PGN Oct. 6 - 12, 2017

pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976

LGBT History Month

Vol. 41 No. 40 Oct. 6-12, 2017

The irrepressible Marsha P. Johnson PAGE 17

National Constitution Center poses religious-freedom questions PAGE 23

Antiquing on the Main Line with Eddie Ross

HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM Day in the William Way Life of ... explores Naiymah family, Sanchez community

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Michelle Obama addresses equality, diversity at Philly event

LGBT center to open at Community College of Philadelphia

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com At a two-day conference on LGBT issues this week at Community College of Philadelphia, school officials announced another forthcoming LGBT initiative: its first LGBT center.

Plans are underway for the launch of the MarcDavid LGBTQ Center. The space will be located in the Winnet Student Life Building and will officially open its doors with the hiring of the center’s coordinator.

Officials began circulating a job posting for the position last week and also shared it with participants at the Oct. 5-6 “Acting on Diversity: LGBTQ and Community Colleges” conference on campus.

Gregory Murphy, vice president of advancement at CCP, said representatives of the Marc David Foundation — which supports LGBT-focused scholarships at a number of local schools — approached CCP several years ago about funding an LGBT scholarship program. That connection paved the way for the creation of the center.

“The donors came to a scholarship meetand-greet and they asked if we have ever had an LGBT center, and we haven’t,” Murphy said. “David Green, who was the assistant director of student affairs at the time, started talking with them about the possibility of opening a center and it all just worked out from there.”

Murphy said school officials were interested in an LGBT space that was “fully integrated.”

“It’s not somewhere off campus; it’s right alongside all of the other student services,” he said about the new space, which will sit caddy-corner to the Women’s Center.

The building is also home to the Center for Male Engagement, several student clubs, a new student-driven food pantry for homeless and food-insecure students and an assembly room.

“It’s in the hub of camPAGE 2

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By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com

ACTING OUT: Carmen Gervasio (second from left) and fiancé Jarell Spears took part in a game of couples’ charades at GayBINGO! Sept. 30 at the Gershman Y. The couple beat out three other pairings to win a pair of tickets to see “Kinky Boots,” playing at the Academy of Music through Oct. 8. The monthly Bingo celebration, which raises money for AIDS Fund, was themed around “Will & Grace,” which returned to the airwaves last week. Photo: Scott A. Drake

Celebration, community networking expected at OutFest

By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com More than 40,000 people are expected to attend OutFest this weekend, said Philly Pride Presents Executive Director Franny Price.

The 27th-annual event will feature more than 150 vendors and a food court with more than 15 food vendors.

“Every intersection has something different going on,” Price said, noting there will be attractions such as a mechanical bull, rock-climbing, games and mainstage entertainment. At least 14 individuals and groups will perform on stage at 13th and Locust streets.

“They all have their own identities so that’s always exciting,” Price said of the performers.

Additionally, this year will mark the return of onstage contests, including the high-heel race and hula-hooping.

“Everybody loves the contests. The penis-shaped bagel-eating contest is 22 years old this year,” Price said of one of

the more popular competitions. “It started out with eight people doing it at a time.

Now we have to do 10 at a time, four different times.”

In addition to the competitions, OutFest will also honor several individuals with awards. Molassa Jones and Tina Montgomery will be crowned Mr. Philly LGBT Pride and Miss Philly LGBT Pride, respectively. Additionally, five individuals and one organization will be honored at an awards ceremony: • Gilbert Baker National OutProud Award: Michael P. Williams • Jaci Adams OutProud Transgender Award: Tenika Watson • OutProud Award: Bread & Roses Community Fund • OutProud Couple Award: Ashley Coleman and Dena Underwood • OutStanding Youth Award: Alex Phillips However, even though the award winners are aware they are being honored, there are still surprises in store for them.

PAGE 30 “We like to surprise

More than 12,000 people attended the sold-out Pennsylvania Conference for Women, which included a highly anticipated conversation between former first lady Michelle Obama and television producer Shonda Rhimes.

Obama has been a strong advocate for LGBT rights, speaking out against a Mississippi anti-LGBT “religious-freedom” bill in 2016 and hosting the Democratic National Committee’s LGBT Gala in 2013.

Rhimes opened the conversation by not-

FORMER FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA (LEFT) AND TELEVISION PRODUCER SHONDA RHIMES AT THE OCT. 3 PENNSYLVANIA CONFERENCE FOR WOMEN Photo: Marla Aufmuth/Getty Images for Pennsylvania Conference for Women

ing the man Obama is married to — but made sure to emphasize how the conference is centering the voices of women.

“So you’re married to a very nice man,” Rhimes said. “Let’s put that over there because that’s not that interesting. What we’re interested in is you.”

Rhimes asked Obama what it was like to transition from being a “workaholic” to takPAGE 42 ing some time to relax.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

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Resource listings Legal resources • ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215-592-1513; aclupa.org • AIDS Law Project of PA: 215-587-9377; aidslawpa.org • AIDS Law Project of South Jersey: 856-784-8532; aidslawsnj.org/ • Equality PA: equalitypa. org; 215-731-1447

• Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations — Rue Landau: 215-686-4670 • Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 215-7603686; ppd.lgbt@gmail.com • SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: 717-920-9537

• Office of LGBT Affairs — Amber Hikes: 215-686-0330; amber.hikes@phila.gov

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.

• LGBT Center at the University of Pennsylvania; 3907 Spruce

St.; 215-898-5044, center@dolphin.upenn.edu.

• Rainbow Room: Bucks County’s LGBTQ and Allies Youth Center

Salem UCC Education Building, 181 E. Court St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981 ext. 9065, rainbowroom@ppbucks.org.

• William Way LGBT Community Center 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220, www.waygay.org.

Health and HIV testing • Action Wellness: 1216 Arch St.; 215981-0088, actionwellness.org

• AIDS Library:

1233 Locust St.; aidslibrary.org/

• AIDS Treatment Fact line: 800-6626080

• COLOURS: 1211 Chestnut St., Suite 910; coloursorganization.org, 215-832-0100

• Congreso de Latinos Unidos;

216 W. Somerset St.; 215-763-8870

• GALAEI: 149 W. Susquehanna Ave.; 267-457-3912, www. galaei.org. Spanish/ English

• Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad

St.; 215-685-1821

• Mazzoni Center:

1348 Bainbridge St.; 215-563-0652, mazzon-

icenter.org

• Philadelphia FIGHT: 1233 Locust

St.; 215-985-4448, www.fight.org

• Washington West Project of Mazzoni Center:

1201 Locust St.; 215985-9206

• Transgender Health Action Coalition: 215-7321207

Other • Independence Branch Library Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection: 215-685-1633 • Independence Business Alliance; 215-557-0190, IndependenceBusinessAlliance.com

• LGBT Peer Counseling Services: 215-732-TALK • PFLAG: Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): 215-572-1833 • Philly Pride Presents: 215-875-9288

Germantown man seeks vindication in media case

By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com A Germantown man accused of molesting a boy has renewed hope for vindication after his defamation suit against CBS3 was recently reinstated.

Howard Rubin claims the local television station defamed him when airing a news report connecting his dismissal as a police officer with allegations that he molested a boy. The state Superior Court last month affirmed that Rubin’s case can move forward, even though a Philadelphia judge dismissed it as meritless last year.

Rubin worked as a police officer for a Philadelphia charter school for about four years, until his contract wasn’t renewed in September 2014.

On Sept. 29, 2014, CBS3 aired a news report stating Rubin was fired over allegations that he molested an underage male student at the school.

Rubin filed suit against CBS3 in November 2014, claiming the broadcast defamed him and cast him in a false light.

He’s seeking more than $50,000 in damages.

In October 2015, Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Karen Shreeves-Johns tossed out the case, citing Rubin’s inability to prove that CBS3 acted negligently or maliciously.

But in an opinion published Sept. 8, state Superior Court affirmed its prior decision to reinstate the case. The court noted the possibility that Rubin was dismissed for “fraternizing” with students, not for molesting anyone. “[T]here is not enough information at this stage in the proceedings to say with confidence that Rubin will be unable to establish that CBS acted with actual malice,” the opinion states.

Rubin’s attorneys blasted the CBS3

CCP from page 1

pus activity,” Murphy said.

The center will house the coordinator’s office, a conference room, another conference area for smaller meetings and a lounge that will offer reading materials, resources and a computer.

Murphy said the school’s LGBT student group and a number of faculty will be involved with the center’s rollout.

“Like so many things, the services will be dependent on the strength of the person who comes into the position,” Murphy said about the coordinator role. “It was an interesting job description to put together because we didn’t want it to be entirely focused on the higher-ed world to the point that we eliminated a lot of candidates. We wanted to leave it wide open so we could take a look at a broad spectrum of people.”

Once it opens, Murphy said he envisions

broadcast in court papers.

“The publication was false. The publication was retracted. The school’s principal post-publication advised CBS that the publication was false,” Rubin’s attorneys wrote.

But CBS3 insisted its news report was “substantially true,” citing Rubin’s personnel file, which contains allegations that he molested a male student.

The personnel file also includes concerns that Rubin was “too chummy with some students, acting more as a friend or older brother,” and that he inappropriately used a school computer to try to view pornographic videos relating to “twerking.”

According to criminal-court records, Rubin was never charged with sexual abuse of any type.

Matthew B. Weisberg, an attorney for Rubin, expressed agreement with the Superior Court’s ruling.

“While it is this firm’s policy not to comment on the merits of our clients’ matters, we can say that we are pleased with the Superior Court’s decision vis-a-vis reversal of the Court of Common Pleas’ dismissal,” Weisberg said in an email. “Our client looks forward to trial.”

Justin F. Robinette, a local civil-rights attorney, also spoke in favor of Rubin having his day in court.

“Having reviewed court records, I agree with the Superior Court that Mr. Rubin’s case was dismissed prematurely,” Robinette said. “The Superior Court judges said they can’t rule out the possibility that Mr. Rubin’s claims have merit — at this stage of the litigation. Their ruling doesn’t necessarily vindicate Mr. Rubin. But it moves him a step closer to a jury trial, which he’s been seeking for three years.”

Attorneys for CBS3 had no comment for this story. n

the center will host student meetings, support groups and other programs.

Just a handful of local colleges and universities have physical LGBT centers on campus, such as University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University and Kutztown University.

Having a strong support system for LGBT and ally students is key to CCP’s mission, Murphy noted.

“Everything here comes right back to our core of providing accessible, high-quality education and contributing to student success,” he said. “For us, this center is another way to support people while they’re here to help get them successfully to graduation.

And as with any school, we struggle with funding for programs, so to have this donor step up to do this is just magic.”

To view the job description for the center coordinator, visit https://jobs.ccp.edu/postings/2841. n

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

News & Opinion

10 — Creep of the Week Editorial 11 — Letters/Feedback

Mark My Words

Street Talk 26 — News Briefing 37 — International News 41 — Media Trail

Columns

27 — Out Law: The new

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” 30 — Body U: Is bulking

for you?

Arts & Culture 53 57 68 71 74 76

ASKING AND TELLING: Sharon Hayes’ “If They Should Ask” public-art project in Rittenhouse Square sheds light on the lack of historic sculptures of women in Philadelphia; of the hundreds of such monuments, only two are dedicated to women. Hayes’ work is sourced from materials of current monuments and bears the names of more than a dozen women who could be memorialized, including LGBT figures like Barbara Gittings, Charlene Arcila, Gloria Casarez, Jaci Adams and the trans women who participated in the 1965 sit-in at Dewey’s. Hayes’ work, part of the citywide Monument Lab project, will be on display through Nov. 20. Photo: Scott A. Drake

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Feature: Indigo free Scene in Philly Comics Family Portrait Out & About Q Puzzle

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Creep of the Week: Mychal Massie thinks leaving kids in public schools is bad parenting.

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Staff Writers Jeremy Rodriguez (ext. 215) jeremy@epgn.com

Kyle Lamb (ext. 201) kyle@epgn.com

Larry Nichols (ext. 213) larry@epgn.com Writer-at-Large Timothy Cwiek (ext. 208) timothy@epgn.com

Rabbi David Saperstein: “But tell me how that’s different from denying Jews or Cubans?”

Arriaga: “Because it is.” ~ National Constitution Center conversation on LGBT rights vs. religious freedom, page 23

53

Oh, for the love of Judy! But no, Stonewall had nothing to do with her.

Jen Colletta (ext. 206) jen@epgn.com

Kristina Arriaga: “The LGBT community has so many injustices against them, but it’s not up to them to tell that baker what is art or free expression.”

Office Manager/ Classifieds Don Pignolet (ext. 200) don@epgn.com

Emily Saliers takes an Indigo breather with the release of her solo album.

Art Director/ Photographer

Scott A. Drake (ext. 210) scott@epgn.com 267-736-6743 Graphic Artist Sean Dorn (ext. 211) sean@epgn.com

Philadelphia Gay News is a member of: The Associated Press Pennsylvania Newspaper Association Suburban Newspapers of America

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Family Portrait: Neha Ghosh puts the “q” in Qunify.

Copyright © 1976 - 2017 Copyright(s) in all materials in these pages are either owned or licensed by Masco Communications Inc. or its subsidiaries or affiliate companies (Philadelphia Gay News, PGN, and it’s WWW sites.) All other reproduction, distribution, retransmission, modification, public display, and public performance of our materials is prohibited without the prior written consent of Masco Communications. To obtain such consent, email pgn@epgn.com Published by Masco Communications Inc. © 1976-2017 Masco Communications Inc. ISSN-0742-5155

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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.

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THROWBACK THURSDAY: “Will & Grace” fans celebrated the much-anticipated return of the popular sitcom with a premiere party Sept. 28 at William Way LGBT Community Center. The event was organized by Comcast and NBC10 and featured remarks from members of each organization’s LGBT employee-resource group, Comcast’s director of multicultural services, center leadership and the local chapter of the Human Rights Campaign. After 11 years off the air, the LGBT-centric show airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. on NBC. Photo: Joe Kaczmarek

IBA to host LGBT Health Fair as monthly mixer

By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com For the first time, the local LGBT chamber of commerce will combine its monthly networking mixer with a health fair.

Through a partnership with health-insurance agency Independence Blue Cross, Independence Business Alliance’s inaugural Health Fair will feature exercise demonstrations, cooking demonstrations, vendors and medical testing. The Oct. 17 event will be held in conjunction with the organization’s monthly LGBT mixer, ConnX. IBA Executive Director Zach Wilcha said Independence Blue Cross, an IBA corporate partner, has wanted to present a health fair for the LGBT community in conjunction with IBA. Wilcha said the event “fell into place” now that IBA has two staff members and the health-insurance agency owns Independence LIVE, the health fair’s location.

“We also thought it would be a really great idea to pair it with our ConnX since we already have such a large following of people coming to that every month,” Wilcha said. “This is an additional bonus.”

The executive director said wellness has been a general concern of IBA but the organization has only approached the topic from a “business and economic perspective.”

“When it comes to LGBT wellness, there are so many different factors that contribute to that,” Wilcha said. “We wanted to actu-

ally bring in the health-related concerns too since we had such a great partnership with Independence Blue Cross. It made sense that expanding the definition of wellness beyond just business and economic [factors] was the perfect opportunity to do that for this type of event.”

Wilcha noted that attendees will have a “great opportunity” to see what the Independence LIVE venue can provide.

The space offers fitness classes, cooking demonstrations, a kids’ activity zone, customer support and a variety of other services.

He added that IBA has never had a ConnX event with multiple activities occurring simultaneously. He anticipates it will be enjoyable as attendees “hop to different parts of the event as the evening goes on.”

“It’s going to be very fun because not only do you get the networking that normally comes with an IBA event, but you’re also going to be able to learn a lot about LGBT health and you’re going to see exercise demonstrations and a fun cooking demonstration,” Wilcha said. “And if you have any insurance questions, there are going to be people on hand for IBX that are going to be able to answer them for you.” n The IBA Health Fair will take place 4:307:30 p.m. Oct. 17 on the second floor at Independence LIVE, 1919 Market St. Visit http:// bit.ly/2wX1wY3 for more information and to register.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

HRC panel looks to the future

By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com Local and state leaders participated in a panel discussion Sept.

28 about action needed to move LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination measures forward.

Human Rights Campaign Greater Philadelphia hosted the “Equality Today” discussion with Attorney General Josh Shapiro, state Rep. Brian Sims, Unite Here executive board members Meanda Hall and Bethany Holmes, GALAEI Youth Programs Manager Fran Cortes and Temple University professor of political science Heath Fogg Davis.

Cortes and Davis also serve on the Mayor’s Commission on LGBT Affairs.

Michael Colligan, a steering-committee member for the local HRC chapter, moderated two separate panels at the Church of The Holy Trinity. More than 40 people were in attendance.

Shapiro and Sims spoke on LGBT-inclusive laws waiting to be passed and their stances on President Donald Trump’s policies.

Shapiro said he was among the many government officials who spoke out against Trump’s transgender military ban, adding that he will not “stand by” to allow anti-LGBT laws to be put in effect.

“Continue to be engaged,” Shapiro told the audience. “Do that work. And I know that together, we have a very bright future in this commonwealth.”

Sims noted that Pennsylvania remains one of the only states without a statewide LGBT-rights law other than marriage equality. Additionally, he said the LGBT-inclusive Pennsylvania Fairness Act is being “held back”

by Republican leadership. He added that LGBT people should call Speaker of the House Mike Turzai’s office to share personal stories in an effort to get him to bring the legislation forward.

“We know now that our personal stories are actually the most effective tool in advocacy,” Sims said. “An ‘I, me’ type of personal story to a decision-maker is most likely to get them to challenge their values about something, especially if they’re already an

Ever After Happily

Begins Here

opponent.”

Local activist Mike Hisey said he would be willing to share his story with people like Turzai.

During the Q&A portion of the presentation, he spoke on his experience.

“I never thought that equality and discrimination in the work-

place would even affect me but it did and it was only two-anda-half years ago,” Hisey said. “I was fired by the owner of our company when he found out I was HIV-positive. Two of the colleagues that I worked with were extremely homophobic and I constantly battled with them. So that

“EQUALITY TODAY” PANELISTS MEANDA HALL (FROM LEFT), BETHANY HOLMES, HEATH FOGG DAVIS AND FRAN CORTES WITH MODERATOR MICHAEL COLLIGAN AT THE SEPT. 28 DISCUSSION AT THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY Photo: Lori Hoppmann

helped them to fire me as well.

The funny thing is they promised me that everything would be OK when I reported it and they fired me the next day.”

Hall, Holmes, Davis and Cortes spoke on their local grassroots efforts, answering Colligan’s questions. Davis, who consults for organizations about implementing trans-inclusive policies, recommended paying attention to single-user restrooms in the city; City Council passed a 2015 bill requiring these bathrooms be designated as gender-inclusive.

“If they have a single-occupancy bathroom that is marked with a male or female, talk to the manager,” Davis said. “Like Brian [Sims said during his earlier remarks], do it in a polite and respectful way. I tend to take the opinion that most people want to do the right thing. They don’t intend to be discriminating.”

Colligan asked the panel how their work has changed in light of the new administration and what shifts they expect in the next three to five years.

“We’re trying to figure out how to deal with PAGE 42

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HISTORY IN THE MAKING: Equality Forum celebrated its 25th anniversary last weekend and also gave a nod to several LGBT historic sites in Philadelphia. The organization presented its International Role Model Award to U.S. Sen. Bob Casey at its anniversary gala Oct. 1 at the National Museum of American Jewish History, and gave its Frank Kameny Award to Peter Staley, founder of Treatment Action Group. On Oct. 3, Equality Forum unveiled two new state historic markers: outside the AIDS Library of Philadelphia, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary next month, and at 13th and Locust streets, where in 1972 Dr. John Fryer challenged the American Psychiatric Association’s designation of homosexuality as a mental illness. Photos: Scott A. Drake

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

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RELIGIOUS RECOGNITION: The Religious Leaders Council of Philadelphia on Oct. 1 formally recognized University Lutheran Church as a Zone of Peace. The West Philadelphia church earned the title largely for its work to welcome and be inclusive of LGBT congregants. The Zone of Peace designation is bestowed upon organizations of all denominations and types — including churches, synagogues, mosques and schools — that fight against the root causes of violence. Photo: Scott A. Drake

Out & Equal Workplace Summit comes to Philly as CEO readies to step down

By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com

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Selisse Berry said her passion for starting Out & Equal, a nonprofit dedicated to LGBT workplace equality, began after she was denied ordination in the Presbyterian Church. She felt like “no one should ever have to choose between a career that we love and the person that we love.”

“All of these years later, I’m still committed to that and still trying to make sure all workplaces embrace the LGBT community,” Berry added.

Twenty-one years after founding Out & Equal, Berry is gearing up for her last Workplace Summit as CEO. The traveling global conference, held Oct. 9-12 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, is expected to bring more than 4,000 from more than 40 countries, Berry said.

Moving forward, Berry will take on an advisory role for the organization she founded. She said having her last conference in Philadelphia is “bittersweet.”

“There is a strong LGBT vibe and there is so much energy around LGBT equality in Philadelphia,” Berry said. “[It’s also] very convenient for people from New York, D.C. and Boston. Geographically appealing, the diversity and the LGBT equality commitment of the community [made it feel] like a great place to have the summit this year.”

The summit will feature nationally known celebrities such as Olympic gold medalist Greg Louganis, country singer Chely Wright, singer-actor Jennifer Holliday and fashion designer Christian Siriano. Locals will also make an appearance, including

Mayor Jim Kenney, state Rep. Brian Sims, Director of LGBT Affairs Amber Hikes and the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus.

The conference will offer several workshops, with eight educational tracks.

Berry noted how conversations around LGBT equality have changed since the first Workplace Summit in Atlanta, Ga., back in 1999, which had about 200 attendees.

She said LGBT topics are “the common conversation now, whereas in the beginning, there were a lot of meetings and conversations just to get people to be willing to admit that there are LGBT employees, as well as customers and clients.”

“We have people from all over the world come and then many of them go back and put on a conference that’s similar to Out & Equal in their country,” Berry added.

Berry said she will continue attending the summit in the future, and added that Out & Equal will be exploring ways to stay strong in support of LGBT-friendly legislation.

However, the founder is still on a “high” for next week’s conference.

“It really is the only place in a three- or four-day period to have this many opportunities to learn about hands-on ways to make a difference in the workplace. We spend a lot of time at work and if we’re not able to be our authentic selves at work, then it just adds layers of complexity. [You will] have a place where you can come and get lots of information and tools to really make changes in your workplace.” n Out & Equal’s 2017 Workplace Summit will be held Oct. 9-12 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch St. Visit http://outandequal.org/workplacesummit/ for more information and to register.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

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Mytesi is a prescription medicine that helps relieve symptoms of diarrhea not caused by an infection (noninfectious) in adults living with HIV/AIDS on antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Important Safety Information Mytesi is not approved to treat infectious diarrhea (diarrhea caused by bacteria, a virus, or a parasite). Before starting you on Mytesi, your healthcare provider will first be sure that you do not have infectious diarrhea. Otherwise, there is a risk you would not receive the right medicine and your infection could get worse. In clinical studies, the most common side effects that occurred more often than with placebo were upper respiratory tract (sinus, nose, and throat) infection (5.7%), bronchitis (3.9%), cough (3.5%), flatulence (3.1%), and increased bilirubin (3.1%).

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• It is not known whether Mytesi is passed through human breast milk • If you are nursing, you should tell your doctor before starting Mytesi • Your doctor will help you to decide whether to stop nursing or to stop taking Mytesi Under 18 or Over 65 Years of Age? • Mytesi has not been studied in children under 18 years of age • Mytesi studies did not include many people over the age of 65. So it is not clear if this age group will respond differently. Talk to your doctor to find out if Mytesi is right for you

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Please see complete Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com.

NP-390-18

• Upper respiratory tract infection (sinus, nose, and throat infection) • Bronchitis (swelling in the tubes that carry air to and from your lungs) • Cough • Flatulence (gas) • Increased bilirubin (a waste product when red blood cells break down) For a full list of side effects, please talk to your doctor. Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

RELIEF, PURE AND SIMPLE

PAGE 10

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

OUTFEST EDITORIAL EDITORIAL PGN

Creep of the Week

D’Anne Witkowski

Mychal Massie

Editorial

What does National Coming Out Day mean to the PGN staff?

Don: Since I always was an outsider, coming out was no big deal. Relax and be yourself. There’s no reason to live a lie today.

Jen: I see NCOD as an opportunity for those who are out to celebrate their individual identities and the sense of belonging that comes with being part of the LGBT community. This year especially, it is also a call to action for community members to be proud and visible to serve as a support system for those who are struggling with their identity.

Jeremy: My inner 12-year-old closeted gay kid is extremely proud of this 26-year-old openly gay adult.

National Coming Out Day makes me remember how grateful I am to live happily while working at an amazing LGBT publication.

Joe: To me it simply means FREEDOM to not be afraid or ashamed of who I am.

Be proud and happy, which is how I live my life.

Kyle: For me, OutFest is an exciting time of year for the community to come together and celebrate ourselves and each other.

Larry: It means that people are making their voices heard and letting the current administration know that they aren’t going to be able to trample on people’s rights without opposition.

Mark: A time for the community to come together and unite, and appreciate how far we have come, and have great a street party our community can unite through.

Prab: Incidentally, I came out to my family on NCOD, so it holds a very special place in my life. Here’s to all brave individuals contributing to LGBTQ visibility on OutFest this year and beyond!

Sandy: As someone who defends civil and equal rights, I’m especially proud of my LGBT+ loved ones on this day of celebration — because they continue to amaze me with positivity, even in the face of a despotic POTUS. Scott: It means another day of work, but with several thousand friends.

Sean: In these troubling times, when hatred that used to be ashamed to show its face is public and intolerance is becoming the norm again, National Coming Out Day means now more than ever, we can’t be dragged back into the past — that people cannot be silenced and made to hide in the shadows.

Tim: National Coming Out Day serves as an annual reminder to be true to oneself and to realize that we all share a common humanity. n

In sixth grade, sitting in a room with only girls and female teachers, we were encouraged to write anonymous questions about sex on a piece of paper. The teachers randomly selected some to answer.

An older woman unfolded a square of paper and read, “What is a drummer?”

She looked at her fellow grown-ups, all of whom shrugged. There was uncomfortable laughter from both kids and adults.

Well, what IS a drummer? I wondered. I was as clueless as the teachers and waited for someone to solve this mystery. The teachers asked if any of US knew the answer. We did not.

Or, at least, no one admitted to knowing. It must be something really bad, I thought.

After the meeting I learned the truth: Bella (not her real name) had submitted the question. And she’d written, “What is a rubber?” But her loopy sixth-gradegirl handwriting was apparently illegible. Anyway, she said, she already knew what it was and submitted the question on a dare.

This same girl would later accuse a boy of trying to rape her at sixth-grade camp, which was quite the gossipy scandal for at least a day. What actually happened I don’t know. But neither she nor the boy were sent home from camp early.

Later still — eighth grade, maybe? — there was a rumor that Bella had pubic lice that she’d gotten at a party after using the bathroom and, not able to find toilet paper, grabbing the cat to dry herself. For a long time I was stymied by this.

Could you get crabs from pets? And who would use a cat as TP? This was long before Google.

I didn’t know I was gay in sixth grade. But I knew something about me was different. It would take me years to figure out what that different thing was and more years to understand and accept it. I had no idea that gays and lesbians existed and certainly no idea that they were capable and deserving of love. And that’s a very hard thing to figure out by yourself.

I don’t know whatever happened to Bella. I hope that she is living a happy life somewhere. My point is not to single out one young girl. My point is that sex ed in the school Bella and I both

attended failed us both.

This is what I thought of when I read Mychal Massie’s Sept.

25 column on a radical-right website that urged parents to pull their children out of public schools in order to save them from the so-called gay agenda.

“What parents who ill-advisedly leave their children in public schools fail to realize is that this is not about education,” Massie writes. “It is about the desensitizing of future generations to depravity. It is also the naked undermining of traditional families by the homosexual-activist agenda.”

This statement makes perfect sense if you think sex is sinful and LGBTQ people are monsters, not human beings.

But even under a Trump presidency, it takes a concerted effort to believe that is the case.

Learning in public schools, which the vast majority of American children attend, about how to use condoms, about consent, about how to protect against STDs and about sexual orientation and gender identity doesn’t undermine families. If anything, such knowledge strengthens families by empowering young men and women to make informed decisions about their sexual lives and health. The goal of this “agenda” is fewer unintended pregnancies, a decrease in sexual assault and fewer LGBTQ people growing up feeling broken and alone.

I agree with Massie that parents should know what their children are learning at school, and I urge parents to advocate for comprehensive sex education. Get involved. Get informed.

A good place to start is The Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (http://www.siecus. org). n

“What parents who ill-advisedly leave their children in public schools fail to realize is that this is not about education. It is about the desensitizing of future generations to depravity.”

D’Anne Witkowski is a poet, writer and comedian living in Michigan with her wife and son. She has been writing about LGBT politics for over a decade. Follow her on Twitter @MamaDWitkowski.

OUTFEST OP-ED PGN

Silencing LGBT Pride in Egypt Donald Trump and his fake excuse and applauded: misdirected attack on the NFL players who “We also have been unofficially are kneeling for social justice have some informed that we will never be allowed to people saying it’s a sign of a leader crackplay again anywhere in Jordan due to our ing down on the First Amendment, which political and religious beliefs and endorseleads to an authoritarian state. Think that’s ment of gender equality and sexual freean overreach? Take a look at a dom,” band members wrote. similar issue in another country “We deeply regret having to with an already-authoritarian cancel this event in this counstate. try that we have made our own.

A few weeks ago at a concert Jordan is the home of some of in Cairo, Egypt, by a Lebanese the most supportive, beautiful band, Mashrou’ Leila, several and kind people we have had people in the audience proudly the pleasure of working with waved the rainbow flag — and and playing for. Jordan is also guess what happened? Police the only place where we get arrested seven people, reportto perform for our Palestinian edly for “promoting sexual audience, who organize elaborate bus trips to come from deviancy,” even though there is Palestine to see us play. Jordan no law against homosexuality is the birthplace of our lead in Egypt — no less against the rainbow flag. singer’s mother, a formative part The band issued the following Mark Segal of his identity and writing and statement: “Dear everyone, we a place we have always considwere on a flight to New York, where we ered our second home.

“We denounce the systemic prosecution will be teaching a workshop for the next two months, when the media frenzy began. of voices of political dissent. We denounce the systemic prosecution of advocates of We have not yet commented about the situation in Cairo, as we have received consexual and religious freedom. We denounce flicting reports, and honestly have not been the censorship of artists anywhere in the able to figure out what is actually hapworld. We apologize for having thus far pening. Our trusted sources on the ground failed at creating a cultural environment have not been able to verify anything perthat allows our children to speak their taining to the arrests or the alleged ban minds. We believe whole-heartedly that on future performances. We hope everywe have only ever acted with the intention one is safe and well, and appreciate your of making our world a more equal and patience.” just place, even if ‘only through song.’ We According to the BBC, the Egyptian pledge to our audience that we will constate news agency reported that public tinue to place the integrity of our art as our prosecutor Nabil Sadek ordered an investiforemost priority, and to never succumb to gation after images of the Pride flag being the pressure to compromise our message or raised at the concert were uploaded on to waive our freedom to speak. We promise sites like Facebook and subsequently conto continue to write out of love, and with demned by certain politicians and members the desire to spread love. We will fight, of the media. as we have always done, for our right to You might be surprised to know the freely play our music and speak our mind. band comes from Beirut, which at times “We urge our fellow musicians and artis known as the Paris of the Middle East. ists across the world to continue to produce I’ve been there a number of times and, work that challenges any unfair status quo, like many others, I found it to be one of despite the difficulties confronted.” the most tolerant areas in the region. That Egypt is about to open a new national attitude is the result of a delicate balancing museum to relaunch its lagging tourism campaign. It might want to rethink how act due to its neighboring countries and this act looks to people who might want to the culture of various religions that call it visit that amazing country. home, but somehow this one city has had It’s a place I had hoped to revisit. As a a government whose members comprise a diversity of religions, which makes a state- gay man, am I no longer welcome? n ment that we can all live together.

Mark Segal is the nation’s most-award-winning com After the flag incident, Mashrou Leila mentator in LGBT media. His memoir, “And Then was banned from performing in Jordan.

I Danced,” is available on Amazon.com, Barnes & The band’s response and spirit should be Noble or at your favorite bookseller.

Mark My Words

PAGE 11

Street Talk Should Philadelphia have a trans crosswalk?

"I have no problem with it. I don't see why anyone else should have a problem with it. I think it would be a very nice Hannah Herrera show of restaurant manager support for Gayborhood the trans community. They're having a difficult time under the Trump administration."

"Yes. Trans people are the ones facing the hardest challenges so we should focus on them. We should Priscilla Medina definitely salon assistant hone in Collingswood, N.J. on their struggles. It's always a good thing to acknowledge people's struggles and do whatever we can to help."

"Yes. I thought it was really cool when I first saw the LGBT crosswalk in the Gayborhood.

Even though Ezra Skobeloff I'm straight, copywriter I felt a sense Gayborhood of pride that I live in such a welcoming city. So if trans people want a separate trans crosswalk, I'm all for it."

"I understand the value of unity.

But even if only a few trans people want a trans crosswalk, it can't hurt to have that. Elizabeth Witte Why not have server both an LGBT Stony Point, N.Y. crosswalk and a trans crosswalk? I don't see one as detracting from the other."

Letters and Feedback In response to “D.A.’s Office warns of sizable fee to certify Morris record,” Sept.

29-Oct. 5: They should be paying PGN’s court costs and damages for their obstructive and dilatory behavior over more than a decade. As a taxpayer, I’m appalled at the amount of money and staff time they’ve wasted trying to cover up information they should just release. I hope the new D.A. fires many of them.

— Kathy11

We want to know!

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

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

Please include a daytime phone number.

Letters may be edited for clarity, style and space con­sid­er­ations.

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.

OUTFEST PGN

Day in the Life of ...

By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

PAGE 15

ACLU PA’s transgender-advocacy coordinator and community organizer, Naiymah Sanchez

to the Pennsylvania Convention Center, where the 16th Philadelphia Trans Health Conference was taking place. Her goal was Naiymah Sanchez interviewed five to recruit conference attendees to tell their different trans-identified people in the stories on camera.

“I think the [interview] questions are Philadelphia Downtown Marriott’s Logan Room the morning of Sept. 8 for a video good because it captures our life, our stoseries. Through this initiative, the American ries and how our communities intersect,” Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania aims Sanchez said. “It also lets people know to publish a web page detailing the lives of we’re not just trans but we’re trans and we’re Muslim. We’re trans and we’re vetertrans people in the state.

Around noon, Sanchez switched roles ans. We’re trans and we’re disabled. We’re trans and we’re undocumented. We’re trans and told her own story.

“My name is Naiymah Sanchez,” she and we’re unapologetic.”

Though the state lacks an LGBTsaid in front of the camera. “Pronouns are she/her/hers and the communities I identify nondiscrimination law, Sanchez hopes this with are the transgender community, the series, with the full website expected to trans-feminine community and the Latinx launch in early 2018, will “change minds.”

“We haven’t been able to accomplish community.”

Sanchez, who serves as the ACLU PA’s this comprehensive nondiscrimination but I think when we have transgender-advothe stories of the cacy coordinator and community and you community orgasee the trauma in nizer, shared her the eyes of the ones experiences as an that are oppressed, interviewer asked it really gets people her questions. Her to think,” Sanchez voice shook when said. she discussed more Sanchez also had emotional topics — a keynote speech to how her mother did deliver that afternot initially accept noon at the conferher, issues in school ence. and getting fired as “It’s kind of hard a cashier after her for me because pubemployer checked lic speaking isn’t her Social Security my best [strength], number, which especially when matched a man’s it’s a large group,” name.

Sanchez said.

One story she With the way shared detailed her Sanchez carries 18 months in a men’s herself, you would prison, in which she never think she was was incarcerated nervous, especially after she defended considering what herself. happened to her the “I was sexually previous evening. assaulted in the “You can put prison by one of the persons paid to make NAIYMAH SANCHEZ SHARING HER this on the record sure everything is STORY FOR AN ACLU VIDEO SERIES because this is funny story,” secure inside the Photos: Scott A. Drake a Sanchez laughed. facilities,” Sanchez After taking two weeks to write her said. “For nine months, being sexually assaulted by a correctional officer took a speech, Sanchez read over it the previous toll on me mentally and emotionally. That day and noticed some things she wanted to experience is one I will remember always change. When she started to make edits that and, once I was released, it was a reminder night, she began to feel sleepy.

“I was so exhausted that I fell asleep on that I needed to walk a straight path so I my iPad and it was erasing [my speech], don’t return to this environment.”

However, she noted that some trans peo- and then the iPad died,” Sanchez said.

She ended up rewriting the speech around ple do not always have a “straight path.”

“We are not able to get jobs,” she said. 1:30 a.m., noting it was still fresh in her “We’re not able to access safe education. head. Sanchez said she wanted to tie in the Trans Health Conference’s theme for the So our life is set up for us to fail.”

Through this project, Sanchez aims to year: Perseverance. Strength. Power.

“When I was thinking about persevermake sure other trans people do not “fail.”

She walked with PGN from the Marriott ance, I was thinking about our history and

how we persevered through time,” Sanchez said. “It’s not just what we’re doing right now. It’s what led us up to today — when we are able to freely express who we are and feel more comfortable to come out as trans individuals. I really wanted to focus on our history of our community. And then it ties into the ‘strength’ and ‘power’ because if you look at how we persevered through riots, through direct discrimination, attacks from police officers back in the ’50s and ’60s to today —where I can walk up to an officer and say, ‘I need help.

Can you help me?’ — it really helps me understand what my ancestors did. It gives me the strength to keep pushing on in the trans-rights movement.”

She pointed to the work of late local trans pioneers like Jaci Adams and Charlene Arcila, who she said empower her to make changes in the city.

“What keeps my fire burning is knowing folks have laid their life on the line and I should not take it for granted,” Sanchez said. “I should do the same. This is my obligation, as someone who is out and proud, to advocate for and educate our community.”

Part of Sanchez’s advocacy work involves constant networking. Several times while walking through the convention center, people would stop Sanchez to give her a hug, including friends and people she met at previous conferences, among them Creating Change; Sanchez co-chaired that conference when it came to Philadelphia in January. She said her attitude when speaking with conference attendees, whether she’s a main organizer or a general participant, remains the same.

“I like to engage the audience of the conference,” Sanchez said. “I don’t have to be an organizer to keep it friendly.”

Sanchez said people will sometimes

“misinterpret” her friendliness and think she is an organizer. She recalled an experience from the previous day where a conference workshop presenter gave her surveys meant for the organizers.

“I took them to the help desk and they were like, ‘Why did they give it to you?’

And I’m like, ‘I dunno,’” Sanchez laughed.

However, Sanchez welcomes these interactions.

“When people just come up to me and ask me about things that are supposed to be happening at the conference, it makes me feel like I’m doing something that’s important and that I have done something to make them feel welcome,” she said.

Right before she delivered her speech, Sanchez sat down at a table to eat lunch.

Between forkfuls of chicken and rice, Sanchez and a woman at the table struck up a conversation.

“Welcome to Philadelphia,” Sanchez told the woman. “Let me know if you need anything while you’re in the city.”

Since it initially seemed like Sanchez knew this person, PGN asked if this was a friend of hers. The answer was “no.”

“I don’t have to know her to talk to her.

I think that’s a problem we have today. We feel like we have to — ” Sanchez paused to say hello to a passerby “ — know a person before we can initiate conversation. I get on the train and talk to anybody, just to talk.”

After lunch, it was time to deliver her keynote speech. As Sanchez stood in front of more than 100 people in Room 119AB, you would never guess public speaking was “hard,” as she’d previously claimed.

“Happy Friday — community, peers and allies,” Sanchez began. “Today, I stand in front of you as a proud transgender Latina who has overcome many obstacles in life.”

And that’s exactly what she did. n

SANCHEZ (RIGHT) WITH CITY COUNCILMAN BILL GREENLEE AND PHILADELPHIA COMMISSION ON HUMAN RELATIONS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RUE LANDAU AT LAST MONTH’S TRANS PRIDE FLAG-RAISING

PAGE 16

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

OUTFEST PGN

LGBT History Month

Stonewall Strong Below is an excerpt from “Stonewall Strong: Gay Men’s Heroic Fight for Resilience, Good Health and a Strong Community,” by John-Manuel Andriote.

The book will publish Oct. 8 by Rowman & Littlefield; www.stonewallstrong.com.

In 1961, Frank Kameny and Washington, D.C., native Jack Nichols organized the Mattachine Society of Washington, D.C., an affiliate of Harry Hay’s original group in Los Angeles in name more than in style.

Nichols had been deeply affected at age 15 when he read Edward Sagarin’s 1951 book “The Homosexual in America.” Nichols recounted decades later in a letter to “The Gay Metropolis” author Charles Kaiser that he was most touched by Sagarin’s quotation from the prominent African-American activist and author W. E. B. Du Bois: “The worst effect of slavery was to make the Negroes doubt themselves and share in the general contempt for black folk.” Nichols well understood the harmful effects of selfstigma in gay men’s lives.

Kameny and Nichols realized that one of the biggest obstacles to gay people’s progress in society was the psychiatric profession’s classification of homosexuality as a mental illness. In a 1964 speech to the New York Mattachine Society, Kameny said, “The entire homophile movement is going to stand or fall upon the question of whether homosexuality is a sickness, and upon our taking a firm stand on it.”

In March 1965, the D.C. group threw down the gauntlet to the psychiatric establishment whose scientifically dubious classification of homosexuality served, as needed, to justify discrimination against gay people. “The Mattachine Society of Washington,” read the group’s public statement, “takes the position that in the absence of valid evidence to the contrary, homosexuality is not a sickness, disturbance or other pathology in any sense, but is merely a preference, orientation or propensity, on par with, and not different in kind from, heterosexuality.”

On April 17, 1965, Kameny, together with other members of the Washington Mattachine Society and members of the lesbian group Daughters of Bilitis, launched the first gay and lesbian protest in front of the White House. Ten members picketed against Cuban and U.S. government repression of homosexuals in the first organized protest by gay people demanding equality. On July 4 of that year, Kameny and Nichols organized the first-annual Fourth of July pickets outside Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Their presence before America’s most hallowed building was intended to remind Americans that not all their fellow citizens were granted the equal justice under law promised in the Constitution, written and adopted right there.

Many of the new generation of activists who thrived on the energy of Stonewall after the 1969 riots looked at the Mattachine Society’s coat-and-tie, blouse-and-skirt politeness as an anachronism, a hangover of an earlier time. Wistful longing for a place “somewhere over the rainbow” was giving way to a new insistence on equality here and now. “We were going to smash that rainbow,” says Stonewall “veteran” and Philadelphia Gay News founder and publisher Mark Segal. “We didn’t have to go over anything or travel anywhere to get what we wanted.”

But it was the Mattachines who had been chipping away — bit by bit, year by year — at the very bedrock of legal and social homophobia. The Washington Mattachines had already made it clear in their 1965 declaration to the psychiatric profession that there would no longer be a market in the homosexual community for their “pseudo-scientific” views of homos e x u a l i t y.

In 1970, the executive committee of the National Association for Mental Health declared that homosexual relations between consenting adults should be decriminalized.

The group’s San Francisco chapter adopted a resolution asserting, “Homosexuality can no longer be equated only with sickness, but may properly be considered a preference, orientation or propensity for certain kinds of life styles.” Braced by the affirmation, gay activists began to strike with vehement regularity at the American Psychiatric Association.

“Psychiatry is the enemy incarnate!” shouted Kameny, seizing the micro- phone as he and other gay-rights activists effectively took over the world’s most important gathering of psychiatrists during its prestigious Convocation of Fellows. The Mattachines may have been known for their button-down style of protest, but Kameny was no ordinary Mattachine. He was a man who believed with every fiber of his being that gay is good. “Psychiatry has waged a relentless war of extermination against us,” he told the assembled doctors. “You may take this as a declaration of war against you.”

The APA’s nomenclature and statistics committee met with a group of gay activists, including Bruce Voeller from the newly

formed National Gay Task Force (NGTF), who presented the scientific evidence proving homosexuality was not a mental illness.

The committee, headed by Robert Spitzer, prepared a background paper on homosexuality for the APA’s board. In it they defined the simple standard by which psychiatrists to this day determine mental illness: For a psychiatric condition to be considered a mental illness, it must either cause distress or impair an individual’s social functioning. “Clearly,” wrote Spitzer, “homosexuality, per se, does not meet the requirements for a psychiatric disorder since … many homosexuals are quite satisfied with their sexual orientation and demonstrate no generalized impairment in social effectiveness or functioning.”

For the record, he noted, “the terms ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’ are not really psychiatric terms.”

Two years after Kameny declared war on psychiatry, the American Psychiatric Association’s board of trustees voted unanimously in December 1973 to remove homosexuality from the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual,” the bible of psychiatric disorders. The board acknowledged that “the unscientific inclusion of homosexuality per se in the list of mental disorders has been the ideological mainstay for denying civil rights” to homosexuals. For good measure, they called for the repeal of sodomy laws and for the passage of antidiscrimination measures to protect the rights of gay people. Ronald Bayer, co-director of Columbia University’s Center for the History and Ethics of Public Health, pointed out that the APA’s diagnostic change “deprived secular society … of the ideological justification of its discriminatory practices.”

At a time when physicians, including psychiatrists, were held in very high esteem, it was unheard of that the prestigious medical field could possibly include homosexuals. To prove otherwise, former New York City health-services director Dr. Howard J. Brown came out publicly as a gay man in October 1973. His announcement made the front page of the New York Times. He told the paper he decided to come out because times were changing.

“You get to a point in your life where you want to leave a legacy,” he said. “In a

sense, this can help free the generation that comes after us from the dreadful agony of secrecy, the constant need to hide.”

Brown capitalized on the publicity his coming-out generated by helping to found the NGTF on Oct. 16, 1973, which helped achieve the massive victory with the APA for gay people only two months later.

He wrote in his 1976 memoir, “Familiar Faces, Hidden Lives”: “The gay activists who converged on Washington on Dec. 15, 1973, were the first group of patients in history to insist that they were not sick and to demand that the label be removed.”

When the APA voted to de-pathologize homosexuality, Brown says, “Never in history had so many people been cured in so little time.”

Even before the APA’s 1973 decision, Dr. Richard Pillard had already become the first openly gay psychiatrist in America.

Pillard had just turned 82 when I interviewed him for this book in October 2015.

He recalled his own experience in psychoanalysis as a patient. He was married at the time and had three daughters. After four years of analysis, he realized he was a gay man and needed to find a male partner.

He divorced his wife but remained, and remains, close to her and his three daughters. “I concluded I am a gay man,” he said, “and this is not a mental disorder.”

Besides knowing Howard Brown, another inspiration for the newly out Dr. Pillard was an invitation in the spring of 1970 from the Boston University student homophile league. Now he would know other openly gay people right there in his workplace. “Less than a year after Stonewall, the idea of coming out was becoming embedded in our psyches,” said Pillard. “I remember telling a colleague I was going to give a talk to the student homophile league, and he said, ‘My God, there’s a league of them?’”

Pillard said that coming out had immediate rewards. Best of all, he said, there were no more “dark secrets.” He thought a moment, then added, “That is gay liberation. Freedom from our own fear.” n John-Manuel Andriote has written about LGBT, HIV/AIDS and other health and medical subjects since the early 1980s. He is the author of “Victory Deferred: How AIDS Changed Gay Life in America”; “Hot Stuff: A Brief History of Disco/ Dance Music”; “Tough Love: A Washington Reporter Finds Resilience, Ruin and Zombies in his ‘Other Connecticut’ Hometown”; and a “fable for kids ages 5-105” called “Wilhelmina Goes Wandering.” His articles have appeared in the Washington Post, The Atlantic, the Huffington Post and leading LGBT publications across America.

Andriote regularly speaks at conferences and universities, is interviewed by print and broadcast media and has been an adjunct communications professor at Eastern Connecticut State University. For more information on “Stonewall Strong,” visit www.stonewallstrong.com.

OUTFEST PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

PAGE 17

LGBT History Month

New doc explores mysterious death of a mother of the trans community

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

rible year for crime in New York. I was reporting for the Village Voice at the time and covering this wild uptick in anti-LGBT crimes. I knew that at the time the police department was not responding adequately to the epidemic, nor were politicians or newspapers, but the Anti-Violence Project — which is a 30-year-old initiative to advocate for LGBT crime victims — was very aggressively investigating cases in a way to force police to take crimes against us seriously. So when I began my work on the documentary, I turned back to the Anti-Violence Project to ask if they would go back to this old case with me. They assigned me Victoria Cruz, which was like incredible luck to find somebody who was so gorgeous and compelling to follow. But also somebody who had a great personal connection to the case and to the history of Marsha and Sylvia Rivera.

Almost 23 years to the day after helping to lead the seminal uprising against police at the Stonewall Inn, Marsha P. Johnson was reported missing.

The trans woman was a well-known figure in New York City’s LGBT and HIV/ AIDS communities, an organizer and activist whose contributions to social change persisted long after the Stonewall riots subsided.

She and friend and fellow activist Sylvia Rivera founded Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries to provide resources, care and advocacy for homeless queer youth. The two are credited with encouraging the development of a trans community, separate from the larger LGB community, yet with attention to intersectional issues like racial justice, PGN: There’s no finite closure on Marsha’s homelessness and criminal-justice reform. death by the conclusion of the film; was that Her contributions were cut short, as PGN: I understand there were roadblocks challenging for you, personally and/or proJohnson’s body was found in the Hudson throughout the process of getting access to River on July 6, 1992. The death was quickly files and records. Do you think that was con- fessionally?

DF: It’s frustrating in some regard because ruled a suicide but a number of friends blasted nected to anti-trans bias? everybody deserves to have their killers that finding, especially considering a head DF: We went back to the people who were brought to justice. The bigger question wound Johnson suffered, a report she had working on the case 25 years ago and their Victoria helps us discover in the course of been harassed near the river and a witness biases from the time seemed to remain fully her research is that the cause of Marsha’s who claimed overhearing a man bragging intact. To them, Marsha was an insignificant death is much greater than any about murdering “a drag queen individual or individuals; she named Marsha.” fell victim to systemic preju Twenty-five years later, a dice against trans people, espenew documentary is seeking cially trans women of color. justice for Johnson. “The Death Those fundamental problems and Life of Marsha P. Johnson,” that existed in 1992 are still directed by David France, who with us today and account for was nominated for an Academy year after year of new records Award for his 2012 AIDS docof trans women of color being umentary “How to Survive killed and their cases generata Plague,” follows the Antiing too-little public sympathy.

Violence Project’s work to I think that her focus on the gain traction for a new invessystems that created the cops tigation into Johnson’s death. that created the cover-up that With archival footage, the doclet the killing go unanswered umentary brings to life one of VICTORIA CRUZ IN “THE LIFE & DEATH OF MARSHA P. is the bigger, more important the trans community’s earliest JOHNSON” discovery. She does justice for pioneers, using Johnson’s life Marsha in that way. and death to speak to systemic issues like ongoing violence against trans victim of crime, a person whose case could PGN: Marsha has been gone for more than be easily dismissed or glossed over. There women of color.

25 years. How did you work to bring her to France spoke to PGN about the historic yet was no appetite on their part to look back life, to show modern audiences who she was on her case, although they remembered it. timely film. as a person?

One officer Victoria talked to immediately DF: Well, luckily, there was a good quanremembered the name Marsha Johnson PGN: What brought you to this story? tity of archival footage in which Marsha and that she was a trans woman found in DF: I knew Marsha personally from her role and Sylvia both narrated their own lives. I the river. It’s not that it was a small case in in gay life in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. She didn’t want to have a film filled with talking their mind but they treated it as though it was widely known and widely celebrated, in heads, academics, historians, contextualizwas a meaningless case, and continued to. part because she was a central figure in the ing Marsha and Sylvia. I wanted them to Certainly they didn’t want Victoria stumStonewall uprising. But the exact details of speak for themselves, to have a voice, to what she had done and what she had accom- bling into discovering things they should tell us who they were and what they wanted have discovered or discovering things they plished politically were largely lost to time. and what was really in their soul. There was knew about and buried. And that’s why she I knew enough about her that I knew that a enough footage I was able to unearth after hit obstacles there. Victoria proves that it story that excavated her political contributwo years of archival research. was a massive cover-up. And that it was a tions would be really important. cover-up of the death of a significant historPGN: The film addresses the recent trends ical figure just adds to the tragedy of it. But PGN: How did you get connected to the in violence against trans women of color. hers was one of, I’m sure, scores of cases Anti-Violence Project’s Victoria Cruz?

What is the message there? Is there a call to that year alone that were covered up.

DF: Marsha died in 1992 and it was a ter-

action?

DF: Absolutely.

I think the film makes that call to action really plain. In a really important way, we all are responsible for Marsha’s death and we are all responsible for this current wave of crime against the community.

We all have to own that and do something about it, individually MARSHA P. JOHNSON and collectively.

That’s, I think, the lesson we learn from the film.

PGN: The film is going to be released on Netflix. How do you think distributing the film this way will impact viewership?

DF: I don’t know Netflix’s numbers off the top of my head but I’ll tell you this: On Oct. 6, “The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson” is dropping in 190 countries simultaneously. It’s been translated into 18 languages from day one. In that way, Marsha is going global, which is exactly what she deserves. It’s the best possible platform for reaching into the furthest corners of the earth with this story of empowerment.

PGN: In this LGBT History Month, what can the LGBT community of 2017 learn from Marsha? What is her legacy?

DF: Her legacy is tremendous. She and Sylvia were the first to conceptualize the idea of a trans community. It was born from their minds, a theory they developed, and, in doing that, they set in motion a revolution in the way we understand gender. That revolution is coming to full bloom now and would not be what it is today if it were not for them. All of us owe something to them for that revolution they touched off. The film has shown at festivals around the world, and what I heard from people in the transgender community in particular is the importance of knowing how significant their foremothers were.

The idea of there being heroes and heroines in the trans community is something in too-little supply. These are definitely heroic figures and their stories deserve to be in the canon of other world-changing individuals. That’s an empowering development for the community, the transgender community in particular, but I think for the entire LGBT community. n “The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson” premiers on Netflix Oct. 6.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

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LGBT History Month

Stonewall Rebellion: It wasn’t Judy!

By Perry Brass Many things have been said and written about “Stonewall,” the historic confrontation in June 1969 after a police raid at the Stonewall Inn, a Mafia-run gay bar on Christopher Street in New York City’s Greenwich Village that ignited the Gay Revolution — and an incredible change in attitudes and feelings about queer people throughout the world.

Among them, it happened on the night of a full moon, so a lot of the craziness on the streets can be blamed on that — not true.

Another rumor is that it was all sparked by the death — and funeral, at Frank E. Campbell’s mortuary, uptown on Madison Avenue and 83rd, around the corner from the Metropolitan Museum — of gay icon Judy Garland. The “girls” were just so discombobulated by grief that they let go of all restraint and started breaking windows, uprooting parking meters (remember them?), throwing 40-pound garbage cans through the windows and even biting cops on the legs.

Again, no!

The Judy Garland myth, I’ve always felt, was the most pernicious of them all: Basically, it said that it took Garland’s death to make LGBT people angry enough to fight back. That was not true: We had been fighting back all along; there were numerous instances of us doing so against huge odds. Just a few were the melee at Cooper Donuts in L.A. in 1959; a 1965 action by San Francisco’s groundbreaking

gay-friendly Council on Religion and the Homosexual when the cops tried to close down a drag ball the council sponsored to raise funds; also in 1965, the racially mixed “sit-in” at Dewey’s, an all-night coffee shop in Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square, after its management refused service to “masculine women and feminine men”; the famous and really brutal Compton’s Cafeteria riots in San Francisco in 1966; and the “Sip-in” in Julius’, an ostensibly straight bar in Greenwich Village, that same year.

People who were at Stonewall (and I was around the corner at another bar both nights, but came out for it on the second night) have all emphatically denied any Garland connection — including Thomas Lanigan-Schmidt, a reliable witness; the late Jerry Hoose, who was later in the Gay Liberation Front; and David Carter in his well-researched book “Stonewall: the Riots that Sparked the Gay Revolution.” I can certainly say that, in my own youth in that period, Garland was as far away from my mind as Uranus. Like most kids on their own in New York (I was 21 then), we were mostly centered on trying to survive in what was a much more contentious city. I describe New York in that period as a place of endless “class, race and ethnic resentment,” as well as knife-to-the-throat homophobia (police entrapment; regular violence and harassment on the streets;

and, at work, intimidation and even blackmail) that was only slightly moderated by having enough money — i.e., those oftentalked-about “rich queens” — that you could float along in some bubble above street level.

Power did not come from the streets then as we later felt, when gay groups joined other identity groups and seriously

organized. What the Judy myth did was make many older, “bourgeois” gay men, lesbians and their allies feel comfortable.

If what happened at Stonewall was outside their comfort zone — and for many it was — they could feel all gooey and happy knowing the “girls” were driven to this by some of the feelings they had: sadness over the death of Mickey Rooney’s girlfriend in those sweet 1930s musicals from their youth. As Mark Segal, publisher of PGN,

said in a recent column about the Judy myth: “It trivializes the riot and our actions, especially those of the street kids and trans people.”

Trivializing us was a constant in that period: If queers did it, it had to be stupid, worthless or shallow. It could not come from any deeper feelings, and it certainly could not be born out of rage, anger, passion or honesty. It was certain we had none of these: We were the “decorative” elements of society that could be wiped away when mainstream power decided our presence was no longer worth it. So blaming a truly violent event of people standing up to the brute might of the New York City Police Department — with all its riot gear, tear gas, horses, squad cars, night sticks and guns — on the death, of all people, of Judy Garland … well, you could certainly gloat about that around cocktails on the Upper East Side. You could do a great, superior “Tsk, tsk” about it. But it was a lie.

Judy in her casket at Frank E. Campbell’s had nothing to do with Stonewall. We did. n Perry Brass’s 19 books include fiction, nonfiction, poetry, short stories and bestsellers like “The Manly Art of Seduction” and “King of Angels, A Novel About Childhood’s End and Sexual Awakening in Kennedy Era Savannah, Georgia.” His work often deals with the heartfelt feelings from his roots in New York’s Gay Liberation Front directly after the Stonewall uprising.

He is a founding coordinator of the Rainbow Book Fair. Find more info at www.perrybrass.com.

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Judge: Litigant may appeal LGBT employee-rights case

By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com A federal judge last week granted permission for a Norristown gay man to try to convince the Third Circuit Court of Appeals that anti-LGBT workplace bias always constitutes a form of sex discrimination.

“Frank Doe” alleges he was fired as activities director at Meadowview Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Whitemarsh last year due to anti-LGBT bias.

Doe claims his civil rights were violated under the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Both laws specifically ban workplace bias on the basis of sex, but they’re silent on the issue of whether “sex” encompasses someone’s “sexual orientation.”

On Aug. 7, U.S. District Judge Thomas N. O’Neill Jr. said the civil-rights laws at issue don’t provide Doe with the anti-LGBT bias protections he seeks, thus severely hampering his case.

On Aug. 28, Doe asked O’Neill for permission to file an immediate appeal in the Third Circuit and to argue that the laws do protect Doe from anti-LGBT workplace

bias.

The case recently was transferred to U.S. District Judge Anita B. Brody, who last week granted Doe’s request to file an immediate appeal in the Third Circuit. “[A] substantial ground for difference of opinion exists,” Brody stated in a three-page order issued Sept. 27. “It would be best to resolve this issue before any litigation continues.”

A favorable appellate ruling could secure federal antibias protections for LGBT workers in the region.

The circuit’s jurisdiction covers Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and the Virgin Islands.

For more than 40 years, the circuit has held that anti-LGBT bias isn’t necessarily a form of sex discrimination banned by Title VII. Other jurisdictions across the country have taken a different stance, ruling that anti-LGBT workplace bias inherently is a form of sex discrimination and banned by Title 7.

In those jurisdictions, LGBT plaintiffs are allowed to pursue their workplace antibias claims with the full force and effect of Title 7.

Neither side had a comment for this story. n

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

PAGE 19

Indigo Ball to ‘sparkle’ again

By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com The William Way LGBT Community Center will once again host its annual Indigo Ball at Hotel Sofitel Philadelphia.

The Oct. 14 event will include a cocktail hour with hors d’oeuvres, a three-course meal and live music. In honor of its Parisian theme, the event will feature some added “sparkle.”

“We’re asking people to dress glittery and sparkly for this particular Indigo Ball,” said William Way Executive Director Chris Bartlett. “It’s always a black-tie event but we’re asking people to bring some glitter and sparkle to the evening.”

Each year, the center presents awards to individuals and organizations. The following will be recognized: • Lifetime Achievement: Stevie Martin-Chester of “Men of All Colors Together” • Community Service: C.C. Tellez of Lez Running Club • Corporate Partner of the Year: Independence Blue Cross • Community Partner of the Year: Independence National Historical Park • John J. Wilcox, Jr. Leadership and Service: Laurie

Ward, former William Way board co-chair “We really wanted to reflect a group of individuals and organizations who had a direct impact on the community center,” Bartlett said. “Stevie, through Men of All Colors Together, has been a longtime supporter of our work and a donor. C.C. raised all of the money through Pride Run. Independence Blue Cross has been a major granter and supporter of our work and we have many members who are employed at Independence Blue Cross who have done work through their employee-resource group.

Independence National Historical Park — we were partners on a grant from the Department of the Interior this year to do LGBT history work with the park and that included LGBT history tours and a new version of the Speaking Out for Equality exhibit, which will be showing in the Liberty Bell Pavilion. They have been really great partners over the last year.

And Laurie Ward served many years as co-chair of the board and has been a great friend of the center.”

Bartlett said the event will include live performances from DJ Mz Deluxx and Cookie Diorio. Additionally, center lead-

ership will present a silent auction that will include a chance to win tickets to Rufus Wainwright’s Jan. 19 performance with the Philly Pops, a set of 10 tickets for a Flyers game and round-trip American Airlines tickets with hotel arrangements to a location of the guest’s choice.

The event will also focus on the John J. Wilcox, Jr. Archives with a video and conversation about supporting the archives through donations and contributions.

“They reflect our incredibly rich history but they also help us imagine what our future is going to look like,” Bartlett said about the archives. “When you visit the archives and you see either periodicals or items that people have donated, you get to see where we’ve come from and you can also imagine what you can contribute out of your own story, whether that’s stuff that you pull out of your own personal archives or items that have been sitting in the closet that will help us continue to tell the story of the evolution of LGBT community and culture in Philadelphia.” n Indigo Ball will be held 5:30-11 p.m.

Oct. 14 at Hotel Sofitel Philadelphia, 120 S. 17th St. Visit http://bit. ly/2xCtzR8 to purchase tickets.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

PAGE 23

Interfaith leaders debate free expression, LGBT rights at Constitution Center

By Beth Boyle PGN Contributor

President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice sided with the baker’s right to refuse the couple, claiming the cake is a form of In a night of lively debate that spanned free artistic expression for the baker. On contraception, peyote, the Pledge of stage, Arriaga turned the circumstances Allegiance, free expression, the Johnson around, asking, “Would you ask an LGBT Amendment and corporate rights, it was person to bake a cake or photograph a wedLGBT rights that lit up the National ding for the Westboro Baptist Church?”

Barker pushed back, saying, “The baker Constitution Center’s stage.

On Sept. 28, three leading legal and reli- runs a place of public accommodation, and gious scholars examined the state of reli- anyone who comes into that bakery should gious freedom in America in “Is Religious expect to be treated the same. We don’t Freedom in Trouble? An Interfaith want to say to people, ‘If you don’t want to Discussion,” as part of NCC’s ongoing serve blacks or Latinas or Jews, you don’t have to.’”

“America’s Town Hall” series.

Arriaga responded, “That’s low. Race Panelists included advocate Kristina Arriaga, who formerly worked as the exec- has a different place in our society.” As the utive director for the Becket Fund for crowd began to murmur, she said, “Horrible Religious Liberty. The Becket Fund has things have been done in the name of race, and I don’t think we can compare what’s been done to the AfricanAmerican community to the LGBT community.”

Several members of the audience audibly groaned or called out, “Why?” Several NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER CEO JEFFREY ROSEN (FROM LEFT) WITH PANELISTS KRISTINA ARRIAGA, DAN BARKER AND a u d i e n c e RABBI DAVID SAPERSTEIN AT THE SEPT. 28 NCC DISCUSSION members in ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM Photo: National Constitution Center the final segment of the been described as the “legal power” behind evening asked for further clarification on the Supreme Court’s controversial 2014 the cake issue.

“The LGBT community has so many Hobby Lobby decision. Ex-minister and atheist Dan Barker represented the Freedom injustices against them, and I understand from Religion Foundation and Rabbi David that,” Arriaga said, “but it’s not up to them Saperstein, who has been described by to tell that baker what is art or free expresNewsweek as “one of America’s most sion. That’s patronizing and condescending influential rabbis,” rounded out the debate. to the baker who thinks it’s a form of art.”

Saperstein asked, “But tell me how that’s HCC president and CEO Jeffrey Rosen different from denying Jews or Cubans?” moderated the fiery discussion.

“Because it is,” Arriaga replied. “Racial Before a crowded auditorium, the conversation spanned the dense details of reli- issues are just different in this country.”

Again, several members of the audience gious-freedom cases, dating back to World War II. The participants began with an yelled, loudly, “Why?” Sophia Sharpia, one audience memanalysis of the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act, a law Saperstein had a ber who spoke out, explained why she hand in crafting, and the relevant law to the responded so strongly.

“I felt like it was a moral obligation, in Hobby Lobby case.

Arriaga, who worked closed with Hobby the moment, to call out [Arriaga’s] rhetoLobby’s owners, the Green family, said, ric. I’m a transgender woman, born in East “All they wanted was to continue to pay Tennessee, and I can’t even safely visit my their employees double the minimum wage hometown at this point. So it felt like a moral obligation to push back.” but not pay for these four contraceptives.”

“The LGBT community is going through The discussion moved into the pending Supreme Court case that will decide if a moment where we are fighting for our Colorado baker Jack Phillips has the legal freedoms right now,” she added. n right, based on his right to free expression, to refuse to bake a wedding cake for a Watch the full debate here: https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=OOK97E4iidQ same-sex couple.

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Musician dies LGBT Equality Alliance leaders two months discuss transition after release from jail

By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com

By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com Charles L. Cohen, a Center City musician who was recently jailed after being nabbed in a Craigslist sting, died Sept. 29 of natural causes, his attorney said this week.

Cohen, 71, gained prominence by playing the Buchla Music Easel, a rare musical instrument. He was widely admired in the music field and performed throughout the world.

But Cohen also achieved notoriety in 2015 after being ensnared in a Craigslist sting. Prosecutors claimed Cohen wanted to have oral sex with an undercover officer posing as a 14-yearold boy on Craigslist.

In September 2015, Cohen traveled to an Upper Providence shopping mall to meet the supposed youth, according to court records.

Eventually, Cohen pleaded “no contest” to multiple sex-related offenses and served about five months in jail. He was released on July 29. advocates urged a

Cohen’s Montgomery County judge to impose probation rather than jail time, noting Cohen’s frail health. But the judge said jail time was appropriate.

At the time of the incident, Cohen was on a medication known as Mirapex to treat Parkinson’s disease, which he said contributed to sexual compulsivity.

Cohen’s attorney, Scott A. Harper, praised Cohen’s qualities.

“He was one of the nicest persons I’ve ever met,” Harper said. “He had no ill will towards anyone, not even the policeman that arrested him nor the prosecutor. He was kind and gentle and very soft-spoken. He was the king of his [music] field. He crescendoed too late to enjoy his recent successes. His European fans will hopefully understand his situation and remember him for the beautiful music he once created.

He was good but humble. He will be missed.”

If Cohen had survived, he would have been required to register with the Pennsylvania state police every three months for the rest of his life, according to court records. n

A Chester County-based LGBT nonprofit last month named its new president.

Founder and inaugural president Rachel Stevenson resigned from her post at the helm of the LGBT Equality Alliance, and former board secretary Julie Mesaros will take her place, with Stevenson serving in an advisory role. Mesaros and Stevenson spoke with PGN about the leadership transition.

Mombian Dana Rudolph

ages, ideas [and] worldviews,” Mesaros said. “I’m sure I’ll be learning a lot as I go along.”

From LGBTea Dance to LGBT Equality Alliance

After Phoenixville LGBT bar Frank Jeffreys closed down, Stevenson began working with the Phoenixville Area Business Association to coordinate LGBT community mixers. It started as three small events before becoming an LGBTea Dance on Jan. 11, 2015.

Stevenson recalled that first LGBTea Introducing Julie Mesaros Dance.

“I felt a rush of energy to see so many Mesaros’ involvement with the LGBT Equality Alliance began after the 2016 community members in one place again,” massacre at Pulse, an LGBT nightclub in Stevenson said. “My wife and I met at Frank Jeffreys back in 2007 and it was Orlando, Fla., in which 49 people died.

“That was one of those things that trig- such a safe place for us to socialize. We gered a lot of anger especially because I didn’t have to think about whether we were had been tired of hearing many hetero- holding hands or giving each other a kiss sexual people say, ‘You have your mar- or dancing together. We didn’t even think riage equality and everything is OK now,’” about it. To be back in a space where I felt Mesaros said. “Actually, we are still very that same type of energy, if not stronger, behind in terms of equality in other areas. felt awesome. It was such a great experiWith that violence, it just reminded me that ence. To be able to give that to the commuwe still have a lot of problems. When that nity was also a wonderful feeling.”

Within months, the LGBTea Dances happened, I was really shocked and that made me realize that I need to get out there. evolved to stage fundraisers for gayI need to be visible for others who are like straight alliances at local schools. me and I needed to be more connected to Stevenson and three others hosted a gala my community — the LGBT community.” that raised $12,000. They donated $5,000 Mesaros contacted Stevenson to learn to the Phoenixville GSA and the remainder how to get involved with the organization. went into starting the nonprofit. LGBTea She then began volunteering at events and Dances was born on March 26, 2015. It social functions — which is how she met was renamed the LGBT Equality Alliance her fiancé — and ultimately joined the on July 15, 2016, to better position itself as a nonprofit. board as secretary.

Stevenson noted the Pride festivals, In addition to these experiences, Mesaros previously worked as a grant writer, inter- LGBT health fairs and donation drives national volunteer coordinator and inter- as the organization’s biggest accomplishpreter for a nongovernmental organization ments. However, she also recalled the in Thailand dedicated to fighting child sex rewarding work of connecting with comand labor trafficking. She also currently munity members at networking events.

“Several of the people that I met at these teaches ESL at West Chester University.

Mesaros noted how her résumé has pre- networking events started coming to me and saying, ‘Hey, my kid just came out pared her for this new leadership role.

“My [teaching] style is very collabora- as transgender. What do I do? Where do I tive,” Mesaros said. “I’m the leader of the go?’” Stevenson said.

“Just being able to provide them with classroom but my students and I have an approach that we’re like a team; I’m there resources, support and knowing that we to teach them and get the best out of them. had an impact — to me, that’s always [From] my work in Thailand, I understand going to be the biggest win,” she added.

Stevenson said she will be living in how it feels to be a complete outsider, someone who is seen as a foreigner, as an Florida for nine months out of the year alien, but I also got stronger because of to pursue other endeavors. This includes that. I found different ways to connect with running media and marketing platform people and to communicate with different OUTCOAST and helping a corporate comstyles. I had to adapt to the culture and learn pany roll out an LGBT working group.

In regard to her successor, Stevenson the language.”

Mesaros said she is looking forward to said Mesaros has “drive and a real pas“being a part of the growth and develop- sion.”

“A leader of a nonprofit needs to be ment of” the LGBT Equality Alliance. someone who is engaging, has fun, but “I feel we have a lot of potential and I also can get serious and be organized,” really enjoy working with people, differHONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM Stevenson said. “I see all of that in her.” n ent personalities, cultural backgrounds,

pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976

PAGE 25

An estimated one-third of LGBTs in Philadelphia have children. Every month, Dana Rudolph dissects parenting from our perspective, from watching your children grow up to teaching them how to deal with bullies, to interviews with authors and filmmakers.

Only in

pgn Ph LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976

Online and in print every fourth Friday.

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Scott A. Drake

News Briefing Pride flag to be raised at City Hall

Philly is known as a sports city, and that’s no different for the LGBT community.

Scott A. Drake keeps readers up to date on the LGBT sports news they need to know — from game highlights to team registration deadlines to social outings.

The Philadelphia Office of LGBT Affairs is once again raising the LGBT Pride flag at City Hall.

The eighth-annual ceremony, commemorating LGBT History Month, takes place 4-5 p.m. Oct. 6. This is the first time the event will be held on a weekday. It also marks the first time the “More Color More Pride” flag, adorned with black and brown stripes to support racial justice, will be raised.

The event will feature remarks from city and community leaders, as well as performances.

Donate garments for trans inmates Locals are encouraged to donate bras and underwear to trans women incarcerated at local men’s facilities in a clothing drive organized by the Office of LGBT Affairs.

All sizes are needed. Bras cannot contain

Comedy show to fundraise for NJ group Woodbury Community Pride, an LGBT organization in New Jersey, will host a comedy show this weekend to raise funds for its programming.

The Oct. 6 Laugh Out Proud event features emcee Brittany Lynn, with stand-up performances by Michelle Tomko, Big Daddy Graham, The Legendary Wid and Joe Conklin.

Food from All About the Crust Pizzeria and drinks from Eight and Sand Beer Company will be available. Tickets start at $30. Guests must be over 21.

For more information or tickets, visit http://ow.ly/v1OR30fAiUx.

Halloween party fundraises for HIV group Siloam Wellness, which focuses on the holistic health of those with HIV/AIDS, is celebrating the Halloween season with a fundraising party later this month.

Join Siloam for “Spooked on Spruce Street” from 7-10 p.m. Oct. 27 at Trinity Center for Urban Life, 2212 Spruce St. The party features food, drinks, a DJ and raffles.

Prizes will be given to those with the best

Halloween costumes.

Tickets for students, recent grads and young professionals are $50. Early-bird tickets purchased before Oct. 15 are $100, and regular admission is $125. Proceeds support Siloam’s wellness programs for those impacted by HIV/AIDS. For more information or tickets, visit http://ow.ly/ljMa30fAmlK.

Bucks event to address HIV sexual health A conference addressing sexual health and wellness among the HIV/AIDS community will be held next month in Bucks County.

Sexual Wellness Conference will take place 8 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Nov. 9 at Bucks County Community College, 1304 Veteran Highway in Bristol. The event is free and open to the public, especially those living with HIV, those with loved ones with HIV and social-service providers.

The event will feature breakfast, lunch, a resource fair and several workshops to enhance physical and emotional wellness among those who are HIV-positive. Topics will include human sexuality, stress management, risk reduction and HIV medical advancements.

Guests are asked to RSVP by Oct. 26 by visiting http://ow.ly/nc2X30fAjEd. n — Jen Colletta

State senator to organize free activist workshop

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

Only in Online and in print every last Friday.

In the 10 months since Donald Trump has taken over the helm of the country, one good thing has happened, noted state Rep. Daylin Leach: People are becoming more politically attuned.

“In January, I had a lot of people coming up to me and asking, in the wake of the Trump election and this threat to things so many people consider important, What can we do? And I was having these conversations in a wide variety of places, everywhere I went — in restaurants, on the street, in public urinals, which was wonderful,” Leach laughed. “So rather than continue to have these conversations one on one, I said I’m going to do my research, get some good people involved and try to get a big group together to talk about this.”

Leach rented space at Upper Merion Middle School and staged a Resistance Forum on Jan. 18. He said he was blown away by the 800 people who turned out.

At the time, he pledged to organize another forum, which will come to fruition Oct. 14 with Goodstock. Billed as an “activist bootcamp” — with the tagline

“Because This Isn’t Normal” — the free event at St. Joseph’s University is open to anyone with an interest in political and community organizing.

It expands the Resistance Forum format, which focused on a plenary speech, with a full day of activities.

The conference will feature remarks

by Leach and a keynote speaker, who hasn’t been announced as of presstime, who will address the importance of civic participation. A panel discussion titled “We Can Do Better: An Honest Look at the Left” follows, along with an afternoon

“We’re not there to tell people who to vote for; it’s more about how to get people involved and advocate for issues they care about.”

“Lobbying From a Legislator’s Point of View” panel. Breakout sessions throughout the day address effective organizing, media training, the state-budget process,

activist fatigue and the nitty gritty of legislative processes, using real Pennsylvania bills as the focus.

The topics and crowd will likely be left-leaning, but Leach cautioned that all with an interest in advocacy and activism are welcomed.

“This is issues-based,” Leach said.

“We’re not there to tell people who to vote for; it’s more about how to get people involved and advocate for issues they care about.”

While the conference focuses on education, the networking opportunities will also be productive, Leach said.

“Networking is key. Obviously, it’s good for the soul in the sense that it’s good to interact with people who are worried about the same things you are and thinking about the same things you are,” he said. “And in terms of action, two people in most cases are more effective than one, and four are more effective than two. To the extent that we can create those connections, networking can become a force multiplier. We’re trying to teach people and to introduce them to one another to start the ball rolling.”

To learn more or register, visit http:// www.leachgoodstock.com. n

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

The new ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ In April, for the first time ever, a Anti-Discrimination Act by refusing to bake cakes for same-sex weddings, full panel of Circuit Court judges in despite having no such qualms makthe Seventh District in Illinois ruled ing cakes for opposite-sex that discrimination against weddings. Moreover, this employees due to sexual orientation was against Title issue has implications well VII of the Civil Rights Act of beyond employment law and 1964, finding that discrimithe service industry, particunation based on orientation larly in education. Title IX of falls under discrimination the Education Amendments based on sex. The opinion of 1972, a powerful weapon reversed a lower-court deciagainst discrimination, is sion to throw out the case of generally interpreted in sync an Indiana professor fired for with rulings on the employbeing a lesbian, and set fedment-discrimination law. Title eral-level legal precedent that VII was the crux that permitsex discrimination includes ted the Obama administration sexual orientation.

Angela to justify its efforts to enforce That ruling conflicted with bathroom and locker-room Giampolo equity for transgender stuan appellate court ruling in the 11th Circuit Court of dents.

Appeals a month earlier, where only a When those cases are considered panel of three judges (not a full panel) together, the position that the Trump found that Title VII does not protect administration has taken against LGBT against claims of discrimination based protections paints a disturbing picture on sexual orientation. In that case, the for LGBT Americans. It is still entirely court first found that the plaintiff, a legal to fire someone based on sexual masculine-presenting lesbian, did not orientation in 28 states, including — have sufficient evidence to state a claim you guessed it! — Pennsylvania. While based on her gender presentation. The court then quickly dismissed the theIf a same-sex couple posts ory that a ban on sex discrimination, on social media about including sex stereotyping, necessarily encompasses sexual-orientation distheir life — crimination by citing circuit-court precwedding photos, vacations edent from Blum v. Gulf Oil, which held, without analysis, that “discharge taken together, anniversafor homosexuality is not prohibited by ries or anything related to Title VII.” Incidentally, the 1979 case also described sexual orientation as their relationship — “sexual preference” [insert eye roll].

Given that there is now a split in the in 28 states, they could circuits, it is likely that this issue will return to work the next go up to the Supreme Court, so the Trump administration’s Department of day to find they no longer Justice is weighing in. The DOJ filed an amicus brief last week agreeing with have a job. the 11th Circuit Court that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does marriage equality is the law in every not cover employment “discriminastate, a legally married same-sex coution based on sexual orientation” and, ple attempting to add a spouse to their in doing so, disagreed with the Equal health-insurance benefits through their Employment Opportunity Commission, employer risks being fired. If a samethe Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals sex couple posts on social media about and several past presidential administra- their life — wedding photos, vacations tions. taken together, anniversaries or any Since 2002, Title VII of the Civil thing related to their relationship — in Rights Act of 1964 has been interpreted 28 states, they could return to work the by lower courts as inclusive of protecnext day to find they no longer have a tions for LGBT people, holding that job. firing someone for being gay is discrim- We spend 35 percent of our waking ination. The presidential administrations hours at work, where studies show that between 2002 and now have held the 80 percent of employees report having position that sexual orientation is proconversations about their social lives, tected under sex discrimination, save home lives, relationships and dating at one: the Trump administration. Attorney least weekly, if not daily. In an ideal General Jeff Sessions has filed a mulworld, where LGBT employees are not titude of amicus briefs arguing against afraid to be their authentic selves, peopreserving LGBT rights, including the ple who work together every day form case of the Colorado baker who was bonds and discuss personal topics such found guilty of violating the state’s as weekend plans, family events and

Out Law

even go out for cocktails together. For LGBT workers in unprotected states, the choice is to outright lie about how and with whom they spend their time, or remain silent. Studies show that this leads their colleagues to believe they’re hiding something, are untrustworthy or are distant and reluctant to forge any real depth to their working relationships. Moreover, closeted LGBT employees report higher rates of depression and demonstrate higher rates of absenteeism and lack of efficiency, which negatively affects their advancement opportunities.

Being scared and fearful of being out at work is further reinforced by our own president’s stance on LGBT issues — evidenced by Trump’s ban on transgender service members in the military, the beliefs of the people he’s hired and appointed and by his administration stating publicly that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does not include sexual orientation in its protections. As a nation, we have made tremendous strides in the last decade with regard to LGBT equality, and this rollback of federal protections — even if they’re not laws as of yet, such as the EEOC definition of sex discrimination including sexual orientation — threatens the livelihoods of all LGBT Americans.

Cases like those brought by Donald Zarda and Kimberly Hively, who are suing their former employers for wrongful termination due to their orientation, or the anti-discrimination suit against Jack Philips, the Colorado cake baker, are vital to our LGBT-equality movement. But if our Department of Justice gives contradictory guidance to the EEOC and in direct defiance of past administrations, the lives and livelihoods of an entire demographic of Americans hang in the balance. With such political heavyweights as the attorney general, the Department of Justice and the solicitor general — who has chosen to defend the actions of the cake baker rather than condemn them — and even the president himself weighing in on the wrong side of history, legal experts working toward equality for all have no choice but to see these actions as a direct and willful attack on the LGBT community.

For those living in states or municipalities without employment-discrimination protections, so continues the corporate version of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” n Angela D. Giampolo, principal of Giampolo Law Group, maintains offices in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and specializes in LGBT law, family law, business law, real-estate law and civil rights. Her website is www.giampololaw.com, and she maintains a blog at www.phillygaylawyer.com. Reach out to Angela with your legal questions at 215-645-2415 or angela@giampololaw.com.

PAGE 27

Gettin’ On

We’re all getting older. For LGBT seniors, being out in the golden years can pose a whole new set of challenges. Each month, Gettin’ On brings you insights on aging, from legal issues to sexual health.

Only in Online and in print every third Friday.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

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Bulking: Is it for me?

Bulking, a popular activity in the fitness gain muscle by eating? industry, has become a household concept Let’s cover the basics. When you are doing for those wanting to lean out and build resistance training, you are specifically muscle. targeting certain muscle groups Bulking is when you increase with the intention of strengthyour caloric intake with speening them; that should be the cific food requirements in order goal. As you do your bicep to gain weight. This style of curls, for example, you are tearweight gain is meant to help ing the muscle. This allows the increase your strength and musbody to repair the muscle with cle size. Bulking is necessary the production of more protein for those who are competing in filaments, which, depending on physique, bodybuilding and in your regimen, can result in the some combat-sport situations, increase in size of the muscle as such as MMA and boxing. It those filaments pack in together. is also popular among physical However, lifting alone doesn’t enthusiasts who are perfecting aid in muscle development.

Megan Niño What and how you eat mattheir aesthetics. It is easy to confuse eating more because ters. After your workout, it is you are active versus eating more to bulk. important to refuel on protein and carbohyWhat is the difference and how can you drates because your muscles are depleted,

Body U

which is why you sometimes see people drink shakes post-workout. Research shows that there is an hour window after a workout to refuel in a way that will maximize exercise induced-muscular adaptations.

All this activity in your body is related to the increased metabolism that occurs as you build muscle, which means most people should eat more (anywhere between 200-500 calories more), but it usually isn’t much more than what would be required if they were not active. Bulking can be an increase of 400-1,000-plus calories. Now remember, these numbers vary per person, activity and goals. An athlete can have the same caloric intake as a bodybuilder and sometimes more, but the regular gym-goer does not need this much food.

Most people do not need to bulk and, if you decide to, you should be supervised by a professional. Bulking can lead to

excessive weight gain if it is not implemented into your regimen properly. It is also meant to be a seasonal habit and should not be done all year. It is to be followed by a “shredding” season or carb cycling.

Lastly, a lot of people use “bulking” as a way to justify a lack of discipline.

Remember, bulking is an athletic strategy meant to increase your lean size, not fat size. If you would like to get leaner, eat enough of the right stuff and put together a regimen that will do just that.

If you have been going to the gym for a while and feel you would like to increase in size, find a fitness professional with experience in bulking to guide you. n Megan Niño is a kinesiologist and personal trainer who trains out of 12th Street Gym. She is an energetic and positive person, who prides herself on teaching others to find empowerment in their lives through fitness.

Sexual-, gender-minority research takes center stage at Penn

By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com The director of the National Institutes of Health’s Sexual and Gender Minority Research Office will speak at a lecture and student workshop at University of Pennsylvania next week.

Dr. Karen Parker will deliver an address Oct. 10 on NIH initiatives and again the following day about grant personship opportunities for students.

Parker formed the Sexual and Gender Minority Research Office in September 2015. It was a direct response to the 2011 NIH-commissioned Institute of Medicine Report, which highlighted opportunities where NIH could support the LGBT community.

Parker noted the office’s research has “big concerns” about HIV/AIDS in the population, specifically among the trans community, as well as issues relating to mental health, including anxiety, depression and suicide.

“There are so many other things where we’re not even sure if there are disparities and so we’re trying to increase research to better understand those areas,” Parker added.

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them with somebody personal or significant in their life who presents them with the awards,” Price said.

While the annual event is a time for celebration, Price noted another perk.

“OutFest is a huge networking day,” she said. “It’s probably the largest networking day for our community.”

She also noted higher rates of smoking, substance abuse and alcohol abuse among sexual and gender minorities.

“We want to better understand the interventions that we can do to be more effective within sexual- and gender-minority populations,” Parker said. “But there are many unanswered questions across the lifecourse and across different disease conditions.

That is one of the reasons why NIH established our office, so we could really work across the agency to increase research in this area.”

Parker noted NIH has made strides over the past few years in expanding research into LGBT health disparities.

“This is a priority at NIH,” Parker said.

“We now have an office [and] a strategic plan that spans the entire agency that focuses on SGM health research. People at their institutions can make a career in SGM health research. Since NIH is such a huge funder of biomedical research, I think it’s a good signal to the community to say we are interested in this work and we value the research questions that you have.” n Dr. Karen Parker will speak Oct. 10-11 at the University of Pennsylvania. Visit http://bit.ly/2yGyT2y for locations and times and to register.

Additionally, Price said, it’s the perfect celebration of National Coming Out Day. “Everybody loves OutFest,” Price said.

“It’s a Coming Out Day event. Coming out is being true to yourself. LGBT people should be out and proud and have a good time.”

OutFest will take place noon-6 p.m. Oct. 8 along 12th and 13th streets, between Walnut and Spruce. n

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

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International Germany celebrates first same-sex weddings A couple from Berlin became the first in Germany to celebrate a same-sex wedding, after a new law called “Marriage for All” came into force Oct. 1.

Karl Kreile, 59, and Bodo Mende, 60, were married at the town hall in Schoeneberg, a Berlin district that has long been a center of LGBT life in the German capital.

The law change followed a free vote in Parliament in June, making Germany the 23rd country worldwide to allow same-sex marriages.

Previously, same-sex couples had only been able to enter into registered partnerships that granted them fewer rights than heterosexual couples who married.

Dozens of LGBT people detained in Azerbaijan capital Lawyers and activists say dozens of LGBT people were swept up in raids in Azerbaijan’s capital this month, with some sentenced to up to 30 days in jail.

Homosexuality was decriminalized in majority-Muslim Azerbaijan in 2000, but animosity toward LGBT people remains strong.

Gulnara Mehtiyeva of the Minority Azerbaijan organization said the arrests that started Sept. 18 “are the most extensive raids against representatives of sexual minorities in our country.”

Interior Ministry spokesman Ehsan Zahidov said the arrests were sparked by citizen complaints of “disrespect to others.”

Samed Rahimli, an attorney helping to coordinate legal representation for those arrested, said at least 46 people were sentenced to 10-30 days in jail for resisting police.

Indonesia to pass law banning LGBT television characters Indonesia is set to pass a law that will ban all LGBT characters from television shows.

The House of Representatives has agreed to adopt the broadcasting bill, which includes a ban on any LGBT “behavior.”

It would also prevent reporting on any LGBT-rights issues.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

“We can’t allow LGBT behavior on TV. It is against our culture,” Supiadin Aries Saputra from the NasDem Party said. “We have to ban it early before it becomes a lifestyle. It’s dangerous and can ruin the morality of the younger generation.”

All shows would need to be screened, including advertisements and documentaries, to ensure compliance with the new measure.

“I am sure there are still more creative ways to entertain people [instead of showing LGBT behavior],” Hanafi Rais from the National Mandate Party told The Post.

It is legal to be gay in Indonesia, apart from in the Aceh province. In May, two men were publicly caned there for having sexual intercourse, under Islamic law.

friends, fearing social stigma.

Local fiction and films with LGBT characters are rare and typically accompanied by their share of controversy. Scenes involving sex or displays of affection between same-sex couples in foreign movies are censored.

The media, particularly celebrity hosts of TV talk shows, routinely feed on stories about the arrest of homosexuals, taking the high moral ground and inciting authorities to do more to “cleanse” the streets.

Both Amnesty and HRW said in their Sept. 30 statements that a total of 11 people had been arrested since the concert, held at an upscale mall in an eastern Cairo suburb.

“These men should be released immediately and unconditionally, not put on trial,’’ said Najia Bounaim, Amnesty’s North Africa campaigns director. “A sinister smear campaign by Egyptian media against those believed to have raised the Two international-rights groups called rainbow flag at the Mashrou’ Leila conon Egyptian authorities Sept. 30 to halt cert has given security forces a green their crackdown on people suspected of light to carry out arrests of at least 11 people based on homosexuality following the waving Most Egyptians see homo- their alleged sexual orientation.” of the LGBT rain- sexuality as a practice “Egypt should bow flag at a recent stop devoting state that goes against nature concert in Cairo. resources to huntHuman Rights and religion and insist ing down people for Watch and Amnesty their sexual orienInternational also that it’s a social distation and instead urged Egypt, a ease exported by a decfocus on improving majority-Muslim its rights record,” country of some adent West. At home, added HRW, allud95-million people, ing to the ongoto call off the anal most LGBT people keep ing crackdown examination of peo- their sexual orientation a by authorities on ple detained on suspicion of homosex- secret known only to close Islamists and secular pro-democuality to determine friends, fearing social racy activists while whether they were slapping draconian stigma. engaged in samerestrictions on street sex sexual relations.

They said the practice amounted to tor- demonstrations and freedom of speech. ture and called it “abhorrent” and scientifically unsound.

Homosexuality is highly taboo in Egypt among Muslims and minority Christians alike, but it is not explicitly prohibited Chelsea Manning was denied entry to by law. Egypt regularly arrests gay men, with large police raids on private parties Canada because of her criminal record.

The transgender woman was convicted or locations such as public baths, restaurants and bars. In practice, they prosecute in 2013 of leaking a trove of classiindividuals under such charges as “immo- fied documents. She was released after serving seven years of a 35-year senrality” and “debauchery.”

Egypt arrested at least seven people tence, which was commuted by President last week after footage of the rainbow Barack Obama in his final days in office.

On Sept. 25, she posted a letter from flag-raising surfaced on social media.

The incident took place during a Sept. Canadian immigration officials to her 22 concert by Lebanese indie-rock band Twitter account that said she was not Mashrou’ Leila, a jazzy, electro-Ara- admitted because she was convicted of besque group whose lead singer is openly offenses deemed equivalent to treason in Canada. gay.

She tried to cross at the official border Most Egyptians see homosexuality as a practice that goes against nature and office at Lacolle, Quebec, on Sept. 22.

Manning says she’ll challenge the decireligion and insist that it’s a social disease exported by a decadent West. At home, sion.

Canadian Public Safety Minister Ralph most LGBT people keep their sexual orientation a secret known only to close Goodale suggested Sept. 25 he would

Rights groups urge Egypt to halt crackdown on homosexuals

Manning denied entry to Canada

PAGE 37

“think hard” before overruling a border officer’s decision.

Macklemore wades into Australia’s gay-marriage debate U.S. rapper Macklemore waded into Australia’s gay-marriage debate by singing his marriage-equality anthem “Same Love” during a weekend rugby final.

Benjamin Haggerty, whose stage name is Macklemore, headlined the pregame entertainment in Sydney Oct. 1 at the National Rugby League Grand Final, the Australian version of the Super Bowl.

But with the nation in the midst of a two-month postal ballot to gauge public opinion toward legalizing gay marriage, some opponents called for “Same Love” to be censored, so as to stop the event from becoming “politicized.”

Macklemore went ahead with the song, using rainbow pyrotechnics as electronic billboards in the stadium carrying the message “We Stand for Equality,” along with the rugby league’s logo. About 80,000 spectators attended.

Macklemore later said the performance was “one of the greatest honors of my career.”

Trans women set to join police force in India Three trans women will join the police force in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu after passing academy training with flying colors.

The women will enter the force starting Nov. 1 as constables.

Their recruitment comes as Tamil Nadu police have increased efforts to accept trans people into their ranks.

“It is a welcome move and other states should follow. We have been denying [trans people] their due space for centuries. I am happy that the third gender has joined us,” said M.C. Borwankar, director-general of the Bureau of Police Research & Development. “We have now proved our mettle. I am sure the third gender will also rise to the expectations of the department and deliver.”

The Police Training College is working to establish facilities for trans people at its barracks. Trans people are invited to apply under any gender with which they are comfortable.

“As a matter of policy, the third gender will be eligible to apply in all recruitments conducted by the Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board in future,” said a senior police official. “The entry of transgenders is yet another milestone for the State Police.” n — compiled by Larry Nichols

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OCTOBER IS LGBT HISTORY MONTH.

Photo: obamawhitehouse.archives.gov

Our history is full of small actions that brought big impacts.

Exclusive LGBT history coverage throughout the month in PGN helps to bring the details into focus.

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Media Trail

violate a 2015 state law prohibiting cities from enacting protections not covered by state law.

Arkansas’ civil-rights law doesn’t cover sexual orientation or gender identity.

Fayetteville is one of several cities that approved local protections for LGBT people in response to the 2015 law.

Book on transgender youth Trans man asks court to not on Wichita schools’ lists reinstate Indiana lawsuit The Wichita Eagle reports most Wichita students will not find an award-winning children’s book about a transgender fourthgrader in their school libraries.

Gail Becker, supervisor of library media for the Wichita district, said the novel, called “George,” contains language and references that are not appropriate for young children. She said she decided the book would not be included in a master list of titles provided to Wichita elementary schools.

The book’s author, Alex Gino, said Sept.

28 he had raised enough money to buy a copy of the book for every Wichita elementary-school library.

Wichita school librarians can choose to carry the book if they buy copies from their building funds or borrow one from the district’s library department.

Becker says four of Wichita’s 57 elementary schools have the novel in their libraries. Two Wichita middle schools and one high school also have it.

The Star-Tribune reports attorneys for a transgender man who challenged an Indiana law that prevents him from changing his first name to a male name have urged an appeals court to reinstate his lawsuit.

A federal judge dismissed the man’s lawsuit in March, finding he hadn’t established his legal standing to sue Indiana. The man appealed that ruling.

One of his attorneys asked the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago on Sept. 27 to reverse that decision, arguing the judge erred in dismissing his complaint.

Attorneys for Indiana urged the appeals court to affirm the lawsuit’s dismissal.

The man was born in Mexico and is challenging a law that requires him to show proof of citizenship to change his name. He says that law is unconstitutional.

Arkansas asking court to block city’s LGBT protections

ABC News reports LGBT-rights groups are objecting to several of the textbooks that could be recommended for use in California schools.

The state Department of Education is preparing to update textbook recommendations for the first time since California became the first state to require teaching about the contributions of LGBT Americans.

The groups planned to speak Sept. 27 as a state commission weighs which of 12 textbooks to recommend for pupils in kindergarten through eighth grade. The groups say some of the choices don’t include enough information on historical LGBT figures.

School districts are not bound by the textbook recommendations.

California’s decision to require teaching

According to KATV.com, the Arkansas attorney general’s office is asking the state’s highest court to prevent a northwestern Arkansas city from enforcing an ordinance that bans discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

A representative for State Attorney General Leslie Rutledge said Sept. 29 that the office filed notice that Arkansas is appealing a Washington County judge’s decision to deny the state’s request for a preliminary injunction against Fayetteville’s anti-discrimination ordinance. The state Supreme Court in February reversed a lower-court decision that the ordinance didn’t

LGBT groups protest potential California textbooks

@phillygaynews

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

about the contributions of LGBT people sparked contentious debate in 2011, including an unsuccessful attempt to refer the mandate to voters.

Missouri murder rekindles debate over LGBT hatecrime laws According to CNN.com, Missouri authorities are investigating the killing of transgender teen Ally Steinfeld, who was stabbed in the genitals and had her eyes gouged out. Authorities insist the killing was not the result of anti-transgender animus.

Steinfeld, 17, was reported missing last month. Her remains were later found on the property of 24-year-old Briana Calderas, who reportedly was the last to see the victim, along with Andrew Vrba and Isis Schauer, both 18.

Schauer initially told police Vrba and the victim had a “physical altercation” and Steinfeld then went missing; however, Vrba confessed to stabbing Steinfeld to death in the living room of Calderas’ mobile home.

According to police, Vrba said he intended to poison the victim but she wouldn’t drink the poison so he stabbed her and mutilated and burned her body.

Calderas and Schauer both allegedly helped him hide Steinfeld’s remains.

The three were charged with first-degree murder but not a hate crime, drawing ire

PAGE 41

from many LGBT advocates.

Even if Missouri’s hate-crime law was invoked, it might not change the penalty; first-degree murder is already punishable by execution or life imprisonment.

Transgender teen says he was kicked out of Christian school According to Seacoast Media Group, a student claims the private Christian school he’s attended since kindergarten has told him he’s no longer welcome because of his gender identity.

Stiles Zuschlag said he transferred to a Maine public high school for his senior year after he was told he was no longer welcome at New Hampshire’s Tri-City Christian Academy. Zuschlag, a transgender teen, said he was told he should consider homeschooling or counseling.

Tri-City Christian Academy administrator Paul Edgar declined to speak about Zuschlag’s case, citing privacy issues.

New Hampshire Department of Education spokeswoman Lori Kincaid said Tri-City Christian Academy doesn’t receive federal funds through the state office.

New Hampshire education attorney Andru Volinsky said a religious school can legally ask a student to leave regardless of whether it receives federal funding. n — compiled by Larry Nichols

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OBAMA from page 1

“It’s good. It’s really good,” Obama said, eliciting laughs from the audience. “I don’t know if I call myself a workaholic. I like chilling but it’s good to have control over your dayto-day life.”

She noted how comforting the nation in times of tragedy, like with the recent mass shooting in Las Vegas, is an unfortunate part of the job when you’re the First Lady.

“Sadly, overseeing that kind of loss and not having a solution to offer families when you comfort them [is hard],” she said.

“But that’s the kind of stuff that you’re dealing with on a dayto-day basis. You open up the newspaper and everything on it is your husband’s responsibility and indirectly yours. So I’m kind of good with chilling for a bit.”

While they’re taking some time to decompress after eight years in the White House, Obama said she and her husband are still eager to be involved in national movements.

“That’s the work that we’re working on now, figuring out what that next chapter is going to be because, definitely at my

age, and Barack’s age, we’re not ready to stop. Now we have to figure out what that new chapter looks like and understanding what it means to move forward and how do you continue to be relevant and have impact.”

She noted efforts to create the presidential archive, the Barack Obama Presidential Center.

[It’s] not just an archive, a place to go to see my dresses,” Obama joked. She said the center will also develop “the next generation of leaders.”

“We don’t want to be the folks that don’t go away and don’t give up our seats,” Obama said. “[We want to] make sure that other young people are being brought up and supported and have the resources, knowledge and expertise to take our place.”

Obama referred to her own childhood, saying her parents treated her and her siblings equally. When her father taught her brother how to box, he bought her a pair of boxing gloves as well.

“I was never so precious that I couldn’t be in there right at the table,” she said. “We think it’s just enough to love a girl. No, you have to treasure a girl and

you have to respect her and you have to give her power at a very young age.”

Obama encouraged women to “speak up in all of the tables that we’re in.” She said she was always most productive at work when she was in a “flex situation.” When she was vice president of the University of Chicago Medical Center, her children were still young and she had to juggle work and family; however, she made sure to make that clear to her employer.

“One of the things I told my boss, the president of the hospital, was, ‘Do not check for me for needless meetings,’” Obama said. “‘I do not have time for that. I will be getting work done but if you are looking for me to show up and sit in a bunch of meetings to make you feel good, I can’t do it.’

“That was part of me using my voice,” she added. “I wouldn’t have taken the job without the clarity and expectation that, given where my life was, that they would get the product. But they would have to get it in the way I delivered it, and not the way they thought it should be delivered.”

She also encouraged employ-

ers and companies to “make sure the problem-solving table is diverse.”

“If we are trying to get anything done and if we look around and we all look alike, we’re all sitting around the same table and we feel really comfortable with ourselves, we should question that at any table that we’re at,” Obama said. “We should be working actively to mix it up so we are getting a broad range of perspectives on every issue.”

Obama’s conversation also fell on her 25th wedding anniversary. Toward the end of the event, a video message from the former president was broadcast.

“Your strength, grace, determination, honesty and the fact that you look so good doing all of this, the way in which you’re always taking responsibility for your own actions but also looking out for the people around you, is remarkable,” Barack said. “It’s no wonder that as people got to know you as I got to know you and they fell in love. It’s truly the best decision I ever made, to be persistent enough in asking you out for a date that you finally gave in, and I hope you feel the same way.” n

HRC from page 6

these issues in the workplace,” Holmes said. “We deal with homophobia not just through management but honestly among coworkers as well.”

Meanwhile, Hall talked about her own experience with discrimination in the workplace. She recalled how she tried to work with her fellow employees to stand up to their boss.

“I had two problems: I was gay and we had a horrible boss,” Hall said.

“Me trying to organize was very hard because I had to get them to see first that they can trust me. Every gay person is not attracted to you. We are human.

We are real people, real humans, and we deserve to be respected.”

For one of the final questions, Colligan asked the panelists what gives them hope in the fight for LGBT equality. Cortes said he derives inspiration from “the resiliency of the young folks” he works with at GALAEI. “I sometimes go home really sad with everything that I’m seeing and everything that I’m hearing,” he said. “To come back to the office the next day and see the same young person who just told me a traumatic experience — who never gets the privilege of sitting in front of a panel like this or have their voices heard — and come that next day with a smile on their face and ready to get the day moving is what really pushes me through.” n

Participat� • Engag� • Enjoy

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Contact us to schedule a visit, join us for lunch and be delighted by our ideal location.

215.515.2232 600 East Cathedral Road • Philadelphia, PA www.cathedralvillage.com It is our policy to admit residents without regard to race, color, national origin, age, ancestry, sex, religious creed, handicap or disability.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

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locations in Philadelphia GAYBORHOOD BUSINESSES 12th Street Gym, 204 S. 12th St. • 2101 Condos, 118 S. 21st St. • AACO, 1101 Market St., 9th floor • Action AIDS, 1216 Arch St. • Apt. & Townhouse Rentals, 304 S. 12th St. • The Bike Stop, 206 S. Quince St. • Bioscript Pharmacy, 1227 Locust St. • Boxers PHL, 1330 Walnut St. • Charlie Salon, 203 S. 12th St. • Charlie was a Sinner, 131 S. 13th St. • Chocolate Works lobby, 321 N. 3rd St. • City Hall NE Entrance • Club Body Center, 1220 Chancellor St. • Com-Har Living Room, 101 S. Broad St., 14th floor • Condo Shop, 1415 Locust St. • Criminal Justice Center, 1301 Filbert St. • Cut Salon, 204 S. 13th St. • Danny’s Bookstore 133 S. 13th St. • DBHIDS, 1101 Market St. • Dignity/St. Lukes, 330 S. 13th St. • Dirty Frank’s Bar, 13th & Pine sts. • The Foodery, 10th & Pine sts. • ICandy, 254 S. 12th St. • John C. Anderson Apts., 249 S. 13th St. • Mazzoni Clinic, 809 Locust St. • More Than Just Ice Cream, 1119 Locust St. • Optimal Gym, 1315 Walnut St. • Paolo Pizzeria, 1336 Pine St. • PAT@Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St. • Phila. FIGHT/Aids Library, 1233 Locust St., 2nd floor • Planned Parenthood, 1144 Locust St. • Reading Terminal Market, 12th & Filbert sts. • Salon K, 1216 Locust St. • Scorpio Books, 205 S. Juniper St. • Spruce Street Video, 252 S. 12th St. • Square One, 249 S. 13th St. • Tabu, 200 S. 12th St. • Toast, 12th & Spruce sts. • Triangle Medicine, 253 S. 10th St., 1st floor • U Bar, 1220 Locust St. • Valanni, 1229 Spruce St. • William Way LGBT Community Center, 1325 Spruce St. • Woody’s, 202 S. 13th St. •

OTHER BUSINESSES EAST OF BROAD Bean Café, 615 South St. • Bethel Community Home, 933-935 S. Third St. • Best Western Independence Park Hotel lobby, 215 Chestnut St. • Black N Brew, 1523 E. Passyunk Ave. • Bodhi Coffee, 410 S. 2nd St. • Bridgeview Place, 315 New St. • Class Act Auto Repair, 2042 S. Bancroft St. • Community Behav. Health, 801 Market St. 7th floor • Copabanana, 342 South St. • Essene, 719 S. Fourth St. • Famous 4th St. Deli, Fourth & Bainbridge sts. • Fuel, 1917 E. Passyunk Ave. • Hopkinson House, 604 S. Washington Sq. • Hyatt Regency Hotel lobby, 201 S. Columbus Blvd. • Independence Place Condos, 241 S. Sixth St., lobby in both towers • Independence Visitors Center, 6th & Market sts. • Jackson Place, 501 Jackson St. • One Independence Place, 241 S. 6th St. mailroom • Paper Moon, 520 S. Fourth St. • Philly Bagels, 613 S. Third St. • PGN offices, 505 S. Fourth St. • Philadelphia Java Co., 518 S. Fourth St. • Philly PAWS, 100 N. Second St. • Reading Terminal Market, 12th & Filbert sts. • Rockerhead Salon, 607 S. Third St. • Ruff Life, 25 N. Third St. • Two Independence Place, 233 S. 6th St. • Tiffin Restaurant, 1100 Federal St. • Ultimo Coffee, 1900 S. 15th St. • Wedge Medical Center, 1939 S. Juniper St. • Wireworks, 301 Race St. •

STREET CORNERS

locations in Philadelphia CENTER CITY BUSINESSES WEST OF BROAD

Adonis Cinema, 2026 Sansom St. • Art Institute, 1622 Chestnut St. • Art Institute, 2300 Market St. • The Attic Youth Center, 255 S. 16th St. • Bob & Barbara’s, 1509 South St. • Dan Tobey R/E, 1401 Walnut St., 8th floor • Dr. Wakefield’s Office, 255 S. 17th St., Suite 2306 • Drucker & Scaccetti, 1600 Market St., Suite 3300 • Drexel Partnership, 1427 Vine St., 3rd floor • Latimer Deli, 255 S. 15th St. • MANNA, 12 S. 23rd St. • Marine Club Condos lobby, Broad St. & Washington Ave. • Metropolitan, 115 N. 15th St. • PA Law Project, 2122 Chestnut St., Suite 1600 • Safeguards Lobby, 1700 Market St., 18th floor • Sansom St. Gym, 2020 Sansom St. • SOSNA offices, 19th & Christian sts. • Stir, 1705 Chancellor St. • U Do It Laundry, 15th & Spruce sts. • Westminster Arch Apts., Vine St., 3rd floor •

WEST PHILLY Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St. • Drexel University, 4001 Walnut St. • Fresh Grocer, 4001 Walnut St. • Goodman Hall, 710 S. 42nd St. • International House, 3701 Chestnut St. • LGBT Center at Penn, 3907 Spruce St. • Metropolitan Community Church, 3637 Chestnut St. • Old Quaker Condos lobby, 3514 Lancaster Ave. • Oslo Hall, 510 S. 42nd St. • Penn Bookstore, 3610 Walnut St. • Redcaps Corner, 4812 Baltimore Ave. • Saturn Club, 3430 Sansom St. • Saxby’s Coffee, 40th & Locust sts. • Sheraton Hotel, 36th & Chestnut sts. • St. Mary’s Church, 3916 Locust Walk • University of the Sciences England Library, 4200 Woodland Ave. • Wilson Hall, 708 S. 42nd St. • World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. •

NORTH PHILLY

1 Shot Coffee, 1040 N. Second St. • 2601 Parkway Condos lobby, 2601 Pennsylvania Ave. • Barnes & Noble, 1700 N. Broad St. • Bebashi, 1217 Spring Garden St. • 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. • Front Street Cafe, 1253 N. Front St. • GALAEI, 149 Susquehanna Ave. • Logan View Apts. lobby, 17th & Callowhill sts. • One Day At A Time, 2532 N. Broad St. • Packard Apts., 317 N. Broad St. • Philadelphian Condos lobby, 2401 Pennsylvania Ave. • Sammy’s Place, 1449 N. Fifth St., 1st floor • 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. •

SOUTH PHILLY

Bethel Community Home, 933-935 S. Third St. • Black N Brew, 1523 E. Passyunk Ave. • Essene, 719 S. Fourth St. • Famous 4th St. Deli, Fourth & Bainbridge sts. • Fuel, 1917 E. Passyunk Ave. • Jackson Place, 501 Jackson St. • Philly Bagels, 613 S. Third St. • Rockerhead Salon, 607 S. Third St. • Tiffin Restaurant, 1100 Federal St. • Wedge Medical Center, 1939 S. Juniper St. •

PHILADELPHIA NEIGHBORHOODS — OTHER

2nd & Chestnut sts. • 2nd & Market sts. • 2nd & Poplar sts. • 2nd & Walnut sts. • 3rd & Chestnut sts. • 3rd & Market sts. • 3rd & South sts. • 3rd & Spruce sts. • 4th & Bainbridge sts.

• 4th & Chestnut sts. • 4th St. bet. Arch & Market sts., by Holiday Inn • 5th & Chestnut sts. • 5th & Market sts. • 7th & Pine sts. • 8th & Market sts. • 8th & South sts. • 8th & Walnut sts. • 9th & Market sts. • 9th & Passyunk sts. • 9th & Pine sts. • 10th & Market sts. • 10th & Pine sts.

• 10th & South sts. • 10th & Spruce sts.• 11th & Arch sts. • 11th & Locust sts. • 11th & Spruce sts. • 11th & Tasker sts. • 11th & Walnut sts. • 12th & Filbert sts. • 12th & Locust sts. • 12th & Manning sts. •12th & Market sts. •12th & Spruce sts. • 12th & Walnut sts. • 13th & Arch sts. • 13th & Chestnut sts. • 13th & Locust sts. • 13th & Pine sts. • 13th & Spruce sts. • 13th & Walnut sts. • 15th & JFK • 15th & Market sts. • 16th & Chestnut sts. • 16th St. & JFK Boulevard • 16th & Market sts. • 17th & Lombard sts. • 17th & Pine sts. • 17th & Spruce sts. • 18th St. & JFK Boulevard • 18th & Locust sts. • 18th & Market sts. • 18th & Walnut sts. • 19th & JFK • 19th & South sts. • 20th & Chestnut sts. • 20th & Locust sts. • 20th & Sansom sts. • 20th & Vine sts. • 20th & Walnut sts. • 22nd & Chestnut sts. • 22nd & Market sts. • 22nd & South sts.

• 23rd & Market sts. • 23rd & South sts. • Broad & Cherry sts. • Broad & Chestnut sts. • Broad & Ellsworth sts. • Broad & Locust sts. • Broad & Lombard sts. • Broad & McKean sts. • Broad & Morris sts. • Broad & Race sts. • Broad & South sts. • Broad & Spruce sts. • Broad & Vine sts. • Broad & Walnut sts. • Main & Cotton sts. • Passyunk Ave & 10th & Reed sts. • Pine & Hicks sts.

• South & Delhi sts. • Walnut & Dock sts., by Ritz Movies •

Almost Paradise, 742 Frankford Ave. • Awbry Aboretum, 1 Awbry Rd. • Caribbean Pharmacy, 3825 N. 5th St. •Elfant Wissahickon Realty, 8962 Ridge Ave. • Fantasy Island Books, 7363 State Road • Harry’s Natural Foods, 1805 Cottman Ave. • Infinity Jewelers, 3528 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. • Philly Pharmacy, 9475 Roosevelt Blvd. • Riverhouse Condo, 3600 Conshohocken 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 •

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LIBRARY BRANCHES Andorra Branch, 705 E. Cathedral Road • Blanch A. Nixon Branch, 5800 Cobbs Creek Parkway • Donatucci Branch, 1935 Shunk St. • Falls of Schuylkill Branch, 3501 Midvale Ave. • Fishtown Branch, 1217 E. Montgomery Ave. • Frankford Branch, 4634 Frankford Ave. • Independence Branch, 18 S. Seventh St. • Joseph E. Coleman Branch, 68 W. Chelten Ave. • Kingsessing Branch, 1201 S. 51st St. • Lehigh Branch, 601 W. Lehigh Ave. • Lovett Branch, 6945 Germantown Ave. • Main Branch, 1901 Vine St. • McPherson Square Branch, 601 E. Indiana Ave. • Northeast Regional, 2228 Cottman Ave. • Ogontz Branch, 6017 Ogontz Ave. • Richmond Branch, 2987 Almond St. • Rodriguez Branch, 600 W. Girard Ave. • Roxborough Branch, 6245 Ridge Ave. • Southwark Branch, 932 S. Seventh St. • Welsh Road Branch, 9233 Roosevelt Blvd. • West Phila. Branch, 125 S. 52nd St. • Whitman Branch, 200 Snyder Ave. • Wynnefield Branch, 5325 Overbrook Ave.

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PGN’s Pet Issue November 17

For pet photos, contact scott@epgn.com For placing ads, contact prab@epgn.com or call 215-625-8501 ext. 212.

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ELECTION NOTICE

MUNICIPAL GENERAL AND SPECIAL ELECTION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2017

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, VOTERS WILL ELECT CANDIDATES FOR THE FOLLOWING OFFICES:

STREET

• • • •

JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE OF THE COMMONWEALTH COURT JUDGE OF THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS

• • • • •

JUDGE OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT DISTRICT ATTORNEY CITY CONTROLLER JUDGE OF ELECTION INSPECTOR OF ELECTION

AVISO DE ELECCIONES

ELECCION MUNICIPAL GENERAL Y ESPECIAL MARTES, 7 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2017

Domestic & Foreign Care State Inspection & Emissions Inspection

215-928-0376 820-22 S. 11th Street at Christian

ENTRE LAS HORAS DE 7:00 A.M. y 8:00 P.M. EN TODOS LOS DISTRITOS ELECTORALES Y LAS DIVISIONES DE LA CIUDAD Y EL CONDADO DE PHILADELPHIA, LOS VOTANTES PUEDEN VOTAR CANDIDATOS PARA LAS SIGUIENTES OFICINAS: • • • •

JUEZ DE LA CORTE SUPREMA JUEZ DE LA CORTE SUPERIOR JUEZ DE LA CORTE DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA JUEZ DE LA CORTE DE PRIMERAS INSTANCIAS

• • • • •

JUEZ DE LA CORTE MUNICIPAL FISCAL CONTRALOR DE LA CIUDAD JUEZ DE ELECCIONES INSPECTOR DE ELECCIONES

PHILADELPHIA COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS JUNTA ELECTORAL DEL CONDADO DE FILADELFIA

Anthony Clark Chairman, City Commissioners Presidente, Comisionados Municipales

Al Schmidt Vice Chairman, City Commissioners Vicepresidente, Comisionados Municipales

Lisa M Deeley City Commissioner Comisionada Municipal

Kevin A Kelly Acting Supervisor of Elections Supervisor Interino de Elecciones

www.philadelphiavotes.com

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INFORMATION STATEMENT ON ACCESS TO THE ELECTION PROCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA MUNICIPAL GENERAL AND SPECIAL ELECTION - TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2017 In accordance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Voter Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act of 1984, the City of Philadelphia does not discriminate against people with disabilities in providing access to its election process.

According to these federal laws, the City of Philadelphia is required to ensure that its election process as a whole is accessible to people with disabilities in all elections. This means that polling places shall be accessible to people with disabilities to the extent that accessible locations are available within each election district.

The City Commissioners designates and lists polling place accessibility in varying degrees. Polling places that fully meet all federal and state criteria are designated with an “F” for fully accessible building and an “H” for handicapped parking.

If a polling place location does not fully meet these federal and state criteria but provides relative accessibility with minor assistance in entry then that location will be designated with a “B” for substantial accessibility.

If a fully accessible location, that meets all federal and state criteria (designated as “FH”), is not available for a polling place in your election Division, voting accessibility will be provided through the use of an Alternative Ballot in accordance with directives issued by the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

If you are a registered voter who is disabled or age 65 or older and who is not assigned to a polling place that has been designated as “FH”, you are qualified to vote using an Alternative Ballot.

ONLY THE FOLLOWING WARDS AND DIVISIONS POLLING PLACES HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED AS “FH” OR FULLY ACCESSIBLE. IF YOU ARE A REGISTERED VOTER IN ANY ELECTION DISTRICT IN PHILADELPHIA, EXCEPT FOR THOSE LISTED BELOW, AND YOU ARE DISABLED OR AGE 65 OR OLDER YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE FROM HOME USING AN ALTERNATIVE BALLOT OR AT CITY HALL ROOM 142 ON ELECTION DAY USING AN EMERGENCY ALTERNATIVE BALLOT: THIS LIST IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE – REFER TO THE WEBSITE BELOW FOR UP TO DATE INFORMATION www.philadelphiavotes.com Electoral District

Electoral Division

Address

Location

Electoral District

Electoral Division

Address

Location

3

3, 4

6212 Walnut St.

Care Pavilion

37

9

2862 Germantown Ave.

Warnock Village

6

2

4400 Fairmount Ave.

Angela Court Nursing Home

38

1, 17

3226 McMichael St.

Abbottsford Homes

6

9, 11

4035 Parrish St.

Sarah Allen Senior Housing

38

19

4349 Ridge Ave.

Falls Ridge Apts. Com Ctr.

6

15

40 St. & Parkside Ave.

School of the Future

39

10, 19

501 Jackson St.

Jackson Place

6

17

4700 Parkside Ave.

Discovery Charter School

41

13, 14

Magee & Keystone Sts.

Fire Engine # 38

7

5

167 W Allegheny Ave.

Villas Del Caribe

42

1

4501 G St.

City Sign Shop

7

13, 17

200 E Somerset St.

Somerset Villas

44

8

4901 Chestnut St.

West Phila. High School

8

25

2 Franklin Town Blvd.

The Water Mark

48

7, 22

2600 Moore St.

St. John Neuman Place

8

27

2400 Chestnut St.

2400 Chestnut St. Bldg

49

3, 20

1300 W Godfrey Ave.

Community College of Phila.

8

30

17 St., South of Spring Garden St.

9

4, 5

20 E Mermaid Lane

Community College Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting House

9

12

7301 Germantown Ave.

13

6, 7, 8

14

5

th

th

52

3

3900 City Ave.

Presidential City Apts

52

11, 12

2600 Belmont Ave.

Inglis House Founders Hall

Lutheran Theological Seminary

52

22, 23, 24

1717 N 54 St.

Wynnefield Place

4340 Germantown Ave.

Nicetown Court

56

22

2101 Strahle St.

Samuel Tabas House

1100 Fairmount Ave.

Gladys Jacobs Apts.

58

5, 21

13500 Philmont Ave.

Calvary Chapel

th

14

8

1100 Poplar St.

Street Community Center

58

9, 13, 17

608 Welsh Rd.

St. Thomas Syro Malabar Church

19

2, 3, 4

3 & Ontario Sts.

Marin Munoz School

58

19

1619 Grant Ave.

Randi’s Restaurant

19

6, 7

2800 N American St.

Congreso Edu. & Training Ctr.

58

44

9896 Bustleton Ave.

Paul’s Run

19

11

2400 N Howard St.

Hunter School

59

20

633 W Rittenhouse St.

Rittenhouse Hill Apts.

rd

th

20

4

1600 N 8 St.

Gray Manor

60

2 ,8, 12, 23

4901 Chestnut St.

West Phila. High School

22

3

6400 Greene St.

Cliveden Convales Center

60

4, 6

5429 Chestnut St.

Holmes Senior Apts.

27

2

4400 Baltimore Ave.

H.M.S. School

63

11, 23

8550 Verree Rd.

Villages Pine Valley Clubhouse

27

17

1450 S 50 St.

Reba Brown Senior Apts.

63

21

608 Welsh Rd.

St. Thomas Syro Malabar Church

30

7

1800 Lombard St.

Penn Medicine

64

8, 9, 10, 13, 14

3201 Ryan Ave.

Lincoln High School

35

10, 11, 25

Lawncrest Recreation Center

64

15, 16

8301 Roosevelt Blvd.

Deer Meadows

35

15, 16, 17, 22

New Fels High School

66

2, 7

10980 Norcom Rd.

Norcom Community Center

th

Rising Sun Ave. & Comly St. Langdon & Sanger Sts.

An Alternative Ballot may be obtained for any election, upon your advance request on an Alternative Ballot Application. In Philadelphia an application for an Alternative Ballot can be made on the regular Absentee Ballot Application by checking the box for “Handicapped or 65 years or older and who is assigned to an inaccessible polling place”. The applications may be obtained at the County Board of Elections in Room 142, City Hall or by contacting (215) 686-3469 VOICE, or TTY/TDD through the AT&T Relay System. TDD users may utilize this service by calling 1-800-654-5984 and telling the communications assistant they want to speak to the Pennsylvania Bureau of Elections at (717) 787-5280.

Alternative Ballot Applications by mail must be submitted to the County Board of Elections no later than 7 days before the election.

Alternative Ballots must be returned to the County Board of Elections no later than the close of the polls, at 8:00 P.M. on Election Day. Additionally, registered electors with disabilities may apply for an Emergency Alternative Ballot Application and cast their ballot in person at the County Board of Elections, in Room 142, City Hall, up to the close of the polls on Election Day. In addition, the City shall provide registration materials in large print at each registration facility, and voting instructions in large print at each polling place.

Should you have any questions about your rights, or the City’s obligations under these laws, or if you need assistance in determining if your polling place fully meets federal and state criteria, please contact the Accessibility Compliance Office, or the County Board of Elections.

City Commissioner's Office City Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19107

County Board of Elections City Hall, Room 142 Philadelphia, PA 19107 215-686-3469 / 215-686-3943

Accessibility Compliance Office 1401 JFK Blvd, MSB, 10th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19102-1677

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PAGE 51

DECLARACIÓN DE INFORMACIÓN SOBRE EL ACCESO AL PROCESO DE ELECCIONES PARA LAS PERSONAS CON DISCAPACIDADES EN LA CIUDAD DE FILADELFIA MUNICIPAL GENERAL Y ELECCION ESPECIAL - MARTES, 7 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2017 De acuerdo con el Título II de la Ley de Americanos con Discapacidades de 1990 y la Ley de Accesibilidad de Votante para los Ancianos y los Discapacitados de 1984, la Ciudad de Filadelfia no discrimina a la gente con discapacidades al suministrar acceso para el proceso de elecciones.

Según estas leyes federales, se requiere que la Ciudad de Filadelfia asegure que su proceso de elecciones en conjunto sea accesible a la gente con discapacidades en todas las elecciones. Esto significa que los sitios de votación serán accesibles a los discapacitados de tal manera que haya locaciones accesibles disponibles dentro de cada distrito electoral.

Los Comisionados de la Ciudad designan y enumeran la accesibilidad de los lugares de votación en grados variables. Los sitios de votación que cumplen en su totalidad con los criterios federales y estatales son designados con una "F" que indica que es un edificio totalmente accesible, y con una "H" que indica que hay estacionamiento para discapacitados.

Si un logar de votación no cumple en su totalidad con estos criterios federales y estatales, pero provee accesibilidad relativa con una pequeña ayuda en la entrada, entonces ese logar será designado con una "B" que indica que tiene una accesibilidad substancial.

Si no hay disponible un lugar totalmente accesible, que cumpla con todos los criterios federales y estatales (designados como “FH”), como sitio de votación en su División de elección, la accesibilidad para votar será proporcionada mediante el uso de una Boleta Alternativa de acuerdo con las directrices expedidas por el Secretario del Estado.

Si usted es un votante registrado, que es discapacitado o tiene 65 años de edad o más, y no se le ha asignado un lugar de votación que haya sido designado como “FH”, entonces cumple con los requisitos para votar mediante una Boleta Alternativa.

SÓLO LOS CENTROS DE VOTACIÓN DE LOS DISTRITOS Y LAS DIVISIONES ELECTORALES QUE SE MENCIONAN A CONTINUACIÓN SE HAN DESIGNADO COMO “FH” O TOTALMENTE ACCESIBLES. SI USTED ES UN VOTANTE REGISTRADO EN CUALQUIER DISTRITO ELECTORAL DE FILADELPHIA, SALVO EN AQUELLOS QUE SE ENUMERAN A CONTINUACIÓN, Y ES DISCAPACITADO O MAYOR DE 65 AÑOS, CUMPLE CON LOS REQUISITOS PARA VOTAR DESDE SU HOGAR MEDIANTE UNA BOLETA ALTERNATIVA O EN LA SALA 142 DEL AYUNTAMIENTO EL DÍA DE LA ELECCIÓN MEDIANTE UNA BOLETA ALTERNATIVA DE EMERGENCIA: ESTE AVISO ESTA SUJECTA A CAMBIOS – PARA OBTENER INFORMACION ACTUALIZADA IR A

WWW.PHILADELPHIAVOTES.COM Distrito Electoral

Division Electoral

Division Electoral

Domicilio

3

3, 4

6

2

37

9

2862 Germantown Ave.

Warnock Village

38

1, 17

3226 McMichael St.

Abbottsford Homes

6

9, 11

4035 Parrish St.

Sarah Allen Senior Housing

6

15

40 St. & Parkside Ave.

School of the Future

38

19

4349 Ridge Ave.

Falls Ridge Apts. Com Ctr.

39

10, 19

501 Jackson St.

6

17

4700 Parkside Ave.

Discovery Charter School

Jackson Place

41

13, 14

Magee & Keystone Sts.

Fire Engine # 38

7

5

167 W Allegheny Ave.

Villas Del Caribe

42

1

4501 G St.

City Sign Shop

7

13, 17

200 E Somerset St.

Somerset Villas

8

25

2 Franklin Town Blvd.

The Water Mark

44

8

4901 Chestnut St.

West Phila. High School

48

7, 22

2600 Moore St.

St. John Neuman Place

8

27

2400 Chestnut St.

2400 Chestnut St. Bldg

49

3, 20

1300 W Godfrey Ave.

Community College of Phila.

8

30

17 St., South of Spring Garden St.

Community College

52

3

3900 City Ave.

Presidential City Apts

52

11, 12

2600 Belmont Ave.

Inglis House Founders Hall

52

22, 23, 24

1717 N 54 St.

Wynnefield Place

Centro de votacion

Distrito Electoral

6212 Walnut St.

Care Pavilion

4400 Fairmount Ave.

Angela Court Nursing Home

Domicilio

th

th

Centro de votacion

9

4, 5

20 E Mermaid Lane

Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting House

9

12

7301 Germantown Ave.

Lutheran Theological Seminary

13

6, 7, 8

4340 Germantown Ave.

Nicetown Court

56

22

2101 Strahle St.

Samuel Tabas House

14

5

1100 Fairmount Ave.

Gladys Jacobs Apts.

58

5, 21

13500 Philmont Ave.

Calvary Chapel

14

8

1100 Poplar St.

Street Community Center

58

9, 13, 17

608 Welsh Rd.

St. Thomas Syro Malabar Church Randi’s Restaurant

rd

th

19

2, 3, 4

3 & Ontario Sts.

Marin Munoz School

58

19

1619 Grant Ave.

19

6, 7

2800 N American St.

Congreso Edu. & Training Ctr.

58

44

9896 Bustleton Ave.

Paul’s Run

19

11

2400 N Howard St.

Hunter School

59

20

633 W Rittenhouse St.

Rittenhouse Hill Apts.

20

4

1600 N 8 St.

Gray Manor

60

2 ,8, 12, 23

4901 Chestnut St.

West Phila. High School

22

3

6400 Greene St.

Cliveden Convales Center

60

4, 6

5429 Chestnut St.

Holmes Senior Apts.

27

2

4400 Baltimore Ave.

H.M.S. School

63

11, 23

8550 Verree Rd.

Villages Pine Valley Clubhouse

27

17

1450 S 50 St.

Reba Brown Senior Apts.

63

21

608 Welsh Rd.

St. Thomas Syro Malabar Church

30

7

1800 Lombard St.

Penn Medicine

64

8, 9, 10, 13, 14

3201 Ryan Ave.

Lincoln High School

35

10, 11, 25

Rising Sun Ave. & Comly St.

Lawncrest Recreation Center

64

15, 16

8301 Roosevelt Blvd.

Deer Meadows

35

15, 16, 17, 22

Langdon & Sanger Sts.

New Fels High School

66

2, 7

10980 Norcom Rd.

Norcom Community Center

th

th

Es posible obtener una Boleta Alternativa para cualquier elección, a través de una petición por adelantado de una Solicitud de Boleta Alternativa. En Filadelfia se puede pedir una Boleta Alternativa en la solicitud corriente de Boleta para Votar en Ausencia, señalando la casilla de “Discapacitado, 65 años de edad o mayor y a quien se le ha asignado un lugar de votación inaccesible”. Las solicitudes se pueden obtener en la Junta de Elecciones del Condado en Sala 142, del Ayuntamiento o llamando al teléfono (215) 686-3469 VOICE, o por TTY/TDD (Teletipo/Aparato de Telecomunicación para Sordos) a través del AT&T Relay System. Los usuarios de TDD pueden utilizar este servicio llamando al 1-800-6545984 e informándole al asistente de comunicaciones que desean hablar con la Oficina de Elecciones de Pensilvania en el (717) 787-5280.

Las Solicitudes de Boleta Alternativa deben enviarse por correo a la Junta de Elecciones del Condado a más tardar siete días antes de la elección.

Las Boletas Alternativas deben devolverse a la Junta de Elecciones del Condado a más tardar al momento del cierre de las urnas,a las 8:00 p.m. del Día de Elecciones.

Además, los electores registrados con discapacidades pueden pedir una Solicitud de Boleta Alternativa de Emergencia y depositar la boleta personalmente en la Junta de Elecciones del Condado, en sala 142, del Ayuntamiento, hasta el momento del cierre de elecciones durante el Día de Elecciones.

Ademas, la Ciudad proporcionará materiales de inscripción en letras grandes en cada instalación de inscripción, y suministrará las instrucciones en letras grandes sobre cómo votar en cada sitio de votación.

Si tiene alguna pregunta sobre sus derechos o sobre las obligaciones de la Ciudad según estas leyes, o si necesita ayuda para determinar si su lugar de votación cumple en su totalidad con los criterios federales y estatales, comuníquese con la Oficina de Cumplimiento con la Accesibilidad, o la Junta de Elecciones del Condado.

Oficina del Comisionado de la Ciudad City Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Junta de Elecciones del Condado City Hall, Room 142 Philadelphia, PA 19107 215-686-3469 / 215-686-3943

Oficina de Cumplimiento con la Accesibilidad 1401 JFK Blvd, MSB, 10th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19102-1677

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

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AC ul t ure rts

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Dining Out Family Portrait Out & About Q Puzzle Scene in Philly

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72 71 74 76 57

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Emily Saliers talks eclectic debut solo album

By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com After more than 30 years as one half of the iconic acoustic duo Indigo Girls, out singer-songwriter Emily Saliers is releasing her first solo album.

Out last month, the adventurous “Murmuration Nation” finds Saliers and producer Lyris Hung, who plays violin live with the Indigo Girls, blurring a lot of stylistic lines and bringing into the fold elements of R&B, rock electronica and world music.

Amy Ray, the other member of the Indigo Girls, has been recording and performing solo albums outside of the group since 2001.

Saliers said she’s been meaning to do a solo album for a long time but didn’t get around to making the kind of music she wanted until now.

“It was timing,” she said. “I really just became more and more drawn toward making a groove-centered album, which the Indigo Girls doesn’t do that much. But that’s the music that I’m really, really drawn to. So Lyris and I just started for fun working on ideas. It just blew me away.”

To realize her sonic vision, Saliers called about the talents of a wide range of accomplished musicians, including bassist Tim

LeFebvre (David Bowie, Tedeschi Trucks Band), keyboardist Rachel Eckroth (KT Tunstall) and drummers Robert “Sput” Searight (Snarky Puppy) and Will Calhoun (Living Colour), along with guest appearances from Lucy Wainwright Roche and Jennifer Nettles.

“Some of them were people that Lyris knew,” Saliers said about her collaborators. “Some of the people we just pulled in. I wanted a drummer that was rooted in R&B, soul and hip-hop; Will Calhoun is an amazing drummer. Then there were certain instrument sounds that I wanted on the record.

We just put it together based on our wish list of how we wanted the music to be created and the scope of the music.

We picked really good players.”

Saliers said her approach to writing lyrics underwent a slight change for her solo album compared to how she would write for an Indigo Girls album.

“I wrestled some with whether or not to say things more directly as opposed to more poetically or more literarily, which is typically my bent in the Indigo Girls with some exceptions,” she said. “I love words. I love double meanings. I love innuendo. I love metaphors. On this particular album, there are a lot of instances where I made a conscious choice to say things more forcefully rather than try to paint them with some sort of literary brush. It was a struggle for me personally deciding which way to go and the way to say certain things. But I think it serves those songs better.

‘Spiders’ is full of metaphors; it’s all metaphors. The spider’s body represents the military industrial complex and geopolitics. But a song like ‘OK Corral’ talks about specific things in history and guns in America and the NRA. It’s much less poetic and straightforward.”

While “Murmuration Nation” does have some folk-influenced moments, for the most part it ventures into a lot of sounds far outside what the Indigo Girls would do.

Saliers said she hopes Indigo fans PAGE 54

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

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will enjoy what she does on her solo album — but understands if it isn’t exactly their cup of tea.

“I realize that not everyone will like it but in the end I love this album. So that’s the most important thing,” she said.

“Honestly, the response to the album, at least through the Pledge Music campaign and through my social media, has been incredibly positive. I think there will be enough people who understand and feel what we were going after in this album and, in the end, that’s what matters. We created something that we love and that was true to our vision and there are people out there that hook into it. It doesn’t have to be everybody.”

Saliers said the complex and layered songs on “Murmuration Nation” aren’t going to be as easy to recreate live as Indigo Girls’ songs but she’s up for the challenge of putting on an arresting musical experience.

“For the solo tour, we’re going to be a full band with full video production,” she said. “There’s going to be a lot going on texturally and sonically. Sometimes, less is more. It doesn’t have to sound exactly like the record but the musical sound on stage will be dense and it will replicate the vibe of the songs on the album.”

Saliers is also reassuring fans that the Indigo Girls are still active and have plans for the future.

“We’re totally together,” she said. “We’re

going to be releasing a symphony album that we record with the University of Colorado Symphony in 2018. Then we’ll do another album of original material. Amy is working on her seventh solo record. We’re still going strong. This just happens to be my first solo album so I’m putting everything into it.”

She admitted that juggling a solo career along with the commitments of being an Indigo Girl does present some challenges.

“I’m finding out that it’s a lot after all these years of singing and touring,” she said.

“The voice, it’s a muscle and it can wear down the longer you’ve done it, and we’ve done it for over 30 years.

I’m finding that doing Indigo Girls and solo stuff at the same time is quite hard on the voice. So we have to be careful of how we use that instrument and we’re more protective of it than we used to be.

It’s just the reality of getting old.”

Still, she’s looking forward to touring for this album as well as doing another solo venture in the future.

“This has been so much fun,” Saliers said. “When you enjoy the process, why wouldn’t you do it again? There’s always something to write about. There’s so much going on in this country and the world. Life is interesting to me so I just write songs about it. It’s very simple.” n “Murmuration Nation” is available now.

Emily Saliers performs 8 p.m. Oct. 12 at World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St. For more information or tickets, call 215-222-1400 or visit http://emilysaliers.com.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

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T I C K E T S AVA I L A B L E AT PA B A L L E T.O R G THANK YOU TO OUR SEASON SPONSORS:

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Photography: Nic D’Amico.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

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Dito van Reigersberg takes on Streisand

By A.D. Amorosi PGN Contributor Philadelphia’s Dito van Reigersberg needs little intro, save that he’s the quiet man behind the splendor who is Martha Graham Cracker, as well as one of three masterminds behind all things Pig Iron Theatre.

Now, van Reigersberg is starring in 1812 Productions’ take on Jonathan Tolins’ play “Buyer & Cellar,” which imagines the hiring of a caretaker for Barbra Streisand’s immaculately kept tchotchkes with van Reigersberg playing all characters.

“I knew we’d need someone incredibly charismatic and naturally funny for the role,” said Jen Childs, 1812 co-founder. “Dito is one of the funniest people I know. I am thrilled to be in his orbit.”

PGN: Are you more fond of the one-person show with a single character or one, like “Buyer,” where you play multiple roles?

DVR: I like the discipline [“Buyer & Cellar”] requires, the specificity in terms of voice and silhouette, so the audience sees each character instantly and recognizes them every time they appear. But, I must admit, it can be lonely up there. Sometimes you wish you had other cast to play with, to draw energy from. Once the audience comes, I will feel them as companions in the story; it’s a direct-address show and I narrate cer-

tain parts right to them. And thankfully I have done a one-man show, “Poet in New York,” with Pig Iron, so I remember the enormous energy and focus it takes to pull it off.

DVR: I don’t wear a single wig, but hopefully you will see the hair in your mind’s eye.

PGN: You had zilch to do with the writing or conceptual process of “Buyer & Cellar.”

What did that feel like?

DVR: With any script you come to — as opposed to you making it — you have to get inside it, as if you made it. It’s a different kind of demand; one challenge is to follow your own impulses when you make something yourself and another is to understand and fill the impulse that the playwright had as if it’s yours.

PGN: Why is Jonathan Tolins’ play handmade for you? Was there anything about the script you don’t usually hear or see?

DVR: It does feel like a good fit for me, in that I love to harness my inner grandiose diva and my regular Joe humble guy. Both seem to sit next to each other in my psyche, oddly enough. I love the tightness of the script; there’s not a wasted line — you see that once you know the whole thing and see him planting all the seeds that pay PGN: As Martha, you comoff later. It’s moving, as well mit all manner of direct as funny, with a deep human- DITO VAN REIGERSBERG address with your audiIN “BUYER & CELLAR” ences. How does that same ity that raises questions about Photo: Chris Haig connection change while how fame makes people crazy — both fans and stars acting here?

— how a job can have meaning or be totally DVR: It’s a similar feeling but “Buyer”’s meaningless, and how surreal and random Alex More is a different kind of host. He and cruel to us our work lives can be. wants to tell you this amazing tale, but there’s no singing or physical interaction PGN: Is it a requirement that you wear one with the audience. It’s more restrained, but wig per show? then it’d have to be, right? I often picture

a close friend and try to tell them the story in that un-self-conscious way that you get to when you are so ready to spill the juicy gossip with a friend who is eager for the dirt!

PGN: You told me when you did “Legend of Georgia McBride” that there was something of Martha in McBride. Do you feel as if there is something within your Streisand too that’s Graham Crackerscented?

DVR: No, Streisand is different. She feels more delicate than Martha by far, and also more withholding and guarded. She maintains a mystique. She holds the cards closer to her chest.

PGN: You appear to be inscrutable. What gets your eyes open and arm hairs up?

DVR: I am a cluster of opposites. I love reading poetry alone in my room and I love singing in front of a huge crowd. I contain multitudes. I inherited a restless and inquisitive spirit from my parents and from Pig Iron. I love it when I find myself in a new and unexpected project and think, Well, I haven’t done this before. If I fail, I just hope I fail gloriously. n 1812 Productions’ “Buyer & Cellar” runs Oct. 6-29 at Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Place. For more information or tickets, visit http://www.1812productions.org/buyer-cellar.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

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PGN’s Pet Issue November 17

For pet photos, contact scott@epgn.com For placing ads, contact prab@epgn.com or call 215-625-8501 ext. 212.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

‘Kinky Boots’ kicks up its heels in Philly

PAGE 61

12th & Arch Streets Philadelphia, PA 19107

L A C O ADITION L TR P

IA PH O L H DE A S PHIL

A

Take advantage of the fresh produce, meats, dairy, seafood, spices & baked goods that the Reading Terminal Market has to offer.

Best time for locals to shop: 8 am – 11 am & 4 pm – 6 pm

By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com The Tony Award-winning global smash hit musical “Kinky Boots” is strutting its high-heeled stuff through Oct. 8 at the Academy of Music.

Written by Harvey Fierstein and featuring music by Cyndi Lauper, “Kinky Boots” tells the story of a gentleman’s shoe factory at which Charlie Price is struggling to live up to his father’s expectations of continuing the family business.

Price & Sons is struggling and in danger of closing when Price finds an unlikely answer to his problems in Lola, a charismatic drag queen who happens to need a sturdy pair of boots in which to perform.

Soon, the company starts making high-fashion boots, transforming its fortunes along with the attitudes of the people in that town.

Out New York-based actor and singer Lance Bordelon, who plays Charlie, said he sees a lot of his own life and experiences in “Kinky Boots,” which is inspired by a true story.

Bordelon first saw the show on Broadway about three years ago and said he immediately connected with the lead character he would go on to play.

“The idea of following in their father’s footsteps in so many ways and realizing along the journey that there’s a different path they want to take is definitely a theme I definitely identify with,” he said.

“I’m originally from South Louisiana and I came out a few years ago and that journey has been tough. Although that’s not Charlie’s story, it’s definitely a theme I can relate to: feeling like you want to do your own thing and go your own way and also still having an appreciation from where you come from.”

Bordelon said the popularity of “Kinky

Boots” in the United States goes to show that people of all walks of life can appreciate a story that celebrates acceptance and individuality.

“I personally believe that the show has universal themes that are relevant to the gay community but also across the board in every gamut of society,” he said. “There are themes of tolerance and acceptance and diversity. I think our generation is at a place where it’s really thirsty for that. It’s also just a really fun show. People just want to go to the theater and smile and laugh and maybe have a happy tear now and then. That’s what ‘Kinky Boots’ really does. It quickly turns corners to keep you entertained and make you think.”

Besides the central characters of Charlie and Lola, Bordelon said some audience members may identify with the character of Don, the factory foreman who at first resents and ridicules Lola, but eventually comes around to respect their differences.

“I think the character of Don is really a mirror to a lot of people,” Bordelon said. “I know people like that in my life from home. He’s a factory worker who has to come to terms with how he sees other people. Ultimately, he learns if you change your mind, you change the world.

I think there are a lot of people in my life who I’m excited for to come see the show because I want to see their reaction. The journey that we’ve had in our family and in my life is similar to what Don has in the show. He has a change of heart and sees Lola and Charlie in a different way.” n

Broadway Philadelphia presents “Kinky Boots” through Oct. 8 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St. For more information or tickets, call 215-893-1999 or visit www.kimmelcenter.org.

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The

Guide to the Gayborhood

The Philadelphia Gayborhood is roughly centered at Locust and Camac streets. Look for the rainbow street signs at intersections and remember to be aware of your surroundings wherever you go.

Boxers

1330 Walnut St. facebook.com/ boxersphl Sports bar with a dozen huge TVs, pool table, brick pizza oven, sports teams specials

Toasted Walnut

Tabu

Woody’s

1316 Walnut St. 215.546.8888 Festively lit women-owned bar complete with a “beer” pong table

202 S. 13th St. 215.545.1893 woodysbar.com Includes attached Walnut Street bars Rosewood and GloBar

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The Bike Stop

200 S. 12th St. 215.964.9675 tabuphilly.com Sports bar with light fare and shows upstairs

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

Juniper St.

PAGE 62

Spruce St.

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William Way LGBT Community Writer’s Block Rehab Center 1342 Cypress St. 267.603.6960 A cozy, comfortable bar and lounge perfect for escaping the norm

1315 Spruce St. 215.732.2220 waygay.org A resource for all things LGBT

<— <— West of Broad Street Stir Lounge

1705 Chancellor St. 215.732.2700 stirphilly.com Fun two-bar lounge, DJ in the back, regular poker games and specials

The Attic Youth Center

255 S. 16th St. 215.545.4331 atticyouthcenter.org Safe space and programs for LGBTs age 16-23 weekday afternoons and evenings

Voyeur

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1221 St. James St. 215.735.5772 voyeurnightclub.com After-hours private club; membership required

1220 Locust St. 215.546.6660 Relaxing corner bar, easy-going crowd, popular for happy hour and window watching

225 S. 12th St. 215.925.1166 knockphilly.com Fine-dining restaurant and bar, outdoor seating (weather permitting), piano in back room

254 S. 12th St. 267.324.3500 clubicandy.com Three floors with a total of six bars; dance floor, lounge and rootop deck.

Tavern on Camac 255 S. Camac St. 215.545.8731 Piano lounge with upstairs dance floor; Tavern restaurant below is open late.

Pa. bars close at 2 a.m. unless they have a private-club license. Please drink responsibly.

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PAGE 63

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PAGE 64

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PAGE 65

Out author, style aficionado to appear at antiques show Compagnie Hervé Koubi

By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Attendees at The Main Line Antiques Show this weekend at Cabrini University have a chance to browse the show with out design expert, author and TV personality Eddie Ross.

Ross has made a name for himself as decorating and food editor for “House Beautiful,” “Martha Stewart Living” and the Food Network. Ross lectures across the country on everything from food and flowers to decorating, gardening and entertaining. His first book, “Modern Mix: Curating Personal Style with Chic & Accessible Finds,” came out in 2015.

Show attendees can partake in a private tour on Oct. 8 in which they can “shop the show” with Ross, who told PGN he will be happy to expound upon his mantras for finding the right antiques to suit one’s tastes.

“They can expect an editorial tour of shopping a show, looking at things with different eyes,” Ross said.

Even people with the most modern of tastes for decorating their homes and other spaces can keep things visually interesting with the well-placed antique, Ross noted.

“It has to do with the history and the craftsmanship of the way products, decorative accessories and furniture were made and patinas that takes years to achieve,” Ross said about the universal charm of antiques. “I always say every antique was new at some point. Pieces that are new in this day and age will be antiques in 100 years. I always look to all those super-stylish Europeans that have always bought new and added in to their big castles and mansions. You end up with the beautiful mix of new and old. You get modern furniture mixed in with Louis V chairs and things. It gives you that eclectic, well-traveled mix.

It’s about buying what you like at the time and not listening to the voices of grand-

parents and mothers. It’s about sticking to rules but being able to break the rules that might have been ingrained in your head growing up as a child.”

Since tastes and styles vary from person to person, Ross doesn’t have a lot of hard and fast rules about how to shop for antiques. One tenet he does follow, however, is: “Whatever you are buying, you have to use it. It just cannot stay behind glass doors.

“It’s using a soup tureen for not soup,” he added. “It’s using antique linens for pillows. It’s using a sideboard that might be for a dining room and dropping a sink in it and using it for a master bathroom. It’s about looking at antiques in a fresh way.”

Another other rule Ross tries to live by is: “The only things I regret are the things I didn’t buy that I really love.”

When asked about the pieces he let slip through his fingers, Ross remembers exactly when and where it happened, in vivid detail like it was yesterday.

“It was a flea market in San Francisco,” he said. “It was an entire set of 12 blue opaline glassware, from wine goblets to champagne glasses … everything. And it was $200. At the time, we were just getting our things together and we didn’t need it. And I just think about it now because each one of those glasses sells for $165-$200 each.”

Ross also makes a point of telling people to buy antiques for love and not to impress someone else — or because they think it might be some rare treasure to flip for a profit.

“Just because it’s expensive doesn’t mean it’s pretty,” he said. “You have to buy what you like. You have to be your own person.

You have to live with it and love it.” n Eddie Ross appears at The Main Line Antiques Show 10 a.m.-noon Oct. 8 at Cabrini University’s Dixon Center, 610 King of Prussia Road, Radnor. The show itself runs Oct. 7-8. For more information, visit www. mainlineantiquesshow.com or www.eddieross.com.

Photo Courtesy Didier Philispart

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PAGE 66

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

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Curaçao PM delivers historic LGBT speech The prime minister of Curaçao, Eugene Rhuggenaath, opened the fifth anniversary of Curaçao Pride by citing key phrases of the Declaration of Independence to announce his support for LGBT equality in his country. The prime minister’s remarks come at the same time that equality-rights activists here are working on potentially groundbreaking new LGBT legislation, which is expected to be introduced in Parliament before the end of the year as part of a pathway to equality for all citizens.

Rhuggenaath acknowledged that his attendance at Curaçao Pride “was not positively received by all people in our community.” The prime minister was wearing a shirt with the word “#HUNTU,” meaning together, and appeared with his sister, who is a lesbian.

In an interview with PGN, the only LGBT U.S. media at the event, about why he chose the Declaration of Independence as the cornerstone of his speech and position, he said, “It is inspiring.”

“As I profoundly reflect on why I choose to be here today, the answer to this question comes to a simple and all-encompassing phrase: All humans are born free and equal in dignity and rights,” he

said. “The universal declaration of human rights. I also draw inspiration from the U.S. Declaration of Independence.”

He continued, “We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable that all men are created equal and independent and from all that equal creation they derive rights inherent and unalienable, upon which are the perseveration of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Rhuggenaath went on to say that he is the prime minister for all people.

Joining the leader were other members of Parliament, including Giselle M. McWilliam, vice president of the Parliament of Curaçao. McWilliam has emerged as one of the leading new voices of LGBT equality in Curaçao after her election in November. Also in attendance, but not speaking, were other representatives of the U.S. Consulate.

With rainbow flags adorning the famous Queen Emma Bridge, Curaçao Pride has ignited a controversial debate reported by the local media. The controversy centered on the island’s Pride celebration and at least one member of Parliament’s questions about the urgency of new LGBTequality laws. For the first time, Curaçao Pride coincides with Curaçao Culture

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Week, which the tourism office confirmed is traditionally held the week before Pride.

Curaçao, a small Caribbean island nation off the coast of Venezuela, is widely known as a beacon of LGBT human rights in the Caribbean, drawing thousands of local, regional and international tourists to four days of Pride events held last week.

Eighty percent of the island’s population is Roman Catholic. n Jeff Guaracino is the author of “The Handbook of LGBT Tourism and Hospitality: A Guide for Business Practice.”

PAGE 69

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PAGE 71

Suzi Nash

Neha Ghosh: Creating q-munity space for all “The point in history at which we stand is full of promise and danger. The world will either move forward toward unity and widely shared prosperity, or it will move apart.”

— Franklin D. Roosevelt

NG: It is. He works with colleges and universities. Most of them have their own copyrights and trademarks, etc., on all their scholarly works and he created a program that keeps people from stealing, sharing or plagiarizing the materials.

These days, the country seems to be in a bizarre world in which everyone is at each other’s throats for the slightest difference of opinion. We need a break from that with an oasis where we can find respect and patience. Luckily, there’s a group of young folks dedicated to creating space here in Philadelphia that is open to all.

Qunify is an LGBTQ social community that organizes events to foster personal connection, group community and city partnerships to make additional spaces and opportunities open for all LGBTQ people to be safe, comfortable and visible. The goal is to achieve a world that welcomes, embraces and supports all people.

We took a moment to speak to core member Neha Ghosh.

PGN: Did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up?

NG: No, I had no idea. But I loved my AP bio teacher, probably a weird one to choose. But she was incredibly smart and she was kind and funny and sassy. She talked to us like adults; she was actually one of the hardest teachers, but she had a way of inspiring you to want to do the work. My sister is actually taking her class right now, which is funny.

PGN: I hear you’re a Jersey girl. What part?

NG: Actually, I was born in Albuquerque, N.M., then Edison, N.J., then Bridgewater. When we moved, it was at the start of the cookie-cutter house era, so my parents got one of the houses.

We moved from Edison, which was all Indian folks, to Bridgewater, which was a mix of white, Indian and Chinese but not many black people at first. It was a nice suburban town and I made a lot of friends.

PGN: It’s always surprising to me to find these small ethnic enclaves where you wouldn’t expect them.

NG: Yeah, we used to call our area Chindia, which is probably not PC now, but it was what it was back then.

PGN: [Laughs] There are a lot of things that we did and said back in the day that wouldn’t fly now; half the shows on MTV that were considered groundbreaking would be in trouble now.

NG: I know. If you watch old “The L Word” episodes, there are some things that make you cringe a little. But it was such a good show!

PGN: Describe the family.

NG: I’m the oldest of two; my sister is 10 years younger than me. My parents are both in technology — computer science, just to fit the stereotype. My dad does computer-security type stuff and my mom does more accounting stuff.

PGN: Dad should be hot right now. I’d think cyber security would be in big demand.

PGN: Any extracurricular groups for you?

NG: Uh huh. I did Key Club and basketball and tennis. Key Club was a community-oriented organization that did fundraisers and volunteer work.

PGN: Where did you go for college?

NG: Rutgers, the trashy terrible Rutgers campus, and I loved it. It was like the best of both a big and a small school at once. I got into martial arts my freshman year and carried on with it for the next six years. It was a lot of fun.

Gayborhood and made friends there. I love to dance and I’ll just go up and talk to anyone in the bar and make friends that way. Then I slowly got into more activist work; my partner right now does a lot of work on domestic violence, which opened my eyes to learning more about my community and the history of Philly activism.

So I try now not to just go to the clubs, although I love that, but I also try to go to book readings and nonprofit events, etc. I try to make sure to get out of the Gayborhood regularly as well. I want to know about the entire community; if you just stay with one group or in one area, you’ll only see a fraction of the community.

PGN: You’re one of the founders of Quinify. Where did that name come from?

NG: We wanted to have queer in the title but we realized that some older folks still have a hard time with that word. We also wanted to include something about unity.

So Quinify was created.

ONO. We try to go to all different sections of the city and find not straight, but queer-adjacent places, like book stores or coffee shops or museums so that’s a little different too. For the parties, we try to go to different neighborhoods as well.

Most other events are in Center City but that’s not where everyone is. We’ve been to Giovanni’s Room and Ulysses Books, Dahlak in West Philly, Amalgam Comics in Fishtown, all over the place. We don’t want to be just one thing so we’ll do some parties, some hang-outs or things like our discussion series, “You Can’t Bend Our Stories,” which have a variety of topics.

Last time it was about immigration and we had real LGBT immigrants, not just people like me who are first generation, to share their stories — people who are here from another country giving their stories and their take on how this administration is affecting them. The next one will be about non-binary sexualities, categories that often get dismissed or misunderstood by the LGBT community: pansexual, asexual, demisexual, etc.

PGN: That’s great that you have different types of events for everyone.

NG: The thing is, as queer people, we’re always asked to go and drink. It’s made to seem like that’s the only way we can socialize or communicate with other queer folks but that’s not true. And we do that too, but what about a queer night at the museum, or at a bookstore? We also recognize that substance abuse in the community is a thing; there’s a reason for it, but it’s a thing and we don’t want to perpetuate it. When we do have events with alcohol, we promote “sober buddies” and give a discount for it. We want people to know that you can come to a party and have fun and alcohol isn’t always going to be centered.

PGN: So if I ask you a question you don’t like, you can kick my butt?

NG: I would never do that … but yeah.

PGN: What was your major?

NG: Public health and economics, with an emphasis on the math side of things, econometrics and epidemiology and all that, because I do not like writing, never have. But I liked learning the theory behind the numbers, the statistical relevance of why people do certain things. It was interesting. But then you realize that all stats and numbers can be manipulated and interpreted to get the results you want, so what does it all mean in the end? It’s weird.

PGN: What are you doing now?

NG: Job wise? I’m a senior customer-success manager for AscentERP, it’s a great job.

PGN: I looked on the website and could not figure out what they do!

NG: That’s fair. They do supply-chain technology, so if you need to figure out how to get goods from point A to point B, they figure it out.

PGN: And what is it about?

NG: Qunify is a community-based organization that’s trying to make space for LGBT folks that is safe and comfortable and to create opportunities for all. It’s a very simple statement.

PGN: You moved to Philadelphia right after Sisters closed, so where do millennials go to find tribe?

NG: I moved here originally with my ex. In the beginning, we just went to the

PGN: What makes it different from groups like OurNightOut or Stimulus?

NG: Those are great groups and there’s room for all, but our leadership is primarily women of color, so it’s different than

PGN: Are the events open to anyone who wants to come?

NG: Absolutely. Our covers are $5-$15 sliding fee and $3 for sober buddies. Our only rules are listed on our webpage: no homophobia, no racism, no transphobia, no sexism, no ableism and no fatphobia will be tolerated in any of our virtual or physical spaces.

Photo: Suzi Nash

PGN: How many people in the core group?

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Walnut Street Café jazzes up University City

By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Don’t let the basic name and its location tucked away on a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it corner of the shiny new FMC Tower fool you — Walnut Street Café in University City has a lot going on, both visually and on its stylish New American menu.

The bright space is illuminated by classy hanging light fixtures as smooth jazz percolates through the café, setting the mood for the confident and well-rounded menu.

Things got off to a colorful start with the daily ceviche, which, on the evening we visited, consisted of halibut steeped in beet juice. The bright purple of the beet juice decorated the dish, mixed with the subdued green of chive oil, making for a psychedelic swirl of hues and flavors.

The flatbread with littleneck clams ($12) might look plain by comparison but it offers a nice psychological fake-out. Your eye will think “pizza” but, once you take a bite, the combination of clams, cream sauce and herbs scream “chowder” to your palette. Brilliant.

If you go Walnut Street Cafe 2929 Walnut St. 215-867-8067 www.walnutstreetcafe.com Mon.: 7 a.m.-9 p.m.

Tue.-Thu.: 7 a.m.-10 p.m.

Fri.: 7 a.m.-11 p.m.

Sat.: 10 a.m.-11 p.m.

Sun.: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

DAILY CEVICHE Photo: Larry Nichols Another interesting small plate is the chicken sausage ($14), which is served in a plentiful nest of hen-of-the-

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woods mushrooms with a poached egg on top. The mushrooms give the dish a slightly briny heartiness and the egg adds richness, to the point where the sausage itself almost gets outshined and lost in the shuffle. A pork or lamb sausage might have stood out more.

On the entrée side of the menu, the reginette alla arribiate ($16) was flawless, and a top contender for one of our favorite pasta dishes in the city. The black reginette pasta was luxuriously tender, and made an excellent vehicle for the bright and spicy tomato sauce and rock shrimp that round out the dish.

Dessert was equally stunning. The buttermilk panna cotta ($9) was a simple presentation that delivered tons of flavor.

The panna cotta was smooth and creamy with pistachio crumble and fresh berries fusing for an excellent contrast in textures. But what really pulled everything together was the strawberry sorbet, giving the dish an added layer of complexity with its cool and bracingly citrus bite complementing the other elements.

This café is a welcome addition to the bustling Walnut Street corridor. If you want to impress your acquaintances with good food in a relaxed, but still elegant, atmosphere, Walnut Street Café is the place to visit. n

“Serving your Philadelphia neighborhood a variety of fresh quality food since 1989”

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DEVON REIFFER’S “CROSSWALKS” both as an artist and as a member of the community.

“I feel like William Way is the core of our community. When I first moved to Philadelphia, the William Way Center was where I went to start learning about my community and connect with others. I feel like it’s a hub of connections and my art is all about connections. The fact that they want to help emerging queer artists as well is very important to me.” n William Way LGBT Community Center’s 12th Annual Juried Art Exhibition is on view through Oct. 27 at 1315 Spruce St. For more information, visit www.waygay.org or www. devonreiffer.com.

pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976

E ★ B E S T F I R S T D AT

William Way LGBT Community Center recently opened its 12th-annual Juried Art Exhibition, which features the talents of local and emerging LGBT artists.

This year’s show, curated by David Acosta and on display through Oct. 27, features dozens of artists working in various media, and whose works fit under the umbrella theme of “family.”

“In a way my work does tie in with family because I feel like our community is a family and we also need to try to be more like a family,” said artist Devon Reiffer, whose drawings are among the pieces included. “I feel like if I looked at all the works [from the other artists], I would see a similarity because we’re all addressing this theme. In terms of style, I think mine is very different because I draw on canvas and I work in black and white.”

To further the point of P h i l a d e l p h i a ’s LGBT community being a family, Reiffer uses local people as the subjects of her sketches and artwork.

“I use all local people,” Reiffer said.

“Most of the models come from our community. Ty is a bartender at Tabu. I met a few other people from around this area.

It’s not necessarily about their stories; it’s about giving that story a face and a name so people can find a connection and not just look at a person in black or white terms.”

Most of the works featured in the exhibition by Reiffer are part of a set of works for series “The Grey Area,” but she said one of the works belongs to another, different-themed series of her art.

“There’s one that has hints of color,” she said. “I’ve been working on a new series, ‘Prism,’ but the idea stems from you can’t understand color until you understand the broad spectrum of gray.”

Reiffer said that being included in this exhibition at the center is important to her

LOU NG

By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com

B

Local LGBT artists are ‘family’ at William Way art exhibition

PAGE 73

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT OUTFEST PGN LISTINGS

Out actor pens new play about entertainment icon and activist

By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Out television and stage actor and Philadelphia native Colman Domingo has partnered with acclaimed theater-maker Patricia McGregor to co-author a stage drama exploring issues of race and the American Dream. “Lights Out: Nat ‘King’ Cole” runs Oct. 11-Dec. 3 at People’s Light and Theatre Company.

The show imagines Cole reckoning with the demise of his televised variety show after it fails to attract a national sponsor. As his final Christmastime broadcast approaches, Cole weighs the advice of his friend Sammy Davis, Jr. to “go out with a bang,” which goes against his producer’s wishes to say goodbye with grace.

Unless you’ve been living without access to social media, a newspaper or a television for a while, we don’t have to tell you that a show about a high-profile black entertainer trying to decide whether to use his platform to speak truth to power and address issues of inequality is suddenly a more relevant topic to contemplate today than it was last year — or even two or three weeks ago.

“I think we’ve been writing with a sense of urgency,” Domingo said about the relevance of Cole’s story to current events.

“They only lens that I thought I can write through is the lens of the subversion of thinking of things in America right now — to deconstruct an icon and deconstruct ideas about race and entertainers and how a person stands in all that grace. How was it possible for someone as iconic as Nat King Cole to stand in so much grace with so many things that he was up against? It is looking back at it in the narrative from 2017 and how we illuminate these things from the past.”

Domingo added that he isn’t attempting to provide a comprehensive biography about Cole as much as he is trying to whet the audience’s appetite about certain aspects of his life and his struggle.

“I’m not trying to give everyone everything,” he said. “I think if I can hack open your mind to learn more, not only about Nat King Cole, but questions about entertainment and race and to see how it echoes now and the work we need to do, it’s hopefully just an eye-opening.”

Domingo said the research he did about

Cole’s life and career in preparation for writing “Lights Out” was certainly an eye-opening experience for him.

“It’s like going into the looking glass,” he said. “You keep uncovering things that you thought about Nat King Cole, maybe if it’s even just about the music. I was just surprised by many things. Some of the articles that we stumbled upon in Ebony Magazine in 1957, where he would talk about the ideas surrounding why he believes a show like his in 1957 didn’t have a chance but he had an opportunity to move the needle … you get an idea of how aware he is and the way that Madison Avenue works and the pull of the South.

You get an idea of what he was struggling with but also how he was very much an activist by being so dignified.

I think those are questions we all have about how do you resist and activate change and be an agent of change?

Sometimes it’s with our fist up in the air. Sometimes it’s with pen to paper. Which one is right? Which one is best? What I’m discovering is all are ways of activism. It’s really looking at the man who was a gentle being in this world, such a shining example of activism and resistance through his dignity. Even now, the argument we’re having about taking a knee and what it represents is a quiet and dignified way to resist and to ask for change.”

Domingo seems to find himself with a lot of projects that address timely societal issues. He’s currently a regular cast member of the popular horror drama “Fear the Walking Dead,” which he said, like “Lights Out,” explores issues that are making headlines.

“It’s doing the same thing. I’m attracted to things like that. ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ is a show that is examining our humanity. It’s less about the infected walkers and more about who we become during a disaster. And boy, have we had our share of disasters these days. With all the hurricanes and earthquakes and bombings, terrorist acts and shootings in America, it’s all doing the same thing: It’s saying, who are we when the chips are down and who do we become? That’s an extraordinary question.” n People’s Light presents “Lights Out: Nat ‘King’ Cole” Oct. 11-Dec. 3, 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern. For more information, visit www.peopleslight.org.

Theater & Arts BalletX Dance Affiliates and the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts present the Phillybased contemporary dance company Oct. 6-7 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; 215-8983900.

Cameron Esposito & Rhea Butcher: Back To Back The two out comedians and wives perform 8 p.m. Oct. 6 at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215922-6888.

E.J. Dionne, Jr. and Norman J. Ornstein The political columnists and authors of “One Nation After Trump: A Guide for the Perplexed, the Disillusioned, the Desperate and the Not-Yet Deported” host a reading 7:30 p.m. Oct 10 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215567-4341.

First Glance Film Festival 20th Anniversary The Philadelphia Independent Film Festival runs Oct. 6-8 at Perelman Theater, 300 S. Broad St.; 215-8931999.

A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum Walnut Street Theatre presents Stephen Sondheim’s classic Tony Awardwinning musical through Oct. 22, 825 Walnut St.; 215-5743550.

Kinky Boots The Broadway musical with music

by Cyndi Lauper about how a drag

queen’s sturdy footwear helps save a failing show factory runs through Oct. 8 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; 215-893-1999.

Lewis Black The comedian performs 9 p.m. Oct. 6-7 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.

Philadelphia Assembled Initiated by artist Jeanne van Heeswijk, together with hundreds of collaborators from across the city, the project explores Philadelphia’s changing landscape and tells a story of radical community building and active resistance, through Dec. 10 at Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100.

Robert Kelly The comedian seen on “Louie,” “Trainwreck” and “Nurse Jackie” performs through Oct. 7 at Punch Line Philly, 33 E. Laurel St.; 215-606-6555.

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel Media Theatre presents the classic American musical through Oct. 22, 104 E. State St., Media; 610-891-0100.

Van Jones The CNN commentator and author of “Beyond the Messy Truth: How We Came Apart, How We Come Together” hosts a reading 7:30 p.m. Oct. 12 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215567-4341.

HEEERE’S CARSON!!: The Miss’D America Pageant returns with out TV personality Carson Kressley hosting the annual drag show and competition 8 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event

Wyatt Cenac The comedian seen on “The Daily Show” performs Oct. 13-14 at the Punch Line Philly, 33 E. Laurel St.; 215-6066555.

Music Paramore The rock band performs 8 p.m.

Oct. 6 at the Tower Theater, 69th and Ludlow streets, 610352-2887.

Chris Robinson Brotherhood The roots-rock band featuring the Black Crowes singer performs 8:30 p.m.

Oct. 6-7 at Ardmore Music Hall, 23 E. Lancaster Ave.; 610649-8389.

KMFDM The industrial-rock band performs 9 p.m. Oct. 6 at Underground Arts, 1200 Callowhill St.; 215-627-1332.

Rock Allegiance The festival featuring Rob Zombie,

Halestorm, In This Moment, Steel Panther and more starts at noon Oct. 7 at BB&T Pavilion, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, N.J.; 609365-1300.

Kesha The pop singers perform 9 p.m. Oct. 7 at The Fillmore Philadelphia, 29 E. Allen St.; 215-6253681.

Guns ’n’ Roses The rock band performs 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 8 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215-3899543.

The Temptations and The Four Tops The classic R&B groups perform 8 p.m. Oct. 8 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.

Bruno Mars The pop/R&B singer performs 8 p.m. Oct. 10 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215-3899543.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

PAGE 75

‘Laramie Project’ readings to focus on Pulse victims

By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com

RETURN OF THE GOBLIN KING: The classic 1986 fantasy film “Labyrinth,” starring David Bowie and featuring puppetry and direction by the legendary Jim Henson, is screened 4:30 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville. For more information or tickets, call 610-917-1228.

The Psychedelic Furs The classic alternative/new-wave band performs 8 p.m.

Oct. 10 at Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St.; 215-2322100.

Andrew WK The rock singer performs 8 p.m. Oct. 11 at TLA, 334 South St.; 215-922-1011.

Katy Perry The pop singer performs 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 12 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215389-9543.

Emily Saliers The Indigo Girl performs a solo concert 8 p.m. Oct. 12 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400.

Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull The Latin singer and the rapper perform 7 p.m. Oct. 13 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215389-9543.

Blues Traveler The jam-rock band performs as part of its 30th-anniversary tour 8 p.m. Oct. 13 at TLA, 334 South St.; 215-922-1011.

Musiq Soulchild The neo-soul/R&B singer performs 8:30 p.m. Oct. 13 at The Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St.; 800745-3000.

Nightlife Happy Bear: OutFest Weekend 2017 The bear-themed party makes the fur fly 5-9 p.m. Oct. 6 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215-964-9675.

PGMC Fall Ball 2017: American Bandstand The Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus’ signature fundraiser celebrates 65 years of pop culture 7-11:30 p.m.

Oct. 7 at Loews Philadelphia, 1200 Market St.; www. pgmc.org.

Bi+ Visibility Burlesque: SpoOoOoky Halloween Edition The burlesque and drag show featuring performers from the bi community gets in the mood for Halloween 8-11 p.m.

Oct. 10 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215-9649675.

LGBTQ Night at Terror Behind the Walls Six haunted attractions and an after-party await, 7-11 p.m. Oct. 11 at Eastern State Penitentiary, 2027 Fairmount Ave.; 215236-3300.

Philly Drag!

Alexander John showcases his photos, with a portion of the ticket sales going to benefit William Way LGBT Community Center, 7 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215922-6888.

Cabaret Vèritè VI: Friday The Thirteenth Tom Wilson Weinberg and Andrew Crowley present their cabaret experience 8 p.m. Oct. 13 at William Way LGBT Community Center,

1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220.

Outta Town Frank Shiner The acclaimed vocalist makes his New Hope debut 8 p.m. Oct. 7 at The Rrazz Room, 385 W. Bridge St., New Hope; 888-596-1027.

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter A slasher-film sequel is screened 9:45 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-1228.

Two New Jersey groups are joining forces to honor victims of last summer’s mass shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando.

The Collingswood chapter of PFLAG is partnering with the Social Justice Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Cherry Hill to become a part of “The Laramie Project Project.” The effort is a series of readings from the play “The Laramie Project” by Moises Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project in reaction to the brutal murder of openly gay teenager Matthew Shepard in the small town of Laramie, Wyo. Tom Tamburello, a board member for PFLAG Collingswood, said the idea for the readings originated with a local teen.

“There was a student from Gloucester County Institute of Technology [Alyssa Sileo] that came up with this idea of having 49 performances around the country and world to recognize the 49 victims of the Pulse massacre,” he said. “Since Gloucester County is so close, she was

reaching out to organizations that she thought might be interested.”

This particular performance will be in memory of Pulse victim Luis Daniel Conde, from Kissimmee, Fla. Tamburello said that linking “The Laramie Project” with the tragedy of the Pulse shooting will hopefully raise awareness of the struggles the LGBT community continues to face almost 20 years after Shepard’s murder, as well as organizations like PFLAG who continue to advocate for LGBT acceptance and equality.

“We’re doing it to raise awareness about the fact that there are still issues for LGBT people,” he said. “We’re also hoping to get the word out about PFLAG Collingswood. We meet once a month and our meetings continue to grow, especially with the trans community. We’re having more and more parents of trans kids attending our meetings.” n PFLAG Collingswood presents “The Laramie Project Project” 6-9 p.m. Oct. 15 at Unitarian Universalist Church. For more information, visit https://actingout4peaceblog.wordpress.com/ or www.pflag.org/ chapter/pflag-collingswood.

PGN is looking for bright young writers who have something to say about the LGBT community!

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Bristol Riverside Theater presents the quirky musical comedy through Oct. 15, 120 Radcliffe St., Bristol; 215-7850100. n

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.

If you work with a young person age 13-25 who has an interest in writing, email editor@epgn.com by Aug. 1 for more information on our LGBTQ Youth Supplement — written completely by and for LGBTQ and ally youth. No writing experience is necessary.

PAGE 76

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

PORTRAIT from page 71

NG: There are five of us and we have a really nice mix of strengths. I’m good at finding the locations and planning the events, we have someone else who’s good at social media and someone for finance, etc. It’s a strong group and we work together well.

PGN: Where do the Pandas come in?

NG: [Laughs] I love pandas! It’s a stupid love, but I identify with them. People sometimes see me as a hard, confident person, but I’m really just a big teddy bear. I even have a panda tattoo, a cute little thing. People are always sending me panda memes, which is excellent. I want them all. I love the fact that they don’t really walk, they just tumble everywhere.

They just roll head over feet. That’s how they travel! How can you not love that?

PGN: What are some of your other tattoos?

NG: I have a tattoo of Durga; she’s a Hindu Mother Goddess. I have several tattoos and am getting more soon. I love them.

PGN: Are you practicing?

NG: I don’t practice Hindu in an extreme way. As I learn more about it, like most religions, it has a lot of problematic features. There’s inherent castism and sexism and other stuff, but I do like the duality of Hinduism, where no one is just one thing.

There’s a lot of gender fluidity and queerness that’s just kind of in there. I find very calming concepts in Hinduism, but of course that’s if you pick and choose certain parts, like with most religions.

PGN: Do you think being Indian made it more difficult to come out?

NG: It is hard to be South Asian and queer, mostly because you just don’t see it. Obviously, we’re there; there are like a billion of us, so statistically there are a lot of queer folks among us across the diaspora. If you include Trinidad and all the adjacent countries that are also South Asia, there are a ton of us. But you really don’t hear or see anyone and when you did — when I was younger — it was always very uber-masculine women or extremely femme women and I was like, “I’m not either of those!” So it was hard to figure out what was going on, especially because no one talked about anything directly. It was all gossip and innuendo.

My friends knew, but it wasn’t discussed and no one I knew was queer. I mean, not even a little bit … that I knew of.

PGN: Were there familial expectations too?

NG: I think I was always the odd ball. I was into sports and other tomboy things that were celebrated when I was younger, but as I got older people started to ask, “OK, why aren’t you cooking and cleaning and learning typical femme duties now?” “Because that’s not who I am and you knew that when you were celebrating

OUTFEST PGN

those athletic characteristics when I was young. But now that I’m living that truth, you’re uncomfortable.” These days, it’s not bad, but I am still the “gay” cousin you talk about or that “gay” person in the community that everyone knows. A lot of the LGBT South Asian folks I know just kind of disappear from the community because it’s so difficult to go back and be yourself. There are things that are still tough. Going to the Puja is where we went to be with other brown folks; it was more about community than religion for many of us. It’s where all my friends were so that’s something that’s missed.

PGN: It seems that there’s a sort of personal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” vibe.

NG: There is. Because I’m an Aries and I like attention, I’m not a big DADT fan.

I want to make people confront it. I look like a big old queer anyway. I just do, so there’s no hiding it and I’m OK with that now, but for sure there was a time when it wasn’t such an OK thing. I present pretty masculine and it’s a positive now, but I can understand how for some other people, especially in the Bengali community, it’s not as much of an option. Even for me, it’s baby steps. I went to a wedding and for part of the party I wore a shirt and tie and no one gave me a hard time about it, so I think people are starting to open up.

Or maybe they’re just used to me because they know and like me and that makes it OK. But would they be OK if I brought a partner? That’s the next step.

PGN: I think people might surprise you.

NG: I think you’re right. Me being big and bold is one thing. I’ve just been hesitant to put someone else in a position where they might be uncomfortable. But on the other hand, my partner fucking rocks the game. She’s the one who just went up and introduced herself to my parents at a fashion show where I was modeling masculine clothes. A lot of layers shed in that one moment and it was really cool!

PGN: Tell me about her and how you met.

NG: She works for Medical Students for Choice, basically working with med students who want to learn about abortion care. If you want to be an ob/gyn, there are apparently no courses available on abortion care. That’s insanity!

PGN: That is! It’s a legal procedure.

People should be taught how to administer it properly.

NG: Yeah, and they are one of the few entities that do it. They provide educational material to medical students who want to learn more about abortion care.

PGN: What’s up next for Qunify?

NG: Bounce! It’s the next party and it’s going to be a blast! It’s going to be at Isla Verde on Oct. 20. Get ready to dance! n For more information about Qunify, visit https://www.facebook.com/qunifyphl.

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

Q Puzzle The Heathers, Edited Across

1. Nick Adams character Johnny 5. “Hairspray” list 9. Heavenly balls 13. “And giving ___, up the chimney ...”

14. Moon, to fifty million Frenchmen 15. Harbor city 16. “Margaret Mead ___ Me Gay” 17. Alfred Douglas’ school 18. Bahrain biggie 19. Start of an edited line from the reboot of “The Heathers” 22. “Modern Family” daughter 23. Curry of Rocky Horror fame 24. Suffix with suburban 25. Land of O. Wilde 26. Lodge man 29. Upright,

but not erect 31. Sperm homophone?

33. Comics cry 35. “I Dream of Jeannie”’s Barbara, et al.

36. More of the edited line 39. Doesn’t swallow 42. On the down ___ 43. Judy’s daughter Lorna 47. Pleasures oneself, with “off” 49. When repeated, campy 51. Gaza Stripper’s assn.

52. “Can’t Get It Out of My Head” band 53.

“Poppycock!”

55. Patty Sheehan’s partner, to golf, perhaps 57. End of the edited line 61. “Exotica” director Egoyan 62. It’s for Rimbaud 63. One way to cook fruit 65. Debtor’s car, maybe 66. Ziegfeld

Follies costume designer 67. Mark Bingham of United Flight 93 68. Very in Vichy 69. Make a hole bigger 70. Canadian oil company

Down

1. Orange tuber 2. Like friends of a closeted person, perhaps 3. Sat for Tee Corinne 4. One-named pop singer 5. Symbol on Bernstein’s score 6. Erotic opening 7. Stallion’s sound 8. Mauresmo’s game 9. Crude cartel 10. Brooks of portraits 11. “War Requiem” composer Benjamin 12. Castro, in San Francisco, and others 20. Soap ingre-

dient 21. Push forward 22. Popular fruit drink 27. Triangle side 28. Boat bottom 30. Pastoral work 32. Experts in CPR 34. Seaman’s unit of speed 37. Former NFL player Tuaolo 38. Eagle, on a par four 39. Patrick of the “Moby Dick” miniseries 40. More like Miss Manners 41. Pink Kryptonite, for one

44. Where tops like to put it?

45. Puppeteer Wayland 46. Pull behind 48. Sport of “Bend It Like Beckham” 50. “A League of Their ___” 54. When repeated, end of a Stein quote 56. “___ Really Going Out with Him?” 58. Med. care grps.

59. Film canine 60. Bit from Michael Musto 64. Put the moves on

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Classifieds 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.

MARIANNE CAVEN P a t t e r s o n - S c h w a r t z

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.

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Large 2 BR apt. on 2nd floor, W/D, nice kitchen, on street parking. Call 215-242-8808. _____________________________________________41-42

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

R e a l

E s t a t e

PAGE 77

PAGE 78

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

Real Estate Sale VENTNOR, NJ House for sale in Ventnor NJ. 2 story 5 bedroom house, needs some repairs. Priced right. Call 215 468 9166. ________________________________________41-49 RENOV. S PHILLY TOWNHOUSES SALE BY OWNER 2@ Dorfor St. off 3rd; 1@ 4th & Wolf; 1@ Darien off Moyamensing. $199,900 each. Also twin off Lancaster Ave. in Haverford, PA, $379,900 & $399,900. 215-849-4049. _____________________________________________41-40

Legal Notices Court of Common Pleas for the County of Philadelphia, September Term, 2017, No. 1070. Notice is hereby given that on September 12, 2017, the petition of Annie Wood Graves was ďŹ led, praying for a decree to change petitionerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name to Alex Wood Graves. The Court has ďŹ xed November 22, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. in Room 691, City Hall, Philadelphia, PA for hearing. All persons interested may appear and show cause if any they have, why the prayer of the said petition should not be granted.

Benjamin L. Jerner, Esq. Attorney for Petitioner Jerner & Palmer, P.C. 5401 Wissahickon Ave. Phila., PA 19144 (215) 843-6000 ________________________________________41-41

COMING SOON

Pennsport: Under renovation, move quickly and pick your own finishes. All new, kitchen, baths, widows, plumbing, electric, hvac. Like new construction with the hip style of old.

Open living room and dining room, large eat in kitchen. 2nd floor holds 2 bedrooms or 1 bed and den plus new bathroom. Entire 3rd floor is the master suite with large bathroom and lots of closet space. Hurry and make it your own. /YV½WW GSQ

STONE RIDGE

Doylestown: Offering privacy, long-distance views and a secluded Zen-like pool complete with pool house, this house has expansive, gracious rooms, including a two-story dining room opening to a terrace. Fabulous chef â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kitchen. Main bedroom suite is a sumptuous retreat with sitting room, fireplace, two walk-in closets and luxury bath. Fun lower level with wet bar and recreation space. /YV½WW GSQ

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Friends Men LOOKING FOR ROMANCE Attractive GWM, warm, sensitive, caring, 48 y.o. with a smooth gymnast build looking for other GWM, 30-50, who is also in good shape. I live in NE Phila. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m looking for guys who are also sensitive, caring with a fun personality.

If this sounds interesting to you feel free to call me, David, 215-698-0215. ________________________________________41-40 WM, NE Phila. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for hot action, call 215-934-5309. No calls after 11 PM. ________________________________________41-42 Philip C, Bruce A, and Michael S: I love you to the moon and backâ&#x20AC;?. Please text Theodore Michael Gagnon @ 267966-5469. 202 Roberts Road. Love Teddy Boy. _____________________________________________41-40 Bi WM over 60, Center City looking ďŹ r friendship and erotic interludes with other bi and gay males of similar age. Cannot entertain. Easygoing, passionate and loves to laugh. Give me a call with your phone number and a good time to call and connect. I have voice mail. 215-925-8594. _____________________________________________41-41

RECENTLY SOLD

Washington Square West: Renovated and expanded town home with GARAGE, 3 BR, 2.1 BA. New third floor master suite with spa like bath and plenty of closets. Party-size roof deck with views to the bridges and Center City skyline plus a back yard for more outdoor space. New kitchen with high-end appliances and finishes. 2 blocks to Whole Foods and the dog park. Others available. /YV½WW GSQ

CUSTOM COLONIAL

New Hope: On one of Soleburyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most scenic and coveted roads in between two historical villages, this comfortable custom home sits high above the Paunacussing Creek. Timeless, quality-built design with fabulous formal rooms, expansive kitchen all top-grade, spalike main suite bath, walkout lower level with bath can serve as au pair or in-law quarters.

Fabulous top-floor loft! /YV½WW GSQ

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PAGE 79

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OUTFEST PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 6-12, 2017

The Pride Program at Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia provides the LGBTQ+ community a professional and caring environment for your healthcare needs.

OB/GYN services: • Reproductive healthcare • Diagnosis and treatment of pelvic floor conditions • Counseling and treatment for menopause

Mental Health and Wellness services: • Long and short term therapy • Medication management • Patient navigation support

Trans Care: • Top surgery • Hormone therapy • Trans competent OB/GYN care To learn more about our services or to schedule an appointment, call Kalen McLean at 215-420-0989.

Einstein.edu/Pride