pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976
Vol. 41 No. 44 Nov. 3-9, 2017
Family Portrait: Stephan Hengst and Patrick Decker bring some “Big Gay” to Philadelphia PAGE 33
Trump’s trans-military ban halted PAGE 2
One year later, city reflects on Gayborhood racism
HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
Fall back: Daylight Saving Time ends 2 a.m. Nov. 5
“The Cakemaker” opens the Jewish Film Festival PAGE 34
Trans man seriously injured in hit-and-run By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com
By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com Almost 100 people gathered last Thursday at the Gershman Y to discuss race relations in the city’s LGBT community. The Office of LGBT Affairs and the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations hosted a Community Conversation to address developments since PCHR’s initial hearing on Gayborhood racism. That event, held Oct. 25, 2016, included 28 speakers and brought an estimated 375 attendees. PCHR convened the hearing after a series of allegations regarding racist dress codes and hiring practices at LGBT bars — an issue that erupted after a video was leaked of ICandy owner Darryl DePiano using the n-word. “What happened that night was really some trauma processing,” Director of LGBT Affairs Amber Hikes said last week about the initial hearing. “I say that because we are going to be building on the energy that was created in that space
a year ago but the energy here will be distinct. This past year has been about uncovering the problems, unearthing the problems. Tonight is about identifying solutions and finding cures.” Progress made PCHR Executive Director Rue Landau and Hikes addressed the progress their offices made in the past year. Councilman Derek S. Green introduced a bill in November in response to the PCHR hearing and after reading news accounts and stories from people of color within the LGBT community. The bill, which Mayor Jim Kenney signed in June, amends the Fair Practices Ordinance by giving PCHR authority to issue cease-anddesist orders to businesses violating the nondiscrimination ordinance. Additionally, the Office of LGBT Affairs collaborated with local advertising agency Tierney to introduce a new rainbow flag featuring black and brown stripes. The new flag expanded on Gilbert PAGE 21 Baker’s original six-
A trans man last week was struck by a hitand-run driver in West Philadelphia. A minivan struck the 25-year-old victim around 4:40 p.m. Oct. 24 at 56th Street and Wyalusing Avenue, said Philadelphia Police Department Deputy Commissioner Joe Sullivan. The victim, who suffered from a broken pelvis and a fractured femur, was taken to Presbyterian Hospital. According to police, two people were involved in the incident. They included a 6-foot black man in his early 20s, who was wearing a red T-shirt and blue jeans. He had a light-brown complexion and a thin build. The driver, a black woman, was operating a dark-blue or burgundy-colored minivan, believed to be a Chrysler Town & Country or Dodge Caravan. At a press conference Tuesday, Lt. John Walker added that another woman was a front-seat passenger. No description was made available as of presstime. Walker said the victim was talking on
Election 2017
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By PGN Staff In advance of last spring’s primary election, PGN sat down with a number of local candidates to explore their views on a variety of LGBT issues. On Nov. 7, Philadelphians will return to the polls to cast their votes for district attorney and city controller, as well as a number of judicial seats. Below are highlights from our interviews with D.A. candidates Larry Krasner (D) and Beth Grossman (R), and city controller candidate Rebecca Rhynhart (D). Controller candidate Mike Tomlinson (R) did not respond to PGN’s request for an interview by presstime.
Endorsements
Larry Krasner
Commonwealth Court Ellen Ceisler Irene McLaughlin Clark
Krasner has spent 30 years as an attorney, starting his career as a public defender and later founding his own practice focused on criminal defense and civil rights. He has PAGE 20 defended such organiza-
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LOOKING BACK, FORWARD: About 100 people turned out for the Office of LGBT Affairs’ Oct. 26 Community Conversation. Held at Gershman Y, the event marked the one-year anniversary of Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations’ public hearing on racism in the LGBT community. Photo: Scott A. Drake
a cellphone on the street corner when the minivan pulled up to the stop sign and then backed up. One of the passengers said to the victim “something to the effect of, ‘I didn’t realize you lived in this neighborhood,’” Walker said. As seen on surveillance footage, the male passenger in the back seat opened the car door. Walker said he yelled to a person on the sidewalk, “Do you know that male standing on the phone?” The person replied “no” before approaching the vehicle. The male passenger then exited the vehicle and approached the victim. “As [the male passenger] took one or two steps toward our victim, the car then moves forward to the right, striking our victim, knocking him to the ground, causing him to fall underneath the front tire, runs him over and then the car reverses over top of [his] body,” Walker said. The male passenger fled the scene. “The victim denies knowing anyone in that car at this point so we’re not quite sure if it’s mistaken identity,” Walker said. Sullivan said the victim did not indicate if PAGE 21 there was any exchange
District Attorney: Larry Krasner City Controller: Rebecca Rhynhart Pennsylvania Supreme Court Dwayne Woodruff Pennsylvania Superior Court Maria McLaughlin H. Geoffrey Moulton, Jr. Carolyn Nichols
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy