PGN September 7 - 13, 2018 by The Philadelphia Gay News

pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976

Vol. 42 No. 36 Sept. 7-13, 2018

Family Portrait: Jamie Holmes-Allen isn’t sweating the sisterhood PAGE 23

Allegheny police to implement training after misgendering trans woman By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com The Allegheny County Police Department last week said it will implement LGBT-sensitivity training in response to concerns about the department’s misgendering of a trans woman who was allegedly raped by her cellmate in a county jail. The department, based in Pittsburgh, provides law-enforcement services on the county-owned property and assists local police in 130 municipalities within the county. It has about 240 sworn officers and 50 civilian employees. Superintendent Coleman McDonough told PGN the department is in contact with a local LGBT-advocacy group, Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh, to help implement the training. “As we move forward, we will work with local entities representing the LGBT community to develop policies and train our officers accordingly, so we can truly serve every citizen fairly, equitably and sensitively,” McDonough said in an Aug. 31 email. Dena Stanley, a trans woman of color and Delta board member, said in a statement: “We are encouraged that the Allegheny County Police are willing to come together and learn about my community. It’s important that there be training and education as well as ongoing conversations with diverse people as they serve all.” The issue arose after a transgender woman said she was raped inside the Allegheny County jail by her cellmate on July 17. An Allegheny County police criminal complaint filed in Pittsburgh Municipal Court against the defendant, Taylor J. Booth, identifies the alleged victim as “John Doe.” The document repeatedly uses male pronouns when referring to her, describes her as an “adult male” and refers to her female name as an “alias.” Booth, 21, stands accused of three felonies and two misdemeanors, PAGE 17

William Way Center closes temporarily for permits PAGE 9

HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM

The Bearded Ladies Cabaret offers a “Cookie PAGE 45

OUTPour: Picasso of the posterior

PAGE 11

Progressive political-action summit heads to Philly By Adriana Fraser adriana@epgn.com

A political-action group is hosting a summit in Philadelphia to excite voters ahead of November’s elections and maximize civic engagement. The Arena will host its fifth summit, entitled “Love + Action,” Sept. 7-8 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The social-welfare organization was formed after Ravi Gupta, a 2008 Obama campaign staffer who also previously worked as the special assistant and speechwriter for Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, put out a call to action on Facebook encouraging friends to join his efforts to “do something” after Donald Trump’s election win. Three weeks after Trump’s victory over Democratic candidate Hilary Clinton, The Arena hosted its first summit in Nashville, where more than 400 attendees gathered to discuss the future of the country. This year’s Philadelphia summit is expected to be The Arena’s largest, with more than 1,000 civic and political leaders coming from around the country to discuss strategies on how to be more politically active. The summit will be a combination of keynote speeches and breakout training sessions that include workshops such as “Hip Hop, Politics and Your Voice,” “Taking Action for the 2018 Midterms” and “Working on a

2020 Campaign.” One of the main objectives of the summit, Lee Pedinoff, the Arena’s director of marketing, is to help anyone interested in running for political office get their campaigns off the ground. Speakers will provide information on how to get on a ballot, establish campaign fundraisers and enlist volunteers. Attendees can also gain insight on how to start their own civic organizations and nonprofits. More than 20 speakers will addres the summit, including Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, former Mayor Michael Nutter, City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart and Malcolm Kenyatta, the out Democratic candidate running for state representative in the 181st House District. Kenyatta said the summit is the latest progressive movement to give people a platform to create change. “The summit will be a crash course on how folks can actually get involved and help to flip the House one campaign at a time, one vote at a time. We’re taking action one step further and actually providing people with the resources they need to run their own campaigns or to help educate people on how they can support their local candidates running for office.” The political-action group is working to establish the next generation of public officers, said Pedinoff. The Arena sponsors progressive candidates

and offers a scholarship for attendees looking to start a political campaign or a civic organization. “Our whole goal is to break down barriers and make politics more accessible to everyone. We realized that we needed to help more people without the money or the network get more civically engaged and politically active,” Pedinoff said. “The summit is for people who know that they want to do something, but they don’t know what that something is.” Pedinoff added that the summit’s wide range of guests was intentional, to “make running for office much more of a real thing for people.” “As we put together the lineup of speakers, we were intentional about bringing together a diverse coalition in age, gender and sexual orientation. We want people to leave with a clear plan of action of how they’ll get involved regardless of any barriers that might be in their way.” n For information on purchasing tickets to The Arena’s Philadelphia summit, visit https:// thearena.run/philadelphia/#eventbrite.

Community college opens LGBTQ center By Adriana Fraser adriana@epgn.com Community College of Philadelphia is unveiling its first LGBTQ center to provide a safe, affirming space for LGBTQidentified students. The initiative is part of the college’s larger mission to support LGBTQ students, said Gregory Murphy, vice president of institutional advancement at CCP, who was involved in creating the center. “We’re providing accessible, high-quality education that will contribute to students’ success while helping them make it to graduation. The center is one of many steps the college is taking to spread the message that we’re inclu-

sive to all students, especially those from marginalized groups.” The MarcDavid LGBTQ Center is the newest addition to the Winnet Student Life Building on CCP’s main campus in the Fairmount neighborhood. The open-admission institution has close to 15,000 full-time students enrolled, with more than 30,000 students taking credit and noncredit courses. Vincent Scarfo, the center’s newly appointed coordinator, went from holding meetings in secret locations at the University of Southern California a few years ago for a group of LGBTQ students who were part of Greek life to now welcoming LGBTQ students to his own office — one adorned with rainbow and transgender-pride flags. PAGE 18

VINCENT SCARFO

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Resource listings

Media Trail

Legal resources • ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215-592-1513; aclupa.org • AIDS Law Project of PA: 215-587-9377; aidslawpa.org • AIDS Law Project of South Jersey: 856-784-8532; aidslawsnj.org/ • Equality PA: equalitypa. org; 215-731-1447

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

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

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. • LGBT Center at the University of Pennsylvania; 3907 Spruce

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

• 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.

• William Way LGBT Community Center 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220, www.waygay.org.

Health and HIV testing • Action Wellness: 1216 Arch St.; 215981-0088, actionwellness.org

• AIDS Library:

1233 Locust St.; aidslibrary.org/

• AIDS Treatment Fact line: 800-6626080

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

• COLOURS: colour-

sorganization.org, 215832-0100

• Congreso de Latinos Unidos;

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

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

• Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad

St.; 215-685-1821

• Mazzoni Center:

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

• Philadelphia FIGHT: 1233 Locust St.; 215-985-4448, fight.org

• Washington West Project of Mazzoni Center:

1201 Locust St.; 215985-9206

• Transgender Health Action Coalition: 215-732-1207

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

anti-bullying law and instructs schools to create plans for gender-diverse students and address them by their preferred pronouns. The policy does not address how schools decide which bathrooms and locker rooms students use.

University criticized over California won’t advance removal of trans study gay conversion therapy ban The Providence Journal reports Brown in 2018 University in Rhode Island has received The Santa Rosa Press Demoocrat reports a California lawmaker is ending his effort this year to pass a bill declaring gay-conversion therapy a fraudulent practice. Democratic Assemblyman Evan Low of Campbell says he authored the bill because conversion therapy has been proven ineffective and harmful. His measure would have banned selling or advertising sexual orientation therapy as a way to change someone’s sexual orientation. But he announced Aug. 31, the final day of this year’s legislative session, that he needs more time as he tries to craft a national model. The bill passed both the Senate and Assembly and was awaiting a final Assembly vote sending it to Gov. Jerry Brown. But Low says opposition has built to the measure, with some saying lawmakers shouldn’t limit therapy choices and others fighting the proposal on religious grounds.

Lawmakers postpone discussion of transgender student policy The Reno Gazette Journal reports State lawmakers have postponed discussing a policy regarding transgender students in Nevada public schools as parents have raised concerns that it wasn’t properly vetted. The Legislative Commission removed the policy from its Aug. 30 meeting agenda. Assembly Speaker and Commission Chairman Jason Frierson of Las Vegas said he heard concerns from parents about the way the policy was considered by the state Department of Education earlier this year. Frierson says it’s fair to ensure that that the process for public participation was fair before the Legislative Commission votes to enact the policy. The policy was part of a 2017 state

heavy criticism over its decision to remove news about a study on transgender youth from its website. The paper by Brown assistant professor Lisa Littman suggested gender dysphoria occurs during the onset of puberty, and it suggested girls might decide they are transgender due to peer pressure or online influences. The study used the observations of parents, who critics say could be politically biased or against their children identifying as transgender. Brown representatives say they removed the article because of concerns over the study’s research methodology. Littman says she stands by the conclusion of her study. She has launched an online petition to encourage the university to resist “ideologically-based attempts to squelch controversial research evidence.”

Judge declares Utah women, 1 dead, to be legally married The Salt Lake Tribune reports a 74-yearold woman cried tears of joy when a Utah state judge took the rare step of declaring her and her longtime lesbian partner legally married just months after her wife died. Judge Patrick Corum on Aug. 28 ruled that Bonnie Foerster is legally married to Beverly Grossaint, who died in May in Salt Lake City at age 82. Foerster met Grossaint in January 1968 in New York City under unhappy circumstances: Foerster was escaping an abusive husband. When Grossaint first saw her, Foerster had broken ribs and was wearing dark glasses to hide black eyes. Foerster says she and Grossaint, a proud veteran of the Women’s Army Corps, marched in the first gay Pride parade in New York City in 1970. n

• Independence Business Alliance; 215-557-0190, IndependenceBusinessAlliance.com

• LGBT Peer Counseling Services: 215-732-TALK • PFLAG: Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): 215-572-1833 • Philly Pride Presents: 215-875-9288

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Cease Fire PA takes aim at gun violence against trans women of color

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International Amnesty urges Malaysia to quash caning sentence of lesbians Amnesty International this week urged Malaysia to quash a caning sentence for a lesbian couple, calling the punishment cruel and unjust. Two unidentified ethnic Malay women, ages 22 and 32, had pleaded guilty for attempting to have sexual intercourse and were sentenced to six strokes of a cane and fined by a Shariah court earlier this month.

The caning in northeast Terengganu state was due Aug. 28 but reportedly postponed to Sept. 3 due to technical reasons. Court officials couldn’t be immediately reached for comment. Amnesty’s Malaysian director Gwen Lee welcomed the deferment but said a delay was insufficient. “We are pleased that the cruel and unjust punishment that was handed down to these two women did not take place as scheduled,” Lee said in a statement. “However, a delay is obviously not enough. Both women must now have their sentences quashed immediately and unconditionally to reverse this injustice once and for all.” Amnesty urged Malaysia to “end the use of caning and repeal the laws that impose these torturous punishments completely.” Nearly two-thirds of Malaysia’s 31 million people are Muslims, who are governed by Islamic courts in family, marriage and personal issues. The international rights group also said

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 7-13, 2018

the court’s decision occurred amid growing concern of a climate of fear and discrimination against people in Malaysia’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community. It said a few weeks ago, authorities removed the portraits of two LGBT rights activists from a public exhibition. Malaysia’s religious minister Mujahid Yusuf later said the government doesn’t support the promotion of LGBT culture in the country. A transgender woman was also beaten up by a group of people in a southern state this month.

New Zealand allows Chelsea Manning entry for speaking tour New Zealand authorities said last week that convicted government-secrets leaker Chelsea Manning can enter the country for a speaking tour, a day

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after tour organizers said she couldn’t enter Australia. Manning was convicted and sentenced to 35 years in prison for leaking U.S. government secrets and would not normally qualify for entry into New Zealand under its good-character provisions.

But Immigration New Zealand General Manager Steve Stuart said Manning had been granted a “special direction,” allowing her to apply for a working visa for planned speaking events in Auckland and Wellington next month.

Stuart said the agency noted that Manning’s sentence had been commuted by President Barack Obama in 2017, that she had not reoffended since being released, and that the chances of her offending while in New Zealand were low. New Zealand’s conservative opposition National Party had urged the government to ban Manning, saying her appearance would not enhance New Zealand’s relationship with the U.S. Australia has similar good-character rules to New Zealand. Manning’s tour was due to start in Sydney on Sept. 2, but on Aug. 30 event organizer Think Inc. said it had received a notice of intention from the Australian government to deny Manning entry. The group was calling on her supporters to lobby new Immigration Minister David Coleman to allow her into Australia. While Manning can appeal, past precedent suggests the decision has already been made. Think Inc. said it had given the government letters of support from individuals and organizations who support Manning’s entry to Australia. “Ms. Manning offers formidable ideas and an insightful perspective which we are hoping to bring to the forefront of Australian dialogue,’’ Think Inc. Director Suzi Jamil said in a statement. Manning, 30, acknowledged leaking more than 700,000 military and State Department documents to anti-secrecy site WikiLeaks in 2010. Known as Bradley Manning at the time of her arrest, she came out as transgender after her 2013 court-martial. She recently lost a Democratic primary in a long-shot bid for a U.S. Senate seat in Maryland. Under its good-character rules, New Zealand typically denies entry to people who have been sentenced to five years or more in prison at any time in their lives, or who have been sentenced to 12 months or more in prison at some point during the last 10 years. n

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HEALTH AND WELLNESS DIRECTORY

FITNESS PGN

Exercise for better body function Just because the fitness industry changes every year doesn’t mean the basics change. In the last few years, fitness professionals have embraced different styles of training that implement more functional movements and challenge the body in different ways. Functional training focuses on improving everyday movements by eliminating muscular compensations and improving posture. Below are some exercises that are essential in improving the body’s balance because they require fullbody activation, which means that the entire body is working to exert and support the movement.

Pushups The pushup requires most of the body to maintain a plank position. More importantly, pushups strengthen the chest, triceps, shoulders and core. The core consists of every muscle that protects the spine. As someone lowers their body while doing a pushup, they must maintain their overall body position. The joints that should be moving are the shoulder and elbow.

Body U

Pullups Pullups are unique because, although the dominant muscle groups being worked are the back muscles and biceps, they also activate other areas to support the body; it’s a multi-joint movement. Considering that most people do not move, a multi-joint movement like a pullup can be very beneficial because it activates muscles that aren’t normally activated.

The squat and deadlift Megan Niño The squat, known for the strengthening of the glutes, hamstrings and quads, and the deadlift, which focuses on the Farmer’s walk glutes, hamstrings and upper back, are common The farmer’s walk isn’t a popular exercise, but it exercises that many people assume are exer- is very functional. cises for great butt gains. A person would grab two weights and hold one Although this may be true, the squat and with each hand. With a strong posture, he/she/they deadlift have many other benefits. The average would begin to walk for a designated amount of person sits for 13 hours and sleeps for eight, time. This type of exercise really replicates carrying which means they are sedentary for about 21 groceries. Many people hurt their backs or shoulders hours. Sitting puts an individual’s hip flexors picking things up and/or cannot carry the weight that in a prolonged flexed position, which results in needs to be carried. The farmer’s walk strengthens tightness. Because of the lack of glute and ham- your overall posture and your grip. These are just a few exercises that have great benestring activation, those muscle groups become fits. By practicing these and advancing, an individual weak or atrophied over time. This overcompensation can result in back will notice great change not only in how they feel, pain, ITB band tightness, etc. Both exercises but in how they move. It is important that these exercises are done correquire flexing the glutes by pushing the hips slightly past a neutral position. Essentially, rectly. Seek a professional for proper instruction and this motion strengthens the glutes and opens technique. n up the hips. Sitting also causes most people to round Megan Niño is a kinesiologist and personal trainer through her business, Vigor Vida Fitness & Wellness. She is an enertheir shoulders and push their necks forward. getic and positive person who prides herself on teaching others Deadlifts, on the other hand, also help to to find empowerment in their lives through fitness. She trains strengthen the upper back because a strong pos- her clients out of Optimal Sports Club and offers in-home training in Philadelphia and on the Main Line. ture is required for the entire motion.

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SCOTUS denies emergency relief for HEALTH AND WELLNESS DIRECTORY Catholic foster agency rev. dr. Nadine

By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com The U.S. Supreme Court this week denied a request from Catholic Social Services for an emergency order to resume foster-child referrals from the city of Philadelphia. City officials have refused to refer additional foster children to CSS because the agency won’t place those children with samesex couples in accordance with the city’s antidiscrimination laws. The referrals stopped in March after reports about CSS’ anti-LGBT policies came to light. In adherence to Catholic Church policy, CSS also won’t place children in homes headed by unmarried opposite-sex couples. City officials maintain such discrimination violates the city’s Fair Practices Ordinance. CSS conversely has accused the city of violating its religious-freedom and free-speech rights. While CSS’ legal challenge remains pending at the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, the agency filed an emergency appeal for the resumption of city referrals with SCOTUS on July 31. On Aug. 30, the Supreme Court rejected CSS’ appeal without elaborating. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel A. Alito Jr. and Neil Gorsuch dissented. The case now returns to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, where oral arguments are expected in the fall. “We are thankful for the court’s careful consideration and pleased with the order,” said Deana Gamble, a spokesperson for Mayor Jim Kenney. In court papers, CSS argued that if it didn’t get emergency relief, it would have to phase out its foster-care program within the next several months. The agency currently provides foster-care services for about 100 children in city custody. “These children need continuity and support, not additional disruptions. A temporary injunction costs the City nothing. But the lack of an injunction costs CSS, the foster families

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it serves, and the children they serve, everything,” states CSS’ appeal. But city attorneys emphasized the city’s commitment to providing foster-care services in a bias-free manner, adding that city officials don’t harbor animus against Catholicism. According to city records, in the past year, Philadelphia paid about $26 million to CSS for a variety of services apart from foster-care services. About $4 million of those funds were derived from city tax dollars. The remaining funds came from state and federal grants. Justin F. Robinette, a local civil-rights attorney, said he wasn’t surprised by the Supreme Court’s ruling. “It really was a Hail Mary pass on the part of CSS. Two lower courts denied the emergency request. And I seriously doubted that the Supreme Court would have granted it. “However, I am concerned that three justices dissented. Those justices were raised as Catholics and they’re also conservatives. Let’s hope that if this issue returns to the Supreme Court down the road, we get the same result,” said Robinette. A spokesperson for CSS couldn’t be immediately reached for comment. n

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Group targets violence against trans women September 10 through

October 28

Sept 15 & 16

Scarecrow-Making Workshops Live Entertainment 7 Family fun DAMON HARPER (LEFT) AND MICHAEL COGBILL (RIGHT) AT THE PHILADELPHIA TRANS WELLNESS CONFERENCE

peddlersvillage.com | 215-794-4000 Routes 202 & 263, Lahaska, PA

By Adriana Fraser adriana@epgn.com A statewide advocacy group is speaking out about the increasing number of transgender women of color disproportionately affected by gun violence. CeaseFirePA is the largest grassroots organization in the state working to prevent gun violence. Michael Cogbill, community organizer for the Philadelphia office, is leading the group’s efforts to raise awareness about the “most vulnerable population of gun-violence victims.” “CeaseFirePA is stepping into communities that are heavily affected by gun violence, including the trans community. We’ve been increasingly visible in LGBTQ spaces advocating for trans people, specifically trans women of color,” Cogbill said. “I’ve adjusted my advocacy efforts to educate the community on trans-panic violence, while pointing out a trend that I don’t think many people outside the community realize is becoming a serious issue.” A single poster in the group’s Philadelphia office hangs on the wall with 11 names written in black letters across a white background. Nizah Morris, Gucci, Erika Keels, Stacey Blahnik, Kyra Cordova, Diamond Williams, Keisha Jenkins, Maya Young, London Chanel, Sean Ryan Hake and Andi Woodhouse were the victims of gun violence in Pennsylvania over the last 15 years. A third of these victims were trans women of color, one of the most vulnerable populations that is also disproportionately affected by gun violence, said Cogbill. “Trans women of color are dying at alarming rates and no one seems to be talking about it. We’re doing all that we can to help the trans community and other

marginalized communities stand up and advocate for themselves when it comes to gun-control policies,” he said. Rhona Gerber, CeaseFirePA’s director of development, said the group provides the public with tools to advocate for “common-sense gun control.” “We teach people how to be advocates, how to effect changes in gun policies and how to reach out to their legislators,” she said. There’s a widespread belief that only experts, people in positions of power or those who have a lot of money can affect policy. Through the CeaseFire Pennsylvania Education Fund, we’re educating citizens about the power of their voice when it comes to fighting gun violence.” The Human Rights Campaign, the national LGBTQ civil-rights advocacy group, released a report last November stating that 84 percent of trans victims of fatal gun violence in 2017 were people of color. Last month, The Advocate reported that 18 homicides of trans Americans had been reported so far this year. More than half of those victims were trans women of color. Cogbill became interested in joining the cause after working at the 12th Street Air Command, now known as iCandy, and seeing firsthand the violence against trans women of color. He convinced CeaseFirePA to participate for the first time in Mazzoni Center’s Trans Wellness Conference last month. There, he learned about the use of pronouns and nonbinary identities. “I now incorporate asking for preferred pronouns during organizing events,” Cogbill said, adding that the conference taught him awareness and sensitivity. CeaseFirePA will take part in the annual Philadelphia Trans March in October. n

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William Way reopens after temp closure

By Adriana Fraser adriana@epgn.com The William Way LGBT Community Center reopened after the city shuttered it or four days following an anonymous call. Karen Guss, a spokesperson for the city’s Department of Licenses and Inspections, said the complaint was called into the city’s 311 helpline and prompted the department’s operations division to investigate the center’s compliance with property-maintenance codes Aug. 28. “The inspector visited the site to assess the property’s fire-safety compliance. After seeing construction was being done on the site without any visible permits, he sent a referral to the development-services division to inspect the property,” Guss said. The center, at 1315 Spruce St., was found in violation of 11 Philadelphia property maintenance codes, including lack of proper building and electrical permits for construction on the property’s third floor, damage to part of the flooring and ceiling, the obstruction of exits and non-working emergency lighting on each floor. The construction issues on the third floor prompted L&I to issue a stop-work order for the premises Aug. 29 and ordered the staff to vacate pending compliance. The second violation report read: “On 8/29/2018 the Department of Licenses and Inspections conducted an inspection/investigation of the property and found it in violation of the Philadelphia Code … A re-inspection

will be conducted on or about 10/17/2018 to determine compliance with this order.” The community center reopened Sept. 5, according to a statement posted on its website, which read in part: “The WWCC will be closed to the public … through Sept. 4 due to unanticipated construction.” Signs on the center’s front doors read: “The center will be closed during Labor Day weekend to complete renovations.” Other signs redirected visitors to various locations throughout the city for rescheduled group meetings. Chris Bartlett, executive director of William Way, admitted to the misstep of the unpermitted construction and said the center is working with a project manager and a building-safety consultant to address L&I’s compliance requirements. “We received word from our contractor and architect that we didn’t need permits for rebuilding our archival space on the building’s third floor. That was a mistake and I take full responsibility for that,” Bartlett said. “We apologize to the community for any inconvenience that this necessary work has had. The safety and comfort of all who use the center is our paramount concern.” The nonprofit center was founded in 1975 and has been housed in its current building since 1997. William Way’s programs include a large archive of local and regional LGBT documents and artifacts, an extensive library and programs in peer counseling, senior services, education, arts and culture. n

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EDITORIAL PGN EDITORIAL

Critical Conversations

Johnathan Gilmore

Why I’ll never tone down my gay

Editorial

Welcome to Fentanyldelphia If you’ve walked pretty much anywhere in Center City recently, you’ve probably seen people openly unconscious in the middle of a sidewalk, staggering through the streets or passed out in green spaces. Since the Philadelphia police cleared away encampments in Kensington in March, where more than 100 homeless substance addicts were living, the lack of available beds in local shelters sent people farther south along the I-95 corridor in search of survival. But those driven out of Kensington represent just one piece of a larger puzzle — that of a skyrocketing number of overdoses and homeless individuals. The culprit is fentanyl, an entirely synthetic opioid that is highly addictive and potent. It is causing more deaths in this city than heroin, and it is part of how opioid addiction is moving from rural areas to urban ones. Fentanyl or varying fentanyl analogs were connected to 846 of the city’s 1,217 unintentional drug overdoses last year — an increase of more than 95 percent since 2016. These figures come from city government, which is aware of the scale of the problem and is taking a variety of measures to combat it, including filing suit against opioid manufacturers and increasing the availability of treatment. Yet it’s not enough to break a tidal wave of addiction that grows exponentially as it gets closer and closer to our homes and lives. Philadelphia’s fentanyl likely comes from China, where it is made in labs, for just a few-thousand dollars a pound. While costing about the same as heroin, fentanyl packs a high up to 100 times more powerful. The same goes for the comedown and the subsequent withdrawal. All of which means that being addicted to fentanyl makes it difficult to hold a job and maintain stable housing. In the city, the fastest-growing homeless population is comprised of LGBTQ individuals under age 25. Forty percent of young homeless people are LGBTQs, many of whom were kicked out of their homes for their sexual orientation. Philadelphia now enjoys a reputation for a particularly potent and pure strain of fentanyl. It is not clear how many LGBTQ people are caught in the deadly pull of it, but the figures tell us that far too many people on the streets are LGBTQ. They already lack support systems and resources to build healthy lives. The lure of fentanyl may be too much to resist. n

I should preface this piece with the veryreal fact that, by nature, I’m considered to be a masculine guy. While this fluctuates with alcohol and how comfortable I feel, usually I sound like the Marine I was trained to be. But don’t you dare tell me or any one of my queer friends to tone it down, and that includes you masc-for-masc dudes! “I’m cool with gays having their rights and all, but why do they have to be so vociferous about it?” is a question I’ve received multiple times in my short life of 27 years. Another common observation I hear: “Pride should be about information and education, not flamboyant men in thongs shaking their asses.” And to that I have the following response: Go fuck yourself. We’re here, we’re queer — get fucking used to it. These comments don’t just come from straight allies or straight people in general. I’ve heard similar sentiments from multiple gay men; specifically, more heteronormative gay men. A gay colleague told me he had a hard time fitting in with the community because he hates that some gays act so flamboyant and attract so much attention. He, being a masculine gay himself, has the privilege of staying silent in an era he was so lucky to be born in — an era in which homosexuality isn’t a synonym of pedophilia; an era when homosexuality is no longer considered a psychological illness; and to be born in the same generation of gay men as me, who’ve seemingly forgotten our turbulent rise to equality (and we’re not where we should be) and those who fervently fought to get us the rights we have. Quite a few gay couples I know refuse to attend Pride parades because they feel that gays are taking things too far. They feel Pride parades are an excuse for gay men to get together, to be as loud and flamboyant as they want and to do a ton of drugs together. And look, if that’s not your thing, that’s fine. But let us be whom we want to be and stop spouting your unfiltered, unneeded and unsolicited advice. Let us be as queer as we want to be. If you don’t want to attend Pride, fine; just shut up about it. Recently, I was in Seattle waiting for a friend to meet me at Diesel, a well-known bear bar in Capitol Hill (one of the most

fun gayborhoods in the U.S.). I, being the socialite I am, made the acquaintance of two rather burly-looking masculine men. They commented that they loved how masculine I was and how “normal” I acted, but they were unaware how opposed I am to that sort of homophobic rhetoric. To their dismay, I quickly, and eloquently, dismantled their observation. “I’m not normal, I still suck dick just like you do and just like all the loudest, most flamboyant and beautiful queens do. You’re not normal, and the term ‘normal’ is a way for you to find solace in the veryharsh reality that society has historically seen us, and that includes you, as deviant.” Surprisingly, it struck a chord with them. They agreed and they apologized, which I feel is incredibly evolved and correct. While we may not want to believe that there is a hierarchy of oppression in minority groups, there is. To be masculine is to be seen as strong and competent; to be feminine is to be seen as fragile and weak. We must understand that the root of this is in society’s hatred of women, and we must fervently oppose this. To my queens of Philadelphia: Limp those wrists and swing those hips! “Yaaas queen” everywhere you go. Wear the brightest and tightest shorts you own while you sip your pink martini. Let your freak flag fly! And while I’m fully aware that you can handle the criticism thrown at you by the masc-for-masc macho men, rest assured that most of us have your back. To the macho men against flamboyancy: Stop hating yourself. Stop hating on your own community. Stop hating women, and stop feeling like your straight-guy friends will love you more if you act more like them. They won’t, and you’re not doing any favors for anyone by declaring your masculinity and opposition to queerness to the world. Have your opinions, have your preferences, but keep them to yourselves — or better yet, get to the root of your issue and spare us from your internalized homophobia. We’re waiting for you, you beautiful caterpillars! n Johnathan Gilmore is a formerly enlisted combat Marine deployed to Afghanistan who writes about masculinity, veteran awareness and LGBT issues. Gilmore graduated from Cornell University with a degree in communications. Read more on his blog: https://jtg237.wixsite.com/johnathan.

OP-ED PGN

Trump, the Reality Edition So how bad is it? Let’s take a look at what from their children. Children are getting lost he’s done in almost two years in office. in an unprepared immigration system. Trump Tariffs: Trump’s favorite products — gas and created child prisons. oil — are suffering. The American Petroleum Women’s health under Trump is all about Institute stated last week that Trump’s tariffs restriction. They don’t say the obvious — that will end our oil and gas exports. they would like to overturn Roe v. Wade, but Raw-steel materials or aluminum imported what they are doing is putting more restricfrom China are at a 20-percent higher cost tions on abortion state by state. His new for manufacturers in the United States. Think Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, about those cars and washing machines that will do the same, as witnessed by his writings Trump likes to brag about. on the subject. Not to mention Anyone own a Harley Davidson? the attempts to restrict funding They cost 20-percent more and to Planned Parenthood and other sell for less, which translates to a women’s clinics. loss of jobs at these factories. Foreign relations: He’s Farmers have already been hit simply a joke that no internahard with a 20-40-percent decrease tional leader can deal with, since in apples, corn and soybean sales. his word, and therefore the U.S.’ word, can turn on a dime. Even Beef and pork sales have also treaties already signed are being dropped by 20 percent. Alaskan fishermen are comoverturned. He fights with our plaining since they’re losing their allies and drinks champagne with export business. tyrants. Human rights? He’s never Even your local newspapers are heard of them. taking a hit. A tariff on newsprint In terms of gun violence: is increasing prices 20-30 perUnder Trump’s leadership, we’ve Mark Segal had the largest number of school cent and has already cost some jobs at newspapers in Florida and shootings than during the entire Pennsylvania. Some papers have decided to eight-year Obama presidency. limit their printing to three days a week Here’s a list we have not compiled and it’s instead of printing five or more days. a list in itself: Corruption, with the largest Republicans love talking about the deficit, number of appointed officials resigning due to which is now $440 billion — the highest in misuse of funds. Sexism, racism and a man so U.S. history. The deficit can be attributed to insecure that he needs his name or face in the the U.S. government spending $4.094 trillion media 24/7. more than its revenue of $3.654 trillion. One LGBT issues: Let’s just say Vice President of the major reasons for that is the new tax Mike Pence. law, where the rich got richer and the middle That says it all. class got shafted. What is very sad is that many of you are On to healthcare: Prices keep rising as reading this and saying, “But you forgot …” Trump tries to end Obamacare. You’re right. It’s been so bad that we don’t Let’s talk about the total number of rules even have the space to print it all. that have been either overturned or rolled back It reminds me of the line, “What a sad on environmental issues. In a time of climate state of affairs.” change, a survey by Harvard University’s Speaking of affairs, oh, we can just go on environmental regulation-rollback index and and on, but we have to end somewhere.n Columbia University’s climate indicator found that air-pollution emissions total 18, toxic Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the nation’s mostsubstances and safety 7 and water pollution 7. award-winning commentator in LGBT media. You Drinking water and breathing have become a can follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ MarkSegalPGN or Twitter at https://twitter.com/ risky business. Immigration: Parents are being separated PhilaGayNews.

Mark My Words

OUTPour

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 7-13, 2018

Street Talk How much vacation time do you get from work? "I'm in year one at my job. So I get eight paid vacation days. In year two, I'll get 18 paid vacation days. That will remain in effect until year five, Shainna Davis when I'll get 23 eye-practice manager paid vacation Holmesburg days. I think it's a very-fair benefits package. I'm lucky that my employer is so good to the workers."

“I get one week of vacation every six months. I’m happy with that. My job is fairly flexible. I don’t have a strict 9-5 schedule Monday Nancy Jackson through Friday. certified nursing I can set my assistant own hours to a Overbrook Park certain extent. I appreciate not having a rigid structure.”

"Two weeks of paid vacation. I could use a little more. I think three weeks would be a fair amount. But I'm OK with two weeks. John Moore I don't have marketing manager to take it Asheville, N.C. all at once. I'm satisfied with where I'm at in terms of vacation time. It's enough to keep me motivated. And I like my job, which helps."

"I get one week a year. I would prefer more vacation time, of course. Vacations are important. Everyone needs a break. A little Zereeal Thomas sunshine home-health aide is good for West Philadelphia everyone. Over the past 15 years, I've been to 15 countries in the Caribbean. The last country I visited was Aruba. My next trip will be to Africa."

Antar T. Bush

Picasso of the posterior When I came out in 1994, there was no how-to guide for anal sex, and if there were, I would have read it from top to bottom, literally. I am an advocate for black LGBTQ folks getting to know their own bodies before “getting it on” with another person, especially when it comes to anal sex. I believe it can be empowering to know what your anus is capable of and to explore the greater pleasures with sex. With that said, I am excited to share with you some of the wisdom I’ve encountered

along the way, so that your anal experiences can be memorable in the best possible way. Please note I am speaking from a gay man’s point of view, and the tips I am about to share about anal sex are appropriate for any gender and sexual identity seeking to have a cleaner anal experience. The point of anal “douching” is to prevent you from taking a shit on someone, and it helps you be more confident during the experience. I asked my doctor, “Is frequent douching bad for your body?” She

informed me that it is not. When you use water, it only gets into the lower part of the anal canal and rectum, so it is not going to cause any major issues with the rest of the gut. Making sure you have a good lubricant is really important to ensure comfortable anal sex. Having a silicone lubricant is better than a water-based one because it will not absorb into the skin. Therefore, reapplication is not necessary. Since you may need a lot of lube, I would highly recom-

mend having some towels close by in case of emergency. Anal sex can be a pleasurable experience, not a painful or anxiety-provoking one. This is why I always tell people that they need a supportive partner. It is imperative to have clear communication. A person can become extremely vulnerable when engaging in anal sex, sometimes experiencing intense feelings and emotions. Being able to know you can yell, “Take it out!” or “I’m PAGE 15

LEGAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 7-13, 2018

Philadelphia child custody 101 With so many types of family formations There are two types of child custody: and parenting situations, child custody can physical and legal. Physical custody refers be a challenging topic. to who has the child in their physical pres There are many types of child-custody ence at any given time. Barring any serious arrangements: Some parents get along and issues, usually the courts will award both work well on co-parenting and never bring parents time with the child. Sharing physitheir child-custody issues before the court. cal custody of a child can take many forms; Unfortunately, some parents do not coopfor example, the child may live most of the erate, and these are often the cases that end time with one parent while the other parent up being resolved in Family may have the child on weekends Court, where they are governed and a mid-week dinner visit. by one simple legal princiBut there is no set rule, and no ple: the best-interest-of-theone can predict how the court child standard. Whether comwill rule in any custody matter. bined with a divorce or not, a There are many factors the court child-custody matter can be one will consider. of the most emotionally charged In a single family, there may areas in the family-law arena. be several children over a large A child, for example, might age span, and the needs of a live with both parents who toddler are very different from are separated, or live with one those of a teenager. Parents may parent while the other parent live close by, but in some cases lives somewhere else. Other one parent may live hundreds of possibilities include living with miles away. Some parents are grandparents or other relatives, in the armed forces, or Mark-Allen serving or sometimes being placed in may be incarcerated or in subTaylor, Esq. stance-abuse rehabilitation. foster care. Although the general princiIn other words, each custody ples of Pennsylvania law governing child case is unique and requires its own analycustody cover the entire commonwealth, sis and recommendations. Not all custody matters involve discord or animosity. Some the breakdown of each county may differ. For example, the City of Philadelphia parents try to do what is best for each child (Philadelphia County) has a high rate of by working on co-parenting and trying to poor residents; therefore, these residents make the whole custody experience as poscannot afford to hire a lawyer and often itive as possible. attempt navigating a complex legal land On the other hand, some parents are conscape during a highly emotional situation flict-intense, and, in some cases, dangerous. involving their children. In my recent Substance-abuse issues are taking a major call to the chambers of Judge Margaret societal toll and the impact on children can T. Murphy, administrative judge of the be enormous. In response to the opioid criFamily Court Division of the First Judicial sis, Pennsylvania state Sen. Don White (R) District of Pennsylvania Court of Common sponsored Senate Bill 844, recently signed Pleas, I learned that 85 percent of all litiby Gov. Tom Wolf, that allows third parties, gants in Family Court are pro se, meaning like a caring aunt or uncle, to seek standing they represent themselves. This is a stagbefore the court to petition for the custody gering statistic. of a child or children. This is a new law and

Family Law Matters

OUTPOUR from page 11

done!” during the experience is key to making it more pleasurable. Safe spaces must exist in the bedroom, people! If you are feeling pain, remember: This is your body’s way of telling you something is wrong. Please do not ignore these signs, because the results could be detrimental. Anal fissures, bleeding and difficulties going to the bathroom are just some of the issues that can happen from not paying attention to your body’s pain signals. It is perfectly normal to feel some discomfort in the beginning, but if it is not going away, take some time to slow it down or stop all together. Your booty will thank you later. n Antar Bush is a public-health advocate, professor at West Chester University and executive producer of the online talk show OUTPour LGBTQ. He is committed to advocating for health equity in all communities. Follow him on Instagram @antarbushmswmph.

a promising step in hopefully placing children with caring people who are not their parents, rather than shuttling them into the foster-care system. Although the Supreme Court of the United States has held that parents have a constitutional right to raise their children, with the sad and often-horrific conditions affecting the lives of some children today, the best-interest-of-the-child standard must prevail. BACK-TO-SCHOOL TIP: Kids are now back in school. But are they in the school a parent wants them to attend? Are they involved in the activities a parent thinks are best? Is there a dispute between parents about whether a child should play a particular sport, like football? For those parents involved in a child-custody matter who did not resolve school issues during the summer, it may be too late. If you still have school-related issues, you can petition the court for an expedited hearing, but your court date will probably be a few weeks out. An expedited hearing is granted to resolve non-emergency issues dealing with school and educational matters such as in what religion a child will be raised and those involving the health of a child. School issues might include which school the child will attend; sports and other activities; and/or the type of after-school care. These issues fall under legal custody — meaning who has the right to make major decisions regarding the child. The court generally awards shared legal custody, but in certain circumstances, sole legal custody can be awarded. Each case is unique, but one constant is that the best-interest-of-thechild standard will guide the court’s decision in all child-custody disputes. n

Thinking Queerly

Kristina Furia

Thinking Queerly explores the psychological and social experiences of being LGBT in America and sheds light on the importance of LGBT community members prioritizing their mental health.

Mark-Allen Taylor, Esq. is a Center City attorney specializing in family law (www.mat-law.com). Email him at mat@mat-law.com or call 215-854-4008.

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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, call 215-625-8501 (Issue date: Oct. 5; advertising/art deadline: Sept. 28)

PGN ALLEGHENEY from page 1

including rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault, unlawful restraint and indecent assault. He remains incarcerated at the Allegheny County Jail and is scheduled to be arraigned Sept. 20. His attorney, Brian M. O’Connor, couldn’t be reached for comment. The victim, who couldn’t be reached for comment, was released from the county jail July 31 after Magisterial District Judge Mikhail Pappas revised her bail to “non-monetary,” according to published reports. McDonough said detectives treated the victim with “tact and sensitivity,” adding: “We can always improve our performance. But I think it’s important to underscore the professionalism and commitment of our detectives as they sought to bring justice to the victim of a violent sexual assault.” A spokesperson for the National Center for Transgender Equality blasted the police criminal complaint. “We too often see cases like this, where victims of violence are further traumatized by such grave disrespect,” said Mateo de la Torre, racial and economic justice policy advocate for NCTE. “Refusing to acknowledge the lived identity of a victim sows mistrust within the very communities police officers have sworn to serve. Police departments and courts should have clear guidelines to show respect for victims and witnesses to avoid adding insult to injury and undermining their own work.” Dane Menkin, a trans advocate and clinician at Philadelphia’s Mazzoni Center, also expressed concern. “Yes, [jail officials] made a mistake in putting [the victim] in the wrong housing,”

Menkin told PGN. “Yes, they made a mistake in giving her a male roommate. Yes, the assault was horrific. But they just kept going after that. [The police] didn’t even get it down correctly on paper.” Sara J. Rose, staff attorney at the ACLU of Pennsylvania, said misgendering trans people causes them harm. “The victim has already been victimized once. To refer to this person with the wrong pronouns just causes them more harm,” she told PGN. A spokesperson for the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office said the office is taking steps to avoid similar misgendering in the future. “We are in agreement that a transgender victim should be referred to by their preferred gender identification and that we will modify our training and policies to ensure that such occurs,” said First Assistant District Attorney Rebecca D. Spangler. “We continually work with our police partners to address concerns raised by our victim communities. This matter is being addressed with our attorneys to ensure not only correct gender identification in criminal complaints but in interpersonal interactions as well.” Justin F. Robinette, a local civil-rights attorney, said he was “heartened” to know that police and prosecutors are working together to prevent similar occurences. “It’s an important step in ensuring that justice is administered properly in Allegheny County,” Robinette told PGN. “I also see it as an ethical issue. No attorney is permitted to discriminate or harass on the basis of gender identity. So let’s hope local authorities make the necessary changes moving forward.” n

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LGBTQ CENTER from page 1

Scarfo, who identifies as queer and genderqueer, wanted to work for gender- and sexuality-specific centers since moving to the city three years ago, but lacked professional experience. He landed at Temple University in the residential-life department, where he immersed himself in the city’s LGBTQ scene and cofounded Qunify, a social community dedicated to creating drugand alcohol-free “queer-adjacent spaces where queer people feel safe, visible and respected,” he said. Qunify in turn helped Scarfo land the job as the MarcDavid Center’s inaugural coordinator, where he intends to “remove any additional barriers LGBTQ folks have from getting an education.” Scarfo greeted a reporter in a flower-printed skirt with fingernails painted metallic blue to complement the skirt’s blue hues. His carefully coordinated coral-painted toenails and coral lipstick perfectly matched the flowers

printed across his skirt. His office and the center’s quaint lounge area are nestled between the Women’s Outreach and Advocacy Center and the Center for Male Engagement. Scarfo said he’s still deciding on décor for the lounge area, currently home to a handful of chairs and a table with LGBTQspecific reading material. Eileen Shim, a second-year CCP student, said she is excited about the new center. “This is a major step that CCP is taking to be more inclusive towards queer students. I don’t know any other community college that has an LGBT center. There aren’t many spaces that are exclusively for us on campus, and the center’s existence makes me feel more visible. We finally have a space that we can call our own.” Scarfo said his priority is to meet the needs of students. “I want this to be a student-centered, student-focused office, and I want to

be able to cater what we offer to the students’ needs,” Scarfo said. “I’m excited about the prospect of working at a community college because I wanted to work at an institution that’s devoted to equity, diversity and creating access for people.” The center was funded by, and named after, the Marc David Foundation, an independent organization that recognizes academic success and advocacy in the LGBT community. CCP announced the creation of the center during its “Acting on Diversity: LGBTQ and Community Colleges” conference last October. LGBTQ students at CCP now have access to educational and professional resources such as information on scholarships, job opportunities and sexual health. A work-study position may be available for students later in the school year, Scarfo said, once he establishes the center’s responsibilities. For now, it’s open and ready to host students. His first initiative as coordinator was

getting the school’s LGBTQ+ Club reinstated. The group was inactive during the 2017-18 school year because of low attendance and lack of a student-executive board. Since taking the position in July, Scarfo has already recruited several students to hold board positions. Other goals include assisting students on changing their names and gender markers within the college based on their preferred gender identity. Last year, CCP approved the chosen-name policy, which allows students to go by a name that differs from their legal name. Scarfo said the name policy’s “implementation is still vague” and he’s working on “streamlining that process to make it easier for students to access.” “My goal is to be a one-stop-shop for LGBTQ students. My goal is to be an ally to all the groups that are marginalized within our community and continue to educate myself to make sure that I can support those students any way that I can.” n

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Comics Family Portrait Off the Shelf Out & About Q Puzzle Scene in Philly

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JUNK PLUNGES IN PAGE 25

A sardonic and sexy take on futuristic dystopia By Gary L. Day PGN Contributor “I just haven’t been able to shake the smartass,” joked Brian Sanders. But he means it. Sanders was referring both to both his career as one of Philadelphia’s most prominent and popular choreographers and performance artists as well as his attitude in his latest show, “Plunge.” Sanders has been performing under the aegis of his company name, Brian Sanders’ JUNK, for almost two decades. He has earned a reputation for the dare-devilish physicality of his choreography as well as an overt sexuality that can leave bluebloods blushing. He’s not shy about suffusing his work with a sometimes-inyour-face gay sensibility. “Plunge,” which will be part of this year’s Fringe Festival, will show Sanders in a smart-alecky, satiric mood with a touch of apocalyptic futurism — Orwell with a sense of humor, perhapss.”

Yep, I would say that,” Sanders agreed with a grin. “Plunge” posits a future where some sort of computer catastrophe involving virtual sex (don’t ask) has destroyed most of the data from the past. As Sanders described it, “[They] have very little preserved data from the past. Thankfully, the Ministry of Aesthetic Embellishments is here to reconstitute the past, as best they can.” The performance artist likes to coin new words to describe what he means. Apparently, the ministry is in search of “anthrotropic artifactuals” from the distant past, which it terms the “Age of Plastic.” Why plastic? Because, it seems, that’s pretty much the part of our culture that survived. The choreographer gleefully outlined his sardonic vision of the future: “[They’re] pretty sure there was lots of animal worship in the past. They’re trying to figure out why people picked up animal feces in little plastic containers. Clearly, the people of our time worshipped these animals. They walked around behind these animals, picking up their waste, then wrapping that waste in these little ‘fecophagi’ [another coined Sanders word meaning fecal sarcophagi]. This came down through the ages because they wrapped feces in plastic, preserving this holy relic for many, many, many centuries to come.” Sanders comes out of his satiric fugue long enough to rave about his outdoor performance venue; the Patio at Spring Arts. “The Patio is an outdoor retro lounge bar with a sleek 1960s vibe, but forming an interesting incongruity with the next-door train tracks. Perfect vibe for a JUNK show,” he explained. The Patio is emblematic of what the city is trying to do with the 10th and Hamilton area, Sanders said. “Spring Arts is what they’re trying to convert the Loft District into because there’s so much there now besides lofts.

There’s an amazing amount going on. We’re literally across the street from the Bearded Ladies, for example. So many venues have sprung up: beer gardens, breweries, cafés, performance spaces — you know, the stuff that comes into a neighborhood after the trendy people move in.” “And,” he added, “we’re performing quite literally right under the new rail park. How cool is that?” A PGN reporter was permitted to attend a short segment of one of Sanders’ rehearsals, which displayed his reputation for integrating interesting props and settings into his choreography. And it wouldn’t be a Sanders JUNK performance without a hefty dose of male sexuality. Not to give anything away, but audience members who sit under the wet plastic canopy will get a close view of something very special. JUNK has become a popular enterprise among Philly’s dance cognoscenti — popular enough that Sanders’ show is funded entirely by his audience. And, as JUNK grows in stature, Sanders’ reputation as an independent choreographer is growing as well. Not only was he commissioned to do an original piece for the Pennsylvania Ballet (which was very well received), but he also has a new commission for an original piece with the Philadelphia Orchestra next year. In describing “Plunge,” he assures his fans that “it’s a Brian Sanders classic with its beauty and grace — not just of the human body, but also visual imagery. But at the same time, it brings satire and wittiness, and probably even a little emotional poignancy.” And a hefty dose of smartassery. n Brian Sanders’ JUNK presents “Plunge,” part of the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, Sept. 7-21 at the Patio at Spring Arts, 500 N. 10th St (at Hamilton), at 10:30 p.m. (venue opens at 6 p.m. for cocktails). For more information, call 215-413-1318 or visit briansandersjunk.com/fall-fringe-series.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 7-13, 2018

Off the Shelf

BOOKS PGN

Scott A. Drake

Listening to the voices from another place and time If Beale Street Could Talk James Baldwin Fiction To read James Baldwin and not be moved would be like jumping into a lake and not getting wet. Baldwin was a master wordsmith and an elegant storyteller who figuratively grabs us gently by the arm, steers us towards an idea and then leaves us to stand on its precipice looking for resolution. He does no less in “If Beale Street Could Talk.” The story is set in Harlem. Two black families who are coming to terms with how life has treated them and what little they can do about it. There are several parts that are difficult to read and it’s not the vocabulary; it’s the way Baldwin makes the reader feel. And feel, we do: anger, passion, hate, determination, futility, pain, sadness and love.

The key here: It’s a love story. The beauty of this book is that the love story isn’t immediately front and center but seemingly a plot point. But it’s woven in with fine threads throughout the patchwork quilt of reflection and determination that holds the tales together. And to keep the reader in suspense, Baldwin takes those quilting patches of jail and love and pregnancy and family and poverty and rearranges them into multiple timelines that converge at the end to complete the tale. The story is told from the view of Tish, a 19-year-old girl who is in love with longtime friend Fonny, who is falsely accused of raping an elderly white woman. Just before he is accused and arrested, the two get married and Tish gets pregnant. While Fonny is in jail, Tish visits daily, telling him about herself and the family as he tries to hold onto a sliver of hope by way of a possible appeal and the

dropping of charges. In the background, the families have their congress in those humble hovels called home. Without giving away story points or the ending, suffice it to say that the honesty and reality of two young black people in love while one is pregnant and the other is in jail is heartbreaking. And the two families who are coming to terms with these young lovers and their plight are engaging and compassionate. But the best parts may be those moments when Baldwin lets the pain in — giving characters ample reflections — and reveals their souls. And, in the process, your pain will crystalize also. “If Beale Street Could Talk” will soon be a major motion picture directed by Barry Jenkins, director of “Moonlight.”

Trending on Queerbooks.com: “Zodiac Starforce Volume 2: Cries of the Fire Prince” by Kevin Panetta, Paulina Ganucheau and Sarah Stern (LGBT) “Sometime After Midnight” by L. Philips (G young adult)

“Fancy Man” by Paul Magrs (G) “Dolly Parton, Gender, and Country Music” by Leigh H. Edwards (LGBT studies) “Pillow Thoughts II: Healing the Heart” by Courtney Peppernell (LGBT poetry) “Amateur: A True Story About What Makes a Man” by Thomas Page McBee (T) *(B) Bisexual (F) Feminist (G) Gay (L) Lesbian (T) Trans Staff member pick: “Amateur” by volunteer Ben: McBee (Man Alive) explores the relationship between violence and masculinity as he trains to become the first transgender man to box in Madison Square Garden. Eloquently articulated, McBee describes his experience training and how he learns that there’s more than brutal violence — there’s trust and tenderness — in and out of the ring. n Philly AIDS Thrift @ Giovanni’s Room, 12th and Pine streets, donates all proceeds from purchase there or online at Queerbooks.com to AIDS agencies.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 7-13, 2018

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 7-13, 2018

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1 Homeland of the Singing Nun (abbr.) 5 Cockeyed 10 Madonna’s “___ Don’t Preach” 14 A strong one found in the gym 15 Lauren Wright Douglas’ “___ Life” 16 Apple that isn’t a fruit 17 Super’s apartment, maybe 18 Look at someone using hate speech 19 A pound of Rupert Everett 20 Aretha song featured in the movie “Goodfellas” 23 Crawled out of bed 24 Laughter at a Margaret Cho routine 28 Avis adjective 30 Hereditary chain 32 “Orange Is the ___ Black” 33 “Title” for Aretha Franklin 37 Bird from

down under 38 Annapolis sch. 39 Judged _Dancing with the Stars_, e.g. 40 “It’s showtime!” 41 NASDAQ rival 42 Aretha song from the “Young, Gifted and Black” album 44 Hyundai rival 45 Pub offering 46 Places for sweaty embraces, perhaps 47 Leaves quietly, with “out” 49 Saloon seat 52 Aretha song that won a Grammy Hall of Fame Award 58 Albee’s “Three ___ Women” 61 Stallion’s sound 62 Stonewall memory 63 _Baby Doll_ director Kazan 64 Rita Mae Brown output 65 Cinder suffix in a fairy tale 66 “It ___ Necessarily So” 67 Place atop

68 One of Cary’s exes

Down

1 Tube opening? 2 Barry Humphries’ Dame 3 Leopold’s partner 4 The South, in “Gone with the Wind”? 5 Like the Jets, in “West Side Story” 6 Missile housing 7 Thief of the tarts of the Queen of Hearts 8 To be, in Brest 9 Milk component 10 Prick 11 “The Simpsons” storekeeper 12 Polynesian paste 13 Word on a dipstick 21 Caspian Sea land 22 Lesbian character in “She’s Gotta Have It” 25 No zip 26 Fruit in a slot machine 27 Tried to hit a

pitch 28 Election fixer for the Homophobe-inChief 29 Trojan hero 30 Active partner 31 Michelangelo’s David, e.g. 33 San Francisco event of 1906 34 By word of mouth 35 “Mommie Dearest” star Dunaway 36 Risk with careless sex 40 Got on one’s knees and begged 42 Sprint at the Gay Games 43 Dating from 48 Dazzling success

49 Some stick it where it doesn’t belong 50 Trunk of Charles Atlas photos 51 “I have ___ walked down the street before ... ” 53 Venom sources 54 With respect to 55 Ready to be rubbed the right way 56 “Damn Yankees” girl 57 Trey does his voice on “South Park” 58 Drink with jam and bread 59 Hillary’s Wellesley classmate MacGraw 60 Memorial designer Maya

PROFILE PGN

Family Portrait

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 7-13, 2018

Suzi Nash

Jamie Holmes-Allen: Intuitive journeys The world is a little rough right now. Turn on the local news and you’re inundated with senseless shootings, people being victimized and schools in crisis. Turn on the national news and you’re looking at a senseless state of affairs with an administration that would be laughable if it weren’t so deadly. Mother Nature seems to be wrecking havoc with one catastrophe after another and religion is being used to hide child molesters, or as an excuse for not baking us cakes. Yikes! What’s a girl to do? Escape for the weekend to SisterSpace, a wonderful women’s weekend (sorry, fellas) that’s sure to rejuvenate the spirit or just give you a chance to let your hair down (and your boobs out, if you so choose) and get away from it all for a couple of days. There’s something for everyone — from karaoke to drum circles, art classes, workshops, movies, swimming, tennis and impromptu softball games. And if you want to have another type of fun and games, you can head over to the White House in the evening and explore your kinkier side with the help of the folks from Sexploratorium. There’s amazing music and nightly concerts with top-notch acts like Be Steadwell, Crys Matthews and Melissa Crispo, who will grace the same stage as music pioneers Cris Williamson and Holly Near. We took a moment while packing our marshmallow, bourbon, flip-flops and short tops to speak to Jamie Holmes-Allen, who will be running the uber-popular Sweat Lodge. PGN: Tell me a little about what you do. JHA: I worked in the corporate world as a design engineer up until about four years ago, when illness drove me out of it. I am of Cherokee descent and my partner and I opened a business called Earthen Moon. We make and sell tools for your spiritual journey. I make Native-American hand drums and rattles, feather fans, smudge fans and more. I also teach workshops like “Shamanic Journeying as a Sacred Tool,” drum birthing, which teaches how the shape of the frame drum is a circle, which symbolizes the endless circle of life. Mother Earth and the drumbeat represent the heartbeat of Mother Earth. I also teach how to find and connect with your spirit animal/guides/ totems. My wife makes prayer beads and jewelry in sterling silver and copper with healing gemstones, among other things. All of our products are made from natural materials and are spirit-based. PGN: Sounds like you’re both pretty adventurous. JHA: True. About three years ago, we moved into a 40-foot RV and traveled around doing festivals and shows. I was doing my spiritual work as well. But last December we bought a house; my wife had had enough of the RV life for a minute. She works at a women-run-and owned auto-mechanics shop.

PGN: I understand that you’re pretty handy too. JHA: Oh yeah; my dad was an electrician and he took me under his wing. I never wanted to be in the kitchen cooking, so he taught me how to run electrical lines into a house and I know a little plumbing and carpentry. If I don’t know something, I’m not afraid to jump in and figure it out. PGN: How long have you been going to SisterSpace? JHA: We came as a vendor in 2015. We had a great time. One of the board members, Joanne McIntyre, approached me and asked about my work with sweat lodges and workshops, so last year I brought my crew and we set up a sweat lodge as well. PGN: What makes this festival so special? JHA: The community when you get there. Whenever you go someplace for the first time, you’re always a little nervous because you’re coming into an established festival and you don’t know how you or your product are going to be received. Festivals can be a little cliquish, but at SisterSpace we were welcomed and it felt like a family reunion from the start. On top of that, it’s a really great safe place to explore all different aspects of yourself, from your spirituality to your sexuality.

PGN: What is Red Road? JHA: The Native-American spiritual path is often referred to as the Red Road. Red being a color of sacredness, so if you see a native person and they have an object wrapped in red, it means it’s something sacred to them. PGN: So regarding your practice, Jamie Holmes-Allen is — JHA: An intuitive healer. I help people rediscover or reclaim their power within. I do that through ceremony and ritual with such things as shamanic journeys and spiritual guidance. I also teach people to make their own instruments so that they can put their own prayers and energy into what they’re making. But the biggest thing I do is work hard to make people feel heard, respected and loved. PGN: My only experience with sweat lodges is watching a very sexy episode of “Xena Warrior Princess.”

PGN: Yeah, I’ve been to a few women-only festivals and some of them can be very uptight. SS has always been chill and laidback. JHA: What makes SisterSpace unique is that everyone is free to do their own thing without judgment. If you want to lay by the pool the whole weekend, that’s totally fine. But if you want to check something out, there’s a good blend of different things to choose from, whether it be silly, spiritual or serious self-care. PGN: Let’s hear more about you. Tell me about the family. JHA: I was born and raised in North Carolina. I jokingly call myself a recovering Southern Baptist. I have a good relationship with my mom and dad, but that wasn’t the case when I first came out at 27. I lost contact with them for a couple of years and lost my family, and then went through a crisis in my life and they stepped back in and really helped me. We came to an understanding around who I am and how I stand in the world. And part of that was, “I don’t necessarily believe in things that you believe any longer. I respect it but it doesn’t feed me anymore.” That respect included me embracing the Native American in us, which they never acknowledged before. I was able to teach them a little about spirituality and Red Road. They’re not exactly on board, but they respect it now. It’s opened their eyes to other things in the world outside their small town in North Carolina.

we’d be talking about our physical bodies; and North would be for the ancestors and sacredness and completion. The lodges are heated with stones, and I pour water onto them to create steam. Once the steam hits your body, your purification is complete. PGN: Speaking of sisters, do you have siblings? JHA: I have a brother and a sister who are 12 and 13 years older than me, so I was raised almost like an only child, but we had foster kids from the time I was in third grade until I left for college. We probably had about 120 kids come through our home. Some of them lived with us for twothree years but most would stay about six weeks and then move on. One year we had 10 infants come through. PGN: Wow! I guess at least one of your parents was a giving and nurturing person. JHA: Oh yeah, but actually it was my idea. We lived in the country and I didn’t have any neighbors nearby, so I thought, This would be a great way to have some playmates! So I convinced my folks to become foster parents. I loved it and I’m still in contact with several of the kids who came through us. PGN: From your Facebook videos, you have a nurturing spirit for animals as well as humans. Tell me about Richard. JHA: [Laughing] He’s a baby squirrel we rescued. He lives inside with us and our three dogs until we can release him in the spring. He’s a “late-season” baby, and since his mother is not around, he doesn’t know how to hide food or what to do to survive the winter.

JHA: [Laughing] I’ve never seen it. I’ll have to check it out. The basic core of a sweat lodge is purification, ceremony. It’s your private time with your creator, no matter what your definition of creator is. It’s an old, old method of praying, generally done in four rounds which travel the medicine wheel. Each direction has a different meaning. For instance, praying to the North would be for new beginnings, transformation and change; South is about joy and laughter and lessons learned; West,

PGN: I’m pretty terrified of squirrels, but even I have to admit, the videos of Richard are awfully cute. JHA: Yeah, and he’s coming into his own little personality too. He’s a hoot. PGN: Parting words? JHA: My elders have taught me: Work is worship, water is life and ceremony is about talking with god, not about god. Be you! No matter what that looks like. n For those wanting to attend SisterSpace this weekend, walk-in slots are still open with both tenting and cabin options available. Go to www.sisterspace.org. If you can’t make it but want to learn more about Jamie Holmes-Allen’s company, go to www.earthenmoon.com.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 7-13, 2018

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 7-13, 2018

Cookie puss

John Jarboe and The Bearded Ladies offer up a sweet international history of cabaret By A.D. Amorosi PGN Contributor

Wilma Theater. Has being the non-binary Rogers rubbed off on anything related to this Cookie project? JJ: Exploring the role of irony and earnestness, as I did in Mx. Rogers, has certainly changed how I direct and perform in “Cookie.” How can we use humor and performance responsibly? How can we take care of our audiences? Offer joy, thoughtfulness and questions.

Not so long ago, the artistic director of Philly’s queer-centric The Bearded Ladies cabaret and his associate took a trip through Europe, literally and figuratively. From the past Paris of Le Chat Noir to Berlin’s Weimar nightlife, all while peeking into 21st-century drag, John Jarboe and Sally Ollove came up with “Do You PGN: Is it necessary for you Want A Cookie?” two to connect the dots between This multi-day, multi-room one Bearded Ladies project to showcase at an abandoned the next? warehouse-turned-nightclub in SO: We are an ongoing experCallowhill — an installation that iment, so I would say that the Fringe Fest CEO Nick Stuccio dots between projects connect said is like nothing else the through the core company who Fringe has witnessed — sees the make up the Bearded Ladies live culmination of this multiand the questions we are asking year study of cabaret’s history ourselves. The last few projects and evolution in relation to The have really centered on how Bearded Ladies and their friends we as artists relate to our curfrom around the globe, many of rent socio-political moment, whom will offer extended cabJOHN JARBOE whether we realized that at the aret acts as Late Night Snacks after each night’s main event. Jarboe and time of making or not. Ollove discussed the extravaganza. PGN: How is this new work, “Cookie,” reflective of what goes on within the PGN: The last time PGN interacted with socio-politics of LGBTQ-ism at present? you, you were launching “You Can Never JJ: So many cabaret performers are misfits, Go Down the Drain” as Mx. Rogers at

or not even that. We are misfits’ misfits: the people who thought they were going to go into dance or theater or opera, but who didn’t quite fit or want to fit. The cabaret form is a queer form in that it lives in the liminal space between and among larger, more-resourced and considered forms. So it’s not surprising that many practitioners of the form are queer. It is a perfect form for those that don’t want to do what is prescribed, who want dynamic connection to community as much as they want to make art. PGN: How is “Cookie” connected to your travels around the globe to discover the soul of cabaret? SO: Being in the places and meeting the artists who live there informed our understanding of how cabaret manifested in each of these places — not to mention the resources that we could access only in those locations: archives, libraries, personal histories and just wandering through the landscape. PGN: What was cabaret in your estimation before your trek and what is cabaret now that you have delved deeper? JJ: Cabaret is much more versatile, adaptable

and global than we ever thought at the beginning of this project. We were worried when we started that the history was erased or inaccessible but, in fact, there are so many stories lurking under the surface, so much history, that it can be beautifully overwhelming. PGN: How do you operate in a manner you believe to be different than any other company? Or is that not the point? JJ: I think the point of this project is that it is not just us. There exists an amazing community already. We are in the privileged position to get the support to bring some of this community together. I also feel strongly that to practice a form, you have to honor its history and ancestors. SO: It is important that this exploration be done by practicing cabaret artists rather than scholars. The history lives differently in us because these are our ancestors and DIORIO our colleagues. We spent a lot of time with the “Cookie” performers sharing the history as we learned it and hearing from them about their personal history with the form, their ancestors in performance, and their stories about cabPAGE 26 aret history in their

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 7-13, 2018

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

Queer aerial dance company pulls out all the stops for new Fringe show By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Tangle Movement Arts is Philadelphia’s queer female aerial dance company and the perennial Fringe Arts Festival performers. This month, the stuntwomen will surround audiences with their latest show “In The Forest,” which will turn The Sanctuary at the Rotunda into a wooded wonderland. For Lauren Rile Smith — poet, performer, founder and producer of Tangle Movement Arts — this show is just another way to challenge herself creatively after last year’s event, when she was performing aerial stunts while visibly pregnant. “I had a child last summer,” Smith said. “Now I’m adjusting to that life. But we’ve really ramped up the changes this year. For the first time ever, we’re making an immersive circus-theater show with the audience at the center of an 80-foot-diameter room.” She added this year’s inspiration for the Fringe performance was exploring the meaning of home, the joy of found family and the fierceness of taking care of what’s yours. “We found ourselves interested in creating a portrait of an entire world and ecosystem. The show is about very different people existing in the same space, sometimes not even aware of each other, but still affecting each other in deep ways.” The space is divided into seven sections, Smith explained. “We have the aerial rigs, so there is near- constant aerial dance happening in the show. We also have four sculptural installations that we are calling forests. We have a forest made out of chairs. We have a forest made out of yarn sculptures and fabrics, and we have a forest made out of shadows and paper.” The show’s characters are all at home

COOKIE from page 25

hometowns. As we met more and more artists during our travels, we discovered numerous amazing cabaret performers who felt just as isolated from their colleagues and ancestors as we did. We see this project as an attempt to form a community of artists who often perform solo. PGN: How did you select the crew of contributors to “Cookie,” with whom there will be individual Late Night Snacks? Some I know; some are strangers. SO: We met these artists on our travels and felt that they had something to offer us in terms of a contemporary idea of what cabaret can be. They represent geographic areas with strong historical or contemporary cabaret scenes. JJ: There is a lot of group work, collaboration and play.

in these different forests and also forced to travel into each other’s territories, shesaid, “grappling with what it means to be a stranger in someone else’s space, or a collaborator with someone who is very unlike yourself.” Smith added that to create the different and proper environments for these diverse characters, the collaborators brought dif-

PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM: The bitch is back for one last go-around when Elton John comes to Philadelphia as part of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour for two nights of career-spanning hits, 8 p.m. Sept. 11-12 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St. For more information or tickets, call 215-389-9543. Photo: Michael Ermilio

ferent styles and artists to the creative table. “We have puppetry, origami, live music and textiles. There’s a huge array of performance styles and techniques coming forth in the show through the different character arcs.” The result is that each audience member will be constantly choosing which story to follow and which angle to take, Smith said. “The audience is invited to wander around the space and change their perspective. It’s exciting and intimate to watch an aerial solo happen a few feet away. There’s this special, magical, allegorical world that the audience becomes immersed in. The unique and historic space of The Rotunda is as much a part of and a character in the show as any performer.” n Tangle Movement Arts presents “In The Forest,” Sept. 12-15 at The Sanctuary at The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St. For more information or tickets, visit www. tangle-arts.com/in-the-forest.

PGN: What should we gather about The Bearded Ladies after “Cookie” that we might not have known before? SO: Like all good cabaret, each night will be different because each audience is different, and the audience is such a huge ingredient in this art form. But the dominant structure of both the larger performance and the individual artist’s performances within that larger framework will remain the same. If you want to try to catch everything, you’ll need to come three times. JJ: It’s important to note that everyone gets a drink with their ticket. n “Do You Want A Cookie?” by The Bearded Ladies Cabaret runs Sept. 7-16. with showings at 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. at 448 N. 10th St. Tickets are $35. For more, visit fringearts.com/event/do-youwant-a-cookie/.

Theater & Arts Agnes Martin: The Untroubled Mind/Works from the Daniel W. Dietrich II Collection Philadelphia Museum of Art presents paintings and drawings exploring the ideas that shaped Martin’s minimalist art, through Oct. 14, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215763-8100. Animation Nation The Women’s Film Festival and the Philadelphia FringeArts Fringe Festival join forces for a program of fun, quirky and moving short films by, for or about women, as well as an art exbition for one night only, 7 p.m. Sept. 12 at Hot Bed, 723 Chestnut St.; 267918-7432. Beneath the Surface Dara Meredith presents a groundbreaking debut dance theater

project focusing on mental illness, specifically schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in soldiers of war, Sept. 1415 at Temple University’s Conwell Dance Theater, Broad Street and Montgomery Avenue; 215868-7848. Bisets’ Carmen Amici Opera Company presents the classic opera, 2:30 p.m. Sept. 9 at Dock Woods, 275 Dock Drive, Lansdale; 215224-0257. Dave Attell The comedian seen on Comedy Central performs through Sept. 9 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215496-9001. Design in Revolution: A 1960s Odyssey Philadelphia Museum of Art’s exhibition of pop art and psychedelia from the civil-rights

and anti-war movements, through Sept. 9, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215763-8100. The Duchamp Family Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition highlighting the closeknit family of artistic innovators and the many connections linking their groundbreaking works, through August 2019, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215763-8100. Garden Bouquet Still-life artists Ian Shiver and Barbara Sosson present an exhibition of art featuring colorful live horticulture designs, Sept. 8-Nov. 3 at Hot Bed Gallery, 723

Chestnut St., second floor; 267918-7432. Face to Face: Portraits of Artists Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition exploring how photographers helped craft the public personas of their creative subjects in this stunning collection of rare photographs from the museum’s collection, through Oct. 14, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. ICON William Way LGBT Community Center Art Gallery presents a new installation by Natalie Hope McDonald that showcases the diverse iconography of the LGBT community, Sept. 14-Oct. 26, 1315

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.

PGN ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS

A NEW BAG OF “TRICKS”: On the heels of its latest album, “Tricks,” industrial/synth-pop group ohGr is on the road bringing its delightfully dark and aggressive electronic sounds to the stage 9 p.m. Sept. 11 at Underground Arts, 1200 Callowhill St. For more information or tickets, call 215-627-1332.

Spruce St.; 215732-2220. Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn Walnut Street Theatre presents the musical based on the classic Universal Pictures film, through Oct. 21, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550. It Shoulda Been You The Dramateurs present the premiere of their musical comedy, set in a world where nothing is what it seems, where religions collide, promises are broken, secrets are exposed and hope springs from the most unlikely of places — the Steinberg wedding, through Sept. 8 at The Barn Playhouse, 1700 Christopher Lane, Jeffersonville; 610539-2276. Mimi Imfurst Presents Drag Diva Brunch Mimi Imfurst, Bev, Vinchelle, Sutton Fearce and special guests perform 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 8 at Punch Line Philly, 33 E. Laurel St.; 215-606-6555.

Philadelphia Orchestra: Opening Weekend The Philadelphia Orchestra opens their new season with performances conducted by Yannick NézetSéguin, Sept. 1416 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 300 S. Broad St.; 215893-1999.

Music Echoes The Pink Floyd tribute band performs 8 p.m. Sept. 7 at TLA, 334 South St.; 215-922-1011.

Rust The Neil Young Tribute Band performs 8 p.m. Sept. 8 at World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215222-1400.

Petty Spaghetti’s Drag Revue The drag show dips it in the sauce, 9 p.m. Sept. 11 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215-964-9675.

The Jesus Lizard The alternative rock band performs 8:30 p.m. Sept. 8 at Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St.; 215-232-2100.

Flirt Vonnegut’s No Pants Party Get your Winnie the Pooh on for this dance party, 9 p.m. Sept. 13 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215-964-9675.

Ozzy Osborne The hard singer brings his farewell tour to the area 7:30 p.m. Sept. 12 at BB&T Pavilion, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, NJ; 609365-1300. The Purple Madness Prince Experience The Prince tribute concert comes to the area, 8 p.m. Sept. 14 at The Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 202-730-3331.

Nightlife Bearleasque The bear-themed burlesque show swats fish out of the river, 9 p.m. Sept. 7 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215-964-9675.

Glenn Hughes The classic rock bassist and singer performs an evening of Deep Purple classics, 8 p.m. Sept. 7 at Keswick Theater, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; 215-572-7650.

Radical Self Love Burlesque A night of entertainment focused on empowerment, self-love, and acceptance, 9 p.m. Sept. 7 at Front Street Dive, 10 S. Front St.; https:// radical3.bpt.me.

Grunge-APalooza: Unplugged An evening of acoustic alternative rock songs, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 8 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400.

ClymaXXX Dancers and DJ celebrate the kickoff of football season, 10 p.m. Sept. 7 at Boxers PHL, 1330 Walnut St.; 215-735-2977.

Escape From NYC Drag Show New York drag queens invade Philly 9 p.m. Sept. 14 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215-964-9675.

Outta Town Terry Fator The comedian and ventriloquist performs 8 p.m. Sept. 7 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000. Felipe Esparza The comedian performs 9 p.m. Sept. 7 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000. A.J. Lambert Sings Sinatra The singer and granddaughter of Frank Sintatra performs songs from his catalog 8 p.m. Sept. 8 at The Rrazz Room, 385 W. Bridge St., New Hope; 888-5961027. The Road Warrior The first sci-fi film in the Mad Max series is screened 9:45 p.m. Sept. 14 at the Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610-917-1228. n

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 7-13, 2018

Crushing hard By A.D. Amorosi PGN Contributor Before discussing Fringe Fest 2018 offering “WOLFCRUSH (a queer werewolf play,)” — a torrid tale of lust, cannibalism, bondage, gay werewolf sex and Mariska Hargitay — it is important to know something about its production company, On the Rocks. “We can pretty much guarantee we are the gayest company producing the gayest show in this year’s festival,” said Haygen-Brice Walker, one of the company’s two founders. “Elaina [Di Monaco] and I started On the Rocks for two reasons: We’re in love, and we weren’t seeing enough bold, in-your-face, risky, queer theater happening in Philly. We weren’t seeing ourselves onstage. And we wanted to change that.” Stuff such as their Dead Teenager Trilogy at Fringe 2015; “Birdie’s Pit Stop (and the tribe of queers who fucked everything up)” at Fringe 2016; and “THE GROOM’S A FAG, THE BRIDE’S A CUNT, THE BEST MAN’S A WHORE, AND THE MAIDEN OF HONOR (JUST) HUNG HERSELF IN THE CLOSET” at Fringe 2017. “I think the first step is getting more queer characters onstage,” said Walker. “We need more queer humans living queer lives and having lots and lots of queer sex. I cannot think of a single show that I’ve seen recently in Philly that has had a gay sex scene.” This writer can certainly recall implied gay sex in the Arden’s recent “Fun Home,” but certainly nothing ardent, hungry or steamy. “I just think it is made into something taboo, and it doesn’t have to be,” Walker added. “All the gay stories that are being told onstage are pretty mainstream. I’m trying to put some underrepresented gay voices onstage and tell some wild underground gay stories. The plays that we make aren’t going to get produced anywhere in Philly. Theaters have boards and subscribers and donors to please. We don’t have any of that. Therefore, if I write a play where there’s full-on bareback werewolf sex, we’re gonna make it happen.” Writers-producers-directors Walker and Di Monaco (He mostly writes and she mostly directs, but the best idea always wins) developed the script for “WOLFCRUSH” over the course of two

years, with drafts that just grew “sexier, more violent, bloodier and wilder” with time and individual iterations. “That’s what the Fringe is for,” said Walker. This story weaves in cannibalism, small towns, big secrets, first times, sloppy seconds and all the lies we tell ourselves so we can sleep at night, featuring werewolves. The overt qualities of the legend of the werewolf — everything from the wolf bane blooming, its necessary startling transformations, blood lust, issues of control and hidden needs and desires — speak to something subtler in the subtext. “I grew up as a gay Puerto Rican in a really shitty part of Virginia,” said Walker. “At 4 years old, I knew I was

WALKER AND DI MONACO gay as blazes. In high school, when I started experimenting with my sexuality, I remember all the rules and parameters that my partners and I had about sex. All of my partners in high school were also men of color and we established so many rules that made what we were doing ‘not gay.’ If we didn’t kiss then it wasn’t gay, it was just a hand job. If we didn’t cuddle after, then it wasn’t gay, it was just casual oral sex. Stuff like that. ‘WOLFCRUSH’ is about all of those rules and navigating queerness while living in a shitty, conservative place.” When Walker considered the rules and games they used to play, “I couldn’t help but think of consent. And being a huge horror-movie fan, I’m obsessed with werewolves. There’s something sexy about them. There’s also a lot wrapped up in consent within werewolf mythology. Something you can’t control is literally taking over your body and making you do things that you don’t want to do. In a lot of ways, that’s what being gay felt like in Disputanta, Virginia. Something was taking over my body and I had to figure out how to resist it. Or go with it and become a gay werewolf. I chose the latter.” So does “WOLFCRUSH.” n “WOLFCRUSH (a queer werewolf play)” runs Sept. 13-22 at Vox Populi, 319 N. 11th St.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 7-13, 2018

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Notice is hereby given that the City Commissioners, sitting as the County Board of Elections, will begin their weekly meetings concerning the November 6, 2018 General and Special Election on Wednesday, September 12, 2018 at 11:00 A.M. The first meeting will be held in City Hall, Room 130. All following meetings starting on September 19, 2018 at 11:00 A.M. will be held in the City Commissioners 6th Fl. Hearing Room, Riverview Place, Columbus Blvd. & Spring Garden St. Meetings will continue every Wednesday thereafter until further notice.

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Se avisa que Los Comisionados de la Ciudad en sus funciones como la Junta Electoral del Condado, comenzaran sus reuniones semanales con respecto al 6 de noviembre de 2018 General y Elecciones especiales el miércoles 12 de septiembre 2018 a las 11:00 A.M. La primera reunión se llevará a cabo en el Ayuntamiento, Sala 130. Las siguientes reuniones comenzando el 19 de septiembre se llevarán a cabo en el 6º piso de Riverview Place en la sala de audiencia de los Comisionados, Columbus Blvd. Y Calle Spring Garden. Reuniones continuaran cada miércoles adelantes hasta nuevo aviso. Lisa M Deeley Chairwoman, City Commissioners Presidente, Comisionados Municipales

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