National National LGBT LGBT History History Month Month Project Project
Family Portrait: Robb Reichart talks the Walk
PAGES 14, 16
Equality PA staff changes are in the works PAGES 5, 7
PAGE 35
Oct. 18-24, 2013
����������
��� ������������ �������� �����������������������������������������
Vol. 37 No. 43
Couple alleges improper arrest at OutFest By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com
REMEMBERING, SEEKING JUSTICE: Dozens of friends, family and supporters of Stacey Blahnik, including partner Malik Moorer (right), gathered to mark the third anniversary of her murder Oct. 11 at the William Way LGBT Community Center. Participants shared stories of Blahnik and continue to call for justice for her and other trans victims of violence. Blahnik, the house mother for House of Blahnik, was strangled to death in her South Philadelphia home in 2010. Police have identified a person of interest but an arrest has not been made. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Study: Poor results for HIV patients who see multiple docs By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com The University of Pennsylvania Medical School recently released an innovative study that looks to change the retention of services for HIV clinical patients. In September, Penn published “Outcomes of HIV-Infected Patients Receiving Care at Multiple Clinics” in AIDS and Behavior. The report, which followed 13,000 HIV patients in Philadelphia, found that participants who received care from multiple HIV clinics were less likely to continue medication and had higher HIV viral loads than those who only visit one clinic. Previous studies have examined outcomes for those in continuous care with those not receiving care, but this is the first of its kind to look at the role that visiting multiple providers can have on one’s health outcomes. The study was led by Dr. Kathleen �� A. Brady, an infectious-disease physician at Pennsylvania Hospital and medical director/epidemiologist for the city’s AIDS Activities Coordinating Office, as well as Dr. Baligh R. Yehia, assistant professor at Penn’s Division of Infectious Diseases. The study took place between 2008-10 in the PAGE 20
����� ���
����� ��� ��
������������
2013
������������
Ballot on page 28
A gay couple arrested at last weekend’s OutFest contends that the incident was baseless and that police used unnecessary force. Anthony Reto, 23, and partner Tommy Berner, 35, were arrested around 3:30 p.m. Oct. 13 near the intersection of 12th and Locust streets. Deputy Commissioner Kevin Bethel, LGBT liaison, initiated a complaint Tuesday on their behalf with Internal
Affairs, which investigates police misconduct. Reto, Berner and several friends left ICandy and were headed down 12th Street to explore the festival when they passed a group of antigay protestors from Repent America. Reto said the group jokingly took a photo in front of the demonstrators and then began walking away. “It was just a silly photo, it didn’t mean anything,” Reto said. “People were taking pictures of them all day. We didn’t talk PAGE 26
THE PHOTO TAKEN ON 12TH STREET BEFORE RETO’S (RIGHT) AND BERNER’S (SECOND FROM LEFT) ARRESTS
Weather holds up, crowds turn out for OutFest By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com After last year’s rainy OutFest, and despite calls for rain this year, the sun shone brightly for the 27th annual event. Tens of thousands flocked to the Gayborhood on Sunday to network, educate and celebrate at the world’s largest National Coming Out Day celebration. Philly Pride Presents president Franny Price said the crowds exceeded expectations. “You can usually see little gaps in the crowd and there were no gaps this year,” she said. “At one point, I said, ‘I am going to walk around and say hello to all the vendors, time me to see how long it takes me.’ It took me 28 minutes to walk around one block.” Price said only six vendors did not show up, out of more than 130, but said it evened out with seven non-registered vendors who showed up for a spot. Representatives of the police Civil Affairs Unit were on hand to oversee relations with antigay protestors from Repent America,
and Price said the group was handled differently than in the past two years. For instance, Price said, the protestors were originally directed by the officers to stand at a vendor spot that was open,
and were then going to be moved near the stage at 13th and Locust, until Price intervened, as she said protestors are not allowed to disrupt the entertainment. Price said the Philly Pride Presents board PAGE 8
SUNDAY FUNDAY: Thousands donned their rainbows and headed to the Gayborhood Sunday for the annual OutFest celebration. More than 100 vendors lined the Gayborhood and revelers took in entertainment, contests and awards at the main stage, as well as packed area bars. Several new parties started this year, including a German-themed street party on Camac, a women’s block party in front of the nowdefunct Sisters, a new women’s party at Tabu and a drag show outside of Woody’s. For more coverage, see pages 8-9. Photos: Scott A. Drake