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