pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976 Day in the Life of ... : educator Lee Carson PAGE 12
Vol. 40 No. 43 Oct. 21-27, 2016
HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
Chelsea Clinton: In her own words
Self-defense raised in gay-basher suit PAGE 2
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Community, city leaders meet to address racism By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Two weeks before a historic city hearing on racism in the LGBT community, several-dozen community members gathered for an open exchange on the issue. The Oct. 13 meeting at the African American Museum was labeled “productive,” “problematic” and a “good start” by different participants. The event capped several weeks of debate and protests regarding allegations of discriminatory practices at Gayborhood bars, a racist video of ICandy’s owner and opposing reactions to city leaders’ treatment of the issue. Community members used an easel to track ideas and questions for city leaders — who were asked to wait until the second half of the meeting to enter — about such issues as responses to police harassment and city contributions to community organizations. Alonda Talley, 30, attended and said she was glad to see community members working
LGBT History Month LGBT witch hunts of the 1950s PAGE 15
Commission on LGBT Affairs forming By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com
MEETING OF THE MINDS: About 40 people participated in a discussion regarding racism in the LGBT community Oct. 13. Held at the African American Museum, the event allowed community members and leaders of local organizations to tackle the issue before invited city representatives like Philadelphia Human Relations Commission executive director Rue Landau and Office of LGBT Affairs director Nellie Fitzpatrick joined. Photo: Scott A. Drake
together to address the issue. “We as black and brown people have to stop attacking each other,” she said. “We’re not going to get anywhere if we’re attacking each other.” Director of LGBT Affairs Nellie Fitzpatrick, executive director of Philadelphia Human
Relations Commission Rue Landau and other city representatives took part in the second half of the meeting. Fitzpatrick has been the target of protests by the Black & Brown Workers Collective and other groups that have called PAGE 12 on her to step
The application process for the city’s new Commission on LGBT Affairs opened Monday. Among its responsibilities, the Commission will advise Mayor Jim Kenney’s administration on ways to increase LGBT community access to government resources; share information with the community on relevant government efforts; address community needs with relevant city agencies and work to develop plans to meet those needs; and maintain dialogue with LGBT community organizations and individuals. The volunteer members will be appointed following an application process overseen by the Office of Diversity & Inclusion, the Office of Public Engagement and the Office of the Mayor. The application form is available at http://ow.ly/mstN305kFQO and must be completed by Nov. 4. The online application asks six open-ended questions about the applicant’s interest in serving on the commission, issues facing the local LGBT community and goals for their participation in the commission. The only limit on eligibility is that applicants cannot be city employees; they can hold other city appointments. Director of LGBT Affairs Nellie Fitzpatrick told PGN this week that the commission has been in the works since earlier this year and is not a result of the recent discussions about racism in the LGBT community. “The commission has been a part of the plan of this administration since the mayor took office. I certainly have not been quiet about the fact that something like this needs to be established,” she said. “Folks have been working hard to establish this commission; we’ve been working with the Law Department for months to draft up and create the executive order which will create the commission, as well as finding the best ways PAGE 18 to make sure that folks are able to apply.”
Philly gets perfect HRC score, five years running By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com
RUNNING START: Runners led the way in the 30th-annual AIDS Walk/Run Philly 5K Oct. 16, which set off from the Philadelphia Museum of Art. About 10,000 people participated, raising more than $250,000. This year organizer AIDS Fund will use the money for its emergency fund for people affected by HIV/AIDS, whereas fundraising in previous years was also generated for local HIV/AIDS organizations. The theme of this year’s event was “Getting to Zero,” referring to new diagnoses, deaths and stigma related to HIV/AIDS. Photo: Jeffrey Holder
Philadelphia has again achieved a perfect score in the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index. The national LGBT-rights organization releases the report each fall, ranking cities across the country based on the LGBT-inclusiveness of their municipal policies and programs. This year, Philadelphia is one of 60 municipalities to receive a perfect 100. When the MEI launched in 2012, the City of Brotherly Love was among just 11 municipalities to achieve the top score; at that time, HRC employed a different type of ranking that included bonus points, and Philadelphia was the only city in the nation to achieve a perfect baseline score before bonus points. “Philadelphia has been a leader in advancing LGBTQ rights at a local level, a fact reflected in its membership in this exceptional group of municipalities earning perfect scores every year since the
inception of our Municipal Equality Index,” HRC president Chad Griffin said in a statement. “For the past five years, Philadelphia has stood up for its LGBTQ residents and municipal workers time and time again, serving as an inspiring example to other municipal, state and the federal governments on how to ensure full equality for all.” Philadelphia was one of 22 cities to achieve a 100 despite being situated in a state that does not offer LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination protections. Eighty-seven cities in such states scored above 55, the nationwide average. In Pennsylvania, the average score was 70. Philadelphia was the only city in the state to receive a 100; next in line was Allentown with a 95. The majority of the other cities all scored above the national average: Pittsburgh (93), New Hope (80), State College (72), Harrisburg (68), Reading (66) and Wilkes-Barre (62). “Municipalities in Pennsylvania lead the way on equality for LGBT people in our PAGE 18