2015 Best of LGBT Philadelphia winners starts on page 24
Gay attorney’s antibias case resolved
Trans attack hearing delayed
Family Portrait: King Rochelle Johnson PAGE 35
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Sept. 11-17, 2015
Since 1976
PGN Philadelphia Gay News HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
Vol. 39 No. 37
City settles gay cop case
After court battle with parents, trans woman gets surgery
By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com
By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com Trans woman Christine Kitzler underwent gender-reassignment surgery Sept. 3, one day after a Bucks County judge cleared the way for the procedure, despite objections from Kitzler’s parents. Dr. Christine McGinn performed the threehour operation at the Lower Bucks Hospital in Bristol. “I heard from Dr. McGinn that Christine is doing well and mission accomplished,” said Angela D. Giampolo, an attorney for Kitzler. She said McGinn donated her services, but Kitzler had to pay for other costs associated with the procedure. “Dr. McGinn generously donated her time and expertise, but the hard costs pertaining to the hospital fees had to be covered,” Giampolo PAGE 13 explained.
GREAT (GAY) ADVENTURE: Ron Johnson (inset, from left), David Grogan, Bob Buchhofer and Seth Beck were among the guests taking in the sights and sounds of Fairgrounds: Out at Night Sept. 5 at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J. Ticketholders had all-day access to the theme park — in picture-perfect, late-summer weather — with free run of the park after the gates closed to non-ticketholders. A dance party capped off the festivities, with DJ Dave Audé and Steve Sidewalk and appearances by Miss USA and Miss America. Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutritional Alliance, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the World Wildlife Fund. Photos: Scott A. Drake
Casey not yet cosponsoring Equality Act By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com
BEST LGBT Philadelphia
BEST LGBT OF
2015
POLITICAL PARTY: Jacinto Grant, associate director of The Attic Youth Center, was among the staffers collecting donations for the LGBT youth center at Knock Sept. 8. The drive, which amassed back-to-school items, gifts and cash for the agency and its members, was staged by supporters of presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. Centered around Sanders’ birthday, the party included a birthday cake and cards, as well as resources on Sanders’ platform, including his work on LGBT youth homelessness. The Attic will continue to accept donations of winter clothing over the coming months. Photo: Scott A. Drake
backs LGBT rights, including strong support of marriage equality,” said Jacklin Rhoads, Casey’s U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) is press secretary. Casey, of Scranton, does not still reviewing the federal Equality Act, which would outlaw discrim- yet have a concrete position on ination against LGBT people in the bill. He has voted to prohibit employment, credit, jury selec- discrimination against LGBT tion, housing and other public Americans in other legislation, Rhoads noted. accommodations. His office told PGN in July,OF C a s e y c o s p o n s o r e d t h e when the bill was introduced, that Employment Nondiscrimination he would be taking some time Act in 2013, which would have to evaluate it before deciding added LGBT protections, though he was absent for the Senate vote whether to support it. “Sen. Casey is currently review- because his wife was having suring the Equality Act and fully gery to repair a PAGE 12
Philadelphia
N. Melville Jones, an openly gay Philadelphia police officer, settled his antibias lawsuit against the city in return for expanded LGBT-related sensitivity training within the police force and other concessions. The case was scheduled for a bench trial next month but on Sept. 2 both sides settled the case, after conferring with Common Pleas Judge Idee C. Fox. Jones, a 17-year veteran of the force, alleged a supervisor outed him throughout the department, triggering pervasive harassment and discrimination. Alleged acts of bias against Jones include being sent out on patrol without proper uniform and weaponry, being asked if he gets paid while having sex in the men’s locker room and being transferred to the “graveyard” shift. Jones also claimed he witnessed numerous colleagues experience anti-LGBT bias. He filed suit against the city in 2013, seeking in excess of $50,000 in damages. The city tried to have a major portion of Jones’ case dismissed, but in February a judge denied that request and Commonwealth Court denied permission for an interim appeal. Gerald J. Pomerantz, an attorney for Jones, said the city has agreed to sponsor sensitivity training to ensure LGBT employees within the police force work in a bias-free environment. “It will be groundbreaking,” Pomerantz told PGN, noting officers do receive LGBT sensitivity training, but that this will additionally address “how one police officer deals with another police officer with respect to their LGBT status. It’s an acknowledgement that this type of training is needed.” Mark McDonald, a spokesperson for the Nutter administration, couldn’t be reached for comment. Pomerantz said Jones is pleased with the outcome. “Officer Jones is relieved to know the city has acknowledged that changes need to be made,” Pomerantz continued. “And he’s very happy the city is going to do something that’s good for him and his fellow officers, regardless of whether or not they’re in the LGBT community. This is good for everybody.” The settlement also contains a financial component, but details weren’t available at press time. On Sept. 8, PGN filed an open-records request, seeking the amount of city tax funds expended to settle the case. n
And the winners are ... PAGES 24-30