PGN Oct. 12-18, 2012 by The Philadelphia Gay News

Can’t give you anything but Love!

Family Portrait: Lauren Vidas

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Philly and NYC in the cross-hairs of new meningitis outbreak

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Oct. 12-18, 2012

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Vol. 36 No. 41

Transwoman shot in NoLibs

Rain holds off, OutFest shines By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com

Come rain or shine, last weekend proved that the local LGBT community was ready and excited for OutFest. Despite the dark skies and morning rain, nearly 25,000 people surfaced in the Gayborhood Oct. 7, about 15,000 less than last year. About 140 vendors were scheduled to attend the annual National Coming Out Day celebration, and 25 did not show up. Franny Price, president of Philly Pride Presents, which stages the event, said the average is 12 no-show vendors. “We still had organizations showing up that weren’t registered but wanted a table,” Price said. The only disappointPAGE 8

Josephs looks to ban conversion therapy

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

LET FREEDOM RING: The Philadelphia Freedom Band was one of the sunny spots during Sunday’s overcast OutFest. Members of the marching band entertained the crowd over the hate-speeching of antigay protesters Repent America on several festival corners, including at the stage at 13th and Locust streets. Police asked the band to stop playing after the protesters asserted their free-speech rights were being infringed upon. More coverage, pages 8, 9. Photo: Scott A. Drake

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com State Rep. Babette Josephs (D-182nd Dist.) last week introduced a bill that would prevent mental-health providers from offering so-called “conversion therapy” to minors. The bill, introduced Oct. 3 and listed as HB 2691, would ban providers from engaging in “sexual-orientation change efforts” with those under 18. Efforts have been underway nationally to prohibit such therapies, with California becoming the first state in the nation to adopt such a measure. A similar bill is also being worked on in New Jersey. “We’ve all known for a long time that being LGBT is not considered by any reputable psychiatric or psychological organization to be a disease or a condition that’s wrong or not normal,” Josephs told PGN. “However, this therapy PAGE 24

STANDING IN SOLIDARITY: About 200 trans people and allies marched down South Broad Street Oct. 6 for the second annual Philly Trans* March. The event was meant to celebrate diverse genders and identities and fight back against discrimination and violence directed at transgender, gender-variant and gender-nonconforming people. Before the march, activists gathered at Love Park for a rally that included speeches by the partner of Stacey Blahnik and the mother of Kyra Cordova. The murders of both transwomen remain unsolved. Photo: Scott A. Drake

Gay Gay History History Month Month Special Special Coverage Coverage

Ruth Ellis PAGE 14

A transgender woman remains in critical condition this week after a shooting that claimed her mother’s life. The incident took place Sunday night in Northern Liberties. The 41-year-old woman, whose name had not been released as of presstime, was shot in the face, and her 65-year-old mother, Stephanie Freeman, was shot in the chest. Police were called to the scene, in the 700 block of North Third Street, around 9:15 p.m. Oct. 7 for a report of a “fight on the highway,” according to police spokesperson Jillian Russell. Upon arrival, police found the transgender woman outside with a gunshot wound and her mother inside the doorway. Freeman was pronounced dead on the scene. Russell said police believe the motive was robbery. They have not disclosed if the victims were targeted or not. A suspect has not been identified, and police have only released that the shooter was a male. There was blood on all three floors of the house. Several witnesses were at the house at the time of the shooting and have been interviewed. The incident comes about one month after the fatal shooting of transwoman Kyra Cordova, although there does not appear to be any connection between the cases. Deputy Commissioner Stephen Johnson, the department’s LGBT liaison, cautioned residents to remain on guard. “You need to always be vigilant in terms of your surroundings and the people you deal with,” he said. “And whenever a dire incident like this happens, people need to give us the information we need to resolve these issues as quickly as possible.” ■

Barbra Casbar Siperstein

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

LOCAL PGN

Meningitis outbreak impacts area By Victoria A. Brownworth Special to PGN On Oct. 9, New Jersey reported its first case in the fungal-meningitis outbreak that has now spread to 10 states in as many days. There have been no cases reported in Pennsylvania thus far but, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, a series of clinics in Allegheny County has already contacted patients because the drugs deemed responsible were used there. The outbreak is tied to tainted injectable steroids — methylprednisolone acetate — from a compounding pharmacy, the New England Compounding Center, Inc., in Framingham, Mass. The drugs are used for pain management and are injected directly into the patients’ spinal cords in an outpatient procedure known as an epidural injection. According to the Centers for Disease Control, which has been conducting a multistate investigation of the rare outbreak, fungal meningitis, also called cryptococcal meningitis, is usually associated with immune disorders, such as HIV/AIDS. It is most common in people with HIV/AIDS in Africa, where it is a major opportunistic infection. A CDC spokesperson said Oct. 8 that the current outbreak has been traced to two separate molds, aspergillus and exserohilum. The CDC also noted that only in rare instances has aspergillus been linked to meningitis and that exserohilum has not previously been linked to cryptococcal meningitis in people who are otherwise healthy. As of Oct. 9, 119 people had contracted

the disease, which is not communicable, from the steroid treatments. Eleven people have died, several have had strokes and all others remained in critical or guarded condition. Fungal meningitis can cause swelling of the brain as well as stroke. Symptoms, which include fever, severe headache, neck pain and sensitivity to light, can take between one and four weeks to appear. More than 17,000 people have been injected with the drugs. The Framingham pharmacy has recalled three batches of the drug, which have all shown traces of the molds involved and, on Oct. 7, voluntarily recalled all other drugs compounded at and distributed from NECC, citing a “super abundance of caution.” Compounding pharmacies like NECC specially mix their medications for patients who cannot, for example, swallow pills and must have liquid forms of drugs, or higher dosages than are usually available, as was the case with the steroid injectables. Fewer than 10 percent of all pharmacies in the United States are specialized compounding pharmacies. Pennsylvania is one of only three states (Georgia and Massachusetts are the other two) that do not require out-of-state drug manufacturers to be licensed to transport drugs. NECC is not licensed, which means that if the pharmacy had not volun-

tarily ceased to ship the steroid injectables causing the meningitis, Pennsylvania would have no recourse for stopping distribution of the drugs. People with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other immuno-suppressive diseases are most susceptible to infection. Dr. Robert Winn, medical director for Philadelphia’s Mazzoni Center, told PGN this week that anyone receiving injectable steroids “whether they are HIV-positive or not, should ask their clinician where [the drugs] are coming from.” Winn added that NECC, regardless of whether it had been operating within established guidelines for compounding pharmacies, had been following clear protocol on batches of drugs and thus the lot numbers were recorded and the tainted drugs were being or had been recalled. “I would rest assured,” Winn said, “that patients in the area who have been affected by this particular outbreak have been contacted or are being contacted at this time. Whichever procedure [NECC] did not follow, all of those packages have been traced and found.” While the NECC-related outbreak has received daily national news coverage, a smaller outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease among HIV-positive men who have sex with men in the past few weeks in

Fungal meningitis can cause swelling of the brain as well as stroke. Symptoms, which include fever, severe headache, neck pain and sensitivity to light, can take between one and four weeks to appear.

New York City has fallen under the radar. On Sept. 27, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene issued a press release that four men in the city contracted IMD and that one had died. On Oct. 4, the department recommended that all gay and bisexual men who had had sexual contact with other men via digital meeting (phone applications), bars, parties or bathhouses should be vaccinated against the disease. The CDC states there are only 2,600 cases of meningococcal disease in the United States each year, so the New York outbreak is concerning as the health department reported a total of only 12 cases in the past two years. Unlike fungal meningitis, IMD is highly contagious and can be spread through saliva, kissing or prolonged close contact with an infected person. There is a high mortality rate and among survivors, the CDC noted that permanent brain damage, loss of a limb or loss of hearing are common. The source of the outbreak is currently unknown, but similar outbreaks among gay and bisexual men in Toronto and Chicago in recent years resulted in double the number of cases and deaths as the New York outbreak has currently reported. These outbreaks were treated prophylactically with mass vaccinations of more than 14,000 men in each city. Concerns have been raised in New York’s gay community that vaccinations might not be provided in a timely or appropriate manner. A source inside the health department alleged that 10,000 units of the vaccine had been purchased, but a health department PAGE 26

locations in Philadelphia PHILADELPHIA — AROUND THE GAYBORHOOD

12th Street Gym, 204 S. 12th St. • 13th Street Gourmet Pizza, 209 S. 13th St. • AACO, 1101 Market St., 9th floor • Action AIDS, 1216 Arch St. • Apt. & Townhouse Rentals, 304 S. 12th St. • ASIAC, 1201 Chestnut St., 5th floor • The Bike Stop, 206 S. Quince St. • Bioscript Pharmacy, 1227 Locust St. • Cafe Twelve, 212 S. 12th St. • Charlie Salon, 203 S. 12th St. • City Hall NE Entrance • Club Body Center, 1220 Chancellor St. • Com-Har Living Room, 101 S. Broad St., 14th floor • Criminal Justice Center, 1301 Filbert St. • Cut Salon, 204 S. 13th St. • Danny’s Bookstore 133 S. 13th St. • Dignity/St. Lukes, 330 S. 13th St. • Dirty Frank’s Bar, 13th & Pine sts. • The Foodery, 10th & Pine sts. • Fusion Gym, 105 S. 12th St., 2nd floor • Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St. • I Goldberg, 1300 Chestnut St. • ICandy, 254 S. 12th St. • Independent Hotel, 13th & Locust sts. • Mazzoni Clinic, 809 Locust St. • Midtown II, 122 S. 11th St. • More Than Just Ice Cream, 1119 Locust St. • Pa. AIDS Law Project, 1211 Chestnut St., 12th floor • Paolo Pizzeria, 1336 Pine St. • Parker Hotel Lobby, 261 S. 13th St. • Phila. FIGHT/Aids Library, 1233 Locust St., 5th floor • Phila. Family Planning Commission, 260 S. Broad St., 10th floor • Planned Parenthood, 1144 Locust St. • Sansom Cinema, 120 S. 13th St., basement • Santa Fe Burrito, 212 S. 11th St. • Scorpio Books, 202 S. Juniper St. • Sisters, 1320 Chancellor St. • Spruce Street Video, 252 S. 12th St. • Packard Apartments, 317 N. Broad St. • Safeguards lobby, 1211 Chestnut St. #610 • Salon K, 1216 Locust St. • Sansom Cinema, 120 S. 13th St. • Sante Fe Burrito, 212 S. 11th St. • Tabu, 200 S. 12th St. • Tavern on Camac, 243 S. Camac St. • Triangle Medicine, 253 S. 10th St., 1st floor • Uncles, 1220 Locust St. • Valanni, 1229 Spruce St. • Venture Inn, 255 S. Camac St. • Voyeur, 1220 St. James St. • Westbury, 261 S. 13th St. • William Way LGBT Community Center, 1325 Spruce St. • Woody’s, 202 S. 13th St. •

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE YOUR BUSINESS OR ORGANIZATION ON THIS LIST? Contact Don at don@epgn.com or 215-625-8501 ext. 200 to arrange for delivery of complimentary copies.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

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PUTTING THE PRIMARY IN THE PAST: Outgoing state Rep. Babette Josephs (D-182nd Dist., center) and successor Brian Sims (left) hosted a “Unification Party” Oct. 8 at William Way LGBT Community Center to bring supporters of both politicos together in advance of the upcoming election. Sims, who will become the state’s first openly LGBT lawmaker, defeated Josephs, a longtime community ally, in the spring primary. About 50 people attended the event. Photo: Scott A. Drake NEWS

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LOCAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

Lib City endorses Casey, others By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com With less than a month to go until Election Day, Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club last week endorsed a handful of candidates, including U.S. Sen. Bob Casey. The group’s membership endorsed eight new candidates at its Oct. 4 meeting. The list included incumbents Casey, U.S. Rep. Bob Brady (1st Dist.), state Sen. Daylin Leach (17th Dist.) and state Rep. James Roebuck (188th Dist.), as well as challengers George Badey, Kathy Boockvar, Kelly Devine and Will Sylianteng. Badey and Boockvar are running against U.S. Reps. Pat Meehan (R-7th Dist.) and Mike Fitzpatrick (R-8th Dist.), respectively, while Devine and Sylianteng are challenging state Reps. Mike Vereb (R150th Dist.) and Todd Stephens (R-151st Dist.), respectively. The endorsement meeting was held at the William Way LGBT Community Center and included speeches by Badey, Devine, Sylianteng, Roebuck and a representative for Leach. Members debated about a number of politicians, with most of the discussion focused on Casey and his views on marriage equality and abortion. Casey supports civil unions, not marriage,

for same-sex couples. He also opposes federal funding for abortion coverage. During the spring primary endorsement meeting, members chose not to endorse him but to revisit the idea in the fall. “The membership noted his support of other issues central to the community,” Sara Jacobson, endorsement committee chairperson, said, noting that Casey has been in favor of LGBT inclusion in nondiscrimination, hate-crimes and antibullying laws, and the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.” Jacobson added the organization “noted that his opponent is far right-wing on all of the issues that matter to us, like abortion.” Casey is being challenged by Tea Partybacked candidate Tom Smith. Casey’s was the only vote to be cast by actual ballots instead of a voice vote. Discussion also centered on Roebuck’s speech, in which he discussed Liberty City’s history of not supporting him and not supporting state Rep. Babette Josephs in the primary. “Noting Rep. Roebuck’s history of supporting LGBT rights and other progressive causes, the membership nonetheless voted to endorse him,” Jacobson said. For more information on Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club, visit www.libertycity.org/. ■

Groundbreaking set for senior site By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

Pennrose Properties. The $20-million project was made possible through city, state and federal fundDemolition has begun on the property ing. To that end, project organizers will that will house the city’s LGBT-friendly be joined at the groundbreaking by Mayor senior residences, and construction on the Michael Nutter, former Gov. Ed Rendell new building will officially begin later this and U.S. Congressman Bob Brady (D-1st Dist.). month. DMH Fund president and PGN publisher A groundbreaking ceremony will be held at noon Oct. 29 at the site of the future Mark Segal said the project is a “testament to both the city of Philadelphia and the building, 249-257 S. 13th St. Scheduled to open late next year, the resi- LGBT community. Both worked feverishly dences will house 56 one-bedroom units to ensure that we made it to this special for those 62 and over, with a portion of the event.” A luncheon will follow the groundbreakapartments dedicated to low-income resiing ceremony. dents. Demolition on the current site, which The effort is being spearheaded by the Dr. Magnus Hirschfield Fund, with developer housed vehicles and equipment for the city’s Redevelopment Authority, began Oct. 8. The property will be completely leveled by groundbreaking. The residences’ new name will be unveiled during the groundbreaking ceremony. Applications for residency will be available next year. The building will include a 6,000 square-foot courtyard and 2,700 square feet of rentable space on the ground floor for commuSENIOR HOUSING SITE DEMOLITION nity use. ■

RAISING A RAINBOW: Mayor Michael Nutter (left) talked about the 30th anniversary of Philadelphia’s gay-rights law during the third-annual rainbow-flag raising Oct. 5 at City Hall to hail the beginning of LGBT History Month. Speakers included Pastor Donte Jones (from left), the city’s director of LGBT affairs Gloria Casarez, Dr. Magnus Hirshfield Fund president and PGN publisher Mark Segal and Philadelphia Human Relations Commission executive director Rue Landau. About 150 people attended the ceremony, which included performances by members of Philadelphia Freedom Band and Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus. Photo: Scott A. Drake

LOCAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

LONGTIME WILLIAM WAY VOLUNTEER SHARRON COOKS (RIGHT) WITH HER MOM GO-ING ALL NIGHT: About 300 LGBTs and supporters gathered before the namesake of the Franklin Institute at the Oct. 6 Indigo Ball, the primary fundraiser for the William Way LGBT Community Center. In addition to dinner, drinks and dancing, the ball featured an address by former board member Eric Ashton and video presentation by volunteer SharRon Cooks. An award ceremony followed, in which Al Beese, Deb Francesco and Optimal Sport Health Clubs were honored. “It was just a spectacular venue,” William Way development director Michael Pomante said of the Franklin Institute, a first-time host. “We heard a lot of reports that this was the best Indigo Ball event yet. It was a much more magical and meaningful evening.” Following the ball, Voyeur Nightclub hosted the second annual IndiGoGo — a dance party that drew 560 people. Together the events raised $50,000 for the center, $10,000 more than last year’s festivities brought in. Photos: Scott A. Drake

Local orgs to launch innovative trans project By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com

Purchase tickets online at www.choice-phila.org or call 215-985-3355 CHOICE - Concern for Health Options: Information, Care, and Education is Philadelphia’s premiere resource for sexual and reproductive health information, education, and referrals.

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Two local organizations are collaborating to bring a first-ever national transgender-focused HIV-prevention effort to Philadelphia. The Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative and House of Blahnik received a $40,000 grant to spearhead Mobilize, Educate and Engage, which will allow trans people of color to reach within their own communities to build awareness and support of HIV-prevention biomedical research. Project MEE will disperse social-media messaging, along with a quarterly newsletter, about the importance of trans inclusion in biomedical research, and organizers will participate in Ballroom and other transfocused events throughout the nation. The grant will support the creation of a working group, comprised of 12 trans women of color who will serve as spokespeople for the project. “We picked people who we noted to already be leaders in their communities across the United States,” said GALAEI executive director Elicia Gonzales. “They are people who have influence in some capacities and are legends in their community.” GALAEI and HOB received the grant earlier this month from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) through Be the Generation Bridge Partnership, which is administered by the Legacy Project and FHI 360. Gonzales said the initiative will allow GALAEI to continue its commitment to

trans issues. “From the beginning of GALAEI’s existence, we’ve worked with the trans community,” Gonzales said. GALAEI and HOB have also had a longstanding history of working together. “We’ve partnered with them in different capacities. It is just a natural marriage now,” Gonzales said. “We have a lot of respect for the work that they do. They really do a good job of reaching folks that really wouldn’t have been reached otherwise. They help young gay and trans kids.” Lawrence Frazier, HOB managing director, will serve as program manager for the initiative, and said the trans community of color is “greatly marginalized, underserved and is often overlooked in HIV-prevention efforts, thus this education would ultimately lead to healthier outcomes and decision-making.” HOB executive director Damon Humes added that, with efforts around HIV vaccines and microbicides ramping up nationally, “it is critically important to know what these interventions could mean for the future of HIV prevention among transgender persons in both the short and long term.” The initiative is funded through June. “Technically, there is an opportunity for additional funding but there is no conversation because the project just started,” Gonzlaes said, noting that organizers will continue to seek funding support. In the coming months, she is eager for the project to “grow in popularity and visibility.” For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ProjectMee. ■

LOCAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

Neighbors to appeal judge’s OK for church’s demolition By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com A local neighborhood association will appeal last week’s court order permitting an HIV/AIDS agency to demolish an old Catholic church. On Oct. 1, Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Idee C. Fox granted permission for Siloam to demolish the Church of the Assumption, 1133 Spring Garden St. Siloam is a small nonprofit that provides holistic health-care services to people impacted by HIV/AIDS. Though Siloam no longer owns the church, members of the Callowhill Neighborhood Association are concerned that the demolition permit now extends to the church’s new owners. “We’re not sure whether the demolition permit follows Siloam or the building,” said Sarah McEneaney, president of the CNA. Samuel C. Stretton, an attorney for CNA, said an appeal will be filed in state Commonwealth Court. He declined additional comment. John Wei of MJ Central Investment L.P., the church’s new owner, couldn’t be reached for comment. The historically designated church has been vacant for more than 15 years and originally closed due to a sharp decline in parishioners. In 2006, Siloam bought the church and several other parcels from the Archdiocese, but the church quickly became an albatross on the agency’s back. Officials at the agency said they couldn’t do anything with it, and had little alternative but to seek its demolition. In June 2011, Siloam went into court, seeking permission for the demolition. While the lawsuit was pending, Siloam managed to sell the church and three adjacent parcels to MJ Central Investment for about $1.12 million. McEneaney emphasized that a new use can be found for the church. “It’s a beautiful building,” she said. “It has architectural significance and historical significance A building like that will never be built again. So it’s very important that it be preserved.” Sister Cathy Maguire, interim director of Siloam, said she hasn’t talked to Wei about future plans for the church. Maguire said Siloam rents space from Wei to operate out of an old rectory that Siloam sold to him. About six years ago, Siloam rented space in the rectory from the Archdiocese, but the Archdiocese wanted to sell the property. Siloam was given the option of staying in the rectory as long as it purchased not only the rectory but also the church, convent, storefront and adjacent parking lots from the Archdiocese. McEneaney expressed sympathy for the predicament Siloam found itself in at that time. “It’s a shame they were given that kind

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of ultimatum by the Archdiocese: ‘If you want to stay here, you have to buy the entire property,’” she said. “Frankly, we felt they got into a real-estate deal over their heads. It seems to me they couldn’t keep it up. It’s a huge property. And they’re not in the business of real estate. They’re in the business of helping people.” The church was built in 1848-49 by noted architect Patrick Charles Keely.

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It was placed on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places in May 2009, in part because it was consecrated by Philadelphia Bishop-Turned-St. John Neumann and was the church where Mother-Turned-St. Katharine Drexel was baptized. In 2009, Siloam applied for a financialhardship waiver to demolish the church, because it couldn’t find anyone to buy it or rent it. In September 2010, the Philadelphia Historical Commission granted the waiver, clearing the way for demolition. But the CNA appealed to the city’s Board of License and Inspection Review. In May 2011, the board overturned the commission’s ruling, effectively blocking the demolition. Siloam appealed the board’s decision in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court, which resulted in last week’s ruling by Fox. In her 12-page ruling, Fox said it would cost at least $5 million to renovate the church for any type of legal use — much more money than Siloam could afford. She also said Siloam made adequate efforts to sell or rent the building. “The [L&I Review Board’s] finding that Siloam’s efforts to sell or adapt the property were inadequate were not supported by substantial evidence,” Fox stated in the ruling. philadelphia gay news.qxp Maguire expressed agreement9/17/2012 with the judge’s ruling.

“I’m pleased that the decision came out the way it did,” Maguire said. “I’m very happy the judge spent the time to look over all the proceedings — and to find things in our favor. I felt it was a correct decision, because we should have gotten the hardship [waiver].” Andrew R. Palewski, a neighbor who nominated the church for placement on the city’s Register of Historic Places, disagreed with the ruling. “The Common Pleas decision undermines the future of the building and, as a matter of precedent, could adversely impact efforts to preserve other historic sites,” Palewski said. “Despite this, the property has new owners now and I’m hopeful that their plans will include the adaptive reuse of the building.” Maguire said Siloam is searching for a new location, while it continues to operate out of the old rectory. “The property committee has been selected, and they’ll be meeting within the next few weeks to start looking for a new location,” she said. “Siloam hopes to have a seamless transition of services when we move to our new place.” McEneaney said CNA wishes Siloam well in its future endeavors. :We have always supported the work that Siloam does,” she said. Danny Rodriguez, chairperson of the 12:00 PM Page 1of License and Inspection city’s Department Review, had no comment for this story. ■

Suspect Child Abuse? Take action. Pennsylvania’s Child Protective Services Law allows anyone to report suspected child abuse. You do not have to witness the abuse firsthand and you do not have to disclose your name to file a report. If working with children is part of your job, you must report suspected child abuse — it’s required by Pennsylvania law.

To report suspected abuse, call the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare’s ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313 any time of day or night. Get more information about Pennsylvania’s child abuse reporting law by requesting a free copy of the “Reporting Child Abuse” brochure from the Pennsylvania Bar Association at 1-888-799-4557 or by visiting www.pabar.org. A project in the public’s interest from the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Trust Fund and the Philadelphia Bar Association.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

OUTFESTPGN SCRAPBOOK

OUTFEST from page 1

ment was the presence of the antigay Repent America protesters, who, according to Price, kept interrupting the entertainment at 13th and Locust streets. “They kept going near the stage and we had the cops move them,” she said. The Philadelphia Freedom Band followed the protesters around to drown out their noise — a tradition that was interrupted this year by police. “They said that the band was obstructing the protesters’ freedom of speech,” Price said. No arrests were made, although there were a few minor incidents. “It was the usual silly, little stuff but we’re not a destructive or violent community,” Price said. As for the weather, Price gives all the credit to divine intervention. “The rain literally stopped at 12:30 [p.m.] and started again at 6:30 [p.m.]. God was with us,” she said. Both the awards ceremony and the entertainment ran smoothly, with no cancellations from participants or entertainers. Price credited fellow coordinators and volunteers for allowing the event to run smoothly. “I am so proud of all the directors, coordinators and volunteers. They didn’t let the rain dampen their spirits and they did their jobs,” she said. “They were out in the rain and cold volunteering their time and helping the community be out and proud.” The new attractions also did fairly well despite the gloomy weather, although Price said their premier could have gone better if the weather was better. The new Pumpkin Way patch sold out of small pumpkins, while larger ones are still available for purchase at the William Way LGBT Community Center and Spruce Street Video. Price has gotten positive feedback so far for the event. “People know how much is put into these events,” she said. “People stuck with us and those who did had a really good day.” ■

FESTIVAL FIRSTS THIS YEAR INCLUDED THE PUMPKIN WAY (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT), A DECORATED CAMAC STREET AND THE FIRST LEATHER FAIR, WHICH MOVED FROM QUINCE STREET INTO THE BIKE STOP DUE TO WEATHER.

FESTIVAL FAVORITES SPRAY PAINT ART (CLOCKWISE FROM UPPER LEFT) AND THE MECHANICAL BULL STARTED LATE DUE TO THE RAIN, BUT THE DANCE PARTY IN FRONT OF WOODY’S AND PERFORMANCES ON 12TH STREET WENT ON AS USUAL.

OUTFEST PGN SCRAPBOOK

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

What does being out mean to you? “It means a lot now because it was a release from being in the closet. Being out William Cordero, 28 has made Perth Amboy, N.J. me feel free, and it makes me feel more comfortable with myself.” “Being able to be myself without persecution. Standing in my own faith and Maureen “Mo” hopefully Evans, 33 changing Brooklawn, N.J. minds of other people.” “It means being yourself, not caring what other people think. Basically just love Krystal Mosley, 22 yourself Philadelphia and just don’t care.”

ALL IN A DAY’S WORK: It didn’t matter if you were helping erect stages and tents, working a vendor booth, dancing, playing, eating, drinking or just strolling through the streets: OutFest, regardless of the weather, is about being out! Photos: Scott A. Drake

“Accepting who you are and not letting anybody pass judgment on that. Just being Zack Wilson, 24 happy Drexel Hill. with it and not allowing anybody to make you feel guilty or feel insignificant about who you truly are.”

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

EDITORIAL PGN

Creep of the Week

D’Anne Witkowski

Joseph Farah

Editorial

Breaking barriers for binationals Last week, the Obama administration issued guidance for immigration officials that clarified that same-sex couples should be treated as “family.” While the development is a long ways from providing full protection for the countless couples and families who face a sea of immigration-related obstacles, it is the first necessary step in that direction. Because of the Defense of Marriage Act, which prevents the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriage, binational LGBT couples — even those who are legally wed in the United States — are not treated the same as heterosexual binational couples. Among the discrepancies, a U.S.-born partner cannot sponsor his or her same-sex spouse for immigration, a right reserved only for heterosexual spouses. According to Immigration Equality, about 36,000 binational same-sex couples are living in the United States, nearly half of whom are raising children, and an untold number of whom are struggling to keep their families together. A June 2011 Department of Homeland Security memo clarified that U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement officials are authorized to use prosecutorial discretion — which allows for the halting of deportation proceedings or the closing of cases — in certain instances. One of the factors to be considered was “family relationships,” which lacked a specific definition. LGBT advocates, as well as dozens of Congressmembers — including Pennsylvania’s Bob Brady and Chaka Fattah — have spent more than a year urging DHS to clarify that same-sex couples are included in that category. And, on Oct. 5, DHS released guidance doing so. The memo stated that,

to be considered a “family,” the couple must be in an exclusive, longterm relationship with one another and intend to maintain that relationship, as well as share a common residence, financial obligations and assets. While DHS emphasized that the “family relationship” consideration is just one of many factors ICE can consider in the process, the extension of this definition to LGBT couples should be seen as one of a series of building blocks to equality. Other agenda items need to include the passage of the Uniting American Families Act, which would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to allow same-sex partners to sponsor one another for a green card. The bill, introduced every session for over a decade, has seen little movement in Congress. It was last introduced in April 2011 but has yet to gain any traction in either the House or Senate. Ultimately, however, the move that would go the farthest in eliminating discrimination in the immigration system would be the repeal of DOMA. Like UAFA, efforts are underway in Congress to lift the law but, as of yet, have seen no progress. While the full impact of last week’s DHS clarification on actual couples is yet to be realized, it is apparent that it has the potential to heighten awareness — both among members of the public and policy makers — about the need for further action. When the federal government declares that a same-sex couple should be considered a “family” and given the same consideration as others, yet has laws on the books that dictate otherwise, it is clear that action needs to be taken to bring our policies in line with our practices. ■

A couple of weeks ago, I was sitting around trying to think of something cool and hilarious to do and I came up with the idea to write,“You are a faggot” in grammatically incorrect Spanish on my face. Totally original, right? I mean, who else would think of such a thing? As it turns out, Yunel Escobar, a shortstop for the Toronto Blue Jays, beat me to the punch — in that he really did write, “You are a faggot” in grammatically incorrect Spanish on his face, and then trotted out onto the baseball field, in real life. Unsurprisingly, people noticed and it caused quite a stir, leaving Escobar suspended for three games with his salary for those games reportedly being donated to the You Can Play campaign and GLAAD. This turn of events has folks on the antigay right flamin’ mad. Joseph Farah, the man behind World Net Daily, was inspired to write in his Oct. 2 “Between The Lines” column (Seriously. His WND column handle is “Between The Lines”) titled “Homosexual Fascists Target Baseball.” “Are Mom and apple pie next?” Farah’s column begins. “Those may be the next targets of the homosexual fascists — who are like the anti-American poofy sect of the Taliban.” That’s right, folks. A grown-ass man writes, “You are a faggot” in grammatically incorrect Spanish on his face and yet gays are the bad guys here. Personally, I have nothing against moms — heck, I am one myself — and my wife makes a pretty amazing apple pie. Oh, wait. That probably falls under Farah’s definition of homosexual fascist activity. Comparing gays to the Taliban is a nice touch. Getting offended because a baseball player writes “You are a faggot” in grammatically incorrect Spanish on his face (I cannot emphasize that enough) is totally comparable to, say, the destruction of the World Trade Center and the murder of thousands of Americans.

Farah also throws in a Nazi comparison just for good measure when he refers to gays as the “crude, vulgar, name-calling, arrogant pink-shirt Gestapo.” My guess is that Farah is not trying to be ironic when he accuses gays of “name-calling.” Oh, and gays are also worse and more oppressive than Castro. “[Escobar] probably thought once he left Fidel Castro’s island paradise that he would be able to speak his mind, joke around and not fear the thought police,” Farah writes. “Was he ever wrong.” Yes, poor little Escobar, coming to America only to get called out for writing fucked-up things on his face. Farah honestly doesn’t see what the big deal is, since “faggot” is “used far more often by homosexuals than by heterosexuals.” “Should non-homosexual Americans be fined, suspended and humiliated for a remark that wouldn’t draw a second glance in most homosexual bathhouses?” Farah writes. Granted, I haven’t spent much time (any, actually) in gay bathhouses (then again, Farah is the one positioning himself as the expert here, not me). But I suspect that if you walked around with “You are a faggot” written in grammatically incorrect Spanish on your face, you would most certainly “draw a second glance.” Probably even more so if you wrote it on your penis. “Has anyone ... picked up a ‘gay’ newspaper lately and seen the kind of obscenity they portray and the filthy language they use?” Farah writes. Honestly, I don’t know what the fuck he’s talking about, but he can go suck a bag of dicks. ■

“Are Mom and apple pie next?” Farah’s column begins. “Those may be the next targets of the homosexual fascists — who are like the anti-American poofy sect of the Taliban.”

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.

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Stopping the post-debate debacle I love out conservative writer and TV us who believe in him. We do not know talking head Andrew Sullivan, but his the reason why, and if I were interviewing blog on the Daily Beast Tuesday regardthe president, that would be tops on the ing President Obama’s debate performance list of questions I’d ask. I guess that puts was either a cry for attention or — as my interview request on the bottom of the Huffington Post headlined it — a freakpile. That said again, get over it and let’s out. move on. This president will Here’s an example: learn from that night, but those who are constantly dwelling on “I repeat: a 12-point swing,” his performance are only helpSullivan stressed. “On every single issue, Obama has ing the other side. Andrew, the instantly plummeted into nearpresident doesn’t need you to oblivion.” tell him how bad he did — he’s Just hold it a moment. bright enough to know and adjust. Did anyone really believe So here’s what has to be done. that the president would just The president, vice president sail into re-election? That the and those on the campaign polls would never get closer? trail must hit their messages Agreed, the Romney campaign, home every day, especially on at least until the debate, was a Social Security, other entitletrain wreck, but Romney, unlike Obama, did what a candidate ments and social issues. They has to do when his or her mesMark Segal must reframe those issues in a sage is off track — change way that the general public can tactics. And, if you’re as right-wing as understand: sound bites. And they must not they come, go to the center as fast as — I repeat, not — lose any opportunity to you can, and any way you do so is game. point out Romney’s flip-flopping. Earlier this week, for at least the fourth time in Unfortunately for the president, Romney his life, Romney changed his position on chose the debate to make that turn, and the president did not challenge that change. abortion. Democrats shouldn’t be afraid to It was the single biggest mistake of the mention all his positions, then ask, Which debate. Romney’s complete change to the Mitt Romney are you today? And answer it center? A record 90 minutes. That sets a for him. Never mind; he might be another new national record. Now, of course he Romney tomorrow when he’s running in a contradicted himself, changed policies and different race. positions but, hey, what’s a losing candiIf they really need motivation, all they date to do? And now he’s not a losing canhave to do is think Supreme Court and the didate, but one who is in the game. next president. ■ Anyone breathing who watched the Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the debate agrees: Obama lost. That said, get nation’s most-award-winning commentaover it. Yes, he was not there. Yes, he was tor in LGBT media. He can be reached at not engaged. Yes, he did not challenge the mark@epgn.com. contradictions and new positions Romney uttered, and sadly he disappointed all of

Mark My Words

Letters and Feedback Not buying trans clothing company Editor: As a transgender woman in my sixth year of transition, I found myself mystified when reading an article about a clothing company specializing in clothing for transgender women (“Transgender clothing company marks growth,” Oct. 5-11). The article stated they provide a full array of fashion options designed to fit transwomen. Did someone forget to tell me seven years ago that I needed special clothing because I was transgender? Really?

We want to know!

I never seem to have a problem with fit [when I buy] clothing at any women’s store. Am I some kind of freak because I don’t have a need to buy “transgender women” clothing? Since when does my female body need special clothing because I am transgender? This somehow suggests that transwomen’s bodies are in some way odd and different, in some way deformed. As a transwoman, I have no need for special clothing. I buy my clothes just like non-transwomen. You know, Ross, Macy’s, H&M work just great. I find the idea of “transgender female” clothing insulting, degrading, harmful, exploitive, ridiculous and outright unnec-

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

Street Talk Should reparative therapy be banned for minors? “No. Maybe the child has to go through that experience before they’re able to move in a more positive direction. Aubrey DiDonato They might student have to go Rittenhouse Square through it to realize it’s not for them. It’s very sad that people have so much difficulty with samesex attraction. I feel it’s a very natural thing.”

“No. I think that would be a violation of a potential client’s civil liberties. The government doesn’t have the right Nick Moudry to dictate teacher what kind of Washington Square counseling West someone chooses. If it makes a person happy to get that kind of therapy, they should have the freedom to do so.”

"Yes. There are other ways to deal with your sexuality if you have a problem with it. I don’t think sexual orientation DanJuma Ochai is something fashion designer you can Rittenhouse Square change through therapy. A parent’s consent would be required for that type of therapy. So I believe it would be the parent’s decision, not the child’s decision.”

“No. If a child really wants to pursue that form of therapy, they should have the option. But there shouldn’t be Kera Zukowski any undue student pressure from Washington Square the parent. In West my opinion, that kind of therapy isn’t good for anybody. But I wouldn’t cut off the option.”

essary. Maybe someone is confusing transgender with crossdressers or drag queens. Both of the latter are not “transgender,” which requires a diagnosis of genderidentity dysphoria, and they are not on hormone therapy physically changing their bodies. The problem doesn’t stop there. I have seen websites selling “transgender women’s makeup.” For this woman, that is called M.A.C., L’Oreal, Smashbox, CoverGirl, etc. When will people get it? We are women! I am a woman! Got it?

Editor: The sports teams and Team Philadelphia say thank you to Franny Price and Chuck Volz for making OutFest the great event it is and providing the LGBT athletic community the opportunity to work together to bring sports to more than 1,300 participants during the year. Thanks also to PGN for the tremendous coverage of sports. — Bob Szwajkos Philadelphia

— Rachel Ambrose Philadelphia

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

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We See the Sick, The Uncanny Valley Then, what factors into our experience of the sick? Culture? Instinct? Exposure? Have you ever heard of “The Uncanny Prejudice? Fear? Charity? Self-sacrifice? Valley”? It’s the theory born of the field of Transcendent laws? Self-preservation? Are 3D robotics stating that near-perfect human our emotions on rails, or on a ship set on an endless sea of possibilities? replicas, particularly androids, inspire a proFinally, how do our societal experiences found sense of revulsion in humans upon and treatment of the sick perhaps encounter. The Uncanny Valley itself refers to a violent shift in suppress our curiosity to learn and speak freely about their sickour comfort levels as we internesses? act with certain external objects, including other humans. All of this and more will be Because we have no trouble covered and explored in this differentiating our likeness from three-part series, “We See the objects like plants, animals and Sick.” stones, they engender no revulBeing HIV-poz (and the sion. But because objects like mouthy broad I am), lovers and androids, cadavers or zombies new acquaintances alike have resemble an uncanny likeness to expressed mild to intense dishealthy human beings, they give comfort when I’ve disclosed my us the creeps. status. Plain ignorance or prejudice (which usually go hand-inFor a while now, I’ve been hand) were probably the causes using the model of The Uncanny Aaron Stella of their discomfort, but assuming Valley to think about how we such pits prejudice against prejuexperience people we perceive dice — accomplishing nothing. as sick — physically or mentally, visibly or True: the less people know about someinvisibly. thing, the more they fear it, and the stronger What happens in that moment when we their emotional responses are when encounmark someone as sick? Are we repulsed? tering it. But fear, like any other emotion, is a Concerned? Does it depend on the sickliving, breathing entity that grows with us. It ness? Do moral implications affect our prior changes form and expression with time, makjudgment, or present reaction? What do we ing it difficult to isolate and describe the part believe their sickness says about them, or about us? it plays in our greater emotional theater. Part one of a three-part series

Millennial Poz

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As I understand it, humans share two universal fears: fear of heights and sudden loud noises. These fears function as survival mechanisms — to ward us away from dangerous heights and give us rush when hostile creatures or forces (avalanches, earthquakes, lightning, etc.) are nearby. The same can be said for our reactions to the sick. Humans possess innate aversions to pathogens in our own species: Coughing, sneezing, visible sores, unhealthy gauntness, jerky movements, markedly incoherent responses or violent behavior all compel us to distance ourselves — physically or psychologically — from people exhibiting these pathogens. These responses are instinctual. We cannot contend with their existence or influence. But we must be careful not to over-esteem instinct, as it is but one of many factors that impacts our reactions to the sick. Do we not experience an equally powerful compulsion to help the sick as we do instinctually to distance ourselves from them? While we may back away from people coughing, we also desire to alleviate their sickness. We don’t do this out of mere politeness, or custom; as it seems, we simultaneously endeavor to preserve our own health and to ameliorate the health of others. In fact, in certain circumstances, we’ll even go as far as to risk our own health to improve or save that of another (e.g. losing

sleep to keep watch over the infirmed, taking a bullet or jumping in front of a bus for someone). We might do this for people we don’t even know. Like instinct, we must be careful not to over-esteem these ostensibly noble acts. Just because people aren’t going around taking bullets or barring buses with their carcasses all the time doesn’t mean they are ignoble; rather, it shows that everyone possesses vastly different forms of internal logic, which, like fear, and love, grow and change over time. The idea here is to master self-understanding, not to master oneself. There’s a difference. “Mind over matter” is platitudinous. Selfishness vs. selflessness is pejorative, black and white. We want to understand what affects our interactions with the sick, not cast aspersions: If we denigrate ourselves in the process of learning, then we sabotage our efforts, and reproach others, possibly even the very sick we are trying better to understand. Next time, we’ll plunge deeper into the psychological and physiological foreplay that occurs when we mark someone as sick. Get ready, ’cause it’s going to be a bumpy ride. We’re all in this together, folks. Now get out there and talk about it. ■ Aaron Stella is former editor-in-chief of Philly Broadcaster. Aaron can be reached at millennialpoz@gmail.com.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

Despite confusion, victories for voter Pennsylvania’s controversial Act 18, provisional ballot. Voters without photo otherwise known as the “voter-ID law,” ID should use the regular voting machine has been in the news for months now. In a instead. Another new change to voter-ID policy nutshell, Act 18 amended Pennsylvania’s is poised to cause potential snags for voting rules to require voters. In a victory for the transgender individuals to bring state-issued photo community, the Department identification with an expiration date to their polling place of State’s voter IDs, issued through the Department of in order to cast a vote in the Transportation, no longer Nov. 6 general election. The bear gender markers. The law disparately impacted decision, made at the end of the elderly, low-income and those without a high-school September, was thanks in large degree — populations, minorpart to transgender advocacy ity members in particular, that groups and signaled the first were least likely to possess the time that Pennsylvania has required identification. allowed state-issued identification without a gender marker. In effect, the law seemed This will clearly make it easier likely to prevent an estimated transgender individuals 1-9 percent of voters from parAngela for ticipating in the electoral proto obtain and use IDs that do Giampolo not impugn their identities. cess. Thankfully, a Pennsylvania However, interpretation of judge recently struck down the strict the IDs — if requested now or when the photo requirement for this coming elecphoto-ID portion of the law could go into tion. But, there is still concern that confu- full effect next year — will be at the dission could occur at the polls as, according cretion of poll workers. to Commonwealth Court Judge Robert For example, if a male-to-female transgender voter attempts to vote with an Simpson, poll workers may still ask voters for photo IDs. The request itself might ID bearing a female name, that voter lead voters or poll operators to think a could potentially run into issues if the particular voter cannot vote, when really, poll worker decides the voter does not they are only barred from utilizing the “match” his or her ID. Still, the chance of

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will begin to be rolled out in mid-2013. While transgender voters wait for the SEPTA gender-marker changes to take effect, they will not find it difficult to obtain the new genderless state-issued voter IDs discussed above. According to PennDOT secretary Kurt Meyers, there will be “liberal access” to the IDs in an effort to ensure total voter enfranchisement. If any Pennsylvania citizen does not have a valid photo ID on hand, he or she can now go to the agency to obtain a voter ID. Further, they may request that the ID display their preferred name and lack any declaration of gender. While it may seem like a small victory, there is nothing more American, especially around election time, than assisting our citizens in exercising their constitutional rights. Suffrage has a long history in America, as do our transgender Americans. It’s well past time that Pennsylvania recognizes that. ■ Angela D. Giampolo, principal of Giampolo Law Group, maintains offices in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and specializes in LGBT law, business law, realestate law and civil rights. Her website is www.giampololaw.com and she maintains two blogs, www.phillygaylawyer.com and www.lifeinhouse.com. Send Angela your legal questions at angela@giampololaw. com.

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this issue arising is worth the precedent that seems to clarify the unimportance of gender in determining a voter’s right to participate in the electoral process. Additionally, in contrast with the mandated photo ID, it’s also a much better alternative. A transgender individual having a photo that conflicts with his or her current gender presentation or name would surely have posed a much greater risk to the voting rights and safety of transgender Pennsylvanians. Further, there may be a hidden bonus to the voter-ID gender-drop: The decision could possibly be interpreted liberally enough to provide for freedoms in other areas of law, or with respect to other required identifications. In Philadelphia in particular, there has been much attention paid to the required gender markers on the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority weekly and monthly transpasses. Riders who do not appear to match their designated gender sticker have been harassed by drivers, outed as transgender to other riders and even had legitimate passes confiscated. This punitive conduct not only inhibited transgender individuals’ equal access to SEPTA, but also threatened their general safety. However, in April, Riders Against Gender Exclusion were successful in convincing SEPTA to stop putting gender stickers on transpasses. The policy

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CONGREGATION BETH AHAVAH

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

JOIN US MONTHLY FOR SHABBAT SERVICES AT 8:00 PM

Coffee, cake & conversation at the oneg following services

Friday, October 12, 8:00 PM. Beth Ahavah Shabbat Services. Please join us for our monthly BA Shabbat Service followed by a sumptuous oneg (social hour). Dinner at a local restaurant at 6:00 PM precedes services. Please call or email for restaurant location and to RSVP 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.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

Gay History Month

Ruth Ellis: Age knew no bounds By Susan Horowitz Special to PGN She was the matriarch of Detroit’s LGBT community. And more than a decade after her passing, her memory lives on. Ruth Charlotte Ellis lived to be 101 and was an active and much-beloved member of the community right up until the end. She danced her way — literally — into the hearts of many, impressed with her warmth and quiet dignity and inspired with her drive and frequent random acts of kindness. Ellis was born July 23, 1899, in Springfield, Ill. She recalled hiding in her home during the Springfield race riots of 1908. Later, she fell in love with her white

gym teacher, who held her hand to complete a class circle when other students wouldn’t. Encouraged by the promise of better wages, Ellis moved to Detroit in 1937, where she watched over a young boy in Highland Park for $7 a week. Soon, however, she put the printing-press knowledge she had picked up in Springfield to work and secured a position with Waterfield and Heath, where she worked until she opened her own press some years later. Ellis ran her business out of the West Side home she shared with her partner, Ceciline “Babe” Franklin. The couple became known for their weekend house parties, a haven for young LGBTs who had nowhere TI T ED NT FAS IT E M EM ING G LL

AR E

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else to go. She took several of them in, and even helped a few through college before she retired and moved to a downtown senior complex. Franklin moved to Southfield, but the two shared keys to one another’s residences, and the relationship continued until 1975, when Franklin suffered a heart attack on her way to work. “I don’t think it was love,” Ellis once said about her 30-year relationship with Franklin. “[But] she was good for me. She taught me how to take care of myself.” Ellis remained active after the loss, and took up photography and bowling. She traveled often and began helping out elderly neighbors, running errands for them and picking up their groceries. In the late 1980s, Ellis was at a selfdefense class when she met Jay Spiro, who she correctly identified as a fellow lesbian. The two had dinner and Spiro began introducing Ellis around. Soon, crowds were lining up to dance with Ellis at parties and social functions, where she developed a reputation for wearing out dance partners on the floor. “I love good dance music and classical music,” she told “Between The Lines” in 1999. “When I am dancing, people say, ‘Miss Ruth, I have got to quit, I am too tired.’ But I’m still dancing.” The awards and accolades began at about this time, as the public took notice of Ellis’ remarkable life, her entrepreneurial skills and the assistance she provided to younger LGBTs for several decades. She was honored with lifetime-achievement awards, resolutions from the mayor and other officials and even an honorary doctorate. But the greatest recognition came as her 100th birthday drew near. “Living With Pride: Ruth Ellis @ 100,” the documentarystyle telling of her life by Yvonne Welbon, won top honors at several major film festivals. Ellis was written up in virtually every major LGBT publication across the country and profiled by mainstream AfricanAmerican publications like “Essence” and feminist works like “Ms.” Ellis eventually tired of the attention. Her failing health caused her to cut down her travel schedule, and she even turned down the chance to appear on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” “I’m getting to be too important,” Ellis said at the time. “I never imagined all of this. I guess no one has ever seen a lesbian this old before.” Ellis was hospitalized in the summer of 2000 — at age 101 — dehydrated and exhausted. But she struggled to hold on

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until she made it back home, where she wanted to make her transition. She died in her sleep in the early-morning hours of Oct. 5. Often amazed at her own celebrity, Ellis frequently asked why everyone made such a “fuss” over her. Those who had the pleasure of knowing her, however, would never ask such a question. “Ruth positively touched lives across North America,” said Johnny Jenkins of Detroit Black Gay Pride. “Her spirit touched the essence of our humanity.” And her spirit continues to touch us today through the effort of the Ruth Ellis Center, the groundbreaking youth shelter, transitional living and outreach program founded in 1999. Ellis was on hand for the ribboncutting of the agency’s first drop-in center in 2000. Ruth’s House, the center’s transitionalliving quarters, opened in 2004, and the agency continues to thrive as it provides short-term and long-term residential safe space and support services for runaway, homeless and at-risk LGBT youth in Detroit and Southeastern Michigan. Comedian and Emmy-winning actor Wanda Sykes visited the center in 2010 and again in 2012. She was so impressed by what she saw that she Tweeted to her more-than 100,000 followers about the center and went on to star in a public-service announcement for the agency. She also hosted a fundraising dinner for the agency and donated $15,000. If Ellis was surprised by how much attention she garnered in her lifetime, she would have been awestruck to know how her work has continued and her memory lives on. ■

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

UNDO THE WORKWEEK.

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Barbra Casbar Siperstein: Breaking ground in NJ, nationally By Victoria A. Brownworth Special to PGN The story of Barbra “Babs” Siperstein is one that will both break your heart and move you to action. It’s a story of the power of love, the passion of commitment and the importance of being present. On Sept. 30, Siperstein, nee Barry Siperstein, was at a surprise birthday party — her own. It was thrown by her daughter and some friends. Her grandchildren were there, her oldest son flew up from Florida. The party was for her 69 and 5/6 celebration. It was a bit of a family tradition, because when Siperstein was nearing 50, her late wife Carol Ann threw her a 49 and 5/6 birthday party because she knew Siperstein was uncomfortable about turning 50. But at the party last weekend, things were somewhat different. It was still a big event, although Carol Ann wasn’t there. And the guests also had a present that Barbra couldn’t have imagined at that earlier party: a resolution from the New Jersey State Assembly, noting the significance of the day. Because, as she approaches 70, Barbra is no longer Barry, but one of the premiere transgender activists in the state of New Jersey, if not the country. In September, she was elected as the first transgender member of the executive committee of the Democratic National Committee. It didn’t take a party to signal that Siperstein has arrived. Soft-spoken, charming, funny and pretty, Siperstein seems never to stop moving. She talks fast, yet ruminatively, and has story upon story to tell — though none as interesting as her own. She has an engaging way of luring her audience, be it one or hundreds, into her thrall. Siperstein wants change, she’s passionately committed to it and she wants everyone to come on board. Her enthusiasm for activism had an almost giddy quality to it. But don’t mistake that for a lack of seriousness. She’s serious —

she’s just learned through a lifetime of finding her own way that, to get people to do things, you have to talk to them as individuals and make them understand what has to be done and why. That process is what made her a successful businessperson and a leading LGBT activist in Democratic politics. LGBT history is made one person and one action at a time. But in the moment when we transition into being an activist and making history, there is always someone guiding us — positively or negatively — in that direction. For Siperstein, those figures included her parents, who she said fed her independence from childhood, as well as her late wife. Siperstein had the standard queer experience of feeling “different,” but is quick to note, “I’m very fortunate in that my story is a positive story.” “As a child and a pre-adolescent I knew I was different,” she said. “There were certain things that I was extremely sensitive to. I still remember — I don’t know how old I was — I always read and was a little too independent. I would go outside and take the bus to my father’s store. My mother put me in the local school because it was around the corner. She didn’t want me wandering off.” Siperstein never lost that early streak of independence. Inevitably, it would lead her to understand her own identity and come out as transgender in an era and milieu when it was anything but easy. “There was always a sensitivity there in me,” she explained. “I remember reading, always reading, and there was a medical book. The duality of gender and sex struck me. I read about Christine Jorgensen [the first known person to have sexual-reassignment surgery]. But then, back then, one had to be in denial. I was the first-born male of the first-born male in a tough, working-class Italian/Irish neighborhood.” It was not the slapstick tough of “Jersey Shore” or the mobster tough of “The

Sopranos,” but the tough of class and ethnic differences and the many isms that they inspire. Siperstein’s family was one of only a handful of Jewish families in her neighborhood. Early on, she had to deal with antiSemitism and being called a “dirty Jew.” But she fought back. “They didn’t call me that again,” she laughed dryly. But as she neared middle age — that 50mark looming, living with a wife and children, a successful New Jersey businessman — she could no longer deny what she had always known to be true about herself. “I started to come out to myself,” she said wistfully. “I was fortunate my wife was my best friend. She was the type of person I could come out to, and she was the type of person who would love me anyway. We were very fortunate. I was very fortunate.” The two stayed together. Barry became Barbra, and the pair gave themselves a new last name, Casbar — a combination of Carol Ann’s initials and Barry’s name. It was a name they would use as they met other couples and spent evenings and weekends in New York and the Poconos and New Hope. They found other middle-aged couples living similar lives, where the husband was transgender and the wife was learning to accept the new life they were leading. “We were both gregarious people,” Siperstein said of herself and her late wife. “We liked people, we liked going out.” It was a transition for both Siperstein and Carol Ann. “She would prefer that we were ‘normal,’ but her biggest thing was that this wasn’t a fetish, that it was who I was. She said to me, ‘If I’m going to be with you in public, you are going to look like a woman and act like a woman.’” Carol Ann told Siperstein she would have to maintain her familial responsibilities with their children and grandchildren. “She was clear and I understood: It was

the family, it was the responsibility. I had to protect my family first.” It wasn’t the easiest life, but Siperstein became an activist almost immediately — in part because of the complexity of their dual life. Being transgender, Siperstein acknowledged, was “a huge stigma. In New Jersey, we’ve changed a lot of the laws, but there’s still that societal stigma. I was able to be out politically and be a separate person in my business.” That “dual life” went on for many years until she became more politically active in 2000. She became involved with a gender advocacy group. As for Carol Ann, “instead of being active in Hadassah, she was active in Invasion of the Pines,” Siperstein explained. Siperstein also joined Empire State Pride Agenda, which she describes as a “miniHRC [Human Rights Campaign].” That’s when she started to feel like the left-behind letter in the “LGBT” soup. ESPA was “pushing an LGBT-inclusive agenda” but Siperstein was sad that agenda did not include gender identity. The group had, Siperstein felt, “reached out to trans people and then turned their backs on us.” She noted that [trans activist] Sylvia Rivera was among the first to throw a punch or a bottle in the Stonewall riots, and that being cut out of the nondiscrimination picture was not something Siperstein was going to stand for. It was, she said, “shallow.” The activists were “straight-acting white men, feeling their privilege. I’ve been both places. That really got me going.” Siperstein was now a transgender woman with an activist mission of her own — to make gender discrimination part of any LGBT agenda. But soon after that revelation, at the end of the summer of 2001, Carol Ann became ill while the couple was visiting friends in Hawaii. “That night my wife developed a cough and that got worse and worse.” At the end of September, Carol Ann was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, which had spread throughout her pelvic area and lungs, and she died at the end of the next month. “It was devastating,” Siperstein said. “It happened so fast.” The pair had been married 34 years. “Fortunately, I had some friends who pushed me,” she said. Siperstein said she used her political activism to channel her grief. An appellate court decision over a doctor who was fired after a gender transition “got me going,” Siperstein explained. “As a business person and an employer, unless I saw gender identity and expression on those discrimination posters at my business, the discrimination against people like me was going to continue.” She threw herself into work with longtime political and transgender activists, including “the former PAGE 20

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

Managing the market into retirement Q: I’m a gay man in my mid-60s, quickly approaching retirement. The financial markets have been pretty strong these past couple years, but I’m concerned about the elections and the “fiscal cliff” — and how it will impact the stock market this close to my retirement. A: First, let me congratulate you on your pending retirement! We certainly have many unknowns ahead of us in the coming months and years. And short-term volatility can have a significant impact on your retirement plans if you’re not properly prepared. Here are some things to consider. Market volatility and your retirement: Can timing alter your plans? Investors saving for long-term goals can usually overlook shortterm market volatility in the interest of long-term gain. But for retirees, who increasingly rely on their investments to fund their living costs, market volatility can mean the difference between living comfortably and just scraping by. In fact, retirees are particularly vulnerable to market downturns, especially in the early years of retirement, because of their dependence on portfolio income, limited investment horizon and the need to make sure their savings last throughout their retirement.

The following strategies can’t guarantee against losses, but they may be able to ease the ups and downs in the market. 1. Keep withdrawal assumptions conservative. When calculating how much of your retirement portfolio you can spend each year, be realistic: The amount you have saved and the expected length of your retirement will dictate the annual withdrawal amount. Using historical-market performance as a guide, retirement experts suggest withdrawing no more than 4 percent of a portfolio’s value each year. This approach may help maintain a cushion against future market declines while supporting a hypothetical payout schedule of 20 years or more.

— which could expose your retirement nest egg to damaging, even irreversible, setbacks when you are on the verge of retirement. Similarly, as you grow older, you may want to “weight” your portfolio more toward bonds, for their ability to produce income. 4. Work with a financial professional. The guidance of a financial professional can always be beneficial, but it may be especially so in the years leading up to and entering retirement. It is at this time that investors are at their most vulnerable to specific market events as well as normal market fluctuations. In either case, an advisor can help investors make informed, unemotional decisions consistent with their financial goals. Stock investing involves risk, including the loss of principal. Bonds are subject to market and interest rate risk if sold prior to maturity. Bond values will decline as interest rates rise and are subject to availability and changes in price. ■

2. Maintain a sensible asset allocation. Divide your portfolio among stocks, bonds and cash investments so that you have adequate exposure to the longJeremy term growth potential that stocks Jeremy R. Gussick is a Financial Advisor with LPL Financial, the nation’s largest independent broker-dealer.* but also have some proJeremy specializes in the financial-planning needs of the Gussick provide, tection against market setbacks. LGBT community and was recently named a 2012 FIVE By spreading your assets across STAR Wealth Manager by Philadelphia Magazine.** He is active with several LGBT organizations in the investments that react differently to various Philadelphia region, including the Delaware Valley Legacy market conditions, you help minimize the Fund, the Greater Philadelphia Professional Network and impact that any single losing investment can the Independence Business Alliance. OutMoney appears have on your overall portfolio performance. monthly. If you have a question for Jeremy, email jeremy. In addition to traditional asset classes, gussick@lpl.com. LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. investors at higher income levels or with more *As reported by Financial Planning magazine, 1996-2012, investable assets may consider alternative Market volatility: an historic inevitability based on total revenues. investments as a way to help further diversify Unfortunately, the timing of market losses **Award details can be found at www.fivestarprofessional. a portfolio and manage risk. Keep in mind and gains is something we cannot control. com. that alternative investments may not be suitOne thing that history points out with cerable for all investors and should be considered This article was prepared with the assistance of S&P tainty, however, is that over long periods of Capital IQ Financial Communications and is not intended as an investment for the risk-capital portime the stock market has delivered positive to provide specific investment advice or recommendations returns on an average basis. But we also know tion of an investor’s portfolio. The strategies for any individual. Consult your financial advisor, or me, if employed in the management of alternative you have any questions. that, in the shorter term, stocks fluctuate in investments may accelerate the velocity of response to many factors. Because of the possibility of human or mechanical error by potential losses. For instance, through the market boom of S&P Capital IQ Financial Communications or its sources, the 1990s, personal-investment portfolios neither S&P Capital IQ Financial Communications nor its 3. Review and rebalance your portfolio. Once were swelling, and the stock market reached sources guarantees the accuracy, adequacy, completeness you have set an asset allocation that works for or availability of any information and is not responsible for an all-time high. Then the bubble burst in the any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the you, review, and if necessary, adjust it from technology/Internet sector, and many invesuse of such information. In no event shall S&P Capital IQ time to time to ensure it still reflects your tors lost a significant portion of their retireFinancial Communications be liable for any indirect, speneeds. Fluctuations in the market may cause ment savings. Similarly, the recent financial cial or consequential damages in connection with subscribyour asset mix to become too heavy in stocks ers’ or others’ use of the content. meltdown that took hold a few years ago has had a dramatic impact on the retirement plans of American workers and retirees. Those unlucky enough to be on the brink of retirement — or those who had recently retired — surely would have been forced to make significant adjustments to their retirement Move Forward Fitness plans. There have been many other periods of decline throughout history — even though the • Lose Fat! particular events that triggered them may have • Gain Muscle! been different. And there will no doubt be more periods of market decline in the future. • Speed Metabolism! Although market fluctuations are a normal part of investing, they can still pose challenges to investors, especially those entering 215-399-3541 or already in retirement.

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Out dean to leave post at Drexel By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Classes are back in session at Drexel University School of Public Health, and its out dean, Dr. Marla Gold, is heading into her last year at the helm on all cylinders. Gold, 55, will step down — or “up” as she notes, as she is remaining on the school’s faculty — from her post in June. The position began as an interim one in 2002, at a time when the fledgling school was struggling to right itself. In 1998, the program’s parent company, Allegheny Health, Education and Research Foundation, declared bankruptcy. A few months later, the school’s founding dean, Jonathan Mann, and his wife were killed in the crash of Swissair Flight 111. Four years later, Drexel acquired the school — one of just two public-health schools in the state at the time and the only one in the region. “The school had been through the unbelievably tragic death of its leader and was emerging out of Chapter 11 reorganization,” Gold said. “It was quite a challenging time.”

DR. MARLA GOLD

When Gold was tapped for the job of leading the new school, she said she was apprehensive about the daunting task — especially since her background didn’t fit that of the typical dean.

Gold was a practicing internist and served as assistant health commissioner for Infectious Disease Control with the city in the early 1990s before going on to head Allegheny’s HIV/AIDS program. “Among the schools of public health in the nation, the majority of the deans had been living and breathing academic public health — science and research — their entire lives. I’d spent my career in publichealth practice but I hadn’t produced the kind of scholarship that is traditional in academic public health,” she said. “I had an M.D., not a PhD. So, on one hand, I was in a known land, but on the other I was in a very strange, new place.” As soon as she began, she met individually with each of the faculty members — nine-and-a-half at the time — as well as Drexel’s top administrators and health commissioners throughout the region. She said she read everything she could get her hands on in the field of academic public health and “went on the talk circuit, giving lecture after lecture after public health.” Within six months, she said she was “scaled right up to understanding” and was

able to focus on moving the school forward. In the past 10 years, the school expanded from 60 students to more than 500 and now employs 41 full-time faculty members and 85 adjuncts. In 2007, it was fully accredited by the Council on Education and Public Health. The success the school has seen was made possible by widespread and longterm support from Drexel administrators, faculty and staff, Gold said. “Getting resources from Drexel University was very important,” she said. “Constantine Papadakis, our former president, and our provost at the time, Harvill Eaton, were very supportive and were committed to giving me what I needed to hire faculty, to expand our course offerings, to get administrators in. With that initial flow of resources, students began coming to the school. Our faculty and staff are so passionate about what they do, and good at what they do, that students will follow. Then you get that generation of tuition and off you go. People have pointed to me, saying, ‘under her leadership’ this all happened, and I’ll own that proudly, but in our

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field, and in my style of leadership, we did that together.” Among the myriad initiatives launched in the last decade was the school’s Program for LGBT Health, as well as its new online LGBT health certificate program. Gold — the only out dean at any of the nation’s approximately 50 schools of public health — said she’s always been “out” in her role, which she hopes has empowered students. “Students can be heard and they can feel seen,” she said. “If you’re gay, lesbian, transgender and I’m giving a lecture on stage and mention something clearly stating that I’m a lesbian — I’m a white, straight woman in many people’s eyes so I sometimes go out of my way to mention the family or use that ‘l’ word — students feel seen. There’s a lot of dignity in that.” One of the greatest challenges she faced during her tenure was striving to create and sustain authentic community partnerships, what she described as a cornerstone of a Drexel education. Gold said she has worked to make the school one “without walls” — despite the irony that it is entering the final stages of its move to a new building on Drexel’s

main campus. “Everyone talks about the community experience, and every university in the nation wants it, but you need to figure out how to really do that without the community feeling like you’re studying them and running away,” she said. “Students need to know the science but also the real application because, if not, they will become so distant that they won’t understand the implications of what they’re studying. The school has to be configured so that it has a real connection to the community. That’s what I’ve lost sleep most over in the last 10 years.” She added that, while it may seem “trite,” one of the most valuable lessons impressed upon her in the past decade is simply to trust your gut. “No matter how much data and opinions are on the table, in the end you need to just trust your overall sense,” she said. “It sounds easy, but leaders often get swayed by popular opinion or other things and don’t listen to that tiny voice inside them that’s saying something different, and they end up regretting it.” Gold noted that her role as dean has put her own career into perspective.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

While she joked that she is not the type who envisioned entering medicine from the age of 2, she fell in love with the craft when she began studying it — and has learned to appreciate that passion in new ways since. “I started as a clinical doctor, where you impact the lives of your patients every day, and then moved to faculty and senior faculty and then dean, and I don’t have time to practice now. But now, I get to hire the people who teach the people to go on and do the things that I love to do. It’s like ‘The House That Jane Built.’ On the one hand, I miss doing some of those things but, on the other, it’s unbelievable to realize that your name’s on the diploma and you’re sending these people off to do great things. That legacy phenomenon has been incredible.” She said she didn’t take on the deanship with a set goal for when she would move on but that, once she surpassed the decade mark, she felt the school could continue moving forward without her. While she doesn’t have a set goal for the future, apart from staying on the teaching staff at Drexel, Gold said the time was right for the move. “For me, it was a feeling, a sense of

when it was time. And when I started to see that this school can continue to be successful without me at the helm, that made the transition easier to think about. It was a magical moment to know that this entity can continue to grow and do its thing without me in charge and that it doesn’t depend on me in the same way anymore.” What does depend on her is her family — her wife, Deborah, of 28 years, their son and daughter, and her mother. Gold said they have been constantly supportive of her work as dean but will welcome the opportunity for more family time. “I joke with the faculty that, ‘Hey, it’s a rumor that my son is in college and my daughter just started third grade.’ My daughter thought that when the date was announced, it was a done deal, and she came home and said, ‘Wait, I have to wait until fourth grade to see more of you?’ I can’t wait to have more time with them. I used to think, when people would stand up at awards shows and thank their husbands and wives, Oh, give me a break. But after 10 years of doing this work 24/7, and knowing what my family has done to make that possible, I’m so grateful.” ■

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SIPERSTEIN from page 16

president of the Log Cabin Republicans in New Jersey. She was involved with the [former Republican governor of New Jersey] Christine Whitman administration. It gave me a different perspective, talking with the really grassroots people.” “Our history is on so many levels,” Siperstein said earnestly “We are in every group — ethnic, religious, racial, gender, economic class.” And the same is true of transgender people, she said. “Some people will look at transpeople like they have a disability. Being transsexual is a disability. But it’s a disability because of what society does to the person.” The next years passed in a whirlwind of activism. “As I look back on it, there’s a logical story and chain of events. I quote Woody Allen — 80 percent of success is just showing up.” Siperstein became an active, and visible, member of National Stonewall Democrats in 2002. At the time, HRC was advocating for nondiscrimination legislation that protects on the basis of sexual orientation, not gender identity. For Siperstein, that was not enough. She

began showing up at fundraisers, including one for former New Jersey U.S. Sen. Bob Torricelli. “New Jersey politics is always about the cash. I brought an envelope with ten $100 bills. I caused a little commotion. I ended up using a credit card. I told Torricelli sexual orientation doesn’t include people like me. You have to add gender identity.” He listened. “You’ve got to be there and you’ve got to open your mouth,” Siperstein said. The activism ratcheted up to Massachusetts U.S. Sen. John Kerry’s 2004 campaign for president. “One of the problems we had was that the Kerry people did not want to put gender identity in the Democratic platform.” While gender identity didn’t make it in, activists, including Siperstein, got their point across. Siperstein was brought in for a meeting with senior staffers at the 2004 DNC in Boston. “It gave me some insight,” she said. “We still tried to engage the party. In 2005, they had an LGBT roundtable to do a post-mortem on the election.” The door was opened, and Siperstein was on her way to the DNC, where she became a member of its relations committee.

“You have to engage people one-on-one. That’s how you get to people. That’s how I got to people. I’ve had a taste of very different worlds. I feel comfortable. There’s a little bit of me in everyone. I’ve worked in factories and sat in board rooms. I can realize and relate and respect people for what they are.” But that didn’t mean the struggle was over. Siperstein found herself at a meeting of the DNC relations committee and its LGBT caucus. But, as she walked into the meeting, she saw “Gay and Lesbian Caucus” on the door. It was, Siperstein believed, the very sort of mixed messaging that had cost Kerry the 2004 election. However, Siperstein realized she just had to be present, to keep showing up, standing up and speaking up. “When the chair of the DNC relations committee had to step down, I offered to step in and I became the new chair,” she said. “I wanted to get as many transpeople to show up and be present as I could. I hate being the only one.” With visibility comes respect, she asserted. “Getting that political respect? The end result is societal. But you have to show up.” Last year, Siperstein was elected to the

DNC executive committee — the first transperson to join that panel. “If you have the political capital, you can force it. That’s my nature. Find the winwin,” she said. “You need to understand people. You’ve got to step up. You’ve got to raise your hand and do.” And Siperstein does. In a little more than a decade, she’s taken her charm, grace and enthusiasm to the halls of power. She’s met with Vice President Joe Biden and former DNC chair Tim Kaine and a plethora of other members of the party hierarchy. But she’s never lost the memory of being called a “dirty Jew” nor the memory of the wife who loved her enough to stay with her through the biggest transition of their life. Those memories fuel her activism and compel her to do for others, as well as for herself. “I’ve been in the front of the bus, so suddenly being pushed to the back of the bus, I knew the difference,” she said. “I had a taste of it and I lost it. Same thing with marriage. I’ve had a taste and had it taken away. Maybe this has given me an added advantage because I want it back. And I know there’s no reason why someone else shouldn’t have it.” ■

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

Gayborhood Crime Watch The following incidents in the Midtown Village and Washington Square West areas were reported to the 6th Police District between Sept. 24-30. Information is courtesy of 6th District Capt. Brian Korn; Stacy Irving, senior director, Crime Prevention Service; Center City District; the Police Liaison Committee and Midtown Village Merchants Association. To report crime tips, visit www.phillypolice.com or call 215-686-TIPS (8477).

had a medium complexion and was wearing a black hijab. — At 2:15 a.m. Sept. 27, a male pointed a gun at another male during an argument in the 1300 block of Walnut Street. Sixth District Officer Hill was alerted to the incident and all parties were taken to Central Detectives for further investigation. — At 3:15 p.m. Sept. 28, a male snatched an envelope containing money from a woman as she entered 1301 Locust St. The suspect, who fled north on 13th Street and then west on Walnut Street, was described as a 6-foot white male in his late 40s, with gray hair and glasses and wearing a black Brian Dawkins Eagles jersey and jeans.

INCIDENTS — Between 4 p.m. Sept. 16 and 4 p.m. Sept. 24, someone stole a hubcab from a 2012 Volkswagen parked in a paid lot at 417 S. Broad St. — At 3:30 p.m. Sept. 25, two females stole several clothing items from Scarlet Fiorella, 113 S. 13th St. The suspects were described as black females in their 20s. The first had a dark complexion with short hair and was wearing light-colored clothing. The second

— Between 7:45-8:15 p.m. Sept. 28, someone stole a secured bicycle from outside 800 Spruce St. — At 7:30 p.m. Sept. 29, two males were stabbed outside of 1001 Market St. by a

group of five Asian male teenagers.

Police apprehended the 26-year-old suspect with a Francisville address. He was charged with robbery and related offenses.

NON-SUMMARY ARRESTS

SUMMARY ARRESTS

— At 2:15 p.m. Sept. 26, 6th District bike patrol Officer Blackburn apprehended a male who was operating a gambling game outside 1028 Market St. The 50-year-old suspect with a West Philadelphia address was charged with illegal gambling and related offenses.

— On Sept. 24, 6th District officers issued citations for summary offenses at 12:05 a.m. outside 101 S. 13th St. and at 3:35 p.m. outside 1230 Chestnut St. — At 9:55 p.m. Sept. 25, 6th District officers issued a summary citation outside 231 S. 13th St.

— At 12:40 p.m. Sept. 27, Center City District Officers Moore and Pagan observed an illegal narcotic transaction in the 800 block of Market Street. A 41-year-old suspect was charged with illegal narcotic sales. A 51-year-old suspect with an Oxford Circle address was charged with illegal possession of narcotics. Police recovered 35 prescription pills and marijuana.

— On Sept. 29, 6th District officers issued a citation for summary offenses at 11:25 p.m. outside 1319 Locust St. and at 11:45 p.m. outside 1300 Pine St. — At 4:30 p.m. Sept. 30, 6th District officers issued a citation for a summary offense outside 12th and Chancellor streets.

— On Sept. 30, a DoubleTree Hotel employee was in his office at 237 S. Broad St. when a male forcibly stole his iPhone.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

News Briefing Sandusky sentenced to up to 60 years Jerry Sandusky’s pleas of innocence went unheard as he was sentenced to 30-60 years in prison this week. The former Penn State assistant football coach was convicted of 45 counts of child sex abuse in June stemming from incidents with 10 boys. On the eve of his Oct. 9 sentencing, Sandusky issued a tape recording in which he claimed his innocence and blamed Penn State, the media and his accusers for tarnishing his name and spreading lies about “these alleged disgusting acts.” “They can take away my life. They can make me out as a monster. They can treat me as a monster, but they can’t take away my heart,” Sandusky said on the tape.

He continued, “Why have so many people suffered as a result of false allegations? What’s the purpose? Maybe it will help others, some vulnerable children who could be abused might not be as a result of all the publicity. That would be nice, but I’m not sure.” Sandusky founded The Second Mile, which helped at-risk children and their parents. Eight boys who belonged to the organization, now grown men, stepped up to testify against Sandusky, accusing him of sexually abusing them when they were children. Sandusky was sentenced Tuesday before Commonwealth Court Judge John M. Cleland. Three victims retold stories of Sandusky’s abuse before the sentencing, and Sandusky followed, again denying the accusations. Sandusky will be transferred to the state prison at Camp Hill, where he will undergo mental and physical health tests. Once assigned to security risk, Sandusky will be moved to a prison where he will serve his sentence. His attorney vowed to appeal the sentence. He could have received a maximum 400 years in prison.

Local candidates get Log Cabin nod LGBT group Log Cabin Republicans recently announced their endorsements for U.S. House and Senate for the upcoming election, and the list included two local candidates: U.S. Reps. Michael Fitzpatrick (8th Dist.) and Charles Dent (15th Dist.). R e p r e s e n t a t iv e s f o r L o g C a b i n Republicans, Fitzpatrick and Dent did not respond to a request for comment. Both candidates have mixed records on LGBT equality throughout their careers. In 2006, Dent voted in favor of a proposed constitutional amendment to define marriage as between one man and one woman, while Fitzpatrick voted against it. Last spring, however, Fitzpatrick told the Bucks County Courier Times that “marriage is between a man and a woman. The constitution is clear: This is an issue for the states.” Dent voted in favor of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which banned open LGBTs from military service. Dent also voted in favor of the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, which would prohibit discrimination based on

sexual orientation and gender identity. Log Cabin has yet to confirm whether they will endorse Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. GOProud, another organization that serves the Republican LGBT community, announced earlier that they endorse the Romney/Ryan ticket. — Angela Thomas

Former ‘Diva’ sues Resorts A female impersonator who created a popular Atlantic City drag show has filed suit against the host casino for trademark infringement. Steven Nisse filed a suit in federal court in New Jersey Sept. 19 against Resorts Casino Hotel and the operators of its “Divas Do AC” show. Nisse was the driving force behind the “Divas in a Man’s World” production, which Resorts hosted until this past summer. In July, Nisse was terminated from the show and the name of the event was changed. However, Nisse, who also goes by the last name Andrade, said PAGE 24

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A Tale of Two Unions

What NFL refs and Chicago teachers can teach Philly’s municipal unions

ete Matthews, the head of the city’s largest municipal union, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) District Council 33, �� Authority. �� and four years without a contract. While Matthews constantly spoils �� NFL referees and the Chicago teachers may show DC 33 the way. ��

ers could foresee the impact �� lation on each side that the other will suffer greater hardship and �� tarnished, while the NFL owners �� to impugn. Although the NFL owners �� stoppage will indeed damage the ��

�� eight years from now, when they renegotiate their contract. Clearly an NFL referee stands �� A full-time insurance salesman �� hundred thousand dollars can af�� that decision is not so easy.

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Matthews cannot know now whether a DC 33 strike would in fact threaten Mayor Nutter’s brand. But there is only one way to ﬁnd out. �� Chicago teachers, despite �� teachers in the nation, do not �� ployees in Philadelphia, comes ��

same time protect teachers laid off through school closings. Nine days later, they had a deal. �� in fact threaten Mayor Nutter’s �� into the streets—and sanitation, and water departments. O C T. 7 - 1 4 , 2 0 1 2

Liberty City Press is a collaborative publication effort of the Philadelphia Multicultural Media Network.

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Laurel Hill Cemetery is home to the gravesites of General George Meade (left) and his wife Margaretta. Sarah J. Glover/Photographer

Laurel Hill Comes Alive with Halloween Events Historic cemetery is a site of fun, mystery and wonder this month

by Sheila Simmons

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Harry Kalas’s gravesite at Laurel Hill Cemetery is surrounded by seats from Veterans Stadium. Sarah J. Glover/Photographer

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�� and a fellow tour participant, �� forward to one’s demise . . . well, �� in hand, ghost hunters from an organization called Free Spirits �� discuss some of the cemetery’s �� etery’s annual fundraiser, held �� Center City. �� www.thelaurelhillcemetery.org O C T. 7 - 1 4 , 2 0 1 2

Liberty City Press is a collaborative publication effort of the Philadelphia Multicultural Media Network.

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Philly Stars Take on New York Standout players from both cities have a face-off in Philadelphia Lamar Kimble of Neumann Goretti (left) drives to the hoop in the sophomore Philly vs. New York City All-City Classic game held at Ben Franklin High School. Sarah J. Glover/Photographer

by Jeremy Treatman

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Style Me Hired

An event helps women get back into the work force by HughE Dillon

1. Style Me Hired is an event where 100 unemployed women receive a makeover from over 20 volunteer salons, as well as clothing from Career Wardrobe and job training skills from business volunteers, all in an effort to help them get back into the work force. Marc Voci (center), hair dresser and creator of Style Me Hired, with the supportive Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds-Brown and Councilman Bill Greenlee at the Omni Hotel at Independence Park. Reynolds-Brown and Greenlee spoke with the women and gave them encouragement. 2. Sheri Cole, executive director of Career Wardrobe, and Susan Rocco host of “Women to Watch” on 1180 WFYL Radio, participate in the Style Me Hired day. 3. Mistress of Ceremonies Lori Wilson, of NBC stands with Anita Coppens, owner of AC Productions, who helped produce the event along with Voci. 4. Voci and the ladies who participated in “Style Me Hired Makeover” at the Omni Hotel. Check out Marc Voci’s Facebook page for more information on Style Me Hired as well as networking opportunities. HughE Dillon/photographer

O C T. 7 - 1 4 , 2 0 1 2

Liberty City Press is a collaborative publication effort of the Philadelphia Multicultural Media Network.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

�� Jody Miller MFT

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“Inside every problem is an amazing opportunity for growth.”

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

REGIONAL PGN NEWS BRIEFING from page 22

R E P RO D U C T I V E M E D I C I N E A S S O C I AT E S of Philadelphia

the new name and logo are too closely based upon that of the former show, which has a federal trademark in Nisse’s name. He said in his filing that the show format is nearly identical to the original product, and includes most of the same performers and acts. A press representative for Resorts did not respond to a call for comment. The casino is listed in the suit as DGMB Casino, LLC. — Jen Colletta

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LGBT Community Legal Clinic A free legal clinic and workshop will be held on Saturday, October 27, 2012. Learn which legal documents you need for legal planning, including medical and ﬁnancial powers of attorney, living wills, Wills*, and directives as to remains. Attorneys will be available to prepare these documents for you at no charge. The program begins at 11:00 AM on Saturday, October 27 at the William Way Community Center. The LGBT Legal Clinic is free and open to the public. Lunch will be served. In order to have your documents prepared at the clinic, you must register in advance. Contact the LGBT Elder Initiative for complete details. Please email your name and telephone number to info@lgbtei.org or call the LGBT Elder Initiative at 267-546-3448.

* Wills will be provided for those consumers with simple estate needs. Details are available.

Conshy asks court to bar additional court filings by Schneller The Conshohocken Borough Council is seeking a court order preventing James D. Schneller from filing additional challenges to its LGBT-inclusive antibias ordinance. Borough Solicitor Michael J. Savona made the request in an Oct. 4 motion. “It’s unfair to the borough to have to continually respond to Schneller’s endless stream of frivolous motions,” Savona told PGN. Schneller is co-founder of Philadelphia Metro Task Force, an anti-LGBT group with about 75 members representing about 20 municipalities in the state.

JOSEPHS from page 1

does exist.” Josephs asserted that adults should be permitted to engage in conversion therapy of their own will but that minors should not be forced into it. “Children who feel they may be LGBT should not be subjected, without any protection, to this so-called therapy,” she said, noting that, while she respects parental rights in most situations, this type of counseling threatens the welfare of children. “At the extreme of parental behavior, we do step in. There are certain things parents are not allowed to do to their children or with their children, and I believe this needs to be one of them.” Although the bill refers to “sexual-orientation change,” a staffer for Josephs contended that it also extends to transgender minors. Such therapies are defined as attempts to “change behaviors or gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward members of the same sex.” Providers found to be in violation of the act can be subject to disciplinary action from their licensing entity. “Mental-health provider” is defined broadly: a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychological assistant, marriage and family therapist, school psychologist, social worker, clinical counselor, interns or trainee and “any other person designated as a mental-health professional” under Pennsylvania law. So far, Reps. Dan Frankel (D-23rd Dist.),

He has embroiled the borough in litigation related to the ordinance for more than a year. A Montgomery County judge dismissed Schneller’s initial challenge to the ordinance in March. But in September, he filed a motion seeking to reopen the case — partly on the basis that borough officials discriminated against him as a Christian when enacting the ordinance. “We’re hoping a judge will dismiss Schneller’s motion, award us $1,000 in attorneys’ fees and bar Schneller from further pro-se filings in this case,” Savona said. A judge hadn’t been assigned to address the motions at press time. In a separate action, the borough is seeking about $18,000 in attorneys’ fees from Schneller due to previous litigation related to the ordinance. Savona said that request is expected to be heard by an arbitration board. The ordinance challenged by Schneller grants civil-rights protections to LGBTs and other groups in the areas of housing, employment, public education and public accommodations. Violators face a fine of $500 — and up to 90 days in jail — for each offense. Schneller couldn’t be reached for comment. ■ — Timothy Cwiek

Michael McGeehan (D-173rd Dist.) and Thomas Caltagirone (D-127th Dist.) have signed on as cosponsors. Josephs said she will circulate a cosponsor memo once the legislative session resumes Oct. 15. Josephs, who is wrapping up her term after losing her primary to out challenger Brian Sims, said she doubts the bill will gain much traction in the scant few days left in the legislative calendar. But, she said, she hopes the bill’s introduction will pave the way for the discussions necessary for future legislative successes. “I mostly did this for the future,” she said. “My strategy was to start a debate and line up proponents for the future. This is something that needs to be addressed.” She said she has not identified a lawmaker to carry the torch in the next session but will have that conversation as she drums up cosponsors. Ed Coffin, campaign director at Peace Advocacy Network — which has been working to raise awareness about the practice of conversion therapy — welcomed the opportunity to increase attention to the issue. “Since [California’s] SB 1172 passed, the media has been talking about conversion and reparative therapy and we’re seeing how many people have been completely unaware that this happens,” he said. “With our own campaign, more and more people are now contacting us and realizing that this is pretty much quackery that these people are doing. They’re destroying lives, and people are now seeing that and getting mad.” ■

PGN

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

10/9/12 2:46 PM

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

PGN NEWS OUTBREAK from page 2

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spokesperson denied that claim and refused to state how much had been obtained. Mazzoni’s Winn told PGN, “There are a lot more than 10,000 HIV-positive men in New York,” adding it did not seem like there were enough units of the vaccine if a mass-vaccination program was being instituted. But Winn also said the logistics for the vaccinations might be difficult and added that the vaccine is pricey. New York’s health department is setting up a series of sites for vaccinations of men in affected communities. Winn explained why the vaccinations were so important. “There is no question that someone who is immuno-suppressed is at greater risk for exposure. This is actually the time of year when we see this, these outbreaks.” Winn said that, typically, cases will be found at colleges, where the close quarters of dorms are an easy breeding ground for communicable diseases, noting that many college students are required to get meningitis vaccinations prior to going into a dorm situation. The Philadelphia Department of Public Health was scheduled to release a warning Oct. 11 urging local gay and bisexual men planning to travel to New York City to get vaccinated against the illness as a precaution. Winn urged caution for men in the area. “If you hear about this and are concerned about it, speak to your clinician,” he said. “If you are someone who goes to New York and hangs out in bathhouses, you should definitely get vaccinated. If you are a college student, or someone who is immuno-suppressed and have concerns, definitely speak with your clinician.” ■

PGN

Gay is our middle name.

PGN FEATURE

AC ul t ure rts

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

PAGE 30

Barcrawlr Bulletin Board Family Portrait Out & About Q Puzzle Scene in Philly Worth Watching

Page Page Page Page Page Page Page

32 43 33 34 39 31 38

Outspoken comedian to bring the love to Philly By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Loni Love, the comedian known for her outrageously funny commentary on TV shows like VH1’s “I Love the 70s/80s/90s,” “Chelsea Lately” and truTV’s “The Smoking Gun Presents: The World’s Dumbest,” as well as acting gigs on “Girlfriends” and “Whitney,” will bring her wit to Philadelphia this month during her “Live, Love, Laugh” tour. Love has been able to parlay her notoriety from those shows into projects like her live DVD, “America’s Sister,” and a book due out next year. Love talked to PGN about her career, her travels and what it takes to be considered one of the top comedians to watch. PGN: Among the other regular panelists on “Chelsea Lately,” do you consider yourself as one of the more popular on the show?

LL: I have no idea. I do so many different shows, not only “Chelsea” but other ones. I’m just happy to be working. As long as they call me back, I’m happy. PGN: Behind the scenes on the show, do you all plan everything out or does everybody just wing it? LL: We get topics but we don’t know what each other is going to say. We just discuss the topics. We know what we are going to talk about but sometimes we can change the topic. But the thing is with television, you have to be prepared with something. You just don’t just go up there and say we’re going to go for it. We would just be wasting time. It wouldn’t be a good show. So you have to have something prepared. PGN: What are some of the things you will be talking about when you come to Philadelphia? LL: I’ll be talking about pop culture and politics. I have a bunch of election stuff, balanced politics and observational stuff. After the election, I’m working on new material because I have a book coming out. PGN: What do you prefer, doing your own shows or performing on the “Chelsea”-branded package shows? LL: It doesn’t matter to me as long as there is a stage and it’s comedy. The thing about doing the tours with the other people is that is gives everybody a variety and you don’t have to do as long of a set. When I do my own shows, it’s for people who really want to get to know me and they get to see who I am. There are different shows for different types of people. They are not doing a lot of the “Chelsea” tours anymore. If you’re a fan of me, it’s best to come to a show where I’m headlining. PGN: At what point did you realize you had a gay following? LL: I don’t know. I don’t pay attention to that. I just like people. There are certain things that I talk about in my act that may make people think that I am this strong advocate but I’m really an advocate for anyone who is discriminated against. So I talk about my love for fat people, for gay people, for black people, for females and people who are different. I know what it’s like

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

to be different. I think that’s why people may like me a little more or become fans of mine, because that material is for those types of people and you don’t see a lot of female comics out there that are headlining shows. The stuff I talk about is not about vaginas and monthly cycles. I‘m talking about issues and observations that are happening. But I end up making it funny, or at least I try to. PGN: Why do you think you don’t see a lot of female comics at your level? LL: It’s hard to be a road comic and have a career and have a family and have a baby. When I started out doing comedy many moons ago, there were a lot of female comics. Then they turn around and get into a relationship or have baby. If you have a baby, you’re off the road nine months, then you have to find somebody to take care of that baby. It’s hard. It’s not that women aren’t funny. It is just hard to go the route that I’m going. Even if you get a TV show, you have to have that road experience because that helps you develop yourself as a comedian. You’ve got to try your material in Des Moines and Alabama and Washington. It’s hard to do

PGN

that if you’re a young female and you’re in a relationship or you have a baby. It’s a hard occupation in which to develop and have a life. The thing with me is I decided a while ago that I wasn’t going to have children. Because I decided that, it’s easy for me to go out on the road. I wanted to entertain people and that’s what I decided to do with my life. It’s amazing because there are only about maybe five female comics on my level that are doing clubs that are headlining. Go to a club website and see how many women they have that are headlining. Sometimes I’m the only one for six months. If you look at your major headliners and top comedians that are female, they’re all lesbians. There’s a reason for that. It’s a very aggressive, hostile occupation, standup comedy. It’s gratifying but I tell these women you have to make some hard decisions. PGN: Was there a particular show or event in you career where you thought, “OK, I have made it”? LL: No. I have not made it. I know a lot of people say, “We’ve seen you on ‘Chelsea.’” But there are so many things I’m trying to work towards so that I never think I made

it because I haven’t. I haven’t done a movie in a while. The only TV shows I’m doing aren’t major TV shows. But those are the type of things I’m trying to work on right now. It’s funny because comedians who are my buddies think, Oh, wow! Look at what you’re doing. I understand because they’re not on this level but there is another level that you are trying to get to when you are trying to entertain people. There are so many people who don’t know my comedy that I want to introduce them to, so I haven’t made it yet. I don’t know if I’ll ever make it. I’m enjoying myself. But to say I’ve made it, I couldn’t even say that. PGN: If you were to get your own TV project, what would you like it to be? LL: Right now, I’m working on different projects that are in development. Some involve talk. Some involve sitcoms. The thing about television is you can hit such a mass amount of people in a short amount of time. That’s why you want to do it. I don’t want to be famous; I just want to entertain people. So even if I never get to the TV show, I’m fine because I’m entertaining people. I just came back from Africa enter-

taining people and that is something that, when I say I sacrificed having children or a family, I can say I’ve been able to go out internationally and entertain people. We’ll see what happens and what works. PGN: How did you like performing in Africa? LL: I loved it. It was the first time they had a comedy show in Soweto. We had some of Nelson Mandela’s people come out. It was very emotional because that is where that whole “End Apartheid” movement happened. It was emotional because these people have never experienced an actual comedy show. They know about comedians but to actually have one in that area, I felt very good about it. Those are the things you look at. It’s not about, have I made it and making a bunch of money. It’s little things like that, performing someplace where people have been oppressed and now we can laugh together and they can understand me and I can understand them. That’s what I get into it for. ■ Loni Love performs Oct. 17-20 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St. For more information or tickets, call 215-496-9001 or visit www.lonilove.com.

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Broadway stars to perform benefit show in Bucks Co.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com

Gets said that even though the two are both known for their work on stage and television, they have never worked Stage and screen stars Bebe Neuwirth and together. But he said he was surprised Malcolm Gets perform Oct. 13 for Broadway early in his career to find out that Neuwirth Cares/Equity Fights AIDS at Bucks County was aware of his stage work. “I haven’t worked with Bebe but I’ve Cabaret, a one-night-only benefit concert always loved her at the newly renoas a performer vated, historic Bucks and an actress,” he County Playhouse in said. “Then, when New Hope. I really fell in love Neuwirth is a twowith her was in time Emmy Award 1992. I had just winner for her role come out of school as Lilith on “Cheers” and was doing a and a two-time show at Lincoln Tony Award winner Center called ‘Hello for her acclaimed Again,’ and I had a performances in meeting with a castBroadway classics “Sweet Charity” and BEBE NEUWIRTH AND MALCOLM GETS ing director for a lot of television shows. “Chicago.” I was waiting in Gets, who is openly gay, is a Tony nominee for “Amour” his office and just starting my career. He and known for his roles in HBO’s “Grey opened the door for my appointment and Gardens” and NBC’s “Caroline in the he just had lunch with Bebe. She looked at me and she goes, ‘Oh yeah, I saw you City.” Gets said he has seen the Bucks County in a show last night.’ She looks at him Playhouse in passing and is excited to per- and goes, ‘He’s talented.’ So I love Bebe. form in the theater, now that it has been She’s quite a woman and quite a performer.” spruced up. When asked about his contribution to “The last time I was [in Bucks County] about six or seven years ago, I went to look the night’s performance, Gets said it will at the theater from the outside,” he said. be mindful of the historical background “So I was so delighted to hear that it’s been of Bucks County. “I’m a history buff so I have been readrestored and refurbished.” The evening performances will feature ing up on the history of the theater itself Neuwirth and Gets performing favorite and the area,” he said. “Definitely some of Broadway standards and popular songs. my music selections have to do with that, Just don’t count on seeing too many col- with the area and the famous persons from the area. I just know how much it means to laborations between the two. “We are sharing the evening,” Gets said people who live in a certain place.” ■ about the show. “I don’t think we are actually going to be singing together but that Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS presis more of a question of time constraints, ents an evening with Bebe Neuwirth and because I know that she and I have been Malcolm Gets, 6 p.m. Oct. 13 at Bucks busy working on projects. But we’ve defi- County Playhouse, 70 S. Main St. in New nitely had lunches and met and talked about Hope. For more information, call 212-8400770, ext. 268. what each one is doing.”

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FILM PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

Despite flaws, Daniels’ flick delivers By Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor Out Philly-born filmmaker Lee Daniels’ deliciously lurid Southern gothic tale “The Paperboy” — opening Oct. 12 at Ritz Five —likely will be best remembered for its outrageous moments. There is already a much-ballyhooed scene of Charlotte Bless (Nicole Kidman) urinating on jellyfish-stung Jack Jansen (Zac Efron). Add to that a vivid episode involving a person naked, bloodied and tied-up, face-down, in a hotel room. But look past these pulpy bits — and some vulgar, erotic scenes with Charlotte and death-row inmate Hillary Van Wetter (John Cusack) — and “The Paperboy” is actually an absorbing and sometimes intense thriller. Blending issues of race, class and sexuality, this potboiler, based on the novel by Pete Dexter (who

co-wrote the screenplay with Daniels), concerns Ward Jansen (Matthew McConaughey) returning home to investigate Charlotte’s claim that her prison pen pal/fiancé Hillary is innocent. But this slinky, horny woman, dressed to thrill, is not necessarily thinking with her mind. Just witness the explicit exchange between Charlotte and Hillary when they first meet. It’s hotter than the sweltering Florida summer. Daniels deliberately tries to get audiences hot and bothered. He has Kidman dress up like slutty white trash — in tight pants and bleached-blonde hair, oozing sexuality. Daniels fetishizes the gorgeous, buff and bronze-bodied Efron, filming him barechested or in his undies at every opportunity. A scene in which Charlotte and a near-naked Jack dance in the rain may cool off the characters, but not viewers

who crave guilty pleasures. The film is narrated by Anita (Macy Gray), the maid at the Jansen household. She may be the film’s moral center, but there are suggestions Anita may not be an entirely reliable narrator. She cares mostly for Jack, a swimmer kicked out of college who is now delivering papers for his dad, W.W. (Scott Glenn). Anita watches Jack become infatuated with Charlotte, who enters his life at the same time his older brother, Ward, re-enters it. Ward, a “Miami Times” reporter, has agreed to investigate Charlotte’s claim that Hillary is innocent. He brings along Yardley (David Oyelowo), a black British man, to investigate and write the story with him. However, these “paperboys” — Jack included — get literally and figuratively up to their necks in a swamp in Daniels’ atmospheric film.

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There are plenty of unnerving scenes of Ward and Jack heading into the backwoods of Florida to check out Van Wetter’s story. However, as Jack tangles with Yardley, or tries to seduce Charlotte, things get, well, as twisted as the alligator’s intestines that spew forth in one scene. “The Paperboy” is set in the late 1960s, when civil-rights protests were at their zenith. The racial tensions expressed in the film are as potent as the sexual ones. When one character is revealed to be queer, it adds another dimension to the alreadythick, multilayered drama. Yet Daniels’ film is ultimately about the secrets people keep as every character reveals some — usually unsavory — tidbit about him or herself as the film unfolds. “We all have a fucked-up side,” says Charlotte, who ain’t kidding. The point here is that the truth is, or at least can be, dangerous. “The Paperboy” delivers this potent message as it builds slowly, getting its hooks into viewers as secrets are divulged and things boil over among the characters.

Daniels tells this overripe tale with many visual flourishes, some more successful than others. There are some nifty split-screen shots, and stylish periodvisual details and music, but the filmmaker cannot resist dragging the audience through the murky swamp. The emphasis on these more squalid elements sometimes detracts from, rather than enhances, the film’s salient points about racism, classism and homophobia. Daniels’ lack of subtlety also extends to his coaxing overripe, over-the-top performances from Kidman and Cusack. Kidman notably goes wild here, but her effort to play a tramp makes her more-sensitive moments ring as false as her eyelashes. Cusack seems to be channeling a feral Nicolas Cage. He is just miscast.

Better are McConaughey and Efron as brothers whose deep bond is palpably expressed in affectionate gestures. Facially scarred, McConaughey eases into his role as the slicker Jansen brother, and his rapport with both Jack and Yardley is terrific. Efron makes a credible transformation as an innocent, vulnerable young man who becomes obsessed with Charlotte, and changed by what occurs during the investigation. As Yardley, Oyelowo is a revelation, stealing his every scene, and Gray makes a lasting impression as Anita. Her scenes with Jack — both comic and dramatic — are among the film’s highlights. For all its flaws, however, “The Paperboy” is an engrossing film, even during its most outlandish moments. ■

DAVID OYELOWO AND MCCONAUGHEY

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

NIGHTLIFE PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

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The Main Event

You’ll never believe this. Freak Boutique Remember how I tried to get tickets Get super freaky and support sex-posia few weeks ago to take my mom to the tive sexual health from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Barbra Streisand concert? Well, I’ve Oct. 13 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St. DJ Evil, heard that concert venues sometimes DJ Tay Tay and guest DJ DuiJi 13 will release new seats a few days before a pump up the beats while you get your show, so I checked back a few times. party on. There’s no cover charge, and a Four days before the concert I struck percentage of all drink sales will support pay dirt — new seats were available, Screw Smart. For more information, visit and they didn’t cost a fortune. Oh my www.screwsmart.com. God! I snatched some up and got ready Halloween Skate Party to surprise my mom with an early birthSkate a little lower now at the day present. So excited! I was actually Halloween Skate Party, 8:30going to be able to take my mom to see one of her all10:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at Cherry time favorite performers. Hill Skating Center, 664 Deer Road, Cherry Hill, N.J. When I called mom and Proceeds benefit the Liberty told her the good news, the Belle Invitational, the annual phone line got quiet. She bowling tournament held in appreciated it, she said, but Philadelphia on July 4. There she was really sorry she will be a costume contest with wouldn’t be able to go with me. On the night of the confabulous prizes, but make sure cert she would be in the your costume is roller-friendly middle of prepping for a rouand won’t trip up your skates! tine colonoscopy. I couldn’t Cover charge is $10 and skate rental is $3, or you can bring believe it. I asked if there was Jim Kiley- your own. any way she could reschedule the procedure, but she said Zufelt Our Night Out Tea Dance she couldn’t. Catch up with the gang Man ... what a bummer. from Our Night Out from 4:30-7 p.m. There should be a special word in at Tavern on Camac, 243 S. Camac St., the gay lexicon to describe how it feels at their annual tea dance. They’ll have when you want to take your mom to see great music, great food and great people. Barbra Streisand but she can’t make it If you’re old enough to remember tea because she’s cleansing her colon. dance, then get out there and relive some Because crappy, while pretty close, great memories, and if you’re not, then just doesn’t quite cover it. go see what you’ve been missing! Rocky Horror Picture Show Spruce Ups and Face Lifts Let’s do the Time Warp again, from If it seems like almost every bar in the 7-10 p.m. Oct. 12 at the William Way Gayborhood has gotten a little work done Community Center, 1315 Spruce St. in the last couple of years, you’re right, Transylvanian Nipple Productions and now you can add two more to the list. will perform the show live directly in Check out the second floor at The Bike front (or maybe just a jump to the left!) Stop, where they’ve redone the floor and of the screen while the movie plays. spruced up the walls. They’ve also added It’ll be just like the old State Theater super-cool new iPad registers on every in Newark, Del., when I was in high floor that take credit and debit using the school. “Square” card reader dongle that plugs Cover charge is only $10 for center members or $12 for non members. into tablets and smart phones. Costumes are strongly encouraged If you haven’t been to U Bar recently and, of course, don’t forget to bring (the bar formerly known as Uncle’s), toilet paper, rice, water spray bottles, drop everything and go this weekend. newspapers and toast! You need to see what Stephen and Dennis have done with the place. New floors, Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus Fall new bar, new lighting and a huge new Ball wall of enormous windows overlookDon’t miss PGMC’s first-annual ing Camac Street have transformed this black-tie-optional fundraiser from 7:30neighborhood favorite and made it even 11 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Ethical Society of better. ■ Philadelphia, 1906 Rittenhouse Square. There will be a cocktail reception, silent Questions? Comments? Ideas for auction, live music and performances, Halloween? I can’t decide what to dress up as this year! Contact Jim at and a full-out masquerade ball. barcrawlr@gmail.com or follow him on Tickets start at $65, and some include Facebook for links to back articles and open bar. All proceeds benefit PGMC. bitchin’ old pop-music videos. See www.pgmc.org for more details.

Barcrawlr

PROFILE PGN

Family Portrait

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

Suzi Nash

Lauren Vidas: From law school to protecting the polls No doubt about it, this election is going to be very important for all of us, especially LGBT folks, women and minorities. Since I’m all three (and left-handed, making me a quadruple minority), I was extremely concerned about the voter-suppression tactics being used here in Pennsylvania. My father is 87 and has voted in every election since he was old enough to vote. He’s survived polio, a heart attack, a stroke and post-polio and yet refuses to use an absentee ballot. He insists we get him to the polls to cast his vote in person even if it means hiring an ambulance to get him there. He hasn’t driven a car or taken a trip for 20 years and so has had no need for picture ID in years. I couldn’t tell you where his birth certificate is, so when they tried to implement the voter-ID law right before the presidential election, we were very upset. Thank goodness it has been overturned, but there are still some questionable things happening out there. My mother recently got an email from a friend telling her that if you push the lever for one candidate (in her case, Obama) and then tried to push the party button, it would negate your vote. Not true. Frustrating, but fortunately there is somewhere you can go to get voting questions answered. This week we spoke to Lauren Vidas, the voter-protection director from Organizing For America, to find out how to make sure every vote counts. PGN: Where are you from? LV: I went to grade school in Washington, D.C., and then my parents moved, so I went to college in Philly, St. Joseph’s University. Then I headed off to University of Miami for law school. Not a bad place to spend four years. I got my degree, practiced for a year in Florida, then moved back to Philadelphia, so I have the good, or perhaps bad, luck of taking and passing three different bar exams. PGN: What did you do when you got back here? LV: I was doing civil-defense work while trying to find a way out of being a litigator and a practicing attorney. I’d always been interested in politics, so in about 2007, I was lucky enough to get on [Philadelphia] Councilman [Bill] Green’s staff as a legislative aide. PGN: And what did your folks do? LV: You may be shocked to hear they are both attorneys. My mom does family law, and my dad does more government-affairs work. PGN: Sounds like a great feminine role model. LV: Absolutely. She’s a leader in her field and a partner at a large law firm. I remember going to work with her as a kid and sleeping curled up under her desk.

PGN: What were you like as a kid? LV: I liked to read. I was a geeky little know-it-all. Looking back, I can imagine how annoying I was to be in a class with. I was the kid with my hand constantly in the air. PGN: [Laughs.] So, to use another popculture reference, like Hermione from “Harry Potter”? LV: Exactly. I also played a lot of sports. I played softball, soccer, basketball, just about anything with a ball. PGN: What was your best and worst sports moment? LV: Probably the worst was when I was about 11 and playing softball. My team was so far ahead they thought it was safe to put me in as a pitcher. Not so. Within 15 minutes, I had made the game exciting again. PGN: That was a very diplomatic spin. LV: [Laughs.] Yes. One of my best moments was when I was playing rugby in college and tore a ligament in my knee during the last game of the season. I knew it had torn but stayed in the game and ended up scoring for our team.

summer. We have eight months of summer there where it’s unbearably hot and four months of winter where it’s beautiful. PGN: What do you do here now? LV: I work for the OFA, Organizing For America, and my title is voter-protection director. After working for Councilman Green, I moved over to the mayor’s office where I worked in legislative affairs for a couple of years. The Obama campaign headquarters for Pennsylvania is located here in Philly, and my name came up when they were looking for someone who was familiar with election laws and the political landscape here in Philly and the state. The mayor was kind enough to support me in my endeavors and here I am. PGN: What effect do you think the election will have on LGBT people? LV: My hope is that things like the inclusion of marriage equality on the official [Democratic Party] platform will motivate people to get more politically active

PGN: Any siblings? LV: Yes, I have a sister who is eight years younger than me. We’re total opposites. It’s funny, I’m in my 30s and she’s in her 20s but you put us together and we revert back to our childhood. PGN: My brother and I still have bodytackling fights over who’s going to sit in the front seat if we go somewhere with the family. LV: Ha! We just had a fight about that not two months ago. PGN: What was fun about living in Miami? LV: My first year of law school I had an 8:30 a.m. class on Fridays. After class, we’d go straight to the beach. It was great because we’d have the beach to ourselves. I lived in Coconut Grove, which was a big counter-culture area back in the ’60s and ’70s, so the people there were an interesting bunch. It’s a very unique city and I loved being there. I love Philly too but every winter I question whether or not I should have left Miami. PGN: I don’t know if I’d want to be somewhere with no seasons. LV: Yeah, it is tough. Growing up up north there are certain triggers for different holidays that you miss down there. For me, it’s the ginkgo berries, which signify that fall is coming. In Florida, they only have two seasons, summer and not

and engaged. Elections matter. It’s how we as citizens can demand accountability from policymakers. PGN: So what is your goal in your job now? LV: Our mission is to make sure that every eligible voter can get his or her vote cast and counted in a timely and efficient manner.

PGN: No dangling chads? LV: The hanging-chad debacle, yes I was in Florida when that happened. I was clerking for the Florida Supreme Court, the same court that heard the Florida v. Gore case. Let’s just say there are interesting elections in Florida. So we’re here to make sure people have a positive experience voting. We want to make sure the polling place is moving in an efficient manner so people aren’t waiting in line for a really long time. To make sure if they are an eligible voter that they can vote right there on the machine as opposed to a provisional ballot, which is the ballot of last resort. Working with the local boards of elections and establishing relationships so that if problems do come up on Election Day, we can help them get things resolved. Another big piece of what we do is voter education. I’m very, very proud of our voter-protection team. We have a statewide hotline that is up and running, 855-834-VOTE (8683), and it’s a number where voters can call and do anything from checking to see if they’re registered to finding their polling-place location or get an answer to any other questions they may have about what they need to do on Election Day in order to vote. PGN: What about things like the email that my mother got saying her vote would be discounted if she pressed the wrong sequence of buttons? LV: Well, that’s another thing we do, try to correct some of the misinformation that’s out there. For the record, if you want to vote the straight party ticket, you just need to press the button once and if the lights are lit up, that’s who you’re voting for. We encounter a lot of this and a lot of times it’s well-intentioned people; it’s usually just a rumor that gets started and people think they’re helping by passing it along, so we try to get on top of it and make sure the correction gets out there. We also have a Photo: Suzi Nash number out there so people can pick up the phone and say, “Hey, I heard such and such, is it true or not?” and know that they have a trusted source on the other end of the line. PGN: I’d guess that my mother’s friend was not trying to mislead her, though I imagine whoever started the rumor was not so benign. PAGE 38

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

OUT & ABOUT The week ahead Fri. 10/12 Rocky Horror Picture Show The cult film is screened and performed live by Transylvanian Nipple Productions, 7-10 p.m. at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220. Rush The rock band performs 7:30 p.m. at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215389-9543. Heart The rock band performs 8 p.m. at Tower Theatre, 19 S. 69th St., Upper Darby; 610-3522887.

Los Lonely Boys The “Texican” rock band performs 8 p.m. at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215-5727650. Halloween III: Season of the Witch The horror film is screened 9:45 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-0223.

Sat. 10/13 The Hunger Games The hit film is screened 2 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-0223.

Catie Curtis The out singer-songwriter performs 7:30 p.m. at Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St.; 215928-0978. Celtic Thunder The pop group performs at 8 p.m. at Tower Theatre, 19 S. 69th St., Upper Darby; 610-3522887. John Caparulo The comedian performs 8 p.m. at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215-572-7650. The Legwarmers The 80s tribute band performs 9 p.m. at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215-922-6888.

Sun. 10/14 The Secret Cinema: Scopitone Party! Musical films from the 1960s are screened 2 p.m. at

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-0223. The English Beat The ska band performs 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400.

Mon. 10/15 Groove Night Local musicians join forces to bring the R&B, soul, jazz and funk, 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-994-1400. Jose Garces The chef and author of “The Latin Road Home: Savoring the Foods of Ecuador, Spain, Cuba, Mexico and Peru” hosts a signing 7:30 p.m. at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215567-4341.

FROM PROMETHEUS TO PHILLY: The sci-ﬁ action ﬁlm is screened 8 p.m. Oct. 15 at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215-922-6888.

Meshell Ndegeocello - A Dedication to Nina Simone The out soul singersongwriter performs 7:30 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400. Prometheus The sci-fi action film is screened 8 p.m. at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215922-6888. Lipstick Mondays A weekly drag show featuring a changing roster of queens takes the stage 9 p.m. at The Raven, 385 W. Bridge St., New Hope; 215-8622081.

Tue. 10/16 Unlabeled: The Acoustic/ Electric Open Mic for Up-andComers Sign up and play 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-994-1400.

Wed. 10/17 4W5 Blues Jam Local musicians get down 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500

N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-994-1400. John Oates The singer-songwriter performs 8 p.m. at Sellersville Theatre 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville; 215257-5858. Primus The alt-rock band performs at 8 p.m. at Tower Theatre, 19 S. 69th St., Upper Darby; 610352-2887.

Thu. 10/18 Luisita Lopez Torregrosa The author of “Before the Rain: A Memoir of Love and Revolution” hosts a reading 5:30 p.m. at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; 215-923-2960.

Fri. 10/19 A Reading with Rey Drew The author and other contributors to “The Collection: Short Fiction from the Transgender Vanguard” host a reading 5:30 p.m. at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; 215-923-2960. Melissa Etheridge The out singersongwriter performs 8 p.m. at Caesars Circus Maximus Theater,

2100 Pacific Ave., Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-3484411. The Misfits The ghoulish punk-rock band performs 8 p.m. at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215922-6888. Psychedelic Furs and The Lemonheads The alt-rock bands perform 8 p.m. at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215-572-7650.

Richie Sambora The rock guitarist best known for his work in Bon Jovi performs 8 p.m. at The Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St.; 800745-3000. Bob and Barbara’s Drag Show The outrageousness begins 11 p.m. at Bob and Barbara’s, 1509 South St.; 215-545-4511.

FOOD WITH A FLAIR: Jose Garces, the chef and author of “The Latin Road Home: Savoring the Foods of Ecuador, Spain, Cuba, Mexico and Peru,” hosts a signing 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215-567-4341.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

Opening Drumline Live The marching band-themed musical Oct. 17-18 at Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800. Stars of David Philadelphia Theatre Company presents the musical adaptation of Abigail Pogrebin’s best-selling book Oct. 19-Nov. 11 at Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St.; 215-985-0420.

Continuing Angels in America, Parts 1 and 2 Wilma Theater presents the Tony Awardwinning epic play, offering both parts on select dates, through Oct. 21, 265 S. Broad St.; 215-546-7824. Collab: Four Decades of Giving Modern and Contemporary Design Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition that includes some of the finest examples of European, American and Japanese design, through fall, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

Learning from Frank Furness: Louis Sullivan in 1873 Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of drawings and furniture by the famed architect through Dec. 30, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. Love Story, The Musical Walnut Street Theatre presents an adaptation of the popular novel through Oct. 21, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550. On My Honor: 100 Years of Girl Scouting The National Constitution Center presents an exhibition highlighting the history, contributions and traditions of Girl Scouts, including entrepreneurship, environmental awareness and civic engagement, through Dec. 31, 525 Arch St.; 215-409-6895. Presidential Artifacts The National Constitution Center presents an exhibition of artifacts from collections around the country, through Dec. 31, 525 Arch St.; 215-409-6895. Prom Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of photographs by Mary Ellen

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

To Stir, Inform and Inflame: The Art of Tony Auth The James A. Michener Art Museum hosts an exhibition exploring the work of the noted Philadelphia Inquirer editorial cartoonist, through Oct. 21, 138 S. Pine St., Doylestown; 215-3409800.

Closing Dancing and Romancing Peter Nero and the Philly Pops perform through Oct. 14 at Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215790-5800. Lar Lubovitch Dance Company The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents the acclaimed dance company through Oct. 13 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; 215-898-3900. ■

SINGING OUT LOUD: Out singersongwriter Catie Curtis performs 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13 at Tin Angel; 20 S. Second St.; 215-928-0978.

Notices Send notices at least one week in advance to: Out & About Listings, PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147 fax: 215-925-6437; or e-mail: listings@epgn.com. Notices cannot be taken over the phone.

goes mobile COME TO HER WINDOW: Out singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge performs 8 p.m. Oct. 19 at Caesars Circus Maximus Theater, 2100 Paciﬁc Ave., Atlantic City, N.J.; (609) 348-4411.

Cooking With the Calamari Sisters The all-singing, all-dancing, all-cooking hit musical comedy, through Nov. 4 at Society Hill Playhouse, 507 S. Eighth St.; 215-9230210. Cy Twombly: Sculptures Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of works from the Swiss sculptor, through March, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. Enchanted Exchanges: Chirps and Chatter ArtStar Gallery presents a solo exhibition by Jordan Elise Perme of Horrible Adorables, through Nov. 18, 623 N. Second St.; 215238-1557. Hairspray Media Theater presents the musical based on the classic John Waters film, through Nov. 4, 104 E. State St., Media; 610-891-0100.

Mark, through Oct. 28, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. Ronaldus Shamask: Form, Fashion, Reflection Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of drawings and sketches by the fashion designer through March 10, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

Now you can read your favorite local LGBT news site on your Android or iPhone/iPad Just go to epgn.com on your mobile device

Shipwreck! Winslow Homer and The Life Line Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of 33 paintings by American artist Homer through Dec. 16, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. This is the Week That Is 1812 Productions presents a special-election edition of its smash political satire through Nov. 4 at Plays and Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey St.; 215-592-9560.

Also check out our digital “ﬂipbook” of the full print edition at issuu.com/philagaynews with issuu’s Android app.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

La Calaca makes us happy By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com La Calaca Feliz (which translates to “The Happy Skeleton”), 2321 Fairmount Ave., is the new (and more importantly, closer) sister restaurant to the amazing — but far-flung from downtown — Mexican eatery Cantina Feliz. La Calaca Feliz aims to impress from the start with a gorgeous interior and a modern, authentic atmosphere. It looks modest enough from the front but, once you are whisked past the bar and the kitchen, the place opens up into a spacious

KAMPACHI CEVICHE

refreshing addition of lime sorbet. On the other side of the spectrum was the albondigas skewers ($10.95), spicy and tender meatballs stuffed with cheese and dressed

of tilapia is perfectly panko-crusted, fried and served up with cabbage, avocado and two different sauces to choose from. The elotes loco (Mexican corn, $3.95) was another addictive winner. The enchilada con mariscos ($14.95) is a nice comfort dish, warm and overflowing with seafood, but it took a lighter hand with the spices than the other dishes we tried. We’re guessing the chef wanted the

seafood to shine, but we were hoping for some spicy sensory overload. Desserts at La Calaca Feliz can get pretty decadent. The chocolate y bananas ($7), flourless chocolate cake with caramelized bananas and vanilla ice cream, almost didn’t need the cake—but we’re not mad at them for including it. The domingo sundae ($7), a brownie topped with churro ice cream, was heavenly as well. We topped everything off with a Café Feliz ($7), coffee spiked with Patròn XO (or was it Patròn XO spiked with coffee? Good Lord, it was strong!), caramel and whipped cream. Halfway through it, we realized we might not sober up or sleep for a while if we finished, so we had to abandon the seductive and piping-hot beverage. La Calaca Feliz will surely make diners happy but—you won’t be anywhere near skeletal when they are done with you. ■

If you go La Calaca Feliz

2321 Fairmount Ave. 215-787-9930 www.lacalacafeliz.com Monday-Sunday: 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Kitchen open until 10 p.m. SundayThursday and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday

ENCHILADA CON MARISCOS

and picturesque dining area. And once the excellent and generously portioned guacamole ($9.95) and margaritas hit the table, it’s pretty much a lock : They own you. The appetizers showed a flair for flavor and presentation. The kampachi ceviche ($11.95) was a feast for the eyes and had a welcome diversion in texture, thanks to the

with a tangy barbecue sauce. The watermelon-infused gazpacho was an interesting and worthwhile tangent to the standard chilled soup. Like at Cantina Feliz, the holy grail at La Calaca Feliz is the Baja fish taco ($13.95). If there is a better fish taco in town, we haven’t had it. The generous slab

Food & Drink

DINING ROOM Photos: Scott A. Drake

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

FUN TELEVISION & PGN GAMES

Worth Watching WOMEN OF STEEL: Queen Latifah (pictured), Alfre Woodard, Phylicia Rashad, Jill Scott and more star in the TV remake of “Steel Magnolias,” which chronicles the lives and friendships of six women in Louisiana, 8 p.m. Oct. 13 on Lifetime.

COOKING UP A STORM: Cameras follow “Top Chef” alum Jen Carroll (among other stars from the show) after she leaves her most recent post as executive chef at 10 Arts in Philadelphia to head out on her own on “Life After Top Chef,” 10 p.m. Oct. 17 on Bravo. Photo: Bravo/Nick Waas

Photo: Lifetime

MUSICAL CHAIRS: Mitch and Cam’s household dynamic is put to the test when they decide to swap duties — Mitch stays at home with Lily while Cam goes off to work at his new job as the music teacher at Luke and Manny’s school— on a new episode of “Modern Family,” 9 p.m. Oct. 17 on ABC.

TGIF: It must be Halloween season because AMC is airing slasher movie “Friday the 13th” films, starting with the first two installments, where camp counselors meet bloody ends, 8 p.m. Oct. 15.

Photo: ABC/Jordin Althaus

PORTRAIT from page 33

LV: Not necessarily. A lot of times the rumors start in fact. In the case of that email, we suspect it came from a state where those were the instructions you needed to vote and people mistakenly thought it applied here. Of course, in some cases there are people who are not well-intentioned and that’s unfortunate because we strongly believe that the more people who have a say and have their voices heard, the better off we are as a nation. PGN: Hear that people: Vote! LV: [Laughs.] Yes, it’s very easy. When you go to your polling place, you’re going to see your poll worker who’s probably a friend or neighbor, because that’s how it’s structured, especially here in Philadelphia. Sign the poll book and walk over to the voting machine and make your choice. If you’re unsure about how to use the voting machine, you can go to votespa.com and, under “voting and elections” then “be prepared,” you can see a video on how to use the machine in your area. Or you can go to City Hall a few weeks before the election and they usually have a voting machine on the first floor that you can check out. The commissioner has very friendly and helpful staff members there to answer any questions you may have. But always remember that’s what the poll workers are there for as well. Or you can always call our hotline.

PGN: That’s great information. What do you think made you so civic-minded? LV: I was always interested in politics, probably because of the household I grew up in. My grandparents always had the news on in the house and I distinctly remember going to the voting booth with my grandfather for every election. PGN: Any nonprofit work? LV: Yes. I‘m on the board of my neighborhood association, I’m a board member of GALAEI and New Directions For Women. It’s very fulfilling to be able to help out the city and people you love. PGN: Speaking of love, single or partnered? LV: Partnered. My girlfriend’s name is Maura. PGN: Any hobbies? LV: Yes. I love to cook and I’m way too crafty. My girlfriend teases me about it all the time. Right now I’m learning to knit and I’ve been known to brew my own beer. I’m also an avid reader. PGN: Who was the hardest to come out to? LV: My grandmother. We were very close and I was so worried that it would devastate her, but she absolutely rolled with it. Nothing changed, she’s an incredible woman. Now I even tease her and tell her it’s her fault because when I was about 13, she picked me up from school one day and

on the way home we stopped at Hooters. I was absolutely mortified thinking, “What is she trying to tell me?” but it turned out her sister had told her that they had the best grilled-cheese sandwiches in town. Of course, all the Hooters girls were flocking to our table and fawning over us because they usually didn’t get too many kids and grandmothers in there. I tell her that was the tipping point that made me gay. PGN: So let’s get to some random questions. Which family member had the greatest influence on your way of thinking? LV: My grandfather. He was the most patient and kindest person I’ve ever met. He always gave people the benefit of the doubt, which is something I try to do. If you expect good things from people, I think they will rise to that occasion. If you expect people to disappoint you, they will. PGN: Favorite piece of clothing, now or as a kid? LV: My cowboy boots. I got them on a trip to Nashville and they make me feel like an urban cowgirl. PGN: Your screensaver? LV: A picture of my girlfriend, me and the First Lady. PGN: If you had to describe your day as a traffic sign, what would it be? LV: [Laughs.] With less than a month to the election, definitely (Wo)men at work.

PGN: I feel most at peace when ... LV: I’m sitting on the beach at that 4 o’clock hour when all the families have packed up and gone and it’s starting to get cold so you wrap yourself up in the towel and settle in with a good book. That’s my Zen moment right there. PGN: Best or worst Halloween costume? LV: I had both in one. My college roommate and I went as Homer and Marge Simpson. We painted ourselves yellow and the costumes were awesome, but we were still yellow after showering because our skin had absorbed the paint, so we ended up looking jaundiced for several days. PGN: Name five things, not people, that make you happy. LV: Dogs, coffee, zombies, NPR, my scooter. PGN: What do you say to people who think voting doesn’t matter? LV: I would tell them to speak to the Philadelphia city councilmember who won by 50 votes last year or the state rep candidate who won by a couple hundred votes in April. The 2000 presidential election margin was 527 votes. You may only be one vote — but that vote matters. ■ To suggest a community member for “Family Portrait,” write to portraits05@aol.com.

FUN PGN & GAMES

Q Puzzle Easy as ABC Across

1. Margaret Cho’s comedy, often 8. Match penile lengths, e.g. 15. Blanche Wiesen Cook subject 16. It could leave a salty taste in your mouth 17. Lists of tasks 18. Record of a meeting 19. With 20-Across, ABC’s Best Comedy Emmy winner 20. See 19-Across 21. Cunning 22. Added just under the wire 26. Top-secret org. 27. St. Peter’s et al.

29. Go lickety-split 32. Like Mary’s little follower 33. Per person 37. Genesis brother 38. Capitol Hill prizes 39. Bamako’s country 40. With 42-Across, Emmy winner for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy 42. See 40-Across 43. Bears witness 46. Queer, literally 48. Wee one 49. Shoe spec 50. Greg of “As Good As It Gets” 54. Symbols of Marilyn and Diana in the wind 59. Emmy winner for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy

61. Fey of “30 Rock” 62. Give the slip to 63. Look up and down 64. Peter I, for one 65. Recipient of Bugs’ kisses 66. Message at LesbiaNation.com

Down

1. Petticoat junctions? 2. Star in Perseus 3. How saxes sound 4. Peppermint stick you can lick 5. Mitchell of NBC News 6. Assholes 7. Doubtfire’s title 8. Rotating engine part 9. Openings of porno flicks

10. “Later!” 11. Juicy job for a fruit? 12. Husband of a Duke 13. Rods’ partners 14. Cushy school course 23. Collapse 24. “East of Eden” director Kazan 25. By ___ of (owing to) 27. Refute 28. Island of Mead’s research 29. Indian head 30. Go up against 31. Boston cager, for short 34. Man who can become a queen 35. He did Jackie’s clothes 36. “Six Feet Under” box material

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

41. Rob on the screen 42. Sportscaster Musburger 44. Where Patty Sheehan takes her driver? 45. Boardwalk diversion 46. Withdraw in a “stately” way 47. Prick stimulator 50. “Etta ___” (old comic strip) 51. _The Unicorn_ author Murdoch 52. Lesbian porn star Hartley 53. Tenn. neighbor 55. Go down 56. Blocks off the toy aisle 57. Phallic swimmers 58. Keep in 60. ___ Lock

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PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

Classifieds Real Estate Sale

Real Estate Sale

Roommates

Real Estate Rent

Lake Property, NY: 6 acres Salmon River Lake $29,900. 7 acres 100’ on bass lake $39,900. 4 lake properties open house September 29-30 www.LandFirstNY.com 1-888-683-2626. ________________________________________36-41 35 HILLCREST AVE. COLLINGSWOOD Beautifully maintained Colonial home located minutes from all that Collingswood has to offer. 2 blocks from the Cooper River! 1 block from Roberts Pool! 2 blocks to Knights Park and a good brisk walk to the downtown district. Inside this home you will appreciate how much care has been taken to give you a warm homey feeling. This well maintained home comes complete with an open front porch, living room with a brick fireplace, dining room, eat-in kitchen, 3 bedrooms-2 full baths-Walk up attic and a full basement with another brick fireplace and separate room being used as a workshop. Last but not least enjoy sitting on your back deck overlooking a beautiful picturesque yard!! Stephen Hoover- Re/Max of Cherry Hill, (609)519-5288 or (856)424-4040. ________________________________________36-41 Cameron County: 7 acres with stream and State Forest frontage north of Emporium on RT 155. Perc, electric, public road access, $59,900. Owner financing. 800-668-8679. ________________________________________36-41

PGN WILL NOT PUBLISH RACIAL DISTINCTIONS IN ROOMMATE ADS. SUCH NOTATIONS WILL BE EDITED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION. _____________________________________________ A room for rent in private home, Royal area, close to Richwood & Glassboro NJ, Rowan and Gloucester Co. College. Also Rt. 55 & Rt. 322. Utils. incl. $160/week. 856-478-0401. ________________________________________36-52 A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE Share huge 1600’sq, fully furnished Olde City loft. Lg closets/storage, 16’ ceilings, tall windows on Chestnut St. W/D, cat ok, prof. décor/furn. Secure bldg., month to month. $900+ share util. Call 215-896-1300. ________________________________________36-42 Art Museum area room for rent, share house. W/D, A/C. $600/mo. 215-763-2019. ________________________________________36-42

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. ________________________________________36-49 COLLINGSWOOD RENTAL Large second floor 2 Bedroom Apt. Brand new kitchen complete with new dishwasher and new microwave. All new air conditioners, hardwood floors, private deck and laundry facilities in basement. $1250.00 monthly + plus utilities. Call 856-858-3079 or 609-519-5288. ________________________________________36-43 CENTER CITY: WASHINGTON SQUARE WEST Elegant three-level apartment in historic townhouse features dramatic spiral staircase; 1 bed + den; 1.5 baths, large eat-in kitchen w/laundry; small outdoor patio; 2 wood-burning fpls. $1,750/mo + ele. broker/owner email. kelwolf@verizon. net or call: 267-231-1974. ________________________________________36-41 HADDON TWP, NJ Safe, sunny 2 BR apt. 2nd fl owner occ. duplex. 1000 sq.. ft., A/C, D/W, W/D, new carpet & paint. Pvt. ent. Close to speedline, bus, walk, bike to shops, parks, lakes, library. $900/mo. Call Brian, 12 PM-7 PM, 856-858-8620. ________________________________________36-44 2 brm apt. 8XX Bainbridge St. $975+ utils. No pets. Contact Larry at 215-687-5629. ________________________________________36-42 KING OF PRUSSIA AREA 1 BR, 2nd floor apt. available. Newly renovated bath. Heat and hot water included. $900/mo. 610-265-9386. ________________________________________36-42

Jewelry Jewelry bought, sold, repairs, estates, custom deisgn, 707 Sansom. 215-925-3822. ________________________________________36-49

Real Estate Sale

Travel & Resorts OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND Best selection of affordable rentals. Full/partial weeks. Call for FREE brochure. Open daily. Holiday Real Estate. 1-800638-2102 Online reservations: www.holidayoc.com ________________________________________36-41 Men 609-345-8203 oceanhouseAC@yahoo.com ________________________________________37-05

Adoption Are you pregnant? A married couple (in their 30s) seeks to adopt. Full-time mom & devoted dad. Financial security. Expenses Paid. Ann & Michael. 1-800-505-8452. ________________________________________36-41

PGN

Open Houses - Sunday October 14, 2012 12:00-2:30 PM 1808 Christian Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146 3 Bedrooms, 2 full, 2 half Baths. Better than Brand New Construction in Quincy Court w/ GARAGE parking. $575,000 1834 Christian Street, B, Philadelphia, PA 19146 2 Bedrooms, 2 Baths $229,900 The Lenox Condominiums 250 S. 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 Condos from $165,000 Search all Philadelphia area listings @ www.thephillyrealtors.com Dan Tobey

The Curtis Center • 1 401 Walnut St. 8th Floor • Philadelphia, PA 19102

215.546.2700 Business • 267.238.1061 Direct 215.432.7151 Cell • 215.546.7728 Fax dtobey@cbpref.com • www.cbpref.com All real-estate advertising is subject to Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended. Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental and ﬁnancing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and handicap (disability). PGN will not knowingly accept any real-estate advertising that is in violation of any applicable law.

PGN does not accept advertising that is unlawful, false, misleading, harmful, threatening, abusive, invasive of another’s privacy, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, hateful or racially or otherwise objectionable, including without limitation material of any kind or nature that encourages conduct that could constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability or otherwise violate any applicable local, state, provincial, national or international law or regulation, or encourage the use of controlled substances.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

For Sale

Help Wanted

Friends Men

LOVE CAKE Celebrate your holidays with LOVE CAKE. Very nearly not quite, almost 100% ORGANIC ITALIAN APPLE CAKE. 16 slice/cake > FREE delivery in CC. (cash only) you’ll enjoy our delicious apple/cinnamon, w/belgium chocolate, w/ bitchin’ hot Italian pepper. Delicious organic ingredients: granny-smith apples, ﬂour, eggs, sugar, Ceylon Cinnamon, pure Bourbon Madagascar Vanilla. OK stuff: fresh orange juice, salt, baking powder, pure Canola Oil > zero trans fat, cholesterol free. NO PRESERVATIVES > NOT GLUTEN FREE. We only bake Thursday, Friday & Saturday. Put your celebration order in now! brooks.N.Mia’s bakery 215-887-3159. ________________________________________36-40 SAWMILLS From only $3,997.00- MAKE/ SAVE MONEY with your own bandmill- Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship. FREE Info/DVD: www.NorwoodSawmills.com 1800-578-1363 Ext.300N. ________________________________________36-41

CDL-A Truck Drivers: Experienced Van Drivers Needed. Take Home More. Be Home More. Excellent Hometime. Award Winning Safety Program. Comprehensive Benefits Package! AA/EOE. 800-392-6109 www.goroehl.com ________________________________________36-41 CDL-A Experienced Drivers: Up to $5,000 Sign-On Bonus! 6 mos. OTR exp. starts @ $.32/mile. New student pay & lease program. USA TRUCK 877-521-5775 www. USATruck.jobs ________________________________________36-41 Drivers: CRST offers the best Lease Purchase Program *SIGN ON BONUS! *No down payment or credit check *Great Pay *Class A CDL required *Owner Operators Welcome. Call: 866-403-7044. ________________________________________36-41 Driver - $0.01 increase per mile after 6 months. Choose your hometime: Weekly, 7/ON-7/OFF, 14/ON-7/OFF, Requires 3 months recent experience. 800-414-9569 www. driveknight.com ________________________________________36-41 CLASS A DRIVERS Regional Up to 42CPM. Wkly Pay, Benefits, Home Time. SIGN ON BONUS. Paid Orientation. 2 Years T/T EXP. 800-524-5051 www.gomcilvaine.com ________________________________________36-41 CDL-A DRIVERS NEEDED! $.50/mile for Hazmat Teams! Solos start @ $.36/mile. 1 yr. exp. req’d. 800-942-2104 Ext. 7308 or 7307 www. Drive4Total.com ________________________________________36-41 AVERITT KEEPS YOUR WHEELS ROLLING! Hiring CDL-A Drivers and Recent Grads. Great Benefits. Weekly Hometime & Paid Training. Apply Now! 888-3628608 AVERITTcareers.com Equal Opportunity Employer Help Wanted Driver ________________________________________36-41 Drivers: CDL-A. Experience Pays! Up to $5,000 Sign-On Bonus! Tuition reimbursement up to $6000. New student pay AND lease program. Call or Apply Online! 877-5215775 www.USATruck.jobs ________________________________________36-41

Exp. Reefer Drivers: GREAT PAY /Freight lanes from Presque Isle, ME, Boston-Lehigh, PA. 800-277-0212 or primeinc.com ________________________________________36-41 Gordon Trucking. CDL-A Drivers Needed! ...$1,500 SIGN ON BONUS... Refrigerated Fleet & Great Miles! Pay incentive & Beneﬁts! Recruiters available 7 days/wk! EOE 866-554-7856. ________________________________________36-41 Drivers- A. Duie Pyle Needs Owner Operators Regional Truckload Operations. HOME EVERY WEEKEND! O/O Average $1.84/Mile. Steady, Year-Round Work. Requires CDL-A, 2 Yrs. Exp. Call Dan: 877-910-7711 www.DriveForPyle.com ________________________________________36-4

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. ________________________________________36-49 BM, 60 looking for British gent, 35-45 for intimate encounters. 215-763-3391, 6PM-Midnight. ________________________________________36-49 WM, NE Phila. If you’re looking for hot action, call 215-934-5309. No calls after 11 PM. ________________________________________36-44 WM, 66 ISO WM, 18-40 for mutual gratiﬁcation. Compensation offered. Page at 610-418-1485 w/call back no. or text to 6104181485@archwireless.net ________________________________________36-45 Gay male, 65 seeks same. John, 570-624-8538. ________________________________________36-43 I’m looking for a very well endowed top who is looking for a very nice white butt. 215-732-2108 8-11 PM. ________________________________________36-43

Business Opportunity Franchise Opportunity Inside Major Retailer. Call for Details: 866-622-4591. Or Email: franchiseopportunity@hotmail. com ________________________________________36-41

Gay is our middle name.

Services EARN COLLEGE DEGREE ONLINE *Medical, *Business, *Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified. SCHEV Certified. Call 888-220-3984. www.CenturaOnline.com ________________________________________36-41 AIRLINE CAREERS Begin here-Become an Aviation Maintenance Tech. FAA approved training. Financial aid if qualified-Housing available. Job placement assistance. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance 888-834-9715 ________________________________________36-41

Massage David, 62, 6’, 200 lbs., educated. 215-569-4949. ________________________________________36-40

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 be 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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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

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BUTCHER SHOP Saturday, Oct. 13th, 2012 • TIME: 11pm-3:30am

STUDY BREAK!!!!

STUDENT SPECIALS - Student Special Only Applies for Guys Ages 18-27 Years Of Age, Day Pass Waived for Students

WHAT TO EXPECT: Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday• DJ David Dutch FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHT: After Bar Special • Complimentary Food & Beverages 6hr Rooms (2am to 8am) $15.00 and Non-Members: $25.00 Members/Students: • MEN OF MAGNUM ENTERTAINMENT (Special Not Eﬀective During Party Nights) • A Full House of Guys To Choose From & Soo Much More... SATURDAY: AFTERNOON DELIGHT Rooms go quickly and are on a 1st Come, 1st Served basis. 4 hour Lockers (8am – 4pm) So Check In Early if you want a room… Members/Students: $5.00 & Non-Members: $15.00

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD Saturday, Oct. 20th, 2012 • TIME: 11pm-3:30am HAT TO EXPECT: • DJ David Dutch • Complimentary Food & Beverages • SPECIAL BOY ENTERTAINMENT • A Full House of Guys To Choose From & Soo Much More.. Rooms go quickly and are on a 1st Come, 1st Served basis. So Check In Early if you want a room…

SUNDAY RELIEF

Half Price Rooms (6am Sunday till 8am Monday) Members/Students: $12.50 & Non-Members: $22.50

MANIC MONDAY

5 for 5 ($5 Lockers for 5Hrs) Members/Students: $5.00 Non-Members: $15.00 (4pm to 12 )

Check out our website for our HOT NEW WEEKLY SPECIALS & JOIN OUR e-mail List to get the latest information on upcoming events.... Also, RENOVATIONS are being done, So swing by & Check Out The Transformation!

Don’t forget to visit the Adonis Cinema right next door!! 2026 Sansom St/ PH: 215-557-9319

PGN

Religion/Spirituality Arch Street United Methodist Church Services 8:30 and 11 a.m. at 55 N. Broad St., youth/adult Sunday school at 9:30 a.m.; 5:30 p.m. prayer service; 215-568-6250. Bethlehem-Judah Ministries Open and affirming congregation holds services 10 a.m. Sundays at 5091 N. Dupont Hwy., Suite D, Dover, Del.; 302-734-9350. BuxMont Unitarian Universalist Church Services 10:15 a.m. at 2040 Street Road, Warrington; 215-3430406. Calvary United Methodist Church Reconciling, welcoming and affirming church holds services 11 a.m. Sundays at 801 S. 48th St.; 215-724-1702. Central Baptist Church Welcoming and affirming church holds services at 10:45 a.m. Sundays, summer services 9:30 a.m, at 106 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne; 610-688-0664. Chestnut Hill United Methodist Church Services 11 a.m. and Spirit at Play, an arts-based Sunday school for children, 9:30 a.m. at 8812 Germantown Ave.; 215-242-9321. Church of the Crucifixion Inclusive Episcopal community holds services 10 a.m. Sundays and 6 p.m. Fridays at 620 S. Eighth St.; 215-922-1128. Church of the Holy Trinity Inclusive church holds services 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sundays at 1904 Walnut St.; 215-567-1267. Dignity Jersey Shore An organization for sexual-minority Catholics meets the 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 4 p.m. the first and third Sundays of the month at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 550 Ridgewood Road, Maplewood; 973-509-0118. Dignity Philadelphia Holds Mass 7 p.m. Sundays at 330 S. 13th St.; 215-546-2093; dignityphila@aol.com. Drexel Hill Baptist Church Nonjudgmental Christian congregation affiliated with American Baptist Churches of the USA holds services 11 a.m. Sundays at 4400 State Road, Drexel Hill; 610-259-2356; www.dhbaptist.com. Emanuel Lutheran Church Reconciling in Christ congregation meets at 10:30 a.m. Sundays, summer services 9:30 a.m., New and Kirkpatrick streets, New Brunswick, N.J.; 732-545-2673; www.emmanuelnb.org. Evangelicals Concerned Lesbian and gay Christian counseling; 215-860-7445. First Baptist Church Welcoming and affirming church holds prayer services 10:30 a.m. Sundays and community worship 11:30 a.m. at 123 S. 17th St.; 215-563-3853. First Presbyterian Church of Lansdowne Welcoming church holds services at 10 a.m. Sundays at 140 N. Lansdowne Ave.; 610-622-0800; www.lansdownepresbyterianchurch.com.

Jersey; mccctl.com; 732-823-2193. Metropolitan Community Church of Philadelphia Holds services 1 p.m. Sundays at the University Lutheran Church of the Incarnation, 3637 Chestnut St.; 215-294-2020; www. mccphiladelphia.com. Old First Reformed Church Open and affirming United Church worships at 11 a.m., summer services at 10 a.m, at 151 N. Fourth St.; 215-922-4566; www. oldfirstucc.org. Penns Park United Methodist Church Welcoming and affirming church holds services 10 a.m. Sundays at 2394 Second Street Pike, Penns Park; 215-598-7601. Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral Progressive and affirming congregation holds services 10 a.m. Sundays with Holy Eucharist at 3723 Chestnut St.; 215-386-0234; www.philadelphiacathedral.org. Rainbow Buddhist Meditation Group Meets 5 p.m. Sundays at the William Way Center. Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting worships 11 a.m., summer services 10 a.m, Sundays at 1515 Cherry St.; 215-241-7000; cpmm@afsc.org.

■ AIDS Library: 215-985-4851

■ Mayor’s Director of LGBT Affairs: Gloria Casarez, 215-6862194; Gloria.Casarez@phila.gov; Fax: 215-686-2555

St. John’s Lutheran Church (ELCA) Reconciling in Christ congregation holds services 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 fall liturgy 9 and 11 a.m. Sundays, summer sevices 10 a.m., at 330 S. 13th St.; 215-7321918; stlukeandtheepiphany.org. St. Mary of Grace Parish Inclusive church in the Catholic tradition celebrates Mass 6 p.m. Sundays in the Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County, 145 W. Rose Tree Road, Media; 610-566-1393; www. inclusivecatholics.org. St. Mary’s Church Diverse and inclusive Episcopal church celebrates the Eucharist 11 a.m. Sundays at 3916 Locust Walk; 215-386-3916; www. stmarysatpenn.org. St. Paul Episcopal Church Welcoming and inclusive church holds services 9:30 a.m. Sundays and 7 p.m. Tuesdays at 89 Pinewood Drive, Levittown; 215-6881796; www.stpaullevittown.org. Tabernacle United Church Open and afﬁrming congregation holds services 10 a.m. Sundays at 3700 Chestnut St.; 215-386-4100; tabunited.org.

Unitarian Society of Germantown Welcoming congregation holds services 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 6511 Lincoln Drive; 215-844-1157; www.usguu.org. Unitarian Universalist Church of Cherry Hill Holds services 10:15 a.m. Interweave, a group of LGBT Unitarians and their allies, also meets at 401 N. Kings Highway, Cherry Hill, N.J.; 856-667-3618; uucch.org. Unitarian Universalist Church of the Restoration Welcoming congregation holds services 11 a.m. Sundays at 6900 Stenton Ave.; 215-247-2561; www.uurestoration.us.

Living Water United Church of Christ An open and afﬁrming congregation that meets for worship 11 a.m. on Sundays; 6250 Loretto Ave.; 267-388-6081; www.lwucc.org.

Unitarian Universalist Congregation, South Jersey Shore Holds services 10 a.m. Sundays in Galloway Township; 609-9659400; www.uucsjs.org.

Kol Tzedek Reconstructionist synagogue committed to creating a diverse and inclusive community meets at Calvary Center, 801 S. 48th St.; 215764-6364; www.kol-tzedek.org.

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Pottstown Holds services 10:30 a.m. at 1565 S. Keim St.; 610-327-2662. www.uupottstown.org.

Maple Shade Congregational Church of the United Church of Christ Afﬁrming congregation open to all sexual orientations and gender identities holds services 10 a.m. Sundays at 45 N. Forklanding Road, Maple Shade, N.J.; 856-779-7739; mapleshadeucc.org. Metropolitan Community Church of Christ the Liberator Holds services 10:45 a.m. Sundays at the Pride Center of New

■ Rainbow Room — Bucks County’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning

■ Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Peer Counseling Services: 215-732-TALK

Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County Welcoming congregation holds services 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. Sundays, summer services 10:30 a.m., at 145 W. Rose Tree Road, Media. Interweave, a group for LGBT parishioners and allies, meets noon the ﬁrst Sunday of the month; 610-566-4853; www. uucdc.org.

Mainline Unitarian Church Holds services 10 a.m. Sundays at 816 S. Valley Forge Road, Devon; 610-688-8332; www.mluc.org.

■ William Way Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center: 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220; www.waygay.org. Hours: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Peer counseling: 6-9 p.m. Monday through Friday Library hours: 12-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 12-3 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Friday; 126 p.m. Saturday. Volunteers: New Orientation: First Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.

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

The First United Methodist Church of Germantown A sexual-minority-afﬁrming congregation holds services at 10 a.m., summer services 11 a.m., Sundays at 6001 Germantown Ave.; lunch follows; 215-438-3077. www.fumcog.org.

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.

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

and Allies Youth Center: 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays: Doylestown Planned Parenthood, The Atrium, Suite 2E, 301 S. Main St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981; rainbowroom@ppbucks.org

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

Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church Worship with nursery care, 10:30 a.m. Sundays. First Sunday of the month, 7 p.m. Mosaic: jazz with poetry and prose; 2212 Spruce St.; 215-732-2515; trinityphiladelphia.org.

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. in the main sancturary; 215-567-3668; www.lc-hc.org.

Community centers

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

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

St. Asaph’s Church Inclusive and progressive Episcopal church holds services 8 and 10 a.m. Sundays, summer services 9:15 a.m., at 27 Conshohocken State Road, Bala Cynwyd; 610-664-0966; www.saintasaphs.org.

United Christian Church Open, afﬁrming and welcoming congregation holds services 10:15 a.m. Sundays, summer services 9:15 a.m., at 8525 New Falls Road, Levittown; 215-946-6800. Unity Fellowship Church of Philadelphia Diverse, afﬁrming LGBT congregation holds services 2 p.m. Sundays at 55 N. Broad St.; 215-240-6106. University Lutheran Church of the Incarnation Welcoming congregation holds services 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 3637 Chestnut St. preceded by “Adult Forum: Sundays” at 9:30; 215-387-2885; www.uniphila.org.

Community Bulletin Board

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

First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia A liberal, welcoming and diverse congregation that afﬁrms the dignity of all. Sunday services at 10 a.m., 2125 Chestnut St.; 215563-3980; www.ﬁrstuu-philly.org.

Grace Epiphany Church A welcoming and diverse Episcopal congregation in Mt. Airy with services 9:30 a.m. Sundays at 224 E. Gowen Ave.; 215-248-2950. www.grace-epi.org.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

■ ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215592-1513 ■ AIDS Treatment Fact line: 800662-6080 ■ Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection at the Independence Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library: 215-685-1633 ■ The COLOURS Organization Inc.: 112 N. Broad St., third floor; 215-496-0330 ■ Equality Pennsylvania: 215731-1447; www.equalitypa.org ■ Equality Forum: 215-732-3378

Key numbers

■ Mazzoni Center: 215-563-0652; www.mazzonicenter.org. Legal Services: 215-563-0657, 866-LGBTLAW; legalservices@mazzonicenter. org ■ Mazzoni Center Family & Community Medicine: 215-563-0658 ■ Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): 215-572-1833

Health

AIDS Services In Asian Communities Provides HIV-related services to Asians and Pacific Islanders at 340 N. 12th St., Suite 205; 215-629-2300. www.asiac.org. Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative Free, anonymous HIV testing from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; noon-6 p.m. Tuesdays at the Washington West Project, 1201 Locust St. 215851-1822 or 866-222-3871. www.galaei.org. Spanish/English 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. HIV health insurance help Access to free medications and confidential HIV testing

■ Greater Philadelphia Professional Network Networking group for area business professionals, self-employed and business owners meets monthly in a different location throughout the city, invites speakers on various topics, partners with other nonprofits and maintains a Web site where everyone is invited to sign up for email notices for activities and events; www.gppn.org.

■ Philadelphia Police Department liaison — Deputy Commissioner Stephen Johnson: 215-683-2840 ■ Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 215-760-3686; ppd. lgbt@gmail.com ■ Philly Pride Presents: 215875-9288 ■ SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: 717-9209537 ■ Transgender Health Action Coalition: 215-732-1207 (staffed 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays and 6-9 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays)

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

Anonymous, free, conﬁdential HIV testing Spanish/English counselors offer testing 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 3439 N. Hutchinson St.; 215-763-8870 ext. 6000.

■ Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia GALLOP holds board meetings at 6:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at 100 S. Broad St., Suite 1810; GALLOP also provides a free referral service; (215) 6279090; www.galloplaw.org.

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

available by appointment at 13 S. MacDade Blvd., Suite 108, Collingdale; Medical Ofﬁce Building, 722 Church Lane, Yeadon; and 630 S. 60th St.; 610-5869077.

Mazzoni Center Free, anonymous HIV testing; HIV/AIDS care and treatment, case management and support groups; 21 S. 12th St., eighth ﬂoor; 215-563-0652. www.mazzonicenter.org. Mazzoni Center Family & Community Medicine Comprehensive primary health care, preventive health services, gynecology, sexual-health services and chronic-disease management, including comprehensive HIV care, 809 Locust St.; 215-563-0658. Washington West Project Free, anonymous HIV testing. Walk-ins welcome 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday except for noon-1 p.m. and 5-6 p.m., and 1-5 p.m. Saturday; 1201 Locust St.; 215-985-9206.

Professional groups ■ Independence Business Alliance Greater Philadelphia’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce, providing networking, business development, marketing, educational and advocacy opportunities for LGBT and LGBT-friendly businesses and professionals. Visit www.IndependenceBusinessAlliance.com for information about events, programs and membership; 215-557-0190; 1717 Arch St., Suite 3370. ■ National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association The Philadelphia chapter of NLGJA, open to professionals and

students, meets for social and networking events; www.nlgjaphiladelphia.org. ■ Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus A regional organization dedicated to promoting gay and lesbian tourism to the Greater Philadelphia region holds meetings every other month on the fourth Thursday (January, March, May, July, September and the third Thursday in November), open to the public; P.O. Box 58143, Philadelphia, PA 19102; www.philadelphiagaytourism.com. ■ Philly OutGoing Professionals Social group for gay, lesbian and bisexual professionals meets for social and cultural activities, 856857-9283; popnews19@yahoo. com.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2012

PGN