PGN Nov. 9 -15, 2012

A kiki with Kaki

Family Portrait: Laurentius Purnama PAGE 23

25 years of service to people living with AIDS

PAGE 27

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Nov. 9-15, 2012

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Vol. 36 No. 45

Four more years

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

HARRISBURG HOPEFULS: More than 100 people cheered on local and national Democrats on election night at the Midtown Scholar Bookstore in Harrisburg, including Rep.-elect Brian Sims (left) and House hopeful Christopher Dietz. Other guests included Equality Pennsylvania executive director Ted Martin and out House candidate Kelly McEntee. Dietz, McEntee and openly gay candidate Jeff Dahlander did not win their races, so Sims will go on to become the state’s first and only openly LGBT state lawmaker. Photos: Scott A. Drake

PA officially elects Sims; other out candidates unsuccessful

By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com The LGBT community watched Tuesday as President Barack Obama was elected for a second term, giving him four more years to fight for LGBT issues. However, this election also made history for the LGBT community both on the national and local levels.

Wisconsin’s Tammy Baldwin was elected as the country’s first openly LGBT U.S. Senator, and Brian Sims was elected as the first openly gay state law-

DAHLANDER (LEFT) AND MCENTEE

maker in Pennsylvania “Being out really does make the difference in electing LGBT people,” Sims said Tuesday night. “We know that things really do change when you elect out people.”

In the spring, Sims defeated longtime Rep. Babette Josephs (D-182nd Dist.) and was unopposed in Tuesday’s election.

Three other state House candidates were poised to make history with him — Christopher Dietz, Kelly McEntee and Jeff Dahlander — but none claimed victory.

Dietz lost to incumbent Susan Helm (R-104th Dist.) by a 54.5-45.5 margin, a difference of about 2,600 votes.

“I know that both Chris and Kelly really put their hearts and souls into the races.” Sims said in an interview with PGN Wednesday morning. “I know they are feeling pretty good about the way they ran their campaign and their races.

For me personally and professionally, it was important for me to have them there PAGE 2 in Harrisburg.”

Obama’s reelection was resoundingly cheered by the LGBT community.

“As millions of Americans celebrate President Obama’s reelection, the LGBT community is particularly elated to send the most pro-equality president ever back to the White House for a second term,” Human Rights Campaign president Chad Griffin said in a statement Tuesday night. “There is no doubt that we will continue to see tremen-

President Barack Obama, deemed by many to be the nation’s most LGBT-friendly commander-in-chief ever, won re-election this week.

Obama will receive a second term, after capturing about 50 percent of the popular vote and 303 electoral votes, compared to Republican candidate Mitt Romney’s 48 percent of the vote and 206 electoral votes as of press time.

The president swept a number of key swing states and, once he took the coveted Ohio, most election trackers predicted him the winner around 11:15 Tuesday night.

Obama took the stage at McCormick Place in Chicago early Wednesday to deliver his victory speech, again referencing diversity, as he did in his A COMMAND PERFORMANCE: President Barack 2008 acceptance address.

Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama departed Air “It doesn’t matter whether Force One early Tuesday morning in Chicago, Obama’s you’re black or white or Hispanic hometown and where the Obama family spent Election or Asian or Native American or Day. Obama went on to victory late Tuesday night. Photo: young or old or rich or poor, Associated Press/Paul Beaty able, disabled, gay or straight — you can make it here in America if you’re dous progress toward full equality like we’ve willing to try,” he said. “I believe we can made during his first four years.” seize this future together because we are not Obama’s victory made him the first person as divided as our politics suggests. We’re who openly supports marriage equality ever not as cynical as the pundits believe. We are to be elected president. greater than the sum of our individual ambiEquality Pennsylvania president Ted tions, and we remain more than a collection Martin said Obama’s reelection will be a of red states and blue states. We are and for- milestone in the LGBT-rights movement.

PAGE 8 ever will be the United States of America.”

“It’s pretty remark-

Marriage equality sweeps the polls

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com The longheld argument by antigay activists that marriage equality has consistently failed when put to a popular vote was turned on its head with Tuesday’s election.

Marriage equality saw an enormous boon, as all four states that were to decide same-sex marriage questions came down on the LGBT community’s side. Maryland.

Maine and Washington all approved their

state’s recently passed marriage-equality laws, while voters in Minnesota defeated a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage.

The votes mark the first time ever that marriage equality has been successful when put to a popular vote; the issue previously failed 32 times on initiatives to approve marriage laws or defeat bans on same-sex marriage.

Overnight, the country jumped from PAGE 17 having six states to nine

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

OUT CANDIDATES from page 1

Despite the loss, Dietz said he learned a lot during his campaign and was able to heighten LGBT awareness. He said media coverage across the state included references to his sexual orientation.

“We had multiple different articles that talked about it. I think that people saw that and it was part of the conversation and I think we have advanced with the conversation,” he said.

While his own election was historic, Sims also gave credit to the other out candidates for helping to heighten visibility.

“It is important we get the message out about LGBT people,” Sims said. “[The fact] that we had an openly lesbian and gay man do well lets people across the commonwealth know that we are here and we are working for our rights and we are working for the commonwealth.”

Dietz said his orientation was not an issue throughout his campaign.

He recalled when he and Sims participated in Williamstown’s Halloween Parade, he heard a conversation during which a young man pointed to Dietz’s car and said to a friend, “That’s the gay candidate.” Dietz said the girl turned to the boy and said, “Yes, and I am voting for him, are you?”

“My campaign moved forward conversation in areas that might not usually talk about LGBT issues. I am happy with

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PGN

being able to do that,” he said.

Dietz said several people have come out to him while he was on the campaign trail.

“It is giving people the strength to be who they are and help them with their process. It has been a wonderful experience for me all across the board,” he said.

Elsewhere, McEntee lost to Republican incumbent Rep. Ron Marsico (105th Dist.)

65-35 percent, and Dahlander lost 71-29 to Republican incumbent Sandra Major (111th Dist.).

Sims said he is eager to have other out candidates eventually join him in the state legislature.

“We know that no state has ever recognized relationships between LGBT people and done it without having a first out legislature,” Sims said. “There are 12-and-a-half million people in this state — potentially 1 million LGBT people in Pennsylvania — and they should have

a lot more than just one out representative.”

Once he takes office in January, Sims said he’s looking forward to advancing an LGBT-inclusive statewide nondiscrimination measure, which he predicted could pass in his inaugural term.

“We know from states all across the c o u n t r y, w e know from chambers of commerce that being LGBTinclusive, that having LGBTinclusive nondiscrimination policies, is good for business. I think Pennsylvania Democrats and Republicans are poised to take this step towards m a k i n g Pennsylvania more attractive to businesses.”

Dietz is also hopeful for equality to become a reality in Pennsylvania.

“I think we are going to win equality. It doesn’t only come from laws and the government but it comes from people’s hearts

“There are 12-and-a-half million people in this state — potentially 1 million LGBT people in Pennsylvania — and they should have a lot more than just one out representative.”

—Brian Sims, Rep.-elect

and I think that is what is going to make it go forward.”

Delaware has yet to elect an out LGBT state lawmaker. Two candidates, Andrew Staton and Marie Mayor, who ran for the state Senate and House, respectively, fell to Republicans Tuesday.

History was made nationally, as Baldwin ascends from the U.S. House to the Senate. “ T a m m y Baldwin has always been a trailblazer, but with her victory tonight, Sen.BALDWIN elect Baldwin has again earned her spot in the history books,” said Human Rights Campaign president Chad Griffin. “[She has had] a relentless focus on the issues that matter most to Wisconsin voters — economic security, access to healthcare, and fairness and inclusion for all. As a result, she’s earned the respect of all her constituents, gay and straight. It was HRC’s privilege to be part of the broad coalition that helped ensure her victory, and we can’t wait to work with her and her team as she takes on this new role.” ■

locations in Pa. outside of Philadelphia

Allentown • Allentown Brew Works, 812 Hamilton St. • Candida, 247 N. 12th St. • MCCLV, 930 N. Fourth St. • Stonewall, 28-30 N. 10th St. • Annville • Lebanon Valley College, Sheridan Ave. • Ardmore • Ardmore Station, Anderson Ave. near Coulter Ave. • Bethel • Adult World, 341 Midway Road • Bethlehem • LGBTQ Services Lehigh U, 25 Trembley Dr. • Bloomsberg • Bloomsberg University LGBTA Center, 400 E. Second St. • Bristol • Bristol News World, 576B Bristol Pike • Bryn Mawr • Bryn Mawr College, Canaday Library • Bryn Mawr Station, Morris Ave. near Bryn Mawr Ave. • Fox & Roach Realty, 763 Lancaster Ave. • TLA Video, 761 Lancaster Ave. • Chalfont • Dr. Annette Lee, 700 Horizon Circle, Suite 202 • Chester • Harrah’s Chester Casino, 777 Harrah’s Blvd. • Widener University, 1 University Place • Collegeville • Adult World, 3975 Ridge Pike • Devon • Devon Station, Devon State Road & Lancaster Pike • Doylestown • Doylestown Bookshop, 16 S. Main St. • Siren Records, 25 E. State St. • East Stroudsburg • Rainbow Mountain Resort, 210 Mt. Nebo Road • Easton • La Pazza, 1251 Ferry St. • Gibson • Hillside Campground, 1 Creek Road • Glen Mills • Imago Dei MCC, 1223 Middletown Road • Glenside • Keswick Cycle, 408 N. Easton Road • Harrisburg • 704 Strawberry Café, 704 N. Third St. • AIDS Community Alliance, 100 N. Cameron St. • Brownstone Lounge, 412 Forster St. • Liquid 891, 891 Eisenhower Blvd. • MCC of the Spirit, 2973 Jefferson St. • Midtown Scholar Bookstore, 1302 N. 3rd St. • Stallions, 706 N. Third St. • Haverford • Haverford Station, Haverford Station Road near Lancaster Ave. • Kutztown • Kutztown University, 15200 Main St. • Lancaster • Downtown Books, 227 N. Prince St. • Rainbow Pet Creations, 305 N. Queen St. • Sundown Lounge, 429 N. Mulberry St. • Tally Ho Tavern, 201 W. Orange St. • Lansdale • Gwynedd Vet Hospital, 1615 W. Pointe Pike • Lehighton • Woods Campground, 845 Vaughn Acres Road • Levittown • Levitt Books, 7406 Bristol Pike • Malvern • Malvern Station, King St. & Warren Ave. • Media • Unitarian Universalist Church, 145 W. Rose Tree Road • The Media Theater, 104 E. State St. • LGBT Alliance Group, Delaware Co. Campus, Penn State Univ., 901 Media Line Road • Narberth • Narberth Station, Haverford & Narberth avenues • New Hope • Café Europa, 11 Market Place • Cornerstone Gym, 419 York Road • Eagle Diner, 6522 York Road • Havana, 105 S. Main St. • John & Peters, 96 S. Main St. • Karla’s Restaurant, 5 W. Mechanic St. • La Chateau Exotique, 31A W. Mechanic St. • Havana Bar & Grill, 105 S. Main St. • The Raven, 385 W. Bridge St. • Sandbar, 90 S. Main St. • Triumph Brewing Co., 400 Union Square Drive • Wildflowers, 8 W. Mechanic St. • New Milford • Oneida Campground, 2580 E. Lake Road • Newtown • Bucks Co. Community College, 275 Swamp Road • North Wales • Adult World, 608 Upper State Road• Old Forge • Twelve Penny Saloon, 535 Hickory St. • Paoli • Paoli Station, North Valley Road & Lincoln Highway • Plains Township • Twist Bar, Fox Ridge Plaza, Rte. 315 • Quakertown • Adult World, 880 S. West End Blvd. • Reading • Berls Aid Network, 429 Walnut St. • Reading Adult Center, 316 Penn St. • Rosemont • Rosemont Station, Airdale Road & Montrose Ave. • Spring Grove • Atland’s Ranch, RR6, Box 6543 • Swarthmore • Swarthmore College, 500 College Ave., Parrish Hall • Temple • Naughty But Nice, 4502 N. Fifth St. • Upper Darby • Honor Box, 69th Street Station • Villanova • Villanova Station, Spring Mill Road near County Line Road • Warminster • Darkanyu, Bux Mont Unitarian Church, Street Road at Rt. 611 • Planned Parenthood of Bucks Co., 610 Louis Dr. • Wayne • Central Baptist Church, 106 W. Lancaster Ave. • Stafford Station, Old Eagle School & Crestline roads • Wayne Station, N. Wayne & West Ave. • West Chester • Chester County Books, 975 Paoli Pike • Williamsport • Peachies, 144 E. Fourth St. • Willow Grove • Barnes & Noble, 102 Park Ave. • Wynnwood • Wynnwood Station, Wynnewood & Penn roads • York • Cupid’s Connextion, 244 N. George St. •

ELECTION PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

Dems take top spots in PA

By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com Democrats swept Pennsylvania on Tuesday.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, Jr. was re-elected to another term and Democrats took all three row offices — Kathleen Kane as attorney general, Eugene DePasquale as auditor general and Rob McCord as treasurer.

Casey, who had been challenged by Western Pennsylvania businessman Tom Smith, won by a margin of 8.9 percent, with Casey taking 53.6 percent of Pennsylvania’s vote. He had a landslide win in Philadelphia, with more than 86 percent of the vote.

During his victory speech Tuesday night, Casey, who previously served as auditor general and treasurer, thanked Pennsylvania voters.

“I am grateful for that support,” he said. “I am grateful for all the volunteer hours that people put in, knocking on doors, making phone calls, telling their friends and neighbors and families to get out and vote — so important to our victory tonight.”

Casey said he received a phone call from Smith 40 minutes before he delivered his victory speech. Both wished each other well, after months of vigorous campaign-ad attacks.

Casey noted the importance of bipartisanship during his address.

“It’s been a tough couple of years for our country. We’ve just lived through a very tough election year. After this is over, after all the votes are counted in all these races, we have to come together as one.”

Casey was endorsed

by Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club but not by Equality Pennsylvania.

Equality PA executive director Ted Martin said the organization did not back Casey because of his stance against marriage equality; however, he acknowledged that Casey has come a long way on other LGBT issues.

“My hope is that the senator will continue to evolve. I think if he can look around and see that marriage equality did not hurt the president, he will evolve,” Martin said.

Political newcomers Kane and DePasquale, who both support marriage equality, also saw success.

Kane went up against Republican David Freed, and eventually took 56.1 percent of the votes. Her election makes her the first woman to ever hold the position of attorney general in Pennsylvania.

The race for auditor general was a closer one, with DePasquale capturing 49.7 percent of votes and challenger John Maher garner-

ing 46.5 percent.

McCord, also a supporter of same-sex marriage, defeated Republican challenger Diana Vaughan 52-44 percent. McCord has been treasurer since 2009.

All three were endorsed by Equality Pennsylvania.

Martin said they are strong on LGBT issues.

“All three of them are in support of nondiscrimination in the workplace, better hatecrimes legislation and same-sex marriage.

That is a pretty remarkable thing,” he said.

“When you talked to all three of them, you knew where they were on their positions.

These were candidates that attended our events, spoke directly about our issues and understood our issues.”

Martin noted that all three are committed to including LGBT individuals in their offices and on their teams.

That support will be unprecedented, he said.

“Having an LGBT perspective I think will be remarkable for Pennsylvania. It will change the complexion of the state.”

The trio of victories was not unexpected, however.

“These were three really strong candidates,” Martin said. “All three ran tremendous campaigns. We felt confident where they were going. They are three really strong, smart and direct candidates.”

Elsewhere, incumbent Democrats came out strong.

Congressman Bob Brady (1st Dist.) soundly defeated Republican challenger John Featherman (R) with 86.2 percent of the vote, and Congressman Chaka Fattah (2nd Dist.) will once again return to Congress after sweeping 92.2 percent of votes. Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz (13th Dist.) also won, with 73.5 percent of the votes in her race.

However, Democratic newcomers were not as successful.

Congressional hopefuls Manan Trivedi, George Badey and Kathy Boockvar lost to their Republican incumbents.

Trivedi fell to Congresssman Jim Gerlach (6th Dist.) by 54-45 percent, Boockvar to Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (8th Dist.)

56-44 percent and Badey to Congressman Patrick Meehan (7th Dist.) 56-43 percent.

At the state level, incumbent Sens. Larry Farnese (D-1st Dist.) and Daylin Leach (D17th Dist.) defeated Republican challengers.

Incumbent state Rep. Kevin Boyle (D-172nd Dist.) retained his seat, as did Rep. James Roebuck (D-188th Dist.). Democrat William Dunbar was unable to unseat Rep. John Taylor (R-177th Dist.). ■

“My hope is that [Casey] will continue to evolve. I think if he can look around and see that marriage equality did not hurt the president, he will evolve.”

—Ted Martin, Equality PA executive director

CRAWLING TO THE FINISH LINE: Former Gov. Ed Rendell was welcomed to the Gayborhood at 13th and Locust streets by throngs of passersby as he worked to get out the LGBT vote for President Obama Saturday night. Rendell stopped at Sisters, Woody’s and Knock, made a surprise visit to U Bar and delighted crowds at Tavern on Camac with his renditions of Broadway tunes and classic hits. Photo: Scott A. Drake

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

PGN

FOOTBALLERS HELP HEAL: Local residents delivered clothing, shoes, food, toiletries, children’s toys and other items to Columbus Square Park Nov. 3 for a Greater Philadelphia Flag Football League donation drive for victims of Hurricane Sandy. GPFFL members A.J. Young (from left), Vicky Crosier and Justin Dolci loaded the donations into a 10-foot truck that later made its way to a relief shelter in Jackson Township, Ocean County. Photo: Scott A. Drake NEWS

Crime Watch Local Media Trail News Briefing

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Contents

EDITORIAL/OP-ED

Creep of the Week Editorial Letters/Feedback Mark My Words Street Talk

10 10 11 11 11

How badly were you affected by Sandy?

Poll results from our online survey as of Nov. 7:

58% Not at all 36% A little 6% A lot Go to www.epgn.com to weigh in on this week’s question:

Do you think PA will adopt an LGBT nondiscrimination law in the next two years, now that there is an out lawmaker in Harrisburg?

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The views of PGN are expressed only in the unsigned “Editorial” column. Opinions expressed in bylined columns, stories and letters to the editor are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of PGN. The appearance of names or pictorial representations in PGN does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of that named or pictured person or persons.

LOCAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

Activists blast Wells Fargo donation to Scouts

By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com A recent donation of office furniture by Wells Fargo to the Boy Scouts of America Cradle of Liberty Council has raised concern among some activists.

Wells Fargo is a major financial-services center in the country, with a long history of supporting LGBT organizations, programs and causes.

“Wells Fargo is an upstanding corporate citizen,” said R. Duane Perry, a local LGBT activist. “But can they say they’re LGBT-friendly and against discrimination, yet they’re supporting an organization that openly discriminates?”

Cradle is locked in a protracted legal battle with the City of Philadelphia, which is trying to evict the group from a city-owned building because it won’t allow openly gay participants.

The case remains pending in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, where both sides are expected to file briefs shortly.

James A. Baum, a spokesperson for Wells Fargo’s Northeast market, defended the furniture donation.

“Last year, Wells Fargo and its team members [employees] provided more than $213.5 million to 19,000 nonprofits across the country,” Baum said in an email. “Of that amount, more than $2.8 million was donated to nonprofits and other organizations serving the LGBT community.”

Baum added that “$462,000 was provided to local chapters of the Boy Scouts, so for every $1 Wells Fargo or a team member donated to the Scouts, Wells Fargo and Wells Fargo team members donated $6 to organizations that serve the LGBT community.”

Perry wasn’t swayed by that reasoning.

“I think they’re evading the issue,” he said. “Substitute ‘Jews’ or any other minority group for ‘LGBT.’ So, for instance, say last year, for every $1 that Wells Fargo gave to organizations that discriminated against Jews, Wells Fargo gave $6 to Jewish organizations. Does that make the discrimination somehow all right?”

Perry would like Wells Fargo to enact a policy limiting its donations to organizations that don’t discriminate.

“It’s clear that corporations should take responsibility for their actions, and should develop policies that support nondiscrimination in their giving,” Perry said. “Our largest foundations in Philadelphia will not give to organizations that discriminate.

Corporations should follow their lead.”

Baum couldn’t say whether Wells Fargo would enact such a policy.

“I am not going to speculate on that,” he said. “I would have no idea how that could be implemented. You are talking about something that would be enacted on a corporate level. I don’t have that knowledge.”

A Wells Fargo corporate spokesperson couldn’t be reached for comment.

Baum noted that Wells Fargo has been cited on numerous occasions for its varied and extensive support of the LGBT community.

But Palma M. Rasmussen, a disabilityrights activist, said the Scouts also discriminate against members of the disabled community.

Rasmussen, who is wheelchair-bound, served as a Scouts leader for three units in Titusville, Fla. She was ejected from the organization after suing the BSA Central Florida Council for allegedly violating federal laws protecting the disabled.

Her case was dismissed as lacking in merit, but that hasn’t changed Rasmussen’s opinion of the organization.

“The Scouts don’t support a broad base of the community,” she said. “I can testify to that as a member of the disabled community who was horribly abused by the Scouts.

Whenever I approached the upper echelon of Scouting about removing barriers for the disabled community, my efforts were rebuffed, They showed an appalling lack of sensitivity — not just for me and other disabled adults, but for many disabled youths who want full access to the organization.”

At the corporate level, Wells Fargo’s donations to the Scouts are limited to programs that don’t discriminate, Baum said.

“At the corporate level, we fund two specific Boy Scouts programs, Learning for Life and Exploring, which have explicit nondiscrimination policies,” Baum said.

“Learning for Life is a pre-kindergarten through grade-12 program that provides character education, bullying prevention and related life-skills training. Exploring provides mentoring, internship and community-service opportunities for 14-20year-olds. We have carefully reviewed the eligibility requirements for these two programs to ensure that they do not exclude participants and volunteers. This is consistent with our commitment to diversity and inclusion and our opposition to discrimination of any kind.”

Perry and Rasmussen took issue with Baum’s assertion that the programs don’t discriminate.

“Learning for Life and Exploring are part of Boy Scouts, led by the same Scout executives that are hired because they are not gay, agnostics or atheists,” Perry said.

Rasmussen was more pointed in her assessment.

“The Scouts are equal-opportunity discriminators,” she said. “In my opinion, racism, sexism, ableism and homophobia are rampant in the organization. The BSA has evolved into an outlet for the Mormons and their belief system. All of that money for Learning for Life and Exploring goes into the same dirty, stinking, PAGE 17

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

LOCAL PGN

AIDS organization celebrates 25 years of service, housing

By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com North Philadelphia is home to two buildings that have provided innumerable benefits to people living with HIV/AIDS. Calcutta House was founded in 1987 and this year celebrates 25 years of providing HIV/AIDS health care and housing.

Calcutta currently houses 27 individuals with HIV/AIDS, split between its two facilities: Independence Place, 1601 W. Girard Ave., and Serenity Court, 1221 N. 19th St. Calcutta House was originally located in West Philadelphia and was founded by the Mother Teresa Brothers of Charity. At the time, the operation was located in a fourstory Victorian rowhome in the University City area and originally could accommodate five people.

“These were individuals who were homeless and at the end stages of AIDS,” Calcutta director of development and communication Joseph Tozzi said. “They were homeless because of their AIDS diagnosis.

They were so weak because they lost their jobs and were abandoned by their families because of the diagnosis.”

Tozzi said the house wasn’t classified as a hospice but a place where people could be eased and comfortable during their last days.

“The brothers were there for a couple of years but were then reassigned to another

project,” Tozzi explained. “So they turned government and corporations.

Tozzi noted the advancement of HIV/ over the management of Calcutta House to AIDS medicines prompted the agency to a group of volunteers.”

Those volunteers helped evolve Calcutta expand its services to include employment into a viable nonprofit organization, devel- and other resources for residents, and its oping a board of directors and securing 501 ability to help residents learn to live with (c)(3) status. the disease was integral in securing further “From that point on, they began to start support.

“That was the appeal to get a lot of fundraising money because they knew they had to expand in terms of serving more people,” ing. We were improving the lives of these individuals and helping them live indepenTozzi said.

Calcutta eventually branched into two dently,” he said.

While people are living longer with the different locations: Independence Place, an 18-bed facility designed for residents disease, Tozzi said he thinks that in the past who are able to live more independently, few years the epidemic has flown under the funders’ radar, which opened in compared to other 1996; and Serenity illnesses and infecCourt, a nine-bed tions. operation catering For more to those approaching the end of than a decade, their lives, which Calcutta received opened in 2004. a $300,000 According to grant from the Tozzi, there was Department of a lot of support Public Welfare, from faith-based which licensed organizations in the organization. the beginning and But that grant was Calcutta House has discontinued last since expanded its summer. funding to include “There is a pergrants from fedCALCUTTA HOUSE ON GIRARD AVENUE ception that AIDS eral, state and local Photo: Scott A. Drake has been cured

because of the availability of pharmaceuticals. Certainly, it is not the death sentence was 10-15 years ago,” he said. “Other diseases and issues have moved up in the pecking order in terms of receiving grants.”

With the plethora of HIV/AIDSfocused organizations and groups around Philadelphia, however, Tozzi said Calcutta House has long provided a unique service.

“We offer something that is distinct.

Different organizations have different focal points and there has always been a need for the services that we provide,” he said.

Currently, there is a waiting list for Calcutta. Tozzi said residents who are ready to move out can’t find affordable housing in which to live independently, leading to the wait list getting longer.

Calcutta House will host a fundraising event from 6-8 p.m. Nov. 28 at the Hyatt at the Bellevue, 200 S. Broad St. The event will also honor Sister Joanne Whitaker for her nine years of dedication to the organization. Whitaker was the first executive director and was involved in fundraising and opening Independence Place.

The event will include an auction in which guests can bid on a two-night/three-day stay for two at the Tropicana Las Vegas or two club-seat tickets to the Dec. 23 Eagles game. Tickets to the event are $100 and include an open bar and free food. For more information, email jtozzi@calcuttahouse. org. ■

REGIONAL LOCAL PGN

News Briefing Killer seeks new trial Frank R. Chester, who allegedly conspired with Richard R. Laird to kill gay artist Anthony Milano almost 25 years ago, wants a federal judge to grant him a new trial.

Chester and Laird allegedly killed Milano in December 1987 after luring the artist from a Bristol Township tavern into a secluded wooded area.

Several hours later, police found Milano’s body, his throat hacked out with a boxcutter.

Chester and Laird were arrested, each blaming the other for the murder.

Prosecutors called it an antigay hate crime, partly because both men made antigay slurs while inside the tavern.

In May 1988, a jury found both men guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced them to death.

But in February 2011, Chester’s firstdegree murder conviction and death sentence were vacated by U.S. District Judge C. Darnell Jones 2d.

Jones ruled that jurors weren’t properly

instructed on accomplice liability, thus depriving Chester of his right to a fair trial.

Now Chester seeks a reversal of his second-degree murder conviction and other related convictions, including kidnapping, aggravated assault and unlawful restraint.

Chester alleges that his trial attorney, Thomas Edwards Jr., was ineffective, partly because Edwards had a pending DUI charge against him during the 1988 trial.

“This was a vicious, violent killing by Richard Laird and Frank Chester of an innocent, helpless victim simply because they thought he was gay,” s a i d B u c k s County First Assistant District Attorney Michelle A. Henry. “That’s what this case is about. We’re fighting this appeal and we will continue to fight this appeal.”

Both sides are expected to file briefs in the matter within the next several weeks, and then Jones will issue a ruling.

Daniel A. Silverman, an attorney for Chester, couldn’t be reached for comment.

Laird’s first-degree murder conviction and death sentence were vacated in 2001, on the basis that he didn’t receive a fair trial. But he received a new trial in 2007, and jurors reinstated the first-degree murder conviction and death sentence.

Laird is currently appealing that ruling in state court.

Chester, 44, remains on death row at the state prison in Graterford.

Laird, 49, remains on death row at the state prison in Franklin Township.

— Timothy Cwiek

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

7

Pulse parties for victims

Pride Day at the Zoo

Pulse Events, which hosts a monthly LGBT dance party, will this weekend stage a charitable event for the victims of Hurricane Sandy.

“Time to Give Thanks” will be held from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Nov. 10 at Smokin’ Betty’s, 116 S. 11th St. Pulse will donate 100 percent of the proceeds to the American Red Cross Hurricane Relief fund.

Cover charge is $5. Pulse will match every “like” it receives on Facebook during the event with $1.

Email pulse.events.philly@gmail.com.

The Philadelphia Zoo will host its fourth annual Pride Day, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 11. The William Way LGBT Community Center, The Attic Youth Center and Stimulus Productions will team with the zoo for a fun-filled day. The event will include free face painting, live music, an LGBT resource pavilion and themed programs.

Tickets are $12 and can be purchased online at www.waygay.org or by calling 215-732-2220.

Community addresses HIV

Local church marks World AIDS Day

The Positive Justice Project and the Philadelphia chapter of the Positive Women’s Network will host a roundtable discussion on the Pennsylvania laws regarding HIV disclosure from 3-6:30 p.m.

Nov. 19 at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St. Panelists will include AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania executive director Ronda Goldfein, The Sero Project’s Robert Suttle and a representative from the Philadelphia Public Defender’s Office. The event will also feature a screening of “HIV is Not a Crime,” which features the stories of individuals who were arrested over HIV-disclosure issues.

Refreshments will be served.

The Centenary United Methodist Church, 149 S. White Horse Pike in Berlin, N.J., will host a dinner, concert and service event in honor of World AIDS Day, starting at 6 p.m. Nov. 10.

The event will feature a performance

by Brotherly Love, an ensemble of the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus. From 910:15 a.m. the following day, the church will continue to recognize World AIDS Day with a worship service, which will feature local performer Joey Josephs.

For more information, call 609-4587821.

Congratulations

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— Angela Thomas

We want to know!

If you are celebrating an anniversary, engagement, wedding, adoption or other life event, we would be happy to help you announce it to the community.

Send your contact information and a brief description of the event to editor@epgn.com.

8

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

ELECTION PGN OBAMA from page 1

POLL WATCHERS: Long lines were reported at polling places across the city Tuesday, including at this location at 12th and Pine streets. President Obama easily took the heavily Democratic Philadelphia, capturing more than 85 percent of the city’s vote. With the election, Obama becomes the first person who openly supports marriage equality ever to assume the presidency. The 182nd District, which encompasses the Gayborhood, elected the state’s first openly LGBT lawmaker, Brian Sims, who was unopposed in the general election after defeating longtime Rep. Babette Josephs in the spring. Other out candidates were not as successful, but Democrats swept the top row offices in the state and Democratic Sen. Bob Casey retained his seat. Photo: Scott A. Drake

able,” he said. “For a politician, the president of the United States, to publicly come out in support of marriage equality, and to support so many LGBT issues, and to be reelected, that’s remarkable. That gives me tremendous hope. This was a watershed moment. No longer can elected officials say, ‘Well I’ll lose my race if I support these issues.’ If the president of the United States is willing to put his job on the line for this community, and he’s reelected, it makes it really hard for anyone else to use that argument.”

Griffin added that his agency disagreed with pundits who predicted the president’s recent marriage-equality support would hinder the campaign.

He noted that the president’s backing “further rallied millions of voters and sparked conversations” that likely fueled the sweeping marriage-equality victories in a number of states Tuesday.

“His reelection after expressing support for marriage equality is further proof that the momentum is on the side of marriage for all families,” Griffin said.

The president soundly took Philadelphia, receiving more than 85 percent of the vote.

Across the state, the race was much closer, but Obama ultimately toppled Romney 5247 percent in Pennsylvania, which, with its 20 electoral votes, was a big win for the president.

Martin said the president had been polling well in the Keystone State for the past year, and that “four days and a little extra spending by the opposition” wasn’t able

to undo Obama’s longterm investment in Pennsylvania.

Martin said that in Obama’s second term, he is looking forward to the president working on such issues as the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, marriage equality and LGBT data collection, as well as for him to appoint progressive judges.

“There are a lot of things that have to be solidified but the beauty is that it doesn’t stop; the more these issues become ingrained in our policies and in our culture, they’re harder to stop,” he said. “If you think about it, we elected our first openly gay U.S. Senator and all four of the marriage-equality votes were on our side. We’re going to look for the president to capitalize on that. LGBT folks went to polls for the president at something like 80 or 90 percent, so I think there are going to be a lot of expectations that he return that support in the next four years.”

In his nearly four years in office, Obama signed into law measures that lifted the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and that incorporated sexual orientation and gender identity into the federal hate-crimes law. He supports the lifting of the Defense of Marriage Act and his administration has ceased defending DOMA in court.

Obama issued a directive ordering hospital-visitation rights for same-sex couples and lifted the ban on entry into the United States

by HIV-positive travelers. He also extended some domestic-partner benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees and incorporated gender identity into the nondiscrimination policy for federal employment. ■

LOCAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

9

Youth event raises awareness about LGBT homeless

By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com One in five homeless youth identify as LGBT, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless, and a local youth agency is hoping to shed light on this statistic — and work to lessen it.

Connect to Protect Philadelphia will host an awareness-raising event to recognize November as National Runaway and Homeless Youth Awareness Month from 4-6 p.m. Nov. 15 at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St. According to Alison Lin, community coordinator for C2P Philly, this is the second year for the event but its first time at William Way. “We’re trying to change it up a little more and get more youth involved,” she said.

The event will feature a variety of special guest speakers, including a graduate of Valley Youth House’s Pride Program, which is geared towards LGBT runaway and homeless youth. Political speakers such as State Rep.-elect Brian Sims and the city’s director of LGBT affairs Gloria Casarez will also make an appearance at the event.

Lin said C2P will invite Mayor Nutter to make an official proclamation recognizing November as National Runaway and Homeless Youth Month.

C2P co-chair Bevin Gwiazdowski said that last year, the National Runaway Switchboard, a national hotline for homeless youth and those considering running away, received 1,200 calls from the Philadelphia area.

“In Philadelphia there are only two programs that house runaway and homeless youth under the age of 18 who are not involved with child welfare, and they are only able to house a fraction of the youth who need services,” Gwiazdowski said.

“And there is only one shelter that is open year-round that serves 18-24-year-olds.”

Lin currently works with the C2P coalition and its housing committee to help homeless and runaway youth find resources and information. The committee serves as an advisory board to Casarez.

One of its recent projects has been a fold-up resource guide about the emergency needs of youth, such as medical care, housing and access to food. C2P has also worked with area agencies on developing LGBT sensitivity training.

According to Gwiazdowski, C2P has also partnered with laundry mats and local businesses to host clothing and hygiene-kit drives.

“The committee is also pushing for continued and improved data collection about homeless youth in general and LGBT

homeless youth specifically,” she said. “We are continuing to strengthen our partnership with the Department of Human Services to better serve youth in and out of home placement and improve discharge planning.”

Gwiazdowski said that C2P first started to look at housing because people involved in the organization said they had trouble finding information for youth who were having housing issues.

“Unstable housing has also been shown to be a structural level variable impacting HIV risk among LGBTQ youth in the U.S. We started meeting as a subcommittee and immediately we were talking about policylevel change,” she said.

According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, homeless LGBT youth are more at risk than their heterosexual counterparts for physical violence, sexual abuse, poverty and abandonment in their original home environment.

Lin noted that, while not all of the family conflict experienced by the LGBT youth she’s seen is associated with their orientation, it’s “often in the mix.”

At next week’s William Way event, there will be a “count” to recognize homeless and runaway youth.

Lin expects up to 100 people to attend the event.

“We want to raise awareness about LGBT housing and homeless youth and decrease the numbers in Philadelphia,” she said.

Gwiazdowski added that the event, and C2P’s work, aims to bring together a wide support circle to lessen the LGBT youth homelessness epidemic.

“The more people from diverse backgrounds and experiences we have working toward change, the stronger the movement is as a whole,” she said.

To RSVP for the event, e-mail Lin at lina1@email.chop.edu. ■

Gayborhood Crime Watch The following incidents in the Midtown Village and Washington Square West areas were reported to the 6th Police District between Oct. 22-28. Information is courtesy of 6th 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 (8477).

INCIDENTS — At 6 p.m. Oct. 20, a woman was in the 1200 block of Market Street when a male on a bicycle snatched a gold chain from her neck. The suspect was described as a black male teenager on a beige bicycle.

— At 5:20 p.m. Oct. 23, a man was walking in the 1100 block of Ludlow Street when three males started to punch and kick him and took his wallet. The first suspect was described as a black male, 5-foot-11, wearing a dirty white hoodie; the second as a black male, 5-foot-9, wearing a white hoodie and black pants; and the third as a white male, 6-foot, wearing a gray shirt.

— At 9:20 p.m. Oct. 26, a man was in the 1100 block of Spruce Street when a male snatched his iPhone from his hand. The complainant tried to retrieve it and the suspect punched him in the fact. The suspect was described as a black male, 6-foot, with short hair, wearing a black sweatsuit with red and white stripes.

— At 11:30 p.m. Oct. 26, a woman returned to her apartment in the 1200 block of Spruce Street and heard someone in her bedroom.

Police responded and found that someone had gained entry through a window and stole a laptop.

NON-SUMMARY ARRESTS — On Oct. 23, a laptop was discovered missing from the security desk inside the lobby at Arise Academy Charter School, 1118 Market St. Review of the security video showed a student took the laptop and left the building. At 5 p.m. Oct. 24, 6th District Officer Sweeney reviewed the video, found the female suspect out front of the school and took her into custody. The 18-year-old was charged with theft.

— At 12:55 a.m. Oct. 24, 6th District Officer Erwin arrested a male outside 1200 Sansom St. who was wanted for failure to appear for court. The 26-year-old South Philadelphian was charged with contempt of court.

— At 8:30 p.m. Oct. 26, a woman was at 11th and Pine streets when a female ran up behind her and grabbed her handbag.

The victim struggled to recover the bag and the suspect fled. A short time later, the same suspect attempted to rob a store in the 600 block of South Ninth Street and was apprehended. The 52-year-old suspect with a Queen Village address was charged with two counts of robbery and related offenses.

■

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10

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

EDITORIAL PGN

Creep of the Week

D’Anne Witkowski

Anyone blaming Hurricane Sandy on gays

Editorial

Post-election regrouping The nation saw history made in 2008 when Barack Obama was elected the country’s first African-American president. His repeat White House win on Tuesday celebrates another first, as Obama became the first person to be openly supportive of marriage equality to be elected president.

When the president came out in support of marriage equality last spring, some critics deemed the move an opportunistic ploy in an election year — and others viewed it as forced, following Vice President Joe Biden’s unexpected announcement of support. Whatever the reason, this election showed that an endorsement of marriage equality is not a deathknell for a political campaign; if the president of the United States can be elected on a platform that includes marriage equality, candidates seeking office at all levels of government can no longer hide behind the excuse that supporting the LGBT community could be political suicide.

Apart from the presidential race, Tuesday was a banner night for marriage equality. For years, antigay activists have trumpeted the line that the American public has voted against marriage equality every time it’s been asked. The issue’s dismal 32-0 record was not just broken Tuesday, but smashed. Voters in Maryland, Maine and Washington all approved their states’ pending same-sex marriage laws, and residents of Minnesota defeated an attempt to amend the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage.

The resounding results will speak volumes for years to come. No longer can opponents enlist the over-generalized “American public” as allies in their campaign against equality. They must now come up with a new reason to justify their baseless discrimination, as the fight against marriage equality is no longer “what the people want.” The people — in not one, not two and not even three, but all four states where it was a question — have spoken, and they will not support discrimination.

Locally, Pennsylvania elected its first openly LGBT state lawmkaker in state Rep.-elect Brian Sims (D-182nd Dist.). While the three other out candidates for the Pennsylvania House were not successful, Sims’ election marks a turning point in Pennsylvania LGBT politics. The community now has a voice in Harrisburg, someone who will be working alongside legislators on issues important to all Pennsylvanians. Through that process, Sims will have the opportunity to — pointedly as well as subtly — make the case for LGBT equality.

Tuesday was a good night for Philadelphia, for Pennsylvania and for the nation. Now, it’s up to all those we put in office this week to move us even farther forward. ■

Gays should have seen it coming, frankly. It was only a matter of time before it happened. I’m not talking about the hurricane itself, but the inevitable parade of idiots claiming that Hurricane Sandy never would have happened if it weren’t for all of those homos in New York taunting God with their gayness.

It takes a certain kind of person to make a natural disaster into an antigay event, but my guess is that a lot of these folks need something to blame this kind of destruction on since global warming isn’t “real” and certainly God wouldn’t do shit like this for no reason, right?

Obviously, the Westboro Baptist Church of Idiots praised God for the storm. No surprise there. Every time something terrible happens to the United States, whether it’s a storm or a soldier dying, these loons say, “God made that happen to you for loving fags so much.”

But I think the Westboro Baptist Klan gets too much attention for this kind of thing, stealing the spotlight and making it seem as if such antigay animosity is limited to them. In reality, there are many other antigay fanatics preaching some of the same crazy shit under the guise of religion.

Take Rabbi Noson Leiter of Torah Jews for Decency, who said Oct. 30, “We believe the Great Flood in the time of Noah was triggered by the recognition of samegender marriages” and that he and other “leading” rabbis “believe that there are messages in this particular storm for us.” A message such as: “The Lord will not bring another flood to destroy the entire world but He could punish particular areas with a flood, and if we look at the same-gender-marriage recognition movement that’s occurring, that certainly is a message for us to learn,” he said. “We, not just the bad people but the good people, we have to learn that the Lord does watch what we do and if we don’t shape up He will deliver divine justice.”

And where else would the Lord deliver such justice than in Lower Manhattan, “one of the national centers of homosexuality,” according to Leiter. He also, and I shit you not, pointed to the fact that a double rainbow appeared in the sky after the storm hit as “evidence.”

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo called Leiter’s comments “as offensive as they are ignorant.”

Then there’s Kevin Swanson of Generations with Vision Ministry in Colorado, who said, “The two worst storms, material-wise, in the history of America have happened in just the last five years and here’s the interesting thing about this storm, it hit New York City,” which he describes, along with New Orleans and San Francisco, as “the top three most pro-homosexual, pro-liberal cities in America.”

He continued, “There is a God in the heavens and in the past, sins like homosexuality ... have really irritated Him.” Right-wing preacher John McTernan declared on his blog, “Hurricane Sandy hit New York six days after the state’s highest court sealed homosexual ‘marriage.’ The nation is paying an incredible price making sin an ordinance.

This is not the end but the beginning unless the church acts to repent and cry out for an outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit. There is not much time left. America has turned its back on God and is now offending His holiness.”

And when God gets upset, He throws a hissy fit and destroys stuff, much like a toddler. Either somebody needs to call Super Deity Nanny, or these so-called “believers” are full of hot air. ■

“Hurricane Sandy hit New York six days after the state’s highest court sealed homosexual ‘marriage.’ The nation is paying an incredible price making sin an ordinance.”

D’Anne Witkowski has been gay for pay since 2003. She’s a freelance writer and poet (believe it!). When she’s not taking on the creeps of the world, she reviews rock ’n’ roll shows in Detroit with her twin sister.

Tell us what you think Send letters and opinion column submissions to: pgn@epgn.com; PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147; fax: 215-925-6437.

Please include a daytime phone number.

Letters may be edited for clarity, style and space considerations.

OP-ED PGN

Recounting our LGBT victories from Election Day Make no mistake about it: There is a but that brings me to point number two, new America after this election. Tuesday which if you read this column, you know was full of watershed moments for I’ve been preaching about for almost a LGBT equality, as the nation, from shore year now: People like Rick Santorum to shiny shore, spoke with one are walking dinosaurs. The voice.

Republican Party has to see Simple recap, since there’s a the handwriting on the wall; lesson here. Up to this election, they must change, since we had lost ballots in 32 states demographics on all sides on marriage equality. This are against them. Latinos, election brought not one, but women, Asians and Pacific Islanders, LGBTs and four, state victories — Maine, moderates, among many Maryland, Washington and Minnesota, the latter of which other groups, all left the beat back an anti-equality refGOP,running for the doors. erendum. Not only did marThe marriage of the Tea riage equality win, but we also Party and Republicans is elected our first out member about to hit a wall. This of the U.S. Senate, Tammy is going to be a civil war of sorts, and it might be a Baldwin. A host of out candidates also won in state repMark Segal while until we see the new resentative, state senate and Republican Party, which as Congressional races. And let us not forget we’ve noted here, will mirror the conthat the president of the United States of servatives in Great Britain and support America ran as a pro-marriage-equality LGBT equality. This is a place where candidate and his party, the Democratic Log Cabin and GOProud can finally Party, has a strong marriage-equality prove themselves. You guys owe your plank. community, and here’s the payback: Get While the Republicans ran or attacked us the Republican votes in the House the issue, the president and his party to pass ENDA. Without that, you prove embraced it. And America rewarded them yourselves a paper tiger with no clout. with victories.

And the greatest news of the night: If there are openings on the Supreme Court, Putting all of this together, it is rather they will be named by President Obama. obvious. But two main points stand out.

The nation has indeed embraced the Congratulations and thank you, LGBT community and no longer will President Obama. ■ tolerate the Republican Party scare tactics Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the — meaning, we are no longer fair game nation’s most-award-winning commentato be hunted in an election. There are places that will still attempt to use this tor in LGBT media. He can be reached at mark@epgn.com. issue (read Mississippi and Alabama),

Mark My Words

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

Street Talk How did New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie handle Hurricane Sandy?

“I’m a Democrat, and [I] don’t agree with Christie on all issues. But I think he did a great job in response to Sandy. He Allie Beik really got student down and New York City dirty among the wreckage. I was impressed with his personal one-on-one interactions with the victims.”

“I give him credit for reaching out to Obama.

The storm affected all of us. We’re all in the same boat.

Madison Campbell Politics student shouldn’t New York City matter at a time like this. Gov. Christie stepped up to the plate and showed leadership.”

“He could have been better prepared. But that’s true for all mayors along the East Coast.

We have old cities along Tunisia Garnett the East financial consultant Coast. The Southwest infrastructure Philadelphia is decaying.

When a big storm hits, we’re pretty much devastated. I’m just glad Philly was spared this time. But it’s a huge wakeup call for Mayor Nutter to make improvements.”

“He was a little harsh with the mayor of Atlantic City and the people who didn’t evacuate.

Caroline Sayer There could student have been New York City a better way to deal with that without being so harsh. They had just been devastated, and he was criticizing them. He should have gotten everything on the mend before publicly evaluating what went wrong.”

in employee benefits, wills, visitation rights, immigration and other bases has affected same-sex couples, differentsex couples in common-law relationships and single individuals of all sexual orientations.”

We want to know!

Letters and Feedback In response to “Endorsements,” Nov. 2-8: Glad you found a team that you feel will best support LGBT equal rights. But I also think if those you have selected are of the caliber and only half as committed to a just and fair government as Brian Sims is, you will have a team that will best serve all of the folks in Pennsylvania. Now we all must do what must be done and get the LGBT community to the polls and voting.

— RLPeteH

I would recommend as an alternative to Obama the Green Party candidate Jill Stein. This is an email that was sent from her campaign on Coming-Out Day: “Jill Stein and Cheri Honkala also called for passage of federal legislation that outlaws discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and marital status in employment, housing and public accommodations.

While Republicans have mostly opposed such a law,

11

Democrats have dragged their feet on the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, failing to move the bill forward and enact it when they controlled Congress and the White House.

While Democrats and some gay-rights groups have hesitated on the inclusion of gender identity in such laws, we in the Green Party fully are committed to protecting transgender people. We also support inclusion of marital status under the protection. Discrimination on the basis of marital status,

Not to mention that Obamacare is actually Romneycare, and that singlepayer is the only way all flavors of the rainbow will have their health needs met.

— Jordan Gwendolyn Davis

If you are celebrating an anniversary, engagement, wedding, adoption or other life event, we would be happy to help you announce it to the community.

Send your contact information and a brief description of the event to editor@epgn.com.

12

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

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Sandy devastates New York LGBT youth facility The Advocate.com reports that among the casualties of Hurricane Sandy in New York City is an institution for homeless LGBT youth, the Ali Forney Center’s drop-in center on West 22nd Street in the West Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan.

Four feet of water from the Hudson River, just a half-block away, surged into the facility when the storm hit Oct. 29, executive director Carl Siciliano said.

“Everything is destroyed — all of the electricity in the place, the floors, the computers, the laptops, the phones, files, all the furniture,” he said. “Everything is just destroyed. The refrigerator was floating and knocked over, all the food was out. The space is uninhabitable.”

However, the organization’s lease at that location was going to be up at the end of January, Siciliano said, and a new drop-in center space is under renovation in Harlem. It will likely be ready in a few months, he said. The Ali Forney Center housing facilities in Brooklyn and Queens were unharmed, as was its administrative office in midtown Manhattan and another drop-in center in Brooklyn.

The Brooklyn center serves young people already in the Ali Forney Center’s system, while the Chelsea venue largely served newly homeless, particularly vulnerable ones, he said.

In the meantime, the organization is finding alternatives for these young people, such as sending them to “storm centers” set up in Sandy’s wake, Siciliano said. He has appealed to the federal, state and local government for assistance, and the Ali Forney Center is accepting donations on its website.

San Diego school disinvites pro-gay union fellow The Fresno Bee reports a British theologian who has expressed support for gay mar-

riage said the University of San Diego withdrew a fellowship because of her views.

Tina Beattie released a letter from the president of the Catholic school that said the invitation was being pulled because she dissents from church teachings.

University president Mary Lyons didn’t elaborate in her letter, but her decision came less than three months after Beattie and 26 other Catholics signed a letter in The Times of London newspaper that said it was “perfectly proper for Catholics, using fully informed consciences, to support the legal extension of civil marriage to same-sex couples.”

Beattie, a professor of theology and religious studies at Roehampton University, said the San Diego school rejected her plea to reconsider pulling the fellowship at its Frances G. Harpst Center of Catholic Thought and Culture. She blamed “a hostile minority of bloggers” for trying to discredit and distort her views.

Beattie wrote on her blog that she planned to steer clear of controversy in her San Diego lectures and seminars to avoid problems for her hosts in the “currently febrile atmosphere of American Catholic politics.”

Two guards in Jamaica accused of beating gay student Fox News reports two security guards at a university in Jamaica have been released from duty as police investigate accusations that they assaulted a student believed to be gay.

A video posted on YouTube Nov. 2 shows the student being slapped, punched and kicked by one guard as he tries to shield himself from the blows while another guard holds him. One female guard is shown standing by, holding a large piece of wood.

The assault occurred Nov. 1 at the University of Technology in the capital of Kingston.

The video was shot by someone in the angry crowd that gathered outside the guard station, breaking a window and yelling homophobic slurs.

University officials released a statement saying they strongly condemn the assault. ■ — compiled by Larry Nichols

FINANCES PGN

Organizing retirement plans with a rollover IRA ance, investment philosophy and financial goals.

•More flexible distribution provisions.

While Internal Revenue Service distribution rules for IRAs generally require IRA account holders to wait until age 59-anda-half to make penalty-free withdrawals, there are a variety of provisions to address special circumstances. These provisions A: It can certainly get challenging to keep are often broader and easier to exploit than track of so many accounts. And you’re employer plan hardship rules. absolutely correct that there •Valuable estate-planning feamay be a better option for you. tures. IRAs are more useful in Rolling over your assets to a estate planning than employerrollover IRA may help to simsponsored plans. IRA assets plify your retirement. Here’s can generally be divided among what you need to know first. multiple beneficiaries, each of whom can make use of planning Consolidate retirement assets structures such as the stretch with a rollover IRA IRA concept to maintain taxThe U.S. Bureau of Labor advantaged investment manageStatistics estimates that ment during their lifetimes. In Americans change jobs about addition, IRS rules now allow 10 times between the ages of individuals to roll assets from a 18-42.1 If job-changers had an employer-sponsored retirement Jeremy company-sponsored retirement account into a Roth IRA, further account at just half of those Gussick enhancing the estate-planning positions, it would represent a aspects of an IRA rollover.3 By significant money-management comparison, beneficiary distributions from challenge: multiple redundant investment portfolios and a mountain of account state- employer-sponsored plans are generally taken in lump sums as cash payments. ments and investment documentation to sort through.

Efficient rollovers require careful One flexible solution to simplify the planning task is to consolidate assets under a sinThere are two ways to execute a rollover gle-account umbrella via a rollover IRA. IRA — directly or indirectly. It’s imporOffered by many financial institutions, the tant you understand the difference between rollover IRA can help you streamline your the two, because there could be some tax investments into a unified asset-allocation consequences and additional hurdles if you plan. aren’t careful. With a direct rollover, the financial institution that runs your former Rollover IRAs offer a wide range of employer’s retirement plan simply transbenefits 2 fers the money straight into your new rollAs compared with employer-sponsored over IRA. There are no taxes, penalties or retirement accounts, a rollover IRA can deadlines for you to worry about. provide a broader range of investment With an indirect rollover, you personchoices and greater flexibility for distrially receive money from your old plan and bution planning. Consider the following benefits rollover IRAs offer over employer- assume responsibility for depositing that money into a rollover IRA. In this instance, sponsored plans: you would receive a check represent•Simplified investment management. ing the value of the assets in your former You can use a single rollover IRA to conemployer’s plan, minus a mandatory 20solidate assets from more than one retirepercent federal tax withholding. You can ment plan. For example, if you still have money in several different retirement plans avoid paying taxes and any penalties on an indirect rollover if you deposit the money sponsored by several different employers, you can transfer all of those assets into one into a new rollover account within 60 days.

You’ll still have to pay the 20-percent withconvenient rollover IRA. •More freedom of choice, control. Using holding tax and potential penalties out of a rollover IRA to manage retirement assets your own pocket, but the withholding tax will be credited when you file your regular after leaving a job or retiring is a strategy income tax, and any excess amount will be that’s available to everyone. And dependrefunded to you. If you owe more than 20 ing on the financial institution that propercent, you’ll need to come up with the vides the rollover IRA, you could have a additional payment when you file your tax wide array of investment choices at your return. disposal to help meet your unique financial goals. As the IRA account owner, you develop the precise mix of investments that Potential downsides of IRA rollovers While there are many best reflects your own personal risk tolerPAGE 15

13

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

We See the Sick: How can anyone ever be less than human? ness? Because people fear the fate of poz people, and marking them as sick makes Does health for health’s sake move us to avoiding that fate easier? What is that fate, be healthy, or do moral implications and exactly? societal scrutiny play into our motives?

In sickness or health, life or death, piety We often draw conclusions about people’s or wickedness, wealth or poverty, ranking moral character with respect to how healthy the humanness of humans based on traits they appear. Even something humans can exhibit only creas pedestrian as cleanliness can ates fear, revulsion, hostility and affect our outlook, though some separation; for in truth, how can traits are more forgivable than anyone ever be any less than others. human?

An alluring musk is sexy while One might say, “But people cease to be fully human when pungent body odor signifies they act inhumanely. Are you slovenliness; a hint of tobacco saying that bad people don’t on one’s breath can be charming exist, or that people should never while halitosis urges disassociation; even a gap in the front teeth change? What about personal (which in the Middle Ages betogrowth? What about learning to be selfless?” kened equivocation and turpitude) can inspire a sense of distrust Is humanity irrational at its often linked with deviance. core? If law, religion and morality didn’t enforce ethical living, These traits pose far greater threats to social image than bodily Aaron Stella would we all just run around fucking and killing each other? health. And if something as Has humanity’s plight been one benign as outward uncleanliness of perpetual conflict against its natural comcan make us cast judgment so easily, what pulsion to destroy itself? can inner, often more pervasive uncleanliness, such as HIV, cancer or mental afflicNo. Absolutely not. In fact, law, religion tions, make us do? and morality, specifically the kinds crafted Because of my HIV status, I am considafter the supposition that humans are inherered unclean. Why? Because my dirtiness ently irrational, create an abhorrence of and can sully the health and morality of others, destruction towards humankind. who do not deserve the mark of uncleanliOne the contrary, humans seek community Part two of a three-part series

Millennial Poz

R E P RO D U C T I V E M E D I C I N E A S S O C I AT E S of Philadelphia

and love.

People act inhumanely not out of an inherent desire to indulge or destroy, but in hopes that the unquestioned practice of an abstract ideal (e.g. law, religion, morality, etc.), selfconceived or secondhand, will deliver the very community and love they originally sought, before someone or something told them that they would never acquire these on their own.

What begs the question now is how can we progress towards a compassionate framework of thought and action regarding the sick while exploring why our existing frameworks remained couched in prejudice and revulsion?

In my last article, I elicited the dual reaction we have towards the sick: We distance ourselves from and draw nearer to help the sick out of self-preservation and communal sentiment, respectively.

But are self-preservation and communal sentiment mutually exclusive?

If we assume that humans are inherently irrational, and that communal sentiment is merely a product of law and morality, then the two would be mutually exclusive. But, if we assume that humans are inherently rational, then self-preservation and communal sentiment aren’t merely compatible, but inseparable parts of a whole — ones mutually beneficial to ameliorating sickness in others.

But this benefit also calls into question

why we mark people as sick in the first place.

Is it possible that we do so to affirm our own mark of healthiness? What would happen if our current health-care models did away with this distinction?

Health care would radically transform into a pluralistic culture of wellness based in a continuum of celebration, openness and community engagement, instead of a culture locked in warfare against sicknesses that render us inhuman.

Instead of dreading doctor visits in fear of being marked as sick, people would be excited to talk openly about their lives and co-create programs for wellness with their doctors. Instead of avoiding health education in fear of discovering that they themselves might be sick, people would crave knowledge about a diversity of health issues and engage each other in compassionate dialogues about the community’s health at large.

How would your self-image change if you were never marked as sick, but always on the path towards wellness?

We’re all in this together, folks. Now get out there and talk about it. ■ Aaron Stella is former editor-in-chief of Philly Broadcaster. Millennial Poz, which recently won first-place awards from the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association and Local Media Association, appears in PGN monthly. Aaron can be reached at millennialpoz@gmail.com.

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FINANCES PGN OUT MONEY from page 13

advantages to consolidated IRA rollovers, there are some potential drawbacks to keep in mind. Assets greater than $1 million in an IRA may be taken to satisfy your debts in certain personal bankruptcy scenarios.

Assets in an employer-sponsored plan cannot be readily taken in many circumstances.

Also, with a traditional IRA rollover, you must begin taking distributions by April 1 of the year after you reach 70-and-a-half, whether or not you continue working, but employer-sponsored plans do not require distributions if you continue working past that age. (Roth IRAs do not require the owner to take distributions during his or her lifetime.)

Remember, the laws governing retirement assets and taxation are complex. In addition, there are many exceptions and limitations that may apply to your situation.

Before making any decisions, consider talking to a financial advisor who has experience helping people structure retirement plans. ■ 1The Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Longitudinal Surveys, “Number of Jobs Held in a Lifetime,” June 2008.

2Restrictions, limitations and fees may apply.

3Provided all qualifying conditions are met.

The rollover will be treated as a “conversion” with income taxes due up-front.

Jeremy R. Gussick is a Financial Advisor with LPL Financial, the nation’s largest independent broker-dealer.* Jeremy specializes in the financial planning needs of the LGBT community and was recently named a 2012 FIVE STAR Wealth Manager by Philadelphia Magazine.** He is active with several LGBT organizations in the Philadelphia region, including the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund (DVLF), the Greater Philadelphia Professional Network (GPPN), and the Independence Business Alliance (IBA).

OutMoney appears monthly. If you have a question for Jeremy, you can contact him via email at jeremy.gussick@lpl.com. LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. *As reported by Financial Planning magazine, 1996-2012, based on total revenues. **Award details can be found at www.fivestarprofessional.com This article was prepared with the assistance of S&P Capital IQ Financial Communications and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations for any individual. Consult your financial advisor, or me, if you have any questions.

Because of the possibility of human or mechanical error by S&P Capital IQ Financial Communications or its sources, neither S&P Capital IQ Financial Communications nor its sources guarantees the accuracy, adequacy, completeness or availability of any information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such information. In no event shall S&P Capital IQ Financial Communications be liable for any indirect, special or consequential damages in connection with subscribers’ or others’ use of the content.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

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NEWS PGN MARRIAGE from page 1

states, as well as Washington, D.C., that will ultimately sanction same-sex marriage.

Of the four states considering the issue, Maryland was the first called for marriage equality by pundits late on Tuesday.

Maryland’s Question 6 — which was posed by opponents after the state legislature approved a same-sex marriage law in February that was summarily signed into law by the state’s governor — was approved by 51.9 percent of voters. With more than 2.4 million votes all together, the race was ultimately separated by about 94,000 votes.

Equality Maryland executive director Carrie Evans told PGN in an interview Wednesday morning that the atmosphere was electric at the watch party she attended, along with Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, who signed the state’s marriage measure into law this year.

“We were all there together — the coalition, our LGBT legislative caucus, the people who woke up at 5 in the morning to stand at these cold polls — and it was just magical,” Evans said. “For those of us who were in the General Assembly in the spring when the law was passed, there has been so much waiting and anticipation since then. I was on the side of the stage last night, and to hear the governor say, ‘OK, let’s [announce victory],’ and then to see 1,000 people crying, hugging, taking pictures, it was amazing.”

While backers were confident that voters would approve the measure, Evans said it was a nervewracking wait.

“It wasn’t until we got into the really big counties, like Montgomery County that we knew we were going to be strong in but wanted to make sure, and Prince George’s, that we became more sure,” she said. “Up until this point, no other states had won, even though other states had thought they were going to, so we didn’t want to be overly confident.

But we knew we had done everything we could to put together a winning campaign and it was just up to voters. We knew we had a majority of Maryland with us, but it came down to whether people would come out to vote, whether they pushed the wrong button — lots of things can happen on Election Day.” The marriage-equality debate heated up in Maryland in 2004 when same-sex couples sued for the right to marry, although that legal challenge was unsuccessful, and Evans said this week’s victory signified “these eight years are finally coming WELLS FARGO from page 5

smelly pot.”

At the local level, Wells Fargo’s donations to the Scouts aren’t limited to Learning for Life and Exploring, Baum added.

“At the local level, we believe our local business leaders make the best possible decisions for their communities and can choose to support any Scout programs that meet our commitment to diversity,” he said.

Baum added: “Wells Fargo supports a wide array of LGBT-related organizations, such as the Human Rights Campaign, the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network and many others. Locally we are a significant sponsor of Equality Forum and other events and organizations.”

Perry expressed hope that dialogue with Wells

to an end. We get to move on with our lives and our families, and Equality Maryland gets to do the other important work that we care about.”

Evans said agencies like Human Rights Campaign, the Maryland chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and the Service Employees International Union made “immense contributions” to the campaign.

ACLU LGBT Project director James Esseks called the victory a “watershed moment” for LGBT families.

“Not long ago, marriage for same-sex couples was unimaginable,” he said. “In a remarkably short time, we have seen courts start to rule in favor of the freedom to marry, then legislatures affirm it and now the people vote for it as well. Today’s election illustrates both the astonishing pace of change on the issue, as well as America’s commitment to fairness for everyone.”

Maryland’s marriage-equality law will go into effect Jan. 1.

Maine was the next state to be called. Voters in that state favored marriage equality by 53-47 percent.

In 2009, Maine became the first state in the nation to adopt a marriage-equality law through legislative means. However, antigay activists got the issue on the ballot, where it failed. Last year, LGBT supporters launched an initiative to again pose the question to voters on the 2012 ballot.

In Washington, voters approved that state’s law, capturing 52 percent of the vote. The legislature approved a marriage-equality measure in February.

Minnesota voters defeated the antigay amendment in a 53.5-46.5 percent vote, becoming the first state ever to do so.

“The tide has turned,” said Courage Campaign founder and chair Rick Jacobs. “When voters have the opportunity to really hear directly from loving, committed same-sex couples and their families, they voted for fairness and the freedom to marry.

How fitting that four years after Prop. 8 awakened the nation, and the world, to the injustice of marriage for some but not for all committed couples, we have now won at the ballot box.”

Evans said the four wins signify a new era for LGBT rights.

“We are not isolated entities across the country working on things in isolation,” she said. “Everything gelled last night. It was really affirming that we truly are a social-change movement, and that idea came together for all of us last night.” ■ Fargo will continue.

“Discrimination is very painful,” Perry concluded.

“We’ve had a number of examples close to home in our community — teenagers committing suicide because they’re gay. Obviously, this is a serious issue that everyone needs to pay close attention to, including our corporate citizens. The decisions they make to support organizations that condone discrimination reverberate throughout the community.”

In a prepared statement, the Scouts expressed appreciation for the donation.

“We appreciate the donation of used office furniture from Wells Fargo Bank, which we understand came about as the result of consolidations of several branch offices. This furniture will support additional [Cradle] volunteers and staff who are working to provide positive activities for low-income and suburban youth.” ■

Philadelphia Gay News

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

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FEATURE PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

PAGE 28

Family Portrait Barcrawlr Comics Dining Out & About Q Puzzle Scene in Philly Worth Watching

Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page

27 26 30 33 34 31 25 31

Out guitar goddess returns with new album

By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Kaki King is back on the road doing what she does best: dazzling her fans with virtuoso skills on any instrument with strings.

Her latest album, “Glow,” is a departure from her last two — 2008’s “Dreaming of Revenge” and 2010’s “Junior” — both of which found her exploring her desire to channel her energy performing with a rocking backing band.

But the out and recently married singer-songwriter said that after she was done touring for her last album, she experienced an “existential crisis” and was unsure what she wanted to do next.

“I had been doing these really fun rock shows with a band and my goal is to play every fun rock club in the world or die trying,” she said.

“And I accomplished it but I nearly died trying. I think that once that tour was over, it was over for me. I had loved it up until the minute it was over. I don’t think I can do that kind of show forever. I was like, OK, what’s next? I’ve done five albums and I guess I didn’t know which

direction to turn. I guess I had lost touch with the guitar and the intimacy I had with it. I was ready to throw in the towel but I just didn’t know where to go after it.”

Her response to that uncertainty was to go back out on the road performing solo acoustic shows, which she said helped to inspire her new album.

“That was part of it,” she said. “I did this ‘Freak Guitar Show’ [tour] and that was fun but it was a way to get me on stage with a bunch of guitars with no expectations, I suppose. I wasn’t making any conscious decisions. I was just saying, let’s not decide. Let’s just keep doing what I know how to do, which is to play guitar even if I’m not in love with it at the moment. That’s the most familiar point of reference for me.”

“Glow,” described as an “artistic reboot,” is an instrumental album full of mesmerizing and brilliantly lush tracks. When asked about the difference in styles between her previous two albums and “Glow,” King said fans know she is an artist who is always changing things up.

“I think if anyone had learned anything from me, it’s never to have any expectations. I think I’ve done a lot of things outside of my own records and I think that anyone that knows me would expect something different every time. If you have too much vision, that is an obstacle.

I’ve learned the hard way that going into a project with fewer expectations is always going to help because, otherwise, you miss all this fun stuff. I think with this album I wanted to do something really beautiful. I wanted to make Photos: Shervin Lainez

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FEATURE NIGHTLIFE PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

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ear candy. I wanted something that people that have really nice headphones can put on and listen to with total stillness with only their mind on the record. I think I did that. As far as expectations, it’s always I want this person to come jam with me or I want this song to have some kind of different instrumentation. That’s something you just have to let go of.”

She added that her solo acoustic material will be the focus of her current tour.

“I’ll be performing solo,” she said. “I’ll be singing a little b i t . T h e n ew album is mainly instrumental so I’ll be playing a lot of stuff from the new album.”

When not performing on her own projects, King often finds time to perform and record with artists ranging from the Foo Fighters and Eddie Vedder to Timbaland. She has contributed to a variety of film and TV soundtracks including “Into The Wild” and “August Rush.”

King said she finds it easier to work with other people on a recording project com-

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pared to her own.

“Even collaborating, when I have input from other people or other creative venues, it is so much easier,” she said. “It’s almost like I’m being posed a musical question.

And to me, there is only one answer. So, if I hear someone playing something, for whatever reason, I’ve never had a huge amount of options. It’s like, oh, this is what I’m going to play on this. It just makes sense as opposed to when I’m doing my own thing and I’ve got a gajillion options and ways to go and do things.

So, I like collaborating whether it’s film or TV or other people’s records because it’s simpler for me. I don’t know why. Everything I’ve done as far as collaboration ended up at the end of the day feeling like I was doing something with a friend. I think that that’s what makes stuff sound good if it’s more like, hey, we should make some music together. It’ll be cool. I try not to professionally approach someone with a formal letter and say, ‘Would you like to come guest-appear on this record?’ I just try to be friends with someone.”

When asked what musicians were the most challenging to work with from a professional standpoint, her answer was surprising.

“Timbaland,” she said. “That dude, he’s a genius. You can see it in everything he does. I was in Miami, and I didn’t know why I was there. I didn’t know what he really wanted from me. I think at the end of the day I realized you have to find creative people and have them come and do their thing. He just kept saying, ‘Do what you do.’ All I did was do what I do and came up with a bunch of different riffs and helped him create a new sound library. But I had no direction whatsoever. I witnessed that man come in around midnight to the studio and I was playing something and he started playing something; it was like he completely left the thread of what we were doing, found a beat on his keyboard, sampled it. He goes in the vocal booth and sings this melody. Then he comes back and tells his keyboard player to play the melody he just sang. And it was all of a sudden we had gone from tinkering around to making music. But he was struck by inspiration and went for it. I think that’s how he works. It was really cool to watch.” ■ Kaki King performs 8 p.m. Nov. 14 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. For more information, call 215-222-1400 or visit www.kakiking.com.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

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PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

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Stormkeeper Wow. The last couple weeks have been at Sexploratorium, 620 S. Fifth St.; Le Chateau Exotique in New Hope; or William crazy, right?

Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 It started off on such a high note with Spruce St., up to an hour before the event. all the fun of Halloween weekend in the All proceeds from the main event go to Gayborhood, but then there was the horror William Way, the Leather Archives and of watching Hurricane Sandy completely Museum in Chicago, the Carter/Johnson fuck the Eastern seaboard, especially New Leather Library, Leather Leadership York and the Jersey Shore. And right on Conference Philly (2014) and By the Grace the heels of that, the presidential election of George. and another nor’easter.

For more details about the weekend and That’s a hell of a lot to go through in less than two weeks. a complete list of sponsors, visit As I sit here typing, I’m on www.plpn.org. the edge of my seat wondering who will win the election and Underwear Party how bad the new storm will be.

No shirt, no pants, no probIf all goes well, we’ll be cellem! ebrating four more years with a Get ready to strip down and president who respects us as a jump around from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. community, and we’ll be happy Nov. 10 at Stir Lounge, 1705 that the new storm gave us only Chancellor St. There will be a glancing blow. raffles, T-shirts, giveaways, reps If not, then I don’t know. I from Philly VAX on hand to dismean, I love Toronto and all, but cuss the HIV vaccine trial, plus do I really want to move there? the opportunity to get fast and Jim Kiley- free confidential HIV testing.

If you haven’t done so yet, please consider making a donawill also be lots of hot Zufelt There tion to storm-relief efforts. The guys and girls running around American Red Cross (www.redin their drawers and panties, as well as drink specials from 9-11 p.m. All cross.org) is providing necessary services this for no cover! to communities across the entire region.

If you’d like your donation to have a The KIDD Show direct impact on our community, consider From 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Nov. 17, DJ Kidd helping the Ali Forney Center (www.aliforneycenter.org), which has to completely Madonny will be at Voyeur. Kidd will bring his unique blend of performance art and rebuild its LGBT youth drop-in center.

DJ skills to present a unique night of circus Kinky Karnival acts, lasers, hot dancers and more.

Looking to blow off a little steam? Then Get there early to take advantage of drink join the men of Philadelphians MC for a specials until 11 p.m. Tickets are $20 in Kinky Karnival from 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Nov. 9 advance and are available online at www. at The Bike Stop, 206 S. Quince St. nightlifegay.com.

Your $5 suggested donation at the door gets you a fistful of tickets you can trade Diabolique Ball for fun on a variety of adult-themed carniDon’t miss the 16th annual Diabolique val rides. They’ll also have great music and Ball, “Agony and Ecstacy: A Religious hot videos on the big screen, all up on the Experience,” 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Nov. 17 at third floor.

Shampoo, 417 N. Eighth St. There will The event is part of Philadelphia Leather be amazing DJs, hot fashion shows with Pride Weekend, and all proceeds from the leather, latex, rubber and corsets, dungeon Karnival go to the Mazzoni Center Holiday play spaces and an army of special guests.

Drive for kids.

As always, proceeds go to local charities, so come out and be bad for a good cause.

Philly Leather Pride Weekend Pink Pub Crawl The main event of the weekend is the fourth annual Leather Pride Night, from 7 The Pink Pub Crawl returns Nov. 21. The p.m.-midnight Nov. 10 at Voyeur, 1221 St. crawl starts at iCandy at 9 p.m., moves on James St. to Tabu at 10:15 p.m., Woody’s at 11:30 Entertainment will include Bruce p.m. and finally to Voyeur at 12:30 a.m.

Michael Gelbert, burlesque and drag-king Tickets are $25 if you wear lots of pink performers and Lady Marisa from Asbury (shirt, pants, etc.) or $30 if you don’t, and Park. Jill Carter and Onyx Rod will share are available at the first two stops of the the emcee duties, while the one and only night. Ticket-holders get a free drink at the Jo Arnone will be back as the auctioneer. first three stops and free dance-floor admisThere will also be a silent auction by sion at iCandy, Woody’s and Voyeur. ■ NDDs, a traveling exhibit on The Art of Drummer from the Leather Archives, a pup Questions? Comments? Events you zone, the Bootblack Brigade, the Jersey want to promote? Contact Jim at Amazons and more. barcrawlr@gmail.com or follow him on Tickets are $25 at the door or $20 in Facebook for links to back articles and advance. Advance tickets are available bitchin’ old pop-music videos!

Barcrawlr

PROFILE PGN

Family Portrait

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

27

Suzi Nash

Laurentius Purnama: Bringing star treatment to South Philly Laurentius Purnama is a hairstylist to the stars, with a client list that includes Beverly Johnson, Amanda Hearst, Ivana Trump, Joan Collins, Maggie Gyllenhal, Diana Krall and Britney Spears. (Yes, that Britney bitch.) His work has been featured on the covers of Elle, Glamour, Maxim-Blender, Entertainment Weekly, GQ, Vegas, Cosmo Girl and many others but, for the past five years, he has concentrated on bringing style and glamour to the folks of Philadelphia. At his South Philadelphia salon, the motto is, “Everyone can be beautiful, they just need the right stylist.”

PGN: What’s the premise behind Laurentius Salon?

LP: I’ve traveled the world and worked with some amazing people, but I wanted a place where regular people could have a chance to be glamorous. I love that we have a huge cross-section of clients. On any given day, I might have (former) Sen. Vince Fumo in a chair, next to a transgender person, next to a woman in her 70s, next to a 20-something hipster. We work on being versatile. We want to be cool and edgy but sophisticated too for those who are more conservative. Diversity is everything.

PGN: You’ve been around the world, but where are you originally from?

LP: I was born and raised in a small town in Indonesia, Nganjuk in East Java. We were pretty poor when I was young but by the time I got to high school, we were middle-class and my parents were able to send us to a private school in the city. They always put education first. Of course, I had a different motivation to want to go to the city: There was an amazing beauty school there. Since I was 5 years old, I’d go to the beauty salon with my mother and it was always the highlight of the month.

PGN: So here, if a boy decides to be a hairdresser at 16, there’s a certain stereotype attached ...

LP: [Laughs.] Actually, I got that when I was 5. They knew my card before I understood the truth. It was hard. My son, he loves trains and trucks, I was never that kind of boy. I wanted to play with my sister’s dolls. And all my little friends were girls, not guys, so it seemed everyone already knew. I knew that I was attracted to boys from back as young as I could imagine, which made things really hard. To know how you felt inside and have people tell you it was wrong. When I was 9 and my neighbor went to hairdressing school, I said, “Mom, can I be a hairdresser too?”

And she said no, that it wasn’t a man’s job.

When I went to high school, I said again, “OK, now that I’m in the city already, can I go now?” She still said no. Then they found out that I was gay by reading my

diary. I wrote about my first love and they read it. It was actually a favor because I didn’t have to find a way to tell them. I just went home to the village one day and they were crying and sobbing. I assumed someone had died, and then they said, “What you’re feeling is not normal.” I thought, Oh gosh, what am I feeling that’s not normal?”Then they explained what they were talking about and suggested I go to a psychiatrist. In my country, you don’t talk back to your parents, so I went. I was very lucky because the psychologist, who was a Muslim also, was the one to say that it was OK to be gay. Until then, I hated being gay — growing up hearing that gay was bad and horrible and not worthy. I thought it was the cause of me not liking my life, but he made me feel that there was nothing wrong with me. He was the one who talked my parents into letting me go to beauty school. He told me that my life would be hard, but if I worked hard at whatever I chose to do, I would be successful and people would respect me.

ism wasn’t there. I was afraid the clients who followed me might feel uncomfortable in a place not up to standards.

[Laughs.] All this time, I was fighting my roots and trying not to become an entrepreneur like the rest, but I finally gave in and decided to open my own place. I wanted to have my own niche by having a place that was cool and edgy but still sophisticated. A place with top professionals and great service, but I had no money, So I went to New York and worked in a top salon there. I wanted to learn how they were so successful with 300 other salons on the same block. How did they do it? I learned a lot and it was amazing, but I didn’t want to be in New York so much and jeopardize my relationship. So I started freelancing and was very fortunate to have some amazing experiences there.

It was very rewarding both personally and financially, but I realized that I wanted to start a family and that the time was now. I came back to Philly, opened up the salon and now we are celebrating our fifth anni-

PGN: And now you are one of the top stylists in the country. Tell me about the family.

LP: I come from a long line of entrepreneurs. I tried not to be one but I think it’s genetic. My mom started the family business, which is a housewares store. We had a dirt floor growing up and through her strength and ingenuity, she brought us out of poverty. I came to America without anything and when it got rough, I always thought, if my mom could build a business in a place where women are not supposed to be working — she was the first person in the village to send her kids to private school — I can make it too.

PGN: Any siblings?

LP: Yes, I’m the sixth child. I always felt a little disconnected from the rest, but I think it was because of the gay thing.

PGN: How did you end up in Philly?

LP: Well, I moved to L.A. first for 10 months and then I came to Philly to stay with an ex-boyfriend. It was one of those situations where you say, “Maybe it wasn’t that bad, let’s try to make it work,” and two weeks later you remember why you broke up. And then I met my partner and we’ve been together for 17 years.

versary.

PGN: And the business?

LP: Well, I worked for about five years at a salon and I didn’t like the management.

I tried a few high-end salons and found that they were very snooty. I felt, if I work here and I am made to feel uncomfortable, I can’t imagine how clients would feel coming in wanting to look good and being looked down on. So I tried a place that wasn’t as high-end, but the professional-

PGN: Tell me about some of those amazing experiences.

LP: Working with Britney Spears for three years was super, super amazing. I did a lot of magazine covers with her from Elle to Entertainment Weekly, various appearances, including the awards show when she and Madonna kissed. I did her CD cover and video for “Me Against the Music,” a lot of stuff.

PGN: It seems like one of those professions where you get people to open up to you, like a bartender or priest.

LP: It’s interesting that you point that out.

It’s one of the reasons I love my business.

People do connect to you. It’s a charming and lovely work environment. You get to help people feel special. It’s what I fell in love with when I was 5 years old sitting in the waiting room. Everyone being chitty chatty, having coffee and forgetting about their problems. Everyone was happy at the beauty salon.

PGN: A memorable moment with Ms. Spears?

LP: I was booked to do a Glamour magazine shoot and the photographer canceled me so he could bring in his own person. I always take things easy; if it’s not mine, I’m not worried about it. A week before the shoot, her manager called and said, “I’ll see you next week at the shoot.” I explained that I’d been taken off the job and we hung up.

Britney called me back and asked why I wasn’t doing it, I told her and she called Glamour and had me put back on. The photographer wasn’t happy about it so he tortured me at the shoot. Britney was getting the Woman of the Year award and they wanted her to look old-school Hollywood instead of pop-star messy so I gave her a very classic look. She was like, “Oh Laurentius, I love it!” and the editor thanked me for respecting them and creating the look they wanted.

On set, the photographer tore me up, mocking me for making it old-fashioned even though that’s what the client asked for. I was sweating bullets until Britney had them tell the photographer to back off.

It was lovely for her to stand up for me like that.

PGN: I have to say I’m very jealous because you’ve worked with the woman that I would have gladly made my wife: the gorgeous Beverly Johnson.

LP: Oh yes! She is so lovely. So lovely! I love her. And she’s funny too. Her assistant was one of the Warhol kids and one time we were in between sets and talking dirty. Oh my gosh, she started dishing the dirt on who was gay in Hollywood. [Laughs.] By the end of it, we were like, “So who’s straight?

There’s no one left!”

PAGE 28

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

PROFILE from page 27

PGN: Who was the most challenging or surprising?

LP: [Laughs.] I’ll just say with Joan Collins, it is what it is. The most surprising was Barbara Bush. I expected her to be uptight but she was very kind and warm. And Britney because, for being such a superstar, she was so humble and good-natured.

PGN: How did you meet your partner, Steve?

LP: We met through a friend. He’s incredible, and not just because he’s my partner.

He’s just kind and generous and probably the nicest person I ever met. And now I’m married to him. When we first met he didn’t want kids, just cats, so I knew I had to work on him. [Turns to his son.] Thank goodness it worked and we had you, or Daddy would have ended up being a crazy old cat woman.

Like Edie Beale in “Grey Gardens.” We’re both so happy now.

PGN: What do you like to do away from work?

LP: I like to do picnics with the family.

Children really do change your life. Before Jude, I would have said shopping. But he’s the best adventure and gift we could have asked for. I do a lot of photography now. I do all the photo shoots for the company.

PGN: You transform people’s lives. What’s a story that stands out for you?

LP: I have a longtime client named Maryellen. She had a sister, Pat, who had

PROFILE PGN

lupus. She lived alone in Pittsburgh and was struggling with the disease. Whenever Maryellen would visit her she’d come back and tell me how much Pat would talk about how nice she looked and that she wished she had a hairdresser who could do the same.

One day I had a photo shoot that canceled and Maryellen had mentioned to me that she was going to visit her sister so I called her and said, “You know, I don’t have anything on my calendar tomorrow. How about I go with you and do your sister’s hair?”

We drove six hours to the hospital and I did her hair and she was so happy. I saw such a sparkle in her eyes it was beautiful, so worthwhile. And I found out things about Maryellen that I didn’t know before. You can learn a lot in a six-hour drive.

PGN: Random question: What period of time would you choose to do hair in?

LP: I would love to be in the 1940s, doing pin-cushions and finger rolls and side curls.

That period where everyone was glamorous and wore long gloves and dressed up.

Veronica Lake and Lauren Bacall set the styles. And I love the June Cleaver era. It was so ladylike.

PGN: Yes, doing the vacuuming with your pearls on! Backtracking a bit, I read that your sister busted you for playing with your dolls.

LP: Actually, she never ratted me out. She let me play with her dolls and cut their hair, but I didn’t know that if you cut it too short on dolls you see all those little polka dots on

their heads. When she saw what happened, she started crying and my father overheard.

PGN: What’s a smell that makes you stop and reflect?

LP: Lavender. Ha! That’s so gay, isn’t it?

But it gives me such a positive feeling. It makes me feel grateful for all the beautiful things I have in my life and brings a smile to my face.

PGN: An early sign you were gay?

LP: Funny you ask that. I remember when I was young thinking, How the hell does everyone know I am gay? I know I know who I am but how the hell do they know?

Then when I was 17, I went back to the village and my mother and I were walking down memory lane, looking at pictures, and in every one of them I’m wearing flowers in my hair or a fancy hat. [Cracks up.] I was like, “Hello, miss, how could they not know?”

PGN: And wrapping up, tell me about five years with the salon.

LP: It’s gone so fast. One thing I’m proud of is the diversity. I have a myriad of people here and they all have different styles. I like that. I can appreciate any kind of beauty but [claps his hands for emphasis] it has to be excellent.

PGN: Speaking of diversity, did you have problems with racism in Indonesia?

LP: Oh yes, all over Asia. My grandparents were Chinese and when I went into

grade school, the family had to change our last name or I wouldn’t have been admitted into the school. And you can’t be darkskinned. The first year I was here, I went to Rehoboth and got really dark; it doesn’t take much. I sent pictures home and my sister was like, “Oh my God, you look horrible! You’re so dark!”

PGN: What’s the gay situation at home?

LP: It’s not like you’re going to get killed, but you’re never going to be good enough or have the respect you deserve. One of my mentors was the nicest person. He did anything for anybody and helped so many people. One day I heard them making fun of him and I thought, Are you kidding, this is someone who helps you and is supposed to be your friend. That’s when I knew I had to leave. That no matter what I did, I’d never be good enough. When I was in the closet and hated myself it was fine, but once I began to love myself, I knew I wanted and deserved better. Now, I have friends and family who love me, and life is amazing. Beyond my wildest dreams. It’s cliché, but this is truly the land of opportunity. ■ Check out Laurentius Salon at 815 Christian St.; 215-238-0764. Bring in this column for 20-percent off a haircut during the month of November.

To suggest a community member for “Family Portrait,” write to portraits05@aol.com.

PGN FILM

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

29

Gay undertones captive in rare Aussie movie

By Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor

In town, John is soon befriended by Jock (Chips Rafferty), a local cop who buys him several drinks and informs him that the town Suntanned, shirtless and sweaty, the late is a place where most of the folks who leave out actor Gary Bond cuts a striking, sexy it do so via suicide. John also shares a meal figure in “Wake in Fright.” Directed by Ted with “Doc” Tydon (Donald Pleasence), the Kotcheff, this “lost” film — it was made local medic, who is short and often shirtin Australia in 1971 but rarely screened less, but perhaps the most imposing figure — opens Nov. 16 at Ritz at the Bourse. It in town.

Introduced to a coin-tossing game in the is an intriguing drama about masculinity and sexuality that provides viewers with an bar, John earns almost enough money to buy out his teaching contract. But when he experience that is hard to shake.

Bond plays John Grant, a handsome, gets greedy and loses all his cash, John ends thin, blond schoolteacher in the Australian up stuck in The Yabba.

“Wake in Fright” is highly engrossing up Outback town of Tiboonda. He exerts control over his classroom, but it seems to be to this pivotal moment, when the film takes the only control he has in his life. John is an unusual turn, going off in some fascinatunhappy with his post, and needs to raise ing and unexpected directions that make it $1,000 to buy out his bonded contract. As utterly compelling.

The morning after John loses his money, the film opens — with a stunning 360degree shot of the Outback that provides a he wakes up naked, alone and face-down in fitting motif for the story — John is depart- his hotel room. (His exposed bare buttocks ing for Sydney and Christmas holidays with symbolically stand out as unmarked territory against the rest of his beautiful bronzed his girlfriend (seen only in flashback).

John’s travel plans require him to first body. Ideas of John being reborn and/or ripe spend the night in Bundanyabba, known for corruption also abound.) John’s finanlocally as “The Yabba.” The locals here cial situation forces him to leave his hotel are friendly — perhaps too friendly — and and rely on the kindness of strangers as he John, who is effete and therefore an outsider remains in town.

However, things quickly get stranger and looks warily at what appears to be a hyperstranger. John is taken in by Tim Hynes (Al Thomas), a local man who buys him a drink. John is more interested in spending time with Tim’s daughter Janette (Sylvia Kay) than hanging out with Tim’s macho drinking buddies. When the men remark about this, they suggest that John is less manly than they are. This supposition may be accurate, and the queer actor’s sexuality adds more dimension to this idea. When DONALD PLEASENCE (LEFT, AS DOC TYDON) AND Janette takes John out for GARY BOND a walk and tries to seduce him with her near-naked masculine culture. (The idea of outsiders body, his response is a good indication of in the Outback is also expressed silently as his repressed homosexuality.

“Wake in Fright” has considerable queer John shares his train ride to The Yabba with subtext. The bar in The Yabba is filled an Aboriginal passenger.)

CHIPS RAFFERTY (FROM LEFT, AS JOCK CRAWFORD) AND BOND (AS JOHN GRANT) IN TED KOTCHEFF’S “WAKE IN FRIGHT.” Photos: Drafthouse Films

almost exclusively with macho guys; it certainly has the feel of a gay bar. The way the hot, sweaty and often shirtless guys hug and touch each other is both homoerotic and hypnotic. Kotcheff directs the film in a vibrant style that confronts the viewer with many close-ups and much emphasis on male bonding and bodies. (Bond’s fullfrontal nudity in his hotel scene is not gratuitous).

As John spends his days in The Yabba, he ends up on a violent nighttime kangaroo hunt that tests his machismo, or lack thereof. A later nightmarish encounter with Doc further challenges John’s identity, sexuality and masculinity. The animal hunt is pretty graphic, and the encounter with Doc is told in a slightly psychedelic style that may be of the time. But these intense episodes only emphasize the psychological horror of “Wake in Fright.” The fright is seeing how John deteriorates in

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his situation.

Bond is a magnetic leading man and his character is ripe for come-uppance. The attractive actor gives a compelling and even sympathetic performance even during his most arrogant moments. The film nicely showcases his talents, but it was one of Bond’s few leading screen roles; the out actor played mostly on stage and TV following this film. Viewers who respond to the actor’s magnetism may be disappointed he did not have a greater career on screen.

In support, Pleasence gives a truly feral performance as Doc. Ultimately, “Wake in Fright” uses its intense episodes to construct a memorable story about how John’s efforts to “pass” — hide his true identity — are spoiled by the other characters he encounters. It is a queer film indeed, and worth seeing on the big screen, even 40-plus years later. ■

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PGN FUNCOMICS & GAMES

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

Q Puzzle Sexy Sorcerers Across

1. Nice Nellie 5. Head for 9. Petty squabbles 14. Actress Skye 15. Spartacus or Ben-Hur 16. Is het up 17. He played Cedric Diggory in the “Harry Potter” films 20. Gets a smile out of 21. Gung-ho 22. Q, and others, in Scrabble 23. With 51-Across, he played Jareth the Goblin King in “Labyrinth” 24. Pink-slip 27. Comics cry 28. Org. in many spy movies 30. Working in the theater 32. “The Celluloid Closet” author Vito 34. Just managed, with “out” 35. He played Merlin in “Camelot”

40. Griffin of game shows 41. Inundate 42. They may lie in bed with patients 46. Neighbor of Leb. 47. U-turn from NNE 50. Son of Prince Valiant 51. See 23-Across 53. Word before organ 55. Strolls leisurely 57. Hugh of “Life with Judy Garland” 58. He played Harry Potter 61. In doubt 62. Got in the game 63. Harden 64. “I Dream of Jeannie”’s Barbara, and others 65. Maker of some fruity flavors 66. “Xena” deity Down 1. Peter Pan opponent 2. Bert, to Ernie 3. Low-cost way to buy things 4. They go down south for the winter

5. Catches on to 6. Like straight to gay (abbr.)

7. It tops a queen 8. Book size 9. Ford classics, familiarly 10. Island of Barrie’s land 11. Seafood dessert?

12. Alice and Vera’s coworker 13. Digits used when the IRS gets its hand in your pocket 18. Save from going to the bottom at sea, e.g.

19. Watered down 23. Bit of salt, for Stephen Pyles 25. What Dorian Gray never does 26. Beatty of “Roseanne” 29. AOL, e.g.

31. Take care of 32. Say whether or not you’re coming 33. On vacation 35. Raspberry that isn’t a fruit 36. What military

guys may shoot off 37. Former netman Nastase 38. Shooter in Bruce Weber’s field 39. Tom Wilkinson film about a transsexual 40. Degree for Andrew Tobias 43. Where people don’t sleep with the opposite sex 44. Longtime NFL coach Chuck 45. Turn sharply 47. Gay porn site visitor, e.g.

48. Sit on, in a way 49. Potters’ tools 52. “Let me repeat...”

54. Telepathic board that inspired James Merrill 56. Bearing 57. Some watch faces 58. JFK preceder 59. Hand job?

60. Laurie Partridge portrayer Susan PAGE 35

Worth Watching THE WICKED BITCH OF THE WEST: Chloe (Krysten Ritter) swoops into the People magazine offices to put James (Van Der Beek, who plays himself) on the cover of this year’s Sexiest Man Alive issue on “Don’t Trust the B---- in Apartment 23,” 9:30 p.m. Nov. 13 on ABC. Photo: ABC/

OH, BABY: Bailey (Chandra Wilson) tricks out character Arizona (Sara Ramirez) into helping her with a pediatric case on a new episode of “Grey’s Anatomy,” 9 p.m. Nov. 15 on ABC. Photo: ABC/Ron Tom

Kelsey McNeal

PARTY TIME: Kevin and Lisa attend a carnival-themed party featuring flying elephant rides, llamas and unicorns on a new episode of “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” 9 p.m. Nov. 11 on Bravo. Photo: Bravo/ Evans Vestal Ward

GETTING KOSHER WITH IT: Out character Max (Adam Pally) starts working the Bar Mitzvah circuit as the professional “hype guy” — emceeing, getting the crowd excited and up and dancing on a new episode of “Happy Endings,” 9 p.m. Nov. 13 on ABC. Photo: ABC/Randy Holmes

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PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

33

The Saint James serves up heavenly fare

By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com City dwellers might want to bone up on Mapquest and their navigational skills to find The Saint James — 30 Parking Plaza, Suburban Square in Ardmore — but the treasure is well worth the hunt. Tucked into the center of Ardmore’s snazzy retail district (you might want to dress up a bit), this newly opened American bistro helmed by Chef Michael Schulson seems to be the talk of the suburban town, as it was

packed with enthusiastic patrons on a rainy Tuesday night.

We soon found out why: Almost everything we tried was top-notch.

The raw bar tower ($50) is a fine way to start a meal, with shrimp cocktail, two kinds of oysters, jumbo lump crab and Maine lobster with all the appropriate trimmings.

Also, the parker house rolls ($6 and worth every penny) where phenomenal. Seriously, we mean that. They’ll give even the best dinner rolls your moth-

RAW BAR TOWER

ers or grandmothers serve up at Thanksgiving a hard run for their money.

The smoked trout dip ($9) was another excellent appetizer. The smoky flavor of the hearty dip on house-made bagel chips did a stellar job of tempering the flavor of the trout. And the pepperoni flatbread ($12) was amazing, its crispy crust and substantial slices of thick pepperoni simultaneously satisfying our inner child and our grown-up tastes.

The pasta menu had some familiar comforts and bold creations. The spaghetti and meatballs ($17) could have benefited from a better-seasoned meatball.

It was almost there but fell a little short. The spaghetti itself was excellent. A couple could have a perfect “Lady and the Tramp” moment with the hand-cut spaghetti. If you want to experience a really adventurous pasta form, try the wild mushroom lasagna ($16), a worthy alternative to the traditional dish, overflowing with great mushroom flavor, greens and garlic.

The entrées at The Saint James took things to anther level. The rib-eye steak ($28) was nothing

PEPPERONI FLATBREAD Photos: Scott A. Drake necessitates a wingman to finish. short of red-meat heaven with The maple pecan pie ($12) was crispy shallots. The pork chop slightly over-caramelized but still ($25) was phenomenal, thickly great. Even better was the roasted cut and topped with wonderfully yam pie, which was velvety and buttery garlic crumbs.

Desserts are serious business at triggered early Thanksgiving flashbacks for the second time The Saint James. Even if you get that evening. Do yourself a favor something simple like the warm and spring for the scoop of ice chocolate chip cookies ($6), cream ($3) with your pie. It’ll which are huge, warm and soft make your toes with just the curl. right amount You should of crunch, seriously conyou will fall The Saint James sider doing your in love. Then 30 Parking Plaza Christmas shopthere are the 610-649-6200 ping at Suburban pies. You www.saintjamesphilly.com Square, if for no don’t get a Sun.-Tues. 4-10 p.m. other reason than to slice — you Wed.-Thurs. 4-11 p.m. drop into The Saint get your own Fri.-Sat. 4 p.m.-midnight James. ■ entire pie that

If you go

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PGN ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

OUT & ABOUT The week ahead Fri. 11/09 The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later Open Book Collaborative, a new theater production company in South Jersey, presents a staged reading of the epilogue to The Tectonic Theater Project of New York’s groundbreaking 1998 play about interviews with members of the Laramie, Wyo., community affected by the brutal hatecharged murder of Matthew Shepard, an openly gay university student, 8 p.m. Nov. 9 at Haddonfield Plays and Players, 957 E. Atlantic Ave., Haddonfield, N.J.; 856-429-8139.

Robert Randolph & The Family Band The blues-rock group performs 8 p.m. at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215572-7650.

Sat. 11/10 Live with Bobby Flay The chef hosts a live cooking demonstration 1 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.

The Black Stallion The classic kids film is screened 2 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-0223.

Wolfgang Puck The chef hosts a live cooking demonstration 3 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.

Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience The tribute band performs 8:30 p.m. at Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St.; 800745-3000.

A Closer Look: A poetry reading with Janet Mason, Maria Fama and Al Tacconelli The authors read 5:30 p.m. at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; 215-923-2960.

Sun. 11/11

Acoustic Africa: Afropean Woman The performance celebrates traditional African music with singers Dobet Gnahore, Manu Gallo and Kareyce Fotso, 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; 215898-3900.

This is Spinal Tap The comedy film about a touring heavy-metal band on the decline is screened 2 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610-917-0223.

Anvil! The Story of Anvil The documentary about a struggling heavymetal band is screened 4 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610-917-0223.

goes mobile Now you can read your favorite local LGBT news site on your Android or iPhone/iPad Just go to epgn.com on your mobile device

Also check out our digital “flipbook” of the full print edition at issuu.com/philagaynews with issuu’s Android app.

Lipstick Mondays A weekly drag show featuring a changing roster of queens takes the stage 9 p.m. at The Raven, 385 W. Bridge St., New Hope; 215-8622081.

Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St.; 800-745-3000.

Tue. 11/13

Bob and Barbara’s Drag Show The outrageousness begins 11 p.m. at Bob and Barbara’s, 1509 South St.; 215-545-4511.

Open Mic: The Best of What’s Next Sign up and play 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-994-1400.

Wed. 11/14 THEY PUT A SPELL ON YOU: Spellbound Dance Company, an Italian company known for its highly expressive and dynamic movements, performs Nov. 1517 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St. For more information or tickets, call 215-898-3900. Photo: Courtesy of Spellbound Dance Company

Timothy Jay Smith The author of “Cooper’s Promise” hosts a reading 5:30 p.m. at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; 215-9232960.

Ani DiFranco The out singersongwriter performs 7:30 p.m. at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215-5727650.

Antigone Rising The all-female rock band with out members performs at 7:30 p.m. at Tin Angel, 20 N. Second St.; 215-928-0770.

Mon. 11/12 Free Quizzo & Board Game Night Roll the dice, 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-994-1400.

4W5 Blues Jam Local musicians get down 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-994-1400.

Kaki King The out musician/ singer-songwriter performs 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400.

Tom Green The comedian performs 8 p.m. at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215-496-9001.

Thu. 11/15 Grace Potter & the Nocturnals The rock band performs 8:30 p.m. at

Res The rock/R&B singer performs 9:30 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215222-1400.

Fri. 11/16 HOLLER! The open mic starts 7 p.m. at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; 215-923-2960.

Yellowcard The rock band performs 7:30 p.m. at Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St.; 800-745-3000.

Wanda Sykes The comedian performs 9 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.

Death Rides a Horse The Western film is screened 9:45 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-0223.

RETURN OF THE RIGHTEOUS BABE: Out singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco is on the road in support of her new album, “Which Side Are You On?” performing 7:30 p.m. Nov. 11 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave. For more information or tickets, call 215572-7650.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

Opening Charlie Murphy The comedian from “Chappelle’s Show” performs Nov. 15-17 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215-496-9001.

Spellbound Dance Company The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents the acclaimed dance company Nov. 15-17 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; 215-898-3900.

Continuing Cooking With the Calamari Sisters The all-singing, all-dancing, all-cooking hit musical comedy, through Dec. 2 at Society Hill Playhouse, 507 S. Eighth St.; 215-923-0210.

Cy Twombly: Sculptures Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of works from the Swiss sculptor, through March, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

Enchanted Exchanges: Chirps and Chatter ArtStar Gallery presents a solo exhibition by Jordan Elise Perme of Horrible Adorables, through Nov. 18, 623 N. Second St.; 215-238-1557.

The English Bride Theatre Exile presents the story of a series of interrogations after a bombing attempt on a flight out of London, through Dec. 2 at Studio X, 1340 S. Third St.; 215-218-4022.

Learning from Frank Furness: Louis Sullivan in 1873 Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of drawings and furniture by the famed architect, through Dec. 30, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

The Music Man Walnut Street Theatre presents the popular Broadway musical, through Jan. 6, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550.

On My Honor: 100 Years of Girl Scouting The National Constitution Center presents an exhibition highlighting the history, contributions and traditions of Girl Scouts, including entrepreneurship, environmental awareness and civic engagement, through Dec. 31, 525 Arch St.; 215-409-6895.

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.

SOLUTION from page 30

35

LADIES FIRST: Acoustic Africa celebrates traditional African music with “Afropean Woman,” a show featuring acclaimed African singers Dobet Gnahore, Manu Gallo and Kareyce Fotso, 8 p.m. Nov 10 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St. For more information or tickets, call 215898-3900.

The Lair Lantern Theater Company presents an adaptation of Pierre Corneille’s classic French comedy, through Dec. 2 at St. Stephen’s Theater, 10th and Ludlow streets; 215-829-0395.

Presidential Artifacts The National Constitution Center presents an exhibition of artifacts from collections around the country, through Dec. 31, 525 Arch St.; 215409-6895.

ATLANTIC CITY HAS FLAVOR: Culinary arts abound this weekend as celebrity chefs Bobby Flay (top) and Wolfgang Puck host live cooking events as part of Savor Borgata, 1 and 3 p.m., respectively, Nov. 10 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J. For more information, call 609-317-1000.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

Problem Child Walking Fish Theatre Company presents a comedy about a couple trying to clean up their drug-ravaged lives and reclaim custody of their daughter (that’s right, it’s a comedy), through Nov. 17, 2059 Frankford Ave.; 215-427-9255.

Ronaldus Shamask: Form, Fashion, Reflection Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of drawings and sketches by the fashion designer, through March 10, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

Shipwreck! Winslow Homer and The Life Line Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an

exhibition of 33 paintings by the American artist, through Dec. 16, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

Closing The Stowkowski Legacy The Philadelphia Orchestra performs, through Nov. 10 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800.

Stars of David Philadelphia Theatre Company presents the musical adaptation of Abigail Pogrebin’s best-selling book, through Nov. 11 at Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St.; 215-985-0420. ■

36

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

Classifieds Real Estate Sale

Real Estate Sale

Open Houses - Sunday November 11, 2012 12:00-2:30 PM

1808 Christian Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146 3 Bedrooms, 2 full, 2 half Baths.$575,000

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215.546.2700 Business • 267.238.1061 Direct 215.432.7151 Cell • 215.546.7728 Fax dtobey@cbpref.com • www.cbpref.com

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.

PGN

Placing Classifieds Liner Ads In Person: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, By Phone or on the Web: 24 Hours, 7 Days

Deadline for Line Advertising is Friday at 3 p.m. for the following Friday’s issue. You may place your ad via our secure voicemail system, fax or e-mail at any time, or on our Web site. Please have the following information ready to place your ad:

YOUR AD COPY • YOUR NAME AND MAILING ADDRESS DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER • CREDIT CARD INFORMATION PHONE: 215-625-8501 ext. 200 OR 215-451-6182 (DIRECT) • FAX: 215-925-6437 • E-MAIL: don@epgn.com

GENERAL INFORMATION

All classified advertising must be in our office by 3 p.m. Friday for the next Friday’s paper. Ads arriving after that time will be held for the next available issue. PGN reserves the right to edit or rewrite ads as needed, to refuse any ad for any reason and to determine the final classification.

Ads determined to be in bad taste, directed to or from persons under the legal age of consent or containing racially or sexually discriminatory language will be refused. We need your full name, mailing address and daytime phone number on the insertion order form for you ad. This information is confidential and will not appear in the paper. Any ads received without full information will be destroyed. Sexually explicit language will be edited or refused at the discretion of the management.

PAYMENT AND PLACEMENT

Classified ads may be placed online or by mail, fax, e-mail or in person at the PGN offices at 505 S. Fourth St., Phila. Phone, fax and e-mail orders are accepted with credit/debit cards only. A $10 minimum applies to all charges. If you are paying in person with cash, please have the exact change as we cannot make change at the office. All ads must be prepaid for their entire run. NO EXCEPTIONS! DO NOT SEND CASH THROUGH THE MAIL; IT’S NOT SAFE AND CANNOT BE GUARANTEED.

TERM DISCOUNTS - BASED ON THE NUMBER OF ISSUES PREPAID 4 weeks, 5% • 8 weeks, 10% • 16 weeks, 15% • 26 weeks, 20%

CANCELLATION POLICY

All PGN Classified ads are cancelable and refundable except for “FRIENDS” ads. Deadline for cancellation is 3 p.m. Friday. The balance will be credited to your credit/debit card. Checks take two weeks to process. The date of the first issue the ad appeared in, along with the classification, your name, address and daytime phone number is required to cancel your ad.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

37

Real Estate Rent

For Sale

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Jewelry Jewelry bought, sold, repairs, estates, custom deisgn, 707 Sansom. 215-925-3822. ________________________________________36-49

Friends Men LOOKING FOR ROMANCE Attractive GWM, warm, sensitive, caring, 48 y.o. with a smooth gymnast build looking for other GWM, 30-50, who is also in good shape. I live in NE Phila. I’m looking for guys who are also sensitive, caring with a fun personality.

If this sounds interesting to you feel free to call me, David, 215-698-0215. ________________________________________36-49 BM, 60 looking for British gent, 35-45 for intimate encounters. 215-763-3391, 6PM-Midnight. ________________________________________36-49 WM, 66 ISO WM, 18-40 for mutual gratification. Compensation offered. Page at 610-418-1485 w/call back no. or text to 6104181485@archwireless.net ________________________________________36-45 GBM, 28, 8 seeks Mexcian or Puerto Rican male for relationship. Leave message, 215-275-7698. ________________________________________36-46

Massage David, 62, 6’, 200 lbs., educated. 215-569-4949. ________________________________________36-49 Massage on the Mainline. Affordable, professional. $60 per hour. Treat yourself! Appointments: 610-710-6213. ________________________________________36-46

Services EARN COLLEGE DEGREE ONLINE *Medical, *Business, *Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified.

SCHEV Certified. Call 888-220-3984. www.CenturaOnline.com ________________________________________36-45 AIRLINE CAREERS Begin here-Become an Aviation Maintenance Tech. FAA approved training. Financial aid if qualified-Housing available. Job placement assistance. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance 888-834-9715 ________________________________________36-45 MEDICAL-BILLING-TRAINEES NEEDED! Train to become a Medical Office Assistant. NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED! Online training gets you Job ready ASAP. HS Diploma/GED & PC/Internet needed! 1-888926-7882 ________________________________________36-45

Adoption Pregnant? Considering adoption? Successful educated woman seeks to adopt & needs your help! Will be a loving FULL-TIME mom. Expenses paid. Lisa. 1-888977-2931 ________________________________________36-45

Handsome Certified Therapist 6’, 195 lbs, Muscle Gives Sensual / Therapeutic Massage

Call 215-432-6030

B-7

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

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STUDY BREAK!!!!

Saturday, November 10th, 2012 TIME: 11pm-3:30am

STUDENT SPECIALS - Student Special Only Applies for

HAT TO EXPECT: • DJ David Dutch • Complimentary Food & Beverages • A Full House of Guys To Choose From & Soo Much More..

FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHT: After Bar Special

GIVE IT TO ME!!! THANK YOU!!!

4 hour Lockers (8am – 4pm) Members/Students: $5.00 & Non-Members: $15.00

Saturday, November 17th, 2012 Time: 11pm-3:30am

Half Price Rooms (6am Sunday till 8am Monday) Members/Students: $12.50 & Non-Members: $22.50

HAT TO EXPECT: • DJ David Dutch • Complimentary Food & Beverages • A Full House of Guys To Choose From & Soo Much More..

Rooms go quickly and are on a 1st Come, 1st Served basis. So Check In Early if you want a room…

Guys Ages 18-27 Years Of Age, Day Pass Waived for Students Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday-

6hr Rooms (2am to 8am) Members/Students: $15.00 and Non-Members: $25.00 (Special Not Effective During Party Nights)

SATURDAY: AFTERNOON DELIGHT SUNDAY RELIEF

MANIC MONDAY

5 for 5 ($5 Lockers for 5Hrs) Members/Students: $5.00 Non-Members: $15.00 (4pm to 12 )

Check out our website for our HOT NEW WEEKLY SPECIALS & JOIN OUR e-mail List to get the latest information on upcoming events....

Also, RENOVATIONS are being done, So swing by & Check Out The Transformation!

Don’t forget to visit the Adonis Cinema right next door!! 2026 Sansom St/ PH: 215-557-9319

PGN

Religion/Spirituality Arch Street United Methodist Church Services 8:30 and 11 a.m. at 55 N. Broad St., youth/adult Sunday school at 9:30 a.m.; 5:30 p.m. prayer service; 215-568-6250.

Bethlehem-Judah Ministries Open and affirming congregation holds services 10 a.m. Sundays at 5091 N. Dupont Hwy., Suite D, Dover, Del.; 302-734-9350.

BuxMont Unitarian Universalist Church Services 10:15 a.m. at 2040 Street Road, Warrington; 215-3430406.

Calvary United Methodist Church Reconciling, welcoming and affirming church holds services 11 a.m. Sundays at 801 S. 48th St.; 215-724-1702.

Central Baptist Church Welcoming and affirming church holds services at 10:45 a.m.

Sundays, summer services 9:30 a.m, at 106 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne; 610-688-0664.

Chestnut Hill United Methodist Church Services 11 a.m. and Spirit at Play, an arts-based Sunday school for children, 9:30 a.m. at 8812 Germantown Ave.; 215-242-9321.

Church of the Crucifixion Inclusive Episcopal community holds services 10 a.m. Sundays and 6 p.m. Fridays at 620 S. Eighth St.; 215-922-1128.

Church of the Holy Trinity Inclusive church holds services 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sundays at 1904 Walnut St.; 215-567-1267.

Dignity Jersey Shore An organization for sexual-minority Catholics meets the first Saturday of the month in Asbury Park. For time and location, call 732-502-0305.

Dignity Metro NJ An organization for sexual-minority Catholics meets 4 p.m. the first and third Sundays of the month at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 550 Ridgewood Road, Maplewood; 973-509-0118.

Dignity Philadelphia Holds Mass 7 p.m. Sundays at 330 S. 13th St.; 215-546-2093; dignityphila@aol.com.

Drexel Hill Baptist Church Nonjudgmental Christian congregation affiliated with American Baptist Churches of the USA holds services 11 a.m. Sundays at 4400 State Road, Drexel Hill; 610-259-2356; www.dhbaptist.com.

Emanuel Lutheran Church Reconciling in Christ congregation meets at 10:30 a.m. Sundays, summer services 9:30 a.m., New and Kirkpatrick streets, New Brunswick, N.J.; 732-545-2673; www.emmanuelnb.org.

Evangelicals Concerned Lesbian and gay Christian counseling; 215-860-7445.

First Baptist Church Welcoming and affirming church holds prayer services 10:30 a.m.

Sundays and community worship 11:30 a.m. at 123 S. 17th St.; 215-563-3853.

First Presbyterian Church of Lansdowne Welcoming church holds services at 10 a.m. Sundays at 140 N. Lansdowne Ave.; 610-622-0800; www.lansdownepresbyterianchurch.com.

Jersey; mccctl.com; 732-823-2193.

Metropolitan Community Church of Philadelphia Holds services 1 p.m. Sundays at the University Lutheran Church of the Incarnation, 3637 Chestnut St.; 215-294-2020; www. mccphiladelphia.com.

Old First Reformed Church Open and affirming United Church worships at 11 a.m., summer services at 10 a.m, at 151 N. Fourth St.; 215-922-4566; www. oldfirstucc.org.

Penns Park United Methodist Church Welcoming and affirming church holds services 10 a.m. Sundays at 2394 Second Street Pike, Penns Park; 215-598-7601.

Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral Progressive and affirming congregation holds services 10 a.m.

Sundays with Holy Eucharist at 3723 Chestnut St.; 215-386-0234; www.philadelphiacathedral.org.

Rainbow Buddhist Meditation Group Meets 5 p.m. Sundays at the William Way Center.

Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting worships 11 a.m., summer services 10 a.m, Sundays at 1515 Cherry St.; 215-241-7000; cpmm@afsc.org.

Resurrection Lutheran Church Holds services 10 a.m. Sundays at 620 Welsh Road, Horsham; 215-646-2597.

Key numbers

St. John’s Lutheran Church (ELCA) Reconciling in Christ congregation holds services 10:30 a.m.

Sundays at 24 N. Ridge Ave., Ambler; 215-646-2451; www. stjohnsambler.org.

■ AIDS Treatment Fact line: 800662-6080

St. Mary of Grace Parish Inclusive church in the Catholic tradition celebrates Mass 6 p.m. Sundays in the Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County, 145 W. Rose Tree Road, Media; 610-566-1393; www. inclusivecatholics.org.

St. Mary’s Church Diverse and inclusive Episcopal church celebrates the Eucharist 11 a.m. Sundays at 3916 Locust Walk; 215-386-3916; www. stmarysatpenn.org.

St. Paul Episcopal Church Welcoming and inclusive church holds services 9:30 a.m. Sundays and 7 p.m. Tuesdays at 89 Pinewood Drive, Levittown; 215-6881796; www.stpaullevittown.org.

Tabernacle United Church Open and affirming congregation holds services 10 a.m. Sundays at 3700 Chestnut St.; 215-386-4100; tabunited.org.

Unitarian Society of Germantown Welcoming congregation holds services 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 6511 Lincoln Drive; 215-844-1157; www.usguu.org.

Unitarian Universalist Church of Cherry Hill Holds services 10:15 a.m. Interweave, a group of LGBT Unitarians and their allies, also meets at 401 N. Kings Highway, Cherry Hill, N.J.; 856-667-3618; uucch.org.

Unitarian Universalist Church of the Restoration Welcoming congregation holds services 11 a.m. Sundays at 6900 Stenton Ave.; 215-247-2561; www.uurestoration.us.

Unitarian Universalist Congregation, South Jersey Shore Holds services 10 a.m. Sundays in Galloway Township; 609-9659400; www.uucsjs.org.

Kol Tzedek Reconstructionist synagogue committed to creating a diverse and inclusive community meets at Calvary Center, 801 S. 48th St.; 215764-6364; www.kol-tzedek.org.

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Pottstown Holds services 10:30 a.m. at 1565 S. Keim St.; 610-327-2662. www.uupottstown.org.

Metropolitan Community Church of Christ the Liberator Holds services 10:45 a.m. Sundays at the Pride Center of New

■ AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania: 215-587-9377

■ Mayor’s Director of LGBT Affairs: Gloria Casarez, 215-6862194; Gloria.Casarez@phila.gov; Fax: 215-686-2555

Living Water United Church of Christ An open and affirming congregation that meets for worship 11 a.m. on Sundays; 6250 Loretto Ave.; 267-388-6081; www.lwucc.org.

Maple Shade Congregational Church of the United Church of Christ Affirming congregation open to all sexual orientations and gender identities holds services 10 a.m. Sundays at 45 N. Forklanding Road, Maple Shade, N.J.; 856-779-7739; mapleshadeucc.org.

■ Rainbow Room — Bucks County’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning

■ AIDS Library: 215-985-4851

Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County Welcoming congregation holds services 9:15 and 11:15 a.m.

Sundays, summer services 10:30 a.m., at 145 W. Rose Tree Road, Media. Interweave, a group for LGBT parishioners and allies, meets noon the first Sunday of the month; 610-566-4853; www. uucdc.org.

Mainline Unitarian Church Holds services 10 a.m. Sundays at 816 S. Valley Forge Road, Devon; 610-688-8332; www.mluc.org.

■ William Way Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center: 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220; www.waygay.org.

Hours: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Saturdays and Sundays. Peer counseling: 6-9 p.m.

Monday through Friday Library hours: 12-9 p.m.

Monday-Thursday; 12-3 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Friday; 126 p.m. Saturday. Volunteers: New Orientation: First Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.

St. Asaph’s Church Inclusive and progressive Episcopal church holds services 8 and 10 a.m. Sundays, summer services 9:15 a.m., at 27 Conshohocken State Road, Bala Cynwyd; 610-664-0966; www.saintasaphs.org.

The First United Methodist Church of Germantown A sexual-minority-affirming congregation holds services at 10 a.m., summer services 11 a.m., Sundays at 6001 Germantown Ave.; lunch follows; 215-438-3077. www.fumcog.org.

Imago Dei Metropolitan Community Church Sexual-minority congregation worships at 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 1223 Middletown Road (Route 352), Glen Mills; 610-358-1716; www.ImagoDeiMCC.org.

■ Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center at the University of Pennsylvania 3907 Spruce St., 215-898-5044; center@dolphin.upenn.edu. Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday.

and Allies Youth Center: 6-8 p.m.

Wednesdays: Doylestown Planned Parenthood, The Atrium, Suite 2E, 301 S. Main St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981; rainbowroom@ppbucks.org

■ Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Peer Counseling Services: 215-732-TALK

Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church Worship with nursery care, 10:30 a.m. Sundays. First Sunday of the month, 7 p.m. Mosaic: jazz with poetry and prose; 2212 Spruce St.; 215-732-2515; trinityphiladelphia.org.

Holy Communion Lutheran Church ELCA Reconciling in Christ congregation worships Sundays at 9 a.m. at 2111 Sansom St. and 11 a.m. at 2110 Chestnut St. in the main sancturary; 215-567-3668; www.lc-hc.org.

Community centers

■ The Attic Youth Center: For LGBT and questioning youth and their friends and allies. Groups meet and activities are held 4-8 p.m. MondayFriday; case management, HIV testing and smoking cessation are available Monday-Friday. See the Youth section for more events.

255 S. 16th St.; 215-545-4331.

■ AIDS Law Project of Southern New Jersey: 856-933-9500 ext.

221

St. Luke and The Epiphany Church Open and welcoming church holds fall liturgy 9 and 11 a.m.

Sundays, summer sevices 10 a.m., at 330 S. 13th St.; 215-7321918; stlukeandtheepiphany.org.

United Christian Church Open, affirming and welcoming congregation holds services 10:15 a.m. Sundays, summer services 9:15 a.m., at 8525 New Falls Road, Levittown; 215-946-6800.

Unity Fellowship Church of Philadelphia Diverse, affirming LGBT congregation holds services 2 p.m.

Sundays at 55 N. Broad St.; 215-240-6106.

University Lutheran Church of the Incarnation Welcoming congregation holds services 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 3637 Chestnut St. preceded by “Adult Forum: Sundays” at 9:30; 215-387-2885; www.uniphila.org.

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Community Bulletin Board

Silverside Church Holds services 10 a.m. Sundays followed by a group discussion at 2800 Silverside Road, Wilmington, Del.; 302-478-5921; silversidechurch.org.

First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia A liberal, welcoming and diverse congregation that affirms the dignity of all. Sunday services at 10 a.m., 2125 Chestnut St.; 215563-3980; www.firstuu-philly.org.

Grace Epiphany Church A welcoming and diverse Episcopal congregation in Mt. Airy with services 9:30 a.m. Sundays at 224 E. Gowen Ave.; 215-248-2950. www.grace-epi.org.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

■ ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215592-1513

■ Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection at the Independence Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library: 215-685-1633 ■ The COLOURS Organization Inc.: 112 N. Broad St., third floor; 215-496-0330 ■ Equality Pennsylvania: 215731-1447; www.equalitypa.org ■ Equality Forum: 215-732-3378

■ Mazzoni Center: 215-563-0652; www.mazzonicenter.org. Legal Services: 215-563-0657, 866-LGBTLAW; legalservices@mazzonicenter. org ■ Mazzoni Center Family & Community Medicine: 215-563-0658 ■ Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): 215-572-1833

Health

AIDS Services In Asian Communities Provides HIV-related services to Asians and Pacific Islanders at 1711 S. Broad St.; 215-629-2300. www.asiac.org.

Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative Free, anonymous HIV testing from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; noon-6 p.m.

Tuesdays at the Washington West Project, 1201 Locust St. 215851-1822 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 and 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad St.; 215-685-1803.

HIV health insurance help Access to free medications and confidential HIV testing

■ Greater Philadelphia Professional Network Networking group for area business professionals, self-employed and business owners meets monthly in a different location throughout the city, invites speakers on various topics, partners with other nonprofits and maintains a Web site where everyone is invited to sign up for email notices for activities and events; www.gppn.org.

■ Philadelphia Police Department liaison — Deputy Commissioner Stephen Johnson: 215-683-2840 ■ Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 215-760-3686; 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)

■ Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations: 215-686-4670

Anonymous, free, confidential HIV testing Spanish/English counselors offer testing 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 3439 N. Hutchinson St.; 215-763-8870 ext. 6000.

■ Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia GALLOP holds board meetings at 6:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at 100 S. Broad St., Suite 1810; GALLOP also provides a free referral service; (215) 6279090; www.galloplaw.org.

■ Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force: 215-772-2000

available by appointment at 13 S. MacDade Blvd., Suite 108, Collingdale; Medical Office Building, 722 Church Lane, Yeadon; and 630 S. 60th St.; 610-5869077.

Mazzoni Center Free, anonymous HIV testing; HIV/AIDS care and treatment, 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, 809 Locust St.; 215-563-0658.

Washington West Project Free, anonymous HIV testing. Walk-ins welcome 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

Monday-Friday except for noon-1 p.m. and 5-6 p.m., and 1-5 p.m. Saturday; 1201 Locust St.; 215-985-9206.

Professional groups ■ Independence Business Alliance Greater Philadelphia’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce, providing networking, business development, marketing, educational and advocacy opportunities for LGBT and LGBT-friendly businesses and professionals. Visit www.IndependenceBusinessAlliance.com for information about events, programs and membership; 215-557-0190; 1717 Arch St., Suite 3370.

■ National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association The Philadelphia chapter of NLGJA, open to professionals and

students, meets for social and networking events; www.nlgjaphiladelphia.org.

■ Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus A regional organization dedicated to promoting gay and lesbian tourism to the Greater Philadelphia region holds meetings every other month on the fourth Thursday (January, March, May, July, September and the third Thursday in November), open to the public; P.O. Box 58143, Philadelphia, PA 19102; www.philadelphiagaytourism.com.

■ Philly OutGoing Professionals Social group for gay, lesbian and bisexual professionals meets for social and cultural activities, 856857-9283; popnews19@yahoo. com.

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PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2012

I am a partner, an editor, and a runner.

And I am living with HIV. TM

Oriol (left) has lived with HIV since 1992.

Get the facts. Get tested. Get involved. www.cdc.gov/ActAgainstAIDS