PGN Nov. 15-21.2013 by The Philadelphia Gay News

Cherie Curry is da bomb PAGE 25

Senate passes ENDA with Toomey support

PAGE 9

Family Portrait: Joan Myers Brown, founder of Philadanco PAGE 29

Looking back at The Attic’s 20 years of growing upward, PAGE 5 outward Nov. 15-21, 2013

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Vol. 37 No. 46

Kenney intros first-ever trans resolution PA welcomes City Council set to designate Trans Awareness Week, honoring contributions of trans community and remembering those lost to violence By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com Philadelphia Councilman-at-Large Jim Kenney this week introduced a resolution to honor the transgender community. On Thursday, Kenney introduced a measure that will recognize Nov. 17-23 as Transgender Awareness Week, the first time such a proposal has been made in Philadelphia. Transgender Day of Remembrance is held annually across the nation Nov. 20, and last year, Mayor Michael Nutter commemorated the day with a first-ever city proclamation. After the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation’s successful Transgender Awareness Week last year, local transgender activist Jordan Gwendolyn Davis approached Kenney about the city officially marking the full week. “I just felt, given the achievements, as well as heartbreak, that has been experienced citywide, that it was too good not to pass up,” Davis said. Although TAW is happening at the same time as the TDoR, the week should not overshadow the day event, Davis said, which is often used to commemorate those who have been murdered or violently attacked due to their gender identity. PAGE 20

first out mayor By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com Lifelong Doylestown resident Ron Strouse found out a little after 9 p.m. Nov. 5 that he would be his town’s new mayor. But, an even bigger surprise came when he learned he was the first openly gay mayor elected in the Keystone State. Strouse, 65, was born and raised in Doylestown and attended Central Bucks High School before earning his bachelor’s degree from American University in Washington, D.C. A f t e r c o l l eg e , h e worked as chief of staff STROUSE PAGE 21 for

MINISTERIAL DUTY: About 50 ministers headed into the Arch Street United Methodist Church Nov. 8 to jointly preside over a same-sex union. The action was meant as a show of support for the Rev. Frank Schaefer, a Central Pennsylvania Methodist minister facing a Nov. 18 church trial — and possible loss of credentials — for officiating his son’s legal same-sex marriage. On Saturday, the ministers, who were mostly Methodist, and the couple, Bill Gatewood and Rick Taylor, assembled on the steps of the LGBT-affirming church, stating in unison, “Those whom God has joined together, let no one put asunder.” It is unclear if the ministers will face any reprimand for their involvement. Photo: Scott A. Drake

N.J. judge tosses challenge to conversion-therapy ban By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

LAW OF THE LAND: AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania executive director Ronda Goldfein was among the speakers at the organization’s 25th-anniversary gala Silver Ball, which drew a crowd of almost 200 to Power Plant Studios Nov 7. The ball raised more than $41,000 for the organization, which, in its 25 years, has defended more than 38,000 people with HIV and AIDS and educated more than 40,000 others on HIV/AIDS-related legal issues. Photo: Scott A. Drake

A federal judge in New Jersey last week upheld the state’s new ban on therapy that seeks to change a minor’s sexual orientation. U.S. District Court Judge Freda Wolfson on Nov. 8 dismissed a challenge by two New Jersey therapists and the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality and the American Association of Christian Counselors. The plaintiffs contended that the new law, which prevents mental-health professionals from employing therapy intended to change the sexual orientation of a patient under age 18, violates their rights to free speech and freedom of religion. In her ruling, Wolfson noted that the law does not prePAGE 19 vent professionals from opining about

Equality PA elects new board president By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com Adanjesús Marin, the most recent president of the board of Equality Pennsylvania’s political-advocacy branch, last week took over the reigns of the agency’s Education Fund. Marin, 37, helmed the organization’s (c)4 wing for the past two years. He takes over as board president of the education and outreach component from Adrian Shanker. In addition to serving as board president, MARIN Marin will also serve as vice president of education for the (c)4 board and assistant officer of the Equality PA Political Action Committee. Marin was born in Mexico and currently lives in Taylor, near Scranton. He serves as the director of mobilization and member political program for Service Employees International Union Healthcare PAGE 18 Pennsylvania. He has

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

LOCAL PGN

Time-response log elusive in Morris case Civil Affairs to meet with Pride organizers By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com

A time-response log that could help explain why Nizah Morris wasn’t taken to a hospital for more than an hour after a 911 call was placed on her behalf remains unaccounted for by local authorities. Morris, a transgender woman, became a homicide victim shortly after getting inside a police vehicle during the pre-dawn hours of Dec. 22, 2002. The case remains unsolved. She had been drinking heavily at a Center City bar, and an onlooker made a 911 call on her behalf, seeking medical attention. Officer Elizabeth Skala was Morris’ first responder, and reportedly gave her a “courtesy ride” to the vicinity of 16th and Walnut streets, where she thought Morris lived. Within minutes, Morris was found unconscious at that intersection, bleeding from the side of her head. The time-response log at issue was generated at the city’s 911 call center. It pertains to a vehicle stop unrelated to Morris that Skala initiated while her Morris dispatch was still pending at the 911 call center. The ensuing confusion resulted in an “unfounded” designation for the initial 911 call for Morris, and no police report of the “courtesy ride” was filed. T h e c i t y ’s P o l i c e A d v i s o r y Commission received a redacted version of the log several years ago, as ��

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part of its Morris probe. The PAC was unable to determine the source of the redaction. But in April, the PAC issued a report that recommends state and federal probes of Morris’ homicide. The portion of the log that’s redacted would detail the level of urgency Skala conveyed to her dispatcher about the vehicle stop, which took place at 13th and Filbert streets. It apparently had a high priority, because Skala never responded to Morris at 16th and Walnut, though records indicate she was notified of an injured person there. Instead, Skala stayed at 13th and Filbert for about 80 minutes, waiting for a vehicle to be towed, after ticketing the motorist for driving without proper paperwork, according to police records. City medics didn’t take Morris to a hospital until 4:13 a.m. — 66 minutes after the first 911 call for her was made. When questioned by PGN, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office said it doesn’t have any time-response logs relating to the Morris case. But the office declined to provide a sworn statement that its Morris homicide file was searched. This week, PGN filed an appeal in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court. The paper seeks a court order for the D.A.’s Office to release the unredacted log, or provide a sworn statement that a search of its Morris homicide file didn’t yield the log.

In a related matter, on Nov. 7 the city law department said it won’t permit the release of numerous Morris records in the PAC’s possession. The records were provided to the PAC by the D.A.’s Office in November 2011. The records include summaries of interviews with three police officers and a supervisor involved in the Morris incident, along with several civilian-witness interviews. PGN requested the records in accordance with a 2008 stipulated order signed by a Philadelphia judge. The order states that PGN will have access to Morris-related records in the possession of city agencies. But the law department said a nondisclosure agreement between the PAC and the D.A.’s Office prevents the paper from accessing the records. The paper has filed a Right-toKnow Law request for copies of all non-disclosure agreements between the PAC and the D.A.’s Office. Former state Rep. Babette Josephs was outspoken in her criticism of the law department’s decision. “Nizah Morris was put into a police vehicle at 3 o’clock in the morning on a cold, wintry day,” Josephs said. “The next thing we know, she’s lying in the street, a homicide victim. Ten years later, the city tells us we can’t access records that could shed light on the police response to Nizah. It’s outrageous. City officials should be ashamed of themselves for being a party to the D.A.’s cover-up.” ■

By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com

At a meeting with the Police Liaison Committee last week, the head of the Philadelphia Civil Affairs Unit agreed to have the department meet with organizers of Pride and OutFest before the annual events, following a dustup at last month’s OutFest. On Oct. 13, gay couple Anthony Reto and Thomas Berner were arrested by a Civil Affairs officer who alleged that Reto had pushed him after the two posed for a photo in front of antigay protestors. Reto was forcefully held on the ground for several minutes. The pair turned down a plea agreement and head to trial Nov. 25. On Nov. 7, Civil Affairs Captain Stephen Glenn met with the committee to discuss how to create a more communicative relationship with festival organizers. Liaison Committee chair and Philly Pride Presents president Franny Price said Civil Affairs will now meet with her organization, and the Liaison Committee, in

the days prior to both events. Civil Affairs, a unit brought in to monitor community protests during street festivals like Pride and OutFest, used to meet with event organizers in advance but hasn’t in recent years. Price said it was important for officers to understand the 2007 ruling in the lawsuit filed by antigay protestors Repent America “I want them to know that the LGBT community knows about their First Amendment rights. There are rules at our events that should be enforced that aren’t,” she said. “We just won a lawsuit that says, ‘Yes, protestors can express their First Amendment right but they are not allowed to disrupt a permit event.’” Price said building a familiarity among community leaders and Civil Affairs representatives will be important for future events. “We used to do it all the time and then it kind of stopped. There is a whole new crew of Civil Affairs officers and we think it is important that they are familiar with us and we are familiar with them.” ■

locations in Pa. outside of Philadelphia

Allentown • Allentown Brew Works, 812 Hamilton St. • Candida, 247 N. 12th St. • MCCLV, 930 N. Fourth St. • Stonewall, 28-30 N. 10th St. • Annville • Lebanon Valley College, Sheridan Ave. • Ardmore • Ardmore Station, Anderson Ave. near Coulter Ave. • Bethel • Adult World, 341 Midway Road • Bethlehem • LGBTQ Services Lehigh U, 25 Trembley Dr. • Bloomsberg • Bloomsberg University LGBTA Center, 400 E. Second St. • Bristol • Bristol News World, 576B Bristol Pike • Bryn Mawr • Bryn Mawr College, Canaday Library • Bryn Mawr Station, Morris Ave. near Bryn Mawr Ave. • Fox & Roach Realty, 763 Lancaster Ave. • TLA Video, 761 Lancaster Ave. • Chester • Harrah’s Chester Casino, 777 Harrah’s Blvd. • Widener University, 1 University Place • Collegeville • Adult World, 3975 Ridge Pike • Devon • Devon Station, Devon State Road & Lancaster Pike • Doylestown • Doylestown Bookshop, 16 S. Main St. • Siren Records, 25 E. State St. • East Stroudsburg • Rainbow Mountain Resort, 210 Mt. Nebo Road • Easton • La Pazza, 1251 Ferry St. • Gibson • Hillside Campground, 1 Creek Road • Glen Mills • Imago Dei MCC, 1223 Middletown Road • Glenside • Keswick Cycle, 408 N. Easton Road • Harrisburg • 704 Strawberry Café, 704 N. Third St. • AIDS Community Alliance, 100 N. Cameron St. • Brownstone Lounge, 412 Forster St. • Liquid 891, 891 Eisenhower Blvd. • Midtown Scholar Bookstore, 1302 N. 3rd St. • MCC of the Spirit, 2973 Jefferson St. • Stallions, 706 N. Third St. • Haverford • Haverford Station, Haverford Station Road near Lancaster Ave. • Kutztown • Kutztown University, 15200 Main St. • Lancaster • Downtown Books, 227 N. Prince St. • Sundown Lounge, 429 N. Mulberry St. • Tally Ho Tavern, 201 W. Orange St. • Lansdale • Gwynedd Vet Hospital, 1615 W. Pointe Pike • Lehighton • Woods Campground, 845 Vaughn Acres Road • Levittown • Levitt Books, 7406 Bristol Pike • Malvern • Malvern Station, King St. & Warren Ave. • Media • Unitarian Universalist Church, 145 W. Rose Tree Road • The Media Theater, 104 E. State St. • LGBT Alliance Group, Delaware Co. Campus, Penn State Univ., 901 Media Line Road • Moosic • 12 Penny Saloon, 3501 Birney Ave. • Narberth • Narberth Station, Haverford & Narberth avenues • New Hope • Café Europa, 11 Market Place • Cornerstone Gym, 419 York Road • Eagle Diner, 6522 York Road • Havana, 105 S. Main St. • John & Peters, 96 S. Main St. • Karla’s Restaurant, 5 W. Mechanic St. • La Chateau Exotique, 31A W. Mechanic St. • Havana Bar & Grill, 105 S. Main St. • The Raven, 385 W. Bridge St. • Sandbar, 90 S. Main St. • Triumph Brewing Co., 400 Union Square Drive • Wildﬂowers, 8 W. Mechanic St. • New Milford • Oneida Campground, 2580 E. Lake Road • Newtown • Bucks Co. Community College, 275 Swamp Road • North Wales • Adult World, 608 Upper State Road • Paoli • Paoli Station, North Valley Road & Lincoln Highway • Plains Township • Twist Bar, Fox Ridge Plaza, Rte. 315 • Quakertown • Adult World, 880 S. West End Blvd. • Reading • Berls Aid Network, 429 Walnut St. • Reading Adult Center, 316 Penn St. • Rosemont • Rosemont Station, Airdale Road & Montrose Ave. • Spring Grove • Atland’s Ranch, RR6, Box 6543 • Swarthmore • Swarthmore College, 500 College Ave., Parrish Hall • Temple • Naughty But Nice, 4502 N. Fifth St. • Upper Darby • Honor Box, 69th Street Station • Villanova • Villanova Station, Spring Mill Road near County Line Road • Warminster • Darkanyu, Bux Mont Unitarian Church, Street Road at Rt. 611 • Planned Parenthood of Bucks Co., 610 Louis Dr. • Wayne • Central Baptist Church, 106 W. Lancaster Ave. • Stafford Station, Old Eagle School & Crestline roads • Wayne Station, N. Wayne & West Ave. • West Chester • Chester County Books, 975 Paoli Pike • Williamsport • Peachies, 144 E. Fourth St. • Willow Grove • Barnes & Noble, 102 Park Ave. • Wynnwood • Wynnwood Station, Wynnewood & Penn roads •

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE YOUR BUSINESS OR ORGANIZATION ON THIS LIST? Contact Don at don@epgn.com or 215-625-8501 ext. 200 to arrange for delivery of complimentary copies.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

COLLEGIATE CROWD: Bread & Roses Community Fund honored the recipients of its annual Jonathan Lax Scholarship, which supports local gay men pursuing higher education, at a reception Nov. 8 at William Way LGBT Community Center. This year’s winners were Joshua Freker (from left), D’Angelo Cameron, Edgardo Bueser, Philip Shecter (from right), Mamun Islam and Sina Solati, as well as Ari Flaks and Mark Seaman, who were not in attendance. The scholars were congratulated by Lax Scholarship committemember Earl Driscoll (fourth from left), Bread & Roses executive director Casey Cook and committeemembers Chris Bartlett and Petros Levounis. Photo: Scott A. Drake

What special challenges does the LGBT community face when it comes to the law? Whether it’s adoption, co-habitation agreements or a will, Angela Giampolo shares legal advice for our community each month.

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Do you think high-proﬁle coming-outs are still newsworthy?

SPECIALIZING IN PARTNERSHIP AND EMPLOYMENT LAW

Jeffrey E. Goldman, Esq. 100 S. Broad St. Suite 1330 Philadelphia, PA 19110

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No, LGBTs are too mainstream now Yes, we love new role models Some are, some aren’t It depends entirely on who and what they do

Go to www.epgn.com to weigh in on this week’s question:

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

LOCAL PGN

The Attic celebrates two decades By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com The Attic Youth Center started out as a non-funded school project geared towards helping a sector of the LGBT community that was often ignored. Now, 20 years later, The Attic has become one of Philadelphia’s most valuable LGBT resources. In 1993, Dr. Carrie Jacobs started The Attic Youth Center while pursuing a doctorate degree. The Attic, which was an eight-week project for Jacobs and one other student, brought 41 youth through its doors once a week. Now, the center sees an average of 65 JACOBS youth daily, opening its doors to 15,000 young people every year. For Jacobs, the lack of programming for LGBT youth inspired her to continue the services with virtually no funds. “I would have been heartbroken if it ended,” she said. “There were no other safe spaces available for LGBTQ youth.” Jacobs organized and presented research about the need for youth-focused LGBT programming to the board of directors of Voyage House, where The Attic was originally housed. The board concurred that the project should continue, although Jacobs and organizers were tasked with fundraising. The center has since seen three homes. It was housed in the Voyage House from 1993-96, but quickly outgrew that space. “Forty-50 youth were coming up to The Attic every week and it was like sardines in a can because The Attic was small,” Jacobs said. “We organized a group called the Youth Planning Committee, which we still have today, and the youth went out and looked for a new space. We found a space around the corner from Voyage House.”

The Attic moved to 419 S. Lombard St., where it operated for several years until an anonymous donor offered The Attic funding to purchase a new space, at 255 S. 16th St., which sold for about $315,000. The center settled into its new space in July 2003. “I believe that once we moved into the current building, we became an institution here in Philadelphia for LGBTQ youth,” Jacobs said. “Together, we created a space that the youth could call their own.” The center is now run by 12 full-time staff and another dozen part-time employees. The staff is not the only element that has expanded over the years, as programming has grown by leaps and bounds. “We originally had one program, a weekly support group,” Jacobs explained. “It was a three-hour program with social time and support time. Our programming has expanded tremendously over the years. We provide comprehensive programming at this point. We went from a weekly support group to 15-20 different programs.” Current programming covers an array of topics — from health and wellness to arts and culture to leadership and workforce development. Jacobs said The Bryson Institute, which provides LGBT training, has impacted both youth and adults throughout the region. “Even today, a lot of schools and agencies do not know how to effectively support LGBTQ youth,” she said. “The Bryson Institute of The Attic has provided training for over 30,000 individuals, and their main goal continues to be to educate institutions on best practices for working with LGBTQ youth.” Although the staff has been integral in launching and maintaining innovative programming, the youth have also played a key role in program development. “The programming is created and developed from youth ideas and input and that PAGE 15 is what is unique about

ATTIC SUPPORTERS IIN 2001 AT THE CONSTRUCTION SITE OF THE CURRENT CENTER

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

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BRIDGING THE GAP: About 150 marriage-equality supporters marched from Easton to Phillipsburg, N.J., Nov. 7 to witness the weddings of three same-sex couples, organized by former Equality Pennsylvania president Adrian Shanker and Pennsylvania Diversity Network executive director Liz Bradbury. The Rev. Beth Goudy, pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of the Lehigh Valley, performed the marriages of Marcus Laurence and William Mauro, Jerry Schmidt and Chuck Woodbury and Jennifer and Maryann Kelley. The couples and their supporters marched across the Free Bridge, which Shanker noted is “only a few blocks long, but unfortunately, represents that we are a few years away from marriage equality in Pennsylvania. We hope our legislators realize how much the lack of marriage equality is hurting Pennsylvania.” Photo: Patricia Sullivan

Study: Little cost, large impact from antibias law in Pennsylvania By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com A study from LGBT thinktank Williams Institute at the University of California Los Angeles this week found that enacting a state law banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in Pennsylvania would cost the state little, but would have a vast and needed effect on LGBT Pennsylvanians. The Williams Institute culled research from a number of sources, including census data and public polls, about the impact of incorporating LGBT people into the state Human Relations Act. Pennsylvania is one of 33 states in the country that lacks discrimination protections for LGBT people. Enacting a state law to prohibit LGBT discrimination, the study said, would cost the state Human Relations Commission up to $228,000 per year, about 2.4 percent of its annual $9.5-million budget. The study noted this was a “conservatively high” figure, based on the estimate that the law would create about 82 new cases per year. According to the report, about 276,000 LGBT adults live in Pennsylvania, 174,000 of whom are in the workforce. In the past few years, 33 municipalities moved to ban LGBT discrimination, but 69 percent of the state’s workforce is still not covered by such a law, the study says. In the private sector, at least 139 companies in Pennsylvania offer workplace protections based on sexual orientation, 40 of which also extend to gender identity. And

37 Fortune 1000 companies in Pennsylvania ban sexual-orientation discrimination. Despite the growing number of companies that offer such policies, men in samesex relationships in the state earn less than their heterosexual married counterparts. According to Census data, the median income of men in same-sex couples in Pennsylvania is $31,000, an almost-20-percent difference from men married to women, who earn a median $38,500, despite that men in same-sex relationships are more likely to have earned a college degree. Women in same-sex relationships in the state earn less than heterosexual married men and men in same-sex relationships, but more than heterosexual married women. These figures are consistent with national numbers, and a 2009 study suggested that enacting a state LGBT nondiscrimination law helps close the wage gap for gay men. According to a recent national study by the Pew Research Center, 21 percent of LGBT respondents had been treated unfairly in hiring, pay or promotions at their workplaces, and the Williams Institute Pennsylvania is also experiencing “widespread and continuing discrimination against LGBT workers.” “Pennsylvania teachers, factory workers and law-enforcement officers have all faced workplace discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity,” said study co-author Christy Mallory. “Uniform legal protections could provide more consistent and stronger recourse for the state’s workers at minimal administrative cost to the government.” ■

REGIONAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

LGBT street harassment discussed at Council By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com Philadelphia City Council held a public hearing last week about street harassment, which included testimony on the treatment the LGBT community experiences daily. At its first hearing on street harassment Nov. 7, Council heard from nine witnesses about conditions faced on city streets, and were urged to support the launch of community-safety audits to address the issue. The hearing was facilitated by Councilman-at-Large Jim Kenney, who worked with Hollaback!Philly. The group was founded in 2011 by Rochelle Keyhan to bring attention to street harassment, which the organization

describes as sexual harassment that takes place in public spaces and which affects women and LGBT people disproportionately. Acts of street harassment can range from leering to sexist comments to whistling to physical grabbing. Keyhan, who said it took seven months to get the hearing coordinated, added that the councilmembers appeared to be receptive to continuing the conversation. “They all expressed supportive comments and couldn’t believe [street harassment] was prevalent,” she said. Earlier this fall, Hollaback!Philly conducted a study of more than 400 Philadelphians about the issue of street harassment, which they presented to Council.

Twenty-five percent of respondents identified as LGBT or questioning and 3 percent identified as trans. Of the respondents, most said they faced harassment a few times a week, while 18 percent experienced it daily. The most common reactions to the harassment were anger and frustration, followed by fear of going out alone. Harassment most often occurred while respondents were walking city streets, walking to work or running errands, and was also prevalent on public transportation. More than 90 percent of respondents did not report the harassment to authorities. Among the nine witnesses who testified last Thursday, transgender activist Jordan Gwendolyn Davis spoke about her experi-

ences involving transphobic street harassment. Davis said she has experienced street harassment since she moved to the city twoand-a-half years ago. “People ask me to go to the police. However, the police, especially SEPTA police, have been known to lack sensitivity towards transgender, as well as disabled people,” she said. “I feared, based on previous interactions, that they would pathologize, politicize and even accuse me of being a sex worker. I dream of a day that all people of all races, religions, colors, genders, abilities, classes, gender identities and sexual orientations can be safe in this city. But we are a long way from that.” For more information, visit http://philly. ihollaback.org. ■

Bucks district refuses same-sex benefits By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com The Central Bucks School District is under fire for denying benefits to the samesex spouse of an employee. At its Nov. 12 meeting, the district’s board took testimony from community members who urged the panel to reverse a previous decision against extending the benefits. Board president Stephen Corr said the district is in arbitration with the employee, who married her partner in Delaware. The employee brought the issue to the board Oct. 22. When inquiring about the district’s healthinsurance plan, the employee was told that the wording used in the policy prevented the district from providing her partner benefits. But minutes from the Oct. 9 meeting of the board’s Human Resources Committee showed that the committee voted against offering the benefits until same-sex marriage is legal in Pennsylvania. The district currently offers two healthinsurance plans to its employees — an

HMO through Aetna and a PPO through Amerihealth. The Aetna plan offers coverage for “legal spouses,” while the Amerihealth plan only covers spouses of the opposite sex. After Corr’s statement, students, parents, staff and community members were allowed to express their opinions on the matter. All of the 13 speakers were in favor of the district extending benefits to samesex couples. According to the Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition, one resident said she was “shocked” by the board’s actions, while several others urged the panel not to be a “dinosaur” when it came to LGBT rights. PSEC reported that Bucks County Human Relations Councilmember Marlene Pray pressed the board to move swiftly and transparently. “You keep saying this issue was not before the committee or board, but I hope you will consider it before you now,” Pray said. The Human Resources Committee met Nov. 13 to discuss its role in the arbitration process. ■

First LGBT casino club shuts down in A.C. By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com After two years in business, Pro Bar at Atlantic City’s Resorts Casino Hotel — the first-ever LGBT nightclub at a casino — shut down last week. In a statement released by Resorts, the shuttering was attributed to a decline in attendance at Pro Bar, as well as at the casino’s Piano Bar, which also closed last week. “While the closure was a necessary business decision due to declining revenues in the two venues, Resorts Casino Hotel remains enthusiastic about its nightlife destinations in Atlantic City,” said Resorts’ director of advertising and public relations Courtney Birmingham, referencing the newly opened Margaritaville venues. “The property remains dedicated to the

LGBT community and is working on new and exciting LGBT programming for 2014,” she added. Birmingham declined to release the club’s revenue or attendance numbers. She said the casino has not determined what will fill the space but is not anticipating another bar. “At this point, we are not planning to replace it with another bar. We are looking at a lot of opportunities for programming in 2014,” she said. “Our primary LGBT efforts were Pro Bar and Piano Bar. There has been some entertainment that is scheduled for 2014 that fits with the community.” Pro Bar opened in 2011 and originally went by the name Prohibition, to take on a 1920s feel. The bar was open from 8 p.m.-3 a.m. on Thursdays and Sundays, 8 p.m.-4 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. In September, Resorts shuttered its “Divas Do A.C.” drag show. ■

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concentration, this past spring. Before turning his attention to future theater work, Grant is working in a restaurant Now that he’s out of college, Michael and saving up to travel. And, now that he’s Grant has his sights set on traveling. And done school, he said the time felt right to he’ll get a crash course next summer — pay tribute to his mom. “She passed away right when I was going when he bikes cross-country to promote to college and it was just such a transition cancer education. Grant, 22, will be among two-dozen period for me that it was hard to grasp anyother young adults who will spend the thing,” he said. “Now that I’m out of college and have a summer pedallittle more free ing from Maryland time and am on my to California, as own, I felt like this part of the 4K for was a great time Cancer program of to honor my mom the Ulman Cancer and do something Fund for Young for her.” Adults. The trip, A coworker parw h i c h b eg a n i n ticipated in the 4K 2001, enlists colfor Cancer last lege-age students year, and Grant to help spread the said he was immeword about cancer diately intrigued awareness and preby the program’s vention, and to raise mission. funds to combat “When she got cancer, especially back, I was just in young-adult popobsessed about it ulations. The group will be MICHAEL GRANT IN FRONT OF and couldn’t stop visiting with cancer INDEPENDENCE HALL asking questions,” patients along the Photo: Luis Fernando Rodriguez he said. “I did an application and a journey, hosting education programs in a number of cities phone interview and studied up about the and will have opportunities to share their program and I was eventually accepted.” Five separate 4K for Cancer teams will set own stories of how their lives were touched off June 1 — one from Seattle to Baltimore, by cancer. Grant will be riding in memory of his and four leaving from Baltimore and heading to Seattle, Portland, San Diego and San mother, who died of cancer at age 54. Grant, a native of New York, remembered Francisco, the latter of which Grant will his mom for her penchant for organizing take part. The riders will bike from 50-130 miles fun family gatherings, especially for him per day and will be responsible for organizand his two older brothers. “She was the center of our family,” he ing food donations for their meals and findsaid. “She would always throw big fam- ing volunteers to provide them shelter on ily parties, birthday parties that were over their stops. Each rider has been asked to raise $4,500 the top — one time they brought in a huge boa constrictor for one of the parties. She’d for the cause, and Grant has pledged to raise make our Halloween costumes every year. $6,000. To do so, he’s launched a blog and is She’d organize the holidays. She was just a spreading the word about the ride on socialbig part of our family.” Grant was in seventh grade when his media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and mother was diagnosed with brain cancer. Instagram. While Grant will personally dedicate the He came out to his family around the same time, and said that experience was over- ride to his mother, he also plans to honor a new cancer victim or survivor each day, and shadowed by his mom’s illness. She fought the disease for about five document his ride, on his blog. “I’m hoping my story, this trip and the years but passed away in 2009, on Grant’s cause will reach someone who’s also been first day of classes at Temple University. “She went in and out of remission,” Grant affected by cancer and will be inspired to said. “They’d do surgeries, chemotherapy join the ride and donate to my cause.” He’s also starting to gear up for the physiand it’d disappear but then about half-a-year later she found out she had another tumor cal demands of the 70-day ride, and began on the other side. It was a back-and-forth cycling earlier this fall. “It’s funny, I know how to bike ride but I five-year fight.” After two weeks with family in New don’t even own a bike,” he said. “But that’s York, Grant returned to Temple to begin the great thing about it; they’re open to anyhis college education, going on to earn his one as long as they fall within the age limit PAGE 17 bachelor’s degree in theater, with an acting and they live an active

NATIONAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

Senate passes ENDA with Toomey support By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com For the first time ever, the U.S. Senate approved legislation that would instate a federal mandate against LGBT workplace discrimination. The Senate approved the Employment Non-Discrimination Act in a 64-32 vote Nov. 7. The Senate rejected ENDA in 1996. This also marks the first time the bill has been on the floor in either the House or Senate since 2007. Pennsylvania’s Sen. Pat Toomey was among the 10 Republicans who crossed the aisle to vote for ENDA. Sen. Bob Casey, a cosponsor of the bill, was not able to vote because he was with his wife, who was having surgery to repair a heart valve. Earlier in the week, however, Casey did vote for cloture, to bring the bill to a floor vote. Last Wednesday, Toomey introduced an amendment to strengthen and expand the bill’s already-existing religious exemption for religiously affiliated businesses and organizations, but the Senate rejected his amendment the following day in a 55-43 vote. But, Toomey said in a statement, he still supported the bill’s progress. “While my amendment was not accepted,

I voted for final passage to help move the legislative process forward. I hope that — should the House consider this bill — it will move to improve and strengthen this measure so we can both advance equality in the workplace and protect religious liberty,” Toomey said in a statement. Support for Toomey came from within his own party, with out Republican state Rep. Mike Fleck and GoProud executive director Gregory T. Angelo applauding the senator’s decision. Fleck noted Toomey’s support on the federal level could help influence state Republicans to support the proposed LGBT nondiscrimination bill. “Pennsylvania has come a long way with our own House Bill 300. We have record cosponsors this year from both sides of the aisles,” Fleck said. “The average citizens around here couldn’t believe there wasn’t something on the books as far as discrimination in the LGBT community. We couldn’t be more ecstatic that Sen. Toomey is there as well.” Angelo added that Toomey’s past mixed record on LGBT rights made him a natural target for advocates. “We’ve had discussions with Toomey and staff for months and we are especially impressed on the level of engagement that he has approached ENDA with,” Angelo said in a release. “Toomey was a natural choice and

someone we should have engaged with from the start due to his support of the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’” Currently, it is legal in 33 states for a worker to be fired based on his or her gender identity and legal in 29 states for someone to be fired for sexual orientation. Pennsylvania does not offer LGBT workplace protections. Under ENDA, it would be unlawful “to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any indi-

Currently, it is legal in 33 states for a worker to be fired based on his or her gender identity and legal in 29 states for someone to be fired for sexual orientation. vidual, or otherwise discriminate against an individual with respect to the compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment of the individual, because of such individual’s actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.” ENDA would not apply to small businesses with 15 or fewer employees, and religious organizations would be exempt.

ENDA has been introduced repeatedly in Congress since 1994. Sen. Jeff Merkley (DOre.) introduced the latest Senate version in April, and it was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, which approved the measure in July. The House version was introduced by Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) and referred to the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. It is expected to face an uphill battle in the Republican-controlled House. Even if the House does move the bill forward, Equality Pennsylvania executive director Ted Martin noted that HB 300 is still integral. “The legislation that we are considering in the state House is different. ENDA just covers employment,” Martin said. “The state version covers employment, housing and public accommodations.” This marks the first time that a transgender-inclusive version of ENDA has been approved; the House passed ENDA in 2007 that lacked protections based on gender identity. Local transgender activist Kathy Padilla said the past six years have seen a shift in the level of understanding and awareness of trans issues. “I think trans people are much more visible in the Senate and the world at large and in many ways much more accepted,” she said. ■

Counting down to the PGN Holiday Gift Guide Our present to you: An early gift list of the latest books, CDs, movies and other entertainment with plenty of time left to buy them! Coming Dec. 6

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

EDITORIAL PGN

Creep of the Week

D’Anne Witkowski

The Moscow city government

Editorial

Presidential politics in Philly On Thursday, Philadelphia played host to our nation’s leader — and to a man who many surmise aspires to be our nation’s next leader. Both President Obama and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie were in Philly Nov. 14 for separate events; the president was attending a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee fundraiser, while Christie headed across the Delaware to deliver the keynote address for Committee of Seventy’s fundraising breakfast. Their close proximity — without paths crossing — is illustrative of the different roads the two have taken on a slew of issues, namely LGBT-rights topics. Obama has become the nation’s most LGBT-friendly president in history. Legislative victories include his signing of the repeal of the ban on openly gay servicemembers and the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity in the federal hate-crimes law. He ordered the federal government to extend benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees and mandated hospital visitation rights for same-sex partners at federally funded facilities. And his administration has hosted an unprecedented number of LGBT meetings and forums to engage with the community. While Christie’s iconic photo with the president during the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy seems to show the pair on the same track — and is predicted to have won the Republican governor some favor with Democrats — Christie’s record on LGBT rights has taken a distinctly different path. During his first four years, Christie was the primary roadblock to marriage equality in New Jersey. In February 2012, he vetoed legislation to legalize samesex marriage in the state, saying instead the civil-rights issue should be put to a public vote. When the Supreme Court in June overturned a key provision of the federal ban on same-sex marriage, Christie said the top court made a “bad decision.” While the governor did sanction some progress for LGBT rights, such as his signing of legislation that bans conversion therapy for minors, his missteps in other areas detract from the meaning of those victories. For instance, while he has opined that gay people are “born that way,” he went on to say that, even if one of his children were to come out to him, he would not believe that they were deserving of marrying their same-sex partner. Christie has walked a fine line on LGBT rights. While some of his actions have reflected a willingness to support the rights of the community, other motions, and statements, suggest that backing to be disingenuous. With the record number of LGBT firsts Obama accomplished as president, having a leader in the White House with any less of a commitment to LGBT equality would be a major setback for the community and the country. The 2016 election will be here before we know it — here’s to hoping we can keep marching forward with a leader we know is committed to our cause. ■

As you probably already know, Russia is not exactly a paradise for LGBT people. Even talking about being gay is a crime there because it might corrupt children somehow. In fact, the only gay-related speech allowed in Russia appears to be hate speech toward gays, accompanied by ass kickings. You know, to set a good example for children. Violence against LGBT folks is rampant. In fact, on Nov. 3, a meeting of the Rainbow Coffee Party, an LGBT social group in St. Petersburg, was paid a little visit by some gun- and baseball-bat-toting thugs who sent two people to the hospital with injuries. In other words, the climate in Russia is so antigay that a coffee klatch is cause enough for violence. It is not clear how many Russian children were saved from the perils of homosexuality by this courageous act. An antigay parent group even wants to ban Elton John. Because Elton John is the gayest. But John still plans to pack his “funny” glasses for a December tour date in Russia. As he told The Guardian, “I’ve got to go. And I’ve got to think about what I’m going to say very carefully. There’s two avenues of thought: Do you stop everyone going, ban all the artists coming in from Russia? But then you’re really leaving the men and women who are gay and suffering under the antigay laws in an isolated situation. As a gay man, I can’t leave those people on their own without going over there and supporting them. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’ve got to go.” Good for him. And I hope he doesn’t end up in jail. Being antigay under the guise of protecting children is common. Russia’s antipropaganda law is really no different than the arguments against acknowledging in America’s schools that LGBT kids exist by including them in anti-discrimination and anti-bullying policies. There’s this pervasive fear that if kids get wind of this gay stuff, they’ll just have to try it out. It’s a

weak and stupid argument, but it has had some success here in the States. And Russia has gone ahead and made this terrifically stupid argument the law of the land. Which leads to headlines like, “Russia bans tribute to gay victims of Nazi Germany.” According to the Gay Star News, about 20 participants applied to hold a peaceful event in Kudrinskaya Square in Moscow Nov. 5. They wanted to commemorate the gays who died in the Holocaust and those who were arrested during World War II. And the Moscow city government told them to go borscht themselves. On Halloween, no less. And why did authorities in Moscow nix the peaceful demonstration? Because, according to GSN, “paying tribute to gay victims of Nazi Germany could potentially ‘influence’ children on homosexuality.” That’s right, folks. Should any hapless children be exposed to a group of people commemorating horrible atrocities against gay people, those children might be “influenced.” What “influenced” means here is unclear, though I suspect the Moscow authorities would find it in poor taste to accidentally engender some feelings of sympathy toward gays because kids are pretty keen at recognizing gross injustice. Of course, “influence” could also mean that authorities are worried that kids witnessing the demonstration would “turn gay.” Because as we all know, nothing is a better advertisement for homosexuality than a mass genocide. I mean, pretty soon all of the cool kids are going to be wearing the pink triangle and then heterosexuality is basically doomed. Because nobody wants to be part of the lame-o unoppressed crowd. Keep it classy, Russia. ■

The climate in Russia is so antigay that a coffee klatch is cause enough for violence. It is not clear how many Russian children were saved from the perils of homosexuality by this courageous act.

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

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OP-ED PGN

Entering the home stretch We are less than 90 days away from out about their financial hardships to our opening the new LGBT-friendly affordable community, and LGBT people who have senior apartments here in Philadelphia. not lived within the Gayborhood or LGBT But don’t cheer for us just yet. ghetto are afraid to contact their socialThe $19.5-million construction project services representative and out themselves. might have gone up in record time with Some just live where they are no matter record support from elected the condition or treatment rather than come out, sometimes for officials, community and fear that a bureaucrat will lecgovernmental departments, ture or toss them off the probut in all that rush there was an important lesson that we gram. learned along the way. Note the We’ve seen and heard this description of the building and before, but seniors are taken that word “affordable.” advantage of, and that includes Getting to this point has been LGBT seniors. The point is, for us a long road that included some LGBT people are afraid numerous studies of our comto out themselves to non-gay munity, from which we realized bureaucratic government officials, or out themselves as the need for affordable housing for our seniors. But what we income-challenged to their own were not prepared for was how community. Add to that they feel neither will appreciate their isolated and in the closet many of those who needed this buildMark Segal needs since no one has, or the ing really are. understanding has been limited How many of us can truly say we have to this point. They have major fears and mistrust. knowledge of the financial needs in our Here’s the silver lining. Our HIV/AIDS community? Better yet, how many of us and health organizations already have that know people in our community who make knowledge, and since they are partnering less than the average income? Before this project, I can assure you that, while I knew with us, they stepped up to the plate. We’re on the way to creating that safe and dignithere was a need, I didn’t know the extent of the problems. fied place for our seniors to live, regardThere’s no need here to go through all less of financial needs. This continues to the government red tape involved with be a pioneering project, but what we have this project or the process to be approved. learned thus far is that we need to share Last week, we discovered an approved this project with the community and tell applicant who, once approved, had no seniors that, not only can they come home, knowledge on how to move her governbut we can show them the way, by deliverment-living voucher from where she curing the services they deserve. ■ rently lives (not an LGBT-friendly place), Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the and had no idea whom to contact. We assumed that our residents would have that nation’s most-award-winning commentator in LGBT media. He can be reached at knowledge. Here’s what we discovered: LGBT people with limited incomes are not mark@epgn.com.

Mark My Words

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

Street Talk What sport is the most LGBT-friendly? “Ice hockey. I’ve heard several players come out in support of gay marriage. They still have their careers. Also, Kevin Christy there’s a lot bartender of same-sex South Philadelphia affection displayed in ice hockey. It’s just male bonding on the ice. But it means the players aren’t afraid to be seen as gay.”

“Roller derby. It’s very lesbianoriented. All the people I know who participate in it are queer. They’re in Claire Crawford leagues in transcriptionist this area as Queen Village well as the West Coast. Roller derby is an outlet for lesbians to express their assertiveness. They don’t normally have that opportunity in this culture.”

“Swimming. You have to be extremely buffed and well-groomed, to the point of shaving off all of your hair. The Speedo Jeremy Gerard bathing suit waiter is a classic Bella Vista turn-on for gay men. It doesn’t have much fabric so a lot of the body shows. Swimming also requires more finesse, rather than sheer strength.”

“Bodybuilding. Most of my guy friends who are gay are involved with bodybuilding. There’s less Missy Steinberg room for writer anti-LGBT Bella Vista discrimination in a sport like bodybuilding. Training can be done when you’re alone. No one else has to be there. So there’s less chance that you’ll be discriminated against.”

Op-Ed PA House bill promotes a divisive religious message A bill sponsored by State Rep. Rick Saccone (R-Allegheny) will require Pennsylvania public school districts to post “In God We Trust” in every school building. The legislation advanced out of a committee in the state House of Representatives last week in a 14-to-9 vote, with only one Democrat and one Republican crossing party lines. I have serious problems with this bill. First, the bill clearly promotes a religious, rather than a historical, message. Congress did not authorize the use of “In God We Trust” as the national motto until 1956 in response to the Red Scare. Although some claim the words “In God We Trust” are deeply rooted in

our country’s religious heritage, a look at the motto’s history reveals that the Founding Fathers never intended these words — or any other religious reference — to become the country’s motto. In fact, when originally commissioned to create a Great Seal for the country, our founders — Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams — devised the motto as “E Pluribus Unum” meaning “from many, one.” In more recent years, the words ”In God We Trust” have served as a rallying cry for those who wish to promote a particular Christian faith. Even the bill’s language unabashedly notes the current motto’s Christian ori-

gin. This religious viewpoint underlies the main problem with HB 1728: Public schools should not be in the business of promoting one particular religious faith or any religious faith at all. The motto’s placement in public-school buildings would exclude certain students and community members whose religious views do not align with the majority. Even though the motto “In God We Trust” has been upheld as constitutional, it does not mean that the words’ placement in public schools would necessarily be constitutional. Courts have found that students in the classroom are a “captive audience” and are therefore “particularly vigilant in monitoring” whether reli-

gious beliefs are introduced into public schools. Furthermore, federal courts have found that religious texts placed on government property are not shielded from constitutional scrutiny merely because they have a historical significance. I write to express our position that the words “In God We Trust” are divisive and convey the impression of schoolsponsored religion. There are numerous places for religious proclamations to be made — our public schools should not become among them. ■ Ed Joyce is president of the Delaware Valley Chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church & State.

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News Briefing No oral arguments in trans-bias case An appellate court last month declined to hear oral arguments in the employmentdiscrimination case involving transwoman Janis Stacy, saying it has enough information from the written briefs. Stacy alleges wrongful termination from her engineering position at LSI Corp. due to gender, gender identity and disability bias. Stacy worked at the Allentown electronics firm for about 10 years prior to her 2008 termination. In September, U.S. District Judge Eduardo C. Robreno dismissed Stacy’s lawsuit, citing insufficient evidence. But Stacy’s attorneys appealed to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, contending the case should be

heard by a jury. In February, they requested an opportunity to present oral arguments. Judges D. Michael Fisher, Kent A. Jordan and Dolores K. Sloviter will decide the case on the written briefs. Stacy also claims that LSI deliberately rated her job skills less than she deserved, in order to mask the discrimination. But LSI maintains Stacy was terminated due to an “adverse economy,” and that she lacked the requisite skills. Stacy is seeking an undisclosed amount in compensatory and punitive damages.

Magistrate judge to handle bullying case Both sides in the federal case of a New Jersey boy who allegedly was pulled from school due to antigay bullying have agreed that a magistrate judge can handle the case. Thomas Vandergrift, a Philadelphia gay man, contends his nephew had to be removed from a Pennsauken public school in 2012 due to pervasive antigay bullying. In December, Vandergrift filed a federal suit against the Pennsauken School District, seeking an unspecified amount in compen-

event featuring a free concert and worship service to commemorate World AIDS Day. The Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus will perform 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16 at the World AIDS Day event at Centenary United Methodist Church, 149 S. White Horse Pike in Berlin, N.J. The church will then host a worship service at 9 a.m. Nov. 17. For more information, visit www.berlinmethodist.org.

satory and punitive damages. Both sides recently agreed that a magistrate judge can preside over the jury trial, rather than a federal judge appointed by a U.S. president. Magistrate judges occasionally handle such matters to relieve backlog. The 12-year-old boy, identified in court papers as D.V., suffers from autism, generalized anxiety disorder and a learning disability in math. Vandergrift also contends that school officials wrongly accused him of child molestation after he advocated for a proper education for his nephew. In October 2011, the state Department of Children and Families determined the molestation accusations against Vandergrift were unsubstantiated. In September 2012, after a separate lawsuit was filed, district officials agreed to pay for D.V.’s education at a private school.

Ball benefits AIDS group On Nov. 23, Passional will present the annual Diaboloque Ball and this year, the popular event will benefit ActionAIDS. The event begins 9 p.m. at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St., a first-time host of the fetish-masquerade ball. The theme is Grindhouse: Horrorshow, and the event will feature kinky carnival-style play stations, fashion shows, makeup-artistry demonstrations and live performances. Tickets are $40 or $50 after Nov. 21 and can be purchased at www.diaboliquephilly. com. ■

— Timothy Cwiek

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Rodriguez, of “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.” Special guests will include out CBS 3 anchor Jim Donovan and former “The Apprentice” cast member Omarosa Manigault. Barnes said he envisions a bright future for The Attic and expects new growth in the coming years. “The Attic is already filled with heart and has great youth, staff, donors and board. It is about spreading the love so they can spread their organization — whether that means an additional facility or ATTIC YOUTH AT THE 2012 CUPCAKE BATTLE larger facility. If the love for The Attic can planning The Attic’s upcoming anniversary be spread, the possibilities are endless.” Jacobs also said she sees The Attic gala, said the youth who visit the facility represent diverse backgrounds, but their dif- expanding so that it can continue to thrive in the next 20 years and beyond. ferences seem to bring them together. “I can’t say what our youth will need in “Every time I walk in there, there are kids aged 13, 17, 16 — black, gay, trans, white, 20 years, but I hope to still be providing advantaged backgrounds, disadvantaged programs to support the evolving needs of backgrounds — it is a melting pot and they our young people. It would be great to have are so loving of each other,” he said. “You more youth allies both at The Attic and in the could have the crappiest day, but they are all community.” she said. “But today, The Attic smiles. It is a safe haven.” The Attic’s history of providing a safe haven will be marked at its annual gala, Nov. 16 at the Crystal Tea Room. Barnes and fellow cochair Tami Sortman started planning for the event in late February. The gala is sold out, with more than 600 guests expected. Barnes noted that the 15th-anniversary gala had about 300 guests. JACOBS AND DOW CHEMICAL’S PATRICK CUMBEROn Wednesday, The Attic LAND AT THE 2011 UNVEILING OF LAPTOPS DONATED TO THE ATTIC BY DOW AND ERNST & YOUNG announced that headliner “Glee” star Alex Newell had to cancel his appearance due to work family and our programming has grown so obligations. Newell is planning a meet-and- much that we need a larger building so that greet in Philadelphia with VIP tickethold- we can continue to grow and thrive. A new home is what I hope within the next few ers. The Attic will now welcome headliner Jai years.” ■

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

ATTIC from page 5

The Attic,” Jacobs said. “Often, adults create programs for youth to fit into, but here at The Attic the youth collaborate with staff to build programs that work for them.” Scott Barnes, co-chair of the committee

AFTER ALMOST 30 YEARS THE GIRLS ARE BACK STRUTTING DOWN BROAD STREET! Come make history with us on January 1st 2014 The winners below will be strutting and dancing down Broad Street with the MUMMERS for 2014! Please come out and support these fabulous girls as they make history together. WINNER

BAR

BRIGADE

Tamia

Miss Fire & Ice

Spartans

Mistress M-Miss

Venture

Satin Slippers

Crystal Electra

Miss Tavern on Camac

Downtowners

Satine

Miss Voyeur

Clevemore

Mary D’ Knight

Miss Icandy

Saturnalians

Karen Von Say

Miss L2

Golden Crown

Morgan Wells

Miss Bob & Barbara’s

Shooting Stars

Cyannie Faymous

Miss Philly Pride

Jokers

Omyra Lynn

Miss Tabu

Vikings

Emily Valentine

Miss Bike Stop

Two Street Shooters

Shae Shae

Miss Black Pride

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Come meet all the winners at OUTFEST main stage at 5:15pm

Check us out on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/MummersLgbtLiasonCommittee

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

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POZitive living with HIV Just 20 short years ago, if you were HIV-positive, you were probably living with a death sentence. Things have certainly changed. Living with HIV is no cakewalk, but it is manageable. And, to a large degree, your quality of life depends on how well you manage your health and your life. After all, those are YOUR responsibilities. The stats Infection rates among men who have sex with men have risen back to previous high levels — almost 80 percent of new infections in males. Seventeen percent of new infections are in people over 50. In less than Ed two years from now, more than 50 percent of people who are positive will be over 50. Among transgender communities, the rate of infection far surpasses that in other populations.

interactions; and the risk of depression and isolation. And now, premature aging! Healthy aging is a great experience. Aging with HIV/AIDS, however, adds special challenges. Aging with HIV/AIDS means possible early onset of the diseases of aging: heart disease, diabetes, cancers and bone loss, to name a few. These too can be managed Remember the good old days when docs and scientists didn’t know all that much about what was happening sciencewise? Remember, they didn’t know what caused those lesions or the pneuBomba monia. They didn’t know how HIV was transmitted. Well, now they know all about that stuff, and they are learning about what happens 10, 20 or 30 years down the road. But many questions still exist. They include: • What are the long-term side effects of having HIV for decades? • What are the long-term side effects of the meds? • What is the impact of HIV on life span?

Gettin’ On

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On the neg side If you are a gambler, the numbers are against you if you don’t practice safer sex. But you know that. The newer news is that PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) and PREP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) do work. This one-pill therapy has at least one small problem — cost. For now, that’s an issue you need to figure out. On the poz side If you are poz and think that poz people don’t have to worry about getting infected, learn about Hep C and remember syph, clap and all of the other sexually transmitted infections. A 2011 report from the Health Protection Agency revealed that over a fifth of gay men (21 percent) diagnosed with HIV were simultaneously diagnosed with an acute STI. If you are poz, you know the routine: office visits; blood tests; pills; facial wasting; humps (on your back); painful, enlarged breasts; big waistlines; skinny arms and legs; diarrhea; drug

It seems that with every passing day, you have more answers, more options and more control with regard to living POZitively. That’s why they now call it a “chronic, manageable illness.” But you have to take responsibility and manage it. It can get complicated, but there are many resources available to help you. Time to start planning for what may be a long haul. Longterm anything was not in the picture decades ago when you were first diagnosed. Today, you may have 20, 30 or more years to enjoy. This is an opportunity to think and make some long-term plans. Talk to your doc, your case manager, your therapist, your family, your friends. Take advantage of

the knowledge that the members of your support network can offer. Management involves not just your HIV meds, but the possible, early onset of the diseases of aging and the meds that go with them: beta blockers, insulin, anti-depressants, Cialis! How do all of these meds work together with your HIV meds — or not? Planning and management includes insurance. Does your Medicare policy cover these meds? Are your meds available on your Part D formulary? If not, consider switching plans during the Medicare openenrollment period, which ends Dec. 7. How about the new plan that you will get under Obamacare? If you have not completed your legal documents, or are having problems with your insurance company, contact the AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania. They offer free legal services for people living with HIV/AIDS and can be reached at 215-587-9377. And there are more resources available. You can get more information about what we know medically. The LGBT Elder Initiative will present “HIV + Aging: What’s New II” Dec. 11 at the William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St. The program will discuss the latest medical issues, new meds that are available, emotional issues, nutrition and more. For more information about the program, call 267546-3448 or email info@lgbtei. org. ■ Ed Bomba is communications chair of the LGBT Elder Initiative. The LGBTEI, headquartered in Philadelphia, fosters and advocates for services, resources and institutions that are competent, culturally sensitive, inclusive and responsive to the needs of LGBT elders in the Delaware Valley and beyond. To comment on this article, suggest topics for future articles or for more information, visit www.lgbtei.org or call the LGBTEI at 267-546-3448 and watch for “Gettin’ On” each month in PGN.

Philadelphia Gay News

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

CYCLIST from page 8

lifestyle. I’ve done a Tough Mudder, I run a lot and I love to be active. But as far as cycling is concerned, I’m fairly new to it, so my friend who introduced me to the ride in the past month or two started going on bike rides with me.” While the ride is meant to empower the riders to have an impact on others, Grant also expects it to have a very enduring effect on his own life. “I don’t quite know what I’m getting myself into, but I know at the end of this trip, I’m going to be a completely different person,” he said. “Aside from the physical challenge, I think it’s going to be a mental, emotional and spiritual challenge, and that’s what I’m most looking forward to. Waking up every morning and biking 50-130 miles a day over and over again and finding it in myself to keep going ... I’m going to be reminding myself it’s for my mom and all the other people I’ve known affected by cancer.” To donate to Grant’s ride, visit http://4kforcancer.org/profiles/ michael-grant/. To view his blog, visit http://yomichaelgrant.wordpress. com/. ■

15 AND COUNTING: The board of Philadelphia Black Gay Pride met with the organization’s supporters at a kickoff celebration to mark the start of the group’s 15th-anniversary year Nov. 6 at Knock. Board members present included treasurer Chantal Lys (from left), vice president D’Ontace Keyes, president Le Thomas and secretary Anthony Fluellen, while board member Kamal Rashad was not at the event. The 15th-anniversary PBGP will be held April 20-27. Photo: Scott A. Drake

MEETING A NEED: Annette Duranso, president and CEO of Valley Youth House, accepted a $5,000 check from Delaware Valley Legacy Fund board president D. Mark Mitchell and executive director Samantha Giusti at the LGBT grantmaking agency’s check presentation for its Emerging Needs Grantee Recipients, Nov. 7 at Chima. Other recipients included William Way LGBT Community Center, The Attic Youth Center, LGBT Elder Initiative, hotpot!Philly and Women’s Therapy Center. Photo: Scott A. Drake

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

NEWS PGN EQPA from page 1

PIE PHANATICS: The Phillie Phanatic got the crowd riled up at Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutritional Alliance’s Pie Day at Liberty Place Nov. 7. The annual Pie in the Sky holiday-pie sale supports MANNA’s work providing nutritional meals to those with life-threatening illnesses such as HIV/AIDS. Shoppers and passersby were treated to free pie samples, and a city representative read a mayoral proclamation designating the day Pie Day. Guests included MANNA’s board chair Barbara Ilsen (from left), executive chef Keith Lucas, board member and U.S. Airways senior communication manager Scott Lehmacher, executive director Susan Daugherty, Aberdeen Asset Management’s Ralph Basset, out CBS3 anchor Jim Donovan and MANNA event manager Rob Nonemacker. For more information, visit www.mannapies.org. Photo: Scott A. Drake

served as the national membership chair of the SEIU’s Lavender Caucus and is active in Pennsylvania United for Immigration Reform. Marin was inspired to get involved with Equality PA in 2010 after working with the organization to help save Lancaster County’s Human Relations Commission, although it was ultimately disbanded. When Shanker announced he would not seek another term earlier this fall, Marin said he decided he wanted to take an even more active role in the organization at this timely juncture in the state’s LGBT-rights movement. “I just think that the challenges that our community faces in Pennsylvania are significant and at the same time so are the opportunities,” he said. “The whole world is changing around us and getting better for our community at a faster pace, even in Pennsylvania. Equality Pennsylvania is on the cusp of leading us into a much better Pennsylvania and the best way to serve the movement was to step up.” Marin said the organization is currently working with agencies such as The Gill Foundation and the Equality Federation to expand their work in pushing for comprehensive nondiscrimination legislation statewide. Equality Pennsylvania has not only been focused on passing statewide nondiscrimination legislation, but has also led efforts to secure local nondiscrimination ordinances, with 33 municipalities to date banning

LGBT discrimination. Marin said it was time the state legislature caught up. “When we first talked about House Bill 300, a lot of legislators said we had to do it locally and prove that it can be passed and we’ve done that,” he said. “After three years of doing that, it is time for us to lead and educate the legislature and show that none of these cities and towns fell to doom and destruction from passing nondiscrimination ordinances. We want to help LGBT individuals and allies tell their stories to legislators and focus on helping our legislature move to the 21st century.” He will also help Equality Pennsylvania as it undergoes organizational changes. “It is a time of tremendous growth for us. We are going from a staff of 1.5 to 10-12 people before the end of this year,” he said. “There will be regional organizers in every corner of the state and issue-based organizers to help us.” Joining Marin on the board will be Mike Testa as vice president of development, Jessica Rothchild as vice president of advocacy, Rachel Levine as secretary and John Dawe as treasurer. The terms will be for two years. Rothchild will also lead as president for the (c)4 board, with Testa as vice president of development, Levine as secretary and Dawe as treasurer. Mary Isenhour will serve as chair of the PAC with Dawe as treasurer and Rothchild as assistant officer. For more information on Equality PA, visit www.equalitypa.org. ■

NO COLOR

LOCAL PGN

Gayborhood Crime Watch The following incidents in the Midtown Village and Washington Square West areas were reported to the 6th Police District between Oct. 31-Nov. 6. Information is courtesy of 6th District Capt. Brian Korn; Stacy Irving, senior director, Crime Prevention Service; Center City District; the Police Liaison Committee and Midtown Village Merchants Association. To report crime tips, visit www. phillypolice.com or call 215-686TIPS (8477). INCIDENTS — Between 5:15 p.m. Oct. 27 and 3 p.m. Oct. 28, someone stole a secured bicycle from outside 150 S. Juniper St. — At 2:05 p.m. Oct. 31, a woman left a bank at 12th and Chestnut streets after making a withdrawal and a male approached her at 12th and Ludlow streets. He asked her a question and reached into her coat pocket to remove the money envelope. The suspect was described as a black male in his 30s, bald and wearing a yellow jacket. — At 5:20 p.m. Oct. 31, a woman was pushing a stroller outside 901 Lombard St. when two males snatched an iPhone from the holder on the stroller and fled north on Hutchinson Street. The suspects were described as black males, both 6-foot-1, wearing all dark clothing. One had a red backpack. — At 10:20 p.m. Oct. 31, a woman was approached from behind in the 300 block of South Camac Street and two men snatched a cell phone from her hand. The suspects were described as black males wearing dark hoodies and jeans. One had a backpack. — At 10:50 p.m. Oct. 31, a male entered the 7-11 at 932 Market St. and simulated having a weapon in a rolled-up newspaper. He ordered the clerk to put money and cigarettes into a bag. The clerk complied. The suspect was described as a black male in his 40s, 6-foot2, with a dark complexion and wearing a gray jacket, gray hat

and dark pants. Central Detectives processed the scene for evidence. — At 3 a.m. Nov. 1, a complainant was approached from behind in the 900 block of Pine Street, punched and had a cell phone stolen by a black male on a bicycle. — At 7:45 p.m. Nov. 1, a complainant set a shoulder bag down on the floor inside Varalli, 231 S. Broad St., and a male stole it and ran north on Broad Street. The suspect was described as a white male, short, bald and wearing glasses and a black jacket. — At 1 a.m. Nov. 2, a woman was outside Woody’s Bar, 202 S. 13th St., when two males punch her and stole her iPhone and $100. The victim was intoxicated and could not provide any further description of the suspects. — At 1:55 a.m. Nov. 2, a complainant was walking with a group of intoxicated friends outside 24 S. 12th St. when a group of people walked by. Words were exchanged and someone picked up a traffic cone and struck the complainant in the face, causing a gash. The suspect was only described as a black male with dreadlocks. — At 3:30 a.m. Nov. 3, a man was walking to his 2004 Jeep that was parked in the 1300 block of Sansom Street when a male struck him in the face with an unknown object, stole his car keys and drove off, heading west on Sansom, in the victim’s car. The suspect was described as a black male wearing dark clothing. — Between 2-3:30 p.m. Nov. 3, someone stole a secured bicycle from outside 1300 Chestnut St. NON-SUMMARY ARRESTS — At 12:45 a.m. Oct. 31, 6th District Officer Williams arrested a male outside 1239 Lombard St. who was wanted on a bench warrant for failure to appear for court. The 21-year-old suspect with a South Philadelphia address was charged with contempt of court. — At midnight Nov. 2, a woman’s unattended purse was stolen from inside U Bar, 1220 Locust

BAN from page 1

the appropriateness or efficacy of sexual-orientation change efforts, either in a public or private setting, rendering the free-speech claim “largely irrelevant.” The law applies to licensed therapists, psychologists, social workers and counselors, with an exemption for clergy. The New Jersey legislature approved the measure in June, and Republican Gov. Chris Christie signed it into law in August. New Jersey is only the sec-

St. A witness alerted 6th District Officer Butler, who was nearby, and a suspect was stopped and the purse was recovered. The 45-year-old suspect was charged with theft. — At 9 p.m. Nov. 2, in response to a 911 call from a concerned witness, 6th District Narcotic Enforcement Officers investigated a male outside 261 S. 13th St. and found a quantity of crack cocaine in his possession. The 48-year-old suspect with a West Philadelphia address was charged with possession of illegal narcotics. — At 9:15 a.m. Nov. 3, 6th District Officer Cash arrested a male outside 261 S. 13th St. who was wanted on a warrant for probation violations. The 47year-old suspect with a homelessshelter address was charged with escape. — At 9:10 p.m. Nov. 3, Center City District officers arrested a male who refused to pay a bar bill at McGillins, 1309 Drury St. The 27-year-old suspect with an Old City address was charged with theft of services.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

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SUMMARY ARRESTS — At 10:40 a.m. Oct. 30, Center City District officers issued a citation for defiant trespassing inside the Marriott Hotel, 1201 Market St. — On Oct. 30, 6th District officers issued citations for summary offenses at 1:55 p.m. outside 1130 Pine St., 8:05 p.m. outside 1302 Walnut St., and 10:50 p.m. outside 1302 Chancellor St. — At 12:05 a.m. Oct. 31, 6th District officers issued a citation for a summary offense outside 1319 Locust St. — On Nov. 1, 6th District officers issued citations for summary offenses at 8:15 p.m. outside 201 S. 13th St. and 9:55 p.m. outside 261 S. 13th St. — At 12:10 a.m. Nov. 3, 6th District officers issued a citation for a summary offense outside 203 S. Juniper St. ■

ond state in the nation to adopt such a law, after California did so in 2012. This past summer, an appellate court in California upheld that state’s law against two separate legal challenges. The law’s implementation had previously been delayed pending the court ruling. Another legal challenge, filed earlier this month by the parents of a teenage boy from South Jersey who claim the law interferes with their son’s “right to self-determination” and their own ability to parent, is still pending. ■

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

NEWS PGN TRANS WEEK from page 1

“There is a lot of discussion about creating a message of empowerment and hope for the transgender community while recognizing the many losses that transgender people, especially those who are women and/or people of color, suffer each year,” she said. The spirit behind TDoR is referenced in Kenney’s resolution. “Philadelphia has recently experienced several anti-transgender murders, many of which remain unsolved,” the resolution states. “Diamond Williams, a transgender Philadelphian, was brutally murdered here earlier this year. The murders of transgender Philadelphians Kyra Kruz, Stacey Blahnik and Nizah Morris all still remain unsolved.” The resolution continues to note that 41 percent of transgender people have attempted suicide and the community, especially transgender women of color, faces high rates of hate crimes. But, the resolution goes on to note, TAW is a way to shed light on the strength of the transgender community, without taking away from the meaning of TDoR. “In an effort to expand awareness of the transgender community beyond tragic headlines, Transgender Awareness Week was established to highlight the countless and invaluable contributions to society made by transgender people without distracting from the staggering levels of discrimination and violence most face on a daily basis.” Davis, who also assisted with the crafting of the LGBT Reform Bill that Kenney sponsored earlier this year, said the resolution illustrates that the transgender community is part of the fabric of the city. “Although there are still problems, and this resolution is ceremonial, we’ve had a lot of victories this year,” she said, citing the dropping of gender markers from SEPTA transpasses and Kenney’s reform bill, which included first-in-the-nation trans protections. Kenney said his resolution is a way to highlight the accomplishments of the trans community, and honor all that the community brings to Philadelphia. “The transgender population is so much more than heartbreaking headlines,” Kenney said. “Transgender people are innovators, activists, agitators, job creators, teachers and leaders. And Philadelphia thrives when they feel welcome and safe here.” ■

PGN Gay is our middle name.

PGN NEWS STROUSE from page 1

a local Congressman and went on to own and operate two restaurants in the Doylestown area with his partner of 38 years. His next step is to prepare to take the helm of Doylestown. Strouse said he was inspired to run for mayor through his involvement in his local community. He currently serves as chair of the Doylestown Revitalization Board and the Doylestown Human Relations Commission, which was established three years ago as the town adopted an LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinance. He has also served as the president of the board of the County Theater, the Bucks County Tourist Commission and Planned Parenthood of Bucks County. “It seemed like a natural extension of my involvement with the community,” he said. “When the current mayor, Libby White, announced her retirement, I was approached and I liked the idea.” White, a Democrat, was mayor since 2005. Strouse, who ran on the Democrat ticket, said his sexual orientation was not a campaign issue, either with his Republican opponent or residents on the campaign trail. “I would describe myself as a candidate who is gay, rather than a gay candidate. It is a part of who I am,” he said. “Maybe that is an indication of the nature of the community but then again, Doylestown is an extraordinary place.” In his personal life, Strouse said, he faced little conflict with his friends and family when he came out. “I guess it was gradual and without confrontation. I’ve had a partner for 38 years and so when you live with your partner, your family gets to understand what the situation is and that has always been the case,” he said. Strouse said Doylestown was full of energy the day of the election, and that both parties were eager to work against the lowvoter turnout expected across the state. “Doylestown has been trending Democratic but only for the last eight-nine years and had been a

traditionally Republican town,” he said. “I think it was safe to say that the Democrats saw an opportunity and the Republicans saw a challenge. It was a get-out-thevote effort and both parties put in a lot of effort.” Strouse plans to maintain Doylestown’s flourishing vitality. “Doylestown isn’t about change because it is already an exceptional place, so it is about meeting the challenges,” he said. Among the challenges will be a focus on community safety. Doylestown’s police department is transitioning to a regional department, a process that has been a year in the making. “This is a good thing. It provides us the opportunity to have a more specialized and professional police department,” Strouse said. “The challenge is when you get a

town,” he said, noting he plans to further expand his nonprofit involvement to engage his constituents. “Being involved in those organizations and going to those meetings involves you with all sorts of people who live, care and are involved with the borough. You don’t need to have office hours, you just need to be physically available.” Strouse noted that Doylestown has been a leader in LGBT policies. The town was among a wave of municipalities to enact an LGBT nondiscrimination ordinance in 2010. He said the Human Relations Commission has not yet fielded any complaints of violations of the law, but believes its leadership has inspired other local municipalities to follow suit. While Doylestown has already been a leader in LGBT efforts, having openly LGBT leadership will further help the area capitalize on the strengths and skills of its diverse group of residents. “What makes a community strong is the diversity of the community and different backgrounds, talents and perspectives that people bring to the table,” Strouse said. “To exclude a group of people is to weaken the whole structure. Including LGBT people will strengthen our community and our state.” Strouse said being elected as Pennsylvania’s first openly gay mayor — Doylestown mayor-elect is both an honor and a But he plans Ron Strouse challenge. to represent both the LGBT community and his new police department, you need Doylestown roots. to find a way for it to relate to the “Any kind of background you community and still have a com- bring to the office, you want to munity-based feel and maybe honor. You want to do the best you that includes the introduction of can and do a good job because it a bicycle patrol in that area. It reflects and, in my case, because involves getting the policemen I am a gay man, it reflects on out of their car and into their the LGBT community. I have a community.” responsibility and a challenge Strouse plans to keep that same to do that,” he said. “I act in the sentiment in mind during his interest of the community and I mayoral tenure. think in my case, it takes those “I have an office in Borough actions where I can have a posiHall — I don’t need it. I can meet tive influence. I am not going to people at The Zen Den, a local get involved in the civil war in coffee shop in town. Doylestown Syria. I can’t affect it. But on is getting a new food co-op. It is other issues, like civil rights and a great asset to the town. That is gay rights, if I can move those the kind of opportunity for the forward, I think they are in the mayor to interact with people in interest of Doylestown.” ■

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

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“What makes a community strong is the diversity of the community and different backgrounds, talents and perspectives that people bring to the table. To exclude a group of people is to weaken the whole structure. Including LGBT people will strengthen our community and our state.”

Philadelphia Gay News

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

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Liberty City Press NOV. 10 - NOV. 17, 2013

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point

Draw the Line School District Should Reject Art Sale

o now Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz, has jumped into the debate over selling Philadelphia School District artwork – a collection of over 1,000 works of art worth millions of dollars – saying, “It is unreasonable for the district to hold on to artwork that could be worth millions while schools don’t have nurses, students lack books, and teachers face layoffs. Selling the district’s vast collection of artwork is only one step toward solving the budget crisis facing Philadelphia public schools, but it is an action that should be taken immediately in light of the serious fiscal issues.” Loyal readers of The Point know that we have strongly endorsed the sale of school buildings taking the side of City Council and President Darrell Clarke when they countered Mayor Nutter’s debt financing option. It was nice to see the mayor finally accept the Clarke Plan to leverage real estate that can no longer benefit our schoolchildren in order to close a $50 million funding gap. So it may come as a surprise that we do not take the same position when it comes to our schools’ art collection. But we do not: when it comes to art, we draw the line. At the outset let us admit that we are not art experts. We’ve heard of some of the artists in the collection (OK just one, Thomas Eakins), but African American artists Henry Ossawa Tanner and Dox Thrash, and impressionists Walter Baum and Edward Redfield, are unknown to us and, we suspect, most of the schoolchildren of Philadelphia. And perhaps that is the point. Artwork and antiquities represent teachable moments from generation to generation the way abandoned school buildings do not.

The notion of art as a teachable moment has not been lost on two of the largest school districts in the United States. Here’s how the New York City School District describes its art collection: “Did you know that New York City’s public schools are home to a collection of over 1,500 artworks? From early 20th century stained glass windows by Tiffany Studios to the vast mural cycles of the New Deal, through the diverse and engaging installations commissioned through the Percent for Art Program, our schools house an incredible array of artwork that reflects our rich social and political history. Come inside, explore your school, discover hidden treasures, and learn all about New York City public school art and architecture.” Sounds like a school district that understands the importance of its art collection in the education of its students. The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) takes this one step further creating a curriculum around its antiquities collection; teaming up with USC’s Archaeology Research Institute to create ARC Smart that “provides 6th grade LAUSD students with five school site lessons, including the opportunity to ‘get their hands on the past’ by handling real ancient artifacts from LAUSD’s own Art and Artifact Collection. Students also learn how to access free, easy-touse, powerful archaeology exploration tools via the Internet, including InscriptiFact’s Image Database Library, Google Earth and Google’s Virtual Building Warehouse to explore 3D digital reconstructions of ancient buildings and LAUSD’s artifact collections via a massively high resolution, interactive digital platform

“Over the Hill,” by Elizabeth F. Washington is part of the district’s collection. Image courtesy of the Ofﬁce of the Philadelphia Controller

and various tools such as a ‘movable light’ flashlight.” There’s an idea. Rather than focus on unloading our art collection, let’s focus on uploading it. Could our school district not team up with, let’s say, Moore College of Art or the University of Pennsylvania’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology to develop this type of curriculum for our students? If this is ever going to happen it may be because of the efforts of one retired Philadelphia school teacher named Marilyn Krupnick who has waged a one-person battle to get the school district’s art out of storage and in front of students. The latest skirmish was in front of the School Reform Commission where Krupnick successfully beat back the auctioneer. Ms. Krupnick won this battle with the wisdom that lies at the heart of the New York City and Los Angeles approach to its schools’ artwork collections: “Philadelphia students deserve to see their cultural heritage. What a teaching tool. What a history lesson.” N O V. 1 0 - 1 7 , 2 0 1 3

Liberty City Press is a collaborative publication effort of the Philadelphia Multicultural Media Network.

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In the Gap

Stars on Display Continued from page 12 Learning Center, is one who is looking forward to the season. “A lot has changed with the new charter schools winning so much,” he said. “Imhotep, Mathematics, Civics and Sciences are the new power teams, but I think we have a good thing going at King. We have a lot of young players who are getting better. I think we’ll have another good season.” One would think that some of the kids would go to the photo shoot reluctantly. Not the case at all. In previous decades no such days existed. But now kids get photo opportunities and chances to enter blogs and videos that can potentially reach thousands through social media. “No, this is something that is fun for us,” said Lower Merion guard Justin McFadden, a Binghamton recruit, who helped lead the Aces to the state AAAA title in 2013. “We like having a part in the video.” Jaime Boyer, a Simon Gratz graduate, and a one-time participant as a player in a Scholastic Classic at the Palestra in 2004, now shoots video for the company. He has his own company, 8Eye Media, and has helped provide exposure for some of the area’s stars. “This was a remarkable day,” he said. “I think the kids have a lot of fun being stars off the court in photos and videos. I know I enjoyed it.” In addition to the boys, 31 of the 36 girls’ teams participating in the girls’ classic on January 11th at Philadelphia University, sent girls to the shoot. It was the

largest turnout in both genders in nine years. “I know it’s a fun day for the girls to come and hang out with each other and talk about the season,” said Mt. St. Joseph’s coach John Miller. “These girls are friends with each other now but they will be ready to compete on the court when the time comes.” Neumann-Goretti’s girls seem the most eager to play. The Saints have not won a Catholic League title but seem primed to surpass Cardinal O’Hara, Archbishop Wood, Archbishop Carroll, and others in 2015 to finally win one. “We are excited about the season,” said Sianni Martin, a junior guard from NeumannGoretti. “I know we can have a great year this year.” When told that NeumannGoretti was playing the Life Center girls, who finished 28-1 a year ago, and may be the top team in the 36-squad field, she responded, “Is Life Center ready for us?” The only negative of the day was that Friends’ Central sophomore center De’Andre Hunter could not make it. The 6'8" center is out this year with a leg injury suffered in a fall game. It’s a huge blow for the Phoenix. “Unfortunately, he got badly hurt in a game in the Shipley League,” FCS coach Ryan Tozer said. “He was undercut but it was an accident. We all really feel for him but he will return.”

Film and book examines black male academic achievement by Sheila Simmons

t gets the issues right. “Promises Kept: Raising Black Boys to Succeed in School and in Life,” guides readers through such issues as how to influence your son’s brain before he’s even born; how to create a home environment that’s structured, supportive, and stimulating; how to tell the difference between authoritarian and authoritative discipline; and how to prepare him for explicit and implicit racism in school and in the wider world. The award-winning film “American Promise,” to which the book serves as a companion, was heavily promoted in other cities. However, writer Hilary Beard questioned how well the film would fare at its Nov. 1 opening at the Ritz at the Bourse at 4th and Chestnut streets. “Philadelphia was in a crisis,” she recalls of the severe funding shortage that sidelined promotional efforts with schools and parents here. Not hearing about the film would be a shame, because before he died, critic Robert Ebert wrote: “Seeing (the achievement gap) that up-close and personal provides a vivid and immediate basis for discussion, and indeed, it’s easy to believe “American Promise” will be the basis for many discussions in U.S. homes and schools for years to come.” Fortunately, Philadelphia did show up opening weekend, with the Friday night show selling out. “American Promise” plays at the Ritz until Thursday, Nov. 14. The film’s press material says filmmakers, Joe Brewster and Michele Stephenson, “filmed the triumphs and challenges of their oldest son, Idris, and his best friend, Seun, from kindergarten through 12th grade in a prep school and an Afrocentric charter school.” The project came to Beard, who wrote the guide with Brewster and Stephenson, as she said they always do. “God brings me projects. That’s how I get every single thing I’ve ever gotten,” she said from her home in Mount Airy. Having grown up in Shaker Heights, Ohio, and graduated from University of Pennsylvania, Beard left the employment world to become a full-time writer.

Hilary Beard stands outside the Ritz at the Bourse theatre where “American Promise” is playing. She wrote a companion book to the movie “American Promise.” The book is titled: Promises Kept: Raising Black Boys to Succeed in School and in Life. Photo by Sarah J. Glover

Two of her books have since become New York Times bestsellers. Beard says, “Part of my expertise has been in the well-being of black people. I’ve been a health-writer and written about parenting issues. So I knew this project would help my community.” She envisioned it a small but rewarding “labor of love,” only to discover the project had huge backing. Partners include Sundance, the Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation and the National Black Programming Consortium. Beard talked with the filmmakers as they pared down 800 hours of film into three hours of film. She interviewed nearly 60 experts, and read 35 books and some 200 studies. She vows the film will challenge assumptions and “make everybody uncomfortable.” How’s this for discomfort? Beard learned that between 83 and 76 percent of the educators for black boys are white women, meaning, “The future of black boys academically rests in the hands of white women.” She felt pressure to produce a quality companion guide. “My book,” slated for a Jan. 14, 2014, release, “has to be as good as this film,” Beard said. I predict it will be.

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Living It All The Way Up at the Goldtex Apartments Post Brother proudly introduce their state-of-the-art apartments at a swank rooftop event. by HughE Dillon Goldtex Apartments at 12th and Pearl Streets, one of Center City’s premier new properties, hosted a rooftop event. Guests, who included realtors, tastemakers, and residents were invited to enjoy complimentary food courtesy of Cafe Lift/Bufad Pizza, drinks, and sounds by DJ Dan Cronin of Hair O’ The Dog. The Goldtex team were showing their brand new, state-of-the-art apartments, class-leading green living experience and amenities the building has to offer.

1. The breathtaking view from the top of the Goldtex Apartments. 2. Elana Bogatova, City Wide Realty, Mike Pestronk, co-owner of Post Brothers, Avi Cohen, President City Wide Realty, Inc. 3. Josh Gueleart, Evan Hughes, Jen Sherlock, Melissa Leonard, and Marc Oppenheimer, the vice president of marketing for Parx Casino. 4. Stan Bizzell, Realtor at Lichtman Associates Real Estate, MeeChie and Nick Lavela. 5. Clay Stewart and Joey Doucette. 6. Bredan Doherty and Oscar Chang both live in the newly built Goldtex apartments. Photos by HughE Dillon

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Lifestye Healthcare Group celebrates at Parx Groundbreaking celebration for a ‘groundbreaking’ new healthcare complex. by HughE Dillon Lifestyle Healthcare Group held a groundbreaking ceremony to commemorate the start of construction on its 200,000-square-foot, $120 million healthcare complex in Bensalem, Pa. Celebrants then continued the party at nearby Parx Casino. “We are truly revolutionizing healthcare in the greater Philadelphia area with the Lifestyle Comprehensive Healthcare Center,” said Fred Rappaport, CEO and chairman of Lifestyle Healthcare Group.

1. Fred Rappaport, CEO and chairman of Lifestyle Healthcare Group with Dr. Umar Farooq. 2. Jody L. Bender and Bensalem Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo. 3. Adrienne Kittka and Melissa Gondek. 4. Richard Sohn and Paramjeet Kaur. 5. Nancie Pyne, Maureen Martin, and Deborah Popky. 6. Scott Lindenbaum, Ashley Lindenbaum, and Amy Servis. 7. Guests showing off their Lifestyle Healthcare Group gift bags. Photos by HughE Dillon

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Group shots of the area’s most talented basketball players. Photos by Sarah J. Glover

Area Basketball Stars on Display 9th Annual Scholastic Play-by-Play Classics Photo and Video Shoot showcases talent. by Jeremy Treatman

here they were. The two highest-rated boys basketball players in the Philadelphia area: Ja’ Quan Newton of Neumann-Goretti, a top-25 senior who has committed to the University of Miami; and Derrick Jones, a 6'6" junior forward from Archbishop Carroll, who has already received offers from Kansas University and University of Kentucky. The two were reminiscing on last year’s games—both won by Neumann-Goretti—with each other. “You were down by 40 before you made your move,” Newton joked at one point. “No, it wasn’t like that,” said Jones. The two promised that the two regular season games between their two Catholic League schools in the upcoming basketball season would be “off the hook.” “Can’t wait to see you guys in the court,” Jones said. “Yeh, yeh, it’s all cool,” said Newton. “Can’t wait either.” The two stars were among 46 boys and 78 girls who showed up for the 9th Annual Scholastic Playby-Play Classics Photo and Video Shoot at Philadelphia University on Sunday. The Classics are showcases that feature the top players and teams in the Delaware Valley and around the country. The

events start December 7th and run through February 15th, 2014. “It was exciting to be a part of it,” said Great Valley star Mikal Bridges, who is committed to Villanova. “I liked being around all the other really good players and teams. It was fun.” In addition to members of Neumann-Goretti, Great Valley, and Archbishop Carroll, players from Atlantic City, Chester, Lower Merion, Roman Catholic, Pennsbury, Archbishop Wood, Haverford School, Life Center Academy NJ, Penn Wood, Plymouth Whitemarsh, Sanford Del, and Coatesville, to name a few. All of these teams are expected to have strong seasons. “It’s a great day to showcase top talent in the area and to showcase our events,” said Adam Balk, director of the Scholastic Play-by-Play Classics. “It’s always a fun day to see all these kids come together and take pictures and videos with one another. In a couple of months, they will be competing like crazy against each other and it will be hard to remember they were all so friendly off the court.” Members of the aforementioned Catholic powers as well as city teams Martin Luther King and John Bartram represented the city. King’s coach, Sean Colson, a one-time NBA player via Franklin

Football News George Washington won a huge Public League AAAA semifinal versus rival Northeast 17-13 Saturday. Ken Everage scored the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter. GW will play Frankford in the AAAA finals this weekend. “We beat them by four points last time too,” said GW coach Ron Cohen. “It was a very similar game. The thing that was weird was that we were on the opposite sideline. We were the higher seeded team but Northeast got to be on the home sideline since it’s their school. When we play there we are usually on that sideline too.” “It’s been a strange year,” he added. “The quality of Public League football has definitely taken a little hit. A lot of kids play at charter schools, Inter-Ac schools, or Catholic schools. Not as many kids come out in years past. Some kids can’t come out because they have to get jobs. It’s a different generation. But the good news is that we won and we are back playing for the chip.” Imhotep Charter, as expected, rolled to a 53-7 romp over overmatched Prep Charter and will play Springfield Montgomery County this weekend in an AA playoff semifinal. Martin Luther King and Mastery North Charter will play for the AAA city title this weekend at Northeast High. King won its eighth straight game, a 46-28, win over Ben Franklin Saturday. Mastery beat Overbrook 20-0. Mastery is the last team to beat King back in September. “We have waited for a chance to beat the teams (that beat us in the first two weeks, Gratz and Mastery North),“ said receiver Delane Hart, who had two catches for 81 yards Saturday. “We weren’t ready and all together then. We’re a much better team now.” Meanwhile, La Salle and St. Joseph’s Prep play for the AAAA Catholic League title Saturday and a chance to play in the AAAA city title game versus the GW-Frankford winner, and ultimately a chance for the AAAA state playoffs. Prep won the regular season battle this year but they did last year as well before falling 28-27 to La Salle in the playoffs. “Hopefully, we can keep winning,” said Prep coach Gabe Infante.

Continued on page 2

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

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AC ul t ure rts

PGN FEATURE

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

Family Portrait Get Out and Play Out & About Q Puzzle Scene in Philly Worth Watching

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Runaways singer to perform in Philly By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com

Actor, artist, author and singer Cherie Currie is reclaiming her legacy as a pioneering rock musician, recording new music and touring after a long hiatus from the industry. Currie blazed a trail for aspiring young female rockers as a member of the first all-female rock/punk band The Runaways with fellow members and future rock stars Joan Jett and Lita Ford. The Runaways only lasted from 1975-79, and Currie had quit the group in 1978 to go solo. Interest in the story of the short-lived group was reignited in part by Currie’s autobiographical book “Neon Angel: A Memoir of a Runaway” and the recent biopic “The Runaways” starring Kristen Stewart as Jett and Dakota Fanning as Currie. After splitting from The Runaways to embark on a short-lived solo career, Currie stayed away from music until the last few years. “I have been writing for the last 30 years, writing songs and recording,” Currie said when asked about her long absence from the music scene. “But I became a mom and had to make a living. So I became a chainsaw artist. When the movie happened and I opened for Joan Jett in 2010, it was such

a successful show that I was immediately offered a record deal. So I thought, You know what, why not?” When she decided to record new music, Currie said she was pleasantly surprised to find that some of the biggest and influential names in rock music wanted to write and record with her, including Slash and Matt Sorum from Guns N’ Roses and Billy Corgan from The Smashing Pumpkins. “I think there is the mutual respect that we have because we know that the road is hard and you can only imagine what it was like for young girls who were away from their families for a long period of time with no parental supervision for the majority of that time,” she said. “We had each other and we went out there and survived and did our best and thrived for the time. It was a crazy time. I feel really blessed that people in this business acknowledged us.” Currie has also collaborated with some of her former Runaways bandmates, having recently recorded a Christmas single with guitarist and singer Ford. “I just shot the cover for the single that Lita and I did called ‘Rock the Christmas Down,’” she said. “I can’t wait for everyone to hear this song. It’s awesome.” The collaboration came after a long estrangement from her former bandmate, but the two reconnected through Jett.

“Joan was having dinner with Lita a couple years ago and I asked her if she would please pass my number to Lita and tell her I’d really love to talk to her,” Currie said. “At the time, she was feeling the same way. She reached out to me and we got together for dinner and we started a friendship. Right before I left for the road a couple of months ago, she called and said she was going to do a Christmas single and asked if I wanted to do a duet with her, which I was absolutely thrilled to do. It’s been magical. It’s been an amazing experience.” So we had to ask, even though the question probably has been presented a thousand times already: Now that Ford, Jett and Currie are on speaking terms, can a Runaways reunion be on the horizon? “Lita and I want to do it,” Currie said. “Joan is not so sure. We’re working together, Lita and I, and reaching out to her and saying, ‘Let’s do this! Why not?’ So we’ll see what happens.” Currie said her willingness to embrace the music she helped to create as part of The Runaways is a relatively recent development. “I couldn’t listen to The Runaways music for at least 20 years because it was a sore spot, the way I left the band, and we had been so used and abused,” she said. “When Madonna was wearing a corset and they

were saying she was the first, I was like, Well, wait a minute. That was something I did when I was 16 years old. So I really felt like we had all but been forgotten. But when I started watching these videos about 17 years ago, I was shocked by how good we were and the fan base we had. When my book came out in 1998, I was so surprised that when I had my first book signing in Hollywood the line went around the block. It was such a great surprise. There are fans of the band that have stuck with us for the last 35 years. They’ve opened my eyes to what a groundbreaking band this was.” Considering the then-underage Currie paraded around in a corset on stage in the 1970s, we asked her what she thought of the outrage that comes when legal-aged pop stars like Miley Cyrus are dressing scantily and dancing suggestively more that 30 years later. “The corset was only worn for three minutes of our show during ‘Cherry Bomb,’” Currie pointed out. “When I saw that corset for the first time, I just knew it would be something that would draw attention to the song. Miley, she’s expressing herself and doing what she wants to do. Everybody is going to judge you, good or bad. There are people out there that nothing is going to make them happy. They are always the loudest as well. If PAGE 26

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

PGN FEATURE

some other stories. How do you put twoand-a-half years of craziness in an hourand-a-half? How can you not be thrilled with Michael Shannon, Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning and everyone else that worked so hard on this film? I’m so proud that they found our plight and our journey movie-worthy.” In the film, there was a significant amount of canoodling going on between Currie and Jett’s character. So we asked if she thought her sexuality was portrayed accurately in the film. “Yeah, I do,” she said. “Back in the 1970s it was one of those times where there was a lot of experimentation going on and we were kids and we were out there growing up in front of the world. There were a lot of drugs and things happened, right?” ■

CURRIE from page 25

you don’t like it, turn the channel, turn off the radio or get off the computer. She’s got something to say and she’s saying it.” Now that she’s back on the road, Currie said she is seeing old-school fans of the band, along with younger fans who discovered their music through “The Runaways” movie. “The movie brought us a bunch of new fans so there’s both equally, a lot of young people and a lot of people my age that love the band,” she said. “It’s great to see new fans, some being as young as 8 or 9 years old. What I love about The Runaways’ music is anybody can do it. Anyone that aspires to be a musician can pick up a guitar and learn these songs. I’m no Celine Dion and neither is Joan or Lita. We just sing from the heart and anybody can sing out songs and they do them well. That’s a cool thing.” While some of the former Runaways were not entirely happy with the way they

CHERRIE IN VINTAGE RUNAWAYS DAYS

were portrayed in the film, Currie said she was thrilled with the way it turned out. “Dakota Fanning is my favorite actor of

the

November 15-16

November 23

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November 24

ANDREA MARCOVICCI

LADY RIZO

December 6-7

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December 8 & 29

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KT SULLIVAN & MARK NADLER ��

December 15

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December 20-21 “Trans-Altantic Cabaret Messiah” ��

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all time,” she said. “The acting was superb. It was a beautiful caption of the 1970s. If I were to do the movie, I would have added

Cherie Currie performs 8 p.m. Nov. 15 at The Barbary, 951 Frankford Ave. For more information or tickets, call 215-634-7400 or visit www.cheriecurrie.com/.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

Flashing back to the ’80s at the Academy By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com The hit songs, fashions and triumphant melodrama of the early 1980s come alive on stage with “Flashdance: The Musical,” Nov. 19-24 at the Academy of Music. The stage adaptation of the hit film tells the story of Alex Owens, a Pittsburgh steel-mill welder by day and a bar dancer by night, with dreams of becoming a professional performer. The movie and soundtrack were a sensation when the film debuted 30 years ago, with songs and images that became classics if not iconic for that era. Out ensemble cast member and dancer Austin Owen said that fans of the original film are eager to relive it on stage. “I think because of the popularity of the film, it has that builtin audience,” he said. “People are coming to see the movie on stage. I think what’s great about the show is, whether you know the movie or not, you care about the story and the characters. It’s incredibly entertaining. It’s one of those shows where you are

going to have a great time.” Owen added that there is more to the stage show than what people saw in the film, as the stage version features new characters and songs. “They definitely expanded the script and added some characters to adapt it for stage,” he said. “I think people will be pleasantly surprised. The leading man and the leading lady, their story is still the same. At the end of the day it’s about Alex and her dream and what it means to leap out and try to grab what’s in your heart. The added characters support her vision and her dream in a unique way that is not in the movie. In that way, the stage version is better, more well-rounded and fuller.” Owen, who admits he was a bit too young to appreciate (or even see) the film when it first came out, said his connection to the film came through the hit songs that the movie soundtrack launched. “I was born in 1981. The movie came out in 1983. My first memory was of the music of the show. I grew up in Oklahoma and my

mom was into jazzercise aerobics, which was huge in the 1980s. But I remember, instead of paying for a sitter, she would drag my brother and me to jazzercise. And we’d watch these women with their legwarmers going crazy doing jazz aerobics to this soundtrack. Those songs affected me more than the movie. I grew up hearing

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the music and loving the score. It’s hilarious for me to get into rehearsals and start learning the score and have those flashbacks of legwarmers and women dancing to ‘Maniac.’ It’s so interesting now to be older and look back to a period of time where those ’80s moments live on stage with me every night. And to think, Oh

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my God! I’m old. I’m in a period piece. It’s just so funny to me.” ■

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Suzi Nash

Joan Myers Brown: Dance, dance revolution The first time I saw two men dance intimately together was not at Woody’s or Equus but on stage during a Philadanco performance. Philadanco is the worldrenowned dance company that has been breaking barriers and making stars since 1970. This week, PGN spoke to honored “living legend” Joan Myers Brown, the company founder and a community friend. PGN: You are one of the most-awarded people in Philadelphia. You’ve been honored as a Master of African American Choreography by the Kennedy Center, won the prestigious Philadelphia Award, have a book written about you, have traveled the world and have worked with some of the great entertainers of our time. I think you’re also the first person I’ve ever interviewed who has their own day! [Nov. 7, 2010, was declared Joan Myers Brown Living Legacy Day.] And yet you’re one of the most down-to-earth people in Philadelphia. Have you always lived here? JMB: Yes. My mother, Nellie Lewis, was a nuclear-research and chemical engineer. She was a pretty smart old lady. And my father, Julius Myers, was a chef and restaurateur. He worked at a lot of the top restaurants in town. I remember that during the Depression we ate very well. He’d bring home food hidden up his sleeve or in his back pocket. I tell people I never knew that butter was square because he’d put a stick in his back pocket, where it would mold it the shape of his pocket on the way home. When he put it in the fridge, it would harden to the shape of his body! PGN: He put the butt in butter! JMB: [Laughs.] Yeah, back then, while other people were in line for government cheese, we had Brussels sprouts and asparagus, filet-mignon sandwiches, you name it. PGN: Any siblings? JMB: No, I was an only child. We were never close to any extended family. But I’ve made up for it — I have three daughters, six grandkids and a thousand kids from teaching over the years. Most of them come back and help too. PGN: What were you like as a kid? JMB: Bad, bad as the devil. My fifthgrade teacher used to take me to her house because my mother was at her wit’s end with me. I think I was just bored. I’d just get up in the middle of class, take off my shoes and walk around. I always wanted to do things my way. I remember one teacher told me to stop pressing the pencil so hard because I was tearing the paper, so I wrote the next paper so light he could barely read it. I was a bad kid. I think that’s why my mother took me to dancing school. But it was 50 cents a week and when I lost my

dancing shoes, she refused to buy more. PGN: Did you dance barefoot? JMB: No, I stopped. I didn’t dance again until I was in high school. My gym teacher got me involved again. PGN: What was the first dance you saw? JMB: I went to see “Swan Lake” at the Academy of Music. It was beautiful but it didn’t have any impact on me. All the dancers were white so there was nothing for me to relate to. But then I saw Katherine Dunham at the Locust Street Theatre and that made a huge impression. PGN: Which shows you the importance of visibility, whether you’re black or gay; we need to see ourselves reflected in the world. What discipline did you start with? JMB: Ballet. Subsequently I learned about Janet Collins, who was the first black ballerina to appear at the Metropolitan Opera. You hear that and you start thinking about possibilities. Though I recall that Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo told Collins they would only accept her if she painted her face and skin white. She declined.

PGN: What was the worst aspect of entertaining? JMB: Some places you had to mix. After the show you had to sit at the bar and socialize with the patrons. I wasn’t a drinker so I didn’t care for it. I’d stay in the dressing room or hide in the bathroom. [Laughs.] That’s one time segregation actually helped me! Because in places like Vegas, when I was with Pearl, I was the only black girl in the show and I wasn’t allowed in the clubs. So the white girls had to mix and I got to go home! PGN: That’s funny. What was the hardest part of starting the school? JMB: The hardest part was the commute those first years. I went to sleep at the wheel one night and after that, my boyfriend at the time was nice enough to drive me back and forth or I’d ride the bus. I’ve been very lucky in that I’ve always had people help me with the school — my mother and friends. To this day, there are people who see that you’re doing something good and want to help.

PGN: Wow. So what things did you like to do, aside from dance, as a kid? JMB: I actually thought I was going to be an artist. I liked water colors and painting. But once I got started again, I was drawn to dance. I studied at the Sydney School of Dance on Market Street. Other schools like Dash Studios wouldn’t take me because I was black. Then one of my girlfriends got a job with a nightclub revue and was making a lot of money. Flo Sledge — her daughters are Sister Sledge—left and I took her place. I worked there for a lot of years before I started working some of the better shows — cabarets with Pearl Bailey, Cab Calloway and Sammy Davis Jr. I did shows in Vegas, Montreal and Miami. One day I woke up and said, “This isn’t what I really want to be doing. Maybe I can teach some little black kids ballet and they’ll get a chance in the next era.” That next era is still trying to happen. PGN: Favorite experience? JMB: I’m from Fordham Avenue. I never imagined that I’d travel the world dancing. PGN: When did you open the Philadelphia School of Dance Arts? JMB: In 1960, while I was still dancing. I was performing and choreographing shows, mostly at Club Harlem in Atlantic City. I taught ballet in the afternoon and shuffled off to Buffalo every night.

PGN: You are known for training dancers only to have them snatched by other companies. JMB: [Smiles.] Yes, last year two of my dancers went to Alvin Ailey. But I’m glad there’s someplace that they can go, something to reach for. A lot of them are going to Broadway now for the money. They’re not as invested in the art as they used to be. PGN: When did you first become aware of the gay community? JMB: Oh, I’ve been aware of it since I started dancing in high school. We’d go to parties with guys from Sydney’s and then at a certain point they’d put us girls out! I never felt a difference in people because of their sexual orientation. People are people, though I notice that the guys — especially if they’re away from the family for the first time and are just coming out of the closet — go a little crazy when they get here. [Laughs.] Sometimes I have to get them to pull it in a little. My best friend forever was gay. Growing up, I was always his fake date and he was my safe date. He just died last year. But with the guys, I’d say, “You can do whatever you want off stage but when you’re portraying my characters, I want you to butch it up! If I wanted all girls, I’d hire all girls!” But I’ve noticed more and more of the girls are coming out, and younger each year. PGN: Which brings me back to the show I saw with the two male dancers. That was very progressive for back then. JMB: Yeah, it depended on the choreographer. Talley Beatty did a lot of crossgender dancing. It was never an intentional statement on my part, I just didn’t care if we did it. I choose the piece on its own merit.

PGN: When did you start Philadanco? JMB: I started the dance company 10 years later, in 1970. I had all these trained kids and nowhere for them to dance. Pennsylvania Ballet and the other dance companies weren’t using black dancers so we created our own company. I figured it would give them a start and then they would move on to New York or overseas. The first person to leave was Gary DeLoatch, who went to Dance Theater of Harlem.

PGN: Did you ever get any flack about it? JMB: No, the only time was when Zane Booker did his first duet with a guy because he’d just come out to his mom and wanted everyone to know he was gay. I heard more comments about that than anything else. But that was his statement and we honored it. [Laughs.] Though I always say to the guys, “Everyone knows you’re gay, especially your mom! Who are you trying to fool?” PGN: That’s one heck of a way to come out! I imagine the AIDS epidemic had a big impact on you. PAGE 34

PGN

If you’ve ever met PGN’s own executive assistant and billing manager Carol Giunta, you know she’s not one to mince words. So this holiday season, Carol gives the straight scoop on the some of the best (and possibly worst) gifts to give in 2013.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

dult bs • A yms tclu ers h g G g i n i • odg ent s, N •L Tavern unity C ars, Comm •B •

1. 12th Street Gym 204 S. 12th St. 215.985.4092 12thstreetgym.com 2. Adonis Cinema 2026 Sansom St. 215.557.9319 3. Alexander Inn 301 S. 12th St. 215.923.3535 alexanderinn.com 4. Attic Youth Center 255 S. 16th St. 215.545.4331 atticyouthcenter.org 5. The Bike Stop 206 S. Quince St. 215.627.1662 thebikestop.com 6. Club Philly 1220 Chancellor St. 215.735.7671 7. Danny’s Adam & Eve 133 S. 13th St. 215.925.5041

8. Giovanni’s Room 1145 Pine St. 215.923.2960 giovannisroom.com Oldest LGBT bookstore in the country 9. ICandy 254 S. 12th St. 267.324.3500 clubicandy.com

•8

14. Sansom Street Cinema 120 S. 13th St. 215.545.9254 15. Sansom Street Gym 2020 Sansom St. 267.330.0151

16. Scorpio Books 205 S. Juniper St. 10. Independent Hotel 215.525.2181 1234 Locust St. 17. Spruce Street 215.923.3535 Video theindependenthotel. 252 S. 12th St. com 215.546.6843 11. Knock 18. Stir Lounge 225 S. 12th St. 1705 Chancellor St. 215.925.1166 215.732.2700 knockphilly.com stirphilly.com 12. Optimal Sport 1315 Walnut St. (entr. on Juniper St.) 215.735.1114 optimalsporthealthclubs.com 13. Pleasure Chest 2039 Walnut St. 215.561.7480

19. Tabu 200 S. 12th St. 215.964.9675 tabuphilly.com 20. Tavern on Camac 243 S. Camac St. 215.545.0900 tavernoncamac.com

ni’s van o i G .

Roo

Pine St. 4

21. U Bar 1220 Locust St. 215.546.6660 22. Unite Fitness 105 S. 12th St. 215.733.0633 uniteﬁtnessstudios. com 23. Venture Inn 255 S. Camac St. 215.545.8731 24. Voyeur 1221 St. James St. 215.735.5772 voyeurnightclub. com 25. Westbury 261 S. 13th St. 215.546.5170 thewestburybar.net 26. William Way LGBT CC 1315 Spruce St. 215.732.2220 waygay.org 27. Woody’s 202 S. 13th St. 215.545.1893 woodysbar.com

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

FILM PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

THE ICONIC FILM NOW A STAGE MUSICAL

Photos by Jeremy Daniel

NOVEMBER 19 - 24, 2013 ACADEMY OF MUSIC

kimmelcenter.org/broadway 215.731.3333 Broadway Philadelphia is presented collaboratively by the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and The Shubert Organization.

McConaughey sells it in ‘Dallas Buyers Club’ By Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor

penses free medication to AIDS patients, who become members that “buy into” the “club.” Of course, this irks the doctors who are seeing less of their patients because they are seeking alternative treatments. “Dallas Buyers Club” makes Ron and Rayon’s story compelling because the film creates a sense of urgency around their situation. The film unfolds by counting out the days from when Ron was given 30 days to live. As the illegal drugs extend his life for weeks, months and even years beyond that projection, Ron becomes empowered. But, his efforts are dogged as he is hunted by the IRS, the FDA and others who want to shut down his operation. How he handles these obstacles in his rascally, wily

Ron Woodroof (Matthew McConaughey), the HIV-positive protagonist of “Dallas Buyers Club,” is a scrawny electrician who works hard and plays harder. In the opening moments, he is seen having sex during a rodeo competition and placing bad bets on cowboys. When the riders fail to last eight seconds, Ron’s creditors chase him. He seeks escape by punching a cop (Steve Zahn) so he will be arrested and extricated from a bad situation. That Ron schemes to make fast cash — and skirts the law to keep it — is at the core of “Dallas Buyers Club,” an impressive, comic and heartfelt film about people with AIDS coordinating the distribution of unapproved (i.e., illegal) medical treatments because hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and the FDA are moving too slowly. McConaughey’s performance, both Oscar-worthy and Oscar-baiting, is remarkable. The Texan, who transformed himself by losing considerable weight to play Ron, relishes his role. He walks around all cocky, MCCONAUGHEY (RIGHT) AS RON WOODROOF strutting about in a cowboy hat or donning a priest’s ways is the charm of both McConaughey’s vestments when undercover transporting performance and the film itself. drugs across the border. One prime example of the film’s appeal In the film’s early scenes, Ron is diagis an encounter Ron has with an old friend nosed with HIV. He is shocked by the who avoided him after Ron disclosed his news, especially when his doctors (Denis HIV status. Running into the man in a O’Hare and Jennifer Garner) inform him supermarket, Ron’s old buddy makes a dishe has a T-cell count of 9 and just 30 days to live. He is also shocked that people think paraging remark about Rayon. When Ron strong-arms his friend and forces him to he is gay. Ron is a homophobe who voices shake Rayon’s hand, it shows the heart of crude comments about Rock Hudson’s sexuality. He maintains that even though he the once-homophobic character who has become less hateful. has been handed a death sentence, he does Rayon humanizes not just Ron but not want to attend support-group meetings “Dallas Buyers Club” as well. While the “to get a hug from a bunch of faggots.” character could easily have been a carica“Dallas Buyers Club” shows how Ron ture, Rayon, a drug addict, proves to be an transforms himself — as well as the lives interesting co-conspirator. He has a loveof many other AIDS patients in the 1980s. hate relationship with Ron that brings out He educates himself on treatments and the best — and worst — in both of them, gives a janitor at the hospital money to adding depth to their relationship. get clinical trials of AZT. When he cannot Less successful is the relationship secure more AZT, Ron goes to Mexico, between Ron and Dr. Eve Saks (Garner), where a crafty doctor (Griffin Dunne) which moves from simple flirting to the whose license has been revoked helps him doctor’s willing and unwilling support of obtain drugs that will sustain his life, even Ron’s drug-import efforts. Garner is disapthough they are not legal in the U.S. pointingly wooden in her role, making it However, Ron suffers some medical setthe film’s greatest weakness. backs, and during one hospital stay, meets But McConaughey is fantastic and great Rayon (Jared Leto), a transsexual AIDS fun to watch when he misbehaves — chaspatient. The roommates dislike each other ing AZT with a beer and a line of coke but form an uneasy friendship that turns — or passionately fights against the FDA. into a useful business arrangement. Ron Leto also provides memorable support in secures the medication, Rayon secures the his role, looking far better in a dress than clients. The pair forms the Dallas Buyers Club, a subscription-based service that dis- his ill-fitting suit. ■

TV &PGN COMICS

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

Worth Watching

COMEDIC HISTORY LESSON: Comedian and actor Whoopi Goldberg makes her directing debut on the documentary “Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley,” about the life and times of the pioneering lesbian comedian, 9 p.m. Nov. 18 on HBO.

ROBO COP: J.J. Abrams debuts his new high-tech, high-stakes action drama set 35 years in the future, when police officers are partnered with highly evolved human-like androids in a special two-night series premiere of “Almost Human,” 8 p.m. Nov. 17 and 18 on Fox. Photo: Fox/Liane Hentscher

QUEEN ACRES: Cam takes Mitch and Lily to the Tucker family farm for the first time and is excited to fold them into country life ... until Grams pays an unexpected visit, on “Modern Family,” 9 p.m. Nov. 20 on ABC. Photo: ABC/Ron Tom

SATURDAY NIGHT LADY: On the high heels of the release of her new album “ARTPOP,” pop megastar Lady Gaga hosts and performs on a new episode of “Saturday Night Live,” 11:30 p.m. Nov. 16 on NBC.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

FUN PGN & GAMES

Q Puzzle Breaking up is hard on you Across

1. Dancer Taylor 5. Anal insert from a UFO? 10. Cole Porter’s “Well, Did You ___” 14. Hollywood canine 15. Early caucus participant 16. Abercrombie & Fitch event 17. Portrayer of Ted 20. “Suburgatory” daughter 21. Org. offering AIDS coverage 22. Fashion photographer Herb 23. PC display 25. “Modern Family” family member 26. Portrayer of Ben 31. Warming in relations 33. Lorde of verse 34. Give some lip to

37. Female flyer 38. Like the “fruit loop” section of a city 39. Mouth, slangily 40. With 44Across, portrayer of Jorge 44. See 40-Across 47. Pittsburgh pro 49. Some may be iron 50. Tool with jaws 51. Waffle choice 52. 2013 movie about two married gay men forced to live apart 57. Jodie Foster’s “___ Driver” 58. Cowboy’s rope 59. Cinder suffix 61. Where to find hot buns 62. Everglades wader 63. Auctioneer’s word 64. Computer company’s erection? 65. Catch in a trap 66. Defied radar

PORTRAIT from page 29

JMB: I felt like someone had come in here with a big broom and just swept all my people away. I lost lots of guys. It was terrible, a whole slew of guys — 28, 29 years old — and they just were gone. People would gossip, “You know, he got ‘the AIDS,’” and I’d say, “What’s ‘the AIDS?’” It was awful. PGN: Well, back to you. You’ve been all over the world. JMB: We’ve been to 20 countries and just about every state. I never imagined it. I was just trying to find a way to give my kids something to do. To help them move on, but instead they stayed and we grew! PGN: I read an article about your experiences abroad, especially going to Poland where the airline lost all your costumes and you had to make the guys dance in nothing but their jeans. JMB: Yes, when they started to give me a hard time I told them, “When you go to the clubs you have no problem taking off your shirts, you can do it now!” PGN: Then you had to fight to get paid and also had people throw garbage at you. JMB: It took me two years to get paid but I did it! And yes, people threw garbage at us and called us monkeys as we walked around the city. Racism doesn’t change. I started the company in 1970, it’s 2013 and look at Pennsylvania Ballet — they still only have one black dancer. And when they do, it’s usually a male dancer. American Ballet Theatre has Misty Copeland but she’s so fair-skinned. I remember talking to Raven Wilkinson,

Down

1. Warsaw agreement 2. Queens tennis stadium 3. Versatile vehicles 4. Shags on the carpet? 5. Wrestler’s victory 6. Gossip columnist Barrett 7. Got a little behind 8. Lower, to Lorca 9. Bambi’s aunt 10. Nose rubbers 11. Bottomless 12. Gobs 13. Layers in the barnyard 18. Apiece 19. Spot on a cliff 24. Hereditary chain 25. Antonio’s “Evita” role 26. Novelist Rona 27. One of a wheel’s nuts 28. Lupino of “Women’s Prison” 29. Take a crack at 30. Entree 31. “Jabberwocky”

starter 32. “Hold your horses!” 35. Performed like Rufus Wainwright 36. Sites for three women in a tub 41. Stationary acceleration 42. Peace Nobelist Wiesel 43. Streetcar and more? 44. Change places 45. Russian saint 46. Nala, for one 48. Give up an office 49. Put in shackles 52. Composition of some beds 53. Alternatives to asses 54. Poet Teasdale 55. Unappetizing food 56. Pronoun for Proust 57. Stranded driver’s need 60. Dipstick word PAGE 39

also with the Ballet Russe, and how she had to promise not to let anyone know she was black. It worked for two years until they were down South and a hotel elevator operator recognized her and reported her to the management. They kicked her out of the hotel. Then when they were in Alabama the KKK heard there was a colored girl in the show. They came into the theater and onto the stage demanding to know which one was the negro. No one said anything but after that, the company suggested it be her last season. It doesn’t change. All these companies are getting money to do outreach into the black communities but they never hire anyone. Look at Michaela DePrince, who was featured in that documentary “First Position.” They made a huge fuss over her but nobody from the mainstream companies hired her. Things don’t change much, they just shift; people used to be more direct with racism and now it’s more subtle. PGN: You’ve also dealt with homophobia. JMB: It’s so sad that homophobia gives dancing, especially ballet, such a stigma. I have one little boy in the school and his dad will let him do hip-hop or acrobatics but refuses to let him do anything he thinks is unmanly. I had another boy in Vegas who was with me from the time he was 10. When he was 15, his mother remarried and the new husband decided he wasn’t going to raise a gay stepson. He said, “I’m going to beat that shit out of him,” so I got him out of there and moved him into his own apartment. He was able to keep dancing and went on to join Alvin Ailey and was with Cirque du Soleil for

years. He now has his own company and of course the stepdad is now all [uses a gruff voice], “Yeah, that’s my boy!” PGN: Now for some random questions. Who was your celebrity crush? JMB: Oh, Billy Eckstine. And I got to work with him. I thought I was in seventh heaven! My daughter always tells me Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are my extended family because I’m always reading about them and their kids. I just love her! Of course, she’s a real bitch! She does what she wanna do the way she wanna do it! PGN: In another life, I probably was a ... JMB: Dancer from India. A fortune teller told me that once and that’s how I found out that my grandfather was from Sri Lanka! And I know what I’m going to do in my next life: I’m going to open up a bar for big, beautiful broads! No skinny ballerinas. Men like to act like they like skinny broads but they actually prefer big girls. And I’m going to get drunk with the customers while the big, beautiful women dance and I’ll make a lot of money! PGN: Who was your first love? JMB: He was an amateur boxer. We had a phone with a party line and he used to call me. I was on cloud nine. Before that, the phone used to be on the corner and everyone on the block used the same phone. PGN: Any scars? JMB: I have one on my ankle from when I was a kid. I fell off the curb and got hit by a truck and oh Lord, I have a huge scar from my C-section. [Laughs.] I told my daughter, “You done ruined my body!”

PGN: I still can’t believe I once ... JMB: Received the National Medal of Arts from President Obama in 2012. We were preparing for an overseas show and I got a call from the White House asking where I was going to be on the 10th. I told them I’d be in Chile and they said, “No you won’t, you’re being honored by the president.” So I sent the kids to Chile and went to Washington. It was surreal but I didn’t really get to enjoy it; the ceremony was at 3 and by 4 p.m. I was on a plane to South America to join the company. It was an honor but if it was Bush, I would have told him to mail it to me! PGN: You have some shows coming up in December at the Kimmel Center. What can we expect? JMB: I like to see young choreographers get an opportunity for their work to be seen, so I’m highlighting the work of Christopher Huggins. I don’t want us to get stale so each year we change it up. PGN: And you support artists other ways? JMB: Yes, we teach props, staging, everything. I have a girl in Vegas now doing costumes forCirque and I have a girl from Brazil who just wrote me the nicest letter about what she learned here outside of dance. She really got what we’re all about. It’s not just about teaching dance, it’s about making better people. ■ For more information on Philadanco, visit www.philadanco.org. To suggest a community member for Family Portrait, email portraits05@aol. com.

TRAVEL PGN

Outward Bound

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

Jeff Guaracino

RSVP cruises with new energy, more women and lower cost Since 1985, more than 100,000 guests have discovered RSVP Vacations. Now owned by Atlantis Events — among the best brand names in gay vacations — RSVP Vacations has a new president, Randle Roper. Formerly of Starwood Hotels, Roper brings a new energy to RSVP. RSVP is drawing a diverse group of passengers aboard its trips. According to Roper, women are now 10 percent of the company’s passengers. He anticipates 350 lesbians will join RSVP for its February sailing aboard the brand-new MSC Divina for a Feb. 15 Caribbean cruise from Miami. One reason for the increasing draw of women travelers is the work of Rachel Pearson, RSVP’s first lesbian executive producer, who is responsible for operations and entertainment. Women traveling on RSVP will find lesbian comics like Jessica Kirson and Poppy Champlin, and there are women-only brunches, disco and cocktail hours. “Our women passengers find RSVP an alternative to Sweet and Olivia,” Roper

said about the companies that cater to lesbian travelers with cruises and land-based trips. That’s not to say that gay men — who still account for 90 percent of RSVP cruisers — will have to forgo their leather and underwear parties. With more Europeans and South Americans discovering RSVP Vacations, the clientele is diversifying beyond RSVP’s traditional American base. Even though Roper is new as president of RSVP, he says the questions about the vacation experience have remained consistent over the company’s 29-year history: Will I fit in? Is it a floating bathhouse? Roper asks first-time gay cruisers to take a leap of faith, promising that it will be the best vacation of their lives, likening an RSVP Vacation to a gay summer-camp experience. And RSVP Vacations is now even more affordable. Since 2011, prices have dropped nearly 30 percent, yet the vacations are still offered aboard brand-new luxury ships. Prices per person for the Caribbean sailing begin at $899 or $1,200 for a balcony stateroom. The Italiandesigned ship will sail to popular destinations in the Caribbean with gay-friendly and welcoming cultures: the French and Dutch island of St. Maarten, San Juan and

a day on a private island. Discount airfares are available on American Airlines. Reserve online at http://aa.com/rainbow or call 800-433-1790. Receive 5-percent off applicable fares by using promotion code 3724AF. To book a cruise, visit www. rsvpvacations.com. And if you are looking for a European vacation, PASSENGERS ON A CARIBBEAN RSVP VACATION RSVP will soon announce a five-star want. The Royal Clipper is a five-masted luxury riverboat cruise in July 2014 that true sailing ship, which takes you to will end in Amsterdam for the city’s massome of the most beautiful islands in the sive gay Pride festival. Caribbean. Sailing in the intimacy of 227 gay and lesbian guests, the six-day voyBrand G Vacations age will take passengers to the mountainIf a big-ship experience isn’t right for ous tropical paradise of Isla Margarita, you and you are willing to spend a little Venezuela, Grenada, St. Vincent and St. more for the luxury and privacy of a Royal Lucia. Visit www.brandgvacations.com for Clipper ship, you should discover Brand more information. ■ G Vacations. This agency has partnered with Concierge Travel to offer a Caribbean Jeff Guaracino is the author of “Gay and vacation that will make you feel like you Lesbian Tourism: The Essential Guide for own a yacht and could sail anywhere you Marketing.”

Congratulations 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.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

DINING PGN

FIRE AND ICE SHAKY BEEF SALAD

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‘s Dining Out

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SPORTS PGN

Get Out and Play

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

Scott A. Drake

There’s no crying in football Chatter around NFL player Ritchie Incognito’s bullying of teammate Jonathan Martin, which included racial hate texts and a death threat, is running the gamut. On one extreme, members of the league are basically telling Martin to “man up” or just quit. Of course they would. Most of these players are ingrained with the rough, take-no-prisoners bully attitude for play on the field. Ricky Williams, who played with Incognito years ago, responded to the statement that Martin was considering leaving the NFL by telling the City Sun-Sentinel, “I think I can relate and I can speak on this because I was at a point where I was done with the NFL and I needed to take a break. But unlike Jonathan, I didn’t have to find a scapegoat or someone to blame. I just failed a drug test.” Oh, just a failed drug test? So you can relate about quitting football but not quitting drugs? And pointing out racial slurs coming from Incognito is blaming a scapegoat? On the flip side, there are those who identify with Martin. They understand what he is talking about. Hazing is not bullying. Threats and slurs are bullying. It doesn’t matter what the conditions are or what setting these happen in; they are offensive actions. The boundaries of pushing a person’s buttons versus being antagonistic towards them are always gray. Probably even grayer in these high-testosterone settings. But even those sideliners who say that it’s just part of the ritual, there wasn’t enough leadership in the locker room or he needs to lighten up or toughen up completely miss the mark. Incognito wasn’t just picking on the new guy. He was demonstrating bigotry and prejudice. Neither of which should be tolerated in any cultural climate. I have mixed feelings. I agree that if you’re going to be a tough football player, you need to cultivate a tough skin. I wouldn’t have blamed Martin if he had walked up to Incognito and punched him in the face, even though I wouldn’t encourage it. I also believe Martin was

right in outing his teammate as a bully. I have no doubt that time will show Incognito to be the racist he is. But the mainstream media is more likely to laugh and point at the sissy football player than uncover what the NFL atmosphere truly is like. What does this say about LGBTs in professional sports? It says that not being out may be the safer way to play if you prefer not to be teased, taunted or even harassed. It says that even if you can take a little locker-room jibing, there are still oafs who will push things too far, and the sports culture is likelier to back the bully. It says that even as athletes come out here and there, they are comfortable doing so only when they have a strong belief in the maturity and civility of their teammates. And what it also says is that even with all of the progress and support of GO! Athletes, Nike, Ben Cohen, GLISA and many others, there is still that largest hurdle of all: acceptance. Brave new world And right on the heels of the NFL debacle comes this bright story. Outsports recently reported receiving an email from a member of the University of Texas swim team. The sender encouraged the magazine to look into an email sent to the entire team by Matt Korman, in which he came out to everyone: “Please know that I am telling you this about myself because I love you guys and I really want you to know this important part of me,” the email read. “I was growing tired of all the lying, dishonesty and pretending. You all have always been there for me and supported me in everything that I do. You are and forever will be my brothers.” I wish I had space to print it in its entirety here. It is strong and sensitive, serious and compassionate. Again, an athlete takes a chance on sharing his innermost secret with his teammates, his friends, because he feels, or at least hopes, they will accept him. I urge you to go to outsports.com and read the entire letter.

Come see what’s new at your local, non-corporate, gluten-free historic queer bookshop! Browse, chat, and support the oldest continuously operating LGBT book store in the USA!

SOC-SOC-SOC-SOCCER PRACTICE: Jonathan Maldonado (center) shows some footwork at Philadelphia Falcons soccer practice Nov. 12. The Falcons’ indoor practice relocated from Guerin Rec Center due to building maintenance so, through the end of March 2014, practices are 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Albert Greenfield Middle School, 2200 Chestnut St. More info at falcons-soccer.org. Photo: Scott A. Drake

Matt, we’re very proud of you. And to your credit, I know that one day someone else will have the courage to also move forward because of you. Short stops • Greater Philadelphia Flag Football League is kicking off the Gay Bowl XIV fundraising effort 1-4 p.m. Nov. 24 at Tabu. GPFFL is also holding its annual membership meeting Dec. 9 at William Way LGBT Community Center, where commissioner, assistant commissioner and treasurer will be elected. • The Philadelphia Fins Aquatics Club 2014 board has been announced. Congratulations to president Bob Breitel, vice president Kate Chialastri, secretary Chad White, treasurer Heather Mohorn and members-at-large Sarah Lasrado and Carol Weisl. • Team Philadelphia meets Nov. 18, moved from Nov. 11, due to Veteran’s Day. The meeting will be held at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St., beginning at 7:30 p.m. All organizations are strongly urged to attend and participate as nominations and general elections are on the slate. • Take a break from the holiday ruckus Dec. 16 and join the festivities at the Cherry Hill Skating Center, 664 Deer Road, Cherry Hill, N.J. The bimonthly fundraiser rolls from 8:30-10:30 p.m.; philagayskating.com. ■

Countdown to Gay Games 9: 266 days. Are you having a sports fundraiser, holiday party, bar crawl or strip-poker party? Tell me about it at scott@epgn.com.

10% most hardcovers, over 5 million books and 3 million eBooks available at queerbooks.com email: giovannis_room@verizon.net 345 S. 12th St. Philadelphia, Pa 19107 215-923-2960 Mon-Sat 11:30 - 7, Sun 1 - 7

Photography • Fine Art • Portrait • Events

Scott A. Drake 267.736.6743

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

OUT & ABOUT The week ahead Fri. 11/15 Cyndi Lauper The pop singer performs her “She’s So Unusual” album in its entirety 8 p.m. at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215572-7650. Loft23 presents The Exchange Loft The William Way LGBT Community Center hosts an inclusive social/ support group for LGBTQ individuals between 21-29, 6-8 p.m., 1315 Spruce St.; 215732-2220. Lil’ Steph presents Rasputin’s Room The classic burlesque show starts

9 p.m. at Rub Club Studios, 416 Green St.; 215-627-9831. Dixie Dynamite The 1976 comedy-action film is screened 9:45 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610-

Sat. 11/16 917-0223. A Penny for Your Thoughts A guided discussion on all issues impacting lesbian, bisexual and questioning women, 4-7 p.m. at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220. Tim Teeman The author of “In Bed with Gore

Vidal: Hustlers, Hollywood and the Private World of an American Master” hosts a reading 5:30 p.m. Nov. 11 at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; 215-923-2960. Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus The chorus performs 7:30 p.m. at Centary United Methodist Church, 149 S. White Horse Pike in Berlin, N.J.; 856-767-3881. Kanye West The hip-hop star performs 8 p.m. at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215-389-9543. Lisa Marie Presley The rock/country singer performs 8 p.m. at Sellersville Theatre 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville; 215257-5858.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

Pat Benatar and Neil Geraldo The rock duo performs 8 p.m. Nov. 16 at Revel’s Ovation Hall, 500 Boardwalk; 855348-0500.

Sun. 11/17 The Big Heat The classic 1953 crime thriller is screened 2 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-0223. Res The R&B/rock singer performs 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400.

Mon. 11/18 Batman The 1989 action film is screened 7:30 p.m. at Sellersville Theatre 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville; 215-257-5858.

’s Pet Issue Nov. 22 2013

ANGELIC VOICES: Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus takes the trip to Jersey, performing 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16 at Centary United Methodist Church, 149 S. White Horse Pike in Berlin. For more information, call 856-767-3881

Man of Steel The 2013 superhero film is screened 8 p.m. at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215922-6888. Free Quizzo & Board Game Night Roll the dice, 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-994-1400. Lipstick Mondays A weekly drag show featuring a changing roster of queens takes the stage 9 p.m. at The Raven, 385 W. Bridge St., New Hope; 215-8622081. The Suicide Girls: Blackheart Burlesque Tour The burlesque show kicks off 9 p.m. at TLA, 334 South St.; 215-9221011.

Tue. 11/19 Robert Stone The author of “Death of the Black-Haired Girl” hosts a reading 7:30 p.m. at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215-686-5322.

Wed. 11/20 Anjelica Houston The award-winning actor and author

of “A Story Lately Told: Coming of Age in Ireland, London and New York” hosts a reading at noon at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215686-5322. 4W5 Blues Jam Local musicians get down, 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-994-1400. Sleigh Bells The electro-rock duo performs 8 p.m. at Union Transfer, 1026

Thu. 11/21 Spring Garden St.; 215-232-2100. Reel Rock The film about climbing adventure stories is screened 8 p.m. at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215922-6888. The Burlesque Show The new event kicks off 9 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000. Bob and Barbara’s Drag Show The outrageousness begins 11 p.m. at Bob and Barbara’s, 1509 South St.; 215-545-4511.

Fri. 11/22 Gin Blossoms The rock band performs 6 and 9 p.m. at Sellersville Theatre 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville; 215257-5858. Loft23 presents The Game Loft The William Way LGBT Community Center hosts a

game space geared toward gamers ages 21-29 to meet new people, play games and socialize outside the bar/club scene, 6-8 p.m., 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220. Mazzy Star The alt-rock band performs 8 p.m. at Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St.; 215232-2100.

Notices Send notices at least one week in advance to: Out & About Listings, PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147 fax: 215-925-6437; or e-mail: listings@epgn.com. Notices cannot be taken over the phone.

SONGS FROM A SUPERSTAR: Broadway and screen icon Patti Lupone takes her fans on a musical journey through her favorite songs, ranging from Stephen Sondheim to the Bee Gees, Nov. 20-23 at Prince Music Theater, 1412 Chestnut St. For more information, call 215-9721000. Photo: Ethan Hill

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

Opening Flashdance: The Musical The musical production based on the hit film, Nov. 19-24 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; 215-7905847. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Media Theatre presents the classic Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Nov. 20-Jan. 4, 104 E. State St., Media; 610891-0100. Keigwin + Company The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents the acclaimed dance company Nov. 21-23 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; 215-898-3900. Patti Lupone The music and theater icon performs Nov. 20-23 at Prince Music Theater, 1412 Chestnut St.; 215-972-1000.

Sophie Tucker: The Last Of The Red Hot Mamas Walnut Street Theatre presents the story of America’s queen of the double entendre Nov. 19-Dec. 29, 825 Walnut St.; 215-5743550.

Continuing All Dressed Up: Fashions for Children and Their Families Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of clothing from the late-18th through mid-20th centuries, comparing and contrasting adults’ apparel with children’s smaller styles, through Dec. 1, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. The Enchanted World of German Romantic Prints Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of prints created by Austrian, German and Swiss artists through Dec. 15, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100.

IN THE (TATTOOED) FLESH: Alternative pin-up models Suicide Girls bring their Blackheart Burlesque Tour to the area 9 p.m. Nov. 18 at TLA, 334 South St. For more information, call 215922-1011.

Perlman Returns The Philadelphia Orchestra performs with Itzhak Perlman Nov. 21-24 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 240 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5847. from page 34

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

Pride & Prejudice Bristol Riverside Theatre presents the classic Jane Austen story through Nov. 24, 120 Radcliffe St., Bristol; 215-785-0100. The Surrealists: Works from the Collection Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of the museum’s unique collection of great masterpieces and lesserknown works of the movement through March 2, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

Closing Candy Coated Wonderland Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition by Philadelphia-based multimedia artist Candy Coated (formerly Candy Depew) reinterpreting children’s fancy dress costumes from the museum’s collection through Nov. 17, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. From Vienna to the New World The Philadelphia Orchestra performs with Austrian conductor Manfred Honeck through Nov. 16 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 240 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5847. The Sexuality Spectrum The Philadelphia Museum of Jewish Art and Congregation Beth Ahavah at Rodeph Shalom host an exhibit examining LGBT prejudice through Nov. 18 at 615 N. Broad St.; 215-627-6747. ■

STILL UNUSUAL: Pop icon and activist Cyndi Lauper performs her classic breakthrough album “She’s So Unusual” in its entirety 8 p.m. Nov. 15 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave. For more information or tickets, call 215-572-7650. Photo: Gavin Bond

From Philadelphia to Monaco: Grace Kelly, Beyond the Icon James A. Michener Art Museum hosts an exhibition tracing the unique path Grace Kelly took from Philadelphia to Monaco through Jan. 26, 138 S. Pine St., Doylestown; 215-340-9800. Grace Kelly: Beyond the Icon James A. Michener Art Museum hosts an exhibition of the film and fashion icon’s style through Nov. 21, 138 S. Pine St., Doylestown; 215-340-9800. Léger: Modern Art and the Metropolis Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of 160 works and a multimedia exhibition of important paintings by the French painter Fernand Léger through Jan. 5, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

Classifieds Real Estate Sale

Real Estate Sale

Services

VENTNOR, NJ House for sale in Ventnor NJ. 2 story 5 bedroom house, needs some repairs. Priced right. Call 215 468 9166. ________________________________________38-01 On Twin Ponds w/ 34 Acres- $39,995 Beautiful Woods w/ Large Wildlife Ponds Full of Ducks, Geese & Deer. Minutes to Syracuse, Salmon River, Oneida Lake. Call 1-800-229-7843. Financing Available. Or visit www. landandcamps.com ________________________________________37-46 Mountaintop Land Bargain! Next to Ski Area! Only $89,900. Was $249,900. Spectacular mountain homesite set amid tremendous 4 season recreation. SAVE almost 65%. Own in time for ski season. Excellent ﬁnancing, little down. Call now 877-888-7581, x168. ________________________________________37-46

AIRLINE CAREERS Begin here-Become an Aviation Maintenance Tech. FAA approved training. Financial aid if qualiﬁed-Housing available. Job placement assistance. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance 888-834-9715 ________________________________________37-46 EXP RELIABLE HOUSECLEANER Let me free up your valuable time by cleaning your house or apt. Weekly biweekly monthly. I have 10+ years exp. FREE estimates. Call Wayne 215-422-2654. Ref’s upon request. ________________________________________37-48 IF YOU USED THE BLOOD THINNER PRADAXA and suffered internal bleeding, hemorrhaging, required hospitalization or a loved one died while taking Pradaxa between October 2010 and the present, You may be entitled to compensation. Call Attorney Charles H. Johnson 1-800-535-5727. ________________________________________37-46

Real Estate Rent





RITTENHOUSE SQUARE AREA One-Bedroom $1395++ 1st Month Free (215)546-1424. _____________________________________________37-46 House for rent, 3626 Earp St. Enclosed porch, W/D. refrig. 1/2 block to Schuylkill Banks Riverwalk. $800. Call Anthony, 215-551-1499. _____________________________________________37-46

Help Wanted

  

 

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   

    

Beautiful Private 61.466 acres On private road located 3 miles from Beltzville State Park and 10 minutes from Exit #74 (Mahoning Valley - Northeast Extension) of the PA Turnpike. Address is conveniently located 82 miles from Philadelphia and 100 miles from New York City making for an easy commute in either direction. The home is situated on 2.5 cleared acres and consists of master bedroom with private bath, 2 guest bedrooms with shared bath, living foam with gas ﬁreplace, dining room, kitchen with breakfast bar and laundry area off kitchen. Owner added front, covered deck/porch, back deck and enclosed sunroom that doubles as breakfast nook/living/TV room and 1.5 car detached garage with electric. Property appraised in 2010 at $1,090,000 with 50 of the 60+ acres considered developable. Property can also be used for private hunting with deer, wild turkey and sometimes an occasional bear. Lots of options with this property. Borders gay campground. Being offered at $850,000

For more information call Suzie at (610)377-1721 Business Opportunity

Adoption

GREAT OPPORTUNITY IN THE SUBURBS Full service salon has been in business for 41 years. Now looking for the right person to work and to build a clientele for themselves. Commissions as high as 75%. If interested please call 610-367-9686. _____________________________________________37-48

ADOPTION Childless, loving couple pray to adopt. Stay at home mom, successful dad, great dogs & devoted grandparents. Legally allowed expenses paid. Bill & Debbie 800-311-6090. ________________________________________37-46

All real-estate advertising is subject to Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended. Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental and ﬁnancing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and handicap (disability). PGN will not knowingly accept any real-estate advertising that is in violation of any applicable law.

Regional Owner Operators for dedicated run hauling plate glass needed. All Miles Paid! Also need regional stepdeck and RGN Contractors. Contact Daily Express 800-669-6414. ________________________________________37-46 Owner Operator DEDICATED HOME WEEKLY! Solos up to $175,000/year, $2500 Sign-on Bonus! Teams up to $350,000/year, $5000 Sign-on Bonus! Forward Air 888-652-5611. ________________________________________37-46 $1,000 Sign-On Bonus for Regional Drivers! Averitt Offers Excellent Benefits & Weekly Hometime. CDL-A req. 888-362-8608 Apply online at AverittCareers.com Equal Opportunity Employer. Job based in Harrisburg, PA. ________________________________________37-46 Exp. Reefer Drivers: GREAT PAY /Freight lanes from Presque Isle, ME, Boston-Lehigh, PA. 800-277-0212 or driveforprime.com ________________________________________37-46 Transfer Drivers: Need CDL A or B Contract Drivers, to relocate vehicles from local body plants to various locations throughout U.S. --No forced dispatch: 1-800-501-3783 or www.mamotransportation.com under Careers. ________________________________________37-46 GORDON TRUCKING CDL-A Truck Drivers. Up to $5,000 Sign-on Bonus & $.56 CPM ! Solos & Teams. Refrigerated Fleet, Great Miles, Full Benefits, Great Incentives. No Northeast ! EOE. Call 7 days/ wk! 866-554-7856 GordonTrucking.com ________________________________________37-46 EARN $500 A-DAY Insurance Agents Needed; Leads, No Cold Calls; Commissions Paid Daily; Lifetime Renewals; Complete Training; Health/Dental Insurance; Life License Required. Call 1-888-713-6020. ________________________________________37-46 Dedicated Class A CDL Drivers Wanted! Weekly Home Time, Competitive Pay, Excellent Benefits Package. Apply online at www.DriveJTC.com or call 866-511-1134 for more information. ________________________________________37-46

Friends Men LOOKING FOR ROMANCE Attractive GWM, warm, sensitive, caring, 48 y.o. with a smooth gymnast build looking for other GWM, 30-50, who is also in good shape. I live in NE Phila. I’m looking for guys who are also sensitive, caring with a fun personality. If this sounds interesting to you feel free to call me, David, 215-698-0215. ________________________________________37-49 WM, NE Phila. If you’re looking for hot action, call 215-934-5309. No calls after 11 PM. ________________________________________37-49 BM needs to ﬁnd Irish or Scottish redhead over 50 to have intimate encounters from Mon. to Sat. from 3 PM to 3 AM. Leave number on voice mail, 215-763-3391. No games, come real mate! ________________________________________37-48

PGN does not accept advertising that is unlawful, false, misleading, harmful, threatening, abusive, invasive of another’s privacy, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, hateful or racially or otherwise objectionable, including without limitation material of any kind or nature that encourages conduct that could constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability or otherwise violate any applicable local, state, provincial, national or international law or regulation, or encourage the use of controlled substances.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

dmhFund & Pennrose seeks

Maintenance Superintendent for the historic

John C. Anderson Apartments

Maintenance Superintendent

We currently have an exciting opportunity available for an experienced Maintenance Superintendent to join the Pennrose team at our John C. Anderson site located in downtown Philadelphia. The Maintenance Superintendent of this 56 unit, LGBT Friendly senior community will be responsible for overseeing all maintenance activities at the site including: working on- call, providing exceptional customer service, troubleshooting, appliance repair, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, grounds keeping, general building maintenance and carpentry. Individuals must have high school diploma or equivalent, 2-5 years maintenance or construction experience and, reliable transportation. This is a permanent, fulltime position with competitive salary and beneﬁts package including medical, dental, vision, and 401k along with a quarterly performance bonus plan. For additional information, a complete job description and to apply please go to www.pennrose.com/careers/and click “Apply now” then “Employment Listings” or send resumes to lgiberson@pennrose.com or via fax 267.386.8630

EOE M/F/D/V

Public Notices

City of Philadelphia Public Hearing Notice

The Committee on The Disabled and Special Needs of the Council of the City of Philadelphia will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, November 19, 2013, at 10:00 AM, in Room 400, City Hall, to hear testimony on the following item:

130723

An Ordinance amending Title 6 (Health Code), Title 17 (Contracts and Procurement), and Title 20 (Ofﬁcers and Employees) all of The Philadelphia Code, by replacing references to “mental retardation” with references to “intellectual disability;” all under certain terms and conditions.

Immediately following the public hearing, a meeting of the Committee on The Disabled and Special Needs, open to the public, will be held to consider the action to be taken on the above listed item. Copies of the foregoing item are available in the Ofﬁce of the Chief Clerk of the Council, Room 402, City Hall. Michael Decker Chief Clerk

Friends Men

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

Massage David, 63, 6’, 200 lbs., attentive. 215-569-4949. (24/7) ________________________________________37-48 Gay male provides massages for curious and gay men. $20/half hour, $40/hour. Works with different sizes of men. Honey brown complexion, small w/muscles. Works with all races. Speaks English only. Diego, 267-333-5026. ________________________________________37-46

Deep Tissue, Sensual and Erotic Massage

by handsome athletic man

AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer that Supports our LGBT Community

Handsome Certified Therapist

Ask about the After Midnight Special.

Call Mario anytime 24/7 at 215-490-7353 B24

��

View our open positions at www.atlanticare.org or call the Access Center at 1-888-569-1000.

��

6’, 195 lbs, Muscle Gives Sensual / Therapeutic Massage

Call 215-432-6030

B-7

THE BIGGER, BETTER & CLEANER CLUB IN THE CITY...

SEASONS OF CHANGE

Saturday, Nov. 16th - Time: 11pm-3:30am

WHAT TO EXPECT: • DJ David Dutch • Complimentary Food & Beverages • A Full House of Guys To Choose From & So Much More. ROOMS: Members: $25.00 & Non-Members: $35.00 LOCKERS: Members: $18.00 & Non-Members: $28.00 CHECK IN EARLY IF YOU WANT A ROOM... ROOMS GO QUICKLY!!! -

P.A.N.G. (Philadelphia Area Nudist Group) Sunday, Nov. 17th - Time: 3pm- 6pm

BOYS WILL BE BOYS- AWAKEN YOUR INNER SPIRIT JOIN PANG FOR: • An Afternoon of Naked Socializing • Complimentary Food & Beverages & Much More. For More Information On Group: www.phillynakedguys.com/

THANKSGIVING DAY CLOSED: 9am & Re-Open at 12 Midnight

BUSY TIMES FOR US:

These our are most popular days when people come-

SATURDAY AFTERNOON DELIGHT 4 Hour Lockers (8am - 4pm) Members: $5.00 and Non-Members: $15.00

SUNDAY RELIEF

Half Price Rooms (6am Sunday till 8am Monday) Members: $12.50 and Non-Members: $22.50 JOIN US SUNDAY MORNINGS for COMPLIMENTARY CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST with Fruit, Pastries & Coﬀee TO START YOUR MORNING OFF RIGHT....

MONDAY thru FRIDAY:

Business Mans Locker Special (8am to 4pm) Members: $5.00 and Non-Members: $15.00

TUESDAYS

Half Price Rooms (6am till 12 Midnight) Members: $12.50 and Non-Members: $22.50

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY NIGHT CRUISE

$12 Flat Rate for Locker Admission & Clothing Optional (4pm-12 Midnight) Check out our website for our WEEKLY SPECIALS & JOIN OUR e-mail List to get the latest information on upcoming events....

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

PGN

12-step programs and support groups Al-Anon

■

Pennsylvania Al-Anon Alateen Family Groups: Events, meeting times and locations at pa-al-anon.org

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

■ Acceptance meets 7:30 p.m. on Fridays at

Episcopal Church, 22nd and Spruce streets.

■ Community meets 8 p.m. on Thursdays at

Holy Communion Church, 2111 Sansom St. Gay and lesbian, but all are welcome. ■ Early Night Out meets 5:30 p.m. daily at Washington West Project, 1201 Locust St., second ﬂoor; 215-985-9206. ■ GLBT Alcoholics Anonymous meets 7 p.m. on Sundays and 8 p.m. Wednesdays at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 100 W. Windsor St., Reading; 484-529-9504. ■ Living Sober meets 8:30 p.m. Saturdays at the William Way Center. ■ No Other Way Out meets 11 a.m. Sundays at the William Way Center. ■ Night Owl meets 11:30 p.m. daily at the William Way Center. ■ Stepping Stone meets 2:30 p.m. Mondays at the William Way Center. ■ Sober and Gay meets 8:30 p.m. Sunday-Friday at the William Way Center. ■ Young People’s meets 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays at St. Mark’s Church, 1625 Locust St.

Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA)

■ Meets 7 p.m. on Sunday, Tuesday,

Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the William Way Center.

Emotional Support

■ Pink and Blues, a free peer-run mental-health

support group for LGBT people, meets 7 p.m. Wednesdays at St. Luke and The Epiphany Church, 330 S. 13th St.; 215-627-0424. ■ Survivors of Suicide Inc. meets 7:30 p.m. on ﬁrst Tuesday of the month at 3535 Market St., Room 2037; 215-545-2242; www.phillysos. tripod.com. ■ Survivors of Suicide Inc., Chester County, meets 7:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month at Paoli Memorial Hospital, Willistown Room, Medical Ofﬁce Building; 215-545-2242; phillysos.tripod.com.

HIV/AIDS

■ Strength In Numbers

Visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ SINPhiladelphia.

Mondays: ■ Positive Brothers, a support group for men of color living with HIV/AIDS, meets 6 p.m. at 112 N. Broad St., 11th floor; 215-496-0330. Tuesdays: ■ A support group for HIV-positive men and women meets 1:30-3 p.m. at BEBASHI — Transition to Hope, 1217 Spring Garden St., first floor; 215-769-3561; bebashi.org. ■ “Pozitive Light HIV/AIDS Support Ministry,” presented by Unity Fellowship of Christ Church Philadelphia HIV/AIDS Ministry and Girard Avenue Pharmacy, meets 5-7 p.m. at 112 N. Broad St., first-floor group room; 267481-5085; blaclikme@comcast.net. ■ Encuentros, a group for HIV-negative Latino men who have sex with men, meets 6 p.m. the first and third Tuesday of the month at 1201 Locust St. ■ “Feast Incarnate,” a weekly ministry for people affected by HIV/AIDS, meets 5 p.m. at University Lutheran Church, 3637 Chestnut St. Bible study follows at 6 p.m.; 215-387-2885. ■ A support group for people recently diagnosed with HIV/AIDS meets 6:30-8 p.m. at Mazzoni

Center; 215-563-0652 ext. 235.

■ Youth Outreach Adolescent Community

Awareness Program’s Voice It Sistah, a support group for HIV-positive women, meets 11 a.m. ﬁrst and third Tuesday at YOACAP, 1207 Chestnut St., Suite 315; 215-851-1898.

Wednesdays: ■ AIDS Services in Asian Communities’ weekly volunteer work group meets 6-8 p.m. at 340 N. 12th St., Suite 205; 215-629-2300. ■ Project Teach, a peer-education and empowerment program for people living with HIV/AIDS, meets at Philadelphia Fight, 1233 Locust St.; ﬁght.org. ■ Positive Effect, for HIV-positive people 18 and over, meets 5-7 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesdays at Camden AHEC, 514 Cooper St., Camden, N.J.; 856-963-2432. Thursdays: ■ A support group for HIV-positive men and women meets 6-8 p.m. at BEBASHI — Transition to Hope, 1217 Spring Garden St.; 215-769-3561. ■ Diversity, an HIV/AIDS support group for all infected or affected, meets from 7-9 p.m. at Arch Street United Methodist Church, 55 N. Broad St.; call Zak, 215-848-4380; azaklad@craftech.com. Saturdays: ■ AIDS Delaware’s You’re Not Alone youth support group meets during the school year. Call 800-810-6776 for location and time.

Debtors Anonymous

■ Meets 7-8 p.m. Monday and Thursday at the

William Way Center.

Overeaters Anonymous (OA)

■ Open meeting, Tuesdays, 5:45 p.m., and

7 p.m. Fridays, at Hahnemann University Hospital, 245 N. 15th St.; call Troy for ﬂoor/ room number, 215-514-3065; www.oa.org. ■ Meets 11 a.m.-noon at the William Way Center.

S.A.R.A.

■ Substance Abuse – Risk Assessment; day and

evening hours; 215-563-0663 ext. 282.

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous

■ Meets 7:30 p.m.Thursdays at All Saints

Church, 18 Olive Ave., Rehoboth Beach, Del.; 302-542-3279.

SEPCADD

■ Safe space to meet and discuss substance

abuse problems at the William Way Center.

Health

Alder Health Services provides LGBT health services on a sliding-fee scale; 100 N. Cameron St., Ste. 301 East, Harrisburg; 717-233-7190 or 800-867-1550; www.alderhealth.org. Anonymous, free HIV testing with Spanish/ English counselors, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. MondayFriday at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 3439 N. Hutchinson St.; 215-763-8870 ext. 6000. HIV treatment: Free HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment for Philadelphia residents available 9 a.m.-noon Mondays and 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad St.; 215685-1803. HIV health insurance help: Access to free medications and confidential HIV testing available at 17 MacDade Blvd., Suite 108, Collingdale; 722 Church Lane, Yeadon; and 630 S. 60th St.; 610-586-9077. Philadelphia FIGHT provides HIV primary care, on-site lab services, clinical trials, case management, mental-health services and support groups for people living with HIV regardless of insurance status or ability to pay; 1233 Locust St., fifth floor; 215-985-4448; www.fight.org.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

Community Bulletin Board 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. Groups meet and activities are held 4-7 p.m. Monday-Tuesday and 48:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday. Case management, HIV testing and smoking cessation are available MondayFriday. See the Youth section for more events.

■ Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center at the University of Pennsylvania 3907 Spruce St., 215-898-5044; center@dolphin. upenn.edu. Regular hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday; noon-6 p.m. Saturday; noon-8 p.m. Sunday. Summer hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

■ ActionAIDS: 215-981-0088 ■ AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania: 215-587-9377 ■ AIDS Law Project of Southern New Jersey: 856-933-9500 ext. 221 ■ AIDS Library: 215-985-4851 ■ ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215592-1513 ■ AIDS Treatment Fact line: 800662-6080 ■ Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection at the Independence Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library: 215-685-1633 ■ The COLOURS Organization, Inc.: 215-496-0330 ■ District Attorney LGBT Liaison: Helen “Nellie” Fitzpatrick, 215-6869980, helen.fitzpatrick@phila.gov

■ Rainbow Room — Bucks County’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and Allies Youth Center 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays: Salem UCC Education Building, 181 E. Court St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981 ext. 9065 rainbowroom@ppbucks.org.

■ William Way Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220; www.waygay.org. Hours: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Peer counseling: 6-9 p.m. Monday through Friday Library hours: noon-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; noon-3 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Friday; noon-6 p.m. Saturday. Volunteers: New Orientation: First Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.

Key numbers

of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): 215-572-1833

■ Equality Pennsylvania: 215731-1447; www.equalitypa.org

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

■ Equality Forum: 215-732-3378

■ Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force: 1-877-pride-2000

■ GALAEI: A Queer Latin@ Social Justice Organization: 215-8511822 ■ LGBT Elder Initiative: 267-5463448; info@LGBTEI.org ■ LGBT Peer Counseling Services: 215-732-TALK ■ Mayor’s Director of LGBT Affairs: Gloria Casarez, 215-6862194; Gloria.Casarez@phila.gov; ■ Mazzoni Center: 215-563-0652; Legal Services: 215-563-0657, 866-LGBT-LAW; Family & Community Medicine: 215-563-0658 ■ Parents, Families and Friends

■ Police Department liaison — Deputy Commissioner Kevin Bethel: 215-686-3318 ■ Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 215-760-3686 (Rick Lombardo); ppd.lgbt@gmail.com ■ Philly Pride Presents: 215875-9288 ■ SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: 717-9209537 ■ Transgender Health Action Coalition: 215-732-1207 (staffed 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays and 6-9 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays)

Health

Anonymous, free, conﬁdential HIV testing Spanish/English counselors offer testing 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 216 W. Somerset St.; 215763-8870. ActionAIDS Provides a range of programs for people affected by HIV/AIDS, including case management, prevention, testing and education services at 1216 Arch St.; 215-981-0088; www.actionaids.org. GALAEI: A Queer Latin@ Social Justice Organization Free, anonymous HIV testing from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; noon-6 p.m. Tuesdays at the Washington West Project, 1201 Locust St.; 215-851-1822 or 866-222-3871; www.galaei. org. Spanish/English HIV treatment Free HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment for Philadelphia residents are available from 9 a.m.-noon Mondays (walk-in) and 5-8 p.m. Thursdays (by appointment) at Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad St.; 215685-1821. HIV health insurance help Access to free medications and confidential HIV testing

■ Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia Board meetings at 6:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at 100 S. Broad St., Suite 1810; free referral service at 215-6279090; www.galloplaw.org. ■ Greater Philadelphia Professional Network Networking group for area business professionals, selfemployed and business owners meets monthly in a different location throughout the city; www. gppn.org; 215-922-3377. ■ Independence Business Alliance Greater Philadelphia’s LGBT

11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays at 13 S. MacDade Blvd., Suite 108, Collingdale; Medical Office Building, 722 Church Lane, Yeadon; and 630 S. 60th St.; 610-586-9077. Mazzoni Center LGBTQ counseling and behavioral health services, HIV/ AIDS care and services, case management and support groups; 21 S. 12th St., eighth floor; 215-563-0652; www. mazzonicenter.org. Mazzoni Center Family & Community Medicine Comprehensive primary health care, preventive health services, gynecology, sexual-health services and chronic-disease management, including comprehensive HIV care, as well as youth drop-in (ages 14-24) 5-7p.m. Wednesdays; 809 Locust St.; 215-563-0658. Washington West Project of Mazzoni Center Free, anonymous HIV testing. Walk-ins welcome 9 a.m.-9 pm. Monday-Friday, 1-5p.m. Saturday; 1201 Locust St.; 215-985-9206.

Professional groups Chamber of Commerce, providing networking, business development, marketing, educational and advocacy opportunities for LGBT and LGBT-friendly businesses and professionals; www. IndependenceBusinessAlliance. com; 215-557-0190; 1717 Arch St., Suite 3370. ■ National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association Philadelphia chapter of NLGJA, open to professionals and students, meets for social and networking events; www.nlgja.

org/philly; philly@nlgja.org. ■ Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus Regional organization dedicated to promoting LGBT tourism to the Greater Philadelphia region, meetings every other month on the fourth Thursday (January, March, May, July, September and the third Thursday in November), open to the public; P.O. Box 58143, Philadelphia, PA 19102; www.philadelphiagaytourism. com; 215-840-2039.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 15-21, 2013

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