PGN Oct. 9 -15, 2009 edition by The Philadelphia Gay News

Honesty Integrity Professionalism

Oct. 9 - 15, 2009

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Philadelphia Gay News Vol. 33 No. 41

Goldenburg to leave William Way By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer

Researchers: Gays excluded from clinical trials

See RESEARCH, Page 24

See GOLDENBURG, Page 25

Equality Advocates Pa. announces new agency, board By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer

By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer A group of researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center is working on an academic paper that analyzes the exclusion of LGBT individuals and same-sex couples from clinical trials — more a trend than an occasional occurence, they’re determining. Brian Egleston, assistant research professor of biostatistics at the center, said he became aware of the issue when he was examining trials proposed for Fox Chase. “We review all the different trials that are proposed here, and they don’t necessarily open here, but a lot of them are multicenter trials so we do look at them. And I saw that we had been looking at a number of clinical trials that explicitly excluded gay people, and they didn’t necessarily open at

lucky to get ’Dolph at the time that we did. He was the right guy at the right time.” Emilie Carr, the board’s current cochair, said Goldenburg still employs that same level of determination in his efforts to grow the organization’s donor base and continually recruit new supporters. She noted that the countless hours of work he invested in garnering funding for the installation of an elevator in the center eventually paid off earlier this year when the device was unveiled. “He is a fantastic fundraiser,” Carr said. “The elevator was something that was really important to him, and he went around and got a lot of support from beyond just the LGBT community; went to senators and got their support, and did a wonderful job on

“At that time, there really was a question of whether or not the center would survive,” Cook said. “When he first came onboard, I was treasurer and, at the time, we just had no financial statements produced and we’d open drawers and find bills we had to pay. We were operating completely in the red and had no real steady income stream and just didn’t know if we’d survive.” Cook said that through Goldenburg’s “tenacity and vision,” the organization gradually got its finances in order and began to branch out into the community to seek new fundraising opportunities. “We were able to steadily pay down our bills and at the same time increase our revenue stream by recruiting donors, working on grant applications and tightening down on finances, so we were able to get out of that crisis,” she said. “When we got our first accounts receivable, I remember everybody cheered because someone actually owed us money. ’Dolph led the center out of that very perilous time when the center was on the brink of potentially not even existing. As an organization goes through the different stages of its life cycle, it needs different kinds of leadership, and we were very, very

The executive director of the William Way LGBT Community Center announced this week that he will step down next month. ’Dolph Ward Goldenburg, who’s headed the center for more than six years, will serve his last day Nov. 13, before he heads back to his home state of Georgia. Goldenburg has been in a more-than three-year long-distance relationship with his partner, Frank, who lives in Atlanta. Goldenburg said Frank, an attorney, had been actively looking for work in Philadelphia to no avail. “He’d been looking for about half a year, but it’s a pretty tough legal market right now, so I told him I’d be willing to consider moving back to Atlanta if I found a job there that met a long list of criteria,” he said. Goldenburg did find such a position, as the executive director of the Living Room, an organization that provides housing, counseling and case management for people living with HIV/AIDS. He said that

leaving William Way, meanwhile, will be bittersweet, adding that he’s confident the work he and other center staff and volunteers have done will ensure continued success. When Goldenburg took the helm of the organization in June 2003, he was the only fullPGN file photo time staff person, along with three part-timers; today, the center employs six full-time and nine part-time staffers. The number of annual visitors has jumped from about 24,000 to nearly 50,000, and Goldenburg said the organization’s budget has also grown “tremendously.” Rhonda Cook, who became co-chair of the center’s board shortly after Goldenburg was hired and stayed in that position for about two years, said the agency was in dire financial straits when he took over.

UA BALL OF A TIME: Guests at the opening reception for Ballroom History Weekend gathered Oct. 1 at the William Way LGBT Center to celebrate the kick-off of the city’s inaugural celebration of ballroom culture. The weekend’s events, which included workshops and social activities for area youth and their supporters, recognized the 20th anniversary of the first ballroom event in Philadelphia and shed light on the community that has provided a haven for countless LGBT youth over the past two decades. Photo: Scott A. Drake

Local LGBT legal group Equality Advocates Pennsylvania announced two major organizational changes this week, including the launch of a new advocacy agency that will focus solely on enhancing the rights of LGBT Pennsylvanians. Jake Kaskey, outreach and policy director for Equality Advocates, has been named policy and programs director for Equality Pennsylvania, which, as a designated 501(c)4 organization, will have more advocacy power than Equality Advocates, whose title as a 501(c)3 nonprofit limits the amount of advocacy work it can do. Mason Lane, a recent college graduate, will serve as the Eastern Pennsylvania field organizer for the agency. The organization is planning to launch satellite Equality Pennsylvania offices in See EQUALITY, Page 20

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OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

THE REGION’S LEADING BMW DEALERSHIP FROM DOWNINGTOWN TO DOWNTOWN

Regina M Longo Client Advisor Devon Hill BMW Direct 484-654-1226 Email rlongo@devonhill.com

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OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

News

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Editorial 10 International News 23 Letters/Feedback 11 11 Mark My Words 7 Media Trail 5 News Briefing 7 National News 5 Regional News 11 Street Talk

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

Independence starts here: a campaign for the disabled

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OutFest extension will include Giovanni’s Room

Publisher

The Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, which operates the PhillyFunGuide, is making the arts more accessible.

The fundraising efforts to keep the nation’s oldest LGBT bookstore open kick into high gear during this weekend’s festivities.

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Detour Comics Dining Guide Diversions Meeting Place Portraits Q Puzzle Scene In Philly Worth Watching

Classifieds Directories

mark@epgn.com

Editor Sarah Blazucki (ext. 206) sarah@epgn.com Staff Writers Jen Colletta (ext. 215) jen@epgn.com

30 44 50 52 31 30 33 53

Larry Nichols (ext. 213) larry@epgn.com Writer-at-Large Timothy Cwiek (ext. 208) Graphic Artist Sean Dorn (ext. 211) sean@epgn.com

OTEP is touring in support of its new release, “Smash the Control Machine” and Otep Shamaya talks about Girls Night Out. Page 26

Family Portraits:

Barry Brandon survived multiple heart surgeries and brings his talents to OutFest.

Adam Proctor

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Columns CDs Creep of the Week Food Review Offline

Mark Segal (ext. 204)

Advertising Manager Greg Dennis (ext. 201) greg@epgn.com Advertising Sales Representatives David Augustine (ext. 219) david@epgn.com

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Photographer/Graphic Artist Scott A. Drake (ext. 216) scott@epgn.com

Morgan Levine (ext. 212) morgan@epgn.com Kelly Root (ext. 207) kelly@epgn.com

William C. Harris

Fashion Week

Food Reviews

CDs

Onscreen

Author says not all visibility is good visibility.

Philadelphia brings it on, in style.

Michael’s Café is all about comfort food.

Ms. Houston leads the pack.

A ﬁlm-festival milestone

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emails

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Poll results from our online survey as of Oct. 7:

Which athlete would entice you to try “Gay Up?” 45% David Beckham 35% Andy Roddick 14% Matthew Mitchum 3% Rafael Polinaro 3% Derrick Peterson 0% Sheryl Swoopes

Events: diversions@epgn.com News/story ideas: editor@epgn.com Letters/Opinions: editor@epgn.com

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

Gay History Month

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What has the greatest impact on the passage of LGBT legislation?

National Advertising Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863 Office Manager/Classifieds Don Pignolet (ext. 200) don@epgn.com Executive Assistant Credit/Billing Manager Carol Giunta (ext. 202) carol@epgn.com Philadelphia Gay News is a member of: The Associated Press National Gay Newspaper Guild Pennsylvania Newspaper Association Published by Masco Communications Inc. © 2009 Masco Communications Inc. ISSN-0742-5155

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

OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

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Regional

News Briefing

Bread & Roses honors 2009 Lax scholars

Film series by queer women’s group

By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer Local social-justice agency Bread & Roses Community Fund awarded scholarships to five young men for their contributions to the LGBT community. The fund held a reception Oct. 1 for the five winners of the 2009 Jonathan Lax Scholarship, a grant program created to honor the memory of the late, openly gay entrepreneur who was a pioneering HIV/AIDS activist in Philadelphia. This year’s winners are Craig Richie, Nicholas DeRoose, Douglas Cooper, Robert Kelly and Christopher Howland. Lax himself created the fund in 1994. This year’s recipients were chosen from a pool of 30 applicants and each received a $4,000 scholarship. “They’re a really exceptional group. They represent everything Jonathan was hoping to do with this scholarship fund,” said Casey Cook, Bread & Roses executive director. “Jonathan himself cut his teeth as an activist at a time when people with HIV/ AIDS weren’t able to get the medications they needed to survive. In managing the scholarship fund and awarding these scholarships every year, we have an opportunity to create leaders who, like Jonathan, will fight for justice and change, which I think is what this year’s recipients will do.” Richie, 19, said his scholarship was especially appreciated; for financial reasons, he had to take this semester off and wait to start college until the spring. An ’09 graduate of Jenkintown High School, Richie said he may start at either Temple University or Goucher College in Maryland as an undecided major, but is looking to explore theater and education. Richie served as president of his school’s gay-straight alliance and, through his volunteer work with Equality Forum, helped develop the Eastern Pennsylvania GSA Database, a cohesive collection of regional student LGBT organizations. He also was the first openly gay student-body president of his high school, which he said was a relative non-issue. “I came out the second half of my junior year and my school was so small — I had a graduating class of 48 — that I was enough of a figure at that time for it to not really matter. When I came out, it didn’t really change much,” he said. “I was the only out gay male in the school, and I think that some of the students were actually excited. I don’t know if there was anyone who was homophobic, but I’d surrounded myself with enough people who were so positive that anyone else would have been in the minority.” DeRoose, 24, moved to Philadelphia from Singapore in 2008 and is set to gradu-

A series of short films created by queer women of color will be featured in special screening at 7 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Sedgwick Theater, 7317 Germantown Ave. in Mt. Airy. “Electrifying Escapades,” sponsored by San Francisco-based Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project and the local Flickering Light Film Series, will feature the work of local artist Alexis McCrimmon and other filmmakers Thu Trinh, Rui Bing Zheng, Jennifer Lin, Monifa Porter, Letesa Bruce, Trina Espinosa and Jinky de Rivera. Tickets to the screening are $5. For more information, visit www.flickeringfilms.com or www.qwocmap.org.

Fundraiser for arts fest CRAIG RICHIE (FROM LEFT), DOUGLAS COOPER, NICHOLAS DEROOSE AND CHRISTOPHER HOWLAND Photo: Scott A. Drake

ate from Temple University in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. DeRoose said he was involved in LGBT activism in his home country and eventually decided to continue that work in Philadelphia. “When I came over, I was on the fence deciding whether I should be involved in the community or just stay low-key and try to concentrate on my studies,” he said. “But I was looking for a gay Asian group and I saw that there wasn’t one and I was like, How is this possible? This is the U.S. This is Philadelphia. How can’t they have these resources?” Following that realization, DeRoose founded Queer Philadelphia Asians, a networking and activist group, and also started volunteering at ASIAC and the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund. DeRoose said he was looking for financial-aid opportunities but found few because most scholarships require the applicant to be a U.S. citizen. Luckily for DeRoose, who has two siblings in college and has to pay $10,000 a semester in international student fees, the Lax Scholarship doesn’t mandate citizenship. “Any help is better than no help, and I’m very, very grateful for this,” DeRoose said of the grant. “And it’s sort of an affirmation of the work that I’ve been doing in terms of community organizing. That’s very reaffirming.” Cooper, 22, is also studying at Temple University, and will graduate next spring with a degree in graphic design and photography. The Morrisville native has plans to

eventually spearhead the art direction at an ad agency or print publication but, for his short-term post-college plans, aims to become a junior designer, fusing his love of photography with his graphic-design skills. Although he’s limiting his extracurricular activities to concentrate on his studies this year, Cooper has been involved with the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Choir, the Temple University a cappella choir and Temple’s concert choir. He’s also volunteered with Equality Forum and was an active participant in Prop. 8 demonstrations last year. Cooper said the Lax Scholarship will further motivate him to remain an active contributor to the local LGBT community. “I want to always be involved in the LGBT community and be an activist,” he said. “I think it’s really important because we still have a lot of work to do. Even if we were to get marriage here, there’s still going to be further work to do for full equality, so there’s still a need for active involvement in the LGBT community.” Kelly, 29, is a native of Long Island, N.Y., and graduated from St. Joseph’s University in 2002 with an undergraduate degree in mathematics before earning his master’s degree in elementary education the following year from the University of Pennsylvania. Kelly taught math at a Philadelphia charter school and in suburban middle schools for several years, but last year made the leap from education to medicine and entered Drexel University College of Medicine. See LAX SCHOLARS, Page 19

Tr a v e r s e A r t s P r o j e c t i n v i t e s Halloween lovers and film enthusiasts to don costumes and head to the First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., at 7 and 11 p.m. Oct. 30 for screenings of horror flick “Nosferatu.” Proceeds from the event will be donated to next year’s Philadelphia International GLBT Arts Festival. T. Desiree Hines, founder of the arts festival and a classical organist, will provide musical accompaniment to the 1922 silent film. Tickets are $10 and can be ordered by calling (800) 595-4849.

Community to stage Latino AIDS events A coalition of local HIV/AIDS service organizations, as well as Latino and LGBT groups, will come together for the sixth annual National Latino AIDS Awareness Day from noon-5 p.m. Oct. 10 at Capitolo Recreation Center, 900 Federal St. in South Philadelphia. The family-friendly event, organized around the theme “Knowledge is Power: Uniting our Flags,” will feature food, dance performances, a soccer tournament with the Philadelphia Falcons and free, rapid HIV testing. For more information, call Stephanie Perez at (215) 763-8870 ext. 7100. ■ — Jen Colletta

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Online arts calendar reaches out to disabled By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer While finding a concert, play or other cultural event that fits into price and time constraints may be a tedious task for most, those with disabilities must also grapple with finding events that meet unique needs — a daunting process that was just made a bit easier through the collaboration of several local arts agencies. Art-Reach, headed by openly gay executive director Michael Norris, launched Independence Starts Here, an outreach initiative with Amaryllis Theater Company, in 2004 in an effort to strengthen the connections between arts organizations and audiences with a variety of disabilities. The initiative has expanded and evolved over the past several years and

T h e c a l e nd a r, p o s t e d o n PhillyFunGuide, provides a central location with information about arts and cultural events that offer enhanced accommodations for those with sensory disabilities, such as the blind, visually impaired, deaf or hard of hearing. Norris said the calendar represents INDEPENDENCE STARTS HERE FOUNDERS the progression of MIMI KENNEY SMITH AND MICHAEL NORRIS the original mission Photo: Mark Garvin of Independence Starts Here. took the next step last week with “The initial idea the launch of its cultural calen- was really about building bridges dar. and relationships, because there’s

often an adversarial or tense relationship between cultural organizations, who feel underresourced, challenged and misinformed or uninformed, and those with disabilities, who feel like they don’t have a voice or aren’t quite sure how to get what they need or want from the cultural community,” Norris said. Independence Starts Here has hosted such events as the Disability Arts Festival and, while Norris said that activities such as this have been highly beneficial in promoting the ties between these communities, they are finite; the cultural calendar, however, has the potential to keep growing, expanding and continually connecting arts lovers with events suited for them. “The calendar is something that’s here to stay and something

that I think will have a long-term impact and help increase access not just in one concentrated timeframe but over a period of time,” he said. The calendar provides information about upcoming events at more than a dozen area venues that offer such services as sign-language interpretation and captioning for those with hearing impairments, and tactile enhancements or audio descriptions of the action of a stage performance for those with visual impairments. Norris noted that, beyond the benefits the calendar provides to those with disabilities, it will also have a positive impact on venues that offer such services. “This was designed to also be a resource for cultural organizations that provide their audiences this type of access,” he said. “They often struggle with reaching out to and developing audiences for their accessible works, so by providing this service, we can help make potential audiences more aware of what they’re doing.” The Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, which operates the PhillyFunGuide site, agreed to host the page, which Norris said represents that those with disabilities are a welcomed population in the greater arts community. “I felt that it was really important that this calendar is a part of the mainstream,” he said. “It’s not that we didn’t want this on our Web site, but I felt like its home had to be right in the heart of the Fun Guide, with the rest of the city’s cultural information.” Norris said the inclusion of the calendar on the mainstream site also emphasizes the idea that accessible cultural events are available for those with all levels of disabilities and can enhance someone’s enjoyment of an arts celebration who may not have previously considered that option. “As we age, we may start suffering hearing loss or our eyesight may become worse, and this could be an opportunity that you didn’t know about. Anyone who has a hearing impairment or a visual impairment at all can benefit from this — you, your mother, your grandmother — anyone can benefit from this calendar.” To view the calendar, visit www. PhillyFunGuide.com/access. For more information about ArtReach, visit www.artreach.org. ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.

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Media Trail Gay exec to run Disney films Advocate.com reports Rich Ross, the out president of Disney Channels Worldwide, has been appointed to run Walt Disney Studios. The acclaimed television executive will make the transition to movies, where he has the support of the powerful DreamWorks team of Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider. In his 13 years with the Disney Channel, Ross pioneered programming that appeals primarily to young audiences between ages 9-14. He is the force behind young stars such as Zac Efron of “High School Musical,” Miley Cyrus of “Hannah Montana” and the Jonas Brothers. A profile of Ross in the Los Angeles Times in June mentioned his long-term partner, Adam Sanderson. TAXATION WITH REPRESENTATION: More than 200 supporters of Philadelphia’s arts and cultural communities gathered Oct. 2 at City Hall to protest a state-budget proposal that would implement sales tax on tickets to arts events throughout the state. Lois Welk, director of Dance USA Philadelphia, was among a number of speakers, including state Sen. Larry Farnese (D-2nd Dist.), to decry the proposal, which would have required an 8-percent tax on all arts events in the city and 6 percent elsewhere throughout the state, although no taxes were proposed for sporting or other entertainment events. A budget that the Senate approved Oct. 6 did not include the arts tax. Photo: Scott A. Drake

Giovanni’s Room kicks up fundraising efforts By Scott A. Drake PGN Contributor This year ’s OutFest street festival includes an extended block on 12th Street between Spruce and Pine to support the fundraising efforts at Giovanni’s Room bookstore, 345 S. 12th St. Volunteers have been meeting for several weeks to coordinate events to be held in conjunction with OutFest to raise money for the replacement of the exterior brick wall of the historical building, estimated at $55,000. Efforts began almost immediately with a drive to “buy a brick,” with about $15,000 raised so far. The entire block down to Pine Street will become an outdoor book sale on Oct. 11, with a dozen publishers from around the country lending their support and local authors on hand to sign copies of their books. Additionally, there will be a usedbook sale comprised of store and donated items. Used books can be dropped off at Giovanni’s Room through Sunday, and any individual donation of 10 or more books in good condition will entitle the donor to a drawing entry to win a Giovanni’s Room gift certificate. In addition, organists Wesley Parrott and Peter Richard Conte and the Philadelphia Voices of Pride will perform for this onetime event at 3 p.m. at St. Luke and The Epiphany Church, 330 S. 13th St. Conte performs daily on the world’s largest organ, the 28,000-pipe Wanamaker organ at Macy’s; Parrott graduated from the Curtis

Institute of Music and has recordings available through the Organ Historical Society. The suggested donation for the concert is $20. The Brick-in-theWall raffle also goes into high gear during OutFest. A special drawing will be held at the end of OutFest for passes to see “Diana: A Celebration” at the National Constitution Center and for VIP passes to the Ritz Five. The grand-prize drawing for a Philadelphia Gayborhood weekend package — two nights at The Independent Philadelphia hotel, guest passes to 12th St. Gym, a pair of massages from Value Massage and a $100 gift certificate to Knock — will be held later in the year. There will also be a bake sale on the second floor of the bookstore Sunday afternoon, with donations from More Than Just Ice Cream and members of the Women’s Reading Group. This past summer, Giovanni’s Room owner Ed Hermance learned that the store’s brick wall facing 12th Street was structurally unsound and in need of immediate repair. To replace the wall on the historic building, which dates to the 1880s, each brick must be removed, cleaned and

Photo: Scott A. Drake

replaced to retain the original façade. The project began the first week of September with an estimated timeframe of three to four weeks, though it is not yet completed. Once the exterior wall is rebuilt, work will begin to replace the interior walls and shelves. Open for 36 years, Giovanni’s Room became the oldest LGBT bookstore in the country when Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookstore in New York City closed earlier this year. LGBT bookstores have also recently closed in West Hollywood, Norfolk, Va. and Boston, and many others across the country are on notice. Additional volunteer opportunities and donation information can be found at www. giovannisroom.com or by visiting the store. ■

College employee fired for antigay e-mail The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports a Morehouse College employee has been fired and another has been reprimanded for discriminatory comments made via their work e-mail accounts. The fired woman was an administrative assistant in the president’s office. After receiving an e-mail that included wedding photos of a gay couple, she forwarded the e-mail and made comments that were considered discriminatory. Morehouse president Dr. Robert M. Franklin released a statement on Oct. 1 that the historically black all-male college has a no-tolerance discrimination policy. He said the views expressed in the e-mail were the personal views of one individual and do not reflect the values of Morehouse College.

Judge clears way for gay divorce USA Today reports a Texas judge has cleared the way for two Dallas men to get a divorce, ruling that Texas’ ban on same-sex marriage violates the constitutional guarantee to equal protection under the law. District Judge Tena Callahan ruled Oct. 1 that the court “has jurisdiction to hear a suit for divorce filed by persons legally married in another jurisdiction.” Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has argued that because the state doesn’t recognize gay marriage, its courts can’t dissolve one through divorce. Voters approved a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in 2005. Abbott said he’ll appeal the ruling. ■ — Larry Nichols

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Council hopeful heads West to train for campaign By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer Chris Hayes, an openly gay state legislative assistant, will take a few days of from work in December to head to San Francisco. It won’t be a vacation, but a boot camp of sorts — intense training to gear up for his bid to become the first openly gay Philadelphia City Council member. LGBT grantmaking organization Delaware Valley Legacy Fund selected Hayes, a staffer with state Rep. Babette Josephs’ (D182nd Dist.) office, as the winner of the inaugural OutFront Victory Fund Training Scholarship Award. OutFront!, a local LGBT activist organization that shut down earlier this year, gave the remainder of its revenue to DVLF before it disbanded to be used for two different scholarship awards. The grant that Hayes was selected for was designated for a local LGBT political candidate or a member of a candidate’s staff to attend the annual Candidate and Campaign Training, sponsored by national LGBT political organization

Victory Fund. The scholarship, valued at $1,200, covers Hayes’ round-trip airfare, hotel and participation in the four-day training. The training, conducted several times a year throughout the country, is meant to prepare openly gay candidates to run successful campaigns; participants meet with political strategists and create model campaigns, learning about fundraising, policy issues, media relations, budgetary restraints and strategies, among other areas of focus. Perry Monastero, DVLF executive director, said that when the workshops were held in Philadelphia a few years ago, he got to see firsthand the work required from the participants: Their day would start at 6 a.m. and they’d wrap up work at about 2 a.m. the following morning. “The training’s really intense and focuses on getting people to a point where they can go back home and hit the ground running,” Monastero said. Hayes, who’s running for an at-large Council seat in the 2011 election, said he’s excited, not

CHRIS HAYES

intimated, by the workload that lies ahead. “I’m looking forward to learning how to do a lot of different things, like using the Internet as a tool and working on fundraising, so that I can get the message out to Philadelphians that I’m running for City Council and that we need their support,” he said. Hayes, a native of Lancaster who also lived in Allentown, moved to Philadelphia from

Florida, where he was working as a college dean of students, about three years ago to take care of his ailing father. Before coming to the city, Hayes, who has a degree in elementary education, spent time as a school-board member, where he said his passion for politics was fueled. “I was a school-board member for four years at a very conservative school district, and I was the youngest and first black person ever to be elected to that board. After that, I just said, ‘Politics is in my blood,’ and I kept going,” Hayes said. “I love people; I’ve always been very constituent-service-based, friendly and outgoing. People come to me with their problems anyway, so why not be in a position where I can actually do something and help them?” Hayes said that throughout his campaign, he’s going to focus on his plans to stem the tide of the city’s population loss, enhance Philadelphia’s education system and provide better support and resources, as well as sensitivity training, for police officers. Mark Seaman, Hayes’ cam-

paign manager, said Hayes’ formal candidacy announcement will be delivered early next year and, until that time, the campaign will be going through a “fact-finding stage,” in which “Chris will be becoming integrated into the community, meeting different community members and soliciting ideas from people about what policies they feel are important so that we can implement them once we run and get elected.” Hayes said his campaign will be a “team effort” that will encompass not just the LGBT community, but allies and those who may not be wholly comfortable with the idea of an openly gay elected official — all of whom he said will be welcomed in his Council office. “People will be able to come to our office. We’re going to take our door off of our office. We want them to know that we’re open and accessible all the time. If someone has a problem, they can come to us and talk to us.” ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.

Imagine taking this wall apart and putting it back together by yourself – Help by buying a Brick-in-the-Wall rafﬂe ticket and could win a Philadelphia Gayborhood weekend package* or one of dozens of other prizes. *Weekend package includes two nights at The Independent Philadelphia, day passes to 12th Street Gym, dinner at Knock and massages courtesy of Value Massage.

��

Thank you to our growing list of prize donors:

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�� AND THIS WEEKEND ONLY:

Bring in your used LGBT books to Giovanni’s Room Oct. 9-10 for our OutFest block-long book sale. It’s another way to support the oldest LGBT bookstore in the nation. Bring in ten or more and you will be entered to win a Giovanni’s Room gift certificate !

A special thanks to our ticket and media sponsors:

ritz five

mixto

Bellezza DermaCenter MedSpa Clinic

Scott Drake Photography

For more information, stop by Giovanni’s Room. To support the rafﬂe through sales or prize donations, contact Scott at scott@epgn.com or 267-736-6743.

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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

Editorial Divided loyalties This weekend is chock full of events for the LGBT community, both here in Philly and, in case you missed it, in Washington, D.C. In Philadelphia, there’s the Indigo Ball on Friday, Blue Ball all weekend and OutFest on Sunday to mark National Coming Out Day, as well as numerous parties surrounding the annual street festival and block party. In Washington, D.C., the National March for Equality also takes place on Sunday. In Philadelphia, the community has been divided over whether to support OutFest or the national march. Some argue that OutFest is “just” a block party, a time for folks to eat, drink and shop, with perhaps a bit of activism thrown in by signing a petition or two, or maybe getting an HIV test. Others argue the same about the national march: It’s a time for drinking and partying, that Congress isn’t in session that day anyway. Critics say it was planned under too short of notice and poorly organized. But what’s really at stake for Pennsylvanians, and for Philadelphians? The national march is slated as a national call to grassroots action. Its mission statement is: “Equal protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states. We will accept no less and will work until it is achieved. Equality Across America exists to support grassroots organizing in all 435 Congressional Districts to achieve full equality.” Organizers want to push for federal-level equality in military service, marriage, workplace protections, healthcare, hate-crimes protections and immigration. However, only two of these issues — immigration and military service — are solely handled at the federal level. The others could be — and are — governed at the state level, with some overlap at the federal level. That’s not to say there are no pending bills in Congress that would address disparities; legislation has been introduced that would repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the Defense of Marriage Act, bar hate crimes, bullying and discrimination based on sexual orientation and provide for immigration equality. But consider this: Of the four LGBT marches on Washington to date — 1979, 1987, 1993 and 2000 — none has resulted in concrete federal-level results. Sure, there have been small victories, and certainly increased visibility. But also backlash. Congress passed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” after the 1993 march; the Defense of Marriage Act followed three years later. In Pennsylvania, the most critical legislation for the LGBT community is statewide employment protections, followed by hate-crimes protections. While marriage equality is a concern, realistically it’s a long way off. So what’s a Philadelphian to do? Pick one and go. Go and be seen. Go and be heard. Go and sign a petition. Go and shake the hand of a legislator and tell him or her that you, personally, need employment protections and that he or she needs to vote for it. Particularly if he or she wants your vote. ■

Glenn Lash (glennlash@yahoo.com)

Creep of the Week

D’Anne Witkowski

Matt Barber Watch out homos, because the religious right is going to take the gloves off and punch you in your icky gay face. What would Jesus do? He would cage match the sin out of you is what. According to People for the American Way’s Right Wing Watch, that was more or less the message of a workshop led by Liberty Counsel’s Matt Barber and other antigay stalwarts at the How to Take Back America conference. The workshop, titled “How to Counter the Homosexual Extremist Movement,” was Sept. 25 from 3:304:30 p.m., which meant that conference-goers had to choose between it and other workshops, including “How To Defend America Vs. Missile Attack.” While some folks might have felt conflicted (only God can be in two places at the same time), the choice for true Christians was obvious. After all, the missiles that pose the greatest threat to America can be found in the underwear of gay men. “Christ wasn’t about being nice,” Barber said at the workshop. Yeah, that’s right! Jesus was a total dick. Always making the sick sicker, blinding people, stoning adulterers to death, stealing all the fish and bread and stuffing his face like a total glutton. Not to mention that whole walking-on-water thing. Dude, get your

feet out of the water. Gross. Barber and his crew “urged people to be loud rabble-rousers when opposing the teaching of tolerance or sex ed in public schools. They said not to worry about being nice or polite or liked, but to push God’s antigay agenda forcefully,” according to Right Wing Watch. It shouldn’t come as any surprise that the drown-out-and-conquer tactics used by the right to address healthcare and President Obama’s legitimacy as president should transfer to the antigay agenda too. After all, the squeaky wheel gets the grease — and by “grease” I mean Fox News coverage. The revolution will be televised, my friends, especially if the revolution includes shouting down a woman in a wheelchair who dared to ask a question at a healthcare town hall. That’s the level we’re at, folks. Apparently the right doesn’t believe it’s been wrong about gays all of these years, even though so many of their claims have been widely discredited. They’ve come to the conclusion that they just haven’t been loud enough. If saying something repeatedly doesn’t make it true, YELLING SOMETHING REPEATEDLY MUST. According to Right Wing Watch, “There was some small disagreement

(during the workshop) about how much people should rely on religious arguments in the public sphere, with Barber urging people to focus on the ‘ick’ factor around gay sex and on claims that homosexuality is a health threat, which he called the movement’s ‘Achilles heel.’” In other words, Barber believes that a bunch of hairy leather daddies in ass-less chaps tongue kissing each other is a much stronger argument against homosexuality than, say, Leviticus. He’s banking on the average Joe’s homophobia more than the average Joe’s allegiance to the Bible. There’s no room for wishy-washy “love the sinner, hate the sin” sentiment. It just proves that the holier-thanthou attitude of the antigay right is all for show. This so-called culture war isn’t based on Christian principles at all, but rather on the complete disregard of gay people as human beings. Barber thinks Jesus would be ﬁne with that. ■ D’Anne Witkowski has been gay for pay since 2003. She’s a freelance writer and poet (believe it!). When she’s not taking on the creeps of the world, she reviews rock ’n’ roll shows in Detroit with her twin sister and teaches writing at the University of Michigan.

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

Mark My Words

Street Talk

Mark Segal

Fundraising, community and recovery October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. So why is this a gay issue? Many studies of breast cancer have shown that lesbian women have a higher chance of getting it than non-gay women. There are numerous theories, but more research is needed. It’s an issue of great interest to our community and should remind us that LGBT health issues are important and, at times, different than non-gay health issues. Elaine Grobman, executive director of the Philadelphia afﬁliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, ﬁrst heard about this disparity 20 years ago, and helped fund programs for lesbian and bisexual women through the Philadelphia Community Health Alternatives, now Mazzoni Center. How many charities cared about the LGBT community 20 years ago? Elaine has been in our corner for 20 years and her work deserves our support in return. It’s also why you might want to consider an LGBT doctor for your personal care, or make sure that your current doctor is aware of your orientation, comfortable with it and up to date on LGBT health issues. This weekend also brings us OutFest, a celebration for and about our community. If you ever wondered whether we were a community, take a walk around

OutFest. You’ll ﬁnd everything from politics, dating, youth services, counseling, religion and a host of gay businesses just there to show their support. And then there’s the food, beer, you name it — it’s our street festival. And coming up mid-October for Gay History Month, the William Way LGBT Community Center, in coordination with the National Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., will host an exhibit examining how the Nazi government persecuted German homosexual men. Believing them to be carriers of a “degeneracy,” the Nazi state incarcerated tens of thousands of men in prisons and concentration camps as a means of terrorizing German homosexuals. It’s a part of our history the world is just beginning to acknowledge. This groundbreaking exhibit includes many items from the camps and gay men who suffered. On a positive and personal note, thanks to all of you who have reached out to me with advice, help or just to ask how the heel surgery recovery was coming along. The good news is that I’m now walking without the use of crutches or a cane. I am in physical therapy and have been told that my walking will return to normal if I obey my therapy. (Now, we all know how good I am at obeying.) Have a great weekend and take pride in our community. ■ Mark Segal is PGN publisher. He can be reached at mark@epgn.com.

Letters and Feedback In response to “City moving on Scouts’ eviction,” Oct. 2-7:

recognize community orgs., leaders,” Oct. 2-7:

This entire matter is a sorry mess and is in no way positive for anyone involved. Shame on everyone for being so cruel to each other.

This is a disgrace that OutFest is going to be happening on Oct. 12. That should have been postponed to the following week. The entire OutFest committee is a disgrace. On Oct. 12 every gay person should be at the Equality March in Washington, D.C. That is important. Getting people to join your club or organization can be delayed a week — or held a week earlier. Apparently, the OutFest committee is not concerned with equality, not concerned with repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” not concerned with repealing DOMA or any other real issues. The entire New York City Broadway cast of “Hair” cancelled their performances for that day, because the equality march is important. This is a disgrace. It is the same as if African Americans from Philadelphia thought it was more important to go to a church

— CarolinaKB I agree to Carolina! Stop being harsh. — simondale88 At one point I almost mailed in my Eagle Scout badge and Order of the Arrow brotherhood sash. But as a gay-bashed little kid in the coal region and almost an orphan, the Scouts and my church were all I had. Little did I know neither of them wanted me! I’ve given up my church; gave up on the Scouts years ago, but this senior-citizen former Scout is keeping the badge! — gigi36 In response to “OutFest to

PAGE 11

What’s your opinion of the Vatican’s effort to re-cast molesting priests?

Lyric Gleason student Washington Square West

Molly McGoey receptionist South Philadelphia

“They’re missing the point. The molestation comes from sexual repression, not sexual orientation. And boys are more accessible to priests — as altar boys, at athletic events, during mentoring and on camping trips. It’s a matter of convenience, not samesex attraction.”

“It’s a misrepresentation of what gay people are all about. Instead of parsing words and splitting hairs about what to call perpetrators, church leaders should be getting at the root cause. I just wish people would stop bashing gays.”

Daniel Murano student Washington Square West

Rachel Powell-Cohen student Washington Square West

“It’s outrageous that the Church won’t let openly gay men into the seminary. This [recent Vatican statement] is just a continuation of that homophobia. It’ll probably push more gay clergy into the closet.”

“It’s not a gay issue. I’m pretty sure lots of girls are being molested by priests. The Church has less of a problem with priests molesting females because that’s more traditional. Maybe they have a bigger problem with same-sex molestation because of the additional [gay] stigma.”

barbeque in 1963 than it was to go to the March on Washington. Philly Pride — you disgust me! — TheUnicorn Editor’s note: OutFest takes place on Oct. 11. And just what does Philly Pride offer to Philly gay seniors? Not a thing. (Hello, we got money, so make it worth it.) It is a bunch of junky jewelry sales and gay pet stores selling rainbow nappies for dogs. Yes, the march in Washington is more important. — Grey Gay This is worse than when the HRC held their Black Tie on the same evening as “Shut Up and Dance” last year! The leadership of sooo many gay groups seem sooo out of touch with us “real gay people,” of all generations, yet others are really tuned in. — gigi36

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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

A Proud Supporter of OutFest

OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

PAGE 13

Conference to focus on cancer among lesbians, bisexuals By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer Although research is still emerging about the health of the LGBT community, many in the medical community assert that lesbians and bisexual women are at a particularly high risk for breast cancer, and one local organization is planning an event this fall to provide outreach and support to this community — and curb this statistic. Gilda’s Club Delaware Valley is hosting its third annual “Creating Healthy Lives Conference: Breast Cancer Support for Lesbians and Bisexual Women and their Families” from 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Nov. 1 at the organization’s clubhouse, 200 Kirk Road in Warminster. Gilda’s Club, founded by late comedian Gilda Radner, offers programs, support groups and resources to people of all backgrounds who are faced with a cancer diagnosis. Darlene Furey, Gilda’s Club Delaware Valley’s program director and an open lesbian, said one of the goals has been to expand the organization’s offerings for LGBT individuals; recently, Gilda’s Club launched monthly networking meetings for LGBT cancer patients and survivors and their loved ones. Furey said the meeting has only drawn about five participants each month but she anticipates a higher turnout at the monthly meetings, as well as the possible creation of a separate group specifically for lesbian and bisexual women with breast cancer, following the November conference. Furey said she’s eager to expand attendance at this year’s event — about 60 community members turned out for last year’s conference — to spread both awareness and education about the disease and the steps lesbians and bisexual women can take to reduce their risk. “There is kind of a dearth of research on this issue right now, but the research that is there found that lesbians underestimate their risk level, which is usually a motivating factor in terms of selfbreast exams and mammograms,” she said. Furey also noted that the fear of homophobia often prevents many women from receiving adequate care. “One of the big barriers to healthcare is the perception of homopho-

bia or heterosexism on the part of healthcare providers,” she said. “If someone is afraid that if they come out to their provider, they’ll have a negative reaction or if in the past someone has had a negative reaction, they’re less likely to seek treatment or screening. We’re not to the point yet where it’s safe to be out everywhere, and that’s a real barrier for a lot of women.” Kelly Harris, vice president of program and funds development at Gilda’s Club, concurred on the importance of reaching out to lesbian and bisexual women. “I think it’s really crucial that the community supports this,” she said. “There are so few services for lesbians and bisexual women specifically. We really need people to attend this in part or in whole.” These issues and myriad others will be addressed throughout the free daylong conference, which will feature a variety of women’s health professionals and advocates. Dr. Lynn Schucter, director of clinical research at the University of Pennsylvania, will deliver the keynote address to open the conference, and will be followed by a series of morning workshops that focus on such topics as self-advocacy, survivorship issues and nutrition. Participants can also attend support and networking meetings throughout the day. In the afternoon, director of National LGBTQ Cancer Network Liz Margolis; Pulitzer-nominated author Victoria A. Brownworth;

director of the University of Pennsylvania Cancer System Jeanne Rogers; and executive director of Mazzoni Center Nurit Shein will take part in a panel discussion, each bringing her own experiences to the table. Shein said Mazzoni, which has conducted its own breast-cancer outreach to the LGBT community and provides resources to local lesbians, bisexual and transgender women, helped stage last year’s conference and was eager to get involved again this year to continue to reach out to local women and forge connections among area organizations that are concerned about cancer within the LGBT community. “We’ve put in place the education, the outreach and the clinical services for the women’s community at Mazzoni, and we’ve found it to be very beneficial to collaborate with other entities who are interested in doing the same,” Shein said. “It’s important to pool our resources together to accomplish all that we can; we have some outreach, Gilda’s Club has some outreach and we can put that together and really have a good collaboration.” Each panelist will address different aspects of the impact of breast cancer on sexual-minority populations, and Margolis said she hopes to discuss some of the lifestyle factors that could fuel a woman’s risk for breast cancer, such as lack of exercise, poor eating habits, overindulgence in alco-

hol and smoking. She noted that lesbians and bisexual women also often experience a higher level of stress than heterosexual women, as they must struggle with the stigma associated with their sexuality. “Cancer in the LGBT community has been hushed and invisible for entirely too long. I think there is some growing awareness because of groups like this and conferences like this, but I don’t think across the country lesbians and bisexual women really understand,” Margolis said. “While we don’t have outcome data to tell us what our actual cancer rates are, it seems to me that increased risks coupled with decreased screenings would result in higher incidence of breast cancer. I don’t want to scare people, but rather encourage them to take pride in their bodies and to take care of them.” Brownworth, who penned “Coming Out of Cancer” about the epidemic of lesbians with breast cancer, has a particular familiarity with the issue, as she herself is a survivor and was again recently diagnosed with the disease. Brownworth called the spread of awareness about breast cancer

among sexual-minority women “Petri-dish” slow, noting that lingering homophobia on the part of healthcare providers is an inherent impediment to proper care. “To have to go into the doctor’s office and say, ‘Oh, by the way, I’m a lesbian,’ and then just wait to see how they respond is really hard,” she said. “The first thing doctors ask is if you have children and if you’re sexually active, which are all predicated on this heterosexual paradigm. Women don’t want to have to go into the doctor’s office and feel like they have to come out again.” Brownworth noted that having a fellow lesbian or supportive friend by your side for the visit often can quell nerves associated with potential homophobia. “For lesbians to be able to get a friend or a patient advocate or someone who’s also lesbian to go with them, and when they tell the doctor, ‘I have a lump in my breast or something doesn’t feel right, and, oh, I’m a lesbian,’ having that person there can be very important. They can act just as a See CONFERENCE, Page 18

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

CONGREGATION BETH AHAVAH

Join us at St. Luke & the Epiphany Church 330 S. 13th Street, between Spruce and Pine streets, Philadelphia, PA

A GLBT synagogue welcoming people of all gender and sexual identities since 1975

Sunday Mass at 7:00 p.m.

Communion in the form of Consecrated bread, wine and grape juice. Gluten-free communion available upon request. www.dignityphila.org www.dignityusa.org Visit us on Facebook – Dignity Philadelphia

First B a p t i s t C h u r c h SERVICES: Wednesdays Noontime Sundays 11a.m.

17TH & SANSOM STREETS PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103

215.563.3853

Contemporary Service: Last Sunday of month Breathing Room Wednesdays 7 p.m.

Pastor Jerry deJesus

www.fbcphila1698.org

at Rodeph Shalom

JOIN US TWICE MONTHLY FOR SHABBAT SERVICES AT 8:00 PM Coffee, cake & conversation at the oneg following services

Sunday, October 18, 10:15 AM, Faces of Israel: Discussion Led by Film Maker, Amy Beth Oppenheimer. Faces of Israel is an exciting and interactive documentary. The film poses a series of questions on hot topics surrounding what it means to live in both a Jewish and democratic state. It addresses questions through interviews with Israelis on topics such as Israel as a Jewish State, Role of the Israeli Chief Rabbinate, Civil Unions in Israel, Masorti and Reform Judaism in Israel, and Homo-sexuality and Same Sex Unions in Israel. Cosponsored by Congregation Beth Ahavah and Rodeph Shalom. Beth Ahavah and Rodeph Shalom are affiliated in spirit and share a sacred home. In July 2007 Beth Ahavah affiliated with Rodeph Shalom. Beth Ahavah retains its congregational status within the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) and proudly offers its congregation dual membership at both synagogues. Visit www.bethahavah.org for additional information, programming and directions

615 North Broad Street, Phila., PA 19123-2495 Phone: 215.923.2003 E-mail: BethAhavah@rodephshalom.org

Free secure parking: Cross Spring Garden at 13th St., left at next light, Mt. Vernon St. Parking lot entrance on left.

Youth in Transition, a support group for transgender and questioning youth ages 12-23, will meet from 7:30-9 p.m. at The Attic PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS Youth Center.

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Sistah2Sistah, a discussion/ support group for sexual-minority women of color ages 16-24, will meet from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at 1201 Chestnut St., 15th oor; (215) 4960330. � You’re Not Alone, a support group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth, willfind meet from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at to information, resources Rehoboth Library, and support. Going 226 from Rehoboth knowAve.,nothing Rehoboth, (800) ing aboutDel.; cancer to 8106776. knowing that I wanted to know � Pink and Blues, free depression everything ... and arealizing that I and bipolar support group sexual needed to identify what Ifor needed minorities, will at 7 p.m. at St. at base level to meet function through Luke and The Epiphany Church, a crazy-making time and a time 330 S. 13th St.; (215) 627-0424. that doesn’t present with clear � Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus answers, just loads of possiwill rehearse at 7 p.m. at the William bilities. Those base-level weekWay Community Center; (215) 731one needs included things like 9230. encouragement and strategies for � The Temple University Lambda getting of meet bed infrom the mornAllianceout will 7-8 p.m. ing (that Triciaoutside and I concocted at The Village the Lambda together ... for each other, as weSt.; ofce, SAC 205, 1755 N. 13th both some help early on (215)needed 204-6954. in TheGay base-level needs � this The area). Trenton and Lesbian to press doctors forcard information Civic Association’s and games nighttowill be people held from 7-10for p.m. and allow to press at 986 S. Broad St., Trenton, N.J.; me (to get appointments moved (609) up and638-7264. to move small mountains � my Thebehalf). Women’s on And, theCenter need to of Montgomery County’s carry on as normal as muchlesbian as support groupthough will meet from 7we can even it’s anything 9 p.m. 101time. Washington Lane, but that at at this All of this Jenkintown; (215) 885-8440. was combined with the task of � A men’s coming-out group will telling family and friends unexmeet atnews 7:30and p.m. at ThethatPride pected realizing we Center of New Jersey. just didn’t have the time (much � Survivors of Suicide Inc. Chester less the emotional reserves) to County, a support group, will meet personally talk at with everyone we at 7:30 p.m. Paoli Memorial wanted. It takes a lot — and, so Hospital, Willistown Room, an idea for blog was also born. Medical Oface Building, Lancaster We Paoli; also began speed-datingPike, (215)a 545-2242; Web like series of meetings site: phillysostripod.com.with doctors, trying assemblea my team. � Under thetoRainbow, discussion Unlike other forms breast and social group for of 18-25-year-old cancer, doesn’t start with gays andIBC lesbians, will meet at 7:30 surgery. The Pride oncologist is the p.m. at The Center of New Jersey. of this team and is supcaptain � Theby aGay Men’s ported breastMarried surgeon (who Association support group plays a starring role later in thiswill meet atand 8 p.m. the William game) I metat with three of Way Community (610) prac626these docs —Center; one in private 2577. tice, one at a mid-sized hospital � The committee Team and onesteering at the “biggest andofbest” Philadelphia, a gay hospital. I don’t at allsports comeleague, from willperspective meet at 8 p.m. at the William the that bigger is betWay Community Center. ter (having had the experience �

will be held at 5:30, 8:30 and 11:30 p.m. at the William Way Community Center. � Breaking the Chain, a smokingOCT. 9 - 15, 2009 cessation group, will meet at 6 p.m. at The Attic Youth Center. � Gay Coffee Hours will be held from 6-9 p.m. at Joe Coffee, 1100 Walnut St.; (215) 592-7384. � Peer with counseling services will working has specific experbe available 6-9 p.m. at the tise with IBCfrom and very specific William Way Community Center; treatment options that will be a (215)of732-8255. part my plan. Kismet! � The A support group upshot of all offor thisformerly is incarcerated sexual minorities extremely favorable — no sign willactivity meet from 6-8 p.m. attoBlacks of or progression any Educating Blacks Sexual organs, though thereAbout is an area Health Issues, 1217 Spring Garden of concern in my lower back (a St.; (215) 769-3561. previous injury site). We’ll know � 40 Acres of Change, a discussion more about that of soon, butwill the meet group for youth color, treatment if we have any issues from 6:30-9 p.m. at 1201 Chestnut there is, guess what 496-0330. (?), chemo! St., 15th oor; (215) And chemo is on the dailyfor spe-men � Twenty Times, a group cials board of already, so we’re and women color ages 20-29,set. will We’re set. Iatalso meet attotally 6:30 p.m. 1201found Chestnut that I have the (215) right 496-0330. chemistry to St., 15th oor; receive Herceptin (a wonder drug � Diversity, an HIV/AIDS support of sortsfor thatallonly 25 percent or group infected or affected, meets from 7-9 p.m.patients at Archcan Street so of breast-cancer Unitedwhich Methodist Broad take), meansChurch, I’ll be able to anda Arch streets; call Zak, (215) do triple-combination therapy 848-4380, or Paul, 307-0347. of the cancer kind (215) — which is � The Group all veryMen’s good. Peer It’s a Support “cocktail” of will meet discussion sorts, and Ifor dotopical enjoy myself someat 7 p.m. at The cocktails. I’m Pride ready.Center All of of theNew Jersey.since the initial diagnosis news � Rainbow Adult Children of has been great ... which inspires Alcoholics and that Alcoholics this note of positivity carAnonymous will hold a 12-step ried me through to each next day meeting at 7 p.m. at Limestone in getting to this Church, starting line 3201 of Presbyterian treatment. Limestone Road, Wilmington, Del.; So chemo begins today — a (302) 456-9129. giant unknown. in how � The Humboldt Unknown Society, a gay and it will work and how it will lesbian naturalist club, willmake meet me feel. p.m. The order for weekly at 7:30 at theis William Way treatments Communitybeginning Center. today (three weeks on,Love one Addicts week off) at least � Sex and Anonymous, through summer. a 12-stepthe program, will meet at 7:30 I’matgreased up Church, for the fight. p.m. All Saints 18 Olive Ave., Beach, 2” Del.; (302) I amRehoboth Rocky. “Rocky (when 542-3279. he wins) ... not the draw in � The Women’s Peer Group “Rocky 1” or the bigSupport fight with will Tmeet at 7:30 p.m.for at that The Pride Mr. or the Russian Center of NewisJersey. matter. Tricia both my Adrian � The (Yo!) and myBisexual/Gay/Lesbian Mickey (Burgess Alliance atand Rutgers University Meredith) I have a crowd will meet at rooting 9:30 p.m. of fans for in meMurray at the Hall, Room 211, 13 George St., New Spectrum. Brunswick, N.J.; (732) 932-1306. And while “Rocky” might be a�

The Word: A breast-cancer blog

Wednesday, Jan. 9 A support group for HIV-positive women will meet from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the Arch Street United Part one of a series Methodist Church, Broad and Arch streets; (215) 387-6055. In March, Gloria Casarez, � The Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS director LGBT affairs forfree, the EducationofInitiative will offer Mayor’s Office, was diagnosed on-site walk-in HIV testing from with breast cancer. At 37, out 3-6 p.m. at 1233 Locust St.;the(215) lesbian had no known family his985-3382. tory breastand cancer. Throughout � Theoflibrary reading room will her treatment, she kept blog, be open from 3-9 p.m. at the a William titled “The Word,” to keep friends Way Community Center. and familyTeach, updated on her prog� Project a peer-education and empowerment program for ress. In honor of Breast Cancer people living Month, with HIV/AIDS, will Awareness an excerpt meet fromCasarez 3-5 p.m. had at theher William follows. last Way Community chemo treatmentCenter. on Sept. 3, and � A smoking-cessation support group has started monthly maintenance for sexual minorities, conducted by treatments. the Mazzoni Center, will meet at 5:30 p.m. at the Washington West April 2, 2009 Project, 1201 Locust St.; (215) 5630663 ext. 242. Three weeks and a day � AIDS Services in Asian Hello, world! Communities’ weekly volunteer It’sgroup fittingwill thatmeet I’m from finally work 6-8getp.m. ting around to posting a mainat 1201 Chestnut St., Suite 501; page as each day (215) message 563-2424today, ext. 10. since Wednesday, March group 11, hasfor � Coming Out, a support so beenora questioning race to get tomen, gay,clearly bisexual this the one where start will day meet...from 6-7:30 p.m.we at AIDS chemotherapy Delaware, Suitetreatments. 315, 100 W. 10th pal left me her rendition of St.,AWilmington; (800) 292-0429. the theme on myClub cell will � A “Rocky” gay-friendly Scrabble this justp.m. in case I wasn’t meetmorning, from 6-11 in the P.I.C. Building,greasing 42nd and streets; already up Locust for the fight. (215) 382-0789. It’s a total cliché, but I guess � The how LGBT Discussion Group that’s clichés become suchwill meet fromthey’re 6-8 p.m. at the United (because completely and Churchappropriate). of Christ, 300So, E.yes, Main St., totally I’m Newark, Del.; (800) 292-0429. greased ... bring it on! And I’m � A meeting/activity night will well-fed from a hearty breakfast be held by for two gay,lovelies, lesbian, who bisexual, (treated also transgender and questioning shall remain nameless as theyyouth and their friends from 6-8 p.m. informed me that today would be at the Rainbow Room of Planned the last day they would be nice Parenthood in Doylestown; (215) to me — you so don’t get 348-0558 ext. know, 65. used to all this treating and nice� A men’s support group for those ties and such). with HIV/AIDS will meet from A diagnosis of inflammatory 6-7:30 p.m. at Mercer County breast cancer (IBC) was delivered Area Early Intervention Services three weeks N.J. ago Wednesday, in Trenton, For location,after call �

I found that lump in the pit of my right arm while shaving in the shower a few weeks before that. Finding a lump like this produces the feeling of getting kicked in the stomach. It’s the feeling of realizing that your life can easily come to a grinding halt. And the challenge since then has been to ensure that it doesn’t — figuring out how to “function” while in the midst of more unknowns than normally tolerable for this control-focused little girl. The diagnosis that came might as well have been delivered with a starting pistol, because that’s when the race began. That first week that began on Monday (with the mammo, ultrasound and biopsy) was a mad-dash blur of fright, sadness and scrambling

of running a small, specialized agency for nearly a decade and knowing that there’s true value to individualized and “culturally specific” treatment and services) ... and knew that my more rare form of cancer is from a “culture” that will require specialized/individualized attention and aggressive care. My cancer shouldn’t really be in the “general” queue because it functions differently, constantly trying to jump the line and grow a little faster, and is rather sneaky in that its cells are small in size and can hide. I was pleasantly surprised that the big hospital (UPenn) was better in my case — better in that they’ve seen more cases of IBC and better because the doctor I’m

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cliché, I’m not. It just is. Hey! Ho! Let’s go! April 2, 2009

One down, 17 or so to go ... Today’s treatment was much like the first day of school. The first day of school is all about going to a new, strange place where you don’t know anyone but the people there know that and are there to make sure you integrate well and find your way. It’s also a day when you’re nervous about what is to come, excited and hopeful — this first day was just the same. After vitals, I met with each member of “my team” separately

OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

to go over certain specific things. An orientation and lots of invitations for questions to be asked. We’re looking at six months of chemo. Three weeks on and one week off, so that’s approximately 18 treatments. Of course, this number (much like my eventual choice around headwear) is subject to change, depending on how things are going and results of other periodic tests. Today was a long afternoon (six hours) with all the orientation stuff to do first, and I’m told next week will be shorter (two hours). Since this is my first time taking Taxol (the chemo) and Herceptin (the protein drug), they do some extra monitoring in case of a reaction to the drug. A reaction would have been immediate (within five minutes) but nothing happened. As a preventative measure against a reaction, they gave me a course of Benadryl, and something else for nausea. It pretty much knocked me out — I remember telling Tricia, “Oh, I’m going to be knocked out soon,” and just as quickly my iPod became super heavy, plopped in my lap and I was out. Future treatments won’t feature the Benadryl as this was just for this first time ... so don’t worry, I’ll be good company if you want to sit with me and watch a movie or chat on a given Thursday for treatment. I was told I should look forward to being achy tomorrow but shouldn’t expect much in the way of nausea. We left and I really just wanted a walk — what a pleasant evening! So a quick walk to the green line (Tricia would have preferred a taxi but I really wanted to move after hanging out in that cozy LazyBoy all afternoon) and we were headed home. Dinner at the Cantina made me feel like it’s just another day on the verge of spring ... even though I know today is one totally like no other, and one that provides a window to the days and weeks and months to come. It’s funny, I don’t feel any different, even though I had a lot of fluids flowing in me — tethered to my port, which is located in my chest. This much is strange in a “Star Trek” kind of way. One down, 17 or so to go. I’ve crossed the threshold and am on the verge (like spring). April 9, 2009 The day(s) after chemo and “treats”... I read on some board that some people refer to their chemo treatments as “treats” for short. Seems

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kind of off, and a little too grateful if you ask me, but we’ll go with it. I’ll enumerate the kind of “treats” I can look forward to later ... My normal day of treatment is Thursday, but I was moved back a day this week to Wednesday for the Passover holiday. So, that means we’re through the second chemo treatment. All of this is still a giant experiment, in terms of how my body reacts to the chemo (during, immediately after, the next day, as well as day two). So far, so good. I would also insert a knock-onwood image, if I could find one. Anyway, so far so good, and we go with the good around here. As mentioned above, there is still an experiment underway in terms of reaction, as follows:

the morning (also gone by hour two of the day), but no other flulike symptoms. No body aches or upset stomach — yet. — Day two: body aches/pains, generally laid up, upset stomach. We’ll see what tomorrow brings but last week brought the previously blogged crystal-meth-like cleaning spree of last Saturday. Energy abounds! While I have no firm plans, I have many pre-Easter errands I could do, if so able or if with such energies ... no pressure though. We’ll see. I’m off work for Good Friday. — Beyond (as in, cumulatively or longer-term while on chemo): Now here’s where the true “treats,” if you will, are found. Such treatytreats as hair loss (obvious), joint pain, immune-system issues, bruising and anemia related to low blood counts, mouth sores and thrush, dry skin (I already live with the “treat” of eczema), and my personal favorite “treat,” peripheral neuropathy. Now, to be fair, most of these are temporary, while on chemo and shortly thereafter. What’s striking to me are the vast similarities to my previous direct work in HIV/AIDS. These “treats” show there as well for the most part, along with a few similarly unseemly others. I’m placing my bets on the dry skin, hair loss and likely peripheral neuropathy (especially in the joints and fingers) and I’ll hope they’re all temporary. I mean, I am (relatively) young, after all ... and, most importantly, otherwise healthy. So far, no sign of any of these guys, but again, these are the “treats” to look forward to. Full disclosure noted and filed. So, we go with the good (for, hopefully, the now-obvious reasons). And, believe me, I felt very good yesterday when my team inquired about any side effects I may have had from last week and went through all of the possible effects of “treats” I just mentioned in quick order. It was my true “treat” to say, “No, not that” to every one. So far. Oh, and the other good news of the day yesterday was that all blood levels looked good. They do bloodwork every time and review results instantly. I could use some iron; these levels have been consistently low for me (even before the cancer), so I started taking a multivitamin with iron supplement as of last night and put in a special request to Mom to cook me up some liver — with the quickness. Nothing says love like liver. Thanks, Mom. ■

— During: to ensure that there is no reaction during the actual chemo treatment, I am given Benadryl (in IV-bag drip formula, not pill form). Last week, the bag was a half-hour, this week it was 15 minutes. It takes me to a loopy place, though this week it didn’t knock me out. I also get Tagamet (also through IV), which is to prevent any stomach issues and nausea during chemo. Both are given in advance of the chemo (Taxol), which sometimes has a side effect of skin rash and/ or anaphylactic shock! Oh, just a little anaphylaxis, Gloria, no worries. No worries. So, for the first couple minutes of both the Taxol and Herceptin drips, they literally look at me for signs (of skin rash and anaphylaxis). Once the coast is clear, after five minutes or so — they’re out. Let’s all just hope that I don’t suffer from delayed “reaction” — ever. — Immediately after: mostly loopiness from the Benadryl. I don’t mind, really ... in fact, this is the one actual treat, if you follow. They say I shouldn’t drive after ... I understand why, but the walk back to the subway has been lovely — both times ... could have been the company, though. — Next day: flu-like symptoms, body aches, upset stomach. So far both “next days” I’ve experienced have featured a bit of a morning haze, which I’m now convinced is a Benadryl hangover as I didn’t have much of anything today (likely because of the smaller dose this week). The morning haze is feeling a little like there’s furry things running under my skin (we’ll call them the sweater people) for the first hour or so of the day ... a dose of Tylenol usually takes care of that. Accompanied by a runny nose in Next week: Round two

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OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

Gay History Month Cronkite defended civil — including gay — rights By Mark Segal In December 1973, a 19-yearold Mark Segal disrupted the live broadcast of “CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite,” running on the set and sitting on Cronkite’s desk with a sign that read: “Gays Protest CBS Prejudice.” After the “zap” — and the trespassing trial — Segal and Cronkite became friends. The following interview was recorded during one of their lunches in 1996. Cronkite surprised Segal with his candor and his answers, well ahead of his time and his peers. Upon the veteran newsman’s death in July, the interview was pulled out of the drawer where it had resided, unpublished, for 13 years. MS: What are your thoughts on gay marriage? WC: I don’t see why states should have any interest in gay marriage. That’s not an issue that the state government or any government should be involved in. This is a personal question and should be solved on a personal basis, and I just don’t believe the government has any role in it. If there is an attempt to legislate against it, like the attempt

to legislate against abortion, this is an interference of personal and civil rights that should be protested and contested. Short of that, the attitude ought to be, “Well, that’s the way they feel. This doesn’t have to be the way I feel, but let’s live and live together and accept these things.” So I think that I’m getting on very dangerous ground here, but I think there is a danger in trying to force an acceptance of your lifestyle. This ought to come through the more gradual educational process. But I don’t want to sound like [1996 Republican presidential candidate Steve] Forbes and abortion. It really isn’t your business to sell this to the public. Educate the public. But don’t try to sell it. And, I think that there, sometimes the line is crossed there — that you’re trying to propagandize the people to accept what you believe to be right. There is a fine line there between defense and aggression, and that line has to be very clearly defined and closely observed. MS: Acceptance has been a long time coming, and we still have areas like the military where pub-

lic support has risen but those in the leadership have not bought into the notion. WC: In the military, I believe fully that, there again, it’s a question of one’s civil rights and one certainly should have the right to live as one chooses. The suggestion that homosexuality is somehow going to be forced upon the other members of the barracks seems to me to be a non-issue. It’s just a ridiculous red herring. I know that some of my friends in the military think it’s a ridiculous issue to make, to make an issue of what could be handled quite as easily, as well — open rights. MS: The right wing has used us as an election ploy for years, but there have been, and still are, legitimate conservative extremists who wish violence upon the gay community. How should we deal with people like that? WC: I think we all should be fearful of any issue regarding extremists — whether they’re left or right. And certainly, I’d be very concerned, particularly if I were one of the minority group, about this attempt to enforce a moral code through some mis-

WALTER CRONKITE AP Photo: CBS, file

interpretation of some religious beliefs. I’d be very worried about that. Yeah, I’d be concerned. I’m concerned about that kind of attitude from both left and right in the country; militants who are fanatic in their beliefs are danger-

ous wherever they lie. I don’t like the word “attack.” I wouldn’t “attack” anybody. That’s certainly not necessary, and probably counterproductive. But defense mechanisms against the know-nothings in our world

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certainly are required. Theresuburb you that the mayor of the Athens of Kessariani agreedthose to perform have a duty tohas answer arguthe ceremony. ments that are, to your mind, “I have noout objection completely of line.toIcelebrating think this that’s union fundamental so long as — the a law that fun-is respected,”right Mayor Tzokas damental and aSpyros fundamental said. a fundamental responsibility duty, is you uncertain whether the to Itwhat believe in.

government will recognize the marriage. MS: What about demonstrations? The Greek government is WC: There’s no question that preparing to introduce civilmilitant demonstrations offend a partnership legislation later this year, proportion of the population no granting legal rights to unmarried matter what the subject matter couples. But, it has not said if sameis. arewould people would sexThere couples bethat included.

rather not be awakened to issues, rather not be bothered by issues, they do not like seeing the cityin Gay men jailed streets used as theater for issues, Morocco and they are the people who do not understand the Constitution The Association for and the Moroccan right to demonstrate. Human Rights, along with Human Those are the very ones, who, Rights Watch, has launched if you ask them if people have a a petition following the imprisonment right to demonstrate, if they said of six men for homosexuality. to you, “Do you believe in the Moroccan police arrested the men Constitution? says after people in November It2007 a have video the right to express their opinion,” circulated on the Internet showing they’d all say, “Oh, absoa private party in yes, Ksar-el-Kbir, lutely.” “Well, do they have thewas Morocco, that the press claimed right to demonstrate in front of a gay-marriage ceremony. theThe Whitecountry’s House?” “Oh, no! They penal code shouldn’t besexual doingconduct that!” between criminalizes People of have kind of, members thea same sex.I guess, Despite athecleavage theory and no fact thatbetween the video showed evidence sexualwant acts,tothe sixhapmen what theyofreally see were convicted of committing “lewd pening on the streets. So, there’s or unnatural with anresentindividual always goingacts to be that of thetoward same sex” and sentenced ment demonstrators, no to between four and 10 months matter if it’s gay-rights demon- in prison. or political, other issues. strators The think Moroccan Association for I don’t that you could make a judgment on the success of such a thing. You have to make a judgment on the basis of the entire approach, the public’s perception from the situation, as opposed to before such activity began, and I don’t think there’s any question that there’s a very positive, educational effect. Whatever can be done to educate the public to the nature of homosexuality, to the rights, civil rights to those who have a different lifestyle than the majority, this sort of thing, this is what is required. MS: What do you think of the gay movement now compared to its beginnings? WC: It seems to me that the gay movement has been highly successful. I think there’s much more awareness, obviously, of the issue in the country. It seems to me that the approval rating among the polls is good, and if that’s the result, then the movement has been successful. ■ This interview was edited by Jason Villemez.

PHILADELPHIA GAY GAY NEWS NEWS PHILADELPHIA Human Rights and Human Rights Watch are petitioning the Moroccan government for a fair trial for the men and to protect their right to privacy. The groups are asking supporters to show their opposition to Moroccan authorities by sending an e-mail to petitionmaroc@hrw.org.

Cartoons draw Russian ire

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built a cult following in Russia despite gaining just 1.9 percent of the audience share in February. MTV in Russia also shows “South Park,” but has yet to receive any criticism from the Protestant group.

Trans meeting set for Berlin

It was announced March 14 that the second meeting of the European Protestant groups in Moscow Transgender Council will be held are trying to shut down a cartoon this year in Germany. channel because they claim it The council, comprised promotes homosexuality and of Transgender Europe, the B ETTE R NAKE D religiousOOK intolerance. Transgender Network Berlin and Channel 2x2 broadcasts Western PROGRAM: TransInterQueer Berlin, will meet THREE WEEK FITNESS cartoons like “South Park,” which May 2-4 in Berlin. Their last event • LOSE FAT!“homosexual was held in Vienna in 2005. some believe promotes propaganda.”• GAIN MUSCLE! Representatives from international Vitaly Vlasenki,• aSPEED spokesperson activist groups and experts such as METABOLISM! Jaredand Carter, CSCS for The Consultative Council of Human Rights Watch Amnesty the Heads of Protestant Churches International are expected to attend Guaranteed MoveForwardFitness.com in Russia,Results! said the group had sent the event and share their experiences a letter to Prosecutor General Yury in the eld of human rights and Chaika on March 12 accusing the transgender-related work. network of promoting “cruelty, The results of the Study of the violence, homosexual propaganda, Lives of Transgender people In religious hatred and intolerance.” Europe, conducted by Press for Yekaterina Doglosheveva, head Change (U.K.), will be revealed, of corporate affairs for Prof-Media, which polled more than 2,000 dismissed the criticism from the transgender people. religious group. Berlin has a diverse transgender “The Federal Culture and scene, and Wigstoeckel Transgender Cinematography Agency may be United is set to organize the city able to control the activities of our council’s ofcial show and party for channel, but the Protestants cannot,” the event. � Doglosheveva said. Channel 2x2, which also Larry Nichols can be reached at broadcasts “The Simpsons,” has larry@epgn.com.

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CONFERENCE From Page 13 protective wall and give you confidence.” Lesbians and bisexual women do not just face differences when they initially seek care, Brownworth noted, but throughout the entire treatment process. She said most breast-cancer support groups operate under the assumption that all women participating are het-

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erosexual, and participants are expected to talk about their disease’s effect on their husbands or children, which she said is a polarizing experience for lesbians and bisexual women and points to the need for lesbian-specific events like that being staged by Gilda’s Club. “The workshops that Darlene has set up during this conference really demonstrate that she has a keen sense of what’s lacking for

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lesbians and how important it is to be around other women who are going through the exact same thing as you,” Brownworth said. “When you say that it’s hard to go into a doctor’s office and tell them you’re a lesbian and wait for the other shoe to drop, everyone will go, ‘Yeah, I know what that feels like.’ There’s an affirmation that is so important and can show you that you’re not alone and that other people have lived and are living through the same things as you.” Brownworth will lead an afternoon workshop on sex and intimacy between women with the disease and their partners. Other workshops will include one that addresses activism and another that looks at the healing power of humor. Free breakfast and lunch will be served during the day, and the event will wrap up with a free wine and cheese reception and concert by Sweet Namaste. Gilda’s Club Delaware Valley is producing the event largely through funding received from the Philadelphia affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Elaine Grobman, executive director of the local Komen chapter, commended Gilda’s Club for efforts to shed much-needed light on the disparities in LGBT healthcare. “The gay and lesbian community has always been important to Susan G. Komen,” Grobman said, noting that she spoke with Shein nearly 20 years ago about the issue of lesbians and breast cancer. “Women need proper assistance and, as a responsible community organization, we want to do all we can to help provide that. Women are women all over the world, and we have to do what we can to help them. Gilda’s Club is a wonderful organization, and we’re very proud to be partners with them.” Furey noted that Gilda’s Club will continue to expand its LGBT programming and is eager for LGBT cancer patients, survivors and others whose lives have been touched by cancer to seek support from the organization. “The conference is certainly our biggest event for the community throughout the year right now, but it’s not all that we do or are going to do,” she said. “We really are committed to offering programming for the LGBTQI community that is consistent and supportive.” For more information about the conference or to register, visit www.gildasclubdelval.org. ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.

OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

LAX SCHOLARS From Page 5 “I loved working with kids, but as a math teacher it was kind of hard for me to get my creative side out,” Kelly said. “I had a great rapport with my students and with the schools, but I knew that I probably couldn’t retire doing just that.” Kelly, the president of Drexel’s chapter of LGBT People in Medicine and an active member of the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus, is set to graduate in 2012 and said he may focus his studies on pediatrics or adolescent medicine. Kelly had to miss last week’s scholarship reception because he was attending the annual conference of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association. Last year, Kelly conducted his primary-care practicum at the Mazzoni Center, working with Dr. Rob Winn, which he called an “eye-opening experience.” “I obviously know some of the specific things that gay men encounter, but I learned so much

about the diversity of issues that the LGBT community faces — all the manifold lesbian health issues and working with trans patients was also something that was new to me,” Kelly said. “That’s a whole distinct area of healthcare that I think very few people know anything about and it’s not taught much, if at all, in curriculums.” Howland, 29, will graduate from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in the spring, after having completed undergraduate and graduate degrees from Hendrix College in Arkansas and the University of Arkansas, respectively. Although his mas-

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ter’s degree is in English, Howland said he decided to pursue a more practical path that’s “connected with the real world outside of the ivory tower.” Last year, Howland served as the co-chair of Penn’s LGBT organization Lambda Law, and under his direction the organization staged a panel on same-sex marriage with some of the nation’s leading experts on the subject, and hosted a discussion on the pending nondiscrimination legislation in Pennsylvania with local LGBT and civil-rights leaders. Howland participated in a summer program at Skadden, Arps,

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Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP, in Delaware, and said his experience at the firm exemplified the overall positive environment he’s encountered in the field of law. “They were very welcoming and wanted everyone to succeed at practicing law. Having your family on board is a big part of that success because they also want you to do well and prosper, and at the firm they were very, very welcoming of my partner. I think he was almost more popular with them than I was,” Howland joked. He noted that the Lax Scholarship allows students like

himself and the other four recipients to pursue their educational goals and use their successes as examples for future members of the LGBT community. “I think it’s a really important thing to be a good LGBT role model. That’s something that there aren’t too many of, and so people who are visible or activists within the community are very important. I thought I should try to be as visible as I could, and this scholarship allows me to do that.” ■

Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.

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OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

EQUALITY From Page 1

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Pittsburgh and Harrisburg early next year. “Forming Equality Pennsylvania allows us to spend greater time and resources directly advocating for LGBT policy priorities in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania,” said Lynn Zeitlin, executive director of Equality Advocates. Zeitlin said the Equality Pennsylvania board is currently in formation. The organization also released the names of its own new board members this week. This past summer, nearly all of the board members at the organization resigned over a several-week period, and Zeitlin said the organization was working to restructure and reorganize its leadership. Kaskey said the organization has “made a concentrated effort to broaden its reach across the state,” and recruited board members who represent different regions and who can facilitate the flow of information and resources between various LGBT communities and the agency. The new board members are president Brian Sims, staff counsel for policy and planning for the Philadelphia Bar Association and chair of the Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia; vice president Mark Usry, associate professor of legal studies at Bloomsburg University; treasurer Ann Loftus, partner at Zateeny, Loftus, LLP; secretary Jay Meadway, attorney at Eckert, Seamans, Cherin & Mellott, LLC; and members Jeff Brauer, associate professor of social and behavioral sciences at Keystone College; Thomas Waters, director of new media at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy; and M. Saida Agostini, targeted case manager supervisor for the Family Shelter Support Team. “I am excited that such talented and committed individuals from across Pennsylvania have joined the board of directors,” Zeitlin said. Sims was named board president in the summer when the restructuring began, and said it’s been his “personal mission to find a group of committed, diverse advocates from across the state to help build Equality PA.” The board members held their first meeting during Equality Advocates’ Pennsylvania Equality Summit late last month, during which they voted to move forward with plans to launch Equality Pennsylvania. ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.

OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

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International News

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Larry Nichols

Arrest made in British consul death

hard labor. Sex between women is currently legal but many lesbians still face persecution.

A 23-year-old Jamaican man has been arrested over the death of a British honorary consul. John Terry, 65, was found dead at his home on the island in early September. It is thought the attack may have been motivated by homophobia, as a note was reportedly left on his bed calling him a “batty man,” a derogatory term for gays. It added: “This is what will happen to ALL gays” and was signed “Gay-Man.” He had a cord tied around his neck and had severe head injuries. Although Terry’s wallet and phone were stolen, police do not believe robbery was a motive for the killing. They believe he may have been bisexual and are working to establish whether he was in a relationship with a man. Local police said on Oct. 3 that the arrested man will be questioned but has not yet been charged. Two other men were arrested but were quickly released. Terry was the British honorary consul to the Montego Bay area. Jamaica is known to be one of the most homophobic countries in the world. Sex between men can carry a 10-year jail sentence or

Tasmanian gays get ceremonial Gay couples in the Australian state of Tasmania will soon be able to have an official ceremony in which to register their relationships. Currently, couples can have a Deed of Relationship, which is the Tasmanian form of a civil partnership. However, they can only hold informal ceremonies. The change, which goes into effect Nov. 1, means they will be able to sign their Deed of Relationship in a ceremony presided over by a marriage celebrant in front of friends and family. Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson Rodney Croome welcomed the initiative. “This provides same-sex and other couples with a way to have that ‘special day’ on which they officially declare and affirm their relationship in front of friends and family members,” he said. “Tasmania led the nation with the establishment of our registry of personal relationships, and now it is leading with official ceremonial

recognition of these relationships. Tasmania’s Relationships Act is a sound body of law based on equity and fairness, but until now that body has lacked a heart.” Those who have a Deed of Relationship have virtually the same rights as married couples in both state and federal law, and are also recognized as civil partners in countries such as the U.K.

Russia rules against marriage A Moscow court ruled Oct. 6 against two lesbians seeking to become Russia’s first legally married gay couple. Irina Fedotova-Fet and Irina Shipitko said the Tverskoi District Court upheld a decision by the city’s civil registry that said Russian law defined marriage as between a woman and a man. “We want recognition of our relationship by society and the state. We are a family already, we live together and share household chores,” Shipitko said. “We also would like to have children. That is why we want legal recognition of our union.” Nikolai Alexeyev, a longtime Russian gay-rights activist who is serving as the women’s lawyer, said they plan to fight the ruling.

“We understand quite well that it is a long road that must be taken before such unions will be recognized. But I have no doubt this recognition will come,” he said.

Muslims snub gay football club A gay football club in France is protesting after a Muslim team refused to play against it. Paris Foot Gay, of the Parisian suburb Creteil, were due to play against predominantly Muslim team Bebel but the latter called the match off the evening before it was scheduled. According to PFG president Pascal Brethes, they were sent an e-mail from Bebel, saying the match was “against their principles.” Brethes said the letter also stated: “Sorry, but because of the name of your team and in keeping with the principles of the team, which is a team of practicing Muslims, we cannot play against you. Our convictions are stronger than a game of football. Sorry to have informed you so late.” Brethes said the decision was “homophobic” and that the club may press charges.

Raped trans woman harassed A Welsh trans woman who was raped has said she was forced to move after her identity became public. The unnamed victim recently saw her attacker, Kiron Singh Chand, jailed for eight years. Chand forced his victim to perform oral sex on him and beat her in April. However, the woman has said she received verbal abuse in the street and was subjected to a humiliating poster campaign. She added that she was vilified on social-networking Web sites such as Facebook. “I was victimized because of my sexuality,” she said. “If I had been a normal girl, I would not have been treated like this. I had verbal attacks in the street, hurtful things written about me on Facebook and had humiliating posters put up around the town about me.” Chand told the court she had offered him oral sex and he beat her when he felt “tricked” into the act. However, the jury did not believe his story. ■ Larry Nichols can be reached at larry@epgn.com.

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RESEARCH From Page 1 Fox Chase, but I started to become more attuned to this and realized that this is a bigger, national issue,” Egleston said. ClinicalTrials.gov catalogs all of the U.S.-supported trials throughout the globe that receive federal

or private funding. The site, which launched in 2000, is operated by the National Institutes of Health in partnership with the Food and Drug Administration. Egleston found that LGBT individuals are excluded most frequently from couples’ studies, in particular those that examine erectile dysfunction, also known

as ED. Of the 76 U.S. studies posted on the federal Web site that involve ED, 19 specify that participants must be in a heterosexual relationship. “One in four of these ED studies excludes gay people, and I think that this is particularly important because a lot of these studies are actually prostate-cancer treatment

OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

studies,” he said. “It’s not just about Viagra or taking a pill for ED.” As treatment for prostate cancer can result in erectile dysfunction, gay men may be excluded from studies for both. And currently, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer found in men. The exclusion is not just limited to ED and prostate cancer, however. A study underway at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and Duke University entitled “A Couples Approach to Enhance Breast Cancer Survivorship” states in its inclusion criteria that participants must be “living together in a committed heterosexual relationship.” The study aims to enhance communication, problem-solving skills and positive interactions between women with breast cancer and their male partners in order to stave off detrimental effects that a breast-cancer diagnosis can have on a couple. Egleston noted that many of the studies that exclude LGBT people are spearheaded by drug companies, some of which have sites in the Philadelphia area. Eli Lily and Company is currently testing a drug for adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and specifies those enrolled in the study — one leg of which is being conducted in the company’s Media location — must be in a “reciprocal relationship with a person of the opposite sex.” Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals recently completed a drug study to treat women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder with the criteria that the participants must be in a “monogamous, heterosexual relationship.” Boehringer’s Philadelphia site was one of 54 across the country that conducted the trials. In the mid-1990s, Congress mandated that NIH establish a set of guidelines that would prevent it from excluding minorities, such as women and African Americans, from federally funded clinical trials unless there was a significant reason. There are currently no such rules regulating the inclusion of LGBT individuals. “The NIH started putting out rules that you can’t exclude people for race or gender unless it’s actually relevant to the study, but

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they’ve neglected to do that for sexual orientation,” said Roland Dunbrack, associate professor at Fox Chase. “That’s why this is able to happen; it’s not against the law or against policy right now.” Michael Hall, medical oncologist and associate professor at the center, said he thinks the exclusion issue may be motivated by a level of institutionalized homophobia. “A well-designed trial is always going to have exclusion criteria, but those need to be based on real science, not just on social norms or queasiness or social barriers,” Hall said. “Unless an investigator can present a good reason to exclude gay people or whoever else, then it’s not valid and shouldn’t be included. It just represents a lack of their wanting to deal with the issues.” Egleston speculated that the requirement that patients must be in a heterosexual relationship may be widespread because the researchers who design these studies could just be simply “copying and pasting” criteria from similar studies into their own protocol, without considering how each stipulation is relevant to that specific trial. This issue has received little to no attention either in the media or in the academic realm, Egleston said, which he thinks could have been motivated partly because details for the clinical trials were not posted in one centralized location where the public could easily access them until recently. LGBT individuals who should have the option to enroll in studies for ED, breast cancer, ADHD or a variety of other conditions and illnesses may be unwillingly disqualifying themselves when they identify their sexual orientation, Egleston said; something he, Dunbrack and Hall are hoping to bring to light with their research. “Patients who are being treated at centers where these trials are being opened probably don’t realize that when they’re being asked questions about marital status and relationship status, that is being used to decide if they can be enrolled in the clinical trials. Gay patients want and should have the same access to these opportunities as everyone else, and that’s clearly not the case.” ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.

Gay is our middle name.

OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

GOLDENBURG From Page 1 that.” Goldenburg acknowledged the sense of accomplishment he felt when the elevator doors opened for the first time. “My very first week here, I scrawled several things on a sheet of paper and taped it to the wall, and it was taped there through most of my time at the center. On the list of things was the elevator, and while I might have been a little overambitious on the timelines in that original scrawlings, I’m so glad it’s something that I eventually got to see happen,” he said. Goldenburg said he’s accumulated a wealth of memories over the past six years, and among his favorites are Mel Heiftz’s announcement that he was paying off the remainder of the center’s mortgage; former Mayor John Street’s declaration that the city would fund a portion of the elevator construction; and the day the center launched its Way Gay U programs — complete with a Way Gay U cheer squad. “There have been so many highlights over the past few years, whether it’s facilities or programs, but while they did happen in my tenure, they’ve all been the work of anywhere from dozens of hundreds of people,” he said. Although Goldenburg credited a team of helpers with the center’s successes, Cook noted that he’s been the driving force behind the organization’s revitalization. Just a few weeks ago, the facility hosted more than 70 LGBT community-center representatives from around the world for a conference, something Cook said she “never could have imagined happening five or six years ago.” “[Goldenburg] has been absolutely critical in changing the image of the center,” she said. “He’s not only raised its profile in the LGBT community nationally, but in an even larger sense he’s been able to raise the profile of the entire gay community in Philadelphia.” Carr noted that the local LGBT

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community itself has also become more involved and integrated into the center because of Goldenburg’s leadership. “He’s given people the opportunity to come in and talk about programs, fundraisers, any concerns that they have,” she said. “He’s very accessible and he’s able to see what happens at the center because he’s always there. He knows the center inside and out and it’s very welcoming to have him there.” Goldenburg said he is not selling his South Philadelphia house and would like to return from time to time for center events, adding he and Frank would ideally like to live in the Philadelphia area one day. The couple has also made a three-year commitment as members of the Cornerstone Society, the highest level of donor support. Carr said the organization is currently searching for an interim executive director and, once someone is identified, will launch a national search for a permanent leader. Goldenburg said he’s confident the next director will be able to work with the center’s countless supporters to build upon the organization’s growth and bring it to its next stage of development. “The work of building a community center is never done. The board, the volunteers, the staff and the community are always going to have to be working on the next big initiative to keep building the community and the center,” he said. “A community center is made up of more than one person, and our center is literally thousands of people coming together, each with something different to bring to it. When I look at the future of the center, I really think it’s incredibly bright and in a very strong position.” ■ The community is invited to a farewell reception for ’Dolph Ward Goldenburg Nov. 17 at the center, 1315 Spruce St., following the organization’s public board meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.

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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

A departure from the ordinary

OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

Lesbian singer and poet rages against the ‘machine’ By Larry Nichols PGN Staff Writer

BASSIST EVIL J. MCGUIRE AND OTEP SHAMAYA Photos: Pamela Lopez Grant

Metal band Otep is back with a crushing new release, “Smash the Control Machine,” an album every bit as confrontational and unfiltered as Otep Shamaya herself, the openly gay singer, artist and poet who fronts the group. Shamaya’s feelings and political views are pretty much out in the open all day, every day, whether she is holding court during her band’s tour dates or speaking at the Democratic National Convention, which she did in 2008. “I spoke on behalf of Rock the Vote,” she said of the DNC. “It was incredible. I spoke for disenfranchised voters, first-time voters and also spoke to them. Basically, my speech was about, if they stole the election in 2000, then it was those that stayed home that are to blame. If they got us into an illegal war, it was because those of us stayed home and were silent. It was a great experience. After it was over, some of the heads of the DNC were coming up and asking me if I would consider speaking at Kent State and doing college campuses. I would, but we were going on tour at the time. My job comes first.” Given the album’s title and song titles like “Rise Rebel Resist” and “Numb & Dumb,” some might find Shamaya speaking on behalf of the Democrats more than just a little incongruous. But she said anyone who feels that way is missing the point of her music and her message. “I think maybe if people are confused and think that perhaps I’m an anarchist, I don’t believe in America or our system of government, that I want to start over from scratch, then, yes, they’re probably confused and won’t be able to reconcile that,” she said. “Aside from the fact that it is about attacking those that are greedy and those who use the working class for their own benefit, it’s also about the personal control machines we invite into our own lives, whether they be abusive relationships, drugs, alcohol or lack of self-esteem. So it’s not just a capitalist machine or Democratic machine.” Shamaya is also a little less critical of President Obama than some of her peers, preferring to aim her criticism at both parties instead. “I’m happy with President Obama,” she said. “It has only been nine months and he’s done some amazing things after eight years of the Bush-Cheney crime family’s slow destruction of our nation. What I am a bit upset with is the mismanagement of the Democratic Party. The ‘conserva-dems,’ conservative Democrats who are just obstructionists, they’re standing in the way of progress. I don’t know why they put a ‘D’ by their names. They should just put an ‘R’ by their name. What I hope is that the Democratic leadership can grow a spine and stand up to them and that the Democratic voters get out and don’t be

OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

silent. The squeaky wheel gets the oil. Just because we have a president we fought to get into the White House doesn’t mean that things are suddenly going to change. We have control of Congress and we still can’t get anything done. Elections are next year. If we lose control of Congress, it’s going to be a difficult two-and-a-half years. The Republican Party has no interest in moving this country forward. All they care about is winning and filling their pockets with the money that their lobbyists and corporate friends give them. Democrats aren’t immune to that. There are corrupt politicians in that party as well, but I think it’s up to the voters to get out and make ourselves heard, just as the other side is with the fanatics that are completely misguided and have no idea of what they are protesting other than the fact that perhaps Obama is biracial.” Shamaya seems to have eight more hours per day than the rest of us, as she has also found time to support organizations like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, as well as create social networking sites like Girls Out Now and All Shapes & Sizes. Shamaya said she started Girls Night Out to help other lesbians find friends and support beyond the average matchmaking Web site. “The other social networks tend to be detached from the community,” she said. “It doesn’t seem like it serves people very well. A lot of them tend to be hookup sites.

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

Girls Out Now isn’t intended to be that. It’s intended for people to come and feel safe and network with other Sapphic women who perhaps don’t have any other Sapphic friends. It’s more about that than it’s about the hookup aspect of that. I have no intention of being cupid. For me, this is about making people feel comfortable in a safe environment.” Shamaya said the same is true for All Shapes & Sizes. “All Shapes & Sizes is very similar but it addresses all people,” she said. “It’s to restructure our thinking on self-esteem, self-love and selfacceptance, to not buy into the idea that there is one model for beauty or masculinity. There’s no correct race. There’s no correct type. There’s no correct weight. We are who we are. I think that if we can love ourselves first, we won’t keep searching to fill that void in us with another bad relationship or a drug or a drink or something else. We can cut those things that tether us and evolve and grow as a whole person and try to reach our promised capacity.” Fans who want to keep up with all of Shamaya’s many interests and activities can check out her blog, which for some strange reason is called “I Am Not A Monster.” “I think there’s the idea that I’m the girl that goes ‘GRRRR’ sometimes,” she explained. “People don’t look past that. The cool little things I can do with my voice are great. But that’s just, for me, icing on the cake. It’s not what matters most whether I can scream or make odd noises that come out of my body. It’s the words that I write or the messages that I’m trying to communicate. It was a little tongue-in-cheek, a little satire. I was trying to be silly. I touch on everything from art and politics to science. I’m a bit of a tech geek.” Just like the band’s fiery lead singer, Otep’s new album has many layers to it, with brutal and relentless blasts of metal alongside dark and meditative compositions punctuated by Shamaya’s vivid spoken-word interludes. Shamaya said that unlike the band’s pre-

vious efforts, they wrote the songs as they recorded them in the studio. “For two months we were imbedded in the studio, pushing our creative instincts to the limit but at the same time trying to be as careful with composition and critical of ourselves,” she said. “There was very little preproduction time. But the good thing, fortunately, for everyone is I’m a sadistic scribbler. I write constantly. So whenever I come in the studio, I come in with four or five book bags stuffed with song ideas, poetry, lyrics, drawings and so forth.” There are also many layers to the album’s artwork, with many subtle and not-so-subtle sinister images and messages scattered throughout the Norman Rockwell-ish picture of supposed domestic tranquility. “The idea came from my manager, who was an artist himself,” Shamaya said. “He approached me about my ideas for the record cover and we conspired about it and spoke about how we wanted something different. We wanted something that people would look at and take a second look and go, what is this? There are so many secrets hidden. What is considered normal actually is anything but normal. It’s scattered inside the artwork and the booklet. There are secret Web sites that if people are curious enough they can find them. I enjoy doing that kind of thing. It’s fun for me. It’s fun for the fans, too. We know there are people who still buy CDs and still go to the record stores and we want to reward them for doing that.” Part of the reason the band feels free to get more creative with CD packaging probably has at least a little to do with the fact that they’re on a new label. “Smash” is the first album Otep recorded for indie label Victory Records. Otep’s previous efforts were major label projects for Capitol and, later, Koch Records, but Shamaya said

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they really didn’t know what to do with the group. “Capitol was fantastic,” she said. “It was a great label to be on for anything other than putting out records. I don’t think they understood us, our fans or what to do with us. There were some really well-intentioned people there, but they just didn’t know how to do it. There was so much inner turmoil inside that building at the time that it was nearly impossible for them to find someone that could figure it out. We were the only band like that on the whole roster. They have The Beatles. They have Coldplay. They have Radiohead. And they have Otep. It was just a really strange place to be. Coming to Victory Records was like coming home. It’s like being around people that understood and believed the same things that I believe in with regard to music and message in connection with artists and fans. The people there are incredibly passionate about music and it’s just been the best time of my life being with these people.” Currently Otep is on tour to support “Smash the Control Machine,” and Shamaya said fans can expect some of her poetry intermixed with the band’s ferocious performances. “We normally don’t do a lot of the longer spoken-word tracks, but in between each song we have these poetry performances to set up the emotional elements that stirred the writing of the song it precedes.” ■ Otep opens for Five Finger Death Punch at 7 p.m. Oct. 13 at TLA, 334 South St. For more information, visit www.imnotamonster.com or call (215) 922-1011. Larry Nichols can be reached at larry@epgn.com.

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OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

Fresh faces take the stage at OutFest By Larry Nichols PGN Staff Writer A number of new and exciting gay performers will rock the main stage Oct. 11 at OutFest. Openly gay electro-pop artist Barry Brandon has a lot to celebrate at OutFest — most importantly, the fact that he’s alive and well. The 28-year-old singer has had numerous open-heart surgeries since he was born for a rare heart condition that was only diagnosed as Shone’s Syndrome when he underwent his most recent, and hopefully last, surgery. “As of the eighth surgery, which I had last year in March, everything has been perfect thus far,” Brandon said. “We’ll keep our fingers crossed and see if my health keeps going. No problems yet.” Even though he’s been going under the knife since his early childhood, Brandon said he was the most apprehensive about his most recent operation. “This last one was probably the hardest to prepare for only because the months before were so crucial,” he said. “The surgeons were so afraid to do the surgery. They kept passing me along to a different surgeon. I was older and I was fully aware of every single thing that was happening, the way

BARRY BRANDON (FROM LEFT); LAURA PETRACCA, KIYOMI MCCLOSKEY AND ADRIENNE LLOYD OF HUNTER VALENTINE

that they were so unsure about it when I was meeting with them. It brought everything to reality as far as this really could be the last one. But once I got to Minnesota and set foot in the Mayo Clinic, I was totally fine. I knew everything was going to be OK.” Brandon’s story, focusing on his most recent surgery, is the subject of an upcoming documentary, “The Tin Man Project.” Brandon also established a foundation (theheartfoundationcharity.org), that offers support for children facing major surgery. He said the reaction to the completed parts of the documentary so far has been overwhelmingly posi-

tive. “The documentary is not done,” he said. “They’re putting together the official trailer now. From what people have seen — we’ve showed it at some of the shows and it’s on YouTube — people can’t wait to see it. We don’t know when it’s going to be released.” Brandon said coming through the surgeries in good health is what prompted him to name the EP he released in August “Scar 2 Star.” “It’s sort of a way to sum it up and my way of letting everyone know that I’m finally taking the leap from the scars of surgery to stardom and celebrity as far as the music is concerned,” he said. Brandon added that his main artistic inspirations come from two of today’s most cutting-edge pop divas. “Visually, I guess you could say Lady Gaga,” he said of his influences. “I love the visual aspect of everything she does. Musically, Robyn is my main influence.” Another new act debuting at OutFest is Hunter Valentine, which is headlining the show and gearing up to mount a full-on invasion of the United States. The three-piece lesbian poprock group formed in Toronto in 2004 and, by 2007, had recorded its first album, “The Impatient Romantic,” and had begun to perform at any and every corner of Canada that had electricity. Now relocated to Brooklyn and with a second album, “Lessons From the Late Night,” ready for release, the group is slooking to make some serious noise in the U.S. “We had a lot of Canadian touring experience but had only played in New York or Boston,” drummer Laura Petracca said. “Now

all of us are based in Brooklyn, so it’s exciting to be able to have the opportunity to play in all those American cities that we’ve never been to before.” The band’s hometown of Toronto is often referred to as the “New York City of Canada.” And while the group agrees there are similarities, one of the cities is edgier. “Toronto and New York are both really artistically driven and that’s probably what brought us here,” Petracca said. “There’s a huge music and visual-arts scene. Those things are definitely very similar about each city and that’s why we were attracted to both of them.” “Toronto has a little-brother complex around New York,” added bassist Adrienne Lloyd. “I think Toronto has its own identity. Someone recently asked me, ‘I hear Toronto is the gay Hollywood.’ And I thought that was a pretty funny comparison.” “Brooklyn is probably a much more vibrant and alive city than Toronto is,” singer/guitarist Kiyomi McCloskey added. “I don’t know if they’re the same. Toronto is very diverse, all kinds of cultures, and Brooklyn is as well, but they’re completely different. Toronto is a very cleancut city and we were drawn to the fact that New York and Brooklyn are a little more rough around the edges.” While the art and performance aspects of their move were impetus enough for the band to relocate, they admit they had an ulterior motive for their southern migration. “Hopefully, [we’ll tour] somewhere warm as we approach winter,” Lloyd said. “We’ll see you soon, California,” Petracca chimed in. “I’m looking at Miami person-

ally,” McCloskey added. Apparently, being from Toronto doesn’t make you any more enamored with the chill of winter than anyplace else. “We’re done with it,” Petracca said. “We’re tired of putting on a bunch of layers,” McCloskey added. “We want to wear shorts year-round.” Until the feisty trio figures out their California dreams, they’ll have to be content with rocking out in Philly on Oct. 11, which they are excited about. “This is my very first time in Philadelphia, ever,” Lloyd said. “We’re stoked for the cheesesteak aspect of this trip,” Petracca said. Making your Philadelphia debut by headlining a huge event like OutFest might make a lesser band nervous, but Hunter Valentine wouldn’t have it any other way. “It’s a great challenge and a great introduction to a city,” McCloskey said. “People don’t know who we are yet. To know us, you need to see our live show. So it’s really exciting to be able to introduce ourselves to them on that kind of big stage.” OutFest, also featuring performances by Anne Simoni, Dale Varga, Ya Ya Dalight, Allazae, NIO and L.Y.F.E., runs from noon7 p.m. Oct. 11 in the Gayborhood, on 12th and 13th streets between Walnut and Spruce. In addition to the performances, there will be a pet show and contest, a high-heel race, a penis-shaped bagel-eating contest, a hula-hoop contest and a dance area. For more information, visit www.phillypride.org. ■ Larry Nichols can be reached at larry@epgn.com.

OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

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Gay author questions benefits of LGBT visibility By Larry Nichols PGN Staff Writer A recent study by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation found the number of gay and bisexual characters on prime-time network TV is up slightly this season, but Dr. William C. Harris is probably in no hurry to break out the champagne. The out author and associate professor and chair of English at Shippensburg University addresses the pitfalls of increased LGBT visibility in politics and media in his new book, “Queer Externalities: Hazardous Encounters in American Culture.” Harris described his latest book as an “accessible, but also theoretically grounded, queer-studies discussion,” and said he was inspired to write the book by the media coverage the gay and lesbian culture receives. “Initially, it was individual events like ‘Brokeback [Mountain]’ or ‘Queer Eye’ and the public debate they generated both in the mainstream and the gay press,” he said. “My ideas were generated by how I felt that those two pieces were being misperceived by the coverage and analysis. There was this euphoria over ‘Brokeback Mountain.’ I ended up taking more of a contrarian’s view.” Part of Harris’ view argues that the “mainstreaming” of queer lives in politics, television and

WILLIAM C. HARRIS

movies has just as many negative effects on LGBT individuals as it does positive. “I think ‘Brokeback Mountain’ made a lot of people feel good,” he explained. “‘Milk’ is a historical piece, but with ‘Brokeback’ I read a review that said it was a sad story but they couldn’t imagine it ending any other way. I know it starts in the 1960s, but it felt like a lack of possibility. It was just the failure to discuss what’s being represented about gay life. The conversation wasn’t as full as it could have been.” Not that Harris is saying gays and lesbians being active in the media and politics doesn’t have its merits. But he does think there’s too much rejoicing over visibility and not enough serious examination about what the terms of the representation are.

Gay is our middle name.

PGN

“The degree to which gays and lesbians are culturally versus politically accepted can vary widely over time, geography and issue by issue,” he said. “Being accepted one way, or in one moment, doesn’t guarantee being accepted in the other. And I think that goes both ways. Part of my argument in the book is that cultural acceptance does not of necessity translate into political clout.

‘Will & Grace’ doesn’t make for gay marriage, for example. But the failure to carry over can go the other way too: Political victories, which have been significant but also faced significant opposition and reverses, don’t necessarily mean cultural acceptance. I think this is something other minorities who have achieved political equality would understand quite well. Social and cultural equality can lag or be at odds with being ‘technically’ equal, equal under the law.” Harris added that even in apparently tolerant environments, “heteronormativity” and homophobia can still rear their ugly heads, often unconsciously. “Not that we should give up fighting the good fight against homophobia, but it has to be admitted that, despite how far we’ve come in many regards in public climate and the generational shift we keep hearing about, toward greater tolerance, homophobia still crops up in significant ways,” he said. “And it still wields some force. It still gets heard. And cer-

tainly we could argue that few people take it seriously. But it still is aiming for, if not reaching, some audience. And not dismissing it as just a few crackpots fails to get at the fact that outrageously, violently homophobic statements still get face time; are still, even if dismissed, framed as someone or some group’s beliefs even if we find the homophobic thread of their beliefs repulsive or ridiculous. My emphasis in the book isn’t just on the obvious instances of homophobia but also the subtler, heteronormative impulses to marginalize, which is why cultural artifacts from ‘Queer Eye for the Straight Guy’ and coverage of gay Republican scandals to queer young-adult novels deserve careful study and considered discussion.” Harris will host a reading at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St. For more information, call (215) 923-2960. ■

Larry Nichols can be reached at larry@epgn.com.

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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

Q Puzzle Coming Out Day Across

1. Worker on Broadway 5. Mystery writer Claire 10. Colette’s coffee 14. NG: Devil-may-care 15. NG: President born in Hawaii 16. Fairy-tale monster 17. Showing a tiny opening 18. Communist party developer 19. “The Lion King” sound 20. His coming out was important for Civil Rights 23. Pundit Alexander 24. Make it 28. “Time in a Bottle” singer Jim 32. Beat it with your hand 33. NYPD notice 36. He was the first gay on American Idol 39. Star journey for George Takei 41. Visitor from Venus or Venice 42. Barrie buccaneer 43. He came out as a “left-handed gay Jew” 46. From Jan. 1 to now 47. Maria’s “do” equivalent 48. Command to Rover 50. Like a family pole 53. Fashion photographer Herb 57. His coming out was important for African Americans 61. One side of a leaf 64. John of “Aida” fame 65. Beatles’ meter maid 66. At least once 67. Heads-up 68. One way to come 69. Spill the beans 70. Bernstein’s staff members 71. Monster’s loch

Down

1. Snatches 2. Indian head 3. Warwick’s “___ Little Prayer for You” 4. Lesbian folk singer 5. Bread spoiler 6. Good buddy 7. When doubled, Mork’s good-bye

8. Cockeyed 9. African language 10. Some pipes 11. “Fourscore and seven years ___ ... ” 12. Title for a man who avoids sex with women 13. Suffix with musket 21. Cicero’s queer 22. SALT subject 25. The Riddler, to Batman 26. Plumed wader 27. “Loved not wisely, but too well” 29. Singer Anita 30. Piece of leg 31. Eastern positions 33. Opportunity for Glenn Burke 34. Madrid museum 35. Flat hat 37. Ballet move 38. Hathaway of “Brokeback Mountain” 40. Kind of reaction 44. “At Wit’s End” author Bombeck 45. Auto pioneer Benz 49. “Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit” director Beeban 51. Clarification beginning

52. Yo-Yo Ma’s instrument 54. You can wrap it around your package 55. Shakespeare’s Andronicus 56. Ginger cookies 58. Leave as is 59. Brought forth fruit 60. You don’t want them in your pants 61. Stroke your furry one 62. Gardner of “Show Boat” 63. Come together SOLUTION

Philadelphia Gay News www.philagaynews.com

OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

Family Portraits I have a confession. I come from a family of maternal packrats. My mother was/is a hoarder, just shy of us calling Dr. Phil on her (or better yet, Niecy Nash from “Clean House,” since we share a last name and all). Her mother was a “collector” and I fear I have some of the same tendencies. Especially in this day of going green, I get a knot in my stomach when I throw something away that I think someone else could use. Fortunately, I’ve found a way to end the cycle: PAT, otherwise known as Philadelphia AIDS Thrift. I decided to clean out at least a portion of my basement in the summer, but where to take my old cassette tapes and computer parts from the days before I went Mac? I felt slightly embarrassed, fearing they’d look at me with scorn, like the Main Line thrift store I tried last summer: “We don’t take Atari!” Fortunately, at PAT, a young man with a broad smile greeted me, and treated me like I’d just brought in my firstborn as a gift. “We can definitely put these out, I’ll find someone who could use them ...” He was so enthusiastic I came back the next day with another trunkload. Little did Adam Proctor know, he may have just ended my family curse. A real people person, Proctor embodies the bumper-sticker adage “Straight, but not narrow.” I spoke to the community ally about his work at Philly AIDS Thrift. PGN: So what do you do at PAT? AP: My official title is bric-abrack pricer, but I do a little bit of everything. I open up and close the store, count the money, handle donations and price items; sometimes I’m on the register; greet customers. PGN: That’s a great job title. How do you figure out what to charge? AP: Bottom line, I go with what I’d be willing to pay for something. But we’ll also go online and use eBay to see what items are worth or sites like Alibris for books. PGN: Are you a volunteer at PAT? AP: I’m one of the staff members. We have a small number of paid staff and about 30-40 volunteers. It’s great, we have all sorts of volunteers — people who shop at the store and want to help out, college students who do it for credit and a

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Suzi Nash lot of high-school kids during the summer. PGN: Are you from Philly? AP: No, I grew up in Chichester, a suburb about 20 minutes out of Philly. PGN: Are you an only child? AP: No, I have two brothers and a sister. PGN: Were you a liberal household or conservative? AP: I’d say more on the liberal side, but they really weren’t into politics. My brother ran for mayor in California and was the youngest person ever to run for mayor. He didn’t win and that was about the closest our family has gotten to politics. PGN: How did you end up at PAT? AP: I was the manager at a Goodwill store in Delaware. I like that in the thrift-store business you meet a lot of cool people and have access to some amazing stuff. When I moved to Philadelphia, I tried a few places on South Street and one of the Goodwills here, and was waiting to hear from them when my girlfriend at the time took me to Philly AIDS Thrift. I loved it at first sight. I left a résumé and the manager, Christina, called me back like 30 seconds later and I got the job. PGN: How does PAT help people with AIDS? AP: We keep enough money to keep the lights on and pay the employees and the rest is donated. We give about $4,000 a month to ActionAIDS and they divide it among the different programs they work with. The recession has actually been good for us: Our weekly averages have been better than ever. We also have a program where people with HIV or AIDS can get $25 vouchers twice a year to shop for clothing and household goods. It’s a great program. A lot of people take advantage of it. I’d say we get about 100-125 people a month coming in to use the vouchers. It’s a real help. PGN: How old were you when you first learned about AIDS? AP: I was young, maybe eighth grade. I went to school in a really small town and it wasn’t something that was taught or talked

about in school. I guess I was as uniformed as most kids are. I still thought you could get it from kissing and all that nonsense. I didn’t know a whole lot about it before coming here, but I’ve learned so much since then. Just a few months ago we had guest speakers from ActionAIDS come to talk to us and bring us up to speed on things. It’s a real education: You see people coming in and see that people with AIDS can live a full life. I also do a lot of reading about it on my own because I like to know what I’m talking about if someone asks me questions. Medication has made such a difference, but you also see how difficult it can be too. It’s sad sometimes, but when you work here you really feel like you are making a difference. It’s the first job I ever had where I felt like, wow, I’m really helping out. PGN: Do you get many questions about AIDS issues? Or people who object to what you do? AP: Oh, yes! We get people who come in or call and say the most ridiculous things. We have people who want us to change the name of the store. I’ve had people pull me aside and ask if everyone who works at the store has AIDS; I had one person who called and asked if they would get the disease if they wore clothing from our store. But you can’t be, “Wow, really? It’s 2009 and you’re asking that?” You have to be respectful and try to answer them as calmly and respectfully as possible. We want to educate, not alienate. We try to do good whenever possible. PGN: What’s the worst job you’ve had? AP: When I was 15, I worked at Wendy’s! I’ll tell you this, after working at a fast-food place, you don’t ever want to eat at a fastfood place. It was gross. And at 15, I had to work on the grill, so my face was always covered in pimples and the pay was bad. Altogether, it was not a good experience. I worked there for six months and then quit because I wanted to grow a beard and they didn’t allow facial hair! PGN: Did you know that [Wendy’s founder] Dave Thomas was extremely conservative? He pulled advertising from the Ellen DeGeneres sitcom after she came out.

ADAM PROCTOR Photo: Suzi Nash

AP: Oh wow, really? That’s terrible. You get people like that and wonder, What are you thinking? I just don’t get it; that frame of mind should just be dead and gone. It’s just so rude. PGN: What were you like as a kid? AP: I was a pretty fun, outgoing kid. I loved to horse around with my friends. I generally liked being outside more than inside. I had a lot of girlfriends in my day and sometimes I kind of regret that; wish I would have just stuck to one person. I played sports, ran track, that sort of thing. I played with my siblings a lot. It was my older brother Aaron, then me, then Josh, then my sister Ashley. Ashley and I were the closest because she played sports and the other two couldn’t. I also used to play Barbies with her. But we’re all still close and I’m lucky to have them all nearby. PGN: What’s most unusual thing someone has donated? AP: Someone dropped off a gun once. I mean, it was old, but it was real. We got a skull donated, a real human skull. Which actually was worth a lot of money. We looked it up online and real heads go for a few thousand dollars. We didn’t sell it, though; we have it on display with a sign that says, “Shoplifter of the Month.” We get a lot of gross things. Probably the most common thing is food. People will donate pots and pans and they’ll still have old food in them, crusty old spaghetti or something.

PGN: What’s the most expensive thing donated? AP: Mostly clothing. We get a lot of really nice wedding dresses. Someone dropped off a leather coat and we priced it online. I forget the designer, but it was selling for about $4,000. We also get a lot of expensive books. You’d be surprised at how much they can go for. We’ll get books donated that are over a hundred years old and go for several hundred dollars. We’ll price a book that goes for a few hundred for about $90. PGN: Speaking of clothes, what were your worst and best Halloween costumes? AP: The worst was one year when I went as a chair. I just strapped a chair on my lap and called it a day. The best was in fifth grade when I went as the headless horseman. It was one of those costumes that didn’t come from a store. My parents made it and it was wicked cool! The shirt was made from an old curtain and it rose above my head, so it looked like I really was headless. It was amazing. PGN: What did you get into trouble for the most? AP: Staying out too late. I actually had to do community service for it. I’d hang out with my best friend Dave and we were never really doing anything bad; just hang out past curfew. We’d go down to the school at night, climb the fence and run on the track. That was our genius plan for See PORTRAITS, Page 42

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OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

Philly Fashion Week to showcase local talent By Larry Nichols PGN Staff Writer The City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection will make its most assured attempt to be the center of the fashion world when it hosts Philadelphia Fashion Week, an inside peek into what’s stylistically in store for the rest of 2009 and early 2010. The event will feature more than a dozen runway shows, pop-up boutiques and live entertainment through Oct. 10. Charlie Smith, the event’s openly gay production manager and artistic director, said this edition is going to be the largest of its kind for the city. “We’ve been working on Philadelphia Fashion Week for a year now so it’s really wonder-

ful to see it come to fruition,” he said. “There have been attempts by other people in the past, but this is the first Philadelphia Fashion Week that has been recognized and embraced by a wide array of designers. The sheer size of it has been a challenge and a wonderful growing experience for all of us. It’s the largest fashion event ever to come to Philadelphia and much larger than any production that I’ve produced. So we were really very conscious in how we saw the event taking place and developing.” Smith added that he and the other organizers, including creative director Michael Anderer and executive director Kristie Bergey, structured the show to be about Philadelphia. “It’s not as though we’ve taken

GAR-DE (FROM LEFT); MICHAEL ANDERER AND CHARLIE SMITH

New York’s fashion week and implanted it in Philadelphia,”

he said. “We’ve really built the event to give back by supporting

the schools, by it being a sustainable green event and by pushing local retail. We really feel a need in the city for the fashion and the cultural exposure that we’re providing, and we hope and believe that the city is going to respond to it for a really long time.” Of course there are sure to be some eye-catching designs at Philadelphia Fashion Week, and Smith said there is as much a “wow” factor to the student shows. “ We a r e s h o w c a s i n g 1 7 designers and, being involved in it for the past year, I have a lot of excitement for each of the designers,” he said. “We really enjoyed Strangefruit, Melani von Alexandria, and Marina Moscow is so colorful and couture. There’s some really edgy designers like GAR-DE participating and Wrath Arcane. During the fittings, I was really impressed by the students. We’ve seen some magnificent talents who will proudly represent the future of fashion from Philadelphia. I’m a fan of pretty much all of it. There is a really thriving scene here and it’s really growing. Philadelphia has such an eclectic and diverse culture. It really has a varied style of its own.” When it comes to some of the big-name designers, Smith said show organizers didn’t get everyone they wanted to participate in this year’s fashion week. Even so, the buzz around the show has generated some bigname interest for 2010, which, of course, he could not reveal. “We already have a positive response for next year,” he said. “There are some amazing designers that have already signed up. Philadelphia has a reputation in some crowds that it may not be as fashionable as New York. What I hope Philadelphia Fashion Week will do is experience all the different styles of fashion from the fashion we’re providing this year with the independent designers and the couture designers, but also the recognizable names.” Philadelphia Fashion Week runs 4-10 p.m. through Oct. 10 at 23rd Street Armory, 22 S. 23rd St. For more information, visit www.philadelphiafashionweek. org or call (215) 564-1488. ■ Larry Nichols can be reached at larry@epgn.com.

OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

Offline

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Bruce Yelk

Come out, come out wherever you are I’d like to start by congratulating the winners from Nightlifegay. com’s first Gayborhood Games on Sept. 26 at Voyeur Nightclub (formerly Pure, 1221 St. James St.). All participants delivered standout performances in front of a packed house, but the winners separated themselves from the competition to earn their titles in Philadelphia’s first live “Best Of” contest. Here’s a quick rundown of the champions: Outstanding Chef: Rachel, More Than Just Ice Cream; Outstanding Salon, Women: Ettore Salon & Spa; Outstanding Salon, Men: Andre Richards Salon; Outstanding Drag Act: Alexis Cartier; Outstanding Comic: Jess Carpenter; Outstanding Vocalist: Howard Frankel; Outstanding Bartender: Henry Brinton from the Venture Inn. A big thank-you to all the sponsors, contestants and volunteers who made the Gayborhood Games a success. Your support and participation enable the development of innovative events that keep our local LGBT social scene evolving. Speaking of evolution, the next two weeks offer events to further the LGBT political movement and build the visibility of our local gay community. Over the past several months,

I’ve grown increasingly excited about one of the most significant events in the fight for LGBT civil rights — the National Equality March in Washington, D.C. Over this weekend, a series of political and community-building events will take place in our nation’s capitol, culminating in the Equality March and Rally. Beginning at noon Sunday, Oct. 11, participants will march to the west lawn of the Capitol building for a series of inspirational speeches and music from 2-5 p.m. Organized by one of the pioneers in San Francisco’s gayrights struggle, Cleve Jones, the national march couldn’t come at a more important moment. Due to a series of recent events, such as President Obama’s leadership vacuum on LGBT civil rights; an increasingly vocal opposition to key issues including marriage equality, the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and statutory protections from workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity; and a very troubling culture of legislative appeasement by many of our community’s largest advocacy organizations, it’s critical that each of us contributes to a new LGBT grassroots movement for equality. This ambitious goal is why I’ll be heading to D.C. this weekend. It’s not OK to be satisfied with maintaining the status quo by solely relying on existing organizations to fight the battle on our behalf. Each one of us must take respon-

sibility: We must get involved, get active and not stop until we’re guaranteed equal rights under the law. Visit equalityacrossamerica. org/march for more information. As the National Equality March is underway in Washington, many gay and lesbian Philadelphians will be expressing their spirit at OutFest — our annual Gayborhood block party in celebration of National Coming Out Day. From noon7 p.m. Sunday, the streets will be filled with local businesses, organizations and community members sharing resources, stories, information and laughs. It’s always a fun afternoon, and one of the last opportunities to hit up a weekend festival before outdoor events take a break for the winter.Check out phillypride.org for more information. Also taking place this week-

end is Sapphire Fund’s Blue Ball. One of the country’s longestrunning multi-day dance events, Blue Ball benefits local charitable organizations. On the heels of Wednesday’s Junior Blue party at Woody’s and Thursday’s cocktail event at Q, 1234 Locust St., Blue Ball is well underway. The main event is at Voyeur Nightclub from 10 p.m.-8 a.m. Featuring super DJ Tony Moran, this is guaranteed to be an amazing event packed full of hot guys and special surprises. General-admission tickets for the main event are $25 and VIP passes are $35. Visit blueball.sapphirefund.org/2009/ for information or to purchase advance tickets. Looking past this weekend, I’m thrilled to be involved with one of the most exciting Halloween events ever made available to gay and lesbian Philadelphians:

Gay Community Night at Eastern State Penitentiary, 2124 Fairmount Ave. This is the first time Nightlifegay. com has partnered with Eastern State Penitentiary for a special LGBT event at Terror Behind the Walls. The event will be held Oct. 21 from 7-9 p.m., with a limited number of tickets available until Oct. 20 only through Nightlifegay.com/tickets for $20. Immediately following Terror Behind the Walls, of-age participants are invited to the Urban Saloon, 2120 Fairmount Ave., for a post-tour party until 11 p.m. If there are any events you’re excited about that aren’t included in this column, send information to Bruce@nightlifegay.com, and I’ll feature it on Nightlifegay. com. ’Til next time, get offline and see what your community has to offer! ■

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OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

CDs

New releases clog up PGN’s inbox By Larry Nichols PGN Staff Writer Whitney Houston I Look To You Arista Records Ye a h , w e get it. Kudos to Whitney for getting off the pipe, reality TV and Bobby B r o w n . S h e ’s b a c k and looking healthy — if not slightly glazed over — on the album cover. And it’s about time. Somebody has got to give Mariah a run for her diva money. But which Whitney is back is the question: Is it show-stopping powerhouse ’80s Whitney,

’90s blockbuster multi-media Whitney or glossy new-millennial Whitney? The answer is all of the above. Whitney covers all the expected stylistic bases on her comeback album and comes out of the gate strong with the very-classic-sounding R&B funk of “Million Dollar Bill.” She follows up with more modern electro-tinged tracks like the pumping “Nothin’ But Love” and the pop-y “Call You Tonight.” It wouldn’t be a Whitney Houston album if there wasn’t some soaring inspirational balladry, and the sap is flowing at a healthy clip on both the title track and “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength.” They’re fine enough, but not earth-shattering specimens and, in all honesty, after pulling herself out of the

abyss, Houston deserves to lyrically pat herself on the back for a few songs. That same kind of balladry works a bit better when it takes up the first half of “A Song For You,” which then dives headlong into expertly executed and danceable techno. As a reigning diva, it’s pretty much a given that Houston is going to take a stab at whatever the latest hotness is in pop music. “For The Lovers,” with its synth-happy groove, is a prime example of how this can work. Thankfully, Houston’s smart enough not to get wrapped up in the autotune craze. But her collaboration with Akon on “Like I Never Left” falls a little flat. “I Look To You” is a solid effort at putting a fresh shine on Houston’s diva crown.

Meshell Ndegeocello Devil’s Halo Downtown Music To call “Devil’s Halo” a stunning, jaw-dropping effort is an understatement. Out singer, multi-instrumentalist and all-around sonic bad-ass Ndegeocello has always fearlessly explored and pushed at the boundaries of R&B, jazz, funk and rock, but on this, her eighth studio album, she still manages to exceed expectations with assured genre-bending music that feels familiar and, at the same time, altogether fresh and new. Ndegeocello makes the sexy and the melancholy work in perfect tandem, the likes of which has not been seen since the peak of Sade’s career, on tracks like “Tie One On,” “Hair of the Dog” and “White Girl.” Ambient soundscapes and alternative rock swirl around each other to create a superbly trippy vibe on “Slaughter.” Alternative

tones and restrained synthesizer lines pepper the more infectious songs, like the upbeat rock of “Bright Shiny Morning” and the earthy groove “Blood on the Curb.” The biggest surprises on “Devil’s Halo” are Ndegeocello’s mournful and folky “Crying In Your Beer” and her powerfully sexy reimagining of Ready For The World’s ’80s hit “Love You Down.” The latter would have been a cheesy effort in less skilled hands, but Ndegeocello’s version makes it the sexiest song on an album overflowing with lust-inducing moments that should leave all but the most jaded listener breathless. Lynda Carter At Last Potomac Productions We don’t need a golden lasso to make us tell the truth on this one. Can Lynda Carter (aka TV’s “Wonder Woman” from 1975-79) sing? Sure.

Scott A. Drake – Photography Your Premier Philadelphia Photographer 267.736.6743

scottdrakephotos@gmail.com

OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

Does she know how to pick a decent list of standards for her jazz album? Yeah. There you have it. That’s pretty much all you need to know to figure out if you want to pick up this album. “At Last” is pretty much what you can expect from someone who probably has very little to prove and nothing to lose as an artist who has a significant degree of name recognition to fall back on. The performances on the album are tight, but very middle-of-theroad: laidback and pleasant but nothing especially challenging as far as repertoire or panache. “Cloudburst” and “Deed I Do” both have a fun and playful energy not seen elsewhere on the album. Songs like “Million Dollar Secret” and “Secret of Life” hit their groove a little better than the rather sedate interpretations of R&B classics like “You Send Me” and “Where Did Our Love Go.” Maybe we’re wrong for hoping someone who used to run around in boots and a shiny one-piece kicking bad-guy ass would be a bit more aggressive and borderline campy as a jazz singer. But once you get past that, “At Last” is an effort any lounge singer would be glad to put her/his stamp on. Madonna Celebration Warner Bros. I t ’s h a r d to justify the two-disc hits collection, considering this is Madonna’s fourth such collection and anyone who really, really has to have the two new tracks offered could easily download them from iTunes. “Revolver” does a good job at being a bouncy pop track, but it sounds more like a Rihanna castoff than something worthy of being added to the Madonna pantheon. Plus, the guest verse by Lil’ Wayne doesn’t add much excitement to the track. She could have spent her money better. The other new track, “Celebration,” is more in line with Madonna’s current sound, dripping with catchy but inconsequential techno-pop. The rest of the collection is packed with high points, but if you’re one of the zillions of people who own 1991’s “The Immaculate Collection,” you’d already know that: “Celebration” has all but one of the songs from that collection. There are also

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

later hits, the best of which come from 2000’s “Music” and 2005’s “Confessions on a Dance Floor” and the least of which come from last year’s “Hard Candy.” Then there are some omissions about which hardcore Madonna fans might get up in arms. It’s hard to believe “Who’s That Girl” and “Miles Away” made the cut but “Oh Father” and “Human Nature” did not. There is a lot to celebrate on this compilation, but the problem is we’ve already been celebrating the best Madonna has to offer for more than a decade. Otep Smash the Control Machine Victory Records O t e p , fronted and guided by lesbian poet Otep Shamaya, is absolutely brutal and relentless both sonically and lyrically on the band’s latest effort, “Smash the Control Machine.” Shamaya’s voice is both the yin and the yang, soft and seductive one minute and unchained and lacerating the next. The music doesn’t slouch either. The album’s opener, “Rise, Rebel, Resist,” is a crushing soundtrack with an unapologetic manifesto: “If I can’t be loved, then I’ll be hated.” Other tracks, like “Numb and Dumb,” “Sweet Tooth” and “Unveiled,” keep up the blistering pace throughout the record as well. But if Otep were all speed and heaviness, “Smash” would wear thin quickly. Luckily it doesn’t, as Otep shows an interesting range of dynamics. The piano- and violin-driven “Ur A Wmn Now” is delicate-sounding but devastating with its lyrical content. “Kisses & Kerosene” is a disturbing revenge/snuff fantasy that for some reason sounds unbelievably sexy and poetic coming from Otep. There’s also a creepy hidden 13th track that’s irresistible. Try not to give your neighbors nightmares while listening to this worthy and metallic effort. Rufus Wainwright Milwaukee at Last!!! Decca Records Rufus should do all of his records as live albums.

Live albums can be incredibly boring affairs that often sound just like the studio recording with canned crowd noise. Thankfully, Mr. Wainwright and Milwaukee weren’t having that. Wainwright’s grand pop ambitions really pop in the live arena, especially on songs like “Sanssouci” and “Release the

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Stars,” in which the diverse instrumentation achieves added prominence. Now, if you aren’t a fan of Wainwright’s most recent effort, “Release the Stars,” you might be a little disappointed, as seven of the 11 songs on this effort come from that album. Fans might also think the out troubadour is being a little stingy, considering the CD is

less than half as long as the concert it was culled from. Seek out the DVD of the same name if you want the whole shebang. If you haven’t seen Wainwright live, “Milwaukee at Last!!!” will make you sorry you haven’t. ■ Larry Nichols can be reached at larry@epgn.com.

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OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

Reformulated film fest marks 18 years By Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor In the aftermath of its separating from TLA Entertainment Group earlier this year, the Philadelphia Film Society is offering a five-day Philadelphia Film Festival — 181⁄2, as it is known — from Oct. 15-19. The program features new films by several queer writers, directors, producers and personalities, two of them Philadelphians. One highlight of 18-1⁄2 is the Philadelphia premiere of native filmmaker/producer Lee Daniels’ award-winning drama “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire.” Astonishing, heartbreaking and ultimately uplifting, this remarkable drama about Claireece “Precious” Jones (Gabourey “Gabby” Sidibe), a pregnant 16-year-old in 1987

Harlem, unspools at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Prince Music Theater, 1412 Chestnut St. Daniels is expected to attend the screening. “Precious” catapults viewers into the screwed-up life of its title character. Trapped in unrelenting and unforgiving circumstances, she is the victim of repeated sexual abuse by her (absent) father and tormented mentally and physically by her mother (Mo’Nique). Daniels stylishly conveys Precious’ life to viewers, and it is alternately riveting and depressing. She escapes her perpetual despair through flights of fantasy in which she imagines herself to be a celebrity. Daniels milks these moments — a contrast to her harsh reality — for all their ecstatic joy. Yet what really comes across in this vibrant, satisfying film is how Precious finds her inner strength

BEN (ASHLEY SPRINGER, LEFT) AND JOHNNY (ZACH GILFORD) IN “DARE”

and voice through the guidance of a lesbian teacher, Ms. Rain (Paula Patton), at an alternative school. The interaction between Precious and Ms. Rain forms the emotional center of this rollercoaster of a film. Sidibe gives an extraordinary performance in her screen debut, communicating the depth of her interior pain with just a squint. As Precious’ mother, Mo’Nique has some remarkable moments, most notably a speech in the film’s end that will leave viewers speechless. If the tone of “Precious” is wild and inconsistent, it is meant to mirror the character’s incredible journey of self-discovery. This film will resonate with anyone who has felt different or troubled.

PRECIOUS (GABBY SIDIBE, LEFT) AND MS. RAIN (PAULA PATTON) IN “PRECIOUS”

The other film with Philadelphia ties is gay native writer/producer David Brind’s “Dare,” showing at 5 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Prince, with an encore at 9:45 p.m. Oct. 19 at the Ritz at the Bourse, 214 Walnut St. Filmed in Center City and Bryn Mawr, “Dare” originated as a short film. (It played the gay filmfest circuit back in 2005). This feature-length version, directed by Adam Salky, who is straight, fleshes out the characters and their backstories. Although not as sharp as the short, this enjoyable film has its pleasures. The plot concerns Alexa (Emmy Rostrom) and her gay best friend Ben (Ashley Springer) both pining after the irresistible Johnny

(Zach Gilford). Yet the point of the film is — wisely, thankfully — not who sleeps together, but how an agent of change dares each of these characters to take a chance and take control of their lives. Alexa has an encounter with an actor (openly gay Alan Cummings) who encourages her to shake things up. Ben is hit on by a guy (Brind in a cute cameo) in a coffee shop who urges him to act. And Johnny’s session with his therapist (queer icon Sandra Bernhard) forces him to examine what he wants and why. The interactions among the characters feel mostly genuine, but Alexa’s, Ben’s and Johnny’s fancy houses and cars provide See FESTIVAL, Page 42

OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

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PORTRAITS From Page 31 trouble in a small town. When the cops would come, we’d hide under the cars in the parking lot, and one day they shined a flashlight under the cars and caught us. I had to do 18 hours of community service selling Christmas trees at the fire station. The firemen were really cool and I actually enjoyed it so much, I went back the next year and volunteered. PGN: Maybe that’s what got you started on your path to PAT? AP: [Laughs.] Probably!

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PGN: A favorite family tradition? AP: Just getting together on Thanksgiving. My parents recently moved to St. Louis, so we probably won’t be able to have them here this year, which is a shame. I always enjoy the three f’s — family, football and food! PGN: Are you single or involved? AP: I’m involved with a woman named Eve, so we get the Adamand-Eve jokes about once a day. We’ve been together for about 15 months, my longest relationship ever. She is a volunteer here, which is how we met. PGN: What’s great about Eve? AP: Her smile and her ability to make me laugh! To me, that’s the most important thing, the ability

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just as much shading as the recreational liquor, pills and sexual activity these high-schoolers engage in throughout the film. Brind and Salky seem so concerned with making sure every line, every prop and every camera movement has meaning, “Dare” lacks the requisite emotion. It’s a shame the film isn’t bolder, or even naughtier, but it’s still well worth a look for the curious and the bi-curious. Out French filmmaker François Ozon’s peculiar entry “Ricky” (2:30 p.m. Oct. 16 and 3 p.m. Oct. 18) does not feature queer themes or characters, but it does have a title character who is “different.” Nine months after sharing a cigarette and having sex with Paco (Sergi Lopez), Katie (Alexandra Lamy), a single mother and a fac-

OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

to laugh. And not that fake, “huh, huh, huh,” I mean a real laugh from the gut. I’ll make fun of her and she always turns it around on me. She can take a joke and then dish it back. Like, if she comes over and her hair’s not done, I’ll go to make a comment, but I’ll stumble on my words, and she’ll say, “Wow, that would have hurt if you actually got your words out.” She’s very smart.

do that! It was probably the worst experience of my life. To this day I can’t smell tequila without getting sick.

PGN: What’s a song you’re embarrassed to admit you like? AP: Oh! You know that song by Enrique Iglesias [in falsetto], “Do you know what it feeeeels like loving someone that’s in a rush to throw you away?” “The Ping Pong Song”! I love that song, but it’s embarrassing.

PGN: You must have a big gay clientele at PAT. Do you get hit on a lot by the boys? AP: Yes, men do hit on me quite a bit. I take it as a compliment. We had a raffle once and one of the prizes was supposed to be a date with Adam. I think we had more men buy tickets than women! I think the thing fell through, but I would have gone on the date if a guy had won. It’s no big deal.

PGN: You have your ears done. Any other tattoos or piercings? AP: I used to have a lot of my face pierced. I had a labret and a Monroe, I had my nose pierced, my eyebrow, my tongue. But I’m 27 now and I just felt like it was time to get rid of them. I have my girlfriend’s name tattooed on my forearm. PGN: What advice would you give the “you” of 10 years ago? AP: I’d say find a nice girl, but I’ve already done that ... I’d tell him not to do the tequila shots! I was competing against this guy named Max and I won, but I definitely paid the price for it. I did something like 27 shots of tequila in a three-hour period and was hung over for days! So I would tell Adam of 10 years ago not to tory worker, gives birth to Ricky (Arthur Peyret). Returning from work one day, she discovers her cute baby’s back has some strange bumps and bruises. Katie accuses Paco of hurting their child, but he did nothing to endanger his son. Later, when those bumps develop into wings — and Ricky flies out of his crib — Katie and her daughter Lisa (Mélusine Mayance) are flabbergasted. Whether this metaphysical story flies with viewers, however, depends on their tolerance for the magical-realist tale. Ozon features an equal number of compelling scenes of Ricky flying and/or in peril, as well as one where he plays up the family dynamics — emphasizing the mother/child bond, and how Katie’s unconditional love for her child prompts her to act perhaps irrationally. Yet the film’s tone is too idiosyncratic to be completely effec-

PGN: Do you collect anything? AP: Believe it or not, even with all the things that come through the store, I’m a minimalist. But I do have a hat collection. I have about 80 hats of all kinds. I have them hung up on my wall.

PGN: What made you so progressive? AP: I think my parents always taught me to be fair to people. They were nice people, my brothers and sister are nice people. I tend to hang around people who are nice to one another. I always look for the bright side of things. You can’t be mean to a random group of people just because they’re different than you. What a horrible way to live. I’d much prefer to make friends. ■ To suggest a community member for “Family Portraits,” write to: Family Portraits, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147 or portraits05@aol.com. tive. Ozon uses sinister music to cue viewers that something is not right with the baby, but Ricky’s wings are never malevolent. Lisa becomes jealous of her mom’s bonds with Paco and Ricky, but her cruelest act is throwing her doll. Nevertheless, there is something unexpectedly, undeniably poignant about “Ricky.” This curious film about an unusual baby is inexplicably beguiling. Lastly, “The Loss of the Teardrop Diamond” (noon Oct. 16 at the Prince; 2:15 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Ritz at the Bourse) boasts an original, unproduced screenplay by the late Tennessee Williams. While not available for preview, the fact that this film played the Toronto Film Festival back in 2008 suggests it is for Williams’ completists only. For more information, visit www.filmadelphia.org. ■

OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

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Michael’s Café excels in comfort food By Larry Nichols PGN Staff Writer It’s hard to say which is more addictive at Michael’s Café, the dinners or the breakfasts. Owner Michael Clouston opened the café, 1623 E. Passyunk Ave. six months ago after making a name for himself in real estate. Judging from the results, he’s made a shrewd business move. The philosophy at Michael’s is to keep things simple and good, and the good people there have quickly made a name for themselves by serving up perfectly executed comfort food made from scratch, in an elegantly homey environment. The results are exceptional quality, reasonable prices and large enough portions to give anyone’s home cooking some serious competition. Standard dinner favorites

include the meatloaf ($14), a hearty slab of beefy goodness topped with a robust brown gravy and with fresh veggies and mashed potatoes on the side. With colder weather creeping in, the chicken stew ($13) is another surefire winner, with fresh chicken, celery and carrots and a huge hunk of cornmeal bread that you can butter up and eat on the side or break up in the stew. We highly recommend the latter, as it soaks up the chicken stock and adds a nice texture to the stew. For diners looking for something on the lighter side, the café’s broiled tilapia in light lemon butter ($14) or the linguine with grilled shrimp ($16) is a great way to go. Vegetarians aren’t left out in the cold at Michael’s, as there are a few meatless items on the regular menu as well. The veg-

gie burgers ($7), made fresh from red pepper, chickpeas, oatmeal, onion, tomato and lemon juice, are a favorite. There’s also the big salad ($6.50), which Clouston admits was inspired by the dish often ordered on “Seinfeld.” But with its healthy portions of tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, goat cheese and walnuts, we can’t argue with the name. Aside from the big salad and veggie burger, the lunchtime crowd is also served well at Michael’s Café, whether dining in or grabbing some take-out offering like the open-faced grilled cheese with tomato ($5 or $6.50 with bacon). Brunch is usually one of the busiest times for the café, and with good reason: Breakfast really pulls on the heartstrings. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that they serve breakfast until 3 p.m. daily.

MICHAEL’S CAFÉ DINING ROOM Photos: Scott A. Drake

They know us so well. Actually, it is the food. As a general rule of thumb, you can always gauge how good a restaurant is for breakfast by the quality

of its home fries, and Michael’s does not disappoint with its crispy and well-seasoned breakfast potatoes. That attention to detail carries over to the entrées

Doors Open at 7 am Last seating at 2:30 am

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OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

are a must-add to your meal. The sausage patties we ordered were far above and beyond the frozen, uniform circular pieces of pork we’re accustomed to. If Michael’s only did standard comfort foods, it would be enough to inspire complete devotion. But the chefs also turn their inspirations into daily and weekly specials. The night we dined, specials included an Indian-inspired curried pork with braised cabbage, topped with crème fraîche and served with seasoned rice. The spices were substantial without being strong ENTRANCE TO enough to scare away the casual MICHAEL’S CAFE diner. Other specials included a crisp and refreshing beet salad with as well. The orange ricotta panblue-cheese dressing, oranges and cakes ($5) are a delight, thanks to their delicate texture and the orange fresh Parmesan, and an excellent butternut squash soup ($3.50), flavor, making all other pancakery topped with cognac butter and seem leaden by comparison. toasted squash seeds that gave the The café omelet ($6.50), with soup an added and welcome richfresh mushrooms, spinach and ness and crunch. choice of cheese, is another dayAnd if you happen to miss time favorite, as is the French toast out on a special you like, you’re ($7). The breakfast meats (bacon, encouraged to ask for it. If they turkey bacon, sausage or ham, $3)

have the ingredients, they’ll make it for you. The breakfast specials were even better. We were a bit skeptical when we saw risotto being offered for breakfast but, in the hands of the fine chefs at Michael’s, it was a treat covered in seared sausage and topped with a perfectly poached egg. With its cozy, friendly atmosphere and amazing food, Michael’s Café is an irreplaceable taste of home. ■

PAGE 45

Pico de Gallo

15th and South • 215-545-2710

Larry Nichols can be reached at larry@epgn.com.

If you go Michael’s Café 1623 E. Passyunk Ave. (215) 389-9915 www.michaels-cafe.net Open Wednesday-Saturday for breakfast, lunch and dinner Sunday for breakfast and lunch

Bucket of Beer 2 shots Tequilla Gold Fiesta Platter

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Mohan Parmar

Serves Indian Royalty 236 South Street Philadelphia, PA 19147

Tel: 215-925-3881 Fax: 215-925-3882

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OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

For the best flavor and value, go for whole spices By Jim Romanoff The Associated Press When fat is cut from recipes, flavor can follow. That’s when spices become the key to making lighter foods taste great. And if you want to get the most out of your spices, it’s best to follow a few simple tips. Whenever possible, buy whole spices, says Raghavan Iyer, author of “660 Curries.” Spices get their flavor from the oils inside. Once the spices are ground, the oils lose potency, which means freshly ground peppercorns pack more flavor than pepper purchased already ground. Whole spices also are a better value. Stored in airtight, glass containers away from heat, says Iyer, whole spices will stay fresh for at least a year. Ground spices last for only a few months. Buy spices from the bulk section of natural-foods store so that you can buy only what you need for a short period. That helps ensure your supply is always fresh. Prices for bulk also tend to be lower than for packaged. For grinding whole spices, a mortar and pestle are nice, but an inexpensive electric coffee grinder is faster and more convenient. Iyer’s recipe for curried chickpeas in coconut sauce gets a fiery burst of flavor from a freshly ground blend of pan-roasted chilies and coriander seeds. The curry, which can be served as a side or main course, is traditionally prepared in India as an offering to the goddess of learning during the Hindu celebration of lights called Diwali. CHICKPEAS IN COCONUT SAUCE Start to finish: 25 minutes Servings: 8 5 teaspoons sesame oil or canola oil

2 tablespoons yellow split peas, picked over for stones 1 teaspoon coriander seeds 2 to 4 dried Thai or cayenne chilies, stems removed 2 cups water 1 teaspoon tamarind paste or con centrate 1 teaspoon black or yellow mustard seeds 3 cups canned or cooked chick peas, drained 2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt or sea salt 1/4-teaspoon turmeric 1/2-cup shredded dried unsweetened coconut, reconstituted 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro

seeds have stopped popping (similar to popcorn), about 30 seconds. Stir in the chickpeas, salt and turmeric. Stir to coat the chickpeas evenly with the spices. Pour in the tamarind water and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to medium and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the chickpeas absorb the flavors, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the ground spices, coconut and cilantro. ■

In a medium saucepan over mediumhigh, heat the oil. Add the split peas, coriander seeds and chilies. Cook, stirring constantly, until the split peas and coriander seeds are reddish brown and the chilies have blackened slightly, about 1 to 2 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat. Using a slotted spoon, skim off the spices and transfer them to a plate to cool CHICKPEAS IN COCONUT SAUCE for about 5 minutes. AP Photo: Larry Crowe Do not discard the oil. Once the spices are cool, put them in a spice grinder (Recipe adapted from Raghavan and grind until the texture resemIyer’s “660 Curries,” Workman bles that of finely ground black Publishing, 2008) pepper. Nutrition information per servIn a medium bowl, combine the ing (values are rounded to the water and tamarind paste. Whisk nearest whole number): 170 caloto dissolve the tamarind. ries; 63 calories from fat; 7 g fat Return the saucepan to medium- (3 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 0 high heat. When the oil is mg cholesterol; 20 g carbohywarmed, add the mustard seeds. drate; 6 g protein; 5 g fiber; 907 Cover the pan and cook until the mg sodium.

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PAGE 47

An Italian take on pulled pork By J.M. Hirsch The Associated Press Spicy pulled pork over polenta only sounds like a culture clash. It oozes comfort and makes more sense than you might think. Polenta, which is made from cornmeal, isn’t all that far removed from the corn tortillas and chips that partner so nicely with the Mexican flavors used to season the pulled pork. To keep this dish convenient, the soft polenta is made from a purchased prepared variety sold in tubes. Chopped and simmered with milk, this polenta quickly softens. Alternatively, you could skip the simmering step and instead oil and grill slices of the polenta. The pork is seasoned with bottled barbecue sauce and drained salsa. If you want to infuse even more flavor, consider adding bay leaves, fennel seeds, garlic cloves and whole black peppercorns to the cooking water.

reach a smooth consistency. Stir in the cheese and jalapeño peppers. Cover and set aside. When the pork is ready, remove it from the water. Discard the water and seasonings. Use forks or your fingers to pull the chunks apart into strands and return them to the pot. Add the barbecue sauce and salsa to the pork. Heat over medium-low until warm.

To serve, spoon polenta onto each plate, then top with pulled pork. Sprinkle with crushed tortilla chips, if using. ■ Nutrition information per serving (values are rounded to the nearest whole number): 722 calories; 128 calories from fat; 14 g fat (7 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 99 mg cholesterol; 103 g carbohydrate; 41 g protein; 10 g fiber; 1,566 mg sodium.

NEW Gay Owned & Operated Cafe on E. Passyunk

PULLED PORK ON SOFT POLENTA Start to finish: 45 minutes (20 minutes active) Servings: 4 1 pound pork loin, cut into 3- to 4-inch sections 16-ounce tube prepared polenta 3/4-cup whole milk 3/4-cup grated manchego cheese 1 tablespoon minced jarred jala peño pepper slices 1 cup spicy barbecue sauce 1 cup salsa, drained 1/2-cup lightly crushed tortilla chips (optional) Bring a large saucepan of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the pork. Boil for 15 minutes or until cooked through. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the polenta and milk. Heat, mashing and stirring the polenta, until smooth and creamy. Add additional milk if needed to

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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

PAGE 49

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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

Diversions Your guide to arts and entertainment

Theater

Alegría Cirque du Soleil’s latest tour is an operatic introspection of the struggle for power and the invigorating energy of youth, relating the tale of power versus weakness, the king versus his jesters and age against youth, Oct. 1316 at the Liacouras Center, 1776 N. Broad St.; (215) 204-2400, and Oct. 20-25 at the Sovereign Center, 700 Penn St., Reading; (610) 898-7469. Billy Crystal: 700 Sundays Crystal’s autobiographical Tony Award-winning blockbuster deals with his youth, growing up in the jazz world of Manhattan, his teenage years and, ﬁnally, adulthood, through Oct. 11 at The Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St.; (215) 7905847. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels The Walnut Street Theater presents the story of two suave and shameless conmen with two very different styles, through Oct. 25, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 574-3550. The First Day of School: A Soccermom Sex Farce 1812 Productions presents a comedy where the characters desperately break free of the doldrums of suburbia in unexpected ways, through Oct. 25 at Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey St.; (215) 592-9560. Haunted Poe Brat Productions presents a theatrical take on a Halloween tradition, the haunted house, with an immersive, multi-sensory experience devoted to the 200th anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe’s birth, through Nov. 1 at Haunted Poe Warehouse, 38 Jackson St.; (800) 838-3006. The History Boys The Arden Theatre presents

the acclaimed drama chronicling the ﬁnal school year of eight clever young British students in pursuit of sex, sport and admission into Oxford or Cambridge, through Nov. 1, 40 N. Second St.; (215) 922-1122. Humor Abuse Philadelphia Theater Company presents the Obie Award-winning production based on Lorenzo Pisoni’s vagabond life as the youngest member of San Francisco’s Pickle Family Circus, through Oct. 25 at Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St.; (215) 9850420. Mister, Mister Quince Productions presents a dark comedy about murder, fame and not-so-innocent childhood, through Oct. 11 at Walnut Street Theater’s Studio 5, 825 Walnut St., and Oct. 15-25 at Shubin Theater, 407 Bainbridge St.; (215) 627-1088. Nathan The Wise People’s Light & Theatre Company kicks off its 35thanniversary season with the American premiere of a story celebrating our differences as well as our shared humanity set in 1192 in Jerusalem, where Jews, Christians and Muslims live side by side, through Oct. 11, 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern; (610) 647-1900. Unidentiﬁed Human Remains and the True Nature of Love New City Stage Company presents a dark comedydrama from the pen of Brad Fraser, one of the writers and producers of the Showtime hit “Queer As Folk,” as he examines the lives of several sexually frustrated individuals who try to learn the meaning of love while living in fear of a serial killer, through Oct. 18 at Adrienne Theater’s Mainstage, 2030 Sansom St.; (215) 563-7500.

Music classical

PGN

Broadway Showstoppers: Revivals Peter Nero and the Philly Pops perform a show that’s now the Broadway event of the season, through Oct. 10 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 7905847.

Pick

Symphonie Fantastique The Philadelphia Orchestra presents a hallucinogenic depiction of an opium trip using some of the most brilliant images and colors in the entire symphonic repertoire, 2 p.m. Oct. 9 and 8 p.m. Oct. 10 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847. Strange Fruit The Kimmel Center presents Danilo Pérez Trio and Lizz Wright performing the music of Billie Holiday, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847. Video Games Live The Kimmel Center presents an explosive entertainment experience featuring live music from the greatest video games of all time, at 3 and 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.

Music other

Nervous But Excited The folk duo performs at 7 p.m. Oct. 9 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400. Richie Havens The singer-songwriter performs at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400. Bob Mould Band Out alt-rock icon Bob Mould performs with his band and Dinosaur Jr. at 8 p.m. Oct. 9 at TLA, 334 South St.; (215) 922-1011. Natalie Cole The Grammy-winning singer

In an effort to inject some much-needed gay into the local comedy scene, out comedian Neil McGarry (left) unleashes his third self-produced comedy show, “The Attack of the 1-4-5 Show,” with fellow gay comic Mike Eiswerth and straight-but-gay-friendly favorites Carolyn Busa, Mike Casey and Joey Callahan, 8 p.m. Oct. 9 at Tuscany Café, 222 W. Rittenhouse Square. For more information or tickets, call (215) 772-0605 or visit neilmcgarry.com. performs at 8 p.m. Oct. 9 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; (215) 572-7650.

at 8 p.m. Oct. 15 at TLA, 334 South St.; (215) 922-1011.

Lesbian Night Out Lesbian rock bands Hunter Valentine and September perform at 10 p.m. Oct. 9 at Triumph Brewing Co., 400 Union Square Drive, New Hope; (215) 862-7200.

The Art of Japanese Craft: 1875 to the Present The Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition surveying the rich diversity of 20th-century Japanese craft, through Oct. 18, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.; (215) 763-8100.

The Bravery The alt-rock band performs at 8 p.m. Oct. 10 at TLA, 334 South St.; (215) 922-1011. Kiss with Buckcherry The raucous rock bands perform at 7 p.m. Oct. 12 at the Wachovia Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; (215) 336-2000. Tiesto The world-renowned DJ performs at 8 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St.; (215) 627-1332. Everclear The alt-rock band performs

Exhibits

Art and Allegory Edge Gallery presents an exhibition featuring Virginia artist Harkrader, Philadelphia artist Salvador DiQuinzio and Canadian artist Ray Mantella, through Oct. 25, 72 N. Second St.; (215) 413-7072. Common Ground: Eight Philadelphia Photographers in the 1960s and 1970s The Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition examining a critical period

for the art of photography and for the Philadelphia art scene, through Jan. 31, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.; (215) 763-8100. Diana: A Celebration The National Constitution Center presents an exhibition exploring Diana’s childhood, her engagement to Prince Charles, their royal wedding and Diana’s life and work as a global humanitarian, through Dec. 31, 525 Arch St.; (866) 917-1787. Embracing the Uncarved Wood: Sculptural Reliefs from Shandong, China Leonard Pearlstein Gallery presents an exhibition featuring 18 large wood reliefs that combine traditional Chinese carving methods with very untraditional subject matter drawn from contemporary and international art sources, through Oct. 21 at Nesbitt Hall, 3215 Market St.; (215) 895-2548.

OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

Notices Send notices at least one week in advance to: Diversions, PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19147; fax them to (215) 925-6437; or e-mail them to diversions@epgn. com. Notices cannot be taken over the phone.

Henri Matisse and Modern Art on the French Riviera The Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of art inspired by the Mediterranean vacation spot, through Oct. 25, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.; (215) 763-8100. A Home For Ghosts ArtStar Gallery hosts an exhibition of works from artist Kurt Halsey, through Nov. 1, 623 N. Second St.; (215) 238-1557. Lace in Translation The Design Center at Philadelphia University

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS presents a new exhibition of contemporary work inspired by historic lace, through April 3, 4200 Henry Ave.; (215) 951-2860. Peaks of Faith: Buddhist Art of the Himalayas The Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition encompassing nearly a millennium of art from across the Himalayan region, through Fall 2009, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.; (215) 7638100. Ragas and Rajas: Musical Imagery of Courtly India The Philadelphia Museum of Art presents a diverse selection of paintings and sculptures from across the subcontinent, through Feb. 28, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.; (215) 763-8100.

Opera

Madama Butterﬂy The Opera Company of Philadelphia presents the most popular work in all of the operatic canon, sung in Italian with English translations, Oct. 9-18 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847. Aida Amici Opera Company presents Verdi’s classic opera at 3 p.m. Oct. 11 at St. Nicholas Hall, 910 Pierce St.;

(215) 224-0257.

ﬁrst half of the 20th century, through Oct. 14, 401 S. Broad St.; (610) 527-4008.

Dance

Thank You, Gregory: A Tribute to the Legends of Tap Out dancer and choreographer Maurice Hines performs a tribute to his brother Gregory and other tap legends, Oct. 9-10 at Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; (215) 898-3900.

Film

Beyond Dracula: Modern Vampire Films Bryn Mawr Film Institute presents a course examining the figure of the vampire in a variety of incarnations, beginning with the prototype, Dracula, in Werner Herzog’s haunting and atmospheric “Nosferatu,” and continuing with more recent films offering diverse takes on the creature, through Oct. 28, 824 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr; (610) 527-9898. Moguls, Mensches and Nudniks: Jews and American Cinema Gershman Y presents a course discussing some of the ways in which the Jewish identity of the film industry’s early, prominent moguls was a key ingredient in Hollywood’s formation and success in the

The Bride of Frankenstein & The Horror of Dracula The classic horror films are screened at 2 p.m. Oct. 11 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; (610) 917-0223. Trick R’ Treat The horror film starring Anna Paquin is screened at 8 p.m. Oct. 12 at Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; (215) 9225483. The Godfather II Bryn Mawr Film Institute presents the second chapter of the Mafia trilogy at 7 p.m. Oct. 13, 824 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr; (610) 5279898.

Books

Mary Cappello The author of “Called Back: My Reply to Cancer, My Return to Life” hosts a reading at 4 p.m. Oct. 10 at Robin’s Books and Moonstone Arts Center, 110a S. 13th St.; (215) 735-9600. Women’s Ink Barbara Berg, author of “Sexism in America: Alive, Well, and Ruining Our Future,” hosts a discussion

PAGE 51 followed by an open reading at 2 p.m. Oct. 11 at Robin’s Books and Moonstone Arts Center, 110a S. 13th St.; (215) 735-9600. William C. Harris The author of “Queer Externalities: Hazardous Encounters in American Culture” hosts a reading at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; (215) 923-2960. Steve Poses The author of “At Home By Steve Poses: A Caterer’s Guide to Cooking and Entertaining” hosts a reading at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; (215) 686-5322. Michael Awkward The author of “Burying Don Imus: Anatomy of a Scapegoat” hosts a reading at 7 p.m. Oct. 15 at Robin’s Books and Moonstone Arts Center, 110a S. 13th St.; (215) 735-9600.

Etc.

Philadelphia Motorcycle Show Bikes, custom hogs, riceburners, tattoos, BMX stunts, mixed martial arts and all sorts of two-wheeled entertainment are on display to be celebrated and pined for, Oct. 9-11 at Greater

Philadelphia Expo Center, 100 Station Ave., Oaks; (856) 626-3226. Chris Hardwick The comedian seen on Comedy Central and G4’s “Attack of the Show” performs at 8 p.m. Oct. 9 at Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; (215) 922-5483. Don Rickles The classic insult comic performs at 8 p.m. Oct. 9 and 10 at the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; (609) 317-1000. Revved Up for the Cause: Tri-State Breast Cancer Awareness Ride The Philly Motorcycle Show hosts a motorcycle run to promote breast cancer awareness, featuring breast cancer survivor Jan Emanuel-Costley, the founder and president of Divas For A Cure, at noon Oct. 10. Registration starts at 11 a.m. Oct. 10 at Barb’s Harley Davidson & Buell, 926 Black Horse Pike, West Collingswood Heights, N.J.; (856) 456-4141. Patton Oswalt The comedian performs at 8 p.m. Oct. 10 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; (215) 5727650. ■

Where Guys Can Be Guys And Fetishes Are Meant To Be Explored Mondays: Jockstrap night $3.00 Can Beer Tuesdays: Show Tunes $3.50 Absolut/$1.00 off Drafts Wednesdays: Underwear Night - $3.50 Absolut Thursdays: $100 off Drafts SEX SHOOTER: AxD Gallery presents “Shooting Men: A photographic journey of erotica, sexuality and gender,” an exhibition representing over 30 years of photographic work by Vivienne Maricevic, from her early seminal work documenting the pre-AIDS sex industry of Times Square through present-day nude portraits. The exhibition opens with a reception from 5-8 p.m. Oct. 9, 265 S. 10th St., and runs through Nov. 7. Maricevic began her lifelong journey photographing naked men in New York City in the late 1970s, when Times Square marquees advertised nudity and sex on the same blocks as mainstream Broadway theaters. She was one of the first women to document the unique world of Time Square’s sex industry of the 1980s, a world now lost to corporate growth and gentrification. For more information, visit www.a-x-d.com or call (215) 627-6250.

Fridays: $3.50 Absolut Sundays: Eagles Football $3.00 Coors/Liters for the price of Pints Tues. - Thurs., 4-5:30 1/2 price on all well and domestics

DAILY COCKTAIL HOURS 5-7, $1.00 OFF

Always a good time at the Bike Stop. November 12th to 15th - Leather Weekend Reunion

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

PAGE 52

Meeting Place A community bulletin board of activities, facilities and organizations

Community centers

Religion/Spirituality Arch Street United Methodist Church Services at 8:30 and 11 a.m. at Broad and Arch streets; (215) 568-6250.

First United Methodist Church of Philadelphia Inclusive, welcoming and progressive congregation worships at 11 a.m. Sundays at 6023 Germantown Ave. Lunch follows; childcare is provided; (215) 438-3677.

Bethlehem-Judah Ministries Open and afﬁrming congregation holds services at 10 a.m. Sundays at 3847 N. Dupont Hwy., Kent Plaza Suite #2, Dover, Del.; (302) 734-9350.

Gay Christian Singles Philly Burbs Provides support and fellowship for GLBT singles through discussion groups and social events; (610) 457-2081; gcsphillyburbs@aol.com.

BuxMont Unitarian Universalist Church Hold services at 10:15 a.m. at 2040 Street Road, Warrington; (215) 343-0406.

Global Heart Spiritual Center Holds services at 10:30 a.m. at 1812 HaddonﬁeldBerlin Road, Cherry Hill, N.J.; (609) 868-2372.

Calvary United Methodist Church Reconciling, welcoming and afﬁrming church holds services at 11 a.m. Sundays at 48th Street and Baltimore Avenue; (215) 724-1702.

Grace Epiphany Church A welcoming and diverse Episcopal congregation in Mt. Airy, holds services at 8 and 10:30 a.m. Sundays, at 224 E. Gowen Ave., Mt. Airy; (215) 248-2950; www.grace-epi.org.

■ The Attic Youth Center: For LGBT and questioning youth and their friends and allies. Groups meet and activities are held from 4-8 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays; case management, HIV testing and smoking cessation are available Monday through Friday. See the Youth section for more events. 255 S. 16th St.; (215) 545-4331

Central Baptist Church Welcoming and afﬁrming church holds services at 10:45 a.m. Sundays at 106 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne; (610) 688-0664.

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

Chestnut Hill United Methodist Church Services at 11 a.m. and Spirit at Play, an arts-based Sunday school for children, at 9:30 a.m. at 8812 Germantown Ave.; (215) 242-9321.

■ Rainbow Room — Bucks County’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and Allies Youth Center: 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays: Doylestown Planned Parenthood, The Atrium, Suite 2E, 301 S. Main St., Doylestown; (215) 348-0558 ext. 65; rainbowroom@ppbucks.org.

Church of the Cruciﬁxion Inclusive Episcopal community holds services at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sundays at Eighth and Bainbridge streets; (215) 922-1128.

■ William Way Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center: 1315 Spruce St.; (215) 732-2220; www.waygay.org. Peer counseling: Monday through Friday, 6-9 p.m. Library hours: Mondays 3-9 p.m., Tuesdays 3-6 p.m., Wednesdays 3-9 p.m., Thursdays 3-9 p.m., Fridays 3-9 p.m., Saturdays noon-6 p.m., Sundays noon-6 p.m. Volunteers: New Orientation: First Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.; Volunteer Velada, third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.

Health Anonymous, free, confidential HIV testing Spanish/English counselors offer testing 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 166 W. Lehigh Ave.; (215) 763-8870 ext. 6000. AIDS Services In Asian Communities Provides HIV-related services to Asians and Pacific Islanders at 340 N. 12th St., suite 205; (2215) 536-2424. Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative Free, anonymous HIV testing from 9:30 a.m.4:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursdays at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; (215) 851-1822 or (866) 222-3871. Spanish/English. HIV testing Free, anonymous testing and counseling is offered from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment at AIDS Resource, 520 W. Fourth St., suite 2A, Williamsport; (570) 322-8448.

Key numbers

HIV health insurance help Access to free medications, conﬁdential HIV testing available at 17 MacDade Blvd., suite 108, Collingdale; Medical Ofﬁce Building, 722 Church Lane, Yeadon; and 630 S. 60th St.; (610) 586-9077.

Dignity Philadelphia Holds Mass at 7 p.m. Sundays at 330 S. 13th St.; (215) 546-2093; dignityphila@aol.com.

Washington West Project Free, anonymous HIV testing. Walk-ins welcome 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday; 1201 Locust St.; (215) 985-9206.

Casarez@phila.gov; Fax: (215) 686-2555 ■ Mazzoni Center: (215) 563-0652; www. mazzonicenter.org

■ AIDS Law Project of Southern New Jersey: (856) 933-9500 ext. 221

■ Mazzoni Center Family and Community Medicine: (215) 563-0658

■ AIDS Library: (215) 985-4851 ■ ACLU of Pennsylvania: (215) 592-1513

■ Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): (215) 572-1833

■ AIDS Treatment hot line: (215) 5452212

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

■ Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection at the Independence Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library: (215) 685-1633

■ Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force: (215) 772-2000

■ Equality Advocates Pennsylvania: (215) 731-1447; (866) LGBTLAW ■ Equality Forum: (215) 732-3378 ■ Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Peer Counseling Services: (215) 732-TALK ■ Mayor’s liaison to LGBT communities: Gloria Casarez, (215) 686-2194; Gloria.

Dignity Jersey Shore An organization for sexual-minority Catholics meets ﬁrst Saturday of the month in Asbury Park. For time and location, call (732) 502-0305. Dignity Metro NJ An organization for sexual-minority Catholics meets at 4 p.m. Sundays at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 550 Ridgewood Road, Maplewood, N.J.; (973) 857-4040.

■ AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania: (215) 587-9377

■ The COLOURS Organization Inc. 112 N. Broad St., 11th floor; (215) 4960330.

Church of the Trinity Lutheran Reconciling in Christ parish holds services at 10 a.m. Sundays at 18th and Wolf streets; (215) 334-6656.

HIV treatment Free HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment for Philadelphia residents are available from 9 a.m.noon Mondays and 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad St.; (215) 685-1803.

Mazzoni Center Free, anonymous HIV testing; HIV/AIDS care and treatment, case management and support groups; 1201 Chestnut St.; (215) 563-0652. www. mazzonicenter.org.

■ Philadelphia Police Department liaison — Chief Inspector James Tiano: (215) 685-3655 ■ Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: (215) 494-LGBT; ppd.lgbt@gmail.com ■ Philly Pride Presents: (215) 875-9288 ■ SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: (717) 920-9537 ■ Transgender Health Action Coalition: (215) 732-1207 (staffed 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays, and 6-9 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays)

OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

Holy Communion Lutheran Church (ELCA) Reconciling in Christ congregation worships Sundays at 9 a.m. at 2111 Sansom St. and 11 a.m. at 2110 Chestnut St.; (215) 569-1840; www. centercitylutheran.org. Hope Ministry Family Fellowship Afﬁrming Christ-centered church meets at 11 a.m. Sundays in Allentown; (610) 791-0716; hmff2001@aol.com. Imago Dei Metropolitan Community Church Sexual-minority congregation worships at 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 1223 Middletown Road (Route 352), Glen Mills; (610) 358-1716; www. ImagoDeiMCC.org.

St. John’s Lutheran Church (ELCA) Reconciling in Christ congregation holds services at 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 24 N. Ridge Ave., Ambler; (215) 646-2451; www.stjohnsambler.org. St. Luke and The Epiphany Church Open and welcoming church holds liturgy at 9 and 11 a.m. Sundays fall through winter and “Prayer Around the Cross” at 7 p.m. ﬁrst Friday of the month at 330 S. 13th St.; (215) 732-1918. St. Mary of Grace Parish Inclusive church in the Catholic tradition celebrates Mass at 6 p.m. Sundays in the Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County, 145 W. Rose Tree Road, Media; (610) 566-1393; www. inclusivecatholics.org.

Tabernacle United Church Open and afﬁrming congregation holds services at 10 a.m. Sundays at 3700 Chestnut St.; (215) 3864100.

Kol Tzedek Reconstructionist Synagogue committed to creating a diverse and inclusive community meets at Calvary Center, 801 S. 48th St.; (215) 764-6364; www. kol-tzedek.org.

Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County Welcoming congregation holds services at 10:30 a.m. at 145 W. Rose Tree Road, Media. Children’s program (pre-8th) 10:30 a.m.; youth programming 6 p.m. Sunday; (610) 566-4853; www.uucdc.org.

Maple Shade Congregational Church of the United Church of Christ Afﬁrming congregation open to all sexual orientations and gender identities holds services at 10 a.m. Sundays at 45 N. Forklanding Road, Maple Shade, N.J.; (856) 779-7739; mapleshadeucc.org.

Episcopal Church of St. Paul Welcoming and inclusive church holds services at 10 a.m. Sundays and 7 p.m. Tuesdays at 89 Pinewood Drive, Levittown; (215) 945-2886; www.saint-paulslevittown.org.

Metropolitan Community Church Holds services at 10:30 a.m. Sundays preceded by a 9:30 a.m. Bible study at The Pride Center of New Jersey.

Evangelicals Concerned Lesbian and gay Christian group meets at 2 p.m. the second and fourth Sundays of the month; (215) 860-7445.

Metropolitan Community Church of Philadelphia Holds services at 11 a.m. Sundays at the William Way Center, 1315 Spruce St.; (215) 735-MCC3; www.mccphiladelphia.com.

The First United Church of Germantown A sexual-minority-afﬁrming congregation holds services at 11 a.m. Sundays at 6023 Germantown Ave.; lunch follows; (215) 438-3677.

St. Asaph’s Church Inclusive and progressive Episcopal Church holds services at 10 a.m. Sundays, with a contemplative communion at 8 a.m. at 27 Conshohocken State Road, Bala Cynwyd; (610) 664-0966; www. saintasaphs.org.

LC/NA Delaware Valley chapter A group for Lutherans who are not out in their own congregations meets at 7 p.m. fourth Sunday of the month at University Lutheran Church, 3637 Chestnut St.; (215) 387-2885.

Emanuel Lutheran Church Reconciling in Christ congregation meets at 10:30 a.m. Sundays at New and Kirkpatrick streets, New Brunswick, N.J.; (732) 545-2673; www. emmanuelnb.org.

First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia A liberal, welcoming and diverse congregation that afﬁrms the dignity of all. Sunday services at 10 a.m. at 2125 Chestnut St.; (215) 563-3980; www.ﬁrstuuphilly.org.

Silverside Church Holds services at 10 a.m. Sundays followed by a group discussion at 2800 Silverside Road, Wilmington, Del.; (302) 478-5921.

St. Mary’s Church Diverse and inclusive Episcopal church, with openly gay rector, celebrates Eucharist at 11 a.m. Sundays; adult forum is held at 9:30 a.m.; and evening prayer is at 6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday at 3916 Locust Walk; (215) 386-3916; www.stmarysatpenn. org.

Mainline Unitarian Church Holds services at 9 and 11 a.m. Sundays at 816 S. Valley Forge Road, Devon; (610) 688-8332; www. mluc.org.

First Presbyterian Church of Lansdowne Welcoming church holds services at 10 a.m. Sundays at 140 N. Lansdowne Ave.; (610) 622-0800; www. lansdownepresbyterian.org.

Resurrection Lutheran Church Holds services at 10 a.m. Sundays at 620 Welsh Road, Horsham; (215) 646-2597.

Interweave Organization of LGBT Unitarians and allies meets monthly at Unitarian Universalist Church of Cherry Hill, N.J., 401 N. Kings Highway; (856) 667-3618; www.uucinch.org.

Drexel Hill Baptist Church Non-judgmental Christian congregation afﬁliated with American Baptist Churches of the USA holds services at 11 a.m. Sundays at Childs Avenue and State Road, Drexel Hill; (610) 259-2356; www. adhbaptist.com.

First Baptist Church Welcoming and afﬁrming church holds services at 11 a.m. Sundays at 123 S. 17th St.; (215) 563-3853.

Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting worships at 11 a.m. Sundays at 1515 Cherry St.; (215) 241-7260; cpmm@afsc.org.

New Thought Spiritual Community Nondenominational service is offered at 10:30 a.m. Sundays at Cradle of Liberty Council, 1485 Valley Forge Road, Wayne; (610) 962-9923. Old First Reformed Church Open and affirming United Church worships at 11 a.m. Sundays September through June, and 10 a.m. June through August at 151 N. Fourth St.; (215) 922-4566; www.oldfirstucc.org. Penns Park United Methodist Church Welcoming and affirming church holds services at 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 2394 Second Street Pike, Penns Park; (215) 598-7601. Rainbow Buddhist Meditation Group Meets at 5 p.m. Sundays at the William Way Center.

Unitarian Society of Germantown Welcoming congregation holds services 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 6511 Lincoln Drive (West Mt. Airy); (215) 844-1158; www.usguu.org. Unitarian Universalist Church of Cherry Hill Holds services at 10:15 a.m. at 401 N. Kings Highway, Cherry Hill, N.J.; (856) 667-3618. Unitarian Universalist Church of the Restoration, Mt. Airy Welcoming congregation holds services at 11 a.m. Sundays September through June at 6900 Stenton Ave.; (215) 836-1812; www.uurestoration.us. Unitarian Universalist Congregation, South Jersey Shore Holds services at 10 a.m. Sundays in Galloway Township, N.J.; (609) 926-8890; www.uucsjs.org. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Pottstown Holds services at 10 a.m. at 1565 S. Keim St., Pottstown; (610) 327-2662. United Christian Church Open, afﬁrming and welcoming congregation holds servies at 11 a.m. Sundays at 8525 New Falls Road, Levittown; (215) 946-6800. Unity Fellowship Church of Philadelphia Diverse, afﬁrming GLBT congregation holds services at 2 p.m. Sundays at Broad and Arch streets; (215) 222-3180. University Lutheran Church of the Incarnation Welcoming congregation holds services at 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 3637 Chestnut St. preceded by “Adult Forum: Sundays” at 9:30 discussing religious alienation and struggles of faith; (215) 387-2885.

Send submissions to pgn@epgn.com or fax (215) 925-6437 PGN Meeting Place, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147 Meeting Place is a public service. Submissions must include a phone number for publication.

Complete Meeting Place listings of all Parent/Family, Professional, Recovery, Recreation, Religion, Sports, Men, Women, Trans, Youth groups can be found online @ www.phliagaynews.com and www.epgn.com

OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

PAGE 53

worth watching: FRIDAY Ugly Betty Betty and her fashionista crew are back in this two-hour season premiere. 8 p.m. on ABC. SATURDAY Making His Band Musicians and singers (including a transgender contestant) compete for a spot in P. Diddy’s touring band. 9 p.m. on MTV. Saturday Night Live Drew Barrymore hosts and Regina Spektor performs. 11:30 p.m. on NBC. SUNDAY The Amazing Race The gay team, brothers Sam and Dan, are still in this race. 8 p.m. on CBS. Desperate Housewives The wives get wild. 9 p.m. on ABC.

yer. 10 p.m. on Lifetime.

p.m. on the CW.

MONDAY Dancing with the Stars Week four kicks off. 8 p.m. on ABC.

The New Adventures of Old Christine Out comedian Wanda Sykes stars as Christine’s pal and business associate, Barb. 8 p.m. on CBS.

Gimme Sugar: Miami Another rerun of the show featuring lesbian club runners in Miami. 10 p.m. on Logo. TUESDAY Hell’s Kitchen Gordon Ramsay whittles down the competition to two chefs before the finale. 8 p.m. on Fox. Dancing with the Stars Round four continues. 9 p.m. on ABC. Melrose Place Will this soapy rehash last long enough for the much-hyped return of Heather Locklear? 9 p.m. on the CW.

Brothers & Sisters Watch for gay couple Kevin and Scotty. 10 p.m. on ABC.

So You Think You Can Dance? Contestants shake their groove thangs. 9 p.m. on Fox.

Drop Dead Diva Margaret Cho co-stars in this dramedy about a dead model who comes back to life as a gifted, but less glamorous, law-

WEDNESDAY America’s Next Top Model Gay fashion experts make up most of Tyra Banks’ posse. 8

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Glee A lot of singing and high-school high-jinks. 9 p.m. on Fox. Law & Order: SVU The crime-drama is back. 9 p.m. on NBC. Modern Family This sitcom features a gay couple with an adopted daughter in its cast of characters. 9 p.m. on ABC. Top Chef The cooking-competition reality show rolls the dice in Las Vegas and has at least one queer competitor. 10 p.m. on Bravo. THURSDAY Survivor: Samoa More scheming and physical challenges for a chance to claim the million-dollar prize. 8 p.m. on CBS. Grey’s Anatomy The gay-friendly medical drama continues. 9 p.m. on ABC.

STILL AMAZED: Despite their penchant for picking dysfunctional couples who are embarrassingly obnoxious tourists and painful to watch, “The Amazing Race” is still an entertaining watch. Plus, gay contestants and brothers Sam (left) and Dan McMillen from Liberty, Mo., are still in the running for the million-dollar prize as they race across the globe, 8 p.m. Oct. 11 on CBS. Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS

Queer TV you can always see: As the World Turns

Will Mason and Noah keep going? Monday-Friday, 2 p.m. on CBS. One Life to Live

Look for Kyle and Fish. Monday-Friday, 2 p.m. on ABC.

Ellen

Monday-Friday, 3 p.m. on NBC. The Rachel Maddow Show

Monday-Friday, 9 p.m. on MSNBC.

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

PAGE 54

OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

Classifieds With Real Estate, Help Wanted, Services and Personals

Homeowners in financial trouble often redefault By Alan Zibel The Associated Press Lenders are ramping up efforts to avoid home foreclosures, but a report by bank regulators says more than half of borrowers who get help fall behind again. More than 50 percent of homeowners with loans modified in the first half of last year had missed at least two months of payments a year later, the federal Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Office of Thrift Supervision said last Wednesday. But the results were better among those who saw their payments drop substantially. About one in three borrowers whose monthly payments were

reduced by 20 percent or more had fallen behind again within a year. That compares with more than 60 percent for borrowers whose loan payments were left unchanged or increased. The report highlights a significant challenge for the Obama administration’s plan to tackle the foreclosure crisis, backed by $50 billion in money from the financial-industry bailout fund. The administration’s effort got off to a slow start, but has picked up speed in recent months. As of last month, about 360,000 borrowers, or 12 percent of those eligible, have signed up for threemonth trial modifications. They are supposed to be extended for

five years if the homeowners make their payments on time. There is currently no data on redefaults within the plan. Traditionally, most lenders have offered payment plans that allowed borrowers to catch up on missed payments. But those modifications often do not involve an interest-rate reduction and result in a higher monthly payment. All that does is set up the borrower for failure, said Kristi Cahoon, an attorney and housing counselor with Legal Services of Northern Virginia. “A lot of them aren’t true modifications,” she said. By contrast, under the Obama plan, she believes the loans will

be sustainable for the homeowners she counsels. Borrowers’ interest rates, for example, can go as low as 2 percent for five years under the Obama plan. Bank regulators say they have pressed lenders to shift their focus to modifications that reduce borrowers’ payments. They made up nearly 80 percent of new modifications in the April-June quarter, up from about half in the first three months of the year. The report covers 34 million loans, representing more than 60 percent of primary home mortgages. Consistent with other reports, it showed borrowers are continuing to fall behind as job losses mount. More than 11 percent of borrowers covered by

the report had missed at least one payment as of June 30, up from 10 percent in April. It also highlighted mounting problems with an especially troubling category of loans — “pick-a-payment” or option ARM loans, which allowed borrowers to defer some of their interest payments and add them to the principal. At the end of June, 10 percent of these loans were in foreclosure, more than triple the rate for all mortgages in the survey. The lenders included in the report offered help to about 440,000 borrowers in the April-June period and started foreclosure on about 370,000 homes, unchanged from the January-March period. ■

Location! Location! Location! This week’s featured property

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Check your ad

PLACING ADS Using voicemail? Please be sure to have the following information ready when you call: • Your ad copy • The type of style you want • Desired abbreviations • American Express, Discover, MasterCard or VISA information • Your name and mailing

Tranquility surrounds, this 2-acre secluded wooded setting w/ breathtaking views in desirable Lower Gwynedd. 4-Bed, 3-1/2 Bath, 2-car gar., New $100k Gourmet Kitchen, Fam room w/ 2sided ﬁreplace, Spacious sun room offering privacy w/ hot tub and an abundance of natural light creating a spa-like setting.

address • Daytime telephone number Having all this information ready will speed your order and help to avoid errors. Phone calls can only be returned during business hours. For more information, see the coupon page in this section.

Philadelphia Gay News assumes responsibility for errors in classified ads only when notified by noon the Tuesday after the ad first appears. To receive credit for errors, please notify PGN by then. Credit only will be extended in the form of additional advertising space. Any cash refunds, for any reason, are subject to a $10 service charge. PGN will publish no classified ad — in any category — that contains sexually explicit language. Obviously excluded are traditional four-letter words that relate to sexual activity. Other words may be excluded at the discretion of the publisher, who reserves the right to edit or rewrite any ad that, in his opinion, violates this policy or its intent.

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

�� Real Estate

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CLASSIFIEDS

OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

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�� REAL ESTATE

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS ��

SALE

GREAT BUILDING IN GAYBORHOOD Attention Hunters! 60 Acres$99,900 Timber �� INVESTMENT co. liquidating a hunting 20AC withGREAT Utilities & paradiseCountry loaded Road w/big was � BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY whitetail hardwood trails me$99,900 deer. Now All $69,900 BLMsetting, access. Deer & NEAR 11TH & LOCUST, $599K andering pristine mountain views. elk galore! Callwonderful to view 877-229-7840 www. Come seethroughout, this bldg w/2 spacious Old state road frontage, just 20commercial minutes to rental apartments and large town. Best in West Easy owner space on 1stbuy floor. In theVirginia! heart of Center City. _______________________________32-16 financing.aCall now 1-877-526-3764. Currently doctor’s office, zoned C-1. Could be made into condos or large single dwell_______________________________33-18 Luxury four bedroom, four bath. Fully furnished. ing. Great condition, price, location. Call for Mountain and lake views. $678,000. Call Dave appointment. JULIE�� WELKER COLDWELL BANKER WELKER _______________________________32-16 REAL ESTATE County line 72 acres along McKean/Potter �� 215-235-7800 near Shinglehouse. Mostly wooded, some �� _______________________________33-52 �� open area, includes old hunting OLDMANS TOWNSHIP, NJ cabin, �� electric, $199,000. Field and Stream RE. Southern New Jersey, Oldmans Township: Only 30 Minutes From Center City and easy �� access to major bridges and turnpike. Circa �� _______________________________32-16 �� 1860’s this lovely home is situated on 1+ acre �� and features, large rooms throughout, up to 8 �� bedrooms, bright & cheery formal LR w/window �� seat, formal DR w/fireplace, FR w/lincrusta �� lined walls and warmed by a gas fireplace, �� French doors lead to the side porch, modern �� kitchen, front & back stairway, wood flooring, �� high ceilings. This stately home also offers, �� organic landscaping, hot tub, greenhouse & �� brick oven. Presented by Debbie Bradford of �� the Hollinger-Hathaway of Prudential Fox and �� Roach Realtors @ 856-343-6022 _______________________________33-41 �� A Bank Repo! 4BR/2BA $205/Mo! More Homes �� from $199/Mo! 5% down �� 15 years @ 8% APR. For listings 800-546-8656 Ext R944. �� _______________________________33-41 �� NEW Single-Family homes in Active Adult (55 �� plus) Community in historic Smyrna, Delaware, �� near Beach and Bays. From $99,900. 302-659�� 5800 or see www.bonayrehomes.com �� _______________________________33-41 �� PULASKI-SALMON RIVER AREA �� and and camps for fisherman, hunters and �� snowmobilers on trail system. 5 AC- Little �� Salmon River- $19,900. 12 AC Amboy Bass Lake- $69,900. 8AC- Oneida Lake Area�� $25,900. Over 50 tracts, near the Salmon River, �� Redfield Reservoir and Oneida Lake. Cabins built on-site for under $20,000! Call 800-229�� 7843 Or visit www.LandandCamps.com _______________________________33-41 VENTNOR, NJ, FACING THE BAY House and Adjacent Lot (inground swimming pool). 1st floor 3 bedrooms, bath, living room, dining room, kitchen, laundry room and deck. 2nd floor 2 bedrooms, bath, efficiency kitchen, living room, dining area and deck. Central Air. Corner Property. Call 215 468 9166 evenings only. $675,000.00. Also property for rent1500.00 month plus utilities. _______________________________33-52 AFFORDABLE LUXURY, IN THE WOODS Quinn & Wilson Realtors proudly offers you the opportunity to own your own hide-away along the water in Bucks County. 3+ acres of wooded property, no lawn to mow and a pond to boot bordered by 188 acres of wildlife sanctuary. Every room is banked by beautiful picture �� windows, giving you a magnificent view of the quiet and serene setting. Move-in condition ness Flats. LargeNew 2 bed, 1 bath. lastto Philly. home.With Hope charm but closer Easy access to theto Turnpike, 95 and Route sirable building. Close all Center City 1. Call me for details today. MLS #5553442. Cell: taxes ................................�� 215-806-6338, office: 215-885-7600. _______________________________33-42 BEST LAND BARGAINS FOR George T.NYS: SaleOUR Condo” Unique Garden HUNTERS private entrance.. Low fees & Tax Wholesale, discounted properties. 5-350 acre land catalog. Financing available, e 1 bd. intracts. areaFree ........................��. cash discounts. Free closing costs. Credit cards accepted. Visit www.landandcamps.com Or �� call 800-229-7843. _______________________________33-41 ew open stylePRE2 bedroom, 1 bath condo CONSTRUCTION PRICING! Authentic Log pet Cabinfriendly & 20 ACRES! Bonus: o fees. Great small building. FREE BOAT* & Private River Access! Beautiful ..................................�� log cabin shell to be built on flat mountaintop peak. Imagine 25 mile protected views! Easy drive DC/ Baltimore. Enjoy recreation/ wedes Court. New Listing Large 3 relaxation! LandNearDC.com ONLY $179,900. EZ Garage, roof deck and hardwood floors. Financing. Only One! CALL NOW 1-800-8881262 *w/purchase Queen Village ....................�� _______________________________33-41

�

BD/1 BA, erry wood . BD with ows in $4 , Realtor, 348-0000, 3, 1-3 ___33-18

�� REAL ESTATE �SALE ��

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: pgn@epgn.com

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ING. Large update 4 bd. 2 ba. with rfully roof deck with city skyline views. ..........................................��

REAL ESTATE

SALE

REAL ESTATE

SALE

LOWER GWYNEDD CUSTOM CONTEMPORARY HOME

�� REAL ESTATE �SALE �� PAGE 47

��

PAGE 55

��

Tranquility surrounds, 2ac. secluded wooded setting w/ breathtaking views in desirable Lower Gwynedd. 4 Bed, 3-1/2 Bath, 2 car gar., New $100k Gourmet Kitchen, Fam room w/2 sided ﬁreplace, Spacious Sun Room oﬀering privacy w/ Hot Tub and an abundance of natural light creating a spa-like setting. For further photos and details please visit www.donnabrun.com

Oﬀered at $739,900 For Further Information Listing Agent – Donna Brun Prudential Fox and Roach – Spring House Oﬃce Direct 215-641-2405 • www.DonnaBrun.com

Hello Gorgeous!

��

PGN

www.epgn.com

�� Open Houses Sunday Oct. 4, 2009 �� Noon - 1:00 PM

927 Spruce St. Unit 2F Shippen House A boutique Condo. 1 bd. 1 ba. newly rehabbed...................................................................................$265,000

�� 318 S. Fawn St.�� (Lou) Charming new list on hidden Wash. Sq. West street. Nice size 1 bd. 1 ba., with full basement and garden..........................$249,000 �� 927 Spruce St. Unit 1R (Carl/Dan) NEW LISTING. Charming, 1 bd, 1 ba. �� with garden. Low fees and taxes................Priced to sell at only $215,000 �� 1:30 - 2:30 �� 927 Spruces St. Unit 1F NEW LISTING. Large Junior 1 bed 1 ba with wood ﬂoors, high ceilings,�� new rehabbed ..........................................$225,000

1222 Spruce St. Unit #3. Large deluxe 2 bd. 1 ba. condo with wood ﬂoors, deluxe granite and S/S kitchen. Low taxes and fees ..........................$325,000

�� 903-905 Clinton St. Unit 903 1R Large 1 bd, 1 ba. in heart of Washington �� Sq. West. Small, boutique building on lovely block............................................. �� - PRICE REDUCTION ....................................................................$339,900 Shippen House a Boutique Condo, Junior 1 bed. 1 927 Spruce St. Unit 2R�� ba newly rehabbed with low fees and taxes........................................$235,000

�� Search all Philadelphia area listings @ www.thephillyrealtors.com �� Dan Tobey

The Curtis Center 170 W. Independence Mall , Suite L-44 Philadelphia, PA 19106

215.546.2700 Business • 267.238.1061 Direct 215.432.7151 Cell • 215.546.7728 Fax dtobey@cbpref.com

Open House – Oct. 11, 2-4 p.m.

Ultra Modern 3,000 Sq. Ft. Condo Classic Beauty in Washington Sq. West 1129 Spruce - Unit 1 $899,000

3 Bedrooms, 3 Baths, 3 Levels, Finished Basement & Patio Sophisticated, Sleek, Customized For The Urban Buyer . . . Granite, Steel, Walnut, Bamboo, 13’ Ceilings

Amazing one of a kind!

or call Suzanne Petruzel

215-790-5671 or 215-546-0550

PHIL

PAGE 48 PAGE 56

CLASSIFIEDS

REAL ESTATE

SALE

REAL ESTATE

SALE

REAL ESTATE

SALE

��

�� OCT. 9 - 15, 2009 ��

�� Areas include Shawnee, Camel Back, �� Mt. Airy�� Casino and Rainbow Mt. Corners of Routes 390 & 447 • Candensis, PA 18325 ��

��

Conrad Kuhn Kuhn Conrad

Broker/Sales Rep. Rep. Since Since 1987 1987 Broker/Sales NJAR Circle Circle of of Excellence Excellence Sales Sales Award Award 19911991- 2007 2007 NJAR Weichert President’s President’s & & Ambassador’s Ambassador’s Clubs Clubs Weichert

Office: 856.227.1950 856.227.1950 ext. ext. 124 124 Office: Cell: 609.221.1196 609.221.1196 Cell: www.conradkuhn.com Realtor856@aol.com Realtor856@aol.com www.conradkuhn.com TV, heat and hot water, all included. Washingtonsatellite Township Office Washington Township You pay; gas Office cooking and electric. Subway 5070 Route 42 door. $1,200 / month. 42 and 5070 bus atRoute the front Turnersville, NJ 08012 08012 215-416-5545. Available May 2008. This is a Turnersville, NJ _______________________________32-18 5 bedroom, 2 Baths Bank Repo only $45,000! Payments from $199/month! 5% down, 20

Bella Vista�� Jewel

��

_______________________________32-16

3 Bedroom$410,000 Bank foreclosure only $207/month! 717 S. Mildred Street 4 bedroom, 2 bath home only $238/month! 5% down, 20 years @8% apr! For listings �� Very �� unique 2 bedroom/2 bath home, hardwood floors, gas Art Museum Area-- off 26th St. (800 N. �� _______________________________32-16 fireplace, recessed lighting, large kitchen w/breakfast bar/desk, Bambrey, 19130) Corner house on quiet �� street, close to public transportation. Newly �� master suite. Fab rooftop deck w/hot tub and beaut sunset renovated, 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, hardwood ___________________________________ floors, AC, laundry, deck, PARKING, wired. �� views. A “Must See” Residence!

$1600+ call 215-990-4850. Go to kratzworks. com for pix. _______________________________33-20 �� Two bedroom split-level apartment on second floor of row home at 20th and Christian streets. LR, kitchen/dining, bath, small foyer. On-street parking, pets okay. Utilities separate. $875+two months deposit. Scott 267.736.6743. _______________________________33-18 �� 1 BR apts. avail. Various choices. $750 to $1000/mo. Call soon, 215-901-0041. _______________________________33-21 �� 3 room apartment, living room, kitchen, bath, and bedroom (all Large rooms) 2nd floor, private entrance. $1000.00 month, includes utilities. Call 215 686-3431 or 215-468-9166 evenings. _______________________________33-24 �� Entire 3rd floor apartment for rent has large eat-in kitchen with ice maker, built in micro, d/w, garb disp. lots of counter and storage. hall closet, very large living room, rent includes all channel Tevo. bathroom has a washer/dryer, another hall closet and two bedrooms with more closets. Heat and hot water is also included. $1,200.00/month. This is a non-smoking building. 215-416-5545. _______________________________33-20

Have your own bedroom in a beautiful split level home with 2 gay men. House is 4 BR, 2 Lovely 3 W/D, bd. 1upper ba. fully furnished home in full baths, and lower decks, use of beautiful secluded gay court. 2 blocks to kitchen. Property is by Welsh & the Boulevard, 1 beach, jitney at corner. Long season-12,500. min. to 58 bus. We ask only that you be at least reasonably neat and employed. Rent is $600 + _______________________________32-17 1/3 utils. Contact Dave at 215-698-0215. _______________________________33-19 Lg. twhnse, 3 BR, 2.5 BA. No pets or smoking. NE Phila. house to share. $350/mo. Call Jim, _______________________________32-19 215-821-1062. _______________________________33-18 Best selection�� of affordable rentals. Full/partial weeks. Call for free brochure. Open daily. Beach blk. Share lovely 3 BR house w/senior Holiday Real Estate. 1-800-638-2102 Online citizen. Full house privileges. Must be employed. $950/mo. Call Jim at 609-458-3711 _______________________________32-16 to discuss details. eld, Debordieu, The _______________________________33-19 Jewels of the South Carolina Coast. House/ condo 2rentals. Beach start cable. here! Share BR apt. Uppervacations Darby, W/D, www.lachicotte.com. For availability call 1$350. Call 610-352-1188. _______________________________33-21 _______________________________32-16 Roommate wanted to share home in Norristown. $600/mo. + half utils. Ref. req. Must love cats. call 610-270-0288. No drugs. _______________________________33-21

Connie Turco Ofﬁce

o Electronic PGN: ww.epgn.com PGN

Gay is our middle name.

267-235-0086 215-893-9800

�� Super-private 5 1/2 acres with views, stream, waterfall, 20’ X 36’ pool. Fully funished 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 4 TVs, 1 ﬂat screen, DSL, stereo, grand piano, eat-in kitchen. Vine-covered dining deck. $5000 per month. June to Sept. billwrite@aol.com _______________________________33-23 �� Best selection of affordable rentals. Full/ partial weeks. Call for FREE brochure. Open daily. Holiday Real Estate. 1-800-638-2102 Online reservations www.holidayoc.com _______________________________33-18

��

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NC.

RVICES

OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

CLASSIFIEDS

PAGE 106

HOME IMPROVEMENT DIRECTORY

PAGE 57

PAGE 107

G.I. CONTRACTORS Complete start to finish contractors:

Electrical • Plumbing Carpentry • Ceramic Tile Siding • Rooﬁng • Decks Kitchens & Baths 24 hour emergency service with certiﬁed technicans

267-240-7535 215-917-6328 No job too small!

this space: only $25 per week*

Your ad dollars go further when you target your audience *when you run for a minimum of 8 weeks

Reach Over 40,000 Readers Weekly For As Little As $25.00 A Week. Call 215-625-8501 Today!

PAGE 58

CLASSIFIEDS

REAL ESTATE

SALE

REAL ESTATE

SALE

Let’s keep it in the “family” Kim Douglas, REALTOR®

Coldwell Banker Preferred Village Square Shopping Center 714-716 DeKalb Pike Blue Bell, PA 19422 Oﬃce: 215.641.2727 Direct: 267.419.1455 kdouglas@cbpref.com kimdouglashomes.com

OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

REAL ESTATE

SALE

REAL ESTATE

SALE

REAL ESTATE

SALE

GREAT BUILDING GAYBORHOOD GREAT INVESTMENT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

NEAR 11TH & LOCUST, $599K Come see this wonderful bldg w/2 spacious rental apartments and large commercial space on 1st ﬂoor. In the heart of Center City. Currently a doctor’s oﬃce, zoned C-1. Could be used made into condo’s or large single dwelling. Great condition, price, location. Call for appointment.

JULIE WELKER

COLDWELL BANKER WELKER REAL ESTATE

215-235-7800

Open House Oct. 4, 1-3 P.M.

$275,000

100 Braddock Lane Deptford, N.J. Corner lot, quiet cul-de-sac End-of-group townhouse with contemporary color scheme, 3-4 bds, 2.5 bath, LR/DR/great room, eat-in kitchen, full ﬁnished basement, W/W carpet, 2nd ﬂoor laundry. All appliances. Nice upgrades and lots of space. Only 15 min. from downtown Philly! FSBO, brokers welcome.

Contact Sarah at (856) 853-0240 or sblazucki@gmail.com. Visit zillow.com for more information and photos.

REAL ESTATE

RENT

CHARMING single family home in Collingswood. Features 2 bedrooms, family rm/ sun rm, library, living room, dining room, eat-in updated kitchen, deck, koi pond and water fall! This is not to be missed.

Call Joan Hart for appt. (856) 904-1555

Media PO - Nether Providence

Open Sun 1-3 Spectacular waterfront home. Breath taking views throughout . Window! Windows! Windows! 4 BR, 4Bth, incl. 2 master suites. Gourmet kitchen w/ Corian & granite. Totally upgraded home. Professional landscaped.

604 Crum Creek Rd. $735,000 Dir: Baltimore Pike, N on Providence Rd, R on Farnum to R on Crum Creek Tom Sechrist 610-325-3056 Prudential, Fox & Roach 610-35-6200

12TH & DICKINSON AREA Furnished Townhouse for rent: 3 levels. Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, 2 bedrooms , bath. Very Unique. 1500. mo plus util. (negotiable). Call 215 468-9166 after 6 pm. or 215 686 3431 daytime. _______________________________33-48 2 BEDROOM APT. ART MUSEUM AREA Sunny 2 BR apt., 2200 block Mt. Vernon St., LR, eik, full size w/d, d/w, g/d, full bath, conditioners in living room and larger bedroom. Building is well maintained, close to convenience stores, restaurants, and transportation. $1400 +. Contact Mariann Schick at 215-765-3455. _______________________________33-41 FABULOUS OWNERS UNIT ART MUS. Must See. 2200 block Mt. Vernon St. Tri-level: 1 BR plus foyer, LR, DR, kitchen, office, den, 2 & 1/2 baths. Private garden, built-ins, storage galore. Full size w/d d/w, g/d, ss appliances. Central a/c. Wonderful for young professional or couple. Well maintained bldg, close to convenience stores, restaurants and transportation. $1800+. Call Mariann Schick: 215-765-3455. _______________________________33-41 RIVERTON, NJ, 20 MIN. TO CC PHILA. Beautiful 1800 s.f. 3 BR, 2nd flr. Incredible waterfront views. More info www.311bankave. com _______________________________33-42 APTS. NEAR RITTENHOUSE SQUARE (215) 546-1424 STUDIO - 1608 Locust / November - Great Location! - Convenient to stores, restaurants, and schools. Hot Water & Heat are included. Twelve to Eighteen Month Lease, Up to Two Months Free. $815. ONE BEDROOM - 1606 Locust / Small but well located, great view of St. Marks from your French windows. Hot Water & Heat are included. Twelve to Twenty Month Lease, Up to Two Months Free. $995. _______________________________33-42 BELLA VISTA All new 2 BR, 1st floor w/C/A, W/D, hdwd flrs, granite kitchen, tile bath. $1200/mo. + utils. 215-908-5537. No brokers. _______________________________33-42 SOUTH PHILA. 11TH & SHUNK VIC. Modern 3 BR house, newly remodeled, new hdwd flrs. new kit & bath, WD, refrig. $1100+. 215-465-1660. _______________________________33-42

PAGE PAGE110 110 OCT. 9 - 15,CLASSIFIEDS 2009 PAGE 110

ROOMMATES PGN WILL NOT PUBLISH RACIAL DISTINCTIONS IN ROOMMATE ADS. SUCH NOTATIONS WILL BE EDITED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION. ___________________________________ GREATER NE PHILA. Have your own bedroom in a beautiful split level home with 2 gay men. House is 4 BR, 2 full baths, W/D, upper and lower decks, use of kitchen. Property is by Welsh & the Boulevard, 1 min. to 58 bus. We ask only that you be at least reasonably neat and employed. Rent is $600 + 1/3 utils. Contact Dave at 215-698-0215. _______________________________33-49 2 BR apt., 69th St. area. Ted, 610-352-1188. _______________________________33-49 CENTRAL MONTCO SGM desired by same to share 2 BR, 2 BA + den condo. A unique opportunity. Own a car & have a job & BE GAY. Doug, 484-390-2986. _______________________________33-41 James M. Quesenberry, MA, CRC, CVE SOUTH PHILADELPHIA Disability Consultant $600 Furnished Room Utilities Included. Ready to move in on Nov 1. For further info e-mail w.colgan@juno.com Social Security Disability _______________________________33-42

Claims Appeals

VACATION

215-629-0585

PAGE 110 RENT

CITY, MARYLAND SuiteOCEAN 202 Best selection of affordable rentals. Full/ partial Oxford Valley Rd. weeks. Call for FREE brochure. Open daily. Fairless PA1-800-638-2102 19030 Holiday RealHills, Estate. Online reservations www.holidayoc.com _______________________________33-41 Full Scale Camps for Rent With Managed Hunting Lands. Great deer herd, good buck ratios. 3 - 6 person camps, affordably priced, weekly exclusive use, food plots, blinds, etc. Call Becky for more information 800-229-7843. www.landandcamps.com _______________________________33-41

FOR SALE

PAGE 110

CLASSIFIEDS CLASSIFIEDS APRIL 25 - MAY 1, 2008 CLASSIFIEDS

LEGALHEALTH & PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY DIRECTORY CLASSIFIEDS

ATTEND COLLEGE ONLINE From Home. *Medical, *Business, *Paralegal, *Computers, *Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualiﬁed. Call 866-858-2121 www.CenturaOnline.com _______________________________33-41 AIRLINES ARE HIRING Train for high paying Aviation Maintenance Career. FAA approved program. Financial aid if qualiﬁed -Housing available. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance (888)349-5387. _______________________________33-41 CLOTHES SHOPPING I can do that for you! Also cooking services available. Call 267-262-3874. _______________________________33-41

APRIL 25 - MAY 1, 2008

William A. Torchia, Esquire

AMY F. STEERMAN Attorney at Law

Attorney-at-Law

Estate & Tax Planning

Concentrating in Planning for Lesbian and Gay Couples • Probate • Wills • Living Wills • Powers of Attorney

GENERAL PRACTICE FOR THE COMMUNITY • Estate Administration • Wills, Living Wills, Trusts • Powers of Attorney • Property Agreements • Accidents

215-735-1006

• Domestic Relations • Adoption • Name Change • Guardianships • Real Estate

• Incorporation • Bankruptcy • Immigration • Social Security • Elder Law

1528 Walnut St. Suite 1220, Philadelphia, PA 19102

1900 Spruce Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 www.amysteerman.com

215-546-1950 (Voice)

215-546-8801 (Fax)

www.williamatorchiaesquire.vpweb.com

James JamesM. M.Quesenberry, Quesenberry,MA, MA,CRC, CRC,CVE CVE Disability Consultant James M. Quesenberry, MA, Disability Consultant CRC, CVE Disability Consultant

James M. Quesenberry, MA, CRC, CVE Disability Consultant

Social SocialSecurity SecurityDisability Disability Social Security Disability Claims Appeals Claims Appeals Claims Appeals 215-629-0585 215-629-0585 CLASSIFIEDS 215-629-0585

Social Security Disability Claims Appeals

Suite Suite202 202 Suite 202 Rd. Oxford Valley Oxford Valley Rd. Oxford Valley Rd. Fairless Hills, PA Fairless Hills, PA19030 19030 Fairless Hills, PA 19030

215-629-0585 Suite 202 Oxford Valley Rd. Fairless Hills, PA 19030

PROVIDING DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES, APRIL 25 - MAY 1, 2008 EDUCATION & POLICY REFORM FOR THE LGBT COMMUNITY. FREE LEGAL HOTLINE (215) 731-1477

Reach Over 40,000 Readers Weekly For As Little As $25.00 A

PROVENANCE ”Amor signatur in hac domo.” Old doors, souls, cobbles, stone, wood, iron, bricks, glass, etc., etc., etc... 215-769-1817 *** 1610 Fairmount Ave. www.phillyprovenance.com _______________________________33-42

SERVICES

APRIL APRIL25 25--MAY MAY1,1,2008 2008 PAGE 59

CLASSIFIEDS

www.equalitypa.org James M. Quesenberry, MA, CRC, CVE Disability Consultant

Social Security Disability Claims Appeals

215-629-0585 Suite 202 Oxford Valley Rd. Fairless Hills, PA 19030

BUSINESS

OPPORTUNITIES ALL CASH VENDING! Do you earn $800 in a day? Your own local candy route. Includes 25 Machines and Candy All for $9,995. 1-800-460-4027. _______________________________33-41 Insurance Agency for Sale. Afﬁliated with major national carrier. A great business opportunity! Upcoming Webinar September 16th. Please send inquires to: agencyforsalePA@aol.com or Fax: 866-296-7535. _______________________________33-41

Reach Readers Over 40,000 Readers Weekly As Little As $25.00 Week. Reach Over 40,000 Weekly For As Little For As $25.00 A Week. Call A 215-625-8501 Toda

PAGE 108

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CLASSIFIEDS

OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

SERVICES DIRECTORY ��

PAGE 108

PAGE 108 CLASSIFIEDS

APRIL 25 - MAY 1, 2008 CLASSIFIEDS

Want to let mom, dad and all of your exs know you’re tying the knot?

Is it time to look for a new doctor?

W m a o ex

Is it time to look for a �� new doctor?

Reach Over 40,000 Readers Weekly For As Little As $25.00 A Week. Call 215-625-8501 Today!

Classiﬁeds Liner Insertion Order

Select the TYPE STYLE you want from the examples below, and begin each line under the arrow to the left of the letter representing that style. Write to the end of the line (hyphenate words correctly. Do not stop at any other arrow, as each arrow represents a starting point. Allow one block for each letter, number, punctuation mark and space. Be sure to skip a space between words. PHONE NUMBER MUST INCLUDE AREA CODE. Be sure to circle one of the classiﬁcations and compute the cost of your ad. Liner advertising is on a PREPAY BASIS ONLY, and payment must accompany this form. PLEASE DO NOT SEND CASH THROUGH THE MAIL. Type STYLE A Type STYLE B TYPE STYLE C

HEADLINE (24 SPACES PER LINE) FREE WHEN PLACED ONLINE 40 spaces Per Line 36 spaces Per Line 24 SPACES PER LINE

7 point 7 point 7 POINT

NAME ADDRESS CITY PHONE

PLEASE PRINT STATE

ZIP

AMEX • MASTERCARD • VISA • DISCOVER CARD NUMBER EXPIRATION SIGNATURE NAME ON CARD # # #

“A” LINES @ $5.50 - $ “B” LINES @ $7.50 - $ “C” LINES @ $10.00 - $ BOX YOUR AD $5.00 SUBTOTAL

S wedd c

an and wi Br

Send us your in wedding/civil % TERM DISCOUNT - union/ AD TOTAL commitment edit TOTAL PAYMENT ENCLOSED ceremony Return form and payment to: CLASSIFICATION (CIRCLE ONE) o REAL ESTATE FOR SALE • REAL ESTATE FOR RENT • ROOMMATES • SEASONAL RENTALS • SERVICES • FINANCIAL SERVICES Masco announcement Communications HELP WANTED • JOBS WANTED •Over BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES • FOR SALEWeekly • AUTOMOTIVEFor • AUCTIONS TRAVEL RESORTS S. Fourth St., Phila., PA 19147 Reach 40,000 Readers As •Little As $25.00 A505 Week. �� ADOPTION • PERSONALS • FRIENDS MEN • FRIENDS BISEXUAL • FRIENDS TV/TS • FRIENDS WOMEN (21 or fax: 215-925-6437 or email: don@epgn.com and we’ll share it with the City of Brotherly Love. NUMBER OF WEEKS X SUBTOTAL

OCT. 9 - 15, 2009

CLASSIFIEDS

SERVICES DIRECTORY

PAGE 61

Reach Over 40,000 Readers Weekly For As Little As $25.00 A Week. Call 215-625-8501 Today! AUTOS

HELP WANTED

Buy Police Impounds! 02 Honda Civic $950! 99 Toyota Corolla $500! 99 Nissan Altima $900! Hondas, Chevys, Jeeps & More! For listings 800-546-5204 ext 3553. _______________________________33-41

Driver: CDL-A. Take the Keys To Your Future. Opening in Our Flatbed and Dry Van Divisions. TWIC Card Holders Preferred. Class A-CDL, 22 YO, 1yr. exp. Western Express 888-801-5295 _______________________________33-41 WANT HOME MOST WEEKENDS WITH MORE PAY? Run Regional with Heartland Express! Up to $.43/mile company drivers! 12 months OTR required. HEARTLAND EXPRESS 1-800-4414953 www.heartlandexpress.com _______________________________33-41

AUCTIONS ABSOLUTE AUCTION Monday 10/19/09 Ilam Frazier’s Garden Center. Real Estate, Equipment, Greenhouses. 790 Southside Dr., Oneonta, NY. Everything Sells Absolute. Mapes Benjamin Real Estate Auction Co. www.benjaminauctions.com _______________________________33-41

HELP WANTED Werner Enterprises, Need 25 Driver Trainees, Drive the Big Rigs $700 to $800 Week. Great Beneﬁts. No CDL, No Problem. Start ASAP. Call 800-961-4319. _______________________________33-41 Transfer Drivers Needed. 30 CDL A or B to relocate tractors, buses, trucks, motor homes,etc throughout US. “No Freight & No Force Dispatch” Call Stan 888-380-7583. _______________________________33-41

Alexander Inn

Hotel desk clerk for full or part time. Must have prior hotel experience with references. Good salary plus bonus pkg. Apply in person or call days.

Call John 215-923-3535

Weekend Help Wanted Philly’s Premier Escort Agency is looking for a phone dispatcher. Applicant should have good phone and basic computer skills as well as a knowledge of the roads systems in the Tri-State Area. Hours are Sat & Sun from 11AM til 9PM. Hourly salary as well as generous commission for each appointment booked.

Placing Classiﬁeds Liner Ads In Person: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, By Phone or on the Web: 24 Hours, 7 Days

Deadline for Line Advertising is Friday at 3 p.m. for the following Friday’s issue. You may place your ad via our secure voicemail system, fax or e-mail at any time, or on our Web site. Please have the following information ready to place your ad:

YOUR AD COPY • YOUR NAME AND MAILING ADDRESS • DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER • CREDIT CARD INFORMATION

PHONE: 215-625-8501 ext. 200 OR 215-451-6182 (DIRECT) • FAX: 215-925-6437 • E-MAIL: don@epgn.com

GENERAL INFORMATION

All classified advertising must be in our office by 3 p.m. Friday for the next Friday’s paper. Ads arriving after that time will be held for the next available issue. PGN reserves the right to edit or rewrite ads as needed, to refuse any ad for any reason and to determine the final classification. Ads determined to be in bad taste, directed to or from persons under the legal age of consent or containing racially or sexually discriminatory language will be refused. We need your full name, mailing address and daytime phone number on the insertion order form for you ad. This information is confidential and will not appear in the paper. Any ads received without full information will be destroyed. Sexually explicit language will be edited or refused at the discretion of the management.

PAYMENT AND PLACEMENT

Classified ads may placed online or by mail, fax, e-mail or in person at the PGN offices at 505 S. Fourth St., Phila. Phone, fax and e-mail orders are accepted with credit/debit cards only. A $10 minimum applies to all charges. If you are paying in person with cash, please have the exact change as we cannot make change at the office. All ads must be prepaid for their entire run. NO EXCEPTIONS! DO NOT SEND CASH THROUGH THE MAIL; IT’S NOT SAFE AND CANNOT BE GUARANTEED.

TERM DISCOUNTS - BASED ON THE NUMBER OF ISSUES PREPAID 4 weeks, 5% • 8 weeks, 10% • 16 weeks, 15% • 26 weeks, 20%

CANCELLATION POLICY

All PGN Classified ads are cancelable and refundable except for “FRIENDS” ads. Deadline for cancellation is 3 p.m. Friday. The balance will be credited to your credit/debit card. Checks take two weeks to process. The date of the first issue the ad appeared in, along with the classification, your name, address and daytime phone number is required to cancel your ad.

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Display Advertising Deadlines

THE PLAYGROUND �� Attractive GWM, warm, sensitive, caring, 48 y.o. with a smooth gymnast build looking for other GWM, 30-50, who is also in good shape. I live in NE Phila. I’m looking for guys who are also sensitive, caring with a fun personality. If this sounds interesting to you feel free to call me, David, 215-698-0215. _______________________________33-28

Adult/Personals FRIENDS

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LOOKING FOR ROMANCE Attractive GWM, warm, sensitive, caring, 48 y.o. with a smooth gymnast build looking for other GWM, 30-50, who is also in good shape. I live in NE Phila. I’m looking for guys who are also sensitive, caring with a fun personality. If this sounds interesting to you feel free to call me, David, 215-698-0215. _______________________________33-48

6’, 165 lbs., 60 year old Master, greek active, french passive requires obedient slave for training, S&M, B/D, W/S, etc. Limits respected and expanded. Assistant Master wanted. Call Dave at 215-729-6670, day or evening. _______________________________33-48

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GWM, Italian, top or bottom, 7” cut. Also into assplay, toys & water sports. Bi, straight, out of towners welcome. Day or night. Call Jeff at 215-850-7900. _______________________________33-41 WM, NE Phila. If you’re looking for hot action, call 215-934-5309. No calls after 11 PM. _______________________________33-43 ARE YOU A TORPEDO TOP? You: 9” or more, or large in circumference? Me: 6’1”, 210, 59, real nice white butt. 215732-2108, 8-11 PM. _______________________________33-42 Hi, I’m Joey. I’m looking for a friend in the Ardmore area. I’m young, hung and looking for fun. I’m a bottom looking for a top. Call me at 484-238-4707. _______________________________33-42

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6’, 165 lbs., 60 year old Master, greek active, french passive requires obedient slave for FRIENDS training, S&M, B/D, W/S, etc. Limits respected and expanded. Assistant Master wanted. Call Dave at 215-729-6670, day or evening. Muscular male, 62 seeks same. John Larish, _______________________________33-48 575 Laurel Terrace, Pottsville, PA 17901. Xdress sex party. CD house orgy every Sat. _______________________________33-42 nite. GWM couple ISO GWMs 18-40 yrs. for Looking for a playtime friend in the HarrisburgB-7 B-7 1 on 18”, and group sex. Stockings, pantyhose,B-7 area. very thick. 717-233-2453. etc. Starts 9 PM Sat. Call Sat. 7-8 PM 856_______________________________33-45 910-8303, ask for Mark. ISO MATURE, 38-42, X-DRESSING _______________________________33-24 Mistress to train me to fully worship at her GWM, Italian, top or bottom, 7” Also into smooth body/legs, front/back, allcut. in betweens. assplay, toys &discreet, water sports. straight, out Me: cumpliant, no D/D,Bi, gentle, sincere of WM towners welcome. Day or night. Call Jeff at bi snr. Fee per session OK. 215-574-1815. 215-850-7900. Any kind of message OK. _______________________________33-18 _______________________________33-44

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PGN deadlines are strictly followed.

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WM 60, 5’7’ 155, bottom, nice looking, discreet, GWM seeks new friends. 610-352-1188. MODELS ﬁt, hot, seeksMODELS top men only for relationship in _______________________________33-21 �� NE. 215-264-1058 LM. _______________________________33-19 Shuttle service within city limits, personal with bags, companion service, WM, NE Phila. IfJon-Jon you’re looking for hot shopping, help Marcello lite cooking, dog walking & house sitting, any action, call 215-934-5309. No calls after reasonable request. 215-205-5453. Refs. avail. 11 PM. Reasonable rates! _______________________________33-19 Serving _______________________________33-18 Now In Our P A , N J &�� DE 60 y.o., 5’7”, 160, 7” crossdresser looking for 2 2 n 215-538-2040 d Ye a r ! You:Sbig real nice white butt.Honest i n cequipment! e 19 8 7 Me:Reliable, Safe, Discreet casual & sex. Northern suburbs. 215-732-2108, 8-11 PM. ask for Zeta. _______________________________33-20 _______________________________33-21

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THE PLAYGROUND

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Services Directory

PGN

FRIENDS

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FRIENDS

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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

FULL PAGE FIND FRED COLOR

OCT. 9 - 15, 2009