Family Portrait: Nikiko Masumoto on film PAGE 29
LGBT delegates sought for 2016 Democratic convention PAGE 6
First Person Arts takes center stage PAGE 25
Philadelphia FIGHT raises PrEP awareness PAGE 5 Nov. 6-12, 2015
Since 1976
PGN Philadelphia Gay News HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
Vol. 39 No. 45
Election results bode well for LGBT residents Jury clears police Among the victories from Tuesday’s elections was Montgomery County’s first out judge, the Democratic sweep of the state Supreme Court race and the voter-backed move to make the Office of LGBT Affairs permanent.
By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com Luis A. Berrios 3d says his world became a very scary place after a violent encounter with police almost five years ago left him feeling isolated and paranoid. “I didn’t know how to live anymore,” Berrios told a federal jury this week. But on Nov. 4, after two hours of deliberations, the all-white jury exonerated two officers allegedly responsible for Berrios’ ongoing trauma. Officer Michael Gentile was cleared of using excessive force against Berrios and Officer Robert Tavarez was cleared of facilitating the excessive force as a bystander. In a prepared statement, Berrios said: “This isn’t over. No wonder our youth are angry every day. They are not safe in this world.” According to Berrios, all hell broke loose on Dec. 28, 2010, after officers entered his Hunting Park residence to quell a domestic disturbance, then realized they were dealing with a same-sex couple. Berrios said officers beat his boyfriend with batons and pulled out his hair, hurled PAGE 19 anti-LGBT slurs at both
Get Pa
By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com There were a number of LGBT victories at the polls Tuesday, including the success of a ballot question that made Philadelphia’s Office of LGBT Affairs permanent. The question, made possible through legislation by City Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, asked voters to consider amending the City Charter to officially incorporate the office. With 98 percent of precincts reporting as of presstime, the result was 58-42 percent in favor, 91,825 to 67,319 votes. “Philadelphia has an international reputation as a city that both celebrates diversity and has no tolerance for intolerance,” Reynolds Brown said in a statement to PGN. “This bill offers the LGBT community a permanent seat and voice at the table. To a community who too often faces discrimination, it is imperative for them to have a direct line to the mayor and City Council. Making this office permanent sends a continued message that, while we have more work to do, we are absolutely up to the challenge.” Among the races, Dan Clifford became the first openly gay county official in Montgomery County when he was elected as a judge for the county Court of Common Pleas. According to unofficial results, he earned 82,056 votes, the second-highest following Risa Vetri Ferman, district attorney in Montgomery County. Todd Eisenberg won the third available seat on the county court bench. All vote totals are unofficial until certification in the coming weeks. “It was finally time to break through the fire wall and have an LGBT official outside of Philadelphia,” Clifford told PGN Wednesday. “I feel wonderful about the victory. It’s due in part to the overwhelming support from the LGBT community. I certainly appreciate their support.” Clifford said he hopes his win inspires other LGBT residents PAGE 8
in brutality case
HERE TO STAY: The Gayborhood mural of Gloria Casarez was completed this week, just in time for voters to back the permanent establishment of the Office of LGBT Affairs. Casarez, who died last year, was appointed the inaugural director of the office in 2008. The mural, on the front of 12th Street Gym, honors Casarez’s work with the city and as a community activist. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Former Philly resident fired for same-sex marriage By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com It took two months of interviews for John Murphy, a former Philadelphia resident, to earn a job offer as the executive director of an assisted-living facility in Virginia; but only eight days and a “brutal” conversation with the local Catholic diocese to lose it. The trouble started when Murphy, 64, filed his benefits paperwork and listed Jerry Carter, 67, as his spouse. The couple met more than 30 years ago and married legally in Connecticut in 2007. On April 1, two representatives of Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo, head of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, visited Murphy’s office. Because Murphy had gone through the interview process for Saint Francis Home with the board of directors and had not interacted with the diocese, he assumed it was a welcoming committee. DiLorenzo grew up in Philadelphia and trained at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Lower Merion Township PAGE 19 before serving as Auxiliary Bishop of
BEST IN BIZ: Philadelphia Business Journal unveiled its list of LGBT Top Companies and Awards Tuesday evening at Union Trust. For the first time, the initiative honored local LGBT leaders in addition to businesses. The honorees were: Patricia Boshuizen, Klayton Fennell, Marcus Iannozzi, Carrie Jacobs, Cletus Lyman, Nurit Shein, Reggie Shuford and Matthew Ray. Special guests included PBJ’s Sandy Smith (from left), TD Bank’s Ann Marie Carollo and PBJ’s Craig Ey and Courtney Armstrong. Photo: Scott A. Drake
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LOCAL PGN
locations in Philadelphia CENTER CITY — AROUND THE GAYBORHOOD
12th Street Gym, 204 S. 12th St. • 13th Street Gourmet Pizza, 209 S. 13th St. • AACO, 1101 Market St., 9th floor • Action AIDS, 1216 Arch St. • Apt. & Townhouse Rentals, 304 S. 12th St. • The Bike Stop, 206 S. Quince St. • Bioscript Pharmacy, 1227 Locust St. • Boxers PHL, 1330 Walnut St. • Cafe Twelve, 212 S. 12th St. • Charlie Salon, 203 S. 12th St. • Charlie was a Sinner, 131 S. 13th St. • City Hall NE Entrance • Club Body Center, 1220 Chancellor St. • Com-Har Living Room, 101 S. Broad St., 14th floor • Criminal Justice Center, 1301 Filbert St. • Cut Salon, 204 S. 13th St. • Danny’s Bookstore 133 S. 13th St. • Dignity/St. Lukes, 330 S. 13th St. • Dirty Frank’s Bar, 13th & Pine sts. • The Foodery, 10th & Pine sts. • GALAEI, 1207 Chestnut St. • ICandy, 254 S. 12th St. • Independent Hotel, 13th & Locust sts. • John C. Anderson Apts., 249 S. 13th St. • Mazzoni Clinic, 809 Locust St. • Midtown II, 122 S. 11th St. • More Than Just Ice Cream, 1119 Locust St. • Nationality Service Center, 1216 Arch St. • Optimal Gym, 1315 Walnut St. • Paolo Pizzeria, 1336 Pine St. • PAT@Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St. • Phila. FIGHT/ Aids Library, 1233 Locust St., 2nd floor • Planned Parenthood, 1144 Locust St. • Reading Terminal Market, 12th & Filbert sts. • Salon K, 1216 Locust St. • Scorpio Books, 205 S. Juniper St. • Spruce Street Video, 252 S. 12th St. • Square One, 249 S. 13th St. • Tabu, 200 S. 12th St. • Toast, 12th & Spruce sts. • Triangle Medicine, 253 S. 10th St., 1st floor • U Bar, 1220 Locust St. • Valanni, 1229 Spruce St. • Venture Inn, 255 S. Camac St. • William Way LGBT Community Center, 1325 Spruce St. • Woody’s, 202 S. 13th St. •
CENTER CITY OTHER — EAST OF BROAD
Bean Café, 615 South St. • Best Western Independence Park Hotel lobby, 215 Chestnut St. • Bodhi Coffee, 410 S. 2nd St. • Bridgeview Place, 315 New St. • Cedrone’s Flowers, 800 Lombard St. • Class Act Auto Repair, 2042 S. Bancroft St. • Copabanana, 342 South St. • Dane Décor, 315 Arch St. • Filter Coffee Co., 331 Race St. • Hopkinson House, 604 S. Washington Sq. • Hyatt Regency Hotel lobby, 201 S. Columbus Blvd. • Independence Place Condos, 241 S. Sixth St., lobby in both towers • Independence Visitors Center, 6th & Market sts. • Modish Hair Salon, 640B South St. • PGN offices, 505 S. Fourth St. • Philadelphia Java Co., 518 S. Fourth St. • Reading Terminal Market, 12th & Filbert sts. • Strands Salon, 25 N. Third St. • Two Independence Place, 233 S. 6th St. •Ultimo Coffee, 1900 S. 15th St. • Wireworks, 301 Race St. •
CENTER CITY OTHER — WEST OF BROAD
Adonis Cinema, 2026 Sansom St. • Art Institute, 1622 Chestnut St. • Art Institute, 2300 Market St. • The Attic Youth Center, 255 S. 16th St. • Bob & Barbara’s, 1509 South St. • Dan Tobey R/E, 1401 Walnut St., 8th floor • Dr. Wakefield’s Office, 255 S. 17th St., Suite 2306 • Drucker & Scaccetti, 1600 Market St., Suite 3300 • Drexel Partnership, 1427 Vine St., 3rd floor • Latimer Deli, 255 S. 15th St. • MANNA, 12 S. 23rd St. • Marine Club Condos lobby, Broad St. & Washington Ave. • Metropolitan, 115 N. 15th St. • PA Law Project, 2122 Chestnut St., Suite 1600 • Phila. Daily News, 801 Market St. • Safeguards Lobby, 1700 Market St., 18th floor • Sansom St. Gym, 2020 Sansom St. • South Square Market, 2221 South St. • Stir, 1705 Chancellor St. • U Do It Laundry, 15th & Spruce sts. • Westminster Arch Apts., Vine St., 3rd floor •
PHILADELPHIA NEIGHBORHOODS — OTHER
Almost Paradise, 742 Frankford Ave. • Awbry Aboretum, 1 Awbry Rd. • Caribbean Pharmacy, 3825 N. 5th St. •Elfant Wissahickon Realty, 8962 Ridge Ave. • Fantasy Island Books, 7363 State Road • Harry’s Natural Foods, 1805 Cottman Ave. • Infinity Jewelers, 3528 Cottman+ Ave. • Infusion Salon, 7133 Germantown Ave. • Morris House, 5537 Woodland Ave. • One Day At A Time, 2532 N. Broad St. • Philadelphia University KANBAR Center, 4201 Henry Ave. • Philly Pharmacy, 9475 Roosevelt Blvd. • WCAU TV lobby, City Line Ave. & Monument Road • Weaver’s Way, 559 Carpenter Lane • Welker Real Estate, 2311 Fairmount Ave. • WPVI TV lobby, City Line Ave. & Monument Road •
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News Briefing City prison system doesn’t track trans inmates Philadelphia Prison System spokesperson Shawn Hawes recently acknowledged the agency doesn’t track the number of trans inmates housed in its facilities. In an Oct. 20 email, Hawes also said: “We do not have any inmates housed discordant with their genitalia.” The state Department of Corrections recently identified 147 trans inmates housed in state correctional facilities, including one post-operative trans inmate. All of the pre-operative trans inmates are housed in facilities inconsistent with their gender identity. Some trans advocates say too many trans inmates in city and state correctional facilities are housed inappropriately, exposing them to undue risk of rape and other violence. Advocates also expressed concern that authorities are non-compliant with the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act.
Judge’s emails indicate homophobia Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane recently released emails associated with state Supreme Court Justice J. Michael Eakin that she described as “raunchy.” Several emails contain pejorative references to lesbians and suggest that gay men are promiscuous. Other emails depict women in a degrading manner and demean African-Americans. Eakin has apologized for the emails, stating they don’t reflect his character or views on social issues. However, Eakin’s critics say he should step down from the bench. Kane unearthed the emails while probing her predecessor’s handling of the Jerry Sandusky child-molestation scandal. Some officials are calling for a special prosecutor to review the entire email scandal brought to light by Kane.
Judge assigned in Morris case Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Linda Carpenter has been assigned to handle a pending open-records request in the Nizah Morris case. PGN is requesting Morris dispatch records in the possession of the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. In August, the state Office of Open Records ordered the D.A.’s Office to provide the records, since it hasn’t verified that it doesn’t have them.
Rather than complying with the order, the D.A.’s Office filed an appeal in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court. Morris was a trans woman found with a fatal head wound in 2002, shortly after a “courtesy ride” from Philadelphia police. Her homicide remains unsolved and advocates want a state probe, citing concerns of a cover-up by local authorities.
LGBTQ mission to Israel planned The Jewish Federations of North America is sponsoring an LGBTQ-themed mission to Israel, scheduled for May 26-June 2. The itinerary includes visits to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Organizers hope many local LGBTQ people will participate. “Having participated in the 2006 LGBT Philadelphia mission to Israel, I can say participants will be able to experience the spiritual but also the LGBT vibe and culture of Israel,” said David G. Gold, an organizer. “The mission ends when Tel Aviv Pride begins and we expect many of our attendees to stay for Pride. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that should not be missed.” Warren Hoffman, another organizer, added: “Participants will be spending their time in a highly organized way, meeting with various Israeli cultural and political leaders.” An informational meeting about the mission is scheduled for 6 p.m. Nov. 11 at Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, 2100 Arch St. A presentation will be made by Stuart Kurlander, a lead organizer. Light vegetarian fare will be served. To attend the meeting, RSVP to Julie Colasanti at jcolasanti@jfgp.org by Nov. 9.
SEPTA appeal still pending The city’s request for the state Supreme Court to review a lower court ruling exempting SEPTA from the city’s LGBT-inclusive antibias rules remained pending this week. SEPTA is the region’s mass-transit system, serving more than 650,000 riders daily in Philadelphia, four surrounding counties and parts of New Jersey and Delaware. In August, state Commonwealth Court issued a controversial ruling, allowing SEPTA to avoid compliance with the city’s Fair Practices Ordinance, on the basis that SEPTA is a state agency. But the city wants the state Supreme Court to review and overturn the ruling. If SEPTA is exempted from local antibias rules, many LGBT riders and employees of SEPTA will lose important antibias protections, according to the city. Also pending with the state Supreme Court is a request by the ACLU of Pennsylvania and Mazzoni Center to file statements in support of the city’s position. — Timothy Cwiek PAGE 17
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 6-12, 2015
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 6-12, 2015
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Weekly features
News&Opinion 2 — News Briefing 10 — Creep of the Week Editorial 11 — Mark My Words Street Talk Transmissions 12 — Crime Watch Obituary 19 — International News Media Trail
AC &
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C o l u m n s
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Scene in Philly Family Portrait Out & About Comics Q Puzzle
16 — Queer Faith: A new column on being religious and queer 28 — Get Out and Play: Warming up to winter sports
Classifieds 37 — Real Estate 38 — Personals 39 — Bulletin Board
AIDS Law Project scares up a crowd for its annual Halloween fundraiser.
12 TUBULAR TOUCHDOWN: Several-dozen Greater Philadelphia Flag Football League players and supporters turned out for a fundraising Halloween party Oct. 31 at William Way LGBT Community Center. The 1980s-themed bash that included a player auction raised $2,500. A portion of the proceeds will go to ActionAIDS. Photo: Scott A. Drake
This week in PGN The community mourns the loss of a sparkling soul.
6 — Trial set for third Center City gay basher 7 — Williams case in evidence battle 8 — Out photographer celebrated for suicide-prevention work
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25 — Art in the first person 30 — Cool opera-tors 31 — A study in relationship changes
“He was just actually a perfect individual — moral, ethical and truly loved everyone.” ~ Rick McIntyre, on the passing of Frankie Morelli, page 12
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LOCAL PGN
PrEP town hall tackles myths and facts
MANAGER OF COMMUNICATIONS, PR AND SPECIAL EVENTS AT PHILADELPHIA FIGHT CHIP ALFRED (LEFT) OPENS THE PREP DISCUSSION OCT 29. ABOUT 50 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE EVENT. Photo: Scott A. Drake
By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com Marcus Berry, a gay man from Philadelphia, had a close call with HIV two years ago. After learning that a man with whom he had unprotected sex was HIV-positive, Berry said he immediately went to the Health Department to get tested, and found out he was negative. “I was really wild,” Berry said. “I thank God I didn’t contract anything.” After getting a negative test, Berry went to Philadelphia FIGHT, a comprehensive AIDS-service organization. He heard FIGHT had just started a program for pre-exposure prophylaxis, called PrEP. It’s a combination of medicines, including tenofovir and emtricitabine, in the form of a daily pill that’s shown to be effective at preventing HIV. It’s meant for people who do not have the virus. Berry has taken the medication ever since as a precaution. Berry shared his story with about 50 people Oct. 29 in the ballroom of the William Way LGBT Community Center. They gathered for a town-hall meeting about PrEP, which was organized by state Rep. Brian Sims, who represents Center City, including the Gayborhood. Mazzoni Center, FIGHT and William Way partnered for the event. Dr. Helen Koenig and Caitlin Conyngham, who both work on PrEP programs at FIGHT, spoke alongside Dr. Robert J. Winn, medical director of the Community Health Center at Mazzoni. Medical professionals from FIGHT said PrEP received FDA approval in 2012. “It’s a pill we’ve used for many, many years to treat HIV,” Koenig said, noting
Truvada is the brand name of the pill used in PrEP programs. “We actually do know a lot about it. It’s not a new, experimental drug. This is medication that we’re very familiar with and comfortable with as clinicians.” Koenig said there is a small difference between using Truvada for prevention versus treatment. She said, in treatment, people take Truvada with a third active medication. For prevention, Truvada alone is sufficient, she said. “PrEP is like birth control for HIV,” Conyngham said. It takes at least 21 days for the medicine to be effective for vaginal sex and up to seven days for anal sex, she said. People are still advised to use condoms during sex. The pill works by not allowing the RNA that makes up the HIV virus to transform into the DNA that makes up a person’s body. If the virus does not become part of a person’s DNA, it usually cannot take hold in the body. The medicine has also been shown to be effective at preventing HIV in people who inject recreational drugs. Winn said doctors who administer PrEP monitor their patients for side effects like decrease in kidney function and bone density. The medicine also has some effect on the liver. He said most insurance companies cover the medicine in some way. They usually require a copay of $50-$100. The manufacturer of PrEP pills also offers a copay-assistance program up to $150, Winn said. Sims said he plans to introduce legislation in November to require insurance companies in Pennsylvania to cover PrEP. He said his office receives criticism from some people for supporting PrEP, who contend it condones sex with mulPAGE 18
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Trial set for gay-bashing suspect Kathryn Knott By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com A judge last week ordered Kathryn Knott to stand trial Dec. 9 for her alleged role in last year’s attack on a gay couple. Knott is charged with two counts each of aggravated and simple assault, as well as conspiracy and reckless endangerment in connection with the Sept. 11, 2014, attack on Zachary Hesse and Andrew Haught in Center City. On Oct. 30, Common Pleas Judge Roxanne Covington scheduled Knott for a motions hearing Nov. 24, followed by the December trial. Last month, Knott’s co-defendants, Kevin Harrigan and Philip Williams, accepted plea deals offered by the District Attorney’s office that include probation but no jail time. The prosecutor in the case said Knott was offered a similar deal, but she rejected it, opting instead to take her case to trial. One charge of aggravated assault without serious bodily injury is a felony that is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and simple assault is a misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in prison. As part of the plea agreements, several of the charges were dropped against Harrigan and Williams. Harrigan pleaded guilty to one count of simple assault and conspiracy and was sentenced to three years’ report-
ing probation, 200 hours of community service and restitution of $314. Williams pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault and conspiracy and was sentenced to five years’ reporting probation, 200 hours of community service and restitution of $627. Both are also prohibited from entering Center City Philadelphia, defined as Washington to Girard avenues and from the Delaware to Schuylkill rivers, throughout the duration of their probation. They were ordered to serve their community service at an LGBT organization. DA spokesperson Cameron Kline told PGN this week that the venue where the two will carry out their community service has not yet been decided. The night of the incident, the defendants were walking with a large group of friends when they encountered Hesse and Haught. Harrigan said to Hesse, “Who is that? Your fucking boyfriend?” and went on to call him a “dirty faggot,” according to prosecutor Mike Barry. Barry said Harrigan then pushed Hesse, Hesse pushed back and Harrigan punched him in the face. Barry said Hesse’s arms were pinned to his side and he was struck multiple times. Williams physically assaulted Haught multiple times, and Knott allegedly attempted to swing at the men but missed, also using homophobic language, Barry said. Haught was left with facial fractures and had his jaw wired shut for two months. ■
PA Dems recruiting LGBT delegates for convention By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com
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The Pennsylvania Democratic Party wants to recruit 19 LGBT delegates from the state to participate in the national convention. The Democratic National Convention will be held in Philadelphia in July. Representatives from the state party outlined the delegate-selection process at a Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club meeting last month. Pennsylvania will elect 215 delegates, with 130 of them elected by Congressional district. Philadelphia is split among the First, Second and 13th districts. There will be 13 alternates. The state Democratic Party has diversity goals for seven other categories, in addition to LGBT people: people with disabilities, African Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, Hispanic and Latino people, seniors and youth. “You could be in several categories,” said Diane Bowman, former executive director
of the state Democratic Party. She said the party wants to bring new voices to the convention. Bowman noted that individuals interested in serving as delegates will identify the categories that fit them and the presidential candidate they support on a pledge form, which will be available Dec. 28. People will also have to check a box to indicate if they would also like to be considered as alternates. The state party forwards the forms to the candidates’ camps to decide which delegates they want. Selected individuals will be notified and must get 250 signatures from their district on a petition supporting them as delegates. Petitions must be returned to the state by Feb. 16. It costs $25 to file. The state party can cover the cost in case of financial hardship. Delegates and alternates from Congressional districts are chosen in the spring, followed by at-large delegates and alternates in the summer. The national convention takes place July 25-28. For more information, visit www.padems. com. ■
LOCAL PGN
Evidentiary dispute in Williams case By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com A defense attorney for Charles Sargent, the accused murderer of trans woman Diamond Williams, says prosecutors are unfairly withholding evidence in the case. Sargent, 46, is charged with murder, possessing an instrument of crime, abuse of a corpse and related offenses. The case is in the discovery phase, which means both sides must share evidence to assist in adjudicating the matter. J. Michael Farrell, an attorney for Sargent, recently filed a motion requesting that the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office be compelled to turn over evidence in the case. Several months ago, Farrell requested numerous evidentiary items from the D.A.’s Office that continue to be withheld, according to the motion. The requested items include: all names and addresses of eyewitnesses; all written and recorded statements of eyewitnesses the D.A. intends to call at trial; all written and recorded statements made by co-conspirators or accomplices of Sargent, whether such individuals have been charged or not; and a detailed explanation of any expert testimony to be presented at trial. At presstime, Common Pleas Judge Lillian H. Ransom hadn’t ruled on Farrell’s request. Cameron Kline, a spokesperson for D.A. Seth Williams, said only: “Because this is an active case, it’s not appropriate for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office to comment.” Sargent allegedly invited Williams to his Strawberry
Mansion residence during the early-morning hours of July 14, 2013. Sargent told police he stabbed Williams inside his residence after she demanded a pre-arranged payment of $40 for performing oral sex. Sargent said he refused to make the payment because Williams had a penis. After stabbing Williams, Sargent allegedly dismembered her body with an axe and deposited her body parts in a vacant lot. Police refuse to classify the incident as a hate crime, though Sargent filed an “affidavit of truth” with the court, indicating an intense dislike of trans people. A one-week jury trial will begin March 14 in Room 807 of the Criminal Justice Center, 1301 Filbert St. Assistant District Attorney Kristen J. Kemp will serve as prosecutor In a related matter, Ransom recently ordered Sargent to undergo a buccal swab so that prosecutors can obtain his DNA as part of their investigation. A buccal swab is a way to collect DNA from the inside of a person’s cheek. It’s relatively non-invasive and routinely utilized for criminal investigations. “The sample shall be taken by a representative of the Philadelphia Police Department or the District Attorney’s Office for purposes of DNA analysis and comparison,” Ransom’s order states. Additionally, a hearing on a request by Sargent to suppress his police statement will take place 10 a.m. Feb. 16 in Courtroom 807 of the Criminal Justice Center. Neither side had a comment for this story. Sargent remains incarcerated at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Northeast Philadelphia. n
Ramsey reflects on LGBT work in police career By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com When Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey began his crime-fighting career in Chicago in the 1970s, he said nobody would’ve given much thought to the department’s relationship with the LGBT community. But working with the community soon became important to him. As police chief in Washington, D.C., he noticed LGBT people were not receiving the service they deserved. Ramsey established a highly praised LGBT liaison position in the force in 2000. “We went from testy meetings to solid meetings,” Ramsey told PGN. “We’d improved our level of service.” He took over as commissioner in Philadelphia in 2008 after Mayor Michael Nutter appointed him. When Ramsey started, he worked with officers on the force to make sure the department PAGE 12
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LOCAL PGN
Out photog earns humanitarian award for suicide prevention By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com
COSTUMED CRUSADERS: About 150 supporters of the AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania donned costumes and turned out for Boo! at bahdeebahdu Oct. 29. The Halloween-themed celebration raised funds for the agency, a nonprofit public-interest law firm that advocates for people with HIV/AIDS. The event featured remarks by executive director Ronda Goldfein (third from left) and performances by Messapotamia Lefae (left), and John Jarboe and Heath Allen of Bearded Ladies Cabaret. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Hugh E Dillon attempted suicide three times after he came out in the 1980s. He felt rejected by his parents, started drinking and became homeless. “I was kind of desperate and I didn’t know where to turn,” said Dillon, who grew up in Cherry Hill, N.J. “There was a suicide hotline, but it was not very helpful for me.” After surviving an attempt to take his own life with a gun, Dillon decided there must be a reason for him to stay alive. He had moved to Philadelphia and started pursuing sobriety and volunteering with LGBT organizations. Dillon now works as a society photographer and blogger. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention plans to honor Dillon with the Lifesaver of the Year humanitarian award at its annual gala, which takes place 6 p.m. Nov. 14. The event will be held at the Loews Hotel, 1200 Market St. It costs $100 for general admission or $150 for VIP tickets. Dinner and cocktails will be served. There will also be live music by Second Vision and DJ Adrian Hardy. Alex Holley, co-anchor of “Good Day Philadelphia” on Fox, will serve as mistress of ceremonies. For several years, Dillon has promoted the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s mission to end the silence and stigma around mental health and suicide. When the organization approached him five ELECTION DAY from page 1
in the region to consider running for public office. He added he’s proud that this election doubled the amount of LGBT judges in Pennsylvania. Two openly gay judges were elected to the bench for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas: Abbe Fletman with 140,665 votes and Chris Mallios with 120,337. Victories for Clifford, Fletman and Mallios doubled the total number of out judges in Pennsylvania: from three to six. The city’s next mayor is Democrat Jim Kenney, who won 200,444-to-31,069 against Republican Melissa Murray Bailey. City Council-at-Large winners include Democrat Helen Gym with 142,761 votes; Democrat Derek Green with 142,012; Democrat Allan Domb with 140,972; Democrat Blondell Reynolds Brown with 139,065; Democrat Bill Greenlee with 134,990; Republican David Oh with 34,276; and Republican Al Taubenberger with 34,111. Democrat Cindy Bass won her City Council seat for the Eighth District with 26,033 votes over 829 votes for Michael Galganski of the Free Dominion Party. Democrat Cherelle Parker won
years ago, he felt hesitant to get involved. But Dillon said he eventually changed his mind so that other people would have an easier time finding resources. “I felt like maybe I could tell people they’re not alone,” Dillon said. “It does get better.” “I know exactly how lonely it is,” he added. “We don’t always know how to reach out of our dark holes and people don’t always know how to reach in. People think there’s no way out, but there is.” Dillon has reconciled with his parents. His father got a chance to meet his husband before passing away in 2004. Some of Dillon’s siblings plan to attend the gala for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention with him. Dillon said the foundation is especially useful at connecting people who have had similar experiences. The organization also runs research, education and advocacy programs. “We are dedicated to reducing the suicide rate by 25 percent by 2020 here in Philadelphia and across the U.S.,” Catherine Siciliano, AFSP Philadelphia Regional Manager, said in a statement. She added the organization’s gala is a night to celebrate life. “As a suicide survivor, you learn that you can’t wait for the storm to pass, and you must learn to dance in the rain,” she said. For more information or to purchase gala tickets, visit www.afsp.org/philadelphia. n her City Council seat for the Ninth District with 21,245 votes over 1,883 for Republican Kevin Strickland and 176 for Independent Bobbie Curry. Democrat Jewell Williams won his race for Philadelphia sheriff with 155,354 votes versus 40,995 for Republican Christopher Sawyer. Democrat Ronald Donatucci won his race for Philadelphia register of wills with 164,091 votes versus 32,450 for Republican Ross Feinberg. Democrats swept the state judicial races: Kevin Dougherty (199,379 votes), Christine Donohue (162,028) and David Wecht (159,135) all secured victories as justices of the state Supreme Court. Alice Beck Dubow won her race for judge of the Superior Court with 174,079 votes to 26,974 for Emil Giordano, and Michael Wojcik won as judge of the Commonwealth Court with 172,256 votes to 26,057 for Paul Lalley. D. Bruce Hanes, the Democrat who issued the first same-sex marriage licenses in Pennsylvania, also won his reelection bid for register of wills in Montgomery County. He earned 85,726 votes over 68,777 for Sharon ValentineThomas, the mayor of Pottstown who said she would not issue same-sex marriage licenses if elected. n
LOCAL PGN
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 6-12, 2015
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Trans Latina activist who interrupted Obama to speak in Philly By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com On a June night at the White House, two days before the U.S. Supreme Court paved the way for marriage equality nationwide, Jennicet Gutiérrez interrupted President Barack Obama. He was speaking at a reception to celebrate LGBT Pride Month. “Release all LGBTQ detention centers,” Gutiérrez called out during the president’s opening remarks. The room was packed with LGBT-movement leaders, allies and members of Congress who had been invited to the event. Gutiérrez, who describes herself as an undocumented trans Latina leader with Familia: Trans* Queer Liberation Movement, was immediately met with a wave of shushing that turned to booing and chants of “Obama.” “This is not for you, this is for all of us,” an audience member can be heard saying in a video of the event posted to YouTube by the Not One More campaign to end deportation. “I’m tired of the violence we’re facing,” Gutiérrez continued. “You’re not going to get a response from me by interrupting,” Obama said.
In less than three minutes, Gutiérrez was escorted from the room. But she sparked a lasting discussion, including at local organizations in Philadelphia like Juntos, a Latino human-rights organization, and GALAEI: A Queer Latin@ Social Justice Organization. “A lot of the conversations were around the concept of respectability politics,” said Erika Almiron, executive director of Juntos. “A lot of people said, ‘Well if Jennicet would’ve just said things nicer.’ Nobody would’ve been talking about Jennicet had she not done it the way that she did it.” Gutiérrez will speak at 6 p.m. Nov. 13 at Juntos, 1537 S. Sixth St. The event is free and open to the public. Almiron said her organization expects a full house, and she advised people to arrive early. GALAEI partnered on organizing the event, which will last two to three hours. Members of local organizations will speak alongside Gutiérrez, and they will open the floor for a question-and-answer session at the end. “It was clear that the immigrant-rights movement had to make space for LGBTQ issues and also that the LGBTQ movement had to make space for the immigrant-rights movement,” Almiron said.
Elicia Gonzales, executive director of GALAEI, said she hopes the event offers an entry point into the work for attendees. She would also like to address movement
interruption, Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced it would house detained transgender immigrants in facilities that match their gender identities.
vision and strategy and noted the need to look at how community members have their rights violated in the prison system. “Helping our communities connect the dots is something I’m really looking forward to,” Gonzales said. “It’s about seeing patterns of injustice that we can disrupt.” “Sometimes it can feel daunting only looking at injustices,” she added. “Jennicet is an example of making a dent in these systems of oppression in a tangible way.” Less than a week after Gutiérrez’s
Gonzales called Gutiérrez’s visit to Philadelphia timely: Later this month, advocates plan to march in Harrisburg to call for the state Department of Human Services to shut down the Berks County Residential Center. The facility, which detains illegal immigrant families, had its license called into question last month by Human Services. For more information, search “An Evening with Jennicet Gutiérrez” on Facebook. n
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 6-12, 2015
EDITORIAL PGN
Creep of the Week
D’Anne Witkowski
Pat Robertson
Editorial
A winning election We’ve all seen some post-election Wednesdays where we would rather pull the covers over our heads instead of confronting losses or new administrations — but this past Wednesday was certainly not one of those. Progressive candidates saw victories across the board Tuesday. One of the biggest stories for our community was Philly voters approving — by 58-42 percent — a ballot question that will make the Office of LGBT Affairs permanent. While the office wasn’t in any stated danger of closure by future administrations, incorporating it into the City Charter ensures its operation in perpetuity. That inclusivity sends a strong message about the value our city government places on its relationship with the LGBT community, and the vote itself signaled a heartening show of support from city voters. We also now have a new mayor-elect: Jim Kenney. He was the presumptive winner, with the city’s heavily Democratic majority, and Tuesday’s landslide victory demonstrated the wide support the mayor-elect has. Kenney has long been a friend, and a very strong one at that, to the LGBT community. With a record as robust on LGBT issues as his, we are eagerly looking forward to an administration that will continue to uphold Philly’s status as one of the most LGBT-friendly cities in the nation. There were also wins for LGBT candidates: Chris Mallios and Abbe Fletman were elected to the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, and Dan Clifford made history as the first out Montgomery County official with his election to the county’s Court of Common Pleas. Democrats also made a historic sweep of the state courts: Kevin Dougherty, Christine Donohue and David Wecht were elected to the state Supreme Court, Alice Beck Dubow to Superior Court and Michael Wojcik to Commonwealth Court. All in all, Tuesday was a good day for progressives. n
grandson trying to Thanksgiving is a particularly problemfind love in his life. atic holiday. I mean, not only do people try to cram the whole extended family into “There’s a real Grandma’s 900-square-foot house, but the good chance that he holiday promotes the story that the Indians might come out of and the pilgrims used to party together and that so-called lifeeverything was cool (not so much, in real style, but if you’re life). But as long as you can ignore that going along with part (and most people do), Thanksgiving it, he says, ‘Well, is supposed to be a time of, well, being Mom likes it, so it’s thankful. And for some reason, we celeOK,’” Robertson brate thankfulness by buying and cooking continues, apparand eating and then throwing away a shit ently unaware that moms don’t usually ton of food. refer to their kids as “grandson.” Sadly for a lot of LGBT folks, And, no, there isn’t “a real good chance” Thanksgiving can also be a holiday of that the grandson will one day un-gay if exclusion. If you want to send a strong only his family continues to reject him. message of “we don’t want you” to an “He’s trying to force you to do someLGBT family member, just tell them that thing,” Robertson adds. “I mean what if they are welcome to come to dinner, so your son is dating a stripper and he wants long as they don’t bring their significant to bring her home for Thanksgiving dinner and the family says, ‘No! We don’t want other. It’s a dick move, as the her in our house.’” kids say. But it’s the right Well, the simple answer Robertson is move, says living museum is they’re a bunch of terrible, basically saying, judgmental people and fuck exhibit Pat Robertson. On the Oct. 16 episode of “Reject someone them forever. “The 700 Club,” a viewer The real answer is, of you love rather course, more complicated. named “Jim” submitted a question regarding whether than question the Relationships of all kinds, whether they’re with your or not he should allow his belief that God gay grandson to bring his grandfather, your mom or or anyone would your boyfriend, are messy boyfriend to Thanksgiving dinner. and difficult. And in this demand such a “We have made it clear situation Robertson is the thing of you.” in the past that we love him enabler, telling “Jim” and all and he will always be welof the people like him that come to be a part of our lives, but we will they’re exempt from doing the hard work not be a part of the lifestyle he has choof being a part of a family. Robertson is sen,” the viewer writes. “I have told him basically saying, “Reject someone you love before that the presence of his sex partners rather than question the belief that God would not be welcome in our house.” or anyone would demand such a thing of First of all, I would like to point out the you.” wording of Jim’s question. He says that the Robertson believes that “religious freegrandson “will always be welcome to be a dom” trumps all, even reality. But Jim part of” Jim’s life, but Jim makes it really can pray all he wants and his grandson is still going to be gay. And chances are his clear that he does not want to be a part of grandson isn’t going to spend his life beghis grandson’s life. He dismisses it as a ging Grandpa to be treated as an equal. “lifestyle” and makes a point to use “sex What Jim needs to decide is if he wants his partners” even though Jim indicates that the grandson wants to bring one particular grandson to think of him as a grandfather person. or remember him as a ghost. n Robertson’s response? Right on, Jim. “I just believe that you’re taking the right D’Anne Witkowski has been gay for pay since 2003. She’s a freelance writer and poet (believe it!). When stand,” says Robertson. “Otherwise, you she’s not taking on the creeps of the world, she reviews become an enabler and you’re condoning rock and roll shows in Detroit with her twin sister and that.” And God forbid a grandpa “condone” his teaches writing at the University of Michigan.
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 6-12, 2015
The real battle for LGBT equality Listen up, LGBT America. That played out very clearly with the Tuesday’s election showed a sharp concity fighting to remove the Boy Scouts trast in LGBT rights across the country — from a city-owned building because of but also illustrated how we can win that their anti-LGBT policies. The city never battle. buckled in that 10-year fight, even with While many are focusing on Houston mounting legal bills that neared a million voters’ overturning the city’s dollars. The city won. LGBT equal-protections ordiThe same holds true for relinance, few noted that the gious organizations. If they go nation’s fifth-largest city has up against equality, they had written its Office of LGBT better make sure their house Affairs into its City Charter — is in order, since our commuby a 2-1 public vote. nity will be happy to expose This is the first LGBT-affairs their financial and moral weakoffice to be officially incorponesses. rated into a city government One of the problems in our in the nation. And what makes national battle for equality is this even more dramatic is the that some believe all we need fact that there was no debate to do is present our case and and no religious right fighting the public will simply fall in against it. In fact, unlike almost line. Sorry, but equality is not any other city in America, this just a fight for the intelligence Mark Segal of humankind; it’s also a battle was like business as usual. So, how is that possible? against those willing to cast us Two key factors make Philadelphia off as a group from which they can profit. stand out: our community’s continual Let’s put it simply. work within the city’s political system In Philly, we’re fighters. We know what since 1971, and the right wing knowing the struggle for true equality is like, and very clearly that, if they attack the LGBT we know what kind of fight it takes to community or its interests, it will cost win. n them. With more than 40 years of working Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the with local elected officials, the LGBT nation’s most-award-winning commencommunity is in a place to express its tator in LGBT media. You can follow needs to elected officials, and expects him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ support back when it comes to behind-the- MarkSegalPGN or Twitter at https://twitscenes politics. ter.com/PhilaGayNews.
Mark My Words
Transmissions
Gwendolyn Ann Smith
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Street Talk Does Philadelphia need an LGBTfriendly charter school? "No. Everything should be equal. People should be together, not divided. The day is over for that type of separation. We all need to learn together. No more divisions."
Diane Brown Home-health aide Northeast Philadelphia
"No. Nobody should have to go to a specific school to feel safe and accepted. It seems to be an unnecessary Bramble Heidt segregation jewelry designer to me. My Old City hope would be that all students could feel they're able to thrive anywhere."
"Yes, it’s a great idea. Any group of people who face adversity deserve a safe place in the world. It's important Hannah Dancing to allow artist non-LGBT Rittenhouse Square students into the school because the point is not to segregate but to come together."
"No. All schools should be LGBTfriendly. You shouldn't be designating a specific school in that category. I'd Rafael Porratarather see Doria all schools student made LGBTNorth Philadelphia friendly. There's no reason for them not to be."
Anomalies In an interview with The Advocate, Kimberly Walton, assistant administrator of Transportation Safety Administration’s Office for Civil Rights and Liberty, was asked about issues transgender people have had with the agency — including the recent experience live-Tweeted by a trans woman, Shadi Petosky, from the Orlando International Airport. Petosky was held by the TSA due to an “anomaly” in her scan. Specifically, her genitals. While Walton could not speak directly about Petosky’s experience, as it is under investigation, she did address more general questions about how transgender people are supposed to be treated during screening. “Our policies and procedures focus on ensuring that all of our passengers are treated with dignity, respect and courtesy,” Walton said. “With that said, we screen travelers as they present. So if a person presents as a female, they are screened as a
female. If a person presents as a male, they are screened as a male. If our workforce is not sure, they are trained to discreetly and politely get clarification.” This isn’t what happened in the Orlando International Airport. A TSA agent only identified as “Bramlet” demanded that Petosky re-screen as a male “or it was going to be a problem.” This was only the start of 24 hours of difficulties with TSA, local police and American Airlines for Petosky. Petosky’s experience is by no means singular. Many other trans men and women have faced similar issues in TSA screening. Her experience led to a #TravelingWhileTrans hashtag on Twitter, revealing plenty of similar stories. You see, as Walton stresses, their scanners, which she describes as “the best technology for the current and historical threat,” require that people be identified by the two traditional — or should I say
“current and historical” — genders. TSA agents determine which button to press based on how a person presents. Instead of useful information about weapons and bombs, then, the machine spits out details about one’s body as “anomalies,” and you end up being “ discreetly and politely” asked about it. I assume as discreetly as Officer Bramlet spoke to Petosky, no doubt. Of course, Walton has said many nice things about all the trans and LGBT organizations they are working with to make sure their policies are good for transgender people, and how they’ve been giving their employees a “Transgender 101” course. I have to assume that training has not made it to Florida. She also indicated that they’re working on a website update to provide better information for transgender flyers — although the site’s past information for transgender customers leads to a “not found” error.
When asked about what transgender passengers can do to have a better experience, Walton suggested calling the TSA in advance and requesting a private screening. Oh, and one last thing from this interview: When asked specifically about the use of the word “anomaly” to refer to transgender bodies, Walton made it clear that they are changing that word. To what, however, is not yet known. I think that Walton, should she need to take a different position with the TSA, may consider public relations. The interview was very short on specifics and very tall on promises, with a side order of doublespeak. I want to see just what the TSA is offering up as “Transgender 101.” I want to know who prepared it. I want to know how many TSA employees have actually been through this. Is this a training session or just a pamphlet? It PAGE 18
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 6-12, 2015
LOCAL PGN
Obituary Frankie Morelli, Voyeur bartender and ‘Gayborhood royalty,’ 51 By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Frankie Morelli, a longtime fixture in the local LGBT nightclub scene, died Nov. 2 of complications of lung cancer. He was 51. Morelli, a native of Coatesville who most recently lived in Havertown, worked at Voyeur Nightclub and its previous incarnations for more than 25 years. He started as a barback when the venue was the DCA and later the 2-4 Club, then served as a DJ for more than a decade and began as a bartender in 1999, staying with the club as it transitioned from Pure to Voyeur. “He liked the people; he was a people person,” said Peter Jemo, Morelli’s partner of 25 years. “He had a kind heart.” Rick McIntyre, Morelli’s best friend, echoed that statement, noting his outgoing nature made him a well-loved staple at the club. “He was my best friend but he was a best friend to everybody he met,” McIntyre said. “He touched everybody’s lives the same and treated everyone the same. He had the biggest heart and was just the kindest, funniest man you would ever meet.” Ian Morrison, who portrays drag performer Brittany Lynn, said Morelli trained him his first night working at Voyeur. “[He] is the reason I say ‘good morning’ to everyone, no matter what time of the day it is,” Morrison said, noting Morelli was always upbeat at work, no matter the circumstances. “He kept a smile on my face while we bartended together under the best and worst situations, and taught me what it really meant to be gay in the most joyous sense of the word. He was a beautiful soul and the epitome of the term ‘Gayborhood royalty.’” His passion for music was evident both at and outside of work, McIntyre said. “He loved all music,” he said. “New wave, house music, he just loved it all. He still spun records at home. He’d be on the phone with me and put something on and say, ‘Oh, have you heard this?’ Music was his passion.” Debbie Spadafora, manager of 12Fit Spa and Gym, DJed with Morelli when the venue was 2-4 Club. “He made wherever he was seem like the best place to be,” she said. “His enthusiasm was so infectious that he could make you laugh at anything.” Morrison said it was Morelli’s humor that motivated him to develop his own performance material. “He made me want to be a funnier per-
son and kept me on my toes at all times — if I could make him laugh, I knew my material was funny,” he said. Morelli approached any of his responsibilities — from bar backing to bartending to DJing — with the same energy and passion, Spadafora said. “In the late ’80s, at what had just changed from the DCA to the 2-4 Club, you could see this little bundle of energy weaving and bobbing his way through a crowded club with a case of beer over his head to restock one of the bars,” she said. “He made it look like bar back was the most fun job ever. He danced the whole night while he worked. Whatever he did, he gave himself to it.” Both at work and outside, Spadafora noted, Morelli was a true friend. “He epitomized sincerity and genuine friendship,” she said. “The community, his friends and family and those who haven’t even had the chance to know the man have lost a remarkable man.” McIntyre said the flood of messages that have come pouring in for Morelli on social media are a testament to how many lives he touched. “The amount of people who have posted on Facebook alone says something about the type of person he was. Some of these are people who only met him once,” he said. “It was such a pleasure for anyone to have had that chance to meet him. He was just actually a perfect individual — moral, ethical and truly loved everyone.” Besides Jemo, Morelli is survived by stepmother Karen; sisters Anna Maria, Cheri and Valerie; stepsister Sue and stepbrother Robert; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father, Frank, and mother, Ella Mae. He is also survived by several beloved pets: dogs Rosie and Bear and cats Zeke, Pico and Amelia. A celebration of life will be held 5-8 p.m. Nov. 6 at Rothermel/Videon/Givnish of Havertown, 57 S. Eagle Road. A funeral will follow at 8 p.m., with a private interment. McIntyre said Morelli emphasized before his passing that he wanted the celebration to be joyous. “He was always laughing and joking and was adamant that that’s what he wanted this to be about; he wanted people to remember him but not be sad. He wanted people to be comfortable, wear T-shirts and jeans, and celebrate. He didn’t want anyone to be sad he was gone. He’s still here.” Memorial contributions can be made to the Frank V. Morelli, Jr., Memorial Fund, c/o PNC Bank, 5050 State Road, Drexel Hill, Pa. 19026. n
Gayborhood Crime Watch The following incidents in the Midtown Village and Washington Square West areas were reported to the Sixth Police District between Oct. 19-25. Information is courtesy of Sixth District Capt. Brian Korn; Stacy Irving, senior director, Crime Prevention Service; Center City District; the Police Liaison Committee and Midtown Village Merchants Association. To report crime tips, visit www.phillypolice.com or call 215-686-TIPS. INCIDENTS — Between 9:10-10 a.m. Oct. 21, someone stole a 2001 Ford pick-up truck that had been parked at the construction site at 1100 Market St. with its engine running. The vehicle was recovered unoccupied Oct. 24 in the 2300 block of Kip Street in the 24th District. — Between 1:30-8 p.m. Oct. 21, someone damaged a door lock to an apartment in the 200 block of South 13th Street. The culprit(s) did not steal anything. Sixth District Officer Ditizio attempted to lift fingerprints. — Between 11-11:30 a.m. Oct. 21, someone stole a metal fire pump connection from outside a building at 1200 Chancellor St. — Between 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 22, someone damaged the door lock to an apartment in the 1000 block of Clinton Street and stole laptops, handbags and a camera. Sixth District Officer Minnis attempted to lift fingerprints. — At 6:05 p.m. Oct. 23, someone stole a 2002 Dodge from outside 1200 Chestnut St. The operators had left the keys in the vehicle when he went into a store. — At 9:15 p.m. Oct. 24, a man was inside his apartment in the 200 block of South 13th Street and got into an argument with his friend, who punched the resident, knocked him down and stole his RAMSEY from page 7
was welcoming to LGBT police who wanted to be open at work. After more than 45 years in law enforcement, Ramsey, 65, will retire in January. He will exit at the same time as Deputy Commissioner Kevin Bethel, the LGBT liaison for the Philadelphia Police. “He’s been a tremendous asset to me both professionally and personally,” said Ramsey. “I’d like to congratulate Kevin Bethel on an outstanding career. He’s made a difference.” At meetings with LGBT advocates, Ramsey said, Bethel was easy to relate to. He made himself available and deepened the relationship between the police and the local LGBT community. “I’m glad I didn’t have to perform this job without him,” Ramsey said. The commissioner said he’s most proud of the fact that he hasn’t received any major complaints. “That means the people I’ve put in
cell phone. The victim provided the suspect’s identification information to Central Detective Division. — There were two thefts of bicycles reported Oct. 19-25: outside 100 S. 11th St. and 800 Walnut St. NON-SUMMARY ARRESTS — At 2:30 p.m. Oct. 22, a man arranged a rendezvous with another man through Craigslist at a room at the Marriott Hotel, 1201 Market St. Once inside, the victim was choked and robbed of cash. Sixth District officers responded to the complainant’s 911 call and apprehended the suspect, who was still inside the hotel, and recovered the cash. The 26-year-old suspect with a Lansdale address was charged with robbery and related offenses. — At 12:25 a.m. Oct. 24, Sixth District officers arrested a male at BAR Philly, 1309 Sansom St., who allegedly was passing counterfeit money. Officers confiscated a number of counterfeit bills, along with cocaine. The 23-year-old suspect with a North Philadelphia address was charged with counterfeiting and possession of cocaine. SUMMARY ARRESTS — On Oct. 23, Sixth District officers issued citations for summary offenses at 12:05 a.m. outside 201 S. Broad St. and 2:45 a.m. outside 1200 Chancellor St. — At 2:35 a.m. Oct. 24, Sixth District officers issued a citation for a summary offense outside 1200 Chancellor St. — On Oct. 25, Sixth District officers issued citations for summary offenses at 12:50 a.m. outside 200 S. Camac St. and 1:05 a.m. outside 1200 Chancellor St. — At 9:50 p.m. Oct. 21, Sixth District bike-patrol officers issued two citations for summary offenses outside 1101 Pine St. n important positions have been doing their jobs well,” he said. Ramsey said he hopes his and Bethel’s successors continue to partner well with the LGBT community. “I just hope the relationship continues so that members of the LGBT community feel that if they do need assistance, they’re going to get quality service and have their issues taken seriously with absolutely no hint of bias. “Here in Philadelphia, we’ve gone a long way to promoting strong relationships,” Ramsey added. “That doesn’t mean there hasn’t been a bump or two along the way, but we keep deepening those relationships.” Ramsey thanked the LGBT people who have worked with the police on various training exercises. After retiring, Ramsey plans to do some work with Drexel University and the Police Executive Research Forum. He will also do consulting work. “I have a lot of fire still,” he said. n
PGN
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 6-12, 2015
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City of Philadelphia Public Hearing Notice The Committee on Public Safety of the Council of the City of Philadelphia will hold a Public Hearing on Friday, November 13, 2015, at 10:00 AM, in Room 400, City Hall, to hear testimony on the following items: 150659
An Ordinance amending Subsection 10-308 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Solicitations of Contributions in the Roadway by Minors," by enhancing enforcement procedures and penalty requirements, all under certain terms and conditions.
150815
An Ordinance amending Chapter 9-3500 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Fair Criminal Records Screening Standards," by amending certain definitions and adding certain additional requirements with respect to screening job applicants and license applicants for criminal history; all under certain terms and conditions.
Immediately following the public hearing, a meeting of the Committee on Public Safety, open to the public, will be held to consider the action to be taken on the above listed items. Copies of the foregoing items are available in the Office of the Chief Clerk of the Council, Room 402, City Hall.
Michael Decker Chief Clerk
City of Philadelphia
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Since 1976
NOVember 14
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I was 13 and sitting in the basement of and quite a few male cousins so I’d had my childhood home in the Amish-laden my fill of boys, but this was different. I countryside of Pennsylvania. was different, the odd woman out, the “Crystal, are you a lesbian?” weirdo. As I focused in on my group of A Twizzler stuck in my throat. What a friends who all stared intently back at pointed thing to ask. me, waiting for a response, I felt shame. In my youth, I didn’t quite grasp I felt naked on a stage where everyone the magnitude of the question, especould see my difference except me. cially coming from a gaggle of church A lot happened between me, my relischooled teenage girls. They’d all been gion and my orientation in the years it invited over for my birthday party, and took me to accept myself and come out, as I sat rapt by the television, they’d but when I did, I realized that the fissure been gaggling about guys they liked in wasn’t only between me and my friends our tiny 30-person church school, grades that awkward Saturday night; it was a K-nine. That means there chasm in both the queer and were, oh, three possible male religious communities. suitors for the seven of us Everywhere I look today, ladies of age. (Dramas were I see how religion affects us, high, people. Dramas were divides us, keeps us apart and high.) unable to properly communi I was only half-listencate, when, in fact, it is suping though, and when they posed to build and maintain repeated it, this time using the community, safety and respite. word “homosexual” instead “I came out and never went of “lesbian,” something inside back to church” is a comtold me I needed to come to. mon phrase we hear among You see, not only was I downus. “If God cares about gay ing Twizzlers, pizza and diet people, he’s got a shitty way Crystal of proving it” is another one, soda, I’d also been consuming the teenage angsty figure of Cheatham and, “That’s not my God” is Julia Stiles on my television. also popular. Whether we are If you were young in the ’90s, then you atheist, agnostic, spiritual or religious, totally get what I mean about any of the we have all brushed up against the one characters in “Ten Things I Hate About cold-bearing shoulder of religion and, You.” Not my style, but, yes, I’m also goodness, has it left a mark. We seek to talking about the steamy Heath Ledger. avoid that brush ever again. (I totally wanted to be him.) May he for Yet, whether we like it or not, religion ever rest in sexy-boy peace. impacts our lives every day. Back to the story. Homosexual. Where Religion is the elephant in the room, had I heard that word before and why did isn’t it? It affects the way people vote, it feel so icky? You can’t throw a stone in the way they hire, the businesses they my family without hitting a pastor, deapatronize, the nonprofits they support — con or choir director. I’d heard that word why aren’t we talking about it in depth from them but not in a favorable way. and at length? Why aren’t we all more It was used ambiguously around young consumed by this side of the LGBTQ ears, yet strewn hither and thither around struggle? the church, always frothing with the In this column, I aim to shed light on shame of dirty secrets. what is happening locally to support Just remembering that got the hairs LGBTQ involvement in faith and spiron the back of my neck to prick up. In ituality, but also to add a voice to the the time it took my eyes to move from national discussion on religion. On one the screen to the gathering of teenagers side we have idiotic sensations like Kim strewn across my bedroom floor, a haze Davis, but on the other side we have of thought overcame me. It was like I kick-ass organizations like Soulforce, stepped out of myself and saw the whole Equality Pennsylvania, the Human birthday-party scene for what it really Rights Force, The National LGBT was. There was me on one side, sitting Taskforce and need I go on? alone at my own party, ogling the pretty Between all the mayhem, where do we girl on TV who read “The Bell Jar” and belong? n wanted to go to Sarah Lawrence. Then Crystal Cheatham is a writer and an activist there was a small fissure beginning to in Philadelphia. She chairs the Spirituality & grow wider and deeper in the carpet, Religion steering committee for the Human where on the other side sat my friends, Rights Campaign and volunteers with Equality gathered around a pizza box (that had Pennsylvania, William Way LGBT Community barely been touched) fighting over boys. Center’s Out & Faithful Committee and has I had no idea why they thought that written for the Huffington Post. You can find was a fun pastime, let alone a necessary out more about her at CrystalCheatham.com. attention-holder. I had three brothers
Queer Faith
PGN
Event to explore LGBT Happy hour for queer women adoptions in tech
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 6-12, 2015
NEW BRIEFING from page 2
Lesbians Who Tech invites queer women and their allies who work in the technology and start-up fields to come out to a happy hour starting 5:30 p.m. Nov. 19. It takes place at Kensington Quarters, 1310 Frankford Ave. The event is free to attend. Organizers bill it as a chance to network and share ideas about the industry. Alcoholic beverages will be available. Lesbians Who Tech started in San Francisco at the end of 2012. It has grown to include more than 9,000 women in 22 cities around the world. For more information, visit www.lesbianswhotech.org.
International Same-sex couples receive first marriage licenses in Chile Same-sex couples have been legally recognized in Chile for the first time. Chile’s Civil Registry made an exception to its 24-day strike recently to perform the country’s first civil-union ceremonies for same-sex couples. After 12 years of debate, President Michelle Bachelet signed the Civil Union Agreement into law in April. The bill grants cohabitation rights to both homosexual and heterosexual couples. The new bill will also allow couples, among other things, to inherit each other’s property, join their partner’s health plan and receive pension benefits. In July, gay couples flocked to civil-registry offices throughout the country to schedule the first same-sex civil unions since they were approved in the country earlier this year. While the LGBT community in Chile still has to fight for the right to marry, many see this as the first step to gaining full equal rights for same-sex couples in the country. The country maintains a ban on same-sex marriage and adoption, and has an unequal age of consent, but activists have pledged to push for full equal rights in the Catholicmajority country. “The civil union doesn’t end our struggle. We’re demanding same-sex marriage. We’re going to request for the measures stuck in congress to be revived,” said Rolando Jimenez, president of the Gay Liberation and Integration Movement. Speaking at the bill’s signing ceremony in April, President Bachelet said the coun-
The National Adoption Center is hosting an LGBT Adoption Café from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Wells Fargo Museum, 123 S. Broad St. The event is free and open to the public. There will be a panel discussion with adoptive parents from the LGBT community and adoption agency representatives, followed by networking opportunities with current and prospective parents. Drinks and appetizers will be served. For more information or to RSVP, contact Paige Roller at 267-443-1872 or proller@adopt.org. n — Paige Cooperstein try should see “the civil-union law as a vindication in the struggle for sexual-diversity rights.” Only a small group of Latin-American nations, including Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, currently allow same-sex marriage. In Mexico, a court recently ruled that bans on same-sex marriage are unconstitutional, effectively legalizing it.
Trans woman loses legal appeal over men’s prison stint A transgender British woman jailed in a men’s prison lost an appeal of her sentence Oct. 30, but judges urged the prison service to consider moving her to a women’s facility. Tara Hudson, who has lived as a woman all her adult life, was sentenced recently to 12 weeks in prison for head-butting a bar manager. The 26-year-old makeup artist was sent to HMP Bristol, a men’s prison in southwest England, where her lawyer, Nicholas Wragg, said she was separated from other inmates and “locked in a cell 23 hours a day.” Wragg argued she should be released to do community service. Three judges at Bristol Crown Court rejected Hudson’s appeal against the sentence, noting that she had eight previous convictions. The judges said it was “for the Prison Service and not the court” to decide where the sentence should be served, but urged “sensitive consideration” of where Hudson should be held. The Prison Service said it was “longstanding policy to place offenders according to their legally recognized gender.” Hudson has had gender-reassignment surgery but is still legally classified as male. The service said its guidelines allowed “room for discretion and in such cases, medical experts will review the circumstances in order to protect the emotional well-being of the person concerned.” n — compiled by Larry Nichols
Media Trail Officer accused of arresting kissing lesbians CBS News reports the Honolulu Police Department has opened an internal investigation based on a lesbian couple’s allegations an officer wrongfully arrested them for kissing in a grocery store while on vacation. The department announced the investigation on Oct. 28, a day after Courtney Wilson and Taylor Guerrero filed a lawsuit. They say they were harassed and arrested because the officer didn’t like their public display of affection in a Foodland store on Oahu’s North Shore. Their attorney, Eric Seitz, says there was a scuffle while they were being arrested, and they were charged with felony assault on an officer. Charges were eventually dismissed. He says the incident happened on their second day on vacation from Los Angeles. Seitz says Foodland apologized to the women.
Federal judge awards fees in gay-marriage suit According to the Alberta Lea Tribune, a federal judge has awarded legal fees to a national LGBT-rights group that sued North Dakota on behalf of a same-sex couple. However, U.S. District Judge Ralph Erickson awarded only $57,000, less than half of the $124,000 that Lambda Legal and the Minneapolis-based Faegre Baker Daniels law firm had been seeking. Erickson said in his ruling that the hourly rate requested for attorneys who worked on the case was too high, that some work was duplicative and that there was “an excessive amount of time spent on simple issues.” Lambda Legal filed a lawsuit in June 2014 on behalf of Fargo couple Jan Jorgensen and Cindy Phillips. The couple married in Minnesota and sued North Dakota because the state wouldn’t recognize their marriage.
Panel rejects trans policy changes The Argus Leader reports a legislative panel has shot down two policies that would have required transgender people to define their gender by the anatomy listed on their birth certificate.
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The South Dakota High School Activities Association Interim Committee on Oct. 30 tabled a measure that would have required transgender high-school athletes to sign up for activities based on the anatomical sex listed on their birth certificate. It was a 6-5 vote. In a separate 4-7 vote, the committee killed a policy that would require broadly that people define their gender by the sex listed on their birth certificate. Currently, transgender students who want to join a sex-specific team or activity must submit a request to the association with documentation affirming their gender identity.
First black lesbian rep. resigns Georgia seat The New Pittsburgh Courier reports that Georgia’s first black and openly lesbian state lawmaker plans to resign from office. State Rep. Simone Bell submitted a letter to Gov. Nathan Deal on Oct. 29, and her resignation is official Nov. 13. Bell said in a statement that she has accepted a position with Lambda Legal, working for LGBT people across the South. Bell won a special election in 2009 in Georgia’s 58th District. She was honored by the White House in 2013 along with nine other LGBT officials. She previously worked as a community-health educator and health-care administrator.
Missouri court denies gay man’s suit According to the Columbia Daily Tribune, a Missouri appeals court has ruled that a man who claims he was fired because he’s gay can’t sue for discrimination. The 2-1 decision on Oct. 27 by the Western District Missouri Court of Appeals says the state law barring discrimination based on sex only covers gender-based actions. Chief Judge James Welch said the court’s decision was bound by the legislature’s choice to not include sexual orientation in the Missouri Human Rights Act’s protections. James Pittman’s lawsuit in Jackson County against Cook Paper Recycling Corp. accused the company’s president of harassing him about his sexual orientation. The lawsuit was dismissed in February 2013, and Pittman appealed that decision. Pittman’s attorney, Lynne Bratcher, said she will try to get the Missouri Supreme Court to hear the case. n — compiled by Larry Nichols
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 6-12, 2015
PGN
Wedding Services Directory
PREP from page 5
tiple partners or encourages people to have sex without a condom. Sims called it important to correct these misconceptions. “There are 20-30-years’ worth of LGBT people who aren’t here to talk about PrEP because they’re all dead. There’s no way around that,” Sims said. “Every time someone gives me [flak] about supporting this, I always say, ‘We could sit down and have a very high-minded conversation with those people who are on PrEP right now because they’re alive to have that conversation.’ It’s that simple.” Audience members noted it might be a challenge to convince underserved populations — like poor people, black and Latino communities — to investigate PrEP. Koenig said it’s the Marcus Berrys of the world who would help make that job easier because people respond to members of their own communities. Berry said it was a little strange, at first, to explain the situation to his family. His brothers didn’t understand why he was taking medicine for a virus he didn’t have. He told them it was another level of protection for him. He’s also talked to his boyfriend and friends about PrEP. “I started taking my health seriously,” Berry said. He said PrEP can help anyone in the gay or straight community feel secure, including people in the medical profession who may work around blood and needles. For more information about the PrEP program at Philadelphia FIGHT, visit www.fight.org/programs-and-services/special-programs. ■ TRANSMISSIONS from page 11
would seem, from all the stories out there, that this particular “101” is not effective. I already stressed the obvious lack of “discreet and polite” treatment that Petosky and others have received. So many transgender people have spoken out about their treatment, and how it seemed more designed to publicly humiliate them than in any way allow them to hold on to a shred of their humanity. What does this “Transgender 101” have to say about that, and how much is that respected by the rank and file, if they cannot even follow this supposed policy of discretion? Indeed, I would suggest that TSA’s current policies seem more like an “Anomaly 101,” with us in the center of things. These machines that are, supposedly, “the best technology” should not need to work based on a person’s gender presentation. If the TSA is doing anything more than going through the motions, then they should be looking for weapons, not genitals. If they are geared towards gender, and declaring anomalies based on genitals and other body parts — binders, hysterectomy scars and breast implants, for example — how is this keeping us safe while we fly? If the system worked, no one would feel they had to call in advance, or ask for special treatment. Then again, if the system worked, bullets and explosives would be the anomalies the TSA might pull you out of line for. So the upshot is this: The TSA intends to largely keep going as it has, with a pretty page on its website to tell you how you can make it easier on them to scan our transgender bodies, but they’ll find a better word for it when they find anomalies on our bodies. I’m here to say, though, that the very fact that they call parts of a transgender person’s body “anomalies” is the problem, and no as-of-yet-unknown euphemism changes that. These are not policies designed for transgender passengers, but for the TSA themselves, and — in spite of anything said by Walton — this is not a positive change. It’s not a change at all. n Gwen Smith is regularly re-screened in airports. You’ll find her on Twitter @gwenners.
PGN VERDICT from page 1
of them, and arrested them on trumped-up charges. Slurs allegedly hurled by officers include “faggot,” “gay nigger,” “pussy” and “nigger-lover.” Berrios’ boyfriend had dark skin. Berrios said his boyfriend’s blood was “all over” a police cruiser before officers removed the man and placed him inside a paddy wagon, where they continued to assault him. “Deep in my heart, I really felt we were going to be killed,” Berrios testified. “Just because we were gay.” Berrios said Gentile twisted and tightened his handcuffs in a manner that resulted in permanent nerve damage to his right wrist and arm. Both officers vehemently denied causing any injuries to the men, nor using any foul language. When Gentile took the witness stand, he denied having any interaction with Berrios whatsoever. “I had zero interaction with your client, ma’am,” Gentile repeatedly told Rania Major, an attorney for Berrios. Berrios said he simply wanted police to take his boyfriend home. “I said, ‘Just take him home. He just needs to chill out,’” Berrios testified. But the only response he received from Gentile was, “Shut the fuck up,” Berrios testified. Two neighbors who witnessed the MARRIAGE from page 1
Scranton, Murphy’s hometown. Murphy thought they would have a good connection. “With absolutely brutal precision — no preliminaries, no expression of ‘sorry to have to do this’ — they sat down and said, ‘This is antithetical to Church teaching and renders you unfit and unsuitable to serve as executive director of Saint Francis Home,’” Murphy recalled in a conversation with PGN this week. “I was completed bowled over,” he said. “I didn’t really experience discrimination in such a blatant and harsh way until then. I was literally rendered speechless. I finally said, ‘I find this hard to believe.’ They simply kept reiterating.” One of the representatives passed three old press releases to Murphy. They publicized DiLorenzo’s negative reaction to the Supreme Court ruling that struck down the Defense of Marriage Act. “I really do not see how this has any bearing on my qualifications for the position,” Murphy said he remembered telling the representatives. Murphy spent most of his career in nonprofit administration for secular institutions. He expected to work at Saint Francis Home until he retired. Instead, Murphy found himself with a lawyer, H. Aubrey Ford III, filing a discrimination claim in September against the Catholic Diocese of Richmond with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The EEOC ruled in July that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits employment
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 6-12, 2015
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incident, Reiny Rosario and Stephanie Martinez, testified that Berrios was behaving peacefully prior to his arrest. The women corroborated Berrios’ account of being handcuffed in a brutal manner and subjected to anti-LGBT slurs. But Martinez testified that Tavarez — not Gentile — handcuffed Berrios. Martinez recorded the incident with a Camcorder, but said her mother destroyed the tape, fearing police retaliation. Outside the courtroom, the women said some of the slurs from police were so offensive, they refrained from repeating them in open court. But city attorney Jonathan K. Cooper told jurors the officers never hurled any slurs against Berrios, even when Berrios interfered with the lawful arrest of his boyfriend. “He will not stop trying to disrupt the arrest of [his boyfriend],” Cooper told jurors. “He keeps on getting in the way.” If foul language were used by police, that wouldn’t establish the use of excessive force, Cooper added. “Words do not establish excessive force,” Cooper said. “Words can’t be a basis for liability. Absolutely no excessive force was used in this case.” Complicating matters is the testimony of Officer Eric Enders, who wasn’t a defendant. Enders testified that he’s the officer who handcuffed Berrios, and he did it in a proper manner. Tavarez corroborated Enders’ testimony.
Tavarez said Berrios eluded him through a rear door of his residence, to rejoin his boyfriend out front. After Berrios appeared out front, Tavarez asked Enders to handcuff him. Major scoffed at that version of events, noting that a barbed-wire fence would have prevented Berrios from taking such a route. Major faulted “shabby” police paperwork filed in the case, but U.S. Magistrate Judge Lynne A. Sitarski ordered her comment stricken from the record. Earlier in the trial, Major told jurors: “There are good and bad in every profession, I call bad police officers ‘cops.’ What we have here are cops.” During his cross-examination of Berrios, city attorney Michael R. Miller implied that Berrios had a history of “mental-health problems,” prior to the 2010 incident. Berrios acknowledged being depressed at times, prior to the incident. But he said the incident left him so paranoid, he barricaded his front door, booby-trapped his residence and slept with knives and other weapons. Before the verdict was announced, Berrios, 32, said he’s slowly recovering from the trauma, with the help of friends and loved ones. He also expressed hope that his case will result in enhanced LGBTsensitivity training for all Philadelphia police officers on an annual basis. About 30 supporters of Berrios attended the three-day trial, from a variety of organizations including the Pennsylvania chap-
ter of Black Lives Matter, Youth-Health Empowerment Project, Up Against the Law Legal Collective, Congreso de Latinos Unidos, GALAEI, Racial Unity and Philadelphia FIGHT. Miller, the city attorney, expressed agreement with the verdict. “We think the officers were in the right,” Miller told PGN. “We’re proud of Officer Gentile and Officer Tavarez. And the Philadelphia Police Department will continue to strive to serve all of its citizens, including its LGBT citizens.” Major spoke to a juror after the verdict was announced. “After discussions with a juror, I am beyond disbelief as to the nature of proof that would have been required to get a favorable verdict,” Major told PGN. “The jury believed Luis was verbally abused. But the law doesn’t provide relief for that. They questioned that — given everything that was going on — whether the twisting of his handcuffs actually occurred. Also, had there been an emergency-room report [about Berrios’ injuries], the verdict would have been different.” Major said she’s not vanquished by the verdict. “Luis, in having the strength to come forward, has lit a torch in Philadelphia that can never be extinguished. The police and everyone connected with the judicial system need to be sensitized to the issues of the LGBT community.” n
discrimination based on sexual orientation as an extension of the prohibition of sexbased discrimination. The act also prohibits employment discrimination based on race and religion. “That will be a persuasive authority, but it is not controlling,” said Ford, Murphy’s lawyer. The Catholic Diocese of Richmond owns Saint Francis Home, and lay administrators run it. A nonprofit called the Saint Francis Home of Richmond Foundation supports the home. Its lay board hired Murphy. The foundation has about $350,000 in revenue, according to the most recent tax filing from 2014; about $73,000 comes from fundraising events, $54,000 from investments and $221,000 from contributions and grants. Murphy said residents typically turned over to the home their Social Security, disability or Medicaid payments in exchange for room and board. The foundation raised money to cover any expenses that were left after residents’ contributions. If fundraising fell short of the amount needed for the remaining expenses, the diocese would contribute money, Murphy said. Diana Sims Snider, a spokeswoman for the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, told the Associated Press the diocese doesn’t fund the home’s yearly operating expenses. It allows lay administrators from the home to solicit funds from its parishioners. Snider sent a statement to PGN indicating she could not comment on personnel matters, but added the diocese sees Murphy’s case as a First Amendment issue.
“As a Catholic organization, we expect the employees of the diocese and its ministries to uphold and embody the consistent values and truths of the Catholic faith,” Snider said in the statement, “including those preserving the sanctity of marriage.” Ford said there is a ministerial exemption that typically gives a religious organization discretion in matters of hiring or firing ministers of the religion. “The big issue, of course, becomes, what exactly is ministerial,” he said, noting that Murphy’s duties were secular. The EEOC has hired an investigator for the discrimination claim. Ford said the commission typically has six months to respond. He said Murphy’s case is unusual because both sides agree on the reason for Murphy’s termination: his marriage to a man. “It seemed to me this was just an act of injustice,” Ford said. “The reaction of the board of directors is even a reflection of that.” After DiLorenzo’s representatives terminated his employment, Murphy said he found out that the bishop had first asked the board to fire him, but the members unanimously refused. Sam Dibert Sr., vice president of the board, resigned over the issue, Murphy said. Murphy said he asked if his marriage would be a problem for his job, and the board president, Tina Neal, shrugged and said, “It’s 2015.” Murphy didn’t think twice about adding Carter to his benefits paperwork and set about the managerial duties of his new job.
He met with residents and staff and instituted an open-door policy that yielded several productive conversations about a new direction for the home, he said. Murphy, who was raised Catholic, said losing his job has shaken his faith. “It’s a drip-drip-drip kind of thing,” he said. “You hear from the pulpit that you’re not a fit person, even though you know you’re a good person. You know, I’m not a masochist. The times I want to get beaten up are fewer and fewer.” Murphy and Carter met at a party in 1985 in New York City. Murphy was in town on business and Carter was working as a clinical social worker in the bone marrow transplant unit of a local hospital. Later, when the couple moved in together in Rittenhouse Square, they started attending Mass. They purchased signet rings and asked their priest to bless them, which he did. Murphy remembered a nun who told him, “God doesn’t care who we love, just that we love.” Murphy said he hopes more people will come to see how wrong it is for someone to lose his or her job because of being gay. He noted his case parallels that of Margie Winters, who was fired in June as a Catholic educator from Waldron Mercy Academy in Lower Merion because of her marriage to a woman. “I hope more people like me will be emboldened to speak up about the unfairness and illegality of this,” he said, “and that it will have a ripple effect to eliminate all kinds of discrimination against LGBT people.” n
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Philadelphia FIGHT 25th Anniversary Gala
Dreamers and Doers:
• THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2015 •
DR. RUTH
LOEWS PHILADELPHIA HOTEL 1200 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19107
FEATURING Lifetime Achievement Honoree GREG LOUGANIS
PLEASE JOIN US!
Monday, November 16 | 6 pm Join Dr. Ruth Westheimer as she shares her incredible story of survival and success, from fleeing Nazi Germany as a young girl to serving as a sharpshooter in the Haganah (Israel’s Freedom Fighters) to becoming the cultural icon adored and respected around the world today. Moderated by WHYY’s Behavioral Health Reporter and Host of The Pulse, Maiken Scott. Book sale and signing to follow the program.
Advance registration strongly encouraged! Details and tickets at NMAJH.org
General Tickets: $175 VIP: $250 / Includes VIP cocktail reception with Greg Louganis For advertising and sponsorship information contact Chip Alfred at: 215.525.8628 or calfred@fight.org
To purchase tickets online, please visit: www.FIGHT.org/gala 25 & Still FIGHTing!
Media sponsor: WHYY This series has been anonymously endowed by a friend of the Museum and admirer of all Dreamers and Doers. photo courtesy of Amazon Publishing
VIP Cocktail Reception with Greg Louganis Cocktails, Dinner, Dancing, Silent Auction and Award Ceremony
5th and Market | 215.923.3811
Philadelphia FIGHT is a comprehensive health services organization providing state-of-the-art HIV primary medical care, consumer education, advocacy, social services, outreach to people living with HIV and to those who are at high risk, and access to the most advanced clinical research. Our goal and hope is to end the AIDS epidemic within the lifetime of those currently living with HIV.
www.fight.org
PGN
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 6-12, 2015
National Praise For MARK SEGAL’s Best Selling Memoir
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AND THEN I DANCED TRAVELING THE ROAD TO LGBT EQUALITY
IN BOOKSTORES
“Activist Mark Segal who was present at Stonewall and later went on to found the Philadelphia Gay News was a featured judge at Miss’d America and the recipient of a lifetime achievement award the night of the pageant. In his new Memoir And Then I Danced: Traveling the Road to LGBT Equality, he writes about how he was kicked off a television show in the 1970s called Summertime on the Pier because he was dancing with another man, but four decades later, he cut a rug with his husband Jason Villemez while the Marine Corps Band played Barbra Streisand at the White House’s first ever Gay Pride reception hosted by President Obama.” --Huffington Post “Mark Segal made national news on December 11, 1973 when he interrupted a live broadcast of the CBS Evening News by yelling ‘Gays protest CBS prejudice!’ at none other than Walter Cronkite. He was wrestled to the floor on live national television, an incident often credited as the beginning of the end of LGBTQ invisibility. In his new memoir, Segal looks back on that defining moment in history, as well as the many battles that followed.”
NOW
“I have read about Segal in other places but nothing is like reading about it as he tells it....Because of Segal and others we have openly LGBT people working in the White House and throughout corporate America. He has helped make it possible for an entire community of gay world citizens to finding the voice that they need to become visible.” --Reviews by Amos Lassen “Segal’s writing style is engrossing and never ponderous....And Then I Danced is highly recommended for all LGBT history collections and especially for readers with interest in Pennsylvania/Philadelphia politics.” --ALA’s GLBT Round Table “And Then I Danced is a fascinating page-turner that prompted my tears, laughter, envy, and astonishment--but most of all left me feeling very proud of what our community has accomplished and grateful to Mark for sharing his intimate memoir. While there are many who have witnessed the extraordinary history of the LGBT community, few have played as major a role in creating it as has Mark. It is no exaggeration to say that there is no person alive today who has been a more central participant in as much of the contemporary LGBT rights struggle than Mark Segal.”
--Queerty
--Sean Strub, author of Body Counts: A Memoir of Politics, Sex, AIDS, and Survival
“If it happened in the gay rights movement, Mark Segal was probably there.”
“Mark Segal has for decades been a pathfinder for LGBT journalists of all stripes. We’re indebted to him for his years of radical activism, helping to foster a movement for change that has had a dramatic and positive impact for millions.”
--Inside Story WPVI “Mark Segal is one of the major actors in the struggle for LGBT equality in the U.S....A life as eventful as Segal’s demands that a book be written about it.”
--Michelangelo Signorile, author of It’s Not Over: Getting Beyond Tolerance, Defeating Homophobia, and Winning True Equality
--South Florida Gay News
“Real change never comes without real guts and real vision and real leaders. Mark Segal is the real deal.”
“The book’s title, And Then I Danced, suggests the closing of a circle. Forty years after he got kicked off Ed Hurst’s Summertime on the Pier TV show for dancing with another guy, Segal and his newlywed husband, Jason Villemez, danced at President Obama’s White House to the U.S. Marine Corps band. For insider Segal, it will not be the last dance.”
--Robert Moore, cofounder of Dallas Voice “Mark Segal’s ideas run from the alpha to the omega. Sometimes I think there’s got to be more than one Mark Segal: he has done way too much for one lifetime. I highly recommend this book. If you can’t get to meet Mark in person, this is the next best thing!”
--Philly.com
--Michael Luongo, author of Gay Travels in the Muslim World
“Philadelphia has become one of the most popular gay tourist destinations in the United States. Mark Segal, a key player in the city’s LGBT community, and a powerful national influencer for over four decades, recounts his life as an advocate in a new memoir.”
“Before there was Ellen, Will, Grace, Rosie, Andy, and Anderson, Mark Segal was the squeaky gay wheel of American television, pulling stunts that forced the medium to open its closet door. If Walter Cronkite were still alive, he’d say: Not HIM again! And that’s the way it is. And was. Read all about it.” --Bruce Vilanch, Six-Time Emmy Award Winner
--Passport Magazine “Because of activists like Mark Segal, whose life work is dramatically detailed in this poignant and important memoir, today there are openly LGBT people working in the White House and throughout corporate America.” --Philly Chit Chat “Like other nonviolent protesters before him, Mark wasn’t content with sitting back and waiting for things to change. He knew people were suffering and the status quo needed to change quickly. The poor kid from Philadelphia became a hero to the LGBT community and to all of us who despise injustice.” --Philadelphia Business Journal
“Mark Segal has taken the LGBT aging world by storm, and in the process has made a remarkable difference for our community’s courageous pioneers. We’ve all learned so much from him.” --Michael Adams, executive director, Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders “Mark Segal has been a courageous and eloquent leader of the LGBT community and cause for longer than many lifetimes. His efforts have indisputably changed important elements of broad public importance--a permanent mark on the world. His life story is as compelling as it is important, and this rendering of it is as delightful as it is provocative.” --Michael Pakenham, former editor of the New York Daily News
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PGN FEATURE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 6-12, 2015
Family Portrait Get Out and Play Out & About Q Puzzle Scene in Philly
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Getting Past It
DAVID CRABB IN “BAD KID” AND ANTONIA LASSAR IN “POST TRAUMATIC SUPER DELIGHTFUL (PTSD)”
First Person Arts performers get personal By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com
Out artists and performers are mining their past struggles and trauma for their contributions to the 14th Annual First Person Arts Festival, running through Nov. 15 at venues across Philadelphia. Acclaimed performer and memoir author David Crabb is bringing the Philadelphia premiere of his autobiographical “Bad Kid” to this year’s festival, the true story of a Goth boy who wanted to be anywhere but the middle of Texas in 1991. In the days before widespread and accessible Internet use, and before alternative music exploded in popularity, we imagine Texas in the early ’90s wasn’t exactly a hotbed of acceptance. “It depends on where you were,” Crabb said. “If you were in Austin or Dallas, those were big cities that felt like Southern-fried versions of Atlanta or Chicago. You had enough people. Now, San Antonio, I think, is the eighth-biggest city in the nation. Then they were enough of cosmopolitan places where you could find freaks, but they were harder to find than they would be in New York. It was in the middle of high school when I moved to a small town in Texas that everything sort of changed. Small-town Texas was kind of like the 1950s and ’60s, especially in these farming towns where you didn’t have a lot of culture outside of what you saw on cable television.”
So we asked Crabb how he coped. “Drugs,” he said. “No, I’m sort of kidding, but I’m not. For a long time, I stayed to myself. It was a depressing situation to be in. I was a 14- and 15-year-old who wouldn’t socialize with people. But my freshman year of high school I kind of found the weirdos and freaks. I started seeing them pop up in the food court at the mall and the cafeteria at school. We sort of found each other as we changed and became a support system of weirdos for each other.” Crabb added that, back then, while his family wasn’t overtly negative about his Goth interests, they weren’t very supportive of them either. “It was the way that I grew up that kind of kept it on the down-low,” he said. “They knew I liked depressing British music and wore a lot of black. But I reserved the dog collars and painted fingernails for either school or the industrial teen club on the weekends. So I had a bit of a separation there.” Crabb said his sexuality might have been intertwined with his interest in Goth culture, but at the time he didn’t recognize the connection between the two. “At the time they seemed totally unrelated,” he said. “As an adult looking back, there was something really cool about having all the shame about who you were and then I met these group of kids who wore black and love smoking cloves and wearing vintage garb. To them, your sexuality was
nothing. It was the least interesting thing about you. There was something refreshing about finding those people in that sense. And even though I didn’t realize the two things were connected, I do feel like I used the fashion-culture aspect of being Goth as sort of an entrance into being open about who I was.” Crabb said that, even though younger generations now have the Internet and social media to keep them connected to like-minded peers, they can still find themselves in the same cultural and social isolation he had to deal with in his day. “There’s the Internet and young people’s ability to communicate with each other without having to be with each other,” he said. “It’s kind of a great thing in a lot of ways. It’s allowed kids in the Bible Belt to find friends in other places online. But there is an isolation and morose sensibility about your future and romance that a lot of kids have when they are 15 and 16 years old. And I think regardless of the Internet and connections, that feeling of hopelessness is there for a lot of kids. I think the Internet and connections can help in that sense but I think that feeling can be forever.” Another show seeking to heal past wounds through storytelling is “Post Traumatic Super Delightful (PTSD),” a one-woman show written and performed by Antonia Lassar addressing her own experience of sexual violence, as well as the art of clowning. Yes, we know that sexual violence and clowns usually occupy the top tiers on the list
of things people loathe more than anything, but Lassar said the two work well together in this context. “Both clowning and sexual violence are the stuff generally that is traumatizing for people,” she said. “But I think that is a misconception. Clowning specifically in a historical context has been used to address traumas. There are clowns in a lot of Asian cultures; they were the truth-sayers of the community. So I think it’s a productive way to look at the source of trauma in a community with an honesty and vulnerability that is not found elsewhere. And then sexual violence, I think the general conversation around it focuses so much on the trauma that it can traumatize people out of the conversation, even people who have never experienced sexual violence. Clowning is an effective way to look at the vulnerability and human truth in this issue of sexual violence. It is kind of a struggle getting people in the door, but once they are, they see it as a really positive experience.” Lassar added that, while the show does have humorous elements to it, she wants audiences to know it is not meant to be seen as a joke. “I don’t call the show a comedy,” she said. “I don’t think that it’s a funny show either. I think that it’s a show that uses laughter because I think laughter at its core is a signal for human connection, which can be the first step in communal healing. So what we’re looking at with the show PAGE 26
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PGN FEATURE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 6-12, 2015
FIRST PERSON from page 25
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is what happens with an entire community that has likely been traumatized by sexual violence in their community and outside of that community, when that community can get together and laugh together, what kind of connections does that open up interpersonally that could be the first step in healing. I’m really careful to acknowledge that we are not making light of rape. There are no rape jokes. Rape is not funny. But in the healing process, there is space for laughter.” Besides festivals, Lassar takes this show on tours of college campuses and crisis centers across the United States and Canada. She said colleges especially are venues where she wants to present the production. “Every college has its own issue,” DAVID CRABB she said. “Some want to address it through policy, some through programs like this one. It really depends. Some colleges don’t want to acknowledge that they have a problem yet. Some are excited to do everything they can. There’s not really one college experience.”
Given the personal nature of the story, we asked Lassar if this show was part of her healing process, or a result of ANTONIA LASSAR it. “My healing process came first,” she said. “I had been creating art about my own trauma for years and it was all self-therapeutic, as opposed to communally therapeutic. For me, it was a really powerful part of my healing process, but I also didn’t release it to the greater public because sometimes it can be a little triggering for people if they’re not getting the healing out of it. ‘PTSD’ came out of many years of processing my trauma to a point where I could start directing it outwardly and direct the show in a therapeutic direction for the community, versus myself. I’m going to be healing my whole life but at some point I can start creating art that heals the community too.” n Antonia Lassar performs “Post Traumatic Super Delightful (PTSD)” 7 p.m. Nov. 13 at Christ Church Sanctuary, 20 N. American St. David Crabb performs “Bad Kid” 9 p.m. Nov. 13 at Christ Church Neighborhood House, 20 N. American St. For more information on these shows and other First Person Arts Festival shows and events, visit www.firstpersonarts.org.
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 6-12, 2015
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 6-12, 2015
SPORTS PGN
Get Out and Play
Scott A. Drake
RAISING SPIRITS: Members and friends of the Philadelphia Falcons Soccer Club gathered at Stir Oct. 31 to have some fun and celebrate Halloween. The organization moves indoors for the winter beginning this week. All skill levels are invited to join in the fun; falcons-soccer.org. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Using winter to your physicaland mental-health advantage It’s fairly common knowledge that winter months of shortened daylight hours and gray skies can drag a person down. Postholiday depression after weeks of over-indulgence doesn’t do a body or spirit much good either. It’s just as well known that regular exercise is more than just heart-healthy and cholesterol- and diabetes-battling, but also improves sleep, mood and overall mental and emotional health. And regular exercise has a broad interpretation. In addition to all of the gym activities, it includes walking, taking stairs and, most of all, sports. Philadelphia’s LGBT sports community offers a plethora of indoor sports for people of all (or no) skills levels, more now than at any time in its history. And the key part to that is the no-skills requirement. They dare to be all-inclusive. These are efforts to engage in fun, physical activities as well as social events outside of the usual establishments. The fact that all of these groups welcome newcomers at any level into the fold is a statement of inclusiveness on its own. Personally, I don’t have the joint support for something like tennis (which is also indoors over the winter months but does require some knowledge of play) but I could definitely play volleyball once a week. Dodgeball as well, if I can get my flexibility and nimbleness back up to snuff. There are also multiple bowling leagues, but with the season underway, you’ll have to check with each group to find out if you can get into a standing team that needs a player (or you could just sub each week
for whichever team is down one). So think beyond the immediate future and look into the opportunity to play soccer, dodgeball, volleyball or swim or wrestle as part of your holiday and post-holiday health and happiness program. All it takes is a click and some light reading: • Fins Aquatics Club: philadelphiafins.org • Philadelphia Falcons Soccer Club: falcons-soccer.org • Philadelphia Liberty Tennis Association: philadelphialibertytennis.org • Philadelphia Spartans Wrestling Club: phillyspartans.com • Stonewall Sports PHL (dodgeball/volleyball): stonewallsports.org Short stops • CBLSL holds its annual general-membership meeting 12:30 p.m. Nov. 8 at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St. They will also be hosting the second-annual Jingle Bell bar crawl Dec. 5, with proceeds benefitting an as-yet-to-be-determined nonprofit; CBLSL.org. • Take advantage of the lingering nicer weather and join the Frontrunners 9:30 a.m. Saturdays at Lloyd Hall for their weekly Kelly Drive run; philadelphiafrontrunners.org. n We’re looking for holiday or other themed parties for a delightful all-photo sports section around the end of the year. Email scott@epgn.com for your organization to be included.
PROFILE PGN
Family Portrait
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 6-12, 2015
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Suzi Nash
Nikiko Masumoto: ‘Ferocious’ farmer hits Philly screens This is a great season for lovers of the silver screen. Last month, New York City had its LGBT film festival, Newfest, showcasing the best and brightest queer films and filmmakers. Philadelphia just wrapped up its International Philadelphia Film Festival, and there’s more to come. Nearby Rehoboth Beach Independence Film Festival starts Nov. 7. While not a gay festival per se, it has a number of really great LGBT films — from documentaries like “Best of Enemies” (Gore Vidal versus conservative William F. Buckley, Jr.) to the thriller “Elephant Song” to the touching drama “Margarita with a Straw.” If you don’t have a way to get down the 95 corridor, the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival is right around the corner, running Nov. 12-22. Again, it’s not a gay festival but offers a number of films focused on LGBT issues or people, not to mention a number of wonderful films we should go see even if they aren’t just about our community. We are all one, after all. This week’s profile is the subject of one of the films being screened in the festival, “Changing Season: On the Masumoto family Farm.” The film chronicles a transitional year in the life of famed farmer, slow-food advocate and sansei David “Mas” Masumoto and his compelling relationship with daughter Nikiko Masumoto, who returns to the family farm with the intention of stepping into her father’s work boots. Interspliced with moments of Masumoto’s razor-sharp meditations on her family’s internment during WWII, “Changing Season” also explores her role as a queer, progressive farmer in the Central Valley. A bubbly character as bright as the sun that ripens the orchards, I had fun talking to Masumoto about her peachy life. PGN: Your film is in great part about family. Tell me a story about your grandfather. NM: Oh, my Jiichan! He was an amazing man. I feel like I understand him so much more now that I’m farming. He was a really quiet man. He actually had a stroke and lost the ability to speak when I was in sixth grade. So I didn’t have a lot of conversations with him, but I remember his hands; he had these amazingly strong, calloused hands. Even into his 70s, he could still beat everybody at arm wrestling. Later in life, he was in a wheelchair and when I was doing work on the farm, I’d often pull into the yard on the tractor and he’d be sitting in the window waving at me with a big grin on his face. PGN: I read that he was the one who purchased the land. Why was it important to him? NM: Before being put into an internment camp, my family all were farm workers.
My Jiichan was 10 went they were sent to the camp and I think he really lost his youth there. After the camps were closed and after being drafted into the army, he came back to the area where they’d been farm workers and leased land for a couple of years before purchasing the first 40 acres of the farm in 1948. I think he wanted a place that was peaceful, where he could create an oasis for the family to heal. He loved working, and being outside and tinkering with the machinery; he even invented some tools on the farm. Even after his first stroke, he worked hard to get back on a tractor and would sit on it smiling from ear to ear. His mother was initially reluctant. She’d lived through a period where laws in California barred Asians from buying land, then camp happened and they lost everything they’d ever worked for, so she didn’t have a lot of faith in the government. PGN: Yeah, my people are still waiting for our 40 acres and a mule. NM: Right! I was just on a panel last week about agriculture and innovation and we were talking about how we need to address the history of racism if we’re going to create equitable land distribution and access to farming. When a person of color becomes a farmer, there’s a different journey of healing that has to happen, because there’s been so much institutional racism that barred people from having the means to feed themselves. PGN: Very true: Tell me about your farm. NM: It’s in the Central Valley of California and we’re just a few miles from the town where my grandmother grew up before camp. It was very cheap land and not very good quality, so my Jiichan spent over a year dynamiting the property just to make it usable for farming. PGN: What do you grow? NM: Primarily peaches, nectarines and grapes. We do our best to sustainably farm our 80 acres south of Fresno and we share our harvests through food, writing and art. My father likes to say we grow stories. We love what we do. The Sierra Nevada mountains are just to our east so on a good air-quality day you can see them towering in the distance. It’s a beautiful place to work. I’ve never missed a harvest since I was a child. PGN: Do you run the farm, and what are the challenges? NM: My dad and I run it together; I still have a lot to learn. I work every day and the difficulties include big, global phenomena that are manifesting acutely in our area: This is our fourth year of extreme drought so we’re up close and personal with the ramifications of climate
change; as a result, we have a high level of concern about sustainability and how we manage water and irrigation practices and the day-to-day management. Summers are complete sprints racing against the heat, trying to figure out how to pick the best-quality, ripest fruit possible and have it make it to its final destination. And there are a thousand things going on at the same time. There’s the physical part that’s hard on the human body, as well as the trees. I wrestle every day reading weather charts and land decisions; it’s quite the intellectual and spiritual exercise. PGN: You have a number of people who work the farm in the summer, mostly men. Any pushback from having a female boss? NM: I’m happy to say I now have two women working, sisters. They’re awesome and I love being able to teach them new skills. We’ve had some interesting exchanges with male workers but, because I’m a woman, it opens up a safer space
PGN: Are you trilingual? NM: [Laughs] No, my dad is fluent but I only know a few words in Japanese, the food words. PGN: Describe something great about growing up on a farm, other than free peaches. NM: I remember I loved dirt … doing all sorts of creative things, theatrical things with dirt: engineering little houses, play cooking with dirt — it was so fun! A neat thing about growing up on a farm was seeing my mom and dad and grandmother and grandfather all work together. It’s great to get to see your family working and doing something they love. During the summers there were three generations working together in the packing shed, which created a special kind of bond.
PGN: Definitely tops a once-a-year “take your daughter to work” day. When did you come out? NM: Well, like most people, there are different stories at different times, but I knew to myself in high school. I fell in love with a woman and went through the fear of people finding out and what might happen. When I told my parents that I had a girlfriend, they were mainly concerned about my safety in our small, politically conservative town, but the end result was that it made me super-motivated to go to college and get out. I went to UC Berkeley and took gender and women studies and that was … oh, I found this incredible language. I’d never heard the word “queer” in a non-pejorative context until I went there and found myself in a queer-theory class! I got to think about liberation in terms of gender and sexuality — I just exploded! I’m so grateful for that space. Coming back home has been a constant negotiation; having been witness to a Photo: Gosia Wozniacka for them. I’ve never experienced large public shift in disany violence or intimidation but course about queer issues, the gender dynamics are always at play, it feels like we’re a little behind in Central like anywhere, so there’s an extra level of Valley. There is a queer community here awareness of how I interact with the guys. but there’s a bit of a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Thankfully I can speak Spanish and am Tell” vibe. I have to find different tactics to able to cross some cultural barriers linaddress homophobia or transphobia. guistically and build a good rapport with everyone. But working in agriculture in PGN: Your mother’s side didn’t respond general, there’s no shortage of moments too well to your parents’ mixed marriage, to remind me that there are not many so do they know they have a lesbian grandwomen in the industry. daughter? PAGE 34
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 6-12, 2015
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS
Out Opera Philly head cooks up success By A.D. Amorosi PGN Contributor David B. Devan, Opera Philadelphia’s general director and president, has a lot to discuss. Topics we chatted with him about include his having just re-signed a contract to stay with the opera company through the end of the 2020 season because, as he said, “our mission has just begun.” And, of course, we had to talk about the creation of the company’s first-ever opera festival. The new fest (think the yearly Fringe with brief, sharp operas set against longer pieces in unique spaces) starts right before September 2017’s season. Right now, though — and not to blunt the importance of Devan’s current efforts for Opera Philadelphia, which have transformed the company radically since his arrival in 2006, least of all with inventively staged classics, newly composed opera mash-ups and well-heeled social-mediabased PR — Devan is busy laughing about dressing in drag and serving arts patrons coq au vin. “Last night was so much fun,” he said the day after he and husband David A. Dubbeldam (“yes, the Davids”) welcomed 30 philanthropists into their home with the help of Bearded Ladies’ John Jarboe. The guests won an auction prize of dinner cooked by the couple as part of a fundraiser for Wilma Theatre. “The deal was they paid $250 each for me to cook them dinner,” he said. “All of a sudden I just popped out with, ‘If you each throw in an additional $50, I’ll do it in drag.’” They did, so he did: dressed as Julia Child, talking in her high voice, cooking and serving Child’s aforementioned chicken dish, crème of mushroom soup and French tartlets, while Jarboe donned Edith Piaf gear and serenaded in between courses. “I dare Peter Gelb to do this,” Devan laughed, referencing the head of New York City’s Metropolitan Opera. “This, though, is exactly what makes Philadelphia special.” Making dinner for new friends and old while dressed like a woman was never part of Devan’s social or culinary diet when he lived in Victoria British Columbia, doing much the same job for their opera company (“putting it into radical turnaround”). “It could only happen in Philly,” he said about his stint as a chef in drag. “One of the things that David and I love about this city is that there is but one degree of separation with everyone in the arts and its partners. You can really forge meaningful relationships … a network of friends you get to know individually and professionally.” That’s a line Devan loves to blur: the indistinguishable arc of life where peo-
ple come together in acts of friendship or philanthropy, or business or art. “That’s why I’m staying here.” Rather, that’s why the Davids are staying here. Before moving to Philly, they were a “happily out” couple in British Columbia; they wedded there, as marriage equality has been recognized there since 2003. “It’s very progressive, nothing prudish there. We just weren’t as celebrated as a couple in British Columbia as we are here.
Theater & Arts Audubon to Warhol: The Art of American Still Life Philadelphia Museum of Art presents a survey of American still life in three decades, through Jan. 10, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100. Bill Burr The comedian performs 7 p.m. Nov. 6 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215-3899543.
DAVID B. DEVAN AND DAVID A. DUBBELDAM Photo: Hugh E. Dillon That’s another thing about Philly that I love; as an openly gay man, I don’t ever edit my life here. Just let it all hang out, be exactly who you are or who you want to be.” Dubbeldam has reinvented himself locally as a Universalist Unitarian chaplain in a hospital, a career he’ll commence in full after finishing his current residency at Einstein. “We support each other. We’re a package deal,” Devan said. “Going forward, being married to a chaplain, you need to have some emotional currency left for each other at the end of the day.” The end of the day just got longer for Devan now that he’s created the opera festival. Its September 2017 debut, he said, will allow for more artistic freedom and exciting work than ever before in Philly and beyond. There is a world premiere of “We Shall Not Be Moved,” a hip-hop-era piece developed by composer Daniel Bernard Roumain and librettist Marc Bamuthi Joseph for Opera Philadelphia and directed by the legendary Bill T. Jones in the Wilma Theater. There are two new operas rolled into one, “War Stories,” which will be staged at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. An ornate take on Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” will be mounted in the Academy of Music for the sake of opera traditionalism with a twist. This is just to name a few of the selections to be staged at the inaugural festival. “It is a model – festival, then season — that has not been done before and that thrills me,” Devan said. “[We’re] figuring out how to build a sustainable classical-arts festival in the 21th century.” n
Copland’s Appalachian Spring The Philadelphia Orchestra performs music inspired by American composer and jazz trumpeter Hannibal, which includes spirituals, blues and traditional African rhythms, Nov. 13-15 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800. Craig Shoemaker The comedian performs through Nov. 7 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215496-9001. Disgraced Philadelphia Theatre Company presents the portrait of Amir Kapoor, a successful PakistaniAmerican lawyer, and his wife Emily, a painter influenced by Islamic imagery, through Nov. 8 at Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St.; 215-9850420. Genghis Khan: Bring the Legend to Life The Franklin Institute presents the story of one of
STILL RIGHTEOUS: Out singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco kicks of the tour for her newly released and sonically abstract album “Allergic to Water,” with an area show 8 p.m. Nov. 11 at Scottish Rite Auditorium, 315 White Horse Pike, Collingswood, N.J. For more information or tickets, call 856-270-6656. Photo: Charles Waldorf
the world’s greatest leaders through Jan. 3, 20th Street and the Parkway; www. fi.edu. Giada de Laurentiis The celebrity chef and Food Network star participates in a live Q&A 8 p.m. Nov. 6 at Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-8931999. Mozart and Schumann The Philadelphia Orchestra performs through Nov. 7 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800. Multitude, Solitude: The Photographs of Dave Heath Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of the acclaimed photographer’s black-andwhite pictures of the 1950s and ’60s through Feb. 21, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.
One Land, One River, One People The Philadelphia Orchestra performs Nov. 13-15 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800. Patti Smith The punk-rock icon and author of “M Train” hosts a reading 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215567-4341. So You Think You Can Dance Contestants from the hit TV show perform 8 p.m. Nov. 8 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-7905800. Take Two: Contemporary Photographs Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition exploring how contemporary artists have responded to changes in culture and technology through Nov. 15, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.
Tyler Perry’s Madea on the Run Tyler Perry’s outrageous comedy comes to town Nov. 10-15 at Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-7905800. The Wrath of the Gods: Masterpieces by Rubens, Michelangelo and Titian Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition exploring paintings and the creative processes of some of art history’s most important figures through Jan. 10, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100.
Music Gladys Knight and The O’Jays The R&B groups perform 8 p.m. Nov. 6 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS
side show and drag event 9 p.m. Nov. 7 at Tavern on Camac, 243 S. Camac St.; 215-545-0900. FATALITY: Gay Mortal Kombat X Tournament Philadelphia’s first gay Mortal Kombat tournament, 9 p.m. Nov. 11 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215-964-9675.
QUEEN MARY: Hip-hop/soul icon Mary J. Blige comes to Atlantic City in support of her stellar album “The London Sessions,” performing 8 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J. For more information or tickets, call 609-317-1000.
Well-Strung The out string quartet performs 8 p.m. Nov. 6-7 at the Rrazz Room at The Prince, 1412 Chestnut St.; 215422-4580. Jethro Tull: The Rock Opera The classic-rock band performs 8 p.m. Nov. 6 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-7905800. Marina and the Diamonds The pop singer performs 8:30 p.m. Nov. 7 at The Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St.; 800745-3000. PiL (Public Image Limited) The alt.-rock band performs 7:30 p.m. Nov. 11 at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215922-6888. Angie Stone The R&B/neo-soul singer performs 8 p.m. Nov. 11 at TLA, 334 South St.; 215-922-1011. GWAR The cartoonish shock-rock/metal
band performs 7:45 p.m. Nov. 12 at The Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St.; 800-745-3000. Buddy Guy The legendary blues guitarist performs 8 p.m. Nov. 12 at Scottish Rite Auditorium, 315 White Horse Pike, Collingswood, N.J.; 856-270-6656. Don Henley The rock singer performs 8 p.m. Nov. 12 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-7905800. Howard Lewis The out singer-songwriter performs an acoustic set 9 p.m. Nov. 12 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215-9649675. Carly Rae Jepsen The Canadian pop singer performs 8 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215922-6888. Minus the Bear The Seattle-based rock band performs 8 p.m. Nov. 13 at The Electric
Factory, 421 N. Seventh St.; 800-745-3000.
Nightlife BEARonce 2: We Bear All Night Philadelphia’s hairiest burlesque revue does a bear tribute to Beyoncé 9 p.m. Nov. 6 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215964-9675. Leather Pride Night DJs, live entertainment and a fashion auction celebrate the seventh-annual event 6 p.m.-midnight Nov. 7 at Voyeur Nightclub, 1221 St. James St.; 215-735-5771. Weird Beard Revue Mistor Fahrenheit hosts the burlesque,
Glitter and Garbage Shannon Turner brings her punk cabaret to town 9 p.m. Nov. 13 at L’Etage, 624 S. Sixth St.; 215-5920656.
Outta Town Prince of Darkness The horror film is screened 9:45 p.m. Nov. 6 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-1228. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory The classic film is screened 2 p.m. Nov. 7 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-1228. The Stranger The classic Orson Welles film is screened 2 p.m. Nov. 8 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610-917-1228. n
Notices Send notices at least one week in advance to: Out & About Listings, PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147 fax: 215-925-6437; or e-mail: listings@epgn.com. Notices cannot be taken over the phone.
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 6-12, 2015
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New work explores a couple’s transition By Ray Simon PGN Contributor “Would You Still Love Me, IF?” a new play by author John S. Anastasi, explores the effect that gender-reassignment surgery has on the lives of four intimately connected people. The Underbite Theatre Company is putting on the play, which runs for eight performances beginning Nov. 5. It is being staged in Studio 5 of the Walnut Street Theater, 825 Walnut St. Shelli Pentimall Bookler, co-founder of Underbite, is directing the play. It features four local actors: Austin Stanton, Samantha Parry, Judy Knoop and Heather Plank. Personal identity, love and the unexpected consequences of significant change are major themes running throughout “Would You Still Love Me, IF?” When the play opens, we meet Danya and Addison, a committed lesbian couple in their late 20s. Danya, played by Stanton, and Addison, played by Parry, are deeply in love. They are also about to adopt a child. Unbeknownst to Addison, however, Danya has been struggling with her identity since childhood. For years, Danya felt she should have been born a man. Now that she’s found true love, Danya is ready to begin her transition. But first she must tell Addison. Unfortunately, Danya’s decision to embrace her authentic self is precisely what undermines Addison’s identity as a lesbian. The stress and strain this decision generates reverberate beyond the couple, affecting Danya’s mother Victoria, played by Judy Knoop, and her surgeon Dr. Gerard, played by Heather Plank. According to Bookler, Danya’s willingness to risk the most important relationship in her life is what gives the play its edge. “Most people in relationships, when they have to sacrifice, it’s work or friends or family or something else, but here it’s identity,” Bookler said. “We’re talking about somebody who is truly going to change themselves and have this gender-reassignment surgery at the risk of losing the relationship.” Of course, few in the audience will have confronted this particular challenge but the experience of love, loss and sacrifice are common to everyone gay, straight or transgender. While rehearsing, Bookler, who is straight and married, has been mindful of this. To represent these characters with honesty and empathy, she found a connection to them via the experience many women have of not being comfortable with their bodies. “Especially for women, a lot of us, we do have body issues and, again, it’s a different form of it, but at least there’s a connection there,” Bookler said. “So that’s what I’ve tried to do, to put myself in as much of a situation to empathize with the characters.” Bookler learned about the play after put-
ting out an open call for playwrights to submit work for Underbite’s current season. She was looking for thoughtful, provocative work, and Anastasi’s script, which she read “blind,” immediately jumped out. For Bookler, the script has a number of attractions. To begin with, it puts a transgender character in a central role. It is also informative. Danya’s exchanges with Dr. Gerard present medical information about
gender reassignment that audiences are likely unaware of. Anastasi is a doctor himself, and he consulted colleagues working with transgender patients while writing the script. What Bookler finds most appealing, though, is the way the play refuses to meet standard expectations. Sure, it’s a love story, but it is not romance or a fairy tale. “It kind of leaves the audience hanging, which is what I really love about plays like this, when they don’t wrap it up in a nice little bow for you, where the audience leaves with questions, wondering are they better off, are they not better off, what is going to happen next,” she said. Those are precisely the kind of plays Bookler wants Underbite Theater Company to present. Its first production, “Bird in the Window,” explored a woman’s lingering trauma after being sexually assaulted. Its second, “Snyder v. Phelps, the Musical,” examined the Supreme Court’s controversial 8-1 decision in favor the Westboro Baptist Church, which is notorious for picketing funerals with signs reading “God Hates Fags.” Those kinds of plays get audiences talking, and Bookler believes Anastasi’s play will do the same. She welcomes feedback and plans to share it with the author. As she explained, “Would You Still Love Me, IF?” is a work in progress. This is only the play’s second staging, and Anastasi continues to tweak it. It’s too soon to tell if this play will become a kind of “Torch Song Trilogy” for a new generation, but Bookler is optimistic. “I am hoping that this is going to be one of the ones that is going to propel other playwrights to put their voices out there and, again, make this something that is more the norm that we see on stages all over the place,” she said. For more information, visit www.underbitetheatre.com. n
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 6-12, 2015
The
Since 1976
PGN Guide to the Gayborhood
The Philadelphia Gayborhood is roughly centered at 12th and Camac streets. Look for the rainbow street signs at intersections and remember to be aware of your surroundings wherever you go. Boxers
1330 Walnut St. facebook.com/ boxersphl Sports bar with multiple plasma tvs, pool table, brick oven, more!
❍
<—
❍
Rosewood
Tabu
Woody’s
1302 Walnut St. 215.336.1335 rosewood-bar.com Cozy, elegantly-appointed bar with high-end cocktails
200 S. 12th St. 215.964.9675 tabuphilly.com Sports bar / drag shows and bar food
202 S. 13th St. 215.545.1893 woodysbar.com American-style bar food and large dance floor
❍ ❍
The Bike Stop
Four-level leather bar; basement enforces a dress code; secondfloor pool table and big-screen sports action
Walnut St. Chancellor St.
❍
❍
St. James St.
❍
❒ ❒
❍ Manning St.
❍
Quince St.
Latimer St.
12th St.
Camac St.
13th St.
Juniper St.
<—
11th St.
Locust St.
❍
❍ Spruce St.
William Way LGBT Community Center
1315 Spruce St. 215.732.2220 waygay.org
A resource for all things LGBT
Voyeur
1221 St. James St. 215.735.5772 voyeurnightclub.com After-hours private club; membership required
U Bar 1220 Locust St. 215.546.6660
Relaxing corner bar, easy-going crowd, popular for happy hour and window watching
Tavern on Camac West of Broad Street Stir Lounge
1705 Chancellor St. 215.732.2700 stirphilly.com Fun two-bar lounge, DJ in the back, regular poker games and specials
The Attic Youth Center
255 S. 16th St. 215.545.4331 atticyouthcenter.org Safe space and programs for LGBTs age 16-23 weekday afternoons and evenings
255 S. Camac St. 215.545.8731 Piano lounge with upstairs dance floor; Tavern restaurant below is open late.
Knock 225 S. 12th St. 215.925.1166 knockphilly.com Fine -dining restaurant and bar with outdoor seating (weather permitting)
ICandy
254 S. 12th St. 267.324.3500 clubicandy.com Three floors with a total of six bars; dance floor, lounge and rootop deck.
Venture Inn 255 S. Camac St. 215.545.8731 Bar and restaurant with frequent entertainment
Pa. bars close at 2 a.m. unless they have a private-club license. Please drink responsibly.
Gift Guides
Friday Dec. 4 & Friday Dec. 11
Unlike most PGN readers, he’s worried he didn’t check out the
PGN
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 6-12, 2015
Food and Drink Directory
Looking For Some Place New? Try Food and Drink Directories in PGN.
FOR ADVERTISING INFO CONTACT YOUR PGN AD REP AT (215) 625-8501
The Center City IHOP located at 1320 Walnut St. is now open 24 Hrs on FRIDAY and SATURDAY
THANKS FOR MAKING IT A IHOP DAY
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 6-12, 2015
PORTRAIT from page 29
NM: Sadly, my mother’s parents never did and her immediate family was not very warm or kind to me during my childhood. But her extended family in Wisconsin are amazing and wonderful and I’ve been to see them numerous times over the years. PGN: Tell me about your mom. NM: She’s an incredible human being. I think she came out of the womb energetic and fearless! And smart: She has a bachelor’s degree in public-health education with a minor in nutrition, a master’s degree in community development from UC Davis and a doctorate in educational leadership from UC Davis and CSU Fresno. She started as a nutrition advisor and has worked for the past decade in education support, doing leadership development. Her passion is rural education and she served on the board of the school that my dad, me and my brother attended. She’s an elected official and we’re so proud. PGN: How did you meet your partner? NM: [Laughs] Classically, at a queer women’s mixer, POW [Professional Out Women] — one of those events where you wear a star on your nametag if you’re single. I’d just come back from school and didn’t know any queer people in my hometown so I went to make friends. As soon as I walked in, this older lesbian, around 60, walked over and said [in a squeaky voice], “Did you come here by yourself, baby?” I said yes, and she grabbed my hand and started introducing me to everyone. Nicola saw me and started up a conversation and we’ve been together ever since. She works in agriculture as well. She works for a winery and, believe it or not, she went to the same high school as me! If someone had read my fortune back then and said, “You will grow up, come out as queer and date someone from high school,” I would have been like, No way! PGN: Between the wine, peaches and grapes, you must have some great meals. NM: We’re very blessed for sure! PGN: I saw you describe yourself as an agrarian-artist. Explain. NM: I have a very ambitious curiosity; my art, loosely defined, expands from performance work. My graduate work was in performance as public practice and I did a one-woman show on Japanese-American memory. I am a diehard advocate for thinking about food as an aesthetic experience of meaning and community, and so I don’t see much of a gap between cooking — whether it’s home cooking or culinary arts — and what we regularly think of as the arts. Much of my journey in farming has opened up fascinating questions about process that have mirrored some of my artistic paths in civic art — art that’s designed to serve some kind of civic need or purpose. I’ve been working on a community fellowship trying to configure a response to the drought via creative processes.
PGN
PGN: Tell me about the one-woman show. NM: It was called “What We Could Carry.” I’d started having dreams about my Jiichan and his experiences in the internment camp. He was still alive at that time but couldn’t speak and I felt I needed to hone in on the stories of our community. I was drawn to the JapaneseAmerican movement for redress because it was ostensibly a movement for healing. I read thousands of pages of testimony from people telling their stories before, during and after camp. I learned so much but if I had to pick two things, I don’t think I had made space in my heart to carry the depth of suffering that experience brought. The flipside of that was how incredibly resilient my family and my community was to survive that experience, both physically and emotionally. PGN: We have a way of whitewashing the atrocities that we’ve committed right here in the United States, but it’s nice that people like you and George Takei, with his play “Allegiance,” are keeping it alive. NM: Yeah, I saw it in L.A. and it’s really good. A very nuanced story, there are a lot of different perspectives. PGN: So let’s do some random questions: Something you miss the most from childhood? NM: I miss the way that time felt slower back then. PGN: Other than your produce, if you could be a spokesperson for a product, what would you endorse? NM: Sadly, there is not a lot of cheese production here in the valley, so I wish there was a really robust cheese culture I could endorse. PGN: Something from the past you’d bring back? NM: Oh, good one. I’d bring a place called Tofuya back into existence. Apparently when my dad was growing up, there was a little homemade tofu shop nearby and they would deliver tofu to your home … like a milkman! [Laughs] I would love that! PGN: In the film, there was a quote from your father that I loved: “It’s not success I want to leave behind, it’s significance.” Define what a great life means to you. NM: The two words that are at the core of my heart are “courage” and “ferocious.” I think living a good life means living a life of courage and ferociousness, and I mean ferocious in its most joyous and empowered sense. n The Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival runs Nov. 12-22. For more information, visit www.phillyasianfilmfest.org. To suggest a community member for Family Portrait, email portraits05@aol. com.
Q Puzzle Street smart Across
1. Where men might sweat together 5. “The Silence of the ___” 10. Bygone pump name 14. Type of sword 15. Turn inside out 16. “Ed Wood” star Johnny 17. Doctor Zhivago 18. Where to see chaps in chaps 19. AIDS flick “Under ___” 20. He played a closeted gay man in 30-Down 23. Uttered obscenities 24. “The Deep Six” actor Zimbalist 25. Craig Claiborne’s gumbo pod 27. Peter I, for one 28. They’re outstanding 31. A woman named Arthur 33. Fouls, to the Pinball Wizard 37. Matchmaker of myth 38. Costar’s first name in 30-Down 40. Ramirez of
“Grey’s Anatomy” 41. Meat source Down Under 42. Caught at a gay rodeo 44. Spill one’s seed 45. Umpire Dave 47. Homo chaser? 49. Hosp. scan 50. Verlaine’s name 51. 6-0 for Mauresmo 55. Mason portrayer Burr 59. “There oughta be ___” 60. Costar’s last name in 30-Down 62. “If ___ I Would Leave You” 63. Avis adjective 64. Contest venue 65. Q to a Scrabble player 66. “Blowjob” filmer Warhol 67. Title character for Barbra 68. Emmy award winner Ward
Down
1. Professional voyeur? 2. Prepares to serve at the Manhole 3. Straight as an ___ 4. Footwear for Aspen
5. “My Fair Lady” lyricist 6. Own up to 7. Prefix for care 8. Songwriter Jacques 9. Wraps for female impersonators 10. Oscar nominee for “The Hours” 11. Part of a “Tommy” lyric 12. Orgasm, e.g. 13. Select, with “for” 21. Puts out 22. “___ first you don’t...” 26. Cut down to size 27. Resort lake
28. Bottomless 29. Humorist Bombeck 30. 2015 film named for a street 32. They could come from Uranus 34. 30-Down, to 20-Across 35. Drop ___ (moon) 36. Tools for woody targets 38. Toto’s home st. 39. Suffix with law 42. Big sticks 43. Say “She’s just a friend” to a jealous lover, e.g.
46. Street named for Liberace? 48. Houston’s WNBA team 51. Angelina’s tomb-raiding role 52. Wife of Buck’s Wang 53. Auction site 54. Receptacle weight 55. Musical critics were torn about? 56. Shrinking sea 57. Foster title role 58. De Matteo of “Desperate Housewives” 61. Boy toy?
PGN
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 6-12, 2015
Classifieds All real-estate advertising is subject to Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended. Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and handicap (disability). PGN will not knowingly accept any real-
estate advertising that is in violation of any applicable law. PGN does not accept advertising that is unlawful, false, misleading, harmful, threatening, abusive, invasive of another’s privacy, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, hateful or racially or otherwise objectionable, including without limitation material of any kind or nature that encourages conduct that could constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability or otherwise violate any applicable local, state, provincial, national or international law or regulation, or encourage the use of controlled substances.
Real Estate Sale
Roommates
VENTNOR, NJ House for sale in Ventnor NJ. 2 story 5 bedroom house, needs some repairs. Priced right. Call 215 468 9166. ________________________________________39-44
SHARE HOME, PRIVATE ROOM GM couple seeks RM. 3 BR home in Manayunk. Steps to Main St. & all pub. trans. W/D, D/W, G/D, new hdwd flrs, 1.5 BA, updated kit. Must love dogs. $695 incl. all uitils, cable & internet. Furnished if needed. Rhett, 277-688-1946. _____________________________________________39-44
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2002 PT Cruiser. Red with wood grain. 112K. Runs good. Well maintained. $3000.00. Call Joe-856-275-6271. ________________________________________39-47
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LANCASTER (NEAR PA-283) 1 BR, 1 BA, 1-person restored historic log caretaker cottage. Caretaker option: riding mower. Scenic site; privacy; tranquillity. (717) 898-0433. ________________________________________39-44 OFFICE OR APARTMENT IN SOUTH JERSEY 20 mins to CC. Pub. trans. accesable. 1850 sq. ft. $1500/ mo, will negotiate. Call Hal, 609-828-5367. _____________________________________________39-48 11TH & WASHINGTON, PASSY\UNK SQUARE 1 BR + den house on sm. st., $1275/mo. 1.5 BA, W/D, ceiling fans, window A/C, hdwd flrs thruout. Tile kitchen & bath, nice garden. Recent complete renov. 215-806-5050. _____________________________________________39-46 SOUTH PHILLY BEULAH OFF TASKER 2 BR, 1 BA townhouse, EIK, W/D, basement, lg deck, backyard w/planters, walking dist. to Passyunk scene & Italian Market. $1045/mo. Call 215-990-3405. _____________________________________________39-44
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Services WEEKEND DRIVER AVAILABLE In Bucks Co. Errands, doctor or vet appts., delivery, Phila. airport. Call Michael at 267-391-5787. _____________________________________________39-44 MEDICAL BILLING TRAINEES NEEDED! Become a Medical Office Assistant! NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED! Online training can get you job ready! HS Diploma/GED & PC/Internet needed! 1-888-424-9412. ________________________________________39-44 AIRLINE CAREERS begin here. Get hands on training as FAA certified Aviation Technician. Financial Aid for qualified students. Job placement assistance. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance 888-834-9715. ________________________________________39-44
400 W. CRYSTAL LAKE AVENUE, HADDON TWP, NJ 08033 - ASKING $519,900
Main Line Living in resort like setting Elegant 4 BR French Colonial with dramatic views in the Reserve at Springton Woods Beautiful first floor master palatial floor plan and maintence free living including snow removal and lawn care. Community club house, pool & tennis courts and walking trail 20 minutes from Philadelphia Airport and close to all major arteries. $539,000 Christine Langdon REALTOR Keller Williams Real Estate
1400 N Providence Rd Suite 1000 Media, Pa 19063
TWO HOUSES FOR THE PRICE OF ONE! Beautifully-maintained and decorated 4 bdrm, 3 bath MAIN HOUSE and a separate one bdrm, one bath, living room, full kitchen, GUEST HOUSE! Main House features include 9-foot ceilings and crown moldings, large great room with fireplace and custom mantle, lovely large kitchen with granite countertops, upgraded appliances and wet bar, downstairs bedroom, full bath with jetted tub, full high basement with cedar closet and lovely rear deck with pergola. Upstairs has master bdrm with large full bath and walk in closet, two additional bdrms, laundry room and lots of storage. GUEST HOME is adorable with a relaxing brick patio and laundry in its own full basement. OVERSIZED THREE-CAR GARAGE with LOFT too! Serene Koi pond with new equipment. Lots of parking on lovely ½ acre grounds complete with flowering and shade trees. This is not a drive-by! Call for your private showing today, or join us at one of our Open Houses! Ask For Pamela Whiting Ciervo.
Main Street Realty
730 Haddon Avenue • Collingswood, NJ
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610-565-1995 office 267-679-1571 mobile clangdon@kw.com MainStRealty.com
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 6-12, 2015
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 6-12, 2015
Notices Court of Common Pleas for the County of Philadelphia, August Term, 2015, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on September 3, 2015, the petition of Amber Letice White was filed, praying for a decree to change his name to Moss White. The Court has fixed November 23, 2015 at 10 a.m., in Room No. 691, in Philadelphia City Hall for hearing. All persons interested may appear and show cause if they have, why the prayer of the said petitioner should not be granted. ________________________________________39-44
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PGN
Men Delco Dudes A men’s social and support group meets 7-9 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of the month at Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County, 145 W. Rose Tree Road in Media; delco.dudes@ uucdc.org. Gay Married Men’s Association Meets 7-9 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St.; www. meetup.com/GAMMA-GayMarried-Mens-Support-Group-inPhiladelphia-PA. Men of All Colors Together Meets 7:30 p.m. the third Friday of the month, September through June, at William Way; 610-277-6595, www.MACTPhila.org. Men’s Coming Out Group, N.J. Meets 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays at The Pride Center of New Jersey; njwarrior@aol.com. Men of Color United A discussion/support group for gay and bisexual men of color meets 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays at 1207 Chestnut St., third floor; 215-496-0330.
Parents/Families Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Bucks County Meets 7:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month at Penns Park United Methodist Church, 2394 Second Street Pike, Penns Park, and hird Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Warminster UCC, 785 Street Road; 215-348-9976. PFLAG/Chester County Meets 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month at the Unitarian Fellowship of West Chester, 501 S. High St.; 484-354-2448. PFLAG/Collingswood, N.J. Meets 6:30-9 p.m. the fourth Monday of the month at Collingswood Public Library, 771 Haddon Ave.; 609-202-4622, pflagcollingswood@yahoo.com. PFLAG/Media Meets 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of every month at the Unitarian Universal Church, 145 Rose Tree Rd.; 610-368-2021. PFLAG/Philadelphia Meets 2-5 p.m. the third Sunday of the month at the LGBT Center at the University of Pennsylvania, 3907 Spruce St.; 215-572-1833. PFLAG/Princeton, N.J. Meets 7:30 p.m. the second Monday of the month in the George Thomas Room at Trinity Church, 33 Mercer St.; 609-6835155. PFLAG/Wilmington, Del. Meets 7-9 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1502 W. 13th St.; 302-654-2995. 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 held monthly; 215-600-2864, info@ phillyfamilypride.org, www. phillyfamilypride.org.
Trans Evolutions A drop-in support group for anyone on the transgender spectrum meets 6 p.m. Thursdays at 21 S. 12th St., eighth floor; 215-563-0652 ext. 235. Mazzoni Center Family and Community Medicine Primary health care and specialized transgender services in a safe, professional, nonjudgmental environment, 809 Locust St.; 215563-0658. T-MAN People-of-color support group for transmen, FTMs, butches, studs, aggressives, bois, genderqueer and all female-born individuals with gender questions meets 7:309:30 p.m. Mondays, 1201 Locust St., second floor; 215-632-3028, tmanphilly.com. Transhealth Information Project Sponsors a weekly drop-in center from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays and and 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fridays at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; 215-8511822. Transgender Health Action Coalition Peer trans health-advocacy organization, 1201 Locust St., fourth floor; 215-732-1207. Young, Trans and Unified Support group for transgender and questioning individuals ages 13-23 meets 7:15 p.m. Thursdays at The Attic Youth Center, 255 S. 16th St.; 215-545-4331, www. atticyouthcenter.org.
Women Hanging Out With Lesbians A group in Central Pennsylvania that organizes concerts, camping, golf, picnics, hikes, plays and game nights in nonsmoking environments; http://groups.yahoo. com/group/howlofpa/. Lesbian Community of Delaware Valley Social group meets monthly for activities for gay women of all ages in Delaware, Chester and Montgomery counties; http:// groups.yahoo.com/group/LCDV/. Lesbian Couples Dining Group of Montgomery County Meets monthly; 215-542-2899. Mt. Airy Lesbian Social Club For lesbians in the Philadelphia area ages 35-plus; www.meetup. com/mtairylesbiansocial/. Queer Connections Social group for women in their 20s meets weekly; http:// groups.yahoo.com/group/ queerconnections/. Sisters United A social/support group for transwomen of color ages 13-24, with weekly social events, open discusson and monthly movie/ discussions meets 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays, 1207 Chestnut St., third floor; 215-496-0330. Women Coming-Out Support Group Women, ages 18 and over, who consider themselves gay, lesbian, bisexual or questioning and are at any stage of the coming-out process are welcome to meet 7:30 p.m. the first Tuesday and third Thursday of the month at the Pride Center of New Jersey; www. pridecenter.org.
Youth 40 Acres of Change Discussion group for teen and young adults meets 6-8 p.m. Thursdays at The COLOURS Organization Inc., 1207 Chestnut St., third floor; 215-851-1975. GLBT Group of Hunterdon County Social and support groups for youth, teens and young adults, as well as parents and family members, meet at North County Branch Library, 65 Halstead St. in Clinton, N.J.; schedule at www. glbtofhunterdoncountyofnj.com, 908-300-1058. HAVEN LGBT, intersex, questioning, queer and allied youth ages 14-20 meet 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Lehigh Valley, 424 Center St., Bethlehem; 610-868-2153.
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 6-12, 2015
Community Bulletin Board Community centers
■ The Attic Youth Center 255 S. 16th St.; 215-545-4331, atticyouthcenter.org. For LGBT and questioning youth and their friends and allies. Groups meet and activities are held 4-7 p.m. Monday-Tuesday and 4-8:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday. Case management, HIV testing and smoking cessation are available Monday-Friday. ■ Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center at the University of Pennsylvania 3907 Spruce St., 215-898-5044, center@dolphin. upenn.edu. Regular hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. MondayThursday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday; noon-6 p.m. Saturday; noon-8 p.m. Sunday. Summer hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
■ ActionAIDS: 215-981-0088
■ Rainbow Room: Bucks County’s LGBTQ and Allies Youth Center Salem UCC Education Building, 181 E. Court St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981 ext. 9065, rainbowroom@ppbucks.org. Activities held 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays.
■ William Way Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220, www.waygay.org. Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays Peer counseling: 6-9 p.m. Monday-Friday Library: noon-9 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday Volunteers: New Orientation, first Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.
Key numbers
HiTOPS A safe-space support program for LGBT and questioning youth meets 2:30-4:30 p.m. the first and third Saturdays at 21 Wiggins St., Princeton, N.J.; 609-683-5155, hitops.org.
■ AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania: 215-587-9377
■ Equality Pennsylvania: 215731-1447; www.equalitypa.org
■ AIDS Law Project of Southern New Jersey: 856-933-9500 ext. 221
■ Equality Forum: 215-732-3378
Main Line Youth Alliance Meets from 7-9:30 p.m. Fridays at 106 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne; 610-688-1861, info@myaonline. org.
■ AIDS Library: 215-985-4851
Project Keeping it Safe LGBT youth drop-in center offers meetings, HIV and STD prevention and testing, counseling and other services on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 514 Cooper St., Camden, N.J.; 856963-2432, camden-ahec.org/. PRYSM Youth Center Youth ages 14-20 meet 6:30-8:30 p.m Wednesdays at the center, 126 East Baltimore Pike, Media; 610357-9948. Rainbow Room: Bucks County’s LGBTQ and Allies Youth Center Youth ages 14-21 meets 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays at Salem UCC Education Building, 181 E. Court St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981 ext. 9065, rainbowroom@ppbucks.org. Social X Change Social activity group for LGBT youth of color ages 13-23 meets 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays at 1207 Chestnut St., third floor; 215-851-1975. Space to be Proud, Open, and Together Open to all LGBTQ queer youth and allies, ages 14-21, the SPOT meets 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursdays at Planned Parenthood of Chester County, 8 S. Wayne St.; 267-6876648. Young, Trans and Unified A support group for transgender and questioning youth ages 13-23 meets 7:15 p.m. Thursdays at The Attic Youth Center; 215-545-4331, www.atticyouthcenter.org. You’re Not Alone Sponsored by AIDS Delaware, the group for gay, lesbian and bisexual youth meets during the school year at 100 W. 10th St., Suite 315, Wilmington, Del; 800-810-6776. Youth Making a Difference A group for LGBTQ AfricanAmerican and Latino youth ages 14-24 meets 5-7 p.m. Tuesdays at Camden AHEC, 514 Cooper St.; 856-963-2432.
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■ ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215592-1513 ■ AIDS Treatment Fact line: 800662-6080 ■ Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection at the Independence Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library: 215-685-1633 n The COLOURS Organization Inc.: 215-496-0330
■ LGBT Peer Counseling Services: 215-732-TALK ■ Mazzoni Center: 215-563-0652; Legal Services: 215-563-0657, 866-LGBT-LAW; Family & Community Medicine: 215-563-0658 ■ Office of LGBT Affairs — Director Nellie Fitzpatrick: 215-6860330; helen.fitzpatrick@phila.gov
■ Philadelphia Police Department liaison — Deputy Commissioner Kevin Bethel: 215-6863318 ■ Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 215-760-3686 (Rick Lombardo); ppd.lgbt@gmail.com ■ Philly Pride Presents: 215875-9288 ■ SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: 717-9209537 ■ Transgender Health Action Coalition: 215-732-1207 (staffed 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays and 6-9 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays)
■ Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): 215-572-1833 ■ Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations: 215-686-4670
Health
Anonymous, free, confidential HIV testing Spanish/English counselors offer testing 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 216 W. Somerset St.; 215-763-8870. ActionAIDS Provides a range of programs for people affected by HIV/ AIDS, including case management, prevention, testing and education services at 1216 Arch St.; 215-981-0088, www. actionaids.org. GALAEI: A Queer Latin@ Social Justice Organization Free, anonymous HIV testing from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; noon-6 p.m. Tuesdays at the Washington West Project, 1201 Locust St.; 215-851-1822 or 866-222-3871, www.galaei.org. Spanish/English HIV treatment Free HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment for Philadelphia residents are available from 9 a.m.-noon Mondays (walk-in) and 5-8 p.m. Thursdays (by appointment) at Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad St.; 215685-1821. HIV health insurance help Access to free medications and confidential HIV testing 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays at 13 S. MacDade Blvd., Suite
■ Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia Board meetings at 6:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at 100 S. Broad St., Suite 1810; free referral service at 215-6279090, www.galloplaw.org. ■ Independence Business Alliance Greater Philadelphia’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce, providing networking, business development, marketing, educational and advocacy opportunities for LGBT and LGBT-friendly busi-
108, Collingdale; Medical Office Building, 722 Church Lane, Yeadon; and 630 S. 60th St.; 610-586-9077. Mazzoni Center LGBTQ counseling and behavioral health services, HIV/ AIDS care and services, case management and support groups; 21 S. 12th St., eighth floor; 215-563-0652, www. mazzonicenter.org. Mazzoni Center Family & Community Medicine Comprehensive primary health care, preventive health services, gynecology, sexual-health services and chronic-disease management, including comprehensive HIV care, as well as youth drop-in (ages 14-24) 5-7p.m. Wednesdays; 809 Locust St.; 215-563-0658. Philadelphia FIGHT Comprehensive AIDS service organization providing primary care, consumer education, advocacy and research on potential treatments and vaccines; 1233 Locust St.; 215985-4448; www.fight.org. Washington West Project of Mazzoni Center Free, rapid HIV testing. Walk-ins welcome 9 a.m.-9 pm. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday; 1201 Locust St.; 215-985-9206.
Professional groups nesses and professionals; 215557-0190, www.IndependenceBusinessAlliance.com. ■ National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association Philadelphia chapter of NLGJA, open to professionals and students, meets for social and networking events; www.nlgja.org/ philly; philly@nlgja.org.
■ Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus Regional organization dedicated to promoting LGBT tourism to the Greater Philadelphia region, meetings every other month on the fourth Thursday (January, March, May, July, September and the third Thursday in November), open to the public; 215-8402039, www.philadelphiagaytourism.com.
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 6-12, 2015
PGN
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