PGN Oct. 14-20, 2011

Celebrating 20 years of films

Family Portrait: David Acosta

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A collage of art and youth

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Oct. 14-20, 2011

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Vol. 35 No. 41

LGBT-rights pioneer Kameny dead at 86 Franklin Kameny came out to the nation in the 1950s after being fired from a federal civil-service position, a case he took all the way to the Supreme Court — one of many milestones he carved for the LGBT community.

OutFest sees record attendance

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Dr. Franklin Kameny, known by many as a father of the modern gay-rights movement, died this week. He was 86.

Kameny died of natural causes at his home in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 11, National Coming Out Day. Born May 21, 1925 in New York City, Kameny served in the Army in World War II and went on to attain his master’s and Ph.D. in astronomy from Harvard University in 1949 and 1956, respectively.

A year after earning his doctorate, Kameny began working at the Army Map Service but, after just a few months, was let go after being spotted in a gay-cruising spot in Washington, D.C. Kameny fought his termination for five years, bringing the first civil-rights claim based on sexual orientation to a U.S. court.

Philly gay man to be deported

MARKING A MILESTONE: Mayor Nutter and LGBT community leaders lifted a rainbow flag at 12th and Spruce to reveal the new historic marker outside of Giovanni’s Room last weekend. The state-issued marker, only the second in Pennsylvania commemorating an LGBT-specific site, pays homage to the nation’s oldest LGBT bookstore and was unveiled in a ceremony during Sunday’s OutFest, drawing a crowd of several-hundred More photos pages 22-23 spectators. Photo: Scott A. Drake

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com The world’s largest National Coming Out Day celebration was bigger than ever this year, as revelers filled every inch of Philadelphia’s Gayborhood.

Sunday’s OutFest drew a crowd of about 45,000 festivalgoers, up about 3,000 from last year and the highest attendance ever in the event’s 21 years.

Franny Price, executive director of Philly Pride Presents, which organizes the festival, said the event has continued to grow

each year and also benefited this year from the weather.

“I think people had cabin fever with all the rain we’ve gotten in the past several months and then it was such a beautiful day Sunday with temperatures in the 80s,” Price said. “Usually it doesn’t get packed until around 1 but by 12, we had a huge crowd already. People just wanted to get out there.”

Price said she received a wealth of emails this week from attendees praising the social aspect of the event.

“A lot of people have PAGE 22

Gay History Month Special Coverage

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

TRANS-FORMING CENTER CITY: About 200 transgender people and their allies took to the streets for the first Philly Trans* March Oct. 8, as Occupy Philadelphia protesters at Dilworth Plaza cheered them on. The inaugural march, which headed from City Hall to Kahn Park, was meant to celebrate people of all genders and identities and fight back against discrimination. Photo: Scott A. Drake

We Are America . . .

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The Supreme Court refused to hear his case.

Among his bevy of LGBT-rights accomplishments, Kameny was one of the most vocal supporters of the American Psychiatric Association removing homosexuality FRANKLIN KAMENY from its list of mental disorders, which it did in 1971, the same year Kameny became the first openly gay Congressional candidate.

Throughout the previous decade, Kameny had accrued a wealth of experience in political activism.

In 1961, Kameny and Jack Nichols established a Washington, PAGE 5 D.C.-based Mattachine

Philadelphia immigration officials last week denied a request to halt deportation proceedings against a local gay man.

At an Oct. 7 meeting, Immigration and Customs Enforcement rejected Anton Tanumihardja’s petition for deferred action, a means of indefinitely stopping deportation used for low-priority cases.

Tanumihardja was ordered to return to the office Jan. 13, when travel arrangements to Indonesia will be made if the decision is not reversed.

In June, ICE announced guidelines to direct ICE officials in PAGE 17

The gay military leader ... and the lesbian poet PAGE 12-13

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 14-20, 2011

LOCAL PGN

Gay group endorses ally Lincoln plans advance council, judicial candidates

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com The Liberty City Democratic Club held its endorsement meeting last week, lending its support to a number of pro-LGBT candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot.

About 30 members came together for the endorsement meeting Oct. 6 at the William Way LGBT Community Center, where they heard about the platforms and plans of a number of candidates in attendance.

Liberty City co-chair Lee Carson said membership turnout was lower than usual for an endorsement meeting, but that, given the city’s overwhelming Democratic majority that often makes the spring primary the deciding election, it was expected.

Leading the club’s slate of endorsements is Mayor Nutter for reelection, along with a reelection nod for Councilwoman Maria Quiñones Sánchez. The group endorsed 1st District Council candidate Mark Squilla, running unopposed in the district that includes the Gayborhood; 2nd District hopeful state Rep. Kenyatta Johnson and 8th District candidate Cindy Bass, who have a Republican and Green Party challenger, respectively.

Liberty City endorsed four Democratic at-Large Council candidates — incum-

bent Councilmembers Blondell Reynolds Brown, Bill Green, Bill Greenlee and James Kenney — but did not support a fifth incumbent, Councilman W. Wilson Goode Jr., who Carson said was unable to attend a Liberty City meeting, a prerequisite for endorsement.

The group didn’t endorse Greenlee in the municipal primary, Carson said, but after further discussion decided to back him in this election.

The club endorsed Stephanie Singer for city commissioner, who will square off with a Republican and Democratic incumbent and a Republican challenger for one of the three commissioner positions.

In the judicial races, Liberty City is supporting Kathryn Boockvar for Commonwealth Court, and Diana Anhalt, Jonathan Irvine, Angelo Foglietta, Carolyn Nichols and Barbara McDermott, an open lesbian, for Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. The club also endorsed Keith Collins for Delaware County Council.

The membership decided against endorsing judicial candidates up for retention.

Liberty City will host its fall fundraiser from 6-8 p.m. Nov. 1 at Stir, 1705 Chancellor St., with proceeds going to support the club’s voter mobilization for the spring primary. ■

A long-vacant Gayborhood eyesore is one large step closer to renovations this week.

The Washington Square West Civic Association voted Tuesday not to oppose zoning variances needed for plans to resurrect the Lincoln Apartments.

The building, at 1222 Locust St., has stood empty since a five-alarm fire largely gutted it in the summer of 2006, making its steps a haven for loiterers.

Building owner Jacob Ungar hired architectural firm Cecil Baker and Partners, whose owner sits on the association’s board and recused himself from votes on the project, to spearhead the proposal for the renovations, made possible after a long-awaited insurance settlement earlier this year.

The new proposal calls for a return to the six-story apartment building that will contain 40 apartment units. Thirty-two of the units will be one-bedroom apartments, and the rest will be two-bedrooms or studios.

The building will contain a fitness center and rent is expected to be $2.35 per square foot, per month, a mid-range standard cost for the area, board members said.

The variances the project needs, because of such elements as a building height outside of the standard zoning allowance,

were nothing new, zoning committee chair Carl Engelke said Tuesday, since the building is returning to its former size.

When the renovation plans were presented to the zoning committee a few weeks ago, committee members still had a few questions — such as how Ungar plans to contend with loitering.

Engelke said Ungar, who is based in New York, assured, among other stipulations, that he would use a Philadelphia-area contractor who would remain in contact with the association throughout construction.

Engelke said committee members were “very pleased with the design.”

“Not a lot is going to be changed,” Engelke said of the new building versus the Lincoln prior to the fire. “If we had any issues with the design or the unit sizes, we wouldn’t have hesitated to opposE it. But this has gone on for too long, and we really want to see this move forward finally.”

All but one member of the zoning committee voted in favor of a non-opposition position in an email vote, and all members present for the full board meeting Tuesday voted for non-opposition.

Ungar will go before the city’s Zoning Hearing Board Oct. 19, now with the backing of the association.

If ZHB approves his plans, a bid for construction is expected to be put out at the beginning of the year, with construction starting in spring or summer. ■

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PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 14-20, 2011

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PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 14-20, 2011

is pleased to announce our writers placed in two award categories for the

2010 National Newspaper Association’s Better Newspaper Contest, out of some 2,700 U.S. publications.

Our congratulations to:

Jen Colletta Second Place, Best Feature Story, Non-daily Division Kelly McGillis talks marriages, divorces and civil union Judge’s comments: “Excellent profile of Kelly McGillis. It can be difficult writing about a celebrity, difficult to get below the rehearsed answers. But this story feels like a real conversation and provides an intelligent look at a complicated life.”

SWEET DREAMS: Some of the community’s most eligible bachelors showed off their evening wear at a bachelor auction for the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus Oct. 8 at Voyeur. The pajama-themed auction and dance party was hosted by emcee Goddess Isis (back row, second from left), with state House candidate Brian Sims (back row, third from left) earning the night’s highest bid — $500.

The winning bidders receive a date at a local restaurant with the chosen bachelor, with theater tickets going to the biggest spenders. The auction was the chorus’ first-quarter event celebrating its 30th year. Photo: Scott A. Drake NEWS

Local Media Trail News Briefing Out Money Regional

Mosque issue is an LGBT issue Judge’s comments: “Terse argument that too few community newspapers offered — that Muslims had a right tobuild a cultural center and threatened no one.”

Contents

EDITORIAL/OP-ED

Community Voices Creep of the Week Editorial Letters/Feedback Street Talk

11 10 10 11 11

Where do you watch Phillies playoff games?

Poll results from our online survey as of Oct. 12:

41% At home 21% At a bar in the Gayborhood 5% Electronically wherever 33% I don’t watch them Go to www.epgn.com to weigh in on this week’s question:

Mark Segal Second Place, Best Serious Column, Non-daily Division

2 9 9 15 6

What is your Halloween costume theme this year?

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

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Phone: 215-625-8501 Fax: 215-925-6437 E-mail: pgn@epgn.com Web: www.epgn.com

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Publisher

Mark Segal (ext. 204) mark@epgn.com Editor

Sarah Blazucki (ext. 206) sarah@epgn.com Staff Writers Jen Colletta (ext. 215) jen@epgn.com Larry Nichols (ext. 213) larry@epgn.com Writer-at-Large Timothy Cwiek (ext. 208) timothy@epgn.com

Advertising Manager Greg Dennis greg@epgn.com Advertising Sales Representatives Amy Mather amy@epgn.com Brooke Lutz brooke@epgn.com Prab Sandhu prab@epgn.com National Advertising Rivendell Media: 212-242-6863 Office Manager/ Classifieds Don Pignolet (ext. 200) don@epgn.com

Art Director/Photographer Scott A. Drake (ext. 210) scott@epgn.com Graphic Artist Sean Dorn (ext. 211) sean@epgn.com Executive Assistant/ Billing Manager Carol Giunta (ext. 202) carol@epgn.com Philadelphia Gay News is a member of: The Associated Press Pennsylvania Newspaper Association Suburban Newspapers of America Published by Masco Communications Inc. © 2011 Masco Communications Inc. ISSN-0742-5155 The views of PGN are expressed only in the unsigned “Editorial” column. Opinions expressed in bylined columns, stories and letters to the editor are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of PGN. The appearance of names or pictorial representations in PGN does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of that named or pictured person or persons.

NATIONAL PGN

“He was an intellectual giant who had absolutely the best vision for how to advance our cause,” she said. “I really loved Frank for his contribution to our movement.”

In July 2005, 40 years after Kameny, Lahusen and Gittings first marched outside of Independence Hall, the Philadelphia pickets, known as the Annual Reminders, were permanently memorialized with a state-issued historical marker.

“Basically, we were right, and we were always right, and now we are recognized for having been right,” Kameny told PGN when the marker was installed.

In the summer of 2010, Kameny was again invited back to Philadelphia to participate in the Fourth of July parade as part of a contingent of early LGBTrights pioneers — an invite he humbly denied the significance of.

“With a big event like that, I don’t really know that my presence is all that much noteworthy,” he KAMENY (CENTER) AT THE 2005 UNVEILING OF THE said.

HISTORIC MARKER FOR THE ANNUAL REMINDERS Kameny couldn’t deny, PGN file photo however, the importance of his 1968 coining of the sloThe silent picket, in which the protes- gan “Gay is Good.”

“If I am remembered for anything, I hope tors sought through their mainstream dress and strict behavioral code to demonstrate to it will be that,” Kameny told the Associated passersby that gays and lesbians were not Press in 2009.

His legacy extends far beyond that slomuch different than heterosexuals, was congan, said American Foundation for Equal tinued on July 4 each year through 1969.

Kameny told PGN last year that the loca- Rights board president Chad Griffin.

“Because there was one Frank Kameny, tion and date for the Philadelphia protest trailblazing and honest enough to speak seemed “conceptually appropriate.”

“You have to bring yourself back to the out 50 years ago, there are now millions of ’60s and think that at that point these types Americans coming out, speaking out and of protests were the way for us to express fighting for their basic civil rights,” Griffin said. “His is a legacy of bravery and tremenour dissent,” Kameny said at the time.

Kay Lahusen and her late partner Barbara dous impact and will live on in the hearts Gittings participated in a number of pro- and minds of every American who values tests alongside Kameny, and Lahusen said equality and justice.”

In the past several years, Kameny’s Kameny had a “tremendous” impact on memory has come to be her.

PAGE 8

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 14-20, 2011

from page 1

Society, a “homophile” group that advocated for fair treatment of gays and lesbians in all aspects of society, especially in federal employment.

In 1965, Kameny was among the participants in the first gay-rights protest outside The White House and organized similar demonstrations at the Pentagon and outside Philadelphia’s Independence Hall on July 4 of that summer.

KAMENY AT THE 2010 FOURTH OF JULY PARADE IN PHILADELPHIA Photo: Scott A. Drake

LITERARY LEGEND: The women of Elements Organization welcomed activist and poet Sonia Sanchez (center) as the keynote speaker Oct. 8 for the third annual Womyn of Color Conference at Temple University. The three-day event, which drew a crowd of 125, featured film screenings, live performances and an array of workshops on everything from sexual health to women in business to spirituality. Pictured with Sanchez are Sheena Hendon (from left), co-executive director Shayna Israel, Terinae Holland, Carrie Kholi, co-executive director Adrienne Williams and Michele Jones.

Photo: Scott A. Drake

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LOCAL PGN

‘Runway’ star to promote ‘positive’ living at AIDS Walk

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com After keeping his HIV diagnosis a secret for a decade, last fall “Project Runway” contestant Mondo Guerra shared his status on national television — a decision that propelled him to join a national campaign that seeks to alleviate the stigma that kept him and countless others from sharing their struggle.

Guerra will be on hand at the 25th annual AIDS Walk Philadelphia, kicking off at 9 a.m. Oct. 16 at Eakins Oval.

Guerra, the runner-up on last season’s popular fashion show, will appear with fellow “Project Runway” alum Jack Mackenroth, the show’s first openly HIV-positive contestant, to represent Mackenroth’s Living Positive by Design campaign.

In an episode that aired last September, Guerra revealed to the show’s judges that the inspiration for one of his designs — covered in plus signs — was his own experience as an HIV-positive man, an aspect of his life he kept from his family since his 2000 diagnosis.

“I grew up in a very religious Latino, Catholic background, and I always felt like a failed man because of the machismo stigma associated with being Latino and the values and traditions expected in the Latino community — being gay isn’t one of those traditions,” he said. “So I always just felt like I’d disappointed my parents by being gay and then to be both HIV-positive and gay, I thought it would have just hurt my family too much.”

However, once he went public with his status, he knew he’d need to prepare his family for the episode, which was prerecorded.

“I didn’t want them to find out without

warning so I had dinner and told them very hesitantly that I had something to tell them that they may not understand or that might upset them and then I just finally told them I’d been positive for 10 years. How else can you say it?” Guerra said. “And my mom actually told me that she knew. I’d been sick with PCP [pneumocystis] pneumonia twice in three years and she just had those motherly instincts. But she told me how proud she was of me because I could finally just let go and she was excited I could have the opportunity to maybe inspire someone else.”

Mackenroth launched Living Positive by Design in 2008, along with Merck & Co., to educate the public about the misconceptions that contribute to the negative stigma attached to HIV/AIDS and encouraging those with the disease to face it head-on, with a positive outlook.

As part of Living Positive by Design, Guerra has had the chance to attend HIV/ AIDS events throughout the nation and, while he said he hopes his own journey inspires others, he also has had his “eyes opened” to the vast impact of the disease — hearing poignant stories from children who are positive and a friend whose parents both have HIV. Heightening awareness of the real people the disease affects goes hand-in-hand with alleviating the stigma associated with it, Guerra said, an idea he is particularly hoping to spread to Latino communities, who, according to the Centers for Disease Control, are disproportionately impacted

by HIV. “Coming off [‘Project Runway’] and being visible, I think I have a responsibility to keep the conversation open about HIV/AIDS and to combat the stigma,” he said, noting that members of his own fam-

ily have begun to educate themselves about the disease since he came out as positive. “They never sought out that information before because they didn’t have a face to put to the disease but now they do, and now they talk about it and ask questions. But people don’t talk about HIV as much as they should because they’re still scared and that makes that stigma even worse — I was in hiding for 10 years, and there was a reason for that. So it’s something that needs to be put out on the table and addressed.”

While the public discussion on HIV/AIDS has come a long way since AIDS Walk first started in 1987, Robb Reichard, executive director of AIDS Fund, which stages the annual walk, said the conversation needs to be renewed to contend with the ongoing epidemic.

“Here we are, 25 years later, still walking to raise funds and awareness of HIV/AIDS in our community,” he said.

“We still have an epidemic in the U.S. and right here in our own backyard. One in five gay and bisexual men in major urban cities are HIV positive, but almost half of them don’t know it, because they haven’t had a recent HIV test.”

For more information or to register for

MONDO GUERRA

the walk, visit www.aidswalkphilly.org.

Check-in for the 5K run begins at 7 a.m., with the run setting off an hour later.

Registration for the walk starts at 7:30 a.m., followed by the opening ceremony at 8:30 a.m.

For more information about Living Positive By Design, visit www.livingpositivebydesign.com. ■

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LOCAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 14-20, 2011

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Artists unite for LGBT youth

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com The city’s premiere architecture and design event will this year include an art show benefiting an LGBT organization that is building itself from the ground-up.

A fundraiser for Foyer of Philadelphia will kick off at 6 p.m.

Oct. 19 at Triumph Brewery, 117 Chestnut St. Foyer, which works to meet the needs of LGBT youth struggling with homelessness, is partnering with Design Philadelphia, running through Oct. 23, for the event.

Tickets are $10 at the door, and 40 percent of the artwork sold will support Foyer’s upcoming winter shelter, which, in partnership with Villanova University and the First United Church of Christ, will provide 10 beds nightly for LGBT youth from December-February.

The local Foyer is modeled after a European concept of youth-service programming and, once its housing programs are fully established, will be the first Foyer in the nation to cater specifically to LGBT youth.

Foyer of Philadelphia executive director Leigh Braden is hoping

to spread the agency’s innovative message to a new crowd of supporters through the upcoming show.

“I’m hoping that people who don’t yet know anything about us will be participating in the event,” she said. “Most of our outreach has been within the LGBT community, which has been incredibly supportive of us throughout this entire process, but we also want to open ourselves up to people who may work in construction, architecture or design who will be attending [Design Philadelphia].

We want to expose this housing concept to a whole new audience and hopefully get even more support.”

Information about the local Foyer, as well as the international Foyer Federation, will be available for guests at the art show.

The art itself will be on sale for $200-$1,000.

Artists include Ellen Abraham, Sandra Benhaim, Mike Izzo, Mary Kane, Kathy Sereni, Andrea Korff and Fay Stanford — whose work ranges from photography to drawings to paintings.

“We cast out a net among local artists and got a real wide

Crowne-PHILAGAYNEWS-due8-26_typeOutlines.indd 1

range of people who responded,” Braden said. “It’s really eclectic but they’re all people who want to support the work we’re doing with LGBT youth.”

In addition to the pieces for sale, the first installment of photographer Kathy McLean’s “Images of Homeless LGBTQ Youth in Philadelphia” will be unveiled.

McLean’s year-long project focuses on a series of teens and the triumphs and pitfalls they face while contending with homelessness, with some of the images captured at QSpot, a bimonthly LGBT safe space offered by a coalition of local agencies, including Foyer.

“Her series follows the lives of these five or six young people who are currently homeless or who’ve been homeless recently and, through her photography, she documents really what their everyday life looks like,” Braden said.

Braden said organizers are hoping to raise up to $3,000 from the show, which will support this winter’s pioneering program.

For more information about the show, search for Foyer of Philadelphia on Facebook. ■

RAISING THE RAINBOW: Mayor Nutter and other city officials heralded LGBT History Month with the raising of a rainbow flag atop City Hall Oct. 6. The second annual ceremony featured a special tribute to the Metropolitan Community Church of Philadelphia, The Colours Organization Inc. and the Philly Trans* March, celebrating their 40th, 20th and first anniversaries, respectively. About 150 people turned out to celebrate the flag-raising, complicated by the first day of the Occupy Philadelphia demonstration, also held at City Hall.

Photo: Scott A. Drake

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 14-20, 2011

NATIONAL PGN from page 5

preserved in the American consciousness through such efforts as the Kameny Papers Project, which fueled the donation of more than 70,000 items from Kameny’s home — including original picket signs used in the 1960s demonstrations — to the Library of Congress.

In 2009, the D.C. Historic Preservation Review Board designated his longtime home as a historic landmark, and last year a street in Washington, D.C., was renamed “Frank Kameny Way.” And just as Kameny’s participation in Philadelphia’s July 4 parade was a fullcircle occasion, Kameny also saw several other wrongs righted in recent years.

In 2006, the APA presented him and Gittings with its John M. Fryer Award and, three years later, he received a formal apology from the United States government for his firing, 52 years previously, by openly gay director of Office of Personnel Management John Berry.

In a statement this week, Berry called Kameny an “American hero who transformed our nation’s LGBT community.”

“He helped make it possible for countless patriotic Americans to hold security clearances and high government positions, including me. And in so doing, he showed everyone what was possible for every employer in our country,” Berry said. “He was known for being feisty and combative, but he was also big-hearted. He honored me personally by attending my swearingin and showed his ability to forgive by accepting my official apology on behalf of the government for the sad and discredited termination of his federal employment.”

When President Obama signed a bill in 2009 extending domestic-partner rights to gay federal employees, Kameny stood next to him and was also invited to be present for the signing of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” last year.

“It was his great wish to see that law relegated to the history books, and we are so proud that he was able to see that day and be a key part of that shared victory,” said Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network.

“At SLDN, we mourn the loss of our friend and ally, and we rejoice that Frank could join SLDN for special events and provide us with encouragement and wise counsel at critical stages as we followed in his footsteps and lifted posters to lobby Congress, The White House and the Pentagon for recognition and our equality.”

Of all of his contributions, Lahusen said one of the most remarkable was Kameny’s all-encompassing devotion to the movement.

“He made the gay movement and the fight for gay equality the mission of his life,” she said. “He set aside any other hopes and plans and dreams he had for himself.

This was his mission and he worked tirelessly for it. It is the end of an era with his passing.”

A public memorial is expected for Kameny in November in Washington, D.C. ■

PGN

News Briefing Kick HIV in South Philly In honor of the seventh annual National Latino AIDS Awareness Day, a number of local Latino agencies and LGBT soccer club the Philadelphia Falcons are teaming up for an awareness and testing day.

“Kick HIV” will be held from 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 15 at Capitolo Recreation Center, 900 Federal St. The Falcons and other soccer clubs will come together to participate in a soccer tournament, open to members and nonmembers, and the event will feature rapid HIV testing and HIV counseling, health screenings and health information from more than 30 local agencies.

For more information, visit www.kickhiv.org.

Newtown OKs ordinance Newtown Borough became the third Bucks County municipality — and the 23rd in the state — this week to adopt an LGBTinclusive nondiscrimination ordinance.

Media Trail Gay-rights advocate Ettelbrick dies ABC News reports attorney Paula Ettelbrick, a pioneering advocate for gay rights in the U.S., has died.

According to the Stonewall Community Foundation, the 56-year-old Ettelbrick died of cancer on Oct. 8 in New York City. She was the group’s executive director.

In the 1980s, Ettelbrick argued publicly that gay and lesbian couples should have the right to marry, and was involved in persuading New York City to grant domesticpartner rights and benefits.

Ettelbrick also held top positions in the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

Richmond Fed won’t fly gay flag in ’12 The Washington Post reports the Federal

Borough Council voted 5-1 Tuesday night in favor of Council President Julia Woldorf’s measure, which bans discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing and public accommodations. The ordinance also creates a Human Relations Commission to investigate and adjudicate discrimination complaints.

The only dissenting vote, Councilman Bob Walker, asserted that the issue should be dealt with at the state level.

The wave of suburban nondiscrimination ordinances in the last two years come as a bill to ban LGBT discrimination statewide remains stalled in the legislature.

Sick leave back on agenda The vetoed legislation that sought to mandate paid sick days at Philadelphia businesses was resurrected last week in a new form.

City Council’s Committee on Commerce and Economic Development unanimously approved Councilman Wilson Goode Jr.’s sick-day bill last Wednesday.

Goode’s bill, which would require a company to offer seven earned sick days a year, applies only to certain businesses that contract with the city.

The original version, spearheaded

by Councilmen Darrell Clarke and Bill Greenlee, applied to all businesses that operate within the city. Mayor Nutter vetoed that measure in June.

Reserve Bank in Richmond will not fly a rainbow flag in recognition of Gay Pride Month next year, as it did last June.

The bank’s display of the flag drew complaints from social conservatives, including state House Del. Bob Marshall. The Republican wrote bank officials demanding the flag be removed, but it remained in place until the end of the month.

Bank employees received an internal memo Oct. 8 defending the decision to fly the flag, but saying future recognitions of Gay Pride Month will not be so visible. The memo was signed by bank President Jeff Lacker and Vice President Sally Green.

Gay oil man says W.Va. unfairly targets him Bluefield, W.V.’s wvva.com reports a West Virginia oil driller claims state regulators have targeted his business for multiple violations because he’s gay, an allegation denied by the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Gary Payne claims his company, Patriot Energy, has been in the state’s crosshairs while more serious infractions by other drillers have been overlooked.

DEP officials denied Payne’s allegations and released a telephone voicemail recording in which Payne threatened to physically assault an inspector. He also repeatedly used a gay slur. ■ — compiled by Larry Nichols

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 14-20, 2011

Council is expected to vote on Goode’s measure Oct. 13 but it is unclear whether Nutter would again veto it if it passes.

Allentown honors lesbian A l l e n t o w n ’s H u m a n R e l a t i o n s Commission will honor eight visionaries at its upcoming annual gala, one of whom founded an LGBT agency in the region.

The commission will present its Human Relations Award to Dr. Patricia Sullivan, cofounder and president of the Pennsylvania Diversity Network, at its event, 5:30 p.m.

Oct. 18 at the Allentown Symphony Hall, 23 N. Sixth St. As a full-time volunteer for the agency and board president for the past seven years, Sullivan has worked to advance several LGBT-rights measures in the Allentown region and furthered discussion on LGBT equality issues throughout the state.

Sullivan, also a gourmet chef, has hosted dozens of events in the past 15 years to bring together the region’s LGBT and ally community around LGBT-rights issues.

Tickets to the event are $35 and can be purchased by calling 610-432-7961 or visiting http://bit.ly/nc5PU2.

Share your Philly story Philadelphia Community Access Media is calling on Philadelphians to share their stories of their love for the City of Brotherly

Love and Sisterly Affection.

From noon-6 p.m. Oct. 16, Philly CAM representatives will conduct interviews at 600 Ranstead St. Guests are encouraged to share their personal histories with the city and what makes them proud to live here.

Select footage will be used in the Philadelphia History Museum’s Finding Philadelphia gallery.

Light refreshments will be provided.

Parking is $5, or $2 for History Museum members, at One Independence Garage on Seventh Street.

To request an interview time slot, call 215-685-4827 or email events@philadelphi ahistory.org.

Gay film series wraps A months-long film series in Lancaster will end this month with a town-hall discussion on faith and the LGBT community.

“From Dialogue to Action” will be held from 2-4:30 p.m. Oct. 30 at First United Methodist Church, 29 E. Lancaster St. Embrace Lancaster has presented a monthly film since June exploring the LGBT perspective in a number of religious communities, and the town-hall will address the incorporation of interfaith dialogue into the local LGBT-rights movement.

For more information, search for Embrace Lancaster on Facebook, email EmbraceLanc@gmail.com or call 717-3801071. ■ — Jen Colletta

Get the scoop on Philly’s LGBT nightlife in Barcrawlr, PGN’s biweekly take on not-to-miss events

Barcrawlr Jim KileyZufelt

Written by PGN’s intrepid reporter, Jim Kiley-Zufelt Online and in print every other week.

Only in

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 14-20, 2011

EDITORIAL PGN

Creep of the Week

D’Anne Witkowski

Proposition 8 legal defense team

Editorial

Another week of highs, lows Here in the editorial department of PGN, the workweek runs from Thursday to Wednesday, when the paper goes to press. Sadly, this past week, which started with the high of the flag-raising ceremony last Thursday, ended with the death of LGBT-rights pioneer Frank Kameny on Tuesday.

The second annual rainbow flag raising at City Hall, complemented by the Occupy Philly protest on the other side of the building, brought together activists, community members, civil servants and politicians — and truly showed how far the LGBT community has come in terms of rights and recognition.

Last weekend also saw the first Trans* March and the third annual LGBTQ Womyn of Color Conference. On Sunday, the community turned out in force for OutFest, the annual street festival in the Gayborhood marking National Coming Out Day. The unseasonably warm weather brought out the community in droves: Organizers estimated that more than 40,000 attended.

At the event, the new historic marker for Giovanni’s Room bookstore was unveiled — the culmination of 18 months of effort by a working group that included the store, nonprofits, quasi-governmental agencies and the city, and comprised this editor. The marker is only the second in the state to commemorate an LGBT-specific site; the other stands outside of Independence Hall, commemorating the Annual Reminder pickets held from 1965-69.

Which brings us back to Kameny, who was one of the organizers and marchers in those first pickets almost 50 years ago.

Kameny was the first person to sue the U.S. government for sexual-orientation discrimination after he was fired from his job as an astronomer from the Army Mapping Service (now the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency) in 1957.

In 1961, he co-founded The Mattachine Society, an activist group pushing for fair and equal treatment of gays and lesbians. Two years later, he worked on a campaign to overturn Washington, D.C.’s sodomy laws. Thirty years later, he wrote the bill that finally repealed them.

In 1965, he was involved in pickets outside the Pentagon, The White House and Independence Hall.

The pickets in Philadelphia helped spur activism here, and incited others to work openly for gay and lesbian civil rights.

Kameny, along with Barbara Gittings, was also instrumental in successfully lobbying the American Psychiatric Association to change the classification of homosexuality as a mental disorder. The declassification began to lessen the demonization of gays and lesbians in society.

In addition to the death of Kameny, this week also marked the 13th anniversary of the murder of Matthew Shepard, the gay college student killed in Laramie, Wyo. Like Kameny’s activism, Shepard’s death compelled the LGBT community and allies to push for equal rights and protections. ■

Hey, did you hear the one about the judge who ruled against Proposition 8 in California being a homo? And how his ruling shouldn’t count because he’s gay?

LOL, am I right?

Actually, the idea that a gay judge can’t be trusted to make a ruling on a case that impacts gay people is ridiculous. But that’s the very argument proponents of Prop. 8, California’s 2008 antigay marriage amendment, are continuing to make about U.S. Chief Judge Vaughn Walker, who struck down the amendment as unconstitutional.

“Proposition 8 fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license,” Walker wrote in his opinion.

Naturally, supporters of Prop. 8 weren’t particularly happy with this ruling.

But when it became known that Walker was not only gay but also had been in a 10-year relationship with a man, Prop. 8ers went absolutely apoplectic.

“But, but, but ... he’s one of them,” they stammered. “Walker is nothing but a secret gay soldier in the war against marriage! He must be stopped!”

Prop. 8 proponents believe that Walker is an activist judge of the worst kind — the kind that doesn’t rule in their favor.

As far as Prop. 8 supporters see it, Walker’s ruling is nothing but a blatant display of self-interest. You see, only heterosexuals should be allowed to decide whether or not gays and lesbians are allowed to marry.

And so Prop. 8 supporters have asked a federal judge to vacate Walker’s ruling because Walker doesn’t count as a real judge since he’s a homo and homo judges should only be able to rule on non-homo cases.

Keep in mind that Chief Judge James Ware, who replaced Walker after Walker retired, already ruled that Walker’s ruling is fine and not at all invalid because of his sexual orientation, essentially telling the Prop. 8 folks where to go.

Ware said that claims that Walker couldn’t be trusted to rule on cases involving LGBT issues was “as warrantless as the presumption that a female judge is

incapable of being impartial in a case in which women seek legal relief.”

This, of course, only led Prop. 8 folks to claim that two judges were wrong. And apparently they’re going to keep on searching until they find a judge who has an answer they like.

In an effort to counter arguments such as Ware’s, the Prop. 8 team is claiming that they don’t think gay and lesbian judges aren’t ever fit to rule in LGBT-related cases — just not ones that directly impact their lives. “We know of no reason to believe, for example, that Judge Walker would have any personal interest in the outcome of litigation over, say, the constitutionality of the military’s ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy,” they claim. “ Nor would there be any issue with a gay or lesbian judge hearing this case so long as a reasonable person, knowing all of the relevant facts and circumstances, would not have reason to believe that the judge has a personal interest in marrying if Plaintiffs prevailed.”

In other words, since Walker was in a 10-year relationship, he probably wants to get married, which means his ruling is really just a glitzy high-profile marriage proposal clearly meant to show up the heteros who rely on their local sports stadium’s jumbo-tron or a banner-pulling airplane to pop the question.

An obvious red flag here is the term “reasonable person,” since antigay-marriage foes don’t seem to be the best judges of what a “reasonable person” is. It does not seem particularly reasonable to me to fight tooth and nail to keep civil rights away from a certain group of people arguing that marriage is yours and you’ll be damned if you’re going to share that institution with any queers.

Or, in the case of Prop. 8ers vs. Judge Walker, let a queer tell you no. ■

Naturally, supporters of Prop. 8 weren’t particularly happy with this ruling. But when it became known that Walker was not only gay but also had been in a 10-year relationship with a man, Prop. 8ers went absolutely apoplectic.

D’Anne Witkowski has been gay for pay since 2003. She’s a freelance writer and poet (believe it!). When she’s not taking on the creeps of the world, she reviews rock ’n’ roll shows in Detroit with her twin sister.

OP-ED PGN

Community Voices

Lee Carson, Liberty City co-chair

Changes to LGBT Dems club Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club was founded in fall 1994 and ever since has served as the only lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Democratic political organization in Philadelphia. One of our primary purposes is to harness the political power of LGBT communities to get officials elected who are good on our issues and who will support the advancement of our communities.

In the past year, there have been quite a few changes within Liberty City that we would like to share, as well as some of the exciting directions we are going in. I was elected as the new male-identified co-chair of the organization in the spring of this year after serving on the board of directors for the past few years. Shortly after I came on as the co-chair, Adah Bush, the femaleidentified co-chair, had to resign her position due to mounting work commitments.

The board of directors and I would like to thank Adah for all the hard work she put into the organization in her time as a board member and co-chair.

Moving forward organizationally, the board has started to lay the groundwork for improving the infrastructure of the club so we can strengthen the work and effectiveness of Liberty City. On Sept. 10, we held a membership retreat, where we conducted a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis to examine what we are doing well and what we need to improve.

At this retreat, we also discussed ideas to re-energize the various committees that comprise the organization’s structure.

Within the next few months, a synopsis of the retreat will be available to our membership.

As we move toward increasing the presence of Liberty City in Philadelphia’s LGBT communities, we have started to enhance our communications. We have

recently launched a redesigned website, which can be found at www.libertycity.org.

Here you can find candidate questionnaires dating back to 2003, our current endorsements and our committees, among other things. We have also created a Facebook page: We encourage you to “like” us so you can be kept up to date on the organization.

Another priority for Liberty City is to increase the transparency with which we operate. On our new website, you will be able to find all of our campaign finance reports dating back to 2000, and soon you will be able to find the minutes from our board of directors’ meetings too. In addition to the September retreat, we will have other mechanisms in which organization members can give us feedback about our work.

The final priority of the organization is to increase the diversity of our membership, including people of color, women and transgender persons. We are currently working on strategies to create greater inroads to these communities to increase their involvement.

This is an exciting time for Liberty City and we hope you will join us to increase the political power of Philadelphia’s Democratic LGBT communities. There are several ways you can get involved: Become a member of the organization, join a committee of the organization, volunteer during our get-out-the-vote efforts in the fall and spring, or make a monetary contribution to the organization. You can find information on our website.

I invite you to join us for our next event, a fall fundraiser, from 6-8 p.m. Nov. 1 at Stir, 1705 Chancellor St. Please join us, make a contribution, meet candidates and learn more about the work of Liberty City.

■

Letters and Feedback In response to “One year later, Blahnik case stalled,” Oct. 7-13:

In response to “Tenika Watson: Living beyond Pendergrass’ tragedy,” April 22-28:

Thank you, Jen, for reporting the facts instead of trying to create your own story.

God bless you.

— Malik Moorer

Things are different now than in 1972.

Now there are computer databases that keep track of your entire life. You can only keep your past life a secret for so long before someone finds out. But mostly, transsexuals these days in 2011 don’t have to live their lives in any closet except the ones of their own making. You can be out and proud and unashamed of who you are and how you express it now, much more so than 1972. It’s not a perfect world, far from it. But the many advances that have been made were by the many women and men who were brave enough to live out and proud. The best proof of this is the fact that now we talk about trans kids. Children as young as 5 or 6 (maybe younger) are

In response to “Best of Gay Philly 2011,” Sept. 30-Oct. 6: I’ve only been in Philadelphia for a few months and I was looking to learn something about the winners. Instead I learned something about the paper; you don’t know how to tell someone “good job.”

— MichiganMike

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 14-20, 2011

11

Street Talk Should a job applicant come out on a résumé?

“It depends on the employer and the location.

If it’s a very conservative company in a rural area, I probably wouldn’t Daniel Albertson indicate illustrator anything Washington Square West about my gayness. But if it would be an advantage, I’d include it. Include what helps, and leave out what’s detrimental.”

“Sure.

Why not?

Be aware that there could be repercussions.

But that’s OK, because you wouldn’t want to work Samantha Mera designer for a disOld City criminatory employer anyway. Your integrity is more important than a job.”

“Yes, because it’s part of your community identity, and you shouldn’t hold back from that.

Even though the job Olivia Palmerini market is fashion illustrator tight, it’s Rittenhouse Square important to be honest and to share everything that you can.”

“No. It can have a negative effect on getting a job.

Prejudice is still alive, even though some Edward Ray people try student to pretend it Washington Square isn’t. It’s not West as flagrant as years ago, but it’s still there.”

Tell us what you think Send letters and opinion column submissions to: pgn@epgn.com; PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147; fax: 215-925-6437.

allowed to be who they are and live their lives unashamed and supported by loving parents and health-care professionals who understand. Would any of this be possible if every post-op transsexual just faded into the woodwork and disappeared from the conversation?

With all due respect to Ms. Watson, even she by default admits she cannot live under the radar.

Would anyone be interested in her life story if it did not include the details of her life that made her a tabloid sensation in the first place?

But that is my point: In silence, nothing happens. But if you speak out, the world is your oyster! And then that’s where the real work begins. And that’s when things start to get done.

— DJmichelleLove

Please include a daytime phone number.

Letters may be edited for clarity, style and space considerations.

With all due respect to the lifestyle choices made, I do not agree with DJML. Not every woman desires to become a “transsexual fetish performance artist.”

For those who are young and forced to confront and deal with their issues, they should know that their dreams for a quiet life as a normal woman are very, very attainable.

— AnnaRosa I remember asking Tenika after the accident what happened and she said that no one even bothered to ask if she was all right. It was very easy to forget she is human.

I also do not like being referred to as a transwoman or anything other than a woman. That is a personal choice that should be respected. People do not have the right to define you to fit their agenda.

— Cei Bell

12

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 14-20, 2011

GAY HISTORY MONTH PGN — WE ARE AMERICA

We are America: How members of the LGBT community helped create the USA

Friedrich von Steuben: Father of the U.S. military Second in a monthlong series

By Mark Segal Exclusively for PGN National Gay History Project There are few historians today who would doubt that Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben was gay.

To appreciate the contributions von Steuben (1730-94) made to the American Revolution, consider this: Before his arrival in Valley Forge in 1778, the Revolutionary Army had lost several battles to Great Britain. Without him, the United States of America might still be the British colonies.

Before Valley Forge, the Revolutionary Army was a loosely organized, rag-tag band of men with little military training. The military fumbled through the beginning of the war for independence lacking training and organization. Gen. George Washington and the Continental Congress knew that without help from additional seasoned military experts, the colonies would clearly lose.

Since Washington himself was the best the colonies had, they looked to Europe for someone who could train the troops. To that end, Washington wrote the colonies’ representative in Paris, Benjamin Franklin, for help. Franklin had two major objectives in France: winning financial support for the revolution and finding military leaders for the Revolutionary Army.

Franklin learned of a “brilliant” Prussian military genius, Lt. Gen. Baron Friedrich

von Steuben, who had a string of successes (some self-embellished) with the Prussian army. There was one problem. He’d been asked to depart because of his “affections for members of his own sex.” This became urgent in 1777 when he literally escaped imprisonment in what is now Germany and traveled to Paris. In Paris, Franklin was interviewing candidates to assist Washington back in the colonies when he discovered von Steuben.

During the interview process, Franklin discovered von Steuben’s reputation for having “affections” with males and the issue became pressing as members of the French clergy demanded the French court, as in other countries, take action against this sodomite. They had decided to make their effort a crusade and run him out of France.

Franklin had a choice: He decided von Steuben’s expertise was more important to the colonies than his sexuality.

At the same time, another colonial representative was in France with the explicit job of recruiting experienced military personnel from Europe to train the Continental Army.

He was Silas Deane, a former representative to the first Continental Congress and a friend of Franklin. Deane is best known for recruiting the Marquis de Lafayette. He also had a side job as a spy for the colonies. Besides being intelligent themselves, Franklin and Deane knew how to spot intelligence. It would have been impossible for either to not know about the reputation of von Steuben.

Franklin, working with Deane, decided von Steuben’s “affections” were less impor-

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tant than what he, Washington and the colonies needed to win the war. Deane learned of von Steuben’s indiscretions — and that the French clergy was investigating — from a letter to the Prince of Hechingen, his former employer, which read in part: “It has come to me from different sources that M. de Steuben is accused of having taken familiarities with young boys which the laws forbid and punish severely. I have even been informed that that is the reason why M. de Steuben was obliged to leave Hechingen and that the clergy of your country intend to prosecute him by law as soon as he may establish himself anywhere.”

Deane, along with Franklin, acted quickly before the clergy could deport or imprison von Steuben and plotted to send him to the colonies to serve with Washington. Von Steuben was given an advance for passage to America and began as a volunteer, without pay.

Once he’d arrived in Valley Forge, Washington appointed two French-speaking officers to serve as his translators. One of those officers was Alexander Hamilton and the other, his close friend John Laurens.

Within months, von Steuben gained Washington’s confidence and began to transform the army.

Washington and Franklin’s trust in von Steuben was rewarded. He whipped the ragtag army into a professional fighting force, able to take on the most powerful superpower of the time, England. Some of his accomplishments include instituting a “model company” for training, establishing sanitary standards and camp organization and training soldiers in drills and tactics such as bayonet fighting and musket loading. According to “The Papers of Von Steuben,” the following is a timeline of his achievements.

February 1778: Arrives at Valley Forge to

serve under Washington, having informed Congress of his desire for paid service after an initial volunteer trial period, with which request Washington concurs.

March 1778: Begins tenure as inspector general, drilling troops according to established European military precepts.

1778-79: Writes “Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States,” which becomes a fundamental guide for the Continental Army and remains in active use through the War of 1812, being published in over 70 editions.

1780-81: Senior military officer in charge of troop and supply mobilization in Virginia.

1781: Replaced by Marquis de Lafayette as commander in Virginia.

1 7 8 1 - 8 3 : C o n t i n u e s t o s e r ve a s Washington’s inspector general, and is active in improving discipline and streamlining administration in the army.

Spring 1783: Assists in formulating plans for the postwar American military.

Washington rewarded Von Steuben with a house at Valley Forge (still in existence and open for visits), which he shared with his aides-de-camp Capt. William North and Gen. Benjamin Walker. Walker lived with him through the remainder of his life, and von Steuben, who neither married nor denied any allegations of homosexuality, left his estate to North and Walker. His will, which includes the line “extraordinarily intense emotional relationship,” has been called a love letter to Walker.

Numerous statues memorialize von Steuben, including those at Lafayette Square near the White House, Philadelphia, Valley Forge and Utica, N.Y. (where he is buried) and German Americans celebrate his birthday on Sept. 17 annually, hosting parades in New York City, Philadelphia and Chicago.

If Washington was the father of the nation, then von Steuben, a gay man, was the father of the U.S. military. ■ Mark Segal is founder and publisher of Philadelphia Gay News, the country’s oldest LGBT newsweekly.

GAY HISTORY MONTH PGN — WE ARE AMERICA

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 14-20, 2011

13

Katharine Lee Bates: Author of ‘America the Beautiful’

By Judd Proctor and Brian Burns Exclusively for PGN National Gay History Project Katharine Lee Bates was born Aug. 12, 1859, on Cape Cod in Falmouth, Mass., to William and Cornelia Frances Lee Bates.

Known as Katie early on, things would not be easy from the start. Her father, a pastor of the First Congregational Church, was too sick to officiate or attend her baptism and died just six days afterward. This prompted her mother to take on odd jobs to support her four children. Bates’ brothers even went to work to support the family.

Bates’ interest in writing started early in life. By age 6, she started keeping a diary, her first being a tiny red leather notebook with the notation “DIARY 1866” in gold. At age 9, one entry stated, “I like women better than men,” and “Sewing is always expected of girls. Why not boys?”

Bates’ family valued education. Her mother graduated from Mount Holyoke Female Seminary and her grandfather had been president of Middlebury College. She too would be well educated.

Just before she turned 12, the family moved to Graniteville, Mass., just outside Boston, where Bates would attend Wellesley High School, graduating in 1874.

Bates would also graduate from the moreadvanced Newton High School two years later.

That same year, in 1878, at age 17, Bates began her long association with Wellesley College, entering with 43 other girls in the class of “’80.” She would be president of her class, the second to graduate from Wellesley. At the time, it was a bold move, as women were considered not bright enough to tackle the rigors of academic life.

But Bates craved it.

Bates gained a superb education at Wellesley and became grounded in her studies. Her poetry writing began to flourish with her first poem, “Sleep,” published in The Atlantic Monthly during her undergraduate years there.

After receiving her B.A. from Wellesley College in 1880, Bates entered her career as a teacher, with a stint at nearby Natick High School and then Dana Hall Preparatory School. Her big break came in 1885, when she was invited back to Wellesley College to join the English department. Thus began her 40-year legacy at her old alma mater.

During her time at Wellesley, Bates became a prolific author of travel books, volumes of poetry and children’s books.

Today she is credited with popularizing the notion that Santa Claus had a wife in the book “Goody Santa Claus On A Sleigh Ride.” Before then, Bishop St. Nicholas was unmarried and later transformed into a secular Santa Claus in the 1820s.

Written as a long poem in 1889, the book

depicts Mrs. Claus as wanting to accompany Santa on his Christmas Eve trip to deliver his toys to all the girls and boys — not a stay-at-home wife. Instead, Santa’s wife takes a feminist stance, demanding credit for her hard work in making Christmas possible, including cooking for Santa.

Like her creator Bates, this Mrs. Claus would stand up for herself and beg the same question: Why can’t women do the same work as men?

During her Wellesley years, Bates took trips abroad for sabbaticals and summers off. But it would be her crosscountry train trip to Colorado Springs in 1893 — she’d been asked to teach a summer session at Colorado College — that would spark her bestknown poem, “America the Beautiful.”

The trip was a long one with picturesque views through her train coach window. Passing through Massachusetts and then to New York, there was a brief stop at one of the continent’s most famous attractions, Niagara Falls. Then it was off to Chicago where Bates would have a weekend stopover at the family home of Katharine Coman, professor of economics and history at Wellesley. The two had met in 1887, and would live together for more than a quarter of a century in what was then known as a “Boston marriage.”

While in Chicago, they toured what Bates in her diary called “The Fair” — the World’s Columbian Exposition, celebrating the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ discovery of the New World.

The view of what was described as the “White City” impressed Bates.

From Chicago, on July 3, 1893, both Katharines boarded a train bound for their summer classes in Colorado, passing fields of wheat as they traveled west through Kansas and on to Colorado Springs. They would together view the Rocky Mountains for the first time.

At Colorado College for three weeks, the two instructors toured the area in their free time. It was on Saturday, July 22, 1893, that Bates experienced her most exciting excursion. A group of instructors traveled to the top of the mountain that loomed over the town below. At 14,110 feet above sea level, Pike’s Peak, while not the tallest in the Rocky Mountain range, commanded the best view for miles around.

The group went by horse-drawn wagon, which included the sign “Pikes Peak or Bust!” Bates described the experience this way, “One day some of the other teachers and I decided to go on a trip to 14,000-foot Pike’s Peak. We hired a prairie wagon. Near the top we had to leave the wagon and go the rest of the way on mules. I was very tired. But when I saw the view, I felt great joy. All the wonder of America seemed displayed there, with the sea-like expanse.”

Inspired by the majestic view, Bates

wrote some verses in her notebook — the start of “America the Beautiful.”

It would not be until Bates’ return to Wellesley College that she would polish up her verses from Colorado. Her first version of “America the Beautiful” appeared in the Congregationalist on July 4, 1895. While many tunes, including “Auld Lang Sein,” were matched to the poem’s words and meter, the one that stuck was “Marterna,” written by American organist and composer Samuel Ward in 1882. Known as “the other national anthem,” Bates’ ode has touched so many lives “from sea to shining sea.”

Both Bates and Coman had successful careers at Wellesley College. After graduating as a student, Bates later chaired the English department, and Coman chaired the economics department and was dean of the college. Their relationship grew over the years until they soon considered themselves bound as one. Their friendships included other female couples at the college known as “Wellesley marriages.”

While today she’s less well-known than her partner, Coman was ahead of her time as the first woman institutional economist, writing books and articles on the topic.

Coman was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1912. After surgery, Bates cared for her, even installing an elevator in their home to aid her partner in getting to her office on the third floor of their house near the college.

Coman died on Jan. 11, 1915, at age 57.

Bates expressed her grief to a friend saying, “So much of me died with Coman that I’m sometimes not quite sure whether I’m alive or not.”

Bates also wrote of their relationship in a volume of poetry published in 1922 entitled “Yellow Clover, A Book of Remembrance.”

The poem took its name from the little yellow flowers each had pressed into the letters they wrote to each other when apart.

Bates continued at Wellesley until 1925.

During her final years, she continued to write and review the works of others. She died on March 28, 1929, upon which the flag at Tower Court at Wellesley was flown at half-staff. The local newspaper The Townsman printed this in her obituary: “The death of Katherine Lee Bates means the passing away of one of the most notable citizens of Wellesley, one of the most important figures connected with Wellesley College, and much more than that, a considerable author and creative influence in the whole of American life.” ■ Judd Proctor and Brian Burns host “The Rainbow Minute,” a radio show devoted to LGBT history and culture founded in 2006.

Proctor is a retired elementary school teacher and staunch gay activist. Burns is an author and horticulturalist. The couple resides in Richmond, Va.

Portraits

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15

Is a Roth IRA conversion right for you?

Q: Someone mentioned a Roth IRA conversion to me. I’m not really sure how it works and if it makes sense for my retirement. Can you please help?

for single taxpayers for 2011. An additional $1,000 “catch-up” contribution is permitted for each investor age 50 and older who has already made the maximum annual contribution.

— Income thresholds for annual contributions: None, as long as the account holder has taxable compensation and is younger than age 70-and-a-half by the end of the year.

— Deductibility of contribution: Yes, if account holder meets income requirements established by the IRS. — Contributions after age 70and-a-half: Not allowed.

— Required minimum distributions (RMDs) after age 70-and-ahalf: RMDs are required.

— Taxes on distributions: Qualified distributions are taxed as ordinary income. Withdrawals Jeremy before age 59-and-a-half may be subject to a 10-percent Gussick also penalty. (Check irs.gov or consult your financial advisor.)

A: In 2010, the rules for Roth IRA conversions changed, which may be a good thing for you. Let’s explore some of the factors that may affect your decision to convert assets within a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, as well as the potential benefits and tax implications of a conversion.

Until recently, retirement investors who wanted to convert all or a portion of their traditional IRA account balance to a Roth IRA faced a stumbling block: According to old IRS rules, conversions were available only to those with modified adjusted gross incomes (MAGIs) of $100,000 or less. But in 2010, this restriction was removed, permitting retirement investors at any level of income to convert assets from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. Whether you should convert all or a portion of your traditional IRA assets to a Roth account may depend on the amount of time you plan to leave the assets invested, your estate-planning strategies and your willingness to pay the federal income-tax bill that a conversion is likely to trigger.

Out Money

Two types of IRAs: Traditional & Roth Each type of IRA has its own specific rules and potential benefits.

Traditional IRA — Maximum annual contribution: $5,000

Roth IRA — Maximum annual contribution: Same as traditional IRA: $5,000 for single taxpayers for 2011. An additional $1,000 “catch-up” contribution is permitted for each investor aged 50 and older who has already made the maximum annual contribution.

— Income thresholds for annual contributions: Single taxpayers with MAGIs in excess of $122,000 are not eligible in 2011.

Income thresholds are indexed annually.

— Deductibility of contribution: No. — Contributions after age 70-and-a-half: Contributions allowed after age 70-and-a-

half if owner has earned income.

— Required minimum distributions (RMDs) after age 70-and-a-half: Not required.

— Taxes on distributions: Qualified distributions are tax-free. Withdrawals from accounts held less than five years or before age 59and-a-half may be subject to taxes and a 10percent penalty. (Check irs.gov or consult your financial advisor for more information.)

Conversion: Potential benefits ...

Potential benefits of converting from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA include: — A larger sum to bequeath to heirs.

Since RMDs are not required for Roth IRAs, investors who do not need to take withdrawals may leave the money invested as long as they choose, which may result in a larger balance for heirs. After an account owner’s death, beneficiaries are required to take distributions, although different rules apply to spouses and non-spouses.

— Tax-free withdrawals. Even if retirees need withdrawals for living expenses, withdrawals are tax-free for those who are age 59-and-a-half or older and who have had the money invested for five years or more.

Factors to consider: — A conversion may be better the further you are from retirement. The longer your earnings can grow, the more time you have to compensate for the associated tax bill.

— Your current and future tax brackets will affect which IRA is best for you. If you expect to be in a lower tax bracket in retirement, sticking with a traditional IRA could be the best option because your RMDs during retirement will be taxed at a correspondingly lower rate than amounts converted today. On the other hand, if you anticipate being in a higher tax bracket, the ability to take tax-free distributions from a Roth IRA could be a benefit.

There is no easy answer to the dilemma of converting a traditional IRA asset to a Roth IRA. As with any major financial consideration, careful consultation with a professional is a good idea before you decide. ■

... As well as a potential drawback — Investors who convert from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA are required to pay income taxes at the time of conversion on investment earnings and any contributions that qualified for a tax deduction. If you have a nondeductible traditional IRA (i.e., your contributions did not qualify for a tax deduction because your income was not within the parameters established by the IRS), investment earnings will be taxed but your contributions will not. The conversion will not trigger the penalty for early withdrawals.

Jeremy R. Gussick is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, the nation’s leading independent broker-dealer.* He specializes in the financial planning needs of the LGBT community and was recently named a 2010 FIVE STAR Wealth Manager by Philadelphia Magazine.** Out Money appears monthly. If you have a question, email jeremy.gussick@lpl.com.

This article was prepared with the assistance of McGraw-Hill Financial Communications and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations for any individual. Consult your financial advisor or Jeremy Gussick if you have any questions. LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. *Based on total revenues, as reported in Financial Planning Magazine, June 1996-2010. **Details on the award can be found at www.fivestarprofessional.com.

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• General and Specialized Dentistry • Cosmetic Dentistry • Early Morning and Evening Hours • Education

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their “prosecutorial discretion,” laying out a list of factors, such as community ties, a lack of criminal activity or family relationships, that should be considered in prioritizing deportation cases.

In August, Department of Homeland Security said it would launch a working group to evaluate open deportation cases and clarified that same-sex relationships were included among “family ties,” although that provision was not formally put in writing.

Tanumihardja legally married his partner, Brian Andersen, this past summer in Washington, D.C. “We were very optimistic and hopeful that Anton would be granted this relief so we wouldn’t have to continually live with the fear that the U.S. government could essentially destroy our family without any legitimate reason,” Andersen said.

“When the administration put forth these guidelines, we were very hopeful that they would be applied in our case. Much to our disappointment, the local Philadelphia

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ICE office chose not to apply them here.”

In their denial, ICE officials told the couple Tanumihardja’s case illustrated no “extraordinary” circumstances that would warrant deferred action.

The couple’s attorney, Lavi Soloway, founder of Stop The Deportations, called the decision a “devastating setback” that “should be of great concern to everyone, including the Obama administration, as they work to ensure that we have a fair and humane deportation policy.”

“The Obama administration’s new policy has failed to protect Anton and Brian from deportation,” Soloway added. “ICE’s determination to deport Anton regardless of the new guidelines demonstrates that the administration has not instructed ICE deportation officers on the implementation of the LGBT-inclusive prosecutorial discretion guidelines for an individual with a final order of removal.”

In a statement released after the denial, DHS acknowledged that ICE officers have not yet been trained on the updated “prosecutorial discretion” guidelines, and that

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 14-20, 2011

the working group has not yet undertaken its review of outstanding cases.

“We were disappointed Anton was not granted deferred action, and we were disappointed that they didn’t really provide an explanation as to why he didn’t meet those criteria, but what was even more disheartening was learning that the administration still has yet to undertake the training necessary to ensure these guidelines are being enforced consistently and properly,” Soloway said. “If the local ICE officers that have the responsibility to apply these guidelines fail to do so or are insufficiently trained, then all of these policy announcements are meaningless.

If Anton’s deported, these new guidelines that were put in place to protect people like him and Brian, then they don’t mean anything.”

Tanumihardja came to Philadelphia on a tourist visa in 2002 and applied unsuccessfully several times for asylum, based on the fact that he could face persecution in Indonesia because of his orientation, as well as the fact that he is Catholic and eth-

17

nically Chinese.

Because of the Defense of Marriage Act, which prevents the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages, Andersen cannot sponsor his husband for citizenship, as a binational heterosexual married couple could do.

“We really are still hopeful that someone at a higher level in Washington will reverse this decision. It really is the only form of relief for us at this point, being that the normal avenue of spousal sponsorship for residency is closed off to us because of DOMA,” Andersen said. “I truly wish this wasn’t a battle we even had to enter into; however, it is one we will fight to the end.”

The working group is expected to be formed in the coming weeks, and Soloway said he and other advocates will be urging DHS to review Tanumihardja’s case and reverse the denial of deferred action.

Supporters can also contact their elected officials, particularly U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and Congressman Bob Brady, to urge them to intervene on the couple’s behalf. ■

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LEGAL & PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY ������������������������ ���������������

AMY F. STEERMAN Attorney at Law

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

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Thomas E. Hora Attorney-at-Law �������������������� �������������������� ������������������� ����������������������� ������������ �������������� �������� ��������������

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A C ul t ure 20 YEARS rts

PGN FEATURE

of Philadelphia Film

By Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor

The Philadelphia Film Festival begins Oct. 20 with a screening of “Like Crazy,” starring Anton Yelchin and Felicity Jones as two students in love. The festival, celebrating 20 years, continues to unspool through Nov. 3, even though the official closing-night feature, “The Descendents,” starring George Clooney as a cuckolded husband, premieres Oct. 29.

Audiences can also get a sneak peek of

While there are just a few features and documentaries specifically targeting LGBT life, one of the highlights is co-writer/director Mike Akel’s modest gem “An Ordinary Family” (7:45 p.m. Oct. 22, Rave; 3 p.m.

Oct. 26, Ritz East). In this graceful coming-home/coming-out comedy-drama, the estranged Seth (Greg Wise) joins his family for a week’s vacation with his boyfriend William (Chad Anthony Miller) in tow. While his sister-in-law Mattie (Janelle Schremmer) knows that Seth is gay and that he is bringing William with him, Mattie’s husband Thomas (Troy Schremmer), a pastor, is completely unaware. Thomas is hurt by and unhappy with Seth’s arrival, and he reacts badly.

Much of the film’s drama stems from how Seth and Thomas negotiate their differences and how they try to reconcile faith and family. Thomas awkwardly expresses his discomfort, while Seth, who cares deeply about what his brother thinks, sees his brother as

“ANONYMOUS”

two hotly anticipated films opening later this month. “Anonymous” (6:30 p.m. Oct. 22, The Prince; 4:15 p.m. Oct. 23, Ritz East) is an about-face for openly gay filmmaker Roland Emmerich, of “2012,” “Independence Day” and “Universal Soldier” fame. In this period drama, Edward De Vere (Rhys Ifans) claims to have written Shakespeare’s plays.

The Sundance favorite, “Martha Marcy May Marlene” (7:40 p.m. Oct. 24, Ritz Five) gives out actress Sarah Paulson a supporting role as the sister of Martha (Elizabeth Olsen), a woman returning home from a cult.

“MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE”

“AN ORDINARY FAMILY”

judgmental.

If the film does stack the deck — making Seth sympathetic and Thomas a bit of a villain — “An Ordinary Family” is still very engaging and only rarely forced. When Akel juxtaposes scenes of the brothers dancing with their partners or trying to see their emotional situation from the other person’s point of view, he seems to be trying too hard. Indeed, the film’s biggest strength is its relaxed, largely observational approach to the action. Viewers will relate to and enjoy watching the characters bond as they eat, drink, play games, joke and talk.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 14-20, 2011

PAGE 32

Bar Crawlr Bulletin Board Family Portrait Out & About Millenial Poz Q Puzzle Scene in Philly Worth Watching

Film festival 101

Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page

24 34 29 32 28 31 25 30

On that same note, take an adventurous risk. Some folks pick films because they like a certain actor or director. Love goofball Seann William Film festivals can be overwhelming — there is either too much to see, or all Scott, but not a fan of hockey? Well, the films you want to see are playing at “Goon” could prompt laughter or cringing. Maybe take an opportunity to the same time and/or across town. But don’t be discouraged! As a festival vet- just go see something from a country you want to visit, or on an unfamiliar eran, here are a few guidelines for how topic. “Benda Balili” is a documentary to attend and determine what to watch about homeless disabled musicians in this year. the Congo who make instruments out of trash. There are probably not too Find the “rare” jewels. many chances Many of the to visit and films unspooling learn about this at the festival culture outside have distribuof this film. tors and are Or, stick to likely to play your comfort Philadelphia zone. You in the comare what you ing weeks and watch. Foodies months. (Or will should not miss turn up on DVD “Jiro Dreams eventually.) For of Sushi,” a every talked“TURN ME ON, DAMMIT” marvelous docabout film like umentary about “Shame,” which a sushi master. Interested in the socialfeatures a full-frontal turn by Michael justice documentaries? There are sevFassbender as a sex addict, there are eral at the fest. “Scenes of a Crime,” sleepers waiting to be discovered. about a man coerced into confessing to “Turn Me On, Dammit” also deals a crime he didn’t commit is as fascinatwith out-of-control sexuality — of the ing as “Give Up Tomorrow,” about a teenage variety in this case — and also Filipino man imprisoned for a crime feature a naked penis. he didn’t comIf you do mit. For anyone build your who followed schedule around the “Paradise “tentpole” films, Lost” series, be flexible and about the West allow plenty Memphis 3, the of time before Philadelphia and after the Film Festival published time is showing all as things somethree documentimes start/end taries in one later than schedafternoon. uled — espePick a thecially if there are ater and stay Q&As after the “BENDA BALILI” there. Like the film. That said, “Paradise Lost” trilogy, “Drieleben” is sometimes a film seen by chance/accia series of three interconnected German dent because of a scheduling situation films that are showing back to back to can be a pleasant surprise.

By Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor

19

20

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 14-20, 2011

FEATURE PGN

of the five subjects featured in the film is queer-identified.

One other documentary, however, is more ambitious than good. “Hit So Hard,” about Hole drummer Patti Schemel, plays like an overlong episode of VH-1’s “Behind the

“CAROL CHANNING: LARGER THAN LIFE” As Seth, Wise is particularly good in his dramatic scenes with Thomas, and he shares a wonderful camaraderie with Miller, who plays his boyfriend William. Miller’s crackerjack timing provides the film with some witty comic relief. Although Schremmer does his best with the difficult task of making the faithful Thomas sympathetic, his real-life wife Janelle is splendid as his level-headed but still-loving wife Mattie.

Two non-fiction entries with queer appeal also have strong buzz. “Carol Channing: Larger Than Life” (3 p.m. Oct. 23 and Oct. 27, Ritz East) is said to be a fabulously entertaining documentary on the Broadway legend, featuring comments from Lily Tomlin, Chita Rivera and Jerry Herman. “Pina” (5:30 p.m. Oct. 23, Rave) is expected to be an eyepopping 3-D documentary celebrating the work of noted choreographer Pina Bausch.

“The Bully Project,” unseen at press time, strives to be a powerful documentary about an important, topical subject. Note: Only one

Oddly, perhaps the best section of the festival to see LGBT actors and characters is in the “From the Vaults” program, which brings 20-year-old classic films back to the big screen. Out actress Jodie Foster delivers a stunning, Oscar-winning turn in the controversial “The Silence of the Lambs” (10:10 p.m. Oct. 31, Ritz East). David Cronenberg’s “Naked Lunch” (10 p.m. Oct. 22, Ritz East) is a memorable adaptation of bisexual William S. Burrough’s novel and “Barton Fink” (9:55 p.m. Oct. 30, Ritz Five) features openly gay actor and Philly native Jon Polito in a supporting role.

“GOON”

“HIT SO HARD” Music.” The film traces Schemel’s career in the band, along with her alcoholism, her lesbianism and her drug addictions that lead to her decline and her recovery. The interviews and footage of bandmates Courtney Love and Melissa Auf der Maur, in particular, are compelling, but a little goes a long way.

Director/co-writer P. David Ebersole’s focus on female drummers fails to add depth to Schemel’s story; the film as a whole could use some editing. “Hit So Hard” will certainly appeal to fans of the alt-grunge scene and Schemel is at times ingratiating, but the only novelty to this sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll story seems to be that it’s about a lesbian drummer.

back. Or watch “Coriolanus,” Ralph Fiennes’ adaptation of Shakespeare’s play after seeing “Anonymous” about the real author of Shakespeare’s plays.

Out actor Udo Kier will age 20 years in reverse for anyone seeing “Europa” after “Melancholia.”

“MELANCHOLIA” Lastly, queer actor Udo Kier has both a very funny supporting role as a disgruntled wedding planner in the new Lars von Trier film “Melancholia” (7:05 p.m. Oct. 23, Ritz East) and co-stars with gay icon JeanMarc Barr in von Trier’s 1991 feature, “Europa/Zentropa” (10 p.m. Oct. 23, Ritz East).

See you at the movies. ■

Check out a first-time film.

Discovering new talent is always exciting and one of the benefits of attending a film fest. There are many options to find the next cin-

“CARIOLANUS” ematic sensation at the fest including, “Collaborator,” “Green” and “Policeman.”

Research and read reviews. Buzz — both good and bad — circulates about the films before and during the fest, and can influence expectations.

Listen politely to the folks in line/at theaters, but it’s usually best to heed advice from those folks (friends, critics) who share your taste in film.

What a stranger likes might be a little strange to you.

A few last, important things for a

“JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI” successful festival: Don’t talk during the film. Don’t text/use your cell phone — it’s distracting! And never reveal the ending of a movie (even if it’s a true story). Plus, don’t forget to thank the volunteers.

See you at the festival. ■ Note: Examples specifically endorsed in this sidebar are intended as guidance/suggestions only.

THEATER PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 14-20, 2011

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Out actor to bare his ‘soul’ for benefit show

By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com T h e B r o t h e r s ’ N e t wo r k I n c . , a Philadelphia-based racial-justice nonprofit organization of diverse African-American men, is producing a special benefit performance of “A Boy and His Soul,” the oneman show by out actor, playwright and Philadelphia native Colman Domingo, 8 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Red Room of the Society Hill Playhouse.

Domingo is best known for his awardwinning work on Broadway in productions such as “The Scottsboro Boys” and “Passing Strange.” He has also appeared on the big and small screen, starring in Spike Lee’s film adaptation of “Passing Strange” and Logo’s “The Big Gay Sketch Show.”

In Domingo’s critically lauded and autobiographical one-man show, he explores his upbringing in West Philadelphia during the 1970s, portraying a diverse array of characters from his life as well as himself as a 6-year-old.

Having done heavy dramas and lighthearted comedies over the course of his career, Domingo said that “A Boy and His Soul” is “right on the line” between the two extremes.

“It’s outrageously funny but there’s a lot of heart underneath,” he said. “It’s a family story, it’s a neighborhood story and it’s a second coming-of-age story. Within that lies a wild comedy and some tragedy as well.”

Domingo added that while the show is set mostly in the ’70s, it’s not necessarily a nostalgia trip.

“As a 41-year-old man, for me, it was less nostalgic of the 1970s and more of taking a look back to know where I’m going,” he said. “When I talk about a second coming of age, it’s like when you step into another form of adulthood where you are taking care of aging parents and dealing with things like that. You’re no one’s son anymore. It’s taking a look back to where you come from. I come from early to mid-1970s Philadelphia. There’s so much rooted in that. So for me, that’s become part of the nostalgia but it’s not just that. It’s about who I am today.”

Domingo wrote “A Boy and His Soul” as part of his mission to enlighten audiences about the complexity of AfricanAmerican existence — and said he looks for that level of complexity in the roles he pursues.

“I’m looking for an exceptional complex role, whether that’s a comedy, drama or Shakespeare,” he said. “I’m looking for the quality of character and something that truly speaks to me. I want something I can look back and be proud of. I believe that every decision I’ve made as an actor is something I can be proud of, with whatever messages they were trying to convey and things that will stir people up in some way and hold up a mirror to who we are.”

He added that if a role reads as inauthentic, he’d rather not go for it at all.

“I remember I went out for this role on ‘Nash Bridges,’ the character was called Cool Whip Tyrell,” he said. “It was as if someone was hungry when they were creating this name. I was like, wait a minute.

I come from inner-city West Philadelphia: I’ve never heard of a person named Cool Whip Tyrell. This can’t be written by someone who knows these people. So I left that audition. It wasn’t for me. As an AfricanAmerican man you will play your share of etcetera, etcetera. But hopefully the thugs or the criminal I may come across will have a bit more dimension and complexity than a one-dimensional stereotype.”

Domingo said that while quality roles for African-American actors are difficult to find, it is even more rare to find wellrounded portrayals of gay and lesbian people of color on stage and screen.

“I think we still have yet to see fully developed African-American gay and lesbian characters whether on stage or television,” he said. “I think that’s what inspired me to be a writer as well, because I wanted to tell other stories that I believe are part of who we are and to give more complexity than a stereotype. Sometimes AfricanAmerican gay and lesbian characters are either over-sexualized or they’re overtly fey or caricatures. They don’t completely represent all that we are. Some AfricanAmerican colleagues of mine have not gone deeper into creating complex images of representations of who we are, as well as my white colleagues. We’re making slow strides. It’s nice to see that these roles are more visible. I’d just like to see more complexity.”

Given that sentiment, we had to ask Domingo how he felt about the Logo network canceling “The Big Gay Sketch Show” and devoting more time to reality TV shows like “The A-List” series.

“I think it’s just a shame that the representations of gay men — and this is something produced by Logo — that we’re marginalized to being bitchy queens, which is why I don’t watch the show,” he said. “I had no sadness when ‘The Big Gay Sketch Show’ was taken off. It just didn’t seem to fit with where Logo was going. There’s no love lost from that.”

Domingo has enough on his plate as a writer and actor without “The Big Gay Sketch Show.” He is currently really excited about a new stage show he’s working on, “Wild With Happy.”

“It’s a satire about death and Disney World,” he said. “It’s a follow up to ‘A Boy and His Soul.’ This is my first play that is not about me, but there are some meta-theatrical references. There is a 40-year-old actor that loses his mother and he cremates her ashes and takes her to Disney World.

I did not do those things. I did lose my mother and I am an actor, but I’m raising a lot of questions about belief and tradition and all the bizarre and surreal things

COLMAN DOMINGO that happen around dealing with death and trying to heal and trying to find what is the right thing to do.”

Domingo performs “A Boy and His Soul,” a benefit for the Human Rights Campaign, 8 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Red

Room of the Society Hill Playhouse, 507 S. Eighth St. For information on The Brothers’ Network, visit www.thebrothersnetwork.org. For further information or tickets, visit www.societyhillplayhouse. org or www.colmandomingo.com. ■

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 14-20, 2011

from page 1

in 20 years’ or ‘this person moved away and came back to visit because they knew I’d be at OutFest.’ There was a real nice feeling of unity in our community.”

Local entertainers graced the stage at 13th and Locust streets throughout the day, and organizers presented Jermaine Benton, Ronda Goldfein, Metropolitan Community Church and Giovanni’s Room with awards.

Gilbert Baker, who designed the rainbow flag, presented Giovanni’s Room owner Ed Hermance with the store’s award, named

for Baker, shortly after the unveiling of the historic marker outside the store. “[Baker] said on stage that he travels all over the country and named so many LGBT bookstores that have gone out of business and how important it is that we have Giovanni’s Room,” Price said.

This year, antigay protestors from Repent America were met by members of the Philadelphia Freedom Band, playing music in front of the demonstrators, some of whom were using bullhorns.

“The Philadelphia Freedom Band was

really the hero of the day,” Price said. “They set up the band right in front of them and just kept playing to drown out their really ugly, ugly messages. And every time the protestors would move, they’d move right along with them. They were really brilliant.”

Price said there were no run-ins among protestors and festivalgoers.

There were, however, a handful of arrests, among them a woman who allegedly was under the influence as she attempted to drive her car through the intersection of 13th and Spruce streets.

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Two men were also arrested at 12th and Pine streets for disorderly conduct.

One of the men, who contends officers at the 6th District headquarters were unnecessarily rough when he was at the station, was transported via ambulance to Hahnemann University Hospital after his release and was treated for a concussion and contusions.

Police spokesperson Lt. Ray Evers said the man is welcome to file a complaint.

Evers said there was also a robbery investigation at Walnut and Camac streets at 5:30 p.m., with no immediate arrest. ■

WHAT TO EXPECT: * DJ DUTCH * Snacks * OPEN BAR * A Full House of Guys To Choose From & Soo Much More...

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23

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 14-20, 2011

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Friday, October 21, 8:00 PM. Beth Ahavah Shabbat Services. Please join us for our monthly BA Shabbat Service followed by a sumptuous oneg (social hour). Dinner at a local restaurant at 6:00 PM precedes services. Please call or email for restaurant location and to RSVP. Saturday, October 29th, Halloween Tour at Laurel Hill Cemetery. Email jackrb1@verizon.net for details and to RSVP. Cost is $20 for a one-hour tour.

Visit www.bethahavah.org for additional information, programming and directions 615 North Broad Street, Phila., PA 19123-2495 Phone: 215.923.2003 E-mail: BethAhavah@rodephshalom.org Free secure parking: Cross Spring Garden at 13th St., left at next light, Mt. Vernon St. Parking lot entrance on left.

My October Symphony Fall is upon us but you really couldn’t tell for the last week or so, right? Are we still allowed to use the term “Indian Summer”? If so, it’s been a great one. If not, then someone needs to come up with a new name — because, whatever you want to call it, this has been wonderful.

The timing was perfect because last weekend the Trans March, OutFest and Occupy Philly all benefited from the gorgeous weather.

The crowds were out in full force all over the Gayborhood and it felt like summer again.

I know some people who even squeezed in another day at the beach!

You know the weather will change, but one thing that won’t is the availability of fun stuff to do around town. Just check out what’s coming up over the next couple of weeks.

Desperate Housewives (“Vern”) fame.

The show starts at 9 p.m. at Voyeur Nightclub, 1221 St. James St. Advance tickets are available online at www.nightlifegay.com, $30 for standing room or $40 for VIP seating. Tickets at the door are $10 more.

And yes, you know you’re “a gay of a certain age” when you decide it’s worth paying the extra $10 for a place to park your ass for the night.

Like me. I ain’t afraid to say it.

Warming up the crowd before Mapa takes the stage will be 2011 Gayborhood Gaymes comedy winner Steve Miller-Miller and 2009 comedy winner Jess Carpenter.

For more information and advance tickets, check out www.nightlifegay.com.

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ActionAIDS 25th Jim Kiley- Anniversary Liberty City Kings fifth It’s hard to believe, but Zufelt ActionAIDS is celebrating its anniversary 25th anniversary this year. This Don’t miss the Liberty is the organization that brought us the City Kings Drag and Burlesque troupe’s Philadelphia AIDS Walk and Dining Out “Tricks & Treats” Five-Year Anniversary for Life. For 25 years, they’ve been proExtravaganza show from 7-11 p.m. Oct. viding medical case management, buddy 15 at the William Way LGBT Community services, advocacy, housing assistance, Center, 1315 Spruce St. education, testing and counseling.

Doors are open to anyone 18 and up, You can celebrate this inspiring milebut you must be 21 to drink. Cover charge stone with them from 7-10 p.m. Oct. is $8 if you’re in costume or $10 if not 22 at the Arts Ballroom, 1324 Locust (and no, that doesn’t mean it’s a clothingSt. Tickets are $150, with catering by optional event).

Stephen STARR Events.

There will be tons of surprises, including special guests Lance Fennig and Roi Highlights will include the presentaOvarian, and lots of your favorite Kings tion of three “Friends for Life” awards alumni, coming back for one-night-only and the debut of an original composition command performances.

by Robert Maggio, faculty member at And don’t forget the tassle-twirling conWest Chester University, performed by test with prizes from Sexploratorium!

Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus. The evening will include other entertainment as For more information, check out www. libertycitykings.com. well as both live and silent auctions.

For more information and tickets, check Alec Mapa out www.actionaids.org. ■ The Q Comedy Festival is wrapping up Questions, comments or news about a week’s worth of gay belly laughs around town on Oct. 15 with headliner Alec Mapa, upcoming events? Contact Jim at of Ugly Betty (“Suzuki St. Pierre”) and barcrawlr@gmail.com.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 14-20, 2011

27

Umbria charms in Mt. Airy

By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com

addition to the menu as the colder months ensue.

From there, Umbria’s focused and conWe had one of the best overall meals cise menu (only five appetizers and five in recent memory at Umbria, 7131 entrées) seems to cover most of the basic Germantown Ave., a cozy BYOB interproteins, save for chicken, which wasn’t national restaurant tucked away in Mt. missed at all. We expected the dishes we Airy. And judging by how fast the place tried to be of one culinary tradition, only went from empty to pleasantly packed the to be pleasantly surprised when we found weeknight we went, word travels fast in the they borrowed liberally from another. neighborhood.

For example, we must have been in an Umbria caught us off guard with its Italian mood that night because we made tasteful yet understated approach to everya beeline for the grilled sweet Italian sauthing. Nothing is over the top or overly sage appetizer ($8) in a sweet and spicy fancy, but when the food hits the table, fig sauce. The sauce, which we fully game on. expected to be thick and Italian like the One of the specials the evening we sausage, was more of a marinade with a went was an African-spiced pumpkin wonderful, almost-Asian flavor that really soup ($6.50), a hearty and satisfying sea elevated the dish. of warmth that we hope will be a frequent The lamb and goat cheese meatballs ($23) had some serious Middle Eastern flavor working for them. The meatballs were perfectly seasoned and tender. The Umbria bed of rice they rested 7131 Germantown Ave. on was flawless and the 215-242-6470 cucumber and mint salad Open for dinner Wednesday that accompanied the through Sunday dish brought a welcomed splash of brightness to the dish’s flavor and aesthetic appeal.

The true knock-out punch came with dessert: We opted for the caramel sundae, which sounded simple but was infinitely greater than the sum of its parts: vanilla ice cream and caramel ($7) topped with salted candied almonds. Thank heavens they had enough restraint to resist putting whipped cream, or anything else for that matter, on top: This was perfection. The generous helping of salted almonds gave the sundae a sweet and salty flavor and cool, crunchy texture reminiscent of the best candy bar you’ve ever had.

If we were on death row and had to choose our last meal, we’d defiUMBRIA Photo: Larry Nichols nitely revisit the meal we had at Umbria. ■

If you go

PGN

Gay is our middle name.

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PGN

Dating and disclosure, part 2 “Well, I just think that even if we always ous suitor (which was a pitchfork and a few torches short of angry-mob-meetsuse a condom, those compounded, infiniFrankenstein vibe), this guy was heaventesimal risks will eventually result in me getting infected. So I think we should stop sent. Come our next date, we made out in a nearby parking lot in Old City amidst the seeing each other.” snowdrifts: I was starry-eyed, thinking I This was how my second attempt at post-diagnosis dating ended. had nipped the issue of my staHe was 22. I disclosed my HIV tus in the bud. status to him within the first My date was predominantly 20 minutes of our meeting. a bottom. Also, most of his Everything was dandy for about sexual experiences resided in committed relationships; meantwo weeks — until the ax fell, ing he rarely — if ever — used which I admittedly saw coming. condoms, and I was his first poz This is the second installment in a series of columns suitor. Mix all these elements that addresses the nature and together and it makes for a methods of disclosure. In my violently different sex life — a product both of my status and last column, I debated the effechis uneasiness with it. tiveness of disclosing one’s We used condoms for everystatus immediately before any thing (blowjobs included) and, sexual act that may blip on the risk radar (e.g., after kissing after a while, I sensed his averAaron Stella sion to it; but his fear of serobut before oral sex). But this time, I elected to disclose my converting was great enough to status — aka the “jerk test” — even before keep it bagged. broaching all that 20-questions minutiae.

So what did I do? I acquiesced to his Sure enough, my status didn’t bother every need and tried to present myself as him. In fact, he chivalrously responded to the best damn person you ever met — as if an inflated strength of moral character my disclosure with, “I don’t think having would make up for the fact that I was poz.

HIV makes anyone less capable of loving Nevertheless, he broke it off. I have a or being loved.” tough skin, though I wallowed in despair Considering the reaction of my previ-

Millenial Poz

for a time. Fear of rejection. Fear of the dream ending. Fear of having to lead a life in unrelenting anticipation that my HIVneg partner would suddenly break off a relationship because my status was too much to handle. It’s an acutely debilitating fear when you’re trying to maintain a healthy work and social life.

I know many poz folk who bypass this fear by simply dating other poz folk. Not that there’s anything wrong with that; but for myself, that MO always stood at odds with me philosophically: “I don’t think having HIV makes anyone less capable of loving or being loved” goes for HIV-neg folk as well, obviously.

This is going to sound terrible, but it captures the essence of my true fears: Regardless of my principles, I also don’t want to be the husband that my HIV-neg partner has to come home and fuck with a condom every day, knowing that he must, for whatever his reason, decline the pleasure of bare-backing and that, though he loves me, we won’t be able to share in, traditionally, the highest form of physical intimacy without barrier.

After this most recent let down, I got a wild hair and interpolated this message into my personal description on all my dating profiles: “NOTE: I AM HIV-POSITIVE ... IF MY

STATUS IS A DEAL-BREAKER, THEN MOVE ON. IF NOT, LET’S GRAB A DRINK.” Trust me, I wasn’t exactly nonplussed when potential dates stopped messaging me, with the exception of a few chaps telling me how brave I was to disclose my status up front.

Sure, my dating life slowed down — but I was able to live and just be happy. Of course I got a self-righteous kick out of my sudden dearth of daters, but since I wouldn’t have liked them anyway, I saved myself a lot of time, trouble and heartbreak. And you know what I discovered?

The more I let this liberated, free-disclosure feeling sink in, the more people I told.

And every now and then, I snagged a date with a really nice (and hot) person. And then I met my current boyfriend. But we’ll get to that story next time.

We’re all in this together, folks. Now get out there and talk about it. ■ Aaron Stella is editor-in-chief of Phillybroadcaster (www.phillybroadcaster.com). Since graduating from Temple University with a bachelor’s in English, he has written for several publications in the city, and now devotes his life to tackling the new challenges of HIV in the 21st century.

Are you a community leader?

Mark Mitchell, board president, Delaware Valley Legacy Fund Amber Hikes, co-founder, Stimulus Drew Becher, president, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Alison Lin, co-founder, HotPot! Zane Booker, founder and artistic director, Smoke, Lilies and Jade Arts Initiative Wayne Knaub, commissioner, Greater Philadelphia Flag Football League

These people made the grade and were covered in PGN’s “Professional Portraits” column by Suzi Nash.

Every week, Suzi talks to people making a difference in Philadelphia. Has she talked to you yet?

PROFILE PGN

Family Portrait

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 14-20, 2011

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Suzi Nash

David Acosta: Community organizer, child of the world During National Hispanic Heritage Month, we decided to spotlight someone we had the pleasure of honoring with a Lambda Award back in February 2000. I would list all of the accolades, honors and positions David Acosta has held, but there wouldn’t be any space left for the interview. Let’s leave it that the poet, activist and civil-rights proponent recently won the Revolutionary Leader Award for his years of service to the community, and you can Google him when you have a few free hours for the full list of his accomplishments. We pulled him from his busy schedule for a quick chat.

PGN: Hey David, what’s new?

DA: I’m excited by my most recent project, “Witness.” We’re working with 22 artists who are doing work responding to 30 years of the AIDS pandemic. It’s a multimedia visual-arts exhibition inviting artists to reflect on, explore and respond to the impact the HIV/AIDS epidemic has had on our social, cultural and political life over the past 30 years. It’s great because the artists selected reflect a diverse gathering of voices across, race, age, gender, sexual orientation and geographic location.

The art itself showcased in “Witness” asks us as an audience to reflect individually and collectively on the HIV/AIDS epidemic as a transformative moment in our lives. Thirty years later, “Witness” calls on artists to reengage themselves and their communities in remembering, honoring and imagining a world in which AIDS has transformed our past, impacts our present and continues to shape our future.

PGN: That sounds like it’s going to be an amazing show. When is it opening?

DA: It opens on first Friday, Dec. 2, at The Asian Arts Initiative, 1291 Vine St., and runs through Jan. 27, 2012.

PGN: So tell me about yourself. Where were you born?

DA: I was born in Cali, Colombia, South America. I moved to the States in the late ’60s with my family when I was about 10, and have lived in Philly the entire time with the exception of a two-year stint in New Orleans.

PGN: What fond memories do you have about Colombia?

DA: I remember quite a lot; I have a lot of family still there, as well as those living here. My best memory would have to be staying with my grandparents. I spent an incredible amount of time with them. I’d go for a visit and end up spending weeks at a time with them, sometimes months. They were in the same city as my family, so I’d see my parents the whole time but stay with the grandparents. They were also my godparents, which in Columbia is a very

big deal. It’s a serious business and not taken lightly.

PGN: What did you do with your grandparents?

DA: My grandfather had a strong interest in birds, so I would help him with his aviary, and my grandmother loved to garden and let me help her with that. I was always underfoot or following them around and they ensured that I got to go everywhere with them. They were all fond memories.

PGN: What did your parents do?

DA: My father was a mechanic and my mother was a stay-at-home mom.

PGN: Did you pick up any mechanical skills from your dad?

DA: [Laughs.] Absolutely not! No, not at all, not in the least, no! I can’t put two and two together! He, on the other hand, could rig anything together and make it work.

PGN: Any siblings?

DA: Two: an older brother and younger sister. I’m in the middle. Some would say I suffer from middle-child syndrome, but it’s not true.

back as far as 3 years old, I knew I was different. The world mirrors something back at you that lets you know that something about you is not the norm. When I was 5 or 6, I realized that I felt different about boys than I did girls — physically, mentally, emotionally. It’s funny: We don’t want to think of children as gay because people don’t want to sexualize them, but I knew how I felt even at that age.

PGN: It seems that many countries in South America are surprisingly gayfriendly, considering the machismo stereotype.

DA: Yes, it’s an interesting place. In the last 20 years, there’s been a lot of movement toward acceptance. There are a number of places — Mexico City and Argentina — that have passed gay marriage, and same-sex civil unions are legal in Uruguay, Ecuador, Brazil and Colombia.

If you visit, there are huge gay meccas with large gay communities with shopping and restaurants and huge Pride celebra-

DA: Well, leaving family behind was difficult. My mother’s family had been coming here on and off since the ’20s, either to go to school or for business purposes, but we were the first to settle here. It was different getting used to the way the houses looked, but the hardest thing was getting used to the cold. We came from a country where it was summer 365 days a year. The first snowfall we ever saw was thrilling though: We played outside in it for hours. It was quite a novelty.

PGN: Where did you go to school?

DA: I graduated from Temple as an English lit major. Then I went to New Orleans for my sister’s wedding and loved it. I lived there for two years.

PGN: What was your first job?

DA: Waiting tables in New Orleans.

PGN: And what’s your job now?

DA: I’m the prevention coordinator for HIV programs at AACO [AIDS Activities Coordinating Office], which is a part of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.

PGN: I’m a middle child too, but we were all in the spotlight: The eldest was the first boy and a star athlete, I was the only girl, and even though we’re adults now, my younger brother is still the baby. So we all had our moment.

DA: Oh no, in my family my sister got doted on as the only girl, my brother got doted on as the first boy and I was kind of, well ... my parents loved me, but I was just there — the middle child.

PGN: What was a favorite thing to do as a kid?

DA: I had some aunts that were younger than me, my mother’s sisters, that I liked to play with but I also enjoyed being by myself a lot. I made up games in my head.

And as I said, being with my grandparents was fun. They inhabited an adult universe that I could gain access to through them.

I was around a lot of older people who paid a lot of attention to me. They always included me in the adult conversation circles. I was very comfortable around grown-ups and I was extremely precocious so I would sit and entertain the adults, tell them stories and such. I would visit neighbors’ houses and they would give me food and special treats. I could have had lunch four or five times a day if I wanted! I had a vivid imagination so they enjoyed my company.

PGN: What was an early sign that you were gay?

DA: I think I’ve always known. I didn’t know what it was, I couldn’t name it, but

PGN: How did you become an activist?

DA: I was involved in my teens. I was involved with some Native American causes like forced relocation at Big Mountain and other stuff. I also got involved in the nuclear disarmament movement and Three Mile Island, so I’ve been somewhat involved since I was young. But I became much more active in the mid-’80s when I was appointed to the Mayor’s Commission on Sexual Minorities. That gave me a lot more access and allowed me to question what services were out there and what needed to be done. That’s when I started GALAEI. PGN: What does GALAEI stand for?

DA: Gays and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative.

Photo: Jerry MacDonald

tions. There’s homophobia too of course, but there’s also a high level of acceptance. As you said, it’s not as homophobic as people expect, given the macho-male reputation. It’s not really any different than the U.S. The Catholic Church does play a role, but most people choose which doctrines they want to abide by and ignore the rest.

PGN: When you moved to the States, what was the biggest culture shock?

PGN: Oops, I only spelled it with one “l.”

DA: Well, in the Spanish alphabet there’s a letter with a double-l, but using it would make the name sound like a rooster, so we opted to just use one “l.”

PGN: I see you’ve been involved in so

PAGE 30

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 14-20, 2011

FEATURES PGN

Worth Watching

from page 29

many things: ACT-UP, AIDS Law Project, Prevention Point, Philadelphia Working Fund for Artists with HIV/AIDS, Midnight Cowboy, Asian Arts Initiative, you’re a founding member of Temple University’s literary journal and you founded the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression. What’s a project or event that really stands out for you?

DA: Oh gosh, I guess the early days of ACT-UP when we did demonstrations in front of the Bellevue Stratford when Bush came to Philly, that one made national headlines. Organizing the first Day Without Art, World AIDS Day observances, the first day we showed up to distribute syringes in Kensington stands out. We knew we were breaking the law and could have been arrested at any point.

CLEANING OUT THE CLOSET SPACE: In the new series “Clean House New York,” designers and former HGTV “Design Star” competitors Elyse Luray (from left), Duncan Scheib, Nina Ferrer and Michael Moeller will transform the Big Apple’s messiest dwellings, creating chic and inviting rooms amidst the hustle and bustle of America’s largest city, premiering 8 p.m. Oct. 17 on the Style Network. Photo: The Style Network/ Andrew Eccles

SCREAMING ‘SWAN’: “Black Swan,” with the intense rivalry (and kissing) between ballet dancers Natalie Portman (pictured) and Mila Kunis, is one of the movies nominated for the 2011 Scream Awards, celebrating all things fantasy, horror and sci-fi that hit the screens in the last year, and airs 9 p.m. Oct. 18 on VH1.

PGN: You’re a poet and writer: Name a favorite author.

DA: That’s difficult because I have such a voracious appetite for literature and poetry.

I read a lot and very widely, especially if I can get it in Spanish, plus I often reread authors, so it may depend on what time of my life I’m reading them. I’m currently reading Philip Levine, who was named Poet Laureate of the United States, so he’s a fav. I’m rereading his entire works and enjoying some of the pieces as much now as I did 30 years ago when I first read them. He writes a lot about the working class and steel cities and the Depression, and there’s a lot that he wrote that mirrors some of what is going on now. There’s a poetic resonance that echoes though it — sad but powerful, the poet as prophet.

PGN: OK, arbitrary questions. If you were on a reality show, which would you choose?

DA: Oh dear, I love to travel. So, probably that one where they do the world race.

What’s it called?

THREE’S COMPANY: Callie’s (Sara Ramirez, center) wish for Arizona (Jessica Capshaw) and Mark (Eric Dane) to form a friendship comes to fruition and she realizes it’s more irritating than helpful, on “Grey’s Anatomy,” 9 p.m.

Oct. 20 on ABC. Photo: ABC/

PGN: [Laughs.] “The Amazing Race.”

What’s the background on your computer?

DA: Absolutely nothing. I just got a new computer so it’s still blank, but it was a rhino. I love rhinoceroses!

Ron Tom

PGN: Household chore you hate most?

DA: Vacuuming.

PGN: What’s a trait that you inherited from a parent?

DA: I probably have more of my mother’s DNA: I have an obsession with order and cleanliness that I inherited from her.

POTTYMOUTH: Outrageous comedian Lisa Lampanelli gets down with her comedy special “Dirty Girl,” airing 10 p.m. Oct. 18 on Logo.

PGN: Any hobbies other than writing?

DA: I like cooking and I like gardening and, as I said, I love to travel.

PGN: What was an exciting travel adventure?

DA: When I was backpacking through Mexico, we got stopped at the border between Mexico and Guatemala by guerilla fighters. They took us off the bus and searched us. They eventually let us back

on, but it was very scary.

PGN: What’s a hidden talent?

DA: I used to be able to sing really well. I was quite the crooner as a child, which was one of the reasons people enjoyed having me around. I was like a jukebox: I had a good memory and knew over 250 songs when I was only 5 or 6. They would offer me a piece of cake or candy and I’d sing my little heart out!

PGN: I understand you describe yourself as a feminist; how come?

DA: Well, I think that a lot of the work that I’ve done has been informed by feminism: Both queer theory and organizing came out of that. A lot of women have done the work throughout the world for social change and realigning the male-centered paradigm.

I’ve worked with a lot of women who’ve been mentors for me. So yes, I feel I’m a feminist.

PGN: What is your full name?

DA: Juan Armando David Acosta-Posada.

Traditionally, in Latin America, we use our father’s name and our mother’s name.

PGN: Do you have a partner?

DA: Yes, Jerry MacDonald. We’ve been together for 17 years.

PGN: What’s the secret to a long partnership?

DA: Hmm, not giving up. Learning to compromise by realizing that you can’t always have your way! Keeping the lines of communication open is important. And lots of laughing! You really have to remember to enjoy each other.

PGN: One thing that struck me about you is the wide range of people and causes you’ve championed. A lot of people get stuck in a niche, working only with their own community, but you’ve been a part of everything from Native American groups to being involved with the Asian Arts Initiative to feminist causes. You really seem to be a child of the world.

DA: [Laughs.] Wow, what list are you reading from?

PGN: You’re everywhere David!

DA: Well, I’m really, really intellectually curious. So for me, part of what I like about community organizing is getting to work with people who are not like you — who may come from different backgrounds and cultures or different experiences — and learning from them. I like to put myself in situations where I have to interact with other communities and learn to be mindful and respectful of how other people do things and how they perceive things.

The things you learn from them become really important as you navigate in a bigger world. So yeah, I truly enjoy and embrace diversity. I think it’s important for my view of a just and sane world. And it’s fun! ■ To suggest a community member for “Family Portrait,” write to portraits05@aol.com.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 14-20, 2011

31

Q Puzzle Gay TV Across

1. It gets a gel hard 5. Suffix with Smurf 9. Jack on the card table 14. Major or minor, to Jerry Herman 15. Lo follower 16. Desi’s daughter 17. Got on one’s knees and asked for it 18. Fruit cover 19. Out-and-out 20. Series with an out gay guy named Max 23. With the waterworks on 24. Margaret Mead interviewees 28. Trick 29. New Deal org.

30. Colette, to herself 31. Smile self-consciously 34. MTV show with a gay lacrosse player 36. Tale opening 37. Before, in verse 38. Jabba the ___ of “Star Wars” 39. Program set in Toronto with a transgender character 42. Is noisy in bed 44. Art, these days 45. Log Cabin member, for short 46. Carbon compound 47. Mississippi riverboat 49. Word-for-word 53. Comedy in which Lily has two dads 55. Kind of bear 58. Mapplethorpe’s

“Man in Polyester ___ “ 59. May be seen now 60. Taper off 61. Triangle ratio 62. Give for a while 63. Still in the closet, perhaps 64. Estimating words 65. ___-highs (drag queen’s hosiery)

Down

1. Theater opening for Greeks?

2. Word on a map of Israel 3. Highly skilled 4. Ingredient for a Susan Feniger dish, perhaps 5. Hans Christian Andersen’s naked marcher 6. Itty-bitty

7. Was active in B&D 8. One no longer subject to DADT 9. Jack of “The Odd Couple” 10. Crackers or bananas 11. Dramatic division 12. Go head to head 13. Always, to Byron 21. Jodie Foster’s alma mater 22. Church section 25. Illicit love affair 26. Streisand’s “Prince of Tides” costar 27. Separates, as flour 31. Parts of floats 32. Not potent 33. Janis Joplin’s “Me and Bobby ___” 34. More than bi35. Well-integrated

Harvey?

37. Oral pleasure with a foamy head 40. With thick plates 41. Rank Billie Jean, e.g.

42. Brandy sipper’s glass 43. Bene beginning 46. Bad weather culprit 48. Place for a Gstring 50. Out of bed 51. Dress with a flared bottom 52. Paul of “Hollywood Squares” 54. Screw royally 55. Butter portion 56. Tie for Madame Butterfly 57. On the ___ PAGE 32

The nation’s oldest, continuously operating LGBT bookstore.

A Reading with Teresa Bevin Author of

Papaya Suite

Oct. 15, 5:30 pm (Ediciones La Gota de Agua, $20 pb)

3 million eBooks available at www.queerbooks.com email: giovannis_room@verizon.net 345 S. 12th St. Philadelphia, Pa 19107 215-923-2960 Mon-Sat 11:30 - 7, Sun 1 - 7

32

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 14-20, 2011

OUT & ABOUT The week ahead Fri. 10/14 Bush, Chevelle & Filter The modern-rock bands perform 7 p.m. at The Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St.; 800-745-3000.

The Beach Boys The classic-rock band performs 8 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.

Spin Doctors The alt-rock band performs 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400.

Emily Bergl The TV actress and singer per-

forms 8:30 p.m. at Bob Egan’s New Hope, Ramada Inn, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; 215-8625225.

The Legwarmers The ’80s rocktribute band performs 9 p.m. at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215-922-

Sat. 10/15 6888.

Bondage for Lovers Learn the ropes, 4:30-7:30 p.m. at Sexploratorium, 620 S. Fifth St.; http://passion101 classes.com David Sedaris The out humorist

performs 8 p.m. at Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800.

An Evening with Corey Glover and Danielia Cotton The rock/soul/ blues artists perform 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400.

Emily Bergl The TV actress and singer performs 8:30 p.m. at Bob Egan’s New Hope, Ramada Inn, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; 215-8625225.

Sun. 10/16 The Exorcist The horror film is screened 2 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610-917-0223.

Say I Do! LGBT Wedding Expo Get the scoop on the latest wedding technology along with games, prizes, great exhibitors and more, 1-4 p.m. at Radisson PlazaWarwick Hotel Philadelphia, 220 S. 17th St.; www.sayidoexpo.com.

A Boy and His Soul The Brothers’ Network Inc., presents a performance by out actor and playwright Colman Domingo 8 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Red Room of the Society Hill Playhouse, 507 S. Eighth St.; 215923-0210.

Southern Culture on the Skids The rock band performs 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400.

Get out of town.

No, really, we mean it.

Find deals both near and far, along with travel tips from Philly’s own Jeff Guaracino.

Outward Bound Jeff Guaracino

Online and in print every third Friday of the month.

Only in

ARE YOU READY TO ROCK? The Tony Award-winning smashhit musical “Rock of Ages,” celebrating the Sunset Strip circa 1987, turns it up to 11 when it runs Oct. 18-23 at Merriam Theatre, 250 S. Broad St. For more information or tickets, call 215-790-5800. Photo: Jeff Busby

Courtney Colletti The rock singer and guitarist performs 7:30 p.m. at Bob Egan’s New Hope, Ramada Inn, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; 215862-5225.

Duran Duran The pop group performs at 8 p.m. at Tower Theatre, 19 S. 69th St., Upper Darby; 610-3522887.

Mon. 10/17

TuesGAY Nights Lyrics Lounge and DJ June Rodrigues hosts a weekly night of music and performers for the LGBT community, 6527 Roosevelt Blvd.; 215-5335888.

Monday Jazz Jam at World Cafe Live 5:30-7 p.m. at 3025 Walnut St.; 215222-1400.

Groove Night Local musicians join forces to bring the R&B, soul, jazz and funk, 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 215-222-1400.

Kevin Smith and Ralph Garman — Hollywood Babble On Live!

The Hollywood players tape their live podcast 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400.

Tue. 10/18

Wed. 10/19 4W5 Blues Jam Local musicians get down 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 215-222-1400.

Hanson The pop-rock group performs 8 p.m. at TLA, 334 South St.; 215-922-1011.

the blues 8 p.m. at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; 215-572-7650.

Howard Jones The new-wave singer performs 8 p.m. at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; 215572-7650.

Laura Cheadle The TV actress and singer performs 8:30 p.m. at Bob Egan’s New Hope, Ramada Inn, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; 215-8625225.

Bob and Barbara’s Drag Show The outrageousness begins 11 p.m. at Bob and Barbara’s, 1509 South St.; 215545-4511.

Fri. 10/21 Cyndi Lauper The pop star sings

Brad Garrett The comedian and TV personality performs 9 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.

Thu. 10/20 Brian Posehn The comedian performs 8 p.m. at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215922-6888.

Q PUZZLE, from page 31 IN A BLUE MOOD: Pop star and longtime LGBT ally Cyndi Lauper joins forces with Dr. John for a show drawing heavily from her recent “Memphis Blues” album 8 p.m.

Oct. 21 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside. You’ve been warned. Please don’t make an ass out of yourself by showing up and screaming for her to play her pop hits all night. It’s rude and you should have done your homework.

If you are lucky, she’ll play them at the end. For more information or tickets, call 215-572-7650.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

Opening Ajax People’s Light and Theatre Company presents the tale by Sophocles, Oct. 17Nov. 28, 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern; 610-647-1900.

Hua Hua Zhang’s Visual Expressions The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents the Philadelphia puppet artist partnering with Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers, Oct. 14-15 at Harold Prince Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; 215-898-3900.

Joyeux Noel Society Hill Playhouse presents the oneman cabaret by Earl Levitt, Oct. 15-16 in the Red Room, 507 S. Eighth St.; 215923-0211.

Rock of Ages The Tony Award-winning rock musical runs Oct. 18-23 at Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800.

Russian Suite The Pennsylvania Ballet performs the

Blowing on a Hairy Shoulder/Grief Hunters The Institute of Contemporary Art at the University of Pennsylvania through Dec. 4, 118 S. 36th St.; 215-898-7108.

Red Philadelphia Theatre Company presents the 2010 Tony Award-winner through Nov. 6 at Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St.; 215-985-0420.

Chicago Media Theater presents the popular musical set in the prohibition era through Nov. 6, 104 E. State St., Media; 610-891-0100.

Turnarounds AxD Gallery hosts an exhibition of works

by Annette Cords, through Oct. 29, 265 S. 10th St.; 215-627-6250.

Here and Now: Prints, Drawings and Photographs by 10 Philadelphia Artists Philadelphia Museum of Art presents the exhibition through Dec. 4, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

Zaha Hadid: Form in Motion Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of product designs by architect Hadid, who in 2004 became the first female recipient of the renowned Pritzker Architecture Prize, through March 25, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

Let Me Tell You About A Dream I Had Philadelphia Art Alliance presents an exhibition by The Miss Rockaway Armada, a collective of artists, teachers, sailors, activists, composers and clowns, through Dec. 30 at the Philadelphia Art Alliance, 251 S. 18th St.; 215- 545-4302.

Men Unwrapped An exhibition of photographer Joe Bowman’s work is on display through Oct. 28 at the William Way LGBT

Continuing Aspects of Love Walnut Street Theatre presents the romantic musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, through Oct. 23, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550.

August: Osage County Arden Theatre Company presents the Tony Award-winning comedy through Oct. 30 at F. Otto Hass Stage, 40 N. Second St.; 215-922-1122.

Beware the Lily Law Eastern State Penitentiary hosts a video installation on the experiences of trans prisoners, through November, 2027 Fairmount Ave.; 215-236-5111.

Closing Spooky Dog and the Teen-Age Gang Mysteries Allens Lane Theater presents a campy comedy about a dog named Spooky and his teenage sleuth cohorts who confront criminals and their own sexual desires, with Brittany Lynn playing one of the teens, through Oct. 15, 601 W. Allens Lane; www.allenslane.org.

Transmutation and Metamorphosis Michener Art Museum presents an exhibition of collages by Ann Irwin, through Oct. 16, 138 S. Pine St., Doylestown; 215-3409800. ■

PLAYING NOW: Duran Duran is touring behind its new album “All You Need is Now,” stopping in the area to perform 8 p.m. Oct. 17 at Tower Theatre, 19 S. 69th St., Upper Darby. For more information or tickets, call 610-3522887.

North American premiere of “Jeu de Cartes” by Alexei Ratmansky Oct. 20-23 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 14-20, 2011

Community Center, 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220.

Mistakes Were Made 1812 Productions presents a comedy about a Broadway producer seeking professional and personal redemption, through Oct. 30 at Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey St.; 215-5929560.

Motherhood: The Musical Society Hill Playhouse presents the musical comedy from the creators of “Menopause: The Musical,” through Nov. 13, 507 S. Eighth St.; 215-9230211.

Our Class The Wilma Theater presents the U.S. premiere of the play chronicling the lives of 10 classmates from their childhood in the 1920s to the beginning of the new millennium, through Nov. 13, 265 S. Broad St.; 215-546-7824.

ANECDOTES FROM THE EDGE: Out humorist David Sedaris will have the masses chuckling when he performs 8 p.m. Oct. 15 at Merriam Theatre, 250 S. Broad St. For more information or tickets, call 215-790-5800.

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.

“I lingered in the shadows of my mind to hide from forces I believed would conjure greater torrents of pathos in my life, as if my fate was to live in perpetual sorrow, and barebacking indiscriminately would keep fate at bay.”

Millennial Poz Aaron Stella

After 30 years of HIV/AIDS, the epidemic is impacting the next generation: the Millennials.

Written by Aaron Stella, Millennial Poz gives a new voice to people with HIV/AIDS. Online and in print every second Friday.

Only in

33

34

REALPGN ESTATE

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 14-20, 2011

Community Bulletin Board Community centers

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

255 S. 16th St.; 215-545-4331 ■ Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center at the University of Pennsylvania 3907 Spruce St.; 215-898-5044; center@dolphin.upenn.edu, Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday.

and Allies Youth Center: 6-8 p.m.

Wednesdays: Doylestown Planned Parenthood, The Atrium, Suite 2E, 301 S. Main St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981; rainbowroom@ppbucks.org

■ William Way Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center: 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220; www.waygay.org.

Hours: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Saturdays and Sundays. Peer counseling: 6-9 p.m.

Monday through Friday Library hours: 12-9 p.m.

Monday-Thursday; 12-3 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Friday; 126 p.m. Saturday. Volunteers: New Orientation: First Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.

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

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

Key numbers

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

221

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

■ AIDS Library: 215-985-4851

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

■ ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215592-1513 ■ AIDS Treatment Fact line: 1800-662-6080 ■ Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection at the Independence Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library: 215-685-1633 ■ The COLOURS Organization Inc.: 112 N. Broad St., third floor; 215-496-0330 ■ Equality Pennsylvania: 215731-1447; www.equalitypa.org ■ Equality Forum: 215-732-3378

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

■ Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 267-216-6606; ppd. lgbt@gmail.com ■ Philly Pride Presents: 215875-9288 ■ SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: 717-9209537 ■ Transgender Health Action Coalition: 215-732-1207 (staffed 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays and 6-9 p.m.

Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays)

Arch Street United Methodist Church Services 8:30 and 11 a.m. at 55 N. Broad St.; 215-568-6250.

Bethlehem-Judah Ministries Open and affirming congregation holds services 10 a.m. Sundays at 5091 N. Dupont Hwy., Suite D, Dover, Del.; 302-730-4425.

BuxMont Unitarian Universalist Church Services 10:15 a.m. at 2040 Street Road, Warrington; 215-3430406.

Calvary United Methodist Church Reconciling, welcoming and affirming church holds services 11 a.m. Sundays at 801 S. 48th St.; 215-724-1702.

Central Baptist Church Welcoming and affirming church holds services 10:45 a.m.

Sundays at 106 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne; 610-688-0664.

Chestnut Hill United Methodist Church Services 11 a.m. and Spirit at Play, an arts-based Sunday school for children, at 9:30 a.m. at 8812 Germantown Ave.; 215-2429321.

Church of the Crucifixion Inclusive Episcopal community holds services 10 a.m. Sundays and 6 p.m. Fridays at 620 S. Eighth St.; 215-922-1128.

Church of the Trinity Lutheran Reconciling in Christ Parish holds services 10 a.m.

Sundays at 2300 S. 18th St.; 215-334-6656.

Dignity Jersey Shore An organization for sexual-minority Catholics meets the first Saturday of the month in Asbury Park. For time and location, call 732-502-0305.

Dignity Metro NJ An organization for sexual-minority Catholics meets 4 p.m. first and third Sundays of the month at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 550 Ridgewood Road, Maplewood; 973-509-0118.

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

Drexel Hill Baptist Church Nonjudgmental Christian congregation affiliated with American Baptist Churches of the USA holds services 11 a.m. Sundays at 4400 State Road, Drexel Hill; 610-259-2356; www.dhbaptist. com.

Emanuel Lutheran Church Reconciling in Christ congregation meets 9:30 a.m. Sundays at New and Kirkpatrick streets, New Brunswick, N.J.; 732-5452673; www.emmanuelnb.org.

St. Paul Episcopal Church Welcoming and inclusive church holds services 9:30 a.m.

Sundays and 7 p.m. Tuesdays at 89 Pinewood Drive, Levittown; 215-688-1796; www.stpaullevittown.org.

Health

AIDS Services In Asian Communities Provides HIV-related services to Asians and Pacific Islanders at 340 N. 12th St., Suite 205; 215-629-2300. www.asiac.org Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative Free, anonymous HIV testing from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; 12-6 p.m.

Tuesdays at the Washington West Project, 1201 Locust St. 215851-1822 or 866-222-3871. www.galaei.org. Spanish/English HIV treatment Free HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment for Philadelphia residents are available from 9 a.m.-noon Mondays and 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad St.; 215-685-1803.

HIV health insurance help Access to free medications and confidential HIV testing

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

■ Philadelphia Police Department liaison — Deputy Commissioner Stephen Johnson: 215-683-2840

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

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

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

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

Religion/Spirituality

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

Mazzoni Center Free, anonymous HIV testing; HIV/AIDS care and treatment, case management and support groups; 21 S. 12th St., eighth floor; 215-563-0652. www.mazzonicenter.org.

Mazzoni Center Family & Community Medicine Comprehensive primary health care, preventive health services, gynecology, sexual-health services and chronic-disease management, including comprehensive HIV care; 809 Locust St.; 215-563-0658.

Washington West Project Free, anonymous HIV testing. Walk-ins welcome 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

Monday-Friday except for 12-1 p.m. and 5-6 p.m. and 1-5 p.m.

Saturday; 1201 Locust St.; 215-985-9206.

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

■ National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association The Philadelphia chapter of NLGJA, open to professionals

and students, meets for social and networking events; www.nlgjaphiladephia.org.

■ Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus A regional organization dedicated to promoting gay and lesbian tourism to the Greater Philadelphia Region, holds meetings every other month on the fourth Thursday (January, March, May, July, September and the third Thursday in November), open to the public; P.O. Box 58143, Philadelphia, PA 19102; www.philadelphiagaytourism.com.

■ Philly OutGoing Professionals Social group for gay, lesbian and bisexual professionals meets for social and cultural activities; (856) 857-9283; popnews19@yahoo. com.

Evangelicals Concerned Lesbian and gay Christian group; 215-860-7445.

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

First Presbyterian Church of Lansdowne Welcoming church holds services at 10 a.m. Sundays at 140 N. Lansdowne Ave.; 610-626-0800; www.lansdownepresbyterianchurch.com.

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

The First United Church of Germantown A sexual-minority-affirming congregation holds services 11 a.m.

Sundays at 6001 Germantown Ave.; lunch follows; 215-438-3077. www.fumcog.org.

Grace Epiphany Church A welcoming and diverse Episcopal congregation in Mt. Airy with services 9:30 a.m. Sundays at 224 E. Gowen Ave.; 215-2482950. www.grace-epi.org.

Holy Communion Lutheran Church ELCA Reconciling in Christ congregation worships Sundays at 9 a.m. at 2111 Sansom St. and 11 a.m. at 2110 Chestnut St.; 215-567-3668; www.lc-hc.org/drupal.

Imago Dei Metropolitan Community Church Sexual-minority congregation worships at 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 1223 Middletown Road (Route 352), Glen Mills; 610-358-1716; www.ImagoDeiMCC.org.

Living Water United Church of Christ An open and affirming congregation that meets for worship 11 a.m. on Sundays; 2006 Germantown Ave.; 215-765-1970; www. lwucc.org.

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

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

Maple Shade Congregational Church of the United Church of Christ Affirming congregation open to all sexual orientations and gender

identities holds services 10 a.m. Sundays at 45 N. Forklanding Road, Maple Shade, N.J.; 856-779-7739; mapleshadeucc.org.

Metropolitan Community Church of Christ the Liberator Holds services 10:45 a.m. Sundays at the Pride Center of New Jersey; mccctl.com.

Metropolitan Community Church of Philadelphia Holds services 1 p.m. Sundays at the University Lutheran Church of the Incarnation, 3637 Chestnut St.; 215-294-2020; www.mccphiladelphia.com.

Old First Reformed Church Open and affirming United Church worships 10 a.m. at 151 N. Fourth St.; 215-922-4566; www.oldfirstucc.org.

Penns Park United Methodist Church Welcoming and affirming church holds services 10 a.m. Sundays at 2394 Second Street Pike, Penns Park; 215-598-7601.

Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral Progressive and affirming congregation holds services 10 a.m.

Sundays with Holy Eucharist at 3723 Chestnut St.; 215-3860234; www.philadelphiacathedral.org.

Rainbow Buddhist Meditation Group Meets 5 p.m. Sundays at the William Way Center.

Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting worships 11 a.m.

Sundays at 1515 Cherry St.; 215-241-7260; cpmm@afsc.org.

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

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

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

St. John’s Lutheran Church (ELCA) Reconciling in Christ congregation holds services 10:30 a.m.

Sundays at 24 N. Ridge Ave., Ambler; 215-646-2451; www. stjohnsambler.org.

St. Luke and The Epiphany Church Open and welcoming church holds liturgy 9 and 11 a.m.

Sundays fall through winter at 330 S. 13th St.; 215-732-1918; stlukeandtheepiphany.org.

St. Mary of Grace Parish Inclusive church in the Catholic tradition celebrates Mass 6 p.m. Sundays in the Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County, 145 W. Rose Tree Road, Media; 610-566-1393; www. inclusivecatholics.org.

St. Mary’s Church Diverse and inclusive Episcopal church celebrates the Eucharist 11 a.m. Sundays; adult forum 9:30 a.m.; and evening prayer 6:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday at 3916 Locust Walk; 215-386-3916; www.stmarysatpenn.org.

Tabernacle United Church Open and affirming congregation holds services 10 a.m. Sundays at 3700 Chestnut St.; 215-386-4100; tabunited.org.

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

Unitarian Society of Germantown Welcoming congregation holds services 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 6511 Lincoln Drive; 215-844-1157; www.usguu.org.

Unitarian Universalist Church of Cherry Hill Holds services 10:15 a.m. Interweave, a group of LGBT Unitarians and their allies, also meets at 401 N. Kings Highway, Cherry Hill, N.J.; 856-667-3618; uucch.org.

Unitarian Universalist Church of the Restoration, Mt. Airy Welcoming congregation holds services 11 a.m. Sundays September-June at 6900 Stenton Ave.; 215-247-2561; www. uurestoration.us.

Unitarian Universalist Congregation, South Jersey Shore Holds services 10 a.m. Sundays in Galloway Township; 609965-9400; www.uucsjs.org.

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

United Christian Church Open, affirming and welcoming congregation holds services 10:15 a.m. Sundays at 8525 New Falls Road, Levittown; 215946-6800.

Unity Fellowship Church of Philadelphia Diverse, affirming LGBT congregation holds services 2 p.m.

Sundays at 55 N. Broad St. University Lutheran Church of the Incarnation Welcoming congregation holds services 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 3637 Chestnut St. preceded by “Adult Forum: Sundays” at 9:30 with discussion of religious alienation and struggles of faith; 215-387-2885; www.uniphila.org.

EWS

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REALPGN ESTATE

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

Home of the Week

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 14-20, 2011

35

Featured property: 1812 Spruce St 3FPhiladelphia, PA 19103

$775,000 Excellent opportunity to purchase a large 3BR/3BA bi-level condo at an incredible price in the heart of Rittenhouse Sq. Features include brand-new marble baths, deluxe gourmet kitchen, Central A/C. High ceilings, wood floors, W/D hook-up, and lovely architectural details. Low monthly fees and utility expenses. Two private outdoor areas for your enjoyment. Parking available (see agent for details).

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Open Houses Sunday Oct. 9, 2011 NOON – 1 PM 1812 Spruce St. “Snowden Residence Condo” Unit #2R Brand new condo conversion in the Heart of Rittenhouse Square. Grand Scale 1 bd. 1.5 baths w/ office area. Magnificent ceiling molding details, Marble spa like bath. Huge South facing walk-out Terrace. Deluxe Gourmet Kitchen. Deeded covered parking available. Low fees and taxes. ...................................................................$450,000 1812 Spruce St. Unit #3R. Best value 2 bedroom, 1 bath in Rittenhouse Square.

Fabulous new condo conversion 1 block off Rittenhouse Square. Marble bath, deluxe kitchen, huge walk-out terrace. A/C. Large attic area.....................$395,000 1:30-2:30PM 1812 Spruce St. 3F. Large Bi-level townhouse style condo. Over 2,200 Square feet on two levels. 3 large bedrooms & 3 Marble baths. Deluxe Kitchen, S/S, walnut cabinets, Quartz counters Wood floors. Deeded parking available. Low taxes & fees ..........................................................................Pre-construction price $775,000 1812 Spruce St. Unit 2F. Very large condo in Rittenhouse Square, 1 bed, 1 bath.

High ceilings with great architectural details. Deluxe gourmet kitchen. Marble bath. Wood floors. Low fees and taxes. Deeded parking available. .........$425,000 Noon-2:30PM 1833-A Christian St. Brand new 2 bedroom, 2 bath two level townhouse. Open concept floor plan. Deluxe kitchen, S/S, Quartz counter tops. Hardwood floors.

Large rear garden. Glass tiles Spa-like master bath. Large family room in lower level. Tax abatement............................................................JUST REDUCED! $249,900 540 Cypress St. Charming, totally restored historic colonial in Society Hill. 2 large bedrooms, 1.5 baths. 2 fireplaces, wood floors, a/c, exposed brick walls, etc........ .....................................................................................................................$399,900

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

The Curtis Center 1401 Walnut St. 8th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19102

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

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NEW YORK STATE Cozy Cabin on 5 Acres $19,995. Beautiful woodlands. Our best deal ever! Call 800-2297843 or visit www.landandcamps.com _______________________________35-41 CONVENIENT LIVING In beautiful Waterfront Lots on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Call Bill at (757) 824-0808.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 14-20, 2011

REAL ESTATE

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Townhome available near Franklin & Marshall; easy walk to restaurants & art galleries Carefree home has 3 bedrooms; 2 baths & secret garden Go online to see for yourself: http://bit.ly/ou9dJs Contact Pamela Young 717-682-2850

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12TH & DICKINSON AREA Furnished Townhouse for rent: 3 levels. Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, 2 bedrooms, bath. Very Unique. 1500. mo plus util. (negotiable). Call 215 468-9166 after 6 pm. or 215 686 3431 daytime. _______________________________35-49 RITTENHOUSE SQUARE AREA Studios & 1 Bedrooms - Call for Availability (215) 735-8050. _______________________________36-03 815 SOUTH 4TH STREET 2 BR, ultra modern w/hdwd flrs., W/D, C/A, red granite kitchen, SS appl. $1200. 215-687-8461, 267-687-7936. _______________________________35-43

ROOMMATES PGN WILL NOT PUBLISH RACIAL DISTINCTIONS IN ROOMMATE ADS. SUCH NOTATIONS WILL BE EDITED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION. ___________________________________ GREATER NE PHILA. Have your own bedroom in a beautiful split level home with 2 gay men. House is 4 BR, 2 full baths, W/D, upper and lower decks, use of kitchen. Property is by Welsh & the Boulevard, 1 min. to 58 bus. We ask only that you be at least reasonably neat and employed. Rent is $600 + 1/3 utils. Contact Dave at 215-698-0215. _______________________________35-49 COLLEGEVILLE, PA Private room, full house privileges. 2 males looking for 3rd to share 3200 sq ft. house in nice neighborhod. Great new interior and beautifully landscaped exterior. Pvt. back yard patio. $650 rent, utils incl. antho092@aol.com _______________________________35-41 Independence Place. GM to share condo. $900 incl. utils. Call 267-519-0091. _______________________________35-48

SERVICES EUGENE’S TAILOR SHOP

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JOBS WANTED BUTLER/CHAUFFER/HOUSEMAN Retired butler seeking to reenter workforce.

Best references. If interested, please call 215-237-2384. _______________________________35-42

HELP WANTED OUTPATIENT THERAPIST needed for COMHAR’s Community Living Room Program located in Center City Philadelphia. The CLR is a community based psychiatric rehabilitation day program for people with both a MH and HIV/ AIDS diagnosis. The Outpatient Therapist will provide psychotherapy, facilitate group discussions, and be a part of the support team for our program members. This is a great opportunity for someone to be a part of an innovate day program where the interests and creativity of its members and staff are celebrated.

REQUIREMENTS A master’s degree in a social service field + 2 yrs counseling experience required. LCSW or similar license required. Will consider candidate with clinical internship experience.

SEND RESUME TO:

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Attention: Recruiter 100 West Lehigh Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19133 Fax: (215) 634-1713 recruit@comhar.org www.comhar.org

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 14-20, 2011

CERTIFIED

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