pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976
Vol. 42 No. 37 Sept. 14-20, 2018
Morris homicide timing concerns PAGE 2
Antigay judge set to ascend to SCOTUS
Family Portrait: Reginald Lee, fashionably ever after PAGE 23
HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
Jeff Guaracino to head city’s tourism office
Fringe-worthy dance performances
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Progressive political-action summit a success By Adriana Fraser adriana@epgn.com
By Victoria A. Brownworth PGN Contributor A dramatic week of often-contentious hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee saw several-hundred protesters arrested and dozens disrupting the proceedings as senators grilled Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump’s nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court to replace retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy. Kavanaugh has received high marks from the American Bar Association and more than a dozen witnesses — mostly former law students and law clerks — testified on his behalf on the final day of hearings Sept. 8. But while Kavanaugh is beloved by conservatives, those across the aisle feel equally strongly about his troubling views on abortion, contraception, gay rights, the Affordable Care Act, minority voting rights and gun control. Democratic senators tried to elicit as much information on those key issues as possible over several days of questioning. Kamala Harris (D-CA), a likely front-runner for the 2020 presidential race and the former attorney general of California, was one of Kavanaugh’s toughest questioners. She was also the first senator to query Kavanaugh on whether or not he considered Obergefell to be settled law. In an exchange that appeared to leave Kavanaugh unsettled, Harris first asked if the judge considered Obergefell to be a landmark civil-rights case like Brown v. Topeka Board of Education, which decided segregation. Kavanaugh demurred. Harris pressed him: “My question is very specific. Can you comment on your personal opinion on whether Obergefell was correctly decided? It’s a yes or no. Please.” Kavanaugh referenced Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, in which SCOTUS ruled against gay plaintiffs who wanted a wedding cake and for the bakery that refused PAGE 15 them service. He refused
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MALCOLM KENYATTA, THE OUT DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE IN THE 181ST HOUSE DISTRICT, DELIVERS OPENING REMARKS AT THE ARENA’S “LOVE + ACTION” PHILADELPHIA SUMMIT AT THE PENNSYLVANIA CONVENTION CENTER SEPT. 7. Photo: Kelly Burkhardt
Trans woman remembered; killer still at-large By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com The Hunting Park and Germantown communities planned to memorialize one of their own this week, while a national LGBT-rights organization and a state-run anti-violence group called out yet another murder of a trans woman of color in a growing epidemic. Shantee Tucker was shot to death early Sept. 5 on the 4300 block of Old York Road. Witnesses said the victim had been involved in a brief argument around 1 a.m. with the driver of a black pickup truck, who then fired eight shots. One hit Tucker in the back. Police transported her to Temple University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead about four hours later, said Captain John Ryan of the Police Homicide Division in a press conference later that day. Tucker, 30, resided in nearby Germantown. Police don’t believe she was targeted for her gender identity, Ryan said; however, the motive remained unknown and the killer was still at large as of Wednesday.
A candlelight march and call-toaction demonstration for Tucker was planned for that evening at Old York Road and Hunting Park Avenue. “We’re demanding justice for Shantee,” said Tatyana Woodard, a longtime friend of the victim who organized the event, which was scheduled to begin after press time. “We encourage everyone to come out and stand with us as we ask Philadelphia police and the neighborhood to start standing up for our girls.” Woodard described Tucker as someone who would intercede on another’s behalf. “She was a strong person, a friendly person. Very loving. Always quick to defend others. She never liked to see anyone get bullied. She was a peacemaker.” The Human Rights Campaign, a national LGBT advocacy group, issued a statement decrying Tucker’s death and noting the growing incidence of violence against trans individuals. In the United States so far this year, 19 known transgender individuals were PAGE 15 fatally shot or killed by
More than 1,000 political advocates, educators and civic leaders from around the country convened at The Arena’s Philadelphia summit to discuss concerns stemming from the Trump presidency — and, more pointedly, how they could mobilize to ensure their voices and constituents are heard and heeded. The two-day “Love + Action” summit, Sept. 7-8, tackled an extensive agenda that featured nearly 40 keynote speakers and seven breakout training sessions, bearing titles and objectives like “Economic Empowerment Through Entrepreneurship” and “Preparing for the Last Weekend: Getting Involved in 2018.” Two Arena emcees, Jason Green and Erica Atwood, kept the crowd engaged as they facilitated and introduced the revolving door of speakers. Guests enjoyed wrap-up parties at The Franklin Institute and NOTO Philadelphia. The summit opened with a performance by Play On, Philly, a symphony orchestra composed of local middle- and high-school students. The 20 young musicians, elegantly dressed in black, performed “The Star Spangled Banner,” with one of the students addressing the anthem’s controversial third verse, which glorified the death of slaves. PoP performed the often-omitted verse — and added a hip-hop-infused fourth verse the students wrote: “O say can you see the blood of our children Who are slaughtered by those who vow to protect us And from shackles to shame we still wear on our frame Incarcerated; they enslave our men in a cage And from whips to police, they keep us on a leash No proof, no rights It’s a battle we fight.” Malcolm Kenyatta, the Democratic candidate for state representative in the 181st House District, applauded the students for addressing the issue. “In 2016 on election night and in all the days past, we’ve watched our country go in a dangerous direction,” he told the audience in the summit’s PAGE 18
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PGN LOCAL
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 14-20, 2018
Resource listings 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: coloursorganization.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
By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com As Philadelphia police investigate the city’s most recent killing of a transgender woman, the nearly 16-year-old unsolved homicide of Nizah Morris could come down to 16 minutes. That’s how long Officer Elizabeth Skala estimated she was with Morris during the police courtesy ride that preceded Morris’ fatal head wound on a Center City street corner in December 2002. If Skala’s estimate is accurate, it places the officer with Morris when she suffered the injury that ultimately led to her death. A passing motorist found Morris, a 47-year-old trans woman and a popular entertainer, unconscious at 16th and Walnut streets shortly after Skala had transported her to the intersection in a police car. In a recently discovered transcript of a 2006 Police Advisory Commission inquiry of Skala, PAC member Adam Rodgers asked the officer how much time she spent with Morris during the courtesy ride. Rodgers’ question was prompted by Skala’s patrol log, which indicated the officer was with Morris between 3:10-3:26 a.m. on Dec. 22, 2002. “For the record, your best estimate is she’s with you for 16 minutes and you dropped her off?” Rodgers asked Skala. “Yes,” Skala replied, according to the official transcript of the PAC hearing. During her PAC testimony, Skala maintained she didn’t know what caused the injury. She testified that the courtesy ride began outside the old Key West Bar, near 13th and Walnut streets, and ended at 15th and Walnut, where Skala thought Morris
St.; 215-985-4448, fight.org
• Washington West Project of Mazzoni Center:
International
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 • 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
Officer’s timing estimate puts her at scene of Morris homicide
Survey: Most Singaporeans still support gay-sex ban A slim majority of Singaporeans still support a law that bans gay sex, an online survey showed on Sept. 10. The survey comes amid renewed debate on whether the city-state should follow India’s footsteps and scrap similar British colonial-era legislation. Previous legal challenges to overturn the ban failed, but a prominent Singapore diplomat called on the gay community to renew legal action against the law a day after India’s top court decriminalized gay sex in a landmark ruling.
was residing. The officer said she was certain Morris wasn’t injured when she entered and exited her police vehicle because she shielded Morris’ head from the top of the vehicle’s door. “I remember putting — which I know because I always do — I put my hand over her head so that it doesn’t hit the top of the door,” Skala testified. Morris also wished the officer “Merry Christmas” as she was walking away after exiting the police car, Skala said. But advocates of Morris have scoffed at the officer’s testimony, noting Morris lived in West Philadelphia and that she would
The officer said she was certain Morris wasn’t injured when she entered and exited her police vehicle because she shielded Morris’ head from the top of the vehicle’s door. have been too intoxicated to walk away from Skala’s vehicle without assistance. Philadelphia police had no comment this week on Skala’s PAC testimony and her time estimate with Morris. Skala couldn’t be reached. In April, Julie Chovanes, a local trans attorney, filed a state Right-to-Know Law request for all records relating to the Morris homicide in the possession of the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. Her request is still pending. n Fifty-five percent of 750 Singaporeans surveyed by independent market research and consulting firm, Ipsos, still supported the ban. According to the poll, 12 percent opposed the law, while 33 percent were neither for or against it. Ipsos conducted the online survey of people ages 15-65 over four days in late July and early August. Under Section 377A of Singapore’s Penal Code, a man found to have committed an act of “gross indecency” with another man could be jailed for up to two years, although prosecutions are rare. The law does not apply to homosexual acts between women. In its six decades since independence, Singapore has emerged as a modern, wealthy city-state.Yet lawmakers remain typically cautious over social reforms, partly due to sensitivities stemming from the ethnic and religious mix among Singapore’s 5.6-million inhabitants, a population that includes citizens, permanent residents and foreigners. n
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 14-20, 2018
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 14-20, 2018
OUTFEST IS OCT. 7
News & Opinion
10 — Editorials 11 — Mark My Words Street Talk OUTPour
PGN’S PREVIEW ISSUE IS OCT. 5
Columns
8 — Out Money 15 — Thinking Queerly
Arts & Culture 19 21 22 23 26
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Feature Scene in Philly Q Puzzle Family Portrait Out & About
(Issue date: Oct. 5; advertising/art deadline: Sept. 28)
PGN 505 S. Fourth St. Philadelphia, PA 19147-1506 Phone: 215-625-8501 Fax: 215-925-6437 E-mail: pgn@epgn.com Web: www.epgn.com
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~ Frank D’Aguanno, on the upcoming life celebration of his sister Ghosha, page 9
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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
“That’s the best way to continue any potential legacy is giving it back to the community.”
Seven podcasts for LGBTQ families.
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Out gay author Dale Peck’s latest novel, “Night Soil,” is a testament to his literary talents.
Copyright © 1976 - 2018 Copyright(s) in all materials in these pages are either owned or licensed by Masco Communications Inc. or its subsidiaries or affiliate companies (Philadelphia Gay News, PGN, and it’s WWW sites.) All other reproduction, distribution, retransmission, modification, public display, and public performance of our materials is prohibited without the prior written consent of Masco Communications. To obtain such consent, email pgn@epgn.com Published by Masco Communications Inc. © 1976-2018 Masco Communications Inc. ISSN-0742-5155
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LOCAL PGN
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 14-20, 2018
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A familiar road for new tourism chief By Adriana Fraser adriana@epgn.com If there’s a road less traveled, Jeff Guaracino probably traversed it more than once. The seasoned tourism expert — who also wrote a travel column for this newspaper — is setting out to conquer new vistas in a place he knows well: Philly. Guaracino, the new president and CEO of tourism-promotion agency Visit Philadelphia, also happens to be LGBT. And he wants to give the community a seat at the table. His strategy for inclusiveness, he said, would “bring the community to the boardroom and into marketing campaigns.” The agency’s board of directors announced Guaracino’s appointment earlier this month. The nonprofit organization promotes leisure travel to the five-county Philadelphia region — something for which the new leader is abundantly qualified. First, he has to wrap up his nearly three-year stint as head of Welcome America!, the city’s free multi-day, multi-event July 4 celebration. When he takes the helm of Visit Philadelphia next month, it will be a sort of homecoming for the city native: He worked at the agency for more than a decade in various leadership roles earlier in the millennium. “I’ve always had my eye on this job. As a native Philadelphian, it’s such an exciting time to come here and to be a part of Philadelphia’s storytelling. Visit Philadelphia
has been committed to diversity and inclusion across every single group of people,” Guaracino said. “Being able to launch the groundbreaking ‘Get your history straight and your nightlife gay’ campaign was, and is still, the most successful campaign in the world.” He also worked on the organization’s other signature marketing campaigns, including “Philly’s More Fun When You Sleep Over,” “With Love, Philadelphia XOXO,” “With Art Philadelphia” and “Philly Homegrown.”
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the City of Philadelphia and Pew Charitable Trusts founded the agency, formally known as the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, in 1996. Guaracino succeeds Meryl Levitz, the founding president and CEO, who announced in January that she planned to leave the position. “I’m delighted that Guaracino has been selected to lead the talented team at Visit Philadelphia,” Levitz said in a press release. “Jeff’s experience in destination marketing is proven, and I have the utmost confidence that with him leading our skilled staff, Visit Philadelphia will continue to produce record-breaking room nights, great stories and an outstanding quality of life and economic benefits for those who live, work and play in Philadelphia.” Guaracino said his first priority is to keep the momentum going. Last year, the tourism organization contributed to more than 1-million leisure hotel-room nights being booked in Center City — setting a record for visitation. This is up from the 250,000 rooms booked in 1997, when the agency began marketing the city as a destination. The tourism guru said he’ll use his Welcome America! experience to continue the successes of Visit Philadelphia. “Welcome America! is coming off of a record year. We had deals with Comcast, NBC Universal, Live Nation and global companies. I understand the challenge of the job ahead to keep momentum, to keep hotel-room nights coming and to keep visitors coming back. It’s an extraordinary opportunity to be able to tell the world just how great Philadelphia is.” n
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 14-20, 2018
HEALTH AND WELLNESS DIRECTORY
LOCAL PGN
Queer-focused midwifery expands in West Philly By Suzannah Cavanaugh PGN Contributor
LGBT SMOKE FREE Living proudly. Living longer. For help quitting smoking, visit www.sepatobaccofree.org or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Tobacco Control Project is an initiative of Health Promotion Council.
Ray Rachlin, certified professional midwife and owner of Refuge Midwifery, is celebrating the one year anniversary of her home-birth practice and its expansion. Refuge’s new office space open its doors in West Philly just this month. Refuge Midwifery is one of four CPMs in city limits, and one of the only home-birth practices catering to LGBTQ patients. For Rachlin, her specialization is personal. As a teen, she remembers receiving personalized healthcare as a participant in a youth program at Callen-Lorde, the New York City LGBTQ community health center. “It was life-changing to have providers that treated me with respect: to just be treated as a person who could make decisions about my own body and be given the information and tools to do that,” said Rachlin, who identifies as queer. Thus, her the decision to explore these values through midwifery was a natural transition. Rachlin attended her first home birth as a doula — a birth coach — in 2010, and was immediately hooked. “It just looked so different,” she recalled. “I attended births in hospitals before this, and it was just so different when a person wasn’t working around the hospital systems.” In the past year, Rachlin has attended close to 25 births as the owner of Refuge. She averages four births a month and is helping some five-10 people get pregnant at any given time. Of those couples, a third are LGBTQ. For queer clients looking to conceive, Rachlin said a homebirth midwife makes sense. “I offer a lot of the things that queer and trans people want in care, like having continuity, a known provider, not having to deal with office staff, since I do all my labs in house, and not having to interact with other healthcare providers. Rachlin also offers ways for clients to track their fertility,
guides them through intrauterine inseminations (IUIs), and also performs IUIs at her clients’ homes. If Rachlin has a niche within the home-birth arena, it’s fertility care for trans clients. During her three-year certification program at Birthingway College and Midwifery in Portland, she spent a term caring exclusively for trans patients. “I specialized in this niche of helping people get off hormones and helping them figure out when and how to use their genetic material to get pregnant.” said Rachlin.
mom, so I grew up kind of working-class,” said Rachlin. “Having these clients who were also,young and working class, and being like, ‘Don’t tell me what to do with my body!’ I was like‘ That’s me! I get to serve me! This is so much fun.” As Rachlin continues to practice, serving her community is her priority. This month, she planned an alternative healthcare dinner to connect with other queer providers in the area. But, she had to cancel last-minute. A baby a week and a half overdue decided it was time.
Because of how poorly home birth is covered by insurance, Rachlin’s clientele fit a traditional demographic. They’re highly educated, in their 30s and upper-to-middle class. However, in the past year, she’s seen a trend of younger, working-class families. “I was raised by a single
No matter. Rachlin has a workshop planned for this month on how to create a pregnancy when you lack the sperm. It’s called Behind The Baster. n Behind The Baster will be held Sept. 16 from 11:30-1:30 p.m. at Studio 34, 4522 Baltimore Ave. Visit https://www.refugemidwifery.com/events/beyondthebaster for details.
LOCAL PGN
Podcast picks for LGBTQ parents By Suzannah Cavanaugh PGN Contributor Wherever you are in parenthood — trying, expecting, raising, chasing — you’re busy. So, if you’re looking for advice, say, navigating IVF or your toddler’s terrible twos, it’s got to fit your schedule. You should try a podcast. Over a quarter of Americans are listening to one monthly, and most of them are tuning in while they’re doing something else, like commuting, working, exercising,and parenting! Here are seven series that are currently (or soon to be) broadcasting tips and stories for LGBTQ families of all stripes. Outspoken Voices: a podcast for LGBTQ families Emily McGranachan, queerspawn and a director for the Family Equity Council, hosts the podcast, interviewing members of LGBTQ families on donor siblings, foster families, inclusive summer camps and identity. Episodes run 30 minutes. If These Ovaries Could Talk Two lesbians and showbiz alumns talk baby-making and nontraditional families with a reel of weekly guests. Hosted by actress Jaimie Kelton and comedian Robin Hopkins, the 30-plus-minute episodes save space for lots of laughs. The ladies wrapped their first season this summer and will be back with fresh episodes for fall.
platform, Queerly Beloved is a podcast based on the column of the same name. The content will include stories, provided by Broadly readers, of the LGBT families we inherit and make: your lesbian mom, your trans sister, your queer role model. Submissions are still being accepted. Call 707-412-8388. Gayest Show on Birth It’s gestation in real time! Married couple, Kate and Karyne, give weekly updates on their pregnancy: the combined efforts of Karyne’s eggs, an unknown sperm donor, and Kate’s uterus. At eight months and counting, things are about to come to a head.
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 14-20, 2018
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HEALTH AND WELLNESS DIRECTORY rev. dr. Nadine
Rosechild Sullivan, ph.d.
Spiritual Counseling drsullivan@rosechild.org
215.704.4264
www.rosechild.org
Spirituality • Sexuality • Relationships • Self-Esteem
The Longest Shortest Time With an eight-year run-time, a 2018 Webby and a thumbs-up from Terry Gross, the WNYC series is a parenting podcast canon. Don’t miss their latest: “Becoming a Single Dad While Trans.” The Gay Fathers Podcast Produced by the Utah Gay Fathers Association, this podcast interviews dads who have come out after a heterosexual marriage. Each episode, titled with the guests’ first name, gives the father an hour of airtime to tell his story. The New Family Podcast — Modern Views on Family Life Like “The LongestShortest Time,” but Canadian. Established editor Brandie Weikle hosts, interviewing guests from all types of families. Episodes are tagged for simplified searches and supplemented with recommended readings. n
Queerly Beloved Expected to hit Broadly, Vice’s diversity-serving
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 14-20, 2018
FINANCES PGN
Understanding and improving your credit score Q: My spouse and I are considering buying our first home and we understand that our credit history and credit score can factor into the terms of our mortgage. Where can we start to learn more about our scores and how to make them better if needed? A: First, congratulations on your potential home purchase. You are correct: Being aware of, and properly managing your credit score, is important throughout your life, especially when you’re looking to finance a purchase. Here’s what you need to know to get started:
ate scores using a proprietary formula that assigns weightings to the five main factors illustrated below:
indication of your credit history. Care should be used in keeping old accounts open and in good standing. New credit: While opening one new Weighting the factors in your credit card might be normal, opening score several in a short span of time could be a warning sign to potential creditors that something is amiss in your financial life. Types of credit used: Both the total number of credit accounts you have and the mix of credit you have will affect your credit score. Jeremy A healthy mix of Source: myFICO.com, July 2018. Gussick revolving credit cards, charge Payment history: Timely payments are cards, installment loans and mortgages an important component of your credit will also impact your credit score. score. Using your credit responsibly and paying bills on time are great ways to What is a ‘good’ credit score? maintain a good credit score. Amounts owed: This factor reflects the A typical credit score will range 300percentage of your available credit that 850 points. Generally speaking, the higher you are using. High credit utilization can the score, the lower the risk, and the better be a warning sign of credit risk. the pricing you may be offered. The differLength of credit history: Your credit ences can be significant. history is a significant contributor to your For instance, at current rates, a borrower credit score. Accordingly, the average age with a credit score of between 760 and of your credit accounts can be a strong 850 might expect to pay a rate of 4.162
Out Money
Whether you are applying for a credit card, car loan or mortgage, your credit score is critical in determining if you can get the credit, how much you can get and what you’ll pay for it. The most widely used credit scores are FICO® Scores, those generated by the Fair Isaac Corporation. In fact, more than 90 percent of top lenders use FICO® Scores to help them make consumer-credit decisions.1 FICO® Scores are calculated based on information supplied by the three major credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, which gener-
percent on a 30-year, $300,000 fixed-rate mortgage, according to myFICO.com’s Loan Savings Calculator. By contrast, an individual with a score of 620-639 might expect a rate of 5.731 percent, which amounts to an extra $287 monthly payment and about $103,200 more in total interest paid over the life of the mortgage.2 Keep in mind, however, that lenders differ and there are many additional factors that they may use to determine your actual interest rates. Tracking your score U.S. consumers are entitled to a free credit report each year from all three credit reporting agencies mentioned above. You can request your reports at www. AnnualCreditReport.com. Unlike credit reports, however, your credit score is not free. You can purchase your score from one of the agencies or from myFICO.com. Improving your score Here are some time-proven tips for raising a credit score and maintaining it once it improves: • Pay your accounts on time and keep your balances low. Lenders typically look for a proven track record of making timely payments. PAGE 14
LOCAL PGN
A musical memorial for local singer By Miranda Lankas miranda@epgn.com The William Way LGBT Community Center will host a memorial for Ghosha D’Aguanno, local pop singer and songwriter, Sept. 16. She died in April from complications from cancer. The memorial will be held from 1-4 p.m. and is open to the public. It will begin at the William Way, 1315 Spruce St., and progress to the Tavern on Camac, 243 Camac St. D’Aguanno played at bars throughout the Gayborhood, but her Sunday-evening performances at Tavern were her longest-running weekly appearances. The singer is
survived by her brother, Frank D’Aguanno. “We’re going to try to keep [the memorial] as upbeat and fun as possible,” he said. “We will bring down her ashes and have everybody pay their final respects. We’re going to have participants singing and telling stories.” D’Aguanno, a musician himself, also spoke of plans to use the wealth of music his sister left behind to raise money for charity, with hopes of eventually putting together a compilation of her songs. “That’s the best way to continue any potential legacy is giving it back to the community.” The late singer’s regular venue, Cibo, honored her passing with a fundraiser. Tavern’s ceremony will be the last celebration in her honor. Performances will include the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus, Philly Voices of Freedom, Karen Scioli of “Saturday Night Dead,” Jeff Beiter, Andrew Mars and friends who performed with D’Aguanno at Cibo and Tavern. n
Local film screenings to benefit Philly AIDS Thrift By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Local out comedian and performer James Bradford is hosting two film screenings to benefit Philly AIDS Thrift, Sept. 19 at PhilaMOCA and Sept. 26 at The Trestle Inn. This isn’t Bradford’s first benefit for PAT. Last year he hosted a standup comedy benefit at Tabu. “I did that because there was another group in town that was run by straight folk that did a queer-themed comedy show, and it felt like they were using LGBT as a party theme more than anything else,” he said. “They raised money for the William Way and they didn’t disclose how much money they had raised or what percentage of the money they were donating. It made me feel weird. I wanted to do an event for an organization that I believed in that was completely queer, where everyone involved identified under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella. Everyone involved donated their time and it went really well. We raised a little bit under $1,000.” Bradford said this benefit, which features screenings of “Grandmother’s Gold” and “The Gay & Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo” by out actor and filmmaker, Brian Jordan Alvarez, known for playing Jack’s boyfriend, Estefan, on the new season of “Will & Grace” — came
about almost by happenstance. “I hadn’t planned on doing it originally,” he said. “My pal, Jordan Alvarez, creator and star of both of the films we are screening, has reached out about screening the film for festival and nonprofits free of charge. I had seen the film and thought they were hilarious. I thought that I wanted as many people as possible to see this really funny movie that is filled with this amazing, diverse cast and I always want to raise money for Philly AIDS Thrift because it’s my favorite charity in the area. Everything sort of fell into place. I hope it draws a crowd that wants to see some really fun film and want to do good.” When asked about future benefit shows, Bradford said he will continue to switch things up to keep people interested. “In October, we’re going to do something call ‘Boo-lesque,’ a Halloweenthemed burlesque and variety show,” he said. “I will probably end up co-hosting the event. It won’t be your traditional straight-up burlesque. There will be standup comedy, music and drag. We’ll see how these go. It’s important to switch it up. We’ll do a film here, burlesque here and then maybe a Christmas show that is standup comedy or storytelling.” n For more information, visit https://kaj3251. wixsite.com/website-7.
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EDITORIAL PGN EDITORIAL
Op-Ed
How I got to coach Rehoboth’s Gay Games team By Fay Jacobs
Editorial
Accountability needed in Morris case There are too many troubling questions relating to the unsolved homicide of Nizah Morris for Philadelphia police to continue stonewalling rather than responding to legitimate questions. As much as they might like the case to go away, it won’t. The Morris case is a challenge to our conscience. This week’s news story by reporter Tim Cwiek raises the unsettling prospect that Officer Elizabeth Skala was in the presence of Morris when she suffered a fatal head injury. According to a 911 transmission, Skala was dispatched to investigate Morris for possible drug possession at 3:10 a.m. Dec. 22, 2002. Rather than conducting an investigation, Skala decided to give Morris a three-block Center City courtesy ride. At 3:25, a passing motorist called 911, reporting that Morris was lying unconscious at 16th and Walnut streets with a bleeding head wound. All of that happened within a mere 15 minutes. In her public testimony to the Police Advisory Commission back in 2006, Skala confirmed a 16-minute estimate for the length of time she was with Morris. Officer Skala’s estimate is startling because it places her squarely with Morris when she suffered the injury that ultimately ender her life. Do the math. Other concerns also plague the case, including a suspicious notation in the the patrol log of Officer Kenneth Novak — who also responded to Morris but was never publicly questioned about the incident — and a computer-aided dispatch record that indicates an initial 911 call for Morris was placed on hold, preempted by another incident and ultimately dismissed as unfounded. Police refuse to comment about these issues. During a recent news conference on a separate issue involving alleged racism within the police department, Commissioner Richard Ross said officers should be held accountable for their actions. “I think we do have a higher standard that we have to live up to,” Ross said. “And so when people want to hold us to a higher standard, I think they’re right to do so -particularly in the case with law enforcement, where we have the ability to deprive people of their liberty.” We urge Commissioner Ross to be true to his words and apply that same standard to the Nizah Morris case. The many friends, advocates and family members of Nizah Morris deserve no less. n
Let’s face it, it’s tough to compete with the job Team Philadelphia did in the Gay Games in Paris, France, Aug. 4-12. In case you missed it, the 60 LGBT-identified athletes on the home team brought back 38 medals. They competed in 18 sporting events and won gold medals in figure skating, swimming, basketball and softball. Bravo! Well, our seven-person Team Rehoboth, Delaware’s only representatives to the quadrennial competition, may not have brought home gold, silver or bronze, but it was a 14-karat success in every other way. Actually, there were only six athletes competing, and one coach. That was me. Ever since I learned that the Gay Games would be in Paris this year, I longed to be able to march in with my team, holding our Team Rehoboth banner and celebrating pride with athletes from all over the globe. Only problem was, the only attendees authorized to march into the stadium with the teams had to be either athletes or coaches. Totally non-athletic journalists don’t count. But luckily for me, our team captain agreed to anoint me as team coach — with only one caveat. I had to promise not to give any sports advice to the athletes. No problem! So I signed up as a non-playing golf coach, since my spouse and another team member were competing as golfers. I would have, of course, been equally at home not giving advice to the bowlers or half-marathoners among us. On the afternoon of the opening ceremonies, Paris was in the midst of a record-breaking heat wave, still 97 degrees out as we began lining up at 4:30 in the afternoon. Thousands of athletes and coaches milled about outside the stadium, waiting for hours in the brutally hot sun, visiting other delegations and joining the crowd in guzzling so much beer that the vendors ran out. But my dream of walking into the stadium with our Team Rehoboth was just as sweet as I envisioned, and twice as emotional. As we peeked out from the entry tunnel, the crowd of thousands cheered, hollered and did the wave. As we stepped onto the field, two French hosts preceded us, waving a Delaware placard and announcing “De La Ware” over the thundering loudspeakers. Behind us, Florida and Georgia stood ready, followed by the rest of the states, and then countries from Albania to Zambia. As we started to cross the field, hundreds of thoughts collided in my brain,
most echoing some form of, We’re queer, we’re here, and this old activist can’t really believe it. I was pretty sure those rioting queens at Stonewall couldn’t have envisioned the glory of this moment either. I held the left side of the rainbow-colored Team Rehoboth banner; my friends and teammates held the rest, and we crossed the center of the field, grinning, whooping it up and feeling various blends of pride, thankfulness and desperation for another cold brew. We soaked up every delicious hoot, holler and second of it. As we ended our cross-field journey and scrambled to our seats, teams continued to march in for another hour and a half, filling the stadium to at least 15,000 people, with enormous contingents from the likes of the U.K. (900) and Germany (700) and finishing with thousands of French participants. In between, there were teams of every size, including many brave individuals from places where it is both illegal and dangerous to be queer. There were two athletes from Jamaica, only one from Macau, several from Papua New Guinea and, oddly, more gay athletes from Uganda than Rehoboth. I couldn’t stop thinking about what many of them risked just to show up. Of course, there were costumes. Texas had cowboy hats, Thailand wore towering Buddha-like headdresses, Mexico had musicians camping it up, and the Chinese team tossed adorable toy pandas into the air. When the stadium Jumbotrons lit up with the words “We are stronger together,” everyone watching knew it to be true. The next day, the Athletes’ Village came to life at the Paris City Hall, with vendors, sponsors, entertainment and food trucks. The enormous, architecturally impressive and historic Hôtel de Ville, dating back well before the French Revolution, stood draped in 21st-century rainbow banners. Rue des Archives, in the Marais district’s gayborhood, simply exploded with rainbow flags, crosswalks, Gay Games banners and glitter. Men and women filled the establishments, spilling into the streets — a jumble of ages, languages and attire. It was Gay Paree indeed. But clutching my part of that banner, representing Rehoboth in the International Gay Games and having this experience is something I will forever cherish. That, and my one shining moment as an athletic coach: “You go, girls!” n Fay Jacobs wrote five published memoirs. Her newest is “Fried & Convicted: Rehoboth Beach Uncorked.” As a humorist, she’s touring with her show “Aging Gracelessly: 50 Shades of Fay.”
OP-ED PGN
Are taxpayers paying to pray the gay away? Most of the world has finally begun to with your check in the amount of $75 … laugh at the idea of “praying away the gay.” The fee for the workshop is payable out of That is, with the exception of Philadelphia parish/institutional funds as part of each Archbishop Charles J. Chaput. The celepriest’s continuing education benefit.” brated homophobe has taken a step back That last paragraph should have you askto the 1950s with his own “pray the gay ing some questions. away” campaign. Remember that line, follow the money? But before we explain what The church gets more of your Chaput is doing to foster this tax dollars than almost any other dinosaur of quackery, we “nonprofit” institution in the must first talk about Courage nation. I went over those figInternational. ures in a previous column. Most Courage International began of those tax funds get into the in 1980 with a small group of hands of people like Chaput for Catholic men who met regueducation programs. larly in New York City. Cardinal Are you with me so far? Terence Cooke, the then-archHere’s the clincher: Are the bishop of New York, asked the taxpayers of Pennsylvania payRev. John F. Harvey to provide ing to pray the gay away? I pastoral support for these men, think we are getting close to the who were living with same-sex point when an immoral church attractions and desired to live leadership and their ways of chaste lives following the teachgrabbing our hard-earned tax ings of the Catholic Church. The Mark Segal dollars need to be investigated. original Courage group estabI do not want my tax dollars lished five goals for the apostolate: chasgoing to voodoo “charity.” tity, prayer, fellowship, support and service Just to be clear, we’re talking oppression — which still guide the work of Courage and the misuse of tax dollars. The report that was recently released on Catholic today. Church clergy child-rape would make one Chaput decided to bring a Courage cruthink that maybe the church might put a sade to Philadelphia. The archdiocese sent out a letter to all priests stating, “The office higher priority on chastity in their own home. for Clergy is once again presenting fall More on this later. n workshops for priests of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. We are pleased to presMark Segal, PGN publisher, is the nation’s mostent Carity and Charity: An Authentically award-winning commentator in LGBT media. You Catholic Response to Homosexuality.” can follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ Oh, it gets better. MarkSegalPGN or Twitter at https://twitter.com/ The letter goes on: “I ask that you please PhilaGayNews. return the enclosed registration form along
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Street Talk What's your opinion of Former President Obama publicly criticizing President Trump? "I think it's fine. The truth hurts. But it needs to be spoken. Obama is only stating the obvious. Trump deserves to Lauren Smith be criticized. sales associate And it's a Bella Vista perfect time to do it, with the midterm elections coming up." "I think it would be great if he did it more often. President Obama is a politician. It makes sense that he's Sadia Bies still involved game designer politically. South Philadelphia The current political climate needs people to take a stand on what they believe. I respect his ability to take a stand on things that are happening in politics."
“I don’t like it. Obama should be more dignified. He shouldn’t be getting down and dirty with Trump. Let someone Norma Santiago else do it. homemaker Obama was a North Philadelphia great president. Like his wife said, ‘When they go low, we go high.’” "It's necessary for Obama to speak out because Trump is so unacceptable, in many ways. It's unusual for Cory Sutton a former massage therapist president to Center City criticize an incumbent president. But in this case, it's understandable. I hope Obama does it more often because we really need a change in the White House."
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Antar T. Bush
Pedagogy of a code-switcher Code-switching is a behavior people of color in the United States are all too familiar with doing. Code-switching for black LGBTQ people tends to have a much higher stake. I understand why a lot of Black LGBTQ people feel a need to codeswitch: because it could be critical to our success and survival. Some of you reading this piece may ask, “What is code-switching?” Code-switching is the practice of alternating between two or more languages, or language varieties, in the context of a conversation. It’s important to
remember that all people code-switch. If you think about going to a formal dinner versus going to a basketball game, there may be language and behavior modifications. Code-switching is exhausting. For LGBTQ people of color, we know that our blackness, sexual orientation and gender identity may not be accepted in a lot of spaces. Oftentimes, we have to put on a mask to dilute our authentic selves. We learn to simultaneously exist in multiple spaces. For us, it’s all a part of who we are. You give your best “Valley girl” voice
when the bill collector calls, for example. When a black LGBTQ person cannot effectively code-switch, the consequences can be catastrophic. Young black gay men and trans women of color who get pulled over or stopped and frisked by the police can be used as an example. If they are not able to quickly conform and appear nonthreatening to the officers, it could cost them their lives. People of color are oftentimes classified as “trouble” in most heteronormative, white spaces. This is why white people call the cops when they see something as benign
as a black person waiting for a friend at Starbucks or a little black girl selling bottled water on a sidewalk. Black bodies, especially queer black bodies, should be loved and respected like all bodies and not forced to walk through the world riddled with anxiety. I feel this anxiety every day because I want to be accepted where I live and work. Code-switching helps me navigate spaces but, I know at the end of the day, it’s not enough to overcome racism or homophobia. n
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MONEY from page 8
• Be conservative in the amount of available credit you use at any given time. Your “utilization ratio” is the amount you owe in relation to the amount of credit available to you. Try to keep that ratio below 30 percent. • Hold on to older, unused accounts. The longer an account has been open and managed successfully, the higher your score will be. • Maintain a diversified credit mix. If you hold an auto loan, a home mortgage and credit cards that are well managed, you will generally have a higher credit score than someone whose credit consists mainly of loans from finance companies. n 1Source: myFICO.com, retrieved July 2018. 2Source: myFICO.com, Loan Savings Calculator, July 16, 2018. Rates are averages based on thousands of financial lenders, conducted daily by Informa Research Services, Inc. Jeremy R. Gussick is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional affiliated with LPL Financial, the nation’s largest independent broker-dealer.* Jeremy specializes in the financial planning and retirement income needs of the LGBT community and was recently named a 2018 FIVE STAR Wealth Manager as mentioned in Philadelphia Magazine.** He is active with several LGBT organizations in the Philadelphia region, including DVLF (Delaware Valley Legacy Fund) and the Independence Business Alliance (IBA), the Philadelphia Region’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce. OutMoney appears monthly. If you have a question for Jeremy, you can contact him via email at jeremy.gussick@lpl.com. Jeremy R. Gussick is a Registered Representative with, and securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC. This article was prepared with the assistance of DST Systems Inc. The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. We suggest that you discuss your specific situation with a qualified tax or legal advisor. Please consult me if you have any questions. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. All investing involves risk including loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss.
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The queer breakup: How to heal and what not to do The end of a romantic relationship is a is a complicating factor. While I someuniversally difficult experience. To state times hear my clients talk about avoiding the obvious, a breakup means a whole slew of places and saying goodbye to someone you events within our community love and who you likely spent in an effort to avoid an ex, more of your time with than not. the norm does tend to be that There is an acute sense of loss no one wants to opt out of both on a day-to-day basis and community events and queer in life overall. The end of a relaspaces because of a recent tionship also forces us to reflect breakup. What this means, on painful, more existential ideas though, is that the number-one such as: Will I be lonely? Am I rule of a breakup — don’t see going to end up alone? your ex for at least several On a brain level, research has months after the end of the shown that we actually experelationship — likely cannot rience the pain of a breakup be abided by. similarly to physical pain. As you are probably able Furthermore, it seems that our to predict, the more an ex brains experience being in love a part of your life Kristina Furia remains much like a drug addict experiin the early stages of the ences using their drug of choice. breakup, the more prolonged When we break up, we go through cravthe time spent healing will be. That being ings not dissimilar from the way a withsaid, the value of a strong, cohesive comdrawing drug addict does. munity, especially during times of emoThese are the universal aspects of break- tional distress, can provide an antidote to ing up. What about breaking up when feelings of isolation and alienation, which you and your now-ex are both part of the can also ward off unwanted experiences LGBTQ community? To say the least, it such as depression or symptoms thereof.
Thinking Queerly
KAVANAUGH from page 1
to acknowledge either that Obergefell was a civil-rights case or that it was settled law. Later in the hearings, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), like Harris a longtime LGBTQ ally, asked Kavanaugh a series of questions about whether he agreed that it would be “morally wrong” to fire someone on the basis of sexual orientation. Kavanaugh refused to answer, citing pending cases. Booker pressed him further and he again demurred. These non-answers to these and other questions on reproductive rights were troubling to the senators as well as constituents. Religious-rights groups consider Kavanaugh’s confirmation a step toward overturning Roe and Obergefell, in addition to several state bans on conversion therapy. The full Senate now meets to consider Kavanaugh for the lifetime position. Confirmation requires a simple majority of the senators. Currently there are 47 Democrats, two independents who most often vote with Democrats and 51 Republicans. Several Democrats, including the only out lesbian in all of Congress, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), face difficult re-election campaigns in November in majority red states, making the Kavanaugh vote one that could lose them their elections Pro-choice, LGBTQ, disability-rights and gun-control activists struggled to find ways to stop the confirmation of the nominee, who is a staunch originalist with more than 300 rulings from his 12 years on the D.C. Circuit Court. Kavanaugh was also staff secretary for former President George W. Bush and an assistant to Kenneth Starr, the independent counsel who led the investigation into
former President Bill Clinton’s extramarital affair with Monica Lewinsky that led to impeachment proceedings. Pro-choice activists were the most vociferous in and out of the Senate chamber. More than 3,000 hangers were sent to the office of Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). Hangers have long been a symbol of the days before legalized abortion when women frequently tried to self-abort using wire hangers through the cervix, sometimes ending in their deaths. Trump previously asserted that he would only nominate judges to SCOTUS who would overturn Roe, which has been the locus of the nation’s abortion debate for decades. Collins, one of the few pro-choice Republican senators and, as such, a potential “no” vote against Kavanaugh’s confirmation, had promised constituents that she would consider the judge’s views on abortion before voting. Collins had publicly voiced her concerns over whether Kavanaugh considers the landmark 1973 SCOTUS ruling in Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion “settled law” or whether he would seek to overturn the precedent-setting case. The issues are stark for Democrats: Although Kennedy, a Republican, was appointed by Ronald Reagan, he was a “swing vote,” siding with liberal justices nearly as often as he did with conservatives. Kennedy was renowned for two landmark rulings on gay rights. In Lawrence v. Texas in 2003, he wrote the opinion legalizing consensual sex between consenting gay and lesbian adults, striking down sodomy laws that had been used to arrest and jail gay men and lesbians for decades. In Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015, Kennedy wrote the opinion legalizing same-sex marriage.
So, what should you do if/when you run into your ex in the early stages after breaking up? First, it’s important to know that you are reasonably too emotionally raw and vulnerable to tolerate such an interaction. As such, be kind to yourself. You are allowed to feel hurt, to cry and to wish the run-in never happened. In terms of the actual interaction, be brief. Get in and get out as quickly as possible. In times like these, ego can sometimes get in the way of our ability to make good choices: “I don’t want her to think I’m leaving because of her” are easy thoughts to stumble upon, but what’s more important is respecting your own needs. It also makes sense to have a general game plan. What will you need after running into your ex unexpectedly? Time alone? The support of friends? A massive cry? Be prepared to give yourself what you need, free of shame and guilt. Feeling the full extent of your emotions is crucial to healing. Since we may not be able to avoid the dreaded run-in, it is beneficial to try to insulate yourself from other sources of pain to the best of your ability. In the social-media age, we all know how easy He also authored the opinion in the landmark Pennsylvania case in 1992, Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which sought to overturn basic tenets of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 case that legalized abortion. In that decision, Kennedy affirmed Roe and rejected thenGov. Bob Casey’s attempts to overturn it. Nothing in Kavanaugh’s lengthy history suggests he will be anything like Kennedy, but rather like the most staunch conservatives on the bench. The Democratic Coalition, a Democratic SuperPAC headed by Jon Cooper and Scott Dworkin, took concerns a step further when the hearings ended. Enlisting their attorney, J. Whitfield Larabee, they filed a criminal complaint against Kavanaugh with the Public Integrity Office of the Department of Justice. In the complaint — over 20 pages — Larabee asserts on behalf of Cooper and Dworkin that Kavanaugh lied under oath during the hearings several times, committing perjury. The Human Rights Campaign has voiced its opposition to Kavanaugh since his nomination in July. HRC has a “Stop Kavanaugh” campaign. The organization’s statement on Kavanaugh is succinct: “His record is clear: Brett Kavanaugh poses a direct threat to LGBTQ equality, reproductive rights, affordable health care, immigrants’ rights, workers’ rights and so much more.” After the hearings, Shannon Minter, legal director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights and a trans man who has argued several groundbreaking cases for gay and trans people, tweeted, “#Kavanaugh’s refusal to disavow, in any context, anti-#LGBT discrimination speaks volumes: he is telling us where he stands on LGBT equality & what we can expect.” n
it is to creep around and see what your ex is up to. Don’t! Unfriend and unfollow or even block if you need to. Now is not the time to know what they’re doing and whether they’re seemingly suffering as much as you. This is especially important because social media is an incredibly good forum for displaying a slanted version of reality. The less you know and the less you see, the better off you are. This includes real-life interactions as well. Discourage friends and fellow community members from updating you on anything related to your ex and practice self-control as best you can by not asking. The end of a relationship is a big deal. If you think you should be tough and try to move past your feelings, you’re wrong. Pain is a necessary function of healing and the best thing we can do for ourselves is simply make good choices, rely on support systems and know that the pain doesn’t last forever. n Kristina Furia is a psychotherapist committed to working with LGBT individuals and couples. She owns Emerge Wellness, an LGBT health and wellness center in Center City (www.emergewellnessphilly.com).
MURDER from page 1
other violent means, with trans women of color disproportionately targeted, according to the HRC. “Violence against transgender people, particularly against trans women of color, is an epidemic that urgently needs to be addressed by our communities, elected officials and institutions,” the statement said. Michael Cogbill, community organizer for gun-violence-prevention group CeaseFirePA, said more action is needed at the highest levels. “Tucker’s death is a reminder that we’re facing a serious issue of the increasingly concerning number of trans women of color being murdered. No one seems to be doing anything to address this fatal reality on a national level,” he said. “We must continue the fight in protecting and speaking up for this vulnerable community.” In Philadelphia, Tucker is one of more than a half-dozen known transgender women of color to be violently killed in recent years. While there have been arrests and convictions in the murders of Londyn Kiki Chanel, Maya Young and Diamond Williams, the cases of victims Nizah Morris, Kyra Cordova, Stacey Blahnik and Keisha Jenkins remain unsolved. n
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ARENA from page 1
opening remarks. “We have right now in office a man that does not believe in the principles of America.” Kenyatta, who is expected to win the seat and would be the first LGBTQ person of color to serve in the state legislature, also addressed the handling of injustice. “The moral arc of the universe doesn’t just bend because we think it ought to bend,” he told the audience. “It doesn’t just bend every two to five years on a cycle. It doesn’t bend because we tweet and Facebook. It bends because we get up and bend it. That’s why it bends.” Mitch Landrieu, former mayor of New Orleans, spoke about reclaiming patriotism, emphasizing the need for more “arenas” filled with forward-thinking leaders. The group’s name is a reference to President Theodore Roosevelt’s 1910 speech in which he famously asserted, “It is not the critic who counts … the credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.” Also among the summit’s speakers was Danica Roem, delegate representative for Virginia’s 13th District and the first openly transgender person in any state legislature in the country. She moderated a panel titled “Running for Office Post 2016” that featured Pennsylvania state Rep. Helen Tai (D-178th Dist.), 34th District Democratic nominee Summer Lee and Philadelphia City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart. The panelists discussed their election wins against veteran Republicans and the significance of challenging longtime incumbents. “My mere presence is a reminder that people from diverse backgrounds can succeed because of who they are, not in spite of it,” Roem told
a PGN reporter following her panel. “I represent a number of LGBTQ people who need me to be the best delegate that I can be.” Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and Defender Association of Philadelphia chief Keir Bradford-Grey discussed the criminal-justice system and their shared ideologies, despite that they now sit on opposite sides of the courtroom. “Mass incarceration doesn’t mean we don’t need jails,” said Bradford-Grey. “But it means we have an addiction … that we have locked up everyone.” Krasner noted his office’s efforts to decriminalize nonviolent, low-level drug offenses. “Locking up as many people as possible is making everything worse because it’s taking away our resources for things that prevent crime and reduce crime and heal societies. We need to go in a different direction,” he said. Julian Domanico, a first-time summit participant, said the “summer camp for progressive training” was a refresher for why he’s involved in social-justice advocacy work. “I was inspired by other guests to dig my heels in more deeply and chase the work that I want to do.” Domanico, individual-giving manager for City Year Philadelphia, said he attended the “Origin Story: Narrative Training for Leadership” breakout session so he could learn to be a better public speaker. “I think I’m a decent speaker, but this made me so much more aware of my weaknesses and made me feel like I can grow in ways that I wasn’t even aware of. Hearing everyone’s progressive agendas made me realize just how strong we all are as individuals but that we are stronger as a collective.” n
AC ul t ure rts
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 14-20, 2018
Dining Out Family Portrait Out & About Q Puzzle Scene in Philly PAGE 25
The hoochie-coochie turns Fringe around By A.D. Amorosi PGN Contributor In choreographer Trajal Harrell, modern dance has its most poignant historian, funniest class clown and most sensual essayer of cultures and expressions outside his own era. Along with creating the post-vogue classic series “Twenty Looks or Paris is Burning at the Judson Church” for the 2014 Fringe Festival, Harrell — who spends most of his time in France — is also famous for the messed-up version of the hoochie-coochie, as presented in his new Fringe work, “Caen Amour.” With a cast of (mostly) male dancers performing as women, “Caen Amour” looks at how the Japanese butoh-inspired dance became an art form — at least to Harrell. PGN: I’m talking with you mere days after Paul Taylor passed, so condolences to anyone in the dance, movement and choreographic world. TH: Mr. Taylor … [Mimes drawing a picture of a heart] PGN: Before heading to the cosmopolitan experimental dance scene of Manhattan, you came from rural Georgia — Douglas. How much of that past is in your work on a regular basis? How have elements of your Georgian past become recognizable signatures in your newest work? Or do you eschew that? TH: A lot of my research is now on butoh dance, and butoh in its founding was looking back to rural Japanese theater. And for sure, my understanding of the hoochie-coochie shows begins in my hometown, but I’m sure you will ask me about that later. PGN: As a 21st-century artist, what’s most important to you about containing, explaining, delving into and exploding dances of the past — those of “Twenty Looks or Paris is Burning at the Judson Church” “The Ghost of Montpellier Meets the Samurai” and now the hoochie-coochie? TH: I find history infinitely interesting, especially
once I realized how it too was a construction and full of holes and gaps and fictions. Learning in grade school, I, like many, thought it was actually the truth of what happened in the past. Once I realized it was much more about shaping the past and the future, I somewhat felt it gave all of us more agency as producers of history in collectively including and reviving multiple voices and perspectives. PGN: How does what you do as a choreographer — “Caen Amour” in particular — present who you are within the LGBTQ world? How would you define this new work as a brand of activism, and what is your role in that activism? TH: Much of my work is about disrupting those binary opposites that have been used to classify humans and create the option for new possibilities which cannot easily be described in the languages we have inherited but, in fact, have to be invented with the sheer force of our collective imaginations. PGN: Your emphasis is very often making dance that is entertaining rather than simply be studied and stoic. Fringe Fest CEO Nick Stuccio and I discussed you at length in this regard. What inspired you to entertain rather than just educate and elucidate? TH: I think the idea that entertainment and art don’t belong together came out of one branch of modernist thought. Shakespeare was certainly dealing with entertainment as an aesthetic operation, for just one example. So I’m not really bound by the limits of modernism. I use entertainment and rarity and beauty and many other things when I feel it’s appropriate for a work. PGN: “Caen Amour” begs the question: How is a woman performed by mostly male dancers? TH: I think the show is influenced by how early modern dance was performing women in its relationship to Orientalism, and I explore this through the form of an imagined hoochie-coochie show. And I think these shows historically are related to the history of early modern dance (here a hole or gap or crack in history). I wouldn’t dare try to answer how a woman is performed, but it’s an important question to consistently be asking, taking into consideration the inequality in the world. PGN: Why touch upon a dance form that was born of the rigid religious values of the Middle East but is now made contemporary and modern? TH: The hoochie-coochie was a construction of Western exoticization. It was an “Oriental” fantasy. PGN: I get how you linked voguing to the choreography of hoochie-coochie, but how does Japanese butoh figure into “Caen Amour” given that butoh is so reserved and constricted — purposely — in its erotic display? TH: Butoh can be quite erotic. Butoh, though, is not one way of dancing or another, but rather a mental way of thinking about
dancing. Though, to answer your question more fully: In my research, I was looking at how butoh started. One of the things butoh artists were revolting against were the conventions of Kabuki. The early Kabuki began with rural theater forms. They reminded me of my own relationship to rural theater and my first encounter with dance as a performance. When I was growing up in Georgia, my father would take me to the fair. At a certain point in the night, he would send me off with friends and he would go to something called the hoochie-coochie show. It was only when I got older that I began to realize what it meant. I started researching the hoochie coochie and looking at its potential relationship to butoh in terms of formal practices, both from an imaginary and a realistic point of view. Butoh was highly influenced by modern dance and I think that this hoochie coochie is related to the beginnings of modern dance as well. Again, I always tend to find the cracks and fissures of history: things that are clearly a part of (dance) history but that haven’t been fully exposed or investigated. PGN: What is your take on Philadelphia? TH: We previously did “Antigone Sr.” in the Fringe, which is the largest part in my “Twenty Looks or Paris is Burning at the Judson Church” series. I like Philadelphia a lot. It’s one of those cities like St. Louis where I really find the diversity of the audience for contemporary work so inspiring. I would love for the work to come here more. I hope one day to have a retrospective in Philadelphia because I would love the Philadelphia audience to encounter the breadth of the work from that long-timeline perspective. n “Caen Amour” runs Sept. 13-15 with showings at 5, 7 and 9 p.m. at FringeArts, 140 N. Columbus Blvd. For tickets and more information, go to https://fringearts.com.
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Late choreographer lives on through a new lens By A.D. Amorosi PGN Contributor When multidisciplinary choreographer John Bernd succumbed to AIDS in 1988, he didn’t go quietly. Long a lion of Manhattan’s influential experimental dance scene, Bernd’s freeing poignancy of movement and depth of dramatic/thematic eclat created a worthwhile legacy. Friend and collaborator Ishmael HoustonJones, a one-time Philadelphian, joined forces with fellow choreographer Miguel Gutierrez for the mashup of Bernd’s work that is serving as Fringe Fest’s premiere piece, “Variations on Themes from Lost and Found: Scenes from a Life and Other Works by John Bernd.” To further celebrate Bernd’s dynamic and the art of that era, an exhibition presented in collaboration with Philadelphia poet and curator David Acosta, cofounder of Casa de Duende, will accompany the dance in the lobby of Christ Church Neighborhood House. The event will chart the AIDS crisis in Philadelphia by providing city-specific context to Bernd’s experience. “As Casa de Duende does not have a physical gallery space, we place exhibitions and programming at diverse locations with the ability to conceive and create original programming and/or to collaborate and cooperate with various artists and community spaces,” said Acosta. “That stems from, and is a byproduct of, my own background as an LGBTQ activist for many years and with my own longstanding involvement with LGBTQ art and artists in Philadelphia.” In 2011, Acosta curated “Witness: Artists Reflect on 30 Years of the AIDS Pandemic,” which featured diverse multidisciplinary artists’ take on the health crisis. “The exhibition allowed me to explore more deeply an issue I had been grappling with for over two decades, and that was the nagging question about the impact that the AIDS epidemic had on the arts, and how art
had fared as a result of that interruption,” he said. “It seems to me that right before the onset of the AIDS epidemic, there lived a group of artists, all of them on the edge of something — and because there were so many of them at the same time, at the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, and the epidemic took them all, I am haunted by the question of whether American art would be different had they lived.” Acosta’s curation for the Bernd-HoustonJones piece is part of a continuous narrative, he added; an internal conversation (some of which appears in his unpublished manuscript, “Songs to Survive the Body,” penned before the onset of protease inhibitors) filled with ghosts and unfinished things, and which FringeArts anchored to Philly. “While ‘Scenes From’ is about dance pieces created at a very specific time and place in the history of the AIDS epidemic, it is important for us not to think of it as just past history, because AIDS, while not the death sentence it was at the time John Bernd was working on these pieces, remains a very-real epidemic today — one still impacting young gay men of color and others at alarming rates,” Acosta noted. “I think ‘Scenes From’ will help to inform our past, to revisit it, and will also serve to remind us that AIDS is not over.” For Houston-Jones, his pre-Bernd Philadelphia journey included being raised Catholic in Harrisburg. In 1971, at age 21, he moved to Philadelphia to study with Helmut Gottschild, Eva Gholson and others, and took classes at the Arthur Hall Afro-American Dance Ensemble and with Joan Kerr. He also participated in Friday-night workshops at Group Motion and taught improvisation in his Old City loft. “What’s interesting now is that ‘Variations on Themes from Lost and Found’ will be performed at Christ Church Neighborhood House, which is literally a few doors from my loft at 217 Church St. in the 1970s,” said Houston-Jones. “I was also a waiter at
Photo: Ian Douglas
the restaurant Lautrec, which was located on Head House Square, and I can still recite the omelet choices offered at Sunday brunch (sausage, bacon, cheese, chicken, chicken liver, fine herbs and mushroom).” He moved to Manhattan in 1980 and met Bernd, and recognized the kinship of using improvisation, autobiographical details and male bodies unaffectedly partnering together for performances, “which we sometimes forget was a radical idea even in the ’80s,” he said. “While the new piece was sparked by John Bernd’s work in the 1980s and the loss of a generation of role models, mentors and muses in dance during the first 15 years of the AIDS crisis, I find that the piece incites in me a hope for the future,” Houston-Jones reflected. “There is the joy of Miguel finding a lost artistic ancestor he didn’t know he had. There is the eureka feeling in the young performers when they become stewards of this work and the work of so many others that would have otherwise been lost. There is the exuberance of the sheer love of dancing. “I also feel it is important that that part
of my history be reclaimed and to imagine what the essence of that history might have become,” he added. “Some artists that I admired and who were extremely important to my artistic development — Arnie Zane, Arthur Armijo, Charles Ludlum, David Wojnarowicz, Ethyl Eichelberger, Harry Whittaker Sheppard, Jim Tyler, John Sex, Michael Bennett, Michael Schwartz, Reza Abdoh, Ron Vawter, Tracey Rhoades, Ulysses Dove and Woody McGriff — each of these men died between 1987 and 1996. Each was under 50 years old when he died. That is an immense loss. And for me, this piece was an act of reclaiming that loss, but also allowing that work to be a springboard for work that can be made by others in the future.” n “Variations on Themes from Lost and Found: Scenes from a Life and Other Works by John Bernd,” by Ishmael Houston-Jones and Miguel Gutierrez, with a curated art program from David Acosta, runs Sept. 14-16 with showings at 2 and 8 p.m. at Christ Church Neighborhood House, 20 N. American St. Tickets are $15-$35. A post-show conversation will be held after the Sept. 16 afternoon performance with the three artists and John Anderies. For more information, visit https://fringearts.com.
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1 Composer Ned 6 Verdi slave girl 10 Top Norse deity 14 “You’re ___ talk” 15 Stick it to a con 16 Suffix with Congo 17 NBC comedy series about retailers 19 Big Daddy in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” 20 Nutty ___ fruitcake 21 Hiker’s snack 22 “Milk” and “Moonlight” 24 State in a Gus Van Sant title 26 “A Walk on the Moon” writer Gray 27 City in “Italia” 29 Fruit peeler 30 “Today ___ man” 31 Silky undies material 32 Hamm of the World Cup 35 Film about zany, wealthy persons of the largest continent? 39 IRS info 40 Comes out slowly 41 Type of balls 42 More like a twink 43 Moon of “Frasier” 45 Hurts a lot
47 2010 high school comedy with a beard 48 “Six Feet Under” auto 49 Octopus abundance 50 Broadway bio 53 Painting and such, to da Vinci 54 Gay FilipinoAmerica on the rise 57 “Sixteen Going on Seventeen”, e.g. 58 Synonym for Gomer’s “Shazam!” 59 Like an ACT UP protester 60 Israeli author Oz 61 Teased mercilessly 62 Nathan and family
Down
1 “The Horse Fair” painter Bonheur 2 Invitation from bottoms to tops? 3 He whips out his tool on the job 4 Sorbonne summer 5 Hearst Castle architect Julia 6 Houston athlete in Billy Bean’s sport 7 Breakfast chain, familiarly 8 Board mem., maybe 9 Prayer to Madonna 10 Character played by 54-Across in
35-Across 11 Mr. Applegate in “Damn Yankees” 12 “___ little silhouetto of a man ... ” 13 Monster’s loch 18 Arty gay-friendly district 23 Dire signs 25 Guillermo of “Weeds” 26 Wooded ways 27 Queer mannerisms 28 Crew tools 29 Many an expectant father 31 Online exaggerations, perhaps 32 “Rent” setting 33 Aware of 34 “It’s the End of the World ___ Know It” 36 Traditional letter
closer 37 More like something in the state of Denmark 38 Game of observation 42 Insertion marks 43 Oral sex protectors 44 Tear into 45 Vital fluid 46 Character played by 54-Across in 17-Across 47 Eat away at 48 “If I Only ___ Brain” 49 Learning inst. 51 Dull routine 52 Treats as a sexual object 55 “Where did ___ wrong?” 56 Piece-loving org.
PROFILE PGN
Family Portrait
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 14-20, 2018
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Suzi Nash
Reginald Lee: One foot in front of the other All you divas and fashionistas, gather ’round! It’s almost time for Philly Fashion Week, when designers convene in our fair city to get a jump on the hottest trends and coolest fashions. Beautiful models will present exquisite garments alongside luxury products and world-class entertainment. And this year, one of our own will share the spotlight. Those who like to put their best foot forward may know Reginald Lee from Aldo’s, where he’s the manager. But he’s also a fashion designer. Let’s walk in his shoes. PGN: Describe the family. RL: I have three sisters; grew up with two parents, though they divorced when I was in college. My dad was a computer programmer and my mother, she had several jobs. I think she just loves having degrees! PGN: Was drawing your favorite medium? RL: I think so, but it was hard to figure because, when I was younger, my father didn’t want me taking any home-ec classes. He thought that kind of stuff wasn’t for men to do and he took me out of the classes, but I did it secretly on the side. PGN: How did that feel, to be shamed and told you weren’t supposed to like the things you loved? RL: It was sad. My mom and my grandmother used to sew and knit and crochet, and I would watch them to see how they did it, and then I’d hide in my basement and pin fabric by myself. But looking back, I always wished my parents could have seen the work that I did and be a part of it. It never happened, so I’d use my little sister as my guinea pig. I loved making gowns and having my sister spin around in them. PGN: Where did you go to college? RL: I studied fashion design at the Art Institute of Philadelphia. Honestly, I was very sheltered growing up, so I didn’t want to stray too far. PGN: Were you a mama’s boy? RL: [Laughing] Yes! When I’m designing, I always think about how my mom used to walk. She’d wear heels, and I always knew the distinctive sound of them clicking. Even at school when I’d get in trouble for something and she’d check on me, I’d hear her heels in the hallway and I’d know it was her from her walk. PGN: When did you make the decision, This is what I’m going to do and I don’t care what anyone thinks, and why fashion instead of the fine arts? RL: I feel like I’ve always had a knack for fashion. I’d watch “Cleopatra” or “Indiana Jones” and loved the glitz and the glamour of everything. Watching my mom and my grandmother sew, I just gravitated to it. My first “client” was my little sister, because her
Barbie dolls needed clothes. My mother kept everything, so we had a lot of our old baby clothes around. I’d take my sisters’ old socks with the lace trim at the top, turn them upside down and cut armholes and start creating an outfit that way. I’d tell her to tell our parents that she made it. PGN: Awww, that’s beautiful and terrible at the same time! RL: Because I wasn’t allowed to take any fashion classes, I had to figure out how I could design without letting anyone know what I was doing. So in a lot of my drawings of superheroes or whatever, the outfits were really elaborate! PGN: So I’m guessing that if you went to the Art Institute to study fashion, Dad had to become aware at some point. RL: Well, yeah, I finally got to the point where I said, This is what I want to do: I want to be creative. It wasn’t something that made him happy, but he basically said, “As long as you’re living a good life, I’m fine with it.” So I got a bachelor’s degree in fashion/apparel design.
now: You’re about to show a collection for Fashion Week! RL: [Wiping eyes] I am and … Ha, I said I wasn’t going to cry! I was just going to answer your questions and not get emotional! PGN: [Laughing] I’m sorry. I’ve been told I have that effect! RL: OK, the collection. So in 2008 I did a few little fashion shows, but I was busy with life and work, had a breakup and I didn’t really work on my own stuff even though I’d received good feedback. My friend kept encouraging me to get back to my own designs and I wound up auditioning for “Project Runway.” They ask you a series of questions and one of them is, “What have you done this year?” and I realized that I hadn’t really done much so I thought, you know, it’s time to change that. I started making a bunch of outfits so I could put up a website and a friend of mine reached out to me and said you should be in Fashion Week this year. So I was like [casually], “Oh yeah, sounds cool” and then someone from Philly
PGN: Going to school and working full-time is impressive — and coming out at the same time. You had a lot on your plate. RL: Well, my coming-out experience wasn’t as amazing as I thought it would be. I thought once my mom knew, once I actually said the words, she’d be totally fine with it but … It wasn’t that way at all. [Long pause] My parents pulled me out of school. They thought that design school was making me gay. They put me into therapy and counseling. It was hard. I just never thought my mom was going to react that way. I already knew how my dad was going to react. [Getting tearful] He said I was a disgrace to the family name and that I had to leave. PGN: Oh, man. RL: It was awful. I was sitting down one day and thinking about my life, about where I was. [Sniffles] Being sheltered in a small town my entire life, I just didn’t know what the world was about. I was watching Patti LaBelle on TV. It was a concert and she was singing a song called “Two Steps Away.” There was a verse of the song that stood out to me: “I don’t understand my life/Or the version that chose you/And I knew that it was time for me to go … ” [Stops talking for a moment] I was only 19 and everything I knew was gone. PGN: I can’t imagine how scary it would be and how vulnerable you could feel in that situation. RL: [Whispering] Yes. PGN: But you survived and thrived. And your story is important for others who have been in the same boat because look at you
was a wakeup call. I don’t want to have any “what-ifs.” Having a near-death experience will put a fire under you. PGN: What makes your collection unique — what’s your flavor? RL: I’d say my flavor is a whimsical sex appeal. I try to have hidden treasures within my work. When someone sees a piece, I want them to have a certain memory. PGN: If you could transport back in time, which fashion period would you visit? RL: Oh, so many — the 1700s or even the 1800s. Or maybe medieval times … I like them all. I’d love to get an old piece, say from Queen Elizabeth or Mary Queen of Scots, and revamp it with a modern twist. PGN: Which three celebs would be in your entourage? RL: Elizabeth Taylor because she knows how to have fun! If they must be alive, Nick Jonas seems pretty chill, Sade because she has the sexiest voice known to man and Ryan Reynolds because he is hilarious! PGN: Not Patti? RL: Oh yes, I’ve never met her, but two fun facts: Apparently we used to get our fabrics from the same place. The owner would make her hats, and my grandmother and her sister grew up with her. PGN: Favorite reality show? RL: “American’s Got Talent” and, of course, “Project Runway.” I will get on that show! PGN: Any tattoos? RL: I have “Jusqu’à cette terre s’effrite et même aprés je vous aime” [translation from French: “Until this earth crumbles and even after I will love you”] on my ribs. It was something I’d say to someone I once loved.
Fashion Week saw my pieces and called. He said, “Your work is amazing, we want you to be a part of the show.” And I was still hesitant because you’re so vulnerable, and I hate being vulnerable. PGN: I guess it’s like having people judge your babies, and telling you if your kids are pretty or ugly! RL: Exactly! But I decided to do it anyway, in part because a couple of months ago I fell and cracked my skull. Lying in a hospital bed
Photo: Suzi Nash
PGN: Has the relationship with the family gotten better? RL: I haven’t spoken to my father in years and I’m fine with that. But my relationship with the rest of the family is great. And I’m still a mama’s boy! n
For more information about Reginald Lee, check out his Instagram pages @feathertattoo and @reginaldleebrand. For more information about Philly Fashion Week, visit www.phillyfashionweek.org.
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 14-20, 2018
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Rehoboth says bye to parking meters, hi to fall fun By Fay Jacobs PGN Contributor Contrary to what some folks might think, Rehoboth Beach and environs do not empty out by 5 p.m. on Labor Day. In fact, for the past 20 years or so, late summer and early autumn at the beach has meant that while the kids are back in school, grownups gather for an astounding mix of arts, culture, food and drink. And, starting Sept. 18, those parking meters are off-duty. On the Culinary Coast, as the area has been monikered, visitors can experience everything from extreme fine dining to watermelon-spitting contests and Halloween candy-making. All this while celebrating human bears and Greyhound canines, sunning on the beach or traversing the Baltimore Avenue Block Party with its hundred vendors, quintessential drag queens and thousands of visitors. Here’s a wrap-up of the fun to be had in the still-shining sun: From Sept. 19-23, it’s boardwalk and bars and bears, oh my. The entire town of Rehoboth becomes a big den during the fourth annual Bear Weekend. There’s a full roster of events and entertainment for the long weekend, famous for its huge attendance and cool activities. Weekend passes ($115) and individual tickets are available now at Rehobothbeachbears.com. Plans include a TAILgate dance party, a beach party at Gordon’s Pond in Cape Henlopen State Park, a show by standup comic ANT and a closing party at the Purple Parrot. Plus, there are pub crawls, bear happy hours and more. In the midst of Bear Weekend, on Sept. 22, is AIDS Walk Delaware. This is always a huge event, raising lots of money for AIDS Delaware and providing an exhilarating stroll and social experience around town and along the boardwalk. The event takes place 9 a.m.-noon, starting and ending at Rehoboth’s Grove Park at the entrance to the city. Register by yourself or with friends or join the CAMP Rehoboth team at AIDSdelaware.org.
Animal lovers delight in the Greyhounds Reach the Beach Weekend, Oct. 4-7. Visitors with Greyhound companions, or folks who just love these majestic but affectionate animals, descend on Rehoboth and Dewey beaches to celebrate them with social gatherings, a silent auction, the Beer & Biscuit Mixer and lots of other activities. The best part is that packs of these graceful animals are parading all around town. Find more information at grtb.org. Besides mingling with the hounds that weekend, residents and visitors can shop at the annual downtown Rehoboth Beach Sidewalk Sale. Merchants will offer bargains as they take to the sidewalks with their signature goods. But the shore town’s biggest event takes place Oct. 11-14. The Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival, this year featuring When Motown Meets Jazz and lots of celebrity performers, hosts ticketed concerts all over the area, including at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center, Rehoboth Elementary School and Dogfish Head Brewery. And most of the Lewes and Rehoboth restaurants will offer jazz with every meal. The Rehoboth Bandstand also will feature jazz performances. See Rehobothjazz.com. The True Blue Jazz Fest also is in town that week, from Oct. 10-14 at the Atlantic Sands Hotel and Clear Space Theatre, and will feature Bobby Sanabria and Ascension, Wycliffe Gordon and the MidAtlantic Jazz All-Stars and more. Check out truebluejazz.org. The giant CAMP Rehoboth Block Party ends the jazzy weekend Oct. 14 on the second block of Baltimore Avenue. The party runs noon-4 p.m. and features food vendors, shopping, nonprofit organizations and a continuous roster of live entertainment. This is not the party to miss. After all that jazz, it’s a chance to spend Sunday with favorite LGBT performers like John Francis Flynn, Matt Kenworthy, Pamala Stanley and the CAMP Chorus. Plus, there’s always an outrageous drag queen or two (or four). See more details at camprehoboth.com. And then, of course, comes Halloween. From Oct. 26-28, the town is a trick-or-
SEA WITCH PET PARADE treat haven during the day for youngsters with The Sea Witch Festival. But the nights belong to the LGBT goblins, witches and costume geniuses. Costumes are encouraged at The Blue Moon, The Purple Parrot, Rigbys, Murphs, The Swell and Diego’s Hideaway. These Halloween parties are frightfully fun, from costume contests to the Monster Mash. (And no matter what happens, we won’t say boo to a soul.) Furry friends also get into the act at
the Sea Witch Pet Parade Halloween Weekend. It’s a hoot, with many pets and their humans in ensemble costumes. It’s a gay ol’ time for all ages and species. It’s all at the Delaware coast this fall — a shorter drive than during the traffic-packed summer months and just as much fun … maybe more. The gourmet restaurants await, the hotels and B&Bs are open, the sand and surf are still gorgeous, parking is free and gay pride is all around. C’mon down! n
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 14-20, 2018
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS
An intense, dense read By Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor Out gay author Dale Peck’s debut novel “Martin and John,” came out 25 years ago and helped establish him as a writer of note. Meanwhile, his latest novel, “Night Soil,” has just been published and it’s a testament to Peck’s literary talents. The book, a dense read, is narrated by Judas, the 17-year-old gay son of a famous potter, Dixie Stammers. Judas tells the story of his life and his extended family in an almost-confessional tone. Reading “Night Soil” can feel like one is being told some deep, dark secrets — and, given the family skeletons as well as Judas’ anonymous sexual exploits — that is an apt categorization. This quality certainly adds to the book’s appeal. However, the author frequently overwrites, and some of the prose is particularly challenging. In one passage, Judas catalogues numerous toilet articles, including his mother’s various douching products — “more varieties than there are, as far as I know, of vaginas, let alone vaginal irritation,” Judas explains. There are several pages describing terraced houses in great architectural detail. Peck alphabetically lists 66 different trees, then teases readers with species and cultivars. Later in the book, the author literally spends five pages describing Judas’ masturbatory habits. He also goes as far as to include visuals to illustrate the “twenty-five-foot-wide vortex” and “Flemish bond” patterns Judas creates with the inheritance of his father’s books — approximately 15,000 titles, forming 314 stacks, each 7-feet tall. The author will prompt even learned readers to frequently consult a dictionary to look up some of the more obscure words he uses. Since Peck likes lists, here are some of the fancier words he employs: “fastigiate,” “vitiligo,” “pleached,” “fugacious,” “palanquin,” “phragmites,” “amphorae,” “elenctic,” and “eidetic.” Together, all of these elements are almost enough to make readers throw the book across the room rather than actually read it. But to Peck’s credit, there are vivid images of Judas washing his mother’s smock, dousing it in lye, and the teenager’s fascination with his elaborate birthmark that covers half his body, making much of his skin purple. A description of harvesting clay in a garden is also fascinating. Peck employs some really nifty similies, such as “the pine trees seem to crowd each other like a concert audience,” or when
Judas says the frame of the door “fell into my arms like an anorexic cheerleader.” Judas is described as “working with the patience of a philatelist” to shimmy a door loose. There is also an impressive passage where Judas, about to describe an engraved photograph, wonders whether he should “start with the horror and move on to the banality, or open with the bucolia, then blindside you with the brutality.” “Night Soil” does reward the patient reader who may struggle through the first half of the book. In the early chapters, Judas provides lengthy descriptions of the Academy, a private boys’ school founded by his great-great-greatgreat-great grandfather, a coal magnate, along with a detailed discusAuthor photo: Lou Peralta sion of his mother Dixie’s handmade pots, which are notable for each being as perfectly round as a cannonball. There is not much plot, but plenty of background from Dixie’s missing twin brother, Guy, who disappeared when she was 13, to Judas’ father’s uncle Anthony, who leaves the teenager an inheritance. The plot kicks in around the same time the queer content appears — about halfway through the story. Judas starts frequenting State Comfort Station NE-28. It is here in a rest stop “that had slipped from local consciousness” that Judas takes in the overpowering stench of shit and, after reading the creative graffiti, discovers the toilet’s glory holes and positions himself to be penetrated both orally and anally at the same time, like a pig on a spit. Peck’s descriptions are quite graphic, but they engage because they are so lurid. Judas soon becomes enamored with a student at the Academy and has an erotic sexual relationship with him in the crypts of the Academy and beyond. Judas also does some research into the family history and makes startling discoveries, which eventually lead to the conclusion of the central narrative that is appropriate, and even emotional. “Night Soil” also includes a 35-page coda, entitled, “Parable of the Man Lost in the Snow,” a lesson that students at the Academy endure — there is really no other word for it — to teach them critical thinking. Some readers may appreciate this section of the novel, and it may very well be a parable for Judas’ story. But anyone already exasperated with Peck’s book will want to skip this chapter, which gets philosophical and psychological beyond anything in the previous 200-plus pages. Peck seems to be daring readers with his taxing novel. It is not without merit, but it does require considerable effort. n
iLuminate The technologically advanced dance troupe seen on “America’s Got Talent” performs Sept. 21-22 at Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-893-1999. 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. MYTHIC DANCE MUSIC: Techno/disco collective Hercules & Love Affair has tongues wagging and rumps shaking with latest album, “Omnion,” and is making its long-awaited return to North America with a tour than dances its way through town 8 p.m. Sept. 19 at The Foundry, 29 E. Allen St. For more information or tickets call 215-309-0150.
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. Beneath the Surface Dara Meredith presents a groundbreaking debut dancetheater 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. The Duchamp Family Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition highlighting the close-knit family of artistic innovators and the many connections linking their groundbreaking works, through August, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. Garden Bouquet Still-life artists Ian Shiver and Barbara Sosson present an
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.
exhibition of art featuring colorful live horticulture designs, through 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, through Oct. 26, 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220.
Lavell Crawford The comedian seen on “Breaking Bad” performs Sept. 20-23 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215-496-9001. Mimi Imfurst Presents Drag Diva Brunch Mimi Imfurst, Bev, Vinchelle, Sutton Fearce and special guests perform 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 15 at Punch Line Philly, 33 E. Laurel St.; 215-606-6555. Oceans 8 The heist film with the all-female lead cast is screened 8 p.m. Sept. 17 at The Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215-922-6888. Philadelphia Orchestra: Opening Weekend The worldrenowned ensemble opens its new season with performances conducted by Yannick NézetSéguin, Sept. 1416 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 300 S. Broad St.; 215893-1999. Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto The Philadelphia Orchestra performs music by the iconic
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 14-20, 2018
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Life, agonized: Trans singer stakes her place in hard rock
ARE YOU READY FOR ‘THIS’?: Childish Gambino, the rapper/DJ alter ego of comedian and actor Donald Glover, hits the road for his This Is America Tour, which lands in Philly 7:30 p.m. Sept. 18 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St. For more information or tickets, call 215-389-9543.
composer, Sept. 20-22 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 300 S. Broad St.; 215893-1999. Yael Bartana: And Europe Will Be Stunned Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition blurring fact and fiction, with the artist reimagining historical narratives to spur a dialogue about urgent social and geopolitical issues of our time, through Jan. 1, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215763-8100.
Music The Purple Madness Prince Experience The Prince tribute concert takes the stage 8 p.m. Sept. 14 at The Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 202-730-3331. Drake The Canadian rap star performs 8 p.m. Sept. 15-16 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215-389-9543.
MC50 Presents: Kick Out The Jams MC50 guitarist Wayne Kramer performs album with members of Soundgarden, Fugazi, Faith No More and Zen Guerrilla 8 p.m. Sept. 15 at Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St.; 215-232-2100. Life of Agony The hard-rock band featuring transgender singer Mina Caputo performs 8:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at TLA, 334 South St.; 215922-1011 Bruno Mars The pop/R&B singer performs 8 p.m. Sept. 19-20 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215389-9543. The Crystal Method The electronica group performs 8 p.m. Sept. 21 at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215922-6888.
Nightlife 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. Drag Wars All Stars: Girl Groups & Rock ‘n Roll The queens must compete with a choreographed group number, 7-11 p.m. Sept. 15 at Voyeur Nightclub, 1221 St. James St.; 215-735-5772. Mischief Managed: A Harry Potter Burlesque Drag queens take it to Hogwarts for a fantast-themed burlesque show, 7-10 p.m. Sept. 16 at Franky Bradley’s, 1320 Chancellor St.; 215-735-0735. The Senator’s Cabinet Drag Show The show with a political slant, 9 p.m. Sept. 18 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215-964-9675. As If! The ’90s dance party and show kick off 9 p.m. Sept. 19 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215-964-9675.
Outta Town 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; 610917-1228. Nicky as Carol Channing: A Musical Revue The singer recreates moments from the TV icon’s long career, 8 p.m. Sept. 15 at The Rrazz Room, 385 W. Bridge St., New Hope; 888596-1027. John Davidson The Broadway, TV and concert star performs 8 p.m. Sept. 16 at The Rrazz Room, 385 W. Bridge St., New Hope; 888596-1027. Sting & Shaggy The iconic singer and the reggae artist team up for a show 8 p.m. Sept. 21 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000. n
Photo Credit: Al Bello By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com A hard-rock band with a trans performer as its lead singer is back on the road and coming to Philadelphia as part of its international Rise of the Underground Tour. Life of Agony, fronted by Mina Caputo, debuted in the early 1990s with album “River Runs Red,” which introduced metal audiences to a unique blend of heavy, hardcore-tinged grooves, with the melodic and anguished crooning of Caputo (then known as Keith) soaring over top. The band broke up twice: in 1997, reuniting in 2003; and in 2011, returning in 2014. Various factors contributed to the separations, including creative differences and shifting priorities among members — but they’re now in a happier place, Caputo said. “It’s a positive thing because we all want happiness, and that’s what we’re after in this life.” The singer came out as transgender — a rarity in the chest-pounding, male-dominated world of heavy metal — in 2011. Then again, this music genre unwittingly took fashion cues from gay leather-fetish shops. (Thanks, KISS and Judas Priest’s Rob Halford!) Meanwhile, Caputo said, Agony is still performing for packed houses. “I don’t really pay attention to the opinions of the world, to be honest,” she added. “Quite frankly, there’s an awareness with our fans. They just want great music. Music has no gender. Maybe there was a lot of confusion in the first year or so. “I laugh when I listen to how ignorant a lot of people are when it comes to gender and what I’m going through and what
humanity is. Most people are dumb, and I hate to judge but I see it every day. There’s a long way to go for people to develop into their own divinity. There are a lot of primitive animals on the planet.” Life of Agony’s music, for all of its hard edges, has always come from a lyrically vulnerable and reflective place, as well as a sonically unique place that newer hard-rock bands have used as an obvious influence. “I know I’ve affected so many people and I’ve probably inspired and instilled courage in people,” Caputo said. “We were coming from a very original place and not subscribing to how a band with this sound should behave or act. I think the band preserves a lot of life on the planet. We hear it every day, countless times: ‘This record saved my life. This song saved my life.’” Outside the band, Caputo has been steadily releasing solo albums — her chance to explore alternative music styles that wouldn’t necessarily fit on Agony’s sonic and emotional spectrum. “I plan on going out and doing a lot more solo work in 2019 while we are recording the new Life of Agony record, which I’m excited about. My last solo tour in America was with Laura Jane Grace [of Against Me!],” she said. “There are certain songs I wouldn’t bring in the room for Life of Agony because it’s not the right nature or vibration. When I’m writing for Life of Agony, I won’t have a destination in mind, but I’ll have a feeling for what I should pen.”n Life of Agony performs 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at TLA, 334 South St. For more information or tickets, visit www.tlaphilly.com, www.MinaCaputo.com or www. lifeofagony.com.
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DINING PGNOUT
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 14-20, 2018
Food and Drink Directory
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A Philly fish out of Baltimore waters By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com A crab house and a piano bar? Just take our money! The Nauti Mermaid (110 Chestnut St.), left the waters of the Chesapeake Bay to bring Southern Maryland charm to Old City Philly — and, for the most part, it’s succeed. The cocktail menu proved an exciting start. The Key Lime martini ($12) tasted exactly like a spir(CAT)FISH AND CHIPS Photos: Scott A. Drake ited liquid version of the Southern Nauti Mermaid dessert staple 110 Chestnut St. while the Nauti Sun.-Thurs.: 5-10 p.m. 215-238-0333 New Fashioned Fri.-Sat.: 5-11 p.m. http://nautimermaidphilly.com ($12), a concoction of bourbon, cherries, bitters and The latter, while pleasant, tasted The mini crab cakes were filled pineapple, was another strong and more like crab chowder as it was with the maximum meat, minifruity winner. conspicuously missing the crab roe mum filler, with only remoulade We sidestepped the steamed typical of she crab, and also lacked and lemon rounding them out. The Maryland blue crabs that the strong sherry notes and the usual dish was simple and elegant — an restaurant flies in from the Eastern rosy color. On the plus side, the soup unfettered offering of pure crab. Shore — because, in our defense, is generously portioned and contains Similarly pleasing were the fried we didnt want to spend the evehuge lumps of crab meat begging to oysters ($14), dusted with cornmeal, ning breaking open and mining be fished out like pirate treasure. topped with a toasted chive crèmethe sharp and armored crustaceans The fried green tomatoes ($14), fraiche and served in a shell. for the tasty meat, especially when another Deep South staple, seemed But Nauti Mermaid’s crowning offers less-work-intensive options to get lost under the goat cheese, achievement on our visit was its like mini crab cakes ($14), the chives and almost-absurdly thick version of fish and chips. Seldom colossal crab cake ($17) and the pieces of bacon. But the bacon was has such a pedestrian offering she-crab soup ($10). so good, we weren’t complaining. impressed us — until this one. The dish was piled high with the enormous planks of catfish that had an alluring, come-hither curl on its edges, which is the hallmark of some excellent frying. The complementary boardwalk-style fries, sliced both thick and thin, also were fried to a perfect consistency, and seasoned just right touch of malt vinegar available. Nauti Mermaid definitely has their sea legs panted in firm culinary ground here in Philly. If you want well-executed raw, fried or steamed seafood and a comfortable and fun environment, dive into this Old City crab shack FRIED GREEN TOMATOES and sink your claws in. n
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Help Wanted HANDYMAN/HOUSEKEEPER Newly moved in, I need assistance with setup and light cleaning/yard work on monthly basis. Valid ID and 3 references. Non smoker. Fairmount section. 215-845-5117. _____________________________________________42-40
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Nightlife, Concerts, Art Exhibits, Readings, Cabaret, Films, Theater, Food, Books, Music, Sports and Travel
WM, NE Phila. If you’re looking for hot action, call 215-934-5309. No calls after 11 PM. ________________________________________42-37 Inexperienced WM ISO men that would let me try to give them relief. Call BJ at 856-625-9195. ________________________________________42-39 Bi romantic man, 57 seeks couple or sensitive man for loving relationship. Should drive. Atlantic City, NJ 609-428-7095. ________________________________________42-40
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