PGN Oct. 4 - 10, 2013 by The Philadelphia Gay News

National LGBT LGBT History History National Month Project Project Month

Digging up Henry Gerber

Baron von Steuben redux

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Oct. 4-10, 2013

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Vol. 37 No. 40

Pending appeal, marriage equality coming to New Jersey By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com

Fed suit: Recognize out-ofstate marriages By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com

New Jersey same-sex couples will be allowed to marry starting Oct. 21, pending an appeal from the state. In a landmark decision Sept. 27, Mercer County Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobson ruled that same-sex couples must have the right to marry to “obtain equal protection of the law under the New Jersey Constitution.” This is the first decision striking a state’s discriminatory marriage law that relies on the U.S. Supreme Court’s June ruling against the federal Defense of Marriage Act. Garden State Equality executive director Troy Stevenson said this case could be significant in leading how other states handle pending challenges to their marriage laws. “This will start to happen in jurisdiction after jurisdiction,” Stevenson told PGN. “The public is coming to acceptance of the LGBT population.” On Monday, however, New Jersey Attorney General John Hoffman appealed on behalf of the state. He also indicated he will seek a stay in the ruling until the appeal is settled, which, if granted, could push the start date back if the case is not settled by Oct. 21. Stevenson said the plaintiffs’ attorneys are already working on a response to the state appeal. “The state will be hard-pressed to prove irreparable harm and will be hard-pressed to get a stay in the jurisdiction,” he said. “Hundreds of loving couples will be getting married, so that is not viable.” Lambda Legal deputy legal director �� Hayley Gorenberg, who is handling the case, said she believes the plaintiffs have a good chance at victory. “I think our case is strong and has been throughout,” she said. “We will fight the appeal every step of the way and we have deep confidence in our PAGE 6

A local lesbian couple filed a federal lawsuit last week that could bring the fight for marriage equality in Pennsylvania one step closer to success. On Sept. 26, PAGE 23

State suit: Recognize MontCo marriages PARTY IN THE GARDEN STATE: Garden State Equality executive director Troy Stevenson celebrated with supporters at a rally at the agency’s headquarters Sept. 27 in Montclair, N.J., hours after Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobson handed down a ruling legalizing same-sex marriage in New Jersey. Garden State Equality and a group of same-sex couples, represented by Lambda Legal, sued the state in 2011, contending the state’s current civil-union system discriminates against same-sex couples. Jacobson’s ruling is the first to legalize same-sex marriage relying on the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned a key provision of the federal Defense of Marriage Act. Gov. Chris Christie’s administration has appealed the decision and a stay is possible. Photo: Associated Press/Julio Cortez

Twenty-one same-sex couples who received marriage licenses in Montgomery County this past summer sued the state last week in an effort to have their marriages recognized. The couples filed suit in Commonwealth Court Sept. 24, calling PAGE 23

PA marriage-equality bill introduced By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com One week after a New Jersey judge paved the way for marriage equality in the Garden State, lawmakers on this side of the Delaware launched their own push for same-sex marriage. Out state Rep. Brian Sims (D-182nd Dist.) and Rep. Steve McCarter (D-154th Dist.) introduced a marriage-equality bill Oct. 3. House Bill 1686 is only the second time a bill calling for full marriage rights

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2013

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By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

for same-sex couples has been introduced in the Pennsylvania House; former state Rep. Babette Josephs spearheaded such legislation in 2011, but that bill did not move out of committee. McCarter and Sims announced their plan to introduce the bill this past summer and unveiled the legislation at a press conference Thursday. The bill currently has 31 cosponsors, with two more expected to join by the end of this week. The bill includes PAGE 18 support

Ballot on page 24 or go to epgn.com and click the link

CONVERGING IDEAS: LGBT demonstrators accepted an impromptu invite to march with Indian festival Parade of Chariots, Sept. 28 on the Parkway. The LGBT rally mobilized support for marriage equality and nondiscrimination, especially from College Day attendees. Organizers included Marriage Equality USA, the Delaware Valley chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, The Summit Coalition of LGBT Activists and Allies and Marriage Equality for Pennsylvania, whose co-founder David Moore (pictured) was among the many rainbow-flag carriers of the day. Photo: Scott A. Drake

REGIONAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

ActionAIDS expands to DelCo By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com Two HIV/AIDS service organizations in the region will collaborate to enhance case-management services for people living in Delaware County. P h i l a d e l p h i a ’s A c t i o n A I D S announced Sept. 25 it will begin providing day-to-day medical case management for clients of Delaware County’s AIDS Care Group. The effort will be supported by about $325,000 from the AIDS Activities C o o r d i n a t i n g O ffi c e a n d f r o m ActionAIDS’ unrestricted funds. Burns said the collaboration will bring on an additional 400 casemanagement clients a month for ActionAIDS and will relieve AIDS Care Group to focus on providing medical care to the approximately 300 patients it sees per month, along with the 150 patients who seek dental care each month. AIDS Care Group currently has 70

staffers. ActionAIDS employed 64 case managers in 2012, who served 2,460 clients. AIDS Care Group director of integrative medicine Kevin Moore said his organization was encouraged to pursue the collaboration because of ActionAIDS’ record of success in case management. “We had done case management for clients for a number of years and never felt like our services there had that integral quality, and we had seen ActionAIDS be successful with so many clients on a large scale,” he said. Burns said the organization will now have five newly hired case managers and one supervisor at the AIDS Care Group site in Chester and will also rent office space next to the clinic. More than 2,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS in Delaware County, more than in Bucks, Montgomery and Chester. Moore said the collaboration could be especially important for the uninsured,

who comprise about half of AIDS Care Group’s clients. He noted ActionAIDS has a proven “track record” for connecting clients with insurance. Burns said the collaboration will fuse both organizations’ strengths to create more cohesive services to their clients. “There is a lot of synergy around how we approach our work at ActionAIDS and how AIDS Care Group works,” he said. “I felt their strength was providing high-quality dental and medical care. They thought our strength was medical case management. Their model is similar to our model in terms of trying to be holistic.” In January, Burns said, ActionAIDS will begin subcontracting at AIDS Care Group’s small clinic in West Philadelphia to help clients struggling to stay connected with traditional primary care. For more information onActionAIDS, visit www.actionaids.org. For more information on AIDS Care Group, visit http://aidscaregroup.org. ■

Trans woman murdered in NJ A transgender woman was stabbed to death last week in New Jersey. Eryicka Morgan, 26, was found in her New Brunswick apartment Sept. 24 with multiple stab wounds and died later that night at the hospital. Police quickly arrested 2 1 - y e a r- o l d D evo n t e Scott, who lived at the same boarding house as Morgan. He has been charged with murder and weapons offenses and is being held on $1 million bail. Morgan is a former Rutgers University student who was involved with the North Jersey Community Research Initiative. She spoke at a 2011 LGBT conference at

Rutgers about her experience coming out as transgender, which included leaving home as a young teenager. A motive in the case is unclear. The New Brunswick Police Department directed requests for information to the Middlesex C o u n t y P r o s e c u t o r ’s Office, which declined to comment beyond a prepared informational release. The Prosecutor’s Office refused to comment on whether the incident was motivated by anti-transgender animus or if the case is being investigated as a hate crime. ■ — Jen Colletta

locations in Philadelphia PHILADELPHIA — NORTH OF C.C.

1 Shot Coffee, 1040 N. Second St. • 2601 Parkway Condos lobby, 2601 Pennsylvania Ave. • Bebashi, 1217 Spring Garden St. • Beehive Hair Salon, 2319 Fairmount Ave. • Beth Ahavah, 615 N. Broad St. • Bridgeview Place Condo lobby, 315 New St. • Colonnade Condos lobby, 1601 Spring Garden St. • Community College CCP Lambda, 1700 Spring Garden St. • Congresso de Latinos, American St. & Lehigh Ave. • Crooked Frame Café, 2545 Brown St. • Darling’s Diner, 1033 N. Second St. • Filter Coffee House, 331 Race St. • Girard Vet, 28th St. & Girard Ave. • HIV Early Intervention Clinic, St. Joseph’s Hospital, 16th St. & Girard Ave. • Logan View Apts. lobby, 17th & Callowhill sts. • Northern Liberties Iron Works, 821 N. Second St. • One Day At A Time, 2532 N. Broad St. • Philadelphian Condos lobby, 2401 Pennsylvania Ave. • PYT Restaurant, 1050 N. Hancock St., at the Piazza • Sammy’s Place, 1449 N. Fifth St., 1st ﬂoor • Shampoo, Seventh & Willow sts. • SILOAM Ministries, 1133 Spring Garden St. • Temple University Student Activity Center, 1755 N. 12th St. • Welker Real Estate, 2311 Fairmount Ave. • Whole Foods Market, 2001 Pennsylvania Ave. •

PHILADELPHIA — SOUTH OF C.C.

Bethel Community Home, 933-935 S. Third St. • Black N Brew, 1523 E. Passyunk Ave. • Carmen’s Country Kitchen, 11th & Wharton sts. • Class Act Auto Repair, 2042 S. Bancroft St. • Equal, 1516 Snyder Ave. • Essene, 719 S. Fourth St. • Expressive Hand, 622 S. Ninth St. • Fuel, 1917 E. Passyunk Ave. • Hideaway, Days Inn, 2015 Penrose Ave. • Jackson Place, 501 Jackson St. • Kris Restaurant, 1100 Federal St. • Rockerhead Salon, 607 S. Third St. • South Philly Bagels, 613 S. Third St. • Ultimo Coffee, 1900 S. 15th St. •

PHILADELPHIA — UNIVERSITY CITY

Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St. • Bucks County Coffee, 3430 Sansom St. • Bucks County Coffee, 40th & Locust sts. • Fresh Grocer, 4001 Walnut St. • Goodman Hall, 710 S. 42nd St. • International House, 3701 Chestnut St. • LGBT Center at Penn, 3907 Spruce St. • Old Quaker Condos lobby, 3514 Lancaster Ave. • Oslo Hall, 510 S. 42nd St. • Penn Bookstore, 3610 Walnut St. • Sheraton Hotel, 36th & Chestnut sts. • St. Mary’s Church, 3916 Locust Walk • University of the Sciences England Library, 4200 Woodland Ave. • University Lutheran Church, 3637 Chestnut St. • Wilson Hall, 708 S. 42nd St. • World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. •

PHILADELPHIA NEIGHBORHOODS — OTHER

Almost Paradise, 742 Frankford Ave. • Coffee Junction, 7210 Cresheim Road • Elfant Wissahickon Realty, 8962 Ridge Ave. • Fantasy Island Books, 7363 State Road • GWHS Beacon Center, 10175 Bustleton Ave. • Harry’s Natural Foods, 1805 Cottman Ave. • Infusion Salon, 7133 Germantown Ave. • Morris House, 5537 Woodland Ave. • One Day At A Time, 2532 N. Broad St. • Philadelphia University KANBAR Center, 4201 Henry Ave. • Prevention Point, 166 W. Lehigh Ave. • Today’s Videos, 9255 Roosevelt Blvd. • Touch of Class Books, 3342 Kensington Ave. • WCAU TV lobby, City Line Ave. & Monument Road • Weaver’s Way, 559 Carpenter Lane • Welker Real Estate, 2311 Fairmount Ave. • WPVI TV lobby, City Line Ave. & Monument Road •

All of these locations are now visible on a zoomable Google Map at

http://www.epgn.com/pages/where_to_find 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 Oct. 4-10, 2013

PGN

NOTICE OF GENERAL ELECTION

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

Between the hours of 7:00 A.M. and 8:00 P.M. in all election districts and divisions in the City and County of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania there will be ELECTED by the voters of the City and County of Philadelphia persons to fill the following offices, as certified by the Secretary of the Commonwealth and the Philadelphia County Board of Elections. • JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT • JUDGE OF COMMON PLEAS COURT • JUDGE OF MUNICIPAL COURT • OFFICE OF THE CITY CONTROLLER • OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY • JUDGE OF ELECTIONS • INSPECTOR OF ELECTIONS PHILADELPHIA COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS Anthony Clark Chair, City Commissioners Presidente, Comisionados Municipales

Al Schmidt Vice Chair City Commissioners Vice Presidente, Comisionados Municipales

Stephanie Singer City Commissioner Comisionado Municipal

Tim Dowling Acting Supervisor of Elections Supervisor Interino de la Junta Electoral

RUNWAY READY: About 80 ballroom participants and supporters turned out for The COLOURS Organization, Inc.’s miniball Sept. 27 at the William Way LGBT Community Center. The event was held in honor of National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Guests who were tested for HIV or syphilis at the Washington West Project in the last month received free admission to the event. COLOURS recently announced that it moved its offices to a new location, on the third floor of 1207 Chestnut St. Programs and services began at the new office Oct. 2. Photo: Scott A. Drake NEWS

Crime Watch Local Out Law News Briefing Regional

19 12 21 13 2

Poll results from our online survey as of Oct 2:

4% 18% 21% 57%

MARTES, 5 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2013

• JUEZ DEL TRIBUNAL SUPERIOR • JUEZ DEL TRIBUNAL DE CAUSAS COMUNES • JUEZ DEL TRIBUNAL MUNICIPAL • OFICINA DEL CONTRALOR DE LA CIUDAD • FISCALÍA DEL DISTRITO • JUEZ DE ELECCIONES • INSPECTOR DE ELECCIONES CONSEJO ELECTORAL DEL CONDADO DE PHILADELPHIA Anthony Clark Presidente, Comisionados Municipales

Al Schmidt Vice Presidente, Comisionados Municipales

Stephanie Singer Comisionado Municipal

Tim Dowling Supervisor Interino de la Junta Electoral

10 10 11 11 11

Where do you Halloween shop?

AVISO DE ELECCIONES GENERALES

Entre las 7:00 a. m. y 8:00 p. m. en todos los distritos y las divisiones electorales en la ciudad y el condado de Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, los votantes de la ciudad y del condado de Philadelphia nominarán personas para cubrir los siguientes cargos según lo certiﬁca el Secretario de la Mancomunidad y el Consejo electoral del condado de Philadelphia.

Contents

EDITORIAL/OP-ED

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

Halloween store Thrift store I make my own costume None of the above/don’t dress up

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

What is your favorite part of OutFest? 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

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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

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

Employer defends refusal to offer DP benefits By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com The Allegheny Intermediate Unit, an educational-services provider based in Homestead, filed court papers last month defending its refusal to offer domestic-partnership benefits. Bradley A. Ankney, an AIU math teacher, has been trying to add his domestic partner to his health-insurance plan for about a year. In August, Ankney filed suit, contending AIU’s health-benefits policy violates Allegheny County’s ban on sexual-orientation discrimination. But in a Sept. 13 pleading seeking dismissal of Ankney’s suit, the AIU said it allocates health benefits on marital status, not sexual orientation. “The AIU does not provide certain fringe benefits, including health insurance, to unmarried domestic partners, whether such partner is of the same sex or opposite sex,” the pleading states. “Thus, the AIU conditions fringe benefits on marital or familial status, not sexual orientation.” Conditioning health benefits on marital status is legal in Allegheny County, according to AIU’s pleading. The Allegheny County Human Relations Ordinance forbids discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, marital status, familial status and other categories. But so far, a court hasn’t ruled that the ordinance requires employers in the county to offer domestic-partnership benefits. County workers in Allegheny are offered domestic-partnership benefits through a separate initiative, not due to the ordinance. Sara J. Rose, an attorney for Ankney, expressed optimism that he will prevail in the dispute. “AIU’s [health-benefits] policy treats people differently based on sexual orientation, and it has the effect of discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation,” she said. But AIU’s pleading emphasizes that the agency is simply adhering to Pennsylvania’s marital laws. “It is the strong and longstanding public policy of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that marriage shall be between one man and one woman,” the pleading states. “Simply put, this is neither the case nor the forum to challenge Pennsylvania’s marriage statue [sic] as such is for the legislature and the Commonwealth of

Pennsylvania to resolve.” The pleading also claims it’s in the state legislature’s bailiwick to govern issues relating to marital benefits. “[R]egulation of domestic relations is an area that has long been regarded as a virtually exclusive province of the states. Therefore, it is not for this court to agree or disagree with the legislature’s decision on such an issue in this case.” Additionally, the pleading refutes Ankney’s contention that AIU’s policy violates the state’s Equal Rights Amendment, which bans sex discrimination. “[Ankney] has failed to sufficiently allege a cause of action for sex discrimination, in that [Ankney] has failed to allege that male employees are disadvantaged in comparison to female employees on account of the AIU’s fringe benefits policy.” Rose questioned AIU’s understanding of Ankney’s complaint. “The defendants don’t quite grasp what our argument is,” Rose asserted. “If Mr. Ankney were married to a woman, or if he were a woman married to a man, he’d be able to get these benefits. That’s the sex discrimination.” William C. Andrews, an attorney for AIU, had no comment for this story. AIU’s pleading also notes that Ankney and his partner haven’t married in a jurisdiction that allows same-sex marriage. Rose said the men haven’t married for a variety of reasons. “There are some risks if you get married in a state and live in a different state that doesn’t recognize same-sex marriages, including how to get a divorce,” she said. She also noted that AIU hasn’t agreed to provide the benefits if the couple were married in another jurisdiction. “Whether or not Mr. Ankney and his partner get married [in another jurisdiction] has no effect on the underlying case,” she added. The case has been assigned to Common Pleas Judge Christine A. Ward, and a pretrial conference is scheduled for Oct. 8. Rose expects to respond to AIU’s pleading after the conference is held. “[The pleading] is a predictable response to the claims that we made, and we’ll answer it accordingly,” she said. Ankney requested a jury trial but no date has been set. The AIU employs about 2,000 workers in 42 suburban municipalities in Allegheny County. It receives funding through federal, state, county and private grants. ■

“If Mr. Ankney were married to a woman, or if he were a woman married to a man, he’d be able to get these benefits. That’s the sex discrimination.”

— Sara Rose

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

NEWS PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

Marriage-equality movement in New Jersey Jan. 12, 2004: Gov. James McGreevey signs into law New Jersey’s Domestic Partnership Act, which takes effect six months later. Oct. 25, 2006: New Jersey Supreme Court hands down ruling in Lewis v. Harris that mandates the state create a system to grant same-sex couples rights equal to those of married heterosexual couples. Dec. 14, 2006: New Jersey legislature adopts the Civil Union Act, signed into law by Gov. Jon Corzine one week later. Feb. 19, 2006: Civil-union system goes into effect. Dec. 10, 2008: New Jersey Civil Union Review Commission issues its final report, finding the civil-union law to be flawed. Commission calls on the state to legalize full marriage equality. Jan. 7, 2010: The New Jersey Senate defeats a marriage-equality bill in a 20-14 vote. June 29, 2011: Lambda Legal files suit in Mercer County Superior Court on behalf of Garden State Equality and seven same-

LGBTQ parent?

sex couples and their children, arguing full marriage equality is needed to support the Lewis v. Harris finding. Feb. 13, 2012: The New Jersey Senate approves a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in a 24-16 vote. Three days later, the Assembly follows suit in a 42-33 vote. Feb. 17, 2012: Republican Gov. Chris Christie vetoes the marriage-equality bill, calling instead for a public referendum. June 26, 2013: U.S. Supreme Court overturns the provision of the federal Defense of Marriage Act that defines marriage as between one man and one woman. July 3, 2013: Lambda Legal petitions Mercer County Superior Court for a summary judgment, taking into account the SCOTUS ruling.

NEW JERSEY from page 1

position and in all the materials that back it up.” Hoffman filed the appeal in the state Supreme Court, bypassing the appellate court. The court could choose to hear the appeal or could send it first to the appellate court. At a news conference Monday, state Democratic leaders called on the state’s top court to fast-track the decision before the Oct. 21 date. State Senate president Steven Sweeney told PGN he expects the Supreme Court to hear the case quickly — and that it will be a success. “I would expect the court to rule in favor because of what happened with DOMA,” he said.

in which the state Supreme Court case ruled that samesex couples are required to have the same protections as married heterosexual couples, prompting the legislature to adopt a civilunion law. In 2011, Lambda Legal challenged the civil-union law on behalf of Garden State Equality and a group of same-sex couples. The lawsuit was renewed July 3, when Lambda Legal asked Jacobson to avoid a trial and rule on the law in light of the U.S. Supreme Court finding that the federal ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. Jacobson’s order noted that same-sex couples are harmed by their ineligibility for federal benefits. “This unequal treatment

right now we got it, but the court could change that,” he said. “We need to continue to push legislatively.” Sweeney said legislators are still working on overriding Gov. Chris Christie’s 2012 veto of marriage-equality legislation. Lawmakers have until Jan. 14 to do so. Sweeney said the pending bill’s religious exemption could be key in bringing on new Republican support. “We don’t think the court will give religious exemption and our legislation has religious exemption, so Republicans are more than likely to come on board so we can once and for all finish the job at hand,” he said. He added that supporters of marriage equality

Sept. 27, 2013: Mercer County Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobson rules that the state must allow marriage equality, beginning Oct. 21. Sept. 30, 2013: Christie’s administration appeals Jacobson’s ruling; requests a stay.

want to be?

4th Annual Family Matters Conference October 19, 2013 9:00 am - 4:00 pm William Way LGBT Community Center Philadelphia, PA Workshops, panels and speakers on three themes:

Telling Your Stories Knowing Your Rights Growing Your Family www.phillyfamilypride.org/family-matters-conference

PLAINTIFF CINDY MENEGHIN (CENTER, RIGHT) HUGS LAMBDA LEGAL ATTORNEY HAYLEY GORENBERG SEPT. 27 AT AN IMPROMPTU RALLY AT GARDEN STATE EQUALITY’S HEADQUARTERS IN MONTCLAIR TO CELEBRATE THE RULING LEGALIZING MARRIAGE EQUALITY IN NEW JERSEY. Photo: Associated Press/Julio Cortez

The news of New Jersey’s tentative victory was a bittersweet moment for Equality Pennsylvania executive director Ted Martin, who noted Pennsylvania has yet to even adopt nondiscrimination protections for its LGBT citizens. “Once again, Pennsylvania finds itself more outlying and it is very frustrating. It outlines the amount of work that has to be done,” he said. “While marriage equality is important, we miss basic fundamental protections in Pennsylvania.” New Jersey’s fight for marriage equality started in 2006 with Lewis v. Harris,

requires that New Jersey extend civil marriage to same-sex couples to satisfy the equal-protection guarantees of the New Jersey Constitution as interpreted by the New Jersey Supreme Court in Lewis,” Jacobson wrote. Stevenson said he was sitting at his computer when the news came through in an email. Although he and Garden State Equality took time that night to celebrate at an impromptu rally, the staff went right back to work on the next steps in the case. “It is not over until we can guarantee the freedom for couples to marry and

should continue to oppose Christie’s proposal to put the issue of same-sex marriage to a public vote. “It is a civil-rights issue, and you don’t put civil rights on the ballot.” Depending on the outcome of the appeal, if the ruling goes into effect Oct. 21, couples would be permitted to marry 72 hours after they receive their licenses. “If the administration doesn’t succeed in blocking the ruling, then people can get married on Oct. 24,” Gorenberg said. “But if they do succeed, we are going to fight for the ultimate win.” ■

HISTORY PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

LGBT History Month

Henry Gerber: Ahead of his time By St. Sukie de la Croix Windy City Times

aliens of German birth were now “alien enemies,” and 8,000 were detained using presidential arrest warrants. Gerber was “offered On May 15, 1871, the German Criminal internment,” which he accepted, as it guarCode was revised to include Paragraph 175, anteed three meals a day. After the war, he a law making sexual acts between males ille- re-enlisted in the Army on Oct. 2, 1919, at Jefferson Barracks, near Lemay, gal. The first challenge to the law Mo., a training and recruitment came in 1897 when Dr. Magnus center for soldiers being sent to Hirschfeld founded the gay fight in Europe or, in Gerber’s organization Wissenschaftlichcase, to join a regiment of the humanitäres Komitee (ScientificAmerican Forces in Germany, Humanitarian Committee). Its where he was part of a company first action was to draft a petiengaged in publishing the daily tion against Paragraph 175 with AMAROC News for troops. 6,000 signatures of prominent It was while serving in Coblenz people in the arts, politics and that Gerber found Hirschfeld’s the medical profession; it failed HENRY GERBER S c i e n t i f i c - H u m a n i t a r i a n to have any effect. Committee. He wrote later: “In One American inspired by the work of Hirschfeld was Henry Gerber, Coblenz on the Rhine, I had subscribed to who in 1924 was granted an official charter German homophile magazines and made by the state of Illinois for the Society for several trips to Berlin, which was then not Human Rights, the first gay-rights organi- occupied by American forces. I had always zation in the United States, which he ran bitterly felt the injustice with which my own American society accused the homosexual from his home on Crilly Court in Chicago. Gerber was born Josef Henry Dittmar on of ‘immoral acts.’ “What could be done about it, I thought. June 29, 1892, in Passau, Bavaria, Germany. On Oct. 27, 1913, Gerber (still called Unlike Germany, where the homosexual Dittmar at the time) arrived at New York’s was partially organized and where sex legEllis Island on the SS George Washington islation was uniform for the whole counand then traveled west to Chicago, where try, the United States was in a condition of he worked briefly for Montgomery Ward’s chaos and misunderstanding concerning its mail-order house. His first known address in sex laws, and no one was trying to unravel the tangle and bring relief to the abused.” Gerber returned to Chicago, took up residence at 1710 N. Crilly Ct. and began work for the Post Office Department. In the spring of 1924, he formed SHR with a handful of friends. Gerber’s strategy was to network and gain support from other “sex reform” leaders, including Margaret Sanger, the American birth-control advocate, but nobody seemed interested. ST. SUKIE DE LA CROIX AT GERBER’S GRAVESITE Undeterred, he decided to go it Photo: Gregg Shapiro alone. Through a lawyer, SHR applied for and received a charter the United States was 507 Stone St., Joliet, from the state of Illinois on Dec. 10, 1924. Ill., from where he enlisted in the Army on It is thought the group never had more than Jan. 26, 1914. In his military documents, 10 members. Gerber elected himself secrehe described himself as 5-foot-7 and one- tary; president was the Rev. John T. Graves, half, 180 pounds, with blue eyes and brown “a preacher who preached brotherly love to hair. He changed his name to Gerber after- small groups of Negroes”; vice president ward — though he was still using the name was Al Meininger, an “indigent laundry Joseph Henry Dittmar on his June 5, 1917, queen”; and treasurer was Ralph Ellsworth draft registration card, which described him Booher, whose job with a railroad was as 5-foot-8, slender, with blue eyes and threatened when his homosexuality became blond hair. On it, he mentioned prior mili- known. Throughout the rest of his life, tary service but now claimed exemption on Gerber lamented that SHR failed to attract “men of good reputation.” In Germany, the grounds of conscientious objection to war. On April 6, 1917, the United States homophile movement included enlightened declared war on Germany, and the newspa- politicians, doctors and scientists, as well pers became filled with lurid tales of German as those in the arts, but in the United States spies. As a result, the United States opened nobody was willing to stick a neck out for internment camps; 50,000 unnaturalized homosexuals. PAGE 26

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

HISTORY PGN

Make P lans for a Great Getaway to the Shore at the Golden Inn in Avalon

LGBT History Month

Baron von Steuben ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ from to Franklin to Washington, from France to the U.S. By Mark Segal PGN Publisher

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After years of studying almost anything available on Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, the material suggesting that von Steuben was gay is so overwhelming that the only thing that can be asked of anyone who doubts it is, “Prove to me he’s not.” There literally is not room in this article to list all the facts that point to a practice of homosexuality on the part of von Steuben. On the other hand, there is only one thing historians can point to that suggests von Steuben was heterosexual, and it comes from the first biography on the baron in 1859, “The Life of Frederick William von Steuben” by Friedrich Kapp. At the end of the 700-plus-page bio, Kapp writes, “Steuben was never married. It seems, however, that he met with a disappointment in early life. While preparing to remove to his farm, the accidental fall of a portrait of a most beautiful young woman, from his cabinet, which was picked up by his companion and shown to him, with the request to be told from whom it was taken, produced a most obvious emotion of strong tenderness, and the pathetic exclamation, ‘O, she was a matchless woman!’ He never afterwards alluded to the subject.” This flimsy story is one of the few items in the book with no attribution. It has since been attributed to a host of the baron’s acquaintances. But most interesting of all is that each time von Steuben encountered the charge of being “homosexual,” he never denied it or defended himself, he just moved on. There are few historians today who would doubt that von Steuben was gay. That is the notion this writer has argued for the past two years, and no accredited historian has refuted its main theme that, without von Steuben, there would be no United States and that, in today’s terms, von Steuben would be considered a gay man. This update contains new historical material to add to the growing list of details about him. This new information might prove Baron von Steuben was the first case of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” To appreciate the contributions von Steuben (1730-94) made to the American Revolution, consider this: Before his arrival in Valley Forge in 1778, the colonies were on the path to defeat. Without his leadership, our modern America might still be the British Colonies. Before von Steuben arrived at Valley Forge, the Revolutionary Army was a loosely organized, rag-tag band of men with little military training or discipline. The military fumbled through the beginning of the war for independence lacking training and

organization. Gen. George Washington and the Continental Congress knew that, without help from additional seasoned military experts, the colonies would clearly lose. Since Washington himself was the best the colonies had, they looked to Europe for someone who could train the troops. To that end, Washington wrote the colonies’ representatives in Paris, among them Benjamin Franklin, to see what he could come up with. Franklin, a renowned inventor, was treated as a celebrity in the French court. This would be pivotal in achieving his two major objectives in France: winning financial support for the American Revolution and finding military leaders who could bring a semblance of order to the Revolutionary Army. Franklin learned of a “brilliant Prussian” military genius, Lt. Gen. Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, who had a string of successes across Germanic Europe. But there was one problem. He’d been asked to depart many of those states and countries because of his “affections for members of his own sex,” according to biographer Paul Lockhart’s “The Drillmaster of Valley Forge.” This became urgent in 1777 when von Steuben literally escaped imprisonment in what is now Germany and traveled to Paris. There, Franklin was interviewing candidates to assist Washington back in the colonies when his fellow Colonial representative Silas Deane brought von Steuben to his residence for an interview in June. During the process, Franklin discovered von Steuben’s reputation for having “affections” with males and the issue became pressing, as members of the French clergy demanded the French court, as in other countries, take action against this sodomite, whom they considered a pedophile. They had decided to make their effort a crusade and run him out of France. Lockhart’s biography tells of von Steuben’s being summoned from Paris for Karlsrube, at the court of the Margrave of Baden, for a military vacancy. But, Lockhart notes, “what he found waiting for him at Karlsrube was not an officer’s commissioner but a rumor, a horrible, vicious rumor” that the Baron had “taken familiarities with young boys.” Those allegations were fueled by von Steuben’s close ties to Prince Henry and Frederick the Great, also “widely rumored

HISTORY PGN

to be homosexual.” Von Steuben returned to Paris, and Franklin had a choice here — and he decided von Steuben’s expertise was more important to the colonies than his sexuality. While it can be debated how much a part Franklin played in the recruitment of von Steuben, one cannot doubt that one of the most informed people at the French court would know of the allegations against the baron. With that knowledge, and with von Steuben about to be jailed, Franklin, along with Deane, wrote what must be the nation’s first example of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” as they mutually signed a recommendation letter to Gen. Washington that embellished von Steuben’s military expertise and titles and suggested he had been recommended by various princes and “other great personages.” Most surprisingly, it remarked that “his distinguished character and known abilities were attested to by two judges of military merit in this country.” The judges of character that Franklin referred to were two of the four involved in the plot to bring von Steuben to America, along with Franklin and Deane, and personal friends of the baron: Pierre Beaumarchais, author of the “Figaro” plays and an arms dealer who supplied arms for the ship von Steuben eventually sailed on, and Claude Louis, Comte de Saint-Germain, the minister of war under Louis XVI. What the letter didn’t mention was that he was about to be arrested and appear before judges in France. Franklin, working with Deane, decided von Steuben’s “affections” were less important than what he, Washington and the colonies needed to win the war with England. Deane learned of von Steuben’s indiscretions — and that the French clergy was investigating — from a letter to the Prince of Hechingen, which read in part: “It has come to me from different sources that M. de Steuben is accused of having taken familiarities with young boys, which the laws forbid and punish severely. I have even been informed that that is the reason why M. de Steuben was obliged to leave Hechingen and that the clergy of your country intend to prosecute him by law as soon as he may establish himself anywhere.” The proof of Franklin and Deane’s knowledge lies in the letter to Washington recommending von Steuben and their quick action to secure the baron from France. So in September 1777, von Steuben boarded a 24-gun

ship named Heureux — but, for this voyage, the ship’s name was changed to Le Flamand, and the baron’s name was entered onto the captain’s log as “Frank.” And he was on his way to the colonies. Washington and Franklin’s trust in von Steuben was rewarded. He whipped the rag-tag army of the colonies into a professional fighting force, able to take on the most powerful superpower of the time, England. Some of his accomplishments include instituting a “model company” for training, establishing sanitary standards and organization for the camp and training soldiers in drills and tactics such as bayonet fighting and musket loading. According to the New

York Public Library, (“The Papers of Von Steuben”) these were his achievements: • February 1778: Arrives at Valley Forge to serve under Washington, having informed Congress of his desire for paid service after an initial volunteer trial period, with which request Washington concurs. • March 1778: Begins tenure as inspector general, drilling troops according to established European military precepts. • 1778-79: Writes “Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States,” which becomes a fundamental guide for the Continental Army and remains in active use through the War of 1812, was published in over 70 editions. • 1780-81: Senior military officer in charge of troop and supply mobilization in Virginia. • 1781: Replaced by Marquis de Lafayette as commander in Virginia.

• 1781-83: Continues to serve as Washington’s inspector general, and is active in improving discipline and streamlining administration in the Army. • Spring 1783: Assists in formulating plans for the post-war American military. Washington rewarded von Steuben with a house at Valley Forge, which he shared with his aide-de-camps Capt. William North and Gen. Benjamin Walker. Walker lived with him through the remainder of his life, and von Steuben, who neither married nor denied any of the allegations of homosexuality, left his estate to North and Walker. There wasn’t much else to claim, as the baron was in debt at the time of his death, according to both Kapp and Lockhart. His last will and testament has been described as a love letter to Walk and has been purported to describe their “extraordinarily intense emotional relationship,” yet that line was not in the Kapp biography of 1859. Both North and Walker are featured in the statue of von Steuben in Lafayette Park across from the White House. Von Steuben and with whom he slept was long a matter of discussion — from Prussia to France to the United States. Yet he never publicly denied it. The closest he came was to ask Washington to speak on behalf of his morals in a letter to Congress so he could get his pension. And why did he ask Washington? Since his arrival in Philadelphia to assist the Revolution, von Steuben had financial issues caused by a Continental Congress that often didn’t keep its funding promises, a challenge compounded by his own personality: Von Steuben at times could be cold and aloof, which was problematic when diplomacy was needed with an important member of Congress. He also had a tendency to live and spend extravagantly, especially on his uniforms, which were often emblazoned with epaulettes and medals of his own design. Adding to that were the constant rumors about his sexuality, which by 1790, reached one of the revolution’s first families, the Adamses of Massachusetts. Charles, the son of John and Abigail Adams — the second president and first lady of the new union — was what today would be called the black sheep of the family. Early on, Abigail considered him “not at peace within himself.” His biggest problem was alcoholism but, as revealed in letters among the various members of

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

the family, the Adamses had other concerns. As John Ferling wrote in the biography “John Adams: A Life,” “There are references to [Charles’] alleged proclivity for consorting with men whom his parents regarded as unsavory.” One of these men was von Steuben, who, as Ferling writes, many at the time considered homosexual. Charles had become infatuated with and adored Von Steuben. It is clear from the family letters that the Adamses were concerned about a relationship between Charles and the baron. Von Steuben’s sexuality was an open secret, one that he himself never challenged, other than to ask Washington to defend

It is clear from the family letters that the Adamses were concerned about a relationship between Charles and the baron. Von Steuben’s sexuality was an open secret, one that he himself never challenged, other than to ask Washington to defend his moral character. his moral character. The baron is a puzzle. At first, I really didn’t like him: The man himself was pompous, cold and theatrical, and his uniforms and title were stage props for an officer who didn’t even speak English when he got to Valley Forge. But I respected him for what he did to help Washington’s rag-tag army to defeat the British, eventually leading to the creation of our country. His knowledge created the first sense of military discipline in the colonies. My appreciation for him came from his most recent biographer, Lockhart, whose book “The Drillmaster of Valley Forge” offers a complete look at von Steuben’s work. There is one story in the book that could be considered rather scandalous in today’s terms: Von Steuben most likely threw the first underwear party in the United States military, at his house in Valley Forge. As Lockhart writes, “The Baron hosted a party exclusively for their

lower-ranking friends. He insisted, though, that ‘none should be admitted that had on a whole pair of breeches,’ making light of the shortages that affected the junior officers as they did the enlisted men.” Apart from this humorous anecdote, it’s hard to question von Steuben’s importance — especially as Washington’s last official act as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army was to write a letter to the baron. Sent from Annapolis and dated Dec. 23, 1783, Washington wrote: “My dear Baron: Altho’ I have taken frequent opportunities, both in public and private, of acknowledging your great zeal, attention and abilities in performing the duties of your office; yet I wish to make use of this last moment of my public life, to signifie [sic] in the strongest terms my entire approbation of your conduct, and to express my sense of the obligations the public is under to you, for your faithful and meritorious services. “I beg you will be convinced, my dear sir, that I should rejoice if it could ever be in my power to serve you more essentially than by expressions of regard and affection; but in the meantime, I am persuaded you will not be displeased with this farewell token of my sincere friendship and esteem for you. “This is the last letter I shall ever write while I continue in the service of my country; the hour of my resignation is fixed at 12 this day, after which I shall become a private citizen on the banks of the Potomack, where I shall be glad to embrace you, and to testify the great esteem and consideration with which I am, etc.”1 The nation that von Steuben helped found has memorialized him with numerous statues, including those at Lafayette Square near the White House and at Valley Forge and Utica, N.Y. (where he is buried) and German Americans celebrate his birthday each year on Sept. 17, hosting parades in New York City, Philadelphia and Chicago. It was von Steuben, a gay man, who played a giant role in not only the creation of our military, but the idea of military academies, a standing Army and even veterans organizations. If George Washington was the father of the nation, then von Steuben, a gay man, was the father of the United States military. ■ 1. From the original letter in the office of the Secretary of the United States Senate.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

EDITORIAL PGN

Creep of the Week

D’Anne Witkowski

Vladimir Putin

Editorial

Playing catch-up The LGBT-rights movement in our nation has been heading forward at an almost unstoppable speed in recent years. The progress in Pennsylvania, however, has been — to put it mildly — slow, although recent events seemed to have sparked a fire propelling the Keystone State to inch forward. Pennsylvania has seen the most activity on the marriage-equality front in the past three months than it has in history. In July, Montgomery County began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Also that month, a federal lawsuit was filed challenging the state’s ban on same-sex marriage. Our Attorney General declared the law unconstitutional and declined to defend it. Over the next two months, 174 same-sex couples received marriage licenses in Pennsylvania. The operation was shut down last month but this week the county appealed. Last month, a lesbian couple filed another federal lawsuit, calling on the state to recognize same-sex marriages from other jurisdictions, while a group of couples married in Montgomery County sued in state court for recognition of their marriages. And this week, marriage-equality legislation was introduced in the state House for only the second time ever. Ten years ago, marriage equality wasn’t legal in any jurisdiction in the United States. By 2004, Massachusetts had become the first state to sanction same-sex marriage. And in just the past five years, an astounding 12 states — six in just the last year — and Washington, D.C., have followed suit. If the recent court ruling mandating marriage equality in New Jersey stands, the country will have gone from zero-15 in one decade. Most would agree that if Pennsylvania could only have one immediate LGBTrights advancement, it should be the adoption of an LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinance, rather than a marriage-equality measure. But that’s not to say that, while internal work is being done to ramp up legislative support for the nondiscrimination bill, the state’s ban on same-sex marriage shouldn’t be attacked on all possible fronts. Working to dismantle this very visible icon of discrimination against same-sex couples could be a boon for nondiscrimination efforts. The more Pennsylvanians get to see the real-life impact of the marriage law on same-sex couples and families, the more familiar and relatable the community becomes. And when the issue is raised that these couples fighting for state benefits can also be fired from their jobs, kicked out of their apartments or denied service at a restaurant at most places in Pennsylvania, the more unconscionable the latter seems. Progress isn’t going to come to Pennsylvania overnight. But unrelenting and unapologetic assaults on all facets of institutionalized discrimination in the state that we’re beginning to see can make the potential of Pennsylvania falling in step with the rest of the nation a not-so-distant dream. ■

Want to be horrified? Do a Google image search for “antigay attacks in Russia.” Scroll through the photos of gays, lesbians and pro-LGBT-rights protesters being arrested, harassed and beaten. Let’s just say that Russia makes places in the United States like Alabama and Virginia and Michigan seem like an LGBT paradise. While Russia has never been known as a progressive place, life for LGBT people has become considerably more dangerous after the passage of a strict law banning “gay propaganda.” The law was allegedly intended to keep impressionable children from hearing that homosexuality is anything but evil. Not surprisingly, the law is very broad and basically makes it illegal to be openly gay in Russia. Rainbow flags are literally a crime now. Needless to say, gays and lesbians who are either planning to attend or compete in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia are a little worried. A lot worried, actually, that they will be fined or put in jail or, say, kidnapped and tortured by antigay thugs. Because that’s a legitimate hobby in Russia now. “The latest laws against so-called gay propaganda ... have essentially legalized violence against LGBT people, because these groups of hooligans justify their actions with these laws,” Igor Kochetkov, head of the Russian LGBT Network, told The Guardian earlier this month. “With this legislation, the government said that, yes, gays and lesbians are not valued as a social group.” Kochetkov described the law as “an action to terrorize the entire LGBT community.” Of course, this nightmare could have never come true had it not been for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s signature. But not only did Putin sign it, he also had the audacity to claim that gays and lesbians are not discriminated against in Russia. According to the Associated Press, Putin claimed only “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations among minors” was banned under the law. There is “no infringement on the rights of sexual minorities,” he said. Tell that to the young gay man kidnapped and raped with a bottle after

being tricked into a meeting on a gay social-media site. Tell that to Dmitry Isakov, a 24-year-old man arrested for standing outside with a sign that read, “Being gay and loving gays is normal. Beating gays and killing gays is a crime!” Tell that to the 17 activists arrested in St. Petersburg, the proving ground for the law that became nationwide in late June, for wearing rainbow suspenders and waving rainbow flags last year. Tell that to the parents in Russia who risk having their children taken away, should Putin sign a bill currently advancing in the Parliament that would terminate the parental rights of gays and lesbians. Just because they’re gay. Russian journalist and lesbian activist Masha Gessen recently fled the country in order to protect her family. She doesn’t trust Putin one bit and she’s been watching him closely for years. Her advice to LGBT people is “get the hell out” of Russia. “Historically, this kind of scapegoating is used by politicians to solidify their bases and draw attention away from their failing policies, and no doubt this is what’s happening in Russia,” wrote Harvey Fierstein in a July 21 op-ed in the New York Times. “Mr. Putin’s campaign against lesbian, gay and bisexual people is one of distraction, a strategy of demonizing a minority for political gain taken straight from the Nazi playbook.” Comparing anyone to Hitler is usually ridiculous, but Putin is truly a dangerous man. It’s not hard to imagine him with a mustache. ■

Russian journalist and lesbian activist Masha Gessen recently fled the country in order to protect her family. She doesn’t trust Putin one bit and she’s been watching him closely for years. Her advice to LGBT people is “get the hell out” of Russia.

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.

OP-ED PGN

History in the making years ago we thought that it would not be This is LGBT History Month, and its great for circulation, but instead would be very name signifies a story worth telling, a public service for future use — when as this community is still finding itself and still forming. Are we a gay community? An LGBT history is as popular as black history became in the height of that communiLGBT community? A GLBT community? There’s not just a story to the label we use, ty’s struggle for civil rights. Unfortunately, I personally feel that we haven’t but also to how we got to that label. reached a time yet when our PGN’s LGBT National own community cares or relates History Month Project, underto our rich history, which gives me great pride in local profestaken in coordination with local sional LGBT media who give LGBT media like Washington their time and space in full Blade, San Francisco’s Bar knowledge that good journalism Area Reporter and Chicago’s about our history will find its Windy City Times, among others, deals not only with the place. An old adage goes, If we label we use for a community, don’t learn from our past, we’re doomed to repeat it. but the people who helped create a community where there This project has become a was none. labor of love for me. My piece This month’s project starts on Baron von Steuben — without whom there would be no out with the Revolutionary Mark Segal United States of America — was War in 1778, when a man who a fantastic voyage and treasure would be labeled as gay today hunt for information. Today that research saved the Continental Army from defeat, is becoming a little easier with the digitizahelped create West Point and the Naval tion of historic papers and artifacts. And Academy at Annapolis and started the yes, we have two features on the subject of first U.S. veterans organization — and it digitization as well. could easily be stated he was the first case History is still happening every day and, of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Another piece through this project, we hope you’ll want chronicles the first registered “gay” organization in America, which had its roots to become a part of our mutual history. ■ in Chicago. We will also learn about the Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the first openly transgender student at Harvard nation’s most-award-winning commentaUniversity. tor in LGBT media. He can be reached at Most people are bored by history, and when we started this project almost nine mark@epgn.com.

Mark My Words

We want to know! If you are celebrating an anniversary, engagement, wedding, adoption or other life event, we would be happy to help you announce it to the community. Send your contact information and a brief description of the event to editor@epgn.com.

Letters and Feedback

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

Street Talk What straight ally deserves an award? “Liza Minelli. I adore her. She’s a fabulous lady. I loved her as Lucile in ‘Arrested Development.’ When she Elysha Christiano speaks out retail manager for the gay Northeast Philadelphia community, people listen. I know I do. I’ve always been a big supporter of LGBT rights. Liza Minelli just reinforces my beliefs.”

“Madonna. I’m a huge fan. She’s so inspiring. She really takes care of herself. If I look as good as she does when Katie Harris I’m 55, I’ll go-go dancer be delighted. West Philadelphia I’ve always respected Madonna for her work for people of the LGBT community and people with AIDS.”

“Prince Charles, Prince William and his wife Kate. They’ve made nice gestures of support on behalf of Lee Hardy the LGBT accountant community. London, England I was impressed when Prince Charles had Elton John sing at Princess Diana’s funeral. Then, William and Kate invited Elton John and his husband David Furnish to their wedding. That had a big impact on people. It was seen as an indirect endorsement of the LGBT movement.”

“Chelsea Handler and Kathy Griffin. Humor has a way of making people less freaked out about Daniel Varner a subject. cook They’re Art Museum area helping people relate to the LGBT community by humanizing the issue. In that sense, they’re winning over converts to the cause.”

An open letter to Mayor Nutter Editor’s note: Mayor Michael Nutter recently declined to sever Philadelphia’s ties with Sister City Nizhny Novgorod, Russia’s fifth-largest city, which last year adopted a law banning LGBT propaganda. A similar bill was recently adopted at the federal level. Nutter said ending the 21-year Sister City relationship would be detrimental to LGBTs in Russia. Below is an open letter from a gay former resident of Nizhny Novgorod. Dear Mr. Nutter, As a citizen of Nizhny Novgorod, a gay man and an LGBT activist who was forced to flee the city and Russia due to my fear of persecution by the police for my activities against stigmatization and

discrimination against the LGBT community, I was deeply saddened to find out that you declined to break the SisterCity relationship between Philadelphia and Nizhny Novgorod. I respectfully disagree with your position on this issue: By maintaining this relationship, you do a disservice to the people of Russia and Nizhny Novgorod. Mayoral elections were canceled in my city. The power was usurped by thieves and scoundrels who can’t even maintain the storm-sewer system, which causes the flooding of the streets every time it rains. Recently, the funds for snowplow equipment were embezzled and the city streets were not cleaned the entire winter. Do you think the culprits were found

and held responsible? No! Our parks are destroyed. Our landmarks are taken down without any permission, often under the cover of night, so the activists don’t even have a chance to protest against these atrocities. Our police have turned into a tool of repression, threatening and beating up those who try to exercise their civil rights. Many people have become victims of this persecution. People are beaten up right in the police precincts. I myself was forced to flee because the chief of the anti-extremism department openly threatened on Twitter “to deal” with me. Why? Because I am an openly gay man, because I am HIV-positive, because I try to be a responsible citizen. And because I published an open peti-

tion, signed by several-hundred people, asking Putin to put an end to his activities. I ask you to stop supporting these scoundrels and to not participate in legitimizing these criminals. On behalf of the citizens of Nizhny Novgorod, I respectfully request that you reconsider your decision and hope you will come to the only possible and truly just conclusion: to break the Sister-City relationship with Nizhny Novgorod. By doing this, you will show support to the people of Russia and will say a resolute “no” to the criminals who usurped the power in my city. Viacheslav Revin

LOCAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

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Trans* March marks departure of founder, arrival of awards By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com The Philly Trans* March will celebrate its third annual march next week, the last to be organized under the event’s founder. Christian Lovehall is the brainchild behind the march, which was created to help generate visibility for Philadelphia’s transgender and gender-nonconforming community. This year’s march will set off from Love Park at 3 p.m. Oct. 12. Lovehall was inspired to create the event after attending the funeral of Stacey Blahnik, a transgender woman and the house mother for House of Blahnik who was murdered in 2010. “I felt that a revolutionary movement needed to be created to voice and express concerns about the many social injustices we are constantly facing as a community,” Lovehall said. This year will mark Lovehall’s last as sole organizer as he prepares to relocate to New York

City after he receives top surgery in November. While Lovehall has led the event’s planning, he noted a group of about 15 activists helped get the initial event in 2011 off the ground. Lovehall said the decision for a potential replacement should be left to the community. “I don’t have a specific person in mind, to be honest, and probably won’t pick anyone. It’s really up to the community to decide,” he said. “The march is the Philly Trans* March, meaning it belongs to Philly’s trans* community.” Lovehall said he has been grateful to see the diversity of supporters who have participated in the march — and its impact on the cohesiveness of the community and its supporters. “I love hearing how the march positively affects many of the attendees, old and young,” he said. “After the march, I usually see YouTube videos of folks giving commentary about the march and it makes me happy to hear how inspired people feel

during and after the march, and knowing that I played a part in all of that.” Marchers will head out from Love Park down South Broad Street to Pine, over 13th Street and around City Hall, before returning to Love Park for speakers and live performers. But, before marchers set off, they can help honor community leaders and allies, who will be presented with the event’s inaugural awards. “We wanted to recognize folks in Philly’s trans* community as well as allies, who are doing awesome trans* socialjustice and advocacy work,” Lovehall said. “I feel that leaders in the trans* community are not often recognized and wanted to bring an element of acknowledgement and appreciation to the stage this year.” Aw a r d s p r e s e n t e d include Leader of Hope and Empowerment, Shining Pioneer, Rising Leader, Artist Visibility, Ally Appreciation and SocialChange Achievement. After the march, participants can enjoy speeches, live

music and spoken-word performances. With the recent murder of transgender woman Diamond Williams and the unsolved murders of Blahnik, Kyra Cordova, Nizah Morris and other trans women of color, Lovehall said the march is an opportunity for the community to speak out together against such crimes. “The march is a platform where we can come together as a community to voice our feelings against this type of hate violence faced by trans women of color. And this year will be no different,” he said. “We can all do advocacy work individually,” he continued, “but the march combines all those forces and passions and politically makes a very powerful statement to our city and the world — a statement that inspires real change for real people. I encourage folks to come out to be heard, to be seen and to be proud.” For more information on the Philly Trans* March, visit www.facebook.com/phillytransmarch. ■

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REGIONAL PGN

News Briefing Arguments next week in church dispute The state Commonwealth Court will hear oral arguments next week in the appeal to preserve an old Catholic church that was formerly owned by AIDS agency Siloam. The old Church of the Assumption is located at 1123-33 Spring Garden St. It was built in 1848 and has ties to two local saints, John Neumann and Katharine Drexel. But almost 20 years ago, it was closed by the Archdiocese due to a sharp decline in parishioners, and it’s been vacant since then. The Callowhill Neighborhood Association wants the church preserved as an important part of the city’s heritage.

But the city is seeking permission for its demolition, contending the dilapidated structure is in danger of collapse. Arguments on the dispute are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Oct. 10 at the Widener Building, 1339 Chestnut St., ninth floor. Each side will have up to 10 minutes to argue the case. A three-judge panel will hear the case, but their names weren’t released at presstime. Siloam owned the church for about six years, prior to selling the property to developers John Wei and Mika He in July 2012. Siloam continues to operate in an old Catholic rectory adjacent to the church.

Conshy challenge continues James D. Schneller is continuing to pursue his challenge of Conshohocken’s LGBT-inclusive antibias ordinance, which was enacted in April 2011. Schneller contends the ordinance violates state and federal laws that protect religious freedoms.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

He also claims Conshohocken Borough Council discriminated against him as a Christian by not letting him speak at two council meetings in 2011. On Aug. 21, a three-judge panel of Commonwealth Court dismissed Schneller’s challenge as meritless. But on Sept. 30, Schneller filed a petition asking the court to reconsider its dismissal. Borough solicitor Michael J. Savona said he doesn’t plan to file a response to Schneller’s latest petition. “I see no compelling arguments from Schneller that would cause me to believe this case is appropriate for the court to reconsider its decision,” Savona told PGN. “I believe the court will dismiss his petition.” Schneller couldn’t be reached for comment. Schneller initially challenged the ordinance in Common Pleas Court, but that challenge was dismissed in March 2012. He subsequently appealed to state Commonwealth Court, where the matter remains pending. The ordinance at issue grants civil-rights

protections to LGBTs and other groups in the areas of housing, employment, public education and public accommodations. Violators face a fine of $500 — and up to 90 days in jail — for each offense. — Timothy Cwiek

Liberty conf. at Penn Students For Liberty will host the Philadelphia Regional Conference from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Oct. 5 at the University of Pennsylvania. The conference will include speakers such as Institute for Justice senior attorney Clark Neily and ChoiceMediaTV executive director Bob Bowdon. More than 100 students from across the country are expected to attend to discuss the libertarian movement. Similar conferences will be held across the country through December. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit http://studentsforliberty.org. ■ — Angela Thomas

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

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Scott A. Drake Photography

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

NEWS PGN PA MARRIAGE from page 1

from one Republican state lawmaker, Rep. Chris Ross (158th Dist.). Sims told PGN he believes Pennsylvania’s first out Republican state legislator, Rep. Mike Fleck (R-81st Dist.), will also join. The bill had not been assigned to a committee at presstime but Sims and McCarter said it will likely go to the judiciary or stategovernment committee, which is chaired by antigay state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe. The bill was modeled after a Senate marriage-equality bill introduced in March by Sen. Daylin Leach (D-17th Dist.). McCarter said the rapidly changing marriage laws in the nation could play a big role in garnering more support and cosponsors for the bill. “Every decision that comes down — whether in New Jersey or with the other lawsuits that are pending — each time the publicity of these cases goes forward, we get more discussion,” he said. “Many members are waiting for an opportunity to do this.” Using current events, including here in Pennsylvania, as a jumping-off point will be a good basis for discussion with both fellow lawmakers and constituents, he added. “We have to keep encouraging and pointing out the changing environment. Everything from what happened in Montgomery County to all the decisions coming down, it has moved us in that direction,” he said. “Pennsylvania will soon be isolated. Equality for all is what is needed.” Pennsylvania is the only state in the Northeast to not offer recognition of samesex unions. If New Jersey’s pending court ruling is upheld, it will be the only state in the Northeast without marriage equality. McCarter said he expects the bill to have a hearing but said House Republicans have not been forthcoming with bills that are LGBT-specific. “This is why we need more pressure from the public, because it will interest legislators,” McCarter added. This past spring, Rep. Mark Cohen (D202nd Dist.) introduced House Bill 1178 to legalize civil unions in Pennsylvania. But Sims contended the civil-union system should be a thing of the past. “We tried separate but equal for a long time in our country and it wasn’t effective,” he said. “There were places in the country where civil unions were palpable enough to pass but now it is like having a conversation in 2003, not 2013. Civil unions are not equal to marriage when it comes to federal law.” Sims said that although Gov. Tom Corbett does not support marriage equality, LGBT bills still need to be initiated to keep the conversation moving forward, especially among Republicans. “It is a process, you need to get people familiar with the issue,” he said, noting that the LGBT nondiscrimination ordinance had little support when first introduced but now has more than 90 cosponsors. “Republicans in the country are politically aware on what is riding on them. They aren’t the Republicans of 1995. With this bill, we give them the opportunity to distance themselves from the extremely hateful far-right conservatives.” ■

LOCAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

Gayborhood Crime Watch The following incidents in the Midtown Village and Washington Square West areas were reported to the 6th Police District between Sept. 16-22. 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 — Between noon-1 p.m. Sept. 16, someone stole a tire from a secured bicycle outside 1229 Chestnut St. — At 3:15 p.m. Sept. 17, a man snatched someone’s iPhone outside 1315 Lombard St. and fled north. The suspect was described as a black male in his 20s wearing a black jacket and black pants. — At 3:35 p.m. Sept. 17, a male stole an iPhone that was left on the counter near the door of Mercado, 1216 Spruce St. The suspect was described as a 25-year-old black male, 5-foot-8, 180 pounds, who was wearing a black hoodie over a black T-shirt. — At 10:20 a.m. Sept. 18, an employee was in the basement of the floral shop at 1200 Spruce St., heard a noise upstairs, came up and saw a male leaving the store, and noticed phone equipment was missing. The suspect was described as a black male wearing a black shirt and black pants. — At 4:30 p.m. Sept. 18, a male on a bicycle snatched a Galaxy phone from a

person’s hands at 12th and Sansom streets. The suspect was described as a black male wearing a multicolored shirt on a Beach Cruiser bike. — On Sept. 18, a woman reported a bicycle had been stolen from her apartment in the 1200 block of Walnut Street while she was away. There was no forced entry. A witness informed the woman her former friend used a key on Aug. 22 to enter and take a bicycle from her apartment. The suspect has been identified to Central Detectives and a warrant for burglary will be obtained. — At 8:20 p.m. Sept. 19, a male stole an iPhone sitting on an outdoor table at More Than Just Ice Cream, 1119 Locust St. The suspect was described as a black male in his 30s, 5-foot-8, with a beard, close-cut hair and dark complexion, wearing a black shirt and jeans. — On Sept. 20, an employee of Zavino, 112 S. 13th St., put his bicycle in the basement, the door to which was open, and later discovered it missing. Security video showed that at 10:47 a.m., a male accessed the area from outside and stole the bike. The suspect was described as a 30-yearold black male, 5-foot-9, 180 pounds, with a mustache and wearing a black baseball cap, a gray sweatshirt and jeans. — At 5:55 p.m. Sept. 20, a man on a bicycle snatched a person’s iPhone at 11th and Market streets. The suspect was described as a black man wearing a blue T-shirt. — Between 12:30-9:15 a.m. Sept. 21, someone stole a secured bicycle from outside 1229 Chestnut St.

NON-SUMMARY ARRESTS — At 9:35 p.m. Sept. 17, members of the 6th District Narcotics Enforcement Team observed an illegal drug deal outside Juniper and Irving streets. The alleged seller fled on a bicycle and was apprehended in the 1300 block of Chancellor Street. A quantity of crack cocaine and cash was recovered. The 19-year-old suspect with a South Philadelphia address was charged with illegal narcotics sales. — At 1:30 a.m. Sept. 20, 6th District bikepatrol Officer Hiller arrested a male outside 800 Walnut St. on a bench warrant for failure to appear for court. The 29-yearold suspect with a Delran, N.J., address was charged with contempt of court. — At 2 a.m. Sept. 21, a man snatched an iPhone from the owner’s hand in the 1000 block of Walnut Street. A witness tackled the suspect and held him for police. The 51-year-old homeless man was charged with robbery and related offenses. SUMMARY ARRESTS — On Sept. 17, 6th District officers issued citations for summary offenses at 11:10 a.m. outside 200 S. 13th St. and at 8:30 p.m. outside 1300 Walnut St. — On Sept. 18, 6th District officers issued citations for summary offenses at 11:30 p.m. outside 1200 Chancellor St. and at 11:45 p.m. outside 1220 Sansom St. — At 8:25 p.m. Sept. 20, 6th District officers issued a citation for a summary offense outside 1312 Walnut St. ■

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

Chestnut ss St. 4

Prince Music Theater

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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 2. Adonis Cinema 2026 Sansom St. 215.557.9319

for the OutFest edition of PGN to hear all about what’s going in Philly for OutFest weekend! From cover to cover, PGN will be your guide to help you celebrate being out and proud in the Gayborhood and beyond.

Quince St.

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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

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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

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

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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

LEGAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

Conquering conversion therapy Conversion therapy is a danger- introduce a companion measure ous practice that employs a range in the Senate earlier this year. of pseudo-scientific treatments This most recent bill came about in January through Sims’ col(and that’s putting it nicely!) laboration with Ed Coffin of the aiming to “convert” people from Peace Advocacy Network and queer to straight. Conversion Monique Walker, a therapy has been a source of intense concounselor at The Attic troversy in the United Youth Center. States and around the “It was something that we had world, and is highly criticized by virtually been talking about for quite a long time, all major American medical, psychiatric, given the lack of psychological and LGBT civil rights in professional counselPennsylvania,” Sims said at a press confering organizations. ence announcing the People who have legislation. Sims and undergone conversion Williams said they therapy have reported increased anxiety, Angela expect their respective depression and, in bills to be addressed Giampolo in next year’s legislasome cases, suicidal ideation. These devtive session. astating consequences are why Once the American Psychiatric Association stopped classifyLGBT advocates around the ing homosexuality as a mental country, including our very own state Rep. Brian Sims and Sen. disorder in 1973, conversion Anthony H. Williams, here in therapy lost support. Most critical Pennsylvania, are dedicated to readings of the scientific literature suggest that gay conversion ending conversion therapy and therapy — and other attempts defending the rights of individuals harmed by it. to reorient same-sex love and Last month, Williams and Sims attraction — simply do not work. announced a plan to introduce a Instead, they can cause serious harm. Not only do these treatcomplementary, bipartisan bill ments prove unsuccessful, but in the state House to ban conversion therapy for minors. Williams there are also no professional

Out Law

standards or guidelines for how they are conducted. Early treatments in the 1960s and ’70s included aversion therapy, such as shocking patients or giving them nausea-inducing drugs while showing them same-sex erotica, according to a 2004 article in the British Medical Journal. Today, methods include psychoanalysis, estrogen treatments to reduce libido in men and even electroconvulsive therapy, in which an electric shock is used to induce a seizure, with possible side effects such as memory loss, suicidal thoughts and depression. If successful, Pennsylvania will be the third state to ban conversion therapy, after California and New Jersey. In California, Gov. Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 1172 into law last year, making the state the first in the nation to pass legislation banning conversion therapy for minors. Like the Pennsylvania bill, the California legislation bans mental-health providers from engaging in conversion-therapy practices and states that providers who do not abide by the ban will be subject to disciplinary action. This bill, like Pennsylvania’s, does not target religious counselors or groups practicing conversion therapy,

in an attempt to steer clear of religious pushback for First Amendment rights. In December, Liberty Counsel, on behalf of litigious members of the National Association of Research and Therapy of Homosexuals, among other plaintiffs, was granted an injunction by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. However, the court in August went on to uphold the new law. The case could proceed to the U.S. Supreme Court. In New Jersey, four former clients of a counseling group sued for deceptive practices, arguing that they paid thousands for therapies that did not rid them of same-sex attractions. Supporters of conversion therapy have framed the debate as a parental-rights issue, however even Republican Gov. Christie said the health risks of the practice outweigh such concerns. Massachusetts and New York are also considering similar legislation. However, just because Pennsylvania’s bill shadows the already-successful California legislation doesn’t mean this is going to be easy for us. Unlike in California and New Jersey, Pennsylvania has both a Republican governor and a Republican-controlled state legis-

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lature, which could greatly affect the bill’s chances for passage. The bill would seek to prohibit licensed therapists from trying to change a child’s sexual orientation by attempting to alter their behaviors, gender expression or sexual attraction to the same sex. The main issue to address, as with all legislation that seeks to stop a particular behavior/practice, is enforcement. What recourse will there be against licensed physiotherapists and counselors who continue to engage in conversion therapy and how will this be monitored by the state? Will the recourse be disciplinary sanctions through the professional licensing board or criminal penalties? Unfortunately, the bill still lacks the necessary language to outline the consequences of continuing these practices. The uncivilized discriminatory practice of conversion therapy is not helping anyone and is counterintuitive to decades of science and medical research. It is alarming that things like this still happen in a country that prides itself on its diversity. State by state, we need to push for legislation like this. Conversion therapy is antiquated and offensive and does not represent contemporary American values. ■

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

AVENUE OUTINGS: Last weekend’s sunny skies had Philadelphians enjoying the last bit of Indian summer before the big chill moves in. Philadelphia AIDS Thrift (left) shut down a block of Fifth Street Sept. 28 for its first-ever block party, celebrating its eighth anniversary. Passersby enjoyed store sales, a Halloween costume parade, dunk tank, food trucks, vendors and more. The following day, about 100 supporters of Queers on the Avenue, a monthly happy-hour gathering for LGBTs and allies in South Philadelphia, headed to the Singing Fountain on East Passyunk Avenue for the first pop-up QOTA party. The event featured a fashion show and food and drinks from area restaurants and watering holes, with some of the venues donating a portion of the proceeds to ActionAIDS. QOTA will next be held Oct. 15 at Garage. Photos: Scott A. Drake

Gay Gay History History Month Month Special Special Coverage Coverage Daytime Family Event 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. $15 (in advance) $20 (at gate) • Live music • Crafts and activities • Pride Day themed scavenger hunt • LGBT-friendly vendor area Tea Dance 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. (21 and older) Tickets $45 (tickets limited for this popular event) • Includes admission to Pride Day Daytime Event • Two drink tickets • Light refreshments • Entertainment from Brittany Lynn’s Drag Maﬁa • Live DJ • Cool face painting

PRIDE DAY

Saturday, October 12, 2013

PGN FEDERAL LAWSUIT from page 1

Philadelphia residents Cara Palladino and Isabelle Barker filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to challenge the constitutionality of Pennsylvania’s Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits same-sex couples from marrying in the state. The couple is suing to have their legal marriage recognized by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The lawsuit states that by failing to recognize same-sex marriages legally performed in other states, Pennsylvania is denying couples and their children any social recognition that comes with the status of marriage. “Marriage has profound social significance for both the couple that gets married and the family, friends and community that surround them,” the suit states. Following the summer’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling striking down a key provision of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, Pennsylvania has seen a flurry of marriage-equality activity. The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania filed a federal suit in July on behalf of 10 same-sex couples, two children of one couple and a widow. The case will come up for a scheduling hearing Oct. 9. And last week, a group of same-sex couples challenged the law in state court. This suit, however, challenges section two of the state’s DOMA; instead of targeting the state’s refusal to marry same-sex couples, it seeks “the protections afforded by the U.S. Constitution to decrees, STATE LAWSUIT from page 1

on the court to find the state’s ban on same-sex marriage to be unconstitutional and to rule that their licenses are valid. Defendants include Gov. Tom Corbett, Attorney General Kathleen Kane and Health Secretary Michael Wolf. The defendants have 30 days to file a preliminary objection, which functions as a motion to dismiss, or to answer the motion, which would then send the case to a judge. Montgomery County Register of Wills D. Bruce Hanes began issuing licenses to same-sex couples in July, a practice that was stopped last month by a Commonwealth Court judge, following a suit from the state Department of Health. The judge in that case found that Hanes was acting outside of his authority by deciding to not enforce a law he deemed unconstitutional; the judge, however, did not rule on whether the state ban on same-

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

licenses, orders and judgments were married in early 2005 in ing community in Pennsylvania, it Massachusetts and they happen to wasn’t until 2007, when they filed entered by other states.” The law prohibits the state from be among the first Americans to be for Barker to get onto Palladino’s health insurance, that they felt a recognizing any form of same-sex legally married.” The couple registered for domes- sense of discrimination. union, even those legally entered into in other states. tic-partnership status in New “Even though we had our marThe suit holds that the law vio- York in 2002. They relocated to riage license from Massachusetts, lates couples’ constitutional rights Massachusetts in 2004 for employ- we had to step backwards and fill to equal protection out the paperwork and due process. required to claim Michael Banks domestic partnership, but we had to and Eric Kraeutler provide evidence of of Morgan Lewis joint financial entan& Bockius were glements — joint brought on as lead bank accounts, a counsel and Tiffany lease with both our Palmer and Benjamin names on it, co-ownJerner of Jerner & ership of a house,” Palmer, P.C., as cocounsel. she said. “We have Gov. Tom Corbett the same marriage and Attorney General license, the same Kathleen Kane were piece of paper, that a named as defenheterosexual couple dants. in Massachusetts Palmer said she has. We went through expects the case to the same process ISABELLE BARKER (LEFT) AND CARA PALLADINO and for that to not move quickly. Photo: Annick Barker “This is about be able to be recognized by a humanPennsylvania giving full recognition to same-sex ment purposes and ultimately resources employee because of couples and to make sure that moved to Pennsylvania the follow- Pennsylvania’s legislation was just there is a right for individuals to ing year after Barker accepted a job frustrating.” travel without having their mar- at Bryn Mawr College. Palladino In 2009, Barker and Palladino riages and family status stripped,” is also employed at the college. welcomed their first son and, Palmer said. Barker said the move was later that year, their second-parent Equality Forum coordinated the inevitable, although it was hard adoption was finalized. lawsuit. to leave behind the support of Palmer, who connected the Executive director Malcolm Massachusetts’ marriage law. couple with Equality Forum, said Lazin said he had looked at a num“There is something empow- that because Kane announced ber of couples but that Palladino ering about having a marriage she would not defend the state’s and Barker’s story makes them the license and living in a community DOMA in the ACLU case, she best fit for the litigation. and state that has very publicly believes the same will apply for this case. “They met in New York in the endorsed that.” “I imagine she won’t do the late 1990s and have been together Barker added that although the ever since,” he explained. “They two have always lived in an affirm- same, although she hasn’t explic-

itly said it yet,” Palmer said. “The suit is still new and probably hasn’t reached her yet.” Kane’s office did not return a request for comment from PGN. Palmer said the growing number of legal challenges increase the chance of success. “I think the approach is evolving in Pennsylvania,” she said. “Anywhere and everywhere there is an opportunity to challenge it, people are. I think we will see more suits developing and evolving.” Lazin said pressing for recognition of out-of-state marriages is an innovative approach that he believes could be a model for other states. “After a consultation with distinguished law-school faculty and other lawyers who specialize in LGBT rights, we believe that this is the next area of opportunity in regards to marriage recognition,” he said. “This will be a landmark lawsuit and we anticipate that there will be others who will mirror our lawsuit around the country.” Lazin said he remains cautiously optimistic about the suit. For Barker, the chance to fight discriminatory legislation has been rewarding. “When I look over the past decades of American history, it feels remarkable to see the history of civil rights expanded,” she said. “I am amazed in the course of my lifetime how much things have changed culturally and socially around acceptance and how social and cultural worlds have challenged homophobia.” ■

vene in the suit against Hanes, a request that was not ruled upon. Plaintiffs’ attorney Sandy Bilus of Dechert LLP said the plaintiffs in this suit came from the group of potential intervenors, with a few couples deciding not to get involved. The suit details the myriad challenges the couples have faced because of the state’s marriage law. For instance, several dealt with financial and emotional stress during the second-parent adoption process. Others have paid higher rates for health insurance and taxes on the insurance that heterosexual couples are not required to pay. One couple, the suit stated, bought added life insurance to contend with the state’s inheritance tax, from which heterosexual married partners are exempt. “Not being able to be married affects a lot of potential benefits and protections,” Bilus said. “Even though my clients are engaged in

in the other case, I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s what happens,” Bilus said. The attorney noted that each of the pending suits presents a unique challenge to the law, which he said is a good approach. “It might be challenging for the governor to defend against all these suits, but they’re all raising slightly different issues and involve different people,” Bilus said. “The ACLU suit is only raising federal claims under federal law. Ours is raising state and federal claims and involves people married in Pennsylvania. The new federal suit is a challenge to the piece of the law that doesn’t allow you to get married elsewhere and have that marriage recognized. It’s looking at it on multiple fronts, and I think it shows that there are a lot of problems with this law and that there are a great number of people who agree that it should be held unconstitutional.” ■

sex marriage is indeed unconstitutional, nor did he determine the validity of the licenses that were issued. An appeal in that case was filed Oct. 1. The latest suit contends that the state ban violates same-sex couples’ federal and state equalprotection and due-process constitutional guarantees, as well as the state Equal Rights Amendment, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex. It calls on the court to nullify the state law, issue a declaratory judgment finding the couples’ marriages valid and award injunctive relief to the plaintiffs if it sees fit. The plaintiffs include 15 lesbian couples and six gay male couples. They were among 174 same-sex couples who received licenses from Hanes’ office during the window in which they were being issued. More than 30 of those couples had petitioned the court to inter-

long-term, loving, committed relationships, because they were not allowed to be married, they had a lot of uncertainties and fears.” Also last week, a lesbian couple filed suit in federal court in Pennsylvania, calling for state recognition of legal same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions. This past summer, the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania filed suit in federal court on behalf of same-sex couples and their families. In that case, Kane declined to defend the state ban on samesex marriage, saying she found it unconstitutional, and its defense was taken up by the governor’s attorneys. Kane has not yet announced if she will take a similar course in this case and the new federal suit, and did not respond to a call for comment from PGN. “She hasn’t officially declined to defend or delegated that responsibility but knowing what she’s done

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

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2013

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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.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

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GERBER from page 7

Gerber produced two issues of the SHR newsletter Friendship and Freedom, of which no known copies exist, although in “Paris Gay 1925” (1981), a French book cowritten by Gilles Barbedette and Michel Carassou, is reprinted a review of Friendship and Freedom, written by Clarens and published in the magazine L’amitié in 1925. (See this author’s “Chicago Whispers: A History of LGBT Chicago Before Stonewall” for translation.) The SHR was short-lived. In July 1925, the group was raided and the headline in the Chicago Examiner read “Strange Sex Cult Exposed.” Even though the case was thrown out of court, Gerber was suspended from the post office. After the demise of SHR, Gerber became despondent about homosexuals. He later wrote, “I have absolutely no confidence in the Dorian crowd, mostly a bunch of selfish, uncultured, ignorant egoists who have nothing for the ideal side of life.” Gerber re-enlisted in the Army, serving another 17 years; in 1945, he retired with an honorable discharge and a $100a-month pension. As late as 1942, his primary World War II draft registration was still under the name Joseph H. Dittmar, though the records also contain a crossreference from the name Henry Gerber; by then, “Gerber” appears to have been how he was known to the military. Gerber spent his twilight years in the U.S. Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home in Washington, D.C., where he died from pneumonia on Dec. 31, 1972, age 80. Gerber was posthumously inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Henry Gerber House at 1710 N. Crilly Ct. was designated a Chicago Landmark on June 1, 2001. ■ The above article is an abbreviated version of the chapter “Henry Gerber and the German Sex Reformers” in St. Sukie de la Croix’s book “Chicago Whispers: A History of LGBT Chicago Before Stonewall,” published in 2012 by the University of Wisconsin Press.

PGN

HOLIDAY COUNTDOWN: Fall arrived just two weeks ago, but the countdown to the holiday season has already begun. Delaware Valley Legacy Fund launched the kickoff of its TOY season Sept. 26 at the monthly Our Night Out social at the Field House. The annual holiday party, scheduled this year for Dec. 7 at Reading Terminal Market, raises funds for DVLF and amasses toys to be distributed to local youth affected by HIV/AIDS. About 50 supporters turned out to ONO, where they were able to take advantage of discount TOY tickets and the unveiling of the TOY 2013 promo video. Photo: Scott A. Drake

HONORING HEALTHY LIVING: At Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutritional Alliance’s Nourish Awards Sept. 26, MANNA director of events and volunteer services Rob Saxon (from left) and executive director Sue Dougherty gathered with special guests Dr. Etienne Phipps and state Rep. Brian Sims. Phipps accepted a Nourish Award on behalf of Einstein Health �� Network’s Center for Urban Health Policy and Research, of which she is founding director. Other awards went to Steveanna Wynn and the Campbell Soup Foundation. About 80 people turned out for the fourthannual awards ceremony, which honors organizations and individuals who promote health living, and which was followed by MANNA’s second annual Nourish Health Symposium. Photo: Scott A. Drake

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2013

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AC ul t ure rts

PGN FEATURE

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

PAGE 34

Best-sellers Family Portrait Get Out and Play Out & About Q Puzzle Scene in Philly Worth Watching

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Dita Von Teese to celebrate burlesque in Philly By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Burlesque superstar, fashion icon and author Dita Von Teese is bringing her spectacular sense of glam and spectacle to the area with her show “Strip, Strip Hooray,” 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9 at Tower Theater. Since she first pranced her way onto the scene in the early 1990s, Von Teese has become the biggest name in burlesque, credited with making the artform highly fashionable again and garnering mainstream acceptance. “Strip, Strip Hooray” features some of Von Teese’s classic burlesque routines along with ornate sets and haute-couture performance costumes that she has made famous. Von Teese talked to PGN about life at the

very top of the burlesque kingdom. PGN: Would it be safe to call “Strip, Strip Hooray” your greatest-hits show? DVT: Not only is it my greatest hits, but I think it’s the greatest hits of burlesque and strip tease and variety entertainment as well because, even though I’m doing four of my greatest hits, I could definitely do more. But it’s difficult for me to do more set changes and costume changes than four. I feel like I’m doing my four favorite, biggest production numbers with the most feathers and the most rhinestones. We have a 90-minute revue of other entertainment too that I think people will really, really enjoy. PGN: The Tower Theater is quite a large place. Does a show like yours lose any-

thing when you stage it in a large venue? DVT: I think for me, I prefer a big stage and a big venue. I’ve done shows before in a 50,000-seat stadium and that’s a different show than I would do at this venue. Of course, I’ve done shows at the Crazy Horse, which is very cinematic where it’s very small and people are up close. I modify certain things for the stage size and for what the audience can see and what they can’t see. It’s classic showbiz. You have to adapt to your stage. But I love a big stage and a big venue. PGN: Do you see a lot of gay and lesbian fans at your performances? DVT: My show predominantly attracts women and gay men but I’ve been seeing a bit more of a lesbian audience, especially when we were in San Francisco, when

gay marriage became legal in the state of California. And they were the most exciting and wonderful audiences I’ve performed for. Something about our show and the diversity of the performers in the show attracts people that like to see something different than what you would see in the mainstream and, thank goodness, that’s a lot of the gay community. There’s nothing better than being embraced by the gay community. That’s for sure. PGN: How do you feel about the influence of burlesque bleeding into mainstream pop culture? DVT: I have mixed feelings about it. There have been moments in the last few years that I didn’t care for. There has been a commercialization and sanitization of burlesque. People think PAGE 30

FEATURE PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

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VON TEESE from page 29

that burlesque is a cabaret show when, in a real burlesque show, the stars are striptease stars. It wasn’t about song and dance. It’s not what Christina Aguilera did in the movie. There was no burlesque in there, even though they took a lot of influence from the neo-burlesque scene. But they took away all the challenge of what it is to present strip tease in a sophisticated and elegant way. They took away the good part about it, which is changing people’s minds about strip tease and to remind people of the heritage of burlesque. I was upset by some of the comments that I would hear from the press and the people involved in a film like that because some of these stars of strip tease are still around. They were excited that there was a film called “Burlesque” and when the press would say things like, “This isn’t that raunchy stripper burlesque,” that’s not very responsible to the real history of burlesque. When you have stars like Gypsy Rose Lee who made the meaning of the burlesque movement possible, to dismiss them or to say things about these women who are in their 80s and 90s, it showed a lack of respect. So that’s something I have been standing behind, the true history of burlesque and keeping the art of the strip tease alive, and bringing it into the new evolution of the scene, which is no longer entertainment for straight men. A lot of women are finding it inspiring because they are seeing a different kind of beauty and sexuality presented than what we see in a lot of typical men’s magazines and mainstream media in general. PGN: With such an established image and brand, do you feel like you always have to give audiences what’s expected, or do you feel like you can push the envelope? DVT: I feel like I’m very true to my signature brand of burlesque, which is my own creation. I embrace my brand because I’ve been performing burlesque since 1991. I want to give people my very best at all times. I’m attributed with being at the top

of burlesque so there is a lot of pressure. There will always be people that say that they don’t like it or they are bored or there is someone that is better. There’s always going to be two sides of the coin and I just do my best to present what I do the best I can. I don’t think too much about what other people are putting on me. PGN: Being a fashion icon, do you ever go out in public not done up? DVT: I have varying degrees of glamour. My 100-percent full-power glamour is what you will see on stage or on the red carpet. But on a day-to-day basis, I really don’t spend more than 20 minutes getting ready. But that is not to say that I’m not recognizable. I always have my red lipstick in place. I went to my pilates class this morning with my red lipstick on and a simple coat over my workout clothes. I have my rituals and the things that I think are important in the way I present myself but it’s not to say that I spend an hour getting ready. On a day-to-day basis, I don’t spend the kind of time I do to go on stage or to go on the red carpet. I don’t sit in front of the mirror all day. I have other stuff to do. PGN: What can you tell us about your upcoming book? DVT: I put all my beauty secrets into one book. I tapped into all my tastemakers in beauty. It’s all about eccentric glamour and breaking the rules of beauty, discussing diverse beauty and the things that make us different from each other. My book is not about how to apply makeup. It’s really uplifting and for people that want to know more about the art of creating glamour and having a sense of theater and adventure with their look. ■ Dita Von Teese presents the “Burlesque: Strip, Strip Hooray!” variety show 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9 at Tower Theater, 19 S. 69th St. in Upper Darby. For more information or tickets, call 610-352-2887 or visit www. dita.net.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

MUSIC PGN

Gay Christian pop duo to trek through area By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com

so much work to be done. There’s nothing sinful about my gay consensual loving partner that I’ve been together with now for 12 Gay Christian pop-singing duo Jason years. We’re finding our way in a city that is & deMarco will make a few stops in in a red state and we have these two beautiPennsylvania and New Jersey as part of ful boys that we had through surrogacy. We give them so much love and so much care. their Celebrating Diversity Tour. Jason Warner and deMarco DeCiccio, life We’re giving them a great education and I partners and recent parents, have been tour- think we’re doing a better job than a lot of ing and recording together since their first families that we know.” DeCiccio added that churches are where album in 2002. Since then, they have relocated from Hollywood to Tennessee and the duo connect with the majority of their made a name for themselves performing at audience. “We find most support churches, festivals and in churches just because clubs all over the counit comes with a builttry. The duo also was the in audience,” he said. subject of a documen“We’ve been workingtary, “We’re All Angels,” class artists for 12 years. from director Robert We don’t really have a Nunez, which aired on big following, just a litShowtime. tle bit everywhere we go. “It’s certainly not It’s a stretch for us to rent something that we crea theater and find ways atively had any say for,” to cleverly promote the DeCiccio said about the show and get the word film. “I’m so glad that out. If it wasn’t for the we decided to accept churches, we wouldn’t the director’s proposal be doing this anymore. to do this. We wanted a I guess our same-sex fair representation of all family that many people aspects of our life and are told should not exist who we are. I feel like gives hope to a lot of the film made no apolopeople in our commugies. If we swore, they JASON WARNER AND nity. It’s a different time left that in. They just told DEMARCO DECICCIO and it’s a time when you a very authentic story can have anything you about how we balance our life and family, and the coming-out process want. So they get behind it to spread the for them, all the people that we meet, how message of God’s love for all people, and we balance our relationship and all of that that is our passion.” ■ stuff. And somehow they tied it all together Jason & deMarco perform 7 p.m. Oct. with a love story. It’s not an easy thing to do and I can honestly give that DVD to some- 10 at Metropolitan Community Church of one and say, ‘This tells the whole story and the Spirit in Harrisburg, 7 p.m. Oct. 11 at you will get us and understand who we are Metropolitan Community Church of the Lehigh Valley in Allentown and 7 p.m. Oct. from watching this.’” The documentary also explored how 12 at Living Waters Lutheran Church in the duo’s openness about their sexuality Ringoes, N.J. For more information, visit sometimes pits them against the evangeli- www.jasonanddemarco.com. cal Christian community, while their faith sometimes generates resistance from the gay community. DeCiccio said he prefers to focus on the positive effects the two have on the Christian and LGBT communities. “We travel in circles where people celebrate our life and what we created,” he said. “I guess we want to see all the good stuff. I met with a new friend for lunch the other day and he said to me, ‘Let’s just address the elephant in the room.’ Basically what he was saying was, ’I don’t agree with your lifestyle but I think you’re amazing and I want to be your friend.’ That was really difficult for me to be OK with, being around someone who thinks my life is less-than because it doesn’t fit in with his religious beliefs. Once in a while, we’re reminded that there’s still Photo: Alix Smith

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

PGN ART

Jewish diversity on display By Ray Simon PGN Contributor Photographer Joan Roth has spent more than four decades documenting the lives of Jewish women, traveling to regions as farflung as Ethiopia and Ukraine to capture evocative images. Yet, at times, Roth has been able to broaden viewers’ understanding of gender, Judaism and sexuality without leaving her hometown, New York City. That’s certainly the case with her radiant portrait of a smiling Joy Ladin, the first transgender woman on the faculty of Yeshiva University. It also holds true for “Dyke Parade,” her snapshot of a mischievous butch-femme couple riding a motorcycle during a recent Pride event in Manhattan. Those images are among the works on display in “The Sexuality Spectrum,” an exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Jewish Art, which is part of Congregation Rodeph Shalom, 615 N. Broad St. Admission to the show is free and it runs through Nov. 18. “The Sexuality Spectrum” is a traveling exhibit that was originally organized by Laura Kruger, curator of the museum at Hebrew Union College in New York. Its initial run, which ended in June, featured 112 pieces by 69 artists. The Philadelphia Museum of Jewish Art is the traveling exhibit’s first stop in what Kruger hopes will be a long tour around the country. Wendi Furman, PMJA director of exhibitions, personally selected almost 30 pieces for the Philadelphia show. The 20 artists represented are scattered across the Kinsey Scale — gay, straight and queer — but all of their work reflects on Judaism and sexuality, with both categories broadly defined. Just as the artists approach those themes from different perspectives, they also employ a variety of media to do so, including photography, painting and textiles. “For me, it’s always about the artwork first,” Furman said. “But one of the themes that’s always in my head as a curator at a Jewish museum is Jewish diversity.” Among Furman’s considerations were how to balance a broad range of representations of sexuality with the needs of a diverse constituency, including everyone from congregants to the general public, and students to senior citizens. Rodeph Shalom is also affiliated with Beth Ahavah, which serves the local Jewish LGBT community. That diversity is expressed in various ways. Some artists, such as Archie Rand, refer to significant figures from Scripture. In his vibrant 2012 painting “Deborah Diptych,” the female prophet and warrior from the Book of Judges is given a contemporary makeover, including a helmet, uniform and rifle. In his depiction, reminiscent of R. Crumb, Deborah’s ample bosom and long hair signify her femininity, but her muscular forearms and confident attitude leave no doubt as to her toughness. Photographer Albert Winn takes a different approach, focusing on his life as a gay Jewish man living with AIDS. In 1990,

shortly after receiving his diagnosis, Winn began a series called “My Life Until Now.” That longterm project is represented by the 1995 photograph “Akedah,” a Hebrew word that refers to the binding of Isaac. In juxtaposing concrete, recognizable images of both his faith and his illness, the photographer invokes the ideas of martyrdom, selfsacrifice and sons implied in the title. The show’s initial exhibition included abstract and impressionistic artwork, but the local emphasis is on portraits. Viewers are either looking at subjects who are looking back at them or who, observed unawares, are clearly comfortable with themselves. “It was about putting a human face on this and embracing diversity, being inclusive and advocating for civil rights,” Furman said. A good example is Sid Kaplan’s portrait of Allen Ginsberg and Peter Orlovsky, who smile at viewers fortunate to get a glimpse of their bohemian domesticity. Photographer Joshua Lehrer’s 2009 piece

“DYKE PARADE” BY JOAN ROTH

“Tinaya and Family” focuses on five teenagers huddled close together, suggesting the happiness and security of family; in reality, they are part of New York’s growing population of homeless LGBT youth. The issue of family actually plays a significant role in “The Sexuality Spectrum,” which was originally conceived as a response to the sometimes-negative tone of the debate about marriage equality. “In May 2011, the Marriage Equality Act was being argued in the New York state legislature,” explained Kruger. “Frequently the rhetoric was unrestrained, out of context, derogatory and threatening. It had faint echoes in my inner ear of the type of hate language that was spewed about by the Nazi Party in building fervor to begin the elimination of Jews during the 1930s.” Kruger’s response was to engage artists whose work showed evidence of firm commitment to aesthetics and social justice in a conversation about gender and sexuality, and to seek out new and unfamiliar work. The result, even in the smaller version on display at PMJA, celebrates the broad range of human sexuality and should stimulate thought among all viewers, Jewish and Christian, straight and queer. ■ For more information, visit www.rodephshalom.org/pmja_current/.

PROFILE PGN

Family Portrait

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

Suzi Nash

Stephanie Haynes: OutProud honoree on parenting, politics Come out, come out, wherever you are! National Coming Out Day is Oct. 13 and, here in Philadelphia, we’re lucky to host the largest NCOD celebration in the world in our Gayborhood. Franny Price and the Philly Pride Presents crew are throwing their annual OutFest party with entertainment, music, dancing, vendors, community groups and much, much more. This week, PGN spoke to Stephanie Haynes who, with her family — wife Vicky Kresge, and sons Jove and Griffin — is being honored as the official OutProud family.

it to the all-stars. I stopped when they went from fast pitch to slow pitch — no offense to all the lesbians out there playing slowpitch softball, but it seemed kind of lame after being used to the speed. I was also in band from sixth grade through high school. I was the only girl trumpet player and I played in marching band and at football games. It was fun. I ended up majoring in music at college.

PGN: So are you originally from Philadelphia? SH: I’m not. I’m originally from Texas.

PG: Wow! That’s a bit of a change from Texas. SH: My goal was to move at least 1,000 miles away and they gave me a nice scholarship!

PGN: Deep in the heart of? SH: Well, Paris, Texas. It’s in the Northeast. PGN: What did your parents do? SH: My mom worked for the state doing day-care licensing and eventually became the state director for day-care licensing, and my dad worked for the city government and before that for a printing company in human resources. PGN: Siblings? SH: One younger brother — he’s an architect — and I have a stepsister. PGN: How were you as a big sister? SH: We were only separated by two years so we were pretty close. We played together a lot. PGN: You didn’t try to kill each other, like most siblings? SH: [Laughs.] That too! But in a fun way. I think our parents wisely let us sort things out on our own. We try to do the same thing with our boys. Our pediatrician tells her kids, “I don’t want to hear about it unless there’s blood.” PGN: What was a favorite memory playing with your brother? SH: We played everything you can think of, but two things come to mind: We would always have contests with each other but at the same time play on the same team since there were only two of us. For example, we would play football and he would hike the ball to me, I would then throw it to him since he was the wide receiver on my team, but once he caught it, I would try to tackle him! I also recall having a lot of fun blowing up his “Star Wars” figures with firecrackers. [Laughs.] They would probably be worth a lot of money now! PGN: What were you like as a kid? SH: Tomboy. I played softball and ended up being catcher of the team when the catcher broke her thumb. I really liked it because you were in on all the action. I even made

PGN: Where did you go to college? SH: University of Miami in Florida.

PGN: Softball scholarship? SH: No, I majored in music engineering, which is a combination of math and music together — studio recording, acoustic, it encompasses a lot of different things. [Laughs.] It seemed like a good idea until I got there and then decided, “Eh, I really don’t like playing with all these tiny knobs and staying up all night talking about bands.” And again I was the only girl and I was kind of over that. I switched majors around a few times but ended up with a bachelor of arts in music. PGN: What part of Texas is still in your soul? SH: I guess Austin. It’s Texas through and through but it’s an oasis of liberalism with lots of lesbians. I guess there are gay men too, but I don’t really notice them. Sorry, guys. There’s also a big focus on outdoor activities. PGN: Ha! I actually meant what is still Texonian about you? SH: Oh, well after a few beers my accent comes out. It’s funny because my kids were born and have grown up here in Philly but there are certain things that they say or the way they say them where I can hear the Texas in them. I do have a tendency to gravitate towards people here in Philadelphia who sound like the family I grew up with. Do you know Ed Hermance from Giovanni’s Room? Whenever I’m feeling nostalgic I talk to Ed and it’s like, “Ahhh, Texas.” PGN: And how did you wind up in Philadelphia? SH: After graduation, I toyed with the idea of going to law school. I didn’t end up doing that but started doing fundraising for a nonprofit environmental group. I moved back to Texas, first to Paris where I did some theater work and bummed around for a while, and then to Austin where my mother had moved and my brother was

going to college. I was doing door-to-door fundraising and got pretty good at it. I was promoted a few times and then a good friend of mine got cancer. She’s OK now but at the time I wanted to move closer to her and she was living in Rhode Island. I was director for a year in the Providence office when I had a pivotal moment. My boss came to me and said, ‘We want you to run a bigger office either in New York, D.C. or Philadelphia.’ New York was too expensive, I’d been to D.C. and didn’t really like it — too hard to get around and everyone wears a suit. So I decided to give Philadelphia a shot. I said it was a pivotal moment because I got off the train at 30th Street Station and within hours met the woman who is now my wife. That was August of 1994.

roommate” so I gave her a bunch of money and she went and rented a spot in South Philly. I never even saw it because I was busy working. We had a two-bedroom apartment next to Franco and Luigi’s pizzeria at 13th and Tasker. Two or three weeks into it we realized that we could’ve just gotten a one-bedroom.

PGN: Cool! So when did you come out? SH: I came out in college. I’d always had feelings and a secret girlfriend when I was a kid, that sort of thing. Then I went to see Joan Jett and that was it!

PGN: Before we get into kids and family, any other hobbies? SH: You know I’m really getting into photography. It’s not like I have a nice camera, I just use my phone, but I’m really into Instagram and that sort of thing. I just found out before this interview that I won a “Visit Gay Philadelphia” photo contest!

PGN: And what does she do? SH: She’s a classroom-technology specialist at Wharton. Wharton prides itself on not only being one of the best business schools in the country but also having the best technology in classrooms around, videoconferencing, etc. She’s the person they call when the famous professor can’t get his or her PowerPoint presentation working.

PGN: Congratulations! SH: I’m also into politics, I’m on the board of Liberty City Democrats. I like beer as a hobby. I like to go to different tastings and finding new microbrews or locally brewed beers. My partner and I also bought a house in 2002 so my other hobby would be renovating. We did a lot of the work ourselves. Lesbian style with tool belts and the whole 9 yards. PGN: What sparked your interest in politics? SH: Definitely my mother. When I was a kid, my mother ran against an incumbent who’d been on the local school board for years. She campaigned Photo: Suzi Nash PGN: And how long after meeting Vicky door to door and took out did you start dating? radio ads. My brother and SH: Well, it’s a good story. When I first I helped her and she managed to unseat moved to Philly, I needed a place to live. him. In her role as a school-board member, I was sleeping on someone’s couch on she was actually the person who signed Spruce Street. One day we were waiting my diploma. Past that, in college I was for the rental car to pick us up to do some interested in student government but I was canvassing. I remember we were sitting never interested in being the politician, so I ran the campaigns. Plus just being out on the steps by the Forrest Theatre and I and gay in 1990 itself was politicizing. I said, “I need a place to live,” thinking that went to the big gay-rights march in 1993 maybe she would know someone who had a place to rent. She responded, “I need a in D.C. and went to PAGE 38

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

Best-sellers Information is courtesy of Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; 215-923-2960; www.queerbooks.com. Ten-percent off most hardcover in-store sales. Men’s Books 1. “We the Animals” by Justin Torres (Mariner, $12.95 pb). ‘We the Animals’ is a dark jewel of a book. It’s heartbreaking. It’s beautiful. It resembles no other book I’ve read.”— Michael Cunningham 2. “For Colored Boys Who Have Considered Suicide, When the Rainbow Is Still Not Enough: Coming of Age, Coming Out and Coming Home” by Keith Boykin (Magnus, $15.95 pb). Addresses longstanding issues of sexual abuse, suicide, HIV/AIDS, racism and homophobia in the African-American and Latino communities, and more specifically among

BOOKS PGN & DVDS

young gay men of color. 3. “Giovanni’s Room” by James Baldwin (Delta, $14 pb). We think the resurgence of our eponymous book is due to the rebroadcast of the excellent documentary about Baldwin on PBS last month. The edition we have been selling for the past 13 years is suddenly out of print. A new edition is due this month. 4. “Necessary Errors” by Caleb Crain (Penguin, $16 pb, $9.99 ebook). Captures the lives and romances of young expatriate Americans in newly democratic Prague in 1990. 5. “The Velvet Rage: Overcoming the Pain of Growing Up Gay in a Straight Man’s World” by Alan Downs (DaCapo, $15.99 pb, $10.79 ebook). As PGN says, “This book has remarkable staying power.” 6. “Crimes on Latimer: The Early Cases of Marco Fontana” by Joseph R.G. DeMarco (Lethe, $18 pb, $6.99 ebook). These half-dozen crime tales open a window onto Fontana’s world in Philadelphia

before he found himself dealing with the events of “Murder on Camac.” 7. “A Body on Pine” by Joseph R.G. DeMarco (Lethe, $18 pb, $8.99 ebook). When Marco Fontana enters his friend’s spa on Pine Street in Philadelphia, he doesn’t find the peaceful retreat he expected. 8. “Monarch Season” by Mario LopezCordero (Magnus, $19.99 pb. $9.99 ebook). A brisk, breezy beach read. 9. “Like Light for Flies: Stories” by Lee Thomas (Lethe, $18 pb, $8.99 ebook). These 12 tales of psychological suspense and horror mix heart, brains and balls. 10. “The Fallen Snow” by John J. Kelley (Stone Cabin, $15.95 pb). A soldier returns from WWI France to his Virginia mountain home to face his war demons and to deal with a secret. Men’s DVDs 1. “Beyond the Walls,” directed by David Lambert (2012, 98 min., $24.95). When Paulo, a young pianist, meets Ilir, a lone bass player, it’s love at first sight. 2. “I Do,” directed by Glenn Gaylord (2012, 91 min., $24.95). A gay Brit living in New York is deprived of his immigration status and risks losing his family and life in the U.S. 3. “Bottom: A Documentary Film,” directed by Todd Verow (2013, 76 min., $19.95). This film is based on the personal blog. 4. “Loose Cannons,” directed by Ferzan Ozpetek (2010, 110 min., $19.95). A heartwarming comedy about family, business and coming out. Italian with subtitles. 5. “Yossi, aka Yossi and Jagger 2,” directed by Eytan Fox (2012, 85 min., $27.95). The long-awaited sequel to “Yossi and Jagger” about Yossi’s life after Jagger’s death. 6. “The Seminarian,” directed by Joshua Lim (101 min., $24.99). Ryan is a closeted gay student in his final semester of seminary studies. 7. “Finding Me: Truth,” directed by Roger S. Omeus, Jr. (2011, 100 min., $17.98). “Truth” explores the depth and intimacy of friendships, the uncertain path of life and how our decisions are forged in the midst of it all. 8. “Behind the Candelabra,” directed by Steven Soderbergh (2013, 118 min., $19.98). Oscar winners Michael Douglas and Matt Damon star as the legendary Liberace and his young lover. 9. “My Brother, the Devil,” directed by Sally el Hosaini (2012, 111 min., $19.95). Arabic brothers in London. 10. “Des/Esperando,” directed by Erick Salas Kirchhausen (2010, 73 min., $24.95). This sizzling romance is about the lust we have and the entrapment of the lives we can’t leave behind. Spanish with subtitles. Women’s and Trans Books 1. “Feminism in Philadelphia: The Glory Years: 1968-1982” by Karen Bojar (CreateSpace, $15 pb). Interweaves the history of feminism in Philadelphia with the broad themes and trajectory of the “second

wave” feminist movement. 2. “Broken in Soft Places” by Fiona Zedde (Bold Strokes, $16.95 pb, $9.99 ebook). As college girlfriends, Sara and Rille’s relationship had been incendiary. 3. “Tipping the Velvet” by Sarah Waters (Riverhead, $16 pb, $12.99 ebook). An erotic, lushly detailed historical novel set in late Victorian England. 4. “Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches” by Audre Lorde (Crossing, $16.99 pb, $14.99 ebook). In this charged collection of 15 essays and speeches, Lorde takes on sexism, racism, ageism, homophobia and class. 5. “Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison” by Piper Kerman (Spiegal & Grau, $16 pb, $11.99 ebook). The well-heeled Smith College alumna is now inmate #11187–424, one of the millions of people who disappear “down the rabbit hole” of the American penal system. 6. “She’s Not There: A Life in Two Genders” by Jennifer Finney Boylan (Broadway, $14.95 pb, $11.99 ebook). By turns hilarious and deeply moving, the author explores the territory that lies between men and women, examines changing friendships, and rejoices in the redeeming power of family. 7. “Being Emily by Rachel Gold (Bella, $15.95 pb, $9.99 ebook). They say that whoever you are it’s OK: You were born that way. Those words don’t comfort Emily, as she was born Christopher and her insides know that her outsides are all wrong. 8. “And Tango Makes Three” by Justin Richardson (Simon & Schuster, $17.99 hb, $12.99 ebook). In the zoo, there are all kinds of animal families. But Tango’s family is not like any of the others. 9. “Outlaw Marriages: The Hidden Histories of Fifteen Extraordinary SameSex Couples” by Rodger Streitmatter (Beacon, $16 pb, $16.79 ebook). Among them are Nobel Peace Prize-winner Jane Addams and Mary Rozet Smith, literary icon Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas. 10. “Who’s in a Family?” by Robert Skutch and Laura Nienhaus (Tricycle, $7.99 pb). Why, the people who love you the most! Women’s and Trans DVDs 1. “Cloudburst,” directed by Thom Fitzgerald (2011, 93 min., $24.95). Costars Oscar-winning actors Brenda Fricker and Olympia Dukakis as Dot and Stella, a crackerjack lesbian couple on the run from a nursing home. You’ll laugh so hard you’ll cry! 2. “Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love,” directed by Maria Maggenti (1995, 94 min., $7.95). A terrific teen lesbian story about the love between poor white tomboy Randy and her affluent African-American classmate Evie. 3. “How to Survive a Plague,” directed by David France (2012, 109 min., $29.95). The story of the brave young men and women of ACT UP who successfully reversed the tide of an epidemic. ■

SPORTS PGN

Get Out and Play

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

Scott A. Drake

Something autumn this way comes It’s that time of year again. I can hardly believe the not-much-of-a-summer is over and sports are moving indoors again, or stopping all together until spring. Rainouts were frequent this year, as wet does not work well with park. Add to that the persistent cloudy, cool days and it almost makes me look forward to fall. Almost. Continuing out-of-doors as the weeks take on a chill are those rough and tumble ruggers, the Gryphons Rugby Football Club. The group has one more regular-season game this fall, on Oct. 5 in Fairmount Park, with the possibility of a playoff game Oct. 24. After the Oct. 5 game, join the Gryphs at Tavern on Camac for their First Saturday party. Also playing in the autumn air, Greater Philadelphia Flag Football League kicked off its fall season Sept. 28 with yours truly singing the “National Anthem” for the season’s inauguration. GPFFL plays through Oct. 26, with a Halloween party and player auction after, 7:30-11 p.m. at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St. Philadelphia Falcons Soccer Club finishes its pick-up games Oct. 2 and moves indoors for the winter Nov. 4 at Guerin Recreation Center, 1600 Jackson St. Indoor play will run from 8-10 p.m.

FLAGGING DOWN FALL: The Greater Philadelphia Flag Football League got together for a season-starting snapshot Sept. 28 at its new digs in FDR Park. League play runs through October with playoffs in November. Photo: Scott A. Drake

Mondays and 2-4 p.m. Saturdays through March. CBLSL Fall Ball wraps up in midOctober. Also completing itsfair-weather volleys, Liberty Tennis will move from FDR Park to the Althea Gibson Tennis Center, between 10th and 11th streets on Girard Avenue. And then there are the sports that are always in — Rainbow Rollers,

Philadelphia Gay Bowling League, Spartans Wrestling and Fins Aquatic Club (mostly, except for a few days in the summer when they hit Kelly Pool) — and, you know what? You can join in almost any time! Same with these groups that are always out: Frontrunners, Philadelphia Liberty Belles, QCycle, Philadelphia Firebirds and Brandywine Women’s Rugby.

Always welcoming new members. You can find contact information for all of these and others on PGN’s Community Bulletin Board (epgn.com/pages/bulletin_ board). And Get Out and Play is online every other week under columns/Get Out and Play. Rolling, rolling, rolling ’cross the river Gay skate! The wheels will be humming 8:30-10:30 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Cherry Hill Skating Center for this bimonthly skating event. This is a fundraising event for the Liberty Belle Bowling Tournament, held every Fourth of July weekend. General skate admission is $10 dollars and, if you don’t bring your own skates, rental is another $3. They take cash or credit cards, but note that there is no ATM on the premises. The rink is at 664 Deer Road, Cherry Hill, N.J.; 856-795-1919. For directions, visit www.cherryhillskatingcenter. com and for more information, e-mail info@philagayskating.com or call Phil at 856-889-1434. And it’s October, so why not dress up for it? Short stops • OutFest is Oct. 13 in the Gayborhood. This is your chance to get information directly from the teams, leagues, squads, groups and organizations that play and complete in Philly. Look for the Spruce Street Sports row between 13th and Camac streets. Correction: In the Sept. 20 edition of Get Out and Play, PGN incorrectly identified the amount GPFFL is hoping to raise to support Gay Bowl. The league needs to raise $100,000. ■ Countdown to Gay Games 9: 308 days. Send your information, questions and idle thoughts to scott@epgn.com.

FUN PGN & GAMES

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

Q Puzzle Fab Five motto Across

1. Skeptical ejaculation 4. Like a sick mind 11. “Culture vulture” Rodriguez 14. Its head may be enjoyed orally 15. How a metrosexual dresses 16. Lacto-___ vegetarian 17. Title for Oedipus 18. Start of two mottos 20. With 18-Across, motto about working together 22. “___ my wit’s end!” 23. Network of “Wedding Wars” 24. Disneyland street 26. Gets frothy at the mouth 28. With 18-Across, motto about why the Fab Five works together so well? 31. Some Nathan Lane movie roles 35. Above and beyond

36. Arthur of the AIDS Quilt 38. Highsmith’s “The Price of ___” 39. The loneliest number 40. Went out with 42. Poet’s before 44. Alternate sp. 45. Canvas covering 47. George Frenn, in many a still photo 49. Gay rodeo accessory 51. Quell the concerns of 53. Fashion savant Carson 55. “M*A*S*H” company clerk 57. “Maude” producer 58. Negligee material 61. “Trick” director Jim 63. Grooming guru Douglas 66. Design doctor of the Fab Five 69. Woody’s ex 70. Doc’s grp. 71. Ad infinitum 72. TV spots

PORTRAIT from page 35

the Stonewall March in New York in 1994 as well. I just recently found my bracelet from the March in D.C., a numbered rainbow bracelet. PGN: You’re the secretary for the Liberty City Democrats. What’s fun about that? SH: One of the things I love the most is that when I first started years ago, you would have maybe half of the people running for office or fewer come to seek our endorsement, but now it’s basically everyone. Everyone supports marriage equality and most other issues. Sometimes they need education on transgender issues but we’re happy to supply it. It’s awesome to see people running for office come to the meeting and try to out-“LGBT-friendly” each other. PGN: And this year you worked on a political campaign? SH: Yes, my friend Inja Coates ran for Philadelphia Traffic Court judge. They’ve been entrenched with so many problems, she wanted to give people a choice to vote for someone who wasn’t in the system. I volunteered to be her treasurer/de-facto campaign manager. It was a lot of work, and my poor kids got roped in to helping me do fliers and all the kind of things I did with my mother. PGN: Yeah, I put out an email during election time saying, “If you’ve ever been to Traffic Court or any court where you got some knucklehead judge and you cursed their stupidity under your breath and walked out kicking a trashcan, this is your time to make a difference.” SH: Yeah, wouldn’t it be great to instead get some cool member of our community

73. Food and wine connoisseur Allen 74. Checks to make sure 75. King’s court divider

Down

1. “The Bridge” poet Crane 2. Protected, to seamen 3. There a foot longer than Shakespeare’s 4. Explosive stick 5. Polynesian woman 6. Tabloid tidbit 7. Rakes from the air 8. Connect with 9. Dottermans of “Antonia’s Line” 10. Live wire 11. Come together 12. Regressive diva? 13. Actress Skye 19. Wet spot on a blanket of sand 21. Editor Roshan 25. Personal pension funds 27. State emphatically 28. Target amount

29. Arm bones 30. Boat for Gomer? 32. He has a stallion between his legs 33. Make heady 34. Be unfaithful to your lover 37. “Cabaret” mister 41. In the sack 43. Irish language 46. Jewish festival 48. Kiev’s country 50. Writer Dinesen 52. Sought the office of 54. Director Stephen 56. Black key for Elton John 58. RBI, to Glenn Burke 59. Words of woe, to the Bard 60. One that attacks a fly 62. Some watch faces 64. Gal Friday, e.g. 65. One of the Tweed drawers 67. Feminizing suffix 68. Part of Q and A (abbr.) PAGE 42

who would be open-minded? PGN: How did you get involved with Philly Family Pride? SH: When Vicky and I decided we wanted to have children, one of the people we spoke to said, “Be sure to talk to Philly Family Pride, they’re great and very helpful.” So I kind of filed that information in the back of my head. After the twins were born, it took us about a year to get settled in before we were able to start going to Philly Family Pride events. I had a very positive impression of the group and the way they ran things; it was very well-organized. When the communitycoordinator position opened up I thought, You know I could use a part-time job. It would give my brain something to do and, of course, the money wouldn’t hurt either. So I applied and got the job five years ago. PGN: Twins? SH: [Laughs.] Yes, we were planning on having two kids — Vicky would have the first one and then me, but we had twins. I’d been working part-time at the same company that I was when we met. It wasn’t that much money so it made sense for me to leave my job and become a stayat-home mom. They were born Sept. 1, which is the exact same date that Vicky and I moved in together! They’re 7 now. PGN: How long have you been together? SH: Sept. 14 was our first kiss so we use that for our anniversary; that was 19 years ago. Two years after that, we had a commitment ceremony, also on Sept. 14. PGN: I noticed that Philly Family Pride, aside from being a great place to meet

other parents, is also an organization that does a lot of activism. I read that you participated in the earned sick-day debate, among other things. SH: Sure, we are a 501(C)3, so our mission is mostly social and educational but we are able to do some advocacy. If your kids get sick and you have to take a day off without getting paid, that obviously has an impact on many families. So we joined the coalition for that and other issues that you might expect — anti-bullying, marriage equality, employment discrimination, etc.

a Leo so I don’t mind getting on stage in front of people. I already like Gay BINGO, but to sit up there next to Carlotta and call the balls was really fun. PGN: Let me throw in two random questions. I’m so gay ... SH: I fix my own appliances. I’m totally into the whole butch lesbian “I can fix that.” My neighbor’s dishwasher broke and I was like, “Don’t call someone! I’ll just order the parts and fix it for you.” PGN: If you could choose a super power, what would it be? SH: You know, recently I was talking to one of the neighbor kids. He was really into superheroes but didn’t know of any female ones so I was explaining about Wonder Woman. I was talking about her awesome lasso, the Rope of Truth or whatever it was called. Linda Carter is awesome and if you watch the show on Netflix you’ll see it’s really still quite entertaining. I would love to have a Lasso of Truth. I definitely have a few politicians I would like to use it on and possibly the kids on occasion. ■

PGN: That’s great! SH: We also hold a family conference each year. This year it’s going to be Oct. 19 at the William Way Center. It’s one of my favorite events with PFP because it’s a great chance for parents and prospective parents to go to workshops and hear the keynote speaker, who this year is children’s author Cory Silverberg. I love seeing the parents connect with each other and the kids hanging out together. People come back every year and it really helps them create relationships with each other. We have other events, camping trips, etc., where everyone gets together, but if you’re busy chasing around your kids and making sure that they’re having fun, it’s harder to connect. But if you’re in a workshop learning how to talk to kids about gender, you have more of a chance to bond. It’s also fun to meet people who are just thinking about starting a family and then seeing them come back year after year with their kids.

For more information on Liberty City Democratic Club, visit www.libertycity.org. For more information about Philadelphia Family Pride, visit www. phillyfamilypride.org.

PGN: I heard you “called the balls” at Gay BINGO? SH: I did! That was so much fun. I’m

To suggest a community member for Family Portrait, email portraits05@aol. com.

OutFest runs noon-6 p.m. Oct. 13 in the Gayborhood. Haynes and her family will be honored at the main stage at 13th and Locust streets around 2:30 p.m.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

PGN

Food & Drink

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

(215) 625-8501

��

Photos: Scott A. Drake

‘s Dining Out

A rainbow of flavors, every second and fourth week

TELEVISION PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

Worth Watching BACHELOR PARTY: Barney (played by out actor Neil Patrick Harris) takes his frustrations out on Ted (Josh Radnor) during the best-man poker game on “How I Met Your Mother,” 8 p.m. Oct. 7 on CBS. Photo: CBS/

T Philadelphia The Gay Men's Chorus

Richard Cartwright

Invites you to LET’S GET WRECKED: The media swallows the Miley Cyrus hook further down its scandal-hungry gullet when the pop singer hosts and is the musical guest on “Saturday Night Live,” 11:30 p.m. Oct. 5 on NBC.

ROSS THE BOSS: Out TV personality Ross Mathews talks up a storm with celebrity guests on his show “Hello Ross,” 10 p.m. Fridays on the E! Network. Photo: E!/Timothy

Fall Ball Masquerade Fundraiser Saturday, October 19, 2013 8 pm to 11 pm Philadelphia Marriott Downtown Featuring the amazing Cashetta, Cocktail Reception with Hors d’oeuvres, Open Bar, Live and Silent Auctions, Live Music, Performance by a PGMC Ensemble, and a Masquerade Ball!

White

* Black-Tie Optional & Mask Encouraged *

O rder your tickets now at www.pgmc.org

WINNER READY TO LOSE: Reality competition “The Biggest Loser” returns for a new season featuring the show’s first celebrity player, “American Idol” winner Ruben Studdard, alongside returning trainers Bob Harper, Jillian Michaels and Dolvett Quince, 8 p.m. Oct. 8 on NBC. Photo: NBC/Paul Drinkwater

Use code PGN when ordering for $5 off Proceeds Support PGMC Concerts and Community Outreach

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

OUT & ABOUT The week ahead Fri. 10/04

Sat. 10/05

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.

Kashmir The Led Zeppelin tribute band performs 8 p.m. at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215-5727650.

Wil Wheaton vs. Paul & Storm The comedy-improv show features a guest appearance by actor Wil Wheaton, 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400.

Kathy Griffin The comedian performs 8 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.

Frank Sinatra, Jr. The singer performs 9 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.

Samatha Ronson The out DJ performs 10 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Mur Mur Nightclub, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.

Sun. 10/06 Dracula The 1931 horror film is screened 2 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610-917-0223. Marky Ramone’s Blitzkrieg with Andrew W.K. The punk-rock band performs 8 p.m. at TLA, 334 South St.; 215-9221011.

Mon. 10/07 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

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS PGN

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

Tue. 10/08 Michael Sokolove The author of “Drama High: The Incredible True Story of a Brilliant Teacher, a Struggling Town, and the Magic of Theater” hosts a reading 7:30 p.m. Sept. 19 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215-686-5322. Michael Luongo The author of “Sensual Travels: Gay Erotic Stories” hosts a reading 5:30 p.m. at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; 215-923-2960.

Wed. 10/09 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. Dita Von Teese’s “Burlesque: Strip, Strip Hooray!” Variety Show The burlesque star performs 7:30 p.m. at Tower Theater, 19 S. 69th St., Upper Darby; 610352-2887.

Thu. 10/10 The Rev. Al Sharpton The activist and TV personality gives a lecture 8 p.m. at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215-572-7650. 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. Bob and Barbara’s Drag Show The outrageousness begins 11 p.m. at Bob and Barbara’s, 1509 South St.; 215545-4511.

DISCO TECH: Out DJ Samatha Ronson holds court and keeps the dance ﬂoor packed when she spins 10 p.m. Oct. 5 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa’s Mur Mur Nightclub, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J. For more information, call 609-317-1000.

Jeff Krell The author of “Jayson Gets a Job” hosts a reading at 5:30 p.m. at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; 215-923-2960.

Hawkwind The space-rock band performs 8:30 p.m. at Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St.; 215232-2100.

Fri. 10/11

Drew Carey The comedian performs 9 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino &

AFI The goth-punk rock band performs 7 p.m. at TLA, 334 South St.; 215-922-1011.

Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000. Halloween & Halloween II The classic slasher films are screened 9:45 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-0223.

Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes The rock band performs 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400.

SOLUTION from page 38

Like us.

Win tickets, passes and other great stuff!

STILL TOGETHER AGAIN: Pop duo Hall & Oates take on the Atlantic City crowd when they perform 8 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J. For more information or tickets, call 609-317-1000.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

The Convert Wilma Theater presents the story of a young girl who escapes a forced marriage arrangement and discovers Christianity under the guidance of an African teacher, Oct. 9-Nov. 10, 265 S. Broad St.; 215-5467824.

Closing 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.

Craig Robinson The comedian seen on “The Office” performs Oct. 11-13 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215-496-9001. Lisa Lampanelli: Skinny Bitch: NOT A Stand-Up Comedy Show The comedian performs her new onewoman show Oct. 10-13 at Kimmel’s Innovation Studio, 260 S. Broad St.; 215790-5800.

Nabucco Opera Philadelphia performs through Oct. 6 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800. Sarah Colonna The comedian seen on “Chelsea Lately” performs through Oct. 5 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215-4969001.

Continuing

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, through Nov. 4 at Walnut Street Theatre’s Studio 5, 835 Walnut St.; 215-423-0254. 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; 215763-8100.

Spamalot Media Theater presents the comedy based on the works of Monty Python through Nov. 3, 104 E. State St., Media; 610-8910100.

Opening

All Dressed Up: Fashions for Children and Their Families Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of clothing from the late-18th through mid-20th centuries, comparing and contrasting adults’ apparel with children’s smaller styles, through Dec. 1, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

CHATTY KATHY: Comedian Kathy Grifﬁn dishes a fresh load of celebrity dirt when she performs 8 p.m. Oct. 5 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J. For more information or tickets, call 609-317-1000. Photo: Mike Ruiz

In The Heights Walnut Street Theatre presents the Tony Award-winning musical through Oct. 20, 825 Walnut St.; 215-5743550. 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.; 215-685-4830. 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.

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.

SLIGHTLY SERIOUS: Outrageous comedian Lisa Lampanelli takes a break from standup comedy with her new one-woman show, “Skinny Bitch: NOT A Stand-Up Comedy Show,” Oct. 10-13 at Kimmel’s Innovation Studio, 260 S. Broad St. For more information or tickets, call 215-790-5800.

SPY: The Secret World of Espionage The Franklin Institute presents an exhibition of historical artifacts from the intelligence community through Oct. 6, 20th Street and the Parkway; 215-448-1200. Yannick Conducts Mahler 4 The Philadelphia Orchestra performs through Oct. 6 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800. ■

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

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PGN

dmhFund & Pennrose seeks

Maintenance Superintendent for the historic

John C. Anderson Apartments Maintenance Superintendent We currently have an exciting opportunity available for an experienced Maintenance Superintendent to join the Pennrose team at our John C. Anderson site located in downtown Philadelphia. The Maintenance Superintendent of this 56 unit, LGBT Friendly senior community will be responsible for overseeing all maintenance activities at the site including: working on- call, providing exceptional customer service, troubleshooting, appliance repair, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, grounds keeping, general building maintenance and carpentry. Individuals must have high school diploma or equivalent, 2-5 years maintenance or construction experience and, reliable transportation. This is a permanent, fulltime position with competitive salary and beneﬁts package including medical, dental, vision, and 401k along with a quarterly performance bonus plan. For additional information, a complete job description and to apply please go to www.pennrose.com/ careers/and click “Apply now” then “Employment Listings” or send resumes to lgiberson@pennrose. com or via fax 267.386.8630

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Call 215.394.0990

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This property sits on top of Valley Forge Mountain, if you stand on top of the rooftop deck you can see for miles and miles. You are surrounded by the Valley Forge Park but are minutes from Philadelphia. This incredible home is stone and stucco, gatehouse,decks all around the property, in ground pool, big two car garage and a widow’s walk with a view of the grounds and the park. The centerpiece of the interior is a vaulted great room with a ﬁreplace,original wood and wrought iron staircase. Also there is a beautiful wet bar for entertaining. Big modern kitchen with stone ﬂoors, bathrooms with Italian marble tile,leaded windows with a beautiful design. The master suite has a sitting room that overlooks the great room and has his and her marble bathrooms and multiple cedar closets. This is a modern property with original charm. It is not one to be missed

NICK SYLVESTRO 267-228-3910 SCOTT BENDER 267-444-7677

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

Classifieds Real Estate Sale

Real Estate Sale

For Sale

Help Wanted

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Open Houses - Sunday October 6, 2013

12:00-2:00 PM

1720 Bainbridge Street, B Philadelphia, PA 19147 2BR/1.5BA House with GARAGE! $449,900 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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Auctions

• 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

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cell: 610-203-9509, ofﬁce: 610-520-0100, email: helenedv@kw.com HISTORIC TACONY 3 Sty BrickTwin, 5 BRs, 2 bth, huge EIK, sunrm, 20 min to CC, walking dis to train/river park. $179,500. Pat Costello, Re/Max Realty Servs, 215-245-2414/215-768-1597. ________________________________________37-40 Once in a Lifetime Sportsman’s Bargain 2.5 Acres with Brand New Deer Hunter’s Lodge Minutes to Oneida Lake. Excellent Hunting, Near Snowmobile Trails. 19,995. See on www.landandcamps.com Or call 1-800-229-7843. ________________________________________37-40 BIG HUNTING LODGE House, 8 acres, hunt adjoining 500 acre Deer Creek Forest. Bass ponds, brooks, fruit woods. Was $129,900, now $99,900. www.LandFirstNY.com Call 888-683-2626. ________________________________________37-40

Real Estate Rent BEAUTIFUL GAYBORHOOD CONDO Spacious one-bedroom 3rd ﬂoor condo in pre-war high rise building on 13th St. with treetop bay window view over Spruce St. Just steps from the cities best restaurants and bars, and blocks to the Kimmel Center, the Forrest, Wilma and Merriam Theatres, Walnut Street shopping and subways. Original parquet hardwood ﬂoors, recently renovated bath and kitchen with stainless appliances. Secure building with 24 hour door concierge. Laundry facilities on site. $1,750 per month for 6 month or 1 year lease. Contact owner: bluhmr@gmail.com ________________________________________37-43

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.

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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.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 2013

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��

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B-7

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

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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

Men Delco Dudes A men’s social and support group meets 7-9 p.m. the ﬁrst Wednesday of the month at Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County, 145 W. Rose Tree Road in Media; delco. dudes@uucdc.org. Gay Married Men’s Association Meets 7-9 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesdays at the William Way Center; www.gammaphilly.com. Men of All Colors Together Meets 7:30 p.m. the third Friday of the month, September through June, at the William Way Center; 610-2776595; www.MACTPhila.org. Men’s Coming Out Group, N.J. Meets 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays at The Pride Center of New Jersey; njwarrior@aol.com. Men of Color United A discussion/support group for gay and bisexual men of color meets 6-8 p.m. every Wednesday at 112 N. Broad St., third ﬂoor; 215-496-0330. Men of Standard Provides a place for gay men of color 21 and older to share issues of concern. Meets 7-9 p.m. Thursdays at Camden AHEC, 514 Cooper St., Camden, N.J.; 856-963-2432. Philly Dads An association of gay and bisexual fathers supporting each other meets 7:30 p.m. the fourth Friday of the month at the William Way Center; 215-668-5239.

Parents/Families Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Bucks County Meets 7:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month at Penns Park United Methodist Church, 2394 Second Street Pike, Penns Park; 215-3489976. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Chester County Meets 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month at the Unitarian Fellowship of West Chester, 501 S. High St.; 484354-2448. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/ Collingswood, N.J. Meets 6:30-9 p.m. the fourth Monday of the month at the Collingswood Public Library, 771 Haddon Ave.; 609-202-4622; pflagcollingswood@yahoo.com. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Media Meets 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of every month at the Unitarian Universal Church, 145 Rose Tree Rd.; 610-368-2021. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Philadelphia Meets 2-5 p.m. the third Sunday of the month at the LGBT Center at the University of Pennsylvania, 3907 Spruce St.; 215-572-1833. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Princeton, N.J. Meets 7:30 p.m. the second Monday of the month in the George Thomas Room at Trinity Church, 33 Mercer St.; 609-683-5155.

play groups, monthly kids and teen talk groups, activities and outings. Planning meetings held monthly; 215-600-2864; www. phillyfamilypride.org.

Trans Evolutions A drop-in support group for anyone on the transgender spectrum meets 6 p.m. Thursdays at 21 S. 12th St., eighth floor; 215-563-0652 ext. 235. Mazzoni Center Family and Community Medicine Primary health care and specialized transgender services in a safe, professional, nonjudgmental environment, 809 Locust St.; 215563-0658. T-MAN People of color support group for transmen, FTMs, butches, studs, aggressives, bois, genderqueer and all female-born individuals with gender questions meets 7:30-9:30 p.m. Mondays, second floor, 1201 Locust St.; 215-834-9063; tmanphilly.com. Transhealth Programming Committee Meets 5 p.m.the second and last Sundays of the month at the William Way Center. Transhealth Information Project Sponsors a weekly drop-in center from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. MondayThursday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fridays at 21 S. 12th St., 10th floor; 215-568-2221. Transgender Health Action Coalition Peer trans health-advocacy organization; 215-732-1207; www. critpath.org/thac. 1201 Locust street 4th floor. WeXist FTM support group meets 7-9 p.m. the second and fourth Friday of the month at the William Way Center; first hour is open, second hour is for people assigned female at birth who have gender issues; 267-250-1548. Young, Trans and Unified Support group for transgender and questioning individuals ages 13-23 meets 7:15 p.m. Thursdays at The Attic Youth Center; 215-545-4331.

Women Hanging Out With Lesbians A group in Central Pennsylvania that organizes activities such as concerts, camping, golf, picnics, hikes, plays and game nights in nonsmoking environments; http://groups.yahoo. com/group/howlofpa/. Lesbian Community of Delaware Valley Social group meets monthly for activities for gay women of all ages in Delaware, Chester and Montgomery counties; http://groups. yahoo.com/group/LCDV/. Lesbian Couples Dining Group of Montgomery County Meets monthly; 215-542-2899. Mt. Airy Lesbian Social Club For lesbians in the Philadelphia area ages 35-plus; www.meetup.com/ mtairylesbiansocial/. Queer Connections Social group for women in their 20s meets weekly; http://groups.yahoo. com/group/queerconnections/.

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Wilmington, Del. Meets 7-9 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1502 W. 13th St.; 302-654-2995.

Sistah 2 Sistah A social/support group for lesbians of color, ages 13-24, with weekly social events, open discusson and monthly movie/discussions, 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays, 112 N. Broad St., third ﬂoor; 215-496-0330.

Philadelphia Family Pride Advocacy, support and social network for LGBT families offers

Women Coming Out Support Group Women who consider themselves

gay, lesbian, bisexual or questioning and are at any stage of the comingout process are welcome. Ages 18 and over. Meets 7:30 p.m. ﬁrst Tuesday and third Thursday of the month at the Pride Center of NJ.

Youth 40 Acres of Change Discussion group for teen and young adults meets 6-8 p.m. Thursdays at The COLOURS Organization Inc., 112 N. Broad St., 11th floor; 215496-0330. GLBT Group of Hunterdon County Social and support groups for youth, teens and young adults, as well as parents and family members, meets at North County Branch Library, 65 Halstead St. in Clinton, N.J. Schedule at www.glbtofhunterdonco untyofnj.com; 908-300-1058. HAVEN For GLBT, intersex, questioning, queer and allied youth ages 14-20; meets 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Lehigh Valley, 424 Center St., Bethlehem; 610-868-2153. HiTOPS A safe-space support program for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth, meets 2:30-4:30 p.m. on the first and third Saturdays at 21 Wiggins St., Princeton, N.J. Call Connie at 609683-5155 (day); hitops.org. Main Line Youth Alliance Meets from 7-9:30 p.m. Fridays at 106 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne; 610688-1861; info@myaonline.org. Mountain Meadow For youth with GLBTQ parents. Monthly programs for ages 8-16, family programs and parent coffee groups. Residential program offered in August, 1315 Spruce St.; 215772-1107. PRYSM Youth Center For youth ages 14-20. Meets 6:308:30 p.m Wednesdays at center, 126 East Baltimore Pike, Media; 610357-9948. Rainbow Room — Bucks County’s LGBTQ and Allies Youth Center For ages 14-21; meets 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays at Salem UCC Education Building, 181 E. Court St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981 ext. 9065; rainbowroom@ppbucks.org. Social X Change Social activity group for LGBT youth of color ages 13-23 meets 6-8 p.m. on Tuesdays at 112 N. Broad St., 11th floor; 215-496-0330. Space to be Proud, Open, and Together Open to all LGBTQ queer youth and allies, ages 14-21, the SPOT meets Thursdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at Planned Parenthood of Chester County’s West Chester office, 8 S. Wayne St.; 610-692-1770. Young, Trans and Unified A support group for transgender and questioning youth ages 13-23 meets 7:15 p.m. Thursdays at The Attic Youth Center. You’re Not Alone A group for gay, lesbian and bisexual youth that meets during the school year; sponsored by AIDS Delaware, 100 W. 10th St., Suite 315, Wilmington. Call 800-810-6776 for more details. Youth Making a Difference For GLBTQ African-American and Latino youth ages 14-24. Meets 5-7 p.m. every Tuesday at Camden AHEC, 514 Cooper St.; 856-9632432.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 4-10, 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 Oct. 4-10, 2013

PGN