Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013 by The Philadelphia Gay News

Family Portrait: Rabbi Nathan Weiner on Judaism and Jersey PAGE 27

Lehigh Valley welcomes first LGBT health clinic

New sounds from musical sirens

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Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

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Vol. 37 No. 39

PA pastor fired for gay wedding

Gay man sues N.J. school district By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

Thomas Vandergrift, a gay man from Philadelphia, says Pennsauken, N.J., school officials wrongly accused him of child molestation after he advocated for a proper education for his autistic nephew. Vandergrift filed suit against the Pennsauken School District and various officials last December, and the case is winding its way through the adjudication process. In the suit, Vandergrift contends that district officials violated state and federal laws by engaging in antigay discrimination, antigay retaliation and exhibiting “deliberate indifference” to antigay bullying. Vandergrift’s nephew, a 12-year-old identified in court papers as D.V., suffers from autism, generalized anxiety disorder and a learning disability in math. Between 2010-12, D.V. was enrolled in public-educational programs at the Pennsauken School District, but he wasn’t receiving a proper education, according to the suit. District officials allegedly failed to PAGE 16 accept the child’s autism,

QUEEN OF A.C.: Miss Victoria “Porkchop” Parker (in blue) reacted to the news that she was crowned the winner of the 2013 Miss’d America Pageant Sept. 21 at House of Blues at the Showboat Casino Hotel. Parker bested 13 other drag queens, who went heel-to-heel in swimsuit, talent and evening-gown competitions, with the finalists also competing in a question-and-answer session. About 1,500 people turned out for the show, which raised funds for the Schultz-Hill Foundation and the Greater Atlantic City GLBT Alliance, which will distribute the funding among regional LGBT and HIV/AIDS organizations. The annual event parodies the mainstream Miss America Pageant, which this year returned to Atlantic City. Parker visited Philly to perform at the Venture Inn the following night. Photo: Scott A. Drake

With local support, federal bill seeks ‘religious conscience’ clause By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Legislation was introduced last week that seeks to counter the wave of pro-LGBT federal

policies rolling out after the overturning of a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act — a measure that has support from several Congressmembers from Pennsylvania. PAGE 19

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Sims to seek re-election ��

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By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com

Openly gay state Rep. Brian Sims (D-182nd Dist.) formally announced this week that he will seek re-election.

Sims defeated longtime incumbent Rep. Babette Josephs in last year’s primary and ran unopposed in the general election, becoming Pennsylvania’s first openly gay elected lawmaker. In his freshPAGE 17

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2013

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CAUCUS CRUISING: George Lopez (from left), Bruce Yelk, Joan Rivera, Kyle Stoudnour, Jerry Gadd and Wes Coulter were among the three-dozen brunchers who cruised down the Delaware River Sunday to support Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus. The Spirit of Philadelphia provided PGTC guests with a picturesque tour of Philly and Jersey, along with brunch and beverages. Photo: Scott A. Drake

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A Pennsylvania pastor’s decision to officiate at a same-sex wedding reportedly cost him his job. The Rev. Ken Kline Smeltzer was terminated from his position as pastor of a Central Pennsylvania congregation for performing the wedding of two men this summer. The ceremony was held at the home of State College Mayor Elizabeth Gorehem in August, after Montgomery County Register of Wills D. Bruce Hanes began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Gorehem pledged to marry couples at her home but, on the advice of attorneys, changed her mind and instead invited Smeltzer to preside over the wedding of two men from Pike County. But, when Smeltzer’s church learned of his involvement, he was reportedly fired. Multiple calls to Gorehem’s office were not returned as of presstime. Smeltzer, 62, declined to publicly identify his congregation, but the Associated Press reported it to be Burnham Church of the Brethren, in Burnham. Calls to the church from PGN were unanswered. The Associated Press reported that an official for the national denomination based in Illinois confirmed that Smeltzer was an employee of the congregation, but did not identify his dates of employment. The official noted congregations have their own hiring practices, and pastors are not appointed or nominated by church hierarchy. The Church of the Brethren is a Protestant denomination with German roots. It has stated policies against homosexuality, calling same-sex relationships “not acceptable.” Smeltzer is listed as one of six members on the website for the Progressive Brethren Council, a group founded in 2007 for Brethren-identified individuals who celebrate diversity and “who are all wrestling with what it means to be people of faith in this time and setting.” ■

Entertainment, nightlife, people, Ballot on page 23 community, food & drink

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

LOCAL PGN

Trans leader to address coming out, activism By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com

shot deal but it is a process that takes years. It took 40 years from start to finish for myself and there is also the process of comLGBT Jewish congregation Beth Ahavah, ing out to yourself.” She said she learned of the term “transalong with Rodeph Shalom, will celebrate National Coming Out day with a visit from sexual” at 14, which set her on a challenga national transgender leader who will talk ing journey to self-acceptance. “When I told my parents that I was a about both her personal and professional transsexual, they had no ground to stand experiences advocating for gender rights. on. When I was 14, suddenly there was a Gender Rights word, a surgery and possibilities, which creMaryland executive ated a potential for success but also scared director Dr. Dana Beyer me,” she said. “When you are comfortable will present “Boychick in your closet, you can live with that and — Treading Water and manage and it limits you but it is you; it is Breaking Out, A Life in cis-comfortable, warm and protective, and Two Acts,” at 7 p.m. Oct. when your realize there is a door, it is fright2 at Rodeph Shalom, ening.” 615 N. Broad St. She started her transition about a decade Beyer, 61, is a retired DR. DANA eye surgeon and forBEYER ago. Beyer said she has been fortunate to have mer candidate for the Maryland state legislature. She went on to a fairly seamless experience. “I have been blessed but that is not true become a founding board member, and later director, of Gender Rights Maryland, which for everybody,” she said. “It does get better and it is getting better.” advocates for the transgender community. Before transitioning, Beyer earned her Beyer grew up in New York City and first came out when she was 11; however, she medical degree from the University of noted the coming-out process is never truly Pennsylvania in 1978. “I went into ophthalmology, which is finished. “I have come out multiple times — slowly the one specialty that has no distinction to my children and ex-wife and fully when between the genders,” she said. “Most of I transitioned,” she said. “I went one day medicine has sexual dimorphism. I found it from being my old self to someone entirely ironic that I went into the field that is fardifferent. People think coming out is a one- thest away from sex and gender.”

After Beyer suffered from illness, she retired and decided to focus her energy elsewhere. “Part of my recovery was engaging in myself,” she said. “I became an advocate and activist and wanted to give back to those who gave me a chance to transition.” She served as vice president of Equality Maryland, executive vice president of Maryland NOW, a member of the board of governors of the Human Rights Campaign and was a candidate for Maryland State Delegate in both 2006 and 2010. Beyer’s first campaign came just a few years after her transition. While she said she didn’t experience blatant transphobia, she does hope the landscape for trans candidates is improving, as she plans to run for the seat again next year. “I don’t believe there was any particular transphobia in my district. I live in a highly Democratic district. The party and support structure was not comfortable with me and some didn’t endorse me due to that but, come 2014, I think I will come closer,” she said. “I had great media [support] and I helped educate them and they quickly became allies and friends.” Beyer said she plans to draw the discussion away from her identity in the next race and focus more on her platform. “This time I will do it differently. Although that kind of identity is relevant

and it has a story and the prejudice and bigotry has toned down a bit, I want to engage people on my policy positions.” After the last race, Beyer helped found Gender Rights Maryland in 2011 to generate support for rights issues impacting more on transgender and gender-variant Marylanders. Although the state enacted a marriageequality law earlier this year, it has yet to adopt a transgender-specific nondiscrimination law. She said Gender Rights Maryland and other trans groups are working to represent segments of the community that can get cast out by mainstream LGBT organizations. “Independent trans groups have been growing up and Equality Maryland left the trans community behind,” Beyer said. “It is better in general that part of the community should have its own community voice. There are no trans people in the legislature yet so it is important that trans people still have a voice.” Beyer said she hopes attendees at her upcoming presentation will be motivated to follow her lead and be out and proud in their own lives. “The most important thing an LGBT person can do is come out proudly, civilly and with a smile. We all have obstacles, challenges and are closeted for one reason or another. We all have issues but it is important to come out.” ■

locations in Philadelphia PHILADELPHIA — AROUND THE GAYBORHOOD

12th Street Gym, 204 S. 12th St. • 13th Street Gourmet Pizza, 209 S. 13th St. • AACO, 1101 Market St., 9th floor • Action AIDS, 1216 Arch St. • Apt. & Townhouse Rentals, 304 S. 12th St. • ASIAC, 1711 S. Broad St. • The Bike Stop, 206 S. Quince St. • Bioscript Pharmacy, 1227 Locust St. • Cafe Twelve, 212 S. 12th St. • Charlie Salon, 203 S. 12th St. • City Hall NE Entrance • Club Body Center, 1220 Chancellor St. • Com-Har Living Room, 101 S. Broad St., 14th floor • Criminal Justice Center, 1301 Filbert St. • Cut Salon, 204 S. 13th St. • Danny’s Bookstore 133 S. 13th St. • Dignity/St. Lukes, 330 S. 13th St. • Dirty Frank’s Bar, 13th & Pine sts. • The Foodery, 10th & Pine sts. • Fusion Gym, 105 S. 12th St., 2nd floor • Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St. • I Goldberg, 1300 Chestnut St. • ICandy, 254 S. 12th St. • Independent Hotel, 13th & Locust sts. • Mazzoni Clinic, 809 Locust St. • Midtown II, 122 S. 11th St. • More Than Just Ice Cream, 1119 Locust St. • Pa. AIDS Law Project, 1211 Chestnut St., 12th floor • Paolo Pizzeria, 1336 Pine St. • Parker Hotel Lobby, 261 S. 13th St. • Phila. FIGHT/Aids Library, 1233 Locust St., 5th floor • Phila. Family Planning Commission, 260 S. Broad St., 10th floor • Planned Parenthood, 1144 Locust St. • Sansom Cinema, 120 S. 13th St., basement • Santa Fe Burrito, 212 S. 11th St. • Scorpio Books, 202 S. Juniper St. • Sisters, 1320 Chancellor St. • Spruce Street Video, 252 S. 12th St. • Packard Apartments, 317 N. Broad St. • Safeguards lobby, 1211 Chestnut St. #610 • Salon K, 1216 Locust St. • Sansom Cinema, 120 S. 13th St. • Sante Fe Burrito, 212 S. 11th St. • Tabu, 200 S. 12th St. • Tavern on Camac, 243 S. Camac St. • Triangle Medicine, 253 S. 10th St., 1st floor • Uncles, 1220 Locust St. • Valanni, 1229 Spruce St. • Venture Inn, 255 S. Camac St. • Voyeur, 1220 St. James St. • Westbury, 261 S. 13th St. • William Way LGBT Community Center, 1325 Spruce St. • Woody’s, 202 S. 13th St. •

PHILADELPHIA — C.C. EAST OF BROAD

Bean Café, 615 South St. • Best Western Independence Park Hotel lobby, 215 Chestnut St. • Chocolate Works Condo lobby, 321 N. Third St. • Copabanana, 342 South St. • Dane Décor, 315 Arch St. • Famous 4th St. Deli, Fourth & Bainbridge sts. • Hopkinson House, 604 S. Washington Sq. • Hyatt Regency Hotel lobby, 201 S. Columbus Blvd. • Independence Place Condos, 241 S. Sixth St., lobby in both towers • Independence Visitors Center, Sixth & Market sts. • Old City Ironworks Gym, 141 N. Second St. • Nationality Service Center, 1216 Arch St. • Packard Apts., 317 N. Broad St. • PGN ofﬁces, 505 S. Fourth St. • Philadelphia Java Co., 518 S. Fourth St. • Reading Terminal Market, 12th & Filbert sts. • Strands Salon, 25 N. Third St. •

PHILADELPHIA — C.C. WEST OF BROAD

Adonis Cinema, 2026 Sansom St. • Art Institute, 1610 Chestnut St. • Art Institute, 1622 Chestnut St. • Art Institute, 2300 Market St. • The Attic Youth Center, 255 S. 16th St. • Bob & Barbara’s, 1509 South St. • Book Bin, 22nd & Market sts. • Dan Tobey R/E, 1401 Walnut St., 8th floor • Dr. Wakefield’s Office, 255 S. 17th St., Suite 2306 • Drexel Partnership, 1427 Vine St., 3rd floor • Latimer Deli, 255 S. 15th St. • L-2 Restaurant, 22nd & South sts. • MANNA, 12 S. 23rd St. • Marine Club Condos lobby, Broad St. & Washington Ave. • Metropolitan, 115 N. 15th St. • Safeguards Lobby, 1700 Market St., 18th floor • Sansom St. Gym, 2020 Sansom St. • South Square Market, 2221 South St. • Titan Room, 22nd & Market sts. • Touraine Building lobby, 1520 Spruce St. • U Do It Laundry, 15th & Spruce sts. • Wyndham Franklin Plaza Hotel, 17th & Race sts. •

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE YOUR BUSINESS OR ORGANIZATION ON THIS LIST? Contact Don at don@epgn.com or 215-625-8501 ext. 200 to arrange for delivery of complimentary copies.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

PGN

Pre-construction pricing

waterfront

townhomes

from the mid $200s & $300s

FIRED UP: Chris Labenz (center) got the Woody’s crowd hot and bothered Sunday night at a fundraiser for the Widows’ Fund of Local 22, the Philadelphia Firefighter and Paramedic Union. Union president Joseph Schulle (from left) was on hand, along with City Councilman-at-Large Jim Kenney, who helped organize the event with Councilman Mark Squilla. The open-bar event raised more than $2,000 for the cause, helped by the sale of T-shirts emblazoned with the slogan, “Woody’s is hot for Philly firefighters.” Photo: Scott A. Drake NEWS

Crime Watch Local News Briefing On Being Well Regional Work It Out

9 2 8 14 5 12

Contents

EDITORIAL/OP-ED

Creep of the Week Editorial Letters/Feedback Mark My Words Street Talk

10 10 11 11 11

Would you want to be married by a mayor?

View from waterside park

Poll results from our online survey as of Sept. 25:

62% 24% 10% 5%

Sure, why not? I’m not getting married. Nope. I want clergy. I would prefer it!

Go to www.epgn.com to weigh in on this week’s question:

Where do you Halloween shop?

Your new urban oasis has arrived on the Delaware River in Bensalem! Enjoy urban townhome living in a one-of-a-kind setting: ��

Call 215.394.0990

WatersideLiving.com ��

PGN 505 S. Fourth St. Philadelphia, PA 19147-1506

For advertising inquiries: advertising@epgn.com or 215-625-8501 ext. 218.

Art Director/Photographer Scott A. Drake (ext. 210) scott@epgn.com

Phone: 215-625-8501 Fax: 215-925-6437 E-mail: pgn@epgn.com Web: www.epgn.com

Advertising Director Dan Calhoun (ext. 218) dan@epgn.com

Graphic Artist Sean Dorn (ext. 211) sean@epgn.com

Publisher Mark Segal (ext. 204) mark@epgn.com Editor

Jen Colletta (ext. 206) jen@epgn.com Staff Writers Larry Nichols (ext. 213) larry@epgn.com Angela Thomas (ext. 215) angela@epgn.com Writer-at-Large Timothy Cwiek (ext. 208) timothy@epgn.com

Advertising Manager Greg Dennis greg@epgn.com Advertising Sales Representatives Prab Sandhu prab@epgn.com National Advertising Rivendell Media: 212-242-6863 Office Manager/ Classifieds Don Pignolet (ext. 200) don@epgn.com Executive Assistant/ Billing Manager Carol Giunta (ext. 202) carol@epgn.com

Philadelphia Gay News is a member of: The Associated Press Pennsylvania Newspaper Association Suburban Newspapers of America Published by Masco Communications Inc. © 2013 Masco Communications Inc. ISSN-0742-5155

The views of PGN are expressed only in the unsigned “Editorial” column. Opinions expressed in bylined columns, stories and letters to the editor are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of PGN. The appearance of names or pictorial representations in PGN does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of that named or pictured person or persons.

REGIONAL PGN

First LGBT health clinic opens in Lehigh Valley By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com The Lehigh Valley next week will celebrate the grand opening of the first primary health-care clinic for the LGBT community in the area. Novus Adult Care Services, at 1565 Linden St. in Bethlehem, will formally open its doors with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2 p.m. Sept. 28, although the practice has already started seeing patients. ALLEN SMITH The clinic, which provides services such as HIV testing, physical exams, preventative care and a range of other services tailored to LGBT clients, is the first of its kind in the Lehigh Valley. Novus is the brainchild of nurse practitioner Allen Smith, who began planning for the venture in 2006. A 1983 graduate of Allentown Hospital School of Nursing, Smith received his bacehlor’s degree at La Salle University and is currently attending Fairleigh Dickinson University for his doctorate in nursing practice. The registered nurse practitioner is certified in adult primary care by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, in advanced HIV/AIDS care by the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, and in critical-care nursing by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. Smith, who in 2008 completed a 500-hour NOVUS ACS residency at an HIV/ AIDS nonprofit, said the clinic grew out of his own experiences as an LGBT patient. “Being gay myself and having lied about my sexuality to my provider for years, I realized that is not the way it should be,” he said. “You should go to your provider feeling comfortable.” The closest LGBT health-care facility was the Mazzoni Center in Philadelphia, but Smith said other Pennsylvanians deserve access to those services closer to home. Novus ACS cost close to $400,000 to get off the ground. “I did this all on my own,” Smith said. “I saved and saved and it has been my dream to open up this clinic. My partner has been working with me and my family has been incredibly supportive.” Smith bought the building where the clinic is housed and spent two years remodeling and rehabbing the 2,800-square-foot space.

“I wanted it to look and feel like a comfortable home, so I restored the older building to its original architecture,” he said. Smith said the building is easily accessible by all highways but is also private enough for those who want to be discreet. Smith is the owner and operator of the clinic, and is assisted by collaborative physician Dr. Felipe Arias, two nurses and one non-medical staffer. The clinic offers free HIV and STD testing, and Smith has also tested off-site at bars and agencies like Fighting AIDS Continuously Together. Smith said Novus ACS does not accept health insurance but provides affordable care and prescriptions, such as a physical for a flat rate of $45. “There is not a whole lot of extra money unless someone comes in and is having an asthma attack, then I may charge an extra $10 in medications, but they just saved themselves $140 in an emergency-room fee,” he said. The clinic sees both walk-ins and appointments from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday, with testing from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Smith said patients have so far ranged from 14 to 70 and have largely sought the clinic for its inclusive environment. “My demographic mix usually has insurance and their own providers, but they don’t want to talk to their providers or they like the fact that I specialize in LGBT care, and would rather come in here and have me do their care and use their own insurance for labs,” he said. Novus ACS also offers a variety of affordable lab testing and packages, with support from the Center for Disease Detection. Tests range from $10-50 IN BETHLEHEM for individual labs and free to $150 for packages. Smith is also currently in training to provide transgender-specific health care at his facility. He is authorized to prescribe hormones for trans patients but said he ultimately would like to be able to initiate hormone therapy himself. Smith said LGBT-specific health-care facilities like his allow for patients to trust that their providers are attuned to the everchanging health needs of the community. “For instance, when you are looking at men and they are sexually active, you need to know what kind of sex they are engaging in, in order to help them with testing and health concerns. You need to be able to ask those questions and be comfortable with them and treat them. That’s not saying that a heterosexual provider won’t do quality care, but my focus is always keeping in mind what is going on in their lives.” For more information on Novus Adult Care Services, visit novusacs.com. ■

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

LOCAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

Craig T. Wakefield, DDS is happy to welcome

ISAAC BAR, D.M.D. to the dental practice!

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BUILDING OUTWARD: White House LGBT liaison Gautam Raghavan (second from right) took in the future courtyard at a VIP tour of the John C. Anderson Apartments Sept. 20. Raghavan was accompanied by PGN publisher and Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld Fund president Mark Segal (from left), Pennrose Properties development officer Jacob Fisher, John C. Anderson building manager Kecia Hilliard and dmhFund board members. The LGBT-friendly senior-living facility, located on 13th Street in the Gayborhood, is expected to open in January. Photo: Scott A. Drake

Sold-out Indigo Ball set for success The Law Of�ice of Matthew I. Hirsch is a boutique law �irm specializing in immigration and nationality law. We have many years of success helping couples and families achieve their immigration goals. Now, with the end of DOMA, we look forward to working with even more couples and families on marriage-based applications for permanent residence. We welcome your inquiries on immigration issues and opportunities for same-sex spouses. *Matthew I. Hirsch - Former INS attorney, Adj. Professor of Immigration Law, Past Chair of Phila. Chapter of AILA

For more information, please contact us at info@hirschlaw1.com 150 Strafford Ave, Suite 110, Wayne PA 19087 P: 610.964.6100 │ F: 610.964.6106 www.hirschlaw1.com │ www.facebook.com/HirschLaw1

By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com Hundreds of supporters of the William Way LGBT Community Center will come together next week for the agency’s largest fundraising event of the year, which is now sold out. Indigo Ball will be held from 6-10 p.m. Oct. 5 at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, 128 N. Broad St. The gala was held at the Franklin Institute last year, and center development director Michael Pomante said the host venue changes year to year for variety. “We always want to give our patrons and those who attend a different experience each year,” he said. Pomante said the center hopes to raise $80,000 from the event. Ticket sales were capped at 350. Every year the center honors a number of local individuals and organizations, and will introduce a new award this year, the Corporate Partner of the Year, which will go to PECO. “They have had volunteer days here where they do projects for us,” Pomante explained. “They support the community in different ways. Nationally, PECO is committed to diversity in the workplace. For those reasons, they were definitely the right choice.” Philly Dyke March, celebrating its 15th year, will be honored with the Community Partner of the Year Award. “Several of the organizers have been committed to the center in various different

ways, so they are truly an epitome of what a community partner is,” Pomante said. He added the Rev. Rodger C. Broadley of The Church of St. Luke’s and The Epiphany was a natural choice for the Lifetime Achievement Award. “During the AIDS epidemic, where no synagogue, church, mosque, nowhere would bury AIDS patients, he was the only person who would do it. He has opened up his doors to ACT UP Philadelphia at St. Luke’s when other places wouldn’t do so,” he said. “We picked someone who stood for committing to our community and going above and beyond and facing ridicule and retaliation.” Mayor Michael Nutter will be presented the Humanitarian Award. “He is always speaking out as an ally to the community and is just a true advocate for our community,” Pomante said. The Philadelphia Freedom Band will play during cocktail hour, and this year’s venue will have a dance floor. Pomante said the after-party IndieGoGo will return but, for guests who can’t make it to that party, the dance floor was a welcomed addition. “A lot of people who attended Indigo Ball in previous years didn’t make it over to IndieGoGo, so they were disappointed that there was no dance component,” Pomante said. While the event is sold out, Pomante said a limited number of tickets may be able to be made available to interested guests. For more information, email Pomante at mpomante@waygay.org or call 215-7322220. ■

Philadelphia Gay News

LOCAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

PAT increases donations and space By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com Philly AIDS Thrift recently announced an increase in its monthly charitable donations, as well as the expansion of its store space — milestones that come as the store prepares to celebrate its eighth anniversary. PAT is a nonprofit store that sells everything from clothing, books and CDs to furniture and dining equipment, with proceeds donated to AIDS Fund, which distributes money to local HIV/AIDS organizations. The shop, formerly located on Bainbridge Street, moved to 710 S. Fifth St. in 2011 and recently signed a lease to expand its sales space by 50 percent. Starting next month, PAT will begin to take over the other half of the second-floor space, with the new 3,800 square-foot area expected to open to shoppers in November. The PAT team is still planning what the new space will hold, but store volunteer cocoordinator Christina Kallas-Saritsoglou said furniture is at the top of the list. The expansion was made possible by the dedication of the customers, she said. “The generosity of our amazing donors motivated this expansion. There’s been

such a dramatic increase in the pure volume of items people donate, we need room to display it.” The store’s board also recently voted to increase the monthly donation to AIDS Fund to $17,500, an increase of $2,500 that will take its yearly donations to $210,000. “There is no greater feeling than knowing what we do every day has a positive impact on people’s lives,” Kallas-Saritsoglou said. “With the help of many, we’ve created an environment where all walks of life can participate, whether they be shoppers, donors or volunteers.” PAT will celebrate its recent accomplishments, and its upcoming eighth birthday, with a weekend of food, music and sales Sept. 27-29. The store will close off Fifth Street to host its first-ever anniversary block party from noon-7 p.m. Sept. 28. “We encourage people to join us in celebration with three days of fabulous sales, snacks and cake,” Kallas-Saritsoglou said, noting that the party will include local craft vendors, a dunk tank, food trucks and music. Not to mention a Justin Beiber moon bounce. “What more could you ask for?” For more information on PAT, visit phillyaidsthrift.com. ■

Out and about for National Coming-Out Day Philadelphia marks National Coming-Out Day every year with OutFest, the world’s largest NCOD celebration, which this year is Oct. 13. Leading up to that event, area organizations will mark the occasion with their own NCOD festivities. Atlantic City, N.J. Last year, LGBTs and allies in Atlantic City celebrated the city’s first NCOD observance, which this year promises to bring even more entertainment and education. National Coming Out Day in A.C. will be presented by 2nd Level Productions 4-8 p.m. Oct. 5 at Steel Pier, 1000 Boardwalk. The event is free and funded by South Jersey AIDS Alliance, and sponsored by Steel Pier. Ms. Tammy White will host the event. Event co-coordinator Travis Love said the occasion celebrates the various identities that encompass the LGBT community. “It was important for the community to have a space where they could come out and support each other and be where they felt safe to celebrate individuality,” Love said. The event will showcase emerging artists and speakers and will seek to be even more inclusive than the inaugural celebration, with a focus on family friendliness. Attendees can get free HIV tests and learn about local churches, support groups and social groups in the South Jersey area. “South Jersey can feel isolated because there is not a great deal of opportunities to

go to LGBT-affirming places unless it is a nightclub, so it’s important to create a space to do that,” Love said. For more information, search for South Jersey AIDS Alliance on Facebook.

Haute Mexican? Haute Mexican! After ten successful years in northeast Philadelphia, Paloma is serving to-die-for French-Mexican cuisine in Bella Vista. ��

a semifinalist for the 2011 James Beard Foundation awards

Temple University Temple University will celebrate its annual National Coming Out Week Oct. 711. NCOW will kick off with a drag performance from 7-9 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Temple Performing Arts Center, where guests can learn more about the week’s programming. Temple’s NCOW will play host to a variety of panels, including a discussion on gender stereotypes from 7-9 p.m. Oct. 8 at Howard Gittis Student Center, Room 200A, and one on being out in the workforce, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Oct. 9 in Room 217 of the the student center. The same night, the Breaking Beauty Standards fashion show from 7-9 p.m. at Morgan Hall, Room D301, will showcase diverse models to promote body-positive messages. The Student Center Underground will host Come Out, Speak Out from 7-9:30 p.m. Oct. 10, where guests will share their coming-out stories. The week will cap off with NCOW Fest, noon-1:30 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Bell Tower. For more information on Temple University’s NCOW, visit http://sites.temple.edu/ncowequality. ■ — compiled by Angela Thomas

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REGIONAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

News Briefing

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Trans teen loses bid for homecoming king The decision to ban a transgender teenager from running for homecoming king at a Pennsylvania school will stand. The Richland Area School District on Monday announced it would not intervene in the Richland High School’s decision to disallow Kasey Caron from running for the spot, forcing him instead onto the homecoming-queen ballot. The 18-year-old senior identifies and presents as male and his state-issued driver’s license includes a male gender marker. Earlier this month, school officials told Caron he had to run for queen for legal reasons, prompting the student to appeal to the school board. At least one board member misgendered Caron during a public meeting and suggested he would need to undergo sexual-reassignment surgery in order for the school to consider him male. Caron has not announced if he plans to pursue the issue in court. — Jen Colletta

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Rosewood reopens Rosewood, an upscale LGBT restaurant that was closed in June due to building-code violations, reopened Sept. 20. Rosewood is located at 1300-02 Walnut St. and is contiguous to Woody’s Bar, a popular LGBT establishment. It was closed June 5 by the city’s Department of Licenses and Inspections due to alleged electrical, plumbing and licensing violations. L&I inspected the building Sept. 19 and issued a certificate of occupancy for Rosewood. “A certificate of occupancy has been issued, which reflects that all the work that’s been done on the property is code compliant,” said L&I spokesperson Rebecca Swanson. “They’ve remedied the violations and passed inspection.” Rosewood’s owners, Michael and Billy Weiss, who also own Woody’s, couldn’t be reached for comment. The Weiss brothers purchased the 130002 Walnut St. building last year. In addition to Woody’s and Rosewood, the building also houses a yogurt shop.

PAC still needs more commissioners The city’s Police Advisory Commission continues to operate with fewer than half

the number of commissioners it’s supposed to have, despite repeated requests for additional commissioners. The PAC, which investigates police-misconduct complaints, is supposed to have 19 commissioners and alternates but currently only has seven. Mayor Nutter has the responsibility of directly filling six vacancies and another six from recommendations by City Council. The PAC hasn’t had a full complement of commissioners for more than two years. Last month, Mark McDonald, a spokesperson for the Nutter administration, said an announcement of new commissioners was “imminent.” McDonald had no comment for this story at presstime. The next PAC meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 30 at 714 Market St., fifth floor. — Timothy Cwiek

Flag-raising returns The Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations and the Office of LGBT Affairs will host the fourth annual LGBT History Month Celebration at City Hall. The traditional raising of the rainbow flag will take place from noon-1 p.m. Oct. 3 at the northeast corner of City Hall. The flag will stay raised until the end of the month to signify LGBT History MOnth. The event will spotlight the AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania, The Attic Youth Center and the Philadelphia Dyke March for their accomplishments. The Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus and Philadelphia Freedom Band will perform, and the Rev. Jeffery Haskins of the Unity Fellowship Church will speak.

Lobby for ENDA Americans for Workplace Opportunity will host a lobby day Oct. 3 in Washington, D.C., to press for a federal law banning LGBT employment discrimination. The agency is organizing LGBTs and allies to lobby the Senate to pass the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, which would ban employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Matt McTighe, manager of the campaign, said most Americans believe ENDA does, and should, exist. “Americans believe all hardworking employees should be judged on their talents and job performance, not their sexual orientation or gender identity,” McTighe said. “Lobby day will serve as a reminder that the Golden Rule applies in the workplace: Everyone should be treated the same.” The legislation passed out of a Senate committee earlier this year, and activists are working to secure a Senate vote on ENDA in October. For more information, visit www.workplaceopportunity.org/. ■ —Angela Thomas

LOCAL PGN

Gayborhood Crime Watch The following incidents in the Midtown Village and Washington Square West areas were reported to the 6th Police District between Sept. 9-15. Information is courtesy of 6th District Capt. Brian Korn; Stacy Irving, senior director, Crime Prevention Service; Center City District; the Police Liaison Committee and Midtown Village Merchants Association. To report crime tips, visit www.phillypolice.com or call 215-686-TIPS (8477). INCIDENTS — At 3:30 a.m. Sept. 10, a highly intoxicated man walking in the 1200 block of Locust Street was punched, possibly Tased and had his purse stolen. The suspect was described as a black male wearing a white T-shirt and a black dress. — Between 1 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 10, someone stole a secured bicycle from outside 109 S. Ninth St. — At 7:45 p.m. Sept. 10, a woman’s purse was stolen from the back of her chair inside Mixto, 1141 Pine St. Security video showed the suspect to be a 30-yearold white male, 5-foot-10, 220 pounds, with a goatee and wearing a white shirt, black-framed glasses and a dark cap. — At 9:30 p.m. Sept. 10, a man’s messenger bag was snatched from him as he walked in the 300 block of South 12th Street. The suspect was described as a 30-year-old white male, 5-foot-7, about 130 pounds, with light facial hair and wearing a black cap, blue and white shirt and jeans. — At 4:55 p.m. Sept. 13, three males entered the Raw Sushi Restaurant, 1225 Sansom St., and one asked an employee questions to distract him while the other two stole money from the register and all three fled. The first was in his 20s, 5foot-10, thin and wearing a green plaid shirt and gold pants. The second was 5foot-7, thin, with a dark complexion and wearing a black shirt. The third had a thin build and a dark complexion. All three were black. — Between 4-4:15 p.m. Sept. 15, someone stole a secured bicycle from outside 1128 Spruce St. NON-SUMMARY ARRESTS — At 2:55 p.m. Sept. 9, Sixth District police were called to the 200 block of South 13th Street and found a parked vehicle with three unattended children, ages 7, 2 and 1. Attempts to locate a responsible adult were negative and the children were transported to DHS. When the parents returned, they were taken to the Special Victims Unit for investigation and were arrested for child endangerment. — At 11:50 p.m. Sept. 12, 6th District Officers Macchione and Cifelli arrested a male outside 1300 Walnut St. who was wanted on a warrant for probation vio-

lations. The 42-year-old suspect with a North Philadelphia address was charged with escape. — On Sept. 13, 6th District plainclothes Officers Ferrero and Green set up surveillance in the area of Juniper and Walnut streets and at 1:25 p.m. observed a male steal a bicycle from outside 208 S. Juniper St. The 20-year-old suspect with a North Philadelphia address was charged with theft. — At 1:45 p.m. Sept. 13, while on surveillance in the area of Juniper and Walnut streets, 6th District plainclothes Officers Ferrero and Green observed a male they had previously viewed on security video stealing an employee’s wallet from a secured area of Mercato, 1216 Spruce St., on Sept. 10. The 29-year-old suspect was charged with burglary and related offenses. — At 6:15 p.m. Sept. 13, Center City District beat officers arrested a male in the 1000 block Market Street who was wanted on a warrant in another jurisdiction. The 22-year-old suspect with a Perkasie address was charged as a fugitive. — At 1:30 a.m. Sept. 14, two men had an argument inside ICandy, 250 S. 12th St. They went outside and the one punched the other, rendering him unconscious. Sixth District Officer Corrado was on the scene and arrested the 19-year-old suspect with a South Philadelphia address. He was charged with aggravated assault and related offenses. — At 9:55 p.m. Sept. 14, a 6th District Narcotics Enforcement Team working the Washington Square West area observed a male in the 1200 block of Manning Street smoking a marijuana cigarette. The man was taken into custody and an additional quantity of marijuana and cocaine was confiscated. The 42-year-old suspect with a Lafayette Hill address was charged with possession of illegal narcotics. SUMMARY ARRESTS — At 6:20 p.m. Sept. 9, Center City District officers issued a citation for a summary offense outside 1101 Market St. — On Sept. 10, 6th District officers issued citations for summary offenses at 11:20 a.m. outside 1201 Market St. and at 8:25 p.m. outside 1201 Chestnut St. — On Sept. 12, 6th District officers issued a citation for summary offenses at 12:25 a.m. outside 200 S. Fawn St., at 9 p.m. outside 325 S. 11th St. and at 10:20 p.m. outside 1000 Ludlow St. — On Sept. 13, 6th District officers issued citations for summary offenses at 8 p.m. outside 1300 Walnut St. and at 8:10 p.m. outside 1200 Chestnut St. — On Sept. 14, 6th District officers issued citations for summary offenses at 2:25 a.m. outside 1200 Walnut St. and at 3:10 a.m. outside 100 S. 12th St. ■

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

EDITORIAL PGN

Creep of the Week

D’Anne Witkowski

Tony Perkins

Editorial

Year in review This past week marked this editor’s one-year anniversary at the helm of Philadelphia Gay News. And to say the last 12 months have been a rollercoaster would be an understatement. I came into the editor position knowing that there would be challenges, but that cognizance didn’t quite prepare me for the crash-course I got as I struggled to climb the steep learning curve. First, I had to learn the day-to-day process — editing deadlines, page layouts, ad sizes, mazes of digital files, word counts and more. That in itself produced an everpresent headache for a number of weeks. But, I ultimately eased into a routine that countless editors before me have adopted to get PGN out the door, on time, every single week. Next, I turned my attention to developing relationships with the team that helps bring PGN to fruition. From our dedicated ad staff, which helps to keep the business side of PGN afloat, to our creative minds in the art department to our in-house staff writers who populate the pages of PGN to our publisher at the helm to our brilliant copy editor to the sea of freelancers whose columns and contributions diversify our publication, I saw just how integral our teamwork is. I learned what to expect from the sometimes-tardy columnists or ever-punctual columnists, to distinguish our writers’ styles from one another and to rely on the experience and expertise of our advertising and art staff. The PGN staff is comprised of a diverse group of individuals who butt heads like any other staff — but I’ve seen that our individuality is what helps us function so well as a team. We each bring our own selves fully to this publication and the past year has made me immensely grateful for each person’s contributions. It’s now come time to start looking at the bigger-picture issues — how to help advance the newspaper into the digital age, how to better represent all of our readers and how to reach new segments of the LGBT and ally community. I had naively hoped to start this process months ago but, as I quickly found out, the news world does not stop for you: Each time we predicted a slow news week, breakingnews stories would flood us. But with a trusted staff ready and able to cover the web of LGBT news stories already shaping up for the next year, we are ready to tackle these issues head-on. In the coming months, we will be introducing new digital efforts, new columns and working diligently to open PGN up to our readers. As much as PGN is a product of our in-house staffers, this is a publication dedicated to our community and, as such, should be both relatable and accessible to the myriad members of our community. The newspaper industry is ever-evolving, as is the LGBT community. And we are working hard at PGN to make sure that we stay ahead of those changes — but never stray from our core mission of providing a high-quality journalistic product that the Philadelphia-area LGBT community can call its own. ■

If Tony Perkins knew you were coming, he’d have baked a cake. That is, so long as you aren’t gay and the cake mix doesn’t have a certain homo-loving tart’s name on the side of the carton. Because apparently Betty Crocker is to loving gays what Chick-fil-A is to hating them. You see, back on Aug. 1, Minnesota became the latest state to allow same-sex couples to get legally married. You know, to each other, rather than to unsuspecting straight people. And so Betty Crocker baked up some cakes and brought them on over in order to celebrate with the newly wedded couples. Because what’s a wedding without cake? Even if that cake is made from a box mix, which in many circumstances would be kind of sad, but in this historic instance was totally awesome. Or, not so awesome if you ask Perkins, president of the antigay Family Research Council, a group with a name that only makes sense if you put ironic quotation marks around “Family” and “Research,” because they are anti-both. On Sept. 12, Perkins took to the right-wing airwaves to express his outrage over Betty Crocker’s pastry pandering and to urge one-penis-one-vagina marriage supporters to boycott the brand in order to show Ms. Crocker who’s cake boss. “At Betty Crocker, the only thing they’re mixing up is their priorities. If you ask conservatives, Betty Crocker’s latest promotion is a recipe for disaster,” Perkins begins, shamelessly employing back-toback baking-related puns. Perkins continues, “In Minnesota, where parent company General Mills is headquartered, Betty Crocker decided to donate wedding cakes to the first homosexual couples who exchanged vows on the first day that counterfeit marriage was legal.” Silly Betty Crocker. One doesn’t bring cake to a gay wedding. One brings protest signs depicting sodomy and the flames of hell. Tsk, tsk, tsk. For shame. Perkins goes on to quote Laura Forero, a

spokesperson for Betty Crocker, as saying, “Betty celebrates all families” and, “We don’t want to be old-fashioned.” “Unfortunately for General Mills, the majority of Americans think natural marriage is anything but old-fashioned,” Perkins went on. “And they’ve made it tough on companies like Target, Starbucks and JC Penney who disagree.” If by “made it tough on” he means “made no discernable impact and claiming anything else is laughable,” then he has a point. But the fact is, recent boycotts launched by Christian fanatic groups like FRC don’t do anything but give a bigot a sense of righteous indignation when they, say, Fill the cart with Duncan Hines Devil’s Food cake mix instead of Betty Crocker Angel Food cake mix. In fact, outside of the insular world of the antigay right, the majority of Americans don’t even know these boycotts are going on. “Know where your money is going,” Perkins warns, and though he’s still talking about groceries, this warning is appropriate for anyone thinking of sending money to the National Organization for Marriage, which runs the Dump General Mills boycott page online, or to fraudulent groups like his own FRC. And then Perkins ends with something truly, and unintentionally, inspired. “When you’re at the store,” he warns, “think outside the Betty Crocker box!” Yes, the phrase “think outside the box” is cliché, but it’s not Perkins’ hackneyed phrasing that had me laughing out loud. It’s the fact that Perkins apparently does not know or did not think about the fact that “box” is slang for “vagina.” So Perkins is basically warning you to keep Ms. Crocker’s box out of your basket. You know, for the children. ■

On Sept. 12, Perkins took to the right-wing airwaves to express his outrage over Betty Crocker’s pastry pandering and to urge one-penis-onevagina marriage supporters to boycott the brand in order to show Ms. Crocker who’s cake boss.

D’Anne Witkowski has been gay for pay since 2003. She’s a freelance writer and poet (believe it!). When she’s not taking on the creeps of the world, she reviews rock ’n’ roll shows in Detroit with her twin sister.

Tell us what you think Send letters and opinion column submissions to: pgn@epgn.com; PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147; fax: 215-925-6437.

Please include a daytime phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity, style and space considerations.

OP-ED PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

No guv endorsement yet It’s Tuesday and I have just returned Pennsylvania? from giving a tour of the future John C. Many believe that marriage equality is our number-one issue. Equality in Anderson Apartments, the LGBT-friendly all forms is needed, but here’s a simple senior-living facility. I’m rushing to finish this column before rushing off to a fact: You can win marriage equality fundraiser so that I can get home in time today, go on your honeymoon in rural to rush to see the new 75th-anniversary 3D Pennsylvania and be refused a reservation version of “Wizard of Oz.” And that will for the honeymoon suite or even be denied be my down time for the day. a hotel room. You can come In the middle of all this, home and be fired since your name appeared in the wedding the phone just rang. It was announcements of your local a candidate for governor of paper. And finally, in many Pennsylvania, who was of parts of Pennsylvania, you can course looking for PGN’s be tossed out of the apartment endorsement. So let’s be absolutely clear here: PGN has not or home you have. endorsed any candidate for But marriage equality is mostly about those of us who governor at this stage. can afford to be out. The reality Granted, it was this column that first made the point is, while we’d like to get married in our own state, we can go that Congresswoman Alyson to Delaware or New York and Schwartz would run, would be a strong candidate and actudo the deed. But those who are ally had a chance. That column discriminated against, mostly Mark Segal those in the closet, where do was written back in December they go to get their lives back? when many were laughing her So, back to the governor’s race. We are off as a serious candidate. Their reasons blessed to have all the serious Democratic were mostly sexist, and it made me angry. candidates supporting marriage equality. But that column was not an endorsement. The questions that need to be asked on As has been my mantra since the early days of the LGBT struggle for equality, we that issue are, When did you come to the mat with us and what have you done to as a community must put our issues first advance the cause? But for me, I’m interas, if we do not, no one else would. Then ested to know that the candidates’ plans and only then, should we look at the various other issues that affect us all. are to pass a nondiscrimination bill. Will it The LGBT issues in Pennsylvania be a priority in their administration and to are pretty serious, since the Keystone what extent? State went from being a vanguard for I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of LGBT rights in the mid-’70s to being elected officials putting out press releases one of the few states that offers no proeveryday. Putting out releases and talktections for sexual orientation or gening is grandstanding. Show me a plan for results. ■ der identity. Many localities in the state have passed their own nondiscrimination Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the nation’s laws, and Philadelphia has some of the most-award-winning commentator in LGBT nation’s strongest pro-LGBT policies, but media. He can be reached at mark@epgn.com. what about those communities in rural

Mark My Words

Thinking Out Loud

Street Talk What’s the best way to get ENDA passed this session of Congress? “Do online petitions, like change.org. If millions of people sign petitions, you’ll have something tangible to show for Megan Brown your efforts. illustrator Also, people Washington Square West should be encouraged to utilize social media to the fullest extent possible. It helps raise awareness and increases the number of people who sign the petitions.”

“Mass picketing outside Congress. Participants should be vocal, to get as much attention Al-Nis Cruse as possible. hostess Also, do North Philadelphia a media blitz, including [the use of] billboards. And get the support of celebrities, who can speak out about the importance of passing the legislation.”

“Hold a big march to the Constitution Center. It’s a prominent symbol of our Constitution, which stands for life, liberty and Kerry Maatallah the pursuit administrative of happiness. assistant Washington Square The march West should be followed by a sit-in, where people shouldn’t leave until they’re removed by police. It will drive home that a national LGBT civil-rights bill is important. We have to have it.”

“Get tons of people to march in D.C., showing that being gay is the norm. That will help make Dylan Medlock Americans café manager more Washington Square receptive to West the idea. The next day, bring it down to a personal level by having people visit their representatives in Congress. The personal touch is always effective.”

Abby Dees

Letters and Feedback

More than gay I often joke that I’m a professional gay. I have this-here LGBT column, I’ve written a book on communicating about LGBT issues and I’m a host on the longest continually running LGBT-themed radio show in the country. I’m totally out, obviously, and presumably just as proud. Except that I still get kind of embarrassed to tell straight people about it. I’m quick to point out that I’d really like to stretch out a bit and write about other things that are important to me, like the history of free speech or the Beatles. So when I tell people, “I’m a professional gay,” I’m saying it with a smile, a bit of irony and absolutely no gravitas. I’m meaning, “I’m much more than a lesbian, really I am. Please don’t think I’m one of

those people who can’t get past it.” Now I’m ashamed of being ashamed. As I sat down to write this week’s column, I detoured into flagellating myself for being a hypocrite and a bad, bad lesbian. I gave up and tuned into a “Law and Order: SVU” rerun instead. It was a ghastly episode about pathologically somber, blandattired, tortured lesbians. I shouldn’t be surprised. These are some seriously ingrained old tropes. While “SVU” researchers did dig out the apparently real existence of a small lesbian subgroup called “aggressives,” they missed the boat when it came to portraying your more typical lesbian: lesbians who are concerned about our state of affairs in society and whose lives aren’t comPAGE 17

To the Editor: We can’t miss this opportunity. For more than 30 years, federal legislation to end legal discrimination against LGBT Americans has stalled in Congress, but next month, the Senate may vote on the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, and we need to do everything we can to ensure that Sen. Toomey joins Sen. Casey in support of workplace opportunity. The reality is that most people think that it’s already against the law to fire someone from their job because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. And for those of us in the 33 municipalities in Pennsylvania where our local governments have passed human-relations ordinances,

it is. But for 70 percent of Pennsylvanians, it is still 100-percent legal to discriminate against LGBT people at work. Sen. Casey has long been a sponsor of ENDA, and he deserves our thanks for his strong support for workplace equality, but Sen. Toomey has yet to say where he stands. If Sen. Toomey commits to voting yes on ENDA, we are one vote closer to the 60-vote threshold to prevent a filibuster. The best thing the LGBT community can do this month to advocate for equality is to contact Sen. Toomey’s office and ask him to vote yes on ENDA to guarantee workplace opportunity for all Pennsylvanians! — Adrian Shanker Equality Pennsylvania president

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

FITNESS PGN

Staying healthy through the holidays Whether or not you personally celful” can leave us feeling cold and lonely. ebrate any of the winter holidays, the At worst, it can lead us to resort back to cultural explosion that is the “holiday our old, unhealthy coping mechanisms. season” is nearly impossible to miss, If the holiday season brings challenges and it starts early. With massto your life, now is the time to media advertising, lights be thinking about how to take strewn throughout the city, care of yourself. In my work themed music in every public as a therapist, I have seen how helpful it is to anticipate and place and galas being thrown prepare for trying experiences, by everyone we know, the rather than be blindsided by season takes Philadelphia by them. In an effort to help get storm. For some, this brings you started, here are some topjoy, excitement, wonder and pics to consider as you think revelry in togetherness. Many about preparing for the season. of us, however, find ourselves struggling to enjoy the Family of origin: Many of holidays, or even just to get us visit our families of origin through them. For those of us during the season, and even for in recovery from substance use, eating issues, trauma or of us with excellent famJessie those simply our childhoods, the ily relationships, this can be Timmons stressful. When adult children holidays can be a trigger that threatens our progress. Visits go back to their family homes, to family, financial challenges, remindthey often find themselves reverting to ers of sometimes painful memories and childhood roles they had long since (and even the perceived pressure to feel “joygladly) cast off. Memories of trauma

Work It Out

substance-use routines associated with our cultural celebrations this time of year. It is good and important to enjoy yourself, while also ensuring you are maintaining the ways in which you keep your body and your mind healthy. Devise your strategies now, and tweak them as you go to make them work for you. Emotional triggers: Whether you are challenged by social anxiety or by loneliness, know how to gauge when you need support and plan for how to get it. Friends, formal and informal support groups and professionals are there to help you when you struggle. It takes both wisdom and strength to ask for help and to begin the journey toward creating new meaning and memories around the season that can make it special for you. ■

and/or abuse can be brought up by returning to the places and people that surrounded the events. Friction between family members around disapproval, tacit agreements to “act straight” or leave out partners from celebrations and differences in political beliefs and values create tension. How do you manage these feelings when you are away from family? It is wise to bring those coping mechanisms along with you, as you are quite likely to need them! Financial stressors: The temptation to succumb to the pressure to spend beyond our means can be overwhelming. Work out your budget for holiday spending — including on gifts, travel, parties, décor and eating expenses — early and stick to it! The season really is meant to be about love, kindness and togetherness, regardless of what Macy’s may say to the contrary. Disruption of self-care: What are the ways in which you care for yourself on an ongoing basis? There is much disruption in eating, exercise, sleep and

Jessie Timmons is a licensed therapist at the Camac Center at 12th Street Gym. To learn more about Timmons, visit jessietimmons.com, or 12streetgym.com.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

HEALTH PGN

Keeping LGBTQ youth safe this school year As we look ahead to a new school year, was the bullying targets who fared worst, you have probably read the frightening being far more likely to have health probheadlines and dire predictions about the lems, financial or job issues and poor relastate of Philadelphia’s public schools. tionships with family and friends. They At least 23 schools have been closed, were six times more likely to have a seriforcing thousands to enroll at new schools, ous illness, six times more likely to smoke and four times more likely to have been in new neighborhoods, often much farther charged with a felony. from their homes. This has raised serious concerns about students’ safety on But thanks to organizations like the Gay their way to and from school each day Lesbian & Straight Education Network, we and on school property, as they struggle to know the importance of GSAs. GLSEN’s integrate into a new setting. For LGBTQ 2011 National School Climate Survey youth, who are already among found that LGBT young adults the most vulnerable and the who went to a high school most frequent targets of bullywith a GSA were less likely ing and violence, the situation is to have dropped out of high especially frightening. school, less likely to experience Times like these underdepression and more likely to score how critical the work of have attended college. Students Mazzoni Center’s education involved with GSAs were less department, and our Ally Safe likely to have abused drugs or Schools program, continues to alcohol and were more probe. Last year, we worked with tected against the negative menmore than 200 youth in 40 tal-health effects of bullying. middle and high schools to creA safer school directly relates ate and maintain Gay Straight to the availability of LGBT Alliances. Ally offered trainings school-based resources and support, including GSAs. for teachers and other faculty in Louie Ortiz That’s why our Ally Program how to create safe spaces for all staff, along with the program’s students, how to recognize and SLB, have been working closely with GSA respect their differences and how to advocate for and protect vulnerable students. leaders to continue to build the city’s GSA This year, we face the challenge of supmovement. As one of our SLB members told us: “My school is not closing, I am porting students as they adapt to new lucky. Very lucky. But as a young leader, it schools, and the urgency of establishing is my responsibility to stand by and with GSAs in the schools that will not have a my queer students who are losing not just counselor on staff, or those that will operate with only one counselor per 1,000 their GSA, but their school and commustudents. Ally program associate Jaymie nity.” Campbell said that many of the youth who Our SLB has seven citywide gatherings planned this school year that provide serve on Mazzoni’s Student LEADership a networking opportunity for students and Board have expressed “deep concern” about the shortage of counselors. district staff who participate in and support “Students in these schools will no longer the GSA movement, and the annual LEAD have the option to speak with school coun- conference in February will include workselors at length about coming out, being shops for and by students. Additionally, bullied because they are different or fear of Ally staff will continue to work with the negative consequences related to their gen- Campaign for Non-Violent Schools, a der or sexuality,” Campbell explained. coalition of youth organizers and agencies The district’s elimination of staff support advocating for students’ rights. will have a huge impact on many teachers “We’re in a critical moment, with so few who have long been LGBT allies and GSA resources available to young people trying to earn an education in Philadelphia,” advisors. Teachers are working with limited resources and many GSAs may not get Campbell said. “That’s why all of us up and running until January, if at all. involved with the Ally program are more As some of us know from experience, committed than ever to keeping our doors the impact of bullying extends far beyond open and working with young people to the classroom and the schoolyard. One know their worth, build their leadership recent study by Duke University Medical skills and help them stand in their power.” School and the University of Warwick It is our core belief that all students in the United Kingdom found that youth deserve a safer and supportive school environment. It is our commitment to support involved in bullying tend to experience the development and growth of the GSA physical and mental-health problems well into adulthood — including serious longmovement in Philadelphia. ■ term issues like obesity, diabetes, cancer, Louie Ortiz is Mazzoni Center’s education disability and severe asthma. Interestingly, manager. For more information, visit www. the negative effects were felt by both victims and perpetrators of bullying. But it mazzonicenter.org or call 215-563-0652.

On Being Well

NEWS PGN

International Bulgarians march for rights Several-hundred people walked peacefully through Central Sofia in Bulgaria Sept. 21 to protest Russia’s antigay policies. The participants, protected by hundreds of police officers, displayed banners calling for love, equality and sexual diversity. A Russian law bans the spread of “propaganda” among minors of “nontraditional sexual relations.” Bulgaria, a Balkan country of 7.3-million people, joined the European Union in 2007, but gays and lesbians still face widespread hostility there.

Bangladesh refuses to decriminalize homosexuality Bangladesh will not decriminalize gay relationships, despite United Nations recommendations. The Bangladeshi government on Sept. 20 accepted 164 of 196 recommendations by the U.N., following a session of the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review, but among them was not the lifting of Section 377 of the national penal code that criminalizes consensual same-sex relationships.

Media Trail Appeals court hears trans widow’s fight The Houston Chronicle reports the transgender widow of a fallen South Texas firefighter is asking a state appeals court to reverse a ruling that their marriage wasn’t legally binding. Nikki Araguz was married to Wharton County volunteer firefighter Thomas Araguz when he died while fighting a fire three years ago. She says she’s entitled to his death benefits, worth $500,000. But Araguz’s first wife and his mother say the money should go to his two sons because Araguz was born a man and is in a marriage not binding under Texas law. Three judges from the 13th Texas Court of Appeals heard arguments in the case Sept.19.

SD store settles with fired transgender employee According to the Sioux Falls Business Journal, a Rapid City grocery store has agreed to pay a former employee $50,000 to settle a complaint in which she claimed she was fired for being transgender.

Abdul Hannan, a Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the U.N., told the council that his country would not accept any recommendations conflicting with “constitutional and legal provisions” or “socio-cultural values of the country.” Representing the gay-rights group Boys of Bangladesh was Tanvir Alim, who said, “We regret that the government has rejected [the] recommendation to abolish Section 377. This rejection indicates that it’s just to avoid acknowledging human-rights violations of sexual and gender minorities.” Section 377 is a hangover from British imperialism still reflected in the penal codes of many former colonies. Despite this, the neighboring countries of India and Nepal have both repealed the clause.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

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Filmmaker detained in Egypt A gay filmmaker who has been imprisoned in Egypt, seemingly without cause, has been on a hunger strike since Sept. 16. Canadian filmmaker John Greyson and Dr. Tarek Loubani were arrested Aug. 16. A month into their detention, the pair has begun refusing food to protest the arbitrary nature of their detention by Egyptian authorities. “We know that they did not take the decision to begin a hunger strike lightly, and we want them to know we will do everything we can to support them and get them home soon,” Greyson’s sister, Cecilia, said in a recent statement. Actors Ben Affleck and Charlize Theron are among 15,000 who signed a petition to release the two ■ — compiled by Larry Nichols Cori McCreery, 29, said she was fired in 2010 from Don’s Valley Market after she announced she was transitioning from a man to a woman. McCreery filed a discrimination complaint and the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigated. The store also agreed to apologize to McCreery and provide her a “neutral” letter of reference. It will also develop a nondiscrimination policy, instate annual employee training and report future discrimination complaints to the EEOC.

Alaska board makes gay partners family Alaska Public Media reports same-sex partners of state employees will be considered as immediate family members under action taken Sept. 19 by the Alaska State Personnel Board. The new regulations define “family” as including same-sex partners, and will allow state employees to take leave due to a partner’s health condition. To be eligible, same-sex partners must provide such documents as a joint mortgage or rental agreement or joint ownership of a vehicle. Same-sex marriage is barred under Alaska’s constitution, but the state Supreme Court in 2005 found it unconstitutional to prevent same-sex partners of public employees from accessing benefits available to heterosexual spouses. American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska interim director Joshua Decker thanked the board but said some of the requirements for same-sex couples were onerous. ■ — compiled by Larry Nichols

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

NEWS PGN LAWSUIT from page 1

despite a diagnosis by three physicians. In August 2011, Vandergrift and his parents requested specialized autistic programming for the child. Instead of cooperating, district employees allegedly retaliated by accusing Vandergrift of inappropriately touching the child when trying to teach him how to shower. Similar accusations weren’t made against Vandergrift’s parents, even though they also told the employees they helped teach D.V. how to shower, according to the suit. In October 2011, the state Department of Children and Families determined that the accusations were unsubstantiated. But Vandergrift, a 36-year-old publicschool teacher, contends the accusations could be detrimental to his career. After the molestation accusations were made, the family had D.V. privately counseled, rather than receiving counseling services through the district. In January 2012, D.V. began reporting antigay bullying by other students. In May of that year, the student’s family met with district employees to discuss their concerns and said the employees displayed a dismissive attitude, according to the lawsuit. One employee allegedly indicated it was “commonplace for students to call each other ‘gay’ in D.V.’s class and that D.V. should not get upset about it because this was not a ‘big deal,’” the suit alleges. The employees’ statements prompted family members to seek an emergency petition to have D.V. instructed at his home, at the district’s expense. District officials subsequently took the position that the child should be instructed at a local library, according to court papers. “Only after the tutor came to D.V.’s home anyway, explaining that she had never been requested to home tutor a student at a library, did the district allow the instruction to take place there,” the lawsuit states. In September 2012, after a separate lawsuit was filed, district officials agreed to pay for D.V.’s education at a private school, where he’s currently enrolled. District officials also agreed to reimburse D.V.’s grandmother, identified as B.V., $25,000 in legal fees and expenses. Vandergrift told PGN that D.V. is doing much better at the private school, where he’s a seventh-grader. Vandergrift visits D.V. often, since the child’s birth parents aren’t involved in his upbringing. “He needs stability, and a constant role model,” Vandergrift said. He expressed particular concern about his nephw’s alleged antigay bullying. “The family feels the school district turned a blind eye to the bullying because we were advocating adamantly for a proper education for [D.V.],” he said. School district attorney Brett E.J. Gorman had no comment for this story. The case has been referred to U.S. Magistrate Judge Joel Schneider. The family is seeking an unspecified amount in punitive and compensatory damages. A jury trial has been requested, but a trial date hasn’t yet been set. ■

PGN NEWS SIMS from page 1

OUT LOUD from page 11

pletely ruled by this feeling. This was the medicine I needed. I’m not ashamed of being gay at all. Nor am I ashamed of anything I’ve written about it, except the occasional typo. I’m just always aware of this entrenched idea that lesbians have massive chips on our shoulders, and therefore that our sexuality defines us. I confused the fact that my identity is comprised of lots of parts — being a lesbian, a word wonk, Beatles geek and a lawyer — with thinking I needed to downplay my fabulous lesbian self. I don’t downplay my word-wonkiness, as people don’t have messed-up stereotypes about how word wonks only ever care about Scrabble. I shouldn’t downplay any of it. Sometimes, though, I admit that I feel ashamed about being a lawyer. Maybe it’s time for “The Good Wife” to start again. ■ Abby Dees is a civil-rights attorney-turned-author who has been in the LGBT-rights trenches for 25-plus years. She can be reached at queerquestionsstraighttalk.com.

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man year, Sims cosponsored legislation to ban LGBT discrimination and to better protect LGBT students, as well as advocated for reforms in education and mass transit, among other issues. He also plans to lead bills to advance marriage equality and to prohibit conversion therapy for minors. “Since my inauguration 10 months ago, my staff and I have worked tirelessly to serve our constituents, fight for equality and seek common-sense legislative solutions to the problems Pennsylvanians face,” he said. Sims’ campaign will be led by the Sims4PA political-action committee, which recently seated its executive director, Joe Corrigan. Corrigan previously served as Philadelphia Councilwoman Cindy Bass’ director of communication. “It is important that we find and retain young, energetic progressives like Brian for elected office to fight for progressive values like improved education funding, marriage equality and infrastructure improvement,” Corrigan said. Sims said Corrigan “brings a wealth of political, fundraising and communications experience in Philadelphia and in surrounding counties, as well as the dedication, tenacity and vigor I need to run a strong campaign.” No other candidates have formally announced if they will challenge Sims in the 2014 primary. ■

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

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NEWS PGN RELIGION from page 1

Rep. Raul Labrador (R-Idaho) introduced the Marriage and Religious Freedom Act Sept. 19 with 62 cosponsors, including Pennsylvania Reps. Mike Kelly (RThird Dist.), Tom Marino (R-10th Dist.), Joseph Pitts (R-16th Dist.) and Keith Rothfus (R-12th Dist.). The legislation seeks to prevent the federal government from denying tax-exempt status, benefits, grants, contracts, loans, licenses or employment to individuals or groups that actively oppose marriage equality, protecting those who refuse to comply with LGBT-inclusive laws from penalties. Since the U.S. Supreme Court’s June ruling overturned the section of DOMA that defines marriage as being between one man and one woman, several federal agencies, including the IRS, announced they will honor marriages based on their “state of celebration,” not the state of residency of the couples, giving legally married same-sex couples access to federal benefits. Labrador said his measure centers on “religious liberty,” but Human Rights Campaign legislative director Allison Herwitt said it has a much more disturbing aim. “The purpose of the legislation is simply to let federal employees, contractors and grantees refuse to do their jobs or fulfill the terms of their taxpayer-funded contracts because they have a particular religious view about certain lawfully married couples — and then to sue the federal government if they don’t get their way,” Herwitt said. Heather Cronk, co-director of LGBT advocacy group GetEQUAL, called the measure a “political stunt.” “This bill isn’t about religious freedom,” Cronk said. “This bill is about falsely positioning discriminatory companies as victims.” Kelly and Marino, who represent districts in Western and Northeastern Pennsylvania, respectively, both began their terms in 2011. Rothfus, whose district lies in Southwestern Pennsylvania, assumed office earlier this year. Pitts, in office since 1997, represents Lancaster, Reading and parts of Chester County. He has a lengthy record of opposing LGBT rights, including votes against the Employment Nondiscrimination Act and the federal LGBT-inclusive hatecrimes measure and for DOMA, a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage and a ban on adoptions by gay couples in Washington, D.C. Earlier this year, he again cosponsored legislation to instate a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. ■

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

Community LGBT Event LGBT Fundraiser

Did you just get done a fabulous dinner in the Gayborhood? Have a great workout with your trainer? Discover a new spot to quench your weekend thirst or return to an old favorite? Everybody likes raving about their favorites, so have no fear — you can share your two cents about the best of the best of our community in PGN’s annual Best of Gay Philadelphia!

LGBT Nonproﬁt

We leave it in your hands to determine the standouts in the city — from businesses to organizations to individual leaders. These folks may not always get the credit they deserve, so now’s your chance to give them a pat on the back with your votes.

People

The contest will run through Oct. 28, and you can use PGN’s handy-dandy online survey to share with us which person, place or thing you think should shine in each category. Think local, think LGBT. You don’t have to ﬁll out every category, but too many blank lines make us sad. And feel free to include witty comments with your choices; some may get printed and others may just give us a chuckle.

LGBT Sports Organization

Activist Bartender Hair Stylist

Personal Trainer When the contest closes, we at PGN will tally up all of your votes and present your Politician picks for the Best of Gay Philadelphia in our Nov. 8 edition. Winners will be the guests of honor at a special invite-only party in November. To vote, visit surveymonkey.com/s/BOGP2013, or pick your favorites on this form and mail it or drop it off to 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147, or fax it to 215-925-6437.

PGN’s Best of Gay Philadelphia 505 S. Fourth St. Philadelphia, PA 19147 Fax: 215-925-6437

Food & Drink

Go to www.epgn.com and click on the link for Best of Gay Philadelphia to cast your votes online.

Nightlife

Bar Food Date Restaurant Ethnic Food Place to Indulge a Sweet Tooth

Neighborhood Bar

Coffee Shop

LGBT Party

Place to Grab a Beer

Sports Bar

Happy Hour

Wine Bar

Breakfast/Brunch

Dance Floor

Lunch

Casino

Dinner

Non-LGBT Hangout

Overall Restaurant

Performance Space (drag/cabaret/piano) Theme Night Overall Bar

Arts & Entertainment Drag King Drag Queen DJ Musician Theater

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

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AC ul t ure rts

PGN FEATURE

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

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Barcrawlr Dining Out Family Portrait Out & About Q Puzzle Scene in Philly Worth Watching

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Madonna and Goldfrapp show the new divas how it’s done By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Madonna “MDNA World Tour” Interscope Early on in Madonna’s new live concert DVD, she says, “Don’t fuck with the queen.” Message received. As much as we bitch and moan about Madonna (ticket prices too damn high, new albums are meh at best, not enough hits performed, is she lip-syncing? etc.), we have to admit, she can still put on one hell of a show. We couldn’t afford a ticket to the live show, but the DVD is the next best thing to being there.

At this stage in the game, Madonna could be forgiven for coasting, even with artists like Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Katy Perry vying for her crown. But on “MDNA,” Madonna comes out guns blazing, literally. Even those accustomed to Madonna’s over-the-top stage productions will marvel at the complexity of the show. The stage itself does everything short of turning into a robot and fighting Megatron for the audience’s entertainment. The visuals and choreography are eye-popping and crazy. Yeah, we could complain about some things, but for every part of the concert that feels tame and unnecessary (Madonna’s perfunctory guitar playing, the whole

drum major/cheerleader motif), there are aspects that are mind-blowing (the entire gunplay segment of the show). But please, Madonna, could you stop re-imagining and reinterpreting our favorite hits in some strippeddown style indicative of whatever old-world country you bought a castle in the year before? Hearing an acoustic gypsy-polka rendition of “Open Your Heart” is worse than not hearing the song live at all. And are you ever going to do a faithful rendition of “Like A Virgin” again? Sorry, old preferences die hard. But all of our pissy little complaints pale in light of the impressive spectacle of “MDNA.” Madonna is still the reigning queen of pop and a total badass in the live arena.

AlunaGeorge “Body Music” Island Records Group The debut album by English electropop duo AlunaGeorge (aka singer Aluna Francis and producer George Reid) blends bass-heavy British grooves with American R&B vocals to create a vibe that is simultaneously danceable and laidback. That might work to their advantage. While other pop-leaning acts lean heavily on bombast, spectacle and overkill, the chill-by-comparison approach of this duo can be PAGE 26

FEATURE PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

DIVAS from page 25

refreshing. The crisp and airy production and the playful vocals echo the pop crossover leanings of the synthesized R&B of the mid- to late 1980s and early ’90s. Think Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam or Samantha Fox with a fresh wash and a coat of Europop wax. At best, the throwback-synth sounds and restrained beats lend well to distinction tracks like “Kaleidoscope Love” and “Bad Idea.” But other times, they come across as superdated, such as on the spastic and quirky “Lost & Found.” Oh, and then there’s the cover of Montell Jordan’s “This is How We Do It,” which wasn’t a complicated song to begin with but, in AlunaGeorge’s hands, feels even more dumbed-down and sterile. Francis’ vocals are decent on this project but nothing in her performance on “Body Music” distinguishes her voice or lyrics from the thousands of other singers out there, giving the feeling that if she and Reid ever have a falling-out, it would be easy to find a replacement. “Body Music” is solid enough as a

dance-pop moment, but we’re going to need to see some artistic growth from this duo if they are going to keep our attention. Goldfrapp “Tales of Us” Mute Goldfrapp strays even further from the dance floor they’ve normally called home with “Tales of Us.” Fans of their 2008 album “Seventh Tree” will understand, as this new album dives deeper into the dreamy and folksy landscapes that influenced that album. While that album still held on to a band feel, “Tales of Us” is a more subdued affair. Not to say it doesn’t righteously thump in some places. The sole overtly energetic track on the album, “Thea,” has a sexy beat and bass groove going for it. But overall, silky vocals, strings, acoustic guitars and sparse synths dominate the record for a feel that splits the difference between acoustic Easterninfluenced Led Zeppelin and the most ambient moments of Abba, especially on tracks like classical-sounding and lushly

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orchestrated “Ulla” and “Stranger” and spacey atmospheric tracks like “Simone” and “Alvar.” It doesn’t hurt that singer Alison Goldfrapp has a voice that could make the grinding drone of a jackhammer sound as soft as a baby’s butt feels. Even with such classic influences, it still sounds ultra-modern and vital. Fans of Goldfrapp’s electropop-dance sound may be a bit disappointed with their latest effort at first, but the latest batch of songs ends up being satisfying once you let them sink in. Natalia Kills “Trouble” Interscope/Cherry Tree Somewhere, some record executive and his marketing team are scratching their collective heads wondering why Natalia Kills isn’t huge right now. P!nk is huge, Lady Gaga is huge. Fergie and Gwen Stefani moved records like hotcakes at some point. Kills is an amalgam of all those successful artists. Why the hell isn’t she moving a ton of units? To be fair, Kills has a voice and image on par with some of the best pop starlets

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of the day — but she is also following their sonic blueprints a little too closely and shamelessly. Songs like “Stop Me” and “Daddy’s Girl,” from the stylized vocals to the eclectic electro orchestration, in every way, shape and form sound too much like a Gaga song to be anything more than a blatant rip-off. The same with “Boys Don’t Cry,” except this time it’s Stefani. “Television” and “Problem” clone the same exact defiant punkish-pop swagger as P!nk. And the title track feels like it was stolen out from under Rihanna. Still, there are some worthwhile clones to be enjoyed. “Controversy” is probably the finest, filthiest moment on the record, with whispered vocals and an infectious beat, but even that might as well be a Britney Spears song. The piano ballad “Marlboro Lights” owes another nod to Gaga but has enough earnest energy and heart to stand out. Admittedly, we should be mad that Ke$ha sells way more records than Natalia Kills, but the latter seems to have more going for her than to resort to such intricate levels of copycat songwriting. ■

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

PGN

Out in the h Gayborhood

3 4

Market St. Loews Hotel

11th St. 4

CITY HALL

12th St. 3

13th St. 4

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

Chestnut ss St. 4

Prince Music Theater

tne e Fi Unit

iii

2. 2. A a •2 m don e e n v i 15. i St. C m & E rt S s Cin Sansom St. 3 Spo ansom’s Ada l 13. ansom ema a Plea tim 14. S anny St. G p O sure • • 7. D y 2. Che m • 1 st H. Inn Walnut St. 3 Express Forrest 18. Stir Theatre Lou ks o y l o l nge B ’s hi ody The rpio ub P •5. e Stop Sco . Wo • 6. Cl . 7 6 2 u • ym Bik •1 Tab Chancellor St. 19. th St. G r • u 2 e .1 oy •1 4. V •2 St. James St. el Hot ck ent 4. A d Kno n . e r 1 a p TTIC 1 Locust St. 4 • de .UB YOUT 0. In HC • 21 •1 Academy ENT c ER Latimer St. of Music ama deo on C e St. Vi n r e c v u a Spr GBT 0. T Merriam AY L R •2 •17 . ICandy W E T M N Theater E •9 ILLIA YC Manning St. 26. WOMMUNIT y r Wilma e Inn r u C ntu stb n e e V Theater er In 3. 5. W and •2 •2 x e l .A Kimmel Spruce St. 3 •3 Center

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1. 12th Street Gym 204 S. 12th St. 215.985.4092 12thstreetgym.com

ON OCT. 11, COME OUT and be a part of PGN’s special OutFest issue! Don’t miss your chance to reach tens of thousands of LGBTs and allies at the world’s largest National Coming-Out Day celebration. To reserve ad space today, email dan@epgn.com or call 215-625-8501 ext. 218 (Issue date: Oct. 11, advertising/art deadline Oct. 4)

Quince St.

Camac St.

Juniper St. 3

Broad St.

2. Adonis Cinema 2026 Sansom St. 215.557.9319 3. Alexander Inn 301 S. 12th St. 215.923.3535 alexanderinn.com 4. Attic Youth Center 255 S. 16th St. 215.545.4331 atticyouthcenter.org 5. The Bike Stop 206 S. Quince St. 215.627.1662 thebikestop.com 6. Club Philly 1220 Chancellor St. 215.735.7671 7. Danny’s Adam & Eve 133 S. 13th St. 215.925.5041

8. Giovanni’s Room 1145 Pine St. 215.923.2960 giovannisroom.com Oldest LGBT bookstore in the country 9. ICandy 254 S. 12th St. 267.324.3500 clubicandy.com

•8

14. Sansom Street Cinema 120 S. 13th St. 215.545.9254 15. Sansom Street Gym 2020 Sansom St. 267.330.0151

16. Scorpio Books 205 S. Juniper St. 10. Independent Hotel 215.525.2181 1234 Locust St. 17. Spruce Street 215.923.3535 Video theindependenthotel. 252 S. 12th St. com 215.546.6843 11. Knock 18. Stir Lounge 225 S. 12th St. 1705 Chancellor St. 215.925.1166 215.732.2700 knockphilly.com stirphilly.com 12. Optimal Sport 1315 Walnut St. (entr. on Juniper St.) 215.735.1114 optimalsporthealthclubs.com 13. Pleasure Chest 2039 Walnut St. 215.561.7480

ni’s van o i G .

19. Tabu 200 S. 12th St. 215.964.9675 tabuphilly.com 20. Tavern on Camac 243 S. Camac St. 215.545.0900 tavernoncamac.com

Roo

Pine St. 4

21. U Bar 1220 Locust St. 215.546.6660 22. Unite Fitness 105 S. 12th St. 215.733.0633 uniteﬁtnessstudios. com 23. Venture Inn 255 S. Camac St. 215.545.8731 24. Voyeur 1221 St. James St. 215.735.5772 voyeurnightclub. com 25. Westbury 261 S. 13th St. 215.546.5170 thewestburybar.net 26. William Way LGBT CC 1315 Spruce St. 215.732.2220 waygay.org 27. Woody’s 202 S. 13th St. 215.545.1893 woodysbar.com

PROFILE PGN

Family Portrait

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

Suzi Nash

Rabbi Nathan Weiner: Keeping the faith, from Boston to South Jersey What is it with me and men of faith named Nate? A few months ago, I interviewed Rev. Nate from the First Unitarian Church, and this week I spoke to Rabbi Nathan Weiner from Congregation Beth Tikvah. Weiner was at the Southern New Jersey Pride festival — organized by former Portrait subject DeAnn Cox. Weiner’s congregation had a table set up at Pride and had hosted a “Break The Fast/Break The Silence” event the night before, where people of all faiths were invited to participate in an ecumenical celebration of the Jewish tradition of breaking the fast after the holiday of Yom Kippur. By the way, according to Wikipedia (so you know it has to be right), Nathan is a masculine name derived from a Hebrew verb meaning “to give.” So I guess it’s an appropriate name for both community activists. PGN: So, Rabbi Nathan, tell me a little bit about yourself. Where are you originally from? NW: I’m originally from the Boston area; my family is all still there. I left there at 18 and went to undergraduate school at George Washington University. I ended up staying in D.C. for 10 years, including for undergraduate school, and then moved up here for rabbinical school. PGN: So, growing up did you say, “Pahk the cah in the Havad yahd”? NW: I did! But now, you’ll hear what almost sounds like a Canadian accent. I think it’s because I had such a thick Boston accent, I learned to turn it off. But for some reason, when it’s off I sound like I’m Canadian. I don’t even notice it but that’s what people tell me. PGN: My ex was from Louisiana and pretty much rid herself of her accent. The only time it came out was when she was on the phone with family or if she was tipsy. NW: That happens to me too, or if I’m really excited. I’m a real sports fan and if I’m watching a Red Sox or Patriots game, my accent definitely comes out! PGN: Tell me a little bit about the family. What did the parents do? NW: Both my parents still work and they’re still married to each other. My mom is a data-entry clerk and my father is a bookkeeper. PGN: Any siblings? NW: I do, I have one older brother. He’s married with two kids that I adore. PGN: Two boys: Were you best buds or did you fight a lot? NW: Oh, we fought a lot. But we have much respect and admiration for each other now. In fact, he had gastric-bypass

surgery this summer and I had the opportunity to write a new Jewish ritual for people undergoing that sort of surgery. I used to be 245 pounds myself, so I know what it’s like to go through that transition from being a fat person to no longer being heavy. PGN: I imagine it’s pretty life-changing. NW: Oh, it’s definitely life-changing. The whole way you perceive the world and the way others perceive you changes quite a bit. PGN: What were you like as a kid? NW: I was a band geek, bass trombone. I got to be Massachusetts All-State Jazz bass-trombone player, and I got to play at Symphony Hall! PGN: Cool. What was your worst mishap with band? NW: So I’m from Brockton, Mass., and our claim to fame is that both Rocky Marciano, aka the Brockton Blockbuster, and marvelous Marvin Hagler both came from there, so we have a great boxing legacy. For a special concert, Maynard Ferguson came to play with our highschool band so of course we played the theme from Rocky, “Gonna Fly Now,” which Maynard made famous with the screaming trumpets and horns. I was a very expressive trombone player. I would really feel the music and dance around. During the performance, I came within inches of hitting Maynard Ferguson in the head with my slide! Oops!

same thing for the Christians going from the very welcoming Friends/Quaker communities to the strict Catholics, Mormons and Fundamentalists. NW: It’s interesting, at South Jersey Pride I met a woman from New Hope who was Jewish and a lesbian, but prays with the Orthodox. She goes to a Chabad house and said that her Orthodox rabbi was welcoming and accepting of her. So you never know, even among the Orthodox, there are groups that are moving along on this issue. PGN: And this new pope seems to be following a slightly more liberal bent as well; maybe there’s hope for the future. By the way, what made you want to be a rabbi? NW: Well, my standard answer is that I always wanted to affect people’s lives in a positive way, and I’ve always seen the world through Jewish lenses. PGN: Was it something that you dreamed of as a kid? NW: No, I studied human services at

PGN: Who was your best friend in school? NW: My best friend in grade school was a girl named Saundra who now goes by Shira because she became Orthodox Jewish. She married a black-hat Orthodox guy — you know, the kind you see walking around with white shirt, black hat, fringes, etc. — she married a guy like that, and she lives the Orthodox life down in Miami now. PGN: And which denomination are you in? NW: The denomination I am a part of is called Reconstructionism. It’s very liberal, very committed to social justice. I think my school is about 30-percent queer. We have a couple of out transgender people and a couple of people who are genderqueer who are in my school studying to be rabbis. PGN: I’ve always found it interesting that the Jewish denominations seem to go from being very liberal — with openly gay rabbis, both male and female — to being extremely conservative in some of the sects. But I guess you could say the

George Washington University. But the Jewish community is always something that I’ve been passionate about; even back in high school I was always committed to Jewish education — my own and others’. I took classes and taught Hebrew school but, after college, my first job was selling cars. I needed to pay the bills. I eventually got a job working with teenagers and everyone kept telling me, “You should be a rabbi.” Then I was working at an overnight camp and a number of the rabbis and

cantors on faculty there essentially came to me en masse and said, “We’ve been talking about you and decided that you need to be a rabbi.” The next day, I made a phone call. PGN: Outside of your rabbinical duties, what hobbies do you have? NW: I’m a big baseball fan and I’m a car enthusiast. In fact, while I was waiting for your call, I was reading car blogs. PGN: What was your first car? NW: It was a 1989 Chevy Celebrity, gray with blue interior. It was a hand-me-down from my grandparents and I put 100,000 miles on the car. My baby was a Pontiac Solstice roadster though. I was in the car club and was very involved in the Solstice community. I used to do modifications on it; I put in a custom exhaust, cold-air intake, all sorts of things, until it got hit by a drunk driver a few years ago and was totaled. PGN: Changing subjects, when did you first know you were attracted to boys? NW: Well, I dated a girl when I was 15, that was my sort of last-ditch effort. I broke up with her and began coming out at 16. It’s interesting — as I said before, I was very heavy — and at first I thought my attraction to men was just jealousy because they had the bodies I didn’t. It took me a while to realize it was actually a physical attraction. PGN: When did you come out to the family? NW: [Laughing] I really messed it up. I came out on the “bi now, gay later” plan where I told them that I was bi at the start, thinking it would soften the blow. I was 16 and told them on the day before I left for summer camp! I thought that would give them two months to process it and Photo: Freedom G by the time I got back, they would be fine. Wrong. But even at its worst, my mother still always said, “I love you, you will always be my son and this will always be your home.” Beyond that it was a little tricky but thank God for PFLAG. They are now proud PFLAG parents. PGN: I saw on your résumé that as a B’nai Mitzvah tutor, you developed a new innovative approach to PAGE 30

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

FUN PGN & GAMES

Q Puzzle She did it! Across

1. Place for a rubber duckie 5. Land of the city in the 4th row, where a 53-hour swim began 9. Lavish party 13. K through 12 14. “When ___ said and done ...” 15. Police incursion at Stonewall 16. “Break ___!” 17. Leonardo’s home 18. Military force 19. Trig, e.g. 20. Gardner of “Show Boat” 21. City on the Loire 23. Clever one 25. Grab a cheek, perhaps 26. Not in the pink 27. Mantra of the swimmer in the 12th row 30. Hog-ties 33. Street where Debussy lived 34. Photo ___ (cam-

era sessions) 35. Pitched properly 36. Bentley of “American Beauty” 37. Pointed 39. Waikiki paste 40. Brown’s “Murder, ___ Meowed” 41. Do a slow burn 42. Signed up 45. Vestment for Mychal Judge 46. Rehoboth Beach setting 47. Say again 51. Gandhi, e.g. 53. E. Lynn Harris’ “___ Way the Wind Blows” 54. Second fruit eater 55. Use your hands instead of your mouth 56. German engraver Albrecht 58. 1994 Tommy Lee Jones flick 59. Jackie’s designer 60. Sadists, to masochists, in a way 61. Gardner of mys-

PORTRAIT from page 29

tutor kids “with a holistic approach that instructs on Jewish life and living post B’nai Mitzvah.” NW: Yes, we spend a lot of time and preparation not just to help them figure out what they’re going to do and say on that day, but how to figure out what it means to be a contributing member of the community. We talk about the ancient texts and how they can really inform our lives today. Seventh-graders can be really arrogant, they think they know everything, so we say to them, “These thinkers and writers have experience on the human condition and wisdom that spans generations, so what can we learn from those who came before you?” PGN: What are some of the biggest challenges and biggest rewards teaching seventh-graders? NW: Well, what makes it challenging is what makes it rewarding. Seventh grade is really the first time as an adult that you have to earn their trust and respect in order to get them to listen to you. If you don’t earn it, they will treat you as just another adult telling them what to do. But if you manage to do it, there’s so much potential! They’re blank canvases and you get to plant the seeds of self-confidence, interpersonal skills with others, a lot of the things that will stay with them for the rest of their life. That’s part of the wisdom of our ancestors who made the bar mitzvah something that happens when you’re 13. Here you are at the time when you’re the most awkward and the most vulnerable and you have to do something so public. If you can learn to do that confidently, what can’t you do?

tery 62. Famed Loch 63. Over and done 64. Origin of a pansy

Down

1. Puts on a happy face 2. Islam’s deity 3. Letter after eta 4. Like tall buildings 5. Owen of “Closer” 6. Bone below the elbow 7. Something to flick 8. Cockamamie 9. Lingua ___ 10. Bait shop critter 11. What they do behind bars 12. Ben and Jerry’s rival 14. Serves the purpose 22. “___ the Band Played On” 24. Trick 25. Papal name 27. Out 28. Recess at St. Peter’s 29. River of the Singing Nun’s coun-

try 30. Bound along 31. At once, to the Bard 32. Winter vacation places 36. “Stop pouring” 37. Q to a Scrabble player 38. Bear hugs, e.g. 40. Kind of comic 41. Well-endowed old goats? 43. Sweet spreads 44. Place for a cruising sailor 47. Nonreacting 48. Get down on your knees in front of 49. Put aside 50. Get into the sack? 51. “Time ___ My Side” 52. “Aida” backdrop 53. “Xena” deity 57. Land of the city in the 8th row, where the swim ended PAGE 34

PGN: Any particular student who comes to mind? NW: Yes, I had one girl walk into my Hebrew class whose parents were very wellknown in the religious community. But she hated coming to religious school, did not want to be part of the community, didn’t like Judaism and did not want to learn Hebrew. It was just another thing that she had to do to please her mom. The first day of class I said, “Everybody’s going to stand up and read. I don’t care if you stink, I just need to find out where you’re at.” She broke down into tears sobbing because she was so selfconscious of the fact that she was going to do poorly. I saw the look of fear in her eyes and I let other students who I knew were bad go before her. I said, “I had no hand in getting you to where you are but I will have a hand in getting you to where you are going. I know that you can do this and my job is to help you do it. If you choose not to put anything into it, you will be miserable here, but if you want to give it an honest try, I promise I won’t let you down.” Within two weeks, she was reading much better and she’s now one of my favorite kids. I even went to her high-school graduation. I love her! PGN: And tell me a little bit about where you are now. NW: I am the director of education and I’m the rabbinic intern at Congregation Beth Tikvah and currently I’m a student at Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. The congregation wanted a variety of voices so some of my duties are leading services, helping out with adult education, helping out at the religious school. I’m there under the mentorship of Rabbi Gary M. Gans. We are a small Conservative synagogue in Marlton, N.J. That’s Conservative with a large C

— it’s the denomination, not a political affiliation! PGN: I read that you conceived and implemented a new model for teen education called “N’tivot — Pathways.” It must be exciting to be able to invent new rituals and models. To be able to see something, like your brother’s bypass surgery, and be able to address that must be satisfying. NW: It’s really empowering, both for me and for those who I serve, to think that I get to relate to them in meaningful-enough ways that I can really see what their needs are and respond to them. It’s powerful for both of us. At Beth Tikvah, we just built the religious school from the ground-up and I spearheaded that. It’s been a labor of love. We are not one of the wealthier congregations in the area, but I believe we have the best education program in South Jersey right now. PGN: What’s the best part of working at your job? NW: The greatest joy of working there is the real community feel of the place. The congregants really are invested in their own spiritual journeys, and they’re invested in the success of the congregation. PGN: You lived in Washington, D.C., before moving to Philadelphia. Tell me why Philadelphia is so much better. NW: Well, the cost of living is certainly better. Last night, I was at the Mount Airy Street Festival, and I was chatting with a woman in line who also came from D.C. She also asked me what I liked so much about Philly, and I told her you don’t have to try so hard here. D.C. is very much about appearances and career but here

there’s more room to just be you. But I am appalled at the state of the public schools here and think that it’s just un-American. I am appalled that Philadelphia is the sixthlargest city in the country and SEPTA is all we have for transportation. It’s deplorable. Both things are bad for Philly and bad for America, a poor representation of the true nature of Philadelphia. PGN: Describe a favorite meal growing up. NW: Matzoh-ball soup. It’s delicious and whenever I smelled it I knew that family was coming and I would be surrounded by people who love me. PGN: Favorite family member outside of the immediate family? NW: My maternal grandfather, may he rest in peace. I have fond memories of staying with my grandparents and waking up early and hanging out with my grandfather. Sitting at the kitchen table with two forks and a jar of pickled herring and eating until we got sick. He wasn’t allowed to have it because of all the salt, so he would tell my grandmother that I ate it! He was always saying funny things. PGN: What was a historical event you wished you could’ve witnessed? NW: I wish I could have been sitting around the table with some of the rabbis in Babylonia in the fifth and sixth centuries as they were creating what would become the Talmud. That would be very, very cool. ■ For more information on Beth Tikvah, visit www.btikvah.org/. To suggest a community member for Family Portrait, email portraits05@aol.com.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

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BENEDICT HOMER: Lisa suspects Homer may have been “turned” when he returns from a Nuclear Power Plant Operating convention a changed man and enlists the services of Annie (guest voice Kristen Wiig), an intense, jumpy FBI agent, to unravel the truth on the 25th-season premiere episode of “The Simpsons,” 8:30 p.m. Sept. 29 on Fox. Photo: Fox

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

PGN NIGHTLIFE

Stand or fall There’s something about the beginning of fall, when the heat and humidity of summer are replaced by a cool crispness in the air, that feels like a fresh start. Maybe it’s the nostalgia of going back to school, or maybe it’s the perfect sleeping weather, but I always feel more productive, more creative and more energetic at this time of year. Good thing too, because now that everybody is back from the shore, there’s more going on in and around town than ever!

Viva Philadelphia! October 11, 8pm October 12 & 13, 3pm at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

Michael Krajewski, conductor Eddie Bruce, vocalist Poperazzi, vocal trio Hear your favorites from Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Andrea Bocelli, including The Prayer, The Good Life, and Singing Italian Songs!

TICKETS ON SALE NOW! 215.893.1999 phillypops.org Groups of 15 or more call 215.546.3207

Blend coffee and games Take a break from the bars from 7-10 p.m. Sept. 27 at Chapterhouse, 620 S. Ninth St., with a night of friends, fun and coffee. Take the autumn chill off with a steaming cup of joe and a night of relaxation — or, better yet, get yourself totally over-caffeinated and then blow everyone away in the speed rounds!

Chester. Enjoy a night of cabaret in the ’burbs with Anita Mann, Karyn Thomas and Gracie Freebush. Start with a fabulous Thai dinner before the show and stay late for karaoke. Drag Brunch at the Venture How do you make a meal as naturally perfect as brunch even better? Add drag queens! See for yourself from noon-4 p.m. Sept. 29 at Venture Inn, 255 S. Camac St. You’ll get a great brunch, a variety of drink specials and fantastic entertainment with no cover charge.

Codebreaker Explore themes of criminal justice at a showing of the film “Codebreaker” from 8-10 p.m. Oct. 3 at Eastern State Penitentiary, 2027 Fairmount Ave. It’s a fascinating documentary about Alan Turing, Jim Kiley- the gay British man considered many to be the father of Zufelt by computer science and artificial Back-to-School Party intelligence, who was pivotal There’s no way around it, kids, summer in breaking the Enigma code during World is officially over and it’s back-to-school War II and ushering in the computer age. time — Back-to-School Party-time, that In the early ’50s he was prosecuted for is! The fun starts at 10 p.m. Sept. 27 at being homosexual and after accepting ICandy, 254 S. 12th St. They’ll have drink chemical castration as an alternative to specials, contests and prizes, with music prison, he committed suicide at age 41. by DJs Venus7 and Droo Trax, and a show Doors open at 7 p.m. and there’s no cover hosted by The Goddess Isis as “Ms. Shirley charge, but seats are limited so get there Knott.” Don’t give her any lip, boys, or early. she’ll whip out her yardstick and show you what it’s made for! Cover charge is $10 for Miss Delaware Pride Pageant those 18-20, $5 for 21 and up and free for Are you a Cruella? An Ursula? Or better students 21 and over with college ID. yet ... a Maleficent? Find out at 8 p.m. Oct. 5 at Ramada Newark, 260 Chapman Road Physical education in Newark, Del., at the Miss Delaware Like it was for me, was physical educaPride Pageant. This year’s theme is Evil tion simultaneously your favorite and most Disney and your hostess is Miss Reading feared subject? Well, put those fears behind Pride 2013 Gracie Freebush. Featured you once and for all at 10 p.m. Sept. 27 entertainers include Karyn Thomas, Ashley at the Khyber Pass Pub, 56 S. Second St. Lynn and DJ Chris Emanski, with more to Enjoy drink specials until midnight and be announced. Cover charge is only $10 go-go-aerobics all night, while DJs Trprkpr and all ages are welcome. For more inforand Sharyn Stone keep you pumping at this mation, see www.delawarepride.org. ■ NSFW Dance Party. Cover charge is free Questions, comments, favorite Disney vilfor the first hour, then $5 after 11 p.m. lain you identify with most? Contact Jim at barcrawlr@gmail.com or follow him Jewels of Jazmine Thai on Facebook for links to back articles and Get a taste of the exotic at 10 p.m. Sept. 28 at Jazmine Thai, 344 W. Gay St. in West totally bitchin’ music videos!

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DINING PGN

Food & Drink

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

The land of booze and bacon By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com For an establishment that hosts live music and has a decent reputation as a great neighborhood watering hole, it turns out the food menu is actually the rock star at MilkBoy, 1100 Chestnut St. Seeing as how the bar is open until 2 a.m., and opens back up at 7 a.m. (we’re guessing to cater to Jefferson University Hospital workers across the street getting off the graveyard shift), it’s no surprise the menu is chock full of comfort food geared toward those of us who keep odd hours. And there are some comfort-food masterpieces here. On the nutritionally responsible side, MilkBoy makes some damned-good soups. The roasted tomato and pepper bisque ($5) is hearty with a spicy kick that pleasantly creeps up on your palette. The soup

special of our evening, potato, ale and cheese soup (MP), was silky and comforting as well. Veering into territory that might not be nutritionally sound, the bacon bowl ($7) is ridiculously good. It’s exactly what the title promised: a bowl of bacon, glazed with spiced honey with buttermilk dipping sauce. If you can resist licking the bottom of the bowl once the bacon has been thoroughly devoured, you are a better person than most. MilkBoy also has menu items that change from day to day, depending on the chef’s whim. The egg roll ($9) on our visit gave a nod to Oktoberfest as it was stuffed with sausage and sauerkraut. The result was addictively tangy and crispy. The flatbread pizza ($9) is another daily chef’s choice menu item, and was the best thing we had that night. This incarna-

FLATBREAD PIZZA OF THE DAY

tion was topped with lamb sausage, potatoes, fried eggs and cheddar cheese. On the perfectly crispy crust, this pizza screamed breakfast as it seamlessly synthesized and deconstructed the experience of an omelet with toast and hash browns.

If you go MilkBoy Philadelphia 1100 Chestnut St. 215-925-6455 www.milkboyphilly.com Mon.-Fri.: 7 a.m.-2 a.m. Sat.-Sun.: 9 a.m.-2 a.m.

GARAGE DOORS OPEN Photos: Scott A. Drake

A favorite at MilkBoy is the brisket cheesesteak ($14) and we can see why. Compared to what the rest of the city is used to, this version of the sandwich is meatier and far less greasy than the standard version. It also swaps out the familiar Cheez Whiz and chopped onions with a beer-cheese sauce and red-wine onions. Is it a coincidence that we find the alcohol-infused version of the sandwich more intriguing than the textbook version? Probably not. MilkBoy has a great menu for those who want to party like/with a rock star or decompress and unwind like a busy professional. ■

CONTACT YOUR PGN AD REP TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS DIRECTORY:

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.

OUT & ABOUT The week ahead Fri. 09/27 Loft23 presents The Game Loft The William Way LGBT Community Center hosts a game space geared towards gamers ages 21-29 and is an opportunity to meet new people, play games and socialize outside of the bar scene, 5 p.m., 1315 Spruce St.; 215732-2220. Mary Gauthier The out singersongwriter performs 8 p.m. at Steel City Coffee House, 239 Woburn St. in Phoenixville; 610933-4043.

Ruba Club-Studios, 416 Green St.; 215627-9831. Wham Bam Bowie Band The band performs classics including the entire “Ziggy Stardust” album 9 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400.

Sat. 09/28 Philly Zombie Prom The undead still want to party, 8 p.m. at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215-922-6888.

Liza Minnelli The iconic singer and actor performs 9 p.m. at Caesars Atlantic City, 2100 Pacific Ave., Atlantic City; 609348-4411. The Jewels Of Jazmine Thai: A Female Impersonation Cabaret Anita Mann, Karyn Thomas and special guest Gracie Freebush perform 10 p.m.-2 a.m. at Jazmine Thai, 344 W. Gay St., West Chester; 610-6963332. Once Upon a

Sun. 09/29

Time in the West The Beach Boys The 1968 Western The rock band is screened 2 p.m. performs 9 p.m. Rasputin’s Room at the Borgata at Colonial Theatre, Lil’ Steph presents 227 Bridge St., Hotel, Casino & a burlesque show Phoenixville; 610Spa Music Box, 11503 - PGN 5X5.6_Philadelphia Gay News 9/18/13 11:02 AM Page 1 9 p.m.-midnight at 917-0223. 1 Borgata Way,

Fione Zedde The author of “Broken in Soft Places” hosts a reading 5:30 p.m. at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; 215-923-2960. 30 Seconds To Mars The rock band performs 7:30 p.m. at Susquehanna Bank Center, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, N.J.;

Mon. 09/30 856-365-1300. Free Quizzo and Board Game Night Roll the dice, 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-994-1400. Lipstick Mondays A weekly drag show featuring a

Listen to the Sound of 1695 at the ARTISANS’ FAIRE & MARKETPLACE in Historic Greenwich, New Jersey The ringing anvil, fiddle and drum, merchants hawking red-ware and baskets, vintage glassware and jewelry, local honey, and homemade jams and jellies. Market day in Colonial America – yours to experience this weekend.

September 28-29

Saturday 10am - 5pm • Sunday 10am - 4pm Admission Fee $5.00 (Children under 12 Free) Call 856-455-4055 or 856-455-8580 for locations

Free Parking • Museum Tours • Antiques Roadshow • Demonstrations 5k race & 1-mile walk/run • Schooner Meerwald Sailings

FOLK WISDOM: Out singersongwriter Mary Gauthier returns to the area 8 p.m. Sept. 27 at Steel City Coffee House, 239 Woburn St. in Phoenixville. For more information or tickets, call 610-933-4043.

changing roster of queens takes the stage 9 p.m. at The Raven, 385 W. Bridge St., New Hope; 215862-2081.

Tue. 10/01

Thu. 10/03

Fri. 10/04

Blondie and X The bands perform 8 p.m. at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215572-7650.

Hall & Oates The pop duo performs 8 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.

Wed. 10/02

The Burlesque Show The new event kicks off 9 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.

4W5 Blues Jam Local musicians get down, 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-994-1400.

Bob and Barbara’s Drag Show The outrageousness begins 11 p.m. at Bob and Barbara’s, 1509 South St.; 215-545-4511.

Tricky The electronic musician performs 8:30 p.m. at Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St.; 215-232-2100.

Wil Wheaton vs. Paul & Storm The comedyimprov show features a guest

appearance by actor Wil Wheaton, 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-2221400. Frank Sinatra, Jr. The singer performs 9 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-3171000.

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. SOLUTION from page 30

THE 42nd ANNUAL GREENWICH ARTISANS’ FAIRE & MARKETPLACE Established in 1695 960 Ye Great Street, Greenwich, NJ 08323

www.cchistsoc.org

The Cumberland County Historical Society is a registered NJ Non-Profit Organization.

THE VOICE: Out bass-baritone singer Ronald Campbell will perform a program of vocal selections ranging from spiritual pieces and hymns to opera and musical-theater pieces by composers like Pucinni, Mozart, Copeland and more, 3 p.m. Sept. 29 at Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church, 2212 Spruce St. Campbell, who will be backed by pianist Joseph Krupa, has performed with theater and opera companies all over the country and promises a diverse show drawing from the many genres in which he has performed.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

The Sexuality Spectrum The Philadelphia Museum of Jewish Art and Congregation Beth Ahavah at Rodeph Shalom host an exhibit examining LGBT prejudice through Nov. 18 at 615 N. Broad St.; 215-627-6747.

Opening The Brothers Size Simpatico Theatre Project presents a story set on the back roads of the Louisiana bayou following the path of the recently paroled Oshoosi Size, blending elements of Yoruba storytelling with American mythology, Oct. 2-Nov. 4 at Walnut Street Theatre’s Studio 5, 835 Walnut St.; 215-4230254.

Spamalot Media Theater presents the comedy based on the works of Monty Python through Nov. 3, 104 E. State St., Media; 610-891-0100. SPY: The Secret World of Espionage The Franklin Institute presents an exhibition of historical artifacts from the intel-

Nabucco Opera Philadelphia performs Sept. 27Oct. 6 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800.

Closing

Sarah Colonna The comedian seen on “Chelsea Lately” performs Oct. 3-5 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215496-9001. Yannick Conducts Mahler 4 The Philadelphia Orchestra performs Oct. 4-6 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800.

Continuing All Dressed Up: Fashions for Children and Their Families Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of clothing from the late18th through mid-20th centuries, comparing and contrasting adults’ apparel with children’s smaller styles, through Dec. 1, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

LEGENDARY: Iconic singer and actor Liza Minnelli is sure to be in her element when she dazzles audiences 9 p.m. Sept. 28 at Caesars Atlantic City, 2100 Paciﬁc Ave., Atlantic City. For more information or tickets, call 609-348-4411.

Candy Coated Wonderland Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition by Philadelphia-based multimedia artist Candy Coated (formerly Candy Depew) reinterpreting children’s fancy dress costumes from the museum’s collection, through Nov. 17, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. Design for the Modern Child Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition featuring some of the latest furniture, toys, tableware, wallpaper and textiles designed internationally in Australia, Asia, Europe, Great Britain and the United States, along with classics from the museum’s design collection, through Oct. 14, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. The Enchanted World of German Romantic Prints Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of prints created by Austrian, German and Swiss artists, through Dec. 15, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. In The Heights Walnut Street Theatre presents the Tony Award-winning musical through Oct. 20, 825 Walnut St.; 215-5743550.

PUNK PIONEERS: Blondie (pictured) teams up with X for a tour that pulls through town 8 p.m. Oct. 3 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave. For more information, call 215572-7650.

My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m STILL in Therapy Bristol Riverside Theatre presents the sequel to Steve Solomon’s popular comedy through Oct. 6, 120 Radcliffe St., Bristol; 215-785-0100. Private Lives/Public Spaces: Bringing Philadelphia’s LGBT History Out in the Open The William Way LGBT Community

Center presents the first solo exhibition of LGBT history in a mainstream museum in Philadelphia, which features a glimpse into the John J. Wilcox, Jr. Archival Collection, through Oct. 25 at The Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent, 15 S. Seventh St.; 215685-4830.

ligence community, through Oct. 6, 20th Street and the Parkway; 215-448-1200. Beethoven 9: Ode to Joy The Philadelphia Orchestra performs through Sept. 28 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800. Chris Kattan The comedian performs through Sept. 28 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215-496-9001. Earth, Wind & Fire The R&B group performs through Sept. 28 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000. ■

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

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Photos: Scott A. Drake

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

Classifieds Real Estate Sale

Real Estate Sale 



Real Estate Sale

Open Houses - Sunday September 29, 2013

12:00-2:00 PM   

 





   

    

1020 S. Randolph Street Philadelphia, PA 19147 Unique rehabbed Queen Village 3BR/2BA multi-level home. $319,900 Search all Philadelphia area listings @ www.phillyrealestateagents.com Dan Tobey

1401 Walnut St. • 8th Floor • Philadelphia, PA 19102

215.546.2700 Business • 267.238.1061 Direct 215.432.7151 Cell • 215.558.1063 Fax dtobey@cbpref.com • www.cbpref.com

Beautiful Stone and Slate Mansion on Mainline

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Travel & Resorts • 7200 sqft architectural masterpiece • Incredibly private and tranquil • Nearly 2 acre wooded lot • 6 Bedrooms, 4/2 baths, and 7 ﬁreplaces • Steps to Suburban Square Shopping and minutes to center city • Nested w/ multi million dollar properties • Abundant options to make it your own • Offered at under Market: 1.895 million

Helene De Vlieghere Keller William Mainline Realty cell: 610-203-9509, ofﬁce: 610-520-0100, email: helenedv@kw.com

All real-estate advertising is subject to Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended. Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental and ﬁnancing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and handicap (disability). PGN will not knowingly accept any real-estate advertising that is in violation of any applicable law.

OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND Best selection of affordable rentals. Full/ partial weeks. Call for FREE brochure. Open daily. Holiday Real Estate. 1-800638-2102. Online reservations: www.holidayoc.com ________________________________________37-39 609-345-8203. oceanhouseatlanticcity.com ________________________________________37-45

Services AIRLINE CAREERS Begin here-Become an Aviation Maintenance Tech. FAA approved training. Financial aid if qualiﬁed-Housing available. Job placement assistance. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance 888-834-9715 ________________________________________37-39

For Sale SAWMILLS From only $3997.00- MAKE & SAVE MONEY with your own bandmill- Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship. FREE Info/DVD: www.NorwoodSawmills.com 1800-578-1363 Ext.300N. ________________________________________37-39

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PGN does not accept advertising that is unlawful, false, misleading, harmful, threatening, abusive, invasive of another’s privacy, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, hateful or racially or otherwise objectionable, including without limitation material of any kind or nature that encourages conduct that could constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability or otherwise violate any applicable local, state, provincial, national or international law or regulation, or encourage the use of controlled substances.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

PGN

Help Wanted

Friends Men

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LOOKING FOR ROMANCE Attractive GWM, warm, sensitive, caring, 48 y.o. with a smooth gymnast build looking for other GWM, 30-50, who is also in good shape. I live in NE Phila. I’m looking for guys who are also sensitive, caring with a fun personality. If this sounds interesting to you feel free to call me, David, 215-698-0215. ________________________________________37-39 BM, 60 looking for British gent, 35-45 for intimate encounters. 215-763-3391, 6PM-Midnight. ________________________________________37-39 57 y .o., 5’2”, blue eyed chunky bottom looking for someone who would enjoy playing chess with me and getting lucky; win, lose or draw. Lookng for a top guy to put me in check. Call me at 215-380-1700 between 6 PM & 12 AM any day. Please leave a message if no answer. ________________________________________37-39 WM, NE Phila. If you’re looking for hot action, call 215-934-5309. No calls after 11 PM. ________________________________________37-40

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THE BIGGER, BETTER & CLEANER CLUB IN THE CITY...

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Sat., Oct. 12th, 2013, Time: 11pm-3:30am WHAT TO EXPECT: • DJ David Dutch • Complimentary Food & Beverages • A Full House of Guys To Choose From & So Much More.

SIP- N- TWIRL SUNDAY

Sun., Oct. 13th, 2013, Time: 3pm-6pm

WHAT TO EXPECT: • DJ David Dutch • Complimentary Food & Beverages • A Full House of Guys To Choose From & So Much More.

MAD HOUSE

Sat., Oct. 19th, 2013, Time: 11pm-3:30am WHAT TO EXPECT: • DJ David Dutch • Complimentary Food & Beverages • A Full House of Guys To Choose From & So Much More.

BUSY TIMES FOR US:

These our are most popular days when people come-

SATURDAY AFTERNOON DELIGHT 4 Hour Lockers (8am - 4pm) Members: $5.00 and Non-Members: $15.00

SUNDAY RELIEF

Half Price Rooms (6am Sunday till 8am Monday) Members: $12.50 and Non-Members: $22.50 JOIN US SUNDAY MORNINGS for COMPLIMENTARY CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST with Fruit, Pastries & Coﬀee TO START YOUR MORNING OFF RIGHT....

MONDAY thru FRIDAY:

Business Mans Locker Special (8am to 4pm) Members: $5.00 and Non-Members: $15.00

TUESDAYS

Half Price Rooms (6am till 12 Midnight) Members: $12.50 and Non-Members: $22.50

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY NIGHT CRUISE

$12 Flat Rate for Locker Admission & Clothing Optional (4pm-12 Midnight) Check out our website for our WEEKLY SPECIALS & JOIN OUR e-mail List to get the latest - CHECK IN EARLY IF YOU WANT A ROOM... ROOMS GO QUICKLY!!! - information on upcoming events....

Don’t forget to visit the Adonis Cinema right next door!! 2026 Sansom St/ PH: 215-557-9319

PGN

Activism/Politics

ACT-UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) meets 6-9 p.m. every Monday at St. Luke and The Epiphany Church, 330 S. 13th St.; 215-386-1981; www.actupphilly.org. Delaware Valley Chapter, Americans United for Separation of Church and State seeks activists and supporters of church-state separation. Holds monthly meetings and events; www.dvau.org. Equality Pennsylvania holds a volunteer night the second Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m., 1211 Chestnut St., Suite 605; 215-731-1447; www.equalitypa.org. Green Party of Philadelphia holds general meetings the fourth Thursday of the month except August and December, 7 p.m.; 215-243-7103; www.gpop.org. Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club meets seasonally; www.libertycity.org.

Arts

Library Book Club meets to discuss a new book 7 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month at the William Way Center. Men On Tap, an LGBT group that performs with choirs, organizations and at the Fringe Festival, rehearses Mondays at 8 p.m. at The Bike Stop, 206 S. Quince St.; dale@magicalfantasies.com. Philadelphia Freedom Band, an audition-free LGBT band that does concerts and parades, rehearses Mondays 7-9:30 p.m.; philadelphiafreedomband.com. Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus rehearses 7-10 p.m. Wednesdays; 215-731-9230; auditions@pgmc.org. Philadelphia Gay Men’s Opera Club meets to share and listen to recordings 6:30 p.m. the last Saturday of the month; 215-732-7898. Philadelphia Voices of Pride, Philadelphia’s first mixed GLBT chorus, rehearses 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the William Way Center; www.pvop.org. Queer Writer’s Collective workshop and discussion group meets 4-6 p.m. the fourth Saturday of the month at the William Way Center. Reading Queerly, open to all women and genderqueer/trans people, meets 6:45 p.m. the first Thursday of the month at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.

Recreation

Gay Bridge Club non-beginners group meets Monday 1:304:30 p.m. at the William Way Center; reservations required. Call 215-732-2220. Gay-friendly Scrabble Club meets 6-11 p.m. in the P.I.C. Building, 42nd and Locust streets; 215-382-0789. Gay Opera Guys of Philly, a new group for opera appreciation, meets the last Sunday of the month at 2:30 p.m. in Roxborough/Andorra area; 215-483-1032. Humboldt Society: Lesbian and Gay Naturalists meets the second Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the William Way Center; 215-985-1456; www.humboldtsociety. org. Independence Squares LGBT square-dance club, modern Western square dancing. Monthly open house. Tuesday classes in the fall; Lutheran Church, 2111 Sansom St.; philadances@gmail.com; www.independencesquares.org. Male Oenophile Group forming to discuss, appreciate and taste various wines. Will meet once a month to investigate the nuances and glories of the fermented grape. Call 267230-6750 for more information. Mornings OUT LGBT Senior Social activities for senior gay men are held every Tuesday, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the William Way Center. PhilaVentures, Philadelphia’s LGBT outdoor group, meets for hikes in Wissahickon Valley and Valley Forge Park; philaventures.org.

Sports

Brandywine Women’s Rugby Club meets for Tuesday and Thursday practice at 8 p.m. Greenfield Park, West Chester; www.brandywinerugby.org. City of Brotherly Love Softball League serves the Philadelphia metropolitan area. Games are played Sundays, beginning in April, in Fairmount Park; www.cblsl.org. Frontrunners running club meets 9:30 a.m. Saturdays for a run and brunch. Lloyd Hall, No. 1 Boathouse Row; www. philadelphiafrontrunners.org. Philadelphia Falcons Soccer Club LGBT and allies; plays 6 p.m. Wednesdays and 10 a.m. Saturdays at Edgely Fields in Fairmount Park; www.falcons-soccer.org. Philadelphia Fins Swim Team, male and female swimmers, meets 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday at Friends Select School and 10:30 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays at Kelly Pool in Fairmount Park; www.philadelphia-fins.org. Philadelphia Gay Bowling League meets 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays September-April at Brunswick Zone, 1328 Delsea Drive, Deptford, N.J.; 856-889-1434; www.philagaybowling.com. Greater Philadelphia Flag Football League games played Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., at Columbus Square Park, 1200

Wharton St.; phillyflagfootball.com. Philadelphia Gryphons Rugby Football Club seeks players, all skill levels welcome; meets 7:45 p.m. Thursdays at Columbus Square Park, 1200 Wharton St.; 215-913-7531; philadelphiagryphons.org; becomeagryphon@gmail.com. Philadelphia Liberty Belles women’s semi-pro full-tackle football league holds fall tryouts; phillybelles.com. Philadelphia Liberty Tennis Association plays year-round, all skill levels welcome; philadelphialibertytennis.com. Philadelphia Firebirds women’s football team seeks players; www.philadelphiafirebirds.com. Philadelphia Women’s Baseball League seeks players, all skill levels and ages welcome. Practice is Thursdays, 7 p.m. at Marian Anderson Recreation Center, 17th and Fitzwater streets, with games on Sundays 2:30 p.m.; phillywomensbaseball.com; contact Narda Quigley, (day) 215-9915995 or (evening) 301-919-1194. Philly Gay Hockey Association Philadelphia Phury seeks players; 917-656-1936; phury@gayhockey.org. Philly QCycle LGBT bicycling club promotes organized recreational riding for all levels in the Greater Philadelphia region. Contact the organization via Facebook. Rainbow Riders of the Delaware Valley motorcycle club meets regularly; 215-836-0440; www.groups.yahoo.com/ group/rainbowridersdv/. Rainbow Rollers gay and lesbian bowling league meets 7:45 p.m. Tuesdays at Boulevard Lanes in Northeast Philadelphia; rainbowrollers.com. Spartan Wrestling Club, the gay wresting team, meets 6:30-9 p.m. Mondays (no August practice) at the First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St.; 215-732-4545; www. phillyspartans.com. Suburban Gay Bowling League bowls at 8 p.m. Thursdays from August-April at Facenda-Whitaker Lanes, 2912 Swede Road, Norristown; sgblbowl@gmail.com. Team Philadelphia, the umbrella group for gay and lesbian sports teams, and individual athletes in the Delaware Valley come together to provide a healthy outlet for all members of the community; teamphiladelphia.org.

Etc.

AIDS Law Project provides free legal assistance to people with HIV/AIDS and sponsors free monthly seminars on work and housing; 1211 Chestnut St., Suite 600; 215-5879377; www.aidslawpa.org. BiUnity, Philadelphia-area social and support network for bisexuals, their family members and friends meets the second Friday of every other month at the William Way Center; www.biunity.org. Delaware Valley Pink Pistols for LGBT people dedicated to legal, safe and responsible use of firearms for selfdefense; meets 2 p.m. the third Saturday of the month at Classic Indoor Range, 1310 Industrial Blvd., Southampton; 610-879-2364; www.pinkpistols.org. Delaware Pride holds planning meetings 7 p.m. the first Thursday of the month at the United Church of Christ, 300 Main St., Newark; 302-265-3020; delawarepride.org. Haverford College’s Sexuality and Gender Alliance holds open meetings 10-11 p.m. Mondays during the school year in the lounge in Jones Basement at Haverford College, 370 Lancaster Ave.; 610-896-4938. Men and Women for Human Excellence support group meets from noon-2 p.m. the first and third Saturdays of the month at 26th Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue; 267-2733513; cmoore8300@yahoo.com. Long Yang Club Philadelphia social organization for gay Asians and their friends holds monthly socials; www.longyangclub.org/philadelphia. Our Night Out, a casual social networking party of LGBT professionals, friends and colleagues, meets in a different Philadelphia hot spot each month. To receive monthly event invitations, email OurNightOutPhilly@gmail.com; more information on Facebook. Philadelphia Bar Association Legal Advice offered 5-8 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month; 215-238-6333. Philadelphia Prime Timers club for mature gay and bisexual men and their admirers meets regularly; primetimer sofphiladelphia@yahoo.com. Philadelphians MC Club for leather men and women meets 7:30 p.m. the first and third Monday of the month at The Pit at The Bike Stop, 201 S. Quince St.; philadelphiansmc.org. Rainbow Amateur Radio Association ARRL-affiliated, weekly HF nets, quarterly newsletter; www.rara.org. Rock ’n’ Roll Queer Bar Party for gay and lesbian rockers with host Psydde Delicious starts 10 p.m. every first Sunday at Fluid, 613 S. Fourth St.; www.RocknRollQueerBar.com. Silver Foxes, a social and educational group for gays and lesbians 50 and older, meets 3-5 p.m. the fourth Sunday of the month at the William Way Center. SNJ Queers meets monthly for queer/queer-friendly folks in South Jersey to mix and mingle. Search for SNJ Queers on Facebook; contact Wendy at 856-375-3708 or wmf69@comast.net.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

Community Bulletin Board 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. Groups meet and activities are held 4-7 p.m. Monday-Tuesday and 48:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday. Case management, HIV testing and smoking cessation are available MondayFriday. See the Youth section for more events.

■ Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center at the University of Pennsylvania 3907 Spruce St., 215-898-5044; center@dolphin. upenn.edu. Regular hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday; noon-6 p.m. Saturday; noon-8 p.m. Sunday. Summer hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

■ ActionAIDS: 215-981-0088 ■ AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania: 215-587-9377 ■ AIDS Law Project of Southern New Jersey: 856-933-9500 ext. 221 ■ AIDS Library: 215-985-4851 ■ ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215592-1513 ■ AIDS Treatment Fact line: 800662-6080 ■ Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection at the Independence Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library: 215-685-1633 ■ The COLOURS Organization, Inc.: 215-496-0330 ■ District Attorney LGBT Liaison: Helen “Nellie” Fitzpatrick, 215-6869980, helen.fitzpatrick@phila.gov

■ Rainbow Room — Bucks County’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and Allies Youth Center 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays: Salem UCC Education Building, 181 E. Court St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981 ext. 9065 rainbowroom@ppbucks.org.

■ William Way Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220; www.waygay.org. Hours: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Peer counseling: 6-9 p.m. Monday through Friday Library hours: noon-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; noon-3 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Friday; noon-6 p.m. Saturday. Volunteers: New Orientation: First Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.

Key numbers

of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): 215-572-1833

■ Equality Pennsylvania: 215731-1447; www.equalitypa.org

■ Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations: 215-686-4670

■ Equality Forum: 215-732-3378

■ Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force: 1-877-pride-2000

■ GALAEI: A Queer Latin@ Social Justice Organization: 215-8511822 ■ LGBT Elder Initiative: 267-5463448; info@LGBTEI.org ■ LGBT Peer Counseling Services: 215-732-TALK ■ Mayor’s Director of LGBT Affairs: Gloria Casarez, 215-6862194; Gloria.Casarez@phila.gov; ■ Mazzoni Center: 215-563-0652; Legal Services: 215-563-0657, 866-LGBT-LAW; Family & Community Medicine: 215-563-0658 ■ Parents, Families and Friends

■ Police Department liaison — Deputy Commissioner Kevin Bethel: 215-686-3318 ■ Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 215-760-3686 (Rick Lombardo); ppd.lgbt@gmail.com ■ Philly Pride Presents: 215875-9288 ■ SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: 717-9209537 ■ Transgender Health Action Coalition: 215-732-1207 (staffed 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays and 6-9 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays)

Health

Anonymous, free, conﬁdential HIV testing Spanish/English counselors offer testing 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 216 W. Somerset St.; 215763-8870. ActionAIDS Provides a range of programs for people affected by HIV/AIDS, including case management, prevention, testing and education services at 1216 Arch St.; 215-981-0088; www.actionaids.org. GALAEI: A Queer Latin@ Social Justice Organization Free, anonymous HIV testing from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; noon-6 p.m. Tuesdays at the Washington West Project, 1201 Locust St.; 215-851-1822 or 866-222-3871; www.galaei. org. Spanish/English HIV treatment Free HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment for Philadelphia residents are available from 9 a.m.-noon Mondays (walk-in) and 5-8 p.m. Thursdays (by appointment) at Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad St.; 215685-1821. HIV health insurance help Access to free medications and confidential HIV testing

■ Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia Board meetings at 6:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at 100 S. Broad St., Suite 1810; free referral service at 215-6279090; www.galloplaw.org. ■ Greater Philadelphia Professional Network Networking group for area business professionals, selfemployed and business owners meets monthly in a different location throughout the city; www. gppn.org; 215-922-3377. ■ Independence Business Alliance Greater Philadelphia’s LGBT

11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays at 13 S. MacDade Blvd., Suite 108, Collingdale; Medical Office Building, 722 Church Lane, Yeadon; and 630 S. 60th St.; 610-586-9077. Mazzoni Center LGBTQ counseling and behavioral health services, HIV/ AIDS care and services, case management and support groups; 21 S. 12th St., eighth floor; 215-563-0652; www. mazzonicenter.org. Mazzoni Center Family & Community Medicine Comprehensive primary health care, preventive health services, gynecology, sexual-health services and chronic-disease management, including comprehensive HIV care, as well as youth drop-in (ages 14-24) 5-7p.m. Wednesdays; 809 Locust St.; 215-563-0658. Washington West Project of Mazzoni Center Free, anonymous HIV testing. Walk-ins welcome 9 a.m.-9 pm. Monday-Friday, 1-5p.m. Saturday; 1201 Locust St.; 215-985-9206.

Professional groups Chamber of Commerce, providing networking, business development, marketing, educational and advocacy opportunities for LGBT and LGBT-friendly businesses and professionals; www. IndependenceBusinessAlliance. com; 215-557-0190; 1717 Arch St., Suite 3370. ■ National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association Philadelphia chapter of NLGJA, open to professionals and students, meets for social and networking events; www.nlgja.org/

philly; philly@nlgja.org. ■ Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus Regional organization dedicated to promoting LGBT tourism to the Greater Philadelphia region, meetings every other month on the fourth Thursday (January, March, May, July, September and the third Thursday in November), open to the public; P.O. Box 58143, Philadelphia, PA 19102; www.philadelphiagaytourism. com; 215-840-2039.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2013

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