PGN Nov. 22 - 28, 2013 by The Philadelphia Gay News

Playing to the beat of her own drum PAGE 33

Holiday health and fitness tips Work It Out On Being Well

Family Portrait: Dr. Brad Bates, bringing peace to pets PAGE 35

Page 8 Page 19

ACLU suit heads to court; Lehigh County says no to domesticpartner benefits Page 2 Nov. 22-28, 2013

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Vol. 37 No. 47

HRC: Philly still on top

Woman raped in Gayborhood By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com Philadelphia has once again received a perfect score for its fight for equality on behalf of the LGBT community. The Human Rights Campaign released its 2013 Municipal Equality Index Nov. 19, and Philadelphia was one of 25 cities that received 100, the highest possible rating. It was one of just eight cities with 100 that is situated in a state without comprehensive relationship recognition or LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination laws. Last year, in the first-ever MEI, Philadelphia achieved 100 points plus nine bonus points, and was the only city in the nation to achieve 100 without bonus points; this year, the system was revised so that 100 was the maximum score. In addition to its 100, PAGE 29

Arrest made in murder of gay man By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Police last week arrested a 17-year-old male who is accused of stabbing to death a gay man outside of a North Philadelphia bar. Angel Mercado, 22, was stabbed during an altercation outside Old Madrid Bar, 5261 N. Fifth St., Nov. 3. He died one week later. Julio Castillo-Hernandez, of the 4900 block of Pennway Street in Juniata ANGEL Park, is charged with murMERCADO der, aggravated assault and possession of an instrument of crime. Witnesses identified CastilloHernandez to police and he was arrested the morning of the incident. The charges were upgraded to include murder Nov. 13. LGBT Liaison Deputy Commissioner Kevin Bethel said the incident began at about 2 a.m. when a group of friends Mercado was with got into an altercaPAGE 29

20 AND STRONG: Ingrid Abrams (from left), coordinator of The Attic Youth Center’s HIV-prevention services, accepted an award for her longtime service to the agency at its 20th-anniversary gala Nov. 16 at the Crystal Tea Room. Sharing the stage was event co-chair Tami Sortman, executive director Carrie Jacobs and co-chair Scott Barnes. The sold-out gala raised $123,000 for the organization and drew more than 600 guests, who dined, danced and listened to the sounds of headliner Jai Rodriguez. Photo: Scott A. Drake

A woman was raped last week in the Gayborhood, and her attacker remains on the loose. The 29-year-old woman was beaten, raped and robbed in the 1200 block of St. James Street, between 12th and 13th streets, around 11 p.m. Nov. 14. The woman, who moved to the city just last week from the Midwest, had been out with friends at Tabu. She was walking along St. James towards 13th to feed her parking meter when police say a man approached from behind. He said “hey” to get her attention, then knocked her to the ground and physically and sexually assaulted her before stealing $160 from the victim. The woman told police he may have had another man with him. The woman ran back to Tabu and a friend drove her to the hospital. Capt. John Darby of the Police Special Victims Unit said the victim was treated and released and then transported to SVU. The suspect was described as a 5-foot-8 black man in his early 30s, clean-shaved with shoulder-length braids and a dark

complexion. He was wearing a blue button-down, khakis and a chain with a cross. He had a tattoo on his neck. The man may have also had an accomplice, and investigators are examining surveillance video from the area. “We are still in the process of getting certain videos downloaded, making contact with management and IT people,” Darby said. “It is a challenge for the department because there are a lot of different types of equipment out there, every one is different, and sometimes the owner isn’t familiar with it so they have to work with others to get the video. But it is ongoing.” Darby noted that the incident was “unusual” for the area. “It is a single case but it does have us concerned,” Darby said. Police LGBT Liaison Deputy Commissioner Kevin Bethel said police are stepping up their presence in the Gayborhood in light of the attack. “We are going to be increasing our police presence in that area,” he said. “We want to bring this guy in before any other incident happens.” Darby said investigators are looking back through several years of PAGE 25

Minister suspended for 30 days; dismissal likely

PGN Pet Issue

By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com

HUNDREDS OF DOG OWNERS WALK BY THE USS JOHN F. KENNEDY AT THE PHILADELPHIA ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY’S MUTT STRUT OCT. 19 AT THE PHILADELPHIA NAVAL YARD. Photo: Scott A. Drake MORE PET FEATURES THROUGHOUT THE PAPER

The Rev. Frank Schaefer, a Methodist minister who performed his son’s marriage to another man, has been suspended for 30 days, and was warned that he’ll be defrocked if he doesn’t promise to obey church rules. Schaefer, 51, came under scrutiny by church leaders for officiating at his son’s same-sex marriage six years ago in Massachusetts. It’s against the Methodist Book of Discipline for ministers to officiate at samesex wedding ceremonies. A formal complaint was lodged against Schaefer earlier this year, and a two-day trial for Schaefer was held this week in Chester County. On Nov. 18, the 13PAGE 29

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 2013

REGIONAL PGN

Free Library and ACLU marriage suit to �� honor box locations head to trial ��

FREE LIBRARY LOCATIONS

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

HONOR BOXES

A federal judge has denied the state’s attempts to dismiss the first-ever lawsuit challenging Pennsylvania’s ban on samesex marriage. In a Nov. 15 ruling, U.S. District Court Judge John E. Jones III denied requests by the state Department of Health and the Bucks County Register of Wills to dismiss Whitewood v. Corbett. The defendants sought to rely on a 1972 U.S. Supreme Court precedent that found that marriage is a state, not federal, issue; however, Jones argued that institution of marriage has seen a “sea change” in the ensuing decades. He said that “significant doctrinal developments in the four decades” since that ruling, including this past summer’s overturning of a key provision of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, would prevent him from dismissing the case on that ground. Jones’ ruling clears the way for the case

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to head to trial. The parties will meet for a case-management conference Nov. 22 to determine the next phases. The suit was brought by the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, along with the national ACLU and Hangley Aronchick Segal Pudlin & Schiller, in July on behalf of 10 same-sex couples, two of their children and a widow. Attorney General Kathleen Kane and Gov. Tom Corbett were originally named as defendants, but Jones allowed Kane — who has refused to defend the state ban on same-sex marriage — and Corbett to be dismissed from the case. Last week, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint that added another couple to the list of plaintiffs. Last month, Jones said a potential trial would be “earlier rather than later” in 2014. At least five other cases are pending in state and federal court challenging Pennsylvania’s 1996 ban on same-sex marriage. ■

Partner benefits nixed in Lehigh Co. By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Earlier this month, Lehigh County appeared to be on track to become the latest jurisdiction in Pennsylvania to sanction benefits for same-sex spouses of government employees. But the county’s governing board squashed that plan. Two weeks ago, Lehigh County Executive Matt Croslis vetoed an action by the Lehigh County Commissioners that would have removed his proposal to include same-sex spouses in the healthinsurance plan for county employees. However, last week, the commissioners fired back with a veto override, effectively killing chances for the partner benefits at this time. The original benefits proposal was rejected by the commissioners last month in a 5-4 vote. After Croslis vetoed their action, however, Republican Commissioner Percy Dougherty switched sides, aligning with his fellow party members last Wednesday to achieve the six votes needed to override. The board’s two lone Democrats continued to support the measure; one Republican who had voted for it was not present.

Dougherty had been facing re-election when he voted for the benefits proposal. According to the Express-Times, Dougherty says his change of heart was brought about by his “giving more thought to the issue and talking to various constituents. It’s as simple as that.” T h e E x p r e s s - Ti m e s a l s o q u o t e s Republican Vic Mazziotti as saying he opposed the measure primarily for personal religious reasons: “Were I to vote for this, I would be cooperating with behavior that my church does not condone. I’ve discussed it with my pastor, and the conclusion that I’ve reached is that no faithful Catholic could vote for this amendment.” Croslis, however, attempted to argue before the board that he too is a Catholic but that the county’s current policy is discriminatory. Currently, Philadelphia, Allentown, Easton, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and State College offer benefits to same-sex partners of employees, although those programs extend to non-married same-sex domestic partners; the proposed Lehigh County measure would have been limited to samesex couples who were married in jurisdictions that sanction same-sex marriage. ■

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FAMILY OUTING: Prospective parents and others learned the ropes of adoption at an LGBT adoption resource fair Nov. 16 at William Way LGBT Community Center. The event was staged to coincide with National Adoption Day, which raises awareness about the 100,000 children currently in foster care in the United States who are awaiting loving homes. Participating agencies included Tabor Children Services, Lutheran Children and Family Services, Bethanna, Delta Children Services and Northern Children Services. Photo: Scott A. Drake NEWS

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REGIONAL PGN

School staffer fights for partner bens By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com The Central Bucks County School District is facing pressure to grant spousal benefits for same-sex partners of employees. Last month, a Central Bucks employee asked the district’s human-resources department for a request to enroll her same-sex spouse on her health-insurance plan. The couple, who was legally married in Delaware, was denied spousal benefits by the school board, a committee of which recommended the board wait to extend such benefits until Pennsylvania legalizes samesex marriage. According to school-board president Stephen Corr, the district is currently in arbitration with the employee. The district offers two health insurance plans — an HMO through Aetna and a PPO through Amerihealth. Aetna offers coverage for legal spouses while Amerihealth only offers benefits for spouses of the opposite sex. During a Nov. 12 meeting to debate the subject, 13 individuals, including students, spoke in support of providing same-sex benefits to their teachers and staff of the district. Bucks County Human Relations Councilmember Marlene Pray was present at the Nov. 12 meeting and spoke in support of the employee. Pray said that while the issue may continue, her agency will not play an active role in the case. Pray said, however, that the Council can make statements to urge the district to adopt benefits for same-sex couples. On Nov. 13, the Human Relations

Committee of the district’s board met to discuss its role in the arbitration process. Pray said approximately 50 people showed up to the meeting to support equal rights for LGBT district employees. “We presented them with several pieces of information as to why we should be offering same-sex spousal benefits and domesticpartnership benefits in the school district,” she said. Pray said it could be illegal for the school board to deny benefits due to the fact that four of the schools in the district are located in Doylestown Borough, which adopted an LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination law in 2010. “If they just changed the policy, obviously the arbitration would go away,” she said. Pray said for the most part, it was the students who rallied in support for their LGBT teachers. “Most of the effort is led by the students who understandably are very upset that their teachers are not receiving fair treatment,” she said. “Students are planning actions and meeting to help change this and show support for their teachers. They are definitely engaged on this and not sitting.” Pray said she hopes the board listens to the students and the many other supporters. “They have a reputation of not being sensitive of the community’s concerns. My hope is that they do the right thing. This is a real opportunity for them to build bridges. It is not a controversial issue — this is about fair and equal treatment of our teachers and staff.” The school board did not respond to requests for comment. ■

Gay man acquitted in assault case By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com Kamile Ladson, a gay man accused of assaulting an off-duty prosecutor on the Broad Street Subway, was acquitted of all charges this week. A Philadelphia jury deliberated for two hours Nov. 20 before handing down the notguilty verdict. A tearful Ladson, 31, told the jury this week that he acted in self-defense. During emotional testimony, Ladson said he repeatedly swung at Andrei Govorov to get out of his grasp after Govorov suddenly pulled him off a subway train. Ladson was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and ethnic intimidation. But Ladson told jurors he was the victim of Govorov’s aggression last winter at the Fairmount subway station. “I was terrified,” Ladson testified Nov. 19. “I didn’t know what [Govorov] was capable of doing. He just had the audacity to yank me off the train. I didn’t want him grabbing me and ripping me up.” Ladson also vehemently denied calling Govorov’s a “fucking white guy,” as

Govorov contended. Several teens had been harassing Ladson — who has effeminate mannerisms and dresses in trendy clothing — prior to his altercation with Govorov. Govorov admitted telling Ladson to “shut the fuck up” in an effort to defuse a volatile situation between Ladson and the teens. “Your client tried to create a very dangerous situation on the train,” Govorov told defense attorney William D. Hobson. But Ladson said the manner in which Govorov got between him and the teens wasn’t helpful. “If he wanted to help, he could have asked what was going on or called 911,” he said. A few minutes after the teens left the train, Govorov brushed up against Ladson when exiting at Fairmount, according to Ladson. “Girl, don’t touch me,” Ladson said he told Govorov, while flicking his fingers through Govorov’s hair. A moment later, Govorov pulled Ladson off the train, and a subsequent altercation ensued for 90 seconds. Senior Deputy Attorney General James T. Goldsmith said Ladson punched Govorov 38 times during the altercation. PAGE 25 But Ladson said

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 2013

LOCAL PGN

Santas to sashay through the Gayborhood in new event By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com

Hundreds of Santas are expected to sashay their way through the Gayborhood next week. Philly Pride Presents, along with Our Night Out, will host the first annual Sashaying of the Santas Dec. 21, a pub crawl where participants are encouraged to dress as the jolly old elf and other holiday characters. The “Santas” will start at ICandy, dubbed the South Pole, and will make their way through the Gayborhood throughout the night, ending at the North Pole, or what is expected to be Voyeur Nigthclub. Philly Pride Presents president Franny Price said she has always been a fan of the Running of the Santas bar-crawl event that happens annually in the city and wanted to create something similar for the LGBT community. She met with organizers of that event several years ago. “I became obsessed with doing it in the Gayborhood,” she said. “I figured, if the straight community can do this, why can’t we? Our community is creative.” Price said Philly Pride Presents found a company that would create inexpensive disposable Santa Claus suits for patrons to wear

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and that can be used to get drink specials at each bar. Price said suits will most likely be sold for $12 and can be purchased at Spruce Street Video and participating bars after the Thanksgiving holiday. So far, ICandy, Venture Inn, Tavern on Camac and Tabu will participate in the bar crawl. Price said partiers are encouraged to dress as Christmas characters, whether it is as Santa Claus or Mrs. Claus, an elf or a reindeer. She anticipates more than 100 people will participate and said the event will serve to raise funds for Our Night Out and Philly Pride Presents’ 2014 programming. “Because this is our first, if 100 show up, that is wonderful — if 300 or 400 show up, that would be fabulous. It will grow every year and be a fundraiser for our community.” Price said she has received only good feedback about the event and said it will be one to remember. “To see 100 of these Santas and elves and Mrs. Clauses leave ICandy all at one time and go up 12th Street will be so much fun to watch,” she said. “It is a fun, unique thing to do and provides a sense of unity because people are sashaying around the Gayborhood, which is our little safe haven, and they can go clubbing and feel safe.” ■

copies of nondisclosure agreements by the PAC and the D.A.’s Office. PGN requested the records Nov. 7, after being informed that a nondisclosure agreement between the PAC and the D.A.’s Office prevents the paper from accessing numerous Morris records in the PAC’s possession.

ACLU supports Morris probe

Appellate court rules against trans litigant

The Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the ACLU of Pennsylvania agreed last week to support a state probe of the Nizah Morris case. On Nov. 14, the board voted unanimously to support the probe, after a presentation by former state Rep. Babette Josephs. Morris, 47, was a transgender woman who became a homicide victim shortly after entering a police vehicle Dec. 22, 2002. The case remains unsolved. In April, the city’s Police Advisory Commission recommended state and federal probes, citing an “appalling” local investigation. “A major part of [the local ACLU’s] mission is to strive for LGBT equality,” Josephs told PGN. “The fact that law enforcement in Philadelphia doesn’t thoroughly investigate homicides of transgender persons is of grave concern to [ACLU] members. We urge state Attorney General Kathleen Kane to look into this matter promptly.” In a related matter, the city Law Department has requested an additional 30 days before deciding whether to release

An appellate court on Wednesday ruled against transwoman Janis Stacy, who alleged wrongful termination from her engineering position at LSI Corp. due to gender, gender identity and disability bias. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals’ 11page ruling affirms a lower court’s decision to dismiss the lawsuit. The appellate judges who issued the ruling are D. Michael Fisher, Kent A. Jordan and Dolores K. Sloviter. They said Stacy presented insufficient evidence to support her claims. “We are disappointed with the decision,” said Stacy’s attorney, Scott B. Goldshaw. “We believe the decision overlooks certain legal precedent and important facts, and we will be submitting a petition for rehearing shortly.” Stacy worked at the Allentown electronics firm for about 10 years prior to her 2008 termination. LSI maintained Stacy was terminated due to an “adverse economy,” and because she lacked the requisite skills to help move the company forward. ■ — Timothy Cwiek

NUPTIALS PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 2013

Weddings Ron Andrews and Alan Muchler By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com In 1971, Ron Andrews was bartending at Allegro Bar on Spruce Street when a customer, Alan Muchler, caught his eye. And, more than four decades later, they married. Andrews, 68, and Muchler, 66, were wed N o v. 6 i n Wi l m i n g t o n , Del., after 42 years together. Andrews, who is originally from New York, and Muchler, a Pittsburgh native, lived in Philadelphia for 33 years before moving to Collingswood, N.J. Andrews works as a hair colorist and Muchler as an administrator in radiology for the University of Pennsylvania Health System. The two met at the bar in the fall of 1971 and moved in together later that year. Andrews said they’ve considered themselves married for years. “Marriage has many different meanings,” he said. “With young people it can be about the ceremony and pomp, and that never figured into the way we felt.” Before they became an item, Muchler would occasionally visit Allegro and began talking to Andrews, who said he was taken back by Muchler’s handsome appearance, beautiful hair, posture and warm personality. Muchler said he was drawn to Andrews’ good looks, and that his partner has the same infectious smile as he did in 1971. Both men came out after the Stonewall Riots in the 1960s and said they are in awe of the pace of the marriage-equality movement in the United States. “I didn’t think any of this would happen as fast as it did,” Andrews said. “During the last few years, I became angry that I didn’t have my civil rights and I am now grateful that it is happening so quickly.” The pair applied for a civil union in 2002 in New Jersey on the very first day that option became available, but said they had already begun making plans for their wedding in Delaware before marriage equality was legalized in the Garden State.

Andrews said the two decided to marry in part to validate their legal commitment to one another. “We knew we would get married soon considering we are getting older,” he said. “We come from liberal families who would abide by power of attorney, but we wanted to have laws that are in place where we would be protected.” The pair had a simple ceremony that Muchler said was both meaningful and emotional. “When the actual day came, everyone was pleasant and accommodating and we stood and recited the vows to one another. Something came over me — it just meant so much,” he said. “I didn’t know what to feel or anticipate but once we were in the process of doing that, it was affirmation and an opportunity to feel and confirm what we felt with each other. It meant a great deal and we are so glad that people are getting the opportunity to get married. I hope the whole country sees it that way eventually.” Andrews said the two have similar interests, which has helped them grow into a more committed and understanding couple. “We both think you have to have things in common and your heart has to be somewhat in the same place,” he said. “We found that much of what we enjoyed was similar and that was the beginning of the journey, and it grew from that.” The spouses have had their struggles like every other couple, Muchler said, but at the end of the day, their love is what means the most. “We’ve had our ups and downs as relationships do, but we both understood that we meant a great deal to each other. When you are with somebody for so long, you have a history of bonding and dedication to one another,” he said. “You reach a point where it is comfortable and without saying a word, we are caring and dedicated to one another. I can’t imagine life without him.” ■

Scott Edwards and Mark Gratman By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com Scott Edwards and Mark Gratman’s romance started with a pair of rollerblades. Edwards, 49, and Gratman, 50, met at 12th Air Command Feb. 18, 2000, although Gratman had been a longtime admirer of Edwards. “I had been aware of Scott for some time,” Gratman said. “I moved into Center City in 1989 and Scott used to rollerblade and he used to rollerblade into this bar and I was always like, ‘Who is that handsome guy on rollerblades?’ Eventually we met at 12th Air Command. I was there and we wound up talking to each other. I always thought he looked interesting and attractive.” Edwards, who works as a systems analyst, joked that, while there was a mutual attraction, there was one area where Gratman needed help. “I thought he was cute but he needed somebody to help him with his fashion. He needed a stylist desperately,” Edwards said. “He’s gotten much better. Now he can’t stop shopping.” Gratman, who works as a server at White Dog Café, said the pair moved in together after two years of dating and currently live in Center City. The couple was married Nov. 12 in Wilmington, Del., after a two-year engagement, which was prompted by the recent pace of the marriageequality movement. “We’ve been following the whole legal marriage movement throughout the country and we didn’t think it would be coming to the Northeast so quickly,” Edwards said. “We got engaged and hoped Pennsylvania would have same-sex marriage but were surprised when Delaware, New Jersey and New York had it. We originally planned to go to New York.” Gratman was the one who popped the question.

“It just makes this official. I got down on one knee and asked,” Gratman said. “At one point in my life, I didn’t think it would be possible. We can now achieve our dream of being legally wed.” In addition to the symbolic nature of marriage, h av i n g t h e practical legal protection was also important to the pair. “I’ve seen parents who, when somebody passes away and they are not married, take away everything, and my parents are fundamentalist Christians and we wanted to protect our assets,” Edwards said. Although Edwards is not in contact with his parents, he said he was delighted to have the support of other family members, who were ecstatic about the couple’s wedding. “My family was thrilled. I had relatives in Ocean City, N.J., who told me they would have hunted me down if they were not invited,” he said. Gratman said he has received the same positive support from his family. “My mother was thrilled. She adores Scott as does the rest of my family, who were completely loving and excited and thrilled for us,” he said. Gratman said in their years together, the pair has learned that common interests and a healthy dose of patience have helped their relationship grow. “We are around the same age and that has allowed us to have the same cultural reference points,” Gratman said. “We grew up in the same time period, watched all the same shows. It helps on the surface level.” Staying committed to continuously working on their relationship, Edwards said, has also fueled its success. “You just have to want to make it work,” he said. “I see many people looking for an out, but if you want a relationship to work you make it work.” ■

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FITNESS PGN

Regain your focus after a day of eating indulgence We all lose some will power at some kickstart so you don’t start eating up your point in our diet. It’s hard to eat perfect hard-earned muscle. Wait 30-60 minutes if 24/7 and you shouldn’t feel like you have need be and make sure you grab something small and nutritious that is good for you, to. We all make mistakes on our diet, but the goal is to jump right back whether you are hungry or not. into it. Whether you needed to Try to grab a meal or snack that has protein, carbs and fulfill some cravings, or accidentally went all-out at dinner healthy fats. last night, you need to make the Get rid of the bloat. A bunch right decisions the next day to of the initial bloat you feel isn’t keep from falling into a weight always necessarily fat you put gain/yo-yo diet spiral. Here are on your body overnight. It ususome tips and reasons to help ally is water weight from all you get back on track the next the extra sodium and carbs you day. consumed the day before. The Don’t skip breakfast the next key to rid your body of extra morning after a heavy meal. You bloat and water weight is to up might have woken up not feelyour water intake the following ing full or gross from the food day — although you should be aiming for 100 ounces miniyou ate the day before, but you Char Biggs mally a day regardless. Watch need to fuel your body with something. This will help you the salt intake the next day, from slowing down your metabolism. You avoiding the extra-salty condiments and need to have energy for the day and need a processed junk foods. You may be running

Work It Out

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to the bathroom frequently but you have to get rid of that bloat and cleanse your body. Get moving regardless of how lethargic you feel. Usually the morning after you eat a bunch of sweets, white carbs or load up on a bottle of wine, you tend to get the sugar crash the next day. You might feel like laying around all day, but the best thing for you to do to regain your energy levels is to get moving. Go do a light workout and burn off some calories. It doesn’t have to be full-out, but any movement will help get your body and metabolism back on track so you are feeling better by the end of the day.

Don’t get too discouraged the day after and think you completely have undone all your hard-earned work. It takes 3,500 calories to pack on a pound and you have to eat a lot in one meal to get to that level. Get moving, drink water and drop some of the water weight from cheating. Get motivated again and move on to achieving your goals. Don’t ever fall off the bandwagon completely. ■ Char Biggs is a registered personal trainer at 12th Street Gym. To learn more about Char, visit biggsbuilt.com or 12streetgym.com.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 2013

EDITORIAL PGN

Creep of the Week

D’Anne Witkowski

Laurie Higgins

Editorial

Learning from our headlines As Thanksgiving approaches, many of us may be asked to answer the ubiquitous “What are you thankful for?” question before we dive into our turkey dinners. While the “family, friends and good health” answer is always a true, yet traditional, staple, a glance at this week’s headlines can truly drive home the meaning of the holiday. Among the stories on PGN’s front page this week are one about a man facing a job loss, a rape and another about a murder. Throughout the paper, there are other stories about a woman being denied health benefits for her wife, a gay man who was tried for an assault and a story about a 33-year-old man’s death. Not necessarily the kind of news to get you into the holiday spirit. At PGN, we would love it if each week’s issue carried stories about victories within our community and good fortune falling upon LGBT people; however, as is the case in any community, and any newsroom, bad news happens and we have a duty to report it. And, while we are obligated to remain objective about the news we cover, that doesn’t mean we can’t be affected by, and learn from, it. As the holiday season ramps up, we’ll all likely be thrown into stress-overdrive with shopping lists, money issues, cooking preparations for family get-togethers and worries over the drama among family and friends that always rears its head this time of year. Concerns about what we don’t have makes it easy to overlook what we do have. But looking at some of this week’s headlines is a fresh reminder that gift-buying, food shopping and family fights aren’t all that important. Just within the first page of this newspaper, a mother has lost her son, a young woman spending her first week in Philadelphia is faced with recovering from a brutal assault and a man is grappling with losing his livelihood because of his acceptance for his gay children. Stories like those may make many of our own seemingly difficult struggles seem insignificant in comparison. And that’s an idea that can be applied on a much larger scale. While many in the LGBT community may have to confront awkward or uncomfortable situations with families this holiday because of our sexual orientation or gender identity, there are other LGBT people in the world who face murder and violence for theirs. While our state doesn’t yet sanction marriage equality, there are many LGBT people, including in Pennsylvania, who are facing workplace harassment and loss of income for their identity. While we want the ability to walk down the street handin-hand with our partners without having to confront stares, people in other parts of the world jailed for being LGBT would simply revel in the ability to walk down the street. That certainly doesn’t mean we shouldn’t push back against intolerant families, restrictive state laws or homophobia in the public and in policies. But putting things into perspective can help take us out of our small corner of the world and see what the Thanksgiving holiday should truly represent. ■

Hooray for Illinois and Hawaii, the latest states to allow gays and lesbians to get legally married. As People for the American Way points out, that brings the grand total of U.S. states with marriage equality up to a whopping 30 percent. Which is still an F on any sane grading scale. Still, it’s a start. And 30 percent is certainly better than zero, but we still have a long way to go. Of course, if you’re Laurie Higgins from the Illinois Family Institute, you think we’ve gone too far already. IFI opposes marriage equality and they are none too pleased with the news that same-sex couples will soon start marrying in the Land of Lincoln (so far, June is the earliest projected gay-wedding day). In a Nov. 6 blog post, Higgins berated the cowardly and/or ignorant Illinois lawmakers who voted in favor of marriage equality “in defiance of truth, history, logic, compassion and in some cases, their own religious traditions.” And the children! Who will think of the children? Why, Higgins will, of course. “[Lawmakers] have given their stamp of approval on the practice of denying children’s inherent right to have both a mother and father,” she writes. First of all, children actually don’t have an “inherent right” to a mom and dad. Sure, ideally all children would be loved and well-cared for by two parents starting from the moment of their birth and continuing unconditionally throughout their lives. But research has shown that those two parents do not have to be a mom and a dad. Two moms or two dads will do just fine, thank you very much. Higgins disagrees, of course. In her post she blasts a “manipulative ... letter from a 10-year-old girl” that was read during

the floor debates over the marriage law in Illinois. According to Higgins, “[P]rior to being adopted by two homosexual men, [the girl] had been in foster care.” Higgins then writes that “adoption by a similarly compassionate mother and father would have been a better option.” Actually, an even better option for this girl would have been never having to end up in foster care in the first place. Granted, I don’t know this particular girl’s story, but children end up in foster care for a variety of reasons, and none of these reasons are happy. There are thousands of kids in foster care and the number who will be left lingering there, never to be adopted or reunited with the families they were separated from, is staggering. When Higgins says that this girl should have gone to straight parents instead, she is really saying that having no parents is better than having gay parents. Because if she thinks that there is a line of mom-dad pairs outside the door of child-welfare agencies and that gays are snatching available children away from them, she’s having some kind of fever dream. If children have an “inherent right” to anything, it’s to a secure attachment to a loving adult who is willing and able to take care of them. Unfortunately, you don’t have to look very hard to find that this right is often denied. So forgive me if I find Higgins’ claim that she’s fighting for kids by fighting against gay and lesbian families to be completely ludicrous and deeply offensive. ■

Sure, ideally all children would be loved and well-cared for by two parents starting from the moment of their birth and continuing unconditionally throughout their lives. But research has shown that those two parents do not have to be a mom and a dad. Two moms or two dads will do just fine, thank you very much.

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

The dark early days of AIDS Watching “The Dallas Buyers Club” on or even still feel, guilty. To this day, I often the big screen this past week, the new film walk down the street wondering why I don’t about the early days of the HIV/AIDS episee certain people anymore. I’m still afraid demic, had me recalling those dark days to ask friends about people from that time, when we as a community were literally since I’ll often hear that line, “Oh, they fighting for our very lives, and appreciating died.” the real heroes of the era. For The trauma for all of us is akin those with delicate sensibilities, to post-traumatic stress disorder. you might not want to read my We were in a war, and it was for following memories of those our lives. Like war, we watched early days. as our friends died. It may have The early days were approxibeen more traumatizing than war mately 1982-92. We were a because at least in war you have community dying with little the support of your government help of saving our lives from and populace; we did not. In war, you might see a couple of your our government, or even, for the fellow troops die; many of us most part, the medical world. saw scores, hundreds, multiple The government, whose first job is to protect its citizens, did not. battalions-worth perishing. And Those in medicine, who swear if all that were not enough, if, to do no harm, often ignored or by chance, you saw a bruise one refused to treat. Funeral homes day on your body, you’d begin often refused to accept the bodwonder, Do I have it? And if Mark Segal to ies. To all of them, those with I do, why even get diagnosed, AIDS weren’t even considered since there was nothing that citizens; they were treated as deceased could be done? And in the background were aliens. Not only those with AIDS, but almost the preachers who yelled from the pulpit, all gay men, were suspected of being “car“AIDS is God’s wrath on gays.” riers.” We were all treated like lepers. If you When the deaths, without any assistance visited an AIDS patient in the hospital, you from the government or medicine, became prepared for something out of a sciencetoo high, when we saw our friends commit fiction novel. The yellow and red tape was suicide rather than go through a horrible everywhere, warning signs. You were asked death, and one where they were stigmatized, to wear hospital gowns and face masks. this community, out to survive, learned how Sometimes, hospitals emptied a complete to react, fight back and organize. Those such floor for one patient. Even the New York as ACT UP and those who preceded them Times wouldn’t take it seriously until after are the real heroes, not the heterosexual 100 lives in New York were lost, because, cowboy out for profit. Personally, for me, after all, it was a “gay disease” and only those who publicly came out and put a face gays were dying. on the disease, they are the heroes. Those I guess you can feel my resentment from real-life doctors who put their practices on what you’ve just read, but you also might the line, they are the heroes. Even those few note that I’ve very rarely touched on the political elected leaders who found dollars subject before in this column. There’s a in their tight budgets to house, feed and care reason for that. Like many, I’d like to hide for those who were tossed off by society, those feelings and try and let them go, but they are the heroes. And yes, buyers’ clubs how can you, when you remember looking were heroes, but not a cowboy out for profit. ■ at your community as literally something out of “The Walking Dead”? If you were a Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the nation’s gay man in those days, you felt that there most-award-winning commentator in LGBT was a great possibility that you would get media. He can be reached at mark@epgn.com. the disease, and if you survived, you felt,

Mark My Words

Thinking Out Loud

Abby Dees

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 2013

Street Talk Whose support of marriage equality would gratify you the most? “The pope. His support would make a huge difference. I was raised a Catholic. I’d like to see the Catholic Church Lisa Conn become more artist liberal. A lot South Philadelphia of Catholics still follow what the pope has to say. It would be interesting to see their reactions if he supported marriage equality.”

“Mick Jagger. I think he would have a great deal of influence on Middle America. Everyone loves a rock Kristina Grinovich star. He has yoga instructor fans across Boston, Mass. the board. He’s always been a rock-androll icon for me. Anyone can dance to his music.”

“Pema Chadron. She’s a Buddhist spiritual leader. She has good balance. She’s easily understood Casey Pons by people student from all Boston, Mass. walks of life. She appeals to the compassion that exists within everyone. I do aspire to emulate the peace and strength she puts out to the world.”

“The Queen of England. Her support would have an enormous impact. She holds so much respect around the Coutney Ullman world. When server she expresses Westampton, N.J. an opinion, people really listen. They look up to her for direction. She’s ruled England for more than 60 years. One would hope she’s gained some wisdom over the years.”

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.

The end of the slippery slope I’ve heard some variation of this kind of argument more times than I can count: “If we let gays marry, next we’ll have to let people marry goats!” Or, “If we can’t legislate morality, what’s to stop people from legalizing polygamy or marrying children?” These are what lawyers call “slippery-slope” arguments, the idea being that once you’ve started going down the hill, there’s nothing to keep you from pretty much careening all the way to the bottom. Slippery-slope arguments are a mainstay

of conservative commentators who object to same-sex marriage, and I can see why. They appeal in a common-sense kind of way. It’s important for a civil society to have clear lines between things that are right and wrong so we all know what to expect each day. The slippery slope suggests that well-intended policies could have unintended consequences that will surely send us into chaos. You might have noticed, however, that while these comments are all over the

place in the media, they’re pretty much non-existent in LGBT court cases. That’s because in real life there is no slippery slope. In law school I learned how to use the slippery-slope argument to make my position sound stronger than it really was. It’s actually more of a volley into the opponent’s court than a killer shot; it buys a little time and gets the other side on the defensive. Allow me to return the volley and

explain why same-sex marriage won’t put us on a slippery slope to ruin. In short, it’s because the law is in the hands of human beings, not robots, who will, with any luck, put the brakes on when it’s correct to do so. And that choice will always be dependent on more than one simple precedent — such as same-sex marriage — but rather, a complex weighing of the multitude of competing rights and duties we all have. Back in 1878, the PAGE 26

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 2013

PETS PGN

Rainbow poodles make a colorful splash at Pride

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Every year, there are some eye-catching staples at Pride — feather boas, drag queens, scantily clad muscle men. And in the past few years, there have been some four-legged guests who’ve made a name for themselves. Alex Chapman has been bringing his herd of miniature poodles, dyed in the seven colors of the rainbow, to LGBT events like Pride and OutFest since 2008. Chapman, 35, said the idea to colorize the pups came from his late partner, William, who died in 2009, and with whom he also launched dog-grooming salon PhillyDogSpot the previous year. “Five years ago, he started remarking that we had enough poodles that we could dye them every color of the rainbow,” Chapman said. “So I called him on it and we did it. We went out the first time and people loved it.” Chapman said he tries to have seven poodles come every year but brought six one year due to one being sick, and has taken as many as 10, as friends are eager to lend their own dogs to the effort. He said he makes sure he’s bringing pets that do well with the attention. It also helps to have extra hands to manage the dogs on such outings, Chapman said. “I never do it alone, I always have a couple people helping,” he said. “And at home, it’s just organization. We have three adults living in our house so we all take turns doing what needs to be done each day.” In addition to the poodles, Chapman also has a Cuban hairless dog, which he noted is “not as showy” as the other canines. The dying process is a multi-step one. About a week before an outing, Chapman applies a pet-safe dye to each animal, and then washes and conditions each. He then applies a 100-percent vegetable-based cream rinse that is left to sit for 20 minutes before he wraps each pet in a cellophane-like material and blow dries the hair before giving each a final haircut. The night before an event, or the morning of, Chapman applies a pastel non-toxic chalk and then wets the area to give the hair

its bright hue. “The base coat basically dyes the base hair for tint and then the chalk, which only lasts a few hours, really makes it pop,” he said. “The hardest part isn’t dying them or grooming them; it’s walking the parade with an average of three gallons of water in my backpack to keep them hydrated. But we love it and they love it.” Chapman said each dog is typically the same color each year, which he selects to represent their individuality. “Most of the time they’re the same color because it matches their personalities,” he said. “It’s hard to explain unless you knew the dogs. They get dyed according to the color in their heart.” And they’ve been able to touch the hearts of many festival-goers, Chapman noted. “People laugh, cry, want to pick them up and pet them. Kids sometimes think they’re toys, so we have to be careful. I think the most memorable was one lady a couple years ago who literally was clutching Tito crying because she used to have a dog who died that looked like him that she also dyed. He just ate it up.” Chapman said the experience is also cathartic for himself as well. “William’s the reason I keep doing it. It reminds me of him,” he said. “It was his idea and I think I wouldn’t have even considered if it wasn’t for him.” For more information about PhillyDogSpot, visit www.phillydogspot.com. ■

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 2013

PETS PGN

Gay couple, dog stars at Mutt Strut By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

His clients span Center Çity, South and West Philadelphia, and he plans to expand once he hires his first employee early next year. He currently works with up to 12 dogs per day. As he walks the dogs, Hains works with them on training, discipline and commands, specializing in puppies and dogs who have been adopted, in order to acclimate them to their new environment. “The other company I worked for, we of course would play with the dog and be friendly, but there wasn’t much attention to health, nutrition or behavior, which is what I do now,” he said. “I like people to feel like I’m part of their family. My business is all about being personal.” Hains also does light grooming, shortterm boarding and taxi services to transport

Days before Halloween, Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society’s Mutt Strut allowed canine companions their own chance to dress up — and one local gay couple’s creative costumes secured them a top honor. Mike Hains and his partner, Andrew, along with their dog Winston, won Best in Show in the costume contest at the Oct. 19 fundraising event for their “Star Wars”-themed duds. The couple turned out to pass out information about Hains’ dog-service business and to learn about other pet resources available in the city, and were surprised that their costumes — them as Storm Troopers and Winston as an Ewok — were such a big hit. “Oh my God, we were so surprised that we w o n ,” H a i n s said. “I didn’t go there to win. I just wanted to meet the director of the Mutt Strut, go to the different booths and hand out some information. We at first left the Storm Tr o o p e r c o s tumes in the car because we got there early and MICHAEL HAINS (RIGHT), ANDREW AND DOG WINSTON it didn’t seem Photo: Scott A. Drake like everybody was getting into it as much as we wanted to. animals to vet appointments and the kenBut we went back to the car to get Winston nel. Hains also works as a bartender at Tavern water and were just like, ‘Oh, let’s just put them on and be those people who dressed on Camac, which has helped him get the word out about his business to the LGBT up with their dog.’” Hains said Winston’s breed, Brussels community; he said nearly all of his clients Griffon, is commonly compared to Ewok are LGBT. “All of my clients are gay except for two from the popular films, which gave them women,” he said. “I’ve never advertised for the idea for the costume. “My partner never watched ‘Star Wars,’ my business; all the dogs I work with are and I was trying to get him into it and one from friends or friends of friends who heard day, I was like, ‘Halloween’s coming, let’s about me.” Establishing trust with a dog walker is enter Winston into a costume contest as an Ewok,’ and then we got more serious about important, Hains said, especially for LGBT it. We went to the fabric store, bought the people. “This is a dog service that’s sensitive to materials and sat down for three nights in a people’s needs. Most people who walk dogs row making the costumes.” Winston is one of many four-legged are open-minded as it is, but I’ve had clients tell me they feel really comfortable with me friends Hains cares for. In the fall of 2012, Hains launched Woof because I’m gay. One guy does drag on the N’ Stuff after serving as a dog walker for weekends and he said he feels comfortable having me in his home; he didn’t feel like another local company. “I realized I have the initiative, the he had to put the eyelashes or wigs away. social capability to talk to people and man- A guy doesn’t have to feel weird if he has age myself walking dogs,” he said. “So I a painting of a half-naked guy above his decided to take a leap and begin working bed. There’s a level of comfort there that you might not have with a straight business for myself.” Hains, 34, is a native of Missouri and because you never know how people feel.” For more information, visit www.woofnmoved to Philadelphia 13 years ago, and stuff.info. ■ now lives in the Newbold section.

PETS PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 2013

Keeping the joy in the holidays for our pets It’s that time of the year, where families gather together to celebrate the fall and winter holidays. And of course, this includes our four-legged family as well! But, we need to remember that there are hazards present in our celebrations that can spell disaster for our furry friends. Let’s look at some of the things that could cause trouble. Thanksgiving is the time where we gather together and stuff ourselves silly. For humans, this is a cause for celebration, but overindulgence can be detrimental for pets, causing a spectrum of issues from diarrhea to intestinal obstruction. In its most simple form, a dietary indiscretion, in which a pet consumes something that it ordinarily Dr. wouldn’t have access to, most commonly results in diarrhea. This is usually easily remedied with fasting and a bland diet, but you should always consult with your veterinarian if this occurs. However, if vomiting also occurs, this may indicate that a much more serious problem is occurring. The consumption of bones, which are also usually present at the Thanksgiving meal, can be a leading cause of such problems. Bones can become stuck anywhere in the dog’s gastrointestinal tract, which will not allow food to flow past them. Cooked bones can also splinter, irritating the lining of the stomach and intestines, causing pain and discomfort. In addition, bones are also choking hazards, so it is best to avoid giving them to your four-legged friend. Pancreatitis is also a concern during holiday times. Pancreatitis can often occur after eating fatty foods and is caused by inflammation of the pancreas and surrounding organs such as the liver. It results in abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and decreased appetite. The treatment can require days of hospitalization and intravenous nutrition and can result in serious blood-clotting abnormalities, which may require blood products and even surgery. While not every dog who eats fatty foods will develop this problem, I wouldn’t try it out on yours. Sweet desserts and candy can also be a problem with both dogs and cats. Many holiday foods have chocolate or cocoa baked or added to them. These foods contain two chemicals, Theo bromine and caffeine, which are toxic to both dogs and cats. The amount of these compounds present in the chocolate varies with the darkness of the chocolate, with the general rule that, the darker the chocolate, the more toxic it will be to your pet. If the chocolate is consumed in enough quantity and then not properly treated, the result can be seizures and, unfortunately, death. If your

pet has consumed any chocolate, even milk chocolate, contact your veterinarian or ASPCA pet poison control (888426-4435). Many times, treatment will include inducing vomiting if the exposure was recent, using activated charcoal to bind up the toxins present in the gastrointestinal tract, IV-fluid administration, or anticonvulsant medication if seizures are present, along with hospitalization. Many people will bake their own bread this season, which also is another potential hazard. Bread dough contains yeast, which undergoes fermentation. When your dog eats bread dough, it begins fermentation in the warm environs of his stomach. One Stephen of the byproducts of this proMeister cess is ethanol. In effect, this ethanol produces alcohol poisoning in your dog! They may show signs of uncoordinated walking, stuperous behavior and unusual vocalization. In addition, the dough will rise and may stretch the stomach walls, leading to bloat and potentially twisting the stomach, which may require emergency surgery to correct. The initial treatment for dough consumption would be cold-water stomach pumping to stop fermentation and hospital support if severe neurologic depression occurs. Two other common ingredients present in our holiday foods may also cause severe toxic effects. Grapes and raisins seem harmless, but in reality may have detrimental effects. Both are known to cause severe kidney failure in dogs and cats. Any amount may cause this to happen, as the toxic dose is unknown at this time. Signs of kidney failure include lethargy, inappetence and either failure to produce urine or increased urine production, and the condition can be fatal. Treatment would involve intensive care, and the best way to prevent it is to avoid your pets’ contact with these fruits all together. And how about onions? Ingestion of onions, either raw or cooked, can cause destruction of red blood cells and subsequent anemia, which can often be life-threatening. Signs of onion anemia include weakness, pale gums and possibly red urine. Treatment may require blood transfusions and hospitalization. Please call your veterinarian immediately if your pet eats any of these foods. Plants are another potential cause for holiday distress. Poinsettias have traditionally been given a bad reputation, but in reality they do not cause much concern. It is true that the sap present in the stalks and leaves is an irritant, but it really only causes minor distress unless eaten in large quantities. Holly can also cause some mild gastrointestinal prob-

Paw Prints

lems, such as vomiting and diarrhea. Mistletoe, on the other hand, can cause significant adverse heart effects, so keep this out of reach of your pets. And one final hazard that primarily pertains to our feline friends: There is usually an abundance of ribbon during this time of year. Cats are particularly attracted to these dangling strips of fun! However, if they are eaten, they can lead to a serious condition known as a linear foreign body. When this happens, one end of the ribbon gets stuck at one end of the intestinal tract while the other is trying to push it out. This leads to bunching of the intestine and no movement of food or other ingest. This leads to a blockage of the intestine, which has serious consequences. Cats with linear foreign bodies vomit, are depressed and tend not to eat. Treatment requires intestinal surgery to remove the ribbon or string. Remember, the holidays are a time for all our friends to gather together, and that includes our furry ones as well, so let’s keep them safe! ■ Dr. Stephen Meister is an associate veterinarian at Society Hill Veterinary Hospital. For more information, visit www.society-hillvets.com or call 215627-5955.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 2013

PETS PGN

Animal programs cater to unique crowds By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com Three years ago, Buzz Miller fulfilled a life-long dream when he founded PACT For Animals, a nonprofit organization that helps place animals of hospital patients and military persons in foster care until the person has recovered or returned from active military duty. All PACT services are free and are provided to give peace of mind for those who will be away for an extended period of time but have no other shelter options for their pets. Miller said he had been rescuing animals part-time for 20 years and full-time for 10 while working as an attorney before he decided to launch PACT. “I worked with all the shelters in the Delaware Valley area and found out a couple years ago that there was a need for what PACT does,” he said. “In my interactions with local shelters, I started hearing horror stories of people dropping their animals off at shelters only to never see them again. They were going overseas — some risking their lives — and didn’t know if they’d see their animal again. The people we help are people who have no one to take care of their animals, who don’t have the money to take them to animal daycare. There is a

definite need both locally and throughout unteers and donations. “Every placement we do is an animal the country for this program.” Miller also said PACT has extended its that will go into a shelter if they don’t have programming to those who will be hospital- a foster home. We save animals’ lives. ized for an extended We also give peace period of time. of mind to family, Although the friends and kids. If program started you care about your in the Delaware animal, you don’t Valley, the need for have to worry about it goes far beyond your animal with Philadelphia, said us.” Miller. Initially, W h i l e PA C T PA C T r e q u i r e d approaches animal that foster homes rescue from that be within 90 miles vantage point, Red from its Gladwyne P a w E m e rg e n c y headquarters, but Relief Team works now accepts foster with at-risk animals in other situations. homes from as far as R e d Paw i s a 1,000 miles away. n o n p r o fi t e m e rPotential foster families and pet BUZZ MILLER AND DOG CHLOE g e n c y - s e r v i c e s organization that owners must fill out works with the an application and, once approved, PACT performs an in-home Southeastern Pennsylvania chapter of the visit and inspection before accepting them American Red Cross to provide emergency into the program. transport, shelter and veterinary care to aniLast year, PACT helped foster 40 animals involved in residential fires and other mals, and Miller expects to reach 70 fos- disasters. tered animals this year. Out founder Jennifer Leary, a firefighter, The organization’s work is fueled by vol- was inspired to create the organization after

witnessing firsthand the effect of natural disasters on animals; she proposed the idea of Red Paw to the American Red Cross to garner support for services offered by Red Cross for humans, only for animals. “I am a Philly firefighter and Red Cross disaster responder, and so going to fire scenes and disaster scenes for so many years and seeing there wasn’t a service available for pets once they were in these situations made me realize the great need for one,” Leary said. So far, Red Paw has worked with some 700 animals in Philadelphia, as well as in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties. Red Paw also helps adopt out animals that have been separated from their owners due to other unfortunate circumstances. “Animals are our children and the people we help lose everything, and at that moment when we first see them, all they have left — if they are lucky — are their animals,” said Leary. “We want to make sure those families don’t lose anything else. It helps with the rebuilding process and their mindframe and helps them get back on their feet.” ■ For more information on PACT for Animals, visit www.pactforanimals.org. For information on Red Paw, visit http://redpawemergencyreliefteam.com.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 2013

Local dog handler extols the virtues of dog shows By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com

some coded breeds and grooming, a lot of it has to do with art. You can take a dog with hair and mold it into the look you want. Some people like friendly competition and camaraderie and you get that through dog shows and breeding and showing. You get to work every day and share your goals and visions.” Another thing Buchanan gets asked about is about the treatment of the dogs participating in the shows. “The questions that I get are, How do you

If you attended The National Dog Show when it recently set up shop in Philadelphia, you might have seen out Drexel Hill native and dog handler Joseph Buchanan and one of his Pharaoh Hounds participating in the show. Buchanan, who is also a registered nurse and a client-services manager for a pharmaceutical company, used to participate in more than 100 dog shows each year while maintaining his career. But in recent years, he’s had to limit the number of shows he does in order to volunteer for local organizations like the Mazzoni Center and Explorers Sans Frontieres. He said it takes a lot of dedication to excel as a dog trainer and handler. “Any common person can get a dog and show it and go in the ring, get a ribbon and leave,” he said. “But to actually do it right, it takes a lot of dedication. The dogs are a 24-hour job. You BUCHANAN (CENTER) AT THE NATIONAL DOG SHOW are training and grooming IN PHILADELPHIA and going to classes. It’s a keep the dogs happy?” he said. “In most full-time job.” While dog shows may seem like some- cases, for most handlers like myself, once thing only the well-to-do get involved in, we leave the dog show, the dog is a family Buchanan said it is not something people pet. They are in our house. They are on our sofa. They live a completely normal life like do to make money. “There is very little money to be made in any pet would.” Buchanan added that a lot of the attenddogs,” he said. “So anyone that is breeding dogs and showing dogs really isn’t doing ees of the dog shows are families looking to it for a monetary benefit. You have han- learn which breed would make a good pet. “I see a lot of families with children,” dlers that make a living at this, but in most cases you do this for the love of the sport he said. “The draw is the children love the and the love of the dogs. So really it’s for dogs; more so than the parent taking the the pride of breeding and raising a dog and children, the children take the parents to the having it be great. For a lot of people, it’s dog show.” He also said people should definitely feel an art form. So especially when it comes to free to approach the trainers and talk to them about the different breeds at the shows. “Talk to as many people as possible,” he said. “All of the handlers, breeders and dogs are in the buildings all day. Most of the time, because they are only in the ring a few minutes of that day, there are many hours with their dog on their bench and spectators walk through and don’t say anything. But we want the interaction. We want you to ask us about the dogs so you can learn about the breed and make good decisions about the kind of pet you want in your home.” For more information on local dog breeders, events and resources, visit www.hkc.org. ■

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 2013

Obituary

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Julian Mendez, 33, former bartender

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Former 12th Air Command bartender Julian Mendez died Nov. 10 after a short battle with liver disease. He was 33. Mendez worked at the now-defunct 12th Air from about 200407. Mendez was born in Colombia and lived in Philadelphia for eight years before moving to Medford, N.J., two years ago with his partner, Paul Hopkins. The couple, together for 11 years, was building a new home in Huntingdon Valley. Mendez was known as a friendly and accommodating bartender, often making lifelong friendships with his customers. Jerry Tapely, a longtime customer of 12th Air Command, met Mendez at the bar. “He was an extremely friendly person with an incredible smile and laugh that we’ll remember for a long time,” he said. “He was just such an engaging and warm person. He always cared about people.” Venture Inn bartender Robert “Sandy” Beach also knew Mendez from 12th Air and said he was a favorite with customers. “He was just the sweetest, funniest, most lovely man you’d want to meet,” Beach said. “His smile was contagious. If you were in a rotten mood, he could cheer you up.” Besides his love of Philadelphia’s nightlife, Mendez enjoyed spending his time going down to the shore and spending time on the beach. “Every time you went out with him, you knew it would be a great adventure,” Tapely said. And he was very protective, of both friends and strangers, Tapely said. “One time when he was out, he saw a young woman walking alone in a dark alleyway and saw someone approaching her. She was about to be mugged and Julian called out a random female name and said, ‘Cheryl! There you are! I’ve been looking all over for you,’ and put his arm around her,” Tapely said. “The woman thanked him but said, ‘How did you know my name was Cheryl?’” Mendez is survived by Hopkins, mother Yaneth Restrepo Mendez, sister Paula Restrepo Mendez and brothers William and Mauricio Restrepo Mendez. A service was held Nov. 14 in Marlton, N.J. ■

HEALTH PGN

Your mental health: Surviving the holiday season The holiday season can be anxiety-producing for all kinds of reasons, and for LGBTQ folks there are some particular issues that can lead to added stress or complications — from family conflict to religious traditions, feelings of estrangement or rejection, and so on. With the season almost here, we wanted to share some advice on how to get through some of the common challenges of this time of year with your mental health and well-being intact.

LGBTQ child. Remember that it probably took you some time to come to terms with it! Now it’s their turn. Let your family’s judgments be theirs to work on, as long as they are kind to you. If you are transgender, be gentle with your family’s pronoun “slips.” Let them know you know how difficult it is, and be appreciative of those who make an effort. If you find it’s simply too hard to be with your family, think about that Plan B: getting together with supportive friends for your own holiday celebration.

Family drama: Heading back home To drink or not to drink? If you’re like most people, For people who are in active family gatherings tend to bring recovery, as well as those who up mixed emotions — some have concerns about their use of warm and happy, others not so welcome — the kind that may alcohol or other substances, the holidays can be an especially have you wishing you could tricky time. Whether it’s an hop the next plane or train out awkward family dinner, a meetof there! That’s why it’s best to plan ahead, especially if you up with old friends, your partanticipate any kind of turbuJudy Morrisey ner’s unbearable work gathering lence. Think about what your (or your own) — you will find own personal “triggers” are, whether it’s yourself in any number of situations where a topic of conversation or a particularly the temptation to overindulge is strong. On irritating/unfriendly relative. Look to your top of that, the financial pressures, family stress and the sheer volume of social allies within the family to support you and gatherings can tempt even the most discihelp navigate those rocky moments. plined folks. To avoid these traps, plan for Also, make a decision about being “out” success. Know your limit — whether it’s to each family member before you visit. two or three drinks, or zero, and stick to it If you are partnered, discuss in advance — ask a friend to monitor you if it helps. how you will talk about your relationship, or show affection with one another. Consider drinking a non-alcoholic beverage or water between drinks. At parties and If you bring your partner home, don’t wait gatherings, it’s easy to get caught up and until late into the holiday evening to raise lose track of time. Have an exit strategy the issue of sleeping arrangements. Make — a set time at which you plan to leave the those plans in advance — and if at all party, and be sure your coat and gloves are possible, have a back-up plan in mind (a in hand when the time comes! friend’s house or a local hotel) if the situation becomes difficult at home. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Whether And if you’re planning to come out to you’re trying to cut back or eliminate your family for the first time over the holialcohol all together, or maybe you want days, do some homework first — check to avoid the influence of an overindulgent the PFLAG website for some helpful friend, let others know what you are trying resources, and find out about local LGBT to do and enlist their support. The power of resources, such as community centers, in positive encouragement can go a long way. your hometown. And once you have stated a goal, you feel much more accountable, which is a strong Don’t assume you know how somebody will react to news of your sexual motivator. orientation or gender identity — you may If your past holidays have revolved be surprised. Keep in mind that a family around heavy partying, think about creating some new, healthier traditions, such member’s reaction to you may not have as hosting an alcohol-free party or movie anything to do with your orientation or night, going for a winter hike, attending identity, and that the hectic holiday pace a concert or some other event that won’t may cause family members to act differently than they would under less stressful include or revolve around drinking. conditions. And remember that “coming You might also consider attending a supout” is a continuous process, one that may port group for even more encouragement be repeated with different members of the and advice. There are all kinds of resources family at different times and in different available to you, from traditional 12-step ways. groups such as AA and NA to the support Most importantly, don’t wait for your groups offered by Mazzoni Center, which family’s attitude to change in order for you take an individualized “harm-reduction” to enjoy the holiday. Your parents and/or approach rather than requiring an all-ornothing commitment. extended family may need some time to acknowledge and accept that they have an PAGE 28

On Being Well

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 2013

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Gayborhood Crime Watch The following incidents in the Midtown Village and Washington Square West areas were reported to the 6th Police District between Nov. 4-10. 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 215-686-TIPS (8477). INCIDENTS — At 11 p.m. Nov. 6, a man was approached at 1200 Market St. by a group of five black males who asked what he had. The man gave them a phone and $30 cash and they walked him to an ATM at Broad and Sansom streets to attempt to withdraw money. The victim went home to South Philadelphia before reporting the incident to police. — Between 11:15 a.m.-7:15 p.m. Nov. 8, someone stole a FedEx package left in the common hallway of an apartment building in the 400 block of South 13th Street. — At 11 p.m. Nov. 9, a group of males jumped on the hood of a taxi in the 1300 block of Drury Street and began screaming. The passenger got out and the group punched and kicked him several times and then fled east. The suspects were described as white males, between 20-25. One had long blond hair and was wearing an Eagles jacket and another had brown hair and was wearing a Flyers jacket. — At 2 a.m. Nov. 10, a complainant left ICandy, 254 S. 12th St., to walk towards South Philadelphia and was assaulted, with jewelry and cash being stolen. There was no description of any suspects. The report was made at 6 p.m. to the 3rd District. NON-SUMMARY ARRESTS — At 2 p.m. Nov. 8, 6th District Narcotic Enforcement officers investigated a male ASSAULT from page 5

Govorov managed to land a few punches of his own. “My face didn’t magically get that way,” Ladson said, referring to a mug shot depicting his swollen cheeks and lip. For his part, Govorov said he pulled Ladson off the train to detain him until police could decide whether to arrest him. He said Ladson hit him on his head, and displayed other problematic behavior on the train. SEPTA Police arrived four minutes after the altercation ended, and Ladson was handcuffed and arrested 13 minutes later, according to a surveillance tape. Ladson’s friends Allen Brown and Danaya Rousseau, who were traveling with Ladson on the train, took the witness stand and corroborated much of Ladson’s story. They said that prior to boarding the subway at Lombard-South, they purchased clothing on South Street, then dined at

outside 1300 Market St. and found in his possession a quantity of narcotics pills and marijuana. The 28-year-old was charged with possession of illegal narcotics. — On Nov. 8, the 6th District Narcotic Enforcement Team set up surveillance in the area of 10th and Market streets and observed an illegal narcotics transaction. The alleged seller, a 32-year-old female from Southwest Philadelphia, was charged with illegal narcotics sales, and a 32-year-old male from South Philadelphia was charged with possession of illegal narcotics. — At 3:45 p.m. Nov. 9, 6th District Officer Blackburn arrested a 61-year-old Pittsburgh man at Juniper and Pine streets for driving under the influence. — At 11:30 a.m. Nov. 10, 6th District Officers Cash and Keller arrested a male outside 200 S. 13th St. who was wanted on a warrant for probation violations. The 34year-old suspect with a Mt. Airy address was charged with escape. — At 7:15 p.m. Nov. 10, 6th District officers arrested a male in the 1300 block of Spruce Street who was armed with a knife. He was charged with domestic assault. SUMMARY ARRESTS — At 11:25 a.m. Nov. 4, 6th District officers issued a citation for a summary offense outside 1300 Walnut St. — On Nov. 7, 6th District officers issued citations at 1:30 a.m. outside 100 S. 12th St., 10:15 a.m. outside 1300 Walnut St., 12:45 p.m. outside 1000 Market St. and 8:40 p.m. outside 203 S. Juniper St. —On Nov. 9, 6th District officers issued citations at 1:45 a.m. inside ICandy, 254 S. 12th St., for presenting false ID to obtain alcoholic beverages, and at 8:50 p.m. outside 1200 Locust St. for summary offenses. — On Nov. 10, 6th District officers issued citations for summary offenses at 1:30 a.m. outside 1300 Sansom St. and 1:40 a.m. outside 1300 Walnut St. ■ Copa. Police detectives questioned the impartiality of Brown and Rousseau. But Ladson said other passengers also could corroborate his story, if police had gotten their names. Ladson spent 18 days in jail prior to being released on bail, during which time another inmate attempted to sexually assault him, he said. Ladson also said jail officials refused to place him in protective custody, despite his pleas for protection. Ladson, a makeup artist, expressed regret about the incident. But he remained implacable in his assertion that “I never wanted to hurt that man [Govorov].” Govorov also maintained that he acted in an appropriate manner. “There was wrong done on that subway, and I tried my best to correct it,” Govorov testified. Govorov said he sustained a mild concussion and a scrape to his shin that he treated with peroxide. ■

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 2013

RAPE from page 1

records but they do not believe there are similar incidents to suggest a pattern. However, residents and visitors to the Gayborhood should remain vigilant. “We don’t want to alarm people, but we want to alert folks,” he said. “Like anywhere else you go, if you can have someone else go with you that would be great. And stay in lighted areas.” The victim was out with at least one other friend that night and had been to several clubs in the area before Tabu, Darby said. Darby said the woman does not live in the immediate Gayborhood area. While Darby said the victim may have been at an increased risk because of being unfamiliar with the area, anyone could have become the rapist’s victim. “She’d only been in the city for four days, so if you don’t exactly know where you’re going or there’s a moment of hesitation, you could be at a disadvantage,”

he said. “But she was just doing what most folks would know, running back to their car to feed the meter. We can’t stress enough the idea of always being aware and alert of the things around you, but in this case, it didn’t happen that way. It was like a blitzkrieg. It was just boom, he was there.” Bethel noted that people walking the Gayborhood, especially at night, should stick to the main corridors. “Walking in pairs is an effective strategy and staying in well-lit areas,” he said. “Those small streets around there, St. James and Chancellor, they’re dark. So people need to remain cognizant of their surroundings.” Anyone with information about the case or any businesses whose surveillance cameras may have captured footage from that area between 10:30-11:30 p.m. Nov. 14 is asked to contact Lt. Anthony McFadden at 215-685-3263 or 3264 or via email at anthony.mcfadden@phila.gov. ■

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 2013

PGN OP-ED

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THINKING from page 11

Supreme Court outlawed polygamy based on the idea that religious belief can’t trump the needs of an ordered democracy. We still have freedom of religion, but it never exists in a vacuum. Now let’s talk about goat marriage. No matter what the courts say about same-sex marriage, there is at least one very good reason why we will never see man/goat marriages down at the courthouse: Goats can’t consent. Each of us has the right to marry, sure, but inherent to modern legal marriage is — mutual — consent. Sorry, goatlovers. Which is also why states restrict marriage to minors. You’ll probably agree that what makes the image of someone marrying a minor distasteful (at best) to most of us is that minors are likely not mature or empowered enough as individuals to fully and freely consent to such an important agreement. In this case, the law respects the right of the minor to not be coerced or exploited by someone in a more powerful position over the right of the adult to marry, or even the minor’s right to choose. The more compelling version of the slippery-slope argument is whether we can legislate morality. Same-sex marriage opponents believe that same-sex marriage portends the end of moral considerations in our laws. But we legislate morality all the time. Think about strip joints near schools or banning porn on broadcast TV. Again, it’s a question of weighing the rights involved. Is it your right not to have the evening news go totally hardcore, or the network’s right to broadcast what they want? The moral foundation of our laws will continue to be factored into the equation as long as we have a system of rights. Sometimes that morality will be deemed compelling enough to compel legislation; sometimes it won’t. As for same-sex marriage, where we’ve won it, the courts have decided that one group’s moral views (a minority of people now, for the record) is not sufficient to stop another group from entering into a lawful contract of marriage, as consenting adults. More specifically, and with all due respect to those who disagree, where society goes next is not a foregone conclusion. Rather than wildly sliding down, I’d say we’re still climbing, slowly, up. ■ Abby Dees is a civil-rights attorney-turned-author who has been in the LGBT-rights trenches for 25plus years. She can be reached at queerquestionsstraighttalk.com.

Liberty City Press NOV. 17 - NOV. 24, 2013

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Philly’s Next Field of Dreams If You Build the W Will Conventioneers Come?

o there was John Grady, President of the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation, sitting in the hot seat testifying on behalf of a proposal by the developers of 1441 Chestnut Street to build a W Hotel using tax increment financing, known as a TIF: A deal in which they borrow $33 million then pay the debt service over a 20-year period in the form of tax breaks granted to them by the city. At the heart of the TIF debate is the notion of blight: A TIF is nothing more than an incentive to encourage development of blighted areas in the city that would not be built upon without it. The problem is when developers attempt to use TIFs for areas that are not blighted. And that is precisely the game that developers Brook Lenfest and Jeffrey Cohen and PIDC are playing. With the help of Council President Darrell Clarke and Councilman Bill Greenlee, they seek to designate the site at 1441 Chestnut as a “Headquarter Hotel Tax Increment Financing District” and deem the parcel as blight. We are pretty sure that when the Ritz Carlton Hotel drafted its guest materials the word “blight” did not come to mind when describing the property that sits immediately to its west. Grady and the developers sell this charade by selling the dream of rooms, jobs and tax dollars. And what a dream it is: “The project will consist of 780,000 square feet and 700 rooms of which 240 rooms will be dedicated under the W Hotel flag and 460 rooms under the Element by Westin flag. It will have 41,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space, an 8,600-square-foot restaurant, and a 185-space, below-grade parking garage. Once the project is completed, its market value is expected to be

$95.8 million. It is expected to generate $220.6 million in incremental tax revenues over 20 years and will represent an estimated $25.8 million net gain to the city and $12.3 million to the school district over those two decades. The development is projected to create 1,800 construction jobs and 450 permanent jobs. If it gets kicked off next year, the hotel could be completed by January 2017.” On the other side of Grady and the developers stands Councilman W. Wilson Goode, Jr. We have seen him in this role before. In our June 12, 2013, issue, The Point recounted Goode’s taking on Center City condo developer Carl Dranoff and the city’s tax abatement program with these words: “The most direct beneficiaries of 10-year abatements are real estate developers and wealthy private homeowners. In other words, the few, the new and the well-to-do, not the city of Philadelphia as a whole.” Say what you will about Councilman Goode, but he does have a way of making his point. And he was at it again last week as he grilled John Grady and the developers du jour. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that, “in one exchange during the hearing, Goode asked Cohen and Grady about the project’s profit margin. Neither could provide the number. ‘You can’t tell me how much money you’re going to make?’ Goode asked incredulously. ‘That’s funny. I’ll be voting no.’” So there is John Grady sitting before City Council rebuffing a group of hotel owners organized against the W on the grounds that if conventions do not match the developer’s projections, then the W will cannibalize existing hotel properties. Grady’s response is the two-step. Don’t pin the TIF on the Convention Center, pin it on center city development.

Imagining a new W Hotel going up on Walnut Street. Image by Salvatore Patrone

As reported on philly.com, Grady responded: “’We’re not just talking about the Convention Center,’ he said. ‘This is about how we sell the downtown as a shopping and tourist destination for all travelers.’ ‘So we can sum up your testimony as ‘build it and they will come’?’ Councilman Bill Green asked. ‘For 20 years, that’s been the case,’ Grady said.” The question for Grady, the developers, and City Council is whether their vision for 1441 Chestnut is more the mirage of the ballplayers coming out of the Iowa cornfield or as real as the folks in the stands. N O V. 1 7 - 2 4 , 2 0 1 3

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Frankfort, St. Joseph’s Prep and MLK Advance Continued from page 12 here we are. It was a distracting and confusing time. As coaches, we tried to keep the kids upbeat and focused on playing this year.” The Pioneers (8-3) broke open an 8-3 halftime lead and cruised to the city with a second half that featured two touchdown runs by Damion Samuels and the passing and the overall offensive and defensive play by quarterback/ defensive back Marquise Poston, who completed four of seven passes for 70 yards and ran eight times for 47 yards. He also had an interception and helped lead the Eagles to a paltry 103 yards for the day offensively. Doggett said his team has been paced by Poston, Shareef Miller, Quinton Ellis Kadar, Jones Javez Baker-Hall, Damion Samuels, and Unique Davis. Samuels reportedly is one of three players on the squad to have a college offer on the table. “They are a very good football team,” said George Washington coach Ron Cohen. “They were stronger than us and outplayed us. It was a strange year overall. It’s disappointing that there was so much difficulty raising the funds to get sports going over the summer. The numbers were down in the public league for football and the quality wasn’t as good. But the kids who competed played just as hard as they always have. And the coaching was still fun.” The King win avenged an early loss to Mastery Char-

ter North, one of the charter schools that has enjoyed great success with increased enrollment and solid financial backing as an institution. But King, loaded with Division I players, had enough talent and chemistry to win this match-up this time. The Cougars (9-2) took advantage of their top tier talent to win an easier than expected game. Joseph Walker threw a 50yard touchdown pass and ran for two other scores to set up a highly anticipated District 12 AA final with West Catholic. On paper, this should be the most competitive game of the weekend. The city’s all-time passyardage-receiving leader, Delane Hart, had a 50-yard touchdown in the game for King. “It’s my job to get us prepared for this game,” said Dunn. “It’s an exciting time for the city and our school.” “Even when we were 0-2 and people were doubting us, we thought we could get to this point,” said Hart. Other teams that achieved success this year are Haverford School who shared an Inter-Ac title with Malvern Prep after Episcopal Academy stumbled. Imhotep Charter, our area’s top-ranked team who beat La Salle earlier this year in a monumental win for the school, is in line for an AA state title. The squad knocked off Springfield Montgomery County 53-7.

Fifteen, Sixteen and Beyond Quinceañera Event Recipient Celebrates Sweet 16 by Sheila Simmons Last year, Nov. 18, 2012, Daniela Herrera was to celebrate her quinceañera, a traditional Hispanic ceremony marking a girl’s 15th birthday and her transition from girlhood to being a young lady. But two weeks before her big day, Daniela suffered a brain hemorrhage and fell into a coma. She awakened days before her birthday, but far too ill to leave the hospital for her event. “I felt so bad, I made her a promise,” said Enid Colon, a Delaware Valley 50 Most Influential Latinos and founder of Philadelphia Latino Pageants. Colon’s El 15 de las 15 (The 15 of the 15) sponsors and fully funds a group-quinceañera for 15 selected girls. She said she told Daniela, “As soon as you recuperate, we will have your very own celebration, and we will do everything possible to carry it out. God works in mysterious ways.” Last Sunday, Nov. 10, and with all the typical regalia and tradition of a quinceañera, scores of her family members and friends gathered at the DeJesus Social Hall at 519 W. Erie Avenue, to celebrate “Daniela’s Sweet 16: A Second Chance at Life.” I talked to her the day before. She confessed, “I’m very, very excited, but at the same time, nervous.” The nerves, she said, are mostly due to forgoing her leg braces to wear special and “pretty” shoes for the ceremony. Based on Aztec tradition some trace to the 1500s, the event symbolizes the celebrant walking in a girl and walking out a young woman. Then Daniela reflects on where she was a year ago. “My God, I couldn’t walk,” she said. “I was so frustrated. I couldn’t go to the bathroom. Everything was so annoying. I just wanted to get out of there as soon as I could. . . So now I feel like, dang, I’ve come this far.” That even before falling ill she was destined to go far was the impression she left with El 15 de las 15. “We knew, since the very first day we interviewed her and she mentioned she wanted to become a doctor,” she

Dayaimy Sardui helps her little cousin Daniela Herrera get ready for her Sweet 15, or Quinceañera. Photo by Sarah J. Glover

would be selected for their event. “No question, hands down. She had so many reference letters. Her references were so good.” Because a quinceañera generally calls for a banquet hall, a dress often made of satin and lace with rhinestone accents, limousine, tiara, cake, food, music and keepsakes for the attendees, costs for the event average $4,000. Colon said the Hispanic business community — mostly small merchants and with one grant from HealthPartners — embraced Daniela’s “Second Chance,” donating the banquet hall, cake, limousine, dress, food and more. Daniela was escorted by the 14 girls who’d been selected to participate alongside her for last year’s quinceañera. And already, the Truebright Science Academy Charter School junior is looking forward to her next step in life. “I’m going to college. I don’t even have to think twice about it.”

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Fantasy Warriors Take Over Voyeur City of Hope Presented Universal Warriors: Fantasy Hair Competition at Voyeur Nightclub, in Philadelphia, on Saturday, November 2, 2013. by HughE Dillon

1. Harry Giordano, senior director of development at City of Hope with two winners from Tina Salon for best Warrior and make-up. 2. The gang at sponsor Raylon Corp. 3. Tony Luke, Jr. and friends marvel at the incredible designs. 4. Ends Hair Design and Day Spa in Northern Liberties. 5. Carol Dean, hair stylist from Salem County Vo-Tech and model/singer Daizy Aimless won “Best of Show”. Photos by HughE Dillon

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Brewing Up a Unique Blend Philly Beer Week and the Philadelphia Museum of Art Team Up to Bring Brewers and Beer to Guests by HughE Dillon The Philadelphia Museum of Art hosted a beer tasting inside the Convention Center. Guests enjoyed craft beer as the brewers intended. Don Russell (aka Joe Sixpack), executive director of Philly Beer Week and Daily News columnist, curated a collection of local and Lithuanian brews that cannot be found together anywhere in the city. Guests met the brewers, sampled their beer and learned some of the trade secrets that go into brewing one-of-a-kind brews.

1. Co-owner of Free Will Brewing Company, Dave Wood discusses his beers as Don Russell, and George Hummel, author of â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Complete Homebrew Beer Bookâ&#x20AC;?, look on. 2. Gunn Squinpel and Dave Amiromayer. 3. Lisa Naples and Mark Kuhn. 4. Guests enjoying the festivities. 5. Ray Bartkus and Jonathan Ghenn. 6. Laura Rothrock, 2013 event chair, Emily Rothrock, and Zach Lerman. Photos by HughE Dillon

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Frankfort, St. Joseph’s Prep and MLK Advance Top Teams’ Coaches Share Their Postseason Perspectives by Jeremy Treatman

t’s the most exciting time of year for high school football coaches, players, and fans. It’s playoff time. But for some of the teams still alive in the playoffs, they are just happy to have been in the postseason at all. Martin Luther King entered the fall with a football coach, Ed Dunn, working without a contract and an interim unofficial head coaching title. Dunn was an assistant at Germantown High School last season. Meanwhile, Germantown was expected to challenge for a city AAAA crown as it has many times before. But over the summer Germantown closed after being a prominent fixture in its community for 99 years, and Dunn was brought over to coach Martin Luther King, a former arch rival of Germantown. At the time, Dunn didn’t know if he was going to be paid or hired officially.

“Thank God, Frankford is still a threat in football.” He spent the summer working on new offenses and defenses and combining players who used to loathe each other and turning them into a cohesive unit. Eventually, the volunteer label came off. His job, with a stipend, became official, and the team won its last nine games and the Cougars will be playing for the city AAA championship against Archbishop Wood this weekend. “It took a while but everything worked out like we thought it could,” he said. “I’m really happy to be in the championship game.” King beat Mastery North 32-10 Friday at the Germantown Supersite. “I was never worried about me, just making sure these kids were getting

coached the right way and getting an opportunity,” Dunn said. Frankford High School meanwhile has a lot of supporters right now. The Pioneers knocked off George Washington 30-3 Saturday at Northeast High and advanced to the AAAA city championship game against St. Joseph’s Prep. Prep made it by avenging last year’s one-point playoff loss to La Salle 30-20 Friday night at Plymouth Whitemarsh. La Salle knocked off Frankford in this same spot a year ago. Frankford has now beaten George Washington three times in a row and knocked them out for the second straight season. “I’m very excited we made it this far and will play Prep for the city championship,” Frankford coach Will Doggett said. “They are obviously a great team and program. I’m already having trouble thinking about their spread offense.” Frankford is a traditional city high school that has had academic and athletic success for its students for over 100 years. Many are thrilled that a noncharter school survived cutbacks, closings, and lower enrollment numbers to put together a championship team. “I think there are a lot of public league alums who are rooting for Frankford,” said a former player who asked for anonymity. “It’s hard for us old heads to see schools that didn’t exist (Prep Charter, Del-Val Charter, Math, Civics and Sciences, and Imhotep Charter) become big powers in football and basketball. We miss our neighborhood schools. We miss the tradition and the winning on the field. Thank God, Frankford is still a threat in football.” “It was very difficult over the summer not knowing if the school district was going to have money for us to play sports this year,” added Doggett. “We kind of stuck together, and now Continued on page 2

Frankford’s Marquise Poston, #5, gets ready to make a pass. Game played 11-9-13, Frankford vs. George Washington at Northeast High School. Photo by Sarah J. Glover

Temple Basketball News The Owls find themselves in a unique position for the first time under coach Fran Dunphy, who is in his eighth season at Temple. The Owls have low expectations put on them from the outside: media and fans. The loss of five seniors, all who are playing overseas professionally, including Khalif Wyatt (China), a 20-points a game scorer last year, can dim those hopes. Temple, though, won a barnburner versus Penn, Dunphy’s old school, in the opener for both city schools last Saturday at a sold-out Palestra. Fifth-year senior Dalton Pepper, making the most of his last chance to shine in college, scored a game-high 20 points and the game-winning basket. Sophomore Quinton DeCosey had 12 points and Anthony Lee had 12 points with three blocked shots and ten rebounds. Sophomore Daniel Dingle also had a terrific game in his first meaningful game as an Owl. “For the first time in six or seven years, we are very inexperienced and guys have to step up very quickly for us,” said Dunphy. “I see no reason why Dalton can’t have a great senior year. He has waited for this moment a long time. He has a great body. He is a great athlete. He can defend, pass, shoot, and score. He’s going to have to be an impact for us this year. Right now, though, I would have to say we are not a team that deserves to be ranked or thought of in a national (way). We have a lot to prove.”

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 2013

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PGN BEING WELL from page 19

Beating the holiday blues We all experience moments of sadness in the midst of the holiday celebrations. Facing the end of the year can bring on nostalgia, introspection and sometimes disappointment that things that haven’t gone as well as we’d hoped over the year. Some of us are getting over a breakup, facing our first holiday alone in a while, coping with a stressful family or job situation or just realizing that our idealized expectations for this time of year aren’t being met. Any of these can leave us feeling anxious, let down, disillusioned, alienated or simply stretched to emotional limits. Often, people try to counter their strain by overindulging in food or drink or placing still-further demands on themselves and going to greater, more elaborate efforts to ensure their holidays are the “best ever.” When you’re feeling blue, just remember that plenty of others are coping with their own private struggle — so although you may feel lonely, you are by no means alone. Reach out to friends, family, colleagues and neighbors with a simple gesture of greeting and good cheer, and you may find the act of simple connection goes a long way. And remember, this season doesn’t last forever; it will be over before long. Top-10 tips for a healthy and happy holiday season: • Keep your expectations manageable. • Remember, the holidays don’t necessary eliminate feelings of sadness or isolation. • Limit predictable sources of stress: shopping, decorating, traffic, your Aunt Judy, etc. • Resist commercial hype. • Spend time with supportive and caring people, whomever they may be. • Attend holiday events in your community. • Volunteer to help others in need. • Don’t abandon healthy habits. • Make time for physical exercise. • Enjoy traditions, if they’re your thing — but by all means don’t feel constrained by tradition! Often, the most memorable holidays are the ones where everything goes wrong (power failure, burned turkey, missed flights) and yet you manage to make the best of it through improvisation and good humor. Keep in mind that the season is less about all the trappings and gifts, and more about a spirit of kindness expressed toward others (and yourself!). The more you can embrace this and embody it in your own actions, the happier you will be. ■ Judy Morrissey, LCSW, is behavioral health services director at Mazzoni Center.

PGN HRC from page 1

Philadelphia this year also received 13 bonus points. Seattle was the only other city to achieve 100 plus 13 bonus points. In 2012, HRC rated 137 municipalities, with a total population of 55.8-million people. This year, the organization looked at 291 municipalities, with a total population of 77.8 million. The MEI rated cities based on their nondiscrimination laws, law-enforcement programs, relationship recognition, employment policies, municipal services and the city’s relationship to the LGBT community. Cities were given the opportunity to review the initial scorecards, ask questions SCHAEFER from page 1

member jury determined that Schaefer disobeyed and violated the Methodist Book of Discipline. His discipline was an immediate 30-day suspension, during which time he’ll be monitored to ascertain if he’s making progress in obeying church rules. If it’s determined after 30 days that Schaefer won’t promise to obey church rules in their entirety, he must surrender his credentials. Schaefer couldn’t be reached for comment. But his public testimony indicates he won’t promise to refrain from performing another sex-sex marriage. “I must continue to be in ministry with all people, and speak for LGBTQ people,” Schaefer told jurors. “Members of the jury, before you decide my penalty, you need to know I wear this rainbow stole as a visible sign that this is who I am called to be.” For the past 11 years, Schaefer had served as pastor of the Zion United Methodist Church of Iona, in South Lebanon Township.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 2013

and submit more information on their city’s LGBT-inclusive policies. Last year, Philadelphia missed out on points for failing to offer transgender-inclusive health benefits and for not “grossing up” benefits to meet the tax burden for same-sex couples. It attained points for trans-inclusive health care this year, thanks to Councilman Jim Kenney’s legislation that provides tax credits for companies that elect to provide trans-inclusive health coverage, among its other stipulations. The city has not yet grossed-up benefits, and bonus points were also available to cities that had to overcome a restrictive state law and for cities that had to cease their domestic-partner program because of state

law. Philadelphia was the only city in the state to receive a 100. Next was New Hope with an 89, up from last year’s 48, and Harrisburg with a 76, the same as last year. New to the MEI was Pittsburgh with a 72, State College with a 63 and Allentown with a 50. The MEI found that 33 million people living in MEI-rated cities had better municipal laws than state laws for the LGBT community. Also among the findings was that 58 percent of cities have relationship recognition for same-sex couples and only 5 percent offer trans-inclusive healthcare benefits. For more information, visit www.hrc.org/ campaigns/municipal-equality-index. ■

In his trial testimony, Schaefer emphasized God’s command to minister to everyone. But Jon Boger, who lodged the complaint against Schaefer, said Schaefer should be defrocked immediately. According to published reports, Schaefer had a falling-out with Boger’s mother, a longtime choir director at Schaefer’s church. But Boger said Schaefer’s dealings with his mother didn’t motivate him to lodge the complaint, according to published reports. Dozens of Schaefer’s supporters attended the trial, and called for an updating of Methodist rules relating to same-sex unions. They also suggested a moratorium on trials such as the one experienced by Schaefer, until church rules are updated. Several of Schaefer’s detractors also attended, and said his defrocking would send a strong message that disobedience of church law is not to be tolerated. They said Schaefer’s actions splintered his congregation, and caused it to suffer financially.

The possible discipline faced by Schaefer ranged from a reprimand to defrocking. A parent of three LGBT children, Schaefer has been an outspoken supporter of LGBT equality. His case has received widespread attention in the news media. In a prior interview with PGN, Schaefer said he would consider pursuing ordination in a more LGBT-friendly Protestant denomination if he’s defrocked. Bishop Peggy A. Johnson of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church issued this statement: “We recognize that this is an issue that causes pain for many in our church and we hold all those affected in our prayers. We know that United Methodists have diverse opinions on this issue and our hope is that we pray and work together toward unity and greater understanding and healing.” Schaefer’s trial took place at the Innabah Retreat Center in Spring City. Alfred W. Gwinn Jr., a retired Methodist bishop, presided. ■

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ARREST from page 1

tion with another group inside the bar. Both groups were asked to leave and a fight ensued outside. On a website launched to raise money to help pay for the funeral, the victim’s mother contends that her son was attacked because he is gay. “As he walked out of the bar to avoid a major commotion, he was followed and stabbed just because he is gay,” the mother wrote. The police report indicates police were called to a “large fight on the highway” outside the bar, where they found Mercado lying in a large pool of blood. Attempts to reach Mercado’s mother were unsuccessful. Bethel said investigators do not believe Mercado was targeted for being gay. “It doesn’t appear he was directly involved,” Bethel said. “The altercation began inside, a punch was thrown and they were told to move out. That’s when the stabbing occurred. There was no indication the fight was over him being gay or anybody being gay.” Mercado was the only person injured in the fight. The fundraising website described that Mercado was stabbed on his main artery in his right leg and suffered from an infection. His leg was partially amputated before his death, his site said. According to Mercado’s Facebook page, he was originally from Brooklyn and graduated from New Britain High School in New Britain, Conn. A funeral was held Nov. 18 in Hartford, Conn. Castillo-Hernandez faces a preliminary hearing at 9 a.m. Nov. 27 in Room 306 of the Criminal Justice Center. ■

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 2013

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 2013

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AC ul t ure rts

Out drummer returns By Ray Simon PGN Contributor

Kate Schellenbach may be the only musician cool enough to have played bongos with Ellen DeGeneres and drummed for the Beastie Boys. The drummer, who is openly gay, kept the beat for Luscious Jackson throughout the 1990s. The funky, all-female quartet’s signature sound was an effortless blend of indie rock and hip-hop, a sonic environment where catchy guitar riffs were complemented by sinuous samples. During that decade, Schellenbach and her fellow bandmates — Jill Cunniff on bass, Gabby Glaser on guitar and Vivian Trimble on keyboards — scored a Top 40 single with “Naked Eye” and earned a gold record for “Fever In Fever Out,” produced by Daniel Lanois. The group appeared in commercials for The Gap and participated in both Lollapalooza and Lilith Fair. By 1999, however, tastes had changed, so the band decided to call it quits. Members refocused their efforts on beginning new careers and starting families.

PGN FEATURE

For the past 14 years, there’s been nary a peep from Schellenbach and her former band, but that is about to change. Earlier this month, Luscious Jackson released two new records, “Magic Hour” for grownups and “Baby DJ” for children of all ages. The band is also kicking off a limited series of engagements, starting with a gig right here in Philadelphia. Schellenbach was psyched when asked about that upcoming show. “For us, Philly has actually been one of our strongest places we’ve ever played,” she said. “We played there a bunch starting up, and the audiences have always been great and the venues are great.” In concert, Luscious Jackson was known for getting audiences to dance, something Schellenbach hopes to see when she, Cunniff and Glaser return to Philadelphia. Interestingly, Schellenbach said, the city contributed a key concept to the band early on. “I think we came up with the term ‘disco diving’ out of Philly, which is when we have people come up on stage and dance

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 2013

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Barcrawlr Dining Out Family Portrait Out & About Q Puzzle Scene in Philly Worth Watching

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to her Luscious roots

and then dive into the audience, which is kind of a funny thing that just started happening at some crazy shows in Philly.” In all likelihood, Luscious Jackson’s new material will inspire some booty shaking. The 10 tracks on “Magic Hour” are filled with guitar hooks, catchy choruses and sexy raps. Lyrically, the message is positive and upbeat. It even includes an ode to the male derriere, “#1 Bum.” Schellenbach admitted that she laughed when she first heard the demo for that number. “The words, I thought, were hysterical. It’s a silly track, but why not? Who says everything has to be deep? I like the attitude. I like the lyrics.” The playful attitude combined with a frank statement of female desire is typical of Luscious Jackson. It’s just one reason Schellenbach believes that the new record fits seamlessly into the band’s catalog. “I feel like the new record is a little bit of an ode to early Luscious Jackson, meaning the sound that you hear is a lot of collaboration between Jill and Gabby’s vocals, which is kind of reminiscent of ‘In Search

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of Manny,’ which was our first release,” she said Schellenbach is pleased with the entire record, although she admitted a particular fondness for the opening track, “You and Me.” “That felt like a really good example of Jill and Gabby together, and also it infuses a little Brazilian vibe and it has some cowbell. So for me that kind of summed up everything personally and musically,” she said. “Magic Hour” also continues Luscious Jackson’s long-standing relationship with the Beastie Boys. It was the first band to sign to the Beastie Boys’ Grand Royal record label and also toured with the hiphop heroes. On the trio’s latest record, Ad-Rock, also known as Adam Horovitz, contributed the song “So Rock On,” an infectious declaration of desire. The women return the favor on “We Go Back,” a thoughtful number about growing up, which is also a heartfelt goodbye to Beastie Boy Adam Yauch, who passed away in May 2012. Schellenbach said the band members iniPAGE 34

PGN FEATURE

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 2013

SCHELLENBACH from page 33

tially wondered if the song was too dark, but decided they wanted to share their experience with listeners. “We haven’t said that it’s necessarily a tribute to Adam Yauch, and some people figured that out and picked up on it,” she noted. “Other people think it’s actually about us kind of reconnecting after all this time. So we leave it open to interpretation.” In reality, the bandmates never lost touch. Although they’d established lives of their own, they were sporadically in contact. Cunniff and Glaser remained in New York City, while Schellenbach moved to Los Angeles. After setting down her drumsticks, Schellenbach began working as a researcher on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” She eventually worked her way up to producing celebrity-interview segments, a job she’s also done for Kathy Griffin and Chelsea Handler. She continues in that capacity for Ross Mathews, whose pop-culture chat show “Hello Ross” debuted in September. Given that success, it might seem surprising that Schellenbach would want to regroup with Luscious Jackson. There was, she said, a feeling among all three women that the time was right. They’d recently watched Kim and Kelley Deal mount a tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Breeder’s record,

The women’s relationship stretches back to the early 1980s, when the then-teens bonded over shows at grimy Manhattan clubs like CBGB. According to Schellenbach, once they’d decided to begin making music again, the three of them picked up right where they’d left off. “We came together over the summer to start rehearsing for these live shows after we hadn’t been together in a room rehearsing for 14 years, and immediately we SCHELLENBACH (FROM LEFT), GABBY GLASER were laughing to the point AND JILL CUNNIFF Photo: Doug Seymourwhere tears were rolling down our faces. I mean over the “The Last Splash.” Their old friends got such same old jokes that we were laughing about a good reception that it prompted the women 15 years ago, so that was a great feeling to of Luscious Jackson to give serious thought have that,” Schellenbach said. to touring themselves. After building a presence on Facebook and “I think for all of us it kind of felt like, Twitter, the band launched a PledgeMusic ‘Oh, the time’s coming back around where campaign to raise funds for recording. The people who were fans of ours who were teen- process was a resounding success. In roughly agers are now maybe in their 30s and kind two days, the band had enough money to proof having that nostalgic feel.’ You know, you duce “Magic Hour” and to complete work on always sort of hold on to those bands that you the children’s music that originally reunited were into at that time,” Schellenbach said. songwriters Cunniff and Glaser in the late Yet there is more to it than nostalgia. 2000s.

The children’s music project has a personal dimension to it, explained Schellenbach. “We all have kids and there’s a certain age where you’re listening to all this ‘children’s music,’ and a lot of it’s really annoying. There’s a lot of stuff about Luscious Jackson that the kids enjoy, be it the sing-along choruses or dancing or beats or whatever.” The result is “Baby DJ,” an album including carefree songs for kids, like “Coconut Icee” and “Hula Hoop.” Harried parents tired of Raffi enjoy it too. “People are buzzing about it on Twitter and whatnot,” Schellenbach said. “People are digging it, and they’re like, ‘Is it bad that I’m dancing to this too?’ Adults like it.” The pleasure appears to be mutual. As Schellenbach described it, both recording and rehearsing have been a gratifying experience for the band. Now it’s time for Luscious Jackson to get back on stage. “I think we’re kind of just open to what happens,” she said. “We’d love to play some shows and do some festivals and play the cities that we love to visit, and to get overseas if we can.” ■ Luscious Jackson performs 8 p.m. Nov. 23 at Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St. For more information or tickets, call 215232-2100 or visit www.lusciousjackson.us.

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PROFILE PGN

Family Portrait

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 2013

Suzi Nash

Brad Bates: Compassionate care for our four-legged friends “He was like an angel sent from above. His kindness and gentleness was exactly what I needed at one of the most anguished moments of my life. I will never forget him. God bless him!” “I cannot thank you enough for making Bubba’s transition to the other side so tranquil and peaceful with all the people that loved him and that he loved surrounding him. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. It’s said that angels are among us in all different forms. I now believe that.” “‘Wonderful’ probably sounds like a strange word to use in the context of losing my beloved cat Edie, but I can truly say the whole experience was wonderful. Dr. Brad was so gentle and understanding during the whole process. Edie always hated trips to the vet and to have her pass in a familiar, calm place made all the difference in the world. I was able to hold her in my arms until the end and I can’t overstate how much peace of mind this has given me!” Take a quick look at the testimonials for Dr. Brad Bates and you’ll see the words “compassionate,” “patient” and “angel” come up repeatedly. A practicing veterinarian, Dr. Brad gets these accolades for his work with Lap of Love, a company that specializes in animal home-care hospice and euthanasia. PGN: Are you a Philadelphia native? BB: No, I’m originally from Queens, N.Y. PGN: Ah, concrete jungle where dreams are made of? BB: [Laughs.] Yes. It was fun. As a kid we had a very tight-knit community. Our apartment complex was a big garden surrounded by the buildings. Everyone knew each other but then the neighborhood got bad, so we moved to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., when I was about 11. PGN: That must have been a culture shock. BB: Yeah, in Queens our apartment was very small. We had problems with bugs and rodents, one of those neighborhoods. My mom cashed in everything she had — pension, savings, etc. — to get my brother and me to a better place with no drugs or gambling or fighting on the street corner. She bought a small house in a nice neighborhood and it was a shock to live just like regular people. It was lovely but we never really got used to it. I think we missed the chaos of New York and we moved back three years later. PGN: Did you have trouble fitting in? BB: I think it was too isolated. I was used to the city, where you could walk everywhere and be around different sorts of people. In Florida, it was just one community and you had to drive everywhere. At 11, I obviously didn’t have a license so it really inhibited what I could do.

PGN: When my family moved to the suburbs (many moons ago) we had a hard time because of being mixed race. They couldn’t tell what I was but when they saw the rest of my family, there were some problems. BB: Yeah, my dad is Mexican and my mother is Jewish. Like you, I don’t really look like a person of color. Funny thing is, my brother definitely looks ethnic; during the winter most people think he’s Puerto Rican and in the summer they assume he’s black because he gets so dark. It’s interesting when people meet us as a family. They usually assume my father is stupid, which he is not.

BB: I guess that would be a bearded dragon. And I know nothing about reptiles. But I had to help him go to heaven so it wasn’t much of an issue. I mostly work with small animals, mainly dogs and cats.

PGN: What was your first pet? BB: When I was a kid we had gerbils and hamsters. When I turned about 8 we got a dog.

PGN: And what do you do? BB: Some hospice care but primarily we do euthanasia in the home. At first, it was a little bizarre because people’s reactions were so strong. Here you were euthanizing their dog or cat and they were so thankful and so positive about the experience. I

PGN: Any extra-curriculars? Sports? BB: No, I’ve always been focused on academics. I never loved school, I just always knew what I wanted to do and what I had to do to get it. I was about 7 when I first told my mom that I wanted to be a veterinarian. Before that I wanted to be a gorilla. PGN: A gorilla? BB: Yes, when we had our kindergarten graduation they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I said that I wanted to be a gorilla. PGN: [Laughs.] I’m assuming you didn’t choose that path. BB: No, no, I decided to become a vet instead and then never wavered from that path until I accomplished my goal. PGN: I’d probably be a gorilla just so I could have Jane Goodall hold me! BB: I met her and she actually held me. She did a little demonstration on how she communicated with apes on me. PGN: Where did you attend college? BB: I got a bachelor of science in animal sciences from Cornell University, a master’s in animal science and laboratory management from Drexel University and my veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania. PGN: What was the hardest thing about studying to be a vet? BB: I never liked school and you have to log a lot of classes to get there. People thought that I must love being a professional student but the truth is I hated it. But I knew I needed to grind through it to get to do what I really wanted. PGN: What’s the most exotic animal you’ve worked on?

PGN: Tell me about Lap of Love. BB: It’s a network of veterinarians who do home-hospice and euthanasia. A few years ago, I’d just lost my job — the economy hit our occupation very hard — and I was looking in the paper for work. I happened to see an ad that read, “Are you unhappy being a general vet? Do you want to provide more compassionate care?” I always say it was meant to be.

I’m very passionate about it. It’s been such a profound thing for me and such a lovely service that I feel obligated to do as much as I’m able to. PGN: What’s a story that moved you? BB: They all do, they really do. Everyone I meet has a strong connection with their dog or cat. I’ve devoted my life to being a vet because I love animals. I see an animal in the street and I love them. The people I meet, who choose this, are in line with how I feel, that their pets are part of the family. I’m impressed with the fact that they know that their animals can suffer and that they’re willing to do whatever they can to alleviate it. Though some people take it too far. Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. Hanging on and keeping an animal alive through multiple surgeries, etc., is not always in the best interest of the animal. I had one family who claimed that for religious reasons they couldn’t euthanize, so they kept their cat alive on life support with feeding tubes and catheters. It was terrible. I think they couldn’t bear to lose their animal so they used that as a reason to prolong. I finally said, “This is enough. We have to stop this. We might not be able to euthanize, but we are not obligated to do this. We can say no. It’s more humane to ‘pull the plug’ and let the cat die.” It’s one of the reasons I’m so appreciative of what I get to do now. Every time I do euthanasia, I think of that poor cat with all those tubes and am happy I’m able to peaceably end an animal’s suffering.

PGN: Any crazy cat ladies? BB: We had one woman who would bring in groups of stray cats. The cats were really at death’s door. Every few months she’d come back using a different name with more cats. She looked like a vagrant but apparently Photo: Suzi Nash actually had a lot of money realized that they knew it had to be done and would pay each time and were really thankful for the animal taking cash out of her bra. The cats would to be able to be at home in a place that was familiar and comfortable instead of a sterile come in with anemia because they had so many flea bites. As a doctor, you always clinic with strangers. I’d done it before in have to tell people, “Here’s what we can clinics and it just eats away at your soul, do and what we recommend, here are the it’s really hard. I’ve seen animals start to consequences and what it’s going to cost.” salivate and shake because they were so She would always insist on and pay for the nervous as you were getting ready to put treatment even when we didn’t recommend them to sleep. Those you remember forever. Death is sad but humane euthanasia is it. Some of the animals would pass away from the stress and not the negative part, it’s a wonderful gift. PAGE 46

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 2013

NIGHTLIFE PGN

A sort of homecoming The holiday season is almost upon us, with one of the biggest bar nights of the year right around the corner. The night before Thanksgiving is traditionally one of the best nights to go out because every bar turns into a homecoming celebration. Whether you celebrate with your birth family or your chosen family, be sure to make the most of your holidays this year. Bearlesque What do you get when you throw bears and burlesque into a blender? Bearlesque, of course! And possibly a broken blender. Check out the shenanigans for yourself 9 p.m. Nov. 23 at Tabu Lounge, 200 S. 12th St. There will be music, laughs and loads of woofy bears to drool over, both onstage and in the audience.

Jim

Divas on Main Grab yourself a Cajun dinner and stay for a great show 8-10 p.m. Nov. 24 at Mojo Main, 270 E. Main St., Newark, Del. Cover charge is only $5 for this all-ages show, but of course you must be 21 or over to drink. Pink Pub Crawl It’s time once again for the legendary Pink Pub Crawl! The fun starts 9 p.m. Nov. 27 at Stir Lounge, 1705 Chancellor St., and then slinks around the Gayborhood on (or close to) the following schedule: 10:30 p.m. at Tabu, 11:30 p.m. at Woody’s and 12:30 a.m. at Voyeur. If you’re new to the crawl, here’s how it works. First step is you dress up in something pink — shirt, pants, jacket, feather boa or some other significant article (sorry, but pink socks alone won’t cut it). Then you buy your ticket at one of the first two stops on the crawl. Tickets are only $25 if you’re pretty in pink, or $30 if you’re not. The ticket gets you a huge discount over the course of the night — one drink ticket at each of the first three stops,

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Groove Philly Thanksgiving Eve Get your groove back with Denise Cohen and some of the staff from Sisters at 9 p.m. Nov. 27 at Voyeur Nightclub, 1221 St. James St. Enjoy three DJs, two dance floors, sexy siren dancers Timaree and Sara, and drink specials until 11 p.m. (and don’t be surprised when a bunch of people show up wearing pink just after midnight ... just sayin’).

Barcrawlr

Gay Bowl XIV Kickoff The gay flag football national championship doesn’t come to Philly until next October, but the fun starts now! The Greater Philadelphia Flag Football League will play host to the next Gay Bowl, and they kick off the festivities from 1-4 p.m. Nov. 24 at Tabu Lounge, 200 S. 12th St. Your $5 donation supports the league and gets you loads of drink specials. For more information, see www.gaybowl2014.com.

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plus dance-floor admission at the last two. That’s a value of over $50! It’s a great deal and a great time, so don’t miss out!

Thanksgiving Red Ball Catch the second-annual Red Ball at 10 p.m. Nov. 27 at Kiley- ICandy, 254 S. 12th St. It will Zufelt be a night full of drink specials, contests, cash and prizes, and there’s no cover charge if you’re wearing all red. Santa Saturday Don’t miss the 40th anniversary of one of the biggest and longest-running leather charity events on the East Coast noon-6 p.m. Nov. 30 at Paradise Nightclub, 101 Asbury Ave., Asbury Park, N.J. The daylong festival promises entertainment, an auction, 50/50s, service awards, pictures with Santa Bear, a leather shop, loads of drink specials, discounted room rates for event attendees (if you want to make it a weekend), and more hot bears and leathermen than you can shake a turkey leg at. Don’t miss the official after-party “Savage,” starting 9 p.m. at Paradise with super-hot super-bear DJ Johnny Mack. All monies raised go to support local charities. PGMC Cool Yule It’s opening night for the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus’ annual holiday concert, 8 p.m. Dec. 5 at Prince Music Theater, 1412 Chestnut St. The theme this year is Big Bands, so expect a swing-style twist on all your old holiday favorites. There will be four shows — 8 p.m. Dec 5, 6 and 7 plus a matinee at 2 p.m. Dec 7. Tickets are $30-$55 and are available online or at the door. See www.pgmc.org for ticket links and more information. ■ Questions, comments, things you’re thankful for? Contact Jim at barcrawlr@gmail. com or follow him on Facebook for links to back articles and totally bitchin’ music videos!

Philadelphia Gay News Gay is our middle name.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 2013

PGN FILM

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 2013

This

Dec.13

answers the most important question of this holiday season . . .

WWCB?

(What Would Carol Buy?)

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 us the skinny on the some of the best (and possibly worst) gifts to give in 2013.

Odd couple, odder feel at center of ‘Philomena’ By Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor

child being taken from her. The syrupy music swells as mother is prevented from saying goodbye to her son. He looks out the car’s back window ... This cliché moment never achieves the emotional payoff Frears intends. Likewise, when Philomena returns to the convent and the window and gate where she last saw her son, the “haunted by the awful past” feeling seems contrived. As “Philomena” wends its way from Ireland to the U.S. and through a variety of characters that lead the investigative pair to some truths, Martin and Philomena discuss their beliefs in God and sin. But the passion they exude in these exchanges feels forced. Both performers are very good actors, and yet their chemistry does not quite work here. It may be because Dench is capital-A Acting in her role, exagger-

Dame Judi Dench plays the title role in “Philomena,” a film “inspired by true events” opening Nov. 27 at Ritz. Philomena Lee is a working-class Irish woman who was sent to a convent as a pregnant teen. Her young son is suddenly taken away from her when he is adopted by an American couple. Now, 50 years later, Philomena enlists the aid of Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan, who co-wrote the screenplay), a disgraced journalist, to find the child she never knew. Martin has agreed to perform this service as he is writing a “human-interest” story on Philomena. However, this Oscar-baiting film is only mildly interesting for the first hour as the odd couple seeks answers to the questions raised about Philomena’s son’s identity. The mystery becomes engaging only when (not because) the film introduces a queer twist. One of the problems with “Philomena” is that it is not very subtle in its depiction of the two main characters. Martin is snobbish, champagne to romance-novel reader Philomena’s diluted Bucks Fizz. He is rude where she is polite. Martin makes things hapDAME JUDI DENCH AND STEVE COOGAN pen; Philomena is not particularly savvy with how the world works. They ating Philomena’s quirks, like enjoying rub each other the wrong way, and eventually rub off on each other. Thankfully, there the little squares of toast — croutons, the sophisticated Martin would call them — at are a few graceful moments in the film’s the salad bar. end that show how the characters have What both the film and Dench do get transformed as a result of their experiences right is the regret that Philomena has about together. burying her experience in the convent and While Dench often plays elegant, smart keeping the memory of her son a secret for ladies, in “Philomena” she plays against 50 years. The actor duly conveys the inner type. Her unsophisticated character shocks pain of her life. When she struggles with Martin by saying the word “clitoris,” the decision to go public with her story by knowing what a gay man’s “beard” is and having Martin publish it, there is real anxiwanting to watch Martin Lawrence crossety there. The film needs more emotional dressing in “Big Momma’s House 2” on scenes like this, as when Philomena perthe American hotel TV. Viewers amused forms an act that is surprisingly powerful by the estimable actress making all of and oddly transcendent in the film’s end. this sound convincing will perhaps enjoy Suddenly, in its closing moments, “Philomena,” but really, it is as dreadful as “Philomena” becomes a redemption tale, it sounds. Coogan’s Martin tries to contain and this actually has the effect of redeemhis exasperation, and some viewers may ing the film despite its many flaws. It is find themselves doing the same thing. just a shame Frears took so long to reach Dench does have a few strong moments. such an inspired moment. Reflecting back on her quickie romance In the meantime, there are some curithat produced her son, Philomena admits ous issues raised, albeit briefly, about what that the sex, however sinful it was, was constitutes a family. But most of the film is amazing. The regret and joy in her voice spent showcasing the odd-couple antics of register clearly. Similarly, her reactions to various bits of news about her son are quite Dench and Coogan. The performers are a valid reason to see “Philomena” — though poignant. one can wait for it to play on cable — and The storytelling, however, seems Coogan is a much better actor here than to underscore many of the emotional he is a screenwriter. The story itself is moments for heightened effect. Director ultimately quite compelling. If only it had Stephen Frears insists on creating high melodrama in the sequence of Philomena’s been told better. ■

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 2013

PGN

LGBT Celebrating Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Companies

TOP COMPANIES

Come Celebrate Brought to you by:

Join PBJ and Philadelphia Gay News for the inaugural Top LGBT Owned Companies Cocktail Reception, where 2014 Book of List* Makers’ rankings will be revealed for the very first time!

When: Tuesday, December 3, 5:00pm – 7:30pm Where: Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar, 10 S. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106

Congratulations 2013 LGBT List Makers: (Listed in alphabetical order) Absolute Abstract Art LLC Altus Agency Alura Business Solutions Brokers Surplus Agency N.A., Inc. Camden Printworks Capriccio Cafe and Espresso Bars ChatterBlast Media Duross & Langel Giampolo Law Group Hornstein, Platt and Associates Integrity Staffing Solutions Inc. Jerner & Palmer, P.C. Joshua’s Catering

Lyman & Ash Minster & Facciolo, LLC Optimal Sport Health Club Philly Cupcake, LLC Red Paw Emergency Relief Team Siaani Salon State Farm Insurance Co., Sharon Owens Agency The Jack Barry Group The Tactile Group TLA Entertainment Group UCI Architects Inc. WPL Interior Design

*PBJ’s Book of Lists is a compilation of over 4,500 business contacts surveyed in Greater Philadelphia, including LGBT Owned Companies. Questions? Contact Jennifer Wolf at jenniferwolf@bizjournals.com #PBJLGBT

PGN

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Photos: Scott A. Drake

’s Get Out and Play All the action with Philly’s jocks

Every other week in PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 2013

OUT & ABOUT The week ahead 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 to gamers age 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.; 215-232-2100.

Minor Alps (Matthew Caws of Nada Surf and Juliana Hatfield) The rock group performs 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400.

Sat. 11/23 Charlotte’s Web The animated classic film is screened 2 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610-917-0223. India Arie The R&B singer performs 8 p.m. at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215-572-7650. Luscious Jackson The reunited band performs 8 p.m. at Union Transfer,

1026 Spring Garden St.; 215-232-2100. Bearlesque Bears and burlesque collide 9 p.m. at Tabu Lounge, 200 S. 12th St.; 215964-9675. Diabolique Ball The fetish/horrorthemed event benefits ActionAIDS, 9 p.m. at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215922-6888. Voodoo Vixens vs. Sadistic Sweethearts Penn Jersey Roller Derby presents a roller-derby showdown, 5 p.m., 1801 W. Indiana Ave.; www.pennjerseyrollerderby.com.

Sun. 11/24 The Woman in the Window The 1944 thriller is screened 2 p.m. at Colonial Theatre,

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-0223.

THE HIT MAN: Legendary out pop/rock superstar Elton John performs his iconic hits and classic album tracks from throughout his incredible ﬁvedecade career, as well as a selection of new songs from his highlyanticipated album “The Diving Board,” 8 p.m. Nov. 27 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St. For more information or tickets, call 215-3899543.

Lamb of God and Killswitch Engage The metal bands perform 7 p.m. at The Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St.; 800745-3000. Gay Bowl XIV Kick Off Athletes from 21 cities converge upon Philly to celebrate the start of the flag football event, 1-4 p.m. at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; www.gaybowl2014.com. POZ Luck Thanksgiving Dinner The William Way LGBT Community Center host a poz-friendly potluck family-style Thanksgiving dinner, 2-5 p.m., 1315 Spruce St.; 215732-2220.

Gin Blossoms The alt-rock band performs 7:30 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-994-1400.

Mon. 11/25 The World’s End The 2013 comedy film is screened 8 p.m. at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215-9226888. Free Quizzo and 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; 215862-2081.

Wed. 11/27 Chris Cornell The rock singer performs 8 p.m. at The Grand Opera House, 818 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-652-5577. Elton John The out singer and pop icon performs 8 p.m. at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215389-9543. 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. Thanksgiving Eve with Groove Philly Denise Cohen and some of the former

staff of Sisters host a Thanksgiving Eve party, 9 p.m.3 a.m. at Voyeur Nightclub, 1221 St. James St.; 215735-5772. The Red Ball Wear all red and get in free at this pre-Thanksgiving party, 10 p.m. at ICandy, 254 S. 12th St.; 267-3243500.

Thu. 11/28 William Way Community Center Holiday Potluck The William Way LGBT Community Center hosts the ninth-annual Thanksgiving Day Potluck Dinner, 3-5 p.m., 1315 Spruce St.; please RSVP at 215-7322220.

Fri. 11/29 Josh’s Dinner Party: A Fundraiser for the Youth of Mazzoni Center Dinner, dancing and drag starting 7 p.m. at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215964-9675. Vivaldi’s Four Seasons The Philadelphia Orchestra performs 8 p.m. at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 240 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5847. Back to the ’80s show with Jessie’s Girl The cover band performs 8:30 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-994-1400. ■

Tue. 11/26 Bonnie Raitt The Grammywinning rock and blues guitarist and singer performs 8 p.m. at The Grand Opera House, 818 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-652-5577.

ANIMAL ATTRACTION: The animated classic tale of love comes alive on stage with “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” a musical based on the classic ﬁlm, Nov. 26-Dec. 1 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St. For more information or tickets, call 215-790-5847. Photo: Amy Boyle.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

Opening Chris Cornell The rock singer performs 9 p.m. Nov. 2930 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000. Disney’s Beauty and the Beast The musical based on the classic fairy tale, Nov. 26-Dec. 1 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5847. Lizzie 11th hour Theatre Company presents a rock musical about notorious axe-murderer Lizzie Borden, Nov. 23-25 at Caplan Studio Theatre at the University of the Arts, 211 S. Broad St.; www.11thhourtheat recompany.org or 267-987-9865. Monty Python and the Holy Grail The classic comedy film is screened Nov. 29-30 at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610-917-0223. Perceptions SHARP Dance Company presents a dance adventure through changes in perceptions, Nov. 22-24 at Christ Church Neighborhood House Theatre, 20 N. American St.; www. sharpdance.org.

German and Swiss artists through Dec. 15, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100. 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. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Media Theatre presents the classic Andrew Lloyd Webber musical through Jan. 4, 104 E. State St., Media; 610-891-0100. 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; 215-7638100. Sophie Tucker: The Last of the Red Hot Mamas Walnut Street Theatre presents the story of America’s queen of the double entendre, through Dec. 29, 825 Walnut St.; 215-5743550.

STAR GAZING: Mazzy Star, the alt-rock duo of David Roback and Hope Sandoval, weaves its hypnotic melodies 8 p.m. Nov. 22 at Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St. For more information or tickets, call 215232-2100.

Todd Glass The out comedian performs Nov. 27 and 29-30 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215-496-9001.

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,

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.

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.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 2013

GIVE THANKS FOR THE LAUGHS: Out comedian Todd Glass comes to town to make Philly laugh Nov. 27 and 2930 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St. For more information or tickets, call 215-496-9001.

Closing Flashdance: The Musical The musical production based on the hit film, through Nov. 24 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5847. Keigwin + Company The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents the acclaimed dance company through Nov. 23 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; 215-898-3900.

Patti Lupone The music and theater icon performs through Nov. 23 at Prince Music Theater, 1412 Chestnut St.; 215-972-1000. Pride & Prejudice Bristol Riverside Theatre presents the classic Jane Austen story through Nov. 24, 120 Radcliffe St., Bristol; 215-785-0100. Perlman Returns The Philadelphia Orchestra performs with Itzhak Perlman through Nov. 24 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 240 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5847. ■

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 2013

DINING PGN

Percy Street puts a ‘Q’ in Thanksgiving By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com If you don’t want to be in the kitchen all day for Thanksgiving (or don’t have the culinary skills to make that special day memorable), swing by Percy Street Barbeque (900 South St.) the day before to get your holiday feast together. Having been there before, we know that Percy Street can throw down on some meat, and for Thanksgiving, Chef Erin O’Shea is preparing her Take-Home Turkeys ($65 per turkey and $225 for the Smokin’ Thanksgiving Feast). But it’s all the excellent side items that really prevent us from feeling bad about being super-lazy on Turkey Day. The usual Thanksgiving suspects are pretty damn good, especially the cornbread and sausage stuffing, a special only available for Thanksgiving, which has a pleasantly toasty texture

and a sweet, buttery richness. The collard greens ($4) are especially hearty and seasoned with pork. Of course, the mashed sweet potatoes and pecan pie ($7) are comfort-food heaven and musthaves.

Thanksgiving staples aside, there are some other dishes on offer that would be outside the box and still perfect for Thanksgiving or any other day. The smoked brisket ($14) with onion jam on grilled potato bread is juicy and superb,

If you go Percy Street Barbeque

900 South St. 215-625-8510 Mon.-Thurs.: 5-10 p.m. Fri.: 5-11 p.m. Sat.: 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Sun.: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. www.percystreet.com Photo: Larry Nichols

Food & Drink The sweetest place to go for the most unique wedding favors in the gay community— including our rainbow-covered pretzels.

Be sweet—give the guests a treat from The Candy Jar!

The Candy Jar 742 Haddon Ave. Collingswood, NJ

856-833-1010 thecandyjarnj.com

and Percy’s deviled eggs ($4) have a smoky kick. The vegetarian black bean chili ($7) will please carnivores and grazers alike with its hearty, spicy flavor, both in the chili and also in the poblano salsa that tops it. Percy Street also gives diners a downhome Southern take on charcuterie with its biscuit board ($9), which consists of three small biscuits, thinly sliced country ham and seasonal accompaniments, which on the night we visited were pecan mustard, honey crème fraiche and a golden tomato jam. The latter is best when combined with one of those perfect buttery biscuits and a helping of ham. If the quality of the food isn’t motivation enough, Percy Street Barbeque is donating the cash equivalent of one turkey to a local food bank for each turkey sold. TakeHome Turkeys and Smokin’ Thanksgiving Feasts must be reserved by calling 215625-8510. ■

NIGHTLIFE PGN TELEVISION

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 2013

Worth Watching THANKSGAGA: Pop music’s most eccentric diva hangs with the most colorful characters on TV on the 90-minute special, “Lady Gaga & the Muppets’ Holiday Spectacular,” an avant-garde twist on the classic holiday variety show, 9:30 p.m. Nov. 28 on ABC. Photo: ABC/Rick Rowell

LOOKING FOR MISS RIGHT: Lisa finally makes a new best friend, Isabel Gutierrez (guest voice Eva Longoria), only to discover that she is a Republican and also her opponent in the second-grade classrepresentative election in a new episode of “The Simpsons,” 8 p.m. Nov. 24 on Fox. Photo: Fox

POP MUSIC: Global music star Pitbull hosts the “2013 American Music Awards,” featuring performances by Lady Gaga, Macklemore, Miley Cyrus and more, live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, 8 p.m. Nov. 24 on ABC. Photo: Greg Watermann/

BABY, I’M A STAR: Kurt (Chris Colfer) and Rachel (Lea Michele) perform at their first official gig on a new episode of “Glee,” 9 p.m. Nov. 28 on Fox. Photo: Adam Rose/Fox

Pitbull Productions, Inc.

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.

FUN PGN & GAMES

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 2013

Q Puzzle Dude looks like a lady Across

1. With 56Across, “Today” Halloween character of 2004 6. “The African Queen” author 10. Last year’s frosh 14. Socrates’ market 15. Cold feet 16. Scarlett’s plantation 17. Guitarist Eddie Van ___ 18. Turned tail 20. Where to slap a football player on the butt? 22. Frida’s husband 23. With 25Across, “Today” Halloween character of 2013 25. See 23Across

27. Gielgud’s john 28. FabergÈ objet 30. Business mag 31. Hot blood 33. About 36. Bubbly home 40. Brady Bunch prefix 41. Matt, who portrayed the 3 women of this puzzle’s theme 42. Q-Tip, for one 43. Neighbor of Senegal 44. What comes to mind 45. “Dawson’s Creek” characters 46. Give a chit 48. PBS relative 50. Personal-ad info 51. With 71Across, “Today” Halloween character of 2000 56. See 1-Across 58. Uranian, for example 59. Mead studied

them on Samoa 61. Kingdom of Alexander the Great 63. Vonda Shepard’s “It’s ___ Kiss” 66. Believe-not connection 67. Milk candy 68. Compensate 69. Some have electric organs 70. Poker chip, e.g. 71. See 51Across

Down

1. “Poppycock!” 2. Palindromic title 3. Virginia Woolf, to many writers 4. Cara of “Fame” 5. Adam of “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry” 6. Do style 7. Susan’s partner in “Thelma

PORTRAIT from page 35

it was always a battle for me when I had to deal with her. She would approve a certain transfusion and then battle with me about something else. I would say, “We just went through this last month!” And she would tell me it wasn’t her, that she’d never been there before. I finally realized I just needed to go ahead and do what was best for the animal and she was happy. I learned a lot from her. PGN: Another quote from one of your clients was, “I felt his love for animals as soon as he stepped out of his car.” Did that come from your parents? BB: No, no. They like pets, but can live without them. My love for them is intrinsic. Though nature shows were the way I connected with my dad, he wasn’t the best father — not at all — but every Saturday morning we would watch “Animal Planet” together. It wasn’t a profound connection but it was something we had. PGN: So, Halloween recently passed. Dressing up your pets — yay or nay? BB: I think it’s wonderful when people engage with their pets. Our animals love being part of the family so if you incorporate something that you’d do with your kids and the animal is into it, go for it. I think people don’t even realize how similar they are to us. PGN: An example? BB: At Lap of Love we see every day that pets grieve the loss of other pets. A lot of them don’t do it in the negative way that people do, they understand the circle of life. I always tell people, “Sad is not bad, sad is not hard, sad is just sad.” We’d do well to realize animals are very similar to us [... laughs] just better.

and Louise” 8. Gone from the platter 9. Pull a boner 10. Where both gays and straights go down 11. One of the “Maneater” singers 12. Rag alternative 13. Wore 19. Adam and Steve’s locale? 21. Go the other way 23. Colorless watery fluid 24. Vital carrier 26. Contemporary Christian 29. Cattleman’s tool 32. Willa Cather classic 34. Feel sorry for 35. “___ Saves the Worled” 37. Spa? 38. Brando’s last one was in Paris

39. Dramatist Henrik 41. Willingly 45. Of little consequence 47. Air force 49. First letter of the F-word, for Socrates? 51. Billy Elliot portrayer Bell 52. Tickle pink 53. Actor Williamson 54. Cause of “bed death” 55. Police actions at Stonewall 57. Slow, to Saint-Saens 60. Bit of business 62. Ann Bannon’s “___ Girl Out” 64. Suffix with Paul 65. Remarks, slangily

PGN: It’s said that animals start to look like their owners ... BB: That might be true, but I find more often that animals take on the personality of the owner, so if you have a nervous, neurotic person talking to you, their animal is going to be neurotic. Vets know this very well. I know when I have a client who is calm, I know they’re going to have a dog who is going to be chill. They adopt a lot of our emotions, so good people have good dogs and vice versa. PGN: Difficulties? BB: Any time you’re dealing with the public it’s difficult, but in our case it’s kind of like being a pediatrician because you basically have two patients — one can’t talk to you and the other can talk to you but really has no idea what’s really going on with the first one. It can lead to lots of difficulties. PGN: Your coming-out story? BB: Like a lot of people, when I was younger it was not appropriate to be gay, especially where I lived. Even in college I didn’t really address it, I just focused on school. I think a lot of LGBT people do well in careers because of that focus. It was hard to live thinking that your family and friends and community might reject you if they knew who you were. But in vet school I realized that I needed to have something else in my life and started dating online. That’s where I met my first boyfriend, Frank ... I might start crying here. He was wonderful and will always be my love and best friend. He was out and proud and made me realize that we’re good people who deserve to be loved and deserve for people to know who we are. He taught me a lot. And got me a good therapist who helped me come out to everyone.

PGN: Single now? BB: No, I have a partner, Gary, who is my heart and soul. School and animals were always my life — I’m the least worldly person in the world — but Gary brings happiness into my life and completes me. He’s everything I’m not: carefree and joyous. I couldn’t do what I do without him to come home to. PGN: [Points to a blue package.] And what’s this? BB: I wanted to share this with you. This is what we give to our clients. It’s information about us but it also contains worksheets that I think are important, like a quality-of-life chart. It’s so hard emotionally to decide when to euthanize, so this takes out the subjective part and helps you decide objectively. Your heart wants your dog or cat forever but the numbers chart on appetite, mobility, elimination, etc., helps you decide what’s best for your animal. We work very closely near end of life and people will call me sometimes twice a day to give me updates so I can really know where things stand. I also give them a notebook and pen to keep notes about their pet so when the time comes, I know we’re making the right decision. This is a cement paw print, but I have to take this one back because it’s from my cat, Laker 2, who recently passed. Laker 1 was a cat I got when I first became a vet who will always be my love. He’s one of the reasons I do what I do. Laker 2 was a feral cat but very sweet. He had feline AIDS and died shortly after I found him, but at least I know at the end he was cared for and happy. He had lox for his last meal. This is his commemoration. I always make a clay paw-print impression for

every client that wants it. I also usually put a little fur clipping in a satin purse for them too; they might not even want it at first but I find people are grateful for it later. We like for them to have as much as they need. I also give them this bereavement book, which has some great ideas on how to honor their pet, especially for kids. Making a small pillow from your dog’s blanket or bandana, planting a tree, some really lovely ideas. It’s got poetry, information about cat and canine grief as well as a list of resources. We empower people to make the decisions they need to make in a dignified, loving and respectful manner. It’s amazing what it does. PGN: No wonder they call you an angel. ■

For more information on Lap of Love, visit www.lapoflove.com. To suggest a community member for Family Portraits, email portraits05@aol. com.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 2013

Classifieds Real Estate Sale

Real Estate Sale

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

Real Estate Sale

Business Opportunities

SECLUDED HISTORICAL DISTRICT OF LUMBERTON Beaut. rest. 1870’s home, 3 BR, 1.5 BA, 30 mins to Phila. 3 floors, all new HVAC, screened porch, 3/4 acre, mod. kit & baths, beaut. details. $285,000. 609-784-8324. _____________________________________________38-10 QUEEN VILLAGE SPACE Rare bi-lvl on charming st. Open floor plan. Kit w/SS appl, maple cabs. & granite countertops. 2 lg BR & spa like bath. Rear deck. $294,900. Sherry Nunez, Real Living Ramagli, 267-784-2535 or 215-949-3010. _____________________________________________37-47 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 ________________________________________37-47 Grand Opening Land Sale! Beautifully wooded lot near golf course. Only $59,900. Adjacent lot sold for $339,900! Close to ski resort & spectacular mountain lake. ALL NEW INVENTORY - Must see! Excellent financing. Call now 877-888-7581, x 178 ________________________________________37-47

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

Adoptions 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. ________________________________________37-47

Services 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 ________________________________________37-47 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

Pets Sweet but rambunctious 6 month old cat needs forever home with no small children in it. Super loveable and cuddly, a bit rough with little people. Fixed and has his shots. Please call (315.790.0756) to give Dexter a tryout. ________________________________________37-50

the metropolitan Collingswood Apartment Homes for Living

. . . . .

PET FRIENDLY the metropolitan Washer/Dryer Collingswood European Kitchens 213 Garﬁeld Avenue Minutes to PATCO High Speed Line to CC Phila Collingswood, NJ 08108 Walk to Gourmet Restaurants and quaint shoppes along Haddon Avenue.

One bedroom den starting @ $1045, 2 bedroom starting @ $1099. 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.

856-854-5700

9 - 5 Monday thru Friday 10 - 4 Saturday

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.

RECOGNITION. The JOHN C. ANDERSON APARTMENT BUILDING in Center City Philadelphia. This is the VERY FIRST LGBT SENIOR BUILDING in PHILADELPHIA. Be the first to open a business in this marvelous space with plenty of built-in exposure and PGN publicity. Free build-out options available.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 2013

COMMERCIAL RETAIL SPACE AVAILABLE

$5,500 /Month

BRAND NEW CONSTRUCTION! This new building is already FAMOUS and has received GLOBAL RECOGNITION. The JOHN C. ANDERSON APARTMENT BUILDING in Center City Philadelphia. This is the VERY FIRST LGBT SENIOR BUILDING in PHILADELPHIA. Be the ﬁrst to open a Building View-Front business in thismarvelous space with plenty of built-in exposure and publicity. Free build-out options available.

JOHN C. ANDERSON APARTMENT BUILDING 249 S. 13th Street-Retail, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Total Space Available:

1,700 SF

Rental Rate:

$5,500 /Month

Property Type:

Retail

Property Sub-type:

Street Retail

Construction Status:

Under Construction/Proposed

Building Size:

1,700 SF

Build to Suit:

Yes

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

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

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

 





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

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

PGN

Services

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 2013

Help Wanted

Heavy Equipment Operator Training! Bulldozers, Backhoes, Excavators. 3 Weeks Hands On Program. Local Job Placement Assistance. National Certifications. GI Bill Benefits Eligible. 1-866-362-6497. ________________________________________37-47 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. ________________________________________37-47 $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. ________________________________________37-47 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. ________________________________________37-47 HOME WEEKLY & BI-WEEKLY EARN $900-$1200/WK. Major Benefits Available. Class A CDL & 6 Mos. Exp. Req. NO Canada, HAZMAT or NYC! 877-705-9261. ________________________________________37-47 Exp. Reefer Drivers: GREAT PAY /Freight lanes from Presque Isle, ME, Boston-Lehigh, PA. 800-277-0212 or driveforprime.com ________________________________________37-47 CDL-A DRIVERS NEEDED Now hiring solos & teams in your area! Small Company, BIG Benefits! Top Pay for Hazmat. CDL Grads Welcome. 888-928-6011 www.TotalMS.com ________________________________________37-47 Hogan Transports is now hiring for CDL-A Dedicated Drivers! Weekly home time, great weekly pay, full benefits. Call Today! 1-888-376-9965 or apply at www.hoganjobs.com ________________________________________37-47 CRST offers the Best Lease Purchase Program! SIGN ON BONUS. No Down Payment or Credit Check. Great Pay. Class-A CDL required. Owner Operators Welcome! Call: 866-403-7044. ________________________________________37-47 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. ________________________________________37-47

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 ________________________________________37-47 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. ________________________________________37-47 CDL-A Drivers: Looking for Higher Pay? New Century is Hiring Exp. Company Drivers and Owner Operators. Both Solo and Teams. Competitive pay package. SignOn Incentive. Also looking for experienced drivers willing to train. Call (888) 903-8863 or apply online at www. drivenctrans.com ________________________________________37-47

Massage

PGN 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

Massage David, 63, 6’, 200 lbs., attentive. 215-569-4949. (24/7) ________________________________________37-48

Handsome Certified Therapist 6’, 195 lbs, Muscle Gives Sensual / Therapeutic Massage

Call 215-432-6030

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

B-7

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 2013

PGN

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

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

- We Wish Everyone A Safe & Happy Holiday!!! -

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

Activism/Politics

ACT-UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) meets 6-9 p.m. every Monday at St. Luke and The Epiphany Church, 330 S. 13th St.; 215-386-1981; www.actupphilly.org. Delaware Valley Chapter, Americans United for Separation of Church and State seeks activists and supporters of church-state separation. Holds monthly meetings and events; www.dvau.org. Equality Pennsylvania holds a volunteer night the second Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m., 1211 Chestnut St., Suite 605; 215-731-1447; www.equalitypa.org. Green Party of Philadelphia holds general meetings the fourth Thursday of the month except August and December, 7 p.m.; 215-243-7103; www.gpop.org. Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club meets seasonally; www.libertycity.org.

Arts

Library Book Club meets to discuss a new book 7 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month at the William Way Center. Men On Tap, an LGBT group that performs with choirs, organizations and at the Fringe Festival, rehearses Mondays at 8 p.m. at The Bike Stop, 206 S. Quince St.; dale@magicalfantasies.com. Philadelphia Freedom Band, an audition-free LGBT band that does concerts and parades, rehearses Mondays 7-9:30 p.m.; philadelphiafreedomband.com. Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus rehearses 7-10 p.m. Wednesdays; 215-731-9230; auditions@pgmc.org. Philadelphia Gay Men’s Opera Club meets to share and listen to recordings 6:30 p.m. the last Saturday of the month; 215-732-7898. Philadelphia Voices of Pride, Philadelphia’s first mixed GLBT chorus, rehearses 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the William Way Center; www.pvop.org. Queer Writer’s Collective workshop and discussion group meets 4-6 p.m. the fourth Saturday of the month at the William Way Center. Reading Queerly, open to all women and genderqueer/ trans people, meets 6:45 p.m. the first Thursday of the month at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.

Recreation

Gay Bridge Club non-beginners group meets Monday 1:30-4:30 p.m. at the William Way Center; reservations required. Call 215-732-2220. Gay-friendly Scrabble Club meets 6-11 p.m. in the P.I.C. Building, 42nd and Locust streets; 215-382-0789. Gay Opera Guys of Philly, a new group for opera appreciation, meets the last Sunday of the month at 2:30 p.m. in Roxborough/Andorra area; 215-483-1032. Humboldt Society: Lesbian and Gay Naturalists meets the second Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the William Way Center; 215-985-1456; www.humboldtsociety.org. Independence Squares LGBT square-dance club, modern Western square dancing. Monthly open house. Tuesday classes in the fall; Lutheran Church, 2111 Sansom St.; philadances@gmail.com; www.independencesquares.org. Male Oenophile Group forming to discuss, appreciate and taste various wines. Will meet once a month to investigate the nuances and glories of the fermented grape. Call 267230-6750 for more information. Mornings OUT LGBT Senior Social activities for senior gay men are held every Tuesday, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the William Way Center. PhilaVentures, Philadelphia’s LGBT outdoor group, meets for hikes in Wissahickon Valley and Valley Forge Park; philaventures.org.

Sports

Brandywine Women’s Rugby Club meets for Tuesday and Thursday practice at 8 p.m. Greenfield Park, West Chester; www.brandywinerugby.org. City of Brotherly Love Softball League serves the Philadelphia metropolitan area. Games are played Sundays, beginning in April, at the Dairy and Edgeley Fields in Fairmount Park; www.cblsl.org. Frontrunners running club meets 9:30 a.m. Saturdays for a run and brunch. Lloyd Hall, No. 1 Boathouse Row; www. philadelphiafrontrunners.org. Philadelphia Falcons Soccer Club LGBT and allies; indoor season starts Nov. 4 at Guerin Rec Center and runs through the end of March, every Monday 8-10pm and Sat 2-4pm; www.falcons-soccer.org. Philadelphia Fins Swim Team, male and female swimmers, meets 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday at Friends Select School and 10:30 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays; www.philadelphia-fins.org. Philadelphia Gay Bowling League meets 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays September-April at Brunswick Zone, 1328 Delsea Drive, Deptford, N.J.; 856-889-1434; www.philagaybowling.com.

Greater Philadelphia Flag Football League games played Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., at FDR Park. For more information please visit www.phillyflagfootball.com Philadelphia Gryphons Rugby Football Club seeks players, all skill levels welcome; meets 7:45 p.m. Thursdays at Columbus Square Park, 1200 Wharton St.; 215-913-7531; philadelphiagryphons.org; becomeagryphon@gmail.com. Philadelphia Liberty Belles women’s semi-pro full-tackle football league holds fall tryouts; phillybelles.com. Philadelphia Liberty Tennis Association plays yearround, all skill levels welcome; philadelphialibertytennis. com. Philadelphia Firebirds women’s football team seeks players; www.philadelphiafirebirds.com. Philadelphia Women’s Baseball League seeks players, all skill levels and ages welcome. Practice is Thursdays, 7 p.m. at Marian Anderson Recreation Center, 17th and Fitzwater streets, with games on Sundays 2:30 p.m.; phillywomensbaseball.com; contact Narda Quigley, (day) 215991-5995 or (evening) 301-919-1194. Philly Gay Hockey Association Philadelphia Phury seeks players; 917-656-1936; phury@gayhockey.org. Philly QCycle LGBT bicycling club promotes organized recreational riding for all levels in the Greater Philadelphia region. Contact the organization via Facebook. Rainbow Riders of the Delaware Valley motorcycle club meets regularly; 215-836-0440; www.groups.yahoo.com/ group/rainbowridersdv/. Rainbow Rollers gay and lesbian bowling league meets 7:45 p.m. Tuesdays at Boulevard Lanes in Northeast Philadelphia; rainbowrollers.com. Spartan Wrestling Club, the gay wresting team, meets 6:30-9 p.m. Mondays (no August practice) at the First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St.; 215-732-4545; www. phillyspartans.com. Suburban Gay Bowling League bowls at 8 p.m. Thursdays from August-April at Facenda-Whitaker Lanes, 2912 Swede Road, Norristown; sgblbowl@gmail.com. Team Philadelphia, the umbrella group for gay and lesbian sports teams, and individual athletes in the Delaware Valley come together to provide a healthy outlet for all members of the community; teamphiladelphia.org.

Etc.

AIDS Law Project provides free legal assistance to people with HIV/AIDS and sponsors free monthly seminars on work and housing; 1211 Chestnut St., Suite 600; 215-5879377; www.aidslawpa.org. BiUnity, Philadelphia-area social and support network for bisexuals, their family members and friends meets the second Friday of every other month at the William Way Center; www.biunity.org. Delaware Valley Pink Pistols for LGBT people dedicated to legal, safe and responsible use of firearms for selfdefense; meets 2 p.m. the third Saturday of the month at Classic Indoor Range, 1310 Industrial Blvd., Southampton; 610-879-2364; www.pinkpistols.org. Delaware Pride holds planning meetings 7 p.m. the first Thursday of the month at the United Church of Christ, 300 Main St., Newark; 302-265-3020; delawarepride.org. Haverford College’s Sexuality and Gender Alliance holds open meetings 10-11 p.m. Mondays during the school year in the lounge in Jones Basement at Haverford College, 370 Lancaster Ave.; 610-896-4938. Men and Women for Human Excellence support group meets from noon-2 p.m. the first and third Saturdays of the month at 26th Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue; 267-2733513; cmoore8300@yahoo.com. Long Yang Club Philadelphia social organization for gay Asians and their friends holds monthly socials; www. longyangclub.org/philadelphia. Our Night Out, a casual social networking party of LGBT professionals, friends and colleagues, meets in a different Philadelphia hot spot each month. To receive monthly event invitations, email OurNightOutPhilly@gmail.com; more information on Facebook. Philadelphia Bar Association Legal Advice offered 5-8 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month; 215-238-6333. Philadelphia Prime Timers club for mature gay and bisexual men and their admirers meets regularly; primetim ersofphiladelphia@yahoo.com. Philadelphians MC Club for leather men and women meets 7:30 p.m. the first and third Monday of the month at The Pit at The Bike Stop, 201 S. Quince St.; philadelphiansmc.org. Rainbow Amateur Radio Association ARRL-affiliated, weekly HF nets, quarterly newsletter; www.rara.org. Silver Foxes, a social and educational group for gays and lesbians 50 and older, meets 3-5 p.m. the fourth Sunday of the month at the William Way Center. SNJ Queers meets monthly for queer/queer-friendly folks in South Jersey to mix and mingle. Search for SNJ Queers on Facebook; contact Wendy at 856-375-3708 or wmf69@comast.net.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 22-28, 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. 22-28, 2013

PGN

Rockin’ Christmas

December 6 & 7

Celebrate the holidays with the band Music News Weekly calls “A rip-roaring riot of rock-n-roll and slapstick.” Get your kicks as the Raiders mix high-energy holiday classics like Jingle Bell Rock and Run Run Rudolph with the band’s #1 hits including Indian Reservation, Just Like Me and Good Thing.

Tickets $20 Just the best deal in AC!

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11/7/13 9:12 AM