Filmmaker Ira Sachs on what illuminated “Keep the Lights On”
AIDS Library commemorates 25 years
Family Portrait: Troy Cook
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Sept. 21-27, 2012
Vol. 36 No. 38
Senior housing to break ground in October By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com
This summer, organizers attained zoning, building, environment and other necessary permits, said Mark Segal, PGN publisher and president of the Dr. Magnus Hirschfield Fund, which is spearheading the project. The Redevelopment Authority, which had been occupying the site, 249-257 S. 13th St., vacated the property last week. PAGE 29 Segal said cleanup of
The proposed LGBT senior-residence project is moving forward quickly, with construction expected to begin next month. A number of loose ends were tied up late in the summer, including the shoring up of all necessary funders, approvals and collaborators. Wells Fargo Bank has purchased the low-income tax credits allocated from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Authority, estimated at about $12 million. At least five national banks bid for CANDLES IN THE WIND: The family of Kyra Cordova led a procession of about 300 the credits. friends and family on a candlelight walk Sept. 15 through the streets of the Gayborhood. The additional $8 million Cordova, a former HIV tester and trans-youth advocate, was murdered Sept. 3, and her in funding is being covered killer has yet to be identified. Occasional breezes spurred some candle-relighting durby city and state funding. ing the walk, and family members commented on how they felt Kyra was behind the The proposed six-story mischievousness. The group congregated at the William Way LGBT Community Center before the walk, where friends and family members shared memories of Kyra’s life and building will be home to 56 one-bedroom units designed personality. Photo: Scott A. Drake for people age 62 and over. A portion of the residences will be dedicated to low-income LGBT-FRIENDLY SENIOR-HOUSING PROPOSED adults. COURTYARD
Community mourns, investigation continues in Cordova case By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com
right now,” he said. Evers said investigators determined Cordova was killed at the location where There was barely standing room in she was found. the lobby of the William Way LGBT A call came in to police took police Community Center last week as sev- around 5 a.m., and Evers said the shooting eral-hundred community members came apparently took place shortly before. together to mourn a murder victim. “We believe we found her somewhat in The Sept. 13 vigil for Kyra Cordova drew a timeframe of less than a day, maybe a family and friends of the victim, as well as couple hours, of when this happened,” he a wealth of strangers, who said. together called for justice. Evers declined to say Police continue to inveswho called to report the tigate the Labor Day murbody. der but have yet to identify Cordova was last seen at a suspect or motive. a Wawa about a half-mile Cordova was found with a from the scene, purchasing gunshot wound to the head two sandwiches and two Sept. 3 in a wooded area off drinks. the 1100 block of Adams Evers said Cordova was Avenue in Frankford. captured on surveillance Police spokesperson Lt. video but she was alone. Ray Evers said investiga“It seems she got enough tors have little information. food for more than one perKYRA CORDOVA son but “We don’t have much PAGE 21
Haverford: Human-relations panel to be named shortly By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com Nineteen months after Haverford approved an ordinance extending antibias protections to the LGBT community, a human-relations panel to investigate antibias complaints hasn’t been established.
Last week, more questions about the township’s commitment to LGBT equality were raised when its board of commissioners passed an antibias resolution related to township contractors that doesn’t include LGBT protections. In February 2011, in a 5-4 vote, the board enacted a comprePAGE 26
Voter ID heads back to lower court By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com The state’s top court this week further prolonged a suit challenging the controversial new voter-identification law. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Tuesday sent the case back to the Commonwealth Court for further review of
how the state is implementing the law. The ruling vacated the lower court’s finding this summer that upheld the law. The Supreme Court ordered the Commonwealth Court to issue a final decision by Oct. 2. A hearing will be held this month to further examine the law. The law requires voters to present governPAGE 28 ment-issued identifica-