Philadelphia Gay News Vol. 34 No. 39
Honesty Integrity Professionalism
Sept. 24 - 30, 2010
Transwoman attacked in Gayborhood
Guv decries surveillances By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer
Gov. Ed Rendell last week denounced a state initiative that allowed anti-terrorism agents to track area protests and demonstrations, including Pride celebrations. Rendell said he was unaware of the contract between the state and the Institute of Terrorism Research and Response, an anti-terrorism group with offices in Philadelphia and Israel, and that he will not renew the agreement when it expires next month. The ITRR describes its mission as “identify and analyze information that can be leveraged to prevent injury, loss of life and destruction of property.” See SURVEILLANCE, Page 21
By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer
of Servicemembers Legal Defense Fund, said the vote was the result of “political maneuvering” in advance of November’s midterm elections. Alexander Nicholson, executive director of Servicemembers United, agreed Tuesday that the failure to move the bill forward was “simply inexcusable.” “Today’s vote is a failure of leadership on the part of those who have been duly elected to service this nation and to put the best interests of the country ahead of partisan politics,” Nicholson said. “The Senate could learn a good lesson from those who serve in uniform and who stand to benefit from proceeding to debate on this bill — serving this country means putting politics aside and getting the job done.” Sarvis said supporters of repeal have a “slim shot” at getting the measure up for a vote in the Senate during the lame-duck session this fall. “Let’s be clear: Opponents to repeal-
A transgender woman was attacked last weekend near the Gayborhood, although the extent of her injuries and motive for the attack are unknown. Police say five black males in a silver car approached the 28-year-old white woman near 237 S. Broad St. at 12:45 a.m. Sept. 19. The males robbed the woman of the money in her purse and struck her in the head with a beer bottle. Police spokesperson Officer Jillian Russell said police are not sure if the robbery and attack was spurred by the victim’s gender identity. She said the males were last seen running south on Broad Street, and police are still investigating. Nicholas DeRoose, a gay photojournalism student at Temple University, was in the Gayborhood Saturday night and early Sunday morning working on a school project. DeRoose was interviewing Tommy Atz, a Safeguards volunteer who was in the neighborhood on an outreach mission, on Locust Street between 12th and 13th at 1:15 a.m. when he saw the woman approaching. “I had seen her before during the night, and as she approached from 13th, I noted that her outfit looked different, and as she got closer I noticed she was bleeding from her ear down to her neck,” DeRoose said. Atz said the woman was walking slowly and appeared dazed. “It’s one of those things that when you see it, you don’t actually think it’s real at first, you think you’re making it up,” he said. “So I did a double-take and she actually walked right past me, so I caught up to her to see if she was OK.” The victim said she was on her way home when the attack occurred and, after she was hit, began walking towards Jefferson University Hospital, 11th and Locust streets. Atz and DeRoose offered to accompany her, but she slumped against a pole at the corner at 12th and Locust. A passerby called 911, and DeRoose said, after waiting about 10 minutes for the ambulance, he searched on foot for a police patrol car, which he found at 13th Street. The officer inside told DeRoose she was already on her way to the scene. Atz said that while he waited with the woman, he attempted to reassure her.
See REPEAL, Page 15
See ATTACK, Page 14
TIRED OF WAITING: About 75 protestors gathered at the corner of Broad and Arch streets Monday afternoon and marched to the Pennsylvania Convention Center, where President Obama was attending a fundraiser, to demand the president fulfill his promises on HIV/AIDS funding. The demonstration, organized by ACT UP, drew particular attention to the growing number of Americans on the waiting list for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program — estimated by ACT UP to now be at 3,000 — and activists called on the president to invest more funds in both domestic and global AIDS programs. Health Global Access Project member Kaytee Riek noted that as “President Obama and Democrats in Congress keep spending on war and bailouts, millions worldwide are becoming infected with HIV who have no chance of accessing life-saving medication, if the current trend of flat-lining funding continues.” Photo: Scott A. Drake
Senate fails to move on ‘Don’t Ask’ repeal By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer A promised Republican filibuster this week by Sen. John McCain (RAz.) prevented the Senate from moving forward on the repeal of the military’s ban on openly gay servicemembers. The bill is not expected to advance until December, if at all. Supporters of the repeal failed to SUCCESSFUL BREW: Members of Team Philadelphia celebrated their Gay Games victories generate the 60 votes needed for cloin Cologne, Germany, Sept. 21 at, appropriately ture Tuesday afternoon that would enough, Brauhaus Schmitz on South Street. The have sent a defense-spending bill, to four individual medalists who attended were Bob which the repeal language is attached, Szwajkos (bottom row, from left) who won the to the Senate floor for debate. The motion to bring the bill up marathon silver medal; Heather Scanlon, who won two silver and two bronze medals in track for debate failed 56-43, with all and field events; cyclist and triathalon triple gold Republicans voting against debate, as winner Gerry Aumen and wrestling gold medalist well as Democrats Mark Pryor (Ark.) Rick Van Tassell. Members of the gold-medal and Senate Majority Leader Harry softball team include Howie Barman (right, third Reid (Nev.). Reid supports repeal and from bottom), whose brother Alan, a founder of reportedly voted against the cloture the City of Brotherly Love Softball League, died vote so that he can, per Senate rules, on Sept. 14. Team Philadelphia garnered 36 raise the issue for reconsideration in medals total, including several in bodybuilding, the future. swimming and diving. Photo: Scott A. Drake Aubrey Sarvis, executive director