pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976
IBA nabs two national awards
Vol. 40 No. 36 Sept 2-8, 2016 Family Portrait: Ron Potochar: spiritual and proud in S. Jersey
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Judge recognizes gay man’s common-law marriage By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com Eric S. Jensen expects to receive his late husband’s death benefits due to a judicial order last week recognizing the couple’s common-law marriage. On Aug. 23, Chester County Common Pleas Judge John L. Hall ruled that Jensen was in a common-law marriage with his late husband Timothy Howey since 1997. If the judge hadn’t recognized their common-law marriage, Jensen’s ability to receive Howey’s death benefits — including a substantial pension from Amtrak — was in jeopardy. Howey, who died in October, worked at Amtrak for almost 40 years. The couple obtained a marriage certificate six months prior to Howie’s death. Amtrak initially denied Jensen’s request for Howey’s pension benefits, citing an agency rule that a pension recipient must have been married to a deceased employee for at least one year. Additionally, Howey’s death benefits to be distributed by the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board were in jeopardy because that agency has a nine-month marriage rule. According to court records, the couple was together 30 years, jointly owned a Chester County home, had a commitment ceremony in 1997 and received domestic-partner benefits from Amtrak in 2012, after those benefits became available. Additionally, the couple’s friends and family members considered them to be married for many years. Jensen mounted a concerted legal effort PAGE 17
HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM Sister of late gay artist with local ties provides a gallery full of art PAGE 21
Religious liberty, efficiency top concerns at nondiscrimination hearing Eighteen people testified on a bill to ban LGBT-employment discrimination at a Senate committee hearing Tuesday. A hearing on publicaccommodations discrimination will be held later this month. By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com Whether to include a religious exemption in a proposed bill to prohibit LGBT discrimination in employment dominated the conversation in a four-hour public hearing Aug. 30 in Harrisburg. The state Senate Labor and Industry Committee invited 19 people — including religious leaders, human-relations officials, labor leaders and lobbyists — to offer input, with only one unable to attend. More than 700 Pennsylvanians also submitted written comments to the committee. Full testimony is available at www. senatorbaker.com. Sen. Lisa Baker, a Luzerne County Republican, chairs the Labor and Industry Committee. The committee is not expected to schedule a vote until after Labor Day, at the earliest, when the legislature returns to session. Religious concerns
Combatting racism in LGBT community: slow but steady By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com Following up on a series of town halls last year, Philadelphia Black Pride is planning a meeting this fall with stakeholders who have the ability to affect policy, like Nellie Fitzpatrick of the Philadelphia Office of LGBT Affairs and representatives from the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations. The meeting will likely take place in October or November, said Le Thomas, president of Philadelphia Black Pride.
“People want to see more tangible things we can do,” he said. “We’ll be gathering a few folks and seeing what we can do on a smaller scale and see if we can build on it that way. We’ve done everything in such a large way that I think things have gotten lost in the cracks.” In December, Philadelphia Black Pride released a fourpoint strategy to combat racism in the LGBT community. It called for establishing a reporting system for incidents of racial bias in the local LGBT community and establishments; training to PAGE 15 educate
Couple loses bid for legal fees in fence case PAGE 8
PRIDE AT PLAY: The Philadelphia Phillies hosted its first-ever LGBT Night Aug. 29 at Citizens Bank Park. Gay & Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia staged a Gay Community Night for more than a decade, but this marked the first time the event was an official Phillies program. The rainbow flag flew alongside the American at the stadium, and Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus sang the National Anthem. Out former Major League Baseball player Billy Bean (top) threw out the first pitch, and LGBT Night fans, such as Stephanie Haynes (above), received rainbow Phillies shirts. The Phils ultimately lost to the Washington Nationals 4-0. Photos: Scott A. Drake
Katherine Franke, a professor of religious law at Columbia Law School, said the bill, SB 1306, “strikes the right balance between equality and religious liberty.” She said four layers of protection for religious liberty already exist without adding language to the employment-nondiscrimination bill. Those are the First Amendment, Article 1 Section 3 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, the 2002 Religious Freedom Protection Act in Pennsylvania and a religious exemption contained in the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. Franke called the existing religious protections in Pennsylvania “ample, if not generous,” and said any further expansion risks “the unlawful fostering of religion.” Tim Schultz, director of the 1st Amendment Partnership in Washington, D.C., said religious institutions are looking for protection from “ruinous litigation.” “There’s a possibility you will lose and shut down,” he said, noting religious charities, shelters, hospitals and adoption agencies are cornerstones in PAGE 16
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IBA wins two awards at national conference for LGBT chambers By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com The Independence Business Alliance, the LGBT chamber of commerce in Greater Philadelphia, last week earned two awards: for a business-certification initiative and community impact. Representatives received the recognition while attending the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce’s 2016 International Business and Leadership Conference in Palm Springs, Calif. “We’re very proud that the work we’re doing is gaining national recognition and that we can show other chambers that community impact is an important part of the work we should be doing,” said
Zach Wilcha, executive director of the IBA. “As we approach our 10th anniversary, it’s a great affirmation of the work the board’s been doing.” One award came with a $5,000 grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation. It was administered by the NGLCC to increase the IBA’s capacity to certify and promote LGBT business enterprises. The local program is called IBA ConnX Supplier Diversity. Entities like the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority use the certification when considering diverse businesses from which to contract work. Wilcha said Philadelphia is poised to follow the port authority in looking to work with more LGBT-
News Briefing Public invited to Lib City meeting The Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club will tackle candidate endorsements at its public board meeting Aug. 31. It takes place at 6:30 p.m. at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St. The agenda also includes an update from Hillary Clinton’s campaign and Pennsylvania Coordinated, an initiative from the state Democratic Party aimed at voter outreach and party building. The board will further cover information about a fall fundraiser, election activities, volunteer opportunities and committee reports. For more information, visit www.libertycity.org.
Defendant in Keisha Jenkins murder awaits next court date The 25-year-old man accused in the murder of transgender woman Keisha Jenkins is still awaiting further court action, two months after his defense lawyers told a judge they were considering a motion to suppress some evidence in the case. A pre-trial conference was scheduled last week for Pedro Redding, but was continued until Sept. 15. Police do not believe Redding was the person who fatally shot Jenkins last Oct. 6 at 13th and Wingohocking streets in Logan. But they allege he was involved with sev-
owned businesses. He hoped Pennsylvania would not be far behind, either, in an initiative for supplier diversity.
eral others in the robbery that led to her death. Jenkins, 22, was shot twice in the back during the incident. Police have said there’s no evidence to indicate Jenkins was targeted for being transgender. No further arrests have been made. Redding remains in custody at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility. He was denied bail and is charged with murder, conspiracy and related offenses. — Paige Cooperstein
Hearing set in Blatt case Kate Lynn Blatt, a trans woman accused of harassment and disorderly conduct at a Walmart in St. Clair, Pa., is scheduled to have her day in court this month. The hearing is set for 10:30 a.m. Sept. 7 before Magisterial District Justice David A. Plachko in Pottsville. Blatt, 35, will be represented by attorney Stephen T. Carpenito, who declined to comment. Blatt’s alleged violations occurred May 28, while she was shopping for clothes with her wife, Lindsey Nowak, at a Walmart store on Terry Rich Boulevard. A store attendant allegedly refused to allow Blatt to try on clothes in a female fitting room. When Blatt handed the attendant items she didn’t want to purchase, a disturbance ensued. According to police, Blatt shoved the attendant, causing her to step backwards, and Blatt used profanity during the incident. Blatt denies shoving the attendant. She said onlookers hurled slurs and death threats at her. Moreover, a responding officer referred to her in male terms, even though Blatt repeatedly corrected him. n — Timothy Cwiek
The other award recognizes the IBA’s commitment to community impact, evidenced by its Women in Business programming, along
with award and philanthropy initiatives. Every year, the IBA awards an LGBTQ Scholarship in partnership with DVLF, an LGBT grantmaking organization; the LGBT Business Award in partnership with PNC Bank; and the Business Integrity Award in partnership with Integrity Staffing. “NGLCC affiliate chambers like the IBA are using their relationships with corporate partners and advocacy groups to open doors for LGBT professionals, creating more inclusive communities,” Sam McClure, senior vice president of the national LGBT chamber of commerce, said in a statement. “It is what makes the IBA a role model for other LGBT chambers.” n
40 years ago in PGN New Hope council president charged in harassment incident Adapted from reporting by PGN staff After a two-week investigation, New Hope Borough Council President D. Joseph Balderston was charged with harassment in relation to a gay man being shoved into the Delaware River Canal from the towpath. The charge came with a $300 fine or up to 90 days in jail. It’s unclear which sentence Balderston received. The incident occurred June 12, 1976, and was followed by a July 26 council meeting, which was recorded. The video was provided to the Bucks County district attorney as evidence in the investigation. District Attorney Kenneth Biehn made a four-page report to the New Hope council. Despite local rumors that the harassment was part of a plan to “clean up” the towpath by harassing gay men who met there, Biehn wrote a single charge was justified. The report said investigators found no “long-term pattern of organized vigilante action against homosexuals by any one group.” Biehn said investigators found several other gay men who said they were attacked on the towpath, including one from Allentown and one from Reading. But they did not want to press charges. Balderston said he was on the towpath June 12 to find a stray dog that had bitten him. He said he wanted to avoid a rabies shot.
Gay men’s clinic set to open Adapted from reporting by Timothy Brady A venereal-disease clinic for gay men in Philadelphia was announced in August 1976. Called the Magnus Hirschfeld Center in honor of the German sex researcher and early promoter of gay rights, the clinic served patients free of charge. It was set to open Sept. 11 at the Club Baths of Philadelphia, 120 S. 13th St. The Club Baths, Philadelphia Department of Public Health and the Philadelphia Biologics Center collaborated on the project. PGN publisher Mark Segal tried to arrange the clinic in 1975, but the venture stalled for lack of funding. The city health department agreed to staff the clinic and provide all materials necessary for STI tests. The clinic provided oral, anal and genital swab tests for syphilis and gonorrhea, as well as blood tests for hepatitis and herpes. At least one gay doctor would be hired for the clinic, said Robert Levenson of the health department. People who got tested could remain anonymous. They did not have to provide names, only some preferred identification for their tested samples. It was up to the person being tested to call the clinic for results. If an STI test showed a positive result, the sample owner would be referred to an appropriate doctor or treatment program. n — compiled by Paige Cooperstein
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News & Opinion
2 — News Briefing 10 — Creep of the Week Editorial 11 — Transmissions Mark My Words Street Talk 13 — Crime Watch
Columns
12 — Out Law: Despite marriage equality, some still “wed-locked” 14 — Queer Faith: RNC vs. DNC
Arts & Culture
21 — Feature: Paying tribute to a late local artist 23 — Family Portrait 25 — Scene in Philly 26 — Out & About 28 — Q Puzzle 29 — Comics
FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE: PGN published its first Faith Issue last summer, and the edition returns Sept. 16. In this special issue, we’ll talk to local LGBT faith leaders, highlight LGBT-friendly congregations and organizations and explore the issues impacting LGBT faithful. Have a story ideas for the Faith Issue? Email editor@epgn.com by Sept. 9.
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With school resuming soon, Attic youth were the happy recipients of backpacks full of supplies.
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~ Keith Davis, on $80,000 in legal fees stemming from homophobic neighbors, page 9
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Creep of the Week: Nico Hines outed Olympians and created a global outcry.
Jen Colletta (ext. 206) jen@epgn.com
“My only wish is that there were some way to make Judge Sommer aware of the gravity of what our family has had to endure throughout this process. I find it to be extremely unjust that neighbors can band together and financially devastate another family in order to force them to leave.”
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“Little Men” is an intimate look at two young men whose friendship is impacted by the adults in their lives.
Copyright © 1976 - 2016 Copyright(s) in all materials in these pages are either owned or licensed by Masco Communications Inc. or its subsidiaries or affiliate companies (Philadelphia Gay News, PGN, and it’s WWW sites.) All other reproduction, distribution, retransmission, modification, public display, and public performance of our materials is prohibited without the prior written consent of Masco Communications. To obtain such consent, email pgn@epgn.com Published by Masco Communications Inc. © 1976-2016 Masco Communications Inc. ISSN-0742-5155
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Inaugural Queering Racial Justice institute to be held in Philly By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com If someone is having an encounter with a police officer, nowadays others may be able to tune into the interaction through live streaming on social media. The form has become integral to organizing around social justice, said Lauren Footman, president of the NAACP Pennsylvania Youth and College Division. “Yes it raises awareness, but it’s kind of like a double-edged sword,” she said. “We have to be careful not to over-expose and re-traumatize marginalized communities.” Activists can learn practical solutions for social-media issues at the inaugural Queering Racial Justice Institute, which takes place from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 10 at the Philadelphia African American Museum, 701 Arch St. Registration costs $25-$150, depending upon what the participant can afford. After a plenary on queer freedom as a divestment from whiteness, there will be 10 workshops on everything from Islamaphobia to becoming a better ally to transgender people. Footman will facilitate two workshops, one on social media in organizing and another on gun violence.
Bilal Morris, director of local social-media strategy at iHeartRadio, will co-facilitate the social-media workshop. He’ll help activists optimize their reach and impact through data analytics. The gun-violence workshop will offer a primer on advocating to state and federal legislators for policies, in addition to programs that can combat the culture that leads to gun crime, especially in large cities like Philadelphia, Chicago and Milwaukee. About 150 people from the Philadelphia region are expected to attend. The idea for Queering Racial Justice grew out of the Racial Justice Institute, which takes place on the first day of the Creating Change conference hosted each year by The National LGBTQ Task Force. “We found that’s becoming such a sought-after day that we wanted to host another institute,” said Russell Roybal, deputy executive director of the Task Force. Philadelphia will host the 2017 conference from Jan. 18-22. Roybal said the Task Force would like to host a Queering Racial Justice Institute in the host city of each Creating Change leading up its start. “We hope that people will take what they learn and make sure they’re incorporating racial justice in their everyday work,” PAGE 9 Roybal said. “Racial jus-
FIELD(HOUSE) OF DREAMS: At City of Brotherly Love Softball League’s endof-season banquet, the Philly Pet Hotel Flaming Poodles took home the Spirit Award in the Open D Division. The Aug. 26 dinner and awards ceremony at FieldHouse drew ballplayers and supporters from across the league’s four divisions. CBLSL’s Fall Ball kicks off with a T-shirt pick-up and social at 7 p.m. Sept. 7 at Tabu. To join, visit www.cblsl.org. Photo: Scott A. Drake
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LGBT Youth Attic event preps youth to head back to school Supplement By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com
Read about the issues and ideas impacting local teens — from school bullying to campus safe spaces to legislative developments — written in their own words. The first-ever section created for and by LGBT youth appears twice a year.
Only in Special Supplement Appearing Spring and Fall
Participants at The Attic Youth Center were given some words of encouragement, along with school supplies and more, at a back-to-school event at the LGBT-youth center last week. Organized by Latonya Myers, the Fridayevening event connected youth from the center with mentors, who shared their stories of succeeding in school, despite challenges of growing up LGBT. “We had a transgender woman speak who’s now 40 and who came out at 16,” Myers said. “She told them that she didn’t have as much support as there is today, and that no one should be ashamed to go to school as they are. She encouraged them to put all the effort they can toward the dreams and goals that they set for themselves.” It was a message, Myers said, that resonated with the teens.
“A couple kids pulled the mentors aside and asked them personal questions,” she said. “They were really into it, asking questions and learning. We asked the kids what they wanted to do and be, and some said writers or fashion designers. They were really participating.” Myers said she was motivated to create the event after seeing youth in the Gayborhood who appeared to be couch-surfing, and reflecting on her own school experiences. “I know what it was like going through school on my own,” Myers said. “I faced adversity because of my sexuality, not being able to fit in at school, and I know how it feels to not have a family member there to push you to get up and go to school or not having someone as excited about your future as you are. So I thought, why can’t we come together as a community and get these kids everything they need to go back to school and make sure their school year is successful?” In addition to the inspirational advice, Myers worked with community businesses — like Pizzeria Cappelli and Cappelli Brothers Cigar Company, as well as 12th Street Gym and ICandy — to design an event that armed youth with items to help them “go back to school with pride.” Youth were able to get free haircuts, dine on pizza, pasta and water ice and each received a backpack full of school supplies, like notebooks, writing instruments and pencil cases. There were also H&M gift cards to help youth get new school wardrobes. Myers applauded Nellie Fitzpatrick, director of the Office of LGBT Affairs, for supporting the effort and helping her craft an outline for it. Myers added she was impressed by the community involvement, and the youth feedback, and is eager to stage similar events in the future. She also plans to return to The Attic to volunteer. “I want to continue to do events that motivate kids,” she said. “We have so many positive people within the community and I want to show them that you can be a successful lesbian or transgender person or whatever the case may be. There are so many professionals out there all around us who are getting things done. We just need to all be connected.” n
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D.A. declines mediation in Morris case By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office has declined to participate in Commonwealth Court’s mediation program regarding pending litigation in the Nizah Morris case. The D.A.’s Office claims it’s unable to certify a record relating to the Morris case, though a judge ruled the agency already certified the record. The dispute stems from an open-records request filed by PGN, seeking a certified copy of all computer-aided dispatch records in the D.A.’s possession for a traffic stop in the Morris case.
Morris, a trans woman, was found with a fatal head wound in 2002, shortly after a “courtesy ride” from Officer Elizabeth Skala. Inexplicably, Skala initiated a traffic stop at 13th and Market streets, though she was assigned to handle Morris, who was critically injured and clinging to life at 16th and Walnut streets. In 2013, PGN gave the D.A.’s Office partial records for Skala’s traffic stop. Two years later, PGN asked the D.A.’s Office for a certified copy of its records for Skala’s traffic stop. In June, Common Pleas Judge Linda A. Carpenter ruled the D.A.’s Office certified
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the document it received from PGN when the office submitted a February 2015 affidavit stating it doesn’t have additional records for Skala’s traffic stop. However, the D.A.’s Office refutes that it certified the document it received from PGN. In July, the office appealed Carpenter’s ruling in Commonwealth Court. PGN offered to participate in the court’s mediation program, which reportedly has a high rate of success. The program began in 2000. “Overall, the mediation program has achieved a 45.5-percent resolution rate, on average, since its inception,” according to a press release issued by the court. “Litigants and their counsel thereby have avoided the time and expense associated with an appeal. These successful mediations have resolved disputes more quickly and eliminated the cost and uncertainty of the appellate process.”
But last week, the D.A.’s Office declined to participate in the court’s mediation program. In a recent filing, the D.A.’s Office says it cannot certify the document at issue because it didn’t create the document, isn’t a custodian of the document and doesn’t have the original document. PGN supports Carpenter’s ruling, which notes that Philadelphia police lost their Morris homicide file and the D.A.’s Office helped partially reconstruct the file. “Under these circumstances, the DAO is now the agency that has assumed some custodial control of this document,” Carpenter wrote. In 2013, after a 10-year review, the city’s Police Advisory Commission took an unprecedented step of recommending state and federal probes of the Morris case. But so far, no state or federal agency appears to be investigating the case. n
Financial dispute between lesbians reaches appeals court By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com
215-545-5293
A protracted financial dispute between two women who were domestic partners for many years has reached the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Susan Simmons claims that Gretchen Winterbottom owes her about $350,000 stemming from financial obligations incurred during their former domestic partnership. Winterbottom denies that she owes Simmons any money. Instead, she claims Simmons owes her money from the sale of a condo the women jointly owned in Old City. Simmons’ federal complaint against Winterbottom was filed in May 2015. Simmons alleges breach of contract, unjust enrichment and related claims against Winterbottom. The women were in a relationship for about 18 years and purchased a condo in December 2002 for $829,000. In June 2015, the women’s condo was sold, with the net proceeds totaling $526,691.30. Simmons contends she made a down payment of $554,696.96 for the condo from her own funds. She claims she should receive all proceeds from the condo sale currently held in escrow: $526,691.30. Simmons claims Additionally, Winterbottom owes her about $350,000, due to a business loan Simmons allegedly made to Winterbottom that wasn’t repaid, along with other obligations incurred by Winterbottom. For her part, Winterbottom claimed she should receive from the condo sale about $159,555, plus interest. Additionally,
Winterbottom argued she doesn’t owe any money to Simmons. Moreover, she said Simmons should pay Winterbottom’s legal fees due to the litigation. A two-day bench trial was held before U.S. District Judge Wendy Beetlestone on May 23-24. On May 24, Beetlestone ruled that Winterbottom didn’t owe Simmons any money. Regarding the $526,691.30 currently held in escrow from the condo sale, Beetlestone ruled that $316,014.78 should go to Simmons and $210,676.52 should go to Winterbottom. Beetlestone also ruled that any accrued interest from the condo sale should be split 60-40, with 60 percent for Simmons and 40 percent for Winterbottom. Beetlestone didn’t award any legal fees to either party. Simmons recently appealed Beetlestone’s ruling in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, where the matter remains pending. Tiffany Palmer, an attorney for Winterbottom, issued this statement: “This case involves a financial dispute between two former domestic partners as to how to divide the proceeds of the sale of a condominium they jointly owned in Philadelphia and disputed issues regarding a business loan made by Ms. Simmons to a New Jersey corporation where Ms. Winterbottom is the CEO.” Palmer said the spring decision by Beetlestone “in favor of our client, Ms. Winterbottom, was fair and well-reasoned and based in the law and the facts of the case. We firmly believe this decision will be upheld by the Third Circuit.” An attorney for Simmons had no comment. n
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Judge denies legal-fee request by Chesco couple By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com Chester County Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey R. Sommer has denied a request that litigants in an ongoing dispute pay the legal fees of a gay couple. Keith Davis and David Ruth live in the Bucktoe Manor subdivision of New Garden Township, Chester County. In 2014, they erected a fence for safety reasons but several neighbors filed suit, claiming the fence was too high and an eyesore. The men contend neighbors sued in bad faith to coerce them into leaving the area due to homophobia. In June, Sommer ruled that the fence may remain. But last month, the judge denied the couple’s request that plaintiffs pay their legal fees, which total about $80,000. The couple has also suffered harassment and vandalism of their property, including having “Get Out Fags!” painted on their garage. They don’t accuse plaintiffs of the vandalism. Davis owns a company that installs electronic medical-records systems. “I was unable to work for long periods of time due to the litigation, the vandalism and ongoing harassment, which caused my company to fail,” Davis told PGN. Davis expressed disappointment with Sommer’s ruling. He said the couple raised about $50,000 through a GoFundMe
campaign, but the couple’s debts far exceed that amount. “It will be a very uphill battle for us to remain in this house, which is our fervent hope, but might not be possible due to a lack of funds. Our goal is to raise $77,000,” Davis said. In an email, Davis provided additional details of the couple’s struggle: “My only wish is that there were some way to make Judge Sommer aware of the gravity of what our family has had to endure throughout this process,” Davis said. “I find it to be extremely unjust that neighbors can band together and financially devastate another family in order to force them to leave.” He said the family is now $250,000 in debt, which is impacting the couple’s ability to marry and complete the adoption of their sons. “Since we also support my disabled parents, they, too, are affected by this, and are now at risk of having their home foreclosed upon,” Davis added. “I am working two jobs and still can’t make ends meet with the insurmountable debt that looms over our heads. While we are forced to deal with everything that has been thrust upon our family against our will over the last 18 months, we get to watch our persecuting neighbors go on multiple vacations, make improvements to their homes and enjoy their pools. He added that, between the improvements to the house
and the legal fees, they have $150,000 invested into a home that they may have to leave. “We greatly appreciate all the support we have gotten from people all over the country, as well as outside of the U.S. But the fundraising goal we set was the absolute minimum needed to keep us in our home. GoFundMe retains 15 percent of all funds raised. We still need to pay the remaining balance of legal fees as well as other bills that went unpaid when we lost our business,” Davis said. “All of this [was] caused by a group of small-minded individuals who actively decided to destroy our same-sex family and force us from our beloved home. It is extremely depressing that, in the end, our family still loses.” Davis said a Luau Party fundraiser will be held at their residence 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Sept. 9. The men hope to raise sufficient funds to pay their legal fees and possibly money to stay in their home. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/love-islove-luau-tickets-26720940051 Brian C. LeGrow, an attorney for plaintiffs, said his clients are pleased with Sommer’s denial of legal fees. “[M]y clients are pleased with the outcome of the [Ruth-Davis] petition [for legal fees] and maintain that they have never engaged in any of the alleged nefarious conduct,” LeGrow said in an email. “They are hopeful that this matter is concluded.” n
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 2-8, 2016
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tice is integral to LGBT liberation. We live our lives at the intersection.” He added that, while the Task Force is spearheading Queering Racial Justice, it was important to the organization to have strong local partners. In addition to the state chapter of the NAACP, Philadelphia Black Pride and the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania support the institute.
“Intentional and strategic collaboration of partners is definitely a goal of ours,” Footman said. “A lot of times in these spaces, people are like, ‘We’re tired of talking. We need some direct options we can pursue to feel like we’re really making a change.’” For more information on Queering Racial Justice or to register, visit www.thetaskforce.org/ qrji-program.html. n
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 2-8, 2016
EDITORIAL PGN
Creep of the Week
D’Anne Witkowski
Nico Hines
Editorial
Piecemeal progress The effort to advance LGBT nondiscrimination in the state of Pennsylvania took a small, but long overdue, step this week. The Senate Labor and Industry Committee held a public hearing Tuesday in Harrisburg on legislation that would ban employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. After years of stalled nondiscrimination legislation, lawmakers this session put forth a piecemeal effort, with separate bills regarding discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations; a comprehensive bill remains before the state legislature. Lawmakers heard from a series of speakers this week, some who advocated for the legislation, some against it and others who pressed for changes to it. Much of the opposition was focused on how the legislation would impact religious organizations, yet the arguments raised seemed tenuous at best and blatantly discriminatory at worst. Far more compelling was the testimony from those who supported the bill. As opposed to the tired and unfounded arguments about the threat of LGBT equality to the freedom of religion bandied about by opponents, many of these witnesses shared stories about the real impact
of anti-LGBT discrimination. They told of how they had experienced or had seen others experience bias because of their sexual orientation and gender identity, and how that treatment left a lasting mark. Pennsylvania remains the very last state in the Northeast to not have an LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination law, a designation we have held for quite some time. The handful of witnesses who shared how the state’s inability to protect its LGBT citizens affects them this week represents just a microcosm of the full picture of what is happening in Pennsylvania, and what has been happening for far too long. This week’s hearing was a necessary building block along the path to achieving LGBT equality in Pennsylvania. It was strengthened by LGBT people showing lawmakers who they are, and how their lives are denigrated by our state’s refusal to accept them as full citizens. That’s a process we can all contribute to: Commentary on employment discrimination can be sent to SB1306@pasen.gov. Share your experiences and show our elected officials how their support for LGBT nondiscrimination can help move our community and our state forward. n
It is no secret that Olympic athletes have sex. It’s also no secret that they hook up with each other in the Olympic Village. I mean, we’re talking about a land full of young people with chiseled bodies and lots of stamina. So, yeah, there’s a whole lot of humpin’ going on. It is also no secret that some Olympic athletes are gay. Actually, “secret” is a problematic word here because often the specific identities of gay athletes are secret. Sometimes this is because a particular athlete isn’t out yet for a variety of reasons. Maybe they fear losing sponsorship opportunities, maybe they fear what their teammates will think, maybe they just aren’t fully accepting of who they are yet and are not ready to publicly declare a sexual identity. But other times the reason for staying closeted is much more dire, especially for athletes from notoriously antigay counties where homosexuality is severely punished — up to and including death. Uganda, Iran, Saudi Arabia or Yemen, for example, are places where being gay can cost you your life. In any country under sharia law, gay people are in danger, as well as, of course, any place where ISIS has taken over; they reportedly just threw a man off of a building for being gay. They are sick fucks. So you’d have to be a pretty big douchebag to out Olympic athletes just for the fun of it. Alas, this is essentially what journalist Nico Hines did for a Daily Beast article titled, “I Got Three Grindr Dates in an Hour in the Olympic Village,” complete with a collage of a rainbow flag, the Olympic rings and the Grindr logo. Very subtle. The article has since been taken down, but it was up long enough to do real damage. Hines wrote about cruising the Olympic Village for sex using Grindr, a gay hook-up app, and finding a whole host of guys who were DTF. In the article, he included identifying characteristics that could be used to out the athletes he had “dates” with. And even if none of the athletes men-
tioned face any direct repercussions, the article was a romp through homophobic tropes, as if the fact that gay sex even exists among Olympic athletes — you know, “real men” — is newsworthy. Hines, who is a heterosexual married man with kids, is essentially clueless about the subject he decided to write about in a piece that was nothing but clickbait to begin with. How could he possibly know the fear and the shame that closeted LGBT people live with — not to mention the fear and the shame that out LGBT people live with and struggle against daily? However, being ignorant does not give him a pass. He knew that this subject was titillating and so he went for it, consequences be damned. The Daily Beast did pull Hines out of Rio and they edited the piece before ultimately taking it down. But as we all know, once on the Internet, always on the Internet. In a statement on the Daily Beast page, management wrote: “The article was not intended to do harm or degrade members of the LGBT community, but intent doesn’t matter, impact does. Our hope is that removing an article that is in conflict with both our values and what we aspire to as journalists will demonstrate how seriously we take our error.” Which is all well and good. But it was a big mistake. Mistakes suck, but ideally we learn from them. The Daily Beast seems poised to get schooled. Let’s hope Hines does, too. But above all, let’s hope that nobody gets thrown off of any buildings. n
Hines, who is a heterosexual married man with kids, is essentially clueless about the subject he decided to write about in a piece that was nothing but clickbait to begin with.
D’Anne Witkowski is a poet, writer and comedian living in Michigan with her wife and son. She has been writing about LGBT politics for over a decade. Follow her on Twitter @ MamaDWitkowski.
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OP-ED PGN
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 2-8, 2016
LGBTQ with the new president We’re heading into September and, while one word: visibility. Aside from president or most of you are out enjoying your last taste of vice president, a cabinet member is the most summer, others are beginning to look at what visible position in our country’s federal govwill happen in the presidential sweepstakes ernment. Take a look around where we are after Labor Day — when the full presidential already — at the top of corporations, nonprofcampaign take shape and all eyes focus on its, in education and social reform. But there those three debates. But there’s needs to be more, and that can something missing from this year’s happen by learning the system. election that the LGBT commuThe question is, is our community nity doesn’t seem to be participatdoing that? ing in: that famous game that takes That system has already begun. place in Washington, D.C., every Here’s how it works. Each candifour years played by all those who date for president has a transition are politically connected. Believe team. Trump has chosen New it or not, people are already beginJersey Gov. Chris Christie to head ning to speculate on who will be in his, while Sec. Clinton has chosen the new presidential cabinet. And former Secretary of the Interior it’s not just a game. Ken Salazar. Each of those leaders If you think it’s way too early appoints other staffers, whose role and that no one is seriously conis twofold: to set the guidelines for sidering the makeup of the next an easy transition of administrapresidential cabinet, guess again. tions, department by department, Last month, the transition teams Mark Segal and to assure that each new person for both the Hillary Clinton and has the knowledge of the position Donald Trump campaigns met at the White he or she is appointed to and is ready to do it at House to begin that process. By law, transition noon Jan. 20. It comes down to having a staff teams for both candidates have taken up office in place ready to roll. Now, where does that staff come from? That space in D.C. So what does this have to do is the second item the transition team does. with the LGBT community? It creates lists for the new president to chose Let’s answer that with a challenge. Mr. Trump, Secretary Clinton, will you each comfrom. Those lists include suggestions for all mit to choosing at least one out LGBT comcabinet positions. munity member for your cabinet? It’s a simple Are there LGBT names on those lists? We question, yet you may ask why it is important. don’t have much time to make sure they are, In recent years, out LGBT people have since the first suggested lists go to the new filled almost all political positions in the nation president in 68 days. — with that one exception of a presidential So once again, let me ask that question to cabinet. There have been LGBT cabinet memSec. Clinton and Mr. Trump: Will you appoint bers, but none who are out. Cabinet members a member of the LGBT community to your make decisions, are in the public eye and are cabinet? n role models for our youth — allowing them to Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the nation’s mostdream that being LGBT will not hinder their award-winning commentator in LGBT media. futures. For those who wonder how we as a You can follow him on Facebook at www.facecommunity have reached the level of equalbook.com/MarkSegalPGN or Twitter at https:// ity we have — from a movement that Henry twitter.com/PhilaGayNews. Gerber began in this country in 1925 — it’s
Mark My Words
Transmissions
Gwendolyn Ann Smith
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Street Talk What was the highlight of your summer? "I went to the Bahamas. It was a big escape for me, from school and work. Just being somewhere different Kuri Dorn meant a lot student/sales clerk to me. It North Philadelphia really is an idyllic setting."
"I got clean and sober this summer. It started in June. I don't miss the alcohol at all. I have this great, newfound freedom. Wish me good luck."
"I rented a cottage in Gatineau Park in Quebec. It was on the lake. I had a very peaceful and calming time there. My family came to visit. It provided an opportunity
"I attended a music festival in Barrie, Ontario. The Killers, a pop-rock group, gave a great performance. I danced Danielle Renaud all night to waitress their music. Ottawa It was very invigorating."
Isabel Julien nurse Ottawa
to bond."
David Harris construction worker South Philadelphia
We want to know! If you are celebrating an anniversary, engagement, wedding, adoption or other life event, we would be happy to help you announce it to the community. Send your contact information and a brief description of the event to editor@epgn.com.
Canceled contrivances of “Cait” After two seasons, the Caitlyn Jenner-focused television reality show “I Am Cait” has been canceled by E! Entertainment Television. The show, a kind of spinoff from the network’s Kardashianfocused reality programs, featured a cadre of other trans women advising the neophyte Jenner in her transition, while the cast participated in contrived high-end experiences. The show was instantly considered by some a bellwether for trans content on the tube in the post-Time magazine-inspired “tipping point” era, and its cancellation has been seen by some critics as a condemnation of its star and transgender-themed programs overall. I think that’s a very simplistic view. I feel that the show’s failures were not those of the cast, with the possible excep-
tion of Jenner herself. Indeed, from what I gather of the second season, many of the supporting players did what they could to elevate a slowly sinking ship, and make it a place for some strong transgender-themed content. That is something they are, I hope, rather proud of, even if the show they shared their views on is no longer there for them. No, to me, the plane for this show’s failure is this: It seemed to aim to be the trans version of “Keeping Up With The Kardashians,” plunging Jenner and her cohorts into the same sort of fishbowl. The contrived set pieces at clubs, dinners and sleepovers, designed to cater to the salacious eye of the viewer, seemed to fit into that Kardashian television empire. Yet the show could not live up to that world. The cast, as good as they are, were
not cut from the same reality-show cloth as Khloe and Kim Kardashian, and could not embody the artificial settings put forth by the show’s producers. This is a show that brought on a cast of rather smart trans women to “educate” their star, and they provided a lot of insight into who transgender people such as themselves are, and the issues they care about. Yet, these were not the issues E! or the E! demographic were there for. I discussed the cancellation with one of these trans women, author Jenny Boylan, who surmised from her standpoint that about half the audience was Kardashian fans, with another 45 percent being “bookclub moms.” The last group she suspects were the various LGBT and allied fans there to cheer Jenner and others on. While I don’t disagree, I think somewhere in
there was a sizable number of folks there for a salacious tale. Instead, they got a hearty dose of gender theory, were turned off and tuned out. The thing is, this is not a show that was made for transgender people, even if some in the cast did a good job of trying to make it so. This was a show for the non-transgender, a platform for them to gaze upon trans lives from a safe distance and have their own views and feelings reinforced. I’d be remiss if I didn’t also note that “I Am Cait” was marred to an extent by Jenner’s politics, particularly her support of Ted Cruz at the beginning of season two. I suspect she lost a lot of LGBT support due to this. This was what turned me off to the show, though in a somewhat roundabout way: I really don’t care what PAGE 17 political views Jenner
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LEGAL PGN
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 2-8, 2016
Still wed-locked in Pennsylvania post-marriage equality Since Whitewood v. Wolf in ter where a couple is legally married, the Pennsylvania and the federal Obergefell v. union is recognized for the purpose of Hodges, gay people’s biggest worries surfederal benefits, including by the Internal rounding marriage have been whether or Revenue Service and the Social Security not to invite that annoying second cousin Administration. But other agencies on mom’s side of the family, centerpieces adhered to a “state-of-residence” standard. and what kind of food to serve In other words, same-sex marthe guests. What very few peoriage had to be recognized in ple realize is that, even though the state the couple resided in we have marriage equality for them to be eligible for cernationwide, there are still many tain benefits. If your “state of couples who are “wed-locked” celebration” and “state of resiin Pennsylvania. dence” didn’t see eye-to-eye on “Wed-locked” was the the issue of same-sex marriage, legal limbo that thousands of you found yourself unable to LGBTQ individuals found divorce at the state level. themselves in until Obergefell Before marriage was even made same-sex marriage legal contemplated, civil unions across the country. There was were created to give LGBTQ a point just two years ago people the rights and benefits Angela of marriage without calling it where only 18 states recognized same-sex marriages Giampolo marriage. This literally creand almost all had residency ated a second-class version of requirements (often for up to marriage. And very soon, the a year) that couples had to meet in order Superior Court of Pennsylvania will have to file for a divorce, which essentially to address the legal recognition of civil left Pennsylvania couples wed-locked. unions. Immediately after Whitewood v. Wolf, Federal-level agencies used two standards Freyda Neyman filed for an uncontested by which to recognize a same-sex mardivorce. Neyman and Florence Buckley riage. Over time agencies started adhering were both Pennsylvania residents when to what is known as a “state-of-celebrathey traveled to Vermont in July 2002 to tion” standard. That means that, no mat-
Out Law
obtain a civil union. Last summer, the Hon. Margaret Theresa Murphy signed an order dismissing the complaint, stating that the Family Division does not have jurisdiction over civil unions. An uncontested appeal followed and briefs were filed this spring. As such, Neyman and Buckley and others who obtained a civil union at some point since 2000, when Vermont started recognizing them, and didn’t dissolve it prior to Pennsylvania recognizing marriage equality have found themselves wed-locked. Presently, I have several couples who are in this predicament and I have received orders in all of their cases stating that the outcome of their uncontested divorces are pending the resolution of the appeal in Neyman v. Buckley. Thankfully, in one situation, one of the parties has since moved back to New Jersey, so we are re-filing there and should have no issue. Another one of my clients is not so lucky. She had no idea that this legal quagmire existed and went ahead and planned an expensive wedding with more than 250 guests for this coming November. They have to move forward with it and, while I have no doubt that it will be a lovely wedding, at the end of it, the couple will not be married until my client’s legal relationship to her former
Philadelphia Gay News
partner is dissolved. I have a third couple who are both in new relationships and have been patiently waiting for 12 years to be legally separated from their exes and to marry their existing partners and start families. It is truly asinine that, after everything we’ve fought for, and in a post-marriage-equality world, people are still finding themselves second-class citizens. If you are one of those people, I recommend filing for divorce knowing that the outcome will be dependent on the Neyman vs. Buckley decision so that, procedurally, the divorce is underway. While nothing in the law is a slam-dunk, I am very hopeful that the Superior Court will recognize the burden placed on people, due to the unprecedented way in which we were gradually and haphazardly granted rights over time, and remove this final obstacle preventing LGBTQ people from being like all other Pennsylvanians. n Angela D. Giampolo, principal of Giampolo Law Group, maintains offices in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and specializes in LGBT law, family law, business law, real-estate law and civil rights. Her website is www.giampololaw.com, and she maintains a blog at www. phillygaylawyer.com. Reach out to Angela with your legal questions at 215-645-2415 or angela@giampololaw.com.
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Miss’d America 2016 Fifi Dubois
LOCAL PGN
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 2-8, 2016
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Gayborhood Crime Watch The following incidents in the Midtown Village and Washington Square West areas were reported to the Sixth Police District between Aug. 15-21. Information is courtesy of Sixth District Crime Analyst Officer Robert Savino. To report crime tips, visit www.phillypolice.com or call 215-686TIPS. BULLETIN: Since Aug. 6, there have been at least four incidents of indecent assault that may be connected, two of which occurred near the Lombard border of the Sixth District. — At 1 a.m. Aug. 6, a woman was walking in the 1800 block of South 15th Street when an unknown man approached her from behind on a bicycle and grabbed her buttocks. — At 10:15 p.m. Aug. 10, a woman was walking in the 900 block of Lombard Street when an unknown man approached her from behind on a mountain bike. As he passed, he reached up her dress with his hand and sexually assaulted her. He fled west on Lombard Street. The victim described the suspect as Latino, with a medium brown complexion, 5-foot-4 to 5-foot-6, with no facial hair, wearing a turquoise polo shirt and carrying a black backpack with orange sides. — At 12:10 a.m. Aug. 13, a woman was walking in the 700 block of South Eighth Street when an unknown man on a bicycle rode up on her left side and placed his hand up her dress, indecently assaulting her. She screamed and he fled. She described him as Latino, young, with short, black hair and a multi-colored shirt. — At 2:30 a.m. Aug. 13, a woman was
walking to her residence after exiting her vehicle in the 2000 block of South 13th Street when a man grabbed her and forcefully put his hand up her dress. She started to scream, causing the male to flee on foot southbound. She described him as Latino, approximately 5-foot-8, with a medium build, dark complexion and short, dark hair, wearing a black shirt and tan or khaki shorts. INCIDENTS — At 5:26 a.m. Aug. 19, a man reported that his wallet was stolen from his pocket in the 1200 block of Chancellor Street. He said he had been talking with men who were unknown to him at the time of the incident. — At 3:30 a.m. Aug. 19, a man stated he was approached by three men in the 1300 block of Locust Street who punched him and stole his phone. All three suspects were black. The first was approximately 5-foot-9, in his mid-20s, with a buzz cut and thin build and wearing a white shirt and jeans. The second was between 5-foot-8 and 6 feet, in his mid-20s, with a box hair cut, wearing dark jeans. The third had short hair. — There were three thefts from parked vehicles reported Aug. 15-21: outside 201 S. Broad St., 1 S. 11th St. and 900 Pine St. — There were two thefts of bicycles reported Aug. 15-21: outside 200 S. 13th St. and 1100 Market St. NON SUMMARY ARRESTS — At 8:15 p.m. Aug. 16, Sixth District Officers Ferrero and Grant arrested two
men, 29 and 33, for narcotics violations in the 200 block of South 11th Street.
an open container of alcohol in the 1300 block of Chancellor Street.
— At 3:37 a.m. Aug. 19, Sixth District Officers Coupas, Grieder and Neal observed a man punched another man in the face and knock him unconscious in the 200 block of South 13th Street. The 23-year-old who threw the punch was immediately taken into custody and charged with aggravated assault and other related offenses.
— At 10 p.m. Aug. 17, Sixth District Officer Henry issued a summary citation to a 26-year-old man for drinking from an open container of alcohol in the 200 block of South 13th Street.
— At 1 p.m. Aug. 19, officers from the Highway Patrol Unit arrested a 14-yearold boy for robbery at 13th and Filbert streets. The incident occurred in the 1300 block of Market Street. — At 9 p.m. Aug. 19, Sixth District Officer Ferrero arrested a 31-year-old man in the 1200 block of Chancellor Street for failure to appear on a prior criminal offense. — At 10:17 p.m. Aug. 20, security officers at the Marriot Hotel, 1201 Market St., observed a 53-year-old man pry open a jewelry-display case in the lobby of the hotel and remove items. They apprehended him and held him for police. The suspect was charged with theft and related offenses. SUMMARY ARRESTS — At 6:25 p.m. Aug. 15, a SEPTA officer issued a summary citation to a 17-yearold boy for fare evasion on the MarketFrankford platform at 11th Street. — At 2:45 a.m. Aug. 16, Sixth District officer Coupas issued a summary citation to a 52-year-old man for drinking from
— At 10 p.m. Aug. 17, Sixth District Officer Marsh issued a summary citation to a 34-year-old man for drinking from an open container of alcohol in the 200 block of South 13th Street. — At 11 a.m. Aug. 18, Sixth District Officer Downey issued a summary citation to a 61-year-old man drinking from an open container of alcohol in the 200 block of South Broad Street. — At 1:27 a.m. Aug. 19, Sixth District Officer Coupas issued a summary citation to a 20-year-old man for underage drinking in the 1200 block of Chancellor Street. — At 8:25 p.m. Aug. 19, Sixth District Officer Grant issued a summary citation to a 44-year-old man for drinking from an open container of alcohol in the 100 block of South 12th Street. — At 1:01 a.m. Aug. 21, Sixth District Officer Coupas issued a summary citation to a 21-year-old man for drinking from an open container of alcohol in the 1200 block of Walnut Street. — At 1:15 a.m. Aug. 21, Sixth District Officer Dillworth issued a summary citation to a 23-year-old man for drinking from an open container of alcohol in the 1300 block of Drury Street. n
Commissioned Photography 267-736-6743
Happy Labor Day!
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FAITH PGN
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 2-8, 2016
Politics and religion like oil and water at DNC, RNC This summer, Philadelphia Trump’s Stalin-esque approach beheld the majesty that was the when narrating the happenings of Democratic National Convention. the U.S. economy illustrated the To be chosen as the city to host kind of fear-mongering that has the DNC was an honfueled his entire camorable designation, paign. His constant which meant constant pandering to the Alttraffic in our tiny Right — a group of cobbled streets, our religious zealots who favorite bars packed to thrive on conspiracy capacity and once-pubtheories, white nationlic spaces hedged off, alism and all-out rhereserved for the polittorical frenzy — gave ical elite. If we loved platform to black prosanything about it, it perity gospel preacher had to be the flare of Mark Burns. “All lives constant excitement, matter,” he notoriously or at least the drove of claimed. Burns is posdonkeys speckling the Crystal sibly the only black sidewalks. That was person in America Cheatam (besides Stacy Dash) definitely fun. And while the other to be unaware of the stuff may have been a headramifications of that phrase. ache, one can only imagine what Jerry Falwell, Jr. also took Cleveland must have been like Trump’s stage. His last name carduring the Republican National ries the weight of bigots, racists Convention. and homophobes lashing out from Who can say which city got the televangelist platform. He off easier, but from the looks of himself is no different, and at his things on screen, the rest of the presence we were dumbfounded. nation could easily determine How could a political convenstark differences between contion announcing a front runner ventions. For example, Donald for the presidency of the United
Queer Faith
States have such a racist, xenophobic, homophobic slew of speakers? Surely the DNC would outshine the RNC in religious representation. So we watched. A week later at the DNC, Methodist minister Bill Shilladys invited the nation to bow their heads. “Oh God of many names,” he prayed. “We know that you call us to work hard to bring people together. To build bridges of hope for the future, we reach out to our neighbors, no matter their race, creed, sexual orientation or color.” Superior to even the most benign speeches at the DNC, Shilladys still found himself in hot water for not praying to the one Christian God, but seeking to unite everyone under one common love and worship. To be American means that we get a difference of opinions. That Shilladys has free speech also means that we have to allow the same liberties for Burns. Which leads us to wonder, if we as a nation can’t even tolerate an interfaith prayer because it somehow makes shallow what a few deem divine, does prayer belong at a
O U T F E S T I S O C T. 9
political event at all? When it comes to Christianity, the sympathizing voices that outstretch hands to all kinds of people like Shilladys’ interfaith message are constantly drowned out by messages like Falwell’s and Burns’. In fact, those messages that politicize the bodies of pregnant women, the time of death of prisoners and the sexual identity of queer people are ultimately trafficked by groups that identify more with the Alt-Right than with the conservative middle — aka the rest of us. I’d like to think that the sensible of us who identify somewhere along the spiritual spectrum are less likely to bludgeon others with our beliefs. In fact, most of us spiritual or religious folks are not willing to bludgeon others with our beliefs. Yet most of the books, podcasts and televised sermons out there are all put forward by the AltRight. For too long, we’ve given power to televised preachers like Mark Burns and Jerry Falwell. Why is that whom we allow to be our religious leaders? In an effort to stifle the AltRight messages that are con-
stantly seeping into our mainstream media, I’ve created an app that will allow all of us to access devotionals, meditations, podcasts and videos that are affirming of LGBT people. Politics do not belong in any worship space. A system that leaves room for the Alt-Right and conspiracy theorists to govern is not a system that serves a true America. It’s time that we as a community stood together and created media that far outshines that of the Alt-Right entertainment religion. Support the Our Bible app Kickstarter, which will run through Oct. 1, by visiting https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/508347865/our-bible-app. Join the movement so you too can worship, pray and meditate in peace. n Crystal Cheatham is a writer and activist in Philadelphia. She chairs the Spirituality & Religion steering committee for the Human Rights Campaign, volunteers with Equality Pennsylvania and William Way LGBT Community Center’s Out & Faithful Committee and has written for the Huffington Post. You can find out more about her at CrystalCheatham.com.
PGN’S PREVIEW ISSUE IS FRIDAY OCT. 7 The pre-OutFest edition of PGN has all the info about what’s going in Philly for OutFest weekend! From cover to cover, PGN will be your guide to help you celebrate being out and proud in the Gayborhood and beyond. To reserve ad space today, email greg@epgn.com or call 215-625-8501 ext. 211 (Issue date: Oct. 7; advertising/art deadline: Sept. 30)
PGN RACISM from page 1
the community; a challenge for LGBT establishments to pledge equal access to their facilities and participate in training on consistent implementation of antibias policies; and creating visible accountability for non-compliant establishments. “We need to be cognizant of the tools we have immediately at our disposal,” Fitzpatrick said, “and do a better job of educating people how to report instances of racial discrimination.” In the middle of Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations’ web page (www. phila.gov/humanrelations) is a link for “Discrimination and Enforcement” where you can report housing, employment and public-accommodations discrimination. Public accommodations include bars. “Even if a person’s bad experience doesn’t rise to the level of unlawful discrimination,” Rue Landau, executive director of the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, wrote in an email to PGN, “we can help by tracking bias incidents and looking for trends, sending testers to an establishment or by offering counseling and training to the owners and staff. It is important to underscore that everything we can do is based on reporting. We will not know what is going on if people don’t report it.” In the spring, some patrons of ICandy said they had been denied entrance because they were wearing Timberland boots; many saw it as a way to keep black people out of the bar. General Manager Jeff Sheehan told PGN at the time that a miscommunication between management and a member of the door staff led to the problem, when in fact, “There are no brand-specific bans at all.” The dress code is clean, neat and casual, Sheehan said. Some looked to Fitzpatrick and the Office of LGBT Affairs to resolve the matter. She said increased communication between LGBT establishments and patrons would alleviate a lot of issues. “Some things my office doesn’t have the legal authority to do,” Fitzpatrick said. “We need the community to buy into this self-betterment.” Execution of the anti-racism strategy has moved slowly. In April, D’Ontace Keyes, former chief creative officer for Philadelphia Black Pride, said the organization was looking to work with the developer of The SWAT App, described as the Yelp of police services. The goal would be to use the model to report instances of racial bias and bullying. Thomas said his group is taking donations to cover the cost of working with the app’s developer. “That part is mainly about accountability,” he said. “We need to look at that again to see how we as a community can hold each other accountable.” The owners of Tabu and ICandy attended some of last year’s town-hall meetings. Thomas said many Gayborhood bar owners have expressed willingness to continue working to combat racism. Many people of color shared instances of bias during nights out in the Gayborhood, like being asked for
identification while white people were not. The problem is nothing new. As far back as the 1980s, a group called the Coalition on Lesbian-Gay Bar Policies conducted a survey of LGBT establishments in Philadelphia and released a 19-page report of observations and recommendations. The group included Beth Ahavah, Black and White Men Together,
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 2-8, 2016
Dignity/Philadelphia, Gay Fathers of Greater Philadelphia, Integrity, Mayor’s Commission on Sexual Minorities, Metropolitan Community Church of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force and Sisterspace of Philadelphia. Members worked on the report from 1984-86 and came to many of the same
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conclusions as the Philadelphia Black Pride strategy. They had called for regular trainings for bar staff and for owners to agree to a uniform policy on identification. It’s not clear if or how the strategy was executed. For more information on the Philadelphia Black Pride strategy, visit www.phillyblackpride.org/townhall or email info@ phillyblackpride.org. n
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their communities. Dr. Robert J. O’Hara Jr., executive director of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, argued for an exemption toallow religious institutions discretion in all employment decisions, from the ministry to the janitor. “The janitor could have a closer relationship to a student than a teacher sometimes,” O’Hara said. “Parents send their children to our schools to live and learn our religion. If [employees] model behavior that could be detrimental to the children, that could be a concern.” He advocated for a policy distinction between a person’s orientation and behavior. He said the church would not refuse to hire a gay person “living a chaste life.” Sen. Daylin Leach, a Montgomery County Democrat, called that proposition “very unreasonable and even cruel,” before asking the religious advocates if they would support the bill if it only applied to secular institutions and completely exempted religious ones. After a pause, Philip J. Murren, an attorney for the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, said further discussion would be useful. “My answer is a qualified yes,” Schultz said. Labor concerns
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Some concerns from the labor community also arose, despite strong support from the health-care industry. Pennsylvania’s biggest non-government employer with 60,000 employees – the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center – and SEIU Healthcare, which represents more than 45,000 health workers in the state, both spoke in support of employment-nondiscrimination protections for the LGBT community. Representatives said the law would help them recruit and retain the best talent, especially during national searches for top positions. Still, Alex Halper, director of government affairs for the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business Industry, noted difficulties for employers in working through claims of discrimination. He said the average case with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission takes over a year — 487 days — to be resolved, and 63 percent of cases are closed because the commission has found no probable cause for discrimination. “We really need the legislators to work with us to get us a sustainable budget,” said JoAnn Edwards, executive director of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. Years ago, more than 100 people worked at the commission. Since a 2015 budget cut, Edwards said she has been on a hiring freeze with 70 employees. She recently received the authority to hire up to 84. Edwards anticipated at least 100 LGBT employment-discrimination complaints in the first year with the new law. She said she would ask the state for $581,352 to train workers to adjudicate claims, upgrade the computer system and run a media campaign about the LGBT employment-nondiscrimination law, should it pass. Stephen Glassman, a former chair of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, called attention to the piecemeal efforts to protect the LGBT community. “Never before in the history of the commission,” he said, “which is 1955 until now, almost 70 years, have we separated out protections on the basis of employment, public accommodations and housing from any class that was added to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. To make us go through the extra effort of having three separate bills passed, I think is an important point to note.” The State Government Committee will hold a public hearing Sept. 26 to get comments on a public-accommodations nondiscrimination bill. It will also discuss the Pennsylvania Fairness Act, which would extend LGBTprotections in employment, housing and public accommodations. A housing-nondiscrimination bill made it out of the Housing and Urban Affairs Committee in June. n
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TRANSMISSIONS from page 11
opts to espouse, even if they are diametrically opposed to mine. Rather, it was watching E! and “I Am Cait” using the controversy to try and attract viewers to, presumably, “hate watch” the program: Dislike Jenner for being conservative or for being trans, yet still tune in and give the show ratings. In spite of the flaws of “I Am Cait,” I think it would be great to see a program out there that does delve deeper into the trans experience and perspective. I’d love to see this group of traveling companions along for the ride, with Jenner fully unleashed, and able to do away with the glitz and glamour that producers so artificially applied. Will we ever
Jensen issued this statement in regard to the ruling: “These are benefits Tim earned for working at Amtrak for almost 40 years. This whole process has been disrespectful to Tim, our 30-year relationship and our marriage. Instead of simply updating their pension plan to close this loophole, they forced me to go to court. Only because we live in Pennsylvania were we able to obtain a common-law marriage, but couples that live in other states that don’t recognize common-law marriages are still at risk of being denied pension and Social Ssecurity survivor benefits. These benefits will help me financially when I retire and through my older years.” Mike Tolbert, an Amtrak spokesperson, told PGN the company is “committed to providing an equal-opportunity workplace that strictly prohibits discrimination on grounds of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran’s status or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. Amtrak does provide pension-survivor benefits to individuals who provide documentation demonstrating they were married by law at least one year prior to the employee’s death, which in some cases comes in the form of a court order regarding marital status.” Michael P. Freeman, a spokesperson for the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board, said he could not “comment on — or respond to — questions regarding railroad retirement and survivor benefits being paid or not being paid to specific individuals without their written consent.” n
see that show? Is there even a place for such a program? “I Am Cait” is canceled, and many won’t see the clear mismatch of audience and show, and will instead lay all the blame on this being a “transgender show.” In spite of other programs such as “Transparent,” “I Am Jazz” and the Emmynominated web series “Her Story Show,” the loss of “I Am Cait” may, in my opinion, make it that much harder to get networks to pick up trans-centered programming. That would be a shame. n Gwen Smith hopes Caitlyn Jenner will take some time out of the spotlight and learn. You’ll find her on the web at www.gwensmith.com.
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to obtain Howey’s death benefits, resulting in Hall’s Aug. 23 ruling. Jensen expects to receive about $4,380 monthly in survivor’s benefits, due to Hall’s ruling. For about 130 years, Pennsylvania recognized common-law marriages between a man and a woman. In 2005, the state legislature abolished common-law marriage, but specifically allowed the recognition of such marriages that occurred on or before Jan. 1, 2005. Recently, several judges in Pennsylvania retroactively recognized same-sex common-law marriages, thus enabling surviving spouses to access various benefits. “Eric’s case demonstrates the continued discrimination samesex couples continue to face even after marriage equality,” said Tiffany Palmer, an attorney for Jensen. “The issue is most significant for long-term couples who were able to legally marry, but the length of their marriage affects rights and benefits.” Palmer noted that surviving spouses can face issues regarding the length of their marriage for certain pension, retirement or Social Security benefits. “In Eric’s case, he had been with his partner for 30 years and yet Amtrak deemed their marriage to be only six months long because it was based upon when they obtained a marriage certificate,” she said. “Common-law marriage provides a legal basis for individuals facing this discrimination to prove that they met the legal requirements of having a common-law marriage under Pennsylvania law even prior to the date they obtained a marriage certificate.”
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AC ul t ure &
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FEATURE PGN
A Life’s Artwork
William Way exhibition shows Lancaster artist’s range
By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com The William Way LGBT Community Center is set to host a retrospective exhibition celebrating the life and works of gifted out artist and Pennsylvania native David Meade Walker. Born in 1948 in Lancaster, Walker excelled in art from an early age and went on to get a degree in art history from Indiana University of Pennsylvania before relocating to San
Francisco, where he passed away in 2012. Walker’s sister, Sharon Eisenhour, inherited his artwork and soon became interested in finding an appropriate place to put his talents on view to the public. “I got all of his art so I was talking to some of my friends about finding a place to show his work,” Eisenhour said. “It’s beautiful work and I don’t want it to sit in my basement or attic. A friend of mine was part of the founding of the William Way Center. My friend said, ‘You’ve got to go to the William Way.’” Eisenhour spoke with center executive director Chris Bartlett, whom she said loved the idea, and they got to planning. Eisenhour was expecting the center to only be interested in a few pieces for inclusion in its gallery space but, once she met with the gallery’s coordinators and they heard Walker’s story and saw his artwork, they expressed interest in hosting a full exhibition. “They asked, ‘Do you think you have enough to fill the whole space?’ which they don’t often do,” Eisenhour said. “They liked the whole concept and the story and the art. I said, ‘Yes, I do.’ I’ll bring a lot of what I have but we won’t
hang it all because there is not enough space.” Eisenhour said that, even though he spent most of his life in San Francisco, Walker’s artwork often reflected the aesthetics of his upbringing. “We grew up in Amish country,” she said. “We bought our land from Amish people. We were surrounded by them so we grew up completely in the country. We ran around, rode on our bikes, went in the creeks and played in their barns. It was a very rural childhood all the way through until we went away to college. [The setting] greatly influenced him. He does beautiful landscapes and I have some of that area that will be in the show. In San Francisco, he worked more on developing his own style. He did a lot of portraits once he lived out there.” Eisenhour said Walker’s work covered a wide range of styles, subjects and disciplines from the beginning. “It’s really curious,” she said. “You’re not going to be able to look at a piece and say, ‘Oh, that’s a David Walker.’ You just can’t because he worked with so many different media and it seemed like he did them all really well. There’s no one area where you can say, ‘This is what he liked and did the most.’ It’s equally distributed PAGE 22
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Family Portrait Out & About Q Puzzle Scene in Philly
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WALKER from page 21
between pen and ink, pastels and he did watercolors beautifully. He did oils and sculpting. He did everything. I’m a fierce patron of his art.” Eisenhour said she and Walker, who was only a year younger than her, were always very close. “I’ve grown up seeing him create and draw. I just love it and I see how people react to it. It’s worthy.” Eisenhour plans to develop a website devoted to Walker’s work and to continue finding galleries in which to showcase it. The work on display at William Way is available for sale. Eisenhour said she hopes that art lovers will discover and appreciate Walker’s works as well as the unique life experiences that shaped them. “I hope this sparks somebody to collaborate with me on some bigger project,” she said. “I always say if they can do a movie about the Dallas Buyers Club they could maybe do a documentary or book about this guy. Here’s a guy who had a rural upbringing. He went his own way. He had conscientious-objector status during Vietnam. He worked in a hospital in the Boston area. Then he went to what he called the ‘candy store’: He moved to San Francisco in 1978. He loved it, loved it, loved it. Once he smelled the eucalyptus leaves, he said, ‘I’m home.’” In the early 1980s, Walker tested positive for HIV.
“He was one of the first to really get hit,” Eisenhour said. “And by 1988, he was officially diagnosed with AIDS and then he got KS [Kaposi’s sarcoma], and he went though all that shit all those years and he never gave up. He kept creating art. He wasn’t prolific but he kept doing things. And he just showed everyone around him. He showed us how to live in the face of all that adversity. One more thing would happen to him and he would say, ‘Well, there goes the fender.’ And he would just chuckle, roll up his sleeves and say, ‘What are we going to do about that? Let’s see how that part of the disease works. Let’s see how we can treat it or work around it.’ It was just that spirit and that joy. The last visit I had with him at his apartment he said, ‘The light is still in the eyes, isn’t it?’ He just kept on keeping on. It was a beautiful example of how to live. And he simplified over the years. He just kept getting more and more simple, more of a Zen existence and letting things go. Possessions, they didn’t matter to him. He didn’t live in poverty; he had a nice apartment but it just didn’t matter. He found more of the essence of life the longer he lived and he really taught that in a subtle way to everybody that knew him.” n William Way LGBT Community Center hosts a retrospective exhibition of the works of David Meade Walker Sept. 9-Oct. 30, 1315 Spruce St. For more information, visit www.waygay.org or www.facebook.com/events/1571218476515313/.
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PROFILE PGN
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Suzi Nash
Ron Potochar: Southern New Jersey spirituality I love a good parade and/or festival — especially a Pride event! Sadly, there’s a long gap between Philadelphia Pride festivities in June and OutFest in October. But have no fear: Our neighbors across the river have come to the rescue. Founded by the fabulous DeAnn Cox, Southern New Jersey LGBTQ Pride takes place Sept. 11 at Cooper River Park. If you haven’t been, the festival is a fun and relaxed event with vendors, live performers and a family-friendly atmosphere. Guests are encouraged to picnic or barbecue in the park, BYOG (Bring Your Own Grill). This year, look forward to performances by Nikki Powerhouse, Carl Max as Whitney Houston, Rasta Boi Punany, the crew from LesBeReal Radio Talk, DJ Deluxx and many more! We spoke to longtime Pride volunteer and sponsor Ron Potochar. An industrial engineer by day and a spiritual leader by … well, not by night, but 24/7. Potochar found his calling early on and delights in giving back to the community. PGN: You’re originally from Freehold, N.J.? RP: Yes, and I still live there in the house I grew up in. My father got sick and passed away two years ago and I moved back home to help out. An interesting fact: My husband Damon’s father passed away last year and he moved in with his mother so, even though we’re married, between jobs and family commitments, we’ve never lived together full-time. It can be tough but it’s what works for us right now. PGN: Was it sudden with your father? RP: Yeah, he was having trouble swallowing and when we got it checked it turned out he had esophageal cancer. He had surgery and had most of his esophagus removed. He was feeling better and we thought we got it all but then he grew lumps all over and we found the cancer had spread everywhere to the point of no return. We didn’t want to put him through any more treatments; we just wanted his remaining time to be comfortable. It was a rough time but it was also a period of tremendous growth. I was glad to be able to offer some guidance and support. PGN: The diagnosis must have been close to your wedding. Was your father able to go? [Pauses] Hello? Oops, I think we lost the connection. RP: No, I’m here. I just needed a moment. It was a tremendous experience for me, as well as for him. I found out after he died how much it meant to him and how proud he was. [Voice breaks] We struggle through life and not being accepted and then to have him there to see me married and happy and loved … He was a quiet, strong person but he was there for me. And
it was a wonderful thing to have people come up to me after he passed and tell me how proud he was of me. I was never told that when he was alive so it was a tremendous gift. [Laughs] Oh gosh, I didn’t mean to get all emotional so soon! PGN: No worries. Tell me about growing up in Freehold. RP: I’m the baby of the family with two brothers and two sisters. We actually lived in Freehold Borough, not the city, and it was a big melting pot — a mini New York in that we had more affluent people on the outskirts and inside we had a lot of working-class residents: white, black, Latino, Asian, all different kinds of religions. It was 1.7-square miles with about 15 different churches. I appreciated growing up seeing and having positive experiences with all different kinds of people. There was a special, enriched culture all around us. PGN: What is Potochar? RP: It’s Slovakian. I’m pretty much a mix of Polish, German and Slovakian. My paternal grandfather came through Ellis Island from Slovakia and settled in the coal-mining section of Pennsylvania.
ing the text along with the preacher. In college I got more into it; I guess I was a trailblazer too since I went to an HBC [Historically Black College]. It wasn’t until my 20s that I discovered and got involved with Liberation Theology. I started with Unity Fellowship Church in Brooklyn in 1997 and then moved onto New Brunswick where I was ordained a deacon. I act as an independent; I don’t like being affiliated with a particular church. PGN: Why is that important to you? RP: I like to be out among people, I don’t like to be confined within four walls. I’ve had Christians who tried to tell me, “You need to be under someone, to be affiliated with an established church,” but that’s not how I work with my ministry. I’m on the board of different nonprofits and that’s where I put my energy: the Lionel Lee Jr. Center for Wellness, which I’ve been with since the beginning — they just celebrated 10 years — and the Emancipation
PGN: Wow, a trailblazer. You were raised Catholic? RP: Yes, I always felt a connection to God, even as a kid. I remember my mother telling me to hush because I’d be recit-
PGN: As a young gay person in the Catholic Church, did you have to deal with homophobia? RP: As a young person, I heard the word “faggot” quite a bit, mostly from my own brothers (not knowing that I was gay). There was a lot of negativity to survive, often right in my own house. I didn’t come out until later; I don’t think I even got my first kiss until I was 21. But I was always the voice of inclusion from the time I was young. I’d try to get everyone to use more positive language and treat each other better. My father was a tall man who grew up in an abusive household where the man was dictator. I’ll never forget one time when he shouted at my mom, I stood up in the dining room and yelled, “Don’t you talk to my mother like that!” I was only 6 and he towered over me but I found my voice and it was a turning point for me. And for my mother, it enabled her to be stronger and even taught my dad a lesson too. PGN: And in the church? RP: Not really, because they just didn’t talk about it. They didn’t talk about much of anything frankly. Often, the entire sermon would be under 30 minutes and I would question, why are we here? What are you getting out of this other than reciting words back?
PGN: As the youngest of five, give me a fun story about your siblings. RP: During the summer, my father would get off of shift work and we’d all be just hanging out when all of a sudden he’d say, “OK, pack your bags!” and we’d all hop into the station wagon and drive down to North Carolina on a spontaneous vacation. We’d all be in the way back where the seats look out behind you and, of course, there were fights, especially between the boys. That was before we worried about seat belts or car seats so there was room to rumble. My older brother would pick on the next-oldest brother and he’d in turn pick on me. But we’d also play games and talk and watch life go by out the window. They were great memories. PGN: Tell me about mom. RP: She’s a tough cookie. She’s retired now. She and my dad were together for 54 years when he passed. Neither of my parents went to school past ninth or 10th grade. She was the oldest of four and had to quit school to watch her siblings so her parents could work. She was always a mother figure from early on. Once I was in school, though, she got a job as a glazier, which traditionally was a man’s job, and did that for 30 years.
ativity in the world, I try to inject as much happiness and positivity as possible.
Foundation, which works to eradicate human trafficking. In addition, we’ve been involved with DeAnn Cox and South Jersey Pride, doing everything from helping with setup to Damon’s gospel group, The Relationship, performing at the event. They recently won the Out Music Award. For me, something as simple as giving someone a smile, saying thank you or asking about their day can be a part of my ministry. You never know how small things can affect someone. There’s so much neg-
PGN: I read a lot of things you posted on your Facebook page that were intriguing, like a post about not praying to Jesus for everything and instead learning how to take care of yourself. “There is no place in the four Gospels where Jesus ever asked God to do anything for the people, not even multiply loaves and fishes. His answer to every form of disease was, ‘Arise. So awaken your Christ Consciousness and live because the power of God is within you. Stop waiting for a man to show up and just live!’” RP: Yeah, I think people get really hopped up on Jesus and praying to him to ask God for things. My personal belief is that God is in each one of us and we are each born with what we need to survive. We just need to tap into that energy. The spirit is within me. We have free will to make choices, but they’re not always healthy choices. It’s up to you to use your PAGE 28
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 2-8, 2016
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS
Theater & Arts Anjelah Johnson The comedian seen on “MadTV” performs Sept. 8-10 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215-496-9001. Beerfest The comedy film is screened 8 p.m. Sept. 6 at The Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215922-6888. Classical Splendor: Painted Furniture for a Grand Philadelphia House Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of furniture designed in 1808 by Benjamin Henry Latrobe Sept. 3-Jan. 1, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100. Creative Africa Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of photography, fashion, sculpture and architecture by artists from Africa through Sept. 25, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100. Dave Attell The comedian performs Sept. 2-4 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215-496-9001. Everyday, Everynight The Seraphin Gallery presents a solo exhibition by James Inscho featuring abstract compositions Sept. 2-18, 1108 Pine St.; 215-923-7000. Ms. Pat The comedian seen on “Last Comic Standing” performs
through Sept. 3 at Punch Line Philly, 1004 Canal St.; 215-309-0150. Embracing the Contemporary: The Keith L. and Katherine Sachs Collection Philadelphia Museum of Art features some of the most prominent European and American artists of the past 50 years through Sept. 5, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100. Inside Out Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of large-scale, high-quality replicas of favorite works from the museum’s collection to local neighborhoods through Nov. 1, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. Lloyd Ney: Local Color The Michener Art Museum hosts an exhibition of works by the American painter, sculptor, writer and artistic innovator known for pushing boundaries, embracing Modernism and stirring up controversy through Sept. 11, 138 S. Pine St., Doylestown; 215340-9800. Look Again: Contemporary Perspectives on African Art Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition drawing from
BACK TO THE ‘CULTURE’: Culture Club, the new-wave rock and pop group that made Boy George a household name, has reunited with all of its original members for a tour that stops in Philly 8:30 p.m. Sept. 9 at the Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St. For more information or tickets, call 215-627-1332.
the Penn Museum’s esteemed African collections through Dec. 4, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. The Pirates of Penzance Mauckingbird Theater Company presents a queer adaptation of the popular comic opera through Sept. 4 at Temple University’s Randall Theater, 2020 N. 13th St.; 267-3856910. Plays of/for a Respirateur Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an installation by Joseph Kosuth that includes a selection of his work, along with a group of seminal works by Marcel Duchamp, through the fall, 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 e-mail: listings@epgn.com. Notices cannot be taken over the phone.
Poppy Champlin The out comedian performs 7:30 p.m. Sept. 10 at The Rrazz Room, 385 Bridge St., New Hope; 888596-1027. Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific Walnut Street Theatre presents the classic musical adapted from the Pulitzer Prizewinning novel Sept. 6-Oct. 23, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550. Scott Nevins The comedian and TV personality performs 7:30 p.m. Sept. 3 at The Rrazz Room, 385 Bridge St., New Hope; 888-5961027. Tête-à-Tête: Conversations in Photography The Michener Art Museum hosts an exhibition celebrating more than 25 years of regional photographic programming through Sept. 11, 138 S. Pine St., Doylestown; 215340-9800.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 2-8, 2016
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Big lessons in Sachs’ ‘Little Men’ By Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor
WALK THE PLANK!: Mauckingbird Theater Company sets sail for its queer adaptation of the Gilbert and Sullivan classic comic opera “The Pirates of Penznace” through Sept. 4 at Temple University’s Randall Theater, 2020 N. 13th St. For more information or tickets, 267-385-6910.
Music Korn and Rob Zombie The hard-rock bands perform 6:30 p.m. Sept. 2 at BB&T Pavilion, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, N.J.; 609-365-1300. Budweiser Made in America Festival Rihanna, Coldplay, Chance the Rapper, Grimes, Adventure Club and more perform Sept. 3-4 along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway; www. madeinamericafest.com. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band The rock icon performs 7:30 p.m. Sept. 7 and Sept. 9 at Citizens Bank Park, 1 Citizens Bank Way; 215463-1000. Steven Tyler The rock singer performs 8 p.m.
Sept. 7 at Tower Theater, S. 69th St., Upper Darby; 215-922-1011. Blues Traveler and The Wallflowers The rock bands perform 6 p.m. Sept. 8 at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, 5201 Parkside Ave.; 215-546-7900.
Culture Club The new-wave/ pop band performs 8:30 p.m. Sept. 9 at the Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St.; 215-6271332.
Nightlife
Outta Town Gabriel Iglesias The comedian performs 8 p.m. Sept. 2 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000. Meghan Trainor The pop singer performs 7 p.m. Sept. 3 at Allentown Fairgrounds, 302 N. 17th St.; 610433-7541.
Of Montreal The rock band performs 8:30 p.m. Sept. 8 at Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St.; 215-232-2100.
Bearlesque: Girl Groups and Boy Bands! Bears go pop for an evening of entertainment 9 p.m. Sept. 2 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215-9649675.
The Lumineers The folk-rock band performs 6 p.m. Sept. 9 at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, 5201 Parkside Ave.; 215-546-7900.
Amateur Drag Night Ten amateur drag queens compete for fortune and fame 8 p.m. Sept. 4 at L’Etage, 624 S. Sixth St.; 215592-0656.
Jeff Dunham The comedian performs 8 p.m. Sept. 3 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-3171000.
Adele The superstar singer performs 8 p.m. Sept. 9-10 (good luck finding tickets) at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215389-9543.
ICandy Annual White Party Nebraska Thunderfuck and Derrick Barry hold court 9 p.m. Sept. 4 at ICandy, 254 S. 12th St.; 267-324-3500.
Seal The singer performs 8 p.m. Sept. 4 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000. n
“Little Men,” from gay filmmaker Ira Sachs, is another absorbing duet — after the filmmaker’s “Keep the Lights On” and “Love Is Strange” — that follows two men in New York City. The film opens Sept. 2 at the Ritz at the Bourse. Jake (Theo Taplitz), a sensitive teen, and Tony (Michael Barbieri), a gregarious, budding actor, become fast friends when Jake’s family moves into the apartment above the dress shop Tony’s mother, Leonor (Paulina Garcia), runs. However, when Jake’s father, Brian (Greg Kinnear), an actor, is pressured to raise Leonor’s rent, the conflict between the adults changes the relationship between the boys. The magic of Sachs’ film is the attentiveness to the palpable bond that develops between the two “little men.” He captures the rhythms of the boys’ lives and the easygoing nature of their friendship — how each finds something of value in the other. “Tony sees a friend, an artist, someone who has some of what he wants in Jake; he’s a playmate, a mentee, someone he can teach,” the filmmaker said in a recent phone interview. “Tony gives Jake, an inherently curious boy, access to all these worlds, and Jake has a life that looks good to Tony.” The relationship between the boys harkens back to Sachs’ excellent first film, “The Delta,” which depicted the relationship between a young white Southern teen and an older half-Vietnamese man who becomes his lover. “There’s a lot in Tony-Jake’s relationship and ‘The Delta,’” Sachs acknowledged. “In that film, the Vietnamese character says, ‘If I wasn’t gay, would you know me?’ In childhood, you cross lines that you can’t when you’re older. You have access. Tony brings Jake into his world.” “Little Men” pivots on how the conflict between the adults intrudes on the world of the two boys. The issues of money and class get in the way of the “pure” relationship between the boys. Sachs understands that his lovely film, about real estate and relationships, is not commercial, but he wears that badge proudly. “I respond to what I feel and the stories I am interested in telling. The issues of class, race and sexuality speak to me. I’m interested in those questions, and sexuality, race and class define character as well as create drama. If you are attentive to the world with that particular viewpoint, those are the stories you find. I’m not attuned to market forces. Individually, I’ve spent half my life to create opportunities for LGBT artists to make work that is not for profit: queer art. Capitalism doesn’t value our
stories. That means you have to find other reasons and possibilities.” He added, “‘Little Men’ is a queer film. I’m the filmmaker. You talk about a ‘queer’ film or a ‘not queer’ film. The eye of the filmmaker is a gay man, and that is specific to me. I’m Jewish, gay, a father, 50, well-educated and I live in New York. How do I feel as a gay man in a heterosexual film industry? How valuable are our stories? There’s an alienation that one feels whatever identity you have. I’m interested in liberating those things.” Sachs said he’s been asked to describe what one word is meaningful to him as an artist, and he settled on “permission.” “To take risks, and be fully myself around subject and form … Another filmmaker, Andrea Arnold, said her word was ‘surrender.’ That’s interesting to me. Letting go comes with maturity. You trust instincts and systems more than you maybe trust ideas. People respond to the maturity around how the story is told. There’s a rigor but it’s more relaxed.” As a father himself, Sachs may have made “Little Men” as a response to the pressures of parenthood. “My kids are 4, so I’m seeing the burgeoning creation of youth. I’m seeing the moment between infant and child. The hardest thing is to have distance on your kids and let them become who they are. But you want to save them from pain.” One of the ways Sachs explores the parent/child relationships in “Little Men” is through Brian, who moves to Brooklyn after the death of his father and becomes a possible mentor to Tony. Brian grows and changes the most over the course of the film. “The characters are trying to be who they want to be in the eyes of another. Each of them fails in their expectations for themselves. In the last act, they become closest to who they are most essentially, and more comfortably. Brian is a little man who becomes a bigger man. He accepts himself and his failures.” Sachs added wistfully, “How we feel against our parents is very key to gay men, disappointing your parents. Children inherently disappoint their parents, and parents disappoint their kids.” “Little Men” won’t disappoint viewers, though. This is a lovely, observant film. n
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 2-8, 2016
PORTRAIT from page 23
experience and will to make things happen. I will pray with you, but not for you. In Catholic Church, you’re taught that you have to go through the priest to get to God. No, you don’t! You need to find your own connection with God. PGN: Sounds logical. RP: Yes, there are so many more things to learn and tap into, some things I haven’t grasped fully yet. Like the first time I heard someone who’d passed on speaking to me, giving me a message to give to someone living. The first time it happened it was terrifying. I was like, “What the hell is going on here?” But now I just let it happen. PGN: Cool. Jumping back, what was your experience at Morgan State and what don’t people understand about HBCs? Did people assume you were mixed? RP: [Laughs] No, they definitely knew I was a white boy. But it was incredible. I was totally accepted and embraced. I was there on an honors program so I attended for free. I think people don’t get what it feels like to be part of the majority for once, to not be singled out. Most white people will never understand that because the majority of the time they’re the majority. People get hung up the term “Historically Black” but most other colleges are “Historically White,” they just don’t say it. PGN: I’ve taken white friends to all-black events who’ve stated, “This is great but it feels odd to be the only white person here” and I’ve responded, “But you don’t think twice about taking a black person to an event with all-white people. This is just how we often feel but we’re used to it.” It’s like not hesitating to give a white doll to a black kid but not even considering giving a white little girl a black doll. By the way, Wendy Williams got into trouble recently saying that HBCs didn’t allow white people. You’re proof that was wrong. RP: Absolutely. There were other white folks there too; in fact, one of the guys on the football team was from Germany. To show how well I was loved and respected, in my junior year I became a resident assistant and received the RA of the Year Award! We were like a family there. When you show respect and compassion and you show love, how could they not love me?
PGN: Speaking of love, tell me a little about your husband. What makes Damon beautiful? RP: He has a beautiful, loving and caring spirit. He likes to give of himself — his time, his energy, his voice — and has the kind of personality that makes people feel comfortable. He went to school for music and has an amazing voice. PGN: What song does he sing that brings you to tears? RP: Oh, anything. He is trained for classical music but sings a lot of gospel. I’d say “The Prayer.” A lot of people have covered that song, but I love the way he sings it. PGN: I heard it was love at first sight. RP: Yes, Damon says from the time I walked through the door he knew he was going to marry me. He even told his friend, who thought he was crazy, but a few months later he popped the question. I told him I needed to think and pray on it. I did and the answer came and it was yes. PGN: What helps keep you sane? RP: I love to disconnect from the grid: to leave my phone at home and just drive around, sometimes with music blaring, sometimes just with my thoughts. Next thing I know I’m in North Jersey on a mountain looking down at New York City. PGN: Show you bingewatch? RP: I’m recording “Greenleaf.” Next week is my birthday so I’ll binge out then. PGN: A Virgo. What traits do you have? RP: I’m extremely organized and detailed. I can be emotional, but I’m never late. PGN: Guilty pleasures? RP: Butter, garlic and bacon. I make a mean Brussels sprout dish. Even my husband eats them and he hates Brussels sprouts. PGN: What? OK, I’m crashing your blanket at South Jersey Pride! RP: Definitely! I’ll save some for you. n South Jersey LGBTQ Pride OUT in the Park takes place noon-6 p.m. Sept. 11. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/events/688935564543020/. To suggest a community member for Family Portrait, email portraits05@aol.com.
pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976
HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
Q Puzzle Out at Rio Across
1. Differs from Dorian Gray 5. Second fruit eater 9. Be a master baiterand-switcher, perhaps 13. Lacking potency 14. BartÛk the composer 15. Tennessee Williams “Summer and Smoke” heroine 16. Salty white stuff from the Greeks 17. Nickel or dime 18. Tomato variety 19. With 60-Across or 21-Across, country with 8 out athletes at Rio 21. See 19-Across 23. Glove material 24. Will and Grace shared one 25. Trojan Horse, e.g. 27. Country with 3 out ath-
letes at Rio 31. Site for three men in a tub 34. Baltic capital 36. Alternative to “Go straight” 37. Java brewer 38. Country with 6 out athletes at Rio 41. Beauty that’s only skin deep 42. Da Vinci’s ___ Lisa 44. Arsenic’s old partner 45. Be in debt to 46. Country with 4 out athletes at Rio 49. Get the seed that was spilled 51. Luncheonette lure 53. Aida was one 57. Country with 2 out athletes at Rio 60. See 19-Across 61. Kazan, whose desire was a streetcar 62. Kind of cut 64. Mercury and Saturn 65. Resembl-
ing, with “to” 66. Draft eligible 67. “Showboat”’s “Nobody ___ But Me” 68. Silence for Copland 69. Treat for Rizzo at the Frosty Palace 70. Penn of “Milk”
Down
1. Bad and then some 2. Susan’s “Thelma and Louise” partner 3. Weird Al Yankovic song about oral sex? 4. Doug Mattis, for one 5. Multiple choice choices 6. God of Gaius 7. Very similar 8. Song from “Flashdance” 9. “Bewitched” actor Dick 10. Lump of earth 11. What gunners shoot off 12. Word to a dominatrix 20. Outlying community 22. Crack code-cracking org.
24. Old enough for sex without arrest 26. Title for Alec Guinness 28. Erotic opening 29. Emulate Alison Bechdel 30. Upfront amount 31. Bottom lines 32. It sticks out in front of a sailor 33. A girl named Frank 35. Sculptor Nancy 39. Dick Button’s milieu 40. Kind of resistance on a path 43. Extremely hard 47. Pitching
stat 48. Private part in a war movie 50. Puts one’s finger on 52. Loy of “The Thin Man” 54. “___ told by an idiot” (Shakespeare) 55. First lesbian magazine “Vice ___” 56. City in the Ruhr valley 57. Reverse or neutral 58. “It’s Not the Size That Counts” star Sommer 59. Park of Queens 60. Spank one’s bottom 63. Sushi selection
PGN
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 2-8, 2016
29
OUTFEST
IS OCT. 9 PGN’S PREVIEW ISSUE IS FRIDAY OCT. 7
The pre-OutFest edition of PGN has all the info about what’s going in Philly for OutFest weekend! From cover to cover, PGN will be your guide to help you celebrate being out and proud in the Gayborhood and beyond. To reserve ad space today, email greg@epgn.com or call 215-625-8501 ext. 211 (Issue date: Oct. 7; advertising/art deadline: Sept. 30)
thank you to our friends at:
early bird special
20 tickets
$
( expires: labor day, 9/5/i6 )
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 2-8, 2016
FILM PGN
Food and Drink Directory
Indie horror flick to screen in Philly
Celebrate Philly Pride with your favorite bagel shop.. South Street Philly Bagels! NATASHA LYONNE (LEFT) AND CHLOË SEVIGNY IN “ANTIBIRTH”
613 S 3rd St. Philaelphia PA 19147
Tel. (215) 627-6277 southstphillybagel.com
The delirious cult film “Antibirth,” written and directed by Danny Perez, is as scrappy as its characters. Lesbian icon and “Orange is the New Black” star Natasha Lyonne (who also produced) plays Lou, a party girl who finds herself pregnant but doesn’t recall having sex. In a recent phone interview, Perez explained about the character and story. “I was inspired by my interest in UFO-abduction stories, and I wanted to write a character for that world and find something specifically for Natasha’s performance style. The theme of pregnancy, and the imagery around childbirth made sense it would be a horror film.” Lou’s pre-natal care involves doing bong hits, copious drinking and eating poorly. But according to Perez, “Antibirth” is less an anti-drug film, and more of a “commentary on escaping the pain of modern living and becoming a product of that world. Even when you escape reality, you can still be brought back down to [reality] against your will.” Things get worse for Lou when her skin starts peeling off, a tooth comes loose and there is a rather unsettling puss-filled bulge on her foot. Lyonne is fantastic in the film, inhaling drugs, drinking and dispensing sarcasm with noticeable aplomb. “Antibirth” is a slowburn horror flick that offers a corker of an ending that is anything but anti-climactic. In fact, Perez acknowledged, “I knew the [ending] needed to have a big punch. I thought: What is the grossest thing? Then let’s go three steps further.” n —Gary M. Kramer “Antibirth” will screen 7 p.m. Sept. 3 at International House, 3701 Chestnut St. Writer/director Danny Perez will host a post-screening Q&A.
The Center City IHOP located at 1320 Walnut St. is now open 24 Hrs on FRIDAY and SATURDAY
THANKS FOR MAKING IT A IHOP DAY
Read PGN’s food reviews every second and fourth week of the month - and check out our archive of past reviews on epgn.com.
PGN
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 2-8, 2016
31
National Praise For MARK SEGAL’s #1 Best Selling Memoir
AND THEN I DANCED TRAVELING THE ROAD TO LGBT EQUALITY
Now NLGJA BOOK OF THE YEAR
“Mark Segal’s work for LGBT equality is historic and significant. The fact that he is still connecting our community is a testament to the passion which he shares in this memoir.” --Billie Jean King
“I have read about Segal in other places but nothing is like reading about it as he tells it....Because of Segal and others we have openly LGBT people working in the White House and throughout corporate America. He has helped make it possible for an entire community of gay world citizens to finding the voice that they need to become visible.”
“Mark Segal is a beloved and respected activist for the LGBT movement, and he’s a pivotal voice to tell our story,”
--Reviews by Amos Lassen
--The Advocate
“Segal’s writing style is engrossing and never ponderous....And Then I Danced is highly recommended for all LGBT history collections and especially for readers with interest in Pennsylvania/Philadelphia politics.”
“Mark Segal made national news on December 11, 1973 when he interrupted a live broadcast of the CBS Evening News by yelling ‘Gays protest CBS prejudice!’ at none other than Walter Cronkite. He was wrestled to the floor on live national television, an incident often credited as the beginning of the end of LGBTQ invisibility. In his new memoir, Segal looks back on that defining moment in history, as well as the many battles that followed.”
--American Library Association’s GLBT Round Table “And Then I Danced is a fascinating page-turner that prompted my tears, laughter, envy, and astonishment--but most of all left me feeling very proud of what our community has accomplished and grateful to Mark for sharing his intimate memoir. While there are many who have witnessed the extraordinary history of the LGBT community, few have played as major a role in creating it as has Mark. It is no exaggeration to say that there is no person alive today who has been a more central participant in as much of the contemporary LGBT rights struggle than Mark Segal.”
--Queerty
--Sean Strub, author of Body Counts: A Memoir of Politics, Sex, AIDS, and Survival
“If it happened in the gay rights movement, Mark Segal was probably there.”
“Mark Segal has for decades been a pathfinder for LGBT journalists of all stripes. We’re indebted to him for his years of radical activism, helping to foster a movement for change that has had a dramatic and positive impact for millions.”
--ABC-TV “Mark Segal is one of the major actors in the struggle for LGBT equality in the U.S....A life as eventful as Segal’s demands that a book be written about it.”
--Michelangelo Signorile, author of It’s Not Over: Getting Beyond Tolerance, Defeating Homophobia, and Winning True Equality
--South Florida Gay News
“Real change never comes without real guts and real vision and real leaders. Mark Segal is the real deal.”
“Segal’s And Then I Danced harkens back to the glory days of the gay liberation era. Current activists could learn a lot of useful lessons from reading this memoir, and any American who reads it will learn about some interesting chapters in our nation’s ongoing struggle to form a more perfect union.”
--Robert Moore, cofounder of Dallas Voice “Mark Segal’s ideas run from the alpha to the omega. Sometimes I think there’s got to be more than one Mark Segal: he has done way too much for one lifetime. I highly recommend this book. If you can’t get to meet Mark in person, this is the next best thing!”
--David Carter, Author of Stonewall, The Riots that Sparked the Gay Revolution
--Michael Luongo, author of Gay Travels in the Muslim World
“And Then I Danced is more than a memoir; it’s a revelation……….and that’s a huge part of why this book is so vital. Equally important is how Segal shatters mistaken beliefs about queer history. Segal really puts the movement in context for the post-Stonewall generation.”
“Before there was Ellen, Will, Grace, Rosie, Andy, and Anderson, Mark Segal was the squeaky gay wheel of American television, pulling stunts that forced the medium to open its closet door. If Walter Cronkite were still alive, he’d say: Not HIM again! And that’s the way it is. And was. Read all about it.” --Bruce Vilanch, Six-Time Emmy Award Winner
--Lambda Literary Review “Read Mark Segal’s memoir and you’ll get the inside story of how and why he interrupted a live broadcast of The CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite. What happened afterward will surprise you. It’s one of many surprises in this must-read first-person account of LGBT history as it unfolded after Stonewall. Segal was a witness to that history, and he made some of it happen, changing our country and our lives for the better.”
“Mark Segal has taken the LGBT aging world by storm, and in the process has made a remarkable difference for our community’s courageous pioneers. We’ve all learned so much from him.” --Michael Adams, executive director, Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders “With gentle humor and the slightest touch of sardonicism….Segal lets readers into his personal life: his loves, losses, and (spoiler alert!) a very happy ending. “Drama seems to follow me,” he writes, and readers will be glad for it.”
—Louis Wiley, Jr., executive editor, Frontline (PBS)
ORDER AT:
--Washington Blade
Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble or Your Favorite Bookseller
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 2-8, 2016
PGN
Classifieds 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 Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976
HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 2-8, 2016
ADONIS CINEMA
Eating Out Should Be Fun!
“THE ONLY ALL MALE ADULT THEATER IN THE CITY”
2026 Sansom St (located 3 doors up from Sansom St Gym)
215-557-9319 4 Small Theaters with Video & Dark Room Area
HOURS OF OPERATION: Monday - Thursday
7am-6am
(closed an hour for cleaning)
Friday- Sunday:
Open 24hrs
ADMISSION: $12.00
Read PGN’s food reviews every second and fourth week of the month
- and check out our archive of past reviews on epgn.com.
WEEKLY SPECIALS:
SUNDAY RELIEF
Half Price Rooms & Lockers (6am Sunday till 8am Monday) ROOMS: Members: $12.50 and Non-Members: $22.50 LOCKERS: Members: $9.00 and Non-Members: $19.00
MONDAY thru FRIDAY: (8am to 4pm) Business Mans Locker Special 4 hour lockers Members: $5.00 and Non-Members: $15.00 TUESDAYS
Half Price Rooms (6am till 12 Midnight) Members: $12.50 and Non-Members: $22.50
WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY NIGHT CRUISE $12 Flat Rate for Locker Admission & Clothing Optional (4pm-12 Midnight)
SATURDAY AFTERNOON DELIGHT 4 Hour Lockers (8am - 4pm) Members: $5.00 and Non-Members: $15.00
Check out our website for our WEEKLY SPECIALS & JOIN OUR e-mail List to get the latest information on upcoming events....
www.sansomstreetgym.com
BIGGER, BETTER & MORE ENTERTAINING EVENTS...
PGN
Men Delco Dudes
A men’s social and support group meets 7-9 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of the month at Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County, 145 W. Rose Tree Road in Media; delco. dudes@uucdc.org. Gay Married Men’s Association
Meets 7-9 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St.; www.meetup.com/GAMMAGay-Married-Mens-SupportGroup-in-Philadelphia-PA. Men of All Colors Together
Meets 7:30 p.m. the third Friday of the month, September through June, at William Way; 610-2776595, www.MACTPhila.org. Men’s Coming Out Group, N.J.
Meets 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays at The Pride Center of New Jersey; njwarrior@aol.com. Men of Color United
A discussion/support group for gay and bisexual men of color meets 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays at 1207 Chestnut St., third floor; 215-496-0330.
Parents/Families Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Bucks County
Meets 7:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month at Penns Park United Methodist Church, 2394 Second Street Pike, Penns Park, and hird Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Warminster UCC, 785 Street Road; 215-348-9976. PFLAG/Chester County
Meets 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month at the Unitarian Fellowship of West Chester, 501 S. High St.; 484-354-2448. PFLAG/Collingswood, N.J.
Meets 6:30-9 p.m. the fourth Monday of the month at Collingswood Public Library, 771 Haddon Ave.; 609-202-4622, pflagcollingswood@yahoo.com. PFLAG/Media
Meets 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of every month at the Unitarian Universal Church, 145 Rose Tree Rd.; 610-368-2021. PFLAG/Philadelphia
Trans Evolutions
A drop-in support group for anyone on the transgender spectrum meets 6 p.m. Thursdays at 21 S. 12th St., eighth floor; 215-563-0652 ext. 235. Mazzoni Center Family and Community Medicine
Primary health care and specialized transgender services in a safe, professional, nonjudgmental environment, 809 Locust St.; 215-563-0658. T-MAN
People-of-color support group for transmen, FTMs, butches, studs, aggressives, bois, genderqueer and all female-born individuals with gender questions meets 7:30-9:30 p.m. Mondays, 1201 Locust St., second floor; 215632-3028, tmanphilly.com. Transhealth Information Project
Sponsors a weekly drop-in center from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays and and 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fridays at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; 215-851-1822. Transgender Health Action Coalition
Peer trans health-advocacy organization, 1201 Locust St., fourth floor; 215-732-1207. Young, Trans and Unified
Support group for transgender and questioning individuals ages 13-23 meets 7:15 p.m. Thursdays at The Attic Youth Center, 255 S. 16th St.; 215-545-4331, www. atticyouthcenter.org.
Women Hanging Out With Lesbians
A group in Central Pennsylvania that organizes concerts, camping, golf, picnics, hikes, plays and game nights in nonsmoking environments; http://groups. yahoo.com/group/howlofpa/. Lesbian Community of Delaware Valley
Social group meets monthly for activities for gay women of all ages in Delaware, Chester and Montgomery counties; http:// groups.yahoo.com/group/LCDV/. Lesbian Couples Dining Group of Montgomery County
Meets monthly; 215-542-2899. Mt. Airy Lesbian Social Club
Youth Discussion group for teen and young adults meets 6-8 p.m. Thursdays at The COLOURS Organization Inc., 1207 Chestnut St., third floor; 215-851-1975. GLBT Group of Hunterdon County
Social and support groups for youth, teens and young adults, as well as parents and family members, meet at North County Branch Library, 65 Halstead St. in Clinton, N.J.; schedule at www. glbtofhunterdoncountyofnj.com, 908-300-1058. HAVEN
LGBT, intersex, questioning, queer and allied youth ages 14-20 meet 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Lehigh Valley, 424 Center St., Bethlehem; 610-868-2153. HiTOPS
A safe-space support program for LGBT and questioning youth meets 2:30-4:30 p.m. the first and third Saturdays at 21 Wiggins St., Princeton, N.J.; 609-683-5155, hitops.org. Main Line Youth Alliance
PRYSM Youth Center
Youth ages 14-20 meet 6:30-8:30 p.m Wednesdays at the center, 126 East Baltimore Pike, Media; 610357-9948. Rainbow Room: Bucks County’s LGBTQ and Allies Youth Center
Youth ages 14-21 meets 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays at Salem UCC Education Building, 181 E. Court St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981 ext. 9065, rainbowroom@ppbucks. org. Social X Change
Social activity group for LGBT youth of color ages 13-23 meets 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays at 1207 Chestnut St., third floor; 215-8511975.
Sisters United
Young, Trans and Unified
Philadelphia Family Pride
Advocacy, support and social network for LGBT families offers play groups, monthly kids and teen talk groups, activities and outings. Planning meetings held monthly; 215-600-2864, info@phillyfamilypride.org, www.phillyfamilypride.org.
Women Coming-Out Support Group
Women, ages 18 and over, who consider themselves gay, lesbian, bisexual or questioning and are at any stage of the coming-out process are welcome to meet 7:30 p.m. the first Tuesday and third Thursday of the month at the Pride Center of New Jersey; www.pridecenter.org.
■ ActionAIDS: 215-981-0088
Space to be Proud, Open, and Together
A support group for transgender and questioning youth ages 13-23 meets 7:15 p.m. Thursdays at The Attic Youth Center; 215-545-4331, www.atticyouthcenter.org. You’re Not Alone
Sponsored by AIDS Delaware, the group for gay, lesbian and bisexual youth meets during the school year at 100 W. 10th St., Suite 315, Wilmington, Del; 800-810-6776. Youth Making a Difference
A group for LGBTQ AfricanAmerican and Latino youth ages 14-24 meets 5-7 p.m. Tuesdays at Camden AHEC, 514 Cooper St.; 856-963-2432.
■ Rainbow Room: Bucks County’s LGBTQ and Allies Youth Center Salem UCC Education Building, 181 E. Court St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981 ext. 9065, rainbowroom@ppbucks.org. Activities held 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays.
■ William Way Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220, www.waygay.org. Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays Peer counseling: 6-9 p.m. Monday-Friday Library: noon-9 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday Volunteers: New Orientation, first Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.
Key numbers
■ AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania: 215-587-9377
■ Equality Pennsylvania: 215731-1447; www.equalitypa.org
■ AIDS Law Project of Southern New Jersey: 856-933-9500 ext. 221
■ Equality Forum: 215-732-3378
■ AIDS Library: 215-985-4851
■ AIDS Treatment Fact line: 800662-6080
LGBT youth drop-in center offers meetings, HIV and STD prevention and testing, counseling and other services on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 514 Cooper St., Camden, N.J.; 856-963-2432, camden-ahec.org/.
Social group for women in their 20s meets weekly; http:// groups.yahoo.com/group/ queerconnections/.
Meets 7-9 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1502 W. 13th St.; 302654-2995.
■ Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center at the University of Pennsylvania 3907 Spruce St., 215-898-5044, center@dolphin. upenn.edu. Regular hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. MondayThursday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday; noon-6 p.m. Saturday; noon-8 p.m. Sunday. Summer hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Project Keeping it Safe
PFLAG/Princeton, N.J.
PFLAG/Wilmington, Del.
Community centers
■ The Attic Youth Center 255 S. 16th St.; 215-545-4331, atticyouthcenter.org. For LGBT and questioning youth and their friends and allies. Groups meet and activities are held 4-7 p.m. Monday-Tuesday and 4-8:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday. Case management, HIV testing and smoking cessation are available Monday-Friday.
■ ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215592-1513
Open to all LGBTQ queer youth and allies, ages 14-21, the SPOT meets 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursdays at Planned Parenthood of Chester County, 8 S. Wayne St.; 267-6876648.
A social/support group for transwomen of color ages 13-24, with weekly social events, open discusson and monthly movie/ discussions meets 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays, 1207 Chestnut St., third floor; 215-496-0330.
Community Bulletin Board
Meets from 7-9:30 p.m. Fridays at 106 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne; 610-688-1861, info@myaonline. org.
For lesbians in the Philadelphia area ages 35-plus; www.meetup. com/mtairylesbiansocial/.
Meets 7:30 p.m. the second Monday of the month in the George Thomas Room at Trinity Church, 33 Mercer St.; 609-6835155.
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40 Acres of Change
Meets 2-5 p.m. the third Sunday of the month at the LGBT Center at the University of Pennsylvania, 3907 Spruce St.; 215-572-1833.
Queer Connections
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 2-8, 2016
■ Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection at the Independence Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library: 215-685-1633 n The COLOURS Organization Inc.: 215-496-0330
■ LGBT Peer Counseling Services: 215-732-TALK ■ Mazzoni Center: 215-563-0652; Legal Services: 215-563-0657, 866-LGBT-LAW; Family & Community Medicine: 215-563-0658 ■ Office of LGBT Affairs — Director Nellie Fitzpatrick: 215-6860330; helen.fitzpatrick@phila.gov
■ Philadelphia Police Department liaison — Deputy Commissioner Kevin Bethel: 215-6863318 ■ Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 215-760-3686 (Rick Lombardo); 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)
■ Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): 215-572-1833 ■ Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations: 215-686-4670
Health
Anonymous, free, confidential HIV testing Spanish/English counselors offer testing 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 216 W. Somerset St.; 215-763-8870. ActionAIDS Provides a range of programs for people affected by HIV/ AIDS, including case management, prevention, testing and education services at 1216 Arch St.; 215-981-0088, www. actionaids.org. GALAEI: A Queer Latin@ Social Justice Organization Free, anonymous HIV testing from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; noon-6 p.m. Tuesdays at the Washington West Project, 1201 Locust St.; 215-851-1822 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 (walk-in) and 5-8 p.m. Thursdays (by appointment) at Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad St.; 215685-1821. HIV health insurance help Access to free medications and confidential HIV testing 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays at 13 S. MacDade Blvd., Suite
■ Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia Board meetings at 6:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at 100 S. Broad St., Suite 1810; free referral service at 215-6279090, www.galloplaw.org. ■ Independence Business Alliance Greater Philadelphia’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce, providing networking, business development, marketing, educational and advocacy opportunities for LGBT and LGBT-friendly busi-
108, Collingdale; Medical Office Building, 722 Church Lane, Yeadon; and 630 S. 60th St.; 610-586-9077. Mazzoni Center LGBTQ counseling and behavioral health services, HIV/ AIDS care and services, 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, as well as youth drop-in (ages 14-24) 5-7p.m. Wednesdays; 809 Locust St.; 215-563-0658. Philadelphia FIGHT Comprehensive AIDS service organization providing primary care, consumer education, advocacy and research on potential treatments and vaccines; 1233 Locust St.; 215985-4448; www.fight.org. Washington West Project of Mazzoni Center Free, rapid HIV testing. Walk-ins welcome 9 a.m.-9 pm. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday; 1201 Locust St.; 215-985-9206.
Professional groups nesses and professionals; 215557-0190, www.IndependenceBusinessAlliance.com. ■ National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association Philadelphia chapter of NLGJA, open to professionals and students, meets for social and networking events; www.nlgja.org/ philly; philly@nlgja.org.
■ Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus Regional organization dedicated to promoting LGBT tourism to the Greater Philadelphia region, meetings every other month on the fourth Thursday (January, March, May, July, September and the third Thursday in November), open to the public; 215-8402039, www.philadelphiagaytourism.com.
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 2-8, 2016
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EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF FALL IN BALTIMORE. Tour naval vessels, meet the authors behind the pages and catch the art world’s hot new exhibit. These are just a few of the things to do this fall in Baltimore.
4TH ANNUAL BALTIMORE FAMILY REUNION EXPO
MARYLAND FLEET WEEK AND AIR SHOW BALTIMORE
Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture September 10, 2016
Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and Martin State Airport October 10–17, 2016
Experience what family is all about at this festive event, featuring workshops and celebrity seminars to help you plan the ultimate reunion. Enjoy live performances, culinary delights and a fun-filled kids’ zone.
It’s sure to be an unforgettable week when U.S. and Canadian gray hulls, schooners and the famous Blue Angels join the celebration of the Chesapeake’s rich naval history and tradition. Visit the ships, marvel at the air show and cheer for the vessels heading to the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race. Plus, the Inner Harbor will feature familyfriendly activities, entertainment and food.
BALTIMORE BOOK FESTIVAL
Baltimore’s Inner Harbor September 23–25, 2016
It’s bookworm heaven at the 21st annual Baltimore Book Festival, featuring hundreds of national and local authors, such as Carl Hiaasen, Terry McMillan, D. Watkins, Becky Albertalli and more, speaking on 12 stages. Cooking demos, poetry, workshops, panel discussions, live music and local food round out the fun. It’s a literary feast with gourmet eats!
MATISSE/DIEBENKORN
Baltimore Museum of Art October 23, 2016–January 29, 2017
BALTIMORE BLACK PRIDE
This highly anticipated exhibition shows the profound influence of Henri Matisse on the work of American artist Richard Diebenkorn. Breathtaking juxtapositions of more than 90 paintings and drawings reveal the enduring power of Diebenkorn’s experiences of the French artist’s work, and a stunning new view of two artists who never met.
Celebrate diversity during Baltimore’s Black Pride. This year’s events include seminars, entertainment, a Pride Empowerment luncheon and the annual Cultural Affair, all focused around the theme “Respect the Power Within.”
Plan your visit today at BALTIMORE.ORG
Locations throughout Baltimore October 6–9, 2016
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