons based her decision on testimony the alleged victim, now 24, delivered last Thursday. The man told the court that McCormick attempted to force him to perform oral sex on him in the church rectory and pushed his penis into his front teeth twice, but it did not pass beyond his teeth. The DA, however, said in a statement that prior case law had established that any contact between the sex organ and a minor’s mouth, whether inside or outside, would qualify for the involuntary deviate sexual intercourse charge. McCormick remains free on bail. An October hearing on the misdemeanor charges has been delayed pending a ruling on the felony charges. ■ — Jen Colletta

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Good things in threes for out reservist By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Congratulations abounded this year for Lt. Col. Adam Hackel. The openly gay U.S. Army reservist was given command of his unit, awarded a national recognition for his LGBT work and, most recently, tied the knot with his longtime partner. Hackel, a native of Central Jersey who now lives in Doylestown, came from a military family, with his father and many of his uncles having served in the Army and Navy during World War II. He began his own military involvement in the seventh grade when he began attending Valley Forge Military Academy, a military boarding school in Montgomery County that he said was integral in helping him deal with a learning disability. He went on to attain a bachelor of fine arts, a master’s degree in educational administration and a doctorate in educational leadership. Hackel has spent the last 18 years as a member of the Army Reserves and was deployed to Iraq in 2003 to create and serve as deputy commander of the American Forces Network Iraq, a radio and televisionbroadcast network. Throughout his military career, Hackel has received the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, Combat Action Badge and Army Commendation Medal. This spring, Hackel assumed command of the 361st Public Affairs Operation Center, based in New York. In that role, he oversees the work of more than 100 soldiers tasked with strategic-communications responsibilities and commands three military historydocumentation units, two public-affairs multi-use units and a broadcast-operations detachment. Hackel juggles his military career with

his civilian career as the The military, however, director of instrumental is adjusting to the postmusic at Montgomery “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Middle School in New world, Hackel noted. At Jersey. this month’s Family Day “Like anything, it’s a celebration at the Reserve balancing act,” he said. Center, Hackel’s battalion presented him with a “I’m very fortunate to collective wedding gift. have a civilian employer He and Young got marwho understands my ried in Provincetown responsibilities as a miliAug. 2. tary officer. And my military commander has an “It’s a very slow movement forward to welcome appreciation and respect not just my husband but for the fact that for many also all same-sex partners officers, the military is and spouses of soldiers their part-time job. You and servicemembers, but just need to know what ADAM HACKEL (LEFT) AND I think we’re heading in your responsibilities are HUSBAND WILLIAM YOUNG the right direction,” he in advance and balance it said. “I’ve been in comout. And then you try to give your job, your military service, your mand for about six months, and I haven’t family and friends equal respect and time.” had any problems.” Hackel’s family found similar acceptance Hackel’s family, including his husband William Young and their daughter Emma at the BuxMont Unitarian Universalist Hope, was front and center during the Fellowship, which they joined in 2009. Growing up, Hackel was raised among change-of-command ceremony this April. That openness is new, as Hackel served some Catholic family members, but he said most of his military career under “Don’t his mother moved the family to a number of Ask, Don’t Tell,” which was lifted last different churches of varying faiths. “She taught me that if something doesn’t year. “Even when I might have felt more com- speak to your soul, don’t stick with it,” he fortable with my supervisors or fellow sol- said, noting that the UU faith spoke to his diers, I tended to be more conservative and family for a number of reasons. not say or do anything,” he said. “The hard“It’s a paradigm based on ethical valest part was when I was deployed to Iraq. I ues, as opposed to religious dogma, so we was able to communicate with my partner have people in the congregation who are at times, but our phone conversations had Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Wiccan, and to be very controlled and our email cor- each is celebrated. We were in the process respondence was generic. I always had to of adopting so we wanted to make sure our be mindful of the fact that this was an area child would be brought up in an environof sanctioned discrimination. I’ve been in ment of ethical values that mirrored our service for 18 years and been with him for own. And at BuxMont, it’s not a matter of 12 of those years, so it was often difficult them accepting gays — they accept everyone. We’re not the token gay couple or the because he felt like an outsider.”

weird guys who sit in the back with the baby. We’re just Adam and Bill, a boring, normal couple.” Interweave Continental, an LGBT UU association, in June presented Hackel with its 2012 Mark DeWolfe Award, for his work with LGBT youth. Hackel serves as a board member for the Central Jersey chapter of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, and recently worked with GLSEN student leaders to develop an LGBT-inclusive middle-school curriculum. At his own school, Hackel has organized GLSEN’s National Day of Silence, sponsored LGBT history-month projects and led a group of New Jersey and Pennsylvania students to Washington, D.C., to lobby for LGBT-inclusive safe-schools laws. “It was an amazing honor,” he said of the award, named for the first openly gay UU minister. “Instead of putting the award on a shelf, I want to use it as a springboard to help assist other religious communities to work with LGBT youth and educate communities about how to deal with LGBT youth in a responsible and loving way.” The award capped a banner year, Hackel said, that he hopes serves as an example to LGBT youth. “I look at my life now, and I have a wonderful husband, a daughter who has both mine and my husband’s names on her birth certificate. I’m an out commander for an Army Reserve unit, and I’ve been successful in my civilian career. Twenty years ago, I never would have imagined what I have right now,” he said. “Programs like the Trevor Project, GLSEN and the ‘It Gets Better’ campaign are so important because a lot of LGBT youth just aren’t getting the right message. A lot of youth think that the world just isn’t getting better, but they need to see that there is the potential for the world to be a better place for you. You just have to look for it.” ■

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EDITORIAL PGN

Creep of the Week

D’Anne Witkowski

William Owens

Editorial

Republicans on the rampage Republicans revealed a little more of the crazy this week — and it may just peak at next week’s convention. In direct contrast to the Democrats’ inclusion of marriage equality in their platform this year, the Republicans this week opted to oppose same-sex marriage, as well as host of other actions taken by President Obama and his administration. The platform specifically criticized “the Administration” for supporting an “activist judiciary” and its “handling of immigration cases, in federal personnel benefits, in allowing a same-sex marriage at a military base, and in refusing to defend DOMA in the courts.” With regard to marriage, the platform is squarely opposed to same-sex marriage, embracing the one man-one woman version as the best, as stated in the “Defense of Marriage” section. “We reaffirm our support for a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. We applaud the citizens of the majority of the States which have enshrined in their constitutions the traditional concept of marriage, and we support the campaigns underway in several other states to do so.” Under a separate “Marriage” section, the platform touts the benefits of marriage, calling it the “foundation of civil society.” The platform goes on to laud the benefits to children, the economic wellbeing of individuals and freedom. The logic is a little faulty here, and the writers demonstrate problems with internal consistency in the next part, here. “We recognize and honor the courageous efforts of those who bear the many burdens of parenting alone, even as we believe that marriage, the union of one man and one woman must be upheld as the national standard, a goal to stand for, encourage and promote through laws governing marriage. We embrace the principle that all Americans should be treated with respect and dignity.” As the platform clearly doesn’t endorse respect and dignity for all Americans, are they saying that they “embrace the principle” but have no intent of putting it into practice? Considering that Family Research Council president Tony Perkins said he wrote the plank on marriage, LGBTs should be highly skeptical. Gay Republicans themselves are conflicted on the result of the platform process, particularly as this was the first time the Log Cabin Republicans were part of it. In the end, the Log Cabins put a positive spin on the outcome, noting the progress the document demonstrates: It didn’t advocate a reintroduction of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” That’s progress all right. ■

Can we just get one thing clear? If you’re black and Christian then the thought of same-sex couples makes you puke and if it doesn’t then you are a “Judas” and/or not really black and/or not really Christian. Barack Obama, that means you. At least it does to William Owens, the leader of the Coalition of African-American Pastors. Owens, who according to a recent Huffington Post article lied about his involvement in the civil-rights movement, is pretty pissed with Obama because of the whole marriage-equality issue. In an Aug. 15 interview with rightwing radio darling Janet Mefferd, Owens lamented that Obama had basically flipped off African-Americans by not telling gay people to go to hell. Like a real Christian would, obviously. “He’ll take up the cause of the Latinos, he’ll take up the cause of the homosexuals, but it’s like the African-Americans don’t exist,” Owens lamented, pointing out that Obama likes everyone except for black people which I guess means he’s racist against himself. “And he said, ‘I’m not the president of the African-Americans, I’m the president of America.’ What if the white leaders who were in office when the civil-rights bill had passed, what if they had said that, ‘We’re the politicians for the white community’? We wouldn’t have gotten a right to vote, we wouldn’t have gotten the rights we enjoy today.” Got that? Because Obama said that he was a president for all Americans, not just the black ones, it’s the same thing as a white politician saying he or she is only a leader for white Americans and if a white version of Obama had been in charge nearly five decades ago then forget about civil rights. If Owens’s logic doesn’t hurt your brain then you don’t have one. Though I would like to point out that if we follow this logic then we can definitely forget about the black version of Obama ever becoming president, which would make Owens pretty happy since he has vowed that he and the CAAP are going “to take him on even more” now that Obama loves the gays (and, remember, “loves the gays” is synonymous with “hates the blacks”). When Mefferd remarks that gay activists seem to “lack of fear of God” Owens concurs.

“I would say that’s the case,” he says. “It’s like waving your thing in God’s face and saying, ‘You don’t matter.’ That’s exactly what I think.” OK, wait, supporting gay rights is like waving your penis in God’s face? Is that what he means by “thing”? Because if you ask the majority of Americans, gay or straight, what “waving your thing” means, they’re going to think penis. And why is this marriage business such a BFD to Owens? Because civilization and family and God and blah blah blah ... And, of course, for the children. Because Owens cannot wrap his brain around same-sex parents. Owens says, “How can a man and a man be a parent to a child? By their nature, they cannot. How can a woman and a woman? My little boy takes both of us, he takes the love and tenderness of a mother and he takes the love and whatever the dad gives he needs that, too. So to do different is disloyal, it’s not honorable to the child. We cannot say a marriage is right between the same sex.” This is coming from a guy who has claimed that “Homosexuality spreads because somebody [sexually] abused children” and said there’s no difference between a same-sex couple marrying and “a man deciding he wants to have sex with a dog.” Yeah, this guy is all about being honorable. If he despises Obama, I’ll take that as a sign that the president is doing something right. ■ D’Anne Witkowski has been gay for pay since 2003. She’s a freelance writer and poet (believe it!). When she’s not taking on the creeps of the world, she reviews rock ’n’ roll shows in Detroit with her twin sister.

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OP-ED PGN

When the rape debate hits home Many years ago, my friend Jan was opposes abortion on any grounds, includraped. The trauma was so great that she ing rape or incest. Then I hear a spokesperson for the Republican Party say the reason ended up taking her own life. This week and I hear the words “sanctity of life.” And I’ve watched the “debate” about rape it makes me angrier. These are the same unfold in the news thanks to a mindless, ignorant, ideological congressman from people who use “sanctity of marriage” Missouri. And do you know against gay-marriage supporters. what? I’m angry. I’m really I wonder why those same people angry. I’m not angry at him don’t use the phrase “sanctity of — I’m angry at those who our borders” against those who are pro-immigration? allowed this hate speech. Rape I’m not going to debate any has one definition. Anyone who of the three issues I just raised, has been raped or knows someone who has been raped underbut I will raise the name of the stands one thing: There is no Tea Party here. That band of such thing as “forcibly raped” creatures thinks they are fighting or “legitimately raped.” to take their country back. Back It is only one word: rape. And from what? From us? Theirs is it is horrific. You can’t repacktruly a holier-than-thou attitude. age it: It is simply rape. There’s Mitt Romney, you bent over no reason for me to elaborate backward to please this group. on what a special person Jan I hope you’re proud of how was. Rape kills, rape destroys. empowered your party. Mark Segal you’ve Not only the person raped, but Paul Ryan, you were already a the family’s life as well. Tea Party guy before there was About 5 percent of women who are a Tea Party. You helped coin the phrase “forcibly raped” thanks to your co-sponraped get pregnant. For some of them, the sorship of legislation with that ignorant horrific violent way they became pregnant congressman from Missouri. Between now is something that they can’t live with for and Election Day, I’ll be reminding people nine months. Although my friend Jan did not get pregnant, I couldn’t imagine asking of who you are and the ideas you espouse. If there ever was a time to encourage her about what it would be like to relive those moments of violence for nine months people to vote, now is it. I’ll remember my and then look at her child and try to think friend Jan. For you, readers, think of yourof anything else but that incident. selves and your sisters, nieces, mothers and daughters during debates about rape and And yet there are still people out there abortion. ■ who try and control what women do with their bodies. And while I didn’t want to Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the have this personal column become partisan, as I write this I hear on the TV in the nation’s most-award-winning commentabackground that the Republican Platform tor in LGBT media. He can be reached at mark@epgn.com. Committee has approved language that

Mark My Words

General Gayety

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 24-30, 2012

Street Talk Is it fair to label an anti-LGBT group a hate group? “Well, that’s a bit of a stretch. The term is usually associated with neoNazis and Klansmen, because they Matthew Ferry promote student violence. Most Washington Square West anti-LGBT groups don’t call for violence. But they do promote intolerance. So yes, I think it’s fair to call them hate groups.”

“Yes. I do believe they have hate in their hearts. Oherwise they wouldn’t be bothered by someone else’s David Izaguirre personal artist life. I don’t Northeast see how it Philadelphia affects them. It shouldn’t be any of their business. It’s the LGBT person’s choice how they want to live their life.”

“Yes. Hate is hate. If the term is inflammatory, it should be — because hate is inflammatory. I don’t encourage Frannie Jones violence nurse against Washigton Square West anyone, but call it like it is. They’re haters.”

“Yes, I don’t buy into the rhetoric that they really love us. They’re doing violence to our emotions, if not to our John Van Heest bodies. They publicist don’t have Washington Square our best West interests at heart. I have no problem calling them hate groups. Why sugarcoat things?”

For all the difficulties inherent in writing for gay publications — like low pay, low pay and low pay — it’s one of the best things I’ve done. Writing “General Gayety” allowed me to combine my love of humor with my commitment to the LGBT cause. I extend my thanks to the editors and publishers from Charlotte to San Diego, Detroit to Dallas, Seattle to Philadelphia, who have run my column in their pages. And I thank the readers from around the country and around the world who have let me know what they thought of my work. I even thank the homophobes who saw fit to drop me a line. Their venom provided me with column fodder. Really quite thoughtful of them. I’m not disappearing completely. Because so much is always happening in the LGBT sphere, I might find I simply have to write a column now and then. It’s a release for me. Beats exercise. But mainly I intend to focus on two areas.

The first is my blog. It’s a home for LGBT humor, so it now carries forward the “General Gayety” name. The blog is chock-full of cartoons, videos, photos that I don’t create — for which we can all be grateful — along with posts that I write. Dropping the column will allow me, perversely, to write more often and address issues more quickly in the form of pithy posts, so come visit me in blogdom at www.generalgayety.com. My second aim is to write a book. It won’t be a gay book, but I’ll sure enough be coming out in it — as a person with OCD. That’s my version of coming out as a neverending exercise. So wish me luck and strength, and I wish the same for you. ■

Leslie Robinson

It’s that time I went on vacation expecting to visit old friends, see my brother get married and bake in the sun. I did all that — and watched my partner devour every lobster in three New England states. But even more than that happened. Near the end of the two weeks, as Anne and I sat on the grass outside Provincetown’s town hall, eating linguica and egg sandwiches and fried dough, we talked about our future. Anyone who eats such a meal regularly would have no future, but we were on vacation. Just ask the lobsters. By the end of our conversation, I reached the decision I’ve been sneaking up on for a while now. It’s time for me to make a change. It’s time for me to stop writing this column. I’ve been hammering out “General Gayety” for a dozen years or so. When I began, Vermont was putting in place the nation’s first civil unions, which resulted in acrimony not seen in Vermont since Ben called Jerry a Chunky Monkey.

Now assorted states offer same-sex marriage; polls show a majority of Americans support same-sex marriage; and, for the first time, a sitting president endorses same-sex marriage. That’s social change moving at Mach speed. I’ve written about the landmark Lawrence v. Texas decision, the death of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the world’s first openly lesbian prime minister and LGBT teens with more leadership ability than George W. Bush ever thought of. I’ve also written about corrective rape in South Africa, gay domestic violence, murderous homophobia and fundamentalists blaming us for everything from Sept. 11 to cellulite. During this period, I’ve seen a lot of gay newspapers come and go — mostly go — and the explosion of online LGBT outlets. Now major online purveyors of LGBT news speak of their wobbliness. Place your bets now, ladies and gentlemen, on the future of gay journalism.

Leslie Robinson is optimistic, a serious departure for her. Email her at lesarobinson@gmail.com, and check out her blog at www.generalgayety. com.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 24-30, 2012

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This pain is no gain! It doesn’t matter how big your chest will see improvement in your bench press and biceps are, if you have narrow shoul— and you will be free from pain. ders you will appear to be weak and puny. Someone will surely kick sand on you at Cable external rotation the beach. For men, wide shoulders will Using a cable machine, position the pulmake you look tall, broad and powerful so ley at waist, and at same height as your that you can be the one defending geeks elbow. Grab a cable handle, face the mechfrom sand-kicking bullies. For women, anism and walk a few feet away until you well-toned shoulders will help you appear feel some resistance. Bend your elbow, sleek and sexy. So the message is, work on keeping it close to your side, then slowly those shoulders — but be careful! Over a rotate your arm externally without raislifetime, we all put incredible demands on ing or moving your upper arm away from these key body parts —remember there’s a your side. Do three to four sets using light weights for 10-12 reps per set. reason for phrases like “she has a big load on her shoulders” and ”he shoulders his share of Cable internal rotation responsibility.” A lot of wear Keeping the pulley at the and tear ends up on our shoulsame level, face the other side. ders. Grab the handle and walk a few Some gym goers get too feet away until you feel some crazy strengthening major resistance. With your elbow muscles groups and ignorbent, slowly internally rotate ing the small ones such as the your arm until you touch your stomach. Do three to four sets shoulder joint muscles. The using a light weight for 10-12 shoulder joint (rotator cuff) is a group of four small muscles reps per set. comprised of the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and Noe Espinosa Standing dumbbell external subscapularis. These muscles rotations help stabilize the shoulder and Grab a light dumbbell its unique anatomy (ball and socket joint) with each hand and stand with your feet and allow for a great range of motion. shoulder-width apart. Bend your arms 90 A shoulder injury can occur when the degrees and keep your elbows tucked to joint is overworked or poor form is used your sides. Now rotate your hands outward when working out. If you have ever expeas far you can. Hold then return to the start rienced shoulder pain while performing position. Do three to four sets with 10-12 reps per set. a bench press, this could be from a weak shoulder joint. A weak shoulder joint can Working out with weights is one of the lead to an injury that will prevent you from best ways to train the shoulder muscles. going to the gym for a couple months and By using a variety of weightlifting exermay require surgery to repair the damage. cises performed at different angles, you There are a few exercises that can will give the shoulder muscles a balanced be used to strengthen the rotator-cuff look. As a general rule, since the shoulmuscles. These muscles are small, so be ders can be easy to injure, start out with careful not to use too much weight or light weights until you develop increased overwork them by doing too many repstrength and muscle density. etitions. The point is to strengthen the These exercises will add some strength muscles and to prevent injury. If pain is to your shoulders and they will help you to severe, I recommend stopping the workprevent futures injuries. Not all exercises out. Schedule a doctor examination and/or are suitable for everybody, so if you are see a physical therapist. unsure, ask for professional advice from a Remember that it is very important to qualified personal trainer! ■ warm up before starting any exercise. I recommend running on the treadmill Noe Espinosa is a registered personal for 10-15 minutes and performing some trainer at 12th Street Gym. To learn dynamic stretching. Here are three exermore about Noe and more than 30 cises that will help you strengthen the other top trainers at 12th Street, visit rotator cuff muscles. Add these exercises www.12streetgym.com. to your shoulder workout routine and you

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Media Trail Firefighter accuses R.I. department of bias The Providence Journal reports a female firefighter is suing the Providence Fire Department saying she faced discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation. Lori Franchina accused her male colleagues of insubordination and hostility and claims they refused to help her when responding to emergency calls, ridiculed her and called her an offensive nickname. She also alleges a firefighter once flung blood and brain matter from a gunshot victim into her face, an incident which she says caused post-traumatic stress. Franchina says she complained about the incidents to no avail. The federal lawsuit lists the department, the city and the union as respondents.

Pastor sued in lesbian custody case Fox New reports a Vermont woman, PENN from page 1

“When I first started at Penn, nearly 30 years ago, hardly any attention was paid to people who identified as trans,” said Bob Schoenberg, director of the university’s LGBT Center. In recent years, LGBT advocates secured single-stall showers in locker rooms in Penn gymnasiums and are working with the administration to ensure all new construction and significant renovations will include unisex restrooms, Schoenberg said. “It’s really been in the last 10 years, since the city included gender identity in its Fair Practices Ordinance and the university followed shortly after, that the great number of changes and amount of attention has been directed toward the transgender community,” he said. On Tuesday, Campus Pride released its new “Top 25 LGBT-friendly Colleges and Universities” list, which includes both Penn and Penn State. While Penn is leading the way in transinclusion, Schoenberg noted that there are still strides that can be taken. He said LGBT leaders are working with the Registrar’s Office and other university departments to ensure that name changes are completed smoothly and respected in and out of the classroom. Efforts are also underway to allow transgender-identified students to access single-room living arrangements without an added fee. “We’ve done a lot, and we hope to do even more,” Schoenberg said. ■

whose former lesbian partner fled the country with the daughter born while they were joined in a civil union, is suing her former partner and a Virginia pastor who helped them flee to Nicaragua. Fair Haven resident Janet Jenkins filed the civil lawsuit Aug. 14 when a jury was announcing its guilty verdict against Mennonite pastor Kenneth Miller, who helped Lisa Miller flee with daughter Isabella. Kenneth Miller (no relation to Lisa) says he’s “willing to accept the consequences” of his actions. Among the people named in Jenkins’ lawsuit is a Virginia businessman who prosecutors say worked with Kenneth Miller to get Lisa Miller and Isabella out of the country. The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages.

Lawyer ordered to pay $4.5M to gay student CBS 62 Detroit reports a jury found in favor of a gay University of Michigan student body president in his lawsuit against a former state assistant attorney general. Christopher Armstrong’s attorney said a jury in U.S. District Court awarded her client $4.5 million Aug. 16 in his case against Andrew Shirvell. Armstrong accused Shirvell of defamation and causing the student emotional distress on an antigay blog, in Facebook posts and during visits

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 24-30, 2012

to the UM Ann Arbor campus. Then-Attorney General Mike Cox fired Shirvell in 2010 after he criticized the student. Shirvell says he was acting within his First Amendment rights and that his statements were either true or protected because of Armstrong’s role as a public figure.

Group angles to repeal Kan. anti-bias ordinance The Wichita Eagle reports opponents of a new gay-rights ordinance in Hutchinson delivered petitions seeking to have the measure repealed or put to a public vote. Awaken Hutchinson and the Kansas Family Policy Council delivered a petition Aug. 16 containing 1,364 signatures of people opposed to the ordinance. They needed 327 valid signatures for the petition to be certified. The Hutchinson City Council approved an ordinance June 5 that prohibits people from being fired or evicted because they are gay, lesbian or bisexual. After the signatures are certified, the city council will have 20 days to either repeal the measure or allow the public to vote within another 90 days. Both opponents and proponents expect the council to put the issue on the November ballot. ■ — compiled by Larry Nichols

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PGN an email exchange given to the agency by an anonymous source, who contacted Kleponis to inquire about therapy for her son, who she wrote was 16 and believed to be gay. A reply was sent through an email address that was listed on numerous websites as belonging to Kleponis. The sender wrote that he has “worked with many young men who are struggling with their sexuality.” The individual went on to advise the mother that “while there are no guarantees in counseling, research shows that people do change. At 16, your son’s sexuality is still developing. We know that sexuality is very fluid. It is not set in stone at birth.” PAN also obtained an email sent from the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality to an anonymous source who contacted the agency asking for a therapist to “fix” his attraction to men in which the agency referred the email sender to Fitzgibbons. Kleponis’ biography on the practice’s website states that he has participated in conferences staged by Courage, a Roman Catholic apostolate that purportedly teaches people to overcome same-sex attraction. PAN campaign director Ed Coffin said that both Fitzgibbons and Kleponis were listed as speakers for Courage’s spring “Sports Camp,” staged for men dealing with same-sex attraction. Both Fitzgibbons and Kleponis have a number of articles published online about “healing” from homosexuality. Coffin said he’s hopeful that the complaints can put a stop to the practice of conversion therapy. “We want to expose this kind of therapy,” he said. “Every major mental-health organization has strongly condemned it. Not only doesn’t it work, but it can actually cause more harm than good.” According to the APA Code of Ethics, APA psychologists must remain aware of current scientific information, rely on scientific knowledge, respect diversity, refrain from discrimination and avoid harm. The state licensing board mandates that psychologists remain objective, “attempt to prevent distortion, misuse or suppression of psychological findings” and avoid action that would “violate or diminish the legal and civil rights of clients,” among other stipulations. ■

PGN

Health-care reform and women nearly all of these folks by expanding Medicaid eligiThe Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law in March 2010 and is being rolled out in phases bility, making private plans more affordable and elimithrough 2015, has already begun to change the way nating discriminatory practices that have long kept our health-care system functions. Much has been writwomen and small businesses out of the private market. Pre-existing conditions have long presented barriten and debated about the politics of the legislation, but for those of us who work as providers — particuers for women on any number of health issues, from breast cancer to pregnancy, as well as treatment for larly in the community-health setting — there can be domestic violence or chronic conditions like high no doubt that the Affordable Care Act represents a major step forward for women’s health in the U.S. The blood pressure or diabetes. Consider the implications for victims of sexual abuse and assault, who were ACA reforms are particularly welcome for lesbian, sometimes denied coverage for mental-health treatbisexual and transgender-identified women, who face ment related to their abuse, when their insurance commany health disparities — such as difficulty accessing pany would label it a “pre-existing” condition. (Staff insurance, denial of coverage for preexisting condifrom Mazzoni Center’s Open Door countions, lack of knowledgeable providers to name a few. seling program have had to file appeals Effective this month an estimated 47for clients over this very issue, and those appeals have always been denied.) Once million women have access to eight new prevention-related health care services, the ACA takes full effect in 2014, insurers free of charge. These services include will no longer be able to deny coverage on annual check-ups (or “well woman” this basis. visits), pap smears, mammograms, any And if you care about evidence-based, FDA-approved form of birth control, medically accurate, comprehensive sexuality education, you’ll be glad to know that domestic-violence screening and counselthe ACA provides $75 million per year for ing, counseling and support for breastfive years to the Personal Responsibility feeding and screening for diseases such as gestational diabetes, HPV and HIV. The Education Program, a state grant pronew law requires any health plans startgram to fund comprehensive approaches to sex education. It doesn’t do away with ing after Aug. 1, 2012, to cover these serabstinence-based programs, but it does vices without charging women deductibles or co-pays. We know this is important the need for a more comprehenNurit Shein address because according to a June 2012 Kaiser sive approach, so that more young women across the country have access to the inforopinion poll, more than 60 percent of U.S. women reported they had delayed or avoided accessing mation they need to avoid pregnancy and stay safe. There is much good news here for members of the health care in the past year because of costs. LGBT community and for women throughout the For lesbian and bisexual women, who might be at a greater risk for breast cancer, having access to mamU.S. To expand the availability of LGBT-friendly mograms is a critical component of preventive care. care across the country, the new law includes fundIn addition, several studies have reported higher inciing to help build and train a more diverse and culdence of obesity, tobacco use and alcohol use by lesturally competent health-care workforce. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has also bian or bisexual women. These factors may increase begun the process of developing and adding sexualthe risk of type 2 diabetes, lung cancer and cardiovascular disease, respectively. Higher rates of heart orientation and gender-identity questions to national attack have also been reported in lesbians. Given these health surveys to better understand and address the increased risks, it is especially important for lesbian health issues that impact LGBT individuals and comand bisexual women to stay on top of preventive health munities. Whether you have private insurance through an care, with routine office visits that include counseling employer, or are searching for coverage on your own, for weight control and smoking cessation, as needed, HHS recently introduced an online tool that lets sameas well as screening for cardiac risk factors, for diabetes and lipid status as appropriate for the patient’s age sex couples identify health plans that offer coverand medical history. age for domestic partners through the “Health Plan As additional elements of the Affordable Care Act Finder” at www.healthcare.gov. Community health centers such as Mazzoni Center are rolled out in the months to come, there is even more to be glad about. In the past women seeking to have a key role to play in implementing the ACA over purchase health insurance would nearly always pay the next several years. Insurance plans will be required more than a man (in some cases, as much as 80-perto contract with what are called “essential community cent more, according to a March 2012 article in The providers” or ECPs, including women’s health cenNew York Times). Starting in 2014, the practice known ters, HIV/AIDS clinics, community health centers and as “gender rating” will be prohibited by the ACA, so public hospitals that serve medically under-served and low-income populations. This is good news for indiwomen will no longer have to pay more than men to viduals who have come to rely on their community receive the same insurance coverage. Transgender-identified women (and men) often have health center for accessible, consistent care — and in difficulty accessing preventive-health screenings, since the case of a place like Mazzoni Center, a culturally insurance companies typically limit their coverage to competent model of service with staff who understand health issues linked to their gender at birth. With the the particular needs and concerns of LGBT patients. Whoever your care provider is, I would advise all arrival of Health Benefit Exchanges in 2014, whereby women to take advantage of this good news: Schedule individuals and families can compare and purchase a well-woman visit, a pap smear or a mammogram health-care plans at an affordable price — and where if you are due. Let your friends know these changes discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity will be forbidden — transgender indiimpact them, too. Find an LGBT-friendly provider, viduals should benefit greatly. if you don’t have one already, and take the necessary In 2010, there were approximately 19-million steps that will allow you to preserve optimum health, American women (one in five, ages 19-64) who were now and for the future. ■ uninsured, according to the National Partnership for Nurit Shein is executive director of Mazzoni Center, the Women and Families. Many LGBT individuals have only LGBT health center in the Philadelphia region. lacked access to insurance coverage because their Mazzoni Center Family and Community Medicine, 809 employers didn’t offer it or their partners’ employers Locust St., accepts patients with or without insurance; did not extend coverage to same-sex relationships. By www.mazzonicenter.org or 215-563-0658. 2014, the new regulations will provide coverage for

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 24-30, 2012

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On Being Well

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PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 24-30, 2012

ADOPTION from page 1

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Law Project and Center for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights, the predecessor to Equality Pennsylvania. The case arose out of the state’s patchwork legal options for LGBT-headed families. “Some counties would do second-parent adoptions, and some counties wouldn’t,” Biancheria said. “So there were huge portions of the state where people couldn’t get true legal protection.” At the time of the case’s filing, second-parent adoptions for same-sex couples had been granted in only 14 of the state’s 67 counties, according to Women’s Law Project senior staff attorney Sue Frietsche. “If you lived in a county where you couldn’t file a second-parent adoption, your options were really limited,” Frietsche said. “You had to cobble together protections for your family with a whole series of legal documents that didn’t really do the job as well — guardianships, wills, powers of attorney. But nothing truly created the full set of parental rights and responsibilities you get with adoptions. In the eyes of the law, you may still be seen as a stranger to your child.” In 1998, a Lancaster County court denied Barbara Fryberger’s petition to legally adopt her partner Carole’s twin sons, whom Carole had conceived via in vitro and given birth to the previous year. The following year in Erie County, Jeff Grego’s efforts to formally add his partner Joey as a second parent for his daughter and son were similarly rejected. The two families joined in a lawsuit, charging that the state’s Adoption Act does not preclude same-sex couples from secondparent adoptions. In 2000, however, the Superior Court ruled against the plaintiffs in an en-banc decision, with the full court considering the issue. The ruling prohibited secondparent adoptions for unmarried couples throughout the state, and counties that had previously sanctioned such arrangements were temporarily halted. The plaintiffs took the case to the highest court and were eventually victorious, with a unanimous ruling that overturned the lower-court finding. In his opinion, Chief Justice Stephen Zappala called the Superior Court’s ruling “absurd” a number of times. “There is no language in the Adoption Act precluding two

unmarried same-sex partners (or unmarried heterosexual partners) from adopting a child who had no legal parents,” Zappala wrote. “It is therefore absurd to prohibit their adoptions merely because their children were either the biological or adopted children of one of the partners prior to the filing of the adoption petition.” The ruling argued against the idea that second-parent adoptions would lead to unregulated adoptions by noting that all adoption petitions would still be subject to a court’s determination of the best interests of the child. In the days before the ruling came down, Frietsche wrote up two press releases — one expressing disappointment and another sharing in the “ecstatic” aftermath of the ruling. “We had them both prepared and didn’t know which one we were going to have to go with,” she said. “Then to get the decision and for it to be a unanimous reversal of an en-banc decision was just extraordinary.” Biancheria said that, throughout the case, she was hopeful, but not overly optimistic, for such an outcome. “You’re never sure what kind of person you’re going to have making these decisions, because if you have the wrong kind of person they’re going to make the wrong decision regardless of the law,” she said. “So I have to give credit to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court for seeing past anything but the law.” She added that the ruling allowed couples the peace of mind to pursue a legal adoption and judges the legal backing to give their consent. “It opened courthouse doors in counties where doors were previously closed,” she said. “It made people comfortable trying for this in counties where they couldn’t before and gave a lot of comfort to judges who were already allowing it that they were right along. It overhauled the process for the whole state.” Attorney Tiffany Palmer, then legal director at Center for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights who worked on the agency’s amicus brief in the case, said the ruling was “monumental” for LGBT Pennsylvanians. “It was a huge change for LGBT families and really put Pennsylvania at the forefront of protecting children of same-sex parents,” she said. “There are not a lot of states where second-parent adoption has been made possible through a Supreme Court

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 24-30, 2012

SECOND-PARENT AND STEPPARENT ADOPTION IN THE U.S.

��

From “Securing legal ties for children living in LGBT families,” Movement Advance Project, July 1012

decision, so everyone was just thrilled. It was a huge, huge sea change for families.” The importance of the individual protections that the approved adoptions provided for families cannot be understated, said David Rosenblum, legal director at Mazzoni Center and a founding board member of the Center for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights. Among the benefits of secondparent adoption, children can be more readily incorporated into a parent’s health-insurance plan, share in Social Security and workers’ compensation benefits, inherit property and be legally tied to both parents in custody or child-support issues in the event of separation or death. “This provides recognition that this person is a parent, regardless of how the baby came into the world, and has all the amazing rights that go along with being a parent,” Rosenblum said. In a state that provides no legal recognition to same-sex couples, second-parent adoption is even more significant. “Regardless of the fact that Pennsylvania doesn’t recognize the relationship between the parents, an adoption can nonetheless bond them together as a family through the child,” Rosenblum said. The ruling, Frietsche noted, put an end to a phenomenon of the “Benjamin Franklin Bridge Babies” — as LGBT parents rushed to have their children born in New Jersey, which had already sanctioned second-parent adoptions in the 1990s, to ease the adoption process. Palmer said the Center saw a sharp influx in the number of second-parent cases immediately following the ruling and said such procedures have since

become “standard practice” for LGBT families in Pennsylvania. Rosenblum agreed that the ruling has allowed the same-sex adoption process to become more mainstreamed. “More and more, these cases are being handled by private attorneys. It’s not too unusual anymore, which is great,” he said. “You used to have to make the argument about who you are, why you’re there, and now, since the ruling, the courts don’t have to try to figure out who you are — two moms or two dads, everyone’s recognized — and they can focus just on the best interests of the child.” According to the Human Rights Campaign, 10 states and Washington, D.C., now have either a law on the books or court rulings that allows second-parent adoptions throughout the state. The Frybergers and Gregos completed the adoption process shortly after the ruling. The Frybergers’ twin sons are now 15, and the family was in attendance at a community celebration of the ruling’s 10th anniversary last weekend in Pittsburgh. The adoption subsequently became especially significant for the Gregos, as Jeff died in a plane crash in 2005. He and Joey had been together for 24 years, and their children are now 20 and 21. Frietsche said that, while the legal protections the ruling enabled have been significant, the deeper meaning of those protections is just as valuable. “This gives families the serenity of knowing their parental rights are secure, and their kids are protected,” she said. “It’s meaningful legally but it’s also incredibly important emotionally to families.” ■

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PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 24-30, 2012

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Liberty City Press AUGUST 19-26, 2012

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politics

PICA Questions Five-Year Financial Plan

�� Sam Katz is the current chairman of PICA Photo courtesy of Philadelphia magazine

by Patrick Kerkstra

ypically, meetings of the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (PICA) are as dull and opaque as the agency’s name. But on August 9, PICA’s monthly session was momentarily the center of Philadelphia’s political universe, as the Nutter administration and the Philadelphia Fire Fighters & Paramedics Union �� And it looks as though PICA may well play referee between city municipal unions and the Nutter administration for some time to come. �� plan. Often, PICA approval comes with sternly worded warnings about �� jected a city plan.

This time, though, PICA’s approval was in serious question. PICA Chairman and three-time mayoral candidate Sam Katz had publicly voiced his doubts about the plan, as had City Controller Alan Butkovitz. At issue is the long-running and increasingly nasty labor dispute between the Nutter ad�� A quick history: Two years ago, the union was awarded a favorable new contract by an arbitration panel. The Nutter administration promptly appealed to the Common Pleas Court, say-

ing the city could not afford the new contract. The contract was kicked back to the arbitration panel, which this July came up with a new four-year deal that is largely the �� again, the city has appealed, en�� So what does any of this have to do with PICA? Well, the Nutter administration chose not to include the cost �� (which is either $60 million or $200 million, depending on who is doing the counting) in its �� ministration has projected a net savings of $50 million on labor �� and with other city unions. And that has made PICA nervous. Historically, the agency has given administrations plenty of leeway when budgeting future labor costs. PICA wants to give mayoral administrations room to negotiate labor contracts that are favorable to the city, and if the full anticipated costs of new con�� plans, that could make it harder for the city to argue convincingly that it cannot afford to meet union demands. But this time it appears the city went too far for PICA’s taste. PICA members wondered how the city could reasonably bud-

get $50 million in labor savings when it was already looking at a �� cost as much as an additional $200 million. Sensing that a potential PICA rejection was a real possibility, the Nutter administration tacked on a last-minute postscript to its �� very painful budget cuts that Fi�� the city might be forced to enact �� held by the courts. Following that addendum, PICA adjourned without voting on the plan. The board is set to reconvene after its members have reviewed the administration’s list of potential cuts. But this issue isn’t going �� patient. The city’s blue- and white-collar workers have been laboring under expired contracts since 2009, and there is reportedly little to no active negotiating. That’s arguably served the Nutter administration well. True, the lack of new contracts has meant the mayor hasn’t made much progress on pension costs, which is a goal of his. But in exchange the administration has saved money on wage increases that are likely to be part of any new labor deal. Now, though, the political ��

AUGUST 19-26, 2012

Liberty City Press is a collaborative publication effort of the Philadelphia Multicultural Media Network.

lifestyle

\\\ Liberty City Press

PICA Questions Five-Year Financial Plan ��

�� created by this unsettled labor situation are building to a point where the two sides may be compelled to resume serious negotiations. And it just might be PICA that forces the issue. Katz told the �� last week that he would ��clude new contracts for all city employees now working under expired deals.

Temple Football Keeps it Local ��

great connections with the high school coaches in this area. I am not sure there is a better area for high school players than the 60mile radius around this city. It is �� excited to get the job at Temple.” Addazio said that the national reputation that Philadelphia and the surrounding area is not a hotbed for football is just plain wrong. “I read somewhere three years ago that more players make the NFL from New Jersey than Texas. And I really believe that. Our coaching staff doesn’t have to travel far to see great high school players.” Despite the fact that Temple

“The more logical way to do �� collective bargaining and get it in place,” Katz told the �� . Katz’s view is hardly unani�� board has its factions, and there are PICA members that share the administration’s worries that the city will not be able to afford new labor deals. But if Katz’s view prevails, PICA could get the credit (or the blame) for bringing an end to this long-running labor stalemate.

is coming off two Bowl seasons in the last three years, pundits are predicting gloom for the Owls’ inaugural season in the Big East. That doesn’t bother their coach. “Why wouldn’t they pick us last?” he said. “We haven’t done �� that we have to prove ourselves.” The Owls are also returning �� back Bernard Pierce set all kinds �� left early for the NFL and now may play a key role on the Balti�� “That’s OK,” said wide re�� we’re going to shock the world this year. There is no reason we �� the Big East.”

Friends Jayda Bland, 9 (left), and Thyri Frazier, 9, are ready for school with new backpacks and accessories. They are both entering fourth grade at Cook-Wissahickon. Sarah J. Glover/Photographer

Back to school, in Style

�� by Sheila Simmons

hyri Frazier and Jayda Bland looked past the bright pink, aqua �� decorated with sparkling swatches of sequins, the girls snatched the packs down and exhaled a delighted “Oooooh!” With the addition of a collection of headbands and a pair of hats (a fedora for Thyri, a baseball cap for Jayda), these CookWissahickon Elementary School fourth-graders were nearly ready for another year of school fashion in the face of school uniforms. In 2000, Philadelphia became the largest school district in the country to mandate uniforms for its students. Back then, kids claimed that the policy would deprive them of self-expression and creativity.

But since then, local students have learned to accessorize, accessorize, accessorize. Footwear, outer wear and hairdos help them express their style. Fashion experts and bloggers guide the way. “We’re going back to the basics to ensure that your new customized look lands you on the fashion honor roll,” writes Sev� �� magazine fashion writer Katie Law in her “A Touch of Class” column about school uniforms. ��how.com offers this: “With the right accessories, you can dress up your school uniform to make you look like queen bee (Urban �� who, usually in a high school �� pack’”).” So yes, Philadelphia kids are going back to school in style. Look closer. Like generations before, they are expressing their

character and marching with the times. This year’s kid is into color. Bright colors. Neon shades of pink, yellow and blue. If she can get away with it on her shoes, your little girl will be sporting Vans sneakers you can spot a block away. That doesn’t mean Converse is relinquishing reign of the fashionable sneaker market held by its Chuck Taylors. “Design your own [sneaker],” Converse’s website beckons. “Just add color,” it harkens above a swatch of �� your personally designed shoe arrives in two to three weeks. If the former teens of the ’ 70s are enjoying this generation’s appreciation of Chuck Taylors, the ’80s teens can reminisce on the puffy sleeves girls are sporting, particularly on jackets. From the ’90s, the young African-American male “fade” haircut is back. The styles don’t lack ties to popular culture. Today’s headband craze is credited to �� character Blair Waldorf, while Japanese company Sanrio continues to stamp the ever popular Hello Kitty on everything. Book bags come in all the popular patterns this year: plaids, stripes, polka dots, and, �� terday, ones that have bumps �� “They’re very hot,” a store em�� So, just because a uniform is required doesn’t mean that kids can’t put some style into their back-to-school look.

AUGUST 19-26, 2012

Liberty City Press is a collaborative publication effort of the Philadelphia Multicultural Media Network.

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GGiveiveMe Liberty Me Liberty in our next issue: in our next issue:

NCAA and sex crimes: a case study... TheisRomney/Ryan budget impact Philly...Jill Scott Camp... the digital divide color on blind? the state of Our time to host the Democratic Convention...2012 Gridiron Preview Public League Sports......the PA congressional delegation: liberty brother you spare citycan press. read it… a dime?

or else. or else.

opinion

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Editorial

Robert Pastor, co-director of Center for Democracy and Election Management at American University, says that registration is the real voting issue on which to focus. Jeff Watts/Photographer, Courtesy of American University

The Fraud of Voter Fraud

��

efore 2000, the job of a campaign operative ended at the poll-place door. The conventional wisdom, �� on the local school board or for the White House, was that the campaign ended at the polls. Election �� voter was at the polls, the campaigns just waited for the returns. Then came the Bush-Gore election. In its wake, Congress passed the Help America Vote Act �� of polling places and the mechanics of the polls became as politicized and polarized as the campaigns themselves. The current polling battle being waged in state ��

and Pennsylvania and, more precisely, Philadelphia are standing at ground zero. �� legal requirement for voting. The simplicity of the �� plane, why not require one for voting? �� ment as an attempt to disenfranchise those without �� press the vote of base Democratic voters (read: African-American and Latino voters in cities like Philadelphia). The Democrats’ data is equally compelling: there is no evidence that the problem voter �� —voter fraud—is a problem at all. This combined with data showing

�� ments disproportionately impact African-American and Latino voters paints the legislative move for voter ID laws as a solution in search of a problem. �� of the Center for Democracy and �� can University and former executive director of the Carter-Baker Commission which reviewed the 2004 presidential election, has likened this to the battle between Great Britain and Argentina over �� which Argentinian novelist Jorge �� between two bald men over a comb.” We could not agree more. �� both have it wrong. The integrity of the American voting system is threatened not by voter fraud, but by the very mechanics of the system. The overwhelming evidence, based on an analysis of the presidential elections since 2000, is that the greatest impediment to �� requirement and everything to do with something as simple as reg�� polling place. Pastor has characterized the �� months as paling in comparison to other issues, especially voter registration, saying, “Only half of eligible voters in the country are registered and few of them lack photo IDs,” he said. “The problem remains registration—not IDs— in reducing voting participation.” In its 2005 hearings the Cart-

er-Baker Commission heard tes�� tlines—the two largest national voter hotlines, promoted by a coalition of civil rights groups and �� during the 2004 presidential election. This testimony, by Ken Smukler, President of Voter Information Technologies in 2005, is unfortunately as true today as it was when delivered in the summer of 2005 and it points to the real fraud that is the voter fraud debate (full disclosure: Smukler is also the curent publisher of ��): �� —�� —��

AUGUST 19-26, 2012

Liberty City Press is a collaborative publication effort of the Philadelphia Multicultural Media Network.

Liberty City Press \\\

�� Source: American University, The 2004 MYVOTE1 National Report

��

NOTES: �� SOURCES: ��

Data based on the ﬁndings of the Carter-Baker Commission’s monitoring of the My-Vote-1 and Our-Vote hotlines Data originally published by American University

�� —�� —�� —�� —��

The great irony is that the Carter-Baker Com-

mission laid out a blueprint for election administra-

tion reform that could have achieved the goals for

�� fraud debate. The commission called for nonpartisan

election administration, improved voter-list mainte-

nance and, yes, uniform photo-ID requirements to insure electoral integrity. It also called for the tearing down of barriers to registration and increased access

to voting information to increase voter participation.

opinion

Photo ID Required for November 2012 Election

Voters will be required to show an acceptable photo ID on Election Day. All photo IDs must contain an expiration date that is current, unless noted otherwise. Acceptable IDs include: �� contain an expiration date �� If you do not have one of these IDs, and require one for voting purposes, you may be entitled to get one FREE OF CHARGE at a PennDOT Driver License Center. To find the Driver License Center nearest you, and learn what supporting documentation you will need to get a photo ID visit PennDOT’s Voter ID Website or call the Department of State’s Voter ID Hotline at 1-877-VotesPA (868-3772). NO ONE legally entitled to vote will be denied the right to do so. If you do not have a photo ID, or are indigent and unable to obtain one without payment of a fee, you may cast a provisional ballot, and will have six days to provide your photo ID and/or an affirmation to your county elections office to have your ballot count. If you have a religious objection to being photographed you can still vote by presenting a valid without-photo driver’s license or a valid withoutphoto ID card issued by PennDOT. If you plan on voting by Absentee Ballot on the November 6, 2012 General Election, you will need to provide proof of identification.

But the biggest battle following the Carter-Baker

Commission report is that over an issue dismissed

by experts testifying before the commission in 2005

An outline of the forms of identiﬁcation accepted on Election Day Information originally published on votespa.com

and by its executive director today. Anybody got a comb?

AUGUST 19-26, 2012

Liberty City Press is a collaborative publication effort of the Philadelphia Multicultural Media Network.

\\\ Liberty City Press

sports

Temple football coach Steve Addazio (right) leads practice. Sarah J. Glover/Photographer

Temple Football Keeps it Local ��

by Jeremy Treatman

wenty-six players on Temple University’s football summer-training-camp roster who began practice this week played high school football in Philadelphia or ��

��ern Pennsylvania or New Jersey. Temple’s second-year coach, Steve

Small but Mighty

�� He’s only 5-feet-5-inches tall and 165 pounds, but Matt Brown may be the most valuable Owl this year. Last year, as a junior he rushed for more than 900 yards with six touchdowns as running back Bernard Pierce’s sidekick. He’ll be joined this year by Kenneth Harper and Montel Harris, a transfer from Boston College.

Addazio, expects those numbers of local standouts to rise every year while he coaches the Owls. “There are so many talented players from the Philadelphia area,” said Addazio. “Of course, our mission is to get the best student-athletes from around the area. That’s where we have to build this program and keep it moving forward. We want that to be a big part of our base. We’re thrilled that so many of the kids in the program are from nearby Temple.” With the team rejoining the �� found extra success recruiting this area’s biggest stars. The

school played in the Big East ��citement of playing schools in the Big East, as opposed to the �� Conference, is paying dividends. Expected to be Temple Owls this season are Archbishop Wood High School’s Brandon Peoples and Nate Smith, who both played key roles on last year’s state championship team for the suburban Philadelphia powerhouse. They committed to Addazio last February despite having received top offers from around the country. Three stars from George Wash�� championship team—Daquan Cooper, Brandon Chudnoff, and quarterback Clinton Granger— may also play big roles for the Owls this season. Bryan Osei, a lineman from Abington, and Demiere Shaw, a running back from �� ter spots are open in August, and many incoming freshmen will also be redshirted. “The mission of Temple from �� backyard,” said Addazio. “I know this area from being [an assistant] coach at Florida. I already had ��

“We aren’t going to lose anything in the running game,” said

Temple football coach Steve Addazio whose squad set school re-

City Flavor on the Team

�� Temple wide receiver Deon

�� provide a target for junior quarterback Chris Coyer and backups

Kevin Newsome, a Penn State transfer, and Clinton Granger, a

local kid who transferred after two successful years of junior

�� Springs, Va., but feels like he is

from Philadelphia now after being at Temple for two years.

“The pride of all the guys on

the team from Philly is incredi��ership qualities, a great work ethic

and care about Temple so much,” he continued. “It’s really great to

be part of a program where the

local players want to win for their town so bad. It rubs off on all of

us who are not from Philadelphia originally.”

��

inch lineman Kadeem Custis from Neumann-Goretti is the un-

cords in yards gained on the ground in 2011.

sung leader of the team.

have the opportunity to maybe start and have a big impact on the

��

didn’t win for a lot of years but since I’ve been here we’ve won 27

under his wing and shown us how

Brown is hoping to get the bulk of the carries. “It feels good to

��

team,” he said. “I want to help the team win. I know that Temple

spirit. He has taken lots of players

games. I see no reason why that won’t continue this year.” JT

to be proud that we are representing Philadelphia.” JT

AUGUST 19-26, 2012

Liberty City Press is a collaborative publication effort of the Philadelphia Multicultural Media Network.

PGN FEATURE

AC ul t ure rts

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 24-30, 2012

PAGE 29

Dining Family Portrait Get Out and Play Out & About Q Puzzle Scene in Philly Worth Watching

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ADAM, EXPO SED

ADAM LEVINE Photo: Terry Richardson

Pop star talks passion for gay rights, acting debut nudity and biggest ‘Voice’ diva By Chris Azzopardi PGN Contributor Supermodel girlfriends, rumored spats with Christina Aguilera and the engine that has kept Maroon 5 running for 10 years — there’s still so much more to Adam Levine. The adored frontman of one of the biggest pop bands, who recently told MTV that if he were president his first mission would be to legalize gay marriage, is also a straight ambassador for the gay community. With lots going on — judging this fall’s third season of “The Voice,” making his acting debut on Ryan Murphy’s “American Horror Story” and touring with Maroon 5 — it’s no wonder the band’s latest album is called “Overexposed.” In this exclusive chat with the pop star, Levine talks how fighting for gay rights has little to do with him having a gay brother, what he really thinks of people who don’t believe in marriage equality and if we’ll see him, ahem, overexposed on “American Horror Story.” PGN: Of all the things you could’ve said, why did you tell MTV that you’d legalize gay marriage first if you were president? AL: It’s just so silly and it doesn’t make any sense to me that you wouldn’t be able to marry whomever you want to marry. It’s not our business. I don’t know why we’re

obsessed with making everything in this country our business, all the time. It seems we’re a little behind on that, and we just need to make it legal and stop caring so much. It doesn’t matter — and it shouldn’t matter. PGN: What would you say to other straight people who don’t agree with you on the marriage issue? AL: Listen, I’m always willing to hear all sides of all arguments. Anyone who doesn’t agree with it is essentially putting themselves above other people. That’s what they’re doing. And that’s not OK with me. People have their personal preferences as to what they want to do with their own lives, and they have every right to do that — just like a gay couple has every right to do that. It’s just not anyone’s business except the people involved. That’s all I would say: “What makes you better than these people?” People have a million different justifications and reasons why they don’t want [gay marriage] allowed, but it doesn’t check out. Whenever I hear people’s reasoning behind it, I think to myself: First of all, marriage isn’t always successful anyway. Look at the divorce rate and all the things that go wrong with marriage. Whether it’s gay or straight, there are issues with it. Clearly people have a hard time staying together, and that’s just a sad truth about marriage in our society. People should be allowed to succeed and fail at marriage as they so desire.

PGN: Has having a gay brother influenced how outspoken you’ve become for the gay community? AL: I don’t think that having a gay brother has affected the way I feel about it, because I would feel the same way regardless. I happen to have a gay brother, but that doesn’t mean I’m more of an advocate for equal human rights. That shouldn’t change anything about the way that I feel. PGN: But he’s your brother, so certainly some of your passion for gay rights is an extension of that relationship, right? AL: Of course! That contributes on some level to the way that I feel. But I don’t know — I don’t think I would feel any differently if he happened to be straight. The relationships that I have with people — whether it’s my brother or a friend, gay or straight — shouldn’t really ever come into play. Someone’s sexual preference is their sexual preference. Let’s move on. When I’m talking about dating a girl and they’re talking about dating a guy — big fucking deal. That’s the thing, that’s what’s so bizarre about it: It doesn’t faze me. Obviously I was brought up to believe that everybody is on a level playing field and we’re all crazy, cool and all that fun stuff — and I don’t pay much mind to it, because who am I to judge people? I judge people based on the things that they do. I judge people based on their character. If you have a friend who decides to do

certain things in their own private time — even if they’re straight — whatever the fuck they’re into, fine. It doesn’t matter. That’s the biggest problem: It just simply doesn’t affect the way I view a person. It’s so arbitrary. PGN: How big of a role do you think the gay community has had in Maroon 5’s career? AL: The music that we make is for people to enjoy, and as far as all communities are concerned, the band’s mission statement is that we make music for everybody and that we love everyone who appreciates it and we appreciate everyone who appreciates it. There’s every type of person at our shows. And I love that. The more diverse our crowds get over time, the happier we get as a band. PGN: What’s been the best part of shooting “American Horror Story” so far? AL: It’s so much fun. I’m having a blast and obviously Ryan [Murphy] is amazing and so passionate and so cool, and I thank him for giving me this opportunity. It’s a really special show to be a part of, and it’s been really fun and I’m very excited to see the results. I’ve never really seen myself do any of this before, so I’m a little wigged out about that — actually watching myself. It’s all new and it’s all fun and it’s a fresh experience. I’ve gotten super into it and hope there are more cool things like that to come. And I’ve got a lot of blood on me!

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 24-30, 2012

FEATURE PGN

god, we’re all going to hell in a handbasket.” But I think what’s cool to say is, “Look at the wonderful things that we have been able to achieve and look at how much more equally PGN: Dylan McDermott is known for getting people are treated now as opposed to the past.” naked a lot on the show. Should we expect you I think we have a lot of really big strides to to get naked as well? make: For some reason, someone being homoAL: [Laughs.] I don’t think I’ll be getting phobic is still somewhat acceptable in our naked on the show. There’s no nudity for me. society, which I don’t like. That’s what I hate But you’ll see: It’s definitely interesting. so much, but I think that we’ve made strides there, too. It’s going to be a long battle. People PGN: Who’s the bigger diva on “The Voice”: make fun of people for being gay too much; You or Christina Aguilera? it’s too culturally accepted still, but it’s better. AL: Probably me. [Laughs.] You know, it’s You used to watch a movie and people used to cool because at this point, we finally hit our say — I won’t say it — but F-A-G all the time. stride as friends — all four And that doesn’t happen of us. Anytime you get anymore. You have to look four people together who at that and say, “That’s don’t know each other a good thing, man.” It’s very well, at first certain not this derogatory thing people gravitate toward that’s widely acceptable. others and alliances are You look back to the ’70s formed and friendships are and ’80s and you’re like, formed. But what’s great “Whoa, I can’t believe now is that all four of us that’s in this movie or on are very close and havthis television show, or ing the best time because that it was casually thrown we’re the most connected around a lot.” It’s become we’ve ever been. a bad word, and that’s a good thing. There’s always PGN: Blake Shelton going to be a lot wrong seems very connected to with the world, but I do you. So connected, in fact, think it’s becoming a betMAROON 5 Photo: Mark Seliger ter place in that regard. he has said that he wants to kiss you. Is there a bromance going on that you want to tell us about? PGN: What about the music business itself: AL: [Laughs.] I’m pretty sure all that is in Do you see the music business evolving faster good humor. I’m sure he doesn’t really want to than the rest of the world? AL: That would be a nice idea. You do tend kiss me. He’s married; he’s taken. to find that a lot of people who are involved PGN: When was the moment that you felt like in music don’t care about whether someone Maroon 5 had become overexposed? is gay or not, or gay themselves. Who knows AL: [Laughs.] [The album title] is more just why that’s the case. Maybe that particular part a humorous take on the fact that the band is of entertainment is evolving or has always everywhere, which is a wonderful thing. It’s been that way. Most of the people that I know, kind of nice to put a spin on it and make fun it’s just not an issue. Most people in the music of it and be silly about it rather than turn it industry don’t necessarily judge people for into a bad thing, because it’s amazing. We’ve that kind of thing and it doesn’t really come been lucky enough to withstand over a decade into play: It doesn’t matter. People, especially of, I guess, what you call relevance, and we’re musicians and artists, were more guarded a really excited about that: continuing to have while ago. Now it seems like it doesn’t seem songs on the radio, playing big concerts and to bother anybody very much, which is great. having this wonderful career. But we’re everyListen, the forward movement with this whole where, so I do believe there is some truth to thing is good, and getting it all out there and that statement — and it’s funny to poke a little having discussions and debates only helps us bit of fun at it. advance, so I’m all about discussing it with someone. I’m still very interested in getting PGN: A lot has changed in the business since to the bottom of why people don’t understand you started 10 years ago. We have Chely that in saying certain people aren’t allowed Wright, an out gay country artist, and now the to marry — what leg do you have to stand first major out hip-hop artist: Frank Ocean. on there? Unless you can admit that you’re How do you think these people, and the music putting yourself above them, then there’s business as a whole, can be influential in no argument. Otherwise you would say, changing people’s minds regarding gay poli“Everyone has the right to marry.” That’s a tics? hard pill to swallow because, like I said, I’m AL: It’s a great platform for that. We’ve made always ready to play the other side and to a lot of strides in a lot of ways as far as acceptry to appreciate the other side for what it’s tance is concerned. What’s funny is everyone worth, and you can’t really argue unless you is always talking about the world being so can start to understand where that side comes fucked and such a disaster, but when you really from. But I still don’t quite get it. It still look at it, there’s an argument in there that the baffles me. ■ world’s become a better place. Look at the Chris Azzopardi is editor of Q Syndicate, an strides. It’s really easy to look at all the things that are wrong with the world and say, “Oh my LGBT wire service. Reach him at www.chrisPGN: What does that taste like? AL: It tastes like gross corn syrup crap.

PARENTING PGN

Parents of transgender children share their stories Parents of transgender children “are the really say I’ve come to peace with my best parents ever. They unconditionally child’s transition. She is still in the middle of it, and I am still hoping she changes her love their children, even when they don’t completely understand what their child is mind about this.” going through,” writes mom Tracie Stratton Nevertheless, she says her relationship (herself such a parent) in “Transitions of with her child is getting better, and she the Heart: Stories of Love, Struggle, and wants to remain close. Her thoughts are not Acceptance by Mothers of Transgender far from those of Houle when she says, “I hope she succeeds in her quest to be comand Gender Variant Children,” edited by fortable in her own skin. And, most of all, I Rachel Pepper. That lesson of acceptance wish her happiness.” and love, conveyed through the 32 essays Through the love that permeates all in the collection, make “Transitions of the of the essays, we also see the Heart” a valuable read for any fears: for one’s child’s happarent, regardless of the gender identity of their children. piness; of societal responses, Many lesbian moms will including school bullying; about both the safety and cost of medknow editor Pepper from ical procedures. While some of her previous book, “The these concerns are warranted Ultimate Guide to Pregnancy — several of the moms tell of for Lesbians.” She is also a therapist who specializes in their children being rejected, working with families who bullied, depressed and suicidal — there is hope: schools adminhave transgender and genistrators and neighbors who are der-variant children, and coauthored (with Stephanie Brill) supportive; children who have “The Transgender Child: A grown to be happy and wellDana Rudolph adjusted; family relationships Handbook for Families and Professionals.” Unlike those two that have healed. My only quibble with the book is that books, however, “Transitions of the Heart” Pepper explains her choice to focus on is not a how-to, but rather a sharing of stomoms by saying, “as children transition, ries: The contributors tell of how they first realized their children were transgender or so too must their families, and no one feels gender variant, how they responded and this change as acutely as mothers, who how they are continuing with their children often both bear their children and act as on this very personal journey. They do not their primary caretakers.” Adoptive and offer universal answers, simply the ones nonbio moms as well as fathers might questhey each have found — along with many tion the relevance of “bearing” children questions that remain unanswered. here — and the sweeping nature of the The contributors come from a variety of statement seems misplaced in a book that backgrounds. There are black, white and asks us to broaden our views of gender. Latina mothers from the U.S., Canada and Nevertheless, Pepper is to be commended for bringing together the stories of the U.K.; biological and adoptive ones; married and single ones; and moms of difmothers of transgender children, whatever the reason. (Perhaps she or someone else ferent beliefs, from “New Age spirituality” to “hard-shell” Southern Baptist. Most will gather stories from fathers for a future of the moms are straight; two are lesbian. volume.) The collection will be a wonderThey have a mix of female-to-male and ful resource to any parent with transgender male-to-female children. or gender-variant children as well as to Mostly, though, they are all at differothers looking to support these families. ent places in their family journeys. Some Additionally, the stories of unexpected mothers sensed something “different” twists in the journey of parenting should about their children’s gender identity when resonate with all of us who have ever been the children were still in preschool; othsurprised at the directions our children ers were surprised by revelations when the take. Whether parents of transgender chilchildren were grown. Some are still figurdren are the “best ever,” as Stratton asserts, ing out how best to support their young is a subjective matter — but after reading children; others have watched their chilthis book, you will likely believe that some dren grow and transition. indeed can be shining examples to the rest Mary Lou Houle, now 80 years old, of us. Not perfect, by any means (none of writes that her son’s transition from us are), but deeply admirable in their willfemale to male “has been a long, hard ingness to face challenges and take risks in road for me.” Now, however, she says they order to support their children, and to love are closer than they have ever been. She them fiercely as they find their true selves. advises others to “love your children no Dana Rudolph is the founder and publisher matter what. God gave them to you and they have a right to be happy, well-adjusted of Mombian (www.mombian.com), an award-winning blog and resource directory people.” for LGBT parents. In contrast, Dana Lane writes, “I can’t

Mombian

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 24-30, 2012

Haute Mexican? Haute Mexican! After ten successful years in northeast Philadelphia, Paloma is serving to-die-for French-Mexican cuisine in Bella Vista. ��

a semifinalist for the 2011 James Beard Foundation awards 763 South 8th Street (corner of 8th & Fulton) www.palomafinedining.com www.facebook.com/palomarestaurant 215.928.9500

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 24-30, 2012

PGN

PROFILE PGN

Family Portrait

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 24-30, 2012

Suzi Nash

Amelia Carter: From Main Line to foreign aid Donny Hathaway has a song that starts out “I’ve been so many places in my life and time.” That could describe this week’s profile Amelia Carter. At a mere 23, Carter has traveled to Uruguay, Argentina, Nepal, London, Paris, Thailand, Cambodia, India, Canada and the Philippines. PGN: You seem to be a child of the world, but where are you originally from? AC: [Laughs.] I was born and raised in Phoenixville, about 30 minutes outside of Philly and I moved here when I was 15. PGN: Family? AC: Well, I have a mother and father and a half brother — we have different fathers. My mother is a black woman and my father is white, Jewish and Italian. It’s an odd relationship. They met when they were both working at a nursing home. He had an after-school job as a dishwasher and she was a cook. He was 16 and she was 30 years old when they got together and, two years later, I was accidentally born. I was there at my dad’s high-school graduation! It was always kind of a mess of a situation. My mother had some problems with drinking and alcoholism and it was getting bad so at 14, I talked my dad into taking me and then convinced him to move to Philly. Unfortunately, once I was living with him fulltime I realized that he had blossoming issues with drug use. Starting with opiate pills, OxyContin or Percocet, and then the addiction escalated to heroin and most recently he’s moved to PCP. It was an ongoing addiction that I wasn’t really aware of prior to moving in with him. At that point, I really didn’t have any other parents to move in with so I said, “Screw it, I’ll just do my own thing.” PGN: And how old were you? AC: 15. PGN: Were you in school? AC: For a short period we lived in Berwyn and I went to high school there and it was a really, really horrible experience. The Main Line was not well-suited for me. That’s when I got him to move to Philly where I was able to get a scholarship to attend the Crefeld School in Chestnut Hill. They’re a school for people who need to learn in an alternative way. They really embrace different learning styles, different philosophies and people who are different. It was a safe space for queer identified students, etc. PGN: How did you get there? AC: My dad knew someone who went there as a child and he always remembered it as a place that was very liberal and lax. [Laughs.] In particular, he remembered his friend arguing with a teacher, storming out of the room to go smoke pot in the smok-

ing lounge and then returning to class and no one cared. They don’t have that smoking lounge anymore! The school was great for me. PGN: How did you wrangle a scholarship? It doesn’t sound like you had a very stable base to operate from. AC: My aunt, my father’s sister, really stepped up for me. She helped me navigate the world of paperwork and red tape. Thankfully I got in. I think I would have been way more depressed and isolated in a public school. Being able to learn in a way that wasn’t the typical memorization by rote which doesn’t work for everyone, helped me go from someone who was uninterested in school and felt that I was stupid, to someone who loves learning and realized that I was intelligent. Teaching kids to love learning is the most powerful thing you can do in education. PGN: You said they were queer accepting — were you out? AC: [Laughs.] It’s funny, there was only one out person at the school and he was flaming. We were best friends and another girl and I started a gay-straight alliance to support him but thought we were just allies. I later met up with the girl and we both had come out at that point. It was, “Well, I thought back then that I just liked rainbows but it turns out I like women.” I used to think, I’m open to it but I can’t imagine being with a girl. I never had any pornographic fantasies of being with women, so I figured I wasn’t gay. I was engaging in straight relationships and really hating it. For a long time I was in a straight relationship but loathing every moment of it. I finally broke it off and didn’t see anyone. Toward my senior year I started having crushes on androgynous women like, “Hmmnm, I think that’s really cute, I think I would like that.” And eventually in college I accepted the fact that I liked women. PGN: And what did you study in college? AC: I was a geography and urban studies major at Temple. PGN: What made you choose that field? AC: I was really interested in issues of globalization and was always interested in Asia, politically and culturally. So it was a good way to study it all. PGN: What courses did you take at Temple? AC: At Temple, it was kind of basic. geography 101, urban planning 102: They’re kind of a diploma factory if you ask me. Before Temple, I went for two years to Hampshire College where they had more of a philosophy like Crefeld. You had a lot of freedom to move within your edu-

cation and that’s where I took the most interesting classes like a course on human trafficking which was taught by the legal studies department at UMass, a course on historical slavery — the transatlantic trade, etc., which was a master’s-level class that we could take. We were allowed to take classes at a number of neighboring schools. It was great. It gave you the space to teach yourself and explore and develop that love of learning. PGN: I understand you’ve done some work in human trafficking. AC: Yes, I was doing a research paper on child soldiers and read about human trafficking and was really interested in what was happening. I spent the rest of my college career trying to weave it into my school courses. I also started working at nonprofits that dealt with it like Dawn’s Place in Germantown. They work with women who have been commercially sexually exploited and trafficked. I also worked with WOAR, Women Organized Against

tion was the most common form of trafficking — modern-day slavery. I found it problematic that most agencies were focusing solely on the sex trafficking. It seemed that they wanted to focus on the most horrendous stories and tell them over and over again and then show themselves going over to foreign countries and saving these destitute women. It just seemed oversimplified and a bit exploitive. They were using this evildoer-victim-savior narrative in order to get funding, but the work that was being done didn’t seem to me to be having much effect. People were still being trafficked. I felt that I wanted to go there and see for myself what was being done. PGN: What were some of the things you found? AC: Well, most agencies refused to work with women who were in the sex trade, because under the Bush administration you had to be completely anti-sex work in order to get funding. And they were the ones who were closest to the situation and might be able to help do something about it because they could get through to true victims of forced prostitution. So instead, the work being done was basic things like homeless shelters, education for kids and things like that, but not so much the sexual trafficking issues highlighted in the brochures. Extreme exploitation does happen in this world, but if you’re manipulating the story to make it more “entertaining” for people, and then changing the grassroots efforts where work’s really being done, it’s a problem. They spend more on advertising the work that they’re supposed to be doing than on the work itself.

PGN: Who did you work with there? AC: There was an organization that did some real on-the-ground work — Impulse NGO. They Photo: Suzi Nash Rape, which doesn’t deal directly with were a child-advocacy organization that did a lot trafficking, but with sexual violence against women, which can be a part of traf- of policy change and awareness. The director, Hasina Kharbhih, was a really fierce ficking. woman who had a big impact on the way PGN: How did you end up in Asia? people thought about child labor and the AC: Doing the research, I felt I was getting sexual exploitation of women and children. a lot of conflicting information. A lot of She had more impact because she wasn’t the information you get in the States about an outsider coming in telling people what trafficking focuses on sexual exploitation they were doing wrong in their country. and forced prostitution, when a lot of the She worked from within. I also worked in Cambodia with the research I read found that labor exploitaPAGE 28

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 24-30, 2012

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2012

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Welcome to PGN’s Best of Gay Philadelphia 2012! Here’s how this will work: First, you, dear reader, will give us your picks for the best of LGBT Philly — in the community, eats, entertainment, nightlife, people and places. Submit your votes here, using this handy suvey. Voting is open Aug. 10-Sept. 10. Then, votes will be tallied and announced in the Sept. 28 issue. To cap it off, we’re planning a special invite-only party for the winners on Oct. 4. (Make sure you are in good with your favorite winner so you can get them to bring you along.) Some notes: If you are unsure if your favorite [person/place/thing] would qualify, refer to the helpful title: Best of Gay Philadelphia. For the most part, we want to know what the LGBT community thinks, with a focus on LGBT people, places and things. We don’t want to hear about the worst, the non-gay or the best in New York City. But if you present an argument for why your non-gay [person/ place/thing] should win, send it in. If you include witty comments with your survey, we may print them. Feel free to ﬁll out as many — or as few — categories as you like. (We’re not sure any one of us could answer all the categories either.) To vote: Write in your picks, then send them to us via mail, fax or in person.

PGN’s Best of Gay Philadelphia 505 S. Fourth St. Philadelphia, PA 19147 Fax: 215-925-6437

To nominate online, go to www.epgn.com, and click on the link for Best of Gay Philadelphia.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 24-30, 2012

South Philly bar boasts a daring menu By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Serving up a first course of bones and organs is definitely a bold way to grab our attention. The Industry Bar, 1401 E. Moyamensing Ave., has a modern and moody decor and an insanely good drink menu that would seem more appropriate for Center City than the unassuming South Philly digs it occupies. But that’s just the beginning of a list of eccentricities that works in its favor. When you take a gander at the menu, you get an idea of how adventurous the chefs are and how much of a candy ass you and your fellow diners can be. Oh sure, there is plenty of crowd pleasing (read: SAFE) fare on the menu such as vegetable alphabet soup ($5), whipped veggie tofu ($5) and the Industry burger ($8) to be had. The latter of which was perfection, seeming to know that we are weary of the over-

loaded gastro-bomb burgers other places like to show off, felt like the best kept secret in an Italian grandmother’s keeping things pure and simple. The veggie tofu was no cookbook. We could not stop scooping up the heaping slouch either: We want to serve it at our next party. bites of the concoction with baguette bread. Even better The seafood BLT (MP) is another hit with the only were the lettuce wraps with the chewy tender pieces of pig minor risk being that you are at the mercy of whatever ear working so well with the crunchy and spicy shredded seafood they decide to put into the sandwich that particuveggies and lettuce. lar day. On our particular night it was fried shrimp. How Desserts were more conventional but wonderful as well. can you lose? The beef tartare ($14) was another perfectly Jon Rod’s Swiss rolls ($6) come across like a high-end executed dish, flavorful and savory. Hostess Ho Ho, upping the ante an almost intimidating But then there are items on the menu that throw down size and filled with chocolate chiffon and dark rum butter the gauntlet, daring you to get over your pedestrian food crème. You had us at rum. The doughnuts ($6) were perfectly warm, crisp and sugary, and then went the extra mile hang-ups and dive in. But don’t let the proteins scare you, with homemade preserves for dipping. they are in expert hands. The buffalo sweetbreads ($10) Whether you like to graze like an herbivore or devour had a crunchy breaded exterior and generous flavor — you like a carnivore, The Industry Bar definitely has some could almost forget that you were eating pancreas. By plates that will excite you. ■ the time the texture registers, you are almost done chewing, ready to swallow and beyond caring. The bone marrow ($10) is another tasty experience in a somewhat-morbid carniThe Industry vore package. The delicacy, 1401 E. scooped out of its hefty leg Moyamensing Ave. shaft, is just splendid when 215-271-9500 spread upon baguette bread, theindustrybar.com either on its own or with an Open for dinner excellent shallot and thyme daily and lunch marmalade. Saturday and Sunday The two dishes that really stood out were the lambneck gravy ($10) and the crispy pig-ear lettuce wraps INDUSTRY DINING ROOM Photos: Scott A. Drake ($6). The lamb-neck gravy

If you go

BONE MARROW WITH BREAD AND SLAW

Juice your troubles away By Sarah Blazucki sarah@epgn.com

Repairs, Renovations and Remodeling

(215) 467-3335 Pa. HIC #026545 Phila. Lic. #17895

“Our” Family Plumber for over 30 years

Challenge: Three days. No solid food. No caffeine. How’s that for a challenge? Juicing — the practice of consuming only fresh juices — can help cleanse the body and leave you feeling leaner, cleaner and lighter. Proponents recommend juicing for anywhere between one and 30 days, with three days as a good starting point for a beginner/intermediate like myself. Philly-based Catalyst (www.catalystcleanse.com), which opened the raw-food JAR Bar, 113 S. 12th St., earlier this year, offers its signature cleanse with six freshly made juices per day ($60). The juices are a combination of fruits, vegetables, nut milks and spices to be consumed in order for a total of 1,200 calories daily. In order, the juices are green, spicy lemonade, carrot-apple, watermelon, green again and cashew. The green juice is a combination of cucumber, celery, apple, parsley, spinach, lemon, lime and ginger. Spicy lemonade is lemon, agave and cayenne. Carrotapple is carrot, apple, celery, lemon and lime. Watermelon is watermelon and lime. Cashew is cashew, agave, cinnamon and vanilla.

For the novice juicer, the green juice is likely the hardest to adjust to, as it isn’t sweet like traditional juices. Instead, it tastes like fresh greens — think leafy green salad. The spicy lemonade is not too sweet, with a kick. The carrot-apple is sweeter, with a hint of fresh citrus. The watermelon is sweet and refreshing, like summer in a bottle. The cashew is milky and a little sweet, like dessert. A three-day juice cleanse is supposed to help reset one’s relationship with food, and can be a jumping off point for kicking a bad habit or starting a good one. For myself, I was more aware of when I wanted to eat and why — it was often out of boredom. Juicing will also help you to recognize the difference between the rumbling in your belly that is often called hunger (but is really just your body producing enzymes in anticipation of food to digest) vs. actual hunger, when you feel faint or woozy. And although I often felt the rumbling in my tummy over the three days, I only felt faint once — after a 90minute trail run. (While Catalyst says you can exercise while you juice, they may not have meant 16-mile bike rides and 90-minute trail runs. Restorative yoga might have been a better option.) In addition to giving your digestive system a break, allowing it to clear out impu-

FOODPGN & DRINK

rities, juicing often results in weight loss: For three days, one can expect to lose 3-6 pounds; I lost 4. One of the challenges of juicing is actually reminding yourself that you can’t eat because you are juicing. More than once I caught myself thinking, I could have x for lunch or I could stop here for a snack. (I did neither.) To successfully juice, you need to CLEAN ON THE INSIDE: One day’s worth of juices — green (from prepare yourself, left), spicy lemonade, carrot-apple, watermelon, green again and mentally and physicashew — is ready for consumption on the author’s three-day cally. Don’t plan to cleanse. Photo: Sarah Blazucki do too much, and make sure you tell Though it’s tough, juicing is rewarding: your partner, friends and colleagues, so Beyond my sense of accomplishment (I they understand when you get cranky and haven’t eaten for three days!), I felt leaner and cleaner, no doubt from having a clean ask them to refrain from eating goldfish digestive track, ready for more food. ■ next to you.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 24-30, 2012

Food & Drink

If you go Catalyst Catalystcleanse.com JAR Bar Jarbarphilly.com 113 S. 12th St. 215-923-1600

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 24-30, 2012

Q Puzzle Gore Vidal Across

1. “Gay ___ Sutra” 5. Prickteasers 10. Alpert of “Mame” fame 14. Aladdin or Scheherazade 15. In-your-face 16. Words said near crystal balls 17. Cans, in the U.K. 18. Word to someone stroking your tummy 19. Mane location 20. Start of a Gore Vidal quote 23. Fill with bullets 24. Sauna bath sites 25. Hard woody nut 27. Sal Mineo’s role in “Rebel Without a

Cause” 30. More of the quote 34. Prefix with Stein? 35. Singer Freddie 36. Disencumber 38. Shankar of sitar 40. Subjects of James IV 41. “Move your butt!” 42. Makes a wet blanket 44. Cups and such 45. More of the quote 51. More of the quote 53. Saikaku’s “Gay Tales of the ___ ” 54. End of the quote 57. Picks out, with “for” 59. Traffic cop’s tool 60. Men-only affair 61. Circus sideshow

oddity 62. Insurance worker 63. Wang in fashion 64. “I Shot ___ Warhol” 65. Dry runs 66. Treated as a sexual object

Down

1. “Cabaret”’s Kit___ Klub 2. Opera queen’s delight 3. Author Thomas 4. When repeated, a Faulkner title 5. They shoot off hot stuff 6. Circumvent 7. Output from small pussies 8. Part of the media 9. G-string wearers 10. Doesn’t quite

tell 11. Actor Morales 12. Muscle Mary stat 13. Spelling contest 21. “Air Music” composer Ned 22. Full of four-letter words 25. Ang Lee, for one 26. Screwed up 28. Gives a pink slip to 29. Hunter that comes out at night 31. Atomic energy org. 32. “The Name of the Rose” writer 33. On the other hand 34. Hesitation sounds 37. Orientation determiner, some say 39. WWII battle site,

for short 41. Half of a ballroom dance 43. Sinking ship’s call 44. X at a frat party 46. Purity unit 47. It may be spitting 48. Mapplethorpe models, often 49. Randolph Scott’s companion Cary 50. Petite pies 51. Eastern discipline 52. What you do at the other end 55. Internally pink 56. “My stars!” 58. Shade of blue 60. Sex Crimes division, to B.D. Wong PAGE 31

Gay is our middle name. PORTRAIT from page 23

Soa Sary Foundation and they were taking at-risk children, mostly girls, and they were given an education. They were taught about different types of exploitation. For instance Cambodian girls who were sent to Malaysia and other places where they were doing legitimate work but without labor laws, they were being used. Sometimes they’d work for two years and not get paid at the end of it. There is work being done, but we could do a lot more with a little awareness here of how we encourage human trafficking. PGN: How so? AC: A lot of the labor exploitation that happens is due to Western consumption. PGN: Ah. There’s a great film called “Mardi Gras: Made in China.” It starts out showing people at Mardi Gras, throwing handfuls of the beads, then shows the human toil that went into making the beads — the conditions the factory workers work under. So, what did you personally get from the experiences overseas? AC: I got so much, mostly from India where I went to school for six months and got to really know people. For me, I felt truly, truly deeply loved for the first time, in a healthy way. There were people I met there that

touched my life. I have one friend there, Moses, who I became very close to. I’d never met anyone, especially a man, who was so kind and caring and genuine. When I met him, he was a staunch Christian, homophobic person — the northeast of India is very Christian because of the missionaries there — but by the time I left he was an advocate. At first I was scared about coming out, but he didn’t see me as gay, he saw me as Amelia, a person he’d come to know and love. And so he changed his entire views on something he’d strongly believed in for me and for our friendship. PGN: OK, less serious. How was the food? AC: Food is a really important part of the culture in India and an important part of the experience there. One thing I was surprised to find was that going down to the market, I was expecting that the food would be locally grown and fresh. I don’t know why I made that assumption, but I did; perhaps it’s the fact that such a huge percent of India is agricultural, that I assumed local produce would go to the people that lived there. But it wasn’t the case. I also learned the suicide rate among farmers is really high: over 17,000 killed themselves in 2009 alone. A part of the reason is the climate change: With droughts and floods, etc., farming has

become a gambling game. The other part is that a lot of the farmers are basically in sharecropping-style arrangements, so they don’t own the lands that they toil and there’s a lot of labor exploitation and agricultural exploitation in the international market. A lot of their food is shipped to other countries. I wanted to make an apple dish for the people I was staying with. I went to get an apple and they had Washington apples, but they were secondrate, old and grainy. PGN: I read that a lot of the problem also comes from genetically modified plants. AC: Don’t get me started. Yes, a lot of the crops were genetically altered to kill cotton-eating pests. Companies like Cargill and Monsanto forced farmers to buy their expensive genetically altered seeds: 90 percent of the country’s cotton growers used the GM seeds. Now they’ve found that the success of the GM cotton lasted only five years, but now the bugs/crops are worse than ever and they now have to buy expensive pesticides to combat the problem. They lost money and crops and many believe it’s contributed to a lot of the suicides. On the other hand, I was in Chennai, the biggest southern city in India, and it was a different story, because it was a place where a lot of people had

their own farms or plantations. I remember pulling up to a friend’s house after hours on the road. I saw all these ducks around and was joking, “Oooh, I like duck. Do you eat them?’ We were about to eat dinner but two hours went by and it hadn’t been served. I was starving and suddenly they came out with this giant platter with cooked duck. I thought, Oh, no! I didn’t mean for them to slaughter one! As it is with many communities of color, eating is a big part of the culture but especially in India. Custom is that the guest must have three to four or more helpings to show your appreciation for the food. [Laughs.] And because I’d asked for it, they wanted me to have most of it. Needless to say, I was sick later from the combo of the trip, the water and eating almost an entire duck. The food was always amazing: It was just a little too much of a good thing. PGN: What’s next for you? AC: I’m not sure. I had to take some time off because all I kept seeing lately was where we were going wrong in this antitrafficking fight. I needed to step back a minute and assess. But I’m looking for the next step in the fight! ■ To suggest a community member for “Family Portrait,” write to portraits05@aol.com.

PGN

Get Out and Play

Scott A. Drake

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 24-30, 2012

Worth Watching

Late summer spectator sporting

OUT AT THE BALLGAME: While the Phillies may not be very entertaining this year, and their record for Gay Community Night is a dismal 1-8, the Phanatic is still the best show in South Philly. This year’s night “out” is Aug. 28 and promises a fun, out-of-theGayborhood opportunity to enjoy the winding down summer nights. Get there early for the ceremonial opening pitch by Larry Felzer and hear the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus sing the national anthem. Get there really early and you can hit up the pre-game tailgate party in the Jetro parking lot. It’s a $30 all-you-can-drink/eat party that starts at 4 p.m. Photo: Scott A. Drake

Sports fans often fall into two categories — love ‘em or hate ‘em. But soccer is one sport that continues to add new fans — perhaps because it’s exciting to watch even when we don’t completely understand how it’s played. Or maybe it’s because it’s nothing like the big four professional sports, with overpaid players and ridiculous ticket prices to pay for it all. Well, here’s your chance to see what soccer’s all about. The Philadelphia Falcons are hooking up with gayforsoccer.com to give you a chance to see the Philadelphia Union play for $10 off the regular price on Aug. 29 at PPL Park. This is a great opportunity to see more, learn more and, ultimately, enjoy more soccer. And if it inspires you to play with the Falcons, great! If you want to play with the Falcons for their next tournament, you still have time to register. At least 15 players are heading to the Rehoboth Beach Classic XIV over Labor Day weekend. You can check out the tournament at www.federaltriangles.org/ftsc/ social-activities/rehoboth-beach-classic, the Philadelphia Union at philadelphiaunion.com and the Philadelphia Falcons website for tickets to the Union game at falcons-soccer.org/. Softball World Series The men just completed their world series on Aug. 18 in Minneapolis. All of the three participating Philadelphia teams — Honey

Badgers, Outlaws and Triple Play — had great games and smacked down a couple of highly touted opponents — DC Capital Punishment and New Haven — early. In the end, out of 48 teams, the Philadelphia Honey Badgers came home with D Division third place bragging rights and Triple Play settled into the C Division fifth place spot. Congrats to all of our softball ambassadors! The women are playing their world series now through Sept. 25 in San Diego, where the threat of a hurricane messing with the tournament is far less likely than last year. (See “Hurricane hinders weekend in gay Philly” Sept. 2-8, 2011.) Five teams represent Philadelphia this year and three of them are battling it out in the C Division. Best of luck! Finally, fall ball is on the softball field horizon. Registration is open now, and games start Sept. 9. Fall ball is strictly for fun, or so the website says, and games are played in South Philly’s FDR Park by the stadiums; visit cblsl.org for more information. See Bob run. Run, Bob, run. Those crazy runners are at it again. If they’re not doing a midnight run or a color run or the ODDyssey half marathon, then they’re hosting the Philadelphia Rock and Roll half marathon Sept. 15-16 to raise money for the William Way LGBT Community Center. Get out those running shoes again to raise some money for our community center or throw a couple of dollars in the pot if you don’t run. Members of the New York Frontrunners and DC Roadrunners are joining in the fun and fundraising over the weekend, which includes a pasta party Saturday night and a brunch Sunday after the run. Registration is going on now and there are a host of additional incentives offered for donation money raised in addition to the registration cost. For a large enough donation, I would suspect they would even get someone to run for you. For more information, email pblore@waygay.org. Short stops • The Gryphons rugby football team open the fall season with a visit from Old Gaelic (love that name!) Sept. 8 at George Pepper Middle School. Game time is 1 p.m.; philadelphiagryphons.org. • Spartans wrestling practices resume in September after Labor Day Weekend. If you’ve wrestled before or are curious about trying it, practices are held at 6:30 p.m. Mondays and 9:30 a.m. Saturdays at First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St.; phillyspartans.com. • Greater Philadelphia Flag Football League is having its first Hang Onto Summer pool party and barbeque Sept. 9 at The Raven in New Hope. Thanks guys for adding water sports to Get Out and Play! ■ If you have a game, tournament, fundraiser or party for Get Out and Play, email scott@epgn.com.

ROCK HISTORY: Catch the seventh annual Hard Rock Calling music festival filmed in London’s Hyde Park, featuring performances by Soundgarden, Paul Simon, Iggy Pop and Bruce Springsteen, who is joined at the end of his set by Sir Paul McCartney, 9 p.m. Aug. 25 on VH1.

SAY GRACE: Dylan Walsh (from left), Brooke Elliott and guest star Nancy Grace star in an all-new episode of “Drop Dead Diva,” airing 9 p.m. Aug. 26, on Lifetime. Photo: Richard DuCree

RE-MODELED: Tyra Banks is back with a new season of “America’s Next Top Model” but with more than a few changes. New judges Rob Evans and Johnny Wujek have replaced Nigel Barker, Jay Manuel and J. Alexander, and all the model hopefuls are college students. Also this season features a social-media platform where viewers can vote on which models they like best. See if the show is still any good when the new season debuts 8 p.m. Aug. 24 on CW.

CRAZY TRAIN: We’re pretty sure the vitriolic political rhetoric and thinly veiled homophobic/racist/sexist/dogmatic/xenophobic/elitist diatribes are going to be flying with reckless abandon when PBS covers the 2012 Republican National Convention weeknights at 8 p.m. starting Aug. 27.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 24-30, 2012

OUT & ABOUT The week ahead Fri. 08/24

345 S. 12th St.; 215-923-2960.

Raw Ladi Boi Jello Wrestling A slick new fundraiser for Philly Gay Calendar and Southern New Jersey GLBTQ Pride takes place 5:30 p.m. at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St.; 215732-2220.

Cage Fury Fighting Championships Watch ’roid cases beat the crap out of each other 7 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.

Keith Boykin The editor of “For Colored Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Still Not Enough: Coming of Age, Coming Out and Coming Home” hosts a reading at 5:30 p.m. at Giovanni’s Room,

Philly Naked Bike Ride The annual clothing-optional ride to promote cycling advocacy, awareness about fuel consumption, positive body image and economic sustainability starts in the afternoon. For details, start times

Sat. 08/25

and place, visit www.phillynakedbikeride.org. Doug E. Fresh, MC Lyte, Big Daddy Kane, Full Force Old-school hiphop artists perform 8 p.m. at Dell Music Center, 2500 Strawberry Mansion Drive; 215-685-9560. Teddi and the Northern Lights The rock band featuring out musicians (Misstallica, Queen Diamond) performs as part of the beta hi-fi Music Festival, 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400.

Sun. 08/26 The Candidate The 1972 film starring Robert Redford is screened 2 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

St., Phoenixville; 610-917-0223.

REUNION OF THE SNAKE: Duran Duran delivers a fresh batch of new wave pop stylings when the band performs 8 p.m. Aug. 25 at Revel’s Ovation Hall, 500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City. For more information or tickets, call 855-348-0500.

A Night of Short Films II Average Superstar Film presents an evening of works by independent filmmakers at 6:30 p.m. at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215922-6888. Dead Can Dance The international art-rock band performs 7:30 p.m. at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5847. Jason Mraz The singer-songwriter performs 7:30 p.m. at Susquehanna Bank Center, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, N.J.; 856-365-1300. Smokey Robinson & Sinbad The legendary R&B singer and the

R E P RO D U C T I V E M E D I C I N E A S S O C I AT E S of Philadelphia

comedian perform 8 p.m. at The Mann Center for the Performing Arts, 5201 Parkside Ave.; 215-546-7900.

Mon. 08/27 Groove Night Local musicians join forces to bring the R&B, soul, jazz and funk, 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-994-1400. Wayne’s World The comedy film is screened 8 p.m. at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215-922-6888. Lipstick Mondays A weekly drag show featuring a changing roster of queens takes the stage, 9 p.m. at The Raven, 385 W. Bridge St., New Hope; 215-8622081.

Trying to build a family? The doctors of RMA of Philadelphia are devoted to helping you achieve your dream of parenthood. Our doctors are highly experienced, board-certiﬁed fertility specialists with some of the highest success rates in the area. At RMA of Philadelphia, we are proud to serve the LGBT community.

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Tue. 08/28 10th Annual Gay Community Night at Phillies Yay! Sports. 6:30 p.m. at Citizens Bank Park, 1 Citizens Bank Way; www.phillygaydays.com. Unlabeled: The Acoustic/ Electric Open Mic for Up and Comers Sign up and play, 7

p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-994-1400. Pack The House presents The Michael Live Project: A Tribute to Michael Jackson The music of the King of Pop is performed 7:30 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400. Joan Osbourne The singer-songwriter performs an acoustic set 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.;

Wed. 08/29 302-994-1400. 4W5 Blues Jam Local musicians get down 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-994-1400. Emergency The Brothers’ Network presents a one-man play about the events that take place after a slave ship sails into modern-day New York City harbor, 7 p.m. Aug. 29 at Drexel University’s Mandell Theater, 3201 Chestnut St.; danielbeatyemergency.eventbrite. com.

Alanis Morrissette The rock singer performs 8 p.m. at House of Blues, 801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-343-4000.

Thu. 08/30 Steve Vai and Beverly McClellan The virtuoso rock guitarist and the out singer-songwriter from “The Voice” perform at 8 p.m. at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215-572-7650. The Smiths Social A dance party celebrating The Smiths, 9 p.m. at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215-9226888.

Fri. 08/31 Cheap Trick The rock band performs 9 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000. Gabriel Iglesias The comedian performs, 8 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000. Burlesque Showcase: August Edition Sophie Sucre of Peek-a-Boo Revue, Ivy Arsenic and Timaree of Sisters’ Sirens perform 9 p.m. at Sisters, 1320 Chancellor St.; 215-735-0735.

BEVERY THRILLS: Out singersongwriter Beverly McClellan (NBC’s “The Voice”) is in town opening for guitar virtuoso Steve Vai, 8 p.m. Aug. 30 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave. For more information or tickets call 215-572-7650.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS PGN

Opening Christopher Titus The comedian performs Aug. 30-Sept. 1 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215-496-9001.

Continuing Collab: Four Decades of Giving Modern and Contemporary Design Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition that includes some of the finest examples of European, American and Japanese design, through fall, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. Crawl Space: The Attic Experience The William Way LGBT Community Center hosts and exhibition of works from Philadelphia’s LGBT Youth Center, through Aug. 31, 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220.

Interlude Twenty-Two Gallery presents an exhibition of works by Melissa M. Bryant, through Sept. 9, 236 S. 22nd Street; 215772-1911. Much Ado about Nothing Mauckingbird Theatre company presents the gay interpretation of the Shakespeare play through Sept. 1 at Off Broad Street Theater, 1363 Sansom St.; 215-923-8909. On My Honor: 100 Years of Girl Scouting The National Constitution Center presents an exhibition highlighting the history, contributions and traditions of Girl Scouts, including entrepreneurship, environmental awareness and civic engagement, through Dec. 31, 525 Arch St., Independence Mall; 215-409-6895. The Philadelphia Photo Arts Center’s third annual photography competition and exhibition Photographs of all subject matter, pho-

DIRTY DISHES: Comedian Kathy Grifﬁn is back with a new crop of forbidden celebrity tales to share, performing 8 p.m. Aug. 26 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.

Cy Twombly: Sculptures Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of works from the Swiss sculptor, through March 2013, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. Gauguin, Cézanne, Matisse: Visions of Arcadia Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition exploring classic artists’ visions of paradise, through March 2013, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. From Asbury Park to the Promised Land: The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen The National Constitution Center presents an exhibition looking at The Boss’ entire career, with numerous items never before seen by the public, through Sept. 3, 525 Arch St., Independence Mall; 215-409-6895.

tographic techniques and processes are on display through Sept. 9, 1400 N. American St.; 215-232-5678. Q PUZZLE from page 28

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 24-30, 2012

Presidential Artifacts The National Constitution Center presents an exhibition of artifacts from collections around the country, through Dec. 31, 525 Arch St., Independence Mall; 215-4096895. Prom Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of photographs by Mary Ellen Mark, through Oct. 28, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

Closing Secret Garden Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition uniting works in fiber by Ted Hallman, Sheila Hicks and Jim Hodges, through Aug. 26, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. ■

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 email: listings@epgn.com. Notices cannot be taken over the phone.

THE PERFECT GAY STORM: Gay community night and a Madonna concert on the same day? Looks like the parking lots in South Philly are going to be one huge gay tailgating party. Catch pop icon Madonna as she kicks off the U.S. portion of her latest world tour 8 p.m. Aug. 28 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St. For more information or tickets, call 215-389-9543.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 24-30, 2012

Classifieds Real Estate Sale

Real Estate Sale

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Cathy Davis - 215-687-1022 All real-estate advertising is subject to Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended. Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental and ﬁnancing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and handicap (disability). PGN will not knowingly accept any real-estate advertising that is in violation of any applicable law.

PGN does not accept advertising that is unlawful, false, misleading, harmful, threatening, abusive, invasive of another’s privacy, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, hateful or racially or otherwise objectionable, including without limitation material of any kind or nature that encourages conduct that could constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability or otherwise violate any applicable local, state, provincial, national or international law or regulation, or encourage the use of controlled substances.

PGN

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 24-30, 2012

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Placing Classiﬁeds Liner Ads In Person: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, By Phone or on the Web: 24 Hours, 7 Days

Deadline for Line Advertising is Friday at 3 p.m. for the following Friday’s issue. You may place your ad via our secure voicemail system, fax or e-mail at any time, or on our Web site. Please have the following information ready to place your ad:

YOUR AD COPY • YOUR NAME AND MAILING ADDRESS DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER • CREDIT CARD INFORMATION PHONE: 215-625-8501 ext. 200 OR 215-451-6182 (DIRECT) • FAX: 215-925-6437 • E-MAIL: don@epgn.com

GENERAL INFORMATION

All classified advertising must be in our office by 3 p.m. Friday for the next Friday’s paper. Ads arriving after that time will be held for the next available issue. PGN reserves the right to edit or rewrite ads as needed, to refuse any ad for any reason and to determine the final classification. Ads determined to be in bad taste, directed to or from persons under the legal age of consent or containing racially or sexually discriminatory language will be refused. We need your full name, mailing address and daytime phone number on the insertion order form for you ad. This information is confidential and will not appear in the paper. Any ads received without full information will be destroyed. Sexually explicit language will be edited or refused at the discretion of the management.

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Classified ads may be placed online or by mail, fax, e-mail or in person at the PGN offices at 505 S. Fourth St., Phila. Phone, fax and e-mail orders are accepted with credit/debit cards only. A $10 minimum applies to all charges. If you are paying in person with cash, please have the exact change as we cannot make change at the office. All ads must be prepaid for their entire run. NO EXCEPTIONS! DO NOT SEND CASH THROUGH THE MAIL; IT’S NOT SAFE AND CANNOT BE GUARANTEED.

TERM DISCOUNTS - BASED ON THE NUMBER OF ISSUES PREPAID 4 weeks, 5% • 8 weeks, 10% • 16 weeks, 15% • 26 weeks, 20%

CANCELLATION POLICY All PGN Classified ads are cancelable and refundable except for “FRIENDS” ads. Deadline for cancellation is 3 p.m. Friday. The balance will be credited to your credit/debit card. Checks take two weeks to process. The date of the first issue the ad appeared in, along with the classification, your name, address and daytime phone number is required to cancel your ad.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 24-30, 2012

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PGN

Activism/Politics

ACT-UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) meets 6-9 p.m. every Monday at St. Luke and The Epiphany Church, 330 S. 13th St.; 215-386-1981; www.actupphilly.org. Delaware Valley Chapter, Americans United for Separation of Church and State seeks activists and supporters of church-state separation. Holds monthly meetings and events; www.dvau.org. Equality Philadelphia holds a volunteer night the second Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m., 1211 Chestnut St., Suite 605; 215-731-1447; www.equalitypa.org. Green Party of Philadelphia holds general meetings the fourth Thursday of the month except August and December, 7 p.m.; 215-243-7103; www.gpop.org. Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club meets seasonally; www.libertycity.org.

Arts

Library Book Club meets to discuss a new book 7 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month at the William Way Center. Philadelphia Freedom Band, an audition-free LGBT band that does concerts and parades, rehearses Mondays 7-9:30 p.m.; philadelphiafreedomband.com. Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus rehearses 7-10 p.m. Wednesdays; 215-731-9230; auditions@pgmc.org. Philadelphia Gay Men’s Opera Club meets to share and listen to recordings 6:30 p.m. the last Saturday of the month; 215-732-7898. Philadelphia Voices of Pride, Philadelphia’s first mixed GLBT chorus, rehearses 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the William Way Center; www.pvop.org. Queer Writer’s Collective workshop and discussion group meets 4-6 p.m. the fourth Saturday of the month at the William Way Center. Reading Queerly, open to all women and genderqueer/ trans people, meets 6:45 p.m. the first Thursday of the month at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.

Recreation

Diversity Dancers ballroom dancers meet the first Sunday of the month for tea and lessons. Other events scheduled throughout the year; 215-922-2129; DiversityDancers@aol.com. Gay Bridge Club non-beginners group meets Monday 1:30-4:30 p.m. at the William Way Center; reservations required. Call 215-732-2220. Gay-friendly Scrabble Club meets 6-11 p.m. in the P.I.C. Building, 42nd and Locust streets; 215-382-0789. Gay Opera Guys of Philly, a new group for opera appreciation, meets the last Sunday of the month at 2:30 p.m. in Roxborough/Andorra area; 215-483-1032. Humboldt Society: Lesbian and Gay Naturalists meets the second Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the William Way Center; 215-985-1456; www.humboldtsociety.org. Independence Squares LGBT square-dance club, modern Western square dancing. Monthly open house. Tuesday classes in the fall; Lutheran Church, 2111 Sansom St.; philadances@gmail.com; www.independencesquares.org. Male Oenophile Group forming to discuss, appreciate and taste various wines. Will meet once a month to investigate the nuances and glories of the fermented grape. Call 267-230-6750 for more information. Mornings OUT LGBT Senior Social activities for senior gay men are held every Tuesday, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the William Way Center. PhilaVentures, Philadelphia’s LGBT outdoor group, meets for hikes in Wissahickon Valley and Valley Forge Park; philaventures.org.

Sports

Brandywine Women’s Rugby Club meets for Tuesday and Thursday practice at 8 p.m. Greenfield Park, West Chester; www.brandywinerugby.org. City of Brotherly Love Softball League serves the Philadelphia metropolitan area. Games are played Sundays, beginning in April, in Fairmount Park; www. cblsl.org. Frontrunners running club meets 9:30 a.m. Saturdays for a run and brunch. Lloyd Hall, No. 1 Boathouse Row; www.philadelphiafrontrunners.org. Philadelphia Falcons Soccer Club LGBT and allies; plays 6 p.m. Wednesdays and 10 a.m. Saturdays at Edgely Fields in Fairmount Park; www.falcons-soccer.org. Philadelphia Fins Swim Team, male and female swimmers, meets 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday at Friends Select School and 10:30 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays at Kelly Pool in Fairmount Park; www.philadelphia-fins.org. Philadelphia Gay Bowling League meets 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays September-April at Brunswick Zone, 1328 Delsea Drive, Deptford, N.J.; 856-889-1434; www.philagaybowling.com.

Greater Philadelphia Flag Football League games played Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., at Columbus Square Park, 1200 Wharton St.; phillyflagfootball.com. Philadelphia Gryphons Rugby Football Club seeks players, all skill levels welcome; meets 7:45 p.m. Thursdays at Columbus Square Park, 1200 Wharton St.; 215-913-7531; philadelphiagryphons.org; becomeagryphon@gmail.com. Philadelphia Liberty Belles women’s semi-pro full-tackle football league holds fall tryouts; phillybelles.com. Philadelphia Liberty Tennis Association plays yearround, all skill levels welcome; philadelphialibertytennis. com. Philadelphia Firebirds women’s football team seeks players; www.philadelphiafirebirds.com. Philadelphia Women’s Baseball League seeks players, all skill levels and ages welcome. Practice is Thursdays, 7 p.m. at Marian Anderson Recreation Center, 17th and Fitzwater streets, with games on Sundays 2:30 p.m.; phillywomensbaseball.com; contact Narda Quigley, (day) 215991-5995 or (evening) 301-919-1194. Philly Gay Hockey Association Philadelphia Phury seeks players; 917-656-1936; phury@gayhockey.org. Philly QCycle LGBT bicycling club promotes organized recreational riding for all levels in the Greater Philadelphia region. Contact the organization via Facebook. Rainbow Riders of the Delaware Valley motorcycle club meets regularly; 215-836-0440; www.groups.yahoo.com/ group/rainbowridersdv/. Rainbow Rollers gay and lesbian bowling league meets 7:45 p.m. Tuesdays at Boulevard Lanes in Northeast Philadelphia; rainbowrollers.com. Spartan Wrestling Club, the gay wresting team, meets 6:30-9 p.m. Mondays and 9:30 a.m.-noon Saturdays (no August practice) at the First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St.; 215-732-4545; www.phillyspartans.com. Suburban Gay Bowling League bowls at 8 p.m. Thursdays from August-April at Facenda-Whitaker Lanes, 2912 Swede Road, Norristown; sgblbowl@gmail.com. Team Philadelphia, the umbrella group for gay and lesbian sports teams, and individual athletes in the Delaware Valley come together to provide a healthy outlet for all members of the community; teamphiladelphia.org.

Etc.

AIDS Law Project provides free legal assistance to people with HIV/AIDS and sponsors free monthly seminars on work and housing; 1211 Chestnut St., Suite 600; 215-5879377; www.aidslawpa.org. BiUnity, Philadelphia-area social and support network for bisexuals, their family members and friends meets the second Friday of every other month at the William Way Center; www.biunity.org. Delaware Valley Pink Pistols for LGBT people dedicated to legal, safe and responsible use of firearms for selfdefense; meets 2 p.m. the third Saturday of the month at Classic Indoor Range, 1310 Industrial Blvd., Southampton; 610-879-2364; www.pinkpistols.org. Delaware Pride holds planning meetings 7 p.m. the first Thursday of the month at the United Church of Christ, 300 Main St., Newark; 302-265-3020; delawarepride.org. Haverford College’s Sexuality and Gender Alliance holds open meetings 10-11 p.m. Mondays during the school year in the lounge in Jones Basement at Haverford College, 370 Lancaster Ave.; 610-896-4938. Long Yang Club Philadelphia social organization for gay Asians and their friends holds monthly socials; www. longyangclub.org/philadelphia. Our Night Out, a casual social networking party of LGBT professionals, friends and colleagues, meets in a different Philadelphia hot spot each month. To receive monthly event invitations, email OurNightOutPhilly@gmail.com; more information on Facebook. Philadelphia Bar Association Legal Advice offered 5-8 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month; 215-238-6333. Philadelphia Prime Timers club for mature gay and bisexual men and their admirers meets regularly; primetim ersofphiladelphia@yahoo.com. Philadelphians MC Club for leather men and women meets 7:30 p.m. the first and third Monday of the month at The Pit at The Bike Stop, 201 S. Quince St.; philadelphiansmc.org. Rainbow Amateur Radio Association ARRL-affiliated, weekly HF nets, quarterly newsletter; www.rara.org. Rock ’n’ Roll Queer Bar Party for gay and lesbian rockers with host Psydde Delicious starts 10 p.m. every first Sunday at Fluid, 613 S. Fourth St.; www. RocknRollQueerBar.com. Silver Foxes, a social and educational group for gays and lesbians 50 and older, meets 3-5 p.m. the fourth Sunday of the month at the William Way Center. SNJ Queers meets monthly for queer/queer-friendly folks in South Jersey to mix and mingle. Search for SNJ Queers on Facebook; contact Wendy at 856-375-3708 or wmf69@comast.net.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 24-30, 2012

Community Bulletin Board Community centers

■ The Attic Youth Center: For LGBT and questioning youth and their friends and allies. Groups meet and activities are held 4-8 p.m. MondayFriday; case management, HIV testing and smoking cessation are available Monday-Friday. See the Youth section for more events. 255 S. 16th St.; 215-545-4331. ■ Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center at the University of Pennsylvania 3907 Spruce St., 215-898-5044; center@dolphin.upenn.edu. Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday.

and Allies Youth Center: 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays: Doylestown Planned Parenthood, The Atrium, Suite 2E, 301 S. Main St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981; rainbowroom@ppbucks.org

■ William Way Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center: 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220; www.waygay.org. Hours: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Peer counseling: 6-9 p.m. Monday through Friday Library hours: 12-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 12-3 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Friday; 126 p.m. Saturday. Volunteers: New Orientation: First Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.

■ Rainbow Room — Bucks County’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning

■ AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania: 215-587-9377

Key numbers

■ AIDS Law Project of Southern New Jersey: 856-933-9500 ext. 221

■ Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Peer Counseling Services: 215-732-TALK

■ AIDS Library: 215-985-4851

■ Mayor’s Director of LGBT Affairs: Gloria Casarez, 215-6862194; Gloria.Casarez@phila.gov; Fax: 215-686-2555

■ ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215592-1513 ■ AIDS Treatment Fact line: 800662-6080 ■ Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection at the Independence Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library: 215-685-1633 ■ The COLOURS Organization Inc.: 112 N. Broad St., third floor; 215-496-0330 ■ Equality Pennsylvania: 215731-1447; www.equalitypa.org ■ Equality Forum: 215-732-3378

■ Mazzoni Center: 215-563-0652; www.mazzonicenter.org. Legal Services: 215-563-0657, 866-LGBTLAW; legalservices@mazzonicenter. org ■ Mazzoni Center Family & Community Medicine: 215-563-0658 ■ Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): 215-572-1833

Health

AIDS Services In Asian Communities Provides HIV-related services to Asians and Pacific Islanders at 340 N. 12th St., Suite 205; 215-629-2300. www.asiac.org. Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative Free, anonymous HIV testing from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; noon-6 p.m. Tuesdays at the Washington West Project, 1201 Locust St. 215851-1822 or 866-222-3871. www.galaei.org. Spanish/English HIV treatment Free HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment for Philadelphia residents are available from 9 a.m.-noon Mondays and 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad St.; 215-685-1803. HIV health insurance help Access to free medications and confidential HIV testing

■ Greater Philadelphia Professional Network Networking group for area business professionals, self-employed and business owners meets monthly in a different location throughout the city, invites speakers on various topics, partners with other nonprofits and maintains a Web site where everyone is invited to sign up for email notices for activities and events; www.gppn.org.

■ Philadelphia Police Department liaison — Deputy Commissioner Stephen Johnson: 215-683-2840 ■ Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 215-760-3686; ppd. lgbt@gmail.com ■ Philly Pride Presents: 215875-9288 ■ SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: 717-9209537 ■ Transgender Health Action Coalition: 215-732-1207 (staffed 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays and 6-9 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays)

■ Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations: 215-686-4670

Anonymous, free, conﬁdential HIV testing Spanish/English counselors offer testing 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 3439 N. Hutchinson St.; 215-763-8870 ext. 6000.

■ Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia GALLOP holds board meetings at 6:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at 100 S. Broad St., Suite 1810; GALLOP also provides a free referral service; (215) 6279090; www.galloplaw.org.

■ Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force: 215-772-2000

available by appointment at 13 S. MacDade Blvd., Suite 108, Collingdale; Medical Ofﬁce Building, 722 Church Lane, Yeadon; and 630 S. 60th St.; 610-5869077.

Mazzoni Center Free, anonymous HIV testing; HIV/AIDS care and treatment, case management and support groups; 21 S. 12th St., eighth ﬂoor; 215-563-0652. www.mazzonicenter.org. Mazzoni Center Family & Community Medicine Comprehensive primary health care, preventive health services, gynecology, sexual-health services and chronic-disease management, including comprehensive HIV care, 809 Locust St.; 215-563-0658. Washington West Project Free, anonymous HIV testing. Walk-ins welcome 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday except for noon-1 p.m. and 5-6 p.m., and 1-5 p.m. Saturday; 1201 Locust St.; 215-985-9206.

Professional groups ■ Independence Business Alliance Greater Philadelphia’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce, providing networking, business development, marketing, educational and advocacy opportunities for LGBT and LGBT-friendly businesses and professionals. Visit www.IndependenceBusinessAlliance.com for information about events, programs and membership; 215-557-0190; 1717 Arch St., Suite 3370. ■ National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association The Philadelphia chapter of NLGJA, open to professionals and

students, meets for social and networking events; www.nlgjaphiladelphia.org. ■ Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus A regional organization dedicated to promoting gay and lesbian tourism to the Greater Philadelphia region holds meetings every other month on the fourth Thursday (January, March, May, July, September and the third Thursday in November), open to the public; P.O. Box 58143, Philadelphia, PA 19102; www.philadelphiagaytourism.com. ■ Philly OutGoing Professionals Social group for gay, lesbian and bisexual professionals meets for social and cultural activities, 856857-9283; popnews19@yahoo. com.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 24-30, 2012

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