Philadelphia Gay News Vol. 34 No. 49
Honesty Integrity Professionalism
Dec. 3 - 9, 2010
FBI: Hate crimes drop in U.S., PA By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer
OFF THE RUNWAY: Jack Mackenroth (third from left), out HIV-positive former contestant on “Project Runway,” was in town Dec. 1 to participate in a local World AIDS Day observance, staged at Broad Street Ministry, with collaboration by AIDS Fund and Sapphire Fund. Mackenroth gathered with Broad Street Ministry’s Andy Greenhow (from left) and Bill Golderer, AIDS Fund executive director Robb Reichert, Sapphire Fund board member Antoine Johnson and volunteer Tika von Mehhren during the event, which featured HIV testing and education services and performances by the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus and Smoke, Lilies & Jade Arts Initiative. Mackenroth, who’s been touring the country with his campaign “Living Positive by Design” to lessen the stigma of HIV/AIDS, said it was “an honor” to be in Philly for World AIDS Day. “I have been living with HIV for almost as long as World AIDS Day has been recognized, and it is inspiring to see how far we have come, but also to remember the work left to be done,” he said. Photo: Scott A. Drake
DADT report finds little risk in repeal By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer The long-awaited Pentagon report on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was released this week, revealing that a majority of servicemembers don’t think repealing the ban will impact the military. About 55 percent of the 400,000 active and reserve servicemembers who participated in the Pentagon survey on the law said lifting the ban on openly gay servicemembers would have either no effect or a balanced mixture of positive and negative effects, with an additional 15 percent believing repeal would have only positive results. The findings were released Nov. 30, in advance of Thursday’s scheduled two-day hearing in the Senate Armed Services Committee on a measure that
would repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” The U.S. House already approved such a bill, but it has thus far failed to advance in the Senate. Advocates are pressing for the measure to come up for a vote this month before the new legislative session begins and Republicans officially take control of the House. However, reportedly all 42 Senate Republicans signed on to a letter this week pledging to filibuster any bill not related to cutting taxes and reducing spending. President Obama released a statement Tuesday night urging the Senate to move forward on repeal in the lame-duck session. “With our nation at war and so many Americans serving on the front lines, our troops and their families deserve the certainty that can only come when an act
of Congress ends this discriminatory policy once and for all,” he said. “Today I call on the Senate to act as soon as possible so I can sign this repeal into law this year and ensure that Americans who are willing to risk their lives for their country are treated fairly and equally. Our troops represent the virtues of selfless sacrifice and love of country that have enabled our freedoms. I am absolutely confident that they will adapt to this change and remain the bestled, best-trained, best-equipped fighting force the world has ever known.” Defense Secretary Robert Gates ordered the Pentagon study earlier this year to determine the possible ramifications, if any, of repeal. Army Gen. Carter F. Ham, who See REPEAL, Page 19
The Federal Bureau of Investigation released its annual hate-crimes report last week, finding that the number of bias crimes in the nation dropped last year, with Pennsylvania reporting the same trend. The 2009 Uniform Crime Report compiled data on hate crimes from more than 14,000 law-enforcement agencies nationwide, covering about 91 percent of the nation’s population. For the fifth year in a row, the FBI reported that Pennsylvania saw a drop in the number of reported hate crimes and last year recorded just five such incidents motivated by sexual orientation. National statistics Nationwide, there were 6,604 bias-motivated incidents in 2009, a decrease from 7,783 incidents the previous year. Nearly one-half of the incidents were motivated by a victim’s race, while 18.5 percent — the secondhighest group — stemmed from bias against a victim’s sexual orientation, followed by religion, ethnicity and disability.
Though current statistics don’t include them, the 2010 UCR will track hate crimes based on gender and gender identity, in accordance with the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act. In 2008, the number of sexual orientation-related crimes increased from the previous year to 1,297, while last year there was a decrease to 1,223; however, the percentage of overall crimes related to sexual orientation increased from 16.6 percent to 18.5 percent. The majority, 55.8 percent, of the crimes motivated by sexual orientation were labeled as antimale homosexual, followed by anti-homosexual, anti-female homosexual and anti-bisexual. About 1.7 percent of the crimes were fueled by anti-heterosexual bias. There were 1,482 victims targeted by a sexual-orientation bias, with 1,394 offenders. Of the 7,789 actual offenses committed during the crimes, more than half were categorized as crimes against persons, most of which were simple or aggravated assaults or intimidation. There were 1,436 total offenses See HATE CRIMES, Page 16
NOURISHING PRAYER: Guests of Philadelphia FIGHT’s annual Prayer Breakfast Dec. 1 join hands for an opening blessing. The breakfast, held at the Doubletree Hotel, was the first in a series of World AIDS Day events throughout Philadelphia Wednesday and drew about 100 participants. The event featured remarks by a diverse group of religious leaders and a keynote address by the Rev. Dr. Damone B. Jones Sr., pastor of Bible Way Baptist Church. Photo: Scott A. Drake
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Gay tourism group gets new leadership By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer The Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus, which works to make the city a top destination for LGBT travelers, came under new leadership recently. The agency’s board of directors approved both new officers and members at its annual election meeting Nov. 18 at the Loews Hotel. Carlos Estela, former treasurer of the board, will serve as the new president beginning Jan. 1, while former secretary Jimmy Contreras will take over as vice president and Joey Ly was confirmed as secretary. Estela will carry out the duties of the treasurer until the position is filled. Estela takes over for former president Tami Sortman, the board’s first president who has served six years at the helm. “I’m stepping down as president because it is important for a board and organization to have new blood injected into it after a period of time, and six years is a good amount of time,” Sortman explained. “I’m leaving the presidency in excellent hands with Carlos leading us into the next two years. He believes in the mission of the PGTC and has a true vision in where he sees the PGTC going in the next few years.” Sortman will remain a board member and said she’ll help with the transition process.
ESTELA
Estela, vice president of field marketing for Citizens Bank, served as PGTC treasurer for three years and said he’s eager to put his own talents to good use. “I think the caucus is a great opportunity to impact the experience for LGBT travelers and to be able to bring more travelers into the city,” he said. “I thought that with
my skill set, with a structural-organizational background, that I could be helpful in that effort.” Estela said he has numerous ideas to help the organization continue to build its list of successes. Fundraising is going to become an important component in the next year, and Estela plans to work with the board to create a fundraising plan that is more multi-faceted, encompassing additional grant-writing and revenue-building opportunities. The agency is also going to work to attain its 501 (c)(3) status and enhance its website. In terms of programming, Estela said he’s going to focus on expanding the reach of the Gay Sensitivity Training, an LGBTawareness-building activity for hospitality agencies in the area. “We’ve done a great job in developing the program and leveraging it with several venues and hotels,” he said. “Tami leads a lot of this and does an incredible job, so we’re going to be working together to get more structure on the training committee and to find additional venues to have training. And I definitely want to identify ways to increase our revenue through these trainings to help this program become more self-sustaining.” Estela said he also plans to forge partnerships with other hospitality-centered agencies in the region.
“We want to develop more mutually beneficial partnerships and increase the opportunities we have through our existing partners. I’m really shocked by the number of different organizations who are doing similar or complimentary work to us, and I’m not sure that we as an organization have taken full advantage of the opportunities that [situation] presents.” One of Estela’s first lines of business, however, will be networking. “I’m going to have some big shoes to step into because Tami’s done a phenomenal job and has so many connections,” he said. “I’m going to take advantage of the many relationships she’s built to help us continue our work. I think I’m going to be spending a lot of time meeting people over the next few months.” In addition to the officers, returning and new board members include, besides Sortman: Bruce Yelk, Mark (Chumley) S i n g e r, D av i d J e ff r ey s , D e m e t r i o Celaya, Greg DeShields, James Evans, Jeff Liebreich, Malcolm Lazin, Marian Conicella, Marion Joy, Martin Jakubczak, Michael Sheridan, Russell Kice, Steve Duross and Steve Rosen. The board members will serve two-year terms. ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn. com.
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DEC. 3 - 9, 2010
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PHILLY IN MOTION: About 60 youth from the area took part in an international dance performance Nov. 27 that sought to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS. The dance4life event, held at the University of the Arts’ Hamilton Hall, was coordinated by Philadelphia FIGHT’s Youth Health Empowerment Project, and made Philadelphia the first site in the United States to take part in the Dutch-based program. The show included live satellite performances from dancers in 28 countries around the world. Photo: Scott A. Drake
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News Briefing UArts AIDS benefit The University of the Arts will host a performance benefit from 7-10 p.m. Dec. 4 at Hamilton Hall, 320 S. Broad St., to raise money for AIDS Fund. The event is being organized by UArts student group Peer Support, Peer Education and will feature performances by UArts and Art Institute students, staged fashion scenes, complimentary hors d’oeuvres and raffles. Admission is $10 and $5 for students. For more information, contact D’Ontace Keyes at (773) 366-4683 or dkeyes@uarts.edu. SEASONS OF CARING: The cast of “Jersey Boys” took a break from its run at the Forrest Theatre to perform a benefit concert for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Nov. 29. “Seasons at the Four Seasons,” hosted by Jerry Blavat, drew a sold-out crowd of more than 250 and raised at least $125,000 for the agency, which funds 20 agencies in Philadelphia. The evening included a live auction, during which a guitar signed by the cast of “Jersey Boys” (pictured), as well as original Jersey Boys Frankie Valli and Bob Gaudio, went for $22,500 to B.E. and George Vangieri, who also won a lunch date with cast members at the Four Seasons. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Beating crime in the Gayborhood By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer Within three separate half-hour intervals in a two-day stretch last month, police arrested 12 men for prostitution-related offenses within the Gayborhood. Despite the arrests, however, police say the suspects are likely to return to the streets — if they haven’t already — in an area that has been plagued for years with prostitution and related detriments. When Sixth District Sgt. Dominic LaRose began with the department in 1986, he said the area now known as the Gayborhood was contending with a large population of female prostitutes. As the neighborhood changed and the LGBT community became more visible, it became a haven for transgender and gay prostitutes — who LaRose said are not as likely to be able to find as much work in other parts of the city. “It’s a lot more difficult to drive out gay prostitution because this area is such a hub of gay activity and gay bars,” he said. “It’s hard to push gay prostitutes away from the area, because this is where most of their clientele is. That’s one of the main difficulties we’ve faced in dealing with this problem.” Police say the sex workers who frequent the Gayborhood are largely not from the area, but many hail from South Philadelphia and some even come in from the suburbs or New Jersey. They represent a mixture of races but have in recent years been trending older, with very few of those arrested for prostitution under 30, LaRose said. And for many of the prostitutes, repeat run-ins with the law are expected. “I’ve never brought anyone in for their
first prostitution arrest,” said Sixth District Sgt. Daniel Taylor. Sixth District Capt. Brian Korn noted that it’s difficult to determine the actual level of prostitution happening, as it can only be measured by the number of arrests, which, until recently, could only be performed by the Citywide Vice Unit. Several Sixth District officers and one supervisor earlier this year were trained on prostitution arrests by Vice, enabling them to perform such arrests without the presence of a Vice member — an effort that had been encouraged by the Police Liaison Committee, which works to connect the police and the LGBT community. “Before now, only the Citywide Vice Unit could make prostitution arrests, and they were spread out doing cases all over the city, so we weren’t able to get the full time and attention for the Sixth District,” explained Korn. The officers participated in classroomtype instruction and also spent time on the street with the Vice Unit. LaRose, who was trained, said that, while prostitution undoubtedly plays a major role in the Gayborhood, the issue is even more prevalent in other areas, most notably along Kensington Avenue. But now that the Sixth District has the ability to handle the problem itself, Korn said the officers are better equipped to reduce prostitution in the area. “The prostitution arrests are going up because we now have officers who can make those arrests. The officers needed to be trained because you have to meet certain legal criteria in making the case for solicitation, so the officers need to know how to
make that case so the DA can prosecute,” he said.
Bike Stop benefit Staff of The Bike Stop, 206 S. Quince St., will string lights and hang tinsel at the bar’s Holiday Décor Party from 2-6 p.m. Dec. 5, while heading into the home stretch of its holiday benefit drive. Decorations will be provided, but guests can also bring their own additions. Free potluck appetizers will be served, and partygoers can contribute their own food creations to the menu. The Bike Stop will collect items for Mazzoni Center’s holiday toy and clothing drive and HIV/AIDS housing agency Calcutta House. Mazzzoni is accepting new toys, gloves, hats and scarves for children up to age 12, which will be distributed to youth affected by or infected with HIV/AIDS. Calcutta is looking for new personal-care hygiene products and twin-bedding items. Cash donations are also accepted, and items can be dropped off until Dec. 13. From 8 p.m.-midnight Dec. 10, employees from Mazzoni Center’s Care Services Department will be guest bartenders and sell baked goods to support the drive.
COMPLICATIONS & RESPONSE What complicates the issue further, however, are the difficulties police face in arresting the “johns” soliciting the prostitutes. Taylor said most of the men who pick up prostitutes in the Gayborhood fit the over40 demographic and are always in a vehicle alone, often late at night or in the earlymorning hours, sometimes circling a block six times before stopping to solicit. “We can stop them legally for motorvehicle violations, because for anything else we’d physically have to hear the conversation,” the sergeant said. “When Vice does their prostitution arrests, they’re the complainants because they’re the ones posing as the john, so we have what they actually heard. So with the johns, if they’re going to stop their vehicle in a running lane and cause a hazardous condition — sometimes they get really bad and they’ll just stop and ... shut down the roads, block passages and walkways and park on curbs — then we can get them for a motor-vehicle violation.” The impact of prostitution goes beyond stopping vehicular traffic, the police said. Taylor noted that a majority of the prostitutes who are brought in are working the streets for drug money, which can set the neighborhood on a risky spiral. “If prostitution is allowed to go on, the whole situation escalates. Once the prostitutes are out there, it’s like the broken-window theory. Next thing you know, you have the drug dealers coming in because they
The William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St., will hold a town-hall meeting from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 9. The meeting, the first in a series, is open to the LGBT community and allies. Participants can learn more about the center’s plans for the future and voice opinions on the organization’s direction. The meeting will consist of presentations by center staff followed by a question-and-answer session. Guests will have up to two minutes to pose a question or state concerns, which center staff will consider for future programming. Space is limited, so RSVP by e-mailing townhall@waygay.org or calling (215) 732-2220. ■
See IMPACT, Page 6
— Jen Colletta
Center to host town hall
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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IMPACT From Page 5 know the prostitutes will be buying drugs off of them. And then you’ve got other people coming around who use drugs. And then people start coming out of their houses and finding condoms, needles, baggies and eventually becoming victims of more serious crimes like robberies that are associated with drug activity. This is why we need to keep a steady pressure on this and stop it at the lowest level.” Just as the police department recently moved to its new Patrol Service Area format — in which districts are divided into different PSAs to which the same group of officers is stationed — LaRose said the District Attorney’s office recently made a similar change. Now, assistant district attorneys are assigned to certain divisions, where they are likely to encounter the same suspects repeatedly, which LaRose noted could encourage a more comprehensive approach to enforcement. “The ADAs are probably going to become more familiar with the same suspects who are coming through the system and we’re hoping that with that scenario, the ADAs can properly channel them
DEC. 3 - 9, 2010
through the court system,” he said. “They might be connected with drug education, drug rehabilitation, job education. There needs to be some interaction with the justice system on the other end; it can’t just be the police locking them up.” COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT The public can also do its part to contend with crime in the area, the police said. Korn remarked that the vast majority of prostitution and drug activity take place under cover of darkness, and business owners in the area should be vigilant about lighting the alleys and dark corners around establishments. Another technique is the installation of “No Loitering” signs outside businesses or homes, which give the police implied consent that the owner does not want people assembling on their property. “These posted signs make it clear to us that they don’t want this activity there,” Korn said, “and allow us to go up to them and ask if they’re the owner of the property and, if not, to move on. And if they persist, we can arrest them for a summary loitering charge.” Those who live, work and visit the area also need to take steps to make themselves less vulnerable
LOOKING SOUTH TOWARD 12TH AND SPRUCE Photo: Scott A. Drake
to crime when they’re out in the neighborhood. Korn noted that criminals scouring the Gayborhood often target people coming out of bars, as their guard may be down. “People who come out of the bars after a night of drinking usually aren’t totally aware of their surroundings. Thugs hang out outside the bars and just wait for the opportunistic person who may be impaired, walk along next to them and ask for money or something and then the next thing you know, they’re walking them down an alley and stealing from them,” Korn said.
Even when people in the area aren’t imbibing, LaRose noted, many are rendered oblivious to their surroundings by the electronic devices they’re using. LaRose performed surveillance in plainclothes in the Gayborhood recently and said he was surprised by the number of people walking on small, dark side streets talking on their phones or texting, exposing themselves to crime. “People were walking down Camac Street and other little offshoots like Latimer just on their phones with blinders on and had no idea of what was going on around them and who was around
them,” he said. “People should try to avoid those little streets as short cuts and just stick to the main streets, but either way they have to be aware of their surroundings.” Some community members had called for opening a police substation in the Gayborhood, but Korn said the department doesn’t have the manpower at the moment for such an initiative. The Sixth District is seeking to have more of its officers trained in Vice to put up a stronger front against the prostitution in the Gayborhood, and Taylor noted that citizens need to stay watchful and report any suspicious activity. “Working with the community is what it comes down to. We can’t do it by ourselves,” he said. “People need to be reporting things, calling us, seeing what we can’t see, putting up signs. All of that gives us more authority to take action.” Residents and business owners can learn more about current crime trends in the area at the PSA 3 monthly meeting, held at 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at Pennsylvania Hospital, 800 Spruce St. The next meeting is Dec. 7. ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.
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Media Trail Lesbian cadet seeks return to West Point
A PRESTIGIOUS OCCASION: Members and supporters of the House of Prestige gathered Nov. 27 at Old Pine Community Center to celebrate the organization’s 20th anniversary. Prestige was founded in Philadelphia in 1990 by Alvernian Prestige, Ali Prestige and Carlos to provide a safe outlet for youth that encourages them to attain their goals. In addition to the ballroom competition, last weekend’s Renaissance Ball featured an awards ceremony honoring Matthew Miller, Tony Revlon, Gloria Casarez, James Khan, Keona Evisu, Jay Blahnik, The SafeGuards Project and the University of Pennsylvania Research Department. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Illinois approves civil unions, guv to sign The Associated Press The Illinois Senate has approved civil unions, putting Illinois on the verge of granting official recognition to gay and lesbian couples. The measure passed 32-24 Wednesday. It now goes to Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn, a strong supporter. Civil unions would give gay couples many of the same rights as marriage — for instance, the power to make medical decisions for a seriously ill partner. But critics say this would amount to same-sex marriage under a different name. Some senators argued the Legislature shouldn’t be discussing civil unions when Illinois faces a massive budget deficit that should get lawmakers’ full attention. The Illinois House approved the measure Tuesday. Supporters presented it as a matter of basic fairness. Opponents argued it moves Illinois closer to legalizing same-sex marriages. Democrats broke into applause after the 61-52 House vote was final, giving the bill’s sponsor a standing ovation. “It’s a matter of fairness. It’s a matter of respect. It’s a matter of equality,” said the sponsor, Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago). The measure now moves to the Senate, where supporters think they have even more support. Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, said he plans to call the bill for a vote Wednesday and is optimistic it will pass.
Quinn, who visited the House floor during Tuesday evening’s debate, said he would sign the bill if lawmakers send it to his desk. Cardinal Francis George and other Catholic leaders have fought civil unions, but Quinn, who is Catholic, said he has no reservations about supporting the measure. “My religious faith animates me to support this bill. I think that people of good faith, maybe, can disagree and have different points of view,” Quinn said. With civil unions, Illinois law would treat gay and lesbian couples as if they were married. They would inherit property when a partner dies, for instance, and they could make medical decisions for one another in an emergency. Illinois law would continue to reserve the word “marriage” for unions between a man and woman. And federal law wouldn’t recognize the civil unions, meaning gay Illinois couples couldn’t file joint tax returns. Emotions ran high during the debate. Rep. Deborah Mell (D-Chicago) broke down as she discussed the possibility of her partner, Christin Baker, falling seriously ill. She said current law would bar doctors from consulting her about Baker’s condition because they have no official recognition. Many legislators mentioned former Rep. Larry McKeon, who was Illinois’ first openly gay lawmaker. Hospital administrators turned McKeon away when his longtime partner was dying, saying he had
to go home and get documents proving he had the right to visit. By the time McKeon was able to get the document and return, his partner had died. On the other side of the debate, Rep. Ron Stephens quietly insisted his opposition was based on principle, not animosity toward homosexual people. “Just call me an old-fashioned traditionalist,” the Greenville Republican said. Few lawmakers spoke against the legislation. Those who did argued civil unions are a step toward legalizing same-sex marriage, perhaps by court order. “Are you ready for gay marriage? Because that very well could be what comes out of this,” said Rep. David Reis (R-Willow Hill). Lobbyist Rick Garcia had a response for such concerns: “You are correct.” Garcia, director of public policy for the gay-rights group Equality Illinois, said he considers civil unions a poor substitute for marriage but hopes the move eventually leads toward marriage rights. Critics have also argued the legislation could hurt religious institutions, even though its official name is the “Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act.” The measure wouldn’t require churches to recognize civil unions or perform any kind of ceremony, opponents acknowledge, but they fear it would lead to other requirements, such as including samesex couples in adoption programs run by religious groups or granting benefits to employees’ partners. ■
Yahoo News reports a woman who left the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to fight for repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” says she wants to go back to the Army if the policy is lifted. Katherine Miller said that she had to leave West Point because she couldn’t keep lying about her sexual orientation. She thinks repealing the law would help the military by opening it up to more qualified candidates. Congress may take action before January. Miller grew up in Ohio and is now attending Yale University. She’s gotten a mixed reaction from her former classmates. She says the harshest criticism came after she wore her dress whites while walking the red carpet with Lady Gaga at the MTV Video Music Awards.
Apple removes antigay app Advocate.com reports Apple has removed the antigay app the Manhattan Declaration, which called for users to fight marriage equality, from its iTunes store. The decision came after thousands protested the company’s decision to approve the Manhattan Declaration for download. Apple has been known to reject a good number of gay-related mobile apps. The app, which was free to download on iTunes, included a four-question survey, where users were asked, “Do you support same-sex relationships?” If you answer “yes,” you’ll be told you replied incorrectly.
Air Force appeals lesbian’s reinstatement MSNBC.com reports the Air Force said Nov. 24 it hasn’t made a decision on whether to try to keep a lesbian flight nurse from being reinstated while it appeals a judge’s ruling to return her to her old job. U.S. District Judge Ronald Leighton in Tacoma, Wash., ruled two months ago that former Maj. Margaret Witt’s firing under DADT violated her rights, and he ordered she be given her job back as soon as she put in enough nursing hours to meet qualifications for the position. The Justice Department appealed that ruling Nov. 23 but did not seek a stay to put the judge’s order on hold. But the Air Force issued a statement Nov. 24 making clear that if Witt meets her nursing qualifications, military officials will reconsider whether to seek a stay. Witt’s lawyers with the ALCU said they’d fight any effort to keep her from resuming her duties during the appeal. ■ — Larry Nichols
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DEC. 3 - 9, 2010
12th Air changes hands By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer Longtime Gayborhood locale 12th Air Command came under the direction of a new owner last month, and he plans to update the club’s look, feel and name beginning early next year. Darryl DePiano became the official owner of the building, 254 S. 12th St., on Nov. 10, taking over for Richard McPeake, who owned the bar for 15 years. DePiano, who is gay, has lived in the Gayborhood for about nine years and owned a number of other bars and clubs throughout the region, although this will be his first LGBT-focused project. He said he was attracted to 12th Air because he wanted to breathe new life into the Gayborhood. “I’ve been going out in this neighborhood for years and it just seems like nothing’s changed, it’s a lot of the same thing,” he said. “And then this opportunity arose and the deal was right, the economy was right and the real estate was right.” McPeake, who has worked as a bar owner or manager for more than 30 years, opened 12th Air in 1995, before which the building was home to lesbian bar Hepburn’s. McPeake decided 2010 was right for retirement, but said he enjoyed his time overseeing the Gayborhood venue. “It was a pleasure for the last 15 years to work with the gay community in Philadelphia,” he
said. “I think we have one of the most progressive gay communities in the country.” DePiano said that while his venture will continue to cater to the LGBT community, it will not do so under the 12th Air moniker. “What I tell everyone is that I bought a piece of property in the Gayborhood. I didn’t buy 12th Air — I have the legal rights to the name, but it’s not going to be 12th Air anymore. I bought the building and all of the potential that that building has.” The club will operate as is until the end of the year, when DePiano plans to shut down for at least six weeks for renovations as he prepares to launch a “fresh, cutting-edge, up-to-date 2011 New York-style nightclub.” DePiano said he will take full advantage of the club’s three levels and, put into a Gayborhood context, the finished product should resemble a mixture of Woody’s, Q, Knock and Tabu. He said he plans to refurbish the deck area with a tiki-style atmosphere and to reopen the club’s restaurant. The club’s liquor license allows for outdoor café seating, which he hopes to install in warmer weather. Further down the line, DePiano said the front of the building will get a complete facelift as he plans to open it up with large, floor-toceiling windows. ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.
Neighbors oppose demolition The city’s Department of License and Inspection Review Board ruled this week that a neighborhood group has legal standing to challenge the pending demolition of a historically certified church owned by an AIDS-services organization. The Callowhill Neighborhood Association wants to preserve the Church of the Assumption, 1133 Spring Garden St., on the basis that it’s a “critical” part of Philadelphia’s history that attracts many visitors to the area. But the church’s owner, Siloam Ministries, says it no longer can afford to maintain the dilapidated church, nor can it find a buyer. In September, the Philadelphia Historical Commission granted permission for the demolition, noting it would be unreasonable to expect Siloam to continue main-
taining the structure. At the Nov. 30 hearing, assistant city solicitor Leonard F. Reuter said the association lacks standing to litigate because none of its members would be personally harmed if the demolition occurred and that the association’s service area doesn’t cover the church. But Samuel C. Stretton, an attorney for the association, disagreed, saying that many of the association’s members would be directly harmed if the church is demolished and that the boundaries of the association’s service area do encompass the church. After ruling unanimously that the neighbors have standing to litigate, the board continued the hearing until 10 a.m. Jan. 20, at 1515 Arch St., 18th floor. ■ — Timothy Cwiek
DEC. 3 - 9, 2010
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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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. 15-21. Information is courtesy of Sixth District Capt. Brian Korn; Stacy Irving, senior director, Crime Prevention Service; Center City District; the Police Liaison Committee and Midtown Village Merchants Association. ARREST: At 1:50 p.m. Nov. 15, Sixth District plainclothes officers observed a male being chased west on Chestnut Street by another male. The officers ascertained that the male being chased had committed a theft and they pursued and apprehended the male. The complainant positively identified the male as having snatched her iPhone from her hand while walking in the 1200 block of Chestnut. The 15-year-old suspect with a North Philadelphia address was charged with theft and related offenses. ARRESTS: At 5:55 p.m. Nov. 15, complainant was walking home through an alley near 11th and Spruce streets when two males grabbed him from behind, demanded his belongings and knocked him to the ground. The complainant struggled and the males fled without taking anything. Sixth District bicycle patrol Officers McQue and Nheb stopped two males in the 1200 block of St. James Street fitting the description broadcast over police radio. The complainant positively identified both males. The suspects, ages 15 and 17, both with North Philadelphia addresses, were charged with robbery and related offenses. REPORT: Between 4:30-5:30 p.m. Nov. 16, complainant was taking a nap in his apartment in the 1000 block of Pine Street and awoke to find the door forced open and a laptop and cash taken. Sixth District Officer Maiorano attempted to lift fingerprints. REPORT: Between 11 p.m. Nov. 16 and 3 p.m. Nov. 17, out-oftown complainant’s 2003 Toyota, parked in the 300 block of South Ninth Street, was stolen. REPORT: Between 12:30-3:45 p.m. Nov. 17, the donation box on the second floor of the Sketch Club, 235 S. Camac St., had a lock broken and cash stolen. There were no witnesses. However, an
unfamiliar male was seen on the floor within that timeframe. He was described as white, 5-foot-11, 170 pounds with salt-and-pepper hair and wearing a green jacket. REPORT: Between 1-3 p.m. Nov. 17, complainant’s secured bicycle was stolen from the 1100 block of Walnut Street. ARRESTS: On Nov. 18, Sixth District plainclothes officers arrested five males for obstruction of highway related to prostitution between 1:30-2 a.m. at 1200 Locust St., 1200 Spruce St., 244 S. 12th St., 261 S. 13th St. and 300 S. 13th St. ARRESTS: On Nov. 18, Sixth District plainclothes officers arrested two males for obstruction of highway related to prostitu-
tion between 7:30-8 p.m. at 1301 Lombard St. and 261 S. 13th St.
nated the scene and therefore no fingerprints were lifted.
ARRESTS: On Nov. 19, Sixth District plainclothes officers arrested five males for obstruction of highway related to prostitution between 10:30-11:05 p.m. at the following locations: 1215 Lombard St., 1301 Lombard St., 1200 Spruce St., 250 S. 12th St. and 1200 Locust St.
ARREST: At 1:45 a.m. Nov. 20, complainants had just entered their parked car in the 1200 block of Spruce Street when a male dressed as a female entered the unlocked back seat and refused to exit. One of the complainants exited the vehicle, opened the rear door and told the female to leave, at which time she grabbed complainant’s carry-bag from the seat and fled south on 12th Street. Sixth District Officer McGrath responded to the 911 call and stopped a female fitting the description in the 400 block of South 12th Street. The female was positively identified and the bag was recovered. The 22year-old alleged offender with a Norristown address was charged
ARRESTS: At 9 p.m. Nov. 19, Sixth District officers arrested a male for a summary offense on the 200 block of South 13th Street. REPORT: Between 1-3:10 a.m. Nov. 20, out-of-town complainant’s 2006 Toyota, parked in a paid lot at 1309 Locust St., had a window smashed and a GPS taken. The complainant contami-
with theft from a motor vehicle. ARRESTS: At 7:30 p.m. Nov. 20, Sixth District uniformed officers arrested a male for a summary offense on the 200 block South 12th Street. REPORT: Between 12:30-2 a.m. Nov. 21, someone entered a residence in the 1200 block of Pine Street and stole a TV and cable box from the first floor. Sixth District Officer McCauley lifted latent fingerprints. REPORT: Between midnight5:30 a.m. Nov. 21, complainant’s 2003 Mercedes, parked in the 1100 block of Spruce Street, had the soft roof cut and $10 taken. This report was received by the Differential Police Response Unit via phone. ■
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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
DEC. 3 - 9, 2010
Editorial Holding our breath This week, the Pentagon released a 266-page report, summarizing the results of the nine-month survey it conducted on the potential effects of repealing the military’s ban on openly gay servicemembers. The results? The majority of surveyed servicemembers and their spouses, 50-55 percent, said repealing the ban would have mixed or no effect; 15-20 percent said repeal would have a positive effect and the remaining 30 percent said it would have a negative effect. One of the most interesting findings the survey highlighted was that warfighting units predicted negative impact but reported positive actual experiences working with gay and lesbian personnel. For the overall armed forces, 92 percent said, when asked about their experience of working with someone they believed to be gay or lesbian, their unit’s ability to work together was very good, good or neither good nor poor. For the same question, 89 percent of Army combat arms units gave the same answers, as did 84 percent of Marine combat arms units. The report reiterated over and over that it was possible and feasible to allow gays and lesbians to serve openly with little or no impact on the military. The report seems measured and comprehensive, and has support from most of the top military brass — the main holdout being the Marines. Yet the new Marines chief, Gen. James Amos, who took over in October, said he would implement the repeal if enacted. With this report in hand, the support of the president and a repeal bill already passed in the House, it seems inevitable that the Senate will address this issue in the lame-duck session. In fact, Sen. Harry Reid had scheduled a hearing on the bill for Thursday. But here’s where partisan politicking may get in the way of progress and equal rights. On Wednesday, the Senate Republican Caucus sent a letter to Reid, informing him that “we will not agree to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to any legislative item until the Senate has acted to fund the government and we have prevented the tax increase that is currently awaiting all American taxpayers. With little time left in this Congressional session, legislative scheduling should be focused on these critical priorities.” In other words, the 42 Republican senators are refusing to work on any bills not related to tax cuts and spending reduction. While these are paramount subjects for the senators’ attention, one would hope that our leaders would be able to handle more than two tasks at a time. ■
Tell us what you think Send letters and opinion column submissions to: pgn@epgn.com; PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147; fax: (215) 925-6437. Please include a daytime phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity, style and space considerations.
Creep of the Week
D’Anne Witkowski
John McCain I wish I still had my dog-eared and tattered copy of “Conduct Unbecoming” so I could send it to Sen. John McCain. Not that he’d bother to read it. The U.S. military’s vicious antigay history with its witch-hunts and outright persecution of gay servicemembers probably isn’t of much interest to McCain. Especially since “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” solved everything. Don’t you dare try to tell him anything different. During a Nov. 28 appearance on “State of the Union” with host Candy Crowley, McCain actually had the audacity to claim that “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is an effective policy that doesn’t harm anyone, gay or straight, and the call for repeal is just politics. “There was no uprising in the military,” he said. “There were no problems in the military with ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’” “If you were gay it was a problem,” Crowley interjected. “No it wasn’t,” McCain snapped. “It’s called ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ OK? If you don’t ask them, you don’t ask somebody, and they don’t tell.” Got that? It works. End of story. Crowley tried to ask McCain something else, but he cut her off. “I understand your point of view.
I understand the point of view by the majority of the media,” he said. “But the fact is, this was a political promise made by an inexperienced president or candidate for presidency of the United States.” In other words, it’s all Obama’s fault. He’s too young to know what a good idea it is to discriminate against homos in the military. Why, when McCain was Obama’s age, he had to walk 15 miles in the snow uphill both ways in order to make a campaign promise like that. “The military is at its highest point in recruitment and retention and professionalism and capability,” McCain continued. “So to somehow allege that this policy has been damaging the military is simply false.” Tell that to the thousands of gays and lesbians who have been booted out of the military since “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was enacted. According to Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, that number is upwards of 14,000. You may recall that in 2002, amid a severe shortage of Arabicspeaking translators, the Army fired six linguists trained in Arabic simply because they were gay. Apparently McCain sees this as some kind of success. “The fact is that this system is working,” he told Crowley.
McCain repeatedly stressed that he wanted to know what the effect will be of letting gays serve openly — and that’s the operative word, “openly.” Because gays already serve in the military, they just have the weight of a government-mandated closet on their backs threatening to tumble open and ruin their careers at any moment. “I believe we need to assess the effect on the morale and battle effectiveness of those young Marines and Army people I met at forward-operating bases that are putting their lives on the line every day,” he said. Never mind that some of these “young Marines and Army people” are probably gay. McCain said he has had “a number of” military folks come up to him and say, “Look, we fight together, we sleep together, we eat together.” His choice of anecdotes illustrates one of the main concerns of homophobes: That homosexuality is contagious, and the best way to guard against it is to make sure you never know when and if it’s around you and to punish gays and lesbians who dare make such an enormous sacrifice to serve the country. ■ D’Anne Witkowski is a Detroit-based freelance writer and poet.
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
DEC. 3 - 9, 2010
Mark My Words
Mark Segal
LGBT progress measured on the small screen After more than 40 years of what has become the “new gay movement” — a more aggressive style of gay activism after Stonewall — we can see the results, but what do you think has led to our success? It could be as simple as little Stewie on the animated TV show “Family Guy.” Here’s the skinny. Before 1969, our community was invisible. There was not one gay character, not one, not even a negative character, on network TV. The closest thing we had was Liberace who claimed to be non-gay, and Paul Lynd of “Hollywood Squares.” Both were stereotypes and deeply in the closet. In newspapers, we seldom appeared unless a story could not be ignored, but it was always — let me repeat, always — negative. Shame on my fellow journalists who were certainly biased. The only stories were about suicides, arrests for molestation and raids on gay businesses. Only the negative. Magazines did lifestyle features on closeted men and showed their beautifully appointed apartments — always with the line, “Where he entertains many beautiful women.” This invisibility led to most people knowing little to nothing about us, save that we were deviants, immoral, psychotic ... you get the idea. As a result, most gay people could not come out to family and friends. Then came the fight to change media. I’m very proud that I was a pioneer in that effort. All of a sudden, we’re popping up on news and talk shows and features start appearing on the evening news. We were no longer invisible; instead, we had become an asterisk. But over time, and due to a growing community that had begun to understand the power of media, our presence grew. In short order, here are some of the highlights of those historic changes. These appearances brought LGBT people into the living rooms of Americans. For the most part, it was the first time many Americans had ever seen a real live gay person. 1972-73: Campaign against the networks. This fight brought the first agreement by networks to change their policies. It also brought the first openly gay person to appear on national TV. It was yours truly and it was on the CBS “Evening News with Walter Cronkite.” Since there was no cable TV at the time, the show got a 60 share, meaning that 60 percent of Americans watching TV at that time saw that disruption. 1974: Phil Donahue interviews the first gay
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Street Talk Will the Pentagon report clear the way for the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”?
family on a syndicated talk show. Other TV talk shows followed Donahue’s lead and invited LGBT people on for discussions. 1977: “Soap” (ABC) had the first recurring gay character in TV history, played by Billy Crystal. Late in the series it became nothing but stereotype and, finally, for ratings, his character decided to become a woman — and he became a laughable character. 1981: “Dynasty” (ABC) has the first serious dramatic gay role, with the gay son of the patriot of the oil-rich family. 1985: Media watchdog GLAAD, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, was founded. 1988: NBC broadcasts the first situation comedy revolving around gay characters, “Will and Grace.” 1990: Fox premieres “In Living Color,” the nation’s first African-American sketch comedy show. The show often had gay characters, but almost always in a stereotyped role.
Sarah Bowden graduate student Athens, Ohio
Charles Council student Roxborough
“Yes. The report is good news. It’s going to make more people care about the issue. They’ll contact their senators to make sure repeal happens — if not this year, then next year. I’m an eternal optimist.”
“No. The conservative Republicans will just trash the report. They’re very narrowminded and set in their ways. They won’t be swayed by the facts — especially if the facts are contrary to their opinion.”
Peter Hoge artist Queen Village
Ryan Tomasso sales clerk Vineland, N.J.
“Yes, I think repeal will squeak through. The report will provide momentum to help it along. Actually, I think we’re headed for a global war. And the Republicans will realize that we need everyone we can get to fight it.”
“No, I’m pessimistic. The top brass doesn’t like change. They’re too entrenched in the status quo. I think the report is nice. Eventually, it will help change the policy. But it will take another five years before the repeal goes through.”
2001: “Roseanne” has the first lesbian kiss on TV. 2002: Rosie O’Donnell comes out and, later that same year, Ellen DeGeneres’ character came out on her show. 2005: America gets its own LGBT cable TV network, Logo TV. At this point, TV networks began to regularly put gay and lesbian characters in their shows and this, along with the struggle for LGBT rights, brings LGBT people into the houses of everyday Americans. We are now being seen as who we really are (with some residual stereotyping). This creates discussion. Discussion brings education. Each year, the LGBT community grows and, every year, our appearance in the media becomes more prevalent. Today, no one makes a fuss about gay characters. Here are what I believe to be the gayest shows on TV, in no particular order: “Glee,” “Modern Family,” “Brothers & Sisters” and two in the animated category: “Family Guy” and “South Park.” Runners-up are “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report.” ■ Mark Segal is PGN publisher. He is the nation’s most-award-winning commentator in LGBT media, having most recently received the 2010 Columnist of the Year Award from the 2,000-member Suburban Newspapers of America. He can be reached at mark@epgn.com.
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Out Law Angela Giampolo Hate-crimes law: What it means to you On Oct. 28, 2009, President Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 (18 U.S.C. Section 249) into law. The act is named after two victims of bias-motivated crimes. The first, Mathew Shepard, was a student in Laramie, Wyo., who, in 1998, was tortured and murdered because of his perceived sexual orientation. The lesserknown namesake, James Byrd Jr., was dragged behind a truck and decapitated by two known white supremacists in Jasper, Texas, because he was African American. According to FBI statistics, there were 6,604 reported hatecrime incidents motivated by a single, discernable animus in 2009. Of those reported incidents, nearly half were motivated by racial bias. And while the number of reported hate crimes against individuals based on sexual orientation fell slightly to 1,223 incidents — after peaking in 2008 at 1,297 reported incidents — this accounted for the second-largest bias category at 18.5 percent. In response to the increase of hate crimes, The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act expands the 1969 United States federal hate-crime law, which extends to crimes motivated by a victim’s actual or perceived race, color, religion or national origin, to include actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. The statute further expands the hate-crimes law by removing the prerequisite that the victim be engaging in a federally protected activity, like voting or going to school, giving
federal authorities greater ability to engage in hate-crime investigations that local authorities choose not to pursue; providing $5 million per year in funding for fiscal years 2010-12 to help state and local agencies pay for investigating and prosecuting hate crimes; and requiring the FBI to track statistics on hate crimes against transgender people, as the statistics for the other groups are already tracked. The statute specifically provides funding and technical assistance to state, local and tribal jurisdictions to more effectively investigate and prosecute hate crimes. It also criminalizes willfully causing bodily injury (or attempting to do so with fire, firearm, or other dangerous weapon) when (1) the crime was committed because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion or national origin of any person; or (2) the crime was committed because of the actual or perceived religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability of any person and the crime affected interstate or foreign commerce or occurred within federal special maritime and territorial jurisdiction. The newly enacted law has three significant subsections. Subsection (a)(1) has a broader reach than existing hate-crime statutes and does not require the government to prove an additional “jurisdictional” element to obtain a conviction. It criminalizes violent acts and attempts to commit violent acts undertaken with a dangerous weapon when those acts occur because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion or national origin of any person. Subsection (a)(2) of the statute protects a wider class of victims. This subsection criminalizes acts of violence and attempts to commit violent acts undertaken with
a dangerous weapon, when motivated by the actual or perceived gender, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity of any person. It also applies to violent acts motivated by animus against those religions and national origins not considered to be “races” at the time the 13th Amendment was passed. Because this portion of the statute was passed pursuant to Congress’s Commerce Clause authority, the government must prove that the crime was in or affected interstate or foreign commerce to obtain a conviction. Subsection (a)(3) of the statute provides for prosecution of crimes committed because of any of the characteristics defined in subsections (a)(1) or (a)(2), whenever such crimes occur within the Special Maritime and Territorial Jurisdiction of the United States. It is important to note, especially in light of the pervasive bullying and harassment of LGBT children and teenagers, that the statute criminalizes only violent acts resulting in bodily injury or attempts to inflict bodily injury through the use of fire, firearms, explosive and incendiary devices or other dangerous weapons. While the statute does not criminalize threats of violence, threats to inflict physical injury may be prosecutable under other hate-crimes statutes, such as 42 U.S.C. Section 3631 or 18 U.S.C. Section 245. The Department of Justice stated that its prosecutions of hate-crime cases “have sent the strong message that criminal conduct that violates an individual’s civil rights or seeks to victimize entire communities has no place in a democratic society, wherever and whenever it occurs in the Unites States of America.” It has gone on to state that the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act “is essen-
tial because, sadly, hate crimes and the intolerance that breeds them remain all too prevent in our nation.” Attorney General Eric Holder repeatedly emphasized that the DOJ and the Civil Rights Division are “steadfastly committed” to enforcing the act. Those who opposed the passage of the statute, such as the socially conservative lobbying group Focus on the Family, argue that it infringes on the First Amendment rights of free speech and free exercise. But the statute only applies to bias-motivated crimes of violence and does not impinge on freedom of speech or religious expression in any way. The law actually contains specific protections for freedom of speech and association, including religious speech and association ensuring that religious leaders can continue to express their beliefs or serve their congregations as they see fit. If you have experienced any form of hate-based violence, time is of the essence. Start by calling 911 and report as many details about the incident as possible. File a police report and remember to be as detailed as possible. If you are injured, ask for an ambulance and go to the nearest emergency room right away. Then, most importantly, find support. No one should have to deal with the emotional and mental strain of experience a hate-crime alone. Lean on a good friend, family member or someone at a local LGBT community center or agency. Talking through the incident can help facilitate the healing process. There are anonymous services available in your local area that can assist you with dealing with the police, finding counseling and other services. In short, while the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 does not have all the enforce-
610-446-2844
ment “teeth” that it could at the moment, and constitutionality, is still being challenged by opposition to the act, awareness of its existence and its power at the federal level is growing. Moreover, the Department of Justice is working vigorously to educate communities about the new law and to prevent hate crimes from occurring in the first place. ■ Angela D. Giampolo, principal of Giampolo Law Group, maintains offices in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and specializes in LGBT law, business law, real-estate law and civil rights. Her website is www.giampololaw.com and she blogs at www.phillygaylawyer.com. Send legal questions to angela@giampololaw.com.
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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HATE CRIMES From Page 1 committed based on sexual orientation last year. About 34 percent of the offenses were classified as simple assaults, 22.6 percent as intimidation and 20.5 percent as destruction and vandalism. There was one murder and four rapes reported to have been motivated by the victims’ sexual orientation. About 31 percent of crimes that targeted someone’s sexual orientation were committed at a residence or home, while other frequent locations included the street or alley or at a school or college. Local statistics Pennsylvania had 1,299 lawenforcement agencies participating throughout the state — the highest number of any state in the country, as Pennsylvania has the highest number of law-enforce-
ment agencies in the nation. Of those agencies, just 22 reported that a hate crime occurred in their jurisdiction last year. The agencies recorded a combined 46 hate-crime incidents, a drop from 68 incidents in 2008. In Pennsylvania, there were five reported bias crimes motivated by sexual orientation, encompassing about 10.9 percent of all crimes, lower than the national average of LGBT-related crimes. Most of the state’s hate crimes, 58.7 percent, targeted a victim’s race, with 21.7 percent focused on religion and 8.7 percent on ethnicity. State police in Bucks and Chester counties and the municipality of Harrisburg each reported one bias incident motivated by sexual orientation, while Pittsburgh had two such incidents. Philadelphia reported no hate crimes related to sexual orientation. New Jersey had only 510 participating agencies, but 175 of them
DEC. 3 - 9, 2010
Total hate crimes reported by FBI in 2009: • U.S.: 6,604 • Pennsylvania: 46 Crimes against LGBs: • Total U.S.: 1,436 • Pennsylvania: 5
LGBs are more than twice as likely to be the victim of a hate crime as Jews or blacks, more than four times as likely as Muslims and 14 times more likely than Latinos. — SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER
reported a hate crime occurred within their jurisdiction, with a total of 549 bias incidents. Sexual orientation was the third most frequent motivator, with 66 such incidents, accounting for 12 percent of all bias incidents in New Jersey. Steve Glassman, chair of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, called the statistics “completely inaccurate” and said they reflect vast underreporting. Glassman said there is sparse education for police and district attorneys on what constitutes a hate crime and, in Pennsylvania, the great majority of law-enforcement agencies have five or fewer employees, which he said could impact their ability to properly report the data. “Police aren’t well-trained in this area, they’re overwhelmed with responsibilities and classifying something as a hate crime involves paperwork that they probably don’t want to get
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involved with,” Glassman said. He noted that in 2004, the FBI reported that Pennsylvania had just one record of an LGBT-related hate crime, while the Center for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights (now Equality Pennsylvania) recorded more than 75 such incidents just in Philadelphia. “There’s tremendous underreporting,” Glassman said. “These numbers are unrepresentative and inconsistent.” Other new data Although the FBI found a drop in the number of anti-LGBT hate crimes, a recent report from an agency that tracks activity by hate groups found more alarming statistics. The Southern Poverty Law Center released its Intelligence Report the same week as the UCR release, noting in the report that the FBI stats are “notoriously sketchy.” The SPLC analyzed 14 years of the FBI data, finding that about 17.4 percent of the nearly 90,000 hate-crimes offenses during that time were aimed at LGBTs, the second-largest group after Muslims, who accounted for 41 percent of the victims. The organization then related those numbers to the estimated prevalence of each demographic group in the American population, using the commonly accepted figure of 2.1 percent to account for LGBTs. This methodology allowed the SPLC to determine that LGBs are victimized at 8.3 times the expected rate, the highest of all the demographic populations included. Compared to the other groups, said the SPLC, LGBs are more than twice as likely to be the victim of a hate crime as Jews or blacks, more than four times as likely as Muslims and 14 times more likely than Latinos. Intelligence Report editor Mark Potok said the more visibility the gay community gains, the more virulent its opponents become. “As Americans become more accepting of homosexuals, the most extreme elements of the antigay movement are digging in their heels and continuing to defame gays and lesbians with falsehoods that grow more incendiary by the days,” Potok said in a statement. “The leaders of this movement may deny it, but it seems clear that their demonization of homosexuals plays a role in fomenting the violence, hatred and bullying we’re seeing.” ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.
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Friday, December 3, 8:00 PM. Shabbat Services - “College Night”. Please join us for Shabbat Services led by Evan Weiner as we welcome LGBT students from Temple University Hillel. Please join us for a sumptuous oneg (social hour) following services! Saturday, December 4, 7:00 PM. Annual Chaukah Party. We’re having a Latke Cook-Off! Bring your pre-cooked latkes and we’ll warm them up and see who wins the title of Latke Chef of 5771! We’ll have a variety of toppings. (Or bring your own toppings if it is really something only you can make!) Friday, December 24, 7:00 PM. Annual Erev Christmas Food Fress. Please join us at Charles Plaza, 234-236 North 10th Street, for one of BA’s most popular communal events. $30 per person, checks payable to “Congregation Rodeph Shalom” by December 16. Beth Ahavah and Rodeph Shalom are affiliated in spirit and share a sacred home. In July 2007 Beth Ahavah affiliated with Rodeph Shalom. Beth Ahavah retains its congregational status within the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) and proudly offers its congregation dual membership at both synagogues. Visit www.bethahavah.org for additional information, programming and directions 615 North Broad Street, Phila., PA 19123-2495 Phone: 215.923.2003 E-mail: BethAhavah@rodephshalom.org Free secure parking: Cross Spring Garden at 13th St., left at next light, Mt. Vernon St. Parking lot entrance on left.
DEC. 3 - 9, 2010
International News Thousands march in Delhi Pride An estimated 2,000 people joined a Pride festival in Delhi, India, Nov. 27 and 28. The event was the first gay festival since homosexuality was decriminalized last year. The previous two pride marches saw activists take to the streets to demand more rights, but this year’s event was more of a celebration of sexuality. Carrying rainbow flags and signs, organizers said that gay people were lining the streets to celebrating having a place in a still-conservative Indian society. Participants followed a route from Barakhamba Road to Jantar Mantar in central Delhi. One marcher, 18-year-old Pooja, said: “I do not know or care about how social acceptance has changed after the high-court verdict. But yes, I have changed. I feel more confident and I know that I am not doing anything wrong since the law of the land does not have a problem with it.”
Teen lesbian fights deportation An 18-year-old lesbian living in Wales said she fears being deported back to her home in Egypt because of the harsh conditions gay people face there. Shrouk El-Attar fled Egypt with her mother and brother when she was 15. They reside in Cardiff, where she has since come out as a lesbian and embraced Christianity over Islam. However, her mother’s request for asylum was rejected, which means El-Attar will also have to leave the country unless her own application for asylum as an individual is approved. In her application, she said she does not want to return to Egypt because of the
Larry Nichols
antigay persecution she faces if she returns. She wants to stay in Wales to go to school, but she said if she returns to Egypt, she will be forced to change her appearance and marry a man. While homosexuality is not illegal in Egypt, some gays and lesbians have been charged with and convicted of breaching public decency. The government has also been pressured to alleviate its antigay stances.
Kenyan PM: Gays should be arrested An official with Kenya’s largest gay-rights organization said there is panic among its members following remarks made by Kenya’s prime minister that homosexuals should be arrested. Prime Minister Raila Odinga made the remarks at a rally Nov. 28 in the Nairobi slum of Kibera. “Any man found engaging in sexual activities with another man should be arrested,” he said. “Even women found engaging in sexual activities will be arrested.” Odinga said that because a census showed an equal split of men and woman, there was “no need” for homosexuality. “This kind of behavior will not be tolerated in this country. Men or women found engaging in those acts deserve to be arrested and will be arrested,” he said to a cheering crowd. Odinga also decried suggestions that Kenya’s new constitution would technically legalize same-sex marriage. Critics had argued that the wording of some laws would make gay marriage and abortion legal. However, the prime minister said: “Those were lies from leaders who wanted to confuse Kenyans to reject the new law, the Constitution is very clear on
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that matter. It does not state anywhere that same-sex marriage is legal in Kenya.” Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya board member Nguru Karugu said Nov. 29 the office has received calls from concerned members, some of whom are HIV-positive and fear they will be arrested when they collect life-prolonging medicine from government clinics. Odinga’s spokesperson said the prime minister was quoted out of context. Homosexuality is illegal in the country and can be punished by up to 14 years in prison.
Australian gay MPs call for marriage Two openly gay MPs in Australia have backed calls for gay marriage. Sen. Penny Wong and Greens leader Bob Brown spoke about why gay people should be given full marriage equality. Wong, appearing at a recent party conference, introduced a motion in favor of same-sex marriage. “I will be advocating for our party to support equality including in relation to marriage or same-sex couples and I do so because I have a deeply held commitment to equality,” she said. The finance minister was criticized earlier this year for failing to show support for the issue. Meanwhile, Brown, whose party is pushing for a change in the law, said that although he strongly supports marriage equality, he has not considered getting married to partner Paul Thomas. “Paul and I registered our partnership in Tasmania surrounded by a group of friends,” he said. “It’s not something that I’ve really considered.” Prime Minister Julia Gillard plans to allow her party a conscience vote on the issue at next year’s conference. A recent poll carried out for the Greens found that 57 percent of the public favored changing the law to allow same-sex marriage. Of the 37 percent who were against the change, 16 percent were opposed and 21 percent were strongly opposed. ■ Larry Nichols can be reached at larry@epgn.com.
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Pentagon: No gays were discharged in past month By Lisa Leff The Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO — No U.S. servicemembers have been discharged for being openly gay in the month since the Defense Department adopted new rules surrounding the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, a Pentagon spokesperson said last Monday. Under new rules adopted Oct. 21, Defense Secretary Robert Gates put authority for signing off on dismissals in the hands of the three service secretaries. Before then, any commanding officer at a rank equivalent to a one-star general could discharge gay enlisted personnel under the 1993 law that prohibits gays and
REPEAL From Page 1 co-chaired the working group that undertook the study alongside Defense Department general counsel Jeh C. Johnson, said Tuesday that “the leaders of our services — all services, all components — are so good today, so experienced today, that they can effectively implement this change [and] maintain unit cohesion and a strong focus on mission accomplishment.” The report described that the “risk of repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ to overall military effectiveness is low.” While the study found that lifting the ban would have “some limited and isolated disruption to unit cohesion and retention,” it said it would not have any longterm impact on unit cohesion, one of the main arguments used by proponents of the ban. “In matters of personnel change within the military, predictions and surveys tend to overestimate negative consequences and underestimate the U.S. military’s ability to adapt and incorporate within its ranks the diversity that is reflective of American society at large,” the report stated. While just about 30 percent of the overall military forces were opposed to lifting the ban, opposition ran higher in the Marines and certain combat units, with between 40-60 percent of those forces voicing opposition to
PGN
lesbians from serving openly in uniform. Pentagon spokesperson Cynthia Smith told The Associated Press that no discharges have been approved since Oct. 21. Smith did not know if the absence of recent discharges was related to the new separation procedures. The Pentagon has not compiled monthly discharge figures for any other months this year, she said. Based on historical trends, however, it appears the change, as well as moves by Gates and President Obama to get Congress to repeal the military ban, has caused discharge rates to fall dramatically, said Aaron Belkin, executive director of Palm Center, a pro-
repeal think tank based at the University of California, Santa Barbara. “Statistically, it would be extremely unlikely if we had a month in which there were no gay discharges,” Belkin said, noting that 428 gay and lesbian service members were honorably discharged under the ban in 2009. A month without “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” discharges was welcome news, said Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. Still, the organization continues to hear daily from military personnel who are under investigation for being gay and face the possibility of being fired. “We have clients who are still
under investigation, who are still having to respond and, in fact, we have a client under investigation right now under suicide watch,” Sarvis said. “So ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ has not gone away.” Gates announced the change requiring the top civilian officials with the armed forces to personally approve “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” discharges after a federal judge in California ordered the military to immediately stop enforcing its ban on openly gay troops, declaring the 17-year-old policy unconstitutional. An appeals court subsequently froze the judge’s order until it could consider the broader constitutional issues in the case. Putting responsibility for firing
gay personnel in the hands of the three service secretaries was not designed to slow the rate of discharges, Gates said at the time. Rather, concentrating that authority was meant to ensure uniformity and care in enforcement at a time of legal uncertainty, he said in a memo outlining the new rules. Gates since has urged the Senate to repeal the military ban before a new Congress takes office in January. The Pentagon released a months-long study Nov. 30 on how lifting the gay service ban would affect the armed forces and could be carried out. The Senate was expected to hold a hearing on the repeal this week. ■
repeal. The study also noted that a high percentage of military chaplains were opposed to changing the law, with many of them calling homosexuality a “sin” and an “abomination.” The study stated, however, that lifting “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” would not require those religious leaders to modify their viewpoints. Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, called the Pentagon study “overwhelmingly positive and constructive.” Among the other major findings, the report revealed that 69 percent of the military said they have served alongside a service-
member they believed to be gay or lesbian. And the vast majority — 92 percent — of those servicemembers said their ability to work together with that individual was either “very good,” “good” or “neither good nor poor.” Seventy percent of survey respondents said having a gay or lesbian member in their immediate unit would have a positive, mixed or no effect on the unit’s ability to “work together to get the job done.” Based on the survey results, focus groups and independent research, the working group laid down a series of recommendations in the event of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
The group advised against creating separate bathrooms or sleeping quarters for openly gay and lesbian servicemembers, calling such an idea a “logistical nightmare, expensive and impossible to administer.” The report also noted that separate facilities would “stigmatize gay and lesbian servicemembers in a manner reminiscent of ‘separate but equal’ facilities for blacks prior to the 1960s.” The report also cautioned, however, that gays or lesbians should not be provided special treatment,
as “they will be accepted more readily if the military community understands that they are simply being permitted equal footing with everyone else.” In terms of the extension of benefits available to married heterosexual servicemembers, the working group suggested a further one-year study of that component, but noted that not all benefits would be available because of the Defense of Marriage Act. ■
First Ba p t i st C h u r c h SERVICES: Wednesdays Noon time Sundays 11a.m.
Rev. Dr. Peter C. Wool 17TH & SANSOM STREETS PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103 www.fbcphila1698.org
215.563.3853
www.dignityphila.org Facebook – Dignity Philadelphia Join us at St. Luke & the Epiphany Church 330 S. 13th Street, between Spruce and Pine streets, Philadelphia, PA
Sunday Mass at 7:00 p.m.
Communion in the form of Consecrated bread, wine and grape juice. Gluten-free communion available upon request.
Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.
Comedy queen gets mean Wanda Sykes makes theater debut in local ‘Annie’ production
DEC. 3 - 9, 2010
A departure from the ordinary
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
Detour
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By Larry Nichols PGN Staff Writer
Wanda Sykes has conquered many a stage in her career, including comedy clubs, concert halls, TV studios and even the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. But the Delaware Valley is about to see her do it in a way she hasn’t done before. The outspoken and openly gay comedian, writer and TV star is making her theater debut in the area as Miss Hannigan in “Annie,” at the Media Theater through Dec. 12 and again Jan. 12-16. The last time we talked to Sykes, in 2009, she had many a professional plate spinning as she was on the road doing stand up comedy and juggling two television gigs; one as Barb on “The New Adventures of Old Christine” and hosting her own weekly talk show, “The Wanda Sykes Show.” Sadly, both shows were put out to pasture soon after. With her stage debut under her belt, Sykes spoke to PGN about her new frontier in the world of theater and where her impressive career is going to take her next. PGN: Why Media for your stage debut? WS: I saw a production at the theater of “Rent” and I was really impressed. I was talking to the director and we kicked up a little friendship. He was telling me that he thought I would be a really good Miss Hannigan in “Annie.” I was telling him that I love theater and it’s the one thing I haven’t tried yet. The opportunity came up and I was like, “Why not?” I knew he would take good care of me as far as making me do the work and not half-stepping it. I’m learning a lot, so it’s been good.
DEC. 3 - 9, 2010
PGN: What makes the character of Miss Hannigan a good fit for you? WS: The alcoholism is good. That works for me. Definitely the drinking. She’s just mean and I enjoy playing that part of being mean. I’m not a mean person but it’s fun to play that role. She’s a bit of a flirt with the men that wander through the orphanage. It’s just a fun role to play.
PGN: When we think of Miss Hannigan, we automatically go to Carol Burnett in the film version. Did you think, I have to go up against Burnett’s version, when you took this role? WS: You know what? It was so funny, when I first talked to Jesse [Cline, show director], I said, “I’m thinking I should go back to watch the film and then the one with Kathy Bates.” And he begged me. He was like, “Don’t! Don’t watch any of it. I want your version of it. I don’t want you doing your version of Carol Burnett. Do your own version of Miss Hannigan and you’ll be fine.” So I didn’t go back and look at it.
PGN: What are some of your favorite plays and what would be your dream theater role? WS: Honestly, I haven’t seen enough to say my favorite. I love the music of “Rent.” A lot of them are plays that my friends are in — small plays around Los Angeles. I don’t know if you would know any of them. There’s one, “Voice Lessons,” with Laurie Metcalf and French Stewart. It’s very funny. I enjoyed that. I don’t think I seen enough to pick my favorite.
PGN Will this be your first time singing professionally? WS: Yes. Definitely. I don’t even know if I even want to say it’s professional. But that’s the thing: Miss Hannigan is a character thing. I don’t have to sound like Grace [Farrell] or Daddy Warbucks. They have ballads. I have ... it’s all attitude. It’s all character.
PGN: Being a comedian, you’re used to having 100-percent control of what happens on stage. Is it going to be a different experience for you depending on other people for a performance? WS: Definitely. It takes a lot of focus and I have to stay on book. It takes a lot of discipline to not go, “Oh man, it would be really great if I say this now.” But I want to stay true to the play. But there are enough funny lines in the play that
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
I’m satisfied delivering those the right way. I get quite a few laughs in the play. Also, it’s totally different than doing stand up. I think I’m really loving this more than TV. It brings more of the live audience, like when I do standup. When you do TV, you screw up a line, cut and you do it again. And the audience laughs because you mess up. With theater, you can’t blow it. It’s more pressure but I’m enjoying the live energy.
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PGN: Does being world famous as a
comedian make it easier or harder to branch out and do different things outside of comedy? WS: I don’t know. People like having a name, something that can sell tickets. I enjoy being funny. That’s my thing. I’m not going to go after some dramatic role. As long as it’s comedy, it won’t be too difficult if I want to get another role on stage. PGN: Do
you think people
will pick on how “Annie” is set in the Great Depression and people are broke and angry at the president ... kind of like right now? WS: I don’t see how you can’t make that comparison. It does speak on today. It’s so timely right now. Then the president comes in with The New Deal, kind of like the stimulus package. So it’s very timely. PGN: Beyond “Annie,” do you have any new projects coming up and is there more stage work in your future? WS: After “Annie” I’ll be back on the road doing standup and also I’ll be in “Ice Age 4.” I’m recording that now. PGN: We were sorry to see your talk show on Fox get canceled. If another network asked you to, would you do another talk show? WS: If it’s HBO, yeah. PGN: When you see someone like Conan O’Brien get paid millions of dollars to go away and then get another show immediately, does any part of you resent the TV industry? WS: I can’t be angry at what somebody else does or gets. Then I would never be able to leave my house. I would just be pissed all the time and not be able to function. Hey, good for Conan. He’s the luckiest guy to get fired ever. PGN: Have we seen the last of [“Wanda Sykes Show” co-host and drag performer] Porsche on network TV? WS: I hope not. I saw Porsche three or four weeks ago in New York. I went to check out her show in the city. PGN: When you first started out in comedy, did you think you would become a voice in politics and get invited to the White House? WS: When I first started out, I said I wanted to be a funny comedian. Just bust my butt and try to be the best that I can be. And that’s been my singular goal and that’s what has gotten me everything else. So, am I surprised that it’s gotten me this far? I don’t know about surprised but I knew that by having a goal and working toward it, I would be successful.
Wanda Sykes stars in “Annie” through Dec. 12 and Jan. 12-16 at Media Theater, 104 E. State St., Media. For more information or tickets, visit www. mediatheatre.org, www.wandasykes.com or call (610) 891-0100. ■ Larry Nichols can be reached at larry@epgn.com.
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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
DEC. 3 - 9, 2010
CDs
Larry Nichols
Nicki Minaj Pink Friday Universal Motown With “Pink Friday,” Minaj has all the tools at her disposal to graduate from mixtape hype to global fame: A-list producers (Swizz Beats, will.i.am, etc.), superstar guests (Rihanna, Eminem, Kanye West, Drake), industry buzz and a major label backing it up. In all probability, “Pink Friday” will be a smash and, if you are under age 24, you’ll love this album. But for all the hype and obvious money spent on this project, listeners should be getting and demanding more. To Minaj’s credit, she’s got a palpable sense of style, swagger and star power. She’s at her best when she gets down and dirty lyrically on tracks like the pleasantly nasty “Did It On’Em” and the dark, synthy “Here I Am.” On the surface the album is good, but the more you dig into it, the more the seams show. Minaj as a performer never outshines her producers and guest stars. Drake gives a more compelling performance on the catchy “Moment 4 Life.” Minaj can’t match Eminem’s intensity on “Roman’s Revenge.” And on a side note, for an artist that early on claimed to be bisexual (she’s since backed off that claim) and that she embraces the LGBT community, having Eminem drop the f-bomb on your album is bad form. Minaj also doesn’t transcend her obvious influences, as her sound and image come across as a Frankenstein monster made of pieces of Missy Elliot and Rihanna, with a dash of Lil’ Kim. And for the record, Missy did edgy, pop-influenced hip-hop a lot better. “Pink Friday” is just the sum of its shiny, expensive parts. No more, no less. John Grant Queen of Denmark Bella Union John Grant has been called a “more emotionally raw Rufus Wainwright.”
That’s an understatement. With his solo debut, the openly gay former Czars frontman delivers the naked intimacy people associate with Wainwright, but with impressive displays of bombast to keep listeners on their toes. Also, with songs such as “Jesus Hates Faggots,” Grant opens up about his personal battle to find acceptance. In less-capable hands, such material could be maudlin, but Grant gives the song an upbeat pop edge that would make Elton John beam with pride. Throughout the album, Grant alternates between lush, textured balladry (“Where Dreams Go To Die” and “It’s Easier”) and fun, quirky pop (“Chicken Bones” and “Silver Platter Club”). But Grant is far more exciting when he turns it up to 11 on dynamic songs like the title track and “Sigourney Weaver.” Long live the queen. Bo Burnham Words Words Words Comedy Central Records Normally, we hate mixing comedy and music. No, really. We normally really HATE comedic music. Burnham is making us reconsider our stance. A whirling dervish mash-up of Ben Folds, Monty Python and Mitch Hedberg, Burnham commits to his irreverent shtick while playing piano or guitar, and he is just too crazy and good to hate on. The two studio tracks that open the album, the title track and “OH BO,” are poppy and inappropriately funny. And they’ll have you backing up every 30 seconds thinking to yourself, Did he really just say what I think he said? His lyrical flow is amazing and his jokes fly fast and furious on the remaining tracks, which were recorded in front of a live audience. Even the toughest curmudgeons will be smiling begrudgingly at some point during this album. Why resist? ■ Larry Nichols can be reached at larry@epgn.com.
DEC. 3 - 9, 2010
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Professional Portraits Graduate of Temple University School of Law. Former judicial clerk, Superior Court of Pennsylvania. Successful litigant in civil-rights cases. Speaker and author. These are some of the accomplishments of Kristine W. Holt. A licensed member of the Pennsylvania and New Jersey bars, Holt has a thriving practice that covers everything from family law and estate planning to business matters to civil-rights issues. As she puts it, she is “a member of the community, serving the community” — and then some. PGN: Where are you originally from? KH: North central, Northwest Pennsylvania. The deep sticks. Republican country. PGN: Wasn’t it James Carville who said that Pennsylvania is Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with Alabama in between? KH: Definitely. Before I moved to Philadelphia, I lived in Venango County. It was very small; I think Fishtown has more people than in that whole county. There was only one judge and he was the chair of the Republican Party, so that gives you an idea of what it was like up there. PGN: Were you an only child? KH: No, I was the oldest of three. I had two younger sisters. PGN: What did your parents do? KH: My dad was a schoolteacher and, for a brief time, he was a principal. We moved to Delaware so that he could pursue his doctorate degree, but soon after he got the job he decided he didn’t care for it. There was a lot of BS, and he finally realized that his heart was in teaching, so he went back to that. My mother did sales and retail and, on occasion, did administrative work at the school. They also owned a clothing shop in downtown Franklin, which was the county seat of Venango until a fortuitous fire took out the whole building. PGN: What were you like as a kid? KH: Just a typical kid. PGN: What was your favorite TV show? KH: It’s funny that you asked that: One of my friends was doing a thing online where instead of posting your picture on Facebook, you post a picture of your favorite cartoon character, so I was just thinking about it this morning. There was a television show on channel 7, out of Buffalo, called “Rocketship 7.” It was just a guy with a second guy in a cardboard box with dryer hoses sticking out acting as a robot. Very chintzy but fun. You really got to use your imagination. Every morning we’d wake up and go sit on the heat register, turn on our old black-and-white TV and watch it. PGN: And holiday traditions?
DEC. 3 - 9, 2010
Suzi Nash
KH: My mom’s family is very close — all Irish Catholic from the Indiana area. And we’d all spend the holidays with my aunt and cousins and have a big dinner. Because it was the beginning of the hunting season, we’d have a lot to eat. [Laughs.] There’s great hunting in Venango County because there are hardly any people there. I did some hunting with my dad, but I didn’t care for the cold at the time. Then the parents got older and started going to Florida, but now I have my own kids, so we’ve started our own traditions. This year we went up to Northwest Pennsylvania where two of my kids and grandkids live. We had a big dinner and all went out hunting. My son got me back into it. It’s easier now that we’ve got thermal underwear and hand warmers, etc. The prospect of a freezer full of meat is good incentive too.
a couple of kids. Working in child services was a sucky job, so I left that as soon as I could. PGN: Any memorable moments? KH: Just a lot of fathers abusing stepdaughters. It seemed to be the dominant theme. After I left that, I worked for a quasi-government agency doing job training. It was much more rewarding than knocking on people’s doors to tell them they had a problem. PGN: Did you marry the person you had the kids with? KH: [Chuckles.] Uh, toward the end we did! We had two kids and a stepdaughter. And now I have two grandkids.
PGN: Where did you go to school? KH: I did a year at Indiana University but I left because I was doing a lot of other things. I worked as a musician in a bunch of nightclub bands, doing rock and cover music. I’d decided I wanted to be a rock-and-roll star instead of a chemistry teacher. I did pretty well with that, but could see that I’d always be a journeyman. We could fill small halls, but would never be the ones packing the stadiums. It was a living but at 25, I went back and finished my undergrad degree. I went to Clarion University and got a degree in psychology. PGN: What instrument did you play? KH: Primarily the electric bass. In band, I played the trombone and tuba — always the big instruments, including the upright bass. I paid my way through undergrad by playing nightclubs. After I graduated, I went out touring for a few years, but I eventually got a job with the city back at home. I needed something with benefits, so I began to work for Child Protective Services doing abuse investigations.
take since it was funded by federal money. I found an attorney who was willing to help me. In order to defray some of the costs, I did a lot of my own legal research. The attorney told me that I did a good job and should think about going into law as a career. So I moved to Philadelphia in 1995 and went to Temple University to study law. PGN: It sounds like that Hillary Swank movie [“Conviction”] where she plays a woman whose brother is wrongly imprisoned. She spends nearly two decades putting herself through law school so she can defend him. KH: Wow. I’m not familiar with that. While I was in Venango, I had been working for a government agency and was involved in local politics, so I decided to run for office. I ran for county commissioner and did OK. PGN: You ran as an openly trans person? KH: Yes, and I came in fourth out of seven candidates. It was fun: I guess it was my 15 minutes of fame. PGN: Pretty good. What came next? KH: Temple and, after that, I worked for a year in Wilkes-Barre before starting my practice in Philly.
KRISTINE W. HOLT Photo: Suzi Nash
PGN: What made you get into that? KH: That’s about all you could do with a psychology degree — social work.
PGN: Tell me about coming out. KH: Well, as I alluded to before, I went into psychology to find out what was going on in my head. While I was working for the job-training agency, I did some major restructuring in my life. My wife and I separated and I quit drinking, which was a major restructure, and came face to face with some of my issues and decided to do something about them. I ended up getting fired. That was in 1992 and I had started transitioning in July.
PGN: Why psychology? Were you always curious about other people? KH: [Laughs.] Not really! I was curious about myself. Which obviously was a running theme in my life: Why am I the way I am? After a few years working for the county, I got into a relationship and we had
PGN: And the firing was because of the transitioning? KH: Unequivocally, definitely, without a doubt. But at that time, I didn’t think there was anything I could do about it. At least that’s what they told me, but I started looking up human-relations actions that I could
PGN: What are your top concerns? KH: I primarily do bankruptcy and family stuff, everything from marital issues to child-support issues. I get a lot of people in domestic partnerships wanting to get wills and power-of-attorney documents drawn up. Employment can be an issue for a lot of LGBT people, so a lot opt to go into business for themselves. I do incorporations, trademark registration, etc., if necessary. Property disputes can get interesting too. If you’re married, it’s pretty clear-cut: You file for divorce and there are certain rules that apply. But without the benefit of a recognized relationship, there’s not a recognized way of dissolving it. You usually have to file an action to partition the property and figure it out from there. There’s a lot involved, so I get a lot of that type of work. PGN: You don’t just send them to Judge Judy with a handful of receipts? KH: She’d probably just throw us all out! PGN: One of the things I read on your website was an article you’d written about military policy back in 1998. It stated, “It should also be noted that no purported ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy exists for transgender persons in the military. When a court is asked to rule on the discharge of a transgender serviceperson, it uses rationale tailored specifically to the transgender condition, as distinct from the reasoning used against gay or lesbian servicepeople.” KH: Yeah, well think about it. How do
DEC. 3 - 9, 2010
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
you not “tell”? If you’re transitioning, it’s pretty obvious. Keep in mind that was written 12 years ago; some things may have changed since then. PGN: The article also stated that popular trans-myth has it that one of the reasons the military began placing women in more combat positions during the Gulf War was because one particular hot-shot fighter pilot had undergone transition and become a woman; her talents were so desired that top brass was willing to change the rules regarding women’s duties in order to have her return. Now that would make a great Hillary Swank movie! But I digress. What do you do away from work? KH: I play music, we farm, my partner and I. We have a four-acre farm in New Jersey and a greenhouse that’s about 13,000 square feet. That’s my partner’s business. She has a garden center in Voorhees. So of course I help, hanging baskets and potting plants. PGN: Something great about her? KH: Well, she loves me! And I love her. We really click on a lot of different levels. We got a civil union in New Jersey. PGN: The law is fuzzy with that, isn’t it? I remember reading a case about a person who’d transitioned male-to-female and because “he” married a female-born
Q Puzzle Ticklish Situation Across 1. Bi 5. Todd or Kevin 11. British sitcom “Ab ___ ” 14. Marathon, for one 15. Weatherspoon of the WNBA 16. Hosp. ward 17. Jane Spahr’s last word, perhaps 18. “Desert ___ “ 19. Toothy swimmer
woman, they were considered legally married as opposed to doing a civil union, even though she was now legally female. KH: Yeah, it’s unclear. If you have a married man and a woman and one of them transitions, what happens to the marriage? Are they now a legal same-sex marriage? In most cases, unless they purposely dissolve the marriage, it stays on the books. It’s one of those weird limbo states. In law, nothing goes away automatically. I’ve had a number of clients discover that the hard way. They’ll be responsible for child support and just assume that when a child turns 18, it’s over, but the state keeps deducting until notified otherwise. I just tell people, treat it as a valid marriage until an insurance company or someone decides to challenge it. PGN: What was the hardest thing about starting your practice? KH: Getting through the first year, building a clientele. I’d saved some money and also got a nice settlement in the jobtraining case, so that helped me weather through until cash started coming through the other side of the pipeline. PGN: Random questions: a time when you were terrified? KH: [Laughs.] Oh boy, I don’t know. Having stage fright? Either actually on stage with an instrument or in a court-
20. A danceuse with lots of ___ ... 22. QB successes 23. Math subj. 24. Caesar’s arts 25. Downy wader 27. “Twilight of the Golds” writer Jonathan 29. Pink diamond, for one 32. Maria’s “Do-___” 33. Take care of 34. ... at first refused to lend any to her friend the ___ ... 36. Incidental matter 38. ... but after a long discussion ___ (with 53-Across) 41. Charitable donations
44. “Uh-oh!” to Shelley 45. Mineo of movies 46. Nice buns, e.g.? 48. Lets out 50. Dam agcy. 51. R. Mapplethorpe supporter 52. Winery container 53. See 38-Across 58. Old Spanish queen 59. James Cameron film of 2009 60. State on the Seine 61. Signal that goes either way 62. Figure skater Doug 63. Razor handle? 64. Take a crack at 65. Tickle pink 66. They cover your public hair
Down 1. PLO VIP 2. Robert Goulet musical 3. Washington bar 4. Relief of Lincoln 5. Maupin’s “Significant ___ ” 6. Looks at a hottie in a bar 7. Like Cammermeyer’s fatigues 8. Decorated man, maybe 9. Nick was his
room. No, there was a time when I was terrified. My daughter was coming home from a friend’s house and got hit by a car. She was in first grade, I believe. It was two days before Christmas. A neighbor came to the door yelling, “Your daughter’s been hit by a car!” I looked out and she was lying in the street ... I ran out and laid in the road with her. [Tears up.] She was trying to get up and was obviously having difficulty doing it. She kept saying, “I just want to go home ... ” and I kept telling her, “Not yet, not yet.” I put my arms around her and waited for the ambulance to come. [Long pause.] That was awful: not knowing how badly she was hurt or if she’d be OK. She was in a body cast for four months.
PAGE 25
Hero” with John Lennon.
PGN: So the family was accepting? KH: Yes, well the kids were very young primarily and I give my ex credit that there was no animosity generated after we separated.
PGN: A great memory with the kids? KH: When I was first in Philly, I lived in small apartment in Fishtown. The kids would visit me and I would take them on day trips. We’d go down to the shore since they’d never seen the ocean before, out to Hershey Park, New York, D.C., etc. When we went to New York, we went to the top of the World Trade Center and later, after the 9/11 incident, my daughter said, “Wow, it’s a good thing we went there and took pictures!” My daughter was also a huge Kurt Cobain fan. I happened to be in Seattle at the time he committed suicide so I bought up all the local newspapers and all the memorabilia I could get. She took it to class and told me she was the most popular kid in school that week. I have a whole slew of things like that. There were bad times too; as a parent, you always have regrets where you say, “Gee, I wished I hadn’t done that” and sometimes it’s important things and sometimes it’s just the smallest miniscule thing you didn’t even think much of that was important to your kid. But, all in all, I have a lifetime of good memories with them and more to come. ■
PGN: If you could do a duet with someone, who would you choose? KH: Good Lord. I’d sing “Working Class
To suggest a community member for “Professional Portraits,” write to portraits05@aol.com.
PGN: I feel like Barbara Walters, making you cry! So happy times, what’s the best gift you’ve ever received? KH: The love of family and friends. I’m very lucky.
master 10. Stroke with an upright stick 11. Fruit source 12. Campus scene 13. Catch your lover with another, perhaps 21. Submit to the teacher? 26. Meager bowlfuls in “Oliver!” 28. Be firm 29. Cook on the barbecue 30. Not hard to get in bed 31. Classic Brit cars 34. Oscar ___ Renta 35. Deep-space energy source 37. Article of Marlene Dietrich 38. Field gathering 39. She loved Franklin and Lorena 40. Marion Zimmer Bradley’s genre 42. Barber’s partner 43. Flight attendant 46 Strongly opposed 47. Guys with three ho’s? 49. Home for alligators 50. Bangkok natives 54. Shape of George Frenn’s track 55. Part of APR 56. Jazz singer James 57. Stud poker demand
SOLUTION, Page 36
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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DEC. 3 - 9, 2010
It’s been 35 years ...
2011 1976
PGN
1986
1996
2006
It’s time for a facelift.
DEC. 3 - 9, 2010
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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Folk singer bringing friends to Philly By Larry Nichols PGN Staff Writer
In the midst of performances in oth the U.S. and Europe to suport her latest album, “A Fine Set f Fools,” out singer-songwriter Nicole Reynolds is returning to he area Dec. 10 for a performance t Tin Angel. This show promises o be extra special as Reynolds bringing along three fellow ut musiians — iz Kelly, Andrea Alseri and ulia Read — as both er openng acts and er backing and. And by he way, if ou haven’t i c k e d p one of eynolds’ lbums yet, un out and et one, ny one, ght now. hey are quite extraordinary. Anyway, the always-on-themove folk singer phoned in durng her travels to talk to PGN bout her upcoming show and her dventures both at home and on he road.
GN: How did your upcoming hows with Kelly, Alseri and ead come together? R: For the past couple of years, ve been opening for Chris ureka on the East Coast and in he Midwest. Liz, Andrea and ulia all have played in Chris’ and and we’ve become good iends on the road. We all are ans of each other’s solo music nd musicianship, so it seemed ind of inevitable that we’d play ome shows together at some oint. The show at the Tin Angel ill be our first show together nd then, on Dec. 11, we will be laying in New York City at the rash Bar.
GN: Is it common for you to ring the other acts on the show nto your set? R: It is uncommon for me to ave band members who are ongwriters themselves, and in his case, Julia, Liz and Andrea ll write their own songs, all ery different styles, and are all
extremely talented. PGN: Creatively, what are some of the similarities and differences between your style and the styles of Liz, Andrea and Julia? NR: We’re all so different. I’m probably the folkiest: I’ve always admired union, labor and protest songs, so sometimes that comes out in my writing. Liz Kelly, I would probably consider more of
a pop/rock musician. She’s one of those people who can pick up any instrument and immediately play any song. She also plays drums for Bitch and has co-produced some of Bitch’s recorded music. Julia plays the fiddle and accompanies herself while she sings these crazy little gems of songs — some of the most unique and intriguing music I’ve ever heard. Andrea is a fantastic guitarist and can play many styles including percussive fret tapping on acoustic as well as coming up with some great electric lead parts. PGN: You recently did some shows overseas with Chris Pureka. How did those shows go? NR: Chris and I played some shows in Germany and Holland, and they went pretty well. Mostly it was just really great to be traveling and playing with a good friend. We have a lot of fun together. We called this one the “sing for your supper tour.” PGN: What was the biggest difference between touring in Europe and in the U.S.? NR: I think in general it seems like people in Europe tend to go to more shows. Maybe having
more public transportation makes it easier to get out and about. PGN: What would you say is the biggest change, if any, you’ve had as an artist since putting out your first album? NR: When I wrote my first album, I was living in Center City Philly in a little brownstone. I think that my surroundings and the relationship I was in at the time definitely influenced my writing in a pretty big way. For the next three years, I lived and worked on an organic sheep farm near Pittsburgh. I wrote three more albums while living there on the farm. Now, I’m back NICOLE REYNOLDS in the area building a house across the bridge in Jericho, N.J., about 20 minutes from Philly. These have all been really different lifestyles and I’ve learned a ton with each experience, and all are definitely a big part of my music. PGN: Are you currently working on any new music and, if so, when do you think you’ll have a new album out? NR: Right now, I’m building the roof on my house. By the end of the day, I’m too beat to do much of anything. I have a feeling, though, once I get my roof on, I’ll be warmer and dryer and will have more time and energy to write again. I released one album every year for the past four years, so it’s nice to give myself a little break. I have a feeling that when I come back to it, I’ll have a lot of new thoughts and ideas to put into my songs. Nicole Reynolds performs with Liz Kelly, Andrea Alseri and Julia Read at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10 at Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St. For more information, visit www. nicolereynoldsmusic.com or call (215) 928-0770. ■ Larry Nichols can be reached at larry@epgn.com.
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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
DEC. 3 - 9, 2010
Best-sellers Information is courtesy of Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; (215) 923-2960; www.giovannisroom.com. Ten-percent off most hardcover in-store sales. DVDs Women’s 1. “And Then Came Lola,” directed by Ellen Seidler and Megan Siler (2009, 70 min., $24.95). This wonderfully fun and sexy lesbian romp takes a tour through the streets of San Francisco as photographer Lola races to get to a crucial meeting on time. 2. “Wanda Sykes: I’ma Be Me,” starring Wanda Sykes (2009, 60 min., $19.95). Dominating everything from television sitcoms to feature films, this comedian extraordinaire has returned in her second solo comedy special. 3. “Murder.com,” directed by Rex Piano (85 min., $24.98). A thriller about a woman who learns about her sister’s secret life when she begins investigating her murder. 4. “I Can’t Think Straight,” directed by Shamin Sarif (2008, 80 min., $24.95). Two women who fall in love on the eve of one woman’s wedding. 5. “Tru Loved,” directed by Stewart Wade (2008, $24.95). When her lesbian moms decide to move the family to a conservative suburban town, Tru’s life becomes complicated by sexual politics, closed minds and closeted friends. 6. “Girl Seeks Girl/Chica Busca Chica,” directed by Sonia Sebastian (2007, 153 min., $24.95). This hot and hilarious soap opera follows the mixedup love lives of a group of sexy Madrid lesbians. Men’s 1. “BearCity,” directed by Doug Langway (2010, 99 min., $19.99). Follows a tight-knit pack of friends experiencing comical mishaps and emotionally sweet yet lusty romantic encounters. 2. “Plan B,” directed by Marco Berger (2009, 103 min., $19.95). Bruno is dumped by his girlfriend; behind a calm, indifferent expression, his mind plans a cold, sweet vengeance: He befriends her new boyfriend, Pablo. English subtitles. 3. “The String (Le Fil),” directed by Mehdi ben Atta (2010, 90 min., $19.95). Class, cultural and sexual differences are explored
in this romantic gay drama set in sun-splashed Tunisia. 4. “Ice Blues: A Donald Strachey Mystery,” directed by Ron Oliver (2008, 84 min., $24.95). Our P.I. takes on the case of his life and gets caught in a high-stakes whirlwind of deceit and murder when his partner asks him to uncover the source of an anonymous multi-million-dollar donation to a youth center. 5. “Rag Tag,” directed by Adaora Nwandu (2009, 98 min., $29.95). A moving story of two childhood friends who, when they meet again as adults, realize that they feel more than friendship for each other. However, many obstacles challenge their deep love. 6. “Clapham Junction,” directed by Adrian Shergold (2007, 120 min., $24.95). After another man falls victim to a violent gay-bashing incident, the homosexual community of Clapham Junction comes together to bring the assailants to justice. Books Men’s 1. “Mary Ann in Autumn: A Tales of the City Novel,” by Armistead Maupin (Harper, 304 pp., $25.99 hb, less 10 percent in the store). Twenty years have passed since Mary Ann Singleton left her husband and child in San Francisco to pursue her dream of a television career in New York City. Now a pair of personal calamities have driven her back to the city of her youth and into the arms of her oldest friend, Michael “Mouse” Tolliver, a gardener happily ensconced with his much-younger husband. 2. “Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary,” by David Sedaris and illustrated by Ian Falconer (Little, Brown, 159 pp., $21.99, less 10 percent in the store). The characters may not be human, but the situations in these stories bear an uncanny resemblance to the insanity of everyday life. 3. “Into the Stars,” by Thomas James (Lulu, $15.99 pb). “Is it better to have loved and lost or to have never loved at all? Let me explain. I just moved to New York City with my daughter, Arianna, to direct a play I had written to
DEC. 3 - 9, 2010
get over my ex, Derek.” 4. “Me,” by Ricky Martin (Penguin, 292 pp., $26.95 hb, less 10 percent in the store). 5. “Murder on Camac,” by Joseph R. G. DeMarco (Lethe, 396 pp., $18 pb). Gunned down in the Center City street, author Helmut Brandt’s life ebbs away and puts P.I. Marco Fontana on a collision course with the church and local community. Dueling with the Catholic hierarchy and combing through seedy gay hangouts, Fontana encounters dangerous characters and powerful forces intent on stopping him. 6. “Role Models,” by John Waters (Farrar Straus Giroux, 304 pp., $25 hb, less 10 percent in the store). A self-portrait told through intimate literary profiles of the author’s favorite personalities — some famous, some unknown, some criminal, some surprisingly middle-of-the-road — who helped the author form his own brand of neurotic happiness. 7. “Secret Historian: The Life and Times of Samuel Steward, Professor, Tattoo Artist and Sexual Renegade,” by Justin Spring (Farrar Straus Grioux, 478 pp., $32.50 hb less 10 percent in the store). Drawn from the secret, never-before-seen diaries, journals and sexual records of the novelist, poet and university professor Samuel M. Steward, this work is a sensational reconstruction of one of the more extraordinary hidden lives of the 20th century. Trans 1. “Butch Is a Noun,” by S. Bear Bergman (Arsenal Pulp, 192 pp., $18.95 pb). On what it means to be butch. Second edition. 2. “Gender Outlaws: The Next Generation,” edited by Kate Bornstein and S. Bear Bergman (Seal, 302 pp., $16.95 pb). Part coming-of-age story, part mindaltering manifesto on gender and sexuality, coming directly to you from the life experiences of a transsexual woman. 3. “From the Inside Out: Radical Gender Transformation, FTM and Beyond,” by Morty Diamond (Manic D, 168 pp., $13.95 pb). Born female yet little identified with that gender, these transgender, genderqueer, third gender and gender-variant writers offer personal insights into changing gender identity, dating, workplace
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
issues and more. 4. “Feeling Wrong in Your Own Body: Understanding What It Means to Be Transgender,” by Jaime A. Seba (Mason Crest, 64 pp., $9.95 pb). Based on the personal experiences of the men and women who’ve taken steps to transition. Women’s 1. “iWant: My Journey from Addiction and Overconsumption to a Simpler, Honest Life,” by Jane Velez-Mitchell (Health Communications, 288 pp., $14.95 new in pb). Investigative journalist and author Velez-Mitchell traces her unique quest for an addiction-free life over the course of many years, detailing her struggles to stop drinking, smoking, overeating and overworking. Coming out helped a lot. 2. “Missed Her,” by Ivan E. Coyote (Arsenal Pulp, 142 pp., $16.95 pb). Beautiful, funny stories about growing up a lesbian butch in the Canadian north have attracted big audiences whether gay, straight or otherwise. Coyote’s fifth story collection. 3. “Hitching to Nirvana: A Novel, “ by Janet Mason (Createspace, 298 pp., $11.95 pb). When Adrianne hits turbulence in midlife — her long-term relationship hanging by a thread, a new love interest beckoning, her job soon to be nonexistent — she finds that she must return to the past before she can go on. 4. “The Butterfly Moments,” by S. Renee Bess (Regal Crest, 208 pp., $16.95 pb). After a 20-plus year career as a parole officer in Philadelphia, Alana Blue is more than ready to leave her job and move on to more rewarding work. 5. “Swan: Poems and Prose Poems,” by Mary Oliver (Beacon, 96 pp., $23 hb, less 10 percent in the store). “Joy is not made to be a crumb,” writes Mary Oliver, and certainly joy abounds in her new book of verse. 6. “Staying in the Game,” by Nann Dunne (Blue Feather, 196 pp., $14.50 pb). A serial killer has every college in the area on tenterhooks. When Shelley Brinton switches to Spofford College and acts mysteriously, her softball teammates jump to unnerving conclusions. 7. “Desire by Starlight,” by Radclyffe (Bold Strokes, 261 pp., $16.95 pb). Best-selling romance author Jenna Hardy, aka Cassandra Hart, sprints through life from one appearance to the next, always on deadline, always in demand, always on the arm of a different beautiful woman. ■
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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
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Getting a jump on holiday celebrations Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts The University of Pennsylvania’s A n n e n b e rg C e n t e r f o r t h e Performing Arts is planning a host of holiday offerings from around the world in the coming weeks to get the Philadelphia area into the seasonal spirit. Back by popular demand after a sold-out show last year, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band will return with its slate of holiday classics, with a twist of ragtime, blues and jazz, at 8 p.m. Dec. 10. And Irish culture will take the stage at 8 p.m. Dec. 11 with Slide performing “Irish Christmas Celebration.” Swiss troupe Mummenschanz, which relies on creative visual
displays to tell humorous and thought-provoking stories, returns to Philadelphia Dec. 16-19 after a 10-year absence to perform “3 x 11,” a retrospective piece that features the troupe’s most imaginative characters from over the years, as well as some new material. Mummenschanz’s performance is part of Annenberg and Dance Affiliates’ Dance Celebration, as is “Remember Me” by Parsons Dance, a rock-dance opera collaboration with the East Village Opera Company that wraps Dec. 4. For more information or to purchase tickets for any of the shows, visit www.AnnenbergCenter.org or call (215) 898-3900. Tickets can also be purchased at the Annenberg box office at 3680 Walnut St. The Art Shop at Moore
The Art Shop at Moore College of Art and Design, 20th Street and the Parkway, sells the unique creations of the artists of Moore. The shop is comprised of current students getting their feet wet in the business of art and emerging alumnae trying to make a name for themselves here in Philadelphia. They sell handmade crafts, apparel, jewelry, paintings, prints, ceramics and ornaments. Even the Moore Gear apparel is alumnaemade. Support local artists at The Art Shop at Moore College. For more information, call (215) 965-8586 or e-mail theartshop@moore.edu. Benjamin Lovell Shoes
In 1988, Benjamin Lovell opened his first shoe store in Rehoboth Beach, but by 1991 he had his sights set on Philadelphia. Today, there are Benjamin Lovell Shoes locations on South Street, 18th Street near Rittenhouse, Main Street in Manayunk, plus locations in Haddonfield, N.J., Chadds Ford and Baltimore, Md. Specializing in “Style and Comfort,” Benjamin Lovell Shoes offers styles from UGG, Tsubo, Cole Haan, Dansko, Clarks and many others. This holiday, give the gift of style and comfort. You’ll love the selection of slippers by UGG and Minnetonka, boots by Hunter, and handmade footwear for women by Sofft featuring European design
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
DEC. 3 - 9, 2010
MUMMENSCHANZ AT THE ANNENBERG THEATER DEC. 16-18
and modern comfort. Benjamin Lovell helped launch Vintage Shoe Company in Philadelphia, a new, exciting line of shoes and boots made right here in Pennsylvania. The Vintage line features heirloom designs from the late 19th century. They use finely detailed hardware, the softest hand-washed leathers and meticulous stitching, all handcrafted into shoes and boots for men and women. Visit their stores this holiday season and see why they say, “Style never felt so good.” For more information, visit www.BLShoes.com. Giovanni’s Room Philadelphia’s favorite LGBT bookstore has stood the test of time. Named after James Baldwin’s second novel, Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St., is a great place for bookworms to spend a few hours browsing through the latest LGBT literature, history, sciences and humanities — and a great place to shop for the readers on your holiday list. With an expert staff, frequent author events and thousands of books, movies and crowd pleasers to choose from, Giovanni’s Room is a staple in the Gayborhood, as well as historically important, as it now holds the title as the oldest LGBT bookstore in America. For more information, visit www.giovannisroom.com or call (215) 923-6265. Pleasure Chest Don’t let the size fool you. Good things do come in small packages. The Pleasure Chest, 2039 Walnut St., is a lovely little adult store located below Wonderland, and offers everything from erotic games and lingerie to lotions and lubes. It also carries a good selec-
tion of all the supplies necessary for a bachelor/bachelorette party and accessories like dildos, plugs, beads and leather goodies for the non-vanilla practitioners. For more information, call (215) 561-7480. STARR Restaurants This holiday season treat the food lover in your life to a STARR Restaurants gift card. Contemporary cuisine, breathtaking design and hospitable service make STARR Restaurants the city’s most popular dining destinations. Enjoy a dry-aged porterhouse from Barclay Prime, pork tacos from El Vez or wood-fired pizza from Pizzeria Stella. Classics like Buddakan and Parc, as well as casual spots like Continental and Jones, make great gifts for everyone on your list. Head to your nearest STARR Restaurant or go to www.starrrestaurant.com to purchase your gift card and find out how you can earn a bonus gift card for yourself. Season’s eatings! Winterthur Winterthur Museum & Country Estate, 5105 Kennett Pike in Winterthur, Del., boasts myriad attractions and activities that are saturated in 18th-century design and culture. The former country estate of Henry Francis du Pont, an avid antiques collector and horticulturist, Winterthur displays du Pont’s collection in 175 rooms and several exhibition galleries. The grounds offer the world-renowned Winterthur Garden, and guests can also peruse the Winterthur Library, which includes a large selection of materials about the American decorative arts. For more information, visit www.winterthur.org. ■
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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 32
DEC. 3 - 9, 2010
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PAGE 34
Diversions
DEC. 3 - 9, 2010
PGN
Pick
Your guide to arts and entertainment
Theater The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Philadelphia Theatre Company presents the award-winning tale of six kids in the throes of puberty vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime, through Dec. 5 at Suzanne Roberts Theater, 480 S. Broad St.; (215) 985-0420. Annie Media Theater presents the musical with out comedian and TV star Wanda Sykes as Miss Hannigan, through Dec. 12 and Jan. 12-16, 104 E. State St., Media; (610) 891-0100. The Borrowers Arden Theatre Company presents an adaptation of the beloved children’s novel, through Jan. 30 on the F. Otto Haas Stage, 40 N. Second St.; (215) 922-1122. Caesar’s Palace O’ Fun The Walnut Street Theatre presents a musical variety show centered around an outrageous lounge lothario, through Jan. 2 at
Independence Studio on 3, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 574-3550. I Capture The Castle The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey presents the romantic comedy about a 17-year-old budding writer, Cassandra, and her eccentric family who live in a crumbling 17th-century English castle, through Jan. 2, 36 Madison Ave., Madison, N.J.; (973) 408-5600. Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol The Walnut Street Theatre presents the classic Christmas story, Dec. 4-18, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 574-3550. Irving Berlin’s White Christmas The Walnut Street Theatre presents an all-new production of the holiday Broadway musical, through Jan. 9, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 574-3550. Jersey Boys The Kimmel Center’s Broadway series presents the awardwinning musical about Rock ’n’
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Woodmere Art Museum presents rarely seen works by landscape painter John Folinsbee, like his “The Bridge at New Hope” (pictured), as part of their “American Modernism” exhibition. Folinsbee was drawn to the Delaware Valley’s mills, factories and steel-truss bridges that lined the river’s banks for his subject matter. The paintings represent the New Hope artist’s period between 1920-40 when he moved from impressionism toward modernism, and are on view through March 6, 9201 Germantown Ave. For more information, call (215) 247-0476.
Roll Hall of Famers The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi, through Dec. 12 at Forrest Theatre, 1114 Walnut St.; (215) 790-5847. My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish and I’m in Therapy Society Hill Playhouse presents a comedic one-man show through Dec. 12, 507 S. Eighth St.; (215) 923-0210. Old Wicked Songs Bristol Riverside Theater presents out playwright Jon Maran’s Pulitzer Prize-nominated drama about a piano prodigy who travels to Vienna desperate to regain his waning creative spark, through Dec. 5, 120 Radcliffe St., Bristol; (215) 785-0100. Parenting 101: The Musical! The musical comedy about raising children, Dec. 9-March 6 at Kimmel’s Innovation Studio, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 7905847.
Scrooge: The Musical The ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future join to transform Ebenezer Scrooge from the meanest skinflint that ever lived to a warm and caring human being in this holiday musical, Dec. 9-19 at the Ritz Theatre, 915 White Horse Pike, Haddon Township, N.J.; (856) 858-5230.
The hit rock duo performs at 8 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City; (609) 317-1000.
The Santaland Diaries Flashpoint Theatre Company presents an adaptation of out humorist David Sedaris’ comedic look at the holidays, through Dec. 19 at Second Stage at The Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St.; (215) 568-8077.
Will Downing The adult contemporary singer performs at 8 p.m. Dec. 3 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; (215) 572-7650.
This is the Week That Is 1812 Productions presents the smash news comedy returning for its fifth year, through Dec. 31 at Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey St.; (215) 592-9560.
Music Daryl Hall & John Oates
The Legwarmers The ’80s tribute band performs at 8 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; (215) 922-6888.
Roman Festivals The Philadelphia Orchestra performs with Milan-born conductor Gianandrea Noseda, music director of the Teatro Regio in Turin, and American pianist Garrick Ohlsson for a performance of the Fifth Concerto of Prokofiev, 2 p.m. Dec. 3 and 8 p.m. Dec. 4 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
DEC. 3 - 9, 2010
Vienna Boys Choir The Kimmel Center presents the acclaimed choir at 7 p.m. Dec. 3 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847. Holiday Pops! Peter Nero and the Philly Pops performs a holiday-themed selection of songs, Dec. 4-22, at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847. N’dambi The soul/R&B singer performs at 10:30 p.m. Dec. 9 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 2221400.
Exhibits Art of the American Soldier The National Constitution Center presents the worlddebut exhibition of over 15,000 paintings and sketches created by 1,300 American soldiers in the line of duty, through Jan. 10, 525 Arch St.; (215) 409-6895. Best of Show University of the Arts hosts an exhibition of The Photo Review 2010 Competition Prize Winners, through Dec. 10 at Gallery 1401, 14th floor of Terra Hall, 211 S. Broad St.; (215) 717-6300.
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 35
drawn from the museum’s collection, through April 2011, 26th Street and the Parkway; (215) 763-8100. John Folinsbee and American Modernism Woodmere Art Museum presents a fresh look at the New Hope painter’s life and work, revealing the artist’s move from impressionism towards modernism, through March 6, 9201 Germantown Ave.; (215) 247-0476. Listen to My Story, See Through My Eyes: Stories from the Robert R. Rosenbaum Oral History Project The William Way LGBT Community Center presents video recordings of over 40 oral histories from local activists, celebrities and everyday people in the LGBT community, through Dec. 25, 1315 Spruce St.; (215) 732-2220. Object and Fields AxD Gallery presents an exhibition of works by Mike Stack and Carrie Patterson, through Dec. 4, 265 S. 10th St.; (215) 627-6250.
Pleasures and Pastimes in Japanese Art Cleopatra: The Search for Philadelphia Museum of the Last Queen of Egypt The Franklin Institute presents an Art presents an exhibition of costumes, masks and poetry exhibition of 150 artifacts from Egypt, through Jan. 2, 20th Street exploring the ways in which and the Parkway; (215) 448-1200. leisure time was interpreted across all social classes in Desert Jewels: North African Japanese art, through January, 26th Street and the Parkway; Jewelry and Photography (215) 763-8100. from the Xavier GuerrandHermes Collection The Visionary State: Philadelphia Museum of Art A Journey Through presents an exhibition of jewelry California’s Spiritual and historic photographs from Landscape Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia, through Dec. 5, 26th University of the Arts hosts an exhibition by photographer Street and the Parkway; (215) Michael Rauner taking the 763-8100. viewer on a tour of California’s more eccentric religious Eakins on Paper: Drawings movements, through Dec. 10 at and Watercolors from the Gallery 1401, 15th floor of Terra Collection Hall, 211 S. Broad St.; (215) Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of 10 rarely 717-6300. seen drawings and watercolors that survey the early work of Thomas Eakins, through Jan. 9, 26th Street and the Parkway; Parsons Dance (215) 763-8100. The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents the A Glimpse of Paradise: Gold multi-media dance troupe, Dec. in Islamic Art 3-4 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Philadelphia Museum of Art Walnut St.; (215) 898-3900. presents an exhibition exploring the unique status of gold in Islam World Headquarters through a small group of objects Painted Bride Arts Center
Dance
NAUGHTY IS THE NEW NICE: Never mind the sanitized burlesque you saw in the movie theater last weekend: Philadelphia’s award-winning Peek-A-Boo Revue delivers the real thing. The neo-burlesque troupe — with Lyra Kelly (from left), Ginger Leigh and Cherry Bomb — kicks off a three-city holiday tour in Philadelphia at 7:30 and 10 p.m. Dec. 4 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. Join the troupe as they attempt to sober up Santa (he’s drunk in their world), take a magical journey to the Island of Misfit Toys and get a lesson in bitterness from some holiday elves. For more information, visit www. peekaboorevue.com or call (215) 222-1400.
presents a performance by Dance Theater X, Dec. 3-4, 230 Vine St.; (215) 925-9914.
hosts a discussion at 6 p.m. Dec. 7 at Penn Bookstore, 3601 Walnut St.; (215) 898-7595.
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker The Pennsylvania Ballet performs the holiday-themed show Dec. 4-31 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
Stan Diamond The author of “What’s An American Doing Here? Reflections on Travel in the Third World,” hosts a Q&A at 6 p.m. Dec. 8 at Penn Bookstore, 3601 Walnut St.; (215) 898-7595.
Film
Cabaret
The Girl Who Kicked a Hornet’s Nest The action film with the queer heroine is screened Dec. 3-9 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; (610) 9170223.
Scott Nevins The cabaret singer performs at 8:30 p.m. Dec. 3 at Bob Egan’s New Hope, Ramada Inn, 6426 Lower York Road; (215) 8625225.
Batman Returns The 1992 film is screened at 10 p.m. Dec. 3 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; (610) 917-0223. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse The teen vampire film was screened at 8 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; (215) 922-6888.
Books Dan Berger The author of “The Hidden 1970s: Histories of Radicalism,”
Peek-a-Boo Revue The neo-burlesque troupe performs at 7:30 and 10 p.m. Dec. 4 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400. Christine Pedi The cabaret singer performs at 8:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at Bob Egan’s New Hope, Ramada Inn, 6426 Lower York Road; (215) 8625225. Kristian Rex The rock singer performs at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at Bob Egan’s New Hope, Ramada Inn, 6426 Lower York Road; (215) 862-5225.
Etc. Lewis Black The comedian performs at 9 p.m. Dec. 3-4 at the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City; (609) 317-1000. Bo Burnham The musical comedian performs at 9:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; (215) 922-6888. Morris Arboretum’s Holiday Garden Railway The holiday-themed quarter mile displays bustling model trains and buildings, through Jan. 2, 100 E. Northwestern Ave.; www.morrisarboretum. org. ■
Notices Send notices at least one week in advance to: Diversions, PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19147; fax them to (215) 925-6437; or e-mail them to diversions@epgn.com. Notices cannot be taken over the phone.
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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DEC. 3 - 9, 2010
Q Scopes
Jack Fertig
Be careful, Virgo! Mercury turning retrograde in Capricorn reveals systemic errors great and small. Look for flaws in hierarchies and collect info to solve problems next month. Mercury’s conjunct Pluto and sextile Venus so challenges in relationships seem to be everywhere. Sexual tension is often, but not always the issue. Be careful!
COUNTERING CHRISTMAS CONSUMERISM: When Charlie Brown complains about the overwhelming materialism he sees amongst everyone during the Christmas season, Lucy suggests he become director of the school Christmas pageant. Charlie Brown accepts, but it proves to be a frustrating struggle. And when an attempt to restore the proper spirit with a forlorn little fir Christmas tree fails, he needs Linus’ help to learn the real meaning of Christmas. “A Charlie Brown Christmas” airs 8 p.m. Dec. 7 and 16 on ABC. Photo: United Feature Syndicate Inc.
worth watching: The Talk Out actress Sara Gilbert hosts the talk show alongside Sharon Osbourne, Julie Chen, Leah Remeni and Holly Robinson Peete. 2 p.m. on CBS. The Nate Berkus Show Monday-Friday, 2 p.m. on NBC. The Ellen DeGeneres Show Monday-Friday, 3 p.m. on NBC. The Rachel Maddow Show Monday-Friday, 9 p.m. on MSNBC. FRIDAY Sex and the City The film based on the hit TV show. 8 p.m. on USA.
Money. 11:30 p.m. on NBC.
sode. 8 p.m. on Fox.
SUNDAY VH1 Divas Salute the Troops Kathy Griffin hosts the show with performances by Katy Perry, Sugarland, Nicki Minaj, Paramore and more. 9 p.m. on VH1.
Biggest Loser Look for out trainer Jillian Michaels. 9 p.m. on NBC.
Brothers and Sisters Out character Kevin Walker gets nervous about the adoption process. 8 p.m. on ABC. MONDAY How I Met Your Mother Out actor Neil Patrick Harris stars as the womanizing Barney. 8 p.m. on CBS. 90210 Out characters Teddy and Ian decide to keep their relationship a secret. 8 p.m. on CW. Skating with the Stars Make it stop! 8 p.m. on ABC.
Fashion Police Joan Rivers discusses the week’s notable fashions. 10:30 p.m. on E!
The A-List: New York A recap of season 1. 10 p.m. on Logo.
SATURDAY Saturday Night Live This week the show is hosted by Robert DeNiro and features musical guests Diddy-Dirty
TUESDAY Glee Out actress Jane Lynch stars in the acclaimed series. This week is a holiday-themed epi-
WEDNESDAY Modern Family Look for gay couple Mitchell and Cameron, who this week are surprised at adopted daughter Lily’s antisocial behavior on the playground. 9 p.m. on ABC. Top Chef: All-Stars The reality competition featuring the best chefs from the past seasons. 10 p.m. on Bravo. THURSDAY Shrek the Halls The animated holiday special. 8 p.m. on ABC. ■ Q PUZZLE SOLUTION From Page 25
ARIES (March 20-April 19): Assertions of authority can go overboard too easily. No matter who’s at fault, you may need to back off. Think ahead very carefully. Giving up a battle may be necessary to win your long-range struggle. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Once you accept that your partner is always right, life will be much easier. Yeah. OK ... Reasonably, nobody is always right, but being open to new ideas and rethinking old ones will help you to be much more correct in the long run. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): New sexual directions can help motivate you to exercise more (or more intelligently) or attend to health matters. Long simmering problems with colleagues are likely to explode. Focus on listening and laying the groundwork for future solutions. CANCER (June 21-July 22): The bedroom is as good a place as any to resolve partnership trouble. Talk about anything you’ve been frustrated with, starting with sex. Just getting out together and having some fun will also help get you back into sync.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Challenges that put you up against the wall will bring out inherited strengths that you have yet to acknowledge. It may be painful, but admitting your parents were right about something could save your ass! SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Take up a new study to challenge your brain. It may take something as deep and complex as archaeology or surgery to keep you out of trouble. If you can’t get out of your obsessions, at least take a good hard look at them. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 20): If you must argue over money, at least keep it inside your own head. Any problems you have with other people is a reflection of your own internal conflicts over values. Some introspection will save you trouble and embarrassment. CAPRICORN (Dec. 21-Jan. 19): Daring outspokenness could be polarizing, but it will also win more friends than enemies. Sitting quietly on problems will only be worse, promoting resentments and continued tension. Better to have it out in the open at least. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Finding out what people have been saying behind your back can help you strengthen your own reputation. Fighting some lies might make them seem truer. Be careful what rumors you fight — and how.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Awareness of your physical limitations is important for knowing how best to shape up and stay healthy. Dig into the family history to see what strengths and problems you may have inherited.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 19): Explore some dark, scary or erotic art — maybe a film by Pier Paolo Pasolini or Takashi Miike — to challenge your imagination. Be willing to be shocked or scared. Let new images open new ideas. It’s time to break out from unconsciously held dogmas and prejudices. ■
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Welcome criticism to help you solve creative blocks. Even a good argument can open terrific new ideas and perspective. You’re coming off a bit sexier and more challenging than usual. Be careful where you aim that!
Jack Fertig, a professional astrologer since 1977, is available for personal and business consultations. He can be reached at (415) 8648302, through his website at www.starjack.com or at QScopes@qsyndicate.com.
DEC. 3 - 9, 2010
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
Meeting Place A community bulletin board of activities, facilities and organizations
Community centers ■ The Attic Youth Center: For LGBT and questioning youth and their friends and allies. Groups meet and activities are held from 4-8 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays; case management, HIV testing and smoking cessation are available Monday through 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 ■ Rainbow Room — Bucks County’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and Allies Youth Center: 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays: Doylestown Planned Parenthood, The Atrium, Suite 2E, 301 S. Main St., Doylestown; (215) 348-0558 ext. 65; 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: 3-9 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; 3-6 p.m. Tuesday; noon-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Volunteers: New Orientation: First Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.
Health Anonymous, free, confidential HIV testing Spanish/English counselors offer testing 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 166 W. Lehigh Ave.; (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. Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative Free, anonymous HIV testing from 9:30 a.m.4:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursdays at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; (215) 851-1822 or (866) 222-3871. 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.
Key numbers
HIV health insurance help Access to free medications, 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., eighth floor; (215) 5630652. 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 and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday; 1201 Locust St.; (215) 985-9206.
Activism/Politics ACT-UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) Meets at 6 p.m. every Monday at St. Luke and the Epiphany Church, 330 S. 13th St.; (215) 3861981; www.critpath.org/actup. Delaware Valley Chapter, Americans United for Separation of Church and State Seeks activists and supporters of church-state separation. Holds monthly meetings and events; (856) 863-3061; www.dvau.org. Equality Advocates Philadelphia Holds a volunteer night second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m., 1211 Chestnut St., Suite 605; (215) 731-1447; www.equalitypa.org. Green Party of Philadelphia Holds general meetings fourth Tuesday of each month (except April) at 6:30 p.m., 4134 Lancaster Ave.; (215) 243-7103; www.gpop.org. Log Cabin Republican Club of Philadelphia Meets at 7 p.m. third Wednesday of the month at the William Way Community Center; (215) 4655677; www.phillylogcabin.org. Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club Meets seasonally; (215) 760-7184; www. libertycity.org.
Arts Gay Men’s Book Discussion Group Meets at 6:30 p.m. first Wednesday of the month at the Independence Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia, 18 S. Seventh St.; (215) 685-1633. Library Book Club Meets to discuss a new book at 7 p.m. on third Wednesday of the month at the William Way Center. New Jersey Gay Men’s Chorus Chorus rehearses at 7:30 p.m. Mondays in Princeton, N.J.; (609) 675-1998. Open-mic night An amateur poetry, music and storytelling event sponsored by The Pride Center of New Jersey, meets at 8 p.m. every third Friday at the George Street Playhouse, 1470 Jersey Ave., North Brunswick, N.J.; (732) 846-0715. Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus Chorus rehearses from 7-9:30 p.m. Wednesdays; (215) 731-9230; auditions@pgmc.org. Philadelphia Gay Men’s Opera Club Meets to share and listen to recordings at 6:30 p.m. on last Saturday of the month; (215) 2246995. Philadelphia Voices of Pride Philadelphia’s first mixed GLBT chorus rehearses at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the William Way Center; (888) 505-7464; www.pvop.org. Queer Writer’s Collective Workshop and discussion group meets 4-6 p.m. on fourth Saturday of the month at the William Way Center. Women’s Book Group Meets first Thursday of the month at 6:45 p.m. at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; brassygrrl@hotmail.com.
■ AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania: (215) 587-9377
■ Mazzoni Center: (215) 563-0652; www. mazzonicenter.org. Legal Services: (215) 563-0657, (866) LGBT-LAW; legalservices@m azzonicenter.org
■ AIDS Law Project of Southern New Jersey: (856) 933-9500 ext. 221
■ Mazzoni Center Family & Community Medicine: (215) 563-0658
Diversity Dancers Ballroom dancers meet the first Sunday of the month for tea dance and lessons. Other events scheduled throughout the year; (215) 922-2129; DiversityDancers@aol.com.
■ AIDS Library: (215) 985-4851 ■ ACLU of Pennsylvania: (215) 592-1513
■ Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): (215) 572-1833
Gay Bridge Club Non-beginners group meets Monday afternoons at the William Way Center; (215) 985-4835.
■ AIDS Treatment hot line: (215) 5452212
■ Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations: (215) 686-4670
Gay-friendly Scrabble Club Meets from 6-11 p.m. in the P.I.C. Building, 42nd and Locust streets; (215) 382-0789.
■ Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection at the Independence Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library: (215) 685-1633
■ Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force: (215) 772-2000
■ The COLOURS Organization Inc.: 112 N. Broad St., third floor; (215) 496-0330 ■ Equality Pennsylvania: (215) 731-1447; www.equalitypa.org ■ Equality Forum: (215) 732-3378 ■ Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Peer Counseling Services: (215) 732-TALK ■ Mayor’s Director of LGBT Affairs: Gloria Casarez, (215) 686-2194; Gloria. Casarez@phila.gov; Fax: (215) 686-2555
■ 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: (215) 875-9288 ■ SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: (717) 920-9537 ■ Transgender Health Action Coalition: (215) 732-1207 (staffed 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays, and 6-9 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays)
Recreation
Gay and Lesbian Scrabble Players in the tri-state area gather for socializing and friendly/competitive games; ScrabbleGroup@excite.com. Gay Opera Guys of Philly New group for opera appreciation meets last Sunday of the month at 2:30 p.m. in Roxborough/ Andorra area; (215) 483-1032. Humboldt Society: Lesbian and Gay Naturalists Meets second Thursday of the month at the William Way Center; (215) 985-1456; www. humboldtsociety.org. Indepedence Squares GLBT square dance club, modern Western square dancing. Monthly open house. Tuesday classes in the fall; Lutheran Church, 2111 Sansom St.; (215) 735-5812; www.independencesquares.org.
PAGE 37 Male Oenophile Group Male 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 sexual-minority seniors are held every Tuesday from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the William Way Center. PhilaVentures Philadelphia’s GLBT outdoor group meets for a hike in Wissahickon Valley Park on Sundays at 2 p.m. at Borders Books, Music and Café, 8701 Germantown Ave.; (215) 271-8822. Rainbow Bridge Group Congenial group meets for supper and to play bridge monthly on a Monday at 6:30 p.m. Members rotate serving as host. New players welcome. For information call Gerry at (215) 592-1174. Rainbow Room A meeting/activity night held for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth and their friends Wednesdays from 6-8 p.m. at the Rainbow Room of Planned Parenthood in Doylestown; (215) 348-0558.
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 GLBT softball league serves the Philadelphia metropolitan area. Games are played Sundays, beginning in April, in Fairmount Park; (215) 4622575; www.cblsl.org. Frontrunners Running club meets Saturday mornings at 9:30 for a run and brunch. Lloyd Hall, No. 1 Boathouse Row; www.frontrunnersphila.org. Gay and Lesbian Bowling League Bowls at 8 p.m. Thursdays in the Norristown area; call Doug Schneidig; (716) 864-4393. Philadelphia Falcons Soccer Club GLBT and allied soccer club; practices Saturdays 10 a.m.-noon and Wednesdays 6-8 p.m. at Edgeley Fields in Fairmount Park;www.falcons-soccer.org. Philadelphia Fins Swim Team Male and female swimmers meet at 7 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and 10 a.m. Saturdays in Center City; (610) 564-6661; www. philadelphia-fins.org. Philadelphia Gay Bowling League Meets 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays September through April at Brunswick Zone, 1328 Delsea Drive, Deptford, N.J.; (856) 889-1434; www. philagaybowling.com. Philadelphia Gay Flag Football New group forming. Contact Jered at gayflagfootball@gmail.com or (214) 770-5373. Philadelphia Gryphons Rugby Football Club Team seeks players; all skill levels welcome; (215) 913-7531; info@phillygryphons.org. Philadelphia Liberty Tennis Association Meets at 7 p.m. every third Monday at William Way Center; into@plta.us. Philadelphia Phoenix Women’s football team seeks players; (267) 6799535; www.philadelphiaphoenix.org. Philly Gay Hockey Association Philadelphia Phury seeks players; (917) 656-1936; phury@gayhockey.org. 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 9 p.m. on Tuesdays September-April at Laurel Lanes, 2825 Rte. 73 South, Maple Shade, N.J.; (856) 778-7467.
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. BiUnity Philadelphia area social and support network for bisexuals, their family members and friends meets at 7 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays of the month at the William Way Center; www. biunity.org. Global A political, community and social group that also works to promote Bordentown as a gayfriendly community meets on the first Saturday of the month at Firehouse Gallery, 8 Walnut St., Bordentown, N.J.; jerseyglobal@yahoo.com. Delaware Pride Meets at 7 p.m. on first Thursday of the month at the United Church of Christ, 300 E. Main St., Newark, Del.; (800) 292-0429. Delaware Valley Pink Pistols For LGBT people dedicated to legal, safe and responsible use of firearms for self-defense; meets at 2 p.m. on third Saturday of the month at Classic Indoor Range, 1310 Industrial Blvd., Southhampton; (267) 386-8907; www. pinkpistols.org. Friday Feast and Fun Dinner hosted by St. John’s Lutheran Church at 6:30 p.m. second Friday of the month, 24 N. Ridge Ave., Ambler; (215) 576-8008. Haverford College’s Sexuality and Gender Alliance Open meetings 10-11 p.m. Mondays in the lounge in Jones Basement at Haverford College, 370 Lancaster Ave.; (610) 896-4938. Latina/o Virtual Community Local listserv offers various information and resources; (215) 808-2493; Zorros_mail@yahoo. com; LatinPhillyLGBT@yahoogroups.com. LGBTQ and Friends Activity Group Meets at 7 p.m. on third Friday of the month to plan outings and potlucks at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County. Long Yang Club Philadelphia Social organization for gay Asians and their friends holds monthly socials; P.O. Box 401, Philadelphia, Pa. 19105; 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; PhillyGayCalendar.com/org/OurNightOut. Philadelphia Bar Association Legal Advice Offered from 5-8 p.m. on third Wednesday of the month; (215) 238-6333. Philadelphia Prime Timers Club for mature gay and bisexual men and their admirers meets regularly; (610) 344-0853; www. primetimersphiladelphia.org. Philadelphians MC Club for leather men and women meets 7:30 p.m. first and third Mondays of the month at The Pit at The Bike Stop, 201 S. Quince St.; (215) 627-1662. Philly Paw Pals Gay and lesbian dog owners and their dogs meet on first Saturday of the month at a dog park; (215) 618-5290; PhillyPawPals@aol.com. Rainbow Amateur Radio Association ARRL affiliated; private; weekly HF nets, monthly newsletter, e-mail server; (302) 5392392; www.rara.org.
South Jersey Gay Bowling League Gay and lesbian bowling league meets 7 p.m. on Fridays September-April at Laurel Lanes, 2825 Rte. 73 South, Maple Shade, N.J.; (856) 778-7467.
Rock ’n’ Roll Queer Bar Party A party for gay and lesbian rockers with host Psydde Delicious starts at 10 p.m. every second Wednesday at N. 3rd, Third and Brown streets; (215) 413-3666.
Spartan Wrestling Club The gay wresting team meets from 7-9 p.m. Mondays at the First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St.; (215) 732-4545; www.phillyspartans. com.
Silver Foxes Social and educational group for gays and lesbians 50 and older meets from 3-5 p.m. on fourth Sunday of the month at the William Way Center.
Team Philadelphia Meets at 8 p.m. second Wednesday of the month at the William Way Center; www.teamphiladelphia. org.
Stonewall Model Railroad Club Meets monthly; (215) 769-4230; k3k@yahoo. com.
Women’s Table Tennis New group forming. Interested women are encouraged to e-mail michelesimone19144@yahoo.com.
Thirsty Third Tuesdays Collingswood Out in the Neighborhood meets at 7 p.m. on third Tuesday of the month for coffee, dessert and conversation at Three Beans, 40 N. Haddon Ave., Haddonfield N.J.; (215) 439-8337.
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 38
DEC. 3 - 9, 2010
Classifieds With Real Estate, Help Wanted, Services and Personals
Home energy audits: doctor’s checkups for a house By Susan Zevon The Associated Press
Jim Alexander, a real-estate agent in Atlanta, decided this past summer to subject his own 11-year-old house to an energy audit. “If this was something I was going to recommend to my clients, I wanted to see for myself how it works,” he says. His verdict: “Home-energy audits are going to change the way we buy and sell houses in America.” Alexander hired the company Retrofit America to conduct the audit, which showed that by spending about $3,000 — $700 of it covered by government rebates — he could save several-hundred dollars a month in energy costs. Some of the recommendations were as simple as putting a latch on the attic door so that it would not swing open. “The auditors not only brought in all the latest equipment and computer technology but they also used their eyes,” he says. Home-energy audits are like doctors’ checkups for the house, says Seith Leitman, who blogs as the Green Living Guy and consults on McGraw Hill’s series “Green Guru
Guides.” And just as you need to follow a doctor’s advice to get healthier, so you need to follow an audit’s recommendations and retrofit your house if you want to see savings, experts say. The federal government’s Energy Star website, Energystar.gov, says the audits are the first step in making a home more efficient, comfortable and healthy. If your home is too hot in summer, too cold in winter, drafty or damp, and if you suffer from allergies or just from high energy bills, you should do a home-energy audit. You also should do one on any house you are considering buying. HOW TO PROCEED You can perform a simple homeenergy audit yourself, but you will need a professional for a thorough assessment that includes heating and cooling systems. Begin with a diligent walkthrough of your house, keeping a checklist of areas you have inspected and problems you find. The Energy Star website offers a checklist, or for more guidelines read “Do-ItYourself Home Energy Audits” (McGraw-Hill, 2010). To get started, Chandler von
Schrader, national manager of Home Performance with Energy Star, recommends going online to complete the Energy Star Home Energy Yardstick, which lets you compare your household’s energy use to others and get recommendations for improvement. The yardstick is intended just to give you a general idea, not a thorough audit. EASY FIXES Some simple steps to start conserving energy at home include replacing incandescent lighting with energy-efficient, fluorescent lighting in the room you use most. Other quick fixes may include replacing old appliances with Energy Star Appliances. Check the Energy Star website for products that have earned that label. Beware of some other popular quick fixes. Windows, for example, cost a lot, and new ones will not provide energy savings if they are not properly installed with caulking, and if leaks in rooms are not sealed. THE COMPREHENSIVE AUDIT Von Schrader warns against cheap energy audits conducted by
someone trying to sell you something. “Houses are complex and require comprehensive solutions,” he says. “You should look at a house in a holistic fashion. If you do just one thing you may throw others off. For example, sealing off drafts in an attic may cause humidity buildup in other parts of the house.” A complete energy audit requires specialized equipment, says Matt Golden, president and founder of Recurve Inc., a San Francisco-area company that helps homeowners increase energy efficiency. That equipment includes blower doors that measure the extent of leaks in the building, infrared cameras that reveal areas of air infiltration and missing insulation, and duct blasters that use pressure testing to find leaks in a duct system. SELECTING AN AUDITOR Von Schrader suggests hiring energy auditors approved by the Residential Energy Services Network or the Building Performance Institute, which set national standards. Companies like Retrofit America and Recurve promise one-stop ser-
vice for homeowners, from the audit to financing to completing the home improvements and verifying the work is done right. Retrofits may include air sealing and insulation; duct work; replacing heating and cooling systems and water heaters; substituting windows, doors or appliances; and adding renewable energy systems, such as solar panels.
COSTS The average cost of retrofitting a house once it has been audited is $8,000-$10,000, according to Von Schrader, and it is not always advisable to go with the lowest estimate. “Work done correctly often costs more,” he says. Fortunately, there are programs to offset the costs. Some state energy programs and utilities offer rebates, which require accredited homeenergy auditors and contractors to do the work. A federal energy-tax credit of $1,500 is available until the end of this year. Providing rebates to consumers to encourage energy-efficiency upgrades is also part of energy legislation making its way through Congress. ■
Location! Location! Location! This week’s featured property
263 Lawrence Road, Broomall PA
Beds: 4 Baths: 2.1 Cost: $298,500 Square footage: 1,934 Age of property: 55 years Realtor: Andrew J. Mariano Real-estate co.: RE/MAX Preferred Phone: (610) 325–4100 Phone: (610) 789–0982 Website: www.gayparealtor.com
Check your ad
PLACING ADS Using voicemail? Please be sure to have the following information ready when you call: • Your ad copy • The type of style you want • Desired abbreviations • American Express, Discover, MasterCard or VISA information • Your name and mailing
Lawrence Park Split on large corner lot. 3 bedroom home with In-Law quarters, 4th bedroom or professional office use, Main Level: Living room, Dining Room, Eat-In Kitchen,Large Enclosed side porch.
address • Daytime telephone number Having all this information ready will speed your order and help to avoid errors. Phone calls can only be returned during business hours. For more information, see the coupon page in this section.
Philadelphia Gay News assumes responsibility for errors in classified ads only when notified by noon the Tuesday after the ad first appears. To receive credit for errors, please notify PGN by then. Credit only will be extended in the form of additional advertising space. Any cash refunds, for any reason, are subject to a $10 service charge. PGN will publish no classified ad — in any category — that contains sexually explicit language. Obviously excluded are traditional four-letter words that relate to sexual activity. Other words may be excluded at the discretion of the publisher, who reserves the right to edit or rewrite any ad that, in his opinion, violates this policy or its intent.
DEC. 3 - 9, 2010
Real Estate
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 39
REAL ESTATE
REAL ESTATE
REAL ESTATE
SALE
SALE
SALE Dramatically reduced to
Conrad Kuhn
$459,900
Broker/Sales Rep. Since 1987 NJAR Circle of Excellence Sales Award 1991- 2009 Weichert President’s & Ambassador’s Clubs
Office: 856.227.1950 ext. 124 Cell: 609.221.1196 www.conradkuhn.com Realtor856@aol.com Washington Township Office 5070 Route 42 Turnersville, NJ 08012
. $*+$'#* - & $% . !#(+$ %! (&&$**$('*
' - )$ '(
$)! + $'! ""$ ! $% ' - ' -& )$ '( (& ,,, ' -& )$ '( (&
VENTNOR, NJ, FACING THE BAY House and Adjacent Lot (inground swimming pool). 1st floor 3 bedrooms, bath, living room, dining room, kitchen, laundry room and deck. 2nd floor 2 bedrooms, bath, efficiency kitchen, living room, dining area and deck. Central Air. Corner Property. Call 215-468-9166 evenings only. $675,000.00. Also property for rent1500.00 month plus utilities. _______________________________34-49 Potter County - 5 acres adjacent to State Game Lands. Perc, Electric, hard road, $34,900. Owner financing. 800-668-8679. _______________________________34-49
ROOMMATES PGN WILL NOT PUBLISH RACIAL DISTINCTIONS IN ROOMMATE ADS. SUCH NOTATIONS WILL BE EDITED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION. ___________________________________ GREATER NE PHILA. Have your own bedroom in a beautiful split level home with 2 gay men. House is 4 BR, 2 full baths, W/D, upper and lower decks, use of kitchen. Property is by Welsh & the Boulevard, 1 min. to 58 bus. We ask only that you be at least reasonably neat and employed. Rent is $600 + 1/3 utils. Contact Dave at 215-698-0215. _______________________________34-49 HOUSE SHARE W. COLLINGSWOOD, NJ 2 BR avail in new 4 BR house. Share BR, kit, LR, W/D. $800/mo. + 1 mo. sec. Call Wendy at 215-266-7997, email: wmf69@comcast.net _______________________________34-49
VACATION
RENTAL AFFORDABLE FORT LAUDERDALE All Gay Resort. Apts., full kit, 10 min Gay Nightlife, beaches, attractions. Clothing opt. pool, WiFi. 877-927-0090, www.LibertySuites.com _______________________________35-02
SERVICES APARTMENTS CLEANED Apartment cleaned + laundry from Schuylkill to Delaware River, Spring Garden to South St. 20+ yrs experience. $12/hr or flat rate. (347) 367-6369. Refrences. _______________________________34-51 AIRLINES ARE HIRING Train for high paying Aviation Maintenance Career. FAA approved program. Financial aid if qualified -Housing available. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance (888)349-5387. _______________________________34-49 ATTEND COLLEGE ONLINE From Home. *Medical *Business *Paralegal *Computers *Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified. Call 888-220-3984 www.CenturaOnline.com _______________________________34-49
PGN
REAL ESTATE
RENT 12TH & DICKINSON AREA Furnished Townhouse for rent: 3 levels. Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, 2 bedrooms , bath. Very Unique. 1500. mo plus util. (negotiable). Call 215 468-9166 after 6 pm. or 215 686 3431 daytime. _______________________________34-49 RITTENHOUSE SQUARE AREA Studios & 1 Bedrooms - Call for Availability (215)735-8050. _______________________________34-52 QUEEN VILLAGE 3rd & Catharine. Perfect commercial/professional space. 2 floors, 1200 sq. ft. $1800 total. 215-687-8461. _______________________________34-49 JEFFERSONVILLE, NEAR K OF P, BLUE BELL Large efficiency on private wing on home with large yard. Private bath, entrance, kitchen. $495/mo. + elect. & sec. dep. Call 610-5396381, leave message. _______________________________34-50
HELP WANTED Drivers- 100% Tuition Paid CDL Training! Start your New Career. No Credit Check, No Experience required! Call: 888-417-7564 CRST EXPEDITED www.JoinCRST.com _______________________________34-49 Drivers- Flatbed OWNER OPERATORS Up to $1000 Sign on Bonus. Earn $1.85/mi or more! No age restriction on tractors /trailers. CRST Malone 877-277-8756 www. JoinMalone.com _______________________________34-49 CDL-A Drivers: We’ve Never Looked Better! Our package of benefits is the best it’s ever been. Pay,Bonuses,Miles,Equipment. $500 Sign-On for Flatbed. CDL-A,6mo.OTR. Western Express. 888-801-5295. _______________________________34-49 CLASS A CDL DRIVERS *Excellent Equipment! *Consistent home time *Great pay/benefits. SMITH TRANSPORT, INC. Call 877-432-0048 www.smithdrivers. com _______________________________34-49 NEW PAY PLAN WITH QUARTERLY BONUS INCENTIVE! Lots of freight. Daily or Weekly Pay. Van and Refrigerated. CDL-A, 6 months recent experience. 800-414-9569. www.driveknight.com _______________________________34-49 NOW HIRING: COMPANIES DESPERATELY NEED EMPLOYEES TO ASSEMBLE PRODUCTS AT HOME. ELECTRONICS, CD STANDS, HAIR BARRETTES & MANY MORE. NO SELLING, ANY HOURS. INFO:1-985-646-1700 DEPT:PA-1017 _______________________________34-49
BUSINESS
OPORTUNITIES ALL CASH VENDING ROUTE! Be Your Own Boss! 25 Machines + Candy All for $9995. 877-915-8222 All Major Credit Cards Accepted! _______________________________34-49
Moorestown, NJ. This is $100,000 under the assessed value. Exceptionally gracious 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath end unit townhome is located on one of the best lots in Blason Woods. Low maintenance, tastefully decorated and easy access to Philadelphia and the surrounding area makes this a must see. For oor plans and additional pictures visit 121foxwood.com
Naoji Moriuchi Realtor Associate Cell: 609-781-0080 OfďŹ ce: 856-235-0101 x211 To learn more about my client satisfaction rating view this independent research & award as seen in Philadelphia Magazine: http://video.ďŹ vestarprofessional. com/philre2010/naojimoriuchi
B.T. Edgar & Son Realtors Your Local Realtor since 1923 27 East Main Street Moorestown, NJ 08057 Find your next home or commercial property by using www.MoorestownAreaHomes.com
Gay is our middle name.
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 40
ADOPTION ARE YOU PREGNANT? Don’t know what to do? We have many families willing to adopt your child. Please call 1-800745-1210, ask for Marci or Gloria. _______________________________34-49 ADOPTION Loving couple wants to share our life and love with your newborn. Call Liz & Geoff Toll-Free: 1-866-762-7821; Email: Liz_and_ Geoff@comcast.net _______________________________34-49
o Electronic PGN: www.epgn.com
PGN
DEC. 3 - 9, 2010
FINANCIAL
SERVICES CASH NOW! Get cash for your structured settlement or annuity payments. High payouts. Call J.G. Wentworth. 1-866-SETTLEMENT (1-866738-8536). Rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau. _______________________________34-49
AUTOS AAAA** Donation. Donate Your Car, Boat, or Real Estate. IRS Tax Deductible. Free PickUp/Tow. Any Model/Condition. Help Under Privileged Children. Outreachcenter.com 1-800-597-8311. _______________________________34-49
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DEC. 3 - 9, 2010
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 41
SERVICES & HOME IMPROVEMENT DIRECTORY Looking to Buy, Sell or Just Clean Your Antiques?
We’ve been in business since 2000. We buy and sell antique’s and fine furniture. But we don’t limit ourselves to just furniture. Liquidate Estates Take Donations Quick Pick-up Buy Vintage Item’s Period Liquidate Small Equipment, and Art Deco Tools Liquidation’s Hosting and Fine Upholstery Cleaning Auction’s Close-Outs And Clean-Outs
JOHN’S FIBER KLEEN
Call 215 726-6828 or 610 757 8207
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Philadelphia Gas Heating & Air Conditioning
HEATER SALE
Starting at $1195 Time is running out for the stimulus rebate - get up to $1,500!
A/C SALE $1695
Heater check-up $80.00
Call Now 215.456.1300 FAST EMERGENCY SERVICE
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215-925-8564 • 215-925-6586 • Fax: 215-925-8856
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150
00 Service
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Present this ad as a coupon for
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KARIS ROOFING CO. Roofing & Metal Work…Residential and Industial
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To the point and done so they Yeager Carpentry can get the app in is the point. Custom your version overall is I•think Woodworking more effective for what they • Custom by Cabinetry needed being more concise. Kitchenshow you boiled down I•liked • Baths the points very much, actually.
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Reach Over 40,000 Readers Weekly For As Little As $25.00 A Week. Call 215-625-8501 Today!
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 42
DEC. 3 - 9, 2010
LEGAL & PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY AMY F. STEERMAN Attorney at Law Concentrating in Planning for Lesbian and Gay Couples • Probate • Wills • Living Wills • Powers of Attorney
215-735-1006
1900 Spruce Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 www.amysteerman.com
Looking for a new career? Want to be your own boss? Tired of the insecurity of today’s economic uncertainty? Learn how we’ve helped 1,000’s of individuals find a new and rewarding career. Call (215) 321-1963 to schedule a complimentary coaching session.
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Mark-Allen Taylor, Esq. Divorce Child Custody Support / Visitation Domestic Partnerships Wills & Powers of Attorney Name Changes and
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1325 Spruce Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 215-735-2777 mat@mat-law.com Free initial consultation
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Reach Over 40,000 Readers Weekly For As Little As $25.00 A Week. Call 215-625-8501 Today!
DEC. 3 - 9, 2010
PHILADELPHIA ADULT PERSONALS GAY NEWS
PAGE 43
FRIENDS
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PAGE 44
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
DEC. 3 - 9, 2010