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Vol. 40 No. 46 Nov. 11-17, 2016 Family Portrait: Nefartari Sloan teaches people how to love PAGE 29
HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
Council bill would revoke business license for discrimination
Color of Love Production Studios jumps the groom with “Don’t Marry Griff”
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Trump wins in devastating loss By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com
in the past decades. We know that LGBT Pennsylvanians are now fearful for their futures and their physical safety. Given the intense and often hateful rhetoric of the past several months we cannot blame them.” Martin noted that “if there ever were a community of people who have shown resilience in the face of adversity and discrimination — it is us. We know how to come together, and we will need to do that now, for ourselves and for future generations.” “Throughout our nation’s history, we’ve
faced devastating setbacks in our pursuit of a more perfect union,” added Human Rights Campaign president Chad Griffin. “But even in the darkest of moments, Americans have summoned the courage and persistence to fight on.” Republicans also retained control of Congress. Pennsylvania Republican Pat Toomey held his Senate seat after topping Democrat Katie McGinty 49-47 percent. Democrat Mary Ellen Balchunis was unable to oust Republican Congressman
In what is being called one of the biggest surprises in American political history, reality-television star Donald Trump was elected 45th president of the United States. Many pundits began forecasting Trump’s victory over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton after the Republican took Pennsylvania. As of presstime, Trump had captured 48.8 percent of Pennsylvania versus Clinton’s 47.6 percent. In Philadelphia, Clinton won more than 82 percent of the vote. As of presstime, Clinton was leading in the national popular vote by about 200,000, yet Trump crossed the 270 electoral-vote threshold early Wednesday morning. In a concession speech a few hours later, Clinton thanked her supporters. “Make sure your voices are heard going forward,” she said. “This loss hurts but please never stop believing that fighting for what’s right is worth it.” Trump’s election dealt a devastating blow to the LGBT community. Trump has pledged to support Supreme Court justices who would roll back marriage equality and backs the First Amendment Defense Act, which would give businesses a license to discriminate against LGBT people. His vice president, Mike Pence, gained notoriety for his support of Indiana’s “religious-freedom” law when he was governor. “[The] election result is a difficult blow to many in the LGBT community, women and people of color,” Equality Pennsylvania executive director Ted Martin said in a statement. “Many will see this as a back- THOUSANDS OF VOTERS WAITED IN LINES FOR HOURS ACROSS PHILADELPHIA lash against the progress that we have made TO NO AVAIL ON ELECTION DAY. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Patrick Meehan (Seventh Dist.), who won nearly 60 percent of the vote. Democrat Steven Santarsiero also lost his challenge to Republican Brian Fitzpatrick 54-46 percent for the Eighth Distrist Congressional seat. Democrats were more successful in state races. Josh Shapiro bested John Rafferty 51-49 percent to become Attorney General. Eugene DePasquale was elected Auditor General 50-45 percent over John Brown. Joe Torsella beat Otto Voit 51-44 percent to become the state’s Treasurer. n
Philadelphia residents turn out for Hillary Clinton By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com
Tarriem Burroughs was unable to make it to the other rallies supporting Hillary Clinton but on Monday night, he left work early to attend her rally at Independence Mall with more than 30,000 attendees. Burroughs said he was supporting Clinton because he does not want the rights he enjoys with his husband taken away. “I’m really excited to see all of the initiatives that Barack [Obama] started and hopefully Hillary continues on with all of them,” the 35-year-old Philadelphia resident said. “We have some rights but we need more rights. There’s still a lot of discrimination in the LGBT community and hopefully Hillary can take it another step forward to really break down those walls.” Support for Clinton continued at the polls on Election Day. Heshie Zinman voted for Clinton because he said she reflects his values and shares his PAGE 12 stances on certain issues.
Plea deals possible in murder of trans woman By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com The District Attorney’s Office is weighing whether it will offer plea agreements for two people charged with the February murder of a local transgender woman. Attorneys for Jose Pena and Tiffany Floyd were back in court Tuesday for a pretrial hearing in the murder of Maya Young. Police found Young suffering from stab wounds to the neck and chest Feb. 20 in the 4900 block of Griscom Street in Frankford. The stabbing allegedly stemmed from an
argument over a man, according to statements from the defendants read in court this summer. DA spokesperson Cameron Kline told PGN this week that attorneys for Floyd and Pena requested potential plea agreements. “An offer was requested,” Kline told PGN in an email. “We are currently making the decision about if we will or will not make an offer.” Details about potential plea deals were not available by presstime. According to court dockets, “the Commonwealth will convey an offer on or
before” Dec. 1. A pre-trial conference is slated for 9 a.m. Dec. 6 in Room 1105 of the Criminal Justice Center, 1301 Filbert St. Senior Judge Kathryn Streeter Lewis will preside. Pena is charged with murder, conspiracy, firearms offenses and possession of an instrument of crime. Floyd is charged with murder, conspiracy and possession of an instrument of crime. Pena, 20, remains incarcerated at CurranFromhold Correctional Facility, while Floyd, 25, is incarcerated at Riverside Correctional Facility.
According to Pena’s statement, Floyd and Young had been feuding over a man and Floyd allegedly asked him to help her kill Young. After Floyd and Young smoked crack, Pena said Floyd stabbed Young at a Frankford park, prompting Young to flee. Pena said Floyd told him he had to “finish” the victim or she would have him killed, so he followed Young and also stabbed her. Floyd said in her statement that she did not intend to kill when they met to smoke crack. She contended that, after she stabbed Young, Pena decided on his own to follow her out of the park and stab her. n