pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976
Vol. 42 No. 41 Oct. 12-18, 2018
Family Portrait: Erin Busbee is puttin’ on the glitz
HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM Philly Film Festival screens several LGBT films this year
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OutFest pictures PAGES 22-23
PAGE 27
Historic marker under fire by some LGBT advocates By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com
HUNDREDS OF WALKERS PASS CITY HALL OCT. 6 DURING THE ANNUAL TRANS MARCH. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Trans march vows resilience while mourning victims By Adriana Fraser adriana@epgn.com In the wake of the recent murder of Shantee Tucker, more than 200 participants took part in the Philly Trans March in honor of the community and the hundreds of other trans people killed over the last decade. Transgender community members and supporters gathered Oct. 6 at LOVE Park. Led by police escorts, they marched down Broad Street as drivers honked in support and curious spectators took photos. Christian Lovehall and other PTM organizers led the brigade alongside Tucker’s family, who held a banner displaying her pictures under the caption: “In memory of our sweet angel Shantee.” Leona Bibbs, Tucker’s aunt, held one end of the banner, shouting “Our streets!” in response to Lovehall’s “Whose streets?”
“Our family isn’t the only one that’s having to deal with fatally losing a trans family member,” Bibbs told a PGN reporter during the march. “That’s why we’re out here, fighting for Shantee and other members of the trans community. I see these murders happening and it lets me know that more needs to be done to support the trans community.” The crowd also chanted, “No justice, no peace, no transphobic police” and “We’re here, we’re queer, we’re fabulous, don’t fuck with us,” while holding up various signs, including, “Dismantle the cis-tem,” “Black Trans Lives Matter” and “Trans men are men, period.” Lovehall organized the first Philly Trans March in 2011, a year after the murder of local trans woman Stacey Blahnik — which remains unsolved and, he said, still haunts him. Now the activist also is PAGE 2
LGBT History Month
Officials at the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission said they’ll meet with LGBT advocates regarding a state historical marker recently installed near Rittenhouse Square that omits recognition of the early transgender community. The marker, dedicated on Oct. 1, commemorates a 1965 LGBT sit-in at Dewey’s, a restaurant that was located at 219 S. 17th St. The restaurant has since been demolished and a Hyatt Hotel stands at the site. The marker, which is owned by PHMC, is sponsored and funded by Equality Forum, a Philadelphia-based LGBT advocacy group. The text of the marker states: “Activists led one of the nation’s first LGBT sit-ins here in 1965
after homosexuals were denied service at Dewey’s restaurant. Inspired by African-American lunchcounter sit-ins, this event prompted Dewey’s to stop its discriminatory policy, an early victory for LGBT rights.” Deja Alvarez, a local trans advocate, contends the marker is misleading because gender-variant individuals — not “homosexuals” — were the target of Dewey’s exclusionary policy and led the subsequent protests. “Too often, gender-variant people, particularly trans people, are erased from LGBT history,” Alvarez said. “Then we have to fight to get them put back in. I’m fed up with it. I’m exhausted from watching our erasure from not only history, but from the community as a whole.” Howard Pollman, a PHMC spokesperson, said the agency is willing to meet with LGBT advocates about the marker’s language. “We take the comments regarding the Dewey’s sit-in marker text seriously,” Pollman said in an Oct. 5 email. “As is our normal process, we worked PAGE 19 with the sponsor to create the
OutFest draws younger, more diverse crowd By Adriana Fraser adriana@epgn.com The 28th annual OutFest block party attracted some 50,000 visitors and participants — more than it had in the previous two years, said the event’s organizer. Philadelphia’s celebration of National Coming Out Day brought in an estimated 30,000 revelers in 2016-17. Last Sunday’s 80-degree weather may have contributed to the bigger crowds — but even more notable was the age range. “It used to be that everyone that attended OutFest was in their 20s or older,” said Franny Price, executive director of Philly Pride Presents, which organizes the yearly event.
“Now it’s all ages, especially people under the age of 18. It’s becoming their block party.” “It seems that more people are coming out at a younger age, and it’s exciting to see all of the young people having a great time at OutFest in celebration of their openness.” Meanwhile, more than 150 community groups, vendors and partners set up tents along the Gayborhood celebration routes, from 12th to 13th streets and Walnut to Spruce. The main stage, at 13th and Locust, featured live entertainment from local drag performers and artists. It’s also where the OutProud Awards were given to individuPAGE 2 als for notable
Asian-American lesbian writer Willyce Kim PAGE 14
JUDITH KASEN-WINDSOR, EX-WIFE OF EDIE WINDSOR (LEFT), AND HENRI DAVID DURING THE GAYBORHOOD STREET SIGN DEDICATION Photo: Scott A. Drake
Erasing lesbianism, part two PAGE 26
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PGN
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2018
Resource listings Legal resources • ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215-592-1513; aclupa.org • AIDS Law Project of PA: 215-587-9377; aidslawpa.org • AIDS Law Project of South Jersey: 856-784-8532; aidslawsnj.org/ • Equality PA: equalitypa. org; 215-731-1447
• Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations — Rue Landau: 215-686-4670 • Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 215-7603686; ppd.lgbt@gmail.com • SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: 717-920-9537
• Office of LGBT Affairs — Amber Hikes: 215-686-0330; amber.hikes@phila.gov
Community centers • The Attic Youth Center; 255 S. 16th St.; 215-545-4331, atticyouthcenter.org. For LGBT and questioning youth and their friends and allies. • LGBT Center at the University of Pennsylvania; 3907 Spruce
St.; 215-898-5044, center@dolphin.upenn.edu.
• Rainbow Room: Bucks County’s LGBTQ and Allies Youth Center
Salem UCC Education Building, 181 E. Court St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981 ext. 9065, rainbowroom@ppbucks.org.
• William Way LGBT Community Center 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220, www.waygay.org.
Health and HIV testing • Action Wellness: 1216 Arch St.; 215981-0088, actionwellness.org
• AIDS Library:
1233 Locust St.; aidslibrary.org/
• AIDS Treatment Fact line: 800-6626080
• Bebashi-Transition to Hope: 1235 Spring Garden St.; 215769-3561; bebashi.org
• COLOURS: coloursorganization.org, 215832-0100 • Congreso de Latinos Unidos;
216 W. Somerset St.; 215-763-8870
• GALAEI: 149 W. Susquehanna Ave.; 267-457-3912, galaei.org. Spanish/ English
• Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad
St.; 215-685-1821
• Mazzoni Center:
1348 Bainbridge St.; 215-563-0652, mazzonicenter.org
• Philadelphia FIGHT: 1233 Locust St.; 215-985-4448, fight.org
• Washington West Project of Mazzoni Center:
1201 Locust St.; 215985-9206
MARCH from page 1
seeking justice for Tucker, who was gunned down Sept. 5 on Old York Road near Hunting Park Avenue. “The fact that we’re still marching for the same thing eight years later is not comforting,” said Lovehall, who also coordinates GALAEI’s Trans Equity Project. “This isn’t a celebratory thing for me. A lot of people are saying, ‘Congratulations on eight years,’ but I wish we could’ve stopped after the first one. People are starting to wake up, but trans women of color are still getting murdered in this city and around the country.” Lovehall said he plans to leave PTM’s organizational duties in the community’s hands so he can focus on his music career and other projects, adding he hopes the momentum will continue. Malik Moorer, who was in a relationship with Blahnik when she was murdered, spoke at the march about grieving his partner’s death and being investigated as a suspect in her murder. “That was a hard time for me, and I’m still filled with anxiety whenever I come back to the city,” he told the crowd before the march. “I had to leave Philadelphia to regroup. I still feel the hurt and the pain, but I’m dealing with it a little better.” Moorer, who now lives in Atlanta, added OUTFEST from page 1
work on the LGBT community’s behalf. Ernest Piper came from Colorado to attend OutFest with his aunt, Marletta Stern. “He came out to me for the first time at Pride here in Philly a few years ago and I’ve supported him ever since,” Stern said. Piper said he feels most at home in Philadelphia and that he wishes “other places celebrated the community in a lively way beyond Pride celebrations.” The AIDS Healthcare Foundation hosted a partner booth for the first time at this year’s OutFest. The national HIV/AIDS advocacy organization opened its Philadelphia facility in August. Quincy Greene, AHF’s mobile unit tester, said the organization is working to serve more people in the city. “We’re growing our presence. Our mobile HIV testing truck has made its rounds throughout Philadelphia. Our Friday night, HIV testings outside of Woody’s have helped with getting more people in the know about their status,” said Greene.
that Philadelphia is seeking to portray itself as “a little more trans-friendly” than in the past, but that “statistics say otherwise.” Other PTM organizers and community members also addressed participants, advocating for support and honoring victims. Organizers said that at least 22 trans murders, including Tucker, have been reported nationwide this year. In Philadelphia, Tucker is one of more than a half-dozen known transgender women of color to be killed in recent years. While there have been arrests and convictions in the murders of Londyn Kiki Chanel, Maya Young and Diamond Williams, the cases of Nizah Morris, Kyra Cordova, Stacey Blahnik and Keisha Jenkins remain unsolved. The march ended where it began — in front of the LOVE statue — when a woman got on stage, took hold of the microphone and said: “Out of respect for God, trans people should only use their own bathrooms.” The crowd booed. “That’s why we continue to fight for our right to exist,” said PTM participant Margaret O’Reilly, who identifies as nonbinary. “We’re putting our voices and bodies on the line to let those people who tell us what bathroom we should be using or those who kill us for simply existing that we’re resilient and we won’t be silenced.” n The city’s Department of Public Health offered free hepatitis-A vaccines for the first time to OutFest participants. Rhona Cooper, the department’s clinical coordinator for public health preparedness, said her OutFest team vaccinated 38 people during the block party. “There’s been a national outbreak of hepatitis A in various locations specifically related to homeless folks, people who are drug users and also men who have sex with men. We were happy to be able to vaccinate 38 people who would not have gotten it otherwise,” said Cooper. Manny Torres and his friends spent OutFest dancing with several-hundred other guests in front of Tabu Sports Bar — which is preparing to move to its new location in the former iCandy building, just a few blocks away. “This is the last time we get to pack out the bar before they move,” said Torres last Sunday, adding: “I’m glad to be a part of its history.” n
• Transgender Health Action Coalition: 215-732-1207
Other • Independence Branch Library Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection: 215-685-1633 • Independence Business Alliance; 215-557-0190, IndependenceBusinessAlliance.com
• LGBT Peer Counseling Services: 215-732-TALK • PFLAG: Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): 215-572-1833 • Philly Pride Presents: 215-875-9288
Eating Out Should Be Fun! Read PGN’s food reviews every second and fourth week of the month
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Feature: Film Fest Scene in Philly Family Portrait Out & About Q Puzzle Comics
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Open mic opens new doors for LGBTQ artists.
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Creep of the Week: Donald Trump (!), who leads the Creep field tiny hand over fist.
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Greg Fox takes ‘Kyle’s Bed & Breakfast’ to Wyoming on the 20th anniversary of the Matthew Shepard murder.
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LOCAL PGN
News Briefing 32nd Annual AIDS Walk Philly AIDS Walk Philly will hold its 32nd annual AIDS Walk Oct. 21 on Martin Luther King Drive with an anticipated 5,000 participants. The total distance of the walk is 5 kilometers, beginning at Eakins Oval in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The walk was created by AIDS Fund, a charity to end both stigma and new infections while providing financial support for those currently infected. Proceeds benefit HIV/AIDS services in the Philadelphia area. There will also be 25 squares from the AIDS Memorial Quilt on display, which is an ongoing project that memorializes the lives of those lost to AIDS.
Memorial for photographer Joe Bowman The William Way LGBT Community Center will host a memorial cocktail party to honor the recent death of gay photographer and artist
Joe Bowman, who died last December at the age 72. In lieu of a somber affair, Bowman’s friend Jennifer Lynne said he would have preferred the festive celebration organizers have planned. Bowman’s photography captured the Philadelphia gay scene in the 1980s, and he later became a sought-after fitness photographer a decade later. Known for being daring and risqué, Bowman’s work was featured in numerous city art galleries. In accordance with his wishes, most of Bowman’s portfolio has been donated to the archives of the William Way LGBT Community Center. Memorial host Bill Geftman said Bowman “wanted to be sure his life’s work would be a snapshot of Philadelphia’s gay history.”
CCP opens LGBTQ center The Community College of Philadelphia held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil the MarcDavid LGBTQ Center on Oct. 5. Students and staff filled the center located in the Winnet Student Life Building on CCP’s main campus as the president and vice president of the newly reinstated LGBTQ+ Club performed the official opening honors. Oak Triose, the LGBTQ+ Club president who identifies as nonbinary, said the center is a welcome addition. “I think it’s amazing the campus now has an LGBT center. We have a safe space for LGBTQ-identified students to come start the process of creating changes in policies that will benefit students,” Triose said.
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2018
CCP President Dr. Donald Generals expressed support for LGBTQ students at the ceremony. “We’re coming out full blast and letting the community know that we’re very serious about supporting our LGBTQ students,” he said. “I think it’s really important that we support unrepresented, marginalized students so that they feel empowered and, in turn, that empowerment will help them to become better students and better citizens.”
9th annual Family Matters LGBTQ conference More than 150 LGBTQ families and prospective parents participated in the 9th annual Family Matters Conference, hosted by Philadelphia Family Pride Oct. 6 at the McNeil Science and Technology Center at the University of the Sciences. The event featured breakout workshops throughout the day such as “Finding and Maintaining Safe Spaces for Our Families,” “Talking to Kids About Sexuality and Gender” and a “Trans and Genderqueer Parent Conversation Hour.” Naomi Washington-Leapheart, faith-work director for the National LGBTQ Task Force, delivered a keynote speech on religion and spirituality in the LGBTQ community. Malcolm Kenyatta, the Democratic candidate running for state representative in the 181st District, urged parents to run for office during the “Political Advocacy for the LGBTQ Parent” workshop session. “To have people with a variety of different
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experiences in the room and apart of conversation when decisions are being made has a more direct impact on what policy should look like,” he said. Ruby Augustus, PFP’s board secretary, said the conference helps parents like her to learn more about LGBTQ parenting. “Spaces like this are needed for LGBTQ families and prospective parents to know that there’s a community of likeminded people out there ,” Augustus said.
Dickinson College reception for LGBT history exhibit Dickinson College in Carlisle will be hosting an opening reception for its exhibit “History Comes Out” in the Waidner-Spahr Library Oct. 14 from 1:30-5 p.m. The exhibit will include displays, tours of the archives, and oral histories of LGBT individuals who lived in central Pennsylvania, provided by LGBT Center of Central PA in Harrisburg. A demonstration of the center’s Google mapping system will allow guests to look at the geographic locations of historically significant LGBT events in central Pennsylvania. Attendees can also contribute their own oral histories to the archives, which may either be posted to the website of the LGBT Center of Central PA or made into themed story compilations to be accessed by the public. n — compiled by Adriana Fraser and Miranda Lankas
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2018
LOCAL PGN
Artists find new haven at LGBTQ open mic By Adriana Fraser adriana@epgn.com An urban farm in Philadelphia hosted its first open mic as participants performed spoken-word poetry and music to highlight visibility and representation for LGBTQ artists of color in entertainment. The OUTSpoken LGBTQ openmic showcase featured 10 local artists at the Life Do Grow Farm Oct. 6. Poet Ashley Davis was the featured artist of the evening. An intimate crowd filled the domeshaped event space. OUTSpoken creator Rienne Scott started the open mic in 2012 as an LGBT-affirming space for spoken-word artists in Philadelphia. Scott took the event to Baltimore, where she lived for four years, and grew the showcase into a monthly event. When she moved back to Philadelphia in June, she wanted to revive the open mic for LGBTQ artists of color in the city, she said. “I came back to Philly and was shocked that there weren’t any performance spaces for LGBTQ people of color. Many queer performers don’t have access to spaces where they can freely be themselves with-
out feeling like an ‘other’ or feeling out of place. I wanted OUTSpoken to be that space where they could be free,” Scott said. Jeaninne Kayembe was one of the performers, and also serves as the co-CEO and co-founder of the Life Do Grow Farm. The queer “thought leader” and multimedia artist shared her poetry and music. She said the open mic connected her with other LGBTQ artists of color and also introduced more of the community to the farm. “There are very few events in the city that provide a stage specifically for LGBTQ artists, and I knew that I wanted something like that on the farm. We host all types of events that are centered around folks who don’t have access to event space. We provide a space for people who live in the neighborhood to express their creativity,” she said. In 2010, Kayembe and a group of friends, known as the Philadelphia Urban Creators, transformed a vacant two-acre square plot located between 11th and 12th streets in North Philadelphia into a fully sustainable community farm. The farm hosts weekly farmers markets that feature seasonal produce such as kale, squash, peppers, okra and col-
RIENNE SCOTT Photo: Adriana Fraser
lard greens. The farm is also home to a recording studio for aspiring artists from the neighborhood. Kayembe performed with Mary Baxter — who goes by the stage name Isis Tha Saviour. Baxter shared her story of giving birth to her son while in prison before debuting her new rap song to the crowd that filled the farm’s
Freedome — a 30-foot geodesic, or hemispherical, dome that the Philadelphia Museum of Art donated to the Urban Creators last year. Baxter said the open mic “provided a platform to tell my story with a room full of people that understand what it’s like growing up in North Philly.”
“We have something like this right in our own back yard for artists like me who don’t want to have to explain my experiences with people who might not understand or will judge,” she said. Scott plans to make the open mic a recurring event, with the next one taking place early next year. n
LOCAL PGN
Assistant DA takes on resentencings of juvenile lifer By Adriana Fraser adriana@epgn.com Mohammed Davis walked into Judge Jeffrey Minehart’s chambers at the Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice in August with a prospect he hasn’t had in 20 years: the possibility of parole. The court officer escorted him to his seat next to his attorney. Still in handcuffs, Davis managed to wave at his cluster of family members sitting two rows behind him, scanning faces he hadn’t seen in more than a decade, when he was convicted of killing Robert Reitz days before Christmas in 1999. At 17, Davis was handed a life sentence without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder. Now, at 36, he’s back in court, this time to hear the terms of a new sentencing that could possibly lead to his freedom. Davis is one of more than 2,300 prisoners across the country who were given life sentences when they were juveniles — under age 18. The new sentencing is part of an ongoing process to grant resentencing hearings to all juvenile lifers convicted before 2012. This is because of a Supreme Court ruling in 2012, Miller v. Alabama, which found it unconstitutional to convict a juvenile to a mandatory life-without-parole sentencing. The hearing on this day was quick and to the point, Assistant District Attorney Chesley Lightsey told a reporter afterwards, adding that she has negotiated at least 100 resentencing agreements. She has been waist-deep in juvenile-lifer cases for two years. Lightsey has already negotiated about half of the 320 convictions in Philadelphia that required new prison terms. After Davis’ hearing, she said she wishes all of the resentencing cases could be so straightforward. “Each case is unique. All of the facts are different and the victims’ families make different decisions about whether to come and be there personally, or read an impact statement. That can make the process a lot longer,” Lightsey explained. In June, she was named the new assistant supervisor of the homicide unit, where she’s simultaneously juggling an estimated 30 active cases on top of the resentencings. It’s a life she said she hadn’t pictured for herself while growing up in Mississippi. The out prosecutor began her professional career as a teacher. A trip to visit a friend living in Philadelphia sparked a love affair with the city that drove Lightsey to quit her job at the summer camp where she worked in Mississippi. She relocated here in 1996 and spent four years teaching at Friends’ Central School in Wynnewood before taking an interest in law. Lightsey subsequently enrolled at the Beasley School of Law at Temple University. After graduating, she worked as a legal intern at the Center for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights before making her way to the D.A.’s office in 2005. Lightsey began as a prosecutor in preliminary hearings, and eventually landed in the family violence and sexual assault unit, which is where she wanted to be all along. “I really love to work with kids. Before going to law school, I was a teacher for seven years, so that’s one of the reasons I went to the family-violence unit initially. That led me to the homicide unit. I get a lot of cases where there are children who are witnesses to murder and I help with getting them ready for that process,” Lightsey said. “I’ll meet with kids
multiple times and not talk about the case at all. It’s a matter of getting them to be comfortable with me, gaining some kind of trust so they feel comfortable talking.” Lightsey said the one thing she carries with her as she moves from one case to the next is the resilience of the families and the witnesses she encounters. “What I always think about and refer back to is the strength of witnesses and how hard it is for them to confront the person who hurt them personally. This job is hard. It’s not the goriness of it so much as just the human emotion, the loss that people have suffered — mothers who’ve lost children. I don’t know how people deal with it — it’s a lot, but it’s just part of what you sign on for.” Lightsey’s new supervisory position involves a lot more meetings with detectives on cases that are not hers, a change from what she’s used to, she added. “I’m used to meeting with detectives on cases that I’m trying, but now I’m meeting with detectives about cases where arrests haven’t been made yet, thinking about what other steps can be taken before a warrant can be approved.” The ADA makes it a point to never take work home, she said. “I don’t talk about work at home. I have two small children — ages 5 and 8 — and they do not even know what I do. They think I give bad people timeouts.” Back in the courtroom on that August day, Lightsey addressed Davis, asking him questions to verify that he understood his decision to enter into the resentencing negotiation and that no one had “threatened or promised him anything.” The new terms of his prison sentence were arranged between the prosecutor and the defense prior to the hearing. Davis agreed that he understood the agreement and said he wanted to read aloud a remorse letter intended for Reitz’s family, who chose not to attend the one-day hearing. “I sincerely apologize for my actions and for all of the hurt and pain that my actions have caused. I made an emotional and impulsive decision that severely affected the lives of a lot people. At the time, I was a selfish, ignorant, stupid child that was only thinking of myself, but today, I stand before you as a man who is sincerely sorry for my actions,” Davis said. He continued: “I’m ashamed and embarrassed for what I did. I didn’t understand the effects of my actions or the effects my actions would have on the family and friends of the victim as well as my loved ones. I understand that nothing I say right now will bring the victim back. I would like the family to know that I express my deepest remorse. I respectfully ask that you find it in your heart to forgive me or at least consider my apology. I can honestly say I was the not the man I was 20 years ago. My whole perspective on life is different as well as my morals and priorities.” Davis appeared to breathe a sigh of relief after Minehart agreed to a resentencing of 33 years to life, which will factor in the time he already served. In 13 years, Davis will have the opportunity to go before the parole board to plead his case for another chance at life outside prison. Davis was escorted out of the courtroom glancing behind him to steal one last look at his band of supporters before the wooden door closed behind him. n
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2018
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LGBT SMOKE FREE Living proudly. Living longer. For help quitting smoking, visit www.sepatobaccofree.org or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Tobacco Control Project is an initiative of Health Promotion Council.
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2018
LOCAL PGN
State agency appoints LGBTQ commissioner By Adriana Fraser adriana@epgn.com The executive director of Allentown’s LGBT community center was unanimously confirmed by the state Senate to serve as a commissioner on the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. Adrian Shanker, executive director of the BradburySullivan LGBT Center in Allentown, was named PHRC’s newest commissioner. In a 49-0 bipartisan vote, the Senate confirmed Shanker to serve on the commission Oct. 1, joining nine other commissioners to enforce state laws that prohibit discrimination. Gov. Tom Wolf nominated Shanker in June to join the commission. Shanker was confirmed by a Republican led Senate. “It’s important that the work of protecting our community from discrimination should not ever be seen as partisan or controversial,” he said. Shanker emphasized the importance of the LGBTQ community having representation. “We need to make sure that LGBTQ people are able to serve on important commissions like this one.” The appointment came after PHRC’s recent decision to investigate complaints of LGBT discrimination as sex discrimination. The change was implemented in July after a 7-1 commissioner vote to approve the guidance to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. The guidance states that “the term ‘sex’ under the
PHRA may refer to sex assigned at birth, sexual orientation, transgender identity, gender transition, gender identity and/or gender expression depending on the individual facts of the case.” In April 2017, the agency proposed guidance that would allow it to accept LGBT-related complaints, even though the state’s antibias law doesn’t explicitly cover sexual orientation and gender identity. PHRC investigates antibias complaints in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, commercial property and education. State and federal antibias laws explicitly ban sex discrimination in those areas. “This is a step in the right direction to assist the LGBTQ community in fighting discrimination even though there aren’t statewide laws in place ensure that protection for LGBTQ residents,” Shanker said. The new commissioner previously served on the Human Relations Commission of the City of Allentown for three years (2009-12), and led the effort to establish the Human Relations Commission in Bethlehem. He also served as the president of Equality Pennsylvania from 2011-13. Shanker worked with municipalities in southeastern PA, assisting them in passing local human-relations ordinances such as banning youth-conversion therapy in Reading, Allentown and Bethlehem. Shanker was sworn into the commission Oct. 9 at the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center. The oath was administered by Judge Dan Anders, the first openly gay judge to be appointed to the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. Shanker’s term as a PHRC commissioner will end in 2023. n
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2018
an HIV patient receives a boost with MANNA meals
By Suzannah Cavanaugh PGN Contributor William Harper sits in a leather recliner facing the TV. His back is to the refrigerator; his walker is within arm’s reach. “I haven’t really been doing a lot.,” Harper said, his voice scratchy. “I just started walking a lot today, because I just want it to heal.” Paul Ferdinand, Harper’s partner, cuts in. “Well, a typical day for Princess is … ” Ferdinand said and Harper laughs from the living room. “She gets up around 8:30 or 9:00, has breakfast and swallows all her medication, watches a little bit of TV and then we start going. But, you’ve seen our stairs — they’re just killer stairs —so we’re not to stairs yet,” said Ferdinand. Harper is two weeks out of Penn Rehab in recovery from a knee replacement. But today, he and Ferdinand are in high spirits — their MANNA meals arrived this morning. “We clear the day on Wednesday,” said Ferdinand. “Sometimes they come first thing in the morning, sometimes in the afternoon. We look forward to it. It’s part of our routine.” For the past year, Ferdinand and his partner, Harper, have received a weekly shipment of breakfasts, lunches and dinners from MANNA, the Fairmount-based nonprofit that delivers free meals to the chronically ill. Harper has lived with HIV since 1985, but recently, his health took a turn for the worse when he began falling down. “I’d be walking to the store and I used to fall in the middle of the street,” said Harper. “Luckily Philadelphia has caring residents. There would always be someone to help me up and sit with me.” Harper said the doctors never gave him a definitive diagnosis, but they thought the falls might be related Parkinson’s disease. He was deemed disabled. Ferdinand, 64, is also dealing with health problems. After doctors discovered a cancerous growth in his vocal chords in 2008, Ferdinand left his job and began claiming disability. The growth was removed, but Ferdinand was left with “terrible neck and back problems.” “I couldn’t walk from here to the grocery store,” said Ferdinand. “I can do maybe three blocks. So, of course we’re very grateful of MANNA. It’s been a lifesaver for us.” The couple was set up with MANNA through their social worker at Mazzoni Center. Harper qualified as an HIV patient and Ferdinand was able to receive meals as his primary caretaker. MANNA’s dietary plans, 11 in total, are based on the food-as-medicine movement, a method of treating and preventing disease through proper nutrition. “We felt better, immediately,” said Ferdinand. “Because there was always a vegetable, always a fruit, always a this,
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always a that.” Before getting on MANNA, the couple remembers dinners being pasta or convenience foods. “We tried all the different pizza-delivery places, so we know which one was good, which was ehhh,” said Harper. Harper and Ferdinand both follow MANNA’s standard diet, a common prescription for many HIV patients, whose health concerns include weight fluctuations, low BMI and sometimes the onset of other infections such as pneumonia. MANNA’s standard diet combats these factor into a well-balanced meal. “We give HIV-patients a balanced diet with fruits and vegetables and whole grains, so they can build up their immune system and stabilize, if not improve, their weight,” said Tonya Cooper, MANNA’s registered dietician. If an HIV patient’s weight isn’t responding to a standard diet, Cooper will sometimes prescribe a high-protein diet to move things along. For Harper, the MANNA meals appear to be working: He’s maintaining his weight, which is what his doctor wants to see. “I’ve lost weight, which was the point,” said Ferdinand. “For me, it was the vegetables. Unless it’s put in front of me, I’m very much a pasta type of guy, or junk.” With a rotating selection of 21 frozen meals delivered weekly, MANNA provides options. “And the variety — the variety is great!” said Ferdinand. “Shopping for that order would be a mess, because there’s so much in it. We’re very grateful to MANNA.” Ferdinand and Harper don’t know how long they’ll be on MANNA meals, but after a year, they’ve picked out their favorites. “We like the Southwestern dinner, and the meatballs are fabulous,” said Ferdinand. “He won’t even let me see them. You can see him going through the delivery when it comes and then he’s stuffing it in the back
of the freezer, not even letting me know that it came in! Like the turkey tacos…” “Ooooh turkey tacos are good!” said Harper. “They go right in the back of the freezer.” The couple have been supporters of MANNA’s work since the early ’90s, when the organization was a seven-person team delivering hot meals to HIV/AIDS patients. Ferdinand and Harper remember supporting MANNA’s annual Pie in the Sky fundraiser. “You know, I always thought, What a fabulous thing,” said Ferdinand. “But, you never think, Oh they’re going to deliver the meals to me. And so when the shoe’s on the other foot, you really see what wonderful work it is.” Before Ferdinand got ill, he worked as a flight attendant for Air France. William was a server and bartender at BaltimoreWashington International Airport. “I was known as dependi-Bill,” said Harper. “If somebody called out, I was the
only waiter/bartender authorized to work in any bar or restaurant in the airport.” They met in Washington D.C. in 1993. Ferdinand was starting his job with Air France and would fly routinely out of BWI. “He was on his way to the bathroom in a bar [when I first saw him], and he’s still on his way to the bathroom,” said Ferdinand, cracking up. The couple agrees that as gay men, getting older has taken a toll, especially before becoming eligible for Medicare. “I can’t tell you what it’s like,” said Ferdinand. “They’ll look at you and go, ‘I need to give you that test, but I can’t.’” “A lot of Philadelphians, especially in the gay community, didn’t expect to live this long and were caught off guard with savings and insurance, where they just don’t have it. I mean, I was in that situation,” said Ferdinand. “You didn’t know if you were going to live to the next day, let alone until you were 64.” For Ferdinand and Harper, MANNA’s services are a temporary solution. All clients are placed on a meal plans for a threeto six-month period, then reassessed. “Let’s say they qualify because they have HIV and they lost a lot of weight,” said dietician Cooper. “Come recertification, we want to see that they are not losing weight anymore and hopefully they’ve gained some weight. If that’s the case, then we discuss the stop date.” No recent hospitalizations is another sign that a client may be ready to stop receiving MANNA meals. “Our goal is to teach them about their diet and empower them, so that when they do come off the program, they have a sense of how they should be eating,” said Cooper. Ferdinand is optimistic about what’s to come. “It sounds corny, but you know, people are living longer, so 64 is the new 44, I hope,” said Ferdinand. n
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EDITORIAL PGN EDITORIAL
Creep of the Week
D’Anne Witkowski
Donald Trump
Editorial
Leading by example In the absence of national leadership on LGBTQ equality, cities and even towns are stepping up to pass ordinances protecting basic rights for citizens. The Human Rights Campaign’s 2018 Municipal Equality Index came out this week and provides data showing that elected officials in the country’s major cities are driving the movement of inclusion for LGBTQ people. The HRC looks at 49 different criteria, including municipal laws, policies and services and the positions of local leaders toward equality, among other metrics. Relevant legislation protects LGBTQ people from conversion therapy, bullying, harassment and discrimination in housing, employment and healthcare. One major takeaway from the report is that cities and towns can provide inclusive legislation even without statewide protection laws. Pennsylvania is one such example. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Allentown (home of the influential Bradbury-Sullivan Community Center) all scored 100 and State College came in with 98 points. Equality-friendly political leaders are also the result of the hard, long work of persistent activism in the community. In the city of Woodbury, N.J., the Woodbury Community Pride organization set an ambitious goal: to be the most LGBTQfriendly town in South Jersey. This year, the MEI gave Woodbury a score of 100. Besides Woodbury, only Jersey City and Hoboken earned perfect scores in the state. In reacting to the MEI score, Woodbury Mayor Jessica Floyd pointed out that inclusion for all is good for business. “We are making Woodbury more tolerant and receptive to social concerns of its residents, employees and businesses.” And that is the bigger point of inclusion: Everyone wins. n
We want to know! If you are celebrating an anniversary, engagement, wedding, adoption or other life event, we would be happy to help you announce it to the community. Send your contact information and a brief description of the event to editor@epgn.com.
It has been a strange week. For starters, Donald Trump announced that after an on-again, off-again rollercoaster relationship, he and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un are officially an item now. “I was really being tough and so was he,” Trump told a rally of supporters in West Virginia. “And we would go back and forth. And then we fell in love. No really. He wrote me beautiful letters.” Isn’t it romantic? Or, at least, it would be if Trump knew how to read. Boy, are Republicans going to be mad when they learn that Trump is gay! I’m kidding, of course. Well, kind of. It’s striking that Republicans would probably freak out if Trump came out as gay, but they have no problem with him embracing authoritarian dictators who murder and starve their people. #SquadGoals In other words, in Republicanica, being gay is bad, but being a murderous dictator shows that you’re a macho man who gets things done! This is an important distinction, given the news that the Trump administration has
begun “denying visas to same-sex domestic partners of foreign diplomats and United Nations employees, and requiring those already in the United States to get married by the end of the year or leave the country,” according to foreignpolicy.com. Now, on the surface, this might not seem like a big deal. I mean, opposite-sex couples can’t get visas for their partners if they’re not married, and marriage equality is the law of the land in the U.S., so this change just makes everything equal, right? Wrong. Let’s not kid ourselves. Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power tweeted on Sept. 28: “Needlessly cruel & bigoted: State Dept. will no longer let same-sex domestic partners of UN employees PAGE 12
This is the kind of move you’d expect to see in a place like Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
OUTPour
Antar T. Bush
Reminiscing on the perfect 10: Mother Stacey Lee Blahnik Stacey Lee, best known as Mother Stacey Blahnik, was a light that shined in the ballroom community and outside it. Stacey was a beacon of hope, and will always be remembered by many young trans women of color in Philadelphia. It has been eight years since the murder of Stacey Blahnik, and there still has been no arrest for this brutal hate crime. However, when you speak to those who were the closest to Stacey, they say they still see and feel her presence around them. “I lost everything. I lost a best friend — a lover,” said Stacey’s paramour, Malik Moorer. Friends of Stacey admit to accusing or thinking Moorer was a suspect at some point during the criminal investigation. All of those friends now say they regret how they treated Malik during that time, and that their anger was misdirected. Randy Blahnik, Stacey’s house member, said: “I know it was the reason why Malik moved out of Philadelphia. Malik was deeply in love with Stacey, and we were wrong for accusing him of doing something like that to her. I want to tell Malik I’m sorry.” It has been nearly a decade since the murder of Stacey. Her friends are often asked what LGBTQ advocates in Philadelphia could do to bring more attention to this cold case. “No one used their political clout or
offered an award,” said Chyna White, Stacey’s closest friend. Ms. White believes these incentives would help in solving the case and bring forth more information. A woman such as White of the trans experience understands firsthand how trans women of color have been disproportionally victims of these types of crimes — and also how the police department does not put in the time or effort into solving them. Philadelphia lost a light when Stacey Blahnik was murdered that day, and since her death, there have been an estimated 126 trans-related murders in the United States. As a cis-gender person, I often forget about the “T” in LGBTQ, but through the work of others such as Deja Alvarez and Eran Emani, I have learned that we must all speak up. For the failure to raise your voice and take action, we all become acquiescent in the violence committed against a trans person in the United States. n Antar Bush is a public-health advocate, professor at West Chester University and executive producer of OUTPour LGBTQ. He is committed to advocating for health equity in all communities. Follow him on Instagram @antarbushmswmph.
OP-ED PGN
Don’t cry for us, Nikki Haley Nikki Haley, one of the few sane people — and even fewer women — in top positions in the Trump administration and a former Republican South Carolina governor, resigned this week as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. You’re asking yourself, What has that to do with LGBT issues? One of her votes was blood- chilling. Upon the announcement of her resignation, many political pundits were chatting her up as one of the few moderates in the Trump administration. Now, that might be true on a number of subjects, but not on LGBT rights — and we need to record these items, as Republicans always seem to cover their past discriminations.
Want to know what her excuse was for that last one? “The resolution also condemns the death penalty all together, no matter the circumstances, and advocates for its abolition.” And then she added this: “They explicitly stated that, of course, the U.S. does not support the death penalty for gays.” This of course outraged all human-rights organizations and anyone with real knowledge of foreign policy or understanding of why such a resolution needs to be issued. Here are some reasons: Uganda, Qatar, Yemen, Iran, Mauritania, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates and — here’s one for my progressive friends — the Palestiniancontrolled Gaza Strip. All have Mark Segal on their law books, in some way, The Haley LGBT scorecard: 2010: Stated marriage is “death to LGBT people.” Then between one man and one woman. there are another 64 nations where LGBT 2012: As governor, she supported uphold- people can be imprisoned. ing a ban on same-sex marriage. While the resolution finally passed, it 2015: In the middle of transphobia hitting did so with Haley’s vote still recorded as America, she pleaded with Americans to supporting the killing of LGBT people. respect religious liberty — code words or Don’t think we should ever forget that. And a dog whistle for legalized discrimination we shouldn’t allow any of our “moderate” against the LGBT community. allies to forget either. After all, death to gays 2016: She accepted Trump’s offer to be doesn’t seem to be very moderate. n the United States ambassador to the United Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the nation’s mostNations. award-winning commentator in LGBT media. You 2017: She voted against a United Nations can follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ resolution condemning the death penalty as a MarkSegalPGN or Twitter at https://twitter.com/ punishment for same-sex couples. PhilaGayNews.
Mark My Words
Transmissions
Gwendolyn Ann Smith
Left outside In April 2015, a year before the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education under then-President Barack Obama issued guidance to public schools clarifying that Title IX protected transgender students, a school district in Virginia faced a dilemma: A fourth-grade student transitioned. Initially, the school was accommodating, allowing the child access to facilities appropriate to their gender identity. But parents of other students in the school were not so forgiving. They felt that their children would be, somehow, at risk from this child, or that allowing this kid to use a restroom that matched their presentation and gender would give carte blanche to predators to prey on their kids at school. They demanded change, and they got it. The district voted 6-0 to bar that child from gender-appropriate facilities. She has used staff restrooms ever since, apparently unwelcome in facilities for either of the traditional genders. In August 2016, a federal appeals court found in favor of transgender teen Gavin Grimm, who was barred from the facil-
ities in his school district. The family of the child above cried when Grimm won that case, and hoped this would move their school district forward. In September 2017, with the Obama administration quickly becoming a memory and the Department of Education now in the hands of Betsy DeVos, several community members filled a school board meeting, attempting to get the board to include pro-LGBTQ policies. Among the speakers was the mother of that child, still barred from the facilities used by her classmates. The school board was, seemingly, unmoved. It is now 2018 and another, deadlier menace exists in our schools than was ever conceived in the scare tactics of the far right, targeting transgender elementary students who need a restroom as if they were sexual predators. This new threat came to Sandy Hook Elementary School, Stoneman Douglas High School and to campuses nationwide. It was death from those wielding handguns and PAGE 15 assault weapons at school,
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2018
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Street Talk How long should Bill Cosby be incarcerated, if at all? "He shouldn't be doing any time in prison. At most, he could be on house arrest. He should have leniency because of Jerome Cuffee his age and utility worker infirmity. North Philadelphia There are other celebrities accused of the same thing who don't get sent to jail. I believe he was targeted because of his race and financial status."
“He shouldn’t be incarcerated. I like Bill Cosby. I’ve admired him from an early age. I don’t believe the allegations. Why did his Angel Dillon accuser keep Uber driver going back North Philadelphia to him, if she was being drugged and sexually assaulted? Why did she wait so long to report him? His sentence is outrageous.”
"Bill Cosby doesn't belong in prison. I think he's innocent. The evidence against him is very weak. And it came Jacque Dowtin out too late. student The whole Germantown case against him doesn't sound right to me. I just hope he survives in prison."
"I agree with a threeyear prison sentence for him. But he shouldn't serve the maximum [sentence] of 10 years. I'm Nicholas open to the Manocchio possibility electrician that he's Grays Ferry guilty. But 10 years in prison would be too harsh. He doesn't have many years left. Hopefully, he'll do everything he's supposed to do in prison and get out in three years."
Positive Thoughts
Kenyon Farrow
Stop calling the cops
When it comes to HIV disclosure, it’s time to stop involving the police When I see films or documentaries about the early days of the AIDS epidemic that focus on the lives and relationships of gay men, I see a lot of people taking care of one another. In many cases, one partner might find out he’s HIV positive, the other partner finds out his status, and the two stay together, with one taking care of the other until one or both is met with the unfortunate fate of certain death. I’m sure it also happened that many men, who were brave enough to finally disclose their status in a time where there were no available treatments to keep them alive,
were in fact deserted by their lovers and left to other family and friends to care for them until they died. But in neither scenario do I recall seeing images of a man, upon learning of his partner’s HIV status, sneaking quietly into another room and dialing 9-1-1 to report to the police that they may have been exposed to the virus. And yet, that is happening. And I’d ask all gay men reading this to please stop. There are laws that criminalize the lack of disclosing one’s HIV status to sexual PAGE 16 partners in about 34
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FINANCES PGN
Fund fees: going, going, gone? Q: I understand that the mutual funds in my 401(k) plan charge me fees. But it’s not clear to me how much or what those fees are for. Can you please help me better understand this? A: As part of your retirement plan, you should receive regular disclosures about the fees you are charged, including those charged by the fund companies in which you invest. Here’s a bit more information specifically about fund fees that may be helpful:
tion charges (known as 12b-1 fees) and other operating costs. These expenses are paid from fund assets and are deducted from fund returns. Fund fees should not be confused with “sales loads,” which are separate and paid when shares are purchased (front-end loads), when shares are redeemed (backend loads) or over time (level loads). Keep in mind that expense ratios differ considerably Jeremy from fund to fund. A given Gussick fund’s expense ratio depends on many factors, including its investment objective and the size of the fund.
Out Money
Fees can make a big difference in the bottom-line performance of your fund investments over time. That’s one reason why many investors have flocked to low-fee index funds, and why average fees on all funds have steadily declined. At first glance, this would seem to be a radical move. But eliminating fund fees may just be the logical next step in the long-term industry trend toward lower-cost investing. Average expense ratios have been declining since 2003 (see chart below).
Why do fees matter? At first glance, a difference between expense ratios may seem insignificant. Even a ratio of 1 percent translates to only $1 per $100 investment. But over time, the difference can be significant. For example, a $10,000 investment that earned 8 percent annually for 20 years
planning and retirement income needs of the LGBT community and was recently named a 2018 FIVE STAR Wealth Manager as mentioned in Philadelphia Magazine.** He is active with several LGBT organizations in the Philadelphia region, including DVLF (Delaware Valley Legacy Fund) and the Independence Business Alliance (IBA), the Philadelphia Region’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce. OutMoney appears monthly. If you have a question for Jeremy, you can contact him via email at jeremy. gussick@lpl.com. Jeremy R. Gussick is a Registered Representative with, and securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC. This article was prepared with the assistance of DST Systems Inc. The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. We suggest that you discuss your specific situation with a qualified tax or legal advisor. Please consult me if you have any questions. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. All investing involves risk including loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss. © 2018 DST Systems, Inc. Reproduction in whole or in part prohibited, except by permission. All rights reserved. Not responsible for any errors or omissions. *Expense ratio = fund expenses (including 12b-1 fees, management fees, administrative fees, operating costs, and other asset-based costs incurred by the fund) as a percentage of total fund assets. 1DST Systems, Inc. Example is hypothetical and does not include the effect of taxes, loads, or other fees. Your results will differ. Investing in mutual funds involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Upon redemption, the value of fund shares may be worth more or less than their original cost.
Source: Investment Company Institute, 2018 Investment Company Fact Book. Ratios are calculated on an asset-weighted basis.
Lower fund fees also reflect a response by the mutual-fund industry to the growing popularity of exchange-traded funds (ETFs). ETFs are typically passively managed — i.e., they attempt to mirror the performance of a particular market index — allowing them to offer lower expenses than traditional actively managed mutual funds. Does all this mean that fund fees will soon be a thing of the past? That might be premature. After all, someone has to pay for the costs of administering a fund, even if those costs are low. But the trend of lower-cost investing appears to be here to stay. What’s in fund fees? Fund fees represent the ongoing costs of running a fund. They include expenses such as portfolio management, fund administration, daily fund accounting and pricing, shareholder services, distribu-
would have a gross market value of $46,610. If that investment were in a security with a 1 percent expense ratio, it would cost you $7,913 in expenses over that time period, and you would end up with an account balance of $38,697. On the other hand, an identical investment in a security with a 0.25 percent expense ratio would cost you only $2,111 over 20 years, and your account balance would grow to $44,499.1 Of course, expenses are only one factor to weigh when choosing funds for your retirement plan or investment portfolio. You’ll also want to consider how well the funds match your goals, time horizon and risk tolerance. But keep an eye on expenses as well — they can make a big difference over time. n Jeremy R. Gussick is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional affiliated with LPL Financial, the nation’s largest independent broker-dealer.* Jeremy specializes in the financial
Index funds are subject to market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. Also, an index fund’s target index may track a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. An investment in Exchange Traded Funds (ETF), structured as a mutual fund or unit investment trust, involves the risk of losing money and should be considered as part of an overall program, not a complete investment program. An investment in ETFs involves additional risks such as not diversified, price volatility, competitive industry pressure, international political and economic developments, possible trading halts, and index tracking errors. To the extent you are receiving investment advice from a separately registered independent investment advisor, please note that LPL Financial LLC is not an affiliate of and makes no representation with respect to such entity. *As reported by Financial Planning magazine, June 1996-2018, based on total revenues. **Award based on 10 objective criteria associated with providing quality services to clients such as credentials, experience, and assets under management among other factors. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of 2018 Five Star Wealth Managers.
CREEP from page 10
get visas unless they are married. But only 12% of UN member states allow same-sex marriage.” Only 12 percent. That’s, um, really low. If a doctor told you that your chances of survival were 12 percent, you’d better have all of your affairs in order. But these same-sex couples can just get married in the U.S. where it’s legal, right? No big deal — just take the “I do” plunge! Except it’s not that easy. Not only do most United Nations member countries not allow same-sex couples to marry but, according to Fortune, “in more than 70, same-sex relationships are punishable by law.” According to Akshaya Kumar, deputy United Nations director at Human Rights Watch, in these 70-plus countries, “homosexual conduct remains illegal and in many, anyone found ‘guilty’ can be sentenced to harsh punishments including years in prison or even public caning.” Morocco, which has thrown gay men in prison, and Malaysia, where a lesbian couple was recently subjected to a public caning, are just two examples. “The U.S. government should recognize, as it had for almost nine years until today, that requiring a marriage as proof of bona fide partnership is a bad and cruel policy, one that replicates the terrible discrimination many LGBT people face in their own countries,” writes Kumar, “and should be immediately reversed.” This policy, writes Kumar, “may make it impossible for some LGBT UN staff to live together with their partners in the United States.” Not that the Trump administration cares about keeping families together. “Bad and cruel” policies are the administration’s specialty. After all, the U.S. is still keeping immigrant children away from their parents, warehoused in tent cities. Something that should be a five-alarm outrage receiving wall-to-wall coverage, but has to compete with the nonstop barrage of scandals coming from this administration. Not to mention the gross inequities in our criminal-justice system that tears and keeps families, a vast proportion of which are racial minorities, apart. All of which makes it easy to overlook something like discrimination against LGBTQ United Nations staff disguised as a benevolent push toward equality. Getting married for some of these couples is not a safe option. A legal, public marriage might put them in real danger — the kind of danger that same-sex couples in the U.S., though certainly facing backlash under the Trump regime, don’t have to worry about. This is the kind of move you’d expect to see in a place like Vladimir Putin’s Russia. Then again, Trump has declared his love for him, too. It’s an alarming pattern. Vote on Nov. 6 like lives depend on it. Because they do. n D’Anne Witkowski is a poet, writer and comedian living in Michigan with her wife and son. She has been writing about LGBT politics for over a decade. Follow her on Twitter @MamaDWitkowski.
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HEALTH AND WELLNESS DIRECTORY
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Willyce Kim wrote her own story
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Spirituality • Sexuality • Relationships • Self-Esteem
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By Jason Villemez PGN Contributor Willyce Kim is the first AsianAmerican lesbian writer to be published in the U.S. She spent her childhood years in Hawaii and California, and graduated from San Francisco College for Women in 1968. Kim was influenced by musicians such as Bob Dylan and Joan Baez and writers including Adrienne Rich and Diane Di Prima. She self-published her first poetry chapbook, “Curtains of Light,” with her sister in 1970 and soon after she began working with the Women’s Press Collective in Oakland. As a member of the collective, she published works, took photographs and traveled the country to distribute literature and give readings at colleges, bookstores and women’s bars. In the ’70s and ’80s, she published three poetry collections, two novels, and contributed to literary magazines including The Furies, Phoenix Rising, and Conditions. “She celebrated lesbian life and lesbian love,” said poet and artist Kitty Tsui, who met Kim in the late ’70s and co-founded the Asian women’s writers collective Unbound Feet. “She used to read in the Bay Area with Pat Parker and Judy Grahn. They did a lot of poetry readings, and that’s when I became familiar with her work. When I came out in the 1970s I came into a community of all white women. She was the first Asian-American lesbian that I saw in the flesh, so she really was a great role model for me because I thought I was the only one.”
Kim’s writing deals with female empowerment, friendship, and family, and she handles sexuality — often pairing it alongside food metaphors — with sensuality and humor. In a scene from her 1985 swashbuckling novel “Dancer Dawkins and the California Kid,” Dancer Dawkins eats ice cream and the shop clerk compares her flavor euphoria to having an orgasm. The title poem in the collection Eating Artichokes, published by the Women’s Press Collective in 1972, closes with the line “your entire artichoke can become a very heavy sexual fantasy.” Kim also addresses issues of women’s liberation, specifically Asianwomen’s liberation, human trafficking and colonialism in her work. Her characters unabashedly stand up for themselves and the people they care about. The prose in her novels consists of short vignettes — some only a paragraph long — that build on one another. Publishers Weekly, in a review of Kim’s second novel, Dead Heat, wrote: “Kim’s lean, deadpan style belies her gift for seeing subtle humor in the ordinary, shambling state of human nature. Her characteristic technique of breaking down the plot into brief scenes successfully conveys the sense that aimless events are converging into a mosaic of meaning, independent of the efforts of her anti-heroines and perhaps far beyond their ken.” Kim, along with the members of the Women’s Press Collective, published works about lesbian women at a time when it was not socially acceptable and often
dangerous in many parts of the country. After enduring Catholic schools in her childhood, she went to college near the HaightAshbury in 1964, two years before Compton’s Cafeteria Riot and five years before Stonewall. At the time of her first two book publications, the American Psychiatric Association still considered homosexuality a mental illness. Organizations such as the Women’s Press Collective were safe spaces for voices like Kim’s, and through their publishing and activism they encouraged women of all races, economic classes and sexualities to live their own way. In a 1985 review of her first novel, Feminist Bookstore News wrote: “Kim’s writing makes clear the difference between merely describing lesbian relationships and delighting in them.” In addition to writing, Kim did printing and teaching jobs, and for several decades worked as a supervisor at the University of California at Berkeley library. Her works have influenced the likes of author Dorothy Allison, poet Pat Parker and the novelist Alexander Chee, who wrote: “She helped found a press based in a community of feminists, she took photos of them, she wrote about them and herself — she’s an inspiration. I think her decision to write high-spirited adventure novels about lesbians is perhaps a part of that same off-handed freedom she seems to have cultivated, and I love that. In today’s context, we would call that focusing on queer joy over queer pain, and maybe that’s her lesson for us.” n
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2018
TRANSMISSIONS from page 11
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killing scores of students and teachers. We now live with the daily reality that a tragedy could befall children at any school in the nation. Retailers sell “bulletproof” backpacks today, and schools have instituted “lockdown” drills to teach children how to react. Just like the “duck and cover” drills of the Cold War, students are taught to shelter in their rooms. With the doors locked and the windows tightly sealed, perhaps they are just as safe as their counterparts in the 1950s, hiding under their desks from the threat of nuclear fallout. Just a week or two ago, a “lockdown” drill was held on a middle-school campus in Virginia. It was during physical-education classes, and the students dutifully filed into their locker rooms to shelter from an imaginary gunman who intended to murder them. One girl was singled out. After all, in 2015 she was disallowed access to either locker room, and in spite of guidelines from a precedent-setting case in Washington, D.C., this child was still barred from both locker rooms. Teachers and staff began to debate: What could they do with this child, who they could not apparently send to either locker room, to have a sense of safety from this faux shooter? While they debated, she was made to sit in the gym with a teacher, segregated from her peers. The staff debated some more, then sent her to sit in the hallway between the locker rooms by the door, but again separated from other students. The school has since, in response to the outrage, noted that they have a different superintendent than they did in 2016, and that they would be reviewing all the procedures to make sure that “all children are treated with dignity and respect.” Whether intentional or not, the message this school has sent is that no, not all students are worthy of “dignity and respect.” One student in particular has not been treated with either since 2015. One student has been segregated from her classmates, made into an interloper in a place where she should feel included. What’s more, in the wake of this “lockdown” drill, her very life is worth less than any other student on that campus. If that hadn’t been a drill, would she have been left in the gym or a hallway, an offering to a shooter in the hope that other lives would be spared? We knew that policies like this may lead transgender students to suicide, but I don’t think any of us expected that we’d potentially leave transgender kids in the path of a school shooter’s bullet. Plain and simple, this is cruel, and there is no reason for it beyond fear and hatred. It’s been four years, and the calendar should not change one more time before this transgender child is treated as an equal to her peers. n
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states. Some make the act of “exposing” someone to HIV a felony crime. And some make the act of not disclosing one’s status to sexual partners a crime. Now, we can debate the fact that “exposing” someone to HIV is often based on ideas about transmission that are 30 years old and no longer relevant. Spitting doesn’t transmit HIV, for example. And we also know if a person is on antiretroviral therapy and the virus is suppressed in their bodies, they cannot transmit the virus through sexual contact — even if it’s sex without a condom (or what we call Undetectable=Untransmittable, or U=U). While it’s important that we all know the latest information about HIV transmission, it still shouldn’t matter. No gay or bisexual men, as maligned as we all still are in the world, should ever think the best solution to deal with HIV — whether you contract the virus or not — is to use the police and the specter of a prison sentence. I’ve been working on issues of HIV criminalization for about 10 years. And in the last few years, I’ve done some support on two particular cases where gay men have opted to bring down the force of punitive police and prison onto people they say didn’t disclose they were HIV positive, even if they didn’t contract HIV. Michael Johnson is a young black gay man in Missouri, currently serving a 10-year sentence for exposing several sex partners to HIV, only one of whom contracted HIV, and whether or not he disclosed his status is something only the people involved know. The person who called the police and who is HIV positive says he contracted HIV from Johnson, but does not say that the sex they had was coerced, or anything approaching assault. It was consensual. More recently, 24-year-old Sanjay Johnson is facing trial in Arkansas in early 2019 after disclosing his status after having sex with another young man. There is documented evidence that Johnson was, in fact, virally suppressed at the time of their sexual encounter, and the other person in question told TheBody that he tested positive just weeks later, and was concurrently given an AIDS diagnosis, which suggests he may have also been HIV positive at the time he had sex with Johnson but did not know. The accuser also suggests that when he called the police, he didn’t realize they would charge Johnson with a felony and that it would mean Johnson would be sent to prison. I am a black gay man approaching my 44th birthday. I straddle the generation of men who literally lost dozens, if not hundreds, of friends and lovers, and those who are now coming of age where we have great treatments that will suppress the virus to make condomless sex of no risk for HIV transmission, as well as having PrEP — an option other than condoms to prevent HIV for those who are HIV negative. I’m on PrEP and made the choice to use PrEP several years ago so that I would take HIV prevention into my own hands and not leave it to guess whether someone is HIV positive or negative. I’ve been disheartened by the fact that we have such fear and mistrust of one another that people think calling the police on someone for their health status is something that will keep us safe. Police and prisons do not bring about safety. Access to quality healthcare that is affordable is safety. And having the love and support of other men, as friends, as lovers, as a community, is what will make us safe and heal us all of the specter and the stigma of HIV, whether positive or negative. n Kenyon Farrow is the senior editor of TheBody.com and TheBodyPRO. com. Follow him on Twitter @kenyonfarrow. This column is a project of Plus, Positively Aware, POZ, TheBody.com and Q Syndicate, the LGBTQ wire service. Visit their websites at http://hivplusmag.com, http://positivelyaware.com, http://poz.com, and http://thebody.com for the latest updates on HIV/AIDS.
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ACLU of Delaware to award posthumous honor to Steve Elkins By Fay Jacobs PGN Contributor Since 1985, ACLU-Delaware’s Kandler Memorial Awards Dinner has recognized those Delawareans who have committed their lives to the fight for civil rights and liberties. For 2018, one of the award recipients will be the late Steve Elkins, co-founder and executive director of CAMP Rehoboth, Inc., an LGBTQ nonprofit service organization. Elkins passed away from cancer in March at age 67. The ACLU invitation notes: “For over a quarter century, Steve epitomized the inclusive spirit of CAMP — “Creating A More Positive” — Rehoboth. He passed away in March, leaving a legacy of activism and community spirit that endures in the organization he founded with his husband, Murray Archibald.” Elkins has been universally credited with making Rehoboth Beach, and much of the surrounding area, a place with room for all. Using quiet diplomacy and a gentle knack for inviting everyone to get to know members of the LGBT community as individuals, Elkins made an enormous difference. text and we have been in contact with Todd Snovel, executive director of the Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs, for guidance. We look forward to engaging with the Philadelphia LGBTQ community to arrive at an agreeable outcome for this and future LGBTQ-related markers in Philadelphia and across the state.” In a statement, Snovel said the commission “looks forward to working closely with the PHMC moving forward on all markers honoring LGBTQ communities in Pennsylvania.” Alvarez said she’d like to meet with PHMC officials regarding the marker’s language. “I’m open to having a dialogue about the appropriate language that should be used in the marker. The trans community must be involved in that dialogue.” Malcolm Lazin, executive director of Equality Forum, wrote in an email: “While Equality Forum paid for the marker, installation and dedication, the wording on the marker is solely in the judgment of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.”
In the 1990s, folks sported anti-gay bumper stickers saying “Keep Rehoboth a Family Town.” Today, Rehoboth and coastal Delaware towns are family towns for all kinds of families. Elkins met Murray Archibald, his partner of almost 40 years, in 1978 when Elkins was working as an administrator at the White House during the Carter administration. He then went into the business world. In 1990, Elkins and Archibald moved to Rehoboth Beach. The couple and their friends saw the need for LGBT support and advocacy in Rehoboth. They wanted to end the negativity they heard about the LGBT community. Elkins said he wanted to help Rehoboth think more about the positive and less of the negative — hence the acronym CAMP. I always said we wanted it to be a family town as well but families come in all sizes, shapes and orientations,” Elkins said. Under Elkins’ leadership, CAMP Rehoboth, Inc., grew, then purchased downtown Rehoboth office space, built a community center and thrived. One of its largest programs, Campsafe, provides HIV prevention-related services for people in Rehoboth and now in surrounding Sussex County.
Lazin said it’s “likely” that he mentioned to PHMC that the Dewey’s sit-in was “heavily influenced” by AfricanAmerican sit-ins of the 1960s. “Sit-ins as a civil-rights tactic were actively used by AfricanAmerican civil-rights activists starting 1961 through the mid1960s,” Lazin wrote. Pollman said that Lazin “participated in the drafting of [the] text,” adding that “our normal procedure when placing a marker anywhere in Pennsylvania is to work with the local sponsor to develop the language. That routine process was used in this case.” Pollman said PHMC believes the marker’s language is correct. “PHMC contends that the marker is accurate, although we acknowledge some may consider it incomplete. Marker text is akin to a tweet: Key points are made, but context and nuance are often lost.” PHMC is willing to discuss the possibility of a revised marker, Pollman said. “In a 40-word marker, it is impossible to provide the entire context about a specific event. Marker-nomination documents
Tell us what you think
Under Elkins’ leadership, CAMP Rehoboth began participating in programs with the Rehoboth Library, the Historical Society and business community, making friends and allies of the very people whose cars once sported those hateful antigay bumper stickers. He also introduced police sensitivity training to the community. Elkins was well known for having the
cite several sources that researchers can use to understand the broader context of marker subjects. We would also need to consider the wishes of the nominator/sponsor, plus there is the matter of cost.” Matt Mecoli, a local LGBT advocate, nominated the Dewey’s
courage, as he fought for LGBT acceptance, to also call out his own community’s occasional bad behavior and make sure the LGBT citizens in Rehoboth were living up to their good-neighbor responsibilities. In 2013, Elkins and Archibald were awarded the rarely given Order of the First State for meritorious service to the State of Delaware, signed by Gov. Jack Markell. In the week following Elkins’ passing, in this once-divided town, flags at Rehoboth City Hall and the police department flew at half-staff in his memory. On Oct. 17, the ACLU will present their Courage & Vision: Champions of Liberty, Kandler Award, honoring Elkins and two others: Maria Matos, president and CEO of the Latin American Community Center in Wilmington, and Kevin O’Connell, an assistant public defender, who will be honored with the Clarence Darrow Award. The event will take place at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington; beginning at 5:30 p.m. for cocktail hour, followed by dinner at 6:30 Tickets are $150 and are available at aclu-de.org. For more information contact dbever@ aclu-de.org. For more information, about the Kandler Award, see aclu-de.org. n
Mecoli said he started work on the marker in August 2017 and subsequently tried to collaborate with Equality Forum. The collaboration didn’t work out and in April he permitted Equality Forum to be the substitute nominator/sponsor. Mecoli said he didn’t write or suggest the final
“In a 40-word marker, it is impossible to provide the entire context about a specific event. Marker-nomination documents cite several sources that researchers can use to understand the broader context of marker subjects.” site for a historic marker in November 2017, but sent a letter to PHMC relinquishing control of the nomination to Equality Forum in April 2018. “I wrote and submitted the original state historical- marker application,” Mecoli told PGN. “But as of May, I had relinquished full control and Equality Forum was the sole sponsor of the nomination, including control over the marker’s text in conjunction with PHMC.”
language of the marker. He also expressed support for “a new marker that more accurately and inclusively represents the true history of the spot, as detailed in my original nomination.” Bob Skiba, a local historian and the archivist at William Way LGBT Community Center, also expressed support for a revised marker. “It’s wonderful that we now have eight LGBT historical markers in Philadelphia, more
Send letters and opinion column submissions to: pgn@ epgn.com; PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147; fax: 215-925-6437.
than any other American city,” Skiba told PGN. “It’s also important they they be accurate and honor all the people who should be honored.” Skiba said the Dewey’s event was significant because the Janus Society, a “homophile” organization based in Philadelphia at the time, supported the gender-variant and trans communities. “The new Dewey’s marker manages to tell a lot of the story of the sit-ins. However, there’s a glaring omission. It’s important to note that not only ‘homosexuals’ were denied service. The Dewey’s sit-in was, in fact, another instance of trans people being in the front lines of the battle for equality. Let’s celebrate that.” Jason Landau Goodman, executive director of Pennsylvania Youth Congress, said he’s optimistic the marker will be revised. “As I understand it, there’s a process for revising markers. If we get input from a range of people who should have been consulted in the first place, then we can ensure this marker — and those in the future — accurately reflect our history.” n
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INFORMATION STATEMENT ON ACCESS TO THE ELECTION PROCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA GENERAL AND SPECIAL ELECTION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018 In accordance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Voter Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act of 1984, the City of Philadelphia does not discriminate against people with disabilities in providing access to its election process. According to these federal laws, the City of Philadelphia is required to ensure that its election process as a whole is accessible to people with disabilities in all elections. This means that polling places shall be accessible to people with disabilities to the extent that accessible locations are available within each election district. The City Commissioners designates and lists polling place accessibility in varying degrees. Polling places that fully meet all federal and state criteria are designated with an “F” for fully accessible building and an “H” for handicapped parking. If a polling place location does not fully meet these federal and state criteria but provides relative accessibility with minor assistance in entry then that location will be designated with a “B” for substantial accessibility. If a fully accessible location, that meets all federal and state criteria (designated as “FH”), is not available for a polling place in your election Division, voting accessibility will be provided through the use of an Alternative Ballot in accordance with directives issued by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. If you are a registered voter who is disabled or age 65 or older and who is not assigned to a polling place that has been designated as “FH”, you are qualified to vote using an Alternative Ballot. ONLY THE FOLLOWING WARDS AND DIVISIONS POLLING PLACES HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED AS “FH” OR FULLY ACCESSIBLE. IF YOU ARE A REGISTERED VOTER IN ANY ELECTION DISTRICT IN PHILADELPHIA, EXCEPT FOR THOSE LISTED BELOW, AND YOU ARE DISABLED OR AGE 65 OR OLDER YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE FROM HOME USING AN ALTERNATIVE BALLOT OR AT CITY HALL ROOM 142 ON ELECTION DAY USING AN EMERGENCY ALTERNATIVE BALLOT:
THIS LIST IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE – REFER TO THE WEBSITE BELOW FOR UP TO DATE INFORMATION www.philadelphiavotes.com Electoral District
Electoral Division
Address
Location
Electoral District
Electoral Division
Address
Location
02
16,25
416 Queen St
Settlement Music School
36
22
2600 Moore St
St John Neumann Place
3
3, 4
6212 Walnut St.
Care Pavilion
37
9
2862 Germantown Ave.
Warnock Village
05
15
1039 Lawrence St
St John Neumann House
38
1, 17
3226 McMichael St.
Abbottsford Homes
6
9, 11
Sarah Allen Senior Housing
38
19
4349 Ridge Ave.
Falls Ridge Apts. Com Ctr.
6
15
4035 Parrish St. th 40 St. & Parkside Ave.
School of the Future
39
10, 19
501 Jackson St.
Jackson Place
6
17
4700 Parkside Ave.
Discovery Charter School
41
13, 14
Magee & Keystone Sts.
Fire Engine # 38
7
5
167 W Allegheny Ave.
Villas Del Caribe
42
1
4501 G St.
City Sign Shop
7
13, 17
200 E Somerset St.
Somerset Villas
44
8
4901 Chestnut St.
West Phila. High School
8
25
2 Franklin Town Blvd.
The Water Mark
48
7, 22
2600 Moore St.
St. John Neuman Place
8
27
2400 Chestnut St.
2400 Chestnut St. Bldg
49
3, 20
1300 W Godfrey Ave.
Community College of Phila.
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2018
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30
17 St., South of Spring Garden St.
Community College
52
3
3900 City Ave.
Presidential City Apts
9
4, 5
20 E Mermaid Lane
Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting House
52
11, 12
2600 Belmont Ave.
Inglis House Founders Hall
9
12
Lutheran Theological Seminary
52
22, 23, 24
1717 N 54 St.
Wynnefield Place
13
6, 7, 8
Nicetown Court
56
22
2101 Strahle St.
Samuel Tabas House
14
5
1100 Fairmount Ave.
Gladys Jacobs Apts.
58
09,13,17
608 Welsh Rd
St Thomas Syro Malabar Church
14
8
1100 Poplar St.
Street Community Center
58
19
1619 Grant Ave.
Randi’s Restaurant
17
06
6401 Ogontz Ave
Mt Airy Church God In Christ
58
44
9896 Bustleton Ave.
Paul’s Run
18
01
1340 Frankford Ave
Lutheran Settlement Home
59
20
633 W Rittenhouse St.
Rittenhouse Hill Apts.
19
11
2400 N Howard St.
Hunter School
60
2 ,8, 12, 23
4901 Chestnut St.
West Phila. High School
20
4
1600 N 8 St.
Gray Manor
60
4, 6
5429 Chestnut St.
Holmes Senior Apts.
22
3
6400 Greene St.
Cliveden Convales Center
63
11, 23
8550 Verree Rd.
Villages Pine Valley Clubhouse
27
2
4400 Baltimore Ave.
H.M.S. School
63
21
608 Welsh Rd.
St. Thomas Syro Malabar Church
27
17
1450 S 50 St.
Reba Brown Senior Apts.
64
8, 9, 10, 13, 14
3201 Ryan Ave.
Lincoln High School
30
7
1800 Lombard St.
Penn Medicine
64
15, 16
8301 Roosevelt Blvd.
Deer Meadows
10, 11, 25 15, 16, 17, 22
Rising Sun Ave. & Comly St. Langdon & Sanger Sts.
Lawncrest Recreation Center
66
2, 7
10980 Norcom Rd.
Norcom Community Center
New Fels High School
35 35
7301 Germantown Ave. 4340 Germantown Ave.
th
th
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An Alternative Ballot may be obtained for any election, upon your advance request on an Alternative Ballot Application. In Philadelphia an application for an Alternative Ballot can be made on the regular Absentee Ballot Application by checking the box for “Handicapped or 65 years or older and who is assigned to an inaccessible polling place”. The applications may be obtained at the County Board of Elections in Room 142, City Hall or by contacting (215) 686-3469 VOICE, or TTY/TDD through the AT&T Relay System. TDD users may utilize this service by calling 1-800-654-5984 and telling the communications assistant they want to speak to the Pennsylvania Bureau of Elections at (717) 787-5280. Alternative Ballot Applications by mail must be submitted to the County Board of Elections no later than 7 days before the election. Alternative Ballots must be returned to the County Board of Elections no later than the close of the polls, at 8:00 P.M. on Election Day. Additionally, registered electors with disabilities may apply for an Emergency Alternative Ballot Application and cast their ballot in person at the County Board of Elections, in Room 142, City Hall, up to the close of the polls on Election Day. In addition, the City shall provide registration materials in large print at each registration facility, and voting instructions in large print at each polling place. Should you have any questions about your rights, or the City’s obligations under these laws, or if you need assistance in determining if your polling place fully meets federal and state criteria, please contact the Accessibility Compliance Office, or the County Board of Elections. City Commissioner's Office City Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19107
County Board of Elections City Hall, Room 142 Philadelphia, PA 19107 215-686-3469 / 215-686-3943
Accessibility Compliance Office 1401 JFK Blvd, MSB, 10th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19102-1677
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Photos: Scott A. Drake
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DECLARACIÓN DE INFORMACIÓN SOBRE EL ACCESO AL PROCESO DE ELECCIONES PARA LAS PERSONAS CON DISCAPACIDADES EN LA CIUDAD DE FILADELFIA GENERAL Y ELECCIÓN ESPECIAL MARTES, 6 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2018 De acuerdo con el Título II de la Ley de Americanos con Discapacidades de 1990 y la Ley de Accesibilidad de Votante para los Ancianos y los Discapacitados de 1984, la Ciudad de Filadelfia no discrimina a la gente con discapacidades al suministrar acceso para el proceso de elecciones. Según estas leyes federales, se requiere que la Ciudad de Filadelfia asegure que su proceso de elecciones en conjunto sea accesible a la gente con discapacidades en todas las elecciones. Esto significa que los sitios de votación serán accesibles a los discapacitados de tal manera que haya locaciones accesibles disponibles dentro de cada distrito electoral. Los Comisionados de la Ciudad designan y enumeran la accesibilidad de los lugares de votación en grados variables. Los sitios de votación que cumplen en su totalidad con los criterios federales y estatales son designados con una "F" que indica que es un edificio totalmente accesible, y con una "H" que indica que hay estacionamiento para discapacitados. Si un logar de votación no cumple en su totalidad con estos criterios federales y estatales, pero provee accesibilidad relativa con una pequeña ayuda en la entrada, entonces ese logar será designado con una "B" que indica que tiene una accesibilidad substancial. Si no hay disponible un lugar totalmente accesible, que cumpla con todos los criterios federales y estatales (designados como “FH”), como sitio de votación en su División de elección, la accesibilidad para votar será proporcionada mediante el uso de una Boleta Alternativa de acuerdo con las directrices expedidas por el Secretario del Estado. Si usted es un votante registrado, que es discapacitado o tiene 65 años de edad o más, y no se le ha asignado un lugar de votación que haya sido designado como “FH”, entonces cumple con los requisitos para votar mediante una Boleta Alternativa. SÓLO LOS CENTROS DE VOTACIÓN DE LOS DISTRITOS Y LAS DIVISIONES ELECTORALES QUE SE MENCIONAN A CONTINUACIÓN SE HAN DESIGNADO COMO “FH” O TOTALMENTE ACCESIBLES. SI USTED ES UN VOTANTE REGISTRADO EN CUALQUIER DISTRITO ELECTORAL DE FILADELPHIA, SALVO EN AQUELLOS QUE SE ENUMERAN A CONTINUACIÓN, Y ES DISCAPACITADO O MAYOR DE 65 AÑOS, CUMPLE CON LOS REQUISITOS PARA VOTAR DESDE SU HOGAR MEDIANTE UNA BOLETA ALTERNATIVA O EN LA SALA 142 DEL AYUNTAMIENTO EL DÍA DE LA ELECCIÓN MEDIANTE UNA BOLETA ALTERNATIVA DE EMERGENCIA: ESTE AVISO ESTA SUJECTA A CAMBIOS – PARA OBTENER INFORMACION ACTUALIZADA IR A WWW.PHILADELPHIAVOTES.COM
Distrito Electoral 2
Division Electoral 16, 25
Domicilio
Centro de votacion
Distrito Electoral 36
Division Electoral 22
Domicilio
Centro de votacion
416 Queen St.
Settlement Music School
3
3, 4
6212 Walnut St.
2600 Moore St
St John Neumann Place
Care Pavilion
37
9
2862 Germantown Ave.
Warnock Village
5
15
1039 Lawrence St.
St John Neumann House
38
1, 17
3226 McMichael St.
Abbottsford Homes
6
9, 11
4035 Parrish St.
Sarah Allen Senior Housing
38
19
4349 Ridge Ave.
Falls Ridge Apts. Com Ctr.
th
6
15
40 St. & Parkside Ave.
School of the Future
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10, 19
501 Jackson St.
Jackson Place
6
17
4700 Parkside Ave.
Discovery Charter School
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13, 14
Magee & Keystone Sts.
Fire Engine # 38
7
5
167 W Allegheny Ave.
Villas Del Caribe
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1
4501 G St.
City Sign Shop
7
13, 17
200 E Somerset St.
Somerset Villas
44
8
4901 Chestnut St.
West Phila. High School
8
25
The Water Mark
48
7, 22
2600 Moore St.
St. John Neuman Place
8
27
2400 Chestnut St. Bldg
49
3, 20
1300 W Godfrey Ave.
Community College of Phila.
8
30
Community College
52
3
3900 City Ave.
Presidential City Apts
2 Franklin Town Blvd. 2400 Chestnut St. th 17 St., South of Spring Garden St.
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2018
Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting House
52
11, 12
2600 Belmont Ave.
Lutheran Theological Seminary
52
22, 23, 24
1717 N 54 St.
Wynnefield Place
Nicetown Court
56
22
2101 Strahle St.
Samuel Tabas House
Gladys Jacobs Apts.
58
9, 13, 17
608 Welsh Rd.
St. Thomas Syro Malabar Church
1100 Poplar St.
Street Community Center
58
19
1619 Grant Ave.
Randi’s Restaurant
6
6401 Ogontz Ave.
Mt Airy Church God in Christ
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44
9896 Bustleton Ave.
Paul’s Run
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1
1340 Frankford Ave.
Lutheran Settlement Home
59
20
633 W Rittenhouse St.
Rittenhouse Hill Apts.
19
11
2400 N Howard St.
Hunter School
60
2 ,8, 12, 23
4901 Chestnut St.
West Phila. High School
20
4
1600 N 8 St.
Gray Manor
60
4, 6
5429 Chestnut St.
Holmes Senior Apts.
22
3
6400 Greene St.
Cliveden Convales Center
63
11, 23
8550 Verree Rd.
Villages Pine Valley Clubhouse
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2
4400 Baltimore Ave.
H.M.S. School
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21
608 Welsh Rd.
St. Thomas Syro Malabar Church
27
17
1450 S 50 St.
Reba Brown Senior Apts.
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8, 9, 10, 13, 14
3201 Ryan Ave.
Lincoln High School
7
1800 Lombard St.
Penn Medicine
64
15, 16
8301 Roosevelt Blvd.
Deer Meadows
10, 11, 25 15, 16, 17, 22
Rising Sun Ave. & Comly St. Langdon & Sanger Sts.
Lawncrest Recreation Center
66
2, 7
10980 Norcom Rd.
Norcom Community Center
New Fels High School
9
4, 5
9
12
13
6, 7, 8
14
5
14
8
17
30 35 35
20 E Mermaid Lane 7301 Germantown Ave. 4340 Germantown Ave. 1100 Fairmount Ave.
th
th
th
Inglis House Founders Hall
Es posible obtener una Boleta Alternativa para cualquier elección, a través de una petición por adelantado de una Solicitud de Boleta Alternativa. En Filadelfia se puede pedir una Boleta Alternativa en la solicitud corriente de Boleta para Votar en Ausencia, señalando la casilla de “Discapacitado, 65 años de edad o mayor y a quien se le ha asignado un lugar de votación inaccesible”. Las solicitudes se pueden obtener en la Junta de Elecciones del Condado en Sala 142, del Ayuntamiento o llamando al teléfono (215) 686-3469 VOICE, o por TTY/TDD (Teletipo/Aparato de Telecomunicación para Sordos) a través del AT&T Relay System. Los usuarios de TDD pueden utilizar este servicio llamando al 1-800-654-5984 e informándole al asistente de comunicaciones que desean hablar con la Oficina de Elecciones de Pensilvania en el (717) 787-5280. Las Solicitudes de Boleta Alternativa deben enviarse por correo a la Junta de Elecciones del Condado a más tardar siete días antes de la elección. Las Boletas Alternativas deben devolverse a la Junta de Elecciones del Condado a más tardar al momento del cierre de las urnas,a las 8:00 p.m. del Día de Elecciones. Además, los electores registrados con discapacidades pueden pedir una Solicitud de Boleta Alternativa de Emergencia y depositar la boleta personalmente en la Junta de Elecciones del Condado, en sala 142, del Ayuntamiento, hasta el momento del cierre de elecciones durante el Día de Elecciones. Ademas, la Ciudad proporcionará materiales de inscripción en letras grandes en cada instalación de inscripción, y suministrará las instrucciones en letras grandes sobre cómo votar en cada sitio de votación. Si tiene alguna pregunta sobre sus derechos o sobre las obligaciones de la Ciudad según estas leyes, o si necesita ayuda para determinar si su lugar de votación cumple en su totalidad con los criterios federales y estatales, comuníquese con la Oficina de Cumplimiento con la Accesibilidad, o la Junta de Elecciones del Condado. Oficina del Comisionado de la Ciudad City Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Junta de Elecciones del Condado City Hall, Room 142 Philadelphia, PA 19107 215-686-3469 / 215-686-3943
Oficina de Cumplimiento con la Accesibilidad 1401 JFK Blvd, MSB, 10th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19102-1677
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AC ul t ure rts
FEATURE PGN
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Comics Dining Out Family Portrait Out & About Q Puzzle Scene in Philly
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EL ANGEL (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT), ANCHOR AND HOPE, THE PARTY’S JUST BEGINNING, THE DARE PROJECT, GIRL, KNIFE + HEART, SAUVAGE, DIAMANTINO, , RAFIKI
Philadelphia Film Festival offers a cornucopia of queer cinema By Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor This year’s Philadelphia Film Festival will provide a sneak peek at five movies with queer content, a month before those films debut. The festival, screening Oct. 18-28 at multiple city venues, will open with the Philadelphia premiere of “Ben Is Back,” a family drama starring Julia Roberts and Lucas Hedges (“Boy Erased”), and will wrap up with the documentary “Teddy Pendergrass: If You Don’t Know Me.” In between, more than 100 shorts, features and documentaries will debut. “Boy Erased,” written and directed by Joel Edgerton and based on Garrard Conley’s memoir, is an important drama about teenager Jared (Lucas Hedges) being sent to a gay-conversion program by his parents, Marshall (Russell Crowe), a Baptist preacher, and Nancy (Nicole Kidman). The film certainly depicts the horrors of Jared’s experiences. Yet, despite that it’s his story, the script seems to be more focused on educating and changing the minds of parents of LGBT youth, which may disappoint queer viewers looking for identification. “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” is a hilarious comedy-drama that features Melissa McCarthy in a serious role. She plays Lee Israel, a downon-her-luck lesbian who has contempt for just about everyone. She can’t seem to hold a job or make ends meet, but she unexpectedly stumbles upon a scheme to forge famous people’s letters for cash. She confesses her crime to her gay drinking buddy, Jack Hock (Richard E. Grant), whom she enlists to help with her scams. The rapport between Lee and Jack is often pricelessly funny, but the film is cloaked in a sadness that is ultimately quite moving. Matt Tyrnauer’s lively documentary, “Studio 54,” takes viewers behind the velvet ropes and into the famed New York City nightclub. With
hundreds of amazing photographs, film clips, news footage and interviews, Tyrnauer gets Ian Schrager — who co-owned the club with the late, gay Steve Rubell and a silent partner named Jack Dushey — to “tell the story as it really happened,” nearly 40 years later. “El Angel” from Argentina is a flinty truecrime film about Carlos (Lorenzo Ferro), a teenager in 1971 Buenos Aires who commits a handful of robberies with Ramón (Chino Darín), a classmate to whom he’s attracted. There is a palpable homoerotic tension between the two young friends. Eventually, Carlos becomes more desperate and more violent. It’s almost a spoiler to reveal that he became the longest-serving criminal in the country’s history. Director Luis Ortega’s stylish film features gorgeous period details and music, as well a knockout performance by Ferro. Alas, the highly anticipated “If Beale Street Could Talk” — Barry Jenkins’ (“Moonlight”) adaptation of James Baldwin’s book — was not available for preview. The terrific romance from Kenya, “Rafiki” (“Friend”), was outlawed in its home nation for “promoting lesbianism,” but this humble film really addresses homophobia. Kena (Samantha Mugatsia) is a tomboy who falls for Ziki (Sheila Munyiva) — which is unheard of in their town, where their fathers also are political rivals. The young women make a pact not to be “like everyone else;” they want to be “something real.” They talk and kiss and cuddle, but they have a spat while attending a sermon on same-sex marriage. When their relationship is discovered, things really come to a head. Can Kena and Ziki live openly, or even be together? It’s essential to see the marvelous “Rafiki” to find out. “Anchor and Hope” also depicts a pressure-filled relationship between two women,
Eva (Oona Chaplin) and Kat (Natalia Tena), who live on a houseboat. When Kat’s friend Roger (David Verdaguer) stays with them, he agrees to help Eva realize her dream of having a baby. How the threesome manage this development forms the basis for this gentle, engaging drama that boasts three strong central performances and a lovely supporting turn from Geraldine Chaplin (Oona’s real-life mom) as Eva’s wacky mother. The Belgian Oscar entry, “Girl,” depicts trans teenager Lara (Victor Polster), who hopes to study ballet. She is trying to adjust to life with all of the anxieties teens experience, from peer pressure to sexual curiosity. Lara receives nothing but love from her father (Arieh Worthalter), who wants the best for her, but he worries that Lara isn’t eating and that she is having trouble adjusting as she transitions. Their relationship is inspiring, but it’s Lara’s discomfort with her body that forms the central focus of the film. Polster gives a delicate performance in a film that rings true, despite adding little nuance to trans cinema. Another film featuring a trans character is “The Party’s Just Beginning,” writer, director and star Karen Gillen’s fresh feature debut. Liusaidh (Gillen) is a young woman in Inverness who is stuck in a deadend job and drinking too much, taking too many drugs and having too much casual sex. She is, it is slowly revealed, recovering from the suicide of her gay best friend, Alister (Matthew Beard), who was in the process of becoming a woman named Alice/ Ally. As Liusaidh is haunted by images of Alister, she slowly starts to get out of her funk when she meets Dale (out actor Lee Pace), a potential boyfriend. She also has a series of disarming chats with an elderly man who is trying to reach a suicide hotline, but calls Liusaidh instead. “The Party’s Just
Beginning” balances poignancy and irreverence as it makes its points about acceptance and self-worth, and Gillen’s vibrant style and ingratiating performance make these messages go down smoothly. The festival also offers two naughty French imports. “Sauvage” (“Wild”) is a fantastic drama about Léo (Félix Maritaud), a gay male prostitute. He is seen plying his trade with various customers when not taking drugs or sleeping wherever he can (often on the street itself). Léo is not well; he has a bad cough and he’s got it bad — that is, he’s in love with Ahd (Eric Bernard), a sexy gayfor-pay hustler pal who looks out for him but doesn’t love him back. “Sauvage” is mostly plotless as it follows Léo from an intense encounter with a couple of clients who hurt him to a touching visit with a female doctor (Marie Seux) who tries to help him. Maritaud gives a tremendous performance, capturing Léo’s palpable despair with his incredible body language. Writer-director Camille Vidal-Naquet shoots the cruising-area scenes like a nature documentary, but “Sauvage” is a raw and immersive experience. Maritaud also has a supporting role in “Knife + Heart,” a cheeky thriller set in 1979 Paris. Anne Parèze (a delicious Vanessa Paradis), a producer of gay porn, is upset over her breakup with Lois (Kate Moran), a film editor at her studio. However, her real troubles begin when the actors in one of her films are being murdered one by one by a masked man wielding a dildo that doubles as a knife. Director-cowriter Yann Gonzalez’s stylish film is fabulous when it depicts Anne’s amour fou, or the cheesy gayporn shoots that mimic Anne’s life — such as a police-station interrogation — but this clever film loses steam when it shifts to solvPAGE 32 ing the mystery.
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PGN
STORM LARGE
A Crazy Kind of Love
A mesmerizing six-foot blonde, Storm Large is a musician, actor, playwright, author, and most famous as an unforgetunforgettable interpreter of American popular music. She sold out the Kennedy Center with her debut as guest vocalist for the electric band Pink Martini and The New York Times Times called called her “sensational” when she performed at Carnegie Hall in 2013. “I‘ve always liked the whole idea of the Rat Pack and Frank Sinatra, all those kinds of very cool atmospherics,” she has said. Storm’s Crazy Storm’s Crazy Kind of Love set Love set feafeatures tunes from “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” through “Somebody to Love” and “Forever Young”. Her sizzling interpretainterpretations of POPS classics form the perfect counterpoint to Leslie Odom, Jr.’s more mellow revue of American popular music.
Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center featuring Michael Krajewski, music director
TICKETS: 215.893.1999 OR PHILLYPOPS.ORG
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PROFILE PGN
Family Portrait
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2018
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Suzi Nash
Erin Busbee: Puttin’ on the glitz
Raise your hand if you’ve been to William Way LGBT Community Center. All those with hands down, please pass your gay cards to the front. But seriously, if you haven’t been to the center, you’re missing out on a lot. Founded in 1974 as the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Philadelphia, William Way has morphed and moved and grown throughout the years. (Some of you older radicals may remember when it was known as Penguin Place.) It has been at 1315 Spruce St. since 1997 and offers something for everyone in the community. Named after activist William Way, the center houses a changing art gallery (currently featuring the uber-talented Natalie Hope McDonald), a cyber center (free WiFi!), a lending library (more than 14,000 books of interest to our community), an LGBT archive center (some of my stuff is there) and a ballroom (named after PGN publisher Mark Segal). You can rent rooms for meetings or events or join the roster of longterm tenants. There are group meetings open to the public, like the twice-monthly “Coffee Talk,” a gathering for people who identify as trans, genderqueer or non-binary and their allies, and the weekly drop-in social group TransWay. There are a bevy of programs for old and young, the religious and the spiritual. There are regular meetings for Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Debtors Anonymous and other recovery groups. Need someone to talk to? The Peer Counseling Program offers one-to-one counseling that is confidential and free of charge. If you like to read, there’s the Reading Rainbow book club. If you prefer to write, you can join the Queer Writers Collective. There are movie nights and theatrical and music performances. The center has groups for bridge, mahjong and a variety of board and video-game nights. Want something more physically challenging? Take a class in tai chi. I could go on, but all this goodness takes money. This weekend, WWCC will host one of the year’s most-anticipated annual fundraising events, Indigo Ball. One of the people tasked to bring it all together is this week’s Portrait, Erin Busbee. PGN: If you were writing this column, what would be the first thing you’d ask you? EB: Ha! Flipping it right to me. I guess I would ask how I got to Philly. I moved to Philly last Labor Day, just over a year ago. My partner and I were in a long-distance relationship. I was living in Ann Arbor and she was in New York. We both wanted to live on the East Coast, so we did a little research on Philly, bought a house here and just kind of dove in. PGN: What made you choose Philadelphia? EB: I was thinking of going back to school, and there are so many good choices here. I
figured I’d find the place first and then the school, though it’s usually the other way around. Philadelphia is a great option and much more affordable than New York or D.C. My partner also wanted to stay east and didn’t want to move to somewhere remote, so Philly was a good choice for her too. We love it.
PGN: What do the folks do? EB: There are four of them. My mom worked as a phlebotomist and my stepdad worked for the city in the water department. My dad is currently in charge of housing and placement, working with the homeless in a mediation program. He was recently selected to do national trainings because Cleveland apparently has model programs for mediation, housing and homeless issues. My stepmom does sales/acquisitions for large companies. PGN: What did you study at Michigan? EB: Cultural anthropology and Spanish. PGN: So you didn’t want to be employed … EB: [Laughing] Pretty much! I chose the future-employment hard route. PGN: What was a favorite class? EB: There was a class I took called “Anthropology of the Body” that was really interesting. It was about how we perform culturally through what we wear, how we hold ourselves and what it says about us. PGN: What did you do after college? EB: I got a travel fellowship and I traveled the world for eight months. I went to Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, South Africa, Swaziland, Thailand and The Philippines. PGN: What? I’m so jealous! EB: It was pretty amazing. A dream come true — to have someone just say, “Here’s some money, go travel the world and have adventures.” I’ve always loved travel and always loved immersing myself into a different culture, talking to people and learning different languages. I always wanted to study abroad but as a student athlete on a scholarship, there was never time. Track has such a long season, there was never really an opportunity to go anywhere. PGN: What was something that surprised you? EB: Well, I did a lot of research, so there were no big surprises. I think there were more internal lessons learned. Going from place to place so quickly, I realized how much I value familiarity. It wasn’t a trip where you go and come back or stay a few days; it was city-hopping almost every day. And though it was incredible, it was exhausting trying to find people and make new friends each time. I realized how nice it was to be at home, where I
could walk down the street and bump into people I knew and say hi, or walk into a neighborhood store and have the cashier say, “Hey Erin, how are you doing?” I thought, Wow, that’s never going to happen here. Once I came home, I really valued those casual interactions and appreciated my friends much more. I still think about it to this day. PGN: When did you come out? EB: [Laughing] I did it a lot. The first time was in high school. My freshman year, I told a teammate who was out. I went to school with my best friend and my cousin and there was already gossip about me, so I was dragged out of the closet and it was pretty messy. However, I then came out to my mom that January, right after my 15th birthday, and then she came out to my aunt and my grandma for me. It trickled out to the rest of the family, including my dad, over the rest of the year. It took folks a minute, and there were a few tears along the way, but no major drama.
female. I come from a world of sports that immediately identifies you. You’re on the women’s volleyball or track team, which makes it pretty clear. But away from sports, people sometimes read me as male. So if I talk to someone about sports, just discussing my stats is telling. If I give someone my record in the long jump or race, the distance or time between a record woman’s jump and a man’s is pretty significant. So they’re going to know immediately from the length or time that it was a women’s event. I’m basically outing myself, gender-wise. It’s interesting. If I’m in the street and someone calls me “sir,” it used to bother me when I was younger, but now I just let it slide. When I look in the mirror, I just see me, sports bra and all. PGN: That’s great. Describe what you do now. EB: I came to William Way at the end of March as the development associate. But with the departure of my boss, I’ve taken over a lot of the development-director responsibilities, including the Indigo Ball. So it’s been a seat-of-my-pants initiation, but it’s going to be a great event. I’m getting a lot of help our former DD and the staff here, and from planner extraordinaire Noel Zayas. PGN: Ah, you’re in good hands with Noel. I did his profile years ago and it’s one of my favorites. EB: Definitely. It’s been a lot of learning and a lot of, “Let me get right back to you,” but I enjoy a challenge. I find that I perform really well when my feet are to the fire.
PGN: What can people expect at the ball this year? EB: It’s going to be great, very elegant. We have a Gatsby-style theme in silver and gold — lots of food, hors d’oeuvres and then a sit-down three-course Photo: Suzi Nash PGN: Have you faced any overt dinner. There will be live discrimination? entertainment as well as EB: It’s hard to say. It’s hard to know what dance music from DJ Robert Drake. We’re going to be highlighting the contype of discrimination I might be facing tributions of LGBTQ seniors, as well at any point in time — if something is as awarding Lifetime Achievement, because of my race, my gender presenHumanitarian of the Year and the John tation, if I’m facing misogyny or maybe J. Wilcox, Jr. Leadership and Service homophobia if I’m with my girlfriend awards that evening, and we have a — or if they don’t quite know what I am beautiful location, the Pennsylvania and that’s the problem. I’ve never faced anything major; it might be just a tone. It’s Academy of the Fine Arts. Put on your interesting because I identify as queer or finest and come join us for some fun! n
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New LGBT company screens its first film By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com A new LGBT-themed film company is screening is first feature-film release this month in Bucks County.
Moving Forward Pictures is screening “American Hate Crime,” a drama with a lot of twists, about a group of bullies who use social-media apps to lure and attack gay people.
Ian Liberatore, a Bucks County native who wrote and directed the film, said he was inspired by recent news headlines to create the movie. “I went to film school 10 years ago and hadn’t done anything with it,” Liberatore said. “I was looking for a movie to get me back into the field and finally start my possible film IAN LIBERATORE career. This story is the first draft I wrote in under a week. I know it’s a horrible incident [in the movie], but it was interesting for me to write. But basically, the local news media inspired me to write it.” The story unfolds from the perspective of one of the bullies and one of the victims. “I think there are two sides to every story,” he said. “Some people are homophobic because they are pushed into it by friends and family.” Liberatore said he hopes to get into a broader range of stories with the next set of films he’s planning. “The next one will be more of a thriller and fun. Then my third film idea will be a comedy-drama. I want to explore different genres and not just do dark, deep, depressing stuff. I feel like there hasn’t been a lot of widespread films based on LGBT characters and themes.” He also hopes to broaden the appeal of Moving Forward’s output beyond the gay, male-oriented stories the first two films are focused on. “ I plan to get more into the L, the B and the T part of the LGBT. Right now, I’m writing what I know. I would like to bring on someone who is lesbian, bi or transgender to maybe cowrite something with me.” n “American Hate Crime” will be screened 4:30 p.m. Oct. 14 at Newtown Theater, 120 N. State St., Newtown. For more information or tickets to a screening, visit https://www.movingforwardfilms.com/.
FILM FEST from page 27
The Portuguese import “Diamantino” features gender-bending and genre-bending in equal measure. The title character (Carloto Cotta) is a soccer player who loses his mojo in the World Cup final. He decides to take in an African refugee, Rahim. However, Rahim is really a lesbian Secret Service agent named Aisha (Cleo Tavares), looking to investigate Diamantino’s questionable finances — much to her girlfriend Lucia’s (Vargas Maria Leite) dismay. This bonkers film features body-altering genetic procedures, evil twins, political satire and — cuteness overload! — giant, fluffy puppies. The parts may be greater than the whole, but “Diamantino” is a wild and truly original film. Screening in one of the festival’s shorts program is “The Dare Project,” written by out gay Philadelphia native David Brind and directed by Adam Salky. The pair juxtaposes their original 2005 short
film — about Ben (Adam Fleming), a closeted high-schooler acting on his crush on Johnny (Michael Cassidy) in the latter’s pool — with an 18-minute sequel that reunites the guys 13 years later. (“Dare” was also a 2009 feature film, with a different cast.) The new short is compelling as the sexual tension builds, although an early scene in Ben’s hotel room seems gratuitous and unnecessary. Brind’s script is best when he focuses on the longing that comes from reconnecting with a crush. The Philadelphia Film Festival is also premiering two lesbian-themed selections: “Wild Night with Emily,” about Emily Dickinson’s (Molly Shannon) relationship with another woman, and “L’Animale,” an Austrian coming-of-age story about a tomboy involved with motocross riders. However, these films were not available for preview. n For more information, visit: http://filmadelphia.org/ festival/.
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2018
PGN
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PMA’s ‘Fabulous Fashion’ exhibit features Dior, Balmain, Balenciaga By Suzannah Cavanaugh PGN Contributor Enter the Dorrance Special Exhibition Galleries on the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s first floor Oct.16 and the legacy of Dior will greet you. Two onyx-toned mannequins stand side by side, each dressed in a Dior design created decades apart. To the right is a palepink two-piece day dress with full skirt and nipped waist designed by Christian Dior in 1948. To the left is its counterpart: a hot-pink suit reminiscent of a Barbie dream, complete with bubblegum-hued fur lining and designed by John Galliano for Dior circa 1998. Together, the outfits — separated by 50 years of design — embody the range of looks to be displayed in PMA’s latest exhibition, “Fabulous Fashion: From Dior’s New Look to Now.” The exhibition, which features more than 60 ensembles plus hats, shoes and purses, showcases the scope of couture fashion in the past 70 years, in addition to the recurring styles that connect designs through the decades. “Fabulous Fashions” uses Dior’s “New Look,” the postWorld War II fashion revolution that traded masculine shapes for the ultra-feminine, as the exhibition’s style benchmark. The 1948 pale-pink Dior dress at the entrance epitomizes the look: nipped waist, drooping shoulders and rounded hips. The exhibition encompasses the creations of more than 30 designers who made a mark on high fashion. Besides Dior, other designers include gay greats Pierre Balmain and Cristóbal Balenciaga. Kristina Haugland, the exhibition curator and The Le Vine associate curator of costumes and textiles, said the inspiration for “Fabulous Fashions” sparked after PMA received two large donations of couture: one in 2009 from Annette Friedland and another in 2013 from the late Kathleen Field. When PMA asked Haugland to expand a smaller exhibition of the donations she’d originally proposed, she turned to the museum’s rarely seen collection of 37,000 costumes and textiles to stock her show. All the designs in “Fabulous Fashions” come from PMA’s permanent collection. “Nobody ever really shines a light on our costumes and textiles collection just because we don’t have the space to showcase it,” said
Joy Deibert, PMA’s senior press officer. “All these examples are from our own resources. We didn’t have to collect or lend or borrow from any other institution in order to tell this story. It’s all a Philadelphia story.” PMA launched the fashion wing of its costumes and textiles department in 1947 — the same year of Dior’s new look — in response to a growing interest in couture as art. Soon after, the museum began receiving fashion gifts from designers and donations to supplement the growing collection. The exhibition contains some of the best of PMA’s costumes and textiles. Instead of organizing ensembles chronologically, Haugland grouped outfits by their domineering style feature. The exhibition has six sections: “Shape and Volume,” “Embellishments,” “Color and Pattern,” “Metallic,” “Drape” and “Bridal.” Haugland said she categorized the displays to help viewers realize the frequent motifs that run through couture, regardless of the decade or who’s designing. “I’m trying to make it an immersive experience where you really come in and look at things in a new way, make connections and appreciate the art, because it is a three-dimensional art form.” Haugland added that she hopes visitors can move past just liking or disliking a piece and assess the ensembles as parts of a whole in the world of couture. The exhibition is set up as a walk-through from introductory Dior to wedding fashion, where Grace Kelly’s wedding accessories are on display. Included are her wedding headpiece, pumps and a prayer book she carried down the aisle. Wall didactics designate each section. The main gallery space is dedicated to the 15 “Shape and Volume” dresses, the exhibition’s largest category. Designs date from a 1951 Balenciaga flamenco-skirted evening ensemble to an evening dress from Oscar de la Renta’s 2006 collection. A multitiered platform acts as a center stage for the bulk of the “Shape and Volume” ensembles. The lights above the platform are programmed to transition gradually, bathing the dresses in warm, then cool tones. “You won’t even necessarily be aware that it’s happening, but if you look back and see things, it’ll look very different in a different light. I hope that it will encourage people to kind of linger PAGE 37
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2018
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2018
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS
Queer singer-songwriter to perform African folk songs By Suzannah Cavanaugh PGN Contributor Ashley Phillips brings her voice and guitar stylings to International House’s Ibrahim Theater for the 2018-19 season of “International Journeys,” a collection of artistic performances that reflect the theme “Origin Stories.” Phillips’ work, “Tell ’Em I’m Gone,” is an hour-long performance highlighting songs from the African diaspora. The three-part concert will begin with songs from the children’s playground, then turn to work songs and field hollers and end with songs of freedom. The performance is collaborative. Phillips will play with four other musicians, including Bethlehem Roberson on the tarima, a wooden platform that doubles as a percussion instrument and a stage for dancing. “She’s coined her style ‘Vo-cussion,’” said Phillips. “Tell ’Em I’m Gone” is also interactive. Multidisciplinary artist and community organizer Maria Bauman-Morales will lead attendees in a social dance. “It will be a conversation. It will definitely be Maria pulling from her own experiences and recollections of childhood and inviting audience members into that as well,” said Phillips. The work songs will also ask the audience to join their voices to the music. “A lot of field songs were call-andresponse. So there’ll definitely be moments when the audience will be invited to engage either with an emotion of sorts or their voices.” Because the performance is flush with collaborators lending a range of musical styles, Phillips thinks of “Tell ’Em I’m Gone” as “a kind of gumbo.” “Shane is jazz-leaning. I have more of a blues/folk influence, so there’s that element. And Paulette is funk.” The genres of “Tell ’Em I’m Gone” all have roots in blues music, she said. “There’s definitely a way of interweaving all of those things, but it informs our more contemporary approach to those songs, which have maybe been heard in one particular way,” said Phillips. All of the songs are storied folk tunes. For the performance, Phillips has reworked some of the lyrics. “What I’m familiar with in the folk tradition is there are a million-andone verses, because people continue to write different verses within the struc-
ture of the song. And that’s what I’m doing in this,” she said. Phillips added that she and her collaborators chose songs that spoke to their memories. An example is “Take This Hammer,” which contains a lyric borrowed the performance’s name. “A lot of this has been sort of pulling from our own lineage and our own experiences and connections and memory. Some of these songs certainly
‘HOPE’ FOR THE HOPELESS: Florence and the Machine is making a quick jaunt through North America for their latest album, “High As Hope,” with a stop in Philadelphia for a performance 7 p.m. Oct. 14 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St. For more information or tickets, call 215-389-9543.
Theater & Arts
weren’t in the experience of doing work, but there’s a connection to ‘Take This Hammer’ in a different context. [We can] follow the arc, maybe, from the person who we know who introduced the song to us.” Many of these songs have a complex history, not all rooted in rose-toned nostalgia. But evoking complicated themes was a purposeful choice. “With a lot of the songs, maybe not specifically the playground songs, but more like the field songs or work songs, there is hardship, but there’s also transcendence. And I think that’s really what we’re hoping to reflect in the concert performance,” Phillips said. The freedom songs, which are the last act of “Tell ’Em I’m Gone,” speak particularly to hope in the face of oppression. Among them is “Follow the Drinking Gourd,” a folk song used as a map on the Underground Railroad. “It felt important to end on freedom songs — playing things that speak of hardship and are also transcendent and hopeful,” said Phillips. “It felt really important to creating an arc in the program to end on something that is undeniably uplifting.” n Ashley Phillips will perform “Tell ’Em I’m Gone” at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 12 at the International House’s Ibrahim Theater, 3701 Chestnut St. Tickets are $20 online, $25 at the door. Those under 30 and arts-industry professionals receive $5 off. For more information, visit https://www.interculturaljourneys.org/gone/.
Agnes Martin: The Untroubled Mind/Works from the Daniel W. Dietrich II Collection Philadelphia Museum of Art presents paintings and drawings exploring the ideas that shaped Martin’s minimalist art, through Oct. 14, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215763-8100. John Cena The wrestler reads from his new picture book, “Elbow Grease,” 6 p.m. Oct. 12 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215567-4341. The Duchamp Family Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition highlighting the close-knit family of artistic innovators and the many connections linking their groundbreaking works, through August, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215763-8100.
Face to Face: Portraits of Artists Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition exploring how photographers helped craft the public personas of their creative subjects in this stunning collection of rare photographs from the museum’s collection, through Oct. 14, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215763-8100. Fabulous Fashion: From Dior’s New Look to Now Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition exploring the drama and glamour of some of the most creative feminine fashions ever designed, Oct. 18-March 3, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215763-8100. Flying Steps presents Flying Bach The awardwinning and globally
recognized German dance crew combines hip-hop with modern ballet, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St.; 215893-1999. Garden Bouquet Still-life artists Ian Shiver and Barbara Sosson present an exhibition of art featuring colorful live horticulture designs, through Nov. 3 at Hot Bed Gallery, 723 Chestnut St.; 267918-7432. THE GLOW: A Jack O’Lantern Experience A family-friendly, immersive Halloween stroll along a trail illuminated by more than 5,000 hand-carved jack o’ lanterns, weekends through Oct. 28, 4160 Horticultural Drive
in Fairmount Park; www.theglowjackolantern.com. Heather Headley’s Broadway My Way The Philly POPS perform with the Grammy-winning R&B singer, 8 p.m. Oct. 12 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 300 S. Broad St.; 215-8931999. ICON William Way LGBT Community Center Art Gallery presents an installation by Natalie Hope McDonald that showcases the diverse iconography of the LGBT community, through Oct. 26, 1315 Spruce St.; 215732-2220. Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn Walnut Street Theatre presents the musical based on the classic Universal
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.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS
The Fillmore Philadelphia, 29 E. Allen St.; 215625-3681. Talib Kweli The rapper performs 8:30 p.m. Oct. 12 at Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St.; 215-232-2100.
GOING DEEPER: British R&B singer and actress Lisa Stansfield is going back around the world — not looking for her baby, but promoting her latest album, “Deeper.” She performs 8 p.m. Oct. 17 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave. For information and tickets, call 215-572-7650.
Pictures film, through Oct. 21, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550. Mimi Imfurst Presents Drag Diva Brunch Mimi Imfurst, Bev, Vinchelle, Sutton Fearce and special guests perform 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 13 at Punch Line Philly, 33 E. Laurel St.; 215606-6555. Romeo & Juliet The Pennsylvania Ballet presents an adaptation of Shakespeare’s timeless love story, through Oct. 21 at Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; 215-893-1999. Sweat Philadelphia Theatre Company presents the Pulitzer Prizewinning drama set in Reading, where industries are disappearing and the men and women of the city are rendered powerless as they watch their income, legacy and relationships follow suit, Oct. 12-Nov. 4 at Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St.; 215985-0420.
Yael Bartana: And Europe Will Be Stunned Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition blurring fact and fiction, with the artist reimagining historical narratives to spur a dialogue about urgent social and geopolitical issues of our time, through Jan. 1, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215763-8100.
Music Ja Rule and Method Man & Redman The rappers perform 7:30 p.m. Oct. 12 at The Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St.; 800-745-3000. Maroon 5 The pop-rock band performs 8 p.m. Oct. 12 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215389-9543. Goo Goo Dolls The rock band performs 8:30 p.m. Oct. 12 at
Michael Franti The singer and activist performs 8:30 p.m. Oct. 13 at The Fillmore Philadelphia, 29 E. Allen St.; 215625-3681. The English Beat The classic ska/ reggae/punk band performs 8 p.m. Oct. 16 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215222-1400. Public Image Ltd. The alternativerock band performs 8 p.m. Oct. 16 at Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St.; 215232-2100.
Nightlife Happy Bear The bear-themed happy hour runs 5-9 p.m. Oct. 12 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215-964-9675. Escape from NYC New York drag performers head south to perform in Philly, 9 p.m. Oct. 12 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215-964-9675. Indigo Ball 2018 William Way LGBT Community Center’s annual fundraising gala returns with a Great Gatsby theme, 6-11:30 p.m. Oct. 13 at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 118-128 N. Broad St.: www. waygay.org.
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2018
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Drag A Rama Philly drag performers get dolled up to entertain, 9 p.m. Oct. 15 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215964-9675.
Longtime writer gets comfortable in the standup spotlight
Philadelphia Burlesque Battle Royale The naughty games begin 9 p.m. Oct. 18 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215-964-9675.
Fay Jacobs is returning to New Hope with her one-woman show, “Ageing Gracelessly: 50 Shades of Fay,” which humorously tells the story of marriage equality in the United States. Jacobs is an award-winning author with decades of writing experience — and who never imagined taking to the bright lights of a live stage until her experiences with book-reading events changed her mind. “I got into show business at an age where I’m more likely to break a hip,” she quipped. “I have five books out, and I would go to book events and read my work and people would say, ‘You should be a standup comic.’ I started doing reading events in Rehoboth Beach and in Florida, and the next thing I knew, people were asking me to come to their LGBT community centers and book conferences. In the last three years, I’ve done 50 or 60 shows.” Jacobs said that going from the solitary and somewhat isolated experience of writing books and articles to entertaining large groups of people was a thrilling change of pace. “When I first started doing the readings, I was quite surprised at the immediacy of the laughter. It was kind of surprising and it made me want to see if I could put this thing together without just one part of the story, but the whole story. It became a show about LGBT equality and the march toward it. “I’ve been writing a column for Camp Rehoboth for 20 years. I’ve also written for the Washington Blade and The Advocate over the years. It’s very interesting to see your work come together into one piece. Portions of it are serious but mostly it’s just fun.” Fun, in regard to the struggle for marriage equality, has been in short supply in the last two years, as the Trump adminis-
Outta Town Lewis Black The comedian seen on “The Daily Show” performs Oct. 12-13 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000. Los Lobos The Chicano rock band performs 8 p.m. Oct. 12 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-1228. The Rocky Horror Picture Show The classic midnight-movie musical is screened 10 p.m. Oct. 13 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610-917-1228. Rocky Horror Show LGBTQ+ Night OUT Bucks County Playhouse presents the annual performance of the classic musical to benefit New Hope Celebrates, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 17, 70 S. Main St., New Hope; 213315-7788. Fay Jacobs The out comedian performs 8 p.m. Oct. 19 at The Rrazz Room, 385 W. Bridge St., New Hope; 888596-1027. n
By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com
FASHION from page 35
and look at things,” said Haugland. “It’s really a visual feast.” Among Haugland’s favorite pieces — she said they change all the time — are the 1947 Woman’s “Sea Fan Fantasy” Dress, an aqua crew-neck number adorned in metallic sequins. The dress was designed and handpainted by Philadelphia native Tina Leser and prefaces the “Embellishments” section. Another standout is the “Metallic” section’s 1966 Paco Rabanne dress constituted of tiny plastic discs linked by chains. “For his first collection, he actually dispensed with sewing all together. [He] called the collection ‘12 Unwearable Dresses,’” said Haugland. And then there’s the Lacroix catsuit,
tration reverses the progress made during Obama’s terms. Jacobs said she altered the show to reflect the present moment. “The ending had to change, and I’m working on that. It changes every day. The history of it goes from the 1970s through the 2015 marriage-equality ruling, and a little bit beyond. One of the things that I’m doing for this show in New Hope is rewriting a new ending.” Jacobs said there’s still a lot of joy and wonder in performing because of her audiences.
“One of the things I find astounding is when I do a show and there are a lot of young LGBT people in the audience. They are amazed at the parts of history they didn’t know. It’s a great way to pass on our history to the younger generations that need to know these things, and how we got certain things done and what it was like in the ’70s and ’80s. I’m really proud of that. It’s entertaining while showing what life was like along the way.” n Fay Jacobs performs 8 p.m. Oct. 19 at The Rrazz Room at the Clarion Hotel, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope. For more information or tickets, visit www.therrazzroom.com.
a kaleidoscopic one-piece designed by Christian Lacroix for his fall/winter 1990 collection and donated by Kathleen Field in 2014. “It’s not something I would ever prance around in, but it just looks like a lot of fun,” Haugland said. “But, you know, you look at some of these designs and the ingenuity behind them and the way that they’re made — and for people who sew, especially, or people who look at design, it’s really very inspiring.” n “Fabulous Fashion: From Dior’s New Look to Now” runs Oct. 16-March 3 at Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy. Tickets are included in the price of general admission, which is $20 for age 19 and up. For more information, visit philamuseum.org.
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2018
PGN
Meet LGBT icons of political and pop culture By Suzannah Cavanaugh PGN Contributor A pop-art rendering of a Crisco can and a sign that reads “TOO CUTE TO BE BINARY” are just two of more than 500 pieces of illustrated artwork on display at William Way LGBT Community Center. The art exhibit, called ICONS, is an illustrative installation by artist and LGBT-issues journalist Natalie Hope McDonald. Consuming five walls of William Way’s main lobby, ICONS is composed of blackand-white, pen and ink illustrations of
celebrities, logos, products and news items pertinent to the LGBT community. ICONS’ words and images represent the historical arc of the LGBT experience through a social lens, said McDonald. By reducing images to their simplest forms, the artist asks attendees to consider associations beyond their own. A goal for McDonald in creating ICONS was to be inclusive with the images she chose. “I could not even dream of tackling an art project of this scope without thinking well beyond my own identity,” she said. “I think I
actually spent more time on other touchstones beyond white women because I wanted to make a statement about something that is much bigger than me.” She went big with the project — McDonald said no one has ever taken over William Way’s gallery space in the same way — because nothing less could represent the diversity of the LGBT community. The artist used a black-and-white motif, a commonality in her art, so viewers could digest ICONS as a continuous visual, not just frame by frame. McDonald also wanted to make familiar images more interesting to the eye. “I decided to reduce even some of the most famous images down to their simplest lines and forms,” she said. “For example, it might be strange seeing the ACT UP logo in stark black and white rather than having that pop of pink. I think in some ways the black-and-white style is very democratic — nothing stands out for its color scheme.” Much of ICONS’ content is political, from news headlines that break the first AIDS cases to countless logos associated with contemporary movements, such as #SayHerName and “Queer + Trans Black Lives Matter.” “I can’t pretend that the current political climate has not informed the way I approached history. It absolutely has,” said McDonald. “The most recent debates within Philadelphia’s own LGBT community, especially related to nightlife, healthcare and nonprofit orgs, played an important role too.” She said the impact of ICONS has been largely connective. She’s seen people who “may not normally walk into an art space” come in to check out the exhibit, as well as people who have never considered visiting William Way. “I like to hope the show is bringing people together in new ways,” said McDonald. “I was seeing people who may not have ordinarily talked to each other start conversations about their memories inspired by a particular piece of art. This was perhaps the most satisfying moment for me as an artist.” ICONS will hold a closing reception Oct. 19, when attendees will have the chance to meet the artist and buy available works. Included for purchase is a collection of vegan leather jackets on display, all of them painted by McDonald. The artist noted she purposely priced the art “much, much, much lower” than she would in a different gallery setting, to encourage attendees to buy. “I like the idea of people being able to purchase pieces that will live separately and differently from this installation. They are meant to be broken up in the same way they were meant to come together.” n ICONS is at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St., through Oct. 26. Admission is free. For more information, visit http://www.waygay.org/ center-calendar/2018/9/14/art-gallery-icon-an-installation-by-natalie-hope-mcdonald.
PGN
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2018
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2018
DINING PGNOUT
Wiki Poke: no fish out of water By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Over the last few years, the number of places you can get poke bowls in Philly has surged. And why shouldn’t it? The native Hawaiian dish of diced raw fish piled high with various fruits, veggies and crunchy, spicy or sweet toppings is definitely a healthy, exotic and fresh alternative to a lot of the other fast-casual options for people on the go in the city. And the proprietors of one of the new poke establishments want you to know their place is the real deal. The chefs at Wiki Poke, 44 S. 17th St., studied the eateries that originated poke in Hawaii to make sure they got it right. As it turns out, if the fish in your poke bowls is marinated in sauce before getting inundated with whatever bountiful toppings you choose to pile on, it isn’t authentic. (We tried to get the powers-that-be to fund a trip to Hawaii to fact-check this firsthand but, alas, they said no.) Wiki Poke bowls ($11-$11.50) start off
with small-batch marinated ahi tuna and/ or salmon in shoyu sauce, letting the flavors soak into the raw fish before being generously piled onto a bed of rice. Then come the freshly chopped toppings, with the sweetness of mango and the spiciness of the mayo. The bowls also come with the distinct and varied crunch of fried shallots, seaweed salad, sesame seeds, coconut crisps and cucumber or onions. Yes, it sounds like a confusing convergence of flavors and textures — but, trust us, it all works when they hit the bowl together. And each bite is an adventure you will never find in a cheesesteak. Some variations on the theme are available to mix things up. You can opt to pile your poke mix on top of greens, or try tortilla chips for a healthier or more-familiar twist. So, no disrespect to the other poke establishments in town, but we’ve been told you might want to step up your game. If you find yourself trundling through the hustle and bustle of the business district and you want to see where native Hawaiians get their authentic poke fix, give Wiki Poke an “Aloha!” n
If you go Wiki Poke 44 S. 17th St. 215-665-8725 www.wikipokephilly.com Mon.-Sat.: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Photo: Courtesy of Wiki Poke
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2018
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1 Small quantities of lube, e.g. 5 Delany of “Desperate Housewives” 9 “A Boy Named Sue” singer Johnny 13 Fortune-teller’s opening 14 Famous cookie maker 15 Atop 16 Pronto, in the OR 17 Fly catcher 18 Coldcock 19 Gay puppet pair 22 Passion that rhymes with “harder” 23 Jack of “Flower Drum Song” 24 Minnelli’s pair, on Lesbos 27 TLC specialists 28 Sci-fi role for Rene Auberjonois 31 “Puppy Love” singer Osmond 33 Mauresmo of the courts 36 Kitchen foray 37 Kids’ TV show that features 19-Across 40 Emulated Greg Louganis 41 Homes near polar bears, perhaps 42 Planning meeting input
44 Bambi character that wasn’t horny? 45 Pro ___ (acting) 48 Billy Budd, for one 49 Bring to bear 52 Close call 54 Writer who modeled 19-Across after his relationship with Arnold Glassman 58 Worked up 60 Arthur of the AIDS Quilt 61 Magi origin 62 Former New York leather bar 63 Woolen caps 64 1963 movie role for Liz 65 Encouraging words 66 Bette Davis feature of song 67 “Cabaret”’s “Mein ___”
Down
1 Bounce from the Eagle? 2 To the rear, when cruising 3 Women who date men who date men 4 Brief brawl 5 Shocking word, at the time, from GWTW 6 Surrounded by 7 Bernstein’s staff members 8 Elroy Jetson stroked him 9 “ ___ fan tutte”
10 Fruit fly feelers 11 Apt name for a cook 12 Title for T. Baldwin 20 Emanation from Feniger’s kitchen 21 Show agreement 25 Body of soldiers 26 Site of Gay Games VI (abbr.) 29 Moore of “Striptease” 30 Jackie’s designer 32 Rock group? 33 On an Olivia cruise 34 Lesbos, for one 35 Thames college 37 Ingredient in highballs 38 From here to eternity
39 Friar’s affair 40 Short one 43 Kerouac’s “Big ___” 45 Some like it hot 46 Rubber for your mistakes 47 Wise counselor 50 Imitate Dick Button 51 James Baldwin piece, e.g. 53 Navratilova, by birth 55 Many a moon 56 Quaint sigh 57 More, to a minimalist 58 Home st. of Harper Lee 59 Pearce of Priscilla fame
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2018
Classifieds All real-estate advertising is subject to Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended. Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and handicap (disability). PGN will not knowingly accept any realestate advertising that is in violation of any applicable law.
Real Estate Sale PACKER PARK Large 1 BR apt, pvt entrance & parking, W/D, microwave, D/W, refrig. 8 mins to CC. Gas, water, elec. incl. Pet friendly. No smokers please. Call 267-588-7430. _____________________________________________42-41 South PhillyHome for rent, 2 BR, 1 bath, basement & small yard. 2500 block Watts st. Call for info. 610-825-0644. ________________________________________42-43
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Wanted to Buy
Legal Notices Court of Common Pleas for the County of Philadelphia,Sept Term 2018 No. 1623 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN than on October 8, 2018 the petition of Cescely N Parham was filed praying for a decree to change her name to Cescely N Jessup. The Court has fixed October 19, 2018 at 10:00 am in Room No. 691 City Hall Philadelphia PA for hearing. All persons interested may appear and show cause if any they have, why the prayer of the said petitioner should not be granted. ________________________________________42-41
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FREON R12 WANTED: CERTIFIED BUYER will PAY CA$H for R12 cylinders or cases of cans. (312) 291-9169; www. refrigerantfinders.com ________________________________________42-41
For Sale SAWMILLS from only $4397.00 – MAKE & SAVE MONEY with your own bandmill – Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship! FREE Info/DVD: www.NorwoodSawmills. com 800-567-0404 Ext.300N ________________________________________42-41
Friends Men WM, NE Phila. If you’re looking for hot action, call 215-934-5309. No calls after 11 PM. ________________________________________42-41 Sat Oct 27th 9p until cherry hill nj get naked thing or jockstrap or wear a costume anything goes the nastier the better all are welcomed spread the word! Expecting a big turnout! Contact nick for details 609 254 1398 ________________________________________42-41
Massage
Services AIRLINES ARE HIRING – Get FAA approved hands on Aviation training. Financial aid for qualified students – Career placement assistance. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance 877-207-0345. ________________________________________42-41
M4M Massage in the Burbs. Convenient Mainline location. 610-710-6213 or email: mainlinefun@gmail.com. _____________________________________________42-43 Massage available in CC. Call for an appt. Discretion always honored. 609-203-1156. _____________________________________________42-41
Rehoboth Beach’s Bed and Breakfast Bewitched & BEDazzled is on the market
Well-established and award-winning B&B, Bewitched and Bedazzled, located in the heart of Rehoboth Beach and consisting of two downtown properties, 65 and 67 Lake Avenue with a total of 13 guest rooms, 11.5 bathrooms, plus an owner’s apartment with a separate bath, kitchen and living room with off-street parking for 14 vehicles. Each property features a spacious common area living room with fireplace. Large deck with outdoor seating, hot tub and outdoor showers. Easy access to shops, restaurants, night life, boardwalk, and beach. Furnishings and décor, including collectible memorabilia items are included. Commercially zoned. Many possibilities.
1. Continue to run as a B&B 2. Operate as a weekly rental compound (14 bedrooms, 12.5 baths) 3. Team up with family or friends and collectively purchase and own a downtown Rehoboth Beach compound for a fraction of the costs If you would like more information on this property or to schedule a showing, please call or email Walt Cassel at (302) 426-2082 or walt@reinrb.com Listing Agent:
Dave McCarthy 302.650.0820 (cell) dave@reinrb.com
Dave McCarthy & associates www.RealEstateInRehoboth.com
Mann & Sons, Inc. | www.mannandsons.com | 414 Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 | 302.227.9477
October is LGBT History Month. Watch for history related stories all month.
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 12-18, 2018
SERVICES & HOME IMPROVEMENT DIRECTORY
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LGBTQ INCLUSIVE CARE
C O M P E T E N T C A R E F O R L G B T Q PAT I E N T S O F A L L AG E S — A N D T H E I R FA M I L I E S Main Line Health provides a safe environment where lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) patients, families and visitors can expect inclusive care from a welcoming health system. S C H E D U L E A N A P P O I N T M E N T T O D AY : 1.866.CALL.MLH (225.5654) | mainlinehealth.org/lgbtq
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LGBTPGN HISTORY
LGBT History Month
Lesbian erasure: part two
By Victoria A. Brownworth PGNContributor
Examples of lesbian sexuality all over early American history into the beginning of the 20th century provide a myriad of reasons why lesbianism was actually embraced, right up until the turn of the 19th and then into the 20th century — when it wasn’t. With all these depictions of blissfully naked lesbians over centuries, why does anyone keep writing, for example, that “We don’t really know if so-and-so and so-and-so who shared the same bed for 50 years were sexual”? They were. And there is ample proof if we examine the confluent and overlapping milieux of women’s education and the suffrage movement, both of which opened up new vistas for women to examine their choices in society. One of those choices was lesbian relationships instead of marriage to a man and the accompanying constraints of large families with many children. Raising children and running a household restrict women’s time and energy, leaving little for the work of suffrage or social reform. Lesbian relationships bore none of the oppressive and repressive hallmarks of compulsory heterosexuality. As Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who was married to a man and the mother of seven but who had a long relationship with Susan B. Anthony wrote of that relationship, “I prefer a tyrant of my own sex, so I shall not deny the patent fact of my subjection; for I do believe that I have developed into much more of a woman under her jurisdiction.” For her part, Anthony was clear: Men held women back. At 18, she had written in her diary, “I think any female would rather live and die an old maid.” Throughout her life as a suffragist, she never failed to mourn the losses of other suffragists to marriage and family, which overrode their time and took them from the cause of women’s enfranchisement. How do we know women were engaged in sexual relationships? We know because teenage girls and young women were already having sex together at boarding schools and seminaries — why would they stop? The efforts to suppress women’s
independence were hardly new. For millennia, women’s lives had been controlled, particularly their sexual autonomy. When women’s education advanced past the local schoolhouse and became an acceptable option in the 19th century, same-sex seminaries — places for secondary education — began to evolve. One of the pressing concerns in the writings of the time was lesbianism. Female students — most were in their mid to late teens — were developing what were reductively referred to as “passionate” or “romantic” friendships. Mashes, crushes and smashes were all terms used to describe love affairs between young women at school in the late 19th century. What’s more, pulp novels of the time detail such crushes as a sojourn in a young woman’s life prior to the “real” goal: heterosexual marriage. Given the cloistered atmosphere of these seminaries and later the Seven Sisters colleges, why wouldn’t there be sex, and lots of it? In the 1960s and ’70s, lesbian sexuality was rife at the Seven Sisters and other women’s colleges and women have written declaratively about it. Why wouldn’t the same passionate sexual expression have been true when these schools were first established in the mid19th century for exactly the same reasons? Women were released from the restrictions of the home and parental and societal control. They could hold hands, hug and kiss each other, walk arm in arm. These were all acceptable expressions of female friendship. They could also sleep in the same bed to “comfort” each other from homesickness. But the fears of women’s education were regularly invoked along with the freedom of intellectual and sensual pursuits that they offered. In 1874, Edward Clarke wrote of the dangers of these all-female environments turning women into men. “Sex Education or a Fair Chance for Girls” is one such exhibit of social fears. Too much education for women would be perilous, Clarke explained, repeating anxieties that women were both too limited to absorb education as men do and that if they were inculcated with too much knowledge, it would harm them
irreparably by turning them into, well, lesbians. Clarke argued that studying hard in an all-female environment would do damage to women’s reproductive organs, tax their brains and cause hysteria “and other derangements of the nervous system.” Clarke evinced concern that if women became “too educated” and “too independent,” they would also become “masculine.” Lesbianism was a significant threat, according to Clarke, and educated women had to be careful to “remain women, not strive to be men, or they will ignominiously fail.” In fin-de-siècle America, though, women’s education was becoming more of a concern as a masculinizing threat to feminine and heterosexual women. Though we know college can’t make you gay, that alarm had been sounded long and loud. Charles Thwing, warning of the lesbian takeover of women’s colleges in 1894’s “The College Woman,” was more succinct 20 years after Clarke: What if women became “brutes” at college and lost their femininity by behaving like men? Worse, Thwing asserted, what if educated women began to think that relationships between women were a substitute for heterosexual relationships? “Many college friendships are exceedingly exhausting. Women give themselves up more readily than men to intimate relations. College officers are wise in cautioning students against too-warm friendships, especially against forming them in the first year of college life.” All these fears about lesbians abounded, even as we are told that lesbian sexuality was actually a fiction. The most famous lesbian in America in the 19th century was suffragist Anthony, whose affairs with women — Stanton, Rachel Avery, Anna Dickinson, Emily Gross — were well-known even at the time. Anthony was one of the most ardent and vociferous suffragists, and as such was targeted by the media as a “manly,” which was about the worst accusation that could be hurled at a woman. It was one she refuted in a 1900 essay titled “The New Century’s Manly
Woman.” Anthony believed strongly that women were damaged by their relationships with men, which she perceived as stifling a woman’s talents and abilities beyond the maintaining of home and family. Ida B. Wells, the journalist, suffragist and civil-rights activist, complained that once she married and had her first child, Anthony was annoyed with her, telling her that she was too talented for marriage and motherhood. In her love affair with Dickinson, Anthony wrote flirtatiously. But it had been Dickinson — much pursued by other women — who had gone after the older Anthony. She wrote, “I want to see you very much indeed, to hold your hand in mine, to hear your voice, in a word, I want you — I can’t have you? Well, I will at least put down a little fragment of my foolish self and send it to look up at you.” Are we expected to believe these were sexless exchanges of the mind only? That’s revisionist nonsense. Whether or not these women put the word “lesbian” to their relationships did not make those relationships any less fully lesbian, including sexually. The intensity of the suffrage movement and Anthony’s role in it demanded an equally passionate private life. Anthony referred to Dickinson with sweet affirmations, calling her “Dear Anna Dicky Darly [sic].” Their affair bolstered her resolve and she wrote to Dickinson, “Somehow your very breath gives me new hope and new life.” As she headed off to another suffrage campaign without Dickinson by her side, she wrote, “I cannot bear to go off without another precious look into your face — my Soul.” En route to Cincinnati three months later, she wrote, “Well, Anna Darling — I do wish I could take you in these strong arms of mine this very minute.” Anthony also wrote encouraging words to Dickinson, who was on the front lines as well, noting, “Ah, Anna, your mission will brighten and beautify every day if you will but keep the eye of your own spirit turned within ... [where] that precious jewel of truth is to be sought — and formed — And darling — you will find it & speak it, and live it — and all men and women will call you blessed.”
The letters between the two are full overheated comments and sexy talk; these women who have been portrayed as “unsexed” or “old maids” were in fact engaged in passionate affairs that propelled them forward in their work for women. Later in her life, Anthony became involved with Gross, who would be her lover until her death. She wrote of their budding relationship, “I shall go to Chicago and visit my new lover — dear Mrs. [Emily] Gross — en route to Kansas. So with new hope & new life …” Throughout America, there were lesbian couples at women’s colleges and in the various reform movements, from abolition to suffrage, and then the rising socialwork and workers’-rights movements. The Boston Marriage — two women living together — was desexualized specifically because men feared those relationships and how they might spread like a contagion. That fear is an undercurrent throughout Henry James’ classic novel “The Bostonians,” in which a romantic triangle includes Basil Ransom, a political conservative from Mississippi; Olive Chancellor, Ransom’s cousin and a Boston feminist and suffragist and Verena Tarrant, a pretty, young protégée of Olive’s. The entirety of the 1886 novel is a battle between Basil and Olive for the affections of Verena — as well as for her personhood. That Basil and Olive are presented as equal suitors for Verena’s love is indicative of how deeply lesbian relationships had penetrated the Zeitgeist and how confused and confusing it was for society in deciding what to do with both the relationships and the lesbians themselves. Nearly 400 years ago, Mary Hammon and Sarah Norman may have been the only lesbian couple in America prosecuted for “being lewd upon a bed together,” but they were not the only lesbian couple being lewd upon a bed, nor kissing a girl and liking it. All history has an element of revisionism, but to revise the breadth of lesbian sexuality out of these relationships because they were in a time before our own is to erase a significant part of our history and, as such, ourselves. n