National LGBT History Month Project PAGES 18, 19
Family Portrait: Words of wisdom from 12-year-old Braeden Lange
A tale of two South Philly brothers
PAGE 59
PAGE 48
Local story gets Hollywood treatment PAGE 43
Oct. 9-15, 2015
Since 1976
PGN Philadelphia Gay News HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
Vol. 39 No. 41
Answers sought in killing of trans woman A group of up to six men attacked Kiesha Jenkins in a park in Logan early Tuesday; one of the men shot her twice in the back while she was on the ground, killing the 22-year-old. No suspects or motive have been announced but investigators are considering whether the incident was a hate crime. By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com Philadelphia police are still searching for answers in the brutal murder of a local transgender woman. Kiesha Jenkins, 22, was fatally shot around 2:30 a.m. Oct. 6, a few minutes after stepping out of a car at 13th and Wingohocking streets in Logan. A 911 call alerted authorities to the incident, said police spokesperson Officer Christine O’Brien. Police believe Jenkins was targeted, but don’t yet know if her transgender identity played a role in the shooting. Deputy Commissioner Kevin Bethel, the department’s LGBT liaison, did not respond to requests for comment. Police are still searching for security footage from the area, O’Brien said. She said no
suspects have been arrested yet. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the anonymous tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477) or text PPDTIP (773847). Homicide Capt. James Clark told PGN that five or six males approached and assaulted Jenkins. He said one man pulled out a gun and shot her twice in the back. Jenkins was transported to Einstein Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead, Clark said. According to her Facebook profile, Jenkins grew up in Philadelphia and most recently lived in North Philadelphia. She attended West Philadelphia High School and Temple University, her profile states. Jenkins’ murder joins a list of dozens of other transgender women who have been killed in the United States this year. A report in The Advocate indicated 20 transgender
women across the country had been murdered in the first seven months of 2015. Most of those were women of color. Jenkins was a black woman. As the police continue the investiga-
Sims launches Congressional campaign
Hanes: Montco marriages aren’t in limbo By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com Despite concerns to the contrary, Montgomery County Register of Wills D. Bruce Hanes insists that all 176 same-sex marriage licenses he issued prior to marriage equality in Pennsylvania are valid. “They’ve never, ever been declared invalid, never,” Hanes told PGN. “There is a case that simply tells me not to issue [same-sex] marriage licenses. There is no invalidation of the marriage licenses [I already issued]. These marriage licenses have never been invalidated, they’ve never been voided, they’ve never been vacated.” Hanes acknowledged that the case, which remains pending in state Supreme Court, faults him for issuing same-sex marriage licenses in the summer of 2013. That case was initiated by the state Department of Health, which contended that Hanes exceeded his authority. But Hanes said the Whitewood decision, which established marriage equality in Pennsylvania, and the Obergefell decision, which established marriage equality in the nation, reinforce his position that the marriage licenses he issued are valid. “If there’s any individual or entity that questions the PAGE 38 validity of these marriages, have them
tion into Jenkins’ killing, LGBT leaders in Philadelphia have called upon the community to help end the violence against trans women. The TransHealth Information Project, a program at GALAEI: A Queer Latin@ Social Justice Organization, made a statement on Facebook “regarding the senseless murder of yet another trans woman of color.” “We work so hard to end discrimination and for equality,” the statement read, “but, on a higher level, we know that even if we change laws and policy, we still have work to change the generational thoughts of those who identify as transgender, and, more than anything, the negative outlook people have about trans women.” The statement went on to call for the end of violence against trans people. “The community is PAGE 38
By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com
COUCHES DON’T COUNT: Valley Youth House staff and supporters gathered to launch Sheltering Pride Oct. 7 at the youth agency’s headquarters at 15th and Sansom streets. The initiative is designed to raise awareness for LGBT-youth homelessness and funds for the organization’s Pride program, which provides transitional housing and other resources for LGBT youth. Backers are staging several pop-up events this week, featuring a traveling couch to illustrate the epidemic of LGBT youth who lack permanent housing, and using the social-media tag #CouchesDontCount. On hand for the launch were Shani Meacham (from left), Allison Moore, Valerie Johnson, Noah Brown, Sarah Morrison, Marcia Hopkins and Maria Gallo. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Several-dozen people, including university students and people active in Democratic Party organizations, filed into the Ethical Humanist Society in Rittenhouse Square Oct. 6 for state Rep. Brian Sims’ “Congress Exploratory Committee” fundraiser. It was his first big fundraising push, the same day he officially announcing his plans to run for a federal seat. Sims intends to challenge U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, a Democrat, to represent the Second Congressional District, which includes parts of Philadelphia and Montgomery counties. The fundraising event was private, but Sims spoke to PGN outside the Ethical Humanist Society before it started. “I’m going to need a lot of support,” said Sims, a Democrat and the first openly PAGE 2