pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976 Family Portrait: Drea Young shares a musical bar or two PAGE 31
Vol. 41 No. 45 Nov. 10-16, 2017
GALAEI’s Trans Equity Project will have a full schedule of activities
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HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
“It’s hard to say goodbye.” PAGE 5
Queer films unspool at Asian American fest
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Election 2017 brings major Democratic, LGBT wins Co-defendant Across the country, voters showed their discontent with the direction of the coun- sentenced in try by awarding victories to progressive candidates. murder of Maya Young By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com
Election Night 2017 had a decidedly different outcome than last year’s election. Democrats swept all major races across the country in what pundits described as a referendum on Republican President Donald Trump. Among the biggest winners were New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Murphy, who defeated Republican Kim Guadagno to succeed Gov. Chris Christie, and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ralph Northam in Virginia. It was also a historic night for LGBT wins, particularly among transgender candidates. Pennsylvania will have its first-ever openly transgender elected official, as Tyler Titus was elected to the Erie School Board in Western Pennsylvania. “Tyler Titus shattered a lavender ceiling in Pennsylvania today and his victory will resonate well beyond state boundaries,” Victory Fund President and CEO Aisha C. MoodieMills said in a statement Tuesday. “Trans people remain severely underrepresented in our politics and governPAGE 19
By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com
COMMUNITY VICTORY: Progressive Democratic candidate Larry Krasner celebrated his election as the city’s next district attorney at the William Way LGBT Community Center Tuesday night. The center served as a polling place and hosted Krasner’s watch-turned-victory party at night. Krasner has pledged to advocate for a range of social-justice issues, including LGBT rights. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Man seeks damages in Gayborhood assault By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com
FORWARD PROGRESS: Members of the OutServeSLDN LGBT and Friends Contingent participated in the third-annual Philadelphia Veterans Parade Nov. 5. The group, which marched for the first time in the 2016 event, included Richard Soto (from left), Rob Miranda, Barry Confíe, Greg Seaney-Ariano and Ali Birouti.
Samuel Sierra, a gay man assaulted in the Gayborhood almost three years ago, is seeking financial remuneration from his alleged assailants. Sierra, 37, of Fishtown, was heading home after working as a doorman at Tabu Lounge and Sports Bar when he allegedly was assaulted by Aaron Gordon and Christopher Schmid. The incident occurred on South 12th Street, near Chestnut, around 2:40 a.m. Dec. 27, 2014, according to court records. Gordon subsequently was convicted of simple assault and sentenced to one year’s reporting probation but Schmid wasn’t criminally charged by local
authorities. According to court records, Sierra sustained severe head injuries during the assault, from which he continues to recover, and has incurred medical bills exceeding $217,000. Gordon and Schmid are defendants in Sierra’s civil suit, filed in December in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court. Also named as a defendant is Yakitori Boy, a karaoke lounge in Chinatown that allegedly served Gordon and Schmid an excessive amount of alcohol prior to Sierra’s assault. A jury trial tentatively is scheduled for 10 a.m. July 8, 2018, in Courtroom 480 of City Hall, with Common Pleas Judge Denis P. Cohen presiding. PAGE 23 An attorney
A co-defendant in the murder of a local trans woman was sentenced Wednesday. Tiffany Floyd will serve eight-20 years in prison, plus 10 years of probation for the murder of Maya Young. Additionally, she will undergo drug rehabilitation, mental-health treatment and educational and vocational training. Floyd pleaded guilty in February to third-degree murder, conspiracy to commit third-degree murder and possession of a weapon with criminal intent. During the deferred-sentence agreement, Floyd underwent a pre-sentence investigation and a mental-health evaluation. Floyd’s attorney, Dan Stevenson, said his client has been “dealt a bad hand,” noting that she was sexually abused and was bullied in school as a child. “[Floyd] knows she has to pay for what she did but this is not an unredeemable woman,” Stevenson said. Floyd appeared in court to read a letter she wrote. She said she takes “full responsibility for my actions” and has been involved in rehabilitation programs while in custody. Additionally, she said she remains in contact with her four children and surrounds herself with positive family members. “I also pray for the victim’s family,” Floyd said. “I may not be able to dry their tears ... but I am truly apologetic.” Assistant District Attorney Gwenn Cujdik recognized that Floyd felt remorse for the crime. She also noted Floyd’s role in identifying her co-defendant, Jose Pena, who is currently serving 40-80 years in prison for both Young’s murder and an unrelated murder. However, Cujdik said a mitigated sentence would “not be in the [court’s] best interest.” Judge Kathryn S. Lewis said she anticipates the defendant will return to the community and told Floyd that her “guilt will live with [her] forever.” Young died from stab wounds to her back PAGE 19 and chest on Feb. 20, 2016,