PGN Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011 by The Philadelphia Gay News

Our two-part Holiday Gift Guide starts this week with things to see, hear and wear

Family Portrait: Linda Slodki

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Philly entrepreneur launches a new way to save on gay travel options

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Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

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Vol. 35 No. 47

Whitemarsh bans LGBT discrimination By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com

SERVING UP THANKS: The Rev. Andrea Harrington (right) serves up a pre-Thanksgiving feast hosted by Colours on Nov. 20. Over 50 people partook of the turkey dinner with all the fixins, and many stayed to participate in Colours’ Transgender Day of Remembrance memorial immediately following. Photo: Scott A. Drake

Whitemarsh Township in Montgomery County became the 24th Pennsylvania municipality to bar discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression last week. The ordinance, passed Nov. 17, provides protections for members of the LGBT community. If a member of the community feels discriminated against in any way relating to housing, education, employment or other matters, a human-relations commission, once established, would hear complaints and work to resolve the issue for all parties involved. Ted Martin, executive director for Equality Pennsylvania, an LGBT advo-

cacy group, said this ordinance, which has been in the works for six months, is one of a number of similar ordinances the group hopes to get passed in other municipalities across the state. “We’re working very hard to have 25 ordinances on the books by the end of the year,” he said. “We’ve been working with receptive communities to start these ordinances to put them in place. We work with people in the community beforehand. Then we start working through those folks to get an ordinance.” Whitemarsh’s Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve the ordinance, with supervisor David Brooke absent for the vote. According to the 2010 Census, Whitemarsh has a population of 17,349.

Local guys take top Mr. Gay prizes

During the public meeting, some attendees stridently opposed the ordinance, including the American Family Association representatives, said Adrian Shanker, president of Equality Pennsylvania. “They came from outside the township and, quite frankly, they made comments that were reprehensible at the public meeting at LGBT people in general,” he said. “It actually caused some gay residents that were at the meeting to feel very defensive [and] uncomfortable and they responded with very strong words in response. One of the speakers, Jim Scheneller, who is affiliated with the American Family Association, stated that he’s not sure that discrimination or harassment against LGBT people actually exists. That’s a delusional perspective to take. Those were PAGE 23

Antigay groups allowed to defend Prop. 8 By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

GAY WHAT?: Bryan Dorsey (above, center) reacts to the announcement of his 2012 U.S. Mr. Gay win and receives his sash from last year’s winner, Eddie Rabon. Photos: Scott A. Drake

By Scott A. Drake scott@epgn.com For the second year in a row, an East Coaster won the U.S. Mr. Gay 2012 title. Lancaster native Bryan Dorsey took the top honor in last weekend’s competition, beating out 15 other contestants. Dorsey will represent the United States in the International Mr. Gay competition next year in Chicago. Dorsey, 35, received a theater

degree from UArts but found his true calling in the nursing field. He currently works at Lancaster General Hospital and volunteers in Harrisburg at Adler Health Services. Still interested in the theater side, he starred in a York production of “Rocky Horror Picture Show” in October. The self-proclaimed country boy was still somewhat dazed on Sunday, the day after his win. “It’s surreal,” Dorsey said.

“I just came to participate and have some fun. I didn’t have any idea I might win. I’m still a little shell-shocked.” As a health-care provider, Dorsey said he hopes to use his new visibility to help promote health issues in the gay community, noting that the incidence of new infections of STDs is alarming even in the Lancaster area. He also said he empathized with youth facing bullying.

“I was bullied through grade school, middle school and into high school. In that area, in a smaller community, it can still be very difficult for a gay guy. But I still took a boy to my high-school senior prom. “I used my question on Friday night about GOP candidates — and what I would say to one — to talk about the horrible antibullying laws in Minnesota. The religious right, which is pretty much all PAGE 20

California marriage-equality advocates saw a setback last week as the antigay supporters of the ballot effort to overturn the state’s same-sex marriage law were given the green light to back the initiative in court. The California Supreme Court ruled last Thursday that the Protect Marriage coalition had standing to challenge a lower court judge’s ruling that overturned Proposition 8. The backers intervened in Perry v. Brown, filed by a group PAGE 22

World AIDS Day supplement

Pages 25-32

LOCAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

is pleased to announce our writers placed in two award categories for the

2010 National Newspaper Association’s Better Newspaper Contest, out of some 2,700 U.S. publications. Our congratulations to:

Jen Colletta Second Place, Best Feature Story, Non-daily Division Kelly McGillis talks marriages, divorces and civil union Judge’s comments: “Excellent profile of Kelly McGillis. It can be difficult writing about a celebrity, difficult to get below the rehearsed answers. But this story feels like a real conversation and provides an intelligent look at a complicated life.”

Mark Segal Second Place, Best Serious Column, Non-daily Division Mosque issue is an LGBT issue Judge’s comments: “Terse argument that too few community newspapers offered — that Muslims had a right tobuild a cultural center and threatened no one.”

PAC seeks clarity on Morris 911 recordings By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com The city’s Police Advisory Commission this week agreed unanimously to seek information from the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office about the possible existence of a 911 transcript in the Nizah Morris case. Morris was a transwoman found with a fatal head wound shortly after receiving a courtesy ride from Philadelphia police. She died two days later, on Dec. 24, 2002, from complications of a fractured skull. The homicide remains unsolved. In May, the PAC subpoenaed the D.A.’s office for all of its Morris records. The D.A.’s office declined to comply with the subpoena, but a compromise was reached allowing the PAC to view a Morris file at the D.A.’s office Oct. 5, and to tag records for photocopying. No 911 tape or transcript was shown to the PAC during the onsite review. The PAC questioned the lack of a 911 tape or transcript in the file, and received two emails from the D.A.’s office indicating that it doesn’t have any. The emails were brought up at the PAC’s Nov. 21 meeting, but copies weren’t made public. The emails appear to contradict a legal brief filed by the D.A.’s office in November 2010 referring to a 911 transcript in its possession. The brief was filed in response to PGN’s Right-to-Know Law request for Morris 911 recordings, which remains pending in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court. “[The D.A’.s Office] states that it has no tapes in this matter and that [PGN] has all Philadelphia Police Department transcripts/ radio room transmissions that are in the possession of the D.A.’s Office,” the brief states. “The D.A.’s Office is providing this information in this case only and will not view this disclosure, for any reason, as binding on any other matter and/or request presented to the D.A.’s Office in the future.” PGN has no 911 transcript in the Morris case, thus the statement remains unclear. Chuck Volz, an openly gay PAC member, said it’s important to reconcile the emails with the legal brief. “This is probably just a matter of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing,” Volz said. “But it’s a loose end that needs to be tied up. So many problems have plagued the Nizah Morris case. If we can resolve this discrepancy, it’s well worth the effort.”

Volz said he wasn’t disputing the accuracy of the emails, but wants to know why a 911 transcript was referred to in the legal brief a year ago. PAC member Ronda B. Goldfein said clarity is needed before the PAC can conclude its investigation of possible police misconduct, as alleged in a PAC complaint filed by Morris’ mother in 2003. PAC attorney Virginia A. Chentis said she would seek clarification from Todd M. Mosser, chief of the D.A.’s litigation unit — who wrote the emails but didn’t write the 2010 legal brief. At press time, Tasha Jamerson, a spokesperson for D.A. Seth Williams, couldn’t be reached for comment on whether the D.A.’s office would clarify the matter. In 2003, the Philadelphia Police Department released a cassette tape of Morris 911 recordings. But computerized dispatch records released in 2006 indicate that numerous recordings are missing from the tape. For example, dispatch records indicate a 911 recording was made by police at 3:16 a.m. — during the critical period between 3:13-3:25 a.m. when Morris was injured — but the recording wasn’t on the tape. Because the police department lost its Morris homicide file in 2003, the city Law Department is under a court order to ensure that the file is properly reconstituted. Police located the missing Morris file earlier this year, but it doesn’t contain a 911 tape or transcript. This week, Deputy City Solicitor Joshua M.P. Stein said he couldn’t account for the 911 transcript referred to in the 2010 legal brief. He also said the Law Department has decided against seeking the transcript, if it exists. “It is the opinion of the Law Department that the city has fulfilled all obligations under the [court order],” Stein said, in an email. So far, the PAC has recieved none of the D.A.’s Morris records tagged for photocopying, but they’re expected to be received shortly, PAC members said. Those records include confidential interviews with a sergeant and three officers involved in the Morris incident, along with several interviews with civilian witnesses that haven’t been made public. The PAC’s next meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Dec. 19 at the McVeigh Recreation Center, 400 E. Ontario St. in the Frankford section. ■

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

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TECHNOLOGY UPGRADE: Patrick Cumberland (from right) from Dow Chemical and The Attic Youth Center executive director Carrie Jacobs were all grins after watching several youth experiment with some of the 10 new laptops donated by Dow and Ernst & Young on Nov. 18. Ernst & Young financial-services partner Christopher DiGiuseppe and Dow vice president Neil Car also attended the presentation. Photo: Scott A. Drake NEWS

Crime Watch Local Media Trail News Briefing Obituary

8 2 5 21 23

Contents

EDITORIAL/OP-ED

Creep of the Week Editorial Letters/Feedback Mark My Words Street Talk

10 10 11 11 11

Black Friday is for ... Poll results from our online survey as of Nov. 22:

37% Eating leftovers and chillin’ 21% Nothing special 16% Shopping. Duh! 9% Decorating for the holidays 9% Work 7% Shopping, eating and decorating Go to www.epgn.com to weigh in on this week’s question:

What is your spending limit for Christmas?

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Sarah Blazucki (ext. 206) sarah@epgn.com Staff Writers Jen Colletta (ext. 215) jen@epgn.com Larry Nichols (ext. 213) larry@epgn.com Writer-at-Large Timothy Cwiek (ext. 208) timothy@epgn.com

Advertising Manager Greg Dennis greg@epgn.com Advertising Sales Representatives Amy Mather amy@epgn.com Brooke Lutz brooke@epgn.com Prab Sandhu prab@epgn.com National Advertising Rivendell Media: 212-242-6863 Office Manager/ Classifieds Don Pignolet (ext. 200) don@epgn.com

Art Director/Photographer Scott A. Drake (ext. 210) scott@epgn.com Graphic Artist Sean Dorn (ext. 211) sean@epgn.com Executive Assistant/ Billing Manager Carol Giunta (ext. 202) carol@epgn.com Philadelphia Gay News is a member of: The Associated Press Pennsylvania Newspaper Association Suburban Newspapers of America Published by Masco Communications Inc. © 2011 Masco Communications Inc. ISSN-0742-5155 The views of PGN are expressed only in the unsigned “Editorial” column. Opinions expressed in bylined columns, stories and letters to the editor are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of PGN. The appearance of names or pictorial representations in PGN does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of that named or pictured person or persons.

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Media Trail Teen in gay-student slaying pleads guilty The Los Angeles Times reports that the Oxnard teen who shot a gay classmate he believed was flirting with him has agreed to spend the next 21 years in prison, a plea deal that ends a case that drew national attention and ignited debate on how schools should deal with openly gay students. Brandon McInerney, who was 14 when he pulled a gun out of his backpack and shot Larry King, 15, twice in the head in 2008, has already served nearly four years in jail and would be released by the time he is 38, under terms of the deal. “Larry had a complicated life, but he did not deserve to be murdered,” the youth’s father, Greg King, said after a Nov. 21 court hearing. McInerney’s first trial ended with jurors split between convicting him of voluntary manslaughter and first-degree murder. Several of the jurors have since spoken in favor of a plea bargain, in order to avoid a second trial.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

Prosecutors, in initially deciding to try McInerney a second time, had already dropped a key allegation that the shooting was motivated by a hatred of homosexuals, an accusation that several jurors in the original trial said they did not believe.

Benetton pulls pope kissing ads USA Today reports clothing retailer Benetton pulled a provocative ad with Pope Benedict XVI kissing a Muslim cleric Nov. 16 after the Vatican threatened legal action. Vatican spokesperson the Rev. Federico Lombardi called the ad campaign a “totally unacceptable” show of “grave disrespect.” The image of Benedict kissing Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed El-Tayeb, imam of alAzhar Mosque in Cairo, was pulled almost immediately after the Vatican protested. “We reiterate that the meaning of this campaign is exclusively to combat the culture of hatred in all its forms,” a Benetton spokesperson said in an official statement. The Italian company’s “UNHATE” campaign features digitally altered photos of world leaders kissing each other on the mouth, including President Obama with Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez and Chinese leader Hu Jintao, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. ■ — compiled by Larry Nichols

FALL FOOTBALL FINALE: Herbie Sayles (center, with football) scored twice in the final game of the Greater Philadelphia Flag Football League’s fall season, eking out a 27-24 win for the Raven Blue Smurfs Nov. 19 at Columbus Park. Sayles received Rookie of the Year honors later that night along with Wes Coulter of the Purple Pirates. Season MVP went to Morgan Sampson of Solid Gold. Outreach chair Carmen Gervasio said GPFFL raised more than $7,000 in 2011 for local organizations through the AIDS Walk, MANNA’s Pie in the Sky sales, the Big Game SuperBowl party and Make-a-Wish Foundation tournament. Photo: Scott A. Drake

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

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Out Israeli filmmaker talks new doc at William Way By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Out Israeli television personality Assi Azar was on hand in Philadelphia Nov. 20 to host a screening and discussion of his film, “Mom And Dad, I Have Something To Tell You,” a documentary about coming out to his family in Israel. Azar, 32, is the host of the Israeli version of “Big Brother” and has been a strong advocate for LGBTQ youth in Israel. He talked to PGN while he was in town about the making of his documentary and the effect it’s had on audiences so far. PGN: The coming-out experience is often very personal: Why was this something you felt should be captured and shared on film? AA: Actually, my coming-out process is not the idea of the movie. I came out when I was 24 and the movie was shot when I was 29. It’s actually the process of my parents and what they went through when they heard that I’m gay. I decided to do it after the tragic event in Tel Aviv in 2009, when a masked man entered a gay youth center and started shooting. He killed kids and injured 15 and they were between 13-18. After that, parents found out on the news that their kids were gay, so some of them didn’t come and visit them in the hospital. And

I found it crazy parents wouldn’t see their son after being injured in such an event. I wanted to make a movie talking about that, how parents react when a son comes out. PGN: When you were filming this, what was the most poignant interview or moment for you personally? AA: There were three of those. One interview with a boy in the gay youth center during shooting, his father — one of the fathers who didn’t come visit — told him he wished he was dead. He told me he’s still waiting for his father to call. He didn’t go back home. He was adopted by family who took him in because his father wouldn’t allow him to come home. That was emotional for me. The second was with a religious woman. After she found out her son was gay, she decided she doesn’t care if he’s gay or straight: He can be whatever as long as he’s happy. She’s doing something controversial in her society and community by accepting him without questioning if she should or should not. I love her. She’s amazing. The third was my parents. When I spoke with my dad, I asked him how it was for him when I came out and he said today he loves me more and that now that I’ve opened up to him he feels like we’re closer. So that was new to hear.

it’s OK to be whatever you PGN: How has the want to be. reception to your PGN: Some television documentary differed personalities in the United between Israel and the States may be hesitant to United States? come out because of posAA: In Israel, the most sible criticism. In terms of shocking thing to me your own career, do you was getting emails feel like being open about and Facebook mesyour sexuality has hinsages from people who dered you at all? wanted me to send AA: I have to say from them a DVD of the the moment I came out of film so they could take ISRAELI ‘BIG BROTHER’ HOST closet, my career started it to their parents who ASSI AZAR to blossom. When I was in don’t accept their kids. the closet, I was hosting a It became a First Aid kids’ show with four other hosts and one movie for parents who need to see other of them was one of the hottest guys, two people who have the same stories. Just a models and one was a great singer. I came few weeks ago, I was walking down the out of closet and became the gay host. I street and saw two women and one ran noticed that things really improved and up to me and said, “Listen, my friend it made me be a better host. I used to do doesn’t know her son is gay. I don’t know interviews a lot and how can I interview what to do. Help me.” I gave her a DVD someone and expect honest answers if I’m of the movie. It makes me happy that the not honest. And also, now I’m hosting the movie can help others in that way. In the Israeli “Big Brother.” I think I got the job States, it’s really surprising to me the response from viewers here. [The film was not because I’m gay; I got it because I’m doing a good job. At the end of the day, screened] a week ago in a Catholic school your career doesn’t choose you because of in San Francisco and I was shocked that your sexual preference. It chooses you if Catholic and conservative people would you’re good. So, to American celebrities come see an Israeli movie about being in the closet or getting married and having gay. But a teacher said this school is about kids, please stop it. Be who you are: Live teaching girls to accept people who are life how want to live it. ■ different than you and how to understand

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

LGBT travel site takes off in Philly By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com A new Philadelphia-based travel venture is entering the fray of online discount sites to offer LGBT travelers the total package when it comes to vacations. OffTo.com launched at the beginning of this month, providing LGBT tourists with specially tailored and deeply discounted trips. The site is beginning with five initial packages — to locales such as Atlantic City, Cabo San Lucas and Disney World — with the goal of eventually featuring a steady 20 trips at any given time. Founding partner Brian Goldthorpe, the only out member of the four-person team operating OffTo, explained that founding partner Dennis Gaudenzi, whom he called the “brains” behind the website, initially conceived of a site that could offer discounted overnight getaways, complete with a host of included activities — an idea that this year was carried out by sites like Groupon and Living Social. Gaudenzi enlisted Goldthorpe to help dovetail his idea toward a more specific market, and Goldthorpe explored dedicating the site specifically to LGBT travel. “He wanted to differentiate his site from others, and I came in to help survey the market opportunities,” Goldthorpe said. “I’ve done a lot of volunteer work in the LGBT community and my partner, Bruce Yelk, has worked on a lot of events and works in Philadelphia tourism, so I’ve watched as the gay travel and tourism industry has really evolved in the past few years. So we agreed that creating this model for customized LGBT travel was the best way to go.” Each package includes hotel accommodations, as well as outings and activities designed to appeal to varying segments of the LGBT travel community. For instance, one current Atlantic City package includes a two-night hotel stay, free admission for two to a bar, a nightclub and a live-entertainment show — a package valued at $383 that is going for $199. Tourists looking for a more laidback getaway can partake in the Cancun deal, which features a four-night stay that includes a spa gift certificate, discounted golf-course access and shuttle service to and from the resort’s sister properties, as well as the airport, for just $159 — marked down 81 percent from the valued $839. Goldthorpe said value is one of the key goals of OffTo. “There are some gay travel sites but we really wanted to take into consideration people’s socioeconomic status,” he said. “These other sites offer expensive trips by and large and are created for this stereotypical, affluent white gay male traveler. So what we’re trying to say is that the LGBT community is much more diverse than that stereotype and we’re looking to offer enough diversity that we’re able to serve all segments of the market equally.”

The great price should not come at the expense of high-quality service, however, Goldthorpe said. OffTo vets each company with which it partners to ensure LGBT travelers will feel comfortable and welcomed on their trip. OffTo will work with hotels that have earned approval by LGBT tourism agency Travel Alternatives Group, which Goldthorpe said is the industry standard for LGBT-friendliness. Accreditation by TAG requires the companies offer nondiscrimination policies including sexual orientation, LGBT sensitivity training and domesticpartner benefits, among several other criteria. Goldthorpe said OffTo, which will work with as many LGBT-owned companies as possible, will also carefully examine accommodations that have not yet earned TAG approval, as well as activities providers, for similar policies and give special attention to a company’s investment in the local LGBT community. “Our partnership standards enable us to support local businesses and operators who are working to support their local communities,” Goldthorpe said. “That’s something I feel really passionate about. To the degree that we can, we will be working with cities and partner organizations that are really doing great work to help strengthen their local gay communities.” To purchase an OffTo vacation, travelers select the desired package and pay online, locking in that price, and then the customer must schedule the actual hotel stay on his or her own. While the deals are only available online for purchase for a limited time, the packages, once purchased, will have a shelf-life of several months. “There’s a window of time during which you can purchase it and a window of time during which you can use it,” Goldthorpe explained. “The timeframes vary from vacation to vacation so it’s important to read the fine print. So you see the deal, buy it when you can because the price is so great, and then can deal with the logistics and scheduling later.” The initial five packages available fall under the “Fit for Individual” travel category and, when it’s at its optimal operating power, OffTo will also offer “Group Getaways” and “Event-Based Getaways.” The group packages will include a capped number of available slots for a trip to a particular locale on a certain date, such as a ski trip, where all interested travelers will head to the same resort and partake in the same activities. The event-styled trips will be centered around LGBT outings that would appeal to certain segments of the community, such as Washington, D.C.’s Cherry Blossom Festival and a women’s arts festival in Miami. “The events will cross all types, with recreational, artistic, entertainment-based, historic-based and community celebrations,” Goldthorpe said. “So they’re not just group trips but are designed PAGE 22

ALL THAT GLITTERS: Philadelphia Voices of Pride brought the gay back with songs by out writers Elton John and Aaron Copeland and selections from “Rent” and “Wicked” at the chorus’ Nov. 19 concert at The Church of St. Luke and the Epiphany with guest conductor Ellie Armsby. Some 150 attended the concert, at which VOP announced Temple University graduate Daniel Schwartz would be its new artistic director. Photo: Scott A. Drake

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Gayborhood Crime Watch The following incidents in the Midtown Village and Washington Square West areas were reported to the Sixth Police District between Nov. 7-13. 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 — Between 5-8:40 p.m. Nov. 7, someone entered an unlocked 2009 Toyota parked in the 200 block of South Ninth Street and stole a GPS, iPhone charger, headphones and sunglasses. This report was received by the DPR Unit via phone, thus police were not dispatched. — At 11:30 p.m. Nov. 8, inside the Corner Restaurant, 102 S. 13th St., a male reached into an open window and stole a cell phone from a table inside, then fled west on Drury Lane. The suspect was described as a black male, 20-25 years old, 5-foot-6, 110 pounds and wearing a black puffy coat and black baseball cap. — Between 8:30 a.m.-noon Nov. 9,

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someone stole a secured bicycle from the rack outside 211 S. Broad St. — At 11:40 p.m. Nov. 9, a man was talking on his phone and walking near 1346 Spruce St. when a male ran past, grabbed the phone and fled north on Broad Street. The suspect was described as a black male, 20-30 years old with a medium complexion, and wearing a blue Yankees cap, black down jacket and jeans. — Between 11:30 p.m. Nov. 9 and 10 a.m. Nov. 10, someone broke into Giorgio on Pine, 1328 Pine St., and stole a cash box containing a small amount of change and a pair of reading glasses. Sixth District Officer Smith attempted to lift fingerprints. — At 8:15 p.m. Nov. 10, a woman was on a northbound Broad Street subway train between Lombard and Locust when a male demanded her wallet then got off at Broad and Locust. The suspect was described as a black male, in his 20s with a light complexion and wearing a grey hoodie. — Between 8:40 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 11, someone forced open the door of an apartment in the 300 block of South 11th

Street and stole a laptop. Sixth District Officer Thornton lifted fingerprints. — Between 11 a.m.-12:10 p.m. Nov. 12, someone forced open the door of an apartment in the 300 block of South 10th Street and stole a ring, DVD and CD players. Sixth District Officer Romanczuk attempted to lift fingerprints. — At 12:40 a.m. Nov. 13, police responded to calls of gunshots and a shooting in the area of Broad and Walnut streets. A male was found outside 151 S. Broad St. shot in the foot and was taken to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. A second shooting victim was found outside 237 S. Broad St. with gunshot wounds to the back and stab wounds to the head. He was also taken to Jefferson Hospital. Both victims were in the SEPTA Broad Street concourse near Locust when the shots were fired and both made their way to the surface. No description of suspects was provided. Philadelphia and SEPTA police are both investigating. — Between 8:30 a.m. Nov. 12 and 9:30 a.m. Nov. 13, someone entered an apartment in the 800 block of Pine Street through an unlocked window and stole a bicycle and a jar of change. Sixth District

Officer Romanczuk lifted fingerprints. NON-SUMMARY ARRESTS — At 1 a.m. Nov. 12, a witness observed a male in the common area of the apartment building at 302 S. 12th St. trying to remove a ladder and called 911. Sixth District Officers Cifelli and Washington apprehended the male identified by the witness and recovered the ladder. There was no forced entry into the building. The 24-year-old suspect with a Wrightstown. N.J., address was charged with burglary and related offenses. — At 1:15 p.m. Nov. 12, 6th District Officers Kovach and Calhoun arrested a male wanted for probation/parole violations outside 331 S. 12th St. The 44-yearold suspect with a Francisville address was charged with escaped prisoner. SUMMARY OFFENSE ARRESTS REPORTED: — Citation issued 11 p.m. Nov. 10 at 1237 Locust St. — Citations issued 12:15 a.m. Nov. 11 at 233 S. 13th St. and 4:10 p.m. at 1200 Locust St. — Citation issued 10:50 p.m. Nov. 12 at 200 S. 12th St. ■

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

EDITORIAL PGN

Creep of the Week

D’Anne Witkowski

Tamara Scott

Editorial

Congress talks fed partner benefits Last week, a bill to extend benefits and obligations to domestic partners of federal employees was introduced by U.S. Reps. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) and Ileana Ros-Lehtien (R-Fla.) and Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine). The House version, HR 3485, has 53 cosponsors, none of whom represent Pennsylvania. The bill was referred to the committees on Oversight and Government Reform, Education and the Workforce, House Administration and the Judiciary. In the Senate, where the bill (S1910) was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, only the two sponsors are listed as backers. The legislation would allow same-sex partners of federal employees to be eligible for retirement, life insurance, health, workers’ compensation and family and medical leave benefits to the same degree as heterosexual married employees. Additionally, federal employees and their same-sex domestic partners would be subject to the same obligations as married heterosexual federal employees, including anti-nepotism rules and financial disclosure requirements. To be eligible, the same-sex partners cannot be related by blood or married to anyone outside the partnership and must share responsibility for financial obligations. Partners must also file an affidavit attesting to their relationship. In a statement, Baldwin said, “The federal government must set an example as an equal opportunity employer. If we are to treat all federal employees fairly and recruit the best and the brightest to serve in government, we need this legislation.” An estimated 59 percent of Fortune 500 companies offer health benefits to domestic partners — up from 25 percent in 2000. With some 2 million employees, the federal government is the largest employer in the country and extending partner benefits would be a sea change. Since President Obama took office, numerous benefits and protections have been extended to LGBT federal employees and in the general population. Beyond the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” so that servicemembers can serve openly, other recent changes include extending equitable benefits to same-sex partners of Department of State foreign service employees, allowing for family and medical leave and barring discrimination based on gender identity or expression. At present, federal hiring practices bar discrimination based on non-merit factors, and job announcements specifically list sexual orientation as a protected class. Considering the current makeup of the Republican-controlled House and Democrat-controlled Senate, it’s unlikely that the domestic-partner bill — nor the Defense of Marriage repeal bill — will pass any time soon. But it’s important that voters let legislators know these issues are important to them and why, and that legislators both talk about and support them. ■

Bravo to Michele Bachmann for her newly appointed Iowa co-chair Tamara Scott, a woman who will no doubt help woo antigay Iowans to Bachmann’s dimly lit camp. Scott, who is a director for the Concerned Women of America, a group that’s never met a gay it didn’t not like, is “concerned” about gay marriage. In fact, over the summer, she stood with Bob Vander Plaats of antigay group The Family Leader and outlined some of her concerns about promarriage equality arguments, specifically the “red herring,” a rhetorical tactic intended to divert attention from the real issues. “We didn’t bring up the objective sexualism,” she says while she and Vander Plaats crack up. “I don’t know if you’ve seen this one, where the woman marries the Eiffel Tower. Or someone marries an object.” Vander Plaats grunts in surprise. “I know you at home are thinking, ‘This woman is nuts,’” she says, addressing the camera directly. “I’m not making it up. Get online and do the link.” Um, “do the link”? What does that mean? Does it have something to do with the YouTubes or the Googles? Thankfully, I managed to find the scandalous story Scott referred to. Yes, indeed, there’s a lady who had a commitment ceremony with the Eiffel Tower because of her love for it, and also because she felt the Eiffel Tower was lonely or something that obviously makes total sense and speaks to this lady’s 100-percent sanity. Erika Eiffel, who changed her last name after the ceremony, told ABC News, “I just, it’s almost like I heard her crying out, saying, ‘Somebody, notice me. Somebody, really notice me. Here I am in the crowd crying out, somebody, somebody, hear my voice.’” It occurs to me that people trapped under, say, rubble, cry similar things out. Perhaps they’ve been misunderstood all of these years, wanting a stranger to marry them instead of dig them out. It may be time for search and rescue policies to be reviewed. Also, if there’s one word that

describes the Eiffel Tower, it’s “ignored.” But what’s most important is that Erika Eiffel refers to the Eiffel Tower as “her.” Meaning that her marriage is a gay marriage. Which means, um, something terrible probably. I mean, if the Eiffel Tower were a dude, then it would all be OK. And, also, how is the Eiffel Tower not a dude? Hello? Phallic symbol? Apparently, “object orientation” is a thing. It is, according to the objectùmsexuality website, “widely known as Objektophil in Germany,” and that many “objectum-sexuals” have Asperger’s syndrome, which is all you really need to know to establish that marrying objects is obviously going to be the next big thing once same-sex couples can get married. Before you start writing up pre-nups for all of the items covered by your property insurance, it’s important to remember that Scott is the same woman who, last year, declared that the country’s economic woes could be solved if we just banned gay marriage harder. “If we would correct the breakdown of the family by 1 percent, we could save the taxpayer $3 billion a year,” she told an antigay rally crowd. “When the family is healthy, the community benefits. When the family is hurting, society will pay the cost one way or another. We can fix this economic downturn very easily by fixing some hearts.” “Fixing hearts” obviously means making hearts ungay, or whatever. And we all know that Marcus Bachmann specializes in that. I hope that Scott is also Bachmann’s economic advisor. You know, if only a certain president’s jobs plan focused more on unmarrying gay people. Maybe then Republicans would support it. ■

Scott is the same woman who, last year, declared that the country’s economic woes could be solved if we just banned gay marriage harder.

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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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

Sen. Casey and repealing DOMA Let’s talk about all those petitions that munity, is up for re-election, and we in Philadelphia and other cities with concenthe LGBT community delivered to Sen. trations of LGBT community and organiBob Casey. If you haven’t followed the zations forget that between Philadelphia story in PGN, let me give you a recap. and Pittsburgh is a vast conservative state. There’s legislation in the U.S. Senate to Remember this is the state that elected repeal the Defense of Marriage law. That Rick Santorum and, just law at present keeps legally last year, Pat Toomey to the married same-sex couples from U.S. Senate. Add in that this receiving any of the benefits year is going to be a tough the U.S. government gives to year for incumbents and that married opposite-sex couples. Pennsylvania has an energized Among them are filing joint tea party base and it spells federal taxes, Social Security trouble. Why give our friend benefits, estate taxes and even immigration rights — some any more baggage by asking 1,100 rights in all. him to support legislation that is D.O.A. and can only be used So the petitioners asked as fuel by the right wingers in Sen. Casey to sign on as a cosponsor of the repeal bill, the Pennsylvania? Respect for Marriage Act, since Let’s not downplay this that he has not yet done so. legislation is very important and While that would be great, an issue of equality, but we need it would only be symbolic Mark Segal Casey to be there to vote for the since the legislation is dead on legislation when it comes to the arrival. While it is possible that the legisla- Senate floor either now, which is improbtion could pass the Democratic-controlled able, or next term. ■ Senate, does anyone really expect it to pass Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the the other body, the Republican-controlled House? nation’s most-award-winning commentaSymbolism is great, but let’s not forget tor in LGBT media. He can be reached at mark@epgn.com. that Casey, a proven friend of our com-

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Street Talk Will you be shopping on Thanksgiving? “Yes, if there was something I really needed. Or if my mother asked me to join her. I’m not against shopping on Noah Currence Thanksgiving. student There can Center City be a mix of activities. It doesn’t have to be [spent] exclusively with family. I’d go to a movie with a friend, too.”

“Well, you could fly through the aisles and get good buys. But out of respect for people who shouldn’t have to work Evan Frace student on a holiday, Center City I wouldn’t shop on Thanksgiving. I’m not in desperate need of anything that I’d have to shop on Thanksgiving.”

“No. I stay in my pajamas all day. It’s a day for relaxation. I work on Black Friday in retail. I’ll be around shoppers all day. Why would I want to shop on Thursday?”

“No. I’ll be with family. That’s what's important to me. I’m not a materialistic person. There’s always time Luis Reyes to shop. And data-entry clerk you can shop Washington Square online. I’d West rather spend quality time with family.”

Krystal Kuykendall student South Philadelphia

Letters and Feedback Giving thanks to vaccine volunteers This year marks the 30th anniversary of the HIV epidemic. Many advances in HIV therapy have been made over this time, and HIV is now a chronic disease that can be effectively controlled by potent, convenient and easy-to-tolerate medication for a large majority of those who are infected. Unfortunately, the number of new cases of HIV infection continues to increase in the U.S., principally among young gay men. The good news is that recent advances in HIV-prevention research may change this trend. A large international study, HPTN 052, demonstrated that treating HIVinfected patients dramatically decreases the chance they will transmit the infection to their sexual partners. The iPrEx study, a study of daily HIV therapy taken by HIV uninfected gay men, demonstrated that if men adhered to the treatment strategy their risk of acquiring HIV was significantly reduced. However, research to prevent HIV infection will not stop until we have a safe

and effective HIV vaccine. As HIV-vaccine researchers reflect on advances made in 2011, we have much to be thankful for. This year we learned how an HIV vaccine may have altered the immune system to protect some people against HIV. Two years ago, researchers leading the largestever HIV vaccine study of 16,400 people in Thailand inspired the HIV-prevention field when they announced that approximately 32 percent of people who received the experimental HIV-vaccine regimen were protected from becoming infected with HIV. This was the first efficacy trial of a preventive HIV vaccine to show any effectiveness, and it proved that finding a vaccine against HIV is possible. This year, scientists began to explain how this protection occurred, providing clues about how to repeat and improve upon the results seen in the Thai study. This breakthrough and many others in HIV prevention this year have reignited

hope that we can finally end the HIV epidemic. We are also thankful that we have a way to channel our hope, and an opportunity to follow up on what we’ve learned from the Thai study. We can learn even more from another HIV-vaccine study taking place right now closer to home. The HIV Vaccine Trials Network is currently conducting several HIV-vaccine studies, including the largest ongoing HIV-vaccine study in the world, to help us learn even more about how to stop the spread of HIV. This study, called HVTN 505, is going on here in Philadelphia and in 17 other cities in the United States. It is testing whether an HIV vaccine can prevent infection among gay men and trans women. Over 100 members of our community have generously volunteered to be a part of this study in Philadelphia, joining 1,300 other individuals across the country. We are sincerely thankful

for their generosity and courage. We also want to thank the many others who have supported this project. Last but not least, we are thankful that we at the University of Pennsylvania have the opportunity to join with current and future study volunteers to continue to be a part of this effort that can change the world as we know it. Scientists can’t achieve this progress alone, and as our HIV-vaccine studies continue to enroll healthy, HIV-negative volunteers, we believe that by working together we can truly make a difference. This has never seemed more true to us than this year, when we have seen so much progress and when, thanks to our study volunteers, we are hopeful of moving one step closer to ending this epidemic once and for all. Dr. Ian Frank, on behalf of the staff of the University of Pennsylvania HIV Vaccine Trials Unit

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Balancing the body with Pilates There are many ways to achieve and keep fitness in your life. Some folks opt for a regimen of cardio exercise or a focus on nutrition, but the practice of Pilates offers an interesting and very effective way to achieve a new level of health and fitness. Pilates was originally called Contrology by its creator, Joseph Pilates. Born in Germany, Pilates was sick as a child, so he devised ways to improve his health and strengthen his body. Pilates became so muscular that at age 14 he was used as a model for anatomy charts. He began working with sick people and teaching them his methods, rigging beds with springs so that even the bedridden could perform his exercises. Sabrina He eventually moved to the States and opened a studio in New York, where he worked until his death in 1967. My personal Pilates journey began some 10 years ago with a search for a stretch class to address my super-tight hamstrings and lower back. At the end of my first matPilates class, I felt frustrated because we did more than stretching and I could not perform the exercises without causing pain to my neck and lower back. I was in great shape — so I thought — but Pilates left me humbled and intrigued. It turns out my body was imbalanced. The muscles of my upper and lower body were strong but my abdominals were weak, making it difficult or impossible to perform the Pilates exercises. But, with regular practice, my imbalances were corrected, leaving me with stronger abdominals and more flexible hamstrings and lower back than I ever thought possible. My client, Marc, started doing Pilates to address chronic neck and shoulder pain. During his initial assessment, I noticed Marc’s rounded shoulders, forward head and chin and tight chest muscles, also known as the hunchback syndrome. His front body was strong and tight but the opposing muscles in the rear of his body were weak and undeveloped. Marc was put on a program to balance the strength in his shoulders and stretch his chest muscles by

working the small supporting muscles in his upper and mid back and, within weeks, he was pain free and standing and walking taller. Marc had also become more aware of his body mechanics so when he started slipping back into old habits, he could make corrections on the spot. Pilates can be as unique as the person doing it. For example, if the client is unconditioned and stiff, the workout will be modified accordingly; if strong and athletic, the intermediate and advanced protocols will be incorporated into the program to adequately challenge the individual. Beyond use as a regular fitness routine, Pilates is an excellent rehabilitation system for Collins back, knee, hip, shoulder and repetitive stress injuries. Pilates addresses the body as a whole, correcting asymmetries and chronic weaknesses to prevent re-injury and bring the body back in balance. It can take several sessions to get used to engaging some of the deep muscles we don’t often focus on, but it is well worth the effort to achieve a pain-free, more balanced body. If you plan to take a class or do a private session, be prepared for detailed instructions. Pilates views the body as a complex piece of equipment and it’s important to know as much about it as possible to keep it functioning like a well-tuned machine for many years to come. Pilates is not a simple fitness program — it requires commitment as it emphasizes core strength and stabilization, requiring each student to master principles of concentration, centering, efficient movement, precision and careful attention to breathing during exercise. The payoff is a better body and greater health attained efficiently with an “elegance” of movement and mental focus unlike most other forms of exercise. ■

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Sabrina Collins is a registered personal trainer at 12th Street Gym and owner of Pilates on Camac. For more information, visit 12streetgym.com or pilatesoncamac.com.

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Your mental health: Surviving the holidays The holidays can be a stressful time for LGBTQ people and their families, but there are several strategies you can use to help reduce stress and create a happy holiday this year.

— Keep your expectations for the holiday season manageable. — Remember the holiday season does not supercede reasons for feeling sad or lonely. — Limit predictable sources of stress: shopping, decorating, traffic, your Aunt Nancy, etc. — Don’t fall prey to commercial hype. — Spend time with supportive and caring people. — Attend holiday community events. — Engage in volunteer activity. — Don’t abandon healthful habits. — Make time to get physical exercise.

Traveling home Before heading home for the holidays, make a decision about being “out” to each family member. If you are bringing a partner, discuss in advance how you will talk about your relationship and show affection with one another (and plan your sleeping arrangements in advance!). Have alternate plans if the situaStaying sober over the holidays tion becomes difficult at home. If you’re travelEric Albert, For some in recovery, the holiday season is a particuing, find out about local Brandon Browne, larly trying time. Financial LGBT resources. And if family stress and you plan to “come out,” Jonathan Mohr pressures, the dramatic increase in have support available, social gatherings can tempt including PFLAG materials and the number of a local PFLAG even the most resolute individuals. Though chapter. everyone has specific strategies that enable Don’t assume you know how somebody them to pursue lifelong sobriety, the following are a few common-sense tips that will react to news of your sexual orientation or gender identity — you may be can help you remain alcohol-free throughout the holiday season: surprised. Realize that your family’s reaction to you may not be because you are — Plan for success. Knowing you LGBTQ; the hectic holiday pace may sim- might be tempted, it’s a good idea to plan ply be taking its toll on family members. ahead, and limit the likelihood that you’ll Remember that “coming out” is a continuencounter situations that strain your comous process. Don’t wait for your family’s mitment to sobriety. For example, inviting a dependable friend or a member of attitude to change to have a special holiday. Remember that it took you time to your 12-step group to accompany you to a come to terms with who you are; now it is gathering where you know alcohol will be your family’s turn. Let your family’s judgpresent can provide you with the support ments be theirs to work on, as long as they you need to stay sober. Consider inviting a dependable friend or a member of your 12are kind to you. If you are transgender, be step group to join you at a gathering where gentle with your family’s pronoun “slips.” you know alcohol will be served, for some Let them know you know how difficult it is. added support. You may want to schedule During your visit focus on common an extra session or two with your therapist interests and reassure family members you or plan to attend more 12-step meetings than you normally do. Also, make sure that are still the same person they’ve always you continue to eat healthy and exercise known. If you are partnered, be sensitive to his or her needs as well as your own. Be regularly. — Identify your triggers. If your family wary of the possible desire to shock your members traditionally follow Thanksgiving family — and at the same time, remember that you don’t need your family’s approval. dinner with a football game and a few It may help to connect with someone else beers, consider making alternate post-dinwho is LGBTQ — by phone or in person ner plans, or enlisting your family’s assis— who understands what you are going tance to get you through those potentially through. tempting hours. If the stress and arguments If it’s too difficult to be with your famthat accompany your family’s get-togethily, create your own holiday gathering with ers threaten to push you back toward the friends and loved ones. bottle, you may have to make the difficult — but ultimately healthy — decision to Holiday blues skip these events, or limit your attendance While we like to think of this season as to an hour or two until you have a firmer a time of joy, festive parties, warm famgrip on your sobriety. Don’t put your ily gatherings and optimistic hopes for the health at risk by exposing yourself unnecessarily or without proper preparation. new year, sometimes our idealized expectations are not met and we end up feeling — Create new traditions. If you’ve anxious, let down, disillusioned, alienated always welcomed the New Year with a and/or stretched to emotional limits. quiet evening at home, highlighted by a

On Being Well

champagne toast at midnight, substitute sparkling grape juice and keep everything else the same. But if you’re used to celebrating at a local bar or nightclub, it would probably be wise to find another way to mark the year’s passing, such as hosting an alcohol-free party, attending a concert or some other event that won’t include or revolve around drinking. A great tradition to start this season is writing a letter to at least one person who has touched your life in a particularly meaningful way during the previous year. In addition to giving this person the gift of knowing they have made a positive difference in your life, writing a letter like this will strengthen your connection with an important source of support and remind you how far you have progressed in your recovery. — Ask for help. When you were mired in the depths of addiction, you may have felt you were alone in your misery. But as you began to walk the path of recovery, you found there were many others who understood what you were going through, and were more than willing to lend whatever support they could to help you regain control over your life. During the holiday season, make an extra effort to connect with the members of your support network. — Reach out to others. There will likely never be a shortage of people in need

of some assistance. People who will be experiencing their first sober holidays, underprivileged youth, hospital patients and residents of homeless shelters are just a few of the many folks who could benefit from your volunteer time, your advice or simply your company. Volunteering to serve others is a fantastic way to take your mind off your own worries and problems, to give back to the community and to remind yourself how rewarding life can be every day that you resist the urge to drink or to use. In general it’s important to remember that life brings changes: as individual lives change, as families evolve and grow, traditions often need to adapt to the new configurations. Don’t set yourself up for disappointment by comparing this year’s holiday season with the nostalgia of past holidays. Each holiday season is different and can be enjoyed in its own way. ■ Eric Albert, Brandon Browne and Jonathan Mohr are peer-engagement specialists at Mazzoni Center, the region’s only LGBT-specific health center. For a detailed holiday survival guide and a list of community holiday activities, visit www.mazzonicenter.org and click “resources.” Thanks to Anita Gooding, Jennifer Greenman and Kira Manser for contributions to the article, and to Hugh McBride for providing source material.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

International Australia’s Mardi Gras re-brand draws ire Some of Mardi Gras’ biggest long-time supporters are incensed that Sydney Mardi Gras’ new name and look doesn’t include the words “gay” or “lesbian.” The annual event’s new logo and plans for the 2012 season were unveiled Nov. 17, and while many welcomed the new logo and guest-act announcements, many others were concerned over editing the event’s traditional title “Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras” down to “Sydney Mardi Gras.” Former Mardi Gras president Richard Cobden has been particularly vocal. “Neither the organization, and especially not this board or staff, had any permission or mandate to make Mardi Gras straight,” he said. “[Mardi Gras chair] Peter Urmson says ‘this is our gift to the city.’ It was not his to give. For 20-plus years we have been able to force the mainstream media to call it the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. They had to say the words. For a long time they

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did not want to but we made them. That has been thrown away. “Finally, sponsors had to use the words ‘gay and lesbian’ when associating themselves with Mardi Gras,” he added. “Making them do so was a powerful force for liberation. Now they don’t have to use those words. Easier for marketing people to get sponsorship dollars and keep their jobs; a big step backward for gay and lesbian rights.”

Soccer fans arrested for homophobic chants Hampshire, England police arrested two men after they allegedly chanted homophobic abuse at Brighton fans during a Nov. 19 Albion soccer game. The men, both Southampton fans, were arrested after they allegedly sang offensive antigay chants during the match at Southampton’s St. Mary’s Stadium, which was attended by more than 3,000 Brighton fans. People reported offensive singing in the stands despite police warning Southampton fans before the match that any homophobic chanting would be taken seriously. The arrests, believed to be among the first of their kind, come just weeks after Albion fans said they believed they were targeted because of the city’s large gay population. John Hewitt, the chair of Brighton and Hove Albion Supporters’ Club, said: “We

get it everywhere we go. “The ground regulations say you cannot use homophobic behavior. There’s a certain amount of banter between fans, but when it crosses that line and becomes offensive, it’s not acceptable.” A spokesperson on behalf of the Brighton-based Justin Campaign, which works to tackle homophobia in soccer, said: “Southampton fans were warned before the game by police that any homophobic chanting would be taken seriously. “While there is still a lot of work for equality in the game, these arrests do show that the authorities are taking positive action to show homophobia is not welcome in the beautiful game.”

DeMint: El Salvador ambassador has ‘gay agenda’ U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint is attacking Mari Carmen Aponte, the U.S. ambassador to El Salvador, for what he describes as “strongly promoting the homosexual lifestyle” and attempting “to impose a progay agenda” on that nation. A p o n t e became interim ambassador in a recess appointment by President Obama in August 2010, but that appointment extends only to the end of this year, so Senate c o n fi r m a t i o n is required for her to continue in the post. At a confirmation hearing this month, DeMint DEMINT (TOP) AND objected to APONTE

an op-ed piece Aponte had written for Salvadoran newspaper La Prensa Gráfica, praising the country’s president, Mauricio Funes, for signing a law prohibiting antiLGBT discrimination by the government of El Salvador as well as a United Nations pledge to eliminate violence against LGBT people. “The op-ed upset a large number of community and pro-family groups in El Salvador who were insulted by Ms. Aponte’s attempt to impose a pro-gay agenda in their country,” said DeMint, a conservative Republican from South Carolina, during the hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. DeMint had earlier sought to block Aponte’s appointment because of discredited rumors that Cuban espionage agents had sought to recruit her. DeMint has taken numerous other antiLGBT stances, saying that gay people — and sexually active single straight women — shouldn’t be teachers, and that it would bother him to have a gay man or lesbian as president because he considers homosexuality “immoral.”

Malta’s ruling party may recognize gay couples Malta’s Nationalist Party, which holds a political majority in the country, has expressed a desire for some form of legal recognition for gay couples. Currently, the state does not recognize relationships between two people of the same gender. The central Mediterranean group of islands, which makes up the country, has a strong Catholic ethos, only legalizing divorce by referendum this past summer. At the opening of the General Council, the party’s General Secretary said the country could not be “blind” to gay relationships. Paul Borg Olivier described it as a “renewed political vision.” Malta’s non-recognition of gay relationships meant it was struck with a political anomaly earlier this year when it failed to introduce an EU directive properly and had to remove part of a piece of legislation. The effect was that a gay couple made up of a non-European and a European living in a country other than Malta has more

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legal right to live in Malta than a gay couple made up of a non-European and a Maltese national. The Nationalist Party joins the minority Labor Party, which had already expressed a desire for some recognition of gay relationships. Earlier this year, a transgender Maltese man who was born female and underwent surgery abroad was allowed to update his official birth records to reflect the change. Malta has a population of around 417,000.

Czech MP uses porn in bid to evict gay sauna A Czech MP tried to attract the attention of her colleagues by displaying pornographic images at Prague City Hall in her bid to end the lease of a gay sauna in the city. Katerina Klasnová, 34, is a member of parliament and vice president of the Chamber of Deputies, and insists the gay sauna in question, which operates out of city-owned facilities, is offering sex services. Klasnová said there is ample evidence online of men discussing sexual experiences with other customers and with male prostitutes at Sauna Babylonia. The company is forbidden KLASNOVÁ from offering sexual services. She also believes the property is being rented to the company for less than its market value. Proprietor Jan Ševcík said, “We live in a democratic state; for years now, gay couples can have registered partnerships. I think it is natural in our business that two people meet and go together. What happens next is their affair.”

Prague Mayor Ulrich Lomecký vowed Klasnová’s claim would be investigated, saying, “The images that she projected here are not conclusive.”

Shooting finishes on first gay Nepalese film Filming has finished on what its actors have called the first serious gay film to be made in Nepal. “Snow Flowers,” which was filmed in Kathmandu and Pokhara City and dubbed “Brokeback Everest” in a nod to Ang Lee’s film “Brokeback Mountain,” will be released in the spring. Nisha Adhikari, who plays one of the film’s two central lesbian characters, said: “It’s two individuals falling in love and facing all the controversy and restrictions and mental, emotional and physical traumas of being a lesbian in Nepal. It’s a simple love story with a lot of complications.” Sunil Pant, the only openly gay MP in Nepal, said, “Nepal has always been tolerant and we are now really ready to treat each other equally. It’s also about freedom of expression and our right to be able to watch films about our lives and issues. I am excited and can’t wait to see the film released in Nepal.” Pant was instrumental in helping to organize two high-profile gay-wedding ceremonies in Nepal involving couples from the United Kingdom and the United States, though same-sex marriage is not yet enshrined in law. Following the end of monarchical rule in 2007, many LGBT rights were enacted, and a new constitution is expected to make provisions for gay marriages. Religious gay ceremonies are reported to be widely accepted in Nepalese society. Last year, Nepal’s census included a “third gender” for the first time. ■ — compiled by Larry Nichols

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voted Mr. Congeniality. Other semi-finalists included Mr. Gay Philadelphia Dashiell Sears and Mr. Virginia Beach Thomas Cole. Following the two-day event — and the second year Philadelphia has hosted the national contest — organizer Bruce Yelk said he doesn’t plan to take on the project again. “I am very happy to have produced the U.S. Mr. Gay for the past two years as promised,” he said. “The Mr. Gay organization is searching for a new producer in 2012 but I will remain Philadelphia’s city producer.” ■

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MR. GAY from page 1

Republicans, are fighting against anti-bullying legislation. What’s wrong with those people?” His answer to the semi-finalist round question of “If you don’t win U.S. Mr. Gay, who would you like to win?” — “Jesus” — got one of the biggest laughs of the night. “I heard after that my answer probably put me over the top,” Dorsey said, “but I couldn’t pick just one. They are all great guys.” This year’s first runner-up, Steve Eccleston of Pittsburgh, also took the sash for Mr. Fitness. Mr. New Hope Paul Winkler was

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LOCALS ARMANDO MARTINEZ (TOP, FROM LEFT), PAUL WINKLER, DASHIELL SEARS, MIKE MOORE AND BRYAN DORSEY PRIOR TO THE Q&A ON FRIDAY NIGHT, AND FIRST RUNNER-UP AND MR. FITNESS TITLEHOLDER STEVE ECCLESTON WITH HOST BRITTANY LYNN. Photos: Scott A. Drake

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News Briefing

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

SERVICES & HOME IMPROVEMENT DIRECTORY ��

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Holiday drive underway BEBASHI will collect holiday gifts for local families affected by HIV through Dec. 20. New, unwrapped toys and gifts can be dropped off at BEBASHI, on the first floor of 1217 Spring Garden St., between 8:45 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and Friday and 8:45 a.m.-7:45 p.m. Thursday. “The holiday season is a constant reminder of how hard it is to live a normal life with the disease,” said BEBASHI executive director Gary Bell. “The cost of medicine puts a strain on our clients’ ability to provide even food for their children, so obviously gifts for the holidays are a tremendous hardship.” The items should be appropriate for youth ages six months to 17 years. For more information, call 215769-3561.

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Film fundraiser Gender Reel and director Wolfgang Busch will host the Philadelphia premiere of Busch’s new documentary “Flow Affair” from 7-9 p.m. Dec. 9 at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St. The film explores the history of “floguing,” a dance trend that has become popular at art-circuit parties and house balls. A question-and-answer session with the director will follow the film. Tickets are $10 and a portion of proceeds will benefit Gender Reel, which this fall produced a multimedia arts festival that explored gender identity. ■ — Jen Colletta

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TRAVEL from page 7

for a group in a particular demographic of the LGBT community. And they’re events that are very popular within that regional LGBT community in that designation, but have never really been marketed to or packaged for LGBT travelers from out of town.” Down the line, OffTo plans to provide a series of day-trip packages and is launching its first of that kind, a Philadelphia-based trip, in the coming weeks. Such excursions, Goldthorpe said, will work well for travelers in the Mid-Atlantic region, especially those on a budget. “Since the economy has yet to really rebound, there are an increasing number of folks who are still taking their vacation time but choosing not to go out and spend several nights in PROP 8 from page 1

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of same-sex couples, after the state’s attorney general and governor declined to defend Prop. 8. District Judge Vaughn Walker last year ruled Prop. 8 unconstitutional and the initiative’s supporters appealed, but the 9th Circuit appellate court requested guidance from the California Supreme Court on whether the coalition had standing to defend the measure, as marriage-equality advocates argued the law’s personal impact on the coalition was tenuous. In its ruling, written by Justice C.J. Cantil-Sakauye, the court cited numerous instances of case law that have allowed official initiative proponents to be a party to legal challenges in addition to or in lieu of governmental representatives. “The initiative power would be significantly impaired if there were no one to assert the state’s interest in the validity of the measure when elected officials decline to defend it in court or appeal a judgment invalidating the measure,” Cantil-Sakauye wrote, noting that official initiative proponents have the unique responsibility and authority to “manage and control” the ballotqualifying and petition-filing process, as well as the content of the arguments in favor of the initiative that appears in the state’s official voter guide. “Thus, regardless of the initiative’s effect on their personal and particularized legally protected interests, the official proponents are the most logical and appropriate choice to assert the state’s interest in the validity of the initiative measure on

a hotel but instead explore their own city or somewhere closer. So we’ll be offering packages that include things like historic tours and a dining package, and since Philadelphia is in close proximity to D.C. and New York, I think this area will work really well for this type of trip.” Goldthorpe said he expects OffTo to see significant growth in the coming months, as this new concept of LGBT travel takes hold. “I believe we’ve identified a business model that is built for the longtime and built on the quality of the vacation experience,” he said. “I’m really excited that we have a deep stable of cities and partners and getaways that we’ll be working with that really serve the entire LGBT continuum in an equal way and allow every gay traveler to be themselves when they travel.” ■ behalf of the electors who voted in favor of the measure.” David Codell, counsel for Equality California, suggested that the court’s finding sets a dangerous standard. “Handing the authority and decision-making power of the state to a small group of citizens with an extremist agenda sets an extraordinary precedent that could complicate efforts to challenge future unconstitutional initiatives and prolong the harm suffered by Californians impacted by those initiatives,” Codell said. While the court ruling applied to state law, Marriage Equality USA legal director John Lewis also noted in a statement last week that federal law dictates “a person can continue to litigate a lawsuit only if they have suffered tangible harm.” “The simple fact of the matter is that marriage-equality opponents suffer no harm from the freedom to marry being extended to all loving, committed couples,” he said. “Accordingly, despite today’s statement by the California Supreme Court about state law, marriage-equality opponents lack standing under federal law to continue their litigation.” However, with the standing question addressed, the appellate court will now consider the actual constitutional principles at issue and decide whether or not to uphold Walker’s ruling that would nullify Prop. 8. The next proceeding in the case is scheduled for Dec. 8, as the defendants argue their case for appealing the district court’s unsealing of the videotape of last year’s trial. ■

PGN

Obituary

Mark A. Mechowski, 45 By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Mark A. Mechowski, a banking executive based in New Jersey, died Nov. 15 of heart failure. He was 45. Mechowski was born Nov. 18, 1965, in Schenectady, N.Y., and resided in Lawrenceville, N.J., and Philadelphia. He was a graduate of Lawrenceville High School and attended Rider College. Mechowski was assistant vice president at Bank of America in Collingswood, N.J. His former positions included vice president of PNC Bank in Philadelphia and president of Markham Inc. in Lawrenceville. Mechowski was a parishioner of Our Savior Church in Lawrenceville, where he served as vice chairman of the Parish Committee. He was also past president of the North Trenton Lions Club, a member of the Lawrenceville Lions Club, secretary of the Polish Business and Professional Men’s Club, a past treasurer of the Polish Falcons and a member of the Polish Arts Club of Trenton. While at PNC Bank, Mechowski was an active member of the Rittenhouse Row Business Association and served on the board of the Career Development Awards. James R. Keller, Mechowski’s partner of 26 years, said his hobbies and interests centered around helping people and the community, and he enjoyed traveling. “He just liked to keep himself busy helping people,” Keller said. “He was involved in fundWHITEMARSH, from page 1

the types of comments that were spewed out by opponents at the meeting.” Shanker and Martin said residents are key to the success of the ordinance and combating any opposition to it. “They can now volunteer to be on the township’s soon-to-be-created human relations commission, which is an important voluntary position within these cities and townships that have passed these laws,” Shanker said. “Those are the people that get to enforce these laws.” Martin and Shanker also stated that these local ordinances will hopefully influence statewide leg-

raisers with Equality Advocates and the Human Rights Campaign fund and the AIDS Law Project. He did love to travel. He traveled throughout the United States and to Europe and Israel. He loved spending time with his family. He enjoyed spending time with our family dog taking walks.” Keller also noted how Mechowski will be remembered by family and friends. “He was very hard-working. He was altruistic. He was a kind and gentle soul. He was generous. I think the thing that most people have said since he’s passed away to me is that they loved and missed his sense of humor. He had a great sense of humor and overall he was a beautiful person. One of the things we said a week before he died is that we were able to share things with each other that a lot of people don’t have the chance to.” In addition to Keller, Mechowski is survived by his parents, The Rev. Frederick and Ruth J. Mechowski; his sister Melissa Laughlin and her husband William; and his nieces Amanda and Olivia. Funeral services were held Nov. 18 at Ss. Peter and Paul Polish National Catholic Church in Passaic, N.J. and Mechowski was interred at the East Ridgelawn Cemetery in Clifton. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Dec. 3 at St. Peter’s Church, 313 Pine St. Memorial gifts may be made to Ss. Peter and Paul Polish National Catholic Church or to the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org). Condolences to the family can be conveyed at www.poulsonvanhise.com. ■ islature. “There are more municipalities that are hopefully going to take action to protect their LGBT citizens as well, but hopefully it’s everyone’s goal that the state legislature will take a real look at the fact that the vast majority of Pennsylvanians support these laws,” Shanker said. “This is exciting,” Martin said of the new ordinance. “I think that people are, through the efforts of activists, realizing that discrimination on a basic level like this exists. And the fact that people are reacting in a positive way is a really good thing. It’s something that will help the legislature in Harrisburg think differently.” ■

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WORLD AIDS PGN DAY SUPPLEMENT A JOINT PROJECT OF ACTIONAIDS AND PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

Opening a dialogue about AIDS and housing ActionAIDS receives funding for new housing program By Kevin Burns Executive Director, ActionAIDS ActionAIDS is pleased to announce that the City of Philadelphia, Office of Housing and Community Development will be funding ActionAIDS with a three-year grant to initiate Philadelphia’s first Housing First program for people with HIV disease. The grant is expected to fund housing for 20 individuals. ActionAIDS is proud to be partnering with Pathways to Housing in Philadelphia in this effort. Pathways to Housing in New York City were pioneers in developing and demonstrating the success of the Housing First model. The Housing First model is a relatively new innovation in housing services and MAYOR MICHAEL NUTTER (LEFT) AND ACTIONAIDS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR is grounded in the belief that housing is KEVIN BURNS SHARE A MOMENT AT THE ACTIONAIDS 25TH ANNIVERSARY a basic human right and that housing is treatment. This model moves homeless CELEBRATION ON OCT. 22. Photo: Scott A. Drake

individuals into housing immediately from the streets or homeless shelters, as housing is their primary need. Once in housing, staff utilizes a risk-reduction model of interventions designed to move the person toward healthy living. This model provides housing, primary medical care, psychiatric services, addiction treatment services and intense medical case-management services. The model utilizes accountability of the client and promoted self-sufficiency. There is significant data to support this approach to housing services. In September 2010, Boston reported that its Housing First initiative had significantly reduced the homeless single-person population. Other cities around the country have reported similar results. ActionAIDS is grateful to the City of Philadelphia and the Office of Community Development for this exciting opportunity. ■

After 20 years of HOPWA, Housing First comes to Philly

Housing and HIV go hand in hand

By Gary Tumolo Senior Contract Analyst, Office of Housing and Community Development

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

Next year marks 20 years since Congress passed the legislation that created Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS. When HOPWA funding became available in 1992, the state of the AIDS epidemic was very different than today. There were no waiting lists for housing and clients with HOPWAfunded housing typically received the subsidy for six months to two years or more, before succumbing to the illness, causing a constant turnover of housing subsidies. The great news is that, thanks to improvements in medical treatment, people with AIDS are not only surviving, but thriving, and those with a subsidy are retaining them indefinitely. The result, however, is that there are currently 229 people on the waiting list in Philadelphia for HOPWA subsidized housing. The wait can be up to two years, although for people who are homeless, the wait is approximately one to three months. In the past year, local activists have increasingly sought more housing for people with HIV/AIDS. The AIDS PAGE 27

ACTIONAIDS BOARD PRESIDENT RICH LAMPKINS (FROM LEFT), BURNS AND DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT MICHAEL BYRNE Photo: Scott A. Drake

According to the National AIDS Housing Coalition, there are currently more than 140,000 households across the United States in which an HIV-positive individual is struggling with unstable housing. As Philadelphia grapples with an HIV-infection rate five times the national average, the intersection of HIV and housing issues is rapidly coming to the forefront of the discussion on HIV/AIDS in the city. NAHC cites housing as one of the key factors in ensuring those diagnosed with HIV/AIDS have access to adequate treatment, and identifies housing-assistance programs as being integral in reducing longterm behavior risks for HIV. Max Ray, an ACT UP activist who’s been involved in the group’s effort to press for funding for HIV housing opportunities, explained that stable housing is essential to proper treatment of the disease, especially considering the conditions that exist at some homeless shelters. “If you have a weakened immune system, shelters, which are often dangerous, can become just deadly,” Ray PAGE 28

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

PGNSUPPLEMENT WORLD AIDS DAY A JOINT PROJECT OF ACTIONAIDS AND PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

Homelessness + AIDS = Death By Jose de Marco ACT UP Philadelphia

Homelessness itself is hard to envision if you have a home and have never been without one. One can only imagine as one drifts off into a comfortable sleep. Snuggled cozily under my warm comforter that makes me feel safe. Being able to leisurely stroll to my bathroom each morning and reach into my medicine cabinet and pop the four HIV medications that keep me healthy and, most importantly, alive. Is this something I take for granted? Not at all. Well, not anymore, anyway. I am a longtime AIDS activist who works mostly on access to AIDS treatment, both local and global. Everyone should have access to life-saving AIDS medication and treatment. If you are fortunate enough to have a place to live. Living with AIDS on the streets is dangerous and has meant certain death for at least 10 people living with AIDS in Philadelphia in the last two years. Living with untreated HIV translates into debilitating painful infections that most people without compromised immune systems have never heard of. These opportunistic infections can take a devastating toll on your body, mind and spirit. It is exacerbated if you are homeless. AIDS is still a disease that is met with fear and hostility and is highly stigmatized, unlike other illnesses that elicit sympathy and compassion. AIDS is still transmittable unless you are on medication and adhere to medication schedules. HIV treatment is now HIV prevention and is lauded by the National Institutes of Health. It is finally not too much to hope for the end of the epidemic — provided you have a home

in which to store and take medications. An unsanitary shelter system is a breeding ground for contagion. Shelter staffers often confiscate HIV medications. That leaves individuals open to ridicule and makes the streets a better alternative. Studies have proven that housing people with HIV/AIDS is more cost effective than shelters. Cold, tired, sick and hungry people who are homeless are often taken advantage of by predators. Both men and women are offered food, warmth and a place to sleep in exchange for sex. At that point, they have little power in safe-sex negotiations, if any. Philadelphia has an HIV-infection rate five times higher than the national average. The majority of the funding to house homeless people living with HIV/AIDS comes from the federal government through Housing Opportunities for People With AIDS and, while it’s a good program, it is woefully inadequate. Unlike other major cities with burgeoning HIV infections, Philadelphia contributes nearly nothing to house people with AIDS. At present, Philadelphia has a two-year waiting list for housing. People die waiting. In contrast, New York City houses people with HIV/AIDS in 48-72 hours. Honestly, no one knows how many homeless people are living with HIV until they are found dead on the street. The last needs assessment for homeless people with AIDS in Philadelphia was conducted in 1996. Due to activist pressure, another is due to begin. Please remember, this World AIDS Day, those who died and will continue to die without human dignity on the streets — until Philadelphia funds programs to house homeless people with AIDS. ■

ACT-UP PHILADELPHIA PROTESTS IN 2011 AT CITY HALL (LEFT) AND ON SOUTH BROAD STREET Photos: Scott A. Drake

WORLD AIDSPGN DAY SUPPLEMENT A JOINT PROJECT OF ACTIONAIDS AND PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

ActionAIDS Housing Program

HIV Testing 101

If you’re sexually active and/or share needles you want to take the test 12 weeks after you believe you were exposed to the virus. A positive test result is a positive result regardless of when the test was taken. If your result is negative you may want to take a second test in another three months as the longer after possible exposure to the virus the test result is even more accurate.

Types of HIV Test There are different kinds of tests available; no one test is more accurate than another.

P H I L A ,

P A

1 9 1 0 7

Blood Draw

6 T H

CASA NUEVA VIDA

The housing information sessions are held 1 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month at ActionAIDS’ main office, 1216 Arch St., sixth floor, and 10 a.m. on the fourth Wednesday of the month at ActionAIDS’ north office, 2641 N. Sixth St. After attending one of the housing information sessions, the client’s case manager can submit a housing referral to the housing department. Next, the housing intake specialist will contact the individual to complete the initial housing assessment. After the housing assessment is completed, the client is placed on our waiting list to be assigned to a housing specialist. We make every attempt to assign people as soon as possible. Our waiting list is on a first-come, first-served basis; however, priority is given to referrals from individuals who are homeless, fire victims and those fleeing domestic-violence situations. For more information, contact ActionAIDS at 215-981-0088. ■

The only way to tell if you are HIV positive or negative is to take the test. When you know your status you can prevent being infected or infecting others. Some people may experience flu like symptoms, but again, unless you take the test you don’t know for sure.

2 1 5 . 9 8 1 . 0 0 8 8

W W W . A C T I O N A I D S . O R G

Have more questions? Need more answers? Call HIV/AIDS hotline at 1-800-985-AIDS

F L R ,

AIDS Housing Coalition to sponsor the Housing Summit in New Orleans. OHCD has worked with NAHC over the past two years by participating in both regional and national housing summits, relaying the need for additional HOPWA funding for Philadelphia and the surrounding suburban counties. Last year, Congress cut most federal funding designated for housing by 14-16 percent, with the exception of the HOPWA program, which historically has never been cut. This year, there was talk of cutting HOPWA funding, but HUD’s Office of HIV/ AIDS Housing developed a new National HIV/AIDS Strategy that was submitted to the White House Office of National AIDS Policy last February. This strategy views housing as both healthcare and prevention. It calls for changing the formula for funding from the total cumulative of cases of AIDS to HIV case reporting, with the goal of showing a need for increased funding. HUD plans to present this proposal to Congress in December. ■

HIV Testing 101

S T R E E T ,

Coalition To Unleash Power Philadelphia has led this movement to raise awareness and secure more funding for HIV housing. In response, ACT-UP has been invited to attend the bi-monthly HIV/AIDS Housing Advisory Committee meetings at the Office of Housing and Community Development. A city agency, OHCD receives funding from HUD and funds the agencies that provide housing and supportive services in Philadelphia and the surrounding Pennsylvania counties. ACT-UP has also participated in the planning of an HIV/ AIDS Housing Needs Assessment that will be underway in the beginning of 2012. In August, ActionAIDS Inc. partnered with Pathways to Housing to respond to a request for proposal to HUD for a HOPWAfunded Housing First Program. Though HUD did not accept the proposal, OHCD is pleased to announce that it has identified funding and will fund the ActionAIDS/ Pathways to Housing First proposal in early 2012. The Housing First model, presented at the National Housing Summit in New Orleans in September, first provides housing to someone who is homeless, and then offers an array of medical, mental-health and other support services to improve health and prevent the spread of HIV. ACT-UP has been advocating for Philadelphia to implement the Housing First model. HUD’s Office of HIV/ AIDS Housing partnered with the National

A R C H

HOPWA, from page 1

case management and case manager assistant services. Vocational services, life-skills training and in-home supports are available. These programs seek to help residents develop and/or hone skills that will help them thrive in independent living. Our newest housing program, funded since late 2010, is the Housing Opportunities for People With AIDS (HOPWA) program. The HOPWA program is for independent housing and provides subsidies for affordable housing for 19 people living with AIDS. How would someone access housing services at ActionAIDS? The housing department holds bi-monthly housing-information sessions for people living with HIV/AIDS, as well as for providers who would like to learn about housing opportunities and services offered by the ActionAIDS housing department. These information sessions are mandatory for those who would like to receive housing services through ActionAIDS.

1 2 1 6

In 1991, ActionAIDS hired its first housing counselor and, since then, the department has grown to six housing specialists who provide housing services to over 600 individuals and families each year. ActionAIDS Housing Department is dedicated to reducing and preventing homelessness, as well as promoting economic self-sufficiency among people living with HIV/AIDS. Housing services include housing counseling to locate and access safe, stable and affordable housing options, assistance with budgeting, life skills, credit counseling and applying for utility assistance programs. ActionAIDS believes that housing is a right, not a privilege. Housing specialists work with clients to develop a goal plan and to identify interim steps to meet the ultimate goal of attaining safe and secure affordable housing. Transitional housing is

often an interim step to obtaining permanent housing. Individuals with drug and alcohol and/or mental-health needs are assisted with securing housing programs that offer support for these issues in addition to housing. The agency supports a harm-reduction model, embodying the notion of meeting people where they are to help the consumer create a goal plan that is incremental and manageable. ActionAIDS does not have emergency housing, so housing specialists help the individuals access emergency shelter through the city’s shelters. In 2004, ActionAIDS opened Casa Nueva Vida, which consists of 12 apartments offering supportive housing to homeless families living with HIV. Two years later, ActionAIDS introduced the Positive Living housing program, which provides subsidized housing to 22 individuals and families who are homeless and asymptomatic. In addition to providing housing, both programs require participants to receive

A C T I O N A I D S

By Syreeta Vereen ActionAIDS Housing Coordinator

A blood draw test screens your blood for the presence of HIV antibodies. Blood may be drawn either through an IV or a finger prick. After blood is drawn it is sent to a lab where an EIA or ELISA test is run. A second test known as the Western Blot test is run if the first test is positive. Results from an EIA/ELISA are usually available within 7 to 14 days after Knowing your status is a testing. way of protecting yourself Oral Antibody HIV test and others. If your result is Oral testing is done as an alternative to blood tests. negative it does not mean your partner is negative. Oral testing is done by using a swab to collect samples of They need to get tested as cells from inside the cheeks and gums. This test is done to well. Even when you find out detect the presence of HIV antibodies and is just as accuyou’re negative be sure to rate as the blood draw test. But remember, the test is screening for antibodies present in oral fluid, not saliva. HIV keep yourself safe so that your results can stay negacannot be transmitted through saliva. tive. If your result is positive OraQuick Rapid HIV Test know that HIV is a manageThere are two types of OraQuick rapid tests that able disease. There is a lot of screen for the presence of HIV antibodies. The first is a medical care and social supsimple rapid test that can detect HIV antibodies in a finger port for you so that you can stick whole blood sample. The second is performed by collive a long fulfilling life. If lecting a sample of oral fluid to determine the presence of you have more questions or HIV antibodies. Both screening tests take approximately 20 want more information abut minutes to yield results. Rapid tests are considered to be HIV testing and where to just as accurate as previously mentioned tests. get tested give us a call at 267.940.5500.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

WORLD AIDS DAY PGNSUPPLEMENT A JOINT PROJECT OF ACTIONAIDS AND PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS HOUSING, from page 1

said. “I know people who have gotten scarlet fever, PCP pneumonia — things people weren’t getting before but are now because they’re living on the streets and in shelters with weakened immune systems.” Ray noted that even getting bed-bug bites from shelters can throw the body of an HIV-positive person “into chaos.” Access to medication also becomes a challenge when HIV-positive individuals enter the shelter system, Ray said. “The regimen of medicines is often very complex and in a lot of shelters the medicines are confiscated. So people often have to disclose their HIV status to get their medicines and sometimes may not be able to get them at the times they need them,” Ray said. “Some medicines you have to take exactly every six hours or exactly half an hour after you have food, so a lot of time people can’t stick to their regimen and end up getting sicker and sicker.” One of the largest combatants to HIV homelessness is the federal Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), established in 1992. HOPWA, administered in Philadelphia by the Office of Housing and Community Development, provides housing subsidies for those with the disease who pay more than 50 percent of their monthly income on rent. OHCD spokesperson Michelle Sonsino Lewis said there are currently 229 Philadelphians on the HOPWA waiting list. The wait for HOPWA subsidies can be up to two years, Sonsino Lewis said, although priority is given to those who are homeless, with an average one- to three-month wait for that population. In addition to the HOPWA program, the city also administers federal programs such as Shelter Plus Care, an initiative overseen by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development that provides housing subsidies for HIV-positive individuals and people with a history of drug or substance abuse, or who are facing a mental-health crisis. Ray noted, however, that to be eligible, individuals must be in recovery from their addiction or in treatment for their mental-health issues. All of the city’s HIV/AIDS housing efforts are fueled by federal funds, with Philadelphia not contributing any city dollars to support housing programs for those with HIV/AIDS, Sonsino Lewis said. While Philadelphia’s infection rate is

growing more rapidly that New York City’s, the Big Apple recently contributed about $5 million to support housing efforts through its HIV/AIDS Services Administration. Ray added that Chicago, which has about twice the total population of Philadelphia but roughly the same number of HIV infections, has been working on successful public-private partnerships to address the housing needs of the HIV/AIDS community. Philadelphia recently issued a request for proposals for a needs-assessment to evaluate the state of homelessness and HIV in the city, an analysis that has not been done since 1996. According to the RFP, the assessment “will be used to update, review and evaluate the effectiveness of its HOPWA program strategies and overall housing programs and policies in consideration of changing housing market forces, the real-estate foreclosure crisis and many other local, regional and national factors affecting HOPWA needs.” The HOPWA Needs Assessment 201217 will evaluate the barriers to permanent housing in the region, identify the unmet housing needs of the area’s HIV/AIDS population and develop a strategy to fill gaps, which will include at least one public forum in the local community and a survey of the HIV/AIDS community. The needs assessment will be due to the city by July 31. An RFP briefing session will be held at 2 p.m. Nov. 28 at OHCD, 1234 Market St., 17th floor, and all applications are due by 4 p.m. Dec. 22. The contract will begin Feb. 1. Once the assessment is completed, Ray asserted a “centralized” AIDS housing office would be most effective in addressing the myriad needs of the community. “There’s a lot of confusing bureaucracy right now with different agencies getting and overseeing funding and multiple providers, so we need one place where people can go and say, ‘What would it take for me to get stable housing?’ and then have those needs met,” he said. Other options that could be addressed, Ray said, include a “shallow-rent subsidy” program, which would cover partial, but not total, housing costs, housing options for active drug users and housing that is linked with medical care. “Once the assessment is done, the city needs to be committed to coordinating and figuring out how to be as efficient and effective as possible,” Ray said. ■

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WORLD AIDSPGN DAY SUPPLEMENT A JOINT PROJECT OF ACTIONAIDS AND PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

Housing is health By Justin Gero ActionAIDS Communications Associate

Bringing an end to AIDS is only possible if we first get people off the streets and into homes. This World AIDS Day, PGN and ActionAIDS are focusing on housing, the No. 1 concern for people living with HIV/AIDS today. Without housing, people with AIDS have little chance of staying healthy, and society has little chance of stopping the spread of HIV. Simply put: Housing is health. Housing is prevention. The largest HIV/AIDS service provider in Pennsylvania, ActionAIDS, reports that nearly one in five of the people the agency serves does not have permanent housing. In addition, many with homes are at risk of losing them. Close to 75 percent of the people using ActionAIDS services are living below the poverty level. A poor economy exacerbates these problems and has increased the need for housing support. ActionAIDS’ emergency fund (the Michael Taylor Fund) is almost exhausted from the high demand for urgent financial assistance this past year. Cruelly, while an HIV diagnosis makes stable housing all the more essential, it also compounds the difficulty of finding

a secure home. The National Alliance to End Homelessness reports that an astonishing 50 percent of people living with HIV/AIDS are at risk of homelessness. This is due to the high cost of medications and the danger of losing their jobs due to discrimination. Living on the street with HIV is a virtual death sentence. HIV reduces the body’s ability to fight disease, making a clean home crucial to survival. Overcrowded shelters can often increase a person’s risk of illness. In fact, homeless individuals are three to six times more likely than people with a home to get sick. This also means the homeless are at a higher risk of getting HIV. The CDC estimates HIV infection is 8.5 times more prevalent in homeless people than in the general population. Proven HIV-prevention methods are less effective for the homeless because of the added stress of finding food and shelter. The homeless (especially women) are also more likely to be the victims of violence. All of these factors make depression and risky behavior more likely. This in turn makes it harder to treat and prevent HIV. Although scientific advances have been made, HIV-positive people cannot benefit from therapy without a home. AIDS drugs can dramatically increase the quality and

length of life, but people with HIV must follow a complex system that is virtually impossible without a home, clean water and refrigeration. Research has shown that people with HIV/AIDS who get housing assistance are healthier and less likely to spread the disease. They are more likely to seek medical care and less likely to engage in

risky behavior that could infect others. Housing for people with HIV/AIDS is a positive investment in our society that improves public health and prevents costly ER visits. Homes are the next step to ending the AIDS epidemic. Housing is essential for treatment and prevention of HIV and provides security, for which there is no substitute. ■

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DOWN 2. Housing with time constraints 6. ____________living -ActionAIDS subsidy 8. Utility assistance through Pgw 9. Emergency housing 10. Housing through COHMAR 12. Funders of HOPWA program 15. General housing options

Millennial Poz Aaron Stella

KEY

ACROSS

DOWN

17. Harm

9. Shelter 10. CASSAH 12. HUD 15. PHA

After 30 years of HIV/AIDS, the epidemic is impacting the next generation: the Millennials. Written by Aaron Stella, Millennial Poz gives a new voice to people with HIV/AIDS. Online and in print every second Friday.

Only in

ACROSS 1. Housing without time constraints 3. Low-income home energy assistance 4. Funders of Casa Nueva Vida 5. Discount telephone service 7. AIDS Activities Coordinating Office 8. Utility assistance program 10. Utility assistance through PECO 11. Direct emergency financial assistance 13. Payer of last resort for utilities 14. Tenant union representative network 16. Low-income housing 17. ___________reduction — work philosophy of meeting consumers where they are

2. Transitional 6. Positive 8. CRP

“I lingered in the shadows of my mind to hide from forces I believed would conjure greater torrents of pathos in my life, as if my fate was to live in perpetual sorrow, and barebacking indiscriminately would keep fate at bay.”

AACO ACTIONAIDS ASSESSMENT BUDGET CASE MANAGER CASA NUEVA VIDA CASSAH CREDIT COUNSELING HOUSING SPECIALIST HOME HOPWA INCOME LIFE SKILLS POSITIVE LIVING PRIORITIZE SHELTER SUBSIDY SUPPORT UTILITIES

HIV/AIDS Housing Crossword Puzzle

8. Crisis 10. CAP 11. DEFA 13. UESF 14. TURN 16. APM

Word find

PGN WORLD AIDS DAY SUPPLEMENT A JOINT PROJECT OF ACTIONAIDS AND PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

Permanent LIHEAP OSH Life Line AACO

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

1. 3. 4. 5. 7.

WORLD AIDS PGN DAY SUPPLEMENT A JOINT PROJECT OF ACTIONAIDS AND PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

FUN RAISING: Each year in Philadelphia, thousands participate in a variety of ways to raise money for AIDS research and support services. Events include the annual AIDS Walk, the monthly Gay BINGO! parties, Dining Out for Life, Bar AIDS and more. Philadelphia AIDS Thrift (right, center) reached another milestone in 2011, surpassing $325,000 donations to Philadelphia area AIDS organizations. Photos: Scott A. Drake

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

RESOURCES HIV CASE MANAGEMENT ActionAIDS 215-981-0088 actionaids.org ASIAC 215-269-2300 asiac.org BEBASHI 215-769-3561 www.bebashi.org Congreso de Latinos Unidos — Programa Esfuerzo 215-763-8870 congreso.net Gay and Lesbian Latino/a AIDS Education Initiative 215-851-1822 galaei.org Mazzoni Center 215-563-0652 mazzonicenter.org

HIV EDUCATION / OUTREACH

AIDS Fact Line (Pennsylvania) 800-662-6080 CHOICE 215-985-3300 choice-phila.org Colours Inc. 215-496-0330 coloursorganization.org Philadelphia FIGHT 215-985-4448 fight.org Prevention Point Philadelphia 215-634-5272 preventionpointphilly.org Project Safe 866-509-SAFE safephila.org

The Attic Youth Center 215-545-4331 atticyouthcenter. org

Safeguards Project 215-985-6873 safeguards.org

St. Christopher’s Pediatric AIDS Program 215-427-5284 stchristopherhospital.com Youth Health Empowerment Project 215-564-6388 y-hep.org

World AIDS Day 2011 events

ActionAIDS 215-981-0088 actionaids.org

YOUTH AND FAMILY

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia 215-590-2956 chop.edu

WORLD AIDS PGN DAY SUPPLEMENT A JOINT PROJECT OF ACTIONAIDS AND PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

LEGAL/ RESOURCES AIDS Library 215-985-4851 aidslibrary.org AIDS Law Project Aidslawpa.org 215-587-9377

Prayer Breakfast Philadelphia FIGHT 8-10 a.m. Doubletree Hotel, 237 S. Broad St. Faith leaders and community members gather for Philadelphia FIGHT’s annual World AIDS Day Prayer Breakfast. Guests will remember those who’ve died, and discuss how to effectively spread a message of HIV awareness and prevention. 1981 — Until It’s Over ... AIDS Fund 9 a.m.-10 p.m. William Way LGBT Center, 1315 Spruce St. The AIDS Fund commemorates 30 years of HIV/AIDS with a comprehensive multimedia display. The exhibit marks important milestones in the history of the disease, as well as its local impact. Resilience of Body, Mind, Spirit Wellness in the HIV/AIDS Community Siloam Noon-2 p.m. 1133 Spring Garden St. Siloam hosts a discussion about our HIV/AIDS journey, and how we’ve been profoundly touched and changed through our experiences. Eighth Annual Red Ribbon Awards Penn Center for AIDS Research 5-7:30 p.m. Conversation Hall at City Hall Since 2004, the Penn Center for AIDS Research Community Advisory Board has held an annual Red Ribbon Award Ceremony to honor those in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Awards are given in recognition of a policymaker, a researcher, a community member and a young person who have made an outstanding contribution through their respective

Philadelphia testing sites Center City

work. Broad Street Ministry Dinner Broad Street Ministry 6-8 p.m. 315 S. Broad St. Numerous local HIV organizations join together to host this World AIDS Day event. The evening will include artistic performances, an HIV/AIDS timeline, commemorative ceremonies and free rapid HIV testing and counseling.

ActionAIDS 1026 Arch St. 267-940-5515 Mondays 11 a.m.-1 p.m. (Spanish speaker available) Tuesdays 10 a.m.noon Wednesdays 1-4 p.m. Thursdays noon-2 p.m. Fridays by appointment

AIDS Delaware Cabaret AIDS Delaware 7 p.m. 4 S. Poplar St., Wilmington, Del. AIDS Delaware celebrates life through music this World AIDS Day. Guests are encouraged to make a $10 donation. Event includes light fare and cash bar.

ActionAIDS North Office 2641 N. Sixth St. 215-732-2220 Tuesdays 2-5 p.m. or by appointment (Spanish speaker available)

Paint It RIGHT The RIGHT Foundation 8-11 p.m. AxD Gallery, 265 S. 10th St. The first annual Paint It RIGHT campaign will benefit HIV/AIDS counseling and treatment, including a silent auction in honor of World AIDS Day to benefit The RIGHT Foundation. World AIDS Day Program Colours Organization Inc. 6 p.m. 112 N. Broad St., second floor This event will feature live entertainment and refreshments, as well as free confidential rapid HIV testing.

ASIAC 340 N. 12th St., Suite 205 215-629-2300 The Attic Youth Center 55 S. 16th St. 215-545-4331 Family Planning Council 260 S. Broad St., Suite 1000 215-985-6828 GALAEI 1207 Chestnut St., Fifth Floor 215-851-1822 Mazzoni Center 1201 Chestnut St., Third Floor 215-563-0658 Planned Parenthood Elizabeth Blackwell Office 1211 Chestnut St. #405 215-496-9696 Thursdays noon-5 p.m. Planned Parenthood Locust Office 1144 Locust St. 215-351-5550 Fridays 1-4 p.m. William Way LGBT Community Center 1315 Spruce St. 215-732-2220 Mondays 4-7 p.m.

Youth Health Empowerment Project 112 N. Broad St., Ninth Floor 215-564-6388 ext. 11 North Philly 11th Street Family Health Services at Drexel University 850 N. 11th St. 215-769-1100 Congreso 216 W. Somerset St. 215-763-8870 ext. 1010 Covenant House Health Services 251 E. Bringhurst St. 215-844-0181 Maria De Los Santos Health Center 401 W. Alleghany Ave. 215-291-2500 Tuesdays 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursdays 1 p.m.-4 p.m. PHMC Health Connection 1035 W. Berks St. 215-765-6690 Planned Parenthood Far Northeast 2751 Comly Road 215-464-2225 Tuesdays 11 a.m.-4 p.m. St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children 3601 A St. 215-427-3802 South/West Philly CHOP 3550 Market St., Fourth Floor 215-590-3537 Health Center #3 555 S. 43rd St. 215-685-7504 Health Center #4 4400 Haverford Ave. 215-685-7601/7651 Urban Solutions 1408 S. Broad St., First Floor 215-755-0700

REALPGN ESTATE

Community Bulletin Board Community centers

■ The Attic Youth Center: For LGBT and questioning youth and their friends and allies. Groups meet and activities are held 4-8 p.m. MondayFriday; case management, HIV testing and smoking cessation are available Monday-Friday. See the Youth section for more events. 255 S. 16th St.; 215-545-4331 ■ Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center at the University of Pennsylvania 3907 Spruce St.; 215-898-5044; center@dolphin.upenn.edu, Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday

and Allies Youth Center: 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays: Doylestown Planned Parenthood, The Atrium, Suite 2E, 301 S. Main St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981; 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: 12-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 12-3 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Friday; 126 p.m. Saturday. Volunteers: New Orientation: First Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.

■ Rainbow Room — Bucks County’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning

■ AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania: 215-587-9377

Key numbers

■ AIDS Law Project of Southern New Jersey: 856-933-9500 ext. 221

■ Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Peer Counseling Services: 215-732-TALK

■ AIDS Library: 215-985-4851

■ Mayor’s Director of LGBT Affairs: Gloria Casarez, 215-6862194; Gloria.Casarez@phila.gov; Fax: 215-686-2555

■ ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215592-1513 ■ AIDS Treatment Fact line: 1800-662-6080 ■ Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection at the Independence Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library: 215-685-1633 ■ The COLOURS Organization Inc.: 112 N. Broad St., third floor; 215-496-0330 ■ Equality Pennsylvania: 215731-1447; www.equalitypa.org ■ Equality Forum: 215-732-3378

■ Mazzoni Center: 215-563-0652; www.mazzonicenter.org. Legal Services: 215-563-0657, 866-LGBTLAW; legalservices@mazzonicenter. org ■ Mazzoni Center Family & Community Medicine: 215-563-0658 ■ Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): 215-572-1833

Health

AIDS Services In Asian Communities Provides HIV-related services to Asians and Pacific Islanders at 340 N. 12th St., Suite 205; 215-629-2300. www.asiac.org Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative Free, anonymous HIV testing from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; 12-6 p.m. Tuesdays at the Washington West Project, 1201 Locust St. 215851-1822 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 and 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad St.; 215-685-1803. HIV health insurance help Access to free medications and confidential HIV testing

■ Greater Philadelphia Professional Network Networking group for area business professionals, self-employed and business owners meets monthly in a different location throughout the city, invites speakers on various topics, partners with other nonprofits and maintains a Web site where everyone is invited to sign up for e-mail notices for activities and events.; www.gppn.org.

■ Philadelphia Police Department liaison — Deputy Commissioner Stephen Johnson: 215-683-2840 ■ Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 267-216-6606; 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)

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

Anonymous, free, conﬁdential HIV testing Spanish/English counselors offer testing 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 3439 N. Hutchinson St..; 215-763-8870 ext. 6000.

■ Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia GALLOP holds board meetings at 6:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at 100 S. Broad St., Suite 1810; GALLOP also provides a free referral service; (215) 6279090; www.galloplaw.org.

■ Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force: 215-772-2000

available by appointment at 13 S. MacDade Blvd., Suite 108, Collingdale; Medical Ofﬁce Building, 722 Church Lane, Yeadon; and 630 S. 60th St.; 610-5869077.

Mazzoni Center Free, anonymous HIV testing; HIV/AIDS care and treatment, 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; 809 Locust St.; 215-563-0658. Washington West Project Free, anonymous HIV testing. Walk-ins welcome 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday except for 12-1 p.m. and 5-6 p.m. and 1-5 p.m. Saturday; 1201 Locust St.; 215-985-9206.

Professional groups ■ Independence Business Alliance Greater Philadelphia’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce, providing networking, business development, marketing, educational and advocacy opportunities for LGBT and LGBT-friendly businesses and professionals. Visit www.IndependenceBusinessAlliance.com for information about events, programs and membership; 215-557-0190; 1717 Arch St., Suite 3370. ■ National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association The Philadelphia chapter of NLGJA, open to professionals

and students, meets for social and networking events; www.nlgjaphiladephia.org. ■ Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus A regional organization dedicated to promoting gay and lesbian tourism to the Greater Philadelphia Region, holds 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. ■ Philly OutGoing Professionals Social group for gay, lesbian and bisexual professionals meets for social and cultural activities; 856857-9283; popnews19@yahoo. com.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

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.; 215386-1981; 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 Philadelphia 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 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. Open-mic night and amateur poetry, music and storytelling event sponsored by the Pride Center of New Jersey meets 8 p.m. every third Friday at Stage Stars, 13 S. 3rd Ave., Highland Park; 732-718-0134. 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, a group 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

Diversity Dancers ballroom dancers meet the first Sunday of the month for tea and lessons. Other events scheduled throughout the year; 215-922-2129; DiversityDancers@aol.com. Gay Bridge Club non-beginners group meets Monday afternoons 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 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. LGBT Bridge Group congenial group meets for supper and to play bridge monthly on a Monday at 6:30 p.m. Members rotate as host. New players welcome. For information, call Tony at 215-732-1020. 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 267-230-6750 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 a hike in Wissahickon Valley Park on Sundays at 2 p.m. at 8701 Germantown Ave.; to RSVP, email the hike leader at ABK121@hotmail.com.

Sports

Brandywine Women’s Rugby Club meets for Tuesday and Thursday practice at Greene Field, Howell Street and Moore Road, West Chester; www.brandywinerugby.org. City of Brotherly Love Softball League serves the Philadelphia metropolitan area. Games are played Sundays, beginning in April, in Fairmount Park; 215-462-2575; 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 GLBT and allied; practices Mondays and Thursdays at Cruz Recreation Center (Fifth and Jefferson streets), 6 p.m., and Saturdays, 10:30 a.m., at Edgeley Fields in Fairmount Park; www.falcons-soccer.org. Philadelphia Fins Swim Team, male and female swimmers meets 7 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and 10 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays at Friends Select School or Kelly Pool in Fairmount Park; 610-564-6661; 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 seeks players; games played Saturdays, 10 a.m., at Columbus Square Park, 12th and Wharton streets; phillyflagfootball.com. Philadelphia Gryphons Rugby Football Club seeks players, all skill levels welcome; meets 6 p.m. Tuesdays at Columbus Field,12th and Wharton streets, and 7 p.m. Thursdays at George Pepper Middle School, 2901 S. 84th St.; 215-913-7531; phillygryphons.org; info@phillygryphons.org. Philadelphia Liberty Belles women’s semi-pro full-tackle football league holds fall tryouts; phillybelles.com. Philadelphia Liberty Tennis Association plays year-round, 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, 7:30-9:30p.m., at Marian Anderson Recreation Center, 17th and Fitzwater streets, with games on Sundays; phillywomensbaseball.com; contact Narda Quigley, (day) 215-991-5995 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. South Jersey Gay Bowling League gay and lesbian bowling league meets 7 p.m. Fridays September-April at Laurel Lanes, 2825 Rte. 73 South, Maple Shade; 856-778-7467. Spartan Wrestling Club, the gay wresting team, meets 7-9 p.m. Mondays, 6:30-9 p.m. Mondays and 9:30 a.m.-noon Saturdays at the First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St.; 215-732-4545; www.phillyspartans.com. Suburban Gay Bowling League bowls at 8 p.m. Tuesdays from August-April at Facenda-Whitaker Lanes, 2912 Swede Road, Norristown; sgblbowl@gmail.com. Team Philadelphia, the umbrella group under which the various 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; 215-587-9377; www. aidslawpa.org. Bisexual Social Support Group open to all bisexual, bi-curious and bi-friendly people, meets 7:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at the Pride Center of New Jersey. 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 self-defense; meets 2 p.m. the third Saturday of the month at Classic Indoor Range, 1310 Industrial Blvd., Southhampton; 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. 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, allied communities, friends and colleagues, meets in a different Philadelphia hot spot each month. To receive monthly event invitations, send email to 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; primetimersofphiladelph ia@yahoo.com Philadelphians MC Club for leather men and women meets 7:30 p.m. 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, private, weekly HF nets, monthly newsletter, email server; 302-539-2392; www.rara.org. Rock ’n’ Roll Queer Bar Party for gay and lesbian rockers with host Psydde Delicious starts 10 p.m. every first Sunday at Fluid, 613 S. Fourth St.; www.RocknRollQueerBar.com. Silver Foxes social and educational group for gays and lesbians 50 and older meets 3-5 p.m. fourth Sunday of the month at the William Way Center.

Health

Alder Health Services provides LGBT health services on a sliding-fee scale; 100 N. Cameron St., Ste. 301 East, Harrisburg; 717-233-7190 or 800-867-1550; www.alderhealth.org. Anonymous, free, confidential HIV testing with Spanish/English counselors 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 3439 N. Hutchinson St.; 215-763-8870 ext. 6000. AIDS Services In Asian Communities provides HIV-related services to Asians and Pacific Islanders at 340 N. 12th St., Suite 205; 215-536-2424. www.asiac.org. Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative provides free, anonymous HIV testing from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; and noon-6 p.m. Tuesdays at the Washington West Project, 1201 Locust St.; 215-851-1822 or 866222-3871; www.galaei.org. Spanish/English. HIV treatment: Free HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment for Philadelphia residents available 9 a.m.-noon Mondays and 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad St.; 215685-1803. HIV health insurance help: Access to free medications and confidential HIV testing available at 17 MacDade Blvd., Suite 108, Collingdale; Medical Office Building, 722 Church Lane, Yeadon; and 630 S. 60th St.; 610-586-9077. Mazzoni Center: Free, anonymous HIV testing; HIV/AIDS care and treatment, case management and support groups; 21 S. 12th St.; 215-563-0652; www.mazzonicenter.org. Philadelphia FIGHT provides HIV primary care, on-site lab services, clinical trials, case management, mental-health services and support groups for people living with HIV regardless of insurance status or ability to pay; 1233 Locust St., fifth floor; 215-985-4448; www.fight.org. Washington West Project offers free, anonymous HIV testing. Walk-ins welcome 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday except for noon1 p.m. and 5-6 p.m., and 1-5 p.m. Saturday; 1201 Locust St.;

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

SPECIAL GIFT PGN GUIDE SECTION

AC ul t ure rts

By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com If you’re reading this, that means Thanksgiving is either upon us or a very recent tryptophan-laced memory. That means we all have to start thinking about the holidays. For whom to buy gifts and, more importantly, what? We can’t help you with the former, but we can throw some ideas at you for the latter. There’s a lot of cool and interesting stuff littering the gift landscape this season. Here are just a few things that have piqued our interest. If you missed the last two seasons of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and you need to bone up before the new season commences in January, the international superstar and celebrated drag diva is releasing seasons two and three of the ultimate drag-queen competition on DVD. You can watch episode after episode of RuPaul guiding contestants as they prepare for each outrageous challenge, where they are assessed by a star-studded roster of celebrity guest judges including LaToya Jackson, Johnny Weir, Lily Tomlin, Wayne Brady, Fantasia Barrino and Vanessa Williams. Includes the requisite bonus scenes and reunion specials. Out comedian and activist Margaret Cho recently released a DVD of her new-

SPECIAL GIFT PGN GUIDE SECTION

est stand-up concert film, “Cho D e p e n d e n t ,” recorded during her 2010 tour. Cho is in her usual top form, riffing on the Palins, her stint on “Dancing With the Stars” (where both gay pride and bullying were platforms for her), smoking pot and living in a world with “sexting.” Cho also performs songs from her album of the same name. The Divine Miss M, aka Bette Midler, recently released a DVD of her Las Vegas extravaganza, taped before a packed house at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The 70-minute extravaganza features Midler’s colorful and classic stage characters and a 13-piece band cranking out show-stopping renditions of her biggest hits, including “The Rose,” “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” “From a Distance,” “Hello in There” and “Wind Beneath My Wings.” Global pop diva Kylie Minogue unleashed her acclaimed “Aphrodite: Les Folies” concert CD and DVD/Blu-Ray set filmed live Nov. 29 at London’s O2 Arena. With costumes created exclusively for Minogue by Dolce & Gabbana, the stage show had an enchanting Greek mythology theme and featured an astonishing water finale. The tour was Minogue’s most ambitious witht he singer performing a

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

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total of 77 spectacular shows for more than 575,000 people throughout Europe, Japan, North America, Australia and Southeast Asia. Filmed over two nights, “Aphrodite” captures the show at its absolute peak and features an exclusive tour documentary. Five decades after its historic debut, the timeless classic “West Side Story” is being released as a 50th-anniversary edition. This film sets the ageless story of Romeo and Juliet against a backdrop of gang warfare in 1950s New York. A love affair is fated for tragedy amid the vicious rivalry between street gangs the Jets and the Sharks. With a record-breaking 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Directing and Best Original Score, the film took home more honors than any other movie-musical in the history of cinema. This special edition boasts hours of restoration, new 7.1 digital audio and a collection of bonus features spotlighting the songs and elaborate dances of the original film. Long before Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Rihanna, there was Jem. Debuting in 1985, the animated series focused on the dual life of beautiful Jerrica Benton, co-owner of Starlight Music, and her pop-

Bulletin Board Family Portrait Out & About Q Puzzle Scene in Philly Worth Watching

Page Page Page Page Page Page

33 41 46 44 39 45

star alter-ego Jem, lead singer for the all-girl band Jem and The Holograms. And if you’re of an age where you remember that show, you’ll get a kick out of the recently released firstever complete collector’s edition 11-DVD box set of “Jem and The Holograms,” which features all 65 episodes of the hit series accompanied by an exclusive bonus disc of brand-new and rarely seen archival material. Speaking of colorful pop stars, multiplatinum and Grammy Award-winning artist Lady Gaga’s new Blu-Ray and DVD of her critically acclaimed, Emmy Awardwinning HBO special “Lady Gaga Presents The Monster B a l l To u r at Madison S q u a r e Garden” is available, which features exclusive, never-beforeseen footage. Also being released is the album “Born This Way The R e m i x ,” a 14-track collection of remixes by some of the hottest artists, DJs and producers, including Foster

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

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the People, Michael W o o d s and The Weeknd. Another DVD fresh off the shelves belongs to Cyndi Lauper, who has released her live concert recording “To Memphis, With Love.” Taped earlier this year at The Warehouse in Memphis, the DVD features special guests including Allen Toussaint, Tracy Nelson and Jonny Lang, serving as Lauper’s love letter to blues and the city she has fallen in love with. Another sonic bonanza coming out this holiday season is The Cure’s live album “Bestival 2011,” due Dec. 6. The live recording comes from the band’s career-spanning two and a half hour set performed at this year’s Bestival, a four-day music festival held on the Isle of Wight, England. All profits from the sale of this album

will go to the Isle of Wight Yo u t h Trust, a charitable, independent a n d professional organization offering counseling, advice, information and support services to Isle residents 25 and younger. If you’re looking for a good read, or at least something that looks impressive on your coffee table, pick up the new book “Gay In America,” by Scott Pasfield. The book takes readers into the homes and the lives of 140 gay American men in all 50 states. For more information, visit www.gayinamerica.us. One of our favorite cosmetics companies, Lush, is launching 15 brand-new products this holiday season, some of which are the first of their kind in Lush history.

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The Dream Steam Steamer tab ($2.95) uses the same blend of oils as the company’s best-selling Dream Cream: lavender and chamomile with tea tree oil. Simply drop it into a bowl of hot water, lean over the bowl and cover your head with a towel. The tab will emit a blend of essential oils for you to inhale and steam your face. R o ’s A r g a n B o d y Conditioner ($29.95), a rosejam-scented lotion, feeds and nourish the skin. The No Drought Dry Shampoo ($12.95) makes for an excellent midday, evening or morning-after refresher. Scented with lemon, grapefruit and lime, the powder refreshes hair and absorbs grease if you don’t have time for a proper wash. Just apply directly into the hair or onto your hands and work through. Lush’s Lustre Dusting Powder ($14.95) is a jasmine-fragranced bronze powder you apply to your legs and/or arms giving you a gold shimmer and a light glow as it instantly brightens. The bottle is easy to take with you so you can reapply as needed, and add a hint of shimmer to the otherwise frosty winter months. The Latte Lip Tint ($8.95) is a perky balm that provides a subtle nude tint and a moisturizing pick-me-up all night long, containing a hint of fair-trade coffee flavoring and a blend of almond oil, organic jojoba oil and Japan wax for a boost. All products are available in shops nationwide and online at www.lush.com. For more information, visit www.lushusa. com or www.facebook.com/lushcosmetics.

If you want to go green this holiday, turn to Earth Friendly Products and its award-winning line of eco-friendly cleaning products. The Safeguard Your Home! Kit ($31.95) is a convenient package with six of its top-selling products, including ECOS, the No. 1 selling green laundry detergent in the world; Dishmate Hand Dishwashing Soap; Wave Auto

Dishwashing Soap; Window Cleaner, Eco Breeze; (an eco-friendly version of Febreze); and Parsley Plus All-Purpose Cleaner. Earth Friendly Products also offers an assortment of eco-friendly pet products, from kitty litter treatment to pet laundry detergent to pet shampoo and more. For more information, visit www. ecos.com. Equally green this holiday season are Reuse Jeans, which are generated from the belief that environmental awareness can coexist with fashion. Sustainable and attainable, Reuse Jeans are constructed from 80-percent recycled fabric and are tailored for stylish fits, processed with fashionforward wash treatments and accentuated by handcrafted detailing and signature touches. For more information, visit www.reusejeans.com. Speaking of fashion, Love Gone Apparel, a clothing line founded by an 11-year-old entrepreneur out of Florida, features shirts for men and women. This musician-endorsed line of clothes is worn by rock and country musicians. Get a gander at the hip and edgy styles at www. lovegoneapparel.com.

If you’re looking for some nerdy-chic gifts or you know someone who’s really into “The Big Bang Theory,” snag the “Soft Kitty” singing plush toy and T-shirt combo from CBS’ hit TV show. In a running gag on the show, Sheldon teaches Penny lyrics to a song his mom sang him when he was sick. The song instantly became a viral sensation and fan favorite. For more information or to purchase, visit www.stylinonline.com/softkitty. That is all for now. Try not to get trampled at the shopping centers. ■

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

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The quest for fame is a story as old as drama itself. But with the popularity of reality TV and professional sports, more peoStage, TV and film actor, singer and play- ple like Mama Rose are angling to get their wright Tovah Feldshuh is coming Bristol children into the spotlight, making a story Riverside Theatre to take on the role of like “Gypsy” relevant to the times. That Mama Rose in “Gypsy,” the quintessential line of thinking isn’t lost on Feldshuh. “I think having a parent who places story of a stage mother trying to guide her daughters, Baby June and Louise, to fame all their dreams in a child is a very difficult thing and, often, unless in very careand fortune, Dec. 6-Jan. 15. Feldshuh has amassed an impressive ful hands, a dangerous thing,” she said. body of work during her career, appearing “We thought Tiger Woods had it all. This in numerous Broadway and one-woman extraordinary father trained this extraordishows and cabarets, as well as on TV shows narily brilliant golf player and then whatsuch as “Law & Order” and films “Lady in ever. He couldn’t keep his zipper zipped. the Water,” “The Idolmaker” and “Kissing Power and eros are not strange bedfellows. Rose desperately wanted to get her chilJessica Stein.” dren out of the mundane Even with all that drudgery that was her experience, Feldshuh is life and wanted to get conscious of the fact that them out of the pattern she is taking on a role in that Rose herself made. “Gypsy” that has been And after all, Rose did performed by acclaimed get June and Gypsy actresses Ethel Merman, Rose Lee out of their Angela Lansbury, Tyne mundane lives. She fulDaily, Bernadette Peters filled that vision for and Patti Lupone. her daughters. Whether “It’s one of the greatthat brought happiness, est roles ever written that’s another question.” for a woman in musiDuring the run of cal theater,” she said. “Gypsy,” the Bristol “It’s a role with subtext Riverside Theater is and one of the first of its partnering with the kind with enormous subAIDS Fund to host an text and conflict. There’s evening of Gay BINGO a lot of space in the role after the Dec. 18 matinee for interpretations. But performance. Feldshuh Merman branded it in will be on hand for the such a very strong way TOVAH FELDSHUH event, as she has been a that the role is thought long time supporter of of one way. But there are many different facets of Rose and I hope to LGBT and AIDS-related charities such as find all of her voices: the playful, the flirta- Equity Fights AIDS. Feldshuh said she was aware of the tious, the humorous, the charming. She uses different tones when she speaks to differ- impact of AIDS on the gay community at ent people asking for different things under the beginning. “I, like everybody in our profession, lost different circumstances, just like you and I. Though Merman was a genius, she branded some beloved friends early on,” she said. “One of my friends is married to a blood that character in a monochromatic way.” Feldshuh added that past portrayals of specialist in San Francisco. It was 1982 Rose have painted her as unsympathetic, and I was going down the American River with my husband and we stopped off to see but she doesn’t see her that way. “We all know that Rose is strong but some friends. And I asked this young man, she’s not strong because she’s so willful,” his name was Dr. Charles Linger, how he Feldshuh said. “She was strong because she was and he said, ‘I’m terrible. These young had to be. In my point of view, she had to men are coming to me on Monday and they be because she was abandoned. Her mother are dying on Friday of pneumonia. They left her, her little girl. She started perform- are not responding to any medication and ing at the lodges to spend some time with we have the medication for it.’ “It was the beginning of the AIDS epiher daddy. She was only a little older than Baby June when her mother left. She’s not demic, when the ignorance and the fatalities a monster. She may steamroll over people were so enormous. We didn’t know what to but she doesn’t realize she’s doing it. She do. So AIDS has touched everybody.” Tovah Feldshuh stars in “Gypsy” Dec. does it out of her own set of needs. I remember writing on my script: ‘Rose is strong. 6-Jan. 15 at Bristol Riverside Theatre, So is Gen. Patton but he didn’t yell all of 120 Radcliffe St., Bristol. For more inforhis orders.’ Rose is highly optimistic and mation, visit brtstage.org, www.tovahfeldshuh.com or call 215-785-6664. ■ visionary, just like Gen. Patton.”

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

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Gone Till November The holidays are here and the party schedule is heating up every week, as you can see below. Pencil these events into your calendar now so you don’t miss out on any of the fun.

Admission is $40 per person plus one unwrapped toy for a youth aged 2-17 (no plush animals, please). All toys will be delivered to the kids in the pediatric HIV/ AIDS unit at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. For more information, check out www.dvlf.org.

Santa Saturday Santa Saturday returns once again on Nov. 26 to Shep Pettibone’s Club Paradise, 101 Leather & Lace at Angela’s Asbury Ave., Asbury Park, Laptop Lounge N.J. Looking for a hot transgenThis amazing event, now der party in the suburbs? (More in its 38th year, has raised than you might think!) Spend hundreds of thousands of dolyour Saturday doing your holilars for local LGBT and HIV/ day shopping at the mall, then AIDS organizations over the drop in from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. decades. It combines a live Dec. 3 at Blue Pacific, 160 N. auction, entertainment, serRoad, Plaza at King of Jim Gulph vice awards, photos with a hot Prussia. Just remember to buy Santa Bear, a leather shop, 50Kiley-Zufelt yourself something nice for the 50 raffle, food and drinks, all party! for just a $15 cover. A $12 cover gets you in the door. This If you have Black Friday off, you can is the long-running TG party hosted by make a whole weekend out of it at Club Angela Gardner, a founding member and Paradise. You can start with Winter Woof former executive director of Renaissance at 10 p.m. Nov. 25, featuring music by and the current editor of TGForum (www. Jonny Mack and dancing go-go bears tgforum.com). It started in 2005 upstairs including Torez, plus drink specials all at the old L2 on South Street, then moved night long. a couple times before landing at its curThen close it all out with SAVAGE, the rent home in the ’burbs. Dress sexy and Santa Saturday after-party, 9 p.m.-3 a.m. to impress in your finest leather and lace, Nov. 26 at Club Paradise. The club is and feel free to change into your finery connected to The Empress Hotel, which when you get there. has great rooms at affordable rates right For more information, see www.tgatl2. upstairs from all the fun. Which is very tv. convenient for disco naps and other timeout activities. Our Night Out For more information, check out www. Don’t miss the winner of the Best bucksmc.org and www.paradisenj.com. Networking Event in PGN’s Best of Gay Philadelphia 2011 poll: Our Night Out, Ladies 2000 Winter Holiday Kickoff 6-8:30 p.m. Dec. 6 at XIX at Hyatt at the Another group that’s been around for Bellevue, 200 S. Broad St. years and is still going strong is Ladies Our Night Out is a casual social net2000. Don’t miss their “Destination New working party for LGBT professionals, Hope” Post-Thanksgiving Day Party, 3-9 allied communities and friends and colp.m. Nov. 27 at Havana, 105 S. Main St., leagues. This event marks the close of its in New Hope. They’ll have $3 vodka spe- 10th anniversary year. There’s no cover, cials until 4, a buffet and DJ Steve Singer. but that doesn’t mean there won’t be hors A $10 cover is all it takes to get this party d’oeuvres, drink specials and music. started. This month’s holiday event is co-sponFor more information, see www. sored by XIX at the Bellevue and the ladies2000.com. Philly chapter of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association. For more TOY 2011 information and to join the mailing list, Don’t miss TOY, the Delaware Valley check them out on Facebook at www.faceLegacy Fund’s fifth-annual holiday book.com/OurNightOut. ■ fundraiser, from 7-10 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Marketplace Design Center, 2400 Market Questions, comments or news about St. There will be heavy hors d’oeuvres, upcoming events? Contact Jim at music and fun. barcrawlr@gmail.com.

Barcrawlr

��

PROFILE PGN

Family Portrait

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

Suzi Nash

Linda Slodki: Engineer, arts promoter “Dream Weaver” is not just a song by Gary Wright: It’s also a description of a woman, Linda Slodki, who, along with partner Arleen Olshan, is making dreams come true for the artist community at the Mt. Airy Art Garage. PGN: Are you a native Philadelphian? LS: No, I’m a native New Yorker. But I’ve lived in Philadelphia for 25-plus years. As a young person, I moved about the country trying to find myself and, in the end, I wanted to be near New York but not too close and Philadelphia fit the purpose. I ended up here by a fluke and have loved every minute I’ve been here. It was kismet: When you least expect it, something wonderful happens. PGN: Tell me about the house that you grew up in? LS: I grew up in Queens, an only child. My family was very musical. They all played in various symphonies, most of them were clarinetists and I was in the performing arts singing and playing piano. At the age of 10, I became part-specific and jobs were harder to come by, but the performance artist is, always with me. It’s really where my heart is though I ended up going the corporate route for a number of decades. I always kept my hand in by singing with Anna Crusis [Women’s Choir] and doing some local theater. And now I satisfy my artistic side here at the Mt. Airy Art Garage. It’s like coming full circle. You end up where your heart is. PGN: What did you like to do as a kid? LS: Well, most of my time was involved in performing or training. I went to Professional Children’s School in New York, which was a school for kids working in dance, theater, sports and music. I was focused on getting work. PGN: What was a favorite job? LS: At the beginning of color TV, there was work to be had when you were a kid with talent and red hair. When I was 5, I did a live commercial for “The Perry Como Show.” I was skating and they gave me a cup of cocoa. I thought it was the worst thing I’d ever had and out loud said, “Yuck.” After that, they stuck me in the back row! PGN: How did you end up studying biology at Barnard College, one of the Ivy League Seven Sisters? LS: I was my father’s son and so I started out being pre-med. It didn’t last long but Barnard was an incredible experience. I was there during the era of discovery and revolution and enlightenment. We discovered feminism and women and participated in the antiwar movement and it all came together in a very positive way. I’d been

a very sheltered child in some ways and Barnard is where I first explored bisexuality and lesbianism and feminism. Back then you were somewhat forced to label yourself and I sometimes envy the kids of today who aren’t worried about labels: You can be queer and let it define whatever you want it to be. PGN: I also understand that you were the first female rail engineer. LS: You’ve done your homework! In the 1970s, I was among the first six female engineers on Conrail. [Laughs.] I admit to my moments of joy sticking my head out the window and seeing people go, “Oh my God, there’s a woman driving the train!” It was quite an experience. I think it helped develop a part of me that learned to step up to challenges. The men really didn’t want us there so you had to prove yourself every day. You’d walk into the locker room and it was filled with pictures of naked women. They’d give us the worst assignments, out in the freezing rain, running the switches knee deep in water, and you knew no one else had to do it.

’09 with no heat, no water, no bathroom, a little bit of light and a lot of spirit. We did a fine-art and handcraft market, just like the one we’re about to do, and it was wildly successful. Not just sales, but the whole camaraderie of it all. We had neighbors and businesses bring food, professional musicians stopped by to play, kids found us on Craig’s List and there was a great feeling of what could be. Today we are in a beautiful 5,000-square-foot space with 104 members and growing. It’s something that was our dream and it’s now becoming a reality: a place that is an incubator for the arts in the northwest. A place where you come to dream and to create and to share, where artists and art lovers share their skills and knowledge, where we teach children and adults about the arts and we’re just starting to get warmed up. We just entered an amazing collaboration with the Mural Arts Program where we will be hosting community paint day sites. We have a great exhibit by Meei Ling Ng up right now and we’ve been getting a lot

to share their stories, to bring marketing materials, artwork, whatever. We became a place to exchange ideas and people loved it. Recently we asked one of our artists who offered to help us out to make a suggestion; she suggested a salon. So now we’re doing a breakfast club that’s only open to artists — visual and performing — and people just support each other and share information, talk about challenges and dreams. We’re having one where you can bring your artwork and get it critiqued by the group. It’s a chance to build a bond with like-minded people who can help you through the difficult times or motivate you to go back to your studio and create. PGN: It’s a great spot. LS: Yes, our former vice president, Saul Levy, who’s now passed away, found it. It’s been standing vacant for 22 years! For one year it had an ambulance company; that didn’t work in this neighborhood because of the sirens. But now it’s become our community center for the arts. We’re from here and love that it’s a diverse area that’s savvy, art-loving and involved. It’s truly a community-supported effort. When we got the permit, neighbors would knock on the door and give suggestions or ask when we were going to start classes so they could join. We ask permission of the local neighborhood groups before we do anything that might affect them. We have a great relationship. That’s one of the reasons that we’re excited about the Mural Arts Project. They are in a space downtown, but we’re the ones connected to the community, so it’s a nice bridge. That’s what we’re here for. We want this space to be available for all of the arts, film, writing, music, whatever the fantasy holds. We have so many queer people here, we’re hoping to do our first gay event soon.

PGN: You also got a degree in organization design and development at Temple and did the corporate route for a while. LS: Yes, I did. And was very glad to move away from it. It taught me great skills but it never fed my soul. PGN: When did you come out? LS: I started out in my early teens as a fag hag and I don’t know that I ever officially came out; I always just was. I always struggled with identifying myself: Am I a femme, am I gay, not gay, bisexual? I felt the need to define myself, but couldn’t figure out where I fit in. I knew I liked women but hadn’t acted on it. I was married for a while, then I met Arleen and I was done. I was head over heels, smitten and in love. We’ve been together 14 years. I now proudly define myself as a highfemme dyke! PGN: How did you start the Art Garage? LS: One day Arleen opened up a booklet for the Open Studio tours in the northwest and she said, “How come I don’t know any of these artists? None. I’m too isolated as an artist. Let’s create an organization!” She looked at me and said, “Make it happen.” As a team, Arleen is the dreamer and I’m the business end. So my corporate training does come in handy. But here, if I’m going to work and give every fiber of myself to make things work, it’s for something that has value and gives sustenance to my spirit. PGN: When did you open? LS: We’re two years old. We started off in a different space during the blizzards of

Photo: Suzi Nash

of school groups coming in and the kids draw and write poetry, all sorts of things. It’s exhilarating to see what we can be! PGN: How do you bring the artists together? LS: There are a variety of things. A while back we did a Friday-night artists café and we opened it up, completely free to anyone who wanted to come, other art groups, non-members, everyone. We invited people

PGN: Back to you: Do you speak any languages besides English? LS: I do. My parents are Holocaust survivors and I’m first-generation American. I spoke German before I spoke English. As a kid, I went to a Swiss girls’ boarding school and so learned to speak French and, growing up in New York, it was natural and necessary to learn Spanish as well. As a kid I dreamed in four languages. PAGE 42

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

PGN: What was a memory from boarding school? LS: I was always in trouble. I was the one you set up to do the deed and I always got caught! You’d nudge me in the back and I’d step up, but with my red hair I always got nailed. I remember one time on a dare I hung from the window of the chateau. Another girl and I were hanging from the eaves and naturally got caught. Another time I climbed into a tub with four girls in the middle of the night and we couldn’t get out. Busted again! But it was a good time: It was the first time I remember touching other girls. There was one girl from Africa and we’d lie in the grass and I’d put flowers in her hair. I think it was my first crush. PGN: How did you meet Arleen?

PROFILE PGN

LS: We met at a dance at the Commodore Barry Club. It was a straight club and they were having a fundraiser for organizations working to prevent domestic violence. Being Mt. Airy, I’d say 30 percent of the women there were dykes! Arleen came up to the table where I was and I was immediately smitten. People always tell me I met my match with her, that it was meant to be. I say I met the butch of my dreams.

PGN: If you had to leave the states, where would you live? LS: Berlin, without a doubt. I love that city. It has two of everything; Because of the time when the Berlin Wall was up, they had to have two modern art museums, two opera houses, you name it. I also still have family there and my cousin is the founder and executive director of the Gay Museum in Berlin.

PGN: Something fabulous she’s done for you or vice versa? LS: Well, she’s a master leather crafter, along with her painting, etc. In our first years, when we were courting, she’d invite me over every time she got a new skin. I’d go to her house and it would be spread across the bed, waiting for me ... Dare I say, it was delightful.

PGN: How did your family handle you coming out?

LS: I was married previously and my husband was black. When Arleen and I got together, I decided I needed to tell my parents, who had no idea I was even bisexual. I’d been divorced for some time and I told them, I’m in love and the good news is she’s

Jewish! They freaked out a bit but they got over it. Now my dad and Arleen talk leather craft.

PGN: If you could have dinner with any artist, who would you choose? LS: Tony Kushner, who wrote “Angels in America,” and Maurice Sendak. Have you ever read “Mommy?” by Sendak? It’s an amazing book and the illustrations are marvelous. And I would do anything that Julie Taymor wanted me to do. She directed “Frida” and “The Lion King.” I’d be her towel girl if she wanted. Anything to see her while she was creating. PGN: And what can we look forward to here at the garage? LS: We are going to put in seven permanent studios that will be made available to our members,

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workshop space for teaching, as well as space for artists to collaborate. Or if you needed information on how to do a certain thing or where to get certain materials, this is a place to ask other artists. Any time you walk in the door, you’re surrounded by creative people, from professionals to beginners, from kids in their teens to people in their 80s, from all different walks of life including a large number of people from the LGBT community. ■ The Mt. Airy Art Garage Holiday Market takes place the first three weekends in December. For more information, visit mtairyartgarage.org. To suggest a community member for “Family Portrait,” write to portraits05@aol.com.

DINING PGNOUT

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

Mixx: Worth the trip to the ’burbs By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com On a cold and rainy weeknight, we trundled out to Villanova, lamenting all the way that we should have stayed somewhere closer to Center City. We returned to town feeling like fools for complaining. Our destination, Mixx, 789 E. Lancaster Ave., a global tapas restaurant and bar, took all the mediocre repasts that jaded us in the last year and made dinner exciting to us once again. We didn’t expect a place situated in a shopping center to be so big and gorgeous, but indeed it was. The staff was friendly and helpful as well and the prices were reasonable. The menu was the biggest surprise of all, taking familiar ideas and delivering them with adventurous tangents. The French onion soup dumplings ($5) were tasty and fun, but do close your mouth all the way before you bite into one, or risk blasting an arc of soup across the table. The bravas ($5) at first glace looks like a comforting pile of finely cubed potatoes that would be better sharing a plate with a nice omelet, but once you dive in, you find that the spicy marinara and the garlic aoli dressing works wonders all their own, making it impossible to stop eating. Two specials that evening really got us hooked. We thought we’d never be impressed by mussels again, but Mixx’s spicy mussels ($6) were

massive and expertly and generously spiced, restoring our faith in the mollusk. The tuna ceviche ($11) was a menagerie of vibrant flavors and textures as well. There are a thousand places in the city that serve sliders and probably more that offer truffle fries. To all of them we say: You have officially had your asses handed to you.

The crabmeat drunken noodles ($9) were as solid a dish as you could get from an authentic noodle house. Our only minor gripe with the sea curry ($15) was that the rice pasta was far better for soaking up the wonderful sauce than any of the perfectly cooked seafood surrounding it. The more Americanized entrées were solid as well. The lamb chop

If you go Mixx Restaurant and Bar 789 E. Lancaster Ave., Villanova 610-527-0700 www.mixxrestaurant.com Open for lunch and dinner daily Photos: Scott A. Drake

Mixx’s 50/50 sliders ($6) with truffle fries made believers of us. The sliders were a perfect convergence of beef, bacon, guacamole, jack cheese and jalapeños. Other places treat fries as if the truffle oil should shoulder all the responsibility for the flavor. Mixx’s truffle fries were seasoned with Parmesan, garlic and salt, which went a long way toward making the fries excellent. So much so, we never once wished for ketchup. Mixx whips up admirable Asian dishes and sushi. The Chay Roll ($10) was as good and imaginative as anything you’d find in a nice sushi bar.

($15) hit both sweet and savory notes, thanks to a velvety parsnip purée and a vanilla balsamic reduction. Mixx’s desserts exhibited the same flair and panache of the tapas menu. The berry parfait ($6) was a delightful layering of mango sorbet, blueberry sauce, vanilla ice cream and chocolate cookies. We also couldn’t help but fall for the chocolate banana bread pudding ($6), which was pleasantly hot in the center, counterbalancing the coolness of the vanilla ice cream. Yeah, Mixx took us to the mountain. ■

Food & Drink

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

Q Puzzle John Cryer’s Cry Across 1. Nuts 5. “West ___ Story” 9. Little fairies 13. Where you can eat a hero 14. Bipedal dino 15. Egypt’s lifeline 16. Distribute sparingly 17. Garb for Mychal Judge 18. Secluded valley 19. Character who recently kissed John Cryer’s character on TV 22. Dances to jazz 23. Cheerios essence 24. Nut for pies 27. Big bird

31. AfterEllen.com and AfterElton.com 32. One who runs the show 34. Shipping magnate Onassis 35. TV show with John Cryer 38. Contraction in a carol about gay apparel 39. Writer Chekhov 40. Magi origin 41. Give a cocky look to 43. What Mickey Mouse has down below that Donald Duck lacks 44. Cul-de-___ 45. “Stop it!” 47. Actor who plays 19-Across

53. Afternoon socials 54. R.E.M.’s “The __ _ Love” 55. Wax-covered balls from Holland 57. Sitarist Shankar 58. Stagger from a Cukor film? 59. ___ Mae Brown 60. Pious ejaculation 61. No better than 62. Winetaster’s guess Down 1. Dipstick word 2. Sneaky Pie cry 3. Earthenware pot 4. Long piece of meat 5. Deep throat problem 6. Jeremy of “M. Butterfly”

7. Young women who have balls 8. Business VIP 9. Director Bergman 10. Guy that shot off at Lexington, e.g. 11. Got on one’s knees and asked for it 12. Tickled pink 20. Mafia figure 21. Valet employer 24. Strokes from Spencer-Devlin 25. “Desert Fox” Rommel 26. It gives a drag queen smooth legs 27. Estefan’s eight 28. Penn of “Milk” 29. Wave top 30. Dropped hankie and such 32. Poet St. Vincent

Millay 33. “Today” cohost Lauer 36. Drug agent, for short 37. Like a boa 42. Has dinner at home 43. Snapshot 45. “We’re here, we’re ___ ...” (Cryer’s response to the kiss) 46. Scrabble piece that often goes with Q 47. Razor choice 48. Clothes line 49. “Cheers” barfly 50. You may go down on one 51. Falco of “The Sopranos” 52. ___-tat 56. Put a scuff on

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

Worth Watching HOW THEY STOLE THE SHOW: Catch the animated Christmas classic “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” when the original 1966 special airs with additional footage from a “making of” documentary, featuring interviews with Theodore “Dr. Seuss” Geisel and Chuck Jones, as well as some of the original voice artists, animators and musicians, 8 p.m. Nov. 28 on ABC.

X-MAS PARTY CRASHERS: Donkey, Puss In Boots, Gingy and the whole gang try to join in on the fun as Shrek’s plans for a cozy family celebration end up spiraling into one truly unforgettable holiday on the Christmas special “Shrek the Halls,” starring the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and Antonio Banderas, 8:30 p.m. Nov. 28 on ABC. Photo: Dreamworks Animation

HOLIDAYS ON THE RUNWAYS: See what the drag queens will be wearing around New Year’s when the “Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show” airs, with special performances by Nicki Minaj, Kanye West and Jay-Z, 10 p.m. Nov. 29 on CBS. Photo: CBS/Jeffrey R. Staab

STOP-MOTION MEMORIES: Catch the throwback animation styles of the Christmas special “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” 8 p.m. Dec. 1 on ABC.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

OUT & ABOUT The week ahead Fri. 11/25

Sat. 11/26

Jill Scott The R&B star performs 8 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.

The Muppet Movie The original 1979 film is screened 2 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610-917-0223.

N’Dea Davenport of Brand New Heavies The singer performs 8 and 10:30 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215222-1400. Who’s Next The Who tribute band performs 8 p.m. at Sellersville Theater 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville; 215257-5808.

Beatlemania Now! The Beatles tribute band performs 3 and 8 p.m. at Sellersville Theater 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville; 215-257-5808. Judas Priest The legenary heavy-metal band with the out lead singer performs 6:30 p.m. at Sovereign Center, 700 Penn St., Reading; 610-8987200.

Bill O’Reilly and Dennis Miller Here come the right-wingers, 8 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way; 609317-1000. Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds The R&B singer and producer performs 8 p.m. at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215-5727650. The Secretary The drama is screened 8 p.m. at The Trocadero Theater, 1003 Arch St.; 215-9226888. Sugar Town presents GoGirls Musicfest Philly Female-fronted

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

bands and solo artists perform to benefit the Red Thread Movement, a student-driven organization helping to fight sex trafficking, 8:30 p.m. at Tritone, 1508 South St.; www.facebook. com/theredthreadmovement.

THEY’VE GOT ANOTHER THING COMING: Iconic heavy-metal band Judas Priest, with out singer Rob Halford, gets hellbent for leather one last time for the “Epitaph” tour, reportedly their ﬁnal world tour with Thin Lizzy and Black Label Society. Catch all the action 6:30 p.m. Nov. 26 at Sovereign Center, 700 Penn St., Reading. For more information or tickets, call 610-898-7200.

Sun. 11/27 Reflections of The Rat Pack The tribute to Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. is performed 2 p.m. at Sellersville Theater 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville; 215257-5808. Topkapi The caper film is screened 2 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-0223.

Mon. 11/28 Groove Night Local musicians join forces to bring the R&B, soul, jazz and funk, 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 215-222-1400.

Tue. 11/29 Don’t Call Me Lager: A Celebration of Pearl Jam 20 and Dogfish Head’s Faithfull Ale World Cafe hosts a special screening of the Cameron Crowe documentary “Pearl Jam 20” while savoring Dogfish Head’s commemorative release, Faithfull Ale, 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 215-222-1400. TuesGAY Nights Lyrics Lounge and DJ June Rodrigues host a weekly night of music and performers for the LGBT community at 8 p.m., 6527 Roosevelt Blvd.; 215-533-5888.

Wed. 11/30 4W5 Blues Jam Local musicians get down 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St.,

Wilmington, Del.; 215-222-1400. Audra McDonald The four-time Tony, Emmy and Grammy Award-winner performs 8 p.m. at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800.

Thu. 12/01 Tori Amos The singer and pianist performs 7:30 p.m. at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800.

p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000. Jingle Bell Rock Rock singers Eddie Money, Lou Gramm (Foreigner) and Mickey Thomas (Starship) perform 8 p.m. at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215572-7650.

Ryan Adams The singer-songwriter performs 8 p.m. at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800. Tiesto The superstar DJ performs 10 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.

Bob and Barbara’s Drag Show The outrageousness begins 11 p.m. at Bob and Barbara’s, 1509 South St.; 215-545-4511.

Fri. 12/02 Danú The acclaimed Irish band performs a concert celebrating a traditional Irish Christmas 7:30 p.m. at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; 215898-3900. Alice Cooper The shock-rock icon performs at 8 p.m. at House of Blues, 801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City; 609-343-4000. Bill Burr The comedian performs 8 and 10

ALICE DOESN’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE: See where superstars such as Kiss, Marilyn Manson and Lady Gaga borrowed some of their stagecraft when shock-rock icon Alice Cooper performs 8 p.m. Dec. 2 at House of Blues, 801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City. For more information or tickets, call 609-343-4000.

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.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

Opening Eschenbach Conducts Beethoven The Philadelphia Orchestra performs Nov. 25-27 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800. Monty Python and the Holy Grail The 1974 comedy film is screened Nov. 25-27 at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610-9170223. Sounds of the New World The Philadelphia Orchestra performs Dec. 1-3 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800. StripWorks AxD Gallery presents an exhibition by Larry Wood of hand-etched imagery of the human form on steel and bronze Dec. 2-31, 265 S. 10th St.; 215-6276250.

Continuing Blowing on a Hairy Shoulder/ Grief Hunters The Institute of Contemporary Art at the University of Pennsylvania presents an exhibition of works by 20 artists from Israel, Greece, Germany, Belgium, Britain and America that examine the relationships between originality and origin with video, photography, drawing and sculpture through Dec. 4, 118 S. 36th St.; 215898-7108.

Here and Now: Prints, Drawings and Photographs by 10 Philadelphia Artists Philadelphia Museum of Art presents the exhibition through Dec. 4, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. The King and I The Walnut Theater presents Rodgers & Hammerstein’s classic musical through Jan. 8, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550. Let Me Tell You About A Dream I Had Philadelphia Art Alliance presents an exhibition by The Miss Rockaway Armada, a collective of artists, teachers, sailors, activists, composers and clowns, through Dec. 30 at the Philadelphia Art Alliance, 251 S. 18th St.; 215-545-4302. Molly Landreth/Aiden Simon The William Way Community Center hosts an exhibition of the photographers’ work through Dec. 31, 1315 Spruce St.; 215732-2220. Motherhood: The Musical Society Hill Playhouse presents the musical comedy from the creators of “Menopause: The Musical” through Dec. 31, 507 S. Eighth St.; 215-923-0211.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

TORI’S NIGHT: The incomparably talented pianist and singer Tori Amos comes to town performing songs from her new album “Night of Hunters,” as well as the classics we all know and love, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St. For more information or tickets, call 215-7905800.

Noël and Gertie The Walnut Theater presents the story of remarkable theater duo, Noël Coward and Gertrude Lawrence through Dec. 31 at Independence Studio on 3, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550. Sound of Music Media Theater presents the musical through Jan. 15, 104 E. State St., Media; 610-8910100. Tristin Lowe: Under the Influence Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition debuting works from the Philadelphia artist through Jan. 29, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. Zaha Hadid: Form in Motion Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an

exhibition of product designs by architect Hadid, who in 2004 became the first female recipient of the renowned Pritzker Architecture Prize, through March 25, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

Closing Billy Elliot: The Musical The musical about a small-town boy who wants to buck tradition to be a dancer is on stage through Nov. 27 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800. Beware the Lily Law Eastern State Penitentiary hosts a video installation on the experiences of trans prisoners through Nov. 30, 2027 Fairmount Ave.; 215-236-5111. ■

Get the scoop on Philly’s LGBT nightlife in Barcrawlr, PGN’s biweekly take on not-to-miss events

Cultural Constructs Rowan University Art Gallery presents an exhibit blurring the lines between visual art and graphic design, featuring Philadelphia’s Andrea Gaydos Landau, through Dec. 14, 201 Mullica Hill Road, Glassboro, N.J.; 856-256-4521. Gruesome Playground Injuries Theatre Exile presents a different kind of love story through Dec. 4 at Philadelphia Shakespeare Theater, 2111 Sansom St.; 215-218-4022. from page 14,

Barcrawlr Jim KileyZufelt

Written by PGN’s intrepid reporter, Jim Kiley-Zufelt BODY WORKS: AxD Gallery hosts an opening reception 6-9 p.m. Dec. 2 for “Stripworks,” an exhibition of handetched imagery of the human form on steel and bronze by artist Larry Wood, on display through Dec. 31, 265 S. 10th St. For more information, visit www.a-x-d.com or call 215-627-6250.

Online and in print every other week.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

PGN

Where are the LGBT biographies for kids? My third-grade son has been enjoying picture-book biography of an LGBT person biographies, learning things even I didn’t in which the person is openly LGBT. know about Thomas Edison and Benjamin I’ve also found two middle-grade biographies of Ellen DeGeneres, by Sherry Beck Franklin. So when I read that Frank Paprocki (Chelsea House, 2009) and Katie Kameny, one of the founding fathers of the Sharp (Lucent Books, 2010), gay-equality movement, was which describe her coming out honored Nov. 15 by a memorial service at the Cannon House and how it impacted her life. Office Building near the U.S. But that’s about it until we Capitol, I had to wonder: Why reach high-school-level mateare there almost no elemenrial. tary- and middle-school-grade Even historical fiction is rare, biographies of prominent LGBT excepting the brand-new picture people that show them as LGBT book “Operation Marriage,” by people? Cynthia Chin-Lee (Reach and The fact is, children’s books Teach, 2011), about a lesbianabout real LGBT people and headed family in California before and after the Proposition LGBT civil-rights events are 8 vote that banned marriage even scarcer than children’s Dana Rudolph for same-sex couples. The LGBT-inclusive fiction books. book shows the impact of such “The Harvey Milk Story,” by Kari Krakow (Two Lives, 2002), is the only debates on local communities, and that

Mombian

children are indeed sensitive to the special status of marriage — even though it at times seems to conflate people’s objections to unmarried parents and their objections to same-sex parents. We need more elementary- and middle school-appropriate biographies and histories that show LGBT people as LGBT — books about the key figures in the struggle for LGBT equality and about LGBT people whose contributions lie in other areas. Why? Because children deserve to know about all of the major civil-rights movements of our time. They deserve to learn, when relevant, if and how people’s significant relationships and struggles against inequality impacted their lives, no matter what the reason for their fame. And for young people who are LGBT or questioning, or who have LGBT parents, it is important to see LGBT people achieving in many areas of life. In schools, LGBT-inclusive materials not only expand students’ knowledge, but also help create a safe and welcoming environment. According to the 2009 National School Climate Survey from the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, LGBT students in schools with inclusive curricula were less likely to report hearing homophobic remarks or negative comments about gender expression, and less likely to feel unsafe or experience victimization because of their sexual orientation and gen-

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der expression. Histories, biographies and historical fiction about LGBT people will make it easier for schools to build this kind of inclusive curriculum. In California, a new law even requires schools to incorporate the contributions of openly LGBT people into history lessons. But schools are “scrambling” to figure out how to do this, according to an article in the San Diego LGBT Weekly (Oct. 21). The piece quotes Paul Boneberg, executive director at the GLBT Historical Society in San Francisco, who said, “I’m not sure how we plug it into the curriculum at the gradeschool level, if it all.” Part of the problem, the article says, is the vagueness of the legislation; part is that there are no funds for new instructional material or textbooks. But I have to think another part is that there are almost no existing resources. And if they’re having problems in California, where LGBT inclusion is required, how much more difficult will it be in other states? Even if schools or teachers want to offer inclusive materials, there are none to be found. The hurdles are high, though. LGBTinclusive fiction books are among those most banned and challenged in schools and public libraries. Nonfiction would likely fare no better. Still, that is no excuse not to try. Not every challenge attempt is successful. Another hurdle is that it is hard to write accurate, well-researched history that is also engaging and accessible, especially in a length suitable for younger children. But I find it hard to believe we don’t have the talent among the LGBT community and our allies. The question is whether publishers will step up — not only small, independent presses, but also publishing behemoths like Scholastic, which have the clout and distribution needed to get the books into schools and libraries. (Scholastic has published LGBT-inclusive fiction books before, like Arthur Levine’s picture book “Monday Is One Day.”) There are small efforts underway. The Anti-Defamation League, GLSEN and StoryCorps have recently created “Unheard Voices,” an oral history and curriculum project for middle- and high-school students (adl.org). The project contains online audio interviews (and transcripts) of nine people who “helped shape LGBT history,” along with discussion questions and historical background. It is a good start. “History is written by the victors,” goes an old saying. We may not have won full LGBT equality yet, but we have had many wins along the way. It is time that we start to write LGBT history — for all ages — and pass on some of those victories to the next generation. ■ Dana Rudolph is the founder and publisher of Mombian (www.mombian.com), a blog and resource directory for LGBT parents.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

PAGE 54

MAY 1 - 7, 2009

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2011

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