pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976 Art is Mom’s business
Vol. 42 No. 40 Oct. 5-11, 2018 Love after tragedy
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Outwod brings fitness and fundraising
HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
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Queer, POC and trans truckers
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Farnese vows to reintroduce LGBT panic-defense bill
Preaching to the choir By Adriana Fraser adriana@epgn.com
The Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus is rebranding ahead of its 37th season, with changes to its annual fundraiser, a new logo and a refocused mission to use music as a form of social-justice activism. PGMC, one of the oldest choruses in the United States, has launched its new logo with a “p” in the center of a square that emits sound vibrations. The new website, meanwhile, displays a much-needed revamp from the “outdated” look, said PGMC president Adam Funck. “The old logo didn’t have any kind of modern feel to it; it was purely musicbased and didn’t really hint towards any of the other aspects of the organization,” he said. “The ‘p’ of the new logo represents Philadelphia, but it is also a speaker with sound coming out because we are a vocal organization. You can also look at it as a protest sign with someone yelling about something. It embodies that we’re activists through music.” The group also made changes to its annual Fall Ball fundraiser, which is now in its seventh year. The gala, now called the Masquerade, will be the first PGMC event of the season. This year, “Cirque Masquerade” is a black-tie-optional masked ball. “We’re partnering up with the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts and bringing in circus artists as the performers along with our select ensemble, Brotherly Love,” Funck said. “We restructured the event and eliminated the VIP reception. Before, the VIP reception had the entertainment and the main event didn’t have PAGE 37
Family Portrait: Joe Gates takes a bow
Latinx art on the cutting edge
By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com
ROLL OUT THE BARREL: Oktoberfest brought out the beer lovers to Camac Street Sept. 29 for games, guzzling and getting reacquainted after a season of vacations, shore visits and camping trips. The event was hosted by the Tavern Group and located near U Bar and Tavern on Camac. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Pennsylvania Sen. Larry Farnese (D-Philadelphia) last week vowed to reintroduce a bill that would ban LGBT-panic defenses in criminal cases across the state after acknowledging that a vote on the bill isn’t expected before the end of the current legislative session. “If the bill doesn’t move, it will be introduced in the next session, which begins in January,” Farnese told PGN. “It’s the first thing I’m going to do.” Senate Bill 1244, introduced Sept. 6, would ban criminal defendants in Pennsylvania from claiming they were provoked into assaulting or killing someone due to the “discovery, knowledge or potential disclosure of a victim’s actual or perceived gender identity or expression or sexual orientation, including circumstances
in which the victim made an unwanted nonforcible romantic or sexual advance toward the defendant or if the defendant and victim had a romantic or sexual relationship.” Although there is no defined version of gay-panic or trans-panic defenses in any Pennsylvania statute, some homicide defendants in Pennsylvania have cited a victim’s LGBT status in an effort to lessen their criminal penalties. “This bill is necessary because the existence of this defense in Pennsylvania is offensive and further victimizes those who have suffered violence — and the LGBT community as a whole,” Farnese told PGN. “I look forward to reintroducing the bill and pursuing a debate on the floor of the senate in the next legislative session.” The bill’s cosponsors are Sens. Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia), W a y n e PAGE 42
Meet the recipients of this year’s OutProud Awards The OutProud Awards are part of OutFest, the annual block-party celebration in honor of National Coming Out Day. The awards recognize those who are doing notable work within and for LGBTQ equality. This year’s honorees are:
Jaci Adams OutProud Transgender Award: Nick and Sibil Mae Greiner
OutProud Award: Anh Dang, Philly Fins and Philadelphia Falcons member; C.C. Tellez, Founder of Lez Run
Outstanding Youth Award: Manny Pabon, The Attic Youth Center member
Gilbert Baker National OutProud Award: Louie A. Ortiz-Fonseca, creator of The Gran Varones
LGBT History Month
OutProud Couple: The Rev. Jeffrey H. Jordan and David E. Pickett
OutProud Friend: Sen. Sharif Street, Third District
The early gay-rights crusaders: The Mattachine Society PAGE 15
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Defining lesbianism, part one PAGE 18