PGN OCt. 11-17, 2013

Page 1

Mayoral candidates “out” in the ’burbs

Family Portrait: Toya Lucas, makeup master PAGE 53

Findings at the Film Festival

PAGES 24, 25

Pride updates °in Delaware °at the Zoo

PAGES 62, 75

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Oct. 11-17, 2013

Vol. 37 No. 41

State asks judge to dismiss marriage case, ruling next month

PA gov compares marriage equality to incest By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett once again took a swipe at the LGBT community when he compared same-sex marriage to incest. On Oct. 4, Corbett appeared on CBS 21 with Sherry Christian. In the interview, Christian confronted Corbett on remarks made in August by his administration, comparing marriage licenses for samesex couples to licenses issued to 12-yearolds. Corbett, who apologized on behalf of his administration for those comments, told Christian that he believed a better analogy would have been “between brother and sister.”

CARRYING ON THE TRADITION: Thomas Hall, an organizer of last month’s LGBT rally at Logan Circle, readied the rainbow flag to be raised at City Hall Oct. 3. The fourth-annual ceremony honors LGBT History Month, with the rainbow flag flying over City Hall through the end of October. About 100 people attended this year’s ceremony, which featured performances by the Philadelphia Freedom Band and Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus, as well as remarks by Mayor Michael Nutter. Special tributes were made to AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania, The Attic Youth Center and Philadelphia Dyke March, all of whom are celebrating anniversary years. Photo: Scott A. Drake

Outfest to serve up new parties, entertainment By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com More than 130 vendors and tens of thousands are expected in the Gayborhood Sunday to celebrate National Coming Out Day. The 27th annual OutFest will be held from noon-6 p.m. Oct. 13.

Among the offerings this year, attendees will have the chance to play a game of volleyball against their favorite Team Philadelphia players. The new community volleyball set-up will be at Spruce and 13th streets and will last throughout the event. This year will also see the new

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Official OutFest Women’s/Queer Block Party on Chancellor Street from noon-6 p.m., in honor of the closing of Sisters. There will also be a new Youth Dance Party at 12th and Spruce streets hosted by Wired 96.5. Young people will also be the focus of the PAGE 20

National National LGBT LGBT History History Month Month Project Project PAGES 34, 36

DIALING IN: Brian Simons and Meghan Meehan-Draper, staffers for Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz’s gubernatorial campaign, put the congresswoman on speakerphone for her LGBT supporters gathered for a campaign fundraiser at Knock Oct. 7. Schwartz had to�� miss the event after House members were put on alert in regard to the government shutdown. Several-dozen LGBT and ally supporters turned out for the fundraiser, including Montgomery County Register of Wills D. Bruce Hanes, who is being sued by the state for performing same-sex marriages. This week, Schwartz contacted the U.S. Treasury seeking clarification on the tax status of the same-sex couples who got marriage licenses in Montgomery County over the summer. Photo: Scott A. Drake

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2013

And the backlash was immediate. “It was an incredibly poor choice of PAGE 32 words and it really hor-

A judge will rule next month on whether or not a federal challenge of Pennsylvania’s ban on samesex marriage will proceed. In a hearing Wednesday morning in Harrisburg, Judge John Jones said he would rule by Nov. 15 on the state’s request for the dismissal of the suit. The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania filed the case, Whitewood v. Corbett, July 9 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, on behalf of 10 same-sex couples,

two of their children and one widow. The national ACLU and firm Hangley Aronchick Segal Pudlin & Schiller are also representing the plaintiffs. Attorneys for Gov. Tom Corbett, named as a defendant, last week filed a motion to dismiss the suit, contending the plaintiffs did not adequately state a claim for relief. If Jones does not dismiss the case, he said he would put it on an expedited discovery schedule. The judge said Wednesday the trial would be “earlier rather than later” in 2014. Pending his ruling on the disPAGE 19

Ballot on page 45 or go to epgn.com and click the link


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