pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976
Vol. 42 No. 45 Nov. 9-15, 2018
Family Portrait: Marquise Lee is a storyteller with his own story PAGE 23
Pets of PGN
HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
PAGES 12-13
PAGE 21
PAGES 8-9
Kenyatta wins in landslide
Philly’s first out trans police officer buried as a man
By Adriana Fraser adriana@epgn.com
By Adriana Fraser adriana@epgn.com Maria Gonzalez spent the last 15 years of her life as a woman. Her dying wish was to be buried in a pretty dress while wearing red lipstick and matching nail polish, according to a relative who was her primary caregiver. But on the day of her funeral, family and friends said goodbye to her ashes, which were placed in a wooden box adorned with white and blue flowers. A blue ribbon wrapped around the flowers next to a metal pendant that read: “Dad.” Gonzalez did not include her funeral wishes in her will and didn’t put her request in writing. Gonzalez’s ex-wife, Chrissy Hernandez Gonzalez, and daughter, Celina Huber, organized the service, even though they were not supportive of her living as a woman, said family members who were close to them. “Family life was difficult for Maria,” said Linda Greiser, Gonzalez’s sister. “When she came out, [Hernandez Gonzalez] kicked her out of the house and wanted nothing to do with her. There wasn’t much of a relationship between my sister and [Huber] for 15 years. She made attempts, but nothing worked.” “Maria expressed to me numerous times that if her ex-wife or daughter were in charge of her funeral, she would have the worst funeral ever. Unfortunately, she never put anything into writing,” Greiser said. Gonzalez was the first openly transgender officer in the Philadelphia Police Department. She died Oct. 12 from lung disease at age 71. Gonzalez joined the PPD in 1967. She spent 21 years on the force in North Philadelphia’s 23rd District, which included a stint on horseback as a mounted officer. For 15 years, Gonzalez served as a firearms instructor at the Police Academy. In 2004, she publicly announced her transition after delivering a letter to a supervisor announcing her decision to live and work as a woman. Gonzalez was transferred to the Differential Police PAGE 12
Election recap
Making “Boy Erased” visible
With more than 95 percent of the vote, Malcolm Kenyatta will be the first LGBTQ person of color to serve as a Pennsylvania state representative. Kenyatta pulled in 20,722 votes against challenger T. Milton Street, who got only 1,014. At age 28, Kenyatta is also the youngest representative to fill the 181st District seat that covers North and North Central Philadelphia, Yorktown, Francisville, Glenwood, West Poplar, Northern Liberties and Kensington. He campaigned largely on a platform to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour, in addition to proposing a fair-funding formula for public schools and solutions for the systemic poverty PAGE 9 that plagues his district. “My heart is so full. What this race proves is anything is possible,” Kenyatta told PGN after his win Tuesday night. “There were no black, gay elected officials that I could look up to. I hope there are kids out there who say that they want to serve one day and there won’t be barriers to do that because of how they identify or who they love. I hope this starts a ripple effect of trans people and black and brown people who will say they can run — and they can win.” PAGE 8 More than 150 supporters joined Kenyatta at his elec-
PA elects LGBTQ allies
MALCOLM KENYATTA (LEFT) WITH PARTNER DR. MATTHEW MILLER. KENYATTA IS THE FIRST GAY PERSON OF COLOR TO BE ELECTED TO THE PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Federal judge urges settlement talks in foster-care dispute By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com A federal-appellate judge this week urged city officials and Catholic Social Services to avoid protracted litigation by resolving their legal dispute regarding CSS’ refusal to place foster children with same-sex couples. “This cries out for some type of resolution,” said Third Circuit Judge Thomas L. Ambro during oral arguments Nov. 6. “As I look at this case, it seems like people are trying to get together. I don’t know why we hit this constitutional wall.” In March, city officials stopped referring foster-care children to CSS after published reports disclosed the agency wouldn’t place children with same-sex couples. City officials said CSS’ policies violate the city’s Fair Practices Ordinance, which bans LGBT bias in public accommodations. But two months later, CSS filed suit against the city, claiming violations of its constitutional rights to freedom of speech and religion. During a 75-minute court proceeding, Lori H. Windham, an attorney for CSS, told Ambro the agency would like to resolve its differences with the city. “CSS doesn’t want to be in federal court,” she told Ambro. “Unfortunately, the city has dug in its heels.” PAGE 6
OUT OF THE ATTIC: Dominique Jackson (left), star of the critically acclaimed series “Pose,” and Attic Youth Center executive director Carrie Jacobs share a moment during the center’s 25th-anniversary gala Nov. 3 at the Crystal Tea Room. Jackson received The Attic’s OK2BU Role Model Award. More than 400 people attended the event that also included recognition of former Attic youth Dena Underwood, who performs Friday nights at New Hope’s Cub Room. Her family band, The Underwoods, performed at the gala. Photo: Scott A. Drake
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2018
Resource listings
News Briefing
Legal resources • ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215-592-1513; aclupa.org • AIDS Law Project of PA: 215-587-9377; aidslawpa.org • AIDS Law Project of South Jersey: 856-784-8532; aidslawsnj.org/ • Equality PA: equalitypa. org; 215-731-1447
• Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations — Rue Landau: 215-686-4670 • Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 215-7603686; ppd.lgbt@gmail.com • SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: 717-920-9537
• Office of LGBT Affairs — Amber Hikes: 215-686-0330; amber.hikes@phila.gov
Community centers • The Attic Youth Center; 255 S. 16th St.; 215-545-4331, atticyouthcenter.org. For LGBT and questioning youth and their friends and allies. • LGBT Center at the University of Pennsylvania; 3907 Spruce
St.; 215-898-5044, center@dolphin.upenn.edu.
• Rainbow Room: Bucks County’s LGBTQ and Allies Youth Center
Salem UCC Education Building, 181 E. Court St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981 ext. 9065, rainbowroom@ppbucks.org.
• William Way LGBT Community Center 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220, www.waygay.org.
Health and HIV testing • Action Wellness: 1216 Arch St.; 215981-0088, actionwellness.org • AIDS Healthcare Foundation: 1211 Chestnut St. #405 215971-2804; HIVcare.org • AIDS Library: 1233 Locust St.; aidslibrary.org/ • AIDS Treatment Fact line: 800-6626080 • Bebashi-Transition to Hope: 1235
Spring Garden St.; 215769-3561; bebashi.org • COLOURS: coloursorganization.org, 215832-0100 • Congreso de Latinos Unidos; 216 W. Somerset St.; 215-7638870 • GALAEI: 149 W. Susquehanna Ave.; 267-457-3912, galaei. org. Spanish/English • Health Center No. 2: 1720 S. Broad St.; 215-685-1821
• Mazzoni Center: 1348 Bainbridge St.; 215-563-0652, mazzonicenter.org • Philadelphia FIGHT: 1233 Locust St.; 215-985-4448, fight.org • Washington West Project of Mazzoni Center: 1201 Locust St.; 215985-9206 • Transgender Health Action Coalition: 215-732-1207
Other • Independence Branch Library Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection: 215-685-1633 • Independence Business Alliance; 215-557-0190, IndependenceBusinessAlliance.com
• LGBT Peer Counseling Services: 215-732-TALK • PFLAG: Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): 215-572-1833 • Philly Pride Presents: 215-875-9288
award up to $50,000 in grants to help organizations implement the ideas from the conversations. To RSVP, email Chris Bartlett at Bartlett. cd@gmail.com.
It’s lesbian-movie night Biz council trains in LGBTQ cultural competency The Montgomery County LGBT Business Council will partner with 1776 at Ambler Yards to host an interactive training on LGBTQ cultural competency in the workplace. The two-hour training session will focus on strategies to create inclusive work environments for LGBTQ workers. Todd Snovel, executive director of the Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs, will be the lead trainer. “This workshop will equip community leaders with the information, skills and language to be forward-thinking when it comes to engaging their LGBTQ populations,” Snovel said. The business council worked with 1776 at Ambler Yards — an incubator-styled co-working space — on creating its nondiscrimination policy that was implemented in September. Upon completion of the training, participants will receive certification for LGBTQ cultural competency in the workplace from the Montgomery County LGBT Business Council. The training will be held 3 p.m. Nov. 28 at the Ambler Yards camps in Lower Gwynedd Township.
William Way hosts lunchtime discussions on LGBT issues The William Way LGBT Community Center will host lunchtime table discussions Nov. 8 on challenges facing the LGBTQ community. The event is the second installment of On the Table Greater Philly, a project started by the Philadelphia Foundation and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to create a series of roundtable discussions on the same day at locations throughout Philadelphia. Participants share a meal with eight to 12 people on the issues they are facing in their communities. Last year, more than 2,000 people took part in discussions at 150 host locations. Participants are encouraged to bring a brown-bag lunch to William Way, 1315 Spruce St., at noon for a one-hour discussion. Chris Bartlett, executive director of William Way, said the center will hold two lunches simultaneously to discuss “innovative ways to solve problems.” The ideas generated at the discussions will be presented to the Philadelphia Foundation, the oldest and largest community foundation that provides residents of the Greater Philadelphia area with grants and scholarships. The foundation will
William Way LGBT Community Center will screen “The Watermelon Woman” Nov. 13 for the 2nd Tuesday Café, the monthly meet-up group for LGBTQ women. The 2nd Tuesday Cafe holds meetings for women to engage in conversations on personal stories and issues within the LGBTQ community. This month’s film was written and directed by Philadelphia native Cheryl Dunye. The movie follows Cheryl, a young, black lesbian working in Philadelphia with her best friend on a film project. The two go on a search to find a black actress — known as The Watermelon Woman — who appeared in films in 1930s. The screening will be held 6-8 p.m. at William Way, hosted by Kelly Burkhardt. Admission is free and open to the public.
Mazzoni Center’s new community spaces Mazzoni Center has introduced two new “drop-in” spaces that provide peer counseling, discussion groups, health resources and legal services for two specific groups within the LGBTQ community. The Freedom Space is the health center’s newest space specifically for gay, bisexual and sexually fluid men of color. It offers a place to convene and learn more about safe-sex practices. The space is run by the Trip Project, a social movement created at Mazzoni Center for men of color who have sex with men. Participants have access to information on sexual health and HIV- and STI-prevention methods. Freedom Space is hosted every Tuesday from 5-8 p.m. The other new option is OURSpace, which meets every Wednesday from 5-8 p.m., a community space for transgender and gender-nonconforming people. The group provides specific resources for the trans community and anyone questioning their gender identity. Resources include art therapy, creative writing and one-on-one peer support. The space also includes an advice hour as well as health, wellness and legal referrals. OURSpace offers a clinic that assists participants with paying fees to change their legal names.
Correction A brief included in the Nov. 2-8 issue included two errors about the Cabaret Vérité VIII: TRUTH BE TOLD event. The performance will be held Nov. 17, not Nov. 19, at William Way LGBT Community Center. The correct title of the event is “Cabaret Vérité VIII.” PGN apologizes for the errors. n
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Newly-elected state rep Malcolm Kenyatta stirred up the crowd during his watch party. More election results on page 9.
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Creep of the Week: Donald Trump: Because everything
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Pop star Kesha brings her Rainbow Tour to Atlantic City.
Copyright © 1976 - 2018 Copyright(s) in all materials in these pages are either owned or licensed by Masco Communications Inc. or its subsidiaries or affiliate companies (Philadelphia Gay News, PGN, and it’s WWW sites.) All other reproduction, distribution, retransmission, modification, public display, and public performance of our materials is prohibited without the prior written consent of Masco Communications. To obtain such consent, email pgn@epgn.com Published by Masco Communications Inc. © 1976-2018 Masco Communications Inc. ISSN-0742-5155
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PIE IN THE SKY: Philadelphia Eagles mascot Swoop winged out complimentary slices of pie at the kickoff of the annual MANNA Thanksgiving pie sale Nov. 1 at The Ritz-Carlton. Mayor Jim Kenney and other dignitaries joined Swoop at the media event in sampling all kinds of pie: pumpkin, sweet potato, pecan, apple, berry and the American Airlines Sky Pie. Sales continue through Nov. 16 for pickup the following week. Pies can be purchased at mannapies.org. Photo: Scott A. Drake
LGBTQ center goes solar, ‘more resources for programs’ By Adriana Fraser adriana@epgn.com In an effort not only to shrink its carbon footprint, but also to dramatically reduce energy costs, the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center plans to replace its aging roof and install solar panels, according to Adrian Shanker, executive director of the center. “We believe that it is our ethical responsibility to consider our environmental footprint as an organization,” said Shanker. “It used to be seen that solar was unachievable and now it’s becoming more accessible, especially to nonprofits. If the cost of energy goes up every year, we’ll continue to see those savings because we’re producing our own energy.” The project was announced Oct. 30 by the center and will be financed by an anonymous foundation. The solar panels are expected to save the center an estimated $350,000 in energy costs over 25 years, Shanker said. “We needed a new roof urgently. Solar panels will protect our new roof and strengthen its longevity by providing shade and reducing sun exposure to the roof. We own our own building — a 13,000-squarefoot building that uses a lot of energy,” he added. A local company will do BradburySullivan’s roofing installation and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 375 will install the solar panels — all at no cost to the center. “It’s not cheap to replace a roof and install solar panels and we can do that because of
the generosity of our community. It’s an amazing show of solidarity between the labor movement and the LGBT community of Lehigh Valley,” Shanker said. Paul Anthony, business manager of IBEW Local 375, said the community-service project “is another way we’re supporting the center and providing experience to apprentices.” The center worked with SunPulse Solar, a solar-energy company based in Bloomsburg. SunPulse provided an energy analysis estimating that Bradbury-Sullivan would save an average of 46 percent of its energy cost by making the switch to solar energy. Luke Amick, president of SunPulse Solar, created a 3D model of the building and surrounding buildings to factor in shade or obstruction on the roof. The model provides an accurate idea of the amount of energy that would be produced with solar power. “The [modeling] software produces an annual-production target and we compare that to the historical usage of the facility. It came up with an analysis projection that 46 percent of the power would come from the solar panels. We take 46 percent, multiply that by the current spending and factor in an average of the historical annual-rate increases from utility companies to come up with an estimate of where that spending is going to go over time,” Amick said. “The equipment is warrantied for 25 years but will produce longer than that. That provides a fixed cost for that energy used rather than a fluctuating unknown for future costs.” Similarly, Philadelphia is taking steps PAGE 14 toward reducing energy
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agency, Bethany Christian Services, setWindham said CSS has sincerely held tled its differences with the city in such religious beliefs against same-sex mar- a manner. However, Windham said such riage. She said it’s wrong for the city to a compromise would be unacceptable for reject CSS’ offer to refer same-sex cou- CSS. State law requires foster agencies to conples to other foster agencies for child placement. Such referrals wouldn’t consti- sider a variety of factors before approving tute illegal discrimination against a same- a foster parent, including whether the sex couple. Instead, CSS would be exer- person has the ability to nurture and cising its constitutional rights, according supervise a child, whether the person’s home is safe and appropriate and whether to Windham. She also emphasized that no same- the person has supportive ties within the sex couple has requested a foster child community. After the hearing, Windham through CSS and that the city cannot had no comment regarding the possibility demonstrate any harm caused by CSS’ of CSS evaluating all those factors before approving or rejecting a same-sex couple religious beliefs. Ambro and two other Third Circuit as foster parents. Leslie Cooper, deputy director of the judges — Marjorie O. Rendell and Anthony J. Scirica — must decide whether ACLU’s LGBT and HIV Project, argued to order a lower court to issue an injunc- on behalf of the Support Center for Child tion forcing city officials to refer fos- Advocates and Philadelphia Family Pride, intervenors in the case who advocate on ter-care children to CSS. According to court testimony, CSS behalf of children in the city’s foster-care received about $1.7 million annually from system and families headed by same-sex the city for foster-care services prior to couples who seek to care for them. Cooper told the judges it’s unclear how referrals being halted. CSS currently provides services for 97 foster children. The many other foster agencies that contract agency’s lawyer said if it doesn’t get addi- with the city would choose to discriminate tional referrals from the city, it may have if CSS is allowed to. She also emphasized to close its foster-care program. The city that CSS doesn’t have a constitutional contracts with 29 other agencies to pro- right to have a foster-care contract with vide foster-care services for about 5,700 the city, nor does it have a constitutional right to be exempt from antibias provichildren. Jane L. Istvan, a city attorney, told the sions within the contract. After the hearing, Cynthia F. Figueroa, judges that the city has tried to settle the dispute. “We do have a strong desire to commissioner of the city’s Department of continue the contract,” she said, referring Human Services, emphasized that the city isn’t experiencing a critical shortage of to CSS. But Istvan emphasized that CSS’ offer foster parents. “We’re not in a crisis because of this of referring same-sex couples to another [CSS] situation,” agency is unacceptFigueroa told PGN. able. She said such Three Third Circuit judges She also reafreferrals would stigfirmed the city’s matize the LGBT must decide whether to to community and order a lower court to issue commitment nondiscrimination: deny foster children “We feel strongly loving affirming an injunction forcing city that all children and homes. Istvan also officials to refer foster-care families should be said allowing CSS treated equally and to behave in such a children to CSS. not be discriminated manner would conagainst.” A decision vey to LGBT youth that their civil rights won’t be respected when they reach adult- is expected within the next several weeks. Windham told PGN after the hearing that hood. The city provides about $26 million the case ultimately may end up in the U.S. annually to CSS for services apart from Supreme Court. Stephanie Haynes, executive director foster-care services. Still, Windham told the judges that city officials are hostile to of Philadelphia Family Pride, said in an CSS’ religious beliefs and are targeting email that the group “is so happy that our families were represented in this case. them for unfair treatment. Rendell openly scoffed at that notion. We are very happy with the work that the “To infer that something hostile is going ACLU and Dechert law firm have done on on just doesn’t make sense,” the judge told our behalf.” Reggie Shuford, executive director of Windham. Rendell also said it would be wrong the ACLU of Pennsylvania, also attended for city officials to exempt CSS from the the hearing and was optimistic about a rulcity’s LGBT-inclusive antibias policies. ing in favor of the city of Philadelphia. “If they were to exempt you, they would “I am pleased with how today’s argube establishing religion,” Rendell told ment went,” Shuford said. “The [lower] court ruled that Catholic Social Services Windham. Ambro suggested to Windham that CSS should not be allowed to rely on relicompromise by placing children with gious-freedom arguments to discriminate qualified same-sex couples while clarify- against LGBTQ foster families. I hope ing that it continues to oppose same-sex that the Third Circuit Court of Appeals marriage. He noted that another foster will affirm that ruling.” n CSS from page 1
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KENYATTA from page 1
tion-results watching party at Throwbacks Bar, 714 W. Girard Ave. Kenyatta electrified the crowd with his victory speech, thanking supporters and speaking about his parents, who inspired him to run. Kenyatta’s father died seven years ago and his mother passed away last summer. He repeatedly told the crowd, “Anything is possible.” Tykee James, field director for Kenyatta’s campaign, said it was energizing to see the spirit of voters “waiting in line at polling places where there haven’t been lines in years.” He added that Kenyatta visited multiple polling sites across the district and thanked voters who waited in the rain to cast their votes for the North Philadelphia native. Mickie Johnson, a resident of the 181st District who attended the party, said she voted for Kenyatta “because he wants to stop the violence in the city and help the seniors. His thoughtfulness, his caring heart and his understanding are what we need in this neighborhood.” Alexander Olson, the newly elected chair of the Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club,
said Kenyatta is “needed in Harrisburg and will be able to effect real and meaningful change.” “It’s wonderful on a symbolic level
sentative we need in Harrisburg.” Kenyatta grew up at 11th and Master streets in Yorktown, a neighborhood that flanks Temple University. He is the grandson of Muhammad Kenyatta, a civil-rights leader, minister and local politician who ran for mayor of Philadelphia in 1975. The representative-elect graduated from Temple University in 2012 with a degree in public communications. He got his start in community activism when he ran for junior block captain at age 11. Since then, he’s been active in civic and community advocacy. In 2014, Kenyatta was the campaign manager for Sherrie Cohen, a two-term Philadelphia City PA STATE REPRESENTATIVE-ELECT MALCOLM Council member. KENYATTA (LEFT) FIRES UP THE CROWD Two years later, he was elected DURING HIS WATCH-PARTY SPEECH. TYKEE as a delegate for Hillary Clinton JAMES IS KENYATTA’S FIELD DIRECTOR. to the 2016 Democratic National Photos: Scott A. Drake Convention. Past leadership roles include positions at the Greater because he has this intersectionality that is needed. I have no doubt that he will be Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, a great representation of our community Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club, and for Pennsylvania. He’s going to take Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse, the Philadelphia Chapter Harrisburg by storm.” Wade Albert, chair of the endorsement of the National Organization for committee at Liberty City, echoed Olson’s Women’s Education Fund and Equality sentiments, saying Kenyatta “is the repre- Pennsylvania. n
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PA elects LGBTQ allies By Adriana Fraser and Kristen Demilio adriana@epgn.com The pendulum swept toward Democrats in Pennsylvania on election night on both a state and federal level, though Republicans still control both houses of the state assembly. In the Philadelphia suburbs and surrounding counties, Democratic women who are also LGBTQ allies scored major congressional victories. Democrats took control of the U.S House of Representatives with a 28-seat majority, fueled at least in part by the strong showing in Pennsylvania: Mary Gay Scanlon of District 5, Chrissy Houlahan, whose daughter is queer, of District 6; and LGBTQ ally Susan Wild of District 7. All three candidates have said they would support the Equality Act if elected.
“This victory is about us and the work that we have yet to do together.”
was called, saying he would “continue to fight for you in the House.” Out candidate Kristin Seale (D) was unable unseat Republican incumbent Christopher Quinn in the 168th District for the state legislature. Quinn edged out Seale with 51.2 percent of the vote. Seale told PGN Wednesday morning that she was “proud of the campaign that [she] ran” and will work towards “building an LGBTQ bench across the state to get more of us elected.” Seale currently serves as a commissioner on the Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs and said she will be focusing on the “important work of the commission.” More than 50 seniors at the John C. Anderson Apartment building in the Gayborhood held an election-results watching party in the Kelley Community room. Participants clapped and cheered when Kenyatta was projected to win his district. “This election was monumental for LGBT candidates,” said resident Elizabeth Coffey Williams. “We’ve had so many peo-
that he would be running for a judgeship in Philadelphia as a way of bringing about political change. “City Council members, state representatives and judicial representatives have direct access to people within the community and that access is what helps to create legislation and policy based on the needs of the people.” Democrats held onto governorship and the single Senate seat that was up for grabs. Gov. Tom Wolf won a second term against Scott Wagner by more than 16 points, with 57.7 percent of the vote. In a letter to supporters released the morning after his victory, Wolf reiterated his support for the LGBTQ community: “I’m so excited to keep moving Pennsylvania on a path forward — to fight for a severance tax, a higher minimum wage, protections against discrimination and so much more.” Sen. Bob Casey defeated Republican candidate Lou Barletta, receiving 55.6 percent of the vote. In a statement on the Pennsylvania elections, HRC President Chad Griffin applauded the re-election of Wolf and Casey, adding, “We also celebrate those of new pro-equality members of Congress, including Brandan Boyle, Dwight Evans and Michael Doyle.” HRC had eight staff members on the ground in the common-
“It’s great to be a part of ~ Rep.-elect history where more out Malcolm Kenyatta people are trying to take away important seats that On a state level, Malcolm Kenyatta will have been held by represen“I’m so excited to keep join Brian Sims as the second openly gay representative in Harrisburg. Kenyatta tatives who are doing little moving Pennsylvania on a soundly defeated his Republican opponent, for the LGBT community.” T. Milton Street, with 95.3 percent of the path forward — to fight for vote (20,722 votes) compared with Street’s a severance tax, a higher 4.7 percent (1,014 votes) for the 181st ~ John C. Anderson Apartments District in North Philadelphia. W. Curtis resident Elizabeth Coffey minimum wage, protections Thomas (D) held the seat since 1989. At his victory speech, Kenyatta hit on Williams against discrimination and notes of unity and inclusion to achieve so much more.” common goals. “I come with a message that anything is possible. The sky is not the limit for the work that we’re going to do together — the sky is the floor. This is not about me. This is victory is about us and the work that we have yet to do together,” Kenyatta told a roomful of supporters. The newly elected representative said he will be actively working on creating tangible results for the issues he ran on, including an increase in minimum wage to $15 an hour, more economic opportunities for low-income residents in Philadelphia and fair funding in education. Sims held onto his seat in the 182nd District in a landslide victory against Independent candidate James McDevitt. Sims received 90 percent of the votes (26,687 votes). The district covers part of Rittenhouse, Fitler Square, Logan Square, the Gayborhood, Washington Square West, Bella Vista, Hawthorne, Fairmount, Queen Village, Market East and parts of East Passyunk. Sims thanked his supporters in the Commonwealth and beyond in a video he posted to his Twitter account after his race
ple in the community running for positions all across the country. It’s great to be a part of history where more out people are trying to take away important seats that have been held by representatives who are doing little for the LGBT community.” Mary Groce, another resident, attended the gathering at the Anderson residence and expressed elation at a wave of Democrats winning positions in the state and in Congress. “Although Democrats weren’t able to secure the majority in the Senate, we do have control of the House and that’s huge. We live in a pretty blue state but to see how many Democrats are being elected elsewhere proves that a change may be taking place.” Wade Albert, Kenyatta’s election chairman and endorsement committee chair at Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club, attended the watching party and noted the importance of having “elected officials who truly understand the issues, who are fair, have empathy and connect with voters on an individual level.” Albert, who is an attorney, announced
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~ Gov Tom Wolf wealth in what it called “part of the largest grassroots expansion in the organization’s 38-year history.” Griffin detailed the effort it took to elect pro-equality candidates: HRC staff and volunteers knocked on thousands of doors, helped more than 2,200 Pennsylvanians register to vote and led field-organizing canvassing efforts with partner organizations. Other LGBTQ candidates running in the general election from the state included Daniel Smith Jr., who ran against incumbent Daryl Metcalfe in the 12th District. Metcalfe held onto his seat, which he has filled since 1999, receiving 58.4 percent of the vote against Smith. In New Jersey, Lambertville elected LGBTQ candidate Julia Fahl (D) as mayor. She ran unopposed. Meanwhile, Daniel Ward, the out Democrat who ran for Township Committee, lost his bid to fill an open seat in Barnegat. n
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2018
EDITORIAL PGN EDITORIAL
Creep of the Week
D’Anne Witkowski
Donald Trump
Editorial
What comes next Resist you did, and you won, so what to do now? Here’s the LGBT roadmap: Nancy Pelosi stated that if Democrats take the House, the Equality Act will be a priority. She, when the smoke clears, will most likely be the House speaker. The Democratic leader of the Senate is Chuck Schumer, and in an interview with PGN in 2016, he also stated that the Equality Act would be a priority. So now it’s time to hold them and the Human Rights Campaign to that promise, and there’s a pleasant surprise at the end of that road. Here’s why: Remember that wedding-cake case when the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the bakery and allowed the owner to discriminate against the gay couple on religious grounds? That ruling was based on the fact that religion, which the bakery based its case on, was a protected class. So are race, creed, national origin, age, sex and a few others. Note what is missing: the LGBT community. While you can get married, you have no rights for housing, employment or public accommodations in most of this country. The Republicans have blocked you from protections and made you a second-class citizen. Once passed in Congress, the Equality Act would go to the Senate again. That will be hard, because the Republicans gained seats in the Senate this week, but it is doable. The timing could not be better, as in 2020, more Republicans will be defending their seats in the Senate, and some of those Republicans are in purple states. Oh, and here’s that surprise: chances are that the Senate vote will be close for the Equality Act, maybe 50-50, meaning that the deciding vote will be that of Vice President Mike Pence, who will seal Republicans on this issue, and LGBT equality will become a top issue in the 2020 presidential election. Help our LGBT youth to have the weddings of their dreams with that wedding cake; help our seniors find a home to live in and help our teachers in private schools to keep their jobs. It is that important. n
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.
There is a group of about 4,000 people Americans: transwalking from Honduras toward the United gender people, States. Donald Trump and the Republicans blacks, Mexicans, would like you to believe this is an invading “Middle-Easterners” army. It isn’t. It’s by and large unarmed peo- (a term Trump used ple fleeing violence and poverty. These are to warn of the danasylum seekers, not invaders. But, of course, gerous people he to Republicans there is no difference. said are in the asyIt’s now being reported that Trump lum-seeking caraintends to send more than 5,000 soldiers to van), the Chinese, the Mexican border. Not to provide humanJews, Muslims. The itarian aid, mind you. The soldiers are much list goes on and on, more likely to kill these asylum seekers than but the commonality is that these are people to help them. that Trump’s base doesn’t like. So they are “We do not have any intention right now more than happy to see government being to shoot at people,” Trump’s Homeland used as a weapon since it is apparently not Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said capable of anything else. about the soldiers. “But I also take my offiMeanwhile, yet another white man radcer and agents, their own personal safety, icalized right here in the United States extraordinarily seriously. They do have the opened fire at a synagogue in Pittsburgh ability of course to defend themselves.” killing 11. And why did he do it? Because You don’t even have to read between the he believed what Trump said: that the carlines to translate this: “We reserve the right avan was full of dangerous people and was to shoot at people because we can, and no funded by outside groups including George matter what happens it will be totally justiSoros, a man who has lots of money and fied.” gives it to progressive causes and candidates This show of force and who is, wouldn’t What Trump has done, against vulnerable you know it, Jewish. people is how the The shooter’s posts and has done really well, Trump administration on social media indiis hurt people. Specifically cated an obsession rolls, of course. I often hear peowith the caravan some of the most vulple remark that they by a man who was can’t believe Trump’s nerable populations of wildly anti-Semitic. approval level is so Right before the mass Americans: transgender high (and for most murder, he was railpeople anything people, blacks, Mexicans, ing on social media above zero is too against the Hebrew “Middle-Easterners,” the high). They can’t Immigrant Aid understand why any- Chinese, Jews, Muslims. Society, a group he one would have voted believed to be helpfor Trump in the first The list goes on and on, ing the caravan. place, and they cer“HIAS likes to but the commonality is tainly can’t underbring invaders in that these are people that that kill our peostand how he still has so many fervent Bowers posted. Trump’s base doesn’t like. ple,” supporters. The New “I can’t sit by and York Times has spent watch my people get a billion or so words on trying to figure out slaughtered. Screw your optics, I’m going the enigmatic Trump supporter. But, really, in.” it’s not complicated. Trump promised his And that’s exactly what he did, armed and supporters that he would make their lives ready to kill. better and that he would hurt the people Adam Serwer put it best in The Atlantic: they didn’t like. “The apparent spark for the worst anti-SeHe has, of course, not made their lives mitic massacre in American history was a better, but that’s the thing: they never racist hoax inflamed by a U.S. president expected him to. Trump fanatics don’t seeking to help his party win a midterm believe that government can make someelection.” one’s life better. Republicans have been In other words, in Trump’s attempt to spreading the idea for decades that govshore up his racist base so that they’d get ernment is bad and has no role in bettering out and vote for Republicans, he spurred our lives or societies. Bettering one’s life one of his followers to enact real-life viohappens through personal responsibility, not lence that had deadly consequences. n working toward a collective good. D’Anne Witkowski is a poet, writer and comedian What Trump has done, and has done living in Michigan with her wife and son. She has been really well, is hurt people. Specifically writing about LGBT politics for over a decade. Follow some of the most vulnerable populations of her on Twitter @MamaDWitkowski.
OP-ED PGN
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2018
LGBT economic equality and empowerment Last week, as I turned the pages of my get that vote out and so on. What about local daily newspaper, the newspaper of your vote? Is it not as important? In my record, I saw a few pages of ads from the city, I’m proud to say it is. city notifying the public of You’re reading this now the coming elections, where because you’re interested in the polling stations were and what is happening in your what was on the ballot. This community. You want to know is common practice from govwhich candidates support your ernments around the country. rights and will protect the rights And in many of those municyou currently have. That means ipalities, they also place those that you’re more inclined to ads in community newspapers vote. The goal of any govto ensure the participation of ernment by the people is to minority communities who have encourage its citizens to vote. been left out of the process. So those ads are treating you as So I smiled when I saw those first-class citizens — but they ads, since those same ads were do a lot more. in this paper last week — this That information you read LGBT paper. Think about it. about the campaigns and your Mark Segal rights take a professional staff The city, any city, should want to get their citizens to vote. to research, write, edit, lay out They advertise in the mainstream paper, and distribute — in other words, a lot of but that doesn’t reach every segment of people. Some of them have families. This the community. So they then advertise in paper and other community newspapers African-American newspapers to get out provide the paychecks to those people who that vote, Hispanic/Latino newspapers to bring you that news; the same as it is for
Mark My Words
OUTPour
those mainstream papers. It might only be a few ads a year, but it’s a very big success story for equality, and it’s an effort that is expanding nationwide. The push for economic equality is one of the pillars of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce. They want LGBT-owned companies to be able to bid on city, state and federal contracts as other minority and multicultural classes — and why not? We are a group or minority that has consistently been discriminated against in business. You are a consumer, you are a taxpayer, you are in the workforce — shouldn’t you have a level playing field with others? We in the LGBT media applaud the efforts of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, as its success makes us all stronger and empowers our community. n Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the nation’s mostaward-winning commentator in LGBT media. You can follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ MarkSegalPGN or Twitter at https://twitter.com/ PhilaGayNews.
Antar T. Bush
Everything to lose! “President-elect Trump” is what I heard Chris Cuomo from CNN say through my television screen. I went to bed with the TV on knowing Hillary Clinton would lose by 10 p.m., but I had the audacity of hope that she would pull through like Muhammad Ali against George Foreman like the Thrilla in Manilla. I was wrong! When I arrived at work, I felt a collective trauma throughout the entire Health Department. The positive energy always present in the office was gone; the space I entered was now a negative utopia. Staff was trying to cheer each other up by offering hugs and allowing employees to vent. One comment I kept hearing throughout the office from my colleagues was, “Well, we survived Nixon, Reagan and the Bush family, so we can survive Trump.” I know this comment was a way for people to cope with the event they were experiencing, but this comment kept echoing in my head. I kept asking myself, Did we really survive these other uber-conservative presidents? What does survival really mean when
there are all these wounds? Did women’s liberation, LGBTQ rights and black and brown people really survive these administrations unscathed and undamaged? The objective reality is that no one who is white and privileged in American knows the challenges that go with being black and disenfranchised in this country. “What do you have to lose?” Donald Trump asked black and brown folks again and again while campaigning. With the election of President Barack Obama, minorities in American made great progress that would not have been possible under previous administrations. What do women’s liberation, LGBTQ advocates and black and brown people have to lose with President Donald Trump? Everything. n Antar Bush is a public-health advocate, professor at West Chester University and executive producer of OUTPour LGBTQ. He is committed to advocating for health equity in all communities. Follow him on Instagram @antarbushmswmph.
Letters and Feedback In response to Jonathan Gilmore’s column “No, your father isn’t always right” (Nov. 2-8): I read with much dismay another example of seemingly simplistic and opinionated male-bashing. Disturbing to me is the fact that this diatribe came from a male perspective and under the banner “Critical Conversations.” While my own father had certain strengths, overall he was less than a stellar man; in fact, he was a very flawed person, as we all can be. I can honestly say that I have never used the phrase, in preface, “My father said …” Nor has anyone I have
ever known uttered those words. I cannot be unusual or unique in this regard. While the author does correctly point out the perplexing statistic that many more woman than men are being college-educated, not mentioned is the unrelated fact that many more boys lack good role models in the form of a father or father figure than woman lack good role models. This is especially true in impoverished communities in urban and rural areas. And therein lies the greater societal issue; the greater problem. More importantly to make note of, though, is the author’s faulty claim that going to college equals being wise. To
equate being wise with being college-educated is nonsense. Wisdom comes from being sensible, from being an observant person, a good listener and from varied real-life experiences. College, via book learning, instills critical-thinking skills and domain-specific knowledge bases. These are not the same as wisdom. In the U.S., there are many examples of well-educated people who engage in socially derided behaviors, just as there are those with little formal education who do the same. Therefore, college is not the gateway to being a “wise” individual. Also not mentioned in the article is the great impact that media PAGE 14
Street Talk What are your plans for your old age? “I’m investing my money wisely. I have people who help me with that. I wouldn’t want to be a burden on Jason Javie my family attorney or friends. Point Breeze I would go to an assisted-living facility before burdening my family. Preferably, I’ll be able to live independently until the day I die. I was raised to take care of myself. And I’ve always been a hard worker.” “I’m counting on my wife to help me survive through old age. We’re very much in love. I can’t envision living William Horrocks without her. live-events producer That would Point Breeze be terrible. She’s young and successful. I know she’ll be there for me, if I should need her support.” “I’m cultivating a bevy of friends and relatives. By the time I reach my golden years, I hope to have Clint Williamson a support graduate student network South Philadelphia in place to sustain me. It would be along the lines of a ‘Golden Girls’style community adventure. We would all live in an old Victorian home. Ideally, many people would participate.”
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2018
OFFICER from page 1
Response Unit — which handles minor incidents that wouldn’t normally merit 911 attention — in 2004 before retiring in 2007. Her funeral service was held Oct. 18 at the Reilly-Rakowski Funeral Home in Port Richmond. Delilah Elsetinow, Gonzalez’s second cousin whom she referred to as her niece, said she was overcome with sadness upon seeing her aunt being remembered as a man during her funeral. “She was not a man, but that’s how she was laid to rest,” said Elsetinow. “Her daughter and ex-wife continuously referred to my aunt as a ‘he’ or a ‘him’ during the service. There were two big billboards filled with pictures of [Gonzalez] as a man and a slideshow of pictures before she transitioned” at the funeral. In protest, Elsetinow brought her own poster board filled with pictures of Gonzalez as a woman and wore a T-shirt bearing an image of her aunt wearing red lipstick and matching nail polish. Before Gonzalez’s death, Elsetinow said, she tried to help mend the broken relationship between Huber and Gonzalez, but her attempts were unsuccessful. When Gonzalez was diagnosed with small-cell lung cancer in May, Elsetinow reached out to Huber to inform her. “I wanted to tell her daughter that she was in the hospital. I figured that after 15 years of not being around, she would be open to talking” to Gonzalez, Elsetinow said. “I felt as though her mind would change about Maria if she knew that she was sick, but it didn’t. She refused to call her ‘Mom.’ She continued to call her ‘Dad.’” In response to PGN’s request for comment, Huber said in a Facebook message, “This has been a difficult time for my family. Thank you for respecting our privacy.” Hernandez Gonzalez didn’t respond to a request for comment. Gonzalez’s aunt, Phyllis Lemaro, chose not to attend the service because of her niece’s disregarded wishes, Elsetinow said. After a priest delivered Gonzalez’s eulogy, Elsetinow read a message written by Lemaro: “I would regret so much not speaking up. I didn’t come to [the service] because of all of the controversy over what Maria’s wishes were. Put yourself in Maria’s shoes and think how horrible it must have felt that her body and soul weren’t the same. She was in the wrong body growing up and I can’t imagine how she felt. I love her and will always remember her as the beautiful woman she was.”
Rue Landau, executive director of the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, knew Gonzalez and attended her funeral service. She said Hernandez Gonzalez, Huber and others “wanted to erase her female identity” after seeing a display of awards from the PPD with Gonzalez’s male name at the funeral service. “The tension was palpable in the room. There were family members there who
GLORIA CASAREZ PRESENTING HER AUNT MARIA GONZALEZ WITH THE TRANSGENDER AWARD IN 2012 Photo provided by Delilah Elsetinow
were very clear about depicting [Gonzalez] as her true self and wanted to honor her as a woman. They were disgusted that she would be referred to in any other way. That was putting a negative mark on her memory,” Landau said. “She was struggling in her life with her identity and this
was a time when she should have been honored and remembered for her strength and determination to be the first transgender police officer to transition while being on the force.” Gonzalez was also the aunt of Gloria Casarez, the late LGBTQ activist who served as the first director of the Mayor’s Office of LGBT Affairs and the executive director of GALAEI. Casarez died in 2014 after a battle with cancer. “Gloria was always very proud of [Gonzalez],” said Landau, who worked closely with Casarez. “Gloria said she moved mountains and paved an easier path for so many other people in the LGBTQ community.” When Gonzalez underwent her transition process, Casarez advocated on her behalf to change bathroom policies for trans people in the PPD, years before so-called bathroom bills became a political issue. “The police department was giving [Gonzalez] a lot of issues when it came to which bathroom she would use,” said Greiser. “She would say she wasn’t going into the men’s room because she wasn’t a man. The women didn’t want her in the women’s bathroom, so they had to make some changes. [Casarez] helped those changes come about.” Before joining the PPD, Gonzalez worked at Whitman’s Chocolate factory. She had no plans of being a police officer but promised her mother she would apply to the academy after a minor run-in with the law. Greiser remembered the day her sister decided to join the force. “Maria was arrested for shooting a gun into the Schuylkill River when she was 20. Her best friend at the time was getting drafted into the war and on his last night before that, they shot guns at the river — which happened to be right across from the Police Academy,” Greiser said. “Unfortunately for Maria, my mother was notified. She went to the police station with her City Hall friends to get Maria out. When they got her out, it was contingent on her becoming a police officer.” Gonzalez was a 50-year member of the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #5, a labor union for police officers and sheriffs. She lived with her two cats, Delilah and Jesse, and had a love for reading news publications from New York City, including The New York Post and the New York Daily News. She also is survived by her daughter; two grandchildren; her sisters Elisa Gonzalez and Linda Greiser and nieces and nephews. n
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The Pets of PGN Zola
“Zola brings us so much joy every day. She loves laughter and smiles more than anything in the world, except for food. She will do nearly anything for a treat. At the end of the day, she sits with us on the couch and relaxes with her toys. She is a delight and we love her!” — Jason Villemez and Mark Segal
Charlie
Charlie likes to be the center of attention in a roomful of people. He’s extremely playful, loves to play fetch and spends most of his days lying on top of the refrigerator. He follows me from PAGE 15 room to room, and will
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I was homeless and you gave me shelter By Scott A. Drake scott@epgn.com The story of Romeo, and two weeks later also his sister Mischief, are weekend tales of tails. July 2, 2011, was a Saturday and I was thrilled to have three days in a row with no events to photograph. I’d made plans only to clean the patio, cook out a couple of times, read and enjoy some summer sun. First thing after breakfast, I went out back to start the sweeping. A very soft crying, mewling sound came from just under the collapsing wooden slats separating our house from the one behind. There in the dirt, just within fingertip reach, was a tiny fluff of gray and black fur. I gently pulled him under and into my hand and instantly my heart was broken. Here was a tiny weekROMEO (TOP), ON THE old kitten DESK AT WORK, AND with no sign MISCHIEF of a mama, eyes caked with dirt and infection, fleas jumping on his skin-and-bones frame and he was shaking and wheezing with every ounce of energy he had. Fast-forward past the trials of finding a vet open on the Saturday of a three-day weekend who would take us in, and zoom in on Queen Village Animal Hospital. The vet takes him, cleans out his eyes and puts in drops. He gets medications for fleas, worms and a lung infection. I get all the instructions on how to care for a preweaned baby kitten, which is 24/7 and included how to make a slurry and feed him every four hours around the clock. My weekend just got booked solid. The little tyke and I shuttle home and the daddy duties begin: more pills and drops and medicines to make him healthy. His feeding every four hours, including those that happen between sunset and sunrise, commenced. The next week, I am biking home multiple times a day to feed and care for him until finally about 10 days later, we head back to the vet. I take him into work and put him in a little pet bed on my desk until it’s
time for his appointment. What the vet didn’t tell me at the time was that they were concerned he might lose the sight in one eye. In fact, they say at the follow-up, they weren’t sure if he would make it at all. He was in worse shape than they let on, and I was fine with that. They were not only impressed with my nursing abilities, but more than that, told me that if I had not been out there that morning, he would not have made it through the weekend. Well, Romeo was great practice, because just a few days after that second vet visit, I found another little fur ball. This one was a black-and-white calico. She had many of the same symptoms, but she apparently had been with mama a little longer than Romeo. Following the same process, Mischief joined the household. Even as they grew and got weaned and litter-trained, there were weeks of getting the old feline guy — PITA, or “Pain In The Ass” — (another street rescue from several years prior) used to the two little toy-sized critters. Now we’re a happy, healthy family of five; my boyfriend Micheal joined us in the house when they were turning a year old. If there were any stronger love or bonding in the world other than from animals who were literally near death and taken in, I haven’t encountered it. Since then, Micheal and I have rescued five more street kittens and found them homes. Shelters are full of many others. We hope that, when you decide to be a mommy or daddy to an animal, remember that when you rescue them, they rescue you right back. n
ROMEO TODAY Photos: Scott A. Drake
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2018
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HALF-PRICE HOLIDAY PET PHOTOS THRU DEC 7
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2018
FINANCES PGN
Buying life insurance: What kind and how much? Q: My spouse and I are debating whether we have enough life insurance and also what type we should consider getting if we need more. Can you please help us better understand our options? A: Finding the middle ground between being “insurance poor” and being unprotected requires assessing real needs and choosing products that are affordable. This article introduces different types of insurance products and the role that they can play in a personal financial plan. Death is one of things that no one likes to talk about. Yet, protecting loved ones from the financial consequences of death is one step you can take to gain confidence for you and your loved ones. And this is where life insurance enters the picture. Life insurance may be for you if you have a family or partner/ spouse who depend on you for financial support, if you work at home providing your family with such services as child care, cooking, and cleaning, or want to protect a surviving spouse against the possibility of unexpected medical expenses. People with substantial assets may need life insurance to help reduce the effects of estate taxes or to transfer wealth to future generations. Determining what type of insurance depends on your goals, while deciding on an appropriate amount of coverage requires an assessment of your needs. Some approaches use a formula based on your income, while others factor in future liabilities, such as mortgage debt, college expenses and estate taxes. The bottom line is quite simple: Don’t go it alone. Enlist the services of a qualified life-insurance professional to help determine the type and scope of coverage that best suits your financial objectives. Conventional wisdom says that life insurance is sold, not purchased. In other words, some people are reluctant to discuss the importance of owning life insurance and others are simply unaware of the need to have life insurance. Although many large companies provide life insurance as part of their benefits package, this coverage may be insufficient.
Types of insurance Term insurance is the most basic, and generally least expensive, form of life insurance for people under age 50. A term policy is written for a specific period of time, typically 1 to 10 years, and may be renewable at the end of each term. Also, the premiums increase at the end of each term and can become prohibitively expensive for older individuals. A level-term policy locks in the annual premium for periods of up to 30 years. Unlike many other policies, term insurance has no cash value. In this sense, it is “pure” Jeremy insurance without any investment options. Gussick Benefits are paid only if you die during the policy’s term. After the term ends, your coverage expires unless you choose to renew the policy. When buying term insurance, you might look for a policy that is renewable up to age 70 and convertible to permanent insurance without a medical exam. Declining balance-term insurance, a variation on this theme, is often used as mortgage insurance since it can be written to match the amortization of your mortgage principal. While the premium stays constant over the term, the face value steadily declines. Once the mortgage is paid off, the insurance is no longer needed and the policy expires. Whole life combines permanent protection with a savings component. As long as you continue to pay the premiums, you are able to lock in coverage at a level premium rate. Part of that premium accrues as cash value. As the policy gains value, you may be able to borrow up to 90% of your policy’s cash value tax free, although loans reduce the policy’s death benefit and cash value, and may trigger a taxable event if the policy lapses. Cash value insurance is generally more expensive than term insurance. Universal life is similar to whole life — with the added benefit of potentially higher earnings on the savings component. Universal life policies are also highly flexible with regard to premiums and face value. Premiums can be increased, decreased or deferred, and cash values can be withdrawn. You may also have
Out Money
the option to change face values. Universal life policies typically offer a guaranteed return on cash value. You’ll receive an annual statement that details cash value, total protection, earnings and fees. Variable life generally offers fixed premiums and control over your policy’s cash value. Your cash value is invested in your choice of stock, bond, or money market funding options.1 Cash values and death benefits can rise and fall based on the performance of your investment choices. Although death benefits usually have a floor, there is no guarantee on cash values. Fees for these policies may be higher than for universal life, and investment options can be volatile. On the plus side, capital gains and other investment earnings accrue tax deferred as long as the funds remain invested in the insurance contract. Universal variable life insurance is the most aggressive type of policy. Like variable life, you can choose from a variety of investment options. However, there are no guarantees on universal variable policies beyond the original face-value death benefit. These policies are probably best suited to affluent buyers who can afford the risks involved. Key terms and definitions • Face value: The original death benefit amount. • Convertibility: Option to convert from one type of policy (term) to another (whole life), usually without a physical examination. • Cash value: The savings portion of a policy that can be borrowed against or cashed in. • Premiums: Monthly, quarterly, or yearly payments required to maintain coverage. • Beneficiary: The individual(s) or entity (e.g., trust) that is designated as benefit recipient. • Paid up: A policy requiring no further premium payments due to prepayment or earnings. n Jeremy R. Gussick is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional affiliated with LPL Financial, the nation’s largest independent broker-dealer.* Jeremy specializes in the financial planning and retirement income needs of the LGBT community and was recently named a 2018 FIVE STAR Wealth Manager as mentioned in Philadelphia Magazine.** He is active with several LGBT organizations in the Philadelphia region, including DVLF (Delaware Valley Legacy Fund) and the Independence Business Alliance (IBA),
the Philadelphia Region’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce. OutMoney appears monthly. If you have a question for Jeremy, you can contact him via email at jeremy.gussick@ lpl.com. Jeremy R. Gussick is a Registered Representative with, and securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC. 1Investing in stocks involves risks, including loss of principal. Bonds are subject to market and interest rate risk if sold prior to maturity. Bond values will decline as interest rates rise and are subject to availability and change in price. Investing in a money market fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although the fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the fund. This article was prepared with the assistance of DST Systems Inc. The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. We suggest that you discuss your specific situation with a qualified tax or legal advisor. Please consult me if you have any questions. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. All investing involves risk including loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss. This material contains only general descriptions and is not a solicitation to sell any insurance product or security, nor is it intended as any financial or tax advice. For information about specific insurance needs or situations, contact your insurance agent. This article is intended to assist in educating you about insurance generally and not to provide personal service. They may not take into account your personal characteristics such as budget, assets, risk tolerance, family situation or activities which may affect the type of insurance that would be right for you. In addition, state insurance laws and insurance underwriting rules may affect available coverage and its costs. Guarantees are based on the claims paying ability of the issuing company. If you need more information or would like personal advice you should consult an insurance professional. You may also visit your state’s insurance department for more information. © 2018 DST Systems, Inc. Reproduction in whole or in part prohibited, except by permission. All rights reserved. Not responsible for any errors or omissions. *As reported by Financial Planning magazine, June 1996-2018, based on total revenues. **Award based on 10 objective criteria associated with providing quality services to clients such as credentials, experience, and assets under management among other factors. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of 2018 Five Star Wealth Managers.
LETTERS from page 11
has had on people’s beliefs, attitudes and behavior. Historically, television and film have mostly portrayed men as “strong and silent,” as shrewd competitors, while woman were deemed to be everything else but. Notions of masculinity are jammed into people’s brains via daily barrages of advertising and entertainment, in the intense competition to earn more money than anyone else does. More to the subtleties of the author’s claims, though, I wonder when all this belittling and demonizing of straight men will end? I think it is beyond time we all stepped back and looked more fully at the entirety of culture, history and psychology, both at the individual and societal levels. This step back is a dire need and only then can sweeping generalizations be offered as part of our public conversations. — Stephen J. Campellone Solebury,Pa. ENERGY from page 5
costs in city-owned buildings. City Council introduced an ordinance Oct. 31 to build a largescale solar farm in Adams County that would funnel about 22 percent of electricity to buildings in Philadelphia such as City Hall, Philadelphia International Airport and the Water Department. The Philadelphia Energy Authority — a city agency that purchases and facilitates energy services — would buy 100 percent of the energy generated by the solar farm with a 20-year deal that would create a fixed-energy rate, preventing the city’s electricity rates from rising even if rates from fossil fuel-based sources continue to increase over time. Amick noted that the solar industry “has been around since the 1950s, but didn’t really get a foothold in Pennsylvania until the last 10 or 15 years. We’re seeing new support at the state-government level. Bills are hitting the table and hopefully they’ll be passed to increase the amount of renewable generation they require the state to produce.” Shanker added that the center plans on using the money they’ll be saving to providing “more resources for programs and services for the community. Moving to solar energy means that we can first decrease our environmental footprint and generate cost savings that can go to programs and services that achieve our mission.” n
PETS PGN PETS from page 12
tap me with his paw incessantly until his petting needs are met. I never pictured myself with a cat of my own. I had grown up with cats as family pets and wanted to get a dog. When a friend was giving away newborn kittens, I fell in love with Charlie’s calming, lovable presence. He’s a sweet ball of energy who will cuddle up on any available lap and will knock over any cup if left unattended. — Adriana Fraser
Norton
In preparation for my departure for college last year, my family got a collie to help console my mother. The family we bought him from referred to him as “Otter” because he was always lying on his back. It is the tradition of my family to give pets full names and backstories, so Norton’s full name is Norton Otter Howley, and he is the son of French collies who moved in with us to study ballet. He moonlights as a security officer and takes his job very seriously. A few months after living with us, Norton ran into the street and was struck by a car. He needed surgery on his hind legs and wore a cast on his front leg for several months. Nearly a year later, he is fully recovered. His favorite activities include long walks in the woods and begging for sweets. n — Miranda Lankas
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Coming out in the Marines In honor of Veterans Day on Nov. 11, I as he was bartending in a gay bar in downthought I’d tell you about a time in February town Honolulu. My first words that would 2012 when I was walking towards my vehilead to some of the most beautiful times of cle in the frigid cold of winter in Camp my life were, “You’re fucking hot as hell.” Leatherneck, Afghanistan. A Marine with a The pick-up line worked, but the relationcopy of the Military Times pushed the cover ship was hard at first because my best friend into my face. It depicted a male Marine’s in the Marines, Dustin, had no idea I was homecoming kiss with his partgay, and if you know anything ner. “See!” he said, “Hawaii about the Marine brotherhood, Marines are fags!” you know you can’t keep I was a Marine stationed in secrets for long. Hawaii, attached to CLB-4, Instead of telling Dustin that a unit based out of Okinawa, I was gay, I created conflict Japan. Even though my colbetween us to keep my secret league was making a joke, hidden. This didn’t sit well my stomach dropped because with him, and so one Saturday throughout my enlistment and afternoon he called me. “I’m up until the repeal of the “Don’t so sorry, man. I don’t know ask, don’t tell” policy, I was what I did wrong, but if I’ve forced to keep my sexuality burbeen a shitty friend, I’m sorry, ied deep in my heart for fear of man. This is bullshit. I fucking being dishonorably discharged. love you, dude.” After seeing that image, “Dustin, Dustin, OK, man. I gained courage — enough Johnathan It’s not that. It’s … uh … It’s courage at that moment to tell … All right, can we meet at the Gilmore pizza place in Chinatown? I my brother in arms. I thought for certain I could disclose have something to tell you.” this to my battle buddy, and so I tried. In the He agreed, and so we met. My heart was front of a 7-ton military vehicle, I looked to racing and my palms were sweating as I my driver, someone I’d grown very close to, approached J.J. Dolan’s. Dustin was sitting and said, “Marco, I think I’m gay.” He said, at the bar, and as soon as he saw me, he “What do you mean? Like you look at gay wrapped me in his arms and began apologizporn or you’ve actually fucked a dude?” His ing for a fight I had created. disgusted tone said more than his words. “I’m sorry, man — I fucking love you, “No Marco, I am gay. I like guys.” Silence dude. I can be a better …” ensued for the rest of the mission. Our “Dustin … Dustin … Stop, man. It’s not friendship was lost forever. you. I’m gay.” Deep into the closet I returned. For the I’ll never forget Dustin’s look — staring duration of the deployment, through bombs diagonally down at the floor, back slightly and bullets, my biggest fear was that Marco arched, his lips mischievously curled at the side. would tell the rest of the guys. He didn’t, but “But we’ve had threesomes together …” losing him as a friend generated a feeling of “I know, man, but I don’t like you like that. sorrow deeper than losing someone to a bomb You’re my brother.” or bullet. He was alive, but I was dead to him. To which he replied in the most Marine-y After safely returning to Hawaii, I met the way possible, “Well, if you haven’t tried to first man I’d ever love, and because I loved fuck me yet, I suppose you never will.” him, I felt it necessary to come out. We met And maybe this doesn’t seem like the cor-
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rect response to many people, but this was his way of saying, I couldn’t care less — and that was more than enough for me. Dustin would become my biggest advocate, and I promise you, no one was going to fuck with me as long as he was around. The very notion of someone calling me a fag or ridiculing me in anyway is quite humorous considering Dustin’s size. I let Dustin tell the rest of the guys, and their reactions were more curious than anything else. “Do you take it up the butt?” “Only if I douche properly.” “So you like to suck cock?” “Yeah, have you ever tried it?” Any question they had was answered with brutal honesty, and maybe that would have been a bit too much for most people recently out of the closet, but I knew these guys. They were harmless — well, ruthless killers actually — but harmless to me. From my peers, not a single negative comment was made. They knew who I was. They knew that I was cunning, strong and most importantly, that I would die for them. Brotherhood transcends prejudice in all forms. Ask any Marine; black, white, gay, trans and you will see this to be true. Soon the word spread. I was the first openly gay Marine in my battalion under the repeal, and I used this to create a platform that led to the recognition of lesbians and gays during Pride month — a month that
was historically ignored by the Marines. Stephen Peters, the senior national press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign, shared a photo of my partner and me on Facebook. At the time, my partner was working for AMPA (the American Military Partner Association), an advocacy association for LGBT families in the military. I then created a YouTube video that explained my coming-out story. The response to this video was absolutely inspiring. To this day, I still get messages from people who often say they came out as a result of watching it. The support I received from my fellow Marines inspires me daily. They were the family I deserved. Their acceptance encouraged me to be as vociferous as possible, and I will always honor that. As we celebrate Veterans Day, I ask that you all take a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come as a nation. Both of my best friends, Dustin and Daniel, were Bible-belt country boys who’d never met a gay person, and yet they embraced me with open arms. I’ll leave you with a quote from a former mentor, and quite possibly the most inspiring Marine I’ve ever had the honor of serving with: David Brewer. He told me this shortly after inviting me to speak in front of the battalion about gay and lesbian acceptance: “It’s one thing to be brave, which you are, but it’s another thing to be honest.” Happy Veterans Day. n
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entertainment Film explores the horrors of gay conversion-therapy By Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor
The director researched gay-conversion therapy before reading Garrard Conley’s book. “I’d heard trace elements, and my response Garrard Conley’s poignant memoir “Boy had always been, ‘Are you fucking kidding?’ Erased,” about his experiences undergoing It’s one of those things that was surprising, gay-conversion therapy, is appearing on the but yet it made sense. In Australia, in the early big screen, adapted by writer, director and ’70s, homosexuality was considered a mental illness. In the wake of that opinion changactor Joel Edgerton. ing, on a government- policy level, it created this open space for the church to have to do something. They couldn’t chuck people in an institution anymore. I knew conversion therapy was born out of that time. I heard about torLUCAS HEDGES (LEFT), RUSSELL CROW AND NICOLE tuous practices KIDMAN IN “BOY ERASED” Photos: Focus Features and the pushing and misapproEdgerton’s adaptation alters the source priation of other therapies and ideologies.” Reading Conley’s memoir certainly struck material in several respects, but it still focuses on Jared (Lucas Hedges), whose Baptist- a nerve with the filmmaker. He had been preacher father Marshall (Russell Crowe) thinking about marriage equality after making and steel-magnolia mama, Nancy (Nicole the film “Loving” (2016), about the landmark Kidman) send him to a program (called “Love 1967 case in America concerning interrain Action” in the book) to “cure” him of his cial marriage. His interest in institutions homosexuality. The benevolent film shows prompted him to read “Boy Erased.” “I had this deeply emotional response to how Jared and other teens fare in the program run by Victor Sykes (Edgerton), whose meth- Garrard’s story that I could easily judge as absurd. But knowing that it really happened ods consist of verbal and physical abuse. “Boy Erased” addresses the issues sur- — and it was still happening — it felt like rounding, and the motivations for, gay-con- something needed to be done about it,” he version therapy. Edgerton, who met with PGN during the recent Philadelphia Film Festival, aims his story at parents who need to be educated about this nefarious practice. The filmmaker acknowledged the role his own parents played in his early life, calling them “everything to me” and “my source of information and my protectors.” “The thought of having those two people telling me not only that there was something wrong with me, but that I was no longer welcome in their family if I weren’t willing to change something that was out of my control — I don’t know how much damage that would cause me, and how easy that would be to forget.” THÉODORE
Dining Out Family Portrait Out & About
Page 30 Page 23 Page 30
Q Puzzle Scene in Philly
recalled. “The project picked me.” fessional story. The memoir features symEdgerton soon met Conley, who became bolic baptisms, as well as themes of erasure involved in many aspects of the production, and purification that are absent from the including reading drafts, seeing edits of the film. Edgerton bemoans the scenes he had film and even being on set. The filmmaker to leave out, saying, “It’s a case of killing met with John Smid, the former director your darlings. There is so much in the book of Love in Action and the basis for the that I find interesting. Behaviors Garrard character of Victor Sykes in “Boy Erased.” had that were born out of frustration — Edgerton also went to church with Conley’s like peeing in a bottle or on a carpet or parents and visited Dr. Julie, played by emaciating himself. PAGE 24 out gay actress Cherry Jones in the film. Suddenly, he was deeply, creatively involved. The filmmaker acknowledged that his approach to the sensitive material was to follow Conley’s voice in the book. “In his beautiful, empathetic nature, Garrard understood that everybody was, in their own discombobulated way, trying to help. They just had the wrong information. They had beliefs that put them on a certain side in terms of where homosexuality comes from. In their mind, it came from a behavioral, sinful place. That doesn’t make them bad people. The best way for us to help other people understand and dismantle conversion therapy is to be empathetic to that point of view so people can judge it for themselves. Victor Sykes and the parents in the movie are not meant to be out-and-out villains, just other human beings with the opposite point of view.” GARRARD CONLEY (LEFT) AND That said, there are some changes HEDGES ON THE SET Photo: Focus Features Edgerton made from the book, which is more of an internal, conBy Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor
“Boy Erased” Author on bringing his story to the screen
Garrard Conley talked with PGN about his book, “Boy Erased” — specifically about identity, faith and family — and what it means to make it as a Hollywood film. PGN: What is it like to see the memoir you wrote be turned into a film? GC: At a certain point, if you like the person doing the adaption, it’s like, “You’re an artist, I’m letting you have it. This is yours now.” If I were a director — and I’m definitely not PAGE 28
PELLERIN (LEFT) AND HEDGES
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Asian American Film Festival PAGE 29
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Suzi Nash
Marquise Lee: He’s from Garland “I’m from Driftwood” is a curated collection of stories of LGBT people founded in 2009 when Nathan Manske saw a photograph of Harvey Milk riding on the hood of a car and holding a sign that read, “I’m From Woodmere, N.Y.” That simple gesture made Manske realize that LGBTQ people come from all across the country and around the world. This week’s Portrait, Marquise Lee, was instrumental in helping collect many of those stories, and this week we get to hear his. A man of many talents, the Philly-based Lee is a tech guy by day and a party purveyor by night. PGN: Like this column, “I’m from Driftwood” is all about people’s stories. I’m excited to hear about yours. ML: I grew up in Garland, Texas — a suburb of Dallas, but I’m not a Cowboys fan. PGN: I don’t know a lot about Dallas other than it’s big. Is it bigger than Philadelphia? ML: In terms of land mass, it’s about three times the size. It’s very sprawling and at the time I was there, there wasn’t much of a downtown or center-city experience. Pretty much everyone commuted back to the suburbs after 5 p.m., which is where we lived too. PGN: That sounds like what Philly was like back in the day. There’s a famous quote from W.C. Fields, “I went to Philadelphia, but it was closed.” ML: As far as population goes, Philadelphia is larger and has a more dense population than Dallas. PGN: Tell me a little about the family. ML: I was actually born in New York and my parents split when I was very young. My mother was transferred to Dallas when I was about 5. I actually lived for a year in Florida with my grandmother while my mother went ahead to Texas to get settled in before we got there. I have a sister three years older than I am. PGN: Any memories from Florida? ML: I remember the day the Challenger space shuttle crashed. I was in school and the teachers took us outside to look at it. You couldn’t see much because we were in Tampa, but we knew that something had happened. We got rushed back inside and all the teachers turned on the classroom televisions. I remember it was nap time, and we didn’t realize the gravity of what had happened, but I knew it felt weird. PGN: What was the first film you made? ML: When I was in high school, I took footage from the Academy Awards and mashed it together for a school project. “Titanic” was the big film that year, so I remember editing that in. I did do a film later that was in QFest here in Philly. It was kind of a music video.
PGN: Cool. How did you get involved with “I’m from Driftwood”? ML: I came out in about 2005 to family and friends. Over the next two years, I was going up to New York City a lot with my friends to party and hang out and that’s how I met Nathan Manske, the founder and director. We were running around in the same circles, going to bars and when he got laid off, in 2008 I believe, he created “I’m From Driftwood.” He knew I did computer stuff, so he asked if I would do a promo video for him. I turned him down and two weeks later, he asked me again, and I said no again to a promo video. I said that I would do a video, but wanted to do a film version of the written format. At that time, IFD was all written stories. I wanted to tape someone telling their story. So I did one and we’ve been doing video stories ever since. Now I think it’s the primary focus over the written stories, though we still do them. PGN: You’ve been involved pretty much from the start. ML: Yes, and was involved in planning several of the special initiatives like the 50-State Story Tour and the Black Community Spotlight.
how we spent most of our time trying to change each other to make the image of a boyfriend that we had in our heads. It didn’t work. The story was important to me because it helped me learn that you can’t change other people and to be happy with yourself. You shouldn’t try to change yourself to fit someone else’s image of what they think you should be. PGN: Well, apparently you found someone who you can be yourself with — your partner Paul. The two of you were featured in an article as one of Philly’s Happiest Gay Couples. How did you meet? ML: In the basement of Voyeur. It was a Monday night after a concert. We’d both gone to the same concert and both ended up at Voyeur. He tells a different story, but I was there with a friend and looked up and saw this cute guy sitting by himself at the bar. I was with my friend Samantha and we were talking. I was looking at him and trying to figure out what to do next when he got up and went to the dance floor. And
2005. When I first started, I thought I was being brought on for a limited time. I interviewed and then almost a month passed without hearing from them. I thought I hadn’t been hired and then they finally called and offered me a full-time job doing content-video work. YouTube was just getting big and I worked on content for Comcast’s video-gaming site and their music blog, which allowed me to meet and interview a lot of great bands. I got to travel, going to Tokyo for the gaming site which was a lot of fun. I also got to interview The Thermals, which is one of my favorite bands. PGN: I was in South Korea and I did not see many black people there. I imagine Tokyo was the same. ML: Oh yes, I went to a Giants game at the Tokyo Dome and back then I had a big fro. This kid kept staring at me and his dad was trying to get him to stop staring, but he just couldn’t help himself. I was probably the first black person he’d ever seen, especially with a fro. I didn’t mind; it was fun. PGN: Speaking of fun, I heard you have a side gig. ML: Yes, Paul and I run the “NSFW-Not Safe for Work” parties. It’s a party that we’ve been doing for six years, but relaunched it about two years ago and, since then, attendance has been way up. We do it in different locations to keep it fresh. We do it as a fundraiser and the proceeds from each event go to a different nonprofit. The last party was for The Bearded Ladies and Spiral Q.
PGN: What were two of the stories that moved you the most? ML: One was Sam Brinton — that was probably one of the toughest stories I ever filmed on two fronts. He was the son of Southern Baptist missionaries who was beaten repeatedly by his father when he mentioned that he had feelings for a friend of his. When the beatings didn’t work, he was sent to conversion therapy where he was tortured both mentally and physically. So it was tough, one, because of the subject matter and, two, it was the end of summer and we were filming outside in 90-degree weather with mosquitos biting us throughout. That was hard in multiple ways, but the story that came out was powerful and is one of my favorite stories to this day. The second story is a local one, Amber Hikes. I knew Amber, but during the interview she really opened up about her mother’s passing and what it was like losing that support. For her to share that with me was special — this was an intimate side of her that she opened up and shared. PGN: If you were to do your own IFD story, what would we learn? ML: Um, I try to avoid it but yes, I did a written one a while back, but it’s not very good. It was before the site launched and I didn’t really understand what IFD was about. If I were to do another one, it would be different. We usually ask someone to tell us a story and then end by asking, “Why is this story important to you?” So my story that I did write when we first started the program was about my first boyfriend and
PGN: If you could choose someone from the past to do an “I’m from Driftwood” segment with, who would you choose? ML: James Baldwin, 100 percent. I finally mustered up the courage — and by the way, he was totally looking at me the whole time — so I finally got the nerve to go up and say hi and ask him his name. His reply was, “It took you long enough.” And that was it. PGN: And the rest is history. Switching to work, how long have you been with Comcast? ML: Except for a break I took to do the Driftwood tour, I’ve been with them since
Photo: Suzi Nash
PGN: What’s a trait that you’ve inherited from
your mother? ML: [Laughing] Stubbornness? No, I think something that I learned from her is that she never talks negatively about people and she takes everyone as an individual without judgment. That’s something I try to emulate from her. n The next NSFW party will be held Dec. 8. Proceeds will benefit Morris Home. For more information, go to www.nsfwparty.com.
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2018
FEATURE PGN BOY ERASED from page 21
We shot a scene of thoughts of suicide and attempted suicide. S, who is Sarah (Jesse LaTourette) in the film — I actively took out her situation [in the book] and created a different narrative for her because I don’t want anyone to think that we are representing any of these people in the therapy as deviants. Because that’s what Love in Action did. “Other alterations include the character of Cameron. I did that with the approval of Garrard. I told John Smid, when I went to meet him, that I was depicting the fake funeral. In the book, there is a page where Garrard talks about holding a fake funeral for a boy — and that boy is still alive. He went through a six-hour exorcism. If you look online about gay-conversion exorcism, they are long, drawn-out physicaland verbal-abuse practices to exorcise the demon of homosexuality. I didn’t feel that that was dishonest. I wanted to include that page and include the story of Cameron as far as I did because of the [reaction kids had] to conversion therapy.” But the strongest elements of “Boy Erased” are not the harsh scenes of “therapy” — like the slow-motion scene of Cameron being beaten — which can feel manipulative, but the bond that develops between mother and son. A running mama-knows-best joke in the film has Nancy warning her son not to stick his hand out a moving car window, as Jared defiantly does. Edgerton emphasized the mother-son relationship because “Nancy was his chaperone to [therapy]. She had a chance, outside of the shadow of the father, to really tune into what
was going on with him.” Kidman gets a terrific monologue near the film’s end that will generate cheers from viewers. As for Garrard’s father, Edgerton renders Crowe’s character as someone who is trying and still evolving. “I hope — not that it’s my
JOEL EDGERTON AS VICTOR SYKES place — but I hope the film changes [Garrard’s father] Hershel’s mind.” And speaking of hope, “Boy Erased” does offer encouragement for Jared. Edgerton may have been interested in what he described as “the dark suppression of sexuality and how dysfunctionality in individuals can lead to the abuse of others.” But Jared’s non-sexual romance with Xavier (Théodore Pellerin) provides what the filmmaker called “a ray of shining light of honesty and tenderness. I wanted the almost-entire film to be the story of what one boy went through to get to a place where he could finally have a sexual life that was honest and true to himself.” n “Boy Erased” opens Nov. 9 at the Landmark Ritz East. 125 S. 2nd St.
The kitchen is bright and open with ample storage and cabinetry. Located off of the foyer is the perfect office location, which can serve as an extra bedroom for guests and includes a full bath. Upstairs are 4 additional bedrooms and 3 baths. The finished basement is an ideal space for a home theater, gym, office or proverbial “teen hang-out” space. The immaculately landscaped grounds are home to a new rear deck and salt water lap pool. A whole-house generator erases all worries. Located in New Hope, PA.
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Home for the holiday: Restaurants stay open in Rehoboth By Fay Jacobs PGN Contributor Rehoboth’s LGBT-owned restaurants and bars make sure there’s always a welcoming place for people to go — all people, whatever their orientation — for the Thanksgiving holiday. The tradition, born of a time when many, many LGBTQ people were not welcome at family dinners — whether estranged or just far away — continues to this day. But back in the 1980s and ’90s, discrimination reigned almost everywhere and gays sought safe, welcoming havens like Rehoboth Beach as a hometown of choice. In those days, very few restaurants and bars stayed open on Thanksgiving for folks with nowhere to go. In those days, now-long-gone venues such as The Nomad bar, Cloud 9 Restaurant and The Renegade Dance Club were always open to provide a home for the holiday. The owners might rather have been around their own dining tables with friends, but they went to work anyway, cajoling their staff members to come in as well. These days, bars and restaurants like the Blue Moon and the Purple Parrot are a refuge for singles, couples and groups, open on the holiday, providing a barstool and a
friendly bartender to get the party started. Hugh Fuller, of the Purple Parrot, knows why he stayed open at his first restaurant on Thanksgiving: “I had nowhere to go myself, so I knew we had to be open,” he remembered. “And we were there for a lot of people.” Now, at the Parrot, it’s a long-standing tradition to be open for the holiday. Over the past 25 years, the site along Rehoboth Avenue where Rigby’s Restaurant now stands has hosted at least three other gay-owned venues — all serving as a refuge on Thanksgiving Day. Rigby’s owner John Gilstrap, happily ensconced at the site for many years, is determined to carry on the tradition in the cozy dining room to “give people a sense of home.” Local bartender Stephanie DaLee remembers working at The Frogg Pond (now The Pond) and helping to start its first Thanksgiving feast back in the ’90s. “I knew there were a lot of people with no place to go,” she said. “We were always busy on that day.” These days, more and more people of all orientations are choosing to dine out for a gourmet Thanksgiving with no dishes to wash afterwards. With the Delaware beaches now known
as The Culinary Coast, more restaurants are keeping the lights on, so everyone who needs a place to celebrate, whether alone, with friends or family can have a warm, delicious and wonderful Thanksgiving. It’s as good as certain that there are still people who are alone and in various stages of coming out and who, for whatever reason, cannot go home for the holidays For them, and everyone else wanting a terrific holiday meal without the mess but with a bartender to listen to their stories, Rehoboth’s holiday tradition continues. Bring your friends, bring your biological family or bring your family of choice. Here’s a sampling, and all are welcome! Blue Moon: 35 Baltimore Ave.; 302-2276515. Open Thanksgiving 3-9 p.m. with regular menu plus a seasonal gourmet addition — guaranteed not your traditional turkey dinner! Reservations a must as it always sells out. And the bar is open late into the evening. Diego’s Hideaway: 37298 Rehoboth Ave.; 302-227-0818. Open 3 p.m.-1 a.m., This bar in Rehoboth’s outer Gayborhood will stay open its regular hours for beverages, music and friendly bartenders providing a holiday refuge.
The Pond Bar & Grill: 3 S. 1st St.; 302227-2234; www.Thepondrehoboth.com. Opens 6 p.m. Thanksgiving so you can eat, drink, and enjoy karaoke! Purple Parrot: 134 Rehoboth Ave.; 302226-1139 www.ppgrill.com. The restaurant opens at 1 p.m. Thanksgiving with a turkey-dinner special plus regular menu. Rigbys Bar & Grill: 404 Rehoboth Ave. 302-227-6080, www.rigbysrehoboth.com. Traditional Thanksgiving buffet from 4-8pm. Shorebreak Lodge: 10 Wilmington Ave.; 302-227-1007. Open 4-9 p.m. Complete Thanksgiving dinner. This site has been several restaurants over the decades, all catering to the hometown crowd at Thanksgiving. Shorebreak gets rave reviews. The day after Thanksgiving, it’s the Rehoboth Beach Tree Lighting: This Friday night event provides fun and a real sense of community. Residents and visitors gather at the Rehoboth Beach bandstand beginning around 5:30 p.m. to hear music, join in the sing-a-longs and celebrate the launching of the holiday season at the beach. n
Pets have their own rehab facility in Delaware — and just in time By Fay Jacobs PGN Contributor Pets are special to us all, and Rehoboth Beach has a long history as a community devoted to animal rescue, adoption facilities and doggie foster homes to save our best friends. And here’s a pet story with not just one but two happy endings. First, a new animal rehab and rescue facility in the Rehoboth area had a recent earlier-than-planned opening just to help shelter animals displaced by Hurricane Florence in the Carolinas. While the rehab center, run by Brandywine Valley SPCA, was not supposed to open until January 2019, the organization moved into high gear to open in time to house the hurricane’s animal victims. The group transported and housed more than 200 shelter animals from North Carolina and adopted out many of them. The rest are safe at the facility to continue their journey toward forever homes. But the happy ending for the hurricane victims was only the good news, following an old story of heartbreak and dashed hopes. The tale started in 2002, when a group of animal advocates got together to raise money for a new no-kill animal shelter near Rehoboth Beach. The group called its dream facility Safe Haven, and the fundraising campaign caught the imagi-
nation of just about everyone in the area. With collection containers in hundreds of beach-community shops and restaurants and glitzy fundraising galas, the money came rolling in. So did the volunteer energy and hopes of helping the area’s homeless and neglected animals. By 2011, the building of the state-ofthe-art facility was underway outside Rehoboth Beach, near Georgetown, Del., and in 2012, it opened its doors to the first four-legged residents. But way too soon came the bad news. Nobody’s quite sure how it happened, but
less than two years later, Safe Haven had to file for bankruptcy and abandon the facility. After all the energy and money, not to mention the hopes and dreams people invested in the project, the result was a devastating blow to coastal animal lovers. But this is where the Brandywine Valley SPCA, active in West Chester and Malvern, as well as in Delaware, stepped in. They rescued both the abandoned facility and the animals the community once hoped to serve. Thanks to a $200,000 matching grant
from the Longwood Foundation, along with its own extensive fundraising efforts, BVSPCA was able to purchase and reopen the abandoned shelter as a rescue and rehab facility capable of housing more than 2,000 animals each year. Once the facility officially opens in January, it will not be an adoption center, as was the previous shelter. Instead, it will take care of the estimated 4 percent of animals that are too sick or otherwise unable to be adopted. It will rehab the animals with hopes of being able to place them in the future. The shelter will work with cruelty survivors, disaster victims, newborn animals at risk in other shelters and those who need training to make them good candidates for adoption. With the new facility, BVSPCA will surpass its 2018 record of caring for more than 15,000 stray, owner-surrendered and abused and neglected animals, placing at least 9,000 animals into forever homes and spaying or neutering more 10,000 animals. The group, founded in 1929, was the first open-admission no-kill shelter in Delaware, and now in Pennsylvania. The mission is to put the “human” back in humane animal treatment and advocate on animals’ behalf. n Donations and pledges in support of the BVSPCA Rescue & Rehab Center can be made at www.bvspca. org/rescue-rehab or by mail to: Brandywine Valley SPCA, 22918 DuPont Blvd., Georgetown, Del. 19947.
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2018
Don’t miss our Schellville Christmas Lane at this year’s Winter Wonderfest! Visit 14 mini houses and take a stroll through an enchanting Christmas lane decked with lights, snow, reindeer, and elves. Start the holidays off right! Stop at Frosty’s B&B, or take a tour through Schellville Town Hall and Fire Department. There is fun for the whole family! Cape May - Lewes Ferry Grounds, Lewes DE Fridays - Sundays | November 17 - December 31 For more information, visit winterfestde.org, call 302.727.0221, or email info@winterfest.org.
©2018 Schell Brothers LLC. All Rights Reserved. All information and pricing is subject to change without notice.
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CONLEY from page 21
— I would have done it differently. But Joel has a genius to tap into mainstream audiences. I would never make a film that would have people jump to their feet in the end. I’d make folks sad and give them a call to action. PGN: How much input did you have with the script, or the film? GC: In the original screenplay, he wrote a scene between Marshall (Russell Crowe) and Jared (Lucas Hedges) in a much more heartwarming way. It wasn’t offensive, but I thought we could do better. I was careful not to write any lines — but I said, tonally, it’s insulting to survivors if we don’t portray the complicated nature between Jared and his dad. It was important to me, and for Jared, who doesn’t have tons of agency, to stand his ground in that scene.
GARRARD CONLEY
PGN: The film judiciously edits your story, losing some of the metaphors (baptism, “erasing” purification, etc.), as well as whole scenes and characters. What are your thoughts about the changes made for the screen version? GC: I think Joel was incredibly true to most of the plot points. When you introduce an audience to a complicated facility operating in ways most people have not been introduced to, there are going to be really difficult choices on how artsy you can be. The whole flashback sequence was really well done. I loved the way he showed the family dynamic of Nancy (Nicole Kidman) and Marshall fighting. That happened to me, and I didn’t write it in the book, but I liked those moments because they fleshed out the story. PGN: The film depicts the gay-conversion therapy scenes to a much greater extent than the book does. Did you consult with Joel on what you endured? GC: Joel got the handbook I smuggled out of Love in Action, and we talked about my memories. He visited with John Smid [the conversion-therapist character Victor Sykes that Edgerton plays in the film] and was able to get insight into his mentality. Smid is a problematic person [in real life]; he justifies the past in a way that’s cringe-inducting and tries to convince people that he’s sympathetic or did good things. John Smid and I are in contact with each other, and I applaud his efforts to educate and turn things around, but it’s not without complications. PGN: How has the success of the book and the exposure of the film impacted you now? GC: I love that there are so many stories like this being told. I consulted on the film “The Misadventures of Cameron Post.” I’ve had emails from people in conversion therapy, or experiences with fundamentalism. It’s overwhelming. It took a movie from Hollywood to get me to talk to the mainstream media about conversion therapy. I didn’t have that earlier. PGN: Your book seems to be written to help other LGBTQ youth grapple with the experience of conversion therapy. But the film seems to be pitched more at parents of queer youth than queer youth themselves. What are your thoughts on that observation? GC: I love it, actually. I get the criticism, and I support that dialogue. It’s valid. The book is more queer and more nuanced. The film is designed as a specific type of advocacy. My podcast, “Unerased: The History of Conversion Therapy in America,” is coming out Nov. 2. This film will save lives and speak to people who are where I am from — where it is dangerous for so many LGBTQ people. It’s a positive message. We have to get as many people talking about this as possible — not just the cis white guy. Especially with the [Trump] administration trying to destroy trans people and erase them. We have to protect the most vulnerable among us. n
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LGBTQ offerings at the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival By Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor The Pride Program at this year’s Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival, held Nov. 8-18 at various venues in the city, offers two documentaries, a feature film and six shorts that showcase GLBTQ life in Asia and Asian America. The engrossing documentary “Call Her Ganda” (Nov. 9, 3:30 p.m., Lightbox Film Center) will generate righteous anger as it recounts the 2014 murder of Filipino transwoman Jennifer Laude by U.S. Marine Scott Pemberton. Director PJ Raval examines the human-rights abuses and media frenzy as well as the impact this case had; it ignited trans-community activism and a demand for justice. Trans journalist Meredith Talusan covers the trial in the film, the transphobic responses to the case and a system designed to protect the Americans. Raval digresses from Laude’s story at times with a history of Philippine-American relations and U.S. imperialism — but the film remains powerful nonetheless. In the feature “For Izzy” (Nov. 9, 5:45 p.m., Lightbox Film Center), Dede (Michelle Ang) is a hot mess. She can’t get her Oxycontin refilled, has lost her photojournalism job and was jilted by her girlfriend two weeks before their wedding. Devastated, this self-described “high-functioning addict” wants a fresh start and moves in with her patient mother, Anna (Elizabeth Sung). But Anna worries about her daughter’s bad decisions. While there is tension
between them, Anna soon becomes enamored with their neighbor, Peter (Jim Lau), who lives with his autistic daughter, Laura (Jennifer Soo). When Dede and Laura become friends — they bond over taking photos and shooting videos — things are great. Unfortunately, when the girls go out to a park one day, a situation develops that impacts everyone. Writer-director Alex Chu includes some vibrant, animated vignettes “LEITIS and uses direct-address interviews to allow each of the main characters to recount their lives (and their sides of the story). As the characters work through their interpersonal challenges, “For Izzy” becomes a fresh, funky, heartfelt film. Chu, a Wharton alumnus, is expected to attend the screening. “Leitis in Waiting” (Nov. 17, 6:05 p.m., Asian Arts Initiative) is an eye-opening documentary by married couple Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson about leitis, the transgender women in the Pacific Island kingdom of Tongo. Expanded from Hamer and Wilson’s 2017 short “Lady Eva,” the film explores how leitis, along with Joey Joleen Mataele, Eva and Miss Fatima, among others, have suffered bullying, abuse, discrimination and violence — often being kicked out of their homes — and because
IN WAITING” LEITIS ON FAFA ISLAND Photo: Qwaves Films
they are queer. They have since organized and become activists fighting for human rights in a traditional culture where an evangelical pastor argues against equal rights and same-sex marriage. The interviews with the leitis are inspiring, as is the footage from the 2016 Miss Galaxy Pageant, where Eva does a mean lip-sync to Tina Turner. What emerges from this film is the courage, dignity and pride the leitis have and that they share with their supporters, which include members of the Tongan royal family. The festival is offering a free shorts program called “Intergenerational and Overseas Perspectives on Queer Identity” (Nov. 18, 11 a.m., Asian Arts Initiative). The lineup includes a half-dozen films on family, coming out and discrimination.
The program opens with “Hoài (Ongoing/ Memory)” by Quyen Nguyen Le, which concerns a young Vietnamese woman, Hoài (Ngoc Ahn Hà), who is moving out of her activist girlfriend Viv’s (Sumiko Braun) apartment and back in with her karaoke-loving father (Ken Lê). This poignant, multilayered drama resonates as Hoài’s emotions about loss and home come to a head. “Salamagan,” by Elisa Oh, has the closeted Filipino Ana (Jiavani Linayao) enlisting her girlfriend Gabi’s (Alyssa Ariel Perez) help in cleaning out her hoarding Auntie Belicia’s (Joi Orbe Brown) apartment. While Ana’s religious mother, Marline (Olga Nativida), is pleased with Gabi at first, Marline is none too happy when she spies the women kissing. Moreover, Ana and Gabi fight about Ana’s fear of coming out. “Salamagan” does not traverse new territory, but it has a winning, comic style. Likewise, “Uninvited,” by Seung Yeob Lee, is an engaging short about the closeted Jungho (Sum Lee), whose mother (Keunyoung Kim) pays an unexpected visit to his apartment in Seoul. Jungho’s boyfriend, Jae-ik (Jinseung Moon), disappears just in time as Jungho’s mother criticizes her son about his dirty dishes and his hair, while also nagging him about dating. When she starts to notice clues of a roommate, Jungho’s mom puts some pieces together. How mother and son try to broach — or avoid — the topic of Jungho’s sexuality is what makes this bittersweet short so touching. PAGE 31
Broadway star brings tenacity and tenure to Bristol By Suzannah Cavanaugh PGN Contributor Ed Dixon, the openly gay, award-winning Broadway playwright and composer, is spending the month in Bristol. Dixon, 70, stars in Bristol Riverside Theatre’s bound-for-Broadway production of “The Rivals,” a musical farce adapted by Stephen Kellogg from the 1775 play by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. “The Rivals” is the latest in Dixon’s ever-growing resume. In the summer, he starred in “Grumpy Old Men,” a production out of Ogunquit, Maine. Last year, he won the Drama Desk Award for his off-Broadway production “Georgie: My Adventures with George Rose,” a look at his relationship with the late character actor, which he wrote and starred in. “I don’t think people know that a person my age can have such a creative, exciting life,” said Dixon. “I don’t think that’s normal.” But for Dixon, work is the norm. His theater credits disclose a near-constant stream of roles, beginning with his 1971 performance in the Broadway revival of “No, No Nanette.” His only gap, from 1988-91, unfolded amid the struggle that defined his life’s second act: a heavy drug addiction. Dixon, who arrived in New York City in the late 1960s, prefaces the story of his addiction with the culture of the time.
“We were socialized — in my case, in New York — in bars. So there was booze involved in meeting people and talking to people and learning what it was to be gay,” he said. Dixon said the prevalence of drugs in the clubs and discos of the 1980s heightened the threat of substance abuse. “And, here’s a little surprise: In the theater, drugs were everywhere,” he added. By 1988, the year Dixon became addicted, the normalization of drugs and alcohol had numbed him to the threat. “Somebody brought a really serious drug to my house one day … and a switch got flipped, and it would not go back.” Dixon won’t reveal which drug segued him into addiction, but he is candid about the details of his downward spiral. The same year he became addicted, he took several blows in his personal life. He lost a friend to AIDS, another to suicide, and Rose, his mentor and very close friend, was murdered. “I’m not saying that my drug addiction was a result of those three events, but I can certainly say they did not help my mental stability,” he said.
At his lowest, Dixon found himself homeless and close to death. “I had begun adapting a bunch of early Willa Cather short stories into a musical before my life tipped over — and I took those pages and I put them in a plastic bag and gave them to a friend when I thought I was going to die,” said the actor. With help from his management team, Dixon was able to seek treatment through a 28-day detox program and then a halfway house, followed by AA meetings and therapy. He credits the “grace of my friends” for getting him clean. Dixon said a woman he considers like a sister housed him rent-free for a year after he finished rehab to ensure he wouldn’t relapse. “When she and her husband took me into their loft, I was in early Photo: Mark Garvin recovery. Nobody knew whether I was going to survive or not. And they had a 2-year-old.” Dixon said within that year, he could see his life coming back together. “So I did what I was trained to do. I went out and got a Broadway show.” What Dixon calls his first gesture of com-
ing back into the world was an adaption of the Willa Cather short stories he’d entrusted to his friend several years before. “When I got well, she brought me that plastic bag. I was expecting it to be incoherent, but when I started looking at what I had written, it was very coherent and very useful,” he said. Dixon wrote the musical “Cather County” as a celebration “of coming back into life.” It went on to win the Leon Rabin Award at Lyric Stage in Dallas. Dixon has not stopped working since. He has continued to star in shows and has written plays performed at Signature Theatre in D.C., off-Broadway and around the country. He’s also taught a number of students since getting sober in 1991. In 2012, he turned his life story into a book, “Secrets of a Life On Stage … and Off.” Dixon hopes audiences will take his experiences as evidence of the ever-existing potential to reclaim one’s life. “Making a serious error in one’s life does not mean that your life is over. There is a possibility that you can put things back together and have a wonderful life afterward, which is what I have done.” n “The Rivals” runs at Bristol Riverside Theatre, 120 Radcliffe St., through Nov. 18. Tickets are $15-$53. For event information, visit https://www.brtstage.org/ main-stage/the-rivals/.
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2018
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS
Sedition ups the game underground If you go Sedition Restaurant & Bar 727 Walnut St. 215-391-1100 www.seditionphilly.com Tues.-Thurs.: 11:30 a.m.-midnight Fri.-Sat.:11:30 a.m.-2 a.m. Sun.: 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. PORK BELLY Photo: Larry Nichols By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com
se·di·tion /səˈdiSH(ə)n/ noun noun: sedition; plural noun: seditions conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch. synonyms: rabble-rousing, incitement to rebel, subversion, troublemaking, provocation; rebellion, insurrection, mutiny, insurgence, civil disorder Given the current state of socio-political affairs, why not check out Sedition? While the restaurant and bar may not be a revolutionary concept (at least, not just yet) Sedition has all the aesthetic qualities of its name: a location below street level with a dimly lit, moody and secretive subterranean atmosphere and a speakeasy quality. Plus, there are no secret knocks, passwords or clandestine entryways to thwart the efforts of totalitarians to shut down your fun. (Although that might be coming. Who knows?) Sedition’s menu offers fare that shows off creativity while still aiming for the part of your soul that wants something exciting and familiar. The pork belly ($13) is the best example of this, existing somewhere between comfort dish and decadent feast. Most places would make this small plate all about the pork belly, but the tender, juicy chili-glazed pieces of savory meat were adorned with roasted poblano polenta, with spicy peppadew peppers and fresh cilantro
contributing nicely to the presentation and flavor. The grilled octopus ($14) was equally colorful and artfully presented, but the star of the dish was outshined at every turn by the pleasantly aggressive chorizo, roasted potatoes and a lovely romesco sauce. It didn’t help that the octopus itself, while tasty, was chopped in too-tiny pieces and came across as a tad bit chewy. With autumn upon us, Sedition’s pork chop ($25) is an ideal entrée for a chilly evening. The sizable chop is grilled perfectly and surrounded by roasted fingerling potatoes, all of which drink in the generous drenching of caramelized apples, onions and apple butter. The result tips slightly more toward sweet than savory, but with the holidays coming up and at least another six months before most of us have to think about beach bodies, you can be forgiven for indulging. Whether Sedition, the restaurant, is as tasty as the actual idea of sedition is up to you. But if you’re looking for a thematically appropriate place to hide from the world and satiate your appetite in fine secretive fashion, look over your shoulder and slide into a booth at Sedition. You didn’t about it from us. n
BRINGING THE YUKS TO BUCKS COUNTY: Out international comedians Frank Liotti, Jess Solomon and Eman El-Husseini converge upon Bristol to make their Bucks County debut for the LGBT-themed “Out of The Closet Comedy Show,” 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15 at The Comedy Works, located inside Georgine’s Restaurant, 1320 Newport Road. For more information or tickets, call 215-741-1661 or visit www.comedyworksbristol.com.
Theater & Arts Arte Povera: Homage to Amalfi ’68 Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition recreating one artist’s reactionary exhibition against Minimalism and pop art, through July, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. Between Nature and Abstraction: Edwin Dickinson and Friends Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition exploring the works of the modern American painter through Feb. 10, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215763-8100.
Brahms and Mozart The Philadelphia Orchestra performs the classics through Nov. 3 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 300 S. Broad St.; 215893-1999. Fabulous Fashion: From Dior’s New Look to Now Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition exploring the drama and glamour of some of the most creative feminine fashions ever designed, through March 3, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215763-8100. Larry Fink: The Boxing Photographs Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of photographs highlighting the
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athletic world of boxing through Jan. 1, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. Little Ladies: Victorian Fashion Dolls and the Feminine Ideal Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition exploring the influence of Miss Fanchon, the ultimate toy for privileged girls in the 1860s-’70s, Nov. 11-March 3, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100.
PHILADANCO Choreographers on the Move The acclaimed Philadelphia dance company performs a show featuring works from longtime PHILADANCO resident choreographers Milton Myers and Christopher Huggins, Nov. 1618 at Kimmel’s Perelman Theater, 300 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5847.
Mimi Imfurst Presents Drag Diva Brunch Mimi Imfurst, Bev, Vinchelle, Sutton Fearce and special guests perform, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 10 at Punch Line Philly, 33 E. Laurel St.; 215-606-6555.
Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Broadway Philadelphia presents the classic children’s tale about a mysterious candymaker’s secret empire, through Nov. 18 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; 215893-1999.
Nézet-Séguin and DiDonato The Philadelphia Orchestra performs with one of the biggest vocal talents in the world, through Nov. 10 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 300 S. Broad St.; 215-893-1999.
Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical Walnut Street Theatre presents the musical based on the beloved children’s book, through Jan. 6, 825 Walnut St.; 215574-3550.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS
accclaimed singers perform 8 p.m. Nov. 12 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215389-9543. KT Tunstall The rock singersongwriter performs 8 p.m. Nov. 13 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215222-1400.
ACROSS THE POP SPECTRUM: Pop star Kesha brings her Rainbow Tour back to the area when she performs 8:30 p.m. Nov. 16 at Ovation Hall, 500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, N.J. For more information or tickets, call 866-506-2326.
Sasheer Zamata The comedian and actor seen on “Saturday Night Live” performs Nov. 15-17 at Punch Line Philly, 33 E. Laurel St.; 215-606-6555. Warplay Azuka Theatre Company presents a production reimagining the close relationship between Achilles and Patroclus in a poetic, radical and shockingly funny light, through Nov. 18, 1700 Sansom St.; 215-563-1100. Wizard of Oz Media Theatre presents the beloved and classic musical about Dorothy and adventures in a strange land, Nov. 14-Jan. 13, 104 E. State St., Media; 610-891-0100. Yael Bartana: And Europe Will Be Stunned Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition blurring fact and fiction, with the artist reimagining historical narratives
to spur a dialogue about urgent social and geopolitical issues of our time, through Jan. 1, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215763-8100.
Music Bright Light Bright Light and Aiden James The out singersongwriters perform 8:30 p.m. Nov. 9 at Boot & Saddle, 1131 S. Broad St.; 267-6394528. The Ultimate 80’s Prom with The New Romance The ’80s tribute band performs 8 p.m. Nov. 10 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400. Hanson The pop-rock band performs with an orchestra, 8 p.m. Nov. 11 at The Tower Theater, 69th and Ludlow streets; 610-352-2887. Josh Groban & Idina Menzel The internationally
Edie Brickell & New Bohemians The alternativerock band performs 8:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at TLA, 334 South St.; 215-922-1011. Pigeons Playing Ping Pong The psychedelic funk band performs, 8 p.m. Nov. 16-17 at TLA, 334 South St.; 215-922-1011 Stephen Marley The reggae singer performs acoustically, 8 p.m. Nov. 16 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; 215-572-7650.
Nightlife Blacklight Bash A bear, leather, queer dance party for everyone, 10 p.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 9 at The Bike Stop, 206 S. Quince St.; 215-627-1662. Drag Ward All-Stars 3: Broadway Queens channel their best stage personas in this competition, 8 p.m.-midnight, Nov. 10 at Voyeur, 1221 Saint James St.; 215-735-5772. Drag-a-rama The monthly drag extravaganza returns 9 p.m. Nov. 12 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215-964-9675.
Philadelphia Battle Burlesque Royale The burlesque show and competition returns 9 p.m. Nov. 15 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215-964-9675.
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2018
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Old city Indian restaurant lives up to their good name
Outta Town Danity Kane DK3 with Dawn and Dumblonde The pop/R&B girl group performs 8 p.m. Nov. 9 at The Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 202-730-3331. The Last Unicorn The animated fantasy film is screened 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Nov. 10 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-1228. Jim Norton The comedian performs 8 p.m. Nov. 10 at The Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 202-730-3331. Cape Fear The classic crime thriller is screened Nov. 11-12 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-1228. Jim Breuer The comedian performs 8 p.m. Nov. 15 at The Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 202-730-3331. The Purple Madness Prince Experience The Prince tribute group performs 8 p.m. Nov. 16 at The Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 202-730-3331. n
If you go Karma 246 Market St. 215-925-1444 www.karmaphiladelphia.com By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Karma has a reputation for serving up some of the best Indian food in Philadelphia. Having sampled its seductive culinary charms, we’d wholeheartedly agree. The vibe of the space is sleek and relaxed, pulling diners away from the frantic pace of the bustling section of Market Street at its door. The menu is expansive. It would take many visits to explore every corner of it, which is something we wouldn’t mind doing soon. Karma isn’t afraid to give diners a healthy dose of spice, which gives an exciting and welcome boost to the Kolkata Golda Chingree ($9.95). The battered shrimp are fried to light and crispy excellence, with the bright-red hue of the crust beckoning and warning at the same time of the explosive flavors waiting inside. Another fried dish that delivers is the fish pakora ($7.95), which isn’t nearly as spicy but perfectly crisp and juicy, a nice respite from the more aggressive shrimp. FILM FESTIVAL from page 29
The weakest film in the program is the Taiwanese entry “Straighten Out,” by Jessie Chang. Sheng (Chic-Hsuan Tang) is recovering from a fainting spell and senses something is wrong. What he discovers is a bit sinister and shows how homosexuality is not accepted among religious families. “Straighten Out” makes an important point, but Chang’s film is too slow and subtle. It should have had greater impact. “Rani,” by Hammad Rizvi, is a satisfying story about the title character (Kami
Photo: Scott Drake
Sun.-Thurs.: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri.-Sat.: 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m.
The samosa chaat ($6.50) has a nice blend of starchy creaminess that takes the edge off the simmering kick and gives the dish an alluring texture. When it comes to entrées, you can ask for different levels of spice ranging from mild to Karma spicy. We opted for Indian spicy, which is a step below Karma spicy. It wasn’t nearly as aggressive as we’d hoped, but who needs aggressive spice when the rest of the dish is so spot-on in the flavor department? The Hara Bara Kebab ($16.95), chicken in a chili, garlic and ginger sauce, had hints of sweetness tempering the spices. The seekh kebab ($15.95) was a nicely roasted mixture of ground lamb, onions and herbs that married well with a side of cool raita ($3), a cucumber- and herb-infused yogurt sauce, and a large helping of buttery, garlicky lasooni naan bread ($3.75). Because of popular demand, Karma has broadened the lunch buffet on weekdays, giving diners a chance to sample a decent-sized portion of the menu. Whether you visit midday or in the evening, you’ll find that Philly’s Karma is always nothing but good. n Sid), a transgender Pakistani woman who finds a baby and wants to care for her. Rani’s situation, however, is complicated not only by poverty, but also the transphobia she encounters both verbally and physically in the streets of her town. “Rani” sheds light on a marginalized community and provides a hopeful message. Rounding out the program (and unavailable for preview) is “Hudson,” by Shae Xu, about a divorced woman who needs to tell her son that her roommate is, in fact, her lover. n
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2018
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Real Estate Rent South PhillyHome for rent, 2 BR, 1 bath, basement & small yard. 2500 block Watts st. Call for info. 610-825-0644. ________________________________________42-44
Help Wanted HANDYMAN/HOUSEKEEPER Newly moved in, I need assistance with setup and light cleaning/yard work on monthly basis. Valid ID and 3 references. Non smoker. Fairmount section. 215-845-5117. _____________________________________________42-51
Legal Notices Court of Common Pleas for the County of Philadelphia, October Term, 2018, No. 1000754. NOTICE is hereby given that on October 17, 2018 the petition of Barry E. Grass was filed, praying for a decree to change petitioner’s name to Berry Nicole Grass. The Court has fixed December 14, 2018 at 10:00 AM, in Courtroom No. 691, in Philadelphia City Hall as the time and place for the hearing of said petition. All persons interested may appear then and there and show cause, if they have any, why the prayer of the said petition should not be granted. ________________________________________42-45
Wanted to Buy FREON R12 WANTED: CERTIFIED BUYER will PAY CA$H for R12 cylinders or cases of cans. (312) 291-9169; www. refrigerantfinders.com ________________________________________42-44
For Sale Extensive Garbo collection for sale. Center City. Call 215546-2468 Sunday only. ________________________________________42-47
Services AIRLINES ARE HIRING – Get FAA approved hands on Aviation training. Financial aid for qualified students – Career placement assistance. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance 877-207-0345. ________________________________________42-45
Friends Men WM, NE Phila. If you’re looking for hot action, call 215-934-5309. No calls after 11 PM. ________________________________________42-46
Transgender Dating Transgender single woman wanted. Date/LTR for single Italian man. No internet. 609-618-5238. ________________________________________42-48
Massage Massage available in CC. Call for an appt. Discretion always honored. 609-203-1156. _____________________________________________42-44
BECOME A DEPUTY SHERIFF with the Sheriff’s Office of Philadelphia Look for the Deputy Sheriff Officer Recruit Exam Announcement in January, 2019
Starting Salary $44,622 No Prior Experience Required Must Pass: • Deputy Sheriff Officer Recruit Exam • Criminal background investigation, physical agility, medical and psychological exam Must Have: • High School diploma or GED • Valid Driver’s License For more information on becoming a Philadelphia Deputy Sheriff Recruit, go to www.phillysheriff.com and click on the Deputy Sheriff Officer Recruit job title to complete a Job Interest Form.
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SERVICES & HOME IMPROVEMENT DIRECTORY
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1 Ball lover Arnaz 5 Socrates’ market 10 Type of Mary pass 14 Sondheim’s “___ the Woods” 15 Pinkish yellow 16 ‘Tales of the City”’s Madrigal 17 Vocal improv 18 “My Fair Lady” composer 19 Word for “injure” that sounds like an aunt’s name 20 She plays June in the Amazon series “Forever” 23 Sodom suffix 24 They come in buggies 25 Confines 27 Hosp. staffer 28 Ted Casablanca bit 32 Tried to tackle tight ends, e.g. 33 All fouled up 36 Toy on a string 37 She plays Kase, who runs off with June in “Forever” 41 ___-Day vitamins 42 Queer-looking swimmers 43 Possible format for Robert Giard 45 News agency of Nureyev’s nation 46 Roof animal of Tennessee
49 Battlefield formation 52 Climb up on the soapbox 54 Initial sound, in “The Sound of Music” 55 He plays June’s husband Oscar in “Forever” 59 Icon inscription 61 “Funny Girl”’s Fanny 62 MD’s P.D.Q. 63 Fruity drinks 64 Ex of one we hope will soon be an ex-president 65 Further 66 It means nothing to Frida 67 MTM center 68 Rank Billie Jean, e.g.
Down
1 Bottom-of-thebarrel 2 Set up a base 3 The Bee Gees’ “___ Alive” 4 The I’s of Sappho 5 Rights-protecting org. 6 Van Sant’s “___ Will Hunting” 7 Milk go-with 8 R&B singer Lou 9 Alpha, to the circumcized 10 Broadway scenery chewer 11 Lover of June Mansfield
12 New member 13 Dirge source 21 German white wine 22 Heston’s “Ben ___” 26 Sulu portrayer George 29 Canvas covering 30 Disney’s “___ and the Detectives” 31 “Down Under” band ___ Work 33 Cole Porter’s “___ Men” 34 Finnish gay rights org. 35 “The ___ the limit!” 37 Eddie Izzard, e.g. 38 Boa that’s dangerous to wear? 39 Restrained with a rope 40 Race site in
Britten’s land 44 Fairy tale creature 46 Dancer Irene 47 Private’s position 48 Like the big top 50 Circle of Uranus 51 Having cojones 53 Responds to yeast 56 Prepare for phone sex 57 Trouble spots for teens 58 Word before admiral, in the navy 60 Rose-rose connector, for Stein
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 9-15, 2018
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SERVICES & HOME IMPROVEMENT DIRECTORY
John Wissinger Inc.
Some assembly Required? Call Peter!
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Advertise your business in our directories for only $25 per week when you run for a minimum of 8 weeks.
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