Family Portrait: Tyler DeSouza transforms LGBT fashion options PAGE 29
Pet issue
Paw Prints: Holiday hazards Dog legend talks best-in-show-business Saving Winston: A tail of rescue, recovery New adoption center opens PAGES 13-15
Cinderella goes coach PAGE 25
Nov. 21-27, 2014
Since 1976
PGN Philadelphia Gay News HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
Vol. 38 No. 47
Does D.A. have missing 911 transmissions in Morris case? By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com
SPOT ON SUPPORT: Supporters of LGBT youth program QSpot Philly gathered for a fundraiser Nov. 13 at William Way LGBT Community Center. The party, which included food, adult beverages and an art raffle, raised about $200 for the program’s next monthly youth social. QSpot will host its annual holiday dinner 6 p.m. Nov. 25 at 3535 Market St., 16th floor, which will include free food and refreshments, giveaways and performances. Friends, family and allies are welcome. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Westbury closes doors after five decades By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com After more than 50 years in business as an LGBT bar, The Westbury is officially closed. The business, at 261 S. 13th St., announced on social media late last week that it would not be reopening its doors. The building in which The Westbury is housed has been closed for the past month, after a fire at the adjoining ParkerSpruce Hotel and successive L&I violations. PGN reported last week that the hotel lessee, The Wankawala Organization, was scheduled to purchase the building Nov. 17 and
reportedly plans to keep it closed until it can be rehabbed. Organization officials did not return requests for comment, so it is unclear if
the sale went through. The Westbury owner Chuck Brault declined to comment for this story. A Facebook post last Friday on PAGE 21
THE WESTBURY’S FIRST ANNIVERSARY AT 13TH AND SPRUCE STREETS PGN archives
Earlier this month, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office confirmed that it has documents pertaining to the Nizah Morris case that were generated by police. The confirmation is significant, because concerns have been expressed that such documentation was destroyed or misplaced. However, the D.A.’s Office hasn’t divulged the full contents of its police-generated Morris file. Even the city’s Police Advisory Commission — which investigated the Morris case intermittently for 10 years — has never received from the D.A.’s Office an exhaustive list of its police-generated Morris documents. As a result, numerous 911 transmissions relating to the Morris case remain unaccounted for, though it’s possible the D.A.’s Office has them. Morris was a transgender woman who
sustained a fatal head injury shortly after entering a police vehicle for a Center City “courtesy ride.” Her 2002 homicide remains unsolved, and advocates want a state probe. A complete set of 911 transmissions could help explain why Morris wasn’t promptly transported to a hospital, why her head injury wasn’t promptly investigated, why her initial police-tracking numbers were voided, why responding officers didn’t document the “courtesy ride” and subsequent assault, and why an officer speculated about Morris’ transgender status on a police report. A 2003 affidavit of probable cause for a search warrant indicates that local authorities obtained comprehensive 911 transmissions pertaining to the Morris incident. In 2011, the PAC subpoenaed the D.A.’s Office for all of its Morris records, including all Morris 911 transmissions in its possession. In response, the D.A.’s Office turned over PAGE 18 911 transmissions that
PA Congressman intros hate-crimes measure By Ryan Kasley ryan@epgn.com One day after Philadelphia’s adopted a law to outlaw hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity, efforts got underway to close gaps in the federal hatecrimes law. Congressman Bob Brady (D-First Dist.) introduced legislation Nov. 14 that would expand the federal hate-crimes law to equally protect against crimes committed because of a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Brady was joined by cosponsor Congressmembers Pat Meehan (R-Seventh Dist.), Allyson Schwartz (D-13th Dist.) and Chaka Fattah (D-Second Dist.). The proposed bill, assigned to the
Judiciary Committee, is designed to provide greater protections in all circumstances. Federal law already classifies attacks based on sexual orientation as hate crimes because of the 2009 Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act, but unless a prosecutor can prove the crime had a nexus to “interstate commerce,” it can’t be prosecuted in federal court. Prosecutions based on such factors as race or religion do not require this step. “This bill simply treats hate-crime prosecutions involving gay and lesbian victims no different than attacks based on race or religion,” Meehan said. Spurred by the recent gay bashing in Philadelphia, Brady hopes to remediate this “travesty” within Pennsylvania and the PAGE 2 13 other states without
“Day in the Life of” is a monthly feature that tells the unique, day-to-day stories of local LGBT PAGE 16 community members. Meet this month’s subject: Michelle Ottey.