Cho momma
Family Portrait: Karen Smith PAGE 57
While Cordova case moves forward, Morris and Blahnik cases remain stalled
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Oct. 5-11, 2012
Vol. 36 No. 40
$25K reward offered in Cordova case
Thanks to city funding and a community donation, investigators may be one step closer to finding the killer of local transwoman Kyra Cordova. By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com A sizeable reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for killing local transgender woman Kyra Cordova. A $25,000 reward was announced in the case this week, and is being facilitated by the Citizens Crime Commission. Cordova, 27, was shot to death Sept. 3 in a wooded area off the 1100 block of Adams Avenue in Frankford. No suspect or motive has been identified. The reward was made possible through a $5,000 anonymous donation from an LGBT community member and from $20,000 in city money, drawn from a fund used to support homicide investigations. Anyone with information in the case is urged to contact the Citizens Crime Commission at 215-546-TIPS (5477). Tipsters receive a code when leaving information that would be used to collect the reward if and when their tip leads to the arrest and conviction of the murderer. Gloria Casarez, the CORDOVA city’s director of LGBT affairs, said this method lessens the resistance some LGBT community members may have in dealing with police. “Folks may have information but could be reluctant to talk to police, especially given how they initially handled this case,” she said. “So we thought the Citizens Crime Commission was a great way to go. It’s an independent, external body where you don’t have to talk directly to an office but can leave information on a tip line. It’s a good way to address that potential barrier.” In partnership with the commission, WPVI PAGE 46 will air a segment on
Judge blocks voter-ID law By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com Voters will not have to present proper photo identification when they head to the polls next month, after a judge blocked the state’s new voter-ID law this week. In an Oct. 2 ruling, Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson said there was not enough time for the law to be properly implemented before the Nov. 6 election. Simpson, who previously upheld the law but was ordered to reevaluate by the state PAGE 48 Supreme Court, issued a MEMORIALIZING WAYS: At an unveiling ceremony Oct. 1, Philadelphia City Councilman Mark Squilla (right) points to the new Barbara Gittings Way designation at Locust Street between 12th and 13th streets. The street was given the honorary name to pay tribute to the woman known by many as a mother of the gay- and lesbian-rights movement. The sign was spearheaded by Equality Forum, and Squilla was joined by about 75 LGBT and ally supporters and onlookers. The intersection will be one of the focal points of the Oct. 7 OutFest celebration. Photo: Scott A. Drake
OutFest to introduce new features, more fun By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com OutFest is a neighborhood party full of rainbow flags, old and new friends and traditions, and each year, new traditions are born. The 26th annual OutFest will be held from noon-6 p.m. Oct. 7 in the Gayborhood, and organizers plan to expand the fun, literally
Gay Gay History History Month Month Special Special Coverage Coverage
and figuratively, even more this year. The block party will introduce pumpkin patch “Pumpkin Way.” Franny Price, executive director of Philly Pride Presents, got the idea for the pumpkin patch after having trouble finding a local seller. “Sometimes we had to travel to Chester or Bucks County to find one,” Price said. For a small fee, parPAGE 35
Terrance Williams granted stay of execution By Victoria A. Brownworth Special to PGN On Sept. 28, four days after closing arguments in an emergency hearing, Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge M. Teresa Sarmina stayed the execution of convicted murderer Terrance Williams, 46, who had been scheduled to die Oct. 3. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Wednesday denied an emergency prosecution motion to reinstate the execution. An appeal will proceed. The State Board of Pardons had split on clemency for Williams earlier last month. Williams was convicted in 1986 of murderPAGE 51 ing Amos Norwood, 56,
Kay Lahusen: Bringing light to LGBT issues through the lens of a camera
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