Strap yourself in for some sky-high laughs with Pam Ann
New leaders for the Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition
Family Portrait: Ricky Cintron on respectful religion
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Nov. 1-7, 2013
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Vol. 37 No. 44
PA widow challenges state tax law in newest DOMA suit By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com
Out candidates gear up for election Endorsements By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com Four mayoral candidates in Pennsylvania are vying for a spot as the state’s first openly LGBT mayor in the Nov. 5 election, which will also see a number of other out candidates looking to break into, or be reelected to, public office. New Hope has long been known as an LGBT getaway in Bucks County, and Donna Deely, 52, is looking to helm the town. The out lesbian, who serves on the fundraising committee for the Bucks County Playhouse and as a volunteer for Aid for Friends, told PGN she hopes to enhace the communication among elected officials and residents in New Hope. Hailing from another small town, out businessman Doug DiPasquale hopes to lead his town, Lansdale, in a new direction. DiPasquale, 29, owns Minuteman Press and serves as president of the Lansdale Business Association and as the LBA liaison to the borough’s economic-development committee. He also serves as vice president of Discover Lansdale, a nonprofit organization that brings new events to the town.
DiPasquale told PGN he has already begun conversations with the borough’s council on crafting an LGBT-specific nondiscrimination ordinance. Hatboro mayoral candidate Bill Godshall is also no stranger to small businesses, operating his own florist company, Rose In Bloom. The retired and decorated military veteran pledged to be a more visible mayor if elected and hopes to open a cultural center in Hatboro. Godshall currently sits on the board of directors of Hatboro’s Chamber of Commerce and is a new member of the Hatboro Rotary Club. He defeated incumbent Democratic mayor Norm Hawkes in the spring, but Hawkes is now running as a Republican write-in candidate. Harrisburg mayoral candidate Dan Miller’s race has been a unique one. Miller, who lost the Democratic primary in May, will run as a Republican next week. Miller has served as Harrisburg’s city controller for the past four years and also served on City Council prior to that. Miller’s plans for state capitol focus on fixing its weak financial position. If elected, Miller would become only the second openly gay mayor in a state capitol PAGE 16 in the United States.
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Superior Court Jack McVay
City Controller Alan Butkovitz Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Giovanni Campbell Anne Marie Coyle Joe Fernandes Timika Lane Daniel McCaffery Sierra Thomas Street Mayoral races Don Guardian—Atlantic City Dan Miller—Harrisburg Bill Godshall—Hatboro Doug DiPasquale—Lansdale Donna Deely—New Hope Other races Andrea Myers-Hatboro Council
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percent tax. Benjamin Jerner and Tiffany Palmer of Jerner & Palmer, P.C., will represent Baus. The suit contends the state Defense of Marriage Act and subsequent inheritance-tax law violate the state constitutional uniformity clause, equal-rights amendment, equal-protection and due-process guarantees, as PAGE 16
Plans move for new venue at Sisters By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com
District Attorney Seth Williams
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EVERYBODY NEEDS A HERO: Event organizers Carmen Gervasio (from left) and Herbie Sayles were joined by other superheroes and villains at the Greater Philadelphia Flag Football League Halloween party and bachelor auction Oct. 26 at the William Way LGBT Community Center. Action AIDS senior development associate Ethan Blades (center of superhero cutout) represented Action AIDS, one of the party’s beneficiaries. About 100 people attended the event, raising about $2,500. Photo: Scott A. Drake
A lesbian widow from Bethlehem recently filed a lawsuit seeking equal treatment under Pennsylvania’s inheritance-tax law for same-sex couples. Barbara Baus filed a suit in Orphans’ Court of Northampton County Oct. 25, after being asked to pay more than $10,000 in inheritance tax on the estate of her late wife. Baus married Cathy Burgi-Rios on April 29, 2011, in Connecticut. Burgi-Rios, 55, died on Sept. 21, 2012, from complications from her year-long battle with leukemia. The pair, together for more than 15 years, first married in a church ceremony in 1999 and also had a
civil union in New Jersey. In 2001, Burgi-Rios, a New Jersey native, named Baus, who hails from Bucks County, as the executrix of her will and sole beneficiary of her assets. The two jointly owned property and had joint checking and savings accounts. Following Burgi-Rios’ passing, Baus filed an Inheritance Tax Return with the Register of Wills of Northampton County, but was told by the state Department of Revenue that her marriage was “not valid in Pennsylvania.” Heterosexual married couples are exempt from inheritance tax, but Pennsylvania’s ban on samesex couples means even legally married same-sex spouses are classified as “friends” in an estate appraisement and must pay a 15-
An application has been filed for the transfer of the liquor license of now-defunct lesbian bar Sisters to a new owner. The license-transfer notice was posted on the door of the Chancellor Street property last week. The signage indicates that the transfer request was made by a company called Justaplumber, Inc., which, according to Liquor Control Board records, was founded Sept. 26 and is headquartered at 1318-20 Chancellor St., Sisters’ address. Sisters abruptly shut down Aug. 12. Longtime building owner Mel Heifetz repeatedly declined to indicate why the venue, the city’s only and longest-running lesbian bar, closed. According to LCB records, Justaplumber is helmed by Thomas S. Bee and Mark J. Bee, who owns Silk City Diner and N. 3rd in Northern Liberties. The LCB application lists Thomas as vice president and Mark as manager/president/secretary/treasurer. PAGE 15 City property records