Philadelphia Gay News Sept. 10 - 16, 2010
Vol. 34 No. 37
Honesty Integrity Professionalism
Woman killed outside N. Philly LGBT party By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer
RISING UP FOR CHANGE: Individuals and groups receiving funds from grantmaking agency Bread and Roses Community Fund gathered for “On the Rise for Real Change,” a cocktail reception Sept. 1 at Smokin’ Betty’s. Bread and Roses funds projects that fuel positive social change and operates initiatives such as the Jonathan Lax Scholarship Fund, which pays tribute to a late LGBT activist. This year’s Lax Scholarship was given to Dwayne Bensing, D’Angelo Keyes, Stephen Kramer, Jason Landau-Goodman and Adrian Lowe. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Plans underway for gay senior housing center By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer Philadelphia is now one step closer to adding its name to the short list of American cities that offers a housing complex for LGBT elders. The board of directors of the William Way LGBT Community Center met with representatives of LGBT grantmaking agency the Dr. Magnus Hirschfield Fund on Tuesday and consented to proceed on a proposed LGBT senior assisted-living center. The center would be situated directly next door to William Way, and construction, spearheaded by Pennrose Development, would involve the current adjoining building being torn down and replaced by a new facility that could accommodate about 40 residents. The Hirschfield Fund is applying for federal, state and city funding to cover the $20million project, and the William Way board this week voted to support the grant applications. Chris Bartlett, executive director of the center, said that while the board is backing the effort, it does plan to give it extensive thought as the project moves forward. “The board is going to take the time to review the impact of the project on the center’s mission and finances,” Bartlett said.
“We felt it was important for us to proceed carefully and think about how this project fits strategically with the center.” Mark Segal, president of the Hirschfield Fund and PGN publisher, also cautioned that the project is “not a done deal.” “We need the support of the community and for our elected officials to follow through with their commitments,” he said, adding, “A major thanks to the board at the [center] for allowing us to proceed with our upcoming grant proposal. They showed true leadership.” State Rep. Mike O’Brien (D-175th Dist.) has been pressing for state funding for the housing project and said he’s “cautiously optimistic” that the state will provide the needed funds. O’Brien said the state has a duty to protect its seniors, especially those who face increased marginalization like those in the LGBT community. “At the end of the day, society gets judged on how we treat our children and our old,” O’Brien said. “I truly believe we have a moral obligation to take care of older folks, and the issues they face are exacerbated in the LGBT community. I’ve seen many friends over the years whose partners have passed away and who are left alone and have See SENIORS, Page 12
A woman was struck and killed by a car in the early-morning hours of Sept. 4 in a melee outside of an after-hours North Philadelphia club that frequently hosts LGBT and ballroom events. Alisha Moore, 27, was killed when a car driven by two women hit her outside Club Motivation, Eighth and Dauphin streets, early Saturday. Five other patrons also sustained injuries at the club, which at the time was staging its weekly “Breakfast Club,” an event popular with the LGBT ballroom and house community. Marvin Mosley, who was working security at the club that night, told WCAU10 that his mother, club owner Kadella Davis, was one of the victims and was hospitalized for facial and neck injuries. Davis, also known as Mother Breakfast, has run underground LGBT parties in venues around the city for nearly 30 years. Police said the incident arose after Mosley prevented three women, who reportedly are lesbian, from entering the club at about 4 a.m. because they were carrying open containers of alcohol. After being turned away, the women allegedly began smashing windows of nearby parked cars. Two of the women got into a gray Chevrolet Monte Carlo at about 4:30 a.m. and drove toward the club, where a crowd was gathered outside. The women circled the block up to four times, striking more patrons each time before driving off, police said.
One suspect was detained at the scene and the other was apprehended a short distance away after she attempted to flee in a cab. Club Motivation hosts “Mini Ball Madness” every Friday night and “Lesbian Night Out” on Saturdays. As of Wednesday, charges had not been filed against the two women. Police spokesperson Sgt. Ray Evers said an “active investigation” is ongoing and police know the identity of the two suspects, although their names have not yet been made public. “We’re dealing with the District Attorney’s Office and we have a whole lot of evidence to get through, dealing with the car itself and the witnesses and toxicology reports,” Evers said. “At this point, we’re not sure when arrests will be made until the evidence is all sifted through and the DA’s Office makes the decision.” Mother Breakfast was interviewed by Philadelphia Weekly earlier this year on black LGBT nightlife and said the club has been in existence since the 1980s, although it has moved to several locations because of frequent raids by the city’s Department of Licenses and Inspections. Robert Burns, executive director of The COLOURS Organization Inc., said his agency has been in contact with several other LGBT of color groups whom he said are planning activities “that will support dialogue around the incident.” ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn. com.
CLUB MOTIVATION, 2315 N. EIGHTH ST. Photo: Scott A. Drake