Miss’d America on the move Deborah Gibson: Coming full Cirque
Family Portrait: Tammyrae Barr talks Gender Reel
PAGE 25
PAGE 29
Local members win national NLGJA board positions PAGE 2
Sept. 13-19, 2013
����������
��� ������������ �������� �����������������������������������������
Vol. 37 No. 37
Hearing held in Shephard murder
State commission to hold session on HB 300
By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com William F. Smithson took a step forward in his quest for a new trial as he participated in an evidentiary hearing this week. Smithson is convicted of the 2006 strangulation death of coworker Jason Shephard inside Smithson’s home. Authorities also claim that Smithson administered the date-rape drug gamma hydroxybutyric acid, or GHB, to the young man and then tried to rape him. Smithson is serving a life sentence, but maintains his innocence and seeks a proper investigation of F. Bruce Covington, who was also in Smithson’s home when Shephard died. PAGE 20 Covington was con-
By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com
OUT AT WORK: The Pennsylvania Bar Institute and the LGBT Committee of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Family Law Section held a continuing-legal education session Sept. 6 at PBI that focused on LGBT-employment issues. The panel discussion was moderated by Mazzoni Center legal director David Rosenblum (from left), with attorney panelists Katie Eyer, state Rep. Dan Frankel (D-23rd Dist.), Reynelle Brown Staley, Mary Tiernan and Tiffany Palmer. The group discussed employment, labor and benefit trends for LGBT Pennsylvanians, including Frankel’s proposed House Bill 300, which would incorporate sexual orientation and gender identity into the state’s nondiscrimination law. Photo: Scott A. Drake
A.C. drag show cancelled By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com
Entertainment, nightlife, people, community, food & drink
����� ��� ������������
����� ��� ��
2013
LEADING THE LINE: Steven Getzow (from left) was first in line to turn in his pre-application Monday morning for residence in the John C. Anderson Apartments. The LGBT-friendly senior facility opened its apartment-rental unit at William Way LGBT Community Center and was flooded with more than 100 applicants. The complex is set to open in January. More coverage, page 7. Photo: Scott A. Drake
The popular Atlantic City drag show that brought together the likes of Dolly Parton, Prince, Patti LaBelle, Liza Minelli and Joan Rivers will end its run this month. The last “Divas Do A.C.” at Resorts will be Sept. 27. The drag event sold out regularly, five shows a week, but casino officials said it ran its course. “The decision was certainly not malicious. It was a tough decision to make,” said Resorts director of advertising and public relations Courtney Birmingham. “These are top-notch professionals and great people and it was great to have them on the property. The Divas have
brought something so special not only to the property but to Atlantic City. We don’t want to lose that LGBT feel and we hope to find a show that will appeal to the community, but we are looking to do something different.” The show launched as “Divas in a Man’s World” in 2011, but last summer lead performer Steven Andrade was terminated and the show was changed to “Divas Do A.C.” Andrade later filed a lawsuit for �� copyright infringement. Birmingham said the suit was not related to the show’s cancellation. “We can’t comment on pending litigation, but no, that had no factor in closing our current ‘Divas Do A.C.’ show,” she said. Birmingham PAGE 19
The state agency that enforces Pennsylvania’s nondiscrimination law has scheduled a first-ever session to explore public opinion about the proposed bill to incorporate sexual orientation and gender identity into the law. The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission will hold a public hearing Oct. 28 in Harrisburg on House Bill 300. Commission spokesperson Shannon Powers said the session will function similar to a legislative hearing, although the nine commissioners do not have any legislative authority. They will, however, vote to either support or oppose the bill after the meeting. The commission has in the past unanimously backed previous versions of HB 300, although Powers noted there are new commissioners on the panel. Powers said the commission’s session will allow the members to take an informed position on the legislation. “Rather than just take a position based on history, they want to find out what opposition is based on, other than the obvious that we’ve heard,” Powers said. “They want to look at how this will really affect workplaces, employers, housing providers, the different entities that would be affected by a change in law. They want to more thoroughly examine the real effects of the law before they support or oppose it.” Powers said the commission is inviting eight organizations — four that support the legislation and four that oppose — to testify at the meeting. The commissioners will have the opportunity to ask the witnesses questions, and after the meeting will PAGE 20
������������
Vote for your faves using our backcover ballot