Vol. 33 No. 42
Honesty Integrity Professionalism
Oct. 16 - 22, 2009
th on e M g a r y 16 or ve ge st o pa Hi C on y ial tman Ga ec Whi Sp Walt
Philadelphia Gay News DVLF names interim directors By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer
A DECADENT LAUNCH: Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutritional Alliance special-events intern Lauren Pasquini (left), a Drexel University student, and MANNA director of events and communications Meg Rider passed out samples of the agency’s five gourmet holiday pies during its Pie in the Sky kickoff Oct. 14 outside of Liberty Place. MANNA’s 13th-annual pie sale will raise money to help the organization fulfill its mission of delivering nutritious meals to local residents with life-threatening illnesses. Pies can be ordered at www.mannapies.org or by calling (215) 496-2662. Photo: Scott A. Drake
LGBT grantmaking organization Delaware Valley Legacy Fund announced this week that it had selected two local leaders to guide the organization through its transition period. DVLF selected Christopher Bartlett and Sandra Thompson as interim co-executive directors. Current executive director Perry Monastero is set to depart the organization next week to take up a post as the director of development with LGBT health clinic the Mazzoni Center. The organization’s search committee interviewed five potential candidates for the posts and found that Bartlett and Thompson, who together have more than 40 years of experience in fundraising, research, program development and other leadership positions, to
be the most qualified. Bartlett served as the executive director of SafeGuards Men’s Health Project for 10 years, was a lead consultant to the Philadelphia LGBTI Community Assessment and is now co-facilitator of the Gay Men’s Health Leadership Academy. From 1997 until May of this year, Thompson served as the executive director of HIV/AIDS service organization St. Mary’s Respite Center; took on managerial roles at Blacks Educating Blacks About Sexual Health Issues; and is currently secretary of the board of directors of Prevention Point Philadelphia and a five-year member of DVLF’s Advisory Council. Bartlett and Thompson will spearhead the next leg of DVLF’s Donor Challenge: An anonymous donor has pledged to donate $10,000 if the group can raise
As federal lawmakers are poised to enact the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act, local activists are calling for uniform and consistent reporting of anti-LGBT hate crimes in Pennsylvania. The federal bill, expected to be approved by the U.S. Senate and signed into law by President Obama, would make it possible for federal officials to prosecute hate crimes based on gender, gender identity, sexual orientation and disability. Hate crimes based on those categories have been reportable in Pennsylvania since 2002. But they haven’t been prosecuted in Pennsylvania since 2007, when a state Commonwealth Court ruling removed the categories from the state Ethnic Intimidation Statute. The court ruling — which did
not nullify the reporting requirements — cited procedural violations when the categories were added to the statute in 2002. Community activists say accurate reporting of anti-LGBT hate crimes will help convince state legislators to reinstate the categories into the state Ethnic Intimidation Statute. “The more accurate statistics we can gather, the better the chances of getting these crimes recognized for what they are,” said Lynn G. Zeitlin, executive director of Equality Advocates Pennsylvania. “The more statistics we have, and the more reporting of these crimes, the more attention it will bring to the significance of the problem.” Zeitlin said efforts to report hate crimes against women, sexual minorities and the disabled have been hampered due to the inability See HATE CRIMES, Page 15
Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.
Advocates march on D.C., divided on Obama
Activists seek better tracking of hate crimes By Timothy Cwiek PGN Writer-at-Large
$20,000, and the agency so far has collected $6,400 toward this initiative. The interim directors will also prepare the group for TOY 2009, DVLF’s third-annual holiday toy drive for the youth in the HIV/AIDS unit at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Bartlett and Thompson started this week and will each invest 20 hours per week to DVLF. DVLF will launch its national search for a permanent executive director in the next few weeks under the guidance of Nancy Cunningham, former executive director of National Funders for Lesbian and Gay Issues. ■
By Brett Zongker The Associated Press
AN OUTSTANDING DAY: Carrie Jacobs, executive director of The Attic Youth Center, presents youth volunteer Khalil Nelson with Philly Pride Presents’ OutStanding Youth Award during the 19th-annual OutFest street festival Oct. 11. Nelson, a high-school senior who serves as vice president of the agency’s Youth Planning Committee and also sits on the organization’s board of directors, was one of three awardees during the festival, along with the Mazzoni Center and the William Way LGBT Community Center. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Thousands of gay and lesbian activists marched Sunday from the White House to the Capitol, demanding that President Obama keep his promises to allow gays to serve openly in the military and work to end discrimination against gays. Rainbow flags and homemade signs dotted the crowds filling Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House as people chanted “Hey, Obama, let mama marry mama” and “We’re out, we’re proud, we won’t back down.” Many children were also among the protesters. A few counter-protesters had also joined the crowd, which had stretched several blocks by the afternoon. Some participants in the National Equality March woke up energized by Obama’s blunt pledge to end the ban on gays serving See MARCH, Page 7
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OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
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OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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News Briefing Marriage debate at Constitution Center
BITTERSWEET BALL: William Way LGBT Community Center former board co-chairs Deb Francesco (left), Rhonda Cook (from right) and Ted Greenberg and current co-chairs Dave Michelson and Emilie Carr present the center’s outgoing executive director ’Dolph Ward Goldenburg with a commemorative piece of the facility’s flooring during the annual Indigo Ball Oct. 9. Goldenburg will leave the center next month after more than six years at the helm. Photo: Scott A. Drake
STUDENT CENTRAL: University of Pennsylvania students John Paul Farala and Magalie Lilavois (seated) discuss Penn’s LGBT community with Eric Maloy and Natasha Rogers during the Educational Justice Coalition’s Youth Empowerment Fair Oct. 9. The fair brought together representatives from schools, corporations and nonprofit organizations to network with local LGBT youth and provide them with numerous resources for their educational and career goals. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Youth homeless agency receives $200K in stimulus to start LGBT program By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer The federal stimulus package will hit home for the local LGBT community, thanks to a grant bequested to a Philadelphia nonprofit that works to curtail youth homelessness. Valley Youth House, a local organization that provides comprehensive services to homeless and at-risk youth, was notified last month that its grant proposal to launch LGBT programming was approved, and that it would receive $199,888 to implement the plan. Valley Youth was one of five Philadelphiabased organizations chosen for competitive grants from the federal Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program. The city will receive an additional $2 million for homeless-prevention efforts. Bill Motsavage, director of Valley Youth’s Independent Living Program, said the agency applied for the grant after noticing the high volume of LGBT youth seeking assistance from the organization. Valley Youth does operate an LGBT support group for youth, but this marks the first time the organization will implement a program designed specifically to get LGBT teens on their feet, he said. Motsavage noted that LGBT youth often face much higher levels of parental rejection than heterosexuals their age — heightening their risk for homelessness — and that, if they do find themselves separated from their families, their growth may be further stymied in mainstream rehabilita-
tion settings. “These young people face a lot of additional barriers than other kids who may be homeless,” Motsavage said. “They’re more likely to be picked on or harassed by other tenants their age in shelters or other programs and may also feel less safe in adult shelters. When this funding opportunity arose, this was something that we’d had in our minds, so we thought it was the right time to go ahead with it.” The new program will have several layers, Motsavage said. Valley Youth will recruit a full-time counselor to oversee the implementation of the agency’s plan, which will focus first on housing education. “One of the things we noticed with the general population of 18- to 21-year-olds is that they all want to have their own apartment, but a lot of times they don’t really know much about what that entails,” Motsavage said. Valley Youth will host a series of workshops for LGBT individuals, ages 18-21, to walk them through the process of apartment-hunting and renting their own space, with such topics as budgeting, credit scores, roommate searches and security deposits, as well as discussions on seemingly commonplace issues like how to handle a clogged toilet or a pest infestation, which Motsavage said many young adults renting their first apartment are often in the dark about. Program organizers will go out and “pound the pavement” with the kids to find apartments, and will pay first and sec-
ond month’s rent, as well as the security deposit; if the lessees successfully maintain the space for the first year, Valley Youth will also take care of the last month’s rent for the year. Motsavage said the agency will also assist youth in enrolling in school, attaining GEDs, finding employment tailored to their background and skills and obtaining health insurance. “We’re coming at this with a holistic approach,” he said. “There are a lot of factors that need to come together for youth to succeed, and oftentimes families do this, but if they don’t have that support, we want to step in and help. It’ll be a combination of education, guidance and financial support, as well as emotional support.” The program will serve approximately 45 young adults over a three-year period, with training sessions tailored for eight10 at a time. Valley Youth will take referrals from such organizations as The Attic Youth Center, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Adolescent Initiative — which serves youth who are HIV-positive or at a high risk for the disease — and youth shelter Covenant House. Valley Youth also plans to partner with the city’s Office of Supportive Housing to help identify youth who would benefit from the program. Motsavage said the first training session will be held in December. For more information, visit www.valleyyouthhouse.org. ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn. com.
The National Constitution Center will host “A Right to Marry? Same-sex Marriage and the Constitution,” a panel discussion on the issue with leading advocates and opponents of marriage equality, at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at the center, 522 Arch St. Joining the discussion will be marriage-equality supporters attorney David Boies, who is currently spearheading a legal effort to overturn California’s ban on same-sex marriage; openly gay author Keith Boykin; and marriage-equality opponents Maggie Gallagher, president of the National Organization for Marriage; and Glenn T. Stanton, director for Family Formation Studies at Focus on the Family. The discussion is free, but reservations are required. To reserve your spot, call (215) 409-6700 or visit www.constitutioncenter.org.
Gene Robinson to visit local church The Church of St. Luke and The Epiphany will welcome the Rev. Gene Robinson Oct. 19 as part of the church’s celebration of the feast day of St. Luke. Robinson, the bishop of the diocese of New Hampshire, made international headlines in 2003 as the first openly gay Episcopalian priest to be ordained bishop. Robinson will perform confirmations and formally receive people into the Episcopal Church beginning at 7 p.m. at the church, 330 S. 13th St. For more information, call (215) 7321918.
Halloween event raises funds for AIDS ActionAIDS will host a Halloween party from 8 p.m.-midnight Oct. 30 at Penn’s Landing Caterers, 1301 S. Columbus Blvd., to raise funds for the organization. Halloween Spooktacular will feature an open bar and hors d’oeuvres, with DJ RockNRon spinning the hottest tunes to get partygoers on their feet until the bewitching hour. Guests can also take the mic for karaoke. Costumes are encouraged, with prizes for the most creative outfits. Tickets are $60 in advance or $70 at the door. Call (215) 336-7404 to purchase tickets. ■ — Jen Colletta
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By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer
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OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
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In the music industry, the word “remix” typically applies to the audio realm, referring to the updating or reinvention of songs and other sound files. Members of The Attic Youth Center will put their own spin on the term and bring it into the visual field at a unique local fundraiser. The Attic will host “Remix,” an art exhibition and fundraiser, from 5-8 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Tower Gallery, 969 N. Second St. in Northern Liberties. The event will bring together established local artists and budding youth artists with the local LGBT and allied communities, who can peruse and purchase the art on display, with all proceeds going to the LGBT youth-service agency. Carrie Jacobs, executive director of The Attic, said the organization was looking to stage a unique fundraiser — separate from the more formal initiatives it spearheads throughout the year — and,
with the help of local artist and curator Thom Duffy, recruited nearly 30 artists who were eager to participate in the exhibition. “The artist community has been really interested in supporting the work we do here,” Jacobs said. “A lot of them had never heard of us before, so it’s great that we’re getting our name out there and that they’re so willing to help. We want this event to be able to engage the local artist community with donors and other community members who support youth.” Jacobs said the title of the show reflects the agency’s ongoing transition. “We were struggling to put together a name for this and came up with ‘Remix,’ because we have so many new things going on right now and we’re just changing and reinventing ourselves. We have some new people coming in and are shifting our approach to youth programming.” The work on display and on sale will include pieces by notable local artists like Madeline Adams,
Rachel Constantine, Liz Price and Bill Scott, while youth artists from The Attic will have one room of the building devoted just to their work, which will be auctioned off during the event. DiBruno Bros. will cater the fundraiser, which will feature a wine and cheese reception and a silent auction. Jacobs said she expects at least 300 attendees, and the organization is looking to raise at least $20,000. “All the money we raise will be going toward new programming and to support our reinvention,” she said. “We think this event will be something new and different and something that people will really enjoy.” Tickets to the event are $50, or $100 for a special preview event that begins at 4 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at www.atticyouthcenter.org/remix or by calling (215) 545-4331 ext. 308. ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.
ASIAC ends Jaded Lounge, 12th Air to continue it By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer
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AIDS Services in Asian Communities, which held a popular health and social event for gay Asian men and their supporters for more than a decade, announced last week it would discontinue its involvement. ASIAC has staged Jaded Lounge every second Friday at 12th Air Command since May 1997, but Ron Sy, ASIAC executive director, said the September event was to be its last, as the organization could no longer afford to stage it. Richard McPeake, owner of 12th Air Command, said the club still held Jaded Lounge on Oct. 9 with the assistance of other local organizations, and will continue to host the event. S y s a i d t h e c i t y ’s A I D S Activities Coordinating Office funded Jaded Lounge until 2007, when it had to terminate the contract because of shifting priorities within the agency. ASIAC took over funding for the event, which costs about $1,000 per month, but Sy said the crumbling economy and, most recently, the state budget impasse made this expense impossible. “With the economy lately, and I think the nail that really hit it
on the head was the state budget not getting passed, we just had no choice but to stop it. It was a purely fiscal decision,” Sy said. McPeake said 12th Air took over payment for the food and entertainment for Jaded Lounge about three months ago, but Sy noted that in addition to the monetary expenses, ASIAC invested manpower in the event — at least two or three ASIAC staffers were needed to run the affair. When Jaded Lounge launched, it was held on 12th Air Command’s first floor, but Sy said the community’s overwhelming response merited the club moving the event to its larger second floor. At its peak, the event drew between 300-400 people, while recent Jaded Lounge socials netted about 150-200. McPeake said last week’s party had an attendance of at least 250. Jaded Lounge offers an array of HIV/AIDS resources and connects participants with HIV testing, case management and other services, as well as offering entertainment and drag shows; McPeake said all of these will still be provided. ASIAC based Jaded Lounge off a model used at the time in San Francisco, which has since dissolved. Sy said he never expected
the community to respond to the event as strongly as it did. “I thought that maybe we would do this for two years or so and people would get tired of it and it’d fade away; I didn’t realize it would last this long,” he said. McPeake said groups like Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutritional Alliance, Asians Helping Asian Men and Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Associations Coalition, Inc., took part in last week’s Jaded Lounge. “We didn’t want to end it because [ASIAC] wasn’t going to do it anymore,” McPeake said. “They did the outreach part, but there’s so many groups who do outreach, why stop it?” Sy said he was “very thankful for all the support the community has given to the event, and most especially to the management of 12th Air Command. I’m sorry it had to come to this decision.” Sy said ASIAC will continue with its outreach efforts and plans to expand its STD-testing services. The organization will host “Eating for ASIAC” from 4-10 p.m. Oct. 22 and 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Oct. 25 at Konak Restaurant, 228 Vine St., with 20 percent of all proceeds from food sales donated to ASIAC. ■
OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
National
Media Trail
MARCH From Page 1 openly in the military during a speech to the nation’s largest gay-rights group Saturday night. The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee said Sunday that Congress will need to muster the resolve to change the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy — a change the military may be ready for. “I think it has to be done in the right way, which is to get a buy-in from the military, which I think is now possible,” said Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.). Obama’s political energies have been focused on two wars, the economic crisis and healthcare reform, though he pledged “unwavering” commitment even as he wrestled with those problems. March organizer Cleve Jones, creator of the AIDS Memorial Quilt and a protégé of gay-rights pioneer Harvey Milk, said he had initially discouraged a rally earlier in the year. But he and others began to worry Obama was backing away from his campaign promises. “Since we’ve seen that so many times before, I didn’t want it to happen again,” he said. “We’re not settling. There’s no such thing as a fraction of equality.” Unlike the first march in 1979 and others in 1987, 1993 and 2000 that had celebrity performances and drew as many as 500,000 people, Sunday’s event was a grassroots effort and expected to be more low-key. Many organizers were outraged after the passage of California’s Proposition 8, which canceled the right of gays to get married in the state, and over perceived slights by the Obama administration. Kipp Williams, a 27-year-old San
Francisco resident, said he moved to California from the South seeking equality but realized after Prop. 8 that gay people are second-class citizens everywhere. Contrary to the California Supreme Court’s decision on the legality of the referendum, he said, “there is no exception to the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution.” S a r a S c h o o n o v e rMartin, 34, came from OUT FOR EQUALITY: Thousands marched to the Capitol Martinsburg, W.Va., with Building in Washington, D.C., on Sunday to call for passage her wife, Nicki, wear- of employment nondiscrimination and hate-crimes protections ing matching veils and and the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the Defense of pink T-shirts that said Marriage Act. Photo: Joe Tresh “bride” and “I do.” The Other veteran activists doubted the march couple eloped at Martha’s Vineyard in would accomplish much. They said the time Massachusetts earlier this year. and money would have been better spent “When marriage is legalized in West working to persuade voters in Maine and Virginia, we will renew our vows and have Washington state, where the November balour family and friends there,” Sara said. lot will include a measure that would over“I’m angry that it hasn’t occurred quicker. turn a bill granting same-sex couples many This affects my life every day, 365 days a of the benefits of marriage. year.” A bill introducing same-sex marriage in For Lt. Dan Choi, the day began with a the nation’s capital also was introduced last jog around Washington’s memorials, calling week by the District of Columbia Council cadence at 8 a.m. with fellow veterans and and is expected to easily pass. supporters before the march. Choi, a West Rep. Barney Frank, an openly gay memPoint graduate, Arabic speaker and Iraq war ber of Congress, said the marchers should veteran, is facing discharge under the mili- be lobbying their lawmakers. He said the tary ban on openly gay servicemembers. demonstrations are simply “an emotional “We have fought in battles to protect our release” that do little to pressure Congress. country, and now we are fighting at home “The only thing they’re going to be putting for equal and full protection under the law,” pressure on is the grass,” the Massachusetts Democrat said last Friday. ■ he said.
Pa. native named Obama’s first gay ambassador By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer President Obama nominated the first openly gay U.S. ambassador of his administration last week, and the nominee is a Pennsylvania native. Obama selected attorney David Huebner as the ambassador to New Zealand and the Independent State of Samoa. If confirmed by the Senate, Huebner will become only the third openly gay ambassador in U.S. history. Huebner hails from Mahanoy City, about 50 miles northwest of Reading. A 1978 graduate of Mahanoy Area High School — and the school’s 1998 Alumnus of the Year — Huebner later attended Princeton University and earned his law degree from Yale University.
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Huebner is currently a partner with firm Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton and, as head of the company’s China Practice and International Disputes Practice, has been living in Shanghai for the past several years. Huebner previously was a partner and chairman of Coudert Brothers, where he worked out of the firm’s California office. During his time on the West Coast, Huebner served as president of the Los Angeles Quality & Productivity Commission and chaired the California Law Revision Commission, in addition to teaching courses at the University of Southern California’s Gould School of Law. He has served as the probono legal counsel for the Gay
& Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation for more than 10 years and also was a founding member and former co-chair of the organization’s board. GLAAD president Jarrett Barrios hailed Huebner’s nomination. “We congratulate David and know he will bring the determination and expertise that he has brought to his work at GLAAD to this new post,” Barrios said. “His commitment to public service is unrivaled and for over a decade ... GLAAD and the LGBT community have been the beneficiary of his commitment, dedication and skill.” Barrios said the president’s selection will raise public awareness not only about Huebner’s own accomplishments but also the potential and vitality of the
LGBT community as a whole. “We applaud President Obama for this nomination and his commitment to identifying the best and the brightest,” Barrios said. “This decision raises the visibility of the LGBT community as people who should be accepted and valued for our contributions to our society.” Obama, who also announced the nomination of David Nelson as ambassador to Uruguay last week, said of the two men that he’s “confident that these individuals will represent our nation well in these important roles. I am grateful for their service and look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead.” ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.
Lesbians disproportionately discharged under DADT The San Francisco Chronicle reports Pentagon officials won’t speculate why women in uniform are more likely to be discharged from the armed services under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” but critics of the policy say that new figures reflect deepseated sexism in the armed forces. Government statistics show that more than 619 men and women were discharged last year because of their sexual orientation. Of those, one-third were women, even though they account for 15 percent of all active-duty and reserve members. Pentagon spokesperson Cynthia Smith said officials will not look into the matter because even inquiring about it might violate the 1993 ban on openly gay servicemembers.
Ministers protest gay marriage ban Virginia’s DailyPress.com reports two ministers at a Norfolk Unitarian Church will protest Virginia’s constitutional ban on gay marriage by refusing to sign marriage licenses for heterosexual couples. The Revs. Phyllis L. Hubbell and John P. Manwell said they will continue to officiate at wedding ceremonies, but will not sign marriage licenses. In Virginia, only heterosexual couples can get a marriage license validating their legal status as spouses. The couple said the protest is worth the inconvenience for heterosexuals they wed.
Cop on leave for targeting gays The Chicago Tribune reports a Chicago police officer is on administrative leave pending an internal investigation into allegations that he made false DUI arrests and harassed gay and lesbian drivers. Chicago police say Officer Richard Fiorito is on desk duty pending the investigation. Attorney Jon Erickson has filed federal civil-rights lawsuits against Fiorito on behalf of about two-dozen people. The suits allege he made up DUI charges and other violations so he could get overtime pay for court appearances. Fiorito was assigned to a neighborhood on the city’s North Side with a high concentration of gay bars and restaurants. Fiorito’s attorney has said the arrests were valid. ■ — Larry Nichols
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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
Tens of thousands come out for OutFest By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer Photos by Scott A. Drake It was a beautiful day in the Gayborhood last weekend for the 19th annual OutFest. Rainbows abounded on clothes, pets and buildings as entertainers energized the already-rowdy crowd, and community organizations and activists turned out in full force to take part in the world’s largest Coming Out Day celebration. Franny Price, executive director of Philly Pride Presents, which stages the annual street festival, estimated that some 45,000 LGBTs and allies celebrated in the Gayborhood last Sunday. Attendance was slightly higher than last year and evidently not impacted by the National March for Equality, which took place in Washington, D.C., the same day. About 135 vendors set up shop throughout the streets of the Gayborhood, selling artisan goods and LGBT-related merchandise and informing passersby about local LGBT-service organizations and other resources.
Henri David hosted the entertainment on the main stage — which included performances by Hunter Valentine, Barry Brandon, Anne Simoni, Allazae, NIO, L.Y.F.E., local drag performers, The Attic Youth Center participants and entertainers with Cirque du Soleil — and representatives from LGBT health clinic the Mazzoni Center and the William Way LGBT Community Center, as well as Attic Youth volunteer Khalil Nelson, all took the stage to accept awards from Philly Pride Presents. Returning this year were the annual high-heel race and penis-shaped bagel-eating contest, and back by popular demand was a mechanical bull that Price said was a big hit with last week’s crowd. Price noted this year marked only the second time in OutFest’s history that the event actually fell on Oct. 11, the designated National Coming Out Day, which she said made this year’s celebration even more momentous. “The whole day was so great. There was just so much going on. Everything was special in its own little way.”
A handful of representatives of antigay group Repent America with signs and a microphone near the corner of 13th and Locust streets, where the main-stage entertainment was taking place. Five years ago, several Repent America members were arrested for protesting OutFest, and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals last year upheld a lower court’s ruling that the group was permitted to attend the event but could not “move from distributing literature and wearing signs to disruption of the permitted activities.” Price said she thought the group’s use of a microphone was on the border of that stipulation. “They were a little bit loud when they first got there,” she said. “And it was disappointing because the ruling allows them to be there and express their FirstAmendment rights, but not to disrupt the event. But the police did cut them off from the microphone eventually when the festival really got going and the louder they got, so we were happy about that.” Philadelphia Police spokesperson Officer Jill Russell said no arrests were made during OutFest.
OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
A Norristown woman said she sustained injuries after she tried to intervene in a fight on 13th Street outside Woody’s. The woman said four officers attempted to break up the fight between two other women she knew, and that a Civil Affairs officer threw her to the ground, knocking her unconscious. Officer Mitchell Spritzler of the office of Chief Inspector James Tiano, the police LGBT liaison, said the report from the incident cited that the participants were intoxicated and that police broke up a fight between the women twice. He said police offered medical assistance to the woman who was injured but that she declined. The woman told PGN the officers did not offer medical assistance. ■Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
Editorial Fighting the good fight Last Saturday, President Obama addressed 3,000 LGBT individuals and allies at a fundraiser for the Human Rights Campaign. Timed to coincide with the National Equality March on Washington on National Coming Out Day, Obama reiterated his commitment to the LGBT community and equality. He restated several of his campaign messages and promises, ones critics feel have gotten lost in the shuffle in the nine months since he took office. Obama opened by recounting the difficulties faced by the sexual-minority community and said the fight for equality was not over, adding: “And I’m here with a simple message: I’m here with you in that fight.” And he acknowledged that some believe he hasn’t moved fast enough on some issues, while noting that he has a lot on his plate: “And while progress may be taking longer than you’d like as a result of all that we face — and that’s the truth — do not doubt the direction we are heading and the destination we will reach.” His message was certainly one of inclusion, as he spoke about how the economy, healthcare and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan impact all Americans, and as he compared the fight for LGBT rights to the civil-rights struggles of the 1960s. Obama went on to reiterate promises to end the military’s ban on openly gay servicemembers, to pass and sign a hate-crimes bill and to recognize same-sex relationships nationally. On the military ban, Obama said he was working with the Pentagon, its leadership and members of the House and Senate to end the policy, adding: “Legislation has been introduced in the House to make this happen. I will end ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ That’s my commitment to you.” Obama also invited the audience to continue to put pressure on leaders — himself included — for LGBT equality. The president’s speech was inspiring — and reassuring, particularly for those who backed Obama as a candidate and defended him through the backlash of the past few months. He hasn’t forgotten about the LGBT community, the one that helped elect him. Obama’s speech, another example of his excellent oratory skills, is moving and powerful — and worth a YouTube search. And, if nothing else, it gained him a breather and a reprieve for a few more months. ■
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. Please include a daytime phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity, style and space considerations.
Op-Ed
Lee Carson
Building bridges with the NAACP Building allies in any civil- or human-rights movement is an essential element to success. No such movements can be won without the assistance of allies, who are often more effective in helping to change the opposing opinions of their peers than those impacted by the issue(s) at hand. In spite of the fact that many local and national polls demonstrate an increase in pro-LGBT attitudes from the general public, there is still quite a bit of resistance to the passage of certain legislation that will get us closer to being equal citizens with our heterosexual counterparts. One such ally local leaders are working with is the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. On a national level, the NAACP has shown itself in recent years to be a fairly progressive black organization and ally to the LGBT civil-rights movement. Recently, they hired an openly gay black man, Maxim Thorne, as their senior vice president of development and communications. During the LGBT equality rally and march in Washington, D.C., last weekend, Julian Bond, chairman of the national NAACP board, spoke about the support the national organization has for LGBT civil rights. Later this month, we will come one step closer to building stronger bridges with African-American allies
from around the state to enlist their efforts to help support various proLGBT legislation at federal and state levels. On Oct. 31, the NAACP is hosting a statewide conference here in Philadelphia. Several Philadelphiabased leaders met with the local NAACP leadership, who agreed to give us a panel at the conference to discuss LGBT legislative issues with which we would like their support. We see this as a step in the right direction as we continue to build our ally base in the state to move proLGBT legislation forward. The panel discussion will cover five pieces of legislation: the Defense of Marriage Act, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” hate-crimes legislation, immigration reform and House Bill 300. Of these, the only one that is statelevel legislation is HB 300, which would add sexual orientation and gender identity or expression to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, which bars discrimination in employment, housing, education, credit and lending and service in public accommodations. The remaining four legislative issues are federal level; however, we need to make sure our Pennsylvania Congressional members support these pieces of legislation. We are also keenly aware that our elected officials from Philadelphia are often in support of pro-LGBT
legislation and that we need to influence our allies in other parts of the state to pressure their elected officials to create the tipping point we need to pass our legislative agendas. To this end, we are seeking written testimonials of discrimination experienced by black LGBTs in the Philadelphia region, with a strong interest in obtaining testimonials from persons residing in other parts of the state. Putting a personal face on how the lack of this legislation impacts the lives of individuals can often create the emotional connection we need to garner additional allies. The panel discussion will take place from 10 a.m.-noon Oct. 31 at the Hilton Hotel, 4200 City Line Ave., and is open to the public. No registration is needed. Please get the word out to friends and colleagues from around the state that we are looking to obtain written testimonies of discrimination by 5 p.m. Oct. 29. Testimonies should be no longer than 1,500 words. Questions about the panel or testimonial submissions should be sent to lcarson@bgmlc.org. ■
Lee Carson is president of Black Gay Men’s Leadership Council, a grassroots nonprofit organization that fosters leadership, education and dialogue in the black gay male community (www.bgmlc.org).
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
Mark My Words
Mark Segal
Mr. President, here’s our timeline There are 2.7-million active servicemembers and reservists in the U.S. military. For debate purposes, let’s say 5-percent (use whatever figure you wish here) are gay, lesbian or bisexual and come under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” If every one were discharged, that’s 135,000 possible casualties of the military’s ban on openly gay servicemembers. Now, let me give you another number. The U.S. population is about 300 million. Let’s use that same 5 percent figure for the LGBT community and do the math — presto, you have a figure of about 15 million LGBT U.S. citizens. Now, 21 states and the District of Columbia have passed nondiscrimination laws, meaning that 29 states give no job protection to LGBT workers. Given population stats, let’s say that translates to about 50 percent of the U.S. population. Take that 15 million and divide in half, and we now know that 7.5 million LGBT U.S. citizens have no job protection against discrimination. Now, we could go state by state and attempt to give job security to our community that way, but guess what? There are states that will not protect our citizens, and therefore we need the national law. We’re not the first community that came to that conclusion. In the 1960s, the black civil-rights movement understood this, and it resulted in the Civil Rights Act of 1964, then the National Voting Rights Act of 1965. So we have the facts, we have the figures: How do we proceed? Once again, it’s time for us to be creative. The pending Employment Non-Discrimination
Act legislation has a section that specifically exempts “members of the Armed Forces.” So, we remove this section, or we change the wording; maybe: “The President will confer with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Congress regarding “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” The legislation is passed and the president signs it and adds a signing statement, such as, “It is my understanding that this includes the U.S. military and voids ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’” You read that right. The president can keep his promise to repeal the ban and we can end both forms of discrimination in one bill. Doing it this way will give the moderates who want to vote for nondiscrimination but not repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” a way to do that. It all falls on the shoulders of the president. It’s completely legal and done with a wink and a nod. Also, Washington appreciates a move like this: It lets so many off the hook. They get to say to their constituents — either us or the right wing — they were for it, but not for the other half. They can’t lose. So whatever your position or priority is, it’s time to do the math and strategize on how to take action. You can yell all you want, but passing legislation takes planning, strategy and knowing your priorities, and most of all, knowing how to count the votes you need how to achieve them. One last thought. I’m not willing to wait seven years for this work to be completed. If the White House and HRC won’t give a deadline, then we should. Maybe three years is an appropriate deadline since we’ll have to decide by then whether to vote or just sit on our hands. ■
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Street Talk Is it a good idea to protest President Obama’s appearance at the Human Rights Campaign dinner?
Greg Holley stained-glass artisan South Philadelphia
Paul Portis student South Philadelphia
“Yes. If you’re so moved to protest, do it. Obama isn’t a sacred cow. There’s a lot of room for improvement. Granted, he’s better than George W. Bush, but that’s not saying much.”
“No. I’m not combative by nature. Why tarnish an event that’s meant to be a happy occasion? A protest wouldn’t be productive, and it has the potential of being alienating [to Obama]. I would cut him some slack on this one.”
Meghin Snyder student Washington Square West
John Williams student Center City
“No. Wait and listen to what he has to say at the dinner. If you don’t like it, protest at another time. But don’t prejudge Obama before he even speaks.”
“No, it’s not the time or place. Try to understand how much he has on his plate. And don’t be so quick to criticize. Maybe a year from now, the situation can be reevaluated. But now it’s too early to pass judgment.”
Mark Segal is PGN publisher. He can be reached at mark@epgn.com.
Letters and Feedback In response to “Divided loyalties,” Oct. 9-15: National marches also have the unique role of providing LGBT folks (especially younger ones) with a vision of our communities amassed in one place. I attended the ’87 and ’93 marches, and the crowds helped me to see that I was part of something much larger than myself. So in addition to political outcome, the march has the benefit of cementing in this generation’s mind what a huge community of LGBT people looks like. That result should not be undervalued. — Chris Bartlett This editorial is offensive! How could a gay paper write something like this? It is not about people’s loyalties at all. It is about supporting a cause and a group’s civil rights — whether they lie on a state
or national level is immaterial. People can support either and feel good, but to compare OutFest to the National Equality March is offensive to those supporting and trying to change gay civil rights while striving for the equality we deserve. This is the worst editorial ever! — Tom Birch I find this editorial a little bizarre — are Philadelphians that self-absorbed that they do not see the importance of the march? It is either embarrassing for Philadelphians or for the Philadelphia Gay News — either way, it is hard to believe. — John T While I definitely support gay organizing and even mass mobilizations (for some very important issues, and I’m not talking about that marriage issue), I wonder if this is the best tactic. I’m no
longer interested in “gatherings of the privileged” when there are marginalized LGBT folks carrying greater burdens. — Kevin Jones Life is full of the wonderful power of choice. If you are supporting an event or cause, who cares where you choose to support it? Throw your ego out the door and just go do something, shake a hand or drink or whatever ... Just celebrate the energy of everyone coming together — no matter where they are — to support each other in the fight for equality. Not everyone can travel or get to a non-local event. Not everyone is divided. There are many more important issues than gay equality — just go fight for what you believe in and don’t let anyone make you feel bad for choosing one over the other. You choose. — Brandi146
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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Out Money Vengan a compartir una misa este domingo a las 7 p.m. para celebrar –el “Mes de la Hispanidad” Join us at St. Luke & the Epiphany Church 330 S. 13th Street, between Spruce and Pine streets, Philadelphia, PA
Sunday Mass at 7:00 p.m.
Communion in the form of Consecrated bread, wine and grape juice. Gluten-free communion available upon request.
www.dignityphila.org www.dignityusa.org Visit us on Facebook – Dignity Philadelphia
F irst Baptist Ch u r c h SERVICES: Wednesdays Noontime Sundays 11a.m.
17TH & SANSOM STREETS PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103
215.563.3853
Contemporary Service: Last Sunday of month Breathing Room Wednesdays 7 p.m.
Pastor Jerry deJesus
www.fbcphila1698.org
OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
Jeremy R. Gussick
A look at the Credit Card Act of 2009 Q: I’ve gotten myself into a bit of trouble with my credit cards over the past year. Now I owe a lot of money on multiple cards, and I’m worried about what might happen to my interest rates and other fees on these cards. A: A new law that places significant restrictions on credit-card companies’ ability to increase interest rates and charge a variety of fees was passed swiftly by Congress earlier this year. Consumers will begin seeing new protections take hold this fall. Following is a brief rundown of the bill’s key provisions and what they might mean for the millions of Americans who carry balances on their credit cards from month to month. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CREDIT CARD ACCOUNTABILITY, RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLOSURE ACT OF 2009: Limits on interest-rate increases. Interest-rate increases on existing credit-card balances will be allowed only under certain conditions — i.e., the cardholder has fallen 60 days behind in minimum payments, a promotional rate expires or the card car-
ries a variable rate. Interest rates on new cards cannot be raised for the first year and cardholders must be given 45-days’ notice of any significant change in contract terms, including a rate increase. Elimination of “universal default” and “double billing” practices. Universal default, the practice of raising interest rates on cardholders based on payment records with other creditors, and “double billing,” the practice of computing finance charges based in part on balances from previous billing cycles, will no longer be allowed. More time to pay bills. Card issuers must mail statements at least 21 days before they are due. Highest-interest balances paid first. When cardholders have accounts with varying interest rates — for purchases versus balance transfers, for instance — any payment above the minimum amount due must be applied first to the balance with the highest interest rate. Current industry practice is to do the opposite, thus extending the debt pay-off time. Limits on over-limit fees. Cardholders must give their prior permission to process transactions that would place their account over the limit. Plain-language disclosures. Card companies must spell out clearly how long it will take cardholders to pay off an existing balance — and the total interest cost — if the consumer paid only the minimum due.
CONGREGATION BETH AHAVAH
at Rodeph Shalom
A GLBT synagogue welcoming people of all gender and sexual identities since 1975
JOIN US TWICE MONTHLY FOR SHABBAT SERVICES AT 8:00 PM Coffee, cake & conversation at the oneg following services
Friday, November 6, 8:00 PM, Beth Ahavah Shabbat Services. Please join your BA family and friends for services. Sumptuous oneg (social hour/dessert) to follow. Saturday, November 7, 7:00 PM. BA Movie Night: “A Jihad for Love”. Always filming in secret and as a Muslim, gay filmmaker Parvez Sharma took great risk by filming in nations where government permission to make this film was not an option. The results are enlightening, heart rendering and, at times, shocking. Free admission, RSVP is by phone or email by Nov. 5. Sunday, November 15, 10:30 AM: Bus Tour of Jewish South Philadelphia. Our expert docent will be Joseph Van Blunk, a native of South Philadelphia who served as the “Shabbos Goy” for neighborhood shuls. Meet at 10:30 for brunch and introductory film. Board comfortable motorcoach to visit former and existing synagogues and other landmarks. Return to RS about 2:00 PM. Cost is $25 per person, RSVP is by phone or email by Nov. 10. Seating limited – sign up now! Beth Ahavah and Rodeph Shalom are affiliated in spirit and share a sacred home. In July 2007 Beth Ahavah affiliated with Rodeph Shalom. Beth Ahavah retains its congregational status within the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) and proudly offers its congregation dual membership at both synagogues.
Visit www.bethahavah.org for additional information, programming and directions
615 North Broad Street, Phila., PA 19123-2495 Phone: 215.923.2003 E-mail: BethAhavah@rodephshalom.org
Free secure parking: Cross Spring Garden at 13th St., left at next light, Mt. Vernon St. Parking lot entrance on left.
CONSUMER IMPACT While the law’s focus on controlling interest rates and fees should benefit millions of creditcard users, opponents of the bill have argued that the law will make credit cards less available and more costly. Credit-card issuers have warned that by imposing restrictions on their ability to raise interest rates as a means of managing risk, they will be forced to make it more difficult for some consumers to obtain credit cards at all — and more costly for those who do. Much can change in the intervening months before the new law takes full effect. However, credit cardholders can take steps now to ensure their access to affordable credit is preserved. Research a better deal. For individuals unhappy with the terms of their current creditcard contract, now may be an opportune time to shop around. Cardholders can start by negotiating with their current card issuer and/or by researching other offers. Users can track which cards are in compliance with the new rules at www.billshrink.com/ credit-cards/bill-of-rights. Know your credit score. The higher your credit score, the more negotiating power you will have with creditors. Before launching a campaign to find a better card, obtain a copy of your credit report and credit score at www. annualcreditreport.com. Credit reports are free, while credit scores can be purchased for a nominal fee (less than $10). ■ Jeremy R. Gussick is a financial consultant with LPL Financial, the nation’s largest independent wealth management firm.* Jeremy specializes in the financial planning needs of the LGBT community. He is active with several LGBT organizations in the region, including the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund, the Greater Philadelphia Professional Network and the Independence Business Alliance. If you have a question, e-mail jeremy. gussick@lpl.com. This article was prepared with the assistance of Standard & Poor’s 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 1996-09.
OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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HATE CRIMES From Page 1 to prosecute these crimes. Amy K. Rosenberry, executive director of the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association, said her group hopes to send e-mail advisories to about 700 municipal police departments statewide, reiterating their reporting requirements. “We’re considering possible options to make our membership aware of the matter,” Rosenberry said. “We can’t mandate anything to our members. But we’re all about getting out as much information as we possibly can.” Each year, an average of 1020 anti-lesbian, gay and bisexual hate crimes are reported to the Pennsylvania State Police — mostly from Philadelphia and its adjacent suburbs, according to the state police Web site. No anti-transgender hate crime has been reported since the category was established, according to the state police Web site. One anti-gender hate crime has been reported to the Pennsylvania State Police since 2002. That occurred this past August, when 12 women were shot — three fatally — by George Sodoni at a fitness center in Collier, Pa. Stephen A. Glassman, chair of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, called for more training of local police to recognize and report anti-LGBT hate crimes. “If you don’t have consistent and accurate data, you have spotty underreporting, and it’s more difficult to defend the need for these laws to legislators who are looking for numbers to justify the reinstatement of the law,” Glassman said. He encouraged the Pennsylvania State Police to hold training sessions for municipal police officers on the reporting requirements for all hate crimes, including antiLGBT hate crimes. Lt. Myra Taylor, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania State Police, did not respond to repeated requests for comment. Capt. John R. Darby of the Philadelphia Police Department’s Conflict Prevention Resolution Unit, which investigates reported hate-crime incidents, said there’s always room for improvement within the department. But Darby stopped short of calling for additional training on hatecrimes reporting. “I think the focus should be on providing the very best service that we can for every victim,” Darby said. ■ Timothy Cwiek can be reached at (215) 625-8501 ext. 208.
Philadelphia Gay News Your city, your lifestyle, your newspaper
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
Gay History Month The love of Walt Whitman’s life By Jack Veasey PGN Contributor Walt Whitman, best known as the father of modern poetry and American poetry, was also the longtime lover of Peter Doyle, son of a blacksmith, a former Rebel soldier who worked as a streetcar conductor. They were often affectionate in public; their families, and all Whitman’s friends, knew about their relationship. Doyle was a conspicuous influence on many of Whitman’s works. The couple first met on a Washington, D.C., streetcar in 1865, on a stormy winter night toward the close of the Civil War.
Whitman was 45; Doyle, 21. Doyle thought his bearded only passenger, a blanket over his shoulders, looked “like an old sea captain.” “I thought I would go and talk to him,” Doyle had said in an interview. “Something in me made me do it. He used to say there was something in me had the same effect on him ... We were familiar at once. I put my hand on his knee ... from that time on we were the biggest sort of friends.” Whitman was a burly 6-feet tall; Doyle, a slender 5-foot-8. Their differences extended beyond the physical. Whitman was a government clerk, journalist and a published poet; Doyle, a workingman
supporting his widowed mother and younger siblings. Whitman prided himself on patriotism; his brother George was a Union soldier, and he’d spent the last two years nursing the wounded in Washington’s army hospitals. Doyle had been a Confederate artilleryman who’d obtained release from federal prison by claiming to be a British subject (born in Limerick, Ireland, he and his family emigrated here when he was a child). Pete and Walt were living proof that opposites attract. They were a familiar sight on Washington streetcars and at the bar in Georgetown’s Union Hotel. A favorite pastime was to
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hike along the Potomac River in Maryland, take the ferry to Virginia, and then hike back along the river on the Virginia side. They were unable to live together due to Doyle’s obligations to his family, though Walt wanted to settle down with him and brought it up repeatedly. But each man was warmly embraced by the other’s family. Pete would fondly recall dinners at the Whitmans’: “After we had our dinner [Walt’s mother] would always say, ‘Now take a long walk to aid digestion.’ Mrs. Whitman was a lovely woman.” After Whitman’s first stroke in 1873, his mother wrote to Walt to express her confidence in Doyle: “I knew if it was in his power he would cheerfully do everything he could for you.” He lived up to her expectations, nursing Whitman for months. He considered Doyle’s mother Catherine, brothers James, Francis and Edward and sister Margaret — the latter who lived with Doyle — dear friends. Doyle would have a lasting impact on Whitman’s work. For one thing, Doyle — who was present at Lincoln’s assassination – would shape Whitman’s writings about that tragic event. Doyle
had gone to the performance of “My American Cousin” in Ford’s Theater on April 14, 1865, because he’d heard the Lincolns would be there. He heard the shot and saw John Wilkes Booth leap from Lincoln’s box to the stage, but didn’t know Lincoln was dead until he heard Mary Todd Lincoln cry out, “The president has been shot!” Doyle was one of the last to leave the theater, ordered out by a policeman. Lincoln had been one of Whitman’s heroes, though they had never met. As a friend of the president’s former secretary John Hay, Whitman had seen Lincoln in person numerous times. He’d written, “I never see the man without feeling that he is one to become personally attached to.” Whitman would use Doyle’s account in “Specimen Days, Memoranda During The War” and lectures. Doyle also affected Whitman’s most popular Lincoln poem, “O Captain! My Captain!” Doyle came to America with his mother and three brothers on the William Patten in 1852; the ship nearly wrecked in a storm on Good Friday, also the day of Lincoln’s assassination. Whitman knew this. The poem memorializes Lincoln
OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
WHITMAN AND DOYLE
as a ship’s captain, who died while guiding his vessel safely to port through a storm. The poem, unlike most of Whitman’s verse, is metered and rhymed. During their walks, Doyle would often quote limericks to Whitman; the poem’s extant first draft is in free verse, so he likely revised it to impress Doyle. Another poem written around the same time, “Come Up From The Fields Father,” is the only time Whitman ever identified a protagonist with a personal name — Pete. Doyle also figured prominently in Whitman’s private notebooks, particularly passages cited by some scholars as the most convincing proof of Whitman’s gay sexuality. In the summer of 1870, Whitman began to suspect that Doyle did not return his love. He wrote feverishly, vowing “TO GIVE UP ABSOLUTELY ... this ... USELESS UNDIGNIFIED PURSUIT OF 16.4.” Sixteen and four are the numeric locations of the initials P.D. in the alphabet. Whitman also later erased the “im” in “him” and replaced it with “er” in these entries. But before Whitman left to visit his family later that summer, Doyle confessed his love, ending Whitman’s ambivalence. In a July 30 letter, Whitman enthused, “I never dreamed that you made so much of having me with you, nor that you should feel so downcast at losing me.” Soon after, when Doyle griped about his job, Whitman wrote promising “a good smacking kiss, many of them — taking in return many, many from my dear son — good loving ones too.” Their relationship remained intense during Whitman’s years in Washington. But he suffered a stroke in 1873, which impaired his left arm and leg. He went to live with his brother George in Camden, N.J., considering the arrangement temporary. Whitman’s beloved mother died that same year, taking
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
an emotional toll on him as well. Doyle was by now working a dangerous, stressful job — brakeman — for the Pennsylvania Railroad, but would still visit Whitman daily before his evening shift. Whitman took the precaution of making out a will, in which Doyle was the only non-family member included. In 1874, Whitman forfeited his Washington job, and broke the news to Doyle that his move to Camden would be permanent. In 1875, another stroke affected Whitman’s right side. For the next two decades, Doyle and Whitman continued to correspond, and Doyle continued to visit regularly, but they began to see less of each other. In 1876, Whitman met another workingclass youth, Harry Stafford, a Camden New Republic office clerk in his 20s. Stafford became Walt’s new “darling boy.” Stafford’s parents considered Whitman a “good influence.” Whitman began to spend time at the family’s farm near Timber Creek, about 10 miles from Camden. Walt’s letters told Pete about the farm, but not about Harry. Like Fred Vaughan before him, Stafford would marry in 1884, but he and Whitman would remain friends. After Doyle’s mother Catherine passed away in 1885, he relocated to Philadelphia. Though Doyle and Whitman remained in touch until 1889, no correspondence exists between 1881-86, as they saw each other frequently. In 1888, Whitman suffered another stroke and became severely ill. He would live four more years, during which he would publish “November Boughs,” “Goodbye My Fancy” and the so-called “Deathbed Edition” of “Leaves of Grass.” Doyle would be mysteriously absent for most of this time. Whitman speculated to friend Horace Traubel that Doyle “must have got another lay.” On New Year’s Day, 1892, Whitman revised his will to exclude Doyle, who he presumed was dead. But before he passed, Doyle visited him, and explained his absence. In an interview, Doyle recalled: “In the old days, I had always open doors to Walt — going, coming, staying as I chose. Now, I had to run the gauntlet of Mrs. Davis [Walt’s housekeeper at his own new Mickle Street home] and a nurse and whatnot ... Then I had a mad impulse to go over and nurse him. I was his proper nurse — he understood me — I understood him. We loved each other deeply ... I should have gone to see him, at least, in spite of everything, I know it now ... but it’s all right.
Walt realized I never swerved from him — he knows it now. That is enough.” Whitman died of tuberculosis on March 26, 1892 at age 72. Doyle attended the funeral, and remained part of Whitman’s surviving circle of friends until his own passing at 63 in 1907 from kidney disease. The most substantial documentation of their relationship is a col-
PAGE 17
lection of letters Whitman sent to Doyle from 1868-80, published in 1897 by their mutual friend, psychiatrist/author Richard Maurice Bucke, as “The Calamus Letters.” “Calamus” poems are interspersed between letters in the book. The book included Bucke’s revealing interview with Doyle conducted after Whitman’s death, which Henry James would call “the most
charming passage in the volume“ in his 1898 review. From his interview with Bucke: “I have Walt’s raglan here. Now and then I put it on, lay down ... Then he is with me again ... I do not ever for a minute lose the old man. He is always nearby ... in a crisis, I ask myself, ‘What would Walt do?’ — and whatever I decide Walt would do, that I do.” ■
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
LGBT recovery house opens in No. Philly By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer LGBT Philadelphians who are struggling with drug or alcohol abuse and are looking to get their lives back on the right path now have a new support system to aid them in that effort. People R Us, a transitional-living program that offers services specifically for LGBT individuals, opened late last month in North Philadelphia.
The two-house conjoined structure, on the 2100 block of West Tioga Street, can house 14 tenants in each building; one house is designated for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals and the other for transgender residents. Darrin Molletta, founder of People R Us, said he was motivated to open the establishment after witnessing the challenges his transgender brother faced when he tried to seek assistance at a mainstream recovery house.
“About two years ago, he went to a recovery house and called me on the phone crying and told me that the people at the house told him he had to remove his wig and take off his makeup and come back in as a man and then they would accept him,” Molletta said. “I talked to the administrator and he said, ‘These type of people can’t make it in this place. We don’t want those people here.’” Molletta, who also operates two other shelters in the city, said
his facilities employ a three-strike policy — residents who test positive for drugs or other substances three times must enter an inpatient facility — and that he’s seen LGBT individuals experience problems similar to his brother when they transfer to these locations. “I’ll talk to them and they say that they didn’t want to sleep in the same room as some other people, that they were afraid to go into the room by themselves or
that they felt that they always had to prove themselves,” he said. “I carried all those experiences with me and thought that we needed a recovery house for transgender, gay and lesbian people so they can all have the same opportunity to recover and go on and live their lives.” People R Us will house LGBT residents for up to a year and provide them with a range of services that will help them stabilize themselves. Residents can receive both individual and group counseling to learn more about the root causes of their addictions and create plans to keep themselves clean in the future. Molletta said People R Us will assist residents in attaining their GEDs or other educational goals; developed computer skills at a computer lab on the premises; and training as a beautician or barber at an on-site studio. “If people are ready to get their lives together, they now have a place where they can feel comfortable getting services. They don’t have to worry about being discriminated against,” he said. Although research shows that LGBT people are at a higher risk for alcohol or drug addiction than their heterosexual counterparts, People R Us is the first recovery house of its kind in the area and one of just a handful in the country, along with similar establishments in Chicago and Los Angeles. Molletta said the safe, welcoming environment LGBT people will find at People R Us will be crucial to their path to recovery and attaining their individualized goals. “If you’ve never had your GED before, you can get that now. If you’re interested in learning more about becoming a barber or a beautician, you can do that. You might be HIV-positive and here you can be taking medication regularly, getting a balanced diet and feeling good about yourself. The staff is like you, the program cares about you and you will be working with people who understand you. Maybe no one ever sat you down and said that you can be something better in life, and that’s what we want to show you.” For more information about People R Us, call (267) 639-3135. ■
Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.
OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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0663 ext. 242. AIDS Services in Asian Communities’ weekly volunteer work group will meet from 6-8 p.m. at PHILADELPHIA 1201 Chestnut St., Suite 501; GAY NEWS (215) 563-2424 ext. 10. � Coming Out, a support group for gay, bisexual or questioning men, will meet from 6-7:30 p.m. at AIDS Delaware, Suite 315, 100 W. 10th St., Wilmington; (800) 292-0429. � A gay-friendly Scrabble Club will meet from 6-11 p.m. in the P.I.C. Building, 42nd and Locust streets; (215) 382-0789. Turkey has blocked two of its � The LGBT Discussion Group will largest LGBT Web sites. meet from 6-8 p.m. at the United Users of hadigayri.com and Church of Christ, 300 E. Main St., gabile.com are finding messages Newark, Del.; (800) 292-0429. stating the sites have been blocked � A meeting/activity night will bbey held t h e for Tegay, l e c olesbian, m m u n bisexual, ication Directorate. transgender and questioning youth Thetheir newly created body perand friends from 6-8is p.m. mitted to shut Room down of Web sites at the Rainbow Planned without a court order if it believes Parenthood in Doylestown; (215) they violate 348-0558 ext.the 65.law. The administrators of for thethose two � A men’s support group sites they do will not contain any with say HIV/AIDS meet from 6-7:30 p.m. or at criminal Mercer content. County pornographic Area had Earlybeen Intervention They accused ofServices allowin Trenton, N.J. For location, call ing prostitution. �
732-8080
at 986 S. Broad St., Trenton, N.J.; (609) 638-7264. � The Women’s Center of Montgomery County’s lesbian support group will meet from 79 p.m. at 101 Washington Lane, Jenkintown; (215) 885-8440. � A men’s coming-out group will meet at 7:30 p.m. at The Pride Center of New Jersey. demanded � Survivors Mitterrand’s of Suicide Inc.resignaChester tion, and the partygroup, is circulating County, a support will meeta petition the politician at 7:30 calling p.m. atfor Paoli Memorial to step down.Willistown Hospital, Room, Medical ceaBuilding, B e n o Of ît H m o n , a Lancaster senior Pike, Paoli; (215) 545-2242; Web Socialist Party leader, also found site:account phillysostripod.com. the inappropriate. � Under Rainbow, athat discussion “I findthe it shocking a man and social group 18-25-year-old can justify sexfortourism under gayscover and lesbians, will meet at 7:30 the of a literary account,” p.m. at said. The Pride Center of New Hamon Jersey. Mitterrand, who drew criticism � Thesupport Gay of Married Men’s for his Roman Polanski Association support group will following the director’s arrest meet at 8 p.m. at the William Way in September for having had sex Community Center; (610) 626with a 13-year-old girl in 1977, is 2577. surprised by the public outrage. � The steering committee of Team “I am flabbergasted,” Mitterrand Philadelphia, a gay sports league, said. “If the National Front drags will meet at 8 p.m. at the William me the mud, then it is an Waythrough Community Center.
International News Turkey blocks gay Web sites
Legislation passed in 2007 allows the directorate to block access to pornographic and obscene Web content. Hadigayri.com and gabile.com were blocked on Oct. 2. It is estimated that they have 225,000 users between them. “These sites are mainly used by people to meet each other and they give news about LGBT issues in Turkey,” said Ismael Alacaoglu, project coordinator at KAOS-GL, an Ankara-based gay group. “We are concerned about them being blocked. It’s a kind of violence against freedom of expression.” Although it is not illegal to be LGBT in Turkey, discrimination and persecutions are commonplace.
French pol criticized for sex tourism French culture minister Frédéric Mitterrand is facing calls for resignation over his 2005 autobiography, in which he admitted to paying “young boys” for sex while he was traveling abroad. In his 2005 book, “La Mauvaise Vie” [“The Poor Life”], Mitterrand recounts the thrill of engaging with prostitutes despite “the sordid details of this traffic.” “I got into the habit of paying for boys,” Mitterrand wrote. “All these rituals of the market for youths, the slave market, excited me enormously ... the abundance of very attractive and immediately available young boys put me in a state of desire.” Mitterrand is facing criticism from both conservatives and liberals. Marine Le Pen, vice president of the far right National Front party,
United Methodist Church, Broad and Arch streets; call Zak, (215) 848-4380, or Paul, (215) 307-0347. � The Men’s Peer Support Group OCT. 16 - 22, 2009 will meet for topical discussion at 7 p.m. at The Pride Center of New Jersey. � Rainbow Adult Children of Alcoholics and Alcoholics Anonymous will hold a 12-step not seem at to us reflect vision meeting 7 to p.m. at our Limestone of sport,” he said. Presbyterian Church, 3201 Limestone Road, Wilmington, Del.; (302) 456-9129. � The Humboldt Society, a gay and lesbian naturalist club, will meet at 7:30 p.m. at the William Way Community Center. Irish boy-band member Stephen � Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous, Gately of Boyzone was found dead a 12-step will meet at 7:30 Oct. 9 in program, a hotel room in Majorca, p.m. at All Saints Church, 18 Olive Spain, where he was vacationing. Ave., Rehoboth Beach, Del.; (302) He was 33. 542-3279. According to reports, Gately � The Women’s Peer Support Group returned to his after will meet at 7:30 hotel p.m. atroom The Pride aCenter nightofofNew drinking Jersey.with friends, went to sleepBisexual/Gay/Lesbian and never woke up. � The A Spanish court University says autopsy Alliance at Rutgers will results showp.m. Gately died Hall, as a meet at 9:30 in Murray result a pulmonary or Room of 211, 13 George edema, St., New fluid in the N.J.; lungs.(732) 932-1306. � Brunswick,
Larry Nichols
honor for me. If a leftist politician drags me through the mud, then it is a humiliation for him.” This is not the first time the politician has had to clarify the language used in the autobiography. In a 2005 interview, Mitterrand told France3 television that he did not partake in sex with any underage male prostitutes, and that the term “garçon” — French for “boy” — is what the gay community calls men regardless of age. President Nicolas Sarkozy’s government has not commented on the calls for resignation.
PGN
Muslim/gay football match on A French Muslim team that apparently refused to play against a gay soccer team has said the conflict was a “misunderstanding.” Paris Foot Gay, of the Parisian suburb Creteil, was due to play against predominantly Muslim team Bebel but the latter called off the match. According to PFG president Pascal Brethes, his team received an e-mail from Bebel saying the match was “against their principles.” PFG said the communication was homophobic and that the team was considering pressing charges. Later, Bebel declared it would play against the gay team. In a statement, Bebel director Zahir Belgharbi insisted there had been “a misunderstanding” and said his team was ready to play against PFG. “We had rejected playing this match not on the grounds of homophobia, as we have been accused of doing, but simply because the name of the club did
Boy-band singer dead at 33
All four remaining members of Boyzone are expected to travel to Majorca to pay their respects. The singer caused a stir when he came out 10 years ago, while Boyzone was still at the height of its fame. Gately is survived by his partner, Andrew Cowles. The two entered into a civil union in 2006.
Swedish students call out Toys ‘R’ Us A group of Swedish sixth-graders has issued a complaint against Toys “R” Us for gender discrimination, and one of the nation’s consumer-advocacy groups agrees. The complaint was filed with the Reklamombudsmannen, a self-regulatory agency that polices marketing and advertising in Sweden, and maintains the retailer’s 2008 Christmas catalog featured “outdated gender roles.” The students concluded that the portrayal of boys and girls abided by antiquated gender constructs that idealized boys as active and girls as passive. The Reklamombudsmannen reviewed the complaint and, on Oct. 12, determined the catalog was not in line with guidelines set out by the International Chamber of Commerce. “Taken together, the catalogue portrays children’s games and choice of toys in a narrowminded way, and this exclusion of boys and girls from different types of toys is, in itself, degrading to both genders,” said the Reklamombudsmannen in a statement. ■ Larry Nichols can be reached at larry@epgn.com.
OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
GINGER DAYLE (FROM LEFT), ALLEN RADWAY, DAVID BLATT, AMANDA SCHOONOVER, RUSS WIDDALL, KIRSTEN QUINN AND KEVIN MEEHAN IN “UNIDENTIFIED HUMAN REMAINS AND THE TRUE NATURE OF LOVE”
Dark, gay Fraser dramedy retakes the stage By Larry Nichols PGN Staff Writer New City Stage Company opened its season with a bang with a production of Brad Fraser’s “Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love,” which runs through Oct. 18. The darkly comic drama, which Fraser penned in the late 1980s, follows the lives of a group of sexually frustrated gay and straight individuals searching for the meaning of love, while living in fear of a serial killer. Oh, and there’s a psychic prostitute overseeing the events as they unfold. Despite its controversial subject matter, which includes violence, nudity, explicit dialogue and sex, “Unidentified Human Remains” has won acclaim from both critics and audiences alike. Since its debut 20 years ago, the play has been adapted into a feature film and also performed in a number of countries and languages. Out cast member Allen Radway said the play’s theme of the increasing disconnection people experience with the outside world is part of the reason it has endured for so long. “The play itself is kind of this urban parable,” he said. “It’s a cautionary tale about disassociation and these characters who have become very apathetic. There is a desperate search and they’re really seeking meaning in their lives. And love is the most universal theme in finding happiness. With the advent of technology, there’s more difficulty in communicating with people on a one-to-one basis. People are more inclined to send a text than picking up a phone now. It sort of adds to that sense of isolation. There are certain things in the play that date it, but I think thematically, it’s never been more compelling.” Given his praise for the play, it’s surprising that Radway wasn’t a big fan of “Unidentified Human Remains” when he first read it. “I had heard of the play,” he said. “It was written in 1988 and produced for us in 1989. By the time I got around to conservatory training, it was one of those pieces that was known to be a little racy and exciting — kind of punkrock theater. So I was aware of it but I had never read it. When I first read it, I wasn’t even sure of what I thought of it. At first, I didn’t like it that much because I thought it was going to be incredibly difficult to stage.” The 33-year-old actor said once he started working on the production, he grew to like the play more.
“Once you get to work on it, you get really invested in the problem solving,” Radway said. “So I got kind of turned around on that. The play has been a huge challenge as far as storytelling. That’s always exciting to be a part of, the problem solving. The more meat you have to chew, the better, as is often the case. There are quite a few things about this play in particular that provide that meat for you to chew stylistically. It has a lot of challenges as far as execution as well.” Radway said he enjoys the role of Bernie in “Unidentified Human Remains,” the troubled friend of the openly gay David. “His buoyancy is a lot of fun. In that way, he’s been a joy,” Radway said. “It’s not too often you get to be this kind of wrecking ball swinging through scenes. I do like
that.” Radway added that while Bernie’s sexuality is never actually defined in the play, he prefers to perform the role as if the character were gay. “Personally, I do think he is [gay],” he said. “He’s in absolute mainstream denial in the way he feels for his friend, David. Part of that is product for the times. Certainly, even though it’s not touched on in the play, in his upbringing he’s pretty repressed. I made my decisions about the character and that informs how it’s played. Obviously, the root of most conflict is most interesting to watch for an audience member, so that’s the one a good actor will take. So I chose the more interesting option of the two: that this is a very conflicted character. It gives a lot more to the character’s depth on stage and there’s more payoff for the audience that way.” “Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love” runs through Oct. 18 at Adrienne Theater’s Mainstage, 2030 Sansom St. For more information, visit www.newcitystage.org or call (215) 563-7500.
Super Human A Q&A with Brad Fraser
PLAYWRIGHT BRAD FRASER
It’s tiring just reading Fraser’s list of accomplishments. Living them out must be exhausting. The openly gay Canadian playwright bounces between his home in Toronto and Los Angeles, the latter of which he finds increasingly disdainful. He also juggles a number of projects that would wear out and befuddle a lesser individual. Like his travels, Fraser’s work is and has been all over the place. He’s written plays as well as television and film scripts, most notably as one of the producers and writers for the TV show “Queer As Folk” and the film “Leaving Metropolis,” which is based on his play “Poor Super Man.” Fraser also finds time to speak at universities and art institutions on subjects like “Why I Hate The Theatre” and the effect of AIDS on his work. He has also written extensively for print publications and dabbles (quite well, actually) in artwork and photography. With all that activity around him, we were surprised that Fraser had a spare minute to answer some of our
questions about his career and provide his take on one of his most popular plays. PGN: Why do you think “Unidentified Human Remains” has endured for 20 years? BF: Because it’s a provocative, well-written play whose ability to entertain audiences and anger or confuse uptight or closeted gay reviewers has never wavered. PGN: Do you think it worked better as a film or a stage production? BF: As a stage production, although I think a better film version than the one that currently exists might change that. PGN: Which of the characters do you find the audience identifies with the most? BF: I think the fact there are gay, straight and lesbian characters as well as characters that range from 17-30 means most people have someone to identify with. PGN: As someone who splits his time between Los Angeles and Toronto, which city do you like more? BF: Toronto. I find L.A. to be a vile place and not a real city at all. PGN: You aren’t the first — and probably won’t be the last — person to describe L.A. as vile. Considering how respected and revered you are in Canada and the U.K., why even bother with Los Angeles? BF: If one seriously wants to work in U.S. film and TV, being in L.A. is pretty much necessary. However, given the recent law that was passed banning same-sex marriage, I have no desire to go to California at all. PGN: When it comes to your speaking engagements, do you still hate theater? BF: I don’t hate the theater; I hate the incompetence that permeates the theater, particularly in the administrative and publicity areas. If you don’t have the money or imagination to promote a play properly, then there’s little point in producing it. PGN: Do you think Canada and its government are more supportive of the arts that the United States is? BF: Of course. Even with our current ridiculous and laughable conservative government, there is still a much stronger support and respect for the arts beyond their commercial possibilities than I have ever seen in the U.S. I think this can be attributed to the fact that clearly half of the U.S. population is crazy, racist and too stupid to see the negative loop their leaders have led them into. There are huge parts of America that seem very much like Taliban-held areas of Afghanistan to me. A specific example would be California, where the majority has recently voted to deny rights to a tax-paying minority because of a difference in morality. These kinds of repressive and controlling regimes are rarely interested in art
Detour PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
or anything that might elevate the human spirit, and I’m very proud that Canada isn’t one of them. PGN: What advice would you give to aspirng playwrights/ television writers? BF: Find something else you like to do just as much that pays well. Chances are you’re never going to work enough to make a real living [in writing].
PAGE 23
A departure from the ordinary
PGN: As far as television ideas go, “Retail” sounded like a great premise. Did that ever get beyond the script-writing phase? BF: It got as far as a badly shot and acted pilot, which was the point at which I withdrew from the project.
of my plays and has made me their most produced playwright next to Shakespeare. It is my artistic home and I appreciate it immensely.
BF: Yes, there are productions currently slated for Houston and Los Angeles with more to follow. Perhaps it will be done in your city, as it is a sequel to “Remains.” ■
PGN: Can we expect any of your current productions in the U.S. anytime soon?
For more information on Brad Fraser, visit www.bradfraser.net.
PGN: Do you think there has been, or will be, a show that can fill the role “Queer As Folk” did in the United States? BF: I hope so, but it would take someone with vision and some commercial acumen to realize it, which is totally lacking in television. PGN: Are you still a big comic-book fan? BF: I no longer collect but I do read regularly. PGN: Would you ever want to be involved in writing a comic-book-related film? If so, which hero would it be? BF: This has come up before and many years ago I pitched both a Watchmen and Sandman project, although neither came to fruition. I’d like to write the “Wonder Woman” movie, as I think I have a great idea for it, as well as a Doom Patrol film, which I’ve been toying with for years. PGN: Are comic books in any way an inspiration for your artwork? BF: Yes. As a writer, a director and a graphic artist, comic-book storytelling and stylists such as Frank Miller, Will Eisner, Neal Adams and many others have been a constant source of inspiration for me. I am of course excluding Frank Miller’s vile films. PGN: You seem to have a very fruitful relationship with The Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, which has hosted many of your most recent plays. How did that come about? BF: Artistic director Braham Murray saw a production of “Poor Super Man” in Edinburgh and became an immediate fan and called me offering to produce whatever I cared to write. It is a beautifully appointed and run theater with excellent staff, and has now produced nearly all
“QUEER AS FOLK” SEASON-THREE CAST
PAGE 24
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
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OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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Professional Portraits The Weiss brothers have been part of the Philadelphia scene for quite some time. The terrific twosome, Michael and Billy, have shaped the look and feel of Philly nightlife for most of us. I was a coat-check gal myself many moons ago in what was then the 24 Club (back when I could stay up past 2 a.m.). The 2-4 Club became Pure and is now called Voyeur, to go along with its hot new interior and attitude. Promoter extraordinaire Noel Zayas put me in touch with notoriously low-profile proprietor Michael Weiss for a chat about family, cars and bars. PGN: Where does your family come from? MW: We’re fourth-generation Philadelphians, but there’s sort of a debate about where we originally came from. I tried to corner my grandparents about it, but they’re in their 90s and they started arguing among themselves about it, so I never got a clear answer. The best I can figure, on my father’s side we’re from the Ukraine in Kiev and on my mother’s side from Krakow, Poland. PGN: How many kids in the family? MW: Three: I have an older sister, Sue, and a younger brother, Bill. PGN: What did you like to do as a kid? MW: I rode my bike a lot and played with cars. I didn’t get into sports and never really had a hobby. I still don’t! PGN: What did your parents do? MW: My father drove a truck for Coca-Cola and my mother was a waitress. PGN: So did she influence you and your brother to get into the hospitality business? MW: No, actually it was my father. During the time when comedy clubs were really big, before HBO, my father was a comic and he had a part ownership in a club. I worked for him and his business partners. When they spilt up, I actually went with one of the partners to work. [Laughs.] His club was bigger and I got to manage there. PGN: Which clubs were they? MW: I managed the Comedy Works on Chestnut Street and my father owned Going Bananas on
OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
Suzi Nash
South Street. PGN: The last guy I ever dated was a comedian, Tom Wilson. MW: Yeah, I know Tom. He’s a great guy. So he ruined it for you! PGN: Yeah, maybe I should have tried harder to be hetero. He went on to star in all the “Back to the Future” movies and he’s in a new film, “The Informant,” with Matt Damon. MW: We had a lot of people come through there that are big stars now. It’s interesting, though, because when you worked with them live, you saw them on a different level. There were some people that even though you’d see their act over and over, they’d still make you laugh every time and you’d think, this person is really going to make it big, and they never really crossed over. And then you’d have someone who was only so-so on stage and now they are big stars. PGN: It must be fun to see people come into their own. MW: Definitely. We had two guys who went to California trying to make it and when I went to visit them the first time, they were telling me how tough it was making the rent, which was about $2,000 a month. Then they got jobs as writers on “Roseanne” and, the next time I visited, they were talking about how hard it was to make the $20,000 a month payment on their mortgages! PGN: The myth is that comedians in person are miserable, insecure people. Do you find that to be true? MW: For some of them, but for the most part I’ve found that they are what they seem to be on stage. Jay Leno was exactly like he is on TV. He was a really nice guy and, when I rode with him from the airport, all he wanted to do was talk about cars. Rosie O’Donnell was the same on stage and off. The surprising ones were Jerry Seinfeld and Eddie Murphy. Jerry was very quiet and Eddie was the most antisocial of them all. PGN: Were you always in the nightclub industry? MW: No. I worked in the car business for quite a while. I started selling Datsuns, which were eventually phased out by Nissan. I started out as a salesper-
son, then rose to business manager then vice president and later went to Kansas City and bought my own Toyota dealership. PGN: So what do you drive? MW: I have a couple of cars. I have a Honda Accord here, in San Diego I have a Lexus SC430 and ... what else do I have? Oh yeah, a Mercedes S500 and a few others I think. PGN: I’ll have to tease you for being like John McCain, who couldn’t remember how many houses he had! MW: [Laughs.] No! You have to understand that being in the car business for so long, I got really good deals on them. I was able to purchase vehicles cheap enough that they’re actually still worth what I originally paid for them. PGN: So tell me about the new opening. MW: Well, it’s still the same place. I think that a lot of people don’t realize that the club is actually called the Mayfield Social Club. But I don’t think people would be flocking to join under that name, so we use trading names that reflect the character of the club. When it was the 24 Club, a lot of people thought it was called that because we were open between 2 and 4, but it actually stood for the 24th Ward Young Men’s Association. Around 2000, it became the Mayfield Social Club and we started calling it Pure. Now we’ve added a lot of visual components, so we are calling it Voyeur. PGN: So did you own it when it was 2-4? MW: I was the president for a little while back then. It’s a private club, so there’s not an owner per se. We have a board with several members and, right now, I’m the president of it again. I’m not there all the time, so our vice president, Tre Rios, manages the club. My brother and I own the building, though. PGN: And your brother is involved? MW: Yes, he does a lot of the pro-
mos: He runs events on occasion and he does most of the decorating. [Laughs.] He’s the gayest straight man I know. One time, we were on vacation going out to a nightclub and my brother said, ‘Wait a min-
MICHAEL WEISS Photo: Suzi Nash ute, you’re not going out wearing that, are you?’ I tend to dress like a typical “straight” guy. I said, “Hang on, you’re the straight brother, why do you care how I look?” I don’t have the gay decorating/designing flair but he does.
PGN: What’s a crazy incident from life at the bar? MW: We had a place in Manayunk and one of the employees went out to run a quick errand. When he came back, he drove up with the doors of his car missing and he was riding on the rims because he had no tires. The doors were sitting in the back seat of the car. I never found out what happened. PGN: What’s one of the difficult parts of running a club? MW: For the most part, the customers are great, but sometimes you get someone who is just looking for trouble. They’ll start a fight and when the doorman tries to intercede, they’ll take a swing at him, and then when the door person tries to stop them from punching him, they want to sue us for assault. They’ll act like they were an innocent bystander and like we have nothing better to do than jump one customer, out of everyone there, for no good reason. And that’s not a gay thing — that’s in any of the clubs we have straight, gay or whatever. In fact, I think the straight clubs are harder to control. We have other issues in the gay clubs. One thing I don’t understand, not so much in Philly, but in other cities, we have problems when we try to do
things with women. Not all, but some of the men get upset when we try to have it more balanced. We try to do our best to welcome and treat the women with respect and some of the men get resentful. I had one person talk about a club in Hollywood that started a ladies’ night: The men were boycotting and said that the owner should start charging the women more so that they would stop coming. I told him that not only was that unfair, it was also illegal. I hate that stuff: It seems to me that as a minority already, we should learn to be more open to each other. Fortunately, the younger generation seems to be more accepting, the gay boys are more comfortable hanging out with lesbians and vice versa and even the straight kids are more comfortable hanging out with gay people. PGN: What issues concern you? MW: I think that one of the disappointing issues is the whole gay-marriage thing. I personally think that we should have two separate entities. Marriage should be something for the churches and domestic partnerships should be set up by the government — not just for gay people but for the joining of any two people, a true separation of church and state. That way, the state would have an obligation to recognize us. I think if we get away from the marriage word, we’d be better off legally. People won’t be able to bring up the religious objections if it wasn’t a religious entity anymore, if the state sanctioned the joining
OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
of any two people as DP [domestic partners]. I mean, we pay the same taxes that straight people do. Most of us don’t have kids, but we still pay taxes for schools, we don’t get a notice at the end of year saying, “Are you gay? If yes, deduct $10,000.” We need a way to get the rights we deserve. The Prop. 8 situation was one of the most disappointing acts I’ve ever seen committed by society against our community in a long time. It was very hurtful. PGN: On a different note, any hobbies? MW: Not really; I’ve always been a workaholic. We currently have clubs both here and in San Diego. I’m the chair for the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission and vice chair of the Police Advisory Commission, so I have a pretty full agenda. One thing I’d really like to do is encourage members of the LGBT community to use the advisory commission. A lot of people don’t know that it’s there for them. If you’ve had any issues with members of the police that you believe are related to you being LGBT, you can call and talk to someone from the community without fear of retribution from the police. We’re there to help. We give trainings to new recruits and work to sensitize police to the needs of the community. There’s also an LGBT liaison to the police commissioner who can help too. PGN: How old were you when you came out? MW: I was actually outed by one of my father’s employees. I wasn’t out to my family yet, but I wasn’t exactly in. I wasn’t running around screaming, “Hey, I’m gay!” but I never would have denied it. It was around the end of high school when they found out and, surprisingly, my father, who was the truck driver, was fine with it. My mother was upset in the beginning, but now she hangs out with my boyfriend and even some of my ex-boyfriends! I’ve been lucky that I’ve never
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
felt discriminated against because of being gay except for one time in the car business, when I was passed over twice for a promotion. One of the partners found out and insisted that I be given the promotion, but that was the only time I had anything negative happen.
Q Puzzle Soap on the Ropes Across
1. Strands, as seamen 8. Dustin Hoffman’s cross-dressing role 15. Biting PGN: You seem to be a bit of a 16. In advance mysterious figure. Why is that? 17. Leccia, who plays 18MW: I think that’s a common Across misconception, I guess because 18. One half of a soap I keep a low profile. It’s kind of opera couple funny: I’ll be at the front desk and 19. Memo start 20. Response to an people will tell me that they’re online personal going to tell Michael Weiss on 22. A-mew-sing musical me because I wouldn’t do this or that for them. I say to them, “You 23. Workers under Dr. should definitely tell him, I have a Torres few things to say to him myself!” 25. Boy played by Martin and Duncan People know my name, but they 26. Officer, to a soldier don’t know me. I’ve been at par27. “Be prepared” org. ties where people will be talking 29. AZT allotments like they know me and I’m like, 32. One of two ways “I’m me!” It’s funny, but it can 35. The other half of a be helpful too. At one point when soap opera couple we owned Woody’s, Bump and 37. 18-Across and 35Pure, there were so many rumors Across as a couple in this puzzle’s soap opera going around, that it helped me 39. Chaplin widow to hear what people were saying 40. Director Elia so that I could correct it. They 44. Coll. admissions were saying that the clubs were straight-owned and that we didn’t criteria 45. “Try someone else” care or give back to the commu47. Love, to Amelie nity. The truth is that we do, but Mauresmo we just don’t choose to advertise 48. It grows in Brooklyn
what we do. We give a lot to the Mazzoni Center — in fact, we sponsored a room there — as well as giving to MANNA, Equality Forum and Equality Advocates and most of the LGBT nonprofits
See PORTRAIT, Page 32 SOLUTION
49. Race site in Auden’s land 50. Leg, in slang 51. Salad green 52. River of northern France 54. Sappho’s “I” 56. Chappell, who plays 35-Across 59. With 64-Across, soap opera of 72 years that recently ended 63. Fifth-century pope 64. See 59-Across 66. Pull out your shooter 67. Take home 68. Gov’t security 69. Without a date 70. Jackie’s designer 71. Lusty deity of antiquity 72. Subj. for John Nash
Down
1. Goya’s naked lady 2. They’re good for tricks 3. Straps on a bed, e.g. 4. Bean of “Normal, Ohio” 5. Alec’s “Star Wars” character 6. “Well done!” 7. Little rascals 8. Preconcert activity 9. Lesbian character in “She’s Gotta Have It” 10. Frequently, to Emily Dickinson 11. Chef Des Jardins 12. Special effect for
PAGE 29
“Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me”? 13. “What’s ___ for me?” 14. Cockpit predictions 21. Battery size 24. Star Wars abbr. 26. Grounded fast flier 27. Fraser’s character in “Gods and Monsters” 28. Single-master 30. Hard woody one 31. Many, many moons 33. Circumcision and more 34. Wet spots on a blanket of sand 36. Getting your rear in gear 38. How to sit on your stallion
41. She played tomb raider Lara 42. Pakistani leader 43. Peter Gomes boss, with “the” 46. Put out 48. Beginning of “Hairspray” 53. Preserves meat 55. Like the space around Uranus 56. African queen 57. Rupert Everett’s “ ___ Life” 58. Time of “Camelot” 60. Sporty Camaro 61. Prefix with second 62. “Hollaback Girl” singer Stefani 65. Figured out
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
®
Ms. Behavior Meryl Cohn Before staging the lesbian intervention ... Dear Ms. Behavior: For the last four years, a bunch of gay women in my social circle get together at one of our houses each month to watch a movie, have dinner or dance. The problem is with our friend Julie, who has been coming to Lesbian Night for the past year; every time we get together, she drinks to the point of getting wasted. We’ve tried to limit alcohol because she gets so sloppy and boring. Last time she got drunk,
she went on a dull rant about Pygmalion vs. “My Fair Lady.” Sometimes she remembers nothing about what happened and doesn’t believe us when we tell her that she sang the entire soundtrack to “Flashdance” by herself. She also doesn’t believe that she sits in the corner and cries. Despite our attempted prohibition, Julie brings a couple of bottles of wine and drinks them herself. Some of the women want to disinvite her and a few want to disband, but I think we should talk to her and tell her that she clearly has a problem. What are your thoughts? — Lesbian Night Organizer
Dear Lesbian Night Organizer: If the other women in your group drank as heavily as Julie drinks, perhaps no one would notice Julie’s boring diatribes or her off-key singing. But in her present social context, Julie’s drinking is conspicuous and the rest of your group is held captive. Meet Julie for coffee and tell her you’re concerned about her drinking. She’s unlikely, however, to see your point. Drunks rarely see themselves as others see them. If Julie is truly unmoved by your worries, get one of your friends to document her next hammered evening on video, capturing all of her embarrassing and
tedious moments. If she’s performing as Eliza Doolittle, capture it on film. If she staggers or vomits or babbles about politics, film it. Later on, you can have a special interventionist lesbian gathering and invite her to watch it, so that she sees herself the way others see her. This would also be a good time to frankly tell her that she puts a damper on lesbian night; whether or not she ever stops drinking, she may at least feel too embarrassed to continue getting bombed at the monthly gathering. Dear Ms. Behavior: Joe and I got married last year, despite his mother’s protests.
She’s a traditional housewife with many strong opinions. She also lives in our town and drops by for surprise visits all the time. Because I was the first man Joe ever introduced to his family, she seems to believe I ruined her boy. The rest of Joe’s family seems to go along with her. Joe defends his mother — and makes excuses for her. His father and sisters are the same way: “Oh, that’s just Mama. That’s the way she is.” Frankly, she’s a pill and a monster. I love this man and we’d like to have children, but I don’t want to bring a baby into this hostile family. How can I get Joe to see that we need to branch out from his family and get new friends? How can I wrest him away from her? — Married to Joe Dear Married to Joe: Finding new friends may provide needed balance, but don’t try to convince Joe to cut his monster (Mama) out of his life. Trying to wrest him away from her will only make him bond with her more. Can you find a reason to look for another place to live? In most cases a move would really be a last resort, but a physical boundary is sometimes required when emotional boundaries aren’t yet possible. Living farther away would at least be a deterrent to just stopping by, which may be the first step in gaining distance. Since Joe doesn’t view his mother’s intrusion as a problem — and since he may never see it your way — relocation seems a reasonable option, and would at least diminish the frequency of the surprise visits. Be forewarned, however, that the only way you’ll get away with it is if you pretend you’re moving for proximity to work, the ocean or a leather bar. Once you have more of a geographic boundary, try luring Joe to couples counseling with you. A third party may be more adept than you are at tearing Joe away from his Mama’s breast. Please make sure to do this before bringing children into this family. ■ Meryl Cohn is the author of “‘Do What I Say’: Ms. Behavior’s Guide to Gay and Lesbian Etiquette” (Houghton Mifflin). Email her at MsBehavior@aol.com or visit www.msbehavior.com.
OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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Leather Lookout Jim Kiley-Zufelt The loss of a legendary leatherman Gilbert Marcus Hernandez, longtime leather columnist for the Bay Area Reporter in San Francisco, died Oct. 8 due to complications from diabetes and arteriosclerosis. He was 77. Known to everyone simply as “Mr. Marcus,” he traveled extensively to leather contests and events across the country for almost 40 years. But, as for all of us, there was more to him than met the eye. For example, very few people knew that Mr. Marcus had been married. He met his future wife while working at the Pentagon in 1952, then joined the Air Force in 1954. After being stationed in Europe and Vietnam, he earned an honorable discharge in 1960. That same year, he divorced his wife and moved back to his hometown of Los Angeles. In 1968, he moved to San Francisco to escape the epidemic of entrapment and bar raids being conducted by the vice squad of the Los Angeles Police Department. Not a member of the leather community initially, Mr. Marcus was adopted by the bartenders at Folsom leather bars like CB’s, The Stud and The Ramrod. He eventually became a bartender and worked as a manager in various leather bars for 12 years. He also wrote for the Advocate when it was still a newspaper, and for Drummer Magazine before he joined the Bay Area Reporter in 1971, shortly after it was founded. A fixture at leather competitions, he judged an estimated 250 contests throughout his life. In 1980, he was asked to judge the second International Mr. Leather contest in Chicago, after which he was invited back every single year, eventually being named head judge and later judge emeritus. Never one to back away from scandal or controversy, Mr. Marcus was famous for his sarcastic — and sometimes vicious — sense of humor, which only made his column more entertain-
ing. In fact, scandal is how he ended up as judge emeritus at IML. After he was caught having sex with a contestant, some community members demanded that he be removed from his position and banned from ever judging the contest again. Instead, IML founder Chuck Renslow named him judge emeritus, which allowed him to remain on the panel, ask questions and announce the finalists, but not to score the contestants. Mr. Marcus’ deep love and affection for the leather community was readily apparent. He wrote with passion about its commitment to countless charities and familial connection to each other.
He came to its defense swiftly and zealously whenever members were denounced as “freaks” or outcasts, especially when the criticism GILBERT came from MARCUS within the gay HERNANDEZ community itself. In a 1996 interview, Mr. Marcus said, “To this day, no matter how hard I try to put the leather community in a favorable light, they still look down on us
as the tired old leather queens ... All these people work hard and raise a lot of money. They sacrifice a lot.” We have lost an ardent spokesperson for our community and a tireless documenter of our history. When asked about a possible book, Marcus replied, “I am working on it slowly. Everyone is screaming, ‘You got all the pictures. You got all the facts. You got to put it in writing. It is going to die when you go.’ I am not getting any younger, so we’ll see.” Philadelphia Leather Pride Night On Nov. 7, Philadelphia will
host its first annual Leather Pride Night, from 7 p.m.-midnight at Voyeur Nightclub, 1221 St. James St. Conceived as a charity event with proceeds going to our history and to our future, it promises to be a night filled with fun and excitement. There will be live entertainment, a traveling historical-archives display, bootblacks, raffles, door prizes, drink specials, a silent auction and a live auction conducted by Jo Arnone, famous throughout the leather community as a dynamic and entertaining auctioneer. There are also plans for a memorial tribute to Mr. Marcus. Admission to the See LOOKOUT, Page 32
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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
PORTRAIT From Page 29 in the city. I just don’t usually like to talk about it. Someone who I really admire in that vein is Mel Heifitz. He doesn’t like to toot his own horn, but he gives a lot back to the community, a lot. He knows what’s going on, he puts his money where his mouth is. I take my hat off to him. PGN: What other issues are important to you? MW: Well, I’m pretty politically involved. I was previously the treasurer of the Liberty City Democrats, because I think it’s really important for the gay community to realize that the people that we elect are the ones who create the laws. If we want to get
LOOKOUT From Page 31 event is $15 in advance or online and $20 at the door. Beneficiaries for the event include the Leather Archives & Museum, the Leather Heart Foundation and By The Grace of George: The American Pitbull Angel Fund. The Leather Archives & Museum, based in Chicago, preserves the history and memorabilia of the leather lifestyle for historical, educational and research purposes. The Leather Heart Foundation is a new tax-exempt organization designed to provide assistance to local community members facing financial hardship due to medical, job or housing issues. It will also have a Parental Rights Legal Response Fund and may offer grants to other organizations. By The Grace of George assists people who need help caring for their animals, so they don’t have to choose between caring for themselves and caring for their pets. The event’s stated purpose is “to celebrate the Philadelphia area pansexual leather and BDSM communities, focusing on the support of charitable organizations.” Producer and current Mid-Atlantic Leatherwoman Cowboi Jen explained, “Leather sees no boundaries. It embraces gay, straight, bisexual, male, female and transgender. We wanted to do a major event that’s designed for everyone, like Leather Pride Night in New York City.” The host hotel will be the Comfort Inn Philadelphia
things changed, we need to be a part of the process. If we don’t read about who it is we’re electing and know where they stand, we stand the chance of having laws passed that are against what we believe in or how we live. Votes go through all the time without notice, and suddenly you’re going, “Whoa, what is this, when did this pass?” and then it’s too late. We can always go back and try to change things, but it’s much easier if we are involved from the start by electing people who will look after our interests. ■ To suggest a community member for “Professional Portraits,” write to: Professional Portraits, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147 or portraits05@aol.com. Airport, 53 Industrial Hwy., Essington, which will host a vendor mart and the LA&M Traveling Archives on Sunday. For more information, visit www.plpn.org. UPCOMING EVENTS — LIBERTY BEARS MEETING & SOCIAL: Nov. 7 at The Bike Stop, 206 S. Quince St.; meeting from 5-6 p.m. and social from 6-10 p.m. — PHILADELPHIA LEATHER PRIDE NIGHT: 7 p.m.-midnight Nov. 7 at Voyeur Club (formerly Pure), 1221 St. James St. $20 at the door. — PHILADELPHIANS MC SOCIAL AND KINKY KARNIVAL: 8 p.m.-midnight Nov. 14 at The Bike Stop. — DIABOLIQUE BALL: 9 p.m. Nov. 21 at Shampoo, 417 N. Eighth St. This year’s theme: Steam Punk! (futureretro-techno). Tickets are $35 in October, $45 Nov. 1-15 and $60 afterward or at the door. — SANTA SATURDAY: 1-6 p.m. Nov. 28 at Club Paradise, 101 Asbury Ave., Asbury Park. $15 at the door. — WOOF! PHILLY: Every Sunday at 5 p.m., The Gold Club, 1416 Chancellor St., until further notice; see www.woofphilly.com for DJ and dancer schedules. ■ Questions? Comments? Opinions? Contact Jim at LeatherLookout@gmail.com.
OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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‘First Day’ is a first for out actor By Larry Nichols PGN Staff Writer When the kids are away, the parents will play. The good people at 1812 Productions are opening their new season with “The First Day of School: A Soccermom Sex Farce.” The title says it all. But just in case you haven’t picked up on what this production is about, here’s a hint. “There’s this whole idea of suburban swingers,” out cast member Michael Tomasetti said. “There’s three women and two men. There’s one cucumber that comes into play.” Unfortunately, that’s about as far as it goes. “But there’s never any homoerotic anything that comes up,” the 25-year-old actor and recent Temple grad added. Not even some girl-on-girl, soccer-mom cougar action? In this new comedy from Billy Aronson, who has been credited for the original concept for the musical “Rent” and was a writer for MTV’s “Beavis and Butthead,” follows a group of devoted par-
ents who decide to mark their children’s first day of school by having a first of their own, i.e., “giving a new meaning to the term ‘physical education.’” Can’t they just say “vigorously screwing other people?” Anyway, Tomasetti said the stereotypical suburban lifestyle is ripe for skewering in this new comedy. “The suburbs in general are just kind of a safe place, a safe haven,” he said. “Everything is on the surface. This play is exploring what goes on underneath it. In the beginning, all the characters are talking about what child has what teacher and they heard good things about this teacher and they didn’t hear good things about this one. Maybe their child didn’t get the teacher they wanted but they kind of reassure themselves this teacher is a good choice. So I think it kind of plays on that idea and, of course, marriage. [Main characters] David and Susan decide to open their marriage and see what it would be like to explore having sex with other people.” Tomasetti said the idyllic suburban setting reminded him of his own upbringing — minus the day-
EILEEN CELLA AND MICHAEL TOMASETTI IN “THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL: A SOCCERMOM SEX FARCE” Photo: Mark Garvin
time orgies and the veggies you really don’t want to see in the dinner salad later that night. “I come from a very stable family,” he said. “My mom and dad are still together. They’ve never participated in something like that, but I definitely see a likeness to the main characters, for sure.” Tomasetti plays Jonah, who isn’t one of the parents but is seeking out a first of his own. “You don’t get to see him until the third act,” Tomasetti said of his character. “He is the boyfriend
of Kim’s daughter. When you finally get to meet Kim’s daughter Belinda, I come in with her. We are sneaking into this house on the first day of school so we can have sex for the first time. We get caught.” Tomasetti is happy to mark his first professional performance with 1812 Productions. Until now, he had performed with smaller groups like Art Riot, Commonwealth Classic Theatre and Quince Productions. “I’ve done other regional stuff
in Philadelphia but 1812 is legitimate,” he said. “They’re nonprofit and very well funded. I have a regular salary per week, so that’s something new for me.” Tomasetti, who also works as a tour guide, plans on to stick around to further develop his skills. “Having just graduated, I wanted to stay here because I thought it would be a good place to hone my craft and build credits,” he said. “Ultimately, I’d like to move on, but for the next few years I’d like to stay here and see where it takes me.” He added that Jonah and “First Day” is a good place for him to start. “I enjoy playing characters that are different,” he said. “Even the role of Jonah, he is somewhat of an outsider and a loner. And if the character is gay, that’s great.” “The First Day of School: A Soccermom Sex Farce” runs through Oct. 25, at Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey St. For more information, visit www.1812productions.org or call (215) 592-9560. ■ Larry Nichols can be reached at larry@epgn.com.
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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
worth watching: FRIDAY Bump! A rotating series of hosts travel the world in search of the most fascinating and engaging destinations for LGBT travelers. This week takes viewers to Manchester and Brighton. 7 p.m. on Logo.
DECADES OF DECADENCE: The film “An Englishman in New York” portrays the life of openly gay writer and performer Quentin Crisp, played by John Hurt, in its U.S. premiere, 10 p.m. Oct. 18 on Logo. The film explores Quentin’s psyche as he faces the consequences of his casual quip that AIDS was “a fad,” leading to social rejection and obscurity following his personal journey from the peak of his career in the 1970s-’80s, the decade of AIDS and “celebrity,” to the consumerist “gay-dollar”-power 1990s. As Quentin comes to terms with aging and discrimination against his femininity within the gay community, his friends Penny Arcade (Cynthia Nixon) and Phillip Steele (Denis O’Hare) encourage him to resurface into the public eye, remerging with fame from Sting’s song “An Englishman in New York.” Photo: Logo
Queer TV you can always see: As the World Turns
Will Mason and Noah keep going? Monday-Friday, 2 p.m. on CBS. One Life to Live
Look for Kyle and Fish. Monday-Friday, 2 p.m. on ABC.
Ellen
Monday-Friday, 3 p.m. on NBC. The Rachel Maddow Show
Monday-Friday, 9 p.m. on MSNBC.
Ugly Betty Somehow, the season premiere didn’t happen as scheduled last week, so here we go again. Betty and her fashionista crew are back in this two-hour season premiere. 8 p.m. on ABC. SATURDAY The Suze Orman Show Get your fiscal freak on. 9 p.m. on CNBC. Saturday Night Live Gerard Butler hosts and Shakira performs. 11:30 p.m. on NBC. SUNDAY The Amazing Race The gay team, brothers Sam and Dan, compete with others. 8 p.m. on CBS. The Simpsons Treehouse of Terror XX. 8 p.m. on Fox.
Brothers & Sisters Watch for gay couple Kevin and Scotty. 10 p.m. on ABC. MONDAY Dancing with the Stars Week five kicks off. 8 p.m. on ABC. How I Met Your Mother Out actor Neil Patrick Harris stars. 8 p.m. on CBS. The Decorating Adventures of Ambrose Price The out designer has adventures ... decorating stuff. 10 p.m. on Logo. TUESDAY Dancing with the Stars Round five continues. 9 p.m. on ABC. Melrose Place Another old-school cast member, Daphne Zuniga, returns. 9 p.m. on the CW. So You Think You Can Dance? The competition heats up. 9 p.m. on Fox. WEDNESDAY Fearce!: In The Blood Scary films are showcased. 7
p.m. on Logo. America’s Next Top Model Tyra Banks puts model-wannabes through the paces. 8 p.m. on the CW. The New Adventures of Old Christine Out comedian Wanda Sykes stars as Christine’s pal and business associate Barb. 8 p.m. on CBS. So You Think You Can Dance? Let’s hope somebody is wearing sequins this week. 8 p.m. on Fox. Glee It’s probably better than the new “Fame” remake. 9 p.m. on Fox. Modern Family This sitcom features a gay couple with an adopted daughter in its cast of characters. 9 p.m. on ABC. Top Chef Hopefully the gay competitors will still be in the running in the cooking contest. 10 p.m. on Bravo. THURSDAY Grey’s Anatomy The gay-friendly medical drama continues. 9 p.m. on ABC.
OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
Diversions
OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
Your guide to arts and entertainment
Theater
Alegría Cirque du Soleil’s latest tour is an operatic introspection of the struggle for power and the invigorating energy of youth, relating the tale of power versus weakness, the king versus his jesters and age against youth, through Oct. 16 at the Liacouras Center, 1776 N. Broad St.; (215) 2042400, and Oct. 20-25 at the Sovereign Center, 700 Penn St., Reading; (610) 898-7469. Coming Home The Wilma Theater presents the tale of a South African mother’s return to her hometown in the hope of building a new life for her and her son, through Nov. 15, 265 S. Broad St.; (215) 5467824. Defending the Caveman The longest-running solo show in Broadway history returns through Nov. 7 at Kimmel’s Innovation Studio, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 7905847. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels The Walnut Street Theater presents the story of two suave and shameless con-men with two very different styles, through Oct. 25, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 574-3550. The First Day of School: A Soccermom Sex Farce 1812 Productions presents a comedy where the characters desperately break free of the doldrums of suburbia in unexpected ways, through Oct. 25, Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey St.; (215) 592-9560. Haunted Poe Brat Productions presents a theatrical take on a Halloween tradition, the haunted house, with an immersive, multi-sensory experience devoted to the 200th anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe’s birth, through Nov. 1 at Haunted Poe Warehouse, 38 Jackson St.; (800) 838-3006.
The History Boys The Arden Theatre presents the acclaimed drama chronicling the final school year of eight clever young British students in pursuit of sex, sport and admission into Oxford or Cambridge, through Nov. 1, 40 N. Second St.; (215) 922-1122.
PGN
Pick
Chris Pureka The lesbian singersongwriter performs at 7 p.m. Oct. 18 at Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St.; (215) 9280770. Meshell Ndegeocello The out bassist/R&B singer/ producer performs at 7 p.m. Oct. 19 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 2221400.
Mister, Mister Quince Productions presents a dark comedy about murder, fame and not-so-innocent childhood, through Oct. 25 at Shubin Theater, 407 Bainbridge St.; (215) 6271088.
Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love New City Stage Company presents a dark comedydrama from the pen of Brad Fraser, one of the writers and producers of the Showtime hit “Queer As Folk,” as he examines the lives of several sexually frustrated individuals who try to learn the meaning of love while living in fear of a serial killer, through Oct. 18 at Adrienne Theater’s Mainstage, 2030 Sansom St.; (215) 563-7500.
Music classical
Matsukawa Plays Mozart The Philadelphia Orchestra welcomes back
The Fab Faux perform Abbey Road & Let It Be The Beatles tribute band performs at 8 p.m. Oct. 17 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; (215) 572-7650. Paramore The rock band performs at 8 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St.; (215) 627-1332.
Humor Abuse Philadelphia Theater Company presents the Obie Award-winning production based on Lorenzo Pisoni’s vagabond life as the youngest member of San Francisco’s Pickle Family Circus, through Oct. 25 at Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St.; (215) 985-0420.
Rabbit Hole The Arden Theatre presents the story of a family in crisis, facing the challenges of surviving great loss and making a life with the family that remains, Oct. 22-Dec. 20, 40 N. Second St.; (215) 922-1122.
S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
Nehkhasi Sterling’s new poetic compilation, “GAAAYYYYY!!!!!!!” (really, that’s the name), delves into the psyche of self and everyone else for affirmation and confirmation. In this work, Sterling is searching for what it really means to be proudly, happily and wonderfully gay. Be there when he hosts a reading at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 22 at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St. For more information, call (215) 923-2960.
British conductor Roger Norrington and presents a performance featuring principal bassoonist Daniel Matsukawa, 2 p.m. Oct. 16 and 18 and 8 p.m. Oct. 17 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
790-5847.
Arturo Stable Quintet Painted Bride Arts Center presents a performance by the Latin jazz group at 8 p.m. Oct. 17, 230 Vine St.; (215) 925-9144.
Music other
Dudu Fisher The acclaimed Broadway performer presents a concert at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 240 S. Broad St.; (215)
Mendelssohn’s “Italian” The Philadelphia Orchestra performs an evening of highdrama favorites, 8 p.m. Oct. 22-24 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers Grammy and Emmywinning actor/comedian/ musician and bestselling author Martin performs in support of his bluegrass album, “The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo,” at 9 p.m. Oct. 19 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 240
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band The classic rock group performs at 8 p.m. Oct. 19-20 at the Wachovia Spectrum, 3601 S. Broad St.; (215) 336-2000. Vertical Horizon The alt-rock band performs at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400. Queensryche and Lita Ford The prog-metal band and the former Runaway perform at 7 p.m. Oct. 22 at TLA, 334 South St.; (215) 922-1011.
Exhibits
The Art of Japanese Craft: 1875 to the Present The Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition surveying the rich diversity of 20th-century Japanese craft, through Oct. 18, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.; (215) 763-8100. Art and Allegory Edge Gallery presents an
exhibition featuring Virginia artist Harkrader, Philadelphia artist Salvador DiQuinzio and Canadian artist Ray Mantella, through Oct. 25, 72 N. Second St.; (215) 4137072. Common Ground: Eight Philadelphia Photographers in the 1960s and 1970s The Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition examining a critical period for the art of photography and for the Philadelphia art scene, through Jan. 31, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.; (215) 763-8100. Diana: A Celebration The National Constitution Center presents an exhibition exploring Diana’s childhood, her engagement to Prince Charles, their royal wedding and Diana’s life and work as a global humanitarian, through Dec. 31, 525 Arch St.; (866) 917-1787. Embracing the Uncarved Wood: Sculptural Reliefs from Shandong, China Leonard Pearlstein Gallery presents an exhibition featuring 18 large wood reliefs that combine traditional Chinese carving methods with very untraditional subject matter drawn from contemporary and international art sources, through Oct. 21 at Nesbitt Hall, 3215 Market St.; (215) 895-2548. Henri Matisse and Modern Art on the French Riviera The Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition inspired by the Mediterranean vacation spot, through Oct. 25, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.; (215) 763-8100. A Home For Ghosts ArtStar Gallery hosts an exhibition of works from artist Kurt Halsey, through Nov. 1, 623 N. Second St.; (215) 238-1557.
OCT. 16 - 22, 2009 Lace in Translation The Design Center at Philadelphia University presents a new exhibition of contemporary work inspired by historic lace, through April 3, 4200 Henry Ave.; (215) 951-2860. Peaks of Faith: Buddhist Art of the Himalayas The Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition encompassing nearly a millennium of art from across the Himalayan region, through fall, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.; (215) 763-8100. Ragas and Rajas: Musical Imagery of Courtly India The Philadelphia Museum of Art presents a diverse selection of paintings and sculptures from across the subcontinent, through Feb. 28, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.; (215) 763-8100. Shooting Men: a photographic journey of erotica, sexuality and gender AxD Gallery presents an exhibition of photography by Vivienne Maricevic, through Nov. 7, 265 S. 10th St.; (215) 627-6250. Shopping in Paris: French Fashion 18501925 The Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition exploring the American experience abroad between 1850 and 1925, through Oct. 25, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.; (215) 763-8100.
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts presents an exhibition of styles that were the height of fashion at some point in recent history, through Nov. 8 at The Carriage House Gallery at the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St., Cape May, N.J.; (609) 884-5404.
Opera
Madama Butterfly The Opera Company of Philadelphia presents the most popular work in the entire operatic canon, sung in Italian with English translations, through Oct. 18 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
Dance
Program I The Pennsylvania Ballet pays homage to the Imperial Russian Ballet with a plotless ballet featuring glittering costumes and inventive choreography, Oct. 21-25 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847. Danco on Dance Painted Bride Arts Center presents a performance by Philadanco’s junior company at 8 p.m. Oct. 22-23, 230 Vine St.; (215) 925-9144.
Film
Beyond Dracula: Modern Vampire Films
Bryn Mawr Film Institute presents a course examining the figure of the vampire in a variety of incarnations, beginning with the prototype, Dracula, in Werner Herzog’s haunting and atmospheric “Nosferatu,” and continuing with more recent films offering diverse takes on the creature, through Oct. 28, 824 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr; (610) 5279898.
Bryn Mawr Film Institute presents a documentary exploring the experiences of nine courageous women who survive breast cancer only to find their struggles aren’t over, at 7 p.m. Oct. 20, 824 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr; (610) 5279898.
Cabaret
Books
Etc.
Beetlejuice The classic 1988 dark comedy is screened at 2 p.m. Oct. 17 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; (610) 917-0223.
The three out authors host a reading at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 16 at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; (215) 9232960.
Dracula and The Son of Frankenstein The classic 1930s horror films are screened at 2 p.m. Oct. 18 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; (610) 9170223. Precious BEBASHI hosts a special premiere of the upcoming film by out director and Philadelphia native Lee Daniels, followed by a Q&A with the director and cast members, at 4:45 p.m. Oct. 18 at Prince Music Theater, 1412 Chestnut St.; (215) 569-9700. Beyond Breast Cancer: Stories of Survivors
CA Conrad, Nathaniel Siegel and Mark Bibbins
Richard Dawkins
The evolutionary biologist, atheist and author of “The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution” hosts a reading at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; (215) 686-5322. Yvette Taylor
The author of “Stop! What Are You Waiting For? Your Step-ByStep Guide to Estate Planning” hosts a reading at 7 p.m. Oct. 22 at Robin’s Books and Moonstone Arts Center, 110a S. 13th St.; (215) 735-9600.
What Were They Thinking: 160 Years of Bad Taste
Notices Send notices at least one week in advance to: Diversions, PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19147; fax them to (215) 925-6437; or e-mail them to diversions@epgn. com. Notices cannot be taken over the phone.
PAGE 37
“TOO MUCH” IS NEVER ENOUGH: Catch bisexual U.K.-based singer/ songwriter Mika at 8 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St. His recently released second album, “The Boy Who Knew Too Much,” is an exuberant pop record that sounds like someone locked Rufus Wainwright in a room with the Scissor Sisters and waited for the brilliance to come oozing out from under the door. Seriously, you might hate yourself for feeling so giddy listening to his music. Try to contain yourself. For more information, visit www.mikasounds.com or call (215) 627-1332.
Broadway Our Way
Cabaret duo Beckie Menzie and Tom Michael perform at 8:30 p.m. Oct. 17 at Harlans at The Nevermore, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; (215) 862-5225.
Lewis Black
The outrageously funny and angry comedian performs at 8 p.m. Oct. 17 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847. David Cross
The comedian from “Arrested Development” and “Mr. Show” performs at 8 p.m. Oct. 20 at Kimmel’s Merriam Theater, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847. ■
Author! Author! Oct. 17: Kate Bornstein “Hello, Cruel World: 101 Alternatives to Teen Suicide” Oct. 22: Nehkhasi Sterling “GAAAYYY”!!!!!!! MON. - SAT. 11:30 - 7p.m. SUNDAY 1:00 - 7p.m. email: giovannis_room@verizon.net
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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Meeting Place A community bulletin board of activities, facilities and organizations
Community centers ■ The Attic Youth Center: For LGBT and questioning youth and their friends and allies. Groups meet and activities are held from 4-8 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays; case management, HIV testing and smoking cessation are available Monday through 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, Summer hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. ■ Rainbow Room — Bucks County’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and Allies Youth Center: 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays: Doylestown Planned Parenthood, The Atrium, Suite 2E, 301 S. Main St., Doylestown; (215) 348-0558 ext. 65; rainbowroom@ppbucks.org. ■ William Way Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center: 1315 Spruce St.; (215) 732-2220; www.waygay.org. Peer counseling: Monday through Friday, 6-9 p.m. Library hours: Mondays 3-9 p.m., Tuesdays 3-6 p.m., Wednesdays 3-9 p.m., Thursdays 3-9 p.m., Fridays 3-9 p.m., Saturdays noon-6 p.m., Sundays noon-6 p.m. Volunteers: New Orientation: First Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.; Volunteer Velada, third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.
Health Anonymous, free, confidential HIV testing Spanish/English counselors offer testing 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 166 W. Lehigh Ave.; (215) 763-8870 ext. 6000. AIDS Services In Asian Communities Provides HIV-related services to Asians and Pacific Islanders at 340 N. 12th St., suite 205; (2215) 536-2424. Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative Free, anonymous HIV testing from 9:30 a.m.4:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursdays at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; (215) 851-1822 or (866) 222-3871. Spanish/English. HIV testing Free, anonymous testing and counseling is offered from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment at AIDS Resource, 520 W. Fourth St., suite 2A, Williamsport; (570) 322-8448.
Key numbers
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, confidential HIV testing available at 17 MacDade Blvd., suite 108, Collingdale; Medical Office Building, 722 Church Lane, Yeadon; and 630 S. 60th St.; (610) 586-9077. Mazzoni Center Free, anonymous HIV testing; HIV/AIDS care and treatment, case management and support groups; 1201 Chestnut St.; (215) 563-0652. www. mazzonicenter.org. Washington West Project Free, anonymous HIV testing. Walk-ins welcome 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday; 1201 Locust St.; (215) 985-9206.
Casarez@phila.gov; Fax: (215) 686-2555
■ AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania: (215) 587-9377
■ Mazzoni Center: (215) 563-0652; www. mazzonicenter.org
■ AIDS Law Project of Southern New Jersey: (856) 933-9500 ext. 221
■ Mazzoni Center Family and Community Medicine: (215) 563-0658
■ AIDS Library: (215) 985-4851 ■ ACLU of Pennsylvania: (215) 592-1513
■ Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): (215) 572-1833
■ AIDS Treatment hot line: (215) 5452212
■ Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations: (215) 686-4670
■ Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection at the Independence Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library: (215) 685-1633
■ Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force: (215) 772-2000
■ The COLOURS Organization Inc. 112 N. Broad St., 11th floor; (215) 4960330. ■ Equality Advocates Pennsylvania: (215) 731-1447; (866) LGBTLAW ■ Equality Forum: (215) 732-3378 ■ Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Peer Counseling Services: (215) 732-TALK ■ Mayor’s liaison to LGBT communities: Gloria Casarez, (215) 686-2194; Gloria.
■ Philadelphia Police Department liaison — Chief Inspector James Tiano: (215) 685-3655 ■ Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: (215) 494-LGBT; ppd.lgbt@gmail.com ■ Philly Pride Presents: (215) 875-9288 ■ SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: (717) 920-9537 ■ Transgender Health Action Coalition: (215) 732-1207 (staffed 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays, and 6-9 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays)
Men
Boys Night Out A social gathering for gay men, meets at 7 p.m. every second and fourth Tuesday at Iron Hill Brewery, 30 E. State St., Media; BurbBoysNiteOut@aol.com. Delaware Valley 40-plus Club for Men Social group meets every other month; (215) 587-9933. Gay Married Men’s Association Meets at 8 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesdays at the William Way Center; (215) 483-1032. Men of All Colors Together Meets at 7:30 p.m. third Friday of the month September through June at the William Way Center; (610) 277-6595; www.MACTPhila.org. Men’s Coming Out Group, N.J. Meets at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays at The Pride Center of New Jersey. Men’s Coming Out Group Meets at 7 p.m. Thursdays at Washington West Project, 1201 Locust St.; (215) 563-0652 ext. 219. Men of Color United A discussion/support group for gay and bisexual men of color meets from 6-8 p.m. every Wednesday at 112 N. Broad St., 11th floor; (215) 496-0330. Men of Standard Provides a place for gay men of color 21 and older to share issues of concern. Meets 7-9 p.m. every Thursday at Camden AHEC, 514 Cooper St., Camden, N.J.; (856) 963-2432 ext. 211; ruberte_j@camden_ahec.org. Philly DADS An association of gay and bisexual fathers supporting each other meets at 7:30 p.m. fourth Friday of the month at the William Way Center; (215) 668-5239.
Parents/Families
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Bucks County Meets at 7:30 p.m. third Thursday of the month at Penns Park United Methodist Church, 2394 Second Street Pike, Penns Park; (215) 598-8005. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Cape May, N.J. Meets at 2 p.m. third Sunday of the month in the Maruchi Room of Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital, 2 Stone Harbor Blvd.; (609) 861-1848. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Chester County Meets at 7 p.m. first Tuesday of the month at the Unitarian Fellowship of West Chester, 501 S. High St., West Chester; (484) 354-2448. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Philadelphia Meets from 2-5 p.m. third Sunday of the month at the LGBT Center at the University of Pennsylvania, 3907 Spruce St.; (215) 572-1833.
OCT. 16 - 22, 2009 Interweave New Jersey An organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Unitarian and their allies meets every third Sunday at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 401 N. Kings Highway, Cherry Hill, N.J.; (856) 667-3618. Oasis Meets 7-8 p.m. Wednesdays at 1201 Chestnut St.; (215) 563-0652 ext. 509. Mazzoni Center Family and Community Medicine Primary healthcare and specialized transgender services in a safe, professional, non-judgemental environment, 809 Locust St.; (215) 563-0658. Renaissance Transgender Assoc. Meets at 8 p.m. third Saturday of the month at Into the Woods office complex in King of Prussia; (610) 975-9119 box 5; and 7:30 p.m. first Thursday of the month at the William Way Center; www.ren.org. T-MAN People of color support group for transmen, FTMs, butches, studs, agressives, bois, genderqueer and all female-born individuals with gender questions meets 7:30-9:30 p.m. Mondays, second floor, 1201 Locust St.; (215) 834-9063; tman215@aol.com. Transhealth Programming Committee Meetings are at 5 p.m. second and last Sundays of the month at the William Way Center. Transhealth Information Project Sponsors a weekly drop-in center from 7-11 p.m. Tuesdays at 1201 Locust St.; (267) 549-6497. Transgender Health Action Coalition Peer trans health-advocacy organization meets at 5 p.m. second and last Sundays of the month at the William Way Center; (215) 732-1207; www. critpath.org/thac. WeXist FTM support group meets from 6-8 p.m. second Friday of the month at the William Way Center; first hour is open; second hour is for people assigned female at birth who have gender issues; (267) 250-1548; www.wexist.org. Young, Trans, and Unified! Support group for transgender and questioning individuals ages 13-23 meets from 7-8:30 p.m. every Thursday at The Attic Youth Center; (215) 545-4331 ext. 24.
Women
African Asian Latina Lesbians United Social-issues discussion group meets fourth Thursday of the month at The Pride Center of New Jersey. Bucks County Lesbian Alliance Meets monthly for social events; http://buckscountylesbianalliance.org. Expressions Women’s Space Lesbian singles, family and coming-out groups meet at 1538 Church St.; (215) 535-3600.
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Princeton, N.J. Meets at 7:30 p.m. second Monday of the month in the George Thomas Room at Trinity Church, 33 Mercer St.; (609) 683-5155.
Lesbians and BiWomen in Heterosexual Marriages A support group meets at 7:30 p.m. on third Wednesday of the month at The Pride Center of New Jersey.
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Wilmington, Del. Meets at 7 p.m. second Thursday of the month at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 13th and Rodney streets; (302) 654-2995.
Lesbian Community of Delaware Valley Social group holds monthly meetings and activities for gay women of all ages in Delaware, Chester and Montgomery counties; P.O. Box 962, Phoenixville, PA 19460; http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/LCDV/; marichikogirl@yahoo.com.
Philadelphia Family Pride Advocacy, support and social network for LGBT families offers play groups, monthly kids and teen talk groups, activities and outings. Planning meetings are held monthly; (215) 844-3360; www.phillyfamilypride.org.
Trans
Gender Rights Advocacy Association of New Jersey A transgender civil-rights group meets first Sunday of the month at 1 p.m. at The Pride Center of New Jersey.
Lesbian Couples Dining Group of Montgomery County Meets monthly; (215) 542-2899. Lesbian Social Network of South Jersey 500-member social group for lesbians holds monthly activities in South Jersey and surrounding area; www.lsn.southjersey.com. Lesbians with Breast Cancer A support group meets from 6:30-8:30 on second Wednesday of the month at Gilda Club Delaware Valley, 200 Kirk Road, Warminster; (215) 4413290.
Queer Connections Social group for women in their 20s meets weekly; (215) 468-1352; queerconnect@yahoo. com. Republican Lesbians Meetings held at 7:30 p.m. on first Monday of the month at The Pride Center of New Jersey. South Jersey Lesbians of Color Meetings are the first and third Fridays at 7:30 p.m. at The Starting Point, 215 Highland Ave., Suite C, Westmont, N.J.; (856) 824-0881; e-mail: SJLOC-owner@yahoogroups.com. Women’s Coffee House for Lesbians A group for lesbian and bisexual women meets on first Saturday of the month at 7 p.m. at The Pride Center of New Jersey. The Womyn’s Village The first womyn-owned and operated thinktank targeting black African, Asian, Latina and Native American LBT and two-spirited womyn. Meets at 5 p.m. on third Thursday of the month at COLOURS Organization, 112 N. Broad St., 11th floor; (215) 765-0121; the_womyns. village@yahoo.com.
Youth
40 Acres of Change Discussion group for teen and young adults meets from 6-8 p.m. Thursdays at The COLOURS Organization Inc., 112 N. Broad St., 11th floor; (215) 496-0330. Drop-in Group For gay, lesbian and bisexual youth; meets at 11 a.m. Saturdays at AIDS Delaware, 100 W. 10th St., Suite 315, Wilmington, Del.; (302) 652-6776. HAVEN For GLBT, intersex, questioning, queer and allied youth ages 14-20; meets from 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Lehigh Valley, 424 Center St., Bethlehem; (610) 868-2153. HiTOPS A safe-space support program for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth, will meet from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at 21 Wiggins St., Princeton, N.J.; (609) 683-5155. Main Line Youth Alliance Meets from 7-9:30 p.m. Fridays at 109 Lancaster Ave., Wayne; (610) 688-1861; info@myaonline. org. Mountain Meadow For youth with GLBTQ parents. Monthly programs for ages 8-16, family programs and parent coffee groups. Residential program offered in August; 1315 Spruce St.; (215) 772-1107; inquiries@mountainmeadow.org. Rainbow Room — Bucks County’s LGBTQ and Allies Youth Center For ages 14-21; meets 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays at Doylestown Planned Parenthood, The Atrium, Suite 2E, 301 S. Main St., Doylestown; (215) 3480558 ext. 65; rainbowroom@ppbucks.org. Social X Change Social activity group for LGBT youth of color ages 13-23 meets from 6-8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at 112 N. Broad St., 11th floor; (215) 496-0330. Space to be Proud, Open, and Together Open to all LGBTQ queer youth and allies, ages 14-21, the SPOT meets Thursdays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Planned Parenthood of Chester County’s West Chester office, 8 S. Wayne St., West Chester; (610) 692-1770 ext. 108 or thespot@ppccpa.org. Teen Support Group Drop-in group for teens and adolescents meets Thursdays from 4:30-6 p.m. at 1201 Chestnut St.; (215) 563-0658 ext. 319. Youth in Transition A support group for transgender and questioning youth ages 12-23 meets from 7:30-9 p.m. Tuesdays at the The Attic Youth Center. Youth Making a Difference For GLBTQ African-American and Latino youth ages 13-24. Meets from 6:30-8:30 p.m. every Wednesday at Camden AHEC, 514 Cooper St., Camden, N.J.; (856) 963-2432 ext. 205; gibbs_d@camden-ahec.org.
Send submissions to pgn@epgn.com or fax (215) 925-6437 PGN Meeting Place, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147 Meeting Place is a public service. Submissions must include a phone number for publication.
Complete Meeting Place listings of all Parent/Family, Professional, Recovery, Recreation, Religion, Sports, Men, Women, Trans, Youth groups can be found online @ www.phliagaynews.com and www.epgn.com
OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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Classifieds
With Real Estate, Help Wanted, Services and Personals
Meltdown 101: What is a short sale of a home? By J.W Elphinstone The Associated Press For a homeowner who needs to sell but has a mortgage balance higher than the property value, one option is something called a “short sale.” And don’t let the name fool you. This type of sale is complicated and can drag on for months. So what exactly is a short sale? Here are some questions and answers. Q: What is a short sale? A: A short sale happens when a lender allows a borrower to sell his or her home for less than what’s owed on the mortgage. The lender usually forgives the difference and considers the debt repaid. Q: How often do short sales occur? A: Short sales now make up about one in every 10 home sales, according to the National Association of Realtors. That’s a lot more than
you usually see when the housing market isn’t distressed — in fact, the NAR doesn’t have historical records on short sales before the current downturn because they were such an insignificant segment of the sales market. Falling home prices have eroded home equity at a rapid pace, making short sales more commonplace. About 16-million homeowners owe more than their homes are worth and would have to seek a short sale if they were forced to sell their homes now. Q: What’s in it for the lenders? A: Lenders minimize their losses. If the borrower defaults and the bank has to foreclose, there are extra costs to auction the property and maintain it while it’s vacant. Foreclosed homes also typically sell for much less than short sales. Q: What are the drawbacks for the borrower? A: While not as bad as a foreclosure,
a short sale will still blemish a borrower’s credit report. A short sale would knock an “A” borrower down to a “B” borrower, while the same borrower would fall to “D+” after a foreclosure, said Ritch Workman, co-owner of Workman Mortgage in Melbourne, Fla. The extent of the damage also depends on the borrower’s credit history before the short sale. A borrower with good credit won’t get hit as hard, while a borrower with tarnished credit will feel more pain. Normally, a borrower would have to pay taxes on the forgiven part of the balance, though the Bush administration granted homeowners a reprieve that applies to debt forgiven through 2012. Q: Why is the process so complicated and why does it take so long? A: Short sales are plagued with snags on both sides. Desperate sellers or inexperienced real-estate
agents often send in the wrong paperwork, only to get it kicked back. It’s an easy mistake to make because each lender requires different documents. For their part, lenders don’t have enough staff to handle the flood of short-sale applications. It can take months before a lender will get back to a seller about an offer from a potential buyer. Some deals take more than a year to finish. And approvals from third parties — such as private mortgage insurers, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, and lenders who hold a second mortgage on the house — also can slow a short sale. In May, the Obama administration promised to standardize documents and offer incentives to mortgage servicers, borrowers and second-mortgage holders to encourage timely short sales. The Treasury Department has yet to release specific guidelines to lenders, which will take months to implement.
Q: What should I do if I’m interested in a short sale? A: Most lenders will approve a short sale only if the borrower is behind on his or her mortgage, but some are now considering nondelinquent borrowers because they don’t want them to walk away from their mortgages, said Pava Leyrer, president of Heritage National Mortgage in Michigan. Ask a trusted mortgage or realestate professional to recommend a real-estate agent, attorney or company to help with the short sale. Or, contact a local nonprofit housing counseling service. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development maintains a list of government-sponsored housing agencies at www.hud.gov/offices/ hsg/sfh/hcc/hcs.cfm. And don’t pay any upfront fees. “Be cautious when choosing someone,” Leyrer said. “Make sure they have the experience necessary to facilitate the sale and not hinder it.” ■
Location! Location! Location! This week’s featured property
Stockton, New Jersey
Beds: 3 Baths: 3 Square footage: Over 7,000 Age of property: 6 years Cost: $2.5 million Realtor: Ruth Mummey Real-estate co.: N.T. Callaway Real Estate Phone: (215) 862-6565, ext. 102 Web site: www.ntcallaway.com
Check your ad
PLACING ADS Using voicemail? Please be sure to have the following information ready when you call: • Your ad copy • The type of style you want • Desired abbreviations • American Express, Discover, MasterCard or VISA information • Your name and mailing
A minimalist farmhouse with 15 French doors, 3 fireplaces, ebony oak floor, limestone floors and a marble and steel kitchen. 18.5 acres overlooking preserved land.
address • Daytime telephone number Having all this information ready will speed your order and help to avoid errors. Phone calls can only be returned during business hours. For more information, see the coupon page in this section.
Philadelphia Gay News assumes responsibility for errors in classified ads only when notified by noon the Tuesday after the ad first appears. To receive credit for errors, please notify PGN by then. Credit only will be extended in the form of additional advertising space. Any cash refunds, for any reason, are subject to a $10 service charge. PGN will publish no classified ad — in any category — that contains sexually explicit language. Obviously excluded are traditional four-letter words that relate to sexual activity. Other words may be excluded at the discretion of the publisher, who reserves the right to edit or rewrite any ad that, in his opinion, violates this policy or its intent.
MAY 140- 7, 2009 PAGE
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS CLASSIFIEDS
45 OCT. 16 - PAGE 22, 2009
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GREAT BUILDING IN GAYBORHOOD ���������������������������� INVESTMENT Available inGREAT time for summer fun. Located on the BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY river in quiet Beachwood, NJ. Large home with 11TH & LOCUST, 6 bed,NEAR 3.5 bath, water views from$599K all rooms, 6 Come this wonderful bldg w/2 spacious decks, see inground pool, hot tub and much more. rental apartments large commercial Priced at $899K. Call and LBO Realty, ask for Elliott space on 1st floor. In the heart of Center City. 732-674-3851 for info and for showing. Currently a doctor’s office, zoned C-1. Could _______________________________33-18 be made into condos or large single dwellWarminster > 55 community. 2 BR, 2 BA with ing. location. Call for bsmtGreat condo.condition, $200K. price, dgr5162@verizon.net appointment. _______________________________33-18 JULIE WELKER COLDWELL BANKER WELKER REAL ESTATE 215-235-7800 _______________________________33-52 A Bank Repo! 4BR/2BA $205/Mo! More Homes from $199/Mo! 5% down 15 years @ 8% APR. For listings 800-546-8656 Ext R944. _______________________________33-42 Bank Foreclosure! 4 Br 3 Ba $10,000! Only $225/Mo! More Homes from $199/Mo! 5% down 15 years @ 8% APR. For listings 800546-8656 ext 1482 _______________________________33-42
VENTNOR, NJ, FACING THE BAY ������������ House Adjacent Lot (inground Condo and 4 Sale, End Unit, 3rd Fl., 2swimming BD/1 BA, pool). 1st floor 3 bedrooms, bath, living room, XL Kitchen-granice countertops, cherry wood dining room, kitchen, laundry room and deck. cabinets, wood floors t/o, Mstr. kitchen, BD with 2nd floor 2H/W bedrooms, bath, efficiency w/i closet & dining loft, hi ceilings, windows $4 living room, area and6ft. deck. CentralinAir. Corner Call 215 468Gitzes, 9166 evenings hund’s.Property. Pet friendly. Doree Realtor, only. property for rentLong $675,000.00. & Foster RealAlso Estate, 215-348-0000, 1500.00 month plus utilities. X-8015. Open House, Sunday May 3, 1-3 _______________________________33-52 _______________________________33-18 AFFORDABLE LUXURY, IN THE WOODS
����������� REAL ESTATE �SALE ����
NYS: OUR BEST 60 LAND BARGAINS FOR Attention Hunters! Acres$99,900 Timber HUNTERS co. liquidating a hunting 20AC with Utilities & paradiseCountry loaded Road w/big was Wholesale, discounted properties. 5-350 acre whitetail All hardwood trails me$99,900 deer. Now $69,900 BLMsetting, access. Deer & tracts. Free land Financing available, andering throughout, pristine mountain views. elk galore! Call catalog. to view 877-229-7840 www. cash discounts. closingjust costs. cards Old state roadFree frontage, 20Credit minutes to accepted. www.landandcamps.com Or town. BestVisit buy in West Virginia! Easy owner _______________________________32-16 call 800-229-7843. financing. Call now 1-877-526-3764. _______________________________33-42 _______________________________33-18 Luxury four bedroom, four bath. Fully furnished. Year-End Inventory Mountain and lake views. $678,000. Call Dave BLOW-OUT SALE! 21+ AC- $79,900. WAS $129,900 Walk to River! _______________________________32-16 Beautiful rolling hills, long range mtn/valley Quinn & Wilson Realtors proudly offers you the 72 acres along McKean/Potter County line views, walk to private riverfront park for trophy opportunity to own your own hide-away along near Shinglehouse. Mostly wooded, some bass & trout fishing. Perc done. Prime location the water in Bucks County. 3+ acres of wooded open area, includes old hunting cabin, near historic town. Low rate financing Call now property, no lawn to mow and a pond to boot 1-800-888-1262. electric, $199,000. Field and Stream RE. bordered by 188 acres of wildlife sanctuary. _______________________________33-42 ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Every room is banked by beautiful picture Old _______________________________32-16 Abandoned Homestead. 20.6 AC- $94,821 �������������������������������������������������������������������� windows, giving you a magnificent view of the 600+ FT Stream! Large flat ridge overlooking �� ��������������������������������������������������������������������� quiet and serene setting. Move-in condition your own private stream & ANTIQUE STRUC�� ������������������������������������������������������������������ home.With New Hope charm but closer to Philly. TURE. Park- like setting w/large hardwoods & Easy access to the Turnpike, 95 and Route 1. hiking trails throughout. Easy drive - DC/Metro �� ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ Call me for details today. �������MLS #5553442. Cell: area. Excellent financing. Call owner now 1215-806-6338, office: 215-885-7600. 800-888-1262. _______________________________33-42 _______________________________33-42 ������������������������������������������������������������
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Media PO - Nether Providence
Open Sun 1-3 Spectacular waterfront home. Breath taking views throughout . Window! Windows! Windows! 4 BR, 4Bth, incl. 2 master suites. Gourmet kitchen w/ Corian & granite. Totally upgraded home. Professional landscaped.
604 Crum Creek Rd. $735,000 Dir: Baltimore Pike, N on Providence Rd, R����������������� on Farnum to R on Crum Creek
�������������������������������� Tom Sechrist 610-325-3056 ������������������������
Prudential, Fox & Roach 610-35-6200
������������������������ GREAT �������������������� BUILDING GAYBORHOOD ������������������������������������� GREAT INVESTMENT ������������������� BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY ������������������������������������ NEAR 11TH & LOCUST, $599K �������������������� Come see this wonderful bldg w/2 spacious ����������� rental apartments and large commercial space ������������������ on 1st floor. In the heart of Center City. Currently �������������� a doctor’s office, zoned C-1. Could be used ����������� made into condo’s or large single dwelling. Great condition, price,������������ location. Call for appointment.
��� What’s going on? Check out Diversions.
����������������� JULIE WELKER
������������������ COLDWELL BANKER WELKER REAL ESTATE
215-235-7800
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����� PHILADELPHIA GAY PAGE NEWS41
PAGE 48 CLASSIFIEDS
OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
REAL ESTATE
REAL ESTATE
SALE
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS SALE
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Open Houses Sunday Oct. 18, 2009 ������������������������������ Noon - 1:00 PM 927 Spruce St. ����������� Unit 3. NEW LISTING. ���������������������. Furness Flats. condo. Large 2 bed, 1 bath.floors. last 3 bd. 2 ba. bi-level large Wood unit left in this highly desirable building. Close to all Center City possible deck. Newly Low taxes Hospitals. Low fees and taxes rehabbed. ................................������������� and fees. Parking“George available. .........$399,900 ������������������������ T. Sale Condo” Unique Garden level 1 bd, 1 ba. unit w/ private entrance.. Low fees & Tax 1:30 - area 2:30 Abatement. Lowest price 1 bd. in ........................��������. �����������
927 Spruce St. Unit 1F New Listing. ����������������������. New open style 2 bedroom, 1 bath condo Junior 1 bedroom, totally renovated. Wood with low taxes and condo fees. Great small pet friendly building. .........................................................................�������� floors, nice kitchen and bath. Southern ������������������� Old Swedes Court. New Listing Large 3 exposure. Parking available. Low fees and Bedroom 2.5 Bath with Garage, roof deck and hardwood floors. taxes. ...........................................$199,000 Low association fees in Queen Village ....................�������� �������������. NEW LISTING. Large update 4 bd. 2 ba. with Search all Philadelphia area listings www.thephillyrealtors.com huge garden and wonderfully roof @ deck with city skyline views. .................................................................................�������� Dan Tobey
The Curtis Center ����������������������������������������������������������������� 170 W. Independence Mall , Suite L-44 Philadelphia, PA 19106
215.546.2700 Business • 267.238.1061 Direct ��������� ������������������ 215.432.7151 Cell • 215.546.7728 Fax ������������������������������������� dtobey@cbpref.com ����������������������
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Corners of Routes 390 & 447 • Candensis, PA 18325 ������������������������������������������������ �������������������������������������������� ��������������������
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� � � � �Conrad � � � � Kuhn Broker/Sales Rep. Since 1987 ��������������� NJAR Circle of Excellence Sales Award 1991- 2007 ����������������� Weichert President’s & Ambassador’s Clubs ������������������������� Office: 856.227.1950 ext. 124 Cell: 609.221.1196 ������������������������ www.conradkuhn.com Realtor856@aol.com
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������������������� satellite TV, heat and hot water, all included. WashingtonYou Township ���������������������������� pay; gas Office cooking and electric. Subway 42 door. $1,200 / month. and 5070 bus atRoute the front ������������������� 215-416-5545. Available May 2008. This is a Turnersville, NJ 08012
����������� ����� �������������������� Art Museum Area-- off 26th St. (800 N. Bambrey, 19130) Corner house on quiet street, close to public transportation. Newly renovated, 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, hardwood floors, AC, laundry, deck, PARKING, wired. $1600+ call 215-990-4850. Go to kratzworks. com for pix. $275,000 _______________________________33-20 ���������������� Two bedroom split-level apartment on second floor of row home at 20th and Christian streets. LR, kitchen/dining, bath, small foyer. On-street parking, pets okay.lot, Utilities separate. $875+two Corner quiet cul-de-sac months deposit. Scott 267.736.6743. End-of-group townhouse with contemporary _______________________________33-18 color scheme, 3-4 bds, 2.5 bath, LR/DR/great ����������������� 1 BR apts. avail. Various choices. $750 to room, eat-in kitchen, full finished basement, $1000/mo. Call soon, 215-901-0041. W/W carpet, 2nd fl oor laundry. All appliances. _______________________________33-21 Nice upgrades and lots of space. Only 15 min. �������������������� Philly! FSBO, brokers welcome . 3 from roomdowntown apartment, living room, kitchen, bath, and bedroom (all Large rooms) 2nd floor, Contact Sarah$1000.00 at (856) 853-0240 or private entrance. month, includes sblazucki@gmail.com. utilities. Call 215 686-3431 or 215-468-9166 evenings. Visit zillow.com for more information and photos. _______________________________33-24 ������������������ Entire 3rd floor apartment for rent has large REAL ESTATE eat-in kitchen with ice maker, built in micro, d/w, garb disp. lots of counter and storage. hall closet, very large living room, rent includes all channel Tevo. bathroom has a washer/dryer, another hall closet and two bedrooms with more closets. Heat and hot water is also included. $1,200.00/month. This is a non-smoking building. 215-416-5545. _______________________________33-20
100 Braddock Lane Deptford, N.J.
RENT
Society Hill, 3xx Delancey, 1 bedroom, garden, fireplace, all appliances, w/ Gay is our dryer, free cable middle $1600 name. (215) 850-8751
_______________________________32-18 REAL ESTATE 5 bedroom, 2 Baths Bank Repo only $45,000! Payments from $199/month! 5% down, 20
RENT ���������
_______________________________32-16 12TH & DICKINSON AREA 3 Bedroom Bank foreclosure only $207/month! Furnished Townhouse for rent: Living 4 bedroom, 2 bath home only3 levels. $238/month! Room, Dining Kitchen, 2 bedrooms 5% down, 20 Room, years @8% apr! For listings, ��������������������������������
bath. Very Unique. 1500. mo plus util. (nego�������������������������������� tiable). Call 215 468-9166 after 6 pm. or 215 _______________________________32-16 �������������������������������� 686 3431 daytime. ������������������������� _______________________________33-48 ___________________________________ RIVERTON, NJ, 20 MIN. TO CC PHILA. ����������������� ���������������� Beautiful 1800 s.f. 3 BR, 2nd flr. Incredible Have yourviews. own bedroom a beautiful split waterfront More info in www.311bankave. level home with 2 gay men. House is 4 BR, 2 com Lovely 3 W/D, bd. 1upper ba. fully furnished home in full baths, and lower decks, use of _______________________________33-42 beautiful secluded gay court. 2 blocks to kitchen. Property is by Welsh & the Boulevard, 1 beach, jitney atBELLA corner. VISTA Long season-12,500. min. to 58 bus.1st Weflask thatW/D, you be at least All new 2 BR, oor only w/C/A, hdwd flrs, reasonably neat and Rent is +$600 + _______________________________32-17 granite kitchen, tile employed. bath. $1200/mo. utils. 1/3 utils. Contact at 215-698-0215. 215-908-5537. NoDave brokers. _______________________________33-19 Lg. twhnse, 3 BR, 2.5 BA. No pets or smoking. _______________________________33-42 NE SOUTH Phila. house to share. $350/mo. PHILA. 11TH & SHUNKCall VIC.Jim, _______________________________32-19 215-821-1062. Modern 3 BR house, newly remodeled, new _______________________________33-18 hdwd flrs. newofkitaffordable & bath, WD, refrig. $1100+. Best selection rentals. Full/partial �������������� 215-465-1660. weeks. Call for free brochure. Open daily. Beach blk. Share lovely 3 BR house w/senior _______________________________33-42 Holiday Real Estate. 1-800-638-2102 Online citizen. Full house privileges. QUEEN VILLAGEMust be employed. $950/mo. Call Jim 609-458-3711 _______________________________32-16 1 BR, 3rd & Catharine. F/P,athdwd flrs, C/A, to discuss details. Debordieu, The W/D, terrace, LR, BR, kit.,eld, W/D, micro. Modern. _______________________________33-19 Jewels of the South Carolina Coast. House/ $1100/mo. 215-687-8461, 215-336-4629. condo 2rentals. Beach start cable. here! Share BR apt. Uppervacations Darby, W/D, _______________________________33-45 www.lachicotte.com. For availability call 1$350. 610-352-1188. 10Call MINUTES FROM CENTER CITY _______________________________33-21 2 BR apt. w/large loft, newly renov. $800/mo. _______________________________32-16 Roommate wanted to share home in Norris+ utils. Call 215-887-0483. town. $600/mo. + half utils. Ref. req. Must love _______________________________33-45 cats. call 610-270-0288. drugs. QUEEN VILLAGE No APARTMENT _______________________________33-21 2 Bedroom, 1 bath apartment, conveniently located in Queen Village. Close to everything. Hardwood Floors, Central AC, W&D, Back �������� Patio, Basement for extra storage, etc. Call for more info, or to see at 305-720-4464. � _______________________________33-43 RITT. SQ. AREA STUDIO & 1 BEDROOM STUDIO @ $815 - Great Location! - Conve��������������������� nient to stores,5restaurants, and schools. Hot Super-private 1/2 acres with views, stream, Water & Heat Twelve Eighteen waterfall, 20’ Xincluded. 36’ pool. Fully to funished 3 Month Lease, Up to4Two Months Free. / DSL, ONE bedrooms, 3 baths, TVs, 1 flat screen, BEDROOM $995 eat-in - Smallkitchen. but wellVine-covlocated, stereo, grand@piano, great dining view ofdeck. St. Marks from French winered $5000 peryour month. June to dows.billwrite@aol.com Hot Water & Heat are included. Twelve Sept. to Twenty Month Lease, Up to Two Months _______________________________33-23 Free. (215) 546-1424. �������������������� _______________________________33-47 Best selection of affordable rentals. Full/ partial
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weeks. Call for FREE brochure. Open daily. Holiday Real Estate. 1-800-638-2102 Online reservations www.holidayoc.com _______________________________33-18
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����������� ROOMMATES Mystery shoppers, make upRACIAL to $150 DISa day. PGN WILL NOT PUBLISH Undercover needed ADS. to judge retail TINCTIONSshoppers IN ROOMMATE SUCH and dining establishemnts. Experience NOTATIONS WILL BE EDITED. THANKnot required. YOU877-280-7603. FOR YOUR COOPERATION. _______________________________33-19 ___________________________________ Pensioner, GREATER GM inn, 609-287-8779 9 AM-1 NE PHILA. PM only. Have your own bedroom in a beautiful split _______________________________33-19 level home with 2 gay men. House is 4 BR, 2 �������������������������� full baths, W/D, upper and lower decks, use of No exp. necessary, will train. PT or FT. SJ kitchen. Property is by Welsh & the Boulevard, 1 shore area. Call 609-645-2010. min. to 58 bus. We ask only that you be at least _______________________________33-19 reasonably neat and employed. is $600 + Travel, Travel, Travel! $500 Rent Sign-on and 1/3 utils. Contact Dave at 215-698-0215. $500 Performance bonuses. Seeking Sharp _______________________________33-49 Guys/Gals, Blue Jean Environment, Music 2 BR apt., 69th St. area. Ted,#888-375-9795 610-352-1188. Lovers Welcome! Janelle _______________________________33-49 Start Today! SOUTH PHILADELPHIA _______________________________33-18 $600 Furnished Room Utilities Included. Ready Part-time, home-based Internet business. Earn to move in on Nov 1. further info e-mail $500-$1000/month or For more. Flexible hours. w.colgan@juno.com Training provided. No selling required. FREE _______________________________33-42 details. www.K348.com _______________________________33-18 ������������������������ Avg. Pay $21/hour or $54K annually including Federal Benefits and OT. Paid Training. Vacations. PT/FT 1-866-945-0341. _______________________________33-18 ���������������� National Company Hiring 18-30 Sharp People. Able to Start Today. Transportation & Lodging Furnished. NO EXPERIENCE Necessary. Paid Training. Over 18+ 866-734-5216. _______________________________33-18
HELP WANTED
Alexander Inn
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Drive the $700-$80 Problem. Call Now _______ Over 18? Travel a Business 2wks Pa Provided _______ Now Hirin EXPRES Equipme Insuranc be 22Yrs 863-4009 _______ Mailing B plies furn Now! 1-8 _______ “Can Yo Training Trackhoe QUALIFY 6497. _______ NOW AVA $18-$20/ ING, FE 1-800-91 _______
Hotel desk clerk for full or part time. Must have prior hotel experience with references. Good salary Seeking part-tim plus bonus pkg. Apply in person or call days. The Philadelphia Gay News is seeking a part editorial intern, you will perform a variety of Call John 215-923-3535 editorial staff. Duties might include writing s Let’s Talk! event listings, research, fact checking, ling, projects.
BOWLERS Intern(s) may also NEEDED have the opportunity (dep for ajournalistic 6pm, Sunday NighttoRainbow and skills) attend local events etc.) and write news League. and features articles. Mixed 4’s (GLT)
Intern(s) should be highly motivated with str South Philly’s hiddenisgem: journalistic background preferred but not r PEP Bowl is located on focused the corner have the ability to stay while workin must ableand to meet deadlines ofbe Broad Federal Street. both on a dail
This is an unpaid internship (academic credit Website: pepbowl.com. per week.
Call Dan Ciecka at 215-952-4297 Skills: Computer procient. for more details.(Prefer Word, e-mail, Photoshop a plus.) Organized, oriented Driver CDL-A: OTRdetail Dry Van & Flatbed PositionsSolid Available. Greatand Pay,verbal Benefits, Equipwritten communications s ment.Team 1-Dayplayer Orientation. TWIC Card Holders
Preferred. Class A-CDL, 22 YO, 1 yr. exp. Western Express Please send 888-801-5295 résumé, cover letter and three _______________________________33-42 Sarah Blazucki, Editor, Philadelphia Gay KNIGHT REFRIGERATED Philadelphia, 19147. Or e-mail, Regional/Local & OTR drivingPA positions available. Apply online www.knightrefrigerated.com 6 months OTR experience required. Class-A CDL, No Felonies or DUI’s, clean MVR, 888668-0829. _______________________________33-42 Werner Enterprises, Need 25 Driver Trainees, ���������� Drive the Big Rigs $700 to $800 Week. Great 2001 Toyota $2500! 2 door,custom Benefi ts. NoCelica CDL, GTS No Problem. Start ASAP. Wishing made orange exterior, black interior, 96500 adore. W Call 800-961-4319. miles, 6 speed manual, 4 cyl. Contact info: loving, st _______________________________33-42 corysmoore@gmail.com or call Tired of Living Pay to Pay? Drive the at Big(208) Rigs respect/ c 977-9080. 35 Driver Trainees Needed $700 to $800 Week. call Glen _______________________________33-18 No CDL, No Problem. No Credit, No Problem. _______ �������������� Start ASAP. Call 800-961-4319. Receive $1000 Grocery Coupon. Noah’s Childless _______________________________33-42 Arc Support No Kill Shelters. Research to adopt a Advance Veterinary Treatments. Free Tow- with close ing, Tax Deductible, Non-Runners accepted Expense 1-866-912-GIVE 4602 Pin _______________________________33-18 _______ Buy Police Impounds! 02 Honda Civic $950! 99 Consider Toyota Corolla $500! 99 Nissan Altima $900! attorney Hondas, Chevys, Jeeps & More! For listings your bab 800-546-5204 ext 3553. (ask for m _______________________________33-42 _______
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CLASSIFIEDS
CLASSIFIEDS
OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
SERVICES DIRECTORY ����������������
PAGE 108
PAGE 108 CLASSIFIEDS
APRIL 25 - MAY 1, 2008 CLASSIFIEDS
Want to let mom, dad and all of your exs know you’re tying the knot?
Is it time to look for a new doctor?
Is it time to look for a new doctor?
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Reach Over 40,000 Readers Weekly For As Little As $25.00 A Week. Call 215-625-8501 Today!
Classifieds Liner Insertion Order
Select the TYPE STYLE you want from the examples below, and begin each line under the arrow to the left of the letter representing that style. Write to the end of the line (hyphenate words correctly. Do not stop at any other arrow, as each arrow represents a starting point. Allow one block for each letter, number, punctuation mark and space. Be sure to skip a space between words. PHONE NUMBER MUST INCLUDE AREA CODE. Be sure to circle one of the classifications and compute the cost of your ad. Liner advertising is on a PREPAY BASIS ONLY, and payment must accompany this form. PLEASE DO NOT SEND CASH THROUGH THE MAIL. Type STYLE A Type STYLE B TYPE STYLE C
A
B
HEADLINE (24 SPACES PER LINE) FREE WHEN PLACED ONLINE 40 spaces Per Line 36 spaces Per Line 24 SPACES PER LINE
C
7 point 7 point 7 POINT
NAME ADDRESS CITY PHONE
PLEASE PRINT STATE
ZIP
AMEX • MASTERCARD • VISA • DISCOVER CARD NUMBER EXPIRATION SIGNATURE NAME ON CARD # # #
“A” LINES @ $5.50 - $ “B” LINES @ $7.50 - $ “C” LINES @ $10.00 - $ BOX YOUR AD $5.00 SUBTOTAL
S wedd c
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Send us your inf wedding/civil % TERM DISCOUNT - union/ AD TOTAL commitment edit TOTAL PAYMENT ENCLOSED ceremony Return form and payment to: CLASSIFICATION (CIRCLE ONE) o REAL ESTATE FOR SALE • REAL ESTATE FOR RENT • ROOMMATES • SEASONAL RENTALS • SERVICES • FINANCIAL SERVICES Masco announcement Communications HELP WANTED • JOBS WANTED • Over BUSINESS40,000 OPPORTUNITIES • FOR SALE Weekly • AUTOMOTIVEFor • AUCTIONS TRAVEL RESORTS S. Fourth St., Phila., PA 19147 Reach Readers As • Little As $25.00 A505 Week. ���������������������������������������������������������������� ADOPTION • PERSONALS • FRIENDS MEN • FRIENDS BISEXUAL • FRIENDS TV/TS • FRIENDS WOMEN (21 or fax: 215-925-6437 or email: don@epgn.com and we’ll share it with the City of Brotherly Love. NUMBER OF WEEKS X SUBTOTAL
OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
CLASSIFIEDS
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SERVICES DIRECTORY
Reach Over 40,000 Readers Weekly For As Little As $25.00 A Week. Call 215-625-8501 Today! Placing Classifieds Liner Ads In Person: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, By Phone or on the Web: 24 Hours, 7 Days
Deadline for Line Advertising is Friday at 3 p.m. for the following Friday’s issue. You may place your ad via our secure voicemail system, fax or e-mail at any time, or on our Web site. Please have the following information ready to place your ad:
YOUR AD COPY • YOUR NAME AND MAILING ADDRESS • DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER • CREDIT CARD INFORMATION
PHONE: 215-625-8501 ext. 200 OR 215-451-6182 (DIRECT) • FAX: 215-925-6437 • E-MAIL: don@epgn.com
GENERAL INFORMATION
All classified advertising must be in our office by 3 p.m. Friday for the next Friday’s paper. Ads arriving after that time will be held for the next available issue. PGN reserves the right to edit or rewrite ads as needed, to refuse any ad for any reason and to determine the final classification. Ads determined to be in bad taste, directed to or from persons under the legal age of consent or containing racially or sexually discriminatory language will be refused. We need your full name, mailing address and daytime phone number on the insertion order form for you ad. This information is confidential and will not appear in the paper. Any ads received without full information will be destroyed. Sexually explicit language will be edited or refused at the discretion of the management.
PAYMENT AND PLACEMENT
Classified ads may placed online or by mail, fax, e-mail or in person at the PGN offices at 505 S. Fourth St., Phila. Phone, fax and e-mail orders are accepted with credit/debit cards only. A $10 minimum applies to all charges. If you are paying in person with cash, please have the exact change as we cannot make change at the office. All ads must be prepaid for their entire run. NO EXCEPTIONS! DO NOT SEND CASH THROUGH THE MAIL; IT’S NOT SAFE AND CANNOT BE GUARANTEED.
TERM DISCOUNTS - BASED ON THE NUMBER OF ISSUES PREPAID 4 weeks, 5% • 8 weeks, 10% • 16 weeks, 15% • 26 weeks, 20%
CANCELLATION POLICY
All PGN Classified ads are cancelable and refundable except for “FRIENDS” ads. Deadline for cancellation is 3 p.m. Friday. The balance will be credited to your credit/debit card. Checks take two weeks to process. The date of the first issue the ad appeared in, along with the classification, your name, address and daytime phone number is required to cancel your ad.
E-mail us: pgn@epgn.com
PGN
FOR SALE
SERVICES
PROVENANCE ”Amor signatur in hac domo.” Old doors, souls, cobbles, stone, wood, iron, bricks, glass, etc., etc., etc... 215-769-1817 *** 1610 Fairmount Ave. www.phillyprovenance.com _______________________________33-42 SAWMILLS From Only $2,990.00--Convert your LOGS TO VALUABLE LUMBER with your own Norwood portable band sawmill. Log skidders also available. norwoodsawmills.com/300n. Free information: 1-800-578-1363-Ext300-N. _______________________________33-42 POLE BUILDINGS Residential Garages, Agricultural, Commercial, Horse Barns - Many options, colors, and sizes available. Fully erected. Maintenance Free. www.fettervillesales.com 1(800)331-1875. _______________________________33-42
NEED ANYTHING DONE? GUY FRIDAY MAN FOR HIRE 24/7 ! ! 36 GWM looking for extra work in the area. I specialize in Massage Therapy services but also willing and able to take on any sort of job, errand, task that you give me. I have an SUV and a GPS to handle even more. I can provide: * transportion to/from the airport * grocery shopping * animal care (“”petsitting””) at my location or yours * massage + other bodycare services * lawn and yard maintainence * house cleaning ETC, ETC, ETC. It could be just about anything you want or need me to do! Be creative. (Not skilled with carpentry, plumbing, electrical, etc.) * YOUR IDEAS and OFFERS WELCOME! I also have 2 friends available to help me with larger jobs or ones that require an extra person or 2 ***Please email me at CherryHill29@AOL.com or call or text Jeremy at (856)397-1089*** _______________________________33-43 ATTEND COLLEGE ONLINE From Home. *Medical, *Business, *Paralegal, *Computers, *Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified. Call 866-858-2121 www.CenturaOnline.com _______________________________33-42 AIRLINES ARE HIRING Train for high paying Aviation Maintenance Career. FAA approved program. Financial aid if qualified -Housing available. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance (888)349-5387. _______________________________33-42
BUSINESS
OPPORTUNITIES ALL CASH VENDING! Do you earn $800 in a day? Your own local candy route. Includes 25 Machines and Candy All for $9,995. 1-800-460-4027. _______________________________33-42 Insurance Agency for Sale. Affiliated with major national carrier. A great business opportunity! Upcoming Webinar September 16th. Please send inquires to: agencyforsalePA@aol.com or Fax: 866-296-7535. _______________________________33-42
ADOPTION ADOPT A truly loving married couple wishes to adopt your newborn into a home filled with warmth, happiness, security, and endless love. Expenses Paid. Please contact Jessica and Terence at 800-556-1129. _______________________________33-42
AUCTIONS ABSOLUTE AUCTION Monday 10/19/09 Ilam Frazier’s Garden Center. Real Estate, Equipment, Greenhouses. 790 Southside Dr., Oneonta, NY. Everything Sells Absolute. Mapes Benjamin Real Estate Auction Co. www.benjaminauctions.com _______________________________33-41
Reach Over 40,000 Readers Weekly For As Little As $25.00 A Week.
NC.
RVICES
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CLASSIFIEDS
PAGE 106
OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
HOME IMPROVEMENT DIRECTORY PAGE 107
G.I. CONTRACTORS Complete start to finish contractors:
Electrical • Plumbing Carpentry • Ceramic Tile Siding • Roofing • Decks Kitchens & Baths 24 hour emergency service with certified technicans
267-240-7535 215-917-6328 No job too small!
Reach Over 40,000 Readers Weekly For As Little As $25.00 A Week. Call 215-625-8501 Today!
RC, CVE
bility
OCT. - 22, 2009 PAGE16 110
CLASSIFIEDS CLASSIFIEDS APRIL 25 - MAY 1, 2008CLASSIFIEDS / THE PLAYGROUND CLASSIFIEDS
APRIL APRIL25 25--MAY MAY1,1,2008 2008
LEGALHEALTH & PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY DIRECTORY CLASSIFIEDS
APRIL 25 - MAY 1, 2008
nite. GWM couple ISO GWMs 18-40 yrs. for 1 on 1 and group sex. Stockings, pantyhose, etc. Starts 9 PM Sat. Call Sat. 7-8 PM 856910-8303, ask for Mark. _______________________________33-24 PAGE APRIL 25 - MAY 1, 200845 GWM, Italian, top or bottom, 7” cut. Also into assplay, toys & water sports. Bi, straight, out FRIENDS of towners welcome. Day or night. Call Jeff at 215-850-7900. _______________________________33-18
MEN
William A. Torchia, Esquire
AMY F. STEERMAN Attorney at Law
Attorney-at-Law
Estate & Tax Planning
Concentrating in Planning for Lesbian and Gay Couples • Probate • Wills • Living Wills • Powers of Attorney
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GENERAL PRACTICE FOR THE COMMUNITY • Estate Administration • Wills, Living Wills, Trusts • Powers of Attorney • Property Agreements • Accidents
215-735-1006
• Domestic Relations • Adoption • Name Change • Guardianships • Real Estate
• Incorporation • Bankruptcy • Immigration • Social Security • Elder Law
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1528 Walnut St. Suite 1220, Philadelphia, PA 19102
1900 Spruce Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 www.amysteerman.com
215-546-1950 (Voice)
215-546-8801 (Fax)
www.williamatorchiaesquire.vpweb.com
James JamesM. M.Quesenberry, Quesenberry,MA, MA,CRC, CRC,CVE CVE Disability Consultant James M. Quesenberry, MA, Disability Consultant CRC, CVE Disability Consultant
James M. Quesenberry, MA, CRC, CVE Disability Consultant
Social SocialSecurity SecurityDisability Disability Social Security Disability Claims Appeals Claims Appeals Claims Appeals 215-629-0585 215-629-0585 CLASSIFIEDS 215-629-0585
Social Security Disability Claims Appeals
Suite Suite202 202 Suite 202 Rd. Oxford Valley Oxford Valley Rd. Oxford Valley Rd. Fairless Hills, PA Fairless Hills, PA19030 19030 Fairless Hills, PA 19030
215-629-0585 Suite 202 Oxford Valley Rd. Fairless Hills, PA 19030
PROVIDING DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES, APRIL 25 - MAY 1, 2008 EDUCATION & POLICY REFORM FOR THE LGBT COMMUNITY.
Gay is our middle FREE LEGAL HOTLINE (215) 731-1477 Reach Over 40,000 Readers Weekly For As Little As $25.00 A Week. Call 215-625name. www.equalitypa.org
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James M. Quesenberry, MA, CRC, CVE Disability Consultant
Social Security Disability Claims Appeals
215-629-0585 Suite 202 Oxford Valley Rd. Fairless Hills, PA 19030
We Are Your Guide to the Arts & Entertainment in The Gay Universe Reach Readers Over 40,000 Readers Weekly As Little As $25.00 Week. ach Over 40,000 Weekly For As Little For As $25.00 A Week. Call A 215-625-8501 Today!
MODELS
ESCORTS
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PREMIER
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PAGE 46
THE PLAYGROUND
OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
Adult/Personals P Ph h ii ll ll y y '' s s P P rr e em m ii u um m
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Now In Our 21 s t Ye a r !
FRIENDS
LOOKING FOR ROMANCE Attractive GWM, warm, sensitive, caring, 48 y.o. with a smooth gymnast build looking for other GWM, 30-50, who is also in good shape. I live in NE Phila. I’m looking for guys who are also sensitive, caring with a fun personality. If this sounds interesting to you feel free to call me, David, 215-698-0215. _______________________________33-48
WM, NE Phila. If you’re looking for hot action, call 215-934-5309. No calls after 11 PM. _______________________________33-43 ARE YOU A TORPEDO TOP? You: 9” or more, or large in circumference? Me: 6’1”, 210, 59, real nice white butt. 215732-2108, 8-11 PM. _______________________________33-42 Hi, I’m Joey. I’m looking for a friend in the Forrest Ardmore area. I’m young, hung and looking for fun. I’m a bottom looking for a top. Call me at 484-238-4707. _______________________________33-42 Muscular male, 62 seeks same. John Larish, 575 Laurel Terrace, Pottsville, PA 17901. _______________________________33-42 ISO MATURE, 38-42, X-DRESSING Mistress to train me to fully worship at her smooth body/legs, front/back, all in betweens. Me: cumpliant, discreet, no D/D, gentle, sincere bi WM snr. Fee per session OK. 215-574-1815. Any kind of message OK. _______________________________33-44
Looking for a playtime friend in the Harrisburg area. 8”, very thick. 717-233-2453. _______________________________33-45
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Marcello
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www.PremierEscorts.comOr Always Phila. 215.733.9779 Hiring Toll Free 888.765.6665 215-733-9779 Hours:11AM 2AM Hiring 11AM til 2AM til - Always
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6’, 165 lbs., 60 year old Master, greek active, french passive requires obedient slave for training, S&M, B/D, W/S, etc. Limits respected and expanded. Assistant Master wanted. Call Dave at 215-729-6670, day or evening. _______________________________33-48 GWM, Italian, top or bottom, 7” cut. Also into assplay, toys & water sports. Bi, straight, out of towners welcome. Day or night. Call Jeff at 215-850-7900. _______________________________33-43
t
FRIENDS
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Call 215-432-6030
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THE PLAYGROUND
OCT. 16 - 22, 2009
MASSAGE
Man for Man Massage Tall, attractive, muscular Sensual/Erotic Massage I will tailor your massage to suit your needs... Incall/Outcall
MASSAGE
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• Full Body • Deep Tissue • Sensual
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Hot Italian Masculine Stud
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Ask about the After Midnight Special.
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PAGE 47
Call Franco anytime 24/7 at 215-463-0368 B24
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Sensual Full Body Massage & More 100% Top, 26 Y/O, Mixed, Lean Swimmers Build, Very Well Endowed Clean, discreet, CC location. D-1
Dominic: 215-910-9601 Visit my website:
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FRIENDS
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Let my strong hands release all your tensions. FULLBODY • SENSUAL • EROTIC “Ask about my specials” Have car and will travel City/Suburbs/Jersey Shore/Hotels
(215)465-2427 FRIENDS
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G-02
Deep tissue/Erotic massage BDSM training Body shaving in/out
KEN 215-317-8378 www.kbmassage.com FRIENDS
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PGN
G-01
MEN
MEN
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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
COLOR
FULL PAGE MASQUERADE COLOR
OCT. 16 - 22, 2009